Need a Short Break?

It's only January and you are craving for short breaks already? Well if you are and live in the UK area especially or anywhere else in the world, here is a great destination for you. Alton Towers!

 

Alton Towers caters well for small children, with a number of farm -themed rides which delighted the younger kids. Our UK family friends in particular spent a good hour watching  a choir (battery?) of  farmyard animals  singing "Old McDonald's Farm" again and again. And then again.  I never figure out why kids like "Old McDonald's" so much. Is he just an old farmer with lots of signing animals? :)

The hotel itself is rather luxurious, the interior inspired by  Jules Verne and the nineteenth century, the central atrium  home to a magical pirate ship which serves as both as a fantastic focal point and stage for the industrious entertainers, the lifts a themed ride in themselves. The attention to detail is important, my own kids love the way the carpet from the Splash Landings Hotel slowly merges, Escher like, into the carpet of the Alton Towers Hotel, the crabs and sand ebbing away with every foot.

Geeks

WebHostingGeeks.com is a listing and review site that contains a large number of grade A web hosting companies. When you're looking for a new hosting company, make sure you check out the web hosting reviews at Web Hosting Geeks.

The thing that I find most useful about Web Hosting Geeks is the categorization of the hosts. They have organized the site in such a way that it makes it very easy to find the exact type of web hosting that you are looking for. For instance, lets say that I'm looking to host multiple domain names on my new hosting account - I can simply click "Multiple Domain Hosting" and I'll be presented with a list of hosts that offer hosting packages for multiple domains. I'm presented with a list of features, web space, bandwidth and traffic allotments, and most importantly, the number of domain names that I'll be able to host at the account, whether it be 5 domains, or unlimited domains. All of the information that I'm looking for is presented to me in a clean and concise fashion.

If you're looking for a new web hosting company, now or anytime in the future, make sure you take advantage of the listings and reviews offered by Web Hosting Geeks.

Great Activities II

Fall

This is the time of year when leaves are scattered everywhere and can be used as a vice for entertainment while cleaning up the yard. It is also a time to prepare for a new school year, so creative abilities need to be relaunched.

Painting is fun, but painting on clothes is even better. T-shirt painting can result in some real creativity as well as hours of fun. Rocks can also be painted, and made into pets or paper weights. Leaves can be raked and made into forts or large piles to jump into. Bicycling and walking is perfect for this time of year as the chance of getting over heated are minimal. Board games, coloring and drawing are also perfect for everyone in the house.

Winter

This is the time of year that you either love playing in snow or you avoid it. You can enjoy both indoor and outdoor activities this time of year by simply using your imagination.

Snow ball wars are always a favorite, as is building snow forts. Sledding is a great activity for everyone and ice fishing can be enjoyed if you have a local pond or river. Make a backyard weather sta tion by monitoring the snow, temperature, and wind. Everyone can make snowflakes from paper, and ornaments from beads, macaroni noodles and popcorn. Board and card games are a great activity when enjoyed with snacks and hot chocolate.

Gift of Time

Its over a month after Christmas, are you guys enjoying the gifts you had last holiday? Well, after Christmas I am sure you are anticipating what gift you will have this coming Valentine. Do you have something in mind that you want your husband or wife gives you this heart day? Or are having difficulty on deciding what to give to your partner? How about giving your husband or wife a stylish Casio Watch? Watch is a must have accessories. And I am sure the person who will get this present will always remember every time he/she checks the time. I am currently using a fossil watch which my wife gave me for my birthday almost seven years ago. 
Bluedial.com is the internet's leading watch distributor. They carry genuine and authentic watches. They carry a wide variety of citizen watches, seiko watch, bulova watch, casio watches, Gucci watches, diesel watches and many more. What's more? Since bluedial.com is a certified BizRate.com that means you can buy with confidence and get great customer service. Plus, every watch is guaranteed and comes with free sizing and free shipping.

So hurry Check out Bluedial.com and find your favorite watch for a very affordable price.

Great Activites I

Activities to entertain a family can be expensive, but spending quality time together does not have to cost anyone anything, except for their time. In fact, activities for a family don't have to cost a penny, and they can be enjoyed all year long when you use a little bit of imagination and a few supplies found right around the house. Here's something that perhaps you can try anytime of year.

Spring

Everyone is craving to get outside after a long winter, and some of the best free activities can be enjoyed in the great outdoors, and they include:

bicycling, hiking on trails, rock collecting, building a club house from scrap wood found on walks through the woods, sight seeing at local points of interest, wildlife tours through wooded areas, quality time in the kitchen, and an indoor or outdoor scavenger hunt using items from around the house.

Summer

This is the time of year that picnics and barbecuing are at an all time high, so why not let the kids join in on the preparations? Summer activities are endless and some of the best ones are:

Pitching a tent in your backyard, complete with spooky or even funny stories, melt some marshmallows or hotdogs over the bbq, play flashlight tag, swim in a local creek or (unsuspected but friendly neighbors pool), local pond or river, hide n seek, make a raft from scrap wood found on walks in a wooded area, picnics by a stream, bird watching, wildlife watching, and activities with younger kids can be enjoyed by using your sidewalk to draw four square or hopscotch games with chalk.

Choosing the right one

I'm comfortably situated with my choice of domain registrar (GoDaddy) and hosting company (VoNetwork), but for those who are just starting out with getting their own domain and setting up a hosting account, it can be overwhelming to make a choice among the hundreds of companies out there. Every company has something to offer, but the question is, which company is best suited for your needs?
Besides asking around and relying on word of mouth, you might want to consider looking up reviews and side-by-side comparison of hosting companies and domain registrars. You'll be able to see at a glance what the companies have to offer, and which ones can offer you what you need. One choice for finding out more about website hosting is webhostingreport.com..
webhostingreport.com specializes in providing reviews on the top companies in web hosting and domain registrations. In addition to reviews and plan and company comparisons, webhostingreport.com offers articles that can help beginners and novices alike learn more about domains and hosting, and what to look for when selecting a company. One valuable guide to look over are the dedicated servers.  Between this article and website reviews, you'll be headed in the right direction with picking your hosting provider.

Honey I need a date

At the moment "date night" is a very popular idea. Couples are often encouraged to engage in date nights, especially after having children. While the idea to spend a little special time with your spouse is wonderful, it seems that so many folks have the notion that you have to go to a special place (usually out, and usually to spend some money) and that those are the only real bonding times you have. That somehow if you don't have date nights you are really missing out. Are "date nights" a must have to have a happy marriage? If so, how did people get along for the centuries before "date nights" became cool?

I doubt our parents and grandparents had "date nights". They just had every day moments where they connected with each other. Granted, it is tough to connect while cleaning up spilt milk at the dinner table. It is easy to let our busy lives and tiredness rule out real communication and fun. But special opportunities do present themselves. Look for one today.

For some couples, especially those with children it may be their routine to lay in bed talking until sleep comes. Or, they may enjoy sitting at the picnic table while the children play together. Some couples enjoy a good game of cards or scrabble. Hiking and fishing are also fun ways to spend time together without having to go out on a "real" date.

In the winter my wife and I sit out in the balcony with a cup of hot coffee and share our hopes, dreams, and the cares of this life. We pray together, make plans for our future and encourage one another. In the summer time we do this out on the patio. We also spend an enjoyable day biking now and then. It isn't what most people consider a "real" date, but it works for us.

The idea behind date night is to really enjoy being together and to strengthen the bonds of matrimony. Enjoying each other and strengthening your marriage is best done daily, moment by moment; not on one special date.

Skin Store

Women are very interested in the science of skin care, particularly as they age. As those wrinkles and lines form, as they notice their skin starting to sag and look less youthful, they begin to consider the use of good skin care products. But what about skin care for men?

For men, skin care can be something that they never consider. The closest they may come will often be the use of an aftershave so that they smell better. However there are good reasons why they ought to consider high quality skin care for men. You see skin care isn't just about looking good, although more and more men are also becoming interested in their looks. But skincare for men is also about health. Because our skin is the biggest organ in our bodies, and just like other organs our skin is affected by age, and can become unhealthy.

Often if our skin is unhealthy that's a reflection of our general state of health. Unhealthy skin, unhealthy inside. So serious skin care for men, or for that matter women, doesn't just involve the use of high quality skin care products, though of course that's essential. Good mens skin care involves a total approach. If unhealthy inside equals unhealthy skin, then healthy inside equals healthy skin. And this is equally true for women. So good diet, including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and a good exercise regime both contribute to overall health, and good skin health.

Shop the quality skin products and cosmetics at SkinStore.com.


And there's 2 things that men should never do if they want to maintain overall skin health. The first is to smoke and the second is to avoid sunburn. Both are extremely damaging to the skin, and both can lead to serious skin problem. Smoking, for example causes vascular problems, and poor blood circulation is not good for the skin. And sunburn can lead to serious skin problems, including skin cancer.

So men, like women, should take care of their overall health as a part of a good skin care routine. Good skin care for men starts exactly where it starts for women.
And for men, skin care should also involve the use of high quality skin care products and anti aging products. Men also should be able to maintain healthy skin that keeps adequate levels of moisture, for example. And which has good levels of collagen and elastin, 2 essential skin proteins that help maintain skin complexion, suppleness, youthfulness and skin elasticity.

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As men age their skin loses skin collagen and skin elastin, and it's essential to replace these. Using a skin care product that has collagen and elastin in it won't replace the lost collagen and elastin as the molecules of these 2 skin proteins are too large to penetrate the skin, so remain on the surface.

But modern science has found a way to stimulate the skin to produce more of it's own collagen and elastin, and the best skin care products in the world contain ingredients that will replace lost collagen and elastin like that. Way more effective than trying to replace them by adding them to the bottle and hoping they go in, which they won't.

So for men, as for women, a total approach is needed to skin care. Serious skin care for men requires a healthy lifestyle, avoiding smoking and sunburn, and the use of the worlds best skin care products.

The worlds best mens skin care products aren't found on the shelves of your local department store, just as the worlds best womens skin care products aren't found there either. You have to track them down, they're made by a small niche skin care company.

So men, skin care is important. Be serious about skin care for men, and you, and your skin, will be healthy and look great, and serve you well into old age.

Security

Why is it that bills, rent and unexpected expenses always seem to arrive days or weeks before your paycheck does? Oftentimes many of us feel intimidated to borrow money from anyone or just worried about sending your personal information over the internet. Luckily there’s a solution to bad timing. quick easy payday loan and cash advances are an easy, secure and responsible answer to a limited cash flow.

I remember my friend's Dad urgently needed medical aid. My friend was totally disturbed, depressed and desperately in need of cash since, she was having bad credit rates and it was not possible for her to secure any short term loans from the bank. I could tell it was a very crucial time for her. Sometimes, it becomes so tricky situation that you yearn for few hundred bucks. Then I recalled about the YellowLeafFinancial.com. I immediately told her to apply for cash and within 24 hrs the cash was in her personal account already. To her greater surprise, the company didn’t even call for any paper work making it easier for her.

If you face such situation, simply apply for short term cash advance from YellowLeafFinancial.com. Their charges are lower than most in the market and the staff are very friendly and supportive. Gone are the days of the loan sharks.

A night of Ideas

Need a great date idea? Instead of going out to the cinema, rent a movie to watch at home together instead. Not only is this more casual, it is easy to combine with other activities and gives you the chance to talk to each other. Plus your sofa is bound to be cosier and better for the cuddles you're probably hoping for.

Here are ten great movies for a date night in. Included are a variety of different movie styles so that there is something for every couple.

1. Mr. & Mrs. Smith: This movie is a hit because it has something for everyone. Starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, there is eye candy all around. Jolie and Pitt play assassins who are married to each other, but don't know the truth about their partner. There is violence, humour, and romance. Everyone is happy because it is both a big boy-movie blockbuster, and a sweet story about keeping the spark in your relationship.

This movie gets extra points because Jolie and Pitt began their real-life relationship during the filming, and so it can lead to good conversations about relationships.

2. Chocolat: This is one of the most sensual movies around. Juliette Binoche plays a single mother who wanders throughout Europe selling divine chocolates. She causes controversy in the small French town where she sets up a Chocolaterie, and soon the town is disturbed further by gypsies, including the sexy Roux (Johnny Depp). Not only is this a sweet film, but it will tickle your taste buds as well.

For a really great date, watch this movie with a box of nice chocolates, or—better yet—chocolate fondue.

3. Mamma Mia: Not only does this film have an all-star cast (including Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, and Colin Firth), it has a great soundtrack. It is full of songs by Abba, and so by the end of the night you will both be singing along (one of the special features on the DVD is a karaoke setting). You are guaranteed to have a laugh together at it, and the movie is all about an upcoming wedding and past romances, so it's great for a date.

4. Amelie: This quirky film stars Audrey Tautou as Amelie, a young Parisian who begins an unusual romance with an elusive young man. This movie is not your main-stream Hollywood fare, and includes priceless moments with garden gnomes, photo booths, and coffee makers. The movie is in French, so be prepared for subtitles, but it is a great romantic film.

5. Just Like Heaven: This romantic comedy stars Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. He moves into a great, new apartment, only to find out that it is haunted by an annoying, but cute, woman. Who is she? Can they be together? Their developing relationship is both sweet and humorous.

It's about management

My friend own a small sotware company. He recruits people on a monthly basis. He gives training to them and also keep track of their performance on a timely basis and this is not possible if it's without the help of a software. He needed a training management software badly. He search for a software on the Internet and that was when conductit.com was discovered. They are the world wide leaders in providing management softwares like training management software, employee management software and also other personaa management software. This software schedules, tracks and registers all your employee education information. Purchase the software right now, for effective management. Whenever you go to a new place you need to attend training as to what kind of a job it is and how to practice it throughout your career. If a person goes without training then he will be checked out of the company very soon. The system of tracking employees makes your employees always on the stage. This software also provides training materials which in turn produces a strong and efficient work force.

Your Spouse

In this day and time it can be very difficult to spend some good quality time with your beloved spouse. Maybe the kids have too many after school activities for you to drive them to or many both of you work very long hours every week. No matter what the reason, it is very important to find a way to spend quality time with your spouse. I've, personally, noticed that the longer you are with your spouse the amount of quality time spent together decreases. This can be for many reasons including the kids, work schedules or just everyday life. In a previous poll that I study a while back, only 25% of the married women asked said that they had regular dates with their husbands. The best way to fix these statistics and to carve out some quality time with your spouse is to use something that you use during your everyday life...... Appointments!

You may think that sounds crazy but if you consider this, appointments work wonderfully with everything else so why not use them for spending time with your spouse? When you make an appointment you are less likely to break that appointment. Unlike with just saying that you will make more time for your spouse and never following through. So I suggest you pick a particular day of the week or even just a day during the month that would be good for both of you to have a date. Now that you have picked your date night, it's time to figure out what you should do for that date. Your time together can be anything from just a nice movie at home together to an all out night out on the town. It's really just up to you and what the two of you enjoy doing together. Here are a few date night suggestions for you and your spouse to enjoy.

 

Just a night home together is great for spending quality time with your spouse. You could arrange to have the children spend the night with their grandparents or friends for that night. Go to your local video rental store, or just use the Pay-Per-View on your cable or satellite, and choose a great new movie that both of you have been

wanting to see. Make a nice dinner or pick something up from your favorite local resturant. Have dinner together over a lovely candle lit table or even just on some pillows in the living room floor. After the dinner, curl up together on the sofa and watch the movie you picked out. Once that's over you can end the evening where ever the mood may take you. This is one of the easiest ways to spend quality time with your spouse. It can also be one of the cheapest for those of us on a tight budget. 

Another idea for quality time with your spouse would be just dinner out together. You can just do it on the spur of the moment if you haven't scheduled your date nights yet or you can call days ahead and make reservations at that favorite resturant of your's. Either way just spending an hour or two focusing on no one except your spouse is what you are going for. It doesn't matter what resturant you choose as long as it's a sight down resturant where you two can enjoy each other's company. My wife and I have tries to have weekly Friday lunch date while the our is still in school. We've been doing this for several months now and since she left for Hong Kong to care for her sick dad.

Going to a movie is a great way to spend quality time together. Especially if it's a movie that both of you have been wanting to see. You can also combine the movie with the dinner out to make the night extra long and extra special. My husband and I don't get to do the movie night very often since we don't like to keep the girls out too late. So that's why we enjoy our Friday lunch dates. But when the opportunity arises to go out and see a movie, we certainly run for it!

You could also spend a Saturday just going around to yard sales and/or the flea market. I love going to our local flea market and my husband always finds something new that he HAS to have. You could go to a local festival and enjoy yourselves. You could even just go to a favorite store for some shopping, browsing or just some window shopping. What about a picnic in the park? Spend a nice sunny day have lunch together on a blanket in the park. Activity ideas for spending quality time with your spouse are only limited by your own imagination. Just do things that you and your spouse will enjoy doing together. Just have fun being together! Treasure your marriage for the sake of the kids and the generations to come.

Mortgages

There are so many different mortgages out there nowadays and some are just downright confusing or even risky. The recent housing bubble crisis have created much fear in many people's mind when it comes to buying a house or if you own a house, you might have seen your house value plunge like the recent stock market. A friend of our lives in California and I can hear him screaming about his house value almost everyday.  There are still reasons for hope for those who actually owns a home and are in good financial standing. There are also ways to invest that property through many different means. What about Reverse Mortgages? Reverse Mortgage is a special type of finance used to exchange the equity in a home into cash. It is a mortgage used by the elderly that provides income as long as they live in exchange. In other hand it is a loan on home equity. The lender makes regular tax-free payments to the homeowner for life. It is a mortgage over a residential property owned by a person, where repayments are not required until the property is sold. The about said are just some of the reverse mortgage facts. For those who lives in California, I invite you to check out California reverse mortgage. Find out more and see how you can benefit.

Snow Day

When the snow falls outside or ice and school is cancelled on account of weather, you don't have to pull out your hair trying to find some fun things for you to do. Here are some activities for your kids when they have the day off.

Play Outside
Is there any better use for a snow day than to play in the snow? Kids can build a snowman, make snow angels, or maybe even have a snowball fight. If you have access to a nearby hill, you can go sledding. They're sure to get plenty of exercise. Just be sure to have them dress warmly.

Curl Up With A Good Book
My son love to listen to a good story. Pick out an age-appropriate book and read to your children. My son enjoys "Olivia", but a shorter book would work as well. Reading to your child improves vocabulary and listening skills, plus it's a lot of fun.

Send Them On A Treasure Hunt
Make up a treasure hunt for your kids. Hide a "treasure" somewhere in the house. The treasure can be something like candy or a small toy. Give your kids a series of clues that they have to follow in order to find the treasure. You could even hide the clues outdoors if you wanted to.

Get Creative
Most kids love creating art. If the kids are stuck inside due to snow, let them play with art supplies. Get out the paper, crayons, markers, and perhaps even the paints. If you have craft sticks or modeling clay, get those out and get them to make something. The possibilities are endless, but if you need ideas, you could make houses, birds, puppets, or teddy bears.

Play Games
Although my son is still a little too young to play with board games such as monopoly, my neighbor kids loves to play them. Younger children enjoy simple games like Candy Land, Hungry Hungry Hippos, and Chutes and Ladders. Older children can play more difficult games like Monopoly and Life.

A snow day doesn't have to be a boring day. There are plenty of activities that your kids can get involved in. Next time the snow falls and the kids are stuck inside, try one of these activities.

Tech

Epiphan Systems VGA2WEB Lite is a web presentation product that broadcasts a visual signal received from any VGA port. Rather than requiring users to download proprietary software to their computers, VGA2WEB simply plugs in and presents. It provides a simple and cost-effective web presentation solution for trainers, tech support, conferences, enterprises, sales staff, distance education providers and more. Both the VGA2WEB Lite and VGA broadcaster Lite are budget-oriented devices which are able to broadcast a VGA signal with a resolution of up to 1600 x 1200 to an Internet audience. Using the Gigabit Ethernet interface to connect to a local area network (LAN) or the Internet, these devices are ideal for those that would like to collaborate,
present, or broadcast a VGA signal but do not want to hassle with complicated software or hardware modifications.

Wall-E

If your not a football family, or if you've got part of your party that doesn't watch the game, I highly reccommend setting your crew up to watch the new DVD release from Disney Pixar "Wall-E" while the turkey or hotdogs are cooking. Cross-generational animated features that make us laugh and cry come along every once in a while think "Finding Nemo" and "Ratatouille," among a handful of others.) Even rarer is that cartoon that really grips the viewer no matter what the age and leaves them as speechless as an adorable, big-eyed trash robot left all alone and still trying to clean up the Earth long after it's been declared a lost cause by its former human inhabitants. "Wall-E" has managed that feat: Without words for the first 30 minutes, he kept my 5 year old son spellbound in his seats, and crinkled the brows of their adult companions. And since there's plenty left to think about, and since sometimes a lesson takes a few times heard to sink in, it's a good idea to invest in the DVD.

There's some fun new online features to get you psyched for the at-home version release—and iPod download, and extend the fun once you've cracked open the plastic wrapping, too. The Web site has no less than 11 cute games, including one called "Pop" that let you use Eve's lasers to make mincemeat of Wall-E's bubble wrap. It's surprisingly relaxing when you're trying to clear your head of clutter; Wall-E would be proud!--think Tetris, only way easier. Plus, it's a great way to get a little friendly trash-talking going with the family!

Disney

Holidays are always something that I look forward to, yet the cost factor is always a little worrying. Luckily there are sites like Discount Disney World Tickets that are being offered by Orlandofuntickets.com which just happens to be the ultimate source for discount tickets for many of the major attractions at the Orlando theme parks including the world famous Disney World.

These tickets also cover many dinner shows including Arabian Nights, which has been voted Orlando's number one dinner show. Perhaps you would rather check out Medieval Times, which takes you back to the eleventh century full of special effects, and keep in mind that the ticket includes a four-course meal. These are only a sample of what Orlando has to offer, and I would suggest you go online to check out the whole kit and caboodle. As for the kids, there are so many theme parks that they will always have something to keep them busy. Whether it's Disneyland or the Kennedy Space Center the discount tickets will certainly save you money. While in disney world, a  can't miss attraction is Dumbo the Flying Elephant in the Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland. The carousel is great but if your child is craving something a little different, ride Dumbo instead. The ride is short and the line moves fairly quickly. Your little one will enjoy flying through the air and being able to control the height of the elephant car. I am not a thrill seeker and this ride was just my speed.

Snow Flakes

The first snow is so exciting to a toddler. My son first experience snow when he was 3 years old and it was Valentine day too! He was so cute, all bundle up as he watch the little white snow flakes drifting from the sky. They are experiencing it for the first time each year all over again. It is almost shameful to not bundle them up and get them outside to touch and feel the flakes. After you've bundled up your child and gotten outside, make sure you suggest the obvious activities. They will not know to stick out their tongue and try to catch the snow. Do this together and you'll have a ball too!

No matter how little snow has fallen you can still make mini snowmen. In fact, it is easier for a toddler to actually make their own snowman if it is scaled down to just a handful size. Make a snow mom and dad and doggie too. Don't forget your camera. This is a time you can catch such a glow on your child's face. Write some messages in the snow on the ground or stairs and take a picture to send in your emails to gram-ma. Have your toddler draw in the snow as well. You can look for foot prints in the snow left by birds and animals. Then make your own foot prints and examine them. Don't forget snow angels. I love to watch my toddler make her snow angels.

Take a mirror outside with you and let it get cold. Now catch some snow flakes on it and examine them together. You can see the individual flakes this way. They really are breath taking in design. (Of course be sure to keep the mirror out of the child's hands!) A snow ball fight is a much gentler game when there is an inexperienced toddler involved. So let them scoop and throw the snow at you. Make them a stockpile of snow balls before you start throwing yours. Get out your beach toys and use the molds in the snow to make snow castles together. After everyone is good and cold, head inside to snuggle up on the couch and have some hot cocoa and cookies to warm up. Spend a while drawing pictures of your snow men and day out in the snow. Make some cut out snow flakes to hang on the windows and around the house for winter decorations.You can even look for some children's books on snowmen and playing in the snow to share later that evening. The first snow can be a memorable time for you and your child.

First snow

It is snow sports time in a few weeks and we need to buy our best range of snow sports gears. Needless to say, the first name that comes to our mind for high quality and reliable snowboards is Burton snowboards. And the best way to buy latest design and range of Burton snowboards at special prices is to get on www.buysnow.com. These people have been dealing in all the leading brands of snow gear products at special prices due to their volume business and excellent network with the companies. Also the website helps you to shop by item and by brand as you wish, all at the click of a button. Just log into the website and find out the lucrative deals for this snow season. All the best for a happy snow vacation. Snowboarding is an great sport in general. However the jumping and tricks are the real fun. Before you start learning snowboard tricks, it is a must that you feel completely comfortable on your board. Having all the basics mastered first is a pre-requisite. You need to have your balance established, be able to carve, stay in control, know your surroundings, but most importantly be able to stop when you need to, this will all depend on your learning ability and who you ride with. If you ride with friends who are better than you, it will almost force you to get better sooner just so you can keep up. I can't wait to hit the slopes in a few weeks.

Cutest Baby in the whole world

Companies often use ploys to give the consumer an emotional attachment to their brand. This can work wonders for sales and can be even more powerful when combined with a free product. I try to stay on top of this sort of thing. I will be seeking out companies from time to time giving out promotional materials and I will expose them to my subscribers. My goal is to get you the consumer, as many free goodies from these big name companies as possible. We're not talking sugar packets here folks, I only lead you to the free products and samples I feel have a value.

Today I came across a company using the "emotions ploy" to get consumers hooked on their brand. But the thing that caught my attention was the fact that they were giving out a rather nice gift as well.

The company I am speaking of is Gerber. As you know they are a well established company, known for their quality product line aimed towards families with infants. Well right now they are offering free stainless steal baby spoons, with their logo carved into the handle. These are available to all consumers, however you must first make a pledge to your baby (this is their emotional ploy). This is special and cute, as well as clever marketing on their part.

I imagine you want that spoon. So you are probably asking what this pledge consists of. Well, they have a web page where you can upload a couple baby photos. Each photo will get its own page in a digital photo album. Then you just need to write a few sentences by each one. Anything you like, such as "I will always be there for baby Goo goo gah gah". Just little cutsie sort of thing. Once you submit your photos and a sentence or so for each photo, you have completed the pledge. They will then ask where to ship your stainless steal baby spoon. A pretty sweet deal if you ask me.

Now in this day and age people may be uncomfortable uploading photos of their child. I myself would not be, but I could certainly understand. Well so does Gerber. If you are one of these concerned parents, Gerber also offers stock baby photos for you to use. I'm not sure why you would want to write sweet things about a photo of a random child, but hey you get the free spoon and your privacy is protect, right? Right!
If you are anxious to get started, you can probably knock this sucker out in about 3-5 minutes. Simply visit the following web page to get started: http://www.gerber.com/pledge/create.aspx.

If you are interested in seeing what the spoon you'll be receiving looks like, I was able to find a photo online: Spoon. It appears to retail for $2.95 plus shipping normally, however yours won't cost a dime. You don't even pay any shipping. Enjoy your spoon and check back later for more articles on the latest and greatest freebies.

Speaking in Ten Languages

Why settle for good old English when you can share the joy of the New Year in a unique way? Skip your usual new year's greetings this year, and share your good wishes with friends and family in a different language instead. Whether you're sending a card, rejoicing at midnight, or just calling people on New Year's Day, here's how to say 'Happy New Year' in ten different languages:

Happy New Year in Japanese
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu! (ah-keh-mah-shteh oh-meh-deh-toe go-zah-ee-mahss)
This literally translates to 'congratulations on the dawn of a New Year!', and you'll hear it during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

TELL ME MORE - Global Leader in Language Learning Software.


Happy New Year in Italian
Felice Nuovo Anno! (Fell-ee-che noo-ovo ahn-o)
This also translates to 'congratulations for the New Year!', and accompanies a grand toast and feast.

Happy New Year in Finnish
Onnellista Uutta Vuotta! (On-el-eesta oota vu-oh-ta)
Finland rings in the New Year with a grand feast and special baked treats at midnight. Be ready to share some freshly cut New Year's bread along with your greeting.

Happy New Year in Swahili
Nakutakaia Heri Ya Mwaka Mpya!
You'll be showering New Year greetings on everyone you meet with this simple greeting.

Happy New Year in German
Prosit Neujahr (proezit noy yahr)
You'll want to grab your favorite German brew to toast to the New Year, and attend a special feast. This translation is roughly 'Cheers to the New Year!' with plenty of clanking mugs of beer in the background.

Happy New Year in Chinese
Chu Shen Tan (choo shen taan)
A simple way to celebrate the Western New Year and Chinese New Year, this greeting is also easy to scribble on a card or letter.

Happy New Year in Hawaiian
Hauoli Makahiki Hou (how-OH-lee mah-kah-hee-kee ho)
If you've been singing Mele Kalikimaka all season long, this greeting can round out your Hawaiian-inspired trend.

TELL ME MORE - Global Leader in Language Learning Software.


Happy New Year in Norwegian
Godt Nyttar (got newt or)
Norway usually rings in the New Year with fog and cold temperatures, and getting up super-early for a New Year's day walk is a popular activity.

Why settle for good old English when you can share the joy of the New Year in a unique way? Skip your usual new year's greetings this year, and share your good wishes with friends and family in a different language instead. Whether you're sending a card, rejoicing at midnight, or just calling people on New Year's Day, here's how to say 'Happy New Year' in ten different languages:

Happy New Year in Japanese
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu! (ah-keh-mah-shteh oh-meh-deh-toe go-zah-ee-mahss)
This literally translates to 'congratulations on the dawn of a New Year!', and you'll hear it during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Happy New Year in Italian
Felice Nuovo Anno! (Fell-ee-che noo-ovo ahn-o)
This also translates to 'congratulations for the New Year!', and accompanies a grand toast and feast.

Happy New Year in Finnish
Onnellista Uutta Vuotta! (On-el-eesta oota vu-oh-ta)
Finland rings in the New Year with a grand feast and special baked treats at midnight. Be ready to share some freshly cut New Year's bread along with your greeting.

Happy New Year in Swahili
Nakutakaia Heri Ya Mwaka Mpya!
You'll be showering New Year greetings on everyone you meet with this simple greeting.

Happy New Year in German
Prosit Neujahr (proezit noy yahr)
You'll want to grab your favorite German brew to toast to the New Year, and attend a special feast. This translation is roughly 'Cheers to the New Year!' with plenty of clanking mugs of beer in the background.

Happy New Year in Chinese
Chu Shen Tan (choo shen taan)
A simple way to celebrate the Western New Year and Chinese New Year, this greeting is also easy to scribble on a card or letter.

Happy New Year in Hawaiian
Hauoli Makahiki Hou (how-OH-lee mah-kah-hee-kee ho)
If you've been singing Mele Kalikimaka all season long, this greeting can round out your Hawaiian-inspired trend.

Happy New Year in Norwegian
Godt Nyttar (got newt or)
Norway usually rings in the New Year with fog and cold temperatures, and getting up super-early for a New Year's day walk is a popular activity.

TELL ME MORE - Global Leader in Language Learning Software.

Shaving

Wanna learn how to shave without razor burn or ingrown hairs? Then here is perfect web site which offers you with the finest safety razors available. BetterShaving.com offers the finest safety razors available. If you haven't discovered the benefits of using these old fashion shaving supplies, you will enjoy the straight razor closeness without razor bumps, ingrown hairs or razor burn. They offer Merkur razors, parker razors, shaving mugs, shaving bowls, derby razor blades, after shave and preshave oil. You will also find tutorials on how to use a safety razor.
But they are famous for their shaving brushes.Their Badger hair brush is known for its ability to retain water which will create a thick creamy lather providing a layer of protection between your skin and the blade. Taken care of, a badger hair brush will last a lifetime. They also have Videos posted on BetterShaving.com in Youtube. These videos will help you to understand the differences and benefits of using a safety razor over modern multi-blade razors.
I recently bought a safety razor in BetterShaving.com and found it to be very useful and safe too. So what are you waiting for ? Wanna have a shaving experience of a lifetime? Then make the perfect choice, choose one from BetterShaving.com.

Asia Lion Dance

Asia is famous for many cultural and religious festivals. Almost every country in the continent has its own world-famous event which draws visitors from all over the world to its shores. The Genting World Lion Dance Championship is Malaysia's claim to fame when it comes to festivals. This colourful, exciting and exhilarating event, with a history spanning over 1500 years, is held once every two years at the Arena Of Stars in Genting Highlands, which is known as Kuala Lumpur's City of Entertainment. The three-day event was held for the eighth time in 2008 and the spectators witnessed many lion dance troupes from around the world vying for the ultimate prize.The event is organised by the Selangor and FT Dragon and Lion Dance Association, and is endorsed by the Ministry of Culture, Art and Heritage and is presented by the city of Genting. The event sees teams from countries such as Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, US and Mauritius taking part. The top ten teams with the highest scores from the preliminary rounds are selected to compete for the grand prize at the finals.
The audience also gets a chance to participate at the event; they can vote for their favourite teams. Another attraction for visitors will be the China Town Bazaar held outside the competition venue during the three-day event; visitors would find exquisite merchandise including Lion Dance-related merchandise and arts and crafts at the bazaar.
Guests to the city of Kuala Lumpur can enjoy this biennial festival, basing themselves at the charming Citrus Hotel Kuala Lumpur. This modern hotel built in a contemporary style, provides room and suite accommodation to guests who want to enjoy a refreshing and comfortable stay while having easy access to the bustling metropolis. This discount hotel in Kuala Lumpur provides services such as all day dining, Wireless Internet access, keycard security, personal safe, gym and swimming pool to guests.

Plastic Surgery

Beauty or to be more precise, the quest for beauty never ends and every human being yearns for it, be it a kid of 6 or a 60 something. It's the proclivity to look good, then better and finally the best which induces people to go for cosmetic plastic surgery. As the technology develops and new trends come into light, expectation keep on increasing and the same is true with the people who're looking to improve their looks by undergoing a cosmetic surgery. Nowadays, field of beauty has become sophisticated and expensive and several people claim to be perfect and professional. And, that's why you need to know why you should choose a reputable Plastic Surgery Center to beautify yourself. Once you decide that you want to go with Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, the next thing to decide is the right cosmetic plastic surgery center. Plastic surgery is not a simple matter to decide on. Those who have undergone it will attest to that. So be inquisitive, do your research and listen to referrals. A great site I found is http://www.mya.co.uk.

Fireworks

Fireworks today are known as a form of celebration such as on Independence Day or New Years' day. Not only are they spectacular in how they look but also how they work. The history of fireworks is not fully known but a number of theories are suggested. One theory is believed that fireworks originated in China more than 2,000 years ago on accident. It's said that commonly used charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter were compressed together in a bamboo tube by a Chinese field cook. While compressed these things compressed and burned together to create an explosion. The Chinese are credited with the discovery of gunpowder, so the concept that they created the firework seems to be reasonable. Some sources do believe that fireworks originated in India.

The firecracker was the first real firework similar to what we call fireworks today. Over 1,000 years ago, a Chinese monk named Li Tian created the firecracker. The loud noise was used as a way to scare off evil spirits and ghosts then; and still today. But as time went on and the discovery of black powder was made, more complex forms of fireworks were created.

With the discovery of black powder, what we know as fireworks took on a whole new meaning. Europe and Germany lead the way with their enthusiasm for fireworks centuries ago. As the popularity grew for this dynamic display, the rage eventually spread to America. Long before the Revolutionary War, fireworks were being used as a form of celebration for important events. The first firework show was held in 1777, six years prior to whether Americans' knew whether they would survive the war or not. Americans did survive the war, and to this day we use fireworks to celebrate our Independence Day and any other special occasion or important event.

Oil Painting

No matter who you voted for last November or your political party affiliation is, this portrait is truly a piece of great art. Barack Obama's official portrait was released just few days ago. The photo was taken by the new official White House photographer Peter Souza, and this was the first presidential portrait taken on a digital camera. This portrait will be soon be displayed in thousands of federal offices, hundreds of embassies, and military installations around the world. Since this is a Portrait Painting, Barack Obama's official portrait has been turned into a painting.  One of the many skillful artists at http://www.portraitpainting.com has already started turning the photo into a painting.

UPDATE: Check out the portrait at Obama painting.

Exotic Pets

When it comes to thinking of names for your exotic pets, it can be a daunting task. It seems like there are plenty of names available for dogs and cats, but when it comes to exotic pets like snakes, tarantulas, lizards and ferrets, the list of possible names may appear to be a little short. But before you give up trying to decide on a name for your exotic pet, know that there are lots of available ideas out there that are as special as your exotic pet.

Anyone who owns an exotic pet knows that traditional names like Spot or Fluffy do not seem to fit the bill. So where do you go for good ideas on pet names? Some exotic pet ownersstart by narrowing it down to the specific type or breed of their exotic pet and go from there. If your exotic pet is from a certain remote region of the world, it would be nice to give them a name to reflect that. Depending on where your pet originated from, there are many areas of the world that can reflect unique and creative names that will help others identify with your pet and know where it came from.

Some exotic pet owners give their pets names that are specific to the natural environment or habitat in which they originally came from. This is especially nice if your exotic pet came from a tropical or other interesting location that most people do not even know about. You can also name your pet after an element that is found in their natural habitat. There are plenty of ideas for exotic pet names if you want to take your time and put thought into it.

Godaddy.com Deals

I am, by no means, a computer geek. So when my boss asked my to build her a quickie website one afternoon, I immediately went into panic mode! Luckily, for me, we discovered an internet company called Godaddy.com that specializes in, among other things, website design. In fact, they have a product called Website Tonight that basically prompts you to design your very own site and have it up and running within a matter of hours!

Well this all sounded great on paper, but I was still a bit skeptical. Even my boss was a tad leery of Website Tonight's promises. However, for the minimal costs involved we decided to go for it and Godaddy.com did not disappoint. Take Advantage of Go Daddy $7.49 .com Sale!


Once the product is purchased, you immediately have access to a few hundred website templates. There are pre-built sites and blank sites to choose from. If you are really adventurous and plan on importing lots of pictures and graphics, the blank templates work great. If you're a novice, like me, the pre-designed sites are the way to go.

Godaddy.com displays site samples related to many types of businesses and allows you to choose from several background colors. If your specific business is represented in the options you can literally just drop in your information and you're good to go! But for a more customized page you can delete the specific graphics on a desired template and simply replace them with your own, while retaining the color and format of the chosen format. Next, you can delete the sample's print and add in your very own text.

You can also specify how many pages you want your website to contain. This amount is based upon your purchased package. The Website Tonight program from Godaddy.com easily walks you through the development of additional pages like: contact, services, about us, testimonials, etc. Simply add in your text and move on.

The system allows you to import a certain amount of pictures, logos and graphics with just the click of a button. And when your finished spellchecking, another click of a button launches your brand new website. The whole process of Website Tonight on Godaddy.com, from start to finish, took me around three hours. Not bad for a beginner! And now that I've experienced Website Tonight, if I had to do it again, I know my site would be bigger and better!

Godaddy.com offers a plethora of other internet based services like domain names, web hosting and more. They will even custom design a website for you costing around $1000 per year. For more information on Website Tonight and other web related products, log onto www.godaddy.com.

Click below and find out more - Special deal!

Dental Tourism

RevaHealth.com is a search engine that helps users find and compare health clinics worldwide. Founded in 2006, it currently stores information on over 60,000 clinics in the UK, Ireland and 50 other countries worldwide including countries such as Thailand. RevaHealth.com helps people take control of their healthcare choices and find the most suitable clinic and treatment for their needs. Another colleague of mine was on a business trip in Thailand. It was his first time 18months so he was a bit aprehensive about the bad news that might be in store for him when he went to the dentist. However, he was pleasantly surprised to be told that his teeth were in tip-top condition and not even showing the early signs of decay which was great news.

What did come as a shock was the bill. £75 for check up and clean that only took 25mins. Another colleague visited the dentist recently when he was in Bangkok Thailand. At the end of the treatment, it only cost £12 or US $17.00 per today's exchange rate for the same procedure. The clinics are all fully up to western standards.

I have always been pretty sceptical about medical tourism, despite all the negative press I would still trust the NHS over anywhere else. But such big savings do make you think.......... If you are in Thailand visiting or living check out Dentists Thailand 

Toaster Oven - SMILE!

Remember your breakfast this morning? I bet it looked yummy right ? Well, if you're planning to make a baking cake like that the ones in your local bakery store, You're going to need a good toaster oven. My granny always said that, the secret of making a delicious baking cake is not only the receive, but also a good toaster over. And there's only one place where you can find a good toaster oven. Toaster Ovens Guide.com, an online site devoted to giving you all the information you might need when you're considering buying a toaster or a toaster oven. If you want to avoid burnt foods and uneven cooking, look no further - this site provides reviews of different models and general information you'll want before making your decision. Check out what's a infrared toaster oven

Needing a friend

Everybody had friends during childhood. Experts show that those bonds established during our infancy are the strongest and, as a result, why trying to build something from the ground, when there is something already built that only needs renovation?

That is why, specialists strongly advice you to reestablish connection with your old friends. The first step you should take, before dialing their number, is to invest some time and meditate on what led to this apparent lost of contact?

If it was something you did wrong, do not be afraid to admit it. Imagine that somebody comes to you after several years, begging pardon for something he or she did wrong. Would not you accept apologies? Of course you will and the same will do the friends you plan to contact.

When talking to them express you sincere feelings and donot be afraid to ask for moral support or spiritual counseling, if you need it. Put yourself in their position, and you will realize they surely cannot deny your request. But do not take advantage of them! Friendship is also about giving back, so always be ready to help the ones that helped you once.

What if you never found a true good friend? Than, no matter how old you are, it is high time you looked for one! Pay attention to the people you know and especially to the new people you meet.

Invite them out, but be careful not to become too aggressive. When people insist too much, we always tend to be more suspicious. That is why you have be patient, as a friendship takes time to build.

Nevertheless, never stop looking for new friends! Follow your intuition and maybe you will get to be the friend of somebody who is in the same situation as you are. Seeking true friendship.

LA Attorneys

Do you have a friend or even family members who was arrested for drunk driving?  Live in Los Angeles and in a need of some legal help? You want to help him but you do not know how to help him. Well, why not get him the Top-Rated Los Angeles DUI Attorneys. They can help your friend. To find out more, go to this website http://www.laduidefenseteam.com, do not wait. Time is money. You can seek advice from them.

Social Contact

Human beings are creatures that need social contact, just as much as they need to breath. Being uncomfortable when you are alone is a natural reaction. Many times in our life we feel and want to share our time, thoughts and other things with somebody. It will make us sad further if we are lonely and there was nobody you could turn to.

Friends are perfect solution to all problems of loneliness. As we grow up we all make friends depending upon our interactions with our peers. As we mature those contacts decrease in number because everybody has to follow a different path of life and everybody is not lucky enough to stay in the vicinity of friends. Or worse we might just fall apart.We loose contact with people as a natural process of life and work takes over.

Imagine what should you do if you realize one afternoon that you want to leave office earlier, which you have not done in seven years since you got hired, but there is nobody in your agenda that you can call and invite to join you for a cup of coffee, precisely because you practically never stopped working for the last years?

There are no such things as true friends for rent, or if there are, they are called shrinks and you have to get an appointment, so how can you manage to find or to make a new friend, especially in those horrible moments, when you feel you will do anything not to be alone anymore?

It is indeed correct that a true friendship means time investment, and, in the case of adults, it takes even more time to establish an honest connection with a new person. But what about those times in your life when work did not occupy 90% of your time?

Fashion Shoes

Fashion is not just all about the looks, the style, but it is also about comfortable. Especially when it comes to shoes because our feet are the part of our body that is carrying all of our body weight and by the end of the day, our feet are going to be tired and sore. So we want something that we can wear 24 hours a day and won't have any blisters at all. We also want our money's worth of what we buy. There are a lot of stores out there that sells shoes, but only few that are selling the real stuff with a lot of comfort. The SoftMoc Shoe Collection are the best shoes there are ever! Not only that they are so stylish, but is also in a very reasonable prices. They have everything you need from Women's Shoes ,Men's Shoes and Kids Shoes from different styles and brands of your choice. When you order online, there will be FREE shipping on most items, with money back guarantee and no sales tax! Great deal!

You don't really have to pay a lot of money to be in style and in comfort, but with all the collection there is at SoftMoc, you not only be confident in buying their footwear, but you will save tons of money, too! So shop now and maybe buy some really hot shoes for your sweetie as a gift this Valentine's Day.

Strengthen your child's relationship Part 2

Step 4: The best way to get your child to tune out is to give them a lecture. Remember that one? Stage your thoughts. You may need to give your advise a little at a time. You will be able to tell when your child is tuning out so be aware of that in your conversations. Either move on to another topic or save it for another time. If the issue needs immediate explanation, you may want to say something like. " I can see your losing interest here. Can I get your reaction now?" Break up the conversation and you will get their attention again. Knowing your child's interest is waning, keep the comments short and to the point.

It is important to give positive comments more than negative ones. There is a 5 to 1 rule on this. Five positives for every negative one. Even negative comments need to be phrased in a tactful and helpful manner. Despite all the positive comments you make, the negative ones seem to stick the most. Sometimes they last a life time. Be careful of what you say. Go back to step 4. Think before you speak. Especially if you are going to make an assumption.

Step 5: Once you get a good, stable and solid communication going, stick to it. The whole idea of this article is to get you to establish a level of communication where your child respects you enough to listen. You loose that communication when they start to argue or get angry with you and you do the same thing back. Yes, it is easier said than done. However, this is the most crucial point in any relationship. It is something you must work at. Perhaps one step at a time.

Step 6: One of the major issues we face as parents is getting the message across about education. It was good that we all loved school so much, wasn't it? Remembering how your child may feel about school, work with your teacher more than your student. When you know what they need to be doing in school and for school work, it is a lot easier to state the facts and let them know that you are up on their assignments. The hassles parents face getting their children to become A students is the number one relationship destroyer. If you have a hard time helping your student with school work, consider using a tutor. You can even locate a good one on line. There are programs on the Internet that have tutors who will help your child on line, at home. This is a safe and convenient way to eliminate a huge relationship issue so you can concentrate on the task of establishing a better relationship.

Outdoor lights

I did mention from my previous post that our neighbor was contemplating to renovate their backyard. Therefore being the good neighbor that I am, I decided to help him do some research to find some landscape lighting to go along with the make over. Surfing online, I found this kichler lighting very elegant that will surely match our outdoor furniture. I just wish I could get it done soon. Anyway before you make any purchase, please check this site littmanbros.com to find more interesting products about lighting, furniture and fans for your home accessories.

Strengthen your child's relationship Part 1

As parents, we are always on the lookout for a better way to raise our children. We can become consumed with a planned method that usually contains a set of rules that must be followed. These rules are clearly set before our children and we expect them to be followed. After all, it was the way we were raised and you followed them to a tee, right? Each household needs some guidance when it comes to raising children. It is also important that each parent establish the best relationship possible before setting out those rules. Achieving this goal starts at an early age. If you happened to miss that phase, it's still not too late. Perhaps you were raised in a different environment and may have a history of being treated with little understanding. Changes continue in our society. The ability to adapt to those changes and compromise with your child's needs are foremost in any good relationship. Here are six steps in creating a better relationship with your child that we found beneficial.

 

Step 1: Place yourself in your child's shoes. Try to guess what they are thinking or experiencing. You need an unbiased approach to deal with any issues your child may be facing. Never forget that you were once their age! Try to remember how times were. Recall feelings and thoughts that are related to your child today. Above all, place your child's needs and feelings above yours. This includes anger and frustration. Take a new approach. Begin by making sure you are calm enough to communicate with your child. Then relate to them in a casual manner. You might tell them, " I am really trying to understand you more and I could use your help. Can I talk to you about how I feel on this subject?"

Step 2: Keep an open mind on any answers you get. If their thoughts don't connect with yours, don't feel incompetent. And don't become overwhelmed. It is easier to give up or express your anger than it is to deal with a problem you may not understand. Again, remember that times have changed. Communication with your child is the key to a better relationship. You must remain calm and give yourself some time to react. Re think the problem by combining it with your thoughts and theirs. Make sure you allow enough time for the correct answer to become adsorbed in your mind. You can only understand your child by taking the time to do so. This means stepping back and assessing how your child feels about a subject or problem. This is your chance to guide them in a better direction by inserting your thoughts casually into the issue. Don't let your ideals and traditions get in the way. How can you integrate those feelings into a better understanding?

Step 3: Let the entire issue sink in slowly before taking any action. If you must make a comment that you are not in agreement with tell your child that you will have to think about it first. Think, think, think before you react. You want to share your wisdom because you have the experience. Can you do that in a way that will not turn them off? You know how much you hated hearing "when I was your age"! Children still hate to hear that. Consider phrasing it into, " When I had to face that problem, I remember what it was like. Here's what I learned from my experience...." Your knowledge is very important to developing a good relationship. It is also a very healthy part of their development. The message may not get through at this point and time, however, it will at some point and time.

Fire!

Artfire.com is a brand new site which is in beta mode right now. It features handmade gifts, supplies and vintage products. I'm excited about ArtFire.com because even though it's still really new (still in beta), it's heading in a really good direction! They are already buying advertising online & in print magazines to bring in traffic to the site.  They have already bought ads on the back cover of Craft Magazine! Online they are purchasing ads on online on Facebook.com, Craftster, Myspace, Mother Jones, Craft Bits, Craft Gossip and Gala Darling & more is coming. ArtFire also has stats for shop views so you know where your customers are coming from! I know! Gasp! Faint! Right?  Take a look!

“Where do babies come from?”

"Where do babies come from?"  Why does this simple question turn lawyers, engineers, accountants and even doctors into bumbling dunces in front of their kids?  Well, if you are a parent, it's a foregone conclusion.  The time will come when your child will ask you about sex. Rather than fear this question, the best way to face this inevitability is to prepare for it.  In fact, prepare for it well in advance so that you won't be as flustered when they ask.  Remember, your child will learn from what you say, as much as from how you say it. Look around you.  Sexual influences are everywhere:  TV, billboards, magazines. Your child's friends must be talking about it too.  Would you rather have your child learn about sex from those influences or from you?
The first question about where babies come from can turn up in the preschool years.  Don't be alarmed!  This isn't even about intimacy yet.  Your child's curiosity about this is as natural as his curiosity about where the sun goes at night.  At this age, you can satisfy the question with a simple explanation.  Because daddies and mommies have so much love for each other, they want to share their love with a baby of their own.  Then be creative about the biological part.  Remember, your child is young and all he needs is a story.  However simple, keep it as accurate as possible though, because you'll build on this story as your child gets older.  The concept of a seed is a good analogy for kids of this age to understand.
In a couple of years, the question may come up again.  Only you as the parent can decide if your child is emotionally ready for more proper terms.  If he is, then build on your earlier story and incorporate the concept of sperm from daddy meeting up with the egg in mommy (the "seed" from before) to help it grow into a baby. That straight-forward answer is enough for now.  Then, add the story of how the baby grows for nine months in the mommy's tummy.  Your child's fascination with the different growth stages of the baby in-utero should keep him sated for now. Soon, your child will be in that interesting stage called the preteen years.  From the ages of nine through 12, you'll notice that your child has some added dimensions to his reasoning and logic skills.  With his burgeoning independence, he'll also be more exposed to the world around him.  Whether he tells you or not, you can be sure that he's absorbing many of the influences around him.  Be it in school, through the media or because of technology, he's learning much more than just what you teach him at home.
This time it may be your turn to initiate the subject of sex.  Time may come when he'll ask you questions again, but your instinct will tell you if you need to wait for that time or not.  Your child is entering puberty.  If you have a daughter, she could get her first period anytime.  You can assume that your child is hearing about sex elsewhere, so take the initiative to provide correct information.   Still, despite the age, check his moral readiness and emotionally maturity.  Again it is your discretion as parent as to what to say exactly, and how much to explain.  This may be a more serious talk than those in the past.  I will not attempt to dictate a spiel, because your family history, your family values and your child's environment all factor into the content of your talk.  In any case, set an open atmosphere where he'll feel safe to ask you questions.  It's important to find out what he knows and how much he knows.  You need not tell him more that he is asking.  More importantly, straighten out any wrong assumptions he may have.
In the end, there will not be just one 'sex talk'.  As your preteen gets older, new questions will crop up.  With each new dialog, be sure to underline the values you'd like your child to uphold.  If you prepare well and keep all this in mind, the dreaded 'sex talk' won't be as dreaded anymore.  Instead it will be a golden opportunity to build a stronger and healthier relationship with your child.