Where Can I Sell Online Crafts?

In today's economy, using the Internet as a means for income is a logical idea. Designing a personal website to sell handmade crafts from home is one way to get noticed and bring in additional income, since millions of people around the country shop online every day. They're looking for goods, products and crafts.

Those who make crafts find that the many resources on the Internet turn out to be very valuable as well as convenient. Tools, beads in every color of the rainbow, design ideas and inspirations for crafts or other handmade items can be found on the Internet.

Purchasing goods from a craft website allows crafters to save money, since its possible to purchase large or bulk amounts at wholesale price. Both men and women can find a multitude of resources to sell their homemade goods online as well.

No matter what type of craft you design or sell, there is someone out there who will want to buy it. From crafters who create wood art to crafting jewelry by hand, listing it in auction sites or placing it online within your own personal webpage allows others to shop and purchase what they like.

Many shoppers like to find unique gifts to give friends and family, especially around birthdays and holidays, and look online to save the hassle of walking around the mall and still not being able to find anything.

In most cases, designing your own personal webpage to sell handmade crafts is free, but some of the more advanced sites will charge a fee for your domain name. Remember also that you may need to pay yearly fees for website registration.

There are a few things to remember when designing a site so that customers find it easy to navigate, shop and pick up those wonderful handmade items you've worked so hard to create.

The first thing to think of is accessibility. Since there are thousands of other pages selling crafts, you need to make yours stand head and shoulders about the crowd. It needs to be user friendly. Utilize optimized keywords and phrases to help search engines find you. Keep graphics and other extras to a minimum in order to cut down on load time.

Graphic load times should usually be under 10 seconds to accommodate anyone's Internet speed. The one thing Internet users hate the most is a long wait time for a website to load. They will promptly leave your page and move on to other sites.

Keep the pages looking professional. Selling arts and crafts is essentially your home business, so make sure that your site looks well maintained and offers a good indication of the quality of your work. Add contact information so that potential customers are able to reach you and ask questions about crafts prior to purchase.

Try and incorporate a way for customers to not only browse what you have in stock, but also to order and purchase online. Today's Internet shoppers want to browse, shop, buy and pay for their goods at the same time, so offering easy and secure payment processing shows you are able to offer them full service for satisfaction.

The final step to making sure your arts and crafts sell successfully on the web is to market and advertise your goods. With thousands of pages of competition, you need to make your site stand out and offer what no one else does.

During the busiest shopping times of the year like Christmas, offer discounts or specials that allow customers to buy goods and receive a coupon or offer on something else. Those looking for a good deal will utilize your marketing techniques so that it ends up being advantageous to you. by Sean Watson

Where Can I Sell Online Crafts?

In today's economy, using the Internet as a means for income is a logical idea. Designing a personal website to sell handmade crafts from home is one way to get noticed and bring in additional income, since millions of people around the country shop online every day. They're looking for goods, products and crafts.

Those who make crafts find that the many resources on the Internet turn out to be very valuable as well as convenient. Tools, beads in every color of the rainbow, design ideas and inspirations for crafts or other handmade items can be found on the Internet.

Purchasing goods from a craft website allows crafters to save money, since its possible to purchase large or bulk amounts at wholesale price. Both men and women can find a multitude of resources to sell their homemade goods online as well.

No matter what type of craft you design or sell, there is someone out there who will want to buy it. From crafters who create wood art to crafting jewelry by hand, listing it in auction sites or placing it online within your own personal webpage allows others to shop and purchase what they like.

Many shoppers like to find unique gifts to give friends and family, especially around birthdays and holidays, and look online to save the hassle of walking around the mall and still not being able to find anything.

In most cases, designing your own personal webpage to sell handmade crafts is free, but some of the more advanced sites will charge a fee for your domain name. Remember also that you may need to pay yearly fees for website registration.

There are a few things to remember when designing a site so that customers find it easy to navigate, shop and pick up those wonderful handmade items you've worked so hard to create.

The first thing to think of is accessibility. Since there are thousands of other pages selling crafts, you need to make yours stand head and shoulders about the crowd. It needs to be user friendly. Utilize optimized keywords and phrases to help search engines find you. Keep graphics and other extras to a minimum in order to cut down on load time.

Graphic load times should usually be under 10 seconds to accommodate anyone's Internet speed. The one thing Internet users hate the most is a long wait time for a website to load. They will promptly leave your page and move on to other sites.

Keep the pages looking professional. Selling arts and crafts is essentially your home business, so make sure that your site looks well maintained and offers a good indication of the quality of your work. Add contact information so that potential customers are able to reach you and ask questions about crafts prior to purchase.

Try and incorporate a way for customers to not only browse what you have in stock, but also to order and purchase online. Today's Internet shoppers want to browse, shop, buy and pay for their goods at the same time, so offering easy and secure payment processing shows you are able to offer them full service for satisfaction.

The final step to making sure your arts and crafts sell successfully on the web is to market and advertise your goods. With thousands of pages of competition, you need to make your site stand out and offer what no one else does.

During the busiest shopping times of the year like Christmas, offer discounts or specials that allow customers to buy goods and receive a coupon or offer on something else. Those looking for a good deal will utilize your marketing techniques so that it ends up being advantageous to you. by Sean Watson

Top 5 Contemporary Art Galleries in Australia

Australia is home to many contemporary art galleries, making it ideal for those thinking of combining a luxury holiday with art. Whether your interest lies in ceramics, sculpture, painting or one of the new media technologies, Australia has galleries to suit you. Here are our top 5 contemporary art galleries in Australia:

1. The Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane
Situated on Brisbane's South Bank, the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art is considered to be one of Australia's leaders in the modern art field. It was opened in December 2006 and focuses on trends in the art world of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

The Gallery is fostering alliances with the Asia-Pacific region by hosting the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art. This has become a major event on the international and national arts calendar. Relationships with Indigenous communities in Queensland are being strengthened by profiling Indigenous Australian artwork.

The Premier of Queensland's National New Media Art Award exhibition showcases new works across many technologies. The artists of these works use a variety of innovative and challenging approaches to the use of computer-based art, video, artificial intelligence, digital animation.

The Award exhibition showcases new works by artists that express challenging and innovative approaches to the use of media including video, digital animation and gaming, computer-based art, artificial intelligence, and other sound and communication new media technologies.

2. Jam Factory, Adelaide
The Jam Factory Contemporary Craft and Design, situated in Adelaide's West End Arts Precinct, has four on-site studios and is a leading centre in its field. Established and emerging artists are able to design, produce, exhibit and sell their work at the Jam Factory. Visitors can view artists in action, whether your taste is in glass, metal design, ceramics or furniture. Contemporary craft is exhibited in three gallery spaces and the glass-blowing has a viewing platform within the glass studio.

A scheduled tour of the four studios is highly recommended as this enables you to gain an insight to behind the scenes. If you like the idea of a hands-on experience in the glass studio, the Jam Factory holds regular glass blowing workshops.

3. Linden-Centre for Contemporary Arts, St Kilda
Linden-Centre for Contemporary Arts is located in Acland Street, the vibrant heart of St Kilda. This unique, not-for-profit contemporary art gallery is aptly housed in an historical building, adding to the cultural atmosphere. If you would like to experience contemporary art in a friendly relaxed atmosphere, then Linden is well worth visiting.

The Linden-Centre has implemented the Innovators Program, creating opportunities for innovative and uncompromising art to be presented in an environment that is both professional and accessible.

The vision for this gallery, which encourages audiences to enjoy and support contemporary art, is to be an evolving centre for the creation and presentation of contemporary art.

4. Australian Center for Contemporary Art, Melbourne
Melbourne's best known contemporary art gallery, the Australian Center for Contemporary Art (ACCA) has become one of the best tourist attractions in Melbourne due to its uniqueness. Even the building with its distinctive rusty steel façade is acknowledged as a fine example of contemporary art. This contrasts with the foyer which is a combination of metal and glass surfaces. The ACCA on Melbourne's South Bank is something all art lovers must see when visiting Melbourne.

This major contemporary art gallery is a dynamic public art space that upholds visually creative, challenging, innovative art forms of the present day. Floor presentations by artists, along with workshops and seminars, are some of the facilities provided to encourage interest in contemporary art.

This centre is home to some of the best artworks from Australia and overseas. The ACCA does not just promote and display the work of upcoming and established artists; it also sells the works on a commission basis, allowing you the opportunity to own the art that takes your fancy.

5. Ray Hughes Gallery, Surry Hills, Sydney
Ray Hughes Gallery has been situated at its current location in Devonshire Street, Surry Hills, for twenty years. This gallery holds graphics of German Expressionists, as well as representing contemporary artists from China, New Zealand and Australia.

Some of the art displayed in the Ray Hughes Gallery includes sculpture, paintings, ceramics and collages. This gallery is definitely worth visiting when in Sydney if you are interested in modern art.

With such a diverse range of art on display across the country, art lovers can combine art exhibitions with luxury travel all year round. by Karen Cooke

Seaside Romance in Barcelona, Spain

Nestled along the majestic, tranquil Mediterranean coast lies the romantic Spanish city known for its ancient culture and awe-inspiring historic architecture. The capital of Catalonia, Barcelona has mild, comfortable winters and dry, smoldering summers. The best time to vacation, weather-wise, is during the Spring and Fall, March through June or September through January. So now is the ideal time to experience its splendor.

Visit this romantic city with your paramour this Fall and absorb as much of its arts and culture as possible. Barcelona blends the ancient with the modern, offering a unique and eclectic experience. Beginning in the Gothic Quarter, its quaint, narrow streets captivate visitors with magnificent Gothic architecture, peaceful squares and fragmented remains of what were once the Roman walls surrounding the city.

The elaborate Barcelona Cathedral is one of the most impressive structures you'll behold, with its striking peaks and pointed rooftops piercing the skyline in its characteristic, Gothic tradition. A tour of the passionate Barcelona arts and culture would not be complete without a visit to local medieval palaces like La Pia Almoina and Casa dels Canonges, or the nearby Palau Reial Mayor and Chapel of Santa Agata. Say 'I love you' again and again amidst halls and surroundings which have watched generation after generation, era after era, pass before their eyes.

Being seaside, Barcelona offers a unique marine feel, with former dockyards turned Museums and ancient, medieval port facilities. Watch the sunset in her eyes before you settle in for a late dinner and cocktail. The Barceloneta is the city's fishermen's quarter adjacent to the beach. Just a short stroll or subway ride away, you can lie near the waves and escape into delicious dining facilities serving an array of seafood, black rice and Catalan dishes. While menus are in Spanish, waiters are friendly and accommodating to tourists. Other urban sections of interest include Ciutat Vella, the city's old town and Eixample, the city's Modernist quarter.

Top off your romantic get-away with a stroll through the city's unique shopping conveniences. Barcelona's wealth of commerce includes quaint street markets and craft shops as well as prestigious stores near Eixample's passeig de Gracia and the Rambia de Catalunya. Discover the elegance and exclusivity of the world's finest jewelers, specialized book stores and internationally acclaimed designer fashion.

Throughout the city, residents and tourists dine on Mediterranean cuisine, sip fine wine and eat scrumptious deserts. Enjoy seasonal produce which changes daily to rice with pigeon and wild mushrooms. Plus, don't forget the superb selection of cigars, served at many local dining establishments.

If you visit soon, you can use the Barcelona Card, which offers discounts on common tourist attractions including entertainment, restaurants and museums. Each card is valid for one to five days. The Articket is a similar pass focusing on Barcelona's most popular museums and cultural centers.

Get away, escape the stress of everyday life and explore the romance and adventure along the coast of Spain in magnificent Barcelona. It could be a trip of a lifetime. by Gen Wright

Armadillo Christmas Bazaar

It's an original Austin tradition that started 33 years ago. What was once an only two day affair has grown into a two week shopping bazaar! And bazaar it is! The Armadillo Bazaar adds to the Austin image of "Keep Austin Weird."

The honky- tonk shopping spree begins on December 12th until December 24th. It begins at 11:00 am and runs until 11:00 pm. That gives shoppers twelve hours to find that perfect unique gift for someone special! Admission is cheap, only $6.00 on evenings and weekends and only $3.00 on weekdays if you get there before 7:00 pm and the kiddos under 12 are free! There is plenty to do and eat while you are shopping at the bazaar, beginning with 35 musical performances, only in Austin, the live music capital of the world, can you get such an awesome concert! Don't be shy while shopping for that perfect gift, many shoppers dance and sing while they browse the 130 exhibitors that will be there this year! Artists at the bazaar are hand picked each year to showcase their original work that is an awesome display of craftsmanship. These artists work hard year round and most have their own businesses. The crafts can vary to beautiful jewelry, furniture and paintings to metal work and really funky eclectic items. The bazaar is truly something you have to see to believe and appreciate! That's probably why it was voted one of the nation's top ranked arts and craft shows; yes, only in Austin, Texas! To see a line up of the venders and artists who will be at the bazaar, you can go to the website. Many of the venders have links to their own websites so you can buy from them year round!

The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is one of the best and most affordable music events in town! There is live music each day, and the bazaar has seating in front of the stage, and even a dance floor for those of you who choose not to dance in the isles! To find out who will be performing at the bazaar, you can go to the website and see a line up of everyone performing and the times they go on stage, this way you can plan your shopping accordingly!

Have Christmas cards you need to get mailed out? Just take them to the bazaar, yep, that's right, the bazaar even has its own post office! Who knew? The post office is open from 11:00 am until 7:00 pm daily from December 12th til December 21st. Only in Austin can you get an armadillo post mark!

The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is truly a wonderful unique experience that brings more than 40,000 shoppers. The bazaar is held each year at the Austin Convention Center, located at 500 E. Cesar Chaves, in Austin. It's the perfect location surrounded by hotels and restaurants. Parking is made easy too.

This Christmas, why not keep Austin weird and shop at the bazaar, who knows, it may become a family tradition! by dane

Vacation With Kids - All-Inclusive Resort ClubMed

Being a mom is a never ending job. There's always homework to go over, dishes in the sink, laundry to fold, dinner to cook, shopping for shoes (again!), PTA meetings, bills to pay... Wouldn't you just love to go on a vacation where you don't have to worry about where to go for dinner and what activities to organize for the kids each day? and what about having a little private time without the kids?

If this is what you're looking for, "All-Inclusive" resort is your answer.

Club Med (short for Club Méditerranée) is operated by a French corporation and offers all-inclusive vacation resorts in many parts of the world, usually in highly exotic locations. There are over 80 Club Med resorts around the world, with each resort offering an extensive list of services and activities in one single package.

These "All inclusive" packages include lodging, meals, soft drinks, use of facilities, a wide variety of sports activities, games, and shows. Alcoholic drinks are bought with bids which are purchased separately, although some locations now include alcohol and snacks in their package.

Many resorts feature outdoor buffet dining, daytime sports and activities, and evening shows performed by the Club Med staff which are called "GOs" (short for "Gracious Organizers"), and usually invite the participation of the guests, which are called "GMs" (short for "Gracious Members"), while the resort is known as a "village". A unique feature of Club Med is the socializing of the GOs with the GMs, all playing, dining, drinking and dancing together day and night.

There are many villages that provide facilities for children of different ages, which are supervised by trained staff. Children are divided into age group clubs - "Baby", "Petit", "Mini", and "Junior's".

Mini Club Med™ (4-10 years):

Mini Club Med™ is for kids ages 4 - 10 years old, and activities are included in the package for no additional cost:

Kids activities that include arts and crafts, soccer, sailing, in-line skating, games, "mini scientist" and other fun activities;

Clubhouse surrounded by an outdoor "funscape" area with toys, dollhouses, trains and slides;

Some resorts offer special activities (also included in the package) such as Mini Tennis, Flying trapeze, tennis, soccer, sailing, in-line skating, games, arts & crafts, mini scientist, and even Circus school where kids can learn juggling, walking the tightrope, jumping on the trampoline, swinging on the trapeze and clowning around in the circus workshops.

Juniors' Club Med (11 to 17 years olds)

"Club Med Passworld™" - an exclusive new zone just for kids and teens 11 to 17 years old, where they can enjoy many different activities, all included in the package price:

Performing Arts : Hip-hop, theater, shows, singing, musical instruments, sound mixing, magic, musicals, African dance;

Acting and Film: video, theatre, direction, editing;

Creative Activities: Jewelry, makeup, craft work, fashion, Brazilian bracelets, graffiti art;

Sports - flying trapeze, roller blading, climbing, bungy bounce, sailing, water skiing, windsurfing, beach volley, beach soccer;

Adventure and Discovery: Excursions, hiking, picnics;

Evening activities - "movie night" on the beach, "disco night", "beach party", "disco-roller";

Baby Club Med™ (4-23 months) Care is provided 9:00am to 5:30pm for babies 4 - 23 months old, for an additional charge. The children are divided into two groups: not yet walking and walking up to 23 months.

Petit Club Med™ (2-3 years) Care is provided for toddlers (2 - 3 years old), for an additional charge.

For more details and photo gallery please visit the Kids Vacations section of our web site: http://www.cool-kids-places.com/kids-vacations-clubmed.html. by Dee Adams

12 Months of Cultural Festivals Around Australia

Australia is blessed to have so many wonderful cultural events, festivals and celebrations throughout the year. If you would like to incorporate some of these exciting events into your luxurious travel experiences, we've made it easy for you with a run-down of 12 months of cultural festivals around Australia:

January
Hobart Comedy Festival - some of Australia's biggest names in comedy head to Hobart for the annual comedy festival.

Sydney Festival - this is a superb showcase of Australian and international visual arts and performing arts and takes place across the city.

Tour Down Under, Adelaide - the Tour Down Under is a cycling race that has become popular with Australian and international cyclists.

February
Adelaide Film Festival - held annually, this film festival is an ideal way to keep up with the happenings in the film world, along with special advanced previews and discussion panels.

ANZ Ladies Masters Golf, Gold Coast - this annual Golf Championship is held at the Royal Pines Golf Course, attracting golfing enthusiasts from all over the world.

Launceston Cup Carnival - one of Australia's most prestigious horse-racing events, this has become a major date in the Tasmanian social calendar.

National Multicultural Festival, Canberra - this festival celebrates the differences and similarities of the many varied cultures that make up 'Australia'.

Perth Festival - a leading cultural event in Western Australia, this popular festival showcases various artistic mediums for almost an entire month.

Royal Canberra Show - come along to the annual Canberra show to see local wares, agriculture, livestock and produce, and experience great entertainment and food.

Tamworth Country Music Festival - Australia's leading country music festival, with visitors travelling from across the state and internationally.

Tropfest - this is the largest short film festival in the world, with in excess of 150,000 visitors each year.

UWA Perth International Arts Festival - this long-standing arts celebration brings together a fine blend of music, theatre, literature, film and visual and street arts. Visitors can enjoy a mix of paid and free community events.

March
Melbourne Fashion Festival - this week-long celebration showcases some of the country's leading fashion designers and up-and-coming designers along with the very latest in fashion trends.

Moomba Waterfest, Melbourne - this event has been a Victorian favourite for over 50 years, providing a range of free entertainment and celebrations along Melbourne's waterfront.

Sydney Royal Easter Show - offers a solid mix of sideshows, competitions, parades, food, entertainment, rodeos and loads of fun.

April
Fremantle Street Arts Festival - this unique festival of top international buskers is one of the best festivals in Western Australia, with more than 100,000 attendees each year.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival - comedians from all over the world converge on Melbourne to provide three weeks of laughs and entertainment.

May
Canberra International Music Festival - join in the festivities as national and international musicians gather to entertain the crowds.

Hunter Valley Harvest Festival - local producers display their exquisite wines, olives and cheeses.

Settlers Cove Noosa Food and Wine Festival - celebrate the diversity of tantalising food and wines in Australia with some of the country's best chefs and winemakers, along with food and wine critics. Spend three days enjoying a sample of first-class food and wine along with a variety of entertainment.

June
Gympie Stampede - for three entire days, join in the fun as Gympie entertains crowds with traditional country music, country gospel and talented poets.

Melbourne International Film Festival - one of the country's largest annual film festivals, this winter festival combines film screenings with other events and celebrations over almost three weeks.

Sydney Film Festival - celebrate the joys of film, special screenings and reviews of Australian and international films.

July
Brisbane International Film Festival - if you enjoy watching movies and short films, you will enjoy the Brisbane Film Festival which showcases some of the most outstanding films from around the world.

August
Bangalow Music Festival, Byron Bay hinterland - this infamous weekend of music celebrations attracts visitors and musicians from around Australia and the world.

Barossa Gourmet Weekend - this is a wonderful event where visitors can indulge in tasty food and impressive wines from the Barossa Valley region, all while being kept entertained with a range of activities for everyone.

Hamilton Island Race Week - a world class yachting regatta that has been running for more than 25 years.

Melbourne Writer's Festival - for ten days, visitors get to meet authors and discover the secrets to good books and getting published.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week - for six days, celebrate the start of the new season's fashions with fashion parades, events and parties by leading local, national and international designers.

QANTAS Darwin Turf Club Gala Ball - this amazing social dinner and entertainment event is held outdoors, beneath the stars.

Taste of Gold Coast - for two weeks you get to sample some of the deliciously fresh produce from around the Gold Coast region while celebrating the joy of good food and wine.

The Darwin Festival - this exciting festival lasts for two and a half weeks and is a celebration of the multi-cultural mix that makes Darwin so special.

September
Brisbane Festival - a three-week festival to celebrate the arts scene, with international artists, fireworks and a host of community events.

Canberra Floriade - the annual festival of flowers to celebrate the commencement of spring.

Cronulla Spring Festival - one of the largest outdoor festivals in Sydney, this is a celebration spring.

Noosa Jazz Festival, Noosa - this exciting jazz festival attracts performers from around the world, celebrating jazz music from the traditional styles through to more modern melodies.

Perth Fashion Festival - this annual festival displays latest season's fashions while showcasing some of the state's up-and-coming designers alongside the more established leading designers.

Royal Adelaide Show - one of the largest events held in Adelaide each year. Organised by the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of South Australia, this is a huge display of local produce, agriculture and livestock, along with having a host of fun rides, entertainment and activities for all to enjoy.

Valley Fiesta, Brisbane - this annual three-day celebration is often referred to as the city's 'biggest street party', with various forms of entertainment centred on Brisbane's food, dance, fashion, music and art.

October
AFL Masters National Carnival - held over eight days, this is a major national event for AFL players. This Carnival is held in a different Australian city each year.

Bathurst 1000 - a premier event of Australian motor sports as V8 Supercar drivers race around Mt Panorama.

Brisbane Cabaret Festival - four nights of activities combining great food and wine with excellent music and fun for all.

Launceston Blues Festival - let your hair down and soak up the fun at this three day blues and roots festival.

Lexmark Indy 300, Gold Coast - the annual Indy Cart championship event held over four days, combined with parties and special events.

Melbourne's Spring Racing Carnival - held during October and November, this is the highlight of the Victorian social calendar incorporating the 'race that stops a nation', the Melbourne Cup.

Royal Hobart Show - the annual show displays a range of local agricultural wares, livestock, produce and businesses, along with offering rides, entertainment, show bags and lots of great food.

November
Balmain Art & Craft Show, New South Wales - one of the most popular community events in Sydney.

Northern Territory Billfish Championship - spend four days catching and releasing mighty marlin while competing in one of the country's best fishing competitions.

December
Australian PGA Championship, Sunshine Coast - this is the oldest golf championship in Australia, attracting golfing greats from across the world.

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race - this famous race begins on Boxing Day and its completion is celebrated with parties galore.

The Hobart Summer Festival - Tasmania's main summer event provides a range of celebrations scheduled around the Sullivans Cove area.

Woodford Folk Festival - one of the largest and most popular events on the calendar, with many people travelling from all over the country, and some from overseas, to join in the six days of festivities. Entertainment includes plenty of fine food, music, writers, forums and panel discussions... and loads of fun. by Karen Cooke

Meadowlands Xanadu, Family Entertainment without Stops

After years in the making, the world's third largest shopping mall, Meadowlands Xanadu will be indulging everybody's fantasies. The five-story retail complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey will also be the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the U.S. The much-awaited opening in the summer of 2009 is set to attract thousands of shoppers, gawkers, entertainers, sports buffs, and fun seekers. Don't you want to be there on opening day?

Xanadu: the Ultimate Experience

Where else can one find an array of engaging entertainment for all ages and have a weekend stay in a hotel just next to the mall? Convincingly enough, Meadowlands Xanadu is this generation's must see destination. Here are some of the things this monstrosity of a shopping mall offers.

Sports

Once completed, the entire building will take up 4.8 million square feet of the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Imagine skiing indoors in America's first Snow Dome, skydiving and going through the vertical wind tunnel of SkyVenture, watching a football game, or fishing for live trout and other local fishes. All of these are offered at Meadowlands Xanadu.

Fashion

A taste of Paris haute couture will be paraded on Paris Runway. Designer appearance fashion shows featuring top models will complement the fashion malls and shops. Top label designs, wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses, shoes, bags, leather craft, jewelry, and everything the trendsetter and the budget conscious want are all here.

Entertainment

There will be no moment for idle moments in the entertainment arena. Giant digital screens featuring movie trailers and music videos will provide an alternative pursuit for those who won't sample a ride on the rooftop giant Ferris wheel.

Concerts from AEG Live! The concert area replicating the feel of Nokia Theater in NY's Times Square will seat 3,400 fans. Movie fanatics can gape at the 18 wall-to-wall movie screens of Muvico Theaters, while bowling enthusiasts can have their fun at Lucky Strike. The bowling area will be decorated in the 1930s - 1940s style.

Youth Culture and Fun

The U.S. largest LEGOLAND, a chocolate waterfall, a city of sweets, and candy museum and rides galore from IT'SUGAR will thrill young children. Wannado City, a new concept in child entertainment and education, will keep children busy pretending to be doctors, firemen, lawyers, TV reporters, actors, and police officers. They can have all the grand accessories, costumes, and replica cars and gadgets to get their make-believe games going.

Food and Home

Who says moms and dads and foodies are left out? Zeytenia, a gourmet market will have tasting stalls, chef prepared meals, unusual imports, and household necessities for homemakers and food connoisseurs.

Matching the gourmet market are live cooking demonstrations featuring top chefs competing for the top prize, the Culinary Arts Center, Mitchell's fish market, the Melting Pot Restaurant, and Sofrito Restaurant that offers Puerto Rican and Caribbean cuisine, are all set to please foodies and chef-wannabes.

Accommodation

Shoppers and guests can check into a 520-room 12-storey luxury hotel, right next to the mall.

Class A Office Buildings

Offices with all the amenities including a gym are among the offerings from Meadlowland Xanadu. The offices are in the perfect location to do business.

Get ready for the grand opening next summer. Don't wait for somebody to boast about his or her Xanadu experience. Be there when the fun and excitement begins and live your fantasies. by Paul Wise

Importance of Arts And Crafts for Your Young Child

Arts and crafts play is the most exciting time for the preschool student. The creative bug takes over and the imagination climbs to new heights! As an educator for these young students we must find new ways or maybe old ones rejuvenated, to incorporate targeted goals while having fun. Some of the most incredible times evolve from the simplest activities created using home made mixtures.

Bubbles and more bubbles, whether blown through a straw or wire hoop, happen to be one of the most appealing summer time thrills in the preschool setting. A very easy but beautiful work of art comes from placing a narrow cup in the middle of a large piece of craft paper. Fill the cup with safe colorful bubble making ingredients and give the budding artist a straw. Have the student blow an overflowing amount of bubbles up and over the top edge of the cup. Watch out for the giggling that this activity could bring about or more than just bubbles will be on the craft paper. Variations to this activity include using several different colors of bubbles - allow the paper to dry between blowing sessions. Once the art has dried, decorate the walls with cut outs that reinforce your lesson plans. For more details pl visit the site.

Pudding paint is also a popular 'condiment' in the preschool or home school class. Using vanilla flavored pudding, add a couple of drops of food coloring to tint for a rainbow palette that will excite even the ficklest of artists. Again using craft paper, Cut out shapes that will supplement your chosen lesson theme. Paint the shapes and decorate with sugar 'glitter'. This has always brought about rave reviews.For more details pl visit the web site .

Preschoolers love to create clay style bowls to give as gifts. These items are among the most economical pieces a student can create that are three dimensional. Once you have chosen a favorite clay recipe and tinted it (unless the artist will paint the bowl when dried), assign a shape for the base. Example: If working on the square, have the student create a square base to build up the sides upon. The variations to this activity can include sensory items. Add small rough items to the clay prior to the building of the bowl or add peppermint oil to the clay for a sensory excitement explosion. This is an arty item that no one will every become tired of creating because of the endless variations.

Although these are truly fun and exciting activities, the possibilities are endless. Using the many home spun concoctions we can instill a love of creating while reinforcing the educational or developmental goals of the preschool aged students . Never forget that FUN is always a wonderful foundation to build upon! As we know arts and crafts play a very important role in the physical and mental development of preschooler kids , and thus it enhances the ability of creativity in the children .

For more details pl visit to www.100computertips.com OR www.divorce-rebuild-your-life.com By Bimla sheokand

The Information About Bonsai Trees

While the origins of how to build and encourage a bonsai hierarchy come from China the actual name of the conserved foliage comes from Japan, in verity the word bonsai refers to a small sealed ranking. The cultivation of such pleasing plants was actually started by wealthy Chinese people who lived during the Han Dynasty which was renowned because it lasted for about 400 time in many of the arts flourished during this stage.

The Art of miniaturizing the wonderful leaves was passed on from generation to generation and chronic in other countries such as Korea, Japan and Vietnam. The handle of miniaturizing these plans is actually very obscure due to the actuality that they are not easily small, in other language the seeds and plants worn to found bonsai grass are not genetically dwarf, instead their magnitude is modified through pruning and what they use of wires.

Literature which describes the complete dogma of a little the Japanese vicar developed garden Kokan Shiren, these principles included what is called bonseki which is the code of creating mini landscapes on black lacquer with the use of stones, stones and other supplies.

The spear and yet pleasing shapes of traditional bonsai leaves are actually achieved through techniques useful during the procedure of cultivation, the two most prevalent techniques worn to craft stunning bonsai leaves are called jin and shari. The first fashion which is known as "jin" consists of removing the bark from a complete hierarchy bough to produce the illusion of a snag of deadwood, the mean appearance of the ranking changes as this practice is useful. This technique which is called "shari" involves stripping bark from areas of the shaft which emulates the look of sincere scarring which is routinely acquired by foliage after it loses one of its limbs or its stroke by lightning.

Not every kind of seed can be worn to make a lovely looking bonsai hierarchy, the best seeds used to construct these leaves are: Trident maple seed, encircle maple, province maple, Japanese maple, vine maple, red maple, Barberry, strawberry hierarchy, Bougainvillea, Cedar, Hinoki Cypress, Fig, ginkgo, lime hierarchy, etc.

The register revealed above only includes a few of the many types of seed and foliage which are actually finished for bonsai tree cultivation and the appearance will clearly change from one variety of tree to another. Due to the many objective differences between one tree to another those who have adopted the formation of bonsai leaves as a diversion have also firm to establish intact minuscule gardens using different types of bonsai trees. by Michael