So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Parental Guidance: Kids Spending Too Much?

By Alix Montoya

I'm sure you've noticed how tighter our budget has become. Prices of goods are skyrocketing into colossal proportions and there's pretty much nothing we can do about it but just pull up our belt a notch tighter, endure, and hope for better days. Unfortunately, the younger population seem to be completely oblivious to these events and we need to show them how to become more responsible about finances before it's completely too late.

Parents have the number one responsibility of teaching their children all about spending wisely. However, not a lot of parents out there dare to stand up or even completely forget all these completely. Some would even claim they don't know how. So if you're stuck clueless on money matter lessons, then here are a few useful tips to get your lessons started.

Teach your kids the real value of money. The best way you can make them understand this is by letting them experience the hard work that's needed to earn money. If your kids are a little older, it won't hurt them to get a job or start their own business, maybe even open up shop with their hobbies in Rhode Island craft shows. Kids tend to appreciate money more if they work hard for it.

Consider opening up a savings account. It's good to have a piggy bank to save some of their allowance or earnings in, but of course, while their at it, why not save it inside an actual bank instead. More and more banks nowadays carry special promotions for young savers and even teenage clients. There are a lot of things they offer that make the prospect even more enticing, like membership to special clubs and all that.

Show them how to budget. It's important to always have a plan to keep everything in order. This may be a bit frustrating, especially if our children tend to lose on some of the budget's aspects. Good thing, you're there to give support and teach them how to rectify financial woes, young as they are.

There are a lot of great ideas out there on how to make our kids more involved when it comes to saving the family from financial struggles. All we have to do, as parents, is show them the way and guide them with every step they take towards a more responsible future.

About the Author:

Do Vegetarians Need Extra Nutrients

By Jim John

Being a vegetarian doesn't automatically mean you're going to be healthy. You can still stuff yourself with plenty of junk food products that don't contain meat. If you want to eat healthier, a vegetarian diet is a great way to go. But you're going to have to put a little extra time and effort into making sure you are getting all the nutrition your body needs.

Sometimes people who hear of your vegetarian diet will criticize your food choices and try to advise you of your nutritional intake. Be assured though that you should only have to make some minor adjustments to ensure all your nutritional needs are met. Keep in mind that you will need protein and other nutrients in amounts large enough so that leaving out meat products will not have an adverse effect on your diet. .Protein is necessary for our body to grow and to repair itself. Nutritionists tell us that twenty percent of our diet should be protein.

What are some of the ways a vegetarian can get protein into their diet without meat? The most well known vegetarian food is probably the versatile soybean. Soybean is used in the production of soymilk, tofu and tempeh. These products are a wonderful addition to any vegetarian diet and contain no animal products at all. You can find many products made from soy that can be a wonderful replacement for their meat counterparts.

So-called "soy chicken" and "soy meat" have greatly improved over the years. These days, you can't tell some of the chicken versions apart from the real thing. If you feed them to your meat-eating pals, they probably won't even guess what it is they're dining on. The transition from meat-eating to vegetarianism can be easy! These meat-substitute products are perfect for new vegetarians.

A common misconception is that a meatless diet is characteristically lacking in iron. However, that is completely untrue. Spinach is a great source of iron--where else could the Popeye legend have come from? Iron supplement pills are usually unnecessary, except in cases where the person is seriously deficient in iron. Not many people know that a large surplus of iron in the body is actually dangerous! Be careful when you start supplementing your diet in any way. Your diet should be able to provide you with everything you need, if you are vigilant.

Supplements can be a good way to make sure that you are getting everything you need in your diet. Of course, they are not necessary if your diet is rich in everything that your body requires. A good multi vitamin is a solution if you are lacking in any particular vitamin or mineral. You do not have to go to the vitamin store and purchase one of everything they have for sale. You can get away with taking a daily multivitamin that is formulated for vegetarians and you should be fine.

If you are careful of your diet and plan it to be healthy, taking into account foods that are packed with vegetarian nutrients, then you should not worry much about your body's daily requirements being fulfilled.

About the Author:

What You Need To Know About Your Car Stereo

By Ferdinand Mekinsy

Another avenue of car stereo sales are at expos and conventions. Most of the time, the good stuff come out at expos, whether it be a car expo, audio system expo, but usually the largest car stereo sale happens at a gathering of car audio manufacturers. Well, at these kinds of expos and conventions, its not usually a sale because the manufacturers usually try to get buyers for their newest product. If you have the money and youre out there to buy some serious hardware, then by all means, SPLURGE AWAY!

There are two types of mounting in a car stereo installation. ISO mounting is when the radio can be screwed to existing factory radio brackets, such as in most Japanese cars. Ring mounting is when an aftermarket radio comes with a metal ring that gets mounted to the factory radio hole or aftermarket kit via bendable tabs. In many cars, dash and trim rings have to be filed to enlarge the radio hole. Once the ring is installed, the radio slides in and is held by snaps. In most cases, special tools are required to remove the radio.

Other tips which might help: Another way to get a discount car stereo is to SUBSTITUTE. Like cars, Japanese made units are often cheaper than German/European/American made units. Also, look at the basics. What is it that you need, as in the most BASIC FEATURES? Do you really need that mesmerizing LED display, or can you do without it? Goes for speakers too. If youre not going to enter a car audio competition and you just want to hear good treble and bass levels without making your speakers croak, maybe you can do away with a couple of 3way/4 way speakers. A big subwoofer will definitely need an amplifier, and those are already 2 things to buy.

For unconventional speaker locations, sometimes metal has to be cut. You might want to leave this to the professionals, tools like plasma cutters and pneumatics drills are required. But if youre going to insist, a pair of metal snips (left and right cut) will do.

Take a look at any good car stereo system and you will probably see a Pioneer car stereo unit plugged into the console. Alongside with quality speakers and a strong lineup of accessories like LCD panels and navigational devices, Pioneer products/Pioneer car stereos have earned a huge following the world over.

About the Author:

Fulfil Your Desires With Costume Jewelry

By Eduard Rakting

Costume jewelry offers an easy but glamorous way for those with a penchant for ornaments but the lack of resources to fund it. At times, even those having the resources just cannot manage to keep up with the ever-changing styles in jewelry and fill up their closets accordingly. Possessing costume jewelry is the best resort in such times, which enables to fulfill your desires, but does not burn a hole in your pocket.

Also known as fashion jewelry or junk jewelry, these pieces are basically made of much less valuable stones and metals, such as base metals, glass, plastic and synthetic stones. Even the metals used in such costume jewelry have now considerably increased in variety, to include the likes of gold and silver plated brass, vermeil and sterling silver. If bought from a good store, which also has experienced designers and jewelry makers, costume jewelry can simply have a wonderful effect on your attire, adding that much-required look of latest fashion and glamour.

The secret of making the costume jewelry work to the best of advantage for you is to select the pieces carefully. Just do not pick up any piece of jewelry from a roadside shack, if it is not worth it. Instead, do a small survey and find out the best places offering good deals. Even costume jewelry can come in extremely poor qualities, which you unfortunately cannot make out unless you have worn them a couple of times.

Your Options

As you set out to get yourself that enchanting neckpiece, bracelet or an anklet, first know what places are really worth a visit. Ask a friend who wears these or go online for some more information. In the following sections, we've listed out some of the best quality options for you to choose from. This is just an example though, and you can find scores of options on your own as well.

To begin with, Estate Jewelry International has on offer, a vast range of designer costume jewelry within an affordable range. You can simply pick up the piece required from one of their many categories, including bridal, engagement ring vintage and the like. Another seller you must remember is Freesia, as they offer highly stylish costume jewelry, but at prices most of us can afford.

Even if costume jewelry is not making you spend a major chunk of your hard-earned income, you have all the right to make sensible choices and go only for stores that have a good reputation and promise you good worth for your money.

About the Author:

The Real Problem With Kids And Cash

By Alix Montoya

While it is greatly convenient to let the kids have their own credit cards, more and more kids are becoming greatly indiscriminate when it comes to swiping their little plastic cards. The danger is usually very overlooked until it happens, by which time you can find yourself waist deep in credit card debt and your house full of useless junk.

Fortunately for you, this doesn't always have to be the case. You can teach your children how to become more responsible when it comes to dealing with money with the few simple ideas below. Now, I'm sure there are other ideas floating around out there, but here are a few to get you started.

You have to show your kids that money doesn't fall magically from the skies, it is earned. If your kids are little, you can try giving them a couple of responsibilities around the house and then reward them for a job well done. If they're a little bit older, you can ask them to find a job or start their own business, I hear Tennessee craft shows are a great way to do that.

Tell them to save some of their money up. By telling them about saving a portion of their allowance or earnings up, you teach them discipline and responsibility. Sit down with your kid and discuss opening up a savings account. Show them how their money can increase due to interest from the bank. Or try to convince them about starting out a college fund which would greatly help them after high school.

Let them participate when you're handling the household budget. You can be a great example in showing responsibility when it comes to handling money and allowing them to see you at your budgeting best is probably a great way to lead by example. You can tell them all about the advantages of keeping a budget and how this greatly helps in keeping the household in order.

It's always best to keep our children from letting themselves get caught in a web of overspending, even at a very early age. So why don't you teach them a thing or two about saving up and you may be saving them from a future filled with debt and junk.

About the Author:

Wind Power's Future Role

By David Sullivan

As energy costs rise and fossil fuel supplies dry out, more and more people are becoming concerned with the availability and future cost of energy. Energy sources are beginning to emerge that have never been as cost effective, but are completely renewable. Many of these energies are completely environment-friendly, as well.

If you are considering alternative energy sources as a way to get off the grid or just to reduce your energy costs, you may want to consider building a wind turbine generator. This will provide you a way to go green and save you money.

You'll want to make sure your location will be suitable before you build a wind turbine generator. You'll want to look at your zoning laws, your neighborhood, and consider how much electrical power you want to generate. You'll need either at least a half an acre of open land or you'll need a tower higher than anything in your immediate surrounding area so the blades can catch the wind. The average wind speed in your area will determine how much energy you can generate.

If you have a good location with a good wind speed, these wind powered generators can make a big dent in your power bill. Some people have been able to build wind turbine machines that not only provide enough power for their home, but an entire farm and even create additional power.

They can then earn money by selling the surplus energy to local power companies. This doesn't require any special gear - you just need to be wired into the grid. Your energy meter will start spinning backwards as you feed power into the grid.

Some people end up with only a turbine or two because of zoning restrictions or backyard size restrictions, but you can still manage to save a large amount of your power bill.

Many have built homemade wind turbines already and can save up to 50% of their energy bill with just one turbine. These types of turbines can also be made in only a few weeks, depending on how much effort you are willing to put in and how much spare time you have.

Turbines are very little maintenance and can last a long time. They are cheap and can be mounted almost anywhere on a simple pole. Help the environment and save lots of money for years on your power bill!

About the Author:

Starting A Woodworking Business Tips

By Greg F Williams

If you desire to increase your income and love woodwork, then you should maybe think about starting a home based business. A individual who has good woodworking skills can easily start his or her business from home, start small and build a portfolio of your best work.

If you want to make a career in woodworking then it is indeed an excellent idea. There are many examples of individuals who have become rich with the aid of a woodworking business. If you are truly serious then it is just a matter of time to become successful in this business. Woodworking businesses can be regarded as a good source of income. If you love to work with wood then there should not be any problem in starting a woodworking business.

Many have doubled their income by doing woodworking part time. Handcrafted wood is in great demand. If the handcrafted wood has a exquisite design and is of good quality then you can simply ask the price you want from the customer. If you are good at wooden toys then it is indeed a golden opportunity to begin a woodworking business at home. Kids simply love to play with wooden toys. Most wooden products are marketable today.

If you are a skilled worker in making furniture such as cabinets, chairs and so forth, then you should not think twice to start a woodworking business. Cabinets and chairs are used every day and are as well in great demand. Therefore there is no way that you will remain idle if you begin a woodworking business. In fact the orders of producing cabinets and furniture will be so much that you will have to engage skilled workers.

At present the woodworking business is booming. Thus there is no reason that you will be in loss if you begin a woodworking business. If you have the skill and talent then you can easily make money in a woodworking business.

If you want to start a woodworking business then you should know the necessities for opening this business. More significantly you should be clear about the type of wooden products that are going make. From the type of wooden products you will get a definitive idea about the tools and supplies that you will need to begin your business.

You can also promote your business through newspapers to pull in prospective clients. You can also create your own web site where the customers can instantly get a glimpse of your products. A website is indeed a good way to show window all your wooden products. You should also the name of suppliers in your city that can provide various woods as well as wood handling tools.

At any cost inferior material should not be used in making wooden products. Quality is important specially in wooden products that would be used daily. A inferior product will unquestionably spoil your reputation which will have an adverse effect on your woodworking business.

About the Author:

Choose Your Kitchen Bars With A Cherry Theme

By Carl Esonhouse

Thinking of a theme for your kitchen is the best way to chalk out how the interior decoration of your kitchen would be like. A fruit dcor is one such theme that gives the kitchen a very snug and welcoming ambience. It is not only evoking a metaphor of food and eating but it exudes the much-wanted comfort and warmth.

A cherry kitchen dcor is probably the most innovative and fashionable of all fruit dcors. It gives a very colorful look to the kitchen with its many shades of green, red and white. A number of outlets of home dcor offer beautiful cherry kitchen dcor which are surprisingly available at a very affordable price.

Tips You Should Know

To start with, if you are confused with how to go about the whole process of cherry theme then as an alternative way, you can fill up the kitchen with utensils and appliances in mainly red, white and green shades. Plates, cutlery, napkins of these hues or may be with a cherry pattern printed, are just ideal to give the cherry kitchen dcor to your kitchen.

Choosing the upholstery of the kitchen, like the curtains and the tablecloth, with cherry patters on it can also be another unique way to add a zing to your kitchen dcor. It will immediately create an impact and will easily scream out your kitchen theme. Adding cherry themed appliances such as espresso machines is also a great idea.

Shops That You Should Check Out

It may not be known to everybody that the cherry kitchen dcor as a theme is very easy to put up in a kitchen as there are many shops that offer decorations and appliances with cherry patterns and these come quite handy when you are remodeling your kitchen. There are discount stores like the Target which provide you with sophisticated upholstery and stylish accessories and that too at a very affordable price. They also offer cherry kitchen dcor for kitchen theme purpose. Their online store www.target.com can be visited for more idea of their range of stock and their price.

Apart from this there is also one online shopping site, www.funnytummy.com which provides information regarding thematic appliances for kitchens. The products range from cherry themed clothes and cherry designed clocks and other such unique items that can add a much customized look to your kitchen.

About the Author:

If You Are Unable To Be There But Want To Show You Love Them Then Send -