Alpaca vs. Wool

By Silvia Jens

There are many reasons to buy alpaca products instead of those made out of wool, but while some of these are simply a personal preference, some may actually affect how you wear the garment or when you wear it. Here are the various differences between alpaca and wool.

First of all, alpaca is actually a stronger fiber than wool. Of course, this comparison only works between alpaca and wool that are of the same fineness. A finer piece of wool may be stronger than a less fine alpaca. Alpaca is also much softer and less irritating on the skin, something many people prefer. In fact, this is one of the major points for buying alpaca instead of wool.

Another huge reason for buying clothing and accessories made from alpaca instead of wool is that alpaca is naturally hypoallergenic. This means that it does not include any of the lanolin or dander that causes people to have allergic reactions. For people who can't wear things made of wool, alpaca makes a great alternative. On the downside, because it does not contain any lanolin, alpaca is not naturally water resistant. This means your alpaca clothing will let through more water than wool would. It will stay cleaner, though, since lanolin tends to hold dust.

Alpaca fibers are mostly or completely hollow. What this means is that they are lighter than wool fibers, which are not hollow, resulting in a warmer garment that doesn't weigh as much. Wool tends to be very heavy, especially wool coats. When it comes to keeping the wearer warm, however, alpaca gets the job done without relying on weight. In fact, alpaca can actually keep a person around 20 degrees warmer than wool can.

There are a couple of other features that make alpaca a superior fiber than wool. It generally does not mat or pill, although it may pill in garments made from baby alpaca. Likewise, it doesn't shrink quite as much as wool does when washed. Alpaca also comes in many different natural colors (black, browns, white, rose, silver, and grey), so some alpaca is actually sold without being dyed.

As you can see, there are many different reasons for purchasing clothing made from alpaca instead of wool. While the two are very similar in the process of refining hair into cloth, the final products vary greatly. Alpaca is great for anyone looking for light weight and very warm products that do not cause allergies or skin irritation.

About the Author:

Alpaca is a great product and the benefits tell it all. It does not matter if you are looking for alpaca hats or an alpaca rug. Make the switch to alpaca today, you will not regret leaving wool behind you.

Care And Repair Of Your Violin

By Ria Yuka

If you own a violin, you know how delicate these instruments are compared to other forms of musical accessories. If they are not well taken care of, violins can suffer potentially bad damage that might need substantial repair. It is therefore of paramount importance that one learns how to avoid this.

But there will always be circumstances that lead to violin damage that are beyond one's control. When this occurs, the instrument should be put in the hands of a learned repairman. There are certain types of situations that might not need such measures.

Since the repair can be performed by the individual, there should still be measures that should be taken to reduce the possibility of more damage during the process. Do not shy away from getting other more experienced friends or teachers to help you with it until you are more familiar with the steps needed.

One of the first problems that any beginner might face with a violin is broken strings. This tends to happen quite regularly due to improper care and usage of the violin, strings and bow. But once it happens, it is a very real problem for any violinist.

It is quite easy to figure out how to re-string a violin. It is also an essential skill that any violinist worth his salt must learn. But finding out how to prevent strings breaking too often is of even greater importance, and that means not making them too tight.

Another danger of having strings too tightly wound is causing the violin neck to warp gradually. Anyone who owns a violin will eventually know that warped necks mean a virtual destruction of the instrument. It will require a complete replacement which can cost a lot of money.

Another part of the violin which can be self repaired if there are any problems would be the bridge. It might be a little difficult in the beginning, so consult someone who has done it before for initial guidance.

Since the violin is made of wood, any repairs done on it must take that into consideration. If the repair actually ends up leaving marks or worse damage to the wood, it will leave several adverse consequences such as poorer sound. While it might be cost conscious to perform some repairs of your own, do visit trained repairmen for more serious issues.

About the Author:

Want to learn a violin for beginners? Ria Yuka has the best solutions and resources that would provide all passionate violinists with the best direction forward.

Violin Learning with Online Lessons

By L. Simms

Nowadays people are so preoccupied with daily living they have very little time and inclination to drive to a music teacher's home for lessons. For example there are not many violin teachers in most parts of the country, and to drive to a good violin teacher could take a few miles and a lot of gas. However, the advantages of online lessons are that they are more affordable in the long run and that these lessons are a great way to start for people with less time on their hands.

You can find a violin course by searching on the Internet on Google or other search engines. You will probably find many sites that are devoted to violin lessons and violin music that students will find a great resource. If you are interested in the violin or not sure about violin lessons, check out online videos that may have some free lessons on their websites.

If you investigate violin forums, you may find many violinists of various expertise ranging from beginners to experts. Many people love to look for forums that have the information on the best courses for people searching for the right one. The information given by some of the forum members can be very helpful so that less useful overprice websites can be eliminated as a source of information.

If you are learning violin basics on the Internet, set aside a few minutes so you can complete the basic skills. Beginners should make the time to learn the basic fundamentals before they attempt violin pieces. Learn the strings, discover where the notes are located on the strings, and play children's tunes until you are ready for violin pieces.

Remember you have to allow yourself a special time to practice your lessons. If someone starts a new instrument, make a set of small goals and set aside time for you to reach those small goals. In the real world people do not become expert performers after a couple of weeks, so be realistic and spend time doing some practicing.

You must follow the steps given and spend a lot of time practicing and playing scales. Once you have spent the time on simple songs and scales, you may feel you are ready to move on to more complicated songs. Just keep in mind that it is an online experience and moving at your own pace will make you a better violin player.

Learning the scales can indeed be trying, so make sure that your fingers are placed correctly on the strings. There are resources such as violin forums where many violin enthusiasts offer advice to solve common violin problems or you can email the creator of an online course for questions if you bought one. Many students have the identical problem that you have with your violin, so you are not alone.

You can learn violin from several sources, such as group lessons, private lessons with an instructor, or from a set of online violin tutorials. If you are patient and have a positive attitude when you practice, you will begin to see that are progressing. If you are persistent you will see results and become a fine violinist in time.

About the Author:

If you want to learn violin you accomplishit on the Internet. L. Simms researches studying musical instruments on the Internet and locating sources for violins on Great Music Source.

Three Guitar Hero's

By John Charles

If I stopped you in the street and asked you to name for me the 3 greatest guitarists of the past 40 years, what names would you throw at me?

Maybe you would say to me Chet Atkins or Chuck Berry or Woody Guthrie, or perhaps it would be Pete Seeger or Frank Zappa.

Well, terrific musicians of course, no arguments there, but they would not be my top three if I was asked.

So who would I vote for? These three, but not necessarily in any particular order Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck.

Sad to say that Jimi died in 1970, but happily Eric and Jeff are still performing today.

So, let me fill you in with some details on these great performers.

The first person that I would like to talk about is Eric Clapton. At the age of 18, in 1963, Eric joined the Yardbirds who at the time were an R&B group, however after just 2 short years Eric left as he did not like the direction the Yardbirds were going.

He then had a brief spell with John Mayalls Bluesbreakers before coming back to the UK to form the supergroup known as Cream, along with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker.

Everybody was very saddened when in 1968 Cream disbanded, which led Eric to set up a band called Blind Faith, which comprised Eric, Ginger Baker, and Steve Winwood.

Following the demise of Blind Faith Eric went on to form his own band, Derek and the Dominos and it was while he was in this band that he wrote what is, in my opinion, his greatest song " Layla".

Sadly, drink and drugs began to take their toll of Eric, and he felt that he had to pull out of the music business, at least for a while.

Happily Eric is now back in full swing, and we his fans are all expectantly awaiting the next great thing from him.

The next performer that I want to talk about is Jimi Hendrix, and what an amazing performer he was. I hate having to say 'he was', because he only lived for 28 short years from 1942 to 1970.

But during that brief time he established himself as a unbelievably talented performer, considered by many to be Rock's greatest guitarist.

Its hard to believe that this great guitarist was for a time just a sideman to a number of famous names including Little Richard, the Isley Brothers and Ike and Tina Turner, but he did not stay a sideman for long, his talent would not allow it!

They say that you can't hold a good man down for long, and that was certainly true of Jimi. He moved to New York, and there he met a member of the Animals, a British rock group.

And it was suggested to him that he head on over to London, and this he did in 1966.

And there he was able to display his talents to the full, a most incredible performer and musician.

And you can see that skill on his first single Hey Joe, and also on his first album Are You Experienced.

But to really appreciate his brilliance, you just had to see him live on stage. I have seen him playing the guitar behind his back (its hard enough to play it normally), and I have seen him plucking the strings with his teeth.

Seeing him live was truly an unforgettable experience.

His death in 1970 due to a drugs overdose was an immense tradegy to everyone.

And so on to my final choice. A musician not as well known as Eric or Jimi, but a great guitarist nonetheless, and that person is Jeff Beck.

Jeff spent most of his early career playing with various bands including the Yardbirds, and screaming Lord Sutch. He was born in 1944.

When his time with the Yardbirds finished, in 1966, he formed his own band the aptly named Jeff Beck Group.

And he played with another rock giant Rod Stewart untill Rod joined the Small Faces.

Amongst other great names that Jeff has played with is Mick Jagger.

In 1989 Jeff won a grammy for best rock instrumental for his album Guitar Shop.

Jeff is thankfully still performing today, and I heard him not too long ago giving a thrilling live performance and proving himself to be a musician of tremendous ability..

This article is number one in a series on great performers. If you would like to receive each article as it comes out then go to my website where you will find my email address, and just email me asking to be kept updated.

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Does Moccona Coffee Originate from Kona, Hawaii?

By Cliff Eppalton

For the majority of coffee drinkers, the green coffee beans are something alien to them, in their endeavour to find a coffee that they can call their favorite brew. Again, a fact, unbeknown to the masses is that it is the quality of the 'green coffee beans' that impart the flavor of your coffee blend. Although totally unusable in the brewing of coffee in it's raw green unripened state - ripened coffee beans have a storage life of approximately 12 months. This is a significantly longer storage life than for both roasted and ground coffee.

With the price of some boutique coffees it is hard to conceive that coffee is actually grown from trees, but, it is the actual process of coffee production that is so labor intensive. Beans, in their raw state are picked by hand, both the ripe and unripened cherries. However, it is only the ripe cherries that have to be processed to produce the green coffee beans that are marketed and shipped for further processing. Its quite a process before its ready for your home coffee or cappucino maker.

Methods used to remove the outer hull and the inner parchment surrounding the beans can be a long process. Taking into account cost effectiveness, many smaller processing companies leave the beans lying in the sun to dry out before washing away the inner materials, Once the green coffee beans (seeds) have been cleansed and dried, they are bagged in shipments to be despatched to the coffee roasters. The price of the beans reflect their appearance, their size but also the coffee plantations from which they were taken and the region of that coffee plantation.

Coffee roasting - a tedious, labor intensive process

The green coffee beans have to be prepared for roasting and the actual time these beans are exposed to the heat, determines the flavor of the coffee. When beans are lightly roasted they exhibit the flavor of the region from which they were grown. For example, the beans grown for cultivation in Kona, Hawaii or Java are usually lightly roasted to retain the flavor of the soil in which they were grown. That is why coffee grown in different regions has it's own unique flavor.

If the green coffee beans are roasted for longer, they turn color and often they have a coating of oil on the outer part of the bean. The longer the roasting period, the more of the inherent flavoring of the individual growing regions are lost and, it is nigh impossible to determine from which coffee growing region of the world dark roasted beans may have been grown in and therefore originate.

Also, the nature of the heat source will affect the flavor of the roasted green coffee beans and the temperatures of the roasters can affect and change the flavor as well. On top of all that - the quality of the beans will begin to deteriorate at the time of roasting and up to the time the beans are vacuum packaged. Up until the advent of vacuum packaging for roasted beans,many roasted beans were discarded if not used within two weeks.

About the Author:

Concentrating on latest developments in coffee makers and cappachino machines, Cliff Eppalton is publishing especially for http://www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com . You can see his articles on cappucino maker on his site.

Clinique Cosmetics - Easy Removing Makeup Tips

By Kathy Summer

Women make up the most percentage in the buying market; ranging from fitness, hair, fashion, jewels, and of course, the make-up. Their physical appearance seems to be the ultimate manufacturers dream because of so many products to market and sell. Just the woman's face shows multitude of product potentials to offer; eye coloring, lipstick, blush-on, and many more, thus giving birth to the Makeup.

It is an important part of a woman's life which is almost like an important component of daily routine for other people. There are times that women ornament themselves in a much better manner during some special occasion like the wedding and parties and while there is no denying the importance of makeup, you should also remember to remove makeup in a safe way to keep your skin soft, supple and healthy.

It is necessary to remove makeup before going to bed so that your skin does not lose its natural charm. However, removing makeup is an art too and you need to follow some basic tips for it. Usually women indulge in a lot of eye makeup for that smoky, bold and captivating eye look. However, removing eye makeup is not as simple as it seem.

Think Mascaras are hard to remove? Then consider using Baby shampoo because unlike other removers which mascara usually resist, it is effective. Extra virgin olive oil is also helpful. Apply few drops on a cotton ball and softly massage the eye region to let go off waterproof mascaras. Never use harsh remover or solutions as most of them can dry out your skin. Instead go in for mild makeup removers and there are facial cleansers according to skin types. Baby oil is an effective way of removing all kinds of makeup in a safe and healthy way and its very easy to do.

Rule of the thumb: never go to bed with your makeup on as that can hamper your skins quality, softness and health; eventually making you look older than your age. Others claim that it made their skin rough and dull mainly due to the remnants of the chemicals that come with applying makeup. Scary isn't it?

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This author loves writing articles about Clinique Cosmetics Online and Buy Clinique Cosmetics Online.

Make Healthy Restaurant Recipes at Home

By Chef Pablo

For some reason McDonalds is a huge motivator for eight year old little girls. I love to give my daughter a nice treat every once in a while. We're not a family that eats out more than once a week and usually it's something other than fast food. But, this time, my daughter wanted a Happy Meal and I was happy to take her. I've been doing very well with my eating lately, so I planned on making something at home.

A few months ago, I would have been ordering a Big Mac for myself and even upgraded the fries to the bigger size. But not now. I'm not killing my progress for one drive through meal. But, as I sat in line, drooling over my not so distant memories, I began to wonder if I could make a healthy version of these items at home.

I've been making copy cat recipes from my favorite restaurant for years. I've just never tried to make them healthy. Usually the goal is to make them taste exactly like I would get in the restaurant. But, now I have a different motive, losing some fat. There's no reason I couldn't substitute low fat cheese for the full fat version. I've done it with other recipes, there shouldn't be a reason I can't do it with top secret recipes.

I realize turkey sausage doesn't always taste the same as real sausage and using evaporated skim milk instead of heavy cream might not produce the exact same results, but it might give me a dish that takes care of the craving and keeps me focused on my healthy new lifestyle.

I've put together a list of things you can do to change up your favorite restaurant recipes to help them fit into a healthier lifestyle.

The Low Fat Alternative - Replace the cheese with a low fat alternative. Even heavy cream can be replaced with evaporated skim milk. I'm sure you realize mayonnaise comes in both low fat and no fat versions and make a great substitute. You can even try some of the off the shelf egg substitutes for the real deal.

Turkey Everything - It does seem like every kind of meat imaginable has a turkey based alternative these days. I don't know if anyone loves bacon as much as I do, but I've made the switch to turkey bacon. It's not exactly the same, but the payoff in my waistline is worth the sacrifice. Sausage, patties, bacon, ham and more is all available and make great replacements.

Low Fat Oil Spray - Do some experimenting with different cooking methods. Sometimes a crispy coating can be achieved with some cooking spray and baking instead of deep frying. Stir fry doesn't have to soak in several tablespoons or oil to take good. A few quick shots of spray and you're good with a tenth of the fat.

Sugar Free - Try going sugar free in your house. It's not easy because sugar or corn syrup has found it's way into most items in your cupboard. But, you can make a huge shift by replacing your granulated sugar with something like Splenda. You can even measure it exactly the same way you measure real sugar.

Low fat cheese on the top of your copy cat Pizza Hut pizza isn't going to taste exactly the same. It's not. But, if staying in shape is important to you, it's worth a few minor modifications. If you follow the rest of the recipe correctly, you'll end up with a good substitute.

Ready to try some of these ideas out on your favorite top secret recipes? I've got plenty of them listed at my website and I know these substitutes work very well with most of them. All but the must discerning taste buds will be jumping for joy.

About the Author:

Chef Pablo loves cooking. Whether it's his favorite restaurant recipes or authentic Mexican foods from his days growing up in San Diego, he's always excited to teach others how to please their guests in the kitchen with The Cheesecake Factory recipes, Outback Steakhouse, The Olive Garden, The Cheesecake Factory or Red Lobster.

Mead

By Ian Kleine

Mead is an alcoholic drink that is derived from honey and water, fermented and left to develop using yeast. The content may rise from that of slightly alcoholic, to one that could knock out a heavy drinker. More often than not, it is confused with the name 'honey wine' but it's still mead. Nothing special but honey and wine.

A type of mead that has herbs and spices (common favorites are ginger, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, oregano and even lavender) is called metheglin. Metheglin comes from the word meddyglyn which roughly means 'healing liquor' suggesting to its earlier use as a therapeutic or immediate drug.

Nowadays, metheglin is distributed, produced, and sold in bottles across the state, more for its taste and appeal rather than its medicinal effects (if it did have any). Spicing and the combination of amount and type is key. As of this time, there are at least a hundred different types of metheglin, a handful being popular, and some bordering on the exotic or esoteric.

Metheglin makes for good business, especially in several parts of Texas who still have the appetite for this pioneer drink. It's simple, and not complicated like beer or most of the modern wines that we have. The health bit is a bonus, it's the taste that matters. After all, we've been smoking and drinking with disregard for our health. Well, metheglin may actually be good for your body. Moderation, again, is key to this. After all, too much of a good thing would still bring illness to you.

To make metheglin, mix rational parts of water and honey, bring to a boil, mix in your herbs or flowers/spices and yeast. Allow to ferment for a week in an airtight container. Drain out and strain for impurities and ferment once more. Let it reach at least a year for good and sweet taste that's deep, like the history of mead.

About the Author:

Taking a vacation in Texas? Why not make it worth the trip? Texas craft shows. Visit Texas craft shows, that's what I use to check up on mine.

Learn More About Japan's Interesting Culture

By Ron Otaku

The culture of Japan is one of a kind and has great variety. It has millions of fans globally because of its ability to both fascinate and excite many individuals. The Japanese have also been able to adapt modern culture and made it their own, while retaining much of their past identity.

Japan has one of the best reputations in the world as a fashion mecca. Part of the engine for growth comes from a growing popularity of Asian fashion. The Japanese have gone one step further by establishing themselves as the leading fashion capital in the region through change and embracing of the coolest trends.

There is no lack of invention and variety in Japanese fashion. Its street fashion has already seeped into and has a place in both Asian and Western youth culture. Other unique left-field niches have also taken root in the global world such as cosplay, which was borne out of the popularity of anime.

J pop, or Japanese pop music as it is also known as, is another product of the modernization of Japan. It initially drew on Western influences to build an identity of its own. Now, J pop is constantly lapped up by adoring fans all over the world, even in the United States and Europe.

The Japanese language has also prospered as more foreigners are taking up lessons in order to understand the various Japanese hobbies they have. Music is one such area where fans have flocked to take up courses so they can know what their favorite J-pop stars are singing about.

There are other cultural exports that are more refined from Japan. These include calligraphy and art with tones that originated from the East Asian country. While brush art was born in China, the Japanese have adopted it as their own and given it their own twist.

Those who love their culture will know how obsessed the Japanese are with all things cute. It is symbolic for a country and her people to use one phrase to describe just about everything to their fancy. From furniture to candy, it is common to hear the term "kawaii" when the Japanese have positive feelings about the item.

Japanese culture is just so diverse and interesting. The above are just some of the many facets of the East Asian country's rich background. If you are willing to dig deeper and find out more, there will be no disappointment but more surprises in store.

About the Author:

Ron Otaku has spent years reviewing the best J pop singles. Find out more about Nani Tanimura's single Again on Ron's site that covers the artiste.

Food - Barbeque Maintenance Tips

By Doris Mahrer

When purchasing your barbeque grill, think of it as an investment rather then just another item for your outdoor entertainment. You should expect this item to become a large part of your outdoor activities for many years to come. But like any other investments, proper maintenance and care is needed to ensure that your barbeque grill will work for you for many years to come. While some maintenance and cleaning is specific to the type of barbeque grill your own (gas, electric, charcoal or smoke barbecue grill), the majority of maintenance that should be carried on does not change from grill to grill.

The first thing that should always be done to your grill is a routine brushing. Using your brass wire grill brush (or other brush suitable to your type of grill) you should brush off all the surfaces. By routinely brushing your barbeque grill, you will prevent any type of buildup. If buildup from food is left to long, it can become increasingly difficult to remove.

Once you are sure that your grill is free of all buildup and debris, and that your grill is completely cooled off, you will want to spray it down with a light layer of cooking oil. Spraying it down with cooking oil will prevent your barbeque grill from rusting.

Baking soda is a very nice cleaning and polishing agent. Once you have removed any extra debris and buildup, lightly scrubbing your barbeque grill with baking soda will give it that extra shine, similar to the day that you brought it home from the store. This can also be used on handles and knobs to remove any extra buildup that cannot be taken off with a wire brush. Aluminum foil can also be used to keep your grill looking nice. Gently rub the aluminum foil on your grill, and you will notice that it removes grim and buildup.

The racks in your grill are especially important as this is where the food touches when it is cooking. You will have to use the wire brush to remove as much buildup as possible. Once you remove as much as possible, start washing the racks with dish soap. If the racks are really dirty, you may also want to use the steel wool pads.

The majority of problems that arise from barbeque grills comes from demand of cleaning and maintenance. That means if you notice something does not seem quite right with your barbeque grill, chances are it can be fixed with just a simple cleaning. Even if you clean it, and still find that it is having problems, at least you saved yourself the potential embarrassment of taking it to a professional only to find out all it needed was to be cleaned.

Finally, one method of preventing problems with your barbeque grill is protecting it from the outdoors. Covers are available for grills in all shapes and sizes, so chances are, you will find one that fits your grill. If you have a cover for your barbeque grill, then all you will ever need to do is do the regular maintenance listed above.

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Go here for information on Food ? Food Tips More Food and Recipies Infos : Food and Recipies

Are You Considering Proactol to Lose Weight for Your Weding?

By Ricardo d Argence

Whether your wedding day is right around the corner or you are in a place where you need to think about it, you will find that you may be struck by the idea of how to lose weight before your wedding day. No matter what your goal is, you'll find that there are a number of things to keep in mind.

People often turn to dietary supplements and one that is quite propular is Proactol. What are the details of this supplement and does it do everything it says it will?

Essentially, Proactol is a supplement which is designed to help you reduce your body weight. When looking at the packaging, it proposes to help you reduce your food craving and to burn off 28% of your fat intake. Not only is weight loss a stated benefit of taking Proactol, you'll find that other promised benefits include enjoying higher energy levels, having a lower cholesterol level and developing better flexibility.

The ingredient in Proactol which receives the most notoriety is Neopuntia, a plant fiber obtained from the prickly pear, also known as the Optuntia Ficus India Cactus.

When you are thinking about figuring out whether Proactol is something that might work for you, it is important to understand how this supplement works. The main gist of its effectiveness is the prickly pear, which is known to be rich in vitamins B1 and B2, as well as pathothenic acids and niacin. Prickly pear is known to stimulate weight loss, and this is considered a positive for this supplement.

On the other hand, it is important to also recognize some of the downsides of taking this supplement. People who take prickly pear too often do find that it can cause stomach problems, and it can be a problematic ingredient for people who have kidney problems or high cholesterol. It is frequently advised that women who breast feeding should stay away from it.

Keeping that in mind, it can be a tricky decision to decide if you want to take Proactol or not. But, should you give your body something that may be difficult for you to handle just as you are entering a very stressful time?

Remember, the best way to lose weight and keep it off is proper diet and execise. Dietary supplements can give you a boost, but only a good diet and exercise will get you the results you desire.

Think it twice before using Proactol and decide on your needs before the big day!

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Don't walk down the aisle carrying unnecessary pounds! You can look beautiful, and you will, on your great day. We can tell you how to lose weight quickly before your wedding day. web hosting

Violin Playing Tips That Develop Good Habits

By Ron Jackson

For any beginner, playing the violin can be a daunting challenge. However, it need not always be like that. There are certain things that one can do or put in place to ensure a smoother passage of learning and mastering the instrument. Here are a few tips that might be beneficial for a violinist in a similar position.

1. While it would be great to master the violin and become a professional or performing star, it does not happen to everyone. Some might enjoy success in that form, while others are happy just knowing how to play an instrument they love. Anyone can aim to be at an advanced level, but do not allow yourself to be hampered by setting unobtainable goals. Enjoy playing the violin and the music that it brings to your ears.

2. It cannot be said enough how important it is to work hard in order to achieve your goals. This applies equally to music. Do not skip any practice sessions and always focus on the end in mind if routine becomes boring.

3. Many beginners do not pay enough attention to posture and technique. Some even develop bad habits from the start, which are difficult to correct later on in life. Do not fall into this trap and always spend time to perfect how to hold the violin, the bow and other techniques like proper chin rest posture.

4. Try to avoid looking for short cuts in achieving results or breakthroughs. There is no quick way to being a master of the instrument. Other schools of thought that promote things like placing markers on the violin neck to memorize where to press the strings will lead you to developing a crutch in terms of learning. The fruits of success will be sweeter if you do things the right way.

5. Proper maintenance and care of your violin and accessories are equally important. They can help to make learning easier and smoother. A poorly maintained violin might also lead to bad techniques developing.

6. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. The same applies to becoming proficient in any instrument. Always retain your self belief and be positive about the results you will eventually get after hours of practice and determination. The violin can be tough to learn, but once you have done so the rewards are beautiful.

It is rare to have a perfect journey throughout life. Certainly, one cannot expect to be able to master the violin in a few short months. The tips above should help any student to keep things in perspective and minds focused. It is hoped that eventually every beginner will be able to attain skill levels that they are happy with.

About the Author:

If you are keen to learn how to play violin but are unsure of where to start, you can find out more from Ron Jackson's site.

Coffee - How To Make A Great Espresso!

By Marc Warren

All professional coffee makers have their idea of how to make a good espresso. Here's one:

The first thing to consider is the water you will use. You may not be aware of it but water can become stale when exposed to mildew or if it has not been filtered properly. This can dramatically affect the taste of your coffee. Also the water needs to be hot, around 203F, close to the boiling point.

When selecting a bean, choose arabica. This bean is grown at a higher altitude which gives them a better flavor. Fresh is important so if you do not grind the bean yourself be sure you buy fresh grounds. You can tell its freshness by the aroma.

The robusta coffee bean is excellent for a nice hot cup of coffee to give you a boost for your day. This is because of its high content of caffeine. But these beans should not be used for espresso.

You want your beans to be ground in a burr grinder and not chopped. And the beans should be a French or Viennese roast because these are dark roasts best for espresso.

Good grinding is important. You want your grounds to be like sand. If they are like gravel they are not ground enough. If they are powdery they are ground to fine. You do not want your coffee grounds to have too much exposure to the air or they will begin to absorb smells and particles from the air and this will change the flavor and aroma.

Finally a good espresso needs a good machine. You want to avoid steam machines that use steam to create pressure. The best machines have thermoblock and pump pressure of 9 bar or greater. This thermoblock heats the water as it travels through the machine to the pump. This process makes for a better espresso.

Now you have the basic elements. Next comes the process.

Start by running good clean water through the espresso machine to be sure it is nice and clean and to warm it up to get it ready for your coffee. Simply run clean water, no coffee, through the machine.

Put in your coffee and pat it down a bit. It should not be packed in to tight but it should not move around easily either.

Insert the hopper in the machine firmly and place a warmed espresso cup at the outlet. Start the machine and in about five seconds you should have a thin, steady stream. (About 20 seconds for a double shot.)

About the Author:

Would you like to drink your morning java from a personalized coffee cup? Or maybe you want one for a gift? Learn all about them on the Coffee Poet website.

Image Consultants are not only for the rich and famous!

By Erika

An Fashion Consultant is the best accessory you can have in your life! A fashion stylist is no longer a luxury reserved for the Rich and Famous.

As life happens, sometimes you loose track of yourself. Being overwhelmed with work, family, kids, school, or anything else that requires a lot of your time keeps you frazzeled and very busy. You have lost track of yourself and somewhere along the line you just naturally fell into a comfort zone.

This comfort zone tells you that getting dressed should be a simple process. You wear whatever is convenient, clean, and simple. You have no time to plan an outfit and are unsure if you have any stylish outfits. Your comfort Zone tells you that you don't have time to style your hair or put on make-up because you are too busy. It prevents you from finding the time to shop for yourself or even remember what you use to like about fashion. You are unsure as to what even looks good on you anymore.

We all have comfort areas. An Image Consultant recognizes your comfort zone and helps to re-establish your fashion image. Sometimes shopping is a pain. The fashion trends and styles change so frequently. Many people just wind up shopping for the things they already have. Hiring an Image Consultant is like having your own personal fashion stylist. They put outfits together for you based on your lifestyle, career and most importantly body structure.

When you are shopping with your Image Consultant, they help you to understand the stores, brands and styles. An Image Consultant teaches you about what style will compliment your shape and what will not. Getting back in touch with your body to rediscover the beauty within is always a life changing event. Updating your wardrobe to accommodate your life can be a rewarding wake-up call. You can wear casual clothing and still be stylish. The key here is STYLISH! You can look good and feel comfortable. It is not a compromise. Whether it's casual, business casual, chic, or timeless elegance an Image Consultant can help develop your signature style.

Do you have a closet full of nothing to wear? Are your clothes dated, out of style, or just sitting in your closet because you have aspirations to loose weight? The most motivating factor is to FEEL GOOD IN THE SKIN YOUR IN. When you look good you feel good. When you feel good, you have more energy and confidence. Is it time for you to hire an Image Consultant?

Own Your Fashion Image!

Erika Chloe is New York's premiere Image Consultant and CEO of www.MyImageExpert.com - a Fashion Consulting Company with offices in most U.S cities. She is an established Fashion Designer who's clothing line can be found in Bloomingdales, Macy's, and Lord & Taylor. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Textile Design with a specialization in Fabric Styling from The New York Fashion Institute of Technology - NYU

About the Author:

Don't miss your opportunityto work with New York's premier Image Consultant firm, www.MyImageExpert.com and ask for your free consulatation today!

Tips to Write a Song

By L. Simms

As a new songwriter, you can discover some quick methods and ideas that you can use to enhance your ability as a songwriter. You can write many types of songs, and if you want to direct your emotions and feelings through your music this can happen. Songwriters compose because they have a special melody and the words that need to be expressed.

Many songwriters use their life experiences to vent their feelings and thoughts. It's a great way to get inspired without working at it because inspiration is so natural and real. But it's true that many songwriters think of what people would like to hear so they can have a popular hit song instead.

Songs that are written with popular music in mind must meet certain criteria in order to be considered. Even though songs written for commercial success must follow stricter criteria than those written only for personal fulfillment, there is much leeway given the wide variety of voices, genres, and styles in popular music. Perhaps you have unique singing voice that is suited to a particular style of music.

You may want to take the initiative in creating unique music that works for your tastes and abilities. You may not want to rely on cookie-cutter songs, or wait for the right piece to be composed. Be creative or get inspired if you can, do not force yourself to write a group of meaningless notes when you compose.

First of all, write for your target audience. Whether you have a target audience of one, or a wider target audience, use what you know to write music that appeals to your target listeners. It means you should find your niche and write about things you know as you will make a better connection with a target audience that shares things in common with you.

The most poignant music is written from the heart of the songwriter because if you write music about things that you do not care much about, chances are you wont be able to conjure up enough feeling to really connect with your intended audience. If mushy love songs are not your thing, try writing about angst or write about your worries and fears. Or write about your past loves and hurts if that moves you.

Inspiration can come from a variety of unexpected sources. The best way to be prepared when your song muse emerges is to carry with you a notepad to jot down ideas and inspirations as they come to you in everyday life. Songwriting inspiration may come from an unusual sound or rhythm you hear, from things you observe in nature, or from something as simple as a coffee shop conversation.

Get a good singer you respect and like to perform your song to give you an idea what it should really sound like. You can get an idea how a singer understands your song and if that's the way you want it to sound. When a good singer sings your piece, you can find out if you need to alter the melody or harmony to communicate your musical ideas.

About the Author:

L. Simms researches music, such as song writing and learning to play music online. There are different resources for instruments and software to help you compose songs on Great Music Source.

Doris Christopher's Million Dollar Party

By Lenora Wyanth

In 1980 Doris Christopher began hosting 'kitchen shows' where she demonstrated a set of hand-picked essential home kitchen tools. Her teaching skills and culinary know-how were well-received and the company we know as The Pampered Chef was born that year

Who can say no to a Pampered Chef party invitation? Even if you have no intention of buying any new kitchen products, you are bound to learn some new things about cooking and pick up some novel cooking techniques and tips. You will certainly leave the party with a few good recipes to try at home, regardless of the tools you have at your disposal.

Ms Christopher's good fortune depended in part on timing. She began her company at a time when there were many more women cooking at home with fresh ingredients than there are today. There was also more extra income to spend on such things as specialized kitchen tools and accessories. In 1980 there were not many choices in professional cookware available to the average homemaker.

What's in a name? The words 'pampered' and 'chef' have worked well for the company. What sounds better, a pampered chef or a spoiled cook? See what I mean? It is a catchy phrase that conjures up a nice picture of a happy cook in a well-equipped kitchen. Learning to use professional chef tools is a great way to feel like a pampered chef. Ms. Christopher had done ample research into obtaining the most useful kitchen tools she could find.

Ms. Christopher put into place a lifetime warranty policy for her Pampered Chef offerings, and this created a high level of consumer trust. She purchased high quality items that did not require frequent replacements. These are two additional reasons her company prospered.

Because Ms. Christopher put her family schedule first and business schedule second, she was able to recommend the same priorities for her personally-trained Pampered Chef Consultants. Bringing high-quality professional chef tools into kitchens all across the United States and Canada, the consultants controlled their own schedules and were able to keep family commitments without sacrificing income.

The very slogan and mission of the Pampered Chef is to provide the tools to keep cooking fun and easy, so there is more time to spend with family. Ms. Christopher made sure her consultants were able to advance financially through unlimited direct marketing opportunities. Every consultant was able to arrange as many Pampered Chef parties as she or he had time for.

Ms. Christopher's books have added to the success of the Pampered Chef. In 1999 Warner Books published Come To The Table, in which she describes her direct marketing success. Ms. Christopher has also been interviewed by Fortune Small Business and CNN-TV.

Why not pamper yourself and try out some Pampered Chef tools? Every cook deserves to be pampered. Find out how cooking can be fun and easy with the unique kitchen tools offered by Pampered Chef.

About the Author:

Lenora Wyanth attended her first Pampered Chef party ten years ago and has used nearly all of the Pampered Chef gadgets offered. For more information about Pampered Chef Accessories visit her website Pampered Chef Cookware.

Whats the Value of my Violin?

By Dewey Finn

The short answer and the long answer to this question is the sound of the violin. The short answer is best illustrated by a story related to me by our Luthier. He has over 50 years of experience and has attended hundreds of Luthiery conventions and has lectured at many of them. He told me that there are no liars at Luthier conventions. He went further to explain that presenters can show their nicest violins. They can lecture on techniques and show off the most beautiful of woods and engraving on a violin. Their violin can look pretty. It can have taken hours and weeks and months to prepare it. However, it all comes down to that moment when the player puts the bow to the strings and makes music. The violin can be the most beautiful violin ever made but if it sounds like shit, it is worthless. It is just that simple. You can have a violin appraisal done at your local luthiery.

The long answer to this question is that there are degrees of quality and then there is always personal preference as sound is a very subjective judgment as to what is pleasing to the ear. There seems to be a standard that has been set from the time violins were perfected. The sound of the Stradivarius is the standard for most trained ears. However, depending on the type of music to be played and how the instrument feels to the player, some prefer instruments of the designs of other masters such as the Amati or Guarnerius family designs or those of Maggini.

Degrees of quality depend on the quality of the wood and then the talent and knowledge of construction techniques of the maker of the violin. The wood used by Stradivarius in making his violins is legendary in that no one has been able to duplicate his process for finding the right wood and then treating it with the right processes to achieve the same result on a consistent basis. Of course his were all hand made. As the factory process was applied to the making of violins, more violins were made and more diverse maple and spruce forests were harvested. This is evident in the variety of grains of the maple in the masters' copies that were produced from the middle of the 19th century up until the start of the 20th century. There are millions of examples still circulating. What sorts them out is the test of time on the wood and how well they were made. Some cottage factories and later, the mass production factories varied greatly in the thoroughness of their construction techniques. The quality ranges from some very bad cottage factory made violins to the very nice Wolff Brothers violin mass produced at the turn of the century. Violin making then moved to where the labour was cheaper so in the 20th century factories migrated from Europe to Japan to China.

I have witnessed a lot of violin playing on a wide quality range of violins. I have been blessed with watching some very talented young violinists play our instruments. When they play the best players play the best instruments, you can see them go to that special place that musicians go where all they see and feel is the music. It is joyful to watch and for the violinist it is the soul of the experience of playing. The better the sound, the more blissful the experience is for the player and the listener. And that very simply is where the value lays in violins.

About the Author:

Dewey Finn is a musician who plays his violin daily. Dewey writes for magazines and websites such as collectibleviolins.html and is noted for his philisophical approaches

Vital Pieces of Diet Pills

By Anne Durrell

There are several risks of diet pills . If you are looking to lose a few pounds, then you may have thought every of the possible methods that you could achieve this need.

You can change your diet, engage in an health plan, and, certainly , take diet pills. Altering the diet and exercising are the right methods to set free those excessive pounds.

These are actually the healthiest decision that you can take when it comes to losing weight. Pills that help in weight loss can form more health complications than some people realize .

Here , you will identify a few of the peril of diet pills.

One of the first dangers of diet pills is that the substances can result in deficiencies of important vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in the body.

This can effect in a lot of different medical conditions and additional health problems that can show to be much more dangerous than that of excess weight. High blood pressure is often a common effect that occurs once diet pills have been consumed.

This is basically because of the evidence that these pills hinder serotonin, and even dopamine in the human body. In addition to this effect, body may grow an addiction to diet pills if used consistently .

About the Author:

About Author: DietPill-s.com. If you are interested in losing weight, you may consider taking diet pills. Before doing this, however, you should know that there are many dangers associated with these substances. Here, you will learn about a few of these dangers.

Cheetah Print Trends

By Jason Moorstedt

People are always on the lookout for new fashions, but are afraid of picking up on something after its already outdated. Its a valid concern, considering how often and how quickly trends change, but if youre willing to try something a little different, then you may want to think about the cheetah print. The cheetah print has been around for a while, coming in and out of the fashion realm, but the key to making the print work lies in using it sparingly and tastefully.

One of the main things about the cheetah print is that it makes a bold and glaring statement. If overused, it borders on distasteful, but that shouldnt stop you from incorporating it into your wardrobe, accessories, or even home. Here are some basic suggestions if youre not too sure what to do with the cheetah print:

- Dont mix it with other animal print clothing, and be weary of having several prints in a room. Unless youre trying to give off a zoo vibe, youre better off keeping the animal print at a minimum.

- Instead, tone down the cheetah print or dress it up. Pick just one (or a few if you have to) cheetah print items for your outfit, and let them do the talking. Dont do cheetah pants with cheetah shirt with cheetah accessories " it really will get to be too much.

- Pair a sleek cheetah scarf and some cheetah heels with a black dress for a classy look, or even go with a full-cheetah gown with simple jewelry and accessories. Or, you can dress down a cheetah jacket with a t-shirt and jeans, and still look bold and stylish.

- Animal prints can be a fun addition to a room. Again, dont overdo it, but a cheetah print can be inspiring and invigorating in a room, and make for a vibrant environment.

- Consider that a little cheetah can go a long way. A simple scarf around your neck, a bangle on your wrist, or even more discretely, a notebook in your bag, may be all you need to make your desired statement.

Finally, just because cheetah print is in doesnt mean its for you. Dont force yourself into trends because you think it will validate you; the best way to be validated is by going with trends and colors that feel right for you.

About the Author:

Jason Moorstedt writes about cheetah print and cheetah print towels.

Beauty Info - How to Find Free Beauty Tips Online

By Dori Maurer

Are we meddlesome in gripping present with an ultimate beauty trends or have been we customarily seeking for report upon how we can scrupulously request your makeup? If we are you're initial yet might be to go out as good as buy a beauty repository or even a series of them. Which approach involves regulating an internet?

Online, we will find which we have entrance to a series of opposite resources. For instance, we can benefit entrance to an online websites of printed magazines as well as these online websites mostly have representation articles from their magazines as good as many more. We might additionally be means to find online beauty magazines, which have been similar to printed magazines, though in online customarily formats. There have been additionally normal websites out there which have been done by beauty experts or even people similar to you who have a concentration upon beauty as good as fashion.

Now that you know where can find some free beauty tips online, you may be wondering exactly how you can go about doing so. If you are interested examining the online website of a well known and popular beauty magazine, you will want to try typing the magazine name and then ".com" in. This will usually bring you to the online website of a printed fashion or beauty magazine. Should you not be able to find the website yourself, you should be able to find it by performing a standard internet search. When performing a standard internet search, you will want to search with the name of the magazine in question.

If you are interested in viewing an online beauty magazine, you will also want to perform a standard internet search. Online magazines are increasing in popularity, but they are still not as popular as most printed magazines; therefore, you will likely need a standard internet search to help you out. When performing your standard internet search, you may want to think about searching with phrases like "online fashion magazine," or "online fashion magazines." Your search results should include the links to the websites of online fashion magazines. The thing that you need to be on the lookout for is that a large number of fashion magazines are free to view, but not all are.

As for traditional websites that have a focus on beauty, you can also find these websites by performing a standard internet search. When performing a standard internet search, you will want to keep what you are looking for in mind. For instance, if you are looking for age defying skincare cream recommendations, you may want to think about performing a search with phrases like "skincare cream recommendations," or "age defying skincare products." Customizing your search to include exactly what you are looking for is a great way to save yourself a lot of time.

As a reminder, using the internet to get free beauty tips, advice, and information on the latest beauty trends is a nice way to proceed, but it isn't your only option. In addition to using the internet and buying printed beauty magazines, you may also want to think about turning on your television. There are now a number of shows on the air that have a focus on both fashion and beauty.

About the Author:

More information on beautys castle ? sarah palin beauty queen You can visit: Beautystar.info

What Are The Most Popular Brands Of Contact Lenses?

By Amy Nutt

Contact lenses have become the most desired form of vision correction available today. This is largely due to the fact that they are not as obtrusive as glasses and can be fairly easy to use with training. Individuals who are looking at purchasing a pair for the first time may be a bit perplexed as to what to expect. Thankfully, many optometrists and ophthalmologist as well as their assistants know how to teach people how to apply and remove contacts.

Another consideration for new users is what brand to use and for what purpose. For instance, if a person has astigmatism, what company should they investigate in order to find the best contacts available? Also, if one wants contacts for mere aesthetic purposes (i.e. to change your eye color), who has the best color hues and prices?

There are numerous companies that make both hard and soft contact lenses, so what you choose could merely be a matter of pricing and selection. For instance, some companies do not make contact lenses for astigmatism, which may narrow you options. Others steer clear of color contact manufacturing.

Below is a list of the top contact lens companies and the kinds of lenses they offer. Which one you choose will be based on your prescription and preferences during the time of purchase.

Focus

Focus contacts offer a variety of styles and choices for any one who is looking to procure contact lenses. Not only do they offer a color line called soft colors, they have lenses designed for daily, weekly and even monthly wear. Focus also offers Toric lenses which are designed for people with astigmatism. You can buy Focus contact lenses in packs of 30 or 90.

Acuvue

Like Focus, Acuvue offers a wide variety of lenses for daily and weekly wear but they also have lenses for those with bifocal prescriptions. Their color lenses, which are said to be easier to wear than most, have a two color grid that makes them appear more natural. These colored lenses come in opaque, for a complete color change, or in enhancers, which highlight the natural color of the eye.

Freshlook

Freshlook contacts are well known for their shades and have the most natural looking color lenses in the industry. Their color brands include Colorblends, Dimensions and Freshlook colors. Freshlook Colorblends are the most popular because they offer a 3 in 1 technology that blends three different shades for a more realistic look. Dimensions by Freshlook on the other hand, are used to enhance your natural eye color while Freshlook colors are opaques that can alter the eye significantly. Freshlooks are often the most referred contacts for those who wish to use lenses for cosmetic purposes.

PureVision

Pure Vision is actually a line by the well know manufacturer Bausch and Lomb. It includes contacts that can be worn for up to 30 days. Pure vision comes in Toric and multifocal styles for people with special vision correction needs.

If you truly desire to learn more about your choices and options ask you doctor as he can most likely recommend a brand that will best suit your needs.

Caring for and cleaning lenses

One of the most important aspects of buying lenses is buying the essentials necessary to keep them clean. Lenses that are not properly kept up can cause eye infections that, if left untreated, can further damage your sight.

When in doubt, ask your eye doctor about the proper solutions and methods you need to keep your contacts in tip top shape. If you follow your doctors advice, your contact lenses should last for their duration of implied wear keeping you and your vision healthy and vibrant.

About the Author:

Save big when purchasing your contact lens products online. Visit Japan's online retailer for huge selection of contact lenses, special effects lenses and colour contacts.

Broadway shows Options

By Deniss Durrell

New York City is known as the big apple, and one of the biggest pulls for tourists is the desire to go see broadway shows.

These are known as the best of all pieces of theatre in the country. It is the where actors aspire to perform and where thousands of people flock to see shows every day.

Broadway shows are classically divided into two diverse types of program, either a play or a melodic.

A drama is a draft chronicle that is carried out along with only verbal expressions and movement. A harmonious is a draft chronicle that contain of verbal dialogue, tune plus salsa. Still both are prevalent melodic are a number of the most prevalent Broadway Show.

sticky tags to Broadway program can run you somewhere from $50 a place for a number of of the seats in the terrace whereas orchestra level settles may charge you around $100 per seat.

Often there are ways to acquire price cut Vouchers like day of drawings, the cut off price TKTS Ticket stands placed right through New York City, and could acquire a student discount by a legitimate student ID. Regardless of how much you disburse for a tickets the show that you will acquire will be fit worth the cost of admission!

About the Author:

About Author: BroadwayShow-s.com. Top 100 broadway shows tips. The premier broadway shows resource site. Choose what best fits to you criteria for broadway shows here!

Ethnic Artisan Jewelry

By Charlie Reese

A collection of eclectic and ethnic artisan jewelry fills out your jewelry box at an economical price!

Diamond tennis bracelets and emerald earrings with a matching pendant are probably not on many birthday or Valentine's shopping lists this year. If you're looking for some new jewelry, here's a new, more affordable way to add to your jewelry collection. If you're not familiar with the eclectic and ethnic artisan jewelry, you should go take a look. You'll find the most interesting and lovely pieces at a fraction of the price of that diamond tennis bracelet. Artisan jewelry is handmade by individual artists who create unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry at relatively inexpensive prices.

So where do you find this handcrafted jewelry? Easy enough. Go to any of the crafts fairs to find at least a half dozen booths featuring artisan jewelry. You can meet the person who made the jewelry too. They're always happy to answer any questions you may have with respect to techniques, construction and stones used in any particular piece that catches your eye. Artisan jewelers live and breathe their craft, and are proud of their workmanship. Another good source of this type of jewelry is the small shops which stock unusual, upscale, ethnic jewelry and clothing.

Many other exciting possibilities await you online. Do an image search on Google " a search on 'artisan jewelry' turns up about 175,000 images, while 'ethnic jewelry' brings almost 240,000 images for you to browse. Some of these pieces are truly knockouts. Scroll through the images until you find a look or style you love " it won't take long! Then, just click through to the site and scout out what other items they have to offer. You'll probably find more items than you can afford at one time, so bookmark your favorite sites for an easy return. Artisan jewelry is also a big category on eBay.

Period pieces, such as Renaissance and Egyptian replications are a favorite with many artisan jewelry collectors. Lost wax casting is another technique favored by some artisan jewelers, producing magnificent effects and fairly ornate designs.

One particularly distinguishing characteristic of artisan jewelry is the unique combinations of materials. While beads are not expensive, an imaginative designer can create a stunning piece of jewelry at little cost. While a diamond pendant may not elicit a remark from anyone, your fabulously artistic beaded necklace is sure to draw notice and compliments, marking you as a trendy and fashionable dresser.

The same can be said of matching sets consisting of earrings, necklaces and bracelets. While most often made with semi-precious stones, the art is in the way the piece presents the stones.

Native American artisan jewelry is another ethnic style you'll want to take a look at in your searches. Native Americans have been making magnificent jewelry for many centuries. One item you should definitely check out is their watchbands. Talk about a conversation piece!

Be forewarned: once you start your collection, you might need to plan to buy a jewelry armoire to accommodate your collection of artisan jewelry.

About the Author:

Charlie Reese works with jewelry and he gives psychic readings on his free psychic astrology website weekly.

Acai Berry Side Effects

By B. Moffett

The acai berry is a small fruit grown in South America, usually found in Brazil. Locals have used the berry in their diets for centuries and have long known about its medicinal benefits. In fact, historians have found mention of acai berry use throughout ancient civilizations across the globe.

Over the last few years, the acai berry has skyrocketed in popularity, due in large part to diet and nutrition experts who have heralded its anti-oxidant and even appetite suppression properties.

The increased demand has turned the acai berry into quite the cash crop and led to a drastic increase in farmers planting the powerful anti-oxidant fruit.

Adoption in the US in bars and restaurants as a preferred alternative to wheat grass drinks have given the Acai berry fruit as the choice of health conscious connoisseurs. There are a lot of medicinal benefits of this tasty fruit, some of which are:

It has exceptional aphrodisiac properties

Increases stamina and overall energy

Reduces muscle pain and fatigue

Boosting the immune system

Digestive functions improved

It helps with weight loss.

The fruit is armed with many more health benefits. The side effects of the Acai berry arent as evident as other fruits. Infact, the side effects of this fruit are very few and hardly noticeable.

There is however, one fairly noticeable acai berry side effect. It doesnt pose any sort of danger to the heart and other body organs like the liver or kidneys. It has just been found to lead to a slight loss of appetite for some people. This side effect is also an after effect of many pills. Infact, there are medicines in the market with just this purpose. This side effect of the acai berry is negligible when it comes to the nutritional value this fruit provides. It is a great cleanser because of its high fibre content. It helps remove toxins and replaces these harmful substances with healthy vitamins. It is this effective cleansing ability that helps one slim down, which is a direct result of a decreased appetite.

While the appetite suppression side effect is not as common as many people wish, every individual reacts differently to the fruit, the beneficial nature of the side effects from the acai berry fruit are undeniable. The multiple health benefits gained from this single fruit should play a roll in every healthy diet.

About the Author:

Be sure you have all the information on acai berry side effects and acai berry diets before determining if acai products are best for you.

How to Learn Piano

By L. M. Ray

The most popular and useful instrument in the world is the piano. The appeal of the piano is worldwide as it attracts many people because of its adaptability to different forms of musical styles. People love to learn piano, but sometimes they are disappointed because it has so many confusing methods and styles of learning.

Is there an easier way to learning the piano? No, there isn't and anyone who believes that is fooling themselves if they think they can play Bach Inventions or Jazz piano like George Shearing. What will happen is that the student will become very frustrated and disappointed if they don't see that they are playing complicated pieces.

The most important thing for beginners is doing one thing at a time and you need to learn the process and the technique first. Don't start trying to play a song before you are comfortable with the individual notes. Learning to read music is a pretty high priority for a new pianist, because once you can read the music you are one step closer to becoming proficient.

Another thing that new pianists should do right off the bat is to set some goals. While you don't want to set the goals at an unreachable level, you want to challenge yourself so you can surprise yourself and others. Just like in any other area of life, goal setting is critical in playing the piano, especially for the adult student.

Be clear with some goals. Do you want to be able to use both hands to play by a certain day? Just decide what it is that you want to get done and execute a step by step plan to get it done.

Set aside a certain amount of time every day to work towards your goal of building a foundation. Some beginning students want to find an easy way to get to be a good musician and pianist because practicing sounds too time consuming and boring. What they have to realize is that most excellent pianists have spent literally hours of practice perfecting their technique, sight reading, and musicianship.

You don't need to practice until you are exhausted, as that will do more harm than good. You don't want to be tired and bored after a few weeks, but you should set up a step by step plan to get to your larger goal which you can discuss with your instructor. Lastly, question your teacher about anything that confuses you regarding your assignments or mastering the fundamentals of the piano.

The last thing that you need to remember is to not criticize yourself. Negative self-talk has prevented some potential virtuosos to quit much too early because they were frustrated and impatient. Perseverance and determination are two key components that an aspiring pianist needs to have to master the basics and build a solid foundation.

About the Author:

Is there a quick method to learn the basics of? L.M. Ray writes for the website Play Piano Guide where new music students can examine several reviewed piano courses.

Make Money This Valentines Day by Arranging Flowers Like a Pro

By Art Barron

It's the time every girl yearns for, and the time that every guy dreads: February 14th - Valentine's Day! Every girl dreams of getting that huge, beautiful bouquet of flowers, and every guy dreads taking out his wallet to pay for it! That's why there's always a need to make extra money.

Here are some things that you can do to either earn a little spending cash for the occasion, or just putting your own special touches on a bouquet that you made yourself:

Choose the right flowers. The standard for Valentines Day is red roses; you can't go wrong following this tradition. The red is a symbol for passion and roses are universally accepted as representing love. For sure, a bouquet of red roses is something that any girl would appreciate.

But mixing and matching flora is a great idea as well. When choosing which flowers to buy, there are two things that are worth considering: continuity and contrast.

Simply put, connection means that even though the flowers are different, they have something in common that will bind them together to make a "flowing" pattern. For example, the flowers should have the same shade of color, or roughly the same shape.

Contrast is having opposite flowers complement one and the other. Buds amongst blooms is a good example, as well as mixing large flowers with tiny ones. You could also use different flowers with different colors that complement each other like yellows and oranges, or oranges and pinks.

Decide on the focal point of your arrangement. For beginners, a good rule of thumb to follow is to pick a center of attraction among the bunch and design around it. Your focal point can be your tallest rose, your biggest and bulkiest flower or the one with the most appealing look. The key is to have everything else in the arrangement highlight your star. They can be shorter or placed more in the periphery of your arrangement. Use garden shears if you need to trim anything.

As you arrange the flowers that make your background, try to alternate complimentary pieces. Arrange your blooms in such a way that there are equal blues and reds or equal reds and whites. Insert your foliage in between the spaces. And make sure you know if your arrangement is supposed be appreciated from just one side or from all angles; this can help you spread your flowers out.

Do it with a flourish! Another thing to keep in mind is the embellishment of your bouquet. Thick, fancy ribbons are great add-ons to bouquets with thin wires. It catches the eye some more, while holding the arrangement together. Should you pick a vase, choose one that fits your flowers in just right, or use foam to help them stay in place.

Give as much thought to your vase as you do your flowers; they can certainly add accent to the whole look. Make sure that they are proportioned to the size of your display. Long-stemmed flowers need taller vases, about half of the height of your blooms. Short and bulky arrangement can do with wide-rimmed short bowls.

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Giving Great Gifts For Baby Showers

By Terry Stanfield

If you are going to a baby shower and you are looking for baby boy gifts there are many things you might think about buying. You can buy some really cool baby boy clothes or even accessories for the baby. You should be sure to get mom something unique.

Baby showers can be boring if everyone is buying mom the same gifts for boys. You usually see an overwhelming stack of blankets and onesies. You should buy something fun and unique for the baby that will be absolutely cute. Some of the fun things you can buy include accessories that a baby can never have too many off.

These things include hats, pacifiers, bottles, socks, and more. A newborn needs to wear a hat for the first couple of weeks to maintain the warmth. Why wear the standard issue hospital hat when you can find something adorable. You can never have enough pacifiers either. Why not get one that has text or a funny saying on it.

Baby showers can be dull if the gifts for boys are all the same. You want to be sure to think about cool baby boy clothes. Baby boy gifts are a lot of fun to shop for when you are at the right place.

There is nothing wrong with dressing a baby in the cutest styles as long as the baby is comfortable. Why not? The typical pajamas and one piece outfits are boring. It is hard to tell it is even a boy most of the time with the typical outfits today.

When you are shopping for a baby shower you have to be sure to find baby boy gifts that are fun and unique. You don't want to bring the same gift everyone else did. Get something fun for the baby to wear that will make a statement. It is the unique and fun items that create the memorable photos for later.

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Visit Trendy Remedy's site for information on unique Baby Boy Clothes and Baby Boy Gifts.

Avoid Problems - Use this simple Food Preparation Checklist

By Malcolm J. Richmond

If you run a restaurant or kitchen of any sort in Melbourne, you already know that it is a tough town when it comes to food standards and restaurant reputation. You will find that there are number of things that can sink a restaurant in Victoria, but nothing will shut a business down faster than sanitation violations. If it is discovered that your restaurant has health violations, you can watch your business drop like a rock.

You must always take every precaution to maintain the high standards of cleanliness in your kitchen. Although this is not a complete list, here are several worthwhile suggestions that can aid you in operating your kitchen in accordance with the highest sanitary standards.

Store cooked and uncooked food separately. This is essential when you are looking at making sure that your restaurant has a high degree of sanitation. Essentially, cooked food very often goes directly to the tables of your diners. Raw food, which is uncooked and untreated, may very well still be carrying bacteria or other contaminants that can be transferred to the cooked food. By keeping them separate, you'll be able to keep them from affecting each other.

Always label anything that comes into your kitchen. Labelling everything that comes into your kitchen is essential. Doing so can help your kitchen staff to know what types of foods are in various containers. This will help your staff to cut down on unnecessarily opening containers that they are not using. This will also help you cut down on contamination owing to exposure.

Labelling all the containers will improve the efficiency and production speed of your kitchen. You may also consider dating everything that comes into your kitchen so that you are able to maintain all your foods as good and nutritious for future use.

Temperature readouts. No matter where you keep food, you should make sure that there is a temperature gauge nearby. This can be instrumental when you are keeping cold foods and when you want to make sure that they stay good.

Take some time and really consider what your options are going to be when it comes to installing thermometers in your food storage location; this can help you a great deal.

Mini lectures and meetings are important to keep your staff knowledgeable and on their toes. Keep in mind that your staff play a major role in keeping your restaurant maintained and sanitized. This is sometimes difficult in kitchens with a high turn around rate; you must make sure that all staff are always aware of what they need to do to maintain the high standards of your kitchen. It is important to educate everyone on your kitchen staff as well as your front room staff.

Cleanliness and the safety of staff and diners should be at the forefront of every person's mind who runs a commercial kitchen or restaurant. Make sure your staff are well educated and that every person is pulling his or her weight. You may also want to consider hiring professional services that can aid you in monitoring your existing procedures as well as providing you with a detailed list of those things you can improve. A small investment here could save you significant hassles in the future. Pay some attention to your food procedures and be on the lookout for sloppiness. Do this effectively and avoid messy legal dramas.

About the Author:

Author: Malcolm J. Richmond offers more information on food hygiene on his site where you can also find out how well your kitchen stands up against current food safety procedures.

Cosmic Ordering Secrets Of Celebrities Revealed!

By Janette Stretens

More and more, people are realizing the importance of the cosmic ordering service. All you need to do is to place your order with the universe and then get it! Many celebrities publicly put their success down to cosmic ordering.

There are so many people around the world who are getting what they consciously desire. But it doesn't work first time for everyone. Do the people who it does work for know something the others don't? Are there really cosmic ordering secrets.

Think about the last time you saw someone succeed or win big. If you were grumbling and unhappy, you were just placing your order with the cosmos! The emotions of envy and disdain at another person's success reinforces the belief that you will never be a success and that you will never get what you want. You are saying you always want to be poor and sad!

Consider going to dinner at a nice restaurant. What do you do if you see someone there with a lovely meal? You don't get angry about not having it, you just get excited and order it for yourself! You'd hope that they loved their dinner and you would be happy for themselves.

With that in mind, why not be happy at someone else's success? You'll find that you can take happiness in their success and understand that your own is just as sweet. Don't be angry or bitter or disappointed because that reinforces what you already have; you are essentially planning for failure.

Lots of religions tell us that prayer and thought can bring us anything we want, but they don't tell us there is a catch. Belief is something that needs to be a part of this equation. More and more scientists have found that if you apply the principals of quantum physics to belief, it comes out quite the same. Many tenets of religious dogma show up to be quite true indeed!

It is the application of the mind's energy that makes it happen. This doesn't take away from the religious doctrine but enhances it with proof.

If you are just using positive affirmations, the problem is that there is a lot that can stand in your way. Past experiences can negate your new hope, and this can get rid of a lot of the good that you are doing. Remember that while this can work, it can take time to really root out the old beliefs.

This is where we get to the cosmic ordering secrets. With this, you'll find that you need to do a complete cleaning of your brain before you get started with telling the universe what you want. Start with a clean slate and accept the fact that you deserve it all.

Lots of things can help you get rid of the old. Would you use a vacuum on a dirty carpet or a small tooth brush? There are lots of scientific designs out there that can help you make your mind more open to what it is you want.

Self-hypnosis, subliminal affirmations and binaural frequency waves help to do just that. They allow you to find and eliminate all the old negative thinking that you have in your subconscious mind. All that the cosmic ordering secrets really are is understanding that your own subconscious mind wants to sabotage your efforts to get whatever you desire.

Remember that your mind hates change. It will fight tooth and nail to keep you at the same place, so make sure that you use the cosmic ordering system to get your needs met. You'll even find that you can "trick" your mind into going along, to becoming more dissatisfied with things as they stand.

The truth is that you can get whatever you want from the cosmic ordering system. Select your order carefully and then shepherd that belief into reality!

About the Author:

Janette Stretens is one of the writers for the popular http://www.cosmicorderinginfo.com website. Discover how easy it really is to be successful at Cosmic Ordering Secrets when you visit this site. Change your life forever with a huge collection of Cosmic Ordering Service Success Secrets Audios.

The Complete Guide To Cake Decorating Tools

By Jenni Snook

You probably realise there's some basic equipment needed for simple and clever cake decorating, but as you get more elaborate, you're going to want a few advanced cake decorating tools and techniques. To make your cake decorating adventure a bit easier, there are a variety of different techniques and tools.

First things first, you will need a mixer, one least cake pan at the very least as well as some icing. However, if you're in a rush, or want things to be simpler, then you can buy a premade cake which will not be difficult to decorate.

Furthermore, you will also want a bowl to mix the icing, a metal spatula for the icing and some icing bags and tips for any advanced decorating. You may not be aware but ready-made icing and decoration is also available for sale if you so desire.

It's also a good idea to use a carousel to facilitate the turning of your cake as you decorate especially one that allows to adjust the height.

If you have trouble shaping your cake the way you want, you can always purchase a cake pan that corresponds to the shape you want.

Using premade icing sheets is probably the most convenient way of icing your cake. This is because they are available in a large variety of styles and colours and they're easy to apply on your cake. The vast majority of cakes using for weddings or major celebrations apply this type of icing before decorating even begins. This type of icing can also be utilised to model paste or make 3D or flat decorations.

Professional cake decorators use a variety of tools to make flowers or other 3D decorations such a flower nail, tools for sculpturing or different tube tips which open the door to many styles of icing.

If you wish to learn more about the tools used by the professionals in cake decorating, a good idea would be to visit your local bakery where the main baker may be pleased to give you some handy ideas on what type of tools you should be using. Furthermore, you always have the Internet as a useful resource to use for finding information regarding tools, tips and techniques in cake decorating.

At the beginning, you won't need to have professional tools, basic tools should be more than enough. As you gain more experience and improve your techniques, you can start to use more complex tools as well as becoming more elaborate and creative in your cake decorating.

About the Author:

Jenni Snook is the main columnist of http://www.CleverCakes.com, a website focused on giving people practical tips and recommendations on cake decorating tools to make incredible cake decorations for all occasions.