Archive for December, 2009

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Seasonal Storage Basics: Top 5 Rules

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

Seasonal storage is something that many of us struggle with from year to year.??? We spend a lot of money on holiday decorations, and we want to make sure that those items are protected from damage while in storage.??? Yet at the same time, we all get so busy, and sometimes it’s just easier to throw everything in one box or plastic bag, stick it in a closet, and forget about it until next year!??? Inevitably, this always leads to more time and frustration when “next year” arrives and it’s time to decorate again.??? Save yourself some time in the long run by investing a little time and energy now by learning the top 5 rules of seasonal storage basics


Rule 1: Fix it first
Have you ever opened your artificial Christmas tree box or your Christmas tree stand and found that something was broken or a piece was missing when you took it down last year???? As soon as you see this, you’ll probably remember your good intentions last year of fixing the problem or replacing the missing piece before storing the tree or stand away, but somehow it just didn??t happen.??? This leads us to Rule number 1: Fix it first!??? Never store a holiday decoration away until it is in good repair.


Rule 2: Preparation
This one kind of goes hand in hand with Rule 1.??? Before storing any holiday decorations away, you should first make sure they are prepared and ready to go for next season.??? For example, if you have old worn out strings of lights, throw those out.??? A set of candles that’s burned almost completely out???? Toss them, too.??? If you use any battery powered lights on coffee tables or end tables, take the batteries out and dispose of them properly before storing the light sets away.??? You’ll want new batteries in them next year.??? All this might take you a little extra time at the end of the holiday season, but it will save you a lot of time at the beginning of the holiday season next year!


Rule 3: Like items together
When you’re getting ready to organize your seasonal storage, always remember to keep like items together.??? That is, all your holiday lights should be stored together in one box, all the nativity set figurines in another, and so on.??? There’s nothing more frustrating than having to dig through all your seasonal storage boxes to find the two matching candlesticks that should have been stored together in the first place.


Rule 4: Store it wisely
Now that you’re ready to store your items away, you need to decide what type of storage container you want to use.??? Do you want to store in corrugated boxes, plastic bins, or cloth bags???? This question is answered in part by your storage budget.??? If you have more money to spend, you might want to invest in plastic bins or commercially available heavy-duty storage bags.??? Also keep in mind that some items should be stored in their original packaging.??? For example, if your 12 piece porcelain nativity set came in a Styrofoam box that is specially molded to hold each piece, then don’t throw that away!??? Breakable items will always do better if stored in their original protective packaging.??? If the original packaging includes a cardboard box, it might be a good idea to then place the cardboard box inside a heavy-duty storage bag or plastic bin to keep moisture out.


Rule 5: Label, label, label
Once you get all your holiday decorations into their respective storage containers, the last and most important step is to label.??? It is absolutely critical that each storage container be labeled clearly!??? This will save you an enormous amount of time next year.??? For example, wouldn’t it be nice to know which box contains your Christmas tree stand so you can get it out first and have it ready when your family brings home the live Christmas tree???? Make it easy on yourself by creating large labels for each storage container.


The holidays are already stressful enough!??? Don’t make it harder on yourself with a disorganized mess of holiday decorations.??? With a little time and forethought in how you put away your seasonal storagePsychology Articles, you??ll make the holiday decorating process easier on yourself for years to come.

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Christmas Cards: A Historical Look at a Popular Tradition

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

Almost all of us have, at one time or another, sent or received a Christmas card.??? These printed holiday greetings are a mainstay of the Christmas season in the United States and many other countries around the world.??? But did you ever stop to wonder how this tradition got started???? Who sent the first Christmas card?


Most historians trace the origins of Christmas cards back to the year 1843 in London, England.??? During the mid-19th century in Britain, it was customary to send hand written greetings to one’s friends and relatives, wishing them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.??? In 1843, one Englishman, Sir Henry Cole, decided he was far too busy to take the time to personally write these notes.??? So instead, he commissioned his friend, John Callcott Horsley, also an artist, to paint some cards with a Christmas scene of merriment and a banner with a holiday greeting.??? Sir Henry’s idea was to save time by just signing and sending the cards.??? However, as the story goes, Mr. Horsley may have depicted too much merriment, as it appeared a number of children were enjoying a glass of wine in the painted scene.??? Sir Henry Cole, embarrassed by the resulting scandal and controversy, only sent out a few Christmas cards in subsequent years.


In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Kate Greenaway, a children’s writer and illustrator in London, developed the idea of preprinted Christmas cards.??? Ms. Greenway was much more sensitive to the “appropriate content” of the day, and her cards quickly grew in popularity.


Up until this time, all Christmas cards sent in the U.S. were imported from England.??? In 1874, an American lithograph printer, Louis Prang, began printing Christmas cards to sell in the U.S.??? Because of this, Mr. Prang is sometimes referred to as the “father of the American Christmas card.”??? Mr. Prang’s cards featured snow scenes, flowers, birds, burning fireplaces, and most of all children playing with toys.??? Today some of his intricate designs are favored by collectors.


The business of printing Christmas cards soon became the mainstay of stationary manufacturers and specialty printers.??? Designs often followed the historical times.??? During both World War I and World War II the themes became very patriotic.??? The 1950’s brought a mix of nostalgic, sentimental, and religious themes.??? Some other, more risque cards produced during that time suggest the changing of attitudes during that decade.


In the last decade, the United States has begun to see a decline in the volume of cards being sent.??? To some extent, this is blamed on improvements in technology and instant communication.??? With the advent of the internet, many people now choose to send free e-cards instead of mailing a paper greeting card.??? Better telephone communication has also played a roll, as most people now have cell phones that offer them very inexpensive rates and free long distance.


Even with the decline in recent years, the U.S. Census Bureau still estimates that nearly 2 billion Christmas cards are sent in the United States each year.??? Little did Sir Henry Cole know, he was on to something great.??? From its humble beginnings in mid-19th century LondonComputer Technology Articles, the Christmas card industry has blossomed into a multi-billion dollar giant that will surely continue to grow and evolve in the future.

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Planning a Wedding on a Tight Budget

Friday, December 25th, 2009

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Why Your Divorce Can Be The Best Thing That Ever Happened To You

Friday, December 25th, 2009

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Is your wife having an emotional affair?

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Copyright (c) 2009 Ed Opperman

As many men already know — extramarital infidelity can surface in a few different ways. Sometimes, a woman may be having a physical relationship with another man, in other cases — a woman maybe having what appears to be a platonic relationship with another man, but the boundary between friends and “too close” have become blurred. There is a third type of relationship that a woman may have with a man, and this relationship is oftentimes the most difficult to detect — an emotional affair with no physical contact.

Extramarital infidelity is, for many people, a type of an affair. While an emotional affair may lack physical intimacy, or even physical contact for that matter — within the confines of marriage, generally the longing for another individual, or their attention, is usually viewed as a breach of the unwritten rules of a marital relationship. Even if the so-called “affair” is simply an emotional affair, this could have devastating effects on your relationship.

Signs your wife may be having an emotional affair

-Has your wife suddenly become more cheery, or just has a better demeanor about her for no apparent reason?

-Does your wife spend a lot of time on the computer, while being secretive about who she’s chatting with, her e-mails, and the website she’s visiting?

-Has your wife suddenly taken a renewed interest in her overall appearance?

-Has your wife suddenly lost interest in talking with you about her day’s activities — especially when she used to be a “chatterbox”?

Now, just because your wife is displaying one of the above signs, or even several of these signs — this does not mean that she is necessarily engaging in extramarital infidelity. However, these are telltale signs that your wife may be developing an emotional interest and other man.

How to respond to potential extramarital infidelity

If you suspect that your wife may be, at the very least, talking to another man in an inappropriate way — the first thing you need to do is get proof. Do not confront her — if what you suspect is true, you may only end up building a bigger wall between the two of you. On the opposite side, if you confront your wife about potential infidelity and that simply is not happening — you could do irreparable harm to your marriage. There are online fidelity investigation services that can help you to verify whether your wife may be involved in an inappropriate relationship with another man.

In many people’s eyes — cheating is cheating, regardless of whether it is physical or emotional. HoweverFree Web Content, before confronting your wife on your gut feeling — it is a good idea to get some solid proof to backup your suspicions.

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Party Games Ideas

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

You may find that there are a number of guests at your party that are
strangers to each other. A rousing game of charades or a board game can
ease the awkwardness and get every one to loosen up and have more fun.

Party games ideas you decide on will really depend on the type of party you??re throwing and the theme. Activities that would be enjoyable to co-workers at a promotion party might be different than those for a birthday or anniversary. Take into consideration the mood of the partiers. People getting together after a long work week to celebrate the success of a colleague may prefer a simple game of chance rather that taxing their brains any further.

Of course the age of the guests is an important consideration. A game of musical chairs, for example, would be enjoyed by children but would not be interesting for teenagers. Similarly, party games ideas for a bachelorette party would vary greatly from graduation party games ideas!

Don??t forget that the party games ideas you come up with must add to the fun of the party. You??ll want to avoid games that make fun of people or belittle the sentiments of a group of the guests. For example, avoid gender specific games at birthday or graduation parties; a bachelors?? party would be a better time to enjoy them! Use your creativity to come up with prizes for the winners. You don??t have to break the bank, seek out meaningful but inexpensive gifts from a local party or novelty store. However, keep in mind the interests and ages of the party goers. Teenagers won??t be too motivated to take part in a game if the prize is a shiny new box of crayons.

Introducing some bold party games ideas can spice up your event if you plan to invite only adults. Many gift shops sell ??naughty games?? aimed at the adult crowd that would suit the occasion. For instance, there is “naughty” truth or dare, “sexy” charades and strip poker. Consider your guest list carefully and make sure that no one will be offended by playing such games.

There are games that can be enjoyed by all age groups and common examples are murder mystery, name that tuneArticle Submission, or a simple game of hide and seek. Choose the party games ideas carefully for teenage parties. The teen years are often an awkward phase and teens may be turned off by playing games they see as ??childish.?? Stick to games that teens will not feel silly taking part in.

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Who Invented the Corner Desk?

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Have you ever wondered who invented the corner desk? No? I didn’t think so,but neither had I until recently when I got to thinking, who invented this common, every day piece of office furniture?

Well, if you ever want to stump Google, then this is a good question to ask. I typed in “who invented the corner desk,” and the number one return on page one came from the Rabbi’s Corner: Did you ever wonder who invented Sunday School? Talk about way off mark! But just in case you are interested, Sunday school for Jewish students was invented in 1838 in Philadelphia by a woman named Rebecca Gratz. I am not Jewish, but at least I now know who to thank for some of my childhood education (and adult since I still attend some form of Sunday school today, currently as a teacher). I wonder if Rebecca Gratz had a corner desk?

Probably not, because the original desk was designed to sit in the middle of a room, or at the front of the room if you were a teacher. Lets take a look at an old style office, often still found today if you are an executive. Someone enters the office, and your desk is in the middle, or back quarter of the room facing the door. In front of your desk (remember, you sit behind the desk) are a couple of chairs for friends or clients (sometimes your clients are your friends). Behind you are some book shelves, a window to one side, and perhaps under the window is a small side bar. Your walls are also graced with classy art, perhaps a portrait of a distinguished great grandfather in his military uniform. You have a safe concealed somewhere, or at least a few hidden compartments in your desk. Your office is finished in rich woods and leather, and is your favorite room in the house.

If you are a teacher, your light pine desk is not so fancy, but still sits at the front of the classroom with your switch and an apple on top.

Now, I do not think that the corner desk evolved from this standard style of antique desk. No, I think it more likely evolved from a roll top desk. Why, do you ask? After all, they do not look anything alike. Remember, this is pure speculation of thought, but who used a roll top desk? Most often a book keeper, or other worker who had a boss. With a roll top desk, you focus on your work at hand, and when you look up, do you see a lush office or view from a window? No, you see little cubby holes and slots that hold more work or are a reminder of the work that you are doing.

Sounds a lot like a corner desk, doesn’t it? With the advent of the age of technology and computers, a computer just doesn’t fit in a roll top desk very well. Think about it, a corner desk is very functional, as a matter of fact, most modular furniture, that are often in cubicles, are corner desks molded to fit into a small work space. With a corner desk, you sit and look at your computer screen, or books, or items stashed away in small cubbies and shelves on the “hutch”. With a corner desk, you do not have lush leather chairs for your clients, or nice art, or a large window to enjoy the view.

A corner desk is practical and functional, and designed for the worker, just like the roll top desk. So, though I cannot say for sure what the history is of the corner desk, I can speculateFree Reprint Articles, and believe that I have come up with a fairly good theory on the evolution of the corner desk.

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Square bathtubs give a sense of style

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

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Dinner Ideas – Keeping The Spirit Of Hosting Alive

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

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The Bobblehead Doll — A Cultural Icon

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

The bobblehead doll is a type of doll with its head (which is often oversized in comparison to its body) connected to its body by a spring, so that tapping the doll will cause the head to wobble. This type of doll is also known as a ‘bobbing head doll’, ‘wobbler’, or ‘nodder’. These dolls date back to ancient Japan and China, where they were made with flexible bamboo strips instead of springs. Today’s dolls are more directly descended from German ‘nodders’ dating from the late 18th century, which were made from ceramic or bisque, and ranged in height from about 6 to 8 inches. These dolls were popular in America until around 1930, when interest in them started to fade.

Modern bobblehead dolls first appeared in the 1950s, and were initially made of papier-mache, and then from ceramic. Although the ceramic dolls were popular, they were fairly expensive, and were considered mainly collectors’ items. Eventually, however, manufacturers started making the dolls from plastic, allowing for a cheaper manufacturing process, which made the dolls more affordable.

Early dolls were made to resemble animals and popular cultural characters, and were often used as advertising icons and automobile accessories (one very popular such doll was that of the dashboard ‘hula girl’). Around 1960 Japanese-made papier-mache ‘baseball’ bobbleheads began to be imported into America. These early pieces were generic figures representing teams and their mascots, rather than individual players. Typically, the dolls for all teams would look the same, except that they would be wearing the uniform for the particular team being depicted. During this time there were a few dolls made up to represent some of the more famous players of the day, but they differed from their respective team dolls only by the uniforms they wore. Unfortunately, few of these papier-mache dolls have survived without some sort of damage (usually cracking or chipping), although those that have survived in good condition are now valuable collectors’ items.

In the 1970s, bobbleheads were made of ceramic materials, and became popular for other sports, as well as for popular cultural and cartoon characters. However, by the mid-1970s, interest in the dolls had again died out, and very few new dolls were made for nearly two decades, when they became popular again.

In the 1990s, the dolls began to be made from plastic, which greatly reduced their cost, and facilitated the making of many variations of dolls to represent specific cultural figures and other notable people. After 2000, many different variations of the dolls began to appear, and a number of companies started to offer dolls that could be customized to the buyers’ specifications. Modern dolls that represent specific individuals closely resemble those individuals, even including such things as headbands, scars, tattoos, and hair styles.

The greater diversity of the dolls, and their decreased cost, have, once again, made them a very popular item, and have rekindled interest in collecting them. Today bobblehead dolls have become an integral part of our culture. They have truly become one of the world’s most recognizable cultural icons.

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