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Packing an Emergency Kit in Your Camping Supplies

Camping is a great way to bond with family and friends, away from the distractions of the city. However, leaving the city behind also means leaving all its conveniences. When packing your camping supplies, make sure to bring some necessary items that can come in handy during emergencies.

First and foremost prepare a waterproof container to store your emergency supplies in. Also make sure that this container can be firmly closed and will not easily open in case it gets dropped or shaken around. You would not want to be groping around your bag for the spilled contents during an emergency. A good example would be a thick Ziploc bag or an airtight food container.

One of the first things you should pack is flashlight together with batteries and some for extra. Other than the obvious purpose of providing light around the campsite when needed, a flashlight can also act as a beacon for when you get lost and need to be located. A whistle will also serve a similar purpose, and this should likewise be a staple in your emergency kit. It’s small, lightweight and ultra-useful that there should be no excuse not to bring it along in any camping trip. A great example, remember how Kate Winslet’s character used this in Titanic to call for help? Exactly.

Always keep an extra set of waterproof matches in your camping supplies. If for some reason your lighter gets drenched and a flint is nowhere in sight, this can just be your life-saver, especially in places where the temperatures drop drastically at night. When in the wilderness, fire is not only useful in providing warmth, but also keeping away wild animals. Predators such as grizzlies and big cats are a very real danger especially when you’re in the mountains. Even the small ones can wreak havoc with your things, the last thing you would like to find out in the morning is that your bag has been stolen by some wily forest creatures.

Equally important is to bring along rain ponchos. You do not want to get drenched in the wild especially when proper medical care is not within your reach in case of hypothermia or fever. You should also make sure that a pill box is with you in every camping trip containing medicine for allergies, headache, fever or any other ailments hat you feel your friends/family may suffer while outdoors. Likewise, make sure to bring bandages and disinfectants to stave off infection and keep a wound clean in case of accidents.

For practical reasons, a number of other materials should also be included in your emergency kit such as scissors, a Swiss army or pocket knife, and hardy strings. A compass is also an essential when venturing out into the wild.

A water bottle should also be included in your camping supplies, along with water purification tablets so when you run out of safe drinking water, you can still play it safe. Last and not least, non-perishable food should also be brought along such as high-calorie energy bars, beef jerky or similar items.

For more tips and information about camping supplies, check out http://www.summitcampinggear.com/camping-gear.html.

Home Based Business Lie Number Four / For MLM’ers and Network Marketers Only

Here we go with Big Fat Lie Number Four:

Now let’s be real honest with each other here. How many of you look forward to the company-sponsored events half way across the country? I refer to these huge mega-meetings as “Rah-Rah” events.

If you are like me and most of my colleagues in network marketing, then you really dislike these events as much as I. Of course I could never share this information with my downline or sideline; hence I discourage him or her from attending. But here’s the thing. When you break it down into dollar and cents (and sense)… does it really make sense to spend all this time and money at an event such as this?

You’ve heard the saying… “Not everyone who goes to the national events makes it to the top, but rest assured all those at the top have never missed a national meeting”. Well, who in his or her right mind would want to take that chance if they are serious about building a huge downline and becoming successful in their respective companies? I was afraid to say no to the first 2 that came up when I began in one company.

So what purpose do these rah-rah events serve? Are the key speakers really there for our benefit? Are the top earners really giving us the whole story or is it all glitz and glam? And don’t forget upper management! My goodness… just to be in their presence is well worth the thousands of dollars we spend on such events.

Speaking of dollars spent. Let’s add everything up

1. The event itself, normally 3 days. I’ll low-ball and say $500

2. Hotel accommodations come to about $400 unless you are lucky enough to share a room with a few others… or should I say UNlucky enough. Maybe this was one area you should have gone all out. It may just be me but although I like to have fun I really like my privacy too.

Ok… back to the money!

3. Plane fare. Ouch! Need I say more? $1K (If you’re driving it’s just about as bad with current gasoline prices)

4. Meals, drinks, and don’t forget about eating during the long layovers at the airport. $250

5. If you’re a working mom like me, you had to make arrangements for help while your husband was working because very few of us were able to drag them along too. Even though we do our biz together, it just wasn’t feasible. Tack on another $100 for a very cheap sitter or nanny.

6. And who goes to one of these events without doing a little personal shopping for a few new items? Even you guys do it. So let’s be conservative and say $100

7. Now the biggie… the “real” reason for this event… to purchase the new product line. And such great deals are offered that you’d be silly not to purchase the entire line with the promo only for those at the event. $750

8. Now let’s throw in a few of the new and improved training materials that you would hate to pass up since you are right here - right now and can get them at a discount along with no shipping and handling. $50

9. And last but not least, you have to at least buy the book if not the book/DVD set of at least one of the keynote speakers. I mean, come on now. These people traveled half way across the world - just for you! And they’re doing it out of the kindness of their hearts. $25

Wow! What a deal!

So let’s add that up. $3175

But let’s not forget something. Our respective network marketing companies are businesses. We want them to be profitable don’t we? I mean, we do want them to be around for many decades to come.

It really is downright simple to make a ton of money in this industry. But on the flip side, if a distributor isn’t careful and does not understand the numbers, he or she will probably be making quite a few ‘donations” to the company. No one, regardless of the level of your success, wants to look back during tax time and start adding up everything he or she spent on the extra’s throughout the last year. It can be a real eye-opener; a time of soul-searching for the rep.

Let me leave you with this. Take that $3175 just for one event during one year. What else could you have used that money for to move your business forward? Was it a waste of money or was the shear motivation of it all worth every penny. It may very well have been so for you. But I can assure you that now that I truly understand real MARKETING, I could have spent that money a hundred better ways. But live and learn.

Check out the great new marketing material at http://www.FreeMLMsuccessReport.com For more information refer to my websites http://NoMoreBSmarketing.com and http://Add-More-Reps.com Questions? Contact me directly at my home office at 440.942.8166, EST. Copyright 2006 Janellenco. Jane Ellen has an extensive background in the home-based business industry as well as public marketing. She is most well known for her no-nonsense approach to marketing and teaching style. She knows that the only

Safety Tips in Using Propane Heaters in Camping

As with any other equipment that generate heat, camping heaters must be used with care and caution. One kind of camping heater - Propane heaters can be a very safe device if used properly, and can be one of your best friends during your camping trip given the level of comfort it provides.

Upon buying this type of camping heater, first and foremost, check if the heater has been tested and given a seal of approval by a recognized organization/agency. This ensures that the equipment is following the standards for safe propane-reliant products. Make sure to read carefully the instruction manual and safety precautions that comes along with your heater, and use it accordingly.

It is also wise to check your heater before you bring it to the campsite or before use. A good inspection tip is to detect leaks by smell, as propane gas gives off an odor akin to the smell of rotten eggs. Likewise, you can apply soapy water around the connections - a bubbling around the space will indicate a leak.

It is very important that adequate space is left around this camping heater when being used inside the tent. Ideally, the space on the sides should be between 6 and 12 inches, the space above it somewhere between 1 and 4 feet, and the space in front should be at least three feet.

Likewise, adequate ventilation is a must when using propane heaters. Make sure that fresh air still has a way of getting inside your tent. The reason for this is that however safe such camping heaters have become, combustion by propane still produces trace amounts of carbon monoxide (a byproduct). Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning by ensuring proper ventilation in your tent when using your heater. Another important thing to remember is to never, under any circumstances leave the heater unattended or overnight while you sleep. Many propane-based heaters are now equipped with oxygen depletion sensors (ODS) which detects when oxygen levels in a space are beginning to decline, and such heaters are the best ones to use.

If you begin experiencing any signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, the heater must be switched off as soon as possible and people inside the tent must be evacuated to an open space. Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include (but are not limited to) nausea, dizziness, and confusion.

You should only use the propane heater for the purpose that it is intended for which is to provide warmth inside your tent. This should not be used to cook food (or toast bread!), as reading light or to dry wet clothes. When using camping heaters, it is best to err on the side of caution. Also, keep anything that might burn away from it. Keep a good distance between the heater and your clothes, sleeping bag, paper, plastic materials etc. Campers should also make it a practice to elevate the heater using anything stable such as your cooler to lessen the chance of it being toppled over by being kicked.

By putting safety first, you will be able to enjoy your camping more through the peace of mind it brings.

For more tips and information about Propane heaters, http://www.summitcampinggear.com/colemanheaters.html.

Creating the Perfect Christmas Dining Table

Food, friends, and parties are a joyous and wonderful part of the Christmas season. Christmas is the time of year when large dinners and festivities reign supreme. This is also the one special time of year that many people want to make their own dining tables look magnificent. Here are some seasonal ideas for you to use to give your own table a unique and dazzling festive appeal.

Traditional Touches

Use a tablecloth that is green or red to create the foundation for this look. Placemats should be plaids of red, green, and gold. Napkins can match the placemats or the tablecloth. You can even match them to one of the other solid colours in the napkins. The napkin rings could be gold coloured rings with a bit of mistletoe attached. Use gold chargers to anchor your place settings and make lovely pieces for this occasion.

Emerald and ruby coloured dishes can be used to make beautiful settings for each guest. Remember that they can be unmatched pieces and still create a wonderful look for the table. Choose some candles in golds, red or green as your centerpiece. A hurricane lamp with one large, gold pillar candle looks exquisite. Flank this with smaller candles on either side. Add mistletoe or small evergreen pieces around your candles for added polish.

Stunning and Elegant in Black and White

Using a white linen cloth for your tablecloth and napkins, you can set the base for this modern look. Placemats should be black, or you might opt for a less formal feel by incorporating a black and white design scheme with them. A great table look can be achieved if you use all black dishes for the settings. Other choices include using a black or white charger and then alternate the other two colours among the place setting. Napkin rings could be made of black and white beads or silver.

Top each place setting with a white orchid or poinsettia flower. At this time of year, a beautiful silk flower will also do the job brilliantly. You can use a black runner on the table and have several of these flowers used as decorations. Also include small bits of mistletoe and poinsettia leaves and flowers along the runner. For the centerpiece, a white poinsettia or orchid is a lovely focal point.

Blue and Silver Ice Motif

Two colours that make people think of the festive season are blue and silver and you can use these to create a lovely Christmas dining table. A crisp blue cloth will be your base and you can use a runner of silver to add sparkle and flash. Choose placemats that combine a geometric design of these two colours and let your napkins match the mats. If you are unable to find matching napkins, match them to your blue cloth.

Create your own napkin rings from ribbon and tiny silver snowflakes. Your glasses can be silver in colour and let your dishes be a mix of delicious shades of blue with a few choice pieces of clear glass as contrast. Use fake cubes of acrylic ice to create your own ice sculpture centerpiece, or use blue and silver candles to create sparkle and fantasy for your table. Place the candles at the center with pinecones and small evergreen branches at the bases. You might also consider a flat bowl that can hold ice and water as a centerpiece. You can add floating tea lights for a mealtime glow. Let some glitter adorn the tablecloth and runner and you have a beautiful winter table setting to charm all of your dinner guests.

Have a great Christmas!

The On the Table Christmas gifts section has more great ideas for creating the perfect Christmas dining table and choosing that special design for your home or the perfect gift for friends, family. Visit http://www.onthetable.co.uk.

What Are the Best Recommended Cleaning Tips to Maintain Your Contact Lenses?

Every person that wears contact lenses or are thinking about obtaining some contact lenses for vision correction or a fashion statement should understand that proper care and maintenance for your contact lenses is very important for the health and safety of your eyes. Caring for your contact lenses will only take a few minutes of your time each day and will help keep your contact lenses in excellent condition for a number of years. Many people prefer wearing contact lenses to wearing glasses and with proper care and maintenance, wearing your contact lenses can be just as safe and hassle free.

The most important part of contact lens maintenance is making sure that your hands are clean and free of debris before handling your contact lenses. Particles of dirt or hair on your hands can adhere to the surface of the contact lenses and scratch the surface of the eye when the contacts are put in, causing pain and discomfort until the contact lens can be removed. Any viral material or bacteria that are on the hands can also be transferred to the surface of the eye by the contact lens and can cause illness or infection that may require medical treatment to cure. The hands should be thoroughly washed with hot water and soap before handling the contact lenses out of the case or out of the eye.

The next step in proper care for contact lenses is to use a sterile contact lens solution for cleaning the contact lenses. These solutions can be purchased at any neighborhood grocery store, drug store, or mass merchandiser. There are many different brands of contact lens solutions available from different manufacturers and it is up to the person to decide which brand they like to use the best. Using this solution, the contacts should be rinsed before placing them in the eyes and after they have been taken out of the eyes to remove any particles of dirt and to disinfect them. The solution is also used in the contact lens case when storing the contact lenses to prevent them from drying out and provide a barrier from infectious agents.

The contact lenses should be removed from the eyes according to the schedule of the manufacturer of the contact lenses. There are many different varieties of contact lenses can be purchased and the type of contact lenses that are purchased will dictate how often they need to be removed and cleaned. Some contact lenses need to be taken out every night at bedtime for cleaning and disinfection while some other types of contact lenses can be left on the eyes for a week at a time before they will need to be removed.

There are also a number of other solutions and devices that can be used for cleaning the contact lenses if the person chooses to use them. One of the most common solutions used are the protein removal solutions that removes any of the proteins that are found on the surface of the eye or in tears from the surface of the contact lenses to prevent build up and clouding on the contact lens. There are also contact lens cases that plug into an outlet so that the case will slowly agitate the contact lenses during the night, helping to wash anything off of the surface of the lenses. Proper contact lens care can extend the life of your contact lenses and protect your eyes from many of the complications associated with contact lens use.

Canada’s largest online optical store for your glasses and contact lenses. Features the latest designer frames, colour contacts, contact lens solutions, special effects lenses.

Great Children’s Educational Toys to Give Away This Christmas

Christmas is still weeks away, but it is never too early to make that list and start buying gifts for your own children, godchildren, nephews, nieces, younger siblings, or even the children of your friends. Thinking of gifts for children can be tricky. Some prefer to give gifts that are fun while others prefer those that encourage children to learn. The budget is also something to consider, especially if you are buying for several kids. Some of the toys available in stores do cost an arm and a leg. With these factors in mind, choosing what to buy can indeed be stressful. Here are gift ideas that might help you decide what to buy this Christmas.

Educational Toys for Young Girls

Little girls can be really picky at times, but even the pickiest little girl cannot thumb her nose at cute stuff in pastel colors. Pretend play toys make great gifts to girls between five and ten years old. These gifts can improve their creativity and imagination.

• Dollhouses and doll furniture

• Fairy wings, magic wands, hair accessories to complement their princess costumes

• Playhouses, huts, or tents designed like castles

• Dramatic play toys like a doctor’s medicine bag or a play money set

• Toy kitchen accessories

• Wooden toy kitchens

• Wooden play food

• Girl’s vanities

Pretend play toys also give mothers opportunities to teach a little about housekeeping or good grooming to young girls while they play.

Educational Toys for Young Boys

Young boys, at any given day, seem like they have all the energy in the world and then some! Give them gifts that will not only capture their imagination but also exercise their critical thinking or resourcefulness as well as provide another way for them to spend those extra energy.

• Train and activity tables

• Paint kits

• Science kits featuring dinosaurs and other animals, robots, and fossils

• Magic tricks set

• Construction toys like blocks

• Magnetic toys like mazes

• Rubik’s cube

• Rocking toys shaped like horses, boats, motorcycles, an even an airplane

Educational Toys for Girls and Boys

Buying gender-neutral toys is the best way to go if you know so little about the kids other than their age. Boys and girls will enjoy playing these toys with their friends.

• Jigsaw and floor puzzles

• Board games

• Puppets and puppet theaters

• Outdoor toys like a trampoline or a balance base

• Memory card games and the like

• Activity tables like those looking like science projects with colored wires and balls

Gifts Even Parents Will Appreciate

These gifts might make the parent happier than the kid, but kids will still appreciate them.

• Wooden toy boxes with sporty designs for boys and cute floral ones for girls or toy chests shaped like farm houses, treasure chest, or even a carriage

• Sleeping bags and tents

• Playroom furniture like mini lockers, step stools, desks, and rocking chairs

Christmas is a special season for families but more so for kids. It is the time of the year when Santa and his elves bring good tidings in the form of beautifully wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree.

Choosing the best gift for a child needs a bit more effort than just buying the first thing you can grab from aisles upon aisles of toys and whatnots. You have to decide if you want something fun, something educational, or something practical. Just remember, every child deserves a merry Christmas!

For more tips and information about educational toys, check out http://www.thekidstoystore.com/science-kits.html .

How to Make a Guy Want You - The Easiest 3 Things You Can Use to Make Any Guy Like You!

Have you always wanted to be that woman that is very lucky when it comes to love? You know, the type that seems to get any man she wants without even trying. Do you know how to make a guy want you? If you are willing to pay a small price there are a few very helpful guides that can give you a complete wealth of knowledge that will not only help you make a guy want you, but also fall in love with you. Here are a few tips to help you right now.

It does not take a super model or a young bimbo to make the guy you like want you. You don’t have to be either one and you can still get him. You just have to learn the ways of love and how to get him. Here are three tips to help you out:

A. Start by developing a personality that is attractive (Self Confidence)

Having an attractive personality is not only a core when it comes to success in love, but also in life. When you have the type of personality that shows enjoyment in life, motivation, confidence, fun, and activity people are drawn to you. This is the same type of thing when it comes to a guy. When you have this type of personality you will look and feel healthier and you will be able to naturally generate the type of excitment that attracts guys.

B. You have to make the guy feel comfortable and great around you

A guy will come back and spend more time around you if he likes the way he feels around you. You can make him feel great by listening to what he needs and giving it to him. This is how you can become part of the picture that he is painting for his life and you can win him over by making him feel wonderful around you.

This has to be balanced with fun, laughter, some seriousness, some depth, and a good connection. If you can make him smile and laugh, then he will be more willing to talk about more serious things and he will probably even bring them up in conversation.

C. Start slow and get to know him first

You have to start as his friend and work your way to girlfriend. Start by flirting with him and spending time with him as friends. After you have made a good connection you will be able to better judge whether he is right for you or not. Then, you can start thinking about asking him out and becoming a more serious couple. When you become frinds first you take out all the questions of whether the relationship can last the test of time because you have already built a strong foundation.

Lastly, if you want to find the man of your dreams and you want to know how to make a guy want you, then you have to set goals and go after them. Don’t give up and understand that the man for you is out there and you just have to find him before he finds the wrong girl.

Stop being Single and Find the right Guy for you. Discover the Secrets to Getting the Man of your Dreams by Clicking Here Now.

How Frequently Should You Test Your Gas Monitors?

Gas monitors and gas detectors, are used in many kinds of manufacturing plants around the world. In a typical chemical plant, petrochemical complex, oil & gas production platform or a similar facility that handles chemicals in large quantities, you may come across gas monitors in the hundreds. These gas monitors and gas detectors, are installed to warn the operators and technicians that run these facilities, about gas or vapor leaks, fugitive emissions and for area monitoring. Most gas detectors get added, after either during the design phase of the plant, or later on, after a HAZOP study or a safety audit. In some cases, they may be added after some undesirable events occur.

This is all very well, but how do the plant managers and facility owners ensure that these noble intentions are met? They have to have a system in place, that makes these various kinds of gas detectors and gas monitors continue to work, even years after they have been installed. This requires these instruments to be part of the calibration schedule of the instrumentation maintenance crew, which is typically entrusted with calibrating all the other instruments as well (like those for flow, pressure, temperature,etc). The only problem is that most plants do these calibrations and testing for their process instruments, only once a year, whereas gas monitors require more frequent testing. Why do these gas monitors require frequent testing? Because they may fail without revealing their failure. Seems complicated? Not really. Let me explain. An instrument like a pressure transmitter is continuously monitoring pressure and sending it’s signal to the central control room. If it stops doing this, it can be considered to have failed and this failure is revealed immediately , when an operator notices that it is no longer working.

On the other hand, a gas monitor that has been installed to monitor the leak of a hazardous gas may give out a 0% reading in either of two situations:

1. If there has been no gas leak (as in normal operation) or

2. If it has failed!

How does one distinguish between these two conditions? I know you may be thinking “Oh but there are supposed to be diagnostics and all”, but hang on, think for a moment “Do diagnostics cover every possible fault?” The simple answer is “No! They do not cover all possible faults”. Therefore there is no alternative, but to test these gas monitors more frequently than other “normal” process instruments.

OK now that you may be convinced that these gas monitors need more frequent testing and calibration than the regular instruments. But what should be the actual frequency? Should you you calibrate them or just “bump test” them with a known gas mixture in a gas bottle? How often should you check, whether your installed gas monitors & gas detectors are working OK? In order words, what should be an ideal calibration frequency for these instruments? Nobody seems to have a universal answer.

Some experts suggest every year is fine, others recommend it should be done every half year and some others insist, it should be done no less than every quarter. So who is right? Some may feel the more the frequency, the better. However, the problem is, that in most electrochemical type gas detectors, every time you test it, a small amount of the electrolyte is depleted due to reaction with the test gas. This means that the more you test it, the detector’s useful life will reduce. It may so happen, that on a particular test (say the fourth one on the same sensor since its installation), almost all the electrolyte will get depleted. However because sufficient electrolyte was present during the test, the detector will pass out with flying colors. BUT, suppose the next day there is a gas leak AND the electrolyte is now completely depleted, the instrument that was just declared healthy yesterday, will fail in the actual emergency !

Does this bother you? It should. Probably some manufacturer will start indicating the level of useful electrolyte left (I think that already there are some models that have this, but I am not sure), or there is some kind of other sensor diagnostic available, but in the vast majority of these detectors, it does not seem to be present.

What about the catalytic combustion type gas detectors? Well, frequently exposing them to %LEL gas mixtures may cause damage of the bead (repeated explosions taking place on the bead) and could render them ineffective in an actual gas leak.

The only types that can escape this “destruction by calibration” seem to be the semiconductor and the optical/infrared types, that may be unaffected by frequent exposures to gases to which they are sensitive. Does it mean that we should replace all of the electrochemical types and the catalytic combustion types with IR sensors and semiconductors? This won’t be really practical to implement, as they are much more expensive than the electrochemical type and the catalytic combustion type.

Do we simply replace all the electrochemical sensors and catalytic combustion sensors every two years? This would be a similar approach to the concept of preventive maintenance that seeks to replace parts, irrespective whether they have failed or not, in order to increase the reliability of the system. But doing this in such cases involving gas monitors, may be much costlier, since the sensors form a large percentage cost of the total cost of the gas monitor.

Hence, each plant or facility management should think over this in more depth and decide the frequency of the testing or calibration, depending on their particular installation, the type of the gas monitors and the risks of the gas monitors failing when least desired.

Sam Polniak works with Abhisam Software,a leading producer of e-learning courses for engineers and technicians around the world. Abhisam Software has an excellent e-learning course on how Gas Monitors Work and is available from their website. The views presented here represent his own and may or may not agree with those of Abhisam Software.

Don’t Be Boring, Be Bold!

One of the hottest new trends right now in events from celebrity weddings to birthday parties is the use of feathers. Used in d?cor as well as an accessory, feathers are a fantastic way to spice up your event. Forget the usual flower arrangements and the typical centerpieces, feathers area unique way to add flavor as well as a touch of class to your event.

The expression “as proud as a peacock” will come to life if you use a bold, beautiful peacock feather as your boutonnieres. When planning a wedding, it is often hard for brides to find a flower that is manly enough to use as a boutonniere, but yet stylish and delicate enough to use in a wedding; a peacock feather is classy way to solve this dilemma. A peacock feather brings an air of sophistication to your groom and groomsmen and blends well with any color or style of tuxedo or suit. Peacock feathers can be both dressed up as well as dressed down depending on the look of your wedding and blends beautifully with an outdoor wedding as well as an indoor. The possibilities with this type of boutonniere are endless! Depending on your style, you also might want to consider adding some greenery to the peacock feather to add a little more color and the use of bright-colored ribbon can add a bold touch as well. The use of a peacock feather as a boutonniere will bring a beautiful and yet masculine vibe when instead of using the standard rose, you add some excitement and use a peacock feather.

Another extremely hot trend is to use feathers as hair accessories. Brides in particular are starting to add a unique touch to their wedding day look when instead of putting flowers in their hair, they place a feather. Tiaras are becoming more and more outdated and unique, trendy clips are emerging as the new, modern look. Feather clips are becoming more and more popular because they add a chic, sophisticated touch. A beautiful ostrich feather clipped behind your ear or in the side of a French twist can add a sultry touch.

But on top of them all, the hottest trend in the use of feathers is in d?cor. Using feathers in decorations, especially in centerpieces, has exploded across all events—found in weddings, birthday parties, corporate events, Christmas parties, and showers. The cost of using feathers in centerpieces is much less, often half of the cost of using real flowers in centerpieces, so when planning a big event, this can be an excellent way to cut costs. But the wow-factor when using big, bold feather arrangements is what sets one event apart from all the others. Picture every table set with a wondrous ostrich feather centerpiece as the huge, full feathers flow over the tops of the tall vases. Or, for an even bolder, brighter look, consider using peacock feathers in your centerpieces. The room will be filled with the stunning color of the peacock feathers. The blues and greens of the peacock feathers will stand out on every table.

Feathers are quickly becoming a hot item in events, especially in weddings, because of the attractive and stylish look they can bring. There are many uses for feathers in your event, these are just a few to get you thinking, but the next time you sit down to figure out which flower will work in your event, remember to be elegant!—be bold!—use feathers!

Laura Hardy is a writer for Wholesale Event Solutions, an online event supply company open to the public, offering a large selection of discount wedding centerpieces and supplies, including wholesale ostrich feathers, peacock feathers, feather boas.

The Many Colors of Diamonds

Are you new to the diamond purchasing scene? If so, you are going to be faced with an overwhelming amount of choices. The following is an explanation of the different colors of diamonds now on the market.

First of all, you may not realize that there are over 10 solid color choices for natural diamonds. And each of the colors comes in different hues and shades, taking that number into the hundreds. Some are commonplace and very easy to find, while others are considered very rare.

Coloring in diamonds signifies impurities like nitrogen that can be found in some single-compound (carbon) diamonds. Although-diamonds that are not pure white are not necessarily flawed. In fact they may be considered rare, as in the case of purple, orange or red diamonds. In addition, any diamond that is not white can be referred to as “fancy” (if it possesses the right characteristics); as in a “fancy bright yellow diamond. “

White-A white diamond is not really white, it is almost translucent. White diamonds are colorless to near colorless; the clearer the diamond the higher the grade. White diamonds are the most common and signify elegance and stability.

Yellow-Commonly referred to as the canary diamond. Its yellow coloring varies from light to bright. These are rarer than white diamonds and more expensive.

Brown-These are sometimes referred to as Champagne or Chocolate in color, but with a definite light or dark brown tint. Brown can also be found combined with orange or yellow.

Grey-These are lustrous with a smoky coloring and are sometimes bluish-gray in color.

Blue-Blue diamonds have been sold for quite some time. They are considered elite and rare, and therefore much sought after.

Green-Relatively new to the market and green in color-but will not be mistaken for an emerald, as green diamonds are lighter in color than emeralds and sometimes have an olive tint.

Pink-The new white. Pink is very feminine and is also the color that is internationally recognized to be associated with Breast Cancer Awareness. You might score some knowledge and caring points by going Pink.

Orange-Orange diamonds can be very intense and vibrant in color or combined with brown, pink or red.

Red-The rarest color of all diamonds is the red diamond. Not many have been classified as fancy, as most are combined with pink, orange, or purple.

Violet/Purple-Generally lighter in color and can be found in combination with pink diamonds.

Black-Black diamonds appear to be black and lustrous, but are really a shade lighter than true black.

When you are purchasing diamonds keep in mind that the colors above refer to natural colors. However, diamonds can be artificially colored. Be sure to ask the jeweler if you are purchasing a natural colored diamond or one that’s color has been enhanced. Also, it is not unusual to find diamonds that have color combinations such as a fancy orange/brown or purple/pink.

Now that you know that diamonds come in every color of the rainbow, you will need to focus on the recipient of the diamond. Choose a color that suits the needs and wants of the person who will be wearing the diamond. No matter which color that you choose for that special person, make sure that you buy something that will complement their personality and physical characteristics.

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