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by: Claire Bowes

Congratulations! You have found the man of your dreams and are getting married. What a wonderful time in your life " full of promise, hope, and happiness. Can you think of a better way to express these emotions than through flowers? A wedding would just not be the same without wedding flowers.

The Tradition of Wedding Flowers

Carrying flowers by the bride is not something new; it actually has its roots in ancient times. Strong smelling herbs and spices were used

by: Claire Bowes

One of the most pleasant parties to plan has to be the baby shower. The mom-to-be gets so much attention and she can just sit back and enjoy all of the fuss. The key to creating this wonderful event is organization. Here‘s everything you need to make your upcoming baby shower as festive and memorable as possible!

Consult, Consult, Consult!

Because the parents-to-be may have more than one shower, it‘s a good idea to consult with the mommy-to-be. Befor

by: Deborah Martin

Holiday Stress? Some Tips For Having Less

We all dream of having wonderful holidays. We start each day full of the spirit of the season. We look at the lovely fresh fallen snow, and marvel at the beauty of the world. But lets face it - life can be stressful. By the time we get the kids up, dressed, and fed, referee a few morning scuffles, find lost homework, binkies, and keys, field a few phone calls, dig out the car, make our way through morning traffic, and try t

by: Carolyn Schweitzer

Thinking of Giving Clothes as a Gift? There‘s one Recipient on your Gift List Who‘s Sure to be Thrilled.

When it comes to the art of giving, a gift of clothes is fraught with peril. We‘ve all had encounters from the receiving end. We all have stories to tell. If you don‘t, you will, just give it time.

Mine started early. My grandmother, having survived the Depression, knew how to stretch a dollar. Buying clothes for her grandkids meant

by: Kelly Paal

Children are naturally photogenic. Ive worked in studios and children are so easy to photograph. What I hear from parents is that they dont think that their kids are that easy to photograph. Thats only because they dont know some basic tips.

1. Young children especially infants take beautiful photos while they are asleep. Keep the light natural avoid flash if at all possible. Keep the image tight on the child and crop out distractions. For infants when theyre awake yo

by: Sherri L Dodd

Have You Lost Your Mind?!

He was fighting me every step of the way, arched back, stiffened legs and an indignant bellow. With my mind focused on securely fastening my toddler in his seat, all else was an insignificant distraction. Even when my remote became wedged between my hipbone and the carseat and locked the doors. Even when my keys, once secured in my pocket, dislodged and fell to the floor. Yes, they were all just distractions. When I accomplished the chaotic

by: Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes

Bring a little bit of autumn indoors. Family and friends help create this wreath by sharing what they are thankful for on brightly colored leaves. Every member of the family can contribute to this beautiful wreath. This is a great, concrete, visual way to put meaning back in the holidays for children.

Materials:

• 18-inch diameter straw wreath
• Fall leaves
• 1 or 2 metallic paint pens
• 3 1/2-yards of 1/4-inch
  

by: S.A. Smith

Every year thousands of children are admitted to hospital emergency rooms due to incidents involving bunk beds involving improper use, manufacturing, or set up. If your follow our 10 point safety checklist, bunk beds can still be a great bedding solution for your children:

Reputable manufacturer

Look for manufacturers that are established, and have a long history of manufacturing bunk beds. A good manufacturer will also stand behind their product by providing a l

by: Maria Estarellas

How many times have you spent more that you could afford on Christmas gifts for your family and friends?

How many times have you bought gifts that weren‘t what you were looking for and on top of that, paid top dollars for them?

It has happened to all of us one too many times.

Well, you can SAVE money on all your Christmas Gifts.

1. Make a list.

It‘s always convenient to make a list of all the people that you will be giving a gift

by: Gary Gresham

It was 1994 and I had moved into another home and learned that the cable TV line had not been installed to my house. When the cable company told me they would have to dig up my yard to put the line in I wasn‘t pleased with the idea or the price they quoted me to do it.

Satellite TV was still in its infancy stage with the big monster dishes. While I was browsing in a local electronics store one day I saw a guy giving a demonstration about the new DIRECTV 18 inc

by: Ebe Heng

Christmas shopping online is not for you? If you are one of those that share this thought, you probably like to enjoy the atmosphere of physical shopping. Doing your Christmas shopping online despite all its convenience, lack the festive mood. The convenience of online shopping has reduced the shopping experience to a browse and click mode, no mood and very little atmosphere.

So, you might think that despite the staggering numbers that shows how many people are actually

by: Bonnie P Carrier

What a perfect fall Saturday morning, clear sunny blue sky, with a crisp breeze blowing. Its just the one Ive been waiting for to begin that yearly regimen, Fall Clean Up. Throwing on some old work clothes, gabbing a mug of steaming coffee and picking up the list of jobs off the kitchen table, I head outside.

First order of business is to sit on the back step, drink some coffee " helps to get the eyes fully opened " and begin going over the list. Its not a parti

by: Bonnie P Carrier

Home decorating, ever wanted to try it, but hesitated because of time constraints or budget concerns. The following ideas will not only give instant results, but more importantly fit into any budget.

1. Changing the Look of Your Walls

Adding a new color or changing the texture, can give the room a completely new appearance and that may be the only decorating change that is necessary. The easiest option is to paint, and with the color choices available, the po

by: Bonnie P Carrier

"Big Things Come In Small Packages" Were all familiar with this quote, its normally associated with gifts not home decorating, but it should be.

A one or two bedroom house, apartment, condo or townhouse can be just as impressive and grand as something with fifteen bathrooms, Wow, imaging having to clean all those, I have enough trouble with two.

One interesting things I have found from past experience is that decorating a smaller place is actually easier, not

by: Kristin Johnson

Close your eyes and remember December, the smell of cinnamon in your mother‘s or grandmother‘s kitchen and the warm scent of dough baking in the oven. Imagine opening the oven door and, with assistance, taking out the heated cookie sheet. Devour the cookies, small works of art, with your eyes: Fudge Brownies, Gingerbread, Nut Rolls, Painted Cookies, Sugar Cookies... With each bite, taste your childhood and family history. You can trace your blood and tradi

by: David Leonhardt

Growing up is never easy. Just ask Little Lady, almost three-and-a-half, how hard it is. Shell tell you. "Its really, really hard. Half way through the day, my parents are a complete wreck."

Shes right. Sometimes the tension in here gets so thick you could almost slice it with a turbo-jet, 9,000 horsepower chainsaw. Almost.

Like the other day when we were leading Little Lady upstairs to go to bed. She decided that the stairs were the perfect place to sp

by: Janie Redman

Flowers are a simple, sincere and unobtrusive way to lift our spirits. They can bring a smile to a tired face or brighten up a room for someone who is under the weather.

Scientific research shows that flowers and plants have a beneficial impact on state of mind and emotions.

Rutgers University behavioral studies have proven that flowers provide a simple way to improve emotional health.

The presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of l

by: Dawn Fry

Santa Claus Is Coming

Holiday season brings the perennial return of Santa Claus. According to traditional lore, St. Nick flies around the world on his reindeer-powered sleigh. He lavishes gifts upon the good children of the world, and as for the naughty youngsterswell, they can expect lumps of fossil fuel in their stockings. This jovial, rotund old fellow provides a magical experience that enriches the lives of children. Right?

Well, not necessarily.

Parents

by: Bonnie P Carrier

What exactly is fall? Being my favorite season, I decided to look it up and see how Mr. Webster defines it. Flipping to "fall" I found "autumn", ok turning to that here is what it says, "autumn, the season that comes between summer and winter". Well, thats pretty cut and dry and I think most of us already know that, so here is my interpretation.

"Autumn; cool days leading into brisk nights. Fresh picked apples, leaves ablaze with color, pumpkins, gourds, Hallowe

by: Patricia B. Jensen

Decorating for a kids party can be cheap and easy, yet impressive, if you have the basics in place and use a little imagination and advance planning. Follow these simple guidelines for kids party decorations:

GREETING SIGN: A greeting sign in your front yard or on your door is a nice way to welcome party guests. Match it to the party theme and colors. For a construction party write "Caution: Work Zone" in black on a yellow background. For a luau party, draw or

by: Jennifer Shryock

The Holidays are coming and children have thought long and hard about the gifts they would most want to receive this year. Trucks, trains, Groovey girls and scooters are popular gifts this year. Each year lists are filled with the "most popular" toys of that year. There is one thing each year that can be found on many childrens lists. A puppy. The image of a bright eyed plump adorable pup dressed in a red bow is an irresistible one. Or is it? Giving a life f

by: Jennifer Shryock

Halloween is "fright night" for humans not dogs. Screaming, running, spooky children in masks make many dogs uncomfortable, nervous and frightened.

Halloween costumes are fun and are meant to disguise our normal appearance. Dogs do not understand this change in appearance and may become frightened. Costumes that change the way a person walks, stands, or their general appearance may cause a dog to react different then usual even with those they know.

Keep in m

by: Carolyn Schweitzer

Whoever coined the phrase, "It‘s a Dog‘s Life" wasn‘t familiar with 21st century dogs. Time was when the average canine slept outside, ate whatever scraps of food were tossed his way, and if he was lucky, was thrown the occasional bone. He was even expected to earn his keep!

Times have changed. As the world has grown more affluent, so have our pets. We‘re obsessed with keeping our canine companions happy, healthy, and properly accessoriz

by: S. Housley

Flush out the writer in children. Blogging could draw out a young writer and open doors to their future. Consider encouraging your child to start blogging!

Children love having an audience. The instant recognition and approval that comes from a crowd just can‘t be beat. Employing blogs to help develop good spelling habits, grammar skills, and develop a love for writing at a young age is an innovative concept that has potential benefits:

Benefits

1.) Resp

by: James Kelly

Children aren‘t the only ones who should be closely monitored on Halloween. The holiday can be a scary and dangerous time for your pet as well.

By following some simple tips you can keep your pet safe and comfortable without infringing on the family fun:

1. Don‘t put costumes on your pets unless they are used to it. Wearing clothing can make pets uncomfortable and even sick.

2. Candy is for humans and not for their furry friends.

3. Chocola

by: Gary Gresham

Shopping online for gifts rather than going to a store is not only convenient, but you save time, money and have an incredible variety of gifts to choose from.

It‘s no wonder online shopping is growing at a phenomenal rate every year. But with so much to choose from, how do you buy the perfect gift for someone?

The mistake most people make is buying something that they like instead of thinking hard about the interests of the person they are buying for.

by: Ruben Francia

Why do some children still do best after divorce and separation? Is there divorce parenting approaches that really work? Read and learn the divorce parenting approaches that really work.

Going through the process of divorce is a challenging life transition for both parents and children. During their parents‘ divorce, children often feel a wide variety of conflicting emotions. It is very important for parents to provide their children with understanding and sup

by: Yolanda Yvette McDonald

People have known the dangers of chemical detergents for a long time, but people also continue to use them. Why? They have either found natural detergents too expensive, too hard to find or not effective enough. This excerpt from an article from Canada about some of the common chemicals found in products today that are a clear danger:

HEALTH EFFECTS OF FRAGRANCE CHEMICALs (1)

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS:

• breathing difficulties
• sinus problems
  

by: Kaisilver

It is commonly believed that white gold man rings do not look good and masculine. This is perhaps the main reason why man rings in white gold are quite hard to find. Jewelry designers and sellers have played by the market trend and avoided white gold for men‘s rings.

There is only one possible reason that has led to this belief. White is a color that is associated with something fine and delicate and therefore thought to be unsuitable for men‘s rings and je

by: Dawn Fry

How many times have you flipped through the pages of a magazine or newspaper and seen images of children with captions like "Brats," "Bullies," or "Mean and Selfish"? Unfortunately, these are common occurrences in todays media. For some child advocates, these images serve as a call to action: We need to do something to help Americas so-called "out-of-control" children. The problem is, while these negative images are a wake up call, they are not doing anything to help troubl