What Answers To Questions For A Home Insurance Price Quote Will I Need To Know?

Tim Gorman

Lets face it, finding the best home insurance price quote can be an aggravating task if you're not fully prepared with answers to the common questions that most insurance companies will ask. This article outlines the questions that an insurance agent will ask you when you're requesting quotes for home insurance. Having this information handy will make finding house insurance easier and save you valuable time.
The most obvious question that will be asked first deals with your address information. The home insurance agent will need your street address as well as the state, city and zip code. This information will be used as the starting point for all future questions. A normal question deals with the approximate location of your home in relation to the nearest fire hydrant. You can also be expected to have to know how far the nearest fire department is from your house. The insurer will want to know if you have a fire alarm system and if so what type of system
Additional questions will focus on whether or not anyone living in the house smokes and if your building has an internal sprinkler system. Make sure you know if you have a burglar alarm and what type of alarm it is because that question will come up. You might be asked if you live in a gated community and if you have a dog as a pet. If you do own a dog then the insurance provider will want to know the breed.
You can be assured that you will be asked how old you are and if the answer is over 55 expect a follow up question on whether or not you are retired. The insurance company will expect that you already have some form of homeowners insurance with another company so be prepared to answer that question along with if you have car insurance, if so - with what company and for how long. Don't be alarmed by such questions, as they are routine when trying to determine a home insurance price quote.
If you've made any insurance claims within the last 3 years then the home insurance provider will want to know the claim amount and the reason for initiating the insurance claim. You will also be expected to truthfully answer if you have ever had an insurance policy cancelled or non-renewed.
Questions that center on your home include, how many rooms in the house - without counting bathrooms, the number of people living in the house and a rating of your home from inexpensive to expensive. You will be asked if you own any property that is very valuable (such as: jewelry, antiques, home entertainment system, or a musical instrument)? You'll have to know what year the house was built, the type of residence it is, what building materials were used to construct the dwelling and if you rent or own the property.
As you can see although the list of questions is small having the necessary answers when you need them will save yourself as well as your insurance agent valuable time and eliminate unnecessary headaches. It may also help save money on your home insurance price quote.


Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Best-Free-Insurance-Quotes.com. He provides more insurance information and offers discount auto, life and home insurance that you can research in your pajamas on his website.<<br />
Gymnastics: Injury, Prevention, Treatment - A Brief Overview
Murray Hughes

Gymnastics: Injury, Prevention, Treatment - A Brief Overview

In every sport--not just gymnastics--there stands the risk
of injury, no matter how adept or flexible your gymnast
happens to be. The sport requires a lot of psychological
and physical preparation, in part because it is extremely
rigorous, and in part because it demands a higher level of
skill than most other sports. The complexity that routines
entail increases the risk of painful injury and fatigue if
proper preparations are not taken to ensure all-around
safety.

The most common injuries to the body are those to the ankles
and feet, the lower back, knees, hands, and wrists. These
can be due to overuse or simple stress. The lower body
injuries are generally because of unbalanced landings,
while the back experiences strain when insufficient
stretching has been performed. Scrapes and bruises are to
be expected, even if your gymnast is properly attired -- so
simply be prepared. Any injury to a gymnast's body can be
detrimental to his or her performance in the future.
Stiffness can result from lack of use of a limb or of the
back if he or she is put out of the game for too long--that
is, if the injury is serious. For the most part, as a
parent, you will have to deal with less serious injuries
(hopefully), and you will not need to visit the doctor's
office to have them treated.

In any case, the best course of action is indeed prevention.
The standard safety measures in any sport are simple and
easily implemented, most especially for gymnastics.

First, you will want to make sure that your gymnast wears
the proper clothing. If he or she has long hair, tie it
back, braid it, or otherwise secure it. Do not allow them
to wear clothing that is too loose or baggy and conducive
to tripping; the same goes for socks and shoes - nothing
that will cause them to slide on a nonporous surface.
Remove all jewelry. Rings, for instance, can be caught on
swelling fingers if one is sprained. Earrings can be torn
from earlobes or carteliage in a mishap.

Then, make sure that you and your gymnast takes stock of the
surroundings. Wires from equipment can trip or cut;
running into poles or other gymnasts can be a disaster. To
trip on a mat that is higher than the current surface might
be painful.

Next, have them warm up. Warmups are vital to any sport,
and every gymnast, whether they are a preschooler or a
professional, should do them before starting any strenuous
activity. This includes jogging, speed walking, and
stretching -- anything to get the blood moving and the
heart pumping. Believe it or not, a good stretch decreases
the risk of a strained or pulled muscle, and it actually
feels good. If you're training with your young gymnast at
home or otherwise on your own time, it's advisable to be a
good role model and join them in their warm-ups. Turn on
some music and move too. It's a triple plus: you'll be
showing her or him how to properly warm up, that you are
interested in what they are doing, and you will be getting
your heart rate going strong too.

When your gymnast is out on the floor, make sure that he or
she takes breaks for water frequently. Hydration is key to
good health. If he or she is sweating profusely,
dehydration is possible, and that too can be a disaster
waiting in the wings.

Beyond all of the hazards of gymnastics, there is treatment
for any injuries received. Of course, if your gymnast is
injured severely, a doctor visit might be the best idea --
or even the emergency room. However, that is simply common
sense. On the other hand, if your child is not injured
severely, you may wish to take care of him or her yourself.

But whatever you decide to do, please understand I am not a
doctor and you should always consult your family doctor if
you have any problems or concerns.

For sprains, strains, bumps and bruises, you should use
ice for the first twenty four hours. Ice cubes in a
plastic bag with a facecloth or a hand towel wrapped around
the bag itself is sufficient if you do not have a medical
ice pack. Never place ice directly against skin - and
never ice for more than twenty to thirty minutes at a time.

Three or four times in the first day after the injury
should be sufficient. After that, gentle heat compresses
will help to relax any muscle spasms or pain that isn't
taken care of with some kind of pain reliever (consult a
doctor before giving your gymnast ANY medication).

Hopefully, you'll never have to deal with injuries -- but
remember, prevention is better than anything else. Keep
this in mind and be safe.

Good luck!

By Murray Hughes
Gymnastics Secrets Revealed
"The book EVERY gymnastics parent should read"

http://www.gymnasticssecretsrevealed.com/gymnastics-articles/gymnastics-injuries.htm

If your child is a gymnast and you enjoyed this article, you
will definitely enjoy reading the zero cost, 5-day course
Gymnastics Tips Course written especially for gymnastics
parents by a gymnastics parent.
http://www.GymnasticsSecretsRevealed.com
For AOL Users - Kids Gymnastics

Getting To Know Google

Dali Singh

Having greatly benefited from my relationship with Google in the past several years, I am dedicating this article to the search engine superstar.

I have to be brutally honest and relay that our friendship hasn't always been rosy. I got to know Google several years back, when it was just a small fish in a big pond. I started to analyze its every move and realized that Google is a fickle, clever and extremely mysterious being. Still, I decided to get more acquainted.
Here are a few things I learned along the way.

When it comes to logic, Google is the queen

In other words, avoid participating in anything that may blacklist you from this search engine, including keyword stuffing, link farms and hosting 50 "sister" sites on the same server. Keyword stuffing doesn't refer merely to the content of your site, but also the alt tags, headers, URLs and any additional areas of your web site.

Google likes to stay focused

When optimizing the individual pages of your Web site, try to hone in on one or two relevant keywords per Web page. Analyze each page and identify which keyword would be most suitable.

If you decide to optimize for two keywords per page, make sure that they are similar in context. For example, if you are optimizing for the key phrase "insurance leads," you may also consider optimizing for "insurance sales leads" within the same page.

Google loves to travel

It is commonly known that Google loves links, both inbound and outbound. When it comes to search engine optimization, lots of research has focused on inbound links, but little has focused on the number of links on an actual page. It appears that Google favors sites that have several internal and outbound links over those that don't have links.

If you have any doubts about this theory, simply do a search on any high-volume keyword or phrase within this search engine and analyze the first few sites that come up. Notice how the majority of them have numerous internal links on the main pages of their Web site.

Google is popular and expects you to be, too

The more popular your site is across the Web, the more Google will favor you. Obviously, having several high-quality inbound links to your site is key in achieving higher rankings. When identifying Web sites for inbound links, target the ones that are highly relevant to your site. For example, if you run a jewelry site, look for sites that are purely informational on the topic of jewelry or gemstones. Also, make sure that the sites you decide to partner with have a good PageRank (at least a 5) and online presence.

To save yourself a lot of hassle, conduct a keyword search relevant to your business and target the Web sites that show up on the first and second pages of Google (weeding out the competition, of course); contact the Web masters of those sites and tell them about your company and find useful ways to compensate them for adding your company's information on their site.

If you have an affiliate program, don't be shy to pitch it. If you have an online advertising budget, offer them a pay-per-click deal or monthly advertising fee for promoting your Web site. Note that partnering with these sites or purchasing ads should complement your overall marketing and business development strategy-and not be used merely to get link value.

Google gets bored easily

Regardless of whether your site is informational, e-commerce or just a sophisticated version of a business card, having quality content is crucial for search engine optimization. Adding to that factor is how often you update your site's content.

If you run a site that has new content added on a monthly basis (do not overdo it), then eventually the Google "freshbot" will start visiting your site more often and index your new content into the database. The more content you update, the more Google visits your site and indexes it quicker. Do not refresh your content simply for search engine optimization purposes, but do take the effort to keep interesting articles, blogs and entries to keep your visitors coming back.

If you haven't already noticed, keeping pace with Google is not an easy undertaking. It takes a certain level of knowledge, skill and creativity to truly benefit from this relationship. The rest is up to the stars.


Dali Singh is the Managing Director for Blueliner Marketing, a full service marketing and Internet consultancy. Visit www.bluelinermarketing.com or email her directly at dali @ bluelinermarketing.com.

A Lawyers Favorite Lawyer Jokes
Richard A. Chapo

Lawyer Jokes

Q: How does a pregnant woman know she is carrying a future lawyer?

A: She has an extreme craving for baloney.

Q: What is the legal definition of "Appeal"?

A: Something a person slips on in a grocery store.

Q: Why did God make snakes just before lawyers?

A: To practice.

Q: What do you call a lawyer with an IQ of 12?

A: Your Honor.

Q: What's the difference between a lawyer and a herd of buffalo?

A: The lawyer charges more.

Q: What do you call a smiling, sober, courteous person at a bar association convention?

A: The caterer.

Q: Why are lawyers like nuclear weapons?

A: If one side has one, the other side has to get one.

Q: What do you get when you cross the Godfather with a lawyer?

A: An offer you can't understand.

Q: What do you call a lawyer gone bad?

A: Senator

Q: Did you hear they just released a new Barbie doll called "Divorced Barbie"?

A: It comes with half of Ken's things and alimony.

Q: What's the difference between an attorney and a pit bull?

A: Jewelry.

Q: What's the definition of mixed emotions?

A: Watching your attorney drive over a cliff in your new Ferrari.

Q: What's the difference between lawyers and accountants?

A: At least accountants know they're boring.

Stories:

1. A man who had been caught embezzling millions went to a lawyer. His lawyer told him, "Don't worry. You'll never go to jail with all that money? In fact, when the man was sent to prison, he didn't have a dime.

2. As the lawyer awoke from surgery, he asked, "Why are all the blinds drawn?" The nurse answered, "There's a fire across the street, and we didn't want you to think you had died."

3. God decided to take the devil to court and settle their differences once and for all. Satan heard this, laughed and said, "And where do you think you're going to find a lawyer?"

4. A lawyer is sitting at the desk in his new office. He hears someone coming to the door. To impress his first potential client, he picks up the phone as the door opens and says, "I demand one million and not a penny less." As he hangs up, the man now standing in his office says, "I'm here to hook up your phone."

And finally:

You Might Be A Lawyer If.... You are charging someone to read these jokes.

Richard Chapo is with SanDiegoBusinessLawFirm.com - Go to our article section to read more business law articles.

Fashion purchases

Jacqueline Biles - New York Shopping Mall

New fashions in clothing are constantly changing, and everyone searches for a sale. A fashion statement is similar to the type of car you drive, and the type of business card you present to a client. It must be of quality and the appearance must express this at a glance.
Everyone requires quality in clothing, jewelry, cars or whatever they should decide to purchase. The problem is the ability to afford quality!
We at New York Shopping Mall are trying to solve this problem for all shoppers. We have created a online mall which offers cash back on purchases, and contains quality clothing,(polo, baby phat), jewelry(14k, sterling silver, and surgical steel) including body jewelry, perfume,(Giorgio, Jennifer Lopez), handbags,(gucci,prada),shoes,
department stores,(macys,target,walmart)
tools, and more. THE KEY TO SAVINGS IS SHOP FROM OUR SITE AND WE WILL GIVE YOU CASH BACK.
Happy Secure Shopping!!!
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Retail owner

What Is Homeowners Insurance Coverage?
Tim Gorman

Before attempting to find the best homeowners insurance coverage you should make sure that you are familiar with what homeowners insurance is and what it can do for you. A standard policy provides financial coverage to your house and the property within the house. Natural disasters, theft and other maladies that can occur are usually covered in your policy. Some exceptions include flood and earthquake protection, which require additional coverage. Another feature that home insurance covers is damage caused by household pets and any legal liabilities to anyone caused harm by yourself or family members on your property.

The amount of house insurance you may require is based on 4 areas: Home structure, personal property, liability for protection to others and some additional costs associated with repairs to your home.

House Structure - Always make sure you obtain enough insurance to cover the cost incurred to rebuild your current home at today's market prices in the event a natural disaster should take place. You don't really need to include the cost of the land and you shouldn't base the amount on the price you paid for your house as the cost of rebuilding fluctuates.

Personal Property - As much as you value your personal possessions many insurance policies will only provide coverage between 50% and 70% based on your current homeowners insurance coverage. You play a big part in making sure your property is properly covered so make sure to do an inventory listing all of your possessions. Try to be as detailed as possible, after all this is your property and you deserve to be reimbursed if anything bas happens. You'll have to be careful in this area. If you own expensive jewelry or furs then you should seek out additional coverage through a floater or endorsement policy. In most cases an insurance company will only compensate you $1000 to $2000 for jewelry or furs that are stolen or lost in a fire. I can relate a true story to you where my wife and I had $12,000 worth of jewelry stolen and were only reimbursed $1000 because we didn't have additional coverage for her jewelry collection with a floater. The lesson learned was always to make sure our possessions were accurately and correctly insured against future losses.

Liability Coverage - This part of your homeowners insurance coverage provides protection for you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or family members cause to other people. It also pays for damage caused by pets. It pays for both the cost of defending you in court and for any damages a court rules you must pay. Although many insurance companies provide $100,000 worth of coverage, it's a good idea to increase that amount to $300,000 or more.

Additional Costs - This pays the additional costs of temporarily living away from your home if you can't live in it due to a fire, severe storm or other insured disaster. It covers hotel bills, restaurant meals and other living expenses incurred while your home is being rebuilt. If you live in an area with a high propensity of natural disasters then you definitely want to make sure you're adequately covered here.

Hopefully this information detailing what homeowners insurance coverage was helpful and gave you a better idea of what your standard house insurance policy is comprised of.


Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Best-Free-Insurance-Quotes.com. He provides more insurance information and offers discount auto, life and home insurance

How To Breeze Through The Security Checkpoint At Airports

Jamie Madison

Permission is freely granted to use this article so long as our resource box remains at the end of this article with all links live.

Air travel is such a common method of transportation today, we sometimes forget the practical tips to help us enjoy a flight. The following tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint.

What to do before you arrive at the airport.

1. Do not pack or bring prohibited Items to the airport. Prohibited items are weapons, explosives, incendiaries, and include items that are seemingly harmless but may be used as weapons - the so-called "dual use" items. You may not bring these items to security checkpoints without authorization.

2. Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on baggage only. Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop.

3. Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector.

4. Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm.

5. Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film.

6. Declare firearms & ammunition to your airline and place them in your checked baggage.

7. If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock.

8. Do not bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport.

9. Do not pack wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your departure. TSA may have to unwrap packages for security reasons.

At the Airport

Keep in mind that every adult traveler 18 years and older will need to keep available his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID until exiting the security checkpoint. Because of the differences in airport configurations at many airports, you may be required to display these documents more than once.

Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag prior to entering the screening checkpoint:

* Mobile phones
* Keys
* Loose change
* Money clips
* PDA's (personal data assistants)
* Large amounts of jewelry
* Metal hair decorations
* Large belt buckles

Take your laptop and video cameras with cassettes OUT of their cases and place them in a bin which will be provided at the checkpoint.

Take OFF all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers.

By following the suggested tips, you will breeze through the security checkpoint, which will help you to enjoy your flight.

Copyright 2005. GetCheapAirlineTickets.com All Rights Reserved.


Jamie Madison is a flight attendant with a low-cost airline based in JFK. She enjoys consulting in the travel business and has provided a FREE website to offer consumers a stress-free way to make travel plans. Download your FREE "Travel Tips" Report by visiting visiting http://www.getcheapairlinetickets.com

Everything Old Becomes New Again
C.L.Hanna

Think that something you have had since you were a teen-ager can't be worth much?

Think again! Even if you are only now in your twenties...it won't be long until that dress, purse, tie, jewelry, perfume bottle or sport memorabilia will be sought after. It never ceases to amaze me just what can become the hottest collectible at any given moment...and it never ceases to bring me joy to find that I have it! Right now, I am enjoying watching my daughter get excited over a 'find' that I used to wear or use (and which I had hoped that I would never see again)! The styles and designs that are being lauded as the 'latest thing' all look very similar to the things that my parents abhored and would not allow me to wear - no matter how much I pleaded. They aren't new to anyone over 40 years of age. My mother had sweaters that I begged off of her in the 1970s - because they were from the 1950s and were cool once again. While others were sporting copies - I was wearing 'the real thing'.

What do you have that is now on the 'Hot List" of "Cool Stuff"?

Well...it just might surprise you. So many times, as I walk through a flea market or antique shop, I over-hear other shoppers saying, "Oh, I used to have one of those"... followed by the sound of disbelief when they look at the price tag ... followed by the words, "I should have kept it!" While it may be difficult to imagine that the toy or book or dish we use today could be worth ten times more than it's original purchase price in the future, it does happen - and here are just a few tips on recognizing a potential treasure:

The Maker, Author, Celebrity, etc. - Knowing a bit about who made the item - and when - is always important. Knowing what a person has accomplished and how they stand out in their field is also key. You will probablly want to take care of anything directly linked to someone who is a celebrity due to setting a record - or making a box office smash - especially if they did it despite exceptional odds or if they were able to do it repeatedly...not necessarily while being the most popular or socially accepted among their peers or fans. Of course, we have seen this to be the case, as well, when someone who has had no time to really make much of a history for themselves - become an unforgettable part of history through their untimely death. While unforeseen events often trigger the sudden rise of an items' particular value...timing can be everything when it comes to the collectible market. You've got to"know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em".

Dates, Signatures and Marks - Know what your item should say (or not say) and what identifies it as the 'real McCoy' - McCoy pottery pieces have many different identifying marks which were used since the company first began...some are very similar in the way they look and some very different. What was made, when it was made and where, being some of the determining factors for which mark was used. Lack of that knowledge has caused more than one disappointment to be sure. Having a treasure right under your nose and letting it go for a quarter or fifty cents when it is worth five dollars or more can leave you with a sick feeling. Tossing away something your Grandfather gave you, because you find it unattractive - only to find that it is irreplaceable is...(well, maybe we shouldn't open up a wound that deep). Keeping something in the best condition possible, is only part of what it takes for an item to be considered valuable. In fact, some things are not required to be in pristene condition...but instead, are expected to have certain wear asssociated with them...however, all items with moving parts, for instance, should have all of their parts and the parts should be working for most to be considered of any worth. We all know to look for signatures, of course, but being sure that a signature is not forged is not always easy - in fact, it is one of the most common mistakes made by enthusiastic collectors. If you are putting out any amount of real cash - get an expert's opinion before committing.
With All Of This In Mind..What Do You Have?

If you are like most of us, you have things from your past...and somewhere in the future, some of those things are bound to become worth some money. When and just how much...is anybody's guess. Some items are a little more predictable than others, though. The more rare, because of how it was made, or how long the artist created, or the effect of the author's writings on society, or even because of who owned it, are all to be considered. What you don't know can hurt you, financially speaking, and yet the average person can easily be the owner of any number of items that will be valuable tomorrow. If you want to test something out - ask your pre-teen what they think...if they say it's cool hold onto it for a few more years - it's almost certain to be in demand as retro, if nothing else! If you are holding onto something that you believe to be valuable now - don't let someone sell you short...if you don't know enough about the item find someone you can trust to educate you on the item...or educate yourself at your local library - or online. The Internet is a wealth of information at your fingertips.

Everything old truly becomes 'new' again in a new generation's eyes and while chances are you will not get rich off of your past - handing it over to someone for a fair price based on it's true worth - can be a very rewarding way of preserving it!



C.L. Hanna is the owner of "HEART'S DOOR", which specializes in the creative use of collectibles and vintage items in home-decorating. Having been involved in Interior Decorating and collecting for over 20 years she recently took her shop online at www.heartsdoor.org

The Only 5 Things You Can Sell

Palyn Peterson

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'The Only 5 Things You Can Sell'
by Palyn Peterson

So, you want to start an internet store do you? What is it
are you going to sell? This really is the first thing to
tackle, because without any products your store will fail,
guaranteed. All jokes aside, let me share some insight on
broad this topic.

First, do you have anything to offer that you can make?
Crafts, exotic bird houses, jewelry, doll houses? Most people
will answer "No" to this one, but that is ok! Lots of
options are still available. In fact, most online stores do
not create their own products.

Affiliate programs are another great choice. An affiliate
program is when a company gives you commission to sell their
products. You direct customers to their website, and that is
it. You don't manage inventory, the sale or shipping. Some
companies may provide web space and site creation support,
but be careful about going that route -- they may want to
charge you setup fees and maybe a membership fee. If the
affiliate program is worth it, it will most likely be free.
Here are other points to pay attention to:

1. How much commission you will receive with each sale. 5%-
10% is on the low side. Try to stick with companies that
will pay you 20%-35%. I've even come across some affiliate
programs that pay as much as 50%.
2. Read the affiliate agreement. Some companies state you
can only sell their products on your website, and no one
else's. If this works for you, great. If not, be sure to
read the agreement and make sure this is not the case.
3. What the pay out amounts are. Know how much you need to
make before a check is cut and mailed to you.
4. Do you receive support? Many companies offer their
affiliates marketing material to help sell products. This
could include website content, pictures, banners, cut-and-
paste emails, and classified ads.

Some people pull in many thousands of dollars a month with
affiliate programs, they can work, but remember to be
careful! There are many wolves in sheep clothing just
waiting to take your setup fee and monthly payments just to
leave you without support and no sales. If affiliate
programs interest you, there are a number of good affiliate
program directories. Here are a few:

1. www.affiliatesdirectory.com
2. www.associateprograms.com
3. www.affiliatematch.com

Next, a very popular and incredibly practical choice is drop
shipping. Drop shipping is when a wholesale distributor
maintains the product inventory, you create a store selling
those products and take customer's orders at retail prices.
You then turn around and send the customer's order to the
wholesale distributor who ships the products to your
customer, often with your company name on the package.

The customer receives their products not knowing that you
are running the business with no inventory and from the
comfort of your home. And no inventory means you only spend
money when you are making money. In other words, you only
spend money buying products at wholesale when you are just
going to turn around and charge retail price to a customer.
How great is that? This is one of the most popular methods
of running a retail business on the internet, and for good
reason!

The great majority of wholesale distributors will ask you
for your TAX ID number when creating an account. Your TAX ID
number can be found on your sales tax license if you have
one, or usually your social security number will suffice if
you do not have a license. For free information on getting a
sales tax license, visit this page:
www.futureinternetmarketing.com/inetlaw/inetlaw.htm.

When searching for wholesale distributors, be careful
because there are a lot of companies out there that will
drop ship products and claim to be wholesale distributors
when they really aren't! They will take your order just to
turn around and order from the real wholesaler. This should
spell L-O-S-S to you. What's happening is that you are
buying the product at a price marked up from the actual
wholesale price, and then you'll need to mark it up even
further when selling it to your customer. There is a big
slice of the profit pie that you aren't getting!

Most distributors that offer thousands of different products
in a number of different categories are usually that type of
operation. Also, if the distributor wants to charge you a
subscription fee, that should set an alarm off in your head.
Occasionally the wholesale distributor will charge a per-
drop-ship fee, and maybe have a minimum order requirement
(either in quantity or dollar amount). A FEW (and I say
few) legit wholesale distributors will charge a setup fee
(one wholesale distributor I worked required that the first
order be $200 or more), but I have NEVER come across a legit
wholesale distributor that charges a subscription fee.

If you are having trouble deciding what products to sell,
try this: go shopping! Don't actually buy anything (if you
don't want to, at least), just look around and see what
products interest you.

Do you see a site that you think you could do better? Are
you a sports fan? Sell sports equipment or memorabilia! Do
you enjoy pool? Sell billiard supplies! Enjoy gardening, or
interior decorating? Sell products for those!

A word of advice though, the computer component market is
crammed. You will have more competition there than with most
other products.

Information products are a fabulous option as well. Not only
can they easily be created by you, they are even easier to
distribute because they can simply be emailed to your
customers.

Can you fix cars? Write a maintenance tips manual. Write an
eBook on saving money around the household. Write a manual
on how to negotiate with car dealers. Maybe you know how to
make the cue ball jump across a pool table over what would
have been an obstacle. I sure don't, and I wouldn't mind
finding out!

Basically, the question is "What do you know?" Don't
underestimate yourself either! A great way to get started
is to use the mind-map technique. This technique allows you
to jot down ideas that relate to a core idea and build a
skeleton of subjects that are all associated with each
other. After only a short time doing this, you should have
more than enough subjects to piece together a good eBook.
For more information on mind- maps, visit these resources:

1. www.peterussell.com/mindmaps/mindmap.html
2. www.shared-visions.com/explore/literature/mindmap.htm
3. www.tsd.jcu.edu.au/netshare/learn/mindmap/howto.html

If you look long enough, or are just plain lucky, you will
eventually come across someone selling the complete rights
to a product. You can buy it from them and resell it for as
much as you want, as often as you want, and retain 100% of
the profits. These deals are few and far between, and can
usually cost quite a bit. But do keep your eyes open for
them, it may be just what you are looking for.

Hopefully a number of product ideas have sparked as you were
reading this article. As you can see, there are a lot of
very good options available to you. Review all of them and
choose the best one, or ones, for your business situation.

Copyright © 2003 by Palyn Peterson
palyn@futureinternetmarketing.com

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Sign up for Palyn Peterson's FREE 13 day intensive email
course and discover the 16 necessary basics and 5 advanced
internet marketing techniques. You'll also receive a free
$gift$. http://FutureInternetMarketing.com/guide.htm
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Sign up for Palyn Peterson's FREE 13 day intensive email
course and discover the 16 necessary basics and 5 advanced
internet marketing techniques. You'll also receive a free
$gift$. http://FutureInternetMarketing.com/guide.htm

Traditional Anniversary Gifts Year by Year for One Hundred Years
Elly Kendall

It's impossible to remember what gift is traditional for each anniversary. This article is perfect to print out or post on your website for easy reference,please keep my site links complete with this article. Plus gift ideas for each anniversary makes it easy, you'll never miss getting the perfect anniversary gift again.

The traditional gift for the first anniversary is paper. An addition of the newspaper from the year you were married, an old edition of a classic book like "Gone with the Wind", a postcard that's of a place meaningful to both of you, board games, plane tickets, football or baseball tickets, photo album filled with memories, write a love letter, drawing or pictures for your cabin, home or office or a gift voucher are all great ideas.

The second anniversary's traditional gift is cotton. New bed linen, attractive underwear or lingerie, cotton towels, a hammock, personalized T-shirt, cotton clothing or a cotton canvas shopping bag with your photo on the front.

Leather is the traditional gift for the third anniversary. Leather, boots, shoes, vest, skirt, pants, wallet, gloves, purse, belt, luggage or briefcase will do nicely. But how about something a bit more updated like leather cell phone case, leather framed photo or leather throw pillows?

Traditional gifts for the fourth anniversary are fruit or flowers. Of course having a fruit basket or flowers delivered to the home or office is appropriate. However, sharing a fresh fruit cocktail, floral bubble bath with floral scented candles set about and rose petals scattered across the bed sounds a lot more fun, exciting and romantic!

The traditional gift for the fifth anniversary is wood. This is a very good year for practical gifts like wooden deck furniture, frames or wooden utensils for the kitchen and new wood fencing. The romantic side of wood could include a weekend in a log cabin, camping in the woods, a walk in the woods, wooden plaques or signs engraved with words of love or an artistic wooden sculpture.

Iron is the traditional gift for the sixth anniversary. Golf clubs, iron sculptures, wrought iron furniture, iron skillets, a new iron or an Ironwood tree are good ideas. Don't forget the possibility of tools, hardware, a wrought iron bed or a set of weights.

Traditionally, wool or copper are gifts for the seventh anniversary. Gifts of woolen socks, scarves, blankets, hats, coats and copper kettles make very nice presents. A new wool suit, copper sculpture or copper fireside accessories are a bit more upscale.

The eighth anniversary's traditional gift is bronze. This is the year to make an impression with a bronze sculpture, antique bronze bell or a trip to a tropical beach with a bronzing lotion for the two of you.

Pottery is the traditional gift for the ninth anniversary. Planters, vases, bowls and coffee mugs fall into this group, so does joining a pottery class together!

Traditional gifts for the tenth anniversary are of tin or aluminum. Personalized license plate, tin of caviar, tin toy car, tin signs or plaques and vintage aluminum serving pieces are fun ideas.

The eleventh anniversary traditional gift is steel. Stainless steel cookware, watches and steel engraved key chains are great but a Calypso steel drum, steel ice bucket and cocktail shaker or modern steel sculpture are unique gift ideas.

Silk and linen are the proper traditional gifts for the twelfth anniversary. Silk lingerie, bed linens, linen table clothes, napkins, handkerchiefs and silk or linen clothing will surely be appreciated.

The thirteenth anniversary traditional gift is lace. Women buy that slinky, lacey lingerie for the men to enjoy! Okay, lace doilies, tablecloths and lacey curtains work too but they aren't near as much fun.

The fourteenth anniversary calls for the traditional gift of ivory. If you have the big bucks this year splurge on a piano or a trip to the Ivory Coast of Africa. The rest of us can enjoy ivory colored bed linen, scrimshawed ivory desk sets or key chains, ivory colored clothing or personalized ivory colored stationary.

Crystal is the gift for the fifteenth through the nineteenth anniversaries. Crystal vases, decanters, candlesticks and crystal faced watches are very traditional. Crystal chandelier earrings or a crystal chess set are more up to date. Billy Crystal movies are fun.

Twentieth through the twenty-fourth anniversaries traditional gift is china. Vintage china tea cups, bone china ornaments or a replacement piece for your own china are presents to consider along with a table for two at a Chinese restaurant or a trip to China.

Traditionally speaking, silver is the gift for the twenty-fifth through the twenty-ninth anniversaries. Silver dated ornament, a silver frame, a watch, silver cufflinks, silver pen and jewelry are appropriate gifts. Anything from Tiffany's silver collection or an anniversary wedding band would be grand.

The thirtieth through the thirty-fourth anniversaries traditional gift is pearls. Mother-of-pearl cufflinks, tie tack, frame and jewelry are wonderful gift ideas. Throw in an oyster dinner and you have an anniversary to remember.

Think tropical for the thirty-fifth through thirty-ninth anniversaries gift of corral. Snorkeling, scuba lessons, a trip to the Coral Reef or coral colored ties, cufflinks or clothing with a tropical flair.

Rubies are traditional gifts for the fortieth through forty-fourth anniversaries. A dozen ruby-red roses, ruby jewelry (maybe add a ruby into your wedding bands), ruby red clothing or lingerie and a bottle of vintage wine are lovely gift ideas.

Forty-fifth through forty-ninth anniversaries traditional gift is sapphire. Sapphire tie clip, cuff links, jewelry, sapphire-colored apparel and Bombay Sapphire gin could be considered.

Gold is for the fiftieth through fifty-fourth wedding anniversaries traditional gift. Without doubt gold jewelry or new wedding bands are in order. A gold themed party, golden oldie CD collection, gold watch, gold colored frames with a photo of the couple, gold clock or gold fabric accent pieces for their bedroom are good choices.

A fifty-fifth through fifty-ninth anniversaries traditional gift is emerald. A few ideas could include a trip to the Emerald Coast, emerald jewelry or cuff links and emerald colored night clothes.

The traditional gift for sixtieth through one hundredth wedding anniversaries are diamonds! For the inspirational couple making it through life together they certainly deserve all the diamonds they receive! To vary from year to year adding the stone from the couples' favorite year of marriage would be lovely such as diamond and ruby earrings. Bring on the diamond jewelry.

Tradition is wonderful and I hope this list helps in your anniversary gift choices. Many times these anniversary gifts end up as our family heirlooms of tomorrow.

Plesase keep the bio intact with this article.

Visit our web site for the complete article "Anniversary Gifts Year by Year for One Hundred Years". Shop for unique anniversary gifts at Log Cabin Fever Gifts & Decor.

Women with body jewelry

Jacqueline Biles - New York Shopping Mall

Are women sexy who have body jewelry?
We offer body jewelry at http:newyorkshoppingmall.weblodge.net and I have received various responses to these products. What you opinion?
email me at nyfla123@hotmail.com


Retail owner of New York Shopping Mall

Attract Media Coverage Without Spending Advertising $$
June Campbell

Advertising is expensive. PR is often low cost or free.
Try these ten tips for attracting free PR to your business. But here is a word of caution. When sending press releases to the media, remember that less is more. The journalist who encounters a press release from your company every week learn to ignore anything with your name on it.

1. Capitalize on an Anniversary
Is your business having a significant anniversary? Tenth year in business? Ten thousandth customer served? Five thousand books sold? Arrange some sort of celebration, draft a press release and contact your local media. You can never tell. You must might coverage from the local newspaper, radio or television station.

2. Donate Something
Does your networking group have draws for door prizes? Offer to donate the prize, then give something that's heavily branded with your businesses name and contact information. Similarly, find out if local charities are engaged in fund raising opportunities. Offer one of your products or services as a prize or to be auctioned.

3. Host a Special Event
Have a Singles Night, a Kid's Night, or a Senior Citizen's Night. Send a press release to your local media. A supermarket did a smashing business following a well publicized Singles Night complete with dancing in the aisles, games and contests.

4. Sponsor Something
Provide sponsorship at a trade show, a convention, a sporting event, or an arts festival. Sponsor a local kid to attend an event in another city. Sponsor a kid's sports team. Offer a scholarship to help a young person attend university. Remember to send the press release.

5. Decorate Creatively
Put up a stunning decoration or window display for the Holidays, or for spring, or fall, or in recognition of some particular event in your city. Then invite the media to take a look. The key is to have something unique or original that'll warrant pictures and video taping.

6. Write Articles
If you're in business, you're an expert on some topic. Write articles on your area of expertise. Submit them to local or national media, magazines, web sites, trade journals or other pertinent publications. Your article should not be a promotion of your business, but should inform readers about a topic of interest. Accountants might write articles on tax tips, for example, or florists could write about plant care.

7. Let Them Know You're an Expert
When newsworthy stories become available, media often look for a local expert for quotes and comments. Contact your local or national media, and let them know you are available to comment on topics within your area of expertise. Suppose your expertise is ecommerce, for example. Next time your local paper has an ecommerce-related story, they just might contact you for a comment. You (and your business) will get some excellent and cost-free publicity.

8. Get T-shirts and Go Public
Decorate t-shirts with your company's logo. Sign up your staff to participate in charity walks and other community events. Ensure that everyone wears the t-shirts.

9. Donate Something to a Local Charity
Donate books, used computers, products or services to a school or charity. In one community, local businesses attracted enormous publicity by organizing an event in which they outfitted adolescent youth from low-income families for the spring prom. Participating clothing shops, beauticians, florists, even taxi companies got in on the act and attracted enormous publicity while doing good works.

10. Publicize a New Product, Service or Research Finding
Have something new to offer? If it's at all unique in your area, write your press release and send it to media and trade journals. Even if you get mentioned in the gossip column of a trade journal, it's still good publicity!

11. Offer Something Unique
Local shops in one community worked together to hold a Men's Night and shortly before the Holidays. Males received assistance in purchasing lingerie, perfumes, jewelry and accessories for the woman in their lives. It was a new concept in the area and a big success. The media loved it.

================================================
How to Write Business Plans, Business Proposals,
JV Contracts, Human Resource Package, More!
No-cost ebook "Beginners Guide to Ecommerce".
Business Writing by Nightcats Multimedia Productions
http://www.nightcats.com
================================================


June Campbell is a self-employed writer. Her work has appeared internationally in print and electronic publications.

How to clean gold jewelry

Ben Sather

Gold jewelry to a woman is priceless. Although gold jewelry comes in many different styles and colors, the care and cleaning procedure for all golden treasures remain the same. Good common sense is your best guide, and these important tips on how to clean gold jewelry will help you keep your exquisite pieces lustrous and shining.

Gold is tarnish-resistant, but it can get dirty or smudged. Lotions, powders, soaps, even natural skin oils that we use regularly can cover your jewelry and cut down their brilliance. Jewelry cleaning removes any such build-up or residue and restores the original sparkle and shine to make your precious jewelries last a lifetime.

Although numerous commercial products are available to clean gold jewelry, most often water and a mild detergent is sufficient to restore the radiance, and a soft brush helps to gently clean intricate filigree designs and stones. Sometimes it can be helpful to soak the gold jewelry in a solution of one part ammonia and six parts water for up to sixty seconds. It is imperative to dry and polish your gold jewelry with a chamois or soft cloth after cleaning.

Jewelry polishing cloths are an effective and inexpensive way of keeping your bits of gold glittering and radiant. These essential cotton cloths help to remove tarnish and to buff jewelry to look as good as new. Avoid wearing jewelry while in contact with household chemicals, such as chlorine bleach as this can discolor or damage your gold jewelry mountings.

Proper storage of jewelry when not in use is essential to keep your golden treasures clean and new. When storing your jewelry, be careful that pieces do not tumble against each other to avoid scratching and loss of radiance. Ideally, store your jewelry in a fabric-lined jewel case, or a box with compartments or dividers or store each piece in individual soft cloth pouches.

It is important to check the stone settings of your jewelry periodically for any damage to the gold prongs or bezels. Immersing the jewelry in rubbing alcohol for a few seconds will restore the gorgeous sparkle to cloudy stones. It is very important to dry the jewelry thoroughly after cleaning before wearing or storing. Remember that Pave set (glued in stones) jewelry should never be immersed in water while cleaning gold jewelry.

Ben Sather is the publisher of http://www.a2-gold-jewelry.com/ - A gold jewelry information resource. You can publish this article if the author's byline is included and all links are hyperlinked.

Precious Gems of Wisdom
Samantha Stevens

The New Age should also be called The Stone Age, because along with aromatherapy, healing with the vibrations and frequencies emitted by gemstones is at the crux of the movement. Below I have listed seven popular gemstones that also correspond with the divine energies of the Seven Archangels. I will do another article, in the near future that deals with inexpensive semi-precious stones, but chances are that many of you own jewelry already set with the following precious gems. If you don't own any jewelry you can obtain inexpensive, raw, unpolished in stores or on the Internet. Once you have the stone, it is best to wear it someplace your body, which is why so many of these are set in necklaces, bracelets and rings already. You also might want to practice psychometry, which is the intuitive art of holding the stone and sensing its vibration. Some people like to purify raw or unpolished stones, after they have purchased them, by dropping it in a glass of salt for a night. In the case of used jewelry or inherited things, you might want to do this to cleanse it of the energies of the previous owner.
Sapphire:
This stone, which is usually the color of the deep, blue sea, will help give you power, focus and determination. It is a great stone to wear when you feel yourself losing hope, stamina and perseverance. A sapphire helps you to concentrate on the tasks on hand and get things done. It improves your concentration and helps you stay centered throughout your daily activities. This is the stone to wear if you have trouble sitting down and writing 'A Things To Do List'. It is good for those who feel disoriented or spacey or have trouble with their eyesight.
The sapphire corresponds to the energies of the Archangel Micheal, who assists us with mental clarity, and protects us from accidents. So this is a good stone to wear if you are entering a potentially violent, risky or daring situation. It is also a good gem to wear while you are driving.
Yellow Topaz:
This clear yellow gem is the 'problem-solving stone'. It is for those who feel overwhelmed by life. You might have that existential feeling like there is no way out of a situation. Use this stone to help you reconnect with your higher self, as well as to help you physically and emotionally feel human again.
This stone is also good for those who feel 'numbed by disappointment'. It can help release frozen feelings; as well as help you detect the hidden sources of illness in your body. It can help you to embrace new ideas and accept uncomfortable changes. It is used by healers for protection from toxic energies and also to release those who feel oppressed by drunken or abusive partners. It can also help obsessive people learn to let go. It helps you recognize your patterns and see the 'big picture' in life.
Topaz also expands your field of awareness so it is a good stone to wear while sending out resumes or looking for a job. Wearing Topaz helps you connect to the energies of the Archangel Jophiel, who is the angel of Divine inspiration.
Rose Quartz:
Feeling low? Wear a rose quartz to increase your confidence and self-esteem. This light pink crystal heals the heart and promotes a sense of self-appreciation, self-appreciation and self-love. It also helps you open your heart�s center so that you can give love,
unconditionally without any expectation of a reward in return. It improves your mood and enhances feelings of joy.
The Rose quartz is a very warm stone and helps you put your own needs first, before others thereby getting rid of that feeling of being taken for granted or being taken advantage of. This crystal also helps those with circulatory and heart problems and because of its warm energy is said to be a tool for healing pain in general.
The rose quartz is also the stone that is carried to increase the circulation of cash flow in your life. It corresponds to the benevolent energies of the Archangel Chamuel, the Angel of Love. This is the angel that always makes sure that you have food on the table, shelter over your head and the tools for your trade.
Diamond:
Clarity is the key word to describe the uses of a diamond for psychological healing. This is the stone to wear if you have trouble making decisions, or are at a loss as to what to do with your life. It also helps those who start things all the time and never finish them.
The diamond is also a stone of communication and aids those who often feel left out of the loop to communicate clearly with others. It is good for those who feel consistently misunderstood or like they are socially invisible.
Diamonds have traditionally symbolized the commitment of one human being to another, but in this case they also symbolize a commitment to taking care of your higher self. The stone vibrates at a frequency that strengthens your intuitive abilities. It helps you perceive beyond surface appearance and understand the truth about another person.
Psychologically, wearing a diamond can help you manifest what you want in your life -- bringing airy-fairy ideals down into physical reality. This stone is excellent for artists, visionaries and inventors. The diamond connects you to the peaceful energies of the Archangel Gabriel, who helps you harmonize conflicts in your life.
Emerald:
This brilliant green stone is used to restore balance. Healers use this an anti-stress stone and to restore harmony to troubled or split personalities. It is good for manic-depressives, drama queens and others who go to emotional extremes.
Traditionally, an emerald was also thought to bring the owner financial security. It is thought to help you learn lessons, so you don�t repeat mistakes as well as balance your checkbook!
If you have a problem with the opposite sex, the emerald can help restore the yin/yang energies in your own body and acknowledge your shadow side. It helps to heal such common wounds of the heart such as unrequited love, abandonment and death. It is also used in general to heal emotional upsets.
At the cellular level, the emerald is thought to restore balance at the cellular level. It is thought to reconnect communication between the left and right brain and is useful for those who suffer from inner ear problems or dizziness.
Wearing this stone connects you to the divine energies of the Archangel Raphael -- the Angel of Healing.
Ruby:
This is the best stone to wear when your finances are running low. The blood red light of the ruby helps to dispel feelings of discouragement and self-doubt and infuse your heart, mind and aura with the qualities of success, affluence, attractiveness and personal victory.
This is the stone to wear if you feel like you are drowning in self-pity. It dispels negative self-talk and is thought to increase confidence and beauty. Wear it if you feel like you are isolating too much and would like to participate more in your community. It can help you achieve a vibrant social life and attract the right friends. It teaches you
to love and give and share with others out of a genuine sense of philanthropy and love.
The ruby also increases your physical stamina and endurance, so it is good stone to wear while working out. Physically, it enhances vitality in general and is thought to help those who have trouble waking up on time for work or just getting up in the morning. It is also thought to balance out hormones and the menstrual cycles.
The ruby corresponds to the Archangel Uriel; the Angel responsible for helping you let go of the forces of anti-love such as resentment, jealousy and bitterness so that fresher, loving and abundant forces can take their place.
Amethyst:
This beautiful purple stone that helps you let go of past hurts and relationships. It will help you access the truth that will set you free. If you are a control freak, this is the gem that will help you 'Let Go and Let God'. It will teach you to trust others and delegate tasks. If you are a meddling type, it will also help you to stop gossiping and mind
your own business.
Amethyst has the effect of clearing up the clutter in your life. If you first have nightmares, after wearing one, don't be concerned. Amethysts help release fears and anxieties that might be lurking in your subconscious and preventing you from moving forward and brings them to the surface. It helps release fear and anxiety and also reduces tension and stress in the body. For this reason, it is also a good stone to wear when you have stage fright.
This is the stone you wear if you want to lose weight, quit smoking or halt any other self-defeating behavior. It aids those who are afraid of dying, experiencing the death process or who cannot move beyond the stage of mourning to joy again.
Wearing an amethyst helps you to access the energies of the Archangel Zadkiel - the Angel of Joy. This is the Angel that transmutes negative energy into positive light.

Samantha Steven's articles have been published in many high-standing
newspapers and she has published several books. If you wish to buy
Samantha's books about metaphysics click here
http://www.insomniacpress.com/author.php?id=110
You can meet Samantha Stevens at http://www.psychicrealm.com where she
works as a professional psychic. You can also read more of her articles at
http://www.newagenotebook.com

http://shekeyw.mydollarshop.com

Sheryls Dollar Shop

Games, Books, Electronics, Videos,Home and Garden, Tools, Jewelry. Something for everyone. Great Prices. Its a Dollar Shop!

Trying to start a Dollar Shop. My name is Sheryl. Come see me soon. Great Offers!

Simple Joint Ventures Make Small Niche Sites big bucks!

Jeff Lugeanbeal

My friend has a website that has been online for 3 years, and each year he nets six figures.

His site is a niche site selling mostly collectible christmas ornaments. His site shows up number one at google, msn, yahoo, and a few smaller search engines for some specific keywords.

Yet his site gets very little traffic from the search engines. Why? Because there isn't much demand for his keywords on google or the other SE's even though he is number one.

So how does he get traffic and earn money?

Simple: He maintains his site for the few that find it with the search engines, making him a few hundred bucks a month, but the rest of his traffic comes from offline promotion.

His simple offline promotions are mailing a nice color catalog to his online customers.

His other potential customers come from a joint venture with a couple of jewelry stores. He simply obtains customer addresses from a few jewelry store owners and mails the catalog out. In return, the jewelry store owners get mentioned in his catalog and their websites are listed. No revenue is shared.

So you can see that the majority of his traffic and sales are from simple offline marketing because there aren't many people searching for his product directly from their computers. He has to place a catalog in their hands to get customers.

It's really that simple for him. Just imagine if you have a #1 listing in google for a high demand keyword. Tons of traffic to your site, and your simple job is to presell the customer and close the sale!


Jeff Lugeanbeal- Sought after Health and fitness professional, motivational and nutritional coach, is a recognized authority On the subject of weight loss. His Web site, www.worldwideweightloss.com provides a wealth of informative articles and resources on everything you'd ever need to know about permanent, natural fat loss and will help you achieve the body you've always wanted.

Hot or Not -- Trends for Prom 2004
Blake Kritzberg

Prom: it's loaded with expectations. For some, it's merely a dance. For others, it means that first great step into adulthood, while savoring one's position at the top of the grammar-school food chain. And for some, it means a night of pure Cinderella magic. Combine all this with a youth-oriented culture, and you have an event that demands a serious fashion plan.

So what fashion forces are driving Prom 2004? The answers are: curves, glamour and loads of color.

"Prom 2004" is actually a bit of a misnomer, as most dresses tend to follow Fall 2003 styles. This make sense: prom dresses are high-ticket items, and retailers need a chance to test out trends in the shopping malls. (Hair is more adaptable, so prom hair is more attuned to the present).

As for fashion in general, it's still reeling from the ultimate anti-fashion incident: the 9/11 attack. You may recall that the industry stopped in its tracks. Major fashion shows were cancelled, or scaled down to a roomful of attendees on folding chairs. "Can fashion still matter?" was the question no one could ignore.

But of course, fashion didn't die. As always, it reflected the newly-altered world view. "World views" contain many interlocking strands, as does fashion, but strong themes emerged and are still in play. Here are some of the best-articulated trends in Prom 2004:

// The Solidarity Uniform

Dressy, formal looks from the 30s and 60s. Think Hollywood glamour, and Jacquie Kennedy. Beneath this trend is the new focus on attending family events and dressing up for them.

Expressing the 30s are the curvy, Screen Siren prom gowns: smoky mermaids in luxurious ruched satin, and Latin-style ruffles and trains.

Reviving the 60s are Grace Kelly/Jacquie-O A-line skirts, sometimes tea-length, with crinoline slips. These classic beauties are updated with simpler, more natural hair and makeup, not to mention some mod-style colors (bold black and white, bright red, or submarine yellow). Gloves and a small shiny pocketbook are must-haves, but for 2004, you don't have to stick to ordinary colors!

Timeless prom queen gowns are fully *au courant* as well -- no amount of beading, boning, crinoline or shine is over-the-top, so enjoy the license for glamour. Perhaps this is the right year to indulge in a delicate tiara!

You'll be surprised by the number of strapless gowns on offer. Every one of these "solidarity" gowns lend themselves to classic strapless glamour.

// The Eastern Bloc
Fashion influence is drifting, and the East is gaining ground: Londoners do their best to dress like Persians, and Bollywood antics make the global radar more often. You'll see the lovely outcome in those 2004 prom offerings with an elegant sari look and extraordinary hand beading.

// Sporty Spice
J. Lo lives on in the sporty side of Prom 2004, where two-piece gowns (some midriff-bearing) continue to make a splash. This look is not only fresh but practical; those beautiful bodices can be paired with jeans long after prom night's become a matchbook and a memory. "Sporty-prom" fashionistas can augment their costume with sparkling navel gems and exotic paint-on body tattoos.

// Celebrity Fashion
Can it go any lower? The prom world's not immune from red carpet antics, and several sultry 2004 offerings call for double-sided tape. This year's 'necklines' sometimes plunge so far that there's nowhere else to go; look for 'backdrift' to follow (no pun intended) in the next few years.

// In Truth, 2004
The dresses genuinely in sync with 2004 runways are the ultra-feminine pastels, with delicate ruffles. Think "prom dress meets the park." Don't be afraid to go with soft green, coral and pink paeons to girlhood, simply because most offerings are jewel-toned and sizzlingly seductive.

// Hair
Soft, shiny waves are new for spring (think lovely Charlize Theron at the Golden Globes); Aniston-straight is out. Whatever you do, don't torture your hair into some unnatural confection; it's simplicity and naturalness that updates these retrospective looks.

// Shoes
Clunky is dead. Open-toed stilettos are red-hot. Sure, the gorgeous silver (or transparent) sky-high creations on the market are the ultimate in impracticality. The romantic prom-goer will buy them anyway, get a great pedicure, and slip them off halfway through the night for a 'best of both worlds' (if not 'best for the pocketbook') experience.

// Jewelry and Makeup
With all those strapless fashions, take care not to over-accessorize. Unless you're going for a vintage look, don't spoil that beautiful expanse of clavicle with a necklace; don sparkly, dangling earrings instead to create a long line. If the Nicole Kidman look is more to your taste, consider one of those retro multi-strand chokers (in black, of course), or a slim black ribbon paired with a silk rose. Chandelier earrings might be "outre" at the Oscars, but they're definitely not a done deal at Prom 2004.


Blake Kritzberg is proprietor of
the Prom Dress Guide 2004,
at http://www.prom-dress-guide.com/
Visit the site for 2004 prom offerings,
news and trends.

How to build an Italian Charm Bracelet for a friend!

Rhonda Percell

Italian charm bracelets make great gift ideas for all your family, friends, and co-workers. First, choose either an all silver starter bracelet or a gold trim starter bracelet. Next, choose a few italian charms that describe the gift recipient. Finally, give the completed bracelet as a gift in a nice gift box.

There are a number of different styles of Italian starter bracelets to choose from. Most starter bracelets come with 18 stainless steel italian links. The most popular style is the matte silver bracelet. The matte links don't show the scratches as much while the owner is in the process of building the bracelet. The next popular style is the matte gold-trim bracelet. A shiny version is also available in either the silver or gold trimmed styles. The type of starter bracelet is really just your personal preference. ( To see examples of these starter bracelets go to http://www.mogollonworks.com/italianstarterbracelets.html)

Next, you will want to choose a few Italian charms to place on the starter bracelet. Many people start with the
person's birth stone or zodiac sign. You can also put the person's initials or name on the bracelet using gold letters. If the person is interested in sports or has a hobby, those are also great charms to choose. The possibilities are endless when it comes to designing a special bracelet as a gift.

After you design the bracelet for that special someone, give it as a gift in a nice jewelry gift box. Anyone would love to get an Italian charm bracelet designed just for them. What a great
way to make them feel special on their birthday or any other occasion.

Rhonda Percell is the owner of JRK Enterprises in Payson, Arizona.
She sells italian charms, bracelets, and offers online charm parties at http://www.mogollonworks.com/italiancharms.html
If you would like more information she can be contacted at
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Help For Persistent Or Recurring Swelling
Dr. Rita Louise

Like the arteries, veins and capillaries that transport blood through our bodies, our bodies also contains an extensive drainage system that returns water and proteins from our tissues back to the bloodstream. Called the lymphatic system, it is part of our immune system and works to defend the body from diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi.

The lymphatic system has two major functions. First, it works to regulate the amount of fluids within our bodies. Secondly, it is responsible for "taking out the trash", that is collecting waste products, such as dead blood cells and pathogens from the interstitial fluid (the fluid that fills the spaces around cells) and filters it before returning it to the bloodstream.

The lymphatic system is made up of lymph vessels that carry lymph, a protein-rich fluid that is transported through the lymph vessels, and lymph nodes which filter out germs and toxins. There are over 100 lymph nodes throughout the body, with the majority of them being located in the neck, groin and armpits. Lymphatic vessels contain valves that prevent the lymph from flowing backwards within the system. Within the lymphatic vessels, lymph is transported through the vessels and moves via the squeezing action of their neighboring skeletal muscles.

When the movement of lymph through the body becomes impaired, it will leak out of the lymphatic capillaries and cause the surrounding tissues to swell. This condition is called lymphedema. Lymphedema occurs when the amount of lymph fluid in the body exceeds the body's ability to transport it. This causes the lymph fluid to accumulate in the tissues, where it causes swelling, particularly of the arms and legs.

There are two types of lymphedema. Doctors don't know what causes Primary Lymphedema, but it can be present at birth, or can develop later on in life. Fortunately, this condition is rare. Secondary Lymphedema is a condition that is not often talked about, but often affects individuals who have undergone surgery, such as cancer surgery where lymph nodes are commonly removed. It can also affect individuals who have undergone radiation therapy, which can damage lymph nodes and cause scar tissue to form ultimately interfering with the flow of lymph. It can also be experienced by individuals who have experienced a severe trauma or infection.

In the initial stages of this chronic condition, Lymphedema often begins with swelling in a hand or foot, particularly the one closest to where the surgery has occurred or radiation therapy has taken place. If left unchecked, the protein-rich lymph can continue to accumulate, leading to increased swelling and a hardening of the tissues. This increases your risk of developing an infection or may interfere or impair the function of the limb.

Lymphedema can develop in any part of the body. If you experience persistent or recurring swelling anywhere in your body, it is important to seek medical advice. Early intervention with this disorder greatly improves the long term outcome of the disease's progression.

Recommendations For Wellness

�Avoid rigorous, repetitive movements or heavy lifting.

�Women, if your arm is affected, get rid of extra 50 lbs that you carry over your shoulder and trade it in for a purse that has hand straps.

�If your arm or leg starts to ache, lie down and elevate it.

�Wear loose fitting clothes, jewelry, socks and undergarments that may restrict lymphatic flow.

�Wear a compression sleeve or stocking on the affected limb.

�Keep your "at risk" limb clean and avoid activities that may irritate or damage the skin. Careful skin care may reduce the risk of lymphedema by helping you to avoid infection.

�Massage, particularly lymphatic massage has been shown to help increase lymph drainage. You can do this yourself or work with a qualified massage therapist who has been specially trained in how to perform manual lymph drainage techniques.

�Begin a gentle exercise program. Exercise and muscle movement can help drain lymph fluid. (Consult with your doctor prior to beginning any exercise program).

�Drink plenty of water. Water is critical for proper lymph drainage.

�Echinacea has a long history of improving lymph filtration and drainage.

�Garlic is known for being able to stimulate the lymph system to throw off waste materials.

�Oregon grape can be used to help reduce the inflammation of the lymphatic system and works to help cleanse the lymph.

�Poke Root has been known to help stimulate the body and aid its ability to remove waste materials that may be trapped in the tissues. It can also help improve the elasticity of tissues that may have experienced hardening due to congestion.

�Burdock, red clover and mullein are known to thin lymph fluid and enhance lymphatic drainage.

�Herbal combinations such as Nature's Sunshine's Lymphatic Drainage, Lymphomax or Lymphostim are designed to stimulate the immune system, fight infections and support the lymphatic system.


© Copyright Body, Mind & SoulHealer 2004. All rights reserved.
Dr. Rita Louise, PhD is a Naturopathic Physician and a 20-year veteran in the Human Potential Field. Author of the book "Avoiding the Cosmic 2x4", Dr. Rita Louise, Ph.D. a can help you identify what is really going on and provide you with straightforward guidance and advice. She can be reached by calling 972-475-3393 or visiting her website at http://www.soulhealer.com.

Precious Stones Explained!

Sam Serio

The mineral to which the term " precious stone" is applied, must be adaptable for jewelry or ornamental purposes and must possess beauty, hardness, and rarity.

The beauty of a precious stone or gem consists of its color or colorlessness, brilliancy or softness of luster, and transparency. To take a high and lasting polish, a mineral must be hard, -and many stones that would otherwise be highly valued are low in the estimate of worth because they do not possess of sufficient hardness to make them endure the wear and friction to which a precious stone is subjected when used in the form of jewelry. The rareness of precious stones has a decided effect in determining their values. For instance, the crocidolite, commercially known as tiger-eye, was sold by the carat some years ago, and was largely used in the making of fine jewelry. Today, this material is so plentiful that it is no longer classed among the higher gems, but serves for cameos and intaglios like chalcedony and onyx.

The changes of fashion have much to do with determining the market value of precious stones. Amethysts, topazes, cat's-eyes, aquamarines, alexandrites, and even emeralds and opals have been eagerly sought for at times and then again neglected for other gems, causing a sensible difference in the value of these stones.

It has been a mooted question as to the proper dividing line between stones that deserve the title "precious," and those, which should be placed in a so-called semi-precious or lower category. To draw such a line is hardly possible, as neither hardness, rareness, nor value would be a positive test--some of the hard stones, like zircon and almandines being less valuable than softer opal, while the diamond, one of the most plentiful of precious stones, is at the same time, one of the most valuable.

Neither can price be taken as a complete test, because fashion makes a turquoise, an opal, or an emerald much more valuable at one time than at another, All precious minerals used for ornamental purposes, from the diamond to quartz, or chalcedony, may properly be termed precious stones.

The Final Word On Precious Stones

The most precious stones are the diamonds, emeralds, rubies and sapphires. The pearl is oftentimes classed with precious stones. Although strictly speaking while it is not a stone it holds an esteemed place in jewelry.


The Authors of the above Article, Sam and Tami Serio have been passionately involved with Jewelry and Gemstones for over fifteen-years. You are cordially invited to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com for a wealth of information about the fascinating world of Jewelry and Gemstones. Together they also shelter 20 abandoned and abused dogs & cats. A portion of their profits goes to the care and feeding of the animals.

7 Money Saving Tips to Decrease Home Business Expenses
Paige Pate Hall

We all know that running a home business is highly satisfying, and at times downright liberating! No clock to punch, no dress code, and best of all, no boss to answer to. But there are also many facets of business ownership that entrepreneurs must stay on top of. One of those is keeping the expense to income ratio in balance. Below are seven painless ways to do just that.

1.To save on costly ink cartridges, print in draft mode, unless the printout is for a client or will be reproduced.

2.After spending your hard earned money on those ink cartridges, turn them into a free ream of paper! Many office supply stores offer a free ream of copy paper when you recycle a used ink cartridge at their store. Ask your local office supply store if they offer this service to their customers.

3.Make that free paper last twice as long. How many times have you printed something without spell checking it first? Use the back of those misprints for making lists and jotting down ideas. Another way to keep paper use down is to utilize the annoying sheets that often print out last with just a small ad or footer on them. Turn them over and print on the blank side.

4.Apply for a cash back/rewards credit card. Using one credit card for all of your business purchases simplifies bookkeeping and makes categorizing expenses at tax time a lot easier. Why not earn rewards such as airline miles or restaurant gift certificates, or even better- cash, on purchases you have to make anyway? Just be sure to fully read the fine print concerning interest charges and late fees. Or pay off the balance each month and avoid both!

5.Compare prices on internet service providers. Some companies offer a discount when internet access is bundled with cable or phone service. If you are really happy with your current ISP, call and ask if they are offering any promotions that you can take advantage of.

6.Network with other home business owners and offer to barter goods or services. If you own a gift basket business, assemble baskets featuring a direct sales consultant's products, and customers are purchasing from both of you at once. A bookkeeper can trade services with a web page designer. The possibilities are endless. You just have to ask.

7.For low cost advertising, contact organizations holding charity auctions or raffles. You supply the prize, whether it's jewelry or web hosting, and in return you receive exposure for your business and pleasure in donating to a worthy cause.


Paige Pate Hall is a work from home mom and Independent Consultant for Azante Jewelry.

www.myazante.com/paige

Handcrafted Jewelry Made with Gifts from the Earth!