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You’ve decided to take your pet along on vacation. It will be more fun, and you won’t have to worry about leaving a member of your family behind in an unfamiliar kennel. With some extra planning and forethought, you can have a safe and enjoyable trip with your pet.

Taking a Road Trip

If you’re driving with your pet, you’ll need to find a comfortable and safe way for your pet to travel. You can place your pet in a carrier and secure it in the car. Alternatively, you can purchase a seatbelt-like harness for your pet that will allow him to be out of the carrier but still safely restrained. It isn’t safe to allow your pet to roam freely in the car. He can be seriously hurt in the event of even a minor accident, and he is much more likely to escape and become lost when you make stops.

Don’t leave your pet alone in the car, especially in hot weather. The heat can quickly become life-threatening. If your pet becomes carsick easily, you may want to ask your veterinarian for motion-sickness medicine before the trip.

Carry some of your pet’s food along with you, and feed your pet only small amounts of food at a time. If your trip is short, you may want to have your pet wait and eat when you arrive to avoid carsickness. You should also carry some of your pet’s water along, or purchase bottled water. Local tap water may contain different minerals or sulphur, which might upset your pet’s stomach.

Flying with your pet

Many pet owners do not like to fly with their pets because it can be traumatic for them, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. Unless your pet is very small, he will fly as cargo and not in the cabin with you. Check with your airline to determine what type of carrier is acceptable and what rules apply to flying with a pet. Also ask what safety precautions are in place, what conditions the pet will fly in, etc. Ask your veterinarian if your pet is well enough to fly or if there are any special precautions you should take.

International Travel

Taking your pet out of the country requires careful planning. Check the regulations for the country you are traveling to and verify that your pet has the required vaccinations. In some cases, you’ll need to have the vaccines administred weeks before your departure date.

Most countries will require a Rabies Vaccination Certificate and a Health Certificate. Your veterinarian can help you obtain both of these. The country you are traveling to may require that you complete paperwork gaining permission to bring your pet into the country. Also, some countries have quarantine regulations that may require your pet to remain in a kennel for up to several months.

Pet Friendly Hotels

A quick search on the Internet can help you find hotels that are receptive to pets. Many travel sites also allow you to specify only pet-frienly accommodations. Check with the hotel to find their specific rules regarding staying with a pet.

If your pet requires walks, ask for a room that opens on the outside. This will be more convenient for those late night trips outdoors.

Many alternative lodging sites, such as resorts, cabins and bed and breakfasts are also open to receiving pets. Check ahead of time for availability where you’re traveling. Since many of these vacation spots offer outdoor activities, they can be great options for pet owners.

What Will your Pet do All day?

You know how you’ll travel, and you’ve found a hotel that will welcome your pet, so now what? What will your pet do all day when you’re out having fun?

An outdoor vacation is an ideal choice if you’re traveling with pets. Consider renting an RV and taking a camping vacation. Many RV rental agencies allow pets with an extra deposit. A trip to the beach is another good choice for pet owners. However, keep in mind that sand can be irritating to some pets, especially dogs with deep skin folds. Some animals are bothered by long sun exposure as well.

If you’re spending a lot of time outdoors, keep plenty of cold water on hand and watch your pet for signs of heat exhaustion.

Some restaurants now provide outdoor seating that is also pet friendly. Check ahead of time if any are available near where you are staying. If you’d like to spend mealtime with your pet and no pet-friendly restaurants are close by, you might consider takeout or even picnicing outdoors.

What if you’re taking a more traditional vacation? Many tourist attractions will not welcome your pet, and it isn’t a good idea to leave your pet alone in a strange hotel room all day. You may be able to place your pet in his carrier for shorter excursions, but for all day trips, consider researching pet daycare centers or kennels available in the area. You can leave your pet for a few hours in a safe environment but still enjoy his company on your trip.

What to Take Along

Bring your pet’s food along or plan to buy it as needed. This is not a good time to change your pet’s diet, and you should certainly avoid giving your pet any table scraps. Traveling can be stressful regardless of how careful you are, and you don’t need the added complication of stomach upset for your pet.

Don’t give your dog the local water, especially if you’re traveling internationally. It’s safer to give your pet only bottled water to avoid possible stomach upset.

Bring along any medicines your pet takes, including vitamins, flea medicines, heart worm prescriptions, etc. You should also bring some basic first-aid supplies in case of injury. Ask your veterinarian what should be included in your pet’s first aid kit. These might include medicines for stomach upset and a mild tranquilizer in case your pet becomes extremely agitated. You can purchase pre-stocked pet first aid kits at many pet supply stores.

To make your pet more comfortable, bring along a few items from home. Bring some of your pet’s bedding and a few of his favorite toys. Bring only treats your pet has eaten in the past with no stomach upset. Again, this isn’t the time to try any new foods. The carrier you bring should be large enough for your pet to remain comfortably inside for a few hours. He should be able to stand, lie down and turn around easily within it. Also, be sure your pet has fresh water available within the carrier.

A Pre-Trip Checklist

Make an appointment with your veterinarian. Have your pet examined and any vaccinations done that are needed. Ask if your pet is healthy enough to travel, and ask for advice concerning any of your pet’s health conditions. Remember that if you are traveling outside the country, you may need to plan weeks in advance.

Make sure your pet has current identification attached to his collar, and that it fits well and isn’t likely to slip off. You might want to consider having an identification chip implanted before your trip, but you’ll need to discuss with your veterinarian how soon your pet can travel after the procedure.

Gather phone numbers for veterinarians, pet emergency care facilities, kennels, etc. before you leave for each place where you’ll be staying. If an accident or illness does occur, you’ll be grateful that you don’t have to take the time to find someone to care for your pet.

Make a packing list for your pet based on his needs and what your veterinarian recommends. Double-check it as you pack his things. Take your veterinarian’s phone number along with you in case you need to call and ask a last minute question or have your pet’s records sent to another clinic.

Take time to get your pet used to his carrier, especially if it’s new. If you’re driving, take your pet in the car for practice trips before the big day so it won’t be so traumatic. Another benefit to this approach is that you’ll learn if your pet become motion sick easily.

If you’re traveling with your cat, bring a litterbox and litter along with you. It’s easier to purchase cheap plastic litterboxes and throw them away rather than try to clean and transport them. If traveling with a dog, be sure to bring baggies to clean up after your pet’s walks.

Embarrassing and Alarming Moments

Pets get stressed when traveling, so accidents can and will happen. Bring some disposable wipes and plastic baggies to clean up after your pet. Another good idea is bringing a small bottle of enzyme based cleaner. If your pet selects the hotel carpet as the perfect spot for his accident, this can remove the odor and stain before it has a change to set.

Never open your pet’s carrier unless you’re in an enclosed room. Pets can move much more quickly than you can, and nothing will ruin your vacation faster than losing your traveling companion.

Traveling with your pet can be challenging, but with some planning ahead, it can also be a fun and rewarding experience. Trying a short weekend trip before a longer vacation can also help your pet acclimate to travel, and you will learn how well your pet travels.

Author Ian White is founder of pet-sitters.biz Pet Sitting Directory

Find a Pet Sitter, Find Pet Sitting Clients.

Pet-Sitters.biz can help both ways! Pet sitters list their business and can be found easily when pet owners search for your services.

Pet owners list pet-sitting requirements and find those who meet their specific needs. Fast, easy membership Dog walkers, pet day cares also welcome!

Cooking is one of my specialties. While in the US Army Reserves I learned about Cooking. Indoor, outdoor and cooking using a utensil over an open flame was fun and easy with cast iron cookware. I remember the outdoors and the smell of cooking, accompanied by the chorus of the squirrels, crickets and birds, during bivouacs.

The most ordinary form of cooking is campfire cooking. For families it is particularly well fitting, it is an activity which presents an opportunity for pleasant evenings and outings. It has its own taste and fancy. Skill and knowledge is required, but both are easily acquired. Cooking is a tradition in itself and some cooks have years of experience both on safaris and at home. It is one of my favorite things in life. It is great; however, most open flame cooking is done in campgrounds. Credit to improvements in camping cooking gear and a horde of easy-prep and in-store ingredients, it need not be limited to burgers, dogs and smokes. Another unique way of cooking is to cook some food items inside of other foods. Another unusual cooking, using a utensil over an open flame method, is cooking in paper. An unfussy and simple way of outdoor cooking is to set a large coffee can on the coals. The days of utilitarian campfire cooking of yesteryear are gone. Try out a few odd techniques the next time you’re out camping.

For the tools and tips, place in your favorite search engines: campfire grill, campfire ring, propane in the ground campfire with a cast iron pot, campfire grill, campfire tripod, campfire in a can , California campfire fireplace, little red campfire , cooking steamer, induction cooking, cooking tripod, cooking strainer, cooking smoker, cooking station, cooking table, cooking pot, cooking twine, cooking thermometer, cooking rings, bistro cooking, plank cooking. Search for some prime cooking on the web or books on tips and tricks for Dutch oven cooking. Buy books which are specifically written for the camper who wants to make this method of cooking easier, safer, revealing how to make outdoor cooking grilling and RVing easy and fun in camping. I learned years ago from a relative that most pans will do well.

If you’ve never done any open flame cooking or camp cooking before, one of the things to be aware of is that you’ll need to monitor food closely from start to finish because it can burn quickly. Placing a marshmallow or hot dog on the end of a good stick and holding the food at just the right distance from the heat. One of the disadvantages to this kind of cooking is that cookware gets much dirtier than it does when cooking with a stove. So most likely open flame cooking will require less clean-up. Although campfire cooking can take a little more time than simply firing up the stove, it is more rewarding. If on the other hand you’re in the mood to take your time and enjoy the experience, cooking using a utensil over an open flame can be relaxing in a way that a stove can’t begin to match.

Here are some items that you will need to have to be prepared : Camping Cookbooks containing all the unique and fun camping recipes to make open flame cooking enjoyable. A large barbecue grill or rack will let you enjoy the full flavor and aroma, using either wood or charcoal briquettes. On a Campfire a simple and easy way of cooking is to set a large coffee can on the coals.

This method of cooking is the most common form of outdoor cooking. There is definitely more to It than just scorching marshmallows and making smokes. Have an outdoor party. Guest or spectators may soon become participants as the host or hosts divide their guests into teams and turn them loose for an afternoon of supervised scorching Spurred on, in part, as they are getting hungry. It is gaining in popularity because it brings friends and family together at the same time.

Attend a cooking using a utensil over an open flame class. There are conducted nationwide tours or clinics held every year at different campgrounds across the country.

While some view cooking using a utensil over an open flame as a survival skill, most people do it for other reasons. this method of cooking is a way to bring groups together. It is a method in which to lure kids away from their video games or as a way for divorced dads to entertain kids on weekends, It is an ideal way for families to reconnect. Everything tastes better roasted over an open fire. Maybe that is why with kids It is so popular. When you are done with your kid’s , make sure the fire is totally out.

How about Breakfast Muffins, fried or poached eggs, Chopped Ham, Shredded cheese, Diced potatoes, for example. Try cooking in a black skillet or even a 12 hole muffin pan. Salt and pepper half of muffin tin placing 6 eggs in 6 holes with 6 muffin mix muffins in the remaining 6 holes. Campfire popcorn can be popped in foil: Popcorn Kernels and oil or butter with salt for seasoning. Tear off an 18 inch square of tin foil. The first lesson to be learned about campfire cooking is that you do not cook over an open flame all the time. Try to have all the latest and greatest campfire gear on hand. Purchase only cast iron products. Browse products of campfire gear to find those goods that will work the best for you. Dutch oven Campfire Cooking is almost an ancient form of making food but is very prevalent today.

Select the relaxed comfort of your living room fireplace; staring into the embers as your banquet cooks, or watching the flickering flames dance and play while toasting your choice dessert; is a great way to generate memories with your family.

Whether camping with the family, hunting with friends or merely achieving that wood-grilled flavor at home is easier than you might think. Dutch oven cooking is one of the best ways to make meals on camping trips. The secret of any open flame cooking is to try and maintain steadily glowing coals, but once you have your fire in this state, you can gage its approximate temperature by using your hand. The single most indispensable piece of gear for open flame cooking is the cast iron skillet. open flame cooking is something of a science, much like cooking on the stove at home. In the days of automatic coffee makers and microwave ovens, it is somewhat of a step back.

If a departure from this method of cooking is your desire, There are some area restaurants which offer a wide range; from fast food right up to Traditional campfire cooking.

Please leave your comments.

Roger Hardieway is a retired Engineer and Amateur Radio Operator

Aggression is one of the main reasons that dogs are euthanised or rehomed; at least 30% of all dogs in rescue centres are there because of the incidence of aggressive behaviour in one form or another. It is actually unusual to have a dog that is aggressing to have just one type of aggression; most dogs have more than one of the following types of behaviour.

It would be prudent, before embarking on a program of aggressive behaviour modification, to rule out any medical reasons for that behaviour, especially if there is a sudden change in the dog’s temperament. Their are some fifty-odd different medical reasons why a dog may be showing aggressive tendencies, these range from Pain to Thyroid Dysfunction, Epilepsy to Hypoglycaemia and Diabetes.

The following is a list of the more common aggressions and why they may be occurring. This is only a part of the total types. Because of the constraints of space it can only be a fleeting reference.

1. Fear / Nervous Aggression (Interdog)

Quite often, this behaviour has its roots directly to the pup’s mother. Breeders that breed from fearful and timid bitches will often make excuses as to why you cannot see the dam. If you do view a litter of puppies and the mother is fearful, then do not even think of buying the puppy. It will be almost a certainty that the pups will inherit some of the mother’s traits, through both genetics and socialisation, genetically the pups may inherit her timidity and through the time they are with her will observe her fear and follow suit.

Scientific research has shown that even the pups that are born to a solid and stable mother that are then put with a bitch that is fearful, they will pick up some of the unstable habits from the fearful dog. Other reasons for this fear type of problem is when the puppy or adult dog is attacked by another dog, especially whilst on the lead, with no means of escape and restricted from showing submissive body language to the attacker.

Lack of early socialisation can also have an affect on this type of behaviour, If the young pup, especially between the age of seven and sixteen weeks, is not carefully socialised with both adult and pups alike, then they do not learn to “meet and greet”. The complex body language dogs learn at this age is crucial to their later behaviour when approaching unknown dogs. If they are unable to either perform or understand the greeting rituals, then they are immediately viewed with suspicion by the approaching dog, and conflict may arise

How can you tell if it is fear?

With nervous and fear aggressive dogs, you will find that they will react aggressively to any dog, regardless of whether it is male or female. The behaviour is often worse if the dog is on the lead or is cornered, especially if close to the owner, who backs up the behaviour, (though unwittingly) by becoming nervous and agitated as the other dog approaches.

This manifests itself in a tightening up on the lead and shoulders. Nervous owners also kick out a cloud of adrenaline that the dog instantly detects, this causes it to look for what is causing the concern. It sees the dog approaching and reacts accordingly. This type of dog is also normally a barker, it will lunge and bark at the approaching dog but generally will not snap unless all its options have run out. ie flight or freeze and after all its threat posturing the other dog has still got too close.

This problem can often be diagnosed if someone who is confident around dogs (that the dog does not know well) takes it out on the lead. It will not get the same fearful vibes from the owner, therefore the reaction to another dogs approaching will be less intense. It is a good way of finding out if your dog suffers fear aggression, as the behaviour will either not be exhibited or will be less pronounced. The owner can then use a desensitisation program for both the dog and themselves.

2. Fear / Nervous Aggression (Inter-human)

Once again, this can be caused through lack of early socialisation, bad breeding and sometimes lack of handling at an early age, starting as young as two weeks old. Pups that are not handled gently and often by the breeder do not get a strong olfactory and tactile bond with humans. This is often the case with puppy farmed dogs and dogs born to large breeders. This handling at such an early age causes a mild stress response in the tiny pup, which benefits its ability to cope with many situations including people and dogs in later life

Nervous and fear aggressing is always defensive in nature, sometimes it is related to the sex of the person. If the breeder was female, and very few males visited or handled the puppies, then the timidity and fear may be worse with men. This particular problem like interdog hostility, will manifest itself mainly with individuals rather than crowds.

You will find that the dog will bark a lot but will be under a table or behind a settee. The tail will be down and although it may seem overtly aggressive, the dogs balance and weight will be on the back foot not over the front feet. This demonstrates that the dog wants you to go away and is not initially trying to bite or attack you. A gradual and careful introduction to the stimulus that is causing the fear with positive reinforcement for calm behaviour is the way to overcome this type of problem though the dog will rarely make a total and full recovery and will never be life and soul of the park and greeting parties.

3. Frustration Aggression

Research has shown that dogs who are not allowed to interact “normally” with people and dogs who were prone to displays of bad temper and behaviour that was overtly aggressive are dogs that are generally restrained or restricted from normal interactions (interactions with people, other dogs, and the outside world). The dog develops an intense desire to gain access to all of those things he desires.

This desire can escalate into escape and roaming behaviour, agitation, biting and unprovoked attacks. It is often observed in dogs that are left tied up in flats, left in gardens, or near a window where they can see the things they want to interact with, but cannot get to them therefore display unprovoked aggression. To some extent, the aggression shown to the postman is based on frustration. I have seen dogs attack their owner or a second dog in the home because it cannot get to the deliveryman.

As with most aggressive behaviours early socialisations and an understanding of how dogs learn and communicate are essential.

4. Sexual aggression.

This type of aggression is usually limited to male dogs. They will mount both people and other dogs. Mounting activity directed towards humans may reflect a lack of opportunity for the dog to play with other dogs, or an over-attachment to people in early life, mounting on other dogs especially if they initially try to put their heads over the other dog’s necks can be related to rank and control complex behaviour. Castration and behaviour modification can help with this problem. Allowing the dog to mate may often be recommended by the amateur dog expert, this normally makes the problem far worse.

5 Territorial Aggression

This may be towards other dogs, people or both. By definition, territorial aggression should be directed toward members of the same species ie other dogs. Domestic dogs, however, seem to regard humans in this regard as conspecific, and consequently may direct territorial aggression toward us When dogs display aggression to strangers only on the home property garden, house, or yard, yet do not respond aggressively to strangers on neutral territory, then territorial aggression is the likely diagnosis. There are two primary motivations for territorial behaviour, control complex behaviour ie dominance or fear/anxiety. It may be worse in a small space such as a car than in an open area. Some dogs like this can be fine in the home, but not so good in the garden.

The only answer to this problem is to work on the dominant/territorial problem in a way in which a dog understands its position through a behaviour modification programme using position reinforcement techniques. Remember not to praise for the cessation of bad behaviour rather praise for that bad behaviour not happening in the first place. In other words, say the dog jumps up on someone and you say “OFF” if the dogs get off then do not praise as you will be praising for the inappropriate behaviour, which was the jumping.

6. Control Complex / Dominant Aggression

The word dominant is a dirty word in dog behavioural circles at present however if we understand the word means position and is much more complex that just aggression, then to ignore this area of conflict would be remiss. The initial approach to other dogs is often cautionary and contains many status signals, like tail carriage held high and quickly moving from side to side, standing on tiptoe etc. If the other dog submits, then all is usually fine, if not the fighting can be extremely noisy and in some cases quite severe. In both the last two examples, dominant and territorial aggression, I usually find the dog will pull quite badly on the lead. These dogs can also display aggressive tendency towards members of the family this could lead to an attack if not controlled in their early stages. By working on a programme that will give the dog a purpose and a position in life, almost a job and teaching the dog to walk on a loose leash can sometimes overcome the problem. The type of program I would use is the NILIF program, which stands for “Nothing in Life is Free”, See my website under dominance

7. Chase or Predatory aggression

This can be directed at many things including dogs, cats, or anything that stimulates a chase response. Squirrels are a favourite, as their quick jerky movements seem to stimulate even the most placid of dogs. I see a lot of predatory chase aggression in for instance Border Collies, in particular stimulants like bikes, skateboards joggers and cars.

One of the key factors that distinguish predatory aggression from other forms of aggression is that movement often is the trigger . In the wild, this movement is in the form of running and escape attempts of a small animals. Predatory behaviour can be seen in dogs of any sex and age.

Dogs that show intense interest and become aroused or anxious by the movement or noise of children or other pets should be closely monitored at all times. Prognosis is not good for this type of aggression. Reward based obedience training can help, however this is only any use if the owner/trainer is able to constantly monitor the dog at all times.

It is easier to control the chase stimulus when it is directed at cars, joggers, or bikes. Two types of common treatment’s include counter-conditioning used to change the dogs’ perception of the falsely identified prey. Many also believe punishment works ie noise aversion when the behaviour is first stimulated. Throwing water from a car window or sounding a rape alarm or air horn at the exact time the dog takes off, throwing down a plastic bottle of stones from a passing bike or car can sometimes alter this behaviour.

However. To be effective, punishment must be seen as aversive and the timing of the punishment must be exact so that the dog associates the punishment with the behaviour. Electric shock collars have also been suggested but are not part of treatment programs I would ever recommend.

As mentioned aggression often has its origins in bad breeding, lack of socialisation, high prey drive, and poor basic training can also exacerbate the situation. However, as stated before it can be related to medical conditions and before embarking on a course of behavioural therapy have your dog checked over to see if there are any underlying medical conditions.

Learned aggression can normally be cured however, hereditary aggression cannot, it can only be controlled and hopefully contained. Castration sometimes helps, and should be considered in an overall aggression reduction program. With all aggression cases, you should consider a behaviourist or a dog trainer experienced in these problems, before the problems becomes life threatening either to the dog or the person they are aggressing against.

Stan Rawlinson (Doglistener)
Dog Behaviourist and Obedience Trainer, who has owned and worked dogs for over 25 years, starting with gundogs then moving to the behavioural and obedience side of training companion dogs. He now has a successful practice covering Greater London, Surrey, and Middlesex.

Stan is recommended by numerous Vets, Rescue Centres, and Charities. He writes articles and comments on behavioural issues and techniques for dog magazines including Our Dogs, Dogs Monthly, K9 Magazine, Shooting Times and Pet Owner Magazine. Stan is also the behavioural consultant for Disney

© Stan Rawlinson
Telephone: 0208 979 2019
Mobile Number: 07976 153161
E-mail: enquiries@doglistener.co.uk

I remember my mother telling me about the times when she was pregnant. She was wearing nothing more than my father’s jeans and his working shirts throughout her pregnancy. No maternity clothes for her because she was too poor to buy them at that time. Remember, in her time, which was about 30 years back, maternity clothes used to cost a bomb.

And yet, if you walk along any shopping center these days, you’ll notice at least three or four maternity clothes fashion houses catering to the specifically ‘large’ needs of a pregnant mother. And since the web and the Internet is such a magnanimous thing these days, what about online maternity stores? I’d safely say there are just about half a million legitimate maternity stores right now flailing around the Internet wires for business.

And the amazing thing is that…YES, they make money! And why, I was wondering.

Because of one simple thing….even though my mother (like your mother) and my grandmother (and your grandmother) didn’t need maternity clothes when they were pregnant, the modern generation of pregnant women really, truly DO need maternity clothes. We’re living in an era that is completely different from their time and we cannot compare our pregnancy needs with their needs. The same rules no longer apply.

If you’re pregnant right now and am sitting around here wondering if you should get yourself a whole new wardrobe of maternity clothes, you’re in luck. I have some tips about buying maternity clothes for you.

Buy good-looking maternity clothes that can last at least 3 pregnancies

Like I said, maternity clothes are not cheap these days and maternity clothes are only wearable for the nine months that you’re pregnant and maybe another month or two after that. And when you get back in shape, you’re going to have to shelve those expensive maternity clothes or put the maternity clothes in sad boxes with the edges stuck together with cellophane tape.

So, buy only maternity clothes that are classy and of exceptional quality. You wear maternity clothes only when you plan to go out. For casual outings and at home, stick to your extra large clothes or perhaps, you can buy some large sweaters, t-shirts, overalls, or raglan to wear when you’re not required to look all-that-presentable. It works!

You won’t need CASUAL maternity clothes. In my books, that’s an oxymoron.

Maternity clothes that can double up as breastfeeding clothes later on would be good too

If you intend to breastfeed your baby after the whole pregnancy is over, you would have to think about buying MORE clothes…breastfeeding/nursing clothes. Now, as with maternity clothes, nursing clothes don’t come cheap either. And do we NEED nursing clothes as much as we need maternity clothes? Yes, sometimes we do. I have quite a few fashionable looking nursing clothes that I wear whenever I go out shopping or meeting up with friends. Other times, I wear my t-shirts with holes cut out for easy access to the breast! Yeah, it’s funny, but at home, who’s going to care?

And if you can get your hands on some good maternity clothes that can double up as nursing clothes later on, GO FOR IT! You will get your money’s worth that way.

Style of maternity clothes

Many maternity clothes designers are asleep when they’re designing maternity clothes – the selection is bad. Most of them are nothing but flower after flower, spiral after spiral, safety pins or perhaps some form of teddy bear or another. Forget about them! If you were to buy maternity clothes, invest one that makes you look good. If the maternity clothes are plain, that’s fine, it’s better than making you look like Bozo – most of them do, by the way.

The point is that you want to look CLASSY and DIGNIFIED even though you’re sort of….BIG. and wearing maternity clothes with large orange and yellow flower prints is NOT going to help you do that!

That’s just my opinion, of course, and you’re entitled to have your own opinion about maternity clothes that looks good.

Good luck!

Reprint Notice

Copyright 2005 Marsha Maung

Please feel free to reprint this article in your newsletter, website, magazine or other forms of publication freely. The only requirement is that the following biodata is included and the links remains intact. Apart from editorial or grammatical editing, other form of editing that may impair, change, or alter the context of the article is NOT permitted. If so, please contact the writer for written consent.

Marsha Maung is a freelance writer and designer. She designs apparel, household and premium items for http://www.allmomstuff.com Marsha MaungÂ’s personal website is http://www.marshamaung.com

Do you love cats? If so how many cats do you have? Is your cat well behaved?

How many times do you consider your cat’s safety? Does your cat return home safely at nights, without any rashes or bruises that are indeed created by other cats?

How certain are you that only your cat eats the food that you give them and they are not being joined by other cats when you are out? Most of the cat lovers would be finding it difficult to answer these questions.

Indeed these are the daily problems faced by cat lovers. These questions make the cat lovers feel worried about their dearest pets.

Most cat owners know how worrying it is when their cat goes missing for a day or more. Is there a remedy for all these hard moments? If at all there is a solution, will it guarantee on the safety and security of the pet? What can be done to stop these kind of problems for good?

Can your cat be safe from being bullied by other stray cats? Can your cat be safe in indoor without escaping, if the weather outside is very terrible and violent? The good news is that there is a very easy answer to all these questions. And of course that answer is Yes!

The antidote for all these physical and environmental threats that are literally experienced by the owner and the pet has now come to light. It comes in the form of a special cat flap called the Pet Porte Smart Flap.

The Pet Porte microchip cat flap is the first cat flap that effectively keeps other cats out. It provides an enhanced level of security that makes cats lives and the owners lives much better.

This is a Collarless technology, which indeed keeps the pet away from hard and rough collars which leaves a mark on the neck of the pet.

The Pet Porte microchip cat flap was invented and patented by David Chamberlain, one of Guernsey’s leading vets, which is the first in a series of inventions that will be coming onto the market intended to make your life, and your cat’s life, more enjoyable.

Pet Porte is the world’s first cat flap to stop other cats from entering your home and it recognises your cat without the need for electronic or magnetic cat collar attachments, heavy collar tags, restrictive collars or infra red.

The technology is completely safe and cats will not even notice that they are being scanned when they approach the door.

Cats love to use the Pet Porte microchip cat flap and it keeps them safe. The Pet Porte microchip cat flap is easy to use, and it’s simple to program your cats in, most probably the user of this Pet Porte product will not require you to constantly refer to the manual, because everything is operated from just two buttons, one red and one green.

One the cats that you program in are allowed entry. You can program in up to 32 cats. The door is extra strong and cannot be bashed open..

In the Pet Porte microchip cat flap there are two distinct modes worth mentioning.

Two of the most popular modes are the VET MODE and the NIGHT MODE:

You can use the VET MODE whenever you want to keep your cats indoors. When you activate the NIGHT MODE your cats can always come back inside but they will not be able to get out when it is dark, they will be kept in until it is light again in the morning. These two modes make the Pet Porte microchip cat flap unique to all other cat flaps on the market.

The Pet Porte Smart Flap is very easy to install and operate.

Programming the Pet Porte is again a very short and simple process, as there are no complex steps involved, indeed the whole installation is only a single step process.

Simply hold down the green button for ten seconds and release. The lights start to flash. Then hold your cat under the outside sensor. It beeps three times. That is all the owner has to do, in order to finish with the programming process, in this same method an average of 32 different cats (approx) can be programmed.

There may be a question arising among the users that what actually happens when the pet is made to pass through the Pet Porte. When the cat is approaches the Pet Porte the intelligent sensors present in the sensor porch of the cat flap recognizes the existing microchip ID implants, the door unlocks only for your cats. Stray cats or neighbours cats, even those with microchips, are not allowed access because they are not programmed in.

This adorable product uses an adapter that is fixed directly to the power supply, rather than using batteries which may run out frequently or unexpectedly. The current is safe because it is low voltage, and its not at all harmful for the cat by any means, so there is no chance of short circuits, even if the cat chews or pounces on the lead, as the voltage is very low. Even if the cat flap is disconnected from the power it will always remember your cat’s microchip numbers.

The major characteristics of the magic door that is used in the Pet Porte is that its highly tensile and strong as it has the capacity to withstand the pouncing/attacks,even if it is created by the toughest cat around on the streets.

Because the cat flap is powered by AC adaptor, the magic door unlocks at the blink of an eye, i.e. in just few microseconds, so that you’re lovable cat can enjoy its play with the Pet Porte, even if she/he loves to dash in and out at speed.

The Pet Porte is friendly device to your pet, and it is designed in such a way that, there will not be any possibilities in which the tail or the paws of the pet getting stuck. Eventually there are no possibilities for other stray cats to enter, thus making your cat feel free and relaxed at all times.

The Pet Porte microchip cat flap has many clever features which makes it unique and reliable when compared to all the other cat doors. In fact the other cat doors on the market such as traditional, magnetic and infrared flaps all have their own disadvantages at different situations.

With traditional cat doors the result is that within one night the owner can see his house ruined i.e. his curtains torn, urine all over the wall, the cat food missing from its tray, the pet left with the marks of being bullied-all these are the problems created by none others than the neighbours cats. Thus these are the adverse effects caused when traditional type flaps are used.

Secondly, comes the magnetic cat flaps, all the cats with magnetic collars can gain access through the door, this is a major drawback. And the other issue is that, magnetic collars are heavily and tight, that makes the pet feel uncomfortable.

Thirdly comes the infrared cat flaps, these have sensors both at the transmitting and receiving ends and the door opens only if the sensor in the collar points directly to the sensor on the door. These Infrared cat flaps are expensive too.

Finally all these disadvantages experienced when using other cat flaps are in turn changed into an merit when the Pet Porte microchip cat flap is installed.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PET PORTE MICROCHIP CAT FLAP

The Pet Porte microchip cat flap was designed to be the best cat flap in the world. The irritation caused by the collar on a cat can be avoided by the use of the cats existing microchip. With the help of the locking mechanism, stray cats can be kept out.

The pains of calling your cat in at night is no longer an issue because the cat flap can detect the light level automatically and help to keep your cats in at night.

With the presence of the Pet Porte microchip cat flap, you will be able to know, if your cat inside the house or elsewhere, the beeping system of the Pet Porte will make you aware of the presence of your cat inside the house. You can easily switch the beep off if it makes your cats nervous.

The presence of a magnetic latch in the Pet Porte keeps the flap intact when the wind blows therefore protecting the cats from getting hurt.

The simple two button operation mechanism gives a full control over your cats world.

The microchip cat flap allows you to program up to 32 cats of your liking and only the cats which are programmed in are allowed access.

The programmable memory within the Pet Porte prevents the loss of information about your cats if the power is disconnected.

All of this comes under low voltage intake with no batteries to replace so your cat will never get locked outside.

This product is cat friendly and makes it virtually impossible for your cat to get its paws stuck in the door. Hence the Pet Porte microchip cat flap is a divine product that has been launched to quench the thirst of concerned cat lovers, and it is now available to cat lovers worldwide.

Many customers say that it makes them feel comfortable and relaxed at nights rather than worrying about their pets, since there is a friend there at the door step providing the most sophisticated level of security to the lovable kitties.

You can order online from Microchip Cat Flaps – a website recommended by Cats Protection, leading vets and Your Cat magazine.

Have you always had a passion for cars? And often thought of having your own business? The time is now to check out the many automotive franchise opportunities available with little start up investment and plenty of rewarding benefits. The number of franchises is increasing as more consumers realize the great earning potential and appeal of becoming a business owner. There are many automotive franchises available catering to various kinds of car maintenance, repair and sales depending on your individual preference and interest.

With franchise opportunities ranging from windshield repair, oil changes, auto parts and even automotive insurance, there is sure to be one that is right for you. While there are several considerations in determining which automotive franchise would be the most suitable, the benefits of purchasing your own franchise are clearly favorable. Just imagine how satisfying it would be to go to work each day knowing that you are your own boss and the business that you operate is your own.

Which Automotive Franchise is the One for You?

There are many factors that might be important as you decide if an automotive franchise is the kind of business that you want to purchase. If you enjoy the busy shop atmosphere and have a special interest in cars and the many aspects of the automotive industry, a franchise in which you can invest and build a solid, long-lasting business that is car-related, may be the one you are looking for.

As well as the general type of franchise, you may also want to know what kind of investment and initial start-up costs are associated with purchasing an auto franchise. Many of the top car franchises available require minimal up front costs. For example, a Novus Glass Windshield Repair franchise has initial investment costs starting at only $14,900. This is very affordable and provides limited risk when you consider the popularity of this kind of franchise and the potential business and profit as it grows over time. If you are more interested in automotive accessories, you could purchase a Millennium Plus franchise in which you become a GPS distributor with an initial investment of just $10,000 and you can even run your business from your own home!

While there are many automotive franchises available at very reasonable investment costs, there are also plenty of other franchises that offer solid and proven earning potential with the added assurance of owning your own business and boasting a brand name service. The initial start-up costs may vary but the decision to become a franchise owner puts you in a very advantageous position from day one. Since today’s consumer often seeks businesses with familiar names and a good reputation, a franchise may be a wise investment since the brand name provides an immediate client base. Although there is definitely a great deal of work and determination necessary to build your franchise into a strong and thriving venture, you need not start from scratch as you would with a non-franchise business.

Other Important Considerations

Deciding on the particular auto franchise may be one of your first considerations but learning about various other aspects of having your own business may be just as important. Being a franchise owner has a number of benefits. From taking advantage of the franchise name, to the potential income potential, the benefits are many.

When you purchase an automotive franchise, you automatically access a complete and proven business operating system that covers virtually all aspects of operating that particular franchise. Essentially, the framework is already in place and the franchise will provide extensive instruction and support before, during and after your purchase. After all, it is their name and reputation that comes with your franchise and all legitimate franchisers want to ensure that your business represents their company in a strong and positive way. Their ongoing interest and training keeps you on top of the latest franchise information and up-to-date with any changes or new company initiatives.

Franchise owners pay pre-determined “royalties” to the franchisers depending on the size and income related to the car franchise. Before purchasing your own, make sure that you discuss all these operating details and get it in writing. Reputable franchisers will have no issues in providing this information and will be very willing to explain the system fully and answer any questions that you may have about any of the business aspects of your auto franchise. There are also some legal considerations as well and these should be reviewed carefully as you decide whether your own automotive franchise is the business for you.

Location is another consideration that may be crucial in determining if a car franchise is feasible as well. Some of the current franchises available may be operated from your own home. So you must decide whether you have adequate space and if it would be possible to run your own business with your home as central base. Some of the bigger franchises require a larger location that would not be appropriate as a home based business. Automotive franchises such as a Meineke Car Care Center or Eagle Transmission involve greater space requirements and significant amounts of equipment that would simply not be suitable for a business at home.

Something to Think About

Is an automotive franchise in your future? The benefits are clear as the strong base and proven potential for success in franchise ownership in the industry gains attention worldwide. Making the decision to purchase your own franchise is indeed a huge responsibility but it may also be the answer to your desire to experience business ownership and the ability to work for yourself.

Ultimately, an automotive franchise has many attractive features and it is definitely a franchise that could generate a significant amount of business since most consumers own or operate vehicles. So, the need is there. An automotive franchise may be a great way to tap into that earning potential. If becoming a business owner in the automotive industry appeals to you, a franchise may be exactly the way to a bright and profitable future!

Research automotive franchise opportunities, including franchises for sale, at Franchise Gator!

For most cat owners, training their cat to use the litter is a relatively painless process. It is among a cat’s natural instincts to eliminate in an area that they can cover their feces in. This behavior may be a way of your cat accepting what they perceive to be as the natural order of dominance. In the wild feral cats will bury their feces if they are not at the top of their social hierarchy, if a feral cat does not bury his or her feces it is likely that the cat exhibiting that behavior is the dominant feline. So when your housecat buries his or her waste he or she may be recognizing your role as the dominant animal in their social community. It is also possible, however, that your cat may be displaying his or her inherited instinct to bury his or her feces in order to hide their trail from would be predators.

Generally kittens will learn the behavior of burying their feces and using the litter

through their mother once they are weaned assuming the mother is litter trained.

So if you bring home a young kitten of about 12 weeks, you may only need to

place kitty in the litter box and gently scratch the clean litter with your fingers

shortly after she eats to indicate to her what she is to do.

KITTY DIDN’T TAKE TO THE LITTER RIGHT AWAY

If your new cat doesn’t take to litter training after your first few attempts you may

want to consider teaching her using another common method. Confine your new

addition to a small but comfortable room, preferably one with a hard floor if you

have one. Place both the litter box and the food dish in the room but don’t place

them close to one another. Your cat will naturally not want to defecate near its food

source so she will look for another area. Eliminate any pillows, blankets,

newspapers, towels or other soft items where your cat may decide to eliminate from

the room before you close her in. If you have confined your cat to a room with hard

floors she is likely to avoid eliminating on the floor since urinating is likely to splash

back and get on her fur. The only remaining choice to the cat at this point is

(hopefully) the litter box.

MY CAT STOPPED USING THE LITTER

If your cat was housebroken and all the sudden she seems to have

forgotten that instinct there are a few possibilities you might want to consider

before giving up.

1. Does Kitty Have A Dirty Litter Box? The most common cause of a

housetrained cat to stop using the litter is your cat

disagreeing with the level of cleanliness regarding her litter box. Your cat is more

likely to

stop using the litter if she feels that it is too dirty. It is best to clean your cat’s litter

every day or at the very least every second or third day. The dirtier a litter box gets

the less likely it is that your cat is going to continue to use it. Your cat wants to

eliminate in a clean environment and if she notices that every time she eliminates on

the carpet you immediately run and clean it up she perceives that as a more

desirable place to eliminate because it is so quickly cleaned. Keeping your cat’s

litter as clean as possible is the best way to avoid this problem, and remember, what

you consider clean, your cat may not.

In addition to emptying the litter, you obviously need to change it from time to time

as well in order to ensure good cat health and cleanliness. Weekly changing is best,

this ensures that odors and wetness won’t have too much time to build up to

unacceptable levels and it also reduces the likelihood of sickness due to high levels

of bacteria.

2. Stress. A cat eliminating outside of the litter box may also be a sign for

stress.

The introduction of a new person or animal into the household may be putting a lot

of stress on your cat. Cats generally like to feel like they know what is going on and

what they can expect. If you upset that balance by introducing a new creature (even

a two legged one) into the household they may get stressed which can cause them

to eliminate outside the box.

If you leave your cat alone for long periods of time (for example while you take

vacations or go on business trips) and you come back you may

notice that your cat will sometimes seem aloof and standoffish. This is another

instance in which your cat may react with eliminating outside the litter box as a sort

of protest to what she perceives as being abandoned.

A new piece of furniture, or conversely, a newly missing piece of furniture may also

put stress on your cat. Order and comfort are important if you are a cat. If you

decide to get rid of that old fabric sofa because of it’s ugly pea green color and

because it’s falling apart at the seams and then you replace it with a brand new,

slick, top of the line, leather sofa with a refrigerator built into the side, and a

massage and heating function, your cat is unlikely to see this as a stylish upgrade

the way you would. What your cat will probably see is that one of her favorite nap

spots has disappeared only to be replaced by something she is unfamiliar with and

intimidated by.

3. Changing Litter Brands. Cats are creatures of habit and can also be

quite finicky (remember Morris, the 9 Lives cat?). If you’ve recently switched the

brand of litter you usually buy this may be cause for your cat to find another place

to go. Some litters are perfumed (for humans rather than cats) and your cat may

not react well to these smells, or perhaps your cat was used to a less dusty type

of litter, a particular litter’s texture, or who knows what. Changing brands or types

of litter may upset what your cat is comfortable with and the result may be a messy

carpet. If you suspect this to be the cause, you can either switch back, or

gradually introduce the new litter. Try mixing in a little bit of the new litter with the

older brand at first and gradually step up the percentage of the new litter each time

you change the box, eventually you will be able to replace the older brand

altogether. This will help your cat ease into the new litter brand rather than upset

her sense of the order of things.

4. Multiple Cats. As mentioned above a second animal may cause a cat to

begin to

eliminate outside of the litter box, but this may not necessarily be the result of

stress. A second cat in your household should probably have his own litter box

unless your cats have proven they don’t mind sharing. Again, remember cats are

clean creatures and they can be territorial as well. Some cats may not mind using

the same box, but others may refuse, which means again, the carpet becomes litter

box number two.

5. Litter Box Size Or Placement. If the litter box does not provide enough

room for

your cat she may not use it at all. Your cat will likely want to scratch around and be

able to feel comfortable in the litter box. Make sure it is roomy enough, easy

for your cat to get in and out of (the sides of the box should be lower for kittens

than for adult cats), and not in a high traffic area as cats seem to like some

degree of privacy when eliminating. Lastly, make sure your cat has access to the

litter at all times. Putting your litter box in a room that is closed on occasion is a

recipe for disaster. If your cat has to go and she can’t get to the room that you’ve

put the litter in then she really will have no other alternative than to find another

suitable area to eliminate.

6. Medical Issues. Your cat may be experiencing kitty incontinence. Like

humans,

incontinence can strike animals and this may be an indication of other medical

issues with your cat. As a cat ages, she becomes more likely to lose control of her

bodily functions just like a human does. If you suspect age or medical reasons may

be the cause for your kitty’s litter box problems then you should take her to the vet

for an examination, advice and possible treatment to resolve the problem.

WHEN YOUR CAT MAKES A MESS

If your cat does make a mess outside of the litter box it is generally not good

practice to scold her or punish her. Putting her nose in the mess and then tossing

her in the litter is not going to solve your problem. Being upset with your cat is

natural after such an incident, but to display this behavior and then to put her in the

litter box is only making your cat associate the litter box with a bad experience.

Your cat may also begin to learn to be afraid of you, which is obviously not what you

want. Your best solution is to clean up the mess quickly. Put your cat in the litter

box and be friendly and speak in a calming voice with the cat. Scrape the clean

litter with your fingers and make sure your cat sees this behavior, hopefully it will

sink in. To avoid having your cat defecate in the same place outside the litter box a

second (or third) time, cover the area with a plastic sheet or something hard that

will result in your cat splashing herself with her own urine if she should chose that

place to defecate again. Clean the smell as best you can (white vinegar may help,

but make sure your furniture or carpet can handle it). You can also move her food

dish on top of or near the area that she used to defecate, a cat will not want to

defecate near her food source. If your cat uses the litter again, even just once,

reward her, play with her, pet her, give her a treat, make her associate the litter box

with a good experience rather than a bad one.

A cat that eliminates outside of the box is not a lost cat. Don’t give up on her until

you’ve explored the possible reasons for the problem. Once you find it, you can

most likely correct it and kitty and human can live a happy co-existence once again.

Andy Markison is an illustrator, graphic designer, animal lover and pet owner living in Germany. His website, ZapGraphix.com, sells fun and humorous pet related grapchics and gift merchandise.

PHP Hypertext Preprocessor is a server side language used to built dynamic web applications. PHP is one of the most robust, famous and easy to follow dynamic languages that can help you achieve great results with less efforts. Most of the web applications build today are based on PHP platform. Why should you use PHP for your web applications and building websites? Well here are few good reasons you should know and consider in making PHP your choice of programming knowledge for the web projects.

Free Web Development Language

PHP is developed under free license. This means you are free to use it for any purpose. Whether it is for your personal use or for a corporate project you do not need to spend a penny on it. PHP is completely free to use and modify.

Old as Gold

PHP is also one of the oldest programming languages available in the market. With its long going development time it has consistently remain in the market and that too at the top position.

Cost Efficient

Although its free, it will even reduce your cost for hosting your applications on the server. PHP works best under Unix and Linux operating systems which are again free and open source and reduces deployment cost. Thus it will save you a lot on your web server hosting.

Easy to Learn Language

PHP is not like other languages that require time and more efforts to learn. Spending a few months with PHP will make you well versed with the language and also make you able to develop your own PHP projects in no time.

Database Support

PHP works with number of databases including MySQL, MSSQL, Oracle, IBM etc. MySQL is again a free database which will again reduce your development and deployment cost.

Compatibility with Servers

PHP is compatible with almost all kinds of web servers available in the market. Since it is designed to run on any operating system, this makes it easy to deploy, transfer and update. Hence no compatibility issues with servers.

Open Source Content Management Systems Powered by PHP

There a number of open source and powerful content management systems which are developed using PHP. Hence again reducing your cost for web application development. These open source and free CMS can be used to build applications on the go.

Ready Made Frameworks

There are number of frameworks available in the market which are developed with PHP and for PHP. To list some of them are CodeIgniter, Zend etc. These frameworks are used worldwide by PHP developers to develop powerful PHP applications.

Famous and Proven

Some of the worlds most famous and used websites are built using PHP. To list few of them are Facebook, Yahoo, Wikipedia, WordPress etc. This shows that PHP is not just any other language. It is a big guy and tough competitor to other languages like Java, C etc

Worldwide PHP Developers

PHP Developers are located worldwide and you can find enormous amount of support through forums and blogs on any difficulty with PHP development. If that’s not enough you can hire a professional PHP developer.

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Your children are the most important things in your home. It is important that you take care of them and provide them with their own area to live in and take responsibility for. When you create a space for your children it gives them a place to call their own and makes them feel more comfortable in the home. One way to designate a place for your children to play is by putting childrens furniture in different places of the home. Things like childrens chairs can be a great addition to your home because they can be purchased to match the style, interests, and size of your children.

When you are choosing childrens chairs for your children you will want to keep their interests in mind. It is easy to overlook the opinions of a child but by choosing themes that they like you may be making the space more comfortable and inviting for them. This does not mean that your child has to make every decision on which furniture you put in their area but it does mean that you should keep their likes in mind as you choose furniture for them.

If you are in the market for childrens chairs and other furniture you may want to start your search on the Internet. The Internet is a great resource when looking for childrens furniture because it allows you to look through the inventory of many different stores without visiting the actual store. You will have the same access to products that you would if you visited the store in person but will be able to do your shopping much more quickly. Another huge benefit that the Internet offers is that you have the option to ship the furniture directly to your home. It is tough to beat an online store that allows you to shop in your pajamas and will deliver your packages directly to your front door.

As you look for childrens chairs you will want to keep quality in mind. It is important to choose furniture for your children that is made from quality materials and made to last. Children can be hard on things so it makes durable products that can last through several children that much more important to buy.

Involve your children in the process of purchasing furniture for them as much as you can. Even if you just have your child at your side as you look at childrens chairs they will feel important and probably like the furniture more when it arrives.

Childrens Chairs are ergonomically made for a child. To find more information on Kids Chairs, visit http://www.LittlePeoplesCove.com. We provide children with great old fashion fun and excitement, while teaching them skills for the future.

I love to cook over real fire! Whether on a gas grill, charcoal grill, smoker grill, fire pit or even in my fireplace, cooking with fire is fun and creates unique and delicious aromas and flavors that enhance many foods greatly. But by far my very favorite way to cook is over a real hardwood firewood fire. While good charcoal and smoker cooking can certainly give you some nice char-broiled wood flavors, there is nothing quite like a real wood fire. There is something very primitive and romantic about it, harking back to pre-modern times when food was all cooked over an open wood fire.

Most people do not take advantage of real wood to cook anymore because technology has made things easier for us. Between gas stoves and grills and easy to light charcoal, cooking with fire is quick, easy and pretty much hassle free nowadays. However, there is something to be said for a leisurely afternoon, building a real fire and then using that fire to perfectly cook your grilled meal. Sometimes I don’t want “quick”, “easy” or the bare minimum.

So for all those like-minded grillers out there, those who want to get a little more primitive and a lot more delicious, here are some tips for how to cook with real firewood on your grill, fire pit or even in your fireplace. It takes some time and it take some practice to get right, but I think you will love the results!

Choose Good Hardwoods

At the heart of great wood cooking is good firewood which burns long, hot and gives off savory aromas. Don’t skimp in this department! All of the smoky, grilled flavor that you get in your food comes from your wood so if you use bad wood, your results will be bad. So what is bad? First of all, avoid softwoods in general.

Softwoods burn easily and hot but don’t burn as long and don’t tend to develop long-lasting hot embers at their core. Softwoods, like pine for example, also tend to be fairly resinous and many give off piney or other sharp smells which, while not unpleasant, do not pair well with food. You can use softwoods to help get your fire started, but what you really want for the majority of your firewood is good, seasoned hardwoods.

Hardwoods are denser and will burn longer and hotter. They take longer to get started, but the extra work is worth it. There are dozens of hardwoods that make great fuel for cooking, some of which have very distinct and delicious aromas and flavors. Oak is very common, which gives off a rich, smokey aroma. I prefer fruit and nut woods as they tend to have a milder, almost sweet, aroma. Some excellent choices are almond wood, apple wood, pear wood, and pecan wood, if you can find them. Most people know about mesquite and hickory for smoking, but they are also hardwoods which make excellent fuel. If you happen to live on a vineyard, old grape vine cuttings make great wood for quick fires!

Build Your Fire Ahead

As I mentioned above, starting a hardwood fire can take some time to really get going. In addition, because you want to cook with embers as much as possible, you want to give your fire a chance to burn down as much as possible before you throw food on top. This can take quite a long time and depending on how much you are planning to cook and how big your fire pit or grill is, this can take literally several hours to build the fire, keep feeding it to build up a core of embers, and then let the large flames die down before starting to cook. Of note, while I generally prefer to do this type of wood fire cooking on an outdoor fire pit with a grill grate, most people don’t realize that you can burn a wood fire in most heavy duty charcoal grills as long as it is big enough. I have used the large Weber 22-1/2″ charcoal kettle grills to good effect as well as some Char-Broil charcoal grills.

Cook with Embers

As mentioned above, when cooking with real firewood, cooking over the hot embers is ideal. Why? A new fire, which has just been started does not give off much heat. Additionally, there are large flames coming up from the wood. If you lay a grill grate across this young fire, you will not get much radiant heat and instead will have big open flames lapping up around your food. This spells disaster for grill cooking! Your food will not cook on the inside very fast and the outside will catch fire and get burned to a crisp in no time!

To avoid this and to get the most of your firewood, take your time and start early. Red glowing embers give off tons of heat and don’t have big flames. If cooking in a fire pit or large grill, start your fire early and keep adding wood for a while to build up a deep core of hot, glowing red embers at the bottom. Then let the top wood burn down until you barely have any flames left, just a big, deep pile of red embers. These embers give off a lot of heat and because they don’t have large flames, they are less likely to char your food to a crisp. Only then should you lay your grill grate across and add your food. If you are cooking a lot and the heat starts to die down, stirring the embers with a poker helps to get more oxygen to the wood and will increase the heat for a while. If you really need more fuel, you can add firewood to the side and only push it over, under the cooking area, when it has burned down and no longer has large flames.

Rotisserie Cooking

One way to get a lot out of your wood fire cooking is to use a rotisserie. There are various rotisserie contraptions that can be purchased at grilling and camping supply stores. These are basically a large motorized or hand-turned spit that rotates over your fire pit. This is advantages for several reasons. First of all, for large roasts, such as whole poultry, pigs, and other large roasts, it gives you a very even, consistent cooking heat throughout the meat so that your food stays succulent and evenly done.

Also, for these larger roasts, laying them directly over hot embers can burn the surface long before the interior is even warm. Finally, the rotisserie can hold your food a considerable distance above your wood fire so that you can even cook over open flames without your food burning. If high enough, only the rising heat, not the actual flames, reaches your food, which is perfectly rotated in the aromatic smoke. Therefore, prep time is reduced as you don’t have to burn your wood down to embers first, although some embers help to supply adequate heat. For grilled leg of lamb and whole chicken and game birds, rotisserie cooking over a fire pit is one of my favorites!

Fireplace Cooking

In the winter it is often too cold outside to cook outdoors. However, many of us have a wonderful real wood cooking area right in our homes, although some of us don’t realize it. Most fireplaces are used exclusively for heat and ambiance these days, but years ago it was the primary cooking area in many houses. I love hearth cooking and it is not as difficult as most people think. For most types of fireplace cooking, special equipment is needed. There are fireplace cranes available which hold a handled Dutch oven pot or kettle over your fire to cook stews, soups or coffee. Fireplace grills are available which is basically a grill grate that sits over your firewood grate in the fireplace and allows you to grill any number of foods.

Even fireplace rotisseries are available which sit just in front of the fireplace and slowly turn your roast meats. But if you don’t want to invest in any extra equipment, there is always string-turned fireplace cooking. Traditionally a way to roast a leg of lamb in front of the fire, I have adapted string-turning to roast a number of different types of roasts, from whole poultry to tri-tip. All you need is a long piece of kitchen twine and a screw or hook installed in your mantle above your fireplace. The weight of the roast slowly spins it on the string so that you have a poor man’s rotisserie without a lot of extra equipment!

An Alternative

Finally, if all of the above seems like too much work and too much hassle there are easier alternatives to infuse wood smoke flavor into your food. Using smoking wood chips or chunks in either a barbecue or dedicated smoker grill is an option. Smoker cooking can really give you rich, aromatic smoke flavors in your foods. However, because you are using standard charcoal or gas as a fuel source, you avoid much of the hassle of cooking with real firewood.

I hope these tips help to get you started cooking with real firewood to bring your grill cooking to a new level of fun and flavor. Remember to always be safe when using fire of any type! Follow all basic fire safety rules so that only your food gets cooked!

Josh Dusick is the editor of the Fire Pit and Grilling Guru website at http://www.firepit-and-grilling-guru.com where you can get information about grills, barbecues, fire pits, indoor grills, firewood, charcoal, grill and fire pit cooking, cooking in your fireplace, grill food and wine pairing and even how to build an outdoor fire pit. Take your cooking with fire to the next level!

How a student pays for college depends on many factors. The most important question to be answered is when should a student start “saving” for college? My answer to that question is “when the student enters this world as a newborn”. The very fortunate students are those who had parents who began saving money at birth. There are many financial instruments in which parents can invest, such as 529 accounts, plus many states have their own state educational bonds.

However, for most students there will not be trust funds or yearly family income available for college costs without borrowing, receiving federal financial aid or receiving college scholarships. Paying for colleges becomes a reality to most college students when they are admitted and the real cost of college becomes apparent. This is less than ideal, and can often cause students to panic. But late starts are typical and there are many avenues available to help students.

College scholarships are the best sources for paying for college because these awards do not have to be repaid. Of course, being awarded college scholarships typically depends on academics, specific talents wanted by a college or financial need. Scholarships are awarded by universities and private organizations, each with their own criteria for applying and awarding. Unfortunately, most students do not receive enough scholarship funding to cover the entire cost of college.

So the big question becomes how to deal with a gap in funding. The most important step in paying for college is to apply for federal student aid, or FAFSA. However, many students may not be eligible for federal aid. Some students will begin by attending a community college for the first two years to be able to take the general education courses and save money. Some students will join the military and have the armed services help with their educational costs. Other students will work part time or full time while attending college.

Working and attending college at the same time requires good time management skills, and a plan on how many courses can be handled each semester while working. To receive federal financial aid students must be enrolled full time. This typically means taking a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Another strategy to finding a way to pay for college is for students to apply to colleges who will want to “buy” them and give them college scholarships. This means looking at less competitive colleges or smaller schools. Do not confuse the degree of difficulty of being admitted to school with the excellence of the education.

Remember that college admission is often based on supply and demand, and there are colleges that just receive way too many applications and can only admit a small percentage of the applicants. This does not mean that colleges who admit a larger percentage of their applicants are not as good academically. Keep the bigger picture, which is to get a college education that provides you with the skills to be successful, in mind. Take a look at where the Fortune 500 individuals attended college and you will see it is not the name of the college that moved them along to the road of success.

Colleges that are really interested in a student will provide college scholarship money. Search for those colleges. You are encouraged to be resourceful prior to going to college and use the web to search out college scholarships both offered by individual colleges or outside organizations. Believe it or not, there are some colleges that do not charge any tuition such as Berea and Cooper Union College. There are also colleges that allow students to lock in a tuition rate for the four years of college.

Finishing college in four years can help keep down costs. Campuses may provide opportunities for odd jobs or freelance work to bring in money. Do not overlook the opportunities that exist for doing community work that will provide money to pay for college. Public service jobs are well known for helping students to pay off their debt.

How can you pay for college?

• Be resourceful
• See the bigger picture
• Find colleges that fit your education and budget requirements
• Find companies that will hire you and pay for your education
• Enter fields of study where there is debt forgiveness if you work in the field
• File for Federal Financial Aid with FAFSA
• Seek out college scholarships
• Begin saving for college at a young age even if it is $5 per week
• Do not seek a college based on name recognition alone

I want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to go to college. This means getting in, finding the right college fit and paying for school. I love to share what I’ve learned and I hope you can find some useful information useful in your college search.

For most cat owners, training their cat to use the litter is a relatively painless process. It is among a cat’s natural instincts to eliminate in an area that they can cover their feces in. This behavior may be a way of your cat accepting what they perceive to be as the natural order of dominance. In the wild feral cats will bury their feces if they are not at the top of their social hierarchy, if a feral cat does not bury his or her feces it is likely that the cat exhibiting that behavior is the dominant feline. So when your housecat buries his or her waste he or she may be recognizing your role as the dominant animal in their social community. It is also possible, however, that your cat may be displaying his or her inherited instinct to bury his or her feces in order to hide their trail from would be predators.

Generally kittens will learn the behavior of burying their feces and using the litter

through their mother once they are weaned assuming the mother is litter trained.

So if you bring home a young kitten of about 12 weeks, you may only need to

place kitty in the litter box and gently scratch the clean litter with your fingers

shortly after she eats to indicate to her what she is to do.

KITTY DIDN’T TAKE TO THE LITTER RIGHT AWAY

If your new cat doesn’t take to litter training after your first few attempts you may

want to consider teaching her using another common method. Confine your new

addition to a small but comfortable room, preferably one with a hard floor if you

have one. Place both the litter box and the food dish in the room but don’t place

them close to one another. Your cat will naturally not want to defecate near its food

source so she will look for another area. Eliminate any pillows, blankets,

newspapers, towels or other soft items where your cat may decide to eliminate from

the room before you close her in. If you have confined your cat to a room with hard

floors she is likely to avoid eliminating on the floor since urinating is likely to splash

back and get on her fur. The only remaining choice to the cat at this point is

(hopefully) the litter box.

MY CAT STOPPED USING THE LITTER

If your cat was housebroken and all the sudden she seems to have

forgotten that instinct there are a few possibilities you might want to consider

before giving up.

1. Does Kitty Have A Dirty Litter Box? The most common cause of a

housetrained cat to stop using the litter is your cat

disagreeing with the level of cleanliness regarding her litter box. Your cat is more

likely to

stop using the litter if she feels that it is too dirty. It is best to clean your cat’s litter

every day or at the very least every second or third day. The dirtier a litter box gets

the less likely it is that your cat is going to continue to use it. Your cat wants to

eliminate in a clean environment and if she notices that every time she eliminates on

the carpet you immediately run and clean it up she perceives that as a more

desirable place to eliminate because it is so quickly cleaned. Keeping your cat’s

litter as clean as possible is the best way to avoid this problem, and remember, what

you consider clean, your cat may not.

In addition to emptying the litter, you obviously need to change it from time to time

as well in order to ensure good cat health and cleanliness. Weekly changing is best,

this ensures that odors and wetness won’t have too much time to build up to

unacceptable levels and it also reduces the likelihood of sickness due to high levels

of bacteria.

2. Stress. A cat eliminating outside of the litter box may also be a sign for

stress.

The introduction of a new person or animal into the household may be putting a lot

of stress on your cat. Cats generally like to feel like they know what is going on and

what they can expect. If you upset that balance by introducing a new creature (even

a two legged one) into the household they may get stressed which can cause them

to eliminate outside the box.

If you leave your cat alone for long periods of time (for example while you take

vacations or go on business trips) and you come back you may

notice that your cat will sometimes seem aloof and standoffish. This is another

instance in which your cat may react with eliminating outside the litter box as a sort

of protest to what she perceives as being abandoned.

A new piece of furniture, or conversely, a newly missing piece of furniture may also

put stress on your cat. Order and comfort are important if you are a cat. If you

decide to get rid of that old fabric sofa because of it’s ugly pea green color and

because it’s falling apart at the seams and then you replace it with a brand new,

slick, top of the line, leather sofa with a refrigerator built into the side, and a

massage and heating function, your cat is unlikely to see this as a stylish upgrade

the way you would. What your cat will probably see is that one of her favorite nap

spots has disappeared only to be replaced by something she is unfamiliar with and

intimidated by.

3. Changing Litter Brands. Cats are creatures of habit and can also be

quite finicky (remember Morris, the 9 Lives cat?). If you’ve recently switched the

brand of litter you usually buy this may be cause for your cat to find another place

to go. Some litters are perfumed (for humans rather than cats) and your cat may

not react well to these smells, or perhaps your cat was used to a less dusty type

of litter, a particular litter’s texture, or who knows what. Changing brands or types

of litter may upset what your cat is comfortable with and the result may be a messy

carpet. If you suspect this to be the cause, you can either switch back, or

gradually introduce the new litter. Try mixing in a little bit of the new litter with the

older brand at first and gradually step up the percentage of the new litter each time

you change the box, eventually you will be able to replace the older brand

altogether. This will help your cat ease into the new litter brand rather than upset

her sense of the order of things.

4. Multiple Cats. As mentioned above a second animal may cause a cat to

begin to

eliminate outside of the litter box, but this may not necessarily be the result of

stress. A second cat in your household should probably have his own litter box

unless your cats have proven they don’t mind sharing. Again, remember cats are

clean creatures and they can be territorial as well. Some cats may not mind using

the same box, but others may refuse, which means again, the carpet becomes litter

box number two.

5. Litter Box Size Or Placement. If the litter box does not provide enough

room for

your cat she may not use it at all. Your cat will likely want to scratch around and be

able to feel comfortable in the litter box. Make sure it is roomy enough, easy

for your cat to get in and out of (the sides of the box should be lower for kittens

than for adult cats), and not in a high traffic area as cats seem to like some

degree of privacy when eliminating. Lastly, make sure your cat has access to the

litter at all times. Putting your litter box in a room that is closed on occasion is a

recipe for disaster. If your cat has to go and she can’t get to the room that you’ve

put the litter in then she really will have no other alternative than to find another

suitable area to eliminate.

6. Medical Issues. Your cat may be experiencing kitty incontinence. Like

humans,

incontinence can strike animals and this may be an indication of other medical

issues with your cat. As a cat ages, she becomes more likely to lose control of her

bodily functions just like a human does. If you suspect age or medical reasons may

be the cause for your kitty’s litter box problems then you should take her to the vet

for an examination, advice and possible treatment to resolve the problem.

WHEN YOUR CAT MAKES A MESS

If your cat does make a mess outside of the litter box it is generally not good

practice to scold her or punish her. Putting her nose in the mess and then tossing

her in the litter is not going to solve your problem. Being upset with your cat is

natural after such an incident, but to display this behavior and then to put her in the

litter box is only making your cat associate the litter box with a bad experience.

Your cat may also begin to learn to be afraid of you, which is obviously not what you

want. Your best solution is to clean up the mess quickly. Put your cat in the litter

box and be friendly and speak in a calming voice with the cat. Scrape the clean

litter with your fingers and make sure your cat sees this behavior, hopefully it will

sink in. To avoid having your cat defecate in the same place outside the litter box a

second (or third) time, cover the area with a plastic sheet or something hard that

will result in your cat splashing herself with her own urine if she should chose that

place to defecate again. Clean the smell as best you can (white vinegar may help,

but make sure your furniture or carpet can handle it). You can also move her food

dish on top of or near the area that she used to defecate, a cat will not want to

defecate near her food source. If your cat uses the litter again, even just once,

reward her, play with her, pet her, give her a treat, make her associate the litter box

with a good experience rather than a bad one.

A cat that eliminates outside of the box is not a lost cat. Don’t give up on her until

you’ve explored the possible reasons for the problem. Once you find it, you can

most likely correct it and kitty and human can live a happy co-existence once again.

Andy Markison is an illustrator, graphic designer, animal lover and pet owner living in Germany. His website, ZapGraphix.com, sells fun and humorous pet related grapchics and gift merchandise.

Designing Fantasy Sports Jerseys

Are you designing your own fantasy sports team jersey on a tight budget… But you don’t know where to start, right? Well, there are a few things to think about when you want to show your team spirit, especially if you are the champion of your fantasy sports league! You might win a custom championship jersey from your league, if you ended up top in your standings, but even if you are in last place, you can still find places to design your own jersey. I know of a place that will help you design and print your own jersey on the Internet, but they were charging $150 to set it up and print it!

There has got to be a cheaper way, right? Well, once I did a little checking, there are a number of ways you can design and print your own jerseys or t-shirts, but there are some people that think it is worth the $150 to not have to go through the hassle. They do have some pretty good quality jerseys in all colors and t-shirts are cheaper, but if you already have photos, artwork and publishing software to print your own, it is pretty easy to do!

For one thing, there are so many different options to consider, when you want to design and print your own jerseys or t-shirts. Actually, there are some local shirt shops that will probably do it for a lot less than that, even if you are only getting one customized fantasy sports team jersey! You can buy iron-on transfer paper for your printer and use publishing or photo editing workshop software to get creative and make your own jerseys or t-shirts for much less. In fact, I think you can find the iron-on transfer paper at the office supply store and there are many free software choices on the Internet.

That just leaves you searching for the design for your custom fantasy sports team jersey, but that shouldn’t be that difficult and you probably already have something in mind. It depends on what fantasy sport you are playing and whether you want to personalize your team or if you might already have a name. When you are designing your logo, be sure to think of fun animals or cartoon caricatures to include and you might be better off spending a little extra money to have this created for you by a budding and aspiring caricature artist!

If you have a little talent and one of those neat little digital tablets, you can draw about anything and print it out, but make your design personalized and interesting or you might as well not waste the money! You can get ideas from the Internet or look at some of the uniforms that the college teams wear because they always have interesting color combination and logos. If you are into fantasy sports like I am, you probably already have the perfect logo in mind and a print shop or graphic artist might be able to handle the entire job for you, but you can find places on the Internet that are more affordable and let you get by without a minimum order.

I love fantasy sports, designing my own custom fantasy sports jerseys and collecting sports memorabilia. If you do too, you can find out more information and come to chat or visit at http://thesportsbreak.com.

There is an inherent challenge in finding and selecting TV Mounts, online or off-line, that will enable you to attach your television to the wall or to the ceiling.

Often times, the limited space in your home or office, will require you to employ creative organization techniques in order to be able to decide the most appropriate placement of your television, within a room.

In doctors’ offices, restaurants, day cares, and other offices, it often makes the most sense to utilize a ceiling mount configuration for the placement of the TV. In any environment where it is important to separate the TV from interference by the public, in the operation of the television set, a ceiling TV mount frequently offers the best solution.

Even in the home, TV wall mounts and TV ceiling mounts frequently offer the best solution to the consumer. Before the days of flat-screen TVs, placing a television in the kitchen often meant that the consumer would be required to give up precious cabinet space or shelf space to accommodate the television.

However, with the recent development of thin flat-screen televisions, it has become possible to mount a television to a wall, in some cases to utilize a TV Mount that employs hinges, which will enable the consumer to move the television so that it may be viewed from any location within a room.

TV Mounts have been utilized for the mounting of televisions in nearly every room of the home, including the bedroom, bathroom, laundry room, kitchen, dining areas, and living areas.

Outside the kitchen, the most frequent placement of televisions. in the home. utilizing TV Mounts has been in the living area. With the introduction of Plasma, LCD, and DLP televisions, the desire and the ability to mount televisions to the wall in a common living space has grown in lockstep with the development of new technology and selection.

Also driving the interest in wall mounting televisions is the size of the televisions being purchased. Only a couple decades back, the largest televisions a consumer could buy were 36 inches. With the development of projection TVs, 60 inch televisions became mainstream and part of everybody’s Christmas wish list.

With the large demand for big-screen projection TVs, television manufacturers began doing the research into developing TVs that could produce a nice picture, but overcame the number one flaw projection TVs. That flaw in projection TVs was not in the quality of the picture or in its cost – the flaw in projection TVs was the astronomical size of these televisions. Far too often, the placement of a projection TV in somebody’s living room was enough to reduce the comfortable living space in a room. Unless the consumer lived in a mansion upon the hill, the projection TV had the capability to swallow any room that it was placed into.

Different manufacturers went different ways in the development of new televisions that would deliver a great picture, yet require a smaller footprint in a room. Some manufacturers pursued plasma TVs, and others invested heavily in LCD TVs. Out of the gate, Hitachi developed one of the best plasma televisions in the marketplace. At the same time, Sony was pursuing the development of LCD TVs. To this day, Sony is responsible for developing the most popular and highest selling LCD televisions in the marketplace. Samsung took a different track, by pursuing the development of the DLP TVs. DLP televisions have not yet gained the same level of acceptance that plasma and LCD televisions have gained.

With the development of plasma-display TVs and liquid crystal display (LCD) televisions, came the ability for consumers to wall-mount their new televisions.

You might assume that the television manufacturers would have designed their televisions in such a way that a standard wall-mounted bracket could be used with all of the TVs, from one manufacture. If you were to assume such a thing, you’d be sadly disappointed.

There are cases where a particular TV Mount can be used with a variety of television models. But those kinds of TV Mounts are the exception, rather than the rule.

It is possible to find TV mounting brackets that are defined as compatible with specific television models. In other cases, the definition of how a TV mount can be used will be dictated by the size of the television. In this second case, the TV mount will suggest that it can be used with, for example, a 17 inch to a 24 inch television at a particular style. For ceiling mounted TVs, most are designed to accommodate a tube television. For wall-mounted TVs, TV Mounts can be purchased for nearly every television currently available.

It is often in your best interests, to have handy the model number of your television set when shopping for a TV mount for your home or office. In the event that you are unable to find a specific TV Mount for your television, then you should have handy the measurements of your television to enable you to find a more generic TV Mount.

If you find the selection of TV Mounts to be more challenging than you would like, visit my website shown below to see if I can offer you any help for your specific television mounting challenges.

Coalton Cassady writes for the http://maxroo.com/ website, which is dedicated to helping consumers learn what they need to know to be able to make educated and intelligent decisions about their purchases. One topic he has tackled that is of great interest to many consumers is TV Mounts, used to mount televisions to the wall or ceiling. Learn more at: http://tvmounts.maxroo.com/

Personalised children’s furniture is one way to make truly one of a kind pieces for your child. Even if you are not artistic, this process can be simple, fun, easy and you and your child will be thrilled at the results. Perhaps you have been avoiding doing any personalising of the furniture because you are concerned that it is too difficult. If this is the case, try some of the simple suggestions below:

* At a craft store buy the unfinished wooden letters that spell out your child’s name. Using their favorite colors, paint the letters either solid colors or make patterns. After painting finish with a clear coat of varnish to add sheen. Glue the letters using a hot glue gun or wood glue onto the surface of mirror frames, dressers or headboards.

* Wooden cut out designs or silhouettes can be painted and added to any piece of furniture. Pick designs that reflect your child’s hobbies or interests. If they are sports fans team logos, favorite players numbers or other team images can be used.

* Stenciling is an easy way to become an instant artist. Simply purchase a stencil that your child likes, and then, using a stencil glue, spray the back of the stencil. Press it gently against the surface you wish to stencil on. Using a stencil brush, gently fill in the stencil area with the desired colors. Carefully remove the stencil by pulling straight off the surface.

* For many young girls glass “gems” and other silver or gold looking flat beads add style and fashion to mirror edges or picture frames. This look is simple and will only require the items to be added with a hot glue gun. Children can help but will need supervision and should not use the glue gun themselves.

* Art wire can also be used to add details. It can be twisted or twirled to make a pattern across the furniture and then glued on with a glue gun or other spray type adhesive.

* Geometric patterns can be used to personalize items. Simply pick a shape or two and paint them onto the surface. It is great to use contrasting colors and outline the shapes in black to really make them stand out.

* Small inch-by-inch tiles can be used to make a patterned headboard, dresser top or table top for your child’s room. Use colors that are favorites to personalize the furniture. Patterns can be made by simply placing different colored tiles on the surface. It is a good idea to lay out the tiles first before gluing them to the furniture so that any changes that need to be made can be easily done.

* Pictures of the child or the family can be placed on a tabletop or desk area and then covered with a layer of plexiglass or glass. The cover can then be attached to the table or desk with clamps. The great advantage of using clamps is that they can be easily removed and the pictures changed as the child ages or as new photos become available.

Personalising your child’s furniture is a fun and easy activity that anyone can do. Children often have great ideas about how to decorate their furniture, and enjoy working together with the family to create one of a kind items for their room.

Visit TheMagicalRockingHorse.com today for a great selection of stylish, affordable childrens furniture and coordinating kids room decor [http://www.themagicalrockinghorse.com/kids-room-decor.html].

Are you afraid to speak in the public? Do you want to overcome your fear of public speaking? If your answer to the two questions above is yes, then read on as I share with you my own personal experience on how I overcame my fear of public speaking.

If you think you are alone with this fear of public speaking; then think again. I also had the same fears and many people all over the world also share your fears to speak in public. I recall several incidents that occurred while I was growing up. As a child, I often got punished with the rest of my classmates for failing to answer the teacher’s question; even though I had the right answer within me.

I preferred to be punished with others than raise my hand to answer a question; my fear of public speaking was so strong that I would rather risked being punished in school than to see myself being exempted from punishment, simply because I answered a question.

If there was anything I hated most, it was standing out from the crowd; and public speaking was one thing I hate. I often missed school feigning illness just to avoid the debate classes organized by the school management. Now how did I overcome my fear of public speaking? That’s what I am going to share with you now.

In this article, I am going to share with you my step by step strategy to overcoming my fear of public speaking. If you are willing to learn and take some actions, then below is my ten step guide to overcoming your fear of public speaking.

1. I acknowledged my fears: The first step I took to overcome my fear of public speaking was to acknowledge my fears. I wasn’t shy about it; I openly admitted that I was afraid to speak publicly. One of the mistakes people make is that they hide their fears; and this fear eats them up silently. They feign boldness on the outside but inside; they pray that the earth should open and swallow them.

The positive side of openly admitting your fears is that you will become more challenged to overcome it. Openly admitting your fears means you are facing your fears head on. It might earn you some mockery but it’s a way to go especially if you can use that mockery as leverage to boost your determination.

2. I traced the root cause of this fear: The next step I took to overcome my fear of public speaking was to trace the root cause of the fear. I came to understand that the root cause of this fear was the mentality I grew up with. During my primary school days, I recall coming first in class term after term. I was happy and my parents were, but it put a strain between me and some of my childhood friends.

My friends began to pull back from me because they felt they were out of my league academically and it hurt me. I wanted to be like everyone else; that was where I developed the attitude to avoid “standing out.” If being outstanding was going to single me out of the crowd, then I didn’t want it. Now having understood the cause of my fears, I decided to attack the root cause. I began to be me, regardless of what people said. I began to take on challenges, not because I loved challenges but I just wanted people to talk. This attitude pitched me against people who felt I was showing off but I didn’t care; I just wanted to be me.

3. I developed a strong desire to overcome my fear of public speaking: To be sincere, I don’t think you can overcome your fear of public speaking if you don’t desire it strongly. I was able to overcome mine because I desired it. I wanted to express myself in public without an iota of fear and I was prepared to do whatever it takes to bring such desire into reality.

4. I prepared my mindset to take whatever comes: I had a strong desire to overcome my fear of public speaking and also develop my public speaking skills. But deep down in me, I knew it wasn’t going to come easy; I knew there has to be a price and I was willing to pay it. I prepared my mind to accept whatever comes; I knew the worst may come so I prepared to meet it in advance. I prepared to take the booing, mockery and rejection that may arise in the process of learning to speak confidently in public. So if you really want to overcome your fear of public speaking, then you must be prepared to take whatever comes.

5. I kept an open mind: To overcome my fears, I kept an open mind. I knew I had to learn and learn real fast. Learning in this case is not the classroom kind of learning; it’s a type of lesson that can come in the form of suggestion, advice or even criticism.

6. I learned from the masters: The next step I took to overcome my fear of public speaking was to seek advice from the masters. I began to read books and listen to tapes authored by people such as Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar, Dale Carnegie, etc. By reading the materials published by these great public speakers, I tapped into their wisdom and gained inspiration from them.

7. I harnessed the power of positive affirmation: Another step I took to enhance my public speaking ability was to use positive affirmations. You might think it’s not effective but I stand to tell you that it works like magic. By using positive affirmations such as “I can do it” or “I know I am destined for this”, you will unconsciously boost your self esteem. Remember the bible says that the power of life and death is in the tongue, so learn to use the power of spoken words to your advantage.

8. I developed the passion to teach: Public speaking is more or less teaching. Most great public speakers are teachers so if I am going to excel as a public speaker; if I am to overcome my fear of public speaking, then I have to develop the passion to teach. That was how I became a teacher; sharing information over the web, on platforms and through hard copy materials.

9. I started small: Today, I speak on platforms; hold seminars and engage in one on one consultations but it was not so few years ago. I started small. I started out by practicing in front of a mirror; imagining myself standing on a stage. I worked on my body language and movement in my closet and from there; I proceeded to speaking for free. I also engaged in positive discussions and I wasn’t afraid to take a stand. I began to accept the crowd as a group of friends; never again was I to be scared of speaking in front of an audience.

10. I became a confident speaker: After taking the nine simple steps above, I became a confident speaker. I can now speak to any capacity of audience provided I am well grounded on the subject. But I want you to know that I didn’t develop my public speaking skills overnight; I underwent a process that was triggered off by my desire to overcome my fear of public speaking.

As a final note, these are the exact steps I took to overcome my fear of public speaking. If you take a close observation, you will notice that they are very simple steps. Well, overcoming your fear of public speaking will not occur by just reading this article. It will only happen if you take action just as I took action. I wish you good luck.

And just before I drop my pen, if you need Expert Advice on How to Start a Business from scratch; please feel free to visit my blog. In addition, you can also download my free definitive guide on How to Become a Millionaire fast in less than a year.

Automotive advertising agencies are being asked to deliver more for less by a consolidating auto industry in response to reduced sales volume, profit margins and automotive advertising budgets. The solution, as is often the case, lies in the leveraged use of technology applied to a constant in the auto industry — change. Another constant that can be found in the auto industry is human nature. These two constants, change and human nature, power the explosive growth of the use of social media by automotive advertising agencies. Unfortunately, the change is happening at warp speed on the Internet Super Highway and agencies don’t know what they don’t know when it comes to new technologies and applications being developed to monetize social media.

Attempts to provide a presence for automobile dealers on social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter fall short for the same reasons that these online communities of friends are so successful with consumers. People hate car dealers and they often turn to advice from like minded consumers on social networking sites to get away from them. Automotive advertising agencies that impose on these personal conversations with self serving sales messages are often ostracized and even virally attacked as an intruder. The potential damage to the online reputation of their auto dealer clients represents a risk to reward formula that has forced many agencies to abandon social media as a viable channel to deliver a retail sales or service message.

Fortunately, the same social media that teaches consumers how to buy a vehicle can provide automobile dealers with the information and the tools that they need to sell them one. Social networking portals developed by advertising professionals, automotive vendors and auto dealers allow their members to share best practices with the common philosophy that a rising tide floats all boats. Each online community boasts its own personality and rules of the road to keep members in their lane. The temptation to sell to each other is controlled by the same social pressures that exist on consumer facing social networks for those that forget why they are there — to listen and learn so they can presume to teach their auto dealers how they can sell cars and service to their online friends.

In addition to sharing best practices, many automotive advertising agencies use social media to discover new technologies and vendor applications that have not yet been discovered by the mainstream auto industry. Recent discoveries that I can contribute to my searches on social media include an automated video production platform that produces scalable interactive videos from pictures using human voice to narrate them that are placed on the auto dealer’s website and pushed through a dedicated API with YouTube onto the world wide web. An equally revolutionary discovery was a consumer centric inventory marketing platforms that offers auto dealers free listings and free leads with the ability to purchase real time market analytics and social networking profiles that empower the salesperson to answer the customer’s questions even before they ask them. Each of these vendor applications were introduced to the market through automotive advertising social networking communities that enabled them to listen and learn from their members about how they can improve their products and services before they introduced them to the general market. My access to these automotive advertising solutions was only possible as a result of the time I invested on social media looking for them so that I could stay one step ahead of the competition.

Online blog talk radio stations hosted on automotive advertising networking portals provide a another social media forum for finding and reviewing new automotive advertising solutions. Regularly scheduled blog talk radio shows with live interviews of the developers of bleeding edge automotive advertising applications allow their online audience to ask vendors questions in an open forum. These open exchanges of ideas in a problem solution format help the vendors as much as the automotive advertising decision makers that follow the shows. A new mobile sales presentation platform with an integrated training component was recently discussed on a blog talk radio show to solicit feedback from the audience. Their insights were used to modify the platform before the vendor began their beta test it in the real world saving thousands of wasted dollars and man hours that would normally be required to mature their application.

The opportunity for automotive advertising agencies and auto dealers to listen, learn and contribute to social networking communities allows them to discover what they don’t know while allowing them the opportunity to share what they do know. Auto dealers are people too/ The same efficiencies and extended resources that attract consumers to social media to research their next vehicle purchase is sourced by automotive advertising agencies who need to stay one step ahead of the competition in a consolidating auto industry that demands more for less. Automotive advertising agencies don’t know what they don’t know but they can definitely find out on auto industry focused social media. After all, what are friends for!

Philip Zelinger is a former auto dealer principal with an earned reputation as a nationally recognized automotive advertising expert specializing in the technology sector. His philosophy that a rising tide floats all boats motivates him to listen and learn so he can presume to teach. To that end, Philip shares best practices on the respected automotive advertising resource networking portal — http://AdAgencyOnline.Net — as well as the blog talk radio station featured on the site — WAAOL, All Automotive Advertising News All The Time — http://blogtalkradio.com/adagencyonline.

For a complimentary consultation on your automotive advertising needs, or to share your wisdom and insights with the online automotive advertising community hosted by Ad Agency Online, L.L.C.. vist the portal and contact Philip Zelinger directly. To quote Philip, “Help is only a click away because — after all, what are friends for!”

If you are a coach or part of a nonprofit kids group that wears uniforms then you know that it is important to get quality uniforms for a very low price. If your team has 12 to 15 games during the season let’s say for soccer or Little League, then your game shirts and uniforms will be worn perhaps 16 times including team pictures.

This also means that they will probably be washed at least 15 times in the wash machine. Uniforms go through a lot of the abuse on the field and in the wash. This is why you need strong uniforms. You also need lightweight material for better performance of your athletes, but with all that said; you also need to save money. This makes picking out uniforms very difficult when you are on a budget and sometimes it means you might need an extra car wash fundraiser or some were candy sales to make up the difference.

Now let’s talk about silk screening on team sport uniforms. When putting silk screens on uniforms you must be very careful not to make the logos to large because it can cause the shirts to stick together or get too hot. Also, as the athlete moves around the logo cannot be read if it is too big.

Many nylons type shirts will not be able to have silk screening because it will melt the shirt. These are all serious considerations to ask your uniform vendor about before spending the extra money on quality sportswear for your athletes. Please consider all this in 2006

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Congratulations!

By deciding to investigate the benefits of television advertising, you are taking the first step to more sales and faster profits. More businesses owners than ever are turning to television as a powerful tool to grow their profits. And it’s not the traditional “deep pockets” crowd either. Small and medium sized businesses are flocking to television advertising like never before. Some are coming away battered and bruised. But many are smiling ear to ear because they have unlocked the secrets to television advertising success – on a print or radio budget.

The Golden Rule?

Don’t let the tail wag the dog. You need to take control of your journey into television advertising so that it pays off.

Does that mean you have to be an expert?

No. But you do need to know how the industry and the medium work in order to end up with a cost-effective television advertising campaign.

Which is exactly why we prepared “An Insider Guide To Crossing Over To TV Advertising… On A Print Or Radio Budget..And Making Plenty Of Profit!”

It’s your GPS to an affordable and profitable TV Advertising experience.

Now is the best time in history for small business owners to use television advertising to explode their sales! Airtime and commercial and television production rates are the most affordable they’ve ever been! Specialty channels let you laser target your ideal sales prospect.

Television adds a level of credibility to you and your business like no other medium can do.

There’s a reason you’re seeing video pop up just about everywhere as more and more business owners come to the realization that the more senses you can appeal to, the more likely it is that you can gain a foothold in the most crowded place anywhere – your prospect’s mind.

Need any proof? Just look at the absolute astounding success of You Tube. People are attracted to watching video.

Isn’t it time you jumped on board and gave it a try?

The 5 secrets revealed below will help you leverage the power of television advertising in your business.

Secret #1 Have A Clear Unique Selling Message

This applies to all your marketing but is especially true when it comes to TV advertising.

You need to provide your prospects with a compelling reason to want to learn more about your product or service.

And, if you’re using a 30 or 60 second commercial to achieve this objective, you need to make sure your message is equipped to get your prospect to take the next step in your sales process.

That’s why you must have a very clear message.

What is the main benefit, promise or solution you want your prospect to walk away with?

Or, put another way, what is your unique selling proposition (USP)?

It’s important to have one otherwise you will have trouble differentiating your offer from those of your competitors.

Not sure how to boil it down to a simple clear message?

You can start by asking and answering the following questions:

• Why do people buy from you? Why do people NOT buy from you? Really give this some thought and make a list.
• What benefits do clients gain from doing business with you? People buy to gain benefits. What does your product or services DO for them
• What emotional appeal does your product or service have? Does it provide a sense of relief? Make your clients feel a sense of pride? Television provides the perfect forum for hitting your prospect’s emotional hot buttons.
• What problem do you solve or what need do you fulfill?

Another way to gather ideas for your USP is to survey your current clients.

Ask them WHY they bought from you. Find out what problem you solved for them why did they pick you over the competition? You may be surprised by the answers. People buy for different reasons.

In developing your USP, what you want to do is figure out the most common reason people decided to buy your product or service and then use that insight to create a powerful selling message that makes you stand out.

Don’t forget to check out your competitors. Many times what is obvious to you and your competitors, isn’t obvious to your potential clients. And you can use that differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack. Here’s an example… Years ago, Folgers coffee decided they needed to increase sales. Competition was everywhere. So what did they do? They started promoting the fact that Folger’s was mountain grown and stamped “Mountain Grown” on their coffee cans. Sales exploded. After all, coffee grown on a mountain simply had to be special. Right? What the average coffee drinker was unaware of is that fact that MOST coffee is mountain grown. Folger’s simply used this little known fact to make itself stand out. The more finely tuned your USP is, the more effective your television campaign will be – and all of your marketing for that matter.

Secret #2 Know Your Ideal Client

Your ability to generate sales leads from your television ad campaign will be greatly enhanced if you have a clear understanding of who your best prospects are and why they buy from you.

Otherwise it’s virtually impossible to create an effective television commercial.

This vital knowledge allows you to create a script that speaks to the specific needs of the people most likely to buy your offering and present your unique selling proposition in a compelling way.

Your message resonates and creates a natural attraction. But let’s say you’re not exactly sure who your ideal client is? Or why they buy? How do you go about finding out?

Well, a quick effective way to do it is to take a look at your current clients. Especially those you really enjoy working with. What do they have in common? Do they share a number of similar characteristics? You may already have a target market and just don’t realize it.

Here are just a few “target market” criteria you can use to define your niche.

• Age – try to narrow the age group range of your best prospects
• Gender – who makes the decision to purchase your products or services? Who might influence it? This is important to know so you can make the right appeal.
• Marital status (single, married, divorced)
• Household Income. Do your best to estimate the income of your target customer.
• Occupation – are your best prospects white collar construction, sales people, entrepreneurs, retired • Geographical region. (ex: Toronto, warm climate, people who live near water)
• Lifestyle (professional, conservative, risk-takers)
• Company size (self-employed professionals, Fortune 500, companies with $10 Million + in sales)
• Industry specific (a marketing consultant who focuses on solo-professionals)
• Leisure Time Activities – what do your customers do to relax and have fun? Hobbies? Pastimes? Once you complete your research – combining the information you have about your existing clients along with additional characteristics – you will be able to build your ideal target customer profile. This will give you will have a clearer understanding of the language and tone you should use in your script and what type of information your target market will be looking for.

And it will help pinpoint the type of audience your television commercial should be presented to in order to produce maximum sales results.

Secret #3 Be Involved In the Process

Many small and medium sized companies that shy away from television advertising quickly latch on to the “perceived” high cost (more about this in Secret #5) as a reason they have been reluctant to give it a try.

But there’s often another factor lurking in the background that keeps many businesses from enjoying the success a professionally created television commercial can create.

Simply put: for some, making the leap to the world of television advertising can be intimidating.

In print, you write your ad and the publication runs it. In radio, you record your commercial and the station plays it.

With television, there are a lot pieces that need to be pulled together to produce a successful advertising campaign and for those who haven’t been through the process before, it can be a real leap of faith.

You need to be a kind of project manager for your television advertising experience. Do you need to be an expert? No. But you do need a sense of what the process involves so you can add to the experience where applicable.

To help you understand the elements that provide the foundation for a successful TV advertising campaign, here is a checklist:

• Budget – Many small and medium sized businesses don’t realize that the money they are currently investing in radio or print ad campaigns could be used to create an effective television advertising campaign – provided you know the secret (we reveal it in Secret#5) to avoiding one of the major hidden costs TV advertising. Production costs and airtime will be the two main components of your budget.
• Script - The script is your ad in words. This is your core selling message. The script dictates who says what, the tone and expressions used, what is seen on screen, who moves when and where. A script will be necessary for your commercial.
• Talent – This includes on-camera talent and voiceover talent. The more well-known and in-demand the talent, the more you pay. For many advertisers, local and regional talent will produce a professional result.
• Production Elements – You need to decide what kind of graphics, audio, or music you want – along with any other special effects..
• Length – Typically, TV commercial spots run 30 seconds. You can also run in 15-second and 60-second increments. An “infomercial” often runs 30 – 60 minutes and costs more to produce and to run.

At the end of the process, your TV commercial should answer one very important question for the viewer:

‘What’s in it for me?’

The way to answer that question so that both you and your prospect end up with a positive outcome is to make sure your commercial is focused on how the viewer can benefit from your product or service.

No one can sell your offering better than you.

You must use every bit of selling information you can to gain favorable attention immediately with the viewer! Otherwise the viewer will click away and your investment will be wasted.

And last, but definitely not least…

Tell the viewer what you want him/her to do next!

It’s incredible how many new TV advertisers (and some longtime veterans) fail to ask the viewer to take the next step in their selling process make this mistake. Do you want them to visit your web site? Pick up a phone and call? Come into your store? You need to lead them to where you want them to go next. Now, let’s move on to one of the costliest mistakes television advertisers make along with tips on how you can avoid it.

Secret #4 Be “Marketing Ready” For Your Prospect

Most businesses today use advertising and marketing as a way of initiating a relationship with a prospect. The same is true of television advertising.

After all, a 30 second spot on TV isn’t going to answer every question.

If your commercial has done its job, the next step is to invite your prospect to learn more about you can benefit him/her.

This could involve an invitation to visit your web site, pick up a phone and call you or drop by your location.

It’s critical to make sure that whatever you ask your prospect to do that you’re equipped to keep your prospect moving toward a sale.

This is where many TV advertisers drop the ball and end up wasting their valuable marketing dollars..

Let’s use a visit to your web site as an example. We’ll assume your prospect has watched your commercial and is shown your web site URL on the screen as it finishes.

Your commercial piqued his curiosity and made him want to know more about you and your offering.

Congratulations. You’re past the first hurdle – getting the prospect to take the next step in your selling process.

But that’s all you’ve accomplished at this point.

Now you’re moving on to the all-important “conversion” part of the sales process. Tons of visitors to your site won’t feed your family, pay your mortgage or let you lie around on the beach in Cabo San Lucas.

For that, you need to convert your prospects initial interest into a sale.

And a web site that doesn’t clearly pick up where your television commercial left off by immediately reminding your visitor ‘what’s in it for him’ and presenting your sales story in a compelling way is going to bring a selling opportunity to a grinding halt.

What’s the point of tempting a bunch of hungry prospects only to have them arrive and you’ve nothing to feed them?

Same thing holds true if you want them to call you. Every member of your team who has public contact must be ready to keep the momentum going.

The job of your TV commercial is to attract the fish. The rest of the job – hooking the prospect (in an ethical way, of course) and getting him into the boat and converting him into a lifelong profitable client is the job of your marketing.

You need to make sure your marketing message is consistent throughout ALL your marketing. Otherwise you won’t get the ROI you should.

Secret #5 Don’t Let Tail Wag The Dog

Television advertising can be rewarding, but you need an experienced hand guiding you past the pitfalls so you can produce a profitable result. So far, we’ve armed you with the knowledge you need to make sure your television advertising efforts position you for a successful outcome. Now it’s time to introduce the key thread that ties it all together. Making sure you partner with an industry professional who knows the ropes. The first place many small and medium size businesses turn for assistance is an advertising agency. A very expensive mistake.

Here’s why: Many ad agencies focus on “institutional” type or branding type messaging. They are image builders. While having a professional image is important, most of the businesses flocking to TV advertising these days need sales. You’re probably the same. You want viewers to watch your commercial and take the next step in your selling process. Maybe a visit to your web site or a phone call. For that, you need direct response television advertising. And many advertising agencies simply aren’t equipped for that. Nor do they know how to “convert” an interested prospect into a profitable lifetime client.

But here’s the dirty little secret they hope you won’t find out about: Many don’t have in-house resources to write your script. Or television production facilities so they can shoot your commercial. Or an editing booth where they can edit your footage. Here’s what that means to you… If the ad agencies don’t have the resources themselves, they have to go outside, cobble together a team of industry professionals who can and pay them. Guess who gets stuck with all the middleman mark-ups? But this ‘don’t worry, the client will pay for it’ old school mentality doesn’t stop there. Once your commercial is ready to air, you need a TV program to run it on. For looking in a book and phoning up to schedule your spots, the ad agency will charge you 15% of your media budget. Is that how you want to spend your valuable media dollars? Having someone round up a bunch of people who can and charge you for doing it? Thought so. Here’s an alternative… Creative Bube Tube is a full-service, one source expert at producing direct response television advertising and corporate videos. We work with small and medium size business to help them generate profitable sales. Many of our clients are newbies. But we’ve opened the eyes of more than a few savvy veterans along the way.

Here are four pillars we’ve built our business model on:

• One Source – Every aspect of your television advertising is handled in-house by our team. This means you avoid the unnecessary added cost mark ups, delays and finger-pointing caused by too many fingers in the pie.
• Expertise – We are television advertising experts. Period. It’s all we do. And we know how to sell. To you, that means campaigns that not only look professional, they send you a steady stream of qualified prospects.
• Cost Efficient – Because we know our craft, we understand how and where to use your budget efficiently – without having to grease the palm of a number of disconnected middlemen. That way, every dollar you invest is working to increase your sales. The media relationships we have built through the years provide you with red carpet access to your target market – for a fraction of the cost you would pay otherwise – with no hidden fees.
• Process – The key to effective affordable television advertising is sales driven creative, efficient production, proper planning and organization. That requires precise communication. Everything we do is in-house. We don’t outsource your creative to a production company that has no marketing background. Then send the footage after filming to a post-production house. Then hire a media buyer who has likely never even seen any of the creative. Then sit back and watch the confusion, as your budget gets chewed up in a sea of disorganization and chaos. Everyone on our team intimately is involved in your project – from beginning to end.

Creative Bube Tube makes television advertising effective and efficient – for both newbies and long-time television advertisers who are tired of wasting valuable marketing dollars propping up old-school practices. If you’ve been thinking about trying television advertising but have been holding off because you were concerned it was very expensive, we’d behappy to show you not only how you can afford it, but also how you can use it to skyrocket your sales results. Please call us today at 1-855 BUBE TUBE or visit our web site at http://www.creativebubetube.com and learn more about how we can help you generate a stream of profitable lifetime clients.

2011 Creative Bube Tube

About The Author: As the President of Creative Bube Tube, Jenny Munford has been directly involved in hundreds of television advertising campaigns and corporate video productions. She created Creative Bube Tube in response to a need she saw for someone in the industry to make television advertising affordable and effective for small and medium sized businesses who felt they were tied to print and radio to market their products and services. By creating a one-source shop that can handle all of a client’s needs, Jenny is able to provide clients with cost efficiency by eliminating one of the biggest costs of TV advertising – middleman markups. To learn more about how Creative Bube Tube can help you sell more of your product or service, please visit http://www.creativebubetube.com or call us at 1-855 BUBE TUBE.