Malcolm Knowles (1913-1997), pioneer in adult education, titled one of his books, "The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species." And no wonder. Many people closed their books halfway through life; research on how grown-ups learn was in its early stages; teachers equipped to handle mature students were hard to find.
Today lifelong learning opportunities are plentiful and instructors well-versed in space age information delivery. Still, millions fail to take advantage. They need constant reminders of the pot of gold at the end of the adult education rainbow.
Five bright benefits come to mind. First is the prospect of a fatter paycheck. Job promotions go to smart people who keep up with the latest information and technology. It's just good sense to refresh and retrain for the workplace. New careers are created all the time so those who see what's coming and want to jump ship have got to be prepared with new certifications, diplomas and degrees.
Second is the enhanced self-esteem when you reach for new horizons, accept tough challenges and arrive at a whole new level. New learning is not a picnic but the joys of accomplishment are real. Your children are proud. Your neighbors are surprised and maybe just jealous enough to go out and do likewise.
Third is the freedom given to adult learners. The teacher is more facilitator than dictator. Adult students, unlike young kids, may be just as experienced as the person at the front of the room. Adult classmates share ideas and teach each other. Assignments may culminate in a group project or program rather than a graded exam. Memorizing facts is at a minimum; answers are not absolute.
True, there are some studies where exactness counts and tests are mandatory. But a quick Internet search turned up references to the use of adult education theories in highly regimented disciplines, such as nursing and medicine. Getting ready to pass state boards did not prevent creative teaching where students' views are respected and acted on. It is possible to combine traditional methods with adult learning styles.
Fourth is the shift of schooling to a 24/7 model and long-distance or online methods. Trade the classroom for your computer. Stay home and study in your bathrobe. Earn a degree without ever stepping on campus. Leave an email message for the professor at 3 a.m. With time and space constraints removed anyone who truly wants to go on learning can do so. Further, some class enrollments are open with start dates at your convenience.
Number five is making scholarship a habit. Education becomes second nature; it's who you are as much as what you do. People live longer now and their health stays robust. Folks dread the thought of 15 or 20 years after retirement with idle hands and minds. Luckily, such waste is out of fashion. Well known programs, such as Elderhostel keep people thinking, socializing and traveling. Grandmothers get their master's degree.
Invest in yourself. Empower your life. Jump start your future with strong commitment to lifelong achievement. Knowing these five benefits can wipe out all excuses.
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While a wedding cake in some form still graces a position of honor at most weddings, couples have a lot of leeway in the wedding cake design that they will have. The bride and groom can choose a traditional design or a modern design or an unusual design that is quite unique and original. It can stand apart from the reception food or be complementary to it. For instance, serving barbecue does not mean you can’t have a formal tiered white cake.
Traditional Wedding Cake Designs
When someone thinks of  maternity wedding gowns maternity wedding gowns; classic wedding cakes they are likely thinking about round, multi-tiered, wedding dresses wedding dresses white cakes surrounded in white vanilla buttercream icing and decorated with gumpaste pearls, butter cream piping and perhaps some fondant flowers. On the inside would be a moist yellow cake and the same butter cream filling. Of course a bride and groom figure are perched at the top.
So, while Queen Victoria of England set the stage for the white wedding dress wedding dress and white wedding cakes, your traditional cake would likely not be the Victorian era fruit cake. However, white party dresses white party dresses your traditional cake could be capped by either a bride and groom topper or a small bouquet of fresh flowers as was the Victorian custom.
Modern Wedding Cakes
Contemporary wedding cakes typically mix elements of the traditional with the non-traditional. For example, the shape may still be round and tiered but the couple may choose a color other than white or ivory. Or, your towering four tier wedding cake may be milky white, but each of the tiers might be square or heart-shaped.
The gift box wedding cake, which has become very popular, is a stacked cake without pillars, where each level of the stack looks like a wrapped gift box. The stack may be orderly or each “box” may be off kilter from the one below it, bridesmaid dresses with an “ prom gowns prom gowns;opened lid” perhaps at the top level. Though your gift-box cake may be white, many are done in the wedding theme colors and may match the bridesmaids ’ dress colors, the table decor or the wedding flowers. The bows and ribbons are usually edible and made of gum paste or fondant, though double sided satin ribbon is sometimes used.
Don’ wedding dress ;t confuse the gift box wedding cake with a wedding cake favor box which is a box that is given to each guest in order to take home a piece of the wedding dessert.
Unusual Wedding Cakes
Gift box wedding cakes were unusual at one time, so the definition of what is unusual continues to change. To really have something unique, consider the way you met each other, consider where you met, is there an activity you both really love to do, are you both in a fun and rewarding profession, do you have children, do you have a pet?
Then formal prom dresses , go ahead and ask your wedding cake designer to come up with sketches that capture the essence of your idea. Airplane pilots may ask for something in the shape of an airplane; couples that met while traveling or stranded at an airport may want a cake shaped like a suitcase; brides and grooms that enjoy fantasy may want a castle with a dragon, or a creation in rainbow colors with butterflies and birds.
Whimsical is OK because this is your wedding and your cake can be something important, funny or meaningful to you.
Mini Wedding Cakes
While cupcake weddings are also very popular, miniature wedding cakes are another possibility for your weddings. Your mini wedding cakes can be sized per person or per table and will generally reflect the colors and style of the main wedding cake. If there will be one per guest, they can be displayed on tiered servers, until they are ready to be served. Otherwise, table sized ones can be part of the reception table centerpiece for each guest table.
Note that mini wedding cakes will be more expensive than having a single larger cake as each individual one needs to be decorated. Also, evening wear dresses serving one per person will be be a more involved and costly production for your baker, than having one per table.
Wedding Cake Flavors
Bakers will typically have standard flavors and fillings as well as gourmet fillings that are priced a bit higher. Some professionals will also work with a bride and groom who may have a special request for a particular filling or flavor that is not in the repertoire. Your tiered cake can also have a different flavor and/or filling for each of the tiers. Here are some of the most popular flavors and fillings dresses summer 2011 :
Some Cake Flavors
Common Butter Cream Cake Fillings
Premium Fillings
While your choice of flavors and fillings may be more limited, prom homecoming dresses many bakeries can create dairy-free, sugar-free and gluten free items.
Designing and Ordering Your Wedding Cake
For the best results, you should work with a wedding cake baker or designer in your area who specializes in wedding cakes. Look at their wedding cake photo gallery, to see if there is a design that suits you. Even if you have a unique request, a good baker will be able to create the cake that you want and have it not only measure up to your expectations but be appropriate to the specific type of wedding you have planned.
Here are some other fun readings about Wedding Reception Food:
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