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

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Opening Newborn Baby Gifts is Not the Only Activity - Add Games

By Edie Mindell

Although traditional baby shower games never fail and are always a success, new baby shower games are emerging and spreading across the United States. These cool, unconventional activities are different than the classics but with all the fun and more. If you are aiming for a hip, edgier baby shower with a twist from the classic, all-American baby shower, include a few of these new, trendy games that are sure to be a hit at your shower.

The "Dirty Diaper" game is one of the most clever and unusual, yet surprisingly sweet games out there. For this game, fold white cloth napkins or square pieces of white fabric into small diapers. Inside one of these mini diapers, place an unwrapped Hersheys kiss or any other chocolate bonbon. Fasten all the diapers with a baby diaper safety pin.

When guests arrive to the baby shower, hand one mini baby diaper to each person. Tell the guests to keep them closed and to not open them until instructed to do so. Then, when the time comes for all your games and activities, tell your guests that one of them has a dirty diaper. Tell them to open the diapers all at once, and whoever has the "dirty diaper," or the chocolate bonbon inside of their diaper, wins a prize.

Another game with a meaning is the "umbilical cord." For this game, you will need two spools of string or yarn, and two spoons. Choose volunteers and set up two or more teams of about eight to ten people. Attach each spoon to the tip of each string or yarn. The point of the game is to pass the "umbilical cord" through all the members of each team, by passing the string in through the neck seam and out through the opening of the skirt of each team player. This is very humorous, as you can imagine. The first team that passes the cord through all of the members wins.

A game that is becoming increasingly popular among baby showers is "Guess Whos Baby Picture?" For this game, make sure to tell guests on the invitations, and remind them before the shower, to bring in a baby picture of themselves when they were infants. Number each picture and put them up on a big bulletin board. During the games and activities session of your baby shower, give each guest a paper and pens or pencils. Have each paper numbered with the amount of pictures posted on the bulletin board.

When the game begins, tell the guests to fill in the numbers on the paper with the names of the people who they believe correspond to the baby picture. For example, if I think that baby picture #1 corresponds to Katie, I would write "Katie" after the number one on my paper. The guest that has highest number of right answers wins the challenge. If there is more than one guest with the same highest number of right answers, issue a tiebreaker.

Remember, all of these new games started as an idea. Try to come up with a few clever, never before used games. Who knows, they could potentially become a hit by the end of the year!

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Unique Baby Gifts are Fun to Open at a Retro-themed Baby Shower

By Edie Mindell

A common trend today is to have different era-inspired, retro baby showers. These themes work great regardless of whether the baby is a boy, girl, or if the parents choose to not know the gender of the baby until the date of birth. Great decades from which to base your shower on are the roaring twenties, the rock-n-roll fifties, the hippie sixties, and of course, the unforgettable eighties. Do some research on each decade, and pick the one that you love the most, and that you think you can be the most creative with.

The twenties were a blast, and a twenties-themed shower will definitely be a blast, too. The music alone will have people dancing and smiling. Specify in the invitations for the gals to wear their most twenties-like dresses, and for the gents to wear a tidy suit. The more the outfits match what people wore in the twenties, the better. Award the person with the best costume. Decorate the room with big band and swing decorations. You can have toy musical instruments as centerpieces, and provide hats for the gents and twenties headbands for the ladies. Put on some great music, and make everyone get up and dance the Charleston!

The fifties is a great decade to pick for any party theme. On the invitations, tell the ladies to wear poodle skirts, and tell the guys to wear leather jackets, and tell all your guests to get ready for the best ice cream social ever! Play classic rock-n-roll in the background to set the mood to your fifties celebration, and decorate your party room with fifties inspired pictures and dcor.

Serve different types of ice cream with a variety of toppings, and have your guests each make their own sundaes! For a twist, also serve bananas for those that want to make their own banana split. Make or buy fun mini jukeboxes for centerpieces. For a fun game, have your guests partner up for a dance off, and award the best pair.

If you or any of your family members was a hippie back in the sixties, that might be the era of your choice. This theme is fun and easy to assemble. Decorate the whole area with hearts, happy faces, and music notes. Tell your guests to wear their bell-bottom jeans, and psychedelic tie-dye shirts. If you have an Afro wig in your closet, pull it out, because this sixties party is going to be groovy! Buy toy school buses and decorate them as they did in the sixties; these make great centerpieces. Dont forget to play some groovy tunes and dance, dance, dance!

For a cool eighties-themed baby shower, send out a funky invitation and tell your guests to wear their favorite retro outfits. For an easy outfit, wear leggings or tight jeans, and cut off the neckline of an old T-shirt. Wear a headband and pull your hair up to a side ponytail.

Cool eighties movies or old music records make great centerpiece bases. Decorate them with colorful dcor and candy, and youve got great, inexpensive pieces. For a fun activity, put on a Richard Simmons dance workout video, and award the best dancer. Remember, regardless of which era you pick for your baby shower, do your research and be as creative as you can!

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Dress Up Games For Your Kids: Fun And Free

By Vlad Stivenson

As everyone knows, while having a computer at home can be very useful, interesting, and fun, its only when you have internet connection that your computer really shines. An Internet connection gives you access to news, information, encyclopedias, social networks, jobs, and of course, games. If you have children and would like to give them something fun and safe to play with, why dont you try letting them play with some dress up games? Theyre free and widely available.

Children of both genders can enjoy these games. Girls will prefer characters such as Hanna Montana, or even Japanese ones, like Sakura Card Captors. On the other hand, boys tend to be more interested in the Power Rangers or the Dragon Ball characters. There are even games that appeal to both boys and girls. These games feature famous characters from popular shows, such as Drake and Josh, or Zack and Cody.

For parents who want a more educating experience for their children, there are some games that involve a bit of culture, such as dressing a virtual doll with typical attire from a specific region or country. If youre looking for something a bit more original, you can try those that involve dressing up a pet or animal. Many different dress up games are available online, like anime dress up games, barbie dress up games, bratz dress up games, celebrity games, baby dress up and many others. You can also find games related to cooking, if you dont like dress up and fashion games. All these dress up and cooking games are usually written in Flash and are completely free, so you can access them with your internet browser.

Of course, who says you cant play these games yourself? When video games came out, most people thought they were only meant for children, but nowadays people from all ages enjoy them. Maybe one of these games is what you need to distract your mind from day to day monotony. These games are very quick to load and play, so you can easily take a 5 or 10 minute break between a report and an e-mail to have fun changing Elvis Presleys clothing and instruments, or maybe giving Britney Spears the soul look that you think she desperately needs. And if you have a child, they will help you spend some quality time with him or her. Small children can practice forms, colors and hand to eye coordination, while older ones can pretend theyre stylists or fashion designers, at the same time that they develop their creativity and imagination.

How much does it cost? Nothing, its free. But most importantly, its safe. Your child will be playing something that doesnt have anything to do with shooting, killing, or any kind of violence, something very common in todays video games. There isnt any sex or risqu material either. On the other had, you wont have to give your credit card information over the Internet. With so many expensive and violent games out there, its nice to find something fun, safe, and free for you child to play with.

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A Coffee Bean Grinder Guarantees Freshness

By Ned Dagostino

Coffee will always taste better when it is freshly ground. And having your own coffee bean grinder will guarantee that you can have a fresh cup whenever you desire.

But there's more to it than just freshness. If you grind your own beans you can make the grind as fine as you desire. This is very important to a true coffee lover. With this in mind, perhaps you are now at least a little curious about trying this on your own.

First let's dispel some myths. Grinding your own beans is neither difficult or messy. Those who make that argument are simply wrong.

Sure it's easier to just break out the can opener and start brewing, but the difference in taste is remarkable. And once you grind your own beans for the first time, you may never purchase canned coffee again.

The reason there's such a difference is because ground beans begin to deteriorate almost immediately. That means they quickly lose some of their taste and smell. Grinding your own beans will naturally result in a better tasting and better smelling cup. Just grind up your beans right before you brew, and the result will be a flavorful and aroma full cup every time.

So let's talk about the different grinders available. There are two that are popular. One is the blade grinder, the other is called a burr grinder.

Blade grinders are less expensive. Basically they function like a blender, only smaller. They use the blades inside to do the grinding. And while these are still better than buying your coffee in a can, they do not produce the best results. When you grind coffee beans you want to get a large surface that can be exposed to the hot water. The greater the surface exposure, the more oils and flavor will be extracted. Blade grinders do not produce an even grind, especially the less expensive models. The result is that most coffee experts consider them inferior.

Burr grinders meanwhile are typically used in high quality coffee houses because they give a much better grind. The burrs, or metal discs, are spaced to precise specifications, giving you a grind that is more even. A more even grind means a better cup. And it doesn't matter what type of coffee you like best because these grinders are adjustable. So if you like Turkish drip or automatic drip, you can set your burr grinder to give you the grind you like best.

One thing about coffee is that everybody likes theirs a little different. What I may like best is probably different than what you prefer. But we can all agree that when it is fresh ground, it will taste better. That's why if you choose a burr or blade coffee bean grinder, you'll still get a cup that is better than anything you buy from a can. I can only suggest you try it. You may never buy a can from the grocery store again.

And just think how much easier it will be to get up when the alarm goes off, knowing you will have a great tasting, fresh cup of coffee available in just minutes.

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Night Deep Sea Fishing Tips

By Dr Corey Fisher

Deep sea fishing is an enjoyed activity by many. The sun, sea and the adrenaline of adventure makes a perfect day for such kind of activity. However, for very experienced fishermen, they would advice you that if you really want to get a good catch, it would be best for you to start fishing 2 hours after sunset or 2 hours even before sunrise.

This is why most experienced fishermen would rather have a night trip than a day trip. However, due to the difference of environment during night fishing, if you are new to this kind of setting, then there are certain things that you should know to make your night trip a successful one.

Getting Started

Although it may seem difficult, waking up in the wee hours of the day is still possible. Additionally, you can always get the help of an alarm clock to be your wake-up call. There are some other preparations too that should be done other than being able to wake up, like preparing your bait.

It would be the best if you have already set up everything you need and have some wet-bait ready even half an hour before sun rise. It is important to remember that anchoring and cooking the bait should be finished by the time sunset arrives. This is due to the reason that cooking through your night fishing could be very dangerous. Plus, your bait should be able to cool off before you can use it.

The Logic Behind It

The logic behind all these waking up early and preparations is that fish usually feed shallower around times like this. Thus, they are easier to catch, since they're only about 30 feet below the water's surface. In fact, according to experts, twilight minutes are very productive especially if you're fishing for a living.

Where's The Light At?

If you really want to have good results at the fastest time possible, whether it be you are fishing in fresh or salt water, try fishing around piers, which have some lights. This is because fish are very attracted to light beams that pass through the water surface in different sea depths. In general, fishing excursions usually have a very happy ending when held around lights on piers or buoys.

Use Something Large

It is also important that you use very large dry or wet flies, nymphs, and oversized streamers, if you are really interested in getting a lot of catch of those active feeders out there.

In fact, night-feeding can be easier for you when your bait is that large enough for the fish to locate. Additionally, you should remember to draw your baits gradually along the surface of the water with a jerking motion. Doing this would help attract some trout. Nevertheless, you should also bring some extra live bait and always keep the lure inside your water or boat, safely contained.

See The Signs

During night fishing, you should always try to be on guard for some signs that feeding fish are in the area. Take note that at this time, you'll be able to hear them feeding themselves even before you see their splashes or swirls in the water. Don't forget to chuck in your lure, as soon as possible and once you hear them breaking the surface, into the spot that you think they are in.

Additionally, you should try making repeated casts anywhere that you think they may be circulating, since fish have some trouble in locating lures during the night.

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Common Causes of Car Accidents

By David Halbert

Everyday there are a large number of people around the world who meet car accidents. In USA only, there are more than 6 million car accidents annually! Approximately 3 million people are injured as a result. Mostly, the reason of the accident is some sort of negligence of the driver. Distractions also divert the attention of the driver leading to an accident.

There are many things which can distract one whilst driving. Presently, cell phones and other gadgets tend to distract the driver's attention when driving. There are cell phones, laptops, or CD player, that allure the driver and he takes his eyes off the road and therefore often ends up in encountering an accident. The nature of accidents can be severe or mild. Irrespective of the intensity of an accident, it could cause monetary as well as physical threat.

To be able to decrease road accidents and their consequences, we are required to drive carefully without being distracted. Because of widespread use of gadgets whilst driving, most of the countries have banned the use of cell phones while driving. Alternately, hands free ear buds are being recommended to use while driving.

In addition to gadgets, there can be several other distractions as well. You may even get distracted when you are talking to a friend or family member in the car. You can also get out of focus if you are thinking deeply. All these and many others contribute to distracting the attention of the driver and lead to a car accident.

An additional common cause of car accidents is alcohol. Majority of people end up in serious road accidents because they are drunk and cannot drive properly. Alcohol does not allow you to be in your senses, and can therefore create serious issues while driving. You may feel lethargic, lack of focus, and the failure to judge distances if you are drunk.

Rubbernecking and tailgating are other known causes of car accidents. Rubbernecking refers to slowing your car to have a look at something while driving like a road accident, or some interesting view on the road. When you slow down your car rapidly, the car that is behind you often knocks into your car because the other driver does not get adequate time to slow his car as suddenly and abruptly. This leads to serious accidents involving a large number of cars sometimes.

A number of times, the cause of a car accident is mechanical failure or road conditions. The mechanical problems in your car could be minimized by maintaining your car and inspecting its mechanism every now and then. For road condition as well, you can take alternate route or travel carefully while driving on bad roads.

You can also reduce the other causes of car accidents by avoiding use of cell phones, laptops, or other gadgets when you are driving. You should also tend to be less enquiring while driving, so that you do not have to slow the car all of a sudden which could be a reason for an accident. For alcohol lovers as well, they can drink as much as they like, but when they have to drive they should avoid drinking.

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Car Insurance -- Things You Need To Know

By Chimezirim Odimba

Car insurance is a contract between you and the insurance company. Under the contract, if your car meets with an accident, the insurance company must pay for the losses. Paying the premium is your obligation under the contract.

Property, liability and medical coverage are all covered by car insurance. Damages or theft to your car are paid by property coverage. Your legal responsibility for bodily injury or property damage caused by your car is taken care of by liability coverage.

The cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses are paid by the medical coverage.

The validity of most car insurance policies is six months to one year. You must renew the policy once it expires.

State laws mandate that your have some form of car insurance if you own or operate a car.

The penalty for driving a car without insurance is different in different states. Some states impound your car. There are heavy fines in some states. Serious trouble. That's what's in store for you if your car is involved in an accident with insurance. You may have to comply with the financial responsibility laws including having to pay for any injuries or damages out of your own pocket.

Your credit history, the age and type of your car will play an important role in determining the rate you have to pay for car insurance.

As the owner of a car, you are responsible for providing insurance for the car, no matter who is operating the car. If you operate a car without insurance, you will be in violating the law.

You might save several hundreds or even a few thousand dollars by simply obtaining and comparing auto insurance quotes from about three insurance quotes sites.

The straightforward reason for this is that you will receive many more quotes from a wider range of insurance companies. This raises your chances of getting better quotes.

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Should I let my child play Dress up Games?

By Evghenii Stivenson

As any parent of a child knows, children are substituting traditional dolls with their small clothing for computer generated virtual dolls. It's only natural; just think for a moment that for them, computers, laptops, internet, control remotes, and USBs have always existed. Plastic and fabric are materials that "we", the grown ups used to play with in the Stone Age. If you have spent time with your child while he or she uses the computer, you will be able to see that these virtual dolls are found very easily on several websites. And yes, they can be dressed as the player wishes, and most of all, they're free. You can forget about buying a new doll just because it has a hat that's a different color from the one your little girl's doll already has. That's not bad news for your wallet, is it?

Are these virtual dolls difficult to use? Not at all, all you need is a computer and a decent internet connection. And, if you have children of any age, I'm sure you have those already. Most of all, forget about taking care of the plastic dolls, the little clothes, the little shoes and hats and accessories. There won't be any dolls on the floor to pick up after playing and no need to toss away a $25 doll because the dog decided to play with it too.

If you are a responsible father, you must be wondering if these virtual dolls are proper and adequate for your kid. They actually are. Just like you did with color blocks and color crayons when you were a small child, your child will be playing and experimenting with colors, patterns, and forms. Your kid will also be flexing her imagination, style and fashion sense. It can actually be a fun, and artistic leisure time. As with any computer, video game or TV show, you should supervise your child's playtime, but this will give you the opportunity to interact with her and encourage her creativity, as well as to build up her self esteem. He or she might even tell you they would like to be a stylist, fashion designer, or even a computer programmer so that they can design his or her own virtual dolls, clothes or accessories.

Some people think that these dress-up games are frivolous and superfluous, with all the pretty clothing, fashion and style tone to them. This is not true. They are just being the virtual age equivalent of Barbie and other similar dolls, which you or your sisters or cousins used to play with when you were children. Besides, clothing and grooming are high aesthetic values in society, specially for women.

On the other hand, would you prefer a game that's about killing and shooting, full of blood and gore? There's enough violence on movies and TV as it is, and no need to further expose your child. At least dress-up games are creative, imaginative and aesthetic. You will also prefer to have your child sitting in the next room with the computer rather than exposing him or her to dangers on the street.

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