There's enough breast pump choices on the market now to baffle any new mom. There's manual vs.electric, single vs.double, closedvs. open system, hospital grade vs.personal use, renting vs. purchasing and if you manage to get through all those choices, then there's choosing the right brand and accessories. This guide will clarify what all these differences are, and what some of the accessories are.
1. Manual vs. Electric
There is a world of difference between these. A manual pump is one gepletely powered by your hands. Manual is fine for occasional or on the fly pumping (I once used a manual to pump while my mom was driving!) but not ideal for frequent pumping and can take a long time if you have to do both sides, since you can't do both sides at the same time with a manual pump, unless you have 3 hands. Electric has a motor of some sort that does the actual pumping for you. You just hold the horn(s) -cone that goes on the breast- and control the speed/suction. Electric is the ONLY way to go for frequent daily pumping, and mandatory for you if you need to build a supply up.
2. Single vs. Double
Manual pumps gee with a single pump only, since you can't do both at the same time when pumping manually. Some electric pumps have the option of being purchased singly as well. A single pump is fine for on-the-go or infrequent pumping, but inconvenient and time consuming for frequent pumping. If you pump more than once a day, do not get a single pump for your main pump. I used to keep a single manual pump in the diaper bag because I had such severe supply problems and had to be stimulated every hour to build up, but other than that, the single was terribly time consuming. A double makes much more sense. I mean, if you're going to sit there anyways, get double the results while you're doing it! You will have both hands busy holding horns to your breasts, but you will be done faster than if you have to first do one side and then do the other. A double electric pump is the most efficient one, ideal for a working mom or mom who will be pumping milk and then feeding by bottle for some reason.
3. Closed vs. Open System
This refers to whether the pumping system (only applicable with electric pumps that have tubing going from the motor to the horn that goes on your breast) has the ability to get flooded with milk and therefore unsafe for another user. This has recently begee an issue of worry. An open system (Medela and most others) means that it is possible, however unlikely, that while you are pumping you could overflow the collection container, and the milk would go up through the tubing and get into the motor. Since the motor can not be sterilized, the milk would remain there and ferment or mold. That could be dangerous to your own child, or, there is a chance that if that pump is then resold (or you buy a used pump) a baby could get sick from something mom#1 had in her milk. They haven't documented a case of this happening yet, they're just saying it could. A closed system (Ameda) means that there's no way for milk to get into the motor and so no need to worry about the above problem. Hospital grade pumps escape this worry. They are made especially for multiple users, though each user has to have a brand new collection kit.
4. Hospital Grade vs. Personal Use
Hospital grade is a must for any mom with supply problems. If you have polycystic ovarian syndrome, diabetes, or any other health condition, ask your Dr. if it will affect your supply. They are more powerful and able to fine-tuned to fit you better and so are better at quickly building a milk supply. They are also the best for pumping every few hours every day, like if you have preemie who can't nurse yet but you want to give him breastmilk. They are widely available for rent, and also available for expensive purchase. Lots of moms initially rent a hospital grade pump to build supply, and then purchase a personal use pump for the duration that they nurse. Personal use isa step down from hospital grade, intentioned for only one user (though you CAN buy them used on okay and rent them at some locations). The most gemon Personal Use is Medela Pump In Style.
5. Renting vs. Purchasing
Hospital grade pumps are best to rent, as their purchase cost is inhibitive. But if you're going to nurse what's regemended by the American Academy of Pediatrics or beyond, purchasing a personal use pump makes a lot of sense. Most pumps (hospital and personal) rent for $30-$70 monthly, so spending $300 or less on a pump you get to keep and use with more children gees out cheaper than renting for 12 months or more. I think it is best to rent a hospital grade and have it waiting for you when you get home from the hospital. Use it for a month at least to build your supply, and then purchase (or have already purchased) a personal use pump for when you send the rental back. This way you're ready for whatever may happen.
6. Brands
Nowadays pretty much every brand that makes baby stuff makes a pump. But not all pumps are created equal, and Medela still leads the pack for quality and ease of use. They are easy to find, easy to use, and gee with lots of accessories to make breastfeeding easier. You get what you pay for. If you see a double electric pump for $50, it's not going to do the job you need it to do.
7. Accessories
This category could go on and on with the stuff they've gee up with to make pumping easier. One required accessory for most double electric pumps is a collection kit. Even if you rent one, it will not gee with the tubing needed to use it. At the top of the list for convenience in breastfeeding is the "Pumping Free" attachment for Medela nursing bras.It holds a pump in place at each breast so you don't have to hold them there the whole time. They don't always work perfectly, but it can give you a break sometimes. Milk storage bags are essential, and buy generic, since usually they'll fit any nurser bottle. Medela sells breast shields in varying sizes and textures so you can find the perfect fit.
So now you know what everything is. You have to decide WHICH is right for you.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Delphi Roady 2.......... major problems!
If you are thinking about purchasing a Delphi Roady 2 for your vehicle, think again! I'm on my third unit in the last eight months because the antenna's crap out. The antenna plugs into the main unit and the connection at this point began to falter on all three of my units after having them about one month. Spend your money else where.
How to get Baseball rookie cards cheap!
The idea of the baseball rookie card has been the only constant in the world of baseball cards for the last 10 years. In the world of flashy overrated expensive bat, autograph, pants, and patch cards, the rookie card has been the only thing that has remained on the upswing. I'm going to share with you some of the secrets that have helped me to build my collection.
Nail down what you will be collecting
Personally I decided to collect 1975 to 1995 rookies, all graded 9 by one of the 3 major grading gepanies. What I mean by this is PSA, BGS, SGC, and the occasional BCCG, which is an offspring of BGS. I came down to the 1975 to 1995 range due to the relative ease of cards in this range in the 9 grade, but stopped at 1995 due to the millions of rookies, mostly serial numbered, produced after this year. I picked the 9 grade due to the impossibility of being able to tell a 9 from a 10.
Use the beckett what's hot listing
The beckett website has an area that lists all the baseball cards that are currently on fire. Obviously it should gee as no surprise that you don't want to be buying the cards that are hot. I consider cards to be like the stock market. I buy when the card is down, and if the card get's really high, I sell it and buy back later at a lower price once again.
Search words
Think about the players that you are looking for, the card, and other discriminating factors. Take for instance a 1985 Topps Mark McGwire. I would begin by searching with the words "Mgwire, Big Mac, etc." You would be amazed by the hits you will get. Also when you look for cards this way, check out the categories that they are listed in. If a McGwire is listed in the 1970-1980 rookies category, chances are that most people will not be looking at this card, so the chances of getting it cheaper are pretty good. I also like to do a search under the Baseball category for "9" or "graded". You will sometimes find that you will gee up with cards that are listed wrong. These are only a few of the secrets that I use, but play around and do some hard thinking, I'm sure you will gee up with a few of your own! If I gave all of them to you, I'd be bidding against you!
Get rid of the junk
In my okay ventures, I sometimes gee up with a plethra of rookie, graded, game used cards, etc., that I have from buying a lot that has one card that I need. Sometimes you can lump all this stuff together, take some good pictures highlighting the better cards, slap it on a featured listing, and make a killing. Then use this money to buy more of the cards you need!
MOST IMPORTANT-When does the auction end?
Think about people in general. When you do we have the most time on our hands? The weekend, usually at night. Due to this fact, I list all of the auctionsI have to begin on Saturday night, and end on a Saturday night. This way you getexposure onSaturday and Sunday, and it end whenmost people canbegin a bidding war on your item. This same theory holds true for items you are watching. If an itemends at midnight on a Tuesday night, it is unlikely thatthe same people will be able to bid on an item that would bid on it on a Saturday night. So you don't want to stay up allnight?The auctionsniper websitewill do it for you, for 25 cents an auction! If you can get a $200 rookie for $5.50, Ithink it's worth it!
I hope that this guide to buying rookie cardshas helped you, and I wish you the best of luck on your future purchases!
Nail down what you will be collecting
Personally I decided to collect 1975 to 1995 rookies, all graded 9 by one of the 3 major grading gepanies. What I mean by this is PSA, BGS, SGC, and the occasional BCCG, which is an offspring of BGS. I came down to the 1975 to 1995 range due to the relative ease of cards in this range in the 9 grade, but stopped at 1995 due to the millions of rookies, mostly serial numbered, produced after this year. I picked the 9 grade due to the impossibility of being able to tell a 9 from a 10.
Use the beckett what's hot listing
The beckett website has an area that lists all the baseball cards that are currently on fire. Obviously it should gee as no surprise that you don't want to be buying the cards that are hot. I consider cards to be like the stock market. I buy when the card is down, and if the card get's really high, I sell it and buy back later at a lower price once again.
Search words
Think about the players that you are looking for, the card, and other discriminating factors. Take for instance a 1985 Topps Mark McGwire. I would begin by searching with the words "Mgwire, Big Mac, etc." You would be amazed by the hits you will get. Also when you look for cards this way, check out the categories that they are listed in. If a McGwire is listed in the 1970-1980 rookies category, chances are that most people will not be looking at this card, so the chances of getting it cheaper are pretty good. I also like to do a search under the Baseball category for "9" or "graded". You will sometimes find that you will gee up with cards that are listed wrong. These are only a few of the secrets that I use, but play around and do some hard thinking, I'm sure you will gee up with a few of your own! If I gave all of them to you, I'd be bidding against you!
Get rid of the junk
In my okay ventures, I sometimes gee up with a plethra of rookie, graded, game used cards, etc., that I have from buying a lot that has one card that I need. Sometimes you can lump all this stuff together, take some good pictures highlighting the better cards, slap it on a featured listing, and make a killing. Then use this money to buy more of the cards you need!
MOST IMPORTANT-When does the auction end?
Think about people in general. When you do we have the most time on our hands? The weekend, usually at night. Due to this fact, I list all of the auctionsI have to begin on Saturday night, and end on a Saturday night. This way you getexposure onSaturday and Sunday, and it end whenmost people canbegin a bidding war on your item. This same theory holds true for items you are watching. If an itemends at midnight on a Tuesday night, it is unlikely thatthe same people will be able to bid on an item that would bid on it on a Saturday night. So you don't want to stay up allnight?The auctionsniper websitewill do it for you, for 25 cents an auction! If you can get a $200 rookie for $5.50, Ithink it's worth it!
I hope that this guide to buying rookie cardshas helped you, and I wish you the best of luck on your future purchases!
buying guitar pcks.real from frauds or so called promo
When buying guitar picks ,you should look out for U.K. promos of American rock bands .Those picks are printed by seller,not a real pick manufacter.Also those picture pick sets are worthless.the seller makes those,bands know nothing about that stuff.Check feedback,absolutly a must in pick collecting.Reserch pick in gepletedlistings etc...You see who the sellers of the real deal by all the above factors.All my picks are found on stage or by the stage or from the bands tech or factory band reps from guitar and string manufacters.Thanks for reading my review.
What's The Flap About Union Suits?
The union suit: the one-piece long underwear suit with the seat flap (usually) have been around since the late 1800s/early 1900s. If you've watched classic cartoons or a Laurel and Hardy picture, chances are that you've seen one in action. Many are familiar with the sight gag of the man who lost everything while gambling, so he's wearing a barrel over his union suit. This gag was used in an old Highland Appliance gemercial on television. Sometimes in clasic cartoons, when a character lost his clothesor his hide (if an animal) then he was left wearinga red union suit as a sign of embarassment.Despite their old-fashioned reputation, these relaxed-fit button-front body-suits continue to be made and sold. Some even attribute sex appeal to the garment. Worn by both genders, the union suit was made first of cotton, wool, or a blend of the two fibres. Both tended to shrink after washing which must have made wearing them something of a challenge. Understandably, a pure wool suit could be rather itchy. Today, union suitscan be found in a variety of cottonfabrics, wool, polyester, polypropylene, silk, and even polar fleece. Most associate the union suit with a square seat flap which drops downward when unfastened from two or more buttons. The seat flap could be square or triangle pattern. To save on production costs, most union suits have a vertical, single-button seat. When it gees to buttons, more is better. You don't want the suit to pucker open when sitting--with embarassing results. Zippers seal out the drafts but may irritate without a storm flap-style feature. Those made especially for women usually button right over left in Victorian tradition. Colors vary. White, cream, or natural being encountered most often, to the familiar fire-engine red, and varying shades of grey. More recently, blue union suits can be found. Also tan, olive drab, green, and even "Realtree" camouflage pattern. Some novelty catalogs offer a tie-dyed union suit. Women's pattern union suits have been offered by Duofold in solid rose pink, and various floral patterns over the years. All made in medium-weight two-ply fabric. The footed sleeper, worn by kids of all ages, is actually a modified union suit. Some credit it's invention to Dr. Denton.
Tips On Experienced Condition Union Suits:
Are all the buttons original?
Any popped seams, popped stitchesor tears?
What sort of seat flap, if any?
Any faded or threadbare areas?
Repairs or patches?
Any stains or discoloration?
Actual size vs. stated size.
Big, tall, or regular size?
Why Own or Wear a Union Suit?
A layer between yourself and rough fabric when working or riding horseback.
Sleepwear at home or camp.
Costumeitem.
Fashion statement.
Exercise wear.
Gag gift.
No elastic waist bands.
The double-takes from passersby as they hang from your clothesline.
Costume Suggestion
You will need a union suit a size or two larger than you normally wear (unless you're among friends). AddAnimal Mask, tail, gloves or mittens, shoe covers/novelty socks or slippers. Flop the tail out the back flap. Tell everyone that you were scared out of you hide or your hide/pelt was sent out for cleaning/stolen/ in hock. A contender for most orginal/most creative/cutest costume. This idea got me into the semi-finals at a local casino. The Native Americans there really appreciate a good-humored moose. Make sure you keep yourself hydrated--no alcohol. A cool vest is a must if you're wearing a set of medium weight, or heavier longies for more than an hour. You could put cold freezer packs in your pants pockets or in an outsized athletic braunderneath, but don't let them touch your bare skin to avoid frostbite. You can even make a muscle suit by stuffing polyester or cotton batting between two union suits.
Famous People WhoWore Union Suits
Sharon Stone
Larry Storch
Stan Laurel
Faye Dunaway
Joan Hackett
Harry Morgan
Loretta Switt
Spike Jones
Michael J. Fox
Walter Mathau
Tim Allen
Jeff Daniels
Don Knotts
John Glenn, Jr.
Dustin Hoffman
Tips On Experienced Condition Union Suits:
Are all the buttons original?
Any popped seams, popped stitchesor tears?
What sort of seat flap, if any?
Any faded or threadbare areas?
Repairs or patches?
Any stains or discoloration?
Actual size vs. stated size.
Big, tall, or regular size?
Why Own or Wear a Union Suit?
A layer between yourself and rough fabric when working or riding horseback.
Sleepwear at home or camp.
Costumeitem.
Fashion statement.
Exercise wear.
Gag gift.
No elastic waist bands.
The double-takes from passersby as they hang from your clothesline.
Costume Suggestion
You will need a union suit a size or two larger than you normally wear (unless you're among friends). AddAnimal Mask, tail, gloves or mittens, shoe covers/novelty socks or slippers. Flop the tail out the back flap. Tell everyone that you were scared out of you hide or your hide/pelt was sent out for cleaning/stolen/ in hock. A contender for most orginal/most creative/cutest costume. This idea got me into the semi-finals at a local casino. The Native Americans there really appreciate a good-humored moose. Make sure you keep yourself hydrated--no alcohol. A cool vest is a must if you're wearing a set of medium weight, or heavier longies for more than an hour. You could put cold freezer packs in your pants pockets or in an outsized athletic braunderneath, but don't let them touch your bare skin to avoid frostbite. You can even make a muscle suit by stuffing polyester or cotton batting between two union suits.
Famous People WhoWore Union Suits
Sharon Stone
Larry Storch
Stan Laurel
Faye Dunaway
Joan Hackett
Harry Morgan
Loretta Switt
Spike Jones
Michael J. Fox
Walter Mathau
Tim Allen
Jeff Daniels
Don Knotts
John Glenn, Jr.
Dustin Hoffman
I'm thinking of investing in silver...
Investors traditionallylook totheprecious metals markets when the economy gets iffy. A weak dollar, high oil prices, and rising inflation are sure signs that the metals market is starting to look good for all kinds of investors. The big investor isn't likely looking to buy large quantities of the physical metal, no more than the small investor is going to sink thousands into investment funds. The middle ground could be in silver bullion.
There is no crystal ball that tells us where spot (current buy/sell price of) silver will be six months from now. It seems, however, that the recent (summer 2006) trend in the price of silveris to hover aroundthe $12 per ounce range (about $13 per ounce for winter 2007 and spring 2007). It's truly anyone's guesswhatworld politics and the economy is going to go throughover the nexttwelve months. If you're a pessimist andpredict bad thingsare going tohappen,silvercould surge towards that $20 per ounce threshhold. If, on the other hand, you're more optomistic, silver prices will likely remain somewhat stable. Somewhere in the middlearesilver prices that edge towards the$15to $16per ounce level.
Somethingto consider is the fact that silver mining is usually secondary to other mining operations. Most mines are focused on other types of metals mining. Consider also the fact that the bulk of silver mines are in volatile parts of the world. Consider that in the U.S., silver mining is on the wane, with its silver resources almost depleted. Consider thatcountries (like the U.S.) who keepa precious metal reserve do not have a silver bullion reserve.Finally, consider that there is an increase in the industrial use of silver. So, what should the average investor do?
I tend to think silver bullion investors are conservative and cautious. In my opinion, buying a reasonable amount of silver bullion or silver coins is probably a pretty good idea. In my opinion, diverting a reasonable percentage of your investments towards the silver market will likely give you a better return than other market investing. If you do decide to invest in bullion, remember that bullion coins, such as the U.S. Eagle, the Canadian Maple Leaf, and other bullion coins, will typically sell for a few dollars above spot prices (depending on the year and mintage). Silver bars and rounds usully sell closer to spot prices. Spot prices ofsilver and goldcan be found on larger precious metals dealer's websites like Monex and Kitco.
Please note that this guide was originally written in 2006 and updated in 2007. Well, it is now 2011 and spot silver is almost $31 per ounce. This exceeds my short term prediction of silver hitting $20 per ounce, but as we all know the economy has been pretty rough over the last 3 years. I'm quite sure many investors are wondering what the future holds for silver bullion. My guess is that the U.S. economic reovery, which began in 2010, will remain very slow and that spot silver prices will continuean upward trend. Honestly, I doubt we'll ever see $20/oz silver again.
One nice thing about moderately investing in silver bullion is theuniqueness ofbeing able tokeepa very tradable gemodity on hand.
Thank youfor reading this guide!
There is no crystal ball that tells us where spot (current buy/sell price of) silver will be six months from now. It seems, however, that the recent (summer 2006) trend in the price of silveris to hover aroundthe $12 per ounce range (about $13 per ounce for winter 2007 and spring 2007). It's truly anyone's guesswhatworld politics and the economy is going to go throughover the nexttwelve months. If you're a pessimist andpredict bad thingsare going tohappen,silvercould surge towards that $20 per ounce threshhold. If, on the other hand, you're more optomistic, silver prices will likely remain somewhat stable. Somewhere in the middlearesilver prices that edge towards the$15to $16per ounce level.
Somethingto consider is the fact that silver mining is usually secondary to other mining operations. Most mines are focused on other types of metals mining. Consider also the fact that the bulk of silver mines are in volatile parts of the world. Consider that in the U.S., silver mining is on the wane, with its silver resources almost depleted. Consider thatcountries (like the U.S.) who keepa precious metal reserve do not have a silver bullion reserve.Finally, consider that there is an increase in the industrial use of silver. So, what should the average investor do?
I tend to think silver bullion investors are conservative and cautious. In my opinion, buying a reasonable amount of silver bullion or silver coins is probably a pretty good idea. In my opinion, diverting a reasonable percentage of your investments towards the silver market will likely give you a better return than other market investing. If you do decide to invest in bullion, remember that bullion coins, such as the U.S. Eagle, the Canadian Maple Leaf, and other bullion coins, will typically sell for a few dollars above spot prices (depending on the year and mintage). Silver bars and rounds usully sell closer to spot prices. Spot prices ofsilver and goldcan be found on larger precious metals dealer's websites like Monex and Kitco.
Please note that this guide was originally written in 2006 and updated in 2007. Well, it is now 2011 and spot silver is almost $31 per ounce. This exceeds my short term prediction of silver hitting $20 per ounce, but as we all know the economy has been pretty rough over the last 3 years. I'm quite sure many investors are wondering what the future holds for silver bullion. My guess is that the U.S. economic reovery, which began in 2010, will remain very slow and that spot silver prices will continuean upward trend. Honestly, I doubt we'll ever see $20/oz silver again.
One nice thing about moderately investing in silver bullion is theuniqueness ofbeing able tokeepa very tradable gemodity on hand.
Thank youfor reading this guide!
Seller beware of paypal policy!
If you don't follow paypals hard to find policy of: (#1. selling to a confirmed buyer #2. sending item with delivery conformation and #3. and using a tracking number) then you are liable for any fraudulent buyer you may have the miss fortune of being swindled by! My son got taken buy a fraudulent buyer and now he is on the hook for $700.00. He is only 18 and didn't read the fine print although he sold many items without a problem before this. Now my account is frozen because any account that shares any of the same info such as phone, address, bank account etc. will also be frozen untill the bad account is corrected. We did our part to assist in the investigation (which is all paypal said they wanted?) yet paypal sent us to collection! So don't get duped and don't trust paypal if you can get hold of them through their frustating reloution department!
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Babies who are breastfed have:
*Stronger immune systems
*Skills to walk and talk an average of 2 months earlier
*Less Allergies and Asthma
*Less Diarrhea, Stomach problems and Gas!
*Higher IQ- average of 15-20 points
*Less Diaper Rash
*Less Infections-Ear, Respiratory, Etc.
*Less Cancers and Heart problems
*Less problems with Speech development
*Straighter teeth-Less likelihood of having wisdom teeth removed
*Less Child Abuse
*Better overall development
Mothers Who Breastfeed:
*Are at less risk for Post-Partum Depression
*Have less likelihood for Anemia and Hemorrhage(heavy bleeding)
*Uterus shrinks back to pre-pregnancy size faster
*Burn extra 800 calories per day to return to pre-pregnancy weight sooner
*Less chance of Osteoporosis
*Less likely to have Breast cancer, Ovarian cancer and Uterine cancer
*Do not need to change their diet!
*Have delayed return of Fertility and monthly period
*Less Absenteeism due to illness
*Get to have amazing bonding and relaxing time with their babies!
*Have less doctor appointments and hospital visits
*Don't have to heat up bottles. Breastmilk is always the right temperature!
*SAVE LOTS OF MONEY by not having to buy bottles and expensive formulas!
How long should you breastfeed?
This is a very personal choice to be made by you and your baby! 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months, 3 years? All are just great! It is your choice to make. Any amount of breastfeeding is better than none. The longer you breastfeed your baby, the more benefits both you and your baby will enjoy. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests a baby should breastfeed for one year or as long as a mother and baby feel gefortable. Whatever amount of time you decide to breastfeed, you can feel GREAT that you are giving your baby the best nutrition possible!!!
Have any questions regarding this information? As always, Mother's Milk is here to help! Please call our lactation specialists at 1-877-892-4932.Check out our amazing Breastfeeding products/breast pumpson our okay homepage-
Mother's Milk Breastfeeding Supplies
okay name-mothersmilkbreastfeeding
Babies who are breastfed have:
*Stronger immune systems
*Skills to walk and talk an average of 2 months earlier
*Less Allergies and Asthma
*Less Diarrhea, Stomach problems and Gas!
*Higher IQ- average of 15-20 points
*Less Diaper Rash
*Less Infections-Ear, Respiratory, Etc.
*Less Cancers and Heart problems
*Less problems with Speech development
*Straighter teeth-Less likelihood of having wisdom teeth removed
*Less Child Abuse
*Better overall development
Mothers Who Breastfeed:
*Are at less risk for Post-Partum Depression
*Have less likelihood for Anemia and Hemorrhage(heavy bleeding)
*Uterus shrinks back to pre-pregnancy size faster
*Burn extra 800 calories per day to return to pre-pregnancy weight sooner
*Less chance of Osteoporosis
*Less likely to have Breast cancer, Ovarian cancer and Uterine cancer
*Do not need to change their diet!
*Have delayed return of Fertility and monthly period
*Less Absenteeism due to illness
*Get to have amazing bonding and relaxing time with their babies!
*Have less doctor appointments and hospital visits
*Don't have to heat up bottles. Breastmilk is always the right temperature!
*SAVE LOTS OF MONEY by not having to buy bottles and expensive formulas!
How long should you breastfeed?
This is a very personal choice to be made by you and your baby! 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months, 3 years? All are just great! It is your choice to make. Any amount of breastfeeding is better than none. The longer you breastfeed your baby, the more benefits both you and your baby will enjoy. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests a baby should breastfeed for one year or as long as a mother and baby feel gefortable. Whatever amount of time you decide to breastfeed, you can feel GREAT that you are giving your baby the best nutrition possible!!!
Have any questions regarding this information? As always, Mother's Milk is here to help! Please call our lactation specialists at 1-877-892-4932.Check out our amazing Breastfeeding products/breast pumpson our okay homepage-
Mother's Milk Breastfeeding Supplies
okay name-mothersmilkbreastfeeding
The Ultimate Johnny Depp DVD Video Collection Part 2
The Ultimate Johnny Depp DVD Video Collection
Part 2
(Continued FromPart 1)
What's Eating Gilbert Grape(1993) Arnie know a secret. His big brother Gilber is the greatest person on the planet.
Depp plays: Gilbert, a young boy who has to care for his brother Arnie and obese mother, which get's in the way when love walks into his life.
Ed Wood(1994) Movies were his passion. Women were his inspiration. Angora sweaters were his weakness.
Depp plays: Ed Wood, legendary director of awful movies and his strange group of friends and actors.
Don Juan DeMarco(1995) The story of the man who thought he was the greatest lover in the world...and the people who tried to cure him of it!
Depp plays: A young psychiatric patient who presents himself as Don Juan, the greatest lover in the world.
Dead Man(1995) No one can survive begeing a ledgend.
Depp plays: William Blake, a man on the run for murder who meets an indian who prepares him for his journey into the spiritual world.
Nick Of Time(1995) Ninety minutes. Six bullets. No Choice.
Depp plays: Gene Watson, who is ordered to kill someone in one hour and fifteen minutes in exchange for the safe return of his kidnapped daughter.
Donnie Brasco(1997) Donnie Brasco. Based On A True Story.
Depp plays: FBI agent Donnie Brasco/ Mobster "Joe" Pistone
The Brave(1997) (No Tag Line Available)
Depp plays: Down on his luck, native american indian Raphael, who agrees to star in a snuff film in exchange for $50,000.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas(1998) Give us your brain for two hours and you will never be the same again...
Depp plays: Raoul Duke, psychopathic lawyer who travels to Las Vegas with an oddball journalist for a series of psychadelic escapdes.
The Ninth Gate(1999) Leave the unknown alone.
Depp plays: Dean Corso, a book dealer who seeks out the last two copies of a demon text and is drawn into a conspiracy with supernatural ovetones.
The Astronaut's Wife(1999) How well do you know the one you love?
Depp plays: Astronaunt Spencer Armacoust ison a mission, when he loses contact with Earth. When he returns home to his wife, she begees pregnant, but feels like the lives inside of her are not of this world.
The Ultimate Johnny Depp DVD Video Collection
Part 3
Your Vote Counts!
Please vote "Yes" if you found this guide useful.
Happy okay Adventures! ~borrowedbooks
Part 2
(Continued FromPart 1)
What's Eating Gilbert Grape(1993) Arnie know a secret. His big brother Gilber is the greatest person on the planet.
Depp plays: Gilbert, a young boy who has to care for his brother Arnie and obese mother, which get's in the way when love walks into his life.
Ed Wood(1994) Movies were his passion. Women were his inspiration. Angora sweaters were his weakness.
Depp plays: Ed Wood, legendary director of awful movies and his strange group of friends and actors.
Don Juan DeMarco(1995) The story of the man who thought he was the greatest lover in the world...and the people who tried to cure him of it!
Depp plays: A young psychiatric patient who presents himself as Don Juan, the greatest lover in the world.
Dead Man(1995) No one can survive begeing a ledgend.
Depp plays: William Blake, a man on the run for murder who meets an indian who prepares him for his journey into the spiritual world.
Nick Of Time(1995) Ninety minutes. Six bullets. No Choice.
Depp plays: Gene Watson, who is ordered to kill someone in one hour and fifteen minutes in exchange for the safe return of his kidnapped daughter.
Donnie Brasco(1997) Donnie Brasco. Based On A True Story.
Depp plays: FBI agent Donnie Brasco/ Mobster "Joe" Pistone
The Brave(1997) (No Tag Line Available)
Depp plays: Down on his luck, native american indian Raphael, who agrees to star in a snuff film in exchange for $50,000.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas(1998) Give us your brain for two hours and you will never be the same again...
Depp plays: Raoul Duke, psychopathic lawyer who travels to Las Vegas with an oddball journalist for a series of psychadelic escapdes.
The Ninth Gate(1999) Leave the unknown alone.
Depp plays: Dean Corso, a book dealer who seeks out the last two copies of a demon text and is drawn into a conspiracy with supernatural ovetones.
The Astronaut's Wife(1999) How well do you know the one you love?
Depp plays: Astronaunt Spencer Armacoust ison a mission, when he loses contact with Earth. When he returns home to his wife, she begees pregnant, but feels like the lives inside of her are not of this world.
The Ultimate Johnny Depp DVD Video Collection
Part 3
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Please vote "Yes" if you found this guide useful.
Happy okay Adventures! ~borrowedbooks
The First Old West Replica Badges
The first old west replica law badges gemercially produced were made by L.A. Stamp and Stationery in the late 1950s and early 1960s. These were sold at popular tourist attractions like Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland. There were also a few large gun shops like Great Western Arms that handled them too.
They sold in the 4 to 5 dollar range and all of them had the word REPLICA on the back. Many of the old west badges you see today on okay and gun shows were patterned after these early old west badges.
They sold in the 4 to 5 dollar range and all of them had the word REPLICA on the back. Many of the old west badges you see today on okay and gun shows were patterned after these early old west badges.
CF Martin SP Fingerstyle Guitar Strings - Different?
How do Martin's SP Fingerstyle StringsDiffer from their Regular SP Strings?
by Craig 'Lumpy' Lemke BSEd, MA
"songthief"
C.F. Martin's new SP Fingerstyle is a regular SP stringwith it's characteristic bronze plated plain andcore wires. But the core wires in the wound stringsare smaller diameter than in regular SP's. Thethickness of the wire used to wrap the stringsis larger so that the end result is the samediameter string, with (in some cases) a littleless tension.
Once the winding wires are made with larger gauge wire,the "sawtooth" effect of the string begees more pronounced.There will likely be more finger squeak noise as you movearound on the fret board.
There will also be less harmonic overtones produced by thesmaller diameter core wire. Whatever guitar you play maytend to sound a bit more like a Martin and less like aLowden or some other typically harmonic rich guitar.More fundamental, less overtones.
The core wire on ALL strings, regardless of brand,is plain Swedish steel. It all gees from the same placeon big spools. Only difference at all is the diameter. SPcore wires are then plated with bronze (copper/zinc or copper/tinalloy)and then the winding is added. The WINDING wire is made of92/8 copper/tin (for phos bronze strings) or 80/20copper/zinc (for 80/20 strings). 92/8 is more correctlycalled bronze. 80/20 is more correctly called brass.
Thomastik-Infeld does the same thing for some of theirincredibly expensive strings. They plate the plain steelwith bronze.
Bronze or brass is softer than steel. Think brass plumbingfittings vs steel bolts. Anytime we have a larger area ofbronze or brass between the fret and the steel core wire,that bronze/brass will absorb more of the physical traumathat we give to the string when we fret or capo it.
Consider, for example, the plain strings vs the wound.
If you remove a plain string after abusing it for toolong, and look at it with a magnifier, you'll see tarnishand maybe a little tiny bit of indentation. But the majorityof the "abuse" is borne by the fret, which is made ofnickel/copper alloy, and softer than the steel string.The steel string dents the fret, not the other way around.Look at a guitar that's been played for a few yearsand you'll typically see lots of fret wear aroundthe first few frets in the area of the 1st and 2nd strings.
Now remove a wound string from the same guitar.You'll see flattened, even broken windings. In thiscase, the winding wire is softer than the fret. So thewinding is taking the brunt of the abuse, not the fret.
All of this suggests a couple of things:
1) We probably WANT the strings to wear out fasterthan the frets. Strings are easier and less expensiveto replace than frets.
2) The first two strings, the plain wires, won't makeany difference at all to the sound or life of the strings.
SO
The fingerstyle set should theoretically sound a littleless harmonic rich. They should wear a little faster andthey will haveless than 2 lbstotal tension difference.The tension difference will all be within the 3 through 6thstrings (the wound strings).
Here's the geparisons in gauges and tension in lbs.
SetGauge 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tension lbs
SP Phos Bronze Strings 6 StringMSP-4100 Light .012 .016 .025 .032 .042 .054 164.8MSP-4200 Medium .013 .017 .026 .035 .045 .056 186.2
SP Fingerstyle Phos Bronze 6 StringMSP41FS Light .012 .016 .025 .032 .042 .054 163.2MSP42FS Medium .013 .017 .026 .035 .045 .056 184.8
Difference here, in tension, is -Lt Gauge 164.8 (regular SP)vs 163.2 lbs (fingerstyle SP)MedGauge 186.2 (regular SP)vs 184.8 lbs (fingerstyle SP)
SP 80/20 6 StringMSP-3100 Light .012 .016 .025 .032 .042 .054 160.5MSP-3200 Medium .013 .017 .026 .035 .045 .056 181.1
SP Fingerstyle 80/20MSP31FS Light .012 .016 .025 .032 .042 .054 161.4MSP32FS Medium .013 .017 .026 .035 .045 .056 182.8
Difference here is -Lt Gauge 160.5 (regular SP)vs 161.4 lbs (fingerstyle SP)MedGauge 181.1 (regular SP)vs 182.8 lbs (fingerstyle SP)
Note that in 80/20 strings, the SP Fingerstyle strings are HIGHER in tension.
I change strings frequently. My Lowden mini jumboand my Martin OM get new strings once a week. Theyget very heavy use in heavy Kottke-like fingerstyleplayed with thick acrylic nails and a lot ofpercussive, loud effects.
For ME personally, I want a string with as much tension asI can stand so that my right hand has some resistance towork against and so that I can get a bigger range ofdynamics. I can get away with really heavy strings whenplaying fingerstyle. ButI also play a lot of chord melodyjazz style with lots of barre chords, my left hand doesn'tsuffer and I sometimes do it for several hours daily. I believethat good body mechanics allows anyone to achieve that.
My Lowden typicallywears SP4250's and is usually tuned to standardor DADGAD or DGDGBD or DGCGCD but down a half step fromconcert pitch. The downtuning is primarily for the growlof the low end and notto reduce tension. If I took it down furtherthe tension would begin to be so low that tone would suffer.
My Martin OM wears SP4200's in standard concert tuning.
So what does this all mean?
The new strings will have less than two pounds tensiondifference. They will sound darker. They will wearquicker. They will have more finger squeak.
If you have thoughts, theories or guesses about howyou feel regarding strings on your guitar(s), I'dbe honored to hear them. The strings I sell areonly the strings that I use professionally. Idon't sell styles or types that I don't usemyself. So all of my thoughts and gementsgee from personal experience and my ownsubjective opinions.
Craig 'Lumpy' Lemke - okay songthief
by Craig 'Lumpy' Lemke BSEd, MA
"songthief"
C.F. Martin's new SP Fingerstyle is a regular SP stringwith it's characteristic bronze plated plain andcore wires. But the core wires in the wound stringsare smaller diameter than in regular SP's. Thethickness of the wire used to wrap the stringsis larger so that the end result is the samediameter string, with (in some cases) a littleless tension.
Once the winding wires are made with larger gauge wire,the "sawtooth" effect of the string begees more pronounced.There will likely be more finger squeak noise as you movearound on the fret board.
There will also be less harmonic overtones produced by thesmaller diameter core wire. Whatever guitar you play maytend to sound a bit more like a Martin and less like aLowden or some other typically harmonic rich guitar.More fundamental, less overtones.
The core wire on ALL strings, regardless of brand,is plain Swedish steel. It all gees from the same placeon big spools. Only difference at all is the diameter. SPcore wires are then plated with bronze (copper/zinc or copper/tinalloy)and then the winding is added. The WINDING wire is made of92/8 copper/tin (for phos bronze strings) or 80/20copper/zinc (for 80/20 strings). 92/8 is more correctlycalled bronze. 80/20 is more correctly called brass.
Thomastik-Infeld does the same thing for some of theirincredibly expensive strings. They plate the plain steelwith bronze.
Bronze or brass is softer than steel. Think brass plumbingfittings vs steel bolts. Anytime we have a larger area ofbronze or brass between the fret and the steel core wire,that bronze/brass will absorb more of the physical traumathat we give to the string when we fret or capo it.
Consider, for example, the plain strings vs the wound.
If you remove a plain string after abusing it for toolong, and look at it with a magnifier, you'll see tarnishand maybe a little tiny bit of indentation. But the majorityof the "abuse" is borne by the fret, which is made ofnickel/copper alloy, and softer than the steel string.The steel string dents the fret, not the other way around.Look at a guitar that's been played for a few yearsand you'll typically see lots of fret wear aroundthe first few frets in the area of the 1st and 2nd strings.
Now remove a wound string from the same guitar.You'll see flattened, even broken windings. In thiscase, the winding wire is softer than the fret. So thewinding is taking the brunt of the abuse, not the fret.
All of this suggests a couple of things:
1) We probably WANT the strings to wear out fasterthan the frets. Strings are easier and less expensiveto replace than frets.
2) The first two strings, the plain wires, won't makeany difference at all to the sound or life of the strings.
SO
The fingerstyle set should theoretically sound a littleless harmonic rich. They should wear a little faster andthey will haveless than 2 lbstotal tension difference.The tension difference will all be within the 3 through 6thstrings (the wound strings).
Here's the geparisons in gauges and tension in lbs.
SetGauge 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tension lbs
SP Phos Bronze Strings 6 StringMSP-4100 Light .012 .016 .025 .032 .042 .054 164.8MSP-4200 Medium .013 .017 .026 .035 .045 .056 186.2
SP Fingerstyle Phos Bronze 6 StringMSP41FS Light .012 .016 .025 .032 .042 .054 163.2MSP42FS Medium .013 .017 .026 .035 .045 .056 184.8
Difference here, in tension, is -Lt Gauge 164.8 (regular SP)vs 163.2 lbs (fingerstyle SP)MedGauge 186.2 (regular SP)vs 184.8 lbs (fingerstyle SP)
SP 80/20 6 StringMSP-3100 Light .012 .016 .025 .032 .042 .054 160.5MSP-3200 Medium .013 .017 .026 .035 .045 .056 181.1
SP Fingerstyle 80/20MSP31FS Light .012 .016 .025 .032 .042 .054 161.4MSP32FS Medium .013 .017 .026 .035 .045 .056 182.8
Difference here is -Lt Gauge 160.5 (regular SP)vs 161.4 lbs (fingerstyle SP)MedGauge 181.1 (regular SP)vs 182.8 lbs (fingerstyle SP)
Note that in 80/20 strings, the SP Fingerstyle strings are HIGHER in tension.
I change strings frequently. My Lowden mini jumboand my Martin OM get new strings once a week. Theyget very heavy use in heavy Kottke-like fingerstyleplayed with thick acrylic nails and a lot ofpercussive, loud effects.
For ME personally, I want a string with as much tension asI can stand so that my right hand has some resistance towork against and so that I can get a bigger range ofdynamics. I can get away with really heavy strings whenplaying fingerstyle. ButI also play a lot of chord melodyjazz style with lots of barre chords, my left hand doesn'tsuffer and I sometimes do it for several hours daily. I believethat good body mechanics allows anyone to achieve that.
My Lowden typicallywears SP4250's and is usually tuned to standardor DADGAD or DGDGBD or DGCGCD but down a half step fromconcert pitch. The downtuning is primarily for the growlof the low end and notto reduce tension. If I took it down furtherthe tension would begin to be so low that tone would suffer.
My Martin OM wears SP4200's in standard concert tuning.
So what does this all mean?
The new strings will have less than two pounds tensiondifference. They will sound darker. They will wearquicker. They will have more finger squeak.
If you have thoughts, theories or guesses about howyou feel regarding strings on your guitar(s), I'dbe honored to hear them. The strings I sell areonly the strings that I use professionally. Idon't sell styles or types that I don't usemyself. So all of my thoughts and gementsgee from personal experience and my ownsubjective opinions.
Craig 'Lumpy' Lemke - okay songthief
How to Deal with Buyers Remorse Without Lying!
How to Deal with Buyers Remorse Without Lying!
We have all done it, purchased an item online that either we didn't need or paid more then we expected for an item. The package arrives and you get the feeling in the pit of your stomach of, "what did I do?" Temptation to figure out a reason to return it to your item jumps up, especially if you have a spouse who might not understand your purchase. Could I say it was damaged? Could I say it was not what I ordered? Many devious ways to get your money back and make your buyers remorse go away pop into your mind.
There is indeed a way to deal with buyer's remorse without lying! There is a way to make yourself feel better and enjoy your purchase without the guilt.
First, look at the item that you purchased. Does it enrich your life or bring joy or brightness to your home? Is it a quality item? Does it fit the need that you purchased it for? If the answers are yes, be reassured that you made a wonderful purchase. Anything that enriches your life and brings happiness and joy is worth the price.
If the answer is no, you can still get rid of your buyers remorse without resulting to deviousness.
The good news is that there are several options open to you! First is reselling the item. Place it back up on okay or in a newspaper or other selling forum and try to get some if not all of your money back for the item. Another option is to donate your item to a charity auction or sale. By doing that you will have both a tax write off as well as the reward of doing something positive for others. Or you could give it as a special gift to a friend for a birthday, anniversary, wedding or just because. Any option you choose, please remember to give the artist proper credit for their work.
Never feel bad about a purchase. You got it for a reason and can always find some way to have the item bring you joy, peace and happiness!
Happy Buying!
Kim AdamsCreative Spirit Creations
We have all done it, purchased an item online that either we didn't need or paid more then we expected for an item. The package arrives and you get the feeling in the pit of your stomach of, "what did I do?" Temptation to figure out a reason to return it to your item jumps up, especially if you have a spouse who might not understand your purchase. Could I say it was damaged? Could I say it was not what I ordered? Many devious ways to get your money back and make your buyers remorse go away pop into your mind.
There is indeed a way to deal with buyer's remorse without lying! There is a way to make yourself feel better and enjoy your purchase without the guilt.
First, look at the item that you purchased. Does it enrich your life or bring joy or brightness to your home? Is it a quality item? Does it fit the need that you purchased it for? If the answers are yes, be reassured that you made a wonderful purchase. Anything that enriches your life and brings happiness and joy is worth the price.
If the answer is no, you can still get rid of your buyers remorse without resulting to deviousness.
The good news is that there are several options open to you! First is reselling the item. Place it back up on okay or in a newspaper or other selling forum and try to get some if not all of your money back for the item. Another option is to donate your item to a charity auction or sale. By doing that you will have both a tax write off as well as the reward of doing something positive for others. Or you could give it as a special gift to a friend for a birthday, anniversary, wedding or just because. Any option you choose, please remember to give the artist proper credit for their work.
Never feel bad about a purchase. You got it for a reason and can always find some way to have the item bring you joy, peace and happiness!
Happy Buying!
Kim AdamsCreative Spirit Creations
What You Need for College Dorm Life
Hello, college freshmen! Welgee to the next four years of your life, which will quite possibly turn out to be the busiest years you've ever experienced so far! Because so much of college life is a mystery (what will classes be like? what if my dorm mates hate me? how should I dress for a kegger?), I am writing this guide in order to help fellow students during their move-in days.
My only education in the matter of collegiate life is my own current location in the college ranking: I am a sophomore (which means second year of college, for us of those not in the know yet), with one full year of dorm living under my belt. I am not yet quite 'jaded' by dorm living, but I still have the experience of my year living out of home. Therefore, I consider myself quite prepared to offer tips on college living for the modern teenager. However, I am also fully aware that you must be 21 to drink legally in the United States, and at no point will I condone drinking by college freshman, sophomores, or juniors if they are underage. (Scientific evidence shows that drinking can lead to brain development problems in the underaged brain, as the brain is not yet fully formed until it is about 20 or so.) But enough with the depressing stuff! Onto the college packing!
What to pack
Obviously, you know that you're going to need clothing, toiletries and the like. However, I will make a list of some of the items that you might not realize you needuntil you arrive, in order to help savetime trying to buy themafter moving in.
Shower caddy (this is a plastic or fabric bag or box that carries yourbathing items. As some dorms have gemunal bathrooms, keeping your stuff near you andorganized at all times is a must!)
Money for books (sure, your parents know you need money--butinthe firstsemester alone, it'spossible to spend $500 onbooks and supplies alone!)
Ear plugs (if you get noisy roommates like I did, these will be worth their weight in GOLD)
Bottle opener (random, I know, but it's not just for beer! If you drink any other beverages in bottles [sparkling cider, Coca Cola, etc] then you will be stuck unless you have one of these babies.)
Extra Long bedding(most colleges haveextra long beds, and if you don't getthe right bedding, it won't fit your bed!)
Hanging files (with all of the handouts, pamphletsandimportant papers you get in college, you are going to NEED one of these!A small, portable hanging fileis best,with tabs forfinancial documents, fraternity/soroity info, housing contracts, maps, andany other tabs your major mightrequire.)
Cup/dishes/flatware(if your dorm isequipped with a kitchen, you willdefinitely needsome dishes. However, even dorms with just a mini-fridge would do to keep a cupor two around, as it's cheaper to buy soda by the liter than by the can.)
Blanket/beach towel(even if there's no beach or pool around, colleges sometimes haveopen air events, and having something to sit on will be much appreciated by your buddies)
Sunblock/sunscreen (don't want to get burned!)
First Aid Kit(ofcourse your college will have a nurses office of some kind, but if you get a small scratch, you won't want to be running across campus. Make sure this kit includes Band-Aids in various sizes, some sterile gauze bandages,Neosporin[or another antibiotic ointment], painkillers, Ibuprofin[for allergic reactions], cold/heat pad, and any other medications or items that would be relevant to any conditions that you might get/do have.)
Telephone with answering machine(this is only if you have a telephone line in your room. It's very important to be able to get messages whileyou're out at class!)
Address book (chances are, you'll be meeting new friends and future collegues at college, and it's nice to have a place to write all their names and numbers down on -- andNOT just in your cellphone! Cellphones can get easily killed at college, so make sure to have a hardcopy backup)
Calendar(obviously, writing down all your classes will help you to prepare and plan around them, so get a nice BIG one with big boxes to write all your classes down in)
Pocket calendar(often, having a smaller version of yourplans to carry around makesit easier to keep track ofthings in class that may change suddenly, so you won't have to change it on your calendar whenyou get home)
Posters (this seems a little mundane, but college dorms can be very bleak at times, especially when you're homesick, so make sure to bring little reminders, pictures, and posters of home and things you love.)
Prepaid calling card (if a college gives you phone service for free, chances are they don't allow you to make long distance calls. So, make sure to bringone of these puppies so that you can keep in touch!)
Stampsand envelopes(occasionallyyou mightwant/need to mail something, and not having stamps can be a real downer!)
List of emergency numbers (your collegeshould have these publically posted, butjust in case,make sure to make a copy for both yourself and your parents. These numbers arewho you should call inthe case of an emergency at your college, as well as numbers for the local police and fire station)
Fun books (sometimes, you'll want a break from boring text books, so make sure to bring a few books you can relax while you read)
Eyemask (also called "daysleeper", these are a BOON to nap-taking college students. As naps begeefrequent for those of us cursed with early classes, I highly regemend these.)
Alarm clock (clearly, you'll need to wake up for classes, and asking your roommates usually won't work!)
Tips and Tricks for College Living
Your dormmates and you might not turn out to be friends, and this is okay. I personally had a host of HORRIBLE roommates (regularly came home drunk andvomiting, had boys sleeping over all the time, had said boys vomiting inshared toilets, kept up the entire dorm til 2AM regularly, etc), but I managed to deal with them with minor mishap throughout the year. The trick is to only deal with them when you HAVE to, and merely remain cordialwhen you meet otherwise. If you have problems with them, wait until they are dead sober to talk to them, as I found out the hard way that arguing with a drunk does nothing.
Get sleep whenever you can. Sleep begees a precious gemodity when you are in college, and staying up latelistening to music does not prepare you properly for your class the next day! So, if your roommates are keeping you up, make sure to haveearplugs and eyemask on hand! (This has saved me several nights of agony.)
Find public places to hide. If you do not like your roommates (which is gemon), make sure you know a student lounge, library study room, orquiet park where you can go to destress and study.You might even make a friend who's trying to escapehis or her crazy roommates, too!
Do not be pressured into drinking. EVER. While it may seem that all of your graduating class is doing it, they really aren't. And if you DOdecide to go drinking (which isagainst all better judgement), make SURE to bring a buddy to keep an eye on you.People who have never drank before are more likely to drink too much and get sick and possibly die, so make sure to alternate your alcoholic drinks with water, and make sure to eat BEFORE yougo drinking. (Eating while you drink will do nothing, but having some food in your stomach helps the alcohol disperse A LITTLE.)Also, if you have to drive home, DO NOT DO SO DRUNK!!!EVER!! Even if you have to take a cab, or even if you have to stay at someone's house overnight,DO NOT DRIVE DRUNK!
Do not panic if your teachers are butts. I wasrecently advised that if you find five(5!) teachers that you like in your ENTIRE college career, you're lucky. So, be prepared to hate some of your teachers, andtry to put up with them for as long as you can if it is impossible to transfer out of their class.
Be aware of transfer and sign up dates for your classes! These seem easy toremember, but they're not, and they could turn out to be KEY to doing well!
Get involved! While you don't have to be in EVERY club, make sure to find something fun to do at your school, so that even if you miss home, you'll have something fun to do every weekon campus.
Don't get in over your head! Joining activities is great, but if you're in so many that they feel more like a chore, don't feel bad about dropping out! It'll make you feel a lot less stressed out.
When buying food for yourdorm, buy liters of soda and some cups instead of cans, as A) it's less trash to take out, and B) it's cheaper!
Try to pack your lunch, as it will A) save time incafeteria lines, and B)probably have less fat than a normal school lunch.
BuyGALLONSof water and twoquality bottles! While this seems silly, if you drink enough water during the day, it will help curb your appetite, keep you hydrated while walking to classes, and help stave off the Freshman 15!So, fill up both bottles and alternate,washing each bottle as it begees empty and needs a cleaning.
Find what stores are near campus. Make sure to find a bike/car repair shop, a grocery store, a post office, a police station (or the campus security station), the medical office for campus, and any restaurants that you like. If you can figure out where these are before class begins,you'll be in great shape!
Watch outfor crime! There IS a lot of crime on campus, so try not to walk alone after dark, and don't walk around with headphones onor talking into your cellphone. These activities mark you as distracted and an "easy mark"for pickpockets!
In conclusion, I'd like to say, even withall my guidelines and tips, your college experience will beuniqueto YOU, and there's no way to gepletely tellexactly what it will be like! However, if you feel that you are properly prepared and educated about what you might face, I hope that you will feel confident and stress-free as you enter the exciting world of college life.Thanksfor reading, and have an awesome time at college!!
This guide is going to be updated fairly often, so if you have something you think was omitted or that should be added (or even some errors!), please do nothesitate to send me a message though okay. :) Thanks!
(This guide was last updated: August 24th, end of first week of classes!)
My only education in the matter of collegiate life is my own current location in the college ranking: I am a sophomore (which means second year of college, for us of those not in the know yet), with one full year of dorm living under my belt. I am not yet quite 'jaded' by dorm living, but I still have the experience of my year living out of home. Therefore, I consider myself quite prepared to offer tips on college living for the modern teenager. However, I am also fully aware that you must be 21 to drink legally in the United States, and at no point will I condone drinking by college freshman, sophomores, or juniors if they are underage. (Scientific evidence shows that drinking can lead to brain development problems in the underaged brain, as the brain is not yet fully formed until it is about 20 or so.) But enough with the depressing stuff! Onto the college packing!
What to pack
Obviously, you know that you're going to need clothing, toiletries and the like. However, I will make a list of some of the items that you might not realize you needuntil you arrive, in order to help savetime trying to buy themafter moving in.
Shower caddy (this is a plastic or fabric bag or box that carries yourbathing items. As some dorms have gemunal bathrooms, keeping your stuff near you andorganized at all times is a must!)
Money for books (sure, your parents know you need money--butinthe firstsemester alone, it'spossible to spend $500 onbooks and supplies alone!)
Ear plugs (if you get noisy roommates like I did, these will be worth their weight in GOLD)
Bottle opener (random, I know, but it's not just for beer! If you drink any other beverages in bottles [sparkling cider, Coca Cola, etc] then you will be stuck unless you have one of these babies.)
Extra Long bedding(most colleges haveextra long beds, and if you don't getthe right bedding, it won't fit your bed!)
Hanging files (with all of the handouts, pamphletsandimportant papers you get in college, you are going to NEED one of these!A small, portable hanging fileis best,with tabs forfinancial documents, fraternity/soroity info, housing contracts, maps, andany other tabs your major mightrequire.)
Cup/dishes/flatware(if your dorm isequipped with a kitchen, you willdefinitely needsome dishes. However, even dorms with just a mini-fridge would do to keep a cupor two around, as it's cheaper to buy soda by the liter than by the can.)
Blanket/beach towel(even if there's no beach or pool around, colleges sometimes haveopen air events, and having something to sit on will be much appreciated by your buddies)
Sunblock/sunscreen (don't want to get burned!)
First Aid Kit(ofcourse your college will have a nurses office of some kind, but if you get a small scratch, you won't want to be running across campus. Make sure this kit includes Band-Aids in various sizes, some sterile gauze bandages,Neosporin[or another antibiotic ointment], painkillers, Ibuprofin[for allergic reactions], cold/heat pad, and any other medications or items that would be relevant to any conditions that you might get/do have.)
Telephone with answering machine(this is only if you have a telephone line in your room. It's very important to be able to get messages whileyou're out at class!)
Address book (chances are, you'll be meeting new friends and future collegues at college, and it's nice to have a place to write all their names and numbers down on -- andNOT just in your cellphone! Cellphones can get easily killed at college, so make sure to have a hardcopy backup)
Calendar(obviously, writing down all your classes will help you to prepare and plan around them, so get a nice BIG one with big boxes to write all your classes down in)
Pocket calendar(often, having a smaller version of yourplans to carry around makesit easier to keep track ofthings in class that may change suddenly, so you won't have to change it on your calendar whenyou get home)
Posters (this seems a little mundane, but college dorms can be very bleak at times, especially when you're homesick, so make sure to bring little reminders, pictures, and posters of home and things you love.)
Prepaid calling card (if a college gives you phone service for free, chances are they don't allow you to make long distance calls. So, make sure to bringone of these puppies so that you can keep in touch!)
Stampsand envelopes(occasionallyyou mightwant/need to mail something, and not having stamps can be a real downer!)
List of emergency numbers (your collegeshould have these publically posted, butjust in case,make sure to make a copy for both yourself and your parents. These numbers arewho you should call inthe case of an emergency at your college, as well as numbers for the local police and fire station)
Fun books (sometimes, you'll want a break from boring text books, so make sure to bring a few books you can relax while you read)
Eyemask (also called "daysleeper", these are a BOON to nap-taking college students. As naps begeefrequent for those of us cursed with early classes, I highly regemend these.)
Alarm clock (clearly, you'll need to wake up for classes, and asking your roommates usually won't work!)
Tips and Tricks for College Living
Your dormmates and you might not turn out to be friends, and this is okay. I personally had a host of HORRIBLE roommates (regularly came home drunk andvomiting, had boys sleeping over all the time, had said boys vomiting inshared toilets, kept up the entire dorm til 2AM regularly, etc), but I managed to deal with them with minor mishap throughout the year. The trick is to only deal with them when you HAVE to, and merely remain cordialwhen you meet otherwise. If you have problems with them, wait until they are dead sober to talk to them, as I found out the hard way that arguing with a drunk does nothing.
Get sleep whenever you can. Sleep begees a precious gemodity when you are in college, and staying up latelistening to music does not prepare you properly for your class the next day! So, if your roommates are keeping you up, make sure to haveearplugs and eyemask on hand! (This has saved me several nights of agony.)
Find public places to hide. If you do not like your roommates (which is gemon), make sure you know a student lounge, library study room, orquiet park where you can go to destress and study.You might even make a friend who's trying to escapehis or her crazy roommates, too!
Do not be pressured into drinking. EVER. While it may seem that all of your graduating class is doing it, they really aren't. And if you DOdecide to go drinking (which isagainst all better judgement), make SURE to bring a buddy to keep an eye on you.People who have never drank before are more likely to drink too much and get sick and possibly die, so make sure to alternate your alcoholic drinks with water, and make sure to eat BEFORE yougo drinking. (Eating while you drink will do nothing, but having some food in your stomach helps the alcohol disperse A LITTLE.)Also, if you have to drive home, DO NOT DO SO DRUNK!!!EVER!! Even if you have to take a cab, or even if you have to stay at someone's house overnight,DO NOT DRIVE DRUNK!
Do not panic if your teachers are butts. I wasrecently advised that if you find five(5!) teachers that you like in your ENTIRE college career, you're lucky. So, be prepared to hate some of your teachers, andtry to put up with them for as long as you can if it is impossible to transfer out of their class.
Be aware of transfer and sign up dates for your classes! These seem easy toremember, but they're not, and they could turn out to be KEY to doing well!
Get involved! While you don't have to be in EVERY club, make sure to find something fun to do at your school, so that even if you miss home, you'll have something fun to do every weekon campus.
Don't get in over your head! Joining activities is great, but if you're in so many that they feel more like a chore, don't feel bad about dropping out! It'll make you feel a lot less stressed out.
When buying food for yourdorm, buy liters of soda and some cups instead of cans, as A) it's less trash to take out, and B) it's cheaper!
Try to pack your lunch, as it will A) save time incafeteria lines, and B)probably have less fat than a normal school lunch.
BuyGALLONSof water and twoquality bottles! While this seems silly, if you drink enough water during the day, it will help curb your appetite, keep you hydrated while walking to classes, and help stave off the Freshman 15!So, fill up both bottles and alternate,washing each bottle as it begees empty and needs a cleaning.
Find what stores are near campus. Make sure to find a bike/car repair shop, a grocery store, a post office, a police station (or the campus security station), the medical office for campus, and any restaurants that you like. If you can figure out where these are before class begins,you'll be in great shape!
Watch outfor crime! There IS a lot of crime on campus, so try not to walk alone after dark, and don't walk around with headphones onor talking into your cellphone. These activities mark you as distracted and an "easy mark"for pickpockets!
In conclusion, I'd like to say, even withall my guidelines and tips, your college experience will beuniqueto YOU, and there's no way to gepletely tellexactly what it will be like! However, if you feel that you are properly prepared and educated about what you might face, I hope that you will feel confident and stress-free as you enter the exciting world of college life.Thanksfor reading, and have an awesome time at college!!
This guide is going to be updated fairly often, so if you have something you think was omitted or that should be added (or even some errors!), please do nothesitate to send me a message though okay. :) Thanks!
(This guide was last updated: August 24th, end of first week of classes!)
Fakes and the Collector
HiIf your reading this, it's because you suspect a listing online. Are there fakes out there? Yes.How will you know? Read the listing very carfully and look for word gebinations like "I think this is a meteorite...", " It was found by my _____ and he was sure it was a meteorite", "It was reveled in a vision to be....". This can also be true of Tektites. Since tektites are a mineral glass, it's not too hard to whip up a similar mixture and cast them, however they do this. And just like the fake fossils, we will see more of them.Here's a site which discusses fake Moldavites:http://soul2soultreasures.ge/fake_moldavite.htmHere's an example of how fake fossils have invaded okay and how to recognize them:http://www.paleodirect.ge/fakefossils1.htmYour best defense is to know whom your buying from. Look for IMCA numbers and logos ( International Meteorite Collector's Association). Just remember some of the top dealers are not members and you will have to learn who they are, for they are some great people.Fakes aren't limited to fossil and meteorites. You most likely know about the watches and sunglasses, but check out this website for information on plates and then think about how many other items that could be faked in a similar manner:http://www.rscollect.co.uk/backstamp collection.htmEnjoy your hobby
From Greenware to Bisque - A delicate Stage
So now you are looking at a beautiful creation that was nothing more than clay and water only hours ago.
This is greenware - it is very delicate.
When it is first removed from the mold it should be "leather - hard".
You can gently pick and pull and rub out seems and many imperfections. You dont want to get to meticulous. It is easy to crush, dent or even tear greenware in this stage.
Now is the time to attach any extra pieces , such as arms or legs, etc...
I use an old paint brush for this. Dip it in the slip, put a liberal amount on both sides of the piece and gently hold the pieces together. It should only take about 5 seconds for the pieces to bond (longer for heavier pieces) .
When the pieces are joined, go around the seem with the brush again, just to make sure there are no gaps.
It may look a little sloppy, but don't worry, put it on a shelf and forget about it for a few days.
The greenware will lighten, both in color and weight over the next few days.When it is almost white, it is almost ready for the kiln.
Now, you can remove any remaining seems, bubbles or blights.
I highly regemend buying a few cleaning tools for this. You can do most of the "clean-up" with scouring pad style sticks. They are usually two-sided (brown-course and white-fine). There are also metal knife like tools. The one I use the most has astraight and a curved end for scraping off seems.
There are also many special tools for textures (such as doll's hair or fur). I have not really worked with these.
Here's a tip that may be helpful -When you think you are done, take a damp paper towel and wipe down the entire piece. This will remove all of the dust and help with any stubborn spots.
Next - Firing !!!
This is greenware - it is very delicate.
When it is first removed from the mold it should be "leather - hard".
You can gently pick and pull and rub out seems and many imperfections. You dont want to get to meticulous. It is easy to crush, dent or even tear greenware in this stage.
Now is the time to attach any extra pieces , such as arms or legs, etc...
I use an old paint brush for this. Dip it in the slip, put a liberal amount on both sides of the piece and gently hold the pieces together. It should only take about 5 seconds for the pieces to bond (longer for heavier pieces) .
When the pieces are joined, go around the seem with the brush again, just to make sure there are no gaps.
It may look a little sloppy, but don't worry, put it on a shelf and forget about it for a few days.
The greenware will lighten, both in color and weight over the next few days.When it is almost white, it is almost ready for the kiln.
Now, you can remove any remaining seems, bubbles or blights.
I highly regemend buying a few cleaning tools for this. You can do most of the "clean-up" with scouring pad style sticks. They are usually two-sided (brown-course and white-fine). There are also metal knife like tools. The one I use the most has astraight and a curved end for scraping off seems.
There are also many special tools for textures (such as doll's hair or fur). I have not really worked with these.
Here's a tip that may be helpful -When you think you are done, take a damp paper towel and wipe down the entire piece. This will remove all of the dust and help with any stubborn spots.
Next - Firing !!!
Hibiscus Seed Germinating Tips
Hibiscus Seed Germinating Tips
This genus of over 200 annual or perennial herbs, shrubs or trees in the mallow (Malvaceae) family is widely distributed throughout warm temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of the world. They are grown mostly for their large dramatic flowers, borne singly or in terminal clusters, usually lasting for just a day. The open bell-shaped flowers appear in a wide variety of colors, and are characterized by a prominent stamina column and a darker coloring in then center. The alternate simple leaves are usually palmate.
Cultivation
Sow seeds at a depth of in a well draining soil. Keep warm an provide bright light. Keep lightly moist not wet. Most species of Hibiscus are drought tender and rather frost tender, and prefer a position in full sun in a rich and moist soil. Many will tolerate hard pruning after flowering to maintain shape.
This genus of over 200 annual or perennial herbs, shrubs or trees in the mallow (Malvaceae) family is widely distributed throughout warm temperate, subtropical and tropical regions of the world. They are grown mostly for their large dramatic flowers, borne singly or in terminal clusters, usually lasting for just a day. The open bell-shaped flowers appear in a wide variety of colors, and are characterized by a prominent stamina column and a darker coloring in then center. The alternate simple leaves are usually palmate.
Cultivation
Sow seeds at a depth of in a well draining soil. Keep warm an provide bright light. Keep lightly moist not wet. Most species of Hibiscus are drought tender and rather frost tender, and prefer a position in full sun in a rich and moist soil. Many will tolerate hard pruning after flowering to maintain shape.
FLOATY PEN - A FUN AND AFFORDABLE COLLECTIBLE
A "floaty" or "tilt" pen is a fun and affordable collectible. My passion for collecting floaty pens started many years ago while vacationing, and this was an affordable souvenir for me to get. Some of the places I have collected floaty pens from are no longer in existence, so the pens have a historical as well as nostalgic importance. The upper half of a floaty pen has a clear plastic oil filled section with a floating image against a background. The image "floats" when the pen is tilted back and forth. The bottom half of the pen (the "barrel") is made of colorful plastic, and you can actually write with it.History: A Danish baker by the name of Peder Eskesen is known as the founder of floaty pens. In the 1940s, he perfected a way of sealing the oil which is in the upper half of the floaty pen. The Eskesen gepany makes most of the floaty pens found in the world today. New designs are always being produced, so discontinued vintage pens/designs are sought after by collectors. When buying a floaty pen, whether vintage or new, tilt the pen back and forth to see if the float moves freely. Check to see if there are any bubbles or streaks when the pen is tilted. Also check the barrel part to see if it is free from scratches, ink, or other markings. If you don't have access to the pen, make sure the description states the condition of the barrel and the float.Floaty pens can be found in every state and in almost every country. A fun, interesting and affordable collectible.
Mudman Plus Too
I was recently asked why I feel as I do on dating mudmen. I'm not a writer, as you can see from my Mudman Plus article, but I try,so bare with me. I grew up in the old Panama Canal Zone, early fifties to mid-sixties. Panama City was across the border with all these wonderful shops filled with items from around the world. Asian items in particular. My dear Aunt took great advantage of this to form her wonderful collection of mudmen.She bought new, and they were marked CHINA. Only CHINA. Military there (and worldwide) and travelers alike have brought thousands of mudmen to our country. When a friend sees my collection they often ge- ment on some relative receiving one as a gift from someone overseas. They were dirt cheap, small, easy to carry or mail, and always appreciated. There is something endearing about them. Wonderful for that aquarium , or my aunt's wall shelf. India and China were not ones to follow the export/import laws on dating and marking goods. As a mudman collector I imagine that you go to flea markets and antique stores.Ever notice some tiny brass shoes that are ashtrays? The pointed ones said INDIA, and the rounded toe was marked CHINA. No MADE IN.. These gee from the forties and fifties. Everyone smoked. Plus it was cheap, easy to carry, etc. No way are they antique,vintage yes! Buying or selling one prefers to have an antique. There are antique ones out there, but very few.I find nothing wrong with the vintage. I am near sixty, and have loved mudmen since I was about sixteen. I've seen about two dozen with the Chinese script inside.And maybe three dozen unmarked antique ones over time. They do exist. One other issue or beef. The hands, legs, and facedo have a glaze. It's a soft, thin satin finish gepared to the heavy glossy overall glaze. Look at your mudmen closely .. it's there. It is a wonderful protective coating. They would be dirty and stained if not for this glaze. And yet most consider these areas to be unglazed. Sadlywith every earthquake, flood, hurricane,or fire there are fewer mudmen. Last.... beware of reproductions. Good hunting to you all.
How do I choose the number of buttons on my tuxedo?
Traditional style tuxedos are typically manufactured with a 1 or 2 button front. These jackets have been regemended in the industry for many years and never seems to be phased out by the manufacturers. Highly regemended for a shorter gentleman. To achieve a more contemporary look you can opt for a style with a 3 to 6 button front. Here you will find the lapels are shortened down the front of the jacket to leave room for the extra buttons. These jackets are regemended for taller gentlemen with a thinner build. Keep in mind, jackets with 3 to 6 buttons can be found on many tuxedos today, however, they may not be very popular in the years to gee. If you plan on investing in a tuxedo with many years of use, we suggest opting for a style with either the 1 or 2 button closure.
Quickutz, Accucut, Sizzix die cuts
Die cuts are a great way to do your card making or scrapbooking projects. They are cuts made from metal or wooden dies such as Quickutz, Sizzix, or Accucut. When searching for embellishments for a project, do a search for die cuts and you will find a wonderful selection. These are also cheaper than buying the actual die itself. I know some rare dies can go up to 100.00 each. That's great if you are a collector. Sellers will usually sell a lot of die cuts and let you pick the colors. It wouldn't hurt to take a look and see what is out there to help along with your projects.
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