Bridal shower is one of the most essential customs before the wedding. It is widely practiced in the United States and Canada. However, it may be a bit surprising that this custom is not originated in these countries.There are different opinions on the origin of bridal shower. There are theories that it is originated in Brussels, Belgium in about 1860. However, the most common theory is that it can be traced back to a love story 16 th to 17 th century about a Dutch couple.There was a young Du... Read Full Story

Forcing indoor bulbs, protecting tree trunks, and getting roses ready for winter are some of the gardening tips for this month.Some woody perennials -- technically called subshrubs -- such as butterfly bush, lavender, thyme, and heather, can be damaged or killed if you prune in fall. Leave the stems as is, protect them with mulch over the winter, and prune in spring.Rose foliage can harbor insects and diseases, both on the shrub and on the ground. Pull off any rose leaves that are still hangi... Read Full Story

Erotic massage or sensuous massage is the use of massage techniques to achieve or enhance sexual arousal. Massages have been used for medical purposes for a very long time. Its use for erotic purposes also has a long history.Today it is used by some couples on occasions as part of lovemaking, either as foreplay or as the final sex act. Erotic massages typically feature massages in erogenous zones of the body to increase sexual arousal.In the Western medical tradition genital massage of a woma... Read Full Story

Weddings performed during and immediately following the medieval era were often more than just a union between two people. They could be a union between two families, two businesses or even two countries.Many weddings were more a matter of politics than love, particularly among the nobility and the higher social classes. Brides were therefore expected to dress in a manner that cast their families in the most favorable light, for they were not representing only themselves during the ceremony.B... Read Full Story

No one knows how the custom of bridal showers started, but there is a story behind it, though not the precise version because no one knows that for sure.Here is how it goes: a poor Dutch girl was living in an era of the dowry system and she was in love with a poor miller. Her father did not approve of her love interest and refused to give her the necessary dowry.Now she was in a bit of a fix, but the townsfolk were curious yet helpful. So they all came one at a time bearing gifts that were ho... Read Full Story

Storing clay pots for winter, checking houseplants for pests, and proper care of new trees are some of the gardening tips for this month.Clay and ceramic pots can crack over the winter if left outdoors with soil in them or if they fill with rain.When the water freezes, it expands, and so does wet soil. Empty potsand store upside down under a tarp or bring them in out of the weather. Plants that summered outdoors may have brought in freeloaders that are now multiplying like crazy in our heated... Read Full Story

Frottage, more commonly known as dry humping, is the act of achieving sexual pleasure with a partner or partners, whether naked or clothed, without penetration. This can include using almost every part of the body, including the buttocks, the breasts, abdomen, thighs, feet, hands, legs, and sexual organs.Frottage can include mutual genital rubbing, sometimes called genito-genital or GG rubbing and most of the other forms of non-penetrative sex. There are many reasons a couple may choose frott... Read Full Story

Bring the entourage, but don't buy.It's fun and useful to bring your mother, friends or sisters on the dress-shopping expedition. It gives you a buffer against an overbearing sales staff, and it's fun to see if your impressions of perfection are shared by your loved ones, not to mention how they'll love being part of such an important decision.But no matter how enthusiastic everyone gets over a certain dress, don't buy in the heat of the moment. Give yourself time to reconsider and buy with a... Read Full Story

So you're planning a bridal shower -- and everyone says you need a theme. "Around the Clock." "Home and Garden." Yawn!There aren't many times we get to be silly and girly in this world, so a bridal shower shouldn't be wasted. Make sure it's genuinely fun. It's simple --- just think about what makes your bride special, and let yourself loose with the theme. Here are a few ideas to charge up the noggin and organize something unique."Like High School — But Better."Revive some great times by ti... Read Full Story

There is only one place in Japan, according to legend, where the chrysanthemum is not grown. Long ago in the city of Himeji, a nobleman lived in a large castle with many treasures. Trusting no one, he allowed only his serving maid O-kiku, whose name means chrysanthemum, to handle and dust his possessions.One day she discovered one of his ten precious plates was missing. Not being able to find it, and fearing she would be blamed, she drowned herself in the well. Every night her ghost would com... Read Full Story