2013 is here and this is my our year. Well, maybe not year, but in two months, I will be taking that walk down the aisle, looking my honey in the eye as I say:

“I Do.”

Those two words are what every little girl dreams of saying to and hearing from her Prince Charming, as she stands in front of her family and friends on one of the biggest days of her life. However, the road to the alter isn’t always one of bliss; a lot of planning goes into making the wedding day a special one, planning that can be stressful and lead to lots of headaches (but only if you let it!).

Working with the right vendors will help to alleviate that stress and make the planning process much easier. As I near the big day, I will share some of the great vendors I’ve had the pleasure of working with, who have helped make planning for my wedding an exciting event! Check back for updates as we near the big day!

Ring Engstrom Jewelers: The Bling

Recycling, reusing and reducing are all ways in which Europeans are assisting in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is a far cry from the days when we threw everything away without thought. Now we know it is the simple solutions that are making the difference. One example is lighting, which accounts for 14 % of electricity consumption in the EU. As a result, incandescent bulbs are being phased out in Europe and replaced with new energy-efficient and eco-friendly lighting technologies.

The EU has committed to cutting its GHG emissions by at least 20 % by 2020 and to improving energy efficiency also by 20 %. As part of this effort, the European Commission launched its Green Paper on 'Lighting the Future - Accelerating the deployment of innovative lighting technologies'. This in turn is raising awareness of the benefits of light-emitting diode (LED).

This Green Paper is part of the Digital Agenda under the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. It sets out the key issues to be addressed in a European strategy aimed at accelerating the deployment of high-quality solid state lighting (SSL) for general lighting. Its main objective is to help Europe achieve its key energy efficiency, industrial and innovation policy objectives.

Tungsten rods with evaporated crystals, partially oxidized with colorful tarnish. Purity 99.98 %, as well as a high pure (99.999 % = 5N) 1 cm3 tungsten cube for comparison.

This element  tungsten, which has the chemical symbol W and the atomic number 74. The name is derived from Swedish and translates as "heavy stone", in recognition of one of this metal's more obvious qualities.

Pure tungsten is silver-coloured, very hard, and has an extremely high melting point (3422 °C / 6192 °F) -- the highest for any metal and second only to carbon (3550°C / 6422°F). Tungsten is quite rare on Earth and occurs in the wild only in a number of minerals.

By now, I suppose that you are wondering where the chemical symbol, W, came from. Although this element is known as tungsten in many English and French speaking countries, a number of European countries know it as wolfram, a word derived from German, which translates roughly as "wolf's froth" or "cream" -- a reference to the large amounts of tin consumed by tungsten extraction.

Few tools are as invaluable to a chef as the right knife. And, to ensure that the tool keeps its cutting edge, a knife sharpener is equally important. Sharpeners come in both manual and electric models.

An electric knife sharper is better for knives used to cut bones or frozen foods, where a razor edge isn't needed. A manual sharpener will give a precise cutting edge for foods such as meats and tomatoes. Some models offer both manual and electric sharpening.

An ideal knife sharpener starts with a hard, abrasive surface - such as diamond, tungsten carbide or high-alumina ceramic - then uses steel or other ceramics for polishing. Sharpeners made of diamond or tungsten carbide tend to be more expensive; they sharpen quickly but pose a danger to some metals. Among manual models, butcher's steel and ceramic sticks are good for everyday use. For precision in a manual model, look for one made with diamond, tungsten carbide or whetstone. Stone sharpeners, safe for most knives, wear out over time.