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

Friday, January 23, 2009

Bathroom vanity Mirrors enhances restroom look

By ALEX ZIDAN

You're looking for a unique way to create a comfortable but warm atmosphere in your bathroom and a little paint just won't do the job so now where do you turn? Paint is just the beginning of the overall design and it gives you a place to work from. Once the paint is on then you can step back and take a good look at where you want to go next in your design plans. Most people automatically assume that the bathroom vanity is not too much of a problem when creating their theme. But in actuality it plays a major role in the entire project.

Thus, you know that every guest in your home who uses the restroom, which by the way is the most trafficked area of your home, is going to notice what type of bathroom vanity mirror you have while using the facility. If you do not have a cohesive vanity that matches the theme of your bathroom, your decorating taste is going to appear to be in poor taste and shoddily thrown together.

Also, you need to keep in mind that your bathroom vanity holds an extra value in your home because it is the one large item in your bathroom that you have control over. The equivalent to furniture in your restroom is the toilet, sink, and shower. For most people, these are not replaceable items, and due to your piping, they are also not items that can be rearranged. Thus, the only item you have sole control over to show your own personal taste in design in the bathroom is your bathroom vanity mirror. Thus, it is very important that you pick a mirror that is going to carry the theme you want portrayed in the rest of the bathroom. You may think this sounds ridiculous, but it is true.

For example, many people choose to decorate their bathrooms with warm cozy themes complete with bathroom rugs and toilet seat covers. Most popular warm colors are earthy elements which tend to match very well with wood. Thus, you may tie your entire theme together by choosing to purchase a bathroom vanity that has a wooden trim. Some great colors for a natural theme are ivory for the walls, reds, greens, blues, and other rich colors.

You can then choose to decorate your bathroom around the wood trimming of the bathroom vanity which is also going to help you choose appropriate accessories. For example, you may choose to place wooden potpourri holders on the sides of the mirror to add extra spice and contrast to the mirror as well as a pleasant smell to the rest of the bathroom.

When you are out looking at accessories you will need to look for the appropriate types that will match the wood on the bathroom vanity. You may want to add a personal touch by purchasing a wooden potpourri holder to place on each side of the vanity mirror. This will add some pleasant smells throughout the bathroom and show off the detail in the frame of the mirror.

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Trendy Ideas in Bridesmaids Dresses

By Schanika James

Does your hair have more than a little gray? If so you might be appalled when you take out your wedding album and catch site of what you dressed your bridesmaids in. You know, bridesmaid dresses do not have to be overdone, over themed, and garish? These days, brides are treating their bridesmaids to dresses that are stylish, fashionable, and fabulous enough to be worn again in the future.

I guess the first issue has to do with the dress length. While some brides still prefer that is no longer your only option. Today many bridesmaid dresses are cocktail or knee length. But please - no mini dresses - most gals don't look good in them. Another element that has changed is color. You feel free to choose any color that looks looks attractive on your bridesmaids and supports your wedding theme. You know, even black is just fine for an evening, fall or winter wedding.

In addition to the length of the dress, consider its cut. Good choices include, strapless or a low back style. Think classic cuts on a more modern length and you cannot go wrong.

Next consider what fabric you want. Typically fabrics for today's bridesmaid dresses typically are drape well. Popular choices include chiffon, silk, and polyester blends. You may even use classics like a super light wool or linen.

Of course, most gals like to finish off a fine dress with the right jewelry. To keep the bridesmaids looking stylish, you will need to choose wisely. When you browse for bridesmaid jewelry items, your keep in mind what works with the dress and fits with the woman wearing it. You do not have to have each bridesmaid wearing the same jewelry but it should have a consistent theme. jewelry items you give to each bridesmaid should be items that they will want to wear again, such as long crystal earrings and pendants. For final touches, think about strappy sandals, beaded or fabric clutches, and a short jacket if it's cool outside.

The bridesmaid dresses that you select should compliment your wedding theme. Casual dresses are perfect for weddings held outdoors or beach weddings. They would not look good in large traditional church weddings. Keep in mind that the dresses you choose should also suit your bridesmaids - all of them. If your friends are fairly young you can choose just about any style and it will look great. On the other hand, if your attendants are a bit older, they might end up feeling rather uncomfortable in a choice that is a bit too far out there.

In the end, the matron of honor dresses that you select are a reflection of you. If you gravitate towards what is contemporary, then your bridesmaid dresses follow suit. The ideal bridesmaid dresses will be an important component of your wedding info and important for you and your bridesmaids.

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The Basic Methods of Concrete Polishing

By Mikkan Drane

Polished concrete is a generic term in floor styling that easily gives you pictures of a variety of decorative shiny concrete flooring possibilities. Instead of laying over the concrete slab another coating of some sort, say vinyl, tiles, or carpet, concrete polishing allows you to leave the concrete exposed as the final floor finish as itself. And that does not mean you will have that gray colored finish, nothing like that. In fact, you will have something that is so much more.

There are three methods to use on concrete polishing: honing, burnishing, or trowelling. Depending on the design and pattern that you want for your floor, these three options will give you the sought of style that you always wanted. This offered concrete polishing option carries qualities like being energy efficient, dust free and requires low maintenance.

The concrete polishing process called steel trowelling can be done by hand or with a power trowelling machine, depending mostly on the area requiring the process. One of the major downsides of trowelling are the leftover trowel marks on the floor. The output of steel trowelling usually is the common natural cement grey that we know, however, this can be improved by adding in or spreading a bit of off white cement if you wish.

Burnishing is done right after the steel trowelling process, if you are desiring a more elegant, smoother and shinier flooring. This procedure actually started out with alternative burnishing materials like floor waxes, resin based and liquid polishes coatings. The effects resulting from the burnishing process improves the quality and appearance after the trowel method.

Honing is the process that you can adopt after the trowelling and burnishing options. This method is actually a concrete polishing option where a deeper depth is achieved. You'll know a concrete floor is honed when you start seeing presence of aggravates that is becoming part of the aesthetic design in the end result.

With a little bit of creativity and a know how in mixing up all the said processes, a delightful, appreciated concrete polished output will be achieved. Include in desired color combination and desired pattern to input and you'll have the polished concrete you can brag to your friends.

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Common Mistakes with Faux Finishes & How to Avoid Them

By Debra That Painter Lady Conrad

Faux painting is deceptively simple once you've got the hang of it. There are some basic errors that beginners often make that are worth noting if you want to achieve the results you're dreaming of.

1. Good materials produce good results. Buy the right paints and brushes and make sure your painting surface is well prepared. Painting onto flat paint is almost a guarantee of failure.

Eggshell or satin base paint is the best undercoat. Faux finishes don't work as well on flat paint surfaces. Paint also needs to dry slowly and flat finishes tend to dry quickly and the scope for fixing mistakes is limited. Finally, underlying flat paint just seems to dull finishes.

2. You may be tempted by artist's palettes and specially designed sponges and applicators. Save your money for good paints and brushes. Gadgets and special tools aren't necessary. A soft sponge sold for household cleaning will do for applying color washes and an ice cube tray doubles as a practical paint palette.

Don't waste that paint! You can always stick it in the freezer rather than letting it harden. Another money-saving tip is to use dishwashing liquid for cleaning brushes. You can buy fancy cleaners but a grease-cutting dishwashing liquid works just fine with water-based paints and with stencil creams, which are partially oil-based.

3. Your results depend on the surface you start with. You must fill cracks and cavities before you start, but it doesn't end there. You then need to sand it and seal it with a water-based sealant. To ensure sure that the patch job blends in with the surroundings you need to make sure it is the same colour. Use the original paint if you have it or, alternatively, you can tint the sealant using some acrylic paint of the appropriate color. Don't cut corners on surface preparation - flaws will show through.

4. Keep oil and water-based paints separate at all costs. Knowing the ingredients of your paints can save you from catastrophe. For example, don't assume that latex paint is an oil paint. It is partly water and so will not mix with oil paint.

5. Clean conditions help create a neat finish. This applies especially to your brushes, which need to be thoroughly cleaned. If you don't clean them properly you may end up with streaky paint and strange colors. You don't need specialist cleaners but just running brushes under the tap is not enough. Cleaning pads for children's art brushes are available for much less than the professional version.

6. Mess has a way of multiplying. Splashes and streaks are bad enough in your own home but they are unacceptable if you are working for someone else. If you do splash on carpets, don't use water or chemicals to try to remove it. It could make matters worse. For small splashes, trim the ends of the soiled threads with a pair of small scissors when the paint has dried. If the patch is too large, a product called Goof Off may do the trick.

6. Wet and dry don't mix. If you're using glazes you need to make sure that you're not creating areas where wet paint meets dry edges. The dry paint won't spread at the meeting point and the join will show. Plan to paint areas in one session, without a break. That includes, telephone, tea and toilet interludes. The hotter the weather the faster you will need to work before areas of glaze dries.

8. It's not only great artists who have their own style of painting. Your own rhythm and movement when applying paint is distinctive and if two people with different styles work on adjacent areas of wall, the difference can be obvious. Even your own style can alter over a day's work: when you start flagging, for example. If it's a team effort, work on different walls (or alternate layers). Your work will be more consistent if each area is completed in a defined session.

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Atlanta and Its Historic Homes

By Qandishah Brown

Atlanta is the state capital of Georgia and home to many wonderful things. Here you will find the world's largest aquarium that opened in 2005; no doubt that you already know that Atlanta is also home of the popular soda, Coca Cola. Aside from these there are many other things that you will discover in the wonderful city of Atlanta.

Aside from the many restaurants, parks and tourist spots one very interesting thing about Atlanta are the historic homes. You will find a good number of old homes and even mansions that have been around even before the war. These provide great destinations if you have a penchant for things of the past. The wide gardens also make for ideal wedding venues or parties.

Some people are so enthralled with these historic homes that they even purchase them. There are a number of historic homes in Atlanta which are for sale. Many of them have been restored to their old beauty, others have been maintained. However there are also those which have become a bit run down and need to be restored by those buying it.

While it may seem like a very big task, restoring a historic Atlanta home can be lots of fun too. For a lot of people this is the part that they enjoy doing most. One of the most common problems encountered when restoring a historic Atlanta home is getting the tiles and grout to look new again. These often gather dirt and tend to look dull and run down.

Dirt can build up on top of tiles and in between the spaces where the grout is. Through the course of it gets thicker and thicker making it difficult to remove. There are many experts around Atlanta who can help with things like these. They will be able to clean and polish the tiles and grout bringing back its old beauty.

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Why Hampers Are Ideal For All Occasion

By Stephen James

Wine hampers are gifts that are normally presented in a wicker basket. The act of giving a hamper has a long tradition in the Western world and, before, was done as a giving gesture, using the hamper to give food and other home necessities to the poor. The basket the hamper was displayed in was also carefully chosen as it was a practical household item that could be used and reused.

In modern times, hampers have come to be less presents of necessities and more presents of small luxuries, such as wine hampers for example. An emphasis is placed on quality products such as gourmet jams, fine chocolates, exotic coffee beans, fine wines and other expensive products that can be had as a treat and will store long enough for your special someone to take their time in using the item.

There has also been a growing tendency to produce specialized hampers - wine hampers that are filled with a diverse range and types of wine, chocolate hampers and bread and cheese hampers. Hobby hampers are an even more new development and are filled not with food but with essential and wanted items to please gardeners or DIY enthusiasts, for example. The contents of a hamper are only limited by your imagination!

The adaptability of UK hampers is why it makes such a pleasing present. They can be made to suit to any special someone and can be filled with whatever would delight the recipient. When choosing the hamper you want to give, give careful attention to what items the recipient likes - are they a wine lover? Then wine hampers are a great idea! Are they a foodie? Then fill the hamper with premium food products. Are they expecting a baby? Why not give them a hamper filled with useful baby goods.

UK hampers can be used for any occasion - for birthdays, for hens nights or bachelorette parties, for weddings, for anniversaries, for an expecting mom-to-be and, most popularly, for Xmas.

The Xmas hamper has become big business and, in an intriguing twist, the public are buying Christmas UK hampers to use for themselves instead of as a present for that special someone. Often filled with luxury Xmas luxuries such as shortbread, chocolate, wine, Xmas pudding and even turkey, they are purchased by everyone to be used over the Xmas period. Many UK hampers are purchased on a payment plan over the year and then enjoyed for the holiday season, helping people afford the cost of the wonderful Xmas luxuries expected over the holiday season.

There are thousands of companies that specialize in selling hamper gifts and most of them can be found quickly and easily online. Many of them will have pre-packed UK hampers - such as wine hampers or food hampers - and some may allow you to modify a hamper and pack it with items of your choice. Almost all companies will deliver your hamper, making it a convenient and personal gift.

Of course, you don't have to use a business to create a lovely hamper and it can be even more considerate to create your own. When making a hamper, give careful thought to what they might like. Focus on handy products and special goods that the recipient might not consider to purchase for themselves, to make it even more considerate. Hampers also work best when filled with products that won't spoil quickly, such as white wine for wine hampers. If you do intend on filling in products that need to be kept cool or will go off, then make sure the hamper is given as soon as possible and make sure the recipient knows that the goods must be used as soon as possible.

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Buying a Home in a Small Community

By John Kron

If you are in the market for a new piece of property and never considered a small town, it might be worthwhile to explore your options. Owning property in a smaller community can have a lot of benefits that real estate in large city might not give you.

The most obvious benefit might be a lower asking price for a comparable home in a small community. Prices in the big city are based on a larger market demand, higher land costs, and many other factors. Small town home prices tend to be a little lower.

A lot can be said about small town values and friendliness. This factor alone will influence many people that look at homes in a smaller community. With smaller schools, less traffic and shorter walks to the playground, you might decide that a small community is a much better environment for your children.

If the town is predicted to be a future growth area, then buying a home here might mean that the value of your house will only go up. If the future growth of your property's equity is a priority, then picking a home in an up and coming town can make sure you meet your goals. While this is more of a long term picture to look at, it is still a very important factor for many when they buy property.

So, you have decided a small town might be right for you. what's next? You could drive through some communities and have a look around and get a sense of what you do or don't like about them. There are a lot of different things you can look at, but here are just a few ideas.

As well as figuring out the distance from the highway and the big city, how about a police station? Is there a medical center nearby? See if you can find the fire department, the scools and playgrounds, and any recreational facilities.

I find small town life to be very rewarding, safe and peaceful. Others like to live in the big city. It is a matter of your priorities, and in many cases the location of your livelihood. If you need more information about a smaller community, ask a local real estate agent. Happy home hunting!

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Tasteful Wedding with Coffee, Tea & Chocolate Wedding Favors

By Aaron H.

It has become a tradition in recent years for couples to give out wedding favors as part of the celebration. Favors are typically small, inexpensive gifts that are given as "Thank you" gifts to the guests. Giving favors is a better way of conveying gratitude than simply sending out "Thank you" cards afterward. Couples generally want to display good taste to their guests when choosing wedding favors. Now favors can taste good as well. Coffee and tea favors and Chocolate wedding favors are two items that are always in good taste and taste good.

Coffee and tea favors generally consist of a coffee mug with a selection of coffees, teas, or a mix of the tea included inside. Almost everyone drinks coffee or tea in one form or another, making these favors a type that will be greatly appreciated by all of the guests. It is possible to choose the flavors of coffee or tea in most of these favor items, so matching them to the guests' preferences should be fairly easy. Another advantage of giving coffee and tea favors is the fact that many suppliers allow personalization of the items by adding the names of the couple and the wedding date to either the cup or the coffee/tea envelopes. Personalization makes certain that the recipients will think about this wedding and the good time they had attending it whenever they drink the coffee or tea. Even people who do not use either substance will appreciate the mug and will think of the couple whenever they use it.

Another tasty treat to consider giving as wedding favors is chocolates. Chocolate wedding favors may be cookies, cakes, or, more likely, sweet chocolate candies. No matter which are chosen to give as favors, the simple truth is that there are not many people who do not appreciate fine chocolate and most of those have an allergy or something that the couple would be aware of in plenty of time to substitute something else for that person. It is even possible to order personalized packets of hot cocoa to add to the coffee and tea favors mentioned above.

Most chocolate wedding favors are pieces or bars of chocolate that can be easily personalized. All food products must have a wrapper, and it is possible to have wrappers printed with the names of the couple and the wedding date for use on larger items or an initial on wrappers for smaller, bite sized pieces without adding a significant amount to the price. Personalization will make these tidbits more valuable as those who receive them recall the wedding and the happiness felt on this day as they consume the chocolate.

All couples have a strong desire to give out wedding favors that their guests will find in good taste. With coffee and tea favors or chocolate wedding favors, these items are not only in good taste, but taste good as well.

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