A Short History of Lingerie....

A Short History of Lingerie....

1907: American Vogue illustrated a rigid, boned brassiere with no division between the breasts. Believe it or not, it was actually worn over the corset .

1913: Mary Phelps devised the first modern bra with two lacy hankerchiefs and some help from her maid. The following year she sold the patent to a Mr Warner whom she had met at a garden party. That discussion would have been interesting.

1918: Corset-makers were running up bras designed to flatten rather than enhance. This did not last too long. You see, they were ignoring the fact that curves are much more alluring than flatness.

1925: Bras first had divisions between the breasts and adjustable straps. Thus, the first bra was introduced.

1938: Finally acknowledging that breasts did not come in standard sizes, bra-makers introduced A,B, C and D cups. Men everywhere rejoiced.

1940: Padding was first sneaked into bra cups. It was a deceptive and manipulative move. To this day, not one male has complained.

1950s: Strapless bras appeared and women were now able to wear an off-the-shoulder dress and still use a bra.

1959: Warners and Du Pont produced Lycra which we have continued to use ever since then. As a result, the many varied fashions and designs of lingerie have continued to expand.

1965: The no-bra bra was introduced to give support with a nothing-under effect. Half-hearted women's libbers rejoiced. Males unconsciously decided to let women's libbers enjoy themselves while they continued to enjoy women who looked good in a nice set of sexy lingerie.

1973: The first no-bounce sports bra was introduced. Males ignored this change. So what!

1980s: Frederick's of Hollywood and Victoria's Secrets become national icons. Men find themselves ordering lingerie from catelogs and going into mall stores to purchase female lingerie with total abandon.

1990s: The Internet is filled with sites that feature lingerie catalogs and user friendly steps to order some of the most risque' lingerie available anywhere.

2000: For those who plunge in and decide to enjoy this form of sexuality, it just keeps getting better and better and better.

About the Author

www.sinfullyseductive-lingerie.co.uk -
Seductive Lingerie

A Good Baby Car Seat Is Critical To Your Little One's Safety

Having a good baby car seat is critical to your child's safety. Doesn't that sound familiar? When you have you baby, you are advised to invest in a good baby car seat, as soon as you leave the hospital. Most babies are picked up from the hospital with their first baby car seat, courtesy of mommy or daddy or the baby shower that was had before they were born.

When you are in the process of choosing a car seat for your little one, there are a few things that are important to keep in mind. We are going to explore these things in a bit more detail.

Height and Weight

Having the right baby car seat for your little one's height and weight is extremely important. Car seats are designed to hold a baby in place in the event of an accident, and there is a huge difference between a newborn infant and a 12 month old child.

If your car seat is too large or too small for your little one, it cannot properly protect them in the event of an accident, and that can be extremely dangerous. If someone gives you a baby car seat that is too large for your little one as of yet, wait until they are big enough for it before you use it. Although the car seat will be useful when they get big enough for it, they may as well be riding on the actual seat itself-which is certainly not a safe idea.

The Style of the Car Seat

There are some car seats that you can look into that can be converted from infant car seats to a baby car seat and then a booster seat. These are usually a bit more expensive at first, but certainly beat having to have a baby car seat and then purchase additional seats as your little one gets older. While you may not realize it, your child can easily be in a car seat until they are five or even six years old; it all has to do with height and weight and what the laws are in your area.

A baby car seat is probably the most important thing you will ever purchase for your little one. If you have a car, you must have a baby car seat-and a good one at that. The National Traffic and Highway Safety Administration regulates things like baby car seats, and you can have your baby car seat checked out by them to make sure that it fits all of the safety requirements if you want to be sure. There is no greater gift than a happy, healthy child and taking care to purchase a good car seat can certainly make sure that your child is as happy and healthy as they come.

Having a car seat is not just a good idea-it is the law. The consequences of not having one are usually more than a person can bear. Save yourself the trouble and get a good baby car seat today.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get more free advice on a baby car seat and leather baby car seats at http://www.bestbabycarseat.com

By Craig Thornburrow

Dogs Understanding The Chihuahua Breed

The Chihuahua breed of dog makes a great pet! They are the smallest and longest lived breed. With few health issues, they are easy to care for and fiercely loyal. But its what you dont known about these little clowns that might surprise you.
The Chihuahua breed of dog makes a great pet! They are the smallest and longest lived breed. With few health issues, they are easy to care for and fiercely loyal. But its what you dont known about these cute little clowns that might surprise you.

History, Characteristics and Ownership

Unique to the Western Hemisphere, this breed was discovered in the Chihuahua region of Mexico in the past 150 years. Historic evidence dates these dogs back to the Aztec and Toltec Civilizations of South America where most historians believe they were highly revered and may have been used in worship services.

The Chihuahua is classified as a 'toy dog' by the American Kennel Club. Considered the smallest breed of dog, some refer to the tiniest as 'tea cup' Chihuahuas. AKC Chihuahuas weigh 2-6 pounds and grow to be about 6-9 inches long, 6-8 inches tall and live from 12-17 years (15 is the norm) making them the longest lived breed. Coats are either short and smooth, or long and fluffy. Long pointed ears are a mark of the breed. Female dogs that are three pounds and under should not be encouraged to reproduce. Females go into heat twice a year, can give birth in 65 days and usually have 1-3 puppies.

These dogs are warm weather animals that should not be over-bathed (once a month is enough). Ears should be kept free of water to avoid infections. Chihuahuas have a natural shiver which can mean they are happy, scared, cold or anxious. Often thought of as apartment dogs perfect for big cities, Chihuahuas still need exercise. They should be walked on a regular basis and must be protected from temperatures lower then 45 degrees. Food intake should be monitored and treats discouraged to avoid weight problems. These dogs have a soft spot on the top of their heads. If injured there they can die.

Chihuahuas are very accepting of children, but also loyal and protective of their owner. They tend to latch on to one person and may bark at children that move quickly towards that person. Children can accidentally kill them and people with kids under 12 should make sure that younger kids never have access to these toy dogs without an adult present.

Self-protective due to their small size, Chihuahuas are not generally good with strangers and may try to bite in response to petting by persons unknown to them. This behavior can be corrected with some simple training. These dogs are very intelligent and quickly learn to distinguish family from outsiders. They love to play and easily learn all sorts of tricks.

Chihuahuas crave lots of attention and interaction with their owners. They like to be held, love to be petted and will wrap themselves up around your neck area to show affection. Too small to be useful as guard dogs, these animals do make excellent watch dogs. They consider a household their personal domain and will alert owners to any unusual sounds or attempted entries.

People who have fallen prey to destructive breeds that love to chew on everything in site, will really appreciate Chihuahuas. Their small snouts make this a none issue. Chihuahuas are easy to paper and leash train, but will urinate on you if handled roughly or suddenly frightened. Creating a personal space for your Chi (a doggie bed or the like) is best. Chihuahuas that feel insecure, ignored or in peril may take to tunneling into bed bottoms or dig and climb up into furniture frames.

Consult your veterinarian about grooming, booster shots, and vaccinations. These are very easy to care for animals. Our pups come with their first shots, AKC registration forms and will have been checked by a veterinarian. Only puppies declared healthy are available for sale. The AKC forms indicate the dogs are pure breed Chihuahuas eligible for AKC registration (for a small fee) by the new owner under a name of their choosing. Don't wait! Register your dog!. No matter whom you purchase your AKC Chi Pup from, do not put off registration. AKC registration forms can be lost and are almost impossible to replace. Late registration will also cost you more.

The AKC is an organization that represents the needs, concerns and rights of pet lovers throughout the USA. Animal rights advocates are trying to make it almost financially impossible to own a pure breed dog and be within the law. The AKC is the only group powerful enough to keep these fanatics in check. Help your dog, help yourself. Register your pet!

Tall Tales and Outright Lies About Breeding

Many animal rights groups feel that breeding dogs (especially pure breeds) is wrong. Even now they are working to restrict breeding by urging budget-strapped cities and towns to pass laws that charge non-altered pet owners huge fees just to own their animals. This, they claim, will save those areas a fortune in animal control expenses. The problem is that responsible pet owners and legitimate breeders are not the ones creating that situation.

There is an old and true belief that when you get something for nothing, it means nothing to you. Each year millions of people are lured to local animal control or rescue centers by heart touching pieces on the local news. They are told that poor Jimmy the Lab-mix puppy will be no more unless you come down and get him. Children watch these segments and fall in love with cute puppies. There is even the promise of 'pure breed dogs' available for adoption.

So everyone goes down to the Animal Control or Rescue Center, holds a few puppies and without knowing anything about the various breed mixes that make up the pup, people plunk down a small fee (usually under $50), get a puppy and the feeling that they have saved a life. But a few weeks later, that cute little puppy gets very big and a bit out of control.

When you call animal control or the rescue center, they refer you to some of the photocopied pamphlets that came with the pup. The problem is that the little pup is now big Bubba and ate the pamphlets along with lots of other things! In the end, Bubba usually ends up out on the street. After all, he didn't cost much and his owners just couldn't cope with all the destruction. Since the family didn't have the extra fifty bucks the control or rescue people wanted to fix him, Bubba is sure to make some whoopee and impregnate lots of females before ending up back at animal control as a full grown dog with virtually no hope of adoption.

Some people are fooled into believing they can get a pure breed dog at one of those places. The dog may look pure and even conform to AKC standards, but without papers no one knows if the animal has been safely and properly bred. Many of these animals are also turned back out into the street once people realize they cannot be registered.

Probably the meanest stunt ever played on people interested in adopting dogs was done by a rescue group in Los Angeles. They claimed that thousands of people were dumping pure bred Chihuahuas at their centers throughout the city. The idea was to get people who wanted to buy pure bred Chihuahuas to abandon breeders and come to the centers. The problem was that when people arrived, they found no pure bred Chihuahuas! One picture on their website and the false story lured hundreds of people to rescue centers. Once there, they were talked into adopting a different dog they really didn't want.

Puppy mills are largely to blame for negative stories about dog breeders. The AKC and responsible breeders always take a stand against such operations. Most existing laws protect consumers against being stuck with sick animals that come from these places and legitimate breeders support those laws.

The Pet Shop vs. The Breeder

If you have already decided that it's a pretty good idea to buy an AKC pup, where should you buy? That pet store in the mall looks pretty appealing. The cages are clean, most of the animals are lively and seem friendly enough. They've even got payment and credit plans. Wait, payment and credit plans??? Just how expensive are those pups?

Most people erroneously believe that buying a puppy at a pet store will insure they get a fair deal and a healthy animal. Pet shops charge you double or triple what a fair breeder might charge for the same breed of dog and shop animals are almost always from puppy mills. Pet stores support puppy mills by purchasing animals in bulk to insure a continuing supply. They push payment plans so that it doesn't seem all that expensive up front and even tack on extra vet and preparation fees. Before you know it, an AKC Puppy you can purchase from a legitimate breeder for $500-$600, ends up costing you $1000-$2000 at a pet shop! Even worse, you may not receive your AKC papers until weeks or months after the sale.

Many pet shop pups come with unwanted bonuses like kennel cough and other health problems that can show themselves within weeks of ownership. This is the result of crowded and unsanitary conditions existing at the puppy mills. Even though most pet stores go out of their way to keep animals clean, dry and well-housed, the damage was already done long before the dog arrived there. Imagine the devastating effect the death of an animal has on people once they have bonded with it, regardless of cost or legal remedies?

If the dog was sick, you can get your money back from Pet Stores, right? Wrong! Most stores rely on State Laws for their return policy. According to most State Laws, a vet must certify that a puppy was unfit for sale at the time of sale. The problem with this is that most puppy mill diseases manifest themselves in the first 30 days of ownership, not at the time of sale. No vet will risk getting sued by a store for providing you with certification of a dog's health at a time before they first see the animal (usually weeks after the sale). Why take a chance on unhealthy animals? No one can predict what health problems may develop with a live animal, but you have a much better chance of getting a healthy pet from a legitimate Breeder.

Do the right thing. Support your local breeders. They care about their animals and will not take advantage of your desire to own a loveable, healthy dog by over-charging you. The AKC Breeder Referral Program can help you identify responsible breeders in your area. Visit http://www.akc.org or http://azpuppies.cjb.net

Caring For Chihuahua Pups

Technically speaking, Chihuahuas remain puppies for about two years. It's during that time that you need to teach your dog everything you want it to know. Start with good feeding habits. Pups may be slow to warm up to a new owner. This might make them miss some meals and they cannot afford to do that. You can solve the problem by purchasing some puppy formula (most large pet stores have it). The best kind is powdered so you can use just what you need and keep the rest fresh until you mix it. Mix the formula with most any brand of dry puppy food and make sure they are eating the mixture. If they are not, you'll need to feed the puppy the formula using a eye dropper until it warms up to the dish with the mixture in it.

As the pup warms up to you and gets used to being away from Mom, it will begin to take the mixture. Once it starts turning away from the mixture, switch to dry puppy chow mixed with a little water to make it chewable. By 9 or 10 weeks your puppy should be on dry puppy food and a separate dish of water. Feed your dog just twice a day and make sure it has lots of water! Chihuahuas love to drink a lot of fresh water and it's good for them. They also like to eat a lot, but that's not good for them. Chis can become over-weight if you over-feed them. Avoid wet type canned foods and the feeding of table scraps. That isn't good for their teeth and they will end up with diarrhea.

If you want to paper train your animal, this isn't hard at all! Just keep you puppy on paper as much as possible for the first two weeks they live with you. Then, start to move their food and water just off the paper. Every time you see the pup begin to have a bowel movement, just place them on the paper. Dont confuse your animal by constantly relocating food and water dishes or training paper. Having a small doggie bed is also a good idea. Make sure it's near, but not on the paper. These animals are very territorial and you can use this fact to help train them.

At 9-10 weeks of age it's time to visit the Vet. Your puppy will need additional shots (bring the shot and health record you received when you purchased the pup) and should be given a fecal test for worms or other parasites. It's important to establish a good connection between your Vet and yourself. The better they know your animal, the better they'll be able to suggest treatments and care over the years. Try and stay with the same Vet or treatment facility and keep good records yourself. Many cities, towns and counties now require you to care for your dog by law. Failure to keep up with shots, properly house and care for your animal or provide for it's health and safety can be punishable by fine or imprisonment or both.

I suggest that you avoid obtaining Vet or other services from pet super stores that allow owners to bring their animals in. This practice is one of the leading ways that Parvo is spread among dogs. Parvo can make dogs very sick and even kill them. It's a virus that requires immediate hospitalization and can be fatal to pups. As a preventative measure against parvo and parasites, Puppies that haven't received all their vaccinations should be kept away from public areas (and older dogs) in a clean, feces free environment.

Chihuahuas are very small. Try to keep them as far away from human feet as possible (they love to lick and play with feet, but feet can accidentally crush their tiny paws). Never let your Chi roam without a leash or unescorted outside of your house or fenced yard and make sure your dog is never outside in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit without protective clothing. Chihuahuas need exercise and love to play. Make sure you spend time with your animal. They love soft play toys and you'll be surprised how easily they learn to fetch their favorite toy and return it to you. But like too much food, too much exercise isn't good. You can't take a Chihuahua jogging with you! If you're planning more then just a short walk around a short block, leave your pet at home. Chihuahuas can get exhausted fast.

Chis are generally healthy dogs with few health issues. If they get a bit too much exercise, they might start panting and seem unable to stand. This usually means that they need more calcium. You can solve that problem with a quick trip to the vet or by dropper feeding your dog some regular milk. They should settle back down within 15-30 minutes. This is rare, but it does happen. Dogs that are nursing pups should always be given milk once a day as they'll lose calcium very fast. Consult your vet before trying any home remedies.

Chihuahuas will shake because they are happy, afraid, cold or anxious. This is normal and lets the dog express itself. This doesn't mean the animal is ill. Expect shaking to be a part of your Chihuahuas experience.

About the Author

A native New Yorker now living in Arizona, Bill Knell is a forty-something guy with a wealth of knowledge and experience. He's written hundreds of articles on a wide variety of subjects. A popular Speaker, Bill Knell presents seminars on a number of topics that entertain, train and teach. A popular radio and television show Guest, you've heard Bill on thousands of top-rated shows in all formats and seen him on local, national and international television programs.

Make life easy for your petajay pats

This article summerizes various tools available to make life easy for your pet.
There are many products on the market that can make the life of a pet owner a lot easier. Much like cats and dogs, we are always on the move, and using a pet carrier can make both of you feel safe and secure in your travels. A dog collar is great for walking your pet, and a pet door is even better for rainy days!

A pet door will offer convenience and flexibility

A panel pet door for sliding glass may be your best solution to your animals bathroom needs. Other types of pet doors include self-framing, custom dimension when you need to fit an existing hole, or an inside use pet door. All you need for a good pet door is your pets measurements, height of the hole or track height/adjustment range for sliding doors, and appropriate flap size your pet.

Dog collar dynamics

The ideal way to walk or train your dog is through the use of a good dog collar. Dog collars come in regular, chain or combination types. Another cool dog collar on the market is a remote controlled all-weather collar and hand-held transmitter. You can also find colorful dog collars, leads and tags with personalised information in case your pet wanders off.

Pet carrier basics

A pet carrier is a commonly used for safety and comfort when travelling. A great pet carrier consists of lightweight material; roll-up/roll-down flaps; extra side mesh panels for ventilation; locking zippers for safety; front and top openings; soft, removable, washable lining; and compact enough to fit in cars or under cabin seats. Visit http://venturemall.tripod.com for pet supplies.

About the Author

Ajay Patole is a qualified management professional working as sales manager and runs a site 'Venturemall',a cool hangout to play money games,buy and sell in auctions,date and photochat.It is available at URL http://venturemall.tripod.com and newsletter to rediscover true colors of life at http://www.topica.com/lists/venturemall.Also he runs a community 'Venturecon', for entrepreneurs which is available at URL http://groups.msn.com/venturecon.

Myths about dogsajay pats

This article briefly tries to address myths surrounding different breeds of dogs.
There are SO many stereotypes about SO many different breeds of the domestic dog. I would like to clear some of them up. First, I will start with a very well known breed called the American Pit Bull Terrier, Pit Bull, for short. They are Very widely known as viscous killers. In some states they are illegal to own, in some countries, you must keep them chained, harnessed, and muzzled at all times when in public, and they must be spayed/neutered. Why? Because people in the 1800s thought dog fighting an exciting sport. The Pit Bull was created solely for Dog Fighting; for fighting, often to the death, with another animal (sometimes multiple animals) because people liked to watch this.

A Pit Bull is a cross between many different fighting dogs, including the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the now extinct fighting Bulldog to create the Ultimate Killing Machine in the fighting pit. A terrier's speed and wits, combined with a bulldog's strength and jaws makes a potentially deadly animal. Because the Pit Bull was bred to be mean, and bred to be pit fighters for so long, every member of the breed today has the potential to be a danger to society. Then again, any breed of animal from any species is a potential danger to society. If an animal has teeth, claws, hooves, even just a tail, it can cause harm.

Pit Bulls, when in the right hands from early on, can make wonderful pets, as well as Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, German shepherds, English Mastiffs, Bull Mastiffs and other large breeds known for being nasty and mean tempered. I've owned at least one of every breed mentioned, and I never had problems.

Now, those breeds and many more CAN be good pets, but in the Right Hands. They may not be the pet for you and only certain qualified people should be able to own one of these magnificent animals, to help prevent more attacks made by dogs that were trained to be mean or beaten. Remember, don't go solely by a breed stereotype or the way the animal looks. Poodles sure look cute, don't they? Poodles; toys, miniatures, and standards, are more likely to bite your ankles than a Rottweiler is.

English Mastiffs are big ... their teeth and jaws are large and powerful ... but that doesn't mean they're going to use them on you. Seeing an English Mastiff, more commonly known as just the Mastiff, is pretty uncommon, as they are one of the largest breeds in the world. They need experienced and strong masters, and need to be handled sensibly. Because of their size, they could easily overpower a smaller person, and can be stubborn when it comes to obedience. Despite their look and size, they are loving family dogs. Mastiffs existed in Great Britain 2,000 years ago, and were exported to Rome as Military and fighting dogs. They require a lot of room to run and eat a lot, so if you live in an apartment in the city and have little money to spare after your own needs are met, I wouldn't recommend a Mastiff.

Bullmastiffs are pretty much the same way. Though smaller than the Mastiff, they still require experienced handlers. The Bullmastiff is faster, and more active than the Mastiff. The males, especially when left intact are more likely to be aloof of strangers and may be troublesome with other (male) dogs. The foundation stock of the Bullmastiff is said to be 60% Mastiff and 40% bulldog ... produced to act as a gamekeeper's assistant, with the ability to chase and immobilize poachers/intruders, without killing them. As a guard dog, this breed is equal to the Rottweiler, but tends to be overly protective of its human family and resistant to obedience training.

German Shepherds, due to being a very popular breed, have been poorly bred in recent years, causing arthritis of the joints, eye disease, gastrointestinal disease, and other medical problems to occur in a majority of the population. Nervousness, fearfulness, timidity, and aggression to other dogs as well as other behavioral problems have become common in the breed. When bred carefully, however, German Shepherds are a wonderful breed ... calm, reliable, responsive, and obedient pets.

Doberman Pinschers,(Dobermans) are affectionately referred to as Dobies by their owners. This elegant, often affectionate breed is a result of the purposeful breeding of the Rottweiler, German Pinscher, Manchester Terrier, English Greyhound, and Weimaraner to create a speedy guard and military dog. They are fast and intelligent, but because of unscrupulous breeding and misrepresentation, the reputation of these obedient, alert and resourceful companion and service dogs, has gone bad. Nervousness and fear biting can occur in some individuals but a good breeder will ensure that his/her dogs are neither shy nor vicious. They are often times not very friendly when it comes to other dogs, so early socialization is a must. An unfortunate and serious problem in Dobermans is heart disease. They are good working and companion dogs, but, as with any dog, it is not recommended that they be left alone with small children or animals.

Now to the Rottweiler, which is currently one of the most popular breed in the US. Yet another breed suffering from poor breeding, more and more behavioral problems have shown up in this magnificent breed. Aggression towards humans as well as other dogs has become an increasing problem with Rottweiler, they are a strong-willed, intelligent breed that should only go to dedicated, active owners. They are great guard and family dogs, aloof of strangers and protective of their territory, but can't get enough attention. They are very strong and need a lot of exercise. There are two 'types' of Rottweiler, the German Rottweiler and what's known as the American Rottweiler, which are different mainly in appearance. The German Rottweiler has a slightly heavier build, thicker necks, bigger heads with shorter, broader muzzles, smaller feet and ears, usually the same height as the average American Rottweiler, but weighs Aprox. 15-20 pounds more. The Am. Rottweiler is taller for their weight than the German breeds. The American Rottweiler has the exact same brown on black pattern, but are of a slimmer build, longer legs, with bigger feet, a longer but not overly so or pointed muzzle, they have longer ears and their tails, I find, are usually docked shorter.

I have had problems with the American Rottweilers in more recent times. Americans, I find, have a tendency to be more aggressive with other dogs and strangers. All Rottweilers, considered American or German, are, in fact, German. Bred in Germany as a cattle drover and guard dog. The Rottweilers protected herds of cattle and took them to town, it is said the farmers had them wear heavy spiked collars to protect them in fights and that after the cows had been sold, the money was put in a small box, which was then tied to the dog's neck for safekeeping.

****Myths****

Here are two common myths for you: My dog will turn on me if I feed him raw meat. This is NOT TRUE, and highly unlikely even if you are feeding your dog YOUR OWN flesh. In fact, for most dogs, raw meat is good for them, and an occasional bone purchased at the grocery store with raw meat on it, it a very tasty treat. Some dogs can get snappy, though, and possessive of the meat or bone, which you have to watch out for. More information about Food Aggression can be seen at the bottom of the page. When you reach down to pick the bone up off the floor and your dog growls at you, let it know that is NOT acceptable behavior, but don't put yourself in a situation where you may be bit. Don't hit the dog, talk soothingly to get it to stop growling, and slowly, very slowly, pick up the bone, or, don't, and just stand up (slowly). But, don't mistake a play growl or alking with threatening behavior, a deep, rumbling growl mixed with short, medium pitched yips is most likely a warning, but when it just sounds like a little kid saying RRRRRRRR, they are most likely playing. My Rottweiler, Cain, growl/barks and dances when he wants my attention, some people would think it is aggressive behavior but most just think he's a nut case. Also, some dogs will smile at you when they are happy or excited by lifting their upper lip and exposing their teeth, and if you watch closely, they most likely also hold back their ears and wag their tail so vigorously their whole body shakes.

Cats and Dogs are Born Enemies. This isn't always true, I've had cats that think themselves to be dogs, and dogs that don't know exactly what they are (human or cat?). As I said on the first page, every animal has its own personality, meaning it has its likes and dislikes. Some cats will love all dogs, some cats will dislike all dogs, some cats will like some and not like others, and visa versa.Visit http://venturemall.tripod.com for pet supplies and articles.

About the Author

Ajay Patole is a qualified management professional working as sales manager and runs a site 'Venturemall',a cool hangout to play money games,buy and sell in auctions,date and photochat.It is available at URL http://venturemall.tripod.com and newsletter to rediscover true colors of life at http://www.topica.com/lists/venturemall.Also he runs a community 'Venturecon', for entrepreneurs which is available at URL http://groups.msn.com/venturecon.

Potty training puppycheryl wheeler

Advice on potty training your dog
You've just brought home this adorable little puppy and in appreciation he has left you a present, a smelly little pile of poop. What do you do now? Day one with puppy is time to start training. You want to start right away before bad behavior becomes a habit.

To start with, confine your pet with either a child's safety gate, in one room or in a doggy crate. The less room the better, dogs don't usually defecate or urinate in their own beds, to much space and he/she will go in one area and sleep in another. Freedom is earned with good behavior, peeing and pooping outside.

The next step take determination, patience and endurance on your part. Start by putting your pet on a leash and taking him out every two hours. He will need to go out during the night also. But make sure you stay strictly business at night time, unless you want to have play time in the middle of the night, every night. By the time he is four months old he should be able to hold himself through the night. Choose a place near the house where you would like him to go. Take him there, on the leash, let him sniff around about five minutes or so. Use words to encourage him to go. Use the same word or phrase every time. If he gets distracted, and puppies are easily distracted, a gentle tug on the leash and repeating the word or phase you have chosen to use to mean peeing or pooping should do the trick. Otherwise just stand there and wait. If he doesn't go don't worry, just go back inside and try again in 15 or 20 minute intervals till he does. When he does go, praise him with words during the act and loving or a treat after. Don't just send him outside by himself. You must be there in person to praise during and immediately after the act.

You will have to do this every two hours and within twenty to thirty minutes of eating or drinking, time this to know exactly when is right for your pet. Get the puppy on a regular schedule of breakfast and dinner at the same time every day. Puppies will also need to go every time there is a change in activity, like from playing to sleeping or chewing or eating. Get to know your puppies signals, a facial expression, sniffing around for a place to go or suddenly stopping whatever he is doing. Anticipate his need.

There are specific times, like first thing in the morning, that you know he will need to go. These times will be the easiest to catch and reinforce good behavior.

Always reward good behavior. Avoid reinforcing bad behavior, don't rub his nose in it or holler and scream. The worst punishment to your adoring little pet is to ignore him. Simply crate him and ignore him. Never let him see you clean up his messes and always use a pet odor removal product.

If you are still having trouble, ask yourself, are you taking him out enough? Is there any physical reason, ie. parasites or urinary tract infection? Are you expecting to much to soon? Do you consistently praise for good behavior and ignore bad behavior?

About the Author

Cheryl Wheeler is mother of six, publisher and author. You can check out her website at http://www.simply-amusing.com

Buying Vacation Property in Palm Beach

The boom in vacation properties is just beginning. It appears to be a strong real estate trend in the coming years.

There are two main reasons for this trend. First, people born in the 1940s and ?50s are now looking toward retirement and are financially able to own a second home. As they live longer, healthier lives and stay active, many are choosing vacation homes near ski slopes, golf courses, or water-sport areas.

The other reason for the growth in the vacation market is money. Many people have refinanced loans and taken the equity from their primary residence to purchase a vacation home. Owning a second home appeals to some people as a safer investment than the stock market.

Here are some tips to help you select a vacation home:

* Buy a home you are going to use in an area you enjoy visiting. If it is too far away or inconvenient to travel to, you won't go often enough.

* Choose a location with a variety of indoor and outdoor activities for when the weather turns bad.

* Research locations and visit destinations, preferably in different seasons.

If you're thinking about buying a vacation home in Palm Beach, make sure to take care of the points made above. The market for Palm Beach real estate is finnicky and the devil is definitely in the details. After talking with many a Palm Beach realtor, it is clear that the difference in making a fast sale and staying on the market for a while is the small fixes that svae lazy buyers from doing it themselves.

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Avoiding the Rental Voids in BuyToLet Property Investment

At some point, every buy-to-let investor will face the spectre of rental voids but it?s what you do about them that makes you either a victim of circumstance of a savvy investor. The smart investor takes action to minimize such down periods and here are a few tips I?ve found helpful in doing so:

Seasonality: There are certain times of the year when people stay put because they're focused on other things. Summer holidays and Christmas are just a couple of those ?things? that affect large numbers of people at the same time. After summer, you?ll find that September should see more activity (and you can probably write off most of January, too). The summer dip is particularly relevant in areas of high student density, e.g. university towns, especially if your property might normally be let to these types of people or people related to this business. Wherever possible, then, ensure that your existing tenancy doesn?t end around these times.

Apathetic Letting Agents: Try and gee them up by telling them that you're placing your own ad and if you introduce the tenant you want a reduction in their fee. You could also make your property available to more than one agent and promise that the first one to fill the vacancy gets the management for the next year. If an agent thinks they?re the only one, they won't be inclined to try so hard.

Be Proactive: Don?t just sit back and wait for others to do the work. Remember, it?s your money that?s dripping (or gushing) away all the time the property is empty. Here are some ideas of actions you might take:

? place your own ad
? directly contact large employers and accommodation officers in local hospitals and universities
? offer an incentive (free TV/DVD player/holiday/champagne, etc)
? drop the rent to just below market for the area (a reduction of ?5 a week for the year = ?260, compare this with how much you?re losing each month the property is empty and you have to continue paying the mortgage)
? find out what people are looking for that would make your property more attractive than others that are currently vacant

To Furnish or Not? Only consider furnishing the property if you're getting people asking for it to be furnished. If you just do this on the off chance, you could end up with a bunch of furniture to get rid of if they then want it unfurnished. You might list as will furnish if required. Quite frankly, the achievable rental will be barely affected, if at all, and you'll then be liable to replace things as they wear out (although you will be able to depreciate the costs of furnishings by about 10% per annum off your tax bill ? see my article on ?Reducing Property Income Tax?).

If you do go the route of furnishing, get new (IKEA, perhaps) rather than second hand. Although the 1950s furniture will be around forever, people prefer new and modern rather than old and sturdy. In addition, if you do buy from IKEA, the products are cheap and stylish and it?s probably the only store that will be able to fill your order quickly (even though you have to do the legwork yourself). Here?s a tip you?ll appreciate if you?ve ever gone the flatpack route? get a professional to do the assembly for you, it?ll be done quicker, to a better standard and they?ll probably have spares if any of the fittings are missing. And a tip within the tip is, if you?re buying at IKEA, ask around among the loading staff in the aisles whether they know anyone who does such assembly, some IKEA staff have side businesses doing just this.

Rental Assisted Tenants? In certain areas rentals predominantly go to such tenants. The only implications I've found is that the proportion of the rent paid by the council doesn't always come on the same day each month. However, if you have claimants screened in the usual way (as they have to make up the shortfall and be trusted to pay the assisted monies if it's paid directly to them), then you should be fine.

Remember to get references from the landlord PRIOR to the one they're about to leave as their current landlord might be glad to be rid of them and will provide a glowing reference in order to do so. Look for longevity in their past rental history. If they flit every few months it could be a bad sign. Don't be scared to consider such tenants. Most people don't enter a home in order to trash it, no matter who's paying the rent.

Renting Room by Room: If you do this, the property could be classified as an HMO (home in multiple occupation) if it?s let to 3 or more tenants who form two or more households and who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet. Each council will have an HMO Officer and you can check with them if you?re unsure where your property stands. If it is so classified, as of April 2006, your property will need to be registered. This carries a fee and has requirements covering room square footage, kitchen food security (yes, really), fire system, fire escapes, etc. You also have to prove that you?re a ?fit and proper person? to hold the license. Even after the license is granted, running an HMO involves more management and might not be a route you want to go down. You might wonder, then, why anyone bothers with them. Well they can yield high income, you just have to weigh up the pros and cons.

When It Just Won?t Rent: If this is the case, you will want to look at other options such as:

? is the property suitable for conversion to self-contained flats (if they?re not self-contained, they still fall into HMO territory)
? is it best to sell up and buy something with higher yield in a higher demand area where, this time, you do your research first? See my article: ?Before You Buy-to-Let? on www.womeninpropertyinvestment.com

? Maria Davies, www.WomenInPropertyInvestment.com This article may be distributed or reproduced in full provided the above Copyright line is also included in full. Maria Davies has been a property investor since 1990. She freely admits that she's probably made every mistake in the book but she has learnt from them. Maria is a professional speaker whose specialist subjects are property investment and sales presenting.

Don't Get Scammed Buying Breast ... (Review)

Below article is copy from RadioHealth.net which i find interesting and like to share with all ladies out there

Don't Get Scammed Buying Breast Enlargement Products Online

Read this special article before you consider buying breast gain products on the Internet

From the desk of Donna Schwartz (Senior Reviewer)

Sometimes we get interesting assignments at RadioHealth.net...this one is no exception. I was asked to find and test various products that guaranteed an increase in breast size naturally. My first reaction was 'yeah, right'. I was quite skeptical of all the claims that one could increase their breast size by a 'full cup in as little as 30 days' with no surgery and no prescription medication.

Today, as I write this, I'm practically in shock. Not only did I gain a full cup size, it actually took 33 days to achieve the desired result. BUT, it took me a long time and a lot of money to find the right breast enlargement product (I was the victim of several fakes and shady operations until I found the right companies and products).

Initially, because of an error in the address that I submitted when ordering, I was left with a credit card charge and no product and I was at the mercy of a fly-by-night fulfillment operation that didn't know the first thing about customer service. On another occasion, my order was lost (or so I was told) and I never heard from that company again (they've since been put out of business by the FTC). Through all my trials, I was able to conduct extensive research regarding the many companies that sell breast enhancement products online. Needless to say, when I finally gained a full cup size after finding the 'right' product, I was overjoyed and committed to sharing what I found with as many self conscious women as possible. My hope is that you will benefit from my experiences (my list of reputable breast enhancement products appears below).

First, a little background. Over the past 6 years I had actually considered and researched several options to increase my bust (including costly and dangerous surgery...which I thankfully ruled out). I'd spoken with a dozen companies and was looking for assurances that whatever product I chose would not lead to an increase in my overall body weight, or cause me to gain additional weight associated with a lot of herbal formulas on the market. Surprisingly, it was this assignment that led me to 'the holy grail'.

Actually, I'd been self conscious about my bust size since the 8th grade so, when asked to investigate, I immediately ordered several advertised 'magic' pills and tested them methodically. It didn't hurt that I had recently seen a report on natural breast enhancement on Dateline NBC and in USA Today in the same week. Honestly, I was willing to try anyting because, for years, I would wake up every day feeling bad about my breasts (And, yes, I had tried every padded and push-up bra on the market).

With the products that I successfully tested, what you'll notice right away is that you will not increase your overall body weight AND you'll feel better about yourself.

During my months of researching the breast enhancement market online and speaking with company representatives, I came across some very important information that everyone should know before purchasing breast enhancement pills on the Internet.

When you select your breast enlargement product, choose one that has at least 12 all-natural ingredients that are rich in estrogen and human growth hormone stimulation (from plant sources called phytoestrogens; these natural estrogenic compounds help to promote the growth of healthy breast tissue). Don't be fooled by substitute products that claim to be like the products listed below -- many may only contain two to five of the necessary ingredients for guaranteed breast tissue growth.

The products we recommend are the original leaders in this category with nearly 8 years of successful use and a combined 160,000 satisfied customers worldwide.

IMPORTANT: because of the growing awareness and popularity of these miracle herbs, rip-off products that contain very little or no authentic phytoestrogens in them have flooded the marketplace. So.......

Before choosing a breast enhancement product, make sure to ask how long the company has been in business and how many successful cases the product has produced. No products have been more successful in stimulating the growth of breast tissue than those recommended below. Also, insist on no Ephedra, no Ma Huang, and no Ephedrine. And, by all means, do not settle for any company that does not provide discreet shipping and billing worldwide.

Finally, when deciding which products to recommend on RadioHealth.net, we always ask 2 questions:

1. Does the product have a successful track record? (has it worked for us AND are there documented consumer success stories?)

2. Does it come with an iron clad MONEY BACK GUARANTEE and/or free samples?

I'm happy to say that each of the products below passes our test.

All the best.

Signed,

Donna Schwartz

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About the Author

Author Info...

Annabel Cruz is a researcher that studies Natural healing by combining both Western and Eastern ways. Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine as long as the following information about author/website is included.

http://www.bestpuerariamirifica.com

Baby Gift Baskets for New Parents

Baby gift baskets are the most precious gift you can give to your baby.

There's no more joyful an event than the arrival of a new baby, but it can sometimes be tricky to find a unique gift to give to both the little one and their mother. There comes a time when many couples make the decision to create new life. This is without a doubt the most wonderful experience any human being can have. There's nothing quite like having a child of your very own. Well, new parents need all sorts of baby supplies such as infant dishes, baby blankets, bottles, infant toys, cribs, basinets, mobiles, car seats and gentle cleansers. These are all products you can acquire in baby gift baskets. So, the next time one of your friends or family members has a child, consider one of the countless baby gift baskets, which are literally available all over the place.

Luckily gift baskets have been designed with this vexing problem in mind. Instead of struggling to find something suitable for the new baby, why not buy a luxurious gift basket that is packed with treats for both mother and baby? If you're new to the world of infants and toddlers, you should be aware that fine baby gift baskets can be purchased all over the place. A few local amenities you may have at your disposal are department stores and specialty baby gift shops. Department stores like Hecht's, Nordstrom's, Macy's, Belk's, Riches and Nieman Marcus carry all sorts of cool baby gift baskets, which are loaded with soft little blankets, baby toys, gentle body washes and extra soft towels. However, you don't have to resort to departments stores in order to find great baby supplies and accessories. Be sure you think about the Internet as well. Online you'll no doubt discover the grandest variety of baby gift baskets to suit anyone's needs.

Bear in mind that don't think too much when you purchase baby gift baskets as presents for your family member, child or acquaintance who's having a child. In reality all you need to know is the baby's gender. If you know this, you can find all sorts of cool baby gift baskets that would make any parent happy. On a final note, keep in mind that babies always need more toys, blankets, books, bath accessories and diapers. Therefore you can hardly go wrong with any of these baby products. It's easy to find soft toys and new clothes to buy the baby, but quite often the mother gets overlooked. So just imagine how gratefully your thoughtful gift will be received, fully laden with delights to be enjoyed not just now, but in months to come as well.

Now there are a lot of people who will be diligently looking around to find the perfect baby gifts to give to a new mother-to-be or to take to her baby shower. You may even be one of these people. With this in mind, you should know that there are a lot of great things that you could purchase for this new mother. She would definitely love to receive any of the items for new baby.

Likewise, you can create a? special security blanket. Whether it is a crocheted baby blanket or a knitted quilts, it is something we treasure because it brings us comfort. You see, although both of us have an artistic side,we are brothers and we have to make fun of each other. Nonetheless, when I had the baby blanket crocheted, I knew that he would treasure it and that his child would treasure it it even more. Usually, most of us get them when we are infants and keep them a little bit too long..

Well, before I found the most simple design crocheted baby blankets that I could. Most people says that, crocheting is easy, but I have never tried anything that I found more personally challenging. It was hard to keep focused, stitch after stitch. It was hard to count the stitches without losing track. It was hard to get all the loops even, and it was hard to see the project through from beginning to end. The first attempts at making crocheted baby blankets failed, and I was almost ready to give up when I finally started to make some progress.
I almost give all my attention to the crocheted baby blankets, turning off the TV and music and focusing intently on the work. My wife told me that this was a mistake. When she crocheted baby blankets, she liked to have the TV on, or at least have some friends over. Although it seems counterintuitive to me, she explained the reason it works better.?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
????????????????????????????????????????????
As you can see, crocheting is all about finding a natural rhythm. If you pay too much attention to getting everything exactly perfect with crocheted baby blankets, you will lose it all. If you can crochet a baby blanket without even thinking about it, however, you can keep the stitches smooth and even. I am glad that I listened to her advice and did not give up. It turns out that it is much easier to make a crocheted baby blanket when you do not pay too much attention to what you're doing.

All of these ideas are very exciting and will be greatly enjoyed by the person that you are giving the gift to. Hopefully, now you will no longer be stuck on what to purchase and instead may feel like you have too many choices. This can be a great feeling as you can then pass on some ideas to your friends who are stuck for ideas like you once were.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Crizza
For more information about unique baby gifts and? baby blankets, please visit our website.

Computer Backgammon

The first strong computer opponent was BKG 9.8. It was programmed by Hans Berliner in the late 1970s on a PDP-10 as an experiment in evaluating board positions. Early versions of BKG played badly even against poor players, but Berliner noticed that the critical mistakes the program made were always at phase changes. He applied basic principles of fuzzy logic to smooth out the transition between phase changes, and by July 1979, BKG 9.8 was ready to play against then current world champion Luigi Villa. It won the match, 7-1, becoming the first computer program to defeat a world champion in any game, although this was mostly a matter of luck, as the computer happened to get better dice rolls than its opponent in that match.

Beginning in the late 1980s, creators of backgammon-playing software began to have even more success with a neural network approach. TD-Gammon, developed by Gerald Tesauro of IBM, was the first of these computer programs to play at or near the expert level. This program's neural network was trained using Temporal Difference learning applied to data generated from self-play.

This line of research has resulted in two modern commercial programs, Jellyfish and Snowie, the shareware BGBlitz (implemented in Java), and the free software GNU Backgammon, that play on a par with the best human players in the world. It is worth noting that without their associated weights tables which represent hours or even months of tedious neural net training, these programs play no better than a human child.

It is interesting to contrast the development of backgammon software with that of chess software:

For backgammon, neural networks work better than any other methods so far. For chess, brute force searching, with sophisticated pruning and other refinements, works better than neural networks.

Every advance in the power of computer hardware has significantly improved the strength of chess programs. In contrast, additional computing power appears to improve the strength of backgammon software only marginally.

For both backgammon and chess, it is at present unclear whether the best computer or the best human is best overall. For most other games, one or the other is unambiguously stronger.
About the Author

Essentials of the Exhaust System and Its Exhaust Parts

For any and every person who owns or drives a car, the exhaust system is among the most essential parts of an automobile that one shouldn?t be remiss in learning about. The said system performs two vital functions: first, it disposes of the dangerous engine gases from the vehicle. Second, it reduces the noise made by the escaping gases. The exhaust system is incidentally regarded as a safety device because it transports the carbon monoxide to a point just behind the passenger compartment before it releases them to the outside air. Among the dangers that defective exhaust systems pose is the inevitable seepage of the gases into the passenger compartment, an event that could lead to headaches, nausea and even irritability. Exposure to huge doses of the gases can also result into a loss of consciousness and in some extreme cases, certain death. One thing that car owners must remember is that, because the exhaust system is responsible for cutting down on the noise, disproportionate engine rumblings are an absolute, dead-giveaway that the car is in immediate need for the services of a reliable auto shop.

In addition to its two primary functions, an exhaust system that works well is quite a boon to the emission control system of a vehicle because it enhances the behavior of emission control devices. And of course, vice versa since if the exhaust system is faulty, then problems?and not benefits?abound. For instance, restrictions in any of the exhaust pipes or mufflers can directly result into a loss of power for the car?s engine and misfiring. Such incidents, in turn, have ill effects on the precise calibration of the exhaust emission control system, which, in turn, still affects other systems of the car. Everything works through a series of connections so that one mishap, one tiny little problem in any of the exhaust parts could evolve into a huge problem that might cause thousands of dollars to repair. It is for this reason that an exhaust part that is in good working condition is quite the thing to have. Besides, in this day and age, the importance of having exhaust systems, and therefore of exhaust parts, that work without trouble, that last and endure, is fairly well known. With so many media campaigns in every possible medium, society, it seems, cannot stress it enough.

Principal exhaust components include the following: exhaust manifolds, exhaust pipes, muffler and resonator, tailpipe, as well as miscellaneous clamps and brackets. In addition, inline engines commonly have a single manifold with a corresponding system of pipes and mufflers that leads to the rear of the vehicle. Vehicles that employ v-type engines, on the other hand, have two manifolds and have the option to work with either a single or dual system of pipes and mufflers. Still, however certain of your exhaust system you are, the need for regular inspections should not be underestimated. Some problems might be too minute to take note of and could escape even one?s careful scrutiny. In every case, it is always best to let the experts work on what they do best rather than for one to attempt to carry out a task that one has only little knowledge of.

Chantal Smith is a 35-year old mother of 3 who owns a local auto parts store in Detroit, Michigan. Used to be an employee of Chrysler, she decided to put up her own parts store to attend more to her children. Visit exhaust system for more information.

Ford Excursion: King of SUVs

People who are searching for a sport utility vehicle that has a really wide interior space and room would find the Ford Excursion their top and ideal choice. This vehicle has the capacity to take in a maximum of nine people inside its cabin. Its closest rivals include the Chevrolet Suburban and the GMC Yukon XL, yet the Ford Excursion towers over them by six inches. It also is 7 inches longer as well as 2000 pounds heavier. It is equipped with a rear-wheel drive or a four-wheel drive configuration. The Ford Excursion is made available in three trim levels which include the XLT, the Eddie Bauer, and the Limited trim.

This vehicle holds traditional Ford styles intact. This includes the four side doors along with the wider back doors. These assist and facilitate easier access to the rear and middle doors. The Ford Excursion also has power adjustable pedals and the whole vehicle is powered by a diesel engine. This engine of the Ford Excursion also features a Tow-Haul mode that has a maximum of 11,000 pounds of towing power. The engine also has cleaner emissions and boasts an improved gas mileage.

The Ford Excursion is considered to be beastly in size. It is the king of big sport utility vehicles. It has all-terrain tires that give the vehicle the capacity to handle tough, hilly, and inclined roads as well as snowy and slippery highways. This vehicle is capable of going places that would seem to be inaccessible for other heavy-duty pickups. Despite the weight and size of the Ford Excursion, the vehicle is still easy to maneuver.

Driving the Ford Excursion would give you the feeling of safety and security. The vehicle is also highly function for it can transport cargo and people. It also can tow a big trailer as well as other things like boats. The design of this vehicle is based on Ford's Super Duty F-series pickup trucks. The rear cargo of the Ford Excursion is split in three ways. This arrangement offers a greater and better visibility when driving rearward.

Features and equipment, standard and optional, for the Ford Excursion include four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), a tilt steering wheel, cruise control, a 40/20/40 split front bench seat, a 60/40 split-folding second row seat, a folding/removable third-row seat, power heated mirrors, power windows, power door locks, a remote keyless entry system, an AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo, 16-inch chromed steel wheels, a floor console, automatic headlamps, rear-seat audio controls, power rear quarter windows, a Reverse Sensing System, automatic climate control, a trip computer, power adjustable pedals, two-tone leather seating surfaces, cherry woodgrain interior accents, illuminated running boards, an in-dash six-disc CD changer, heated front seats, memory seats and pedals, climate and audio controls mounted on the steering wheel, a HomeLink transmitter, and an overhead console.

Ford Excursion owners and Ford vehicle owners can now shop for discount Ford Excursion parts and accessories from Ford Parts Discount's auto parts catalog. In stock are quality Ford parts like starters, headlights, alternators and a lot more for all enthusiasts.
About the Author

Jay Stevens works as a consultant for an established auto parts store in the country. He has expertise in automotive technology and has inside knowledge on the auto parts industry.

Sell Your Home Become an Informed Seller

Regardless of whether you decide to sell your home yourself or through an agent, you owe it to yourself to become an informed seller. Even if you're trusting the sale of your home to an agent, it's still important that you have some idea of how the process works.

First, do some basic research on home prices in your area. Make no mistake: potential home buyers will have a very good idea of what your home should sell for, and if you're too far away from a realistic price, you'll find yourself with no buyers looking at your home.

There are some things you can't change about your house, such as its location, number of bedrooms and baths, and lot size. Take them into account when pricing your home. There are other things you can change, such as paint, carpet, and landscaping. Learn how much your home is worth just as it is, and then analyze how much return you'll get on your investment if you make repairs or upgrades.

Spend a considerable amount of your preparation time cleaning and decluttering your home. Have a yard sale, rent a dumpster, and donate everything that you no longer want or need. This is one of the most cost effective things you can do before you put your home on the market. Keep a record of the money you spend to upgrade and repair the house for sale. There may be tax advantages once the home has sold.

Be familiar with the various financing options that are available in your area. You don't have to be an expert, but it will pay to be as knowledgeable as possible. That way, you won't be surprised when buyers come in with a financing option you've never heard of.

Make sure your home is being marketed in the most effective way. That doesn't mean holding a number of open houses. They're not as effective as most sellers think they are. In fact, open houses often benefit the agent much more than the seller, because they're a great way to meet home buyers. In spite of the advances in technology, the most effective sales tool is still a good old-fashioned sign in your yard.

Keep your home as clean and uncluttered as possible while it's on the market. This is also important, because rightly or wrongly, buyers associate dirt and clutter with substandard housing. Make sure your home says quality to every person who enters.

Make your own moving plans early. There are few things in the world more frustrating than to have to find and purchase a new home quickly once yours has sold, so don't wait. Start looking right away, because you never know when a buyer is going to walk into your home and fall in love. You can make the purchase of your new home contingent on the sale of your old one, so don't put off your own home search while you wait for your current house to sell.

Selling a home doesn't have to be difficult or frustrating. It should be an exciting time as you look to enter a new phase of your life. Take charge of the situation, and you can make sure that selling your house is a happy experience.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

Jeanette Fisher teaches home sellers five ways to make the highest possible profit from selling their homes. Free reports and teleseminars at http://www.sellfast.info

Free Home Staging Information

BMW M3 Four Generations Of Monsters

Originally, the goal, for designers and engineers of the BMW M3, was to build a powerful and yet lightweight automobile derived from the BMW 3 series. The resulting 5000 examples hand -built by BMW Motorsport culminated with the introduction of the first series, which was based on the E30 platform in 1986 in Europe. The E30 M3 remained in production until 1990 and was replaced in 1992 with the next generation E36 M3.

The E30 M3 quickly became one of the most successful touring cars in history. Equipped with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with a twin-cam-four valve head with Bosch fuel injection, the E30 M3 hit a top speed of 140 miles per hour and hit zero to sixty in less than 7 seconds. The vehicle weighed only 2850 pounds and had a 5-speed manual transmission.

The E36 M3 was introduced in 1992 in Paris. The engine, known as the S50, was based on the M50TU. Changes included enlarging the bore and stroke, modifying the intake to include individual throttle bodies and adapting a new variable valve timing system on the intake camshaft to the engine. With these modifications, the S50 produced over 280 horsepower. The E36 M3 had a few distinctions from the regular three series including larger anti-roll bars, firmer springs and shocks, 12-inch vented disc brakes and the M-tuned variable-ration steering. The exterior of the E36 M3 varied slightly from the regular three series with a front air dam, deeper side valance panels and aerodynamic side mirrors. When the automobile was introduced in the United States in 1994, it had been modified with what was then known as the S50 B30 USA engine. While the cost had dropped, the US model was only capable of producing 240 horsepower instead of the original 280.

In 1995, BMW offered the M3 offered an automatic transmission and also introduced a Lightweight M3. This model was actually manufactured as a competition vehicle and weighed in 200 pounds less than the original E36 M3. Stripped of it's air conditioning, radio and rear seat, the 1995 M3 Lightweight only sold 85 models in the United States.

The 1996 model, however, underwent a few radical changes with the addition of a new engine called the S50 B32. Although the European version engine was capable of producing over 320 horsepower, the US version still remained at 240. The transmission was a Getrag six-speed manual that was matted to the engine. Acceleration increased to zero to sixty mph in 5.6 seconds. The model years for the E36 M3 ran from 1992-1999.

Billed as the hird generation M3, the 2001 M3 Convertible was a four-seater that was identical to the M3 coupe with an automatic soft top. Equipped with a new 333 horsepower engine and a new 6 speed transmission, the 2001 M3 accelerated from zero to 62 mph in 5 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. It wasn't until this year that US sport car enthusiasts were able to experience the full power of the BMW as the models sold in the US sported the same horsepower as those sold abroad.

While the BMW M3 has continued to evolve on the same previous generation platform with no significant changes, the 2006 model was available as either a coupe or convertible.

Standard features on the coupe include:

• ? 18-inch wheels with Z-rated rubber
• ? Automatic climate control
• ? 10-way adjustable sport seats
• ? Leather and cloth upholstery
• ? One-touch power windows
• ? Heated power mirrors
• ? CD player
• ? Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• ? Automatic headlights,
• ? Rain-sensing wipers
• ? Keyless entry.

Recently introduced at the 77th Geneva Motor Show, the much anticipated 2007 BMW M3 Concept Car is truly geared up to represent the newest generation of the M3. BMW fans ... start your engines!

About the Author Jonathan Blaze is a BMW enthusiast and entrepreneur. His website http://www.bimmerfreak.com/ has many BMW parts for every generation M3.

Lakefront Property For Sale

Lakefront property for sale is a highly valuable commodity. A life at the lakefront is just like your own personal heaven. A lakefront property cannot be compared with any other property. Hence, the delight of living next to lake can be experienced only by owning or renting lakefront property.

Today a huge number of lakefront properties are available for sale. Some are along the world's most beautiful lakes, while others are on small and quiet ones. Lakefront property is common in the USA and Canada, since they have about 3,000 lakes.

Some lakefront properties set themselves apart from the rest. Less than a 4-hour drive from the areas of Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Jersey is a village at the Bear Trap Dunes, which was given the 2002 Development of the Year award for some of the best lakefront property in the area. Near Delaware, elegant lakefront property is available next to the Indian River Bay.

In Florida, the Hammock Beach, situated at the Palm Coast, is enclosed by very old oak hammocks and the Atlantic Ocean. Here one has a chance to obtain pre-construction pricing. Then, moving towards the Southeast, there are beautiful lakefront properties in the Mississippi, such as the Pickwick Pines Resort in Iuka and the Old Waverly in West Point. These provide an amazing experience of stylish living. A lakefront property on Lake Wylie, near Charlotte, North Carolina, is The Sanctuary, which is a natural reserve society of less than 200 home sites. The Goodfield Landing, Decatur, is in Tennessee.

Lakefront Property provides detailed information on Lakefront Property, Michigan Lakefront Property, Lakefront Property For Sale, Wisconsin Lakefront Property and more. Lakefront Property is affiliated with Lake Havasu City.

Diaries of a (London) Bus Driver Vol. 1.4May 16th 2003

Dear friends,

What is it about buses that makes other drivers lose all their common sense! In consecutive days, I have been passed on bends in the road. The car drivers couldn't possibly have known what, if any vehicles were approaching from the opposite direction. Both were lucky. Within a minute of the second incident, on Green Dragon Lane, a third car overtook me on a straight, downhill section of road, doing somewhere in excess of 50mph. To deter such speedsters, there are 3 sets of chicanes at mini-roundabouts. This particular stunt was attempted an insufficient distance from one of these, so the driver was forced to negotiate the entire manoeuvre on the wrong side of the road. This time, the driver was almost not so lucky. Another vehicle was coming the other way. I doubt they missed each other by more than a couple of feet. This incident almost brought to life my enduring waking nightmares.

The vision I have almost overcome, is where I am driving at a decent speed and misjudge how far I am from a parked vehicle, causing a gut-wrenchingly spectacular smash. In the second scenario, a testosterone drunk dick-for-brains pulls out from behind me, while crossing into the path of oncoming traffic - a scene that unfolds several times daily. This time around, neither the perpetrator nor the victim, a bus or articulated lorry driver, can avoid a devastating crash. Car parts and flames fly through the air. Fortunately, my imagination has spared me visions of the mangled bodies.

I also have another accident to report. As seems to happen weekly, the tunnels on the North Circular Road, going under the Great Cambridge Roundabout and Silver Street, were closed for repairs that nobody has ever actually witnessed taking place. Two lanes had just merged into one on the slip road. Without enough space to get past me, another car attempted to do so anyway. Upon failing in his first attempt, he applied the old adage: try, try, try again.... until he hit me! After pounding the steering wheel in frustration and anger, I got off the bus to assess the damage, minimal, and see if the other driver was alright. He asked how I didn't see him!!!! He wanted to know what 'I' was going to do about his car. His tone was threatening, so I got back on the bus. I carry a company-supplied camera, with which I am supposed to photograph accident damage and location. Upon seeing this, the other driver cursed, rounded the cones and sped towards the waiting queue of traffic. Not a bright chap, as I would inevitably join the same queue immediately behind him. I snapped a shot of his licence plate.

Talking of not bright! My trip to the US was great. I loved seeing family and friends, and spending time with my kids was the highlight of my year. The second leg of my road trip was from Detroit to Pittsburgh - about 250 miles. We were in Ohio, about 10 miles from the Pennsylvania border, when a full grown female Deer ran up the embankment to the highway, within yards of our car. Surprising and beautiful. I said, look, kids! The Deer than full on charges our vehicle. I had a split second to react and swerved to the left, grazing the animal, which ran off, with the side of the car. Hair flew. Shit flew! Literally!! It hit the passenger window. Good thing for Sean's allergies! The windows were closed and the AC on, else Hannah would have had a face full!! Seems that Bulls aren't the only animals that attack red! We were told that this was far from an isolated incident. We were all sick to our stomachs. I called Rob, in Pittsburgh, telling him that we would be a little late. He lightened our moods with a few rather sick jokes. The time spent waiting for the Police - I had to get an accident report for insurance purposes - was almost sufficient for us to recover. I always drive past Rob's house, so called him again from close-by, asking him to stand outside it. We'll be in the maroon Honda Stationwagon with the shit on the window!

Seen and believed, but certainly not comprehended: Two Mercedes cars, one a sporty convertible, that have television screens on the dashboard. One of them had music videos on. What I want to know is, what egghead had this pea-brained idea, what corporate melon-head agreed to put them in the cars, what 'safety' commission approved it and how much did that cost in political contributions, and, last but not least, what yuppie moron with more money than sense would buy such a thing? Countries and States are banning mobile phone use for drivers, but it's OK to watch the booty-shaking flesh parade that constitutes so many videos! One thing's for sure: there'd be no shortage of people for me to sue, should I ever be involved in an accident with one of these cars!

As far as I can tell, there are only two things prone to more exaggeration than a man's penis size: Parents' estimation of how advanced their children are, and how long people have waited for a bus. On Sundays, the 125 comes only twice an hour. A man got on my bus complaining that he had waited an hour. I said that was untrue. I had crossed paths with the other bus exactly where I should have done. OK. Maybe 40 minutes. No, it would have been about half an hour ago. Oh! I must have just missed it!

There are many reasons for buses being late. People are constantly ringing the bell for the wrong stop and then just sit there saying nothing when I stop. The new buses on the 125 route have bells on almost every pole. People get on and grab the bars on their way to a seat, accidentally ringing the bell. Anyone can make a mistake, but as a public service request for all my fellow drivers everywhere, please admit to yours, if you make one. It will save a half a minute. The later I am, the more passengers I pick up (and will therefore also have to drop off somewhere) that would otherwise have missed me. This makes me later still. After all, the leading cause of lateness is picking up and dropping of the passengers. If I never had to pick up any, I'd rarely be late at all!

Another major cause is crazy schedules. On the W15, 44 minutes are scheduled for the late, late runs. This is almost impossible. I have made it just once. I was determined, and the roads were unusually clear, as it was Bank Holiday weekend. The allotted time from the Hackney Central Bus Stand to Leytonstone Station is 15 minutes. I drove 35-40mph most of the way, even briefly topping 50 along the Homerton Road. I was 2 minutes late at my first checkpoint! I made this up by the time I reached Terminus.

Along the same lines, the 125 has a round trip of 16 miles. (I originally thought this was 25 ? miles, but the new buses display kilometres.) The late runs are expected to accomplish this in 50 minutes. Supposedly, all times are based upon a top speed of 27mph. I worked it out! If there were no traffic, no traffic lights, no turns to negotiate, no roundabouts and no passengers, it would take me over 35 minutes. At an average 30mph, the time needed would be 32 minutes. But I tend to slow down for road hazards, and go considerably slower still when taking on passengers! Bare in mind, not one of these road has a limit of above 30mph and I would be expected to pay any speeding fines, and the 3 points would be on my licence!! 12 points and I'm out of a job! Not without a fight!! Letters to Mayor Ken, 'The Editor'...

If Swan Lane in Whetstone flooded...

I have to report the sad closure and removal of the 24-hour mobile tea and snack bar on Hackney Marshes, at Homerton Road. Not that I ever ate there. However, I always found it wryly amusing just how often the place was closed when I passed it - certainly more than any other 24-hour joint I've ever seen!

As a final note, I have some hope of returning both to New York and my old profession. Projects are in the works at my old employer, which I hope will result in a call in a few months. Perhaps next year, I'll be writing Diaries of an Englishman in New York.

That's all for now.

Love,

Andy

About the Author

My name is Andy. I am an Englishman who has spent most of his adult life in the United States. In 2001, I moved back to London, thinking I would remain there for the rest of my life. But things didn't go as planned. And instead of finding a job in IT, I became a bus driver. This is my memoire, written from 2003 to 2005.

Now back in Brooklyn, I have a blog I currently enjoy writing: sceneandheardinny.blogspot.com

Chalkboard Prices

There are many types of chalkboards available in the market. The material that is used to build the board dictates the price. There are different types of chalkboards including magnetic and reversible chalkboards that can be used on either side and are mounted on an easel. There are also green mathematical chalkboards, mini-chalkboards and chalkboard framed in wood or metal.

The material that is used in a magnetic chalkboard is porcelain and metal (usually steel). Therefore, the price of a magnetic chalkboard is higher compared to a normal board.

Mini chalkboards are available t for less than $10 and the prices vary according to the size and function. Chalkboards can also be used in kitchens, where recipes and ingredients can be written on them. A kitchen board is usually white and is available for $40 to $50. Cheap chalkboard can be shipped from countries such as china where the cost of chalkboards (or any other commodity for that matter) is considerably low. If the shipping costs are not too great then a chalkboard can be imported for as little as $9.

The size of a chalkboard has a direct impact on the price tag. A magnetic chalkboard used in a classroom can be as much as $400. Chalkboards are also available on the Internet from $99 to$450, depending upon the size, make and the material used in building it.

Chalkboards are also available in furniture stores and variety stores at a reasonable cost. Boards that are specially made are costlier compared to normal chalkboards. The best examples of these are mathematical green chalkboards used in calculating and computing in many schools around the world. These boards are divided into small squares that help accommodate the numbers that are used in calculating.

Chalkboards provides detailed information on Chalkboards, Kitchen Chalkboards, Magnetic Chalkboards, Slate Chalkboards and more. Chalkboards is affiliated with School Backpacks.

Do?s and Don?ts of Investing in UK Land for Sale Market.

Investments in UK Land for Sale market have grown at a breakneck pace in last few years growing at a phenomenal rate of 960% in last two decades.

This has created a great business opportunity for enterprising investors to make money by offering the best combination of above average returns, linked to low volatility, combined with compound growth.

This growth in value of UK land for Sale has been driven by an increasing supply and demand mismatch. To add to this there is very little risk in such investments as incase planning permission is granted by the local councils, land for sale investors could reap returns up to 10 times their original investments but even otherwise with acute shortage of housing in UK, the price of undeveloped land tends to increase anyway over the longer term.

Thus the investment proposition is based on solid fundamentals and there is little chance that it could lead to creation of a bubble.

But on the flip side there have been complaints in recent times about unscrupulous players selling land in UK to unsuspecting populace without adequately informing them of pros and cons of such decisions and willfully withholding certain important information.

Thus it is imperative for any potential investor to do a thorough evaluation of available land investment options also it is better to trust established players with proven track record rather then trying upstart firms.

A customer should be wary of firms guaranteeing planning permission in short time or offering plots of land for investments at ludicrously low prices.

?There are no shortcuts to success? ? Goes a famous saying

It?s very relevant for UK land investment scene as while there is a golden opportunity for common investors to reap hefty gains by investing in UK land for sale market but this potential has to harnessed with great care and one has to be prepared for loads of hard work so as to identify proper land investment options.

Stephen Brewood
Buy Land For Sale in the UK.

Mathematics Were Counting on Help from Parents

Furnished Apartments in Atlanta

Atlanta, comprised of numerous distinct neighborhoods, cities, and counties, has a good choice of furnished apartments - garden-style apartments, lofts, town homes, studios, and many others. Center city apartments and more suburban apartments come with features such as ample parking and swimming pools.

Furnished apartments are ideal for corporate housing and extended-stay rentals. These are available in any size, and equipped with kitchens, fully furnished bedrooms, air conditioning, fireplaces, dining and living rooms with or without bathrooms, hardwood floors, backyards, and parking areas. Some apartments in Atlanta are particularly designed to cater to the needs of short-term contractors or European business personnel. Almost all private apartments are located close to Atlanta's business areas, shopping malls, and restaurants.

Extended stay apartments are available on monthly invoice payments and are perfect for business travelers, those on temporary assignments, consultants, and visiting family and friends. Furnished short-term apartments feature the most comprehensive short-term and temporary housing facilities. These are available in all price ranges and sizes, and on one-month to twelve-month leases. Furnished apartments are popularly marketed to businesses like movie studios and film production companies that frequently employ visiting, temporary workers.

The town home in Atlanta is one of the popular styles of apartment buildings. Town homes are generally built on more than one level with living areas on the first and/or second levels, and bedrooms on the levels above living areas. Town homes are perfect for those who are willing to live on multiple levels and are able to maneuver stairs.

The rapid growth of this metropolitan area and its economic development have both contributed to the increase in the number of new apartments. Although Atlanta is one of the world-famous industrial centers, Atlanta apartments are affordable and the average monthly rent is below the national average. If you are looking for a living space, Atlanta has a number of well-established property management companies offering furnished apartments. They assist you with computerized apartment searching and apartment rental services to search for a fully furnished apartment, whether it is traditional or modern, according to your taste.

Atlanta Apartments provides detailed information on Atlanta Apartments, Loft Atlanta Apartments, Atlanta Apartment Rentals, Cheap Atlanta Apartments and more. Atlanta Apartments is affiliated with Apartments for Rent in Chicago.

Help I Have to Evict My Nephew!

The eviction of a friend or relative is not easy to do. It has to be one of the most difficult lawsuits, if not the most emotionally draining, of all types of evictions. You may be one of the lucky ones who can rent to a friend or relative with no side effects. Still one day, there may come a time when you have to look your friend or family member in the eyes, and ask him or her to leave your apartment.

In the eviction of a relative stranger, even a long-term tenant, the process isn?t personal, just business. The tenant can?t pay the rent, so he has to leave. It?s the end of an association with more or less minimal emotional ties between the tenant and the landlord.

Evicting a friend or relative is one in which sides may be chosen, and lines drawn in the sand. Once the eviction notice has been delivered, do not expect many friends or allies to come to your aid. Depending upon the circumstances of the eviction, you can expect to have your life made miserable by anyone impacted by your decision.

This is because the expectations of a friend or relation are much higher than that of a stranger. If there is a tenancy problem, the expectation is that you will treat the tenant more as a friend or relative than as a financial investment problem. You will be asked to accept less than you normally would for rent arrears, to wait longer for your rent, and to accept behaviors that you would not normally tolerate.

For example, let?s say you need to raise the rent. A rent increase could be perceived as a betrayal of your friendship. Your aunt could think you are taking advantage of her. It doesn?t make sense, but when money is concerned, all bets are off. As far as a friend or relative is concerned, you are in his or her pocket. A belief that you are soaking your tenant for more money that you ?don?t really need? could cause your family member to not pay the increase.

Be clear and resolved about why the eviction must take place. Have all of your written documentation in place. Check all of your paperwork, rent cards, letters of warning etc. before you send your notice to quit. Make sure you have a leg to stand on before starting the eviction case. Conduct a due diligence of your property and the legal case.

Hard feelings will sometimes come with the rental and eviction territory. Do not expect to be able to discuss the case calmly with the offended tenant. Do not expect a cool head to prevail over your eviction action. If you evict your nephew, expect your sister or brother to be totally ticked off at you. Your friend may think you are a jerk for evicting her because she parties loudly every weekend, disturbing your other tenants. Your aunt may not come to your aid when your niece does not pay the rent.

When blood is evicting blood, much more blood could be shed before the battle is over. Few people want to be in the middle of a turf war. You may find yourself isolated and alone during the eviction process until the dust has settled. This is the reason why most landlords refuse to rent to a friend or family member. It is preferred to have only one relationship, than to confuse the personal relationship by adding a legal one.

How can you ease the pain of evicting a friend, relative, or even the relative of a friend? It could depend on how the person was moved in. Were you doing your friend ?a favor? by renting your apartment to him or her? Did your cousin have to complete a rental application like everyone else? Did you verify all references, employment information, credit check, former landlord information, etc.? Does the tenant have a lease?

Why is this important? Having everyone go through an application process regardless of their status with you establishes the ground rules from Day One. Without it, the tenant could feel that he or she was taken in as a friend, and then treated otherwise when things got tough. It helps to set up the lines of separation between the friendship and the tenancy.

So, what is the best way to evict a friend or relative? Here are some tips:

?First, do not take shortcuts during the legal process. In fact, do everything strictly by the book. A wounded friend or relative who knows your personal business becomes a worthy adversary in a legal case. He or she will use whatever information is available to fight you tooth and nail.

?The jury is still out as to whether or not you should serve the initial notice of lease termination personally, or use a constable. The friend or your sister will feel the sting of you starting legal action just as shocking no matter how the news is given.

?Exercise the same professional manner in dealing with the loved one as you would with a stranger. Try to keep your emotions out of the situation. Avoid discussing the case at length with your now adversarial tenant. The less said, the less information that can be used against you in court.

?Put any rent arrears payment plans in writing. Continue the eviction case, and present the payment plan to the judge. Have the judge enter the payment plan in the court decision. Then, if the plan is broken, it is broken with the court, not you. Your friend or cousin will be less likely to violate a court agreement.

?Some landlords hire an attorney to process their eviction cases specifically against a friend or relative. When your best friend or nephew calls you about the eviction notice, refer all comments and questions to the attorney. Resist the temptation to explain why you started the action. With an attorney, you are taken out of the middle position. Let the lawyer earn the fee by listening to the anger, frustration and feelings of betrayal by the friend or relative.

?If you need to take legal action against a friend or relative who is your tenant, do it. Do not be intimidated by their personal association with you. Your real estate is a business investment. If you remember this during the process, you will be able to separate the two relationships, that of friend or family member who is also your tenant.

No one wants to be evicted, especially by a person who is considered a pal and confidant. The bitter taste of humiliation, feeling of betrayal, and anger will remain long after the actual legal action. Before renting your vacant apartment out again, remember the experience. Decide whether or not the rent is worth the possible loss of friendship or family discord.

Traveling With Your Baby? Create A Home Away From Home!

Your travel life needn't grind to a halt just because you've become a parent. The key to help baby keep calm and soothed while traveling is to create a home away from home for them.

Baby Blankets and Snuggly Baby Toys

To help your baby feel safe and secure, bring along comforting items baby is familiar with. Their favorite stuffed animal, special burp cloth, or blanket can really help baby feel more at ease about being in a new and unfamiliar place. While keeping track of yet another item may seem like an extra hassle for you, your child will be happier, and thus more pleasant to travel with, clutching something soft and familiar. Keep a replacement blanket or snuggly toy on hand in case the original gets lost.

Bring Baby's Favorite Foods and Seats
Small children are notoriously picky eaters, and it's hard enough finding foods they like at home, let alone while you're traveling. You may be looking forward to sampling the local cuisine at your destination, but your child may be less excited about conch fritters and sauteed snails. If you're going out to a restaurant, bring a supply of your child's favorite foods to keep them satisfied and entertained while you enjoy your own meal.

Bring along your baby's bumbo baby seat to keep them snug and cozy while you feed them. (The Bumbo Baby Seat is a revolutionary infant chair that is uniquely designed according to the baby's posture. The Bumbo enables babies to sit upright all by themselves! Bumbo Baby Seats are suitable for babies from as young as six weeks, or as soon as they can support their own heads unaided, to an age of approximately fourteen months.)

Start Your Day Early, End Your Day Early
Traveling with a baby is not about sleeping in or staying out late. Young children are at their best earlier in the day, so plan to travel, sightsee, or explore in the morning. Afternoons and evenings are a good time for playing outdoors or relaxing back at your hotel. Respecting your baby's inner clock will make him less likely to throw a tantrum in the car, the street, or a crowded museum.

Bring Baby's Familiar Bed and Bedding

There are a number of portable baby cribs available on the market today. This is the most comforting, and likely the safest option for your baby while traveling. Many hotels offer baby cribs, however, many hotels still have older cribs that are not up to code with the most recent safety standards. Also, bring your own baby crib bedding. If you rely on your hotel for bedding, you may receive large sheets, which may be a hazard to your baby. If you can, bring a bed and bedding baby is used to. A familiar baby sleep sack may also help baby sleep well and will help keep them safe.

Keep Close To Your Home Away From Home
Baby's mood may be more unpredictable than usual when you're traveling, so it makes sense to establish a home base you can return to quickly and easily. Short jaunts away from your accommodations are less likely to tax your child's patience. And if the weather turns foul, someone gets sick, or your baby just wants to nap, you can quickly head back to the room.

Get A Routine - Then Stick With It!
Your baby has gotten used to their outine at home. Be sure that, when you travel, you also establish and stick with a ravel routine. Try to keep baby's eating and sleeping routine during travel as close to their regular home routine as possible. This will make baby more tolerant of other on-home-routine activities that will occur while traveling. Eating meals and taking naps at the same time each day may be all the routine your baby needs to feel comfortable in their new environment.
Children get jet lag, though not quite the same way as adults do. Changing time zones can complicate the adjustment process. Be sure to have your entire family (you included) rest up before travel that includes a significant time change. Well-rested children and parents cope better than tired ones with time changes. To minimize the effects of jet lag, plan to arrive at your destination in the evening and stick to your usual end-of-day routine: Give your baby a bath, read a book, and put baby to sleep at the usual bedtime in the new time zone. For example, if you are in London and it's 7 p.m. there, put baby down to sleep even if it's eight hours ahead of their normal bedtime. It will take a few days to adjust.

You can expect your baby's adjusting to travel to take several days. So, be patient and stick to a familiar routine, feed baby familiar foods and give baby familiar toys. <em>Be sure you stay nearby - you are the most familiar thing to your baby. </em>

Article By Michelle O'Connor

By Michelle O'Connor, Infant Car Seats

About the Author

Advice Columnist