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Pumpkin provides fibre, contains potassium and carotenoids (the antioxidants found in orange, yellow, red and dark green vegetables).
It is wonderful as a cooked veggie, makes great soup and delicious pumpkin pie.

Pumpkins are so easy to grow that you most likely know the basics, but heres a few tips for you anyway. Consider growing different varieties as there are many interesting pumpkins to choose from.

Pumpkins are warm-season vegetables that dont like to be transplanted. The seeds are large, so are best sown directly in the position that they will occupy for the summer. They will need between three and four months of frost-free days to reach maturity.

Sow your pumpkins seeds in a well drained, fertile soil, in a sunny position, as you want them to grow quickly. They prefer a soil pH of around 6.0. Add organic matter to the soil before planting and follow up with a measure of organic fertilizer half way through the growth cycle.

Pumpkins do well planted three to five in small mounds. Push each seed into the soil about 2cm / 1inch deep. In a month or so, thin to the healthiest two or three plants per mound. Space your mounds about 1metre / 3feet to 1.5metres / 4.5feet apart. Or you could try growing them in rows, placing two seeds per hole about 1metre / 3feet between seeds.

Pumpkins dont like sitting in wet soil so only water when necessary, but water deeply. Powdery mildew can be a problem for pumpkins, so watering from below is helpful in preventing this disease.

There are several pests that will attack pumpkins, so it is best to grow in a companion planting situation such as with corn, beans and radishes.

Keep weeds at bay by adding organic mulch to the soil surface around your pumpkins once the soil has warmed enough.

Male and female flowers appear on the same vine. The fruits develop from the base of the female flower, which soon withers and drops off. Most pumpkins take around 50 days to mature, so youll be harvesting in autumn (fall).

Wait until the vine starts to die off and the fruit has developed a rich colour. The stem right next to the pumpkin should be dry and hard before removing it from the vine. Make sure the stem remains attached to the pumpkin or it will not store for very long.
It is best to cure your harvest for between 7 and 10 days at around 25C / 80F, then store in a cool, dry place.

There are so many wonderful varieties to choose from, with such varying shapes and sizes. Remember to save the seeds of your most successful pumpkins so that you can grow even better ones next season.

Hi, I am an avid organic gardener and am known by my friends as the recycling queen. I live on a small country property in South Australia. It is my mission to encourage as many people as possible to start organic gardening. This will improve both our individual lives and the wellbeing of our personal and global environments. Please visit my website and get your free 3 part Composting Guide. For Companion Planting info click here.

Happy gardening, healthy living
Julie Williams
http://www.1stoporganicgardening.com

Today most cell phone ringtones are snippets of existing songs. The ringtone has become a cultural tool that is always growing in popularity and is heading into a phase of rapid transformation.

Today, in the US mobile market, ringtones and ring back tones have become a very popular novelty for many users. Moreover, Instead of listening to the same standard ring as you wait for the other party to pick up, ring backs deliver a customized song. Younger users are embracing ring back tones on a wide scale. For carriers, ring backs offer yet another non-voice revenue opportunity, with full song downloads, music videos and ringtones already expanding their monthly revenues. While ring backs in India may be Bollywood-inspired, US mobile users prefer hip-hop or rock music.

For the young American, brash and catchy hip-hop beats and fast rock lyrics are the perfect mobile ringers. Meanwhile, hip-hop artists are helping to attract mobile consumers through ringtone exclusives. Other popular types of ringtones include reggae, Bollywood songs, Hispanic songs and also a lot of Arabic music. Also with the advent of digital music, even a lot of video clips along with music are used as ringtones on more advanced, video-capable phones.

Today, the Hispanic and the Asian users in the mobile market have increased so fast that the ringtones trends vary from state to state depending upon the ethnicity of the population. Falling prices of handsets, multiple music applications and high profile and co-branded devices will create new customer segments for mobile content services and drive these markets. So in the American ringtone market, everything from R&B, hip hop, reggae, hard rock, jazz, soul, country music, Bollywood, Bhangra, Chinese traditional, oriental or even music of African origin can be used as ringtones. And with this cross cultural Web always growing larger, the future of the ringtone industry will be a combination of all kinds of music from all across the world.

FreeRingtonesNow.net is a website that offers visitors the ability to find free ringtones and specific information on free us cellular ringtones.

If the fires of passion in your marriage have been reduced nearly to embers, then you are not alone. One of the most common problems that can damage a marriage is the loss of sparkor spice, or whatever you like to call it. Its really not so easy to get yourself or your partner in the mood once you have become very familiar with each other. Of course, its wonderful to be familiar with your spouse because familiarity is the basis of intimacy. But intimacy is not the same as passion, is it? Routine is the culprit. If the proper countermeasures are not deployed against routines assault on your relationship, then it will drain all the passion right out of your marriage. Routine is a tenacious killer of passiona suspect in the deaths of over 1 million steamy romances. I know routine comes in very handy for showers and oil changes, but it has no place in the bedroom.

Fight it! Fight boredom and routine! Its going to take a little effort to rekindle those flames, but armed with the right tactics you will succeed! Some of the ideas I will mention may seem rather basic, and most are simple and easy. Just try them. You have already begun to make more of an effort by reading this article; now dont just think about how nice it would be to do some of these things with your spousethe only way for this to happen is for you to take action!

Have you ever noticed how a change of venue can be very exciting? Thats rightjust being together in a place thats not your bedroom can have an almost magical effect. Use this strange phenomenon to your advantage. Get yourselves a nice hotel room on a Saturday night. First have dinner, and then go for a swim in the hotel pool. Be playful and flirty with your spouse. Dont put any pressure on them; just be affectionate and playful throughout the evening together and let things happen naturally. A hand on their thigh, a whisper in their ear or a kiss on the neck are all great for reminding your partner what's waiting for them. Now, go up to your room and let the strange surroundings take effect.

Try reading your spouse an erotic bedtime story. Let it be spontaneous. Dont let them know its a sexy story before you begin, maybe even disguise the book with a different cover. This can be an easy way to get your spouse to try something new. If they hear it in the story, then it might be their idea to try it. Most people of either sex find erotic stories to be very arousing.

Bring a video camera into the bedroom. Be careful, but have fun. Actually its the element of danger and the sense of voyeurism that makes this exciting.

Buy a sexy little costume to surprise your spouse with. Ladies, men always have and always will love the sexy French maid outfit. Men, never let your wives see you in a dingy pair of tighty-whities.

Write notes to your spouse. Hide a romantic message in a briefcase or handbag. In fact, its little romantic gestures that help lay the groundwork for romance building. Let your partner know that they excite you. They will be excited knowing that youre excited. Send flowers for no special occasion, just to delight the love of your life.

The key is just making a small effort. Changing things up for excitement, and making little romantic gestures. When your spouse sees you making an effort to bring back the passion, they will make one right along with you.

Slade Hartwell, Webmaster at http://www.ezromantic.com

http://www.ezromantic.com/home.html

Romance Relationship Resources

We offer tons of romance and relationship help such as: great articles, advice, love poems, book reviews, gift ideas, romantic travel guides, a relationships forum, and more.

Custom ID badges can be used for a number of purposes. They can be used to step up security in your office, they can be used to identify people at a seminar, or they can be used as an entry card for conventions and special events. In the past you had to get these special identification tags professionally designed and printed. However, today you can take advantage of desktop publishing tools to design and create your own custom ID badges in your office.

If you are throwing a special event and need to create ID cards for your attendees then custom ID badges are a great alternative to name badge stickers. When designing your custom id badge make sure that you include all the information that is pertinent to the event. For example, if you are throwing a training seminar then you will want to include this information: attendees name, their job title, their company affiliation and what type of admittance they will be allowed. For example you may have all access admittance for people interested in attending all of the seminars and seminar activities, and a limited access admittance badge for people who only want to attend specific lectures or seminar activities.

Custom ID badges also work great for employee ID passes. When designing your employee ID badge you will want to include: a photo of the employee, their name, their job title, department and your company logo. It is a good idea to laminate these badges to help them last longer. Some companies have also started adding bar codes to their employee IDs to prevent forgeries and to increase security.

There are several considerations you need to make when putting together your custom ID badge design. First of all you will want to decide what size and shape your ID badge will be. You will want to make sure that your badge is large enough to hold all of the information needed, large enough to be read, yet small enough so that it is not cumbersome. Next you will want to decide what type of badge holder you want to use. There are pin on badge holders, clip badge holders and badge holders that utilize a custom neck lanyard.

Custom ID badges and pins can be used for a variety of purposes. They can be used to add extra security in your office or venue, they can be used to identify people at a workshop or seminar, or they can be used as an entry card for conventions and other special events. Custom ID badges also work great for employee ID passes. When designing your employee ID badge you will want to include such things as a photo of the employee, their name, their job title, department and your company logo. Custom and engraved ID Badges and Nurse Name Badge Pins - Custom ID Badges is your source for employee ID badges, security tags, & custom neck lanyards and badge holders.

If you have a wedding coming up you have many things to plan for and buy to make your special day as perfect as it can be. One of the issues that you probably are concerned with is for is to find the perfect wedding shoes to go with the wedding dress you have chosen. There are so many decisions to make just regarding the choice of shoes it can be a little overwhelming for many brides to be. How do you decide whether to wear flats or heels, open toes or sandals? There are so many diverse styles, designs, and colors from which to choose that it really can be a tough decision. To make it easier lets break it down step by step.

First off we need to look at what you have chosen as your wedding dress, if it hasnt been made yet you at least know the fabric and color and for the ensemble to look as coordinated as possible your choice of wedding shoes should be as closely matched to the dress as possible. You should endeavor to match the color and fabric of your dress to the shoes that you choose.

If you are attempting to make your legs appear longer and have chosen a shorter dress then you may want to choose 3 heels to assist in making your legs appear slimmer and also make your legs appear to be longer than they actually are. If you choose the open toe style that is so popular today dont neglect having that pampering pedicure so that your toenails look flawless for your big day.

If you are having your wedding outdoors as so many are doing these days you may decide to wear some type of wedding sandal. Where I live in Florida beach weddings are all the rage and we have people come from all over the world to get married on our beaches because the sand is so white and the water is so clear and beautiful.

Dont make the mistake of thinking you will only be wearing the shoes for the ceremony. You will more than likely be wearing the shoes for most of the day as you go to your reception and you will be greeting guests, dancing, etc. With this in mind it important that the wedding shoes you choose be comfortable and fit properly on your feet, you dont want sore feet on your honeymoon!

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about bridal shoes as well as women's designer shoes at http://www.footwearforall.com

Even though summer might be half over, that does not mean that there is not enough time enjoy the beautiful outdoor weather. In fact, if you get going right now, you can get your fill and then some. To make taking in that weather even easier, you should have some comfortable furniture on that backyard deck of yours and teak furniture is one of the best options around.

What is so great about teak furniture? Well, there are a number of different things really. One, there are a wide variety of comfortable options available, allowing you to create any kind of outdoor environment that you want. For example, maybe you want the ultimate place to entertain, like those fun all day weekend parties with food, music, and games. Then, a nice choice for you would be a teak patio table and chair set where people could eat, some lovely teak benches for extra comfortable seating, some teak end tables so people can set down their food and drinks when dancing, and maybe a teak umbrella or two when people need a break from the hot sun. And, these are just some of the selections that are available because there are many, many others. For a fast and easy way to see all the choices, instead just log onto the Internet and do some online shopping. You can easily compare products and pricing, making finding what you want a stress free process.

Two, teak furniture is extremely beautiful and would really enhance the look of any outdoor area. It gets its gorgeous appearance from the teak wood that it is crafted from. This wood has a one of a kind golden natural tone when new and over time, this tone will fade to a sophisticated gray color. However, if you want the furniture that you have to keep its golden tone, all you have to do is apply a teak oil or protectant to it each season. Other than that though, this type of wood requires no real maintenance.

And, that brings us to the final reason why teak furniture is such a fantastic selection, which is that it is extremely durable. Teak itself is a very sturdy and dense hardwood. It takes a lot to damage it and teaks natural oils make it very resilient to all types of outdoor weather. Rain, sleet, ice, even snow and overexposure to the sun will not cause it to rot, crack, or breakdown in anyway. So, if you have to leave the furniture you have made from it out during the off season, you do not have to worry about it getting ruined.

So, even though summer is just about half done, that still does not mean that there is not enough time for you to enjoy the beautiful weather. If you start now, you can get your fill in of outdoor time and then some. To give yourself and excuse to go outdoors, you should have some comfortable furniture in place and one of the best options available is teak furniture. Comfortable, beautiful, and durable, it would be a fantastic way to furnish your outdoor space.

Jennifer Akre, owner of many unique home and garden sites specializing in outdoor patio furniture, gives comments and product information on teak tables and patio furniture. Find quality information before you purchase. Enhance the spirit of your home. Click today - Shop: teak chairs.

Promotional conference folders are most often seen at what else conferences, but theyre not just for conferences. The handy combination of a pocketed folder, portfolio, pad and pen holder makes them ideal for many different uses. If you buy a padfolio at an office supply store, youll pay a pretty penny for them which is why they make very nice employee incentives and corporate gifts.

Promotional conference folders as employee incentives

Who doesnt love a nice, quality piece of equipment? Padfolios, portfolios and conference folders have nearly taken the place of the ubiquitous briefcase for salesmen and associates on the run. If your employees have jobs that include a lot of meetings and conferences, a conference folder with room for all their gear is a more than welcome incentive. You can up the incentive value by including little extras a fully stocked promotional conference folder might include a high quality pen, business cards, calculator, USB drive and company cell phone all in their appropriate pockets. That should be incentive for anyone to do their best.

Promotional conference folders for meetings

Why hand out loose agendas and informational handouts to your board of directors at monthly meetings? Promotional conference folders can be filled before each meeting with a copy of the agenda and any important paperwork or information for the nights meeting. If meetings frequently include calculations and figures, you might choose conference folders with a calculator pocket and fill it with a calculator. A pen is a must, of course. The idea is to make sure that each of your board members has everything that he or she might need during the course of the meeting. The folders can be collected at the end of the meeting and used again next month.

Promotional conference folders for marketing

Are you prospecting for investors in a new company? You can make a very professional first impression when you deliver the prospectus and all related documents in a promotional conference folder imprinted with the project name. Using a high quality conference folder as a presentation folder hints at the exclusivity of the opportunity something you wont do if you choose cardboard presentation folders. When youre seeking funding for a new startup or business service, first impression is all important. A conference folder used as a promotional jacket will make that first impression count.

Promotional conference folders for sale

Another way to make a profit using promotional conference folders is to sell them. Many of the big boys in the stationery and office supply industry now brand their own portfolios and conference folders and sell them in their stores. School stores and other retail outlets are ideal outlets for branded items like conference folders. Choose one or two styles to stock, and have them printed with your school crest, company logo or brand name. Theyre especially appropriate for secretarial schools, IT schools and other informational and service seminars and educational institutions.

If youre not certain which promotional conference folders are the best for your needs, you can get great advice from representatives of promotional products companies who know their products well.

Tina Rinaudo is one of the leading lights in the UK promotional conference folders industry. Tina is a key member of YesGifts, the UK's fastest growing online promotional items resource specialising in promotional pens, mugs, mouse mats, umbrellas, conference items and much more. For more information please visit www.yesgifts.co.uk.

Basement heaters are a cost effective way of adding heat to the basement area and are quite common in intensely cold climates. Basement heaters are available in various types and models. Propane space heaters, baseboard heaters, ceramic heaters, fan heaters and heavy duty electric heaters are a few types worth mentioning.

Propane space heaters, ideal for a 300 square foot basement area, radiate heat using propane gas as fuel. This kind of heater is vent-free and requires no electricity. The advantage of a propane space heater is that it warms people and objects before heating air. Natural gas heaters with specially designed double-wall vents help to take in outside air for heating and directly exhaust all the byproducts of combustion.

The heating element in a baseboard heater warms the air passing through it. As the warm air rises up the heater, colder air is pulled down. This process is continued until the air in the basement reaches a specified temperature. Ceramic heaters are also used as basement heaters. Air is pushed over the hot ceramic heating element with the help of a fan. The advantage of a ceramic heater lies in its ability to warm up a larger area using a huge grill that oscillates the twin heating elements. A built-in air filter, overheat sensor, foot switch, anti-freeze setting and tip-over switch are special features. In fan heaters, as the name implies, a fan is used to push the air over the hot heating element. All these basement heaters consume electricity.

A heavy duty electric heater is used to heat a larger area. It is capable of heating a room to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Oil-filled radiators powered by electricity use special thermal oil sealed in the heater. The heating element heats the oil, which in turn heats the air surrounding it. The heater is safe to touch, as there are no exposed elements. It is also easy to handle and economical.

As technology advances, the facilities added to basement heaters also increase. Basement heaters are efficient, secure and easy to use. Installation can be done with the help of user manuals, though a skilled professional is recommended for maintenance.

Basements provides detailed information on Basements, Basement Waterproofing, Basement Remodeling, Basement Finishing and more. Basements is affiliated with Flood Zones.

With the advanced complications in World of Warcraft gaming, it is no question that choosing the appropriate keyboard is important. As a gamer, you do not want to run into any inconveniences that may arise due to not being properly equipped with the most updated technology. Several aspects of the game require advanced control features, thus making it absolutely necessary to invest in a compatible gaming keyboard.

Fortunately, various companies have made it convenient for World of Warcraft gamers to select an appropriate keyboard model. Even more surprising is the fact that some companies have even made specifically-designed keysets that are not only compatible with World of Warcraft, but are decorated with the theme of the game as well. For instance, Ideazon has a customized World of Warcraft keyset that lays on top of the keyboard to enhance your gaming experience. The advanced keypads make chatting, battling, and casting spells easier than ever. Among the many features include a Game Window Zone, a Chat Command Zone, and the capability of performing multiple actions with the single touch of a key. At an affordable price of roughly $19.99, this is definitely an accessory that World of Warcraft gamers do not want to miss out on.

Other manufacturers have constructed keyboard models that are also considered optimal for World of Warcraft players. Logitech, Saitek, and Maxtrox are all known distributors of gaming keyboards, and most of their models are recognized as affordable and compatible.

But why would anyone care to invest in one of these devices? For one, they all come with a range of features that can make a users experience more enjoyable and entertaining. The Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard comes fully-equipped with back-lit keys, thus allowing users to play their favorite titles (including World of Warcraft) in the dark. The Saitek Eclipse model is said to be one of the most popular keyboards that has been designed to meet a gamers needs while providing the essential features for personal use as well. One of its counterparts, the Saitek Gaming Keyboard, has enough keys to provide an extra 27 functions if necessary. Most models also come with various knobs and switches that allow for easy access to some of the basic media features such as volume control and screen resolution.

All in all, it is no doubt important to be fully aware of what type of accessibility is needed to make the most out of your World of Warcraft gaming experience. Ultimately, it should all come down to what feels most comfortable to you.

If you play WoW, be sure to get your own World of Warcraft Keyset I think you'll see a big difference in your game play. For other games, check out the full range of gaming keyboards available. There are many to choose from and you'll easily find the right keyboard for you.

Emma Martin reviews WoW leveling and gold guides at: http://www.wowplayersguides.com

You should be ready at all times to promote your band and a press kit is one of the best ways to do so. Generally, a press kit consists of:

A Cover or Briefcase: Some people just use a folder and others use a briefcase or something large enough to hold CDs or DVDs. If you use a folder, include a cover with your band logo or some other eye-catching device.

Contact Information: Keep a contact page available that gives your contact information, along with a little information about the band, such as the style of music.

Booking Information: Similar to the contact information but small enough to include with CDs, a sticker or perhaps a business card.

Artist Bio Page or Intro Page: A basic introduction of the band, including the style of music, information about the members and location of past performances. In addition to band member bios, relate if you have your own sound or light crew.

Promotional Material: The way to secure future work is simply to make the venue money. Let the venue know how you plan to promote an event. You can do so by building up your fan base, putting up flyers, handing out demos, or whatever you have to do to get people to a show. Keeping sample flyers and such with your kit is a great way of showing the venue how you plan to advertise.

Band Pictures: Keep quality prints and electronic images on hand for promotional purposes.

Equipment List: Put together a list of the equipment you have available for gigs, including information on whether you have your own sound people. Include detailed information like the wattage of your amps, light equipment and so on.

Demo CD or DVD: Make you demos look and sound as professional as possible. Make sure you use your best material and don't forget to include your contact information with the CD.

Song List: Include a list of all of your original work as well as cover songs you play.

Newspaper Clippings / Reviews/ Articles: Keep a collection of media copy that relates to your band.

Business Cards: Include your contact information and logo. Keep them on you at all times; you never know when you might meet someone that can get you work.

Envelope/Folder: A small press package to hand out, include contact information, band bio, images, equipment and song lists, a demo CD and business cards.

Beyond a press kit, it's also a good idea to keep an updated webpage with music samples, contact information and a calendar of upcoming shows. Many bands also send out newsletters to their fan's email address to let them know about their upcoming concerts and events.

Pamela Stevens

Pamela Stevens writes for TopTenREVIEWS.com, a review site that publishes technology and entertainment reviews.

Most small business owners are in the service business. Well, unlike many of the marketing books aimed at product marketers, Harry Beckwith writes immensely powerful guide books for people who need to market their service business.

In an earlier article we reviewed Beckwiths second book: The Invisible Touch. This first book, Selling the Invisible, is sub-titled: A Field Guide to Modern Marketing. Sound practical? Sort of like a book you would toss in your rucksack before you go out on a long hike in unfamiliar territory? Thats exactly the type of book this is.

This is a great read to stick in your car or briefcase for the next few weeks and read in ten minute bursts. If you are out shopping and find yourself logjammed in a long queue at the return counter or stuck in a parking lot of the mall pull out Beckwith and get re-energized as a marketer or a small business owner. You wont feel quite so alone. Harry gives us the feeling hes been there with us before, selling in the trenches.

Again, Beckwith focuses on those of us who sell Services, rather than Products. Most of us in small business are in the Service business. Our deliverable to the customer is, in effect, invisible. This is the theme running throughout Beckwiths book. The challenge, then, is to make the invisible visible, and he has several different clues and ideas on what to look for. His 45 page section on Communicating and Selling alone is worth the price of the book.

Also, please dont let the title throw you off; this is a great book for both marketers and for salespeople. And yes, we realize that in small business we often are required to be both. One thing we really like about Mr. Beckwith; he understands how hard it is to sell the intangibility of a service. As he points out--often customers only see the results of a service decision when something goofs up.

This book is just over 200 pages, but it is a quick 200+ pages that allows for todays busy marketer to quickly devour some needed information. If you are like us, you will absolutely catch yourself shaking your head and saying: Yep, Im doing just that in my business now and Ive got to change it.

Now, you can. We strongly recommend reading Beckwiths Selling the Invisible so you can find out where you are going wrong and what you can do to correct it. This will give your business a burst to propel yourself forward even more.

Remember: Brand (who you are) + Package (your Face to the Customer) + People (customers and employees) = Marketing Success.

2006 Marketing Hawks

Craig Lutz-Priefert is President of Marketing Hawks, a firm providing essential marketing vision for small business. Marketing Hawks also provides expert sales presentation review at their VideoMyPitch website.

Widescreen plasma TVs are currently the home theatre thing but LCD (liquid crystal display) technology is the next big thing. Even though they are a little more expensive than plasmas, LCD televisions give a sharper image. However the downside is that the largest one currently available is only 40-inch (101cm). Shortly though, many manufacturers will be introducing a larger one. LCD TVs work as a result of the charging of a liquid which is sandwiched between two layers of film underneath the glass screen, and that action lights up millions of pixels.

Plasma televisions work on plasma gas. A charge goes through the television which fires up this plasma gas, thus lighting up the pixels. The advantages of plasma televisions is that you can obtain them in larger sizes up to 63 inches (152cm) and soon you will be able to buy an 80-inch (203cm) model which will bring an extraordinary dimension to viewing at home.

Most of the larger-style televisions, both plasma and LCD, now come in widescreen which is the only way to go really, if you are serious. If you watch a lot of DVDs it is a must as directors usually shoot movies in widescreen format and this adds to the home theater experience.

The room can also dictate the style of television you buy believe it or not! For example it is recommended that you buy a plasma or LCD TV if you have a room with lots of windows. If you are building a dedicated home theatre, then a projector mounted in the ceiling will be awesome. Think of all the friends who will come around and be in awe of your new theater! It is worth it all just to see the joy on their faces as they walk in and see the end results of all your hard work constructing an LCD TV system you are proud of!

You invited to access further information about LCD TV 's. There is much more to learn before you jump in and purchase your Plasma or LCD home theater system

Christmas scrapbooking holds a special place in our albums. Offering lots of special dreams and fond memories because there are so many themes to follow - beginning with the snowy weather and ending with the religious meaning of the season, there are plenty of scrapbooking ideas inspiration to draw from the season.

Some suggestions for your Christmas scrapbooking might include creating a special Christmas Idea scrapbooking project. This could enlist the help of all members of the family. For a special loved one far away, perhaps serving in the military or for an infirmed grandparent, a special gift such as a Christmas scrapbooking calendar with family pictures and a little journaling would be a great idea. Start early to insure that you are finished on time.

Another idea is to take head shots for each person in your family or each of your friends. Make an ornament from their head shot using colorful background papers, and a circle or ornament template. Cut and adhere the photos and baubles at different heights from the top of the page. Use realistic Christmas scrapbook tree paper across the title block for added effect. Add additional ornaments with favorite Christmas Scrapbook memories. This Family Tree idea and other Christmas ideas for scrapbooking will make your family album lots of fun to look at in later years.

A few more Christmas Idea scrapbooking techniques:

• Save pieces of wrapping paper for picture backgrounds.

• Use the ribbons from your Christmas gifts, tie bits and pieces along the spine of an album to decorate it.

• Staple pieces of ribbon to the edges of the page or onto journaling.

• Save colorful gift tags for embellishments.

• Have the children write letters to Santa. Save them or scan and reduce them to use as embellishments for your holiday pages.

Ifiok Ekon is the owner of allscrapbookingideas.com. Looking for scrapbooking ideas? Get all the exciting scrapbooking ideas, suggestions, tips, and techniques for your baby, wedding, military personnel, and lots more at allscrapbookingideas.com.

Before I discovered the world of scrapbooking, I was inexplicably drawn to my local office supply store. I loved to stand in an aisle surrounded by the different colors of copy paper. And the pens!

At the time, I thought this was really strange. (So did my family). And then I discovered that there are a lot of people who share this fascination. I realized that there is an entire industry that caters to my obsession with patterned paper and coordinating embellishments.

Then I discovered that these people also form clubs where they get together, share ideas, and eat chocolate. What could be better?

Scrapbooking clubs are the quilting bees of the modern era. When you join or form a scrapbook group, you create a regular time to meet with creative, loving, and family-centered friends.

Carving out a regular time to meet is an ideal way to create and maintain these meaningful friendships. Plus, as everyone gets together to work with family photographs and poignant memories, conversations tend to be deep and meaningful, too.

You can start your own scrapbooking club by asking yourself these questions:

--> How often do you want to meet?
How frequently do you want to hold group meetings (or crops)? Weekly, twice-monthly, monthly?

Its best to get a consensus from group members as to which day works best, as well as which time of day. Will you need child care and how many people will be pitching in for the sitter? How many people do you want in your scrapbook club?

The group dynamic varies greatly if you have 12 people, versus 30 or more. Decide in advance how many people you think will comprise an ideal group. Do you want an intimate gathering of friends or the energy of a larger collaboration?

--> Where do you want to host the crop?
You can start out at your home, if you have the space. Or you can ask if the scrapbookers in your club would like to rotate houses.

For larger groups, consider churches, community centers, or conference rooms. Often churches and businesses will be very receptive to providing space for this type of gathering. Scrapbooking is a fun, family-oriented activity, which places of worship and community centers generally love to embrace.

--> Do you want to charge membership dues?
If you have to pay for your scrapbooking space, youll probably want to recoup those costs. If you are going to provide instruction (or food or a babysitter) - simply charge reasonable dues from each member to cover your costs. Many scrapbookers are accustomed to paying for this type of scrap space.

--> What will you serve?
You can serve food - or not. I like to keep things really simple. I have a simple basket of cold Evian bottles - which I stock up on when there's a sale.

The best foods to serve dont leave anything behind, so stay away from anything that would make it necessary for guests to wash their hands with each bite. If youre going to serve finger food, use toothpicks. And for the chocolate fix - M&Ms are wonderful because they really do melt in your mouth and not in your hand.

--> How structured would you like your meetings to be?
Some scrapbooking clubs will invite Instructors to teach a variety of more advanced techniques. Check with your local scrapbooking store and direct sales consultants to see which classes might be available.

Tip: You or one of your club members might want to consider becoming a consultant yourself in order to supply the group with product and training in the latest techniques (direct sales consulants often receive this training from their teams and from the company themselves, ie. http://www.momscape.com/scrapbooking/business.htm ) Then you can earn a profit and the club can earn and share the free hostess rewards. Free scrapbooking goodies for all! Or you can schedule your crop around a monthly scrapbooking club kit, ie.: http://www.momscape.com/scrapbooking/scrapbook-club Its fun to see the different projects that each club member comes up with, using the same supplies. Plus, some monthly club kits(like the one cited above) come with idea sheets and an artist/designer gallery of club creations.

--> What is the best way to set up the meeting space?
Make sure the lighting is adequate and that each guest has enough table space. You can set everyone up on your dining room table, or if you have the space, create a more elaborate configuration. One idea I found on the Two Peas in a Bucket (http://www.twopeasinabucket.com) message board is to create a square from 2 8-foot tables and 2 6-foot tables. This configuration will comfortably accommodate 8 scrapbookers.

Its fun to have some community tools on one table, too. I have the basics: trimmers, Coluzzle, Silent Eyelet Setter, a mini sewing machine, etc.

I also like to bring a selection of my favorite idea books and scrapbooking magazines, especially those that feature seasonal project ideas.

And place a small gift bag or paper lunch sack in the center of each table for little scraps. This goes a long way in helping to keep each workspace organized and clutter-free. You can also set a relaxing (or energizing) mood with your choice of soft background music.

--> How will you find club members?
If you dont already have a group of scrapbooking friends (or you want to find more), simply announce your group in the community.

Word of mouth is the best way to do this. Ask your scrapbooking friends to bring their scrapbooking friends to the club meetings.

You can also post flyers and announcements on community bulletin boards in libraries, grocery stores, community centers, etc.

Check to see if your local newspaper will run a free ad in the Community Notes section before each scheduled crop. For example: Free Scrapbooking Crop. All levels of experience welcome. Instructor/designer on hand to answer questions and provide instruction. Come have fun and meet new friends. Time and location. Your contact info.

You can also send email invites to all your friends. Evite.com (http://www.evite.com) is a great tool for keeping track of invitees. Simply pitch your crop night as a girls night out (or moms night out) where youll get important things done (and it never hurts to let them know youll have chocolate on hand.)

Have a great time meeting new scrapbooking friends and inspiring one another to complete cards, layouts, and gifts-from-the-heart in your new scrapbooking club.

About the author:
Susie Cortright is the founder of Momscapes Scrapbooking Playground. Subscribe to her free twice-monthly scrapbooking newsletter, featuring best-of-the-net design ideas, advanced techniques, and money-saving specials on supplies here: http://www.momscape.com/scrapbooking

On those busy nights when dinner seems like an obstacle to overcome, you need some good quick dinner recipe ideas that take 20 minutes and taste like a million. What could be easier than a stir fry? A little beef, onion, and pepper stir fried with a few seasonings, and you have one of those sure to please favorites. Once you have the vegetables and meat sliced, everything goes very quickly. A couple of quick stirs and 15 minutes of simmering.

Remember to start the rice before cooking the Pepper Steak. The rice will take a little longer and should be started first. Serve with a frozen egg roll if you like, or perhaps some egg drop soup. Bring out the chopsticks and have a little fun.

Chinese Style Pepper Steak

2 pounds boneless top round steak

cup vegetable oil, or less as needed

3 medium size green peppers, sliced

1 cup thinly sliced celery

1/3 cup diced onion

2 cloves garlic, mince

1 cup beef broth

1 teaspoon salt

teaspoon pepper

cup soy sauce

cup water

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

Hot cooked rice

1. Slice the steak thinly across the grain. This is easier if you partially freeze the steak.
2. Brown the steak in a little hot oil in a large skillet.
3. Add the green peppers, celery, onion, garlic, broth, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the vegetables and beef are done.
4. Combine soy sauce, water and cornstarch; stir well. Add to meat mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 1-2 minutes.
5. Serve over rice, Serves 8. Chopsticks are optional.

Diane Watkins is a busy mother and southern style cook. She enjoys cooking, teaching, and writing about good food and family. For more information on southern cooking and recipes visit her website http://www.easysoutherncooking.com

Do you need more quick dinner recipe and menu ideas? Sign up for our newsletter at http://easysoutherncooking.com/easy-quick.html for recipe and menus delivered to your email regularly.

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Have you ever wondered which way your ceiling fan should rotate depending upon the season? You are not alone in this dilemma, as many people are not aware of the proper direction ceiling fan should rotate for the right job.

Most fans come with a ceiling fan direction of forward and reverse. When the ceiling fan direction is on forward, it will blow the air in a downward motion. When you stand beneath the fan, you will feel the breeze. When the ceiling fan direction is in reverse, it will blow the air upwards. If you stand beneath the fan, you will not feel any breeze.

The proper ceiling fan direction should be obvious. When you want to enjoy the cooling breezes, you will want your ceiling fan direction on the forward setting. This will circulate the cool air throughout the room to ensure your comfort. If you use your air conditioner in conjunction with a ceiling fan, you will enjoy the cool air without your air conditioner having to do all the work.

In the winter, with the ceiling fan direction on reverse, all the warm air that is trapped close to the ceiling will be sent down to the ground where you will need it most. This will ensure that no toes are affected by the cold. You can save lots of money on your heating bill when you reverse the ceiling fan direction in the winter. Think of the heat stuck up on the ceiling as money, and the ceiling fan direction in reverse can shower you and your family with plenty of dollar bills.

If you have a room with a staircase where the ceiling fan is located, you will want to do the opposite. For a ceiling fan direction in reverse in this case, you will want to send the cold air up and in the forward setting in winter to circulate the heat downward.

Read the instructions that come with your fan to ensure you are operating your ceiling fan direction the right way to enjoy the full benefits of your ceiling fan all year round.

For more information about Ceiling Fan Direction?, feel free to visit us at: http://www.ceiling-fans-zone.info