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

Monday, February 16, 2009

4 Reasons to Want Gourmet Chocolate Chip Cookies

By M.B. Roberds

We want Gourmet Chocolate Chip Cookies like no alternative food. We long for it. We hunt it out. It is our desired enjoyment food. Here are the arguments why Gourmet chocolate chip cookies make us berserk!

1. Cultural Customs

Remarkably all, mentioned chocolate needs are ladies (sorry men, however it's undeniable). Some professionals recommend that may be due to the psychological connection among chocolate, luxuriousness, and love. We talk in relation to chocolate "melting in your mouth," and we've all noted of the classic present: "flowers and chocolate."

And people doubt why we need chocolate??

2. Chemical Reactions

It's a unquestionable fact: chocolate makes you feel good. Chocolate has inherent uppers. Anandamide, is a natural flavor enhancer, that some compare to authentic drugs. Something about the fusion of cocoa, fat, and sugar is exactly the right balance to excite every feel-good chemical in your brain to resound! Chocolate simultaneously releases endorphins and serotonin (your brain's "feel-good" neurotransmitter) and controls your appetite for fat.

Still, hold-up, there are other rationale to hunger for chocolate!

3. Chocolate has Theo-bromine and caffeine, furnishing a mental "pick me up". Chocolate combines sugar and caffeine...this has been professed before, but this makes chocolate the totally flawless food!

4. Phenyl-ethylamine, which raises your nervous system can yield reactions matching -- all joking aside -- standing next to your latest crush..it is that AMAZING.

Of course, we ache for chocolate and not, say,turkey, which also consists of phenyl-ethylamine and trytophan. It seems to be that unmatched fusion chocolate secures that sends our brain into "la-la land".

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Why Professional Runners Go For New Balance Sneakers

By Ron Jordan

Running, just like other sports requires performance. This implies many hours of training, years of work, and a lot of sweat. The shoes comfort comes first, so sport shoes design has been in the attention of many manufacturers. Professionals will always seek for professional products such as the New Balance running shoes, which incorporate modern technology for perfect stability and control.

New Balance sneakers are a traditional US brand, dating since the beginning of the 1900s. Teir ranges of shoes are targeting females and males, in different product lines. The recipe for creating a big name in shoes for New Balance was the permanent care for innovative ideas and creativity.

People who run as a profession had the chance to buy their first New Balance special shoes in 1938. They simply loved it. Moreover, the company came with a very clever marketing trick, or strategy, offering buyers a guarantee to give their money back if they were not satisfied with their purchase.

Several years later, in 1960, they started to produce running shoes for the masses. Under the name of Trackstar, the New Balance sneaker was good looking, elegant, yet very comfortable. Those shoes were known to fit every person.

After many years of research and trials, the running shoes were improved and the new 990 sneaker was born. Its flexibility and the raised level of comfort made it one of the favorite sport shoes of the USA.

The 990 was still in vogue in 1992, but the new version was much more improved in terms of comfort and performance. This is normal, as the manufacturer added the new materials and the new technologies and made them work for the benefit of their customers.

Even today, New Balance is one of the world's favorite brand of sport shoes, or sneakers, how they are also called. The 993 are among the most comfortable shoes in their range, thanks to several innovation that made them lighter and more flexible.

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Tips To Enhance Your Face Painting Idea

By Rashel Dan

Have you been face painting for some time and running out of fresh ideas for your old hobby? Could you be new to face painting and curious about interesting and new ideas for your new hobby or sideline work? This article is good for those who want a fresh face painting idea to boost their artistic reputation or those who are new to face painting.

Start brainstorming on themes. Are there any holidays or special occasions coming up? Think of Halloween, Thanksgiving Day, spring break, or birthdays. Below is a list of themes you might want to use as a face painting idea:

- Fairytale - children will especially enjoy fantastical themes, as these can be very creative and imaginative. There are many ways to incorporate the fairytale theme into your face painting idea. Think of fairies, princesses, dwarves, unicorns, dragons, ogres, etc.

- Animals - animal themes can be great for utilizing the whole face. You can transform a face into a tiger or lion. Put some red paint on the nose, whiskers on the cheeks, and spots or stripes all over for that animalistic effect.

- Comic book characters - are another good face painting idea for kids. One idea is to paint a web-like pattern on the face so you can create Spiderman's look. There are many comic book characters out there, so your options are endless.

- Food - a popular face painting idea is using food as a theme. You can paint on cupcakes, ice creams on cones, lollipops, turkeys etc. Again, you have countless options.

- Nature - look for inspiration for themes from the natural environment. Paint on flowers, butterflies, the sun, stars, clouds, etc. With face painting, you can actually create almost anything with just a brush and some paint.

- Carnival - use the color and life of carnival theme for the young-at-heart. These can include clowns, balloons, one-eyed monsters, and many more!

When you've decided on a particular theme, its now easy for you to narrow down on the materials you'll be using other than paint. Here are some materials you can use with your face paint:

- Face and body jewels - using stick on body jewels will add texture and dimension to your face painting. They are easy to use-just stick them on!

- Glitter - body glitter can add a different sparkle and enhance your overall face painting idea. Body glitters you can use are glitter dust, powders and gels. Whichever type of glitter you use, the versatile material can bring your work of art to life.

- Accessories and props - face painting will look good with a get-up or costume but sometimes, these costumes can be very expensive. Why not use props and accessories to achieve the same effect? Wigs can complete the look of your face painting, especially if you are working on a "clown" design. Tiaras and wands are perfect for fairytale or princess themes. These fun accessories can be easily purchased at costume or toy shops.

As you can see, simply brainstorming on themes and using extra materials can transform your face painting idea into something extraordinary.

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Ice Sculpting as an Alaskan Craft Show Attraction

By Ryan Morley

Crafts are long-lived things. The tangible manifestations of an artist's soul, these pieces are able to outlive the creator on many an occasion. Humans differ from animals in that we shape our environment to our needs, rather than adapt to what exists. But what if your crafts are temporary?

One of the more interesting crafts is the art of carving ice sculptures. Ice carving is unlike most other crafts simply because the medium the artist uses vanishes in a week or so at most. All that will be left of the piece are photographs snapped by art-appreciators.

But it is for this exact reason that ice sculpting is very special. That you are able to put a piece of yourself in a chunk of wood is a remarkable skill. But, in this case, an artistic eye isn't just what is needed to create ice sculptures; due to the unwieldiness of the material, power tools such as chainsaws are sometimes called upon to carve away at the ice. So knowledge of engineering is needed as well as artistic vision.

Because of these many skills, ice sculptures are marveled greatly; sometimes even more so than their more permanent counterparts. Here in Alaska, for instance, there is a World Ice Sculpting event held every year. People from around the whole world gather to this important event to see these fleeting but immortal renditions of talented craftspeople.

Arts and crafts provide a glimpse to the inner artistry of the craftsperson as most are pieces of their soul that live on after the artist. Ice sculptures, on the other hand, can be even more special, because they live far shorter lives than the human hands that shaped them from the block of ice. It is something that will outlast both object and creator.

Ice sculpting is one of the many crafts by the people who live in the largest state. For those interested in hearing more about crafts in general, search for the various craft fairs and festivals in the happening in Alaska this year.

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Three Ways To Send Roses For Flower Delivery To El Paso

By Herma Newton

Order online for flower delivery to El Paso, Texas and you can get some of the most creative arrangements for the 2009 year. If you are thinking of sending your wife or girlfriend a Valentines Day gift, you can find whatever you want by seeking an online flower delivery to El Paso.

Roses are the traditional flower that is sent on Valentines Day. There are many different ways to send roses to someone in El Paso this year. Some of the most popular ways to send roses include the following:

Bouquet - Red roses set in a stylish vase or clumped together with a nice-looking ribbon and paper is a sight to behold. Who wouldn't want to receive a bunch of red roses?

Your flower delivery to El Paso, Texas can be made even more unforgettable by adding a twist of the unexpected. Instead of the usual home delivery, why not declare your love by sending the flowers to her workplace? Your lady might turn as red as the rosesin a very good way.

Heart-Shaped - The heart is of course the symbol of love. What better way to signify your feelings than by sending your wife or girlfriend heart-shaped roses? That's a statement with an exclamation point! You can have all red roses or put in other shades of pink, yellow or white. You can even go bold with the season's hot colors - roses in purple or deep blue.

This kind of arrangement is a must look-out style for this year. Try it and fling your lady love swooning in utter romance!

Long-Stemmed - This arrangement is very affordable. One that has a no fuss attitude yet conveys so much traditional love. Your sweetheart in El Paso will appreciate such a straightforward manner of saying "I love you".

Go online and see for yourself how long-stemmed roses can be arranged for a flower delivery to El Paso. A long white box with a red ribbon is a familiar way of sending long-stemmed roses.

You can choose one, two or all three of these arrangements. Know for sure that all of the above convey pretty much the same emotions - affection, romance, adoration, and of course, love. Make her Valentine's Day filled with all these by sending a flower delivery to El Paso, Texas.

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Giving Great Gifts For Baby Showers

By Terry Stanfield

If you are going to a baby shower and you are looking for baby boy gifts there are many things you might think about buying. You can buy some really cool baby boy clothes or even accessories for the baby. You should be sure to get mom something unique.

Baby showers can be boring if everyone is buying mom the same gifts for boys. You usually see an overwhelming stack of blankets and onesies. You should buy something fun and unique for the baby that will be absolutely cute. Some of the fun things you can buy include accessories that a baby can never have too many off.

These things include hats, pacifiers, bottles, socks, and more. A newborn needs to wear a hat for the first couple of weeks to maintain the warmth. Why wear the standard issue hospital hat when you can find something adorable. You can never have enough pacifiers either. Why not get one that has text or a funny saying on it.

Baby showers can be dull if the gifts for boys are all the same. You want to be sure to think about cool baby boy clothes. Baby boy gifts are a lot of fun to shop for when you are at the right place.

There is nothing wrong with dressing a baby in the cutest styles as long as the baby is comfortable. Why not? The typical pajamas and one piece outfits are boring. It is hard to tell it is even a boy most of the time with the typical outfits today.

When you are shopping for a baby shower you have to be sure to find baby boy gifts that are fun and unique. You don't want to bring the same gift everyone else did. Get something fun for the baby to wear that will make a statement. It is the unique and fun items that create the memorable photos for later.

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Outbreaks of Food Poisoning - A Risk You Shouldn't Take

By Malcolm J. Richmond

If you have cooked in or run a restaurant in Melbourne, you know that you are playing to a tough crowd! Not only does the city have great restaurants serving all types of food at a range of prices, but you will also find that it is a town with a long memory.

If you give your customers a great dining experience, you can bet that they will be back for more and that they will tell their friends, but if you mess up, word is certainly going to get around. Every restaurant manager fears a food poisoning outbreak, but if you work in Melbourne, you may have more reason than most to be frightened of it.

In the event of a food poisoning outbreak, at the very least you'll get bad publicity and horrible word of mouth advertising. A serious outbreak could lead to fines, legal disputes or even the complete shut down of your restaurant. Food poisoning outbreaks are about the worst thing that can happen to you as a restaurateur, and you should take every possible effort to prevent them from happening.

Since food poisoning tends to hit the very young or elderly hardest, if you're a family oriented restaurant, you need to be especially diligent. Nothing breeds hostile word of mouth faster than a parent who blames you for their sick child.

Bacteria may easily exist on raw food like eggs, seafood, uncooked rice, or even raw vegetables. For the most part, good washing practices and cooking will take care of the problems there, but if these foods come into contact with food that has already been prepared, the bacteria are able pass themselves on. Some bacteria can even be transferred through unwashed hands onto food that is ready to serve. Other pathogens or bacteria will develop on food that as been allowed to grow too warm or that has begun to spoil.

In general food poisoning can be avoided by ensuring that staff are aware of necessary hygiene procedures and that all food is correctly washed and cooked. To reduce the chances of a food poisoning outbreak requires comprehensive training of your staff. They must know the correct procedures and abide by them at all times.

Lack of adequate food segregation is another issue that needs to be tackled. Make sure that raw food never comes in contact with a dish ready to go out to the dining space; likewise, make sure that you take food out of the refrigeration just before it will be used; letting food sit on a counter top for half an hour during the dinner rush is a recipe for disaster.

In reality there are hundreds of ways that a food poisoning outbreak could occur. This is not however a reason to fear. Whilst most restaurant managers are fairly well versed in the essentials of food safety it is always worthwhile consulting with an expert to ensure that nothing gets overlooked.

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Hypnosis Is The Answer To Fast Weight Loss

By Robert Hudak

Anyone beginning a weight loss program wants fast weight loss. No body likes to count calories, measure portions, crave, binge, feel deprived, and eat foods that they dislike or suffer a starvation diet that has them feeling hungry and miserable. It is widely known that one must work on the mental and emotional aspects in order to lose weight.

While hypnosis targets what is happening above the neck and in your head, the current popular weight loss methods only work on what is going on below the neck. Using hypnosis, fast weight loss can be programmed into the subconscious mind. For instance, you can be given a suggestion that every day activities such as sitting at a desk or that every time you pick up your phone, your body will respond by losing weight and continuing to lose weight until you reach your set goal.

Many prominent publications such as Journals Of Consulting and Clinical Psychology have numerous studies regarding the efficiency of hypnosis on weight loss. As an example, a study of fifty females showed fast weight loss with hypnosis in comparison to the control group, which experienced much lower weight loss. The American Medical Association approved hypnosis in 1958. As of then, it is being used adequately for various reasons such as pain management, smoking cessation, self-improvement, and sports training.

Hypnosis creates a state of awareness to help you learn to view food differently, alter eating habits and reduce cravings. With the right suggestions a person can achieve fast weight loss. Losing weight with hypnosis is fun and easy. Many people are beginning to see that hypnosis is an easy solution to the difficult problem of losing weight.

If you are ready to learn the true secret to weight loss, then listen up and stop eating junk food. That is correct. Junk food is filled with the chemicals that cause weight gain, making it impossible to lose weight. High fructose corn syrup is the biggest problem. Want to lose weight? Stop having junk food.

Because hypnosis is safe, natural, and effective, it is the scientific preferred method of losing weight. Complicated and time consuming weight loss plans fail. With hypnosis losing weight is easy because you are reprogrammed to think differently about food. Many people do not have the self-control or discipline to stay committed to a weight loss plan that is hard. Hypnosis lets you experience fast weight loss, allowing you to gain control of your eating habits and losing weight through the mind and body connection.

Programming the subconscious mind is the real secret to weight loss success. During the time that you are in hypnosis, you can be given a suggestion, that food is unimportant to you. Suggestions can also be given so that you can experience fast weight loss, making it fast, easy, and exciting for you. As food becomes less important, it is also less controlling. Hypnosis can help you stop thinking about food, therefore leaving you eating less and losing weight.

If you want to close the door on improper eating habits and eliminate bad foods, hypnosis can provide the answer. Hypnosis can be used to help overcome emotional eating. Do you know what it would be like to be disappointed about missing an exercise session? Proper programming cannot only cause you to experience fast weight loss, but also motivate you to love to exercise. Reducing stress and sleeping better are two additional positive benefits to the hypnosis process. If you want to be happier, calmer, thinner, and get off the weight loss roller coaster, hypnosis is the ticket for you. Sit back and watch your waistline shrink down to its proper size.

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