Friday, November 30, 2012

E-Store Lisa Ho Announces Winter Sale on Clothes and Accessories – Up to 50% Off

Lisa Ho, an e-store with a clothing line comprising jackets, bottoms, tops, knits and dresses, announced that it is running a winter sale where customers can get up to 60% off on select clothes and accessories. One of the most sought after clothing items at the store are dresses. Some of Lisa Ho's best designs on sale featu women's coats re a range of lengths, cuts, drapes, fits and colors.

Lisa Ho has two Silk Tulle Draped Dresses (one in red and another in lilac) priced at AUD$560 and a Silk Satin Chiffon Single Shoulder Gown at AUD $499, for women who like bright colors. For those who prefer lighter colors, the e-store features dresses in pastel green, blue and pink. The prints on some of the dresses - like a Headlights Print at AUD $385 and Trace LED Print dress at AUD $299 - are innovative. A few others in this range are: Haze Print Butterfly, Flying Arches and Animania dresses priced at $599, $259 and $260 respectively.

The Lisa Ho bottoms on sale can be worn on different occasions. For instance, the e-store's Slub Twill Linen Blend Pant (wide legged) priced at $225, is a great choice for formal wear, as is the Wool Suiting Pant. The store features a $460 Croc Print Leather Skirt which can be worn to an evening party. For those with a slightly adventurous side, Lisa Ho has animal print stretch pants and skirts.

Some of Lisa Ho's classy, stylish accessories like a Leather Bracelet with Brass Ring priced at $70, a Buckle Belt at $135 and a Wide Ocelot Belt at $150, are up for sale. They can be great additions to a trendy wardrobe. Besides belts, the online store has crystal rings, peep toe shoes, fringe cuff sandals, bracelets and necklaces.

About Lisa Ho

The e-store (http://www.lisaho.com Australian Fashion) is run by Lisa Ho, a designer who has been in the fashion industry for the past thirty years. In that time, she has created stunning dresses worn by celebrities like Ivanka Turmp, Elle Macpherson and Lara Bingle to red carpet events. Lisa Ho's stylish designs are for the modern woman, who likes to look powerful and glamorous, at work and events. Her designs are available at her eleven retail stores and e-store. She struck a cord with customers with her beautiful, flattering dresses in luxurious fabric, because Lisa Ho listens to, and gives them what they want. Her e-store features a range of clothing like evening wear and bridal dresses (for the bride, her bridesmaids and the mother of the bride), and accessories and shoes.

Michelle Phillips Chosen as Head Makeup Artist and Stylist for the Republican National Convention

Michelle Phillips, author of the bestselling book The Beauty Blueprint (Hay House Publishing), has been selected to be the Head of Makeup and Image for this year's Republican National Convention, to be held August 27-30 in Tampa, Florida. Phillips was chosen for her expertise in coaching women to look their personal best as an image consultant and her career in broadcast journalism.

"My job is to ensure that the viewer's focus is on the message rather than distractions in personal image such as makeup, hair and wardrobe. When the audience is distracted by hair, makeup or clothing, the focus is not on the message. It is my job to make sure the speakers have a polished image and are perceived as knowledgeable, credible and trustworthy," Phillips says.

The Republican National Convention hopes to attract as many as 40,000 visitors, and symbolizes a kickoff ceremony for raising enthusiasm for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, this year's Republican presidential and vice presidential candidates.

"It is an honor to be chosen for this prestigious role during a history making event. Working as the head of Makeup and Image for the Republican National Convention means that I will play an important role with the speakers in their effort to make a powerful and positive impact on potential voters," Phillips explains.

About Michelle Phillips
Michelle Phillips is a celebrity makeup artist, national TV and radio host, speaker, and author of best-selling book, The Beauty Blueprint. She is currently the hose of Life, Love, and Shopping on We-TV weekdays at 9:30am. Michelle Phillips will fashion jackets be a featured speaker and workshop presenter at the Wholistic Expo August 25th in San Diego, Ca. For additional information visit http://www.michellephillips.com

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Handful Announces Line Expansion with Addition of Adjustable Handful Bra, Handful Tank, and save the ta-tas® Handful Bra

Handful, Inc., recognized for designing and manufacturing the first ever sports bra that flatters without flattening, announced the addition of three new products to offer even greater versatility and meet the needs of active women confronting whatever life throws their way. The "Adjustable Handful Bra, the "Handful Tank," and the "save the ta-tas? Handful Bra" offer more options to take women from their workout to weekend.

Both the Adjustable Handful Bra and the Handful Tank are convertible as well as adjustable, so women can decide whether to wear the straps as an X-back or straight and customize length and support levels. Like other Handful products, the Adjustable Handful Bra, the Handful Tank, and the save the ta-tas? Handful Bra feature generously cut pad pockets and include a set of color-coordinated removable pads that contour, conceal or enhance a woman's shape. The synthetic lining wicks moisture away from the body, and the nylon/spandex (82%/18%) shell dries quickly.

In addition, by partnering with save the ta-tas? to produce a signature save the ta-tas? logo bra, Handful enables women to raise awareness and funds for the cause as a portion of every save the ta-tas? women's jackets online Handful Bra sold will be donated to cancer research.

"Whatever your breast issues or whatever life throws your way, our products are designed to be that every day, every activity basic that will take you from workout to weekend while looking, feeling and performing your best," said Jennifer Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer, Handful, Inc. "Expanding the line in response to customer feedback allows us to offer even more versatility and choice for the discerning women of all life stages who don't want to compromise on fashion, function or feel when choosing a bra."

The Adjustable Handful Bra will also be available in a size XL—the first time the company has expanded their size range offerings. Unmatched in versatility, Handful products are designed to wear alone or as smooth layering pieces under workout clothes and everyday tops.

For information on where to purchase Handful products, visit http://www.handful.com
Product Video at: http://youtu.be/Us2LsletieQ

About Handful, Inc.
flatter, not flatten?
Handful, Inc., is an all-women Tigard-based company started in 2006 by fitness enthusiast Jennifer Ferguson after she spent years searching in vain for a good sports bra. Positive energy has fueled Jennifer's 22-year career as a group exercise instructor of cycling, strength, dance, step, aqua, kickboxing, rock climbing, yoga, and running classes. After Jennifer decided to channel her frustration creatively, she designed and manufactured what she (and a lot of other female athletes) had been waiting for...that one sports bra that does it all!

Handful, Inc., has gone on to create a loyal fitness following and also establish itself as an approved mastectomy bra provider supporting breast cancer survivors during treatment and their return to good health and fitness. The Handful team thrives on activities of all kinds, works hard and plays harder. Handful, Inc., is a company determined to exceed the unmet needs of fitness enthusiasts and breast cancer survivors, give back through participation in community events and charitable outreach, and reduce wasteful packaging by using 100% recyclable materials, including a reusable mesh bag with every purchase for convenient laundering of the bra and pads.

The Made In America Store Has The Answer To Why Buying American Is So Important.

What is the most important issue that should be addressed this voting season? The team behind the Made In America Store believes that concentrating on growing US manufacturing should be of key concern. To help hype American manufacturing, the Made In America Store is offering a deal on their "Because China Is A Long Drive To Work!" T Shirts. The Made In America Store is devoted to selling 100% American made products and that means with every sale, a job is being saved or created.

The Made In America Store's bestselling shirt, "Because China Is A long Drive to Work!" is going on sale on October 1st and will take 20% off each shirt purchased. The Men's Basic T Shirt with the slogan comes in sizes small through 4XL and comes in Black, Red, Lime Green, Bright Orange and Hot Pink! Women's Crew Neck Shirts come in small through XL and comes in Black or White.

Looking for a new shirt to help show support for buying American? Pick up a Made In America Store's "Because China Is A Long Drive To Work!" T shirt today by clicking here!

The "China Is A Long women's coats Drive" Shirt from the Made In America Store is one of five quoted shirts that lead the clothing front at the US made products store. "Save Our Country First!", "Because Chine Is A Long Drive To Work!", "Your Freedom To Choose Is Your Power To Change!", "The REAL Stimulus Package!" and "Taking Our Country Back!" are the five quote shirts that can help show your support for American manufacturing.

"Consumers have the power to change the economy." Said Mark Andol, owner and creator of the Made In America Store. "Vote with your dollar this election season and prove why it is important to buy American? Because China is a long drive to work!"

The Made In America Store is the only brick and mortar store that sells 100% made in the United States products from over 350 vendors. Consumers can visit http://www.MadeInAmericaStore.com or call 716-652-4872 to get more information or shop our catalog of over 3,500 items. Both Active Duty Military Personnel and U.S. Military Veterans receive a 10% discount every day. Followers of the "Made In America" movement can keep updated with the Made In America Store through Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, FourSquare and even their own blog on Wordpress!

How To Sell More Wholesale Suits For Women Starting Today Article Published By Donny Lowy, The CEO Of CloseoutExplosion.com

Tips for how to sell more wholesale suits for women starting today has been published by Donny Lowy, the CEO of Closeout Explosion, a New York warehouse that sells wholesale suits for women. Donny has written an article that contains practical retail tips that can be used by retailers to sell more office and corporate suits for ladies. With the demand for office outfits very strong in African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Botswana, and Namibia, and the request for Church suits by retailers in the Caribbean being strong, Donny has compiled ideas which can help these retailers increase their sales volume.

Closeout Explosion reviews the wholesale suit business in this fashion website, including tips such as:

-How To Attract Repeat Shoppers To Your Suit Boutique
-Tips For Moving Unsold Office Suits
-How To Generate Interest For A Brand Such As Suit Studio In A Market Unfamiliar With It
-Great Ways To Attract New Shoppers To Your Suit Business
-Innovative Ideas For Running A Fashion Sale
-Tools For Marketing Designer Wear To Your Clients
-How Focusing On Successful People Can Help You Sell More Brand Name Clothing

"The demand for premium suits is highly influenced by the growing corporate sector in developing markets. The desire of designer brands such as Tahari, Jones New York, Calvin Klein fashion coats online , and Nine West, is promulgated by the reach of the Internet as women in countries such as South Africa and the Bahamas are exposed to marketing by American and European clothing labels. In addition, the growth of international travel has also helped expose many fashionable brand names to Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East," said Donny Lowy, the CEO of the wholesale export business.

CloseoutExplosion.com is able to supply brand name suits at overstock prices through his liquidation website, and at his Brooklyn wholesale warehouse, by purchasing department store overstock, high end store returns, and closeout deals. The savings are then passed on to retailers and wholesale showrooms, allowing them to enjoy potentially high profit margins. For example, a department store will want to clear out last season's clothing inventory, which Donny Lowy will purchase and then resell to apparel shops located anywhere from the New York Fashion District to downtown Abuja.

The warehouse is open to retailers who are welcome to visit the warehouse. Online ordering is also available, as well as international shipping which can often be done on a freight collect basis through DBSchenker or Express Air Freight.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

UK Based International Online Retailer SocksFox.com Offers Free Worldwide Delivery For All Sales

Lincolnshire based SocksFox.com in the UK is an international online retailer specialising in quality brands of men's and women's socks, underwear, outdoor and sports wear as well as children's socks. It sells extensively to the UK, Europe, USA, Australia, Japan and the Middle East. Top brands include Falke, Hanro, Zimmerli, Burlington & Dore Dore which all have international appeal.

Until now, SocksFox has charged customers for smaller orders to UK and Europe and all orders to the rest of the world. After a short trial period, SocksFox has announced free delivery for all orders worldwide.

Director David Nieburg said, "Customers tell us it's not just about paying less for something. They like the simplicity of knowing that the price they see is the price they pay."

David continued, "We aim to build our reputation as the international online shop for top quality brand clothes. We already have an increasing and loyal customer base across the world but the pace of the international market means we cannot stand still. We believe offering free delivery on top of our qu fashion jackets online ality brands will help to keep our customers coming back to buy from us wherever they are".

Established in 2003, SocksFox specialise in top quality clothing brands including Falke, Hanro, Zimmerli, Burlington & Dore Dore which have international appeal. Their sales have continued to grow despite adverse global economic conditions, underpinned by brand quality and close attention to personal service.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Caravan Touring France-Ideas For Touring In Aquitaine For Foodies And Wine Lovers

The culture and the history of Aquitaine, in the south west of France, owes much to the Celts. When touring by caravan in France and exploring the region of Aquitaine, you will come across Roman churches and monuments dating back further still, bearing ancient celtic and druidic symbols. Aquitaine was at the epicentre of the numerous conflicts between France and England that span centuries.

Eleanor of Aquitaine was once queen of France when married to Louis VII but became the queen of England when that marriage was annulled and she married Henry II just two years later in 1154: proof, as if it were needed of the tumultuous relationship of the cross channel neighbour. In fact it wasn't until the end of the hundred years war in 1453 that Aquitaine became finally and indelibly French.

Despite this rich history and the wonderful gastronomic delights that await visitors to the region, Aquitaine is relatively unspoilt by the tourist hordes. The long white beaches and forests carved out with cycling and hiking routes, skiing and the scenic lakes means this region can endlessly entertain the whole family if you're planning a longer break. "Playful" isn't necessarily a word you could use to describe many philosophers but is quite opposite when it comes to Bordeaux thinker Michele de Montaigne, whose great work, essais, contained the famous tract on "The Art of Living" taken as law by many a French man and woman and Francophile alike.

In just five departments Aquitaine is the showcase of all that's great in French wine and gastronomy. Drive through the regions and you will feel as though you are not so much reading road signs as a great restaurant's wine list. There's Bergerac, C?tes de Bergerac, Rosette, Pécharmant, Monbazillac, Montravel and Monbazillac in the Dordogne départment alone. However the region's largest wine producing area is Gironde. Gironde is the birth place of Barsac, Cadillac, Médoc, Saint-Emilion and Sauterne to name but a very few. It's most famous wines take the name of Aquitaine's capital: Bordeaux. With perhaps the most famous vigniers in the world such as Rothschild, Petrus and Margaux quality is beyond question.

Cheese and wine go hand in glove in France and the region of Aquitaine produces cheeses every bit as good and distinctive as their wines. Cheeses made from ewe's milk are a speciality of the region and include Ossau-Iraty which is produced in the Pyrenean valleys. This medium soft cheese has an edible rind and a delicate pale yellow colour. Flavour wise it is subtle but complex with a rich nutty flavour without being at all sweet.

The nuns of the convent that was formerly a trappist monastery near the village of Forêt de la Double in the Dordogne produce the exquisite cows' milk cheese Trappe Echourgnac. The dark brown rind is the result of the cheese being washed in nut liquor which lends it a certain fruitiness that makes it a delicious accompaniment to regions nuts and prunes.

We've had ewe's milk and cow's milk but the goats of Aquitaine are not to be outdone! Cabécou is a soft goats' milk cheese produced in the Lot-et-Garonne area. Its rind is exceptionally thin and within a fortnight grows a blue mould that contrasts beautifully with this otherwise sweet and creamy cheese.

While in the Lot-et-Garonne area, why not partake of its famous apple tourtière - a pork pie baked with spices apples or apple chutney inside. Delicious hot or cold this would be the perfect lunch box treat on any of the Aquitaine wine tours (more on those later).

Landes pastis is a sweet cake sometimes infused with orange blossom water that can be eaten alone, with cream or with fruit - a wonderful little friend to take on your travels. For an even sweeter treat try the Bordeaux speciality, canelé. Like Landes patis, this is a doughy cake not unlike brioche in texture but with a dark brown caramelised coat and a creamy custard centre. According to local folk lore the canelé was invented as soon as flour reached the quays of Aquitaine though more likely is that they are an eighteenth century invention of local nuns. So popular were these delicacies and such artistry involved in their production that in 1663 there was a guild of Canauliers registered with the Parliament of Bordeaux. Oh, and should you fancy a crème brulèe you'll find this dessert which is Aquitaine in origin on the menus of all good restaurants.

Traditional and world renowned French delicacies are on the menu in Aquitaine which prides itself on its excellent pates especially the archetypical pate de fois grois - goose liver pate. The very heartiest of soups and stews, garbure is native to Aquitaine. This thick and heavy cabbage soup al women's jackets so contains salted meats and beans. Traditionally, this soup is made with goose stock and is found as a main course dish it is so satisfying. Veal piperade, that is a stew or sauce made of locally grown peppers or axoa, veal minced and stewed in onion and spices are traditional dishes in the region.

As well as the veal and beef produced in the region Aquitaine offer fine specimens of foul, again a soup, Pot au poule is a firm favourite in the region and local caught fish and seafood is as fresh as it gets. Love them or loathe them during your time in Aquitaine you'll be hard pressed to avoid oysters and all the myths and superstitions that surround their production and consumption. Did you know that you are supposed to avoid oysters and other closed shell sea food such as mussels if there is no "R" in the month? Well, supposedly so. These Summer months, June, July and August are these delicious sea creatures' spawning period.

Aquitaine Wine Routes
It is more than fair to say that Bergerac, in the Dordogne, is the beating heart of the Purple Périgord and is a popular starting point for wine tours taking in the other appellations of the area Montravel, Haut-Montravel, Pécharmant, Rosette and Saussignac. There are three signposted routes you can take from Bergerac ranging between 80 and 150 kilometres in length and collectively encompassing more than a hundred ch?teaux all of which have signed up to the Aquitaine "welcome charter."

Before heading off, visit Bergerac's Maison des Vins. Tasting wines here is an education - an award winning education as the Maison des Vins de Bergerac won, in 2005, a Best of Wine Tourism award. At Sauterne and Montbazillac you can sample some of the best semillon wines France produces and they only get better with age.

For real variety and a little bit of everything that Bordeaux has on offer take the D2 road. You will pass quaint, typically French half timbered homes and grand ch?teaux alike as you stop to sample the wines of Médoc, Margaux, Saint Julien, Pauillac and Saint Estèphe.

Which way you wish to tackle such an onerous task as tasting your way around Bordeaux's wine routes will depend very much on how much exercise you want to get in between tastings! There is a famous (and signposted) hillside wine route which will take you through the Gironde estaury, the ch?teaux route which includes Médoc, Ch?teau Margaux, Latour, Mouton-Rothschild the latter two each having their own wine museum. The Heritage route has something for everyone - hillsides, ch?teaux, wind mills and plenty of excellent wine.

There are various other routes to choose from depending on the mix of wines, history and landscapes you might be seeking. These routes include including the graves route that encompasses Maison du Vin des Graves in Podensac and Sauterne. You might prefer the Bastides Route, which is a show case for much of the region's most grand and opulent architecture as well as taking in Entre-deux-Mers, producer of fine reds and roses. Perhaps the best approach is to visit the local tourist office and draw up one of your very own that encompasses not just your taste in wine but intersperses cellar visits and tastings with educational tours and a real insight into the landscape and wonderful variety of architecture the region has to show.

A Passkey To Success

Have you ever known someone who always seemed to get what they wanted? Maybe it was that guy at work who went from visionary cubicle working stiff to powerful corner office head honcho in a short interval of time. Or your faired haired high school classmate with the glimmer in her eye, who made getting straight A's "and being caption of the womens soccer team look like a cake walk. Their cups always seem to overflow and others marveled at their accomplishments. Never did we hear them complain or worry (out loud for that matter). They always expected the best to happen and it did. Even when bad times fell on them, them always stayed in good spirits and like clockwork everything that they seemed to have lost was restored back and then some. And many onlookers were left wondering how they did it (and how to get their magic potion). Quite simply, the working stiff and the fair haired classmate probably believed they deserved to see their dreams become reality, and that the best that life had to offer was theirs. And, it was not a matter of being connected and knowing the "right" person, there was one defining pattern to these people, it was their attitude. Fortunately this can also be true for all of us.

We all live with an unconscious expectation of ourselves and our own lives. This expectation not only determines what we have in our lives but it also represents what we are willing to settle for. Expectation is a very powerful outlook and one that very few people ever learn to fully cultivate. Whatever you expect with certainty is what you will get in your life. Expectation is the intrinsic place where an idea becomes so real that you feel it even though you can't hold it yet. Expectation is like an invisible magnet that will attract into your life that which you expect. When you expect something you activate and engage those parts of your mind and your nervous system that can empower you to think the unthinkable and do the undoable. Whatever thoughts you constantly feed your mind through out the day, your subconscious mind is taking it in. And it does not discriminate between the good thoughts or the bad thoughts, it takes it all in! What you earn right now is what you expect to earn. The amount of free time you have right now is what you expect to have as free time. The relationships you have are what you expect to have.

When you expect the best it's not like expecting something good or something similar, it is the best and only the best. You have to stop settling for less than you can be or have. On a deep psychological level this is exactly what creates your expectations and that is why a lifetime of settling for less than you can be creates an expectation that is only "O.K.". It becomes the standard that you are willing to settle for.

Great expectations create great results. When you expect the best it will become a directional mechanism that will guide you to seeking out and finding what you expect. The difference between great expectations and weak hopes start out with nothing more than a outlook or mind set; an outlook that can make the difference between living a life of fulfilment and one of desperation and frustration. Create the expectation by making sincere decisions. Nurture your expectations by never settling for anything less than the best. Over time you will no longer want to think negative and self destructing thoughts. You will choose joy, happiness, success, abundance and everything that you wish for yourself.

It is easy to change your expectations. You can do it in an instant. And that can be a menace. As too often, we lower our expectations because that seems easier than overcoming the obstacles which seem to stand in the way of fulfilling those expectations. Are you being forced to lower your expectations or are you choosing the "handy" way out? You must expect the best in order to achieve the best. Yet it takes more than just expectation. It takes commitment and performance. Don't lower your expectati women's jackets ons to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself and then do what is necessary to make it a reality

You need no special skills or knowledge to raise your expectations. You simply need a decision that from this point onwards you will never again settle for anything less than you can possible be. The difference between hoping for something with uncertainty and depending on something with expectation is nothing but the way you direct the focus of your mind. What you say to yourself, the images you imagine and your behavior are what you can consciously direct. But, only if you choose to. If not, you will revert back to the autopilot of the masses just going with the flow of "whatever" comes along. The cultural autopilot is the emotional default and only through conscious and consistent nurturing of your desires and inclinations can you live life by your own standards and create the expectations that will lead you to a life of abundance and fulfilment.

In 1968, a study was conducted in San Francisco on teachers of students in grades one through six. Known as the Pygmalion Study, researchers who were involved gave the teachers incorrect information about their students; basically that the students were on the brink of intellectual growth. However, the students were really selected randomly and were not necessarily on the brink of anything. Nonetheless, the teachers believed and expected that the students were capable of great things and this resulted in high scores on IQ tests and other projects. After the study was completed, researchers concluded that the teachers' belief in the students caused the students to experience outstanding intellectual growth. This study is a prime example of belief turning possibilities into reality.

Are you making a living or living your life? To "live" your life implies action--movement--excitement. Unfortunately, today most of us have our calendars so full we have little time to enjoy all the courses in the feast of life. It's important that you value your precious time here on this planet.

Most of us believe that the hand we are dealt in life is what we will always hold. Sure, life is okay but it isn't great; bills need to be paid, the kids are sick, and the bank account never seems to grow. After some time, you believe this is your life and how it will always play out. On the other hand, people who believe they deserve better play a different hand and they never have a poker face when it comes to their expectations.

When you expect only the best, you put yourself in a position of power. First and foremost, you send signals to your subconscious to help you notice and get what you desire (and deserve!).You get a check in the mail or you literally bump into the perfect woman at the coffee shop and she happens to live close by. Great expectations lead to great results.

Like every play, your life has its own story. Learn from the past but don't get caught up in it. You can't change it and you can't expect or anticipate anything that has already taken place! And you don't really know how it's going to end, or even what's coming up next. The best thing you can do is keep up with what's going on and steer it in the direction you would like it to go. The rest will play out as it will.

In the morning, do not get out of bed until you sit back, fluff your pillows and fill yourself with words of loving encouragement and expectation. Ponder the words, let them sink in. Imagine the dreams you have for yourself. And finish by including a short proclamation for your day to be full of wonder, joy and guidance.

Listen to your intuition, for it is your best friend. Ignore your fears for they are definitely not in your best interest. Believe in your dreams for they are your future. Come to expect success in your life and everything you do, because you are constantly preparing for it. Expect the best out of life and you will get it!

Expect the best and the best will come...

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Ninjutsu, Equal Opportunity Employer -The Story of Kunoichi, Female Ninjas

You choke on the blood that is coming out of your mouth as you double over in pain, and grope for your sword. Your attacker was not another samurai and no intruder could have made it passed your castle walls, but as you breathe your last breath you realize the female companion you brought home that night was more than she seemed.

The deadly art of Ninjutsu was not exclusively practiced by men alone. The kunoichi (pronounced KOO-NOY-CHEE) or "Dragon Lady" wreaked havoc in medieval Japan. Like their male counterparts, they often used camouflage and disguise, but the kunoichi also used seduction and manipulation to make their way to their target. They would pose as maids, musicians, fortune tellers, and artists hiding weapons on their person or in instruments. Some women would pose as geishas, concubines, or even marry an intended target and poison or kill them in their sleep. Like other ninjas it was all about completing the mission, and though they were ready to fight, they avoided it whenever possible. It his hard to determine just how many warriors died because they let their guard down in the face of what appeared to be beautiful submissive woman.

Historians believe a kunoichi was probably a girl recruited from a poor family or was a runaway who was taken in by an older kunoichi who would be both mother and instructor to the young girl. Saved from poverty the girl would be a devoted if a not fanatical student, and would learn early on the ways of the assassin. Ninjutsu training is often described as a mixture of Judo, Jujutsu, and swordsmanship training with the emphasis on stealth and concealment rather than disciplined brutality like the samurai employed.

Because the women often went on missions alone and would go up against men their training focused on techniques that would allow them to fight off stronger and larger opponents. They learned all of the dirty self defense techn women's jackets online iques like eye gouges, chokeholds, and strikes to the groin. They would purposely train in confined spaces, so they could practice practical close combat techniques, and practiced one-on-one fighting tactics rather than group fighting techniques.

The kunoichi also trained extensively with an array of weapons and poisons. One favorite weapon was the neko-te (NEK-OH-TAY) which was iron fingernails that would be fastened to the hand by leather straps. By themselves they could slash a warrior to pieces, but many times the women assassins would coat the blades with poison to get the job done faster. Many of their weapons were designed to be concealed, but the kunoichi would also learn samurai and Okinawan weapons as well. The belief was that since you were assassinating samurai, these weapons would be easily accessible in a pinch.

Some kunoichi wouldn't even bother to train the concealment tactics of their male counterparts because they hid so well in plain site. Training also included many aspects of psychological warfare, and the women were prepared to survive interrogations and reveal as little as possible. Knowing they could be tortured and raped if caught, the women trained hard at being effective spies, saboteurs, and assassins. One female kunoichi trained her women to tend to holy shrines, so they eliminated their target they simply return to their work without being discovered. One woman assassin achieved leadership of her husband's clan after murdering him in his sleep on their wedding night. She convinced all those around her that she had slept through the whole attack and was capable of stabbing her husband to death.

While few people are interested in becoming assassins outside of the military and espionage community there is a lot to be learned about self defense from the kunoichi. They took advantage of the fact that most men would dismiss a female as a threat, and they used an opponent's strength against them in combat. They trained to fight men not other women and their training helped them learn how to deal with the worst case scenario. They learned how to employ concealed weapons effectively and how to be observant of details that might help them later. While these are all methods of an assassin they're also useful to a woman who wishes to protect herself on the street. Shock a male attacker by knowing how to fight back with real self defense training, and turn the tide against them. Don't ever let anyone tell you women can't fight. This is a perfect example of turning "weakness into strength".

If You Wear Petite Clothes, Swing Petite Golf Clubs, Too

Just as there is a special section for petites in women's clothing stores, so too are there special golf clubs for the petite woman golfer. Women's petite golf clubs measure about an inch shorter than standard-length women's clubs. The petite women golfer's height is considered to be from 4'10" to 5'3". If you are a petite and using standard women's clubs, then these longer clubs are making it harder for you to hit your shots accurately.

Every golfer will play better when they play with clubs that have been custom fit for their size and swing characteristics. This is no less true for the petite women golfer. Properly sized clubs enable more natural-feeling swings, and the feedback loop will soon bring about more consistency and eventually better scores.

The simplest option if you are a petite is to buy a petite golf set. Several sets are available from online vendors. You can also order individual clubs in the petite length.

Women golfers commonly struggle with clubs whose shafts are too stiff for them. Graphite shafts can provide a much softer flex, are lighter and they give your swing an easier feel. We encourage most ladies to play with graphite shafts rather than steel. Graphite is better for the beginner, the high handicapper, the elderly, those with joint problems and those whose swing is relatively weaker or slower.

A better option for the petite golfer than simply buying a petite set of clubs is to get custom fitted. After all, there is more to your uniqueness as a golfer than just your height. Customer fitting doesn't take long or cost much, if anything. You'll find much richer satisfaction if you are willing to expend a little effort to get optimally fit rather than accept the approximate fit of off-the-rack clubs.

Every golfer is a little different, from the shape of their body to the shape of their swing. A custom fitting will result in clubs that are specifically built for your height, strength, swing speed and swing characteristics.

Some golfers think they need to improve to a certain level before they get fitted. Actually, it's just the opposite. The more of a novice you are, the more you will benefit from custom fitting. A novice using an ill-fitted club will compensate and groove a swing adjustment that will later limit her ability to improve. It's best to groove solid fundamentals, knowing that when a ball is miss-hit, it's the fault of your swing, not the club.

Off-the-shelf golf clubs are one-size-fits-all, designed for the average player. Even if you are of average height, your stance and swing characteristics might require a different club lie angle. Even a player with a sound setup and swing will experience unwanted draws or fades if the lie angle of his clubs is incorrect. She will lose distance, usually half a club length, even on a well-struck shot.

Teaching pros estimate that 90 percent of golfers would benefit from custom built clubs.

There are several ways to go about getting custom fitted. The easiest is static measuring, which involves your physical measurements. You measure your height with shoes on. Then measure the distance from your wrist to the ground, again with your shoes on. There are charts available on-line that will take these measurements and indicate what your corresponding shaft length adjustment should be. This is where you'll discover that the petite sets are fright for you.

The next step up is dynamic measuring, actually hitting balls using the same club configured in various lengths, lies, and flexes A club-fitting pro will have a cart filled with, say Titleist 6 irons, each configured slightly differently, from half-inch differences in length to single degree differences in lie, from flat to normal to upright. Impact tape is applied to the clubs you'll hit. Based on ball flight, impact marks on the club and your own feedback as to which configuration feels best, the pro will make adjustments, and you'll find the right specs for you.

A more high-tech fitting process involves computers and electronic body sensors, which some manufacturers use for their sponsored pros, and which they are beginning to roll out to fitting centers nationwide. But this approach may be more than you need, and is costly and time consuming as well.

Armed with your specifications, you can buy from the pro who fitted you, or order from any supplier you prefer. Most shops will throw in the cost of a fitting if you buy from them. Otherwise the cost is about $50. Custom made clubs should cost no more than off-the-shelf standard clubs, barring any shaft or grip upgrade.

You can even order custom fitted knock-offs and save money and strokes at the same time. Knock-offs are similar in appearance to other brands made within legal women's coats limits.

Most players think of iron sets when they think of custom fit golf clubs. But you'll play better when your putter, wedges and woods are custom fit, too.

Once you have your new clubs, you'll know that the tools in your hand are the best they can be for you. Having such confidence never hurts. The downside is that you can't blame your bad rounds on your clubs anymore.

Have You Packed You And Your Babies Bag?

4 weeks to go until your due date and suddenly everyone starts asking if you have packed your bag! Suddenly it all becomes very real indeed and instead of thinking what is going on in your body you finally have to think about how you are going to get your baby out of your body!

Packing your bag for hospital is a good way to start the changing thought process. I tried to keep my bag to a minimum but there are some key essentials.

2 front fastenin women's jackets g nighties. If you have decided to breastfeed these are a must. Easy access when you are trying to get your baby to latch on and you are both beginners is essential! I also packed some loose pyjamas for walking around the ward in.

Nipple cream is also a good idea- rarely have I heard anyone saying the first few days were easy or pain free so chose a good brand. I liked Kamillosan Nipple cream that is very popular. Breast pads for between feeds and a comfortable breast feeding bra.

While we are on personal items you will also need maternity pads. Do not think you can get away with ordinary pads as, like me, you will discover that your stitches stick to them- ouch!

A wash bag with all the usual included but also remember some antibacterial wipes. With so much in the news about super bugs you really do not want to catch anything and a handy wipe before you use the bathroom only takes a second! Also remember a couple of dark towels (as you may well find you do get blood on them).

An iPod with all your fav tracks so that you can shut out the noise of the ward when your baby is sleeping and have a bit of me time with your new book until junior wakes up and needs you! I never actually managed to open the book by the iPod was a life saver!

Your going home outfit. Many of us have friends who have walked out of hospital in their old size 12 jeans but none of us have actually witnessed it! Go for comfort and simply pull in your old elasticated trousers to the new you! A loose front fastening top is also perfect.

It is all too easy to get so absorbed in you during pregnancy that you forget there will be two of you soon after entering the hospital! Once you have packed your own bag remember to pack a bag for baby too.

Essentials.

Nappies.
I made the classic first Mum error of forgetting to pack nappies for my newborn, assuming that the hospital would provide these. I therefore spent the first few hours borrowing from the kind lady in the next bed to me! What I did find is that your brand loyalty starts right now. I was a Pampers Mum throughout simply because they were the nappies delivered to me in hospital.

Clothes.
You will need at least 3 babygros and vests. Try to buy easy fastening babygros and vests. It is incredible how fragile your baby feels even at a good weight and to start with you need to practice so back fastening is too much of a challenge! Do not forget that your baby might be larger than average so unless you know you are having a small baby ensure you buy the correct size!

Muslin Squares.
Who could believe that simple squares of fabric will become such a major part of ones life! To start they are fantastic for wiping up all manner of drips and sick and eventually many become essential comforters for the baby itself! I love the coloured packs now available in lime green and lemon from Mothercare!

Outfit for going home.
All hospitals are very warm so it is essential that your baby has something suitable, depending on the time of year, to leave the hospital in. This may mean a warm coat and socks and booties but will always mean a hat! A blanket is also useful for the first trip outside.

Car seat.
You will not be allowed to leave the hospital without a car seat! Practice fitting this into your car at home so that you do not struggle while your baby is in it!

Monday, November 19, 2012

Violence Awareness, Prevention and Self Defense Part 2

If you have ever looked into this topic, you know how common it is for women to be assaulted or raped by their friends, associates, even their lover or their spouse. Those cases of assault are often unforeseen and self defense techniques are necessary. However, women can be extremely vulnerable to assault by strangers and this can largely be prevented by understanding high risk situations, making the right choices, and sometimes following your gut instinct when something doesn't feel right!

Many Women can indeed have uncanny intuition and instincts at times and learning when to recognise it and listening to it can pay off in dangerous situations. Think about it... How many times has it crossed your mind "If only I had listened to my gut"? I am sure we can all recall at least a few incidents in the course of our lives where we have done something, against our better judgment and instinct, and later said that very thing. If something suddenly tells you to look around, walk faster, run or leave a particular area, you need to listen to it! You may never know what listening to it has saved you from, but maybe we do have a sixth sense, that we just don't know how to explain, so we tend to ignore it. The worst that can happen in this situation is that you might look very odd to strangers, but it could very well save your life. If you have an instinct not to enter a building, to leave a building, to check round a corner, then follow that intuition!

There are countless safety tips to help women understand high risk situations and prevent unnecessary vulnerability; I will try to sum up as many as I can:

* Always be aware of your surroundings. It may look strange to be constantly glancing in all directions, but paying attention to your immediate environment is of the utmost importance. Try to look at people's faces whenever possible, rather than their clothes. Possible attackers may be deterred from approaching someone who appears aware of what's going on, they want to catch someone off guard.

* Routines are a stalker's best friend. Try to change yours whenever possible, it will make it harder for a possible attacker to predict where you are going to be at any time.

* Don't assume you will women's jackets be safe in public places. Laundromats, bus stops, parking lots, particularly public restrooms can be targeted by attackers as places to find vulnerable victims. Go during busier hours when there are more people around even if it's uncomfortable or crowded. Choose a more populated bus stop whenever possible. If you must go to the store at night when the parking lot is dark and empty, don't be afraid to ask an employee to escort you to your car.

* While driving, always lock your doors. This can also be a deterent for would be bag snatchers at traffic lights for example. Never pull over if someone in another car comes up along side you and tries to signal to you, wait until the nearest populated place, like a gas station or rest area, where other people are if you want to check your car. Try to park near an entrance or exit in a parking garage or parking lot. Always let friends and family know where you are going and the route you are taking to get there. Never EVER pick up a hitch hiker or stop to help someone who seems to have car trouble, just call the police to assist them. If you suspect you are being followed, do NOT drive to your home or stop in a desolate area, call the police or drive to the closest police station.

* When jogging or walking, try to stay in bright and open areas. Avoid passing too close to big bushes, dark doorways, alleys, vans or high vehicles. Don't wear headphones. Try to take someone with you whenever possible, find a jogging partner and walk to and from your car with co-workers. Vary your routines. If you think someone is following you, look at them and do it often, show them that you are aware of their presence.

* Before getting into your car, look inside and look under your car and the ones parked next to yours before you approach. Have your keys ready before you get to your vehicle or your home. Before getting out of your vehicle and before getting a child out of the back seat, look around, note anyone nearby and make sure you are safe. You are especially vulnerable while leaning into the back of your car and when your hands are full. If there are signs of entry when you get home, do NOT go inside.

* While "out on the town," attach yourself to friends, agree to watch over each other. Never leave your drink unattended, attackers can easily get their hands on a date rape drug. Don't get intoxicated. Have fun, but keep a clear head. Never leave with a stranger, or even a drunk male acquaintance. Ask your friends if you can leave together, or if you must leave alone ask an employee to walk you out (like a bouncer).

Your brain is an attacker's worst enemy. Be smart. Be informed. Be confident. Be careful. Be prepared. And be ready to defend yourself!

Have You Packed You And Your Babies Bag?

4 weeks to go until your due date and suddenly everyone starts asking if you have packed your bag! Suddenly it all becomes very real indeed and instead of thinking what is going on in your body you finally have to think about how you are going to get your baby out of your body!

Packing your bag for hospital is a good way to start the changing thought process. I tried to keep my bag to a minimum but there are some key essentials.

2 front fastenin women's jackets g nighties. If you have decided to breastfeed these are a must. Easy access when you are trying to get your baby to latch on and you are both beginners is essential! I also packed some loose pyjamas for walking around the ward in.

Nipple cream is also a good idea- rarely have I heard anyone saying the first few days were easy or pain free so chose a good brand. I liked Kamillosan Nipple cream that is very popular. Breast pads for between feeds and a comfortable breast feeding bra.

While we are on personal items you will also need maternity pads. Do not think you can get away with ordinary pads as, like me, you will discover that your stitches stick to them- ouch!

A wash bag with all the usual included but also remember some antibacterial wipes. With so much in the news about super bugs you really do not want to catch anything and a handy wipe before you use the bathroom only takes a second! Also remember a couple of dark towels (as you may well find you do get blood on them).

An iPod with all your fav tracks so that you can shut out the noise of the ward when your baby is sleeping and have a bit of me time with your new book until junior wakes up and needs you! I never actually managed to open the book by the iPod was a life saver!

Your going home outfit. Many of us have friends who have walked out of hospital in their old size 12 jeans but none of us have actually witnessed it! Go for comfort and simply pull in your old elasticated trousers to the new you! A loose front fastening top is also perfect.

It is all too easy to get so absorbed in you during pregnancy that you forget there will be two of you soon after entering the hospital! Once you have packed your own bag remember to pack a bag for baby too.

Essentials.

Nappies.
I made the classic first Mum error of forgetting to pack nappies for my newborn, assuming that the hospital would provide these. I therefore spent the first few hours borrowing from the kind lady in the next bed to me! What I did find is that your brand loyalty starts right now. I was a Pampers Mum throughout simply because they were the nappies delivered to me in hospital.

Clothes.
You will need at least 3 babygros and vests. Try to buy easy fastening babygros and vests. It is incredible how fragile your baby feels even at a good weight and to start with you need to practice so back fastening is too much of a challenge! Do not forget that your baby might be larger than average so unless you know you are having a small baby ensure you buy the correct size!

Muslin Squares.
Who could believe that simple squares of fabric will become such a major part of ones life! To start they are fantastic for wiping up all manner of drips and sick and eventually many become essential comforters for the baby itself! I love the coloured packs now available in lime green and lemon from Mothercare!

Outfit for going home.
All hospitals are very warm so it is essential that your baby has something suitable, depending on the time of year, to leave the hospital in. This may mean a warm coat and socks and booties but will always mean a hat! A blanket is also useful for the first trip outside.

Car seat.
You will not be allowed to leave the hospital without a car seat! Practice fitting this into your car at home so that you do not struggle while your baby is in it!

Using Axes And Crampons On Your Ice Hiking Adventure

Having the right equipment on an ice climbing trip can literally be the difference between life and death. Before you get on the ice, make sure you have an ax and crampons in tow.

Choice of the varying weights and lengths of ice axes will be determined by the purpose for which the ax is intended. For those who expect to use the ax primarily as a cane - its most frequent and prolonged use - cane length is preferable; that is, about half a person's height. A ski mountaineer or rock-climber may prefer a much shorter length if he intends, most of the time, to carry the ax in his pack. In any event the shaft should be of good hickory and fit the hand well.

The pick should bevermont ski vacation-8 inches long, with teeth on the underside, and the adz and pick of the head should curve so as to coincide with an arc that could be drawn by the ax held at arm's length. The steel should be tough enough to hold an edge well, but not so hard as to crystallize easily.

Professional guides scorn a wrist loop, but they, and pa women's coats rticularly amateurs, run great risk of losing an ax where they need it most. The loop is secured to a ring that slides on the shaft, being stopped above the point by a round-headed screw or a ring on the ferrule. A satisfactory substitute that will not interfere with probing and is readily adjustable is a loop of rawhide tied to the shaft with a Prusik knot. Most rapid wear will be of the point against rock when the ax is used as a cane.

The point should protrude far enough from the ferrule to permit several resharpenings. A one-piece point does not have the resiliency of a point and ferrule. Metal parts should be protected by a thin coat of oil after each use, the stock by frequent thin coats of a good wood preservative. A leather sheath for the head will keep the point out of undesirable places when the ax is carried, but is not necessary.

Fitted well and tied securely to the boots, crampons, properly used with an ice ax, will hold on exceedingly steep ice slopes (80 degrees is claimed!) without requiring that steps be cut. It follows that crampons will increase safety in steps on less severe angles.

A crampon should be rugged, and the ski mountaineer should beware of rejected army crampons that may be on the market for some time, and that have received the well-deserved nickname of "folding crampons" for their utter lack of necessary sturdiness. Single articulation of the crampon is adequate. The points should be 1 - 1 1/2inches long to permit resharpening - frequently needed if the climber wears them often on rock islands in the ice. The number of points varies from 2 to 19.

The 12-point model, which has two points protruding at an angle in front of the foot, is most versatile. A 4-point crampon may serve for the skier who wishes only to wear something on his ski boots for short and infrequent pitches of ice that are not difficult. The binding when wet will tighten if of webbing and stretch if of leather, but leather is easy to tighten again and can be more easily worked at subfreezing temperatures.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Mens Fashion - Dressing Well on a Budget

Let's say you are on a budget. And by that we mean a severely restricted budget where you have to choose between buying clothes and food. You can eat ramen, rice, and beans, and spaghetti which you buy at the dollar store or in the case of ramen you can buy them for 12 for $1 at the super discount warehouse store. What do they make ramen out of? Old newspapers? - that allows them to sell it for that price in all the varieties of exotic flavors like shrimp (which you will need a microscope to see one, these are not jumbo shrimp but real scrimpy shrimp).

Of you can go get the 99 cents special at the local fast food burger shop to keep from starving to death and save money on food. But what about your clothes, if you are totally broke does that also mean you are fashionably challenged? And you need to go to the local welfare office to apply for clothes stamps instead of food stamps (which they don't have by the way, so forget about that idea).

You may have little or no budget for clothes, but there are ways to obtain them that only depend on your creativity. One of the ways is to get a part time job in a retail men's clothes shop that has the clothes you really like but cannot afford. The pay is terrible, but you don't do this for the pay, you do this for the clothes. You get an employee discount as part of your job. You also get to see what is really good before anyone else gets to see it.

When you are re-stocking and you see someth women's coats ing you really like, that will be a classic and long-lasting addition to your wardrobe, ask your boss if you can put one of them in your size aside in the back room for later purchase by you. He or she knows that it may takes many weeks or months at your take home pay of $67.56 per week, and the manager wants to keep you enslaved so they will usually cooperate. After that you wait until your perfect item collects a bit of dust in the back room, when all those items are being dumped by the store. What we mean by this is that retail fashion is a treadmill.

The clothes come in, and they are like vegetables. If they stay too long in the store they are taking up space for hotter faster selling items or they are out of season. The way the retail stores deal with this is they discount the remaining pieces of clothes (usually in sizes that nobody really wants). A customer who is a savvy shopper upon entering a retail store will walk first all the way to the back to see if there are any discounted clothes they like in their size.

Quite often they are disappointed because there may be a few things that are really nice, but they are either the size of Godzilla or something Tinkerbelle could wear. That is when you pull out you reserved version of the same thing. To do this properly you must be totally honest (never steal anything), always ask the manager for permission to put something away for yourself in back, then wait patiently for the time to ripen.

When those few remaining items of the same type as the one you choose months ago are on the super discounted sales rack, that is when you bring out your now dusty item and tell the manager you forgot about it and should you put it on the discount rack or can you buy it for the discount price (with also your employee discount). With this method you may end up with a brand new $300 designer winter coat, that you get in summer (after all the discounts) for $50 and you will laugh when winter comes around again at how clever you are.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Ideas For Colors Of Your Wedding

Here are some good ideas for September colors for your wedding. I love this one color that is a light green. I understand that this is not a fall color. The light green would go beautifully with a darker green or a darker red/orange. This would "ground" the color in a more summer-fall transitional theme. You could use three colors- the light green, a darker green (dark sage, hunter, etc), and pair it with a gold, yellow, burnt orange, or dark red for accents.

This would be a monochromatic color scheme with complementary accents. If you want to browse some more color schemes, go to any website and look up any color you would think would go nice with your wedding dress.

I am also trying to decide what colors would look nice for an October wedding. I am also interested in such colors like, wine/cream, wine/champagne, and wine/gold. I think those color choices compliment each other beautifully, particularly the wine, gold, and champagne. Other colors to throw in there that would go nicely would be a deeper shade of copper and another lighter/darker red. Because it will be in the fall time of year, we could always coordinate oranges in there as well with flowers and centerpieces.

I have an outfit that I would like to wear but I want to make sure that it is appropriate. I have winter white pants with gold & silver pinstripes and a long off white blouse. As a rule, you don't want to wear white because that's what the bride wears. However, since your slacks have pinstripes and the blouse is off white, if you could accessorize it, such as a gold scarf that brings out more of the "off white" color, then you should be okay. I really do think th women's coats at that outfit would look really nice. Make sure that you bring with you some kind of a jacket or coat that why when you get cool you will have something to put on. On the other hand it would still bring the outfit out more if you were to wear something that it light and airy and that you can just hang on something on tie it to your waist.

Plum & silver sounds lovely! Silver accents would be lovely on your plum dresses. If you go for another color, it can over-complicate the look. As silver is the 'accessory' color (this means it's the color used to complement your main color, which is used in hints) then it would be very suitable.

But try not to put too much of the silver all over the dress. Having too much silver on the dress will not show the plum as much. Having like a shahs or a ribbon on the dress that is silver will be just as nice and you will be able to show more or the plum color and some of the silver color with out having to over power one of the other colors.

You could even have your bridesmaids put in ribbons or small flowers in there hair to bring out the colors of the dress.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Harrier Puppy And Dog Information

The Harrier is a very friendly dog that actually makes a good watch dog but may help a prowler find your house keys. She loves everyone! She needs plenty of exercise so she is not an apartment dog. A properly fenced in yard or acreage is essential for her. She can be very vocal and may tend to wander off after a scent so keep her under control. She is a pack dog so she generally gets along very well with other dogs. Be cautious with her and other pets besides dogs as she may consider them prey. She is generally very good with older children. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.

*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Harrier is 18 to 22 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulde women's coats r) and 40 to 60 pounds. The female runs smaller and lighter than the male.

*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Harrier is no exception. Although this breed is considered very healthy, be on the look out for rare cases of epilepsy (common in dogs), jaw malformations and Canine Hip Dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness). This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.

She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.

*Grooming. The Harrier has a short dense, glossy and hard coat sheds average. She should be brushed weekly. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat and help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.

Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.

Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.

*Life Span. The Harrier can live between 12 and 14 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

*History. The Harrier comes from Great Britain where they were developed for hunting rabbits and small game in packs. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1885.

Some Registries:
*Harrier Club of America (HCA)
*UKC United Kennel Club
*NKC National Kennel Club
*CKC Continental Kennel Club
*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
*AKC American Kennel Club
*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
*ACR = American Canine Registry

Litter Size: 7 to 8 Harrier puppies

Category: Hound

Terms To Describe: Active, strong, friendly, loves, outgoing, playful, cheerful,

*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Good watch dog.
They love everyone.
Very good nature.

*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
Poor guard dog.
May bay and be very noisy.
May tend to wander off on a scent so keep under control.
Need plenty of exercise.

*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Dog Breeding Explained

The mark to be aimed at in dog breeding is improvement - improvement of your own stock, improvement in the quality of the puppies which you raise, and finally, improvement of the breed itself.

Many owners argue against the purebred dog. They maintain that mongrels must be smarter than thoroughbred specimens, because performing dogs are practically always mixed breeds. This is true, of course, but the average vaudeville performer who trains these animals is like the rest of us in that he would find it rather expensive to finance the establishment of a troupe of thoroughbreds.

I think that is a lot more likely to be the reason for the performing mutts than any greater degree of intelligence on their part. As a matter of fact, I have trained both thoroughbreds and mixed breeds, and I have no hesitation in saying that the purebred dog showed more sagacity and was more amenable to discipline.

A good point to remember is never to breed dogs which have an hereditary fault, unless it is a minor one and is more than balanced by his outstanding good points. Some people claim that a dog with a fault should never under any circumstances be bred, but I am of the opinion that conditions sometimes alter cases.

Suppose a sire throws pups which come quite close to the standard in every respect but one, and that one fault shows through several litters. It stands to reason that a pup from such a sire will never go to the top in the show ring, but it may be a valuable link in obtaining something better when bred to the right specimen of the opposite sex with the object of overcoming the fault. If the fault is a major one, however, I would advise against breeding the dog.

An important aspect to consider will be the pup's coat. This is just as hereditary as the bone structure, the disposition, or the occlusion of the teeth.

Some blood lines produce better coats than others. Since it is hereditary, a poor natural coat cannot be improved, and all the attention in the world will not change it into a glistening, luxuriant growth. The best that can be done for a poor-coated dog is to keep what he has in as good condition as possible and breed for better coats in the next generation.

When breeding, the most important thing to remember is to keep to the correct type unless you know that you can improve it. A cross-breed from some back alley may be sound in body. He may even move well, but he lacks type - that blending of the characteristics of his breed which marks the thoroughbred. We all hope some day to breed the perfect specimen, but there are other things to consider than skeletons and the coats which cover them. It would not be much satisfaction to breed a beautiful specimen with a nervous or ugly disposition.

Dogs have to be useful as well as ornamental in order to survive. From the smallest toy to the largest working dog, they should not know the meaning of fear but should always be ready to stand up for their rights. Nervous, high-strung dogs whose only redeeming feature is their adherence to good type, are often refused recognition in the ring because of these faults.

If either the dog or the bitch is only a fair specimen, inbreeding should not be attempted. The object of inbreeding is not to reproduce all the family characteristics, but just the outstanding good points which the dog or bitch possesses. The brother-sister, mother-son, or father-daughter cross should be carefully thought out, and in each case, both dogs should be of exceptionally high quality.

Never breed shy, weak, or nervous bitches, and do not breed any bitch until she has attai women's jackets ned her full development. Unless she is exceptionally late in coming into her first heat, it is better to give her the extra time for development rather than to breed her.

Much more can be said about breeding dogs, but these are some useful; points to get you thinking. You are on your way!

Ibizan Hound Dog Breed Description, History, Grooming, Health Issues and Living Conditions

Description: The Ibizan hound is fine boned and slender, with a narrow (but long-haired) matching muzzle. Their teeth meet in a scissor bite. The nose colouring is rosy flesh. The eyes or amber to caramel in colour, these are small. With large erect ears, that stand upright and pointed. This breed has a long and slender, slightly arched neck. The chest is long and deep. This dog has straight legs. The breeds height is 22-29 inches, and they weigh 42-55 pounds. Their life expectancy is between 10 and 12 years. There are three varieties of this breed; the long-haired, which is very rare, the smooth haired and the wire-haired. The wire-haired, has a rougher and longer coat than the smooth haired. Colours are white and tan, white and red or red or solid white.

History: This breed of dog is similar to the Pharaoh hound. The main difference being coat colour and the Ibizan hound is larger. It is believed the dogs' breed goes back to 3400 BC, from descriptions that have been found on and ancient Egyptian artifacts. Sea Traders may have brought the dog to Ibiza and other surrounding women's jackets online islands, in about 700 BC. This dog has been used for hunting rabbits. This was a source of food for the islanders. The Ibizan hound is a fast greyhound type that is able to hunt. This dog hunts by using hearing, smell and sight this dog can hunt in a pack or on its own.

Temperament: This dog is known to be good with children, being playful and polite, and also known to be gentle and sensitive. It is best to remember this dog has been bred for hunting. So other pets such as rabbits, rats and cats can be seen as a source of food, to this dog. Cats that have been raised with this dog will be fine, but other cats will be a source of temptation and bring out the hunting instinct of this breed. This dog does well to be socialised from an early age with other dogs and animals, and this includes humans. This dog will not do well left in a kennel. It is a pack animal and need to live with the family. The Ibizan hound is an exceptionally clean dog, and will be respectful of household rules. We see in this dog, a quick learner. They are very trainable, providing, they have an owner that is not timid. This dog can blush, when they get excited. This dog is intelligent and will need variety in their training, as they can become bored. This is a very fast dog and can jump exceptionally high, even from a standing start, they can jump most fences. This dog will require a good run every day and will enjoy at the game of retrieving. Keeping this breed on the lead is important due, in part, to its speed. Due to its instinct, to hunt, this dog can shoot off like a rocket and will only return when it's ready, no matter how long or how much you may call him.

Health issues: Some lines are prone to epilepsy, but over all this is a strong and hardly dog. The Ibizan hound can have allergic reactions to some medication, insecticides and flea powders.

Grooming: Ibizan hounds do not require much attention, to gain a shiny coat. Rubbing a rubber glove over it is all that is required. Checking the ears weekly to see that they are clean and tidy, this will help reduce the risk of ear infections.

Living conditions: This dog will be fine in an apartment provided they get adequate exercise, both mentally and physically. An Ibizan hound will like a large garden. Fencing needs to be carefully considered due to the dog's ability to jump a normal garden fence with ease. The breed club literature suggests a 40X60 feet fenced area, as a minimum.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Grooming The Brussels Griffon

There are two types of Brussels Griffon ?€" the Rough and the Smooth. Both are equally delightful companions. The rough coated Brussels Griffon is probably the most common. The smooth coated Brussels Griffon is easier to groom.

The rough coat should be wiry and dense, the harder and more wiry the better. The Brussels Griffon should never look or feel woolly. There should be no silky hair on the Brussels Griffon. The coat of a Brussels Griffon should not be long and shaggy. The rough coated Brussels Griffon should be distinctly different all over from the smooth coated Brussels Griffon. The Brussels Griffon is a rugged little dog that should look natural and not overly tr women's coats immed. The Brussels Griffon colors are red, black and black and tan.

The head of a Brussels Griffon should be covered with wiry hair slightly longer around the eyes, nose, cheeks, and chin, which forms a fringe. The smooth coated Brussels Griffon is similar to the Boston Terrier or Bulldog, with no trace of wire hair.

Of all the toy dogs, the Brussels Griffon is one of the most interesting and different. The modern version of the Brussels Griffon is a Belgian street dog crossed with the Affenpinshcer. Throughout the years various breeds were brought in for various features. The most successful crosses were maintained. Over time the terrier-like charm with almost a human expression is what we now know as the Brussels Griffon.

The Brussels Griffon is a rarity among dogs, however, he has faired very well in the show world. Some have become top winners in all-breed competition.

Equipment needed to groom the Brussels Griffon:

?€? Natural Bristle brush or hound glove
?€? Medium-toothed comb
?€? Fine-toothed comb
?€? Thinning scissors
?€? Tweezers

The Brussels Griffon needs brushing, bathing, drying, ear cleaning, nail trimming. The coat of a Brussels Griffon also requires hand stripping. Do not use clippers on a Brussels Griffon. The use of clippers will cause the coat of a Brussels Griffon to lose its natural texture and the color will fade.

For routine grooming use a natural bristle brush or hound glove. Regular brushing will reduce the need for frequent bathing. Regular brushing helps keep the coat free of dead hairs and the need for coming is lessened. Over-coming may take out too much live undercoat.

You should work through the coat with a bristle brush, then comb through with a medium-toothed comb. Leave a few hairs on the back between your finger and thumb and gently pull if the hair comes out easily, the coat is ready to strip.

Stripping Method for the body:

1. Start stripping the topcoat of the Brussels Griffon at the base of the neck between the shoulder blades down the back and side of the tail. Note: Always strip with the growth of the hair toward you.

2. Remove the long hairs from the Brussels Griffon thighs.

3. Remove the thick hair growing on the back of the hind legs, and the longest hairs from the front of the legs and feet. Do over strip in this area. The desired appearance of a Brussels Griffon feet are cat-like. Over stripping of the feet can detract from this cat-like look you want to achieve.

4. Strip the shoulders around to the chest. Remove long hairs from the leg.

5. Strip the long hair on the outside of each shoulder, down to the elbow. This will create a straight front which is desirable.

6. Strip the chest at the front to the lowest point.

7. The only place you may use clippers on the Brussels Griffon is under the stomach and around the genital area. You can also scissor this area clear.

8. Take a look at your Brussels Griffon as he stands on the grooming table. Remove all stray hairs that detracts from the smart, balanced look you want to achieve.

Stripping Method for the head of a Brussels Griffon:

1. Start behind the eyes. Strip only a few strands of hair at a time. Work back to each ear and over the top of the head. Leave some longer hairs over the eyes to form eyebrows.

2. Strip the back of the ears, down to the chest. Continue down the side of the neck toward the jawbone. This method of stripping gives a distinct beard that blends into the chest.

3. Comb the beard forward to enable you to pluck the ear and below the beard to the throat. You want a clean neckline and to accentuate the head.

4. Remove long hairs from the inside the ear. The edge of the ear can be closely trimmed with scissors for a neat finish.

5. The point between the eyes, just above the nose is called ?€?the stop.?€?This is a tender area of the Brussels Griffon. You will need to use tweezers to remove a small amount of hair in this area.

6. Remove the hairs from the corner of the eye with tweezers or curved scissors. This will prevent the hairs from sticking into the eyes of your Brussels Griffon and/or accumulating debris.

7. Remove the hair of the beard that adjoins the ears in a direct line from the corner of each eye.

8. Tidy around the anus of your Brussels Griffon with scissors or thinning scissors for a neat finish.

9. Trim hair from under the feet and between the toes.

Now you are ready to bathe your Brussels Griffon. Try using a natural mild shampoo and always rinse well. Check the dog?€?s nails, ears and teeth. You may hand or cage dry your Brussels Griffon.

How often should your Brussels Griffon be stripped? This depends upon whether or not he is a pet or a show dog. For pets, a complete strip twice a year will be sufficient with tidying in between. For the show dog, stripping is ideally done in stages ?€" side of body and legs first, then back, then head, because they grow in different stages.

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How To Properly Care For Your Faux Fur Coats To Make Them Last And Look Good

Faux fur coats have become very popular, thanks to their affordability and classy appearance. They provide the luxurious feel of the real ones and will women's coats keep you nice and warm. Some of them are designed in styles that almost make it impossible to tell that they are faux, because they look so lush and elegant. The question is, how do you choose the best one?

One of the things you want your new faux fur to be is durable. Some of the furs that are being sold are designed to last for decades, while others may only last for a short while. It's easy to be dazzled by coats that have an attractive cut and seemingly lush faux fur. In order to select one of quality, you have to look past the outer appearance of the coat and pay attention to the synthetic fibers that they are made of. Go online and do some research to find out which fibers make the best coats and last the longest. Then when you're actually shopping for one, you will be able to select not just the nicest looking one, but one that will last you for years to come

Don't discount faux fur as not being worth the expense, just because they aren't real. They can provide just as much warmth as real ones at a fraction of the cost. On the same token, just because they are not real fur, doesn't meant that they don't require a lot of care and maintenance to keep them in good condition. There are some tips that will help you keep it looking great.

One of the first things you should do is be sure to store it where it will be kept dry. Water and dampness can ruin the look of your fake fur. Avoid wearing it in wet weather conditions.

Cleaning your coat regularly will also help it to maintain its look and feel. It's important to observe proper cleaning techniques, so the fur won't get ruined. When its time to clean it, don't let it get wet. There are products that will allow you to clean your coat while it is dry. You can go online to find out different ways to achieve this or go to your local dry cleaner and see if they offer this service or can suggest a product to use.

Another way to make sure that your coat always looks great is to buy a soft bristled clothes brush and gently brush the fur once a week. This will remove soil and keep the fur gleaming. It's important to brush it properly. Never brush against the natural grain of the fur. Instead gently brush it in long strokes following the natural lines of the fur. You will be amazed at how nice your coat looks when you're finished. Have your coat professionally cleaned every 6 to eight weeks or to remove stains. By taking good care of your coat, you will be able to enjoy it for years to come.