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

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Seamed Stockings Return

By Mary Hicks

Seamed stockings are known as fully fashioned stockings. The stocking is made from 2 pieces of flat material that are sewn together which then produces a seam down the back of the leg part. These materials can be of silk or nylon type.

They are abundantly found in sheer stretch or ultra sheer type that are well suited to be worn on grand occasions to bring out that retro glamorous style out of you. Seamed stockings were highly regarded as fashionable items until the 1960s. They have now made a come back yet again.

With the back seams to distinguish them from the regular stockings, they can be used with open toe or open strap shoes as they have a complete nude foot and heel. The versatility of these stockings made them great to be put on at any season, day or night whether for casual or formal settings. Distinct striking back seam that meets with pointer heel and foot is one of the designs that bring back that 1930s retro look.

It is a lovely sight to see a lady wearing the sensual seamed stockings but the as for the wearer, it is often problematic to keep the seams straight and struggle to be comfortable while having to sit of that seam. A woman has to stand up and make sure that the seams of her stockings are at their correct place so as not to look weird.

A garter belt or skirt can be attached to the seamed stockings to achieve that complete pin-up girl appearance. The whispers of seductiveness and sensuality that they bring can be used to keep your love life exciting too. While using seamed stockings, try to dress just lightly and not too provocative as they exhibit sexiness on their own.

Not all kinds of material that are used to make seamed stockings are suitable for everyone. Nylon seamed stockings especially can cause allergic reactions. So before you go and purchase that glamorous pair of nylon seamed stockings, make sure you are not sensitive towards the material.

There is no denying the sexy yet mysterious, classic retro look that seamed stockings bring out to the one wearing them. Spruce up your appearance either with skirts and dresses teamed up with the gorgeous seamed stockings to add just a little bit of classic look and turn heads.

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Stylistic Differences Between Boxer Underwear and What Boxers Wear

By Reynaldo Tempenter

Boxer-type underwear for men come in all shapes and sizes as you well know. Or perhaps you don't know. Boxers, as they are called, resemble the trunks that boxers typically wear, hence the name.

What men wear and what fighting boxers wear are very different. First, style. The style of boxer trunks are much longer, often touching or going below the knee (and this style for fighting boxers has changed over the years-think Muhammad Ali with mid-thigh trunks). These trunks are very loose and baggy. They need to be so that boxers can move around freely. On the other hand, the undergarments that men might wear only go down to the middle of the thigh or even less than that. The boxer underwear are loose (though not as loose as Boxer trunks). Boxer underwear are intentionally designed to be loose and unobtrusive.

One significant requirement that sportsmen boxers have (that regular men don't have) is the need for their shorts to stay on their hips during a long and sweaty match. The boxing trunks cannot even accidentally slither over the waist even a little (you see Boxers try to pull them up if they do and it's an interesting sight when they try to do it with their boxing gloves). The boxing shorts are reinforced at the waist with heavy elastic or a tie-string. Boxer-style underwear, conversely, rarely use a tie-string to keep them from sliding down. Instead those shorts rely on elastic, a comfort designed specifically for the boxer underwear.

The similarities between what Boxers wear and what normal men wear is that they can be made from any type of material. Common material types are cotton, silk, and a combination of the two.

On a quick sidenote, I have also seen boxer shorts made from a fishnet type of material. I suspect the Boxing world has pretty much rejected that impractical material because then it would show the protective gear that boxers wear during a match. Mesh/Fishnet material for boxer shorts are found in novelty stores.

Obviously those types of boxers are not for comfort or utilitarian usages; they're for romance and all that entails.

Boxer shorts, then, are similar to what fighting Boxers wear in physical material (especially the silk and cotton varieties), but differ in length and whether or not they have a drawstring to hold them up. Another major difference is cost: boxing shorts are more expensive than boxer underwear. Specialty boxers, on the other hand, can be more costly initially, but may very well be worth the added expense.

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Heres Some Helpful Used Car Buying Tips

By Ira Bennet

There are things that you need to look at before you jump in behind the wheel of one of the used cars online that you see on the Internet. Now everyone thinks that the Internet is a fast and easy way to shop and while thats true you still need to understand there are several used car buying tips that will take any guesswork out of the operation.

Know what you want before you start. Its necessary to have a general idea of the make and model that youre looking for before you start to look through the massive listings that you can find at a professional online car dealer like ibuyer.com. Its easy to get distracted if you havent already thought through the kind of vehicle you want before you go and start looking through their listings.

Know what you can afford. Theres really nothing worse than finding the car of your dreams only to find out that you cant get approved for a loan to buy it. Get to a financial institution as a first step. Even if youve never had a loan before there are steps that you can take to get a credit rating in a surprisingly short period of time.

And then when youve got all that out of the way, its time to start looking at those used cars online. Now you need to remember that online car dealers are not all cut from the same cloth and there will be some that are better at presenting you with the choices that youre after then others.

Reverse Selling System For Used Cars Online

Its essential to understand that the best of these places use what is called a reverse selling system whereby buyers tell the sellers what they want. These sellers then make offers to the buyers to win their business over.

Its important that you look at the inventory that these online car dealers have at their disposal as well. Again, the best of these dealers will have all different types of vehicles as diverse as motorcycles and trucks. When you look at a place like ibuyer.com, youll see that these innovators have reversed the normal model of car sales by allowing demand to control supply. This is a revolutionary concept as far as online car dealers goes since it allows the buyer to dictate what they want. The sellers need to bid for their business.

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The Basics Of Ordering Espresso Drinks For Beginners

By Eric Glisan

As recently as a decade ago, the only people who patronized espresso bars were those who knew what they wanted. Serious coffee towns like Seattle, Portland and New York City pioneered the concept of gourmet coffee. In other cities they served a smaller 'niche' population who understood the differences between a quality drink and a "cup of Joe" from the local 7-11.

Espresso bars are everywhere today. Any decent sized market has a good selection, if not dozens of coffee shops, restaurants and bookstores that serve espresso drinks. This is good for the coffee connoisseur, but frequently problems arise due to patrons who don't know what they want, or even understand the concept of what to expect at the espresso bar.

For the benefit of espresso newcomers here are some tips that will help you get what you want, as well as helping the staff at your local espresso bar keep things moving along at an orderly pace.

--Know what you want beforehand. You should have a few drinks that are your drinks, and order those more often than not. For example my drinks are a Latte with an extra shot served either iced or hot depending on the weather. Occasionally, Ill have a cappuccino or a shot or two of espresso. If you want a specific sort of milk (soy milk, skim milk, etc.) ask for it when you order. The barista may ask you what kind of milk youd like"answer quickly or, if it doesnt matter just say so. Typically, youll get 2% or some other default selection. Also, make sure to know what size you want. I usually get a tall at most espresso bars and a venti at Starbucks, which are the largest sizes they offer. The espresso bar"as the name implies"isnt very different in concept than the alcohol bar: they basically offer the same things (or they can all make the same thing) with some unique in-house specialties. You wouldnt go to the bar at the Ritz-Carlton or other classy establishment (or, for that matter, even a dive bar) and expect the bartender to explain the entire concept of cocktails, explain whats in a martini and so forth.

--Avoid taking your children to an espresso bar. This is not only in the interest of preserving the ambiance of a good espresso bar, but for the sake of your kids as well. Kids don't want to drink coffee. Take them to get an ice cream or somewhere they'll actually enjoy. If you must take them, the same rules apply for them that apply to adults--make sure they know what they want. Many espresso places also serve soft drinks, if not they'll usually have bottled juices or they can whip up an Italian soda. In any case, its not their responsibility to come up with "kid friendly" drinks any more than I'd expect the local Chuck E. Cheese to make me a martini or a single malt scotch. Also, make sure they're own their best behavior. Explain to them that this is a grown up environment, and they're expected to conduct themselves as such.

--Tip, tip, tip. Generous tipping is a good rule in general. It's good karma, and helps make your life easier and more pleasant. The local espresso bar is no exception. . Not only is tipping the decent thing to do, but it is an investment"particularly in any place that youll be patronizing regularly. A dollar tip for the counter help will ensure that your order is prepared quickly, accurately and courteously. Do this enough and youll start to get preferential treatment. If you go to a place on a daily basis, or even several times a week, its a good idea to throw in a big tip every now and then. Give them $10 at Christmas, for example. It will pay dividends throughout the year, and youll quickly become a preferred customer.

--If you have a special request, explain it while you order. Don't assume that drinks are made the same way everywhere that they're made at your local espresso bar. There are some accepted standards, but also regional and local variations. If you're in doubt, ask.

--Finally, the word is ES-PRESS-O and NOT EX-PRESS-O. Theres no X in the word. Regardless of how much or how little you know about coffee, theres no excuse for stupidity.

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Pochettes

By Pri Vag

When wearing formal wear try and match the colour of your cufflinks with the colour of your tie. Many designer brands produce matching sets, such as Duchamp-London. Its also appropriate to wear a cufflink made from semi-precious materials such as mother of pearl (ideal for weddings), onyx and haematite.

Simon Carter has a large range of semi precious cufflinks which are decorated with stones including sapphires. These cufflinks have a special flavour, as opposed to an everyday style made from perhaps coloured enamel. For the glitzy and glamorous social events, crystal cufflinks will add that extra bit of bling.

Whilst black and white crystal cufflinks is a classic look for a black tie event, multi coloured crystal cufflinks can add a bit of colour to an otherwise monochrome outfit. Cufflinks are quite a subtle accessory anyway, so they wont dominate your look.

Pochettes and dinner scarves are considered old fashioned and a bit over the top by many people. Very few men wear them anymore, so these accessories can act as a bit of a design statement and help you stand out from the crowd. A matching pochette and tie speaks of old fashioned sartorial elegance, a gentleman with a keen eye for detail.

It is also another opportunity to inject some life and colour into a suit. Admittedly not for everyone, it takes a man with a real self confidence to wear one. The leather belt should match your more dynamic look, which can be achieved through a more unique buckle such as a plaque or elongated design. Fashionable socks are also an integral part of a lively formal outfit, with stripes being particularly popular. If you can match up colour or pattern in all your different accessories then you are creating a cohesive and dynamic look for a formal social occasion.

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Awesome Cultured Pearl Bridal Necklace

By Ryan Bennett

Bridal Necklace is the accessory for a womans neck that comes in many style and awesome designs too. These are often chosen to suit to the cut of the brides gown as well as of the gowns of the other ladies of the entourage. As long as the dresses are not the close neck types, the choker fits perfectly on any one.

The cultured pearl and swarovski crystals are two distinct stones that can produce that awesome mix and match duo. It can be the gorgeous choker, the one-line thread style, the twisted type or simply the dangling one each item made out of cultured pearls. Bridal Necklace of a bright silver chain made of sterling is the sturdy line to hold a pearl pendant accented with elegant swarovski crystals.

A necklace which is made out of cultured pearls has been very popular among women. The abundant supply of this stone in the commercial markets has made every piece of jewelry made of cultured pearl very affordable. You can afford to let the ladies of entire entourage wear this type of jewelry to cast an awesome spell. The mix and match duo of swarovski crystals and pearl jewelry set matches with the even. Every piece suits well with all the females of the entourage.

Swarovski crystals can always accentuate any color. These sparkling bits of crystals alone can always coordinate with any occasion at any time of the day. The cost of these stones is reasonably lower compared to diamonds or other white stones available in the market these days. This is the very reason why swarovski crystals become so popular for any mix and match type.

Bridal Necklace can also be made of colored stones, either precious or semi-precious, though the cost may be a bit steep. You can always find the exact match that you need. The colored stones come in myriads of amazing colors which can coordinate with your wedding motif. For your satisfaction you browse online and check certain web sites that can supplement your needs for the occasion.

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Showing Individuality With Unique Picture Frames

By Benedict Perez

These unique picture frames are important carriers of your memoirs which can create the ambiance that you wish to project. These coordinate with any pieces of furniture and fixtures in your home. They are for those photographs that are so precious to you. You can make these mute mementos speak and shine to express their value by using attractive and distinctive photo holders. The entirety of these items can be easily mixed and matched with any tint of your house.

These image holders are keeping important pieces of our being that remind us of our loved ones and cherished past. They are holders of our treasured memories and experiences that can never come back exactly as they should have been. The display of unique picture frames is an elegant way of welcoming relatives and friends whose photos are found inside the image holders.

The use of unique picture frames conveys our distinctive expression of remembering beautiful recollections of those days gone by. They envelop some of our priceless possessions that can never be equated with be equated with any monetary value. They are time locks and part of our past memories.

Custom framing is one way of expressing your individuality which is the outer image of your inner soul. Your uniqueness as an individual can be easily manifested by the manner you do things. The awesome artworks of unique picture frames are indeed one of kind. You can have them customized to mark your statement.

You can also check on certain web sites that offer several kinds of frames that will match your style. You can have the option of contacting expert framers who can concretize your ideas. If you browse online, you will find different ideas on how to display your photographs in a way that suits your personal taste for unique picture frames.

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Car Maintenance Basics For Everyone

By Robert Stanley

Car maintenance is not an option. Even if you know nothing about how a car works or have no mechanical aptitude whatsoever, there's a few simple steps you can take to keep your car running in top form. This simple maintenance will save you time and money, as well as making for a safer, better performing vehicle.

--Wash your car regularly: Keeping the exterior clean may not be as important as taking care of what's under the hood, but it still has a number of practical upsides. A clean car looks better, of course, and its much more enjoyable to drive a clean car than a dirty car. More significantly, frequent washing will keep your headlights and windshield clean, as well as preventing rust and corrosion.

--Wash underneath your car: Washing the undercarriage of your car is a good idea in any case, and downright essential if you live where it snows a lot. The salt, sand and other chemicals used for snow removal collect underneath your vehicle and will cause rust damage faster than anything else. Even during the winter, its important to wash your car at least once a week paying special attention to the wheel wells and undercarriage.

--Rinse your engine: Keeping the engine clean helps your car run cooler, and washing away crusty oil, battery acid, etc, will help prevent damage to engine parts.

--Clean your air filter and change it often: Change your air filter every time you change your oil filter. Some might argue that changing it so often is 'overkill' but filters are so cheap why not err on the side of caution? In between filter changes its a good idea to give your filter a good spray with a compressed air hose and blow out the filter chamber at the same time. The clean air will help your car's engine run cooler and more efficiently.

--Check and change your oil: Back in more civilized times, a full service gas station would check your oil every time you filled up. You should do the same. Change your oil frequently"at least every 5,000 miles and better still, every 3,000 miles. Change your filter when you change the oil or youre going to be pumping clean oil through a dirty filter which doesnt do you a bit of good. Oil changes are a pretty easy job even for those without much of a mechanical background, and drive thru oil change businesses are ubiquitous in any decent sized market. Most of these places do a decent job and charge a reasonable fee. Many also take care of several other of the maintenance tasks on this list.

--Check other fluids: Change your anti-freeze/coolant every year, and check the reservoir every week or so to make sure it's full. Also check transmission, brake and power steering fluids at least once a week. Top them off if necessary.

--Take good care of your tires: Check your air pressure levels with a tire gauge at least once a week, keeping them filled to manufacturer specified levels. Check the spare tire--if you have a 'real' tire as a spare make sure it's properly inflated, and even if you have a 'donut' temporary spare make sure it isn't damaged. Rotate your tires every few months or more frequently if you drive a lot of miles. This will insure even wear, and along with proper inflation will prevent countless problems as well as saving you time and money.

Emergency tools and equipment: The specifics of what you should have in your car for emergencies will depend on the type of driving you do and where you do it. Everyone should have the basics--a tire gauge, pliers (slip joint and needle nose), adjustable wrench, flat head and Phillips screwdriver. Buying quality tools will be more expensive up front but will save you money in the long run. Jumper cables aren't a bad thing to have, and a flashlight is also essential. If you live or travel somewhere it snows frequently, you'll also want to keep salt, sand, a small shovel and a blanket just in case you get snowbound and have to sleep in your vehicle. An emergency cellphone charger is also a good idea.

--Get an auto club membership: AAA is the best known and they offer a wide range of services but there are other options. If you have a credit card or gas card, youll probably be offered a membership through them. They should give you free towing, trip continuation insurance, lockout service, free maps, and some other bells and whistles. Some cellphone providers also offer roadside assistance memberships billed to your telephone. A growing number of car manufacturers also include lifetime roadside assistance, and not just luxury brands--Mini Cooper and Volkswagen offer new car buyers 24 hour roadside assistance free of charge. Even if you have to pay for it, it's well worth the money that youll pay for it every year. Keep in mind, however, that all roadside assistance companies aren't created equal--in a decent sized city you'll be fine but if you live or frequently travel in less populated areas you might want to stick to AAA or another major company. There's nothing more infuriating that learning that your auto club doesn't have providers in Mesquite, Nevada or Vernal, Utah.

These tips are all things that anyone can do, even without more than a basic knowledge of how a car works. Regular car maintenance will prolong the life of your vehicle and help maintain its value, provide a safer and more enjoyable driving experience and save you money in the process.

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Tips For Proper Nail Care

By L K Reid

When it comes to your appearance, why compromise?

You need to consider all aspects of your physical appearance, including your apparel, your hair style, the fragrance you wear and even the health of your fingernails.

While the primary focus of physical beauty seems to dominated by women, even men are quickly becoming aware of the positive benefits of looking clean and healthy.

While there are several things you can do to improve the impression you make on others, a simple thing you can do right away is to take care of your fingernails.

If you have the money, the best experience you can have when it comes to treating your fingernails is to visit a manicurist.

It is a nice luxury to have your fingernails cleaned and treated by a trained professional in a comfortable atmosphere.

Just about everyone who has experience it says that they will surely do it again.

Most manicurists are located in beauty salons or health spas, and prices are said to be very reasonable.

If your funds are limited, then another alternative is to give yourself a manicure in the the comfort of your house.

There are a few things that you are going to need if you choose a DIY manicure, such as clippers, nail buffers and polish.

Fear not, as you can pick up these items in just about any drug store.

For less than $20, you can easily acquire everything you will need for your home manicure.

Whether you do your own nail care or decide to visit a professional, keep in mind that the important point is maintaining the health of your nails.

Clean and healthy cuiticles will not only give you confidence and a sense of well being, but will also help to make a positive impression for those around you.

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