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, September 13, 2009

Kayaking for Handicapped People

By George Ross

Gone are the days when people that are physically challenged are absolutely helpless. These days, society and the physically handicapped communities have found means to make incapacitated individuals become more independent and responsible. They can even venture into sports without any problem. People like to overcome challenges, and it is great to note that the challenge of physical disability is now a thing of the past.

Among the favorite recreation today for handicapped people is kayaking. There are dedicated individuals that have revolutionized the sport to make them available even for people with physical challenges. Mark Theobald is one of these so called individuals.

To his peers, Mark is known as the kayak inventor/extraordinaire. He has made kayaking possible and accessible to people who used to think they wouldn't have a chance to be able to enjoy paddling the waters with his innovative ways and incredible dedication. Mark's revolutionary paddles and backrest adaptations has made his concepts a favorite among organizations with disability programs.

Physically handicapped people who are kayaking enthusiasts have much to thank Mark for. One disabled thrill seeker who cant use his feet said that it is an excellent sport for him because paddling replaces walking and he is now able to explore a different environment and overcome hurdles with ease and freedom.

These days, more and more quadriplegics are getting the chance to be able to paddle a kayak as Mark is continually working with them to engineer designs that would enable them to operate a kayak independently. One female college student in particular thought that there was no more chance for her but they were able to do the unexpected. Like many people who has CP, her movements are strictly limited.

Among the people who has tested Mark's design is a quadriplegic who has severe restrictions in using his hands. The revolutionized paddles made it very easy for him to command the rig and he gave the concept a rave review. To this day he has been working with Mark continuously to improve the concepts, to enable even those with major disabilities to be able to enjoy the sport.

People like Mark with their tireless devotion of their time, skill and effort help physically challenged people to enjoy life as much as they can. Because of them kayaking is no longer for fully able people alone. People with disabilities now have a chance to explore new possibilities and surpass what seemed to be an insurmountable challenge independently.

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Finding The Right Accommodation When You Compare Hotels

By Clayton Dani

When you're planning your next trip for business or pleasure, do some research and compare hotels before you book. The world is in a hurry to get everything done and travel arrangements are typically made on the fly. Find a few minutes for yourself and do some comparison shopping. You'll be much happier when you know you will be staying in a quality establishment that saves you money!

When you compare hotels, there are lots of things that you need to consider. First of all, let's erase the misconception that brand name is everything. What's in a name? Sometimes a price tag that is way too high for the actual digs you get for the money. So, throw that out the window and be prepared to take an in depth look at hotels.

Ahead of all others, information regarding the location of the hotel should take precedence. After you've been driving or flying for hours and are ready to get some rest, the last thing you want to do is stay somewhere that is another long car ride away from the location you're going to be visiting. Online comparison websites typically give you accurate distance information. Use it toward your advantage.

In addition to the distance of the hotel from your desired location of business or pleasure, consider safety factors. Find out about the immediate area surrounding the hotel. Is it in an industrial area? Are you close to other hotels and restaurants? Is there ample lighting in the area you'll be parking your rental car? Find these things out in addition to looking into what sort of security force the hotel employs.

Next you'll want to look at amenities. If you have special needs or issues, verify that the hotels you're comparing have what you need. If you're traveling with the family or like to exercise while you're on the road, ask about that, too. Many hotels have additional amenities that aren't mentioned online, when in doubt, call and ask.

Try to get the insider's perspective on the hotels you're comparing. Individual hotels, chains and even independent hotels often post the most flattering comments from past guests on their site. Find an impartial travel site or blog and get the skinny on the hotel. Star ratings can be overinflated, so it's best to go with real time information.

While price isn't everything, you don't want to end up over paying or under staying. Big named chains offer discounts sometimes but they're really not doing you any favors. Rack rates should only be charged when the hotel is at capacity. If a price seems way too low, investigate further. It may be that the service or conditions are so poor; no one is staying at the hotel. You'll pay more for bigger names, just keep that in mind.

When you get right down to it, you can compare hotels in a handful of ways, decide what's most important to you for your trip. Don't forget to ask about rewards programs, they will help you save money and get free upgrades later on down the road.

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Essential Wardrobe Items

By Sarah J Jones

A wardrobe is an evidence of a person's lifestyle, occupation, attitude, taste, and his artistic sense. The fundamental items of a wardrobe, irrespective of culture, country, age and sex are clothing, hosiery and shoes. Accessories like watches, ties, belts, cufflinks, and hats, etc. (for men). While jewellery, cosmetics, purses/hand bags, watches, lingerie, and scarves, etc. (for women) are also considered as the main things in every ones' wardrobe.

A person selects his wardrobe according to his likes and dislikes. However, these days, people follow the market trends and prefer to buy what the celebrities and the fashion icons wear. Peer pressure is more prevalent among the younger generation. Designer brands like Gucci, Chanel, Pink and Boss rule the fashion world. While Marks & Spencer, Next and Zara are to name a few reining the high street fashion.

In today's world where men and women work 9am-5pm, 5 days a week, more investment in terms of clothing is made in the prt wear. In a woman's wardrobe, an essential part is her lingerie. Sleepwear is important for everyone. After a long and tiresome day, comfortable nightwear ensures a relaxing sleep, important for our well-being.

It is important to choose formal clothes wisely according to one's lifestyle and requirement. Formal clothing is another important part of one's wardrobe. Variety of gowns, lace and silk dresses, clutch purses, and pointed heals are vital part of a woman's wardrobe. Designer shirts and suits for cocktail parties and dinners are also inevitable part of the wardrobe.

One should also have the basic sportswear, trainer shoes and swim wear in his wardrobe. For summer clothing, light and airy fabrics and for winter, woolen clothes, jackets, scarves, caps and mittens are essential.

It is wise to choose less expensive clothes for kids, as they will be growing out of their clothes every now and then. Their clothes should be bought according to their size and age. It is advisable to keep extra clothing for them e.g. shirts, shoes, socks, etc, as they may lose or mess up their belongings.

In countries with lots of rains, a raincoat is the most essential item. In winter season, we all need woolen clothes. People usually have particular dresses for particular occasions or sometimes may be for religious reasons. For example, in many Muslim countries, veil is considered as the fundamental part of women's dress.

We must not forget that we are not dressed up unless we wear the right sort of shoes with the right dress! Shoes are usually expensive, but you must consider its other features too when buying them for yourself. You must know your shoe size, and make sure before buying if it's easy to wear or not. Suede and Leather shoes are common for men. Women may fancy wearing flats, pumps and heels. They definitely need sandals and slippers for the summer.

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Why We Need Corner Bookcases

By Bart Icles

Among the most important home and office furniture are corner bookcases, especially if cleanliness, tidiness, and being organized are among your topmost priorities. Corner bookcases are not only very beneficial to keeping any place organized, tidy, and clean, they are also very beneficial in enabling any place to create a great impression on guests.

Corner bookcases nowadays are not only being used to store books and to preserve them. They are also being used to display mementos, figurines, toys, and other collectibles and valuables that we always want to see and to always have at hand at all times. Some of them are made and come with locks so storing valuables in them is no longer a big worry to their owners. Some of them come with glass partitions, some with wood, and some come in a combination of both. There are also corner bookcases that are made of steel. There are some that do not have any covers at all.

To be able to determine what type or types of corner bookcases you need for your place, you need to consider first the things that you are intending to use them for. If you are planning to store just books in them, you can opt for those without covers or glass doors, but then, it really depends on what type of books you are planning to store. If you are going store rare first-edition books, then it would be more to your advantage if you spend a bit more on corner bookcases that come with locks. If you are planning to store toys in them, make sure that they are durable so that when your little ones want to get them on their own, they will not be able to destroy them easily.

Choosing the right types of corner bookcases would, of course, largely depend on your budget and your preferences. If you want it to go blend into ornate surroundings, then you need to buy ornate ones as well. If you want to have them blend into Spartan surroundings, then you would need to have Spartan ones as well. Whichever type of surroundings that you are going to have them in, ensuring that they blend well with what you have should be one of your topmost priorities.

When the time comes that you are ready to go ahead and buy your corner bookcases, you would sometimes find it hard to find the ones that would be perfect for the room that you are intending for them to be a part of. When this happens, it is a more viable option for you to have them customized based on the specifications and designs that you have in mind.

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Ideas For Outdoor Patio Furniture

By Bart Chapman

Outdoor patio furniture can be a worthwhile investment in home improvement. Since your patio is usually the first thing that greets you and your visitor, it is important that you decorate and arrange it tastefully. This can also help enhance outdoor activities. Below are some things you need to remember when buying patio furniture.

You can purchase your furniture via the manufacturer. Without having to go through the middlemen or the retailers, you may actually be able to get your furniture cheaper. However, you may also be safer when it comes to quality and satisfaction guarantee when you deal with retailers.

Online shopping, no doubt, will provide you with a cheaper and more convenient alternative. It won't be as easy to get in touch with the manufacturer. Still, the more important thing to consider is the website's navigability, which will give a hint as to how easy or difficult it would be when it comes to following up or monitoring orders.

As for the wood for your outdoor patio furniture, cedar may be one of the best that you can have. It is a strong type of wood but is also lightweight and easy to work with. It is also weather-resistant and is not likely to morph or crack, unlike other types of wood.

Since cedar is lightweight, it is easy to work with. Even then, cedar is also a very strong type of wood. It is also said to have a very good thermal co-efficient, which means that even on a hot day, your patio furniture remains cool and, particularly for benches, pleasant to sit on.

Other virtues of cedar that makes it ideal for your outdoor patio furniture is that it is resistant to fungus and bacteria. This may be attributed to the oils contained within the cedar wood, which also prevents rot and decay from easily setting in.

Maintenance of your outdoor patio furniture is also very easy. There's not much finishing involved and most owners are said to stick with letting their furniture naturally age as it is gradually exposed to the elements.

There are some who may choose to use materials such as wood sealers or oils, for instance. These are more ideal since they help the wood to 'breathe'. Paint, on the other hand, should never be applied because it can potentially destroy the furniture when it mixes with the wood's oils once they are released.

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Reduce The Cost Of Your Annual Car Insurance

By Susie Tolle

The following article presents the very latest information on car insurance for teenagers. If you have a particular interest in car insurance, then this informative article is essential reading.

Motor vehicle insurance is contract of risk that insurers take from a vehicle owner for damages in property or liability from a person in case of accidents. All motor vehicle owners are obliged to get the insurance from a provider of their choice. This is certainly an option that may save you money, but it might not be worth the risk. Even if your young driver has the best intentions and is very careful, it is important to realize that he or she is still learning reducing liability amounts could mean disaster - especially if you have other assets, such as a home or business. This attacks teeth and gums putting you at risk of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease.

If your insurance company cannot assist in lowering the cost for you, try other companies, it never hurts to compare prices. For example, increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive cost by 15% to 30%. This was 1966 & 1968 and costs were less but the system was the same. My mom saw the doctor multi times for prenatal care and took a check and the doctor's services were completely paid by the time I was born.

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you're fully informed about car insurance for teenagers, keep reading.

Do you simply want to know what auto insurance companies are offering these days - from auto coverage to auto insurance rates? Some insurance companies offer "accident forgiveness" policies that enable a policyholder to file a claim for an at-fault accident without the fear of a future rate increase. The drawback is that these policies might require a higher premium, even if the driver has a clean history.

You can usually trust the good rated companies. It is easy to buy insurance once you have decided on the coverage you want. Always remember a note of caution: insurance companies make money by not paying you. They are not "on your side". If you use insurers advertised, we take no responsibility and give no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of these third-party web sites or companies. If you have any doubts you should consult an authorised independent financial adviser for advice based upon your individual needs and circumstances.

It used to be that if you wanted a car insurance quote you had to go down to the local office for the insurance company then about twenty to thirty minutes later you would receive one quote. Most companies that insure cars are changing their rates every day in order to get more customers Companies are battling each other for more customers in the United States. If you have had the same insurance rate for a least a one-year then you are likely to be eligible to get a lower rate either at your company or at another company. This means that you are able to see which companies are offering the lowest rates and the best coverage helping you to focus on only those which can give you exactly what you are looking for. The proposed regulations would allow insurance companies to offer coverage plans paid for by the mile, in addition to traditional plans. The idea is to allow consumers to pay for what they use-and potentially save money.

That's how things stand right now on car insurance for teenagers. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

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Quickly Decorate With Area Rugs

By Hilary Wakefield

Painting a room can give it a complete makeover but placing an area rug down on the floor is another way to create an instant look. So how do you make up your mind which rug is right for your room? Here are some guidelines to help.

You need to first determine how much you can afford to pay for your area rug. If you like to change the look in your room often don't spend as much money. But if you are going for a family heirloom then spend a little more money as well as time looking for the right rug.

Now you need to determine what size you will need. All experts agree that it is important to leave around 18 inches to three feet of empty space between the rug and wall in most of your rooms. This allows for the door to open easily. There is an exception to this rule; if the rug is in the dining room then you need to get measurements of the table and then add four feet to each side. This extra space will allow you to move the chairs around without going off the rug.

You also need to decide on a pattern as well as a color. If you already have a pattern in the room then choose the rug carefully. If you don't have a pattern yet you need to use a solid color. Before you go shopping you need to take a sample of the upholstery or drapery that you want to match the rug with.

Do you want the rug to be the focal point? Rugs can make a big difference in the room. If the rug is going to be the focal point it needs a strong central design like a medallion or another bold pattern. If the rug is not going to be a focal point then it should blend in with the current decor. Harmony should be the key. The rug should be different shapes or sizes so it can give the room a visual interest. You will also need to purchase a proper rug liner so the rug doesn't slip.

How will the rug be used? Rugs can serve so many purposes in home decor.

* Use an area rug to separate an area. * Use an area rug to offset the color scheme. If you use bold color the tone the color of the area rug down. * Use a small rug to hang on the wall for art decor. * If you are using neutral colors on the walls and upholstery then you need to use a rug with a bold color. * Carefully choose the shape of the rug to blend in with your furniture. Remember that traditionally rectangular rugs will fit anywhere but you can change things up with an oval rug.

There are so many choices to make when it comes to an area rug for your home. You will love the large selection that is available.

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Pirate Party Favors will be a Winner at Your Kids Birthday Party

By Serrana Milligan

The guests at a celebration are given away party favors at the end of the ceremony to acknowledge their attendance. Favor gifts given away at a party are treasured and valued by guests. Pirate party favors can be given away as celebration gifts as they represent fun and adventure. Pirate themed birthday celebrations are stylish and most loved by children

The guests at a party frequently cherish party favors handed out as a souvenir. The pirate genre is very popular with puzzles, movies and video games. Buccaneer themes are most desired as it indicates joy, independence and adventure. Pirate birthday party favors can be presented to kids to gratify their brash behavior. Children are spellbound by the high seas and hidden treasure voyages of pirates.

A wonderful birthday party can be created through themed games, fun activities and favors. Bright envelopes and stickers can help make amazing party invitations. You as the host of the party can make spy glasses and schedule games like musical islands at the birthday celebration. The party space can be bedecked with a marine motif using ships, fishing nets and seafaring creatures. Pirate party supplies are available in coordinating designs to help with the decorating requirements.

Favor objects like pirate figures, themed toys and books can be used as fun fillers for empty favor boxes. Plastic swords, bandanas and temporary tattoos are the common birthday favor items presented as gifts. The party walls of a themed party can be adored with lighting lanterns and Pirate flags. You can incorporate the invitation cards with pirate vocabulary to create the temper for the theme party.

You can create a great themed party using red and black streamers, skull like objects and crossbones. The party space can be adorned with pirate items like plastic hooks and cheekbones. Favors like temporary tattoos, chocolate coins and candy necklaces can be presented. You can give away customized pirate party favors in the empty favor boxes.

Empty party favor boxes are available in the form of a treasure box that can be used to create customized party giveaways. The treasure box party favor package offers four empty boxes. Each box is seen to measure 6"W x 4"H x 3"D. The Pirate sticker sheets can be filled in as fun gifts in the empty favor boxes.

Girl pirate party favor items include chic items like lip gloss, glitter bracelets and body crystals. You can give away a favor purse that is the most stylish loot bag. It is a specially designed purse-like box that holds a pearl necklace, pen in multiple patterns and a notepad. The favor purse contains pink skull stickers that can be engaged to organize a grand themed party.

A treasure chest box that holds a glow-in-the-dark skull ring, 9" toy telescope and an eye patch is available as one of the pre filled kids birthday party favors. 10 golden coins, 2 tattoos and a sticker sheet are the other items provided in the favor box. Unique party favors can be given away through prefilled pirate party favor boxes. You can gift them to kids as birthday party favors.

You can jumble and sort the many pirate party favors available to make a large collection of gift items. Customized gifts can be created using the empty vibrant ornate favor boxes. Four empty boxes are offered with the pirate empty favor boxes package. Kids draped as pirates at a theme birthday party can be given away fun favors filled in the empty boxes.

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