Whether you are one of the newly engaged couples from over the holidays or if you said "yes" before the holidays even started . . . I want to first say Congratulations and to let you know it's time for the planning fun to begin.

One of the planning stages will of course involve creating your wedding registry - whether it's for your brand new home or if it's a second marriage - there is a registry for you. At MyRegistry.com, you can add products to your gift list from any store in the world, even right from your smartphone while shopping. It's true. Here's the full scoop on how easy it is to create a wedding registry with MyRegistry.com . . .

1. Adding gifts from any store in the world is a breeze when you place the "Add to MyRegistry" button on your bookmarks bar. Simply browse your favorite stores and instantly add gifts to your bridal registry with the click of the button.
    
2. Adding to your wedding registry list on-the-go is as easy as scanning any barcode and adding the items to your gift list while browsing your favorite store. Shopping at a store that doesn't have a website? Just take a photo and add a few details about where the item can be purchased.
    
3. Have everything you already need but dreaming of a romantic honeymoon? Well, then you can register for cash gifts. Creating a cash gift fund is the tasteful way to register for cash. It can be used for a honeymoon fund {including activities + dinners together}, a down payment on a new home fund or anything you can think of.

So, when it comes time to create your wedding registry - think about how amazing it would be to have a wedding registry that wasn't limited to just a few of your favorite shops. At MyRegistry.com, the sky is the limit when it comes to the possibilities of adding items to your registry. And, MyRegistry.com even syncs with major retailers which means you can incorporate your existing registries with your MyRegistry.com account. You will love the ease of creating your wedding registry and your guests will love the ease of shopping for you.

Click Here to Sign-Up for your Free Wedding Registry Account

With wedding season getting ready to be fully underway, it's likely you'll be looking for a wedding gift for a special bride and groom. I'm happy to welcome etiquette expert, Cheryl Seidel to the blog today as she shares her expert advice on the most unique and useful pieces that every hostess should keep on hand. Whether you're a bride that loves to entertain large crowds or prefer small intimate get together's - you will want to add a few of these fun items to your wedding registry. These pieces also make the perfect birthday, housewarming, or holiday gifts for any friends and family that love to entertain.

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1. Make a bold statement with this simple, but stunning tiered server from Williams-Sonoma. The 3-Tiered Stand is crafted from rustic mango wood and stands at 24" inches tall, making it perfect for displaying fruit and cheese, cupcakes, cookies and other delicious goodies.

2. Effortlessly move the party to the living room or backyard with this Wine Bottle and Glass Caddy from Crate&Barrel. It’s crafted from beautiful sheesham wood, and would look fabulous on display in a dining room after the party.

3. Soapstone has amazing thermal properties and the Oven-to-Table Entertainment Platter from Uncommon Goods will keep food at the perfect temperature for serving. You can put the soapstone in the freezer for up to an hour and use it to serve fruit or ice cream. You can also heat it up in the oven to serve hot appetizers or dessert. You can even bake directly on the platter.

4. Serve up 7 quarts of your beverage of choice (maybe a sangria!) in this attractive, handmade Glass Beverage Dispenser from CB2.

5. There are certain occasions (i.e. backyard gatherings or ones that include children) that necessitate the use of casual, unbreakable dishes and cups. The Radiance Aqua Melamine Dinnerware and Drinkware from Bed Bath & Beyond features a trendy Moroccan tile pattern in a cool blue color- a fantastic choice for summer entertaining.

6. The Trudeau Duo Tone Floral Wine Charms from Amazon are made of silicone and adjust to fit on any stem glass. There are 12 in the set and they can stay attached to the glass in the dishwasher. Pair these sweet flowers with a bottle of wine for a fun hostess gift.

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7. Set up this beautiful Wildon Home Antique Butterfly Tray Table from WayFair anywhere you need a little extra space for food or drinks. Each Tray Table is handcrafted and easy to transport and has a warm patina finish and a removable tray which can be used with or without the metal stand.

8. Fill these eye-catching glass jars with decorative fruit, plants or flowers - or, you could even stock up on your favorite candy! These Voluminous Containers from Pottery Barn come in several sizes and will add a special touch to your décor.

9. A lovely choice for a casual evening with friends is the Acacia Wood Cheese Board from Macy's that features a hidden compartment that swings out to reveal knives for slicing and spreading both soft and hard cheeses.

10. Keep the drinks chilly and the guests happy with the Artland Oasis Copper Oval Party Tub from Kohl's. This large drink station is constructed from durable metal and the stand elevates the drinks to just the right height, making it excellent for both indoor and outdoor entertaining.

If you've added any of these items to your wedding registry, you are well on your way to becoming "hostess with the mostess". Or, you’ve made a loved one very happy if you've gifted them with one of these great pieces.

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About the author, Cheryl Seidel:
Seidel is the author of the Ask Cheryl blog where she helps advise readers with handy tips on how much to spend and when gift giving is appropriate. She is also the founder and President of Registry Finder, an intuitive search engine that helps gift givers quickly and easily find online registries for weddings, baby showers, graduations and more.

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I have a fun post today for you as I was recently gifted a Soniclean VT Plus S-200 upright vacuum {the first vacuum cleaner to combine suction with sonic technology}. Now, you might think I'm crazy, but I love vacuuming and seeing how fresh the room can look when finished. But . . . with the vacuum I had been using {a canister and upright in one} the task was always a big chore as it was super heavy. With the Soniclean being incredibly light {only weighs 10.5 pounds}, I'm able to carry it in one hand up the stairs to our bedrooms. Vacuuming is now enjoyable and happening MUCH more often.

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The Soniclean VTplus {priced under $250} is the perfect choice for newlyweds to add to their wedding registry list or for gifting the happy couple {if several guests go in together on the gift}.  Since you obviously need a rug to vacuum - how about these lovely patterned area rugs? The color palettes that can be created from these rugs are great inspiration for decorating the entire room of your new home together as husband and wife. Following the color palettes you will be able to see some of the Soniclean's great features:

Abstract Carpet : Sea Green, White, Gray, and Black Area Rug

Abstract Carpet : Paradise Turquoise Area Rug

Abstract Rug : Cancun Indoor/Outdoor Rug in Turquoise and Moss Green

Abstract Rug : Townhouse Rugs Atrium Garden Area Rug

Soniclean VTplus Features Include:
• produces 12,000 sonic vibrations per minute to dislodge dirt before vacuuming it up
• powerful enough to lift 150 lbs
• fragrance dispensing system that emits a fresh laundry scent while you clean {this isn't required for the vacuum to work as I chose to not use it}
• HEPA filter bag system designed for anti-allergen filtration {which is super important for me, I have always been using vacuums with bags}
• low profile design to vacuum under furniture with ease {and it can be stored flat if space is an issue}
• sophisticated jam protection system automatically shuts off the vacuum if it senses an item is jammed in the brushroll
• green "Paramagnetic" motor uses 50% less electricity than other upright vacuums {this probably explains why it's not blowing any fuses like my other vacuum would}
• weighs only 10.5 lbs
• 35 Foot power cord
• 3 Year motor warranty
• lifetime belt warranty

*** In closing, the Soniclean VT Plus is a tiny bit louder than my previous vacuum, but considering the carpets look brand new again after being vacuumed, I'm ok with that. It's also amazing to see how low I can maneuver it under furniture like our couch. It's also not as wide which means it fits between furniture and tables easier. I will obviously have to purchase a separate canister vacuum for cleaning baseboards and upholstery, but those are typically not that costly. I can honestly say that this would be a vacuum I highly recommend.

PS: While I was gifted a Soniclean VT Plus to review,
the opinions & thoughts in this post are all my own.

The popular home furnishings retailer West Elm announced last week the debut of its wedding and gift registry program. It's now easy for customers to register for gifts for their home as a wedding, anniversary, housewarming or “just because” present.  The West Elm Registry even includes exclusive offers from partners Riley & Grey and Minted as well as shopping guides, registry tips and home decorating advice. Below is a little montage of ideas for your newlywed home if red is your go-to color, or maybe you're a bit of a blue couple. Either way, there are so many options available at West Elm, you certainly will not be short on ideas when creating your wedding registry with them. There's even free home design services for wedding registrants provided by West Elm Home Stylists who are available to help with making selections for your registry. 

Organic Cotton Pintuck Duvet Cover + Shams, Enamel Cast Iron 6-Piece Set, Potter’s Workshop Tableware, Minted for west elm - Ember Drops

Organic Bead Print Ikat Duvet Cover + Shams, Greenpan® Nonstick 10-Piece Set, Organic Shaped Crackle Dinnerware, Canvas Print -  Blue Blooms

For the month of May, Target's focusing their wedding registry on "New Beginnings". Since my hubby and I would always head to the beach for our anniversary, I've selected the Threshold Beach Blanket to be the perfect companion with the Threshold™ Solar Round Basket Lantern and the Coleman cooler. After enjoying an afternoon at the beach, it would be so fun to pack a picnic dinner and enjoy eating it together as the night falls and the lantern lights our little secluded area of the beach.

And, now for the fun part - I have a $25 Target eGift Card up for grabs if you let me know what your favorite Target registry product or products inspired by "New Beginnings" would be. Simply complete one or all of the possible entries below before the end of the day on Monday June 2nd to be entered to win. Winner to be announced during that week :)

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Remember . . . when it comes to wedding registries, Target says it perfectly, "Be Yourself, Together®".

This post and giveaway have been sponsored by Target - but all opinions and thoughts are my own.