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In this article you will be provided with information about baby car seats and keeping your baby safe while in the car. There are tips for buying new and used baby car seats. Answers to some of the most asked questions about car seats are provided as well.

Q. What is the best baby car seat?

The best car seat is the one that matches your baby’s size and weight. It also fits properly in your car and is easily installed.

Q. What types of baby car seats are available?

There are several types of baby car seats such as infant seats, front facing car seats, and convertible seats. There are also combination seats (can face front or rear), booster seats and integrated car seats. With each type of seat there are variations.

Q. Is a five-point harness or a shield safest for my baby?

A five point harness gives your child the greatest protection because it holds your baby tighter in the seat in the event of a crash. A T-Shield or over-the-head restraint allows too much room or can get in the way of chubby tummies and legs. The stalk of the T-Shield can cause serious injury to your baby.

Q. How can I find out how to safely install my baby’s car seat?

All car seats (except most second hand seats) come with printed directions. If after reading the directions you still are not sure how to properly install it. You can call or email the manufacturer. Some police stations and hospitals have assistance programsas well.

Q. Is there a correct way to secure my child in the baby car seat?

Yes, there is a correct way in which to secure your child in his car seat. How you secure your baby in the car seat will likely depend on the age and size of your baby.

For children under a year of age they should be placed in rear-facing seats in the centerof the rear seat. Older children can sit facing front and their seat are generally placed behind the driver or passenger in order to utilize the shoulder/lap belts.

Q. What is LATCH?

LATCH refers to Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It is a baby car seat installation system. The lower hooks are attached between the bottom of the back of the seat and seat itself. The tether piece is a strap made of seat belt material with a clip that secures forward facing baby car seats and prevents excessive movement of the baby’s head in crashes.

Q. What is a Tether?

The tether is a strap made of seat belt material with a clip. It attaches to the clips on the seat and secures front facing baby car seats. In a crash it prevents excessive movement of the seat and the baby’s head, reducing the severity of injuries.

Q. How can I tell when my child is ready to use car seat belts without a booster seat?

Your child will be ready for using the car safety restraint system when s/he can sitall the way back in the seat and the knees can bend comfortably over the edge of the seat. The belt crosses the shoulder between the neck and the arm and the lap belt is low and touches the thighs. Your child must be able to remain seated the whole trip.

Q. Can a baby car seat be used safely in an airplane?

Yes it can. Airlines require children age 2 and under, to be in approved car seats. The seats must be 16 inches or less to fit in the airplane seats. Call ahead and find out ifyour seat is an approved seat. Once on the plane, the hostess/es, will be able to assistyou.

Q. Is it safe for me to use second-hand baby car seats?

Yes it is safe to use second-hand baby car seats provided you do a safety check. Belts and harnesses should not be frayed or cracked. There should be no cracks or tears in the seat cover and the seat should recline easily and stay upright when the baby is seated. Look into the history of the seat, if it has been in a car crash do not buy it, its ability to safely restrain your child has been compromised. If the seat doesn’t come with a manual contact the manufacturer to ensure the seat will be properly installed.If the seat is more than 5 years old do not use it, it may have been in a crash and older baby car seats may not fit in new model cars.

Q. What should I do if my baby car seat is recalled?

In most cases, the manufacturer will provide you with instructions of what to do if baby car seat is recalled. In some cases they will replace it for free they will have you bring it somewhere to get replacement parts also at no cost to you.

Q. Are there baby car seats available for children with special needs?

Children with special needs may require different restraint systems. Discuss your options with your pediatrician. Agencies such as Easter Seals have programs and information on baby car seats for special needs children.

Q. What is the best type of harness for my baby car seat?

There are four types of harnesses in baby car seats. The six-point harness has two straps at the shoulders, two at the hips and two at the crotch. The five-point harness has two straps at the shoulders, two at the hips and one at the crotch. The t-shield is a padded triangle that latches at the crotch while the overhead shield comes down from over the head and latches at the crotch also. The safest harnesses are the five or six-point harnesses. These prevent excessive movement of the baby in crash situations. The t shield and the over-head shield allow for too much room and could cause your baby to be ejected from the car in a crash.

In Conclusion

You can never go wrong if you err on the side of caution when it comes to your baby. The size and weight of your baby as well as your budget will decide what type of seat you will purchase. This article has provided you with a number of tips to keep your baby safe while riding with you in the car.

(c) http://www.1st-babies.com

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About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of Nursery Bedding which includes Baby strollers, Baby car seats, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

Most of us regard our television very highly because this box seems so magical that it can provide us entertainment as well as essential information about many things. If you feel that your television set is already outdated and obsolete, you may look for a newer model to buy yet you will need a serious amount of money just to purchase the latest television in the market. However, don’t let your frustration get the better of you just because your budget is limited because there is yet another option that will allow you to enjoy the latest in television models, and that option is television hire.

In our modern world, technologies seem to evolve within just a short time that the television we bought today may already be considered by others as old and archaic. The cost of new television sets is undoubtedly expensive, thus considering to rent a television set may be an attractive alternative.

You may decide to just save money and defer your television purchasing until you have saved enough money to buy. Yet it could be possible that by that time, a much up-to-date models are already available. When you opt for television hire, you are able to enjoy the latest technology and may be allowed by the rental company to change your rented TV unit for a newer model once you decide to renew the rental agreement.

Television hire is also an option if you want or need an additional set at home. Suppose you have bought a home theater system which you have placed in your living room for the family to enjoy, yet you find it necessary to have another smaller TV set in your bedroom, you may simply rent for this second set instead of buying another.

Shopping for a new TV can be challenging because when you are already inside the appliance store, there are so many television sets to choose from. Then when you finally have bought something, brought it home and used it for a few days, you will realize that your selection is not exactly what you wanted. For just a few more dollars you should have just bought another model. With television hire, upgrading to a newer model or changing a television set for another model which you think is better is generally easy with a rental agreement. Should you want to change your rented unit to a newer model, all you need is to add a little more to your monthly rental fee and you can enjoy watching on your hired television set.

When you have bought a television, naturally a warranty comes along with your purchase. However, when the warranty period is over and your unit suddenly broke down, you will need to pay for possible repairs and parts replacements. With television hire, you need not worry about the technical problems of your TV, with or without a warranty. Part of the agreement you have made with the rental company and must be contained in the contract is that the company will deal with any technical problems of your rented unit. If the TV needs to be repaired in the company’s premises and while it is being repaired, you will be provided with a substitute so you are not left void of a television to watch your favorite shows.

S. Eleazar writes for Television.com.au, an Australian Television Directory where you can find companies and vendors offering television hire, television repair and other television-related goods and services.

Almost people who tend to seek a job understand that resume is the decisive factor to whether you can make it to the interview round or not. Moreover, don’t forget that resume and resume is “two sides of the one” which show your outstanding capability. However, not everyone can know how to make his resume and resume become “decisive” to the employer. It is not about spending more time or providing more information in the resume that make that resume becomes well impressive to the employers.

The employers are very busy as they may receive hundreds of resumes and resumes each day from different candidates. So, think carefully before you send your resume and resume to an employer is a good way to win over other candidates. Don’t expect to win the employer when your resume and resume are common without any particularity. So, don’t waste time sending “imperfect” resume and resume to different employers because your chance of getting to the next round is not significant at all.

Following are some basic tips for you to make your resume perfect:

1. Understand what your resume is about to gain:

Resume is, in fact, an approach to market your own image. Your goal is to impress the employer to open the path to the interview phase. With such goal, your resume must achieve the following:

• Prove to the employer that you truly want to be employed and are willing to contribute your best to the job;
• Show the employer that you have good qualification and working experience that exceed other candidates;
• Show your personality and traits that are suitable to the job;
• Present your good achievements at work that you have gained;
• Show that you are ready to enter the interview.

2. Find out about the employers:

Don’t let your resume or resume in disorder or write a resume or resume in a certain available form. Resume and resume are one way to show off your personality and make the best explanation to the employers’ question why they are impressed at you but not at other candidates.

Before writing a resume, you should spend time find out carefully about the employer. The more you know about the job and the company, the more suitable your resume and resume may be to the job requirements and as a result, the more your chance will be. Nowadays, with the explosion of information technology and internet, you can easily sit at home or at the old company to research about the employer on its website or by asking friends and others (those who know about that company”. Don’t start writing the resume until you have any idea about the employer.

Also, you should remember this important point: you need to show the employers what you can benefit them but not what you may benefit from them. The perfect resume must focus on the strength in necessary experience and skills that the employer may require from you. You will score more point with your knowledge about the employers and understanding of what they expect from you.

3. Different:

Make your resume and resume differ from those of other candidates. As such, you should never start your resume with such general salutations as “dear sir,” or “dear sirs,”…

Normally, when a company posts publicly a recruitment ad, it will surely address the name, address and contact number so as the resumes may be sent to correct address. Don’t miss these important details and don’t forget to start your resume professionally with clear address of the company and even, the name of the responsible person. The employer will understand that you have researched carefully about them and correct your resume before sending to them, and, you have gained a good score then!

4. Make a professional resume:

A resume should start with short but clear and open sentences. Your goal is to show that how much you understand about the job, why you love that job and how much experience you have gained when doing similar jobs. Then, why don’t you put those in your resume and it in a professional way?

The strength of your resume depends on your confidence, but confidence here does not mean arrogance. Your resume must absolutely avoid words and phrases that may make the readers think that you are too sharp and even deceitful. Use the resume and resume to make the readers understand that you are sensitive, professional, politely and well qualified.

5. Focus on the most importance:

A resume or a resume both requires focusing points. You should go deeply into the most important points about your qualification and knowledge about the job and the company. You may make bold or italic important points (if printing). The length of your resume should not be more than 1 page and there must be a full name with signature at the end of the page.

Also, don’t forget that the content of the resume and it must not be “different” in information, especially important ones. However, it is neither a part nor a summary of your one. So, differentiate the it’s function and resume.

6. Check spelling and grammatical errors:

Even the smallest spelling or grammatical error may become the reason that eliminates your name out of the list of potential candidates. So, don’t forget to check carefully for any error before clicking the “send” button, or bringing the resume across a long way to the employer.

7. Finishing:

Don’t forget to end it with promising sentences that you are ready for the interview and if there is chance and will actively contact the employer before he or she contacts you. This way will help impress and smartly remind the employer of you. And also, don’t forget to put your name, address, e-mail and phone number at the end of the resume or resume.

You can use free materials about resume writing at:: Resume templates and How to write resume [http://howtowriteresumes.info/].

Although most people have a television in their living room or family room, a television isn’t always the most attractive feature in the room. Wall mounted flat screen televisions are more attractive than many older styles of televisions, but they still can become a rather ugly focal point within the room. In fact, because they are large and are usually hung on the wall in a prominent location, they can sometimes even be harder to blend attractively into the overall room decor than other types of televisions. Although some people try to hide their wall-mounted televisions behind custom cabinet units with doors, or use a curtain, blind or other device to pull over the television when it is not in use, one way of blending a large wall-mounted television stylishly into the room is to make it look like wall art.

Create a Wall Art Grouping that Includes the Television

One effective method of blending a wall-mounted into the room is to treat it as part of an overall wall grouping. Instead of hanging the television alone on the wall, try surrounding it with other smaller pieces of art. Using abstract types of art is often the most effective, since they are less visually distracting in close proximity to the television when you are watching it. Groupings of smaller sized art are also more effective than using larger pieces, because the larger art pieces can compete with the large size of the television. By grouping a number of small simple pieces of art around the television, it will simply blend in with the others.

Display the Television on a Shelf

Although you will still mount the actual television directly onto the wall for proper support, you can help avoid the “floating” look by installing a shelf directly under the bottom edge of the television screen. This has the advantage of anchoring the television visually, and allows you to display other items, such as framed photos or even books or plants, on either side of the television. This method can be extremely effective when trying to blend a television into the overall decorating theme of a room, because the shelf method really helps make the television appear to be part of the overall decor, as opposed to just a large flat screen affixed to the wall.

Blend the Television into the Room’s Architectural Features

Instead of simply hanging the television on a plain wall, try designing some interesting architectural features on the wall. This can help to visually anchor the television, making it stand out in a more interesting fashion. For example, try installing a sheet of decorative wainscoting on the wall directly behind where the television is to be mounted, edging the wainscoting with an interesting trim. Or try using wood molding to actually frame the television, which can create an interesting effect, especially if wood is also used on the area behind the television. Wallpaper and other decorative borders can also be used effectively on the wall area surrounding the television to give it the appearance of art.

Jessica Ackerman from WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, has skills in all areas of garden wall art paying special attention to tree branch wall decor.

Bowling has been a popular sport for Americans and other nationalities. Over 50 million Americans are into bowling and more and more people around the world are becoming addicted to it.

Bowling is a leisure activity that provides many health and physiological benefits. Bowling may be a form of relaxation to many or a way to bond with families and friends. A person does not need to be a pro to enjoy this kind of sport.

Bowling alleys are special facilities where people participate in the sport of bowling. These alleys provide lanes for bowling and other amenities.

Here are the factors to consider when choosing a bowling alley:

1. The location of the bowling alley should be taken into consideration. An alley close to his/her home location will make it convenient and inviting. A bowling alley close to his/her workplace could also be considered so that he/she could easily go to the bowling alley after work.

2. The facilities of the alley should also be considered. Many bowling alleys now have modern facilities like electronic scoreboards. People are attracted to places where the facilities are modern.

3. The employees working at the bowling alley should be friendly and accommodating. Employees who are friendly will make the place inviting. The instructors should also be friendly and willing to help with all the needs of the bowlers, especially the beginners. Bowlers should be able to learn many techniques from instructors that are friendly and willing to share their skills.

4. The bowling alleys should be clean and properly maintained. Bowlers go to alleys to enjoy and relax. If the alley is not clean and properly maintained, bowlers will not be comfortable. All facilities should also be properly maintained to provide safety for the bowlers.

5. There are generally many bowling alleys that may be found in any city. A person may search the Internet to check the nearest bowling alley and may also read reviews about the bowling alley. Many bowling alleys also have cafeterias where players can eat and mingle with other bowlers.

Bowling alleys contribute to the interest of many people in the sport and should be a place where fun and enjoyment may be experienced. They should be welcoming to bowlers and provide them all the things necessary to entice bowlers to become regular customers.

Equipment and Accessories for Bowling

Whether a professional bowler or not, it is recommended that you have the proper equipment and accessories before heading to the lanes. Here are some accessories that should be considered:

Bowling Balls

Bowling balls are the most important equipment in bowling. When buying bowling balls, some features should be considered. They are the weight, size of the ball holes, and whether the balls are designed for right-handed or left-handed persons. There are also three types of balls: beginner, intermediate and the advanced bowling balls. Kids may also buy bowling balls that are designed specifically for them. There are also bowling alleys that provide/rent bowling balls to players.

Bowling Shoes

Bowling shoes are also necessary in bowling. Bowling shoes are not just ordinary shoes; each shoe in the pair serves a purpose. One shoe is designed for better sliding while the other is for braking. Most bowling alleys provide/rent shoes to their customers. When choosing bowling shoes, it is important to consider the size. They should not be too loose or too tight on the feet. The bowler must be able to move comfortably.

Bowling Shirts

Like other sports, proper clothing is necessary and must be comfortable. Specially designed bowling shirts with collars are worn by professional bowlers. However, if the player is just an ordinary bowler, any regular shirt with collar will do as long as it fits comfortably and not be a distraction while bowling.

Bowling Gloves

Bowling gloves are very beneficial to bowlers. These are used to provide a better grip of the ball. Bowling gloves help players throw a ball accurately and with power. Gloves are helpful in supporting the wrist and making a smooth delivery possible.

Bowling Towels

Towels are important and used to wipe the oil residue from the balls. Towels may be improvised or there are special bowling towels available in sports supply stores.

Other accessories may also be considered like bags, face towels, wrist bands and bowling ball cleaners and polishers. All these accessories are beneficial in providing mobility and comfort to bowlers. If one is interested in getting into the bowling lanes, then he or she may avail one of these accessories for his own.

Paul Bittle is the owner of Bits N Wits [http://www.bitsnwits.com] an information web site. Search the web, our directories, free courses, plus add your article or URL link for free.

A sports car is sexy, alluring and promised a new level of excitement and enjoyment in driving experience. But not everyone can afford to get one of their own and if you are fortunate enough to afford one, there are some things you need to know that can help you become a better negotiator. It is important to negotiate your way to the best deal and the lowest prices possible when looking to buy a sports car. There are plenty of sports cars for sale at your local car dealers or if you prefer you can hunt for one online.

Let’s look at some handy tips that can help you secure the best deal around.

Tip#1: Decide on the Budget

You may be tempted into buying a more expensive car than the one planned as soon as you walk into your card dealer’s office. Sports cars are exceptionally attractive and it is easy to be seduced into a more expensive model that would upset your budget in a big way. Therefore, you need to decide on the amount you are willing to pay for the car and the monthly expenses necessary for the installments and the maintenance cost of the new sports car as well.

Tip#2: History

If you are buying a used car, check the history of the car and see if it has ever been involved in accidents in the past. See if there are scratches in the car and also major modifications that would affect the warranty and other related issues if it is still under protection.

Tip#3: Test Drive

The only way you can be sure of its performance is to take it out for a spin, now you can personally experience the sheer exhilaration of sitting behind the wheels of this new sports car you are planning to buy for yourself. If is a wonderful feeling but don’t let it cloud your better judgment when you are still at the negotiating stage. Test the brakes and practice coming to a sudden halt after rapid accelerations you can get a good idea how well it works.

Tip#4: research

Make it a point to surf the internet and read reviews before you settle on a particular model The experience of other s can help you find the right sports car for you, You can also check for price variations and where you can find the best deals around for this new car you plan to buy for yourself is good to know what other drivers are paying for to get the same car in your area so you can be in a more empowering position to del with your local car dealer.

A prospective buyer should investigate the prices being asked for the cars in which they are interested. Local newspaper ads, as well as an internet sites can provide you with a good way to determine prevailing asking prices. Internet research can supply you with information regarding the asking price for similar cars throughout the world. This information will help you be in a more empowering position when dealing with local car deal;

Tip#5: Use the Phone

This is one powerful trick to help you get the best deals around when looking to buy sports cars

Almost all sports car dealers are trained to use emotional ploys and play the baiting game when dealing with potential car buyers so the best way you can be in a safe territory is to start negotiating from home through the telephone.

Be a smart negotiator and you can expect to get the best deals.

If you are looking to buy a cheap sports car then we have the perfect place for you cheap sports cars is a great place to find that sports car bargain

Analog television (or analogue television) encodes television and transports the picture and sound information as an analog signal, that is, by varying the amplitude and/or frequencies of the broadcast signal. Analog television, like all other motion picture systems, exploits the properties of the human eye to create the illusion of moving images. Analog television service is the traditional TV system. Analog television has been the standard broadcast technology since the inception of television using magnetic waves to transmit and display pictures and sound. Analog television has an aspect ratio of 4 by 3, which means the screen is 4 units wide by 3 units high.

HDTV

HDTV, the highest quality format, provides high resolution, a widescreen format, and surround sound. HDTV is a name given to two of the digital television (DTV) formats. HDTV programs can include Dolby Digital surround sound, the same digital sound system used in many movie theaters and DVDs. HDTV uses the same amount of bandwidth (the size of the communications channel) as the current analog system, but with HDTV, about six times more information is transmitted. HDTV is the highest quality of DTV, but it is only one of many formats. HDTV pictures are created by scanning up to twice as many lines. HDTV sets have wider, movie-theater like screens that more closely resemble human peripheral vision, making it more natural to watch. HDTV sets are “backward compatible,” meaning existing analog equipment (VCRs, DVD players, camcorders, video games, etc. HDTV is best viewed on a new high-definition television. HDTV uses a wider 16 by 9 aspect ratio, which delivers movies with less “edge cropping” and provides a more intense viewing experience. HDTV’s digital audio sounds better than a standard television’s analog sound, just like digital CDs are superior to analog radio.

Cable

Cable Television Networks are already being broadcasted in simulcast since 2004 and analogue cable services were switched-off in April 2007. Cable and satellite subscribers with analog TVs should contact their service providers about obtaining converter boxes for the DTV transition. Cable here faces minor but growing competition from satellite and more recently, television via high-speed Internet connections with the service known as IPTV. Cable operators must ensure that all local broadcast stations carried pursuant to this Act are ‘viewable’ by all cable subscribers,” explained Martin, in a statement.

Analog television was introduced in the Netherlands in 1951. Analog televisions will work until all analog broadcasting ceases. Analog televisions are now commonly referred to conventional televisions. Analog television sets will continue to receive analog broadcasts at least through 2006 and possibly longer. Analog Television signals, both broadcast and cable, as well as VHS, in most cases, will look worse on an HDTV than they do on a standard analog television. Analog television technology is around 60 years old but still produces good quality pictures. Analog televisions will no longer function unless they are connected to a cable or satellite supplier that continues to deliver analog. Analog television uses a series of wavelengths to represent picture elements.

Clint Thomas is a successful Webmaster and publisher of www.TvThroughTime.com [http://www.TvThroughTime.com]. He provides more information about televisions and television issues [http://www.TvThroughTime.com] that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

The percentage of US households owning a pet has risen from 56% in 1988 to 62% in 2008, according to the figures provided by the American Pet Products Association or APPA. The growth in the number of households is accompanied by increased spending on pet supplies and other items. The US households are expected to spend $50.84 billion on their pets in 2011. This amount includes expenditure on food items, supplies, over the counter medicines, vet care, cost of purchasing and grooming pets. Taking care of a pet involves expenditure on buying a wide range of pet supplies which includes foods, clothes, medicines etc.

Need for Pet Supplies

Pets are just like any other family member and need a lot of supplies which include food items, medicines, clothes or houses, shampoos and soaps for washing etc. Every pet owner likes to provide the best of supplies to his/her pet. This means buying the best quality of food and other products to ensure that the pet remains healthy and grows according to its age. The best way to buy good quality pet supplies is to get in touch with specialized pharmacies that deal in household products.

According to statistics quoted by the he American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the average cost of basic food, supplies, medical care and training for a dog or a cat is $700 to $875 annually. You can buy good quality pet supplies at discounted prices from varied online pharmacies that focus on selling supplies of all types and all price ranges.

Types of Pet Supplies

Whether you have a cat or a dog or horse or any other animal as household, you will need to buy certain basic essential food and other items on a regular basis. In addition products that help you to groom and train your pets are also essential. Several types of innovative supplies are available in the market and are aimed at making it easier to take good care of your pet.

While some pet supplies are common to all animals, there are others which are specific to certain animals. supplies can be generally categorized into:

• Training products
• Grooming products
• Essential food items
• Feeding and Water containers
• Cleaning products
• Food supplements
• Pet Carriers and Houses
• Pet Toys and Beds
• Health Care products
• Books and CDs on grooming pets
• Pet Clothes and Collars

Apart from these pet supplies, you are bound to spend on vet visits and pet medicines to treat some common allergies and infections. Medicines to treat common problems like fever, itchiness, hair loss, ticks, cancer, rabies, dysentery, tumors, worms etc can be treated by buying branded or generic medicines from a pet pharmacy.

Buying pet supplies from a specialized shop or pharmacy is highly beneficial because their staff can advise you about the right type of products. You can also check about the usefulness or the efficacy of a household product chosen by you. These pharmacies also guide you about the dosage and the right procedure to use a medicine or a treatment for your pet.

You can save your spending on pets by buying pet supplies from an established supplier of pet products and veterinary medications. The best way to get great deals on these supplies is by ordering online.

The number one concern among parents who are contemplating divorce is the effect the divorce will have on their children. In my experience, the primary determiner of how a child copes with divorce rests on how well the parents are able to create a stable, predictable and loving environment during and after divorce. This is challenging, because children frequently respond to divorce by becoming more needy and clingy. This occurs at a time when parents are emotionally distraught and in the midst of a crisis of their own.

Divorce is a literally and emotionally disruptive experience. However, there are many steps parents can take to help children through this difficult time. This article details some of these steps.

First of all, tell your children what is going on. It’s best if you and your spouse decide together what you’re going to say to your children about your plans to divorce. It’s ideal if you can sit down together to talk with your children. While it’s not necessary to go into great detail, you need to say enough so your children understand the “why’s” behind your decision.

Some times I tell parents to create a narrative – that is, a brief story – that accurately describes why they are divorcing. This narrative or story might go something like this: We’ve been fighting an awful lot and we are both unhappy. We’ve tried to work things out but we haven’t been able to. We think it will be better if we live apart. We want you to know that we love you and we will still be your parents, but we are going to live in separate houses. Part of the week you’ll stay with me and part of the week you’ll stay with your mom. Initially, it’s best not to say much more than this. Stop and let them absorb what you’ve said.

It’s normal for your children to feel shocked, confused or very upset. Don’t try to fix their feelings by smoothing things over – let them be upset. Divorce is upsetting. If they are silent – ask how they feel about what you’ve said. I’m sure they’ll have questions. Try to answer them as simply and completely as you can. If the plan is for one of you to be the custodial parent, then you’ll need to talk to your children about the visitation schedule. Hopefully you will have worked this out before you sit down with them.

If your situation is one where only one of you wants the divorce or if there’s too much animosity or resentment between you – it may be best to have separate conversations with your children. While you may be tempted to blame your spouse for the divorce, DON’T! Engaging in criticism and making negative comments about your spouse places your children in the middle. This is destructive. Your children need both of you as parents. Also, in my experience, the parent who’s most critical and negative about the other often sacrifices their relationship with their children. Children don’t want to take sides. Asking them to do so usually backfires.

Divorce often results in one or both parents moving to a new residence. If at all possible, try to avoid having your children change schools. Moving homes, having your parents divorce and changing schools all at the same time, is a lot of loss for any child to deal with. Do your best to minimize the disruption to their lives.

One of the most important things you can do as a parent is to work out a specific visitation schedule and stick to it. In a time of great transition, children need predictability. While it may seem easier or more convenient for you to keep the visitation schedule loose – it’s not a good idea for your children – especially young children. For more information on this topic, see my article: Visitation.

Once you and your spouse have separated and the visitation schedule is in place, talk to your children regularly about the divorce. Parents sometimes think it will be better for their children if they de-emphasize the divorce by avoiding any discussion of it. Occasionally they even discourage their children from talking about it. This is a BIG mistake. Children need to talk about the changes in their lives but they may need help doing this.

Asking young children how they feel or if they’re alright is too vague. One approach is to talk with them about how things are different now than they were when you were all living together. Ask them what they think has changed and which changes they like and don’t like. Don’t be discouraged if your children don’t like anything! Maybe they’re angry. If so – they have a right to be. After all, the divorce wasn’t their idea. You can talk about what you miss from the way things used to be too. This gives them permission to speak openly about their feelings. They won’t feel like they have to protect you by acting like everything is fine when it’s not.

It’s not uncommon for children to develop behavioral symptoms related to divorce. Young children have trouble verbalizing their feelings and may act them out instead. They might become listless in school, have trouble sleeping, complain of stomach aches so they can stay home, become clingy, act aggressive towards playmates, throw tantrums at home, refuse to do their school work, or begin wetting the bed. None of these symptoms are unusual. They are an expression of anger or anxiety.

Again – it’s wise to give your children an opportunity to talk about their anger and upset. Let them know you can accept their anger – it won’t devastate you – but set some limits about how they express it. Talk with them about constructive ways of getting their upset feelings out. Share what you do when you’re upset.

If you are divorcing and your children are teenagers – you may be entering a rocky couple of years. First of all, teenagers can choose who they want to live with. This may mean you have to deal with disappointment if they choose to live with your spouse. If this is the case, you might try to talk with them honestly about why they’re making this choice. It’s important not to appear so fragile that they can’t be open with you. Also, it’s good to see if you can dig a little deeper into why they feel this is best for them. See if their reasons make sense.

If you think your teen is choosing to live with the parent who’s going to provide the least amount of parental oversight- talk with them sincerely about your concerns. While this may seem like an easy ride, reinforce the fact that they will be making decisions during this period of their life that may impact their future. It’s wise to support their independent decision-making, but also express the hope that they’ll feel like they can talk with you about what is in their best interest. It’s difficult and often painful but try to be objective and examine the pluses and minuses of them staying with you versus your spouse. Let them do most of the talking.

It’s often difficult to get teenagers to open up about their feelings. They’re more likely to be open with you if the two of you have had a strong relationship prior to the divorce.

It’s not unusual for teens to act indifferent about the divorce and to say things like, “It’s no big deal. I’m going to be out of here pretty soon anyway.” Don’t buy it! They’re still kids. They still need parents and a stable home.If they become withdrawn, begin staying away from the house more or act angry and hostile towards one or both of you, you need to talk to them. Again – they are expressing their anger and disappointment, though they may not admit it. Kids who aren’t able to talk about their feelings some times resort to self-destructive behaviors as a way to distance themselves from their feelings. This includes drug and alcohol use and promiscuity.

The teen years are difficult for parents and children alike, but divorce in the midst of this period can be especially challenging. Teens are trying to figure out their identity. They are beginning to make choices about their future. They are starting to develop bonds with people outside the family. A teenager’s ability to successfully launch themselves into adulthood has a lot to do with how secure their home base is. You don’t want your teen to leave home prematurely – before their ability to handle independence has been sufficiently developed.

Children, especially young children, often hope their parents will reunite. In fact, many children harbor a fantasy about reunification that lasts for years. Others act-out in school or at home so their parents have to work together to address their behavior problems. This can be an attempt to reunite the parents.

If you sense that your child is holding on to a fantasy of reunification, it’s best to address it. This is a sign that your children are having difficulty coming to terms with and accepting the divorce. Again, the best remedy is open conversation and clear reinforcement that you and your spouse are not getting back together. You need to help your children accept the fact that your divorce is final.

Dating is a challenge for divorced parents with children. If your children are young, they are susceptible to growing attached to your new love interest. This is dangerous. It’s best for parents to keep their dating life separate from their children until they are certain the dating relationship is a substantial one and that it is going to be longer term. Your children don’t need to go through another loss. Additionally, young children often feel caught in a loyalty bind between the new romantic partner and the parent of the same sex.

An awkward dynamic occurs when teenagers and their divorced parents are both dating. Teens feel awkward and uncomfortable about their parents as sexual people – especially in light of the fact that they are beginning to explore their own sexuality. With teens, it’s important to remember that how you handle your sexuality may impact how they decide to express theirs.

Teens may be slower to accept your new boyfriend or girlfriend than younger children. They may mouth- off and be disparaging about this person or treat the person rudely. This is their way of acting out their anger and disappointment over the divorce. It may also be their way of being loyal to the same sex parent. On the other hand, they may have some legitimate reasons for not liking your new partner. It might be smart to explore what their feelings, attitudes, observations and objections are. You might learn something that could be important.

With adult children who are out of the house, anger and disappointment over your divorce are often related to feelings of betrayal. Your adult children may have a lot of questions about what was going on in your marriage, about why you’re deciding to divorce now, etc. With adult children, it’s easier to be open and honest and to go into a bit more depth about your reasons for divorce. Chances are they will understand your decision to a greater degree because they have a better grasp of who each of you are as people – in addition to being their parents. They will have observed and developed their own attitudes and feelings about each of you, about your flaws and about the shortcomings in your marriage. Still, adult children often feel cheated. They may have an understandable wish to preserve the memory of having had an intact family – regardless of how difficult the circumstances may have been. There may also be a greater likelihood to take sides, because they’ve developed their own attitudes and perspective on each of you as people.

In summary, the single best step you can take is to keep the lines of communication open with your children – regardless of their age. You need to place your own feelings about the divorce on the back burner long enough to take an active interest in how your children are coping with the divorce.

Copyright Johanna Nauraine, 2010

REPRINT RIGHTS Statement: This article is free for republishing by visitors provided the Author Bio and Copyright is retained and the link remains active.

Johanna Nauraine is a psychotherapist in private practice in Chicago. She specializes in premarital, marital and divorce therapy, infertility, addictions and career coaching. You can read more of her relationship articles at: http://johannascouch.com

Showing love for your pet does not mean going overboard with pet supplies. Buying too much will not only drain your wallet, but also clutter your home with pet supplies you pet will never use. Buy wisely – get only the pet supplies your pet truly needs. Here are ideas.

Food and water bowls. Your pet will be using this for years, so do not scrimp. Plastic may be cheap, but remember that it can get quite difficult to clean as it ages and tends to be discolored. Go for stainless steel if you can. They last longer and are easier to scrub spotless. They are also safer, as they don’t react to pet food chemicals. If you have extra money, you can have your pet’s name engraved on the bowls to make them more personalized.

Grooming supplies. If you have a dog, buy a coat brush, nail clippers and good shampoo. Used properly and regularly, these can help you keep your beloved canine clean and huggable.

Traveling supplies. If you often travel with your pet, you need special supplies such as harnesses and well-ventilated, hard-sided kennels, for example. You also need a bag for bringing your pet’s grooming supplies and meds with you wherever you go. If you are traveling by car, it’s a good idea to get an adjustable pet car seat that can grow with your pet.

A few toys. Expensive pet toys are not necessarily the best pet toys. Your dog or cat can enjoy even the simplest playthings, such as old socks. But if you have extra money, treat your pet to a fancy toy or two. It will keep him or her busy so that you can attend to other important things. Active toys also let your pets exercise while having fun. But before you buy pet toys, read the label first – be sure to choose only toys that pass safety tests.

Pet Supplies provides detailed information on Pet Supplies, Pet Supply Stores, Discount Pet Supplies, Online Pet Supplies and more. Pet Supplies is affiliated with Wholesale Pet Products [http://www.i-PetProducts.com].

More than 50 million people in the United States have pets, and pet supply stores are competing to get their fair share of this lucrative market. If you are a pet owner, this is great news. Pet supply stores are continually improving their products and services, and you can choose from among many of them the right one for you.

Free delivery. You love your pet, but sometimes, you just don’t have time to drop by a pet store to buy food and supplies. No problem – you can have everything delivered right to your doorstep. Most pet supply stores now offer free delivery of the freshest pet food and newest supplies. Steer clear of the inconvenience of pet supply shopping, or running out of pet food. Just order either online or from a catalog.

All-natural pet food products. People are becoming more health-conscious, even with their pets. That is why some pet supply stores now claim to only carry naturally-preserved pet food that do not contain artificial coloring, ingredients or byproducts. Some pet supply stores limit their selection only to pet foods that have passed complete feeding tests ongoing quality assurance checks.

Carefully-chosen pet supplies. There are now many pet supply stores that only sell 100 percent safe and non-toxic pet supplies, especially for dogs. These stores have only clinically-proven safe pet shampoos, creams and medicine in stock. You can also buy harmless pet toys and accessories from such stores.

Veterinarians on call. Most pet supply stores now have in-house veterinarians who can help you choose the right products for your pets. These vets are also on-call to help you if your pet suddenly reacts differently to a product. Best of all, these vets are just great sources of free advice. Just pop in the pet supply store and chat with them – you just might get free opinion on common pet problems.

Pet Stores [http://www.i-PetStores.com] provides detailed information on Pet Stores, Pet Supply Stores, Online Pet Stores, Pet Fish Stores and more. Pet Stores is affiliated with Free Pet Tags .

With an increasing number of serious incidents being reported at dog parks, I want to introduce the safe alternative that a well-run private dog park can provide. You will find that a properly designed and managed private dog park is a dramatically different experience than what you have read about or have witnessed in public parks. A privately run dog park can properly screen, staff and enforce park regulations. We do caution you that even with the information you will gain from this article, please know that any dog park is not regulated, so we encourage everyone to do their homework before visiting any dog park to ensure it is right for you and your dog.

The current trend is that community and homeowner associations are responding to community demand by setting aside a small plot of their land for a public dog park. Unfortunately these unmanaged and unregulated fenced areas often turn to that of neighbor confrontation, injury and horror, even with the best of intending groups and dog owners. Let’s face it, without any oversight or enforcement, incidents are going to occur. Because I recognized the dangers in dog parks to the point that I would not take my dogs to one, I was motivated to devise the complex recipe for a safe off-leash dog park. Therefore; I conducted an in-depth investigation of many existing dog parks to establish the precise formula needed to create an off-leash haven.

I visited many, talked with visiting dog owners and observed many dog parks, both private and public. From my investigative travels and with my inherent understanding of dogs, I developed the complex operating matrix for a safe, off-leash dog park. Since that design work, we have successfully opened the first of our many private dog parks that thousands of qualifying dogs and their owners have already enjoyed. Our safety performance at the Royal Paws Dog Park & Doggie Day Camp facility speaks for itself with an impeccable safety performance and industry leading staffing ratio.

Benefits to your Dog with Off-Leash Exercise

The benefits to a dog at an off-leash dog park or any open area of land are immense. Unleashed running elevates heart rate, increases metabolism, improves gastrointestinal efficiency, and extends muscles and joints, all of which contributes to general overall fitness. It is known that maintaining such a healthy lifestyle for your loved dog will increase longevity and reduce risk of all associated conditions and diseases that obesity can cause. The experience for your dog in open field run is like no leashed exercise we can otherwise provide and the benefits will last a lifetime. When letting your dog run in an open field for exercise value, please consider that there are many risks to both you and your dog. You may be violating leash laws, the dog can track a scent or get lost, run into traffic or unwelcome neighborhood area, confront aggressive dogs or dangerous wildlife or foliage; which are all of the reasons as why I do not take my dogs to any open land without fences despite their excellent obedience.

In fenced area designated as a dog park, in addition to fitness improvement, your dog can enjoy benefits from the social interaction with the other dogs IF experienced without incident. The advantage for a dog that is well exercised and socialized benefit the dog, the owner and the community ONLY IF they have somehow avoided traumatic incident. Well exercised and socialized dogs are much less likely to contribute to neighborhood nuisances like chronic barking or showing aggression to other dogs.

If public parks could operate as well-run private dog park do, these benefits would be maintained. Unfortunately, many dog parks are not continuously regulated nor do they have the resources or knowledge to accurately screen the dogs; therefore, odds are that incidents will occur. Incidents like your dog being attacked by another dog or even being bullied by another dog can cause regression in social skills, cause behavioral issues, invoke fear aggression or cause physical injury or death. Following any incident at a public park, without a safe and regulated choice of private dog park that can best create positive experiences to overcome the impact of the incident, your dog may never physically or emotionally recover from the past trauma. The likelihood of good experiences for your dog in a well-managed private dog park is the reason that many loved dog owners everywhere chose private over non-regulated public parks.

Premise of a Safe Dog Park – It’s Private

The advantages a private dog park has over any public dog park is the ability to secure more favorable, larger parcels of land, improved grounds maintenance, set dog health requirements, enforceable park rules, screening of appropriate tempered dogs and third party intervention. Beware though and do your homework about any private dog park you intend to visit. Just because they can do all of the above does not mean that they do! While it is integral that the private dog park has the ability to control all of the above to make visits to a well-managed private dog park enjoyable, the most important to me are the health and temperament screening and ability of park staff to intervene.

If you have read the actual details in the recent headline grabbing horror stories of incidents in dog parks, they almost always are a result from a dog being in the park that should not be or from uneducated/erroneous decisions made by visiting dog owners. Both of these should not occur if your private dog park is consistent in managing and operating the facility for the safety and enjoyment of all. With private dog parks operating as a business, financial success is always a consideration. So turning away visiting dogs equates to lost revenue, so unless the park is focused exclusively on maintaining a safe environment for all, a private park that is short-term financially driven can pose the same risks that a public park does.

The third party oversight ability of park staff to intervene is required to eliminate personality clashes and biased evaluation of situations and/or dog’s behavior. So when the experienced screener determines the dog lacks the temperament so he/she can play with others, it is the park staff’s responsibility to deal with the disappointed dog owner. Same intervention by park staff goes in the event a visiting dog owner does not abide by park rules or a dog plays too rough or violations of any other park code of behavior. You can imagine these discussions are difficult; however, by park staff entertaining such discussions it eliminates any personal intervention by visiting dog owners.

Telling a dog owner that their dog is not allowed or can no longer come to the park until troublesome behavior is removed is always difficult. However, it is critical that the staff of the private dog park you are intending to visit has the proper screening system, the diligence to comply and financial ability to effectively turn away the revenue for dogs that do not appear to be capable of socially interacting at such level to keep the park safe for all.

As important to the screening is the park’s development and maintenance of expertly developed park rules. To the novice dog owner, many of the park rules appear to be too cumbersome and detailed. The reality is that each rule of a well-run dog park is well thought through and derived from merit by an expert in dog behavior. Compliance to all of the rules is key to the safe enjoyment of the park by all. For example, the toy aggression of a dog or rough play can within seconds turn into a dog fight even with the best of mannered & socialized dogs. Without such detailed rules and the full oversight to insure they are all followed, the private dog park could turn into mayhem.

Dog Park Management of Sizes and Breeds

For the safety of all, we highly recommend separating small dogs from large, excluding entrance to a few breeds, requiring males be neutered unless under strict command and requiring that dogs be at least four months old to enjoy the park. What we hear the most from small dog owners is that they want their small dogs to be able to play in the designated big dog area because “they like to play with big dogs”. Although the small dogs may have enjoyed past experiences playing with a large dog of neighbor or friend, the risk remain of physical injury to the small dogs if they are allowed in the same area as big dogs. It is my opinion each size should have designated areas to create safe play for all. Thus, we recommend that when investigating which dog park is right for you, this should be part of consistent operations.

Let me first say I do not believe in stereotyping any particular breed for temperament. However, due to instinctual drive levels, size and bite capacity, there are some breeds that I believe should be prohibited from entry to an off-leash park and some that should have elevated entrance criteria. Pit bulls, not specifically because of temperament but rather from jaw force/releasability should be forbidden from the off-leash dog park. Although we have met some of the sweetest and well-socialized pit bulls, we do not allow them to visit our parks because the risk is so high of severe injury to another dog if they were to bite.

Chow Chows are another breed that unless have a lifetime of scalability or coming in as a young dog, do we rarely let into the park. Any of the other “working breed” dogs, including terriers, due to their breed characteristics, prey drive, protection dog status and/or sheer size should go through elevated entrance criteria. These types of dogs must meet entrance-required temperament, in addition must demonstrate clear owner command. Upon meeting entrance criteria, they undergo frequent evaluations for continued social ability and owner command. All other dogs must pass dog socialization evaluation and demonstrate basic obedience.

Many Responsibilities of the Dog Owner

Even with the best of run private dog parks, the dog owners retain a high level of responsibility upon park entrance while be willing to withstand the occasional park staff directive. They must carefully watch their dog, abide by all park rules, maintain the obedience skills of the dog and know their dog well enough to predict their dog’s behavior. Knowing your dog’s mood, watching it’s posture and identifying or correcting any potential troublesome behaviors is critical so all can enjoy the park. Every dog will encounter occasions where they will meet another dog that they do not like or are uncomfortable around.

It is the best of private dog parks where entry requires command of your dog so that incidents of escalated aggression can be avoided when each dog owner carefully watches their dog and can command their dogs away from each and every situation. Incidents occur only when the dog owners are not vigilant in watching their dogs or do not understand their dog’s behavior and the slightest of uncomfortable encounters prolongs to escalate into a dogfight. Again, each dog owner should understand their dog’s postures, expressions and movement to be able to differentiate in off-leash situations when they are comfortable and when they are not. If the dog owner does not intuitively understand their dog, we recommend seeking the assistance of a professional dog trainer.

Safely Socializing Dogs Early Benefits Everyone

We believe that all dogs, when in receipt of proper health vaccination should be socialized in a safe environment to improve their ability throughout their life of all of the benefits an off-leash park can provide. Any puppy, following final adult vaccination booster should be introduced socially to other dogs, people, children and other distractions and a well-managed private dog park creates the perfect place. Puppies visiting a safe off-leash park will easily learn good behavior in the dog social structure and provide the dog owner the ability to enhance obedience training with distractions. Just as the benefits of teaching good manners to a dog early in their life are immense, so are the risks that behavior issues or dog aggression will occur in the event the early experiences are traumatic.

With puppies, we strongly encourage you thorough investigation on the park you are considering to take them to best create the opportunity for good experiences. We recommend you confirm that the park is well maintained, strictly managed and rules enforced. Taking the puppy to a private off-leash dog park will provide your dog a life-long of comfort around other dogs, people and children. However; even with the best of private dog parks, there are other distractions that you should have your puppy comfortable with, which is why we also recommend taking a puppy (when fully vaccinated) to busy shopping malls with diverse people and sounds, nature walks with children & bicycles and on-leash dog walking trails to learn on-leash manners.

Picking the Private Dog Park for You

While private dog parks are gaining in popularity because they may be the only choice for safe and enjoyable off-leash fun, enter with caution. If a dog park is “Private”, it is operated as a business entity, but this does not guarantee it is safe for you and your dog. It is our recommendation that with any place you intend to take your dog, you first tour the facility. Inspect the fence and the grounds, as well as talk with some of the dog owners visiting to learn about their safety record and staffing. After touring, talk with the park staff about what is required to visit. If you do not have to show paperwork confirming vaccinations or they do not meet your dog and determine social ability with other dogs, we would recommend that you know there may be risks. As with any place that you take your dog, insure you have great command of your dog and you are comfortable with the park layout and your dog’s social skills to lessen the chances of a possible incident with another dog.

Terri Malueg-Ray, President & Founder of many industry leading, innovative companies who is an international pet industry expert.

Terri L. Malueg-Ray is President and Founder of six-year-old company, Royal Paws Resort & Day SpaÔ, Ltd., one-year old company Royal Pawsä Dog Park, LLC and founding partner of My Owner Has Gone To Heaven, LLC. Terri is known throughout the pet industry as a true innovator. She has created many premier products and services and most recently introduced her new line of gourmet pet meals, called Pet TastiesÔ. Terri’s background in engineering, chemistry and computer science provides her the ability to develop, design and execute the creation of Pet Tastiesä, the only complete line of healthy, yet tasty brand of gourmet pet meals available in the market today. Following the design of Pet Tastiesä, Terri utilized her leadership background to open the first pet restaurant in the Atlanta metro area and has made headlines nationwide. Most notably, on the reality hit TV show, Ambush Makeover, The Montel Williams Show, CNN, Jezebel Magazine, Atlanta Magazine.

A wonderful way to invest in your families’ treasure trove of memories is by spending time in the great outdoors. Camping trips can be an excellent tradition that your family will look forward to and in time, look back upon with fond memories.

Whether you plan to camp at the same place every year or seek out new places doesn’t matter as camping is always filled with new adventures. Your family might have a favorite place you go to every year mixed with a new spot you select together for another weekend or extended holiday during the year. There are so many national parks to explore; your options really are quite limitless.

Camping doesn’t have to be an overly expensive expenditure. Again this all depends on how you’ll be camping. Camping in a tent carries a completely different dynamic than camping in a fully equipped camper. Camping in a tent is also relatively inexpensive. Perhaps the camper is something you’ll decide to invest in after a few years of tent camping, then again there are some who prefer to only go tent camping. There’s something to be said about the rustic quality of sleeping in a tent, you can hike to far off remote spots where you couldn’t get to with a camper in tow.

Regardless of how you’ll be camping you’ll want to have the proper camping gear and accessories. First off you want to have the best tent and sleeping bags you can possibly afford. As your tent will be your home away from home for your trip and your sleeping bag will keep you warm and covered for those long nights under the stars (there are tents available that have mesh roofs for star gazing, of coarse if it starts to rain, you can just cover it up with your tent fly), you’ll want to be sure that both these items keep you appropriately covered so to speak.

Next you’ll want to have proper camp accessories; a trustworthy camp stove, a lantern, flashlights, a first aid kit, tarp, cooking and eating utensils, a little axe (for chopping firewood, also doubles as a hammer for hammering in tent pegs), some rope (for clothes lines and securing tarp), and cooler. Along with your sleeping bag you’ll want to remember comfy pillows (unless your backpacking then you might want a convenient inflatable pillow) and very importantly a good sleep pad. An uncomfortable sleep experience on hard ground may steer you off tent camping altogether, so come prepared, a good sleeping pad is worth its weight in gold. A good idea to help you remember all these items is the camping check list.

It’s a good idea to store your camp gear in some plastic containers. This way it’s all in one place (with your camp list included), so when it’s time to pack up and go camping you can go through the containers making any necessary additions needed. It’s very important to check that all your equipment is properly maintained and cared for; there is nothing worse than getting to your destination and finding that your camp stove is not working. You’ll also want to be sure that your camp fuel supply is replenished and you have extra batteries (for flashlights, lanterns or radios).

One of the best things about the whole camping experience is the food. Now depending on where you’re camping and what time of year it is, if you’re lucky you’ll be able to do some of your cooking around the campfire. During dry seasons there may be fire restrictions due to forest fire concerns, if that’s the case you’ll do all your cooking atop your camping stove. Every meal always seems to taste a bit better when you’re camping, it might have something to do with all the fresh air, or maybe all the fun activity builds up you’re appetite, either way you’ll want to bring along some family favorites. For dinner maybe some grilling of the families select choices, accompanied by some corn on the cob and potatoes wrapped in tin foil cooked on the coals with a nice salad and later for dessert smores (marshmallow and a slice of chocolate sandwiched between two graham wafers), add to that some hot chocolate before bed and that’s a night of food to dream about.

The activities (or lack of activities) will also make your camping trip one to remember. Hiking, kayaking, cycling and sailing might be on your agenda. Most parks offer excellent groomed hiking trails. Research in advance the area you will be visiting to know what activities will be available, you may be able to rent a kayak and take a lesson at the same time. Many areas also offer great bike trails that the family can cycle on together. A late night walk is among favorite suggestions; you can check out the stars and just listen to the silence.

Bring along a book you’ve wanted to read or some magazines. Games are another excellent pastime, a deck of cards or a board game might be some fun. Of course you can always bring along some baseball gloves and a ball for a game of catch. Soccer balls, badminton rackets and a net or volleyball and net all make for a fun day at the park.

If your family has little one’s you’ll be presented with a whole new challenge. Depending on the ages of your babies or toddlers you’ll want to pack some extra conveniences. There are excellent baby back carriers available allowing you to hike all sorts of terrain with baby in tow while keeping your back feeling comfortable, as well there are a numerous variety of baby strollers to select from which are great for using on trails. For toddlers you may want to bring a playpen to keep baby safe. You can never bring too many toys; the more your child has to keep them entertained you can rest assure they will be more content.

Be prepared for weather changes by bringing along extra clothing. Most likely you will be camping in the warmer spring, summer and fall months. It’s wise to remember however that the evenings can often get quite cool. Bring along heavy sweaters or extra jackets for added warmth, it can never hurt to bring along a couple of extra blankets for comfort beside the fire (or for use at a day picnic). Rainwear is another excellent addition to your camping wardrobe. With good quality rain jackets, hats, rain pants and boots you can take advantage of the rainy weather and actually go out for a hike rather than staying inside the tent or worse yet ending your camp trip all together.

Camping certainly has its challenges. Knowing what to bring and having the proper equipment and accessories is the first hurtle. Once you arrive at your destination and set up you want to keep everyone as comfortable and happy as possible, whether it’s keeping the kids occupied without the use of video games or cooking a surefire dinner. Rest assured that after your first couple of trips when you find out what everyone enjoys doing and you realize all you like to include on your trip, you will certainly add camping to your families list of favorite excursions and traditions. The wonderful thing about camping is its always different, perhaps the site is different or the campground you selected is unique to the last you stayed at, whatever the difference is it always seems to be an adventure that the whole family can enjoy.

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Often, when considering cooking dinner with a Crockpot, people may automatically think of soups, stews, a pot roast or chicken pieces. However, with a little creativity and a spice rack some delicious, impressive foods can be the result.

Slightly altering recipes from a variety of cookbooks and sources, Crockpot cooking need not be mundane. If you are leaning towards a recipe that calls for slow roasting in the oven, use the Crockpot instead!

One of the main reasons for not using the Crockpot with more creative recipes might be the fear of the unknown for some cooks. Trying something new with an long-standing, tried and true appliance can be a worrisome prospect to some and for good reason. However, trying and failing is better than not trying at all! If one recipe doesn’t work for you, try the next one, and the next, until you find a grouping of recipes that will work. Always remember to write down the ones that do work, so you’ll have the recipes at the ready the next time you wish to try “something new”.

The beauty of the Crockpot, when it comes to cooking, is it allows whatever ingredients you are using to marinate in their flavorful juices. If your primary ingredient is a pork roast, a slow cooker helps to create a tender, tasty piece of meat. In altering recipes from cookbooks, always remember, the lid stays on during the cooking stage, therefore any recipe that requires liquids will use less, due to lack of evaporation.

Some suggestions for the Crockpot might be lasagna, linguine with clam sauce, your choice of white or red, macaroni and cheese, fish with stuffing, Swedish meatballs with gravy, adding a layer of egg noodles for good measure, or meatloaf, a staple in most households.

As most gourmet recipes call for wine, flavored vinegars, olive oil or some combination of the three, some of the liquid is provided but when in doubt add a can of flavored stewed tomatoes, liquid and all, to provide some zest to your dinner table. In addition, if you find yourself at a loss for a liquid, you can always add a cup or two of beef or chicken bouillon or broth to add some flavor to whatever it is you’re cooking.

Crock-pots can be used to create a tremendous variety of Hors d’oeuvre, entrees, side dishes and desserts. With the array of sizes in which crock-pots are available, the possibilities are unlimited. Given the versatility of cooking with a Crockpot, you do not have to feel trapped with the same old, tired recipes.

Overcoming your fears and trying something new in your crock-pot will be an advantageous and delicious way to feed your family while not spending all your time in the kitchen, both before and after dinner. Try some new recipes in the crock-pot when company comes and give yourself more time to enjoy your company, which is really what entertaining is all about, isn’t it?

Gourmet cooking in your crock-pot is obtainable and oh so delectable! Your family will love you for it and guests will marvel at how much time they might think you have spent preparing a delicious, “time-consuming” meal making them feel even more special!

The author loves cooking and sharing cooking tips with everyone. Take a look at this article on becoming a gourmet cook for more gourmet ideas. For some more information on cooking for kids take a look at this interesting article at http://hubpages.com/hub/Become-A-Gourmet-Cook

Lights! Camera! Action!

Now with our exclusive movie party theme, your birthday child can star in their own movie!

That’s right, with fun kid birthday parties one-of-a-kind movie making adventure, you can turn your child’s birthday party into a movie making party they’ll never forget.

Imagine how excited your birthday child will be when they get to tell all their party guests that everyone is going to be in a movie… Wow! This is going to be super fun.

“The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt” is an original 3 minute mini-movie script exclusively from Fun Kid Birthday Parties and it’s yours absolutely FREE.

And when you order your free movie script we’ll even send you our easy to follow tips on how to put together this super fun one-of-a-kind movie party theme that everyone will love… And you’ll have a great time too!

Movie Party Theme

Everyone has dreamed of starring in a movie… And now your birthday child can star in “The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt” a fun 3 minute movie production.

Movie Party Invitations

Make your invitations into a “Movie Star Contract.” You might write something like this:

Movie Star Contract

“You’re so talented and glamorous that (your family name) Productions would like for you to sign this fun contract to appear in our latest blockbuster movie production titled “The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt.”

We’re celebrating (first and last name of birthday child)’s birthday on (day and date of the party) at our (your family name) Productions movie studios from (start time and end time of your party).

(First and last name of birthday child) will be starring in our movie adventure and wants you to be one of the movie’s co-stars.

“The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt” will be filmed on location in and around our movie studio.

Our movie party theme will include time for autographs, movie games and activities, movie screenings and our studio commissary will be providing delicious movie production treats for our entire cast.

Please sign this Movie Star Contract and call your agent (name of agent to ask for) at (telephone number) to RSVP for your movie star roll in our original movie production.”

The (family name) Productions movie studio is located at (address).

Come dressed as your favorite movie character. (or you can have everyone show up in whatever costume you’d like, western, The Incredibles, Princess, fashion, or whatever theme you want).

Movie Party Theme Decorations

Your decorations can include a director’s chair, a megaphone, scene slate, light cut outs, camera cut outs, studio signs like “Hot Set”. “Birthday Movie Set”, “Hollywood Studio”. .

Movie Party Theme Games And Activities

You can make your movie production your entire party or you can set up some movie related activities and games.

Movie Party Theme, Screen Your Dailies

After you shoot the scenes for your movie, “The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt”, you can screen the raw unedited footage. Your guest will love seeing everything, including all the fun out-takes and bloopers.

Movie Party Theme, Snacks And Refreshments

Movie sets always have lots of snack food nearby for all the actors and crew… Favorites include M & M candies, Gummy Bears, nuts, fruit slices, veggie slices, chips and dips and any other finger snacks your birthday child might like.

Have fun and put a sign on your table that reads “Studio Commissary”.

Kid Movie Party World Premiere

One of the fun things about shooting a movie as a special birthday party is that you can have a second party as well. We’ve done this and everyone loved it!

Once your movie is edited, you’ll want to have your movies “World Premiere.”

Print out some movie ticket invitations, roll out a red carpet, invite the “paparazzi” (photographers) to snap pictures and video as your stars arrive.

Have some popcorn, screen your movie!

Follow your movie’s world premiere with an Academy Awards style party. Hand out awards (special best actor certificates) to all your actors! And let everyone make an acceptance speech. This is a lot of fun. This will be a movie premiere that everyone will remember!

To get you started on this unique, one-of-a-kind movie making adventure, Fun Kid Birthday Parties will send you a copy of our 3 minute movie script, “The Great Birthday Treasure Hunt” absolutely free. And we’ll include our easy to follow tips on how to put together this fun movie production for your birthday child.

To get your free kids movie party script visit us at Fun-Kid-Birthday-Parties.com and fill out the easy form at the bottom of the page.

Mike Dougherty is a movie and television writer, producer, director, video editor and regional Emmy award winning videographer. Most recently as a Hollywood screenwriter “the Long Ride Home” a western movie starring Randy Travis is based on Mike Dougherty’s short script. To get your free kids movie script, visit http://fun-kid-birthday-parties.com/kid-movie-party-theme.html right now

Television has taken on an entirely new look and feel, even in the past decade. What was once an industry based on three major networks with very limited programs in the 1950’s has erupted into many major networks and thousands of cable channels available throughout the world in every imaginable language. Television has truly become a three-dimensional experience for producers, directors, project coordinators and other professionals in the industry, not to mention a multi-dimensional experience for viewers. With a variety of genres and styles of programming available, from news programs and specials to different types and lengths of commercials, sit-coms, dramas, reality programs, game shows and countless others, being someone involved in television production is both wrought with opportunity and teeming with challenges.

Finding inexpensive background music and production music for television programs can be much more difficult than finding it for other types of media projects because the medium is so diversified and so societally pervasive. As a director or producer of television programs looking for ear-catching television music for your show, you have to be very cognizant of not only your target audience, but also what you are up against in your allotted time slot. Sometimes whether a show succeeds or fails has nothing to do with its quality. Success in television programming has more to do with what you are up against and the time and day your program airs. If you are producing a talk show, for example, you might be on at the same time as more than five or ten other talk shows. Or your program might conversely be when no other talk shows are on television, but at a time when typically people are more likely to watch news programs, Sit-coms or other types of programming.

Still, choosing the right television music can certainly help you make the most out of your particular project. Again, because of the diverse nature of television, there are many different types of production music and background music to choose from. There is music for commercials, music for dramas, music for news programs and specials, music for sit-coms and many others. As a producer of a television show, you probably also will have to consider how your music will blend in with the music of commercials that might air during your broadcast. Because the line between commercials and programming has been blurred, starting in the 1960’s commercials have become an integral part of all television shows, sometimes not only on network television but also on cable television. Before the mid-1960’s, commercials used to have to be signaled in all television programs by an announcement that they would begin. Similarly, announcers were responsible for signaling the return of the regular program. Now, there is not always any clear sign where the show ends and the commercial begins or vice versa. It’s all about the timing.

Because Copyright Law has become stricter to account for the proliferation of diverse recorded music, finding and affording production music and background music for television programming has been further complicated. Before the 1980s, music in commercials and even on many television programs was limited to jingles and transitional music, most of which was instrumental or with very brief and simple vocals. Occasionally lyrics to popular music would be changed to fit a particular product or the theme for a show, a phenomenon that would not work easily or cheaply under today’s copyright standards, and didn’t come inexpensively then either. Still, while some pop and rock songs were re-recorded for television programs and commercials, the cost of licensing original recordings was very daunting until the late 1980s when it became more doable.

Today commercials use many popular songs as background music and production music, and many programs, particularly those geared towards young people use popular music regularly in an effort to promote burgeoning music groups. Television has become such a cultural phenomenon and a showcase for music that many shows, including “Dawson’s Creek” and “The O.C.” have even gone on to put out music compilations based on music heard in episodes of the show throughout specific seasons. Previously, songs were often used without artist consent, but thanks to stricter Copyright Law this is no longer a possibility. Still, most artists are willing to accept often high payment for use of their songs in popular television programs and enjoy the exposure they get as a result to very specific markets made up of people that will buy music they make in the future.

Using popular music in television programs and commercials can be incredibly expensive for the typical producer and director. Whether your show is a hit with a large budget, or a smaller show just starting out, you want to make an impact musically at minimal cost, as there are so many other elements to consider in the production of television projects. Fees for use of popular music can total thousands of dollars, and when you multiply that by how often you will probably use songs as themes, production music, background music and other incidental elements, the numbers can add up quickly. But, even though you want to save money on television music, you certainly don’t want to skimp on quality.

What are your options when it comes to production music and background music for your television projects if you want to build a collection inexpensively and still honor the spirit of your project?

As a producer or director of television programs, you most likely travel in circles of artists and musicians. You might know some good composers or bands, or people you know might know some that would be happy to help with music for your project. Because of the almost culturally invasive nature of television, most struggling musicians or composers would not object to helping you out with your project in exchange for exposure and the chance to work on something beyond the norm. Many bands have been launched when their song was chosen as a theme song for a television series, and many composers have broken into the film, television and music industry after working on scores for television programs.

Finding under-appreciated talent in your network is a good option and often one that could help get you a deal on production music or background music, but it is by no means a simple solution, nor one that is long-term. If your show is a hit, or your theme song or the band that sings it is a hit, you will be morally, if not legally obligated to pay more for the music you are using. This either leads to the same problem you had before of expensive music or back to square one, looking for inexpensive television music.

Another option for inexpensive production music, and one that more producers and directors are choosing every day, is royalty free music provided by reputable music companies. Choosing royalty free music allows you access to a catalog of music in varying styles and can be downloaded directly from a centralized royalty free music company website online. Well-known companies such as Royalty Free Music.com give you music libraries with songs you can add permanently to a collection. This means you can build your own store of production music and use it in present and future projects. And because of the nature of the music, you just pay a very low upfront fee to satisfy all aspects of Copyright Law.

Television production gets more complex as time and technology progresses, but directors and producers will never lose the ability to control what production music and background music fits best with their projects. Television music is critical to keeping a program or a commercial at the top of its game, and helps communicate important themes to viewers. As a producer, director or project coordinator, the musical choices you make are some of the most important decisions.

What does a sports car say about you? The cars are fast performance cars that are sleek, fun to drive and give the impression of wealth and freedom. They are expensive and with that in mind it is imperative that they are kept sparkling clean and are protected with a custom car cover when not in use. It is not very often that you see someone driving a dirty sports car.

Cars initially got off to a sluggish start but as time progressed it became clear that the market would grow and as we know today they have become a necessity.

During WWII American soldiers got their first taste of the vehicles that Europe had to offer. These cars had been developed because of the type of roads and scarcity of gasoline overseas and therefore were entirely different from what they had left at home. They were much smaller rough riding and could negotiate the many winding roads more easily. That made them fun to drive. Many soldiers learned to love them and when they returned to America after the war, they yearned to continue the excitement that they had found with many of Europe’s fun to drive open sport automobiles. It was quickly discovered that they were still being offered the status quo from Detroit.

This new found demand for these more sporty type cars spurred a drastic increase in imports of foreign cars to meet the needs of these young veterans. The little MG became the hit of the early post war period. Still conservative Detroit didn’t get the message. It wasn’t until a lot of small specialist companies sprang up in the fifties that Detroit was finally prodded into making an attempt at building a sporty type car. General Motors was the first of the big three to bring out a sports car in 1953 made of the new material fiberglass. By 1955, Ford finally made the big push with an Americanized version of the sports car. That same year, General Motors almost scrapped their entire sports car project, after a bleak production of 590 Corvettes. They made last ditch effort in 1956 by adding a few creature comforts such as roll up windows and a removable hardtop to keep up with the more popular Thunderbird. Just the right amount of creature comforts added to the basic European sports car concept and GM. had a huge success on their hands. So was born the sports car as defined by American standards.

They started to become affordable, had additional comforts and functionality added for the everyday drivers. Today the modern sports car is made with beauty, performance and safety in mind

Technology has advanced at a pace, assisted by a growing obsession in fast sports cars. People have been attracted to and fascinated with sports cars since they were first designed. They are liked and admired for different reasons, the sleek sexy design, the powerful engines under the hood, perhaps the sound of the high powered engines and the distinctive noises they have. Even people who say they would never own one will often stop and turn to look as one of these sporty powerful machines pass by. Vehicles are now designed with aerodynamics at the forefront.

As with all items of joy protection is the key. Always protect your vehicle from the elements and prying eyes with a car cover to protect it when not in use. This will keep your pride and joy looking sharp for years to come.

Jack Labens works for Empire Covers, a leading provider of car covers such as Ford car covers and BMW car covers. Empire Covers can be found online at: EmpireCovers.com or at their blog EmpireCovers-Blog.com.

It’s February, and you know what that means…Love is in the air – it’s the month where Valentine’s Day appears! The time of year everyone wants to fall in love or be in love. So, while you are in the mood for love, why not fall in love with public speaking!

When you are in love, you want to get to know that person more, you want to spend as much time with them as possible, and you want to eat a lot of chocolate. As a result, you have fun, you feel better about yourself and your life becomes sweeter. Best of all, your relationship grows and becomes stronger.

Imagine what would happen if you were to treat public speaking the same way as you treat your lover!

Treat Public Speaking As Your Lover

First of all – If you were in love with public speaking you would want to spend time getting to know public speaking more. If you were to spend time learning what makes a great presentation your knowledge would increase and you would be able to implement those skills when you spoke in public. This of course would make you a better presenter.

Second of all – If you were in love with public speaking you would want to spend as much time as possible speaking in public. If you were to speak a whole lot more in public than you do now, your presentation skills would improve immensely. Just like a loving relationship gets stronger your speaking skills will get stronger.

Then there’s the chocolate that represents the sweetness of romance. As Jackie Gleason used to say, “How Sweet It Is!” Which is what you could be saying after giving a fabulous presentation.

Give A Fabulous Presentation

If you are in love or would like to be in love, wouldn’t you want to be in a FABULOUS relationship?

Wouldn’t you want the results of your actions towards your lover to be fabulous? If you were to give her or him a nice gift, wouldn’t you want them to react in a positive way? Wouldn’t you want them to be really happy? Isn’t that the goal, to make the other feel happy, great, and loved?

If you treat public speaking the same way, what kind of results do you think would occur? When you fall in love with public speaking, you will treat it well, you will spend more time with it, and you will get fabulous results from your presentations.

Valentines Day is a lot like Public Speaking.

Some people love the holiday and some people hate it. Some people love public speaking and some people hate it. My suggestion to you is, whether you have a lover or not, enjoy valentines day. Whether you love public speaking or not, enjoy giving your presentations.

Valentines day is for everyone not just lovers.

On Valentines Day, treat yourself to some sweetness, talk to yourself in a loving way, and treat others in a loving way. It’s a day to express love to anyone not just to your lover. Then go ahead and fall in love with Public Speaking so you can grow as a presenter, as a person, and as an expert in your field.

Valentines and Public Speaking

By the way, I am not suggesting you only express love once a year on Valentines day or fall in love with Public Speaking one day a year. For some of you who really hate it, you may need to start with one day and for others who don’t mind it as much, try to be in love with public speaking as much as possible.

The next time you have an opportunity to speak in public, be sure to take on that opportunity with open arms, with love, and with sweetness. The results just may be FABULOUS!

Lost your car? Well, provided your car has been insured, you can always get a reimbursement. That’s the good thing about car insurance. It means insurance against loss due to theft or traffic accidents. Getting car insurance would guarantee payment of expenses incurred when your vehicle is involved in accidents, or is subjected to vandalism or theft. It also ensures you are able to cover the costs of potential damages or injuries.

Zero percent car insurance

Car insurance dealers may often make announcements of zero percent auto financing, and you may be tempted to go for this great deal. It would be a dream to drive away a new car with zero percent financing. This means a $15,000 car may fetch you savings in thousands, versus five-year car insurance with interest. However, you should know that this 0% car financing is not available for everyone. Many people even make the mistake of buying a more expensive car with no cost car insurance, thinking there will be no interest that they have to pay. Unfortunately, this happening is very rare.

Zero percent car insurance takes credit report into consideration to qualify for this insurance financing, and the guidelines for credit are extremely demanding too. There would be so many conditions of eligibility along with this offer that eventually only a few can actually get a great deal with the dealers. It is seen that car insurance with an interest rate offers a much better deal. Most of the time, this zero percent car insurance is offered only on some select vehicles; mostly on slow vehicles as the dealer’s main aim is to get rid of the vehicles.

If you are a first time buyer, or you have a limited budget for your car, you should carefully investigate the different insurance policies available, as some might suit you better financially. So do some research, as it is possible to get cheap motor insurance as well as keep the premium on the policy very low.

Tips on car insurance

Some important tips to remember are:

o Higher excess: You can opt yourself to pay a higher excess in the event of an insurance claim.

o Do thorough research on the internet, as online car insurance is a lot cheaper.

o You get cheaper insurance if you get an approved immobilizer fitted in your car.

o Get an insurance broker, as he can help you pick the right insurance.

o If you are a student, you may gain some concession from the companies.

o You can also get a cheap car with a small engine, as the more costly the car is, the higher the premium will be.

o By building and protecting a ‘no claims’ bonus you will have a great impact on your insurance rates.

o If your car was very cheap, it may be cost-effective to have third-party, fire and theft insurance, instead of fully comprehensive cover.

o Never give your price first, and never take the first quote from an insurer.

o If you can, get your own copy of Credit Report and show it to the insurance companies, as they will charge you to get it for you during the approval process.

Visit the Car Insurance [http://www.guideto-car-insurance.info] guide for more information, and for related info go to Boat Insurance [http://www.boat-insurance-now.info]