Just Because

A couple of days ago, I was reading a letter in one of the advice columns (Miss Manners?). It was written by a lady who was invited to a bridal shower and went to the website for the store where the bride was registered in order to purchase a gift. She noticed that the bride had registered for three identical electric blankets; and she attempted to purchase one of the three and have it shipped to her first, rather than directly to the bride. The website would not allow her to do this, and a notice popped up stating that gifts could be shipped only to the bride's address. When the lady questioned the bride about it; the bride replied that there were duplicate items on the registry purposely. Apparently any "purchases" made for the duplicate items are converted into cash and put into an account for the bridal couple. The columnist remarked that this is a new way to extort money from shower/wedding guests. Personally, I could not imagine doing such a thing. Have any of you ever heard of this or been invited to a shower where this was done?

I am adopting a young child (not an infant) from the foster care system. One of the things the agency requires is that I write a "family profile". They gave me a guideline of things to touch on (my family, education, employment, community, etc) but I realize that its not just writing a few sentences under each category. It needs to be developed like a work of art into a piece that presents me as an outstanding potential parent. Can anybody give me some suggestions on how to do this? Also, is there a source where I could look at sample profiles written by others in my situation? Please help! Thank you!

I'm curious about something. In my case, I basically paid for my whole wedding myself. However, my parents helped me a lot when I went to college. I lived at home and went to college locally and got loans and grants, but they paid the balance and supported me while I went to college (I did not have to get job). They had paid for my sister's wedding a few years earlier, but her wedding was simpler than mine and she had not gone to college.

And there is another family I know where the parents paid for college educations, but they children all had to pay for their own weddings. Do you think this is common in families these days? Has anybody else been in a similar situation? I'm wondering how common this is and if its a new trend.

I've been curious about the whole concept of sponsored weddings. As most people know, this is where a bridal couple receives free or almost free goods and services for which they will list sponsors in their wedding invitations, on placards at the reception. etc. I'll tell you my opinion, but then I want to know what others think.

To me, it would seem that if a vendor (such as a wedding planner, caterer, photographer, florist, bridal shop, printer, etc) donates their goods and services to a bridal couple, the only people they would hear from are others that want something for nothing or next to nothing. I don't see how they'd get a lot of additional business out of it (if any). What does everybody else think?

If you are a wedding vendor, have you ever been approached by a bride and groom about donating your goods and services in exchange for advertising at various times throughout their wedding? Did you accept or decline? What made you arrive at whatever decision you made? If you did sponsor a couple, did you get more viable business out of it? Or if you are a bride and groom who tried this, what was the end result?

I've been curious about the whole concept of sponsored weddings. As most people know, this is where a bridal couple receives free or almost free goods and services for which they will list sponsors in their wedding invitations, on placards at the reception. etc. I'll tell you my opinion, but then I want to know what others think.

To me, it would seem that if a vendor (such as a wedding planner, caterer, photographer, florist, bridal shop, printer, etc) donates their goods and services to a bridal couple, the only people they would hear from are others that want something for nothing or next to nothing. I don't see how they'd get a lot of additional business out of it (if any). What does everybody else think?

If you are a wedding vendor, have you ever been approached by a bride and groom about donating your goods and services in exchange for advertising at various times throughout their wedding? Did you accept or decline? What made you arrive at whatever decision you made? If you did sponsor a couple, did you get more viable business out of it? Or if you are a bride and groom who tried this, what was the end result?

I'm really curious about how and why wedding planning trends have changed over the years. In the past, parents paid for weddings, but in recent years it seems that couples now pay for their own weddings. So, when you got married, did your parents pay for your wedding? Did you pay for it yourself? Did you and your parents split the expense? How did you arrive at whatever decision was made as to financing your wedding?

If your parents did not pay or share any expense, why not? Was it financial reasons, they didn't approve of your spouse, or did you just want to handle it yourself? Even if you paid for everything yourself, did family members offer any kind of assistance?

Please share all details.

I saw a TV ad for a "food lovers" diet plan. The way its supposed to work is that this plan teaches you to eat the same foods you eat anyway, but in special combinations to make your body burn fat instead of storing fat. I don't know whether to buy this package or not. Has anybody out there ever tried it? If so, were the results as great as they say in the commercial? What did you like or dislike about it? Should I try it? Please help!

To start off, I ask that you please don't be mean! I desperately need advice. Anyway, long story short, I got into a financial crisis because of payday loans. In the process of getting all of that straightened out, some other bills fell behind. One creditor charged my account off. I did not mean for that to happen. And I don't want to get involved in another high-interest payday loan! Does anybody know if there is any place I can go to get an interest-free loan or apply for some kind of crisis grant? Are there any organizations that would give loans and counseling to somebody in my situation? I would also like to get back on good terms with my creditors. Please help!

I make jewelry, and would really like to make some pieces using the synthetic gemstones that companies like Balfour and Jostens put in their school rings. I especially like the "starflame" stones; which are the ones that reflect a rainbow of colors in the light. Does anybody know where I could get a hold of some of these type of gemstones? Just the loose stones without the rings?