Addressing the Canny Investor

A recently published survey has confirmed that exclusive nightwear pieces are undoubtedly the celebrated items proven to permit women young and old to view themselves as beauteous. As the undisputed number one of the luxuriant women’s night garments department, Myla is a famous firm hailing from London devoted to trimming women young and old to feel sightly and secure in exclusive sleepwear. Myla’s range of products comprises alluring silk and lace garters, fishnets and, to boot, balconette bras, pretty sleeping outfits plus, too, creative bed-chamber appliances.

Entirely dedicated to the perfect in sensual pleasure the sales team at Myla’s offers its customers racy nightwear pieces made from lush textile fibers which extends to pure high gloss satin, chiffon, tatting lace plus, too, soft mesh. Designed to pamper flirtatious members of the fair sex you can buy ruffle bras alongside silk chiffon skirts, brassires alongside fitting thongs and garters or, better yet, pretty frisky lace-trim babydolls made from chiffon and tatting lace. As can be expected, this fantastic inventory offers its customers structured basques, silk hipsters, long chemises plus, too, long satin silk halterneck nighties. If you’re aiming at neat alluring allure, experienced lingerie devotees will elect a striking cup underwire bra or that padded plunge bra matching with silk hipsters and a suspender belt completed with fishnet stockings. Simply great for the lover’s lair, there’s a marvelous selection of high gloss silk and tulle corsets, silk chiffon skirts, panty slips, lace g-strings and lace strops.

As for creative bed-chamber contraptions experienced lingerie devotees will elect clitoral stimulation toys, laced stiletto shoes, fishnet stockings, garters and sensual scented passion candles. Fascinate and stun with wooden handle mini feather ticklers, satin tie-ups, tease blindfolds, erotic sesame massage oil, chocolate body paints or a frisky paddle. Entirely dedicated to the perfect creative appliances, the sales team at Myla’s offers its customers a sweeping collection of erotic enhancement toys exclusively designed by a crowd of superior craftspeople. Devotees can choose amongst a great lineup which extends to Tom Dixon’s contemporary sleek look Bone, Jimmyjane’s highly suggestive platinum bow engraved vibrator or Mari Oda’s variable speed vibrating toy Pebble.

Feel fab with designer luxury underwear from Myla!

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Stumped this holiday season for what to give that “person with
everything?” One category of gift that can be found in almost
every price range is a genuine antique map or print. Presented
framed or matted, or simply “as is,” an antique map or print is
a gift that can be tailored for any individual on your list, and
it’s a gift that will stand out for its thoughtfulness and
uniqueness.

Sound expensive? Well, it can be of course, but you may be
surprised to learn that antique prints of all kinds can be quite
affordable, sometimes starting as low as $25. And yes, they are
still the “real thing” - antique, printed works of art on paper,
usually hand-colored at the time of publication, and generally
more than 100 years old.

The collecting of antique maps and prints is an old pursuit, and
one that has been practiced for centuries. This is one of the
reasons why there is a well-established worldwide market. Most
antique maps and prints on the market today began life as a page
in a book - perhaps an atlas, or a book of botanical prints, or
a natural history book. But don’t be put off by the fact that
these prints (plates, as they are known in collecting circles)
are derived from books. Antique books are very different from
the books of today. The pages were printed by a less automated
method, sometimes even on a hand-operated press. Illustrated
pages (the prints we collect today) were printed separately from
the text pages, and, if color was needed, each page was
individually hand-colored. These very small print runs were then
collated and bound into books, often with a beautiful leather
binding. Over the centuries, books were broken apart, and the
prints have been circulated ever since. In terms of origin,
there is no substantive difference between a large, genuine
Audubon print selling for tens of thousands of dollars and a
fifty dollar antique print from a lesser known bird book.

The most compelling reason for considering an antique map or
antique print as a gift is that it can truly be personalized for
just about anyone on your list. First, it’s obvious that
everyone is from somewhere, which means that an antique map of a
hometown or country is always a fascinating gift for the
recipient. For the United States, it is almost always possible
to find a mid-19th century state map, and frequently, town and
regional maps as well. If you are looking for an antique map
from overseas, choices abound, with country and regional maps
from every part of the world (or the known world, depending on
the year of publication) and from all time periods.

Antique maps of the home town or “the old country” are just the
beginning when it comes to personalizing a gift. Different
genres of maps appeal to different people - for example, antique
harbor charts or sea charts for the sailors on your list,
antique geological maps for rock collectors, antique island maps
for travelers, and so on. Turning to antique prints, another
world opens up. Antique botanical prints - often with gorgeous
hand coloring - are perfect for gardeners and plant lovers;
antique exploration prints for outdoor enthusiasts, antique
historical prints, antique fashion prints, antique architectural
prints, antique racehorse prints, culinary prints, butterfly
prints, nautical prints, sporting prints, even shimmering,
illuminated manuscript pages, and much more, are all available.
The list, in effect, is almost endless. It is difficult to
conceive of the person who, when presented with an antique print
that reflects their special interest, could fail to be gratified
and made to feel a little more special.

Be creative about your gift list. When choosing an antique map,
hometowns and states are the most popular, but also consider
college towns, honeymoon spots, favorite vacation places, and so
forth. If you’re considering a print, then just think about your
recipient’s favorite hobby, food, sport, avocation, or other
pastime. It is guaranteed that over the centuries, other people
have enjoyed the same things, and the perfect, hand-colored
print will be out there.

Where to find antique maps and prints and what to look for?
Without question, the internet has revolutionized this field,
which for centuries was conducted in dusty old bookshops,
antique stores, and by dealer catalog. Dealers abound on the
internet, and search engines such as Google or Yahoo. will allow
you to access hundreds of antique map and print websites. Begin
by visiting a variety of dealer sites. A site such as VintageMaps.com, an
internet-based antique map and print dealer since 1997, will
give you a feel for the type of material available. When
visiting sites, you should feel free to contact the dealer and
ask questions about maps or prints that interest you. Make sure
that the dealer will provide a signed statement of authenticity,
and that the condition of the print is at least “very good.” A
“money-back” guarantee of satisfaction is also usual practice
among reputable dealers. If you are considering buying in an
online auction, you need to be very careful. You can’t be sure
that the seller is providing accurate information, and there is
no question of returning an item if it’s not satisfactory. When
it comes to buying from an online auction, it’s “buyer beware.”

If you plan to frame an antique print as a gift, the work is
best done by a local framer whom you trust. Ordering your
framing job over the internet is usually not a good choice - the
appearance of the frame and the quality of materials are hard to
judge on a screen. So leave an extra three weeks for the framing
work. Finally, remember that the more specific the requirements
you demand of an antique map or print, the earlier you will want
to begin searching for it. Dealers are at their busiest around
holiday times, so start your shopping early. Happy hunting.

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Think only the rich and famous have the privilege of having a
personal chef wait on their every craving or gourmet pleasure?
Think again.

Personal chefs are now helping couples and families to present
fabulous home cooked dinners to their guests. And it’s not as
expensive as you think!

Why hire a personal chef?

A personal chef will bring the food, create a nutritious and
balanced meal, figure out the servings needed (so you don’t need
to deal with leftovers) and most of all give you the freedom to
focus on other aspects of entertaining while still providing the
best food for your guests.

Are you hosting a business lunch? An intimate wedding reception?
Or even an intimate dinner for two that just HAS to be the best?
A personal chef can handle any order. You can usually choose
from a selection of courses they provide or arrange for a
customized menu.

How much does it cost?

Prices will vary but you can expect a weeks worth of meals
(containers, food and cooking included) to be about $350 for a
family of 4 (20 meals of entrees and side dishes) or $175 for a
couple (10 meals of entrees and side dishes).

Some services will prepare all the meals at once while others
will deliver or prepare the meal in your home throughout the
week.

How do I find a personal chef?

Finding a chef is easy by using the USPCA (United States
Personal Chef Association - HREF=http://www.uspca.com rel="nofollow">http://www.uspca.com) or the CPCA
(Canadian Personal Chef Alliance - HREF=http://www.cpcalliance.com rel="nofollow">http://www.cpcalliance.com).
Here you will find information on personal chefs as well as a
directory of members in your area.

Will they do meals just for my family?

Personal chefs are more than just a catering service. For busy
professionals who are looking for quality meals and more time
with their family, a personal chef will prepare several entrees
and side dishes, store them and clean the kitchen. For the rest
of the week all you have to do is take them out of the fridge or
freezer and reheat to enjoy gourmet meals all week. For families
who turn to fast foods and restaurants the cost may actually be
less than what they are currently paying.

Some personal chefs also can be booked for private or group
cooking lessons. Invite a group of your friends to learn the art
of creating delectable pasties or sumptuous seafood from an
expert!

While not everyone needs the daily services of a personal chef
you may wish to treat yourself to the luxury of a fabulous
dinner at home - no cooking, cleaning or experience necessary!

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As with all forms of art, its beauty is defined by the
sensations it arouses. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect in the
art of stained glass is in its’ versatility. It’s durable, yet
fragile, challenging, but yielding to the experienced hands of
the artist. I discovered this form of art some seven years ago
when my girlfriend and I decided to take a series of evening
classes at a local stained glass retail store. We took six
classes and I have been hooked ever since.

If you are in need of a way to take away the stresses of
everyday life I would recommend stained glass as great way to
“download” and at the same time get into a new hobby. It is a
form of self-meditation. The steps you’ll follow in arriving at
your finished work of art will teach you self-discipline, and
provide a great sense of artistic achievement. And if you’re
like me, you will not be able to get enough of it. That’s when
you’ll want to expand out and begin doing projects for others.

But be careful, once word gets out that you’re into stained
glass, all of your relatives (you know the ones) will be the
first to ask you to make them something. Actually, it’s not so
bad at first, because they make great test cases and you’ll want
to experiment.

Where to begin? I suggest a visit to your local stained glass
retailer. While not all towns have one (here is a great business
opportunity for you) a look into your telephone book should
yield a location or two or you can perform an Internet search
for local retailers. Start by inquiring into whether or not they
run classes. Most retailers usually do because it’s a source of
increased revenues to them (they know that you’ll probably be
buying your supplies from them). Cost of classes will be
relatively moderate for the same reasons. Check out your local
County Colleges as well. My instructor also taught night classes
there.

TIP: Bring a friend with you; it will add to the fun and you’ll
be able to compare notes.

The place you’ll be taking the classes from will no doubt also
provide you with the basic beginners kit, which will contain the
tools needed to get you started. Expect to find a glass cutter;
there a variety of types and you should choose the one that your
most comfortable with. I have tried a variety myself but in the
end settled for the basic non-oil filled type. A breaker,
similar to pliers, is used to snap off the glass after being
scored. A specially designed scissor is used to cut out your
pattern, and of course a soldering iron is used to join the cut
pieces of glass together. Expect to pay somewhere in the
neighborhood of $100.

There are other items that you’ll need along the way, but they
will be available to you during your classes, such as the
grinder, which is used to grind down excess glass, not removed
by the cutting process and to polish off the edges of the cut
glass. This last part is important because of the foiling
process that takes after the glass is ground down. Foiling is a
process whereby the copper foil is placed around the edges of
the ground glass. The foil is sticky on one side allowing it to
adhere to the glass. The purpose of the copper foil is to
provide a surface for the solder to stick too.

A word on foiling. Most of us are familiar with the traditional
form of stained glass that we have encountered in churches which
employ the use of a lead came between the glass pieces. Copper
foiling is an alternative to the lead came and is no doubt the
first place a new student to the art of stained glass will
begin. Only after one has mastered the “foil”, should you
proceed to the “came”. Besides, foiling is a much easier
process, especially for the beginner. I still prefer this method
over the came method.

There is a little more to the art of stained glass than what I
have described thus far, but the fundamental steps outlined
below will give you a basic outline on what to expect.

Plan your design; will it be for a window, skylight… the
possibilities will astound you. Let your imagination take you,

Sketch out your design or use a bought pattern available
through your retailer,

Cut out the individual pieces from your pattern using those
special scissors I mentioned earlier,

Apply the cut pattern pieces to the glass to be cut,

Using the glasscutter, score and break (not in the literal
sense) each piece

Grind off the excess glass

“Foil” each piece of glass

Solder the pieces together

Clean your work, and

Display your masterpiece!

You will soon come to discover your own favorite step in the art
of stained glass. For some, it will be in the designing stages,
that challenge of coming up with your own unique design. For
myself, my love for the art lies in the cutting of the glass.
There is a final moment of truth that comes after you have
scored the glass with the glass cutter; this is the part where I
hold my breath. As you force the glass to run (I’ll explain that
in another article), you’ll begin to see the glass crack along
the scored line as you hoped it would. With all things in the
universe being wonderful, the glass breaks as you had intended.
Occasionally it won’t; that’s the breaks! But don’t worry, glass
is relatively inexpensive and you’ll get it the next time.

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A favorite at many wedding receptions edible wedding favors will always please the vast majority of guests. If you cannot make up your mind about whether they should be sweet or savory, you can guarantee it will be the sweet variety that gets the ‘big thumbs up’. Of course if you want to make it simple, then stick to a regular chocolate bar, perhaps with a specially created outer wrapper. Chocolate candy bars come in so many varieties it can be difficult to choose something you can guarantee everyone one will appreciate. Many companies exist that can create special wrappers that should have details of the wedding printed on them even if everything else is from a standard template.

Just to complete the favor, why not have the picture of the bride and groom printed on the wrapper as well? Some couples decide that their edible wedding favor will consist of a special tin of candy. There is also typically the option of personalizing the tin by including the wedding date and the name of the bride and the groom. Tins are always useful so once the candy has been eaten, it can be used to store many small items that might be lost otherwise. Almost everyone likes candy and that is why such a large percentage of weddings feature it as their edible wedding favor.

One unique way to give out candy as wedding favors is to use large glass bowls as the centerpieces for the tables and fill the bowls with the bride and grooms’ favorite types of candy. Otherwise a small container, which can be themed if appropriate, can be used instead. You can guarantee it won’t take long before the guests start filling their boxes with the candy. If you really don’t like the idea of candy as an edible wedding favor, why not consider using cookies instead. You can select cookies which are rather plain in nature but place them in keepsake boxes with the bride and grooms’ names as well as the date of the wedding.

Plain cookies are also easier to use if you decide to have your images inserted onto them. It won’t be difficult locating a bakery that can do this type of work and you can speed up the process even more by supplying your own ideas on how you would like the cookies to look. There is no reason why the edible wedding favors cannot be drinks; there are plenty to choose from but coffee and tea are likely to be the most popular. There are a number of specialty teas and coffees available which can then be packaged in something appropriate for the wedding. Once again, the packaging can contain information about the bride and groom and if it is a metal or plastic container it can be used at a later stage an will not go to waste. Perhaps these suggestions will help you decide what favors you will give to your guests.

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