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

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Daily Disposable Contact lenses - How Nice!

By Dr. Gerald Vision

Daily disposable contact lenses are the most convenient and affordable lenses. Daily disposable lenses can be used in the day and can be thrown away at night before you go to sleep. A daily disposable lens does not cost much and there is no cleaning and maintaining of lenses on a daily basis. These are the healthiest contact lenses a person could wear and are ideal for people who have allergies. A daily disposable lens costs USD 1 or above. It is very cheap and could save people a lot of time daily. It is perfect for busy people. There are other types of disposable contact lenses such as weekly and monthly disposable lenses. Nowadays there are some weekly and monthly contact lenses available, which can even be worn at night, but it is advisable not to use such contact lenses. Many Ophthalmologists suggest not using any contact lenses while you sleep. Disposable contact lenses are the most common type of lenses today. Normal or standard contact lenses are usually used for a period of six months to a year.

Tears in the eyes contain lipids, proteins and calcium, which can build up on the contact lenses. These deposits on the lenses could make the person feel uncomfortable and sometimes could lead to allergies or infections. Even before disposable lenses were introduced the doctors used to suggest people to change their lenses frequently as it was a healthy thing to do. But contacts were very expensive and many lens cleaners were introduced to increase the life of the lens. Later on contact lens manufacturers started manufacturing contact lenses using latest technology and manufacturing methods to produce quality lenses at low prices. It is also said that because of increasing competition among the contact lens manufacturers it has lead to the cheap disposable contact lenses. Disposable contact lenses are affordable for a common man and can be replaced quite often. Most of the disposable lenses today are made from the same material as traditional lenses.

Bifocal contact lenses are for people who have a condition called presbyopia. In the case of presbyopia, the person has to hold any reading material away from the eyes to read it clearly. Bifocal contact lenses are available in soft and rigid gas permeable materials and nowadays are also available in disposable form. Disposable bifocal contact lenses were first available in the year 1999. Even daily disposable bifocal contact lenses, which can be used throughout the day and discarded at night, are available. Bifocal lenses may not suit every ones eyes. It also takes some time for people to adjust to the contact lenses. Bifocal contact lenses do work like the bifocal eyeglasses.

Nowadays we have seen many movies where the use of theatrical contact lenses designed in various colors and styles providing special effects. These contact lenses are normally used to match the costumes and create a great look. There are various contact lenses designed like football, flags of different countries, animals etc. These are the craze with today's younger generation. Many crazy contact lenses are manufactured and available in various brand names.

There are different websites providing great offers for contact lenses. Many websites promise to provide free shipping. You just have to mention your eye prescription and the contact lenses are shipped to your doorstep. Most of the online providers accept credit cards. Some of the main brands for contact lenses are Acuvue, Biomedics, Focus, Optima, Proclear, Soflens, Sureview and Versaflex.

There are various types of contact lenses like vial lenses, toric lenses, colored contact lenses bifocal lenses and gas permeable lenses. All these lenses are normally available online. It is advisable to contact a licensed eye care professional before you purchase any contact lenses. The ophthalmologist is the right person who can suggest the use of a particular type of lens. If you have shortsightedness, long-sightedness, astigmatism or presbyopia contact lenses could suit you. It is recommended to follow his suggestions. The doctor's prescription should always be shown to the contact lens retailer before you purchase it.

A contact lens is a soft, thin and oval or round in shape. They are of a size of a small button. They are placed between the natural tears and the eye. Just like a normal eyeglass these contact lenses are placed in the eye and not far from the eye like the old styled eyeglasses. The younger generations do prefer contact lenses than eyeglasses. The introduction of new manufacturing techniques and cutthroat competition has made the contact lenses affordable to a common man. It is advised to consult an eye doctor before you purchase any contact lens, whether disposable or regular one. Disposable contact lenses have many positive effects on your eyes than that of a normal one. Whether you are a person who commutes daily to office, a sportsperson, architect etc disposable contact lenses would be the perfect choice. Just wear it in the morning and before you go to bed remove it, that's all. No cleaning or any other time wasting. Many websites do provide discounts on daily disposable contact lenses and you could also get a better deal if you purchase contact lenses for a certain period of time.

Always get a prescription for your contact lenses before buying it. It is prohibited to sell and purchase lenses without a prescription from the eye doctor in the United States. Even if you buy contact lenses online, find out if the website is registered and also note whether they ask for your prescription. Buy contact lenses only from reputed dealers.

About the Author:

When Does A Hobby Turn Serious - Lionel Model and Toy Trains

By Mira Rosher

One other way you can know a real model train hobbyist is by the way he relates to his collection. He will never address it a toy train, it will always be a model train. To actually refer to a collector's train set as a toy, is a little bit of an insult, and they will not be long in correcting you.

Toy trains are simplex replications made for for small children. They are not near as detailed or as complicated as the model trains are. And also, they are not nearly as costly.

Once you see some of the costs attached to these trains, you will no doubt agree that they are not for kids. Toy trains are good for kids who have an interest in trains. As a matter of fact, they can be a stepping-stone for alot more serious engagement in the future. The toy trains have no where near the detail that the model trains do. The model trains are the accurate replicas of the real thing.

In the first place, the first toy trains were functioned by winding them up, Then some were in reality operate by steam. This is referring to the 19th century period where they were famous in America and United Kingdom. As time goes by, they became more high-tech in that they could change direction, and still puff smoke. They were quickly turning like the real thing.

The realism and detail found in the model trains of today is exquisite. There are many gauges and scales of these model trains available. And also, there is no shortage on scenery and add-ons. The hobby has got to the point where the model trains can nowadays be run by computers and set on a time table.

There is no need to be alone when it gets to this hobby too. There is a large meeting of clubs and associations in almost all the city constantly looking for new members.

About the Author:

How Would You Fix Pastel Paintings?...

By Anna Meenaghan

You may not know what fixing is? Really it is just a way of keeping your painting in good condition.

There are various thoughts on this subject. Some people use a fixative - others do not like to use one at all. Possibly with the thought that it might stop the Maybe others fix a bit at a time as they go along, but then do not fix the completed picture. As far as others go they only fix at the end.

Should you want to fix your painting without spraying, there is something you can do. A good alternative, perhaps is, to cover the painting with a sheet of cellophane paper or even tissue, then place a board on top of this and press hard. Your pressure then makes the pastel specks go more definately into the grain of your paper. Do not apply too much pressure or this could change the texture surface of your painting.

However, it is also possible to fix your painting from the back of it. This eliminates the chance of you, in actual fact, over spraying it. This does not affect your surface. Your art stays in position, because it is damp from the spray which peters through. Some of the paper you buy is very absorbent, so this is a great aid to your fixing as you are not left with skin on pastels that have not settled.

Diffusers too, are another way of doing your fixing - although sometimes you may find that these clog up. It is possible to put through thin wire after using, which then cleans them ready for the next time. Perfect fixing is not always achieved. Ideally you need to stand about 2 feet away from the painting and start spraying from the outside of the picture.

You will need a steady hand and spray backwards and forwards across your work slowly. Past the edges, but don't ever make a stop in the middle. The aim is to keep your arm moving, but you also only want a fine spray. It is horrible if the spray sticks somewhere and ends up dripping all the way down, most probably giving you nasty dark patches.

So now what happens? You have decided you want your painting to keep the bright colours, and yes, you really want to fix it. My suggestion would be to spray it on as you paint various parts. This needs to be done before you put on any last layer of colour or do any retouching. And this way it should keep its freshness.

This is a good way to alleviate colour mixing problems from earlier. When colours mix, your work can be spoilt and this is depressing and you also don't want your colours dull.

All I can advice is, do not fix the final layer of colour if you want nice fresh colour. Fixing can be a difficult process, so I can only wish you the best of luck with it!

About the Author:

How to Play Bakugan Toys Game Rules

By Kevin Lane

If you're a worried parent and feel that most popular computer games today are inappropriate for the kids, then welcome to the club. Some computer games depicts pictures and situations (including zombies, headless corpses and many more blood-related sagas) that is too brutal for the younger market and though responsible restrictions and warning have been labeled in the products, case is it will find its way into your children's hands and that will likely to happen if you don't act now.

Why not play Bakugan with your kids? It's simple for an adult to decipher and that's not all. Spending quality time with your kids will improve your relationship. Excited to get started? Just follow the instructions below (Note: tendency is you'll like it and eventually will be addicted so don't get carried away)

First stop is this game is a 2 player game with each player has a team of 3 Bakugan. Your main goal is to be the first to capture 3 Gate cards. Next is the set up; each player needs 3 Bakugan, 3 Gate cards: one of each color and 3 Ability cards: one of each color. (Ask your kid questions if confusions start to materialize and you'll see how intelligent they are). Players should sit about 2-1/2 feet from each other. The play area should be a smooth, flat surface (living room floor or the Masters bedroom). The space between the two players is called the Field. When ready, each player says, Field - Open!(Don't feel foolish because this is a kid's game).

When playing, each player places one of their Gate cards face down (i.e., Bakugan logo is face up) in front of the opponent, so that they barely touch each other at their top, while saying, Gate Card - Set!. Again the youngest player goes first. Players then take turns. The player whose turn it is chooses a Bakugan and says, Bakugan - Brawl! The player then rolls one of his unused Bakugan at the Gate cards in the field.

Battle is one Bakugan vs. one Bakugan and happens whenever Bakugan from two different players end up on the same Gate card. Detach the two Bakugan from the Gate card and read each Bakugan G-Power. Gate Reveal: Flip the Gate card over and do what it says. Ability Cards: Play Ability cards " first, by the player whose turn it is. Each Ability card says when it can be played. Tell your opponent that you are playing the card, do what the card says and then put the card in your used pile.

Gate Card G-Power Boost: After both players are finished playing Ability cards, each Bakugan gets to add the Gate Card G-Power boost. Simply match the color of a Bakugan to the color symbol on the Gate card and add that number to the Bakugan G-Power. The battle is won by the Bakugan that now has the higher G-Power. The player who wins the battle puts the Gate card in their used pile. In the event of a tie: Each player rolls an unused Bakugan. First Bakugan to stand on a Gate card wins.

About the Author:

Pimp Your Ride With DUB Wheels

By Ben Pate

Dub wheels are undoubtedly the most in demand nowadays. They are made in all different designs and sizes. Some are fairly plain, others are more elaborate. You can find a style that's just right for you. These much-loved rims are found on the automobiles of the rich and famous throughout the nation.

Dub wheels include traditional rims and spinners. Spinners can be manufactured with the spinners built into the rim as an integrated element or as rims with spinners bolted on later. The spinner on these rims is tucked inside the wheel, making it very stable.

One of the coolest new Dub wheels is the Pimpstar. The Pimpstar is a rim with unlimited possibilities. The rims have a full set of built-in LED display lights - right on the rims-controlled by a microprocessor and managed through a wireless modem. The owner can use the included software to create virtually any image they want and send the image to the rims. Images can be anything from logos to graphics, text, and even digital photos.

Images may be transmitted both prior to getting behind the wheel or as you drive, actually switching them while you cruise. Owners may transmit images to as many rims as they choose, even showing separate images on each rim simultaneously. These messages may be altered while driving, either at your command or based on what you previously programmed.

Custom wheels are totally sealed, which means that going through the car wash won't ruin the rims' ability to display graphics. The whole system is fueled by the car's own electrical system, letting the system remain reasonably low-maintenance.

Dub wheels are available from a broad array of makers, either on the web or in geographically-located shops. Among the dimensions are wheels from 16 up to 28 inches, with many in between. Among the hues offered are chrome, black, and mixtures of the two. These rims are prohibitively priced, however a lot of sellers provide the opportunity for financing.

There is such a wide variety of Dubs on the market today that any vehicle can be outfitted in the perfect size, style, and color. Look in almost any pop culture magazine that shows celebrities in their rides, and you can see some of the coolest Dubs made today.

About the Author:

Lousiana Crafts Through the Medium of Seashells

By Myke Oswald

Sometimes, I get to thinking about why people are so drawn to the sea. What is the attraction for us, whose ancestors were tree-dwellers? We are so fascinated by the sun, sand and surf, but what draws us to beaches?

If you want my two cents on the matter, I think we're drawn to the water because of a basic human nature: Curiosity. We have long been fascinated by the mysterious, and we have always been looked at the strange. It's only natural that we are mesmerized by the ocean waves that beckon to us.

Likewise, we have always been fascinated by the natural wonders that the sea holds. If you'll notice, every culture in the world that lives near a large body of water will have tales of mermaids. We also find many jewels in the sea, too; shells of varying shapes and sizes, dried up starfish, bits of coral and driftwood, and of course, pearls.

Other than jewelry, other individuals such as myself find use in the sea's beautiful accessories. We are able to practice some craftsmanship with them; even something as simple as a picture frame becomes exquisite when adorned with shells. It also helps give the feeling that you are attuned to the beauty of the sea. Although we do not dwell in water ourselves, these crafts make us feel a certain attachment to it somehow.

With these crafts readied, these people then proceed to spread it to the populace. This is done via the many craft shows held in Louisiana State. Whether you're an aspiring craftsperson yourself, and would want to try showcasing your crafts there, or if you're just someone who wants to see the sights, then you should consider searching for craft shows in your area as well. Just look for the appropriate show in the Internet, and you'll be well on your way.

About the Author:

Make Healthy Restaurant Recipes at Home

By Chef Pablo

For some reason McDonalds is a huge motivator for eight year old little girls. I love to give my daughter a nice treat every once in a while. We're not a family that eats out more than once a week and usually it's something other than fast food. But, this time, my daughter wanted a Happy Meal and I was happy to take her. I've been doing very well with my eating lately, so I planned on making something at home.

As I pulled up to the menu board, I started thinking about how much I love some of the items they offer. I looked and saw "Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese." Mmmm, that used to be one of my favorites, but now that I'm working out and eating right I had to pass. That's when it struck me

What if I made that exact same burger at home, but I substituted some healthy alternatives? I've been doing up restaurant recipes for quite some time and I always try to duplicate exactly what the restaurants make. What if I reduced the cream in Outback Steakhouse's Walkabout Soup? What if I replaced the Italian sausage in Olive Gardens Zuppa Toscana Soup with turkey sausage? Could I make it into something healthy?

Of course, I know it's probably not going to taste EXACTLY the same, but I'm willing to sacrifice a little to save on the scale each morning. I also know Splenda isn't a duplicate for sugar and low fat cheese doesn't always melt exactly the same way regular cheese does, but that's OK.

I've put together a list of things you can do to change up your favorite top secret recipes to help them fit into a healthier lifestyle.

Drop the Fat - The next time you're buying eggs, look around the shelf and you'll probably see a low fat real egg substitute you can use for cook and baking. You'll find the same thing in the cheese section and the other parts of the dairy aisle.

Turkey Everything - It does seem like every kind of meat imaginable has a turkey based alternative these days. I don't know if anyone loves bacon as much as I do, but I've made the switch to turkey bacon. It's not exactly the same, but the payoff in my waistline is worth the sacrifice. Sausage, patties, bacon, ham and more is all available and make great replacements.

Low Fat Oil? - Well, it's not really low fat oil, but it does reduce the amount of oil you use. What is it? Spray on oil. It's the same oil you pour into a pan, but when you spray it you can coat a pan with considerably less oil than you would pouring. It can even be sprayed on food you would normally deep fry, but want to bake instead. It puts a nice crispy coating on the food.

Sugar Substitutes - Splenda is one of my favorite substitutes. Consider using it instead of sugar anytime you need it. It measures one for one with sugar, so you don't have to do any of the math. It's simple, easy and tastes pretty good.

Low fat cheese on the top of your copy cat Pizza Hut pizza isn't going to taste exactly the same. It's not. But, if staying in shape is important to you, it's worth a few minor modifications. If you follow the rest of the recipe correctly, you'll end up with a good substitute.

I have plenty of top secret recipes on my website that are waiting for your modifications. Don't be afraid to experiment a little and see what you come up with. You never know, you might end up liking the new healthy version better than the one at the restaurant.

About the Author:

Clinique Cosmetics - Easy Removing Makeup Tips

By Kathy Summer

Women make up the most percentage in the buying market; ranging from fitness, hair, fashion, jewels, and of course, the make-up. Their physical appearance seems to be the ultimate manufacturers dream because of so many products to market and sell. Just the woman's face shows multitude of product potentials to offer; eye coloring, lipstick, blush-on, and many more, thus giving birth to the Makeup.

It is an important part of a woman's life which is almost like an important component of daily routine for other people. There are times that women ornament themselves in a much better manner during some special occasion like the wedding and parties and while there is no denying the importance of makeup, you should also remember to remove makeup in a safe way to keep your skin soft, supple and healthy.

It is necessary to remove makeup before going to bed so that your skin does not lose its natural charm. However, removing makeup is an art too and you need to follow some basic tips for it. Usually women indulge in a lot of eye makeup for that smoky, bold and captivating eye look. However, removing eye makeup is not as simple as it seem.

Think Mascaras are hard to remove? Then consider using Baby shampoo because unlike other removers which mascara usually resist, it is effective. Extra virgin olive oil is also helpful. Apply few drops on a cotton ball and softly massage the eye region to let go off waterproof mascaras. Never use harsh remover or solutions as most of them can dry out your skin. Instead go in for mild makeup removers and there are facial cleansers according to skin types. Baby oil is an effective way of removing all kinds of makeup in a safe and healthy way and its very easy to do.

Rule of the thumb: never go to bed with your makeup on as that can hamper your skins quality, softness and health; eventually making you look older than your age. Others claim that it made their skin rough and dull mainly due to the remnants of the chemicals that come with applying makeup. Scary isn't it?

About the Author:

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