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The Perfect Gift For New Mums!

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If somebody you know has just had a baby and you’re planning to visit, you won’t want to go empty handed. Grab a gift that your friend will love and they just may swap your bundle for theirs and let you have a cuddle! When someone has their first baby they are showered with presents such as baby-grows, toys and flowers. Get them something a bit different and they will always remember it.

The very best thing you can get for any new mum and their fresh little bundle of joy is a hamper, thoughtfully packed out with everything that they’ll ever need in those precious first few weeks. We’ll show you how to build a baby hamper that will make your friend’s life a lot easier in the early days.

Step One – The Hamper

Choose a box that can be reused – a plastic square box is ideal as it can be used for storing toys or baby toiletries in the early days. Line it with some beautiful tissue paper and tie a ribbon around the sides to make it look extra special. Add a tag and write something meaningful on it.

Step Two – For the Baby

When filling the hamper, think ‘practicality’ first. Choose items like baby wipes, nappy bags, a packet of newborn-sized nappies, a packet of muslins, some talcum powder and some baby bubble bath. These are all the things that your friend and her newborn will need in the first few weeks but that they might not have stocked up on already. Add one toy – she will probably already be inundated with baby toys but one more won’t harm! Another great thing to throw in is a formula dispenser. She probably won’t need it straight away as she may be breastfeeding, but once the baby switches to formula she’ll be using it every day! If you buy a baby-grow, then choose one that is for 6+ months. Loads of people buy newborn clothes so she’ll have lots already, and they grow so fast she’ll appreciate having clothes for when they get a bit bigger.

Step Three – For the Mum

In the excitement of a new baby arriving, a lot of people forget that the mum has been through something pretty big herself. She’ll be feeling tired, sore and emotional after the birth. Spoil her rotten by adding a few luxuries to the hamper. Body lotion and moisturiser are a great idea, perhaps a facemask and some gorgeous-smelling soap and definitely a lush box of chocolates! A few sachets of hot chocolate and perhaps a bottle of her favourite perfume will go down a treat too.

By giving your friend some practical things for her baby and some luxury items for herself, you’re giving a gift that is the best of both worlds. She will be especially grateful that you have thought of her as well as the baby and she’ll find herself dipping into the hamper daily for useful bits as well as the odd treat. Finally, when she’s ready, take her out for a well-earned glass of wine!

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Today’s guest post author is James Wilson. He works at Gift Wrapped Up, providers of <a href=”http://www.giftwrappedup.com.au/“>christmas hampers</a>, baby gift baskets, chocolate hampers, corporate gift hampers and more. He believes that writing is a great way to share his work and experience with readers.

Shop til we drop

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A friend of mine called me the other day and we made plans to get together this weekend and go out shopping. She’s getting married this summer and she wants some help with her wedding plans. I’m certain she has just about everything planned already but she’s still tinkering with things.

I know one thing that she definitely wants my help with and that is picking out her diamond wedding band. You see I used to be a jeweler and I still have a lot of connections downtown in the jewelry trade. So … we’re going to see a few of my old jewelry contacts and get her a custom made diamond wedding band. I think she’d going to have a custom made band made for her fiance as well.

I have a feeling that we’re going to be so busy this Saturday that we’re going to Shop ’til we drop! Ah oh well, we’ll finish with a nice dinner and have some fun.

Ways To Entertain Your Kids During Summer Holidays

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As parents, we all look for exciting ways to keep our children entertained so that they can experience days of fun during the summer months. Below are some exciting things you can do with your children this summer that will keep them from being bored.

Make Your Yard a Water Park – Kids love being in the water during the summer. By only spending about $15 on a large sheet of plastic, you can make your own slip-and-slide. Find a small downhill incline in the yard to lay the plastic down. Make sure you check the area for rocks, sticks or things that might cut through your plastic and remove them. At the top of your incline, place the hose, releasing just enough water so that it flows at a steady stream. Make sure the plastic is completely wet so the children can slide down it smoothly. If you want to add extra smoothness, mix some dish washing soap and water together. Spread it on the plastic with your hands or a mop. When everything is smooth and slick, stand back and watch the kids have a ball! Why not join in and take a dive yourself?

Local Festivals and Fairs – Kids love exploring, so going to some local events is always fun for them. Many local festivities have learning displays for children. These can captivate your kid’s minds and keep them busy for hours. Search online daily so that you can plan for upcoming events you might find. Most of these have very little cost involved and allow for some great family fun. They are out there just waiting to be found.

Kids Ferrari Track Day – If you want your kids to experience days of excitement, you must try the exciting Ferrari driving experience for kids. What child would not be excited about driving a Ferrari before they turn 17? A popular summer entertainment choice for children is the Our Kids Ferrari Driving Experience. Your children will have a welcome introduction and safety lesson on driving techniques before they begin. Once they start, they enjoy 10 full minutes of driving a Ferrari 360 on a track. When they are done, they will receive an individual driving certificate as well as a DVD featuring some of the amazing driving experiences. You should allow about two hours for the complete driving experience.

Water activities – What kid does not love boating? Getting out on the refreshing water and letting the wind run through their hair or diving into the cold water off the back of a boat is always exciting. Just taking a relaxing swim off the boat is just as fun. There is plenty to do when you take the kids boating. Kids can try skiing, tubing, wave boarding and water boarding. When the get good and worn out, just sit back and let them enjoy the boat ride. Boating is great fun and a good way to spend some quality time with the kids.

Summer does not have to be boring. By doing a bit of research, you can find plenty of exciting ways to entertain the kids all summer long!

Ursula Jones is a specialist writer on the topic of kids activities. Here she looks at entertaining the kids in the summer holidays. see more experience days at http://www.wellwickedstuff.com/






Give The Gift Of Exercise!

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If you’re stuck for a present for your other half and you know they have a latent interest in getting fit, then why not help them with a gift that will encourage them? Loads of people know they should be getting fit but it’s hard to find the motivation and break the back of it. The first step is often the scariest, but with your help and encouragement they may just be able to do it. And in a few years’ time when they are running marathons without breaking sweat they will thank you so much for getting behind them!

If your partner has a birthday coming up or you are looking for a Christmas gift for them, there are several things that you could get them which would be nothing short of life-changing. We’ll give you some hints here:

An Exercise Machine

Exercise machines don’t come cheap and it’s hard for anybody to justify buying one for themselves. But if it’s given as a gift it’s another matter! If you have a lower budget you could always look at some second hand options. Anybody wanting to get into fitness would be thrilled to receive a treadmill, a cross trainer, a rowing machine or an exercise bike. That way they can get back into fitness in the comfort of their own home!

Gym Membership

If the person that you love would love to go to the gym, why not look into buying them membership at their local one? Choose one that you know they’ll love (gyms with swimming pools are always a hit) and then go along to reception to ask about their joining details. You will usually have to pay a joining fee as well as a monthly subscription but sometimes the gym will waive the joining fee so it’s always worth a haggle. If there are any coins left in the coffers you could buy a really funky gym bag to present the membership card in! Your other half will be delighted that you put so much thought into their present. The downside may be that they’ll love working out so much you may never see them!

A Workout Suit

Perhaps your loved one is always talking about going for a run but never quite getting round to it?! With brand new exercise clothes they just may make the extra effort! Nobody wants to go running in a baggy old pair of jogging bottoms and an ill-fitting t-shirt. Then there are the shoes – it’s important to have good quality trainers to run in, in order to absorb the impact. If they don’t have the right shoes they won’t be going anywhere. Pick out an outfit that they will love, but if you’re not sure about sizes you could always take them along for the shopping trip.

Giving your partner the gift of exercise is a really great way of showing them you care. Perhaps you could both get into exercise together to really help each other along? You’ll be the fittest couple on your block!

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Today’s featured writer, Jenny Wadlow, is a cardio trainer. In her opinion, Horizon elliptical brings the best out of cardio training. She gives great tips on fitness and workout through her blogs. You can follow her on twitter@JennyWadlow.

Top 6 Features That Help You Spot A Top-Notch Restaurant

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Most people these days dine out because they enjoy the entire dining experience provided by the restaurants as well as the convenience of having a meal prepared by others. Also, the opportunity to relax and enjoy a great meal in good company is something that most modern working men and women love. Some restaurants are more successful than others are, and they attract more customers. Customers who get the experience they are looking for are likely to make return visits. If you are a food lover, here are features or qualities that are common in successful restaurants that you should certainly look out for.

Great Ambience

The atmosphere of a restaurant has a huge effect on the entire dining experience and it can make or break the business. The best food in the world will not keep customers coming back if they do not enjoy the atmosphere. Any professional restaurateur knows that a huge investment will be required to achieve success in the business.

The ambiance is created through the restaurant décor, the comfort, the background music, the lighting and other factors. Getting all factors right will achieve the required atmosphere and will go a long way in attracting customers.

Good Food

When people decide to order dishes in a restaurant, they are fully expecting to enjoy the meal. No one wants to spend money on a meal that leaves him or her feeling cheated of their money. Without good food, a restaurant might as well close its doors. The foundation of any great restaurant is the food and many businesses will go out of their way to hire the best chefs they can afford.

People go to the restaurants looking for culinary experiences ranging from exciting flavors, interesting new fusion dishes, authentic dishes and groundbreaking innovations among others. Even the food presentation can offer an experience to look forward to. It is very important to maintain consistency so that customers know that they will get great food every time they visit.

Excellent Service

Another key quality of a successful restaurant is great service. Good food served with a bad attitude can never go down well! Restaurant patrons fully expect to pay for full service and that includes the food and how it is served. Hiring rude unprofessional staff is the quickest way to get rid of customers.

Some of the things that put off customers include slow service, rude staff, hovering staff and getting the wrong meal. Excellent service is characterized by prompt responses and flawless efficient presentation from staff that are barely visible.

Hygiene and Cleanliness

Maintaining high Cleanliness standards is essential in the restaurant business and it helps to create a good impression. Patrons want to feel that they are eating healthy food and the condition of the restaurant will affect their dining experience.

Restaurant management and owners have to ensure that they avoid anything that could negatively affect the health of the customers. All the areas of the restaurant must be kept clean, from the kitchen and the rest rooms, to the main restaurant area. The cleanliness should also extend to the employees. No one wants to be waited upon by someone who is in dire need of a bath!

Good Management

A restaurant can only be successful if the management is good. An experienced owner and highly qualified staff will help to ensure that guests get the best service. Good management will ensure that all patrons get efficient service every time they are in the restaurant. It also helps to ensure that everything about the business, from staffing, to menu selection and marketing, is running efficiently to ensure profitability.

Reasonable Prices

The success of a restaurant will also be determined by the price of the food. People expect to get what they are paying for. If the prices are high, the patrons will expect great service and exquisite food to match the cost. If the prices are too high, it can discourage returning customers because there is a limit to how much people will spend on food. On the other hand, considerably low prices will give the impression of low quality and it makes many patrons suspicious. Good restaurants have learnt the art of setting a balance between the service they provide and what they charge for it.

Also, another feature of great exotic restaurants is the ability to provide something different, people are constantly on the lookout for different experiences and restaurants that stand out from the rest tend to be quite popular. A good restaurant will adhere to all legal requirements including health and tax regulations too. Have you found your favorite restaurant yet?

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The author of this post, Neena James, works for a prominent Indian restaurant in Brick Lane. She thinks one of the best things about working at a restaurant is that she gets to interact with many people on a daily basis.

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