How would one characterize Louis XVI style, anyway? In historical terms, it would be the pivotal point between Roccoco and Neoclassism, being more toward the latter movement. Distancing itself from the ornate style during Louis XV’s reign, a natural progression toward a more simple yet elegant design followed. During this period simplicity embracing straight lines were en rigeur, and finishing touches were borrowed from ancient Greece and Rome. Louis XVI was captivated by the excavation of Pompeii, and so you could say that the French borrowed upon the ideas of Roman architecture, motifs and monuments.

With Louis XVI furniture as well as architecture designs, curves are nearly completely eliminated and in their place we’ll see straight lines which is a total turnaround from the Louis XV style. Chair backs are normally  rectangular, shield-like or oval, and instead of cabriole (curved) legs we’ll see straight legs, which are fluted in an attempt to mimick the columns of ancient Rome.

Because this period was so highly motivated by the values and paradigms of ancient Rome and Greece, the Louis XVI style is attributed as the Neo Classical style.

Also, if you are looking to rent out or sell your home, Born to Host can help you too. Click on the “Owner” tab and submit your information. A representative will contact you as soon as possible because they were born to host!

Cannes is the most well known city of the French Riviera. Located in the southeast of France, Cannes is popular for its annual Cannes Film Festival, this year it will be held on May 12-23, 2010. Every year the festival unites many of the top celebrities from around the world to acknowledge parts in each of their featured films. Cannes is also home to many luxury shops, fabulous restaurants, beautiful beaches and gorgeous hotels. Maybe you can even rub elbows with the stars!

So the question is: when will you start your search? Start your search soon because your new apartment in Cannes awaits you.

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Step One – Take a little fashion survey. This is so the experts can get a feel for your fashion sense of what you like and dislike. They want to make sure they are catering to your needs, rather than having them tell you, what you like.

Step Two – The experts will send you a recommendation of 5 shoes to choose from. With your membership you are able to receive one pair with free shipping. If you decide you want all 5 pairs of fabulous shoes, additional fees may apply. It’s a small price to pay for shoes picked with you in mind.

Step Three – If you decide you are not satisfied with your order, feel free to return them in the pre-paid shipping label that is provided for each pair of shoes.

If you are still a little hesitant, here is the FAQ’s page to answer all of those questions.

It’s seriously that simple. Kim Kardashian (LOVE her!) is the Founder and Chief Stylist a.k.a. brains behind it all. She oversees all styles, looks and quality of each design. If you know her, you know she’s all about style.

Since it’s still February, American Heart Month, ShoeDazzle introduced their limited edition Wynn deVelle red pump to all of their members.10% of each purchase will benefit WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease. Purchase for a good cause; because looking great shouldn’t be limiting.

1.The best way to my heart is definitely through my stomach. Even better if it’s for breakfast. Make your sweetie pie breakfast in bed! Heart shaped eggs and heart shaped pancakes. Breakfast doesn’t get any better than that.
2.So you took this fabulous picture on your fabulous vacation, what better way to display it then in your very own personalized fabulous picture frame!
3.Every year I received some sort of bead kit to make necklaces or bracelets. It’s a great gift for kids to use their creative side and make something straight from the heart.
4.Get a good nights rest with this cute pair of pillowcases.
5.Hello Kitty jewelry. Enough said.
6. Nothing says I love you more than chocolates and flowers. For the traditional gift-giver, check out these fabulous duos.
7.Apple’s “Love at First Touch” says it all. Buy any of their iPod’s and get FREE engraving! Need some inspiration? They also have a gallery of engravings that you can choose from.
8.Customize a pair of Nike Dunk Low Premium iD Shoe. You decide what colors, where they go and you even get to add an id in 8 characters or less.
9.For the ultimate beer enthusiast, give the gift of beer for one whole year from The Beer of the Month Club. The recipient will receive award-winning microbrews from around the country every month.
10.At Build-A-Bear Workshop you can make your own Be Mine Dalmation (while supplies last) complete with its own heart shaped collar. These are great for your loved ones of all ages.

1. Build-A-Bear will be donating $15,000 to the Red Cross. And now through January 31, 2010 customers can donate $1 at the cash registers in any U.S. Build-A-Bear Workshop.
2. Hope for Haiti Musical Lineup – January 22, 2010 at 8 PM EST. “George Clooney, who has organized the telecast, will host from LA, with CNN’s Anderson Cooper reporting from Haiti and Wyclef in New York City. According to E! Online, “Twilight Saga” star Robert Pattinson will present from London. The performances will be available on the iTunes store, with proceeds benefiting relief funds for the earthquake-stricken nation. The two-hour telethon will air on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, BET, The CW, HBO, MTV, VH1 and CMT as well as networks including PBS, TNT, Showtime, Comedy Central, Brave, E! Entertainment and more, with online live streaming available on YouTube, Hulu, MySpace and more domains as well.”
3. Text “HAITI” to 90999 and a $10 donation will be added to your phone bill. Text “YELE” to 501501 and a $5 donation will be added to your phone bill.
4. Donate blood! The American Red Cross is always in need of blood donations. Click here to locate your nearest blood bank. They are always in need of Type O Negative and Type B Negative blood donors.
5. Continental Airlines has set up a program to its frequent flier members. Members of this program can donate to the American Red Cross and AmeriCares.
6. Handbags Help Haiti – You can buy discontinued or imperfect Jordana Paige handbags for only $50. With 100% of all proceeds going towards Doctors Without Borders Haiti relief, it’s like wearing your heart on your sleeve shoulder.
7. Chase Bank will give $100 million to the charity with the most votes. I just voted for Invisible Children.
8. Help the abandoned animals of Haiti through PETA.
9. Doctors Without Borders is a national medical organization that receives close to 89% of its funding from private funding, not the government. Created in France in 1971, Doctors Without Borders or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides medical aid to about 60 countries who are in need.
10. Habitat for Humanity has already started to plan their part in rebuilding homes for as many Haitians as they possibly can. They are always looking for volunteers to help out with projects as well.

Here is an extensive list of other organizations that you can donate using your American Express points or you can make a cash donation.

Little Shop of Treasures – Help Huntington shop owners find more than 1,200 unique and cleverly hidden items for their customers and earn enough cash to open a shop of your own. More info & Buy

StarCraft Battle Chest – Play through 56 mission in 6 unique campaigns, to decide the fate of the galaxy. More info & Buy

Max Payne – You’re a man with nothing to lose fighting a battle you cannot hope to win. Try to survive as you attempt to uncover who framed you for a murder you did not commit. More info & Buy

Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now – Although politically incorrect and mindlessly violent, Carmageddon 2 is a fun game that people will enjoy playing – remember, it’s just a game. For mature audiences. More info & Buy

Neverwinter Nights – Designed for a small group of players to play through 4-5 hour adventures, this is a Dungeons and Dragon-based Internet-enabled fantasy role-playing game. More info & Buy

The Sims 3 Collector’s Edition – Create millions of Sims and control their lives. Customize looks & personalities. Build their homes and send them out to explore the neighborhood to meet other Sims. More info & Buy

Riven – Enter a deceptively beautiful world torn apart by age-old conflicts, where secrets lie hidden at every turn, and nothing is as it seems. You must search, you must explore, you must learn the truth. More info & Buy

See these related Gift Ideas, too:5 of the Best Christmas Movies, Ever, Kids Gifts, Complete Box Sets of Television Series, Boxed Gifts: Mac Games, Holiday Gift Ideas: Hardware, Wii and Games and More, Gift Ideas: Books for Mac Users, Boxed Gift Ideas Mac Games, Boxed Gift Ideas: Small Kids Mac Games and Boxed Gift Ideas: Mac Software [Source: Mac Games and More]

1. Elf (2003) – Will Ferrell is hilarious in this movie. “Elf is also genuinely funny. Will Ferrell, as Buddy the adopted elf, is hysterically sincere. James Caan, as his rediscovered father, executes his surly dumbfoundedness with perfect aplomb. Zooey Deschanel, as a department store worker with whom Buddy falls in love, is adorably sardonic. Director Jon Favreau (Swingers) shepherds the movie through all the obligatory Christmas cliches and focuses on material that’s sometimes subtle and consistently surprising. Frankly, Elf feels miraculous. Also featuring Mary Steenburgen, Bob Newhart, Peter Dinklage, and Ed Asner as Santa Claus.” –Bret Fetzer, amazon.com

2. Home Alone (1990) – As a troubled and mischievous 8 year old kid, Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) is accidently left at home while his family leaves for their Christmas vacation. When the family arrives at their destination, they realize Kevin is home alone and try to get home as soon as possible. When Kevin realizes he is home alone, he takes full advantage of his situation. He also holds takes care of some burglars who are trying to break into his home.

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) – This movie is dark and kind of creepy, quite opposite of every other holiday movie out there. “Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloween Town, is bored with doing the same thing every year for Halloween. One day he stumbles into Christmas Town, and is so taken with the idea of Christmas that he tries to get the resident bats, ghouls, and goblins of Halloween town to help him put on Christmas instead of Halloween — but alas, they can’t get it quite right.” – John Reeves, IMDb.com

4. A Christmas Story (1983) – “There’s nary a scene to forget in this near-perfect nostalgic look at where Americana and Christmastime meet. The story of a young boy’s epic quest to get his hands on a Red Ryder BB gun provides the hilarious backdrop for a timeless tale rife with family hijinks, frozen tongues and, of course, sex-oozing leg lamps.” – moviefone.com

5. It’s a Wonderful Life (1947) – Make sure you have a box of tissues ready for this one. “George Bailey (played superbly by James Stewart) grows up in the small town of Bedford Falls, dreaming dreams of adventure and travel, but circumstances conspire to keep him enslaved to his home turf. Frustrated by his life, and haunted by an impending scandal, George prepares to commit suicide on Christmas Eve. A heavenly messenger (Henry Travers) arrives to show him a vision: what the world would have been like if George had never been born. The sequence is a vivid depiction of the American Dream gone bad, and probably the wildest thing Capra ever shot. Capra’s triumph is to acknowledge the difficulties and disappointments of life, while affirming–in the teary-eyed final reel–his cherished values of friendship and individual achievement. It’s a Wonderful Life was not a big hit on its initial release, and it won no Oscars (Capra and Stewart were nominated); but it continues to weave a special magic.” –Robert Horton, amazon.com

Labyrinth (Collector’s Edition Boxed Set) – Journey into a fantastical world starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, and a cast of incredible creatures created by Jim Henson and produced by George Lucas. More info & Buy

The Powerpuff Girls: The Complete Series – 10th Anniversary Collection – Blossom, Bubbles, & Buttercup are not normal! They have superpowers. 78 episodes plus the holiday special and fans’ favorite extras. More info & Buy

Animaniacs, Vols. 1 2 & 3 – Join Yakko, Wakko and Dot as the trio escapes and enjoys some thoroughly postmodern adventures in this smart show. More info & Buy

SpongeBob SquarePants: The First 100 Episodes – These are the “must-haves” for the SpongeBob fan. It includes every episode from Seasons 1 through 5 plus exclusive special features on 14 discs. More info & Buy

Pinky and the Brain, Vol. 1-3 – Pinky and the Brain, two mice who have had their genes tampered with while residing in Acme Labs, centers on their schemes to take over the world. More info & Buy

Creature Comforts – The Complete First and Second Seasons – A brilliant and hilarious clay animation series about the lives of animals as told by the animals themselves. More info & Buy

Miyazaki 6 Pack – This set of exceptional works by Miyazaki include Castle in the Sky, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. More info & Buy

See these related Gift Ideas, too: Complete Box Sets of Television Series, Boxed Gifts: Mac Games, Holiday Gift Ideas: Hardware, Wii and Games and More, Gift Ideas: Books for Mac Users, Boxed Gift Ideas Mac Games, Boxed Gift Ideas: Small Kids Mac Games and Boxed Gift Ideas: Mac Software

The Wire – The Complete Series (60% OFF) – The Wire is as complex as entertaining. It’s thought provoking, artfully acted and a perfectly produced show. More info & Buy

Six Feet Under – The Complete Series – (51%OFF) Relive Alan Ball’s poignantly dramatic, unpredictably hilarious masterpiece, from its powerful premiere episode to its critically-acclaimed, haunting finale. More info & Buy

Rome: The Complete Series – Family dysfunction. Treachery. Betrayal. Coarse profanity. Brutal violence. Graphic (and sometimes brutal) sex. No, it’s not The Sopranos, it’s Rome. More info & Buy

The Sopranos – The Complete Series – Celebrate the show that Vanity Fair called, “the greatest show in TV history”, in the ultimate Sopranos collector’s edition. More info & Buy

Battlestar Galactica – The Complete Epic Series – A lone flagship battlestar, the Galactica, remains to aid surviving colonists on their epic journey for a new home to a far-off legendary planet: Earth. More info & Buy

Firefly – The Complete Series – 500 years in the future there’s a whole new frontier, and the crew of the spaceship Serenity is eager to stake a claim on the action. They’ll take any job, legal or not, to keep fuel in the tanks and food on the table. More info & Buy

Fawlty Towers – The Complete Series – This legendary series was inspired by a hotel John Cleese once stayed in when he was filming Monty Python. Hysterical. More info & Buy

Related Gift Idea Posts: Boxed Gifts: Mac Games, Holiday Gift Ideas: Hardware, Wii and Games and More, Gift Ideas: Books for Mac Users, Boxed Gift Ideas Mac Games, Boxed Gift Ideas: Small Kids Mac Games and Boxed Gift Ideas: Mac Software

Doesn’t this sound like perfection to you? Trust me, it is, in more ways than you can fathom.

THE WIRE is a show so meticulously crafted and executed that it would take me a dozen reviews to scratch the surface of what makes it great. After catching the very first episode on HBO, I immediately bought the 1st season. The rest, as they say, is history.

I’m so afraid to ruin anything that I don’t even want to give away characters’ names. To even let you go in expecting certain traits from a character would spoil the fun. So instead, I’m deliberately being vague about what occurs. If you’ve never heard about this series, you deserve go in cold.

But I’ll give you a few details, starting with the very first scene. THE WIRE begins when a detective is questioning a young hoodlum who witnessed a murder. The detective asks why the guy and his friends allowed the victim to continue rolling dice, after he’d been known to snatch the money & run. The scene closes when the kid says, “Got to, man. This America.”

Then the show begins its title sequence, in which The Blind Boys of Alabama’s cover of “Way Down In The Hole” plays over a montage of seemingly random clips of police activity & urban life. But as you’ll learn the more you see this title sequence (and song), this montage is actually filled with clues, both literal and metaphorical. The greatest crime dramas throw clues in your face without telling you how important they are. Believe me, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, one of the greatest films of all time with its labyrinthine plot, has nothing on THE WIRE. And we’re only just getting started.

What you’ll also notice from the opening scene is the dialogue. It actually took me two viewings to find out what the detective and the dice-roller were saying. As if that wasn’t enough, I eventually had to turn on the English subtitles just to find out what each character was saying. The dialogue flows so naturally that THE WIRE never feels like a TV drama. There are no scenes where the characters recap what happened in the previous episode, unless the characters would actually take a moment to remind each other. This sounds like a challenge, and indeed it is. THE WIRE requires (and deserves) your undivided attention. Pause if you have to. Rewind if you have to. Use the subtitles if you have to. Many have called THE WIRE “a visual novel”, and they couldn’t be more right. You see how much attention I’ve given to just the first few minutes? Guess what, the entire series clocks in at 63 hours.

So, what’s the premise of the series? The first season’s main story begins when a team of Baltimore police is assembled to take down one of the city’s high-profile drug dealers. The investigators and surveillance teams endure what real cops would endure: long hours, cold trails, bad weather, tedious paperwork, crummy offices, and worse…smart criminals. THE WIRE gives the justice officers an equal amount of screen time as the targets they pursue. The dealers aren’t delightfully vicious or glamorous in the least. Sort of like the Corleone Family or the protagonists in GOODFELLAS, THE WIRE portrays its criminals as guys who either can’t do anything else for a living, or refuse to do anything else for a living. The series goes even deeper, as we’re engaged in the lives of judges & lawyers, homicide detectives & their office-dwelling superiors, drug kingpins & their corner workers, and even the homeless. Calling this “epic” is an understatement. If you’re as interested in the urban drama as you are in the police procedural, then you’re on the right track. Don’t worry, you will get to see the cops bust a few doors and arrest a few thugs, but just be aware each event it treated as ordinarily and naturally as anything else in THE WIRE. To the characters, these events are just another day.

Now bear in mind, I’ve only given a little info on the first season! I won’t give away any details, but Season Two continues in the exact opposite way you’d expect a sequel to. The cops and criminals shared equal halves of TV time on Season One, but for the seasons that follow, they share equal parts with a completely new side of Baltimore. Just wait until THE WIRE continues through its next few seasons, it gets even more deliciously complex. If you think Season One sounds like a beastly Rubik’s Cube, wait until you get a load of Season Two, not to mention the seasons afterwards. After all, you can’t predict how a single story is going to proceed if you’re too blindsided by how it begins. One of the most interesting aspects is that slowly over time, THE WIRE becomes more than a crime drama — the series evolves into a multi-layered epic, where crime is only part of the picture. Each of the five seasons feels like its own individual story, but naturally connects with the season that comes before and after it.

I don’t want you to be discouraged by this onslaught of convoluted storytelling. There is a method to the madness. Audiences (including me) are too used to knowing where we are at every given point of the story. THE WIRE purposefully refrains from the kind of clarity we’re used to. This challenge that will stimulate your mind in ways that no other TV show has. In so many ways, it’s the kind of entertainment we’ve always wanted: Surprising yet Natural — isn’t that always the goal?

THE WIRE is so great that everyone is going to take something different from it. This show can be interpreted in a million ways. Nobody is right, and nobody is wrong. How can that be? Well, creator David Simon is to be credited for this neutrality. Simon is as hands-on as any other TV series producer, writer, or creator. Every single aspect of the show is exactly what he wanted it to be. THE WIRE was never the victim of a writer’s strike, or cancelled seasons, or poor broadcasting schedules, or any other excuse. If there is a character or story arc you don’t care for, it isn’t Simon’s fault; your personal taste just doesn’t mesh with it. Sure, I have one or two nitpicks about what THE WIRE should’ve been in my eyes, but not once did I believe it was for a lack of focus. For example, one particular season takes a more didactic approach to the series. We witness moral dilemmas with an ambitious mayor, unethical cops, and newspaper staff — all tackle the immortal question, “Do the ends justify the means?” This more black-and-white angle is exactly what David Simon wanted to use. I preferred a more gray-shaded tale, but Simon decided that this tale needed a more direct statement. Now, even though this isn’t my preference, I overlooked my own criticisms because this season was built this way. There are a couple of other little things that might not sit well with some viewers, notably how the “star” of the show’s cast disappears for most of one season (don’t worry, you’ll know it’s coming before it happens). The point is that THE WIRE never once strayed from its intended path.

I think that’s what I’m going to take away most from this show: It tells every story it wants to tell. It answers every question it poses, unless we’re meant to ponder. It forces us to sympathize with those we’d normally condemn, and to relate to those we’d usually ignore. This television drama is a masterful work of art, from the page to the screen.

I’m going to close with this:
Despite my review title, spending a large amount of money on a complete TV series without seeing a few clips is clearly irresponsible. I didn’t type this review expecting you to drop a couple hundred by my words alone. So, let’s be sensible about this product. If you can, rent the first few episodes from a videostore, or try to find the show in a library, or maybe even go on YouTube to find a few Season One scenes.

There is so much more I want to share with you, but it’s time to use a lesson David Simon taught me:
I will say only enough, and make it your responsibility to discover the rest. Enjoy! ” [Source]

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I respect that attitude but I will always enjoy the little goodies, chocolates, cakes and snacks that come with the Christmas spirit. It’s impossible for me to ignore and pretend it isn’t there. Why do that? I will never pretend those luscious chocolates and cakes don’t exist; I accept them with open arms. That being said, I hate gaining a huge amount of weight because of my own gluttony. Sometimes, it’s unavoidable but I DO have some willpower and I like to keep in (relative) shape.

If a balance is maintained, meaning, indulging in fattening foods mixed with exercise and healthful meals, I believe that everyone can win with this equation. A common problem of participating in activities during the winter, is winter! It’s snowing or plain miserable outside, not very inspiring for a workout. It makes it even difficult to get out to go to the gym in horrible weather. Where is this all leading?

Having a Nautilus Commercial Series Elliptical Trainer at home in your basement or extra room of your house is a perfect solution to keeping fit not just during the winter but also all year long but particularly during the holiday months where eating is practically done all day long, at least where I come from! Whether they’re treats brought into the office or sent there by clients or the snowflake cookies and fudge sitting around the house, well, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Temptation is hard to resist. Face it.

So wouldn’t it be ideal to have the Nautilus Elliptical Trainer so you can workout at home? Maybe you know the person who would absolutely love (and need) this. And the whole family can use this, too. I think it’s a wonderful gift albeit extravagant. Sure, some people would rather have a $6,000 necklace or something luxurious and beautiful, but the Nautilus Commercial Series Elliptical Trainer is useful and the bodies of those who are going to benefit from it, will be beautiful. Want it for yourself? Then get it!

About the Elliptical Trainer - The patented four-bar linkage system, built into each foot pedal, follows the natural movement of the feet during the entire elliptical motion. Because users will feel more comfortable, their workouts will be more challenging, leading to better results. The articulating foot pedals also keep hips, knees, and ankles properly aligned. Features:
* Remote Operation Control built into arm handles for easy operation
* Articulating foot pedals keep your hips, knees, and ankles properly aligned
* 400-pound capacity; measures 20 x 62 x 82 inches (W x H x D); 15-year frame warranty
* Commercial-quality cordless elliptical trainer with innovative My Stride system
* Dynamically calculates your stride length and adjusts speed and intensity

Save $300 if you purchase it at Amazon (restrictions apply).

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The lifeblood of the Super Smash Bros. series has always been the depth of the character lineup that each installment has been able to bring and Brawl not only keeps with tradition, but does it one better. Just as in Super Smash Bros. (Nintendo 64) and Super Smash Bros Melee (gamecube), players can expect to pit their favorite Nintendo characters against each other in head-to-head and multiplayer battles, but instead of insisting on characters exclusively from the Nintendo universe, Brawl adds variety in the form of superstars Sonic the Hedgehog and Solid Snake from Konami’s Metal Gear franchise. This is a first-time addition and one that will delight veteran players and newbies alike. But these two characters are only a sampling of the new additions to the game’s lineup. The other ten come from classic Nintendo titles and bring the complete lineup of playable characters to a whopping 25. Old favorites like Mario, Link, Peach and Kirby are now joined by such exciting newcomers as Wario, Solid Snake and Sonic the Hedgehog. With a variety of new modes, an absolutely epic soundtrack and the ability to play with distant friends through online multiplayer, this is a game gamers will have to break their own fingers to put down.

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During this time of year of yuletide greetings and all that holiday, snowflaky kind of stuff, I love to make cookies and give them away. After all, it’s the time of year when we eat lots of candy, cakes, chocolates and goodies in general so to add to the festivities, cookies are on my agenda. One of my favorite cookies to prepare are the buttery sandwich cookies with jam inside, called Linzer Cookies. They are so absolutely yummy with a steamy cup of tea or coffee, or with a large icy cold glass of milk. They look like snowflakes…sort of! Anyway, use this cookie cutter set to make your delectable Christmas cookies to bring to work or to give away to family and friends.

G e t   t h e   L i n z e r   c o o k i e   c u t t e r   s e t   h e r e

The set includes linzer cutter and 6 interchangeable center cutter designs. Boxed with recipe and instructions, metal.

Need a recipe for Linzer cookies? Here’s one from Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa.

Ingredients

* 3/4 pound unsalted butter at room temperature
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 3 1/2 cups flour
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 3/4 cup good raspberry preserves
* Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar until they are just combined. Add the vanilla. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.

Roll the dough 1/4-inch thick and cut 2 3/4-inch rounds with a plain or fluted cutter. With 1/2 of the rounds, cut a hole from the middle of each round with a heart or spade shaped cutter. Place all the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and chill for 15 minutes.

Bake the cookies for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature. Spread raspberry preserves on the flat side of each solid cookie. Dust the top of the cut-out cookies with confectioners’ sugar and press the flat sides together, with the raspberry preserves in the middle and the confectioners’ sugar on the top.

Game Features
* New Super Mario Bros. Wii offers a combination of cooperation and competition. Players can pick each other up to save them from danger or toss them into it.
* Supports 2-4 players in multiplayer mode.
* Mario, Luigi and two Toads are all playable characters, while many others from the Mushroom Kingdom make appearances throughout the game. Players can even ride different Yoshi characters and use their tongues to swallow enemies – or their fellow players.
* In some areas, players use the motion abilities of the Wii Remote controller. The first player to reach a seesaw might make it tilt to help his or her character reach a higher platform – and then tilt it incorrectly just to mess with other players.
* New items include the propeller suit, which will shoot players high into the sky with just a shake of the Wii Remote and Mario’s new ability to transform into Penguin Mario.
* At the end of each stage during the simultaneous multiplayer mode, players are ranked based on their score, the coins collected and the number of enemies defeated.

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The Kettle Krazy Popcorn Popper and Nut Roaster makes a wonderful gift for someone who loves to curl up on the sofa with a big bowl and munch on America’s most popular snack while watching an absorbing movie or favorite TV shows. There’s nothing more comforting and fun than watching your big screen (or little screen!), grabbing a huge handful of popcorn and then stuffing it in your mouth! Okay, some of you might eat one at a time but admit it, it’s fun to try to get a whole bunch in there at once sometimes!

Kettle Krazy Popcorn Popper and Nut Roaster popper quickly pops up to 6-quarts of fresh popcorn in just minutes. There’s a motorized stir rod that moves the corn kernels so they don’t burn, which also means there will be very few, if any, unpopped kernels. When the popcorn’s ready, just turn the bowl upside down and it’s ready for major munching! The appliance also makes up to 3 cups of mall-kiosk-style glazed nuts or roasted nuts, so you can make some Cracker Jacks!

Get a Kettle Krazy Popcorn Popper and Nut Roaster now!

As much as I love Thanksgiving and Christmas, my absolute favorite time of the year is Black Friday! Waking up at 3 A.M. to get a good parking spot at the mall; even better, camping outside of Best Buy for days to get the season’s greatest deals! Once inside your select stores, you literally have to shield yourself from claws and hair pulling, and that’s just from your best friend. But, if you’d rather stay home and miss the crazy retail madness, there are many retailers that offer Black Friday deals specifically for online shoppers. Check out sites like blackfriday.com and blackfriday.gottadeal.com. They list top retailers’ advertisements with the best deals. Also, for even more savings they provide you with some online coupon codes. Awesome, right? It gets even better, some companies offer free shipping with a minimum purchase. For example, Target.com offers free shipping for all orders over $50 and Nordstrom.com offers free shipping on orders over $100 (piece of cake!) So relax in the comfort of your warm home, perhaps with a glass of eggnog (don’t forget the rum, haha!) in front of your computer. Black friday isn’t that bad, right?

As part of Amazon’s Black Friday Deals Week, Horton Hears a Who is available for $5 between Noon and 4pm today PST ONLY (November 25, 2009)!

Description of Horton Hears a Who
One of Dr. Seuss’ most beloved stories roars to life as never before in this enormous animated adventure that proves “a person’s a person no matter how small.” A playful pachyderm named Horton becomes a reluctant hero when he discovers the microscopic city of Who-ville on a floating speck of dust and embarks on a hilarious adventure to save the town from the dangers of the jungle. Featuring a who’s who of superstar voice talent, including Jim Carrey, Steve Carell and Carol Burnett, this heartwarming hit comedy delivers loads of laughs and tons of fun for the whole family.

O R D E R   H O R TO N   H E A R S    A   W H O   N O W !

An FYI on how it works at Amazon

To receive the instant discount:

1. Add all products described in the promotional offer message to your Shopping Cart.
2. The discount will be reflected on the final order checkout page and will be allocated to all participating items in the Shopping Cart.
3. If you remove any of the participating promotion items from your Shopping Cart or violate any of the terms and conditions listed below, the promotion will be invalid, and the discount will be removed from the order.
4. If you return any of the items involved in the promotion, the discount previously applied to the order will be subtracted from the return credit.

Add Elf to your cart and check out during the time allowed to receive the discounted price.

Click on the photo to get Elf now.

For more Black Friday Deals, click here.

So, back to this blog post about Black Friday. Amazon is having a Black Friday sale online on DVDs of TV shows and lots of movies. This is good because it means you can shop at home on your computer. Yay, that is so convenient!

Check out the deals now.

To receive the instant discounts:

- Add all products described in the promotional offer message to your Shopping Cart.
- The discount will be reflected on the final order checkout page and will be allocated to all participating items in the Shopping Cart.
- If you remove any of the participating promotion items from your Shopping Cart or violate any of the terms and conditions, the promotion will be invalid, and the discount will be removed from the order.
- If you return any of the items involved in the promotion, the discount previously applied to the order will be subtracted from the return credit.

1. Make a list of what dishes you’ll have – You obviously need the basics: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, dinner rolls, pumpkin pie. Now, are any of your guests vegetarian or vegan? If so, plan to offer food they can eat: tofurkey? roasted veggies? a hearty gratin? Do you want to have hors d’œuvres and appetizers? Maybe you don’t want the usuals and want to stray from tradition. Roast beef instead of turkey? That’s fine. Here are some great side dish ideas from Mark Bittman you can make ahead of time: 101 Head Starts on the Day. Just decide on this list, write out a shopping list and move on to step 2.

2. Plan out a detailed schedule/timeline about when to make or do what – Many dishes can be made the night before and shopping must be done in advance (remember to include decorations if needed on your shopping list), which will save you from doing too many things on one day and at the last minute when you should be finalizing decorations and little details. Write out a timeline and put everything where it belongs, planning the prep time and cook time if necessary. Remember about straightening up the house, decorations and set up, and getting dressed! What time will you wake up? Make sure you get a good night’s sleep the night before!

3. Make sure you will have enough storage space in the frig for the dishes you make ahead of time. – There’s nothing worse than not having enough space for everything. This includes counter space. If you don’t have that to work on, you will run into some problems. A cook needs her/his space!

4. Enlist the help of family and friends – You don’t have to do everything on your own, like you think you can. Unless you are Martha Stewart’s clone or Bree from Desperate Housewives, it’s not possible. Accept this fact now. Delegate various tasks, dishes and desserts to other people, and that will lighten your workload. You will be happy about it. It’s that simple.

Extra Pointers
1. If you have things that need to be thawed, put that on your timeline.
2. Remember to tidy up your bathroom.
3. Have enough space for guests’ coats.
4. Iron your table linens.
5. Make sure you have enough silverware, dishware and linens.
6. Ensure your chairs and tables are functioning properly.
7. Remember about drinks for everyone!!
8. Decide what you will wear ahead of time.
9. Visualize in your mind what the day will be like.
10. Enjoy yourself and Happy Thanksgiving!

1. Wear something (or everything!) pink!
2. Use a pink font in emails or wrap gifts with pink ribbon.
3. Go to thebreastcancersite.com/clicktogive — just by clicking you are helping women get free mammograms! If you have a Facebook, become a fan — you get extra perks!
4. Savethetatas.com uses humor to get their point across. Also a portion of every sale is donated to the fight against breast cancer. YTD total: $339,000! YAY!
5. Susan G. Komen for the Cure shows you how to get involved with a race near you. http://ww5.komen.org/findarace.aspx
6 Every year Yoplait Yogurt partners up with Susan G. Komen for the cure. Every lid that you save (and wash!) and send in, they will donate 10 cents to the cure. Every lid counts.
7. Ever heard of a Pink Ribbon Breakfast? Australia has! This will be Australia’s 7th year hosting this campaign and they have raised over $10 million for breast cancer research. Anyone in Australia can host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast event at their workplace, home, park, etc. With breakfast being the most important meal of the day, how can you go wrong? They provide you with all the information here: www.pinkribbonbreakfast.org.au/
8. If you want to support breast cancer, but hate the color of pink, Ann Taylor has a beautiful bracelet for only $24. It has a deep purple ribbon which is fashionably woven into a gold chain. $5 of every purchase is donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
9. 3 words: Pink Ribbon Bagels. YES! In spirit of the month, Panera Bread will be making pink ribbon bagels. They are made with dried cherries and cranberries, vanilla, honey, brown sugar and cherry chips. You can pre-order them here: http://www.panerabread.com/pinkribbonbagel/
10. Listen to someone’s story. Just by listening to their struggles and accomplishments helps in more ways than you know.

October 26, 2009 is Pink Ribbon Day. Don’t forget to show your support!

GARDENING: You can do weeding or lawn care, grow and sell plants, grow and dehydrate herbs and make herb blends, press flowers and frame them or make cards or preserve food such as berries to make and sell jam. You can ask a local florist if they’d like to buy your flowers or ornamental branches such as willows, dogwood or forsythia, or sell right from your home, too. You can grow your own food to save money, and anything you sell can go toward funding your hobby or directly to savings.

CRAFTS: You can sell crafts at craft shows and malls. You can teach your skill out of your home or possibly at a local craft store or at a community education course. There are a lot of people who would love to learn how to make items such as jewelry, soap, candles or quilts, to name a few. Ask if you can hang a flier at your local grocery store, library or local craft store. If you sew, you can make slipcovers, or do mending or alterations. Or specialize in an area such as zipper repair, making boutique childrens’ clothes or upcycled clothing from thrift-store garments or material. There are Web sites online that you can sell your work, too. Visit www.etsy.com, www.1000markets.com or www.artfire.com. You can start an online club or newsletter featuring tutorials or patterns, as well.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Not everyone has the talent to do photography for special events, but nothing can stop you from earning money as you learn more. You can find a niche in an area such as pet photography, stock photos or taking pictures of local landmarks or popular regional places, and make cards or calendars to sell. You can contact your local newspaper, magazines or real estate agencies to see whether they’re interested in your work, too. Or contact local businesses and see if they need photos for brochures or ads, or sell your photos at art and craft shows, fairs or festivals.

ORGANIZING AND CLEANING: Start with friends and family and ask if anyone needs help. You can set yourself apart by using eco-friendly, homemade cleaners.

WOODWORK: Have you ever made something to fit a need, such as building a custom deck, picnic table, bookshelf, dog or birdhouse or bed frame? Or maybe you paint small wooden items for ornaments or doll houses. All of these projects can be sold. If you enjoy refinishing furniture or working on trash-to-treasure projects, you can sell at flea markets or arts-and-crafts shows, too.

FOOD: You can sell decorated cakes, cookies, bread, candies, etc. You can go into catering, too. Or place an ad to cook for a busy family, someone sick or the elderly.

The information above is from: Source

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“Four months after acquiring an e-book retailer, Barnes & Noble, the world’s largest chain of bookstores, is starting its own mega e-bookstore on its Web site, BN.com.

In an announcement on Monday, Barnes & Noble said that it would offer more than 700,000 books that could be read on a wide range of devices, including Apple’s iPhone, the BlackBerry and various laptop or desktop computers. When Barnes & Noble acquired Fictionwise in March, that online retailer had about 60,000 books in its catalog.

More than 500,000 of the books now offered electronically on BN.com can be downloaded free, through an agreement with Google to provide electronic versions of public domain books that Google has scanned from university libraries. Sony announced a similar deal in March to offer the public domain books on its Reader device.

Barnes & Noble is promoting its e-bookstore as the world’s largest, an implicit stab at Amazon.com, which offers about 330,000 for its Kindle device. Currently, Google’s public domain books cannot be read on a Kindle.

The number of e-books available on BN.com compares with 1.2 million in stock that can be bought in print form from the company’s Web site.

A further one million books can be ordered from BN.com in the print-on-demand format.

William J. Lynch, president of Barnes & Noble.com, said the company would continue to sell e-book versions of…”

Read the rest of the article (free registration required)

“If you are in the process of buying a new primary residence or second home, or considering refinancing a loan, a new set of federal consumer protection rules taking effect on July 30th, 2009 may affect you. These rules are a part of the Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act of 2008, and they are designed to give consumers more disclosure of the cost of a loan and also more time to make a decision. The final rules from the Federal Reserve were modified recently and here is a quick summary.

Early disclosures are required within three business days – Good faith estimates of mortgage loan costs must be given to a consumer within three business days of a consumer’s loan application. Also, no fees may be collected besides a reasonable credit check fee. This means that the good faith estimate needs to be given before the lender collects an application or appraisal fee. In the past it was common for lenders to collect hundreds of dollars in fees before providing any cost estimates.

Creditors must wait seven business days to close a loan after early disclosures – This gives the consumer at least seven days to decide whether to close or not upon receiving the initial estimate. Currently it is common for disclosures to be provided less than 24 hours before closing.”

Read the rest

“The recession isn’t so bad when you think about in terms of what we’re getting rid of. I like to think of it as a form of Spring cleaning. Here are 14 things that are hopefully going to be by the end of this recession.

1. Crocs! Say goodbye to Crocs! Last year the company lost $185.1 million, slashed roughly 2,000 jobs and scrambled to find money to pay down millions in debt. Now it’s stuck with a surplus of shoes, and its auditors have wondered if it can stay afloat. It has until the end of September to pay off its debt. “The company’s toast,” said Damon Vickers, who manages an investment fund at Nine Points Capital Partners in Seattle…

2. Deal Or No Deal Unfortunately, the show will continue in a syndicated version, but will now be shot in Connecticut due to a 30% tax cut incentive. Currently it’s filmed in Culver City, California, and is cheap enough to produce because few big cash prizes have ever had to paid out so far. It is a little surprising to see this cheaply produced show get the ax by NBC. It could be because of ratings, but either way, say goodbye!

3. Life & Style Weekly Sales of the celeb gossip magazine are down 44.1% . We don’t need anymore celebrity gossip magazines!

4. Read the rest of this article

Find out more about this camera
(NOTE: Use coupon code EMCLVMR22 for a discount!)

[via]

Sadly, many items these days are not meant to last so that you will buy another one over and over again. This is not only bad for the environment because these things end up in landfills, but also, you the consumer waste an exorbitant amount of money over time. This is why I like to recommend durable appliances that will last quite a while.

Enter the stainless steel Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5-Quart Ice Cream Maker. Here’s what people have to say about it:

Fully automatic and precisely controlled by a timer, this machine takes the trouble and guesswork out of making ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, gelato, and frozen drinks at home. Ingredients go into the bowl, the timer is set, two buttons are pressed and about 30 minutes later 1-1/2 quarts of a frozen confection are ready for consumption. Because the machine doesn’t require its bowl to be frozen for hours in a refrigerator’s freezer (like less expensive machines that only churn), it can immediately begin making another batch. If a batch becomes too hard the machine shuts off automatically. Not only does it work professionally it looks the part, as the housing, bowl, and paddle are made of stainless steel for sanitation and easy cleaning. The 100-watt machine measures 12 inches wide, 11 inches high, and 18 inches deep, and it weighs 38 pounds. Made it Italy, it carries a one-year warranty against defects. An instruction booklet with many recipes is included.

Find out more about it

Ok. It’s expensive but it is one of the best blenders you will ever have and it’s made to last.

Read more about it

Find Golf Clubs Now

“A lot of Americans think they’re eating a healthy diet these days. But it’s easy to be fooled by our assumptions and the ways that food manufacturers play on them.

Take chicken. The average American eats about 90 pounds of it a year, more than twice as much as in the 1970s, part of the switch to lower-fat, lower-cholesterol meat proteins. But roughly one-third of the fresh chicken sold in the U.S. is “plumped” with water, salt and sometimes a seaweed extract called carrageenan that helps it retain the added water. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says chicken processed this way can still be labeled “all natural” or “100% natural” because those are all natural ingredients, even though they aren’t naturally found in chicken.

Producers must mention the added ingredients on the package — but the lettering can be small: just one-third the size of the largest letter in the product’s name. If you’re trying to watch your sodium to cut your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke, it pays to check the Nutrition Facts label. Untreated chicken has about 45 to 60 mgs of sodium per four-ounce serving. So-called enhanced or “plumped” chicken has between 200 and 400 mgs of sodium per serving, almost as much as a serving of fast-food french fries.

Adding salt water became widespread when big discount stores began selling groceries and wanted to sell chicken at uniform weights and prices. Plumping packaged chicken helps even out the weight. But that means consumers are paying for added salt water at chicken prices — an estimated $2 billion worth every year, according to the Truthful Labeling Coalition, a group of chicken producers that don’t enhance their products….”

Read the whole article

Click below.

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$5 Albums on Sale

1. A House
2. A Car
3. A Vacation
4. Toys
5. High-Dividend Stocks
6. A Laptop
7. Diamonds
8. Women’s Clothing
9. A Television
10. Furniture

More

A few restriction apply. Your stay is for personal travel only and must be reserved within 90 days of the booking date. To note: should there be a big event going on in town and the Fairmont thinks they can get higher rates, the promo code might only give you a tiny discount. So make sure to check what’s going on in town and make sure the rates would be relatively low so you can get a good deal using the discount code.

You also need to use a Booker ID # to book it. Use this code upon Step 3 of your online reservation 54807046. (Hotel Chatter’s affiliate number, I suppose. This is where I found the news item).

Get some new lenses right now

Scientists now know enough about the long-term consequences of ingesting these powerful chemicals to advise that we minimize our consumption of pesticides.

What’s the Difference?
EWG research has found that people who eat the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables consume an average of 10 pesticides a day. Those who eat the 15 least contaminated conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables ingest fewer than 2 pesticides daily. The Guide helps consumers make informed choices to lower their dietary pesticide load.

Will Washing and Peeling Help?
Nearly all the studies used to create these lists assume that people rinse or peel fresh produce. Rinsing reduces but does not eliminate pesticides. Peeling helps, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the skin. The best approach: eat a varied diet, rinse all produce and buy organic when possible.

How Was This Guide Developed?
EWG analysts have developed the Guide based on data from nearly
87,000 tests for pesticide residues in produce conducted between
2000 and 2007 and collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. You can find a detailed
description of the criteria EWG used to develop these rankings and
the complete list of fruits and vegetables tested at our dedicated
website, www.foodnews.org.

Get a cute sofa now

“Just because Linens ‘n Things is going out of business, don’t chuck your coupons quite yet. If you hurry on over to Bed, Bath & Beyond, they’ll accept Linens ‘n Things coupons until Feb. 28. And, keep this in mind: Your Bed, Bath & Beyond coupons are also good at Buy Buy Baby. So get saving!” [via]

“Cable is one of the first things you should cut to keep expenses down, but that doesn’t mean you should ditch your favorite shows. J.D. over at Get Rich Slowly cut his cable bill from $65.82 to $11.30 without missing a single harrowing plot twist. Here’s how he did it…

J.D. basically designed his own à la carte programming instead of paying for a mess of unnecessary cable channels. He relied on two resources:…”

Continue reading

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Save $100 at checkout and get FREE Super Saver Shipping when you purchase select Schwinn Fitness, Precor, Life Fitness, Sole, Bowflex, Star Trac, Diamondback, Smooth Fitness, Kettler, Nautilus, Quantum Fitness, and Stamina products sold and shipped by Amazon.com. To take advantage of this offer, purchase eligible fitness equipment sold by Amazon.com and $100 will automatically be deducted at the final page of checkout. This offer applies only to Amazon.com purchases made between February 1, 2009 and February 28, 2009. Applies only to products sold by Amazon.com.

Get Your Savings on Fitness Equipment Now

Get Your Sweetie Mouthwatering Chocolates for Valentine’s Day NOW

I don’t know what your girlfriend is like, so I’m not sure what is perfect for her. Only YOU know. Feel alone now? But if all fails, get her something romantic, sweet (chocolate) and sentimental. Sometimes, however, girls hate those things, haha. For example, the tomboyish types and some outdoor loving people. How about gettng her one of these day trip back packs but filling it up with awesome goodies that she loves?

It’s the perfect bag for: sightseeing, field trips, vacations, hiking, biking, carrying school supplies and lunches, trips to amusement parks, the beach or the mountains. Features: Non-slip extra-comfort backpack straps, two separate insulated interior compartments, concealed interior pockets for hiding different items, flat zippered interior pocket, padded handle grip, large insulated water bottle with cap and carrying strap, reinforced base for water bottle, assorted exterior pockets, two heavy duty d-rings, multi-use mesh pocket with drawstring and utility clip.

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Click here to see all the games on sale.

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Remember Robert Fulghum?

The long-awaited T-Mobile G1 smartphone combines full touchscreen functionality and a QWERTY keyboard with a mobile Web experience that includes many Google tools you’ve come to rely on with your PC, including Google Maps Street View Gmail, and one-touch Google search. It’s also the first phone to be powered by Google’s new open-source Android operating system, which offers an intuitive interface easily customizable home screen. You can also purchase optional software via the Android Market to personalize your G1 with a variety of software applications like games, social networking, and on-the-go shopping.

Get Your T-Mobile G1 Phone with Google Now

Citrus Infused, Jumbo Lump Crabcake

Beef and Mushroom Turnover

Fresh Sea Scallops in Bacon

and how can we forget about the American Duo. This is a must have at your party.

These are just a few samples of what is available. There are many more yummy appetizers to choose from like Philly Cheesesteak Springrolls, meatballs, paninis, dumplings, reuben sandwiches, ham and swiss puffs, mufalettas, chicken and cheese enchiladas and more! Too meaty you say? Don’t worry there’s lots of veggie items: Artichoke & Spinach Filo Tartlets, Asparagus Rollups, Porcini Risotto Croquettes, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Potato Pancakes (Latkes), Crescent Puffs -Sundried Tomato & Feta and more.

They’re easy to prepare and you can order for as many guests as you need. Reasonable prices, too.

I’m hungry now.

Order your Superbowl Appetizers Now