Take Care When Choosing a Christmas Tree

Selecting and decorating the Christmas tree is one of our most valued Yuletide traditions. Of all the symbols we associate with the holiday season, few are more recognizable than the Christmas tree. We take great care in selecting a beautiful, fragrant evergreen to place in our homes or businesses. We watch with delight as our kids hang ornaments, often as early as the day after Thanksgiving. We attend civic Christmas tree lightings in small towns and large cities alike. And, of course, on Christmas Eve we fill with anticipation as we wait for Santa to deliver the goods.

It all starts with the selection process, however. If, like millions of traditionalists everywhere, you've made the decision to trim a real tree versus an artificial one, your first step is to decide where you'll procure the evergreen and what type of tree you want.

While you can obtain a cutting permit and venture into a public forest yourself to down your tree, that may not be the safest or most efficient way to go. Today, most consumers opting for live trees visit a commercial Christmas tree farm or nursery, or they purchase one from a market vendor who has had the tree shipped from a nursery/farm.

Often, choices abound. Fir, spruce, pine, cedar and cypress all are popular varieties. Typically, a fir is considered the "true" Christmas tree. But the fact of the matter is that there are different species of fir trees and there truly is no right or wrong choice, no "official" Christmas tree. For example, a Colorado Blue Spruce serves as the National Christmas Tree outside the White House. Inside the White House, however, a variety of trees have been used over the years. There is no preferred presidential evergreen.

According to The National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), the 10 most popular Christmas trees grown and sold in the United States are as follows, in order:

- 1. Fraser Fir
- 2. Douglas Fir
- 3. Balsam Fir
- 4. Colorado Blue Spruce
- 5. Scotch Pine
- 6. Eastern Red Cedar
- 7. White Spruce
- 8. Eastern White Pine
- 9. White Fir
- 10. Virginia Pine

While not in the Top 10 in terms of popularity, the Leyland Cypress is a good choice for individuals who suffer from allergies but still want a real tree for Christmas, according to the NCTA.

When choosing the tree that works best for your family, you'll want to take several things into consideration - beginning with the tree's size. Know the dimensions of the space into which you hope to place your tree. How high is the ceiling? How wide is the area? Take along a tape measure so that you can be certain the tree you've chosen will fit.

Look for a green tree with no (or very few) brown needles.

Take a good look at the bottom of the tree's "trunk" to ensure it is both sturdy and straight. If it is knotted or curved it may not fit into your base - then you've purchased and hauled a useless tree.

A reputable dealer won't sell a tree with these blemishes, but we all know there are plenty of disreputable vendors out there looking to make a quick buck!

Just like you kick the tires before buying a car, it's a good idea to test a tree before buying it by taking a branch in your grasp and, with gentle pressure, pulling at it. Don't pull hard, but instead allow the branch of the tree to pass through your fingers and palm pressure. If all or a majority of the needles stay on, the tree is strong. If several fall off, you're dealing with a weak tree.

Once you have a tree set up inside your home, it's time to decorate! A first-rate tree-topper and ornaments are an absolute must.

Finally, real trees can become fire hazards if proper precautions are not taken.

Author Bio
Jeremy White, a writer for Imaginary Greetings, Inc., is a regular contributing author specializing in features, sports, business and food writing, and frequently contributes to a variety of print and online publications. To make your family's holiday magical this season, visit www.santas-depot.com for the best selection of everything Christmas.

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Healthy Snacks for Your Kids

Healthy Snacks for Your Kids
By Stephen G John

One of the challenges for parents, especially moms, these days is providing healthy snacks for their children when they go to school. Some either don't have time to shop for healthy ingredients and prepare, while others just don't know which snacks fall under the 'healthy' category.

Giving your child money and letting him decide what snack to get at school is not really a good idea. A child is generally drawn to sweet stuff, and that's what he would probably buy with his money. Driving through a fast food restaurant to buy his snacks before dropping him off to school is not a better idea either. You'll just be loading his body with unhealthy ingredients.

Well, there are snacks you can prepare that won't be harmful to your kid and don't take hours to prepare. Here are some of them:

Peach pops - Kids (of all ages) love those literally cool pops. Instead of giving your kid one that's laced with preservatives, why not make your own? You can use peach (or any of your kid's fave fruit, for that matter) to make a peach puree and have it frozen.

Watermelon salsa - If your kid loves tortilla chips (who doesn't?), instead of making tomato salsa, make it more exciting by substituting it with watermelon. This is especially ideal during those hot days.

Pick those pickles - Certainly, you can get preserved pickles from the grocery. But there's just nothing better than something made in your own home. Your own loving touch adds something more into the food that no food shop can give. Pickles can be prepared in a jiffy, plus they can stay in your fridge for up to 10 days.

Polenta biscotti - These crisp golden slices can make a nice contrast when paired with fruit or a warm drink (like tea). The name of this snack may sound intimidating, but you really don't have to be an expert baker to make them. You only need a few basic ingredients and some kitchen magic.

Cornish pasties - This snack is well-known and well-loved throughout Great Britain. It's excellent for your kid's lunch or snack box. You can even have it as a main course dish by serving it with fresh vegetables.

Yogurt smoothie with banana- Nothing beats fresh fruit as a healthy snack choice. And if you combine fruit like banana with dairy, you have a mini-meal that's both filling and good for the health.

These are some snack ideas that you can prepare for your kid without compromising his health. This can give you peace of mind that he consumes only the good stuff every time he's in school.

Do you want to learn how to prepare Cornish pasties? You can find info at Food Plus for that and other healthy snacks.

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Should You Buy Toddler Size Furniture

Should You Buy Toddler Size Furniture

Your baby has grown into a full-fledged toddler and is ready for a "big girl" or "big boy" bed. Have you seen the latest toddler furniture? It's cute! But you really don't have to spend a lot to make your toddler comfortable in his or her bedroom.

Your first decision will be whether to buy a toddler bed. The toddler bed is a piece of furniture sized just right for babies who are too big for their crib. Most use the mattress from the crib, however, so they are not actually that much bigger in size. Toddler beds just get the child accustomed to sleeping without rails all around and is low enough that if the child rolls out, he won't get hurt.

Has your child grown quickly? If so, you might think about skipping the toddler bed as furniture and buy a twin size bed instead. You can purchase rails made of cloth and plastic that do a fine job of keeping the child in the bed and allowing him more room for movement. If you are looking to save money, this is one way to do it. By buying a twin bed you've eliminated the often expensive toddler size furniture that will only have to be upgraded later.

Should you buy a toddler size dresser? Again, the toddler furniture is precious, but do you expect your two or three year old to always put away his socks, underwear or t-shirts? The purchase of toddler size furniture is less about function and more about how absolutely adorable it is. Unless you just have money to blow, invest in furniture that will last the child (or someone else in the family later if it doesn't match his room any more) for a lifetime. If you buy a six drawer dresser now you can still insist your toddler help put his things away by putting items like socks, shirts and under clothes in the lower drawers. Since the furniture will be heavier, help open and close the drawers for him to avoid smashing his little fingers.

When considering furniture for a toddler's room remember to keep special needs in mind. Some children have allergic reactions to compressed woods, or the glues used to hold them together. If you have just bought new furniture that seems to have a loud smell and your child develops allergy symptoms, let your doctor know. It may help pin down the allergy culprit without undergoing a lot of tests.

Use the money you save by not buying toddler furniture to change the décor in your child's room often. A toddler who likes Big Bird one day may be crazy over princesses or Thomas the Tank Engine another day. Use standard colors that match the furniture you've selected and you can change themes of the room as often as your child changes favorites. Your toddler's room can still be cute and as unique as his ever changing personality even if you don't sink a lot of money into toddler sized furniture.

Author Bio
Bob Benson is the founder of Furniture online. You can check out our website at www.my-childrens-furniture.info

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Leaving Secrets: How to Create a Personal Instruction Manual for Life

Leaving Secrets: How to Create a Personal Instruction Manual for Life

Imagine if your great, great grandfather or grandmother had left you a book with their secrets for living. Maybe it contained nuggets of wisdom, yummy recipes, favorite jokes, or just insights for how to lead a good life. Ever since people learned of my next book, Life's Missing Instruction Manual, people are curious how to create their own "manual" for life.

You can leave such a book for your own family. What are the key lessons you've learned in your life? Are you ready to share them with your children and grandchildren - or with your friend, siblings, parents, and grandparents?

What you've gleaned from your life experiences can make things easier for your children or your relatives. In fact, the lessons you've earned from trial and error can be the perfect gift for everyone in your life - or for one person who matters to you. Here's how to commit your insights to writing and share them with your fellow life travelers.

If you don't feel comfortable writing your notes and stories, you can dictate them into a portable tape recorder, and later, you can transcribe them into a journal. You don't have to be a bestselling author, academic, or philosopher to create a instruction manual that can helped your loved ones every day of their lives... and be passed on to future generations as well.

Author Bio
Joe Vitale is the author of the forthcoming book, Life's Missing Instruction Manual (Wiley, March 2006). Read more about it at www.missingmanual.blogspot.com.

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Flowers as a Gift

Flowers as a Gift

The Bible teaches that we are to show kindness and consideration to one another. To send flowers on special occasions is a good way to express love and kindness to those who are special in our hearts. Practicing love and showing kindness are always a good thing.

Other than expressing love and kindness, flowers go a long way when it comes to apologies and special occasions, but for the most part, the best time to give her flowers is when there's no occasion at all. When you buy her roses because you messed up, although the gesture is still wonderful, it's evident that it's a cry for forgiveness.

But if you buy her flowers just because you want her to know that you love her and think of her constantly, she'll feel more attractive and appreciated like never before. The element of surprise (considering there really is no special occasion) will also add to her pleasant revelation.

Valentine

Valentine's day is the day of love. Reach out to your loved ones with dazzling bouquets and vibrant flowers to make them feel special. Valentine's day flowers is the perfect way to say 'I love you', when your relationship is new and fragile, and a great reason to return to polite, courteous behavior, if you have been together for a while. Moreover, it's a good time for promises to maintain that romantic spirit throughout the year with a bouquet of beautiful Valentine's Day flowers.

Roses are ranked first on the Valentine's Day flower list. Roses of different colors have different meanings. Red roses are the Valentine's Day favorite - they symbolize passionate desire. Pink roses signify sophistication and elegance. Yellow is the "friendship" color for roses. White roses mean purity and fidelity. And purple is associated with royalty. A bouquet of purple roses is an excellent choice of Valentine's Day flowers, meant for the king/queen of your heart.

If you send Valentine's Day flowers to a man, choose crisp colors ' red, orange, and yellow. For a romantic masculine feel consider a linear floral design. Men would also respond well to blooming plants. When Valentine's Day is on a weekday, make his coworkers jealous with flowers delivered to his office.

Whatever Valentine's Day flowers you picked, don't forget to express your feelings with a note. Even a simple list of the reasons you love him/her for can be a touching gift and the words "I love you" will mean more than the most exquisite poetry.

Mother's Day

The Romans welcomed the month of May by dedicating the month to Flora, the Roman flower goddess; and spent the first day of May gathering flowers as offerings to her. Flowers have been associated with Mother's Day celebrations from the beginning. Even in the ancient world, the Mother Goddesses were celebrated with garlands of flowers. Anna Jarvis promoted carnations, the favorite flowers of her mother, as the official Mother's Day flowers. "White carnations were chosen because they represented the sweetness, purity and endurance of mother love. Red carnations, in time, became the symbol of a living mother." Today, bouquets of cut spring flowers are customary Mother's Day gifts.

Anniversary

Roses of differing colors have different meanings. Red is for love and respect, light pink is grace and interestingly sends the message 'Believe me,' while dark pink is for thankfulness. Light purple roses are for love at first sight and signify the partner is still enchanted, orange means that the spouse is enthusiastic and spellbound by their partner. There are many other colors of roses with other meanings. A single rose in full bloom simply says, "I still love you."

There are also flowers for many of the in-between wedding anniversaries, and you can easily look them up. If you're just trying to find the right flower for the first anniversary get your spouse some Pansies.

Birthday

Birthday flower delivery for a special person marks the occasion of another year on the planet with something that appeals to the senses of sight, smell, and sometimes touch that brightens the occasion. Giving a gift of flowers that a giver knows will please the recipient is a recognized "feel good" gesture, while being the receiver of the bouquet is equally delightful. When the celebrant is a child, we don't often send birthday flowers, but instead choose a bouquet of balloons or even cookies shaped like flowers and resting on a stick painted to look like a stem. Floral gifts properly mark the birthdays of women and girls from puberty to old age. If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, the way to a woman's heart is through her love for blossoms.

When a customer is looking outside of his community for a birthday flower delivery, it is important that he searches for an online florist with years of experience, recognized service, secure ordering, and satisfaction guaranteed. Both industry credentials and customer testimonials count, and any online awards they might have won should count as big pluses. Cost may be a consideration, and prices are usually posted by each picture of an arrangement on the website. Keep in mind that when there are two prices quoted for an arrangement, the smaller amount spent will always mean smaller number of blossoms as well, so inexpensive isn't always the best way to go when someone wants to send birthday flowers.

Why flower gifts?

Ordering from a small-time brick and mortar florist listed in your neighborhood phone directory could result in a nasty surprise, when yellow roses arrive instead of the long-stemmed red roses or carnations are delivered and you are charged more than the cost agreed upon, worse still they may never be delivered. These scenarios do happen.

Why risk yourself in these situations? You could simply switch on your computer, browse through the Internet and place your order in any well-recognized online florist. The quickest way to deliver flowers to your family living in another city or to send a corporate to another country is to use online flower delivery as well. These online florists also offer a variety of products like floral gift baskets and hampers and other unique gifts for every occasion.

Many big companies have a network consisting of professional local florists worldwide. You can order online for same day or next day delivery. Flowers can also be sent over overseas with the international flower service that many of the big companies operate. These companies ensure you that the recipient will enjoy the beautiful fresh flowers and plants, secure ordering and guaranteed satisfaction.

Author Bio
By Christ CK
www.GflowerShop.com is an example of such online florist, which provides international flower delivery services. Our website catalogs a wide range of products from unique gifts to all kinds of flower. We ensure secure ordering and promise fresh flowers delivery.

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Dog Obedience Training

Which dog owner won't feel proud of his disciplined dog? Reversely, who won't feel ashamed of an unruly dog? It is very important for your dog to be absolutely obedient to commands of his owner. You can't expect your dog to be obedient by birth or nature. You have to take pains to make him understand obey your commands.

Obedience training to your dog can be imparted in many ways - two of the more popular methods are typically carrot and stick methods. First method heavily depends on the stick or punishment approach. Second method deals with the reward system for the dog.

Leash and collar method of dog obedience training has survived for a long time now. It is primitive but still mostly followed. The premises of this training method are based here - leash will be the mode of communication with the dog. Dog must understand the commands, and if not obeyed to, leash should be put to action. Using leash alone is not sufficient - dog must be made aware of the good and bad behavior. Once tracked on the path to bad behavior, dog can be punished with the leash.

Reward system doesn't believe in punishing the dog. It follows psychological approach to deal with dog training. Dog is made to know the good parts of behavior and rewarded for the same. His ugly behavior is neglected in the form of psychological treatment. The trainer or owner walks away from the dog immediately after the show of bad behavior. Dog is an intelligent animal to understand the difference between the bad and good behavior.

Whatever technique is used for dog obedience training, it is important to know that the training must be consistent. Dogs get easily confused due to double standards employed. If you expect your dog never to jump on the bed, never let or invite him on the bed. Ensure that your dog never reaches the bed.

Obedience training starts on the fundamental issues like sitting, standing, walking, listening to your commands & following those, sitting in the car, etc.

The dog owner can easily impart obedience training. You may find alternates to this by getting your dog enrolled with some obedience classes or dog instructor. Evaluate all the training techniques, methods, equipment, infrastructure, experience, etc before taking the final decision on outside help. Remember, the most ideal way will be yourself to be the instructor. Your dog will love it.

Author Bio
Ted Belfour is the founder of www.house-training-puppy.info and www.training-a-puppy.info websites providing information on dog training.

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Scrapbooks - The Perfect Gift

There is something magical about special occasions - it's no wonder that we call them special. Long lost family reunites and gripes and moans are put aside, all for the celebration of that important event. Food is shared around an all-embracing table, where everyone digs in with enthusiasm, while conversation bubble everywhere, trickling into one another as people share their thoughts on almost everything under the sun. Whether it's a wedding or a holiday dinner, there is something about these special occasions that makes you wish they could last forever.

The real pity is they can't, but the next joy of these happy occasions comes in the remembering. And what better way to commemorate the event the family gathering marked by gathering these memories into one bound volume so that it might be treasured forever and limitlessly shared? This is why the gift of a scrapbook is such a perfect one.

A scrapbook is the perfect way to collect the memorabilia surrounding an event and commemorate the occasion. Whether you create a scrapbook for the party's hostess, the birthday boy or girl, or the bride and groom, you can be sure that you will be sharing a gift that will bring joy to many for years to come.

A scrapbook is so easy to make, and gives so very much. We have all experienced the hard work involved in hosting a dinner party or organising a wedding, and can appreciate how much we miss in our busy attention to the important details of running an event, or being the center of its attention. By creating a scrapbook, you can share with your harried host the feelings of joy and frivolity that their guests enjoyed, allowing you to say thank you in a unique and personal way.

At its heart, the gift of a scrapbook is the gift of memory - gathering up remnants of a happy event, a scrapbook captures something of the essence of an occasion, recreating something of the pleasure that such an event created. The simple collation of photos, flowers, and other mementos creates a gift that surpasses all others, comprised of things that are far more important for the memories they engender.

If you are looking for the ideal thank you gift, then look no further than a scrapbook. Other gifts might ultimately fall from use, but the gift of memories will live forever.

Author Bio
Dave is the owner of freescrapbookbug.info and findscrapbook4free.info websites that provide information on scrapbooking.

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Anniversary Party Planning

Who to invite

25th, 40th and 50th Anniversary parties celebrate the life of the couple. You can invite any one who's lives they have touched. Anniversary parties vary from small and intimate parties at home to large catered events held at restaurants, hotels or reception halls. What ever the size, make it special and meaningful for the anniversary couple with personal touches.

Invitation Ideas

Photo anniversary invitations are popular, using the original wedding photo. If the wedding photo is not available, we can make you a custom anniversary invitation with a year wreath on our fanfare design. We can also create your card with a current photo.

To make the evening more fun, we suggest you ask each guest to bring something to add to a scrapbook for the couple... a story, memory or token from their past. Simply note your request with the invitation. You can assemble these into the book before the event or collect them at the anniversary party.

Be sure to think up a special toast for the anniversary couple, and ask others to share stories and toasts, too. You may want to ask important friends to prepare a toast to honor the anniversary couple.

Decoration Ideas

Gold rules for 50th Anniversaries; Silver for 25th Anniversaries. Try picking up the gold or silver anniversary theme with accents in the china, flatware, linens, crystal, and napkin holders or ribbons or beads tied around the napkins. It is easy to add a matching touch with gold or silver tone candlesticks or votives. Scatter gold or silver picture frames holding photos of the couple, and/or use small matching frames as place holders or party favors. You can use gold or silver ink on placecards, and gold or silver doilies or runners on the tables.

An alternate, if desired, is to use the colors from the original wedding. What was their color scheme? Aqua and white? Pink? Yellow? Since retro colors are in now, you could have a lot of fun with this.

Music

Play music from the couple's dating years, as well as the first decades together. Find out "their song" and perhaps some songs they loved back then.

Author Bio
Partnering with Naptime Cards is like having your own personal artist design custom invitations for you at economical prices. Order your baptism invitations online or call us at 1-800-421-9521 for further information about planning a baby baptism party.

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Make the Right Move

America is always on the move-literally. Experts estimate that one out of five households move to a new residence each year. If you do the math, that amounts to a whopping 1.5 million moves every month. Those are some amazing stats, especially if you consider how trying and stressful such moves can be. It's a wonder that one household-let alone millions!-can pull it off.

If you're part of this statistic and on the verge of a big move, though, don't be daunted by the whole process of packing up your stuff, loading it, and dragging it to your new home. There is a way to move without losing any valuables, too much money, or your mind, whether you're moving across town, or across the continent. With some common sense, some help from professionals, friends, and loved ones, and the essential "Do's and Don'ts" list in this article, you can be successful and avoid all of the mishaps and stress that usually come with moving.

We'll start with the positive-the Do's on our list. Make sure to check off all of these before you even start stuffing boxes with your stuff. Do:

Now onto the Don'ts. Avoid these missteps, and your move will feel like an exciting adventure, not painful torture. So don't:

These Do's and Don'ts will help you have a "moving" experience when you settle into your new home. But instead of tears of frustration and anguish pouring out your eyes, they will be tears of joy.

Author Bio
Donald Lee is the public relations manager for Buysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides free classified listing services for individuals and businesses to market their products and services online. For global and localized classifieds, please visit http://www.buysellcommunity.com - Free Buy & Sell Classifieds

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Creating a Memory Book through Scrapbooking

The art of Scrapbooking has become very popular. Scrapbooking allows you to create memory books that are so much more than the old standard, boring photo albums of yesterday. Using the immense supplies available for you to choose from in your Scrapbooking, you can create memory books that reflect not only your personality: but that also help you to capture the true "essence" of those special memories you want remembered forever.

You can begin making your memory scrapbook, sure to become a treasure to be shared from generation to generation with basic materials like patterned paper, rubber stamps, patterns, stencils, stickers, serrated- scissors, and the photos you already have. This is just a small example of the many supplies that are available for you to choose from in creating your memory book. You can find Scrapbooking supplies online and in many malls and outlet stores today. Software programs are also available to help you design the perfect memory book for your precious memories.

Begin by looking at a photo; recall the memories and feelings that arise by looking at this picture that has been captured on film. What does this picture represent to you? Maybe it is the love of family and friends, or the adventure you found on your last vacation. Whatever it is, consider how you might best represent these feelings, and memories so that someone else looking at this same photograph, even a few generations removed, will be able to understand the emotions and circumstances surrounding the images of the people, places, or things seen in this particular piece of film. Being able to know why a certain picture was taken, and what it meant to the one who took the shot, results in a 'bonding' between the original picture taker, the event captured, and the one who is now looking at these images.

Once you have started to think about what this picture means to you and how you would like to best represent that meaning, you can start to create a memory scrapbook that will keep these precious memories alive forever. The best memory books have pages that employ the use of many different types of materials. Don't be afraid to mix stickers with cut-outs (made by designed scissors), patterned papers, stencils, rubber stamp images, markers, crayons, and labels. Let your creative-side come out in the designing of your memory books.

With a little creativity it is easy to create memory scrapbooks that are a joy to share with family and friends. Family history can be captured in these books: to be recalled in your lifetime and as testimonials of relatives in the past, to be known and remembered by the generations to follow. You not only have a plethora of choices in materials already available to choose from in creating your memory book, new ideas, and materials are created every day for those who want to use scrapbooking as a way to create memory books that will last forever.

What should you use to hold your newly created memory pages? You can choose to use a standard photo album, one that you can decorate using the same materials used in making your memory pages. Or maybe you will want to complete your memory book by laminating a couple of special memory pages for the front and back covers, and then "binding" them together with all of your memory pages into a book. You can learn more about bookbinding through books and software programs. Scrapbook stores and the internet are also good sources of information about scrapbooking and bookbinding.

Author Bio
This article was produced for www.Lostcrafts.com, a site which is dedicated to preserving the crafts and trades of yesterday.

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