Kate Middleton is known for her love of standout hats, or fascinators. This regal accessory was also a popular choice for attendees of her wedding to Prince William. Click through the gallery to see some of the craziest, most elaborate hats worn to the royal wedding.
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 29: Princess Beatrice of York arrives to attend the Royal Wedding of Prince William to Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. The marriage of the second in line to the British throne is to be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury and will be attended by 1900 guests, including foreign Royal family members and heads of state. Thousands of well-wishers from around the world have also flocked to London to witness the spectacle and pageantry of the Royal Wedding. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Best hats of Royal wedding guests
Royal Wedding Photos
There will be two official wedding cakes at the royal wedding reception, William's cake and Kate's. Will's will be traditional, made by McVitie's, the cookie company that has been making British monarch wedding cakes since George V in 1893. Kate's cake will be the more stylish dessert, made by Fiona Cairns who creates elegant, modern, understated cakes for such icons of cool as Keith Richards and Sir Paul McCartney. Kate's cake bakers have been legally sworn to secrecy, but the Telegraph gleaned that the colors will be shades of white and that there will be intertwined initials decorating the cake as well as representations of acorns, the symbol on the Middleton coat of arms. But what stuck out to Mrs. Cairns the most was Kate's request to include "the language of flowers." All the pretty news made us cake-happy, and we had to see the desserts Mrs. Cairns is known for. Here are the whimsical creations we found, starting with the one below, which she calls her 'vintage glamor' wedding cake.
Florists Online
Online florists facilitate fresh flower deliveries across national and international borders. Most online stores have links to several florists in big cities and towns. When you shop for gifts online you may be in Edmonton, but you can send flowers to your mother who is vacationing in Jamaica or anywhere in the world.
When shopping for flowers online, a few things should be kept in mind. Look for florists who will have a good delivery record, have testimonials of satisfied customers and will give a guarantee of refund, if the delivered goods do not meet expectations.
Read more at http://floristsedmonton.net/online-florists.
Accountants - Professional Tax Preparation Services
As a self-employed individual, I have to think about taxes all year long. While I don’t mind handling this day-to-day paperwork, there’s absolutely no way that I could prepare my own returns properly. The few times I’ve tried doing this in the past, I ended up making a terrible mess of everything, and had to pay an accountant a lot of money to fix things up for me. So, now every year I just go straight to a professional tax preparation service and let accounting experts deal with my return.
I’ve tried many tax preparation services over the years in an effort to get a feel for which ones can get me the biggest refund in the shortest amount of time. Here’s a quick outline of what I’ve discovered.
When I first decided to take my returns to a professional accountant, I went to a well known national company because I figured they’d be best equipped to finish the job in a satisfactory manner. However, I was extremely disappointed with the results, particularly since the person who prepared my return didn’t make himself readily available to answer specific questions I had about my return. Since that bad experience, I’ve been looking at other alternatives including online tax preparation services.
Kindle Deals
So are you asking yourself now: Is Kindle (Wi-Fi) or Kindle 3G (Free 3G + Wi-Fi) right for me?
Kindle (Wi-Fi) is a great choice if you already have a high-speed internet connection and wireless router set up in your home and do not need the added convenience of a 3G connection. 3G enables you to download books anytime, anywhere, while on the go. If you do not have Wi-Fi set up in your home, Kindle 3G may be a better option.
Kindle 3G (Free 3G + Wi-Fi) is the easiest option because there is no wireless setup—you are ready to shop, purchase, and read right out of the box. Built-in Free 3G connectivity uses the same wireless signals that cell phones use, but there are no monthly fees or commitments—Amazon pays for Kindle’s 3G wireless connectivity. The added convenience of 3G enables you to download books anytime, anywhere, while on the go—without having to find a Wi-Fi hotspot connection. With wireless coverage in over 100 countries and territories, Kindle 3G is a great option for travelers. Read more at http://kindledeals.org/kindle-comparison.
'Idol' Top 6 Night: The Contestant Who Would Be King
After finally getting with the times last week with a Songs Of The 21st Century theme, this week "American Idol" hosted...Carole King Night. You know, because Carole King is all the rage with the kids these days. My conspiracy theory regarding this odd theme was it was the producers' attempt to keep this season's lone two remaining female contestants in the game. But as it turns out, of this evening's performances--six solos, plus three duets--one MALE contestant was the standout. James Durbin was in fact so stunning that Randy Jackson flat-out declared him the Season 10 winner, even running onstage to give him a congratulatory hug. It remains to be seen if The Dawg's prediction comes true, since almost all of the contestants gave winning performances this week. But James just may be the King of this competition, pun intended.
Here's how everyone did...
Meet William and Kate’s matchmaker
Kate Middleton and Sam Waley-Cohen at the Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival on March 14, 2008 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Indigo/Getty Images)
LONDON – Sam Waley-Cohen should allow himself a smug smile at Friday's royal wedding, content that he did more than anyone to ensure the event watched by the world takes place.
Huge teams of workers and planners are laboring around the clock to make sure the big day goes off without a hitch, but if it was not for Waley-Cohen, a 28-year-old horse racing jockey, the marriage wouldn't be happening at all.
Waley-Cohen turned royal matchmaker in 2007 when, after Prince William and Kate Middleton had been split up for several months, he invited both of them to a party he organized at his wealthy family's 400-year-old mansion in Oxfordshire.
At the time it appeared as though the break-up would be permanent. However, William and Kate, who had scarcely seen each other since their split, spent hours locked in conversation and rekindled all of their old feelings.
Chernobyl
KIEV (AFP) – The world on Tuesday marks a quarter century since the world's worst nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in Ukraine, haunted by fears over the safety of atomic energy after the Japan earthquake.In the early hours of April 26, 1986, workers at the Chernobyl atomic power station were carrying out a test on reactor four when operating errors and design flaws sparked successive explosions.
The radioactive debris landed around the reactor, creating an...Read the entire article
U.S. Yahoo! Editorial says: "Play room in the creche/kindergarten in the center of Pripyat." - Pedro Moura PinheiroThe Ukranian town of Pripyat was abandoned and declared an exclusion zone after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
Deals of the Day: Barrick Gold Bids $7.65 Billion for Equinox Minerals
Mergers & Acquisitions
Equinox Minerals: Barrick Gold bid $7.65 billion for copper miner Equinox Minerals, besting a hostile bid by a Chinese miner in the latest salvo in a battle for mineral assets. [WSJ]
NYSE-Nasdaq: Sen. Charles Schumer has waded into the stock-exchange takeover wars, demanding Nasdaq and IntercontinentalExchange provide details of potential job losses should they succeed in their joint bid to buy NYSE. [WSJ]
Related: When it comes to antitrust scrutiny, it pays not to underestimate the European Commission. Ask Microsoft, which has faced multiple competition probes. Or investors in Honeywell International, whose sale to General Electric was given the green light in the US, only to be blocked by Brussels in 2001. [WSJ] Related: NYSE is set to increase by up to a third its forecast for cost savings from a deal with Deutsche Börse, as the US exchange operator raises the stakes in efforts to counter an $11.3bn bid from Nasdaq and ICE. [FT.com]
Apple Inking Deals With Big Four Labels For iTunes Cloud-Music Service
Apple's efforts to launch a new cloud-based music storage service for iTunes users are gaining steam—the company has reportedly already inked a deals with Warner Music Group and at least one of the remaining three largest music labels.
Apple has reached a license agreement to offer Warner's music ahead of the launch of what industry watchers believe will be an online music "locker" service similar to one Amazon launched last month, CNET reported Friday.
A day earlier, AllThingsDigtial reported that Apple had inked deals with two major labels and that vice-president of Internet services Eddy Cue would be in New York on Friday to negotiate deals with the remaining two.
In addition to Warner, the top three music labels are Universal Music Group, Sony and EMI.
If the reports, which cite unnamed music industry sources, are accurate it would mean Apple would be launching its anticipated cloud-music service very differently than its rival rolled out its own music locker offering. Amazon launched without licensing agreements from major labels.
Driver's survival guide
Photo: Stephen C. Host, The Canadian Press
If your idea of a vehicular emergency is changing a flat tire, let's just say the instructions are on a sticker under the trunk lid or in your vehicle's owner's manual. But as the nightly news likes to remind us all too often, the world can be a dangerous place. When such threats occur, it'll take some sang-froid and a bit of knowledge to escape serious injury or even death.
For driver-against-nature duels, we queried noted driving consultant and owner of 4-Wheeling America, Bill Burke. He often instructs military and security-service men and women, as well as enthusiast civilians, on wilderness and foreign-country driving skills that can save their lives.
Help with driver-against-another-person conflicts came from Mike McGovern of The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving in Phoenix, Ariz. Car control is the emphasis of Bondurant's Executive Protection/Anti-Kidnapping course, which is a natural extension of its many racing curricula.
Easter Sales: Best Online Easter Deals
With Easter weekend almost upon us let’s take a look at where you can get yourself the best sales. Retailers both online and in the malls are looking to get their spring sales up by offering up some great deals over the next few days. Apple is set to start sales on Thursday including fun stuff from both itunes and the App Store. Searching the internet will help you to find the best online Easter deals.
Other retailers set to have sales over the long weekend will most likely include Best Buy and Walmart. Although the sales are not up yet, by Thursday night the online sales should be available. Retailers are generally looking for the Easter sales to help bring up their profit margin, which has been low as of late. What will you be looking for this year with the Easter Sales?
NHL reach 10-year broadcast deal SportsWatch
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — The National Hockey League and NBC Universal agreed to a landmark 10-year broadcast deal Tuesday that will dramatically increase the NHL’s exposure and value.
The new deal is reportedly worth $2 billion. That’s roughly $125 million a year more than reported sums under the previous NHL deal with Versus — and a timely boost for a league whose teams in smaller or nontraditional markets are struggling.
The agreement is also the first major sports deal struck by NBCU since it was acquired by Comcast Corp. /quotes/comstock/15*!cmcsa/quotes/nls/cmcsa CMCSA +1.67% in late January. Media reports and comments Tuesday from NBC’s sports chief suggest more deals, and a rebranding of Versus, are on their way.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol announce 10-year deal Tuesday in New York.
Getty ImagesBeginning next season, NBCU will broadcast 100 regular-season hockey games across its channels, which now include Versus, and will for the first time nationally broadcast all NHL playoff games.
Why You Should Never Turn Down an Interview
Whether you are fresh out of college or a seasoned professional, you should always embrace the opportunity to interview for a job. It doesn't matter if the timing is bad or if you started a new job yesterday--accepting an invitation to interview is always a wise move.
Here are five reasons why you should never turn down an interview:
It's good practice. There's a reason so many people are scared to fly on airplanes: We have no way to practice and most of us do it infrequently. The more we do something, the better we get at it, and interviewing is no exception. Sure you can hold mock interviews with family and friends, but nothing will prepare you like real-world experience. Since the opportunity to interview doesn't arise frequently, embrace it when you get the chance.
[In Pictures: 12 Common Work Email Mistakes.]
Think about the future. Even if the position you are interviewing for is not a perfect fit, another opening, one that you might be unaware of, could be floating out there. Meeting face to face with a potential employer will put you on the radar, increasing your chances of being considered for a position in the future. Even if you turn down the job--with grace and professionalism, of course--the connection you create can be helpful down the road.
Get that resume critiqued. The person peppering you with questions about past accomplishments and future ambitions can help you refine your job-searching arsenal for future positions. You might think your resume is perfect, but it's a fluid document that regularly needs to be refined and tweaked. A gaping void can be right in front of you. An interview can help you uncover these holes and fill them in. Plus, sitting through an interview is like getting free career advice--no need to hire a professional resume writer.
10 stocks to watch in the week ahead
Related topics: Medtronic, growth stocks, investments, StockScouter, health care
Reports from a major meeting of cardiologists in New Orleans this month suggested that Medtronic's slow-growing core business is about to get a welcome shot in the arm.
The Minneapolis company used the conference to introduce results from a study showing its next-generation stent is superior to existing versions in treating patients with coronary artery disease.
The development should help Medtronic (MDT, news) increase its share of the $3.8 billion global market for drug-eluting stents to 21% from 17% by 2014, Wells Fargo analyst Larry Biegelsen said in a note to clients. Stents are tiny tubes that prop open clogged arteries. When stents are coated with drugs, the arteries are less likely to reclog.
Kate Middleton and the family business: Party Pieces
Prince William and Kate Middleton's fairytale romance begins a new chapter on April 29. So too does the business owned by the family of the future princess.
Kate's middle-class parents, Michael and Carole, are the owners of Party Pieces, a party supplies business that sells everything from balloons and bunting to cakes and confetti.
Thanks to their entrepreneurial spirit, over the last two decades the company has gone from a little start-up to a family firm that today claims to be "the UK's leading online and catalog party company."
And now with the royal nuptials pending -- Kate and William will marry in Westminster Abbey on April 29 -- the public profile of the venture has surged.
Having a link to the royal family establishes instant credibility for the firm, said veteran publicist Michelle Tennant, who is also co-founder of Wasabi Publicity.
"It creates awareness, boosts sales and establishes credibility, and that's the biggest challenge for small businesses -- establishing credibility," she said.
The royal engagement boosted traffic to the Party Pieces website tremendously, with U.K. visits surging 163% the week William and Kate made the announcement, according to data compiled for CNNMoney by Experian Hitwise.
James Murray, an analyst at the web metrics firm, expects traffic to keep rising in the run-up to the wedding, although it might not achieve that initial peak again.
A family affair
Carole Middleton was a stay-at-home-mom when she launched Party Pieces in 1987, when Kate was just 5. She started it out of frustration at not being able to easily find affordable party bag presents for her own children's parties.
Canada's Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
A handy resource for Canadian drivers looking for a more fuel-efficient vehicle comes courtesy of the federal "EcoENERGY" program which has tested vehicles for fuel efficiency since 1999. Its data is available at their web site (with its consumer unfriendly URL http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca) for each of those years. Consumers can consult their research to get reliable comparative information when selecting a new or used vehicle.
More on Autos.ca:
• Most fuel-efficient midsize sedan
• Feature: GM’s new fuel-efficient models
• More Green Car ReviewsFor 2011, vehicles are divided into ten categories, and an amount is estimated that represents an owner's annual fuel cost based on an expected 20,000 kilometres with a mix of 55 per cent city driving and 45 per cent highway driving. Unfortunately, the price of fuel is not consumer-selectable on the government website, currently underestimating fuel costs by 15 per cent (and climbing!).
Best Cash Back Car Deals April 2011
Cash back incentives are great for car shoppers who plan on using their bank, credit union or private lender to finance their auto loan on a new vehicle. Older models and models that aren't selling fast will usually get the biggest cash back rebates. Customers who plan on buying their next new vehicle with cash can also take advantage of cash back car deals.
When trying to decide between a cash back rebate and a promotional auto loan rate, try to get pre-approved financing through your bank, credit union or private lender. If your pre-approved auto loan rate is better than what the dealer offers you, the easy choice is the cash back and to take the auto loan rate that your lender offered you.
5 Places to Retire for Under $500 per Month
Housing is likely to be one of your biggest retirement expenses. One way to approach your search for the ideal overseas retirement haven is to focus on retire-overseas choices where housing is cheap.
It's important to note that, for these bargain rents, you won't be getting a palatial or luxurious abode. I'm limiting my picks to places where you could rent something modest and cozy but reasonably outfitted from a North American's perspective. Here are five places where you could rent for as little as $500 per month.
[See The World's Best Beaches for Retirement.]
Leon, Nicaragua. Nicaragua has suffered serious bad press as a result of its troubled past and current President. Those unfortunate realities aside, this beautiful land of lakes and volcanoes has a great deal to offer the would-be retiree, including a new program of special benefits for resident retirees. There is also a growing and welcoming community of expats from around the world, top-notch health care in Managua thanks to the international-standard Vivan Pellas Hospital Metropolitano, and bargain-priced rentals.
Leon is the second of this country's two colonial cities, and generally less developed and recognized than its sister city, Granada. In many ways, Leon is preferable. It's a university town with museums and theater that sits less than a half-hour from the coast. Because it's been largely ignored until recently, it's also a more affordable place to rent than higher-profile Granada. You could rent a two- or three-bedroom colonial house here for as little as $500 or $600 per month.
Sprott: Silver Is The Investment Of The Decade
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, On Tuesday April 5, 2011, 11:50 am EDTEric Sprott's Sprott Asset Management knows a little something about investing in gold and silver, so when Sprott calls silver "the investment of the decade," those are words worth listening to.
In an interview with Mineweb, Sprott said "Silver is the investment of this decade as gold was the investment of the last decade." And it's hard to argue with that assessment as silver prices have nearly doubled in the past year and more than tripled since June 2009. Sprott, who last month said silver prices could go to $100 an ounce, told Mineweb that he does not see a gold/silver pricing ratio of 38:1 to lasting.
"So our view is that it will probably go back to 16:1 and the easiest way to imagine that is that if gold was $1,600, silver would be $100 - so that's essentially the theory that we're espousing," Sprott said in the interview. Sprott added that his firm remains "very bullish on gold," but that he expects silver prices to "treble" gold over the next three to five years.
Finding the best flight deals to Hawaii
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By Laura Bly, USA TODAY
By Rick Seaney, special for USA TODAYIt had been more than a decade since my last trip to Hawaii, so I was really looking forward to my December vacation in the islands. How was it? I'm already planning my next visit and would like to share how I plan on finding the cheapest fares.When to go?
As you might imagine, one of the busiest times for flights to Hawaii (thus the most costly) is during the cold weather months on the mainland, so look for discounted fares in the spring and fall. Don't hold your breath for summer deals, especially not this year with oil price trends and folks holding a little extra cash in their travel budget.
How good are the deals?
With fuel surcharges plus taxes and fees running as much as $500 (or more) on flights to Europe, Hawaii is a relative steal if you look purely at the distance of flights. Plus, in many cases, airfare to the islands is cheaper than prices you'll find to many popular Caribbean destinations.
Check out the tables below. The first looks back at prices to Hawaii in 2008, when oil was last surging. Note that today's airfares are tracking even higher. By the way, that drop in prices at the end of 2008 was a precursor to the recession; such a drop is less likely this year
The bottom table looks back at 2006 when there were no fuel crises or recessions (those were the days!). This is a more typical price pattern of prices — up in the summer, then down again, before the big run-up to the holiday season.
Buying a Condo - Smart Financial Move
Buying a condo is one of the most important moves you can make toward your personal financial success. Your decision to purchase a condo makes good financial sense!
People who purchase a condo usually want to avoid the major upkeep and maintenance associated with a single family house. Research is the key to making the right purchase.
Here are some of the things you should take in consideration when searching for condos for sale in Edmonton. Read more at http://www.condosforsaleedmonton.net/.
Bonita Bay East in North Naples, Florida offers Summer Passport Program
Unlimited golf and a spectacular environmental setting make Bonita Bay East's Summer Passport Program one of Southwest Florida's best golf deals. Located in North Naples, the 1,400-acre pure golf facility features two award-winning Tom Fazio-designed championship courses. The nonresidential golf facility has been one of the region's most sought-after golf experiences since it opened as a private club in 1997.
For $600 per person, the Summer Passport Program includes unlimited play on both courses from May 1 through Oct. 31, 2011, and a cart fee of only $25 per person. The extraordinary program includes use of the practice facility prior to scheduled tee times. Players also receive use of the 8,000-square-foot clubhouse, dining room, mixed grille and bar.
"For as little as $100 per month, golfers may take advantage of the slower summer months which are ideal for first-timers as well as more seasoned golfers" said Ian Coleman, director of golf sales at Bonita Bay East. "The two Bonita Bay East courses offer one of the area's few pure golf experiences with no residential development."
DEALS! Best ways to save in April
April is the first month of spring and I’ve found some of the month’s best buys that will have you saving a bundle.
Now that winter is finally over, it’s time to get spring cleaning underway and April just happens to be the best month to buy a vacuum cleaner. Along with spring cleaning sales, new models are ready to come out and retailers will be marking down the current models, which means great deals for shoppers.
And why not compliment a clean kitchen with some new cookware? With graduations around the corner, everything from cooking appliances to multi-piece sets will be on sale waiting for smart shoppers to cash in and save.
How about dropping some pounds while you save? While Arizona runners have been hitting the pavement all winter long, most of the country has been stuck indoors. Sneaker companies know that with April comes all the casual runners, and they come armed with plenty of great deals.
Consumer Reports: Best pet food deals
KUSA - The economy is still in a lull. But people aren't cutting spending on their pets, according to a recent Consumer Reports survey. However, you can trim how much you spend on pet food. That's what Consumer Reports ShopSmart found when it shopped for the best pet food prices.
It checked out prices at supermarkets and at stores such as Target, Walmart, Petco, and PetSmart. A team of secret shoppers was sent out to find the best prices on 23 pet products, including dog food, cat food, kitty litter, and treats.
ShopSmart also checked pet food prices online. PetFoodDirect.com is the biggest pet food e-tailer. But ShopSmart found it usually charged 50 percent more than the lowest prices the shoppers paid.
Specialty pet food stores weren't the cheapest places to shop either. For example, a bag of Meow Mix Original Choice at Petco cost almost $7, at Target it cost just under $4. And Milk-Bone dog treats at Petco were $6.50, but at Walmart they cost $2.50.
The best iPad 2 tariffs
The iPad 2 finally hit Britain on 25 March, causing long queues of gadget worshippers at Apple stores across the country.
The ground-breaking touch-screen tablet computer is now half as thick as the original, twice as fast thanks to its dual-core processor, equipped with cameras front and back, and boasts the same 10-hour battery life. Click here for our full review.While some technology analysts think this version is merely a short-lived evolutionary step on the road to the iPad 3, the iPad 2, which now comes in white as well as black, still presents a tempting proposition.
What are the best deals around?
Mobile operator Three, the smallest of all the UK carriers, is still leading the pack with its generous monthly data allowance of 15GB. It's offering the 16GB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G to new customers for a one-off cost of £229, then £25 a month on a 24-month contract. The 32GB model costs £279, the 64GB £379. Existing customers get £30 off those one-off costs. This is definitely the deal to beat.
Vodafone is offering the same fixed prices but charges £27 a month for a 24-month contract and only gives you a 2GB monthly data allowance plus 1GB of BT Openzone Wi-Fi data as well. Think hard about your likely monthly data usage before committing because Vodafone charges a whopping £15 for each extra 1GB of data you use over your limit.
And significantly, the website says 'Order your iPad now' suggesting there could possibly be delays if demand outstrips supply. As it is Vodafone is quoting expected delivery times of two to four weeks.
The best/worst deals in baseball tickets, food
Boston Red Sox's Jon Lester, center, stands surrounded by teammates as he waits to be pulled by manager Terry Francona, left front, in the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game against the Texas Rangers April 1, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. The Red Sox have the most expensive nonpremium tickets. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)
1. Ticket prices
The highest nonpremium ticket prices are the Boston Red Sox ($53.38), the New York Yankees ($51.83), the Chicago Cubs ($46.90) and the Chicago White Sox ($40.67).
The lowest nonpremium ticket prices are the Pittsburgh Pirates ($15.30), San Diego Padres ($15.45), Arizona Diamondbacks ($15.74) and the Los Angeles Angels ($17.13).
Linens Discounts from Linensource at WomansDay.com
Photo: © ThinkstockAll of us at Woman’s Day know how tight money is these days and we’re always looking for ways to save a buck or two. There are many sites claiming to have the best deals and coupons on the Web, but who really has time to search through them for hidden savings gems? That’s why, every Thursday, WD.com makes saving money a little easier by providing the five best online deals for a certain type of product—all hand-picked by the pros at Savings.com and guaranteed to be reliable offers from trusted brands. Specializing in a variety of discount offers, ranging from designer clothes and baby products to flat-screen TVs and gourmet foods, Savings.com deals are all double-checked to ensure they are valid and relevant to the offer. This week’s deals focus on discount offers for home linens. Check back next week for five new deals and happy shopping!