So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Unique Wine Wedding Favors

By Harris Roberts

The wine-themed weddings with wine wedding favors are always characterized with sophistication and elegance. It involves an extravagant reception no matter where the reception would be. Wines come in different blends and needed accessories. These accessories are themselves wonderful items for souvenirs especially if you personalize them.

You can have them customized or personalized for a more significant gift-giving occasion With a reception such as this, you can liven up the even with some bottle stoppers, corks, place card holders, and many other accessories that go with wines. You can apply your creativity too like making cork candles or bottle labels as wine wedding favors. Wines accessories come in so many different styles, shapes and designs and they make exciting souvenirs.

Every piece of the item has your essence and this is something that every recipient must also acknowledge. For embellishments, ribbons that go with the colors or motif of the occasion would be great. They make perfect accent on your wine wedding favors which are equally unique. Pour yourself out on these items and let them feel your presence through the gifts that you give away.

One of the purposes of having wine wedding favors is to show your appreciation and gratitude to all the people who have come to join the joyous event with you. Your thank you message may be imprinted together with the tokens or in a separate card or tag. The message does not have to be very long for what is important is you are able to convey your appreciation and gratitude to your attending guests.

You may inquire from these websites for necessary assistance in customizing or personalizing your souvenirs. For more ideas simply browse and check online for some websites that offer relative items for your particular needs. You can find online certain websites that can readily offer you with multitudes of awesome of give-away items which surely fit into your financial plan some wine wedding favors.

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Island Chandeliers Lamps for Showcasing Favorite Collections

By Pamela Smith

There are varying concepts these days on chandeliers lamps that have adorned many homes with the sophisticated appearance. These lovely glittering lights can be used to accentuate your outdoors or interior portions of your home. They come in varying sizes and designs with styles that come with peculiar features to suit your personal taste.

These lighting fixtures may be tailored according to the height of your ceiling. For low ceilings, the medallion style is more appropriate rather than the dangling type which apt for high ceilings. Living in the city can be exciting but you can bring the rustic atmosphere of the countryside with rustic chandeliers lamps that bring that subtle sophistication in any part of your home. This type of designs is apt for your covered exterior to create that look of the serene atmosphere of non-city living while living in a busy city. Lights can always do some tricks especially at nighttime which is the best time for them to shine.

Lights like these are excellent for your kitchen, bar and dining areas. They can also add the desired ambiance that you desire if you are using those with dimmers. The dimmers allow you to moderate the effects of brightness that you need to suit your particular mood. For showcasing some of your favorite collections in the living room, island chandeliers lamps are just perfect. They offer the degree of illumination that you need and at the same time adds accent to the space where they are suspended without overshadowing your real intention.

A spacious family room with high ceiling is an excellent spot for those crystal chandeliers lamps. These provide a dazzling effect that wows your entire space. The air of sophistication is being projected by the shimmering pendants that add the sparkle to the lights. There is nothing more elegant than the brightness brought about by these magnificent illuminators.

You can find on the internet a vast collection of lights in so many different shapes and sizes that suit your home. There are certain websites that can readily provide you with myriads of designs that can truly change the looks of your home. You may visit some websites that offer the answer to your lighting needs more particularly on chandeliers lamps.

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Home Insurance: Types of Policies

By Amy Nutt

Purchasing home insurance is just as important as the purchase of the home. Because buying a home is such a major financial investment, it is essential to make sure that your home, property, and contents are protected. There are various types of home insurance policies available so it is imperative to understand each type so you can make an informed decision.

The following outlines the main types of home insurance policies:

HO-1: This type of policy is considered a basic for of protection. It insures against fire and lightening damage. A homeowner may purchase this policy for a particularly valuable item such as expensive jewelry.

HO-2: This type of policy is referred to as 'broad coverage.' Coverage includes damage from such events as smoke, wind, rain, hail, vandalism, theft, an explosion, removal of items that are threatened by fire damage, glass breakage, and damage cause by falling objects. As well, it also covers snow causing a roof collapse, ice damage, burst pipes, water damage from broken pipes, and damage from a riot.

HO-3: Referred to as a 'special' form, or sometimes called 'all risk' or 'open peril' insurance, this policy insures your home against damage or loss. There are exclusions that will be listed in the policy so you should read what items are excluded. This is the most commonly purchased home insurance policy.

HO-4: This is a tenants insurance policy. It insures the contents and personal items against the same situations as the HO-2 policy. It also covers supplementary living expenses if required such as medical payments. It also provides liability protection. The policy cannot be extended to cover items owned by the renter. It is mainly for protecting the owner of the property.

HO-6: This type of policy provides coverage for a condominium owner who wants to insure items that are not insured by the condominium association policy. They may also want to add personal liability protection.

HO-8: This policy is referred to as the 'older home' policy. If you have an older home, some policies may not provide replacement coverage. You may have to purchase a modified replacement policy where the policy will reimburse you for standard building materials.

Some states will categorize these policies under different titles, but they contain the same information. It is important to be aware that are living in a high risk area such as hurricane or flooding area, you will have to pay for extra protection. Some people combine a couple of policies to get complete coverage. Most companies now offer online quotes, so you can easy way to make your selection. Because prices and features can vary among insurance companies, it is essential that you comparison shop so that you are getting the best coverage at the best price.

Because there are a number of insurance policy options available, it is important that you understand each so that you can acquire the right policy that meets all of your needs.

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Residential Home Security - Do You Really Need A Home Security System?

By John B Staples

Many homeowners wonder if they truly need a home security system to protect their house and their possessions. Sure, they seem to provide a great service but are they really worth the cost and do they really work? When it comes to your home and your family, you want to take every precaution that you can, you just nee to be sure that you're not wasting your time, effort or money.

A high quality home security system is going to do many things for you and your family, and it offers much more than protection from break-ins. This shouldn't be understated however, as it's one of the key features of a home security system, to be able to keep potential burglars or dangerous people out of your home at all times.

For example, you may not realize that just having a security system sign or sticker on your property has been proven in multiple home invasion prevention studies to decrease the chances of your home being broken into or robbed. But just having the sign isn't enough, because you need to be able to protect yourself should someone decide to take action anyway, and a home security system will allow you to do that.

Home security systems also protect your house against fires. The risk of a house fire is always there, and you never know when something can cause a chain reaction and your home could end up in flames. Having the fire crews sent automatically to your house after a short period of time will make the difference between your family escaping safely and your house remaining standing.

Even if you aren't home at the time of the fire, you still want your house to be protected and automatic detection and notification systems allow for that. Even with an empty house, you still have valuable and invaluable possessions inside and you probably have a beloved family pet as well.

You cannot undervalue that sense of security and the peace of mind that a home security system provides. Knowing that your family is safe and your home is protected is a great feeling to have. It will allow you to go on long trips and not feel guilty or worried. Just being able to confidently say that your family and home are protected will increase your everyday well being and happiness.

Home security systems today provide more than ever before, and they do it for lower costs. Extra features in many popular systems include things such as carbon monoxide detection and motion alarms based around windows and doors. They are automatically hooked into the services you would need to contact in case of emergency, and they are very easy to operate and control.

The safety and health of your family and the home that you share with them always has to be the number one concern. With a home security system, you'll be able to guard yourself and your loved ones against all kinds of threats and problems. Especially with the low cost of systems today, buying a home security system is one of the best things you can do with your money.

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Proper Education For Careless Teenage Drivers

By Marc Marseille

Teen driving causes large problems for for parents globally as there are many incidents of teen collisions and casualties on the road. The necessary thing here to do is to try and understand the reasons for these accidents and bring in the necessary steps to prevent such accidents in the future. The places to concentrate on would be the reduction in exposure to dangerous situations, modification of risk taking behavior, and providing sufficient education to the teen to perfect their driving proficiency.

The adjustment in law to increase the driving age from 16 to 18 years is not the answer to this problem. This will only impact the Automobile industry and its related service sectors. It will be a big blow to manufacturers, driving trainers, gas companies, and insurance agents. There will be a quick drop in cash flow for the manufacturers as well as the insurance agents due to the change of law.

It is imperative to coach the teens regarding driving procedures and make them adhere to these procedures in a disciplined manner. It has been found that lack of skills, danger taking behavior, and immaturity are the main causes that lead to teenage accidents. So it is imperative for the parents to direct their teenagers to steer clear of such behaviors and increase adequate skills before they hand them the sports car keys.

Drunken driving, not wearing seat restraints, distractions on the road, and late night driving have been the reasons for teen collisions on the road. Most of the teenage fatalities tend to occur between 6 PM to 6AM primarily on Fridays and weekends.

There are several safety guidelines laid down by the establishment for the security of these teenagers but they don't abide by these in a suitable manner. Teenage are supposed to wear seat belts, avoid using gadgets like telephones, and avoid driving at night except for some sensible reasons and drive with a close relative or teacher for the first three months after receiving their driving license. The lack of control amongst teens to follow these rules is a major apprehension.

In order to trim down exposure to risk the guardians should join their children and be a part of their program. They should see to it that their children are picking up the obligatory data from the class. The parents should coach defensive driving techniques to their teenagers. It is important to let the child be conscious of the driving experiences of their parents as that would coach them to deal with any difficult situation.

The parents must also help in correcting the risk taking behavior in their kids. The chemical response of hormones and other pattern changes in the teenage body makes it difficult for them to avoid their risk taking behavior. So it is essential for the parents to devise a plan and approach regarding traffic safety for their children. It is necessary to understand the situations where the teen might take risk for the sake of enjoyment. The parents should then help these teens to carefully examine the repercussions of their act. This might lead to amendment of the risk taking behavior for the teens.

Parents should make sure that theirteenagers join official and certified driver instruction programs that will ensure that they collect the necessary driving skills. The quality of the program content and approach of the teacher also plays a vital role in the knowledge grasping ability of the teenage. The parent should examine the development of their child and make them conscious of the fact that the driver curriculum is just a start to the knowledge gaining activity towards becoming an expert driver.

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Reykjavik - The Most Northern Capital in the World

By Mandy Jester

Reykjavik is one of Europe's "hot" cities, thanks to its music scene and famed nightlife, with bubbling geysers and thermal springs nearby. Reykjavik's special energy draws on its unique physical and cultural landscape.

The northernmost national capital on Earth is a city of breathtaking contrasts. Small wooden houses with corrugated-iron roofs stand alongside futuristic glass buildings. Sophisticated cultural centres are just minutes away from newly created lava fields. Reykjavik is also a city where international influences blend seamlessly with Icelandic traditions, creating a unique European culture with roots that are ancient, but an outlook that is supremely modern.

The founders. In 874, Ingolfur Aranson became the first settler to step onto Icelandic soil. He called the place where he settled "Smoky Bay" because ghostly vapours rose out of the earth near his home. Where they came from and why, no one knew, Over the next thousand years, very few people settled along the widely spaced inlets leading into Smoky Bay.

Reykjavik would not prosper until well into the eighteenth century, when Governor Skiili Magnusson revitalized Iceland's economy by promoting wool manufacturing, fishing and shipbuilding. In 1749, he ordered that new harbours and shipyards be constructed on Smoky Bay, making Magnusson the city's founding father. Reykjavik received its city charter in 1786.

Independence. Once under way, Reykjavik thrived. Nevertheless, Iceland was still under Danish sovereignty and subject to the ups and downs of political and economic decisions made in distant Scandinavia. Iceland danced to the tune of the Danes until 1944, when everything changed. British and American troops stationed in Reykjavik during World War II brought Iceland a level of prosperity it had never known, leaving Reykjavik poised to become an important commercial centre. On 17 June 1944, the city finally gained independence from Denmark. Since then, Reykjavik has continued to thrive, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight.

Not just for the scenery. Many visitors to this far-flung island in the North Atlantic come for the amazing, unique scenery, but there are many sights to see in Reykjavik itself. The Old City, located on a small plot of land between Tjornin Pond and the sea, has a number of eighteenth-century buildings, and Tjornin Pond is a bird watchers' paradise. The new city hall (1992) is located on its northern bank.

The relief map of Iceland on display in its exhibition hall is a must-see. The Fogetinn (1751) is the oldest building in Reykjavik, and currently houses a restaurant serving traditional Icelandic food. Across the street is the newly restored monumental statue of Ingolfur Aranson, built in part with basalt columns said to be similar to those from his original homestead.

Hallgrimskirkja church. The modern Hallgrimskirkja is the symbol of Reykjavik, and a great place to begin a tour of the city. It was built on a hill and looks down over the entire city. Rising 73 metres, the church's central spire offers the best view of Reykjavik with the wide expanse of ocean in the background. A statue of Leif Ericson stands in front of the church's main portal.

It was a gift from the United States in honour of the 1,000-year anniversary of the founding of Iceland's parliament, the Althing, the first democratic assembly in Europe. Valley of the hot springs. The Laugardalur hot springs are just 3 km outside the city. Nearby are a huge camping site, a youth hostel, large open-air baths, a botanical Garden, a zoo and a sculpture garden. Hot water is pumped from numerous holes drilled in the earth. The steaming water is then circulated to heat the turf of Reykjavik's football stadium, among other things. Geothermal heat is the basis of nearly every heating system in Iceland. For centuries, Reykjavik's residents have derived their hot water and winter heat from the Earth.

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Top 5 Reasons For Hiring a Car in Malta

By Edward Johnson

Car hire is a popular option that many people take on their holiday in Malta, which is a small island nation in the center of the Mediterranean in Europe. With hundreds of thousands of tourists flocking to Malta ever year, the amount of car hire agencies in Malta is growing and competition is increasing. For the consumer that means that car hire in Malta is available at very reasonable rates and there are other strong reasons to go for car hire on your Malta holidays.

Reason 1: Avoid public transport by hiring a car. The only form of public transport in Malta is route buses, which have been up for replacement by new vehicles for decades. If you hire a car on your Malta holiday you can steer clear of these old, noisy and uncomfortable buses which only get appreciation from classic car collectors but none from the rest of us. Although public transport is dirt cheap (when compared to car hire in Malta), you get what you pay for: Pay peanuts, get monkeys!

Reason 2: Car hire allows you to do more with your Malta holiday. There is a lot to discover in Malta, in fact the islands are well known for their high concentration of places of interest. Using public transport to get around visiting these places means you'll waste a lot of time on bus routes which have been designed for the Maltese and not for tourists. If you hire a car in Malta you can also avoid bus tours, which are not very flexible, not very private and pretty expensive too.

Reason 3: Car hire in Malta doesn't have to break the bank. With competition between car hire agencies increasing, tourists hiring a car get a better deal through more modern vehicles which can be hired at lower rates when compared to other European holiday destinations. On top of that, Malta has some of the lowest fuel rates of all countries in Europe, with both diesel and petrol costing only around 1 euro per liter. Don't forget that taking one or two tours is cheaper but if you really want to explore Malta then even tours will cost you quite a lot when compared to car hire.

Reason 4: Driving a hired car around Malta gives you freedom. Freedom to explore every nook and cranny of the islands and finding places that only the locals know about, such as beautiful secluded beaches and small villages that show you the rural life that few visitors get to see. Maltese buses stick to their regular routes and guided tours have their own schedule and routes as well, so unless you hire a car in Malta you won't get to see the real Malta - and you will miss out!

Reason 5: Malta holidays aren't much fun if you're sweaty behind the steering wheel! You could choose not to hire a car in Malta, and instead use public transport or tour buses, but you'll regret that choice for one very important reason. Summers in Malta are hot and humid and you should definitely hire a car with air conditioning. You'll spend a bit more than you'd like to, but trust me the extra cost is well worth it!

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Measuring Bra Size

By Elle Ashley Love

A bra which is too tight, loose or uncomfortable can cause unnecessary irritation, pain and other circulatory issues. Maybe it is more crucial than other undergarment that a bra should be meant to be well fitted and comfortable. That is why it is important to know your bra size. A badly fitted bra may well affect your posture, inevitably bringing down your overall appearance for the day. Measuring the bra size is usually overlooked by many women but it really is necessary for you to know. Read on...

The first thing you have to measure is your band size. This step has to be conducted accurately as it affects how your bra holds up. Have a flexible measuring tape wrapped around the circumference of your chest, right below your bra (preferred that you put it on). If measurements give an odd number, round it off to the next even number. That will be your band size. However if it tells you an even number, you may either choose to stick to it or add another 2 inches to it. If you're still unsure, ask the sales lady for help.

Next you will obtain your cup size. Take measurements on the circumference of the highest point on your chest. Using this number, subtract the band size from it. The conversion table can help you determine what cup size you are. To simplify, every inch difference relates to an increase in your cup size. For example, if the difference is 1 inch, you require an A cup. If the difference is 2 inches, you should wear a B cup and so on.

Obviously, no matter how accurate your measuring can be, it does not mean that you can just take any bra that matches your size. If you are not aware, true band and cup sizes can vary quite significantly depending on the brands and models you choose. What you need is to find one that can fit you well. If you did it properly, the sizes you measured should get you rather close. And it is only necessary that you can find your actual size. Ultimately, a fitting bra should look right, and overall feel right.

Your bra plays a very significant part in how you will look and feel. Measuring your bra size is a relatively simple step that you only need to do once in a while and that will improve your everyday life for a long time. Once you're done measuring for your size, it's time to choose a bra that you like.

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