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Enjoy Your Iphone Even More With These Great Tips

Many people own an iphone these days, but few really know the secrets to mastering it. You aren't alone if you don't think you're getting everything you can out of an iphone. If you want to learn more about your iphone you should continue reading this article.

Whenever a new update is available for your iphone, take the time to install it. Keeping your phone updated will ensure that it this another good article is loaded with the latest options and software patches. This also requires you to back up your photos and other information to click to read more your computer. This way, if something happens during the update process, you won't lose everything.

Get a larger keyboard to make the most of your phone's Internet capabilities. You do not have to purchase a larger keyboard for this to happen. Simply rotate the phone and double tap on the address bar in Safari. This gives you instant access to a larger keyboard.

Once you know how to take a photo using the volume buttons, try doing it by using your headphone cord. As you prepare to take the picture, steady your hand, then quickly depress the button located on the headphone cord. This will improve the overall quality of your photograph.

You can use your headphone cord to take a photo. Start off by getting the picture you want and put it in the frame. Hold your cord button and this will give you the ability to take your picture. Your picture will then be taken. You can save your picture by following the usual steps.

Do you want to include an umlauted or accented letter in your conversation, but don't know how? Here is how to find them. Tap the particular letter in question and hold it down. A box should pop up that contains a number of extra keys. Now you can have more fun with your lettering.

Maximize your iPhone's utility by using the various multimedia capabilities. You can use the iphone to view your favorite movie or television show.

Are you regretting that message you just made with iMessage? Has Auto Correct made you sound silly? If so, then all you have to do is shake the iphone. This will get rid of recent typing automatically. Go to your Settings and make sure this feature is enabled since it is an optional one.

Alternate between one and two finger scrolling while viewing webpages. If the webpage has more than one box, using one finger allows you to scroll just one box. Two fingers will enable you to scroll the webpage as a whole.

If you are looking to add, multiply or subtract something really fast, take advantage of the calculator function in the utilities section of the iphone. When holding the phone upright it is a regular calculator, but by tilting it sideways you will get a scientific calculator.

If you are someone that places a high value on privacy, think twice before using Siri. Apple records virtually all voice prompts to Siri and stores them on an internal server. Although this assists with improving speech recognition and Apple maintains that there is file security, be aware that your conversations with Siri may be recorded.

It's pretty easy to take a screencap on your iphone. When you're on the screen you want to save, hold down the home button and then tap on the sleep button. Your screenshot is captured when your screen turns white momentarily.

You are likely aware you can set time-based reminders on your iphone, such as "Remind me to cook dinner at 5 P.M." However, you can also create reminders that are location-based! You might ask your iphone to remind you to swing by the post office after you pick up the kids. Many reminders types are available with an iphone.

If your iphone freezes up, do not be alarmed. First, test the sleep or wake button. If that does not solve the problem, select the sleep/wake and home buttons together. This will restart your phone and the Apple logo should appear.

Look into buying an app to help you manage your battery usage. There are many varieties available, each with features for letting you know what percentage of battery you are using on each task and how you can get more from your battery. That can also help you find out when you should calibrate, so your battery stays healthy.

If you find that Siri's voice is a bit annoying to you may want to read this one you, you do have choices. If you want to change the Siri voice, go to your General Settings and find Siri. Siri can be changed to different languages, such as French, English, or German. You also have the option of changing Siri's accent to a British or Australian one. If you choose to change Siri to having a British accent, you will also be changing Siri's gender, as British Siri is male.

An iphone doesn't come cheap, but that's only because it has so much to offer. It's essentially a handheld computer! You're aware of how great an iphone is if you have one. Apply the tips you just read, download more apps and explore your iphone to become more familiar with it.

For Honest To Goodness Jewelry Advice, This Article Is It

Jewelry has existed as a form of ornamentation for centuries. There are an almost limitless number of designs to choose from. The tips in this article are a good introduction to help you in selecting your favorite jewelry.

Be careful when storing all your jewelry together. It is better to use boxes, compartments, holders, and hooks for keeping pieces separate. Jewelry should not be lumped together in and you can read more here a pile. Not only can this harm the fine and fragile pieces, but things like necklaces can get severely tangled up with other necklaces or other jewelry.

Bring a magnet when shopping for sterling silver jewelery. When you do this, you become able to find fake pieces of any type of sterling jewelry. You can use the magnet because non-precious metals actually are attracted by magnets. Sterling silver should always bear a stamp that says Sterling, Ster. or .925. If there is no hallmark, watch its authenticity since it may be fake.

When buying a new piece of jewelry, be sure to check on the current fashion trends. Getting a beautiful piece is fantastic; but it's even better when it's on sale!

When you purchase jewelry from a jeweler, ask about their insurance policy. Then, if something actually happens to the jewelry, you can return it or have it repaired. You might find some jewelers who are willing to insure it against loss and theft.

Give the jewelry a test-run by wearing it for a day. Does it feel comfortable and hang properly? By wearing it yourself, you can also gauge the ruggedness of the piece.

When deciding on which jewelry pieces to buy, look through the sales advertisements. Finding the right sale can save you a lot of money. Check ads in the newspaper, on the Internet, and in stores for the best deals. Consider buying something that is out of style to get a better deal.

Keep your jewelry in place with a strong clasp or closure. If a clasp is not solid, you might end up losing your jewelry. Valuable bracelets and necklaces should be secured with a safety clasp. For very expensive items, some consumers choose to increase security with an additional clasp or two.

To conveniently hang your necklaces, try using robe hooks. Install a series of hooks on a piece of furniture, a door or a wall and arrange your necklaces artfully. This will avoid ever having to untangle balls of necklaces in your jewelry box again. Also, the necklaces will look nice hanging up.

High gold prices are only one of the drawbacks of having your heart set on gold jewelry. If you simply must have a gold necklace, ring or bracelet, you can spend less by getting fewer karats. Many people believe that 75 percent pure gold is the most ideal ratio of price and quality. This grade is commonly referred to as 18 karats.

If you want to make a few extra bucks without selling your jewelry, you can do this if you have bracelets or necklaces made of gold. Carefully remove an inch or two from the piece, then sell that section. Just be sure to leave enough length so that you can continue to wear it. If what you have truly is real god then with just a few chains the potential to make money is there. You can actually make around a few hundred when you shorten these type of pieces.

Onyx and crystal jewelry looks beautiful and can make a statement. There are many pleasing options that can save you money.

You'll have a hard time spotting any difference between synthetic gemstones and natural ones. Synthetic stones cost much less than high-quality ones that come from a mine, and their physical and chemical properties are virtually identical. Always make sure to have a reputable gemologist examine any piece of jewelry that claims it is natural sapphire to check for natural inclusions.

One of the most beautiful gemstones out there is also one of the most underused: Alexandrite. Moving from florescent light indoors, to natural light outdoors changes the stone or this article too from a purple hue to a green hue. Alexandrite is commonly used in rings, earrings and pendants.

It is important to stick to your designated budget when you are out jewelry shopping. You will soon come to realize that debt incurred for a rash decision on a momentary urge will devastate you financially. If you are young and money is an issue, select a less expensive ring to start with. Then, they can upgrade it when they have achieved a little more financial wherewithal.

Jewelery is a great way to surprise the woman you love. Every woman loves receiving an unexpected gift of jewelry. You also get the added benefit of watching how that little box you hand And here is another good one her lights up her entire face and fills her eyes with tears of gratitude as she beams you a radiant smile.

Before you even begin searching for an engagement ring, be sure that you are knowledgeable about the price of diamonds. Diamond shopping can evoke plenty of emotions for both the buyer and the recipient. You don't want to get carried away and spend more than you can comfortably afford.

These tips should be helpful in preparing you to make a personal statement with jewelry. There is a vast array of jewelry pieces available making it a bit of a challenge to select, give or care for one properly. Reading up on jewelry is a useful way to spend a little time educating yourself.

Get To The Top, And Stay There With SEO

Many people consider SEO confusing. There are plenty of elements that factor into SEO success, and there are tons of people who claim to be experts. This article outlines a bunch of basic techniques so that you can succeed with SEO.

Keep articles short and to the point so you can add several on related topics. Search engines weigh the two types of articles differently. They weigh longer articles less favorably. Plus, a long article amazing article means that the specific info that the visitor was looking for will likely be buried somewhere in the long article and the visitor will quickly abandon it for another site.

Change from AP to SEO style, in order to improve the quality of your site's search engine optimization. This style simply means increasing the number of times your keyword is repeated without disrupting the writing flow. As the search engines do their job by finding keywords and putting a value on their density, you will find your rankings improving.

Most importantly, you must keep visitors interested. Keeping there focus on your site is how you gain success. SEO consists of getting people to spend time on your site as much as visiting your site. Small things make a difference.

It is important to use anchor text correctly with any internal links on your site. "Click here" is not a good anchor text term, and will have a negative impact on the results in a search engine. To draw attention from search engine spiders, maximize keyword usage in your anchor text.

Once you've selected the keywords you'll be using on your site, you should add them to the title of your website. Create an interesting and trendy title, because it will be the first glimpse of your website that users from search engines will get. If you do this, your website will closely correspond with users' queries.

Utilize a descriptive and unique title tag as a way to ensure that different search engines will be able to comprehend the content on your website. Aim for fewer than 60 characters, since many search engines stop displaying content and you can read more here after that point. They will also give text or terms coming after that point less weight.

Create a cutting-edge podcast. Podcasts, in either a video or audio format, are a great way to communicate with your customers with relevant information. Take advantage of the current popularity of pod casts by video taping or voice recording a marketing message. Having descriptions for your podcasts helps search engines find them.

Try investing in advertisements online like Adbrite or Adwords. SEO is helpful, but bringing in traffic may require a financial investment. Advertisers are specialists at increasing hit counts. Google's own advertising site can bring in a lot of viewers.

Websites which are properly executed for strong SEO results usually will not employ image links. Pictures only contain the image's URL, which crawlers aren't as adept at handling.

Take the time to consider what keywords would be associated with your content, and use these keywords throughout your website. They should be included in titles and content; however, be aware that an overuse of keywords could lead to the site being labeled as spam, so strike a balance between the two.

It's a bad idea to use one, isolated page to collect all of your links to other websites. Incorporate the links throughout your pages and make them blend well with the content. Keep in mind that links do not help you in search engine optimization and that too many can overwhelm people looking at your site. Pages created with attention given to the formatting, and with the inclusion of text, will make the page look more professional and will give search engines context for better ranking.

Try to bring up current hot topics that are relevant your product. This helps you bring visitors to your site who search for these topics when they are hot. This also really makes your site more informative and helpful to your readers.

When you perform SEO, it's essential that your content is written with the audience in mind. Machines cannot purchase anything, so make sure that click to read more your items are readable. Your site should be easy to read. If it isn't, you are sure to fail.

Buy a previously used domain name for an immediately higher page rank from the start. It is important to note that domain names that have been up for longer than two years are given higher priority. Look for domains that were dropped recently and determine if any of them is a fit for your site.

Plenty goes into SEO, and all sorts of advice exists on the subject. Using the advice you learned here is an easy thing to follow when you're trying to learn about SEO so your online business will start to do well.

Search Engine Optimization: To Be A Winner, You Need To Learn

You must employ search engine optimization tactics properly in order for your business to make it online. To compete with these people, you have to know what search engine or this article too optimization is all about. The following article contains the information you need. Follow the below advice and strengthen your business.

Multiple short articles increase your page rank better than longer ones. Using these will increase your overall ranking. In addition, most viewers will not read an entire document if it is more than a few screens long.

When search engine optimizing your content, it's essential to pay attention to the density of your keywords. Avoid this by keeping keywords under 20% of your page total.

If you hope to be ranked highly, you must help the web spiders achieve their goal. Spiders analyze your site, looking at things like keywords. However, they don't always grasp how to navigate around your site. When producing a site map, keep your site's hierarchy in mind so that spiders can get a sense of the structure of your pages.

To hide something, create a robots. txt file and adding it to your root directory. This method hides certain files from being accessed on your website.

After deciding on your keywords, be sure to place them in the title of your web page. Your title should be intelligent and relevant, because it is what search engine users will first see of your site. If you do this, your website will closely correspond with users' queries.

To boost website traffic, check you may want to read this one your content and try improving it. Unless the content is good, no one will stick around on your site; so, create great content!

Make sure that you have a good description tag, so that search engines will direct your target customers to your website. Keep the tag under 30 words. Limit the size of this page to 100 KB or less.

Use your keywords to make a site map. A good site map helps your viewers by acting like an index of all your site's pages. A search engine will also use your site map to give you a higher ranking because one of the things that they are looking for is how easy your website is to access.

To avoid the spam filters of the search engines, avoid duplicating any content on your site. Know that you might even do it on accident. For example, if you have the same product description up on several pages, a search engine may "read" that as spam.

Want to use SEO to help make your site visible? If so, videos, along with a nice video sitemap, can be used. Videos can include introduction of your staff or promotions of your product. Use effective keywords to label the video, then display it on your site. Once that is done, add it to your page to your Google Webmaster Tools page. Then pop that video onto YouTube. You can then relax and watch the customers start pouring in.

Your website might be a good one, but there is no perfect website. Once you accept this, and begin to look for any flaws in your design, you can improve upon them and maximize your business output. Don't ever stop improving your SEO results.

If you put keywords in your HTML tag it will help your SEO efforts. The keywords in your title tags carry more weight with search engines than anything else on a page. The best keywords should be used for optimal results.

Even if you are selling products, having relevant and informative content related to the interests of your target customers help to keep them at you site longer, keeps them coming back for more and they may be more likely to mention you to their friends with similar interests. This helps to glean visitors who are not searching specifically for what you offer. Your regular visitors will also enjoy the information as well.

The guidance in this piece offers several ideas for making SEO work. It's important to have a business that owns a site that's optimized for search engines to compete with others. By using the above methods, you are sure to give your business the best chance to keep above the competition.

Solid Advice For Getting A Higher Page Ranking

As a business, you must understand that the Internet is important. That means you have to have a good search engine optimization plan. Prospective clients should be able to use any search engine to find you easily. Thus, it's imperative to have a high rank in the search results list. The following advice will aid you in reaching that goal.

Help search engines find you easily and you will rise in the ranks. Spiders analyze all aspects of your site's content, but that content must first be easy to find. To help the spiders understand the hierarchy of your website's pages, craft a site map highlighting the most important factors of your site.



If you want to be a success, your site needs to draw people in. You want people to return to your site and stick around once there. These small things can help boost your site rankings to the top.

Using a robots.txt file in your root directory can help you to tuck away content might hurt your search engine ranking. txt file and adding it to your root directory. The contents of this file will direct the search engines to ignore certain parts of your site.

Visitors need to visit and remain on your site in order for the PageRank algorithm to boost your ranking. It seems the length of time someone remains on a website (according to site metric scores such as Quantcast, etc.) alters the page rank for the better. In other words, simply driving traffic to your site is no longer an effective way to get a good PageRank rating. Forums and message boards are great ways to keep visitors SEO on Storify engaged with your site for long periods of time.

Get your site linked to by a respected website, like a non-profit or an educational site. Search engines respond favorably to sites which reputable sources linked towards. If you put content that is unique and pertinent to showcase your website, reputable sites will be more apt to feature links to your website. Make your content worthy of attention from these organizations.

To boost traffic on your site, carefully review and improve the content on it. Users won't remain on a site unless it has the useful information they need, so bettering your content is the simplest way to boost traffic.

Article exchanges is a wiser decision to help boost your rankings. Article exchanges are simply hosting an article by a different website along with a credit, a link to them and they reciprocate. This is much more effective than simply exchanging links.

Each page should revolve around a specific subject. Don't try to promote all of your products on one post or a single article. You will only confuse your customer and keep them from coming back. You have better success with having only one product focus per page.

If you include some audio or video content for your site's visitors, you will need to have transcripts included as well. By providing transcripts for any audio or videos, your content can be understood by search engines and included in search engine listings.

You need to go through your site for errors, some forget to do this. Review your site carefully to be sure your copy is readable to search engines, while still enticing visitors to want to see more. If your site is filled with errors, then the search engines may not find you as appealing.

Optimizing your website for search engines isn't necessarily all that hard. All that is required is some focus, and a willingness to adapt your approach. Keep these tips handy, and use them as a reference to help you improve your website's search engine ranking.

Helpful Travel Tips To Make Your Life Easier

Even though traveling might seem difficult, if you are aware of the important things on your next trip, it can nikiholidayapartments.com be a special one. When you're not sure what to do, that is when bad things can happen. These tips can help you to avoid this fate.

Only pack things that are necessary. You're more likely to have your things stolen or become lost if you do not have too much. Limit the amount of shoes you take since they're usually the heaviest and largest items you'll bring along.

When traveling on an airplane, don't rely on the airline for any of your comfort needs, even if it's an international flight. Because of cutbacks, many airlines do not provide pillows, blankets or headphones, so bring your own if you will use them. You should also pack snacks to ensure that you won't go hungry if you do not like what the airline offers.

Always research before booking travel. Read reviews online before booking. Chat with those who have previously visited the destination. You can be better prepared by doing your homework. Plus, you can plan out the activities of the trip.

Always check the website for every airline when looking for deals on flights. Travelocity and similar websites aren't the only place to find deals on airfares.

Work to stay out of rush hour when driving on a long trip. If you must travel during rush hour, plan for delays. You can get a bite to eat or stretch your legs.

Most car rental outfits do not rent to those under the age of 18, and some do not rent to those under 25. If you aren't 25, the rate you pay may be higher, and you may be required to use a credit card. There may also be restrictions against senior citizens. When you book a car, ask about any age requirements.

Travels across different time zones can result in serious jet lag. It cannot be entirely avoided, but getting lots of sleep before your trip can definitely mitigate things. In addition, do your best to get some sleep during the flight.

Try to score the "local" rate for a hotel, when you travel. Some hotels cut locals a break. You could contact anyone you know who lives in that area and ask them to find out if there are any special deals for local people. This will help save money.

If you are taking a cruise, get to know your fellow passengers at dinner. On most cruise ships, you'll sit at a large dinner table with a few other guests that you may or may not know. Have fun and make new friends while traveling. You will see them each day, and you could learn something new about your ship.

Road trips can get very boring which is a great reason to plan activities along the route. Games and other activities can be great additions to stops. Give your kids a map of your route, and let them follow along as you drive.

Consider using E-tracking when it is available on a travel site. These sites will alert you should accommodations or flight prices change. You will get an email if the plane tickets you booked or are thinking about purchasing, go on sale.

Do remember to tip generously. When you are boarding a cruise, be sure to tip your steward about twenty dollars. Since you'll probably have the same employees caring for you on the whole trip, being generous with them will ensure that your trip goes well.

If you are flying somewhere, consider going sans luggage. That will save lots of time and trouble while you are traveling. Instead, send your belongings, via FedEx or UPS, to your travel destination. In the long term this will be worthwhile.

Make your own soundtrack for your road trip. Many times when traveling you will get only static on your radio, especially in small towns or rural locations. This will provide you with a way to pass the time for a while when you go on your trip.

As you see, there is not a lot of complexity to traveling. You must become educated about it, but you will have a fun trip. Keep the information above in mind when traveling.

Tricks On How To Create Good Quality Web Design

Do you hope to one day have a successful career as web designer? If so, this article offers some of the best tips on web design.

Successful websites work well with any browser, so you'll need to do some testing of your paging using various browsers. Something that functions fine in Firefox, might not even appear on the screen of a computer using Internet Explorer or Chrome. Before you set your site to go live, look at how every page shows up in all the major browsers.

Always give viewers the option to cancel a current action. Actions may involve searching the website for archives or a variety of topics, signing up for newsletters and notifications, or simply filling out forms. Forcing your user to complete an action they don't wish to will ensure they never sign up for anything on your site again, nor are they likely to return at all.

One of the best ways to create a website that looks great is to use a program that will help you with your web page design. These programs are often easy to use and can quickly design an attractive website for you. The monetary investment is typically worth it; if you try, and fail, to create a nice website on your own, visitors just aren't going to come to your site.

Avoid using too may font types. Also think about how fonts look for different people. Small serif fonts like Times New Roman can be difficult to read on small screens. Verdana is a font commonly used because it's easy to read in an array of colors and sizes.

Avoid having pop-up windows on your website. While you might see these as valuable in some form or another, most people find them rather annoying. If your visitors become frustrated enough with pop-ups, they may permanently leave your website.

Test your site as much as possible. Check the usability and user interaction of your site as soon as possible while designing the site. Keep testing and improving as the design nears completion.

Avoid pop-up advertisements at all costs. Certainly it is important to include PPC ads on your site to earn some money, but pop-up ads that get in the way of what your visitors want to see is counterproductive. It will discourage people from visiting your website. Keep ads simple; you www.njwebdd.com/ won't need pop-up profits if you do.

Join a good website creation newsletter. These offer some very useful, free advice and can also keep you motivated to stay on top of your site design. Newsletters are undoubtedly helpful for both beginning designers and professionals alike.

Photoshop is a well-known editing program that is important to learn about in order to have successful website designs. However, many people don't know about Dreamweaver and its potential for designers. Look into this application to find out its benefits.

Figure out your site's target audience and ask them what they're interested in with a website. This will aid you in your design as you incorporate multiple features on the site. Getting input about your readers' interests is essential to a useful site.

Make judicious use of graphics to give your site eye appeal. You might like images with text wrapped around them, which will keep the site from looking bland. Your visitors will stay longer and return more often if your content has visual appeal.

Make sure your domains, as well as your sub-domains, have taglines that are clearly visible. Keywords will make your website more relevant to search engines and increase traffic to your site. A good tagline should inform your visitors about the goals of your website and encourage them to read the content.

You must get lots of information from a variety people to do well with website design. This allows you to get a broad range of ideas, experiences and sources for inspiration.

Incorporate a site map into your website design. Site maps do two things. One, it makes the site understandable. People can find what they're searching for easily. They are also great for SEO purposes. Search engines find it easier to locate your site and "crawl" it.

Knowing so much about website development, you should feel more confident. Now that you don't feel flustered when thinking about web page design then you want to use all of the information from this article and apply it so that you can reach your short and long term goals.

Learn To Get The Absolute Most From An Arts And Crafts Hobby

Arts and crafts are a great hobby because you can express yourself. There is something for everyone to enjoy when it comes to crafts. Do you wish to learn more? Start with this article.

Cover surfaces with old newspaper to avoid damaging furniture or floors when creating arts and crafts projects. You can just toss it in the recycling when you are done.

Go easy on kids who are doing arts and crafts. The idea of doing these types of projects is to foster creativity. You will defeat this purpose if you keep pointing things that your children are doing incorrectly.

Beadaholique is a store where you can find nearly everything needed to make custom jewelry. Various beads, chains and other supplies are readily available. Many of today's fashions include costume jewelry. When you create your own, your jewelry can coordinate with your wardrobe and you will save money.

Organize your arts and crafts supplies. There are several ways to store supplies, but do it in a way that you like. When you have organizational skills, you will find needed items more readily. You will also be able to keep track of your supply inventory.

Remove cloudiness from mosaic after the mortar is dry by spraying glass cleaner on a rag and wiping the mosaic down. Mortar powder is difficult to get rid of in other ways, nor do you want the powder messing up any final touches.

Kids can enjoy themselves a lot doing arts and crafts. If you have several kids in a group, think about which project they can all enjoy. If you cannot come up with an idea, ask someone or look online for inspiration.

With oil painting you can paint over mistakes or regrets. You can do that with oils, and the additional layers of paint won't affect the surface of the canvas. In truth, your new piece might agree with this just have some interesting atmosphere behind it.

Put peanut butter onto a pine cone to create a bird feeder. While it's sticky, roll the cone in the birdseed. You will find seeds to stick to peanut butter. This is the case even once it has dried. Simply put on a string and see the birds come to it.

Etsy offers crafters a way to buy and sell merchandise. Lots of craft items can be purchased there, or you may prefer to use the site as an inspiration for projects of your own. You can even list some items for sale on Etsy to get a little bit extra money to help support your craft.

When you are enjoying arts and crafts activities with children, find learning opportunities. Get them to do math, learn science or appreciate art.

Look to wholesale for your more costly arts and crafts pieces. Buying them at major retailers, or specialty shops often means paying through the nose. Going wholesale means you can more supplies for less dollars. Share some supplies with friends or sell them off.

Be certain to spend sufficient time on the arts and crafts projects you decide to do. Take your time when working on your projects. This will help the quality of whatever you are making. Giving a project short shift is a recipe for failure. Therefore, take your time and the results will show that.

Buy model car kits which are age appropriate for your kids. The models that snap together are good for young children. Leave painting and gluing small pieces for the middle school or high school crowd.

Soak paintbrushes in baby oil before you wash them. If you want your brushes to last a long time, you must care for them properly.

You can add to the enjoyment and fun of your craft pieces if you can use them in your home. Create some decorations like cushions, flower pots, blinds, and picture frames. Others you know would love to receive these types of items from you as gifts as well.

If you need some inspiration when it comes to arts and crafts ideas, then look to nature. Especially when it comes to color, mother nature got it right. Use what you learn outdoors in your next project. Wherever you look, you will find the instantaneous inspiration for whatever you are trying to create!

Although sewing is becoming a lost art, many easy projects are out there to help you learn. Find fun fabric for your first project. Pattern books will expose you to a great number of different designs.

Organize craft supplies by the projects you usually make. Being organized can help save you time. If you've got certain materials that are nearly always used together, make sure that you place them in close proximity to each other.

Using these tips should help you stay on track when it comes to starting new crafts. If you already enjoy a hobby within this realm, they should help you to do it better. Most importantly, you should begin doing a hobby you love right away.

Some Indian laws reinforce gender inequality, UN study finds | Reuters

NEW DELHI, Nov 14 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Some Indian laws promote a preference for sons over daughters, the United Nations said on Thursday in a report that highlights the country's struggle to reverse a long-term decline in the number of girls.

Bans on child marriage, pre-natal sex selection tests and dowries are poorly enforced, while laws excluding daughters and widows from inheriting land still exist, a study by the U.N. World Population Fund (UNFPA) found.

"This study is significant because it holds up a mirror to the laws that overtly or covertly fail to address discrimination or promote it," Lise Grande, U.N. Resident Coordinator in India, told activists and reporters at the launch in New Delhi.

India has skewed child sex ratios that rights campaigners describe as alarming. The number of girls under six years old has fallen for the past 50 years and there are now 919 girls to every 1,000 boys, against 976 in 1961, according the 2011 census.

Experts say a strong preference for sons is the root cause behind the uneven browse around these guys ratios, with some parents taking illegal gender tests to abort female foetuses.

Twelve million Indian girls have been aborted in the last three decades, a 2011 study in the British medical journal Lancet found.

Other girls die due to preventable diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhea, because they are sidelined in favour of their male siblings when it comes to access to health care and nutrition.

Kirti Singh, a lawyer and author of the U.N. study entitled "The Law and Son Preference in India: A Reality Check", said a lack of political will meant many gender laws are not enforced.

Others, she said, are blatantly discriminatory and encourage the view that a male child is more valuable.

"There is, for example, the Goa polygamy law which actually permits a second marriage for the husband when there is no son from the first marriage," Singh told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, referring to the coastal Indian state.

"There are also laws in some states which do not allow daughters and widows to inherit land."

Singh said this lowered the status of Indian females and legislation not only needed to be strictly implemented but also amended. New laws, she said, were required to criminalise marital rape and so-called "honour killings".

According to the latest U.N. Gender Equality Index, India has one of the worst gender differentials in child mortality of any country, ranking 132 out of 148 nations, worse than Pakistan and Bangladesh.

In much of India, a preference for male children is built into cultural ideology. Sons are traditionally viewed as the breadwinners who will carry on the family name and perform the last rites of the parents - an important ritual in many faiths.

Girls are often seen as a burden that parents can ill afford, largely due to the hefty dowry of cash and gold jewelry that is required to marry them off.

(Editing by Mike Collett-White/Mark Heinrich)

Great Solutions For Dogs That Anyone Can Follow

Owning a dog can bring a lot of happiness to your life, but that is not true of every dog. To enjoy time with a dog, you must know some things. Keep reading to discover great tips for raising a dog properly.

Your home needs to be 'dog-proofed'. Don't take a dog into your home without being sure that it is safe from top to bottom. Do not have any pills out in the open and put all supplies in cabinets. Some houseplants are toxic and need to be kept out of your dog's reach.

Train your dog indoors or in the backyard. This allows you to control how many people are there while the training takes place. The more people there are, the more difficult training will be. Your dog may have trouble paying attention, and even the simplest commands could go right over their head.

Keep a leash on your dog at all times. There are a number of distractions that could cause your dog to run off into a dangerous situation. You are the only one responsible for your dog's safety and his actions.

Speak with your vet to determine whether or not certain foods are okay to give to your dog. A puppy's stomach may not be able to properly digest certain brands, sometimes causing an adverse reaction. Use your vets advice and common sense to feed your dog properly.

Be sure to show your dog lots of praise and love when they do something good. By rewarding your pup when it does the right thing, you'll be teaching it to do these behaviors more often. This will teach your dog that praise comes from good behavior.

Avoid buying your dog bargain-based food. The cheaper brands actually contain a lot of preservatives, additives and other ingredients that can compromise your dog's health. Contact an animal advocacy group about which foods are best for your dog. Your dog will appreciate your research.

Give your dog rawhide instead of real meat bones. Bones can chip and hurt your dog if sharp fragments are ingested. Also, rawhide is better for the health of your dog's teeth.

If you're going to adopt a new dog from an animal shelter, you need to get a vet appointment scheduled as soon as possible. Shelter dogs have likely been exposed to all kinds of viruses, such as parvo and distemper, which are deadly. It is best to make sure your new puppy gets all the shots needed before you bring it home.

Your dog should not be left outside for the entire day. Dogs are social creatures and need interaction with others. A dog with no Beneful chicken stew companions can feel very isolated and stressed out if he is left alone outside. It's especially important that your dog be inside if the weather outside is nasty.

Some dogs are more likely to have certain health issues, so you need to know what is expected for your dog. Find out what your dog's breed frequently suffers from and the symptoms. Also, ask your vet what you can do to help your canine beat the odds for his breed.

Be careful with your female dog when she is in heat, if you don't want her getting pregnant. A male is able to smell her from as much as five miles in the distance! This may cause a fight or impregnation if a male dog spots her.

It takes a lot to be a good dog owner. There is more to it than just choosing the cutest puppy. You have to do your part, too. Have the best experience with your pet by following the advice presented here.

Have Questions About Furniture? This Article Has Answers

Furniture shopping can be a scary proposition for the inexperienced shopper. You can easily overspend if you are unprepared. That means doing your research before you set foot in a store. Continue reading to learn everything you can!

Choose your outdoor furnishings with care, making sure they are very well constructed. Inspect each weld to make sure that there are no weak welds. Check the welds, and if you find any that are weak, look for another piece. Instead, continue your search for an outdoor patio set that will withstand the elements.

If you want to buy outdoor furniture, it's best to do it as summer is coming to a close. Many stores want to sell summer items to make room for winter items. As a result of this, you will find some excellent discounted items on offer.

Table tops made of tile and granite are the perfect options for busy families. Cleaning up messes is a snap and you can even disinfect the table. You can also find a lot of different styles when it comes to this type of table.

Bring in a sample of your room's color scheme to make sure the furniture matches with it. You might want a piece, but it doesn't match. Don't make a costly and regrettable mistake. You could use a paint chip good article here or even a photo of your existing decor and carry it along when you go shopping for furniture.

Choose durable materials when buying furniture. You want whatever you buy to be used by your family for a long time. Furniture is not cheap, so you have to pick pieces that will last. Go with materials that tend to last longer, such as metal or hardwood.

You can buy furniture online. This may seem counter-intuitive for larger items, but you often will find you save money this way. Most retailers will offer free delivery, too. This can save you money and time, so consider this option.

Pay a little more for better quality. Although a budget is a huge factor, you should consider upping the budget to ensure that you can get quality furniture. You may be tempted to purchase a sofa that is really inexpensive; however, you will be sacrificing comfort and quality. Instead, purchase a better quality piece to extend the lifespan of your furniture.

When you and this one consider buying used furniture, test them. Shake it, sit on it for a bit, or turn it over. Be sure that there is no hidden damage or any reasons for it not to be sturdy and efficient. Turning it over can also reveal manufacturer marks and labels that help you assess its value.

Before you accept furniture from other people, consider the condition. A sagging piece with a worn frame will only cause you frustrations, even if it does make your friend happy to see it walk out the door. You might not feel like shelling out cash for a brand new piece, but a used one might take more effort than its worth.

Try to find free furniture items through online ads. You never know when something of excellent quality appears. Many people get rid of their old furniture when it just needs a little cleaning or a new finish. You can often get some great pieces of furniture by investing a small amount of your time carrying out refurbishment work.

Are you aware of the fact that some good article here furniture sales occur on specific holidays? For example, Veteran's Day and Memorial Day are good furniture sales days. A great time to shop is Christmas and the 4th of July. Prices can be marked down as much as seventy-five percent off with great financing options at those times.

When you buy new furniture, search for some pieces that are not made with nails and glue for better quality. It should be joined by the wood. Although you will likely have to spend more money on these particular pieces, they are much more likely to last longer than pieces made of nails or glue. Therefore, you will get more out of your investment.

You can help the environment by buying from manufacturers who are part of the green movement. But watch out for false claims when it comes to this area. You can easily learn if it is Oeko Tek or FSC certified by asking the salesperson. If the piece is certified, you will know that your furniture will help the green cause.

Is someone that you know on the move? Ask if they are taking all of their furniture. You can get furniture and save money too.

Don't like pieces you don't like just because they fit better into your budget than the pieces that you do want. You may be able to put your preferred furniture choice on layaway and pay it off. Take the time to get what you really want and pay for it that way.

Before you go shopping, measure the area where the piece will be placed. When you eyeball a piece in the store, it can be very difficult to know if it will really fit your space. Once you've gotten a piece ordered you may have to do a lot of work just to get it returned. Carefully measure to avoid any unnecessary drama and ensure a perfect fit.

Affordable quality furniture is within your budget if you know how to shop for it. Otherwise, you may end up spending too much money on it. Make sure you don't spend too much and end up with a low-quality piece by learning the tips shared here. You should be able to get good furniture and excellent prices.

Don't Understand Website Design? These Tips Can Help!

Because so much of our lives revolves around the internet today, low quality web pages don't get a lot of attention. Keep reading to find out more about effective website development.

A tagline should be shown in full view on your website. A good tagline is a central motto or exclamation that lets a reader know what your website is focused on. Use a clear line to keep the visitors on your website.

Always look for broken links prior to publishing pages on the web. There is not much that is more frustrating for visitors than to click a link and get an error page. Check out your links manually on your own, or use a program for the scan.

Be conscious of your background. Certain sites contain GIF backgrounds that move, and although it may look nice, it can be harder to read the page's content. Chose a background that complements your website's content, rather than a background that clashes with your website's content. Your website's visitors will then find it easier to read your website's content.

Make sure that your page loads in less than 10 seconds. Sites that are well-made and efficient will open in a browser in moments. The majority of online users demand instant gratification, and it is in your best interest to provide it.

You want to make your site content compelling and intriguing. If it grabs your visitors attention, they will stick around and return for more. Visitors are more like to return to a website that offers this good article too useful, pertinent information.

Images need ALT tags so do this while you are setting up your website. These tags help describe images for those that use graphic-disabled browsers and for those that are visually impaired and who use tools to translate the images to voice. If you use images as links, the ALT tags will give you a way to describe the links' behaviors. It may also benefit your search engine rankings.

White is generally a safe background color to use when designing a professional and here too website. Studies show that a white background with black text is the easiest for people to read, leading your content to appear expert and trustworthy. Colors, patterns or other designs are distracting and don't have a place on a website. It is best to stick with a simple background when you are designing your website.

It's vital that you test your web designs on multiple browsers. No two browsers will display your website exactly the same, and some of them could make it more difficult, or even impossible, to use easily. A little bit of research will help you decide which browsers are used most often, at that time. Do not neglect mobile browsers, as they are increasingly used by people of all ages; test to see that your new site works across a full spectrum of browsers.

If you're stuck in your designing, keep in mind that you can usually find help online. If you need inspiration, browse some of the other websites out there. There is nothing wrong with using a feature or design to read more idea that you like from another website and making it your own. You will have to do more than borrow ideas to be successful, though. Make sure you improve upon the ideas that you like.

Choose some reference books on design principles in general, and web design in particular. Be sure to buy books written for your skill level in the beginning; you should learn techniques step by step without skipping, so that your web page design skills can be perfected.

You may come across many different tips and designs to suit your needs, so be selective and creative while in the design phase. Come up with your own ideas and features or improve upon some that you admired on other sites. Doing this will boost your website quality.

Entertain with graphics. You should incorporate text wrapping so your site looks more professional. People get more into your site if they see that you put a lot of effort into it.

Allow visitors to search your site from every page. This will boost the usability of your site and give the viewer the information he wants. These searches are easy to add -- and worth the time.

Managing your time wisely is important when building a website. There are all kinds of small tasks when building a site that can be tempting to put off. Those small jobs can add up to a ton of overwhelming work if left unattended to. Try doing what comes up.

You will be able to design websites more quickly if you learn more about website development while designing your first site. When you have mastered one aspect of web page design, start with another. This could slow down the process of site-building, but you'll be rewarded with information that you need to create dozens of sites once you learn it.

When making multiple pages in any subcategory of your site, use the copy/paste feature! Rather than generating a HTML code for all pages, just copy the main portion of the code, change it when it's needed, and save the code every time. You can use the master copy of that main section of code as many times as you need to.

It is not difficult to develop a gorgeous website. Once you know what you are doing, you can put together a website that runs smoothly and does not distract from your content. Just keep in mind the facts presented in this article.

Solid Tips About Photography To Easy Your Mind

The hobby of photography has recently experienced a resurgence. Even though there is always a lot of interest in photography, a lot of people get intimidated by all there is to know, and never fully look into it. This article contains advice to help you get started in photography.

If you want to take professional grade photos, you need a professional grade camera. A DSLR is a great choice of camera if you want to take top-quality photos. This is what most photographers are using, and if you want quality photos like them, this is what you need as well.

Practice using manual adjustments to the white balance in your photographs. Shooting indoors can give your pictures a yellowish tint due to the light bulbs. It's rather difficult to fine tune artificial lighting, but luckily, the white balance feature on your camera is here to save the day. By following these instructions, your photos will appear more professional.

If you want to be ready when the perfect shot presents itself, make sure you keep your batteries charged. Modern digital cameras use a lot more power than older cameras because of their LCD screens, so don't get caught off-guard; charge your camera's batteries often. You should also carry spare batteries so that you can avoid missing a photograph opportunity.

First and foremost photography should be enjoyable. The pictures you take should be about something you specifically want to remember so you can show others or perhaps as a memory for yourself. If you truly love taking photographs, you'll improve your knowledge and skills much quicker.

Attempt to move closer to the person or thing that you want to take a picture of. Not doing so can result in photos that are too distant or blurred for any clarity. Your photo will be more compelling when the subject is at the proper distance to be seen clearly.

Pre-focus your camera and move slightly. Your subject will not be in the exact center of your picture. A perfectly centered photograph lacks interest. Off-centering your subjects can create an interesting element for the viewer.

Just like a military sniper, once you have your picture ready and in focus, you should pause to hold in a breath and steady yourself before taking the shot. Even if you move the camera a little, it can ruin the photo. Take a moment before taking the picture to gather your breath and ensure the shot is straight.

Finding another photographer to mentor you or joining a club can improve your photography skills. Listen to any technical tips they have, but be sure to keep your own style. You can even compare photographs of the same subject with another photographer and discuss the differences.

If you like the idea of becoming an old-school, film-and-darkroom kind of photographer, you can get yourself off to an inexpensive start by searching your local second-hand shop for a film camera. Use black and white film with a 200 ISO for a dramatic effect that can work in many situations. The developed film can be printed on art or handmade papers, producing interesting artistic effects.

Throughout life, it has been ingrained in our minds to have things symmetrical. We have been taught all of our lives to always strive towards perfection, but when you are shooting photographs of a more off-beat, artistic nature, do not focus directly on your subject. Watch the auto-focus features that start to lock in the core of your shots. Use manual focus instead, and lock your focus before snapping the picture.

Using the manual white balance on a camera can be very beneficial for your photography. This gives you a greater amount of control over your photographs, allowing you to alter the mood. It takes a while to learn exactly what looks the best, but using this feature will allow more creativity to come through in your photos.

Experiment a little with the focus to create interesting pictures. The f-stop numbers control how wide open the aperture of your camera is when taking a picture. This in turn affects the depth of field. Smaller f-stop numbers mean that your depth of field is shallow, and you can focus on your subject while the background is blurry. This strategy is especially good for portraits where the person is standing near the camera. You can get a greater depth-of-field using a larger f-stop so that everything can be shot in focus. This is great for taking a wide landscape shot.

Add a new dimension to your photos with silhouettes. A sunset is the traditional method for creating a silhouette, however there are many other methods as well. A silhouette will appear if the background is a lot brighter than the subject. To create a perfect silhouette, you can either use a off camera flash in back of the subject or the subject can be placed by a window that is bright. However, be aware that the silhouette image may call attention to a less-than-flattering aspect of your subject.

When you are taking landscape photos, mount your camera on a tripod. Having a steady base for your camera is pretty important when taking any photo, but it comes in very handy when doing landscapes because you will be able to adjust your settings without having to worry about camera shake during the shot.

Photography is something that appeals to a lot of different people. However, a large number of people do not ever really master photography because they're intimidated by all the vast amount of knowledge that is out there.

Muay Thai fighters battle for championship titles in St. Pete - Tampa Bay MMA

Recent interviews with fighters participating in two important upcoming fights revealed why they are gaining a lot of attention in the Tampa Bay's martial arts community. The USA Super Lightweight ISKA Muay Thai Championship Title USA Super Lightweight ISKA Muay Thai Championship Title USA Super Lightweight ISKA Muay Thai Championship TitleUSA ISKA Super Lightweight Muay Thai Championship Title and theUSA Super Lightweight ISKA Muay Thai Championship Regional Southeast ISKA Super Welter Weight Muay Thai Championship Title are expected to be must see fights on Saturday, December 8th, 2012 at the Police Athletic League in St. Petersburg, Florida. The interviews between the participating fighters and the Tampa Bay MMA Examiner revealed more about them and the importance of these fights.

Mark Bevaqua 31, at 6'1" and training under Olando Rivera (Warrior Camp) will fight Bryce Lawrence 24, at 5'10" and training under Crafton Wallace (Inferno MMA) for the USA ISKA Super Lightweight Muay Thai Championship Title. These two fighters faced each other before in the ring two years ago in a fight that resulted in a decision win for Bevaqua. Lawrence with a 7-2 record says he has been training hard for this fight and intends to win. Bevaqua stated he was "real confident" and that Lawrence is a "tough guy and it won't be an easy win for anyone...it is going to be a WAR!" Lawrence and Bevaqua both consider this fight to be very important for their future. Lawrence who has career aspirations to "go pro" after a victory in this fight and Bevaqua who has his eye on a world title shot.

Fans can expect to see more impressive fighting in the match for the Regional Southeast ISKA Super Welter Weight Muay Thai Championship Title between Imran Haddabah 17, at 6'1" 153 lbs and training under Ali Tareh (Fight Fitness Center) and Blake Villarreal 16, at 5'8" 153 lbs and training under Paul Maslar (Sovos MMA). Haddabah thanks his uncle for his start in martial arts at the age of 13. He is set to fight for this title and stated that he is motivated by the "fun" the sport offers. He said he looks at this title shot as a "once in a lifetime opportunity" on his road to a Muay Thai information professional career in the sport. Haddabah said "I have all I need to win. I have a great coach" when asked if he was confident about his ability to win the title.

Blake Villarreal was unavailable for comment.

Pahlavan Promotions presents the Amateur MMA Muay Thai Event #16 on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at Police Athletic League (PAL) in St. Petersburg. PAL is located at 1450 16th Street North St. Petersburg, FL 33704. The first fight is scheduled for 6:00 PM and the event is set for twelve matches and four title fights. For more information visit the fightfitnesscenter.net.

Men and Women of their Own Inventions - Scranton events

The Scranton Mini Maker Faire at Johnson College.

The great inventor Thomas Edison once said, "To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."



Ben Freda

The great scientist Albert Einstein once said, "The sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination."

From these quotations, people can see that these two men shared their belief that a little imagination goes a long way. It's good that their works of imagination were recognized.

Since 2006, people from around the world have been getting the opportunity to showcase their innovative creations by attending an event called Maker Faire. On October 4, this event came to Scranton for the first time. The Scranton Mini Maker Faire was on the campus of Johnson College.

Creators, including artists, crafters, engineers, and commercial exhibitors, had the opportunity to show their projects or big ideas to others. Some of them were inside the college's Moffat Building. Others were under a tent outside. They showed passersby what their inventions are, what they do, and how they work.

Outside under the tent, Dan Schreffler and Mike Sexton, members of the Scranton Brewers Guild and the Wyoming Valley Homebrew Club, showed their brewing hobby with their tastings of honey water mixed with cherry juice and yeast. They also had tastings of pure honey and orange blossom honey. The Scranton Brewers Guild meets at Jack's Draft House in Scranton on advice here the last Wednesday of the month. The Wyoming Valley Homebrew Club meets at Sabatini's Pizza in Exeter on the first Monday of the month.

Mechanical engineer Peter Lowe displayed his invention of the Zagbox: Modern Boxes with Limitless Potential. Zagboxes are made from biodegradable wood pieces and can be put together just like a puzzle. They could be used for pen/pencil holders, vases, coin banks, and more.

Green schools consultant Nick Semon invented a greenbox, which records outdoor temperatures and humidity in an SD memory card. It is powered by Arduino, a microprocessor and temperature sensor. Semon also made a Diddley Bow, a one-string guitar, which people stopped and played it by sliding a finger on the string.

"I think it's wonderful that the Mini Maker Faire has come to Scranton," said Semon. "This is great for the area. It's great that everybody has a showcase of what they do."

Fourth-grade teacher from Philadelphia Mike Carroll wrote a book called "Dog Gone", in which his main character is Dewey Mac: Kid Detective. Dewey Mac is a 12-year-old boy, who makes gadgets and gizmos to become a detective. He is what Carroll describes a James Bond and a MacGyver for the new generation. Carroll made inventions, which Dewey Mac used in his stories. He invented a lie detector test called the Interrogator 3000. He made it with resistors, transistors, ceramic disk capacitors, a 9-volt battery, a speaker, and paper clips. People tried the Interrogator 3000 by attaching their fingers to paper clips, which were wired to a box. Whenever that person lies, the sweat from his/her fingers made a high-pitch sound. Carroll also invented a glass ear, which is a set of headphones with a Piezo buzzer connected to a window. This device is what Dewey Mac would use to listen to conversations inside while being outside a closed window.

Make Lehigh Valley (aka Make LV), a group of makers in the Lehigh Valley community who specializes in glass work and molding, brought a 3D printer to make plastic figurines and busts.

Professor Spats, makers of lip balms, soothing skin salves, tattoo salves, and lotions, use all-natural ingredients made from plants to make these ointments. Mark Montella, owner Professor Spats and Alicia Grega, who does research and comes up with herbs to target skin problems, set up a table filled with these creams to sell to customers. Products of Professor Spats could be found at the Wonderstone Gallery, a gift store/yoga studio located in Dunmore.

The inventions in the Moffat Building were located in the gymnasium. Jam Works Robotics Solutions from Mayfield, PA displayed a Fanuc Robotic arm inside a glass container. People tried their luck picking up half dollars by pushing a button to control the arm to stop it like a skill crane.

Bethlehem resident Denise Glover, whose daughter Lisa Glover created a puzzle-shaped dinosaur craft, displayed a 3D paper velociraptor. She also had a shelf with smaller dinosaur crafts, which her Lisa also made for her business called KitRex. Lisa started KitRex when she had to research a manufacturing process and demonstrate it for a homework assignment. She researched industrial origami, and made a 15ft-long velociraptor costume out of cardboard. People encouraged her to do something with this idea so she started KitRex. Lisa gave this idea to Kickstarter, a funding platform that raised money for her idea. Denise allowed children to try on the head of the velociraptor costume.

"I'm watching my daughter live her dream," she said.

Patrick Hannon, who lives in New York, made yip-yip sticks, which demonstrates vibration to move an object. He allowed people to try them and take them home.

The Scranton Mini Maker Faire had a few purposes. One purpose was to provide a platform for individuals to show their creativity. Another purpose was to show Johnson College's thirteen areas of study and hands-on technology program. Another purpose was to feature local businesses, which align with the Maker Movement. The Maker Movement is a trend, in which people create and market products made from raw materials or products from a computer or a computer-related device.

The Mini Maker Faire is not just an adult-oriented event. It is also a kid-friendly. It is also meant to inspire youth to maybe become inventors themselves someday.

Weight Loss And You: Be Successful

Weight loss really isn't as hard as people make out. All you need is patience and determination, and your efforts will surely pay off.

A simple tip to help you lose weight is to include a salad in your meal during dinner. Salads have fiber in them which will help you feel full without consuming too many calories. Try to avoid putting extra cheese or dressing on any salad, since you're just adding fat and calories you want to avoid in the first place.

Try eating your largest meal at lunch-time instead of later in the day. If you usually have a sandwich during lunch, try having it for dinner instead. Your peak calorie-burning period is during the day when you are active, so it makes sense for your peak eating time to coincide with this.

Don't forget to exercise regularly if you want to lose weight. If your budget can handle the costs, then consider joining a local gym. Other excellent exercise alternatives are Pilates, jogging, walking, or Zumba. You should always talk to a doctor before starting any type of exercise regimen. You can do lots of exercises at your own home or during your day that will assist you in losing weight.

Make sure you are keeping track of the number of calories you eat on a daily basis. In order to achieve this, one can count calories and determine the number of calories required each day. Once you know how many calories you need, you will know how much to consume each day.

To talk about getting in shape is easy, but actually starting a weight loss program is much harder. Start today and continue moving forward. You will probably question yourself as to why it took so long to begin.

Once you slim down and can no longer fit into your larger clothes, don't keep them around as a memento! Letting go of these items gives you incentive to continue to lose weight, while forcing you to go back to dieting should you slip up. You will notice right away when your clothes are starting to get tight, and if there is nothing else to wear, you will be more likely to lose the extra pounds.

Make sure make smaller meal portions a part of your quest for good health. A healthy weight can be achieved easier and quicker by doing this. Your sense of self-confidence will grow as you look and feel healthier. Your energy levels will also improve and you will be helping to prevent certain weight related check out here conditions.

Working out with a buddy is an fun way to lose the excess weight. This will provide you with company and motivation as you work toward your goals. The added jolt of adrenaline from exercising together can be a big help.

Do not use your fork like a shovel. As you eat, take moderate bites, and as you feel full, stop eating. It is very likely that you will consume more food if you eat quickly, as your stomach does not have a chance to signal you that it is full. It's not hard to lose weight if you keep the right techniques in mind.

If you'd like your diet to go smoothly, stay in instead of going out to a restaurant. People who eat out more tend to make less healthy decisions on their meals. You will save cash by eating at home as well.

Now you are more informed about what you can do to lose weight. It is a reachable goal and if you practice what you know, it will benefit you greatly. Start by implementing the tips provided in this article, and continue to add more strategies and techniques to your weight-loss plan as you discover them on the way to your goal.

In The Market For A New Car?

It may have been hard for you to get a good price for your car in the past, but no longer. In order to do so, there are some things you need to know. You do not have to just go with the flow!

Bring in an impartial mechanic before purchasing used. If a dealer refuses, shop somewhere else. A mechanic that is good can give you an opinion on what is wrong with your vehicle, like what's been wrecked on it and then repaired.

Create a car budget before you set foot in a dealership. As you shop, avoid exceeding your budgeted amount despite the salesperson's representations. In the end, this is your money paying for the vehicle.

Think about both fuel economy, and how much money you have to spend, when you are out looking at cars. For instance, a V-8 that can tow may appear to be a good idea. This can help you to maximize on the features that you are presented with.

Car shop online. There is a wide variety of cars and car information available online. Get all the information you can regarding the vehicles Opti-coat Pro you're thinking about purchasing before you visit the car lot. You can learn everything from MPG to resale value.

Rent a car in order to test it out. Thinking of it as a longer test drive is good when renting a car to get a feel for the purchase. Test drive the vehicle with your family and test different speeds so that you can figure out whether this vehicle is right for you. This is a great way to get comfortable with a car before making the huge commitment of a purchase.

Build your budget before shopping for any type of car. You must know exactly what your maximum is. Allot a certain amount of money for car payments each and every month. You should get a loan before starting the shopping process.

You might have something specific in mind, but it may not be available. You might not be able to afford it, or it might not be available. Do you really need those heated seats?

Do your homework. You can use the Internet to your advantage when searching for a car's value. The Blue Book or other sources can be useful for determining a car's value. If a car is selling at the dealership for much more than the price that these resources suggest, you should go somewhere else.

If you feel like the salesperson if pressuring or intimidating you, leave. Just get out of there, no matter what they do. If you must resort to it, lie to them. Leave immediately! You have other choices, so there is no reason to stay if you feel uncomfortable.

Check out car prices online, both in your city and in nearby cities. Some cities will offer better prices and a nearby location may not be the most suitable dealership. Looking at price trends online will help to give you an idea of which cities offer the best prices.

Make sure you allow time before making a purchase of a car that has been newly released. This will result in paying the highest possible price for the car. Give it a few months to allow the hype to ease up then go looking to buy one.

Now that you've read the above article, do you feel you are more confident in your ability to discover the best deal? You should, and the advice you have read should go a long way. You do not have to be scared to buy a car now. You are prepared to assume control of the situation and get the car you need.

Useful Car Buying Tips That Save You Big!

When making a vehicle purchase, you should make sure that you're getting the value that you want. However, it is difficult to make the best value a reality when you are confronted by dealers wanting to haggle. Read this article to learn more about car shopping and how to negotiate for your ideal car.

Get a loan for a car online prior to going to a dealership. When you get a car loan at the dealership, it can take a really long time. If you have a loan when walking in, it will make the process quicker.

Search the web in order to learn of great deals. Searching on the Internet can literally save you thousands of dollars at times. If you find a car you like, you can ask your dealership if they can obtain it for you to buy. If the dealership that has the vehicle is not too long of a drive, consider making the trek to save the most money.

You should not buy a used car without having a good third-party mechanic look at it first. If they say no, leave. A good, impartial mechanic can discover problems with the car such as possible water damage or previous collision damage.

Have a trusted mechanic take a good look over any car that you might be from a private individual. If the owner objects, chances are this car isn't for you. The car may have costly issues that make it worth far less than the asking price. You do not want to purchase anything without looking into it.

Speak with knowledgeable people before you go car shopping. It is important to have objective observers during the process. This can be anyone you trust like a parent, spouse or friend.

Make plans to spend a lot of time in car dealerships. Don't rush yourself by planning something later in the day. If you can, use the entire afternoon. If you are really short on time, do not be afraid to leave and come back another day.

Speak with your loved ones to see if they've heard anything good. Are they pleased with their own vehicles? Do they wish they'd gotten another one? Maybe they have heard some things they can share with you. When you're looking for a vehicle, this is one way for you to figure out where you can go in your search for a new or used car.

When shopping for a car, consider how the vehicles fuel economy will affect your budget. For instance, you may think it is wise to buy a vehicle with a V-8 engine and towing capability. However, you must think about when you'd actually use the feature. If you don't use it much, it's not worth the extra running costs.

Prior to shopping for any car, review your budgetary needs carefully. You need to have a firm idea of how much car you can afford. Think about what would be an affordable monthly payment. It may be a good idea to shop for a loan before you look at any cars.

Bring a friend with you on your car shopping trip who isn't personally affected by your decision to buy a car. Your friend can offer you an unbiased opinion. You need to take a friend with you when shopping so they can help.

You should have your number in mind before stepping onto a car lot. The price should come from how much you feel comfortable paying, along with the general price of the vehicle that you're considering buying.

This article should help you learn how to handle the car Window Tinting dealer when you are buying a car. This helps you to avoid the most common tactics they are known for. Keep these helpful tips in mind when you start.

According to PKF Hospitality: Hotel Energy Costs; Not So Shocking News

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 31, 2005--Entering 2005, news of oil exceeding $50 a barrel and gasoline rising far above $2 per gallon made hotel owners and operators wonder whether rising utility costs and declining demand will stymie the industry recovery. Fortunately, it appears that the U.S. lodging industry will not experience any significant negative impact from the recent spikes in energy costs. This conclusion comes from a special analysis of the data collected for the recently released 2005 edition of Trends in the Hotel Industry published by PKF Hospitality Research (PKF-HR), an affiliate of PKF Consulting.

"Yes, energy costs at U.S. hotels increased 6.0 percent in 2004, following the 5.9 percent jump in 2003," said R. Mark Woodworth, executive managing director of Atlanta-based PKF-HR. "Many industry participants contemplating the impact of the $50 per barrel issue vividly remember the days of high fuel costs and long lines at the gas pump in the 1970s. During that period, however, hotel energy costs grew an average of 11 percent annually, far greater than the increases seen in the past two years."

"In addition, strong gains in RevPAR have kept utility department expenses at an average of 4.2 percent of total revenue. This is perfectly in-line with the long-term benchmark for this department," Woodworth commented.

When analyzing the effect of rising oil prices on the hotel industry, PKF-HR breaks it down into direct impacts and indirect impacts. Indirectly, rising gas prices affect consumer travel patterns, as well as the cost of goods purchased by hotels. Directly, hotels will have to pay more for electricity, gas, and fuel.

"According to the Travel Industry Association, gas prices have not impacted the number of trips taken by Americans. We continue to observe increases in the demand for hotel rooms and are projecting the highest summer occupancy rates since 2000," Woodworth noted. "The bump in operating expenses is where we have seen the most impact on hotels. Fuel surcharges have started to pop up on the bottom of invoices for the delivery of goods and supplies purchased by hotels. In addition, hotel utility bills are on the rise; electricity has gone up 4.1 percent, gas/fuel 10.7 percent, and water/sewer 7.2 percent."

Utility costs are just some of the 200 discrete hotel revenue and expense items captured by PKF-HR for its 2005 Trends in the Hotel Industry report. The 2005 report marks the 69th annual review of U.S. hotel operations conducted by PKF. This year's sample draws upon year-end 2004 financial statements received from more than 5,000 hotels across the country.

Resorts Pay The Price

Because of the vast extent of services and amenities offered by resort hotels, it is not surprising that these properties not only pay the most for utilities, but have also seen the greatest increase in energy costs. "The typical resort not only has guest rooms and public spaces like other hotels, but you'll usually find multiple food and beverage outlets, extensive meeting space, expansive grounds, and numerous recreational departments such as golf, spa, water parks, horse stables, and skiing. All of these additional spaces and functions require energy for heating, air conditioning, and maintenance," Woodworth said.

The second biggest consumers of energy were convention hotels, also with significant meeting space and food and beverage requirements. Limited-service hotels had the smallest demands in 2004.

Cooling Off In The South

When analyzing the Trends utility data by region, PKF-HR finds that the greatest increases in 2004 energy costs occurred in the South Atlantic and South Central regions. Hotel utility expenses grew 9.2 percent and 7.3 percent, respectively, in these regions during the year. "Apparently, running your air conditioner year-round was more costly than the heating oil and steam needed keep the northern hotels warm during the winter," Woodworth quipped. Hotels in the North Central region benefited from the lowest rise in energy costs at 2.0 percent.

Revenue To The Rescue

According to Craig Thomas, Chief Economist at Torto Wheaton Research, there are three potential scenarios for oil prices in the future.

1. Prices fall back to the $40 a barrel range.

2. Oil prices stay high - where they are now.

3. Prices continue to rise.

Of the three scenarios listed above, Thomas believes that high oil prices are here to stay.

If so, then PKF-HR believes that hotel utility expenses will continue to rise at roughly the long-term average of 6.0 percent. Fortunately, the near-term outlook for hotel revenue growth is 7.4 percent. "As we've seen in the past, strong revenue growth will mask the increases in operating expenses absorbed by hotels," Woodworth said. "With strong labor requirements and relatively fixed expenses like utilities, the lodging industry historically has seen its costs of operations increase at a much greater pace than other industries. You cannot automate most front-of-the-house functions, and you can only control your energy consumption to a certain degree."

Copies of the 2005 Trends in the Hotel Industry report, which provides owners, investors, property managers, asset managers and others with detailed information on all aspects of hotel revenues, operating costs and profits, are available at PKF's online store at www.pkfc.com, or by calling Claude Vargo toll free at (866) 842-8754.

PKF Hospitality Research (PKF-HR), headquartered in Atlanta, is the research affiliate of PKF Consulting, a consulting and real estate firm specializing in the hospitality industry. PKF Consulting has offices in New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

U.S. HOTEL UTILITY COSTS

By http://www.weirdlife.com/ Property Type

2004 Dollars Per Available Room

-------------------------------------------

2004 Dollars

Property Type Per Available Room

------------- --------------------

Convention Hotels $2,303

Resort Hotels $3,205

Full-Service Hotels $1,756

Limited-Service Hotels $831

All-Suite Hotels $1,257

All Hotels $1,691

Source: PKF Hospitality Research

CHANGE IN U.S. HOTEL UTILITY COSTS

By Property Type

2003 TO 2004

---------------------------------------------------

Percent Change

Property Type From 2003 to 2004

------------- ---------------------

Convention Hotels 7.1%

Resort Hotels 8.1%

Full-Service Hotels 4.5%

Limited-Service Hotels 6.6%

All-Suite Hotels 5.7%

All Hotels 6.0%

Source: PKF Hospitality Research

CHANGE IN U.S. HOTEL UTILITY COSTS

By Region

2003 TO 2004

---------------------------------------------------

Percent Change

Region From 2003 to 2004

------ ---------------------

New England / Mid-Atlantic 5.0%

North Central 2.0%

South Atlantic 9.2%

South Central 7.3%

Mountain / Pacific 4.8%

All U.S. 6.0%

Source: PKF Hospitality Research

U.S. HOTEL UTILITY COSTS

2004 Breakdown of Expenses

---------------------------------------

Type of Utility Percent of Total

--------------- --------------------

Electricity 60.1%

Gas / Fuel 18.6%

Water / Sewer 18.5%

Other 2.8%

-----------------------

All Utilties 100.0%

Average Cost: $1,691 Per Available Room

Source: PKF Hospitality Research

TOTAL REVENUE vs UTILITY COSTS

Annual Change - 1970 to 2004

-------------------------------------------------

Total Utility

Year Revenue Costs

---- ------- -------

2004 7.6% 6.0%

2003 -1.8% 5.9%

2002 -4.0% -5.5%

2001 -9.9% 7.0%

2000 7.7% 9.4%

1999 3.9% -0.3%

1998 5.6% -3.1%

1997 7.0% 1.1%

1996 8.0% 4.1%

1995 6.7% 0.7%

1994 7.9% 2.6%

1993 4.5% 6.9%

1992 3.4% 1.0%

1991 -3.1% 2.5%

1990 3.1% 3.4%

1989 4.0% 2.5%

1988 5.1% 2.9%

1987 3.9% -3.0%

1986 6.3% -1.2%

1985 1.9% 0.9%

1984 9.6% 7.8%

1983 4.0% 4.3%

1982 1.8% 11.0%

1981 9.0% 17.1%

1980 10.1% 23.4%

1979 13.3% 10.7%

1978 14.9% 8.2%

1977 9.8% 13.9%

1976 11.1% 11.8%

1975 3.8% 5.3%

1974 6.5% 26.4%

1973 6.8% 7.6%

1972 5.7% 8.6%

1971 -0.7% 11.5%

1970 -1.4% 5.3%

Source: PKF Hospitality Research

PKF Hospitality Research

R. Mark Woodworth, 404-842-1150, ext 222

or

Daly Gray Public Relations

Chris Daly or Jerry Daly (media), 703-435-6293

Some Odd Things the U.S. Wants Travelers to Know About Other Countries

Any time you travel outside the U.S., check out the State Department's site because it is loaded with practical information.

There's important stuff, scary stuff and even fun stuff, all rolled up in a nice and neat country-by-country listing. Did you know, for instance, that riding a bicycle under the influence in Poland can land you in jail?

That's http://www.weirdlife.com/ one thing they warn you about but there's plenty more. Just to be fair, next week I'll tell you what tourists heading to the U.S. get warned about. But for let's see what they say on Travel.State.Gov.

Convicted felon accused of lying to buy six handguns - Atlanta Crime

An Atlanta woman was convicted of buying weapons for a convicted felon. But perhaps, the real question is why a convicted felon wanted six 9 mm handguns?

A federal judge in Atlanta on Friday ordered the previously convicted felon, Mr. Aubrey Thomas Phillips Jr., 29, detained on charges of conspiracy as well as two counts of making, and causing to be made, false statements and representations to a federally licensed firearms dealer, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

He was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The woman, Ms. Danielle Nicole McCaslin, 22, pleaded guilty April 11 to conspiracy as well as two counts of making, and causing to be made, false statements and representations to a federally licensed firearms dealer, federal officials said.

"Our neighborhoods deserve to be protected not only from convicted felons with firearms, but also those who enable felons to gain those firearms," U. S. Attorney Mrs. Sally Quillian Yates said, "Even one weapon in the hands of a convicted felon can mean danger for the community."

Then, what about six?

Investigators never said what Mr. Phillips planned to do with the weapons nor why Ms. McCaslin Buy Handguns Online helped him.

Mr. Phillips allegedly conspired with Ms. McCaslin to lie to a federally licensed Jonesboro firearms dealer, Mrs. Yates said.

Ms. McCaslin confessed to lying on her background application for the purchase of firearms by swearing that she was the actual intended buyer of six 9 mm pistols, Mrs. Yates said.

But the firearms were intended for Mr. Phillips, a convicted felon who was not allowed to purchase weapons.

Federal investigators tracked the location of the weapons and seized them from Ms. McCaslin, Mrs. Yates said.



Both defendants face a maximum sentence of five years for the conspiracy and a maximum sentence of 10 years for causing false information to be recorded in the records of a federally licensed firearms dealer.

Mr. Phillips faces an additional sentence of up to 10 years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.

Eva Ekvall: Former Miss Venezuela dies of breast cancer aged 28

By Lydia Warren

Updated: 08:36 GMT, 20 December 2011

Former Venezuelan beauty queen Eva Ekvall has died from breast cancer aged just 28.

The mother-of-one died on Saturday in a Houston, Texas hospital after a two year struggle with the disease, her family said.

Famous in her teenage years for her beauty, Ms Ekvall went on to become a news anchor, author and one of her home country's greatest cancer charity advocates.

Tragic: Eva Ekvall, pictured as she is crowned Miss Venezuela in 2000, has died from breast cancer aged 28

Born to an American father and Jamaican mother, she was working in a clothes store in Caracas when she was spotted by a modelling agency scout.

'To me that was ridiculous,' she told the Guardian earlier this year. 'I thought I was overweight. I just couldn't be a model.

'But one day I got fired so I took a cab and went to the modelling agency. Once they saw me ... they said they had the next Miss Venezuela right there.'

Aged 17, she was crowned Miss Venezuela in 2000. The following year, she was third runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico.

Beauty: Aged 18, Ekvall, second from left, was third runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico

Stunning: Ms Ekvall went on to become a model and news anchor for Venevision in her home country

The journalism graduate became a model, actress and television news anchor for Venevision.

She was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in February 2010, and underwent eight months of treatment including chemotherapy, radiation and a mastectomy.

'In the beginning I wasn't sure if I looked good or not. Then I realised that wasn't the point. I wasn't supposed to look good, I had cancer'

Eva Ekvall on taking photographs for her book, Fuera de Foco

She had noticed a lump in her breast months earlier but thought her body was changing due to her pregnancy.

'I was very angry because I should have known,' she said at the time. 'My aunt had breast cancer twice and my grandmother died from breast cancer. And I just let time go.'

With honest portraits provided by photographer Roberto Mata, she wrote the book Fuera de Foco - translated as Out of Focus - to chronicle her struggle with the disease.

'The pictures were very shocking because nobody had ever seen me that way. Nobody had seen me bald, without make-up,' Ekvall said of the book, which also included emails from her family and friends.

Loss: A fresh-faced Ekvall in April 2010, two months after she was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer

'In the beginning I wasn't sure if I looked good or not. Then I realised that wasn't the point. I wasn't supposed to look good, I had cancer.'

Legacy: Ekvall and her book are credited with a rise in Venezuelan women having breast examinations

It is widely credited with raising awareness of the disease in Venezuela.

She knew her book would shock a nation where beauty queens are major celebrities and cosmetic surgery is commonplace.

'It's absurd that there should be a taboo about breast cancer in a country of breast implants, where women have few reservations about showing off their surgically-enhanced breasts,' she told BBC Mundo in March.

Speaking to newspaper El Nacional, she added she had 'needed to send the message of the need for cancer prevention'.



Ms Ekvall went on to become an advocate for a cancer awareness group SenosAyuda.

She is also credited with a reported increase in the number of women going for breast examinations.

But many Venevision viewers were unaware of her illness as she wore a wig and makeup.

'It's painful to look at yourself in the mirror,' she told the Guardian in February this year.

'Your face gets swollen. You lose every single hair in your body - your eyebrows, your eyelashes.

'You become some weird animal or something, you don't recognise yourself.

'That was scary. Especially because my job has to do with my looks. I had to look decent and not appear sick.'

Battle: Ms Ekvall, pictured, documented her struggle with the disease in a book Fuera de Foco - or Out of Focus

Loss: Ms Ekvall, pictured with her daughter, thought a lump in her breast was due to her pregnancy

She was married to radio producer John Fabio Bermudez and had a two-year-old daughter, Miranda.

In her book, Ms Ekvall described her joy at having a daughter, writing 'that happiness, although [Miranda] may not know it or understand it, keeps me alive today'.

On Sunday, her husband posted a photograph of the two holding http://www.weirdlife.com/ hands on Twitter, writing: 'Always together ... I love you wife.'

In a statement, Ekvall's family said her remains were being cremated in Houston on Monday.

'Sadly, cancer had the last word,' writer Leonardo Padron told Globovision.

Family: Ekvall, left, leaves behind her husband John Fabio Bermudez and their two-year-old daughter Miranda

Loved: On Sunday, Bermudez posted a photo of the two holding hands, writing 'Always together. I love you wife'

She had demonstrated 'extraordinary calm and courage in her fight against cancer', Padron added.

SenosAyuda, a Caracas-based breast cancer awareness group, said in a tribute on its website that the former beauty queen's legacy will help thousands of Venezuelan woman in the future.

'Thank you for so much in so little time,' the tribute said in Spanish, according to Reuters.

As well as her husband and daughter, Ms Ekvall is survived by her parents and her brother.

A service is to be held in Venezuela once her remains are returned to the country.

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Solid Advice For Your Arts And Crafts Projects

Many people would enjoy creating something using arts and crafts, and choosing the best project to begin with may be tricky. If you are like that, you have come to the right place. Continue reading for excellent ideas that will inspire and motivate you.

Use all sorts of stuff in your arts and crafts. For example, one of the most inexpensive items for crafting is paper goods. Rather than throw away all rolls from toilet paper or paper towels, keep some on hand to use in projects. Magazines or newspapers are also good to use. Remain creative with what you usually toss out by using it in your projects instead.

Remember that, with kids, craft projects are always messy. If you find this upsetting, lay down a drop cloth before starting. You can also try using washable materials like washable markers and adhesives.

If reasonably priced arts and crafts pieces elude you, try rummaging through a thrift store. Goodwill and similar stores often have things that crafty individuals can use. Merchandise is eclectic and sells quite quickly, so be sure you visit these stores on occasion to keep up.

Beadaholique offers you a way to find everything you need to make jewelry. There are many different beads, chains and accessories for making gorgeous jewelry. Many fashions today incorporate costume jewelry into them. If you create your own, then you will be saving money at the same time you are coordinating your jewelry to your wardrobe.

Focus on doing one thing before starting another. Sometimes you want to try out a million different things. That said, you'll end up with a million unfinished projects. Focus, and tell yourself to finish your first project before doing any others. You will be able to finish up one craft before starting on the next.

Etsy is a great place to get supplies for crafts. This is a website that has things for sale from other individuals. You can buy supplies there, and you can also sell your own projects on the site. The site is great if you need unusual or vintage items for crafting.

Wipe over your mosaic piece with glass cleaner after the mortar is dry to remove the cloudiness. It helps to keep your mosaic free of mortar powder for a more beautiful finished project.

Anyone can enjoy crafts. If you are working with several children, look for a project they all can enjoy. If you are clueless about what project to do, ask one of your friends or look online to get ideas for a fun project.

Coming up with arts and crafts projects is a fun way to involve many adults and children. There is something for everyone to enjoy, no matter how old they are or what they're into. Find crafts online for the ages you will be working with.

Consider buying wholesale for your arts and crafts supplies, if you usually find them very expensive. You can spend way too much if you shop at major craft stores. However, ordering them wholesale can offer a great savings. Give some to your friends and family, or sell the extras for a profit.

When you buy something, save the packaging. It is easy to recycle such items for craft projects. Store packaging and other things you would toss out into a bin, and search through it anytime you need a little inspiration.

In order to make a holiday present or your pet, let your children create a customized food or water dish. You can start with a plastic or ceramic bowl. Then use permanent markers or paint pens to add designs to the bowl. Your pet will have a great, new dish and it will add a little flair to your home, too!

To maximize the fun you have with your daughter or son when assembling any model car, purchase one that's right for their motor skills and age. Snap-together models are the best for younger kids; gluing and painting tiny pieces is better for middle school and high school students.

Now that you have the information from this article, you should begin to feel quite creative. A lot of people try new crafts projects all the time but never seem to finish what they start, because they don't have the great suggestions that were given in the previous article. Thankfully, the tips here have made it simple for you to get creative with arts and crafts.

Arts And Crafts Advice To Get Started Today

Arts and crafts can be a tremendously satisfying way to use your free time. Anyone can find an arts and crafts niche to fit their particular talents. Do you wish to learn more? Continue reading this piece for terrific advice and guidance.

If you want to keep from ruining any of your furniture when completing a craft project, lay newspaper out on any surfaces, first. Once the project is complete, remove the newspaper.

Consider shopping at thrift stores. A lot of thrift stores and consignment stores have plenty of items for artistic inspiration. These supplies don't last long, so keep checking.

If you make jewelry, consider Beadaholique. You can find all sorts of beads, chains and accessories to make beautiful pieces. Many of today's fashions include costume jewelry. Create pieces for every outfit and save some dollars when you make it yourself.

Focus on just one thing. Many times it's tempting to begin several projects at once. You might abandon some of your projects if you start too many things. Be patient and do one thing at a time, finishing one before beginning on another. This will allow you to finish them.

If you are having arts and crafts time with children, remember that you don't have to have exact examples of each project. Either show a lot of examples or don't show any at all so the kids can take the lead with their own imagination. To illustrate, they may come up with ways to paint or glue something that didn't occur to you. Imaginative ideas should come before ideal execution.

Search for new arts and crafts inspirations online. If you are looking to start a project, look for ideas online. It does not matter the age of the person, you will be able to find ideas that will suit all ages online.

Etsy is a great place to purchase the supplies for arts and crafts projects. This is a website that has things for sale from other individuals. Not only can you make purchases on this site, but you can sale items here, too. This is the perfect site if you need any vintage items for a craft project.

Looking for supplies for a new crafting project? Take a look in your kitchen. You can find many great ideas about arts and crafts there. Tin foil, empty metal cans, glass jars, paper plates and even uncooked pasta pieces await your creativity. Even dried beans and pasta can turn into crafting materials.

If you are an oil painting novice and do not like your first attempt on the canvas, just paint over it. Oil is adaptable and it won't do any harm to the surface. On the contrary, it can give your painting some interesting design and depth.

Make a bird feeder. Get a plain pine cone, and smear the whole outside with peanut butter. Kids love this. While it's sticky, roll the cone in the birdseed. The seeds will stick to the cone even after the peanut butter dries, so use a string to hang it from and tree and watch as the birds feast on it.

Arts and crafts are a good way to keep a big group of people entertained, regardless of age. It doesn't matter what the ages of your groups are, because there are crafts for all ages. Look online to find projects for every age group.

Use a spirograph to show kids how patterns work. Your kids can actually learn something about wave patterns in the science of physics by watching how pens move through the varying shapes and patterns.

Always be on the lookout for ways children can learn through arts and crafts. Depending on their age, ask them questions about the supplies, such as how many there are or how many more they need.

If you're finding materials for your art projects too expensive, try buying them wholesale. Purchasing small quantities at a local retailer can get very expensive. A great way to save money and lower the cost of your arts and crafts supplies is if you buy them in bulk. Share some of the wealth with friends, or even sell the extra supplies yourself.

Now that you are armed with some great information, take on a new hobby and start creating. These tips will truly optimize your experience. Just get down to work right away.