Wrapping paper

September 28, 2008 – 2:42 pm

The holidays are rapidly approaching and ever so slowly, the Christmas decorations are becoming more and more visible. People are hitting the malls a bit early in order to avoid the mad holiday rush and remain organized. My aunt already has all of her gifts bought for people and already had the wrapping paper out to disguise them as well. Though she doesn’t put her tree up until December, she has them all sitting in her guest room waiting for their grand debut.

If you’re anything like me, you might stock up after the holidays on things for the next season. I have gotten cards, decorations and wrapping paper for almost free by purchasing after Christmas is over. Sure, I have to store them all year, but if my costs are cut in more than half, it is definitely worthwhile. That’s more money that I can spend on buying gifts for others, or myself. Though decorations are sometimes hard to find after the holidays, wrapping paper usually remains in abundance. That’s what I always love to stock up on.

My favorite thing to do is buy plain green or red wrapping paper. Then, I’ll buy wrapping paper that has big snowmen or characters on it. I’ll spend some time cutting out the snowmen, snowflakes, Santas or anything else, and set them aside. After wrapping a gift in the plain colored paper, the cut-outs make excellent name tags. The recipients usually love them and it adds a creative touch to gift-giving. I’ve also kept Christmas cards that I’ve received and cut them apart as well to use as name tags. You can do this for any occasion - cut up birthday cards and use plain wrapping paper for birthday presents. If you venture to some Dollar Stores or discount stores, you can get wrapping paper for any occasion. Decorating packages or using name tags isn’t just limited to Christmas. You can do it for anything - baby gifts, showers, weddings, you name it.

Since my daughter is getting older and now enjoys coloring, she loves to help me make wrapping paper. For my husband’s Father’s Day gift, I got a roll of plain white wrapping paper and let her color all over it. We used it to wrap his gift and he absolutely loved it. She was completely thrilled that it looked so wonderful and that he’d made such a big deal out of it. I’m not sure who was happier about it. Let your kids help you make wrapping paper. Not only will they be thrilled but they might just be entertained for a while and the recipients will most likely be thrilled about getting a gift with homemade wrapping paper covering it.

Written: Bill | Category: Home, shopping | Tags:
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Tatto Books

September 27, 2008 – 2:17 pm

I can’t help but notice how our society plays follow the leader. If someone thinks that something is cool or hip, you’d better believe that someone else is going to follow suit. This is a basic human pattern or trait. Why else do you think tattoo books are so big these days? People want that stamp of approval. They want some ink stain on their flesh to remind them how common and trite they are. Oh wait, I think their reason for getting a tattoo is supposedly something else. Naa, it can’t be. Too many people have them. So for all you individuals out there who thought body-art was unique, you’d better take another gander at today’s society.

Oh brother, another guy with a tattoo just strolled past. How original! He took the road less traveled and had his ink job done on his arm. Is that original or what! Hey, and look, there’s a girl with one on her lower back. That is certainly a new concept. I mean, I cannot recall the last time I spotted a chic with a tattoo on the small of her back. She must have one of those contemporary tattoo books or something giving her great ideas. Okay stop! This is clearly a sarcastic spiel. The truth is I’ve seen countless men with tattoos on their arms and women with tattoos on their lower backs. It’s as redundant and conforming as it could possibly be. Although a tattoo may have stood for something in the past, it means nothing anymore. Who doesn’t have one? Those are the unique few. When I was in college at Portland State University, I must have spotted a dozen different tattoos daily. I was starting to think that you had to brandish one to go to school there. Was there a massive sale on tattoo books at the school book store on day when I was absent? I was beginning to wonder. This body art in combination with the low-rider jeans girls wore was quite amusing. Somehow every tattoo had a vertical crack just below it. Go figure!

Okay, on a serious note; I realize that a great many people love body art and want some recent tattoo books for ideas. Well, if this is the case for you, then I suggest you get online and shop at Amazon.com. This is one web-store that seems to have it all. Happy tattooing!

Written: Bill | Category: General | Tags:
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Table Centerpieces

September 26, 2008 – 2:29 pm

When you think of table centerpieces, you quite often think of flower arrangements. There are so many other things you can do, and you dont have to use flowers if you dont want to. When it comes to finding or making something to spice up your table setting, you dont have to limit yourself to the traditional. What you do is up to you, your tastes and whatever the occasion may be. Dont be afraid to experiment with a few different ideas before you decide on what you like.

Dont be afraid to use flower arrangements for your table centerpieces if that is what you want to do. You can go with a simple arrangement you buy at your florist, or you can choose one type of cut flower in a color that matches your placemats and napkins. If you would like, you can go to a craft store to buy dried flower arrangements for you table centerpieces, and these you can keep to use time and time again, or to put in another part of your home once your occasion or holiday is over.

Another popular choice for table centerpieces is to use candles. You can use one large pillar candle set on an attractive tray if you like, or you can use an assortment of colors, sizes and shapes to make it more interesting. You can use candles with almost anything when making table centerpieces, and you may find these to be the most versatile. You dont even have to light the candles for it to be attractive, and you can pair the candles with fresh or dried flowers if you like. Just remember to keep it safe. You dont want your flowers to catch fire from the candles.

Dont forget to think about different items when you are working on table centerpieces. A simple bowl of fruit can be a stunning piece. If you get a dozen oranges, limes, or lemons and put them into a bowl, you may be surprised to see how nice it looks on your table. Other items for table centerpieces might be things that you use everyday that are related to your event. If you have a special dessert planned, that might be great for the center of the table. If you are hosting a special occasion and you still have no idea what you want, you can stroll through a furniture store to see what they use for their display. You may think this is a silly idea, but you may find some of your best ideas in displays.

Written: Bill | Category: Home, shopping | Tags:
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Shadow Box

September 25, 2008 – 5:12 pm

I have a very special shadow box in my home. I actually haven’t filled it yet, but I will as soon as it is not so painful to do so. A shadow box is a type of frame, but it is not made to hold photos exclusively. These are often deep enough for you to put photos, mementos, objects and other precious items inside. These are often used to commemorate moments you want to live forever, and to remember friends and family who have moved on, and are no longer on this earth.

The shadow box I have sits in my closet waiting for me to get the courage to fill it. This box is meant to hold memories of my sister-in-law, who died very young, leaving behind her husband and her infant daughter. Its been five years, and yet, I cant bring myself to fill it. Perhaps once I do, it means I have to accept that she is truly gone. Its not that I dont know that, it is just that it seems so final. As her daughter grows beneath my roof, I am reminded each day, and perhaps this is all the reminder I need right now. Perhaps her daughter is a living tribute, and the shadow box will have to wait for a later day.

You can use a shadow box for just about anything, and these can be happy occasions. You could use one to remember your son or daughter hitting their first home run. You could put photos, and perhaps the ball in a shadow box to hang in your home. You could keep your daughters first pair of ballet shows, or your graduates graduation cap if you wish. The possibilities are endless, and if you want to remember something with more than a photo, filling a shadow box is a great way to do this.

You can find a shadow box in almost any place you would find regular photo frames. Craft stores are great places to look. Michaels Crafts is the nearest store to my home, and they have a huge selection. You may also find them in department stores, and in home interior stores. You can also find a shadow box online, but remember that shipping may damage it. This may, however, be the perfect place to find the size you need. You can find them in almost any material, and in almost any size, so make sure you look around for exactly what you need. Chances are good that youll find the perfect shadow box to hold your memories.

Written: Bill | Category: Family, shopping | Tags:
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Sexual predator

September 24, 2008 – 8:24 pm

A local police officer rang my doorbell this past weekend and handed me a flyer when I opened the door. He was going from door to door letting people know that in two weeks, a sexual predator would be one of our neighbors. When I say neighbors, I mean within six blocks of my house. That’s entirely too close for a sexual predator to be living to my home. The officer saw the look of terror and dismay on my face and smiled as comfortingly as possible. The flyer had the exact address of where he’d be living, his name, a bit of information that the public should know. I thanked the officer and closed the door, looking into the eyes of my curious and innocent children. I am the mother of a 2-year old and 4-year old. Until now, I’ve never given much thought to having a sexual predator in my neighborhood. Suddenly, I was going to have to think about everything that they would be doing outdoors, at bus stops, playing with friends - everything. I wasn’t pleased.

While I realize that even criminals need a place to live, why in the world did they have to move into my neighborhood? Thanks to a very irritated neighbor, I learned that I could go online and find out how many other sexual predators are living in my neighborhood and county. My husband and I did that after my kids were in bed that night. My jaw hit the floor when I saw the long list of names for my county. I had no idea that there was a sexual predator lurking around every corner. There were photos and descriptions of their crimes that were available. Exact street addresses for them was not available. Apparently, they only give you their address if they would become a neighbor. How considerate.

It isn’t a secret that there have been some horrible crimes committed in recent years. Many innocent lives have been lost and destroyed at the hands of a sexual predator. In some instances, people never even realized that a sexual predator lived nearby. Some of those predators moved without updating their address. All of the news reports make me absolutely sick and hug my children a little bit longer each day. Now, there would be a sexual predator living near my house. I wasn’t sure how to talk to my kids about what a sexual predator was or how to stay safe. I couldn’t imagine walking past his house or seeing him out and about without wanting to smack him. How does a sexual predator function normally when everyone around him knows who he is? And more importantly, why wasn’t he behind bars? Why should I be worrying about talking to my kids about what a sexual predator was?

Every parent should take a few moments to research online and find out if a sexual predator is living near them. Talk to your children about safety. The more informed you are, the more likely you are to prevent a terrible tragedy from occurring. After you realize how many are in your area, give your kids an extra hug or kiss.

Written: Bill | Category: Family | Tags:
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Screened In Porches

September 23, 2008 – 4:13 pm

One of the most pleasant activities I enjoy in the summer is sitting out on my porch or in my backyard as the sun sets. By this time, the temperature has cooled down, but the air is still warm. This is the perfect time to enjoy being outside without feeling like I am burning up. The downfall of this, however, is the amount of mosquitoes and bugs that hang out in my yard. For some reason, they seem to be more numerous than ever, and it makes sitting outside at dusk an unpleasant experience. One remedy for this is screened in porches. Many of my neighbors have them, and I hope to have one soon myself.

You can find people to build screened in porches, or you can just screen a porch you already have. This can be tricky though, because it does take some skill to get it right. You should contact a contractor to ask how much such an endeavor might cost, and how long it would take them to complete it. Remember that they might be busy, so you may not get your porch finished for weeks. Screened in porches might be something you should look into in the early spring so it is done by the time the sun gets hot, and the bugs come out to play.

There are kits you can use to build your own screened in porches, but I’m not sure how durable or how reliable they are. You may not know until you get it up. You will know it’s good if you can sit on your porch and enjoy the weather without getting bit. You can usually use common sense when looking at something to see if it will work on your particular porch, or if perhaps you need something that is custom built. Some people prefer custom built because they can match their screened in porch to their own personalities.

Many companies specialize in screened in porches, and you can order a DVD from them to see what they have to offer. These DVDs will show you examples of screened in porches, and show you what they have done in the past. They may also show you what colors and sizes they can do, and what to expect as far as price. Remember to ask about a final price if you decide to order. Each porch is different, and the final price will depend on how much work has to be done.

Written: Bill | Category: Home, shopping | Tags:
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Romance Novels

September 22, 2008 – 11:41 am

Romantic stories are one of the best selling genres. They are mostly written and read by women. If a man reads romance novels, he’s not likely to admit it. The first ones were written by celebrated 19th century authors, such as Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice) and Charlotte Bronte (Jane Eyre). Emily Bronte wrote the wonderfully Gothic Wuthering Heights. These novels were of course, considered to be literary classics whereas most modern offerings are not.

The modern romantic book, as published by Mills and Boon etc., is pretty formulaic. Boy meets girl, boy loses girl and boy gets girl again. There is nearly always a happy ending and there are no graphic descriptions of bedroom scenes. The protagonists tend to be middle or upper class. There are often doctor and nurse scenarios and men have chiseled jaws and muscular arms. Historical romance is also popular, with opportunities for a lot of genteel courtship and brave fiances marching to war in their neatly pressed uniforms. It’s easy to poke fun but these romance novels give pleasure to thousands of people. Fans want a bit of harmless escapism at the end of a busy day.

The English writer, Barbara Cartland was probably the most prolific of all the romance novels scribes. She famously dictated thousands of words a day, with her little dog on her lap. She only dressed in pink and prided herself on chaste heroines. We shall never see her kind again.

More recent novelists have tried to keep the genre alive but brought it into line with contemporary values. This has been dubbed chick lit and its leading light is the Bridget Jones books. She is a character for a modern generation, an independent career woman but one who freely admits to wanting a man in her life. There are shades of the Pride and Prejudice story in there, which brings romance novels full circle. It’s probably what Jane Austen would be writing, were she alive today.

Fans don’t seem to mind that they can guess what’s coming. They find it comforting in an unsettled world. The setting and time period probably don’t matter very much. It’s the relationship between the man and woman (it’s always a man and woman) that counts. Modern standards of behavior have changed significantly but there is still a demand for old-fashioned romance novels with clearly defined plots. Mr. Darcy is alive and well.

Written: Bill | Category: entertainment | Tags:
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Reclining Umbrella Stroller

September 21, 2008 – 10:21 am

Taking a baby out and about requires a lot more than slipping on a coat and a pair of shoes. Babies come with some serious but very welcome baggage. One item that parents would do well to keep stored in the back of their vehicle is a reclining umbrella stroller.

Although we all love holding and cuddling with our babies it’s impossible to carry them at all times. When you are out at the mall or waiting in line at the bank, a reclining umbrella stroller is ideal. Finding one is fairly simple and they are generally very inexpensive.

I actually received two at separate baby showers before the birth of my daughter. I had every intention of returning one but never got around to it. I’m now glad that I didn’t. One of the nicest things about an umbrella stroller is that it takes up such a small amount of space. I popped one in the back of my mini-van and we ended up putting the other in the trunk of my husband’s car. It saved us from having to worry about how we’d transport the baby if we stopped at a restaurant or did some window shopping one Saturday afternoon.

The two I have differ a bit from one another but they are both just as easy to use. Setting up a reclining umbrella stroller is simply a matter of unfolding it and locking it into place. Putting it away after use requires the unlocking of the latch that holds it in place and then folding it in half.

You do have to remember though if you are a walker or someone who enjoys taking the baby out and about around the neighborhood, you’re probably going to want a sturdier stroller. Also, an infant can’t really sit properly in a reclining umbrella stroller. Once our daughter was about eight months old she could be strapped into the umbrella stroller much easier.

After I had used the strollers for several months I realized what a great gift they had been. I’ve got several friends who are all expecting and I have every intention of giving each one of them a reclining umbrella stroller as a gift as well.

My daughter is now over two-years-old and she can still fit comfortably in them. The only drawback to using a reclining umbrella stroller with a toddler is that they move around a great deal and if they spend enough time playing with the belt, there is a chance that they can unlock themselves. It’s really just a matter of keeping both eyes on your little one at that point. We all know how much mischief a two-year-old can get into.

Written: Bill | Category: Family, shopping | Tags:
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Plastic Storage Cabinets

September 20, 2008 – 11:30 am

Picking out the right plastic storage cabinets can be no easy matter. After all, there are a huge variety of storage cabinet plastic out there. Many people do not even like using a plastic storage cabinet, and indeed there are a lot of other alternatives for storing your good s and valuables. A lot of people like metal storage shelves, because they are so much more rugged, and can hold about as much weight as you might want to put on them. I can see the point of this argument, but I still think that a plastic storage cabinet is the right choice for me for a lot of reasons. First of all, a plastic storage cabinet has rounded edges, and second of all, it is soft. It is possible to hurt yourself on a metal storage locker, but with a plastic storage cabinet you are safe even if you do run into it some time. I also think that the fact that they are a good bit cheaper, and that they do not rust gives plastic storage lockers a decisive lead over other kinds of storage. But, of course, just because I prefer a plastic storage cabinet does not mean that you will for sure. You should think about what kind of storage fits your needs.

The problem is that there are so many things that I have to fit into each plastic storage cabinet that I own, and that is no lie. I have a plastic storage cabinet that I use for tools, but that includes anything from mini screwdrivers to hammers and saws and lug nuts. I have another plastic storage cabinet that I use for fishing tackle, sports equipment, and the like, which is a whole lot of different gear to fit in one standard size storage locker. The thing is that as soon as I start to fit one thing in just nice and neatly, there is something else that does not fit in my plastic storage cabinet the way that I want it to. It will either take up way to much space, hogging several drawers in the plastic storage cabinet which I had meant for other things, or else it will take up so little space that it will seem like a waste to give it its own drawer. I guess that, if you are as meticulous as I am, finding a way to arrange your plastic storage cabinet is never going to be an easy matter.

Written: Bill | Category: Home, shopping | Tags:
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Pepper Grinders

September 19, 2008 – 5:27 pm

If you are looking for a special gift for someone who may have just about everything you can think of, you might want to take a look at pepper grinders. These are often items that most people dont think to buy, but ending up loving once they get one. You can find them almost anywhere, and you may be surprised at the difference in your pepper once you start using one.

Dont laugh when I say that, it is very true. When you use pepper grinders, you are getting fresh ground pepper. The pepper balls are ground much like a coffee grinder grinds down the coffee bean. The resulting pepper is fresher than what you get out of the store, and it gives your food a brighter taste. There is something great about using pepper grinders to sprinkle fresh pepper over a delicious garden salad. You will also find that when you use fresh ground pepper, you will use less in your recipes. It has a better, fuller flavor, and you dont need as much to get a great taste.

A great advantage of pepper grinders is that you can experiment with different types of pepper. There are many kinds, though you may not realize that, and you can try different blends to see what you like best. You can get pepper from around the world and decide which kind you like the most. Some people wont know the difference, but if you know a foodie, they will love to go on that journey. They are also more likely to notice the fresh taste you get when you use pepper grinders. They may even like them so much that they then in turn start buying them for all of their friends to have in their kitchens.

So if you know someone who is really hard to shop for, consider buying him or her pepper grinders for Christmas, birthday, or other holiday. Many people buy every kitchen gadget they can find, but they often overlook the pepper grinders. They may look at you strange when they open it, but it may end up being something they brag about later. Not only will they enjoy the fresh taste, it will be a little extra touch they can use to impress their dinner guests. I once gave one to friends who were getting married. They indeed looked at me like I was loopy, but later told me they liked theirs so much that they got some for their parents and each of their siblings that year for the holidays.

Written: Bill | Category: Home, shopping | Tags:
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