Should plus-size clothing be modeled by plus-size models

Plus-size clothing needs to be modeled by the people it was made for, plus-size models. Aesthetically clothing designed for a larger person does not fit well on a smaller person and visa versa. A princess seem line dress looks great on a person with some shape, an A line dress looks good on a person with very little shape. That is the way it was designed. A plus-sized person can look just as sexy or hansom with the right clothing as a not plus-sized person, some times even more so.

There has been a rise in plus-sized actors, especially women, gaining popularity. Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette) in NCIS, Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) of Criminal Minds, Queen Latifah, Chenese Lewis, and Mo’nique are all top of their field. They look sexy, confident and just beautiful. Mae West and Marilyn Monroe would also be considered plus sized by today’s standards. Anna Nicole Smith was also extremely popular and plus sized. Their clothing was designed to show off their assets, made to look sexy or sophisticated on a plus sized person. Plus size models do not just model clothing anymore they are seen in ads for body acceptance imagery, lifestyle, beauty/cosmetic products, pharmaceuticals, shoes and more. It is no surprise the appeal plus size women have, up until the 20th century the classical ideal of feminine beauty was to be voluptuous.

My favourite ad campaign has been the Dove commercials. They use people of all ages and sizes. People who are real, and use their products. If you have not seen it yet try to find and watch Dove’s short film, Evolution. I know it can be found online. It chronicles the transformation of a model from an average looking woman to one with supermodel looks, showing all the steps that have to be taken to achieve the look, including the extensive photo manipulation used. So even the models don’t really look like that. I am more likely to buy a product that I see people like me in a commercial using then one a 12 to 16 year old model made to look 20 is being used.

The reality is that most people are shopping in the plus size section. It only makes sense to market products with people who actually wear the clothing or use the products. Plus size models exhibit clothing in UK Size 12 or higher; more broadly it refers to women of Size 16 or 18 and above, although a plus size model seems to be US size 12 and higher. A non-plus size women model is 34-24-34 inches (86-61-86 cm), at least 5’8” (1.72 m) tall and between 108 to 110 pounds (around 50 kg). A non-plus size male model is 5’11” to 6’2” (180-187 cm) in height and weigh between 140 and 165 lbs (64-75 kg). Even when I was thin, at my best body weight I never fit into this ideal. Not many people do.

When I am shopping I want clothing that is designed for my body shape, weight and height. I know that what looks good on a regular model will not look good on me. I have more curves and the cut of the clothing will not work with my curves. Just making it bigger or adding a panel does not work, it still is created to look good on a different body shape. Plus size clothing needs to be seen on plus size models so we can see how the cut of the clothing looks on a plus size person.

I have added Dove’s short film, Evolution at the bottom please scroll down as Youtub left a big space.

Top ten must-have baby products

So you are having a baby or buying a baby shower gift. You need to keep in mind the usefulness of the product, comfort and the child’s safety when buying any products. This is a collection of some products other people have rated high. Keep in mind though, every child is different so what works best for you and your child is more important then any rating system, or the opinion of others.

1) Ways to carry or transport your child. This should include a Varity of products to accommodate your needs. A sling or baby carrier, stroller and car seat are a must.

A sling or baby carrier. You may think you are going to want to carry your child in your arms all the time. Try it for a day, you will be looking for some thing to relieve the stress on your arms and back but still let you be close with your child. I found some new innovative sling designs out there. No matter what any one says, test slings and baby carriers until you find the one that is right for you. Every one is different and what fits perfect on one person may not work for you.

My top pick for a sling is The Baby Buddha Together Sling. It supports your baby close to your body and above your waist. It distributes baby's weight evenly. The baby’s weight is taken by your hips, not your shoulders reducing neck, shoulder and back strain. It is free of rings and buckles so no pressure points to deal with. The fabric stretches for comfort and fit but will keep your child above the waist in the best carrying position for baby’s hip and spine development. The fabric is gentle against skin and keeps moisture away. It has a utility pocket for storage and a special loop to hang a soother or toy on.

The Lila Guild rated these baby carriers and slings the highest;
Baby Carrier Original by Baby Bjorn
Baby Carrier Active by Baby Bjorn
Peanut Shell by Goo-Ga
ERGO Baby Carrier by ERGO

Stroller and car seat. These often come as a set these days. There are many varieties of strollers out there to accommodate all types of needs. Only you know what is going to work for you and your family. No matter what brand you go with I recommend getting the set as that way you know every thing fits and works together. Also keep in mind to make sure the height of the stroller is right for you, if it is to low you put strain on your back. How light is the stroller and how easy is it to fold up. Can it be closed one handed if you have the baby in your arm or do you need to put the baby down? How big is the folded up stroller, will it fit into your trunk or closet? What accessories are readily available?

How stuff works Consumer Guide rated these three stroller car seat combinations as best buys based on value, performance, ease of use, features and overall.
The Graco Mosaic Travel System
Graco MetroLite LE Travel System
The Evenflo Comfort Dimensions Classic Travel System with LATCH

The Lila guild rated these strollers the highest
Sit-N-Stand by baby trend
Ironman Sport Utility by BOB Strollers
SnugRider by Graco
Frog by Bugaboo
2) Breastfeeding and bottle-feeding accessories.
Breastfeeding. Nursing pads, nursing bras, nursing pillows, a blanket or shawl to keep your breastfeeding private and discreet, even in the most public places, will help with your comfort and ease of nursing. Pumps and bottles will let others share in the feeding experience and the bonding that comes with it. There will be a point where you will appreciate being able to share the feeding experience with your partner and get some needed sleep. Latter it will let you have a bit of time for yourself with out having to worry about rushing back to feed the baby.
For nursing pads based on consumer reviews on Epinions the highest rated are;
Lansinoh Breastfeeding Collection, Disposable Nursing Pads
Evenflo Washable Nursing Pads.

For nursing bras babycenter ran independent tests and gave the highest rate to;
Lace Nursing Bra from Marks & Spencer # 0845 302 1234
Nursing Bra (428) from Emma-Jane # 020 8599 3004
NCT Comfort Maternity/Nursing Bra from the National Childbirth Trust # 0870 112 1120

For nursing pillows I looked at several different sites and groups that rated just one nursing pillow. Here are the top rated nursing pillows
Boppy pillows rated highest on expo television consumer grapevine, Epinions and the Lila guide
My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow – rated first on InteractiveReviews and second on Epinions.

Nursing cover-ups
Bebe Au Lair Nursing cover – rated on expo television, consumer grapevine

For Breast pumps, Breast Pump Comparisons gave these pumps the best ratings;
Ameda – Purely Yours double electric pump
Avent Isis iQ Duo
Dr. Browns – Natural Flow Electric Breast Pump

The Lila guide gave these pumps the best ratings;
Isis Breast Pump by Avent
Harmony Breast Pump by Medela
Pump In Style Advanced Breast pump by Medela

Bottle Feeding. You will need bottles, nipples, formula, bottlebrushes and some way to sterilize the bottles and nipples.

These bottles and nipples all got high ratings on Epinions

Playtex Kinder-Grip Bottle
Playtex Orthodontic Nipples
Playtex NaturaLatch Silicone Slow Flow Nipple
The First Years Mickey Mouse Slim One 8 Oz. Baby Bottle
Avent Deluxe Gift Set
Handi Craft Natural Flow 8 Ounce Three Pack Wide Neck Bottles
Gerber Rubber Nipples, 3-Hole Design
Playtex Natural Infant Nipple 5443
Maws Heat Sensor Feeding Bottles 9oz - Twin Pack
Handicraft Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Starter Set for Babies
Handicraft Dr. Brown's Level 2 Natural Flow Silicone Nipples

Avent bottles and sterilizer also rated highest on the Lila guide

Sterilizers rated highest on Epinions are;
Avent Express 6 Bottle Steam Sterilizer 501
Avent Express Microwave Steam Sterilizer
Gerber Electric Sterilizer Set
3) Bathing products – baby bath or holder or seat or ring, shampoo’s and soaps, bath thermometer or Heat Sensitive Tub Rugs (a Colorful, non-slip bath mat that lets you know when the water is getting to hot), water spout cover or guard (Securely fits over most tub faucets. Provides padded protection to cushion your child from bumps and bruises), cloths and towels and toys.
Baby Bath’s ranked high on the Lila guide
Euro Bath Tub by Primo
Sure Comfort Newborn-to-Toddler Tub by The first years

shampoo’s and soaps
ranked high on the Lila guide
Head-To-Toe by Johnson’s
Calming Shampoo & Bodywash by California Baby

Ranked high on Epinions
Johnson's Soothing Vapor Bath
Gerber Baby Wash
Johnson's Bedtime Bath
Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo
Avent Naturally Body & Hair Wash
Avon Lil Hugs Gentle Body Wash & Shampoo
California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Body Wash
Johnson's Kids Super Sudzer E-Z Grip Soap - Watermelon Explosion

I found Tub Rug Jr. Bath Mat by Kel-Ger and think that it is a must have.

Bath thermometer or heat sensitive tub rug, waterspout covers or guard rated high on Epinion
Safety First Floating Bath Pal Thermometer
Safety 1st Inflatable Sof' Spout Cover
KEL-GAR Faucet Friends
Sassy Super Soft Spout Guard

Bath Toys, cloths and towels Rated high on Epinion
Fisher Price Big Splash Aquarium
Kids II Bathtime Foam Toys
Gerber Washcloth
Safety 1st Comfy Bear Bath Sponge
Avon Kids Bath & Body Bath Time Body Paint
Lamaze Turtle Scoops Bath Toy
Finding Nemo Bath Cups from The First Years
Carter's Little Ladybug Infant Hooded Towel
Quiltex Precious Moments Wash Cloths
4) Portable playpen. This is important for when you go visit friends and families. Not all places are child proofed, nor do they all have a safe place for your baby to sleep. A portable playpen can provide both.
Portable playpen rated highest by the Lila guide
Pack N Play by Graco
5) Baby/diaper bag – You are going to need a lot of things whenever you go anyplace now. Having a good strong, large baby/diaper bag. One that is also usable to store bottles at a safe temperature is the best way to keep the number of bags you have to carry down.

Rated highest on Epinion;

Eagle Creek Parent Survival Pack
Lands' End Deluxe Diaper Bag
Gerber Diaper Bags Basics 5 in 1 Diaper Gift Bag Set
Baby Bjorn Diaper Backpack

6) Swing – Gives you baby comfort, great way to get them to sleep and it gives you a little bit of a much needed break.

Rated highest on Epinion
Graco Open Top 3-Speed Swing
Fisher Price 3-in-1 Cradle Swing
Graco Open Top 2-Speed Swing
Fisher-Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium Cradle Swing

7) Health and Safety products for babies and children. You need to baby and child proof your house. Child safety locks, baby gates, a first aid kit for babies and children. There are different requirements for babies and children, make sure you have the right tools. A digital ear thermometer is worth the money.

Baby monitors rated high on the Lila guild;

2.4 GHz Ultra-Range Monitor by The First Years
900 MHz BabyCall Monitor by Sony
Safe Glow 2 Receiver Monitor by Safety 1st
Sounds 'N Lights by Fisher-Price
Angelcare Movement Sensor with Sound Monitor by Unisar

Other safety products that rated high on Epinion

Safety 1st Top of the Stairs Wooden Gate
KidCo Safeway Gate G20
Fisher Price Step Lock Gate
Evenflo Walk-Through Stair Gate
Safety 1st Finger Pinch Guard
Safety 1st Expandable Table Edge Bumper
Safety 1st 55-Piece Home Safety Set
Rev-a-Shelf Tot-Lok
Safety 1st Ultra Clear Outlet Plugs

I did not see the safety 1st door handle locks rated, but we use them and they are great.

8) DVD’s designed for your baby’s entertainment and brain development. They give you some needed time for your self by keeping their attention and stimulates their brain development threw music, sound, colour, movement, and images.

Baby Einstein seems to be the one every one uses and talks about.

9) Their own place to sleep. You do not want to have your baby sleeping with you. It is unsafe for the child. It also starts a habit that is hard for both the parent and child to get out of. It can become disruptive for both the parent and children sleep patterns. Children need to learn how to fall asleep by themselves.

Rated high on Lila guild and Epinion

Stokke Sleepi Crib
Mini Co-Sleeper Bassinet by Arms Reach

Though I like the Ikea cribs.

10) Ways to capture and display your memory. Time moves so fast in your child’s first years, it is easy for us to miss out on capturing moments in time. A camera and photo album is a great way to capture and display every moment of your child’s first years. I think the best product out there now is the new hand and foot print sets. It is a great way to show how small your baby was. You Preserve your child's hand or foot print in air-dry clay as a keepsake in a frame with your child’s picture. A camera and photo album is also a great way to capture and display every moment of your child’s first years.

The most popular set seems to be Baby Casting Kits and BabyPrints Handprint Footprint Impression Keepsake. Though you can find any number of kits in craft stores and baby stores or baby departments.

Great birthday gifts for your girlfriend

What you get your girlfriend for her birthday is going to depend on how long you have been together, at what stage of the relationship you are in, and how well you know her. The hardest gift to figure out is always the first one.

Great birthday gifts for your girlfriend when you are at the very beginning of the relationship and don’t know each other that well yet.

1) A light card, maybe with some humour, with a lottery ticket and some thing saying you hope she is as lucky with the lottery ticket or scratchy as you feel you are because you are together.
2) Flowers, with a vase. Try to find out her favourite colour, or flower before hand. If you have no idea of what she likes go for a mix with a variety of colours and types of flowers or go with one rose.
3) A gift basket is an excellent way to go. What is good about a basket is that you can use whatever information you do know about her to make one just for her. It can have food, candies, flowers, what ever she has shown some interest in. One man I know gave his girlfriend of a few weeks a basket with seashells, a small bag of sand and a glass bowl shaped like a shell to display them in. She had let him know that she loved the beach; it was winter so this was his way of bringing the beach to her. If you have only been out a few times you should still have a good idea if she likes coffee or tea. If she likes coffee or tea have a basket with a coffee or tea mug/cup. A good blend of coffee or tea products, some biscuits/cookies and card. If you know some thing she likes add it to the basket.
4) A nice dinner out is a great idea, but make sure it is part of the gift and not all you do. People like having some thing to open.

Things not to buy at this stage as they are not appropriate or give the wrong message or impression:

1) Clothing, of any type, especially not lingerie
2) Bath products, or personal care products. It gives the wrong message.
3) Jewellery
4) Candles
5) Box of chocolates
6) Perfume
7) No gag gifts even if she has a sense of humour.

Great Birthday gifts once you have been going out for a bit and have a good idea of what her likes and dislikes are. This is the easiest stage because you know more abut each other; things are still new and fresh. What makes the difference in the gifts is if you are in a casual or serious relationship.

Casual Relationship Birthday gifts



1) A card that has a casual tone, but still says I care.
2) Jewellery is ok here especially if you get her birthstone, as long as you do not buy any rings as they can be seen as taking the relationship to the serious level. Do not buy any thing with a Celtic Claddagh, as it is a symbol of commitment.
3) Flowers are still great, but not as the only gift. Make sure they have some special meaning to your girlfriend.
4) Birthday dinner is a good idea. You may want to have some of her friends over for a home cooked meal if you are always going out, or you will want to have dinner out with her friends if you usually have stay at home dates.
5) Gift baskets are still wonderful here and now you have a better idea of what to put into them. They still show that you put some effort into the gift, but you can keep it with a casual tone. You can put all her favourite things into it, foods, candies, books, tickets to a game, theatre show, concert or what ever she likes.
6) Candles, candies, chocolates, perfume, gag gifts will work as at this point because you know for sure that your girlfriend likes them or not. Do not buy bath or personal care products as it still sends the wrong message.


Serious Relationship Birthday gifts



1) A card that has a hand written message by you about how you feel about her and the relationship. Make sure it is honest and heartfelt, not just what you think she wants to hear. It should have some mention of event that was meaningfull to the both of you.
2) Jewellery is great here. A promise ring or Celtic Claddagh shows how you feel and that you are serious and committed to her and the relationship.
3) Flowers as always a nice but never as the only gift or main gift.
4) Lingerie and other things that can be bought at a sex shop may be ok to buy at this point. But not as the main gift, and only if it is some thing your girlfriend has expressed interest in. Surprising her with this can backfire fast so this is some thing you need to tread carefully with and make sure it is some thing she is open to. Some people see lingerie as the guy is buying himself a gift and giving it to his girlfriend, in other words it is more for the guy.
5) Gift certificates for a spa are very popular. As long as it is not some thing she does all the time already. Always make sure they are for relaxing things like a massage or open for her to pick what she wants to use it for.
6) At this point it should be very easy to buy a gift because you know what she likes, her hobbies, what she collects, what she really needs. If your girlfriend was looking at a coat that she wanted but could not afford then this is a good gift. It shows that you care about her, pay attention and took the time to find what she needed and wanted. It is something just for her, not a generic gift like candles or a box of chocolates. Just make sure that what ever you get is special to her.
7) Gift certificates for any thing other then a spa you have to be careful about. You have to make sure it is for some thing that only she can pick out. To be honest, at this point you should have a good idea of what she likes, what she has, and what she wants. If you have to go with a gift certificate instead of taking the time to pick some thing (and keep the receipt just in case) then some thing is not right.

Great Birthday gifts for your girlfriend once you have been together for a while. This can be almost as hard as the first gift, even harder if you live together. You just don’t know what to get her any more. You have already done every thing; you need some thing new and fresh. Don’t give the same thing you did last year, or the year before. You need to show you care, make it romantic and special.



1) Engagement or promise ring. If you are in a long term committed relationship (together for many years already) the idea of getting married has probably come up. This is a good time to show your love and commitment to her. Presentation will be important so that you can show you care, make it romantic and special. Everything you do for her birthday will evolve around the presentation of the ring. Some people are reluctant to give an engagement ring as a gift because if the relationship breaks up the ring was a gift and does not need to be returned. If you are concerned about that then maybe you are not in as committed a relationship as you thought and should not commit to something you are not ready for. However if you expect to be together forever then go for it, get married or whatever ceremony (Hand fasting is a nice ceremony) you want to that shows your commitment to each other.
2) Birthday parties can be fun and special. If you are always doing things at home then have the party out, dinner at a restaurant, dancing after at a club and then friends go home and you end the night romantically with a nice hotel stay.
3) One man gave his girlfriend a book of 52 coupons that he made himself. They were for things like: a back rub, foot rub, pamper night where he would take care of dinner and clean up and she got to go soak in the tub with a book, a night out dancing (he did not like dancing), Breakfast in bed day where he made breakfast and cleaned up, pick the movie, control of the TV remote, no sports day, girls night out, pick the take out, pick the restaurant, etc. What he did was listen when she was upset about any thing, then he would write it down and then made a book of coupons out of things she said. When she said she was tired of making dinner all the time he made the “I will take care of dinner and clean up” coupon. When she was upset that he was spending too much time watching sports on TV he made the “no sports day” and “control of the TV remote” coupons. It was a very good way to show her he listened and cared about her and how she felt. She was to use a coupon a week, though she did use more the one some weeks and none at all on others. She said this was the best gift any one had ever given her.
4) A gift certificate for a spa is always good, as long as you don’t do it every year.
5) Find out a place she has always wanted to go to or is important to her. What ever it is will be up to her, and some things may be out of your price range but you can still make a gift out of it. If she has always wanted to go to some place like China, Australia, Paris or a theme park you can still give that to her even if you can not send her. You can have a theme birthday. For Paris you find a great French restaurant, a theatre show or movie based in Paris, with gifts that she could get in Paris; Perfumes, paintings, pictures of Paris, a tacky tourist shirt or little Eiffel tower. It can be a lot of fun and if you find enough places she would like to go to you will have some great ideas for other birthdays.
6) Find out some thing she has always wanted to do. Then find a way for her to do it. It may involve getting gift certificates for some thing she may have always wanted to do like sky diving, a balloon ride, become an author, or painter or any number of things. You may have to arrange for classes, and make sure she can do them. If she has children part of the gift should be childcare for when she is doing the balloon ride or taking a French, drawing, or creative writing class at night school. Please note that if it is dance lesions you will more then likely expected to participate.
7) Maid for the day, week, month or year what ever you can afford. It is really a day off, knowing that the work is being done and will not be still have to be done the next day. Make sure this is presented as giving her a day off and not in a way that can be seen that you think she is a poor housekeeper. Not many people are going to say no to someone else cleaning up for the day, especially if it means the two of you can have some special time together instead of cleaning.

You can always find the right gift and a way to make it special if you take the time to talk with your girlfriend and then put the time, and effort into it. Money will dictate what you can and cannot do. But it is more important to give some thing that has meaning to your girlfriend then how much it cost.

Written by: Lori-Lee Craig

Are boys harder to potty train then girls?

I think that some children are hard to potty train and for others it seems to come easy for them. It depends on the child, not the sex of the child. All that said and done, my son has been very hard to potty train. Getting him to go pee was the easy part, he liked making bubbles, or aiming at a piece of toilet paper. It has taken about a year to get him to where he is now. It took a lot of work and all sorts of tricks and methods to get my son to finally be potty trained. We had him using the potty/toilet and then one day he would not go near it for 3 months. He would actually get upset and scream. It took a long time for us to find out he had fallen into the toilet at daycare and got his bum wet. We had to start all over. What finally worked for my son was to take away the diaper. He knew what was expected of him, and what to do but he was just not doing it. It took about two weeks before he no longer had any accidents. He had already gone through all the training he just needed that little extra push.

Our daughter is now ready for potty training. She did show some interest in using the potty a few months ago, but quickly lost interest when I had to explain to her she could not pee standing up like her brother. She is running to the potty saying she has to pee, but she usually has already gone. We are now to the point where she knows she has to go, and she is trying to get to the potty. She has made it through one day no accidents so as of tomorrow she is graduating to underwear all day from now on. We expect lots of accidents but will give it a few weeks.

I spent a lot of time on forums talking with other parents on how to potty train. I got some very good ideas. Some I tried. What seemed to be the most common in all successful potty training methods is:

Consistency: Be consistent with whatever method or system you are using. Make sure every one is using the same method, not Mom doing the sticker reward system and Dad doing the I think you have to go, so every ½ hr I am putting you on the toilet until you go. Find something that your child seems to like (and this can change at any point) and go with that. Don’t just try it for a week and expect miracles, keep doing it for a few weeks. If there is no improvement find out what else will motivate you child and try that for a few weeks. But keep in mind if you are not consistently doing the potty training method it is not going to work, you kid just gets confused and frustrated.

Positive reinforcements: Making a big deal when you child has some success on the toilet goes a long way to making the child want to use the potty. The have positive associations with the toilet or potty. Going in it makes Mommy or Daddy happy. However, getting angry, punishing a child for not making it to the potty, or not using it has a very long negative effect on potty training. If the child is scared, is afraid, or has negative associations with the toilet or potty it is going to be just that much harder to get them to use it. That one time of letting your frustrations known in a negative way will do a lot more damage then good. Do you really want to add months to the time it takes to potty train your kid?

Follow through: With every thing, if you say your going to do some thing with your kids you have to follow through. If you are using a reward system but don’t carry out your side, why should your child keep trying. If you are giving them a smarty or sticker each time they succeed, you have to do it consistently. If you use the sticker reward system, for so many stickers you get to have an extra story at bedtime then you better give them the extra story at bedtime. The child has worked so hard to earn that reward, what damage do you do if you don’t give it to them? How does it make you look in your child’s eyes?

Realistic expectations: Not every child is the same. What works with one may not work with another. Just because your neighbours kid got potty training in a week (nice story by the way, do you have a bridge to sell me to?) does not mean your child is working on the same time line. Don’t expect to do one method for a few days and Ta Da your kid is potty trained. It still takes time and consistency. Also not all children are ready for potty training at the same age. Make sure your child is showing interest in the potty, is aware that they have to go or have gone, and can pull their pants up and down, or take off their diaper. Nothing is more frustrating then having someone put expectations on you that you just cannot meet. If your kid is not ready for potty training, forcing the issue is not going to help.

No matter what method or system you try you have to have patience. This is a skill that has to be taught to your child. They have to learn and then practice so they can get good at it, just like any thing else. Just remember even we the adults have accidents, your child will to.

Relationships and deception: What counts as cheating?

What counts as cheating; any thing that both partners do not or would not agree to. If you are not willing to do or say something in front of your partner, it is cheating. You are doing some thing that would betray their trust in you. Is it any less harmful to cheat emotionally verses physically? It is easer to justify to yourself that becoming emotionally involved with someone is not the same as being sexually intimate and is not cheating. When you are giving parts of yourself that you should be sharing with your partner to some one else it is cheating. This means, time, attention, emotional sharing, or physical contact.

Every couple or relationship has rules. The expectation is that both people are working with the same set of rules. This is not always the case. If every one played by the same rules there would be no market for websites like Ashley Madison, http://www.ashleymadison.com/. It is a web site that lets people who want to cheat find others who have no problem being the one they cheat with. Couples should discus what each other expect the rules to be for their relationship. Once the boundaries have been set, if one crosses them, it is cheating.

This is very important because if you are in a casual relationship with no expectations of monogamy there is no cheating even if both of you are sleeping with some one else. Although most people expect to have the traditional monogamous relationship, that isn’t the norm for others. Polygamy, swingers and open relationships seem to be on the rise, or at least more in the open then it was in the past. This opens unusual but very individual definitions of what is cheating and what is not.

Polygyny, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy, is one man having more then one wife. Polyandry is one woman having more that one husband. Polygamy is having many wives and many husbands at one time, more like a group marriage. It can also been interpreted in a broad sense to mean any form of multiple mating. Would it be seen as cheating to pursue some one with intent of including them into the marriage of many? Or would it be cheating to pursue some one without intent to marry them? What set of rules or boundaries would this type of relationship have?

Swinging, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swinging, or the swinging lifestyle can be defined as non-monogamous sexual activity, treated much like any other social activity that can be experienced as a couple. Swinging activities occur when a married or otherwise committed couple engages in sexual activity with another couple, multiple couples, or a single individual. There are a lot of different rules set by couples, individuals and groups who are involved in this lifestyle. Each set of rules as individual as each person involved.

Open relationship, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_relationship, or polyamorous relationship is a relationship in which participants are free to take other partners. There are quite a lot of people who enjoy the stability and image of being a married couple but want the freedom of being single. This is a very complicated arrangement and very difficult to balance even with some very clear expectations and boundaries.

Only you know what you consider cheating and it is your responsibility to let your partner or partners know where the boundaries are. Boundaries can be from one extreme to another. I know one lady who feels her husband is cheating on her if he looks at porn. Another had an open relationship and the only boundary they placed on each other was that they both always knew the when, where and who the other person was sleeping with. She came home early one evening and found her husband in bed with one of their lovers. She felt he was cheating, even though they both had a sexual relationship with this woman. Why, because the rule was that she should have been told that they were getting together that day. That they did not tell her betrayed her trust in him and her. Ironically the same woman she found with her husband was also the woman I found with my then boyfriend, with whom I thought I had a long-term traditional monogamous relationship.

No matter what the boundaries are in a relationship, it is the breaking of trust that does the most harm. That is what defines cheating. As long as you are doing something that betrays your partners trust it counts as cheating.

Great birthday gifts for your boyfriend

So what do you give that special guy in your life for his birthday? If you have been with him for a while it should be a snap, though not always. But when you have just started dating, it is incredibly hard to know what to get. What you give is going to depend on how long you have been together and what stage of the relationship you are at. So here is a list of great birthdays gifts for your boyfriend to help out when you just don’t know what to get.

Early on in the relationship you may not know very much about him so that can make it hard to get the right thing. You want something neutral that does not say, “I love you” but “I like you a lot”. At the same time you don’t want to give some lame generic gift every one else gives. So what can you give when you have no idea about what he will like? It is not like you can grab some flowers or gift basket. It is a fine line between too much and lame.



1) A card that is nice but not sappy or sexual.
2) Dinner is good option. Keep in mind that some men are not comfortable with their girlfriend paying for dinner early on into the relationship. You may want to go with take out or home cooked meal or go out as a group where every one pays for his meal.
3) Most people like gadgets and there are some very cool ones out there that you can be pretty sure your boyfriend will like. Kinetic Motion toys, Newton's Cradle, also known as balance balls, Mini Digital Camera, Mini Pool Game or Mini Zen garden are just a few ideas under $20.00.
4) You must have some thing in common other wise you would not want to spend time together. Take what little you do know about him and get some thing that is related to that. If it is music getting a CD or DVD but keep the receipt in case he already has that one.

What you do not want to give:

1) Gag gifts
2) Clothing or personal care products (like a moustache trimmer) even if you think he needs it.
3) Anything sexual even if done with humour.
4) Alcoholic or alcohol related
5) Any thing to do with sports or tools unless you know he likes them.
6) Gift certificates

So you have been dating for a bit and have a very good idea of what he likes and dislikes. Theme gifts around his likes tend to go over well. Sports, Cars, bikes, trucks, trains, planes, wolves, comic books, a band or type of music, tools, any type of theme works.



1) A card with a theme around whatever theme he likes.
2) Two tickets to a sports event, though you may be expected to join him unless you can arrange for one of his friends to go with him. Now it could be a concert or an art show, or even a cooking show, what ever he likes.
3) A collectable, maybe signed such as a baseball, football, jersey from the sport or team he likes. One year I gave a rare collectable card (not a sport one but a game one). It was some thing my boyfriend had been looking for. It was only $50.00 but you would think it was made of gold the way he acted.
4) It is very easy to find all types of home and car accessories or memorabilia with any theme. There are mugs, plates, tablecloths, bedding, wall hangings, clothing, video games, movies, car seat covers and more. There is no end of what you can give, and you can find things to fit any budget. The good thing is men will usually say at some point, I want that. It makes it very easy.
5) One lady gave her boyfriend a night out with the boys. She told him to meet her after work at a bar/road house restaurant. When he got there she was waiting out side, dressed to the nines. She told him she already had a table. It was a booth full of his friends. She gave him a birthday card. It held a ticket to a sporting event that night. He had wanted to go but decided to spend his birthday with his girlfriend instead. All the guys had tickets. They had time to eat and then head off to the sporting event. She told him “Have a great time but don’t drink to much because your night ends with me!” Then left him to eat with his friends.

The real problem is that it gets old quick if you always give the “theme” gifts and to be blunt it is some thing any one can do, no real thought needed for the most part. Sure it is nice to be given some thing you like, but not if you know you’re going to get it or some thing like it every year. It is like giving some one a tie all the time. There is a point were it becomes too much, how many wolf cups or figures, towels, pictures do you need. Also there are just some people who just go out and buy what they want and you never know what they have or want. It is nice to have a gift that is unexpected and appreciated. So sure if there is a band he likes get him a CD or DVD but don’t make it the main gift. What you need to figure out is some thing that has special meaning to him. This involves listening and asking questions and is not easy. You have to be creative these days.



1) One lady bought her boyfriend a small chest freezer and then filled it with home cooked meals portioned into individual meals so all he had to do was use the microwave. He loved her cooking, could not cook himself. He used to spend all his money on take out, fast food or frozen dinners. As a bonus he saved money and actually lost some weight because he was eating good food.
2) One lady gave her boyfriend his own domain and web site so he could do a web site about his hobby. Then had a friend help him make it. It was some thing he had been talking about ever since she met him; he just never seemed to get around to doing it.
3) One ladies boyfriend loved dragons and wolves and had statues, figurines, stuffed toy wolves and dragons, pictures, cups with them on it. Just every thing you could think of with wolves and dragons. He never put thought into displaying them. They were all over the place, when he got a new dragon or wolf it went were ever it would fit. She bought him a lighted glass display cabinet/case for them. Most of them fit. I liked that solution, not to buy him yet another dragon or wolf but a way to store and display the things he loved.
4) The same lady came up with a great gift idea the next year. She gave him some bisque pieces of wolves and dragons. This is a ceramic piece that is unpainted. In the birthday card was the receipt for the 4 ceramic classes she had signed him up for. It was so he could make the dragon and wolves his. He painted the two pieces himself. They may not have been the best pieces in his collection but they were displayed as if they were. They meant more to him then any of the other ones that he had bought or was given to him.
5) There is always some new technology creating unusual gift ideas. The new digital picture key chain makes a great gift, especially if you download some pictures that have good memories for him.
6) Unusual gifts that are growing in popularity are Divination of the future like Tarot readings, Palm readings and physic readings. Well being gifts like Reiki are also growing in popularity. Though they are not usually the main gift.
7) There are a lot of spas that cater to men and ladies now. They have become very popular. Men love to be pampered too. It may not be some thing he would buy himself but not many people do not enjoy hand, foot and back treatments.
8) I do not recommend tattoos on your self as a birthday gift for your boyfriend. But if your boyfriend is into tattoos get him a gift certificate for one of the better tattoo parlours, to have one of his own choices done.
9) As fun as they can seem I also do not recommend risqué pictures, even professionally done ones. They always seem to end up in the wrong hands. However one lady gave her boyfriend a big box full of lingerie she had picked out for herself. He was a little confused and worried when he opened it. She explained that she knew threw conversations with him that he liked the idea of her in lingerie but had never been comfortable about buying her some or asking her to wear it. So she took the initiative and removed all the uncertainty. This way she knew it fit and that it was some thing she was comfortable wearing. The lingerie was not the gift though. The gift was that she would wear the lingerie at least once a month and he got to pick what it was she put on.
10) The best birthday gift for your boyfriend is to find out some thing that he has always wanted to do but has not done yet. Then find a way to give it to them. Things like lessons for scuba diving, racecar driving, photography or the camera to take great pictures. Participation theatre is a great way to be a CSI, Sherlock Holmes or a Klingon. There are lots of ways to create unusual gifts if you hear what your boyfriend talks about.

You must have some ideas of what he likes, what he does not like, and what he would love to be able to do. What would he like more, something you did for him or something you bought for him? It is a real question. Some people don’t like anything made, or only want a purchased item. Others love it when someone goes out of their way to make a moment special by what they do, not what they give. Only you know what your guy would like more. A simple gift from the heart can go a long way whether it is purchased, made or created. It is about knowing and understanding what a loved one likes. Talking with each other is the best way to learn what your boyfriend would like. And I don’t mean just ask him what he would like. Talk to him. Find out what he likes, what he wants out of life, what is missing in his life and then see what you can do. It could be as simple as finding him a copy of a movie he loves but does not have. Or tickets to a show, concert, or event that he might not be able to afford to go to, or wants to go but does not think you would like to go. What would make his birthday special to him?

Christmas 2007 Hottest toys for 3 to 4 year old kids

There are always a lot of toys available at Christmas time. So how do you know what is hot and what is not to 3 and 4 year old kids? There are always toys that are more popular with boys or girls and then there are others that are popular with both. The best way to find out what a 3 or 4 year old likes is to ask them, but to help everyone out I have created a list of Christmas 2007 hottest toys for 3 to 4 year old kids.

Unisex toys, ones loved by both boys and girls.

1) Mr Potato Head has been a popular gift for a very long time, and is still loved today. Here are two very popular potato head gifts. Mr. Potato Head Silly Suitcase is $13.97.
Playskool Mr. Potato Head Transformers Optimash Prime Figure. This is $9.99.

2) Fur Real Butterscotch the Pony. This is like giving them a real pony. This is a great toy that interacts with your child. This is $299.95.

3) MoonSand Adventure Island. This seems to be the new playdoh. Very popular. MoonSand Never Dries out so it can be used again and again. This play kit unfolds to reveal a deserted island, 3 colors of sand and molds to make huts, animals and boats. This is $22.47 at www.toysrus.ca.

4) Digital Arts & Crafts Studio. Kids love to use the computer because they see Mommy and Daddy using it all the time. This is a great way to let them “play” on the computer. The Digital Arts & Crafts Studio makes it easy and safe for kids to create arts and crafts with their home PC and printer. Simply plug into the USB port and turn it on. This is $59.99 at www.toysrus.ca.

5) Tote & Go Laptop Plus Colorful laptop with 30 engaging activities that teach language, math, games, and music. This is $29.99 at www.toysrus.ca.

6) 120 Pieces Play Food Set. Kids love to play with this type of toy. They make food, get you to eat it. This is a great gift. This set comes with 120 pieces of assorted plastic food, canned goods, and boxes. This is $19.99 at www.toysrus.ca.

7) Play Smarter Kitchen. Kids enjoy role playing. In free play mode, children play as they please and the kitchen recognizes each food they use. In learning mode, children are prompted to follow instructions that are on the recipe cards. This is $99.99 at www.toysrus.ca.

8) Building Blocks are a lot of fun. This is one of the more popular sets this year. Wonderbuiders - Animal Themed Building Blocks. Large, colourfully decorated blocks, 80 fun pieces total. This is $32.97 at www.toysrus.ca.

9) Play-doh is still popular and comes in many theme sets. Here are a couple of popular ones.
PLAY-DOH Mountain of Colors. Lots of fun accessories and 15 cans of PLAY-DOH. It is $10.47at www.toysrus.ca.
Play-Doh Fuzzy Pumper Crazy Cuts
Create and shape long locks, cool cuts and super styles. Make all kinds of wild and wacky looks with the 3 different style makers, accessories, and tools. This is $10.47 at www.toysrus.ca.

10) Tricycles are very popular for both boys and girls though they can be found in themes that are more popular for a boy or a girl.

16" Tricycle Hot Wheels. This Hot Wheels Tricycle is for ages 2 years 5 years sturdy custom oversized frame accessories include front hand brake, heavy duty fork, Hi back seat and air tire with wheel disc. This is $19.98 at www.toysrus.com.

11) Games are a lot of fun and even older games are popular this year.

Pop-Up Pirate Push the pirate into the barrel, select your favorite color swords and take turns sliding a sword into the barrel of slots. But beware - if the pirate pops out, you're out. This is $24.99.

Hungry Hungry Hippos Each hippo can be activated with one isolated finger or an entire hand. Try to eat the most marbles and win the game. $17.95

12) Kid-Tough Digital Camera gift set $69.99 at www.toysrus.com.


Top Christmas Gifts for boys 3 and 4 years old

1) The number one top Christmas gift that boys are going to be asking for this year is also going to be the hardest one to find. It is the Transformer Bumble Bee from the new Transformer movie. Why is it selling out so fast? Not just little boys are asking for Bumble Bee. It is popular with adults as well, so there is a high demand for this Transformer. If you have a kid who wants Bumble Bee you better buy it now other wise all you will be able to get is the module/statue ones. And little boys do not want those ones because they do not transform.

2) The second will be all the other transformer toys from the movie. Only the ones that transform, not the module/statue ones because little boys don’t not want the ones that do not transform. When people are unable to buy Bumble Bee they are going to buy what ever other transformer their kids like, or can find. So get them well you can.

Here are a couple of great transformer gifts.
a) Transformer Cyber Slammers. Slam this robot down and watch it go in full vehicle mode. As it rolls along, the robot pops up. These do say for 3 and up, but 5 and 6 year olds still like them a lot.
Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, Autobot Jazz, Barricade, Cliffjumber, and Decepticon Brawl Transformer Cyber Slammers are all $7.99 at www.hasbrotoyshop.com.
Autobot Ratchet Transformer Cyber Slammer is $9.99 at www.hasbrotoyshop.com.

b) Transformers Cyber Stompin’ Action figures. They make crashing and crushing sounds, battle sounds, music. They have light-up eyes and chest, a launching robot fist and robot-punch action. There is Bumblebee and Optimus Prime to choose from. They are $19.99 at www.hasbrotoyshop.com.

c) Transformers fast action battlers. Optimus Prime quick-change figure converts from robot mode to truck mode and back again. Robot mode features a launching power-hook projectile. It is $9.99 at www.hasbrotoyshop.com.
Transformers fast action battlers Cannon Blast Ironhide, Battle Blade Starscream, Blade Shield Barricade, Double Missile Decepticon Brawl, Gyro Blade Blackout, Ion Blast Autobot Jazz figures are also available.

d) Transformers Movie Deluxe: Bumblelee Autobot. Change this figure from robot mode to Camaro concept vehicle mode and back again. It features a cannon that converts to a blade in robot mode. This is $9.99 at www.hasbrotoyshop.com. Also available Autobot Jazz, Barricade, Decepticon Brawl, Dreadwing, Megatron, Optimus Prime.

3) Fisher-Price Imaginext dinosaurs. There is a nice selection of dinosaurs so you will have a better chance of getting the one your kid wants. The price is not too high and the selection will let you buy several different types.

4) Spiderman toys are very popular as well. There is even a larger selection of Spiderman toys, games and figures then the transformer toys right now. So the demand by little kids will be high, you do not run the same risk of running out options, as you will with the transformer toys.

5) Yugioh Cards and toys are still in demand and I believe that there are some good computer video Yogioh games out there. The collector tins of Yugioh cards are selling out right now.

6) Diego is very popular. The videos, toys and books are all popular. You can even get furniture, home accessories and even clothing. There is almost no end to Diego products available. You can get big gifts and stocking stuffers quite easily.

7) Trucks and cars and tracks are always popular. Hot wheels cars and tracks are the most popular after the transformer cars. Race tracks are also popular. Here are the top picks.

Hot Wheels 5 Car Gift Set is $7.99 at www.toysrus.ca.
Hot Wheels Shark Park Playset. Kids control a roller coaster elevator that sends cars into the shark's hungry jaws. This is the one my 4 year old son wants, and it is designed for age 4 and up. This is $11.99 at www.toysrus.com.
Hot Wheels Monster Jam Crash & Smash Stadium is $19.99 at www.toysrus.com.
Fast Lane Crash Traxx Super Loop with 2 Light Up Cars is $22.99 at www.toysrus.com’
Cat Construction - Dump Truck Buildable construction vehicles with real rubber wheels, mini blocks and special pieces. This is $9.99 at www.toysrus.ca.


Top Christmas gifts for girls 3 and 4 years old


1) Dora seems to be the most popular for girls in this age range. Almost any thing Dora is very popular from the most expensive toy to an inexpensive book. Here are some of the more popular Dora gifts.

a) Dora the Explorer: Dora's Let's Get Ready Vanity A styling head and vanity all in one, this Dora the Explorer Dora's Let's Get Ready Vanity from Fisher-Price has a full sized Dora styling head with beautiful rooted hair for tons of hair play! This is $99.99 at www.toysrus.ca.

b) Dora's Talking Kitchen - French Edition Includes over 25 accessories and 5 recipe adventures. Creates realistic sound effects. This can be found for about $109.99.

c) Dora Knows Your Name doll Dora Knows Your Name is a 12" cuddly character that incorporates your child's name and favorite things into Dora's phrases and songs. Dora comes with a USB cable, as well as a CD Rom. Using your computer, parent's can download the child's name and favorite things into Dora. This is $49.99.

d) Dora the Explorer - Magical Mermaid Dora Sparkle and Twirl Mermaid Dora transforms from Beach Dora to Mermaid Dora. This is $44.99.

e) Dora the Explorer - Adventure Studio. Over 12 Dora songs. Includes a set of maracas, a Dora outfit, adventure mat and DVD. This is $39.99.

f) Mermaid Adventure - Rainbow Sparkle Dora. This is $14.99.

g) Dora Casa Backyard Treehouse. This is $14.99.

h) Dora the Explorer: Diego and Pony Play Pack. This is $9.98.

i) Dora the Explorer: Dora's Talking Dollhouse This is $51.99 at www.toysrus.com.

2) Baby dolls are always a great gift. Little girls love the $5.00 ones from Wal-Mart as much as the $60.00 ones that eat and drink and have to be changed, or talk to them.

a) Baby Alive Wets & Wiggles Doll Play mommy with this amazing doll that drinks her juice and wets her diaper just like a real baby. This is $29.95 at www.toysrus.ca.

b) Little Mommy Real Loving Baby. Girls are able to name their very own Real Loving Baby, and through speech and hearing the doll will recognize her name, ask for her bottle, play peekaboo with giggles, take her blanket to sleep, and more. This is $47.97 at www.toysrus.ca.

c) Baby Annabell Doll. This Baby Annabell doll is just like a real baby with realistic features, and she now reacts to your voice! When you talk to Baby Annabell she turns her head to the left or the right depending on where your voice is coming from. She babbles, gurgles and sucks on her pacifier. When she drinks from the water-filled bottle, she makes sucking sounds and slowly opens and closes her eyes. Once she has finished drinking, she burps and falls asleep. If she is woken by noise, she cries and real tears roll down her cheeks, but singing soon hushes her. This is $59.99 at www.toysrus.ca.

d) Baby so real. This is a great doll. You can have any combination of features from hair and eye color. You can find one that looks like your little girl or almost anyone. If you go to www.mybabysoreal.com you can pick any doll you like for $29.99.

Written by: Lori-Lee Craig
Medieval Magic
www.medievalmagic.ca

Christmas 2007 Science and discovery gift ideas for tweens

The wonderful world of science and the gifts available for tweens both seem to be constantly expanding. There are some wonderful inventive and attention grabbing science gifts available. I have made a list the best Christmas 2007 science and discovery gift ideas for tweens. As there are such a variety of science disciplines I have tried to give a good mix of gift ideas to cover different areas of science.

1) Books that are full of fun and gross experiments that can be done at home can be a lot of fun and are not as expensive as kits.

Janice VanCleave book 200 Gooey, Slippery, Slimy, Weird and Fun Experiments. This amazing book brings together the best experiments from her popular Science for Every Kid series, plus 40 all-new experiments. This book asks question that are answered through the sciences of physics, earth science, chemistry, biology, and astronomy with 200 safe and low-cost experiments that can be performed at home or in the classroom. This book is $10.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Totally Dinosaurs is a fascinating 32-page full-color book that describes what life was like in the days of the dinosaurs. It includes 46 mix-and-match pieces (bones) that your tween use to assemble five different dinosaur skeletons, or even create their own. This book is $16.95 at http://scientificsonline.com.

2) Science project kits are great gifts. Tweens are usually having so much fun with them they don’t even realise they are learning.

a) Glow in the dark kits: These are the most popular kits for both male and female tweens.

Scientific Explorer Glow In The Dark Fun Lab. We all know how popular and fun glow glow-in-the-dark products are with tweens. This kit lest tweens make their own glow sticks, bubbling wand and other glow-in-the-dark experiments. It is $11.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

b) Edible kits: Tweens get to eat or drink their experiments.

Make your own bubble gum kits. Tweens get to learn how bubble gum is made, and what it is made of and then they get to try their experiments. This can be a lot of fun. I found two kits that are great and both are $12.95.
Bubble Gum Kit. The kit is at www.stevespanglerscience.com.
Scientific Explorer Bubble Gum Fun. This kit is at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Scientific Explorer Ice Cream Science. Tweens get to create their own ice cream using science and a T-shirt. This is a fun and tasty gift. The best part is that they learn all about solids, liquids, and gases as they experiment with making ice cream. This kit is $17.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.


c) Solar kits: These are so cool, solar powered vehicles that your tween gets to build.

Elenco Photon Solar Racer Kit. This is such a cool kit. It is a toy racecar that runs on solar power. Tweens get to build it and learn about solar energy and how to convert it to useful applications, or at least fun ones. No soldering, no batteries needed for the science kit. Comes with high-energy solar panel. The solar car comes in clear plastic. The car can be painted any color scheme that you desire (paint is not supplied). The body of Photon is even made from recycled pop bottles. This kit is $31.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

OWI Robots Amphibious Solar Vehicle kit. Another very cool kit. It is a toy vehicle that works on land and on water and uses solar power. As a tween builds this vehicle they will be learning what materials solar batteries are made from and the characteristics of solar batteries, advantages, and disadvantages of solar power and robotics. This is a non-soldering robot building kit recommended for beginners. No batteries required, it's solar powered and the solar cell is included. Screwdriver and pliers are required for assembly. This kit is $38.95 at www.discoverthis.com.

Solar Grasshopper. This is an easy to build mini-robot that runs on solar power. It comes with all the pieces your tween will need plus detailed diagrams and instructions. Assembly time is approximately 15 minutes and it does not involve any soldering. This kit is $12.95 at www.physlink.com.


d) Fight Crime kits: CSI and Detective shows are great. These kits let tweens learn the science used in these shows.

ScienceWiz CSI Expert - Capture DNA. DNA is one of the fastest growing sciences and is used to solve crime every day. This kit lets a tween isolate DNA from cheek cells. They can also seal the purified DNA and wear it as a pendant if they want. This kit will also show them how to make forgery-proof ink. This kit is $9.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Tree of Knowledge Detecto Lab private detective kit. Your tween will learn over 65 detecting methods such as a fingerprint kit, identity kit, secret codes, make invisible ink, examine fibers, and use a light scope for detection. Investigate, analyze, decipher and solve a mystery story, learn chromatography, identify people by using and identity kit, and more. This kit is $17.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

e) Slime Kits: What tween does not like slime?

Slinky Science Slime Science! Mini-Lab. Your tween can make 5 different kinds of slime with this kit. He or she will learn the science behind the ooey, gooey, ooze. They can create a jiggle slime, a sticky ooze that can glue things together, a mystery material that's solid one minute, liquid the next, a rubbery, stretchy putty, and a classic horror-movie slime. This kit is $9.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Scientific Explorer Sci-Fi Slime. Tweens learn about hydrophilic polymers while mixing up gobs and gobs of slime. A few of the slimes they can make are heat sensitive color changing slime, slime that glows in the dark, or one that moves towards magnets. This kit is $17.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

f) Anatomy Kits: There are some fun ways to learn about what our bodies are made up of.

Scientific Explorer Disgusting Anatomy- Brain. Tweens make a make a gross life-size model of the brain. This kit includes a bonus eyeball kit. This brain kit is $17.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Scientific Explorer Disgusting Anatomy – Heart. Tweens learn the anatomy of the heart as they make a gross life-size model that looks and feels like a real human heart. This kit comes with a bonus eyeball kit. This kit is $17.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

g) Space Kits: Space and rockets are cool and so are these kits.

Space Station 3 Crystals Kit. This kit will teach your tween how the ISS is constructed, why astronauts will grow crystals in space, and how to create their own dazzling collection of 3 sparkling crystals, Emerald, Quartz, and Amethyst, right at home. This kit is $14.95 at www.physlink.com.

Hydrogen Fuel Rocket Kit. This is to make a rocket that runs on hydrogen fuel. This new hydrogen fuel technology uses water to generate the hydrogen fuel needed to thrust a sleek rocket 200 feet into the sky. The Hydrogen Fuel Rocket is a wonderful mixture of science and fun. This kit is $39.95 at www.physlink.com.

4M Kidz Labs 3D Glow Solar System Mobile Kit. This kit lets your tween build a 3D solar system mobile that hangs and revolves. This kit includes: full set of snap to build, no glue needed solar system plastic planets, full set of easy-to-assemble hanging structure and hanging Lines, 2 paint strips, glow paint, paint brush, bonus wall chart with fun facts of solar system (size: 42cm x 60cm) painting and assembling instruction sheet. The kit is $17.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

h) Just about science kits: these are kits that are more general science then the other kits.

Educational Insights - Hows and Whys of Science Kit. Tweens can conduct experiments using over 18 special lab instruments and materials included in this multi-subject kit, plus a few items from the kitchen cupboard. Using this kit a tween will gain an understanding of real scientific phenomena. The guide that comes with the kit has hundreds of experiments and scientific reports. The kit is $36.95 is www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

3) Games that tweens can learn as they have fun playing.

Smart Lab Weird & Gross Computer-Book Challenge. This is a wonderful combination game that uses the computer and a book. Tweens can play by themselves or in a 2-player game. As the name indicates it is also bizarre, disgusting and nasty so tweens love it. It is $17.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

AristoPlay Mars 2020 game - A race to Mars. It's a race to Mars in the year 2020. This game is for 2-6 players and has over 550 space travel and astronomy questions, endorsed by Jack Lousma, U.S. Astronaut! This is actually a fun game to play. Each player is an astronaut. Astronauts choose a spaceship and a crewmember and try to land on Mars first. This game is $31.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Cogno Deep Worlds Game. This game is for 2 to 6 players and takes 30-50 minutes to play. This game looks like it is fun to play and you learn all about space as you play. How do you play game? Pick your favourite alien game piece; there are 8 wild looking pieces each with different capabilities and personalities. Be the first to collect three fuel cells by answering fun, unusual science questions. The questions are not trivia; they're about space and the universe. Avoid the Alien Whirlpool, Deep Trench, and survive the DiveZones, using strategy to race others safely back to the beach. Leave the main board and enter the Parallel Universe where anything can happen. You might get lucky and suck another player in. And use your greatest weapon wisely - the Time Machine Token. Free inside every game is the 28-page "Book of Y" which reveals the science behind every one of the board game's 261 questions, in fun, easy to understand language. This game is $28.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Educational Insights Bioviva. Ecological Adventure Game. This game is for 2 – 6 players. Bioviva is an Eco-Trivia mind challenging game that is fun to play as you learn all about ecology. It does not sound like a lot of fun, until you see some of the questions. Here are a couple questions. Do you know which "polluted" city sells fresh air by the pound? What ice cream flavor comes from an orchid? Which spider is a true "quarter pounder"? How about which plant prevents tooth decay? Which U.S. city has the most polluted air? Or which animal spits blood from its eyes? This game is $28.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Learning Resources Caught in the Web - An Insect Game. This game is for 2-4 players. Learn about insects and their habitats by answering the true/false questions and moving "backyard bug" around the game board. To win, be the first to get your insect back home without getting caught in the web! Game pieces are shaped like a dragonfly, butterfly, grasshopper and bee. This game is $19.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

4) Just for fun science gifts.

Giant Plush Microbes is a plush microbe 1,000,000 times bigger then the real thing. They are actually cute. The only time your tween will thank you for giving them a cold. These are funny, and unusual. You can pick from a huge selection of icky things to give her, including a brain cell, mad cow disease or the plague - Black Death. They are $7.99 at www.thinkgeek.com

Magic Garden Kit. Your tween can create science art using this kit. This kit comes with mountain, trees and flowers made of paper and a plastic base. Assembled the paper garden, pour the magic garden solution on the paper. Within hours, the flowers bloom, the trees bud and snow appears on the mountain. This spectacular scene and its metamorphoses are fun to watch. This kit is $5.95 at http://scientificsonline.com.

Written by: Lori-Lee Craig
Medieval Magic
www.medievalmagic.ca

Christmas presents your teen girl will always remember

Every year we struggle to make Christmas perfect. We rush around buying this and that, decorating the house, wrapping gifts, going to parties, having parties and just generally are busier then any other time of the year. We worry about having enough money and time to get every thing done. We spend time fighting our way through busy stores looking for just the right gifts to make Christmas perfect. We try to get all the “important” gifts on our children’s Christmas lists and make every Christmas memorable. The truth is we don’t know what present a teen girl will always remember. We have no idea what is going to end up being that special gift that stays in her memory.

Often times it is not the big flashy gift she had to have. More often then not it is something small that has some impact on her, has more meaning to her then anything else. There is no way to know what that will be. All we can do is try our best to find things that we think she will love, enjoy and use, and hope she likes them all. And just maybe some thing we give her this year will be the present she will always cherish and remember.

We also have to remember for the most part it is not receiving the gift on Christmas morning that makes a gift memorable, but it is the time spent with that gift and the memories around it. What might make the gift important is who gave it to her, how it was given to her and just how much she likes it. However, knowing that is not going to stop us from trying to find the one gift that stands apart from all other gifts she has ever received.

The best way to go about finding that gift is to look for gifts that suit her. It is not important how much it costs, if it is trendy or the newest technology. All that matters is that it is something that fits her personality. Something that is symbolic to her. It could be a necklace, a book, stuffy, a craft kit, a joke gift, her first journal, a CD of a band she never heard of before, or anything. The one thing we can all be sure on is that her most memorable Christmas present will not be a gift certificate or gift card.

Chances are you are looking for something a little usual that will stand out a bit but as we both know the gift she likes the most could be any thing. Think about what your teen girl has shown interest in and have fun looking. Just take the pressure off yourself because you do not decide what Christmas presents your teen girl will always remember, she does. It is too individual of a thing for anyone else to tell you what Christmas presents your teen girl will always remember as being special.

Christmas 2007 Science and discovery gift ideas for teens

Science is cool and more teens are discovering that mainly due to shows like CSI, Bones, Numbers, Journey to Mars, Race to Mars, and Myth Busters. There are a lot of gifts available for teens who are interested in science and quite a few that will capture a teenager’s interest even if they are not interested in science. I have created a list of the top Christmas 2007 Science and discovery gift ideas for teens. As there are so many fields under the title science I have tried to give a variety of science and discovery gift ideas. You will also have to keep in mind that a 13 year old and a 19 year old are not going to be at the same science level and are not going to be interested in the same things. I have tried to give a variety of items that will be of interest for teens at multiple science levels.

1) Wear it: Teens love clothing. I have found some science themed clothing suitable for both the older and younger teens. I have only listed t-shirts though I did find some hoodies and hats.

The Periodic Table T-Shirt. The 7-color Periodic Table black t-shirt is made from 100% cotton and glows-in-the-dark. This shirt is $16.95 at http://scientificsonline.com.

Heavy Metal T-shirt is 100% cotton heavyweight black tee with white and red depictions of 11 heavy metals from copper to bismuth doodled in the style of a 16-year-old metalhead. The shirt is $16.99 at www.thinkgeek.com.

Caffeine Molecule and Capsaicin Molecule T-shirts are great for both male and female teens. The caffeine molecule is printed in lime green on a navy shirt. The capsaicin molecule is printed in bright red on a maroon shirt. Both can be found at www.thinkgeek.com for $14.99.

Chocolate molecule ladies t-shirt. The Theobromine molecule is printed in magenta on a dark chocolate colored shirt and it is $17.99 at www.thinkgeek.com.

"Actually, I AM a Rocket Scientist" T-Shirt is $19.95 at www.findgift.com.

“You Are Here” 100% cotton heavyweight black t-shirt. On the front, a view of the Milky Way galaxy with a sign that reads "You are Here" pointing in the general direction of Earth. The shirt is $16.99 at www.thinkgeek.com.

2) Science Books and software packages: Always interesting and you can find some with quite a few more scientific experiments and information then are found in kits and are often less expensive then kits.

MythBusters: Don't Try This at Home book. This is a very popular show, its science but fun science. I am a huge fan of the show and even though the experiments are not done in the traditional scientific manner it is still science and very interesting. Not to mention very entertaining. Each chapter tackles a different myth, urban legend, or wives tale and gives an experiment a teen can do that's related to the topic. There's also BrainBusters true and false quiz for each chapter cool facts about stuff. $12.99 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Crime Scene Investigation. Learn how evidence from a crime scene is magnified, run through machines, separated into parts, and examined with x-rays and lasers as computer experts, forensic botanists, artists, microbiologists, dentists, forensic anthropologists, and chemists work to catch crooks, killers, counterfeiters, and computer hackers. Then hone your own reasoning skills to solve crimes from police case files. I am a CSI fan and think that this book would be great for any one who is a fan of the shows. This is for any CSI wanabe. This book is $15.84 at www.sargentwelch.ca.

Janice VanCleave book 200 Gooey, Slippery, Slimy, Weird and Fun Experiments book. This book asks question that are answered through the sciences of physics, earth science, chemistry, biology, and astronomy with 200 safe and low-cost experiments that can be performed at home or in the classroom. This book is $10.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

"The Thomas Edison Book of Easy and Incredible Experiments", by James Cook. This is great for some one who is interested in general science. A great project book with 64 Edison experiments in physics, electricity, chemistry and energy. Includes full background information, scientific principles, procedures and expected results. Most experiments can be completed with household materials. This book is $14.95 at www.hometrainingtools.com

Usborne Science Encyclopedia. This is a great encyclopedia with tones of useful information on all science disciplines, over 8 sections with 20 major topics in each. It even has 140 experiment and activity ideas to do.
This book is $19.95 at www.hometrainingtools.com.

A+ Projects in Earth Science book By Janice VanCleave. This book explores 30 important earth science topics through hands-on experiments. Topic categories include mapping the earth, the earth in space, composition of the earth, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. The book is $12.95 at www.hometrainingtools.com.

Starry Night Enthusiast Astronomy Software. This software provides a comprehensive astronomy course. Using 3D graphics this software shows stars visible from a backyard to distant galaxies deep in space. You can also view live images from special observation equipment via the Internet, keep track of upcoming events, create videos and files to easily view an event again later and read detailed information about each of the 2.5 million celestial objects. This software is $79.95 at www.hometrainingtools.com.

3) Space and space travel: Space and rockets have been popular since before we landed on the Moon. Now that they are building space stations and talking about going to Mars it is only increasing in popularity.

Space Station 3 Crystals Kit. This kit will teach your teen how the ISS is constructed, why astronauts will grow crystals in space, and how to create their own dazzling collection of 3 sparkling crystals, Emerald, Quartz, and Amethyst, right at home. This kit is $14.95 at www.physlink.com.

Star Pocket Accurate pocket size star finder to identify 70 constellations and 42 main stars. This kit includes 2 star maps, one for each hemisphere, 4 latitude attachments, built-in compass, protective sleeve, and an instruction booklet. It is $29.95 at www.physlink.com.

Hydrogen Fuel Rocket Kit. This is to make a rocket that runs on hydrogen fuel. This new hydrogen fuel technology uses water to generate the hydrogen fuel needed to thrust a sleek rocket 200 feet into the sky. The Hydrogen Fuel Rocket is a wonderful mixture of science and fun. This kit is $39.95 at www.physlink.com.

Astro Pack. This handy pack is a great tool for the beginning astronomy hobbyist. It includes a planisphere that shows the positions of the stars and constellations for any hour in the year; a book on how to choose, set up, and use a telescope; a month-by-month guide to the night sky; and a star chart that contains detailed comprehensive maps of the heavens. This is $21.95 at www.hometrainingtools.com.

Astrolabe Kit. Use this handy device to determine the declination (elevation) and azimuth (horizontal arc) of any star or celestial body. You provide a compass. Astrolabes have been used in navigation for more than 2000 years, although their heyday was during the explorations of the 1400-1500s. Now the Global Positioning System has eliminated the need to rely on the stars for navigation, but using an astrolabe is still a fun astronomy activity! Instructions are printed right on the plastic body. This is $13.50 at www.hometrainingtools.com.

Home Planetarium. This unique Space Theater home planetarium enhances your astronomy studies by projecting star positions as white points of light onto any wall or ceiling. Positions are accurate for each day of the year. The home planetarium includes five changeable constellation masks that show 5-7 constellations for each season plus circum-polar (unsetting northern) stars. This planetarium includes a 32-page activity guide with planet locator tables and an instructional audio CD with facts and ancient stories about the night sky, plus set up and viewing tips for each mask. This is $27.95 at www.hometrainingtools.com.

4) Cars and robots: There are a lot of advances in solar and robotic technology every day. There are new science projects in both these fields available all the time. I have found some that look like a lot of fun and are educational.

OWI Robots Amphibious Solar Vehicle kit. It is a toy vehicle that works on land and on water and uses solar power. As a teen builds this vehicle they will be learning what materials solar batteries are made from and the characteristics of solar batteries, advantages, and disadvantages of solar power and robotics. This is a non-soldering robot building kit recommended for beginners. No batteries required, it's solar powered and the solar cell is included. Screwdriver and pliers are required for assembly. This kit is $38.95 at www.discoverthis.com.

Solar Grasshopper. This is an easy to build mini-robot that runs on solar power. It comes with all the pieces your teen will need plus detailed diagrams and instructions. Assembly time is approximately 15 minutes and it does not involve any soldering. This kit is $12.95 at www.physlink.com.

Intelligent Fuel Cell Car. The Car Kit Manual features experiments and background information to help your teen explore the history and future of emerging fuel cell technology. The Intelligent Fuel Cell Car is powered by the PEM Reversible Fuel Cell, which safely converts the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. The clear plastic "intelligent" car backs up and turns 90 degrees when it hits a barrier. This kit is $79.95 at http://scientificsonline.com.

Elenco Photon Solar Racer Kit. This is such a cool kit. It is a toy race car that runs on solar power. Teens get to build it and learn about solar energy and how to convert it to useful applications, or at least fun ones. No soldering, no batteries needed for the science kit. Comes with high-energy solar panel. The solar car comes in clear plastic. The car can be painted any color scheme that you desire (paint is not supplied). The body of Photon is even made from recycled pop bottles. This kit is $31.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Bioloid Humanoid Robotics Kit. The Bioloid can be configured as the default human form, or assembled into any one of dozens of different robotic creatures. 18 servos, a full motion editor and visual programming environment allow a teen to make the Bioloid interact with it's surroundings while performing complex movements that put other toy robots to shame. The Bioloid comes with several example programs to make it walk, avoid obstacles and interact with sound. The sensor module in the head of the robot features an IrDA receiver (for communicating with other robots via infrared), three proximity sensors (left, right and front) that can measure distance and luminosity, a microphone for sound detection and a piezo-electric speaker that can be used to play musical scales or generate simple beeping sounds. Robot can be programmed custom movements and behavior logic. This kit is $899.99 at www.thinkgeek.com.

Ultimate Robot Kit All you need to make 5 amazing robots. Ultimate Robot Kit comes with everything you need to build four robots: from plastic gears to a power pod, from cardboard frames to instruction cards with detailed photographs. Once you’ve mastered the BounceBot, CreepycrawlyBot, KnotBot and Gobblebot, use the extra pieces and create a fifth robot of your own design. This kit is $29.95 at http://scientificsonline.com.

5) Science games: It is always great to learn when you are playing a game you are enjoying. You often don’t even realise how much you are learning.

Smart Lab Science & Nature Computer-Book Challenge. This is a wonderful combination game that uses the computer and a book. Teens can play by themselves or in a 2-player game. This game is fun and they learn all about nature and science as they play. Here is an example of some of the questions. What is the only rock that floats in water? What animal sleeps just two hours at a time, and always keeps an eye open? Where did the world's first industrial robot go to work? This game is $17.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Smart Lab Weird & Gross Computer-Book Challenge. This is a wonderful combination game that uses the computer and a book. Teens can play by themselves or in a 2-player game. As the name indicates it is also bizarre, disgusting and nasty so teens love it. It is $17.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

AristoPlay Mars 2020 game - A race to Mars. It's a race to Mars in the year 2020. This game is for 2-6 players and has over 550 space travel and astronomy questions, endorsed by Jack Lousma, U.S. Astronaut! This is actually a fun game to play. Each player is an astronaut. Astronauts choose a spaceship and a crewmember and try to land on Mars first. This game is $31.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Cogno Deep Worlds Game. This game is for 2 to 6 players and takes 30-50 minutes to play. This game looks like it is fun to play and you learn all about space as you play. How do you play game? Pick your favourite alien game piece; there are 8 wild looking pieces each with different capabilities and personalities. Be the first to collect three fuel cells by answering fun, unusual science questions. The questions are not trivia; they're about space and the universe. Avoid the Alien Whirlpool, Deep Trench, and survive the DiveZones, using strategy to race others safely back to the beach. Leave the main board and enter the Parallel Universe where anything can happen. You might get lucky and suck another player in. And use your greatest weapon wisely - the Time Machine Token. Free inside every game is the 28-page "Book of Y" which reveals the science behind every one of the board game's 261 questions, in fun, easy to understand language. This game is $28.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Educational Insights Bioviva. Ecological Adventure Game. This game is for 2 – 6 players. Bioviva is an Eco-Trivia mind challenging game that is fun to play as you learn all about ecology. It does not sound like a lot of fun, until you see some of the questions. Here are a couple questions. Do you know which "polluted" city sells fresh air by the pound? What ice cream flavor comes from an orchid? Which spider is a true "quarter pounder"? How about which plant prevents tooth decay? Which U.S. city has the most polluted air? Or which animal spits blood from its eyes? This game is $28.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

6) Slime: How much fun is it to play with slime, even older teens enjoy these projects and kits.

Slinky Science Slime Science. Mini-Lab. Your teen can make 5 different kinds of slime with this kit. He or she will learn the science behind the ooey, gooey, ooze. They can create a jiggle slime, a sticky ooze that can glue things together, a mystery material that's solid one minute, liquid the next, a rubbery, stretchy putty, and a classic horror-movie slime. This kit is $9.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Scientific Explorer Sci-Fi Slime. Teens learn about hydrophilic polymers while mixing up gobs and gobs of slime. A few of the slimes they can make are heat sensitive color changing slime, slime that glows in the dark, or one that moves towards magnets. This kit is $17.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

7) Edible kits: Teens get to eat or drink their experiments.

Make your own bubble gum kits. Teens get to learn how bubble gum is made, and what it is made of and then they get to try their experiments. This can be a lot of fun. I found two kits that are great and both are $12.95.
Bubble Gum Kit. The kit is at www.stevespanglerscience.com.
Scientific Explorer Bubble Gum Fun. This kit is at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com.

Scientific Explorer Ice Cream Science. Teens get to create their own ice cream using science and a T-shirt. This is a fun and tasty gift. The best part is that they learn all about solids, liquids, and gases as they experiment with making ice cream. This kit is $17.95 at www.sciencestoreforthestars.com

8) Just for fun science gift: It is nice to give gifts that are just fun even though they revolve around science.

Giant Plush Microbes is a plush microbe 1,000,000 times bigger then the real thing. They are actually cute. The only time someone will thank you for giving him or her a cold. These are funny, and unusual. You can pick from a huge selection of icky things to give her, including a brain cell, mad cow disease or the plague - Black Death. They are $7.99 at www.thinkgeek.com.

Magic Garden. Art is science and this is science art. This is science but it does not seem to be. The kit comes with mountain, trees and flowers made of paper and a plastic base. Assembled the paper garden, pour the magic garden solution on the paper. Within hours, the flowers bloom, the trees bud and snow appears on the mountain. This spectacular scene and its metamorphoses is fun to watch. This kit is $5.95 at http://scientificsonline.com.

AntWorks - Space Age Ant Habitat. This just looks cool. This is just one of those things that has to be seen. I have to say I don’t actually like ants but I like this ant habitat. AntWorks is based on a 2003 NASA Space Shuttle experiment to study animal life in space and test how ants successfully tunnel in micro gravity. The AntWorks Gel (Non Toxic) is complete with nutrients to promote healthy growth in the new colony. This kit is $29.99 at www.thinkgeek.com.

Written by: Lori-Lee Craig
Medieval Magic
www.medievalmagic.ca