Christmas 2010 Craft - Miniature Presents!

Each year my daughter and I have a tradition of making a Christmas craft.

This year we are makingthe Miniature Christmas Presents featured in the photo above. The photo above and the craft idea and instructions are from the Kaboose website. This particular craft is by Amanda Formaro.

What I found appealing about these miniature presents is their simplicity. TIP: Purchase and use ribbon that is 1/8" wide. I found this width to work best for wrapping around the ornaments and making the bows of the ornaments.

Everyone loves presents and these bring joy and smiles and hope. The ornaments themselves may be small, but what a present can bring in the way of hope and joy can be big.

As in years past with our other Christmas crafts, especially the Jolly Elves crafts, we will be giving these to family and friends. We wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas!

Easy Paycheck Formula by Sara Young Video - Start Your Home Based Business Today

Learn more about the Easy Paycheck Formula by Sara Young at the Easy Paycheck Formula Review.

Charlie and Lola Dolls Toys & Games Video

Fancy Nancy Toys Video

Great Gift Ideas, Dolls, Dress Up, Puzzles, and Tea Parties! Frilly and elaborate ideas!

For these and other great Fancy Nancy Toy ideas visit Fancy Nancy Toys

Animated Christmas Deer Ornaments Yard Art

During the Christmas holiday season pre-lit animated deer decorations can be seen scattered through neighborhood lawns. Sometimes there is only one deer, but other times there is a cluster or family of deer showcased with the Standing Buck, and two doe with him.

I find this animated Christmas yard art brightens a lawn with their white lights, and especially if a homeowner shines a spotlight on the grouping or only one if its shown alone. I also like the way they are usually white and appear calm and tranquil during what can be a busy time of year.

The animated deer that come pre-lit with clear mini lights and white wire with an elegant white iridescent glitter finish that looks like spun glass are my favorites.

Thank goodness for the folding construction which makes storage, set-up and take down easy and can be used indoors or outdoors. It's nice having choices.

The LG BD570 Offers More!

Adding the LG BD570 Network Blu Ray Disc Player to your home entertainment systems will WOW you. With wireless connectivity, media streaming choices, DVD Upscaling, DLNA certified, and excellent blu ray image quality, the BD570 is an outstanding stand alone player and follow up to last years BD390 model. The newer model boasts a new more streamline shallow design with a slimline profile front panel that flips open for access to the USB port.

The media streaming on this component is arguably one of the most intriguing features of the player. Accessing the streaming media is through LGs Netcast service. This service allows access to loads of streaming content that can all be enjoyed right on your HDTV, no computer required. Access Netflix, Youtube, Pandora, CinemaNow, VuDu, Picasa, and Accuweather from your BD570 player. Through the components DLAN your videos and music are on your home network or external drive via the USB port are also accessible.

The LG BD570 Blu-Ray Player delivers superior image quality and convenience to your living room via wireless internet connectivity and no messy wires.

Love The Artificial Christmas Tree Idea

Two years ago we purchased an artificial Christmas tree. Best.Idea.Ever.
No more trying to figure out what shape the tree we were looking at in the great outdoors was going to look like when we got it home. No more having to water the tree, and no more cleaning up all the needles that fall off. All.the.time.

When I shopped for an artificial tree, I looked for an bought a traditional type, but have since learned about three types of Christmas Artificial trees that are popular during the Christmas holiday season. These three are the Upside Down Christmas Tree, Fibre Optic Christmas trees, and the Christmas Palm Tree. True to the traditional trees, these artificial trees are available in various heights and also colors. Not sure if traditional trees are available in all the colors some of the upside down trees and fiber optic trees are such as black, red, and gold.

Benefits of each of these tree types include additional decorating space with the Upside Down Christmas tree especially for gifts, luminous light without any heat with the Fiber Optic Christmas tree, and the perfect decoration for a tropical environment that the Christmas Palm tree provides.

Many stores are offering their artificial trees at a discount this time of year. Why not grab one now at a great price and be all ready for Black Friday and the decorating season.

I Love Christmas Music

Each year I like to add to my Christmas Song CDs. I have Christmas theme CDs with instrumental music, jazz music, and even a Christmas Jimmy Buffet CD.

Music is just a part of my life and it only seems natural to enjoy it especially during the holidays. One of the Christmas Song CDs we have is a Snoopy CD that my Mom gave our daughter when she was young.

We have our favorites of course that we enjoy each year. It's not too far away, only a couple months before we'll be singing "Deck The Halls"!

Shine on With Moroccan OIl

I have been using Moroccan Oil for about 18 months. It has definitely given my hair shin, and also noticeable manageability. I use a little pea size amount each day on damp hair. I let my hair air dry which also has the added benefit of having the oil soak into the hair. I have also noticed using the oil seems to have helped my scalp be more healthy.

The Moroccan Oil is perfect for all hair types, and did I mention it smells GREAT?!

Grade B Organic Maple Syrup

Direct from the Coombs Family forests in Vermont is the tasty, rich dark amber taste of Grade B Maple Syrup.

This syrup is perfect for the weekend family breakfasts with pancakes, waffles, and french toast. It also is great in recipes and for cooking such as for candies or frostings.

The syrup is preservative free, and does not contain and hydrogenated corHFCS making it a natural sweetener with lower sugar content that is good for your body.

Perfect for your family or as a gift for others, the exceptional quality and taste of the Coombs Family Organic Grade B Maple Syrup will delight!

The Rechargeable Wine Opener by Oster 4207

My parents introduced me to this wine opener, the Oster 4207 Rechargeable Battery Wine Opener. I was a little apprehensive about using it since I had my Rabbit opener, but thought I'd give it a try.

What I found is that it is a delight to use. The wine opener is easy to handle, works efficiently, looks good, and holds a charge with up to 30 openings per charge. Just place the cylinder over the wine bottle, press the button and the corkscrew descends into the bottle cork. Press the button again and the cork descends and falls out of the opener.

The Oster Wine Opener amazes and delights at how it works so efficiently and with ease.

Pawn Stars Season One DVD

Do you watch Pawn Stars on the History Channel? It is a favorite of my family in part because it is a show we can all watch together and also because we learn and have fun at the same time.

The Harrison family owns the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas and that is what the show is about. During the show we see people bring their items into the store to see how much they can sell the item for.

The Season One Pawn Stars DVD is great for the entire family.

Watch your favorite pawn shop family in the premiere season and meet Richard "The Old Man", Rick "The Spotter", Corey "Big Hoss", and of course "Chumlee". Watch as Rick inspects and authenticates items people bring into the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas. See the experts give their evaluations of items and their history behind them. Watch as the negotiations unfold to see if the shop will buy the item and at what price?

Visit Pawn Stars Show for more information about the characters, the experts, and fun stats about the pawn industry.

The Classic Toy - Magic 8 Ball

This classic toy by Mattel was invented in 1946, and since that time the Magic 8 Ball has delighted children 5 years and older with its fortune telling. With 20 possible Magic 8 Ball Answers to any Yes or No question asked children both young and old have been delighted and some mesmerized with this toy. Magic 8 Ball responses include the always famous "Yes" and "Outlook Good", and the non-committal "Cannot predict now", and "Very doubtful". Check out all of the 20 Magic 8 Answers in the article.

Variations of the original Magic 8 Ball have developed since its invention and include the following bestsellers:the Sarcastic Ball, Dr. Freud's Therapy Ball, and the Toy Story Talking Magic 8 Ball featuring Woody's voice.

Smile by Uncle Kracker

This is a feel good, great song that if you aren't right now, you will be smiling soon!



What a great song! Enjoy and Remember to Smile!

Smile by Uncle Kracker on the Happy Hour Album.

An Alternate Advent Calendar

Summer is not over, but with the slight seasonal changes I have been noticing outside, my thoughts have wandered ahead to the start of school, and the Christmas season.

I have begun to look for this year's Christmas ornament that my daughter and I will make. Last year we made the adorable Jolly Elves Ornaments. Making Christmas ornaments together is time my family spends together creating and that requires me to slow down and in the process spend quality time with my daughter.


This year I'd like to add an advent calendar to the season and our family traditions. I thought about making one, but have since decided that a wood advent calendar may be able to be enjoyed now and then in the future shared with my daughter when she is an adult and perhaps has a family of her own. I prefer a Christian themed advent calendar to a secular one. The advent season is a perfect time remember the "reason for the season".

Hope you are having a wonderful summer and that as the Advent season approaches the beginning of November you and your family will have time together making Christmas traditions.

The Pyramid from Playmobil

The Playmobil Pyramid is an explorers delight. It is the centerpiece to the 9 set Playmobil Egyptian collection.

Children can protect the emperor and empress mummies from grave robbers using the tricks and traps of the two level pyramid. It is both very educational and interactive.

Your child or loved one will be thrilled with its wonderful hidden compartments, sides that come off, break away walls, and sliding staircase.

There are snakes, scorpions and even a scorpion trap. There is also CD that accompanies the Playmobil Pyramid offering games, a quiz, and coloring page.

Easy Paycheck Formula by Sara Young

Beginning August 19, 2010 Easy Paycheck Formula will be open to the public.

This is great news.

Why? Because the Easy Paycheck Formula is a step-by-step method or program for making money online using free resources. No lists, no hosting, no website. Using free resources, the creator of the program, Sara Young, literally shows using videos how to set up campaigns to make you money.

I purchased Easy Paycheck Formula the beginning of July 2010. I have been delighted with the 12 lessons and 20 videos that the program offers to setting up campaigns and making money. My favorite parts of the formula are Keyword Research and Article writing. Within the program Sara offers usable tips and techniques that clear the fog so to speak on these two topics. Additionally, the support is outstanding with responses to my questions being received within 24 hours.

Each of the modules comes with a transcript of the video which has been nice for using throughout using the formula. In addition, Easy Paycheck Formula comes with a complete course manual, troubleshooting guide, action steps after each lesson, and many more tips that are useful. This program is both for both the newbie and seasoned marketer looking to make money online.

So, when the doors open August 19, 2010 I recommend purchasing Easy Paycheck Formula and digging in right away to start making cash.

A Wirehaired Pointing What?

Tomorrow our family dog, Stoli, celebrates his 2nd birthday.  Here's a recent picture of Stoli, our Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (WPG), and one from when he was a puppy on the day we brought him home.

 

Stloi as a Puppy

 

Stoli 2 Years Old

 

My husband and I have known one another for 20 years, and for the better part of our married life of 18 years, Jim has wanted a dog. I on the other hand was not interested in adding a canine member to the family. That pretty much changed after seeing the litter of puppies in July, 2008 and choosing our new family friend.

Stoli is a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. He is a sporting dog and I know there are probably lots of things the breeders and other owners could share with you about this dog's breed, but these are my personal & most memorable thoughts about Stoli over the past two years.

Top Things about Stoli our Wirehaired Pointing Griffon:

This breed loves to be "With You". That might sound like your dog. And it very well may be true. But Stoli wants to be in close proximity, in your lap would be fine. I should mention he's 60 some pounds. Not exactly a lap dog. But if you are cooking, he is at your feet. Literally, resting on your leg with his paw(s) on the top of your foot. I realize this is an inherent trait bred in this dog and is one of the things that make the breed good hunting dogs. I just wasn't prepared and now wouldn't change this family oriented trait in our WPG, Stoli.

Remember "Tigger" from Winnie-The-Pooh? Remember how he bounced from place to place? Well, Stoli doesn't really bounce, but he sure is close to bouncing up and down when he is excited to meet and greet any new people. Which naturally brings some interesting looks and consequent dialogue from our newest visitors. Our family have become somewhat familiar with Stoli's bouncing abilities, but it still illicits some giggle, well at least from me! Again, this is a quality that I believe is desirable in this breed.  Stoli's natural agility skills are amazing. He can zig zag out of any spot with the greatest of ease. He's fast too, he runs with speed like nobody's business!

Well, I guess this next one we kind of have only ourselves to thank.  Our Stoli loves his dinner with carrots and yogurt. I know. You can shake your head, I know I do at each meal.

And lastly (at least for this post), Stoli has many nicknames: Stoli Rollie Polli Ollie, Stoli the Dog, Buddy to name a few.  He also has the nickname Tina Turner for when he shakes and his hair on his head  is remarkably reminiscint of Tiny Turner's hair during the "What's Love Got To Do With It" days.

So on the eve of Stoli's second birthday we reminisce on his homecoming, and celebrate his being two and bringing us lots of laughs and love, and at times shedding. (We can go into the shedding/non-shedding another time :))

Happy Birthday Stoli!

 

 

Posted via web from laura45's posterous

What About a Bath Safety Rail?

Ever been in the shower and feel yourself start to slip and start flailing to stop the fall.  Afterwards your back might be strained, or worse. 

Not too long ago my adult sister fell in her marble shower, and thankfully, there were only black and blue bruises.  Not nice to look at, but certainly better than some/most of the other possible outcomes.

After that incident I began wondering about installing a bath safety rail. 

Come to find out, these little sturdy devices are used by young and old alike.  The youngsters enjoy using a bath safety rail for the independence achieved by entering and exiting the bath on their own. They can have a daily "I Did It" moment!

And as I mentioned, some sort of bath grab rail would have been ideal for my sister and so, for the future, will have one installed in her shower.

The elderly are another group that benefit from either a bath safety rail or a bath grab bar.  The easy to install sturdy device provides support, comfort, safety while preserving independence.

A bath safety rail provides comfort, sturdy support, and peace of mind for loved ones.

 

 

Posted via web from laura45's posterous

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary Mom and Dad!

The date June 11, 2010 is exactly 50 years from the date my parents exchanged wedding vows as young adults. Fast forward, and I do mean fast forward, 50 years to the 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration held at the Homewood Suites in York, PA.

Friends and Family reunited for a celebration in honor of my parent's commitment and testament of their love.

Joining our family in the celebration were family & friends from near and far, including Dolores, my Mother's friend from her first real job as a young women in NYC at Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company,; Bob and Andrea, one of my Mother's nephews, Bob, and his wife, Andrea, who travelled from CT for the celebration; Ginnie, Nancy and Bill, and Jane and Don, all long-time friends with lots of memories and history from York; and Bonnie and Dick, valued and special friends from New Port Richey, FL. Mom and Dad had satellite toasts both on and previous to the June 11 celebration in March in AZ with Aunt Marijane, Uncle John, Geralyn, Michael, and Katie; and in New Port Richey the night of the anniversary from George and Diane who raised their glasses to celebrate this momentous occasion; and from Tennesse from Jack and Jeannette; Uncle Joe and Aunt Babe toasted and celebrated to Mom and Dad's continued happiness and health from Jupiter, FL; while Mom's childhood and special friend Pat with her husband Phil commemorated this milestone with wedding memorobilia and heart-felt thoughts and messages.

While the cummulative months and years culminated in a wonderous night of camraderie and celebration, it is the daily strength of character, the focus on commitment, the strong foundation for family and friends that catapulted us to raising our glasses and celebrating the 50th Wedding Anniversary of Mom and Dad.

To that effect, Lisa wrote a heart-felt and to-be-remembered toast that honored Mom and Dad. Lisa asked Lauren and Rachel for their help in delivering the toast and what a memorable moment was witnessed by all who received Lisa's thoughts and feeling on our parents lives and our future from their two grandchildren. Lauren and Rachel delivered the toast with poise and finesse and made their grandparents and parents proud.

It is bittersweet when such an anticipated event comes to its conclusion and this was one event that was not destined to end early, or even on time. We gathered around the table, pulling chairs together for proximity to share with one another stories, antidotes, anything really so as to extend the party, extend the time together in the name of Love. A 50 year testament to Love and Commitment as evidenced by our Mother and Father, GrandMom and GrandDad, Friend , Aunt, Uncle, Great Aunt and Great Uncle.

5 Things I Love About P90X

First: Tony Horton: Inspirational, Legit, Dedicated, and Fun

Second: The variety of the program. The program offers the P90X Classic, P90X Double, and P90X Lean programs. Awesome Programs!

Third: I am learning about me and my strengths as a person while improving my body physically.

Fourth: Pam the Blam, Dreya Weber, and the Other P90X Instructors

Fifth: The Motivation and Possibility to be in the best shape of my life is attainable through this program.

Keep Pushing Play!

P90X - Home Fitness Program That Works

P90X is a lifestyle. It's more than a weight loss program,it's a way of life.

P90X is at home fitness that works!

It's an ultimate home fitness program that you can believe in. With Tony exercise is,believe it or not, fun!

Visit and learn more at P90X.com.


See pictures of an amazing P90X transformation below.

     

Tracey Edward's Recent Post on Adsense and Affiliate Marketing

One of my favorite affiliate marketers, Tracey Edwards, recently posted Amazon, Adsense & Affiliate Sales – Oh Boy on her blog. I've been reading Tracey Edward's blog for a little over a year, and have also purchased a couple of her products.

Tracey is straight forward in her posts about Making Money Online and offers a fresh perspective as well as step by step instructions that can be implemented to make money online.

This recent post is most welcome since it is the first since October. Stop by and read Amazon, Adsense & Affiliate Sales – Oh Boy for Tracey's suggestions on selling physical products as an affiliate, and making money with Adsense.

Thanks for your recent post, Tracey!

The Pink Snuggie: A Perfect Gift

This year my sister and her family surprised me with an As Seen on TV Pink Snuggie Blanket -   It's the pink Snuggie which benefits The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and of course has sleeves.  Let me tell you, it is warm.  And the book light is wonderful.

The funny part of the gift is that during the summer months our family collectively enjoyed the parodies we found online on this blanket with sleeves.  We enjoyed the videos so much, we needed a box of tissues nearby to dry our eyes from all the laughing we would do while watching the parody.

Now we are laughing because two of us in our family have recevied them as gifts and more are on their way as presents for family members who have also requested the snuggie as a gift.  Who knew there are Snuggies for Children, and Snuggies for Pets!  Amazing!  In addition to pink, the blankets come in red, blue, leopard, and there is even a Snuggie Zebra. I wonder if there is one in camouflage?

The darn things is so simple in design it a head scratcher why we didn't think of it ourselves! That being said, there is no doubt I am enjoying staying warm with the blanket that has sleeves!