Handmade Birthday Cards
When my children were young they often made me handmade cards and gifts and they always included lots of circles and crosses to show how much they loved me. They were very creative, with every card being one of a kind and not impersonal like shop-bought cards. The cards and special gifts always meant so much to me because they were made with love and I will treasure them always.
All my children have shown an interest in arts and crafts in various ways over the years, but as they grew and had their own kids, their time has become devoted to other things. However, my daughter took an interest in scrapbooking and I have followed suit. It is fun to create beautiful scrapbooking pages to display keep-sakes and pictures in elegant or fun albums.
It gives me a lot of pleasure to craft things like greeting cards, invitations or gifts for that special someone. And knowing that everything I make, like my children before me, is one of a kind, makes me feel amazing. I remember when I was young, my brothers and I would make decorations for Christmas out of coloured paper. We always had such fun and our mother always displayed our efforts with pride.
And no matter how much times change, I have precious memories of displaying my children’s efforts and am now making new memories with my grandchildren. I had such fun with them just before Christmas when I gathered up blank cards, stickers, glitter and glue and they made cards for their parents.
They were so happy to give them to their mums and dads and I must confess that I was not the only one with a tear in the eye. As they get older I am looking forward to more hand made cards, craft fun, maybe making wooden gifts, canvas art, wall hangings, cards or gift tags. The possibilities are endless as there will always be a Christmas, birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding or just an opportunity to say “I am thinking of you” or “I love you”.
Late last year, my daughter and I started a small business making handmade birthday cards, weddings and other occasions. We hope each card brings enjoyment and love to the recipient as only handmade cards can. Visit us at Circles and Crosses.
Living in Brisbane
As the primary city of the Australian state of Queensland, Brisbane is a favourite city in the continent. Since the city is so metropolitan, with a large number of, wonderfully architecturally designed buildings and a busy business district, a lot of people from nearby towns choose to move and live in Brisbane mainly due to the great economic opportunities. Life here is a very different experience for one who didn’t grow up in a large city. Those who have lived in another city will most likely find the Brisbane lifestyle just like most other large cities all over the world, economically speaking. However, when it comes to weather, entertainment, cityscape, and the general cost of living, Brisbane has something altogether better!
For one thing, Brisbane enjoys tropical winters, other than the seasonal 8 weeks of cold night-times. This can easily be remedied by adding warmer clothes. The weather here is fairly pretty throughout the year, as it doesn’t get arctic weather, unlike other main places such as New York or Tokyo, which have snowy winters. And anyone living in Brisbane is sure to enjoy the beautiful summers, as the city has very warm weather, which is perfect for outdoor pursuits and the beach. Most visitors who come to Brisbane enjoy its night life, entertainment choices, weather and shopping malls, among other things.
When it comes to the cost of living, Brisbane is calculated as one of the least expensive cities and capitals in Australia, making it an ideal destination for people who would like to migrate. Regarding accommodation, food, transport, education, and personal expenses, Brisbane is a lot more affordable than other cities in the country. This is also perhaps why it is believed to be one the best cities to study in Australia with renowned universities such as QUT located there.
Also, those who are thinking of living in Brisbane would be happy to know that in addition to the relatively inexpensive cost of living, city locals are also very friendly. Drivers are notably polite, and make it a point to give way to pedestrians and merging traffic, and travellers usually give way to each other on trains and buses. Rush-hour commute in the city is generally a lot less stressful than in other large cities.
There are also a lot of entertainment activities in Brisbane, which puts on many festivals that showcase a love for art and music. The annual Brisbane Ekka Festival is something to visit, as it features so many different rides and attractions. Those who love film will enjoy the Brisbane International Film Festival, which is held annually in August. And there are also a great many historical areas in the city, so tourism in the city is healthy.
Travelling around Brisbane is practically convenient, as there is an accessible and wide network of public transportation making it stress-free to get around without a car. Since a large part of the population uses private vehicles, public transport is not as congested. You only needs to travel to the Brisbane central business district to get around the entire city, as this is the central hub of transportation in Brisbane so you can get anywhere from there. The train system travels throughout most of the city, as it has ten suburban lines that can take you in every direction from the centre of Brisbane.
Relocating to Brisbane is one of the best living experiences you can choose, with its fantastic weather, endless recreation activities, friendly locals and convenient transport system.
Looking for backpacker accommodation in Brisbane or cheap accommodation Brisbane? Consider Kookaburra Inn at Spring Hill.
Planning for a Comfortable Retirement
When you do retirement planning, do you picture yourself as resting on a couch, reading a book, and being taken care of by nurses in a retirement home? Or perhaps you would rather spend your retirement in a nice little resort during with one of the popular Fiji holiday packages?
Better yet, there are Bali Holiday Packages which you can avail when you choose the right retirement package. You can only have that life-changing Fiji holiday or that Bali Holiday Packages when you have a good retirement plan.
There are financial institutions and insurance companies that help people achieve these goals, but you have to remember that working hard and working smart for something as worthwhile as these holidays is always a prerequisite. You have to take a look at the status of your financial well-being: are you putting away enough money for retirement? How much are you earning per month? What are the expenses you need to start getting rid of? If you think you are not making enough cash, you better start looking for extra streams of income.
This can be a sideline job. There are many online jobs you can do in the comfort of your home. Writing jobs are the easiest. You may also try to become an online consultant for whatever your forte is: accounting, finance, management. If you want to have a easy retirement, you have to start saving at least $1500 every month by the time you reach the age of 35.
This means that by the time you reach the age of retirement, you are comfortable about your retirement planning. You can spend your days cruising around the Caribbean, or touring the beaches and towns in Asia, where retirement is cheaper.
That is why planning ahead is a crucial task for your retirement. Look for the companies that will increase your investment exponentially, and payout the benefits you deserve. Saving and increasing your income are two of the best ways to secure a good retirement.
The Benefits of Pre-Employment Assessments
In providing workplace health solutions, an astute employer promotes the need to consider the health and wellbeing of employees, from the start of recruitment, as a vital first step in the effective management of the employee life-cycle.
The costs associated with recruiting, the potential impact of work-related injuries and the resulting labour replacement costs provide a strong case to support the introduction of pre-employment assessments as a key component in managing the health and wellbeing of employees.
Research demonstrates that implementing a pre-employment screening program has significant health and financial returns.
- Screened employees were discovered to sustain a 3% injury rate compared to non-screened employees at 33% (Harbin & Olsen, 2005). The implementation of Australia’s largest Pre-Employment organisation is reported to have reduced some of its key customers average workers’ compensation claim costs by 33%. This shows that non-screened employees are 2.4 times more likely to have a muscular-skeletal injury than screened employees (Roshenblum & Shankar, 2006).
- Non-screened employees incurred 4.3 times higher costs of claims than screened employees (Roshenblum & Shankar, 2006).
- Pre-employment screens also ensure a risk assessment is completed on the potential employee; this can assist to mitigate against an organisations risk, in particular common law risk. The average Common law claim is now over $97,000 and is rising at a dramatic rate of 11%. (Q Comp, 2008)
- The average costs of return-to-work cases were found to dramatically reduce when comparing injured workers who had passed screening vs those who had never been screened. The cost savings were found to be in excess of $18 per dollar spent on the pre-employment screen. (Littlejohn, 2007)
- Pre-employment functional screenings were found to be effective in lowering the severity of work-related back sprains and related medical costs and lost time from the workplace (Nassau, 1999).
- Pre-employment screens enable a base line reading for health screen items such as hearing and eyesight, and lung function screens to be obtained on order to minimise any organisation’s exposure to permanent impairment liability.
A comprehensive pre-employment assessment can involve all or any combination of the following components:
Medical History, Alcohol Screening, Urine Drug Screening, Blood Pressure, Range of Motion, Upper Limb Testing, Posture, Back Care and Manual Handling, Cardiovascular Fitness, Lung Function, Audio Testing, Colour Vision, and Visual Acuity.
Employment applicants are screened through a comprehensive range of medical and physical tests specifically selected to precisely represent core work-related functional requirements. In all cases, a detailed report ought to be provided highlighting the work-related functional restrictions and/or recommendations relating to the candidate’s proposed employment.
For more information about the management of corporate health, please visit http://www.konekt.com.au
The Best Natural Deodorant Alternatives
While sweating is a natural process that the body needs to undergo to release toxins and is the body’s means of thermoregulation, excess perspiration can become quite embarrassing, especially in social situations. It has become common practice for people to use deodorant for hygienic reasons to prevent underarm sweating and body odour. However, medical studies have shown that using deodorants including certain chemicals to prevent sweating can cause cancer and other illnesses that can lead to death.
These findings have resulted in an increasing concern with regard to the use of chemically manufactured deodorants. These deodorants normally contain harmful aluminum salts, which block the flow of sweat by clogging sweat glands, talc, a fine powder that is known to have natural absorbent qualities and Triclosan, a synthetic antibacterial agent. While all these products do result in reduced sweating, they have all been found to be carcinogens.
If you want a natural alternative that will give you the refreshing effect of a deodorant without the detrimental side effects, purchase a crystal body deodorant, a non-toxic alternative to conventional deodorants. This type of deodorant is made of a blend of mineral salts and do not contain any synthetic materials. Traditionally, this type of deodorant was only available in pieces of rock but now they are also available in sprays, sticks and roll-ons, and have the additional advantage of being unperfumed, so there is no competition with any other fragrance being used.
If you’re looking for a sweet-smelling Brisbane web designer for web design Brisbane, contact bydaughters.com
Perth - Top Things To Do For Singles, Groups & Loved Up Couples
Let’s not mess around here - I’m not going to bore you with yet another lame blathering on the joys of bicycling around the “city’s sunny foreshore”. I’m going to kick you in the ass and suggest to you how to get outside of yourself and LIVE!
Whatever your wants and desires, Perth is a centre of engaging and unique experiences for anyone with a yearning to leave the bland far behind them. Hopefully, some of the ideas I’m suggesting here will persuade you to grab life by the balls and reclaim the experiences of laughter, excitement, discovery and encourage you to again connect with yourself, great mates and your special lover in ways you may have lost in yourdaily grind.
Yes, that’s right - PERTH! This once sleepy, conservative, city has undergone a enormous transformation in recent years, making it a top destination for interstate and international visitors looking for new experiences in the backdrop of a beautiful, vibrant, hip city.
The scope of action and adventure activities in the Perth region is outstanding, catering to all ages whether you are travelling alone, with a group or with the special someone of your life. Right in the heart of the Perth city, action is on the doorstep with positive energy billowing in the sails of boats sailing the Swan River. Grab your friends and go like a bat out of hell on a jet ski, catamaran or parasail and then brag between yourselves who had the biggest rush! Go soaring through the skies on a scenic helicopter flight to blast you out of squaresville and spend the rest of the day in the aftermath of the high.
Even eating and drinking in Perth is now a charming experience. Perth is home to some of the world’s most recognized and cutting-edge new chefs. Their work is sure to entice your palate providing you with the right environment to enhance an evening of animated conversation and intimate connection with those special companions you choose to share precious moments with.
Perth’s beaches are contenders for the world’s cleanest and most spectacularl. For the fearless - try Swanbourne Nudist Beach, a stunning and welcoming destination for the adventurous sun seeker to let it all hang loose! Go on, if you’ve never tried it before, take yourself out of your comfort zone and take a dip “a la naturale”. Jump in with both feet and take the plunge - it will make you feel alive and just a little bit naughty and you will leave the pristine pure white sands giggling your tits off!
For bachelors and bachelorettes hoping to connect with a new special someone, Perth has a lively Speed Dating scene. Yes, you heard me - speed dating! Don’t think that this is the realm of the desperate. The speed dating scene is hip and happening and FUN! It’s the least paralyzingly, gut wrenching way to meet a potential lover. Think about it - the only thing required of you is to show up, relax, engage someone across a table for 8 minutes and then move on to the next table and next potential partner when the bell goes! Afterwards, the event co-ordinators sort out the rest for you and you’ve spent an evening of sipping champagne, meeting wonderful people and potentially changing your life!
Now, for the inquisitive singles or loved up couples looking to enhance and explore exciting new ground within their relationship who really want to knock their socks off, here is the most daring suggestion yet! Go and see a Perth Dominatrix. Seriously! Hands up who’s NOT interested in exploring, improving and enhancing their sex life? Anyone? Visit a leading professional in her field in a safe, sane and consensual environment. Singles will learn a lot about themselves and their most secret desires. Couples will be able to explore and re-discover each other presided over by a truly professional BDSM Mistress , in an environment promoting exploration, intimacy and trust. Perhaps you may just like to hire a dungeon to add an exciting new backdrop for your private playtime. Give Mistress Celine, a highly regarded BDSM Mistress Perth a call at and enquire as to hourly dungeon hire rates. She won’t bite, promise!
So - there you have it! Perhaps by now you will have a fresh perspective of what’s on , what’s available and hopefully you are inspired to venture forth to laugh, scream and free yourself from life’s encumbrances. You are able to experience, live and love and everything in between so throw those negative thought processes out the window and GO GET ‘EM TIGER!
Fencing and Fences
A fence is a barrier created to confine or exclude people or animals, to show clear borders, or to please the eye. Timber, earth, stone and metal are widely used to create fences. In addition, fences created using living plants have been made in many places, such as the hedges of Great Britain and continental Europe, and the cactus fences of Latin America. In country which has plentiful timber, such as colonial and 19th-century North America, many designs of timber fence were developed, such as the split rail laid zigzag, the post rail, and the picket. On the east European Plain and in the western United States, fences of turf were built that often stood many years in the absence of heavy rainfall.
Wire, the foremost modern fencing material, was first used in the mid-19th century, with the development of methods of mass production. Woven wire fences, affixed to wood, steel, or concrete posts, proved economical and durable, as timber posts are able to be treated with preservative). The invention of barbed-wire in the 1860s and of a machine for its manufacture in 1874 allowed for effective fencing of cattle (see Barbed Wire).
Electric fences, frequently only one strand of barbed wire, can be used for temporary confinement of animals. A moderate shock is given to the animal at intervals of several seconds as it is in contact with the wire.
For more information about industrial fencing Brisbane or commercial fencing Brisbane, contact Hills Fencing today.
Planning for a Comfortable Retirement
When you do retirement planning, do you see yourself as resting on a couch, reading a book, and being taken care of by nurses in a retirement home? Or perhaps you would rather spend your retirement in a nice little resort during with one of the popular Fiji holiday packages?
Better yet, there are Bali Holiday Packages which you can enjoy when you choose the right retirement package. You can only have that wonderful Fiji vacation or that Bali Holiday Packages when you have a sound retirement plan.
There are financial institutions and insurance companies that help people achieve these goals, but you have to remember that working hard and working smart for something as worthwhile as these holidays is always a prerequisite. You have to take a look at the status of your financial well-being: are you saving enough money for retirement? How much are you earning per month? What are the expenses you need to start reducing? If you think you are not making enough income, you better start looking for extra streams of income.
This can be a casual job. There are many online jobs you can do in the comfort of your home. Writing jobs are the easiest. You may also try to become an online consultant for whatever your forte is: accounting, finance, marketing. If you want to have a comfortable retirement, you have to start investing at least $1500 every month by the time you reach the age of 35.
This means that by the time you reach the age of 60, you are comfortable about your retirement planning. You can spend your days cruising around the Caribbean, or visiting the beaches and towns in Asia, where retirement is cheaper.
That is why planning ahead is an important task for your retirement. Look for the companies that will increase your investment exponentially, and payout the benefits you deserve. Saving and increasing your income are two of the best ways to secure a good retirement.
The Benefits of Pre-Employment Assessments
In providing workplace health solutions, a wise employer promotes the need to consider the health and wellbeing of employees, from the point of recruitment, as an important first step in the effective management of the employee life-cycle.
The costs associated with recruitment, the potential impact of work-related injuries and the resulting employee replacement costs provide a strong argument to support the introduction of pre-employment assessments as a key component in managing the health and wellbeing of employees.
Research shows that implementing a pre-employment screening program results in important health and financial returns.
- Screened employees were found to hold a 3% injury rate compared to non-screened employees at 33% (Harbin & Olsen, 2005). The implementation of Australia’s largest Pre-Employment organisation is proven to have reduced some of its key customers average workers’ compensation claim costs by 33%. This shows that non-screened employees are 2.4 times more likely to have a muscular-skeletal injury than screened employees (Roshenblum & Shankar, 2006).
- Non-screened employees incurred 4.3 times higher costs of claims than screened employees (Roshenblum & Shankar, 2006).
- Pre-employment screens also ensure a risk assessment is completed on the candidate; this can assist to mitigate against an organisations risk, in particular common law risk. The average Common law claim is now over $97,000 and is rising at a dramatic rate of 11%. (Q Comp, 2008)
- The standard costs of return-to-work cases were found to dramatically reduce when comparing injured workers who had passed screening vs those who had never been screened. The cost savings were found to be in excess of $18 per dollar spent on the pre-employment screen. (Littlejohn, 2007)
- Pre-employment functional screenings were found to be effective in reducing the severity of work-related back sprains and related medical costs and lost time from the workplace (Nassau, 1999).
- Pre-employment screens allow for a base line reading for health screen items like hearing and eyesight, and lung function screens to be obtained on order to minimise any company’s exposure to permanent impairment liability.
A comprehensive pre-employment assessment can involve all or any combination of the following components:
Medical History, Alcohol Screening, Urine Drug Screening, Blood Pressure, Range of Motion, Upper Limb Testing, Posture, Back Care and Manual Handling, Cardiovascular Fitness, Lung Function, Audio Testing, Colour Vision, and Visual Acuity.
Employment applicants are screened via a thorough range of medical and physical tests specifically selected to correctly represent core work-related functional requirements. In all cases, a detailed report ought to be provided highlighting the work-related functional restrictions and/or recommendations relating to the candidate’s proposed employment.
For more information about the management of corporate health, please visit http://www.konekt.com.au
Add Magic to your parties with a Brisbane Kids Party Magician.
No child’s party is complete without a magician creating their fabulous tricks in front of the kids! If you would like to make your child’s birthday really special, a Brisbane Kids Party Magician will be the perfect choice for you. children are emotionally and psychologically attached to the idea of having magicians specially perform for them! For children, the real world is just an illusion but the imaginary world is their reality. Let’s admit it - for a period this probably was your way of thinking too when you were tiny.
Children’s parties, especially birthday celebrations, (ought to~should} be magical! You can’t expect kids to be like adults at a party. They need to be with people who can command their attention and make them enjoy going there. Good food, drinks and games will only bring your imagination so far. Kids, in general, respond to whatever reinforces their innocent beliefs in life and a Brisbane Kids Party Magician will do precisely that.
Some people may say that we should not patronise the idea of making children believe in an imaginary world. They think that the young should learn to know what is real and what is not, because they will have to face the real world at some of their lives. This argument is valid, but psychologists also say that there is a value in reinforcing fantasy and magic in the minds of kids. This is the reason why the concept of Santa Claus etc is continued even though the myth is far from reality. To the young, the world should not be over-thought in a complex manner. And the trick with magic is to explain that it is not the be all and end all of everything. To our young ones, a world of conflict, war, and crime does not exist. To them, the world involves the ability to talk to animals, being able to make a cane disappear into thin air, and pulling rabbits out of a hat.
Hiring a Brisbane Kids Party Magician is easy, affordable and will be the best thing that you can do. It is one of the best ways to ensure that your child will have an experience of a lifetime.
Building Web Sites for Business Concept Testing
Having been involved in web site design in the Brisbane area for over 12 years, we have come across a lot of people with different ideas. But it was only recently that we met a business person with an interesting, different way to do his market research.
He has an idea for a new business that has very little competition, something that is rare in a city as big as Brisbane. Instead of jumping in with lots of capital expense and equipment, he has different approach.
His concept is to develop a web site about a currently fictitious business. The business’s main marketing will be from online sources only like Search Engine Optimisation. Brisbane (Australia) is a decent sized city, so it staggered me to find next to no people offering this type of service.
A free 1300 number has been organised and that calls a mobile phone. If anyone rings they will be told there is a short wait for the next available appointment. If enough people ring over a period of time, the plan to find a suitable shop-front, organise equipment and train staff will launch into action as he now knows he has a profitable business model.
If you have an idea for a new business and need a web design in Brisbane, call us today for a free consultation.
Collecting Aboriginal Art
What better way to get a sense of self and to meaningfully while away time is there than to become interested in the Indigenous art world. You can let your creative thoughts lapse back to the Dreamtime. When you open your eyes and your heart to the addictive world of being a collector of Aboriginal art you will have set out on a rewarding and spiritual journey.
Through collecting the art you will get in touch with your inner spirit and learn about Aboriginal spirits; some good, some bad, all enchanting. You will also on the way build up a collection of artwork that is a stable investment, appealing to all the senses: the visual, the kinaesthetic and the financial.
A great place to start on your mythical journey is to ponder the mystery of outdoor artworks painted in high, seemingly unreachable places as you float through Katherine Gorge or climb Nourlangie Rock in the Northern Territory. Marvel at the images of native Australian animals which became extinct thousands of years ago, and existed when the continent of Australia was once part of the greater land mass called Gondwanaland.
About 600 million years ago Australia was divided into two parts by a shallow sea. Then 150, million years ago, much of what is now the desert area of central Australia was covered by a large freshwater lake, which is named Lake Walloon. About 130 million years ago Australia was four large islands, not an entire land mass. Gradually the water lessened and the continent took on the shape we know today. An ancient land of extremes, the majestic, the wonderful desert, world listed heritage rain forests, and coral reefs all characterised by cycles of drought and flooding rains.
Every piece of Aboriginal art encompasses this relationship with kin and country, the land and its people. Each painting contains a narrative, passed down through generations over tens of thousands of years. This has kept Aboriginal traditions alive: through the wood grains, along the bark, moulded fleetingly in the sands, weaved into the basket or seeping into the canvas.
Authentic Indigenous art centres are throughout the centre’s red heart, opening this unique culture to visitors and revealing a surprising variety of art styles, often dictated by the surrounding environment. Investing in Aboriginal art from the Art Centres or their authorised sellers ensures that the majority of the money from the art sales are returned to the artists leading to the sustainability of the Aboriginal people in their communities.
If you are going on an artistic sojourn, a good place to start your journey is in Uluru, where you can meet the local Anangu people at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre. Discover their traditional laws and culture, and how it weaves itself into Anangu art.
Visit Papunya where the Western Desert art movement began. The remarkable efflorescence of Aboriginal art and Torres Strait Islander art over the past four decades, emanating in the aftermath of colonisation, has been shaped not only by historical circumstances but by the culture from which it derives its meaning. For more information about Aboriginal art in Brisbane, visit http://www.emuapple.com.au/