genius ... just what i needed
http://www.rolbe.com/etsy.htm
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
standard necklace length
i haven't been doing much with my blog
i have been putting together some standards for jewelry making just as references i can refer to later on ... so here is the first one
i always wonder what length should i make certain necklaces in ... so here is a quick reference of length
for women's
16 inches is choker length
17 - 18 inches is at collarbone
20 inches is a few inches below collerbone
22 inches at or above neckline
24 inches below neckline
28 - 30 inches at or below bust line
for men's
18 inches is at the base of the neck (for some men this is already really tight)
20 inches is at collarbone which is most common size for average men
22 inches is a few inches below collarbone
24 inches is just above the sternum
sizing:
in general it is better to have a 2 inches minimum for anything close to the neck
if your neck size measures at 15 inches it is better to choose a 17 - 18 inches necklace, which also depends on the chain you choose to wear too. for something that would require to lie flat on your neck, you would want to have it longer than shorter just for appearance.
for men in general 20 inches should be good for a simple chain. necklace with hanging pendants or charms should require a longer necklace.
i have been putting together some standards for jewelry making just as references i can refer to later on ... so here is the first one
i always wonder what length should i make certain necklaces in ... so here is a quick reference of length
for women's
16 inches is choker length
17 - 18 inches is at collarbone
20 inches is a few inches below collerbone
22 inches at or above neckline
24 inches below neckline
28 - 30 inches at or below bust line
for men's
18 inches is at the base of the neck (for some men this is already really tight)
20 inches is at collarbone which is most common size for average men
22 inches is a few inches below collarbone
24 inches is just above the sternum
sizing:
in general it is better to have a 2 inches minimum for anything close to the neck
if your neck size measures at 15 inches it is better to choose a 17 - 18 inches necklace, which also depends on the chain you choose to wear too. for something that would require to lie flat on your neck, you would want to have it longer than shorter just for appearance.
for men in general 20 inches should be good for a simple chain. necklace with hanging pendants or charms should require a longer necklace.
Monday, December 01, 2008
fund raising for toysfortots.org and a family in need to recovery
november raised $42.06 for toysfortots.org
10% retail sales at my jewelry findings etsy shops proceed to toysfortots.org
for month of november and december 2008
shop for a cause visit my etsy online shops:
petite spoon
and
petite vintage
10% retail sales at my jewelry shops proceed to a family in need to recovery from lost of their house to the Porter Ranch fire
shop for a cause visit these shops:
petite design
or
love.stella & dot
10% retail sales at my jewelry findings etsy shops proceed to toysfortots.org
for month of november and december 2008
shop for a cause visit my etsy online shops:
petite spoon
and
petite vintage
10% retail sales at my jewelry shops proceed to a family in need to recovery from lost of their house to the Porter Ranch fire
shop for a cause visit these shops:
petite design
or
love.stella & dot
Saturday, November 01, 2008
Revolution Money Exchange
I love referrals ... buy something from my etsy shops and get Free Shipping if you sign up with RME =D
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
ceramic stone beads
absolutely stunning colors
these are the multi color pebbles
size range from 9mm to 13mm
these are the multi color pebbles
size range from 9mm to 13mm
colors from top to bottom:
leafy
firecracker
banana
ash
rose
leafy
firecracker
banana
ash
rose
summer
mellow
plummy
pollack
sky
65 g pack for $30
200 g pack for $85
order yours for june delivery
petitespoon.etsy.com
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
got toms?
have you gotten your pair of toms yet?
it is for a great cause
buy a pair of toms ... toms will matched every pair purchased with a donated pair to a child in need of shoes
i bought 2 pairs of natural canvas the other day and i am going to paint those
www.tomsshoes.com
Sunday, April 06, 2008
showcase 03 : origami fabric
i purchased this lovely fabric for someone to design a diaper fanny pack for me ... let see how it will turn out in a couple of weeks ...
if you like fabrics and modern japanese prints check out www.karaku.etsy.com and speak with mayumi the owner of the shop in tokyo
Thursday, April 03, 2008
the cookie diet
okay ... i am skeptical too ... cookie and diet just doesn't mesh well together ...
the japanese makes everything look so pretty ... it is the most popular diet in japan and now it is slowly invading the united state market ... it is called soypal cookie diet.
lose 9 pounds in 9 days ... wow!
so basically the juice is okara ... pulp fiber by product of soymilk and tofu ... and made into cookie with added flavor ... cause who likes fiber ... taste literally like cardboard if no flavor added =P ... the protein part is the plus and other vitamins added.
you get 7 cookies per package ... good size cookies ... the idea is to chew those okay yummy cookies down nice and slow and drink two glass of fluid so the high fiber can expand in your stomach to make you full like having a meal but without the added calories ... 150kcal per pack.
replace one meal in a day with cookies ... usually dinner would be best.
well since i can't go on the diet just yet cause of breast feeding. i eat the cookie when i feel hungry so i don't have to dive into junk food like chips and popcorn etc.
the main thing about diet is to eat less and exercise! and also not to starve yourself ... cause when you starve your body actually store up more fat.
so one of my mom's friend is actually going on this diet of full force and she said it is working well for her to replace her dinner.
www.soypal.com
the japanese makes everything look so pretty ... it is the most popular diet in japan and now it is slowly invading the united state market ... it is called soypal cookie diet.
lose 9 pounds in 9 days ... wow!
so basically the juice is okara ... pulp fiber by product of soymilk and tofu ... and made into cookie with added flavor ... cause who likes fiber ... taste literally like cardboard if no flavor added =P ... the protein part is the plus and other vitamins added.
you get 7 cookies per package ... good size cookies ... the idea is to chew those okay yummy cookies down nice and slow and drink two glass of fluid so the high fiber can expand in your stomach to make you full like having a meal but without the added calories ... 150kcal per pack.
replace one meal in a day with cookies ... usually dinner would be best.
well since i can't go on the diet just yet cause of breast feeding. i eat the cookie when i feel hungry so i don't have to dive into junk food like chips and popcorn etc.
the main thing about diet is to eat less and exercise! and also not to starve yourself ... cause when you starve your body actually store up more fat.
so one of my mom's friend is actually going on this diet of full force and she said it is working well for her to replace her dinner.
www.soypal.com
Friday, March 28, 2008
freeways lungs
i can only rant but nothing can be done ... that is just so sad =(
Living Near Freeways Hurts Kids' Lungs
FRIDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Children growing up alongside freeways risk having their lung development impaired, which can increase the likelihood of serious respiratory diseases later in life, researchers report.
Other studies have shown that children living next to highways are more likely to develop respiratory problems, such as asthma. But this is the first study to show that long exposure to car and truck exhaust actually affects the growth of the lungs, and hence their capacity.
The report is published in the Jan. 26 online issue of The Lancet.
"Exposure from tailpipe emissions from motor vehicles potentially carries chronic health risks to children's lung development," said lead researcher W. James Gauderman, an assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. "We found that kids who live closer to freeways had significantly less lung capacity, compared with kids who lived further from freeways."
In the study, Gauderman and his colleagues followed 3,677 children for eight years, tracking their lung development. The children were 10 at the start of the study, and came from 12 southern California communities. The air quality differed in each community.
The researchers found that lung growth in children who lived within 500 meters of a freeway (about a quarter of a mile) was significantly less than children who lived 1,500 meters or more from a freeway.
Gauderman's group also found that exposure to freeways and regional air pollution had negative and independent effects on the growth of lung function. In addition, there was a significant drop in percentage of expected lung function among 18-year-olds who lived within 500 meters of a freeway.
Gauderman thinks that these effects on lung development are serious. "Lung capacity is something that once a child is done growing, that amount of lung capacity they have is carried with them throughout their adult life," he explained.
Lung capacity is further reduced as people age, Gauderman said. "Reduced lung capacity is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and respiratory diseases, such as emphysema," he added.
"What we worry most about are kids who have compromised lung function to start out with," Gauderman said. "When they are older, they will have a significantly increased risk for respiratory diseases."
One expert thinks that the problem is real, but the solution is elusive, and only changes in neighborhoods or automobile emissions seem likely to have an impact.
"Prior studies and common sense both suggest that breathing in a great deal of automobile exhaust cannot be good for the healthy development of children's lungs," said Dr. David L. Katz, an associate professor of public health and director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine.
These data show a clear and clinically important association between the proximity of a child's home to a major freeway and deficits in lung function by age 18, Katz said. "The deficits observed in the force and volume of each breath suggests increased risk of asthma and bronchitis, as well as a decreased capacity for physical exertion," he said.
What these investigators cannot do is fix the problem, Katz said. "Can we redesign urban neighborhoods so that no home or school is near highway traffic? Can we reduce the volume and/or composition of car exhaust so that highways no longer represent threats to the lungs of growing children?" he asked.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians can tell you more about outdoor air pollution.
Copyright © 2007 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Living Near Freeways Hurts Kids' Lungs
FRIDAY, Jan. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Children growing up alongside freeways risk having their lung development impaired, which can increase the likelihood of serious respiratory diseases later in life, researchers report.
Other studies have shown that children living next to highways are more likely to develop respiratory problems, such as asthma. But this is the first study to show that long exposure to car and truck exhaust actually affects the growth of the lungs, and hence their capacity.
The report is published in the Jan. 26 online issue of The Lancet.
"Exposure from tailpipe emissions from motor vehicles potentially carries chronic health risks to children's lung development," said lead researcher W. James Gauderman, an assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. "We found that kids who live closer to freeways had significantly less lung capacity, compared with kids who lived further from freeways."
In the study, Gauderman and his colleagues followed 3,677 children for eight years, tracking their lung development. The children were 10 at the start of the study, and came from 12 southern California communities. The air quality differed in each community.
The researchers found that lung growth in children who lived within 500 meters of a freeway (about a quarter of a mile) was significantly less than children who lived 1,500 meters or more from a freeway.
Gauderman's group also found that exposure to freeways and regional air pollution had negative and independent effects on the growth of lung function. In addition, there was a significant drop in percentage of expected lung function among 18-year-olds who lived within 500 meters of a freeway.
Gauderman thinks that these effects on lung development are serious. "Lung capacity is something that once a child is done growing, that amount of lung capacity they have is carried with them throughout their adult life," he explained.
Lung capacity is further reduced as people age, Gauderman said. "Reduced lung capacity is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and respiratory diseases, such as emphysema," he added.
"What we worry most about are kids who have compromised lung function to start out with," Gauderman said. "When they are older, they will have a significantly increased risk for respiratory diseases."
One expert thinks that the problem is real, but the solution is elusive, and only changes in neighborhoods or automobile emissions seem likely to have an impact.
"Prior studies and common sense both suggest that breathing in a great deal of automobile exhaust cannot be good for the healthy development of children's lungs," said Dr. David L. Katz, an associate professor of public health and director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine.
These data show a clear and clinically important association between the proximity of a child's home to a major freeway and deficits in lung function by age 18, Katz said. "The deficits observed in the force and volume of each breath suggests increased risk of asthma and bronchitis, as well as a decreased capacity for physical exertion," he said.
What these investigators cannot do is fix the problem, Katz said. "Can we redesign urban neighborhoods so that no home or school is near highway traffic? Can we reduce the volume and/or composition of car exhaust so that highways no longer represent threats to the lungs of growing children?" he asked.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians can tell you more about outdoor air pollution.
Copyright © 2007 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
wonderless years
my rant of the blog is about irresponsible people and a chain reaction of events that leads to this rant
it is all common sense, but i still like to put this all down
if someone care about children and the well being of children would they choose to open a preschool next to a location of a busy freeway overpass in los angeles? especially the busy 10 and 405 intersection ... and the 405 was also expanded which means more cars and more pollutants in the morning hours.
maybe they didn’t do it intentionally or they did because all they care is about the money since it is a business.
another argument would be affordability ... but then what is the price of your child health?
it is really the chicken or the egg ... supply and demand ... and the cycle of hypocritical issue
if there is one preschool that is not near the freeway that cost let say $1,000 a month vs. the one that is just next to it that cost $800 a month ... but then your child would suffer from air pollution that would lead to deteriorate lung functions and cardiovascular diseases down the road as in leading into adulthood ... would you rethink for a moment ... starting at age 2 exposed for 4-8 hours a day until they turn 5 or 6 before moving them to a public school hopefully not near a freeway ... sinus infection that would lead to asthma, bronchitis etc … even as healthy as your child to begin with, exposure to even second hand smoking is a bad deal starting at a very young age.
why are those preschool given a license? what is the loophole of criteria to open a preschool but not dealing with environmental issue … which also is a health issue … in a virus level … should someone responsible who has the power to change please put this down for any school private or public … do not have schools be built near freeways which is a toxic area.
the worst of all thing ... is be in denial ... seriously it doesn't matter which direction the wind blows ... the worst is when there is no wind to blow anything away and all the pollutants just settle in the air where the children laugh away their lives!
here is a letter in regards to health of children who grow up breathing polluted air:
http://www.portoflosangeles.org/EIR/TraPacFIER/FEIR_Chapter_2G_Academia_and_Local_Chapters.pdf
it is all common sense, but i still like to put this all down
if someone care about children and the well being of children would they choose to open a preschool next to a location of a busy freeway overpass in los angeles? especially the busy 10 and 405 intersection ... and the 405 was also expanded which means more cars and more pollutants in the morning hours.
maybe they didn’t do it intentionally or they did because all they care is about the money since it is a business.
another argument would be affordability ... but then what is the price of your child health?
it is really the chicken or the egg ... supply and demand ... and the cycle of hypocritical issue
if there is one preschool that is not near the freeway that cost let say $1,000 a month vs. the one that is just next to it that cost $800 a month ... but then your child would suffer from air pollution that would lead to deteriorate lung functions and cardiovascular diseases down the road as in leading into adulthood ... would you rethink for a moment ... starting at age 2 exposed for 4-8 hours a day until they turn 5 or 6 before moving them to a public school hopefully not near a freeway ... sinus infection that would lead to asthma, bronchitis etc … even as healthy as your child to begin with, exposure to even second hand smoking is a bad deal starting at a very young age.
why are those preschool given a license? what is the loophole of criteria to open a preschool but not dealing with environmental issue … which also is a health issue … in a virus level … should someone responsible who has the power to change please put this down for any school private or public … do not have schools be built near freeways which is a toxic area.
the worst of all thing ... is be in denial ... seriously it doesn't matter which direction the wind blows ... the worst is when there is no wind to blow anything away and all the pollutants just settle in the air where the children laugh away their lives!
here is a letter in regards to health of children who grow up breathing polluted air:
http://www.portoflosangeles.org/EIR/TraPacFIER/FEIR_Chapter_2G_Academia_and_Local_Chapters.pdf
Monday, January 07, 2008
showcase 02 : amanda ryznar and her porcelain
okay, i heart etsy.com because of all the cool stuff i can find that are handmade by artisans!
well, i found amanda and her beautiful creation. her porcelain creation are absolutely beautiful and beyond words to describe. i had her create a custom order for me for a friend's wedding.
i really love her fish so i emailed her about an idea of the two fish who found each other among other fishes in the sea. and with that in mind she created this piece.
she uses fine english grolleg porcelain ( pure white kaolin from england ... primary clay used in many porcelain formulations to get a translucent and plasticity texture) hand-thrown on wheel. then she draws freehand using a porcupine quill revealing layers of handmade red colored slip. it is then fired to cone 10 ... at 2380 degrees F! the glaze she uses are food-safe, dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe.
she is just wonderful to work with.
i am definitely going back for more custom creation!
check out her other cool creation at yogagoat.etsy.com
well, i found amanda and her beautiful creation. her porcelain creation are absolutely beautiful and beyond words to describe. i had her create a custom order for me for a friend's wedding.
i really love her fish so i emailed her about an idea of the two fish who found each other among other fishes in the sea. and with that in mind she created this piece.
she uses fine english grolleg porcelain ( pure white kaolin from england ... primary clay used in many porcelain formulations to get a translucent and plasticity texture) hand-thrown on wheel. then she draws freehand using a porcupine quill revealing layers of handmade red colored slip. it is then fired to cone 10 ... at 2380 degrees F! the glaze she uses are food-safe, dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe.she is just wonderful to work with.
i am definitely going back for more custom creation!
check out her other cool creation at yogagoat.etsy.com
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
to be fat or not to be fat ?!
yup, that is the question ...
obesity is not only an epidemic it is a humanity issue ... would you let your kids eat a tub of lard ...? coca cola, oreo cookies, mc donald fries ... etc
moderation is the key ... diet soda is not a solution ... you think you are not gaining fat drinking or eating diet labeled whatever ... think again.
Do Diet Sodas Make You Fat?
Posted Tue, Dec 04, 2007, 11:12 am PST
The short answer(s) to this question is no and, maybe, yes. One recent study has shown that people who drink diet soda still have a 41 percent chance of being overweight.
What is even more interesting about this research is that these diet-soda drinkers have a greater risk for obesity than do those who drink regular sodas.
How is this possible? It can't be that the diet sodas are causing obesity, since they contain no calories.
Some researchers believe that the problem with diet sodas is this: When people consume diet drinks, they think they're doing something "good" for their body — and then they feel free to splurge on other, high-calorie items.
For example, if you are eating at McDonald's and order a diet soda in place of a regular soda, you may think, "Now I can super-size my meal." People don't do this intentionally; it just happens and we don't pay attention to it — and then the extra pounds slip on board and stow away.
There is also some research that suggests diet sodas may actually stimulate the appetite. This explanation of the relationship between diet sodas and obesity is that the overly sweet taste of diet drinks actually creates a craving for still more sweet things, thus upping calorie consumption.
What then should you do about your drink choices?
First, remember: Everything in moderation. If you are drinking a lot of regular or diet soda each day, decreasing your intake of either may help you lose weight. Also, think about when during the day you drink diet sodas; do you then tend to splurge on other calories?
Although escaping the obesity epidemic isn't as easy as avoiding diet sodas, you should think about what you drink.
© 2007 Johns Hopkins University. All Rights Reserved. This article from Johns Hopkins University is provided as a service by Yahoo. All materials are produced independently by Johns Hopkins University, which is solely responsible for its content.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
showcase 01 : heather gill with her pmc and chain maille
i am very glad to have met heather. she is a jewelry designer and also a customer of mine who found a wonderful design using those greek washer beads.
this is an interview with her. i hope you enjoy her work as much as i did.
what got you into designing jewelry? who influenced you?
doesn't this look delicious
how did you come up with the idea of this piece that you made for your sister?
what is your favorite material to use in your designs? what makes it special?
some pointers for setting up for a show? what must you do and what you shouldn’t do?
i am working on my own website so you can find me at http://www.hawaiiheather.etsy.com for now.
my next show will be a local craft show in gilbert, arizona on the 24th of november.
all contributed content © heather gill
this is an interview with her. i hope you enjoy her work as much as i did.
what got you into designing jewelry? who influenced you?
i got into jewelry making and designing after the birth of my daughter. i am a culinary trained chef and i wanted to stay home with my daughter after she was born. i wanted to do something creative so i took a class in basic stringing. i was bored with that within a couple of days so i started to look around for other things to learn how to do. i found pmc [precious metal clay] and have really loved working with it. i am currently taking classes on traditional metal smithing and i really love all that i am learning.
so many people and things have influenced me. i would have to say that some of my culinary training has influenced me and the designs i make. my sisters and my daughter. i grew up in hawaii so i would have to say that still has an influence on me. we get back ‘home’ every chance we can. nature and living in the southwest has really influenced me and my designs.
how did you come up with the idea of this piece that you made for your sister?
i have wanted to try chain maille but i’m a little out of time for another class. in one of my metal classes we had to make jump rings. so i had extra and was just going to link a few together and make earrings but once i got started i thought it would make a great bracelet. i sometimes don’t name pieces because i come up with really silly names, but i called this one, “Copper Coins.” it reminded me of pennies.
what is your favorite material to use in your designs? what makes it special?
my favorite material still has to be pmc. i really love to work with it. since i’ve been making things with traditional metal i think that my pmc pieces have gotten much better and have a little more substance to them. i love to use semiprecious stones because i think that just makes the fine silver that much more beautiful. i also love to mix metals as you can see from the bracelet.
some pointers for setting up for a show? what must you do and what you shouldn’t do?
i did my first show on the 3rd of november. i wasn’t sure what to expect so i planned for everything! i brought way too much jewelries for the space i had. so don’t put them all out at once.
make sure you bring the following:
01. business cards
02. something to display your earrings and necklaces so that you have levels of jewelry not all lying on the table.
03. someone to help you!
04. bags for items that are purchased and tissue to wrap them in! i got small kraft bags that i stamped my company logo on so if they didn’t take a business card they still knew how to get hold of me.
05. tablecloths and one that is dark – black is perfect. just something that the jewelry will pop off of. i have a lot of silver so that seems to work best for me but anything that doesn’t take away from your pieces is fine.
06. mirror so that they can see what it looks like on.
07. chairs because you’ll do a lot of waiting.
08. something to read because you’ll do a lot of waiting. when a customer comes up or you see them coming put it away but there were many times through out the day that there was just no one around.
09. receipt book and pens
10. cash – ones, fives, tens and twenties. i priced all my jewelry with the tax and made all the prices even – example instead of $11.99 just say $12.00. then you don’t have to worry with all the change. i did bring a little change but not much.
if you have time to visit other shows before yours make notes of what you like and don’t like. have fun with it. make sure you smile A LOT! and engage people in conversation without bugging them!
i am working on my own website so you can find me at http://www.hawaiiheather.etsy.com for now.
my next show will be a local craft show in gilbert, arizona on the 24th of november.
all contributed content © heather gill
Sunday, November 04, 2007
microfinancing and the internet
have you thought about making a loan to a mother of 4 children living in paraguay to help buy more material to continue her business as a tailor or a father in bolivia who needs $1000 so he may continue his water supply business and hopefully send his children to college.
with the internet and money transfer you can do anything to help the poor and support the economy. is it that hard to fathom, yet possible. Dr. Muhammad Yunus the founder of Grameen Bank and winner of the nobel peace prize started microfinancing in 1976 giving out a loan of $27 to 42 women in a village in Bangladesh.
i found this interesting organization called kiva.org and that is what the organization seek out to do ... connect people to make change ... just using that simple idea and make it grassroot.
* kiva in swahili means agreement or unity
don't let your money just sit in your checking account do something with it and make a change!
checkout www.kiva.org
with the internet and money transfer you can do anything to help the poor and support the economy. is it that hard to fathom, yet possible. Dr. Muhammad Yunus the founder of Grameen Bank and winner of the nobel peace prize started microfinancing in 1976 giving out a loan of $27 to 42 women in a village in Bangladesh.
i found this interesting organization called kiva.org and that is what the organization seek out to do ... connect people to make change ... just using that simple idea and make it grassroot.
* kiva in swahili means agreement or unity
don't let your money just sit in your checking account do something with it and make a change!
checkout www.kiva.org
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
an interview
i have to say i was flattered to have someone interview me for her blog space about my little shop petitespoon.etsy.com and my designs ... thank you kara for such opportunity.
check it out at:
http://innocentcharmschats.blogspot.com/2007/10/to-say-thanks-to-fab-lady.html
her blog is fabulous =D
check it out at:
http://innocentcharmschats.blogspot.com/2007/10/to-say-thanks-to-fab-lady.html
her blog is fabulous =D
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
stuff for free, why not
who doesn't want free stuff?
i really do hate those sign up website for free stuff and all you end up getting is really free junk e-mails that clog up your time into deleting them all. there is always a catch 22 ... i get all those e-mails about free $500 gift cards from home depot or target at the end it is a waste of time. so when it is too good to be true ... it is. nothing is really for free.
From CNNMoney.com
How to find free stuff
Monday September 24, 2:09 pm ET
By Gerri Willis, CNN
Everybody likes free stuff. So put your wallet away and get out those pencils. We went out to find the best deals out there for the taking.
1: Free Samples
Let's face it...free stuff is the best stuff. You have to be careful of free-product programs...your inbox may be flooded with ads or there may be hidden fees. So read the fine print carefully.
Here's one Web site that connects manufacturers with consumers who test products. That's www.startsampling.com. You'll also want to check out company Web sites directly like tide.com and olay.com to sign up for discount coupons and new-product samples.
2: Free Phone Aid
We've all been charged for dialing 4-1-1, but now there's free directory assistance. That number is 800-FREE-411. You will have to listen to a few seconds of advertising. But you'll get your number at no charge.
And here's another handy phone tool...If you really want to get out of a meeting...or a date, you can "receive" a fake call. Check out popularitydialer.com. Set the time you need to receive the call and which excuse you want to use...(like the "return to the office" call), and voila! you'll receive a "fake" call with a recorded message that demands you leave whatever you're doing and go back to work.
3: Free Memory
If Post-its just aren't cutting it as your scheduling tool, there are some free tools on the Web that can help. Check out memotome.com. You'll never have to say a happy belated birthday again. Just put in your e-mail, and program in the events and dates you need to be reminded of. There's also birthdayalarm.com. Membership is free and you'll even get free invites and party planning tools.
4: Free Books
If you're an avid reader, you may really love paperbackswap.com. All you have to do is choose a book you'd like to read from a list and you'll receive it in the mail.
At the same time, you list the books you want to get rid of. When someone requests to read it, all you have to do is pop it in the mail. You will have to pay for postage, but it's usually around $2.13.
5: Financial Planning
Before you invest in a financial planner, check out some of these online tools. To figure out how much you'll need in retirement, check out this calculator. All you have to do is punch in some basic info about your income and savings. If you want to take a peek inside your portfolio to see how your funds are doing, Morningstar.com has a great tool on its Web site called Instant X-ray.
i really do hate those sign up website for free stuff and all you end up getting is really free junk e-mails that clog up your time into deleting them all. there is always a catch 22 ... i get all those e-mails about free $500 gift cards from home depot or target at the end it is a waste of time. so when it is too good to be true ... it is. nothing is really for free.
From CNNMoney.com
How to find free stuff
Monday September 24, 2:09 pm ET
By Gerri Willis, CNN
Everybody likes free stuff. So put your wallet away and get out those pencils. We went out to find the best deals out there for the taking.
1: Free Samples
Let's face it...free stuff is the best stuff. You have to be careful of free-product programs...your inbox may be flooded with ads or there may be hidden fees. So read the fine print carefully.
Here's one Web site that connects manufacturers with consumers who test products. That's www.startsampling.com. You'll also want to check out company Web sites directly like tide.com and olay.com to sign up for discount coupons and new-product samples.
2: Free Phone Aid
We've all been charged for dialing 4-1-1, but now there's free directory assistance. That number is 800-FREE-411. You will have to listen to a few seconds of advertising. But you'll get your number at no charge.
And here's another handy phone tool...If you really want to get out of a meeting...or a date, you can "receive" a fake call. Check out popularitydialer.com. Set the time you need to receive the call and which excuse you want to use...(like the "return to the office" call), and voila! you'll receive a "fake" call with a recorded message that demands you leave whatever you're doing and go back to work.
3: Free Memory
If Post-its just aren't cutting it as your scheduling tool, there are some free tools on the Web that can help. Check out memotome.com. You'll never have to say a happy belated birthday again. Just put in your e-mail, and program in the events and dates you need to be reminded of. There's also birthdayalarm.com. Membership is free and you'll even get free invites and party planning tools.
4: Free Books
If you're an avid reader, you may really love paperbackswap.com. All you have to do is choose a book you'd like to read from a list and you'll receive it in the mail.
At the same time, you list the books you want to get rid of. When someone requests to read it, all you have to do is pop it in the mail. You will have to pay for postage, but it's usually around $2.13.
5: Financial Planning
Before you invest in a financial planner, check out some of these online tools. To figure out how much you'll need in retirement, check out this calculator. All you have to do is punch in some basic info about your income and savings. If you want to take a peek inside your portfolio to see how your funds are doing, Morningstar.com has a great tool on its Web site called Instant X-ray.
Friday, September 21, 2007
welcoming baby clémentine
on september 21st, 2007 at 7:03 AM pacific time
8 pounds 12 ounces and 21 inches tall
Love, mama Yvonne, papa JP and big bro Théodore
a link to more photos at www.chialu.com/clemmie
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
greek ceramic beads are hot hot hot
i haven't post for a long time what is happening at my petite shop ... these are the beautiful and color greek ceramic beads that i have been carrying in my shop since june.
greek ceramic beads or round washers come in bright colorful tone, earthy shades assortments and metalized gold, silver, copper etc you name it. these kiln-fired, dyed terra cotta beads often have the look of wood, metal, or stone. they keep up well except for when it goes through some crushing at the post office cause they were fed through a letter machine.
the bright colorful tone comes in 8mm and 13mm
the earthy tone comes in 8mm and 13mm
the metalized 24 k gold finish comes in 8mm
the metalized 100% fine silver finish comes in 8mm
the metalized pure copper finish comes in 8mm
these hand-formed ceramic beads are truly a labor of love. they are kiln-fired terracotta biscuits then fired again with rough copper and lastly the finishing coat of either pure copper, 100% fine silver, or 24 k gold is applied. these beauties also come in green patina copper and antique patina silver.
* Mykonos is an island of Greece part of the Cyclades. it is believe that this island is named after an offspring of the god Apollo. this happening destination is among the best of Europe nightlife.
visit my petitespOOn at http://petitespoon.etsy.com
email me at petitespoon@gmail.com about flat rate s/h special to US $1, to Canada $2, to everywhere else $3 on wires, findings and beads order till the end of the year using google checkout
greek ceramic beads or round washers come in bright colorful tone, earthy shades assortments and metalized gold, silver, copper etc you name it. these kiln-fired, dyed terra cotta beads often have the look of wood, metal, or stone. they keep up well except for when it goes through some crushing at the post office cause they were fed through a letter machine.
these hand-formed ceramic beads are truly a labor of love. they are kiln-fired terracotta biscuits then fired again with rough copper and lastly the finishing coat of either pure copper, 100% fine silver, or 24 k gold is applied. these beauties also come in green patina copper and antique patina silver.
* Mykonos is an island of Greece part of the Cyclades. it is believe that this island is named after an offspring of the god Apollo. this happening destination is among the best of Europe nightlife.
visit my petitespOOn at http://petitespoon.etsy.com
email me at petitespoon@gmail.com about flat rate s/h special to US $1, to Canada $2, to everywhere else $3 on wires, findings and beads order till the end of the year using google checkout
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
made in china
what a recall by mattel and fisher-price?!? if you want to cut cost you cut safety issues for sure this is a backlash for doing so. it shouldn't be a surprise ... i look at the european toy market and all toys made local in germany or france they cost 3 to 4 times as much than counterpart made in china products ... so what do parents choose if they have limited budget and still want to get toys that is worth their money?
Mattel recalling more Chinese-made toys
By NATASHA METZLER, Associated Press Writer
Toy-making giant Mattel Inc. issued recalls Tuesday for about 9 million Chinese-made toys that contain magnets children can swallow or which could have lead paint.
The recall includes 7.3 million play sets, including Polly Pocket dolls and Batman action figures, and 253,000 die cast cars that contain lead paint.
Nancy A. Nord, acting Consumer Product Safety Commission chairman, told a news conference no injuries had been reported with any of the products involved in the new recall.
"The scope of these recalls is intentionally large to prevent any injuries from occurring," she told the news conference.
At least one U.S. child has died and 19 others have needed surgery since 2003 after swallowing magnets used in toys, the government said. Several injuries had been reported in an earlier Polly Pocket recall last November.
Mattel, in a full-page ad Tuesday in some U.S. newspapers, said the company was "one of the most trusted names with parents" and was "working extremely hard to address your concerns and continue creating safe, entertaining toys for you and your children."
Tuesday's recall was the latest blow to the toy industry, which has had a string of recalled products from China. With about 80 percent of toys sold worldwide made in China, toy sellers are worried shoppers will shy away from their products.
It was also the second recall involving lead paint for Mattel in two weeks. Earlier this month, consumers were warned about 1.5 million Chinese-made toys that contain lead paint.
"There is no excuse for lead to be found in toys entering this country," Nord said. "It's totally unacceptable and it needs to stop."
Toys recalled Tuesday include 253,000 "Sarge" cars from the movie "Cars," because the surface paint could contain lead levels in excess of federal standard. The 2 1/2-inch, 1-inch high car looks like a military jeep.
Lead is toxic if ingested by young children, and under current regulations, children's products found to have more than .06 percent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall.
Also recalled Tuesday were 345,000 Batman and "One Piece" action figures, 683,000 Barbie and Tanner play sets and 1 million Doggie Day Care play sets.
In the newspaper ads, presented as a letter to "fellow parents" from Mattel chief executive Bob Eckert, the company said "nothing is more important than the safety of our children."
"We have already taken steps to further ensure the safety of our toys," Eckert said.
Nord said the company has stopped selling the recalled products, instructed retailers to pull them from the shelves and made a production change. Mattel is also offering replacement products.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which negotiated details of Mattel's recalls, reported that in the previous recall of Polly Pockets play sets in Nov. 11, three children had been injured by swallowing more than one magnet. All three suffered intestinal perforations that required surgery.
When more than one magnet is swallowed, they can attach to each other and cause intestinal perforation, infection or blockage, which can be fatal.
In March 2006, another toy company, Mega Brands Inc., recalled 3.8 million Magnetix magnetic building sets after one child died and four others were seriously injured after swallowing tiny magnets in them.
Two weeks ago, Mattel's Fisher-Price division announced the worldwide recall of 1.5 million Chinese-made preschool toys featuring characters such as Dora the Explorer, Big Bird and Elmo. About 967,000 of those toys were sold in the United States between May and August.
Mattel discovered the latest problem while they were investigating the earlier recall, Nord said.
Mattel officials maintained that a European retailer discovered the lead in some of the lead-covered Fisher-Price products in early July. On July 6, the company halted operations at the factory in China that produced the toys and launched an investigation.
Days after the Fisher-Price recall, Chinese officials temporarily banned the toys' manufacturer, Lee Der Industrial Co., from exporting products. A Lee Der co-owner, Cheung Shu-hung, committed suicide at a warehouse over the weekend, apparently by hanging himself, a state-run newspaper reported Monday.
Lee Der was under pressure in the global controversy over the safety of Chinese-made products, and it is common for disgraced officials to commit suicide in China.
After Mattel announced the recall of its Fisher-Price toys, it launched a full-scale investigation into all of its factories in China.
Before this month, Fisher-Price and parent company Mattel had never recalled toys because of lead paint.
Consumers should call Mattel at 888-597-6597 for information about the recalled toys with magnets, or 800-916-4997 for information about the recalled cars.
___
Mattel: http://service.mattel.com/us/recall.asp
Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov/
Mattel recalling more Chinese-made toys
By NATASHA METZLER, Associated Press Writer
Toy-making giant Mattel Inc. issued recalls Tuesday for about 9 million Chinese-made toys that contain magnets children can swallow or which could have lead paint.
The recall includes 7.3 million play sets, including Polly Pocket dolls and Batman action figures, and 253,000 die cast cars that contain lead paint.
Nancy A. Nord, acting Consumer Product Safety Commission chairman, told a news conference no injuries had been reported with any of the products involved in the new recall.
"The scope of these recalls is intentionally large to prevent any injuries from occurring," she told the news conference.
At least one U.S. child has died and 19 others have needed surgery since 2003 after swallowing magnets used in toys, the government said. Several injuries had been reported in an earlier Polly Pocket recall last November.
Mattel, in a full-page ad Tuesday in some U.S. newspapers, said the company was "one of the most trusted names with parents" and was "working extremely hard to address your concerns and continue creating safe, entertaining toys for you and your children."
Tuesday's recall was the latest blow to the toy industry, which has had a string of recalled products from China. With about 80 percent of toys sold worldwide made in China, toy sellers are worried shoppers will shy away from their products.
It was also the second recall involving lead paint for Mattel in two weeks. Earlier this month, consumers were warned about 1.5 million Chinese-made toys that contain lead paint.
"There is no excuse for lead to be found in toys entering this country," Nord said. "It's totally unacceptable and it needs to stop."
Toys recalled Tuesday include 253,000 "Sarge" cars from the movie "Cars," because the surface paint could contain lead levels in excess of federal standard. The 2 1/2-inch, 1-inch high car looks like a military jeep.
Lead is toxic if ingested by young children, and under current regulations, children's products found to have more than .06 percent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall.
Also recalled Tuesday were 345,000 Batman and "One Piece" action figures, 683,000 Barbie and Tanner play sets and 1 million Doggie Day Care play sets.
In the newspaper ads, presented as a letter to "fellow parents" from Mattel chief executive Bob Eckert, the company said "nothing is more important than the safety of our children."
"We have already taken steps to further ensure the safety of our toys," Eckert said.
Nord said the company has stopped selling the recalled products, instructed retailers to pull them from the shelves and made a production change. Mattel is also offering replacement products.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which negotiated details of Mattel's recalls, reported that in the previous recall of Polly Pockets play sets in Nov. 11, three children had been injured by swallowing more than one magnet. All three suffered intestinal perforations that required surgery.
When more than one magnet is swallowed, they can attach to each other and cause intestinal perforation, infection or blockage, which can be fatal.
In March 2006, another toy company, Mega Brands Inc., recalled 3.8 million Magnetix magnetic building sets after one child died and four others were seriously injured after swallowing tiny magnets in them.
Two weeks ago, Mattel's Fisher-Price division announced the worldwide recall of 1.5 million Chinese-made preschool toys featuring characters such as Dora the Explorer, Big Bird and Elmo. About 967,000 of those toys were sold in the United States between May and August.
Mattel discovered the latest problem while they were investigating the earlier recall, Nord said.
Mattel officials maintained that a European retailer discovered the lead in some of the lead-covered Fisher-Price products in early July. On July 6, the company halted operations at the factory in China that produced the toys and launched an investigation.
Days after the Fisher-Price recall, Chinese officials temporarily banned the toys' manufacturer, Lee Der Industrial Co., from exporting products. A Lee Der co-owner, Cheung Shu-hung, committed suicide at a warehouse over the weekend, apparently by hanging himself, a state-run newspaper reported Monday.
Lee Der was under pressure in the global controversy over the safety of Chinese-made products, and it is common for disgraced officials to commit suicide in China.
After Mattel announced the recall of its Fisher-Price toys, it launched a full-scale investigation into all of its factories in China.
Before this month, Fisher-Price and parent company Mattel had never recalled toys because of lead paint.
Consumers should call Mattel at 888-597-6597 for information about the recalled toys with magnets, or 800-916-4997 for information about the recalled cars.
___
Mattel: http://service.mattel.com/us/recall.asp
Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.cpsc.gov/
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