Mini Bubble Blower

Product Details

Wearing Out Your Toddler When It's Raining!

Well, you probably would agree that we are experiencing unusual weather and in Australia it has been raining a lot this year. Many parents may not whine, because it is lovely sleeping weather for toddlers and wrapped babies! But many parents are pulling their hair out with energetic house-bound toddlers! According to the weather man, we are going to experience alternating months this year of wet and dry weather. Since I am always encouraging 'wearing out' your toddler in the preparation for sleep, I have had a lot of phone calls and emails asking for ideas on how to achieve this when it's raining.

So here are some of the ideas I have been suggesting:

*No TV! just music for dancing (the wiggles/playschool music CD etc) or at home kindy gym type activity. There are a specific cd's aimed at home dancing/exercise for toddlers and young children.

*In an appropriate room play games with balloons/soft balls, chasing, kicking, hide and go seek, trying to see who can keep the balloon in the air the longest.

*create cubby houses from the dining room table and blankets/sheets, encourages crawling.

*Use a spring out tunnel in the lounge room and encourage the toddler to crawl through it to play with different activities at either end. You could have farm animals at one end and jungle animals or people figures at the other end and suggest a game where the toddler encourages the different toys to visit each other.

*Use large boxes to create cars, planes, ships, cubby houses, shops, a city, police cars, fire engines. Add some dress ups and encourage journeys around the house to complete missions.

*Create a letter box from a nappy box (paint it red or cover it in red paper) and give your toddler your old junk mail in old envelopes. Address the envelopes to your toddlers toys and have the toddler dress up and be a postman. When addressing the envelope use a different colour for the first letter in the name of the toy to encourage learning the sounds of the letters (phonetics) to help with reading. Get creative and encourage deliveries all over the house. After delivering the mail, the toddler could dress up and help the toys open their mail.

*Bubble blowing and chasing the bubbles around.

*Indoor play centres, where mum can have a coffee and the toddler can get tired.

*Wait for a break in the rain and dress the toddler in puddle wear (from Mothers Direct-Australian Breastfeeding Association) and gum boots. Then let them run and jump in puddles.

*If it's hot you can still go swimming even if it's raining, after all you are going to get wet anyway.
Knowing that the preparation for sleep influences the quality of sleep your toddler experiences will help you to be realistic about how long your toddler will sleep. If they are not interested in a day sleep and starting to look like they will cope with not having a day sleep at all, maybe a rest with stories on the lounge or in bed will suffice.

You are the expert on your toddler and will know how much sleep your toddler requires during the day to enhance their night sleep. Remember to lower your expectations of the day sleep when we are traveling, visiting, shopping or are not in a position to ensure the active play and rainy days can be treated as similar days. Also plan carefully what your toddler eats to avoid unnecessary sugar, colours and preservatives that excite and energise them!

Tip: The one activity that does help the toddler to wind down and recognise that they are tired before bed is sitting still for some stories. Aim for 2-3 books over 8-10 minutes. Lie the toddler back on your chest and hold the book up so they keep lying down and can still see the book! Encourage this position for all three stories and if the toddler becomes fidgety and wants to wriggle away try to distract them with the story. It is the total length of time sitting still for the stories that makes the difference to how tired they 'feel', don't think that 3 books with a jumping, active toddler on the lounge will do the same thing!!

(C) 2008 Natalie Ebrill All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Bubbles Windmill

Product Details

Blows up to 500 bubbles in minutes! Makes thousands of bubbles within minutes! Makes 4 streams of continuous bubbles!

• Loads of bubble fun
• Easy as pulling a trigger!

Structural Engineering - The Vital Design Process

Without the brilliance of most structural engineers, our world would be a very different place. Simply put, structural engineering is a vital design process for modern society.

The word "engineer" has several meanings. It can be used as a verb that describes making something happen. It is a noun that describes the man who gets to drive the train. Yet, another meaning, also a noun, is of a person who is a professional and educated craftsman. What is structural engineering? It is a part of this vast profession of the engineer. Many people consider it a subsection of the field of Civil Engineering, but others see it standing alone.

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary gives a very interesting definition of engineering. It is one of many uses of the word, of course, but it is the one that best fits the idea of structural and civil engineering. It says it is "the application of science and mathematics by which the properties of matter and the sources of energy are made useful to people." The key here is the idea of making something useful to people.

Civil Engineering is really just a term to separate the original and older form of engineering, which is Military Engineering, into something that is not used for warfare or defense. Structural Engineering has to do with structures. This can include a multitude of things from furniture to space stations; from dams to apartment buildings. The important thing and the thing that occupies the attention of the structural engineer is resisting load and dissipating energy.

Load can take many forms. It is sometimes called "stress." For example, a bridge must be build to handle load and stress that comes from the weight of the structure itself or the traffic passing over it. It can be subjected to stress from the wind and the weather. The "properties of matter and the sources of energy" must be transformed into something that can be useful to people. A structure is useful to people only if it is safe and if it can withstand stress.

Structural engineering is not often viewed as an art. It is seen more as science and in the cold and harsh light of practical application. This view misses the truth, however, when one things of the structures of the world both in our long past and in our amazing present. The imagination and creativity that has been shown from the Pyramids of Egypt to the mighty Hoover Dam to the bridges and tunnels that have crossed our rivers and even oceans, surely must rank with the greatest art our minds have known.

Super Miracle Set 25 Bubble Toys Wands

Product Details

Go bubble crazy with 25 bubble toys that will help you create thousands of bubbles! Packaged in a unique blister bottle. Includes 4 fl. oz. / 118.28 ml. bottle of Super Miracle bubbles

• 25 Pieces Bubble Fun

Gift Ideas For the Eco Conscious

Birthdays and Christmas can sometimes prove tricky when trying to buy for 'the person who has everything' or even family and friends who have no idea what they would like! Help is on hand however in the form of environmentally friendly presents - otherwise known as eco presents - which are topical, thoughtful and useful; not to mention good for the environment.

Today's pharmaceuticals industry isn't afraid to pump products full of chemicals, colourings and preservatives. Thankfully, the popularity of organic and fair trade beauty products has seen a boom in consumers' awareness of how pharmaceuticals affect the environment. Palm oil in particular is widely used to create soaps, bubble baths and shower washes but is largely to blame for rainforest deforestation and the decline of species such as the orang-utan. Now it's possible to buy gifts that use sustainable palm oil so the beauty conscious among us can easily become the eco conscious at Christmas and birthday time.

When it comes to the man in your life, a brother or male friend, a gadget is always a good gifting option. With technology accelerating faster and faster towards finding environmentally friendly options for everyday appliances, why not keep your recipient one step ahead of the rest of the pack with the very latest eco-gadget? Solar powered DAB radios, wind-up torches and H2O powered clocks are currently making waves in the eco scene as well as capturing the imaginations of gadget fans around the world. These gifts are also particularly good for the financially frugal among us since all of the aforementioned gifts use natural, sustainable energy to power them so won't add a penny to your utility bills.

Finally, for those really looking to make an impact and think outside the box, why not indulge your recipient in a small wind turbine? Small wind turbines are at home in a garden or other open space where wind can be captured and converted into energy. Growing in popularity, wind turbines effortlessly provide a sustainable and self sufficient energy supply that allows you to harvest your own power without lifting a finger. Wind turbine owners can also benefit from substantial remuneration should they wish to redirect excess energy back to the national grid. What could be a better gift than no more energy bills and your very own earner in the form of wind turbine?

Eco gifts are fast becoming a popular choice when gift giving so now it's your turn to show a helping hand to the environment the next time you're on the hunt for the ideal present.

Wrapped Up Tight For Sleep

In welcoming a newborn into a family it is traditional to present the child with a gift. In many households the presentation of a baby receiving blanket makes for the appropriate endowment as infants are too small to play with toys and have the need to be wrapped up to keep them warm and secure in their parents arms. From the time that they are first born babies are susceptible to all manner of germs and are very sensitive to temperature after spending their fetal development in the 98 degree amniotic fluid within the womb. Once exposed to the air the small offspring will shiver and need to be toweled off and clothed in a diaper before being lovingly enveloped inside a receiving blanket.

After leaving the hospital it is important to keep a supply of blankets on hand to not only secure the bundle of joy, but to have as a burp cloth that comes in handy when the infant has finished eating and needs to be patted on the back to release any oxygen bubbles that were swallowed along with their formula. Because vomiting sometimes accompanies the escaping air it becomes necessary to use a barrier between clothing and the spit up as any young parent can tell you. With only the concerns of eating, sleeping and pooping to worry about, babies rely on their parents to provide everything that they need as they grow, and by being protected from the elements the precious little bundles can tend to their duties as comfortably as possible while they are securely wrapped up in their baby receiving blankets.

Mini Bubble Machine

Product Details

This bubble machine will create a special scene at your party or event. Bubble machine requires 2 AA" batteries. Size 6" L x 7" T."

World's Largest Bubble Pro Pack

Product Details

Beeboo Big Bubble Mix makes blowing big bubbles easy and fun! It's as simple as mixing one gallon of water with one bottle (16 fl oz) of concentrate. Create huge, colorful, long lasting bubbles. Amaze your friends, family and neighbors. Even complete strangers will stop and stare. Nothing works better for blowing big bubbles than our Beeboo Big Bubble Wand. Each wand is constructed using two 30" wooden handles and a section of super absorbent cotton cloth. Making big bubbles has never been so easy and fun! Sure to be a big hit with the whole family. Get outside and play. The Pro Pack includes one Beeboo Big Bubble Pro Wand and two bottles of Beeboo Big Bubble Mix.

• Get your Guinness world record-setting big bubble solution and big bubble wand and get ready for fun
• Includes a beeboo Big Bubble Pro Wand and 2 bottles of beeboo Big Bubble Mix
• Creates huge, colorful, long-lasting bubbles
• For ages 6 yrs. and up
• No Assembly Required

Champagne Flute Bubble Blowers - Party Favor - 6 Per Set

Product Details

Throwing rice has been replaced with blowing bubbles after a couple finish completing their nuptials. Provide your wedding guests a fun alternative which makes a great parting party favor. These champagne bubble blowers are also great for a quincenera, sweet sixteen, or bachelorette party. Bring a little whimsy to your event.

• Pack of 6
• Not for children under 8 Years
• Wonderful Wedding/bridal Favor
• Non-Toxic
• Plastic Flutes with Bubble Wand and Cap

Pistol Shrimp - Overview of the Snapping Pistol Shrimp

Pistol shrimp are a relatively common offering in marine pet stores across the country. While there are a broad diversity of pistol shrimp types in the wild, not many varieties are collected for the saltwater tank trade. They are also famous as hitchhikers that come in through live rock. These shrimp are usually small with sizes ranging from half an inch to two inches, rarely more.

Pistol shrimp have a single (rarely two) big claw that, when snapped shut, is able to shoot forth a cavitation bubble. This bubble, very briefly reaches temperatures rivaling that of the sun, which is somewhere in the region of 4700 degrees Celsius. The snapping action also produces a pop that is unmistakably audible. Such pops alert the hobbyist to one of three realities about their tank inhabitants.

a) They have a pistol shrimp in their tank
b) They have a mantis shrimp in their tank
c) They have both a pistol and mantis shrimp in their tank

The loud "pop" is the primary way most hobbyists discover the presence of a pistol or mantis shrimp. Between the two, pistol shrimp are a lot better. Mantis shrimp are excellent predators that can prey on your livestock. To most, both types of shrimp are undesirable hitchhikers.

The cavitation bubble is utilized offensively and defensively. While they are able to prey on a diversity of creatures, they are better known for their capability to scavenge really well in captivity. They frequently build burrows in the sand and have been known to burrow beneath the live rock. This poses a danger to your saltwater aquarium. If your live rock is not suitably secured, the total foundation can collapse. Their fondness for keeping the sand clean however, more than makes up for having to secure the entire rock structure.

A few types even associate themselves with types of saltwater sponges. It is their capability to form a association with the goby family of fishes that is truly remarkable. The genus alpheus of the pistol shrimp family houses mainly goby symbionts.

The symbiotic association is mutually advantageous. The goby warns the shrimp of approaching danger as the shrimp cannot see very well. The shrimp is in constant contact with the goby through its antennae. Any hasty movements from the goby is interpreted as a sign of danger and is a signal for the shrimp to return to its tunnel. Conversely, the pistol shrimp creates and maintains the burrow that both the goby and shrimp live in.

Ever vigilant, the goby will typically be seen on the look out while the pistol shrimp goes about its business digging and scavenging for food until it receives a warning from the goby. The goby on the other hand, feeds on passing plankton brought by means of the seas currents.tis

Top Ten Outside Toys for Kids Under Twelve

If you are a parent then you are likely to know that summertime can be a difficult time. Parents of children under the age of twelve are constantly dealing with children who are bored. There are only so many activities a child can do inside. That is why it is important for children to play outside during the summer.

Playing outside in the summertime is fun, but many children can easily become bored without a few outdoor summer toys. If you are the parent of a child who is younger than twelve, you have a number of options when it comes to buying outdoor toys. Below is a list and small summary of ten of the most popular outside toys for children under the age of twelve.

(1) Sand and Water Activity Tables

Sand and water activity tables are tables that allow children to play in the sand or in the water almost at the same time. Most tables are divided into two sections. A large number of companies make sand and water activity tables; therefore, you can purchase a wide variety of different table designs. Most sand and water tables are designed for children aged three and up.

Average Price: $45 - $75

(2) Outdoor Water Sprinklers

For years now, outdoor water sprinklers have been how many children without pool access have stayed cool during the summertime. Outdoor water sprinklers come in all different styles. Traditional sprinkler systems can be purchased; however, large beach balls, plastic animals, and other popular cartoon characters can be used as a sprinkler system. All outdoor water sprinklers require water hookup through a garden hose.

Average Price: $5 - $30

(3) Water Guns

Similar to the above mentioned water sprinklers, water guns are a fun way for children without a pool to stay cool. Water guns come in all different shapes, sizes, and styles. You can purchase a water gun that fits into the palm or your hand or you can get one that is so big it is about waist tall. Large water guns tend to have more force when it comes to dispensing the water. This means that most large water guns are not safe for children under the age of five.

Average Price: $10 - $20

(4) Slip and Slide Water Toys

Slip and slides are known as small water slides. They have been a popular outdoor summer toy for children under the age of twelve for years now. Slip and slides work best on a hill, but with running water a child can have fun even on a flat surface. Many slip and slides are sold with a sprinkler system or a miniature wading pool for extra fun.

Average Price: $10 - $25

(5) Inflatable Water Slides

Until recently, the above mentioned slip and slide water toys were the only water slides designed for home use without a pool. Now large water slides are being sold online and in department stores across the country. These slides are inflatable and they can go as high as ten feet in the air. They come with a miniature pool at the bottom. Due to their large size, most water slides are designed for children over the age of four or five.

Average Price: $200 - $300

(6) Sandboxes

Currently, sandboxes sit in millions of backyards all across the country. When filled with sand, sandboxes offer hours of fun for the whole family. Sandboxes can come in a traditional box size or they can come as large plastic animals. Large plastic turtles and crabs are most popular with children under the age of five.

Average Price: $45 - $100

(7) Teeter Totters

Many parents and children mistakenly believe that teeter totters are only meant for the park. The truth is that there are a large number of teeter totters that are designed for backyards of all sizes. Large teeter totters can often be hooked into the ground; therefore, making it safe for older children or adults to use. Smaller teeter totters that are transportable and designed for children under the age of 10 can also be purchased.

Average Price: $40 - $80

(8) Grill and Grill Accessories

Toy grills are becoming one of the most popular outdoors toys to hit the market. A large number of companies make these grills; therefore, there is a large selection of different styles at most retail stores. The grills can come in all different sizes with talking pieces, plastic food, and other grill accessories. These toy grills allow children to feel like a grownup while they cook right alongside their parents.

Average Price: $20 - $60

(9) Children's Wheelbarrow and Garden Accessories

A children's wheelbarrow can be used for a number of fun outdoor activities. Children can use a wheelbarrow to move their toys or help their parents in the garden. Most wheelbarrows can be purchased with additional garden accessories for extra fun. Children's wheelbarrows come in all different shapes and sizes; therefore, children of all ages can have fun with this great outdoor toy.

(10) Bubbles

Bubbles have always been considered fun outside toys, but the creation of additional bubble toys have made them even more fun. In addition to traditional bubbles, there are now bubble-making machines. These machines can often produce hundred of bubbles in just a few minutes. There are also machines that can be used to create huge bubbles. In addition to bubble-making machines, there are also other bubble accessories that can create unique bubble shapes and much more.

Average Price: $5 - $20

All of the toys mentioned above are the top ten most popular outside toys for children under the age of twelve. The good news is that almost all of these toys are reasonably priced and great for backyards of just about any size. Why let your child suffer through a boring summer when a large number of fun outdoor toys are all within your reach?

5 Great Uses For Sparklers You May Not Have Thought About

Sparklers are not just kid toys anymore. Manufacturers and people are getting very creative and innovative with the purpose and uses of sparklers. Here is a list of ways to use sparklers that you may not know about.

1. Wedding sparklers: Okay, you've probably heard of this but it's still not overly common to see sparklers at wedding receptions. They are growing in popularity however and used as an alternative to rice, birdseed, and bubbles.

2. Photography: Long exposure shots can be really creative when sparklers are included. You can write words, make shapes, and get really interesting effects from the fire and smoke.

3. Sparklers versus Birthday Candles: Birthday Cake Sparklers are far more interesting and exciting than the old traditional candles. You can use them indoors, they last about 30 seconds, no smoke, no ash, daytime or night. Just awesome!

4. Champagne Topper: So you are serving champagne for New Years, graduation, or anniversary. Put a bottle sparkler on top and really make it special. Basically the same thing as the birthday cake sparkler, except it can be attached to the neck of the bottle. Safe for indoors, little smoke, little to no ash and its fun, fun, fun!

5. Sparkle bombs: no details, 'nough said.

Bring the excitement up a notch or two by adding sparklers to your celebrations. Fun for kids and adults, great photo opportunities and good for a little mischief, too. Always keep safety in mind and if you use indoor sparklers make sure they are indeed indoor sparklers.

Neon Party Bubble

Product Details

Blowing Bubble Fun for Everyone! Bubble bottles are perfect for any occasion. A bubble bottle is the perfect party accessory, no matter what the event. 2" long and 1" wide. Plastic bubble bottle. .6 ounces of bubble solution. Assorted neon colored bubble bottles. Bubble wand attached to cap. Bubble bottles like these are perfect for any event. Bubble bottles make a great give a way and are a great source of entertainment for young and old. Give your guests blowing bubbles to get the party started. No party is complete without plenty of bubble blowing fun. Part of Favors, Toys, Gifts > Bubbles

The Advantages of Autism

My husband and I are the sometimes-proud, sometimes-mortified parents of a four-and-a-half year old boy, Jonah, who has autism. Jonah is a bright, mischievous, affectionate, challenging, monkey of a kid. We love him and are managing our somewhat unusual lives pretty well. With autism, though, everything can seem like a challenge: meals, bath time, car trips, birthday parties, you name it.

Among other things, Jonah doesn't talk and he doesn't understand normal social cues. He'll walk up to a stranger at the park and rifle through her picnic basket. He'll climb up a playground slide without taking note of whether or not some kid is poised to slide down right into him. Every time he hears the song "Happy Birthday to You," he marches up to the place of honor, ready to blow out the candles and tear into cake. When prevented, distracted, or redirected away from these activities, a tantrum is the likely result. And when the tantrum is in public, there's usually the added fun of strangers' stares, glares, and disapproving glances. I could go on...but this article isn't about what autism is, or how it is difficult, or why its occurrence has risen to epidemic proportions. It's about the advantages of autism. And really, there are several.

I have to admit right off the bat: I'm only being half-facetious when I say we fully intend to cash in on any and all emergent savant skills, like in the Las Vegas scene from Rain Man -- but that doesn't seem likely since they say only 10% or so of autists have these skills. Oh, well. Winning ridiculous amounts of money counting cards isn't everything, I suppose. Good thing there are other things we can enjoy right now.

One is innocence. While other kids his age have "moved on" to superheroes and swords, our son still loves bubbles and blocks. While his peers have discarded traditional kids' songs for pop music, Jonah still happily requests "Wheels on the Bus" - and does all the hand motions too. He doesn't watch commercials then demand whatever toy or gadget or breakfast cereal was advertised. He doesn't understand the concept of Christmas or birthdays, at least not in the way other kids do, so he's perfectly happy with a few toys and something yummy to eat.

When our son is fully enjoying himself, there is no one as uninhibitedly delighted. A joyful Jonah is a beautiful sight. He is never embarrassed or self-conscious about what he is doing, and it shows. What you get is a child largely unaffected by most things that can't help but affect the consciousness of other kids: bad news on TV, anxiety about dad leaving for work, fear of the boogeyman under the bed. In a sense, autism protects him from much of the normal worry, apprehension, and insecurity of being an almost-five-year-old kid.

Also, people have told us he's especially entertaining to watch - and we can see why; the way he interacts with his environment is undeniably interesting. We consider it an advantage to have a child who sees the world through a somehow different lens. He'll hold his fingers up to his eyes to catch an interesting visual, or cock his head to the side and look at things from an angle. He adores kaleidoscopes and spinning toys and flashlights and seems to see them in a way the rest of us can't. He teaches us to stop, look, and listen to things in a manner that may never have occurred to us before.

There are advantages, even, to his silence. Though we'd love for him to learn to talk and are doing everything we can to help him learn to communicate verbally, it is nice to know he's not going to start yelling obscenities in the mall or call the cops and tell them our house is on fire. He may perseverate on the light switch by turning it on and off a thousand times, but we're never subjected to endless repetitions of movie quotes, nursery rhymes, or some random snippet of something he heard on TV.

In fact, we've come to find that for every challenge we face with Jonah, we're presented an unexpected, precious, and often humorous gift. The gifts are what keep us going - for, as with everything in life, they balance out the bad and show us our son and situation in an ever-changing, beautiful light.

And perhaps that balance is, really, the greatest gift of all.

Mastering the Art of Majoring in the Majors

As parents, we need to work on setting priorities with our children. We need to ask, "What are the most important values that I want to stress and instill in my children?" Make sure you major in the majors, not the minors. If you focus on minor behavioral infractions, there is a tendency to create conflict and power struggles with your children. In focusing on the behavioral minutiae, you and your child may lose sight of the significant values that you want him to embrace. Your priorities for your child's character and responsibilities should entail such responsibilities as serving others, treating others with respect, doing volunteer work, making amends for mistakes, and contributing to the household by doing one's share of work. When I worked in the schools as a guidance counselor, I once had an exemplary student who needed a recommendation for college. I asked her to provide me with a worksheet or resume of her distinctions so that I could write a quality recommendation. In her worksheet, she told the story about how she would go to the landfill with her grandmother, look for broken dolls, take them home and repair them. Then she would deliver them to the children at a nearby orphanage. This is what I mean by encouraging children to cultivate worthwhile values and priorities.

Don't get overly caught up in fashion design, hair color, and types of music played by your children. These issues create unnecessary battles that go nowhere. If you continue to wrestle over less significant issues, you create the conditions for bigger power struggles and resentment. It's a delicate balance, but it's important to keep the lines of communications open with your child.

Parents need to effectively communicate their wishes and desires for their children. Children don't respond well to parents who holler, scream, and reprimand in a scolding voice. In fact, as tempting as this behavior may be, you can bet that your child is tuning you out. You may also be creating an oppositional child through your well-intentioned, though ineffective means of parenting. Using positive reinforcement when your child does things right, or using encouragement helps promote involvement. Maintaining consistent consequences, both positive and negative, are more effective than trying to coerce your child into doing a task for you.

Asking children to make value judgments about the choices they make is more effective than moralizing or pontificating about the right way to do things. If a child brings home a poor grade from school, resist the urge to lecture on the value of education. Ask your child, "Is what you are doing in this class good enough for you? How do you feel about this evaluation from your teacher? What steps can you take to improve your performance?" Make your child take responsibility for her behavior. Do not accept excuses, such as "I hate this teacher, or I just forgot to do some assignments." State your disappointment in what has happened and ask your child what he plans on doing to improve the matter. Box him in by making your child accountable for coming up with a reasonable plan for improvement. Get it in writing if you wish, or a handshake, but get a commitment for improved behavior. Never let your child off the hook. Make your child explain how she will change things for the better. Be calm, somewhat detached, and persistent.

Fostering involvement with your children which helps promote respect, setting character-building goals and priorities, and holding your children accountable for improved performance are essential characteristics of quality parenting.

Homemade Soap Products - The Benefits of Using Natural Ingredients

You can make your own lye soap at home; it's not hard to do! All you have to do is combine fat with some sort of caustic agent, using water as your catalyst, and you have soap. 'Saponification' is the technical name for the chemical process between lye and fat.

And you won't need anything exotic to make your own soap; most of the ingredients you need may be as close as your grocery store. What will you need? For a basic soap, you only need water, lye, and some kind of fat and oil. For a more luxurious soap, you might want to add coloring dyes and scented fragrance oils.

You probably have water as close as your kitchen tap; some people prefer to use rainwater or distilled water in their soap. And what's lye, anyhow? It's chemical name is sodium hydroxide; it's a very strong base, so when you handle it. Make sure that you read the directions on the package of lye carefully, and following them scrupulously.

The first step is to dissolve the lye. Never pour the water into the lye; instead, pour the lye into the water. If half the water is ice, that's even better. Stir; as you stir, watch for the reaction. The lye can even boil the water; if this happens, stop stirring until the bubbling stops, and let the lye water cool down to room temperature.

So what about the oil? Just about any fat or oil can make soap, from plant oils to animal fats. Coconut oils will give a rich lather. Olive oil will yield fine, silky bubbles. If you use animal fat, make sure it' is clean, not rancid, has no salt, and is free of solid particles. You'll find tallow or lard will give you a denser soap.

When you batch starts to thicken, that's the time to add coloring and perfume oils. Pour the 'traced' soap into shape molds, and let it harden. It will have to 'cure' for one to three days, and then dry a bit longer before you can enjoy it.

Homemade, natural and specialty soaps are perfect truths for bath and body treatments. So if you are looking for a way to relieve your tension, forget about your bad day and just feel good, well treat yourself with some homemade soap products. They'll make your skin soft improve any skin conditions you have and help you connect with yourself.

Little Kids No-Spill Big Bucket

Product Details

Little Kids No-Spill@ Big Bubble Bucket@ Let’s 3 kids play without spilling all of their bubble liquid! Wide base improves stability, and the patented No-Spill design eliminates bubble spills. Comes in assorted colors - please let us choose for you.New Design features include:-Twist open top-Easy-to-Carry Handle-Works with 4 oz. of bubbles!Includes 3 Chunky Wands. (Bubble liquid sold separately). Ages: 3 years & up.

Good - Appropriate Touch with Children

If it seems as if 'no touch' is the 'best touch,' with a child, I can assure you that there is such a thing as 'good touch.'

Everyone needs touch that soothes and nurtures. Studies on children in orphanages in England during World War II revealed that without touch children become morose (anaclitic depression) and often die despite adequate nutrition and proper hygiene.

The most important guideline in touching your child is respecting your child's likes and dislikes. When your child is non-verbal, you will need to watch for signals, such as: wincing, squirming, holding the breath, or crying to decide if the touch is disliked. Any sign of dislike or discomfort needs to be respected. You need to cease the activity immediately, without question and without shaming your child.

Respecting and honoring your child's preferences, including while playing, is critically important. When you ignore your child's preferences you are in fact, unwittingly saying, "Your perceptions do not count." Your child will learn through lack of respect and disregard to their preferences, that they have no power.

When a child believes she/he is powerless with the most trusted people in his/her life (parent[s]), she/he ceases to exercise our power with anyone. Therefore, it is paramount when your child objects to any form of touch--contact play touch, tickling, etc. that you stop immediately. On a broader scale, the outcome could be catastrophic. Children learn their life skills vis-a-vis their parents. If they perceive themselves as powerless with their parents, they will be powerless with other adults; thus, other adults could include a sex offender, who is waiting for just such a child to become their next victim. See my article: How Sex Offenders Groom their Victims.

GOOD TOUCH:

o Gently rubbing your child's back, arms, hands, fingers, head, cheeks ears, forehead, feet and toes. Rubbing their legs needs to be modified to avoid the inner thigh, which is a highly erogenous area.

o Hugging is the most magnificent form of touching. Hugging says: "I am here for you.," "I really understand your feelings," "I am proud of you," "Allow me to comfort you," "I love you," and much more. There are fourteen different types of hugs: The A-Frame, Ankle, Side-to-thigh, Back-to-front, Bear, Cheek, Custom-tailored, Grabber-squeezer, Group, Guess Who, Heart Centered, Sandwich, Side-to-side, Top-of-the-head hug. Hugs can account for the majority of the touch you give your child.

CAUTION:
o As the parent(s) or caretaker, you know your motives when you touch a child. "What is wrong with giving my child a pat on the bare buttocks as a show of affection? What is wrong with kissing my baby on the bare buttocks after she/he has had a bath?" There is probably nothing wrong, and these actions would not be considered 'bad touch.' However, your child is learning via this activity; "What is acceptable touch with someone the child trusts."

o Sex offenders use acceptable, affectionate touch for bonding and desensitizing the child. If the child is accustomed to being patted on the buttocks by the parent, their predisposition to this form of touch would likely leave them vulnerable in allowing anyone whom they trust to do the same. This creates a possibility that someone who is a sex offender can begin the desensitization process seemingly innocently with an increased possibility of the child's compliance. Therefore, if the child does not protest when she/he is patted on the buttocks, the sex offender accepts this as confirmation the child is accustomed to being patted on the buttocks and will progress to sexual touching. If your child is not accustomed to being patted on the buttocks and you have instructed her/him to protest uncomfortable or unwanted touch, a sex offender will be reluctant to go further. If the child protests or moves away, it is a signal to the sex offender that this child might tell.

o Blowing air bubbles (a.k.a. raspberries) on their stomach is every child's delight. However, this activity can be used by a sex offender--emphasis that only Mommy or Daddy is allowed to blow air bubbles.

o Tickling is a very 'ticklish' kind of touch. No pun intended for this very serious subject. Many sexual abuse or incest survivors state their abuse started with tickling. However, in many incidents, the child intuitively knew that the tickling was different in nature, but she/he did not know they had a right to protest. Therefore, if you tickle your child, be extremely watchful where you tickle. Avoid highly erotic areas such as the buttocks, breast area, groin, or inner thigh.

o These precautions apply equally to boys and girls. Additionally, reinforcing the lesson that your child has the right to protest is advisable if the tickling, touch, activity, for any reason, is uncomfortable or unwanted. It is imperative you stop any touching activity if your child displays any signs of discomfort. Stop immediately!

Heeding these cautionary suggestions regarding touch will thwart the majority of sex offenders.

Bath Time Fun

Bath time can be fun or it can be a real hassle if your child is afraid or don't like it. So we as mothers try to make it a fun time for our little ones! Then the problem will be getting them out!

Color It

Bubble bath can be irritating to little ones causing urinary track infections, yeast infections as well as skin irritation. A few drops of food coloring are a wonderful solution adding interest and fun to your child's bath. You can also turn each bath into a learning experience drop one color in such as red then ask your child what they think will happen if you add a drop of yellow.

Measure It

Measuring cups are fun for pouring and filling in the tub and if you have an old set they are a great free fun set of toys for the tub. They can stack and pour to their hearts content and maybe even learn to wet their hair for washing, control gives many children the power to over come fears such as getting their hair wet for washing.

Learning time can be created threw the use of the measures .Take the one cup measuring cup and ask the child how many of each cup it will take to fill your big cup.

Bath Body Paints

You must you super vision with young children, but we all know you must supervise young children in the bath any how ;-)

In a few small cups put some hypoallergenic shaving cream (test on the child a few days before on a very small spot for allergies) then add a few drops food coloring to the desired color. Mix well. Your child can then enjoy painting their toes, legs and belly. I would discourage using it in the face area. These paints are very easy to clean up.

Sing Songs Together

Kids love to sing and to be sung to. Bath time songs like rubber ducky and Splish splash I was taking a bath are great bath time songs. When my children were very young we played this little piggy as I washed each toe.

My Dolly Too

Little ones like to do as their parents do. Bringing a doll into the tub for them to wash is often great fun. Show them how to shampoo and rinse the dolls hair. My daughters all loved to wash their dolls hair as I washed theirs. They were so preoccupied they did not even care that theirs was being washed!

Gone Fishing

Wash well with soap and hot water the Styrofoam plates your meats come in. Once you have about four cut some fish shapes from them. You child can use the big one cup measuring cup to capture his fish!!! See how fast your little fisherman or fisher girl is at catching their fish! If the fish are different colors you can play fish store and request you special fish and watch them chase it around the tub. This one makes for lots of giggles.

Loops

I save my margarine tub covers and cut out the centers. My shampoo bottles make great posts to play ring toss with. My only caution is making sure when you cut out the centers there are no sharp edges. My older kids love to play this in the tub together.

Sponge Animals

Cut animal shapes from new sponges, frogs alligators sharks and fish are all popular bath choices but really the choices are endless you could even make a fleet of trucks for your little boy! Fabric puff paint would be great to lightly decorate one side of the sponge. Once it is dry they are grate bath time companions. They float as well as stick to the tub walls.

Bath Time Safety Tips

Never never leave a baby or toddler in the tub alone for any reason.

Use a good quality bath mat to help prevent slips and falls.

Run the water first test it and make sure it is not to hot or cold.

Never allow your child to run the hot tap.

Though bubble bath is great fun it can cause irritation to genitals make it a very rare treat if at all.

Make sure razors are put away out of reach.

© 2003-2004

Jennifer & Gregory Gove

See Where You Are Going With a Clear Bubble Umbrella

Most of us have been in embarrassing situations where we bumped into someone or something just because our umbrellas are blocking our view. It is very difficult to strike a balance between seeing where one is going and protection from the rain. This is the reason that the concept of clear umbrellas has been introduced. A clear umbrella is made out of transparent material which enables its users to see where they are going while also giving them protection from the rain.

The concept of a clear umbrella is not new and it has been around for quite some time now. These umbrellas are very easy to use since you don't have any trouble looking around and you have a complete 360 degree view. The best part about using a clear umbrella is that you really get to enjoy the rain without getting wet. The feeling of being able to see the water drops falling on top of the umbrella is wonderful. This umbrella not only provides you with functionality but also pleasure and joy. It's a wonderful experience to use such umbrellas.

Nothing can be better than enjoying the rain without getting your clothes wet. You feel as if you're walking in the rain but you don't have any raindrops falling on you. People who have bumped into someone on the footpath because of poor visibility due to an umbrella will really appreciate the concept of these umbrellas which are made out of see through material. In the category of these transparent umbrellas, there is a lot of diversity and a range of stylish designs are available.

Apart from having good style, there umbrellas are easy to use and come at affordable prices. They are durable and can be used in harsh weather conditions. The size of these umbrellas is larger than the normal umbrellas. They have the size of golf umbrellas which means the diameter of these see through umbrellas is 122 cm while they are sold in the market at a retail price of about $13. While most of these umbrellas are completely see through, some of them come with a slight taint while others have patterns on them such as polka dots. Umbrellas which are tainted or have a pattern on them are usually more attractive than the simple ones and they have a retail price ranging from $8 to $10.

At Ease in an Intex Easy-Set Pool

Have you ever watched your neighbor in his/her swimming pool or gone to a fabulous pool party and thought; Wow, I wish I could afford a pool. Well, you can with an Intex Easy-Set Pool.

Imagine yourself on a warm summer day, floating in your own Easy-Set above ground pool by Intex.

Here are some advantages of an Intex above ground pool compared to Steel-Walled Pools:

Easy-Set Above Ground Pools

1. Assembly- Only a screwdriver required

2. 2 People can set-up the pool in 10 to 30 minutes

3. No sand required

4. Store pool in Winter; simply deflate top ring, allow to dry, fold, and store

5. Affordable

Steel Walled Pools

1. Requires many tools

2. Needs a crew, can take up to 20 hours to assemble

3. Requires 600-2000 pounds of sand

4. Hard to disassemble, can take hours, needs a lot of space for storage

5. Expensive

Easy-Set pools are very durable for many years of fun. These pools are made of super tough 30 gauge sidewalls that are made with 3 separate layers of material for extra strength and durability. Also, an additional incentive to consider: Intex has a toll free phone number with a well trained staff to assist you with any questions or problems that might arise with your pool.

Still have doubts? Think about this----An Intex Easy-Set above ground pool is affordable, simple to assemble in minutes, hours of refreshing enjoyment, and best of all, if you move, you can take the pool to your new home. Now imagine, you are the neighbor with an Intex Easy-Set pool and have your family and friends to all your fabulous pool parties.

How to Cheaply Entertain the Kids During a Recession

Fall is in the air, and you can really feel it on Wall Street.  Everything is falling: stocks, bonds, even banks. Many experts are now saying the dreaded R word: recession.  Everyone is cutting their spending, driving less, and looking for a hundred ways to limit their expenses.   So what does this mean for parents who want to entertain their kids for cheap?  

Parents know that telling the kids that "there's no money" for toys this Christmas just is not gonna happen!  Still, sacrifices have to be made, and video games and other favorites cost more than ever before.  

My advice?  Go Retro.  Parents have plenty of creative ways to entertain the kids without dropping a Franklin on the newest gizmo.  Some of the best ways to amuse children have been around for decades.  And for some, you don't even need to spend a dime.

Classic Toys are Cheap and Reliable

Some classic toys for less than $10 are still on the market.  These include Pay-Doh, building blocks, LEGOS, the Rubik's Cube, and classic dolls.  What separates these toys from more expensive toys besides being light on the wallet?  They all encourage kids' imaginations rather than mindlessly entertaining them.  Building, playing house, and solving puzzles keep children occupied for hours on end, leaving parents a chance to get some rest.  

5 Really Classic Diversions

For even cheaper ways to entertain the kids, we have to dip back into our collective memory of the Great Depression.  Here's some great toys and activities that you can build from household items and recycled "junk."

Bubbles!  All it takes is some dish-washing soap diluted to three parts water.  You can use some wire from the garage to make a "bubble wand," or even a paper-clip will do the job.  

Making paper airplanes.  I admittedly spent countless hours in my youth making paper airplanes, and there are so many great designs that are easy to learn.  You can make planes that go the distance (great for competitions) or ones that do tricks such as "loop-de-loops." 

Sardines.  You'd be surprised how many kids these days don't know how to play this classic hide-n-seek game.  It's great for rainy days or for large backyards too. 

House of Cards.  I'm not trying to make a sly joke about the economy here, really.  Building card houses takes skill, patience, and a lot of time.  Many kids don't know about this because card decks are, in many homes, a thing of the past.  Bust out your pinocle decks and let them compete for the tallest card house.  A Guaranteed nap time for Mom!

Cardboard Boxes.  The classic toy made from nothing!  For little kids, appliance boxes can seem like whole worlds.  Let them set up their sleeping bags inside for a special sleep over in the living room. (Just make sure you punch out a few windows for good circulation!)  Older kids also can use boxes as impromptu snow sleds.
There are many other ways to turn entertain the kids without breaking the bank.  I encourage parents to reach back, waaay back, into their memories about how they passed the time when they were young.  This modern expectation that kids need new toys is merely a fad, and no doubt it will pass if the economic slowdown continues. 

All About the Xyron 4400 Wide-Process Cold Process Laminator

Did you know the cold laminators can laminate even the largest items, such as posters and blueprints? It's true, and using the Xyron 4400 Wide-Process Cold Process Laminator can make laminating your wide format items easy. Plus, it can do a lot more than just laminate your documents. Here's all you need to know about this great machine.

A trio of lengths. The 4400 is capable of working with documents of three different widths: 35", 38", and 43". (Note that this device can only process items that are 3/16" or thinner.) With this machine, you can easily adjust the width depending on the size of the item you're processing. The tray has an edge guide to help you feed your document into the machine so you can be confident your item is being inserted correctly.



It can do more than laminate. The 4400 is a cold laminator, first and foremost, and you can use both matte and glossy laminating film with this machine. However, the 4400 can also perform other functions, as well. Like many of Xyron's laminators - both professional and non-professional alike - the 4400 can apply adhesive. The adhesive can simply be on the back on a document or you can laminate one side and put either high-tack or repositionable adhesive on the other, so this is a really great machine to use if you need to create signage or point-of-purchase displays. It is easy to go back and forth between laminating and applying adhesive - you just need to replace the current roll set with the more appropriate one.



This machine keeps it cool. Although this machine uses electricity to operate (unlike the vast majority if Xyron's other devices), this device performs cold lamination exclusively. The machine has rollers that apply pressure to either the adhesive or laminating film, so you will wind up with an item that's been perfectly processed without any imperfections such as air bubbles. Plus, you can laminate just about anything with a machine like this whereas some documents can be damaged when they're fed through a hot machine. Unlike other cold process roll laminators, the Xyron 4400 uses films without a release liner. That means you won't need to mess with take up rollers or release liners. That is nice.



Document finishing made easy... and safer. The 4400 has a built-in trimmer that can trim excess film right after your document has been laminated. (This trimmer can be removed, if needed, and its blade is replaceable.) This means you don't have to trim the item yourself. Finally, the 4400 is the machine to use if you are worried about the potentially harmful effects of using spray adhesive. Since the adhesive used by the 4400 is non-toxic, there are no noxious fumes emitted. This is good for both you and your employees, as well as the environment. (Plus, you won't have to worry about your adhesive making a sticky mess of things.)


When it comes to large-format machines, the Xyron 4400 Wide-Process Cold Process laminator is one of the best options available. It offers a variety of functions and the products you need to use with it are environmentally safe. There's no doubt about it, the 4400 will provide you with great document finishing for all of your large-format projects.

How to Ship Limoges, Porcelain Boxes and Figurines

When getting Limoges boxes from France it helps to know that there are a variety of different types of retailers that can pick these up directly from France and sell them in a number of countries. The shipping process that will be used when getting one of these Limoges figurines or boxes is something that should be considered though.

Because of how fragile Limoges porcelain boxes and figuring can be it will help to know that a material that is going to be shipped out somewhere will be properly protected. A good amount of materials that can work to help with making sure that an item stays in its place when in a box will be used. This is so everything will be secure. The item will not end up moving around from one place to another and be at risk of being damaged.

Air packets have become some of the most popular items out there. These packets are ones that are filled with air and then sealed up. These can be used in many shipping boxes for Limoges items. Some other materials, including packaging peanuts, Styrofoam and even bubble wrap can work. What matters the most is that the materials that are used should not scratch the surface of any porcelain item.

Shipping can work with small boxes as well. This is so the figurine can be transported without a great amount of risk of bumping around inside of a box. This is a suitable thing to use as long as there is enough protection located inside of the box.

The parcels that are going to be used for getting items like these shipped out will be ones that are going to be well protected. A typical shipping company will put its items on a properly secured parcel that can feature many services. These include such things as padding inside of a transport vehicle to make sure that a box does not get harmed if it runs into something. Some parcels can even feature personal security watchers for items that are in transit.

A great part of the shipping process comes from how typical sellers of Limoges figurines and boxes will work with proper return processes in the event that something is damaged while it is in transit. This is something that can be especially handled through online retailers. If a person finds that one's item was damaged in transit that person can simply ship it back out along with the details on the purchase that was made. A person can get a full refund or a replacement at no cost. This policy for shipping will vary by each retailer.

The shipping that is used for authentic Limoges boxes is something for anyone to see when buying one of these boxes. The shipping process will be one that is going to have to work with the right protective materials. This is because of how fragile these boxes and figurines can be. Refunds can be made available if something is damaged during the shipping process.

Finding Nemo Bubble Bugle

Product Details

• Nemo bubble bugle

Sea Life Bubble Bottle Necklaces (1 dz)

Product Details

Each plastic sea life bubble bottle necklaces has a wand and hangs on a 30" cord.

WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

• 2 1/2" bottle
• 20" cord
• Comes with wand
• 1 dozen per set
• Made of colorful plastic

How to Effectively Put on a Solar Cover

Solar covers are large light covers that look like bubble wrap and come in all different mills or weights. Some are silver some are black and some are blue. Which ever the case may be they are do one thing; help heat your pool.

Many people do not realize that solar covers only heat you pool up about 10-15 degrees. Which can be very significant but if your pool is 50 degrees then its really not going to do much. Some people find it to be somewhat of a burden to drag the cover on and off. Most folks will go out and buy a solar reel to help them roll up their solar cover.

Here are just a few tips to help you make that safety cover easier to manage.

-If you have a large pool and no solar reel, cut your cover into smaller pieces to make it easy to pull on and off. Solar covers float so there is no need to stretch them or weight them down. This will make each piece more manageable.

-Of course, if you have a large pool, invest in a solar reel. I know they are bulky and may not look nice, but if your that concerned, buy a heater and some solar fish!

-Buy a large plastic trash can so that you can roll up your cover and store it in. It's much cheaper than buying a storage container and big enough to hold it. Sometimes keeping it in the shed or the garage need chlorine will cause little blue or black dots to show up in your pool. This is from the oxidation cause by the chlorine in your shed believe it or not.

And Always put the bubble side down on the water. And Try to shoot to purchasing a 12 mil black or silver cover, blue works fine but it doesn't heat as fast..

Hello Kitty Bubble Bellie Bubble Maker

Product Details

Tons of Bubble fun with Hello Kitty! This hand-held bubble maker blows bubbles when the handle is pulled. Includes Heart Bibble Bottle Bubble Solution. Requires 2 "AA"(3 volts) Alkaline Batteries (not included)

• Blows Bubbles when you pull the handle
• Includes Heart Bibble Bottle
• Easy-fill Spout with soft vinyl plug
• Spill Resistant
• Ages 3+

Incrediwall - Talk Bubble 24x18

Product Details

Are you ready to send a message for everyone in your office to hear? Shout it out loud on the Incrediwall - Talk Bubble 24x18. This fun shaped vinyl surface doesn't require special pens or cleaners; you can write with almost any marker, crayon or paint and then wipe to reuse. It's easy to peel and stick to most smooth surfaces. Place it near the office water cooler to add inspiration and extra excitement to the everyday office gossip. It's also great for doodling, brainstorming sessions, idea walls, jokes, drawing, and spreading the word. It's sure to get you and your co-workers "talking"!

Sparkling Wedding Bubbles

Product Details

Cure the Wedding Bell Blues with Stunning Wedding Favors! Wedding planning made easy with Wedding favors and decorations. Make sure you have everything you need for your wedding with all the best wedding decorations and favors. 24 bubble bottles per package. .5 ounce bubble bottle. Champagne bottle shaped. Bubble wand attached to cap. Will not stain. Unique wedding favors and decorations for your big day! We have all the wedding decorations and supplies that you need to make your wedding an event to remember. Part of Favors, Toys, Gifts > Bubbles