ldren love to play video games and many experts say spending sometime doing so can help with hand and eye coordination. Of course you do want to limit the amount of time a child plays the Wii so that they don’t become too dependent upon it for their entertainment. They should still be exploring their skills and developing their creativity.

Since it is important for children to become active from an early age, the Wii Sports package that comes with the gaming console is a good one to start with. There are many different ones to choose from. They can help your child get some basic skills they can use for little league as well.

Children about 8 years of age may really enjoy the Madden NFL football. If they have favorite teams and players then they will really love being able to choose them. There are several versions of the Madden NFL games too due to the popularity of them. This is a great game that children can play with their parents too. The kids will be able to grasp the concepts easily and the parents won’t feel like they are playing a little kids video game.

Mario games are always fun for people of all ages. The Mario Kart game is one children from the age of five up will really get a kick out of. They get to use the steering wheel accessory to play this game too if you invest in one. You will find it adds a new dimension of fun to this game though. Playing it with the regular Wii controller just isn’t the same.

Keeping Mario in the track and racing to the finish line is going to provide them with hours of fun. You will get plenty of laughs out of it as well. Watching your children go in circles and even driving full throttle backwards is enough to make any parent giggles with amusement.

If your child is interested in outer space then there is another Mario game they would like. It is called Super Mario Galaxy and it is fun for those about 7 years of age and older to enjoy. For those children who enjoy games that are puzzles and will exercise their brain consider either Boom Blox or Quest for Barbaros Treasure.

There are some themed Nintendo Wii games that your pre teens will likely enjoy. There are the games that are from the Star Wars Saga that everyone seems to love. There are also the Harry Potter games that both boys and girls of this age group will find exciting and challenging.

In order to ensure your children are enjoying the Wii you want them to have some games that are at or slightly higher than their age level. You should allow them to help you pick some of them out as well. Many parents don’t like to invest a great deal of money in these games though. This is because their children will quickly outgrow them or just get tired of playing them.

A great way to save money and to still give them plenty to play with is to buy used Nintendo GameCube games. They are backwards compatible so they can be used with the Nintendo Wii. Even if the games don’t come with instructions you can download them from the internet if you are struggling to figure out the concepts and strategies for particular games.

You will need to pay attention to the likes and dislikes of your child when it comes to the games you buy them for the Wii. Some children don’t like puzzles while others love them. Some won’t play sporting games while others will want to play nothing else. Try to have a good variety of video games they can choose from though. They may pick up something new and find they are interested in it when they never knew that before.

By: Lorna Goldsborough

About the Author:

ght (c) 2009 Athleticbodysystem

Training for TONE is another BIG misconcepion in the fitness industry! I will apologise in advance if i get a little antagonistic here but I get angry when I hear this term being mentioned as it misleads so many people!

TONE is a BIG misconception! There is no such thing as ‘TONING’ a muscle muscles either get

1.Bigger

2.Smaller

Now i know what your saying. . .

‘i dont want big muscles!!!!!’

I get that . . women will not get big muscles no matter how hard they try. . unless of course you have a good steroids dealer? do you? Told you i was going to get antagonistic! Women lack adequate amounts of the anabolic hormones men possess: testosterone! So you have nothing to worry about! All training heavy and hard is going to do is make you lean and sexy!

Now your muscles may get A LITTLE bigger but you will lose fat at the same time and you will remain the EXACT same size. .just look better?!

Sounds good eh?

That is what ‘TONE’ is. . .

—-> Reduction in bodyfat and Simultaneous slight increase in muscle

OK, so you have problem areas or trouble spots, bingo wings, bat wings, upper arm fat, love handles, man boobs, so it makes sense to focus on those areas, right? WRONG!!! At first glance it makes sense, but after closer examination you’ll understand why focusing on your trouble spots is not the solution to fixing them. this may require you to change your mindset. This is the biggest obstacle trainees face is listening and changing their training. This is essential, especially when it comes to fat loss. So if you really want to SHIFT THE WEIGHT, start by making a major MINDSET SHIFT first.

I’ve had to address a lot of things in gyms over the years but the most frustrating is the major problem of spot reduction. The average person is under the impression that if you train a particular bodypart you will lose fat on that bodypart. This is simply NOT the case!

The analogy I use is: ‘if I take a bucket of water out of the corner of that swimming pool, the water comes from the entire swimming pool. . not just the corner’ I was thinking on the issue and I happened to be beside a swimming pool at the time so I used what I had at my disposal but you get the idea? You have to train your BODY to reduce BODY-Fat, your blood stream supplies the energy (in the form of fat) to your muscles, agreed? You cannot select where the fat comes from, your body does! It seems logical for your body to use fat closest to the muscle for energy but it doesn’t! The blood is flowing! It flows through your body and the fat that is being used may have been picked up from your thighs or your back! You don’t have control over this aspect of fat loss! Live with it. Metabolic type work and a clean diet is the key to fat loss, doesn’t matter where the fat is!

By: Bryan Kavanagh

About the Author:

One of the main articles of clothing that hopefully everybody wears is underwear. Guys are expected to wear boxers, boxer briefs, or tighty whiteys. Regardless of what you choose, it is a fairly easy decision to make. Females on the other hand take their underwear, or lingerie a bit more serious than guys. Girls have the choice of deciding between countless different bras and panties. A big reason why women have a hard time selecting lingerie is because they usually want to get something that makes them look sexy. It used to be that only a certain size female could wear sexy lingerie because that is all they sold at particular stores. However, there are plus sized lingerie store out there as well.

The best spot to find a plus sized lingerie store is online. There are numerous different stores on the Internet that you can order your plus sized lingerie from. These different stores allow you to search for different items such as bras and panties, and browse size. In addition, most of these stores have sub categories such as the crotchless pantry or the sexy plus sized corset. Browsing online gives you the ability to search through different inventories of different stores located in different areas of the world. Store shopping only allows you the chance to view their selection and nobody else´s.

Lingerie is considered underwear, yet for women it is also a n article of clothing that they can wear to look sexy and seductive. Plus size girls have often times found it hard to find the sexy lingerie they want in different stores they walk into. They usually don´t have a size big enough to suit there body. Going online eliminates this problem and you are guaranteed to find the perfect piece of lingerie for your plus sized body that will make you look super juicy.



By: Nikola Demae

About the Author:

Dating isn’t always easy. Many people have had such negative experiences with dating that they’ve simply given up. Dating can become very complicated filled with drama, negative emotions and pain. One of the greatest advancements of our modern world is online dating. Online matchmaking dating has made it possible to meet the right person that you may have never been given the opportunity to meet otherwise. It has a way of connecting the right people to experience love together.

More Time.

Online matchmaking dating makes time of the essence. Think about how much time you would spend if you were given the opportunity to meet twenty people as potential partners. How long would it take you to talk with them, get to know them and find out what really makes them tick?

Many people don’t find themselves in a dating relationship because of the time it takes. For people who have a full time job, time is eating up by the demands placed on them at work. Online matchmaking dating provides you with the opportunity of meeting hundreds of people with common interest that may be a perfect match for you. Online matchmakers cut to the chase and help you asses if this person is right for you.

More Knowledge.

Online matchmaking dating also provides you with more knowledge to make the best decision. The more you know, the better you will have a handle on whether a particular person is the right match for you. The first few dates you go on with someone are simply to acquire information. What’s their last name? Where do they live? How big is their family? Have they been married before? The list is endless of the minor details that actually matter.

Even after the initial dates you still may not know enough information to make a decision. You’ll want to know the larger stuff like if they’re looking for a casual or mature dating relationship. You want to see them interact with their friends and learn more about their beliefs and convictions. Online dating will give you most of these answers with the click of the button. Simply cut to the chase and see if a person is of interest or not.

Matchmakers are Professionals.

Choosing a matchmaker is the best choice in the online dating scene. Matchmakers are professionals who will take their time to listen to your needs and wants and will match you with someone they believe is a good fit. They help you during the decision process so you don’t’ have to carry the burden of making such an important decision on your own. If you’re serious about finding true love that is long lasting, find a matchmaker and get started.

Remember that finding true love in any form or fashion takes time and patience. It’s true all good things really do come to those who wait. Don’t jump the gun but take it one step at a time and before you know it, you’ll find that person you want to spend your life with.



By: Allan Tan

About the Author:

Elle Magazine is one of the most popular women’s magazines. It provides up to date information about fashion, beauty, style, health, and entertainment.  Create in the 1940’s in France, Elle Magazine is now one of the largest magazines around the globe.  There are 36 editions published on six different continents.  The articles and editorials are well written and inspiration for women of all ages. 

Women can keep up with the latest trends in fashion and make up by reading Elle Magazine every month.  Elle provides pictures and information about affordable yet fashionable clothes and accessories. Subscription is very affordable, and women can save a lot of money by subscribing rather than buying new issues from the newsstand every month.  Millions of readers around the world regularly read Elle Magazine, including five million in the United States alone.

Located in New York, the staff behind Elle consider “fashion, beauty, and style” to be the main features of the magazine.  They also provide an archive online for readers to take a look at issues from the past. Some offshoot companies include Elle Cuisine and Elle Girl.  Elle Girl is geared toward teenage girls who are interested in fashion, beauty, entertainment, and style.

Each and every issue of Elle Magazine and its many editions is jammed packed with a lot of information concerning issues that interest a female audience.  Even women who aren’t interested in fashion and style will enjoy reading book reviews and health related articles.

Subscribers rave about the quality of information Elle Magazine provides.  The magazine’s features and overall layout is great.  Every page is worth looking at, and every word is worth reading.  There’s a reason why this magazine is so popular—it has everything!  That being said, the price of subscription is definitely worth the cost.  Elle Magazine is not only great, but it’s also affordable.  It’s worth every penny and then some!



By: Victoria Jugoman

About the Author:

Choosing and planning your wedding theme is one of the most fun and creative parts of wedding planning.

Wedding themes can express the imagination of the bride and groom (or wedding planner) and can re-create any setting, from ancient Greece to an underwater paradise.

While most wedding themes are less extravagant than this and usually reflect a color scheme or perhaps a season, we have seen some fabulous and original wedding themes over the years. For brides looking for creative ideas, here are some to get you started:



Fairytale: While a Cinderella theme is most common in this category, there are plenty of other options. Cinderella themes can be carried out with such ‘props’ as glass slipper favors, a carriage wedding cake and a horse and carriage to draw the happy couple away to their honeymoon or from the church to the reception.

Color schemes: From black and gold to silver and white, or even red and pink for a Valentine’s theme, color schemes are a fairly easy and effective way to create a theme fro your wedding. You can color co-ordinate your bridesmaids’ dresses, the flowers and ribbons, and even the table decorations and confetti.

Tropical: Whether you go with gorgeous tropical flower arrangements or a sandy beach theme, a tropical wedding theme allows your guests to feel as if they’re being whisked away to a tropical paradise. Add some bamboo torches and a calypso band and the illusion is complete!

Mediterranean: Turquoise and shades of blue, with shimmering candles and all white linens…can you picture it? Add some belly dancers for entertainment and you have a Mediterranean-themed reception your guests will never forget.

Underwater: Hang fishing nets with shells and sparkly fish…offer water-related favors and give bubble-blowers to the children, and you’ll have a lovely and fun underwater theme. There is lots you can do to create an ‘under the sea’ feel, so just get creative!

Fantasy: Weddings are occasions where a bride can indulge the little girl inside, wearing a fantasy dress and planning a magical celebration. Many brides create a fantasy wedding, and there are endless possibilities here. From hiring a magician to adding sparkles or rainbows, you can do anything in this category, as long as it fulfills your fantasies!

Butterfly: From confetti to favors, from napkins to centerpieces, incorporating a butterfly theme is whimsical and enchanting. Pin little butterflies (not real!) on the walls or on linens, offer little butterfly pins. We’ve also seen this done with dragonflies or fairies.

Hawaiian: Hibiscus flowers, laeis and tropical Hawaiian music floating on the air…aaah, your guests will love it! Hire some professional Hawaiian dancers and the mood is complete. Tuscan: Rustic yellows, wine and grape vines, and sunflowers are just the beginning. Research Tuscany and Tuscan décor and you’ll come up with plenty of ideas for this theme.

Diamonds are forever: Add some sparkle and pizazz to your celebration with a diamonds theme. Little diamond-shaped sparkly confetti, diamond ring charms or key chains for favors, and a champagne fountain will help you get started. You can also do this with other gems or with pearls.



There are so many ideas and possibilities this list cannot possibly be exhaustive, and we hope we’ve given you a great start. You’ll find even more ideas at Wedding-Planning-Makes-Perfect.com, and be sure to check out the recommended Wedding Planning Guides. Happy wedding planning!



By: Shauna Arthurs

About the Author:

Dita Von Teese is everyone’s favorite pin-up girl, she is well known for signature rockabilly style paired with high-end fashion and glamour. A throwback to the 50s era, Dita is usually seen rocking fire engine red lips and vintage inspired frocks. But she also has a great sense of what type of jewelry compliments her look and works with the glam vibe.

You’d better not to mention art deco jewelry if you’re talking about Dita Von Teese. She can definitely rock any of those jewelry with her signature look, but she also likes to make daring choices that are highly memorable and highly fashionable. For example, at the Cannes film festival, Dita chose a diamond encrusted necklace in the shape of a bowtie. This statement piece was worn with a simple little back dress and was definitely the focal point of the outfit. To imitate her jewelry style, opt for arhinestone encrusted bowtie pendant necklaces and flower bracelets as your sole accessory.

The diamond snake cuff bracelet is one of Dita’s most famous jewelry choices is  that she wore to accent her look for an event appearance. This style has really caught on, as celebs like Britney Spears and Kate Walsh have recently been seen sporting snake pendant necklaces.

Because Dita’s signature look depends on jewelry that are timeless and classic, oftentimes the bombshell is simply seen sporting a small pair of diamond stud earrings. These versatile pieces can be worn with anything in your closet, and for a fraction of the cost of the real thing, you can purchase CZ stud earrings that have all the sparkle you need.

It’s really a matter of being comfortable in your own skin, which of course, Dita Von Teese is great at. She’s paving the road for other starlets like Gwen Stefani and Katy Perry, who have a fun signature jewelry style that we just love to watch.



By: cherry

About the Author:

I was thinking of how I can describe love to you but, the words proved hard to find. According to many people, it is the very element that makes the world go round. It is really hard to describe. Effects or results of it are better seen and, it is something that we have to all think about; hard. Affection and kindness are the most recognized elements to it. There are several forms of love. There is one that is between us and God, one that is between a parent and his or her children and a love that is between a man and a woman which is also called erotic love. The most recognized form of affection is one that is erotic. It brings people of different worlds together to explore life together. It is from here that the other form of affection comes up, like the one between siblings and parents. Religious people have a different view and, Christians have a very interesting perception of it. According to the bible, God is love. This alone is a source of great confusion for many.

However, to go around the complications that arise from this issue, it is vital to recognize that there are many explanations and it cannot be singled out as one thing. There are many characteristics of affection. According to Christians, it is gentle and kind. In other words, it brings harmony and peace to people. It is also giving and slow to anger. Therefore, it can be described using so many virtues and, it is the mother of all virtues. It is really hard to fully explore what it is all about. Between a man and a woman, it has to be present for them to make a life long commitment. In Christianity, God has loved people unconditionally and so should we. It is often hard to think of unconditional affection but, it is best demonstrated by God himself. Today, cases of divorce have gone up alarmingly and, it is the absence of this affection that is the major cause.

There is no formula for getting or having it. It is something we are born with. Humans are able to show it as well as animals. When animals give birth to their young ones, nobody tells them to care for the offspring and, they do so faithfully until the little one is able to stand on their feet. It is a mystery that we are yet to unravel. There has been effort to explain it in a scientific manner. This effort has not yielded a lot because the source is still unknown. To religious people, the source is God but to scientists, it is hard to tell. Whatever you believe about affection, know that there is no specific explanation that can answer all the questions we have. It still remains a big mystery. The best thing to do then is to experience it practically. Many who have fallen in it say that it is the best feeling in the world. It makes a person want to spend the rest of their lives with someone. For a mother, it can make her give up her own life for the sake of her young one. One thing we can agree on is that, it is the most powerful force in the world.



By: Francis Githinji

About the Author:

This story is based on a gross exaggeration of a hypothetical situation. Any similarities to persons or events in your life is purely coincidental and rather pathetic.

We met at a party in an Upper East Side apartment. I was eating cheese, she was eating crackers. I offered her some of my cheese, she offered me some of her crackers, and pretty soon we were both eating cheese and crackers.

I gave her that stupid line “Do you come here often?” She said, “Yes, every day.” Shocked, I asked, “My god, is there a party here every day?” She said, “No, I live here.”

Feeling somewhat embarrassed that I was an uninvited guest, although “uninvitees” at singles parties are quite common, I said, “Your roommate invited me.” She said, “I live alone.” That didn’t make me feel any better.

But when she offered me another cracker, I felt safe.

As the party wore on, it became obvious that this was no ordinary girl. She greeted her guests with the warmth and enthusiasm usually seen only among married folks. For one terrifying moment I thought perhaps this was not a singles party, after all. But when I overheard a small group of people discussing how they had just come from two other parties, I knew I was at a singles gathering — married folks don’t go to three parties in one night. One couch is all they need.

I noticed the hostess carrying in a large tray of hors d’oeuvres with some difficulty. I rushed over and asked, “May I help?” She asked with a smile, “Eat or carry?” I answered with a chuckle, “Very funny, you don’t expect me to carry that thing.” We smiled and we chuckled.

After helping her place the tray on a table, I struck up a conversation. We found out we had a lot in common. She was from San Diego, I was from Brooklyn — but we both hated Des Moine. She was a zoologist, I was a computer consultant — but all her monkeys were trained to read “hexadecimal dumps.” She liked flying, I liked water sports — but we could have a great time in a life raft filled with helium. She liked classical music, I liked punk rock — but we could dye our hair green and listen to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She liked long, lavish, gourmet meals - I liked breakfast in bed, lunch in bed, and supper in bed — but, if we got married, we could have a bed in the dining room and be together all day. I just can’t begin to tell you how much we had in common.

As we spoke, I complimented her on her rug. She said she didn’t have a rug — I was standing on her cat. I felt really stupid. Her cat felt a lot worse.

She asked if I could run into the kitchen and see if there was anymore soda in the fridge. I was afraid this would happen. I knew if I helped her with that tray, I might soon be running errands for her. But I had no choice. It was too late to go to another party.

Searching for the kitchen, I realized her apartment was a lot bigger than I had imagined. After circling through the dinette and study several times, I finally stopped to ask for directions. The guy who gave me directions, said he worked for the phone company and had been trying to find his way out of the apartment since he installed a phone in the kitchen. I said, I didn’t realize she had a new phone. He said, it wasn’t that new anymore — he installed it three weeks ago.

When I finally returned to the party room with two big bottles of Coke, all the guests had already left. She asked, “What took you so long?” I said, “I took the long route.” She asked, “Why?” I said, “I hate drilling through walls.” She asked, “What am I going to do with two big bottles of Coke now?” I said, “Well, if it’s a space problem, I can take them home with me.”

Needless to say, the situation was serious. Here we were with two big bottles of Coke and no guests to drink them. But, it’s these kind of grave predicaments which set my neurons, brain cells, and alpha waves into high gear. Promptly, as though requiring no thought whatsoever, I suggested, “Hey, why don’t we sit down and drink them up ourselves?” Her face lit up. But her grin worried me.

For the next hour and a half, I was “force-fed” two huge bottles of Coke. It was an unusual hour and a half, to say the least. I drank, she talked. Between gulps I had enough time to say, “I understand.”

As I swallowed the last few drops, dawn broke. With the rays of the morning sun filtering in through the shades, we exchanged phone numbers and I prepared to leave. She offered to make breakfast. But after a “Coke transfusion,” eggs hardly seemed appetizing. So, not to offend her, I said, “I’d love to, but I’m double parked.”

As we said good-by, we both knew we would be seeing a lot more of each other in coming months. And so we did. We had a long and meaningful relationship. Actually, it was long. I’m not sure what it meant. But I learned a lesson from all this: Coke can keep you awake all night.

by Josh Greenberger from shopndrop.com



By: Josh Greenberger

About the Author:

Here is a group of movies where the location is primarily set in a bar or club:

Casablanca (1942)

Director: Michael Curtiz

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid

A WWII fighter running a saloon comes across an ex love who had ditched him in Paris.

Quote: “Here’s looking at you, kid.”

Strange Brew (1983)

Director: Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas

Starring: Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, Max von Sydow

Everywhere, including a brewery, is a bar for Canadian hosers Bob and Doug Mackenzie.

Quote: “My brother and I used to say that drowning in beer was like heaven, eh?”

BarFly (1987)

Director: Barbet Schroeder

Starring: Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway, Alice Krige

Success writing poetry doesn’t stop the pursuit of alcohol for barfly’s Henry and Wanda.

Quote: “No money, no job, no rent. Hey, I’m back to normal.”

Cocktail (1988)

Director: Roger Donaldson

Starring: Tom Cruise, Bryan Brown, Elisabeth Shue

Bottles fly as a young entrepreneur tries to find success as a bartender.

Quote: “Coughlin’s Law; Anything else is always something better.”

Road House (1989)

Director: Rowdy Herrington

Starring: Patrick Swayze, Sam Elliott, Kelly Lynch

Meeting numerous obstacle, a cooler is hired to clean up a local bar.

Quote: “I’ll get all the sleep I need when I’m dead.”

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Starring: George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, Harvey Keitel

The Gecko brothers have to survive the night in a vampire infested strip bar.

Quote: “Those acts of God really stick it in and break it off, don’t they?”

Trees Lounge (1996)

Director: Steve Buscemi

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Carol Kane, Mark Boone Junior

After losing his job and his girl, Tommy spends his days in a lounge pondering his misery.

Quote: “If I win, I get to take you home. If you win, you can go home with me.”

Swingers (1996)

Director: Doug Liman

Starring: Jon Favreau, Vince Vaughn, Ron Livingston

After losing his girl, pals try to help a guy forget about it by hitting the club scene.

Quote: “I want you to remember this face. This is the guy behind the guy behind the guy.”

Studio 54 (1998)

Director: Mark Christopher

Starring: Ryan Phillippe, Mike Myers, Neve Campbell

The rise and fall of the late Steve Rubell, owner of the infamous 70’s Disco Studio 54.

Quote: “It was a place where all labels were left behind. A place where there were no rules.”

Coyote Ugly (2000)

Director: David McNally

Starring: Piper Perabo, Adam Garcia, Maria Bello

To make ends meet while she goes to school, a woman teases the guys at the latest club.

Quote: “I’m not lost. Somebody just moved my street.”



By: Austin Culley

About the Author: