Valentines Day Rapport

How to develop and heighten rapport on Valentines Day beyond your wildest dreams!

With Valentines day on the doorstep for another year here is way of enhancing those romantic occasions. In thinking about something pertinent to Valentines, I thought I would write about a topic that fascinates me; developing rapport.

Fundamental techniques in NLP show people how to do physical things like match and mirror body language, which I think is fairly well documented these days. I had a local newspaper advertising salesman come along to my centre recently to talk about advertising and I was amazed at how blatantly and obviously he mirrored every movement I made. It verged on being uncomfortable! If you are going to match and mirror, you can match body language with more subtlety.

You do not have to copy every crossing of the arms with a crossing of the arms yourself. You can intimate a crossing movement with your fingers much more gently. You can also then look at matching the speed and rhythm of speech, match the rate of breathing and general tempo of that person.

You can then progress onto to doing things to do with matching the form of their representational systems within their language? "What?" I hear many of you ask. Well, that is something you can ask me about separately. This article is about something else.

What is more interesting for valentines is a deeper connection in the person you are with.

The idea that you can create the kind of 'instant connection' that leads to deeper intimacy with another person fascinated me, and that sense of fascination is still with me. While many of the 'techniques' for building rapport (matching, mirroring, sensory words etc) have been well-documented, it occurred to me that, when that sort of 'instant connection' happens spontaneously, often its in the absence of any techniques whatsoever.

My partner, Sara, and I recently discussed that lots of people often comment on how comfortable they feel when they are with me! What many people are astonished with is the degree of rapport I can and do often get with other people. I very often do not do anything in the way of matching body language, sensory words or breathing rate when I am out of the therapeutic environment, yet I do get into extremely deep rapport with the people I come into contact with, leading to comments like "You know me better than my best friend" or "I feel like I've known you all my life". Hmmmmm..... I thought.......

How do you do that?

Well, whenever I see someone doing something really cool, the NLP question that I ask is "How do you do that?" One of the presuppositions of NLP is that if one person can do something, then we can learn how to do it and teach it to other people. We all have human neurology, and the amazing skills that individuals demonstrate are based in their neurology, so anything one person can do can be done by anyone else with human neurology. (As an aside, I was once at a Richard Bandler training where he said "Anything is possible". Someone challenged his assertion, and he replied "Look, if something's impossible, you're going to find out soon enough anyway, so you may as well assume its possible until proven otherwise" which I thought was just the coolest answer.)

The kind of thing I examined about myself was that whenever I meet someone, I accept them exactly as they are, with all their foibles, peculiarities and peccadilloes. Of course, in order to accept them as they are, I need to accept myself as I am. That is the reason my website and day to day manner is sometimes brutally honest, verging on arrogant, laced with my own brand of humour; because that is who and how I am and I accept that. It seems as though the other person somehow senses this acceptance, and deep rapport develops instantly.

Here are some ideas to tinker around with;

1) Sit for a few moments, and experiment with accepting yourself exactly as you are. Say to yourself "I accept myself exactly as I am".

If you are experienced in meditation or self-hypnosis, this may be very easy, right from the outset. If you are less experienced, it may be a bit trickier at first, until you realise that, whatever your internal response to the statement is, you can just accept that.

Example:

Me 1) I accept myself exactly as I am

Me 2) Oh, what about that tension in my shoulder, I don't like that.

Me 1) I accept that tension in my shoulder.

Me 2) But I don't like it.

Me 1) I accept the sense of not liking it.

Me 2) That's not fair!

Me 1) I accept that sense of 'not-fairness'

etc.

I use the abbreviation of 'Me 1' and 'Me 2' because human consciousness is self-reflexive, and it seems that, no matter how many 'me's I identify, there's always at least one more 'me' observing the other 'me's. Go figure!

If you have never done this exercise before, you may find it to be an extraordinary experience. Whether you do or whether you don't, just accept yourself as having the right experience for you.

2) In a low-risk situation with another person, decide to experiment with accepting them exactly as they are. Say to yourself "I accept this person exactly as they are". Notice how quickly deep rapport develops.

When I first started showing others to do this, all kinds of objections would kick off within people. They would notice things they didn't like, or want to offer them advice, or react to what they were saying. Whenever you notice these responses in yourself, just do exercise 1, and accept yourself exactly as you are. This makes it 10 times easier to accept them exactly as they are.

Using this approach, I have managed to get a very deep level of rapport, and to be influential in situations where you'd never imagine being able to. Believe me!

How does this work?

The idea of rapport is that you meet someone at their map of the world. Matching & mirroring do this at the level of behaviour, but acceptance of the other person seems to match them at the level of identity. Many people get told from an early age that it's not OK to be them. Often, the behaviours they develop to deal with this not-OK-ness get them stacks more messages that they're not OK. This approach of total acceptance seems to send them a number of messages along the lines of "I accept you as you are", "You are OK", "You are a valuable human being", "You are worth listening to" etc. For many people, this is the first time they've received those messages, and it is powerful indeed.

So, as you gaze, all soppy-eyed over the candle-lit dinner table this Valentines day, you can heighten your sense of connection with that person by just accepting. See how your romance blooms and rapport develops beyond your wildest dreams.

Have fun!

Copyright Adam Eason 2005. All rights reserved.

Adam Eason is an author, Trainer, Consultant in the fields of Personal Development, Human Potential, NLP & Hypnosis. He trains globally and his products sell all across the world. He can be found at <a target="_new" href="http://www.adam-eason.com">http://www.adam-eason.com.</a>

Getting Great Pictures of the Kids this Halloween

There she was in all her glory. Long white lab coat, frizzy hair, safety goggles -- and a face smeared with the black ash of an experiment gone terrifically wrong. She was, at least on this Halloween night, Dr. Abby Normal. But for most of her life I had known her as Abigail, my daughter, and I had just taken some of the most legendary photos of her life.

These weren't your garden-variety portraits. Not exactly Wal Mart studio stuff either. They were pictures taken of my kids in their natural element -- being kids. That is the real photo opportunity of a holiday like Halloween.

For treasured images this Halloween, here are some quick tips to remember to get once-in-a-lifetime photos:

1. Stop Posing -- Halloween is not a formal affair. So don't bother with the wedding style shots. Engage the kids in the play associated with their costumes -- and THEN shoot the pictures. Candids reveal the smiles much more than a "Hold still, honey!" moment.

2. Shoot Early, Shoot Often -- Film is the cheapest part of photography. And in this digital age, there just isn't a reason not to shoot several images. There are many good reasons for being trigger happy with the camera. First, if kids are use to you constantly firing away they won't bother with the plastic smiles. But most importantly, shooting more simply increases your chances for great pictures. With Halloween pictures some of the best images are taken while the costuming is in process -- don't wait for the finished product in getting out the camera.

3. Get in Their Face -- Halloween was made for pretend. Kids love to make faces, don costumes and assume a new personality. It is the ultimate form of exhibition. You just can't let the opportunity pass. They WANT to be noticed. Most point-and-shoot variety cameras have wide-angle lenses. While this helps them to get sharp results and to work well in lower light, they tend to move the subject matter further away. Most have a minimum shooting distance of around three feet. Don't be afraid to push that limit at Halloween. Get in close, have them make faces, ask them to talk to the camera. They will. It is, after all, Halloween.

4. Let Them Call the Shots -- It's their party. Ask them what kind of pictures they want. When my son was Harry Potter a few years back he wanted to jump off the roof on his Nimbus 2000. We had to reason with him a bit. But a little leap from a lawn chair to the grass did the trick and we got the shots of Harry in flight. Chances are your kids have an idea of the persona they are adopting. Let them call the shots to document the experience.

5. Use the set -- Most of us decorate for the season. There could be haystacks, a bubbling pot, a roaring fireplace. Use these props, even if they don't fit the theme of the costume. Down the road the memories you cherish will include all the fun that went into creating the holiday environment in your home.

Good candid pictures of children require active participation and putting them at ease. Halloween is the easiest of seasons in which to do this.

? 2004 by Jeff Westover

About The Author

Jeff Westover is a freelance writer and father of seven from Salt Lake City, Utah. He is the managing editor of My Merry Christmas.com, where folks have been making merry online for more than a decade. He writes about holidays, families, parenting, home schooling and photography for a variety of publications both online and offline. Please visit <a href="http://mymerrychristmas.com" target="_new">http://mymerrychristmas.com</a> for more articles like this one.

Dear Santa: Christmas Sucks!

Christmas time is finally here, and most people during this holiday are happier than a fat kid eating a Krispy Kreme donut. Christmas brings so many great things to the table; the caroling, the NO SCHOOL, the snowmen and hour long snowball fights that ends with bloody noses, the eggnog and drunken relatives, the presents, holiday parties, and the drinking hot coco next to a roaring fire while cuddling up with your loved one. How could anybody not love this great holiday! It's a hiatus from the dark sadness of reality and a time where you can be ridiculously happy! But maybe too happy?

In a recent poll, over 45 percent said that they dreaded the holiday altogether. Not everyone seems to see the light that Christmas brings, and if you look harder into the eyes of this joyous holiday, you may see why. More people kill themselves around Christmas time than any other time of year. &quot;Well,&quot; Khayeni Sanders, a fellow Christmas lover states, &quot;I think you should make a club, or a house, for those people. It's like an equivalent of a homeless shelter! Wait, what's the question again?&quot;

There are several reasons why people just don't like Christmas, one is that spending Christmas alone is a very depressing situation for anyone. The couple theme that constantly exists with this holiday is not easy to hide from if you are single. For people who are already suffering from depression, the Christmas season only makes it worse. Another reason is the belief that Christmas has become too commercial. In fact, over 50 percent of people polled said that they think Christmas should be toned down a bit. &quot;It definitely has become too commercial with people putting out decorations two months in advance, but the spirit behind it has generally stayed the same for most people&quot; declared Sarah Geiger. A third common reason why Christmas isn't favored by some is that there is often a feeling that everyone else is having a better time than you. The constant belly-full-of-jelly laughs around the company water cooler may have you thinking, &quot;Did I miss something? Am I being left out?!

What's going on?!&quot; Other more common dislikes are the constant money spending, the overeating, and the Christmas parties. Christmas time can also remind people of a lost one, which could make anyone, have a miserable Christmas time. All of these horrible things that tag along with Christmas could make even Satan cry a tear of sympathy for the people who just can't see the joy Christmas can bring. It's a shame not everyone can be happy during this time of year, but being depressed on Christmas is completely understandable. These poor saps seem to miss the Christmas bliss train every year, but who knows; this year maybe, just maybe, they'll catch it.

About The Author

Daggi Pulz is co-webmaster at <a href="http://www.links2see.com" target="_new">http://www.links2see.com</a> an online family directory. She can be contacted at <a href="mailto:Daggi@links2see.com">Daggi@links2see.com</a>

Making Time to Write this Holiday Season

As the countdown to Christmas day continues, most everyone is naturally all wrapped up in preparing for the big day (and the eve of the big day and the day after the big day?).

Whether it's shopping, baking, or hosting holiday gatherings, you are probably engaged in time-consuming activities related to the season.<BR>Although your dedication to these tasks is completely reasonable and most likely pre-planned, your ability to meet these demands and still have to write may not be as realistic.

In order to maintain your sanity through the holidays, you should not allow your writing time to totally disappear. You may find yourself feeling somewhat stressed out, as you try to tackle the gift buying and deal with the family get-togethers.

I honestly believe that if you make time to write during this hectic season, you may alleviate some of the inevitable anxiety associated with the holidays. Writing can be as relaxing to writers as watching television is to couch potatoes.

You should not overlook the value of a little me time (or break/rest time for you alone). Schedule some me time or free time into your busy day, and then actually TAKE IT!

During this break period (however small it may be), you may find that it will help you to write about your worries and/or aggravations. You could accomplish this goal by:

<li>Recording the events of your day into a diary of sorts before you go to sleep each night.</li> <li>Writing random thoughts or jotting down brief notes as they come to mind through out your day.</li> <li>Carrying a journal with you to family gatherings, shopping expeditions, holiday celebrations and related events and then use it to write whatever you feel like writing about at any given time.</li>

(For example, you may observe something that inspires a story idea or you may want to record actual images, scenes or conversations that occur during these seasonal festivities.)

Making lists of things associated with the holidays that you either know a lot about or want to learn more about ? which in turn could serve as possible article ideas for next year at this time.

Chronicle your feelings about your child as you watch him experience his first Christmas and then continue to do this each year until he no longer believes in Santa Claus (or until you no longer see the look in his eyes expressing the natural awe of the season that only children have).

Compile your account of these yearly events into a memoir for yourself and/or as a gift to share with your child when he gets older. You could also use your chronicle as a stepping stone for a possible book about Christmas, children, holidays etc?

Whatever you write about or however you choose to use your writing time, your primary goal will be achieved, if you just TAKE TIME to write during this busy season!

Best of luck to you and Happy Holidays to you and your families.

Resource Box - ? Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine - A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like - love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more. Read it online at - <a target="_new" href="http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8364.asp">http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8364.asp</a>

Create Warm Memories with Holiday Traditions

I remember just a handful of the Christmas presents I received as a child: My first Barbie doll with her skinny black sequined gown. My soft, pink Pat-a-Burp doll. The microscope I got in second grade.

But I have many, many memories of our holiday traditions. The lovely aromas of holiday ethnic food. Riding the South Shore train into Chicago to visit the "real" Santa. Using a paintbrush to decorate sugar cookies with colored frosting. Setting up our manger scene.

Traditions add so much joy to the holidays. Traditions give a child a sense of belonging and identity. They strengthen bonds across generations and live long in memory.

A family rich in traditions has a powerful antidote to commercialism. The more focused you are on pleasures that cost little or nothing, the more all the gifts tend to stay in their appropriate place.

Best of all, many traditions are perfectly suited to today's busy families. Here are a few favorites:

SIMPLE PLEASURES

Light candles at dinnertime. If December mornings are dark where you live, light candles at breakfast, too.

Take an evening stroll or car ride to look at Christmas lights.

Serve warm chocolate with candy canes for stirring.

THE JOY OF GIVING

Let your kids in on the excitement of finding and wrapping gifts for those they love. Compliment them for being big enough to keep the surprise a secret.

As a family, decide on a charity and make a donation. Our favorite is Heifer International (www.heifer.org).

Take a plate of cookies or other holiday treats to a homeless shelter or to a police or fire station.

GRATITUDE

Give family members strips of paper in holiday colors. Let everyone write or draw something they're thankful for on each strip. Link the strips into a chain and hang as a decoration.

Write thank-you cards to each other. Decide together when to open them.

CONNECTING GENERATIONS

Interview grandparents, aunts, and uncles about holiday traditions they remember from their childhood. Adopt any traditions that fit your family.

Ask relatives for holiday recipes that have been handed down in your family. Or, search the Internet for holiday recipes related to your ethnic origins.

NEW YEAR'S EVE

If your kids are little, it works fine to celebrate the new year at 9 PM instead of midnight!

Pull out photos and videos from the past year and share your memories.

Keep a box of inexpensive noisemakers and party hats that you can re-use each year. The kids will enjoy pulling out their old favorites.

NEW YEAR'S DAY

Decorate a box in which you'll put photos, ticket stubs and other souveniers of the coming year. Talk about your hopes and wishes.

Let each family member put New Year's resolutions into their own envelope. Author Mimi Doe ("Busy But Balanced") has a tradition of sealing the envelopes with wax -- a nice, magical touch.

(c) 2004 Norma Schmidt, Coach, LLC

Norma Schmidt, Coach, LLC, specializes in helping working mothers create balance. She offers workshops, teleclasses and individual and group coaching. Her free e-mail newsletter, "The Balance Point," is published bi-weekly. Visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.NormaSchmidt.com">http://www.NormaSchmidt.com</a>

Jewelry Christmas Gifts That Sparkle and Shine

The joyous season of Christmas is steeped in tradition, and gift giving is one ritual that is inseparable from this holiday. Who hasn't had difficulty at one time or another in choosing a suitable present for a beloved family member or a dear friend? Fortunately, jewelry Christmas gifts are widely available and there is an endless variety of styles from which to choose. Twinkling and shining, they reflect the nature of that season to be jolly.

Sparkling and glittering are two words that would describe diamonds. Browse through the World Wide Web and you'll see a plethora of online stores that showcase jewelry Christmas gifts. Imagine a woman's pleasure at the shimmering sight of diamond snowflake dangling earrings or a glittering diamond bracelet adorned with traditional symbols associated with Christmas. Men, on the other hand, will surely appreciate flashing yet tasteful diamond cuff links. Other gemstones make wonderful jewelry Christmas gifts. Sapphires or rubies set in gold, sterling silver or platinum will gleam subtly from rings or necklaces.

Not all jewelry Christmas gifts that glitter need to be expensive, though. Whimsical and unique designs at an affordable price for the holiday season abound. For instance, brightly colored, rhinestone encrusted pins shaped like Christmas trees are widely available. For young recipients, bracelets, necklaces or anklets made from gold- or silver-plated metals, engraved with their names for a personal touch, will fit snugly in any Christmas stocking. Stores or web sites that specialize in vintage and antique items also offer bright jewelry Christmas gifts. Take your pick from pieces such as brilliant poinsettia-shaped hairpins or nativity-inspired pendants dotted with Swarovski crystals.

For many centuries, men, women and children have been eagerly counting the days until Christmas morning, when everyone would rush to the Christmas tree to open their presents. The giving of gifts is a time honored tradition, and the selection of presents that will be appreciated and enjoyed by those whom we love is no trivial task. Scintillating jewelry Christmas gifts have always been part of that tradition and they continue to contribute to the glow that the holiday season brings.

Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.morninglightjewelry.com">http://www.morninglightjewelry.com</a> to pick up your FREE copy of &quot;How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.&quot; This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at <a target="_new" href="http://www.morninglightjewelry.com">http://www.morninglightjewelry.com</a>

Colored Contacts For Halloween - Make Sure YOU Dont Go Bump In The Night!

Ok, the end of October is approaching, and you desperately want some colored contacts for Halloween. Why? Well, possibly because no one else will have any, maybe because you like to go that extra yard when you dress up, or maybe you want to get your own back on one of the neighbours kids for frightening your cat. Whatever the reason, colored contacts for Halloween make a lot of sense.

But what do you choose?

Well, some of the more conservative colors like blue, brown or green probably wouldn't cut it. These colors are too subtle and could be used for work maybe, or a dinner party where you are trying to impress. Animal eyes are pretty cool, but are they Halloween eyes? Cat's eyes might be, but generally speaking, these special effects contact lenses are dance floor eyes. Take them to the nightclub and be the King or Queen of Clubs for the evening.

But for Halloween, what you need is something a little more scary perhaps. Maybe something red - Vampire eyes maybe? That would blow little Johnny's socks off, don't you think? Or if we are going down the red road, maybe Zombie eyes would do the business. There is certainly a lot of choice for you. Halloween will never be the same again.

Or perhaps you just like being different. Well, some manufacturers will create custom colors for you. Be prepare to pay more though, because custom made contact lenses will not be stock items, and without the cost benefit of being mass produced, having a unique look could come a little expensive.

And by the way, most colored contact lenses are for cosmetic purposes, and come with zero power. This means that they make no correction to the eye, which in turn means that pretty much anyone can wear them.

The article was written by Charlie Cory, who is the owner of FX Eyes, a website dedicated to providing advice about buying special effects contact lenses online.

You can visit his website about <a target="_New" href="http://www.fx-eyes.com">special effects contact lenses</a>.

Glorious Holiday Decorating: Ten Tips

If you're looking for ways to decorate your home in a glorious holiday fashion this season--without breaking the bank and losing your sanity in the process--here are ten terrific ideas to get you started.

1. You don't need to climb ladders and hang millions of lights all over your house to make a happy holiday statement. You can create an enticing "Welcome Home" atmosphere by simply placing a special emphasis on your front door, surrounding it with colorful lights and garlands of greenery.

2. You don't have to use all your decorations every year, especially if you own quite a few. Alternating decorations makes it easier on you, and when you don't see the same decorations year after year, they tend to have more meaning.

3. You don't need to add anything to your Christmas tree's water. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, plain tap water is the best source of moisture for your tree. In fact, the NCTA says that some commercial additives and home concoctions can actually be detrimental to a tree's moisture retention and increase needle loss. So keep your Christmas tree stand filled with plain water and use the savings to buy a few extra stocking stuffers.

4. You can save money when buying Christmas tree decorations by choosing your tree carefully. A fuller tree uses fewer decorations, because there are fewer holes to fill.

5. You can also save money by buying silk flower boughs and cutting the flowers apart. That way, you get many more decorations for one price. You can use the flowers on your tree, in garlands, and as enhancements to your gift wrapping.

6. You can make your holidays more meaningful, while reducing cost, by considering your personal family heritage when choosing a decorating theme. This includes making homemade decorations, using styles and techniques according to your family's traditions. Combining ancestral cultures and honoring ancestors by creating handmade ornaments will make the season more meaningful and will help your children develop stronger ties with your family's unique heritage.

7. You can further personalize the season by bringing your family's interests into play when selecting a decoration theme. Take a photo of your family involved in a favorite activity, or something used during that activity, and surround it in a bed of greenery. For instance, if you love reading, display special books, bound together with a colorful ribbon. It's a great way to create a totally unique decoration.

8. Since it's irritating to have to look through or around large centerpieces while trying to talk to dinner guests, use either low or tall, skinny centerpieces when entertaining, so everyone can see each other's faces.

9. Don't forget that you have five senses--and make sure to fill them all with delight at holiday time. Use cheerful warm-colored ribbons to highlight chandeliers and to wrap around vases, play your favorite seasonal music, add cinnamon, cloves, and essential oils to fill the air with holiday smells, share your favorite recipe with friends, and add sumptuous silky fabrics to table cloths, tree skirts, and pillows.

10. And finally, there's no need to completely redecorate for your New Year's Eve celebration. When Christmas has past, you can recycle your holiday wreaths and garlands for use in your New Year's festivities simply by spray painting them silver or gold.

Christmas doesn't have to be a time of financial and emotional burden. You'll save money--and possibly your sanity--by using these simple suggestions. Happy holidays!

(c) Copyright 2004 Jeanette J. Fisher All rights reserved.

Jeanette Fisher, Design Psychology Professor, is the author of "Joy to the Home eNewsletter." Discover innovative Interior Design Psychology and makeover your home to support happiness, productivity, and well-being. Read more about Design Psychology: <a target="_new" href="http://www.designpsych.com/">http://www.designpsych.com/</a> Upcoming "Joy to the Home" books and ezine: <a target="_new" href="http://www.joytothehome.com/">http://www.joytothehome.com/</a>

Honor Mothers: Song Remembers Mom Forever

In the spirit of Mother's Day, two songwriters are sharing with the world their lyrics to a song that commemorates and celebrates a mother's love.

Lyricists Neal R. Voron and Joseph F.M. Pokorny, of Philadelphia, PA, hope that children, both young and old, who read the words to "We Thought She'd Live Forever" will use the opportunity to re-connect with their feelings about and relationship with their mother and others who have been special to them throughout their lives.

The song, written primarily by Voron and modified and put to music by Pokorny, is a wistful reflection upon the loss of a mother for whom "time had cast... much too short a line".

"We thought we were so clever, we thought she'd live forever," the song laments the passing of time and of a loving mother who "seemed so grand and in command... But, suddenly, she left us quite in shock."

In the song, the mother's children realize, "All that's left are memories, faded pictures, but still we see the love she gave to everyone she knew."

Voron, 40, wrote the song in the late 1980's while contemplating how fast time seems to go by and how we often do not quite show as much appreciation for our loved ones as we would perhaps wish to have done before they are gone.

The children and mother referred to in the song, he said, are symbolic representations he used to express his own feelings regarding his mother, Babs, to whom the song is dedicated. He said he feels fortunate to have been able to share his thoughts with his mother personally through the song -- no one in specific actually died to inspire the lyrics.

Voron said he decided very recently to distribute the song's lyrics because he had never previously aggressively promoted the song and because he believes the lyrics could positively impact a large audience.

Individuals can obtain a copy of the lyrics for free by sending e-mail to: <a href="mailto:forever@voron.com">forever@voron.com</a> or by visiting: <a target="_new" href="http://www.voron.com/forever.htm">http://www.voron.com/forever.htm</a>

Sheet music for the song will soon be available in electronic format at the web site for a suggested voluntary payment.

Voron and Pokorny say they may make a recorded version of "We Thought She'd Live Forever" available in the near future if sufficient interest is shown.

"We Thought She'd Live Forever" Lyrics by Neal R. Voron & Joseph F.M. Pokorny
Song Lyrics & Music Copyright ? 1989.
All Rights Reserved.
Web Site: <a target="_new" href="http://www.voron.com/forever.htm">http://www.voron.com/forever.htm</a>
Autoresponder: <a href="mailto:forever@voron.com">forever@voron.com</a>

We thought we were so clever,
We thought she'd live forever.
We knew that she would be there all the time.
We knew she would if she could.
Sometimes we felt she really should.
We thought she'd live forever, forever.

The tales of time, the trails of time,
We never watched the hands of time.
We believed she mastered the old clock.
She seemed so grand and in command,
A flower in a fertile land,
But, suddenly, she left us quite in shock.

We thought we were so clever,
We thought she'd live forever.
We knew that she would be there all the time
We knew she would if she could.
Sometimes we felt she really should.
We thought she'd live forever, forever.

A better woman no man could find.
A loving mother, no child' leave behind,
But time had cast her much too short a line.
All that's left are memories,
Faded pictures, but still we see,
The love she gave to everyone she knew.

We thought we were so clever,
We thought she'd live forever.
We knew that she would be there all the time.
We knew she would if she could.
Sometimes we felt she really should.
We thought she'd live forever, forever,
Forever, forever.

About The Author

Neal R. Voron is the author of a self-help/inspirational novel, "The Obstacle Course". (Read the first 5 chapters for FREE... <a href="mailto:obstac@voron.com">obstac@voron.com</a> or visit: <a target="_new" href="http://www.TheObstacleCourse.com">http://www.TheObstacleCourse.com</a>). Neal seeks to "make a difference" in peoples' lives via his Voron Communications web sites: <a target="_new" href="http://www.voron.com">http://www.voron.com</a>; <a href="mailto:info@voron.com">info@voron.com</a>

Marching Towards Mothers Day

"Mother: the most beautiful word on the lips of mankind." -Kahil Gibran

This coming Sunday is our &quot;big day,&quot; moms. It's the one day a year when we get officially honored for what it is that we do. I don't know about you, but I usually find myself reflecting on exactly what my role is, anyway. Motherhood has evolved over the past two generations into a job which, many would argue, looks far different than the job our own mothers knew. And given the unfortunate-and oftentimes divisive-dichotomy between &quot;working mom&quot; and &quot;stay-at-home mom&quot; with which many categorize themselves, the job description sometimes gets fuzzier, rather than clearer. Does extensive volunteer work place you under the &quot;working&quot; or &quot;stay-at-home&quot; group? Does a part-time position at your kids' school or at your church push you out of the group with which you always identified yourself? And our role changes, after all, as our kids grow up. Options-as well as the resulting disequilibrium in shifting family dynamics-intrude on what once was a fairly easy job description to comprehend.

Controversy about motherhood is nothing new. Thousands of books, articles and commentaries have been written about our dilemmas ad nauseam. As if forty-and fifty something moms haven't wrestled long enough with their career-parenting decisions, young moms get additional fuel for their fires with glaring mainstream media headlines-just in time for Mother's Day. Throw in a new poll or two-as well as more advice and analysis by traditional parenting &quot;experts&quot;-M.D.'s and Ph.D.'s-and you have more psychobabble than the baby-burble running down these sleep-deprived mommy's sleeves!

Articles like the New York Times &quot;The Opt-Out Revolution&quot;; best-sellers like Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety; and critics calling motherhood everything from a &quot;trap&quot; to a &quot;cult&quot; to a &quot;myth&quot; to a "mess," turn notions about our role upside down and leave moms everywhere confused and conflicted. Look at some recent media messages:

? Author/journalist Judith Warner of Perfect Madness fame claims that: &quot;a substantial number of GenX moms (are) too focused on perfection, too focused on their children, too competitive with one another, and that it's driving all moms crazy and providing their kids with no benefits.&quot; She asserts that there's an &quot;oppressive culture of 'total motherhood' that &quot;leaves no room for mothers' own interests&quot; with &quot;suffocation&quot; the direct result.

? Sumru Erkut of the Center for Research on Women at Wellesley College, asserts that: societal expectations for moms have been &quot;racheted up by professional moms who've 'upgraded motherhood to a bigger job than it used to be'&quot; and views these moms as having &quot;misplaced vigor.&quot;

? New York Times book critic Judith Shulevitz, commenting on Warner (who said that motherhood has gone from &quot;art&quot; to &quot;cult&quot;) calls the job a &quot;mess&quot; and motherhood a &quot;trap powered by fear of a loss of face.&quot;

? A recent article by journalist Meredith O'Brien in an online Boston paper headlines with: The Mommy Myth: Mothers pay a high price to be perfect. (Since when did we start attaching the word &quot;myth&quot; to &quot;mommy?&quot;)

Pretty bleak picture of motherhood, huh? Hold onto your pantyhose. These journalists only paint part of the story. I dug into the facts, studied their articles, read the data and checked out their credentials. I came up with a totally different picture of motherhood and boldly challenge their assertions:

? A brand new poll (April 25) by ClubMom reveals that 63% of moms admit to feeling no pressure to live up to a &quot;society-driven version of the 'perfect mom.'&quot; This same poll finds that most moms are &quot;happy&quot; with their family relationships.

? 51% of those GenXer's they're talking about have traded super careers for motherhood because when they viewed the trade-offs required to &quot;gun&quot; their own careers (and some believe, through direct observation of their own working moms), they decided that the sacrifices required just weren't worth it.

? 79% of moms overall rate their own sense of well-being an &quot;A&quot; or &quot;B&quot;; 84% believe they are able to keep their minds sharp and active; and 76% rate their overall health (mental and physical) as high.

? In stark contrast to the &quot;trap&quot; or &quot;mess&quot; that these experts call motherhood, polls find that only 10% of working moms would choose to work full-time if money were no object, i.e. some 90% of moms would prefer the &quot;trap&quot; of motherhood to the workforce.

? Of Harvard Business School's women graduates of '81, '85, and '91-women currently in the fortysomething crowd-only 38% are working full-time.

? 26% of women at the cusp of the most senior levels of management do not want that next promotion, choosing more time at home with family over career advancement.

This job of motherhood is huge, it is vitally important, and those of us on the frontlines know it. Moms at home raising children today are there because we view our job as the most important one ever invented. I am working hard to help &quot;put motherhood with excellence back on the map.&quot; That's what &quot;rocket mom&quot; is all about. I uphold with unapologetic optimism the distinct role we mothers play in shaping human destiny. If that's called &quot;over parenting&quot; or a &quot;myth&quot; or a &quot;cult&quot; or a &quot;trap&quot; or a &quot;mess,&quot; than somebody better wake up and flip the pancakes.

I don't have all the answers; in fact, I have only a few. I don't pretend to be the world's best mother; just ask my kids how often I throw up my hands in frustration and resignation. But I am intent of helping moms-and our culture at large-review and renew the importance of what we do. I don't care if you work in the home or work in a beautiful office; divisions among moms are unhealthy. Truth is, once we have children, we're all in this together.

I just wish to inspire you, encourage you, and celebrate with you, the honorable role we play in shaping this whole next generation to greatness. On Mother's Day. And everyday.

Happy celebration!

Carolina Fernandez earned an M.B.A. and worked at IBM and as a stockbroker at Merrill Lynch before coming home to work as a wife and mother of four. She totally re-invented herself along the way. Strong convictions were born about the role of the arts in child development; homeschooling for ten years provided fertile soil for devising creative parenting strategies. These are played out in ROCKET MOM! 7 Strategies To Blast You Into Brilliance. It is available on Amazon.com, in bookstores everywhere, or by calling 888-476-2493. She writes extensively for a variety of parenting resources and teaches other moms via parenting classes and radio and TV interviews. Please visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.rocketmom.com">http://www.rocketmom.com</a> to subscribe to her free ezine and get a weekly shot of inspiration.

Great Gifts Under $5

Gift giving is at its absolute finest during the Christmas season. Putting smiles on children's faces, making an elderly person feel appreciated, rewarding a hardworking employee - the reasons for gift giving at Christmas are endless. Christmas is the most popular time for gift giving, and it is no secret that Christmas is also the favorite time for marriage proposals.

However, getting ready for Christmas can be a nightmare when you tally up all the planning and shopping that must be condensed into the 3 or 4 short weeks leading up to the holiday break. Selecting menus, writing out gift lists, decorating the tree, hanging the outside lights, and so on?

Getting things done around the house always seems to fall into place but buying the gifts always plays havoc with your schedule. Staying within your budget usually places even more restrictions on your time, finding gifts that impress and yet don't cost an arm and a leg.

You want to give something but the occasion says it shouldn't be too much. Or the whole family is getting together for Christmas and that means 45 presents. You want to give something to every one in your class. Or your budget will soon reach the red ink stage.

We have a few items that cost less than $5 but each gift can still have special meaning.

<ul>

<li>A swimmer can always use a new set of ear plugs.

<li>Someone who works nights will love a new night shades for sleeping.

<li>Your grandma travels. Get her small travel bottles of lotion, hairspray and deodorant.

<li>Every one can use a new lint remover mitt.

<li>A luxury item is sachet bags to hand in closets or place in drawers.

<li>A coffee mug with their name or a picture that represents something about the recipient.

<li>Most women will appreciate a bottle of bubble bath.

<li>Any woman will love mini tote bags to hold and organize items in their purse.

<li>A coin purse will be easier to find in a purse and fit easily in a man's pocket.

<li>Everyone goes shopping. Get them shopping pads to hang on the refrigerator door.

<li>Get padded velvet or satin coat hangers. They come in pretty colors.

<li>Find a key chain that represents the recipient's hobby.

<li>Jigsaw puzzles will help fill the hours for your stay at home grandmother.

<li>Wind chimes will add a cheerful note on almost any day.

<li>Everyone has items they keep. Give them decorative boxes to organize them.

<li>Decorative baskets hold and organize things throughout the house.

<li>Get a special perfumed bar of soap.

<li>Anyone who travels will love a fold up travel toothbrush.

<li>Bath oils will soothe her skin.

<li>Coffee lovers will appreciate small bags of flavored coffee.

</ul>

For even more gift ideas under $5, check out this page:
<a href="http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gifts-under-5-dollars.htm" target="_new">http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gifts-under-5-dollars.htm</a>

About The Author

Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don't blow the bank. Gift Baskets for Baby, Birthday and Beyond, are just some gift ideas you'll find at her site: <a href="http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com" target="_new">http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com</a>. Want regular reminders on gift-giving? Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at <a href="http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gift-news-signup.htm" target="_new">http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gift-news-signup.htm</a>.

Home For The Holidays: Happy Times, Right

This time of the year is supposed to be happy. A time when family is warm and welcoming. A time for loving and feeling loved.

We watch the annual TV specials which emotionally choke us up. We watch those traditional, mushy movies like Miracle on 34th Street and It's a Wonderful Life which bring sentimental tears to our eyes. We watch those heartwrenching Hallmark commercials which make us sob dramatically. All of these portray the ideal and they always end happily.

But real life isn't like that.

Watching and listening to all the hype and sweetness reminds many of us of our losses. We think of the things we won't have this year, or any year ever again. The holiday season is actually the season of much depression and sadness. Just imagine for a moment how many losses a person of 70, 80 or 90 may have endured.

To help us understand those losses, here is a partial list.

<ul>

<li>Hair

<li>Energy

<li>Parents

<li>Taut skin

<li>Hearing

<li>Stamina

<li>Career

<li>Muscle

<li>Eyesight

<li>Mobility

<li>Attendance at house of worship

<li>Hobbies

<li>Figure

<li>Friends

<li>Car

<li>Siblings

<li>Independence

<li>Spouse

<li>Finances

<li>Choice

<li>Lifelong collections

<li>Personal belongings

<li>Purpose

<li>Home

</ul>

If the depression persists into the new year, get help from a mental health clinic. To voice the losses and the feelings can sometimes release them. Spend some time with elders this season and listen to their stories.

About The Author

Linda LaPointe, MRA is an ElderLife Matters coach and author of several products to assist families experiencing aging including the pamphlet, Don't Be a Burden: 100 Tips. Get free articles and information at <a href="http://www.SOSpueblo.com" target="_new">www.SOSpueblo.com</a>.

<a href="mailto:sospueblo@yahoo.com">sospueblo@yahoo.com</a>

Getting Great Pictures of the Kids this Halloween

There she was in all her glory. Long white lab coat, frizzy hair, safety goggles -- and a face smeared with the black ash of an experiment gone terrifically wrong. She was, at least on this Halloween night, Dr. Abby Normal. But for most of her life I had known her as Abigail, my daughter, and I had just taken some of the most legendary photos of her life.

These weren't your garden-variety portraits. Not exactly Wal Mart studio stuff either. They were pictures taken of my kids in their natural element -- being kids. That is the real photo opportunity of a holiday like Halloween.

For treasured images this Halloween, here are some quick tips to remember to get once-in-a-lifetime photos:

1. Stop Posing -- Halloween is not a formal affair. So don't bother with the wedding style shots. Engage the kids in the play associated with their costumes -- and THEN shoot the pictures. Candids reveal the smiles much more than a "Hold still, honey!" moment.

2. Shoot Early, Shoot Often -- Film is the cheapest part of photography. And in this digital age, there just isn't a reason not to shoot several images. There are many good reasons for being trigger happy with the camera. First, if kids are use to you constantly firing away they won't bother with the plastic smiles. But most importantly, shooting more simply increases your chances for great pictures. With Halloween pictures some of the best images are taken while the costuming is in process -- don't wait for the finished product in getting out the camera.

3. Get in Their Face -- Halloween was made for pretend. Kids love to make faces, don costumes and assume a new personality. It is the ultimate form of exhibition. You just can't let the opportunity pass. They WANT to be noticed. Most point-and-shoot variety cameras have wide-angle lenses. While this helps them to get sharp results and to work well in lower light, they tend to move the subject matter further away. Most have a minimum shooting distance of around three feet. Don't be afraid to push that limit at Halloween. Get in close, have them make faces, ask them to talk to the camera. They will. It is, after all, Halloween.

4. Let Them Call the Shots -- It's their party. Ask them what kind of pictures they want. When my son was Harry Potter a few years back he wanted to jump off the roof on his Nimbus 2000. We had to reason with him a bit. But a little leap from a lawn chair to the grass did the trick and we got the shots of Harry in flight. Chances are your kids have an idea of the persona they are adopting. Let them call the shots to document the experience.

5. Use the set -- Most of us decorate for the season. There could be haystacks, a bubbling pot, a roaring fireplace. Use these props, even if they don't fit the theme of the costume. Down the road the memories you cherish will include all the fun that went into creating the holiday environment in your home.

Good candid pictures of children require active participation and putting them at ease. Halloween is the easiest of seasons in which to do this.

? 2004 by Jeff Westover

About The Author

Jeff Westover is a freelance writer and father of seven from Salt Lake City, Utah. He is the managing editor of My Merry Christmas.com, where folks have been making merry online for more than a decade. He writes about holidays, families, parenting, home schooling and photography for a variety of publications both online and offline. Please visit <a href="http://mymerrychristmas.com" target="_new">http://mymerrychristmas.com</a> for more articles like this one.

The Gingerbread Nightmare

Do you ever see those beautiful gingerbread houses during the holiday seasons that are so beautiful? They look so simple, and look like such a fun project to do with the kids making gifts for grandma and grandpa. I could just feel it... soft Christmas music in the background, the warm, spicy smell of gingerbread filling the air, the cozy warmth of the fire on a snowy day, and my children and I building these luscious goodies sure to bless our family and friends, and all inexpensively as well.

That was the fantasy. Where was my mind? How could I forget about the little thing we call REALITY? Ever notice how professionals make things look easy? That's the very mark of a professional.

The first reality check was the store. Money was very tight and these looked like a great way to give a quality to gift to several loved ones. After we did the shopping for the candy and the ingredients for these gingerbread houses, the bill totaled nearly $75. I almost fainted. (We could have bought some great gifts with that, or even bought beautiful gingerbread houses).

As for Christmas music, the children insisted upon the Chipmunk's Christmas carols. Have you ever listened to more than 1 chipmunk song at a time? Have you ever noticed what that does to a brain?

The fire was nice, but then we had the fights over whose turn it was to stoke the fire. Two boys can fight over anything, and anything involving work makes a worthy fight indeed.

We started with the dough, and that part turned out! It was SO delicious?..in fact we had to make more because after all of us eating dough, there wasn't enough for the houses. So?.back to making more dough.

This particular dough had to be chilled, then rolled, then you cut pieces of the house out from a paper mold with a knife. Ok, got that part. We put it in the oven for baking, and half of the pieces burnt terribly. The other half were perfect, but you can't build a house with half the parts. So?..we had to make MORE dough. By now, we're not having fun anymore. It's getting late and mom is beginning to want to get this mess cleaned up now.We finished making new house pieces and it was like midnight, I had long put the children to bed and was cranky now at this point. The only thing to do now was to let everything cool (including tempers), and attempt the decorating tomorrow.

Whew?.new day, it's a wonder what a little sleep will do ya. Now we make the hard frosting that will act as glue to hold the pieces of the house together, time to build. Time for the fun to begin, boy are we ready!

We begin assembling the house, and half the roof piece breaks in two on one of the houses. On the second house, we find the pieces to not match correctly. On a third house, we overcome all these first two obstacles, and now have great difficulty getting props to hold the house together while the &quot;glue&quot; dries, and it's repeatedly falling apart and causing the oldest child to have a temper tantrum in frustration (mom too). Somehow through this fiasco, we end up with 1 viable house. (The others became, hard dog biscuit type things for the family pet).

Oh well, she needs her Christmas goodies too, right?

We frosted the house and each child decorated half. The end result? A $75. UGLY gingerbread house that only a grandma (with apologizes from mom), would take and not be too insulted by. But, we did accomplish one of our goals... it was a memory. A memory we fondly call &quot;The Gingerbread Nightmare&quot;.

By Valerie Garner, mother, grandmother and candlemaker / owner of Joyful Designs in Soy. She enjoys writing on a variety of topics in a warm & engaging style. <a target="_new" href="http://www.joyfuldesignsinsoy.com">http://www.joyfuldesignsinsoy.com</a>

Mommy...Daddy...Is There Really A Santa Claus?

Is there really a Santa Claus? Any parent who hasn't been faced with this question most likely will at some point. But how do you answer this? No one wants to crush a child's dreams of Santa and holiday magic.

Some kids, like me, are crushed at school when they hear from a classmate that they found all their presents under their parents' bed, thus, proving there really is no Santa. Then, reasoning sets in, which is about the time they begin to wonder why they have been told this fairy tale all this time as it was the truth.

So, is there truly a Santa Claus? Well, if you are in this position you will probably be glad to hear that the only true answer to this question is...yes, absolutely.

The name "Santa Claus" came from the Dutch "Sinter Klass" pronunciation of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas was a Christian priest, who later became a bishop. He was a wealthy person, and traveled the country helping others, giving gifts of money and other presents. St. Nicholas chose to remain hidden while giving these gifts, so the children were told to go to sleep quickly or he would not come!

One famous story is about a poor man who had no money to give to his three daughters on their wedding day. St. Nicholas dropped bags of gold into the stockings which the girls had left to dry by the fire. Ever since, children have hung up stockings on Christmas Eve hoping that they will be filled with gifts by Christmas morning.

According to the Catholics, a saint is one who lived such a holy life that, after dying and going to heaven, is still able to help people on earth.

In the 1500's people in England stopped worshipping St. Nicholas and favored another gift giving figure Father Christmas.

Now, no matter what your religious preference is or if you even believe in Saints, doesn't change that St. Nicholas represents a selfless act of giving. Rather it be material gifts, money where needed or the often most valuable gift of a little of your time, it's about the act of helping someone else for no other reason then just because they need it.

As St. Nicholas had figured out as a young man, we truly, as adults, begin to understand Santa Claus when we realize that the best gift of all is not on the receiving end, but being the one giving. And being rich doesn't always mean having a lot of money. Often, especially these days, taking the time to spend with someone, inviting them over for dinner or even putting food on their table, can make all the difference.

But how do we explain this to a child? Well, we do it in stages. They first have to learn how much receiving a gift meant to them to understand how much it means to others. And Santa Claus, well he is a perception of a truly magical holiday spirit presented to them in a way with which they can associate at this point in their lives.

So, how do we, as parents, answer this question in a way our young children will understand? You, as a parent, should decide when it's time to come clean. You can meter this by deciding when you feel they will understand that Santa Claus really does exist in all of us and he often means something different to each person they'll meet. A child grasping this is a big step towards learning what the holidays are truly all about.

? Mark Bulleit - All rights reserved.
<a href="http://www.GreetingsFromSanta.com" target="_new">http://www.GreetingsFromSanta.com</a>

About The Author

Mark Bulleit is the developer/co-founder of the popular <a href="http://GreetingsFromSanta.com" target="_new">GreetingsFromSanta.com</a> offering personal letters from Santa. Light up your child's face like never before this holiday season at <a href="http://www.greetingsfromsanta.com" target="_new">http://www.greetingsfromsanta.com</a>

<a href="mailto:mark@greetingsfromsanta.com">mark@greetingsfromsanta.com</a>

Home Made Gifts, The Best Way To Teach Your Kids The Value Of The Holiday

To a large extent the holidays have come to be more about materialism than the original values of peace, harmony, and faith. Advertisers hit us from all sides with messages of greed and pettiness. Every media outlet is rife with the idea, &quot;buy this, or they wont love you.&quot;

In such an age, it is important to remind the children about the true meaning of the season. This can be done, to some extent, by helping them to build their own gifts to give to others, and teaching them what the true value of a gift is. This has several major benefits.

1. In building the gift you will be spending time with the child doing something constructive.

2. It will teach them the value of money. The item they buy would have to be made just like the item they make themselves. Money doesn't just appear it has to be earned, and then traded. So money is trading work, for work.

3. It will engage their imaginations and creativity.

4. The gift they create will be much more meaningful, and you should let them know that.

As you can see, there are a ton of benefits to having your child build a gift themselves. At a young age this is obvious, but even as they grow older and into their teens this should be something you encourage.

Building a gift is easy. Different levels of skill can accomplish different things of course, but the mediums are fairly similar across all ages.

You can encourage the child to make you a card or a picture. You can give them clay or plaster and let them sculpt. Or you can suggest they write you a poem, or a story, or frame some nice pictures they take.

You should play to the child's interests. If you get them started on an art form for a single project, it could click and give them a hobby for years to come, while expanding their horizons. Try and get them to be creative, and stretch their limits. Most important of all, be encouraging, the child is a new artist, and so will be hesitant about their work. This is your chance to help their self esteem at the early stages of a new craft.

About The Author

Joey Lewitin is an author and designer of fine gifts and furnishings, which are on display sat <a href="http://pebblez.com" target="_new">http://pebblez.com</a>

Buying Jewelry for Mother?s Day or How To Buy The Perfect Gift for Mom Without Getting Ripped Off

Jewelry can be the perfect gift for mom on Mother's Day, but there are pitfalls, especially if you rush at the last minute. Procrastination and a lack of knowledge can be rewarded with overpaying for a piece of jewelry or even worse, being ripped-off.

A gift of jewelry can be expensive. Asking friends, family and co-workers if they can recommend a website, brick and mortar store or local crafts person can help. Checking with the better business bureau is also a commendable approach.

When you are shopping, ask the salesperson to write down any information you might rely on to make your purchase and before you buy, ask for the store's refund and return policy. When ordering online, keep printouts of the web pages with details about the transaction, including refund and return policies if you're not satisfied.

Six Smart Shopping Tips for Mother's Day and Beyond

1. There's a big difference between 14 karat gold and gold-plated jewelry. Fourteen karat (14K) jewelry contains 14 parts of gold, mixed in throughout with 10 parts of base metal. Gold-plated describes jewelry with a layer of at least 10K gold bonded to a base metal. Gold plating eventually wears away, depending on how often the item is worn and how thick the plating is.

2. If you're buying a watch, determine whether you want one that runs on a battery or one that must be wound daily. Ask if a warranty or guarantee is included, how long it lasts, and what parts and repair problems it covers. Also ask how and where you can get the watch serviced and repaired.

3. Know the difference between laboratory-created gemstones and naturally mined stones. Stones created in the lab are visually identical to stones mined from the earth. The big difference is in the cost: laboratory-created stones are less expensive then naturally mined stones. But because they look must like stones mined from the earth, they must be identified as lab-created. If you want a naturally mined stone, ask if it has been treated. Gemstone treatments? such as heating, dyeing or bleaching? can improve a stone's appearance or durability. Some treatments are permanent; some may create special care requirements. Treatments also may affect the stone's value.

4. Ask whether pearls are imitation or real. Real pearls are made by oysters or other mollusks; imitation pearls are man-made. Cultured pearls are made by mollusks with human intervention; and irritant introduced into their shells causes a pearl to grow. Real pearls that are not cultured are fairly rare and expensive. The cost depends on the size, usually stated in millimeters, and the coating or &quot;nacre&quot; on a real pearl, which gives it its iridescence.

5. When you're buying a diamond, consider four criteria: cut, color, clarity and weight, usually stated as carats. Each factor affects the price. Color is sometimes &quot;graded&quot; on a scale. However, scales are not uniform: a &quot;D&quot; may be the best color for one scale, but not for another. Make sure you know how a particular scale and grade represent the color of the diamond you're considering. A diamond can be described as &quot;flawless&quot; only if it has no visible surface cracks or other imperfections when viewed under 10-power magnification by a skilled diamond grader.

6. One final tip, Mom's love longer (i.e. 24") gold or sterling chains with gemstone pendants. And you can almost never go wrong with the very popular omega-style chains in various widths in sterling silver or gold.

For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.morninglightjewelry.com">http://www.morninglightjewelry.com</a> to pick up your FREE copy of &quot;How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.&quot; This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at <a target="_new" href="http://www.morninglightjewelry.com">http://www.morninglightjewelry.com</a>

Find Great Halloween Costume Ideas! Have The Most Creative Costumes This Year

Usually, the hardest part about Halloween is finding the perfect costume and top accessories for your ghoulish creation. Well, now it doesn't have to be! With the countless, great resources available on the web, finding Halloween costume ideas for the adults, kids and the rest of the family will be the easy part! Now, you'll just have to figure out what everyone wants to dress up as!

So where do you begin? Let us help you! Take the time to browse through our site for some great tips on creating the your favorite costumes. Think outside the box, and get really creative! Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling!

You can always do something traditional like a vampire, and add the flowing black cape, white shirt, pointed fangs, and the gruesomely red fake blood, or try something different and dress as a cat, ghost, skeleton, scarecrow, spider, or pumpkin.

To complete these costumes, most would require makeup, tights, hair dye, and a hat, if necessary. If you've got to wear a mask all night, just ensure that the holes for your eyes and mouth are large enough so you can stay comfortable. If masks aren't your thing, you can try something else and dress like a celebrity (Marilyn Monroe, or Donald Trump), or an action hero (guys always look great as Superman!). The possibilities are endless!

Why not try something really gruesome this year? Bring Frankenstein back to life, or better yet, be a mummy coming back for revenge! The important thing is to have fun with it, and let your imagination run wild. The more unique your Halloween costume idea, the better chance that you won't have anyone else dressed the same as you at the party! So make this Halloween memorable, and enjoy checking out the variety of ideas available on our site!

About the author: Maria is the the author of &quot;1st In Halloween Costumes&quot; available at <a target="_new" href="http://www.1st-in-halloween-costumes.com/index.htm">http://www.1st-in-halloween-costumes.com</a> A great source for Halloween Costumes online! You can easily find and compare halloween sites offering quality adult halloween costumes, sexy halloween costumes, kids costumes, pet costumes, and halloween masks.

The Magic Of Gift Giving At Christmas

Regardless of age, almost everyone can remember at least a few magic moments of their past at Christmas time. Even in our fifties and sixties, we can still very precisely recall how our parents celebrated Christmas. Those moments will never be forgotten because to all of us, Christmas is a very special time for our immediate families to be together. It is also human nature for us to pass along our family traditions to the next generation. It is without question, the most popular time of the year to show our appreciation for one another.

It is also a time to celebrate with our extended families - our relatives and close friends. It is also the perfect time to recognize the people and customers we work with, to show our appreciation for their support. We also must remember that our associates at work also have the same appreciation for Christmas, making it the ideal opportunity to show them we are thankful for their efforts.

Our customers are often the lifeline of existence. They are precisely the reason for your company's health and its ability to prosper. Christmas is a great time to show your thanks with a simple corporate gift. The more personal the better, because your close working relationship with that individual is why your companies continue to prosper together.

Determining what to buy for each person at Christmas is a challenge much bigger than the shopping process itself. Despite having your Christmas list complete, negotiating through the crowds during the Christmas rush is not something we relish as a pastime.

However, when it comes to shopping at hurried times of the year like Christmas, your best friend might be the Internet. Although still unexplored by many, shopping on the Internet has been popular with many for years and it has proven to be a safe, convenient way to shop for virtually anything. Buying gifts on the Internet is finally taking full advantage of the flexibility of your credit card. If you have an upgraded gold or platinum card, review the conditions of your card benefits. If you are a relatively light card user you may not realize the added benefits of buying with your card. Extra air miles, extended warranties, front of the line seating etc, are just some of the benefits we gain when buying with our upgraded cards.

You will also be pleasantly surprised with the enormous number of specialized Websites for gift giving, for virtually any special occasion. Open your Internet browser (Yahoo, Google, Netscape, etc.) and punch in key words like Gifts, Gift Shopping, Gift Baskets, etc. You will be pleasantly surprised with the number of Websites that are listed and tantalize your every need.

These Websites are very user friendly and most offer easy navigation, usually based on the gift occasion. Although most sites offer an enormous range of gift ideas, many also have a toll free number and on-line staff to answer any questions and even help put together a specialized gift for your particular situation. So avoid the crowds this Christmas, and for a relaxing change of pace, shop on the Internet.

It will make gift shopping more fun because Internet sites will add a creative side to your gift giving that most department store simply can't offer. Surprisingly, Internet shopping is like walking through an exclusive shopping district, full of unique little shopping boutiques. You will likely see more gift ideas than you could ever imagine. So hop on the Internet and enjoy shopping this year.

About The Author

Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don't blow the bank. Gift Baskets for Baby, Birthday and Beyond, are just some gift ideas you'll find at her site: <a href="http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com" target="_new">http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com</a>. Want regular reminders on gift-giving? Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at <a href="http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gift-news-signup.htm" target="_new">http://www.abcgiftsandbaskets.com/gift-news-signup.htm</a>.

Valentines Day - A Guide for Men

Did you know that after Christmas, Valentine's Day is the biggest retail holiday? That means a variety of things for you the consumer, but mostly it means the market is saturated with a plethora of heart-shaped, cutesy, not so worth it products. I have a philosophy?one that is not always popular?but here it goes. If you love someone, then saying "I love you" is a full time job, not one accomplished by dime store shrink-wrapped chocolates and plush toys holding bags of candy hearts.

Don't get me wrong. These things were great when we were 10, but we are adults now so here are a few ways to ensure you have a classy holiday that shows you put a lot of thought into it.

The key to success if knowing your significant other's tastes and not stepping on a land mine in the process of telling her how much you care. Yes, this article is geared mostly towards the men out there who are trying to get it right this year. However, women, you can take heed of this advice as well because I don't know a man alive who wants a teddy bear holding a cheap satin heart.

1. Ask yourself "Do I know her tastes well enough to buy a personalized gift?" We are going to help you sort this out, but you are going to have to too.

2. What is your budget? Financial troubles as a result of overspending on Valentine's Day are not going to help your romantic life.

3. Always be classy. You don't have to spend a fortune to achieve style.

We have broken the choices down by the major items generally purchased for Valentine's Day. This by no means is an all-inclusive list, but will put you on the road to victory.

Chocolate:

Does she like it? If not, then obviously skip this traditional gift. Does she have a favorite brand? Or favorite ingredient?
Whatever your answers to those questions, do not buy shrink wrapped, generic chocolate. We are not a big fan of the heart shaped, fake lace and Elvis velvet. You know what I am talking about. Now avoid it! A simple, elegant box with a nice ribbon is much classier.

Flowers:

Does she like flowers? (Remember some people are allergic to certain flowers)

Does she have a favorite? There is not a rule that says you must be red roses. I happen to love yellow roses and it would be a sign to me that my mate understood me if he bought me yellow roses instead of traditional red.

Jewelry:

Now talk about a land mine. If you are determined to buy jewelry, consult her friends and family to find out what she likes and wants if you are not absolutely positive. Good jewelry is an expensive proposition to screw up. Avoid heart shaped anything?please, I am begging you. The act of giving her the jewelry is saying "I love you," there is no need to tattoo it on her forehead so to speak by giving her a heart shaped necklace she feels obliged to wear all of the time.

Dinner or Brunch:

1. Go where you will both be comfortable

2. Make reservations to avoid waiting

3. If you want to try something new, go somewhere that you both have wanted to try.

4. If you are nervous about a new place and you want the perfect evening, check out the place ahead of time.

5. Be yourself. For example, if you are not a wine expert then ask for help from the staff. We women like a guy who will ask.

Or be daring?don't go out to eat. If you are not a very good cook, order take away from a local establishment (not fast food or pizza) or hire a personal chef, and put your time into setting a beautiful table. She will be very impressed that you made the effort.

Lingerie:

Oh yet another land mine. Do you get the feeling this holiday was meant to test the best of relationships? Be careful here. Your fantasies may not be her desires. And please, please, please again be classy not tacky. Cheap lingerie does not say "I love you." It says "I'm cheap or you are a tramp." If you aren't sure about this one at all, then make it a partner activity. Tell her you want to buy her something nice and that you want to do it together.

Other Gifts:

There is no rule that your Valentine's Day gift has to be heart shaped, red/pink or traditional. I don't recommend buying her a blender or cordless drill, but if there is something that she has really been checking out and you can afford it, then show her that you have been paying attention and go for it.

Travel:

Many places offer weekend specials for Valentine's Day, but often are booked well in advance. As an alternative, plan a weekend away at a different time and give this to her as a gift over your Valentine's Day dinner.

Proposals:

OK, we saved this one for last because it is a big one. For some reason, the multitudes feel that proposing on Valentine's Day is the thing to do. In case you couldn't tell from this article, I am encouraging you to think out of the box. Valentine's Day proposals have come to be expected. Why not be different, propose at a random time and really surprise her. However, if you feel that you must succumb to the pressure, do it right. Follow all of our tips above and crank them up a notch. Again, be creative but classy. You want her to remember this special time.

So here you are at the end of the article and about ready to chuck in the towel. Don't! We know you can do it. Take a deep breath, do not wait until the last minute and if it all seems a bit too overwhelming, call in help. Use your resources and make this a truly special day that is only the beginning of a truly special year of romance.

Indra A Books, author of this and many other lifestyle articles, is the owner and founder of ON THE GO 4 U, Personal Shoppers & Concierge Service in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The company's creed is to provide its clients with the ultimate life management experience. In addition to its shopping and concierge services, ON THE GO 4 U also publishes a monthly e-zine and conducts workshops on wardrobe, entertaining and decorating. For more information about the author and ON THE GO 4 U, please visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.onthego4u.net">http://www.onthego4u.net</a>

? 2005 Indra A Books for ON THE GO 4 U

Holiday Tips For Stepfamilies

Holiday Tips For Stepfamilies: Let Go Of The "Brady Bunch" Fantasy!

When my co-author--Bill Merkel Ph.D.--and I first formed our stepfamily, I had many fantasies about how our family would behave like the "Brady Bunch" over the holidays-- a happy, harmonious, singing-and-dancing unit. Then reality struck, and we couldn't even agree on how to decorate the Christmas tree!

Ultimately, we created a "his" side-with multi-colored, blinking lights and tinsel--and a "hers" side-with hand-painted eggs and popcorn strings. Seven years later, I can tell you that trying to create a "Brady Bunch" holiday sets stepfamilies up for failure. Instead, I suggest you follow these tips:

1. Examine and try to let go of your "Brady Bunch" fantasies.

2. Continue "old" holiday traditions with your biological kids while creating new ones for the stepfamily.

3. If the kids don't buy into your fantasy holiday, try to see

the world from their point of view.

4. Practice the fine art of silence when your stepfamily is stressed by the holidays. You don't have to share all your negative feelings.

5. Don't compete with your children's "other" parents by showering kids with expensive gifts.

6. Stepmoms, reach out to your stepkids' mother. Buy her a gift. Tell her you appreciate her children.

7. Don't fight with ex-spouses about how much time you will

spend with children over the holidays. It only hurts the children

8. Invite your ex-spouses over for a holiday party. Brace for surprises.

9. Join a stepparent support group to share the many feelings about "family" that come up during the holiday season.

Lisa Cohn is co-author of "One Family, Two Family, New Family: Stories And Advice For Stepfamilies," a 2004 Gold National Parenting Publications Award winner. For more information, visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.stepfamilyadvice.com">http://www.stepfamilyadvice.com.</a> Email her at <a href="mailto:cohnmerk@comcast.net">cohnmerk@comcast.net</a>

Top 25 Thanksgiving Quotations

<LI>"It is therefore recommended ... to set apart Thursday the eighteenth day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise, that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor ..."
-- Samuel Adams, father of the American Revolution on November 1, 1777 (adopted by the 13 states as the first official Thanksgiving Proclamation)
<LI>"Gratitude is the sign of noble souls."
-- Aesop's Fables
<LI>"Thanksgiving is possible only for those who take time to remember; no one can give thanks who has a short memory."
-- Anonymous
<LI>"One act of thanksgiving made when things go wrong is worth a thousand when things go well."
-- Anonymous
<LI>"Thanksgiving is a circle of memories."
-- Anonymous
<LI>"Thanksgiving is a time for remembering and appreciating the special people in our lives. Our home is warmed by the love of family and friends."
-- Anonymous
<LI>"What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?"
-- Erma Bombeck
<LI>"My cooking is so bad my kids thought Thanksgiving was to commemorate Pearl Harbor."
-- Phyllis Diller
<LI>"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and new."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
<LI>"Who does not thank for little will not thank for much."
-- Estonian proverb
<LI>"Your friend is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving."
-- Kahlil Gibran
<LI>"There is one day that is ours. Thanksgiving Day . . . is the one day that is purely American."
-- O. Henry
<LI>"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
-- John Fitzgerald Kennedy
<LI>"An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day."
-- Irv Kupcinet
<LI>"Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow."
-- Edward Sandford Martin
<LI>"Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths. At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings."
-- J. Robert Moskin
<LI>"Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude."
-- E.P. Powell
<LI>" Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving."
-- WT Purkiser
<LI>"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds."
-- Theodore Roosevelt
<LI>"Great as the preparations were for the dinner, everything was so contrived that not a soul in the house should be kept from the morning service of Thanksgiving in the church."
-- Harriet Elizabeth Beecher Stowe
<LI>"How wonderful it would be if we could help our children and grandchildren to learn thanksgiving at an early age. Thanksgiving opens the doors. It changes a child's personality. A child is resentful, negative-or thankful. Thankful children want to give, they radiate happiness, they draw people."
-- Sir John Templeton
<LI>"Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse."
-- Henry Van Dyke
<LI>"It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor."
-- George Washington in his first Presidential Proclamation
<LI>"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving."
-- H. U. Westermayer
<LI>"And let these altars, wreathed with flowers And piled with fruits, awake again Thanksgivings for the golden hours, The early and the latter rain!"
-- John Greenleaf Whittier

<B>Resource Box - ? Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine - A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like - love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more. Read it online at - <a target="_new" href="http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8364.asp">http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8364.asp</a></B>

How to Have the ?Perfect? Christmas

&quot;This year will be different. I vow I won't get stressed out over presents, parties, cards, Christmas plays, putting up the tree and decorating, and all the many other tasks of the season. I will remember the true meaning of Christmas.&quot;

Do you find that all the Christmas chores steal your joy?

&quot;For unto us a child is born&quot; - Aahh the miracle of birth. The true miracle of our Savior's birth. As Christian mothers we are doubly blessed to celebrate Christmas. We know the joy and pain of childbirth. We can imagine an exhausted Mary looking at her truly perfect, holy baby.

How can we recapture the joy and the simplicity of the first Christmas?

Following are some suggestions for making this the &quot;Perfect&quot; Christmas

1. Decide how you want your family to experience the true meaning of Christmas. Ex. Will you help another family with presents? Our family now has a tradition of doing Christmas boxes for Samaritan's Purse. Our children love picking out items for the box and praying for the child who receives their box.

2. Prioritize what is most important to you. Maybe you can't do it all. You may choose not to send Christmas cards, but do a New Years note.

3. Decide what parties you can and cannot attend. Sometimes as a family we may rarely be home in December. So much for family time.

4. If you have young children, remember how important, normal routine and sleep schedule are for younger children and you. Taking a cranky toddler shopping is not a good experience for anyone.

5. Decide what traditions you want for your own nuclear family. Sometimes we are so busy going to extended families' homes we don't get to start our own family traditions. Try to have a leisurely Christmas morning with children enjoying their toys before rushing off to anywhere.

6. Start a tradition of celebrating Jesus birthday. Ex. Happy Birthday Jesus cake, reading the Christmas story before opening presents, or children having their own child size Nativity set to play with and tell the Christmas story.

7. Set a limit on Christmas spending and stick to it. Don't celebrate Jesus' birth by being in debt in January.

8. Take time to pray and think about the most precious gift of all. Often our quiet times are the first to go when we get so busy. Using an advent calendar with children will also help them focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

9. Be kind to yourself. You may not be able to do everything like your Mom did. Perhaps you can make slice-and-bake cookies with your children instead of homemade cookie dough. Your children will remember the fun of decorating cookies, not who made the cookie dough.

10. Remember that you are not superwoman and you can't do it all. Sit down with your husband and decide who can do what on your list. Children can help put stamps on Christmas cards. Be kind to yourself and rest in our Savior's loving arms.

I don't know if you or I will have the &quot;Perfect&quot; Christmas, but we can make a conscious effort to focus on our Lord. Things will go wrong and we will get stressed, but we need to keep our eyes on Him. We need to show and teach our children that Christmas is not about Santa and receiving gifts. Christmas is about the ultimate gift that we can never repay.

So, I wish you a &quot;Perfect&quot; Christmas with Christ' birth as your focus, and that you would be kind to yourself. Set reasonable expectations for yourself and experience the true joy of Christmas.

? 2004 Kimberly Chastain

About the Author

Kimberly M. Chastain, MS, LMFT is the Christian Working Mom Coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in helping Christian women make the most of their lives. She is the author of the on-line course, &quot;I Can't Say No&quot; and Pearls of Encouragement for Christian Working Moms, a free e-book. If you suffer from &quot;I Can't Say 'No&quot; Syndrome, visit Kimberly's site today for the details on an exciting email course that's sure to set you free! <a target="_new" href="http://www.christianworkingmom.com/online.htm.">http://www.christianworkingmom.com/online.htm.</a> The Text Information Box above MUST be included for reprint privileges. You may reprint this article in it's entirety with the attached text box.

A New Look at Labor Day

A day to reflect on the accomplishments of working people: That's been the proud tradition since the first, unofficial, Labor Day back in 1882.

But, one of labor's greatest accomplishments has gone largely unrecognized. Since the end of World War II, working people have bought up a huge chunk of big business. They now own a piece of just about everything in business, from multinational corporations to small companies that build mini-malls in their neighborhoods.

It may be the greatest economic transformation since the Industrial Revolution; management guru Peter Drucker calls it "The Pension Fund Revolution."

To get a sense of the transformation, consider this: At the end of 2001, America's 242 billionaires had assets totalling about $800 billion. That's a sizable amount, certainly, but working people had assets of $11.8 trillion in pension and mutual funds. That's almost 15 times as much as the billionaires.

Most working people contribute only modest amounts to their retirement plans, but there are simply so many of us that our collective nest egg grew very quickly. If you're still not sure, try this on your calculator: Multiply a contribution of $1,000 per year by one million working people. Answer: $1 billion dollars per year. Now note there are hundreds of millions of working people here and in other countries. And we're contributing new money every year.

Even a relatively small number of working people can build a big fund. For example, the New York State Common Retirement Fund, with 944,000 members in or retired from state public services, had assets of $112 billion at the end of March last year. According to the Fund's annual report for 2002, about $76.6 billion of that total was invested in companies. The remainder, about $35 billion, was in bonds, mortgages, and other types of loans.

Look at the private sector and unions, too. To cite just a couple of examples, Pensions & Investments magazine estimated that General Motor's pension fund had assets of $82.5 billion and the pension fund of the Western Conference Teamsters had assets of $22.6 billion, at September 30, 2001.

This ownership of big business by working people is the result of contributions to pension funds, mutual funds, and life insurance policies with a savings component.

What does all this mean? Well, for starters, perhaps an end of complaints about the profits of corporations. After all, most of those profits go toward the retirement incomes of working people.

More complicated, though, is the relationship between working people who own a big company and other working people employed by it. How to share corporate profits -- through continuing employment and higher wages, or through higher returns to shareholders -- remains a difficult issue. Especially for those working people who lose their jobs.

On the other side of the coin, working people have bought enough stocks and shares to become the bosses of the bosses. Some pension funds have begun making that clear; CalPERS, the California Public Employees' Retirement System, has led the way in telling Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and boards of directors that they'd better manage effectively. And, CEOs and directors listen; after all CalPERS runs the country's biggest pension fund, with assets of more than $130 billion.

One other thing: if you're a working person, you're a consumer, as well as an owner and employee. When you go shopping, there's a chance you'll buy from a business owned by yourself, your friends, or your neighbors. What's more, the clerks who take your credit card with smiles may work for you. Or, maybe the clerks own the company for which you work. Smile at them, too, just to be on the safe side!

About The Author

Robert F. Abbott explains how working people are buying up big corporations, and more, in his new book Meet the New Owners: <a href="http://www.TheNewOwners.com" target="_new">www.TheNewOwners.com</a>; <a href="mailto:abbottr@managersguide.com">abbottr@managersguide.com</a>

Ideas For Toddler Halloween Costumes

Depending on the age of your little ones, you may want to keep ideas for toddler Halloween costumes on the simple side. Since most of the very youngest trick or treaters are only going out to amuse the grandparents and immediate neighbors, it needn't be terribly complicated to still bring a lot of smiles.

For infants, and those who get tired of walking, animal costumes work very well, can be done in minutes, and don't require great sewing skills.

Turn your toddler into a cow, with a white hooded shirt, white sweat pants, black wool and some black felt. Cut cow-type &quot;splotches&quot; out of the felt, and either use double-sided tape or easily removed basting stitches to attach to the shirt and pants. Remember to keep two triangular pieces of felt to tack ears onto the hood. A dozen pieces of wool, cut to about 18&quot;, can be braided to make a tail for pinning to the seat of their pants. If the toddler is slightly older, and not likely to &quot;bust your balloon&quot;, buy one disposable glove at the drug store, tie off the thumb so no air can get in it, then inflate the glove, tie it off at the wrist, and pin to the belly of their shirt.

Cats and dogs are equally as simple, using the same matching shirt and pants combo, with a few accessories. For the dog, you can buy rubber/vinyl noses, or you can create your own hound dog face with a little makeup to match the shirt, and then draw on a black nose, and a black ring around one eye. Use felt to make a couple of oval-shaped ears, cutting one round end off, and tacking them to the hood of the shirt. The tail can be as easy as a piece of rope or cord, or you can sew a tube of felt and stuff it with quilt batting or lint from the dryer! For the finishing touch, cut down an old belt to create a &quot;collar&quot; and glue on some rhinestones.

Black cats are not only easy, they are delightfully charming ideas for toddler Halloween costumes. Get a matching black sweat pant and hooded shirt, plus black felt for the ears. Make sure you have a little pink felt as well, to glue to the inside of the black ear, to make it more realistic. Use make-up to draw on the nose and whiskers, and give your toddler black mittens, and black socks to wear over their shoes. You're at the end of the job when you make a matching tail out of black felt, or a length of black cord from the curtain shop. A narrow black dress belt with rhinestones glued on, and a tiny bell, makes your kitten, purrrrrfectly divine.

Visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.MalcolmsWeb.com">http://www.MalcolmsWeb.com</a> and sign up for free weekly tips that will take the mystery and fear out of parenting your precious little one.