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Painted Portraits
painted portraits

Though most people think that painted portraits are for those with a lot of disposable income, these are actually something that almost anyone can afford. These don't have to be the detailed portraits that some have hanging in their homes of ancestors they never met or don't remember. They can be of your immediately family, or even of your pets. Though there are expensive ones, there are ones out there you can get for a great price, and you will love them just as much as the more expensive versions.

You no longer have to sit for painted portraits. It's been a long time since someone has really had to do this, thanks to the photograph. I imagine there are still some who request people sit for painted portraits, but most good artists can and will work from a photograph. This is great news, especially if someone requests a portrait of someone who may have passed away, would like to give something as a gift, or would like something of a pet. We all know animals just won't sit still for anything.

I have seen many sites online that offer to use a photograph to produce painted portraits for anyone who wants one, and the prices on many of these sites were rather reasonable. I remember an artist who did these for as little as fifty dollars. She had a child with a severe illness, and she was doing it to help pay for her child's medical bills. From what I heard, she did quite a few of them, and they were all of great quality. There are many like her, but their reasons for doing them are all different.

You can find people who will still do painted portraits the old fashioned way, but they are pretty hard to find. Most don't like to sit for hours to have this done, and most artists who specialize in painted portraits know this. It can take a quite a long time, and there aren't many who have that amount of time on their hands, even though they would like to get the portrait. If you find such a person, you should be prepared to pay much more, because of the time involved and that fact that they have to have a proper studio for sittings. Many artists have room in their homes for art, and don't have to worry about a sitting area.


Paper Towel
Paper Towel

When I was a kid, I thought a paper towel was worth more than its weight in gold. This slice of soft paper was something that sat up upon the shelf, but was never to be touched. Have a spill? Use a rag to wipe it up. Need to wipe your face? Don't you know that is what cloth towels are for? My mother was a paper towel tyrant, and today, we have a good laugh about it. Back then, however, she was dead serious about it, as you just don't waste paper towels.

I could never figure out what she was saving her paper towels for, and today she says she has no idea why she was so tough about it. Apparently, she had a fondness for the paper towel that even she cannot explain. I think perhaps it had a lot to do with the way she was raised, and to use a paper towel was to waste a paper towel. She was the only one who could deem it OK to use one, and the rest of us had to find other ways to clean up.

As funny as it was then, I find that today I go through paper towels like a mad woman. I use them for everything and anything. I think it is cheaper to use them then to dirty piles of hand towels wiping up things that I find on the floor. I have two cats and a child under five, so you might say I find a lot of things on the floor, some of which I cannot identify. When you don't know what something is, it is far safer to wipe it up with a paper towel than to put it on something you have to put in your washing machine. It's best to make a clean break when dealing with mystery messes, don't you think?

I allow my daughter to use a paper towel whenever she wants. Perhaps in a small way I am rebelling against my mom. It wasn't really a huge problem that she would never let me use one, because it was more funny than it was anything else. I just find that I use them more than most people, and perhaps my mom is the reason why. When I go to her house and my daughter spills something I hand my mom a paper towel and we both have a good laugh as she wipes it up.

Personalized Christmas Stocking
Making a personalized Christmas stocking is a terrific tradition that brings a special joy to each member of the family. Coordinating themes, color schemes, trims and fabrics to your loved ones' taste is fun and easy.

Let's look at each element of design in turn and get your creative juices flowing. At the end, you'll have a design and pattern for your personalized Christmas stocking.

Themes: Christmas has many "faces" to display on a stocking. Just think of things your family member particularly loves about Christmas or loving family associations. Christmas themes include angels, the Nativity, snowmen, Christmas trees, gingerbread men or a partridge in a pear tree. Maybe your sister loves cats. You can use an ethnic theme reflecting your family's heritage. Be creative!

Color schemes and fabrics: Besides the traditional red and green, white, silver and gold give a festive look. Generally, three-color schemes work well. However, you can create a stunning stained-glass effect with a range of jewel colors.

Let's say your niece loves gold lame and roses. Gold fabrics and trims are well entrenched in the holiday decorating idea bin. Here's one idea. You could use gold lame fabric for the stocking background, then appliqué hearts of different sizes in a rose-patterned fabric. Trim the cuff with purchased satin ribbon roses over a band of delicate lace. A perfect personalized Christmas stocking.

Your older Aunt Jane has a thing for plaids and angels. How about a background of assorted plaids arranged in stripes, with a white satin angel appliquéd to the stocking with a lace cuff trim? You might attach a few snips of yarn hair for your angel.

Your husband likes neutral colors and enjoys fishing. You might choose two or three neutral shades for the stocking body, and appliqué a fish with a Santa's hat or antlers for Christmas fun.

Put your imagination to work. Check your fabric stash, and visit a fabric store.

Large fabric stores carry an unbelievable variety of trims. The types, materials and number will amaze you: laces, ribbons, woven, ethnic, glittery, sequined, beaded and tasseled.

Let your family member's personality guide you. Your brother might not like satin and lace. He might prefer a manly suede leather trim. Remember, you want a personalized Christmas stocking. It's fun for you, and your family member has a joyful memory each year to come.

Now let's bring your personalized Christmas stocking to life!

Use a paper grocery bag to draw your stocking shape. Using a pencil, refine the shape until you like it. Cut out your stocking, then trace a duplicate on another grocery bag. Mark the duplicate with a half-inch allowance on all sides, then cut out.

Your first cutout, without seam allowances, is used as a template for shapes you appliqué or zigzag stitch to your stocking base shape. Complete each side, then stitch together. Now you've got a personalized Christmas stocking. You'll love the results!


Phone Service Providers
Don't get me started on phone service providers. Well, okay, I am already started, so may as well continue. First, there are decent, honest, and truly concerned phone service providers that do not jam you with charges with technical names from technical jargon you will never understand so succumb to paying, that do not ignore your cries for help when you are moving and need only transfer your info and services, that do cater, smile, and provide. For example, when I moved to a temporary hovel a year ago (while I searched for the ideal, quiet, remote area to settle and write without interruption of dogs barking, criminals thieving, drug addicts interfering, or gun shots startling.), I had to call the two phone service providers I had been with for years. One had an employee who explained to me the charges of switching over my DSL, relocating services, etc. That would take days, would require a deposit (again with the deposit.one that you never seem to get back), would demand a set-up and installation fee, would necessitate a new this fee and a flip such and such switch charges, etc. etc. This new king of phone service providers (having taken over or merged with others.etc.) sent a technician, based on SPECIFIC dates I had PURPOSELY arranged for obsessively inquiring that day I had called that the service be a smooth in transition as possible, especially since I had given the advance notice and was paying insane fees to do so (as I work online and need to satisfy clients, duh). The technician went to the new place-where I had not moved yet as I was, as immaculately scheduled, in the old place cleaning. The technician went to the new place one day early. This would have been a lovely thing, except I WAS NOT there. Ahem. And.he left a nasty note saying I had to be there in order for him to provide me any services. No sh*t. Try reading the specific, intentionally pre-arranged (by six weeks!) work order, dickwad.

Of my two phone service providers, number two, however, was (and always has been) the antithesis of number one (and I use "number one" for distinction of order, not status, here, by the way). This second PSP I called when I was in the new place and had phone service, as it (the second one) is my long-distance carrier. Here's how the second interaction played out:

I call the. I get a human answering the phone at the other end. I explain I need to 1) have my long distance transferred from old point to new point; and 2) change my billing address. The woman types in the new information. She then tells me to hold for a minute. She returns in a matter of seconds and says, "You know, you could be paying a lot less for your long distance, so I crunched some numbers for you. How about X (shockingly low by 3000% of what I had been paying) per minute?"

When I thank her, gushing over her kindness and thoughtfulness at going above and beyond the usual, she responds that it is "her job"! Yuh. But how many phone service providers have employees that REALIZE when you have a job, you do that job, and you do it correctly and well?

I won't disclose the first of the phone service providers' name, but I will tell you that the second is good old AT&T. Rock on with your bad selves.


Picnic Theme
Picnic theme

My sister turned 25 years old this year. I wanted to throw her a party but was incredibly limited on finances. I tried to find some inexpensive places to have a party but didn't have very much luck. My apartment was not big enough to accommodate all of the guests and my parents' house and yard was small as well. I found a pavilion at a local park that the township gave me permission to utilize. I was allowed to decorate it and it would be suitable no matter what the weather would be. A picnic theme would be a lot of fun. In deciding on a picnic theme, I could ask guests if they could all bring something with them. If people all contributed something, I would not have to go into debt to throw her a celebration.

My parents agreed to supply the burgers, hot dogs and drinks. I would be in charge of decorations, invitations and organizing. I sent out the invitations letting everyone know it was a picnic theme and requested everyone to bring a covered dish or dessert. I asked everyone to respond to me via telephone and let me know what they would be bringing. That way, I would know if there were any duplicates and adjust accordingly. The overall response that I received to the picnic theme idea was positive. We didn't seem to have too many duplicates of covered dishes and to those who chose something that was already picked, they seemed to easily pick something else. Almost everyone responded that they would be coming. I was confident that the picnic theme was the right choice for her birthday celebration.

I had no problems whatsoever picking out decorations for a picnic theme. I wanted something very traditional but with a birthday twist. I picked out plaid tablecloths and red and white plates and napkins. I figured that a picnic theme should have picnic baskets so I hit some consignment shops in search for some. I managed to find enough of picnic baskets to have some on each table. I tied balloons to each other baskets and filled each one with things that had to do with the picnic theme or birthday items. In some, I put the napkins and utensils. In others, I placed gifts and decorations. My sister's best friend got several bottles of wine for the party, so we put some wine in various baskets. Wine goes very well with a picnic theme and my sister would love it.

The day of my sister's party, she was delighted that we chose a picnic theme. She's a very down-to-earth person and loves parks and the outdoors. To see all of her friends and family together for her birthday was thrilling for her. Though the picnic theme has been done many times over in the party world, it turned out wonderfully for her. Everyone had a great time and we all were able to afford the celebration. If you're looking for a simple but fun party idea, what not try a picnic theme. It could turn out to be a blast.


Potato Salad
Potato Salad

Potato salad is a traditional favorite made in a variety of combinations from quick and easy recipes. There are lots of substitutions that can be made to the recipe that won't take away from the taste at all, but add to it in a different way. Common ingredients to most potato salad recipes are potatoes of course, eggs, onions, mayonnaise, vinegar, and mustard, but additions or substitutions like sweet relish, bacon bits, celery seed, kalamata olives, and other ingredients are also common. For hot versions of the recipe, , like hot German potato salad, vinegar, water, flour, and bacon drippings are used to make the sauce instead of mayonnaise and mustard. This recipe is a delicious favorite and complements brats, sausages, hamburgers, and anything else you are grilling.

There are lots and lots of potato salad recipes, and most of us have at least a couple in our compilation of cook books, but if you're in the mood for something new, check out the web to try something different. How about picnic potato salad or sour cream potato salad, maybe try it warm with green beans, or Hawaiian style with sweet potatoes. Caesar or Greek recipes are also popular variations. Cooking light magazine features healthy versions of a variety of potato salad favorites on its website at www.cookinglight.com. For more healthy recipes visit www.fatfree.com for fat free potato salad recipes and others great ideas if you want to cut more fat from your diet. If you are trying to cut down I would recommend making your own over purchasing deli potato salad by the pound. There usually are not light versions, and you can control how much and what kind of fat when making your own, and it will be better anyway! You can add the ingredients you want and leave out what you don't. It will cost less too!

Now that you're almost finished reading this article, your taste buds should be tantalized and ready for you know what! You should also visit www.hungrymonster.com or www.southernfood.about.com/potatosalads/ for other classic potato salad recipes that everyone will love. No picnic or other summer gathering is ever complete without this must have mouth watering dish. Just picture it now, brown sugar baked beans, coleslaw, deviled eggs, corn on the cob, barbequed chicken, hot dogs, brats, hamburgers, and, yes, your favorite potato salad in the biggest bowl on the table, because it will be gone in no time! Enjoy!

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