Have a fun and safe Halloween!

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Congratulations Karla!  You are the winner of the Wedding Salon tickets giveaway.  You will be receiving an email with info on how to get your free tickets.

Have a fun Halloween!

Ars Technica

Every time I hang out at McDonald’s to get my parfait fix, I get frustrated coz I have to use the AT&T voice network to go online while an AT&T Wi-Fi was available.  The AT&T Wi-Fi was not free so I didn’t use it.

But great news!  AT&T Wi-Fi access is now available to iPhones for free nationwide.  Yay for faster online speeds .  AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots can be found in airports, hotels, universities, restaurants and a lot more.  Click here for more information including access instructions.

I got two complimentary tickets to the Wedding Salon event in Miami on November 10, 2008 and I’m giving them away in a contest!  To enter, leave a comment below.  Contest ends 9pm EST on Thursday, October 30.  A winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday, October 31.

The Wedding Salon is the world’s first luxury wedding showcase, featuring must-have products and services for the sophisticated bride and groom.
 
Meet with the finest companies to help you plan your wedding.
See the spectacular display of cakes, gowns, calligraphers, wedding bands, floral arrangements, romantic honeymoon destinations, and more.

Click here for a recap of our experience at the Wedding Salon event in NYC.

Purchase a See Jane Work gift certificate worth $25 and get another $25 gift certificate for free.

Offer is valid until midnight, October 31.

George Bush, First Lady Laura and Dick Cheney were flying on Air Force One. George looked at Laura, chuckles and said, “You know, I could throw a $1,000 bill out of the window right now and make somebody very happy.”

Laura shrugged her shoulders and replied, “I could throw ten $100 bills out of the window and make ten people very happy.”

Cheney added, “That being the case, I could throw one hundred $10 bills out of the window and make a hundred people very happy.”

Hearing the exchange, the pilot rolled his eyes and said, “Sh*t I could throw all of your asses out of the window and make 56 million people very happy.”

Thank you Judhy for the email.

STAY DETAILS
September 28-29, 2008
1 king room with continental breakfast
Price: $84.10/night at DaysInn.com

I would definitely recommend this hotel for the price, location, convenience and the very friendly staff.

The rate we got was pre-paid and non-refundable.  You can get a refundable rate for more money.  If you want the option of cancelling and getting the money back, I suggest getting the refundable rate.  On the last day of cancellation, check if the cheaper non-refundable rate is still available.  If it is, book that and cancel the refundable rate.

LOCATION
The locatio is great.  The Days Inn Hyannis is adjacent to the Cape Cod Mall.  It is on Route 132 where a lot of businesses (i.e. restaurants, stores) are located.  There are several beaches 3-5 miles away.

PREMISES
The place looked dated and not very nice in the outside.  But when we got in, we were glad that the place was prettier inside and very clean.  The lobby was tiny, but it had a lounge area and a desk with a computer guests can use.

The building was two stories high.  Rooms on the first floor had patios and those on the 2nd floor had balconies.  We were only there for the night and I didn’t notice an elevator, I’m not sure.  There was ample parking outside that was free.

STAFF
The staff were the friendliest I’ve ever met.  They mingle and always acknowledge their guests.  The front desk were very eager to help and check-in and check-out was a breeze.

ROOMS
Our room (135) was on the first floor and very close to the lobby.  There was a sliding door to the patio.  We were able to park right across our room which was very convenient.  The room smelled great and looked clean.  There was only one night stand and lamps by the bed were propped up on the wall.  The room had a small fridge under the sink counter.  The bed was comfortable, but we’re not that finicky about beds.  The pillows were not too soft so they were a bit high which made my neck cramp a bit.  I’m not used to high pillows.

The bathroom was tiny and the sink is located outside the bathroom right by the door.  I don’t like this setup, but it is expected for hotels such as the Days Inn.  The whole bathroom was clean until I got nosy and tried to peak under the “round” plastic attached around the steel drain and the steel shower switch.  The area under the plastic around the steel drain was dingy and rusty.  Obviously, dirt gets trapped in there.  I don’t know why they have those “round” plastic flaps in there, but they better take it out or clean under it.

AMENITIES
Internet
There was free wireless internet access in the room and the speed was good.  You don’t need a password to access it.  I am not sure if there’s a charge if you use the computer in the lobby though.

Breakfast
Continental breakfast was served 6:30am to 11:30am.  It was your typical continental breakfast with toast, muffins, fruits, cereals, hard-boiled eggs, juices and coffee.  It was nothing special.  But the dining room was immaculate and everything was presented beautifully.  The staff replenished the items quickly and was always on the move.  But he managed to greet everybody that came in.

Pool
The hotel had both an outdoor and heated indoor pool.  Unfortunately we weren’t able to use it.

MY RATING: 

If you have stayed in this hotel, you can add your rating below:
[ratings]

Photo from Brenda's Wedding Blog

My two friends and I went to the Wedding Salon bridal show in NYC two days ago and it was great.  I highly recommend it to brides-to-be.  They usually have shows in a couple of major cities including Los Angeles and Miami.

The area was small and there weren’t a lot of vendors compared to the other bridal expo I went to.  The show featured high-end vendors.  Displayed were different table settings from five florists and they were all beautiful, albeit a little over the top.  The Leondardo daVinci of cakes, Sylvia Weinstock was there offering a taste of her rich cakes.  Colette’s Cakes and another bakery were there offering tastings of their cakes as well.  HPNOTIQ set up a bar in the middle of the room offering two of their cocktail mixes.  A lot of the vendors gave away a lot of goodies, too.  There was no fashion show, but models modeled wedding gowns as they walked around.

When we were done, we went to grab our goodie bags filled with wonderful goodies including: Godiva chocolates, Fashion Form silicone gel petals, SoleMates, Madame Paulette stain removal kit, Lubriderm lotion, magazines, coupons and a lot more.

Photo by Nely Photography

Aside from knowing what to wear to a wedding, there are some etiquette guidelines for the day of the wedding.

Arrive at the ceremony on time, preferably 30 minutes before it’s scheduled to start.  If you’re late, seat yourself quietly in the back when the processional is over.

Do not attend just the reception if you’re invited to the ceremony as well.

If there is a receiving line, do not skip it.  If it’s a big affair, this may be your only chance to chat with the couple and congratulate them.

Mingle during cocktail hour.  That’s what it’s for.

Introduce yourselves to the guests seated at your table that you haven’t met.

Don’t be a party pooper.  If there’s a bouquet throw and/or garter toss, take part in it.  If there are things at the wedding you think is tacky, keep your feelings to yourself.  This is how the couple wants it and it’s not really your place to complain.

Do not leave too early.  Leave at least after the wedding cake is cut.  Do not leave without saying goodbye and thanking at least a member of the couple’s immediate family, if you can’t reach the couple.

Click here for the complete Wedding Guest Etiquette Series.