How to make your proposal perfect

You've picked the perfect ring. You've practiced the words you'll use when you propose. But you know she would be livid if you asked her on the big screen at a sporting event.

Close your eyes and imagine your wedding: What do you see?

While other elements of the big day might flash by in a blur, images of your venue and the way it made you feel to be there will remain with you forever. It's important to take time to envision your entire event's style and the atmosphere you want to remember -- whether it's funky and hip, elegant and modern, or intimate and ...

Wedding’s done, now the honeymoon

After the thrill of wedding festivities dies down, couples often jet off to a honeymoon retreat and begin an entirely different adventure. The honeymoon may create mixed feelings, some concerning the chance to spend time alone after months of planning and a few feelings of anxiety over spending the first night together as a married couple. For many couples, the honeymoon wedding night is the first time ...

Put together ensemble that's just as ready for red carpet as it is the aisle

As brides take more chances with their fashion statements, Hollywood Glam is one of the key trends emerging in bridal fashion. Not afraid to experiment with color, shine and other attention-drawing details, brides are borrowing ideas from the red carpet, looking for tips and style direction from celebrities.

Some 'green' ideas for winter-white weddings

You're ready to say your "I do's" in front of your family and friends. Planning a memorable celebration of your commitment to each other, however, doesn't mean you have to compromise on your commitment to the environment. It's possible to create the wedding of your dreams and stay "green," even in the cold, white months of winter.

Wedding day beauty should show off radiant version of you

Applying makeup is, for most women, nothing more than an everyday task. On your wedding day, however, hair and makeup decisions are no less important than the dress and shoes.

Start with a handmade personal touch

The rolled parchment looks like it's been squirreled away in an attic for ages. It's stiff, discolored, wrinkled, charred around the edges. But the text, written in artful calligraphy, is legible. It begins

Explaining various bridal customs origins

Chances are those who have attended a wedding have witnessed some popular traditions. The bride wears a veil, a court of wedding attendants accompanies the bride and groom and birdseed, rice or flower petals are tossed. But have you ever wondered why?

Find the perfect recipe for a bar

Stay fresh: Use blooms to add personality and panache to your party

Wedding flowers are more than just petals to toss or a bouquet to throw - they're an accessory that can complement your dress, bring life to your venue and offer an important opportunity to express your overall style and personality. This year, the best way to be up-to-date is easy: be yourself.

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The wind-blown sandy loam plains of South San Joaquin County weren't exactly hospitable to farming back in 1908.

CARE to know why your power rates are higher?

CARE to know what PG&E and South San Joaquin Irrigation District agree upon? Try how a number of folks in Manteca, Ripon, and Escalon are getting reduced electrical rates that probably aren't qualified to receive rate breaks. As a result everyone else is subsidizing their power use whether they are other ratepayers or PGE's shareholders. It's part of the quasi-sham known as California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE) that the California Public Utilities Commission foisted ...

NFC champion 49ers gear up for draft with 13 picks

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - With 13 draft picks, Trent Baalke has built quite the board of potential players. A board that is well prepped but could change quickly as the draft unfolds. The San Francisco 49ers general manager has already fielded his share of calls from teams trying to boost their chances by acquiring some of those selections from the NFC champions. "It's up to us to turn those 13 picks ...

Curry, Warriors move on in series without Lee

DENVER (AP) - Stephen Curry laced up his shoes before practice without so much as a soul around him. As soon as the Golden State guard was ready to step onto the Pepsi Center floor, he was swarmed by a pack of reporters. These days, Curry's never left open on the court. The Denver Nuggets certainly don't plan on giving Curry much breathing room in Game 2 on Tuesday night. They ...

NBA Playoff capsules

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Chris Paul's running jumper with a tenth of a second left gave the Los Angeles Clippers a 93-91 victory over Memphis on Monday night and a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. Both teams stayed on the court while the referees reviewed the play. It was declared good, leaving Memphis a tick of the clock to inbound the ball but not enough to get off a final shot. ...

Belt ninth-inning single lifts Giants past D-backs

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Brandon Belt hit a game-ending single to left-center with one out in the ninth, Buster Posey tied it with a two-run homer in the eighth, and the San Francisco Giants rallied to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 on Monday night for their seventh straight home victory. Posey's drive to straightaway center was his second homer of the year and in two days. Belt's first career walkoff hit came ...

Athletics drop season-high 4th straight

BOSTON (AP) - Oakland's longest winning streak against Boston since 1932 came to an abrupt end Monday night. So did A.J. Griffin's string of strong starts. Griffin allowed a three-run homer to Will Middlebrooks and a grand slam to Mike Napoli as the Athletics lost 9-6 to the Red Sox, snapping their eight-game run over Boston dating to last season. The 25-year-old right-hander had been nothing short of superb through his ...

Reddick and Moss visit young bombing victim

BOSTON (AP) - Josh Reddick and Brandon Moss of the Oakland Athletics visited an 11-year old boy Monday who was injured a week ago in the bombings at the Boston Marathon. Moss and Reddick, who both previously played for the Red Sox, are in town for the start of a three-game series Monday night against the Red Sox. They spent time at Boston's Children's Hospital, visiting Aaron Hern, who is from the ...

MLB capsules

WASHINGTON (AP) - Yadier Molina drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, backing Shelby Miller's strong start Monday night, and the St. Louis Cardinals returned to the site of their Game 5 NL division series victory last season with a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Home sales slip slip as supply remains tight

Netflix's subscriber gains catapult stock

Audit: Vegas taxis overcharged $15M to airport

Oak Valley Bank: Net income of $1.3 million for first quarter

OAKDALE − Oak Valley Bancorp - the bank holding company for Oak Valley Community Bank and Eastern Sierra Community Bank - recently reported consolidated net income of $1.3 million for the first quarter. Consolidated net ...

New York City proposes raising age for cigarette purchases to age 21

Odd News

VIETNAM POLICE SEIZE 53 KING COBRAS FROM CAR: HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - Vietnamese police say they have seized 53 king cobras from a car in Hanoi and arrested the driver.

Bill jeopardizes tax-free online shopping