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, July 30, 2009

Top Pointers To Remember When Shopping For Diamond Earrings

By Rich Keys

Do you have a dear lady companion with a birthday approaching? Are you searching for a very special gift, but afraid that a diamond ring carries a certain message?

Why not get her a beautiful pair of diamond earrings? Diamonds can mean much more than romance! They are April's birthstone due to their ability to withstand time. They are perfect for everyday use while still being elegant and refined. When looking for a gift that will last forever, diamonds are an excellent choice.

The question that remains is what piece of diamond jewellery to get - necklace, ring, earrings? What cut of diamond is the best to choose? When thinking about diamonds, a ring generally springs to mind first. However, if you are giving the gift to anyone but your fiance, a ring will likely confuse a girl.

A necklace could be an excellent choice if she wears necklaces, but even so there is a chance that a diamond necklace will get put in the safe and worn only on very special occasions. The one piece of jewellery that a girl can wear for any occasion and not feel over or under dressed is diamond earrings. They are also usually more affordable.

Generally, the most difficult part of shopping for diamond earrings is deciding what cut to choose: i.e. Princess-cut, spherical, emerald-cut, or oblong? If you intend to purchase a pair of diamond earrings, the cut styles will also matter. Knowing her well will help you choose.

Round-cut diamonds are cut in the shape of a cone and known for their brilliancy. This cut is the most popular cut for a diamond. If you have seen an engagement ring recently, chances are the main diamond was a round-cut.

Princess-cut diamonds are shaped like an inverted pyramid - a square top with four beveled edges. It is the second most popular cut for all diamond jewelry.

Emerald-cut diamonds are shaped like most emeralds are - a rectangular inverted pyramid. While not a particularly common cut, the shape is familiar and suits rounder faces best.

Oval-cut diamonds are very alike in shape to round-cut diamonds, changed only in the shape of the base.



When buying jewelry without your girlfriend present, it's a good idea to stick to the classic shapes, even though other cuts (such as the pear and the heart) are available. Since her ears have to bear the weight, the diamonds should not be too big.

One last piece of advice: Ask the jeweller you are buying from to recommend a pair of diamond earrings. They know what they are doing - trust their opinions as well as yours.

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Looking Into Truck Bed Covers?

By Richard B. Butterfield

If you're debating the worth of truck bed covers, it's time to stop wondering and start shopping. You won't have to pay as much as you think, but once you see everything you'll gain from them, especially over time, you'll be willing to pay almost anything, as they can even bring you more money when it's time to sell your vehicle.

As with many things, you should look for a cover in the mid range of prices. This ensures you will get the quality you're looking for without having to pay a huge amount of money. There are some things to look into, like a soft-top or hard-top cover, when it comes to how much you can pay and what you want.

Cleaning the truck bed can make for a lot of work, but you'll see this reduced greatly if you get a cover to put on it. It speeds up the whole process so that you can get on to other things. Your only concern will be in making sure you get the right cleaning products, not ones that might cause damage to the cover itself.

You might want to opt for a hard-top bed cover if you can afford it, because of the extra security it provides. Chances are, from time to time, you're going to be transporting something quite expensive that might be in danger of being stolen. With the ability to lock it up and keep it safe, you'll never have to worry about this.

Again, you're going to make your truck worth more in the long run by setting aside the money, so do this early on. The basic point is keeping your truck looking as nice as it did on the day you got it. This will make a big difference when you eventually do try to resell it to somebody who will notice how good it looks.

Yet another thing you can get might surprise you - a lot of money saved on gas. The cover has a streamlining effect when it comes to your bed. This means that air won't hold you back as much as you drive and you'll get maximum miles per gallon. You could even save as much as ten or fifteen percent when you fill up.

Your cover will likely have a one year warranty, which will be enough in most cases. Investigate wherever you can, especially online, to figure out where you're going to get the best deals. With all the benefits you'll get, it's worth it no matter what you need to pay, both as a short term and long term investment.

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Co-ed Showers add a New Twist to the Traditional Party

By Edie Mindell



Although you can never go wrong with a classy, traditional baby shower, cute new trends are emerging that have proven to be successful. From serving strictly fondue lunch or dinner items, to hosting a Hawaiian Luau party, these new baby shower trends and crazes are fun, hip, and exhilarating!

Fondue has become a new trend not only for baby showers, but also for all types of events and socials. Melted cheese with crackers and melted chocolate with fruits are light but filling appetizers that will satisfy cravings. Cheese dip can be melted and served with veggies like broccoli and carrots, along with assorted crackers. Many chocolate fountains are inexpensive and can be used to melt chocolate and serve with fruits, marshmallows, biscotti, and pretzels.

The art of scrapbooking has become increasingly popular over the past few years. So much so, that it has become a popular theme among social gatherings and events like baby showers. In recent scrapbooking-themed baby showers, hosts sent out scrapbook-themed invitations to guests, tying into the theme. At the bash, each guest is given a different baby-themed layout sheet, with supplies like stickers, letters, cutouts, glue, and scissors. The guests then design and decorate the layout sheet for the mommy-to-be. All these sheets can then be put together into an album for the new coming baby. This makes a great memory and keepsake for the expectant mother.

Hula and Luau-themed Hawaiian festivities are now ranked as some of the most popular baby shower ideas of this decade. Luaus can be fun and colorful, yet inexpensive and easy on your pocket. Leis can be given out as souvenirs, and you can play tropical, Caribbean tunes as background music. Fruit platters and fun drinks like Pina Coladas and Strawberry Daiquiris will add to the Hawaiian setting. Luaus are original, entertaining, and can fit any budget. Even on a tight budget, you can impress your guests and seem like you spent a fortune on your baby shower.

Another popular tendency in todays society is to host co-ed baby showers. In past times, baby showers were considered a womens affair, therefore, women were the only ones allowed to participate. Today, that taboo has been debunked, and more women are choosing to allow their husbands and other male members of their family and friends circle to participate. For a long time, men were shut out from being able to take part in baby-welcoming festivities. Now, this has become absolutely normal and even encouraged in North America.

Among all the trends and new practices in baby shower events, the most affordable yet incredibly chic seems to be the contemporary simple look. Classy, clean-cut, and simple dcor shows fine taste and a flair for decorative trends. Today, the predominant style for interior design is contemporary chic, and this look can be accomplished even on a tight budget. If you have a knack for planning and design, coordinating a simple and classy event should be a breeze. These days, the phrase "simplicity rules" is key.

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Is Driving Distracted And Drunk Driving The Same Thing?

By Johnny Robertson

We notice more of a police presence on the roads and highways as we are driving by. On the way home from a midnight run to the local drugstore, we run into a sobriety checkpoint. It is probably a holiday weekend and the police are out to protect us from ourselves and each other. But what about the danger we put ourselves and others in when we insist on driving while distracted?

As we are because more connected through our technology, there are more things to be distracted with as we zoom off on the highway. Several years ago we had enough to be distracted with there was the radio, the kids and, for some, putting on make-up or shaving. Now we have cell phones, smart phones, DVD players, satellite radio and talking GPS systems that have our partial attention

The laws have cracked down on drunk driving in the effort to make our roads safer. If caught driving while intoxicated, you will be paying fines in the excess of a thousand dollars, you will be taking alternate transportation to work and could possibly spending some time behind bars. The laws regarding the many activities that we can find ourselves engaged in vary from state to state. And the punishment used to remind us to pay attention to the road is a fine ranging from $25-$50. However, most distracting activities are perfectly legal.

An argument could be made that we just as dangerous driving while distracted as we are while intoxicated. One may be to do all these things and drive relatively well because they are sober. You are driving on the interstate while getting the latest stock quote only to find that the stock has plummeted. You will probably run through a multitude of emotions, maybe check the information again or perhaps start to make frantic phone calls. And this is all going on while you are still engage with driving your vehicle on a traffic congested highway.

Regardless of the argument, driving a car down any street has too many variables, that to not be giving 100% of your attention is a disaster in the making. Your life or someone's can change just the moment that you decided to look over and read what song and artist is playing on the satellite radio display.

Drunk driving has been an issue for quite some time and the laws are firmly in place. The process of determining guilt for drunk driving is relatively fool-proof. The laws regarding the use of electronics while driving have to catch up with the times. Technology is moving too fast for the long process of creating laws to catch up.

Even though it is illegal to drive while texting in many states, not many tickets are being handed out to those in violation. Texting is too hard to prove, unless it is blatant. Blatant as in both arms resting on top of the steering wheel and texting with both hands. There too many other activities that can be mistaken as texting.

Putting aside arguments and statistics, how easy will it be to explain to a grieving family why it was more important that you send that text than to worry about the safety of their loved one?

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Holidays In Florida - Fun Things To Do In Orlando

By John Iseda

Despite how busy Orlando is, it is not the biggest city in Florida, not even the second, but the sixth largest, situated in an area called Central Florida. Orlando boasts very pleasant weather and some of the greatest theme parks in the world. There are plenty of things to do in Orlando, especially when you are on a family vacation.

While the majority of Orlando's income is from its booming tourism industry, it would be unfair just to label it a theme park city especially when it has other profitable industries which compete with tourism; aerospace and electronics. There are around 52 million tourists visiting coming to the region each year and hence, it is obvious that to accommodate that many visitors there has to be a large number of attractions.

When thinking of Orlando, there's one place that immediately comes to mind. Walt Disney World is one of the main reasons for the city's popularity. Apart from its world famous theme parks, Disney World now offers a lot more lodging possibilities than it used to not so long ago.

Various theme parks located in Walt Disney World have breathtaking scenery and hence, it proves to be an ideal vacation destination for children as well as adults. A big rival for the top attraction would be the wonderful Sea World which is a fantastic place to visit over and over again with new shows featuring the many sea creatures there, including dolphins and killer whales, changing all the time.

While Disney is a major attraction in Orlando, the Universal theme parks are also well worth a visit and so is the now famous Titanic Exhibition, located along International Drive. Be prepared to be moved by the fascinating and sometimes eerie tour.

Once you've had enough of theme parks, you can start exploring some of the lesser known Orlando's attractions. One show not to be missed is the nightly performance of the 60 trained horses in the Arabian Nights show, which is certain to provide great entertainment for the whole family.

The city of Orlando is known to be surrounded by a number of luxury hotels, restaurants and many more tourist facilities. Most of the hotels offer luxurious amenities such as health spas and saunas, heated pools, fitness centers, playgrounds, tennis and volleyball courts and elegant restaurants and bars.

Orlando has been one of the top family vacation destinations in Florida since 1971 owing to its giant parks full of rides, shows, fine restaurants, luxurious hotels, shopping venues and many more awesome attractions. No wonder that Orlando has become one of America's premiere vacation destinations.

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Finding A Holiday At A Good Price Is Simple Online.

By Jasmine E Clements

A lot of people go on holiday every year and there are still a lot of people who merely dream of being able to go away regularly. Trips abroad are probably one of the only times when you can properly relax and enjoy your life - this is probably why they're so popular.

Holiday deals are usually very variable in terms of prices and you can find them in a variety of places online and offline. You should be able to get some great deals at the moment. The best places to find offers are usually online on major websites and main comparison websites which will help you get the best deals.

There are cheap holidays that are available to a large range of destinations and you shouldn't find it hard to find a place you want to visit. They are usually broken down into different categories such as Sun, Beach, Sports and of course Couples - which is handy.

If you have a few locations that you'd love to visit then you should definitely consider them at the moment because things are cheaper right now. If you're not really sure where you want to go then there are plenty of places to help you decide on destinations for your holidays.

Holidays are really fun and are supposed to be the time for you to relax and enjoy the world and your life with no distractions from work etc. Trips abroad are very popular but there are offers available in the UK where you can stay in country hotels or take city breaks to London or other major cities.

Many people take holidays every year and trips abroad in the sun are probably the most popular and they are also worthwhile to enjoy yourself and relax. Before you buy any package deals make sure that you do some research to ensure that you get yourself the best deals possible.

You should start your research online because the majority of the best deals are available on major UK websites and blogs. You should definitely look up the hotels from your package so that you can read reviews and learn about the facilities and the services available where you'll be staying.

France, Spain and The Canary Islands are just some of the most popular destinations of cheap holidays that are taken abroad each year. A lot of people enjoy going abroad because of the climate with hot sunny weather as well as the beautiful scenery which can be found across Europe.

If you're interested in going abroad then you should look into the climate as well as the scenery so you can get a feel for the place before you go. Make sure that you look at some reviews of the area you are planning on visiting just to make sure that you're going to enjoy yourself and that the service is to your standards.

You won't have a problem finding the review and opinion websites because there are plenty available online. Lots of them cover cheap holidays so you should get the info you need. You will definitely need to do research when you're looking for holidays abroad because it's vital to get all the information you can possible find.

A lot of people tend to leave out the research and just rely on pretty pictures posted by websites and this is a big mistake. Holiday deals are easy to find and you shouldn't have a problem finding a destination that suits your tastes and has the facilities you need for you and your family or friends.

Overall, holiday deals are a great venture and you'll certainly have a fantastic time away if you plan your trip accordingly and do the research you need to do. Holidays are popular with a lot of people and they will remain popular for a long time to come. Travelling the world is great fun and you should have a great time.

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Why You Should Try Crock-Pot For Cooking Dinner

By Chris Lee

Crock-pots are an excellent way to prepare dinner while saving time. Using a crock-pot, you can prepare wholesome and delicious meals for your family. You have the opportunity to cook delicious meals while running errands or working all day. Using a crock-pot is a much better idea for dinner than hitting that fast-food joint on your way home. You can use your crock-pot to prepare nutritious meals for your family instead.

You can prepare a wonderful dinner in practically no time when you use your slow cooker. You simply need to have your meal ready before you leave in the morning. Turn the cooker on and you are free to do whatever you need to while your meals cooks. When dinnertime rolls around your family will be thrilled to find the homemade and delicious meal that you have prepared for them. Use your slow cooker to prepare advanced meals as well.

It is easy to prepare enough food to last for days. You might want to cook up a large batch of homemade soup. If you double or even triple your recipe, then you will have plenty left over. Then, after you are finished with dinner, simply put the leftovers in freezer bowls or freezer bags and freeze them. You can throw them in the microwave and have nutritious meals for your family in minutes. There simply is no better way to ensure that your family is getting a delicious and nutritious meal.

There are many cookbooks written specifically for the crock-pot. The recipes will tell you everything that you need to know from ingredients to cooking times. Many recipes now include nutritional guides as well so you can be sure that you are feeding nutritious meals to your family. Be sure that marinate anything overnight that requires it.|Consider marinades for your slow cooker as well.|Many recipes call for marinating] This is an excellent way to get a flavorful meal.

Having a crock-pot is virtually a must for families today. You simply fill it up and turn it on. When you arrive home after work, you are ready to sit down with your family to a delicious meal that you prepared while you were not even at home.

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9 Tips For Caring For Wooden Butcher Blocks

By Kent Dinsmoor

Years of chopping, cutting and slicing on your wooden cutting board can be gained by treating your board with care. Following these wooden cutting board basics can lengthen the life of your board.

1) Once every several weeks, depending on use, wipe on an even coat of mineral oil onto the work surface of the cutting board.

2) When moisture soaks into the wood, it expands and softens affecting the strength of the glued joints. Therefore, you should not allow any type of moisture to stand on the block for long periods of time. This includes brine, water, blood and wet meats.

3) Use a good steel scraper or spatula on the cutting surface in lieu of a steel brush.

4) After cutting fish or fowl, the work surface must always be cleaned thoroughly. Follow the instructions in Step 1 to insure the moisture barrier is in place before cutting fish or fowl.

5) By distributing the cutting evenly over the surface of the block, you will insure that your block wears evenly. Never cut continuously in the same place on the block. Do not use a razor-edged cleaver to avoid splinters and soft spots. Instead, use a cleaver with a dull sharpened edge.

6) Do not wash the butcher's tools on your block. Harsh detergents of any type should never be used to wash your block.

7) To prevent quick deterioration of the work surface, scrape your block which will remove 75% of the moisture. Then dry with an absorbent towel. The next time you use your block it will be odorless and clean.

8) When you bought your block it probably had some bevel on the edge. Maintain this same bevel to prevent splitting or chipping on the outside of the board.

9) Turn the block over periodically to keep even usage on both work surfaces.

Never attempt to clean wooden butcher blocks or cutting boards in the dishwasher - they are not compatible.

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