Bulk Party Favors - You Will Be Happy to Know They Exist

Getting ready for a big birthday party? Do you want to know a great resource that people don't often think about? Bulk Party Favors. One of the many reasons to go with bulk is to get the cost down. If you have more than one child and more than one birthday party, bulk favors can really help out. Or, if you accidentally invited the whole neighborhood to your 3-year old's first birthday bash, and you need a lot of little things to go in their party bag, buying bulk will make all the difference.

So, now that you have that vital information running around in your head, you may be asking yourself what exactly is available in the bulk party favor department. Well, here's where it gets fun. There are so many options, it is almost staggering. And the great news is...there is something for everyone. You can get gender specific and theme specific too.

Check out the list below to get those wheels turning.

Boys: Bouncing balls, small animals, insects (ew!), tooting horns, cards, toy cars, and army guys--just to get started.

Girls: Rings, bracelets, necklaces, lip gloss, stickers, crayons, and crafts--to name a few.

Something for Everyone: pinwheels, plastic eggs to fill with candy, crayons, bubbles, pencils, fun erasers, pens, and lots and lots of candy.

Visit a party store and you will be pleasantly surprised at the myriad of things to choose from. Their favors aren't just plain, simple little things. Many are in interesting shapes and colors, or match a particular theme, like soccerball tooting horns or zoo animal bubbles. Party stores also carry holiday specific items, such as red and white pinwheels for Valentine's Day, or Shamrock shaped lollypops for Saint Patrick's Day. The options are seemingly endless.

Once you get started, you will probably have a harder time stopping than you think. There are so many cute things out there. Fun toys to play with, bubbles to blow, crafts to put together. Get an idea of what crowd you are trying to please, and stock up with Bulk Party Favors. Just don't forget the party bags. You can go with plain colored paper, printed cellophane, sports themes, or holiday themes. The choices are phenomenal. There are bags to match any occasion, and any theme. And, as you remember when you were little, half the fun of the party was getting your own little gift to go home with.

Zurchers is always offering amazing discounts on all bulk purchases on their bulk party supplies [http://bulk.zurchers.com] page. Whether you're planning for a birthday, wedding, bridal shower, or any other special event, Zurchers is ready to lend a helping hand to make sure you get your supplies at a great value.

For smaller purchases, yet still discounted, visit Zurchers' online party store. The online process is both quick and easy, making your life just a little easier.

Scandalli Accordion

Panama Bound - 8 Startle Factors to Consider Before Taking the Relocation Plunge

You haven't even unpacked the suitcases from your sun-drenched vacation to Panama and a still, small voice is tickling your imagination, whispering, "I could live there." Who hasn't experienced drifting off to daydream of residing in a tropical paradise where everyone is tanned, laid back and friendly? Visions of being liberated from hip-confining stockings or neck-stretching ties appeal to your senses. Emancipation from raking fall leaves or shoveling winter snow drifts arouses your emotions. You even begin rehearsing your retirement speech which begins with the words "take this job and..."

This may be how you envision your newly transformed life through the pina colada colored eyes of a turista. (tourist) But before you take the relocation plunge you must first consider what I call the "startle factors" (aka the unanticipated but well documented factors) and explore rational ways to overcome them.

Will you be able to adjust to a foreign environment?

As your life stands today, you get in your car and drive out of your neighborhood waving to people you have lived around and socialized with for years. You find comfort in knowing exactly where every product is located in your favorite grocery store and how to ask for items in the local hardware store. Before deciding to make a move to a Spanish-speaking country you must determine how adaptable you are to the changes you will experience in a vastly different social environment. Will you miss that over-the-fence chat with your nosey neighbor? Will you get frustrated if you cannot find that special food item you are used to eating? Can you handle walking into the hardware store without knowing how to ask for the simplest item? Can you overcome this first startle factor? Begin by meditating on releasing everything you know about the life you are currently living. Your mantra will be, "things will not be the way I'm accustomed to. Things will not be the way I'm accustomed to." Even though it is bad grammar, repeat it 50 times, then wake up and realize that Panama ain't Kansas and prepare your mind for a culture adjustment.

How much of your "stuff" can you live without?

As you are deciding to relocate, look around your finely appointed home. One of your biggest startle factors will be to decide what to take, what to sell and what to give away. Years of collecting what I call "dustables" stand in between you and the reality of a simplified lifestyle. The truth is you can't (or shall I say "shouldn't") bring all your things with you. So, long before the 40 foot moving container is dumped in front of your door you will need to make your list of "must haves," and "can't bear to part withs." Then do like Santa Claus. Make your list; check it twice, then three times and up to ten times. Then be nice to yourself and decide to move with only what will fit comfortably in the container.

How much do you really like hot weather?

Everyone loves to get away to hot weather and the beach, especially after being beaten up by a severe winter. But if you love having seasonal wardrobes you will want to know that in Panama there are only two seasons, dry and wet, which means you will need to exchange your spring coats, your fall sweaters and your winter jackets for ponchos and umbrellas. Since the temperature remains steady and comfortably warm throughout the year you can keep your summer wardrobe as long as it is cotton and doesn't require ironing. After all, ironing is over-rated. And if you are in the hot flash stage, be sure to bring a couple of nice hand fans. That way you will look chique instead of sweaty.

Do you like open air markets?

Personally, I find no greater thrill than going to the open-air markets on the weekends. It is certainly one way to become wholly immersed in the culture. You will see fruits and vegetables that you never knew existed, let alone know how to prepare. But it is not Kroger's. The aisles are not clean and wide, the sprinklers do not come on to lightly mist the produce, there is no hypnotizing background Musak and nothing is pre-weighed and wrapped in clear cellophane packages. There are no check-out registers, no coupons to redeem, you don't get a receipt and you will be wise to bring your own environmentally-friendly bags. There are, however, three really good things about the market: there is never a monotonous moment; there is always a delightful delicacy to discover; and even often-hurried husbands enjoy the market! These three factors make for an enjoyable market experience.

How much do you like your spouse?

Take note. I did not ask "how much do you 'love' your spouse?" I know you love him/her, but how much do you LIKE...? I think you get my drift. A solid relationship, a friendship, must exist with your spouse because you are going to spend more time together than you ever have before. No room for ennui in Panama. You are going to go to the market, to the bank, to do other shopping, to the restaurant, touring, even to the hardware store, (yes, to the hardware store) TOGETHER! You will realize that one of you will speak better Spanish than the other, hence, will be needed to translate and carry on vital conversations with vendors, taxi drivers, waiters and just about anyone you need to do business with while the other one stands around looking like window dressing. My advice if you need help in this area is to download multiple family self-help books for your Kindle and read them together.

Can you handle "bad hair" days?

This may sound shallow, but is there anything worse than a series of "bad hair" days? The good thing about Panama is you will soon learn that your bad hair day is just a normal hair day and you look like everyone else. I'm not being chauvinistic because men and women suffer equally from the bad hair syndrome. The secret is to get a good haircut/style that falls back into place when the wind blows or the humidity steams the freshness out of your coif and then go about your business. After all, you're retired now, so who cares?

Can you drive like a mad man/woman?

When I moved from Atlanta I figured that I could handle anything when it came to craziness on the road. Was I wrong! What I knew in the states as "road rage" I exchanged for the term "road insanity" in Panama. Take comfort in knowing the difference between road rage and road insanity. Road rage is personal and someone could end up seriously hurt. Road insanity is random. You just happen to be there when someone else is doing what they normally do. Yes, you could still end up getting seriously hurt, but at least it was not personal. The secret to preparing for road insanity in Panama and all of Central America is to practice playing video games that will sharpen your reaction time. Learn to aim your car where you want to go and then don't hesitate. Don't expect the other driver to be courteous. Anticipate what I call "what the h..." moves. And by all means, don't get angry because it won't change a thing. Just do as the locals do. Blow your horn, wave your hand (no one finger salutes, please), shout something inaudible out your window and go about your merry way. Once again, this ain't Kansas and "we are not used to driving like this" doesn't work here. Look at it this way. You're no longer watching NASCAR. You are actually on the track.

How often do you "need" to see your grandchildren?

The key word here is "need" not "want." If you are the kind of Nana and PeePaw who just can't live without the constant slamming of the screen door, the commands to turn off the lights and the demand of "stay out of the refrigerator until I finish preparing lunch" then the other seven startle factors don't even matter. But, look at it in a new light. Imagine how enjoyable it will be to introduce your grands to all of the fun and excitement that is Panama: from the contemporary, fast-paced Panama City to the colorful, laid back Caribbean style of Bocas del Toro; from azure colored oceans teeming with whales, dolphins and other ocean life to emerald mountains rich with tropical flora and fauna; to friendly children who love to play outdoors to diverse surroundings that beg to be explored. You and your grand kids will realize a new meaning to quality time as you create lasting memories. And, they will think you are the coolest grandparents ever (this may be the biggest startle factor of all). The cost of being elevated to such high esteem? Priceless!

If you scored between 6 and 8 in terms of things you can handle you are ready to take the relocation plunge. If you scored 4 or 5 rethink your life and pray over it before making the move. If you scored lower than 4 consider vacationing in Panama a few more times before making a decision.

Panama is a wonderful place to live but first you must acknowledge the startle factors and adjust your mind to accept the situations. Participate in the lively online forums where you can chat with expats who have taken the plunge. Review the forum archives and discover threads that discuss the many lifestyle differences. Give yourself at least six months to live in Panama to experience first-hand if you can make the mental adjustment. Do all these things with an open mind and in time the startle factors won't seem as startling.

Ellie Wharton is an international traveler and writer who has lived in various cities in the US, Jamaica, Mexico, Belize and is currently living in Panama. For more information about activities in Panama go to http://whalewatchingpanama.com

Acanthus Pattern

Discover How You Can Make a Diaper Cake the Easy Way

Diaper cakes are a wonderful idea of presenting a surprise package to an expecting mother. The number and type of baby items you put in for the cake, determines the size of cake and its number of tiers. Baby items may include patterned diapers, baby hygiene products, bottles, pacifiers, baby towel, toys and so on.

Steps to Make A Diaper Cake:

1. Apart from baby items, you will also need cake decoration stuffs such as artificial roses, ribbons, baby confetti, a cardboard and rubber bands.

2. To make diaper cakes, use at least 10 diapers for the upper tier. Open and tape the first diaper in a jellyroll method around a baby lotion bottle. Similarly, open other diapers and continue rolling them and taping them on the bottle unless you have used all 10 diapers. To make it tight and firm, use rubber bands and double-sided tapes to tie around each tier.

3. Use the remaining diapers (around 50 in number) for the bottom tier. However, do not tie them in a similar fashion. Do not open them, but place them around the bottle one after the other so that they surround the bottle. Use double-sided tapes to tie the first tier firmly with the second.

4. Fun part in making the diaper cake lies in decoration process. Cover all rubber bands and tapes with colorful ribbons. Use baby accessories and items such as a cute bib, to make the cake more decorative.

5. After finishing with the entire process, wrap the it with a cellophane paper and decorate it with ribbons and pins.

Making a diaper cake is not a tough task, but requires time, patience and creativity. The more of these elements one puts in to make it, the more one may expect it to be attractive.

You can learn how to make a beautiful diaper cake by 2 ways. One is by reading lengthy and boring books, and get tired after reading it. Or, the second way is by watching videos how to make a perfect diaper cake.

The concept is the same as learning to ride a bicycle, you cannot learn it from a text book. The same goes for making a diaper cake. If you are going to learn how to make a beautiful diaper cake, make sure you learn it the right way.

So do you want to learn how to make a beautiful diaper cake in just 23 minutes or less by simply watching videos? Click here. Or you can visit http://www.makediapercakes.com/ for more information.

Scandalli Accordion Acanthus Pattern Acanthus Flowers

How to Make an Old-Fashion Dutch Apple Walnut Bread

Fall is a great time to share apple recipes as apples are so plentiful. And breads are great for the holiday table, as hostess gifts, gift baskets, housewarmings, and Christmas gifts for co-workers, family, and friends. And the combination of apples and walnuts is not only a tasty one but also a healthy one. Both apples and walnuts are known to have beneficial health traits. Make this tasty old fashion bread recipe to share with your family and friends. For gift-giving wrap the bread in pretty cellophane bags or plastic wrap and attach a seasonal bow.

DUTCH APPLE WALNUT BREAD
This recipe is from Northern Indiana.

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 cup chopped peeled apples
1/3 cup chopped walnuts

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until creamy. Beat in the eggs and the vanilla. Combine the flour with the baking soda and salt; stir into the butter mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Fold in the apples and walnuts. Pour into a greased 9-inch loaf pan. Make the following topping and sprinkle over the batter. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 50 to 60 minutes until done. Cook in pan for 10 minutes before removing.

TOPPING:

1/3 cup flour
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
3 tbsp butter

Combine the flour, sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over the batter before baking.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's old fashion recipe collection visit her blog at http://grandmasvintagerecipes.blogspot.com. For her diabetic recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.squarespace.com

Acanthus Pattern Acanthus Flowers

Kids Party Favors - Fun Ideas For Do-It-Yourself Party Favors

Before you start planning your kids' party favors, make sure you know what your party theme will be. It is more fun if you can tie your party favors directly to the overall party theme. The second piece of information you need to know is how many favors you'll be making. Helpful hint - always make a few additional favors because you never know when an unexpected guest may show up at the party.

Favor Containers

There are so many creative containers for kids' party favors these days. For example, if your party is during the summer, consider using a sand pail or bucket as the favor container. You can also buy cute, little galvanized pails in a variety of colors that make fun favor containers. Another unique idea is to use Chinese food boxes. These are also available in a rainbow of different colors and can be decorated with stickers or markers. Use a glitter pen to write the guests' names on the front. Other ideas include cellophane bags, mini purses, or the more traditional favor boxes and treat bags.

Favor Fillers

Filling your kids' favor containers can be fun and something you can have your child help you with. Suggestions for fillers include bubbles, stickers, glow sticks, slime, play jewelry, lipstick, nail polish, hair clips, pencils, erasers, sunglasses and candy. You can even get personalized items such as stickers, buttons, bag tags and zipper pulls with your guests' name on them. Another fun idea I ran across recently is personalized M&Ms. You can actually buy M&Ms in any color you can dream up and you can have the candy printed with photos of your child as well as text such as their name, age or a 'Happy Birthday' message. What a great idea for a truly unique party favor!

Above all have fun as you plan your kid's birthday party and party favors.

Julie is a busy Mom of 3 young children and a Marketing Director at an online greeting card store. She also has her own kids' websites at http://www.cakesandkids.com and [http://www.partiesandkids.com]

Acanthus Flowers Scandalli Accordion Acanthus Leaf Chandelie

Stress and Multiple Sclerosis - Good Or Bad?

Stress plays a major roll in the way Multiple Sclerosis effects you. We all have had those days when everything is going wrong. The kids are fighting, not enough money to pay the bills, Somebody just pulled out in front of you while driving to work, etc..Stress comes in many forms. Stress can be in the form of "BAD" stress but also in "GOOD" stress. We need to find ways to be prepared or at least as prepared as possible to cope with these stressors so that we can help have some control of our Multiple Sclerosis.  
 
I can't think of a better time to talk about this then now because we are facing the most stressful times of the year. Right now most of us are dealing with kids going back to school. That in itself becomes a stress. The kids are not wanting to be there and not wanting to get back into routine of bedtimes and homework. Of course when the kids are miserable they have a magical way of making everyone around them miserable. I don't know if I have an answer to this situation. However, with the kids being back in school they are sitting in close quarters with other kids sneezing, coughing, and touching all the same things our kids are going to be touching. It is very important to talk to your kids and sometimes their friends if they are over at the house a lot.

Explain to them it is very important for themselves but also for you to make sure they wash their hands immediately when they get home. Explain to them that blowing their noses in Kleenex and throwing it away is a huge help too. Cover their mouths when they are coughing and most importantly not to be drinking out of each others' cups. All these little easy things can help you stay healthier. I am very surprised when I hear other MS'ers say that they never realized that they are more susceptible to illnesses because of having MS. Multiple Sclerosis is an Autoimmune disease. In our case our antibodies are over working. They don't take time to rest so that they are prepared for when you get a cold or the flu or even a cut on the leg. Which of course leads me to the subject of when you get sick.

The cold and flu season is quickly approaching us. Some people with MS chose to get the flu shots to try to help. Some chose not to for there own reasons. Personally, I have chosen not to. I am not sure if there is a right or wrong answer to this. I think it boils down to what your preference is. You can try to prepare for this season. stock up on some Kleenex, soups, cleaning supplies like antibacterial sprays. I know that they come in regular and also green/all natural cleaners. Whichever your preference. Find a bucket and label it the "SICK" bucket. This way you know where things are when needed. This is helpful when your kids are sick or yourself. I am not going to tell you to stay away from your poor sick children or parent or loved one when they are sick and lock them in a room. But it is important to try to avoid the illnesses as much as possible. The things you can do is make sure you are constantly washing your hands when you are around your loved ones when sick but also when you leave a store or are in public places. Here is the thing... If you get sick that is a STRESSOR on your body which in return can cause your MS to start to act up. Just as being in the sun in the Summer and your body temperature rises, even 1 degree, can trigger some symptoms to act up until your body temperature comes back down. Enough about this. Let's move on to some of the other stressors that we can prepare for.

The Holidays will be here soon enough. I see those as good and bad stressors. Good because we get to spend time with family and friends that we might not be able to do throughout the year. The bad part of this is the stress of money being spent on Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can't prepare for all of it but you can try to prepare and plan. By doing some planning and preparations now, will lessen the stress on your body as we approach this time of the year. I would have to believe that a lot of us will be not spending as much at Christmas time due to the economy but that alone can cause stress. Especially for parents of kids. Our kids just don't understand what is going on with the economy. They are used to past years where we all went overboard. Now is a good time to try to explain to them some of the changes that will happen at Christmas this year. Some things I have been doing is when I have an extra 15-20 dollars left to use. I am trying to start picking things up a little at a time. Even if it is stocking stuffer stuff. I don't know about you but those stocking stuffers total up to being a lot of money. So 1 or 2 things every week or every two weeks here and there is less you will have to do in Dec.

Also try to think of things you can do simply for your friends or neighbors if you haven't stopped already buying for each other. There are simple gifts to make and you can wipe out a bunch of people in no time at all for very cheap. For example. Pick up coffee mugs .99cents and as you get closer to the Holiday time. Make up a bunch of chocolate covered pretzels. Buy or make a big tub of hot chocolate. Scoop out the measurement of the hot chocolate and put into clear cellophane bags place inside coffee mug along with some chocolate covered pretzels and "wa la". Perfect gift for the neighbors. Make a basket ful for the neighbor with a family and a movie from the 5$ bin at Wal-Mart. You'd be surprised what movies you will find n those bins. Even if each week when you are at the store buy a movie and store away for those gifts. All I am saying is there are ways to prepare now a little at a time and be able to take care of your family along with the other people in your lives that you want to give something too them, just to say Happy Holidays. Taking a few steps in preparing now can help with the stress as December approaches.

Happy Stressors that can cause havoc on someone with Multiple Sclerosis can be going on a vacation, planning a party at the house, or even going to a family reunion. As odd as it sounds. sometimes being overly excited for something can cause stress on the body and trigger MS symptoms yet again. I don't think anyone can have an answer for this either except to prepare a little. Take a nap if you can before hand, have things prepared and planned for the best you can. Don't over plan and run yourself ragged trying to do too much in a short period of time because that can trigger the fatigue to kick in along with whatever other symptoms decide to pop up.

Again I thought this was the perfect time to talk about how stressors in life good or bad can trigger symptoms. Try your best to prepare and plan for what you can. Obviously there are many things in life that you can not prepare yourself for but these are things you can prepare for.

http://livingdaytodaywithmultiplesclerosis.blogspot.com/

Acanthus Leaf Chandelie

5 Inexpensive But Elegant Gifts to Create Yourself

No, you don't need to give away expensive gifts this year. Neither do you need to hand out the latest toys of the decade. You can find at least 5 inexpensive but elegant gifts to send to your friends and family.

You don't need to overspend or to overbuy. With the economy going the way it is, won't it be much more reasonable to scale back yet still have something no one would turn their nose up at. It just takes being more creative with the gift choices to have something classy, unusual, and inexpensive all at the same time.

There has never been anything wrong with giving a handmade gift. Although you do need to start preparing a bit earlier and planning may be a bit trickier, it's a sure way to cut back on spending and on using up unnecessary sources.

Have you ever met anyone that has refused baked goods? No matter what the time of year, a gift of breads, cake, cookies, or a special pastry will always be met with a smile and a "Did you make this yourself?!"

These are also easily and prettily packaged in a variety of containers. To be really eco-friendly, it would be best to recycle glass containers that have been thoroughly cleaned. Simply decorate the top with a piece of cut fabric over the lid tied up with an attractive ribbon. If the lid is presentable, all you would need is a festive ribbon tied up in a bow and a sprig of dried or artificial flowers and greenery to pretty it up.

Why not share a much-needed jolt of caffeine with your friends? All you need to do is purchase a hand-thrown or inexpensive commercially available coffee mug and pair it with individual packs of instant brewed coffee. For fun, take a metal teaspoon and dip it in some white sugar that you've caramelized. Before it sets, dip the spoon in either ground cinnamon or mini chocolate chips. Wrap up the spoon in a sparkly piece of cellophane held in place with a clear twist-tie and put everything in either a pretty cloth napkin or a large cellophane bag. Accent it with a homey fabric ribbon and a dried orange slice or cinnamon stick.

Don't want to give an edible gift yet are faced with a sugar addict? Why not create a luxury basket with a homemade body scrub made of brown sugar, white sugar, extra-virgin olive oil or virgin coconut oil and the essential oil of your choice? Pair it with a luxurious bar of super fatted soap and it will be a gift long remembered.

How about making a romantic massage kit for your partner? A bottle of massage oil, a set of votive candles, and a CD of romantic, Zen, or nature-based massage music wrapped in a silk pouch will be the basis of an unforgettable experience. The only thing you'll need to add are your own two hands to deliver that blissful massage.

For that extra-special someone, why not have a piece of personalized artwork commissioned? You can find online art galleries which can make a portrait from a picture sent to them. It's a truly special gift that can be passed on to the next generation.

Jamie Highland writes about various family and baby topics. For more info or to check out some inexpensive baby shower favors or some baby shower gifts, visit My Baby Shower Favors. If you want more articles, visit our site and click on the Contact Us link.

Acanthus Pattern