Controling Reseller

Make Your Fashion Statement With Your Earrings

2005-08-03T04:34:00.000-07:00

Sher Matsen

Earrings are an important part of every woman's wardrobe, whether we are headed for a day at the beach, to the office, or to a wedding. Your earrings give a subtle hint about your personality.
You can change the entire look and feel of your wardrobe by adding the right earrings. You can bring out your softer feminine side, the sexy goddess, or present simple charm, sophistication, or elegance. For both men and women, today earrings are a definite fashion statement.

Earrings have been a part of human culture since 3000 BC. In past times, earrings actually established your position in society, because only royalty and very wealthy were able to afford expensive jewelry. Fine jewelry was worn by only the wealthy. The rest of the population also wore earrings to decorate their body, but they were replicas of high society jewelry.

There are many styles of earrings. There are quite literally thousands of choices. There is an earring style for every personality. Fine jewelry remains popular with precious stones such as sapphire and emeralds. Semi precious stones are also very popular. But even more popular are the costume jewelry earrings. These are affordable, look great, and are great for staying trendy and in style.

From dangles, to chandeliers, to droplets, to hoops, to studs. The choices and styles are never ending. If you don't have pierced ears, no worries! These days there is a terrific selection or clip on earrings available. You can be dazzling, subtle, glamorous, sexy. You can be highly refined, professional, high classed, or fun and funky, and trendy!

You can never have enough earrings. Your earrings can add the finishing touches your outfit. Change your earrings and you can change the entire appearance of your look. Think about that little black dress you own. Add a pair of sapphire studs and you'll be highly refined. Add a pair of large chandelier rhinestones and you'll be Hollywood glamour. Add a pair of wood dangles, and a pair of flip flops and you'll look fun and funky. Add a pair of red button earrings with a red bead necklace and you'll be "so sexy."

It's amazing what a pair of earrings can do to your look! So keep a good selection of earrings on hand to meet all your fashion needs. Earrings are the most important wardrobe accessory you can own. You'll get great value from your earrings. Choose earrings that meet your life style, your personality, and your tastes. There is no point in buying a pair of trendy earrings that you'll never wear because they don't feel like "you."

Earrings also make a great gift as they can be very personalized. Choose a style to meet their personality. From gemstones to beads, you can spend a little or you can spend a lot. The gift recipient will be thrilled that you were so thoughtful as to buy such a personal gift.

Use your earrings to make a lasting impression, from the board room to the beach. Be sure people remember who you are. It's important to always Make Your Fashion Statement!

© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.

© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.

About the author:
Sher has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at Estate Jewelry International.

Baby Shower Cake as the Centerpiece
Randy Wilson

When you're holding a baby shower one of the most important items that you'll serve is the baby shower cake. Cakes should be the highlight of the food lineup and should be served with a selection of desserts, finger food and cookies. Cakes can come in all shapes and sizes, including baby cakes, diaper cakes and bootie baby cakes.

When you're planning what type of cakes to prepare for the baby shower you'll find many babyshower cake cookbooks from which to make your selection. If you know the baby is a girl you can decorate the cake in a pink style. The same goes if the baby is a boy, in which case you'll want to focus on blue or green colors.

Baby shower cakes can be either one large cake, or you can make several smaller individual cakes which can be created for each guest that is invited.

The main focus of cakes is of course the expectant mother. Baby cakes make a great centerpiece that will bring a smile to any expectant mother. Diaper cakes also continue to be popular and are easy to make and assemble.

When you're planning which cakes that you want to make you can be as creative as you like. There are cookbooks available that feature some great ideas for cakes that you can adapt to fit your baby shower theme. If the theme of the baby shower is the alphabet you can find cakes that highlight this theme. There is no limit to the types of cakes that you can choose from for the shower.

Many times the cakes themselves create the theme for the shower. This is because the cakes can be the focus and centerpiece of the entire party. You can plan all the decorations, food and themes around the type of baby shower cake you decide to feature.

When you're looking for baby shower cake recipes you can find cookbooks in the recipe section in your local bookstore or library. You can also find a selection of recipes for baby shower cakes and diaper cakes on the internet. If you can't find the exact cake that you have in mind for your baby shower you can make any adaptations that you need to modify the cake to your liking.

Cakes should be as fun and creative as possible. There may be times when you want to hire someone to make the perfect cake. But keep in mind that half the fun of a baby shower is doing things yourself. Using your imagination, and a little help from cookbooks you can come up with the most amazing cakes imaginable.

There are many different types of cakes that you can choose from or that you can use as a starting base for your own babyshower cake ideas. Baby Shower Diaper cakes can often be paired up with edible cakes. This way you have the fun of a cake made from diapers and the deliciousness of an edible cake that everyone can enjoy.

Distinct Deliveries is an online merchant which offers not only Baby Shower Diaper Cakes, but much more.
href=http://distinctdeliveries.com/baby.cfm?secid=6&affid=1246>Distinct Deliveries.com offers baby baskets, baby announcements, baby books, shower cakes, baby jewelry, engraved items, plush
items, baby shower items, gifts baskets, chocolate & candy, baby gifts, book packages, flowers & plants, bath & body, fruit packages, gourmet & snacks, seasonal, pet gifts, specialty gifts, monthly
clubs..

Some themes you might want to use include:

Sports theme for boys
Princess cakes in pink for girls
Jungle animals for boys
Fairy theme for girls

No matter what type of cake you take into consideration your final choice should somehow reflect the theme of the baby shower.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy is owner of http://www.planning-a-baby-shower.com where you will find further tips on baby showers and baby shower games.

Fashion After 40

2005-08-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

Diana Pemberton-Sikes

With so many designers and trends targeting the svelte body
of the twenty-something, is it possible to look fashionable
as the years pass and your body begins to tell the tale?

Absolutely!

In fact, with a little ingenuity and sleigh-of-hand, it's
easy to be fashionable and stylish regardless of how many
candles are on your birthday cake.

Now let's be frank: unless you work out religiously, you
probably don't have the same body at 40, 50, or 60 that you
did at 25. Time, gravity, and pregnancy all take their toll
on the female body, as does menopause. And when you mix a
mature body with fashions obviously made for a younger
person, it can lead to self-doubt, frustration, and
confusion.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Getting older also
means getting wiser, and like a fine bottle of wine, you're
improving with age. So you don't have the same body as
those twenty-somethings you see in magazines or on TV. So
what? Would you REALLY trade everything you've learned
since your twenties for the body you had back then?
Probably no sooner than you'd like to re-live puberty,
thank you very much.

So how can you be fashionable without wearing all those
body-conscious clothes so en vogue these days? By
remembering the "3 C's" when you dress: clean, classic, and
coverage.

CLEAN

Clean lines create a clean silhouette which makes the body
appear more youthful by skimming the trouble spots instead
of calling attention to them. Complicated cuts, seams, and
details usually call for a killer body to pull off, so if
you haven't got it, steer clear of those styles.

CLASSIC

Classic styles are called classic because they remain in
style year after year. Why? Because they look good on so
many bodies! Sheathes, A-line skirts, flat front pants -
all tend to flatter a variety of shapes. What's more,
because they remain in style year after year, classics are
easier on the budget than trends.

COVERAGE

Covering appropriately is the key to aging gracefully. If
your upper arms, thighs, and d�colletage have all seen
better days, it's time to cover them up a bit instead of
sharing the wear-and-tear with the world. Now I'm not
talking about draping yourself in a tent for the rest of
your life. Far from it. I'm talking about wearing short
sleeves instead of going sleeveless, Capris instead of
shorts, and modest necklines instead of plunging necklines.

Now I know that covering up the parts that used to turn
heads and draw envy can be tough to take for some women.
Which is precisely why beautiful jewelry and fine fabrics
are the revenge tools of choice for many well-dressed
mature women.

So your bustline isn't as perky as your twenty-something
daughter or granddaughter. So what? Add a beautiful
necklace and draw envious glances from women of all ages.
Don't have the same backside you did as a teen? Encase it
in a fine fabric and see how many men go out of the way to
hold the door open for you. People will look where you
focus their attention, so use that knowledge to redirect
their interest to the parts you want them to see.

Or, as actress Cybil Shepard once said, "I like to flaunt
what I have left."

Don't flip through fashion magazines and bemoan the fact
that you don't look like the models. Instead, look at the
various fashion elements to determine what will and won't
work for you. Are printed scarves all the rage this year?
Grab a few and be trendy. Are mini skirts the style of
choice? Pass and bank your money.

See how easy this is?

"A woman has the age she deserves," Coco Chanel once said.
You don't have to go under cover and dress "like a little
old lady" just because that's what your mother or
grandmother did. You're your own person.

If you remember to dress in clean lines and classic styles
and cover appropriately, you can still be fashionable - AND
draw long, lingering glances from handsome men -- whatever
your age. And if THAT doesn't make you feel like a
blushing girl again, then honey, nothing I can say will!

Diana Pemberton-Sikes is a wardrobe and image
consultant and author of "Wardrobe Magic," an
ebook that shows women how to transform their
unruly closets into workable, wearable wardrobes.
Visit her online at www.fashionsavvy.com .

Gymnastics: Injury, Prevention, Treatment - A Brief Overview
Murray Hughes

Gymnastics: Injury, Prevention, Treatment - A Brief Overview

In every sport--not just gymnastics--there stands the risk
of injury, no matter how adept or flexible your gymnast
happens to be. The sport requires a lot of psychological
and physical preparation, in part because it is extremely
rigorous, and in part because it demands a higher level of
skill than most other sports. The complexity that routines
entail increases the risk of painful injury and fatigue if
proper preparations are not taken to ensure all-around
safety.

The most common injuries to the body are those to the ankles
and feet, the lower back, knees, hands, and wrists. These
can be due to overuse or simple stress. The lower body
injuries are generally because of unbalanced landings,
while the back experiences strain when insufficient
stretching has been performed. Scrapes and bruises are to
be expected, even if your gymnast is properly attired -- so
simply be prepared. Any injury to a gymnast's body can be
detrimental to his or her performance in the future.
Stiffness can result from lack of use of a limb or of the
back if he or she is put out of the game for too long--that
is, if the injury is serious. For the most part, as a
parent, you will have to deal with less serious injuries
(hopefully), and you will not need to visit the doctor's
office to have them treated.

In any case, the best course of action is indeed prevention.
The standard safety measures in any sport are simple and
easily implemented, most especially for gymnastics.

First, you will want to make sure that your gymnast wears
the proper clothing. If he or she has long hair, tie it
back, braid it, or otherwise secure it. Do not allow them
to wear clothing that is too loose or baggy and conducive
to tripping; the same goes for socks and shoes - nothing
that will cause them to slide on a nonporous surface.
Remove all jewelry. Rings, for instance, can be caught on
swelling fingers if one is sprained. Earrings can be torn
from earlobes or carteliage in a mishap.

Then, make sure that you and your gymnast takes stock of the
surroundings. Wires from equipment can trip or cut;
running into poles or other gymnasts can be a disaster. To
trip on a mat that is higher than the current surface might
be painful.

Next, have them warm up. Warmups are vital to any sport,
and every gymnast, whether they are a preschooler or a
professional, should do them before starting any strenuous
activity. This includes jogging, speed walking, and
stretching -- anything to get the blood moving and the
heart pumping. Believe it or not, a good stretch decreases
the risk of a strained or pulled muscle, and it actually
feels good. If you're training with your young gymnast at
home or otherwise on your own time, it's advisable to be a
good role model and join them in their warm-ups. Turn on
some music and move too. It's a triple plus: you'll be
showing her or him how to properly warm up, that you are
interested in what they are doing, and you will be getting
your heart rate going strong too.

When your gymnast is out on the floor, make sure that he or
she takes breaks for water frequently. Hydration is key to
good health. If he or she is sweating profusely,
dehydration is possible, and that too can be a disaster
waiting in the wings.

Beyond all of the hazards of gymnastics, there is treatment
for any injuries received. Of course, if your gymnast is
injured severely, a doctor visit might be the best idea --
or even the emergency room. However, that is simply common
sense. On the other hand, if your child is not injured
severely, you may wish to take care of him or her yourself.

But whatever you decide to do, please understand I am not a
doctor and you should always consult your family doctor if
you have any problems or concerns.

For sprains, strains, bumps and bruises, you should use
ice for the first twenty four hours. Ice cubes in a
plastic bag with a facecloth or a hand towel wrapped around
the bag itself is sufficient if you do not have a medical
ice pack. Never place ice directly against skin - and
never ice for more than twenty to thirty minutes at a time.

Three or four times in the first day after the injury
should be sufficient. After that, gentle heat compresses
will help to relax any muscle spasms or pain that isn't
taken care of with some kind of pain reliever (consult a
doctor before giving your gymnast ANY medication).

Hopefully, you'll never have to deal with injuries -- but
remember, prevention is better than anything else. Keep
this in mind and be safe.

Good luck!

By Murray Hughes
Gymnastics Secrets Revealed
"The book EVERY gymnastics parent should read"

http://www.gymnasticssecretsrevealed.com/gymnastics-articles/gymnastics-injuries.htm

If your child is a gymnast and you enjoyed this article, you
will definitely enjoy reading the zero cost, 5-day course
Gymnastics Tips Course written especially for gymnastics
parents by a gymnastics parent.
http://www.GymnasticsSecretsRevealed.com
For AOL Users - Kids Gymnastics

What Online Gifts Have Come To Mean To The Shopper

2005-08-01T10:46:00.000-07:00

Gina Stathopoulos

Shoppers buying online gifts last year generated $301 billion revenue. Now that shopping on the internet isn't such a new thing as it once was, consumers feel very comfortable trusting both their credit card details and also that their recipient will receive their gift.
Shopping for online gifts rather than going to a store is very enticing-

We save money

In many cases by preferring to buy my gifts online, I've seen great savings. Many factors combine so that we shoppers win. The competition, the fact that merchants don't have the same overheads as offline, and of course, from which country you are shopping from and how strong your country's currency is.

We save time

These days we work longer hours. The time that we do have to ourselves is very precious. Buying online gifts saves me a lot of time. With all the birthdays I have to shop for and for special occasions it makes my life so much easier.

We have such a large variety of gifts

Where the shops in your area may store some items, online gifts you can find quantity, quality and variety. A good example is nautical jewelry. If you are a big fan like I am, you can find pieces created in such different designs that you won't run out of choices.
Looking for flowers? or Gift baskets? Same thing. Shop online and choose. The choice is there.

Designers unleash their creativity to give us more

The internet has made it possible for the little guy and girl to unleash their creativity and give us shoppers more of a choice in niche gift products. Many mum and dad business are popping on the internet because the internet gives them the opportunity to do so.
I, along with a heap of my friends, are animal lovers. What better than to give your cat lover friend for her birthday a set of gold cat earrings that look like they are just handing on to her ear lobes- what cuter!

Truth is, I haven't seen much of a variety in cat and dog jewelry until I started shopping online. Sure, you will get a few, but animal jewelry is a niche kind of gift so your variety offline will be limited. And another truth- I haven't seen such pieces as sold online that are so eye catching.

Easier to shop for friends and family overseas

Do you remember the days when you used to send cards overseas on special occasions? Those days are gone for me. A card is nice, a gift much nicer. If you want to buy something from your country and send it overseas, it's the postage that burns a hole in your pocket. Now with so many businesses getting online, choose a local site to the country you want to send you and your gift as well as your thoughts are on their way.

As you see, it's not difficult for the consumer to see the wide benefits of shopping online and these are my reasons for doing so. I have been sending online gifts for over five years now.
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Copyright © Gina Stathopoulos

Looking for a gift? Let Gina and Nick show you what we buy for friends/family and each other. At our site you will find popular gifts, gift information and stories from our readers. Come have a look http://www.we-recommend.com

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Fashion After 40
Diana Pemberton-Sikes

Multilevel Marketing

2005-08-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

Helen Peshkova

Basic Idea

Multilevel marketing (MLM), also known as "Network" marketing, are a way of selling goods or services through self-employed independent distributors. As a networker (independent distributor) you receive commissions - for both your sales of the company's goods or services and those of other people you recruit to join the distributors. Multilevel marketing plans usually pay commissions through two or more levels of recruits, known as the distributor's "downline."

Downline is the distributors recruited by you, and you receive commissions on their sales and the sales of the distributors they recruit.

Upline is the distributors who are above you in the MLM hierarchy and who receive commissions (overrides) from your sales.

To be avoided are MLM plans that are actually pyramid schemes (so called "naked pyramid scheme") in disguise - that is, plans that focus only recruiting more and more distributors, but have no substantive product at the bottom of the pyramid. New participants pay a fee to participate and hope to profit by recruiting others into the system. Chain letters are an example.

State laws against pyramiding say that an MLM plan should only pay commissions for retail sales of goods or services, not for recruiting new distributors. However, MLM companies typically structure their payment plan so that recruiting is more profitable.

Before you start working in particular MLM, get familiar with the following mainstream websites and web magazines.

You can find top Sites about Network Marketing at www.RichTrack.com.

Typical mistakes to avoid

1. The most important part of MLM is the education system of MLM company, but not "magic plan" nor "magic leader" who will help you to get rich quick. The most successful companies usually have the most advanced educational programs which cover people management, negotiations, sales, leadership, money management, and many more. Do not get cheated by "progressive plans" and "world leaders". Marketing plan is just the part of MLM business. The small part.

2. Taking part in naked pyramid scheme. Check if your MLM Company runs a pyramid. Avoid any plan that includes commissions for recruiting additional distributors. It may be an illegal pyramid.

3. Easy Money. Network distributors who are successful know their products, their customers, the company's vision, and are ready to do that which is necessary "hard work". A distributor whose mind-set is on laying a "foundation" rather than looking for easy money will be around a lot longer.

4. Be cautious of plans that claim you will make money through continued growth of your "downline" -- the commissions on sales made by new distributors you recruit -- rather than through sales of products you make yourself.

5. Don't pay or sign any contracts in an "opportunity meeting" or any other high-pressure situation. Insist on taking your time to think over a decision to join. Talk it over with your spouse, a knowledgeable friend, an accountant or lawyer.

6. Do your homework! Check with your local Better Business Bureau and state Attorney General about any plan you're considering -- especially when the claims about the product or your potential earnings seem too good to be true.

Top MLM Companies

1. Amway Corporation - A Global Leader in Multilevel Marketing
2. Dorling Kindersley Opportunity selling children's books.
3. The Body Shop Offers skin and hair care products with information covering campaigns, values and company.
4. Golden Neo-Life Diamite International A multi-level marketing company selling nutritional products and water filtration systems.
5. Nu Skin Enterprises Corporate site. Direct selling company with three divisions, Big Planet, Nu Skin and Pharmanex.
6. Big Planet An internetworking company offering a financial opportunity to a vast network of sales representatives.
7. Herbalife International Corporate site. Independent distributor offer selling personal care and nutritional products.
8. Avon Products, Inc. Corporate site. Representative opportunity selling cosmetics, clothing, toys, perfume, jewelry, books, and videos.
9. Tupperware Official U.S. web site with products available for sale, and information on parties. Work at home career opportunities.
10. Seasilver USA Offering nutritional supplements. Includes distributor information.

Written by Helen Peshkova, RichTrack.com.

http://www.RichTrack.com is one of the first business oriented education portals. It's the leading online business information network for millionaires. The goal of RichTrack.com is to present business content in a professional, helpful and practical format that helps you getting rich.

Shopping Cart Abandonment Solved!
Mike Banks Valentine

Imagine yourself at the local Sears carrying a shopping basket
down the isles looking for the perfect gift for your spouse
when you come to a great looking watch in the jewelry department.
You know she'll love the design, but also know she has a curious
allergy to white gold and call over a salesperson to ask them
what the bevel surround is made of. She reassures you that it's
made of platinum so you cheerfully purchase the watch, smiling
as you wander over to have it gift-wrapped.

Take the same scenario online and imagine you have the same
simple question to ask someone. Now what? You most likely just
abandon the shopping cart and leave the store because you can't
imagine spending that amount of money without knowing whether
your sweetie will break out in hives because the white gold
allergy affects her wrists so badly.

Abandonment of shopping carts online is blamed on everything
from fear of using credit cards on the web to privacy concerns.

My theory is as follows: If you have any questions about any
product or service you are purchasing online, ecommerce sites
expect you to either look up the answer in their FAQ's
(frequently asked questions page) or just search out their
800 number from the site somewhere and call them yourself to
find out. This can be a ridiculous process on some sites as
they simply don't want to be bothered with expensive phone
calls and leave their number off of the shopping cart pages.

They don't want to devote customer service reps to those fickle
shoppers that abandon online shopping carts at rates as high
as 90% at some ecommerce sites. I'd propose that most online
shoppers abandon those carts because they need to know something
that could never be considered for those FAQ pages like the term
of the product guarantees or how long the battery life is. If
there were a simple way to have your questions answered, I'd
like to suggest that those shopping carts would rarely ever
be abandoned.

I've found the solution and can't believe the brilliance of
the idea behind the answer to this thorny question. Customer
clicks a button labled "CallButton" and gets a pop-up screen
asking for their name and phone number so a representative
can call them at their convenience to answer any questions
and/or concerns!

They fill int their name and phone number and receive a polite
response page custom designed to reassure them that they will
be contacted how and when they would like to be by a person that
can actually answer their question! No nasty telephone trees or
automated callbacks, but a person from the jewelry department
that knows platinum from white gold.

You now have the name and phone number of a prime valuable
customer ready to buy who WANTS to hear from you.

>From the customers viewpoint, this is simple, responsive and
satisfying. From the sellers position it is one of the most
powerful ecommerce tools to be announced on the web this year!
This idea and the powerful software behind that simple button
were announced at a press event titled "Showstoppers" during
the Spring 2001 InternetWorld conference and show in the City
of Angels (Los Angeles) March 15th.

This tool receives my vote as a better ecommerce solution than
any seen at the huge eCRM (Customer Relationship Management) show
held concurrently with the I-World show at the LA convention
center this month. The powerful tracking and reporting functions
that come as part of the package with this incredibly simple
little button could turn around the fortunes of major e-tailers
like many of those we've seen sink in the economic downturn.

Priced at a very low per-call rate starting at about $1.50
per customer contact, you can have calls routed anywhere from
your cell phone to your home office and be assured of making
the sale to that customer that very likely would have walked
(or clicked) right out of your e-store without that personal
contact from a caring customer representative. Most so-called
CRM solutions are simply automated-database-tracking-purchase-
recording-preference-listing-sub-routine-predictive-expensive-
file-them-here-contact-them-then-follow-up-with-them-next
types of robotic de-personalizers.

CallButton offers the reporting and tracking tools available
in those complex CRM solutions with two major differences. Your
customer gets their questions answered and you make the sale!
It's installed on your page with a short line of HTML code and
you don't invest the tens of thousands of dollars required of
major corporations for their robotic de-personalizer software.

You make the sale, your customer is satisfied. Now comes the
bonus. The upsell while the customer is on the phone with you.
This prospect has requested your contact, has an interest in more
of what you sell and has qualified themselves for your services.
If you don't upsell them now, you might consider doing something
else with your time.

I've signed up for the service and can't imagine how I got along
without it. It's priced for the small business and handily solves a
difficult issue for both business owners and their customers.

http://callbutton.com/

Mike Banks Valentine
WebSite101 "Reading List" Weekly Netrepreneur Tip Sheet
Weekly Ezine emphasizing small business on the Internet
Subscribe address mailto:WebSite101-subscribe@listbot.com
articles available: http://website101.com/freecontent.html

Travel Tips For Getting Through the Airport Easier and Quicker

2005-07-31T13:04:00.000-07:00

Sherry Otto

Traveling is different now than it was before 9/11. Arriving at the airport even earlier than before, standing in line longer while waiting to pass through security, having luggage x-rayed, and being pulled aside for random security checks make the time it takes to travel more lengthy than it used to be. Planning ahead can shave off a few minutes here and there and hopefully make your travels less frustrating. Here are some things I have found to be helpful when traveling:

* Make a list. Other than clothes, write down everything you need to take with you (camera, film, sun screen, hand sanitizer, book, etc.) and pack it ahead of time. This will avoid taking extra time to put it in your suitcase or bag at the last minute since you have to arrive at the airport earlier now.

* Before you leave home, put your jewelry and watch in a little cosmetic bag down inside the bag you carry on the plane and put your jewelry on once you've passed through security. Since security has been tightened there is a good chance that you will beep and have to take it off anyway.

* Remember to pack things such as fingernail kits (that include nail files, clippers, etc.) in the suitcase you will be checking and not in your carry-on bag. You are no longer allowed to carry these items on the plane.

* Purchase a zippered pouch (I got mine at AAA) to keep your ID, boarding passes, e-ticket, and travel itinerary in. Then put the pouch in a side pocket of the bag you carry on the plane. Keeping this information together will keep you from digging for it each time you need it.

* Try not to wear clothing that requires a belt (with buckle) or clothing that has any metal, metal buttons, or anything on it that would cause you to beep when you go through security. This will just slow down the process and you want to keep moving as quickly as possible.

* If the airport you are departing from has curbside check-in, take advantage of it. It is often quicker than standing in line once you are inside the airport.

Sometimes just remembering the little things will help you get through the airport smoothly and avoid those little delays that give you a big headache.

http://www.great-caribbean-vacations.com
Specializing in fun Caribbean vacations! Also offering travel tips, hot spots, and information about romantic vacations, beach vacations, sailing vacations, golf vacations, shopping vacations, and Caribbean cruises.

How to Raise Creative Kids
Susan Stump

"Where did he come up with that?" Kids often amaze us with their imaginative ideas, and we should give ourselves a pat on the back for playing a role in this development. Innovative thinking is essential for success in school and in life, and it's our job as parents to nurture our kids' innate desire to be creative. Inventive play fosters original thinking, an asset when children are confronted with new situations. By providing activities that use their creativity and imaginations, we are giving our children an important tool to deal with life down the road.

Give them ideas.
Children come up with things to do on their own, but we also need to provide them with new ideas of interesting activities. Think back to what you did as a kid. Did you write a diary, create elaborate puppet shows, or sing and dance for relatives? Share ideas from your own childhood experiences. Offer creative writing ideas like writing an episode for a favorite television show or writing a new ending to a favorite story. Craft projects offer another outlet for inspiring imaginations. Craft kits, especially those from Curiosity Kits and ALEX, offer a wide variety of unusual and fun projects. They've brought us a long way from the sock puppets of our youth. These manufacturers offer ideas and supplies to make such things as scrapbooks, powerballs, soaps, candy, sun catchers, dolls, planes, dinosaurs, jewelry treasures, and lots of decorative items. Kids can gather ideas from the instructions, and then give the projects their own unique touches.

Keep ideas fresh.
Pick up any parenting magazine and you'll find lots of ideas to get those creative juices flowing in your kids. Search the web and check out craft stores. Keep a journal or file for magazine clippings and ideas as you find them. Stockpile so that you'll know how to answer the whiny "I'm bored" call from your kids.

Give them freedom.
Once you've given your kids some suggestions and supplies, step back and see which they choose and where they go with them. This unstructured play time gives kids an opportunity to stretch their creative muscles. Watch as they incorporate your ideas and branch out on their own.

Set an example.
Chances are, if you are a creative person, your child will be too. You display creativity in your everyday activities like when you reason with a disgruntled child, change lyrics to songs, and maybe even do some interpretive dancing to entertain a toddler. Your children see your silliness and it rubs off on them. You surely use creativity to juggle your and your family's schedules. It's a great idea to point out to your kids how you use creativity in your daily life.

As parents, we always try to do the very best for our kids and provide opportunities that will help them mature into intelligent, capable adults. Nurturing their creative spirits helps them along this road. With their well-developed imaginations, maybe they'll turn it into a yellow brick, pink polka-dotted road with sparkles!

Susan Stump is the mother of two children and the owner of ChildCrafter, Co. - Craft Kits and Subscriptions that Inspire a Child's Imagination. This work-at-home-mom offers a great selection of creative craft kits from ALEX, Quincrafts, and Curiosity Kits from her catalog and website (www.childcrafter.com).

Write a Better Online Personal Ad

2005-07-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

Tracy Brant at Datreable.com

This article is available on the web as well as by
autoresponder. If you decide to publish, please let us know
at articles@dateable.com and be sure to include the bylines.
Thank you.

ARTICLE URL: http://www.dateable.com/brand/articleadtips.shtml

AUTORESPONDER: adtipsarticle@sendfree.com

WORD COUNT: 1511

===========================================

Write a Better Online Personal Ad
By Tracy Brant at Dateable.com

If you are going to invest time or money in using a
matchmaking website, you should really pay some attention to
writing a profile that will get you some responses. People
will not be interested in emailing you if you do not do
something to make yourself stand out from the masses of
people using personal ads.

I administer several dating websites. People frequently
write in saying, "I never get any replies to my ad." And
when I go look at the ad, I find that they have not filled
out the profile, or added a photo. Who can tell if they want
to email you if there is no information? Not quite as bad,
but still ineffective, is a profile that says, "Email me for
details" or "looking for a nice person." You can't bother
to write a paragraph to find the love of your life? Or even
a fun date for the weekend?

Here are some guidelines for writing effective personal ad
blurbs:

INVESTMENT. Decide that this is worth spending some time
on, or don't bother. You wouldn't submit a sloppy resume,
would you? This is about making a good first impression,
because there will be no second chance once someone clicks
to the next ad.

MARKETING. You are marketing yourself... trying to stand
out in a crowd. You are the "product." and the people you
want to meet are your customers. Think about who you want to
meet, and then think about who THEY want to meet! How can
you tell them that YOU are the person they want to meet?
Magazine ads, for example, grab your attention, make you
laugh, they make you think "wow, what a great thing... I
want to buy it." They can be short, but pack a punch. If
they are long, they tell a good story. Marketers test their
different ad campaigns, and you should, too. Try placing
different ads to see what gets you a better result.

PREPARATION. Before you log in anywhere, do some thinking
and writing. Don't wait until you are faced with a blinking
cursor to write your blurb. Give serious thought to how you
will describe yourself and the person you hope to find.
Write at least two paragraphs, one about yourself, and one
about the person you seek. Ask someone you trust to read
those paragraphs and comment on how well they reflect who
you are and what you want. Save that text to cut and paste
into dating website forms. Have a digital photo or two
ready.

OPENING LINES. Use your username... don't be Bob3456... be
PaintBallPrincess or SecretSuperHero or something else that
reflects your sense of humor and yourself. If the ad allows
you a "subject line" also use that well... "Need woman in
Atlanta" doesn't cut it. "Atlanta man on a mission" sounds
more interesting. "Atlanta Knight seeks his Queen" tells a
different story about who you are seeking. Use your username
and subject line to hook people into your ad. Use humor,
drama, a funky metaphor. Then, like any good ad, you want to
show them you are what they need, show them why you are
unique, and invite them to take action... by emailing you!

DETAILS. Write in complete sentences. Spelling and grammar
DO count. We have modern tools to help with that. You want
to look like you find this task important enough to spell
out the words. Unless you are 15 years old, writing "If u r
inrested n me, wrt 2 me" makes you LOOK 15 years old. ALL
CAPS IS LIKE SHOUTING... don't. It is actually harder to
read.

HONESTY. If you are not honest with yourself and others,
you will not find happiness in the personals. Are you
married? You know, people CAN figure that out and will
resent the lie more than the wedding ring. Without making
any value judgements, putting down "married" will not
necessarily stop you from finding matches. If you are just
looking for a casual date, don't imply that you are looking
for marriage just to get more email... it wastes everyone's
time. If you are looking for a long-term thing, don't think
you can "convince" a casual date to spend more time with
you. You are asking for disappointment. Try completing this
sentence: "In a year, I'd like to see us doing...."

STRINGS. Guys, I see many you making a crucial mistake in
your profiles. You will find that women are seldom looking
for a "no strings relationship." There simply is no such
thing... if it is a relationship, it has strings of SOME
sort. If you don't want strings, you are looking for an
escort service. Women of any description can find casual
physical relationships without lifting a finger to a
keyboard. Don't lie, but think about which "strings" are
okay with you. "Seeking Torrid Summer Romance" is fine and
honest. So is, "I am not eager to move in or get married. I
want to have a regular date for parties and cookouts with my
friends." Ladies, this counts for you, too. If your
personal ad sounds like you might be offering paid sexual
services, you are going to get some rude offers. You might
avoid phrases like, "looking for a wealthy man with good
taste in jewelry."

BEYOND PHYSICAL. Have you ever really dated someone just
for their eye color? OK, maybe you have spectacular
eyeballs. But ads tend to reel off personal stats... and
then stop there, as though there were nothing but a body.
Most personal sites let you click things to describe your
eyes, hair, and height... don't waste valuable profile space
on your hair. Talk about who you are first, and what you
look like at the end. Want to know the number one thing
surveyed women look for in a guy? A sense of humor.

AVOID NEGATIVES. This is not the place to list all the
things that drove you crazy about your ex and how you won't
put up with that again. Don't list what you don't want...
discuss what you DO want. Turn your own lifestyle quirks
into positives, not obstacles. Workaholic? Try, "My career
keeps me very busy, so I need someone with a flexible
schedule for spontaneous one-day adventures." Frugal to a
fault? Try "I find it amusing to squeeze a nickel 'til it
screams... help me research for my web column "CheapDates
for CheapSkates." Worried people will regard your children
as an obstacle? "My family is very important to me and I
hope to find someone that will enjoy the attention of a warm
family circle."

POST A PHOTO. Website statistics show that an ad with a
photo is 80% more likely to get a response. A photo that
shows you relaxed and having fun, no matter what you look
like, is even better. Don't use a photo that isn't current..
it isn't worth looking so insecure, or being rejected later.
Don't rush to ask for a photo... you may look like a "pic
trader," someone who is collecting photos rather than
looking for a real date. Don't stress about your looks...
attraction is about more than looks. Yes, we often are first
attracted to someone by looks, when we meet in person. But
on the Internet, if you seem like a jerk, you won't get the
chance to meet in person.

LIFE STAGES. People often say that "age" is not as
important as "life stage." Where are you in your life? Just
starting out in a new career? Settled into life with kids?
Empty-nesting? Exploring new interests? These are things
that matter. Talk about what is important in your life. "I
am established in my career and now turning my attention to
the great books I never had time to read." "I moved to this
state for a job after college, and I am looking for dates
with a lot of outdoors-loving friends to help me build a
sporty new social circle."

FAVORITE THINGS. Listing ALL your favorite things is
dizzying.. Choose one good example and talk about why you
like it. Choose something that gives the reader an insight
into what you enjoy. You want people to be able to spot
things you have in common, but also feel that there is
something new and interesting to learn about you. Interest
them in learning more with a "teaser" about something
fascinating about you. Ask a question for them to answer in
the reply email.

RULES. Never... NEVER include your last name, phone number
or address. Observe the rules of the various websites...
some do not allow you to post web addresses or email
addresses. Many prohibit crude language or sexual
references. Getting your ad removed by breaking rules is a
waste of time.

So... let your personality be shown in a tasteful way, take
the time to do a good job, and have a good photo. Those
things alone will put you far ahead of the misspelled
anonymous pack. Best of luck!

© Dateable.com LLC 2002

Dateable.com is an exciting online community for singles,
couples and romance lovers. Dateable.com has romantic
resources, advice, poetry, greeting cards, and more.
Dateable.com also features specialty matchmaking services.
Whether you are looking for a soulmate or a playmate, visit
http://dateable.com

Expand Your Market Dramatically
Richard Bolduc

Are your marketing efforts limited to your target market?
One of my "Front Page" customers came to me with his dilemma.
His name is Thomas F. Seymour and he owns the Gold Link.
Through the advice I gave Thomas you can dramatically expand
your market. First, I must outline the problems he had expanding
his market.

Thomas F. Seymour sells gold jewelry for an internet lowest
price of $10 per gram at www.tgoldlink.com. His business
achieved front page placement in all the major search engines,
with over 20 different set's of keywords pertaining to gold
jewelry. He has several marketing virus's and articles circulating
in his target market. He posts ads religiously in jewelry related
ezines, newsletters, and in jewelry discussion forums. In other
words he is now making money, from his target market. The
income kind of levels off though, and he needs to know how to
increase his income and expand his market.

Now, let's say, he would like to get exposure in front of the
Internet crowd that spends their time looking for free stuff.
"FREE" is always in the "top 5 most searched word in the
internet search engines" list. However to post in those areas
would be considered spamming because, well, he sells gold,
he is not a freebie site.

Okay, what about expanding his jewelry site to include posts
in the huge target of internet marketers, ton's of discussion
forums. Most successful Internet marketers can afford his
products. So many marketing ezines allow free ads. There are
more ezines with "internet marketing" as a topic, than any
other topic. But to post an ad for jewelry in these marketing
e-zines, it just wouldn't happen. Your product or service needs
to fit a certain niche to be discussed or submitted to any topic
related ezine or discussion group.

So how do we break those barriers? It's quite simple really,
in the case of the Gold Link. His solution was as follows for
those 2 examples above.

First, find a free product that you believe in. Offer it from
your site as a thank you for signing up to your mailing list.
In The Gold Link's case it's a free cellphone. Now he can post
an ad in any freebie listing place to the effect that the Gold
Link is giving away free cellphones. Ton's of free ad space in
all the ezines with free stuff as a topic. Plus it grows his
mailing list.

Second, get involved with a marketing package you can
discuss in the marketing ezines and forums. In Gold Links
case he signed up for Startblaze, nomorehits, and ezytraffic
and several more. I then wrote a special Traffic Magic report
about how to automate the credit building process in these
programs. He gives the report away free through an autoresponder
trafficmagic@tgoldlink.com. This report was so effective and it
intrigued so many marketers that they had to go check him out
some bought gold. It allowed him to expand his exposure into
the internet marketing crowd. It allows him to submit his ads
to the internet marketing ezine community.

Be creative and you can go "on and on" about "how to get into
other target markets," but those examples should help point
the way for some of you who are hoping to expand their market.

Richard Bolduc, webmaster for
The Rhinos Web, a featured speaker and the well known author
of "Front Page, Webmasters Guide to the Search engines."
Find Out WHY Every Website YOU Submit CAN Land on the Front Page.
Results Shown Here. http://www.rhinosweb.com/frontpage.html

"I Love Florence in the Springtime"

2005-07-29T17:09:00.000-07:00

Sarah Anne Polsinelli

Shortly after landing in Rome's Fiumicino airport, it will hit you like a ton of cobblestones: You're in Italy.

Simply being in Italy is surreal. Walking around, the images that you've seen in photos and films literally come to life. The sites and people aren't extremely extravagant, but there is an abiding sensation that you are in a different world.

Last year around this time, York Italian literature professor Elio Costa told me about the annual trip organized by the Italian department.

"But it's too expensive," I thought immediately. I had been to Italy once before and three weeks of memorable travelling left me with serious credit card debt. Professor Costa told me to look into some bursaries and I did. When I was granted $1,500 in financial support, I started to stock up on film.

You land in Rome and take a coach to Florence, where you'll spend three weeks, staying at Instituto Gould, a hostel-like place that gives proceeds to needy children and orphans.

You'll have class from 9-11:30am, Monday to Friday, but calling it "class" doesn't do it justice, since most of these "classes" are walking tours of a city. The rest of the day is leisure time, as are the weekends (during which you can take a train to nearby Siena and to many other towns that border Florence). The three weeks spent in Florence will fly by, and you can spend the following three weeks in Italy's capital - and my favourite city - Rome.

Florence differs from Rome because in Florence, everything is within walking distance.
You will walk to everywhere - restaurants, churches, nightclubs, even trendy outdoor discotheques in the north riverbank Le Cascine district (walking there was easy, butwalking home in stilettos wasn't). We learned an important lesson walking alongside the Arno one night. Just a few feet away from us, over the river, colonies of pippistrelle, (or bats, which are pretty common in Italy) decided to give us some unexpected company. The bats were bold, generally flying within a few feet of us, and in large clusters. Every once in a while a single bat would swoop down and come face-to-face with us, startling us with its bravado. There are, I noticed, some striking similarities between Italian bats and Italian men.

But even if you opt for a cab, don't expect them to be readily available. Taxis in Italy don't speed around the city looking for passengers and if you happen to find one and flag it down, consider yourself lucky. Walking back to the hotel one night, strolling arm-in-arm with some friends, we noticed a police car stopped alongside the river.

"Let's ask them for a ride home!" suggested one of the girls. (For those of you that have never been to Italy, all of the police officers are young and gorgeous.)
So we approached the car and with big smiles plastered across our faces, tapped on the window. Our faces dropped when they rolled the windows down and we spied what they were doing in the privacy of their police car: Reading Italian comic books (we did not get a ride home).

It's hard to spend six weeks in Italy and not have dozens of adventure stories to come home with. Every day is filled with adventure: For instance, finding a cold drink.
On one occasion, I was at a train station and, seeking a thirst-quencher from the sweltering Italian sun, deposited 2 � (about $3) in a vending machine for what turned out to be a lukewarm can of Nestea. Determined not to dehydrate, I popped another coin into the machine and got yet another can of warm iced tea. A stranger that witnessed the disheartening event leaned over to say, "E normale" ("It's normal"). Ironically, nothing is normal in Italy - especially not in Florence.

Even though Florence, along with other Greco-Roman cities, was a sort of blueprint for Western civilization, it's difficult for North Americans to relate to the Florentine lifestyle. Italians linger over lunch, they rarely watch television and they never talk about money.

So why do tourists flock there? It might be the aesthetic appeal. Along with the handsome police officers, the city is an open-air art museum. The city is full of massive architectural marvels, museums, hundreds of intricately designed churches, not to mention the hand carved beauty that can be found on every street corner.

With street names like Via delle Belle Donne (Beautiful Women Street), one has to wonder how even the seemingly mundane details of this city are infused with loveliness.

The streets themselves are lovely. Designer boutiques like Gucci, Ferragamo and Prada line the extravagant Via de' Tornabuoni, a higher end stretch of shops ideal for window shopping. You'll get lost in San Lorenzo's outdoor market, rich with colourful merchants who will get on their knees and beg you (I'm serious) to try on their goods. You'll marvel at the glittery jewelry stores along the historic Ponte Vecchio, one of the many cobblestone bridges that cross the Arno.

But since Italy and Italian cuisine are so inextricably linked, I have to say that Florentine cuisine is probably the best and simplest cuisine that exists, using basic, fresh ingredients, most of which are grilled (alla Fiorentina) to perfection. If you decide to eat in some of the more touristy areas (in any of the major piazze, or town squares) you'll pay double, maybe triple, the cost of what a Florentine citizen would pay. San Lorenzo has some great, reasonably-priced restaurants and of course there are hundreds of cafes, bars and pubs. The pizza - in almost every pizza place - is mouth-watering.

And the gelato? Oh, the gelato ... It is suffice to say that La Paloma and other gelaterie that are scattered around Toronto simply pale in comparison to what Florence has to offer. But since I am not a talented enough writer to do it justice with words, the gelato mention here will be minimal.

Florence is ineffable, and with obvious bias aside, full of love. Yet, in the midst of all of this tangible beauty (including 60 per cent of UNESCO World Heritage Sites) many North Americans are disappointed with their travels to Italy.

"Because [North] Americans go all over the world," explains professor Costa, "and they expect the world to be a copy of the United States. They want to travel the world and have everyone speak English and serve you hot dogs in the street."

After completing our course in Florence, my friend Mariangela Tagliabue (a third-year Italian major) and I spent the next three weeks of our trip travelling along the Northern part of Italy, but first spent four days in Rome, la citt� eterna, ("the Eternal City"). Rome is much bigger than Florence, so most of our getting to-and-fro was spent squished into the backseat of tiny little cars, careening dangerously around a city where streets have no lanes and traffic lights are purely decorative.

While in Rome, Mariangela and I had the opportunity to meet Pope John Paul II. We sat through an outdoor mass in St. Peter's square, just four rows away from the now-ailing Pope, and when the mass was over we were ushered into a lineup of people for a brief encounter with him. We weren't prepared to meet him and quickly turned to the person behind us and asked what we should say to him. What, after all, do you say to the Pope?

The man, stifling laughter, gave us a formal phrase to repeat: "Sua Santita, prega per noi" ("His holiness, pray for us"). As we were approaching, the Pope was wearing red velvet slip-on shoes. When it was our turn, one of the Pope's aides that stood alongside him signalled us to approach quickly and kneel before him. Mariangela promptly stepped forward, but I stood just a few feet before him, transfixed by the majesty of this man, clothed in ornate robes and much larger than I had expected him to be.

Kneeling before him, a small cluster of papparazzi stood alongside us, snapping photos. In between all of the camera flashes and noise and the Pope's aides surrounding us, we were face to face with one of the most famous men in the world.

We were frozen. We held his soft hands (I actually wondered what kind of moisturizer he used, and whether or not he applied it himself) and he cupped our cheeks. We mumbled the ceremonial saying, unmoving. But when our time was up and his aide took my arm, I quickly added something that I knew my boyfriend would appreciate: "Luigi says hi!"

If not for the pictures, I doubt anyone would believe us.

Student writer, professional daydreamer. Go to www.pumpkin-face.com for a complete list of articles.

Precious Stones Explained!
Sam Serio

The mineral to which the term " precious stone" is applied, must be adaptable for jewelry or ornamental purposes and must possess beauty, hardness, and rarity.

The beauty of a precious stone or gem consists of its color or colorlessness, brilliancy or softness of luster, and transparency. To take a high and lasting polish, a mineral must be hard, -and many stones that would otherwise be highly valued are low in the estimate of worth because they do not possess of sufficient hardness to make them endure the wear and friction to which a precious stone is subjected when used in the form of jewelry. The rareness of precious stones has a decided effect in determining their values. For instance, the crocidolite, commercially known as tiger-eye, was sold by the carat some years ago, and was largely used in the making of fine jewelry. Today, this material is so plentiful that it is no longer classed among the higher gems, but serves for cameos and intaglios like chalcedony and onyx.

The changes of fashion have much to do with determining the market value of precious stones. Amethysts, topazes, cat's-eyes, aquamarines, alexandrites, and even emeralds and opals have been eagerly sought for at times and then again neglected for other gems, causing a sensible difference in the value of these stones.

It has been a mooted question as to the proper dividing line between stones that deserve the title "precious," and those, which should be placed in a so-called semi-precious or lower category. To draw such a line is hardly possible, as neither hardness, rareness, nor value would be a positive test--some of the hard stones, like zircon and almandines being less valuable than softer opal, while the diamond, one of the most plentiful of precious stones, is at the same time, one of the most valuable.

Neither can price be taken as a complete test, because fashion makes a turquoise, an opal, or an emerald much more valuable at one time than at another, All precious minerals used for ornamental purposes, from the diamond to quartz, or chalcedony, may properly be termed precious stones.

The Final Word On Precious Stones

The most precious stones are the diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. The pearl is oftentimes classed with precious stones. Although strictly speaking while it is not a stone it holds an esteemed place in jewelry.

The Authors of the above Article, Sam and Tami Serio have been passionately involved with Jewelry and Gemstones for over fifteen-years. You are cordially invited to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com for a wealth of information about the fascinating world of Jewelry and Gemstones. Together they also shelter 20 abandoned and abused dogs & cats. A portion of their profits goes to the care and feeding of the animals.

Toss it, or keep it?

2005-07-29T05:41:00.000-07:00

Thousands of years ago, the Celts, a group of independent tribes spread throughout much of current day Europe, were sophisticated artisans, carving knot work patterns that have inspired modern day jewelers to create wedding rings. These motifs have meaning. Yet understanding the knot patterns and why they make such ideal wedding rings can be illusive. The ancient motifs are rooted in mysterious cultures that stretch back well before written history.

Though the earliest written accounts of the Celts were from Roman descriptions, some knot work motifs found in Eastern Europe may be as old as 20,000 years. We know the Celts, similar to Native people of North America, viewed that the earth itself as well as all aspects of life and death as divine. They had a large and varied pantheon, worshipping local gods. The natural world was considered sacred, and every river, mountain and tree had its own spirit of place. Rituals were rooted in a particular oak grove or waterfall. Early Celtic leaders even mocked human-like images of Olympian gods or the wild animals of their vale and forests.

Knot work, which has become synonymous with today�s idea of �Celtic� was undoubtedly a form of sacred, artistic expression. Some of the most famous designs were preserved in highly embellished, illuminated manuscripts, such as the Book of Kells which somehow survived the Viking invasions. It was created in the 9th century at a monastery off the Scottish coast, and depicts wonderfully imaginative images of humans and animals embellished with knot work motifs, linking medieval Christianity with ancient Druidic culture.

In Western culture, there is a long and venerable tradition of artists that have been inspired by knot work motifs. Celtic design was particularly popular in the Renaissance. Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael studied and depicted knots in their work. In modern times, some of Picasso�s early art is highly influenced by knot work. And there has always been a group of metal and visual artists that have kept the Celtic fires burning by using the knot work patterns in jewelry and other forms of artistic expression.

For some people, the choice to have a Celtic wedding ring is an expression of their wish to connect deeply into their own ancestry. They feel empathy with a European based tribal tradition that treats the earth as Mother. It�s also easy to fall in love with soulful Celtic music and poetry. Others simply want the one piece of jewelry that they wear every day to have a beautiful design with significance.

Whether one has Celtic heritage or not, a Celtic motif wedding ring is appropriate because it has universal, symbolic meaning. In the most general sense, the knots express two different paths woven together. Life itself can be viewed as a great web of interconnectedness which is expressed in the knot work. Even our own spiritual path, metaphorically, can be viewed as a tapestry of interconnected experiences. The Celtic wedding ring is a talisman which reminds us, in physical form, of our mystic connection with another person and the great web of life.

This weave of particular experiences makes us unique, which is why we are attracted to some knot work patterns on wedding rings more than others. What appeals to you and your fianc� may well bring insight to the nature of your relationship. Some couples are attracted to knot work motifs that are simple and flowing, which perhaps illustrates a partnership based on harmony and ease. Other knot work designs on wedding rings are more dynamic and complicated, suggesting creative elements, or passionate peaks and valleys.

Many Celtic merchants will label a particular design as �Friendship� or �Unity� but often there�s not any real basis for these labels. These facile tags short change the person interested in the ring by giving a concept instead of assisting them to understand the deeper meaning behind the design. It�s also easy enough to say that the ring is about how all things are interconnected, but this is so general that it doesn�t help explain why we may be attracted to the sacred geometry of one ring over another.

To do this, you can contemplate the various components that make up the knot work and try to determine how they are functioning. For example, consider the circle. We speak of a circle of friends and live in circular cycles, such as the day and the season. Native cultures throughout the world hold ceremonies in protective circles. A knot work pattern with circles or variations of circles certainly has some important keys to relationships and community. In the broadest sense, the ring itself is a circle, and putting it on has also always been symbolic of sealing a commitment.

A square knot motif concerns structure, which is why buildings use the shape of a square foundation. Squares certainly have an element of stability. Numbers were a significant part Celtic lore, and the number five represented the four directions and the center point.

Many Celtic rings also deal with vectors that travel in a certain direction. If you look at the shape of an arrow, it�s easy to understand why a triangle might connote movement.

Another common Celtic motif is the knot work depicting a trinity. Many Celtic deities had three forms. The Mother Goddess was understood to the maiden, mother and crone. The universe was viewed as heaven, earth and otherworld. We are born, we live and we die. Certainly the trinity knot also illustrates the One being dividing off into the masculine and feminine, or the mother and son-- a mystical truth contemplated in many sacred traditions.

While the above guide for understanding knot work is not necessarily based on any scholarly or anthropological text on the meaning of knots, it does provide a starting point that is based on a universal perspective. Every Celtic ring is going to have some variation of these shapes. Spending some time contemplating the motif may yield some insight.

Though modern jewelry techniques allow a greater range of possibilities than the Celts had during the time of the Romans, finding an exceptional Celtic wedding ring at a local jewelry store may not be possible. The best place to search is on the internet, which has the widest selection. Today you can find rings made with platinum, or white and yellow gold accented with diamonds. Some of the most beautiful rings are bi-metal, where the knots are one color, such as white gold, while the rim of the ring might be yellow gold. There is a wide range of class and price.

Your wedding ring is a once in a life time purchase that you will live with every day. It must be aesthetically beautiful. The knot work on the rings should be well executed. It should have some meaning that makes sense for you which should be explained on the website.

The best jewelry designers offer engagement ring sets, along with the option of having a wider band for the gent and a narrower of the same knot work motif for the lady. You�ll want it comfort fit, which means that the band tapers slightly toward the center, making it easy to wear. Since it is very likely within the course of a marriage that you�ll gain or loose twenty pounds, it is most advantageous to choose a ring with a sizing band.

The company you choose should have a record of creditability backed up by customer service, guaranteeing their product. Give them a call and see if they are worthy of doing business with. A track record of timely delivery is also essential. It�s not uncommon for a ring from outside the US to be held up by Customs, for example.

Finally, the most important thing is to trust your feelings. The rings should be unique and resonate with your own profound, sacred connection and commitment to your beloved.

Understanding Celtic Wedding Rings
Marc Choyt

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2005-07-28T03:26:00.000-07:00

It�s a whole new day, and there is a whole new look for bridesmaids. It�s a welcome change from the past years. At it�s not just the bridesmaids look that has gotten a facelift, the brides are sporting a whole new look too.

Traditional wedding gowns and traditional white will always be a choice. That�s a tradition that�s just not going to disappear. And that�s okay. But the choices now available for the modern bride are welcome change, allowing those creative juices to flow, and one�s own personality to stand out.

The history of the bridesmaids attire is quite interesting. In past centuries brides wore elaborate colorful gowns, and bridesmaids wore similar gowns. This was to disguise the bride and protect her from being kidnapped by evil spirits. By the Victorian era things had changed producing brides that wanted to stand out in the crowd. Thus the formal elaborate white wedding gown entered the wedding fashion scene. However the bridesmaids attire didn�t change, remaining bold and frilly.

Well this century bridesmaids have a lot more to say about what they wear. Not only have the traditional dresses taken on a more sophisticated and elegant look. Many brides now let their bridesmaids choose their own dress based on the chosen color scheme. All bridesmaids weren�t created equal. By allowing them to choose a dress that flatters them, you have happier bridesmaids and better photo ops.

Gowns and dresses worn by the modern bridesmaid are often functional enough for other formal events and gatherings. A much smarter alternative to the expensive gown that�s worn once then buried deep in the closet never to be seen again. We all remember wearing one of those �awful� dresses at some point.

There are also no longer fast and set rules on how many bridesmaids you must have. The size of your wedding often relates to how many attendants, and these days the choice is entirely up to you. Tradition has gone out the window, a pleasing thought for many future brides. You can even have more than one maid of honor if you wish. The rules you must play by are your own rules.

The same new rules apply to your flower girl[s] and ring bearer[s] choose more than one, have only one, have one of each. The best age range for this very important little people�s job is between 5 and 7. Younger children have a harder time staying focused. Now if you don�t� mind if they mess up a little bit, then by all means you can choose a younger child. After all they can be a great source of amusement! Older children will also be thrilled to be chosen to man the guestbook or help guests. It makes them feel extra special.

The more bridesmaids you have the more coordination and communication your going to have to take care of. Remember you�ll have plenty of issues to deal with from dresses, to nails, to hair, to jewelry. So don�t choose more bridesmaids than you think you can handle. This is supose to be a happy time for you and stress doesn�t make a person happy.

Forget the old theory that if you don�t include everyone that�s close to you, there will be hard feelings. Most women have outgrown this childish thought pattern, and recognize that the modern bride has tough choices to make to stay within budget and fulfill her special day. Sometimes a future bride just has too many close friends to have them all in the wedding party. Relax! Invite them to the wedding, and if you want ask them to do special favors such as perhaps your nails or your hair, depending on their own unique talents.

The maid of honor has a role to play besides in the wedding party. She needs to be the brides right arm and help with any wedding tasks she can. She can help select the wedding gown, get the invitations in order, arrange a wedding shower, help with choosing a reception location, help decorate, or even help prepare the food. The duties that can be assigned to your made of honor are endless, just be sure not to overwhelm her with too many requests. Your maid of honor is like the brides personal first aid kit. Ready to fix anything that�s broken.

Bridesmaids also play an important role by planning the bridal shower, preparing munchies, cake, or sandwiches for the shower. They are also there to support and help the bride whenever they can.

For the modern bride these are happy times, choices are endless, you can make your fashion statement and let your bridesmaid�s make theirs. No more having to follow traditions unless you want to. Planning the perfect wedding has never been easier!

The Modern Bridesmaid Has Style!
Sher Matsen

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2005-07-03T20:32:00.000-07:00

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2005-07-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

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2005-07-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

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2005-07-03T05:45:00.000-07:00

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