Top 10 Biggest Volcanic Eruptions in History

The recent eruptions of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland were a stark reminder of nature’s ability to bring human activity to an abrupt standstill. The cloud of smoke that drifted over Western Europe made aviation travel untenable, returning European skies to a quietude not felt for decades..

Luxury Dining Rooms Ideas

A lingering hint of contemporary gothic pervades these luxury dining room ideas by Cattelan Italia. Black and white color schemes throughout simply demand attention… hints of sparkle add glitz and glamour

Top 10 Most Memorable Celebrity Weddings

The upcoming Chelsea Clinton nuptials have provoked endless speculation – from whether she’ll opt for an Oscar de la Renta or a Vera Wang dress, to whether the former First Daughter will be serving anything other than vegan food to her guests.

Pirelli Calendar 2011

During a press conference in Moscow this past Tuesday, Karl Lagerfeld presented his rendition of the famed Pirelli Calendar for 2011.

Vogue Paris Calendar 2011

Mikael Jansson shoots the stunning new Vogue Paris 2011 Calendar featuring Daria Werbowy. Styled by Anastasia Barbieri and Jewels by Louis Vuitton.

Showing posts with label how to. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to. Show all posts

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Strawberry lemonade recipe

Summary: Homemade strawberry lemonade recipe, made in the blender using lemons, strawberries and honey. Replace lemons with limes for strawberry limeade.

Ingredients

1 ¼ lb strawberries, washed & cut in halves, about 4 cups
2 lemons, washed and quartered (use limes to make strawberry limeade)
~ ½- ¾ cup honey or sugar to taste, adjust based on your preference and sweetness of strawberries
6 cups of water
Ice
Garnishes: Strawberry slices, lemon slices and/or fresh herbs

Instructions

Blend the strawberries, lemons and honey with 2 cups of water
Strain the strawberry lemon mix, add the additional 4 cups of water through the strainer
Taste and add additional honey/sugar if needed
Serve cold over ice and garnished with strawberry slices, lemon slices and herbs

Source:laylita.com

Thursday, March 1, 2012

How to Connect with the Men in Your Life


Nine ways to get him to open up...

It's not as if you always need to know how your husband feels about you or his childhood or his purpose here on earth. And it's not as if you want to spend hours on the phone with your dad, uncle, brothers or old college friends. Sometimes you just want one of them to weigh the merits of salad spinners. To help open the lines of communication between you and the men you love, we interviewed three experts to find the most effective ways to get them talking.

1.Approach him from the side. 

Walking straight up to a man and sitting down directly across from him can trigger his competitive instincts, says executive coach Carol Kinsey Goman, PhD, who counsels business leaders on nonverbal communication. She says that while women prefer talking to each other in a "squared up" position (i.e., across from each other), two men talking casually are more likely to angle their bodies away from each other. You'll have a better chance of getting your dad to talk about his golf game by doing dishes with him at the sink or plopping down next to him on the couch.

2.Go for a walk, or play a game of tennis. 

Women are usually more comfortable than men with the idea that spending time together will involve talking, says Diane Gehart, PhD, professor of marriage and family therapy at California State University, Northridge. A lot of that has to do with how we spent time with other kids when we were young. "Many men learned to develop connections through shared activities," says Gehart. As boys, they bonded while engaging in sports, playing video games or skateboarding; girls took part in sleepover gossip-a-thons. For evidence that these roles have carried over to adulthood, count the groups of women versus men the next time you go for brunch (an event that revolves around eggs, coffee and face-to-face chatter). Another reason that talking while walking—or hiking or driving—can be easier for you both is that it provides ready-made conversation fodder. For example, "Did you see that deer?" or "Did you see that Prius?"

3.Wait until you can actually hear each other before starting the conversation.

Yes, we just said to do activities together. And we're not advising you to stay away from sports bars or rock concerts. (Your instincts to meet him on his home turf are right on: That's where he hangs out with his friends.) But most men don't do much catching up at these places, at least until the game or the show is over, so you can't really expect to engage him until then either.

4.Sprawl when he sprawls. 

"Mirroring" is the term used to describe the technique of subtly copying another person's postures to build rapport. "When I was a therapist, I often used mirroring to help make clients more comfortable talking to me," says Goman. You're not trying to mimic all his movements. If he has one arm slung across the back of the couch, you might uncross your arms and legs. The idea is to show empathy through body language. This should put you both at ease, allowing conversation to flow more naturally.

5.Smile often—but don't expect him to smile back. 

Good moods and enthusiasm are contagious. Ronald F. Levant, EdD, a professor of psychology at the University of Akron in Ohio who specializes in getting men to open up, says that his clients often tell him how much they enjoy it when women smile at them. "It makes them feel liked, keeps them engaged and builds their confidence," he says—and it puts them in a chatty mood. But unlike women, who usually react to a smile by beaming back, Levant says that you should be aware that men are far less likely to reciprocate.


6.If you want an answer, ask a question. 

When working with male and female executives, Goman has noticed that men are less animated than women in conversations; they don't nod as often or make as many affirmative sounds, like "mm-hmm." (Studies on gender differences in nonverbal communication back her up.) Some men, especially those who were raised in an earlier era with more traditional ideas about masculinity, think that listening means quietly giving your full attention to the speaker, says Gehart. This lack of feedback makes some women think men aren't really listening. Gehart suggests soliciting his opinions with direct questions ("Did you finish that Swedish crime novel, Dad? What did you like about it?") instead of with open-ended statements ("Oh, you're reading that Dragon Tattoo book too").

7.When you really want to hash something out, avoid loaded phrases. 

They're the phrases we fall back on: "We need to talk" or "Can I talk to you for a minute?" or "Come sit down." They somehow sound ominous even when you're using your kindliest, I-swear-I'm-not-angry voice, and they always make him think that this is going to get ugly. A better idea, Gehart says, is to ease into a contentious conversation by acknowledging his position (especially when it's different from yours) and showing empathy. This is one way to bring up the idea of a vacation you know he's opposed to: "I understand why you don't want to spend extra money right now, but I also know that you've been working hard and need a break." This next part is key: Explain your thinking behind the request, as well as the benefits it will bring him. "I also need a break, and getting out of town really helps me relax in a way that a 'staycation' doesn't. You've mentioned that you feel the same way." Then finish with the thing you want: "That's why I think we should book that trip to Paris." Gehart says that another strategy involves having a mini-conversation about the bigger discussion you know you two need to have. For example, instead of "We need to talk about where we're spending Thanksgiving this year," you could try, "I know you don't want to talk about Thanksgiving, and honestly, I don't either, but it's just around the corner. Let me know when you're ready to discuss it—I want to make sure I'm prepared with a glass of wine in case things get tense."

8.Turn a complaint into a request. 

Marital researchers have found that in 70 percent of the situations in which heterosexual couples are unhappy, women will be more likely to initiate a dispute and request change, while men will tend to withdraw, avoid and stonewall their partners. This communication style is self-perpetuating: As she continues to make demands, he withdraws further. What's more, Gehart says, women are more likely than men to bring up a negative topic by criticizing their partner. Even if you're dying to tell him exactly what he did wrong, focus instead on explaining how to do it right and why that's important for you both. "Try to make it a positive, specific request," says Gehart, and avoid "you never" or "you always" (no matter how many times we hear this advice, we always seem to forget it when we're frustrated). Instead of "You never dry the dishes and put them away," try "It would really help me out if, after you rinse the dishes, you'd dry them and put them away. I know it takes some extra time, but that would make my morning a thousand times easier."

9.When emotions escalate, take a time-out. 

During a heated argument, a verbal attack can prompt the release of adrenaline. Our heart starts racing, our blood pressure rises and our stress level increases. As soon as the heart is beating more than 100 times per minute, Gehart says, our fight-or-flight instincts kick in, and we start looking for an escape. Men are more likely to feel defensive in a conversation because (as we mentioned before) women are socialized to talk things out. When his voice rises and his face turns red, give up—for now. Your instinct may be to comfort him by touching him, but this can backfire. "Some men feel overwhelmed by these intense feelings, and they physiologically can't handle your touch," says Levant. It takes men longer to recover from these types of emotional flare-ups, so don't expect to dive back in for a few more hours. Even better, wait for him to initiate the conversation. It's likely he will—remember, even if he doesn't like the topic, he likes you and wants you to be happy.

Source: www.oprah.com

Saturday, December 17, 2011

11 ways how to be the perfect man



Just want to stipulate that all of what you read in this article is the only recommendations; following which, you are much more likely to be liked by women, rather than being ignored by them. Again, the order listed below of male qualities is not as important as their availability. Well, now we can begin to list the most important men of quality, possessing which you “risk” like almost every woman and no matter what was going on, about a woman at school, at work, in cafes or anywhere else. How to please a woman? Here are 11 tips to be the perfect man.

1.Confidence. Asked 1000 different women, what should be a man of their dreams, and the vast majority of them do not hesitate to answer – self-confident. Yes, exactly. Not handsome, not rich and not even sexy! First and foremost he must radiate confidence and their actions. It is close to such men, we women feel most comfortable. If you unfortunately do not have this quality, it does not matter. Above all, do not try to portray him, the women feel it very false and hardly will appreciate your effort. Another small remark, it is important not to confuse confidence with arrogance and conceit. These are completely different things that play in the different teams. “Be decisive and do not be shy and mumbled guy. In this age of timidity, fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately), women do not appreciate. Also, never look away from the woman, talking to her, try not to be shy and do not blush. These simple rules should be clear to secede in your head (if you really want to be liked by a woman).

2.Sense of humor. It is this quality, can rightly fight for first place in the answer to the question: “what women like?” As you all know very well, “women like ears. Of course, for women’s ears, there’s nothing sweeter than sweet words and pretty compliments. But it is important to remember is one simple rule. The man who managed to cheer her companion – already 51% to her liking! Believe me; this information accurately rendered good service in another attempt pleasing a woman.

3.Masculinity. Everybody knows the phrase “For him, like a stone wall.” To understand its meaning is not difficult. She wants to see next to a strong (both literally and figuratively) a man. Next to that, she will feel weak and protected. Of course, here you can add and courage (only without fanaticism). Any man beside the woman must always remember who the stronger sex, and who – is weak. Unfortunately, in recent times, this quality is often more typical for our women. Men, give us the opportunities to at least close to you feel still weaker sex, but not vice versa.

4.Good manners. These days, the item can be rephrased to “lack of bad manners” Everyone understands what is at stake, but, unfortunately, not everyone can afford such “luxury“. Although it is not hard not to swear in the presence of women, respect elders, leaving the public transport to submit your companion’s hand (yeah, right now) do not slurp, and do not yell, etc. Of course, there are women who prefer the opposite brawler and foul-mouthed. But we are talking here about the other, normal woman, whom, fortunately, to date, much more. Therefore, do not forget about the banal rules of culture and etiquette. Nobody has hurt.

5.Responsibility. Personally, I am deeply convinced that every person should be responsible, and a man – twice. Not fair? Who knows? This is not only responsible for themselves and their actions, but also for their loved ones, their family, their future, in the end. At an irresponsible person (man or woman) can not be relied upon. They can not be trusted. And if not a man of confidence, it is difficult to build a serious mutual relation. Therefore, to be liked by a woman you just have to be responsible. How are things men say – “a man said, a man made“? In my opinion, the responsible male is even very beautiful and promising.

6.Extraordinary.In other words, you must be something that is not in the other, something that would “hook” the woman. In fact, it is not too hard to be extraordinary. Each of us has something that we try not to advertise in public. Whether it’s romanticism or erudition, adventurism (in a good sense of the word) or the ability “unroofed” woman. The options can be numerous. Choose you. The main thing in this case did not per gnu stick. Just does not be a “gray mouse” among millions of others like it. Be yourself!

7.Well-groomed and orderly. It’s hard for me to add anything. Everything is very clear. It just so happened that the women, most of them, more prone to cleanliness and order. And this is built into us at a subconscious level. Therefore, dear men, before your date with a woman stop in front of a mirror and draw appropriate conclusions. No, you do not have to go on dates in the official strict male suit you just have to look carefully. Clean shoes, ironed things, well-groomed hair. In my opinion, it is not difficult to agree? Slovenly men – repel. And no matter how cheerful, erudite and well-read you would not have been, you will be extremely difficult to be liked by the woman if you do not follow the usual rules of hygiene and walk in dirty clothes.

8.“In demand” from the weaker sex. It is important to give a sense of the woman that you – the coveted object for other females, but, your woman – the only one who you really interesting and important. Only in that case – it works. Many men take this advice literally, and thus suffer a crushing fiasco in women. It’s important to understand the distinction permissible. Do not eat other women’s’ eyes, being next to her. Generally you do not notice anyone. Let her know that she was the only one that exists for you at this time. I understand, to make it quite easy, but you can be good. Have you ever wondered why people ala the “soul of the company” enjoys a demand among the fairer sex? Why he is liked by women? Hints understand? Become a soul of the company, and you definitely will be liked by the women.

9.Like her girl friends. After the previous paragraph can be added to this, if the path to a man’s heart is through his stomach, then the path to the woman’s heart – through her friends. Again, it is important to understand, you should not flirt, or God forbid – sleeping with your woman friends! You just have to evoke positive emotions from them. To even the mention of your name, they are envious glances at your woman, although there are some pitfalls, envious friends – a very dangerous weapon. Keep this in mind and do not bend the stick!

10.Be an interesting conversationalist. You understand that people are interested in communicating attract. Remember, what they like women? Do not let the stupid and ridiculous breaks that put in an awkward situation for you both. But to chalk rubbish should not be. If you are dating a woman is not the first time, you probably have already managed to figure out what she enjoys, her interests, hobbies and passions. So, on your part would be very reasonable little “conversationalist” in the desired area. It would be beneficial to you (self-development has never stopped anyone), and avoid unnecessary breaks in communion with the woman. But cramming does not need anything, otherwise you quickly see through.


11.Be generous. Specifically, do not be greedy. I understand that for many guys, this paragraph will not be clearly to his liking, but still. Just take this item as an axiom. You do not want to be wasteful and to please the whims of any woman, no. Just from time to time giving his girlfriend inexpensive gifts, flowers, pay for it in cafes and clubs … Believe me, a woman who sees the young man not sorry to spend money on her (without fanaticism) – is capable of much.

Well, we think that these items will be more than enough to be liked by a woman. Of course, this is just the recommendations and implementing them is not necessary. You like a woman and not doing any of these tips. After all, we are different; we all have different tastes and preferences. However, the majority of women still give preference to a man who will meet all the requirements of this list.

Note that in order to please a woman you should also be a measure of romantic, secure, punctual, and respectful to her and her family, gentle, affectionate and even 1001 version. But most importantly, you should be yourself. You do not need to be an actor and attribute non-existing qualities, because sooner or later you puncture, no matter how cool. And women are not so stupid as to not distinguish desirable from the real. Just be yourself and respect the woman and a path to the heart of each one of us – is different, and find it does not help none of the recommendations , even the most well-known guru in the affairs of the heart and that is How to please a woman with the 11 tips to be the perfect man

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

How to make a Natural Anti-Wrinkle Most Effective Mask

A Wrinkle is a ridge or crease in the skin. The process becomes getting Prominent after 40′s, as a result of skin exposure to Sun, Habitual Facial Expression, Smoking, Poor Hydration and Various other Environmental Factors that keep on Harming our Skin. Now days there are several products and Treatments available for these Fine Lines and Wrinkles but with lower and artificial results.

Below you will see the Natural Homemade Anti-Aging Mask that is absolutely easy to make and Costs really Cheap, that gives you the natural skin lift as soon as you apply it with maximum Results.

Almonds, Egg white, Butter, Tea Tree Oil, Papaya and Cornflour:

2 Tablespoon of well grind Almonds
1 Egg white
2 Tablespoon Mashed Papaya
1 Tablespoon Butter
1 Tablespoon Tea Tree Oil
1 Tablespoon Cornflour

How to:

Grind the almonds very fine like a powder
Add rest of the Ingredients together and mix it well
Mix until thick Paste is Form that can be applied as a Mask
Apply the Mask on to Face and Leave on for 25-30 minutes
After applying Mask Do not Talk or change any Facial Expressions
Just Stay Relax after applying Mask
When the Mask is Dried enough, that your skin starts to Stretch
Rinse your face with Cool water
Let your face Dry Naturally

Thursday, August 18, 2011

How To Make A Pina Colada Cocktail‏


How To Make A Pina Colada Cocktail‏

The piña colada (Spanish, strained pineapple: piña, pineapple + colada, strained) is a sweet, rum-based cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut, and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice. It may be garnished with a pineapple wedge or a maraschino cherry or both. The piña colada has been the official beverage of Puerto Rico since 1978.

Long drink (tumbler or fashion glass)

  • 30 ml (one part) white rum
  • 30 ml (one part) cream of coconut
  • 90 ml (3 parts) pineapple juice

Pour all ingredients into blender or shaker with crushed ice. Blend or shake until smooth. Pour into chilled glass. Garnish with pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry and straw.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

How to Make Whimsical Fabric Flower Hair Clips


How to Make Whimsical Fabric Flower Hair Clips? You just need a little fabric, some hair clips, and a flame.

Materials for Fabric Flowers:


  • synthetic fabric in whatever colors and styles catch your eye.  I used 1/8th of a yard each of five different types of complimentary fabrics, some sheer, some opaque.
  • a candle
  • scissors
  • something for the center of the flower.  I used Swarovski crystals, but rhinestones, buttons, sequins, anything would work.
  • needle and thread (or glue, if you prefer)


Instructions for Making Fabric Flowers

First, cut your fabric into circles of varying diameters.  Don't worry about being precise, or getting the circle perfect.  Really, you can just freehand it and be awfully sloppy about your cutting technique.  Put your kindergartner on the task and it will be just fine.  It's that easy.  I want to make a quick comment about the type of fabric here.  You really need to be sure that you get completely synthetic material.  No cotton or silk can sneak in there, or the technique won't work.  I found a great selection of shiny synthetics in the formal dress section of Joann Fabrics.



Next, light your candle.  Hold the cut edge of your circle close to the flame, and you will see it start to melt and curl.  This is what we want!  (I had total flashbacks to my 4th grade science fair experiment on flammability of synthetic versus natural fabrics when doing this step.)  Melt and curl all the edges, and you'll have not only sealed the edges from fraying, but you'll have a perfectly shaped layer for your flower.

Stack the circles so that you have a nicely layered flower. Again, this is incredibly easy. I put my first-grader in charge of this job. There are no real rules, just stack from biggest to smallest, and you'll have a beautiful flowers.

Use a needle and thread to secure the stack of petals and to sew any center in the flower if you want to. You could also easily use glue to stack the layers together and glue a center in the flower if you want a completely no-sew project.

Glue the completed flower to a headband, a pin, or a hairclip for an easy and gorgeous accessory.

Source: http://tradewindtiaras.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-make-whimsical-fabric-flower.html

Sunday, August 14, 2011

How to make: Orgasm Cocktail


The Orgasm is a cocktail that can be either served on the rocks or layered and drunk as a shooter. It is an IBA official cocktail.

There are many other versions of this popular mixed drink. One of those forms is remembered by "being made on your B.A.C.K.", or made with Bailey's, Amaretto, cream (half and half) and KahlĂșa, with each ingredient having a one part measure. Another variation contains Vodka, Amaretto, Triple Sec, White Creme de Cacao, and Light Cream. The light cream has a 1 oz. contribution to this drink while the other ingredients have a 1/2 oz. contribution. This variation of the recipe is more commonly known as a "Screaming Orgasm". Cocktail recipes change over time with the addition and/or subtraction of their ingredients.


Orgasm: IBA Official Cocktail
IBA specified ingredients*

30ml Cointreau
30ml Baileys Irish Cream
20ml Grand Marnier

Served: On the rocks; poured over ice
Standard garnish: cherry
Standard drinkware: Old Fashioned glass


Preparation: Build all ingredients over ice in an old fashioned glass or shot glass. Garnish with cherry.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

How to make: Cosmopolitan Cocktail


Cosmopolitan Cocktail recipe 


1 oz vodka
1/2 oz triple sec
1/2 oz Rose's lime juice
1/2 oz cranberry juice

Shake vodka, triple sec, lime and cranberry juice vigorously in a shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass, garnish with a lime wedge on the rim, and serve.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

How to turn the Potholes Into Art by Claudia Ficca and Davide Luciano

`Potholes' by canadian creatives Claudia Ficca and Davide Luciano is a series of photographs depicting the concave cracks as functional tools in a collection of imaginative tableus in the city. Captured within the backdrop of los angeles, montreal, and new york city, the set explores the urban.
Flaw as a playground, creating a multitude of uses out of them including a swimming pool, an oil tank to fry doughnuts, a bath for pedicures, a giant plate of spaghetti, and more.
Directly engaging with the street and the city, the highly imaginative series transforms the bad into good, Creating a tongue-in-cheek collection of tableus that are at once contextual and surreal. Taking no more than 10 minutes from start to finish, the photoshoots are done during uninterrupted traffic where there is a suitable - and sizeable - pothole.
















Friday, October 1, 2010

Chocolate leaves for decoration - How to Make: Photo Tutorial

Beautiful and simple decorations for cakes, cookies, desserts and more, they are oh-so-simple to make and yet not many people do. How to do this - Step by step:



Step 1:
Take a walk through your yard to see what non-poisonous plants and tree's you have that may offer you beautiful small leaves with a lot of character and 'veins' on their undersides.Clean leaves that you know have not been treated with chemicals are a must.

Step 2:
Using melted white or dark chocolate or even almond bark, use a butter knife or a small, new paint brush or makeup brush to 'paint' the under side of the leaf.

Try not to get any melted chocolate on the top of the leaf, just paint the bottom in a nice thick, even layer.

Step 3:
Lay the leaves on foil, parchment paper or wax paper. Refrigerate for about 10 minutes to help the hardening process.










Step 4:
When the leaves are chilled the chocolate will be hardened and ready to peel off the leaf.


Gently and slowly peel the leaves off the chocolate and lay the chocolate leaf down. Sometimes the leaves can be used a second time if they are a bit sturdy but for the most part, plan to use each leaf only once.
Use your leaves to decorate cakes, desserts, cupcakes, cookies and more. The more veins the leaf has, the better and remember to only paint the under side for the best results.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

How to Choose the Best Hotels

No matter why you're traveling or where you're traveling to, your hotel has the potential to make your trip one to remember for all the right-and wrong-reasons. Hotels are more than just a place to sleep. The best hotels offer information and services that help familiarize you with your location, address the special needs of families and business travelers and, they hope, give you something to write home about.
Business or Pleasure
When it comes to choosing a hotel, the first thing to stop and consider is why you're traveling. If you're traveling for business, you'll have different needs than if you're traveling on vacation or with children and your choice of hotel should reflect that.
Business travelers should choose a hotel that features a business center for traveler's use or offers complimentary in-room Internet access that's secure and ideally wireless. Try to find hotels close to the airport or the center of the city's business district. Airport hotels aren't known for a good view, but make up for it with convenient shuttles, efficient customer service and a focus on business travelers.
When you're traveling with children, consider spending a few extra dollars to stay in a family-friendly hotel. Look for hotel amenities like in-room refrigerators and other kitchen appliances, restaurants and room service that feature a children's menu, indoor pools, portable cribs and a professional babysitting service.
Know what other amenities you'd like to have-laundry or spa services, for example-and limit your hotel choices to those that meet your must-have needs.
Location Location Location
Choosing a hotel with a good location is critical to making your trip a great one. But what does a good location really mean? That depends on what you'll be doing while you're staying at the hotel. You don't need to plan your entire itinerary in order to choose a hotel, but you should have a general idea of what you need or want to do once you arrive at your destination.
Start with a map of the area and highlight the airport, local attractions and shopping, theatre or other districts you'd like to see; then locate hotels that are conveniently located in relation to these spots. The less effort you have to make to get where you want to go makes for a more relaxing and enjoyable time.
Great Hotel Rates May Cost You Later
Most of the time, choosing a hotel solely on room rate is to plan for disappointment. If you're traveling to a gorgeous, tropical island you've never been to, it may be tempting to choose a hotel a few blocks from the beach with a lower hotel rate than the one right on the sand.
Chances are, the lower that room rate, the farther that hotel is going to be from the beach and those few blocks might actually be a few miles. What you thought you'd save on your hotel, you'll wind up spending on a cab or bus fare or a rental car; you'll pay for the inconvenience of having to find a way from your hotel to the attractions you want to see and probably the view of the asphalt from your budget-priced hotel isn't one of them.
In the end, any hotel in a great location will carry a higher room rate, but when you look at what you hope to get out of the trip, the value of that location may be worth paying for.
Guest Ratings
Travel Web sites invite travelers to rate their trip online and these hotel reviews often provide you with key information you might not find elsewhere, like whether a hotel is undergoing remodeling or construction that may detract from your stay. Read through the majority of user reviews to get the most the most fair and accurate picture of the hotel and hotel rooms and be wary of reviews that seem exceptionally positive or negative that may be intended to sway you one way or another.
Who Else is in Town?
If you're traveling to a large city, check with the local Chamber of Commerce or Convention Bureau for a calendar of events before you book a hotel-if you can be flexible with your travel dates, this little bit of research could save you money and the hassle of competing for dinner reservations when there's an influx of people in town. You'll also save on your hotel room rate; higher hotel occupancy means higher hotel room rates.
Destination resort hotels in areas like Orlando, Florida and the Bahamas often have convention facilities on their properties. Check with the resort hotel to see if there when those conventions are being held so you don't find yourself at a hotel where your downtime gets taken hostage by poolside parties and karaoke competitions.
Hotel Room Rates
No one wants to pay more for a hotel room than they have to. Always ask the hotel's front desk if they can do better on the room rate. Hotel reservation staff usually has the authority to discount the room rate or know how else you can save money. You should also check to see if an AAA, AARP or other club membership entitles you to a discount at the hotel. Airlines, rental car companies and frequent flyer programs often partner with hotels to offer discounts to shared customers. So do some credit card companies. Does yours? Find out before you book your hotel room.

Fruit and Vegetable Carving - What is it?

Welcome to the wonderful world of fruit carving. Whether you’ve considered hosting an elaborate event or a simple party amongst friends, fruit carving will be sure to be a hit. With the latest trend of theme parties increasing, the art of fruit carving can bring that extra special pizzaz to your party. The fruit you carve can create fanciful centerpieces for your parties at a fraction of the cost that expensive caterers or party planners would charge. You’ll save on both the cost of food and decorations. For occasions such as baby showers, bridal showers, weddings, birthday parties, or just a fun night with the friends, there are many creative fruit carving ideas that will impress your guests.

What is fruit carving?

Fruit carving is the art of carving and shaping fruit into intricate designs to create an elaborate centerpieces or food holders for parties. Made popular by Asian cuisine creators, fruit carving explores the creative realm of using food as decorations. Carve a watermelon basket and use as a fruit bowl. Create a pineapple flower bouquet display and place in a vase as a centerpiece. Make a cantaloupe boat for the kids. Whatever the occasion, your friends and family will be glad you did.

How to get started?

First, pick a theme. Having a luau? Make little hula girls on pineapple surf boards. A baby shower? Create a watermelon baby stroller to use as a serving bowl for fruit. A safari themed party? Make giraffes with skewers and place strawberries, mangoes, and grapes on them. Can’t think of a theme? Do an online search. There are fruit carving ideas available. Because of this recent craze, books on fruit carving, articles, and websites provide frequent how to articles and, often times, will show you a step by step plan to create the shapes you want to carve out of the fruit. Carving watermelons are usually the easiest to begin with because of their size, firm rind, and soft center. Most novice fruit carvers choose to begin their carving journey there.

Once your theme is chosen you will need to choose a variety of fruit. Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pineapple, grapes, kiwi, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, or any kind of fruit that doesn’t brown easily (such as apples, bananas, or avocadoes) work wonderfully for edible centerpieces.  Utensils like ice cream scoopers, a sharp knife, a cutting board, skewers, and tooth picks should all be set up ahead of time.  Readying your supplies ahead of time will aid in creating easy to make, elaborate fruit carved masterpieces.

How long will it take?

Like with any skill, fruit carving takes time to perfect. Practice, practice, practice. Do not wait until the morning of a big party to begin your first carving project. Practice ahead of time making strawberry and pineapple flowers to dip in chocolate for your family one night for a special dessert. Or, make a watermelon fruit basket to bring as a gift to your neighbors to say thanks for being a great neighbor. The more you practice the more confident you will become in your fruit carving abilities. The more confident and adept you become, the less time consuming your fruit carving projects will be.

Whether beginning fruit carving as a hobby, to impress friends and family, or as gifts to others, you will be glad you did. It’s a simple and inexpensive craft to undertake. It will make others feel like you’ve taken the extra time to make them something special and will show them you care. Carving fruit into fun shapes will be sure to make you a hit at any party.

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