The traditional time for putting up Christmas decorations is the 1st day of December. However many people are starting work on this project from mid November, simply because they need a lot of work to present the home well.

For some people, Christmas decorations are as simple as a putting up a Christmas tree and Nativity set inside and a festive wreath on the front door. For others, decorating the home for Christmas is such an important family tradition that their decoration is a well organised and thorough annual event where all of the family participates. And for a few dedicated decorators, Christmas also becomes a festival of Christmas lights, with lawn and rooftop ornaments, and all sorts of other indoor and outdoor Christmas decorations. Some homes become an interesting attraction for people to drive by and admire each evening.

For most families, Christmas is the time to really celebrate "goodwill to all men"; it's about the family and close friends, good fun, good times, togetherness, remembering Christmases past. It's both a festive and a spiritual time, and involves more than one family gathering and several, friends over for a cuppa, or drinks events. For these kinds of events, nothing makes Christmas more inspirational and memorable than a home fully decked out and decorated with the Christmas spirit.

Dont be frightened to go all in with a total Christmas look in your home. Christmas is a time when the hostess with the mostess gets well appreciated. Forget about minimalist design. It does not apply to Christmas and it's only a short term "cold and lonely" trend, that wont be in vogue next year.

The impact of well prepared Christmas decorations in the home can be an amazing thing. When you enter a home that has been optimised for Christmas in a tasteful way, you really, suddenly, feel good about the world. You suddenly feel that the occupants are glad to have a visitor and want to share the spirit of goodwill with you. You feel like you really want to know the people of this home, and you know that they care about each other.

Christmas really is the time to "deck the halls with boughs of holly" and transform your home in preparation for receiving of friends and family, and most of all for the "Night before Christmas".

Your Overall Colour Scheme.

Coloured Ribbons and Bows are a great way to have an effective colour scheme that lets your cherished ornaments blend into your current decor. So tie generous volumes of ribbons to chair backs, candlesticks, wreaths, garlands, basket handles, drapery tie-backs, stair rails, and doorknobs.

Bows and ribbons look very festive. You don't have to stick with red and green and the colours you choose should tie in the rest of your decor. If you can't find colours that blend well, then choose metallic silver, gold, white, green, or red. Ribbons that can be untied and re-tie each year will save money and ensure you end up with a good collection. Iron them before you pack them away.

You might want to add some personal touches to your Christmas efforts. If you're handy with your hands, Christmas crafts can be child's play.

Wreaths Garlands & Plaques

The impact of Christmas starts with a big welcome at your front door. But you also want to impact on the people in the home, so place a wreath or plaque on every door you have. Start with your best wreath or plaque on the front door to welcome everyone. Next go on to the back door, inside and out. Also hang them over the mantle, and in all of your front windows. Don't forget bedroom doors, inside and out.

For wreaths use pine, holly, or grapevine and decorate with berries, fruit, pinecones, raffia, ornaments, or sweets. To keep wreaths year after year, buy artificial wreaths that will last. Remember, you'll need room to store them!

Plaques are another interesting decorator idea to use on doors and walls and many versions can be found in timber and painted metal, which can be both cute, friendly and colourful. Enhance both your Door & Wall Plaques and your wreaths with garlands and with bows that tie them in to your current colour scheme.

Christmas Trees

A highly decorated evergreen tree, with colored lights ablaze inspires warm memories of Christmases long past for many people. The Christmas tree has become one of the best know festive symbols.

The tradition of using evergreen festive trees and decorating with branches of evergreen trees has played an important part in seasonal or New Year celebrations for many centuries, having been well established since ancient times.

Decide where to place the tree, giving it a focal point but keeping it out of high traffic areas where it might be bumped or where someone might trip on light cords. Place lighting on first, then garlands as they both need to be spaced well and tree ornaments could be bumped off if they are in the way. Arrange lights about halfway from the tips of the branches to the trunk of the tree, as well as on the perimeter of the tree

Space Tree Ornaments evenly. Usually you would have some more expensive or more attractive hanging tree ornaments that go on first, then add all of the filler ornaments in between. Place ornaments and other decorations 'inside' your tree, in addition to the tips of branches. This will add depth and interest. Last of all comes the ribbons and bows. These will be the link to your colour theme.

Think about having more than one Christmas tree skirt if you want to change you overall colour themes. Another great alternative is a Metal Christmas Screen
around the base of the tree. These are partly see through and can reveal a pile of gifts but still cover the tree stand or tree base sufficiently.

Nativity Sets

The nativity set should be another focal point, as Christmas is a celebration of Christ's birth. Even if you are not much into Christianity, most people agree that the guy dedicated his life to promoting "goodwill to all men" and that's what the Christmas spirit is still mainly about.

Ornament Displays

Christmas ornament displays are a neat way to spread some Christmas joy and happiness all through the home. A small table in the hall or entry is the place to start. A combination of a few select Christmas Ornaments together with Christmas Candles can really start people admiring. Themes can be good, and each location could have a different theme. Suggested themes are; Santas, Angels, Snowmen, Reindeer, Moose, Snow Scenes, Christmas Village etc.

Other places to turn into ornament display settings are Coffee Tables, side boards, mantles, dressers, clothes chests, chests of draws, book shelves, display cabinets, bed side tables, desks, TV tops, cup shelves, bathroom cabinet tops, If you have a nested set of coffee tables they can all be strategically located.

Don't forget children's rooms where some budget priced Christmas ornaments can really make them feel an important part of the festivities. Here is where the funny faced Santas and snowmen come into the foreground.

Window Displays

Another important area for decorating with Christmas ornaments is in window displays. Mrs Colleen Praniess, a recent winner in our Christmas Lights Competition, has made an art form out of making comprehensive displays in her windows by putting large tables up to the front room windows and then forming a very large display box by hanging sheets behind it to section off the table from the rest of the room. This large cubical space on the table is then filled with Christmas ornament arrangements and lit up so that it is viewed by visitors looking in through the window. The curtains behind the table stop viewers from seeing the rest of the room. See examples of her wonderfull displays here: Colleen's Winter Wonderland.

Table Centre Pieces

A table centre piece can be an excellent focal point to inspire your visitors. Suggested options for Christmas Table Centre pieces are: - Christmas Wreaths, Poinsettia or Holly, Christmas Candlesticks with bow decorated Candles, Pile of small gifts on a platter, Platter of small ornaments, or use your favorite large Christmas Collectible as a centerpiece. Showcase one beautiful Christmas figurine on your holiday table. Whether it's a family heirloom or new purchase, this could be the focus of your Christmas table.

Table Settings

Use Christmas tableware for every meal in December. Search through your cupboards and find any dishes that look festive. Collect a set of suitable plates and add Christmas bowls and platters that coordinate. Add new pieces each year, soon, you'll be able to serve a colour co-ordinated feast.

Your Christmas dinner tablecloth must be something special. Make sure you get one with a suitable colour and design that is long enough for your extended table. Napkins and Christmas Napkin Rings are a must for such an important family feast.

Arrange candles on the dining table and dine by candlelight each evening in December, even if you're just having leftovers. Every meal will feel special.

Christmas Lighting

In addition to lighting your Christmas tree it's nice to have some window lighting that shines out and tells evening passers that this is a home that celebrates the joy of Christmas. Perhaps a star or lighting curtain will add that something extra to the home. Outdoor lighting in this day and age is a whole other subject.

Getting into the Spirit of Christmas

It's really important to get the kids into the real spirit if Christmas at a young age. You could be surprised at how well some of our, electronic games and TV addicted children, can enjoy some participation, particularly if you are in it with them.

Kids should make, or purchase, small gifts for each of the neighbors, friends and for their school teachers in the lead up to Christmas. Hand made or budget priced tree ornaments are ideal. Even the most homely basic gift from a small child will be very warmly received, and grandparents will absolutely treasure them if they can hang them on a tree.

Don't forget to arrange a special Christmas Candle in your toilet too they are not expensive.

Make sure you are ready on Christmas day, and other December nights when you are having guests, to have a good Christmas songs CD playing softly in the background. This will really set the mood on their arrival.

Have a great family Christmas. Godbless.  :)

Christmas is coming, and this would be a great occasion to think about what gifts to surprise your kids. Although not every kid has the same interest, it's simple to select a gift that can fit all kids. Read the following simple yet effective guidelines and find out how!

Before I talk about more details, I want to set this one out crystal clear.

If you know the interests of your kids, and you know you can afford it, by all means make their wishes come true. Christmas comes once a year. And this is a great time to make your children love you more.

Agree? OK, so let's talk about the major issue.



What we have today is 5 good tips that I know will help you make better decisions. Choosing a Christmas gift for someone special should be an enjoyable activity not another one in your must-do list. Just keep relaxing.

Tip #1: Be sure that you select the correct gift for your child's age

How old is your little one? 5 years old, or older?

I will take toys as the main example. Fact is, toys are not designed equally. Some are suitable for secondary school children, while others might be suitable for toddles or younger ones.

And remember to always look for the warning signs on toys (choking hazard warning is one of them). Let your toddle play with something sharp is a very bad idea, really!

So next time you go buying Christmas toys, make sure you keep this tip in mind.

Tip #2: How about educational toys?

Let me tell you this. Educational toys will never go wrong!

Yes, they are not the most interesting gifts on Earth. But when you're stuck with ideas, why not choose them?

Every kid will benefit from it. In addition with the fact that says educational toys are becoming more attractive, they will be a great problem solving these Holidays!

Tip #3: Choose the right gift for the right kid

Boys like robots from Transformers and girls like Barbie dolls. Is it correct?

OK, there might be some exceptions but I think it applies to many children out there. And don't underestimate your kids of this. Just give your young son a doll to play with this Christmas and see how he react!

Fact is, when your kids have their favorite gifts from you, they will appreciate it and have more fun playing with them as well.

And it doesn't need too much effort to do, right?

Tip #4: You shouldn't give them violent or other harmful toys!

"Daddy I want that gun, can I have it?"

If your son said so, what would you do? Buy it? No, please don't!

If you love your child and want to grow him up to become a good guy, don't let him play with such toys at early ages. Violent toys do nothing but amplifying the bad natures inside a kid.

There are tons of other helpful ones out there. Pick one for your kid.

Tip #5: How about a toy that simulates a famous animation movie?

Children love animation and other colorful things. That's a fact. So why don't you give them what they like?

It has even more effect when the toy tells their favorite animation and it helps increasing the creativity of your children? An excellent Christmas gift, right?

Expecting a new baby can be the most exciting and wondrous time of life. Babies are the most delightful and magical little creatures and to have one on the way can be the most wonderful part of being a human being. When you are expecting a baby, there are some things that you want to have set up before the baby's arrival just to make sure that all is in order before the baby's birth. You want to make sure, first of all, that the baby has a place to sleep and has a proper crib and basinet.

A basinet is an important feature if you live in a rather large house or if you have two floors. Though a basinet is not essential, it is highly useful because a crib is not portable and if you do not have this then you will have to move the baby around in a carrier. So, if you keep a basinet, you can take the baby where you want to whether you are up or down and that way they will have a nice place to sleep in two different parts of the house. Now, if you think a crib is enough, you will want to choose between a round crib or a rectangle crib. Though more fashionable certainly, round cribs are actually rather impractical because the baby will grow and soon not be able to fit in the crib.

Also there is a lot of wasted space in the crib, that you will be able to use in the rectangle crib. This decision might also depend upon how large your room or the nursery for your baby is and that will also help you decide how big to make the crib. Next you want to make sure you have few basic outfits for the baby. Now if you don't know the sex of the child, that is fine, but you want to have a few generic type outfits, like a onesie piece and some shorts and a lot of blankets because your child will need it for every nap and every moment really for the first few months. You want to make sure you have a good store of blankets as you will constantly be laundering them for new ones after spit ups and other things. You want to make sure you have diapers in the right size and also plenty of formula, wipes, and pacifiers. The hospital will be sure to give you most of these things at the beginning, but you want to still have your own supply, as well, and choose brands you trust.

It's important to have your house stocked and ready because when the baby comes there won't be any time for these preparations and you will find that all your time is going into making sure that you are taking care of your child. That is why you want to make sure that the blankets are bought, the diapers and pacifiers and all number of other items necessary for your baby. You want to make sure that you have a car seat installed in the car and make sure it is done properly.

Mesmerizing colors and perfumes of fresh flowers give a sense of satisfaction to the mind and heart because for a few minutes, the person simply forgets the world and surrenders to the flowers sweet perfumes. There is nothing more special to give on a birthday than a greeting with beautiful birthday flowers. It gives a unique feeling of appreciation to the person who has been greeted with such stunning floral arrangement.

Sending your loved ones flowers of their taste is the best thing they can ever get. However, gifting flowers to the birthday person requires a little bit of effort which can be minimized if you choose to order online. Keep in mind these points while ordering birthday flowers online for someone special:

Taste

Ensure that the persons taste in flowers is met.

To whom are you presenting the flowers

Do inform the Flowers delivery company about your relation with person to whom you wish to send flowers on his /her birthday? For example, your relative, friend, lover, spouse, etc.

Presentation

Make sure to inform the florist company about the way you want these flowers to be reached at his/her place. For example, bucket, bouquet, etc.

A new rose bush can provide decades of beauty and enjoyment if properly planted and tended. The planting requirements for a new rose are both simple and important. The first months in a new home are crucial for the plant’s survival. While it’s true that roses will grow and thrive without the benefit of your expertise, a little knowledge can go a long way.

When you receive your new rosebush, chances are it will be un-planted and its roots wrapped in moss. It is very important that you keep the plant moist and cold until you are able to plant it properly. For example, a basement is an ideal place for an unplanted rose bush. While a rose bush can survive outside of the soil for an extended time, it is also very important that you plant it as soon as possible.

Rose bushes are usually sold in the winter while dormant. They begin to grow and bloom in the springtime and it is crucial that they are planted before this occurs. Your rosebush should be securely rooted in the ground before springtime, when new shoots begin to grow. Generally, March and April are ideal months for planting.

The first step in planting your new rose is finding a good place to put it in the ground. Your rose should get at least 6 hours of sun each day, and should be planted in soil with good drainage. You can check the drainage of your soil with a simple test: dig a hole that is 12 inches deep, fill it with water and wait for the water to drain. Once the water has drained, refill the hole, if it is empty in less than two hours your soil has excellent drainage!

In addition to drainage, roses have other specific soil requirements. They prefer a more acidic soil with a pH ranging from 5.8 to 6.3. If your soil is too acidic—or too basic—you may ask your local nursery what you can add to the soil in order to correct the problem. Pine needles and lime are both acidifying agents that you may find in your own home or garden shed!

If you are planting more than one bush in your garden, be sure that they are reasonably far apart. Remember, they will grow and air will need to circulate between them to keep them disease free. Rose bushes will crowd each other out if planted too close together. The distance between the bushes ranges from two to ten feet, depending on the type of bush. Ask about the specific spacing for your new rose bush at the nursery at the time of purchase.

Weed your garden bed and clear it of plant debris and waste before planting. A clean garden bed means less likelihood of pests and disease ravaging your beautiful roses. They will not tolerate root competition, especially from heavy feeders like grass. Also, if it has not already been done, prune back the roots of your rose bush one half inch; this will encourage new growth.

Soak your new rose bush in water for 24 hours before planting in order to prepare it for the change. Make sure to dig a hole that is at least two square feet for your rose. Build a small mound of dirt in the center of the hole and spread the roots out on top of it. In colder climates, the roots should be buried slightly deeper than in warmer Southern climates.

Once you have planted your rose, mulch the area surrounding it. Remember to leave a space of several inches around the rose clear of mulch. If mulch is placed too close to the plant, rotting can occur. Mulch is organic plant matter that spreads nutrients to the soil surrounding the rose as water runs through it. It is a natural and simple way to improve your soil!

The first few days after transplantation are the most crucial. You should build a small basin of dirt around the base of your rose bush in order to help it to retain water. Water the rosebush daily for the first week after transplantation. After this week, water every three days adjusting to the weather.

Once you begin to see new shoots coming out of the mound of dirt surrounding your rose, it is time to wash the mound away. Your rose bush is growing, this is good! But you must continue to care for your rose throughout its life. Rose specific fertilizers can be found in any drug store and should be added to the soil around your rose bush every two to three months.

By following these planting instructions you are ensuring a healthy, stable rose bush that will beautify your garden for years! A new rose bush is like a baby, while it requires a lot of love and attention at first, it will grow stronger and more independent with time and you will surely be proud of the results! 

Whenever you save energy, you not only save money, you also reduce the demand for such fossil fuels as coal, oil, and natural gas. Less burning of fossil fuels also means lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary contributor to global warming, and other pollutants.

You do not have to do without to achieve these savings. There is now an energy efficient alternative for almost every kind of appliance or light fixture. That means that consumers have a real choice and the power to change their energy use on a revolutionary scale.

The average American produces about 40,000 pounds of CO2 emissions per year. Together, we use nearly a million dollars worth of energy every minute, night and day, every day of the year. By exercising even a few of the following steps, you can cut your annual emissions by thousands of pounds and your energy bills by a significant amount!

Home appliances

Turn your refrigerator down. Refrigerators account for about 20% of Household electricity use. Use a thermometer to set your refrigerator temperature as close to 37 degrees and your freezer as close to 3 degrees as possible. Make sure that its energy saver switch is turned on. Also, check the gaskets around your refrigerator/freezer doors to make sure they are clean and sealed tightly.

Set your clothes washer to the warm or cold water setting, not hot. Switching from hot to warm for two loads per week can save nearly 500 pounds of CO2 per year if you have an electric water heater, or 150 pounds for a gas heater.

Make sure your dishwasher is full when you run it and use the energy saving setting, if available, to allow the dishes to air dry. You can also turn off the drying cycle manually. Not using heat in the drying cycle can save 20 percent of your dishwasher's total electricity use.

Turn down your water heater thermostat. Thermostats are often set to 140 degrees F when 120 is usually fine. Each 10 degree reduction saves 600 pounds of CO2 per year for an electric water heater, or 440 pounds for a gas heater. If every household turned its water heater thermostat down 20 degrees, we could prevent more than 45 million tons of annual CO2 emissions - the same amount emitted by the entire nations of Kuwait or Libya.

Select the most energy-efficient models when you replace your old appliances. Look for the Energy Star Label - your assurance that the product saves energy and prevents pollution. Buy the product that is sized to your typical needs - not the biggest one available. Front loading washing machines will usually cut hot water use by 60 to 70% compared to typical machines. Replacing a typical 1973 refrigerator with a new energy-efficient model, saves 1.4 tons of CO2 per year. Investing in a solar water heater can save 4.9 tons of CO2 annually.

Home Heating and Cooling

Be careful not to overheat or overcool rooms. In the winter, set your thermostat at 68 degrees in daytime, and 55 degrees at night. In the summer, keep it at 78. Lowering your thermostat just two degrees during winter saves 6 percent of heating-related CO2 emissions. That's a reduction of 420 pounds of CO2 per year for a typical home.

Clean or replace air filters as recommended. Energy is lost when air conditioners and hot-air furnaces have to work harder to draw air through dirty filters. Cleaning a dirty air conditioner filter can save 5 percent of the energy used. That could save 175 pounds of CO2 per year.

Small investments that pay off

Buy energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs for your most-used lights. Although they cost more initially, they save money in the long run by using only 1/4 the energy of an ordinary incandescent bulb and lasting 8-12 times longer. They provide an equivalent amount of bright, attractive light. Only 10% of the energy consumed by a normal light bulb generates light. The rest just makes the bulb hot. If every American household replaced one of its standard light bulbs with an energy efficient compact fluorescent bulb, we would save the same amount of energy as a large nuclear power plant produces in one year. In a typical home, one compact fluorescent bulb can save 260 pounds of CO2 per year.

Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket, which costs just $10 to $20. It can save 1100 lbs. of CO2 per year for an electric water heater, or 220 pounds for a gas heater.

Use less hot water by installing low-flow shower heads. They cost just $10 to $20 each, deliver an invigorating shower, and save 300 pounds of CO2 per year for electrically heated water, or 80 pounds for gas-heated water.

Weatherize your home or apartment, using caulk and weather stripping to plug air leaks around doors and windows. Caulking costs less than $1 per window, and weather stripping is under $10 per door. These steps can save up to 1100 pounds of CO2 per year for a typical home. Ask your utility company for a home energy audit to find out where your home is poorly insulated or energy inefficient. This service may be provided free or at low cost. Make sure it includes a check of your furnace and air conditioning.

Getting around

Whenever possible, walk, bike, car pool, or use mass transit. Every gallon of gasoline you save avoids 22 pounds of CO2 emissions. If your car gets 25 miles per gallon, for example, and you reduce your annual driving from 12,000 to 10,000 miles, you'll save 1800 pounds of CO2.

When you next buy a car, choose one that gets good mileage. If your new car gets 40 miles per gallon instead of 25, and you drive 10,000 miles per year, you'll reduce your annual CO2 emissions by 3,300 pounds.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reduce the amount of waste you produce by buying minimally packaged goods, choosing reusable products over disposable ones, and recycling. For every pound of waste you eliminate or recycle, you save energy and reduce emissions of CO2 by at least 1 pound. Cutting down your garbage by half of one large trash bag per week saves at least 1100 pounds of CO2 per year. Making products with recycled materials, instead of from scratch with raw materials, uses 30 to 55% less for paper products, 33% less for glass, and a whopping 90% less for aluminum.

If your car has an air conditioner, make sure its coolant is recovered and recycled whenever you have it serviced. In the United States, leakage from auto air conditioners is the largest single source of emissions of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which damage the ozone layer as well as add to global warming. The CFCs from one auto air conditioner can add the equivalent of 4800 pounds of CO2 emissions per year.

Home Improvements

When you plan major home improvements, consider some of these energy saving investments. They save money in the long run, and their CO2 savings can often be measured in tons per year.
Insulate your walls and ceilings. This can save 20 to 30 percent of home heating bills and reduce CO2 emissions by 140 to 2100 pounds per year. If you live in a colder climate, consider superinsulating. That can save 5.5 tons of CO2 per year for gas-heated homes, 8.8 tons per year for oil heat, or 23 tons per year for electric heat. (If you have electric heat, you might also consider switching to more efficient gas or oil.)

Modernize your windows. Replacing all your ordinary windows with argon filled, double-glazed windows saves 2.4 tons of CO2 per year for homes with gas heat, 3.9 tons of oil heat, and 9.8 tons for electric heat.

Plant shade trees and paint your house a light color if you live in a warm climate, or a dark color if you live in a cold climate. Reductions in energy use resulting from shade trees and appropriate painting can save up to 2.4 tons of CO2 emissions per year. (Each tree also directly absorbs about 25 pounds of CO2 from the air annually.)

Business and Community

Work with your employer to implement these and other energy-efficiency and waste-reduction measures in your office or workplace. Form or join local citizens' groups and work with local government officials to see that these measures are taken in schools and public buildings.

Keep track of the environmental voting records of candidates for office. Stay abreast of environmental issues on both local and national levels, and write or call your elected officials to express your concerns about energy efficiency and global warming.

Regular grooming makes a dog look good and smell good, but it also helps keep them healthy. When a dog’s hair gets too long and matted, for example, it can cause skin disorders and lead to infection. And if the nails get too long, they can wind up curling back into the pads of the feet.

Dog grooming guidelines

How much grooming does the average dog or puppy need? While it depends on its coat type, some daily attention helps accustom pups to being handled and examined.

Here are some other guidelines for grooming your dog:

Long-haired Puppies

• A long coat must be brushed and combed daily to remove loose hair. Brush and comb in the direction the fur grows and pay particular attention to the feathering on limbs and tail.

• As centrally heated houses cause puppies to be too warm and molt year round, use a saw-toothed stripping comb to remove loose hairs. Stripping is particularly helpful in the summer when heavy-coated breeds tend to suffer from excessive heat.

Short and Wire-haired Breeds

• Short-haired dog breeds (Boxer, Dalmation, Greyhound, Pug and Whippet) may be brushed or groomed with a rough mitt.

• Wire-haired terrier breeds (Airedale, Fox, and Sealyham) need grooming with a very stiff brush and metal comb.

• Do it daily, even if briefly. Many terriers also benefit from being stripped in summer.

Dog Bathing

• Bathing’s not usually recommended for puppies under six months of age.

• Use a shampoo recommended for pets and rinse off each application thoroughly. Towel dry and finish with a hair dryer.

Oral Hygiene

• Puppies benefit from having their teeth cleaned with a toothbrush and water at an early age.

• Regular cleaning prevents plaque buildup and, later, tartar. If tartar deposits accumulate, the result will be receding gums, loosened teeth and bad breath.

• Puppies most at risk for oral problems are members of short-faced and toy breeds, which usually have over-crowded teeth.

Clipping and Trimming

• Take puppies such as poodles and some terrier breeds to a professional pet salon while they’re young. Some owners become adept at giving a simple trim after they’ve seen it done a few times.

• Owners of long-haired puppies should use scissors to groom and trim between the digits to prevent it from becoming matted and around the anus to prevent matting from dried feces.

• Nail clipping isn’t advised for very young puppies, but may become necessary as they mature. A regular walk on pavement helps keep the nails trim.

Inspection

• Use a grooming session to check the puppy’s general condition. Ears should be clean, with no signs of discharge or debris such as plant burrs. The eyes and nose should be clear and free of discharge.

• Check paws for grit or thorns between the pads.

So there you have it – the ultimate guide for dog grooming. Now go ahead and make your dog happy.

Tuning up a car requires some special skills, but anyone with reasonable mechanical knowhow can perform half the job – and save half the cost of a service station tune up.

Here are the basic steps to a do-it-yourself car engine tune up.

You will need a service manual for your car, spark plugs, distributor points and condenser, a spark plug wrench, screwdriver, feeler gauge and a small crescent wrench. To purchase the parts you will need to know your car’s engine size, number of cylinders, and carburetor size. Changing spark plugs is a complicated chore, and the car owner is advised not to try it unassisted for the first few times. However, if you know how, or wish to attempt it with the help of a friend, there are a few precautions to take.

When removing spark plug cables, don’t pull them straight off with a sharp tug, instead work them carefully. Be sure you label them ahead of time so you can connect them again in the proper sequence. Using pieces of masking tape and numbering them is a good way. Don’t overtighten the new plugs; they should be snug, but not impossible to remove.

Installing new points and condenser in the distributor is tricky so the first time you attempt it you should have someone help you who knows how to do it. When you have installed the new plugs, points and condenser and adjusted the points gap, take the car to your dealer or a garage and have them adjust the timing. This will take about 10 minutes.

But how do you know when your car needs a tune up?

These are the most common symptoms: it’s hard to start, it’s sluggish when you step on the accelerator and lacks peps, it idles and burns more gas than it used to.

How often should a car be tuned up?

There is no set interval because cars and people’s driving habits differ. Every 10,000 miles is the rule-of-thumb, but some cars need tune ups them more often, others can go longer. If you take your car to a garage to be tuned up, you should know what is included in minor and major car tune-ups.

A minor tune-up includes replacement of points, condenser and plugs, setting spark timing and adjusting the carburetor idle. A major car tune up includes a check of the engine compression, replacement, or cleaning and adjustment of spark plugs, rebuilding the distributor, adjusting the timing, carburetor, and fan belts.

Cleaning the battery terminals, servicing air cleaner, coil, manifold heat control valve and the fuel line filter.

However, the best way to help improve engine performance is to keep the engine and ignition system clean. No special skills are needed, only some clean rags and a can of solvent to remove oil and grease stains from the engine itself and from some of the components of the electrical system.

Not many realize the harmful effects of dirt on the outside of an engine. A film of dirt and grease on the engine block acts like an insulator and can make the engine run hotter. Most of this dirt accumulates on top of the engine. Remove the air cleaner to get at the engine easier and cover the carburetor with a piece of plastic. For safety remove the negative cable from the battery to eliminate the possibility of sparks.

Wipe off the surfaces with a rag, and if the film is heavy, spray on an engine degreaser. Wipe off the tops of the spark plugs (the white porcelain part of the plug) and the cables, leading to the plugs. Dirt that collects on the spark plugs and cables reduces the electrical current that flows to the spark plugs and can be a cause of hard starting, especially in damp weather.

During the winter, cars parked outside are sometimes hard to start during periods of snow or rain. For this, purchase a can of ignition protector spray. This spray actually drives out moisture and insulates the wires and connections, all which make starting much easier. You spray it on spark plugs, cables, the distributor cap and coil. Complete directions are included on the can.

While tuning up your car and cleaning the engine, look for any wires that appear loose or have worn or cracked insulation. If you spot any, point them out to your mechanic, or replace them yourself.

Many things affect the price you pay for your car insurance. Here are a few tips that might help you reduce your car insurance and lower the amount you are currently paying.

• Shop around. Prices for car insurance can vary greatly from company to company. However, don’t let price be the only thing you consider. It’s better to pay a little more and deal with a reliable company. The best recommendation a company can get is from its customers. Ask your friends which car insurance company they use and if they are happy with the service.

• Inquire about low-mileage discounts. This is for drivers who use their car less than a set number of miles per year.

• If you are thinking about buying a new car, remember that the type of car you drive affects the amount you pay for car insurance. If your car is expensive to repair or a favorite of thieves, the insurance is probably higher.

• If possible, raise the deductibles on collision and comprehensive coverage. This means that the amount you pay before filing a claim is higher, but the yearly cost of car insurance is lower.

• Some companies have a discount for cars that have automatic seat belts or air bags, or you might be eligible for a good-driver or defensive-driving discount, making this another way to reduce your car insurance.

Most conversations on how to invest focus on methods of investing. An experienced investor will tell you that there’s no magic formula. This lesson has usually been learned the hard way. There are some time proven concepts that won’t, by themselves, assure success, but can help reduce some of the risk associated with investing.

• Have a plan – Most people spend more time planning their weekends than planning for their financial future. There’s more to investing than just picking stocks. You need a plan with clear goals and well defined objectives.

• Timing the market – Waiting for the right time to buy or sell can be a long wait. Timing the market is virtually impossible. Expert after expert has concluded that this is not an exact science. There’s really no way to tell exactly where the bottom is or where the top is. Staying investing and riding out the ups and downs is one time proven way to benefit. Trying to time the market can be one of the costliest errors.

• Avoid taxes legally – Most people don’t take advantage of all the legitimate instruments available to defer and avoid taxes. Deferring taxes can add, in many cases, 31 percent to your principal, and can significantly accelerate portfolio growth. Have you considered Tax-Free Bonds, a SEP-IRA, a Salary Deferral Plan, an IRA or a 401(K)? Take the time to review all your options.

• Unnecessary risk – Some people try to obtain such a high return that they dramatically increase the chance of losing much of their initial investment. Others are over conservative and their buying power is eroded over time by inflation and taxes and because they wanted a guarantee of principal rather than working towards preserving their purchasing power. CD’s and money markets are fine when they are used in the proper percentage and at the proper time. However, leaving all or most of your portfolio in similar cash investments can be like dying a slow financial death. You just can’t counter the effects of inflation when your money is earning five and six percent.

• Inflation always costs you money – the purchasing power of the dollar has dropped during the last decades. If your investment strategy doesn’t consider the cost of inflation you’re losing money and usually don’t realize it until it’s done its damage to the purchasing power of your dollar.

• Diversification – One of the most common errors is to become excited about one particular investment and put all or most of your available assets in it. The generally accepted rule is not to have more than 10 percent of your portfolio in one investment, or more than 20 percent in any one industry. Your portfolio should be diversified in such a way as to address all of your needs and goals and at the same time help reduce your risk. There are no hard and fast rules that apply to every portfolio.

• Allow enough time for success – Investing is not a magic money machine. You can’t put $10,000 in on Monday, and take out $50,000 on Friday. It doesn’t work that way. If you’re investing your money in a well thought out, well researched plan, you must give your plan time to work (18 to 36 months). This time frame may have to be altered to allow for unusual circumstances. If you need your money in less time, consider some form of short term money market instrument.

• Keep emotions out of your decisions – Is the potential worth the risk? This requires a rational decision, where you weigh all of the available evidence. Unfortunately, most people ignore reason and get caught up in the emotional high of buying and selling. If you buy on a hunch or feeling about a stock, you usually sell because of fear. The perfect formula for not sleeping very well. Objectivity is essential to successful investing. Treating your investments as a business will help you to maintain a more discipline approach.

In addition to the areas mentioned, a complete financial plan should also take into consideration the number of children, current income, present resources, investment experience, success and failures and planned retirement age. This is far from a complete list of all the factors that should be considered when putting together your financial plan.

Risking your financial future to tips, hunches and favorite stocks can be costly. Consult a reputable financial planner and tax advisor who can teach you how to invest wisely and help guide you through some of the most important decisions you’ll ever make.

Debt is one of the most common problems and stressful situations in today’s society, but you can learn how to eliminate debt fast. Almost everyone has it, and if you don’t, consider yourself lucky. It’s a hard thing to get rid of when it builds up. It can be overwhelming dealing with all those creditors that are demanding “their” money.

• The most important thing you need to do is to stop creating more debt for yourself. Do whatever it takes. Cut up those credit cards and use only money you already have. It’s hard to wait for payday, but it’s worth it when it adds up to less debt.

• Attitude is big element in eliminating debt. We often get overwhelmed and into a negative “I’ll never fix this” state. What you need to do is change that and be positive about eliminating that debt instead of ruminating on how dire the situation is. You can do it and it is possible for you to be debt free. Adopt that ‘Can Do’ attitude.

• Plan out your spending and determine what you really need, and what you really want. Make out a budget or a list for yourself that contains all the things that you would like to acquire. Eliminate all the things that you can live without. If you are used to lavish lifestyle this may be hard, but it is essential if you wish to reduce your spending habits and eliminate debt.

• Boredom is going to make you want to spend money. If we get bored we may visit shops just to see what they have in store. Next thing you know, you’ve walked out with more than you bargained for. Same with TV. It’ll entice you into buying things that you really don’t need.

• Cut down on that extravagant spending on high end products. Where in your life can you live with bargain products? At the grocery store can you spend a little less by buying the cheaper items for a while? It’s not forever, it’s just until you can get your debt under control. Remind yourself that this is a long-term positive goal.

• Are you capable of improving your income? I’ll bet you have the skills that it takes to earn some extra income on the side to help out your finances. Some people do simple surveys online and get paid for them. There are tons of avenues you can research. Turn a passion into a marketing strategy. Just be wary of online scams and research thoroughly before investing your time.

• Pay all of your bills on time. As you get behind on bills, they will charge you extra for what the lateness. By avoiding late bills, you are saving money that could go towards the debt you’ve accumulated.

• Reuse everything you can. Plastic bags work perfect as garbage bags. Keep your eyes open for things that can be reused in your home so that you can save money in the long run and eliminate debt.

Debt is a monster that will haunt you for life and ruin all of your chances of buying the things you really want in life. By applying these simple rules, you can improve your chances of reducing and eliminating your debt and the stress in your life. I promise, once you attack it head on, you’ll start to feel better about your money and about yourself.