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As you are likely aware, I am a designer handbag fanatic. I have been advised by family and friends that this could be developing into a problem, but I am confident that I have it under control. Sure, I have bounced my rent check to purchase a new purse. Who hasn’t? There have been times when I have skipped out on my utility bills, so I would have enough cash to buy a new handbag. Who wouldn’t?

I have spent countless nights dreaming about shopping for the latest fashionable designs. So what if I want to have Kenneth Cole’s babies. I really don’t see the problem here. To make my mother happy, I have made the following pledge (ever-so-loosely based on the “twelve step” program):

My name is Cathy, and I am addicted to designer handbags and high fashion. I admit that I am powerless over Prada, and that my life has become unmanageable in certain respects. I have faith that a power greater than Dior can restore my sanity. I have made a pledge to turn my will and my life over to the power of the House of Gucci. I have made a searching and fearless inventory of every handbag on bagborroworsteal.com.

I have made an admission to Chloe, myself, and my friend Sara regarding the exact nature of my wrongs. I am ready for Melie Bianco to remove all these defects of character, and I humbly implore her to remove my shortcomings. I have made a list of all the handbag designers I have harmed with my caustic language, and I am ready and willing to make amends to them all. I have gladly continued to take personal inventory of all my designer purses, and when I was wrong it was promptly admitted.

I have sought through prayer and meditation to improve my conscious contact with Vivienne Westwood as I understand her, praying only for knowledge of her will for me and the power to carry that out. After having this spiritual awakening, I have tried to carry this message other handbag junkies. I have tried to apply these principles in all my erm…..affairs. My name is Cathy, and I am addicted to designer handbags and high fashion.

Are you looking for that perfect gift for a business associate or a friend? Just think what gastronomic joy you could give when you choose that ideal gift from a wide selection of gift baskets. If you’re looking for delicious fruit assortments with scrumptious pear varieties, apple varieties, cherries and more, the Premiums Fruit Company is just one of many online merchants that offer taste tempting gift basket ideas to whet anyone’s palate Tasty nuts and cheeses are also available in their handcrafted gift baskets and towers. Check out all the sites for your gift giving needs.

Other great gift basket ideeas for those you know with a with a hearty appetite, what could be better than a gift of delicious meats? When you do your shopping online, you can select from marvelous gift baskets featuring prime steaks and chops, or delicious cheese and sausage.

When you want to send something that’s not too personal, yet shows you’re thinking of the recipient, a gift of food is always appropriate. Gift baskets not only offer you a wide choice of content, but also a wide price range to suit your gift giving budget. There are a number of catalogers and online merchants that also offer corporate discounts for their gift baskets, so keep that in ind as you do your company’s holiday shopping.

And, let’s not forget nuts (also a popular item—not only at he holidays, but year ‘round.} Fresh, delicious shelled pecans and pecan treats are all available in a wide assortment of eye-pleasing baskets that would be a welcome gift for anyone on your list.

And have we mentioned chocolates? No one could really resist a gift basket of mouth watering decadent goodies—including chocolate covered nuts and regional favorites from around the country—all beautifully packaged and wrapped to delight any connoisseur of fine eating. In fact, one doesn’t have to be a connoisseur to enjoy a good piece of chocolate!

What could be more tempting than a gift of cookies, brownies and other gourmet gifts from a famous baker? Browse through the many sites featuring unique food gift baskets and you’ll also find one that specializes in exotic spices from around the world, or if a gift of cheese brings a glint to your eye, send a great cheese gift basket combining aged cheddar cheeses with other Vermont specialty foods, including pure Vermont maple syrup, chocolates, and sauces. How delicious is that!

And when you’re shopping, keep in mind the favorite jams and jellies and crackers that can make the ordinary extraordinary! Gift basket ideas abound with these delightful homemade temptations that will please any family. And, they’ll think of your thoughtfulness when they’re enjoying their morning toast and coffee.

If you’re shopping for yourself or for others, food is always the in thing, particularly in today’s health conscious society. When you let your browser do the shopping, you’ll find an interesting array of wonderful (and nutritious) goodies in health food catalogs as well as in organic food catalogs. These online purveyors of good and healthy food have an assortment of unique food gift baskets for the truly health conscious epicure devote of fine foods. In fact, you can find just about everything on line when it comes to food.

Or, if you know of someone who loves the old style western jerky as a special snack, try unique food gift basket of your own combining high protein snacks like beef jerky, turkey jerky and beef sticks with selections of dried fruit and nuts, candy and sausage.

Just point and click your way through the many unique food gift baskets that are available online and you’ll save yourself a great deal of time and money. Many merchants and catalogers offer customization for corporate gift giving, thus ensuring your employees and clients of receiving an unforgettable present whether it’s for the holidays or any other special occasion.

Playing billiards is an extremely popular pastime, both in America and abroad. Although the game has been with us for a very long time, there has been an incredible resurgence in interest surrounding the game in recent years. The pool halls of today are markedly different from those of yesteryear, due mainly to the increasing popularity of the game.

Pool players today demand a different sort of pool hall. Gone are the days of smoky pool halls filled with shady characters and shifty crooks. The pool hall owners of today are making valiant efforts to meet the needs of their new found customers. The billiard aficionados of today have a higher set of expectations, and many pool hall owners have made great strides to get with the times. It is not uncommon to find a restaurant or a martini bar inside the modern pool hall.

Slate is one such example. After receiving a much-anticipated renovation back in 2000, it has become one of the hottest pool spots in New York City. With over 16,000 square feet of space on two floors, Slate is one of the most unique and exciting places in the city. It boasts a massive 54 foot glass bar, a full service restaurant, 30 championship pool tables, a stellar sound system, and a collection of plasma TV’s placed throughout the venue. It also has an incredible glass staircase in the shape of a pool triangle. Believe the hype; Slate is the place to be and be seen.

The Continental Modern Pool Lounge is another fine establishment. It is located in Arlington, Virginia and is quite possibly the funkiest billiard room in America. This venue is the perfect combination of fun and sportsmanship. The décor speaks volumes about the type of establishment they are trying to operate. It is very much a 70’s inspired spot, reminiscent of The Jetsons or something to that effect. This pool hall is, without a doubt, a flashback from way back.

There are three main things that separate a good pool hall from a great pool hall; respect for the game, quality equipment, and stylish décor. Shakespeare’s Pub and Billiard Room in Denver, Colorado is without a doubt, a great pool hall. They have an excellent menu, a fine selection of ale and lager, and some of the best equipment and players in America. It is not uncommon to discover some of the best and brightest players playing alongside relative beginners. Shakespeare’s is considered one of America’s top pool spots, even garnering a recent mention in USA Today. If you are ever in Denver, be sure to drop in for a game and a pint.

Those heroes of the Wild West as portrayed by John Wayne and others on the big screen over the years, where in reality very far from heroes. If they were around today they would probably be branded as terrorists and then exterminated by the law enforcement agencies they purportedly represented. The home of the true gambling hero was this rough world of cattle herding dominated by the saloon and the gambling den.

Cheap novelists such as Ned Buntline whose dime publications became popular across the land romanticized this world of rough justice and mayhem. Buffalo Bill got together a whole bunch of these people, many of whom had come believe their descriptions in the “penny dreadfuls” and created a “Wild West Show” that he took on tour. His real name was William Frederick Cody and he was nicknamed, Buffalo Bill because of the dubious accolade of having managed to kill 4,3000 buffalo in a mere 18 months.
Wild Bill Hickock, the quirky legendary marksman insisted on wearing 2 pistols even when asleep. Ironically he was killed during a poker game in Deadwood City. When he was shot by a publicity seeker whilst he was holding what has come to be known as the “dead man’s hand” in poker, aces and eights.

Calamity Jane was a far cry from the character Doris Day portrayed. Martha Jane Canary was an ex-Pony Express rider whose shooting was good enough for Buffalo Bill to include her in his show. In reality it was amazing she could hit any target with a pistol, as she was a chronic alcoholic and inveterate gambler. Belle Starr was not really very different either. Her most famous poker line was “a pair of six shooters beats a pair of sixes any day!” I don’t think any of us can argue with the logic behind that! She had a child by Cole Younger, married outlaw Jim Reed and after his death teamed up with an Indian named Sam who aided her in her very successful horse stealing business based out of Dallas.
What about Blly the Kid? Like many of his contemporaries he spent most of his time underage drinking in saloons and gambling parlors and had killed 21 men before he caught a bullet himself at the tender age of 21. Pity how all of this punctures the romanticized balloon on the noble Wild West, the last frontier. But then if people had known the truth Hollywood would have had huge problems of coming up with those ‘westerns” that portrayed a world of honor and opportunity many of which have achieved cult status as movies. In reality, however, this was another “spin job” as nothing could be further from the truth!

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Summary: An informative article about various types of firewood for home heating.

Title: Warm up with Firewood

There are as many types of firewood on the market, as there are fireplaces. If you have been heating your home with firewood, you are likely educated in the various types of wood available. If you are considering a wood-burning stove to heat your home or cottage, the following is a summary of the most popular types of wood used.

Ash, Oak, Beech, Birch, Hickory and Hard Maple are by far the best types of wood to use. They each produce a high amount of heat, which is one of the most important considerations. Each of these species burn extremely well, and they are all relatively easy to split. Another feature of these types is that they produce very little heavy smoke and very few sparks.

Aside from the species mentioned above, Soft Maple, Black Cherry, and Yellow Pine are the next best to use. The Soft Maple and Black Cherry each produce a decent amount of heat, but they both burn well and are easy to split. They also produce a low amount of heavy smoke and sparks. Yellow Pine is also quite a decent wood to use. The only significant drawback with Pine is that it tends to smoke a lot, and it may not be ideal for burning inside your home.

Elm, Sweetgum, Basswood, Poplar, and White Pine are all decent species. If you are unable to get any of the wood mentioned above, these will work just fine. None of them produce an impressive amount of heat, but in certain cases some heat is better than none. These species also produce more smoke and sparks than the aforementioned. The Elm and Sweetgum tend not to burn very well, and they are often difficult to split. These woods should be used when you have no other choices available to you.

As is the case with any heating system, your wood-burning stove should be installed by a professional. It must be checked and maintained annually, along with your chimney. Remember to always make safety a priority, and to keep your fireplace tools and fire extinguisher close by in case of an emergency.

Kim Filler loves to sit in her favorite chair watching the flames dance in her fireplace. When she is not trying to build the perfect fire, she writes freelance articles for fireplacesandwoodstoves.com - a website of interest to those with fireplaces and woodstoves featuring information on Excaliber Fireplaces, CFM Fireplaces , Gas Fireplace Inserts and more.

Balance is a principle of all art forms, design, and even landscape design. It implies a sense of equality. And while there may be just a little more to it, this is how I explain it to make it easier for first timers and do it yourselfers to understand.

A garden, landscape, or any form of equal proportions would naturally feel and look balanced. However, most gardens and landscapes are not exact or symmetrical in shape and form. They’re asymmetrical and abstract in form and are often without any natural balance of their own. So landscaping often relies on other elements to create balance and harmony through unity.

Many times, a lack of balance is directly related to a lack of repetition. Repeating alike elements such as plants or rocks throughout the landscape will help unify different areas to each other. As little as one repeated matching plant group, color, piece of decor, or hardscape can accomplish this.

A lack of balance is also created by placing too many or all non matching elements throughout a landscape design. This can sometimes seem cluttered and unkept when it grows in. In the beginning of your design, plan for less, place just a few matching plant groups throughout the garden, and keep decor matching and to a minimum. You can add more later.

So many of the questions that I receive about landscape design deal with the shape of a design . Shape is unique to each design and will ultimately follow all necessary paths and your visions. However, any shape or form can be filled with elements and still be either dull, void, loud, cluttered, and unbalanced. Balance isn’t necessarily dependant on shape. It can be but generally it’s not. So don’t get too hung up on trying to even things out entirely by shape.

Landscape design is an art form and so it deals with “all” the same principles that other art forms use. Repetition, unity, and balance are all principles of art that go hand in hand with each other.

Architects use repetition in design by making doors, windows, fixtures, trims, etc. the same sizes, shapes, and styles. Imagine how your home would feel if every door, door frame, window, and fixture were of different sizes, shapes, colors, and types. It would be uncomfortable and chaotic.

And so it’s the same with landscape design.

In order to create balance, appeal, and even comfort in a landscape that is lacking, we need to create some form of consistent repetition. As little as one matching element placed on opposites can create a sense of unity and consistency.

It’s easiest and most often created in the softscape (plants, ornaments, lawn, decor, etc.). However, it should be considered in the hardscape (walks, driveways, necessities, fences, walls, raised beds, boundaries, etc.) of your drawn design plan.

Precautions should be taken, ensure all renter’s deposit, returned 100 percent. The guidelines or agreement regarding the renter’s deposit, should be clearly written in the lease, under the subheading of ‘Security Portion.’ The renter should read the lease carefully, and pay attention to the requirements, necessary for refunding the deposit. The landlord should deposit the money into an escrow account, and not mingled, with other monetary assets of the landlord. In some States, the renter will get back the deposit, with any interest, and the landlord will provide the new tenant with a ‘move inspection checklist,’ be completed, at the time, when moving into the residence. Any prior damages or problems, should be noted, and returned to the landlord. Important, any damages are not listed, could be charged against the tenant’s deposit for repair. Additional measures include, taking pictures of the home, and noting any damages. If the tenant breaks the lease, then the landlord has the right to deduct a portion or keep the entire balance of the renter’s deposit. Always, pay the rent on time, avoid any late fees, could be deducted, from the deposit. Notify the landlord, thirty days before vacancy. Some states have guidelines, notifying the landlord, within a specified number of days, before moving out. Remember, before vacating, always clean, and repair any damages, are else the landlord can deduct the expense of repair, and clean up, against the deposit. Also, return all keys to the landlord, including any keys to facilities, in the building. Physically hand over the keys to the landlord, and do not simple leave keys inside an addressed envelope or someone else, since the keys may get lost. Any keys not returned, landlord may charge, replace those keys or locks against the amount of the deposit. Provide landlord forwarding mailing address, where renter’s deposit can be send. After vacating the residence, the renter’s deposit, should be mailed within thirty days. Trying to avoid, any problems the landlord, may claim against damages or cleanness of the apartment or home, by tenant walking through the dwelling with the landlord for an inspection, before or soon after vacating. In the State of Florida, the landlord is required by law to notify within 15 days (after vacancy) the previous tenant, by certified mail, reasons for any deductions, from the security deposit or return the deposit.

When the Landlord does not return, renter’s deposit, within 30 days, following steps should be considered. First: Write a letter to the landlord. Specifically outline what you want, in a polite and concise manner. Also, what you will pursue legally, if the deposit is not returned within a specified number of days. Consider, sending this letter by return receipt. If the landlord deducts any amount, from the renter’s deposit, the landlord must provide, a written receipt or outlined cost, for any charges. The previous tenant may pursue legal actions. First: In Small Claims Court, and contacting an attorney, for breach of contract. When going to Small Claims court, tenant should bring a receipt, showing the payment of the deposit, copy of the rental agreement, photographs before and after, moving into the residence, any signed document, by the landlord upon inspection, of the dwelling, for any damages, prior to moving, into the home. Also, copy of the letter: Requesting the deposit, any other relevant documents, and witnesses. In some states, landlord would pay for any punitive damages, if money was withheld, in bad faith, and in the State of Florida landlord (which may apply in other states) pays, tenant’s court costs. Also, The Resident Solutions Group helps renters, claim their renter’s deposit, and provide a guarantee. Their E-mail address: support@residentsolutionsgroup.com
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Little secrets can be useful. An example is knowing that hotel mattresses are less worn and more comfortable on the side away from the phone. Or knowing that listening to Mozart’s sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448 for ten minutes can raise your IQ 9 points.

They can also be just interesting. Did you know that the furthest point from the center of the earth isn’t Everest, but the top of Mount Chimborazo, in Ecuador (due to the bulge in the planet near the equator)? Here are some little secrets that are a little of both.

- Find money in bibles. Hotel owners report that visitors tuck money in the bedside bible, and forget to take it with them. Check those bibles!

- Find treasure in hotel rooms. Treasure hunters have found that businessmen take off and hide their wedding rings in hotel rooms, before they head to the bars. They sometimes forget them when they check out. Where would you hide something? There may already be something there.

- Reduce debt with a letter. In a truly tough situation, write a nice letter to creditors, asking them if they would accept 30% (or 50%, or whatever) of your balance as payment in full, if you can raise the cash before filing bankruptcy. They know they’ll get nothing if you file. I have seen more than one person eliminate a large chunk of their debt in this way. A lawyer or “representative” can write it for you, and they may pay more attention.

- To always have something interesting to say, train yourself to look at things from other perspectives. What would the Buddha say about this? How would a Martian view it? What’s the opposite perspective? The point is to see what interesting ideas result. Do this until it’s a habit, and you’ll always have something interesting to add to a conversation.

- Book two flights to save big bucks. When I was going to Ecuador, I checked several websites that claimed “cheap international airfare.” The cheapest from Traverse City, Michigan (where I lived at the time) to Quito, Ecuador, was $1720. Out of curiosity, I checked Miami to Quito: only $404. Traverse City to Miami: $299. $703 total! Book two separate flights and save more than $1000! The discount sites aren’t set up to check in this way for you, so you have to do this on your own.

- If you have good credit, you don’t have to pay annual fees on credit cards. Call and ask for the fee to be removed. I first did this years ago. On three out of four cards, they dropped the fee. For the fourth, I dropped the card. In fact the threat of closing the account is what got the fees dropped on the others. There are many of these little secrets that credit card companies don’t want you to know.

- An energy transfer motivation secret. Talk about anything you’re passionate about, and then transfer the energy created to what you need to work on. If talking politics gets you going, for example, do that, and then work on your goal. It’s even more effective if you can connect the two in your mind. If making money is your goal, for example, you could tell yourself, “With more money, I can find ways to change things politically.”

- In a book of little health secrets I read that tee tree oil might remove a growth I’d had for ten years on my nose. I applied a drop to the lump each day. In six weeks, the lump was gone. Coincidence? I don’t think so. I later had a larger growth on my neck. Unfortunately, for several years, I couldn’t remember what I had used the first time. When I finally found my old notes, I used tea tree oil again, and the lump was gone in about six weeks. There are reasons that doctors don’t tell us these little secrets.

While Grandma’s quilts showed off a sample of her pretty bits of fabric and her skill with many different fancy needle stitches – imagine what she could have done with a pot of glaze and a sponge. That’s right. As artistic and skilled as Grandma was she probably would be right at home with faux finish paints, too.

There are so many options available to today’s homeowner when it comes to choosing alternatives to traditional flat paint. There’s absolutely no reason to hang onto that boring tried-and-true white (or taupe, taupe, taupe) painted in every room throughout your home.

Explore the alternatives. Look in magazines for rooms that appeal to you. Architectural Digest, Southern Accents, Veranda and others all regularly feature homes that have faux finishes on everything from walls to furniture. Designers love to change the feel of a space with color and textures, painted faux finishes are an easy first step in that direction. You can do the same thing, too.

Faux finishes can be applied to almost any surface. From walls, ceilings, cabinetry in the kitchen and bath, floors, to all types of solid furniture as well. Styles of finishes can be extremely simple and subtle, to way, way over-the-top fantasy finishes, depending on your personal taste and pocketbook.

For your walls, here’s something to think about — a faux wall finish can provide a striking and seamless alternative to wallpaper. Seamless. No peeling or splitting. Just a beautiful hand-painted unique finish individually crafted for you alone.

A skilled faux finish artist can create a look just for you that the wallpaper manufacturers would love to copy and mass-market. Some of the more popular looks for walls include:

• Color washes – ragged, bushed, sponged single glazes over solid paint, the work-horse of faux finishes
• Multiple glazes – layered over solid paint, provides great depth
• Faux leather looks – terrific in a study
• Faux suede – stipple glaze over solid paint
• Stencil over-all patterns – antique damask or simple borders
• Venetian plasters – lustrous beautiful plasters
• Tuscan old-world plasters – troweled on plaster, chipped, cracked and aged to perfection
• Faux stone effects – limestone, fieldstone, slate, cut and fitted patterns
• Faux brick looks
• Faux wood – faux bois, antiqued, distressed, burled, bamboo
• Faux metal – brilliant metallic glazes, antique iron, verdigris
• Tissue paper – textured paper, paint and glaze
• Stripes – glazed or just painted, always classy

On columns, trim, doors, crown molding, fireplaces and art niches there are a number of cool faux finishes that can enhance the architecture of any room. Classic looks feature:

• Marble – from travertine to Rojo Viejo, the choices are wide open
• Granite – mimic your countertops
• Fantasy stones, such as lapis and malachite
• Gilding – any metal leafing, gold, silver, copper
• Strie – fine dragging of colored glaze over a solid paint

Antique or distressed faux finishes are wonderful choices on cabinetry and furniture. Adding a few worn edges and some crackled paint to those dated, tired kitchen cabinets can give them a fresh new “old” look. Think Provence.

It’s easy to expand your options. Change your mind about what’s acceptable for your sweet home space. Play a little with something fresh and new. Remember, changing the dynamics of your home is easy with the assistance of a skilled and experienced faux finish artist.

Always go to a pro who has a track record and samples and customers who love to tell you about the artist’s work that was created just for them. Then let him create a special room just for you.

He can guide you to faux finishes and colors that will be appropriate to your style, your furnishings, and your pocketbook. Consult with a trained professional artist and get the best look for your home today.

Oh. And keep in mind, if you are tired of that old chest-of-drawers and thinking about tossing it out, maybe all it needs a good old-fashioned antiquing. A dab of glaze here, another dab there. Just right.

Grandma would approve, no doubt.

The Christmas card, as we know it, originated in England in the year 1843. An artist named John Calcott Horsley was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole, a wealthy and successful London businessman, to create a card that could be sent out to his friends and clients to wish them a merry Christmas.

Sir Henry Cole was very well known at the time, for a number of reasons. He had a helping hand in helping to modernize the British postal system. He played a prominent role in the creation of the Royal Albert Hall, and acted as the construction manager on this massive project. He also arranged for the Great Exhibition of 1851, and he oversaw the inauguration of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

One of Sir Henry Cole’s greatest aspirations in life was to beautify the world around him. He owned and operated a wonderful art shop on Bond Street, which specialized in decorative objects for the home. His shop was hugely popular with the British upper class, and he earned a tidy sum from his business.

The Christmas card he commissioned was fashioned in the form of a triptych, which is a three-paneled design that allows for the two outer panels to be folded in towards the middle one. Each of the two side panels depicted a good deed. The first showed an image of people clothing the poor, and the other side panel showed an image of people feeding the hungry. The center piece had an image of a well-to-do family making a toast and surrounded by an enormous feast.

The inscription on the inside of the card read “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.” Of the one thousand cards printed for Sir Henry Cole, only twelve exist today in private collections. The printed card became highly fashionable in England during the years that followed. They also became very popular in Germany. It took quite a long time for the idea to catch on in America, then popularized by a German expatriate named Louis Prang in 1875. Today, more than 2 billion Christmas cards are exchanged each year. Merry Christmas, all!