Life is Prismatic

Groupon Deals and Customer Buying Guide

Groupon is a website where discounts on products, dining, travel, recreation, and other exciting deals are featured daily. Groupon deals are available in 48 countries worldwide. Shoppers save time hunting for deals and discounts because Groupon does the job of negotiating discount rates with business establishments. Deals are updated daily and are sent to thousands of Groupon subscribers by email.

Groupon offers these exciting features to their customers.

Personalized Deals -With the relevant information provided by the cusomer (zip code, gender, and age), Groupon can suggest better deals to fit the customers' interests and location.

Buy & Redeem Groupons on Mobile Devices

Groupon Gift Cards - Groupon members have an option to buy gift cards in electronic of physical card type. Groupon gift cards are sent to the recipient through email or regular mailbox. Customers may add a personal touch and choose the delivery date of the Groupon Gift Cards.

Business Partnerships - Business owners have the opportunity to reach more potential customers by partnering with Groupon. Being with the Groupon network means more product exposure and more focused target market daily.

Returns and Refunds

When a customer experiences problems in claiming coupons, Groupon assures to correct the error or return the purchase. If the business linked to the deal closes down permanently, Groupon will refund unredeemed Groupons.

What warranties are offered on products sold through Groupon?

All products distributed through Groupon are sold AS IS. Products sold on Groupon come with manufacturer's warranties. If some problem should arise, the customer should get in touch with the manufacturer directly.

Groupon Customer Service Contact Details

Groupon has assigned customer representatives per country where Groupon operates. The main office of Groupon is located in Chicago. Their other offices are in Palo Alto California. Regional offices are located throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and in many countries around the world. More contact details can be found in their customer support page.

The Help Center hotline number is 1 (888) 375-5777 available Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm CST.

What other incentives does Groupon offer apart from discounts?

Groupon offers an affiliate program for website owners which allow them to place relevant, dynamic website content or galleries. Depending on the country of operation, Groupon members may be rewarded with either points or cash for referring new members to Groupon.

© 2012 Athena Goodlight

StrawberryNET Cosmetics, Perfumes, and Skin Care Online Shop

StrawberryNET is a one-stop shop for brand name cosmetics, perfumes, and skincare products at marked-down prices. The company serves over 190 countries offering more than 20,000 types of products from over 2,700 brand names on their website.

The products offered on the website are classified into the following groups for easy browsing:

SKIN CARE
MAKE UP
HAIR CARE
WOMEN'S FRAGRANCES
MEN'S SKIN CARE
MEN'S FRAGRANCES
GIFTS AND SPECIALS
NEW PRODUCTS

Shoppers who are looking for top brand cosmetics would be glad to know that these can be found at StrawberryNET. Brands available include: Adrien Arpel, Aveda, Anna Sui, Bloom, Biotherm, Borghese, Bvlgari, Britney Spears, Bobbi Brown, Calvin Klein, Cellex C, Chanel, Christian Dior, Clinique, Clarins, Darphin, Dermalogica, Decleor, Elizabeth Arden, Garnier, Estee Lauder, Giorgio Armani, Givenchy, Guinot, Glycel, Guerlain, Gucci, Kinerase, H2O+, Kanebo, La Mer, La Prairie, Lancome, Lancaster, L'Oreal, Lierac, NARS, MAC, Monteil, Nina Ricci, Max Factor, Obagi, Orlane, Origins, Payot, Revlon, Perricone MD, Sisley, Shiseido, SK II, Shu Uemura, Swissline, Squina, Valmont, Stila, Ultima, Versace, Z. Bigatti, YSL, and many others.

Customers have different payment options. StrawberryNET accepts major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and JCB. They may also pay thru PayPal.

StrawberryNET Return Policies

If a product delivered does not satisfy the customer, the item in question may be returned to StrawberryNET within 14 days of receipt for replacement or refund. The customer should contact the customer service within 14 days after receiving the item and return it in its original, unopened, and unused condition.

Shipping

StrawberryNET accepts orders and delivers products to more than 200 countries all over the world. However, they do not ship to Italy, France, Germany, and Monaco.

Are StrawberryNET products authentic?

StrawberryNET sells 100% genuine brand items by the original manufacturer. Being sourced from various places internationally, the product packaging may slightly differ from other similar products. To ensure freshness, products are stored in temperature-controlled areas.

StrawberryNET Customer Service Contact Details

A Customer Service page is available on the site for easy access should customers need to contact a representative of StrawberryNET.

Other contact details are as follows:

email: info@StrawberryNET.com.

Phone: +852 2591 0300 or +852 2811 5399 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Address:

StrawberryNet

Strawberry Fields

No.4, A Kung Ngam Village Road

Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong.

StrawberryNET Discounts and Promotions

The Gifts and Specials page has several discount offers

Coupon Deals
Top 20 Specials
Extra Special Discounts
Special Purchase
Unboxed Specials
Fragrance Super Specials
Special Loyalty Discounts
Special Volume Discounts

Furniture and Interior Designs for Children’s Room from ABaby.com

ABaby.com is an online source and one-stop shop for branded furniture for infants and children. Since the founding of the online company in 1998 it grew and expanded to a bigger store which offers an extensive range of outstanding designer products to cater to the needs of parents and babies.

The selection of products offered by ABaby.com website can be surfed by categories:

· Baby Furniture

· Children’s Furniture

· Bedding

· Nursery Decor

· Bassinets & Cradles

· Mattresses

· Play-Time

· Personalized Gifts

Return and Exchange Procedures

If for some reason a customer is not satisfied with an item ordered, it may be returned for refund or exchange within 30 days upon receipt. Items may be accepted for return are long as they are in the original condition and packaging, unused, with tags still attached, and with a valid return authorization form (which can be requested by email at ra@ababy.com). For larger items, a 15% restocking fee will be charged. However, only non-custom items will be accepted for return.

The customer pays return shipping fees including those labeled as "free shipping." Items for return must be handled only by insured couriers (e.g., FedEx, UPS, USPS Parcel Post).

Does ABaby.com ship internationally?

ABaby.com accepts and ships orders worldwide including APO/FPO addresses via UPS, FedEx, and USPS. Merchandise which require special handling, such as large and breakable items, an additional shipping fee may be added. White Glove Delivery shipping option is also another service offered with a higher fee. This is most appropriate for shipping oversized items. This service included the unpacking, placing the furniture in the designated room, assembly of merchandise (except cribs and beds), and discarding of the packaging materials all done by the delivery White Glove delivery staff. Assembly of cribs and beds, however are not part of this service.

Customer Service Contact Details

customer service hotlines: 1-877-55-ABABY and 1-877-55-2222

email: info@ababy.com9.

For inquiries or replacements

email: sales@ababy.com

toll free 1-877-55-ABABY Monday thru Thursday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Friday, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST.

ABaby may also be reached by mail:

aBaby.com

1958-59th Street

Brooklyn,NY11204

ABaby.com Discounts and Coupons

ABaby.com a page dedicate to marked down items. This is the Sales & Promotions section. Also offered on this page are Deal of the Day, Weekly Specials, Clearance Sales, and Free Shipping. For email subscribers, exclusive deals and offers are regularly given. ABaby discount coupon codes can be found on different online merchants. Discounts are applied upon entering the coupon code during checkout.

Clarins Skin Care and Beauty Products Online Shopping Guide

Clarins is a well-known brand of for skin care and cosmetic products, which has been offering a broad selection of treatments for all types of skins since 1954. Clarins products has natural ingredients such as natural plant extracts and essential oils which are formulated to treat skin problems such as dry skin, acne breakouts, skin aging, hyper pigmentation, sun damage, crow’s feet, fine lines, irritation, and wrinkles.

The Clarins website serves not only to display the products but also offers beauty and skin care advice as well. The site has pages for Expert Beauty Advice and Application methods. Downloadable guides are also available and online consultations are also offered.

Clarins skin-care products and makeup collection are available both in retail outlets worldwide and online. The main product families offered are:

Face

Body

Make-up

Sun

Well Being

Clarins Men

Gifts & Sets

Fragrance

Special Offers

Spa
Clarins Self-Tanners

Clarins men - Shave
Clarins men - Age-Control
Clarins Body
Clarins Pregnancy

What are the return policies of Clarins?

Items purchased from the website of Clarins may be returned within 30 days of shipment. Clarins will only accept unused items purchased on the website. Opened items may only qualify for returns if proven damaged or defective.

What guarantee does Clarins offer?

All Clarins products have a 30-day money-back guarantee.

What are the shipping options available for Clarins?

Clarins offers these shipping options: Standard Delivery, Express Delivery, and Overnight Delivery. Orders over $75 qualify for Free Shipping.
Free Standard Shipping on all orders over $75 - no code necessary!

Is international shipping available?

Orders made on Clarins.com may only be delivered to the contiguous 50 states. There are no available shipping services to PO Boxes, military addresses, or international destinations.

Where can Clarins store outlets be located?

Clarins has retail outlet in 150 countries worldwide, and is networked with 20 subsidiaries. Clarins products are available in most skin care an cosmetic sections of department stores or drugstores. A Store Locator is provided on the website to help customers find the nearest Clarins retail outlet.

How can customers contact Clarins Customer Service Department?

For inquiries and concerns, customers may Clarins hotline at 1-866-325-2746. The office of Clarins is located at 4 rue Berteaux Dumas, 92 200 Neuilly sur Seine, FRANCE. Customers may also email Clarins via the Contact Us page of the website.

Are there discounts and coupons offered by Clarins?

Clarins has a SPECIAL OFFER page on their website. In addition, Clarins also offers Reward points for purchases made on the website. Registration is needed to participate in the rewards program. Customers get three free samples of their choice for every order made.

Online Jewelry Shopping at FineJewelers.com

FineJewelers draws its inspiration from the 47th street, the jewelry hub of the world. Established in 1995, Finejewelers.com aims to provide the largest selections of fine jewelry online.

image via Wikimedia

The company specializes in providing an wide range of diverse preset diamonds and jewelry pieces, materials, and styles made by the most respected jewelry makers worldwide including those designed by famous jewelry designers like Benchmark, Carlo Viani, Chisel, Disney fine jewelry, Ed Hardy, Effy, Hershey's, Inory, Karina Bridal Couture, Mother and Child, Green Earth, SilveRado, Reflections, Stark, Black White, Versil, White Ice, Zable, and Zoe R. assuring that all products sold in their stores are designed with the highest quality and authentic details. Finejewelers offer a lifetime warranty, free jewelry cleaning services, and free gift wrapping with gift card. Their website offers a comprehensive and organized presentation of items including details of shipping. Customers can also register on their website to get more great discounts and updates on their latest items. FineJewelers discount coupons can be availed HERE.

The huge selection of jewelry includes the following:

92.5 Sterling Silver
Accessories
Ankle Bracelet
Anniversary Band
Bands
Bangles
Beads
Birthstones
Body Jewelry
Bracelets
Chains
Charms
Children's Jewelry
Designer Jewelry
Earrings
Engagement Rings
Eternity Bands
Family Jewelry
Jewelry Sets
Men’s Jewelry
Necklace
Pearls
Pendants
Rings
Watches
Wedding Bands
Wedding Sets
Clearance Section

Review of Perfume.com Online Perfume Store

Shopping for perfumes can be easy if you know where to find stores that offer all the perfume brands that one could ever imagine. Perfume.com is one of the biggest sites when it comes to perfume stores online.

Perfume.com has been operating for more than 6 years, selling top fragrances and designer brands at great discounts compared to the regular store prices. The site has a large selection of over 12,000 perfumes, with products organized in such a way that any user won't have a hard time surfing through their product catalogue.>>> MORE

Their perfumes are classified accordingly.

For Men
For Women
Summer Scents
New Arrivals
Highly Rated
Romantic Scents
Celebrity Scents
Gift Sets
Skin Care

Get Perfume.com Discount Coupons

Product Review: Top Three Baby Carriers

Baby carriers have been used since the dawn of civilization to keep babies close yet allow parents the freedom to continue doing their daily activities. "Babywearing" is being practiced in many cultures since ancient times; and modern-day folks have seen its benefits up to this age. With multitasking mothers, having a baby does not mean that one has to stay in bed or on a rocking chair. Having a baby carrier allows for hands - free baby carrying and it fosters parent-child bonding as well.

By definition, baby carriers are contraptions made of fabric; some are reinforced with plastic or metal buckles and bindings, which secure a baby to an adult's body, permitting for the adult to work while carrying the baby. There are three basic types of baby carriers: slings, front carriers, and backpacks.

BABY SLINGS

A baby sling is the most organic carrier for babies. It is basically a long piece of cloth that wraps around an adult's body and is secured at one shoulder. Many baby slings offer different sizes, from petite to plus, that give you more or less fabric. Babies curl up in an almost horizontal, fetal position inside the sling and in time graduate to more upright riding. The fastening of the sling depends on its type. Ring slings have fabric wound through two rings; pouch slings are a continuous loop of cloth material that provides a pouch seat for baby; Asian-style slings feature straps that tie; and encloses a single piece wrapped around the body and fastened in place. Slings may be adjusted to provide babies ample room to lie in the fetal position, face outward, or even straddle their parent's hip. Slings may be used by newborn infants up to about 6 months. These are not suited for activities such as hiking. The privacy and quick access they offer make them very popular with breastfeeding moms.

image via Wikipedia

SOFT FRAME CARRIERS

Soft frame baby carriers are little fabric seats having leg openings for babies and shoulder straps for the adult wearer that is safely fastened at the back of the adult. These baby carriers are more structured than slings, resembling mini, open backpacks worn in front. Nearly all soft baby carriers are designed for front carrying, but some are configured for hip riders. Babies may face in toward their parents chest, or outward toward the world. In soft carriers, babies are positioned vertically which required tiny riders to have at least some neck control, that's why these are not recommended for newborns. Several baby carriers have small pockets for baby accessories, assorted hooks and loops for baby toys, and detachable washable bibs.

BABY BACKPACKS

Baby backpacks, are also called "frame carriers" and "hikers." These baby carriers are designed for lengthy baby-carrying excursions and offer a seat for babies to ride on an adult's back. Similar to a hiking backpack, these are made with lightweight metal frames and extensive padded straps to help comfortably distribute the baby's weight. Baby backpacks are made of tougher, often waterproof material; some even come with sun canopies. These backpacks are designed for older babies who can sit up on their own. Several models include ample pockets, so you'll be able to leave the diaper bag at home, and reflective stripes for outdoor or nighttime safety. Others even have kickstands that can allow the baby to be set on the ground, still seated like a tiny, upright camping chair.

Toddler Activity Stations Review: Activity Tables, Walls, and Cubes

Toddler activity stations have become favorite investments among parents and daycare centers. This may come in the form of a toddler-size table, an activity cube, or an activity wall. These items are compact and portable where children can spend more time enjoying and developing and discovering their mental and psychomotor skills.

Activity Tables

Generally made of plastic, activity tables usually feature either a removable top or detachable legs that give babies a chance to enjoy playthings on the floor even before they are able to stand.

LeapFrog Learn & Groove Musical Table

While all activity tables aid in the development of motor skills, some are aimed more toward play-like simple stacking of blocks and shapes or page turning-while others offer a complete kindergarten program.

Pros: Anything that encourages a toddler to stay busy in one place for a few more minutes than usual is considered a good buy for any parent.

Cons: Not all activity tables are created equal. Our aunt or uncle may have bought our kids a flimsy version with ugly music that we still remember even in our nightmares.

Activity Cubes

Activity cubes are favorite items in lounges everywhere. Activity cubes are big, hollow, and sturdy boxes that feature five sides of fun. This is a classic item that offers the old-fashioned awe of wooden mazes, wacky bead roller coasters, and all styles of things that can be skidded, spun, and slapped. Children love no-frills fun, however activity cubes are weighty and hard to move, which can also be particularly rough on kids' heads.

Anatex Deluxe Mini Play Cube

Pros: The colored wire roller coaster is a sure favorite every time.

Cons: Unfortunately, even with the appealing look, activity cubes can pose some danger. Some may have sharp corners, while other models have been recalled for major safety issues such as poisonous lead paint and small choking hazards.

Activity Walls

Activity walls are the king of activity toys. These are basically large, freestanding, molded plastic constructions that offer their embedded amusement vertically. While these are primarily designed for early walkers, most designs have activities that crawling babies can reach as well. Activity walls are mammoth-sized structures with and mammoth sized fun. However, what stands up could fall down. It is important to choose an activity wall with a broad, solid base that won't easily be toppled by jerky toddlers.

Little Tikes 3 Corner Play Around Place

Pros: Toys with more than two years life span is worth the investment.

Cons: They take up a lot of space also for a long, long time.

© 2012 Athena Goodlight

Facts About Aggressive Animal Behavior

image via Wikipedia

Aggression is used by various animals to acquire resources such as food. Researchers on the African savannas commonly enjoy keeping track of which hyenas killed a wildebeest, which lions took the carcass from them (or vice versa), and which jackals and vultures competed to snatch a morsel before being chased away. These forms of animal battles create a spectacular scene to watch. Most creatures do not generally clash in this way. The wildebeest being beaten over didn't, in life, stage bloody battles with other wildebeest over which among them would graze a plot of grass.

Competition requires lots of energy, and many species seem to minimize such conflicts. In some animals there are postures of surrender that tame the aggressor of the like species. The monkey faces away, the wolf rolls over, and the assailant ceases. What does an attacker experience whose assault is stopped in this action? For many animals the creature potentially to be its closest competitor, to want the same foods or similar nest sites, is one of its species, in a few cases, its own partner. Research remarks that size variation in some species adds to the survival advantage. For example, a female osprey is larger than her mate; they gather fish of various sizes, which lowers rivalry between them, increasing their collective food supply.

It has been observed that parrots seem to enjoy having enemies. This could in a way, boost flock solidarity, prevent interbreeding between species, strengthen the pair bond, or hold other valuable function. In chickens, there is such a thing called "pecking orders," ethologists have observed these behavior in many flocks. This behavior is now identified as dominance hierarchies.

The notion of dominant and submissive animals has obtained a growing popularity in species in the same way as the idea that aggression is valuable as it helps a creature dominate.

In subsequent years the dominance hierarchy idea became more questionable, with a couple of scientists postulating if such hierarchies are genuine or merely a product of human perception. It is worth taking note that among wild flocks, chickens do not organize strict pecking orders as they do in poultry farms.

Attempting to Understand Animals and Their Emotions

Whether some animals experience emotions to a lesser or to a greater extent in intensity compared to humans could depend upon the type of emotion involved. Animals without doubt feel pity towards one another, sometimes even crossing beyond the species barrier, but it seems unlikely, although not impossible, that they feel emotions as complex or as intensely as human beings do. For example, it is questionable that the dolphins care about humans slaughtering one another as several humans care about the killing of dolphins by some humans. But this may only be owed to the fact they don't have similar access to information that mankind do. Perhaps they are aware and have principles of noninterference in human affairs. Perhaps they rightfully are neutral, or take a more farsighted view.

There are several emotions, on that humans may feel less intensely than several animals. Many people experienced the feeling, in some cases, that several animals appear to show happiness. One of the reasons for the popularity of observing birds is the pleasure of listening to birdsongs, which appear as joyful. As Julian Huxley, describing the courting ritual of herons twining their graceful necks together, wrote: "Of this I can only say that it seemed to bring such a pitch of emotion that I could have wished to be a heron that I might experience it."

The intensity of emotions in some animals is one recurring source of human envy. Emotional support animals are even valued in the medical and domestic environments. Joseph Wood Krutch states: "It is difficult to see how one can deny that the dog, apparently beside himself at the prospect of a walk with his master, is feeling a joy the intensity of which it is beyond our power to think much less to share. In the same manner his dejection can at least seem to be no less bottomless. Maybe the kind of thought of which we're capable dims both at the same time that it causes us less victims of either. Was any man, one wonders, ever as dejected as a lost dog? Probably certain of the animals can be both more elated and more utterly desolate than any man ever was."

On Cat Beds, Cat Poles, and Scratching Posts

A pet cat's needs include a special place for himself. It could be a box or basket with a cloth a cushion lining. Cats need privacy during their rest, so it should be located away from the activity center in your home. Occasionally, the cat will sleep on the assigned bed, but there are other areas preferred as well. A favorite spot is commonly an unmade bed. The unmade bed is attractive to cats because they enjoy nesting in blankets.

During winter, cats love to curl up. During summer, they love to sunbathe but sometimes they look for cool, secret places beneath bushes where they can sleep undisturbed for a long time. Whether your cat loves the indoors or outdoors, he should not be kept in the basement especially at night as this causes respiratory disorders and rheumatism. Aside from that, a cat can get sweet dreams just about anyplace he chances upon.

A kitten should be trained to know where the litter box is, but would not need so much explanation as to its purpose. Cats are clean by instinct, and not only wish to have a toilet away from their living quarters, but bury their waste matter, too. When the kittens know where the box is, they would use it.

Pet cats will also need a place to stretch and trim their claws. A house is filled possibilities for this purpose, like upholstery and carpets, but the idea is to guide his attention elsewhere. For this intent, a scratching post is needed. A split log placed horizontally on the floor is an ideal scratching post. The cat can scratch and stretch on it. It could also be vertically attached to a base very much like an indoor tree stump. A lot of pet owners make or buy scratching poles covered wrapped with carpeting, however some cat authorities do not advice this. They assert that the cat can't differentiate your carpeting on the scratching pole and floor carpet. Wrapping the pole with sisal rope is more recommended. The cat who goes outside will not necessarily confine his scratching activities to nature. It should be emphasized again that not all cats are offenders, but if you wish to have a picture perfect home interior, be cognizant of the fact that your cat does not come with a guarantee that he will always prefer to use the scratching post.

Cat Carriers to Bring a New Pet Cat Home

image via Wikipedia

Simply due to the fact you aren't a mom cat, you mustn't carry your kitten by its neck. You may position your hand lightly below his torso, keeping his legs safely together using your fingers, and allow one other hand to assist what's left by cupping its hind. It is possible to teach members of the family to handle your pet in the same manner.

The best way to take the new pet kitten home is in a little box (no lid, as it would frighten him). A pet carrier is a must when transporting a full-grown cat to your home. A cat carrier is a ventilated, confined box big adequate for your adult cat to turnabout inside. The handle of the carrier should be sturdy. A cat can go anywhere in this carrier and barely know he's been there since the outside is not so visible. It is perfect for traveling to and from the vet, the kennel or pet boarding place if needed, or for any form of travel. It is more ideal for you as the owner and possibly less likeable for the feline who does not enjoy confinement. This would keep the cat from meddling with the proper handling of the car by lodging its neck through the steering wheel or trying to ride in the driver's lap. In whatever case, it is the most dependable and most expedient way of transporting a cat from one point to another These pet carriers are for sale at pet shops in various shapes, sizes, materials, and prices.

If it is the new kitten's first ride in an automobile, it is reasonable that feelings of fear and separation anxiety is present. It is important to comfort the kitten or cat with your calm and gentle voice while softly stroking its back. It will help to alleviate some of the trauma of the unusual environment he is entering. Keep in mind that the cat has been separated from the familiarity of his past to now live with total strangers. No one likes being whisked away from protection of a family. But you will promptly win him over using your winsome means and a little warm milk.

© 2012 Athena Goodlight

Beginning Bird Watching in Winter

image via Wikipedia

Observing how birds adjust to extreme atmospheric conditions of the winter weather in their natural habitats makes winter season an excellent backdrop for all bird watchers who look for birds in sheltering forests and protected ecological niches. Ruffed Grouse normally immerse deep into snow banks, where they find protection from the cold and wind. House Sparrows are found flocked together under eaves or in the corners of barns, homes, and other buildings. Vesper Sparrows, Lark Buntings, and Dickcissels also seek similar winter shelters.

Suggested Birdwatching Activities in January

Begin by writing on your journal what you observe about the bird behavior on your feeder. As the year progresses you will notice variations not only in the species of birds you see but also in behavior and feathers. On the coming year, as the cycle restarts, you will be able to make a comparison about what you observed then comparing the present notes. You could start out your observations by taking note of the food each specie favors and then the ways that the species feed. Which species feed at your tray individually at one time? Which species don't share with others or hog the tray? Which feed together at once? You'd remark that a few species are spunkier than others, nipping a morsel despite the presence of a larger or sinister bird.

by: Tip Writer

Bird Watching Tips for Winter Season

A bounty of birds is commonly associated with springtime and summer, but in paradox, the repulsing snow and falling temperatures in wintertime could also give you a highly productive bird watching experience. Tree branches are exposed, and fields, marshes, and swamps unfold for excellent viewing, so bird watchers could delight in one of the best bird watching seasons of the year. The fun is further heightened because a lot of uncommon species from way up north may be seeking a more comfortable life in less cruel surroundings in winter.

Due to more the critical situation of food availability for bird survival when the temperature drops, winter bird feeders attract strange birds from time to time, which overcome their fear of entering a house and garden to hunt for food. For example, even if flowers and insects are absent, hummingbirds can bear freezing temperatures as long as they can get food; and birds that delight in southern climates would come up north due to a surplus of food supplies by feeders. Some feeders volunteer over an entire winter season up north of its usual range, and others still feed long after other species already left the area. Yearly, more people bring out food for birds, so in various areas an increasing number of birds are making their initial appearances at feeders, among them Gray Catbirds, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Rock and other wrens, Verdins, varied Thrushes, Phainopeplas, Bronzed Cow-birds, Lark Buntings, Song Sparrows, and Chipping Sparrows.

Read more:
Suggested Birdwatching Activities in January

Multipurpose Basic One-Dress Pattern for Kids’ Costumes

Making costumes for children or adults to wear in a play or a pageant, or to a fancy-dress party, is a pleasant sewing task since most of these garments don't require finely finished details—the costume's line is the most significant thing to accomplish. It takes much less time if you work with a basic dress or dress pattern that fits the person. Besides, an impatient subject normally won't stand still long enough for you to cut and fit a muslin pattern. Begin with a simple classic dress, robe, or suit, and alter it to look like a picture of the costumed character...READ MORE>>>

flickr image by: vauvau

Decorate Your Door With a Harvest Wreath

flickr image: ByJane

How to Make a Harvest Wreath

Whether you reside high above a sprawling city or down the road in a country cottage, autumn has that special meaning for all of us. Traditionally, autumn is a time for getting people together in local festivals and fairs to celebrate the produce of summer. Harvest wreaths celebrate this tradition by using apples, gourds, seed pods, brightly colored leaves, dried corn and grapes as design components.

A magnificent display of fruits of the harvest, this wreath sports a simple wicker cornucopia that has been dyed to match the root base. The basic arrangement of the wreath can be used at other times to spill forth dried flowers, or other natural dried materials.

The cornucopia is the traditional symbolization for harvests. It spills the bounty of another year in the fields and vineyards, expecting a good year ahead.

The wicker cornucopia is wired to a 17-inch (43-cm.) root base. Then a piece of styrofoam is likewise wired into the cornucopia and the wreath base. The flat materials and streamers of calico ribbon are added to contribute to the shape of the composition. The bigger elements —plastic grapes, gourds, and silk apples — are added next with picks, and those laid against the base are also attached using hot glued. The small elements, like the preserved leaves, more calico ribbon, Spanish moss, and okra pods are added to fill up the wreath.

More on wreaths:

How to Make a Harvest Wreath
How to Wire Flowers for a Wreath
How to Wire Pine Cones for Christmas Ornaments and Decorations

© Athena Goodlight 2011

Is it Normal for Babies to Be Bow Legged?

If you notice your baby having bowed legs, the question is, should you be alarmed? The answer is a NO. Newborns have bowed legs and in-turned feet due to the position that they lay in the womb. Because no "standing room" exists in your womb, your baby naturally draws his legs up over his stomach and arches his feet inward. This position makes the leg bones to be twisted inward, resulting in the combination of bowed legs and in-turned feet. These curves virtually always correct themselves. On the first year your pediatrician would check your baby's leg growth to make certain these curvatures are straightening out normally. You could help your baby's feet and legs straighten out by discouraging sleep in the fetal position. Babies love to sleep on their tummies with their feet and legs curled underneath them as they did in the womb. By repeatedly drawing out his feet from under him while sleeping, you'll help your baby stop this habit. Besides these normal, self-correcting bone curvatures, one or both feet may be turned in since the front of the foot is curved inwards in relation to the back of the foot, a condition known as forefoot adduction. Your doctor would talk about this type of foot problem on your baby's first checkup. If, without a good deal of force, you can stretch the front of the foot in line with the back of the foot, only a small problem exists. This problem is readily treated by periodic stretching exercises which your doctor will present to you. When you stroke the skin on the outside of your infant's foot and he voluntarily unbends his foot, no deformity exists and no treatment is needed. If his foot is not straightening out normally on the first few months, your doctor may recommend orthopedic treatment.

Holiday Wreaths for Decorating The Front Door

Decorations on the front door are the first impressions you give to guests throughout the holidays. There are a lot of people who display a simple wreath or pine branches even before Thanksgiving weekend. It's easy to make a mood and feeling with anything from a couple of branches of greens tied using a bow to a very ornately adorned wreath. To make your own wreath, you'll find the frames and all the fixings in a well-supplied garden center. Here are a few ideas you might pick up on.

Simply Stated

Bundle branches of winterberry and white pine and tie them together using raffia or a red ribbon having gold edges.

A Welcome Garland

Dried flowers of all types are available at garden centers and can from time to time be found in the supermarket. It's easy to handcraft a garland from pink straw flowers, wheat, lemon leaves, cockscomb, bay leaves, lavender, rosebuds, and moss. Put this to the front door or hang it on the fireplace mantel. To create a garland you'll need: heavy grade string cut to required length of garland, florist's tie wire, florist's picks, clippers, sprigs of greenery, green florist's tape, and decorative accessories like pods, berries, pinecones, and dried fruit.

1. Cut a bundle of greens about ten inches long. Hold them against the twine then wrap with florist's tape.

2. Keep on adding and wrapping greens so each bundle overlaps the previous stems.

3. Tie some wire to the pinecones and attach. Use the picks to set berries and small bunches of dried flowers. Push the picks under the green tape.

Cinnamon Bundle

Use long cinnamon sticks and pink pepperberry to make a bundle the size of a small log. Wrap jute around the center to hold them together, then hang on the door for a fragrant and simple decor.

Simply Stated

Tie a couple of pine branches together using wire and wrap with wide, taffeta ribbon, kook for ribbon that has wired edges. Deep hunter green or burgundy ribbon edged with gold is ideal. Make a fat bow. The wire edges would keep the shape of the bow intact. Cut the ends of the ribbons a bit long to have two streamers. Ruffle them into soft ripples hanging down over the pine needles. You might want to add a few small golden glass balls spread out on the pine branches for a lovely, elegant door decoration.

For the Birds

Make use of a straw ring frame to form the base of your wreath. You will need florist's wire and clippers to bind twigs and branches, a raffia bow, small birdhouse, artificial birds, bundles of birdseed covered in gauze, and a bird's nest inserted into the twigs and branches. Fill with birdseed if you wish to draw in the birds.

For the Cook

To create this simple door decoration, accumulate a bunch of fragrant sprigs of bay leaves, rosemary, and pepper berries and tie using raffia for hanging. If you don't have an overhang or your front door is not protected, consider using this decoration to hang in your kitchen alternatively.

Fruity and Fancy

Start with a balsam fir wreath. Add up bits and pieces of bark, twigs, slices of fruit, nuts, and leaves. You'll find these in craft stores and garden centers, if not around your own home. Secure them using florist's wire or a hot glue gun. Add a red plaid flannel bow for a different touch.

Seashell Wreath

You could use whatever shells for this one, but deep blue mussel shells achieve the prettiest simple wreath. Use a Bristol board or flat Styrofoam wreath frame and hot-glue the mussel shells in concentric pattern around the wreath. Furnish a simple bow fashioned from netting, or leave as it is.

Brass Band

If you have a brass knocker on your front door, apply it as part of your wreath decoration. Wire tiny golden balls to an evergreen wreath and place it on the door putting the knocker in the center.

Woodland Wreath

Start out using a fir wreath from the garden shop and make it more interesting via wiring boughs of eucalyptus, long needle pines, and cedar throughout. Add a wired white organdy bow to exquisitely top if off.

Personalized Wreath

It's easy to personalize a wreath with wooden letters. These are available in craft stores together with different wooden shapes like candy canes, stockings, stars, trees, and hearts. Paint them with bright colors and hot-glue them around a wreath frame. The letters could spell out your family name or the names of your children.

Hydrangeas

In New England, the hydrangea bushes are wonderful for wreath-making. Depending on the soil, the blossoms could be deep or pale blue, yellowish green, pale pink, or deep cranberry. These round fat bundles of blossoms are fixed to a straw or foam wreath frame with florist pins so they are bunched up and blanket the frame. This is a wreath for indoors because moisture would destroy it. Provide a bow in a color to match the flowers and you'll have one of the prettiest displays for your windows or hall.

Ribbon Wreath

Make a wreath entirely from ribbons for your entryway. You'll need a ten-inch heavy wire or brass ring and a fifty-yard spool of half-inch decorative ribbon. Cut the ribbon into ten-inch lengths and tie-up each length into a bow on the ring. Fill the ring with bows bunched up so the wreath is quite full. Keep on tying bows on the ring till you can no longer fit any more and the wreath is pleasingly plump.

Golden Greetings

Spray-paint bay leaves using gold, then mix them with unpainted leaves to create a green and gilded wreath. Using a hot glue gun, put a layer of alternating leaves on a grapevine wreath form, overlapping as you glue the leaves in place. Use gold-mesh French wire ribbon to make a bow for the top and leave the ends of the ribbons to hang down over the wreath. The gold and green of the leaves slightly shimmers.

More on Wreath Making:

How to Make a Harvest Wreath
How to Wire Flowers for a Wreath
How to Wire Pine Cones for Christmas Ornaments and Decorations

Traditional Thanksgiving Decorations

If tradition is what you're after, here are a few ideas picked from many decorating sources.

1. Blanket the center of the table using a bed of bay leaves. Set up pinecones, lemons, clove-studded oranges, and limes on top. Tie bunches of cinnamon sticks using gold ribbon and place here and there.

2. Fill up a large wooden salad bowl with fruit and nuts, and tuck sprigs of rosemary.

3. Pears create a nice centerpiece. Set them up on a bed of ivy, moss, or wood chips.

4. A raw wreath of pinecones and seed pods is a great centerpiece. Put a bowl in the middle of the wreath and fill with a flower arrangement.

5. Create a table decoration using a moistened ring of florist's foam. Cover the ring by sticking in lengths of boxwood, then add up white tapers equally spaced around. Fill the center with a bowl of cranberries, and sneak in sprigs of greens. This centerpiece would last through Christmas when you put it on a tray and maintain it damp. Supply colorful ribbon bows to the base of every candle for the holidays.

6. An all-white-and-green theme is refreshingly formal. A simple flower arrangement using white tulips or roses loosely set up in a white bowl or clear glass vase is adorable. Set the table using a white linen cloth and use deep green napkins. When you only have white, tie the napkins using green ribbons and slip in a sprig of fresh-smelling herbs.

7. Three miniature topiary trees, terra-cotta pots of herbs, ornamental flowerpots, spray-painted gold paper paint buckets are all suggestions for centerpieces.

Not Bound by Tradition?

If it's actually the last minute and you do not want to fuss, mix and match everything you've got for a colorful melangé. You don’t have to be bound by tradition. Use unusual containers and items to set a creative table. For instance, fill a basket with balls of yarn in fall colors, scoop up holes in the tops of fruit for candleholders, fill a punch bowl using twinkling Christmas tree lights, float flower heads in a silver bowl full of water, or employ a champagne bucket as a vase.

Creative Thanksgiving Table Centerpiece Ideas

Tips on Decorating Your Home For Autumn

Planning a Thanksgiving Party for All Ages

How to Roast a Turkey and Other Poultry The Fastest Way

Alternatives to Turkey: Recipes for Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dinners

By Athena Goodlight

Older Pregnancies and Risk of Having Down's Syndrome Babies

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Having a baby at an older age increases the risk of having a baby with Down's syndrome. Should you worry? The answer to this is NO. Too much anxiety is produced because misleading info is given to older parents who are having babies; when the mother is between thirty-five and forty years of age, the chances of having a baby with Down's syndrome is approximately one percent. This implies that you have a ninety-nine percent chance of having a baby without Down's syndrome.

Lawfully, your doctor should inform you that there is a test known as amniocentesis, which would discover whether or not your baby has Down's syndrome. This process is performed around the fourteenth or fifteenth week of pregnancy. You doctor sticks in a needle through your abdomen into the amniotic cavity and gets some amniotic fluid. This fluid is examined for abnormalities in fetal chromosomes, the sex of the baby, and specific chemical information that might suggest the presence of particular diseases. Amniocentesis is normally a safe procedure, but it is not without risks. The risk of trauma to the fetus is usually less than one half of one percent when done by experienced medical personnel. Due to the slight risk of injury to the fetus, a lot of mothers choose not to have this operation done. If you are highly anxious about having a baby with Down's syndrome, spending the whole pregnancy with this anxiety is likewise not healthy for your pre-born baby. Some moms choose this prenatal test to alleviate their anxiety even though they will not consider having an abortion. There are newer tests (alpha fetal protein, followed by chorionic villus sampling when indicated) that can be executed even earlier in your pregnancy to observe the presence or absence of Down's syndrome even as early as ten weeks after conception. Chorionic villus sampling bears a higher risk to the developing baby, it is not recommended. Some mothers just feel that the moment of birth is soon enough to become mindful of any problem that could not be adjusted while the baby is still in utero. Society, we feel, is slowly realizing that special babies truly are special babies.

Different Ways A Dad Can Hold His Baby

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Mother hold their babies one way, fathers hold their babies otherwise, and babies profit from this difference. Here are some tested favorite holding models for fathers.

1. The football hold. Drape your baby tummy down over your forearm like a football, baby's neck in the crook of your arm and the diaper region in your hand. Grasp the diaper area firmly in your hand and mildly press the base of the palm of your hand against your baby's tense abdomen.

2. The neck nestle. This is one actually works better for males. Nestle your baby's head on the curvature of your neck, permitting your chin to rest on top of baby's head. Gently push her head to your Adam's apple. Babies hear using the vibration of their skull bones as well as their eardrums. Sing a droning on song, like "Old Man River," in a rich male voice. The vibrations of your voice box and jawbones on your baby's thin skull will oftentimes lull a fussy baby right to sleep. An added magnet of the neck nestle is that your baby would feel the warm air from your nose on her scalp. Seasoned mothers relate that breathing on their babies' faces or heads calms them. Fathers could have a "magic breath" all their own.

3. The front bend. Fussy babies frequently settle better in the bent position as though this relaxes the spinal muscles and hence the whole body. Having your baby facing you, flex baby's legs on your chest, and support her back with one hand and the nape of her neck with the other. When baby is bent in a C positioning, she often settles better and releases more gas. If she squirms in the back-forward position, turn baby around, still bent, and allow her to face forward, leaving her back and head to rest on your chest while holding her outstretched legs over your folded arms.

4. The shoulder ride. About six months a baby's head control has developed adequately so she can sit upright and enjoy riding on your shoulders. Babies appear to like this riding position around five or six months since their hands, head, and back are less confined and they have a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view of their world.

5. Select the right baby carrier. Most fathers don't feel comfortable with several of the baby carriers on the market because there are so many straps and buckles for the impatient male. The sling-type carrier works best for men since it is much easier to adjust. It is frustrating to pick up a fussy baby and try to make several adjustments in a carrier that has been previously adjusted to follow your wife's body. This is known as the art of wearing your baby—and it's as significant for fathers to learn as for mothers.

By Athena Goodlight

Night Wakers: Understanding Your Baby’s Sleeping Patterns

A lot of books do proclaim that babies must be sleeping through the night at three months, but most babies haven't read these books. In actual fact, the only babies who sleep through the night at three months are "somebody else's baby." The age at which babies settle down—meaning going to sleep readily and staying asleep—varies staggeringly and is typically a reflection of your baby's temperament and not of your night time parenting skills. Remember that throughout the first six months, or even a year for some babies, a baby wakes up easily. They don't wake up to bother you or to deliberately keep you awake. Doctors realize that babies do what they do because they're designed that way. An exhaustive explanation of why babies sleep differently than adults will help you understand and therefore sympathize with your baby's frequent night waking.

Babies and adults have two dissimilar sleep patterns. For simplicity we will call these two patterns light sleep and deep sleep. During light sleep, the higher brain centers are not entirely shut down and the sleeper could awaken easily. During deep sleep, the higher brain centers shut down, leaving the sleeper to drift into a very deep, almost motionless state of sleep. The main difference between adult and baby sleep is that grownups spend around eighty percent of their night sleep in the state of deep sleep, whereas with babies the opposite is true. They spend most of the night in light sleep. This hardly looks fair to you till you realize that babies are deliberately designed that way for both survival and developmental reasons. A baby has the highest percentage of light sleep throughout those early months when his nighttime necessities are highest, but his ability to convey them is lowest. Say he had a stuffy nose and could not breathe, yet could not easily awaken to communicate this need? Suppose he were hungry and required food, yet didn't easily awaken to cry? Suppose he was cold and didn't easily awaken to signal this need for warmth? If a baby had the equal predominance of deep sleep states as we do, his survival will be in peril. As the baby grows older, the percentage of light sleep slowly decreases as the percentage of deep sleep increases.

Some other interesting reason why babies have a huge percentage of light sleep is linked to their need for developmental stimulation. Prominent sleep researchers feel that during the state of light sleep, the higher brain centers keep on functioning, and this operation is essential for the brain to mature. When this theory was explained to a very tired mother of a frequent night waker, she exclaimed, "In that case my baby is going to be very, very smart!"

Baby Feeding and Social Development

You may have a six-month-old baby nursing from the breast frequently and it can be an easy and enjoyable method of feeding him. Some may not look forward to starting solid foods, but your pediatrician may recommend that it is time. Here are some tips on how you can enjoy feeding him solids just as you've enjoyed him breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is not just nutritional but also social and developmental interaction. Solid feeding could be as well. Regard solid food feeding as an add-on to, not a substitute for, breastfeeding. Get the most out of this new relationship. Besides using your fingertip and a spoon to begin solids, let your baby to feed himself. Place a little of mashed banana within grabbing distance on his table or high-chair tray. Take advantage of your baby's rapidly developing hand skills. Around six months babies swoop upon anything of interest placed in front of them. You'll discover your baby can soon pick up a morsel of food between his thumb and fingers and slowly bring it to his mouth. In the beginning phases of finding his mouth, the baby might have more misses than hits, resulting in much of the food being scattered all over his cheeks. Sharing the food with his face and shirt is part of feeding. Let your baby the undergo trial and error; in time practice makes perfect.

Letting your baby to feed himself capitalizes on some research on infant learning. A skill that's started by the baby has more learning value and attention-holding power than one initiated by the parent and simply took part in by the baby. Relish table talk. Talk to your baby when feeding. Talk about both the food and the process so that he learns to tie in the words with the type of food and the interactions soon to follow. Say such things as "Matthew want carrots . . . open mouth!" as you gently approach his mouth with the solid-laden spoon. Talking to your baby when feeding also helps you know if he's really interested in taking solids at a particular time. When his face lights up and his mouth opens when you talk, this gives you a clue that he is ready. Allow the baby to watch your mouth open; odds are he will mimic your facial motion.

Reading the feeding cues of your baby, promoting self-feeding, and advancing slowly all lead to a significant rule of baby feeding: producing a healthy feeding attitude. To a baby, eating isn't only a nutritional requisite but a developmental skill. The more a baby enjoys an experience, the more efficiently he advances in that skill. Infant feeding not just provides fun and nutrition for the baby; it also helps parents watch and enjoy their baby's rapidly developing hand skills. Feeding is a social interaction, not just a nutritional necessity. Enjoy it!