How To Dry Your Roses Perfectly So They Will Last Forever

The idea of a rose is timeless. The flower symbolizes all manner of pleasant things, from love, beauty, to youth. For millions of people from around the world have clipped roses and displayed them in their homes, and enjoyed them for their aroma and color. The idea of roses is timeless, yes, but they are not. You can, with a little effort, work to make them last forever by drying them, however. Once you know how to do it, you'll ask yourself why you didn't before, it's so simple.

Halloween Decorations Houston

Why dry roses? Because fresh roses inevitably must die, and, if not dried, will be lost irrevocably. Drying roses maintains their beauty. With a little patience and less expense you can preserve exquisitely dried roses that look just as marvelous in vases as fresh ones do. And, you'll be able to cherish them for a much longer time.

Halloween Decorations Houston

There two most widely used ways to dry roses are with air and with sand. Air drying is the easier of the two and requires only a good set of pruning sheers, a strip of wire, a clothes hanger and a dark place to hang the blooms to dry. First cut the stem off of the rose, as close to the roses head you can manage. Now you need to poke the wire into the rose head. The wire should be about 7 inches long. Then take the end of the wire and wrap it around the hanger so that the rose is hanging upside down.

Repeat this process until you have as many roses as you want or the hanger is full. Then, hang the hanger in the dry, dark spot and wait for the roses to dry. This will take somewhere around two to three weeks. Air drying requires little more than patience and some spare space, but you will be pleased with the results.

Sand drying is a bit more difficult, but works a bit better as well. For this method you need to cut the rose when it is at its prime, and then trim all but about an inch from the stem. Once you have done this, you need to take a piece of wire and stick it through the stem into the rose's head. Then, take the rose and stick it into a box full of sand that is deep enough for the rose to stand up in. The sand must be white. Once the rose is set on the sand, very gently begin to cover the rose itself with sand. If you like, you can place multiple rose heads in a single box.

The goal is to use the sand to both maintain the shape of the rose and to draw out its moisture. Once every rose is well covered, take the box to an area suitable for drying and let it sit until they are all dry. When they are you can empty out the sand. Be careful! It is very easy to shatter a dried rose while emptying the sand! Compared to air drying, this is more difficult, but the results are even more impressive.

Other than air and sand drying, there is wax or desiccant drying. To dry roses in this manner is bit more complicated. Or you can simply place a rose between the pages of a book and wait for it to dry. However you manage to dry your roses, you'll be producing wonderful, useful dried flowers, which are perfect as gifts, for home decorating, artwork, and many other things. Use your imagination and start preserving roses' beauty!

Also as you start drying roses, don't be discouraged if your first attempts are not perfect. Like any other art form, the drying of roses can take a bit of practice. Keep at it, and reap the rewards.

How To Dry Your Roses Perfectly So They Will Last Forever

Halloween Decorations Houston

Portable Ipod Docking Sony Home Theater System

Valentine's Day Song

Have you ever wondered how beautifully you can express your innermost feelings for your soul mate just by singing out a couple of romantic Valentine's Day songs. It may sound weired that although Valentine's Day has always been related to love and passion, yet not all love songs have that elements of passion to be the perfect Valentine's Day song. Some love songs really hold the right blend of love, passion and fun that makes them really the right ones to be played in a Valentine's Day party. Some of the really rollicking Valentine's Day songs are:

Halloween Decorations Houston

" A Million Love Songs" -- Take That

Halloween Decorations Houston

" Valentine Song" -- by Robert Argyle Campbell

" Breaks My Heart" - Monica

" Nobody Loves Me Like You Do" -- Whitney Houston and Jermaine Jackson

" I Need Your Love Tonight" -- Elvis Presley

" A Song" -- by Thomas Carew

" Song: Persuasions to Enjoy" -- by Thomas Carew

" As Long As You Love Me" -- Backstreet Boys

" My Heart Will Go On" -- Celine Dion

" Everything I Do For You" - Brian Adams

" The Power Of Love" -- Celine Dion

" A Promise I Make" -- Dakota Moon

" Quit Playing Games With My Heart" -- Backstreet Boys

Music plays an outstanding role in any types of celebrations - be it an anniversary or something else. But it is just beyond all controversy that music leaves a tremendous impact when it comes to the celebration of love on Valentine's Day. If you really want it to be heard when you say "I love you", some of the selected Valentine's Day songs with appropriate Valentine's Day lyrics would be your best choice. The Valentine's day this year is going to be realy rocking for you if you are going to be engaged. Just imagine the hi-fi surround acoustic system singing out "My Heart Will Go On..." when your dream mate holds you in his arm to share a passionate touch on your lips with his.

Valentine's Day is not only the celebration of the adults but the children also take part in the celebration. There are loads of Valentine's Day songs for children that are played to make the children waltz around in the Valentine's Day children party. Some of the best picks for the children Valentine's Day party are:

" Be My Friend" -- Hap Palmer

" Valentine's Songs" -- Hap Palmer

" Be My Valentine" -- Jack Hartmann

" It's Love" -- Jack Hartmann

" Valentine, Valentine" -- Denise Gagne

" The Riddle Song" -- Traditional Appalachian

" Valentine: A Singing Card" -- Marla Lewis

" Love is In My Heart"-- Mary Flynn

" V-a-l-e-n-t-i-n-e" -- Ron Brown

Whatever may be the theme of the Valentine's Day celebration, music always adds unique fervor to Valentine's Day fun. It's a unique way of expressing your innermost feelings when you are not finding the right way way to express it to your dear ones. Moreover singing Valentines are really the most treasurable and amazing Valentine's Day gifts. So go ahead and say "I Love You" and make your sweetheart speechless by singing a heart touching Valentine's Day song. Whether you are going to sing it to your wife, fiancee or friends, picking the right Valentine's Day lyrics and right tunes would add extra passion to the way you want to celebrate Valentine's Day. With the perfect tunes and Valentine's Day lyrics you can make y our love rule every move your sweetheart would make this special eve.

Valentine's Day Song

Halloween Decorations Houston

Sony Blu Ray Samsung Led 1080P 120Hz

Helpful Tips to Treasure Hunting With Metal Detectors

Whether you are a novice or experienced treasure hunter nothing is more important than that one great find of the day, but many treasure hunters miss that great find by not digging everything, or by being asked to leave a site, right before digging that last ping, because they didn't ask permission to hunt there, well here are some ideas and tips to help you get "your" great find.

Halloween Decorations Houston

1. Can I hunt here?

Halloween Decorations Houston

First and foremost, always get permission to hunt a site, even when it is a public place like a beach or park, one way I have gotten permission for these types of places is to offer a free service, for instance, ask the caretaker if they would like you to remove all the sharp metal objects buried in the sand, like flip tops, and crushed cans, provided you can keep or properly dispose of what is found, they are more likely to allow you access if they get something useful out of it, like having their beach cleaned and unsafe items removed, and feel free to show them what hazards you have removed from their patrons harm, so they will allow you to return often, of course you don't show the coins, jewelry, or valuables you also sifted out of the sand.

2. Bad times = good times for you!

Although where to hunt is important , it's also "when" you hunt some places that makes the most difference. When hunting beaches almost anytime is OK but how much better would your hit rate be if you went after a very hot and busy beach day? well you might think that improves your chances of finding some valuables, and it does, but what would be better is take the same scenario as before, but add the element of a mid-day, or late afternoon, thunderstorm that came with out warning, now you are adding the fact that many beach goers, caught unaware of the impending storm until the first cloudburst, are now all racing around to collect their belongings and trying to get out of the deluge, in this instance many people will find they have lost something valuable, and just a note on jewelry, anything found with engravings or inscriptions, you should always try to locate the original owner if possible, most times a reward will be offered, and you will make someone's day great. Another great time to go to beaches or around lakes is after a huge storm, where erosion has occurred, inland lakes only require heavy downpours or snowmelt to expose items previously buried too deep to find, but on the shore hurricanes, and nor'easters are best for exposing much older, deeper items missed in the past, sometimes including gold coins from ancient shipwrecks. If you live near a northern shore where large amounts of snow accumulates over the winter, the first spring snowmelt is also likely to erode enough beach to expose older buried treasures previously missed by other detectorists.

3. History lessons!

Research your areas history. In my town we have a building that is host to housing a middle aged couple who also have the small luncheonette run by them on the ground floor, and engraved in the wooden columns is a date: built 1786, so while waiting for my sandwich I asked what this place was originally, and was told it was a stage-coach stop, so I proceeded to ask if they also owned the dirt parking area across the street, and they told me no one knows if anyone owns it, I told her why I asked, and she offered to allow me to not only search the public area across the street, but if I let her know when I am there I can search all the property around the building their family has owned for generations. Many area's local historical societies can provide guidance as to what area's were first developed and which roads or sites still exist today, and will offer locally written books about the settlement and development of the area, many of which will include a large old building which was a hostel/bordello in it's day, which means allot of traffic in one place for many people to lose their belongings, even something as seemingly insignificant as a metal button can bring in a high cash value if it is old but identifiable, people have found very old coins and jewelry as well, when I picked out a silver medal of "Mary" I didn't think much of it, it was all black and crusty, but later when going through my findings I picked it out and carefully cleaned it to reveal the rock she is standing on has the date 1839, and was found on the grounds of a building that was built in 1886, along with a few coins from the early 1800's, by the way the building was also a bordello during the first world war, it is located near naval docks!

4. Tools of the trade!

Ok you found a good spot to hunt and got permission, you have a metal detector, what else do you need? Well for beach hunting as well as other types of hunting you will need to start with at least two zippered or Velcro pouches, like a belly bag, or you can use a builder's pocketed apron, one will be used to hold your good or questionable findings, the other you will use for obvious trash dug up, when beach hunting you will need a sand scoop, preferably with a wire mesh basket, wire mesh scoops tend to be lighter than perforated stainless steel baskets, you want the holes small enough to prevent a half dime from slipping through, if they are bigger you might miss out on small rings as well, for other types of treasure hunting you will need a sharp serrated digging tool, many of which look like a hunting knife, but if the blade is shaped like a trowel shovel it will be easier to dig through hard rocky, packed dirt, especially if there are dense tree or shrubbery roots to cut through to get down to your prize, in this case a long metal probe is useful for narrowing down where to dig, by inserting it around the area where you got your ping, you can tell whether it is buried deep or shallow, and with numerous probings you can determine the general shape of the object before digging it out of the dirt. Always wear leather gloves when digging to protect your hands from glass, sharp metal objects, or sharp stones.

Happy Hunting To All!

Helpful Tips to Treasure Hunting With Metal Detectors

Halloween Decorations Houston

Cutting Saw Whey Protein Chocolate Automatic Watch

Setting Up or Starting Up a FM Radio Station

While the information in this guide deals with a New Zealand example, many of the points are relevant in other countries.

Halloween Decorations Houston

When you come to setting up or starting up a FM radio station, you have two very different options. The first choice is to apply for a full power commercial FM license. This type of license allows you to broadcast over a large area. The drawbacks with a full power FM license are that it is often a complicated process, that no frequency may be available in the area you wish to broadcast, and that ongoing fees apply.

Halloween Decorations Houston

Another option is to starting up a low power FM radio station. In New Zealand, there are no ongoing fees to operate this type of station - however you do need to pay nominal annual fees to APRA and RIANZ for music royalties. You do need to ensure however that your transmission equipment is compliant with Radio Spectrum Management regulations. Additionally, as is the case with any radio station, all your broadcasts need to comply with the Broadcasting Act. Fundamentally this means your broadcasts must be in good taste. The advantages that a low power FM radio station have over a commercial station is that is is much less expensive to set up at the outset, your likelihood of finding a suitable frequency are much higher, and there are far fewer ongoing costs.

When operating a low power FM station, you need to determine who your audience is. If you are broadcasting in an area where there are already a number of resident commercial stations, you may enjoy more success by broadcasting niche programming that appeals to an audience not currently served by the full power FM stations. Alternatively for those who are located in a more rural area or town, you then have the opportunity to set your station up as the local alternative to what is already available. Generally a local station competing against a station being beamed in by satellite from one of the main centres will attract a great deal of local community support.

When it comes to setting up or starting up a low power FM radio station, you need to bear in mind these points. The studio space should ideally be away from external sources of noise (i.e. not located next to a construction site), and should be a small room. Larger rooms tend to generate echo that can get down the microphone and on air. When it comes to the equipment, there are a few specialist items you will require. These include the transmitter and antenna system, a limiter / compressor, a unit to balance the audio, as well as a device to enable you to take phone calls on air. In addition, ideally your station will also have a mixing desk, microphones, headphones, CD player, audio cables, a computer system and radio automation software. You will also need licenses from APRA and RIANZ that cover your music royalty responsibilities. For the most basic setup however, it is possible to make do with simply the transmitter and antenna system and your music licenses.

In New Zealand, people broadcasting on a low power FM basis must use transmission equipment that meets spurious emission limits, and which has a maximum power output of 500mW. While this is a fraction of the power that a full power commercial radio station would broadcast at, provided you have a good site and the antenna is mounted correctly, you can enjoy coverage of up to 10 square kilometres. The frequencies you may broadcast on are 88.1 - 88.7 FM and 106.7 - 107.7 FM. The factor that has the greatest influence on how far your broadcast will go is the height of your antenna - the higher, the better.

It is also necessary to consider the following points:

- determine that the likely broadcast area of your station will not interfere, or receive interference, from other people broadcasting on low power FM freqencies in your area.

- you must ensure that your broadcast signal is adequately compressed and that is not too wide

- ensure that the radio automation software you use is reliable and is fully tested to operate trouble-free operation

- your station needs to be logically programmed in order to sound professional

- ensure that all your broadcasts comply with broadcast standards and other regulations

Starting up a successful FM radio station involves much more than simply obtaining a low power FM transmitter, plugging it in and playing music on air. By carefully setting up your station and ensuring that your broadcasts bear in mind the target audience, you can be assured of much enjoyment, an insight into the fascinating radio industry, and perhaps even a new career.

Setting Up or Starting Up a FM Radio Station

Halloween Decorations Houston

Home Theater Packages 2Gb Flash Drives

Carol Duvall Crafts

Carol Duvall is known to be as the "queen of crafts". With her show entitled the "Carol Duvall Show", she is able to share her expertise on the field of crafts. The show is telecast everyday on HGTV as it introduces diverse and interesting crafts. It also features projects that are demonstrated by famous celebrities and experts. Carol Duvall crafts truly showcase clever instructions and ideas.

Halloween Decorations Houston

The Carol Duvall crafts are made from different yet resourceful materials. The goal of these crafts is to create decorative and functional crafts out of those pieces of crap materials without spending much. Ribbons, stamps, fabric crafts and even scrapbooking are part of Carol Duvall crafts.

Halloween Decorations Houston

Carol Duvall crafts are mostly originally and artistically made. It may include rubber-stamping techniques, decorative painting styles, handmade gifts and many more. You can start making yourself busy in discovering some of the famous crafts made by Carol Duvall and who knows you might be discovering a new for yourself?

Some of the Carol Duvall crafts are especially made for various occasions such as Father's Day, Mother's Fay, Christmas, Easter and many other special and holiday occasions. They are the perfect homemade gift that you can give to your friends and loved ones without spending too much and shopping around the busy malls.

Part of Carol Duvall crafts also include needle crafting patterns where you can do sewing and ribbon crafts quilting, weaving, embroidery, crochet, and knitting. Stacks of paper crafts are also offered by Carol Duvall crafts where you can choose from those scrapbooking, origami, papier-mache and card makings.

Among the best projects of the Carol Duvall crafts include the kids' crafts mosaic madness, handmade cards, polymer clay crafts and beach crafts The kids' crafts provide hours of fun for the kids as well as the youngsters. The mosaic madness shares the knowledge of creating mosaics out of metal, glass, china, wood and paper. The handmade cards project allows you to create handmade cards that are unique with assorted embellishments, card stock and rubber stamps. With the polymer clay crafts you can be able to learn the basic techniques of creating crafts such as home accessories and jewelries with clay. For the beach crafts shells are the primary materials where you can learn how to create crafts out of your collected or gathered shells from the beach.

If you are a new crafter and yet you know that you have a talent in the world of crafts the Carol Duvall crafts would definitely inspire you. The creative ideas and instructions of these crafts will give you expert advices as you start your owns craft projects. So what are you waiting for? Grab your craft materials now and join the inspiring great archives of Carol Duvall crafts.

Carol Duvall Crafts

Halloween Decorations Houston

Onkyo Thx Receivers

80's Theme Wedding Reception Or Party Ideas and DJ Song List

Over the past few years, more and more 80's Theme Parties and even Wedding Receptions where the guests actually dressed up to go along with the décor have been popping up. They are totally a blast! Just picture it, people dressing punky as early Madonna, sunglassed and pant-less as Tom Cruise in Risky Business, and even as the zombie Michael Jackson, you cannot get better than that for guest interaction!

Halloween Decorations Houston

Having a theme-based wedding reception, or get together can really make things more fun for your next big party or event, too. This campy decade saw the rise of Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran, and the King of Pop Michael Jackson thanks to the early music video-playing channel, MTV. If you choose to go this route, remember to word your invitations in exactly the same way, and tell everyone to come dressed as their favorite 80's star. The pictures will be priceless!

Halloween Decorations Houston

Music Videos and television shows lead to the fashion industry, pushing black and white lace for the girls, ala The Material Girl, or pastel colored jackets with T-shirts or skinny ties, with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow for the guys like the guys from Duran Duran and Miami Vice.

Make sure to have plenty of jelly bracelets, fishnet gloves and punk wigs for those guests who will not be dressed appropriately. Quite often people will not want to dress up and look "silly," but then wish they did after they see all the fun the other guests are having, once they get there. According to VH1, a station that still plays some music videos albeit early in the morning, below are some must hear 80's song that you just like totally have to play!

1. Bon Jovi / "Livin' on a Prayer" (1986)
2. Def Leppard / "Pour Some Sugar On Me" (1987)
3. Duran Duran / "Hungry Like the Wolf" (1982)
4. Michael Jackson / "Billie Jean" (1982)
5. Prince / "When Doves Cry" (1984)
6. Hall & Oates / "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" (1981)
7. Guns N' Roses / Sweet Child O' Mine (1987)
8. Madonna / "Like a Virgin" (1984)
9. Run-D.M.C. / "Walk This Way" (1986)
10. AC/DC / "You Shook Me All Night Long" (1980)
11. Journey / Don't Stop Believing (1981)
12. Whitney Houston / "How Will I Know" (1985)
13. U2 / "With Or Without You" (1987)
14. The Bangles / "Walk Like an Egyptian" (1986)
15. Van Halen / "Jump" (1984)
16. INXS / "Need You Tonight" (1987)
17. Whitesnake / "Here I Go Again" (1982)
18. Dexy's Midnight Runners / "Come On Eileen" (1982)
19. Cyndi Lauper / "Time After Time" (1984)
20. Rick Springfield / "Jessie's Girl" (1981)
21. Michael Jackson / "Beat It" (1982)
22. The Cure / "Just Like Heaven" (1987)
23. Cyndi Lauper / "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" (1984)
24. A-Ha / "Take On Me" (1985)
25. Go-Go's / "Our Lips Are Sealed" (1981)
26. Guns N' Roses / "Welcome to the Jungle" (1987)
27. Kajagoogoo / "Too Shy" (1984)
28. Wham! / "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (1984)
29. Talking Heads / "Burning Down the House" (1983)
30. Pat Benatar / "Love is a Battlefield" (1983)
31. Queen and David Bowie / "Under Pressure" (1981)
32. Night Ranger / "Sister Christian" (1983)
33. Soft Cell / "Tainted Love" (1981)
34. Poison / "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" (1988)
35. Phil Collins / "In the Air Tonight" (1981)
36. Tommy Tutone / "867-5309/Jenny" (1981)
37. Aerosmith / "Janie's Got a Gun" (1989)
38. U2 / "Pride (In the Name of Love)" (1984)
39. Modern English / "I Melt With You" (1982)
40. The B-52's / "Love Shack" (1989)
41. Mötley Crüe / "Dr. Feelgood" (1989)
42. The Clash / "London Calling" (1982)
43. ABC / "Look of Love" (1982)
44. Bananarama / "Cruel Summer" (1984)
45. Janet Jackson / "Nasty" (1986)
46. The Police / "Every Breath You Take" (1983)
47. Twisted Sister / "We're Not Gonna Take It" (1984)
48. Bruce Springsteen / "Born in the U.S.A." (1984)
49. Beastie Boys / "Fight For Your Right" (1986)
50. Eurythmics / "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" (1983)
51. Ratt / "Round and Round" (1984)
52. Dead or Alive / "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" (1985)
53. Billy Idol / "White Wedding" (1988)
54. Salt-N-Pepa / "Push It" (1986)
55. A Flock of Seagulls / "I Ran (So Far Away)" (1982)
56. Bonnie Tyler / "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (1983)
57. Toni Basil / "Mickey" (1981)
58. Culture Club / "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (1982)
59. John Mellencamp / "Jack & Diane" (1982)
60. Young M.C. / "Bust a Move" (1989)
61. Styx / "Mr. Roboto" (1983)
62. Berlin / "Take My Breath Away" (1986)
63. Devo / "Whip It" (1980)
64. Paula Abdul / "Straight Up" (1988)
65. Foreigner / "I Want to Know What Love Is" (1984)
66. Depeche Mode / "Just Can't Get Enough" (1981)
67. REO Speedwagon / "Keep On Loving You" (1980)
68. Public Enemy / "Fight the Power" (1988)
69. R.E.M. / "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" (1980)
70. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts / "I Love Rock N' Roll" (1981)
71. Rick James / "Super Freak" (1981)
72. The Fixx / "One Thing Leads to Another" (1983)
73. Nena / "99 Luftballons" (1983)
74. George Michael / "Faith" (1987)
75. Prince / "Little Red Corvette" (1983)
76. Thomas Dolby / "She Blinded Me With Science" (1982)
77. New Edition / "Candy Girl" (1983)
78. Blondie / "Call Me" (1980)
79. Human League / "Don't You Want Me?" (1981)
80. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock / "It Takes Two" (1988)
81. Cameo / "Word Up!" (1986)
82. Squeeze / "Tempted" (1981)
83. Prince / "Kiss" (1986)
84. Lionel Richie / "All Night Long (All Night)" (1983)
85. Robert Palmer / "Addicted to Love" (1985)
86. Bow Wow Wow / "I Want Candy" (1982)
87. Falco / "Rock Me Amadeus" (1986)
88. Chaka Khan / "Ain't Nobody" (1989)
89. The Pretenders / "Brass in Pocket" (1980)
90. Tone-Loc / "Wild Thing" (1989)
91. Katrina and The Waves / "Walking On Sunshine" (1983)
92. New Kids on the Block / "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" (1988)
93. Gary Numan / "Cars" (1980)
94. Rolling Stones / "Start Me Up" (1981)
95. Debbie Gibson / "Only in My Dreams" (1987)
96. Men at Work / "Down Under" (1982)
97. The Romantics / "What I Like About You" (1980)
98. Bobby Brown / "My Perogative" (1988)
99. Wang Chung / "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" (1986)
100. Loverboy / "Working for the Weekend" (1981)

80's Theme Wedding Reception Or Party Ideas and DJ Song List

Halloween Decorations Houston

Aprica Stroller Home Theater Denon Lcd Samsung Tv

Wedding Invitation Boxes & Silk Invitation Boxes Are the NEW Trend!

The perfect wedding invitation with Thai silk wedding invitation boxes or folios?

Halloween Decorations Houston

It is no secret, Silk invitation boxes and silk folios from Thailand are the new trend for a perfect and round wedding.

Halloween Decorations Houston

The times of sending a simple wedding invitation postcard to the whole family are over. More and more brides choose the exclusive way and order one of various invitation products including silk invitation boxes, silk pouches, folios and even silk envelopes.

Thai silk is one of the signature products from Thailand.
No question it suits just perfect to make exclusive wedding invitation boxes with pure Thai silk. There are no limits in creativity and extravaganza. For example embellished invitations with silk flowers or brooches with rhinestone crystals carefully ensembles on a padded silk envelope or silk pouches. My favorite is the rhinestone crystal rings with ribbon bands combined with a gatefold silk invitation box.

To plan a wedding invitation is truly a time-consuming process. Maybe because there are so many formats and possibilities the invitation box can be made in. Padded, not padded, embellished, simple, with or without flower arrangement and so on. It's all up to your time and budget.

Select the right material to meet your budget
Generally silk invitations are made with pure 100% silk or if your budget does not allow with Faux silk (artificial silk). Thai silk looks just so much more exclusive if you hold it against the light, but more and more brides choose the cheaper version of Faux silk invitations. No question, nobody wants to pay the debts of an expensive marriage until the silver wedding. Don't miss to contact me if you need support finding the right wedding favor, silk invitation box or wedding gifts.

Contact your invitation designer early to avoid delays
Thai silk invitations are hand made, so each item needs time to finish. If you place the order late, the manufacturer may not be able to manufacture high quality products. To get the best result, inquire 2 month before you actually need the invitation or wedding favor to arrive your home. This way you have around 4 weeks to discuss the design and look of your dream invitation box or silk invitation holder and the manufacturer has another 4 weeks to produce the order.

Wedding Invitation Boxes & Silk Invitation Boxes Are the NEW Trend!

Halloween Decorations Houston

Protein Muscle Growth Dog Treat Cookie Cutters Parenting & Families Books

1st, 2nd and 3rd Birthday Party Ideas

We all look forward to our child's 1st, 2nd and 3rd Birthday celebrations. We see the special days as markers of their huge accomplishments. What better way to celebrate your child's growth and development than to have a party! A 1st birthday is really for the parents to celebrate - You made it through the first year! Your one year old probably couldn't care less what you do but decorating for guests and pictures is always fun and a great way to make memories. The 2nd and 3rd celebration is definitely a kids birthday! Toddlers do understand whats happening when it comes to their birthday and are able to communicate their excitement. "My Birthday?", "For Me?", "Tomorrow?" is all you will hear for days before the event! Believe it or not, your child's first parties will be the easiest celebrations you will throw.

Halloween Decorations Houston

The most memorable too! So Here are some survival tips for throwing a stress free birthday party for toddlers. This day is all about celebrating your little ones special day so keep it super simple and you will be able to do just that! Activities: The Golden rule for successful parties for young children is having plenty of fun activities to keep them occupied. Keeping in mind that toddlers do not fully understand rules, have short attention spans, want to constantly move around and definitely do not grasp the concept of waiting their turn, you should simply set up multiple play stations. Some great play station ideas would be a play dough table, bins of duplo & blocks, floor puzzles, ride on toys and a crayon colouring easel.

Halloween Decorations Houston

Set up a bubble blower on a high surface so bubbles are constantly floating down for the kids to catch and pop. Ball Pits are always very exciting for toddlers. If you do not have one or know anyone who might, contact your local toy library and borrow one. You can also easily make your own with a blowup plastic pool and a bag of plastic balls or several small balloons. Games: Simple games like "I Spy", "Simon Says" and "Follow the Leader" are always a big hit for the younger set. If your little one loves crafts and making gifts for mommy, try stringing round cereal like fruit loops onto yarn to make necklaces. Organize a fish pond. You can use a large bucket or a small pool filled with water and have the kids hook a prize with a fishing pole. Or, set up the fishing pond behind a blanket and have the kids drop their fishing lines into the lake. A fishing rod can be made out of a stick, some rope and a clothespin. Have another adult hidden behind the blanket to clip on their prize or loot bag.

Food: Think small, safe and simple. Its impossible for the excited young guest to keep sitting still for any length of time, so none messy finger foods that can be eaten on the go are always the best for toddlers. Consider things like: Animal Crackers, Goldfish Crackers, Pretzels, Cheese Cubes, Deli Meats, Cut Veggies, Pickles, Grapes, Banana Slices and Apple Wedges. Don't forget the juice boxes! The parents attending the party will also appreciate having a selection of meats, cheeses and veggies to munch on. At this younger age, small cupcakes for the young guests is always a little less messy and easier for them to handle on their own. A cake can be made or purchased for the traditional song singing, picture taking and candle blowing and then served to the adults attending. Time Capsule: Its startling how many details and memories get lost along the way. To mark this special occasion prepare a time capsule to be opened in later years - on the 9th or 10th birthday when they are all grown up!

All you need is a shoebox or some kind of container and fill it with memories of the day. A piece of decoration, unused tableware, a copy of the guest list, a party hat - whatever is reminiscent of that day. Have some paper and pens ready for guests to write a special note to your child in the the future. Seal the box securely with packing tape and give the time capsule as a gift to your child on their birthday several years later. Most Importantly: Keep it simple, have lots of help, keep the party under 2 hours and make sure to schedule the party after nap times! And remember, have lots of fun and take tons of pictures!

1st, 2nd and 3rd Birthday Party Ideas

Halloween Decorations Houston

Sonos Audio

50th Birthday Cake Ideas - Let The Person Feel He-She Is Much-Loved With This Present

50th birthday is a celebration that can be more sensitive and special, so to speak. Celebration could be old-fashioned, but treating your parents to this party will make him or her feel a much-loved and appreciated person. Getting this party could be quite tedious, but could be lots of fun at the same time. Of course, the best theme for this is a retro themed birthday party. There are various ideas that you can have by asking persons and friends of the same age by the celebrant. Having a 50th birthday cake idea that matches this theme will complete the fun and festive mood.

Halloween Decorations Houston

If you are creating a 50th birthday cake idea, you have lots of fun and unique choices. You want to impress the celebrant? Then make sure you incorporate the kind of person he or she is into the cake. This can be through integrating some pieces that symbolize for a love of specific things and hobbies. Whatever it is, create the cake in a fun way, and not in an offending way that he or she is getting old each year.

Halloween Decorations Houston

An over-the-hill 50th birthday cake idea is one that is perfect for this celebrated age. Hill-shaped cake is a bit simple but you can let your imagination run for a while and come up with some ideas to make the cake extraordinarily unique. Green and brown icing around the cake seems to compliment best this birthday party. Cake toppers are available as well, and make sure you pick one that will remind how the celebrant has been in the recent years.

A stunning heart stopper is a 50th birthday cake idea with the numbers 5 and 0 shaped to make the double layer cake. If you cannot do this kind of cake, you can easily ask for the services of some local bakery and store to make them for you. This is going to be a perfect idea, and a very unique one at that. Place a picture of the person embossed both on the 5 and 0 numbers shaped cake and he or she will love it even more.

Another 50th birthday cake idea is one that will turn the party into complete riot. Playfully design a cake that is shaped like the two feet of the celebrant. Add toe tag where you can attach his or her age number. Or, you can have both hands as an alternative to the feet. If the cake is a surprise, it can get relatively difficult to obtain the shapes and wide of the person's feet and hands, but just pretend you have to get them as you are going to buy a pair of shoes, or perhaps a ring.

Some people opt for a birthday cake that is shaped as open book. The idea is to have memory page where you can have date of the birth, marriage, children's birthdays, and other special dates scribbled using different colorful food colorings. This is yet another lovely and unique birthday cake idea that will have the person get reminded of the fond memories he or she had earlier.

Whether you are creating the 50th birthday cake idea or not, the important message for this is that the person is acknowledged as one important family member. And if you are not doing the cake, there are always online shops that cater to creating different types of cakes for all ages, celebrations, and occasions. You can always take advantage of these online shops by just sitting in the comfort of your home to order the cake.

50th Birthday Cake Ideas - Let The Person Feel He-She Is Much-Loved With This Present

Halloween Decorations Houston

New Baby Strollers

Girls Birthday Party Ideas (Ages 8-12)

Throwing a unique and memorable birthday party for girls aged 8-12 can be challenging. They are old enough to have outgrown the playground, but not quite ready for teenage activities yet. Here are several ideas to make sure your daughter's birthday will be a happy and successful event.

Halloween Decorations Houston

1. Roller or Ice Rink Skating Party - Your local roller or ice skating rink will likely have numerous birthday party packages to choose from. Typically, they have a party room that you can reserve with a host/hostess to run the party. The group of kids will normally get skate admission and rental, food, beverages, cake and ice cream, game tokens and more. Just check with your local rink for details.

Halloween Decorations Houston

2. Pottery Making Party - Pottery painting parties at a local pottery place are all the rage. Many pottery places allow you to rent a private room for the birthday party where the kids get to make and take their own personalized plate or bowl. They normally ask that you bring your own food and decorations, but again it depends on the local place so call them directly for details. When they are done, each child can have their creation fired in the kiln for a permanent souvenir from the party.

3. Formal Tea Party - This is a great idea especially for the younger aged girls. The idea is that the girls dress up in their "Sunday best" (dresses, hats, boas, white gloves, etc.) and are served a real tea time. You can either transform your own home into a cafe or see if there is a local tea place that offers tea parties for girls. If you decide to do it in your own home, just set up some kids size tables with white fabrics and doilies, some fresh flowers and of course formal tea party ware. Serve the "tea" (juice) in a teapot along with finger sandwiches such as heart-shaped bologna and/or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. For a great finish to the party, make a teapot-shaped cake. Before or after tea time, you could have a little fashion show so that each girl can show off her beautiful outfit. Be sure to take lots of pictures.

4. Swimming Party - Some local pools will allow groups to reserve the entire swimming pool area for a short period of time. Normally, they provide a lifeguard and staff who keep an eye on the kids and run games such as water ring tosses. Normally, they'll have a party room that is adjacent to the changing areas/restrooms where you can set-up decorations, snacks and cake.

5. Gymnastics Party - Try the local Gymnastics Academy to see what they offer. Often you can get some time for the kids with an instructor and then some time after for food and gifts.

6. Dance Party - Throw your own diva dance party at home or find a local dance studio that offers birthday parties for kids. The kids are transformed into dance divas and rock stars by doing their hair with brightly colored hair pieces, glitter and braids and then adding some cool make-up like sparkly glitter eyes, blush and lip gloss. Depending on the party music theme, you can have the party girls singing and dancing to your birthday girls favorite music or dances like the electric slide, freeze dance, etc. If you are having it at a studio, normally they will have karaoke microphones, lots of music to choose from and props for the kids. Be sure to videotape their performances!

Girls Birthday Party Ideas (Ages 8-12)

Halloween Decorations Houston

Wireless Home Theater Sound System

The Top Places to Celebrate St Patrick's Day

If you are looking for a fun place to spend St. Patrick's Day you won't have to look too far. There are several cities that really go out all when it comes to celebrating this holiday. From parades, exhibits, food festivals and even fireworks, you can find a celebration that will be fun for all. Best of all these cities are located all the way across the United States, which means that there is a good chance that at least of one of them is located by you. So before you plan your next St. Paddy's Day, check out the best places to celebrate. 

Halloween Decorations Houston

1. New York City- The Big Apple has been welcoming the holiday with an extra large parade since 1762. Parade organizers expect the number of spectators to top over 1 million people this year. Many people say that there is no better place to celebrate St. Patrick's Day then New York City. It's best to expect very large crowds, however, since there is going to be at least 155,000 marchers just in the parade. However, you will experience the ambience of St. Patty's Day with the sound of bagpipes and green beer literally everywhere. Avid celebrants will get there early to make the trip to St. Patrick's Cathedral. After the parade is over expect the crowds to gather in the many Irish pubs that are located around the city. 

Halloween Decorations Houston

2. St. Louis, Missouri- This mid-west city goes all out when it comes to celebrating St. Patrick's Day. To begin the festivities, there is a five mile run on the 14th of March. This city also brings it on with an enormous parade downtown in the city. The parade features lots of decked out floats, Irish dancers and large character balloons.  The night of the 17th expect to find lots of people at the many pubs around the city. 

3. Savannah, Georgia- You may be surprised to learn that this traditional Southern city goes all out for St. Pat's Day too. In fact they have one of the longest traditions of celebrating this holiday with their parade that began in 1825. While the festivities started out rather small, today Savannah's green party draws over 400,000 people just to watch the parade. The city also has a rather unique tradition with dyeing the many city fountains green. Many people, both residents and non-residents of the city, enjoy seeing the green fountains, as St. Patrick's Day gets closer. 

4. San Francisco, California- The "City by the Bay" hosts a St. Patrick's Day party that is both big and rich in history. San Francisco's parade is referred to as one of the most fashionable parades and it follows the iconic trolley tracks throughout the city. Since San Francisco is a town known for its restaurants, there are many places that offer food for the holiday. From upscale remixes of traditional Irish food, to authentic Irish pub food, this party makes sure that no one leaves hungry. The nightlife of San Francisco doesn't disappoint either as crowds gather at the many Irish pubs throughout the city, to keep the party going.

5. Dublin, Ohio- While this city shares it's name with nine other U.S. cities, as well as the most famous one in Ireland, it stands out for its St. Patrick's Day celebrations. The parade that runs for several miles, features lovely floats, lots of bands and of course dancing leprechauns. Along with the parade there are several parties (both public and private) that parade goers can attend. For some history on the celebration head over to the Historic District and enjoy an afternoon of sightseeing.

The Top Places to Celebrate St Patrick's Day

Halloween Decorations Houston

Dlp Projector Bulbs

The Perfect Place to Find a Christmas Tree Around Austin

It's that time of year again, time for family, fun and celebration. Many families kick of the season by picking out and cutting down their own Christmas tree. It's a tradition that began long ago.

Halloween Decorations Houston

For many, finding that perfect Christmas tree is almost as important as the holiday itself. There are so many different trees to choose from. Luckily these days it's much easier choosing the perfect tree without hiking up a mountain or walking through a field of snow or in our case in Texas, heat and fire ants!

Halloween Decorations Houston

Christmas tree farms are popping up in almost every city in and around Austin. Families can plan a whole day around visiting a tree farm. The farmers have made it an all day adventure full of family festivities.

Many of the tree farms give the visitors an option of cutting their own tree or having one of the tree farm employees do it for you, probably a good choice for those of us who are not chain saw savvy!

There are several Christmas tree farms just a sleigh ride from Austin.

Evergreen Farms Christmas Trees, located in Elgin, at this farm, you choose a beautiful Virginia Pine tree and cut it yourself, they'll even provide you with a saw! Or, if you prefer, you can purchase a pre cut Frasier Fir.

They have all a gift shop on site where you can also purchase decorations for your new tree. They also have snacks available. The farm also has home grown vegetables available along with a train ride for the kiddos! For information on the Evergreen farms Christmas Trees, you can give them a call! 512-281-4833

Elgin (Natures Way) Christmas tree farm is another farm located in Elgin where you can choose and cut your choice of Virginia Pines, Leyland Cypress, potted Leyland Cypress or you can get a precut Frasier Fir. The farm has hayrides, a barn full of all things Christmas for you to buy. You can even enjoy some Elgin sausage on the weekends. On cold days they have cider and hot chocolate available. If Natures Way sounds like the perfect place to find a tree, give them a call at 512-281-5016

If you and your family are heading towards Smithville, then you might want to check out Loma Alta Christmas Tree Farm. You can choose and cut your own Virginia Pine or Loblolly Pine. Or, pick an already cut Virginia Pine or Leyland Cypress. The farm offers hayrides, gift shop, picnic area and refreshments. You can also watch the ducks and geese that share the farm. They also have full nursery to browse through at the farm. If you need more information, give them a call at 512-360-2005

If you're heading towards Salado, then you can check out Salado Christmas Tree Farm. You can choose and cut or buy a precut tree. The farm offers hayrides, gifts, arts and crafts. They have refreshments available and have a nature trail you can take a hike on. Give them a call at 254-947-4477

With lots of tree farms in the Austin area, you're sure to find the perfect place to cut your tree!

The Perfect Place to Find a Christmas Tree Around Austin

Halloween Decorations Houston

Plug & Play Video Games

Kid Birthday Cakes - Fun Cakes in 3D

Dare to be creative... Come up with something new and have some fun!

Halloween Decorations Houston

Even if your don't bake, won't bake or couldn't bake if you had to, your kid birthday cakes don't have to be flat, surrounded by candles and have the same old "Happy Birthday" written on the cake's center.

Halloween Decorations Houston

Kid Birthday Cakes - Fun Cakes In 3D

Just pick up a ready made, frosted cake at your favorite bakery, then add some fun edible toppers, non-edible toppers and watch your child's birthday cake come alive.

You can start with a plain frosted cake.

Now depending on your child's birthday party theme, you can easily add edible cake art. If you're not familiar with edible cake art you'll be delighted when you learn that edible cake art is available for just about any birthday party theme including a Princess party, Disney Princess, Elmo, Pirate, Star Wars, Barbie and so much more. And edible cake art is colorful and very professional looking.

Kid Birthday Cakes - Edible Cake Toppers

To give your cake a fun 3D look, you can use edible cake toppers. These are usually made of sugar and you can also find edible cake toppers to match your birthday theme.

If for example your theme is a birthday tea party, you can find small edible tea pots, cups and saucers. You'll also find flowers, cars and lots of other ideas to help liven up your child's cake.

Kid Birthday Cakes - Non-Edible Cake Toppers

Non-edible cake toppers are re-usable, lots of fun and can be used as party favors after your cake has been enjoyed by your guests.

Some non-edible toppers have movable parts that really bring your child's birthday cake to life. One special train cake topper features a small train engine that actually runs on a small set of tracks, and all on the top of your child's cake. What fun!

Kid Birthday Cakes - Cake Pics And Rings

Theme based cake pics and rings can also be used to enhance the 3D effect of your cake. You'll discover all sorts of fun cake pics and rings that can be re-used as party favors long after your cake is gone.

And don't forget the candles. You can easily find birthday candles to match your child's party theme.

Kid Birthday Cakes -Fun Cakes In 3D

When you combine edible cake art, edible cake toppers, non-edible cake toppers, cake pics and cake rings and theme candles to a basic ready made cake, you will quickly see that your cake is now a one-of-a-kind, creative 3D masterpiece that your child will love.

So dare to be creative... Come up with something new and have fun putting together your kid birthday cakes.

Kid Birthday Cakes - Fun Cakes in 3D

Halloween Decorations Houston

Porter Cable Power Tools

Adult Slumber Party Ideas For Women: Sleep Parties Are No Longer Just For Kids

Most adult women have an unforgettable slumber party in their memory. These parties continue to be a fun way for girlfriends to get together and spend time with one another. It's unfortunate that with busy schedules and family commitments that spending time with friends is something that many people often neglect. If your life has found you overwhelmed and wondering where the fun went in your life, getting your girlfriends together for some fun and laughs at an adult slumber party could be just what the doctor ordered.

Halloween Decorations Houston

An adult slumber party is not much different than those for the younger crowd. One big difference is that all who are attending are adult age and are legal to drink. A round of homemade tropical drinks is a good way to start off this adult party. It will help everyone transition to the relaxed atmosphere. You don't need a bar or blender to make great drinks. Many stores sell pre-mixed drink packages that either have all just about all the ingredients. With these mixes all you need to add are fun glasses. Having some light snacks (veggies and dip, for example) on hand to go with the drinks is recommended.

Halloween Decorations Houston

Once everyone has a drink, the real fun begins. Everyone can change into their sleeping attire. Depending on the group's general personality, the festivities could include high-energy activity, such as singing along with CDs and dancing, or mellow entertainment such as watching a popular "chick flick." If the ladies have not seen each other in a while, a simple time to reflect on the past and bring everyone up to speed is perfect. Experimenting with each other's hair and makeup is also a fun activity. The main focus of an adult slumber party is to get away from the routine and have fun. As long as you accomplish this goal you can't go wrong with what you decide to do at this adult party.

Adult Slumber Party Ideas For Women: Sleep Parties Are No Longer Just For Kids

Halloween Decorations Houston

Lithium Ion Tools Staub Cookware Green Tea Extract Capsules

Trading Spaces

Do It Yourself And We'll Watch

Halloween Decorations Houston

The Voodoo That You Do

Halloween Decorations Houston

Houston, While You Were Out, There Was A Problem

Braiding Laces

What The Hell Are They Wearing?

Cutie And The Gang

Make 'Em Laugh, Scream Or Cry

Genevieve's Big Pics

Where's Alex?

Do It Yourself And We'll Watch

Mix Two Days, Two Rooms, Two Sets Of Homeowners, Two Designers, One Over-Worked Carpenter, One Vivacious Host And One Thousand Dollars And You Have The Blockbuster Formula For One Of The Most Popular Shows On Television Today. Now In Its Fourth Season, Trading Spaces Has Taken Off Like Gangbusters. We Love It, Who Wouldn't Want A Fresh New Look For A Tired Room In Their Home? We Get To Vicarious Redecorate Our Homes And Then Get To Watch The Delight Or Agony Of The Results. So Simple, A Perfect Tv Experience.

The Voodoo That You Do

In A Recent Episode, Paige And The Team Head To The Big Easy To Transform Two New Orleans Homes. This Go Around, It Was Designers Barry Wood And Laura Day Going At It. The Duo Were Strongly Aided By Wood Shop Guru, Amy Wynn. Laura Nails Her Room With A Sunny Cohesive Palette And The Owners Go Nuts For It.

While Barry Doesn't Fair So Well, The Last Thing You Want To Hear Is The Owner Saying Things Like, "We Can Fix That And Change This To Rescue The Room". Ouch. Looks Like Barry Needed To Work His Mojo A Little More In A Different Direction. I Mean, Really, What Was With Those "Sail" Things He Was Using To Divide Up The Room. A Nightmare To Clean And Maintain And Just Plain Wrong For Their Traditional New Orleans Home. Yikes.

Houston, While You Were Out, There Was A Problem.

The Team Have A Texas Sized Episode When, "While You Were Out'" Carpenter, "Andrew Dan-"Jumbo" Guest Stars As The Carpenter. Opposites Collide With Hildi And Frank On The Job And Paige Has To Do Her Song And Dance To Keep Things Running Smooth, Especially When Hildi Keeps Insisting To Call Andrew, "Jambo", Instead Of Jumbo. Perhaps She Was A Bit Irritated That Jumbo Was Recently Named One Of "People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People". But, Maybe It's The Fact That Ty Is Missing.

Braiding Laces

One Of The Things That Naturally Draws Audiences To Trading Spaces, Is The Cast. It's A Bit Of Reality Show, Watching These People Interact Is As Interesting As The Designs They Create. Yet We Never Get To Fully Know Them, Leaving Us Dying To Find Out More. Like, What's The Deal Between Ty And Hildi? I Thought She Was Married, But Then Again They Both Live In Atlanta. Hmmm. So Little We Really Get To Find Out.

What The Hell Are They Wearing?

Almost As Interesting As The End Result Is What The Various Cast Members Show Up Wearing On The Location. Frank Is Arts And Crafts With Those Shirts. Paige Is Always Baring A Snappy Little Outfit That Matches Her Vigor. Genevieve Always Looks Relaxed. Ty Appears To Be Always Dying To Show Us His Abs And I Don't Think Any Of The Female Viewers Would Hold It Against Him. Hildi's Wardrobe Always Matches Her Raven Locks. Kia Out Does Them All, I Like It, But What's With The Skin Diver Jumpsuit? Not Only That, They Have To Wear The Same Clothes On Both Days Of The Shoot To Maintain Continuity As The Show Might Have To Be Edited Out Of Sequence.

Cutie And The Gang

Things Sure Have Changed Quickly For The Cast And Crew Of Trading Spaces, The Show Is A Phenomenon And The Cast Has Grown To Match The Show's Popularity. These Guys And Gals Are The Life Blood Of Trading Spaces.

Paige Davis - Trading Spaces Host: The Bouncy Holly-Go-Lightly Host Of The Show Gives Every Episode Her Own Brand Of Spunk And Keeps The Home Owners Actively Participating In The Witty Banter That Gets Flung About, You Gotta Love Her.

Joe Farrell - Trading Spaces: Family Host: Before Joining The Trading Spaces, Joe Was A Stage Man. He Toured The Country As First Officer Murdoch, Successfully Sinking The Titanic Every Night And Even Performing For Presidents Bill Clinton And George W. Bush.

Carter Oosterhouse - Carpenter: A New Member To Join The Small Ranks Of Carpenters, His Laid Back Approach Is Much Appreciated By The Frantic Crew.

Amy Wynn Pastor - Carpenter: Why Do They Always Call Her Amy Wynn? Because Wynn Isn't Her Middle Name, It's Part Of Her First Name. She More Than Holds Her Own Against The Guy Carpenters, She Kicks Sweet Sawdust.

Ty Pennington - Carpenter: Women Viewers Can't Get Enough Of Him, Yet Many Of The Cast Members Can Do All They Can To Avoid His Witty Remarks. It Should Come As No Surprise That He's A Former Model.

Frank Bielic - Designer: A Self-Proclaimed "Work In Progress", Frank Leans Heavy To Arts And Crafts. No Wonder, Frank Was Once A Elementary School Teacher And A Florist. Frank Has Been Around Since The Beginning And When He's Not On The Show, He Runs A "Mosey 'N Me", An Art And Needlecraft Company In Texas.

Laura Day - Designer: Laura Is A Shining Gem Of The New Season. Form And Function Are The Foundation Of Her Design Philosophy And It Shows, She Can Really Make A Room Come Together.

Genevieve Gorder - Designer: The Ambassador Of Style, Genevieve Has Been A Foundation Of The Show Since The Start. When Not On The Show, She Runs Her Own Studio Called "Double-G" In Manhattan.

Laurie Hickson-Smith - Designer: She's One Of The Most Consistent And Well-Received Designers Of The Group. Her Rooms Always Seem To Carry A Specific Theme And Where Does She Come Up With Those Shades Of Paint?

Christi Proctor - Designer: Hailing From The Lone Star State And New For Season Four, Making It Her National Television Debut. As It Should Be, Her Styles Reflect Her Upbringing, Peppered With Natural Woods And Fabrics With Antique And Found Objects. In Her Own Terms, This Is Fittingly Referred To As "Rustic Elegance".

Rick Rifle - Designer: New To The Gang, Rick Adds A Bit Flare In Everything He Touches And This Can Lead To Some Real Drama On The Show. Like The Time He Used Vibrant Colors To Redo A Dining Room And Added An Extra By Painting Some Candlestick Holders He Found In The Basement. Whoa, Those Were The Owners' Wedding Gifts And They Hated The Style And Room. Enough With The Gold Leaf, Rick.

Hilda Santo-Tomas - Designer: Hildi Brings Swanky Drama To The Show. You Never Know What This Vixen Will Unleash On Your Home. You Could Wind Up With Walls Covered In Cardboard, Feathers Or Hay.

Kia Steave-Dickerson - Designer: She Can Build A Room Around One Specific Object And Has Eclectic Worldly Style To Make It Universal. Plus, She Can Wear Some Pretty Funky Outfits While Doing It.

Edward Walker - Designer: The Mcgyver Of Designers, He Likes To Take The Unimaginable And Make It Happen. He Likes To Blend Metropolitan Chic With Southern Sensibilities.

Douglas Wilson - Designer: Doug Gets Around, His Designs Have Found Their Into The New York Times, Elle Décor And House & Garden. When He's Not On The Show, He Caters To Some Pretty High Profile Clients, Including Brooke Astor And Liza Minnelli. Yet, He's Famous For Making One Homeowner Cry In Agony Over His Design. Go Figure.

Barry Wood - Designer: A Syracuse University Graduate, Barry Designs For A Lot Of Corporate Clients Including The W Hotel In Manhattan And He Brings Those Swanky Sensibilities To The Home Owners On The Show.

Vern Yip - Designer: Winner Of The Southeast Designer Of The Year, Vern Spares No Detail In His Designs. Often Times He'll Make Elaborate Blue Prints For The Furniture Pieces To Be Built On The Show, Too Bad Ty Crumples Them Up And Throws Them Away.

Make 'Em Laugh, Scream Or Cry

One Of The Deals To Be On The Show Is That You Don't Get To Pick Your Designer. You Must Agree To Work With Any Of The Designers That The Producers May Choose To Use. Plus, The Show Has No Liability If You Don't Like What They Do, You're Stuck With It Or You Have To Change It Yourself. One Of The Great Things Is If You Hate It, Then You're Almost Guaranteed To Make It To One Of The Special, "They Hated It" Dvds.

Genevieve's Big Pics

How Does Genevieve Make Those Wonderful Enlarged Black And White Photos, She's Become Famous For? We Wanted To Know To, So Here It Is - The Quick Way One Dollar Solution Is Kinko's And The Self Use Color Copier. The Color Copier Brings Out All The Grays In The Photo, With A Black And White One, You Don't Get The Variations And It Looks Like A Xerox Copy. You Can Get Up To 11 X 17 With That Method. Another Way Is To Do It Yourself Using Photoshop, A Scanner And Nice Inkjet Printer Capable Of Printing At 11 X 17.

Where's Alex?

What Ever Happened To Original Host, Alex Mcleod? We Loved Her, But For Reasons Not Fully Revealed She Left The Show. Tlc's Official Response Is That She Decided Not To Come Back For Another Season And Wanted To Explore Other Career Paths. Could Be, But Alex Soon Turned Up On A Reality Show, As Co-Host Of Joe Millionaire. We Think She Should Be Pictures, Funny And Beautiful, A Rare Combo That Shouldn't Go Wasted.

Trading Spaces

Halloween Decorations Houston

3M Mini Projector Wireless Speaker System Dewalt Cordless

A Child's Art

A famous line about children and their laughter is immortalized in a song by one of recent history's most lauded hit-makers, Whitney Houston, in the song "The Greatest Love of All." The line read, "Let the children's laughter, remind us how we used to be." And this is I believe one of the truest essence of men's sense of love. Children learn through an adult's modeling and even children's capacity to love takes its roots from those who understand who and what children really are.

Halloween Decorations Houston

One of children's ways of expressing themselves can be through some really messy forms like painting. As a young boy, I used to make a great deal out of common household stuff, like cleansers, detergents and others by mixing them altogether and imagining what I did as something that Albert Einstein and Marie Curie did too. I used to dream of becoming a scientist, and I figured scientists then as those with long hair and beard holding up test tubes with fumes rising from its acidic contents.

Halloween Decorations Houston

Children are always thought to be very imaginative and inquisitive. They want to try everything and test everything. If a mother would tell a young boy not to touch the skillet because it's hot, the boy won't always understand words without an associated actual experience, and so, the only time that the boy would truly understand what "hot" means is when he experiences getting burned at an attempt to touch it.

A child's artistic side is also similarly working as other systems. Every child is a gold mine of artistic potential and inclination. A mother, most of the time, discovers her son's artistic inclination early on, at age four or five, when the child starts to manipulate objects through her hands. It is also during these times when the child begins to develop functional dexterity. And by saying that, superstition about the child's intelligence also emerges as many believe that left-handed individuals tend to excel more in politics later in life and those who are right-handed tend to be dominant in business and are knacks in the field. Superstition, though, and doesn't have factual basis nor evidence-based research and study.

Nonetheless, every child is an artist, at the very onset of learning. Give them objects and you would find children making all sorts of things with what they have. Their hands are like tools with no trace of laziness; their brains like sponge absorbing and imbibing as much learning as possible. Looking at a child in itself is a satisfying moment, knowing that you are beholding what potentially may become the world's greatest artist of all time.

A Child's Art

Halloween Decorations Houston

Special Price!!! Super Mario Bros. Foil Balloon

Click for larger image and other views

>> Click here to update Cheapest prices for Super Mario Bros. Foil Balloon <<

Super Mario Bros. Foil Balloon Overview

Includes one foil balloon.

SAVE NOW on the special offers below!

Available In Stock.

This Super Mario Bros. Foil Balloon ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.

Price : Click to Check Update Prices Please.

Limited Offer Today!! Super Mario Bros. Foil Balloon Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

Cheap Window Clings Dewalt Reciprocating

Buzz Lightyear Birthday Party Ideas

One of the most popular animated characters of the past decade has been Buzz Lightyear. From his beginnings in Toy Story and Toy Story 2, he has moved on to become a merchandising machine, along with his comic books and cartoon show. As a result, children still love to watch Buzz Lightyear battle it out with his enemies, and you can expect your children to ask you about a having a Buzz Lightyear themed birthday party.

Halloween Decorations Houston

It may seem like a difficult task, but by bringing in some of the Buzz Lightyear birthday party supplies and these party ideas, the entire process will get a lot easier.

Halloween Decorations Houston

Space Suits All Around

One great idea for a Buzz Lightyear birthday party is creating space suits for everyone who comes to the party. This can be easily done using a cardboard box. You can use the boxes by just cutting a hole in the top for the heads of the kids. Then using another cardboard box, you cut a hole in the side to create a helmet opening. Once you have done that, the kids can go about designing their space suits using party supplies and some crayons.

Space Walk

Once the space suits are done, everyone can take their turns at walking on the moon, throughout the house. Have everyone do his or her best weightless walking impression. The image of these slow walking spacemen will cause everyone to start laughing. Once done, get pictures of everyone for a memento.

Explore an Alien World

Before the kids ever arrive, you can have spent time in the backyard working on putting together an alien world for the kids to explore using cardboard cutouts of aliens, weird hanging vines using streamers, and other items. Then, when the kids are done with their space walk, you can put them into a large cardboard box or two (maybe even three or four) and have them walk out (leave the bottom of the boxes open for their legs) into the alien surroundings with their spaceship. Then, they can explore it and find all the hidden prizes that may exist.

The Buzz Lightyear movies are incredibly popular and there is no sign of slowing down. As a result, you can expect to be asked for a Buzz Lightyear themed birthday party soon. It can seem like a difficult task, but by using your imagination, some household items and Buzz Lightyear birthday party supplies, you can have a great event on your hands.

Buzz Lightyear Birthday Party Ideas

Halloween Decorations Houston

Special Price!!! 15' Red Carpet Runner

Click for larger image and other views

>> Click here to update Cheapest prices for 15' Red Carpet Runner <<

15' Red Carpet Runner Overview

Runner measures approximately 24" wide x 15' long and is made of polyester. For indoor or outdoor use, durable. Leading Edge of Runner includes Double Stick Tape to hold the edge of runner secure.

SAVE NOW on the special offers below!

Available In Stock.

This 15' Red Carpet Runner ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.

Price : Click to Check Update Prices Please.

Limited Offer Today!! 15' Red Carpet Runner Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

Clock Radio Docking Station

Holiday Activities for Families Made Easy

Sleigh bells ring. Are you listening?

Halloween Decorations Houston

The holidays are upon us and your To Do list is growing faster than a speeding bullet. In the mad dash to buy the right sweater for Aunt Myrtle, what happens to quality family time? Remember the little ones who remind you about Santa coming to town?

Halloween Decorations Houston

Many students will be out of school for the holidays mid-December. How can you keep them entertained without adding to your load? The movie “A Christmas Story” is a seasonal tradition in our household but let’s face it. Few parents want to sit their kiddos in front of the tube for hours on end. You could flip through the paper to find some good events, but then you’ll need to research the activity further to determine if it’s appropriate for your child. Save yourself the trouble. I’ve researched numerous family-friendly activities in Houston. Here are a few favorites to help you spend more time with your family and less time in chaos.

Seasons of Sharing runs at the Children’s Museum of Houston through January 8. This annual exhibit celebrates Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Diwali, Christmas, Las Posadas, Hanukkah, and Lunar New Year. This gives children a chance to learn how the holidays are celebrated around the world. Open your kids’ eyes to cultural differences and discuss the reasons why you celebrate the way you do. Then, spend time enjoying the Museum’s fantastic other features like KID-TV, the Bubble Lab and the Expressions art studio. Admission is , but Thursdays 5-8 p.m. are free or visit Tuesday – Sunday 3-5 p.m. for only . Children under 2 are free daily. The Museum is located at 1500 Binz in the Museum District. www.cmhouston.org 713-522-1138

The Houston Symphony shares holiday cheer with A Very Merry Pops, evenings December 9-12 at Jones Hall. Kids age five and up can indulge in some fantastic holiday music. Photographs of children enjoying the holidays will be projected on two large screens during one musical piece. Families can e-mail photographs of their children to holiday.photos@houstonsymphony.org but see the details online first. Purchase tickets, and up, online at www.houstonsymphony.org or call 713-224-7575.

Looking for some free fun? There’s just nothing like packing the car full of kids, blankets and hot cocoa to drive around town looking at holiday lights. Check out the themed streets in Shepherd Park Plaza and Candlelight Plaza, north of Garden Oaks. Foley’s department store on Main Street in downtown Houston decorates with moving tin soldiers, garland, and stars. These huge decorations remind Houstonians of former holidays when so many went all out for the season. Good job!

Count your blessings. No matter what your religion, all can recognize how blessed we are. This holiday season, give back to your community by encouraging children to participate in the giving (not just receiving). Kids can do extra chores to earn money to donate to the Salvation Army collection spots around town. Load up nonperishable goods and take them to the Houston Food Bank so others have plenty to eat this season. Do a good deed just to help another and reap the reward of knowing you made someone else feel special.

www.salvationarmyhouston.org/ 713-752-0677;
www.houstonfoodbank.org/ [http://www.houstonfoodbank.org] 713-223-3700;
www.khou.com/community

Happy holidays!

Holiday Activities for Families Made Easy

Halloween Decorations Houston

Bose Audio System

What is the Significance of Cinco De Mayo?

Cinco de Mayo is one of those holidays, which millions of Americans enthusiastically celebrate every year, although the vast majority of these people either know very little to nothing about this Mexican holiday. What is the significance of Cinco de Mayo and why is it that this holiday has become more popular in the United States than in its native country? If you would like to learn a little more about the holiday, you have come to the right place - read on for a brief introduction to the facts on this popular Mexican import.

Halloween Decorations Houston

As everyone knows, Cinco de Mayo's is Mexican in origin; but there is one popular misconception about this holiday, which we should clear up before we go any further. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day - that's September 16th, in case you were wondering. So what does Cinco de Mayo commemorate if not the country's independence from Spain?

Halloween Decorations Houston

This Regional Mexican Holiday actually celebrates the victory of the Mexican army over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862. Outnumbered nearly two to one and facing one of the world's best professional armies at the time, the Mexican army led by General Ignacio Zaragoza routed the French against seemingly insurmountable odds. While it was an early battle in a war, which would last for the next five years, the victory was an inspirational one, which spurred the Mexican spirit of resistance, eventually leading Mexico to send the French back to Europe in 1867. It is this upset victory, which is celebrated each May 5th in Mexico - in Puebla and in Mexico City, there are annual reenactments of the historic battle.

Good to know, but given that many people in the US are not even aware of the historical background of the holiday, what is the significance of Cinco de Mayo to Americans? There are a few answers to this question. One is that as neighboring nations of approximately the same age (Mexico declared its independence in 1810, just a few decades after the United States), our two countries have essentially grown up together and we have strong historic and cultural ties with our neighbors to the south. As you probably know, much of the American southwest was once part of Mexico and in Texas, California and other southwestern states, Cinco de Mayo has long been celebrated.

Ever since the 1960s, when college students in California began promoting the celebration of Cinco de Mayo as a salute to Latino culture and achievements, the holiday has become ever more popular across the rest of the country. There are now celebrations held in cities in every part of the United States; and for many Americans, Cinco de Mayo is a day for saluting both our neighbors south of the border as well as celebrating America's large and vibrant Latino community.

What is the Significance of Cinco De Mayo?

Halloween Decorations Houston

Special Price!!! Super Mario Bros. Foil Balloon

Click for larger image and other views

>> Click here to update Cheapest prices for Super Mario Bros. Foil Balloon <<

Super Mario Bros. Foil Balloon Overview

Includes one foil balloon.

SAVE NOW on the special offers below!

Available In Stock.

This Super Mario Bros. Foil Balloon ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.

Price : Click to Check Update Prices Please.

Limited Offer Today!! Super Mario Bros. Foil Balloon Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals

Halloween Safety is Always a Concern

No holiday conjures up all of America's deepest darkest fears more than Halloween. There are many sources of Halloween terror, such as razor blades in apples, cyanide in Pixie Stix, needles in Snickers bars, sex predators lurking in dark doorways, psychos with chainsaws and kidnappers in parked vans. While the vast majority of Halloween horror stories are exaggerated and unfounded, the real dangers are fires, hand injuries caused by carving pumpkins and traffic accidents.

Halloween Decorations Houston

Since the 1970s, Halloween safety has focused on the fear of contaminated candy. In 1970, 5-year-old Kevin Toson died from a heroin overdose. A few days later, officials found that the boy hadn't eaten heroin-laced candy, as originally believed. Rather, he had accidentally gotten into his uncle's heroin stash and the family had sprinkled heroin in the boy's candy afterwards to protect the uncle.

Halloween Decorations Houston

Similarly, in 1974, 8-year-old Timothy Mark O'Bryan died from cyanide poisoned Pixie Stix in Houston, Texas. However, upon closer inspection, detectives found that the boy had in fact been poisoned by his own father. Even though these poisonings were far from random, parents still feared for their kids' safety amid the Halloween fun.

Even though there are many urban legends surrounding Halloween, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that, on average, four children are struck and killed by cars each October 31st, which is four times the fatality rate on any other night. The statistics do not even include accidents that occur in driveways or on sidewalks, so the numbers are suspected to be higher.

Experts say kids in dark costumes and vision-obscuring Halloween masks dashing through the streets for delicious Halloween candy is a recipe for disaster. To protect the kids, costumes and candy bags should have bright reflecting tape on them, parents should accompany little ones and older kids should be given the pre-trick-or-treating huddle to discuss serious safety rules. Kids should be told not to run, to stay together at crosswalks and to carry a flashlight.

While the real danger of Halloween has been largely exaggerated, the urban legends and myths should not diminish the very real fears. From 1996-1998, there were 15,500 fires from October 30th - November 1st, causing 45 deaths, 175 injuries and million in losses, reports the National Fire Protection Association.

They say that arson activity is 10% higher around Halloween, and there is the additional danger from unwatched jack-o-lanterns. To stay safe, parents should make sure their Halloween decorations (like dry corn stalks) are away from electrical outlets or live flames, with pumpkins illuminated by flashlights or bulbs rather than candles. Additionally, all kids costumes should be made of flame retardant materials.

Halloween Safety is Always a Concern

Halloween Decorations Houston

Click for larger image and other views

>> Click here to update Cheapest prices for 15' Red Carpet Runner <<

15' Red Carpet Runner Overview

Runner measures approximately 24" wide x 15' long and is made of polyester. For indoor or outdoor use, durable. Leading Edge of Runner includes Double Stick Tape to hold the edge of runner secure.

SAVE NOW on the special offers below!

Available In Stock.

This 15' Red Carpet Runner ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.

Price : Click to Check Update Prices Please.

Limited Offer Today!! 15' Red Carpet Runner Black Friday and Cyber Monday Deals