101 Gift Ideas for every occasion

People have forgotton about the meaning behind gifting, in a consumer driven society we are often pushed towards competing e.g. upstaing gifts and my gifts better than yours. Lets go back to basics, giving is far more rewarding then receiving its much better for your Karma. If someone gives you a list ignore it, the only time a list is applicable is for Weddings where this is a tradition. Gifting is all about imagination, and a little thinking time. For big events like Christmas buy people things they would never buy themselves.

Here are some top ideas of adults:

More and more adults are cooking as a hobby and for enjoyment therefore consider some of the following; spaghetti measurer, Griddle pan, pancake maker, panini press, Knife set, Chefs blow torch, Cook books

Relaxation is often overlooked in our busy lives how about some of the following;
Bath Salts, Beauty products, we recommed brands like Bathina, Dermologica, Foot Doctor & sanctuary. Best to go to a beauty store where there are gift packs. Electronic massager,
Cuddly hot water bottle, A good novel, lots to choose from here best to go for your books stores recommended list

Gadgets are great fun here are some ideas; USB computer lights, Screen cleaing kit
Games, Board games and other season toys are great entertainment best to check out Amazon, Firebox and other large toy retailers for top best selling games. REmember gifts are about things you would rarely buy yourself.

For Car fanatics how about:
Some designer interior mats and seat covers, Car Cleaning kit, personalised number plates, Mini car racers, Ferrari or porche and other miniture car collectables, for new drivers fluffy dice are fun and well appreciated.

Heath & Fitness. Some top ideas include; detox kit, hand weights, mini trampoline, exercise mat, execercise ball, Bag with towel & water bottle, execercise video, exercise

DVD’s are always a simple stocking filler or gift. There are a variety of genres to choose from action, adventure, romantic, horror & documentary. Amazon is the most famous online DVD retailer and has great suggestions and best seller lists to help you along.

Travel Enthusiasts; guide books, travel vouchers, spa vouchers, hand luggage, wash bags, travel accessories or perhaps a good novel.

If you are buying for adults who have just had children how about; a hand/foot casting kit, photo album or photo frames with perhaps a photo in.

Higher price items for all the family are new TV, video camera, DVD player, Games Console

Now onto children, this may be your own, grandchildren or perhaps your godparents or a close friend. For the best ideas simply walk into your largest toy store and ask whats selling for your age group. These are usually trend toys such as the latest lego product or film toys like Harry Potter, power rangers or Incredibles.

For creative kids, visit a craft centre either online or on the high street, how about buying some materials and let the kids get creative? You can buy thin leather and beads so they can make their own jewellery or perhaps card and other craft items to make their own art.

If you want to buy something different why not buy a classi corgi toy or perhaps some jewellery like a charm braclett which you can buy charms for at other gifting times. Computer games are normally a must have for kids but can be pricey, if these are out of your budget perhaps outdoor games would be a better choice.

Kids also love DVD’s so movies are a simple gift idea, some of our top tips are look out for these film distributors:
Disney who produced Micky Mouse & friends, Winnie the pooh
Disney Pixar who produced Finding Nemo, Brother Bear & The incredibles
Dreamworks who produced Shrek
Disney Film also produce some good teen movies like Freaky Friday or Confessions of a teenage Dram Queen
Warner Bros are famous for Harry Potter & Xmas 2004 classic The Polar Express
Fox is another who have produced Power ranges and some other TV classics.
Remember that your childhood favourites may be loved by your kids too, such as Transformers, He-Man, thunderbirds, captain scarlet & Thundercats

Last of all our much loved pets are a big part of our lives, which is why you will often find gifts under the Chrsitmas tree for them. Our top suggestions are; cat nip ( a herb which makes them go wild), new colar or lead, blackets, toys, new bowls, a grooming session at your pet store or why not for dogs especially a nice juicy bone.

Remember the final step for gifting is the wrapping so spend as much time on the wrapping as you did on buying the gift. For more, check out www.sorrydarling.com

About the Author

H Porter writes for top gift website www.sorrydarling.com

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The Dollhouse A Timeless Toy For Hours Of Fun

Every little girl dreams of owning a dollhouse. Here, her tiny family holds their many adventuresadventures her active, imaginative mind is free to invent and reinvent each day. She can rearrange the furniture, reenact familiar rituals and scenes, and invent her own rules. In a dollhouse, there is are bedtimes. In a doll house, everyone gets to eat 100 pieces of chocolate cakeeveryday!Control over a world (and her emotions)
But having a dollhouse gives them a sense of control over a smaller world, and here they can play-act their fears while practicing the rituals and routines that are part of healthy social interaction. For example, when a child holds an imaginary party in her dollhouse, planning a guest list that includes stuffed rabbits and the Queen of Fairies, they are (subconsciously) working through their anxiety about large crowds and unfamiliar faces. They would probably hate any party that included people they didnt know, but talking about what cakes to serve and which parts of the dollhouse their guests will stay in, makes her feel more confident about interacting with others.A toy that changes every day
Dollhouses transform each time a child sits down next to it. Each time she makes a story, each time she gives the dolls a name and then acts out their rituals and adventures, the dollhouse becomes different. One day its a castle under a spell. The next day its the scene of a grand ball. And maybe today its just an ordinary house, but the aliens (i.e., her brothers Buzz Lightyear action figure) attack. You never know.

A toy thats fun at any age
Dollhouses are also one of the few toys that dont get boring after a few weeks. In fact, because the fun lies in the childs imagination, they can be played with for years. As she grows older, shell start making clothes for the dolls, designing her own little furniture and curtains, decorating the doll house and possibly creating entire novellas about its miniature residents. When she grows up, and the dollhouse is put away, it can be retrieved years later and given to her own daughter.

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Self Absorption!

In the early months of the infant’s life it has no ego and only experiences its subconscious mind reacting to sensations. As the mind becomes consciously tied to the physical body so the ego begins to form. The emerging ego is simply the acceptance by consciousness of these boundaries. And from there the ego grows and grows and grows. It’s another way of describing self absorption- and it can be an ugly thing!

The good news, as Richard Rohr likes to say, is that you need to have an ego so you can kill the ego. The tue self must replace the false self (ego) or you live life just for yourself- which most do. One of the best definitions for the word salvation as far as I am concerned is “Abandoning selp-absorption and being transformed by the love of God.”

Love transforms!

Law brings guilt and failure.

But, as Philip Gulley has said, “With the advent of the Nicene Creed, we were no longer saved from selp-absorption. We were saved from the sin of not believing certain things about Jesus. Those who believed these things were saved, and those who didn’t were damned. Whether people lived the way of Jesus became irrevelant to some and secondary to others.”

True history of God will transform you!

You are deemed UNSAVED and more often than not a heretic if you’ve nbot beleived the right things, go to the right church, have accepted Jesus as Lord and savior in front of a duly ordained Bible-believing church, have been immersed or baptized in some correct manner, are filled with the HOLY GHOST, speak in tongues (can you speak without your tongue?), and come to church every week. Talk about being immersed in triviality! And those points are just for starters.

What happend to the power of love?

Oh yes, and you tithe faithfully by the LAW!

Talk about self-absorption. Is that not the best description of such? And you can do all that and still not be loving, kind, and compassionate. What’s up with that?

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7 Tips to Transform Your Pug and Get Her to Listen to Your Command

My Promise: 7 Amazing Secrets To Transform Your Pug’s Behaviours In Less Than 30 Days.

Did you know that if you train your pug incorrectly, your healthy and obedient pug could turn into a disaster to you and your family? It doesn’t take months for a pug puppy to acquire bad stinky habits that will haunt you for years.

Every dog needs training. So does a pug dog. The best time to train your pug is the 1st day you own it. Usually pugs are brought into homes when they were 8 weeks or older.

Wouldn’t you want your pug to follow every of your commands from the very 1st day?

Then, establishing your authority and commanding attention are essential. These two rules are the core foundation of house breaking your pug. For some of you, success comes easy, but for others, even if you have laid out solid groundwork, you might not be guaranteed an obedient pug.

If you are frustrated about your pug’s bad stinky habits, then these 7 sure-fire tips will help you transform your pug’s behaviours in less than 30 days, if you apply them consistently throughout your pug’s training programme:

1) Start training your pug puppy at early stage. Old dogs can learn new tricks, however, the earlier your pug is introduce to proper house-training, the quicker your pug will learn.

2) Communicate with your pug puppy. Talk to pug like how you would talk to your children, when they were toddlers. Pugs are able to sense and receive both your verbal and non-verbal communication. Sounds odd? Well, no actually, it’s quite simple.

For example, just say your pug misbehaves. You could simply say “no” with a deep angry voice. As awkward as it may seems, your pug will sense it. You must then, show her what the correct actions are. These will help her to distinguish between the right and wrong actions.

3) Reward your pug for listening to your command. Give them the credit by padding her forehead or around her neck. Give your pug a variety of rewards. It could be her favourite food, toy or treat.

4) Increase the frequency of rewards to your pug. Research showed that the more often a puppy is rewarded, the faster and more efficient the learning process becomes. Look for instances to reward your pug through praises or treats.

For examples, if your pug is lying down quietly and minding his own business, praise her. Look for opportunities to praise, not to punish.

5) Feed your pug regularly, especially when it is at puppy stage. Keep you pug puppy hydrated throughout the day. When times allow, bring your pug for a walk and say, “Go potty” just before she is eliminating. Pat her to give her the encouragement.

6) Never punish your pug! Teach your pug using positive and motivational methods. Be proactive rather than reactive. This means, when your pug is doing well and behaving properly, pro-actively reward your pug. On the other hand, do not sympathize with your pug’s bad behaviours.

7) Play with the pug! Pug loves playing. It is vital that whenever practising any obedience training and upon finishing, the owner should enjoy a play time with her pug. You can run or play tug-of-war with your pug during play time.

These 7 amazing secrets will put your put on right track to obedient training. Enrolling your pug to obedient training school may cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars. It will also reap you the opportunity to create a lasting and loving bond with your pug. So, it does pay to house training your pug.

Good luck!

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Humor: Childhood memories

Short-lived Hero

Every kid has a favorite toy. Jimmy loves his convertible, Match-Box car with flame decal. Susie adores her Tammy Tinkle doll. And Andrew can’t get enough of his bright, yellow dump truck with working parts.

I was a He-Mann man. No other eight-year-old had more He-Mann toys than I, or at least I bragged to all of my peers. “Do you have the Man-At-Arms battle tank?” I’d ask my little circle of second-grader friends. We all collected the stuff. Transformers and He-Mann were the best toys. He-Mann was a God. Transformers were cool. He-Mann was invincible.

I spent many afternoons pretending to be He-Mann. The figurines were accurate and probably to-scale. His muscles were huge. I’d sit in the playroom with the figurines laid out on the brown Berber, each of their weapons lined up in order, ready for battle. Bad guys on the left. Good guys on the right. I’d set up the situation just like the show, and I’d get He-Mann and his crew ready to save the day. These figurines were great because they moved on their own. I didn’t have to move them around and tap them left foot to right foot on the rug to make them walk. They did it themselves, or so I forced myself to believe.

Skeletor was the leader of the bad guys. He wore a purple and black outfit, complete with a cape. He was a tough customer and often gave He-Mann a good fight. But like I said, He-Mann was invincible.Day after day, I’d create scenarios for my friends. Day after day, I knew I was the one who saved the day.

One night, I actually got the chance to become He-Mann. I had two costumes: He-Mann and Skeletor. The He-Mann costume had a plastic, painted sword, chest guard, and shield. The Skeletor costume consisted of a staff, a cape, and a glow-in-the-dark mask. The mask wasn’t anything expensive, but it sure was life-like. The cheekbones protruded from the face, creating deep eye sockets. The mouth contorted into a sinister grin. The eyes were dark, deep, and scary.

I don’t remember who gave me the costumes. It didn’t matter much. I was ready to be He-Mann and rid the universe of Skeletor once and for all. This was my time. I was ready to be a real hero. Unfortunately, I was playing by myself. I had quite the imagination, but playing two roles at the same time would’ve been very difficult.

Walking out of the playroom, I scoured the house for a companion. I had two sisters, one younger and one older. I didn’t know where they were, but they weren’t around. Stepping into the kitchen, I spotted

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Movie reviews: The Transformers (2007) – Part 76

Going into “Transformers” I did not expect much out of the movie, and I did not think much of it coming out. Although the plot of the movie is quite interesting and there are a few laugh-worthy parts, I was not impressed overall. The movie is far too liberal with its action sequences; one person can only stand to watch so much destruction. The last 30 minutes of the movie was so repetitive (crash, boom, crash, boom, explosion, etc.) that I found myself staring at the ceiling and praying for the movie to end sometimes soon.

In my opinion, the best parts of the movie were parts which did not contain any traces of transforming cars. During one particular scene when the boy’s parents venture into his room during a power outage, I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes.

Although the movie got much applause from the audience (especially the appearance of Optimus Prime), I was not particularly impressed and feel that the movie could have been much better.

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Great toys for men in their 20s

What is that they say about us boys and our wonderful toys! I am no longer in my twenties but I have the heart of a twenty-something and have some definite input on the subject. Let me begin by saying toys are what separates the girls from the boys, and coming from the male perspective we are all big kids despite the grown up exterior.

Video games are probably at the top of my list since every man on the face of the planet no matter how much he denies it can’t resist shooting, driving or playing virtual guitar. Personally I am pretty hooked on the latest Guitar Hero, which the entire series is a must have for any man who ever dreamed of being on stage with his Axe in front of a thousand screaming fans. Racing and sports games are a given since almost every man has a preference whether it be golf, fishing, or full contact sports. Video games are also an excellent outlet for us to pound out our frustration stemming from a bad day at work, whether we are sniping on a military mission or just beating the crap out of some virtual opponent.

Sporting equipment is pretty self explanatory but a membership at a golf course or even a pass for the day at a nice club will be a sure fire pleaser for any man of golf. Any new replacement for all the other sports equipment is also safe bet because only God knows we can’t live without a new hockey stick to add to our collection.

Now I move onto the electronics department. If it has batteries and it does anything by the push of the button we must have it! I say this literally as a self-professed electronic junkie! GPS Navigation, Satellite Radio, Cameras, MP3 players, the list can keep going on and on and so does my inventory of gizmo’s and gadgetry I have accumulated over the years. Just check out the latest cool electronic toy and that will put a smile on any man’s face!

Big toys are what all men really crave even though the budget might not comply! Motorcycles, ATVs and anything that growls and roars at the twist of the throttle. It goes to saying that almost anything with a motor will be the ultimate gift and will guarantee a endless seas of foot rubs or candlelight dinners. Whether it is a snowmobile or a jet-ski, these are the dream toys that anyone in their twenties will not be able to say “no!”

Lastly I introduce the collectibles. Hockey cards, action figures (no not dolls), and any memorabilia that stems from our childhood can usually be a good gift idea. I again admit to be a closet Transformer fan, who admittedly has not given up collecting. These long lost icons of our youth make us feel young again, and if you don’t believe me; just watch your husband as your son opens up his gifts as though he is already imagining himself playing with it! We might not admit it out loud, but we love toys and probably always will!

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Memorable TV cartoon characters of the past and present – Part 1

Of course, there are a number of memorable TV cartoon characters, both of the past and the present. There are the obvious character choices, such as Bugs Bunny, Mickey Mouse, Fred Flintstone, Woody Woodpecker, and Winnie the Pooh, just to name a few. I would also include Snoopy from the Peanuts specials in this list. But who else is there?

Going back to the 1960’s and 1970’s, I would have to say that one of the most memorable cartoon characters from that era would have to be Scooby-Doo. In fact, he’s so memorable, that he has continued to appear in various television shows including one that aired on Kids! WB earlier this decade!

If you go back to the 1980’s, I would have to say one of the most memorable cartoon characters of the era would have to be Optimus Prime from The Transformers. So many people of my generation remember Optimus Prime, especially since his death in The Transformers: The Movie caused such a controversy. I would also consider the Smurfs to be memorable 1980’s cartoon characters. And if you go back to the 1990s, I would have to say that several of the Rugrats characters (specifically Tommy, Chuckie, and Angelica) would also be in the memorable category.

From more recent cartoons, I would have to say that SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star also fit into this category. I’m around kids who really like SpongeBob, and a couple of them can even quote lines from episodes. For current preschoolers, one of the most memorable cartoon characters would probably have to be Dora the Explorer.

I would also have to include Bart Simpson and Homer Simpson in a list of memorable TV cartoon characters; with such catchphrases as “Eat my shorts” and “D’oh!,” who could forget these two?

From the anime field, I would definitely have to include Pikachu as a memorable TV cartoon character. There’s just something about Pikachu that captures children’s interest.

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Christmas gift ideas: Best Barbie dolls for 5

Five year old girls dream of being a princess. So what could be better for a five year old girl than a Barbie from the Disney Princess Barbie collection? These dolls are dressed beautifully without being expensive. They are playable. They have their own movies on DVD, and so many wonderful things to play with.

This year, Barbie is an Island Princess with the Princess Rosella Doll. Her dress is a beautiful blue. But wait, it transforms with a fan of peacock feathers that raise from the back up to frame her beautiful face. This Barbie is rated by Toys R Us customers with 41/2 of 5 stars and is priced at $19.99.

Toys R Us is featuring an exclusive with the R/C Corvette and Barbie Doll. Her sparkling pink dress matches her pink Barbie sized car, which also includes the remote key for extra fun. This Barbie is rated at 31/2 stars and is priced at $39.99.

You may wish to consider a Barbie Horse Stable and Doll. This gem has thus far rated 5 full stars. It features the Barbie sized horse Tawny, and plenty of fencing. Think of that little girl playing to her hearts content and building her imagination. This one I would get down on the floor with the little girl and join the fun. Priced at $20.99 it is not exclusive so keep on the lookout to see if you can spot this one.

Consider the Barbie Play All Day Zoo Doctor Doll and Play set. This is just one of the Barbie career play sets that help little girls dream of being big girls. Your 5 year old will love playing veterinarian. It comes with the Barbie, examination table, wash station, and of course some animals and kennels. Priced at $20.99

There are so many Barbie accessories that can be purchased with or separately from the doll itself, and don’t forget those DVD’s of the Disney Princess Barbie collection. I don’t foresee any problem with every little girl getting a Barbie under the tree this year.

Barbie will have a good Christmas this year as always.

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Memoirs: Childhood toys

Paper dolls, a past time of many little girls (and some older one’s too!) have taken on collector’s status. Whether they are cut out, punched out or self made, many hours of enjoyment have been gained through make believe playtime. Paper dolls have regained popularity as well as the manufacturers transforming them into virtual paper dolls where a girl using her computer can drag and drop clothing onto doll images or print out paper dolls in popular celebrity likenesses.

History

According to Judy M Johnson of “The Doll Sourcebook”, paper dolls have existed about as long as there has been paper. As early as AD 900, there was an ancient Japanese purification ceremony that included a paper doll like figure wearing a paper wrapping similar to a kimono. The first mass produced paper doll was Little Fanny who was produced by S&J Fuller, in London 1810.

Identification

The construction of a paper doll consists of a doll made of paper, possibly thicker paper similar to cardboard. The outfits that adhere to the doll typically do so from the use of paper tabs. These outfits are traditionally made from thinner paper than the doll. Paper dolls can also be made from plastic, clothe or wood and utilize a variety of different techniques for adhering the clothing. These connects can be made with magnets, Velcro or static cling to name a few.

Types

Paper dolls have transformed into magnetic dolls, vinyl cling dolls, felt dolls, and fabric dolls utilizing Velcro or fibers connecting to each other like felt boards do. These material changes have made the popularity of paper dolls and longevity of paper dolls last another decade if not longer.

Function

Paper dolls not only are toys but historically they have been used as advertisements, in magazines and newspapers. Vintage versions have become highly collectible due to the disintegrating nature of paper. The mainstream acceptance of paper dolls can be noted by their existence on McDonald’s Happy Meal boxes, the epitome of mainstream modern culture.

Paper dolls can range from two-dimensional dolls to three-dimensional dolls. They can be mass produced, collector’s items, an art form or made from scratch. The amount of detail and materials can affect the price of a paper doll. Whether they are mass-produced or artistically one of a kind can also affect their price and popularity within the world of collectors. The theme or style of the paper doll can also effect the pricing.

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