How to Throw an Amazing Baby Shower Party

Throwing a baby shower is a very widespread tradition all over the world. It is a very special party for new mothers. Although it is usually held for only female participants, it is not against the rules to invite the father and other male guests.

The idea of planning a baby shower seems really fun. And it should be, but it's also a lot of responsibility, especially throwing a party for the first time mother. Here are some tips to have an awesome baby shower!

First you need to think about the time for the party. Before or after the baby has arrived? If you think having a pre-birth shower, you should definitely plan it 1-2 months before the baby is due - just in case the baby comes early. Also it gives the parents some time to shop for things they didn't get on the shower. When parents don't want to know the sex of the baby before birth, it would be wise to throw a party when the little miracle has born. It gives the guests an advantage regarding presents - it is a lot easier to pick colours when you know if it's a boy or a girl. Also a very good idea for a baby shower present is something for the new mother, a relaxing day in a spa or manicure or a really beautiful maternity dress.

The second important thing is to have a list of the guests. It is necessary to know which family members, friends and co-workers are invited to this special event.

Thirdly, you need to consider the food and decorations. It helps when you know the sex of the baby, but you can just use colourful flowers, stuffed animals, family photos and some balloons in the party room to make it look really cute and happy. Also you may go with a theme-party. Food should be something light - healthy snacks, fruit etc. But you have to keep in mind that when you go with light snacks, the timing needs to be between lunch and dinner.

Also baby showers could use some fun games. For example give the mother a doll and a diaper to see how she changes it or invent fun games with baby-names. Games should be thought through carefully because you don't want the mommy-to-be feel uncomfortable with any of them.

Baby shower invitations

These are very-very important. It would be very nice to send them out hand-written and by mail service. It is common to use e-mail, but it would be a lot nicer when you sent them out on pretty paper. Baby shower invitation wording should be simple, but informative. The guests need to know the place and time, information regarding the gifts (letting them know that there is a list that mom has made or maybe collecting money for a collective gift), party theme (when you have one) and if you decide to give everyone a little assignment (like bringing fruits, getting balloons etc), it should be added in the envelope separately or written in a funny way on the invitation.

This, plus a little fantasy, is all you need to throw a memorable baby shower that everyone remembers for a long time.

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5 Baby Shower Tips for Expecting Moms

Have you ever noticed how wedding showers and baby showers come in groups, then nothing for years? I sure hope it doesn't work the same way for funerals or we will all be in trouble. When my wife and I got married 32 years ago we had one month where we went to a wedding every weekend. All our friends were the same age as we were and all getting married like we did. A couple years later and she's going to their baby showers. Then, nothing.....for a long time. Now our children are older and getting married and so are our friends children and the cycle starts again, wedding and baby showers.

What I Wished We Had

I remember when she had her baby shower 29 years ago. We went to the store such as Sears, looked at the baby things then registered what we would like to have. Yes, they had baby registers way back then too. I'm not that old. I am however so old they did not have the internet when she was expecting. I did not have the opportunity like you have now of researching different things or surfing the net to see what is out there.

We both went to a baby shower a few months ago for one of our old friend's daughter. Baby showers are a good thing, especially if it's your first baby because for most people, there is no way they could afford everything a baby needs to get started out in life. Jennifer received many nice things and some things I certainly did not have or necessarily need when my babies were born. Nevertheless, there were a few things I wished I did have, it would have made my life easier. Like a baby wipe warmer. I used to warm the wipe up in my hands although I still managed to shock my baby a bit when I wiped her bottom. With the baby wipe warmer, the wipes come out so nice and warm there is no shocking your baby with the least bit of cold.

Know What You Want Or Get Stuck With What You Don't

Jennifer's baby is old enough now to start using some of the many things she got at her shower that have been stored and waiting for such an occasion. One of the things was a very nice stroller that she received from her godmother. I know she spent a lot of money on this as she wanted what she thought was the best for her godchild's baby. And it really is a nice stroller. But since her baby was born, Jennifer also has been to some baby showers and found something she likes better.

Jennifer talked to her friend who really did their research. Her friend knew she wanted to have 2 children and she wants them close in age. She is real money conscience and also a stickler for recycling and going green. After much research she chose the City Select Stroller because you can use it as a single stroller and add on to it as you family increases. She also said that she did not like double strollers as they were too wide to fit in most doors at stores and etc.

Think Ahead

I was really impressed at her reasons and insight as to what she wanted. She did not want to get just anything; she wanted a specific stroller for a specific reason. If she got a single stroller, what would she do with it when her second baby arrived? Also she probably would not be getting a baby shower for the second baby so this would be an expense she and her husband would be making. She put this stroller on her baby register and she did receive it. It was a little more expensive than a single stroller but her two sisters went together and got her something she really wants and needs.

The other nice thing about this stroller is that you could put a bassinet on it and you could be pushing both your babies around much sooner. In a regular stroller, you cannot put an infant in because the stroller does not lay flat. But with the bassinet attachment, you can put an infant in as they can lie flat.

Do Your Research

Being able to use the internet to do research like this really paid off for this mom. She was not going to end up with a stroller she no longer needed after such a short time, and made a very wise choice in a nice stroller that she can add on too as her family grows.

After the bassinet, you can add a regular seat to the stroller and have your children sit facing you, facing out, facing each other or not facing each other. Such versatility, I see why Jennifer wished she had done her research as she also wants two children close in age. Another one of Jennifer's friends also made a wise choice. She is a jogger. She did not want to give up jogging when she had her baby and wanted to include the baby on her jogs as it was a chance to get outdoors and get some fresh air. She did research and chose the Jeep Jogging Stroller because you can't jog using a regular stroller.

Make their purchase worthwhile

The moral of all of this is to take the time and do your research. Really think about what you want to do as these two moms did. They chose strollers that perfectly match their wants, hopes, and ideas. In this day in age no one needs to waste money on buying something twice or buying something they won't really get much use from. In this case, it will also eliminate having another stroller end up as landfill or taking up room in your garage. Do your research; think about what you want, and what you need before you fill out that baby register.

I think I would be extremely happy if I had purchased this stroller as a baby shower gift and found the mom still using it years later. Your friends and family want what you think is best for your baby and want to please you. Make their purchase worthwhile.

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Fun Ways to Welcome a New Baby

When a new baby is born in the family, it is a reason to celebrate. There are several ways to include older siblings in welcoming the new baby and begin building the sibling bonds for their future relationships. These ideas can all be accomplished without breaking the bank.

Plant a tree or garden

When the baby comes home, plant a tree to celebrate the birth of a new life. Enlist the entire family to pick it out and care for it. If you do not have a tree for the older siblings, consider getting ones for them as well. If you are live somewhere that this is not an option, you can plant a container garden with flowers to represent members of your family.

Make a snow, rock or clay family

If your new arrival comes in the winter months with snow on the ground, make a snow family to represent each member of the family. If you don't have snowy weather, you can make a "snow family" with Styrofoam balls to display for winter holidays. If snow is not your style, gather rocks and embellish them to make a family with Google eyes, felt or foam accessories or bows, etc. You can sculpt family members out of polymer clay as well.

Decorate the car

When a couple gets married, their family and friends decorate the car to wish the new family well. You can do the same when going to pick up baby. Make sure that you leave adequate space to safely see while driving on the windows.

Wear matching family t-shirts or outfits

You can buy t-shirts (and a newborn sized one piece undershirt) from any craft or discount store. They can be embellished with fabric paints, patches, with fabric markers or with homemade t-shirt transfers. Read the directions for the fabric paint or transfers to see if the shirts must be washed before decorating. Fabric paints and markers are obviously permanent on fabric, so use with care with small children. Use a piece of cardboard to put inside the shirt to prevent the paint from bleeding through. It can take up to twenty-four to forty-eight hours for the paints to dry, so this is not a good activity to do within a few hours of going to the hospital to pick up the baby. T-shirt iron-on transfers can be purchased and an image or text can be designed on the computer and printed onto the transfers with any inkjet printer. Follow the directions to apply the transfer. Make sure that you make one for Mom and Dad too!

If you want to go fancier, make matching t-shirt dresses for the girls and Mom and Dad and the boys can all wear matching ties.

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Some Effective Tips on How Not To Throw a Baby Shower

If you are planning to throw a baby shower, it is important that you make the necessary arrangements carefully. However, it is advisable to not to take any shortcut in a hurry, and ruin the event. In other words, you should take the things lightly, and deal with them one by one. To begin with, you must not to buy such items that are overtly expensive. Secondly, you must not ignore the convenience of your guests, and choose an inappropriate venue.

Some more effective tips on how not to throw a baby shower are given below for your reference:

• Do not choose inappropriate gifts - You would most likely find yourself in an embarrassing situation if you give a pack of crayons to one of the grandparents. In other words, it is important to choose the gifts carefully. Following are some of the items that you can gift to your guests:

a) Grandparents - You can give them photo frames, caps, figurines, shirts, plaques, and magnets.

b) Siblings - Teddy bears, t-shirts, books, bracelets, crayons, and cards are some of the ideal gifts for siblings.

c) Others - T-shirts, ties, coffee mugs, and photo frames are perfect for other important guests.

• Do not throw a boring party - Believe it or not but your guests would not like a boring baby shower. Therefore, it is important that you take care of fun and entertainment, and leave no room for dullness. You can do this in any of following ways:

a) Choose attractive decorations - There are a lot of attractive napkins, candles, and other decorative items available in the market. You should prefer such items over the dull and boring ones.

b) Opt for games and activities - Games and activities would allow your guests to entertain themselves if you are not around due to any reason. You can choose any of the popular games, and ensure that everyone participates with equal enthusiasm.

• Do not be a miser - In the wake of the current economic slowdown, it is important for you to save money. However, you do not need to be a miser, especially when most of the items are available at a reasonable price. Believe it or not but you can easily buy any of the following items online at an economically viable price:

a) Gifts

b) Toys

c) Favors

d) Decorations

e) Tableware

f) Clothing

• Do not choose an unreliable vendor - There are too many vendors that sell baby shower items. However, you can easily identify a reliable vendor. Following are some of the things that you need to look for when choosing a vendor:

a) Shipping policy

b) Return policy

c) Delivery time

d) Order cancellation policy

e) Price

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Can You Still Make Money Panning for Gold?

Gold's current high value and the ailing global job market has led to a surge in regular folks exploring the sometimes lucrative career of gold mining. It is believed that billion of dollars worth of gold are still hidden in the United States! Who wouldn't love a piece of that?

In fact, large amounts of gold have recently been found at the gold mines in North Carolina, Colorado and California. If you're interested in giving it a try, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, one needs to select a suitable area that is both potential for gold's existence and is legal for gold panning. National parks are off limits as they are usually restricted for public digging. However, there are many other public lands where minerals can be sought. Researching the records of mining and public land will give clues about where to fix the sweet spot for digging gold.

Stay away from hobby gold-mining sites that you see advertised in brochures and road side billboards. These locations are usually setup for tourists and thus offer little hope for serious gold miners.

After selecting the spot, one can stake a mineral claim to prevent others from intruding into the spot. For gold panning, you don't need to buy a lot of tools. Just a gold pan, a shovel, buckets, gloves, and camping supplies would be enough at the starting. A pair of tweezers and a magnifying glass will help to detect the tiniest pieces of gold. One can buy a metal detector and dredges too.

A fair forewarning - gold mining is a very hard work! One has to be willing to put in long hours and be patient enough to taste the fruit of success in gold panning. The best way would be to take it as a means of passing weekends and leisure periods than a fulltime job.

It can also be a good way to spend time with family and friends while having fun. It is a very tough job for the newcomers because knowledge and experience are the two important keys to get success in gold panning. It is also true that very few people can make their livelihood from gold mining.

While it is true that finding large amount of gold is quite difficult, the possibility of finding a little "color" in a gold pan is hard to resist.

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Is a Class Ring Investment a Good One?

It's a rite of passage some say. It's a way to remember high school say others. Next to a letter jacket, it's a status symbol for upperclassmen. What is it? A class ring, of course.

The tradition of class rings originated at the United States Military Academy at West Point with the class of 1835. Despite their venerable origins, high school rings seem to have a fleeting allure.

A trip around some online forums where class ring discussions are going on and, no surprise, many visitors report not wearing their high school class ring after high school ended. College rings seemed a bit different, more so for men than women.

I remember getting my class ring. It wasn't cheap, but it was cool. I remember picking the stone color, the embellishments that covered the sides of the ring based on my interests and the anticipation of its delivery. Then, like many of my peers, I wore it my senior year, then put it away in my jewelry box. Money my parents spent well? Probably not. It did make me happy at the time. But my jewelry box saw the ring way more than the ring saw the light of day once I was in college and beyond. It just didn't have the same importance that it once did.

Based on the forum conversations, I'm not alone in my abusive class ring treatment. And, given the large number of class rings I'm seeing come across my desk, I have to wonder if the tradition of getting a class ring is passe. Or is it that we just get wiser after high school?

Just for fun, I visited the Josten's website. Josten's is the place for class rings - high school, college, military, etc. They also offer a variety of other items you might find helpful, such as, graduation notices, spirit clothing, and so on. My interest was to determine how much I would have to pay today to buy the same ring I had in high school. I was surprised at all the choices available now! My ring, which looked like a smaller version of a men's ring, was fashioned in 18k gold and would cost $764.00 today. In hindsight, it was nothing special, really. And that's a lot of money to spend for something most people only wear for a year.

Don't get me wrong. I remember how badly I wanted a ring to signify I was nearly out of high school. I'm not down on class rings, but it seems like the investment is fleeting. I'm just wondering if, in the bigger scheme of things, it's really a good purchase.

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Enjoying the Outdoors Indoors

Timber built conservatories, orangeries and summer houses can be enjoyed by a family or group of people to soak up the rays of the sun while enjoying their favorite activities. It can be like sunbathing but one can go about his or her daily activities as these rooms have transparent roofs.

A conservatory increases aesthetic value. It offers possibilities for play or work and can be used as a playroom, a lounge, a study, an office, and an entertainment area. Conservatories are made of various materials like hardwood, PVC, aluminum, and treated softwood. Double-glazed glass is now the choice of conservatories. Hardwood conservatories are also better than PVC ones because wood is more ecologically-friendly. Less energy is used when working with wood. Hardwood conservatories also allow more light intake and wooden frames are much thinner than their PVC counterparts.

Orangeries are elegant home extensions with light pouring down from lantern roofs through windows. During the 17th century, orangeries were popular for growing exotic fruits and plants that were native to tropical or warmer climates. Unlike conservatories that have entirely glass walls, orangeries have walls partly constructed from stone or hardwood.

A summer house is a separate structure that can be mounted to an existing wooden deck. Summer houses are usually built of timber. These small structures are normally provided with styrene glazing to allow air circulation and ventilation throughout the structure and to allow ample penetration of natural light. These structures create an airy, comfortable, and spacious environment for play, storage, or work. Most summer house makers provide cylindrical door locks for security.

Timber built conservatories, orangeries and summer houses are enjoyed by people who want to enjoy the warmth of the sun. The use of these structures is varied and these structures add beauty and charm to any place.

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Garage With Apartment: What Are Its Benefits

Obviously, you want to build garage with apartment at this point in time because of the benefits that you will obtain from it. Earning extra cash and gaining additional space are among the benefits that you will reap and enjoy from garage apartment. It is no shocking why demands of garage plans with apartments nowadays are too high. After all, an apartment with garage is a building with dual functions.

Earning Extra Cash

Certainly, gaining extra cash is what you want for a building. If that would be your expectation from a building, constructing a garage apartment is unquestionably an exceptional idea. Here is how you can earn dollars from it. Should you opt not to occupy the apartment then you can rent it out to somebody who is looking for a place to stay with. That is a terrific idea because through leasing the apartment, you reap extra cash automatically.

Gaining Additional Space

Having an apartment with garage is advantageous because you can obtain additional space from it. What is even more interesting about it is that you do not need to dispense huge amount of money to create a space. All you have to do is to convert garage into a sleeping room, office room or a storage room even.

Sleeping Room

In case if the garage is vacant, then you can easily transform it into a sleeping room. Doing it is economical because you do not need to cough out hefty amount of cash just to create a new room.

Office Room

Do not be despair if the garage is unoccupied because anytime, you can convert it into a work room should you need one. If you are a workaholic and do not have a stable place for you to do your projects or paper works, then converting unused garage into a mini office room is without a doubt an outstanding thought process.

Storage Room

Transforming empty garage into a storage area is undoubtedly a wonderful thinking. Not only you will have a hiding area where you can keep all of your extra belongings safe and organized but as well, you save dollars from it. That is because you are not spending money on creating a storage space for you just convert empty garage into a stock room, which is a brilliant sentiment.

Enumerated above are just some of the many privileges that you'll procure from garage with apartment. Surely, those are sufficient justifications why you have to build one.

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Athletes at Risk

Professional athletes are at risk every time they step out on the field to engage in a sports activity. Yes, they can sustain health care related injuries when they are at home too, but the playing field is the most hazardous. Whether the amateur or professional athlete is engaging in practice or a game, health care risks are prevalent.

Health insurance claims are filed regularly by amateur and professional athletes because they are sustaining injuries that require the attention of a medical physician on a regular basis. Many times accidents occur through training rather than the actual game because athletes are always searching for ways to improve their bodies.

Many, like baseball professionals will have affordable health insurance through the team they are employed with, yet they will still carry a low cost insurance policy to pick up the slack when they are injured and unable to participate in the sport. This is also true of their family members.

According to statistics performed through the various health care providers, they are very quick to acknowledge that even the most low cost health insurance for amateur and professional athletes is far from cheap. This also holds true for boxers, football players, hockey players, and motorsports participants. However, when it comes to motorsports the insurance providers would much rather look in the opposite direction.

Motorsports of all types is more of the high-risk or extreme sports and the insurance providers do take a beating from all the claims that are filed regularly. Another interesting fact, which the health care industry points out, is in reference to amateur and professional boxers. Why are amateur and professional boxers studied more closely than any other sports participant is?

Amateur and professional boxers sustain the most head and neck injuries over any other known sports. Statistically, the insurance providers have found that amateur and professional boxers in their later years begin to show signs of Alzheimer's disease.

Sadly, this is a very debilitating and deadly disease that robs all individuals of who they once were.

The reality is that there is no affordable health insurance that will cover the long-term treatments, hospitalization, and eventually a living center for the elderly. These types of sustained injuries cripple the health insurance industry as it perpetually draws from the many other participants who are paying in to the same health insurance system. The other two amateur and professional sports that come close to boxing are La Cross and Rugby.

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3 Surprising Ways To Use LinkedIn In Mobile Marketing Business

As a mobile marketer, I guess you are more interested in growing your business than anything else. I believe you do not want to socialize just to be seen to be tech savvy yet you can't pay the bills. Your biggest concern at the moment; I believe is how to get better clients, more business and more respect online. LinkedIn can help you achieve this. Let's explore some tips and tactics you can use.

1) Notify your contacts on any major developments.

As long as you are not doing it daily, it makes sense to notify your contacts about product launches, major website changes or anything big happening in your business. You can share success stories; processes in your business; systems you use to get clients; or tell them about tips you have been using to be more productive time and again. You may think these are small things, but they may inspire someone who could be in the exact same situation as you.

On the other hand, take time to visit your contacts websites, Twitter accounts or Facebook pages and if you see something interesting, send them an email via LinkedIn and tell them that. Make sure it sounds genuine and from the bottom of your heart.

2) Use LinkedIn Intelligently.

At some point, you may realize that the people you have been trying to reach are connected to your former workmates, college mates or friends. It goes without saying that if you study the profiles of these people you may be in a position to guess their current and perhaps future needs as it relates to mobile marketing. You can go ahead and study these people's companies closely.

If you realize that they will most likely need your services, then contact your friends to reach these people with an introduction. You can get business this easily without spending money running ads or attending expensive seminars and conferences.

In addition, you need to connect to all your former colleagues, relatives and friends. You see, an average person knows 300 people. It means that by contacting 300 people who also have 300 people in their circles, you have an immediate pool of 90,000 people-a decent market pool. Don't you think so?

You don't just stop there. Go further and start connecting deeply. Use the LinkedIn database to study people more deeply.

3) Look for business for others.

No doubt that sounds uneasy. It is kind of like climbing the tree from the top. However, the universal law of reciprocity will definitely work in your favor. You don't have to spend three hours daily looking for business for others. However, if you understand your current contacts well, you know what they do and perhaps their aspirations, then there is no harm sending someone a link to a job vacancy you think they may be interested in.

On the other hand, if you know someone in your network who is a website designer, then it does not do any harm connecting him to another person with an obvious need for a website overhaul. And these are things you will notice as you are looking to grow your connects for your business. You can even go further and send people article links you think are relevant to their industry or career.

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Improving Your Facebook Timeline Fanpages

Facebook timeline fanpage can be a powerful tool for your business. You can connect with your consumers, learn from their feedback and market your company. However, Facebook users can easily overlook your page if you do not use it well. Bear in mind that in order for your page to be useful you need more fans to click your Like button.

To help you improve the performance of your page, here are few simple tips:

1. Import contacts from your accounts. This includes your email ads and other social network accounts. You may have contacts that are not yet on Facebook or not aware that your business has a Facebook page. This is also a great way to direct your contacts from other networks to your Facebook page. Every person who shares your page in their profile may encourage their friends to visit your page.

2. Campaign for your fanpage. It is important that people know about your fanpage. You can post a link in your personal accounts, blog about it and mention it on your tweets. It would not hurt to ask your friends to campaign for it too. A few more people posting the link in their timelines can really help attract more fans.

3. Pin a post that your followers will find interesting. Pinning a post is a new feature of Facebook timeline. Once you pin a post, it will be placed on the upper part of your page so that it remains visible to your visitors every time they click your page. You can pin ongoing contests, games and promotions. This will entice others to visit your page.

4. Interact with your existing fans. If your existing fans enjoy your page, they will recommend it to their friends, thus improving your network. Bear in mind that Facebook users feel valued once you respond to their posts, comments and messages.

5. Update your page with relevant posts. Your fans would want to find interesting posts from you. It can be about your up and coming event, product launches or new video ad. It may also be a blog about your products and services. Provide tips and tricks that will be helpful for your market.

Facebook fanpages are great tools but only if you attract enough fans. You can achieve this by inviting your contacts from other sites to join and like your page in Facebook. Market your page by posting links in your personal account and other social media accounts. Your fans may also campaign for you if you start building a good relationship with them. Finally, attract fans by posting substantial updates on your wall.

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Waterproofing a Wet Room

Shower designs are becoming ever more sophisticated and more and more people expect or desire a more luxurious showering experience than would have been typical even just 5 years ago. Combined with improving technology in waterproofing, tiling products and shower accessories it is now possible for even the humblest of homes to have a stylish wet room installed.

There are different ways to waterproof and install a wet room but if it is being done in an existing house rather than in a new-build (where options are greater because floor levels can be built to suit the wet room) then the most common method is to raise the floor level with a concrete screed and then install a flush concealed former that will help to ensure that the tiled floor surface is the correct angle for good drainage. Wet room formers come in a range of standard sizes but can also be manufactured to any shape and size you desire.

Once the former is in place the whole room, floors and walls, needs to be waterproofed before the tiles are fixed in place. Making sure the room is completely water tight is the most essential part of installing any wet room and whilst porcelain or ceramic tiles with a waterproof grout may be waterproof enough for an enclosed shower tray and surround or for a shower over a bath, they are not considered adequate enough for a shower area without a tray or a surround.

So never skimp on the waterproofing step.

The best way to create a fully water tight area is to use a waterproofing product that creates a barrier between the tiles and the floor or walls. One way of doing this is to lay a waterproof membrane, which is glued to the surface in non-overlapping panels with the joins between the panels then sealed with waterproof tape. The disadvantage of this type of waterproofing is that there is the potential for leakage if the waterproof panels shift over time to expose the joints.

The other option is to apply a waterproofing chemical product (many of which are environmentally friendly mineral-based products) which eliminates any concern about water leaking through gaps as it is applied in a single, continuous coat using a roller or spreader to any type of surface. Different products are available depending on the absorbency of the underlying substrate.

Whatever type of waterproofing you choose it will then be necessary to apply waterproof tape to all the wall-floor joints and corners before the substrate is ready for laying the chosen natural stone, porcelain or ceramic tiles.

Any type of water resistant tiling is suitable for a wetroom but bear in mind that some of the very large porcelain tiles now available might be difficult to cut to the required angle in order to create the correct slope towards the drain. The smaller the tile the easier it is to create the correct gradient;also small tiles, with their proportionally larger areas of grouting, will usually be more slip-resistant than large porcelain tiles.

For this reason mosaic tiles or small ceramic tiles tend to be more popular for the showering area of the wet room. For the design-conscious, large porcelain tiles can be used in the main part of the room and on the walls with complementary mosaics in the shower area.

Use a flexible adhesive to ensure surface stability if there is any movement in the floor over time and an anti-fungicidal, waterproof grout to install the tiles and finally seal all wall-floor joints with a silicone sealant. Most adhesives and grouts are suitable for all types of ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles and natural stone but if you have some very delicate stone check with the supplier for advice as some delicate natural stones are susceptible to staining from certain types of adhesive and grout.

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Oriental Rugs And Persian Carpets: Best Wool For Rug Weaving

Although an Oriental rug or a Persian carpet consists of so many individual elements, the part that is distinctly seen at the first glance is the pile (or surface) of the rug which is almost always made of natural wool. The majority of materials needed in rug production are readily available in weaving regions of the world. In fact, parts of the vast plateaus and broad foothill regions of Turkey, Persia, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan are good for little else but grazing. Large herds of sheep move about these uplands, where they find adequate nourishment as the most important factor giving way to the best wool on the face of our planet. That there is something, either in the grass upon these plains, or in the conditions of the climate, which affects the unbelievable growth of wool, has been demonstrated by the complete failure to raise the animals of these localities elsewhere with an equal degree of success. The long and fine wool for the pile is absolutely essential in the weaving of fine Persian and Oriental area rugs.

The age, breed and general health of the sheep will obviously have an impact on the quality of its wool. However, the way the sheep are fed and the environment where they are raised produce direct results on the quality of their wool as well. From living at higher altitudes, the sheep develops a thick, hardy coat rich in lanolin. Such wool is more lustrous and shiny, has a magnificent patina, and is more resistant to accumulation of dust and dirt. Length of the fiber, oil content, climate and breed contributes to the quality of the wool. It may come to you as no surprise that wool from drier regions tends to be short in fiber, and low in oil content, not only making it fragile but also giving the wool an unhealthy appearance.

The quality of a hand-knotted rug depends largely on the manner in which the wool has been handled. Lousy wool results in low quality rugs. No acids should ever be applied during the process of washing the wool as the oily particles get washed away. Lanolin yields naturally stain-resistant, lustrous yarn that does not shed, perfect for weaving any fabric with. The wool may be spun by either hand or by machines. It may also be dyed by chemical or natural materials. In cases where the dyed wool is hand-spun into thread, the yarn will have occasional lumps which create challenges to the weavers, forcing them to compensate for these lumps by occasionally changing the shape, size or position of a knot. These delicate variations in the pattern of a finished rug - visible only upon close examination - give it the character so admired almost universally.

Oriental and Persian rugs are undoubtedly original pieces of artwork and still the best when it comes to quality and value. The general agreement among rug producers and retailers is that rugs made using one hundred percent New Zealand wool (called Merino) are the very best woolen rugs around. However, experts insist that the wool from northwest of Persia (Kurdistan) sheared in spring time is absolutely the best on the face of the planet and we at Rug Firm tend to agree with them. In fact, this type of wool is so rich in its oil content it looses a significant percentage of its weight after it gets washed, and is to be found in the pile of the most wonderful antique pieces of Persian rugs.

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Online Backup Services Are The Smart Choice For Protecting Your Data

What would you do if all the precious, irreplaceable family photographs you had stored on your computer were suddenly erased?

How would you feel if you had just put in several hours creating some amazing music or computer graphics only to watch them vanish mysteriously before your eyes?

Imagine the shock you would feel if all the information you'd just compiled over the last year for the IRS were catastrophically wiped from existence...

You're The Smart One

Well you don't have to imagine any of these life changing disasters because you're one of the smart ones...you subscribe to an online backup service where all your photographs, artwork, music, emails, documents, accounting information, spread sheets, saved game files, bookmarks, purchases and more are protected against computer catastrophe.

So How Does Your Data Get Destroyed Anyway?

You'd be surprised at how many ways your data can vanish. Did you know that a hard drive is nothing more than a round platter with the same coating on it that cassette tapes have? And to read and write the information on your hard drive, the read/write head has to touch the surface of the disk thereby wearing it out bit by bit?

So the question isn't whether or not your going to lose your data - it's when. And you can lose it in so many different ways...

* Dropped/kicked laptop or desktop computer.

* Fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, earthquake or other natural disaster.

* Viruses, trojans, and assorted malware.

* Lost or stolen computer.

* Power surge.

* Plane crash or act of terrorism.

* Drink spilled on your keyboard or computer.

* Accidental erasure.

* Computer glitch.

* Software that's incompatible with your version of the operating system.

* Kids or well meaning spouse tampering with your system.

* Hardware upgrade. Software upgrade.

* Magnetic pulse such as those produced by an X-class solar flare.

And the list goes on. In fact, a recent study found that 48 percent of small businesses had already suffered some data loss.

The main causes:

Hardware/software failure (54%)

Accidental deletion (54%)

Computer viruses (33%)

And theft (10%)

So What Do Online Backup Services Offer?

In short, peace of mind.

But there's also a boat-load of other benefits...

* Offsite backup of your data so you can access it from any computer, anywhere in the world.

* Full data encryption against theft or prying eyes.

* Automatic, scheduled backups.

* Restoration of all of your data at once or file by file.

* The ability to store different versions of your data without clogging your hard drive or slowing your computer down.

* Compliance with government regulations that govern privacy, disclosure, and legal discovery of some business data.

* Multiple copies of your data stored at different locations.

* Access to your files and data from your smartphone.

* Elimination of media that can itself be destroyed or lost like CD's, DVD's, and data sticks.

* The ability to work on stuff at home then download it at the office and vice versa.

* And more...

In short, online backup services are the ultimate tool if you've ever forgotten an important file, worried about losing your precious data, or just wanted an easy way to share your files and data.

There are many online backup services on the market - all offering different feature sets, service levels, price points, and types of encryption. Do the smart thing and grab a little online backup peace of mind.

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Securing Your Privacy in an Online World

For home computer users, privacy is an increasingly important concern. With daily reports of computer hacking and theft, the safety of information stored on personal computers has never been as questionable as it is today. While it's true that the number of threats to home computers is increasing every day, home computer users can protect their information from threats by following a few simple security rules.

The first and most basic thing that any home computer user can do to protect themselves is to make sure that their system includes an active firewall. Firewalls protect computers from unauthorized incoming and outgoing connections. By blocking these connections, firewalls limit the chance of a computer being accessed without authorization. Most modern operating systems include firewall technology. Additionally many software companies offer standalone firewall programs.

In addition to a firewall, it is essential for home computer users to install antivirus software. Antivirus software works to prevent malicious programs from running on the machines which they infect. Virus programs are widespread, often hiding in the files which are most commonly downloaded online, such as movies, MP3 files and games. Having up to date antivirus software is the best way to protect against theses threats

Another layer of privacy which some home computer users rely on is that of establishing a proxy. Rather than accessing the web directly, all web traffic is routed through the proxy beforehand. This added step has the benefit of protecting a users location information. Surfing via proxy adds an additional level of privacy which may help to prevent online attacks.

Regardless of how strong a home users protection is, all computers are vulnerable to one form of attack or another. In order to limit the damage that a potential attack can do, it is wise for home computer users to regularly change their online passwords. Frequently updating online passwords ensures that if a password is ever compromised, hackers wont be able to access personal information indefinitely.

Regular PC maintenance also plays an important role in keeping computer systems secure. A number of excellent programs exist specifically for this purpose. Some of the better programs include Registry Easy and PC Tune. These programs work to fix your PC by, among other things, registry repair and registry cleaning.

Staying on top of the condition of your PC is one of the most important ways to protect online Privacy. By maintaining awareness, and adopting a few simple habits, any home computer user can protect their computer from potential threats. Online privacy is the concern of everyone who is online today.

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