New Board Games For Kids

Kids now-a-days are part of the X box generation where everything is digitalized and computerized. However, board games for kids are not necessarily out of style. Playing board games is a great way for kids as well as friends and family to get together and have some quality family fun.

Connect Four is one of the new board games for kids that is similar to the good old fashioned tic tac toe. The game is played vertically and its aim is for the first one to get four checkers in a row while preventing your opponents from doing the same wins.

The classic and all time favorite Scrabble is a great type of board games for kids to play with. This is a great way for kids to practice their spelling and vocabulary while having tons of fun. The object of this board game is to score the most number of points by forming words from the letter tiles.

Battleship is a classic kind of board games for kids and adults alike to enjoy. This is a game where skill, strategy, and luck play an important part in winning the game. The aim of the game is locate your opponent's battleships while concealing your own.

As far as board games for kids go, Sorry offers players the chance to use their skills at strategy and planning to win the game. Players must move their game pieces from the Start field to the Home field on the game board. Unlike other games that use dice, Sorry uses game cards with numbers that allow players to take certain actions. Players can even send their opponents pieces back to the Start field and at all cost must avoid the dreaded Sorry cards that are in the deck.

Twister is one of the perfect board games for kids to enjoy during sleep-over nights and parties. A mat with different colored circles or discs is the game board and the players use their own bodies as the pieces to win. The objective of the game is to spin the spinner and follow its instructions on which hand or foot goes to what color of the circle that is selected on the Twister mat. The last player to remain in an upright position with all hands and feet on the correct disc colors wins.

If you don't have enough money to buy yourself a trip to Las Vegas but you are in the mood for a fun game of dice then, the board game, Yahtzee is just what you are looking for. This is one of those board games for kids and adults to enjoy. There are five dice in the game and the objective is to throw them all at the same time. Different combinations of the dice make for different points. A scoring card is used to track down the scores and the player with the most number of points wins the game!

So whether it is a wet rainy day outside, or its one of those days that you simply want to stay home and spend time with the kids, these board games for kids are a perfect way to spend your time together as a family and a great tool for babysitters as well.

Katie Appleby is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about board games for kids, please visit My Babysitting Tips for current articles and discussions.

By Katie Appleby

Three Tips for Choosing Bridesmaid Jewelry

Wouldn?t it be great if just for one day ? your wedding day ? all the women serving as your bridesmaids could all look similar, if not exactly alike? How easy it would be then to outfit them all with the same dresses, shoes, hairstyles, bridesmaid jewelry, etc.!

But, alas, bridesmaids do not come in cookie-cutter sizes or shapes. Some have long hair, some have short hair; some are petite, others are tall; some can wear any kind of jewelry with flair and grace, while others need some second thoughts before donning those long, dangling earrings. (Yes, even some otherwise beautiful bridesmaids have big ears!) So before you automatically choose the jewelry for your ?maids, think along these lines.

Think ?Complementary?

But you can still have all your bridesmaids have that pulled-together look ? it just takes some planning. Perhaps there are one or two that absolutely cannot wear any type of long, dangly earring without calling attention, to, um, ?larger than normal? ears. Don?t despair! Mix up the jewelry by having some of them wear necklaces, some earrings, and some can wear bracelets.

Just make sure the jewelry is all in the same color, style, and material. This will add cohesiveness to the bridesmaid jewelry that will also include interest. For instance, you can have one or two of the bridesmaids wearing those long earrings you adore that are made of peach-colored abalone, just make sure the others are wearing necklaces, bracelets, or brooches made with the same shell and in the same color and style.

Keep Necklines in Mind!

Another thing to you have to keep in mind when selecting bridesmaid jewelry has to do, of course, with the dresses. You don?t want your bridesmaids wearing long pendants that hit just at the spot where a plunging neckline begins. Nor do you want to try to have them wear choker-style necklaces with dresses having necklines that come up the neckline, such as a halter-style dress. A good rule of thumb for selecting necklaces is this: Choose them to follow the style of the dress? necklines. For a v-neck dress, for example, choose necklaces with a Y-drop, lariat or back-dangle, or the classic pendant-style necklace. And, of course, it may seem like a no-brainer, but you?d be surprised how many people forget that brooches cannot be worn with strapless bridesmaid dresses!

Give it Away!

Something to think about when you?re shopping for bridesmaid jewelry is that you can also give your selections to the bridesmaids as gifts. Present the pieces to them in pretty boxes tied with a bow. If you have chosen wisely, they will be able to wear the jewelry for years afterward ? and it?s guaranteed they?ll remember your happy day each time they do!

Bridesmaid jewelry does not have to be expensive. And some places online that sell it offer discounts when you purchase in quantity, especially when you?re buying sets ? the earrings and the necklace (and sometimes bracelets, too). So take the time to surf the ?Net awhile and checkout what?s out there ? you are sure to be pleasantly surprised!

Visit Aragia.com for bridal shower favor tips.

Is Breast Really Best?

People are living longer, mainly due to changes in lifestyles but also because of incredible advances in health care. One of the results is the need for more healthcare professionals, including nurses. One way the industry is changing is by offering career choices in the form of more educational opportunities and options.

The Associate's Degree in Nursing has only recently become an option, though it's quickly gaining favor in the health care industry. While there are naturally some differences in the training for an associate's degree as opposed to a bachelor's degree, many health care agencies - including hospitals and doctor's offices - are recognizing the fact that those graduating with associate's degrees can perform many of the same duties and handle many of the same responsibilities as those with bachelor's degree. But is there really a difference?

There has to be some difference simply by the difference in time requirements for the two degrees. An associate's degree is typically accomplished in two years. This is sometimes called a fast track and there are many associate's degree programs available. Most are available through community colleges or technical training schools, though some four-year universities are now offering fast track degrees as part of their training programs.

By comparison, a bachelor's degree in nursing usually takes four years. Some who go into college with at least a few hours of college behind them and a solid plan can accomplish it sooner, especially if summer school classes are used to hasten the process. But as a rule, it takes a full four years to complete college with a bachelor's degree in any field, including nursing.

If you can achieve an associate's degree in only two years, why would anyone go on for the bachelor's degree? Most health care facilities seem willing to accept either degree, but most make a pay differentiation. Those who have graduated with a bachelor's degree can often expect to be paid more than those with an associate's degree. One of the positive points is that a nurse with an associate's degree can usually go to work earning a good wage and pick up classes toward the bachelor's degree to increase their worth.

So what's the difference in the actual study required? One important point noted by proponents of the associate's degree is that the four-year university requires a well rounded education before conferring a degree. That means that graduates are required to complete requirements in history, communication, physical education and other subjects that some say aren't relevant to a nursing degree. There are also some math and science courses that are typically above those required for a two-year nursing degree.

By comparison, an associate'
s degree program will often use a lock format. Instead of taking an algebra class and a chemistry class, those in the associate's degree program may take an afternoon class that combines the two, focusing on the way algebra and chemistry apply to their chosen field.

Some say there's no substitute for the bachelor's degree and that nurses should all be required to go through the full program. As long as there's a demand for nurses and others in the health care field, there's no doubt that faster training - as long as it's adequate - will be in demand.

This article may be reproduced only in its entirety.

About the Author:

Scott Knutson is an entrepreneur and writer. For more of his articles visit: Nursing Degree Online Nursing Schools Nursing Scrubs

Is Breast Really Best?

There is NO comparison..BREAST REALLY IS BEST!!

However in today's society where most mothers are finding themselves having to go back to work and with some even not taking their full maternity leave due to financial constraints placed upon them, this makes finding the time and the energy to breast feed a very difficult decision and bottle feeding the only option available to them. Many people look down on mothers who find themselves unable to breast feed and see the mother as depriving the child.

There has been a decline in the number of babies who are breastfed in recent years and this figure drops dramatically after the ages of four months. This has prompted the government to launch a campaign for more mothers to breast feed their children. The government wants to promote and encourage mothers to breast feed their babies and to continue doing so after their baby has past their first stage and is moving towards solid foods.

Advantages of Breast Feeding

Breast milk provides all the essential nutrients that a baby needs. There is no need for vitamin or other supplements to be introduced to the babies diet when breastfeeding.
Breast milk also can protect him or her from infections.

After giving birth a baby usually needs fed within an hour after delivery.
Breast milk at this time produces a substance called 'Colostrum' which is a yellowish transparent fluid. This substance lasts for approximately the first 3 days and is rich in high levels of protein and anti bodies which the baby needs. This fluid also contains less fat and a baby weaned on 'Colostrum' is more likely to resist the bacteria and viruses that can cause illness.

It also helps to build up a healthy immune system and protects the baby against disease by providing essential anti bodies and growth factors.

After the first few days a mother's milk changes in colour and consistency. This being due to a change in the mothers hormones. This milk is of a thinner consistency and is usually blue-white in colour.

A mothers milk constantly changes as both the baby and the mother develops. This ensures that the mother's milk is designed to meet the digestive and nutritional needs of the developing baby. A baby's digestive system is far from developed when a baby is born and this even more so in premature babies. Breast milk can aid and assist the breakdown of this important nutrition ensuring the baby's needs are met.

Breast feeding may also prevent diarrhoea, ear and urinary tract infections. It may also reduce blood pressure.

Breast fed babies also have a lower rate of contracting meningitis or severe blood infections.

Breastfeeding your baby can raise his or her IQ levels. This being due to the essential fatty acids and minerals found in the breast milk.

A baby who is breast fed can almost never becomes allergic to their mothers milk.

Breast fed milk ensures that the baby is exposed to fewer allergens and helps protect against allergies which are found in formula milk.

Although it is difficult to monitor how much breast milk a baby is receiving, it is shown that it is almost impossible to over feed a breast fed baby.

A mother who breast feeds usually develops a closeness to her child. This has massive psychological benefits for both mother and child.

Breast milk is FREE, CONVENIENT and NATURAL!
It is always there and you don't need to carry around cumbersome equipment and bottles.

Disadvantages of Breast Feeding

There are very few disadvantages in breastfeeding.

The main disadvantage is that the mother has to be there to provide milk at all times. The may make the mother tired and anxious. She may find that she has to plan her timetable very meticulously and if going out with the baby ensure that there are suitable mother and baby rooms available. ( For all the advantages in modern society some people still find a mother breast feeding her baby in public an act of 'public indecency').

Mothers may find that their milk dries up and may develop swollen or cracked nipples. When a mother finds their milk has dried up they may find that this can cause some psychological problems as the mother may feel she unable to 'provide for her baby'.

They may also find that their milk may leak and will have to wear a nursing bra and breast pads whilst breastfeeding.

She also will have to watch her diet for the time she is breastfeeding as anything she east will be passed straight through her to the baby through her milk.
About the Author

Gillian Docherty writes for the Unique baby names Pregnancy site http://www.top-100-baby-names.name

Big Island Of Hawaii Real Estate

Hawaii?s Big Island is an ideal place for tourists and vacationers. It contains attractions that are popular vacation spots. There are beautiful lava fields, plantation tours and excellent golf courses. This is the reason why investors are drawn to the Big Island. Buying real estate for development purposes is a great way to have a quick return on your investment, and quick return of profits as well.

Investors are not the only ones buying property on the Big Island. This is a beautiful place to buy a home, whether it is your vacation home or a permanent home for you and your family. Hawaii is as close to paradise as you will ever get.

To find your dream property, you will need to contact a realtor in the area, because some of the properties for sale are not part of a national database. You will need to ask about those properties specifically, in order to get information on them. Consulting a realtor will assure that you get the right piece of land you are looking for, as well as negotiate a fair deal on the price of the land.

Property in Hawaii is an expensive commodity, and knowing everything about your potential purchase is a must. Knowing the local laws, tax information and the fair market value of the land is an essential step in buying property. This is why it is essential to obtain assistance from a licensed realtor . Realtors can advise you on the market value of the property, as well as negotiate the cost for you. Make sure the contract you sign is fair and straight, because this kind of transaction usually has a binding agreement.

Hawaii Real Estate provides detailed information on Hawaii Real Estate, Honolulu Hawaii Real Estate, Maui Hawaii Real Estate, Big Island Of Hawaii Real Estate and more. Hawaii Real Estate is affiliated with Hawaii Real Estate.

ThermalformTM Breast Gel Pack Helps Women Overcome Breastfeeding Problems Quickly and Comfortably.

LG Medical Technology (www.lgmed.com), a Washington based firm that develops new and innovative health-care products, announced it has released the Thermalform Breast Gel Pack in select retail locations throughout the U.S. A warm and cool gel pack designed specifically for a woman's breast and the crucial areas surrounding a women's breast, the Thermalform Breast Gel Pack provides comfortable and soothing therapeutic treatment for conditions such as mastitis, plugged milk ducts, engorgement and general breast pain.

Results of the study titled Why Do Women Stop Breastfeeding? Findings From the Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System, published in the December 2005 issue of Pediatrics: The Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics indicate that nearly half of all women who begin breastfeeding their infants discontinue within four weeks. The study reports, The most common reasons for breastfeeding cessation during the early postnatal period had to do with the physical discomforts of breastfeeding and women's uncertainty about the adequacy of their milk production and the satisfaction of their infant.

Doctors and nurses have long recommended warm and cool therapy as the most effective treatment for common breastfeeding problems that cause the physical discomforts that force many women to quit breastfeeding. In fact, it was a nurse, Milene Hanner, who understood from firsthand experience that there was a need for a better method of treating the common breastfeeding challenges that millions of women face. Until the release of the Thermalform Breast Gel Pack, women were forced to use less sanitary methods of therapy, such as bags of peas, ice or warm washcloths--none of which provide complete coverage of the entire breast, which is crucial to effectively treat breastfeeding ailments.

Hanner partnered with LG Medical Technology to develop the Thermalform Breast Gel Pack, and the product has received accolades from doctors, nurses and mothers across the country. Hanner was also given the prestigious Innovator of the Year award by Maryland's Department of Business and Economic Development in 2002.

The Thermalform Breast Gel Pack is ergonomically designed to conform to the entire breast while leaving the sensitive nipple area exposed. The packs are filled with a proprietary gel that retains both its warm and cool temperatures for much longer than other methods of therapy and can be quickly warmed in the microwave or cooled in the refrigerator. In addition, the packs are made from a sanitary hypoallergenic, latex-free, medical-grade PVC vinyl that can be hand-washed with mild soap and warm water.

New mother and Thermalform Breast Gel Pack success story Melissa Hunter, of Mason, Ohio, writes, The Breast Gel Pack was such a comfort after I had my daughter. Nothing else was able to encompass my entire breast the way it did, which helped with both breastfeeding and with the aching I experienced when I stopped. I've kept the Gel Pack for other purposes as well, such as my migraine headaches. It's been wonderful and pliable, good for many uses!

Previously only available from hospitals and medical centers, the Thermalform Breast Gel Pack is now available for purchase in specialty retail locations. To find a location or to order the Thermalform Breast Gel Pack online visit www.breastgelpack.com.

Government, hospitals, medical professionals, women's groups and retailers interested in bulk purchasing can contact LG Medical Technology at 800-641-8070 or through their Web site at www.lgmed.com.

LG Medical Technology, LLC
1-800-641-8070
www.lgmed.com
www.breastgelpack.com
About the Author

The Beauty of Ceramic Backgammon Sets

Buying A Good Quality Waterproof What Should I Look For?

10 Great Benefits of ELearning

Knowledge is an ocean and all must be able to access it. And, that's what e-learning has done it has revolutionized education and the way we learn. Learning has moved out of its box and thanks to e-learning can benefit not just the young but the older ones too. With e-learning one can get on with life and learn for pleasure or for work reasons. And, companies today encourage their work force to further their skills through e-learning.

A study by Skillsoft discovered that: 87.5 % find e-learning easy to use; almost 525 share what they learnt with others; 93.5% enjoy the courses; 73% think its interesting, and 98% will recommend e-learning as an effective way to learn.

There are umpteen benefits to e-learning and of these the 10 greatest are:

1. Learning never need end. You don't have to go to learning, with e-learning knowledge comes to you. You can study when you want and however you want.

2. Leaning frees your mind and improves your thought processes. E-learning allows you to update skills, further your career, and learn for the sheer pleasure of learning.

3. Since e-learning is a world-wide phenomenon it puts every student in touch with others all around the world. There are no restrictions and interactions are world wide.

4. E-learning improves computer skills as well as communications. Learning goes beyond course work and books. It becomes hands on and active. There are forums, chat rooms, and project groups. Learning capabilities are enhanced and enjoyable.

5. E-courses are not restrictive and learning goes beyond the specific field. So, a person can choose to learn a subject unrelated to his education or work. One can learn a language, or choose to study art-history or literature. The cyber world is a canvas and the computer key board the palette.

6. With online courses learning is multi-pronged. It is more than audio-visual. And e-learners have access to a mind boggling range of resources.

7. Since e-learning courses are self-paced students can avoid the tension and stress presented by regular courses. With e-learning one can take exams when one is ready and many courses have a huge component of project work.

8. E-learning is different it is interactive and innovative. Often a lesson may be taught through quizzes, questionnaires, or games and often learning is done unconsciously.

9. E-learning inculcates team work and interactions. And since learning involves extensive use of technology you unconsciously become tech savvy.

10. Builds curiosity and creativity as students are encouraged to browse through the World Wide Web and find, understand, and complete a set of assignments.

The tools of e-learning go beyond the traditional and since students are not in a class room environment learning takes on new hues of independent thought, individualized pace, and creative approach.
The world of e-learning has created a new world where learning is eternal and there are no limitations.
About the Author

Grand Parenting The Science of Installing A Child Car Seat Child Restraint Not a Snap Installation

Wow! Janet and I will soon be proud grandparents of a beautiful child, a gift from the loving union of our daughter, Sharon, and her husband, Greg. Who knew there would be so more to learn. And re-learn about the care of baby and children! So much to consider and prepare before the baby arrives. Every parent and grandparent must be diligent in ensuring safety first for their grandchildren.

Auto Travel ? don't even think of taking your little munch-kin or grand-child for that quick trip to the corner store without first ensuring that your child/baby car restraint seat is properly installed.

But I installed the Car Seat according the the manufacturer's User's Manual. It's installed properly! Think again!

Those manuals don't always give you the complete picture for best car seat installation. Seek additional help from websites like NHTSA ? National Highway Transportation Safety Association and Transport Canada. Watch your newspaper, local TV, or listen to local radio for regularly scheduled Car Seat Clinics coordinated by your local emergency response, fire or police. Or visit a Child Safety Seat Inspection Station near you. Whether as a parent and as a new grand-parent, you owe it to your child or grand-child to ensure that they are properly secured in any vehicle that transports them.

I recently attended such a Car Seat Clinic with my soon-to-deliver daughter. We took my vehicle ? BUT YOU SHOULD TAKE ALL Vehicles that will transport this precious human cargo. The 1 hour spent installing, and re-installing, the infant seat in my back seat proved how little I knew about proper Car Seat Installation. The Emergency Response pros at this free clinic were diligent in ensuring a number of crucial installation elements:

1) infant seats must be installed in the rear-facing position in the rear seat of the car. Not! Not every should you install an infant or child restraint system in the front seat ! Repeat NEVER!

2) seat MUST be secured with the car seat belt system or to factory installed UAS anchor bars (restraint clips tucked between the seat back and the seat itself and marked with a visible symbol). UAS anchor bars are in all cars built since September 1, 2002. All car new car seats have 2 USA Connectors compatible with this child restraint system. And it is not just a simple click and quick tug of the belt that will do. It will take ALL your adult weight and strength to bear-down on the car seat and pull tight the seat belt or anchor straps. It might even take TWO adults to perform this more-than-snug feat. You will significantly compress the pad of your rear seat. It is only right if there is no side to side movement in the secured seat.

Observation: I took two adults to perform this task at the car seat clinic. Be warned that releasing the web strap may also require two adults: One to bear down on the seat to relieve some of the tension on the straps and, the Other to relax the web strap and undo the clip from the UAS anchor. Be patient.

3) The rear facing seat, once tightly secured (compressed into the rear seat), should have the back of the seat at a 45 degree angle. This is important 45 degrees. This properly supports your infant's head and neck should there be a collision. Those miracle floating noodles were cut, fitted and inserted between the car seat base and the rear of the seat bottom to get the compressed angle right. It took 4 installs and 3 noodles, secured with dust tape, to provide the correct 45 degree angle.

4) The rear facing seat MUST not touch the back of the front seat. Allow at least a 1 inch gap between the infant seat back and the back of the car front seat.

Learn how to properly install the infant or child car seat in EVERY vehicle where the car seat will be placed. Do it RIGHT. A young life depends on it!

Carl Chesal is a business and channel development consultant, trainer, photographer, and avid snowmobiler. He operates BizFare Enterprise Inc and Foursight Photography, which provide business, marketing, and internet marketing consulting services. Carl with wife, Janet, also operate a number of e-commerce web-sites.

Music & Emotions: Can Music Really Make You a Happier Person?

How many times have you turned to music to uplift you even further in happy times, or sought the comfort of music when melancholy strikes?

Music affects us all. But only in recent times have scientists sought to explain and quantify the way music impacts us at an emotional level. Researching the links between melody and the mind indicates that listening to and playing music actually can alter how our brains, and therefore our bodies, function.

It seems that the healing power of music, over body and spirit, is only just starting to be understood, even though music therapy is not new. For many years therapists have been advocating the use of music in both listening and study for the reduction of anxiety and stress, the relief of pain. And music has also been recommended as an aid for positive change in mood and emotional states.

Michael DeBakey, who in 1966 became the first surgeon to successfully implant an artificial heart, is on record saying: Creating and performing music promotes self-expression and provides self-gratification while giving pleasure to others. In medicine, increasing published reports demonstrate that music has a healing effect on patients.

Doctors now believe using music therapy in hospitals and nursing homes not only makes people feel better, but also makes them heal faster. And across the nation, medical experts are beginning to apply the new revelations about music's impact on the brain to treating patients.

In one study, researcher Michael Thaut and his team detailed how victims of stroke, cerebral palsy and Parkinson's disease who worked to music took bigger, more balanced strides than those whose therapy had no accompaniment.

Other researchers have found the sound of drums may influence how bodies work. Quoted in a 2001 article in USA Today, Suzanne Hasner, chairwoman of the music therapy department at Berklee College of Music in Boston, says even those with dementia or head injuries retain musical ability.

The article reported results of an experiment in which researchers from the Mind-Body Wellness Center in Meadville, Pa., tracked 111 cancer patients who played drums for 30 minutes a day. They found strengthened immune systems and increased levels of cancer-fighting cells in many of the patients.

Deep in our long-term memory is this rehearsed music, Hasner says. It is processed in the emotional part of the brain, the amygdala. Here is where you remember the music played at your wedding, the music of your first love, that first dance. Such things can still be remembered even in people with progressive diseases. It can be a window, a way to reach them.

The American Music Therapy Organization claims music therapy may allow for emotional intimacy with families and caregivers, relaxation for the entire family, and meaningful time spent together in a positive, creative way.

Scientists have been making progress in its exploration into why music should have this effect. In 2001 Dr. Anne Blood and Robert Zatorre of McGill University in Montreal, used positron emission tomography, or PET scans, to find out if particular brain structures were stimulated by music.

In their study, Blood and Zatorre asked 10 musicians, five men and five women, to choose stirring music. The subjects were then given PET scans as they listened to four types of audio stimuli - the selected music, other music, general noise or silence. Each sequence was repeated three times in random order.

Blood said when the subjects heard the music that gave them chills, the PET scans detected activity in the portions of the brain that are also stimulated by food and sex.

Just why humans developed such a biologically based appreciation of music is still not clear. The appreciation of food and the drive for sex evolved to help the survival of the species, but music did not develop strictly for survival purposes, Blood told Associated Press at the time.

She also believes that because music activates the parts of the brain that make us happy, this suggests it can benefit our physical and mental well being.

This is good news for patients undergoing surgical operations who experience anxiety in anticipation of those procedures.

Polish researcher, Zbigniew Kucharski, at the Medical Academy of Warsaw, studied the effect of acoustic therapy for fear management in dental patients. During the period from October 2001 to May 2002, 38 dental patients aged between 16 and 60 years were observed. The patients received variations of acoustic therapy, a practice where music is received via headphones and also vibrators.

Dr Kucharski discovered the negative feelings decreased five-fold for patients who received 30 minutes of acoustic therapy both before and after their dental procedure. For the group that heard and felt music only prior to the operation, the fearful feelings reduced by a factor of 1.6 only.

For the last group (the control), which received acoustic therapy only during the operation, there was no change in the degree of fear felt.

A 1992 study identified music listening and relaxation instruction as an effective way to reduce pain and anxiety in women undergoing painful gynecological procedures. And other studies have proved music can reduce other 'negative' human emotions like fear, distress and depression.

Sheri Robb and a team of researchers published a report in the Journal of Music Therapy in 1992, outlining their findings that music assisted relaxation procedures (music listening, deep breathing and other exercises) effectively reduced anxiety in pediatric surgical patients on a burn unit.

Music, says Esther Mok in the AORN Journal in February 2003, is an easily administered, non-threatening, non-invasive, and inexpensive tool to calm preoperative anxiety.

So far, according to the same report, researchers cannot be certain why music has a calming affect on many medical patients. One school of thought believes music may reduce stress because it can help patients to relax and also lower blood pressure. Another researcher claims music allows the body's vibrations to synchronize with the rhythms of those around it. For instance, if an anxious patient with a racing heartbeat listens to slow music, his heart rate will slow down and synchronize with the music's rhythm.

Such results are still something of a mystery. The incredible ability that music has to affect and manipulate emotions and the brain is undeniable, and yet still largely inexplicable.

Aside from brain activity, the affect of music on hormone levels in the human body can also be quantified, and there is definite evidence that music can lower levels of cortisol in the body (associated with arousal and stress), and raise levels of melatonin (which can induce sleep). It can also precipitate the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkiller.

But how does music succeed in prompting emotions within us? And why are these emotions often so powerful? The simple answer is that no one knows yet. So far we can quantify some of the emotional responses caused by music, but we cannot yet explain them. But that's OK. I don't have to understand electricity to benefit from light when I switch on a lamp when I come into a room, and I don't have to understand why music can make me feel better emotionally. It just does - our Creator made us that way.
About the Author

Duane Shinn is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions with over 84,400 current subscribers.

Saving Money With Twins Part II

No matter how frugal you are, you are going to have to buy a few things to prepare for your twins' arrival. Watching commercials and listening to well-meaning family and friends will have you believing you need tons of gear and all the latest trends. Now you can go that route but I am sure in the long run you will live to regret it.

At some time or another I have had to change things up a bit. Sometimes it was because my boys were growing tired of something (chair, bouncer, etc.) or because I just plain ran out of supplies. One thing I came to learn was that I did not need most of the supplies and furniture many people convinced me to buy. Here are a few things to try that really work if you can get past your pride a bit.

When it comes to diapers, the cheaper the better. I am a huge fan of Target? brand! They have been the best at preventing leaks and the cheapest (even when you do a comparison at a whole-sale club). You will need to be sure you buy at least one case (that's right a whole case) of Newborn or Size 1 diapers depending how big your babies are at birth. If you go to term you may want to skip Newborn and jump to Size 1. If the diapers are a little big just fold them down for a few weeks. This will keep you from having to exchange them after you have already used half a box. Also start stacking up on Sizes 2 and 3. My boys are tall but they have been in size 3 since they were a few months old. Be well stocked and do not open any boxes until you must use them. You want to be able to return any that do not fit.

One thing I cannot stand is a leaky diaper. Especially when you do not realize it leaked until it is all over you. Many grocery stores have their own brand of diaper liners that fit almost like a maxi pad inside the diaper. It may be hard to wrap around putting a pad in your babies' diapers but believe me, they keep you from having to buy costly overnight diapers. If your babies are close to the next in size diapers (code name for less in a pack for the same amount of money) go up to the next size but be sure to use the liners to get the most out of the lesser amount of diapers.

As I said before, make your own wipes. In the event you cannot make your own you can always buy wipes in bulk and then use them to bathe your baby also. This will eliminate the need for a baby bath tub (which is a waste). You can also use these to remove your make-up and wash up on a day when a shower is just not going to happen!

Go to the thrift store and stock up on bottles. If you wash and sterilize them in really hot water they will be fine. Be sure to look for newer ones because you want to make sure they have no mold that you cannot see. You can also use bottles as containers for little things such as cotton balls, Q-tips, etc. when you travel.

Yard trash bags or scented kitchen bags are a cheaper alternative to buying a baby waste basket. You have more space to put more diapers in the larger trash bags and then you can manually twist it closed or put a loose knot in the bag yourself. You will not have that awful dirty diaper smell if you keep the bag closed. This will save you big money when it comes to replacement bags. Just be sure to keep the bags out of your children's reach.

Big trash bags also work as a cheaper, smaller storage option. Instead of buying expensive or bulky totes, you can put your babies' old and unused clothes in them to store away. You can put toys or other items in these bags and throw them in the closet until you need them again. If you choose not to use them again you already have everything bagged up and ready to send to your local charity.

Large freezer bags are a cheaper and better way to store wipes in your diaper bag. They can be bent and easily fit in small spaces. They are light weight so you won't add to the already heavy load you are carrying.

Small freezer bags are a great option for storing food your babies' need. You are probably going to be in a location that has a paper/plastic cup so you can transfer the food into a cup or feed right out of the bag. They are light weight and with the food being in a freezer bag you do not need to use a microwave to heat the food, just run it under warm water for a few seconds.

Instead of buying one of the expensive brands of baby detergent opt for a less expensive regular organic or natural brand. You can still buy a large/family size container and you will be using a better product on your babies' clothes. Use the detergent on your clothes so you won't have to buy two different kinds of detergent.

Instead of buying a crib use a pack n' play. Your babies will probably be able to fit in one of these together for many months. My boys are over a year old and they are still able to sleep in one together when we travel (it's tight at this point but it works for a few days and they enjoy the smaller space). If you really want your babies to have separate beds you can still opt for two pack n' plays and you will save hundreds of dollars. You can find a good pack n' play at your local thrift store or yard sale.

Jumpers, walkers, bouncy chairs, and swings can all be used not only for entertainment but also to feed your little ones. You do not have to use high chairs and it makes clean up a lot easier because your little ones are occupying a smaller space. It makes clean up easier because as soon as you are done feeding them they are already occupied with an activity.

Paper towels can be used not only to clean messes and make wipes they can also be used as washcloths. If you buy a good quality brand such as Viva? you will find you get more bang for you buck. I have been able to clean both my boys with the same one (even as I constantly rinse them). I discovered this when we ran out of laundry detergent. This will save you laundry time and you will use far less water.

Receiving blankets are a wonderful asset. I bet you did not realize you can use a soft receiving blanket not only to warm your little ones but also dry them off after a bath. Pack a receiving blanket instead of your babies' towel the next time you travel. Try keeping a receiving blanket in your babies' diaper bag to use instead of buying a changing pad. It's softer and a lot warmer than cold plastic changing pads.

I am sure you will probably receive many body suits for your babies. But, have you ever heard of the bodysuit extender? If not, it's a small patch like device that extends the length of your babies' body suits. As your babies get taller they can continue to wear the same body suits literally until they wear out. This is a good investment!

Sleepers are a necessity for any baby during the winter months. A common problem is that babies grow too long for the sleepers before the sleepers even have a chance to fade in color. To solve this problem I have to admit I did something that I thought was unthinkable (before having children). I cut the feet out and still let the boys wear them. However I had to do this in a cute way. I cut the feet out, folded and tucked the cut part under so it looked like a hem and then put socks on underneath the sleepers. It looked like regular pajamas instead of a cut up sleeper!

Buy a carrier and wait on the stroller. This is for all the physically fit moms and dads out there. If you can carry your babies together without it hurting your back, opt for a double carrier instead of a stroller for the first couple of months. Your babies will fuss less being closer to you and you will find it easier to get things like grocery shopping done. You can find a good reasonably priced double carrier online.

Once your babies are too heavy for their carrier, hopefully they will be big enough to sit (with minimal support) in an umbrella stroller. Believe me when I say I was not a fan of the umbrella stroller but now they have really nice ones that are far cheaper (to buy two) than one double stroller. You can then buy an attachment (sold at most baby stores or online) and attach the two strollers together.

Car seats are not only important they are a must have! We chose to buy infant seats because we did a lot of travel in our area. It made it easier for us to carry them and load them up. Also it made for another feeding option when we were at home. However your most cost efficient option is a convertible car seat. These models generally cost more up front but in the long run they are a cheaper option if you do not plan on traveling often.

Buying things for your twins will put a major dent in your wallet if you are not creative. Try your best to do most of your shopping at your local thrift stores and yard sales. You won't be sorry!

See Part III for things to avoid when preparing for your twins' arrival.

Copyright ? 2007 Quiana Murray

Quiana Murray is the mother of 1 year old identical twin boys. She and her husband live in Southern Maryland where they own and operate Q & A Consulting, LLC a consulting and coaching firm. Q & A Consulting provides support to individuals and families through fun and exciting community programs including youth mentoring and job support programs. It?s their mission to support individuals and families in all aspects of daily life!

Learn more at http://joblift.wordpress.com

Getting The Most Out Of Your Investments

Money can be easily found, and then lost, in Las Vegas. The place is not called the ?gambling capital? of the United States for nothing, so you should be very careful with your money when investing in Las Vegas. Setting up investments in Las Vegas is not like gambling, where you rely on chance to win. In fact, professional gamblers don?t rely on luck to win, so you should never rely on luck. This is especially true if you are investing into stocks and bonds in Las Vegas.

When investing in stocks and bonds in Las Vegas, always remember that you would be better off with an agent or a broker. There are many things that you should watch for when making investments in stocks and bonds. You should never make the mistake of thinking that investing in stocks and bonds is just as easy as going to a restaurant and buying your favorite food. Buying stocks and bonds requires specialized knowledge, which a broker or an agent could very well provide to you. For instance, high yielding stocks and bonds entail the highest risk. If you were not aware that high yielding bonds and stocks involve great risk, you would probably go for them and put most if not all of your money into them. Consequently, if the investment failed, you would end up losing most of your hard earned money. On the other hand, a good broker or agent knows the odds. So he or she would probably advise you to only put money that you can afford to lose, into high yielding stocks and bonds that involve great risk. Having an agent or broker to assist you will prevent you from losing large amounts on your investments.

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Yellow Lamborghini Gallardo for Rent

What?s in a Lambo that can arouse emotional reactions and invoke a cosmos of images? Is it the Lamborghini?s razor-sharp headlights, long edgy lines of body work, deep side air intakes or maybe the fact that it is a luxury car that makes it a wonderful sight to behold?

A rental company in Washington, DC is giving everybody (but basically those who can afford only) the chance to drive a Lamborghini Gallardo. Capital Dream Cars will soon have the Lamborghini as part of their rental fleet. Oh yes, believe it or not the Capital Dream Cars, Washington, DC?s premier exotic car rental service is happy to announce that the Lamborghini Gallardo is the latest addition to its fleet of world-class rental automobiles.

Jumi Kim, Founding Partner of Capital Dream Cars, The hard-top, E-Gear transmission Lamborghini is a nice complement to our manual Ferrari convertible and tiptronic Bentley coupe. Whether you want a coupe or convertible, a manual, semi-automatic or automatic transmission, we have a dream vehicle for every preference, season and occasion.

The Yellow Lamborghini Gallardo has a design inspired by modern jet fighters. The Lamborghini Gallardo is a muscular car that possesses dynamic styling and performance. The Lamborghini Gallardo is called SantAgata? raging bull and it?s because of its 5.0 liter, V10 engine that produces 500 horsepower and sprints from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Despite its power some people who have already tested to drive a Gallardo claimed that it is smooth.

As expected from a Gallardo its interior is sleek black which Motor Trend magazine describes as ?the best cabin ever bolted and stitched into a Lamborghini...an exotic-car cockpit that you'll actually want to ride in. it is equipped with power seats, on-board computer, heated seats/floor mats/exterior mirrors, coming home function, silver brake calipers, and 19? alloy wheels.

According to a Lamborghini of Washington spokesman, ?Five thousand Lamborghini Gallardos can't be wrong. Style, performance and fun are why the Lamborghini Gallardo is the most successful Lamborghini ever built and one of the most popular sports cars today. In short great cars like the Lamborghini Gallardo calls for great responsibilities and attention.

About the Capital Dream Cars

Capital Dream Cars in Washington, DC is the premier exotic car rental company that provides only the finest and the most elegant marques for rent such as the red Ferrari 360 Spider, metallic gray Bentley Continental GT and the new addition to the fleet, the yellow Lamborghini Gallardo?self-drive basis; the white or silver Rolls-Royce Phantom, blue or black Maybach---on a chauffeured basis. Capital Dream cars also provides corporate incentives and programs such as the Prince Michael package or the thrilling Power Tour package which includes a visit to the rural back-roads in the Ferrari, Bentley, and Lamborghini.

About Lamborghini

Automobili-Lamborghini S.p.A., which is commonly referred to as Lamborghini is an Italian manufacturer of high performance sports cars based on the small Italian village of Sant? Agata Bolognese, near Bologna.

Lamborghini is also a subsidiary of Audi AG which in turn is a subsidiary of Volkswagen, Europe?s largest automaker and maker of high quality VW GTI parts. Volkswagen is offering the Lamborghini as a match to the Ferrari in the Italian sports car business. 536

For more about your Volkswagen parts needs VW GTI parts, visit your trusted online source.

Benjamin Hudson works as a supervisor at one of the top engineering firms in the business district of Louisiana. He is also a freelance journalist and has passion for anything automotive.

Cadillac XLR New Supercar

Clearly influenced by the styling the Mercedes-Benz SLK, the new Cadillac XLR shares the squared off look of other recent Cadillacs. It doesn?t look bad at all, although the headlamps look as if they have been squeezed to fit alongside the wide grille. The performance puts it up in the supercar class.

Top speed is limited to 155 mph, and it can get to 60 mph in about 5.7 seconds ? that's slightly quicker than the Jaguar XK, thanks to the larger engine. Other competitors include the Mercedes-Benz SL and Porsche 911.

Looks can be deceiving. The car is wide and low, and looks big. In fact, it is quite compact, just 177.5 inches long and 72.2 inches wide. The car looks pretty good, particularly from the side. And you get a very practical SLK-lookalike opening roof. I guess most convertibles will be ?metal? convertibles soon, and the rag tops will disappear ? maybe not on all supercars. To save weight, the roof of the XLR is aluminum and magnesium.

Good power output

Also, the XLR has quite a lot of power: 326 bhp at 6,500 rpm and 312 lb ft (423 Nm)at 4,400 rpm from GM?s Northstar 4.6 liter V-8, which could work a bit harder ? 350-360 bhp, which would not be difficult to get from this engine, would make things more interesting.

As it is, it is enough to give the car quite a shove, and as the Northstar has an aluminum block and head with dohc and four valves per cylinder, it revs well. Variable valve timing improves the spread of power, too.

The engine is coupled to a rear mounted five-speed automatic transmission ? 5 speeds put it at a disadvantage against the European supercars which mostly have six-speed automatics, but it is designed to give sporty shifts. Because the box is rear-mounted and the engine is fairly well back, front/rear weight distribution is 50/50.

New frame concept

Based on GM?s new platform for sporty cars shared with the Corvette, the XLR has a fairly light frame of hydro-formed steel tubes. Hydroforming changes the shape quite dramatically, putting in bends, changing the section to a rectangle and so on, making a lightweight frame. The passenger compartment is aluminum, and the body panels are composite plastics. This is a structure that can compete with many a supercar.

This is a fairly light structure, and despite the high level of equipment, the car weighs a healthy 3,643 lb (1,654 kg) which is just 130 lb more than the new lightweight Jaguar XK, and of course quite a bit more than the Corvette which has a lower spec but bigger engine.

Double wishbone suspension

Suspension is the familiar Corvette design of double wishbones front and rear with transverse leaf springs. The result is a simple, lightweight system that gives more roll stiffness - resistance to roll - than coil springs. Also, the spring rate is progressive, so it irons out big bumps in the road almost as easily as little ones. There is also a front anti-roll bar.

To save weight, the double wishbones front and rear are aluminum; of course, the composite leaf springs are light, too. Leaf springs of this type - just one leaf - are actually quite advanced technology as they don't locate the wheels, and involve some clever manufacturing techniques.

The dampers are the new continuously variable electro-magnetic type, and the steering is speed sensitive, so you get more assistance at low speed.

As this is a Cadillac, it comes with a high specification. For Europe, navigation, and heated/cooled seats are standard as are adaptive speed control and a head-up display. The interior, with its wood, leather and aluminum trim is quite pleasant

On the road

Built in the same plant and to the same concept as the Corvette, the Cadillac XLR is best thought of a softened up Corvette intended for those who want a better ride.

Visibility is good thanks to slim pillars in the opening roof, and the almost flat hood. Like the Corvette both the instruments and driving position are good. There is also a head-up display which shows only the speed and which gear you're in, and you don't seem able to switch off. Pity. I did not find it useful.

The steering is not bad at all, and the XLR turns in well, as you'd expect with that weight distribution, but once you start pressing, you start to feel a little understeer coming in, which is not a bad thing for the market this is aimed at ? more the luxury sports car that the hard charging supercar driver. But the car does not corner as fast as you could with more neutral steering.

The automatic is good. In D, the performance is not bad at all, and the kick-down is quite aggressive. There's also a manual mode. Push the lever across to the left, and then nudge it forward for up, and back for down. This works extremely well, and actually is a manual. I mean, some of these actually shift up when you hit peak revs. Not this one; it just lets you stay there till you're ready.

Overall, the Cadillac XLR is a good addition to the ranks of sporty two-seater luxury cars, but not up to the standard of the Jaguar XK nor the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Others to consider include the more powerful and sportier Corvette and Viper SRT-10. Too new to rate is the Audi R8

Super Cars

John Hartley is editor of http://www.fast-autos.com, an online magazine devoted to fast cars and supercars, where you can read the latest articles about fast cars. He has written from many of the world's top auto magazines, and has written many books about cars and the auto industry, including 'Suspension and Steering Q&A' and 'The Electronics Revolution in the Motor Industry'.

Parents Guide To High Chairs

If you are looking for the best kind of high chair for your toddler or baby. This high chair is very cleanable, durable, and has many other good simplicity features that are available today to entertain your child.

The known number one best high chair that every one seems to agree on is the fisher price healthy care high chair. This high chair has a vinyl cover that can be very easy to wipe off when it is dirty and it can also be machine-washed which is a very good feature to have. Also the cushion vinyl cover on this high chair is very comfortable that your child will actually want to set with you at the dinner table and eat actually meals with you.

The high chair frame is a very sturdy frame and can be folded for easy storage and is portable. It also can be adjusted to several different heights to fit your child. It also comes with a feature for those busy moms that only have one hand to spare; the bottom part of the food tray can be removed easily and is dishwasher safe so you go not have to do it the old fashion way of washing the tray. The seat of this high chair is very roomy and can recline back if your child ends up falling a sleep in it to use it like a relining chair for nap times. There are many different kinds of fisher price healthy care high chairs out there and some of these chairs come with some very fun toys for your child's entertainment. The cushion on the chair is going to make your child comfortable.

This fisher price healthy care high chair usually, depending on what store and depending on what type of a healthy care high chair you get like if they have toys or not, cost around about sixty to little over one hundred dollars. The fisher price healthy care high chair also can convert into a booster seat for your growing toddler. Another fisher price healthy care high chair is the aquarium highchair, which has a water filled toy tray, which can be removed at feeding time, that has floating bubbles, swimming fish, and a sights and sounds feature that is activated by your baby. This high chair plays four sound effects and plays six different songs. The wheels for this fisher price healthy care high chair also lock out so your baby's movements will not move the high chair when he or she is in it. Furniture for children is great for your home, and for keeping your toddler seated.

Some other features that a fisher price healthy care high chair includes are a five-point restraint, a durable steel frame, convenient towel bar, and a footrest. When storing the high chair away the tray just snaps onto the back legs. You can keep your high chair for years, and it will then become an antique.

About the Author:

Helen Walters provides a variety of information on issues important to parents. http://www.greatbabygear.com/high-chairs.html is home to a large selection of High chair Reviews and related resources.

Housing Prices And NorthAmerican Wealth

Housing prices fundamentals depend a great deal on the wider economy, especially income and borrowing rates. More specifically, housing prices bear chiefly fret over two important measures: 1) the ratio of house prices to median income and 2) the ratio of rental income to house prices.

House prices to median income now equals 3.8 pretty much in both the United States and Canada, which means that the median price of an interest in land is now getting out of reach of the average North-American household. This measure is the primary catalyst to what economists refer to as ‘The Affordability Crisis', and is becoming more and more a concern. The Affordability Crisis is a very serious matter indeed. It has economic, political, social and demographic reverberations and repercussions.

The hot local real estate markets of recent times have driven prices literally through the roof and since home-ownership is the single most important element in the democratization of prosperity, un-affordability becomes a social problem just as much as an economic one. It impacts the very essence of North American wealth reserves and distribution, because home-ownership is the element of social stability and cohesion and, therefore, an important pillar of a sustainable modern economic capitalistic growth.

The second measure, the ratio of rental income to house prices is too low to offer property owners and investors a decent return, suggesting again that houses are badly overpriced. At 0.5 percent, rental income over house prices indicates that investors will think twice before purchasing rental properties, since they have investment alternatives. For instance, here in Downtown Vancouver it used to be, only a couple of years ago, that purchasing an apartment unit and then rent it out would net a yearly return of over 8 percent. But since rental rates have not followed at par with real capital appreciation, taking into account increased property tax the yield is nowadays less than 5 percent.

Nearly everyone now expects prices to level off for a bit and slow the economy down, but in ultimate analysis the foregoing valuation measures are less worrisome than one might think at first.

The high ratio of house prices to income is less alarming because low mortgage rates in both the United States and Canada have held down the real, effective cost of owning a home. This cost has not changed much despite an upward shift in interest rates, which in turn has increased volatility in real estate markets. North-American homeowners, especially in the United States, remain exposed to a sharp rise in long-term interest rates if, say, foreign investors in the American Treasury were to start selling bonds and put their money elsewhere. But this does not seem to be the case for the time being, as confidence in American financial stability is at an all-time high.

Furthermore, although it is true that rents have failed to keep pace with the rising prices of interests in land, that comparison partly reflects a failure to adjust for the growing quality of the homes Americans and Canadians have been buying. This, coupled by the fact that demand for rents is now beginning to move up, would suggest that rising rents could raise the threshold and set the ratio on a more balanced footing - so long as incomes keep growing.

An additional reason for optimism is that prices of real estate in Britain and Australia, two other countries that bubble-watchers have been fingering as examples of the impending and devastating real estate bubbles in North America, have proven much less damaging than many expected. Their respective economies have performed so well after real estate markets peaked, that their central banks found it necessary to raise interest rates again afterwards.

For all the foregoing reasons many economic forecaster and analysts here do not believe that a recession is around the corner merely because of the slowdown in real estate. And I am one of them.

Luigi Frascati

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles on Real Estate Economics and Finance. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.

Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Buying Cheap Real Estate Properties At State Auctions

State auctions are becoming more and more common nowadays. People meet up and convene during these social functions to see what the state government has to offer to the public.

Some people are particularly keen on state real estate properties, because they always equate such assets to profits and ideal locations and values.

That is why state auctions for real estate properties are almost always jam-packed. Most traders, buyers and investors flock such occasions to be able to peek at potential and promising properties that could also be significant investments

Here are some useful ideas and guidelines that could help you make it through and get away with real estate property auctions in the state level.

1. The real estate property is an investment so treat it as such. That means, expect volatile prices. Seek advice and gather expert opinion about a particular real estate asset you might want to make an eye at.

2. Seek the professional help, advice or opinion of a broker or an agent. Usually, these middlemen gets the transaction going, meaning all the other aspect of the sale and acquisition would be taken care of. You just have to place the funding, pay commission and voila, you are there, the estate is yours. Saves time and effort.

3. Evaluate and assess the overall state of the real estate property for sale. It would be easy to assess whether the pricing justifies the sale of the property.

4. Keep an eye on details of the transaction, like the payment terms. Usually, real estate transactions are priced 20% to 30% more if the payment term is installment and spread throughout some period of time.

5. Never keep your eye off the price tag if you are looking and considering the real estate property. Sometimes, there are aspects or areas that you might see really appealing, but in reality, the shortcomings and imperfections are far more and would greatly offset the desired qualities. Be realistic.

Buying real estate properties is never a hard task. Just be sure the ideas and concepts you have in mind are still intact. And that you will be focused all throughout the process. Otherwise, seek professional help or consider buying properties through other venues.

For listings of cheap real estate properties, please visit http://www.real-estate-foreclosed-home.info/

Why Mortgage Insurance Can Actually Save You Money

Mortgage insurance provides lenders a form of financial guarantee which protects the lender in cases in which the borrower defaults on a loan. For those looking to buy a home, agreeing to loan terms which include mortgage insurance, increases the purchasing power of the buyer a great deal. Agreeing to buy mortgage insurance allows individuals the opportunity to buy a home with a down payment of only 5%-10%, as opposed to the 20% that is often required when the lender does not have the guarantee of mortgage insurance.

Buyers typically purchase and pay for mortgage insurance in three different ways. These ways include paying in annuals, monthly premiums, or singles. We are going to take a closer look at the available mortgage insurance payment options below:

1.) Annuals: The annuals payment option allows the lender to collect the first year?s premium at closing and then all subsequent payments are made on a monthly basis.

2.) Monthly Premiums: This payment option requires the buyer to only pay for one month at closing and all remaining payments are then made on a monthly basis.

3.) Singles: The singles payment option requires the buyer to make a one-time single payment that is typically financed as part of the mortgage amount.

Mortgage insurance ensures the lender is covered in cases in which the borrower can no longer pay the loan and defaults on it. It is also a powerful bargaining tool for potential borrowers who are unable to come up with a large down payment. Offering to pay mortgage insurance can decrease the amount of ones? down payment by 10% to 15%. But it is important to note that mortgage insurance does not have to be paid forever. After a certain period of time and when certain conditions are met, mortgage insurance is no longer required to be carried on the mortgage.

For more information on better Mortgages as well as great Mortgage Broker tips, tricks, and techniques and money-saving info visit www.lenoxnationalmortgage.com

Nebraska Mortgage What to Expect When Buying a Home in Nebraska

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

The median price of a home in Nebraska is $88,000. The price of homes in Nebraska varies widely between zip codes. For example, in Omaha, Nebraska, the median price of a home in the summer of 2005 was $169,000; however, in both North Platte and Kearney, Nebraska, the median price of a home was $175,000.

Average interest rates in Nebraska are above the national average, and job growth rates are below the national average. Between 2003 and 2005, home prices in Nebraska almost doubled. However, the increase was moderate when compared with other parts of the nation.

There is no mortgage tax in Nebraska. Additionally, the state of Nebraska offers many homeowner education classes to its residents. Nebraska?s Fair Housing Act prohibits mortgage lending discrimination against individuals based on their race, color, religion, gender, familial status, or national origin.

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

Linda Jenkinson

Farming Recipes And Traveler's Backpack For WoW Gold

Traveler's backpack sells for A LOT. Usually, the Alliance realm is two or even three times more populated than the Hordes. To start, have your main character on the Horde side because that'll be the character in which will be receiving all the WoW gold. You'll need to farm a little gold for your Alliance character. When you've collected about 20 gold pieces go to the nearst Auction house and buy a Traveler's bag. Then fly to Tanaris and set your buyout price very low.

Now log onto your main character and buyout those bags. Be sure to do it quick so no one else grabs it before you do. Since the Alliance population is much bigger, there are much more bags available in the Auction House and the normally cost cheaper. If you sell them on the Horde side you will get a lot more for what its worth. A bag goes for around 5 gold pieces on Alliance and sells for 10 gold pieces on Horde. That's 100% profit right there.

Normally I would transfer over around 4 bags each time. That would be about 20 gold. Within a week I can farm about 4,000 gold pieces. That is a pretty decent amount even with the auction house taking about 15% on fees.

There are some recipes that sells for a great amount of gold. Best sellers are Brothers Knaz and Gnaz Blunderflames in STV. They sell Schematic: Deadly Scope and Schematic: Mechanical Dragonling. You can only buy one of each per day. Mechanical Dragonling costs one gold each which can easily sell for six gold. Deadly Scope costs 20 silver and sells for about 5 gold pieces. Another nice receipe is the Mithril Mechanical Dragonling, sold by Ruppo Zipcoil in Hinterlands. Costs 40 silver to buy and sells easily for 5 gold. I can on average about 100 gold per week running these small errands. It isn't very high income unlike selling Traveler's bags but it's a quick method with an extremely high profit margin.
About the Author

Bo is an adequate World of Warcraft player. He contributes many WoW Gold farming techniques on his blogs. He also enjoys reading other World of Warcraft Gold farming sites as well.

Miami PreConstruction Trend

The future of Miami Real Estate is shifting to high gear. It rides on the newest bandwagon of the real estate industry, which gives the fastest ROI, at less effort. Consider this:

You buy the property now before construction takes place. To hold the property, you can give an earnest deposit. As real estate value appreciates, so does the value of your property. By the time construction takes place on your piece of property, you have already recouped the earnest deposit you paid for it Begin to calculate for the value of your property after two years, before construction begins, with an appreciation value fixed at the rate of 20% annually. Now, this is what good investment is all about.

This is the drawing power of Miami Condo Preconstruction Real Estate Investment.

Investors are now putting higher stakes at condominiums that will be built in a couple of years. Miami Preconstruction designs a very lucrative package among investors such as no carrying cost prior to construction, no taxes, no fees - entirely, investment on a clean slate.

Since mortgage is not a requirement, a poor credit history does not hinder anyone from making a purchase.

Here is a sample illustration:

Here in Miami, a property developer will require a 20% deposit on the property to put a hold on it. Say, a $700,000 condo will require $70,000 upon signing and another $70,000 when construction commences. Total initial cash outlay is $140,000 which is 20% of the total contract price. Construction is due to start after two years.

In a conservative estimate of a 20% appreciation value per year, your property appreciates to $840,000 by the end of the first year. That's 100% ROI on your initial cash outlay.

What about on the second year? Your property is now close to a million dollars in value, and it all happens even before the first cornerstone is laid!

If it's long term investment you're looking at, Miami Preconstruction is a very viable option. Just be wary in choosing a property to buy, including its price. You may refer the matter to a realtor who understands the real estate business like the back of his hand. Developers may look at the whole picture of the sale from his own vantage point, and that is to get your signature on the contract. A good realtor can point out some leaks and show you ways to overcome them.

Developers market precon properties through real estate brokers who may channel these through their sales team. There is no formal advertising campaigns, only person to person approach Pricing is not pumped up as agents can receive between 10-15% for every sale.

Prices of precon properties that are advertised normally gets an add-on cost of 5-10% to cover advertising cost, and those listed publicly, thus also advertised gets an increase in its pricing by 5-10%.

A bubble waiting for its time to burst? Not likely.

Miami's investors come from international markets who enjoy an upper hand on the power to purchase Precon Condo due to weakened purchasing power of the dollar.

Foreigners also find Florida laws on real estate buying flexible and favorable to them. A surge of investors coming from upscale California and New York are eyeing oceanfront properties, as well as Miami Precon Condo as investment targets.

Whether you are a buyer or a developer, a cautious approach to investment and skill on proper risk management remain as flagships of survival in the highly competitive world of real estate.

Christiene Villanueva

Miami Real Estate

Christiene Villanueva - http://floridarealtyfinder.com

How to completely rehab your home in 10 days!

The Rise of Little Brother

Outdoor Wedding? Ask The Church First!

Reasonable Request?
Recently a Greek synod banned outdoor weddings, citing that weddings held outside of a church lose their holiness. The leaders saw a trend of people talking on their phones, laughing, smoking, and even chewing gum during what was to be a holy ceremony, and they felt that those behaviors would not be seen in the confines of a church.

Raising Questions
The ruling brings up many questions for potential brides and grooms. The first of which is to know what your religious requirements may be before you start planning your wedding. Some other churches may frown on outdoor weddings, requiring that the ceremony be held in a house of worship. Other faiths may not have rules like that at all.

Requirements
Also, some religions and churches have certain requirements that need to be met before a wedding can be held there. Some churches require pre-marital counseling. Other churches may not marry a couple if they are not both members of a specific church. Still, others may only require that one member of the couple be of that specific faith.

And Considerations
The other consideration is that guests may not know proper etiquette when in a house of worship or at a religious ceremony held outdoors. While most of the behaviors that disturbed the leaders of the Greek synod are unacceptable no matter what faith the couple may have, the couple may want to take certain precautions to keep disturbances to a minimum.

The usher is a great tool in offering people alternatives. For instance, if a parent shows up with an infant the usher can point out a ?crying baby? area while seating the parent. This way the parent knows where to go if the baby starts crying, and then there will be few angry stares.

While every faith is different, there are a lot of things to consider when planning a religious-based ceremony. Be sure to know what you want and what the house of worship expects as you plan your wedding.

About the Author:

Chris Morton ran hotels and restaurants for 17 years - catering for 100's of weddings. His wife Sue is a wedding planner with 10 year's experience. Together they have established http://www.TheWeddingWizards.com to provide unbiased help for brides and grooms.

Maidenform?s Excellent Brassiere

It is very important for women to be able to move freely and be comfortable with what they are wearing. It is really difficult to do the things that they need to do when they know that there is something wrong, or if they are worrying about what they are wearing, because it lessens their self confidence. That is why Maidenform is excellent, because it seeks to provide women everywhere the comfort and care that they need to be able to move about in confidence, knowing that they are safe and secure with what they are wearing underneath.

Maidenform makes brassieres and other lingerie for women, and it exudes the femininity that it helps bring out in the women who wear their products. Maidenform carries different bra styles, like Demi Cup Bra, Soft Cup Bra, Full Support Bra, Crop Top Bra, Sports Bra, Strapless Bra, Underwire Bra, Push-up Bra and even their own line of Teen Bra.

The Demi Underwire Bra provides excellent support and lift, the cups are really soft and comfortable, and it has a really low plunge which makes it a great choice for wearing underneath all kinds of clothing, like V-necked shirts, or shirts and blouses with plunging neck lines.

Maidenform also has a line of Sports Bra that offer varying degrees of comfort and impact resistance. Maidenform has a sports bra for low -, medium -, and high ? impact activities, so any woman can be sure to have maximum comfort no matter what sports they are playing. Not only that, Maidenform Sports Bra are so comfortable that a woman can just wear them everyday or at home, not necessarily just during some rigorous activity.

The really exceptional of the Maidenform Bra line is the Strapless Bra, their One Fabulous Fit, because it has rubber lining that ensures that the bra stays in place no matter what you do. A woman can be on the go, run, jog, and do all sorts of activities and this strapless bra will just stay in place. Like most of Maidenform bras, this comes in multiple colors, available in black, white, blush, and beige.

More than just the comfort and support that Maidenform brings, Maidenform also encourages women to be comfortable with their body and their femininity. Indeed, Maidenform was born out as a protest against the rigid, flat-chested bra designs of its times and instead went out to promote the natural contour of the woman breast?s shape for making bras that function. Maidenform understand the needs of women, and the importance of wearing the right bra. That is why if you have any problems regarding your cup size or bra size, you can go to the Maidenform website and find out the right bra measurements for you.

About the Author:

Jon Prunty is a freelance editor for Coupon Cart. Read more and find great deals and discounts on Maidenform products at http://www.CouponCart.com

Miami Waterfront Real Estate

Being surrounded by the Miami River, Biscayne Bay, the Everglades, and the Atlantic Ocean, Miami has a rich supply of waterfront real estates. Although there are some properties that are well priced for single family houses, most of the properties in the waterfront area cater to high-demand buyers with intentions of purchasing luxury homes.

In fact many of these waterfront real estate properties are homes to the likes of Julio Iglesias; Don Shula, former coach of the Miami Dolphins; Norman Braman, owner of the Philadelphia Eagles; Ricky Martin, and Robert Wood Johnson of Johnson and Johnson. Many of the small historic houses are slowly disappearing to give way to the new mansions for these elites, but the waterfront homes of Miami are becoming a sight to behold.

The waterfront used to be standing over swamp mangroves that were developed back in the 1920s and 1930s to be a paradise of the wealthiest and most famous people that this world has ever known. The landscaping are always maintained with well-groomed lawns that are simply marvelous to behold. The properties are situated with wide open bay views, perfect for breathing in the airy ocean breeze. The houses are architectural wonders using Mediterranean, modern Caribbean, and European styles to design the structures. This area of Miami is home to the most beautiful private golf in the city. The waterfront community is treated as an independent city heavily guarded by its private police force patrolling the streets and the waters.

The area is so exclusive that it only houses a total of 33 residents over 300 acres of which 80 percent is devoted to a golf course. The cheapest home found in this area is estimated to be worth at least $1.4 million. The prices of other estates go us high as tens of millions of dollars.

Miami Real Estate provides detailed information on Miami Real Estate, Miami Waterfront Real Estate, Miami Beach Real Estate, Miami Luxury Real Estate and more. Miami Real Estate is affiliated with Downtown San Diego Real Estate.

Agent Marketing Minute: Marketing is not Advertising

Real estate agents wear many hats including one for marketing, advertising , merchandising, and publicity hat. Many agents think these are all one and the same. To be effective you need to know the difference and use all four to reach target real estate markets. Let's explore what each is and a brief example.

Advertising is any means by which an organization seeks to influence thoughts or actions of an individual, usually used to sell a product (house) or service (agent), or to promote good will. Example: an open house ad in the local newspaper. Marketing is all aspects of the advertising, merchandising, and selling of goods and services. An agent's annual marketing plan identifying the goals to be achieved and actions to be taken in the coming year. Merchandising is the promotion of the sale of goods and services through advertising and publicity. Think of merchandising as a physical tribute of marketing. Example would be a four-color brochure describing the physical features of a listing. Publicity or public relations is a promotion tool that motivate the public to take notice of a person (agent), product(listing), company (brokerage). Example is a press release and resulting article in the newspaper featuring an agent's support of a Habitat for Humanity project.

Mark Nash is the author of Fundamentals of Marketing for the Real Estate Professional, Starting & Succeeding in Real Estate, Reaching Out: The Financial Power of Niche Marketing, and 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home. Mark is a contributing writer for: Realtor (R) Magazine Online, Broker Agent News, Real Estate Executive Magazine, Principal Broker, and Realty Times. He contributes residential real estate analysis to Business Week, CBS The Early Show, CNN, HGTVpro.com, The New York Times, and USA Today. View his books at http://www.1001RealEstateTips.com.