New Jersey Mortgage What to Expect When Buying a Home in New Jersey

Maybe you?re buying your first home in New Jersey, or perhaps you?re relocating to New Jersey from another state. Either way, it?s important that you educate yourself on New Jersey home loans before shopping for a home and mortgage. This article explains what you?ll need to know before buying a home in New Jersey:

The median price of a home in New Jersey is $170,800. Homes in New Jersey appreciate at rates above the national average. In fact, New Jersey home appreciation rates place them 9th ranked in the nation. Additionally, average interest rates in New Jersey are below the national average. However, the rate of job growth is below the national average.

The price of homes in New Jersey varies widely between zip codes. For example, in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, the median price of a home in the summer of 2005 was $850,000; however, in Wyckoff, New Jersey, the median price of a home was $550,000, and in Parsippany, New Jersey, it was $350,000.

New Jersey state law prohibits home equity lines of credit on primary residences. However, they are allowed on second homes. Additionally, New Jersey law restricts the amount of fees on second mortgages.

Currently, New Jersey is in the process of enacting a new home ?lemon law.? Lawmakers saw this law as necessary after the State Commission of Investigations found that there was significant corruption, ?waste, fraud, and abuse? prevalent in new home construction.

Jessica Elliott recommends that you visit Mortgage Lenders Plus.com for more information about New Jersey Mortgage Rates and Loans.

Understanding Seller Pricing In Real Estate

Many homebuyers make the mistake of assuming the price listed with a home is somehow related to the actual value. In fact, the price often is not.

What is the fair price of a home? Many would argue the fair price is the one agreed upon between a buyer and seller when negotiations conclude in the offer and counteroffer process. While this is certainly one approach to the situation, many buyers make the mistake of assuming the listing price on a home has some inherent relationship to the appraised price. This is sometime incorrect because of issues involving the seller.

Obviously, the first issue to consider with pricing is the natural tendency of the seller to try to get as much as possible for the property. In practical terms, this means the property will almost always be priced above what the market will support. It may be just above or well above, but it will definitely be above. The only exception to this situation is if the seller is motivated to sell fast for some reason such as divorce. In said situations, the seller may price the property at or below what the market will support.

A less obvious motivation for overpricing a property boils down to simple financial numbers. If you own a home, you are bombarded with offers for home equity credit lines. The credit line is essentially a way of liquefying the equity in a property. Many people use these lines to pay a wide variety of bills. When it comes time to sell the property, however, they suddenly realize their profit from it is going to be very small. In such a situation, the natural reaction of the seller is to ask for price at the high end of the local market. In such a situation, the seller is unlikely to be amenable to negotiating down the price because they simply cannot.

When looking at homes it is important to understand the motivation of the seller when setting the asking price. Doing so allows you to determine if the price is negotiable or the seller is stuck.

Raynor James is with the site - FSBO America - FSBO homes for sale by owner.

Too Broke to Budget Family Fun

Break the Blah's with These No Cost or Low Cost Ideas

Man oh man, it sure is easy to wish and hope and then be upset with what you do have. Even if you feel the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, as soon as you climb that fence... there's another fence that you just KNOW is hiding the most emerald-like grass you could find. Point made, we are very difficult to satisfy.

However, it doesn't have to be that way for us hard working, unrewarded families! We can live the 'high life' without spending any money... or at the most pocket change!

This is how a normal day would go in an unhappy family. The parents come home from work, eat dinner, watch tv, and go to bed. The children's day is fairly similar, chores after homework... tv... bla bla bla. It's usually 'All we can do... we can't afford to go out...'

Why don't you try some of these ideas, and see if everyone's moods don't lift?!

1.) It's ok to have a 'Pizza Friday'. A better idea is 'Foreign Food Wednseday' . Wednseday is usually right in the middle of the week. (It may change sometimes...) Being it is the longest day to get through because it the week is either 'almost over' or 'you still have half to go...' Throwing in a change can give Wednseday Dinner a Friday Feeling. Don't stick with the same food, or even the same culture. Try new foods you've never had before. Look up a few trivia facts about the culture you are tasting, and share your lessons. Maybe decorate with a theme. Make it creative, get everyone involved, and make it fun!

2.)It's okay to curl up and watch The Simpsons together. It's not okay to watch tv from the time dinner is done until you go to bed. Not everyday. After dinner, or even after a tv show... go for a walk! The season is finally changing, and you don't have to wait for the snow to melt completely before going outside! There are endless ways to make walks fun with children, but the best thing is that a walk is fun enough as it is.
(Walking also helps depression go away, because it is exercise that boosts serotonine.)

3.)If you are all in a 'movie mood', you don't have to go pay $20/person to watch they newest movie. You don't even have to drive to the rental store and pay $5 to borrow a new release on DVD. You probably own a large amount of DVD's you bought because you like and haven't watched in a while. Watch one of those together... Cut up some cheese and crackers w/ pepperoni, make bagel bites or popcorn or cake or cut up fruit... make sure everyone is equipped with snack options and beverage. Make a big deal out of watching the movie.

4.)Play games with your family! Every night doesn't have to be 'Family Fun Night', and every game doesn't have to take place on 'Family Fun Night'. Play a card game, a boardgame, or a 'home made game' (Tossing pennies into different sized objects- coffe can, soda bottle, mayo jar, etc.- at different point values for high score) I would recommend to any family to spend $40 on Cranium's Family Fun game! It may be something you have to save for, because honestly $40 can be a luxury at times. I promise it is worth the expense, because the entire family will have lots of fun playing this game... that includes that parents! This is not a game that is more fun for kids. But you don't need to spend money to play a game before bedtime!

5.) Aw yes, family fun night. That is a wonderful thing that varies in different families. If you don't already have it in your family, you need to. It can be weekly, or monthly, or whenever one is called. Regardless of how often it occurs, or wether it is planned or not... it is a luxury that is free and brings happiness to all. Why can't every night be treated mildly like 'family night' without calling it such? Instead of one person on the computer, one person in their room playing, one person lounging in front of Sportscenter all night... bring the family together more often!

6.) Outings! Take a drive together to visit family or to view scenery. Go to the closest hiking trail you know of and take the family for a walk in the woods. Pack a picnic! Even if you can't afford to go out to the zoo and eat at McDonald's for lunch, it can often be totally free to walk through the woods and point out chipmunks, birds, and other random animals you may see. You can also comment on the flowers and plants growing around you. It can be totally free to pack up some fruit and sandwiches into a backpack (Never throw your trash on the ground!). IF you do have a little money to spend on a disposable, or you already own a digital... take pictures! It is always important to take lots of pictures of your family having fun together. Those memories are the most important things we have. Without physically preserving those outings... going for a walk with a picnic packed in comfortable bag is absolutely free!

7.) Always get the whole family involved with ideas of fun things you can do together. Keep a coffee can or jar somewhere accessible at all times for a note to be dropped in. The 'comment box' sounds corny and cliche, but that doesn't affect it's effectiveness.

When you look at your life to see what you have, look only at your life. So what if your neighbors can take vacations to Europe with their family and you can't. So what if you can't afford a fourwheeler for everyone to ride and your coworker owns 4. The less you have, the more you appreciate the things you have. They mean more. Your family will be the most important thing you will ever have.

By Anne Ominous, www.associatedcontent.com

Letter from a Property Investor

As I survey the property world scene, it seems that those areas with dynamic growth have equal potential risk attached to them. I?ve decided to avoid much of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet satellites. Bulgaria does not have such a good climate and there is only a limited number of resorts that have skiing to provide two seasons of tourism. Accessibility and infrastructure have a long way to go before they can support the tourist expansion that now seems inevitable with all the development going on. I have my doubts that renters and holiday-makers in sufficient numbers will be choosing Bulgaria to fill all the property construction currently underway.

Although there?s no denying the boom going on I prefer to avoid anywhere with even a hint of political risk. With current upheavals in the Middle East I?ve decided to avoid Dubai and the Emirates even though they?re remote from anything going on at the moment ? who knows what the future may hold.

Spain is overshadowed by the new land grab regulations. Only recently there were many more arrests of those involved in the planning scandals, the impact of which is still to be felt by many overseas property owners who have made Spain their home.

Having recently returned from Barbados and St. Lucia I must say I like this area of the world for my next investment. It?s both politically and economically stable and appeals to both the European and US markets. Properties are sold in US$ and Americans are increasingly making the Caribbean their destination of choice as it?s close to home and has a year round good climate. The recent appreciation of Sterling to the dollar is a nice bonus.

St. Lucia has been voted one of the world?s most beautiful islands by Conde Nast magazine. The description did not disappoint when I saw it for myself. With its vast rain-forest, white sandy beaches and the World Heritage Pitons, it justifies its description as one of the loveliest of the Caribbean islands. Property prices are well below neighbouring Barbados and there are several very interesting opportunities just launched and available off-plan. I chose a 2-bed apartment at The Landings in Rodney Bay. It?s a great new marina, which has just started construction. It?s similar in concept and has the same builder as Port St. Charles in Barbados, a sell-out 220 unit marina development but, The Landings is some 40% cheaper.

I?ve bought my apartment with the furniture package and it will be included in the rental pool. This guarantees me an income of a minimum of 6% p.a., for the first 2 years. Afterwards, my apartment participates in a pool of income generated by all the rental properties to ensure each owner a fair share. Owners can use their property for up to 12 weeks a year during which time they do not participate in the rental pool. This is a great way of owning a holiday property as it provides flexibility as to how often I use it, it generate a good income when I am not using it and I have none of the usual running costs to pay as, all of these are paid out of the rental pool. Added to that, its hassle-free as The Landings is run like a hotel with concierge and all the other 5* services one would expect. All of which is available to me when I am in residence.

The development team have a good deal of experience in both construction and resort management in St. Lucia. This may not boast some of the spectacular returns I?ve seen touted elsewhere but I feel I?m in safe hands and if the gains are more modest they look more secure. That will do me fine.

Look for future editions of my property investor newsletter, which I hope, will enable readers to benefit from my experience.

Julius Nehorai

International Web Realty

www.internationalwebrealty.com

Make a Few Changes in Your Real Estate Business Model & Create a Quantum Leap in Your Closing Ratio

Real Estate Professionals-Embrace Change as an Opportunity

Did you realize that new technology is making it possible for you to do business at a level of sophistication, impossible to reach in just a few years ago?

To get an idea of how much more value you could be providing for your clients, please ask yourself the following questions:

• What would happen to my business if I could find a way to have more control over the loan process and see it through to completion each and every time and never miss a loan commitment deadline or closing?
• What if, by the virtue of creating a strategic alliance with a team, I could close more sales and increase my income?
• What if, I could have control over how mortgages are priced for my clients?
• What if, I could also get quality referrals from some of those clients that I am not closing now and get more referrals from my present clientele, because they were even more satisfied with my service?
• Working with your team would be like having my own Mortgage Company just as some Real Estate Companies and Managing Brokers already have, but without the hassles and added expense they experience?

Here is what one of our Strategic Alliance?s client had to say: I have chosen to take on the mortgage business as a serious part of my real estate business for a few reasons. I have worked with Steve Toth in the past and trust his ability and judgment. I can see the financial potential of offering mortgages to my clients who already trust in me and depend on my services. Having control over such an important part of a real estate transaction gives me a lot more confidence -Jared Faris-Realtor Keller Williams Realty

• What if, you could work with industry leading mortgage professionals using a consultative and solution oriented process to ensure that you and your clients are comfortable with the entire process from initial pre-qualification to the closing and servicing of their loan?
• What if, your team was a direct lender, offering enhanced control over the various stages of the mortgage process and maintained on-site control of Processing, Underwriting, Document Preparation and Funding?
• What if, your team understood that not every borrower fits into the traditional banker?s box and they had a keen focus on alternative loan products and help you convert more of your existing prospects into clients and closed transactions?

Do you know what the biggest obstacle is for people when it comes to change? Attitude, I find that people who have an attitudes of acceptance and excitement when it comes to change deal with it best, and become the most effective at making life and business work for them. Does your current business model reflect your excitement and acceptance of change in our industry? Or does your business model say to you, I still live in the past? To find out more about this exceptional business opportunity, the GUARANTEES we offer-?WE?LL GUARANTEE YOUR COMMISSION? and the possibility of creating a strategic alliance with our team, visit our Web-site here.

Mr. Toth has over eight years of residential, commercial and investment banking experience.

He started the Real Estate and Mortgage Focus Radio Show in early 2004 on 630KHOW Denver's Talk Station to educate the public about real estate, finance and coaching. He became known as a real estate and finance area expert and someone who networks at a high level within the industry.

In 2006 Steve M Toth, ?The Mortgage Guy?-Radio Show Host on Live365 expanded the ?Real Estate and Mortgage Focus?? Radio Show Program into a national show on Live365- the World?s Largest National Internet Radio Network.

In 2003 he started a coaching practice called Real-Coaching? to provide coaching programs and consulting services that dramatically enhance individual and team performance in the areas of Sales, Motivation, Leadership, Teamwork, Communication and Life Balance Management Skills for Realtors, Investors and Mortgage Professionals.

Costa Rica Real Estate Investment ? Unique Financing Technique

Costa Rica real estate investment has become a hot topic in the last couple of years, as investors look to diversify their holdings and place money in appreciating markets outside of the U.S. Costa Rica has blossomed as an investment haven due to its minimal taxes, fee simple ownership, stable democratic government, and consistent high appreciation rates.

One of the challenges facing investors in Costa Rica real estate is financing. In general, U.S. banks will not loan money secured by foreign real estate as a matter of banking policy. Banks in Costa Rica have made an attempt in recent years to offer loans to foreign residents, but have failed miserably because their terms and fees make no sense to U.S. borrowers.

Most investors who want to borrow money and thereby take advantage of leverage with their investment, are left with pulling equity out of property they own back home. It?s not a bad alternative because this source of funds is still relatively cheap and can typically be quickly arranged.

However, a unique and little known financing technique that is available to U.S. investors wanting to purchase Costa Rica real estate, is tapping into the funds accumulating in an IRA account. Industry studies show that 80%-90% of the U.S. investing public do not know that they can invest in real estate with their IRA accounts, in full compliance with IRS regulations. And even fewer realize that they can use these funds for foreign real estate, like in Costa Rica.

Once people realize that this source of funding is available, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities and alternatives. No longer are you limited to stocks, bonds and mutual funds! Instead, you can consider a beach front condo, an ocean view lot in a gated community or a boutique hotel? use your imagination!

The trick in using this technique is to move some or all of your IRA funds to an administrator company that allows self-directed real estate purchases. Certainly, the big Wall Street oriented companies like Fidelity and Schwab do not allow you to directly purchase real estate, local or foreign. You have to use an IRS approved company that specializes in truly self-directed accounts.

For more information on this exciting source of funding for Costa Rica real estate investment, visit our website =>http://www.ira4costarica.com

Kevin C. Myers is the author of the best-selling real estate investment book, Buy It, Fix It, Sell It: Profit! (Dearborn Publishing, Chicago). He is currently a developer and broker of Costa Rica properties on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, in the Tamarindo ? Flamingo area of Guanacaste. Visit his website at http://www.catalinacove.net for more information on investment opportunities in Costa Rica.

How to Help a Buyer Feel They Already Own Your House

Want to sell your home fast for top dollar? Let the Big Time Life Coaches Help You Sell Your House.

You have probably heard of Lifestyle coaches like Anthony Robbins and John Kehoe. They have helped tens of thousands of people reach their goals, and they all stress one major Key Point; when you want something, you have to act within the psychological law that in order to obtain something you have first to believe that you have it (you really own it in your subconscious) and act as though you have it. This is recognized as 'the mind game that works' and the lifestyle gurus are in total agreement that, ultimately, this is the ONLY strategy that works.

So how do we apply this law to selling your house?

Firstly, of course, you accept into your own mind that the house is sold. Not 'on the market'. Not 'will soon sell'. Not 'will sell next week'. SOLD. One way we do this is to take a picture of our house and put a big, bold 'SOLD' sign across it. We let the SOLD idea permeate our thoughts.

But how can we apply this same psychological law to your prospective buyer? Can you get a stranger who walks into your home to start imagining that they live there? If you can, you stand a way-above-average chance if selling your home fast for top dollar.

You can start by putting yourself in the buyer's shoes.

What does your house look like from the nearest kerbside? Will the buyer really want to walk up to your front door? Would more flowers help to draw them? Does the front porch and door look attractive, cared for and welcoming?

Now, (s)he is at the front door. Assuming an appointment has been made, the door will be open, and you will be hovering. You welcome him/her/them by name as you GO OUT OF THE DOOR. If this house belonged to them, they would not expect someone else to precede them through the door, so you get out of the way and let them go first. (If you are selling through an agent, make it clear that this procedure is to be followed. Many agents are not the experts they would have you believe.) In fact, the more time the buyer can safely spend on their own in the house, the better. As they go through the front door, their first, crucial decision is made. If that decision is 'yes' then it is so much easier for the following decisions to match the pattern.

You will have gathered by now that you are not going about this process in the same way that an agent would, so if you are using one you may need to give them a little re-education. And because it is so different from the way they are used to doing things, they could get huffy and start telling you that you should just leave it to their expertise. Be strong!

You are aiming to keep these potential buyers in their new house much longer than an agent would spend, and you will use every effort to make sure they do. Give them plenty of time to look around the property on their own, but when you get the opportunity get them chatting. Find out exactly what they are looking for and point out those parts of the house that match their needs. Ask questions, especially those that will get a 'yes' answer! (Did you know you can set up a habit of 'yes' if you go about it in this way?

That can be very useful when you get to that final 'YES'!) Ask about family; do you need to put more emphasis on the kindergarten or the retirement village where their mother is going to be living? More on the football stadium or the library? Golf course or movie theater? Offer coffee. Offer cookies (the baked kind, not the computer sort!) to the kids.

You already know that your home should be totally uncluttered. (If you haven't read my dedicated article on decluttering, read it without fail (http://EzineArticles.com/?id=258606) but it is useful if you can set up a conversation piece in each room - something that could catch the buyers' attention and hold them there for that extra minute.

If you can make your buyers feel comfortable for as long as fifteen minutes, and if you can build a fantasy in their minds that this is a comfortable haven and a great place to feel at home, they will want to live there, and the signature is virtually in the bag. Sign 'em up!

Len Taylor is the Managing Director of KeyPoint Services Ltd, a company set up to help people buy and sell property to their best advantage. http://www.keypointservices.co.nz

Finding the Best Budget Car Seat

Picking a car seat for your new infant is one of the most critical choices you will make for your child's early safety. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that a properly installed child safety car seat in a passenger car can reduce the risk of fatal injury to infants by 71 percent, and to toddlers by 54 percent. In fact, many states and provinces insist that children be transported in an appropriate car seat. Check your local regulations before choosing a car seat, and be aware that you may need to purchase more than one car seat to meet your child's needs as he or she grows.

Car seat retailers offer a variety of car seat choices in different price points. As long as the car seat meets with the governing regulations, it will be safe (even budget models) - although there are different car seat styles and perks that may influence your decision on which car seat model to purchase.

The term car seat can refer to an infant-only car seat, an infant/child car seat, or an infant/child/booster car seat. An infant car seat is rear facing, and has height and weight restrictions of approximately 26 inches or 20 lbs; your car seat manual will provide specific restrictions. Your infant car seat can be installed permanently in your vehicle, or used as a removable carrier with a car seat base - a popular option for parents adjusting to life with a fragile new baby. Infant/child car seats can be used in a rear-facing position for infants, and in forward-facing mode for toddlers. The infant/child/booster car seat is used for older children who are not yet tall enough to use an adult seatbelt safely.

All three car seat configurations are available in most department stores, including discount retailers. It's a good idea to compare the features of each car seat before deciding on a particular car seat model.

Here are some tips to finding a great car seat:

* Look for a car seat with a small 'footprint' to ensure a proper fit in compact vehicles;
* Car seat covers come in a variety of fabrics. Dark colors hide stains well and work well for both boys and girls;
* Many car seat packages include accessories like toys and cup holders. Ensure these extras are worth the higher price the car seat is likely to command;
* Purchasing a 'travel system' with car seat and coordinating stroller tends to be less expensive than buying both pieces separately. This may be good value if you need both a car seat and a stroller.


It is also possible to buy a used car seat, although this should be done with caution to avoid buying a car seat that is too old (they have an expiry date), or one that has been damaged in an accident.

Regardless of whether you buy a new car seat or a used car seat, it is imperative to ensure the car seat meets safety standards, and to check with the manufacturer to determine if there have been any problems or recalls with the car seat you have for your child. Remember, safety first!

http://www.mommyadvisor.com/top10-166839011

By Phil Ayres

Property Developer

What is a property developer?

A property developer makes improvements of some kind to property, builds on land and thereby increasing its value. The developer may be an individual, but is more often a partnership, a Limited Company or a Public Limited Company.

There are two major categories of property development activity: land development and building development (also known as project development) the later being the most popular with the smaller developer.

Land developers typically acquire raw land (i.e real property with no improvements or infratucture) and improve it with utility connections, roads, etc. Building developers acquire raw land, improved land, and/or redevelopable property in order to construct building projects. The buildings are then sold entirely or in part to others, usually for a significant profit.

This is all well and good but how does the small property developer get started?

Small projects, terraced properties, shops, small offices, buying property in auction, these are all areas that the small property developer can consider. There is an old saying that goes, ?you should start in the area that you know best.? The reasoning behind this is obvious, as the area will be known, prices will be easier to determine and profits can be readily calculated.

Cashflow is king for the property developer as capital should be available for the initial purchase, as well as the cost of improvements, purchase costs and sale costs.

Buying a Small Terraced House for Development
Lets look at the classic case of buying a small terraced property with potential. The fees for the purchase will be as follows:-

?Initial Purchase Costs- ?75,000
?Initial Surveyors Fees- ?200
?Purchase Solicitors Fees- ?400
?Improvement Costs- ?3,000
?Cost of Sale (Estate Agent)- ?800
?Solicitors Fee (Sale)- ?300

Total Cost- ?79700

On the assumption that the property can be sold for around ?90,000 - ?95,000, the property developer could make a tidy net profit of between ?10,300 - ?15,300 and depending on the timeframe from purchase to sale, this could be the equivelant to earning of around ?50,000 to ?60,000 per year.

All this is well and good if you have the capital to be able to buy the property for cash but what if you haven?t. Well, let?s assume in this case that the property developer can only lay his hands on ?25,000 as a maximum. This is how this could work:-

?Initial Purchase Costs- ?75,000
?Initial Surveyors Fees- ?200
?Purchase Solicitors Fees- ?400
?Improvement Costs- ?3,000
?Cost of Sale (Estate Agent)- ?800
?Solicitors Fee (Sale)- ?300

Total Cost- ?79700

Less the cost of borrowing ?56,250 for say 3 months- ?2,109
Less extra Solicitors Fees- ?500
Loan Arrangement Fees- ?1,125

Total extra cost of borrowing- ?3,734

Based on the assumption that the property developer was borrowing 75% of the property value for a three month period would reduce the profit margin to a net profit of between ?6,566 - ?11,566.

This hypothetical situation shows that ideally the small property developer is better off financing the scheme from his/her own funds but as well as this, profits can still be earned even though the majority of the money is borrowed by the property developer.

The author has been in the UK Financial Services Industry for more than 20 years and has worked on both small and large projects with clients in many parts of the UK. Follow the link http://www.commercial2.co.uk for further information.

Fast and Direct Pick up and Seduction

The world's greatest pick up artist has always been fast and direct. The results being one to three hot babes notched on the old bed post for 38 years. Including four hotties today!

Almost no one uses the fast and direct approach. Most guys who think they are good with women are only lying to themselves. They get lucky once in a blue moon and they are now experts. Admittedly this pick up thing hits a guy right in the ego and most men will not admit they fall short in the area of the pick up and seduction. From the average frustrated chump to the pick up artist. Most men fall short.

Most pick up techniques that are being taught around the world just plain don't work.

Most of the current pick up and seduction styles being taught over complicate a really simple and natural attraction and seduction process.

You do NOT have to put on magic tricks for girls.

You do NOT have to hypnotize women.

You do NOT have to play games with women and use egs, and put women down.

You do not have to use a thousand step process to bed girls.

Gentlemen if you keep studying this garbage you will always be an average frustrated chump...

Do yourself a favor and investigate the world's first Grand Master of the Pick-up and the Grand Master of Seduction. He does one on one in the field training on a beautiful tropical island with real life beautiful women just a two hour flight from Miami.

For info contact the king, Elvis Preston King at loverboybachelor@yaho.com

About the Author

Baby Stroller

There are many products on the market these days, and a stroller certainly isn't a one fit all. If you stay mainly in and around the house with an occasional car trip to the mall.

Some baby strollers come with parent organization trays, toy bars, snack and drink holders, rain hoods and more. Many of these accessories are available separately, so don't let the lack of a drink holder sway you away from a stroller you otherwise love.

You will need something different then when you are planning heavy traffic to the daycare center.
Baby stroller can make parent daily activities with a baby or small child much easier and less tiring. Many baby stroller you can choose from. Such as lightweight baby strollers, heavy baby strollers with all of the features, jogging all terrain types of strollers and the good old-fashioned carriages.

If you plan on taking your child on long outings to shopping malls and grocery stores you will want a stroller that is sturdy but easy to maneuver. If you're a very active parent that would
like to go jogging or take long walks with your baby, then a rugged jogging stroller would be best option for you. Most parents find it best to have two strollers.

One heavy duty type stroller that is full featured with carrying compartments and a second stroller that is lightweight and can easily be folded up, like an umbrella stroller.

While choosing the baby stroller you should think about how many children i.e. having more than one child. The baby stroller should suit to your daily life style. There should be seatbelt and
restrain system for your comfort.

Baby stroller is having different frame material. So choose the best frame material. It should be washable fabric, Baby stroller storage area, breaks, wide wheel base, lock wheel so that the stroller will lock to the space.

Baby stroller with adjustable handle height, most of these are as avarage height person height.

Different types of baby strollers available are

1. Lightweight Umbrella strollers

2. Standard baby strollers

3. Convertible travel system strollers

4. Double & Triple strollers

5. Jogging strollers

While buying the used baby stroller make sure that still sturdy, smooth rolling wheels and secure safety belts. Make sure that there should not be damage or sharp edges.

Suitable stroller:

If you need baby stroller to move around your house only, you need a simple baby stroller and let it be bit heavy and sturdy. On the other hand, if you are a society conscious person, you should go for the most stylish all terrain baby strollers. If you always need to carry lot many other baby accessories with your stroller, go for a stroller that has good space to keep those comfortably.

It is good idea to go for the lighter weight baby stroller but they should be durable equally as most of the time, delicacy never lasts long. Light strollers are preferred for lightweight babies and a pusher with less physical strength. You can also choose lightweight baby strollers on hilly area, where weight does matter to carry or to pull.

If you are not living in an area where rain falls frequently, you can go for the baby stroller that has no hood or roof. This will cut down the cost and will be cheaper as compare to other baby strollers. Under tender sunlight, early morning walking with a baby in baby stroller with no roof/hood will be very useful for the Vitamin D synthesis.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=VishalRathod

By Vishal Rathod

Easy alternatives to petite jeans

Swimming in extra denim? Tips and tricks for short women to step out of the denim puddle. It's hard being short in the world of fashion jeans today and most petite jeans just don't cut it. There are a lot of styles out there that will work for you, including two of the hottest looks right now.

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Struggling to find a great pair of short jeans? When the average woman in America is 5'4, why are all the cool jeans made for those 6' amazons? Really, who has a 35 inseam? It's hard being short in the world of fashion jeans today and most petite jeans just don't cut it. Yes we have staples and masking tape for those quick hem jobs, and yes we could make a quilt with all the hems that we've hacked off, but those are small comforts when you want to look great right off the rack. What is a short girl to do?

Tips for the not so tall

Let's start with style. There are a lot of styles out there that will work for you, including two of the hottest looks right now.

Those great skinny styles you've been seeing everywhere are often shorter in length, a big plus for you. If they're still too long, scrunch them up around the ankle it's the chicest way to wear them.

Straight leg styles are also back with a vengeance, they look great cuffed up and a cuff is the quickest route to a short jean without a visit to a tailor (just be sure that your cuff is not too wide). Pair them with heels or a nice pointy toed flat that will visually extend the length of your leg. Straight is also easy to hem.

Wear your jeans slightly longer; about ? from the ground with your heels on, it will maximize your leg length.

Look for a crease detail on the leg. A vertical fade or crease down the center of the pant leg adds visual length and slimness to your leg.

Look for clean, dark washes, not so hard these days. A uniform color from waist to hem will make your legs look longer and has the added benefit of making you look slimmer.

Avoid super low rises. A mid rise with a slight upward tilt at the back waist is another great leg lengthening trick.

Stay away from wide leg and trouser styles with heavier hem details. They will add bulk to your shape making you look shorter and wider than you really are.

Cut it off

If all else fails or what you love only comes in a long length, pay to get your jeans shortened! It is definitely worth the $10- $15 bucks extra to get a great looking jean.

There are some tricks to choosing a jean style that will shorten well without loosing it's cool.

Choose a flare leg style to start, once you shorten it 2-3 you'll be left with a great looking boot cut.

Pay attention to where the knee breaks. Most designer jeans have placed it fairly high so it will still work with your shorter proportions. If it's lower, you run the risk of it being too low for you, throwing off the proportions of the jean.

The same goes with wash and sandblasting details, make sure that they are not placed too low on the jean. They will look all wrong after you hem. Don't, however, worry about wash and distressing details at the hem. A good tailor will be able to preserve the original hem on your newly shortened jeans.

You can check the proportions when you are trying on the jean by folding up the leg to your desired length (it works best to fold to the inside of the pant), and make sure you have on the right shoes!

Off the rack

Look for brands that do offer shorter length jeans. We're not talking petites jeans here; those are usually the frumpy styles that you wouldn't be caught dead in. Some of our favorite fashion forward brands offer short inseam lengths check out our list below. Since you are an online shopper, that is where you will have the most luck, even if the shorter length is sold out in the store, you will find it easily on the web.

7 For All Mankind
American Eagle
Calvin Klein Jeans
Chadwicks
Diesel
Eddie Bauer
Gap
Gloria Vanderbilt
Jag Jeans
L.L. Bean
La Redoute
Lands End
Lauren by Ralph Lauren
Lee
Levi's
Lucky Brand
Newport News
Not Your Daughters Jeans
Old Navy
Polo Jeans Co.
Riders
Tommy Hilfiger
Victoria's Secret
Wrangler

Finally, revel in your size, it's not so bad. You always have enough leg room on the airplane, you have the greatest selection of shoes (and you can wear them as high as you dare), you get those lovely kisses on the top of your head, and you can demurely ask that cute guy in the grocery store to reach the top shelf for you. Now you can always look great doing it!

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Visit zafu.com to find out which jeans fit you best. The zafu jean finder provides personalized recommendations for your body type. zafu makes jean shopping easy.
About the Author

Ada is a master pattern maker who's worked for designer brands, developed her own line of clothing, Levi's and now with zafu.com for five years. She entertains us with tales of her shopping adventures that have lead to a wild collection of clothes and over one hundred pairs of shoes.

Investors are Buying Savannah Georgia

Invest in Historic Savannah, Georgia!

There is great interest in our market not only because of the beauty and charm that is Savannah, but also because other real estate markets are not doing as well. Ours is an undervalued and accelerating market.

The Savannah economy benefits from its strategic location and port facilities. The area's transportation and distribution networks have produced increased economic activity and development. Tourism also has been a significant force in Savannah's recent economic growth. Last year Tourists contributed $1.5 Billion to our city's economy. NOW is the time to invest in real estate in Savannah, Georgia.

Unlike other markets, Savannah's is not top heavy in any one sector. Manufacturing, service, government, tourism, and a growing number of creative and technical businesses characterize Savannah's economic diversity.

Top TEN Reasons why the Savannah Economy is RED HOT!

- The Georgia Ports Authority is expected to move more than 2 million containers by the end of June 2006, which could move Savannah past Charleston to become the No. 4 container port in the country. Savannah Morning News - May 23, 2006

- Savannah - Fastest Growing Port in the USA! ~ Savannah Morning News

- $88 Million Dollars Invested in Private Property near the Downtown area. ~ Savannah Morning News - March 8, 2006

- Tourism Numbers are up in 2005. ~ Savannah Morning News - May 27, 2006

- Tourists spent $1.5 Billion in Savannah Last Year! ~ Savannah Morning News - June 23rd, 2006

- Hunter Army Airfield Grows by 1,300.... All of our new housing on post is filled and families are looking for places to live. ~ Savannah Morning News - June 30, 2006

- Gulfstream Aerospace adding at least 1,100 new jobs. ~ Savannah Morning News - March 7, 2006

- West Chatham County is BOOMING! ~ Savannah Morning News - June 4th, 2006

- Job Growth makes Savannah's Economy one of the State's Best. ~ Savannah Morning News - May 24th, 2006

- Tybee Island's Growth Continues with Luxury Homes. ~ Savannah Morning News - May 30th, 2006

- Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) continues to improve Historic Downtown. ~ Savannah College of Art and Design

- Savannah Out Performs Atlanta! ~ Savannah Morning News - March 8th, 2006

....Why Stop at TEN!

- Georgia Pacific's puts $100M in New Savannah Plant! ~ Savannah Business Journal

- AirTran Call Center to add more More Jobs in Savannah ~ Savannah Business Journal

- Maersk Line Signs 20-Year Agreement with GA Ports Authority ~ Savannah Business Journal

- Gulfstream Delivers 100th G550 Business Jet ~ Savannah Business Journal

- Memorial Again Named to Most Wired and Most Wireless Lists ~ Savannah Business Journal

- Savannah, Fastest Growing Job Market in the State ~ Savannah Economic Development Authority

- Ritz-Carlton eyeing Ogeechee River Location ~ Savannah Morning News

- STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT HELPS SAVANNAH ~ SouthEast Real Estate Business

- Local Private Schools Investing MILLIONS in Expansion Projects ~ Savannah Morning News

Rob Caldwell - Caldwell Marketing and Development, LLC Savannah, Ga. - http://www.SavannahInvestmentProperties.com

Common Poker Tells & How to Find Them

The Beauty Of Playstation 2 Games

Can you remember the first videogames that introduced the world to the joys of videogames? I'm talking about the ones that were introduced in the 80s. We had the ever-popular Pac-Man, Asteroids, and Centipeed. Those outstanding innovations were the bomb! I remember how I used to play pitfall on my Atari and it was great fun.

It is really cool that it has gotten even better now. It amazingly just keeps getting better and better. Those amazing electronics and graphics always improve. It really is an endless source for fun and relaxation. For example, check out some of the more recent playstation 2 games. Wow, what a difference from the old-school Atari. I mean, the game depths alone are amazing. It is startling to think that there are people all over the world that love playing PlayStation 2 games. Do you have it too?

Are you a big PS2 fan? When the council first came out I was blown away. The big pitch didn't only concern the playstation 2 games, but also the DVD option. PS two was actually a flexible enough to use as a DVD player. Folks loved this convenient option. Suddenly they didn't need to purchase a DVD player. You could actually watch movies with the period It was an all-in-one deal. How cool is that?

I recall the first time I headed over to my brother's house to take a look at his new PS2 and his new playstation 2 games. Being out of the video game loop since the first Nintendo, I was utterly flabbergasted at the realistic graphics and sound effects. These new playstation 2 games are just so real. It is such a quantum improvement over the classic Atari games that it isn't even funny. No more stick men. There was anything from martial arts games to sports games to spy adventures. It looked incredibly lifelike. Who wouldn't love playstation 2 games?

Now people all over the world take great pleasure in playstation 2 games. They compete against friends and strangers alike, and battle the bad guys for as long as Mom and Dad allows it. One of the great benefits of the PS2 is the versatility. Regardless if you had a PS1, you could still play the games on your PS2 as well. How many other products can you do that with? If you're on the lookout for new playstation 2 games, you can always find a huge selection at your local Best Buy and Wal-Mart stores, or simply go online where you'll find the best deals. Buying used PlayStation 2 games really add up to considerable savings. With the world at your fingertips, you will surely find that playstation 2 game you're searching for.

About the Author:

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning games. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.xtraordinarysite.com/games/games/the-beauty-of-playstation-2-games.html

Real Estate Note Listings

The number of people on the lookout for real estate notes are increasing day by day, as the profit involved in the business is great. Lots of websites provide real estate note listings. Business, commercial and residential notes are the major categories of real estate note listings. Real estate note listings are ideal for both buyers and sellers. They are also used by real estate note brokers to improve their business.

Real estate note listings provide buyers a wide range of selection. Through these listings they can purchase real estate notes at a higher profit margin. Location is another great advantage with this type of listings. You can purchase real estate notes from your locality or any other locality you prefer. Another advantage is the variety of listings available. If you are interested in commercial real estate notes, you find them in a separate category and you don't have to search all real estate note listings. The greatest advantage you get from real estate listings is that your real estate note would be displayed to different types of investors. Prices offered by different types of investors vary. Sometimes you could enter into a deal beyond your expectations with the help of these listings.

Real estate note listings are also ideal for people who need immediate cash. With the help of real estate note listings, you can quickly find a buyer who would be ready to release cash immediately for a good discount. Real estate note listings allow you to easily sell a part of the note or the whole thing. Real estate note listings have much flexibility, and they can be used by both sellers and buyers. Blindly believing real estate note listings can be dangerous. It is better to take each single note in the listing and see whether it matches your selling or buying criteria.

Sell Real Estate Notes provides detailed information on Find Real Estate Notes, Real Estate Note Brokers, Real Estate Note Buyers, Real Estate Note Listings and more. Sell Real Estate Notes is affiliated with Sell House By Owner.

Feel of Belonging

Enyce is an
American hip hop fashion label owned by one of the most fashion company in America, Liz
Claiborne Incorporated.

When it comes to clothes that can
represent the true nature and color of the urban community, the enyce is sure
to give what the urban has given. The enyce is an urban clothing line
collection that provides the necessary features of the urban community that can
make you feel that you belong.

The enyce clothing line is a hip hop
fashion clothing line owned by one of the most popular fashion company in
America, the Liz Claiborne
Incorporated.

The Liz Claiborne Incorporated is a fashion company founded in 1976
in New York City
that designs and markets a wide range of women's and men's apparel, accessories
and fragrance products. And among the many products of the Liz Claiborne Incorporated is the enyce.

But before the Liz Claiborne Incorporated owned the enyce, it was first
founded by Evan Davis, Lando Felix and Tony Shellman, and the enyce
label was first established in New
York City. The three co-founders had originally met
while working for Seattle-based clothing brand International News.

On 2004, the Liz Claiborne Incorporated acquired the enyce company for $114
million from Sports Brands International.

Because of the growing popularity
of the enyce, the Liz Claiborne
Incorporated have decided to expand the enyce clothing line and made several
new apparels such as lady enyce, eno, lady eno, eno kids, eno seniors and eno
mako.

Now you might want to know on how
to pronounce the enyce properly. Enyce (the brand) is pronounced E-Nee-Chay.
However, the term originated as slang, pronounced En-Why-See. The name is a
play on NYC (New York City)
where Enyce derives its roots.

The enyce urban clothing line can
be easily seen on any kind of clothing shop, but for a more convenient way on
purchasing on some of those enyce urban clothing line, then the best place
would be the internet, and the perfect place to start is on the Streetzwear.

So whenever you wanted to the
style of the urban community and the fashion of its people, then enyce can
provide you with just that. For more information about the enyce urban clothing
line apparels, then visit www.streetzwear.com.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


www.streetzwear.com

Does Your Soulder Need A Shoulder To Cry On?

A healthy shoulder is a result of good muscle balance. To have a good muscle balance it is imperative to understand the role of mechanics and blood circulation. This is of vital importance, especially in athletes competing in sports that involve continuous shoulder movement. It is also important for these athletes to understand the importance of training and exercise to treat shoulder injuries. Shoulder injuries are very specific and certain injuries tend to worsen when exercised in a particular way. It is easy to avoid the worsening exercises but hard to recognize the exercises that can rehabilitate a specific shoulder injury.

Most shoulder injuries are caused by muscular imbalance. This imbalance is usually caused by a sport specific training regimen. Some muscles become highly developed and strong while the others remain where they were. In case of shoulder injury in an athlete the following is recommended:

1. Until and unless the cause of the injury is determined, the shoulder should not be exercised in any way.

2. In case of inflammation apply ice.

3. Isolate the part that is injured - ligaments, tendons etc. and the area of injury. The most susceptible parts for a shoulder injury are bicipital groove and coracobrachialis. In case of a tear to the ligament or tendon, surgery becomes important.

Weight lifters and power lifters are mostly prone to shoulder injuries of a different nature. Muscles keep the shoulder joint in place including the glenoid cavity that accommodates the ball-and-socket in which the head of the humerus plays. Weight lifters are prey to a very common shoulder injury - over rotation of the arm caused by a too strong pectoralis musculature. The muscles along with teres major, try to cause rotation against the rotator cuff causing shoulder injury.

Prevention and treatment comprises of:

1. Restoring nerve supply.
2. Relieve the spasm causing the shoulder injury by acupressure right in the middle of the pectoralis and teres major.
3. Cut off all exercise aggravating shoulder injury and any contraindicating exercise directly or indirectly contributing to shoulder injury.

Healing is possible on restoration of nerves and blood circulation. After going through a few chiropractic treatments and assessing the progress, a rehabilitation exercise regimen can be prescribed. These exercises should be free hand to begin with and weights could be introduced at a later stage. Consumption of calcium and magnesium is recommended through diets rich in these minerals.

The treatment should be kept as short as possible keeping in mind the response of the patient suffering from shoulder injury. The patient should feel comfortable with the exercise regimen and progress without any unnecessary acceleration.
About the Author

Julian Hall - Director of Claims
Master Group.
Personal Injury Claim,No
Win No Fee,

Shoulder Injury Advice

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Computer Gaming Online ? Play A Role

Computer gaming online role-playing is actually the new fun spin of the former hit of role-playing games which have been sold to thousands and thousands of people in comic shops for years. This is actually consistent with our expanding world because our leisure activities are moving towards electronic correspondence as computers become more and more ingrained in our society, culture and our everyday lives.

The original Role-playing games was started back in the 1970?s with Dungeons and Dragons games and rapidly grew to include virtually any type of game or scenario you could possibly imagine including games revolving around espionage, horror, action-adventure, science fiction, sports and a lots of other genres.

The Role-Playing Games Computer Version

Role-playing games destroyed the traditional cause effect method that the original board games utilized and quickly turned the games into an improvisational exercise that most people found quite intriguing. As time passed, people used online computer gaming to expand how role playing games can be carried out. In the computer gaming online version of role-playing, normal players will write/type their ?scenarios? or ?maps? and submit them via email to the administrator or game master running the game. The game master then weighs all the emails from the participating players and decides how these scenarios play off against each other in order to play the game. Doesn?t that sound fun?

How Do Producers of The Role Playing Game Feel About This?

Now, while you might assume that the role-playing game companies would just love the fact that there are computer gaming online means of playing the games and that they could use that when expanding their customer base. However some role-playing game companies have some concerns about this computer gaming online trend that is evolving.

The computer gaming online role-playing trend has really hurt sales of game packages and board games because people no longer have the wants and needs for the original role-playing set as they are almost never playing in a room together with the each other but are instead connected electronically with people from all over the globe. It is doubtful that the bottom will fall out on the original game producing companies because the product that they offer is still extremely popular all over the world, but there have been many dollars lost due to the free market competition that the computer gaming online role-playing provides.

Naturally many of these companies are now offering their own free online role-playing services and games as a means of promoting their original product sets. They are also offering fee based subscriptions for online role-playing games so in fact the internet are already providing a solid revenue stream for the companies. There is a paradoxical relationship between the internet and the role-playing game companies, but in the end, the internet has been good to most of these companies and will continue to benefit them greatly provided that the companies evolve accordingly.

About the Author:

Currently expanding an ever growing VRE empire by adding more niche markets every day. The latest is in the domain area.

Benefits of Using a Los Angeles Real Estate Broker

Are you a Los Angeles resident who is interested in selling your home? If you are, have you made a decision as to how you want to sell your home? Homeowners who are interested in selling their homes have a number of different options. One of those options includes the use of a Los Angeles real estate broker.

Many homeowners wonder why they should use the services of a Los Angeles real estate broker. There are a number of benefits to using one. If you are about to sell your home, you should familiarize yourself with the benefits of using a Los Angeles real estate broker. Doing so will enable you to make an informed decision as to whether or not you want to sell your own home or seek assistance.

Perhaps, the most important benefit of using a Los Angeles real estate broker is the assistance that you will receive. Real estate brokers are often referred to as real estate agents. Each person, no matter which name they choose to go by, should be trained and experienced in customer service. This training will allow a real estate broker to offer you the utmost service, as well as potential buyers.

A knowledgeable and helpful real estate broker is important to the successful sale of a house. In addition to being trained in customer service, real estate brokers will assist you all the way through the selling of your home. This means that they will not only deal with potential buyers, but advertise the sale of your home, and work with lawyers or accountants. Basically, they will stay with you until the sale is officially completed. All of these features are beneficial to homeowners.

The proper advertising of your home is important because it enables potential buyers to visit your home or even know that it is for sale. Many homeowners are inexperienced when it comes to advertising and marketing. This is why many for sale by owner homes sell for less than they actually should. The knowledge and marketing experience that most real estate brokers receive will not only help your home sell, but it may also drive up the value.

If and when your home receives a buyer, that individual will likely escrow the money for the home. Arranging and managing an escrow payment is a difficult task. Many home buyers have accountants or lawyers on hand. Dealing with these professionals may be overwhelming. If you use the services of a Los Angeles real estate broker, you may not even have to have contact with these individuals. Many real estate brokers in the Los Angeles area will process and monitor all payment methods used by potential buyers.

As a homeowner, you have the final say in whether or not you want assistance with selling your home. If you offer your home as a for sale by owner home and the process is not going well, you can always seek assistance from a professional if you need it.

Brad Horn is a writer for 1 percent realtor where you can find a great resource for information regarding a Los Angeles Real Estate Broker

The Perfect Prom Dress

Want a prom dress that?s going to turn everyone?s head when you walk into the room? Want a prom dress that is different from everyone else?s prom dress? Well you can have that perfect prom dress. What colors are in style for prom dresses? For the prom in 2007 you will see some new colors you have not seen in fashion for a while like navy and burgundy gold, raspberry, purple orange, black and white, and all the fun prom colors like turquoise, lime and fuchsia. Girls always love purple and this year for the prom you will see the best purple gowns. Royal blue is making a comeback big time for 2007--a sure winner. Royal blue is a real hot color this year. Gold and silver will be important and the new metallic lam? fabrics will show you off to the limit.

What kind of style should I focus on if I want to look sexy in my prom dress? Sexy prom dresses for 2007 are everywhere. Want to know what styles are hot? Glad you asked. I?ll tell you. Ruffles (the french look), drapes, tiers, high slits, lace; hi-low hemlines and mermaid silhouettes are the sexy favorites for this year. They are making their way back into the heart of many teens for the prom. You'll see lots of sexy ball gowns. Everyone wants to like a princess.

What type of prom dress should I look for if I?m not that tall? Many girls that aren?t so tall (like me) are going toward fitted silhouettes and flirty, little short dresses. These prom dresses come in an array of fun colors. Remember, you got to use what you got! Flaunt all your assets! Helpful tips to finding the perfect prom dress:

Now keep in mind, any dress can look great on the hanger but remember you have to purchase a style and look that goes with your height, body shape, hair and skin coloring. Don't buy into the belief that there are a limited number of colors that work for you; instead, be your own best fashion designer and hold up dresses to your face to see which ones bring out your skin tones, eyes and hair the best.

Warm colors like fire engine red and coral look best on brunettes with darker coloring; cool pastels work for blondes. But there are a myriad of colors -- metallic gold and silver included -- that work for all colorings. If you're not sure what type of prom dress style to go with for the prom drag a friend to a store and get a second opinion while trying on lots of colors to see which ones compliment your look best. Learn to embrace your body, too. If you aren't comfortable in curve-hugging dresses because of too much jiggle, then try a body slimmer underneath for more control. Everyone has at least one great asset, even if it's something as simple as thick hair, white teeth or nice legs.

You don't have to do anything too extravagant to show off your best feature, just make sure that your look shows it off and enhances it. If your best feature is great skin, the last thing you'd want to do is cover up every inch of it with clothing. Dressing for your best feature is less about dressing for size or age and more about making the best of what you have to work with. One important thing to remember is when you?re looking to buy a prom dress focus on a bling bling dress or bling bling accessories not both. If you have both it would be to overwhelming to the naked eye and one will take away from the other. The idea here is to make either the dress or the accessories the focus, not both.

For example, a bronze strapless gown with no adornment could carry a chunky diamond bracelet and necklace or a pair of chandelier earrings. Solid color dresses and neutrals are a great backdrop for colorful jewels. On the other hand, the more ruffles, tiers and beading a dress has, the simpler the accessories should be. It doesn't mean you have to go bare but you need to use self-control and choose smaller pieces.

The difficulty to dressing for special occasions such as homecoming or the prom is that young women look wrong if they dress their age: in froufrou dress, young women/girls look ready for prom. Look at magazines web sites and see what?s in style. You don?t want to go looking like grandma just run over by a reindeer!

Different styles to consider:

Movie Star Style Want to look like a movie star? Show your sense of style with a designer-inspired gown: many labels create their own jazzed-up versions of celebrity-chic dresses. Dresses by Jovani, Paris, Clarisse, Mori Lee, and Niteline, are famous for producing red-carpet looks at an affordable price. Important red carpet looks this year include one-shoulder Grecian gown and empire waist dresses.

Elegance If the movie star prom dress isn?t for you then tone down the look and choose a cool cocktail dress look. Whether you favor aristocratic circle skirts or sleek, trimmer hems, this dress will come in handy for other occasions

Princess Look Elegant trains add serious punch. Go for a small drape (called a duster) or full-on train (called chapel) ? either way, your exit leaves a definite lasting impression.

Covering Dresses A movie star favorite, covering dresses are as comfortable as they are stunning. Keep in mind that with a simple dress like this, accessories are a must! From pearls to diamonds to a mix of pendants, anything goes. Bling bling all the way!

The Wow Look Let the little Marilyn Monroe come out with a mega feminine, hip-hugging gown. Select dresses made with delicate fabrics, like satin or silk, that drapes well and creates curves. To keep with the retro tone, finish with a clutch purse and peep-toe pumps.

Girly Girl Skirts Stemmed from summer?s plain skirt rage, tiered skirts are having a serious comeback. This trend can go two very unique routes: the sophisticated ballroom skirt or the breezy ?plain dress?. Black is Back If you plan on sporting your prom dress again, the little black dress is a classic. Choose a sleek string dress, flirty shift, or take your look from Audrey Hepburn with a chic prom dress.

It?s high but Boy Is It Low. Last year?s asymmetrical hem has been replaced by the ?high-low? dress. The hem, which is short in the front and longer in the back, is so unique and adorable; you'll have all eyes on you! It's a great alternative because it's short enough to dance in but long enough to look dressy.

Strapless Baby Strapless prom dresses have become a prom staple for great reason. They are equal parts sassy and classy. They flatter any figure. And they don?t require a necklace. Keep your eyes out for dresses with beautiful beading and elegant embroidery around the bust?a big style this year.

Homecoming Queen The ultimate Cinderella-at-the-ball dress and accessories. A bouffant skirt and otherwise simple top combination is for the homecoming queens at style. These gowns require minimal accessories because they?re so show stopping. But make sure you get home before midnight. Yeah right!

The best advice I tell young girls looking for the perfect prom dress is to have fun with fashion. Try something new: venture into a store that you've never shopped in, try on dresses that you always wanted to wear, but was afraid to try on. The idea is to push the limits of your prom wardrobe and experience innovative looks.

Pictures of prom dresses can be seen at Prom dresses - Promgirl and at Prom dresses - 4prom

Consider These Four Points Before You Make An Offer To Buy An Investment Property

Point #1: You must have a clear goal for the property that you are purchasing.

Incredibly, many people make investment decisions because someone told them about a great idea or opportunity. They never put pen to paper to even figure out if a profit is possible! Others buy property or investments and have no clear cut return they are shooting for or a game plan on how to get it.

What is your goal for this purchase?
What return are you looking for on a year basis?
How many years are you planning ot hold the property?
Are you trying to buy a fixer-upper?
Are you hoping to renovate it and fully rent it out and sell it?
When are you going to try to sell the property?

The above are just starting points for you to start to inquire within yourself before you buy a piece of property. The point is to never buy a piece of real estate investment property unless you know why you are buying the property, your expected return on your investment and your exit strategy for getting out of the property with a profit.

HELPFUL TIP: Before you go into contract, run your deal by a commercial mortgage professional, Get expert advice BEFORE you commit! They can alert you to the pitfalls and even bring creative financing strategies to the deal to maximize your return.

Point #2: Thinking only about the Interest Rate that you have been offered

The lowest interest rate is NOT necessarily the best deal for commercial property. Amortization is just as important. Amortization is the length of time the payment will be factored over, the longer the amortization, the lower the payment. Depending on your goal, the lower payment yields you better cash flow and more profit per year-better ROI (return on investment).

For example, a $500,000 mortgage with a 10-year balloon and a 15-year amortization at 5.5% interest rate yields a payment of $4,085/month. The same mortgage with a 25-year amortization but a rate of 6% yields a payment of $3,221/month. Same loan amount, ? a percent higher rate but because of the longer amortization your monthly payment is over $800 less per month. If the cash flow on the property was going to net you $1000 a month at the 5.5% rate this extra $800 a month or $9,600 per year, now that's a better return on your investment due to the longer amortization. Over 80%!

Point #3: Knowing when to shop, and knowing when to stop shopping.

Remember, on commercial loans even if you are a great borrower-you may still get turned down by your local bank. Why? The property may not be good. By that we mean that the bank may have a required debt service coverage ratio, and your deals cash flow does not meet that lenders requirement; they may have filled their quota for the month on commercial loans, or they may just not like to loan on the certain type of property you are buying. Don?t take it personally.

Almost as bad as just going to one bank and putting all your eggs in that basket is shopping around and getting a commitment at terms you like that make the deal profitable and meet your goals and then CONTINUING TO SHOP! If you get what you wanted-don?t be greedy. Wall Street has a saying, ?Bulls and bears make money, Pigs get slaughtered?.

HELPFUL TIP: Don?t look a gift horse in the mouth. If you know the profitability you wanted and the lender is agreeing to your deal offer up any reasonable requested commitment fee, and let the broker or lender do their job to close that loan for you.

Point #4: Emotions - Loving the deal and ignoring economic sense.

I have seen people try to buy a piece of property and lender after lender turns it down because the value is not justified or something. Yet, instead of realizing that smart financial people are telling you the deal is bad they persist to keep trying to buy it.

Sometimes even getting hard private money at exorbitant rates that will never generate a profit for you Remember, banks and lenders are in the business of lending you money. They want to lend money on deals that make sense. If EVERYONE says your deal does not make sense LISTEN TO THEM.

Get out of the deal or partner with someone who knows how to make it work or something. Don?t resort to ridiculous interest rates because you believe you HAVE to have this property. Again, heed advice and be smart.

HELPFUL TIP: Besides speaking to an expert BEFORE buying- put pen to paper and make sure the deal makes economic sense, not just emotional sense. In commercial property purchases its economics that must rule, not emotions.

I trust that these four points will put YOU more in control when making your next buying decision for purchasing investment real estate.

Harlan A. Friedman, Esq., is president of Lightning Commercial Funding Inc., a California mortgage broker. He has more than 25 years of experience as an investment banker and financial consultant, issuing municipal debt for his clients. Lightning Commercial Funding specializes in financing commercial projects exclusively, from the startup of new business to large commercial transactions. Reach Friedman at (858) 592-0659 or harlan@loanforbiz.com.

Visit his company at http://www.loanforbiz.com.

Online Backgammon Tournaments

Nearly Everyone Uses It and So What?

Occasionally a prospective client comes to me very gungho about getting publicity and declares that they envision coverage in every major newspaper in the country and on every network broadcast. After all, their logic runs, our product is something everyone uses -- we have close to 150 million customers a year in the U.S. alone.

Whoa! I reply. That's not enough of a reason for the media to do a story. Nearly everyone uses a toothbrush and a wallet of one sort or another, but how often do you see stories about either of those items in the papers or on the nightly news? Prevalent doesn't mean interesting or timely. So let's brainstorm about what would entice the media to consider something about your item newsworthy.

By putting a spin on something ordinary, or identifying some unusual aspect of something ordinary, you have a good chance of getting major media hits. For instance:

* Create a controversy. E.g., claim that 90% of Americans use each toothbrush far too long.

* Give an award. E.g., a prize for the world's rattiest wallet.

* Offer surprising facts about your product. E.g., how long ago people were using toothbrushes surprising similar to today's.

* Show an unexpected clientele using your product. E.g., wallets for toddlers or for nudists.

* Piggyback on the news. E.g., play up the connection if there's a toothbrush scene in a new feature film or a popular sit-com.

* Do a survey. E.g., what percentage of people never leave the house for any purpose without bringing their wallet.

* Compile a set of useful tips. E.g., ten ways you should never use a toothbrush.

* Donate your product or a gift certificate to a good cause. E.g., a new wallet for every high school graduate in your home town.

* Offer a freebie. E.g., a free call-in line for questions about dental hygiene.

* Invent a new use for your product. E.g., wallets designed for efficiency at security checkpoints.

* Tie your product to economic trends. E.g., what toothbrush sales reveal about recessions and economic booms.

* Do something anachronistic. E.g., create wallet carriers, which a butler can hold out for the man in the house when he comes home from work.

* Sponsor a charity event. E.g., the Toothbrush Ball.

* Do something about your environmental impact. E.g., recyclable wallets.

* Celebrate an anniversary. E.g., your 10 millionth toothbrush sold.

* Create regional variations. E.g., the Tall Texan wallet, the Seattle Surprise, the Plains Packer.

* Get offbeat endorsements. E.g., from a punk rocker, a bartender, a has-been politician for your toothbrushes.

* Feature employees with stories. E.g., an over-80 wallet designer, marketing vice-presidents who are twins.

* Run an event for kids. E.g., develop a show that travels to day-care centers on how to brush teeth.

Once you have a newsworthy angle, then the ambition to get your story into every household in the country makes more sense!

Marcia Yudkin is the author of the classic guide to comprehensive PR, 6 Steps to Free Publicity, now for sale in an updated edition at Amazon.com and in bookstores everywhere. She also spills the secrets on advanced tactics for today's publicity seekers in Powerful, Painless Online Publicity, available from www.yudkin.com/powerpr.htm .

Oregon Commercial Real Estate

Real estate is broadly categorized into two types. This includes residential and commercial real estate. As the name suggests, the latter revolves around sale and lease of property that is intended for use in trade and business. This includes a wide range of business opportunities including shopping malls, gas stations, car parks and office buildings. The Oregon commercial real estate market is huge and encompasses innumerable viable plots and property.

Oregon commercial real estate could refer to an empty plot of land, a building, a store or multiple shops, or even a park. The instant any property is to be used for a business purpose, it is categorized as commercial real estate. Oregon commercial real estate includes land, as well as anything that is permanently built or fixed onto it. These fixtures include nursing homes, buildings and fences. They also refer to pipes, plumbing, heating devices and light fixtures that are inbuilt or fixed on the exterior of a building. Commercial real estate can be purchased, sold or rented as required. Such commitments prove to be profitable for real estate agents who deal in them. Since commercial real estate deals with profitability in the long run, entrepreneurs do no rush into such commitments. It is important to find an Oregon commercial real estate property that is feasible and can help increase trade.

Price points for Oregon commercial real estate depend upon their location. Areas that are established as commercially profitable are categorized within higher price brackets, as compared to others located in developing areas. Their rates are calculated differently from residential real estate. A number of Oregon real estate listing companies have dedicated commercial real estate databases that are easy to access and designed to help clients find a viable property in a short time. Before finalizing an Oregon commercial real estate deal, it is important to ensure the property is not blacklisted and all fixtures within it are in compliance with state regulations.

Oregon Real Estate provides detailed information on Oregon Real Estate, Portland Oregon Real Estate, Bend Oregon Real Estate, Oregon Coast Real Estate and more. Oregon Real Estate is affiliated with Denver Real Estate Agents.

Love and Health

The Love-Health Relationship:
Dr. Gray is the author of many books including the fabulously successful book Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus. Another of his books addresses how some people or one person in every group or organization including a family, will be what he calls a psychic drain. There are neurons that respond when a person acts a certain way and research on monkey brains in 1996 showed some monkeys respond when they see another monkey doing something. This empathic ability can be lost or damaged in human brains due to trauma such as lifelong or early life abuse. The loss of what can be called empathy can also occur with lead poisoning and there are researchers in medicine that some label environmental medical practitioners while they emphasize the mental part of the word, who say many if not most ailments are brought on or exacerbated through pollution and food additives or other things. Thus highly functional sociopaths are often becoming our leaders while the decent empaths become victims of society

The Love-Health Relationship:
Dr. Gray is the author of many books including the fabulously successful book Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus. Another of his books addresses how some people or one person in every group or organization including a family, will be what he calls a psychic drain. There are neurons that respond when a person acts a certain way and research on monkey brains in 1996 showed some monkeys respond when they see another monkey doing something. This empathic ability can be lost or damaged in human brains due to trauma such as lifelong or early life abuse. The loss of what can be called empathy can also occur with lead poisoning and there are researchers in medicine that some label environmental medical practitioners while they emphasize the mental part of the word, who say many if not most ailments are brought on or exacerbated through pollution and food additives or other things. Thus highly functional sociopaths are often becoming our leaders while the decent empaths become victims of society

Education, Nutrition and A Personal LOVE of mine:

Dave and I went together to T. G. I. Friday's at Keystone at the Crossing on Indianapolis' north side. I saw a beautiful blond woman across the bar near the antique gas pump. It seemed that she had a halo around her head. I saw no other woman and paid no attention to anything except her. Dave and I went to stand near her and her friend. I was wearing my southern climate white suit that women in Miami had thought I looked like a member of the Miami Dolphins in after I had bought it in Coral Gables. Sherry's sister had a friend named Rick Osney who years later said: So what do you do other than make cheap suits look good? He was a retail clothing specialist. Sherry was most interested in Dave; she told me for months after, and the truth is Dave looked like a model and did some modeling and writing. I was so enchanted and enthusiastic that if it weren't for the fact that Sherry had just had a partial mastectomy and needed a worshipful admirer she would have blown me off very early, if not instantly.

I nattered on about all the success we were on the verge of achieving and the triplex we owned in Toronto as well as my travels. Sherry saw that her friend was interested in Dave. Her name was Sue Ann Blackwell. Sherry wasn't impressed by money or power but I guess the fact that I thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever met or close to it, was a deciding factor in her agreeing to see me again. I had a policy about making love within three dates over the previous four years or I thought it wasn't likely to become a real relationship. What stupidity, eh? The limited time available in every city made this a little more justifiable than it sounds however. I remember she went to her parents in Bloomington for Thanksgiving and having her prepare a simple dinner at her place during one of our early dates. She is a Libran and over six years older than me. Libran's have the classic hourglass figure that I love and their sign is a good fit with me. I felt willing to marry her even before we made love. It was a totally ecstatic time and my infatuation was complete. With 60 hours towards her doctorate in education and a very loving family that had enabled a globally conscious person that oozed class, Sherry was my ideal.

There was a lot of conversation and I enjoyed her insights even if she didn't agree with me about whatever it was we were debating. She was open enough to hear my stories of psychic things and question the science behind them and see the possibilities. I told her that I was afraid of doing anything to cause us not to be friends but I still spoke my mind. There was no policy of three dates and I was on cloud nine. She had to make the first sexual moves. Her simple hamburger dinner was a disaster that we later laughed about for years. Yet, despite the fact that she saw I was a sweet person with all the right motivations she also feared the salesman in me. The truth became apparent in a couple of years as Dave developed a relationship with Sue Ann that he was the real 'operator' and Sherry still would keep me at arms length other than sex. I wrote poems and bought roses on may occasions. Before I left Indianapolis for Philadelphia I had made it clear I wanted to marry her.

I lost 20 pounds in 19 days while taking vitamins and eating my 1000 calorie two peanut butter sandwich diet. I was proud of my body and went back to see her. I remember meeting her at Subway Sam's and having lunch. She told me that she couldn't see me anymore if I was going to talk about marriage. Ours was to be an 'open relationship' and I felt the pangs of what other women that I had known must have felt. I adjusted and we soon were sharing talk about our other 'friends'. In a year or so, it seemed we were hurting each other. I was making more money and the business was doing well. I guess you could say I was a prime target for a lot of women who wanted wealth as part of the package. It became increasingly superficial and I trusted fewer people the richer I got.

Sherry had a couple of problems of a medical nature. Her hypoglycemia had been miss-diagnosed and she had been given massive cortisone shots that I believe had contributed to the cancer that resulted in the partial mastectomy. Women are not treated as men are when it comes to medical treatment; as well as every other aspect of misogyny in society. My studies of wholistics and hermetics were becoming quite extensive. I am going to quote authors from quite different sides of the fence.

David Depew and Bruce Weber of MIT wrote 'Darwinism Evolving' in 1995 and it says on pages 492 & 493:

They also made it harder for the scientific worldview to be received with equanimity by other sources of culture. Indeed, since the reducing impulse undermines fairly huge tracts of experience, people like Wallace, who feel deeply about protecting phenomena they regard as existentially important, frequently conclude that they have no alternative except to embrace spiritualism, and sometimes even to attack the scientific worldview itself, if that is the only way to protect important spheres of experience that have been ejected from science's confining Eden.

In response, scientists and philosophers who feel strongly about the liberating potential of a spare, materialistic worldview began to patrol the borderlands between the high-grade knowledge scientists have of natural systems and the low-grade opinions that in the view of science's most ardent defenders, dominate other spheres of culture and lead back toward the superstitious and authoritarian world of yester-year. 'Demarcating' science from other, less cognitively worthwhile forms of understanding was already a major feature of Darwin's world. A line beyond which the Newtonian paradigm could not apply was drawn at the boundary between physics and biology. We have seen how hesitant Darwin was to cross that line and what happened when he did. Twentieth-century people are sometimes prone to congratulate themselves for being above these quaint Victorian battles. They may have less reason to do so, however, than they think, for the fact is that throughout our own century, the same sort of battles with emotional overtones no less charged, have been waged at the contested line where biology meets psychology, and more generally where the natural sciences confront the human sciences. Dualisms between spirit and matter, and even between the mind and body, may have been pushed to the margins of respectable intellectual discourse. But methodological dualisms between what is covered by laws and what is to be 'hermeneutically appropriated' are still very much at the center of our cultural, or rather 'two cultural', life. Cognitive psychologists and neurophysiologists are even now busy reducing mind-states to brain-states, while interpretive or humanistic psychologists are proclaiming how meaningless the world would be if mind is nothing but brain. Interpretive anthropologists are filled with horror at what would disappear from the world if the rich cultural practices that seem to give meaning to our lives were to be shown to be little more than extremely sophisticated calculations on the part of self-interested genes. Conflicts of this sort would have given Darwin stomachaches almost as bad as the ones he endured over earlier demarcation controversies.

Hermeneuts is a new epithet for alchemists such as myself who OBSERVE and try to fit ALL the facts together and don't eject anything 'from science's confining Eden'.

The rhetorical pattern of these battles is still depressingly similar, in fact, to Huxley's confrontation with Wilberforce. Hermeneuts ridicule scientists like Hamilton, Dawkins, and Wilson when they suggest that nothing was ever known about social cooperation until biologists discovered kin selection. Reductionists in turn criticize hermeneuts, now transformed largely into 'culturists', for bringing back ghosts and gods, just as their nineteenth-century predecessors were taxed with being 'vitalists' every time they said something about the complexity of development. Humanists identify scientists with an outdated materialistic reductionism. Scientists insist that hermeneutical intentionality is little more than disguised religion.

Perhaps, a way out of this fruitless dialectic between the 'two cultures', can be found if each party could give up at least one of its cherished preconceptions. It would be a good thing, for example, if heirs of the Enlightenment Credited to Bacon, Shakespeare, Jonson and others with an alchemical background. would stop thinking that if cultural phenomena are not reduced to some sort of mechanism, religious authoritarianism will immediately flood into the breach. They should also stop assuming that nothing is really known about human beings until the spirit of reductionism gets to work. Students of the human sciences have, after all, been learning things alongside scientists ever since modernity began. Among other things they have learned that humans are individuated as persons within the bonds of cultures and cultural roles, they are bound together with others in ways no less meaningful and valuable than the ways promoted by strongly dualistic religions. By the same token, it would be helpful if advocates of the interpretive disciplines would. abandon a tacit assumption sometimes found among them that nature is so constituted that it can never accommodate the rich and meaningful cultural phenomena humanists are dedicated to protecting, and that therefore cultural 'ought never' to be allowed to slip comfortably into naturalism. Humanists seem to have internalized this belief from their reductionist enemies, whose commitment to materialism is generally inseparable from their resolve to show up large parts of culture, especially religion, as illusions. These opponents, we may safely say, take in each other's laundry.

I wonder if these authors and their reductivist buddies are aware that all humanists are not without the ability to incorporate hard physical science to an even higher factual degree than they do. The quantum physicists like Wigner (Nobel laureate), Schrdinger and Heisenberg think that humanistic richness is robbed by reductionist unspiritual thinking. The global reifying thrust of materialism (Dr. Boddy of U of T, anthropology) is hopefully, in due course, going to return to a global deifying thrust of spiritualism. The only REALITY is NATURE and it assuredly includes ALL observable facts not just the 'Toilet Philosophy'.

If I may be allowed to quote someone who tries to keep an 'open mind' and use WHATEVER WORKS even if it isn't 'modernity'. I choose to quote a wholistic doctor by the name of Zoltan Rona who has his M.D. and M. Sc. He edited the 'Encyclopedia of Natural Healing' in 1997 which says on pages 33 and 34:

It is misleading to call the natural health movement alternative medicine as is often done. Natural Medicine is considered the founder of contemporary Western medicine. What we now call modern medicine is actually an aberration, the result of social change at the dawn of industrialization in the eighteenth century.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Columnist in The ES Press Magazine
Author of Diverse Druids
Many books available at World-Mysteries.com include one this is an excerpt from called Integrating Soul and Science

15 Successful Packing Tips

You have permission to publish this article in its entirety, electronically, or in print, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication, if possible, would be appreciated. Or an e-mail informing the writer of your use. piercejam@sbcglobal.net

15 Tips for Successful Packing by: Joyce Moseley Pierce
1600 words - 65 character lines

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, frequently or only occasionally, it seems that we basically pack the same things every time. Here are a few tips to help simplify the process so you don't have to stress about it every time. Remember that most of these items can be purchased when you get there, but you don't want to spend your vacation money on things you already have at home, and if you're traveling on business, you may not have time to run to the store for something you need at an 8 am meeting.

After reading through these ideas, you might want to make an itemized list of things you consider important to take. Keep it in your suitcase so it will be available next time you pack and use it as a checklist to make sure you haven't forgotten anything. If other things come to mind while you're traveling, update your list for next time, but be sure to return it to your suitcase.

Rule #1 for me is to keep it light. I traveled toBrazil for 10 days with only a carry-on rolling bag and backpack. My husband packed a rolling bag that was big enough to stuff a body into and it was difficult to manage when we stayed in hotels that didn't have elevators. I don't pack more than I can carry by myself and I try to leave a little room for those vacation purchases. I have a nylon carry-on bag that zips up into a small square that comes in handy for carrying things home if I get too carried away.

1. Pajamas or gown. I have a pair of pjs I keep in my suitcase just so I don't forget them. The reason I take pajamas instead of a gown is that hotels are usually cold and if I'm staying with friends or family, I want to be able to get up and use the bathroom without having to have a robe.

2. Underwear. Pack a pair for every day and then include extras. If you're going to be doing activities that require showering and changing clothes during the day, be sure to include enough for that. Don't forget bras and sports bras.

3. Make up and toiletries. Instead of having to remember what to take every time, go through your beauty routine at home and set out the things you use every day. Refill sample jars from trial offers, or buy travel-size containers to pack your cleansers so you don't have to pack an 8 oz. tub of cold cream. Don't forget deodorant and shaving supplies. I keep a razor in my bag all the time and just change the blade when I'm leaving again. Keep your toiletry bag stocked and leave it in your suitcase for the next trip,but be sure to check and make sure you don't need to refill any of the containers.

4. Tooth care. Instead of buying a travel size tube of toothpaste, when I get toward the bottom of my big tube, I stop using it and throw it into my toiletry bag. I also pack the floss and toothbrush the dentist gives me.

5. Feminine products. Don't forget to pack at least enough to get you by until you can get to the store. A urologist once told me that women seem prone to bladder infections while they're on vacation. If you are, you might want to pack an OTC medication that will help relieve the pain and lessen the symptoms until you can get to a doctor.

6. Medications. I have a separated pill box that holds pills for a week. Usually my trips are not that long (unfortunately!) so I'll put in what I need for each day and use the extra slots for aspirin or other things I might need while away. I have another pill box that I use for my vitamins.

7. Clothes. After considering what the weather will be, I pull clothes out and lay them on the bed. I like dark colors because those spills aren't quite so obvious as they are on light colors! I pack pants that will be interchangeable with more than one shirt. In trying to pack light, I may wear a pair of black pants more than once, but not my shirts! If you're going to a cool climate, remember to bring things to layer. It will take up less room than bulkier items. It doesn't hurt to try things on before you go, either! If you haven't worn something in awhile, it may not fit the way you remembered.

8. Accessories. Make sure you have belts if necessary. You should only need one belt if you've packed color coordinated items. Keep jewelry to a minimum.

9. Shoes. Be sure your shoes are comfortable! Don't go buy a new pair of shoes and try to break them in away from home. I plan my wardrobe so that I only need one or two pair of shoes. I've cut heels out of my wardrobe, and flats go great with long skirts or pants. If you're packing shorts, take a comfortable pair of sandals that will work with shorts or skirts. If I'm taking tennis shoes, I try to wear them on the plane because they take up too much room in the suitcase. If you're going on a business trip, be sure to polish your shoes before you pack them, and then slip them inside a plastic grocery bag so the polish doesn't rub off on your clothes. Don't forget to take socks or nylons that will fit with the shoes you've chosen to take.

10. Vacation gear. Don't forget your swimsuit, cover-up and a pair of flip-flops (we used to call them 'thongs' but now that has an entirely different meaning!). My husband always forgets swim trunks and I accuse him of just wanting to buy a new pair in every city!

11. Hair products. I have short hair that can easily air dry on its own in the summer, but I have a travel hair dryer I carry with me if I'm staying in a hotel that doesn't provide one in the room. I have a hair brush that always stays in my bag. Condense big bottles of shampoo and conditioner into smaller ones. I carry a shampoo/conditioner product with me so I only have to use one product. If you need gel or hair spray, buy travel sizes the first time, and then refill them from your big bottle when it runs out.

12. Electronics. With cell phones and computers,neither are any good to you if the batteries are dead. Be sure to take the cords with you and remember to recharge every night. Don't forget your camera, film and batteries. Take film mailers with you and send it off before you leave to have a head start on the processing, and save on those one hour prices.

13. Backpack. I always carry a backpack for things to entertain myself on the plane or in the car. About a week before I leave home, I pull the backpack out and as I think of things I want to take, I throw them in and then repack it before I leave. Seems like it's always heavy going to my destination and lighter coming home because I'm tired and pack more of it in the suitcase. If I have a connecting flight and am worried about my suitcase arriving at the same time I do, I include a change of clothes and my toiletry bag. I always carry something to read, my journal, a bottle of water and a snack. I put all travel documents in the outside pocket so they are easily accessible. Do NOT pack your manicure tools or they will be taken away from you.

14. Purse. I don't carry a purse when traveling, so I condense everything into a fanny pack and put anything else I have to have in the backpack. If I'm carrying much cash, I use one of those money pouches that hangs around your neck and can be worn under your shirt. It's a good idea not to carry all of your money in one place.

15. Maps and other. Before I visit a new place, I do some research on the internet and get driving directions from the airport. I pull information on that city that might be of interest to me and my family. Be sure to include a small sewing kit, or at least some safety pins, as well as your basic first aid supplies.

Each trip I take becomes a challenge to me to pack even better on the next one. I discover what's important to take and what's not. Having your list available as you pack for each trip allows you to pack and feel confident that you haven't forgotten anything. Of course if you are traveling with children, you'll need to take their needs into consideration, and that might include taking in-laws with you to help carry everything!

Joyce Moseley Pierce a freelance riter and owner of Emerson Publications. She is also editor of The Family First Newsletter, an ezine for families with young children. http://www.emersonpublications.com