Wednesday 26 October 2011

Top Free Dating Sites

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A mix of social networking, compatibility-testing and online dating, OkCupid is an unusual free dating site in that it allows its members to create the matching questions already pre-determined at sites like eHarmony or Chemistry. Additionally, the free dating site users can contact anyone on the system whether or not you are matched well as an Enemy, Friend or Partner. If quirky, unusual or alternative relationships are what you're after, OkCupid is the free dating site for you. **Winner Best Free Dating Site 2011, Readers' Choice Awards**

Couples Halloween Costumes

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Dressing up is one of the best parts of Halloween, but sometimes coming up with the perfect couples' costume idea can be a chore.

To decide on the best costume for you and your sweetie, think about your shared interests and passions: are you superheroes or medieval characters from a romantic play? Matched opposites, wannabe celebrities, fantasy role players or something completely different?

The following Halloween costumes for couples were compiled to try and cover all of these ideas, and more, suitable for all occasions. If an idea has been missed, feel free to submit some more Halloween costume ideas for couples. Please note that all links either open to a direct buy costume website, or to more information on the About.com network about the characters or entertainment listed.

Also, if you are in need of a Halloween Date Idea to go along with your couples' costume, we've got you covered. Or, if you ended up in the wrong place and are looking for Singles Halloween Costumes instead, no problem - we've got great ideas for you, too.

80s Music Stars: any combination of Madonna-esque 80s, Cyndi Lauper-ish 80s, 80s ala MJ, 80s Hair Band and/or a MC Hammer-style Outfit
101 Dalmations: Cruella de Vil & Dalmation

Abbott & Costello
Ally Capone & Rob N. Banks
Ally Catraz & Sergeant Amazing
Aladdin & Jasmine
Angel of Music & Phantom of the Opera
Anthony & Cleopatra
Anita Valium & Lou Nee (matching straight jackets)
Annie & Daddy Warbucks
Annie Oakley & her Gunslinger
Austin Powers: Austin Powers & Felicity Shagwell
Avatar: Neytiri & Jake Scully

Bacon & Eggs
Barbarian Babe & Bad Barbarian
Baroness & Baron von Bloodshed
Batman & Catwoman
Batman & Robin
Bert & Ernie
Beer Bottle & Beer Fraulein
Beer Pong Guy & Beer Pong Gal
Beauty & the Beast
Bill Clinton & Monica Lewinsky - submitted by Lisa
Bonnie & Clyde
Bricklayer & a Brick - submitted by Margery
Buddy Holly & Marilyn Monroe - submitted by Chareze

Captain 6 Pack & The Refreshinator
Captain America and Female
Cinderella & the Frog Prince
Cinderella & Prince Charming
Corpse Groom & Corpse Bride
Cleopatra & King Tut - submitted by Chareze
Crayons: any color you can imagine such as Gold, Blue or Wisteria - submitted by Keith

Detective Celia Fate & CSI
Devil & Angel - submitted by Chareze
Dog the Bounty Hunter: Dog & Beth
Doctor & Nurse - submitted by Chareze
Dracula & a Bitten Woman

Edward Scissorhands & Miss Scissorhands

Flapper Girl & Prohibition-Age Gangster
Flintstones: Fred & Wilma
Flintstones: Betty & Barney Rubble
Frankenstein & Bride of Frankenstein

Ghostbusters Guy & Gal
Ghostly Gent and Lady
Gladiatrix & Gladiator
Grease: Danny & Sandy

Hansel & Gretel
Harry Potter: Harry Potter & Hermione
Harry Potter: Male and Female Death Eaters

Hugh Hefner & Playboy Bunny

I Dream of Jeannie: Jeannie & Major Nelson - submitted by Chareze
I Love Lucy: Ricky and Lucy - submitted by Chareze
The Incredibles: Mom & Dad

Jack & Jill with a water pail - submitted by Chareze
The Jetsons: Jane & George
Justice & a Jailbird (Judge & Escaped Convict)

Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg
Katy Perry & Russell Brandt
King Arthur & Guinevere
King Kong & Fay Wray
King of Miami and his Personal Sidekick - submitted by Jayne
King and Queen playing cards - submitted by Keith

Lethal Weapon: Murtaugh & Riggs - submitted by Bud & Irene
Little Red Riding Hood & the Wolf
Lord of the Rings: Sam & Frodo

M&Ms Candy (two pieces)
Mr. and/or Mrs. Potato Head
Magic School Bus: Mrs. Frizzle and the Bus - submitted by Keith
Masters of the Universe: any combination of He-Man, Skeletor and/or She-Ra
Matrix: Trinity & Neo
Miami Vice: Ricardo Tubbs & Sonny Crockett - submitted by Kirk
Mom & Dad Save the World: Marge & Dick Nelson - submitted by Bud & Irene
Mickey and Minnie Mouse - submitted by Chareze
Munsters: Lily & Herman

Navy Brat & South Sea Sailor

Pac Man and either Blinky, Pinky or Clyde
Peter Pan & Tinkerbell
Pirate & Wench
Pirates of the Caribbean: Captain Jack Sparrow and Angelica
Phil & Lil
Plug & Socket
Popeye & Olive Oil
Prom King & Queen (from any era)
Psycho-Delic Hipster and Hippy Queen

Raggedy Ann & Andy
Reno 911: Deputy Johnson & Lt. Dangle
Romeo & Juliet

Scarlet O'Hara & Rhett Butler
Shrek & Princess Fiona
Simpsons: Duffman & Duff Woman
Simpsons:  Marge & Homer Simpson
Sony & Cher
Spy vs. Spy: Black & White
Star Trek: Klingon Male & Klingon Female
Star Wars: Luke Skywalker & Princess Leia - submitted by Chareze
Star Wars: Darth Vader & Luke Skywalker
Steampunk: Victorian Vampire & Victorian Vampiress
Steampunk: Lady & Gentleman
Superman & Wonder Woman
Sweeney Todd & Mrs. Lovett

Tarzan & Jane
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Raphael & Sexy Leonardo 
Thor & Sif
Top Gun: Woman's Flight and Men's Flight
Transformers: any combination of Female Bumblebee, Megatron and/or Optimus Prime
Tron: Quorra & Sam Flynn
Tron: GlowMan & GlowWoman
Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum

Watchmen: Silk Spectre & Dr. Manhattan
Watchmen: Silk Spectre & Night Owl
Wicked of Oz: any combination of the Wicked Lion, Tin Woodsman, Flying Monkee, Witch, Scarecrow, and/or Mistress Dorothy
Wicked Neverland:  Captain Hook & Captain's Mate
Wicked Neverland: Peter & Darling Wendy
Wicked Wonderland: any combination of Alice, White Rabbit, and/or Mad Hatter

Zombie Prom King & Queen

Will Our Relationship Last Quiz - Love Quiz - Will Our Relationship Last - Healthy Relationship Quiz

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Will Our Relationship Last? QuizFind Out If You Are In A Healthy Relationship

For those of us currently in a relationship, we definitely want it to be happy. But how can anyone be sure it is a healthy relationship built to last? By taking this 35 question fast quiz, you'll have an answer in about five minutes either way. Answer the questions by choosing the first one that comes to mind without thinking too much, and you'll soon know if what you have is a healthy relationship or something else.


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Tuesday 25 October 2011

Baby Shower: The Welcoming Committe on Board




Finding out your pregnant is the best news of all. Well, second to hearing the grand proposal of a lifetime. After a successful wedding ceremony, hearing that your love has borne fruit is the icing on the cake. For first time expecting mothers, it is a difficult and herculean task to search and look for all the right stuff and equipment the baby will need. Moms-to-be need to list down all the things the baby would need at the soonest possible time so that little by little, each item can already be purchased and readied for the baby's arrival. But there is another easy way to almost have it all, without getting too much headache over it. The solution is to hold a baby shower party! The only headache mom-to-be would have is the menu she would have to prepare on that day and that is easier for her.



Now the burden of searching and looking for baby stuff is passed on to the invitees. But another concern is raised. How will the baby shower go about? The best answer there is, is to have a theme that would guide the flow of the baby shower. There are several ways of choosing and deciding on a theme. Do you want it to be based on color? In case you already know the gender of the baby, pink or blue is used to universally represent a baby girl or a baby boy. Or baby items such as a pacifier or a baby bottle? How about character-themed baby shower such as the Sesame Street, Power Puff Girls, Dexter's Laboratory or the Looney Tunes? It could also be a time-of-the-day baby shower whereby each invitee is tasked to bring something the baby would need or use during that time of the day.



From www.best-baby-gift-guide.com, it suggests wonderful baby shower gift ideas such as a baby gift basket, a layette gift set, vital baby equipment, beautiful baby linen, a baby massage set, or a baby gift certificate. Each gift idea is unique. For the baby gift basket, some ideas they suggest is to create your own baby gift basket or go for the classical clothing baby gift basket where you can never go wrong. You can also go for monogrammed baby gift baskets, fun baby basket, mother and baby basket, gift basket for twins, or a pampering baby gift basket. They also have different suggestions for baby girl and baby boys. For the complete descriptions for each item, just visit their website and read on to find fantastic baby gift ideas.



Once the baby shower is finished, take stock of what is already there and not. For those items still missing from your list, make the necessary arrangments to have it readily available once the baby arrives.



Just some last few tips for a successful baby shower: hold it four to six weeks before the due date, establish a theme, write down the guest list, set the tone and size of the baby shower, plan the games, plan the menu, create baby shower party favors, and last but not the least, set the time and location, if it will not be held in your residence. Remember, baby showers are a fun way to welcome the baby that would be coming soon enough.

Baby Game Shower: Baby games to play at the Baby Shower




Babies are so much fun. But baby games shower are much more fun since moms-to-be, godparents, grandparents, and other invitees in the baby shower can get to play childish games again. Some of the baby game shower that can be played include Sing It, Baby!, Measuring up Mommy, Here's Looking at You, Kid!, Don't Say Baby, Baby Truth or Dare, The Seventh Gift, and Dig out the Pins.



These baby games are the common baby game showers usually played. They are a great way that would let the guests mingle and get to know each other, if they aren't acquainted yet. This is also another great way to give honor to the mom-to-be for having that precious baby on the way.



How do we play these baby game showers? Here is the run-down on how to play the baby game shower and create good memories of a great baby shower.



In Sing It, Baby!, the guests participants form a circle. They can sit or stand. Then, each guest must sing a line or two from a song that has the word "baby" in it. When the first game player has finished, the next person seated on her right has ten seconds to sing another "baby" song. "Baby" songs cannot be repeated, thus, participants who repeat a song or cannot think of a "baby" song gets booted out of the game. Last person singing in this baby game shower wins the prize!



How big has mommy become? Measuring Up Mommy is the baby game shower to play as this gives the guests the freedom to measure mommy's size. Have a couple of toilet paper rolls ready and ask each participant to estimate the size of mommy's girth by cutting the toilet paper to their guess size. Then each one wraps around the new mommy's stomach the toilet paper they cut. The nearest length approximating to the mommy's stomach wins the prize!



Remember how you looked when you were a baby? This game takes you down memory lane as you need to dig up those baby pictures of yours. Because you need them to play the baby game shower Here's Lookin' At You, Kid! Before the party itself, request all the guests coming to bring the cutest baby picture of themselves. Upon their arrival, secure each baby picture and assign a number per picture. During the game, lay all baby pictures and give each participant paper and pen and ask them to identify as many baby pictures as they can. The guest with the most number of correct guesses is the big winner.



This baby game shower makes you NOT say what you are suppose to be attending to! The game Don't Say Baby is precisely that! Don't say "baby" during the entire length of the baby game shower for the diaper pin that was given to you upon your arrival will be taken away from you. The person with the most number of diaper pins collected at the end of the shower party wins a prize.



This baby game shower is for those who love baby trivia and the like. Play Baby Truth or Dare by writing down some baby trivia, some correct and others purposely written incorrectly. During the baby game shower, ask randomly if the baby facts are either true or false. Those who guess correctly gets a prize while those who don't will be dared to perform in front of everyone else.



We all know that the single lady who catches the bride's wedding bouquet is said to become the next bride. In The Seventh Gift, it is not so much a baby game shower but more of a fable that says that the giver of the seventh gift unwrapped will be the next expecting mother. However, avoid "planting" the seventh gift.



Last but not the least, Dig Out the Pins is the baby game shower that tests the agility of the guests as they fish out the most number of diaper pins from a large bowl filled with uncooked rice and diaper pins in under two minutes. The participant that has the most number of pins brings home the prize.

The Baby Bedding Challenge




Having a baby is the most wonderful experience a woman can have as it is a fulfillment of the biological function of the female species. After the giving birth process, the real work begins. Feeding bottles, diaper changes, immunization records are just a few of the things the new mom have to learn quickly. And one important thing to consider in the arrival of the baby is the kind of baby bedding he or she will use. According to Dr. Mark Brandenburg (http://www.baby-place.com/crib_safety.html), the number one rule to follow in choosing the right baby bedding for your precious infant is safety. The second rule says safety and the third rule emphasizes safety. We are to conclude that it is not enough to say it, it must be emphasized that baby bedding is critical for the comfort of the baby.



In his article on how to find the perfect baby bedding, it must be neither too hard nor too soft. In the past, sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS was attributed to very soft baby bedding. This happened when the baby's mattress is too soft that his nose and mouth gets covered and the air he exhales is the air he breathes. This is dangerous for him since he would breath carbon dioxide rather than oxygen and the effects could lead to drowsiness, coma or even death.



There are a lot of styles and makes in choosing the baby's bed. And with that, it follows that the baby bedding must be a perfect fit with the chosen equipment. The three major selections are: a bassinet, a crib or a cradle. What differentiates one from the other? A bassinet is an oblong-shaped basket that serves as a bed for an infant. But sometimes, round bassinets are also available. A crib is a bed that is flanked with high side bars for a baby or young child's safety. Cribs are usually more economical since the baby can use it from infancy to two years. While a cradle is a small low bed that an infant uses that has rockers on its stand. In all these, the material used to make the equipment should alert and signal to the mom how much safety precautions are needed.



Bassinets are usually lacey and full of trimmings. The baby bedding must fit the bassinet so that the baby's space is enough for him or her to be able to roll from side to side. The crib is usually square, thus, mattresses can be fitted to the size of the crib. The baby bedding usually is a set of coverlet and small pillows. Hotdog pillows can also be placed inside. However, the pillows should not be more than two or three lest the baby can stand on them and could fall over. The cradle can come in various sizes and shapes. Some moms prefer cradles so that when the baby is cranky, he or she can be rocked to be calmed down. The baby bedding for a cradle should follow the shape of it. Not much can be placed inside it since it is used mainly to rock the baby to sleep. However, one need not the three to keep the baby safe, warm and secure. One will do and this would depend on the parent's preference. The most preferred would be the crib since it can be used for a long time.



Now that we've covered the basic equipment, how do we furnish it with baby bedding? We have already established that the baby bedding should fit the sleeping equipment to avoid accidents and other untoward incidents. The most suitable material to use is cotton as it is absorbent and cool to the baby's skin. Different designs must be used to stimulate the baby's color and pattern recognition. Therefore, the baby bedding is a crucial factor in keeping the baby happy and healthy.

Baby beanies: The baby toy of all time?




Baby beanies haven't been around that much since they were "born" only in 1994 when Ty Warner introduced the first baby beanies in the market. Not many people know that a baby beanie or more officially known as beanie baby were first made by him. He made the baby beanie to be more lifelike by giving it more air. In other words, there was less stuffing inside each baby beanie. The usual baby toys were stuffed to the hilt and they were stiff. While Ty's beanie baby was half filled with stuffing and half filled with beans. Hence the name beanie baby. Other competitors sneered and said that his toys would not last long. But exactly the opposite is what happened!



Now, the "original nine" as they are officially referred to are the first nine baby beanies Ty Warner made. These are the Spot the dog, Squealer the pig, Patti the platypus, Cubbie the bear, Chocolate the moose, Pinchers the lobster, Splash the killer whale, Legs the frog and Flash the dolphin. Collectors have dubbed them as such since these where the first baby beanies available that were selling at less than $5.00 each. Each baby beanie comes with a short poem to introduce it to the toddler. This was written on a red heart-shaped tag that is attached by the animal's ear.



Not much is known how many baby beanies are totally in existence since there are lines developed that create a family of baby beanies. The most famous is the teddy-bear baby beanie that was created. The basic pattern was just re-used and different colors were utilized to create a family. Different names were given to each teddy bear in keeping with the tradition of having a name. Some teddy bear baby beanies are usually used for commemmorative uses such as in the Fourth of July or there is a Diana, the Princess of Wales have been made as a commemmorative collector's item.



However, the official baby beanies were mostly animal shapes such as cats and pigs, dogs and hippopotamuses. These are usually brightly colored and stylized to make them pleasing in the eye. The official baby beanie comes with his or her own name. It has its own date of birth. And most important of all, a short poem that describes its personality.



The baby beanie crazed happened in the late 1996 when a frenzied collection of baby beanies started. This prompted Ty Warner to retire some of the baby beanies to hype up even more the sales and marketing side of his products. There were people who bought wholesale in anticipation of the possible future value of a single baby beanie. However, as with other fads that easily rise and can be easily forgotten, the baby beanie craze was just another fad that quickly fizzled. Or what the expectation of those "investors" did not materialize at all.



Inspite of what happened, baby beanies are here to stay since babies usually prefer soft toys that they can easily hug and bite and hold easily in their hand. Baby beanies need not be in the same family of baby beanies to be appreciated. A colllection of baby beanies show the kind of personality the baby has or it speaks the kind of personality the giver has.