santa cecilia http://www.artwoo.com Returned search results for santa cecilia Copyright 2008 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:32:40 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/rss/santa+cecilia How To Choose A Santa Costume http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-choose-a-santa-costume http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-choose-a-santa-costume#comments Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:14:58 +0000 christmas costumeskids costumessanta costumesfather christmaschristmas timesanta costumehypo allergenic http://www.artwoo.com/article/how-to-choose-a-santa-costume Santa costume can pay for itself many times over. Any kind of event or party around is perfect for someone to don the Santa costume.

Club or office parties, charity events, school activities, and many other opportunities will present themselves every Christmas, and most of these groups will be looking for someone to play the part of Santa Claus. That person could be you, or the costume can be used by different people as the opportunities arise.

Choosing isn't especially complicated. You don't have to choose colors or different combinations. The typical Santa suit will include red pants and coat trimmed with white fur, a big black belt and a floppy red hat.

The one choice you will have is whether to choose the modern Santa costume or one of the more traditional "" costumes. Both will work, but most kids will be more familiar with the modern version.

When you're looking for a Santa costume, you will find varying quality however. If you want to be able to use the costume for years to come, make sure you choose a high-quality costume. You may spend a little more, but it will be well worth it in the long run.

There are some other accessories you can use to personalize Santa a little bit. Wire-rimmed glasses add a certain flare to the outfit, as do proper black boots. You'll also want to be sure to get a good quality, hypo-allergenic Santa beard. You'll be wearing this on your face for quite possible hours at a time, so you don't want it to aggravate your skin.

And don't forget Mrs. Claus! There are probably more choices for Mrs. Claus than the big man himself. You can choose the traditional long dress, apron and hair in a bun or you can go with something a little racier if it's for an adult party. Are you looking for ideas for , or maybe something a little earlier like for Halloween? Then check out the Get In Costume website at http://www.getincostume.com for lots of great ideas. ]]> Choosing The Right Santa Suit For You http://www.artwoo.com/article/choosing-the-right-santa-suit-for-you http://www.artwoo.com/article/choosing-the-right-santa-suit-for-you#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:29:23 +0000 rabbit fursanta wigsanta suitssanta costumessanta outfitsanta costumesanta suit http://www.artwoo.com/article/choosing-the-right-santa-suit-for-you
Usually one of the first things that come to mind when buying almost anything is how much to spend. Santa Clause Suits and like many items have a big price range, from as low as 75.00 dollars like the Sherpa Trim Economy to the Halco Majestic Premium s to some that are well over 1,000 dollars. Although the over a thousand dollar suits are very rare, not just because of the cost but because the fur is made with real which turns many people off. Now that you have some idea as to how much you want to spend, you are ready to look at suits. Sizing of Santa Suits is just like that of a suit coat. For example, a regular Santa Suit will fit a jacket size of 42 to 48, but if you wear a size 48 and you might be adding a Santa Suit Stuffer to your then you would want to move up to an extra large which covers sizes 50 to 56 for more comfort. Remember to allow a little more room as you are most likely going to be sitting down and bending over to pick up children and the last sound you want to hear is that of your Santa coat ripping!

Now its also time to consider what you will be doing while wearing your Santa Costume. If you are just sneaking into your own house as Santa to place a few presents under the tree while letting your children spy on you from afar, then an inexpensive suit works well. If you are participating in a parade where more people will see you and in much better light, then you might want to move up to a Deluxe Santa Suits. But if you are going to be attending a party or some type of event where children will be right there by you, then you might want to go for the Professional Deluxe Old World Santa Costume.

Santa Claus Accessories:

Now that you have picked your Santa Outfit it's time to look at a few accessories, some are necessary while others just enhance the overall outfit. A few of the necessary items are things like a Professional and Beard Set and a pair of White Knit Cotton Santa Claus Gloves and for that jolly belly you need a Santa Suit Stuffer and of course some Round Santa Glasses. Personally I believe that Suspenders Santa Claus Suit Accessories are also necessary to help hold up those pants, while pants have a draw string they just don't seem to want to stay up. A few items which will help to enhance your Santa Costume would be a pair of Professional Santa Boots and Santa Belts With Decorative Cast Buckle. And to help announce that Santa is here, have a set of Santa Jingle Bells with you.

Santa Stories:

Most children love Santa Claus and they can't wait to ask him questions about the North Pole, his reindeer, the elves and of course the toy factory. If your good at off the cuff and of course plausible answers then you can just make it up as you go, but most people are not and should take some time to think of a history and story about themselves as Santa. For example, at the North Pole you have a full service mail department, there the elves open all the letters and stack them in alphabetical order and then bind the letters in a book for you to read. Or while the elves love playing and flying around on the reindeer no one really likes cleaning up the reindeer stables. The important thing is to have fun and try to think of plausible answers to the many questions you will get and don't forget to practice a few HO HO HO's.Mitch Jelly has been a writer for Christmas Decorations and Gifts for several years. Select to view Christmas Decorations Ideas. We also have a great selection of Santa Clause Suits and Santa Costume. Santa Clause Suits and Santa Costume.]]> Variations of Pin the Beard on Santa Game http://www.artwoo.com/article/variations-of-pin-the-beard-on-santa-game http://www.artwoo.com/article/variations-of-pin-the-beard-on-santa-game#comments Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:09:17 +0000 silly party gamesparty games for christmassanta gamecardboard boxlocal shopcotton woolstationers http://www.artwoo.com/article/variations-of-pin-the-beard-on-santa-game silly party games, it seems unfair that birthdays get all the attention and Christmas none. It's time to bring back some silly , and "Pin the beard on " is as good a place to start as any.

You will need a cardboard cut-out of Santa for this game. If you are fairly artistic then you can draw and paint one. If you ask your to save you a you will likely find them quite helpful or purchase some card from your local . If you're not very artistic or short on time then a cardboard cut out of Santa can usually be purchased from gift shops or party stores.

The face of the Santa needs to be fairly large for this game. When you have acquired your Santa's face then his beard needs to be cut off. If you want to use the Santa's face for another game or perhaps as a decoration then put it to one side. If not it can be thrown away.

If you obtained any boxes from your local shop and have any card left over it will now come in handy, if not you'll need to get some so that you can create Santa's beards. An alternative to cardboard can be adhesive backed foam or crumpled white paper. balls stuck to a piece of card can look really effective or any of your own original ideas.

You will need one beard for every player. If you have them all the same or each one different depends on your personal choice. If you have ever played 'pin the tale on the donkey' then playing 'pin the beard on Santa' will seem quite familiar as it is just the same but of course you use a Santa's face and beard instead of a donkey and a tail.The first person to play has to be blindfolded and then spun round then they have to put Santa's beard on his face. Adhesive backed foam works well because once in place it can't be moved.

You can vary the game by using boots instead of a beard, to pin on his feet of course! Or a red nose on a full size Santa or even a hat.Pinning chest hair on Santa is another fun adult variation of the game. For this the cardboard Santa would need his suit to be open .Then make chest hair out of anything that looks authentic for example fake fur, threads or wool this can be attached by double sided tape in the same way as playing the game with Santa's beard.

As long as it gives a lot of fun adults can vary this game (depending on the company ) using any of Santa's extremities for example ears, hands etc. all you need is a good supply of cardboard, sticky backed plastic and a good sense of humour.

Gift bags for the winners can be made up of small gifts with a Christmas theme for children and families and an adult theme for the adults.Jayne Waldorf lives in Cheshire,England,with her husband. She has been an internet marketer for over two years.If you would like to learn more about Christmas or see some great Chritmas gift ideas please visit Jayne's websiteWaldorf Christmas]]> Simple Secrets For Making Your Partner Feel Loved http://www.artwoo.com/article/simple-secrets-for-making-your-partner-feel-loved http://www.artwoo.com/article/simple-secrets-for-making-your-partner-feel-loved#comments Sat, 26 Aug 2006 22:27:08 +0000 sallysurprisinglysallys hairframe of referenceruby diamondlovecase differences http://www.artwoo.com/article/simple-secrets-for-making-your-partner-feel-loved Sally and Frank came to me with the complaint, "he/she doesn't me." When I asked Sally what Frank could do to make her feel loved, she said, "He needs to tell me I'm beautiful." Further exploration revealed that she needed to hear this once a day. Although we tested other adjectives like gorgeous, fantastic, pretty, cute, adorable, fabulous, wonderful, terrific... no other adjective gave her the feeling of being loved. Frank agreed to do this one simple thing. In contrast, Frank needed someone to pet his head (anywhere on his head) about once a week to feel loved. Sally agreed to do this. Within a week they were both feeling loved.

Each of us assumes that everyone else's reality is the same as ours, so we interact with others from our own personal . In Frank and Sally's case, differences in their internal definitions of the word "love" resulted not only in feelings of neglect but caused several arguments. Sally and Frank were late for a party. Feeling stressed, Frank drove recklessly making Sally nervous. In order to calm him down, she said, "don't worry about the party; you look really handsome tonight." This, of course, did nothing for Frank. Recognizing that Sally was upset, Frank reached over and stroked her head... messing up Sally's hair and leading to an argument.

Janet came complaining about Paul, "He doesn't love me, he just keeps giving me all this jewelry." Janet displayed 3 nested rings of alternating diamond/ruby, diamond/emerald, and diamond/sapphire. I jokingly offered to take them off her hands. When asked what Paul could do to make her feel loved, she replied, "he could tell me he loves me." Further exploration revealed that she needed to hear this once a day. Paul agreed to do this. Two weeks later, they were in love. He later confided that he said it several times a day, particularly when she was acting crabby.

Not , Janet was a therapist who made a living listening to other people. She preferred to process information auditorily. Paul was a chiropracter who made a living looking closely at people's bodies. He preferred to process information visually. Understanding each other's preferred way of functioning significantly improved the relationship.

In the field of Neuro-linguistic Programming a person's internal definition of a concept is called a complex equivalent and is unique to each individual. What feels, looks, smells, sounds, and tastes like love is represented differently for everybody. Red roses and chocolate may not be it. In order to really understand and connect with your partner, you need to ask for their definition of important concepts and values in addition to love such as, security, success, happiness, family, home, etc. It may surprise you how easily you can accommodate someone and make him/her happy once you know exactly what he/she wants.

Joe and Cecilia have been married for 25 years and have a lovely, close, intimate relationship. Joe is British and Cecilia is American, so they had to translate cultural as well as individual differences. When Cecilia got excited about something, she gestured with her arms and spoke in a louder, higher pitched, more animated voice. Joe never seemed to get excited about anything. When Cecilia finally asked Joe to demonstrate excitement, he raised his eyebrows once. For their 4 month pregnancy checkup, Joe was invited to hear the baby's first heartbeat. At the first pulsing sound, Cecilia burst into tears. Joe raised his eyebrows twice. Cecilia remarked to him afterwards that she recognized how extremely excited he was.

Lydia had been married for only a month when she realized she felt lonely even when her husband, Sam, was in the house. She finally figured out that she couldn't reconnect with him (after being away at work all day) unless he physically touched her. Sam, on the other hand, only needed to see her to reconnect. A brief discussion resulted in a new ritual. As soon as they both came home, Sam and Lydia kissed, Sam patted Lydia's behind, and both said, "how was your day?" For a satisfying and lasting relationship, ask your partner what you need to do, say, or show him/her to make him/her feel loved and happy. You might be surprised at the answer and at how easy it is to accommodate him/her. You'll definitely find it rewarding. Judith A. Swack, Ph.D., is a Biochemist/Immunologist, Master NLP Practitioner, Mind/Body Healer, and leader in the field of Energy Psychology. Dr. Swack is the originator of Healing from the Body Level Up. Visit http://www.jaswack.com today! ]]> Work At Home Writing Santa Letters http://www.artwoo.com/article/work-at-home-writing-santa-letters http://www.artwoo.com/article/work-at-home-writing-santa-letters#comments Sun, 16 Mar 2008 13:35:01 +0000 letterhead templateswork at home jobsanta lettershome optiontypes of letterschristmas seasonletter to santa http://www.artwoo.com/article/work-at-home-writing-santa-letters Christmas season is a magical one for most children. In all of their beautiful innocence, there is a period of time where they actually believe in the Santa Clause myth. This makes things fun for both them and their parents, who try everything they can to make it appear the myth is true. One of these ways is through . A child would write a requesting what they want for Christmas and they would actually receive a reply back. This reply would be on fancy letterhead complete with a customized envelope with Santa's return address. If this sounds appealing to you, why not consider taking a writing these ?

So, how do you actually go about establishing a work at home job writing Santa letters? Well, first, you will need to decide whether or not you want to be employed by a work at home Santa letter company or if you want to go into business for yourself. In either case you will need to build a Santa letter portfolio. This would be showcased either to the head of a work at home Santa letter company or to clients, depending on what work at you choose. So, make it look like it would if it were being sent to clients. This means that it is well-written and contains the type of letterhead that `Santa' would use. http://Microsoft.com offers these types of for free.

What is the best way to write a Santa letter, whether it's for your portfolio or your actual work at home Santa letter job? The best way to answer this question is by investigating samples of existing Santa letters. Most are relatively medium in length ranging from 300 to 500 words. They also are highly personalized; one would think the author actually knew the child going by the way they were written. Additionally, they are imaginative, coming up with `plausible' yet fanciful explanations to the common types of questions children have before they transition to the phase in which they stop believing in Santa. To get suitable samples for your portfolio, consider writing free Santa letters for all of the children in your family. However, make sure you try to get a letter from them first, so you can get in the habit of learning how to personalize your Santa letter writing.

When you get your portfolio established, send an email to various work at home Santa letter writing companies. You will want to include your resume and some of your samples. If your samples are interesting, you may get employed by the work at home Santa letter writing company. If not and/or if you want more direct control of your Santa letter writing, you can always go into business for yourself. Use a free hosting service such as http://Geocities.com to set up a simple website, (you can use their online templates if you don't know anything about website design). After this get a domain name. When your site is finished, write press releases announcing your arrival into the work at home Santa letter writing industry. You will want to do this to attract both clients and customers. If you do this effectively, you may get free press in newspapers, magazines and even television. If not use other forms of marketing. This could include sending direct mail to leads that have kids, working pay-per-click ads such as Adwords or advertising your site on parenting forums. Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more information about an excellent business opportunity checkout http://www.starscapes.com ]]> Santa Barbara Real Estate http://www.artwoo.com/article/santa-barbara-real-estate http://www.artwoo.com/article/santa-barbara-real-estate#comments Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:35:00 +0000 moreton bay figandree clark bird refugesanta barbara botanic gardensanta barbara maritime museumsanta barbara museum of natural historysanta barbara county courthousealice keck park http://www.artwoo.com/article/santa-barbara-real-estate
Santa Barbara lies approximately 100 miles from the city of Los Angeles in the state of California. Various parks make up Santa Barbara, including Alameda Park, Memorial Gardes, West Beach, and Parma Park, just to name a few. One can also appreciate other open spaces, such as the , the Painted Cave National Historic Landmark and Rattlesnake Canyon.

Santa Barbara is actually a popular destination for tourists all over the world. Its attractive Mediterranean weather and the wonderful beaches along the Pacific coast make it a favorite spot among beach lovers. There are numerous destinations that one can visit while in Santa Barbara City. The Mission Santa Barbara is a much loved area for the religious individuals visiting the city. Other places to visit include the and the Presidio of Santa Barbara. Other places to visit in the city of Santa Barbara include Stearns Wharf, , Burton Mound, El Paseo Shopping Mall and Carillo Adobe, just to name a few of them.

Santa Barbara has quite an artistic community, and museums can be found dotted all over the place. These include the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the , the , and the Contemporary Arts Forum. There are also art locations in the University Art Museum, which is located on the University of California Santa Barbara campus.

International events that tend to attract millions of tourists yearly also occur in the city of Santa Barbara. Among these is the yearly Fiesta, also known as the Old Spanish Days, which includes a procession of women called Las Senoritas and Flower Girls. Another event is the Santa Barbara Arts and Crafts Show, where artists and craftsmen from all over the county of Santa Barbara display their various works. The Summer Solstice Parade, where costumes and floats parade throughout the city of Santa Barbara, is also a favorite attraction.

The real estate in Santa Barbara City and County is still buzzing, amidst the continuing affordability crisis going on throughout the state of California. Recently, a new real estate policy was approved by the Santa Barbara County. The new policy states that 1.5% of the plan assets must be invested in real estate. For those looking for commercial areas in Santa Barbara, State Street is a good place to start. Other places to consider in the city of Santa Barbara include Paseo Nuevo, Highway 101 and De La Guerra Street.

Santa Barbara is not only a place enjoyed by tourists. Many people working in Los Angeles are finding the comfort and quiet of a beach destination to their liking, making them choose to live in Santa Barbara and commute to their workplace instead. Combined with the relatively cheaper real estate, Santa Barbara becomes a very attractive place, not only for the rich, but more so for the typical middle-class American. Seth Willis Jr. is the webmaster for http://www.calpads.com and a savvy real estate investor. His focus for CalPads is to allow users to showcase their real estate from all over the beautiful state of California .Users can browse properties , rentals , vacation homes and commercial properties from every corner of the state. ]]> Fun Christmas Activities To Do With The Kids http://www.artwoo.com/article/fun-christmas-activities-to-do-with-the-kids http://www.artwoo.com/article/fun-christmas-activities-to-do-with-the-kids#comments Sun, 10 Dec 2006 00:27:07 +0000 mailchristmas tree lotschristmas cardshandmade cardschristmas partychristmas stickerschristmas trees http://www.artwoo.com/article/fun-christmas-activities-to-do-with-the-kids
Make Getting The Christmas Tree A Family Affair

Go out and pick a Christmas tree with the kids. You can go to one of the many and let the kids help you pick out the perfect tree. Or you can even go out and cut your own tree. Many state forests have special areas that are grown just for and you can go out and cut your own. Of course there are also commercial Christmas tree lots that will let you cut a tree. There's nothing more fun than to spend a winter afternoon of stomping through the woods finding the tree that's just right.

Let Your Child Throw A

Arrange for a simple little Christmas party for the kids Just have your child invite a few of his or her closest friends. Turn on some Christmas music, set out some cookies and fix some hot chocolate. You can even make a simple little Christmas craft with the kids that they can take home with them.

Made By The Kids

You don't have to be the only one writing Christmas cards to friends and family members. Get the kids to make the cards for you. All you need is some construction paper as well as crayons or markers. Give them some to add and the cards are ready. Recipients will love getting these from the kids in the .

A Letter For Santa

Children love to write a letter to Santa. Ask younger kids what they would like to tell Santa and then have them draw or color a special picture for him to include with the letter you are writing for them. School-aged kids can write their own letter and of course include a picture for Santa as well. Put the letter and picture in an envelope, and stick it in the mailbox. Just take it back out before the mailman gets there.

Of course your kids should receive a response from Santa. You can write your own on some holiday paper, or use one of the many Santa letter services out there. Here's one I have used in the past and have been very happy with: http://www.kinderinfo.com/santa-letter.htm Susanne Myers is the owner of http://Kinderinfo.com a site for parents and kids with Christmas Crafts For Kids at http://www.kinderinfo.com/christmas For more Christmas crafts and ideas visit http://www.waitingforxmas.com and sign up to have crafts, activities and recipes delivered by email. ]]> Mrs. Claus and the Elves http://www.artwoo.com/article/mrs-claus-and-the-elves http://www.artwoo.com/article/mrs-claus-and-the-elves#comments Sun, 26 Oct 2008 10:50:24 +0000 mrs claus costumemr and mrs clauschristmas elvesmail roomgermanic tribesrecent filmsnew millennium http://www.artwoo.com/article/mrs-claus-and-the-elves
Mrs. Claus is the wife of Santa Claus, she is a fairly recent invention as with the earlier days of Santa a wife was never mentioned. Today many movies have had Mrs. Claus take a bigger role as her character has developed. In her earlier days she was often silent or at least a woman of very few words and she was also often found baking in the kitchen. In and television shows she is much more included in the world of Santa Claus. Today she still helps to care for the elves and bake but she also gives much needed advice and encouragement to Santa Claus. Mrs. Claus is definitely a woman for the , she works, bakes, is tender and compassionate and in some movies does all this while raising children. While Santa is off delivering the toys around the world Mrs. Claus is in charge of the affairs at the North Pole. It even seems that when Santa is there that they are now co-partners in running the North Pole, as there is much to do at the North Pole; you have the toy factory, the reindeer stables, the , kitchen and living areas for the elves and Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Looking back from current time to the early days of Mrs. Claus she has always been portrayed as heavy set, like her husband, with white hair like the White Stylish Mrs Claus Wig, a red dress or Mrs. Claus Costume that matches Santas outfit, with a Mrs. Claus White Cotton Apron and sometimes with glasses on. So while over the years her role may have expanded to include more she has always been portrayed as the kindly grandmother type individual.

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Unlike Mrs. Claus, elves have gone through many different incarnations. Back in the eleventh century among the elves at the time were said to be of human size, were long lived, and very fair. In some other countries, elves or the hidden folk were very small, measured in inches and not in feet, some even had wings and could fly. But the elves that work with Santa Claus making all the toys for children the world over are typically pictured as the size of a child. They have pointed ears and are very industrious and creative, hence why and how they are able to make so many toys. They are shown wearing a Green Velvet Elf Costume, while some wear a red elf suit, they usually have small pointed hats as well. Here the elves live with Santa and Mrs. Claus using their creative and magical abilities to make enough toys for all the children in the world.

Santa's Helpers:

Everyone knows how busy Santa is at the Christmas season, so he often times calls on others to help him at this busy time. Some fill in for Santa at Malls, Christmas parties and such, and many of these Santas' need helpers themselves. Some of these helpers dress up like pixies, wearing a Little Pixies Fairies Costume while others dress as an elf helper, wearing the Santa Helper Two Piece Velvet Elf Suit. All these helpers provide an invaluable service to Santa and to the children which go to see them.Mitch Jelly has been a writer for Christmas Decorations and Gifts for several years. Select to view Christmas Decorations Ideas. We also have a great selection of Santas Elves and Children's Santa Claus Costume.]]> Christmas Costumes For Your Holiday Party Or Event http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-costumes-for-your-holiday-party-or-event http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-costumes-for-your-holiday-party-or-event#comments Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:30:01 +0000 christmas costumeshow the grinch stole christmasgrinch stole christmaschristmas characterschristmas elfeven christmasfrosty the snowman http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-costumes-for-your-holiday-party-or-event Christmas costumes are an important part of the season. What would a mall visit be without seeing the occasional Santa Claus or walking around or posing for photos?

A party that involves children really wouldn't be complete without certain festive costumes. A visit from Santa Claus is always welcome, especially if he has presents.

If Santa needs a helper, elves can also be fun. You can even find costumes for reindeer, Mrs. Claus, and other familiar such as or The Grinch from .

And, a list of Christmas characters wouldn't be complete without considering the scenes from the nativity. Churches throughout the world reenact the event of Christ's birth and all the characters involved including the angels, baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the Wise Men need to be represented. Christmas costumes for the various barnyard animals that may have been present are also a must.

Most of the Biblical Christmas costumes seem to be homemade. Some Sunday school classes turn this into a project. But, Santa Claus costumes and other Christmas costumes are usually rented. The fabrics are often difficult to find and the costumes are only used for a short time. Of course, if you are a department store Santa, chances are the store will provide your costume for you.

While you might not think of Christmas as being a traditional "costume time of year", Christmas costumes are actually quite common. There are -themed costume parties that happen around this time of year. It's fun to dress up at any time of the year, not just Halloween. And dressing up isn't just for kids.

Remember that Christmas time is festive and there are costumes present all the time. If you are interested in finding Christmas costumes, you can either make them or rent them. Costume shops have plenty of choices.

You may need to reserve that Santa suit in advance, though. They're popular. Phil Sikes writes about how to create fun and unique Christmas costumes, as well as costumes for other events, on the Get In Costume website at http://www.getincostume.com ]]> Dolce And Gabbana - The Label http://www.artwoo.com/article/dolce-and-gabbana-the-label http://www.artwoo.com/article/dolce-and-gabbana-the-label#comments Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:25:01 +0000 elite clientelestefano gabbanasanta ceciliafashion housemilan italyhollywood celebritiesfashion scene http://www.artwoo.com/article/dolce-and-gabbana-the-label fashion house Dolce and Gabbana located at Via , 7, 20122 Milan, Italy was established in the year 1982 as the two came together with a common purpose. The name needs no introduction, with its popular line of clothing that has swept the fashion world.

A venture of the designers Domenico Dolce and , the fashion house has created a niche for itself in the . They have provided very stylish clothes and dressed up several of the like Madonna and Kylie Minogue to name a few. Although two different individuals they have been able to bring their heads together to create designs that are indeed beautiful and have been a rage in the fashion industry.

Their first major women's collection was launched in the year 1985. They provided women with a style that brought out the beauty of the female form and also reflected the independent, confident, totally in control personality of the new woman. From then on they have had several collections that have kept with the times and have been big hits.

From knitwear to beachwear to lingerie they have experimented with it all. They have been recipients of several awards that have been an acknowledgement for their superb work.

The Dolce and Gabbana creations are generally marketed in two lines - D and G (the casual wear line which is more affordably priced) and Dolce and Gabbana. The Dolce and Gabbana fashion house offers, not just stylish clothing but also other jewellery, timepieces, footwear and fragrances. They also have a line called the DandG Junior, which caters to the clothing needs of children below 13 years of age.

A collaboration with Motorola saw them bringing out the RAZR V3i which was a limited edition of only 1000 phones that catered to an that would love to possess something so exclusive. Dolce and Gabbana are also designing for several of the new trendy music bands.

Dolce and Gabbana have stores at several sought after locations and are to open their new store at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel (Boston) in the year 2008. With ambitious plans and plenty of untapped creativity waiting to be unleashed, there is still a lot to come from the Dolce and Gabbana fashion house. James Philips is a staff member at http://www.perfumecenter.com ]]> Being Santa http://www.artwoo.com/article/being-santa http://www.artwoo.com/article/being-santa#comments Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:36:13 +0000 clown makeupmagic coloring bookcandy caneswhite clownmakeup brushred cheekscotton gloves http://www.artwoo.com/article/being-santa
I have been a professional Santa for over 25 years. My first experience at playing Santa was working for a temp agency getting the job of a mall Santa. It has helped that I have always been very good with children, still being one myself, even today. But let's talk about getting you ready to step into the big boots and be Santa. First you need a Santa outfit, the coat, pants, hat, glasses, padding if you don't have your own, boot spats or plush boot cuffs, if you have your own black boots and gloves. Personally I prefer to nylon, and finally a pair of suspenders to hold those pants up. You will also need a little makeup if you don't have grey to white hair, which can be obtained at most costume shops, just ask for white and some red as well. Put a little of the white on your eyebrows, not too much and then smear a small dab under each eye, this helps you to look older. Now take the red makeup and put a small amount on your nose and high on your cheeks and rub it in. Now to set the makeup so it doesn't simply wipe off. Take some baby powder and using a makeup puff apply the powder on to your face and use a to wipe away the excess. Now you have white eyebrows and rosy with a cherry for a nose. After putting on your makeup, put on your Santa suit stuffer then your pants and use the suspenders to help hold them up. Now put on the beard followed by the wig. At this point I like to put the glasses on and rest them near the tip of my nose so I can look over them. The last two items are the boots and then the gloves.

Accessories for Santa Magic:

Everyone needs some Santa jingle bells, a red plush Santa toy bag and a few simple tricks to entertain the children with. I carry the tricks and a few simple prizes like or Christmas tracers in a small shoulder bag. The tricks can be purchased at a local magic store. I like to use the , this has 1 page uncolored, the next page is the same picture but colored and then the next page is blank. So flipping the pages from say the top corner would show all the uncolored pages while flipping in the middle would show all the colored ones and flipping from the bottom corner would show all blank pages. So you can have the children help you use Christmas magic to color in some of the pictures. Another great trick is the change bag. This is a bag that has a secret pocket in it. I like placing a pair of red and white mittens in the secret pocket and then a red mitten and a white one in the main part of the bag. The trick is that since your elves gloves do not match, maybe the children can help you fix them. Show them the two solid color mittens and even turn the bag inside out, then have a child put the mittens back in the bag and have everyone say the magic words Merry Christmas and then pull out the two red and white stripped mittens to show that they now match. Thank the children for fixing the gloves and now it's time for them to tell you what they would like for Christmas.Mitch has been a writer for Christmas Decorations and Gifts for several years. Select to view Christmas Decorations Ideas. We also have a great selection of Santa Suits and Santa Wig and Beard.]]> Consider Making a Real Estate Investment in Santa Cruz, California http://www.artwoo.com/article/consider-making-a-real-estate-investment-in-santa-cruz-california http://www.artwoo.com/article/consider-making-a-real-estate-investment-in-santa-cruz-california#comments Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:37:32 +0000 santa cruz californiario del mar1031 tax deferred exchangetax deferred exchangefamily gatheringsreal estate investmentsseascape resort http://www.artwoo.com/article/consider-making-a-real-estate-investment-in-santa-cruz-california
Santa Cruz County is very pretty and uniquely situated with several nice ocean side communities. Located within 3 hours drive from approximately 5 million people, it has been a magnet for relaxation and enrichment for well over a century. With Silicon Valley only 45 minutes away and San Francisco just an hour and a half, the beach house you want is close at hand. As with most great , location is usually one of the strengths. Proximity to the water or to quaint little local towns like Capitola, Seacliff or , have a lasting appeal. Of course the best location is at the beach. Having a beach front home on the sand or a more private one on the bluffs, not only says you have arrived, but it has a superior investment potential. They are not making any more beaches and the world keeps getting more populous. Think ahead and guess what the prices maybe in 10 years, then buy now.

Why buy a beach house in Santa Cruz, California?

For many that is not a question of why, because it is a great place to unwind and recharge, but which community and beach? Who does not like going to the beach in Santa Cruz? So really the decision comes down to what you can afford, when do you plan to use your home or investment, and how will you use it? For some the idea is making money with their beach house, for others, it is a place for and a place to get away. Renting your beach home can be economically beneficial as it can help defray some of the costs. People pay the most to stay at the beach, on the sand or in close proximity. So if you consider the potential payback of an ocean front home, the investment can be attractive from an income and tax perspective. As with any such consideration consult a CPA or an exchanger in doing a . You can exchange out of apartments or other rental properties for a beach condo in Pajaro Dunes or at the , or a home on the sand in Rio Del Mar.

What other real estate investments are good in Santa Cruz?

Since Santa Cruz beach houses continue to grow in value, investing in one can be a wise decision. Beach houses often have the highest appreciation. These properties are in relatively short supply, and there are no more beach front or oceanfront developments. Buying a home nearby a few streets back can also be a good decision. The cost is less, and you can be a matter or 5 or 6 blocks from the water for half the cost. After all, even if you don't plan to live in the house or to rent it out, simply reselling it in the future may help you achieve a nice profit. You could consider an ocean view condominium in Capitola, or Seascape as a lower cost investment as well. Frankly I believe that real estate is a 5-10 investment window and the single family homes that are on the Rio Del Mar beach front or ocean view bluff homes in Santa Cruz will appreciate the most. Property in Santa Cruz and the surrounding communities are at great prices now, and there is a good selection. The time to buy a home is now while the rates are low.

Enjoying Your Private Beach House in Santa Cruz

Of course, if you decide to purchase a Santa Cruz beach house, you don't have to sell it for a profit or use it only as a rental property. Rather, you can enjoy all that Santa Cruz has to offer and keep it as your own private retreat! There are a number of beautiful beaches, including Capitola beach, Rio del Mar Beach, my favorite, Sunset Beach, Seabright Beach, Manresa, and Natural Bridges. People come from all over the United States to enjoy these beaches, surf and play -- just imagine having one of them in your own backyard. When you are ready to learn about the benefits and beauty of owning Santa Cruz real estate, go to www.propertyinsantacruz.com and see the videos of Capitola, Aptos, and find the Santa Cruz beach house of your dreams.Gregg Camp is a resident of Santa Cruz County for 30 years and has been buying and selling Santa Cruz real estate for 20 years. He is a real estate broker in Capitola as well as a Senior Real Estate Specialist( SRES). He enjoys the many Santa Cruz beaches for their beauty and fresh air. Visit http://www.propertyinsantacruz.com]]> Revealed: Why Santa Got Stuck up the Chimney http://www.artwoo.com/article/revealed-why-santa-got-stuck-up-the-chimney http://www.artwoo.com/article/revealed-why-santa-got-stuck-up-the-chimney#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:36:26 +0000 polite explanationmedia campaignsblack bootschristmas treesitchy nosereindeerschristmas gifts http://www.artwoo.com/article/revealed-why-santa-got-stuck-up-the-chimney Christmas trees are littered with beautifully wrapped ; and he even manages to put in appearances at the odd shopping centre or two.

Regularly appearing in and popular culture, Santa is usually portrayed as a rather large gentleman, sporting both a white beard and a red outfit, in addition to stylish . And he works with a team of elves, in addition to a gang of to make sure your Christmas gifts arrive on time.

But what about Santa's chimney-related exploits? It's well known that Santa has historically favoured the use of a chimney as a means of entering properties how he manages to get inside houses and flats where there is no chimney is another matter so it's important to uncover exactly how he came to find himself stuck within one; after all, were this to occur on a regular basis, it could impact upon his ability to deliver Christmas gifts! And as a professional, this type of mishap should surely not occur?

According to reports, when Santa found himself stuck up the chimney he began to shout, which of course is perfectly natural. After all, if there was soot in your bag, and you were suffering from an , who wouldn't be mad? And his assertion that, unless he was pulled out, boys and girls wouldn't get any toys is perfectly valid.

But how did he find himself in this situation to begin with? One could be that he simply found himself saddled with too many Christmas gifts at once, and that he couldn't climb down a chimney with such a heavy sack full of goodies. However, as nice as this claim sounds, there is evidence to support the accusation that the chimney incident was actually the result of his weight. Although it would be rude to suggest that Santa is overweight, it would be reasonable to assume that his attempts to travel down this particular chimney was probably akin to a camel trying to pass through the eye of a needle.

But what if a particular property does not have a chimney? This could potentially have disastrous consequences for the delivery of Christmas gifts in time for the big day. But, as there have been no reported delivery issues, it looks as though this isn't really an issue. Indeed, there is the definite possibility that he could always just walk in through the front door it's just that the suggestion doesn't really seem all that magical.

So, in the future what can Santa do to avoid a repeat of the chimney incident? Aside from losing a few of those extra pounds, Santa could make use of grapples and transportation equipment that might be more commonly found in action films like Batman or James Bond. He could even get some of his helpers to come out with him especially for deployment down particularly small chimneys.

However, perhaps it's actually time for Santa to modernise and change with the times? Instead of climbing down chimneys, or breaking in through the front door, why doesn't Santa start capitalise on the growing trend towards shopping online? After all, if Santa got onto the Web 2.0 bandwagon, children could switch from writing letters to creating a web-based wish list. Santa's helpers could then ensure that gifts were dispatched by next day delivery. Not having to travel the world on Christmas Eve would then free up a lot of Santa's time on Christmas Eve, making it possible for him to concentrate on other things, such as developing new and exciting Christmas gifts.

But what would happen to Santa's reindeers? What would Rudolph and his colleagues do? Maybe they could stick to what they do best and start up their own courier service. After all, 'Rudolph Express' express has quite a nice ring to it, and Santa would certainly give Rudolph a glowing reference!To explore our range of christmas gifts further, please visit our website at http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk.]]> Christmas Trivia Questions - Who Are You Mr. Claus? http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-trivia-questions-who-are-you-mr-claus http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-trivia-questions-who-are-you-mr-claus#comments Sun, 23 Dec 2007 23:59:56 +0000 red nosed reindeerrudolph the red nosed reindeersouthern mediterranean coastfur coatsdutch immigrantsbritish counterpartdutch term http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-trivia-questions-who-are-you-mr-claus
Q: Where does the name Santa Claus come from?

A: The name Santa Claus was derived from Sinterklaas, the for the ancient Christian figure of Saint Nicholas who was famous for his generosity to the poor (more about him later). The to America imported their gift-giving saint to New Amsterdam where he merged with his , Father Christmas, to become America's own Santa Claus.

Q: everyone knows that Santa lives in the North Pole, but where is the real St. Nicholas from?

A: St. Nicholas who many consider to be the inspiration for modern Santa Claus was born in Patara around 275AD. Patara is located in present day Turkey, on the in what is today an international tourist resort area where visitors spend hours basking in the warm Mediterranean sun. Certainly not a place you would want to be wearing in.

Q: If you really wanted to find St. Nicholas today, where would you go looking?

A: You may enjoy a trip to the North Pole, but if you really want to honor St. Nicholas, you would do better by heading towards Italy, where the remains of St. Nicholas are stored in the basilica of St. Nicola in the city of Bari. They have been there since the 11 century when they were, uh=85 borrowed=85 from their previous resting place in Myra in present day Turkey.

Q: Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer and his companions take Santa on his rounds completely airborne. How is it that reindeer can fly?

A: Many people believe that the tale of flying reindeers (as well as other parts of the Santa story), originates from Lapland in modern day Finland. Some say that in Lapland reindeer had a habit of seeking out the hallucinogenic amanita mushrooms which they ate and then would prance around while under their influence. As these mushrooms are quite toxic, it was regular practice for local shamans to drink the urine of tripping reindeer for a "safe high" and then "fly" together with them. This could also explain the general cheerful disposition (with the "ho ho ho" and all), and the flushed red cheeks of today's Santa.

Q: Where did Santa get his unique outfit?

A: While it's no secret that the marketing people of Coca Cola have a lot to do with the modern image of Santa, some say the roots go way back. The same North European Shamans that liked to consume those red and white mushrooms with their reindeers used to wear quite a similar outfit when they went out to collect their pickings =96 red and white fur trimmed coats with long black boots. As implied above, it's quite certain that St. Nicholas was no inspiration for this outfit, as he lived in sunny south Turkey.

Q: Who was the first to create Santa's modern image?

A: Coca Cola still uses the iconic images of Santa which were hugely successful in the 30s, and created for it by the gifted artist Haddon Sundblom, an American of Swedish origin (does Northern Europe ring any bells here?). However the modern image of Santa was only finally standardized in his works, but had actually been developing for years before. Coca Cola wasn't even the first beverage company to make commercial use of every child's jolly toy bearing hero =96 a company called White Rock beverages used him to sell ginger ale and mineral water as early as 1915. However earlier versions wore a wide variety of colors. Coca Cola's Santa is the one the finally set the record straight, and since then Santa has been wearing nothing but Red and White. Lewis Payton writes trivia questions for the best online trivia games site in the Internet - http://www.247trivia.com Join for free. ]]> Christmas Figurines http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-figurines http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-figurines#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:08:28 +0000 angel figurinesexistence of angelsmusical figurinessanta figurinesgallup pollreligious observancebobble head http://www.artwoo.com/article/christmas-figurines
Figurines or statues have been made by humans since the dawn of time. Ancient civilizations made figurines and statues of everything they could, from their kings to common people and from animals to a representation of their deity. These were made from materials that were readily available to the artisan, such as stone, wood or clay. As time went on and other materials were invented they too were used, things like porcelain, glass, metals and resin. Many of these ancient figurines can be seen in museums around the world. Today figurines are most often made of porcelain, glass, acrylic or a resin. These are found in homes, business, churches and in government offices. They are used as decorations, for , inspiration or to help us remember special events or people.

Collectible :

Many children the world over believe in Santa Claus. Adults and children alike love Santa figurines as they seem to help bring the spirit of Christmas to everyones home. Father Christmas are a perfect way to do this as they combine the look of Christmas with music of the season. There are fun figurines like the Cowboy Santa for those that enjoy a western type theme for their Christmas. For Santa figurines for the living room there is the popular Santa's Letters Clothtique Possible Dreams and for the children there is Santa with Electric Candle or the Sitting Santa Snow Globe. And then there are Large Illuminated Outdoor Santa Claus to help light up the front yard.

Guardian :

In 2004, 78 percent of Americans said that they believe in the , according to a . Many people of different religions believe that angels are beings sent from God to help humans and in some cases to be a guardian for them for a time. There are many angel figurines such as Guardian Angel with Sheep, for children the Sweet Angel Figurine Bell, as part of a nativity arrangement 5 Inch Standing Angel Nativity and for simple display the Table Top Angel Holding A Clarinet.

Other Christmas Figurines:

Now at Christmas time its not just Santa and Angels there many other figurines that can be displayed to brighten the home and help bring that Christmas spirit in, some can even be left out longer than just at Christmas. There is a beautiful Reindeer Pulling Victorian Sleigh, or for the classical Santa there is Coca Cola Christmas Santa Claus Ornaments, or even for the little larger sets 23 Inch Chapel Micah The Nativity Shepherd. When decorating your home there are many figurines or small statues that can be used to bring out the season.

Snowman Christmas Figurine:

Another popular Christmas figurine is that of a snowman. Back in the middle ages people use to make snowmen when new snow fell, a practice still done today. In the northern hemisphere snowfall is often an indication of the coming Christmas season. There are a variety of snowmen figurines like the Acrylic Lighted Snowman Figurine, or the Whimsical Snowman Porcelain Figurine. For children there is the Snowman Holding Electric Candle which can also double as a nightlight. And for those families with yards there is a Large Outdoor Illuminated Snowman Family.Mitch Jelly has been a writer for Christmas Decorations and Gifts for several years. Select to view Christmas Decorations Ideas. We also have a great selection of Christmas Figurines.]]> Fancy Tales Related to Christmas http://www.artwoo.com/article/fancy-tales-related-to-christmas http://www.artwoo.com/article/fancy-tales-related-to-christmas#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:01:31 +0000 watching their flockstorrington connecticutchristmas eveday before christmassanta claus and his reindeerwilmington new yorksanta and his elves http://www.artwoo.com/article/fancy-tales-related-to-christmas
Do we even know if December 25th was the exact date that Jesus was born? Sceptics have asked why would shepherds be out in the cold by night during the winter. Those sceptics have put forward the thought that Jesus may really have been born in the spring instead. It is therefore little wonder that there are many fancy stories and tales that are told about Christmas and the Christmas season.

The most common fancy tale that everyone tells, particularly to children, is about Santa Claus, also called St. Nicholas. But even if it were accepted that Santa Claus existed, where does he live and how is he able to get to all the houses of good boys and girls on ?

In the United States, Santa Claus is said to have two homes. There is a home in Torrington, Connecticut, which is used as a distribution point for Santa and his many helpers, who are elves, to hand out gifts. And then, a second home is said to be located in Wilmington, New York, and that is where Santa Claus and his delivery reindeer crew are located. But Santa can be visited in Cyberspace at anytime and what about the widely held belief that Santa Claus really lives in a village at the North Pole?

The people of Finland also claim that their country is the official residence of Santa Claus. That's because in Finland, you can actually visit a village any time during the year and see Santa's workshop and observe hard at work as they prepare for their very important Christmas gift delivery job on Christmas Eve. The only day when Santa's workshop is closed to visitors is of course, on Christmas Eve.Maybe a very smart visitor could visit Santa's workshop on the Eve to see if there are any clues to how Santa and his reindeers plan to make their trip the next day. That's because as the tale goes, in Finland s do not reach their destinations around the globe by flying.

Finland welcomes visitors to Santa's workshop but there is nothing said about whether visitors actually have any chance of having a word with the man himself. While the chances of doing so are believed to be non-existent, among the questions that inquiring minds could ask Santa is whether Rudolph is the son of Donner (and to confirm the spelling - Donner or Donder) or whether Santa spotted him in a different reindeer village one foggy Christmas Eve when he had already started on his Christmas toy-delivery mission.

If mere mortals got a chance to question Santa, then he also would likely have some questions for us humans. He may want to know whose idea was it to have Christmas trees and for the gifts to be placed under them. The tradition of Christmas tree as it exists today comes from Germany by way of immigrants. But it isn't clear how the tradition really gained a foothold in Germany. One story is that Christians in Germany during the 16th century started to bring trees that were decorated into their homes. Some of those Christians would build pyramids for Christmas. The pyramids were made of wood and would be decorated with evergreens and candles, if wood was in short supply.

It is however Martin Luther, a Protestant reformer, who is said to have been the first to add lighted candles as decoration to a tree based on his inspiration from the brilliant light of twinkling stars that shone through evergreen trees as he walked home one winter evening. As the legend goes, Martin Luther placed a tree in a primary room of his house and placed wires with small, lighted candles around the branches of the tree. And that is how, as the tale goes, the Christmas tree as known today, was started.Jayne Waldorf lives in Cheshire,England.She has been an internet marketer for over two years and she loves all things related to Christmas.If you would like more information on Christmas,Christmas Activities,Christmas Food and Drink or great gift ideas please visit Jayne's Christmas Web Site]]> West Los Angeles: Ideal California Living http://www.artwoo.com/article/west-los-angeles-ideal-california-living http://www.artwoo.com/article/west-los-angeles-ideal-california-living#comments Mon, 17 Jul 2006 12:27:22 +0000 http://www.artwoo.com/article/west-los-angeles-ideal-california-living West Los Angeles encompasses the most well-known areas of Los Angeles, including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Venice Beach, Marina del Rey, and Playa del Rey, Malibu, Bel Air, Hollywood and many other neighborhood no many to mention.

Beverly Hills is the most upscale community in West Los Angeles, home to many celebrities and otherwise wealthy individuals. It is a beautiful tree-lined residential community covering under 6 square miles, with enough amenities to supply anyone's desires. Restaurants and shopping centers are plentiful, with the Golden Triangle (including famous Rodeo Drive) supplying the trendiest, most chic fashion available anywhere.

Santa Monica is one the country's most famous beach cities, with Santa Monica Pier housing a beachside carnival, giving the area a classic boardwalk setting. Santa Monica has a very active nightlife, with an assortment of bars and theaters to keep the night alive. The community is also well-known for having one of the finest school districts in all of Los Angeles.

Venice Beach is considered one of the funkiest areas in the entire nation, with its beachside artists and street performers, musicians, and other unique attractions. Activity is endless here, as the entire community is a virtual carnival. Combined with all of the ocean-side activities of the many beaches, no Venice Beach resident ever needs to look far for a good time.

Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey are sister towns joined together by a walking bridge. These areas are set aside from all of the hustle and bustle of the city, and they are nice getaway locations. Situated right on the ocean, Marian del Rey houses the largest manmade small boat harbor in the world. Every possible type of oceanfront or beach activity is possible here, and neither is far from downtown Los Angeles or the Los Angeles International Airport. Boardwalk Realty http://boardwalkrealty.com/community.htm is located in Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, Brentwood and Culver city ]]> West Los Angeles: Ideal California Living http://www.artwoo.com/article/west-los-angeles-ideal-california-living http://www.artwoo.com/article/west-los-angeles-ideal-california-living#comments Fri, 14 Jul 2006 20:27:06 +0000 west los angelessanta monica piermarina del reyvenice beachplaya del reycommunitybeverly hills http://www.artwoo.com/article/west-los-angeles-ideal-california-living West Los Angeles encompasses the most well-known areas of Los Angeles, including Santa Monica, , , , and , Malibu, Bel Air, Hollywood and many other neighborhood no many to mention.

Beverly Hills is the most upscale in West Los Angeles, home to many celebrities and otherwise wealthy individuals. It is a beautiful tree-lined residential community covering under 6 square miles, with enough amenities to supply anyone's desires. Restaurants and shopping centers are plentiful, with the Golden Triangle (including famous Rodeo Drive) supplying the trendiest, most chic fashion available anywhere.

Santa Monica is one the country's most famous beach cities, with housing a beachside carnival, giving the area a classic boardwalk setting. Santa Monica has a very active nightlife, with an assortment of bars and theaters to keep the night alive. The community is also well-known for having one of the finest school districts in all of Los Angeles.

Venice Beach is considered one of the funkiest areas in the entire nation, with its beachside artists and street performers, musicians, and other unique attractions. Activity is endless here, as the entire community is a virtual carnival. Combined with all of the ocean-side activities of the many beaches, no Venice Beach resident ever needs to look far for a good time.

Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey are sister towns joined together by a walking bridge. These areas are set aside from all of the hustle and bustle of the city, and they are nice getaway locations. Situated right on the ocean, Marian del Rey houses the largest manmade small boat harbor in the world. Every possible type of oceanfront or beach activity is possible here, and neither is far from downtown Los Angeles or the Los Angeles International Airport. Boardwalk Realty http://boardwalkrealty.com/community.htm is located in Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, Brentwood and Culver city ]]> In Search of the World's Best Chocolate http://www.artwoo.com/article/in-search-of-the-worlds-best-chocolate http://www.artwoo.com/article/in-search-of-the-worlds-best-chocolate#comments Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:01:26 +0000 amedei chocolateamedei porcelanacocoa liquorpure cocoa buttersister ceciliafrench chocolatesfrench chocolate http://www.artwoo.com/article/in-search-of-the-worlds-best-chocolate
Chocolate from Italy

The best chocolate in the world, as voted by the Academy of Chocolate in London, comes from Tuscany, Italy--Amedei's Chauo, which got the gold medal and was said to have won because of its "fruity flavor and unique character." Pierre Hermé, the famous French pâtissier and Ferran Adrià, the visionary Spanish chef, both said that Amedei's Chauo might be the world's greatest chocolate. Incidentally the silver medal also went to Amedei products, the Amedei 9 and the . The chocolate brand Amedei was founded in 1990 by master chocolate makers Alessio Tessieri and his sister, Cecilia Tessieri. Alessio buys the cacao and Cecilia makes it into dark, rich and glossy chocolate bars. Only a few stores in the U.S. carry the brand and buying a bar can cost you an arm and a leg, but to have a taste of the "best chocolate in the world," why not?



French chocolate remains to be one of the finest in the world, mainly because of the French government's strict standards when it comes to manufacturing chocolate. In France, the use of animal or vegetable fat in manufacturing chocolate is strictly prohibited, and only can be used. Furthermore, French chocolate has to contain a minimum of 26% pure cocoa butter and at least 43% . A lot of contain pure ingredients well above the minimum cocoa liquor standards. The best French dark chocolate and bonbons contain up to 80% pure cocoa liquor, giving it the dark, rich and luxurious taste that French chocolate is known for.

Belgian Chocolate

Belgian chocolate is widely considered to be the standard of gourmet chocolate in the world. Excellent quality ingredients and traditional manufacturing techniques set Belgian chocolates apart from the rest of mass-produced chocolates that are widely distributed in the world. A lot of these are still even made by hand, especially in small chocolate shops. About 172,000 tons of chocolate is produced in Belgium per year and numerous chocolate shops are scattered across the country, such as in Brussels, in the famous Grand-Place where chocolate shops line the streets. Chocolate only became popular in Belgium in the 18th century. By the early 20th century, chocolate was regarded as a confectionary and a gift called praline, a wonderful assortment of chocolates with flavored fillings like coffee, nougat, cream, hazelnut, berries, nuts, various fruits, and even more chocolate. Pralines were patented with the name of 'Ballotin' and thus was called Ballotin de Pralines. To this day, pralines are popular all over the world and still regarded as luxurious gifts.Chris enjoys writing about all kinds of food especially chocolates. For more information on quality Belgian chocolates visit www.ultimatechocolateshoppe.com]]> Santa Teresa Costa Rica Real Estate http://www.artwoo.com/article/santa-teresa-costa-rica-real-estate http://www.artwoo.com/article/santa-teresa-costa-rica-real-estate#comments Sun, 16 Dec 2007 23:14:57 +0000 santa teresa costa ricacanopy tourcabo blancoworld class surfkite surfingsunset tours rays http://www.artwoo.com/article/santa-teresa-costa-rica-real-estate
Surfers, in particular, have found paradise in this little town, what with the easygoing waves crashing on its superb shores. This up-and-coming tourist destination is indeed a haven for surfers, veterans and beginners alike. There is an abundance of shops and hotels devoted to the wave riding crowd, as well as surfing instructors available to teach the sport to any budding surfer. Also, the mellow waves of Santa Teresa make it an ideal place for novice wave riders to get their first try at the sport.

However, it is not just the young and the surfer clique that is drawn to this booming travel destination in Costa Rica. Visitors from all over the world will undoubtedly fall in love with Santa Teresa's immaculate beaches, said to be some of the most beautiful in the whole of Costa Rica. Enfolding these divine sands is a little strip of trees, offering cool shade within which you can delight in the bright sun' bouncing off the sparkling waters.

And you need not be a wave rider to enjoy a holiday in Santa Teresa, too. There is a host of other activities which you can indulge in while in this scenic town. You may want to have a go at fishing, or snorkel in its pristine waters, or try your hand at , or go horseback riding. You may also want to take a by boat, or perhaps take a in nearby Mal Pais. Alternatively, you may rent a car and take a tour of neighboring Montezuma or 's nature reserve.

High season in Santa Teresa is also one to watch out for. This falls between the months of December to April. It is during this time when international performers lodge in Santa Teresa, indulge both vacationers and locals with their talents, and sometimes even hold classes such as acrobatics and capoeira. The night life is especially rich during high season in Santa Teresa. Here you can choose between the steamed up ambiance whipped up by a live band playing Costa Rican tunes in a saloon, and a party on the beach where you can dance and chill to house, ambient, or trip hop music.

Not surprisingly, there has come to be a diverse selection of international hotels, cabinas, and restaurants in Santa Teresa, mostly owing to the influx of diverse cultures, a hotpot of broad-based and multinational cultures blending in with the local color. Hence, there has also arisen a demand for vacations villas and even residential properties such as ocean-view homes, which needless to say, has led to a boom in Santa Teresa real estate. And among the multitude of foreigners who have come to Santa Teresa supposedly only for a short sojourn, many of them have been enchanted by this former small fishing village and have in fact opted to stay for good.

With such an unspoiled tropical paradise like Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, who can blame them? The market for real estate in Santa Teresa is selling like hot cakes. And if you're interested in real estate, whether you're looking a private home to live in or looking to park your investment money, you would be crazy not to have a look at what Santa Teresa has to offer. Seth Willis Jr. is the webmaster for http://www.equatorpads.com and a savvy real estate investor. His focus for EquatorPads is to allow users to showcase their real estate from all over Central America and the Caribbean .Users can browse properties , rentals , vacation homes and commercial properties. ]]>