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

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Gain Tips and Tricks On Choosing Top Culinary Schools

By Micheal Parkes

If you are looking for a culinary school, it is not hard to find one these days due to increasing popularity of the culinary course. But if you are looking for a top culinary school, then much research will be needed. Find out as much information about each culinary school before making a decision on which one to attend.

The admission process into any culinary school has been made easier in recent years, making professional studies within reach of many. A good culinary school usually comprises of several major divisions including cooking faculty, restaurant management, hotel management as well as patisseries and baking. An understanding of these faculties helps individuals choose the specialty areas for their future careers.

Culinary schools run a high maintenance cost. There are stringent safety measures in place which the school has to meet. This is very important considering that culinary schools run many practical classes in the kitchen environment. A small ratio of student per staff is also a requirement. Insurance protection also adds to the cost of managing a culinary school. These are some of the requirements for a culinary school before they can be accredited.

Accreditation is a vital factor in choosing culinary schools. It is a quality assurance that the programs offered are of quality standard. Each culinary school needs to meet a certain level of requirements before they can be accredited. An accredited program can also provide you with additional services such as financial help, scholarships and much more.

An important thing to consider when deciding your culinary school is your own goals. There are a lot of programs on offer these days. They can range from short culinary courses to bachelors degrees which can take up to four years. If you are clear on which level of education you are seeking, this makes it easier to narrow down to a few suitable culinary schools. In order to simplify things, a list of culinary schools have been gathered and put on our website for your benefit. To take advantage of this free-of-charge information, visit the link below.

As a glimpse into the future of being as a culinary school, you can be expecting to learn about how to become a good chef, whilst absorbing leadership/business information. Vital skills such as managing catering, supervising a restaurant or kitchen, finance and accounting, stock control and staff management are also taught in top culinary schools.

Keep in mind that a culinary arts degree can offer you a chance of a lifetime. You can choose to go into hotel management, catering, chef and many more job opportunities from there. The work opportunities are endless as culinary arts graduate can work in many settings and be successful in them.

Lastly, if you have a passion for food, then a culinary school will be a good choice for you. Gain an experience of a lifetime from understanding conventional and modern cooking styles, learning modern food preparation techniques and correctly utilizing latest kitchen equipments. To start this amazing journey and learn the culinary arts language, visit the links below to learn more about best culinary schools.

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Seafood Combo Meals - A Healthy Alternative

By Shannon Linnen

Seafood combo meals are delicious and very easy to prepare. Seafood is very healthy, and is available in such wide varieties that it's hard to go wrong! Everything you need to prepare delicious seafood combo meals can be found at your local grocery store.

When getting your seafood combo meal together it is important to remember that you are getting more that just one seafood item or type of seafood. You will generally get two or more of any type of seafood which is great. This is much better than just having one seafood item with your meal. Having scallops and fresh Maine lobster is much more exciting and definitely a more satisfying experience.

If you're new to cooking it's best to start with simpler items, such as shrimp or fish fillets. It's easiest to prepare things you already like, as your cooking instincts will be more accurate. Of course, if you're not an experienced cook and your favorite combo is two pound lobster and scallops, it may be best to start with something easier and work your way up. If you're not sure what kind of food you'd like the most, try to find a fresh seafood sampler at your local grocery.

While you are preparing any seafood dish, the easiest cooking method is pan-fry. One very easy starter dish is shrimp pasta. Start with your favorite pasta and a bag of cocktail, or frozen shrimp. It's fairly easy to find these pre-cooked, so you won't risk under-cooking the food.

Set out all the ingredients you'll use. First the pasta and a pot of water to boil it in, then the shrimp and a frying pan, and lastly your favorite oils and spices. For this dish, a good starting point is olive oil, basil leaves, and garlic powder. Start the pasta boiling and heat the frying pan. Pour a small amount of oil in the pan, and add the shrimp. Sprinkle the garlic powder and basil leaves on top, and stir the shrimp around the pan until they're lightly covered in oil and spices.

When the shrimp begin to sizzle you can turn the heat down slightly, so they quietly simmer in the pan. For added flavor you could add some vegetables, I often add chopped onions and tomatoes. While the pasta finishes the shrimp will simmer, absorbing the flavor of the oil and spices.

When the pasta has reached your preferred softness, strain it and put it on a plate. Add a side of garlic bread or a caesar salad and you've got a hearty, healthy seafood combo meal! There are an infinite number of seafood combo meals you could cook, the best way to learn is to keep practicing different kinds until you find your favorite! Pour the complete contents of the frying pan over the pasta, and mix them together.

From the ocean to your front door. This is what the online seafood vendor Quality Fresh Seafood abides by. With overnight delivery being such a common thing, just count on Fedex or UPS to bring a fresh and healthy seafood combo meal straight to your door.

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Reasons To Choose Under Cabinet Lighting Fixtures

By Tom Sanderrs

Under the cabinet lighting fixtures are a fantastic addition to any kitchen but you need to choose the best ones for the existing decor, otherwise you can end up taking two steps forward and three steps back. To do this, find a store that has a really good selection of lights to choose from, not just browse a series of smaller stores or providers, as they will all probably carry the same range. The place you choose should offer a wide variety of under the cabinet lighting fixtures at a reasonable price, including all the latest styles and old favorites to give you exactly what you want.

The style of your home will dictate which style of under the cabinet lighting fixtures will suit your needs. When you go to a store that has a large selection of lighting fixtures you will be able to examine each style and see which one will actually fit your needs.

There are many uses for under the cabinet lighting fixtures and their use is often only limited by a person's imagination and flair.

* Kitchen counter tops: cabinets can create shadow and dark spots. This often creates a bad effect in expensive kitchens. Under cabinet lighting fixtures give bright light to your working areas and help to show off that great kitchen.

* Enhancing decor: different under the cabinet lighting fixtures can produce subtle lighting affects that can enhance the decor of your room. This type of lighting is not only useful but can add subtle beauty to a room when it lights up certain areas.

* Light up dark niches: This is a great effect and can liven up otherwise dull areas.

* Wet bars: under counter lighting fixtures will give you better light for your counters and work space.

* Bathrooms: under the cabinet lighting fixtures can illuminate dark corners and give you more light to find things, shave and make up etc.

* Atmosphere: a room's atmosphere can be added to substantially with some subtle lighting placed in darker areas.

* Night lights: if you have a big family, or people in your house that get up at night, it is a good idea to install under cabinet lighting fixtures. They act as night lights and are cheap and efficient to run. An average under counter light take's up less energy than a doorbell light. This type of lighting can be of great assistance if elderly people are living in the house.

The best under the cabinet lighting fixtures are small ones that are rarely seen in the day time. If you make them too big they will waste energy and probably clutter the area with unnecessary looking fixtures. With smaller lights you create brightness and save energy for an extraordinary show room look that will match the most stylish magazine layouts.

They are easy to install and maintain. This saves you money and helps the environment, which is a big issue with many people these days. In fact, many houses now need to improve their energy efficiency before modifications can be made.

The great part of these fixtures is that they are practically invisible. This means that you can put them to many different uses. Whether you need subtle lighting to enhance decor or a useful utility light, under counter lights are a marvelous addition to any home.

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Wines of Oregon 2

By Ian Kleine

Pinot gris is the white variety of the Pinot species, with scientific name vitis vinifera. Pinot gris means 'pine' and 'grey' in French, attributed to its grayish blue hue found in the fruit. Wines produced by this grape variety, are, however, depending its tone and color from yellow to copper and even pink.

Another Pinot clone exists in Italy, known as Pinot grigio. Around 1990's, Pinot gris has made a name for itself in Oregon, thanks to a high number of wineries that have made top-quality Pinot gris wines. At least one thousand eight hundred acres are dedicated to growing Pinot gris in Oregon to this day.

Chardonnay is the green-skinned, often most common, grape variety used to make fine wine. Believed to have come from the Burgundy region of eastern France but is know grown wherever wine is produce. Chardonnay is a mainstay. For most places to be recognized as wineries, one must have grown Chardonnay grapes as an unofficial rite of passage of some sorts. This also gains your access and segue into the international market of wines.

Chardonnay has a neutral taste, which easily associates itself with a number of flavors, wood, scents and bouquets. From flinty Chablis, to buttery Meursalts and New World Wines which exhibit tropical flavor and fun experiences. The grape is an important ingredient for sparkling wines, including that of Champage. Chardonnay is a very prolific grape, easily found worldwide and cultivated in vast numbers side by side Airen varieties and the legendary Cabernet Sauvingnon.

Merlot is a red wine grape that is used for blending and adding taste and flavor rather than as a base wine. Merlot produces a medium body with hints of currant, plum and different berries. Merlot produces a significant amount of tannin, providing the bitter taste in ripening a good batch of Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is also a primary component in Bordeaux wine, being planted as an important component for it.

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Change The Look Of A Room Quickly With An Area Rug

By Alvin Kruger

If you're looking into redecorating your place, all you have to do is clean up a bit, dust off some stuff and buy some great looking area rugs! Decorating with area rugs is one of the best ways to change the look of your home without going bankrupt. Take a breather and consider these things before shopping for the perfect area rugs for your home sweet home.

Going out and spending for area rugs do entail some careful thinking. Of course, these decorating items are considered investments too. Before taking out that purse, decide first on your budget. Not because area rugs are way cheaper than new upholstery or cans of paint that you will splurge like there's no tomorrow. Remember, times now are hard with the global economic crisis, so wise spending is necessary. Buying high quality rugs are well worth it despite their higher rates because they can last far longer than cheaper ones but with poor quality materials. Hence, you buy less, you spend less.

Buying a more expensive rug may mean longevity. Of course, you wouldn't want to keep a pricey dcor in a box, would you? Put it out there and show it off for those who care to visit your place. Area rugs are good investments. But before you get too excited, first check out the rooms where you plan to place your area rugs and size them up - literally and figuratively. Measure the spaces so you'll know which rug fits well and look over the rooms so you'll know which rug suits which area best.

In placing a rug under furniture, make sure that it can accommodate all of the furniture's sides. The object should be able to fit on the rugall of it. If you have furniture set such as a dining table set, get a rug that is big enough to fit the tables and all the chairs. A table leg outside the rug space doesn't look nice at all.

When you measure your room for the new area rug, there are a couple of ways that can help you see what it might look. If you lay newspaper down, this will give you an idea of what size area rug you will need. You can also use masking tape to demarcate the area. Simply use a measuring tape afterwards to measure the tape.

Choosing your area rugs require you to also consider the materials you prefer. There is a wide selection in the market from wool and cotton to synthetic and bamboo. High traffic areas will need sturdier materials to withstand wear and tear.

You should not forget selecting the color and design, one that will look best for the room. Area rugs in bright colors can lighten up a room while darker, more subtle tones give off a conservative and more formal ambiance. Choose a color that match not just the room's focal point, but the rest of the room as well. This will give a more balanced look. If you aren't too confident with your taste, opt for safer choices like a floral pattern. It blends well with almost any backdrop. Coordination doesn't necessarily mean monotones. You use contrasting colors as long as they enhance the room and not turn it into a circus show. For example, white or neutral walls can benefit from bright hues of red, yellow, pink and blue area rugs. If you have a dark flooring, loud colors will work as well. Mixing area rugs of say, white and black or black and red by placing them strategically across the room can give off a trendy look. Don't limit your creativity. Experiment and dare to be different.

Rest assured that when you buy area rugs for your house, you are getting your money's worth, especially if you choose those that complement your rooms or spaces. Area rugs are simple decors but they do not fail to add appeal, character and vibrancy to your abode.

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Lawn Fertilizer to Grow with Vigor

By Marshall Clewis

Right after the early spring cleanup up North is a good time to start the annual fertilizing program for the lawn. This early application is one of the most important of the season because grass soon will be utilizing nutrients when the weather warms. Fertilizer will help it to grow vigorously at a time when growing conditions are most favorable. And since a dense stand of grass is one of the best ways of keeping down weeds, lawns should be given every opportunity to grow with vigor, fertilizer is a key requirement.

There are a number of very good lawn fertilizers, these should be used according to recommendations of the manufacturer. A good standard rule for the amount to use is to apply one pound of actual nitrogen for each thousand square feet of lawn surface. The first number in a fertilizer formula refers to the per cent of nitrogen. Divide this number into 100 and the answer will be the number of pounds of that fertilizer to use for each one thousand feet of lawn surface.

Some turf specialists recommend a combination of fifty per cent organic and fifty per cent inorganic fertilizer. The inorganic type will become available to the grass at temperatures below 70 degrees; the organic at temperatures above 70 degrees. Thus in early spring you will have a fertilizer that will be available to the grass over a greater range of temperature conditions.

As a rule, lawn fertilizers do not have to be watered if they are applied in early spring. Spring rains and; the moist condition of the earth make it unnecessary to follow an otherwise strict rule to always water right after applying fertilizer on a lawn.

According to foresters and arborists, March is a good time in which to trim trees that need it. Healing of pruning wounds is much more rapid at this time of the year. In addition there is less likelihood of disease and insect invasion on cut surfaces. The hard maples are an exception; they may bleed more now than later on. However, bleeding is not serious; many maples have been tapped for sugar annually without injuring the plants.

Tree specialists are divided in their opinions with respect to the use of pruning wound dressings. Some believe they are necessary, some don't, and there are those who are more or less neutral. In a case like this, play it safe and cover all cut surfaces of an inch or more in diameter with a prepared tree wound dressing which may be purchased at a garden store, or cover the cut with orange shellac.

Early March is a good time to start seeds of certain annuals in the house in order to have well developed, soonto-bloom plants for the garden when it is safe to set them out in May. Ageratum. lobelia. snapdragon. china asters and any other annual that is either slow in germinating or requires a long time to come into bloom may be started now.

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This is the Best Massage Chair

By Claudine Balsells

The Montage Premier by Omega Massage is the best massage chair on the market today. The Montage Premier has many desirable features compared with the other massage chairs in its class. Here are some of the more important features of this top of the line massage chairs.

Five Automatic Programs: The Montage Premier has 5 pre-programmed massage treatments that work off one touch buttons. Each of the 5 automatic massage treatments uses the functions of the entire chair for full body relaxation. There are particular themes associated with each of the massage programs including Relaxation, Vitality, Activation, Morning and Night. Select the program that fits your needs at the time.

4 Manual Programs: There are 4 manual massage techniques. These four techniques are for targeting the back, neck and shoulders. You can select from kneading, tapping, rolling and a combination kneading/tapping. Find the massage technique that is right for where you want a thorough massage.

6 Manual Massage Courses: One of the important features of any massage chair is the ability to customize and target the massage to hit your particular trouble spots. The Montage Premier comes with 6 manual massage courses which are full back, lower back (lumbar), middle back, upper back, lower neck and upper neck. Additionally, you can pinpoint the massage by moving the back rollers to a particular spot and then selecting the massage technique you want.

Air Massage: An air massage system enables the Montage Premier massage chair to provide a compression massage to most of the body. The compression massage is a squeeze, hold and release pattern which helps to loosen tight muscles. This can be very soothing and it is for targeting the larger muscles of the body like the legs, hips, buttocks, hands and arms. Select from four different pressure levels to accommodate your needs.

Lower Body Stretching Function: The Montage Premier comes with a lower body stretch function. When you start this function, the chair will stretch the muscles from the hips, thighs, knees and ankles. The leg rest comes up to the horizontal position. The airbags then hold onto your feet and then the leg rest lowers to 3 different positions. As it moves down it stretches you out for some excellent relief.

Full Body Heat: Turn up the heat and soothe those aching muscles. The Montage Premier massage chair comes with heating elements built throughout the massage chair. There are heaters for the chair back, seat and the leg rest. These areas are controlled individually by the remote control where you can select which ones you want on at a given time.

MP3 Music Player: This is perhaps the most important feature to provide the user with a relaxing environment. The Montage Premier has an MP3 player and comes with a USB stick to download music and headphones. Music helps the mind to relax. It also removes the ambient noise of where you are located allowing you to close your eyes and fully relax. Music is used in conjunction with massage therapy to help induce total body relaxation.

Reflexology Massage for Feet: In massage, the feet are the gateway to relaxation of the body. The feet take much of the stress of the body as they must support the weight. Being on your feet all day is tiring and coming home to a reflexology foot massage is a great way to end the day. Let the Footflex technology of the Montage Premier gently squeeze your feet and stimulate your reflexology points. Reflexology massage is thought to induce whole body relaxation.

The Montage Premier has the most complete feature set of all the massage chairs in its class. This massage recliner provides a complete environment for relaxation from full body heat, to music therapy, to stretching and of course effective massage therapy. The Omega brand is known for the strength of its massage and the Montage Premier is sure to please the most demanding requirements you may have.

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Good Tips To Organize Clutter And Overall Clutter Control

By Marc McDavis

Your house will never be well organized as long as you don't organize clutter. When you let clutter get the best of you in your house, you wind up having to do something with the clutter to actually clean the house then.

You will have to take some time to clear out the mess the clutter makes, before you can see the underneath to clean. By the time you have done this your day will be over or you will be too pooped to clean. This article covers tips about getting rid of clutter, and keeping it away so read on.

Most of the clutter in many houses consist of paper. You have the mail, work papers, newspapers, and of course the school papers the kids bring home, that all works out to be one large pile of clutter if you are not careful. The good news for you is that there are many ideas that will get you organized so that clutter does not take over your house.

Always sort through your mail as soon as it comes into the house. You could even have a small trash can near the front door so that you don't carry the junk mail any further into the house. Have a place for your bills that need paying. You can even use a basket and keep it near the phone or where you are going to pay bills, like your desk where you keep your stamps and other supplies. The papers that are important need to be put away immediately, don't say you will do it after, that sometimes doesn't work and clutter begins!Organize your work papers that you have at home using this same method. Remember a ?to do? stack and file the important papers immediately.

Are you like most people and have a trash bin under your sink in the kitchen? If you are just place a bin for your used newspaper next to the trash bin. Then as you take out your trash you can grab the newspapers for the recycle bin.

Parents often times have a hard decision to make as to whether they keep all the projects their child creates, or throw some of it away in hopes of not cluttering up the house. But parents do not have to throw it away just place a plastic see-through bin in the room where you usually go through the child's schoolwork or projects. Place the keepers in the plastic bin and discard the rest of it. You can then have a larger receptacle in the attic, basement, or bedroom to empty that bin into. This is a way to permanently keep your child's precious artwork and other school accomplishments for time to come, your child will love looking back through it when they are older.

As you try to control the clutter keep a few thing in your mind. Do you actually have a use for this object or item? Now be honest too! Have you used the item in a year? If your answer is no, chances are you will not be using it again, so don't just keep it laying around dispose of it in some manner. You can either sell it or possibly give it to charity if it is still working or not torn. If it is something that does get used but very little you can store it in the basement for 6 months, to see if you use it before getting rid of it.

Your seasonal decorations can be put away safely in the basement, attic, or other place for storage. Think about buying stackable large bins for storage, if you get the right style of these you can use them as drawers. I get flustered when I have bought a seasonal sale item, or I have found I have a seasonal item that was not put away, and it does not fit in its box, nor can I get it into another bin because everything is on top of each other. If you get the clear bins that you can have as drawers, then you can view what is in the bins easily, when it comes to decorating for that season again, you know which one to open.

Throw away anything damaged, broke or stained. You will wind up being sorry if you keep stuff like that. The only reason to keep something that is not completely good is if it has sentimental many like an old holiday ornament or a baby's first outfit.

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