It's Not Too Early To Be Thinking About A Great Halloween Mask!

Although historical Halloween has some sinister beginnings, today Halloween means dressing up in costumes and having a wonderful time.  Parties, dressing up at work, decorating the house all are part of the festivities that have become Halloween.  To really get into the whole Halloween thing however must include not only a great costume but also a great Halloween mask.  The costume is rather simple to obtain as there are costume shops in most major cities and it's even possible to order a particular costume on the web for delivery just before Halloween.  Although you may now have the clothing to look like your favorite character or monster, your face still is easily recognizable.  This is where a high quality Halloween mask can really come into play.

If there's a choice between a fancy costume or a great Halloween mask and makeup, definitely take the mask.  The reason is that although the costume can complete a certain "look" any character you can imagine can also wear basic street clothes.  Consider the strong heavily made-up character, a clown.  Yes, it's great to have a funny costume and big shoes, but a clown could also wear a business suit or some pajamas and be just as fun.  How about a basic witch or warlock?  A good Halloween mask and makeup and a cape can make a wonderful witch.  So if the character you want to be for Halloween needs face or hand makeup, remember it's the Halloween mask and interaction with the character that will be memorable, not the costume.

Halloween masks come in a variety of styles and types.  The most popular and easiest to obtain is the full head latex type masks.  These are the type that are available in all the Halloween shops that seem to open up the first part of October and disappear November 1st.  These masks come pre colored and decorated and unfortunately also look like you're wearing a mask.

Another option is simply makeup.  Theatrical makeup is easily obtained and does a fairly good job if used along with "stick on" type appliances.  Appliances are small pieces of pre formed costume latex in shapes like scars, gashes and other more gruesome things.  The only problem is that many of the appliances that are easily available tend toward the more gruesome type characters,  The idea is to apply the scars etc. first then finish off with the makeup to hide the edges of the appliances.  All in all, a good, though somewhat limited Halloween mask idea. 

The best idea of all however are full facial appliances.  These are theatrical grade latex masks that can are applied directly to your face and give an extremely realistic appearance.  These appliances can literally transform anyone into a wide variety of characters.  Wizards, warlocks, clowns, monsters, etc.  They can even age someone into their 80's or 90's.  The biggest benefit of these types of Halloween mask is that they allow you the opportunity to become the character.  You friends and guests will not remember that you "dressed up" for Halloween but that you actually were that favorite hobbit or troll. 

Now however is the time to order your Halloween mask, adhesives, and makeup.  It will take a few tries to get it right and you don't want to worry about it on Halloween night.  Take the time now to find that perfect Halloween mask and learn how to make this Halloween the most memorable for everyone.

In Search of Yesterdays

Les feuilles mortes

The falling leaves drift by the window
The falling leaves of red and gold

The little boy was curled up in the curtain at the left hand side of the bay window. His name was Choo, the spelling is unknown but he couldn't pronounce his own name and had adopted that. Memory is said to begin about four, so that would be his age and this would be one of his earliest.

A little girl was curled up in the curtain at the right hand side of the bay window. She was his sister and was two years younger. She had a beautiful name but he did not think she merited it yet so he called her Podge.

They were both watching the leaves fall from very tall trees on the far side of a large overgrown lawn. As a leaf floated from side to side on the wind their eyes would follow it lost in the wonder of their dreams.

All was at peace with their world. The room was now dark and unlit. The afternoon was drawing in and soon their Nanny, Lily, would arrive with something sweet to eat. Lily was about sixteen and from the village. She accompanied them everywhere, even on holiday. That meant their mother could keep elegant and happy for them untroubled by the daily chores of childcare. It must have been after four o'clock on an autumn afternoon in the Cotswolds.

An autumn of 1943 when war was tearing the world asunder.


YANKEE DOODLE WENT TO TOWN

Yankee doodle went to town
A-riding on a pony
He stuck a feather in his hat,
and called it macaroni.

Lily and the little boy stood by the road to watch the columns of American tanks roll by.
The GIs threw chewing gum and chocolate for them. The little boy had never had chocolate before. He ran to pick it up. When Lily said that it was for her the little boy replied that that was a silly idea; she was only a girl and of course it was for him. Such is the pragmatic confidence of a child.
There were Canadian soldiers on the farm. But they were Empire and not yanks and Choo would go and talk to them seriously about guns and things. The guns were as tall as he was.

Choo had a Shetland pony. He and his friends would take it to ride around the woods and hills and fields. The world might be at war but a little boy could still walk his native land without fear.
One day more Americans came to the farm and used some outbuildings as offices. They were making a film and they wanted some children with a pony in their film. So Choo and his friends signed up. Each day in the evening they would line up to be paid. A lovely big piece of silver. Always a half-crown.
Capitalism felt good. They did nothing as they were on standby. This lasted two weeks, but Choo couldn't count time, and they had got bored and went back to going over the hills. When they came back one day they found the scene had been shot without them. The producer had had to rustle up some village children and Choo lost his chance at stardom.

And such was the exploitation of England's children by the yanks during the war.

In Home Child Safety

Steps can be taken to ensure that various components around your home are safe for youngsters. For example, baby walkers can become very dangerous for children, as they can result in children falling down stairs. Ensure that safety gates are installed properly and that the cribs meet current standards for safety. Gates that fasten to walls are ideal for the tops of stairs, while spring-loaded gates are a superior choice for the base of stairs. Next, check various aspects of cribs, such as the mattress, the screws, and the frame. In regards to bathtub safety, keep these tips in mind: A child can drown in just a few centimetres (1 inch) of water, within the duration of seconds! Within seconds, hot water from a faucet can burn a person’s skin. In fact, a child’s skin burns in a quarter of the time required for an adult’s skin to be burned! Before placing your child in the bathtub’s water, use your elbow to test the temperature.  When running a bath for your child, consistently begin and complete the process, with cold water.  If you must leave the bathroom while bathing your child, take your son or daughter long with you. Instruct your child to sit in the bathtub 100% of the time.   While certain components in a house can pose threats to children, remember that child safety products from a child safety store can help to secure their safety.  Be careful about what your child puts in his or her mouth. To prevent your child from choking and strangling on objects, remember that if a child can fit an object in his or her mouth, your child could choke on it. Therefore, keep all tiny objects out of reach of infants and toddlers. Objects whose consuming pose a threat to young children, include small toy parts, seeds, chips, small candies and nuts, popcorn, wrapping paper, batteries, broken balloons, and hot dogs. To prevent your young children from choking on food, shred or cut foods that is hard and round, into narrow strips. Also, children must always chew their food slowly and sit up while eating meals or snacks. Lastly, as a parent, it is wise to master the indicators of choking and what steps to take when it occurs.    

In addition to choking on tiny objects, remember that the majority of homes include 200-300 poisons. Teach children the hazard symbols on containers, so they will realize the danger of consuming such products. Keep items such as cleaners; nail polish; holly and mistletoe; perfume; and cosmetics away from children, as they become poisonous when consumed. Even party leftovers certain medicines, and holiday ornaments can be poisonous to children! Lastly, remember that “child-resistant” caps vary from “child-proof” versions.

How To Design A Little Girl's Fairytale Bedroom

Every little girl dreams of having a fairytale bedroom, even the ones that can act like a real tom-boy!  =)

Use your daughter's childhood years to create memories that will stay with her for a lifetime. It's really not as difficult as it sounds!

All it takes is some creativity and a little bit of shopping. It doesn't even have to cost a lot to transform a ho-hum bedroom into a little girl's dream land fantasy world. This is the time to let out your own little inner kid and have some fun!


The fairytale concept covers alot of themes, from castles, princesses, knights and dragons, to fairies with lots of glitter and lace (of course), so the first step is to figure out what your little girl would really enjoy. That's an easy one to figure out...just ask!

Let's look at some designs that might be perfect for a young lady's dream bedroom.

ZZ Designs is a pretty popular bedding designer that you may have heard of- they offer several selections you may want to consider.

The first is their Fairy Princess Bedding set which includes a quilt featuring a castle motif with a creative hem that reflects the shapes of the towers of the castle. Placed over a white bed skirt with white frilly or billowing drapes, this choice of 100% cotton can begin your dream bedroom design.

The color scheme of the bedding includes white, pink, lavender, and purple. You can even add a canopy for her bed with 10 yards of shimmery fabric to really finish off look. Just put a nice stable hook in the ceiling at the center of her bed and then let the fabric halves hang and billow from the center down, and attach toward all the corners of the bed. There are other more detailed instructions for creating your own canopy type effects, just type it in to your browser! Pretty nifty!

Another ZZ Designs selection you'll want to check out is called A Little Sugar and Spice. Shades of pink vary from very light to a more dark pink. The 100% cotton quilt features bows, hearts, butterflies and flowers. Each pillow sham features three beautiful hearts. This set is available up to queen size.

California Kids Company offers a quilt that could become the decorating center piece of the perfect little girl's fairytale bedroom.

The hand-made 100% cotton quilt features appliqués of a castle, carriage, slipper and other princess designs. This line provides lots of choices because the same design is available as a duvet cover, and both the quilt and duvet cover are available up to queen size. Matching print sheets, pillow shams and bed skirt, dust ruffle, window dressing, bed canopy for camelback or regular canopies and a whole collection of other accessories give you lots to mix and match to best fit your space.

No matter what bedding you choose, you'll definitely want to add something like the Princess Castle lamp by CK Designs. A pink castle with blue accents holds a pink shade on the tallest tower top. The lamp is operated by a pull chain which features a glow in the dark quarter moon to make the lamp easy to find in the dark.

This is a thoughtful choice for any little girl's fantasy bedroom. It's often difficult to teach children to sleep alone in the dark but the comforting presence of the shining moon can be used to comfort her that SHE is in control and can get to the light easily if she wakes up frightened or has a bad dream.

A beautiful touch for a bedroom with few windows but a lot of wall space is That's My Room's Castle Window Mural. It creates the feel of a stone arch window facing toward another beautiful castle in the distance. This can add an airy touch to a bedroom that has no attractive outdoor scenery to open the windows toward.

You could hang a billow length of satiny cloth around the mural so it looks like real drapes- and you'll have a very realistic looking window added to your child's castle!

How about adding some neat little finishing touches like a glittery wand, some sparkly little shoes that you could customize with glitter and lace. You could buy a few little castle figurines and place them just so for the perfect daydreams!

Decorating for your little princess can be fun. If you never had the dream bedroom you always wanted, you know how much a perfect bedroom can mean. So fulfill your little girl's dreams while you can!

All too soon she will grow up and move into her very own castle.

Hunter Humidifier Filter Types and Maintenance

Title:
Hunter Humidifier Filter Types and Maintenance

Word Count:
404

Summary:
Humidifiers perform excellently if maintained regularly. Hunter humidifier filters are the best way of keeping humidifiers in tiptop shape. Hunter humidifier filters come in different types in processing water for humidifying work.


Keywords:
humidifier, clean air, filter, air filter


Article Body:
When trying to heat up the air in cold weather, the air gets dried up. To counter this effect, a Hunter humidifier is needed. And it’s also necessary to know how Hunter humidifier filters work.

Dry air in a room or enclosure is often the result of heating up the air. Heating up a room or enclosure only solves room temperature, but not the air circulation. When the air is merely heated up and not well circulated, the air becomes dry and viruses, bacteria, and molds may increase in a particular enclosure. Hence, a Hunter humidifier comes in. It can be installed in the furnace or a portable Hunter humidifier unit brought in to treat a room or enclosure. Hunter humidifier filters help the humidifier perform better air humidification and circulation.

A Hunter humidifier filter looks like a mesh wire pad that helps the humidifier unit perform better at filtering the air. As a Hunter humidifier performs, chances are air elements like dusts and molds may collect in the unit, making the unit blow and circulate contaminated air without a filter. Several water minerals may also be trapped in the humidifier, making it perform less. Thus, Hunter humidifier filters need to be maintained by regular replacements. Hunter humidifier filters are antibacterial paper filters that are specially made to eliminate micro-organism growth in humidifier units.

When the cold season sets in, heaters are in use. To prevent the air from drying up, humidifiers are used. Before using the humidifier in cold seasons, it is best to replace at once a Hunter humidifier filter. Hunter humidifier filters should also be replaced every 2 to 4 weeks for better humidifier unit performance, and also according to frequency of use and water condition. Hard water (more mineral content) used in humidifiers means more frequent replacements of Hunter humidifier filter. It is also advisable to take out the Hunter humidifier filter each time the humidifier unit is cleaned.

A Genuine Hunter Humidifier Filter type (model 32300) can filter out 3 gallons of humidifying water. Another type of Genuine Hunter Humidifier Filter (model 32400) can filter out 4 gallons of humidifying water. Models 32500 and 34500 of a Genuine Hunter Humidifier Filter can filter out 5 gallons of humidifying water. A Hunter humidifier filter of the Endurawick make is specifically for a Hunter Endurawick for filtering 5 gallons of humidifying water.

Replacing Hunter humidifier filters as often as needed is the best way to maintain good performance of humidifiers.

Matchmaking for Marriage Relationship (II)

<b>Why employing matchmaking service</b>
   
Different people would have different reasons when going for matchmakers or matchmaking service. But certainly they have one common ground -- they are all serious love and marriage seekers desperately looking for long-term love and marriage relationships.

The following quotes nearly summarize almost all overt reasons why nowadays more and more people are employing matchmakers or matchmaking service:

"...Tired of chance meetings: Compatible Introductions will introduce you to many more compatible people that you could ever meet by chance in a relatively short period of time.
Time is a precious commodity in the 21st century: You don't want to waste time meeting people who have nothing in common with you.
Safety: All of our members are carefully pre-screened. We meet and interview all our new members personally.
Personalized and individual: we always inform you in advance personally before you are introduced to a compatible member.
No 'blind date': you see the person in a color photo before you are going to me.
Ready for Commitment: Our members are sincerely interested in finding a compatible mate.
You are selective: You want to know whom you are going to meet in advance.
You achieved your professional goals... now is the time to focus on your personal goals..."

"...Matchmaking services are a perfect alternative to pubs and clubs ... completely confidential and you know you are meeting genuine singles who are prepared to invest cash to meet someone suitable for a relationship or friendship..."

"...discreet, safe and caring way of finding a real relationship in today's uncertain environment..."

"...Most busy professionals don't have the time and resources for meeting other single, successful people outside of their own office, industry or social circle. A matchmaker has unique access to quality people.
A personal matchmaker can screen and pre-qualify the right matches for you similar to the way an executive recruiter screens candidates for a specific job.
It's all about TARGET MARKETING.
Sometimes, single people are guilty of selecting Mr. or Mrs. wrong over and over again. A matchmaker keeps you from repeating the same pitfalls of the past.
A personal matchmaker provides the privilege of a wide variety of choices. It's a 'numbers' game, but working with a matchmaker, there's an ongoing supply of highly desirable people to choose from.
It's more dignified and safe. You don't have to suffer the awkward indignity of blind dating or barhopping. With a matchmaker, you are guaranteed to meet people who you want to meet and who want to meet you one-on-one.
No more singles events, clubs or mixers with no guarantee of who you meet and/or if they'll measure up. A matchmaker caters to commitment-minded single men and women. Whether the goal is marriage or an exclusive relationship, an introduction service takes you beyond simply meeting new people. Its sole purpose is to introduce you to a sufficient number of pre-screened individuals who are more likely to be suitable matches.
A matchmaker represents many intangible aspects of a person's identity beyond what a simple photo and vital statistics could ever convey. And nobody likes the arrogance of someone tooting his or her own horn. Instead of bragging about yourself and all that you have to offer, let the experts do it for you in a much more objective and credible way..."

"Quality Singles... introduces you to great people you'd never meet on your own.
No Games - Online chat seldom works... for people who truly want to meet someone special and don't have time to play games.
Meet Serious Singles...don't just want to date. They are interested in meaningful long-term relationships."

Living Rich in a Readymade World

Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt

These days decorating doesn’t have to be about custom design. It can be about where to find it now and how to make it work for you.  There is such a wealth of readymade elements both at retailers, online, and in mail order catalogues. You can do it yourself or get the knowledge and expertise of a professional decorator, transforming your house into a home without ever leaving your chair. Best of all you can have it all immediately. No waiting, no anticipation, just take it home today.  The trick is in knowing what to buy and how to make it not look like everyone else’s.  Read on for the real scoop on living rich in a readymade world.

Firstly, it’s not what you have that gives you style, but what you do with it that really counts.  Using the big box retailers for decorating is a real time saver, but it's up to you to personalize.  Certainly photo frames are easy to make yours. Consider theming the groupings; a family wall is usually a real favorite. Another option is to do a travel wall with collage matting so you can display multiple photos within one frame. You can have one frame dedicated to each trip.  You can also do groupings of individual frames united by a theme.  Think about forming a collection or two, displaying the frames en masse for greatest effect.

Layer your rooms to create maximum character. Start with the floor adding rugs, even over wall to wall carpet. Rugs are artwork for the floor and anchor furniture arrangements. To add depth to your upholstery, layer pillows and the occasional throw for softness. On your tables be sure to include practical ideas like a coasters along with room for a book or even a plate of food.  (I always make sure there is enough space on the coffee table to put up your feet.  Life is about comfort!) Lamps are another opportunity to build layers and can really add personality and punch.  Don’t match them unless you have matching tables (boring and formal).  Have fun with the variety of shapes and sizes available, not to mention the host of shade variations, including beaded or feathered. Once you’ve got the basics of rugs, upholstery, tables, and lamps you are ready to add drapery. This is often an overlooked element and really necessary to finish a room.  Whether your goal is to frame the view, control light or gain privacy, draperies are important in bringing softness and color vertically in a room. Last but not least are the artwork and accessories. Find pieces you really enjoy rather than just adding elements to take up space. Remember it’s your home, so make it count.

Go for comfort, not just good looks! I know you saw that really cool chair in that catalogue and had to have it, only to find that no one, including you, will sit in it, because it is woefully uncomfortable. Remember it needs to function as well as look good.  Upholstery in particular is for sitting on, not looking at, so be sure you either are familiar with the maker or can sit test it. Tables need to be the right height. For a coffee table 17-18” is usually optimal, end tables need to be at a comfortable height coming from the arm of the seating piece next to it. Too low and they are awkward.  Too high and you’ll knock things over when you reach. On many elements you can check them out on approval before making a decision, which is very helpful because seeing them in context is important. This is often the case with rugs, lamps, artwork, and even some tables.

Little changes make a big difference.  Consider changing the hardware on your kitchen cabinets. It is a seemingly little change that has a big impact.  Changing a light fixture over a breakfast table can make a dramatic and often very cost effective improvement to a room. Save your old chandelier to put back up when you sell your house so that you can take your favorite light fixture with you. This stretches your decorating dollar and becomes a flexible and lasting investment.  Changing plate glass mirrors to framed mirrors also really finishes off a bathroom.  (Do any of us really want to see ourselves reflected so much anyway?)

To avoid boredom with your interiors change your accents with the season.  Think hot colors for the winter and fall months with reds, oranges, golds and persimmons.  For the summer and spring try cool blues, fresh greens, crisp whites and soothing lavenders. By changing out your pillows, an art piece or two, a couple of accents or even a rug, you can transform and re-energize a room.

Need to add life to your spaces?  Add greenery.  Whether you've got a green thumb or do better with silk plants, greenery in every room really brings the room to life. This isn't a license to run wild with flowers, though.  Absolutely no plastic and no dried arrangements please (they look dead and are!).  Buying good silks and taking care of them is easy and cost effective. They will last indefinitely and require only a once a month spritz of floral cleaner (no wiping, it dissolves dust on contact.) Real plants need a good deal more care, and you have to consider light, temperature, and water needs. Living plants are often not ideal for those that travel frequently or have pets who tend to dig in the soil or bite the leaves.

Readymade doesn’t necessarily mean cheap.  Consider your sources, and instead of being locked into bargain basement and everyman looks, try the more exclusive catalogues like Horchow, Gumps, Frontgate and Chambers. Whatever you can imagine is likely already there for the ordering.  Certainly there are also many online sites with goods from all over the world.  You can purchase mementos from trips you haven’t even yet taken.

Perhaps you haven’t a clue about decorating or don’t have the time or interest to make this transformation a reality.  That’s alright. All you need to do is know who to call to make it happen.  Even if you aren't going custom it still makes sense to call in a professional decorator or designer and have them work with you to create a master plan to avoid expensive mistakes and lost time in returns.  Often if you explain you want it all immediately and are willing to go with off the rack goods, readymade couture for the home, they will work with you exclusively on that basis.

Make a road map of the changes and improvements you want to make in each room. This can be a list by room or even a sketch if you are feeling artistic. Keep a file by room of favorite finds in catalogues and magazines. (Be sure to look up the resource in the back of the publication.)  Bookmark favorite online sites for quick and easy future reference.

Lastly, plan a celebration, a housewarming for each room or the whole house. This gives you added incentive to get the project off the ground and move forward. Remember too that people are coming to your house to visit you, not your stuff, so relax and let them bring something to contribute.  Consider registering at some of your favorite retailers for some finishing touches. This sure beats getting bath goodies or another tie that you really won’t use!