Origin of Halloween

Friday, October 30, 2009


Why do people celebrate Halloween? Where did it come from, and is it really just fun for the kids? The following article is taken from the History Channel website.

Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.

During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.


The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.

By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas.

An Organic Garden of My Own

Thursday, October 29, 2009

This year, I'm trying something new. I've always wanted to have an herb garden, and I've decided that now is the time! This worries my husband, because my ideas usually involve some sort of work for him. I promised him that this time I will do all the work myself. I found a garden greenhouse that is easy to assemble and doesn't require any special tools, so I can handle it by myself.

If you're going to grow trees and shrubs, you'll need a large greenhouse, but I just want to grow a few herbs and flowers, so I only need a small garden greenhouse. I love to eat healthy, so I am excited to grow organic herbs that I can use for cooking. The greenhouse that I want to use is called a Redwood Cold Frame Greenhouse. It's a two foot wide, four foot long, 16 inch deep nursery that will be perfect for what I need. I thought about getting a large greenhouse, but since this is my first attempt at growing my own herbs, I better not get in over my head!

I've never had a 'green thumb'. In fact, my mother-in-law has given me many plants that were thick and beautiful when she gave them to me, but when she came to visit, all that was left was a thin, dying plant that didn't look anything like the plant she gave me! I'm hoping that the problem was the lighting or the temperature in my house, and not me! By using one of the garden greenhouses, I'll be able to find out if the problem was me all along!

If all goes well, I would like to advance to the Patio Lean-To Greenhouse. It's designed to attach to any vertical wall, and has has two front doors and a roof vent with auto opener. It's the perfect way to be able to enjoy my flowers while I'm on the patio. It's also easy to assemble, and even comes with an assembly instruction video, but it is larger, so this one may involve having to ask my husband for a little help.

Send Your Message with 1-800-Flowers

When you send flowers, how do you decide which flowers to send? Maybe you choose your favorite color, or the favorite flower of the person receiving the gift. Some people make their selection by simply choosing the flowers that they feel are the prettiest. Are you aware of the traditional meanings of some of the most well-known flowers? Some flowers have special meanings to people because they have memories attached to them, while others hope to convey a specific message with their meaning.

Whether you're sending a single flower or a mixed bouquet, you may want to be aware of the meaning of the flowers you're giving to ensure that you're sending the intended message! Here is a list of some of the most popular flowers and their traditional meanings. Many of these flowers can be found at 1-800-Flowers.com.

Baby's Breath- Festivity
Pink Carnation- Gratitude
Daffodil- Chivalry
Daisy- Innocence
Gardenia- Joy
Iris- Inspiration
Lilac- First Love
Calla Lilly- Regal
Magnolia- Dignity
Orchid- Delicate Beauty
Pink Rose- Friendship
Pink Tulip- Caring
Red Tulip- Declaration of Love
Violet- Faithfullness

Gold Yields Above Average Return

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Why should you consider investing in gold? Gold has outperformed virtually every other investment over the past 10 years. It provides an above average return, and the security of maintaining physical control of your investment. You can safely store your gold in a built-in safe in your own home.

If you're interesting in certified gold coins, you may be interested in either the $2.5 Liberty Quarter Eagle or the $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle. These coins are sought after by private investors for their beauty as well as their increasing value. The Liberty Quarter Eagle gold coin has kept the same design for the longest time in American History.

Gold bullion coins are available in a variety of beautiful designs from countries including; America, Australia, Canada, China, and South Africa. These coins are ideal to offset market fluctuations when added to your portfolio.

Whether your looking for bullion, certified coins, or simply interested in a free gold guide to do further investigation, it's definitely worth your time to learn how gold can play an important role in securing your future. Visit the Gold Coins Gain website anytime to view the current market price of gold.

Great Deals on TV Mounts at Sam's Club


If you've ever taken a vacation in a small camper with four people, than you know the value of personal space! After a week of being together all the time, you really appreciate what you have at home. We're not exactly roughing it though; we have heat, air, a stove, refridgerator, and a TV! I found a TV mount that I can use to mount the TV to the wall. It really helps save space, and in our camper...every inch counts!

I'm thinking of using one of the TV ceiling mounts at home in the kid's bedroom. I always worry about the TV getting knocked over when they have their friends over. The ceiling mount would be perfect because you can rotate it to make sure that everyone can see! Check out Sam's Club for great prices on TV wall mounts and ceiling mounts. They have reasonable prices, and a great selection. Make sure you choose a mount that is durable enough to hold the weight of your TV. Don't forget to look for a component mount if you have a DVD player or cable box.

Equileads Provides Guaranteed Leads


How do you find customers who are searching for what you are selling? Equileads provides guaranteed leads at an affordable rate. These are fresh leads that you hand pick from their selection. They offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee. They will immediately replace any leads that you are not satisfied with. They have been providing quality leads for over 8 years to clients in the mortgage and insurance industries.

Leads range in price from $5.00 to $25.00 depending on age and type. As a lead ages, it drops in price. You may find leads available for as little as $1.00. Their system allows you to track your purchases, make credit requests, and add funds to your account. All leads are sold up to 3 times. It's free to sign up and search through the list of available leads. You pay nothing until you find leads that match your needs.

Your time is valuable. Don't waste a minute on old, unreliable leads. You can trust Equileads to provide leads that will put you in touch with customers who are looking for the service that you provide. Visit their website to find the answers to frequently asked questions, and view sample leads.

All Toilets are not Created Equal

Monday, October 26, 2009

If you buy something you don't need just because it's labeled "environmentally friendly", are you really helping the environment? All products, including 'green' products, require energy to produce. Therefore, it's still necessary to buy in moderation. Even when you use environmentally friendly products, you can have too much of a good thing. Most people have good intentions when they purchase natural products, but what can we do on a daily basis to sustain our resources?

There's a way to reduce water consumption that you may not be aware of. Using a composting toilet can save 6,100 gallons of water every minute. When you hear this, you're either thinking, "Wow, that's a great idea", or "Eeewww, what's that!" Rest assured if you fall into the latter category. This is actually a safe, effective way to produce garden compost. These toilets are certified by the National Sanitation Foundation.

There are electric, non-electric, and alternating current composting toilets. You can purchase a system for moderate to heavy use, or a seasonal system for light to moderate use. The Seasonal system can contain a full season's worth of compost. You can also choose from waterless toilets as well as a 1-pint flush system. When using the 1-pint system, there is a one-inch drain hose that connects to the central composting system. These are ideal for vacation homes, camping, and can also be used in your home.

If you're serious about preserving our natural resources, please take the time to research composting toilets. It's a subject that some people may not want to think about, but when you look at the facts and realize how much water is used by the simple act of flushing a toilet, I hope you will consider using this composting system. For those of you who are concerned about the appearance of the toilet, never fear; they're attractive and will look elegant in any bathroom!

Does Blogging While Listening to MP3 Player Count as Multi-Tasking?

Friday, October 23, 2009

I never knew what I was missing until I bought an mp3 player! I admit it's taken me a long time to catch up with technology, but I never realized how many things you can do with these players. Now that I have found out how much fun they are, they'll probably come out with something new, and this will be obsolete. I think I'm one of the last remaining people to listen to cassette tapes! I've been putting all of my favorite songs on it, and now I'm trying to figure out how to load videos. I also want to put pictures of my girls on it, so I can show them off to everyone.

Whenever we're in the car, my daughters want to listen to their music and I want to listen to mine, so now they each have their own mp3 player, and I can listen to the radio while they put on their headphones and listen to the music they like. The best part is that we don't have to worry about bringing cd's, or buying an entire cd when we only like one or two songs. Now, everyone is happy!

What's the difference between an mp3 player and an ipod? Until recently I didn't know, so I thought I would post an explanation from webopedia.com:

The answer to that question is that both are MP3 players, but the iPod is a specific brand of MP3 player, made by Apple that has a specific set of features and design. Since the release of the Apple iPod in 2001, under the iPod brand Apple has released many variations of its product such as the iPod classic, iPod Touch, iPod Shuffle, iPod Mini, iPod Nano and several spin-off devices such as the iPod Photo. Unlike most mass market MP3 players, the iPods use the Apple iTunes software to transfer music to the music devices. Using iTunes you can store a music library on your computer, burn music from CD, transfer photos, videos, game and small applications (when supported by the player) and many other features.

There Must Be Some Mistake...I Didn't Order the Cold Weather

Thursday, October 22, 2009



I think we skipped autumn and went straight to winter. It's October, and we're already turning up the heat and bundling up to go outside. After a long day, I want to come home to a cozy fire and relax with a hot cup of red tea and snuggle with my girls. Our new puppy also likes to snuggle, and last night I ended up with my hot tea all over my lap when she jumped in my chair. I tried to hurry up and clean the mess, so I wouldn't have to hear my husband say, "I told you to keep that dog off the furniture."

I always look forward to the first fire of the year in our fireplace. When it's cold outside, there's nothing more relaxing than sitting in front of a fire, and the crackling sound is so peaceful. The wood needs to be dry and ready to light, so I want to get a Woodhaven Firewood Rack to stack our wood. The large rack holds one full cord of wood, and that keeps it looking nice in our yard. I would also like to use a smaller Woodhaven Firewood Rack in our garage, so we can have wood on hand to keep the fire going all night. We all enjoy the fire, but no one wants to go out late at night when it's cold outside to get more wood.

We usually stock up on wood at the beginning of the season, so I need to have a place to stack the wood, since it might be there a while. If I use the Woodhaven Firewood Rack, I don't need to worry about the wood pile falling over, because it will be secure in a steel rack. These heavy-duty racks are made to last, and have a textured powder-coated finish that hides the scratches. This is exactly what I need, because my children help stack the wood, and they're usually not very gentle.

There's nothing I can do to stop winter from coming, but I'll stay warm and dry in my house. The sun just went down, so it's time to start a fire, make my tea, keep the dog off the couch, and maybe have a piece of toast while my youngest daughter reads a story to me. Now, if I can talk my husband into starting the fire for me, it will be a perfect evening!

Increase Your Business with Direct TV

Wednesday, October 21, 2009


A happy customer is a repeat customer. So, how do you increase customer satisfaction? Try Direct TV Business. If your business requires guests or clients to wait such as an office or restaurant, many people prefer to patronize businesses that offer television viewing. With Directv Business, customers perceive their waiting time to be minimized if they have something to keep them occupied. This is especially true for those with young children. A wide selection of channels is valuable to businesses such a fitness clubs or coffee shops where your clients may have a wide range of interests, and offering their favorite television program may keep them coming back!

Direct TV for Business offers sports packages, and this attracts customers to businesses such as restaurants and bars where sports fans can meet and enjoy the game. They offer exclusive programming that can't be seen on cable. Call today to learn how Commercial Direct TV can benefit your business. People choose the businesses that they are interested in dealing with for a variety of reasons, and offering every possible comfort and convenience will keep your business a step ahead of the competition.

The Craft Fair: To Sell or not to Sell

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Local crafters are once again preparing for our town's annual craft fair. It's a large fair; about 150 booths of various crafts. Everything is welcome as long as it's homemade. Each year, I think about setting up a booth, but until now, I have remained an observer. I enjoy walking around, and admiring the beautiful work of others.


I love to do machine embroidery, quilting, and sewing. I usually make things that I think other people would like, and I give them away as gifts. I enjoy making things for fun, because there is no pressure for deadlines, or wondering if it will meet a customer's expectations. I can't handle the pressure!!


This year, I'm considering making and selling a few things, since I'm starting to accumulate a lot of fabric that I need to use up before I buy more! I have sold some things on eBay, but I worry about setting up a booth, and having people walk by uninterested. I realize that they may be looking for something different, but what if they do want what the types of things I am selling, and they just aren't interested in mine! I guess you never know until you try! I should get started if I'm going to have enough to fill up a display!

Spread the Word: WA AFL Funding

Earn $1000's of dollars for WA Football by simply referring travelers to cheaperthanhotels.com. They are offering AFL club funding through grants offered to Western Australia. Many people in the football organization travel to other cities to attend games. Now, there's a way that everyone can help fund WA Football by doing something that they were already planning to do; stay at a hotel.

The Western Australian Football Commission is responsible for the overall development of the game. Football is the most popular sport in Western Australia, with over 110,000 active participants each week. This more than doubles any other sport. Dedication to teamwork, leadership, respect, commitment, and community participation, results in the creation of better communities and provides a significant social benefit.

To learn more about funding by Cheaperthanhotels, please visit their fundraising site. You will find complete details on promotional codes or links that you use to ensure that your reservation will be credited towards the fundraising program. You can also learn about how to raise funds for your own organization.

Steve Stevanovich: Understanding Mathematics and the Financial Markets

Monday, October 19, 2009

Stevanovich Center Professional participation is essential for the Masters Program in Financial Mathematics, and Steve Stevanovich supports this effort. The Stevanovich Center will serve as a place where University of Chicago researchers can meet to discuss the advancement of the mathematical basis of the financial markets. Visitors from the marketplace as well as academia are also welcome to discuss and debate ideas. Steve Stevanovich understands the necessity to utilize a combination of ideas from researchers as well as clinical experience in order to ensure the advancement of the understanding of the financial markets.

Steve Stevanovich supports the idea of advancing the understanding of the financial markets by combining the wisdom of professionals who have acquired knowledge through daily experience along with the discoveries of academic researchers. Join Steven Stevanovich in this journey of furthering the understanding of the relationship between mathematics and the financial markets by attending one of upcoming seminars or conferences in Chicago. For details on any of the upcoming events, please contact the Stevanovich Center for Financial Mathematics.

It's a Bird, it's a Plane, Oh Wait...I Think it's my Patio Furniture!

How many people can say they've had their neighbor come over and tell them that they noticed that some of your patio furniture is on your roof? Well, we live in an underground house, and this happened to me last spring. It gets pretty windy out here in the Great Plains, and my outdoor patio furniture wasn't sturdy enough to handle the wind! I found out the hard way how important it is to buy quality patio furniture.

I thought I was getting a good deal on the furniture I bought, but I learned that it's not a good deal if it's not going to last. I'm once again on the search for new outdoor patio furniture, so I wanted to share some pictures of beautiful furniture that I found. I need a solid table where my girls can eat on a nice day, and a bench where I can relax in the shade and watch the kids play with their friends or our dogs.

I think I found the perfect table. It's a Bistro table, and it's tall enough to keep the dogs away while they're begging for food. It's sturdy enough to handle the weather, yet it's still light enough to move when I want to store it in the garage for the winter. I also found the perfect chairs to match. They're called Laurel Bistro arm chairs, and they're beautiful.

Now that I found the outdoor patio furniture that I want, our neighbors won't have to worry about flying furniture. I know this furniture will last for a long time, because it's made of wrought iron. It's designed to handle the weather, and I now realize how important this is! I learned a valuable lesson; it's only a good deal if it's a good product. On the bright side, no one was injured by my old furniture!

Trivita Odorless Garlic

Friday, October 16, 2009

Odorless Garlic

•Supports healthy cholesterols, triglycerides, and phospholipid levels in the bloodstream
•Targeted nutrition discourages plaque buildup on artery walls
•Supports healthy, balanced blood pressure

Support healthy cholesterol levels and improve heart health – without the garlic smell

Many of us enjoy the invigorating taste of garlic in our foods. However, few of us enjoy the lingering smell and after taste. TriVita's Odorless Garlic is an excellent solution! It gives you all the sickness-fighting properties that garlic has long been known for. One of its primary ingredients – allicin –helps support your immune system, circulation, healthy cholesterol levels and heart health.

TriVita's Odorless Garlic helps:

•Provide targeted nutrition to nourish immune system defenses
•Support a healthy cardiovascular system.

Supporting Information

•Medical studies have shown that garlic can help lower cholesterol, helps protect against dangerous blood clots, and helps reduce blood pressure.
•One of the first large studies to suggest a link between garlic consumption and cancer prevention was the Iowa Women's Health Study, published in 1994, which included more than 40,000 women. Researchers found that of all the fruits and vegetables studied, garlic had the strongest association with a decreased risk of colon cancer.

For more information or to order to Odorless Garlic, visit: TriVita.com.

Taking "Green" to the Next Level

Thursday, October 15, 2009


"Green" is the the word of the day, but what else can we do to help the environment other than separating our glass, plastic, and paper into recycling bins? Using a garden composter helps to return needed nutrients and organic matter back to your garden. Kitchen scraps such as fruit and vegetable peels, and coffee and tea grounds can be converted to compost. Recycled newsprint and yard clippings can also be turned into compost for garden soil.

By using a garden composter instead of purchasing soil that may contain harmful chemicals, you're taking the next step in preserving our resources, as well as producing a healthier garden. Using compost in your garden soil not only ensures that you are receiving necessary nutrients in your garden, you are also reducing the recycled material that will eventually become too much for the landfills to break down. It does take a little time and effort to turn waste into compost, but you'll soon be enjoying the fruits of your labor!

I found this poem online, and wanted to share it with other garden enthusiasts.

An Ode To Garden Composters
by Robert

The day is warm, still young and bright.
I'm out of work while still daylight!
I rush back home to check my bin
and see what sort of shape it's in.

I grab my fork and lift the lid
To see what time and hard work did.
I've thrown in leaves, and grass and twigs
Veggie peels and rotten figs.

There's no bad smell, so that is good.
But I still see leaves and bits of wood.
It's not done, oh no, not yet.
It will be soon, on that I'd bet.

So I start digging through the pile.
I know that this will take a while.
There's lot's of stuff, at least a ton.
It's a good thing I think this is fun.

Otherwise this would just be work
To be avoided or to shirk.
But it's good exercise for me,
And the compost that I get is free!

I plunge my fork into the leaves;
I shift my grip and then I heave!
What comes out just can't be beat:
Four tines full of hoary heat!

Actinomycetes makes the scene:
Bacteria that's white, not green.
It's filamentous fibers grow
through every leaf and blade I've mowed.

This thermophilic power play
By this bacteria night and day
Drives up the inner temperature
To kill bad things just like Pasteur.

Lifting here and tossing there
The compost sailing through the air
From full bin 1 to empty 2
Mixes oxygen all through.

This helps wee beasties to respire
and build more heat in my dark fire.
They work alchemically even faster
to make soil like an earth spellcaster.

After 30 minutes muscles hurt
from turning waste into new dirt.
So I decide to pack it in
and cover up my compost bin.

One more week and compost's done
Then I can shoot the starting gun
And get my veggies all to race
To be the first into my face.

I love Camping; as Long as I Can Bring My House With Me!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

My idea of camping has always been to hook up the fifth wheel camper and pack everything we need from home. When we arrive at our destination, we hook up to the electricity, water, and septic. As long as I have heat or air conditioning, running water, stove, refrigerator, and a comfy bed, I'm ready to go camping! This year, we're going to be camping in our tent, so I'm trying to prepare myself.

Every Spring and Fall, we go camping with some of our friends at a beautiful campground in Missouri. It's a central location for everyone to meet, and it's so peaceful. There are hiking and biking trails, and it has a beautiful view of the river where you can stand at the edge of the cliff and look straight down at the water. It's exciting and scary at the same time. For me, the best part of this location is that it's only about 10 minutes away from the nearest town, so I can still go get whatever I may need!

It's going to be colder than usual this year, so I've been looking into getting an outdoor heater, and I found some beautiful Chimineas. Due to their design, they put off a tremendous amount of heat. There are some that are portable for camping or tailgating, while others are cast iron and would be better for use at home. Another concern I had about tent camping was that I wouldn't have my stove, but you can also cook on a chiminea, so I don't need to worry about not having a hot meal.

I used to be in the Army, so you would think I'd be used to tent camping. I lived in one for a few months during the Gulf War, but I guess I'm just getting old, and I need my comforts. Now that I've learned about chimineas, my next step is to find out about tent heaters. While we're outside, it will be nice to grill outdoors and sit around the fire, but I don't want to freeze at night, so I'm off to find a safe way to heat our tent, and maybe I'll look into finding a way to hook up an electric blanket!

Benefits of Bamboo Fabric

Monday, October 12, 2009

I love the cozy feeling of bundling up in a warm sweater on a cool day, and I found a fabric that you may not have heard about that might help you stay warm. Recently I've been reading about the benefits of bamboo fabric. Many people who experience allergic reactions to other natural fibers, such as wool, do not have a reaction to bamboo.

Bamboo is being promoted as an environmentally friendly, or 'green' fabric. Companies producing organic bamboo fabric leave the bamboo fiber unbleached. Bamboo is a sturdy plant which requires no pesticides to grow, but does require chemicals to produce the fibers which are spun and dyed for weaving into cloth.

The superior wicking properties of bamboo make it an excellent choice for staying cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Bamboo is a naturally antibacterial, antifungal and odor resistant fiber, through multiple washings.

While there continues to be much debate over the environmental benefits of bamboo, the noticable difference it makes while wearing it, compared to cotton and linen, definitely makes this fabric worth looking into as a 'greener' option.

Trivita Super Antioxidant Complex

Friday, October 9, 2009

Super Antioxidant Complex

Targeted nutrition to help:

•Helps fight disease
•Reduce irritability
•Fight free radical damage
•Helps promote anti-aging

Super Antioxidant Complex helps fight off illness and protects against free radicals.

We can’t stop aging. However, we can certainly help slow the aging process by taking antioxidants, eating healthy, and exercising. TriVita's Super Antioxidant Complex is scientifically formulated to fight off damaging free radicals and contains the exact proportion of natural antioxidants necessary to optimize wellness.

Super Antioxidant Complex also provides:

•Green tea’s polyphenols are potent antioxidants and are protective to skin
•Grape seed and skin have natural anti-bacterial properties to keep you well
•Blueberry, raspberry, and pomegranate have high levels of antioxidants to ward off free radical damage
•Bilberry helps strengthen blood vessels, especially in the eyes, and may reduce frequent bruising
•There are many more nutrients to help you sustain health!

For more information or to order Super Antioxidant Complex, visit: TriVita.com.

Andrew Wilshire: Understanding the Increasing Value of Precious Metals

Andrew Wilshire is a financial advisor and collector of rare coins with a vast knowledge of precious metals. He offers his advice on purchasing and storing precious metals, as well as advice on maintaining fine jewelry. In order to maintain access to your coins, and keep them safe, Andrew Wilshire recommends storing valuable coins and metals in a home safe that is too large to be carried out by burglars. He also recommends that your safe be built into the wall or sitting on the floor. You could also use a safety deposit box at your local bank.

If you need information on the best place to buy coins, Andrew Wilshire offers his advice on this subject as well. He recommends purchasing coins from the United States Mint in order to ensure that the coins are authentic. He is an expert on the value of specific metals such as gold, silver, and gemstones, and strongly recommends purchasing them due to their increasing value, while the dollar continues to lose value. At the time of this writing, he states that the dollar is worth three cents.

Gina Penzarella: Bridal Gowns and Special Occasion Dresses

Almost every little girl has tried on a gown, looked in the mirror, and imagined what it would be like to be a princess. There's something magical about wearing a beautiful outfit, and Gina Penzarella makes that possible with her gorgeous bridal gowns and special occasion outfits.

Gina Penzarella is the owner of the Footlights Boutique located in Easton, Pa. She earned a degree in Marketing, and has extensive experience in the fashion industry. Her Boutique was created to meet the needs of anyone looking for the perfect dress for their wedding, as well as unique outfits for special occasions, and girls looking for a one-of-kind prom dress. She only sells one type of dress to each school, so you never have to worry about someone else showing up in the same dress.

She also has a passion for supporting wildlife. She uses her talents to benefit the Defenders of Wildlife organization. She organizes fashion shows to benefit the local SPCA. Whether she's going the extra mile to please a customer, or devoting her time to a worthy cause, Gina Penzarella is a woman on a mission.

A Sign By Any Other Name...Means You're at the Wrong House!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

We live in the middle of nowhere, which is perfect for me, but that makes it hard for people to find our house for the first time. What makes it even more difficult is the fact that our house is underground, so if you don't notice the chimney and the air conditioner on our roof, you may drive right past our house. This can be a good thing when you want privacy, but I need to put up a sign so that people can find our house when they need to.

This would have been a good thing to have when I had to call an ambulance to help my neighbor who had fallen while trying to get her horse back in the fence. I gave them the address, but because there is no address visible from the street, I had to do my best to describe our location. For some reason, solicitors have never had any problem finding my house, and it always makes me nervous, because I wonder what they're doing out here when there aren't many houses in the area. They must be getting desperate and heading out to the country!

I found a great selection of Whitehall Address Plaques. They make beautiful lawn markers that I could put at the end of my driveway so that people can easily recognize our address. They also make wall plaques, and eventually I would like to put up a stone entrance to our driveway, and I like the look of the Whitehall Address Plaque on the wall.

Another thing that I would like to do with the Whitehall Address Plaques is to put up memorial markers for my dogs. My dogs are like my babies, and I love the idea of having beautiful plaques with their names. Years ago, one of our dogs had puppies, and we kept one of them. He was my little baby, (well, not exactly little...he was a Doberman). We had them for years, and I think it would be special to put up a marker with all of their names.

Instantly Compare Life Insurance Rates

I need to cut back on my monthly expenses, and I found a website that could me help save money on term life insurance. Financial One allows you to compare the rates of over 140 life insurance companies. They also compare the rates of universal life insurance, and return of premium life insurance. They provide real time quotes and an accurate rate.

When you're shopping for insurance online, make sure it's a real company, not a website that is designed to collect leads. Financial One also offers you the ability to call and speak to a customer service associate, and get an instant quote over the phone. They've helped people save up to 70%, and that adds up when you can save money without compromising quality. Why settle for the first insurance company that comes along and claims to offer the best deal. Let Financial One do the comparison shopping for you.

The Grill of My Dreams

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

My husband's company builds some of the most beautiful decks with outdoor kitchens I have ever seen. They built multi-layer decks with stairways that lead to a hot tub or even an outdoor swimming pool. These are the kind of luxuries that I can only dream about, so I try to live vicariously through our customers! If I could have an outdoor kitchen with the best of everything, the first thing I would get would be a Fire Magic Grill.

I've always said that if I were rich, the first thing I would do would be to hire a chef. With the Fire Magic Grill, I could sit outside and enjoy a beautiful day while my chef prepares a healthy, organic meal on the grill. I love the taste of grilled vegetables, and zucchini and corn are my personal favorites! I love to eat healthy, but I'm not the best cook, so it would be nice if I could just think of something that sounded good and have someone make it for me whenever I wanted!

Fire Magic Grills are perfect for entertaining outdoors, because they come with every imaginable accessory, so you'll have everything you need for the any occasion. You'll never need to worry about having to go inside for anything! There's just something special about grilling outdoors, and whenever we're driving around and we smell the aroma of something cooking on the grill, it makes me want to go home and have a cookout!

There are so many designs to choose from, that the only problem is deciding which grill you want. These are luxury grills that are built to last and come in a variety of styles such as; freestanding, pedestal, patio post, and in-ground. The style of grill that you choose will depend on your particular desires. Do you frequently have guests over for parties, or are you looking for something to help you enjoy the outdoors with your family during the summer? The possibilities are endless, and your grilling experience will be as exciting as you can imagine!

Righteous Life = Grey Hair???


"Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life." (Proverbs 16:31)

I'm hoping this is a mistranslation. Maybe it means that living to an old age is the reward of a righteous life, not the grey hair! Grey hair looks distinguished on men, but I don't know many women that enjoy getting grey hair! I've heard many theories on the cause of grey hair. Some say that it's a nutritional deficiency, and now the latest research states that it's a build up of hydrogen peroxide due to wear and tear of our hair follicles.

Whatever the cause, I refuse to grow old gracefully, and I'm thankful for hair dyes that help me feel younger just a little longer! Someday, as my mom says, I may be proud of every grey that I've earned, but that hasn't happened yet!! Grey hair may be a sign of wisdom, but why can't I have wisdom and a youthful appearance!

IP PBX Phone Systems from Market Communications

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This is a software-based phone system, and is fully scalable and customizable with any voice applications. Because it is software-based, it is simple and cost effective to keep up with the latest upgrades. Contact one of the experts at Market Communications to learn more about using IP PBX Phone Systems to help your business succeed in this faced paced world of ever changing technology.

Trivita Peaches & Cream Fiber

Friday, October 2, 2009

Peaches & Cream Fiber

TriVita's Peaches & Cream Fiber is a delicious food grade fiber that dissolves quickly in water or juice without clumping. One scoop is equal to 12 grams of fiber.

A convenient, tasty way to eat more fiber

It has been clearly established that fiber supplements significantly improve LDL, HDL (healthy cholesterol) and triglyceride levels. Fiber has also been proven to decrease constipation as well as other diseases associated with high LDL cholesterol levels.

Many of us fall short of the daily recommendations for fiber. That’s another good reason to add this delicious food grade fiber to water or your favorite juice.

For more information or to order Trivita Peaches & Cream Fiber, visit:TriVita.com.

Another Airplane For My Husband's Collection

When did I get so old? My oldest daughter can't imagine not having a cell phone to text her friends, and she thinks I'm making it up when I tell her that we didn't have computers when I was a kid. Technology moves so fast, that I wonder what it will be like by the time my kids have kids ( I can't even think of the word 'grandma' yet ). It really is the circle of life, because it feels like yesterday when I was listening to my parents tell me about all of the things I had that they never did.

I started thinking about all this when I saw a beautiful weathervane that I want to get for my husband. He loves airplanes, and he has so many remote control planes that our office looks like an airplane hanger. I found a biplane weathervane that he would love, and it would look great in our yard. You can choose from roof mounted or garden mounted, but I think I'll go with the roof mounted because we live in an underground home, so our roof is the first thing people see when they drive down our road, and this would look nice.

I was telling my girls about how people used to use weathervanes to check the direction of the wind so they would know which way a storm was coming from. These days, I use my remote control to turn on the television to check the weather. How times have changed! It's still a great way to monitor the wind, because when my husband is getting ready to fly his planes, he has to check the wind direction carefully or it could cost him a plane if he crashes. He's not allowed to buy another one, or I get to buy what I want at the fabric store!

These weathervanes are also a great conversation piece, because they're so unusual that people notice them right away. It's so relaxing to me to spend time outdoors on a nice day in the country. I love the peace and quiet, and the only noises I hear in my yard are the cows across the road and the horse on the land next to us. Having decorations such as a weathervane in my yard helps add to the enjoyment of being in my yard and watching the kids play with the dogs. Now there's a new dog to watch since we got a new puppy, but that's another story!

 
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