European Car Rental - Top Ten Tips For Europe Travel - Tip #1: Car Size and Type
November 21, 2007
More often than not, a person will base his or her entire decision on the price. This is especially true when one is on-line creating their own itinerary without the help of a travel agent or trained professional, something that within 5 years from now will be standard practice. While price is undoubtedly one of the most important things to consider when making a reservation, it is not the first priority. The first priority should be to determine what kind of car you will need, based on a few different factors.
To begin, you must know how many people will be accompanying you on this trip. Remember that the European equivalent of a rental category will be smaller than its US counterpart, so make sure that you take notice of the model that they are quoting you for, along with the supposed size. Once you know what the model is, look it up on the internet and make sure that it will work for you. Some companies will quote you for what they bill as an intermediate car when it is in reality a compact size. Usually for 1 or 2 people, an economy will suffice, provided you have one suitcase apiece. In the event that you have more luggage than this, you may opt to put it in the back seat or upgrade to a larger vehicle. Keep in mind that if you are planning on stopping at any places where your luggage will be visible from outside the car, it is best not to keep it in the back seat.
How Parents Can Win the Battle To Keep Your Child Safe From Strangers This Holiday Season
November 21, 2007
When we think of Holiday shopping, we think of all the glowing lights at our area malls and the various eye-catching decorations in shopping centers. Along with distractions with our ‘to do’ list in our heads, we get preoccupied with carrying bags and scoping out gifts. But with all the whirlwinds of diversions, we cannot put our guard down with who is scoping out our own children.
To help with this here are the top 7 things parents can do to prevent their young from falling prey to strangers and child kidnappers in the busy hustle and bustle of the season.
1. Stay connected. Make sure you have your children with you whether in a stroller or holding your hand. Even if your child stays next to you other times of the year, all the distractions of toys, decorations, and Santa can make any kid get sidetracked. For older children invest in a family walkie-talkie set. Make sure they know how to use it and check in with them on regular time intervals to know where they are ? even if they are right next to you.
Making the Holidays More Meaningful
November 20, 2007
Have the holidays become too commercial for you? Are you feeling empty and unfulfilled during this time of the year? This year by making some simple changes you and your children can truly make the holidays more meaningful.
Teach gratitude during the holidays:
Gratitude should not only be for the material presents but for the little blessings in their lives. Begin to have your children tell you each day three things that they are grateful for. This helps children understand the true meaning of the holidays in several ways. First, the children begin to notice the little gifts that they sometimes take for granted, a butterfly, a sunny day, getting to sleep late. Secondly, once they notice these little gifts and are grateful for them they can start bringing more of them into their awareness.
Empower your family with tools to make the holidays more meaningful:
Spend time discussing topics like what are you the most grateful for? How can you make the world a better place? How can this holiday be more meaningful? What presents make you feel the best? Plan a kind deed day and see who can perform the most random acts of kindness. Write little spiritual notes and leave them in their lunchboxes.
10 Reasons Santas Broke This Year
November 19, 2007
1. Santa Spends More Than He Makes
Santa’s paychecks are nothing to sneeze at, but he stays focused on his next raise. (Yes, of course Santa gets a raise each year!) He has no idea what it costs him to live the Santa life. He doesn’t track his earnings nor his spending. Santa’s got to provide for his reindeer, his horse and his North Pole home - just like the rest of us.
2. Santa Has No Emergency Account
Santa’s transportation tends to break down right in the middle of major blizzards. Only last week, he had to whip out his credit card to pay for sleigh-towing. When Santa finally made it to the repair shop, he again had pay for the sleigh repair with credit. Just last year, he nearly had frost bite after his brand new sleigh had broken down.
3. Santa Lives Paycheck to Paycheck
Santa cashes his paycheck at the North Pole Bank, but most of the money gets spent before it makes its way to his checkbook. If it makes it there, most of the money is already owed to the credit card company. Santa has no other money set aside.
Hampshire - Mild, Convenient, and Full of Variety
November 18, 2007
The southern English county of Hampshire is only two hours from London by car or by frequent rail services. The county has much to offer regardless whether you seek fast moving cities, rural open countryside, or beaches and boat trips.
On the coast you will find the bustling fierce rival city ports of Portsmouth, (fighting ships), and Southampton, (merchant and cruise liners). In Portsmouth you must visit the historic dockyard. Go on board Horatio Nelson’s flagship "Victory", check out the "Warrior" and Henry the eighth’s "Mary Rose" which is still undergoing restoration after being raised from the seabed. Take an hour’s cruise to the Isle of Wight and see Britain’s biggest yachting extravaganza at Cowes week. Southampton is the traditional homes of the Cunarder Queen liners. It still is, and fabulous views can be had of the spectacular liners coming and going up Southampton water from Calshot beach in the south of the county.
Children?s Birthday Party Locations and Ideas
November 17, 2007
While most children’s birthday parties are held at home, you may want to consider an offsite location.
For starters, you won’t have to be concerned about the current state of order and tidiness of your house. Plus using the cultural and recreational resources of the community will broaden your child’s horizons and introduce him or her to some wonderful experiences.
Ask your child what she would like. Usually the party theme will reflect her interests, hobbies or sports.
Here are some ideas to jumpstart your creativity.
If your child loves sharks, what better place to be than the local aquarium where he can see sharks up close and personal.
Then, there’s the zoo, if he or she loves elephants and wants a jungle theme. Or maybe the local museum of natural history.
Local history museums can make history real.
The local art museum is a great place for the budding artist, a concert for the budding musician, the planetarium for the budding astronomer… you get the idea.
The best part is that many such institutions have activities designed especially for children. Ask.
There are entire institutions, like the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, designed for children.
Easter Traditions: Seven Ways To Add Meaning To Your Family Celebration
November 16, 2007
Family traditions connect us to past and future generations. They provide meaning and connection, as well as a sense of ritual and comfort. And they can create - and help to preserve - some of life’s most moving moments.
Easter traditions can help to usher in a season of love, rejuvenation, and abundance. Here are seven ideas for sharing the sweetness of this special season:
- Start a kindness wreath for your doorway. For the week of Easter, give each family member 10 or more ribbons in bright spring colors. Each time a family member reaches out to someone in kindness during the week, they simply tie another ribbon onto the wreath.
- Ask your children to make a special drawing or a collage that depicts what Easter means for them. After you display them during the Easter season, scan them or take a photo and record the artwork in a special journal or album for a treasured Easter keepsake.
- Create a Garden Journal. Cover a composition book with spring patterned papers or photos/clippings of your favorite flowers. Document the process of creating your family garden this year. Make sure to include photos of your family members digging in the dirt. Record their favorite flowers and their favorite part of working in the garden…and, of course, lots of journaling and flower pressings.
Shropshire - Englands Forgotten County
November 16, 2007
Shropshire is England’s forgotten county, but it is well worth making the effort to get there. It is only three hours by train from London and there is plenty to see and do. It is primarily a rural county steeped in history bordering as it does mid Wales, from Oswestry in the northwest to Ludlow and the Hereford border in the south.
Consider staying in Shrewsbury, the capital of the county. Shrewsbury is a growing mediaeval town with a large mixture of places to stay and lots of things to see. It straddles the mighty River Severn, one of Britain’s longest rivers. The river twists and turns and revisits the town in several places. It can and still does flood some of the town occasionally and the effects of global warming have persuaded the town council to beef up the flood defences. On a mild balmy day with the river low and sleepy it seems hard to imagine that the river could ever offer a threat, but when it is angry and running, it does.
Trick or Treating Safety
November 15, 2007
Halloween is such a fun time of year for kids and adults alike, so its important that we take some precautions to keep it that way! Here’s my list of trick or treating tips for your family.
Wear comfortable shoes!!
Carry a flashlight
Wear something with a reflector on it (you can even find reflector tape and paint at your local home improvement store.
Go out before dark-especially for little ones. The big kids tend to flood the streets later at night making it hard for little ones to trick or treat.
Never go into a strangers house, even if they ask you to come in while they go and get some candy.
Throw away all homemade or unwrapped treats. I know some people work hard on making great home made treats, but in this day and age its not worth the risk!
When walking down the street, have the adult walk closest to the road, and the children closest to the houses.
Do not run ahead of the adults-its very easy for children to get carried away and accidentally run into the road.
Its Party Time - Lets Decorate!
November 14, 2007
Holidays are here and so is the spirit of partying. Here are some wonderful ideas for transforming your home into an innovative party scenario and giving your guests an occasion that will forever remain etched in their memories.
1. Entrance: Do up your entrance. The entrance to your home should be magnificent and welcoming. Line the driveway with luminaries. Place a guest book at the front door for expressing sentiments. Clean up clutter near your entrance. Decorate the entrance traditionally or with something unusual to set a celebratory mood. You could also decorate according to the theme of your party. Sleigh Bells or wreaths for Christmas, ghoulish figures for Halloween etc.
2. Lighting: Lighting sets the mood for the party. Interesting ways to play with lighting are to cover light bulbs with multi-colored cellophane strips, cover lights or battery-torches with soft white cloth and place them separately to give the room an air of mystery, or use all your beautiful candles together instead of lights to create a romantic mood. If using candles, combine candles of various colors, shapes and sizes together.
