Microsofts Corporate Social Responsibility And The...

Microsoft has been a dominant player in the technology industry for a long time now. This paper will tackle different aspects of Microsoft’s corporate social responsibility and the initiatives. When people think about corporate social responsibility, companies like Disney, Toms shoes, and many more come to mind. Everyone thinks of Microsoft when it comes to top of the line softwares, but very few are familiar with how Microsoft has been creating social value. According to the 2015 Global CSR RepTrak 100 report Microsoft has been ranked number 4 in the world for its CSR reputation. Corporate social responsibility does not merely mean protecting the environment but also its constituents. We live in a world where there is more at stake and more that require protection than environmental pollution. Microsoft proves to be a company that cares about the environment and its people. Microsoft issues an annual citizenship report that lists the initiatives the company has taken, their outcomes and future expectations. The report complies with a detailed set of guidelines that fall under UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework and the G4 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. CSR reputation of the company. Brief Description of Microsoft’s CSR Initiatives: The 2015 Microsoft Citizenship reports, published in October, emphasizes various activities undertaken and goals established by the company. Ethical Business Conduct Governance The main goal that Microsoft aims to achieve throughShow MoreRelatedCorporate Social Responsibility ( Csr ) Encompasses Business Practices Involving Actions988 Words   |  4 PagesCorporate Social Responsibility Corporate social responsibility (CSR) encompasses business practices involving actions that benefit the organization and the stakeholders, which comprises of the society (Schermerhorn, 2012). â€Å"CSR is becoming more mainstream because pioneer companies are embedding sustainability into the core of their business operations to create shared values collectively for business and society.† - Liz Maw Understanding Microsoft’s Corporate Social Responsibilities MicrosoftRead MoreMicrosoft’s Partnership with Unhcr – Pro Bono Publico Essay1089 Words   |  5 PagesMicrosoft’s Partnership with UNHCR – Pro Bono Publico? Microsoft’s Partnership with UNHCR – Pro Bono Publico? Let me first provide the landscape of this case study by highlighting that the evolution of the partnership between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the software giant Microsoft Corporation facilitated a strategic and mutually beneficial partnership, as well as shaping the definition today of good corporate social responsibility. The corporateRead MoreEvaluation Of Microsofts Csr Policies And Activities1394 Words   |  6 Pages Evaluation of Microsoft’s CSR policies and activities Microsoft is one of companies that take social sustainability seriously and try to make a change in this world through its policies and activities. Its efforts pertaining ethical business conduct and policies has remarkable. Internal controls as defined by COSO achieve three main goals: Effectiveness efficiency of operations Reliability of financial reporting Compliance with applicable laws regulations. Thus far, Microsoft has been achievingRead MoreEssay on Microsoft Manages Legal and Ethical Issues1148 Words   |  5 Pagesrecognized in the field of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. However, since 1990 the computing giant has been plagued by allegations of antitrust violations and monopolistic, non-competitive business practices. By answering the three questions posed in Part 5, Case 7 of Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases; this review will address how such a legal and ethical dichotomy is possible, and how the issues relate to one another in te rms of corporate reputation. 1. What uniqueRead MoreMarketing Plan For Target Corporation Essay1652 Words   |  7 Pagestheir standards high which make these strategies a bit harder to reach but not impossible. Their Corporate Social Responsibilities report are available online and are legible for the vast majority of people. All the goals above were achieved with the help of Target stakeholders such as their guests, team members, policy influencers, communities, investors and vendors. According to their Target Corporate website and their 2015 CSR Report on their website, their relationships with various communityRead MoreWealth Maximization And Corporate Social Responsibility1745 Words   |  7 PagesWealth Maximization and Corporate Social Responsibility Ebehi Onakpoma Introduction There has been a lingering argument about the legitimacy and importance of corporate responses to CSR concerns. There are diverse opinions of the role of the firm in the environment and thoughts on whether profit maximization should be the only goal of a corporation. Profit maximization is the goal of any business. It is the process by which profits (EPS) of the business are increased. In other words,Read MoreThe Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Changing Goals at Microsoft2167 Words   |  9 Pagesï » ¿Introduction Following the amendment and reauthorization of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Microsoft Corporation began an initiative to research, develop, and market software, hardware, systems, and services that would assist and appeal to people with disabilities. The corporation also turned its attention to attracting, hiring, and retaining people with disabilities who have the qualifications to work at Microsoft a division for accessibility and disabilities was formed by theRead MoreMicrosoft - Strategic Management5346 Words   |  22 PagesKumar Vimal – 931, Harsh Nigam – 924, Arpan Jain - 913 , Ashish Sharma - 915 â€Æ' Contents Introduction 1 Analysis of Microsoft Annual Report – 2009 8 Industry Analysis for Software Industry 10 Internal Analysis 12 Microsoft Corporate Governance: 14 Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.17 Introduction Overview Microsoft Corporation is a public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licensesRead MoreStrategy and Society9783 Words   |  40 PagesStrategy Society The Link Between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility The Idea in Brief Many firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts are counterproductive, for two reasons: They pit business against society, when the two are actually interdependent. And they pressure companies to think of CSR in generic ways, instead of crafting social initiatives appropriate to their individual strategies. CSR can be much more than just a cost, constraint, or charitableRead MoreNintendos Strategic Decision For New Market Space1707 Words   |  7 Pagescontinuous improvement. When assessing Nintendo’s operational management, it is necessary to take their corporate â€Å"Blue Ocean† strategy and demand-based inventory production into consideration as well. Correspondingly, this report will analyze Nintendo’s operational decisions in the context of whether they have benefitted or hindered the company’s success. Company Strategy Nintendo sympathizes with a corporate ideology known as â€Å"Blue Ocean† strategy. The Blue Ocean entails that Nintendo will search for

The Theory Behind Public Speaking - 1765 Words

Avi Sternberg Public Speaking Final Reflection Paper Over the course of this semester, we have learned primarily about the theory behind public speaking. We’ve learned the differences between persuasive and informative speeches, what content should be included in a speech, and how to orally cite sources and had the chance to practice delivering a few speeches. In this paper, I will reflect on the experience I had in the class, what I’ve learned, and what my public speaking skills are going to be used for. Theoretical Concepts Before taking this course, I had some practical experience in public speaking. However, the role in which I performed this speaking was highly dynamic, somewhat conversational, and not grounded in theory. One of the advantages of taking this course was being exposed to the theoretical framework which supports more structured forms of speaking. Here is a brief list of some of the most critical ideas I was exposed to throughout the course. Ethical Speaking: I learned that speakers must ensure that they do not abuse the trust the audience puts in them, and can do so by making sure to only use reliable sources, logical arguments, and avoiding dubious claims. Use of Hooks/Closing Devices: I learned that speakers should find ways to immediately engage their audience, as well as also prepare their audience for the end of the speech. One of the best examples of this I saw during the class was Alec’s use of the noises Puerto-Rican tree frogs make in order toShow MoreRelatedHow Theories Of Education Have Changed Thought The Years1647 Words   |  7 Pageshow theories of education have changed thought the years and how teachers and students adapt to these changes. With the changes in multicultural classrooms and how students with disabilities have rights in public education. All early childhood theories have changed so much though the years based on a diverse multicultural world and new laws to protect students, have been put into place to aid these children. Research that was taken back in the 1900 containing educational theories wereRead MoreThe Time Of World War I1145 Words   |  5 PagesThe Four Minute Men where a public relations group that worked for the government around the time of World War I (WWI). They would manipulate information at of the war and then share that information with the public. One of the 75,000 would share this information during the reel changes at the movie, which was about four minutes, thus the name (Guth Marsh. 2012. pg. 66). Sometimes instead of a person delivering that message they would produce small feature to get the point across, such as Pershing’sRead MoreJohn F. Kennedy: A Legacy Never Forgotten1377 Words   |  6 Pagesenemy of the American Public. When Kennedy ran for office, he had to seem like the more experienced candidate and appeal to all of the people. During his speeches, Kennedy engaged his audiences and they hung on his every word. However, the tragic event of his assassination devastated the country and is something that is still talked about and remembered fifty years later. John F. Kennedy had a major impact on the 1960s and today through his election, influential public speeches, and his heartbreakingRead MoreEssay about The 2012 Dilemma and the Media966 Words   |  4 Pagesbelieve in unbiased coverage of events. For some reason television channels, the internet, and even movies have been telling the public our lives are soon to end, and I have yet to see one special or segment telling us this is not the case, when in fact, there is much evidence out there to contradict these theories. There are doomsday predictions crediting the speaking of Nostradamus’ predictions, the Mayan calendar ending, solar flares, and even a reptilian planet by the n ame of Nuburu, any of whichRead MoreTheories of Persuasion1733 Words   |  7 Pagespower behind persuasive speech. According to the University of Pittsburg, Persuasive speech is the most commonly used type of speech. The speaker should be able to connect with his/her audience. Therefore, the speaker should be aware of what the audience likes or prefers. The following paper seeks to explore some of the main theories surrounding persuasion. The three that will be discussed are Cognitive Dissonance, the Elaboration Likelihood Model and the Psychological Motivational Theory with specialRead MoreA Summary Of The Clash Of Civilization1608 Words   |  7 Pagescivilizations created with are two of the greatest theories on the future of the world. First, Huntington P. Samuel writing the â€Å"Clash of Civilizations: And the Remaking of World Order, then Edward Said writing a scholarly essay on his theory known as Orientalism. These two theories both established in the same era refer to issues within economies like the Women in the Middle World. Clash of Civilization The Clash of Civilizations is a theory or hypothesis that came about after the Cold War. ARead MoreTalcott Parsons was born December 13, 1902 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As an undergraduate at600 Words   |  3 Pagescontributions to fields like anthropology, economics and race relations, he was mostly known for his contributions to sociology. Parsons was mostly known for his work on the concept of structural functionalism, and his development of the general theory of action. Parsons viewed society as a system that has four fundamental prerequisites to survive: adaption, goal attainment, integration, and pattern maintenance. Any part of the social system was known by its contribution to one of the prerequisitesRead MoreAntiwar Movement Essay839 Words   |  4 Pages 2 The United States participation in the Vietnam War was a subject of much debate among the American public. While many Americans supported the United States involvement in the War, in agreement with the Government that American assistance was needed in order to stop the spread of Communism, other people felt that it was immoral for the United States toRead MoreTheories of Ethics683 Words   |  3 Pages Theories of Ethics Virtue theory, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics are categories of virtue ethics. As they are all a part of virtue ethics, they are all schools of thought concerning how people should be and which virtues people must accrue such that they lead good lives. Many of these terms are relative to aspects such as culture and time. The three theories are all related, yet distinctive as theories or schools of thought regarding ethics and behavior. Those who subscribe toRead MoreIn The ‘Business Of War,’ Roy Is Stating That The U.S.1047 Words   |  5 Pagesthe U.S. is power-hungry, and completely disregards the public. The motivation? Oil. Roy shows a clear disapproval for the free market, that it is harsh and cruel and does not stop. She implies that the U.S. is hated as a result of the absolute, power hungry advances into other people’s societies and disregard for the subsequent violations of human rights, but to me it seems as if the last part of the speech almost takes on a conspiracy theory tinge, using one reason to explain years of horrible genocides

Intentionally Decline Cash Payments - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 644 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2019/07/01 Category Finance Essay Level High school Tags: Income Inequality Essay Did you like this example? There are businesses who intentionally decline cash payments and they know exactly what they are doing. In an article titled How the Cashless Economy Shut Out the Poor written by Ginia Bellafante, she writes about her experience when attending a restaurant that declined her cash payment. If she did not pay with a card or apple she was forced to find food elsewhere. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Intentionally Decline Cash Payments" essay for you Create order These companies are intentionally doing this to keep away the poor. 7 percent of American households have no one in them with a checking or savings account, while an additional 19 percent are considered underbanked, meaning that they rely on products or services outside the conventional financial system. (Bellafante, Ginia). The restaurants and business that are partaking in this are discriminating toward those who are not as wealthy and cannot maintain a card or pay using apple. We are now shutting out the poor from being able to consume certain goods and serves. According to Ginia, Visa went forth with the attempt to create a war on cash. Implementing payments through technology. Turns out every time their network is utilized they receive a fee. In another article titled Should a Nonprofit Splurge on Management? written by Kwame Anthony Appiah, also touches on the importance of income inequality. In this article, it tells of an individual who was employed at a nonprofit. Recently it suffered a great loss financially which led to many employees being laid off and later was informed that the senior managers salaries summed up close to the budget and were paying for their presidents company vehicle. (nytimes.com). There was no consideration at all in regards to those who were fired and let go from their employment. They were chosen to be laid off without being aware of their status at home, who they have to take care of if they even can afford to continue paying their rent or even purchase food. This also ties in with the topic of poverty and discrimination. Ginia wrote of business who refuse to accept cash payments. Unfortunately the poor and those living in poverty more than likely do not obtain credit cards or debit cards. T he businesses that are promoting payments with apple and card are aware of that and continue to enforce this policy to keep those who are not as wealthy far away as possible from their business. It is absurd that individuals would deny a human because of their economic status, but that is the world we live in. We are depriving an individual of consuming food, purchasing clothes, and so many other goods and services. Those who work for companies who are promoting this type of transaction are helping to create a bias discriminative demeanor towards those who are poor, are living in poverty, and those who just so happen to leave their card at home one day leaving them with the cash in their wallet. The employees who lost their jobs received the short end of the stick. Those who are wealthier and higher than them did not feel the burden as those who lost their job did. Instead, they are still gaining more money and in this case a new vehicle. There is constantly segregation among individuals due to their economic status, race, religion, gender, etc. If we allow companies to deny us the ability to pay in cash the wealthier individuals who are running these companies and huge corporations will continue to make money off it. Those who are living in poverty will not benefit from this. Where there is discrimination it leads to income inequality which then helps to increase the rates of poverty. There are other factors that contribute to income inequality such as, ability, education, unequal distribution of wealth and plenty more. Sadly, it is something that is constant and unavoidable due to the fact that we have to continue producing output.

Differences Between Multinational And Domestic Operations

The procedures and concepts discussed during this week’s module make valid points for both multinational and domestic operations. Though there are many similarities there are six main keys that differentiate the two. The difference include the different currency denominations, economic and legal ramifications, language differences, cultural differences, role of governments, and political risk. These factors combined contribute to how domestic and multinational firms handle cash, credit, and inventory management. The goals are similar for domestic and multinational firms in terms of cash management. The goals are â€Å"to speed up collections, slow down disbursements, and thus maximize net float.† (pg. 715) Then, the next goal is, â€Å"to shift cash as rapidly as possible from those parts of the business where it is not needed to those parts to where it is needed.† (pg. 715) The last goal is, â€Å"to maximize the risk-adjusted, after-tax rate of return on temporary cash balances.† (pg. 715) Though both have the same objectives multinational firms have more difficulties with cash management compared to domestic firms. This is where the six factors mentioned before come into place. For example, political risk can make it very difficult for multinational because the governments can put restrictions on funds expecting to be received by a firm. The rigidity of converting and transferring money can also make it difficult. Multinational firms require the transferring of money betweenShow MoreRelatedInternational Vs Domestic Strategies : International Marketing Model1326 Words   |  6 PagesInternational vs Domestic Strategies Strategies are the models of guiding companies from the existing position to where it owners would like it to be. Strategies are varying based on the business model. Business growth strategies, human resource development strategies, marketing tactics and internal goal-setting are the major focused areas in a business. Based on the business model, there are domestic and international strategies are implemented. International strategies are set up considering largeRead MoreInternational Marketing Ch 1 Essay1693 Words   |  7 Pages |Self-reference criterion (SRC) | | |Domestic uncontrollables |Global awareness | 2. â€Å". . . the marketer’s task is the same whether applied in Dime Box, Texas, or Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.† Discuss. The only difference between domestic marketing and international marketing is that the activities take place in more than one country. ThereforeRead MoreGlobalization and Free Trade1650 Words   |  7 Pagescontext in the globalized nation, it is referring to a freedom for businesses to trade between countries at no barrier from government intervention which includes imposing tax on the products and services, subsidies, import and export quota limitation, as well as imposing trade legislation. However, this cannot be realized in today’s world (White, 2008) due to the fact that each country needs to protect and balance between the three major aspects which is the social, economy and politic domestically inRead MoreInternational Human Resource Management945 Words   |  4 Pages maintaining compensating their services in tune with the job and organizational requirements. International Human Resource Management (I-HRM) This involves a process of procuring, allocating effectively utilizing human resources in a multinational corporation while balancing the integration differentiation of human resource activities in foreign locations. Objectives of I-HRM: To reduce the risk of international human resource It has helped a lot in reducing the risk in the businessRead MoreDoing Business In China Case Study945 Words   |  4 PagesGSK Continues to Operate Since the ordeal in China GSK currently has continued to keep operations going, the $40.6 million was a big hit on their financials but their stock prices maintain a $40 average. GSK clearly continues to grow and are currently doing well after all the scandals that accrued in 2013 – 2014. They have been recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on their new drug. GSK continues to grow and have two more drugs in the works. Britain’s National InstituteRead MoreThree Activities in Human Resource Management1509 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction With the process of globalization and internationalization, multinational firms develop rapidly. What is the multinational firm? It should be called multinational corporation (MNCs) which is more academic. An MNC is a company physically active in more than one country, like McDonald, Nestle, Ford etc. General speaking, Human Resource Management plays an essential role for an enterprise, especially for a multinational enterprise. What is Human Resource Management? Noe et al. (2006: 5) definedRead MoreMultinational Corporations And The Global Economy1256 Words   |  6 Pagesinto new international territories. Multinational firms represents one of the most prevalent types of firms in the global economy. In comparison to domestic corporations, MNC accounts for about 25% of the world’s product and approximately half of the total world trade (Guillen, n.d.). MNCs are increasingly becoming an important in the global economy and they are three times more common today than 20 years ago. In order to maintain competitiveness, multinational corporations must be able to changeRead MoreEffectively Managing Employee Compensation and Benefit Packages1289 Words   |  6 Pages There are many significant challenges that face multinational organizations in today’s business world. One such challenge, for global organizations and the human resource department, is effectively managing employee compensation and benefits packages. Managing compensation structures has become an integral part of many organizations that conduct operations in the global market, as there are many considerations for the host country when sending expatriates abroad. It is imperative for organizationsRead MoreBasic Strategies Multinational and Participation Strategies1082 Words   |  5 PagesBasic Strategies Multinational and Participation Strategies K. Praveen Parboteeah Basic Strategies Review of strategic decision making and strategic management Understanding of basic strategies And how to craft strategies Industry analysis SWOT analysis Situation with diversified companies Objectives The global-local dilemma Some of the broad multinational strategies Multidomestic Transnational International Regional Participation strategies – how should one enter a market Read MoreMultinational Corporations Based On International Business Essay1730 Words   |  7 PagesAlthough the multinational is separated in several nations, it remains as a single enterprise and therefore must consider how to balance competitive pressures for differentiation and integration (Lawrence and Lorsch, 1967). Multinationals must decide how to be sensitive to the unique demands of the indigenous environment without inhibiting their ability to coordinate the internal operations of local units in search of global strategies. As these issues of differentiation and integration are often

Fossil Notes Free Essays

1. Form in Several Ways (The following are some of the processes that make fossils. ) a. We will write a custom essay sample on Fossil Notes or any similar topic only for you Order Now Permineralization minerals carried by water are deposited around a hard structure (may replace the hard structure) The most common fossils result from this process. A1. Natural Casts form by water removing the bone/tissue, leaving an impression in sediment. Minerals fill in the mold, recreating the original shape of the organism A2. Trace fossils record activity of an organism. Ex. nests, burrows, Imprints, footprints A3. Amber-preserved fossils are organisms that become trapped in tree resin that hardens into amber after the tree gets buried underground A4. Preserved remains form when an entire organism becomes encased in material such as ice or volcanic ash or immersed in bogs. b. Most fossils form in sedimentary rock (layers of sediment). The best environments for fossilization include wetlands, bogs, and where sediment is continuously deposited Ex. river mouths, lakebeds, and floodplains c. For Permineralization, the organism must be buried or encased in some type of material (sand, sediment, mud, tar) soon after death while the organism’s features are still intact. Then groundwater trickles into tiny pores and spaces. The excess minerals in the water are deposited on the remaining tissues. The mineral deposits are left behind making a fossilized record to replace the organic tissues with hard minerals. It has the same shape as the original structure and may keep tissue. 2. Radiometric Dating Provides an Accurate Estimate of a Fossil’s Age. a. Relative Dating estimates the time during which an organism lived. It’s done by comparing the placement of fossils of that organism with the placement of fossils in other layers of rock. b. Radiometric Dating is a technique that uses the natural decay rate of unstable isotopes found in materials in order to calculate the age of that material. (Done to calculate actual age of Fossil) c. Isotopes are atoms of an element that have the same number of protons, but a different number of neutrons. Isotopes are named by their number of protons plus their number of neutrons. C1. Isotopes with unstable nuclei ave their nuclei undergo radioactive decay (break down) over time. This releases radiation in the form of particles and energy. A decaying isotope may turn into a new element.. A half-life is the amount of time it takes for half of the isotope in a sample to decay into a different element, or its product isotope 3. Radioactive Dating a. A fossil’s age can be estimated by comparing the ratio of a stable isotope, to a radioactive isotope. Carbon-14 dating can be used to date objects only up to about 45,000 years old. Older objects can be dated using isotopes with longer half-lives. . Scientists have used radiometric dating to determine the age of Earth by using meteorites 12. 2 The Geologic Time Scale 1. Index Fossils Are Another Tool to Determine the Age of Rock Layers a. Index Fossils are fossils of organisms that existed only during specific spans of time over large geographic areas. b. The best Index fossils are common, easy to identify, found widely around the world, and only existed for a relatively brief time. 2. The Geologic Time Scale Organizes Earth’s History a. The Geologic Time Scale is a representation of the history of Earth. It organizes Earth’s history by major changes or events that have occurred, using evidence from the fossil and geologic records. b. The time scale is divided into a series of units based on the order in which different groups of rocks and fossils were formed. It consists of 3 basic units of time: (Periods are most common) B1. Eras last tens to hundreds of millions of years and consist of two or more periods B2. Periods last tens of millions of years. Each period is associated with a particular type of rock system. B3. Epochs are the smallest units of geologic time and last several million years. How to cite Fossil Notes, Papers

The Perfect Day free essay sample

The Perfect Day When I was a little girl I would dream about my wedding day. I would pick out what colors I wanted. I had to have almost everything be pink because it was my favorite color. I used to even play dress up with all of my younger sisters. I would always have to be the princess, and they could dress up as anything else. I had a special white fluffy dress that my mother had made me for Halloween. No one was allowed to wear it but me. I would always say my wedding day would be the happiest day of my life. I wanted to feel like a princess, and could not wait until my Prince Charming would come and take me away. It was the first day of March 2008. There were a few piles of cold snow that had not melted yet all over the ground. The weather was just how I hoped it would be. It was not too cold and not too hot. The sun was shining bright in the afternoon sky. I was sitting anxiously at the reception hall waiting for the cake to be delivered. I still had to decorate the cake with the pink silk roses. Then I had to go get my hair and makeup done. I had to be at the church on time. I could not believe that the people from the bakery arrived late. I hoped that this was not sign that the rest of the day would have problems too. I was late but I finally got to the church, and I could see the huge black limo was already sitting in the parking lot waiting for us. Inside the church, there were pink, white and silver sparkly decorations everywhere. Almost all of the decorations that were used in the church were handmade by me. I had spent hours and hours every week at Hobby Lobby, and others craft stores trying to find exactly what I wanted to use. I had made fifty white and pink shiny tulle bows that were on each one of the pews. I was so proud of all the work I had done. The night before, hours and hours had been spent carefully making every single thing look absolutely perfect. I was getting ready to walk down the aisle with my father at my side. I was not sure how he was feeling. I am the oldest daughter of four, and I am the first one to get married. I am sure he had no idea we were going to be married so soon in our relationship. I also was the first child to move out f the home because my sisters are much younger than I am. I knew he liked my husband though. After all, he did hire him as an employee when we had first started dating. I liked the fact that my father had offered him a job at his construction company. He had been working at a different construction company at the time, and my father offered him more money to come work for him. All that mattered to me was that he knew I was going to be with someone who would take care of me. I had never had this many butterflies in my stomach before. I stared down at my bouquet. I did not think that it would have turned out so good. I made it myself with large and small light pink roses and silver sparkling ribbon tied in a zigzag design all the way around. I felt like a princess in my strapless long flowing beaded white gown. I loved that my butterfly tattoo on my shoulder stood out like a stunning piece of art. The colors are so bright most people think it is not real. My veil was what I had always wanted. It had beautiful beading all over that looked like it had taken someone hours and hours to do, and it was long enough to drag the floor. I had always wanted to wear elbow length white gloves and I found the perfect ones that had beading on them that perfectly matched my dress. My hair was done by one of my good friends who I went to high school with. She put in long dark extensions that matched my hair color. Then she put long loose curls all over. It was nothing special, but it looked amazing. I had never felt so beautiful in my life. Every pew in the church was filled with people. I had no idea that so many people would actually come. I was so excited that my uncle had came from California. My grandpa, that I never get to see, also came. It seemed like I had been standing next to the door forever. I started to think about my chihuahua puppy Zoe. I wished she could be here with us. I hated leaving her by herself for a long period of time. I had wanted her to be the ring bearer. I had even found a little t-shirt at a pet store that was black and white that said ring bearer on it. It even had a place to tie the rings too, but I knew it wouldn’t work out. She absolutely hates everyone but me and Adam. She would have tried to bite every person who came near her. I finally heard the all-familiar song, and I knew it was time to start walking down the aisle. The ushers opened the doors for us, and we walked down the white sheer aisle runner with the pink silk rose petals on it. I got a little nervous and started walking too fast. My father had to tell me to slow down. I was just trying to remember everything I had to do. I didn’t want to look like an idiot and like I didn’t know what I was doing. I finally got to the stage and waited for the preacher to ask â€Å"Who gives this woman to this man? † My dad said, â€Å"Her mother and I. Then I tried not to fall and go up the step to be next to my soon-to-be husband. We stood under a huge silver heart shaped metal arch covered with vines of green leaves, big pink roses, and small white roses. I could not be any more excited. Our wedding day had finally come. All the days of stress and planning were all worth it. All the things that I didn’t get that I wanted and that w ere not perfect didn’t matter to me anymore. I looked into his caring eyes and smiled. This was the man I am going to spend the rest of my life with