Living briefs

'I DO'

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Two miles in the woods and trapped in the pouring rain, Livia Stephens and Brandon Auten stopped hiking and started talking.

"It was one of those crazy moments where you don't know what's going on and we had a heart-to-heart about our relationship," Mrs. Auten said.

The pair, who met at Erskine College and were friends for years before dating, decided they wanted to be a couple, and for good reason.

"We have a lot in common. We both like music and the outdoors. Spiritually, we're on the same level," she said.

"We had a real strong camaraderie, a really strong friendship. So we had a really good foundation that has set us up for a strong marriage," she said.

The couple exchanged vows Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Augusta.

See http://augustabrides.com/ for their wedding announcement.

Cut the tension

Tension rods are usually more practical than pretty, but Umbra has changed that.

The company, known for making functional objects with flair, introduced drapery tension rods designed to look good and work well. The rods come in aged brass, pewter, black and white, and have decorative finials in contemporary and traditional designs. The rod and its spring mechanism are also better quality than run-of-the-mill tension rods, the company says.

Three styles are available, two in sizes ranging from 10 to 54 inches and one up to 90 inches long. They can be ordered on Umbra's Web site, www.umbra.com, for prices ranging from $14.50 to $27.50.

Get it in writing

There is only one method that will absolutely guarantee the completion of your home improvement in the event that your contractor fails: a performance bond. A performance bond is simply an insurance policy in the amount of your construction contract, purchased by you (costs about 4 percent of the contract amount), and is secured by the contractor's assets and past performance record. It is difficult for unreputable home improvement contractors to get bonding because the criteria to acquire one are stringent.

Don't confuse the performance bond with the contractor's license bond. They aren't the same.

- From Wire Reports

BIRTHDAYS

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Newswoman Barbara Walters is 74. Actor Michael Douglas is 61. Model Cheryl Tiegs is 58. Actor Mark Hamill is 54. Actress Heather Locklear is 44. Actress Aida Turturro is 43. Actor Tate Donovan (The OC) is 42. Actor Jason Flemyng (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) is 39. Actor-singer Will Smith is 37. Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones is 36. Actress Bridgette Wilson is 32. Singer Diana Ortiz of Dream is 20.

REACH US

Contact Lifestyles Editor Erica C. Cline at: 828-2946 or erica.cline@augusta chronicle.com.