If you love to go all out with your Christmas decorating, here is a whimsical, original idea for your bathroom:

Materials needed:

White shower curtain, canvas, or fabric (a new canvas drop cloth works great)

Shower curtain liner (to protect curtain from moisture)

Projector*

Permanent black marker, preferably a thick one

Paint pens

Paint

Fiberfill or cotton balls

Santa hat

Black felt (about one yard)

2 red hand towels or red fabric

*If you can draw, you may not need the projector. If you are not artistically inclined, and do not already own a projector, see if you can borrow one.

Let’s get started!

If you’re using fabric instead of a shower curtain, you’ll need to make it standard shower curtain size, which is about 72″ x 72″. Cut the fabric 73″ x 73″, fold each side over one half inch, press into place, and hem each side to make smooth edges. Purchase plastic rings (usually found near the curtain rods) and sew them to the top for shower curtain rings. If you don’t already have a second rod, pick up a tension rod. They are inexpensive and simple to install.

The next step is finding a great picture of Santa Clause. Look in coloring books, storybooks, or online. Once you find a picture you like, blow it up on the projector until Santa looks life-sized. Hang the fabric or shower curtain on the wall or a door with thumbtacks or straight pins, and project the image onto it. Santa’s knees should be about 6″ from the bottom of the shower curtain. Stop at the knees and do not draw the rest of the legs (you will see why later).

Next, trace the image with a permanent black marker (put paper behind the curtain to keep marker from seeping through). Fill in the details for Santa’s face as well as other intricate areas with the paint pens. Fill in his suit with paint. Nearly any kind of paint will do, but craft paint is the least expensive.

In order to create a three dimensional effect, use fiberfill or stretched out cotton balls for Santa’s hair and beard. Apply with regular school glue or use fabric glue. Use a real Santa hat instead of painting one. These can be found at dollar stores and discount stores for very little money. Simply stitch the hat onto the curtain from the backside, or attach it with fabric glue.

Add a piece of black felt for Santa’s belt. A real buckle makes a nice touch. You can remove a buckle from an old belt that you no longer wear and thread the felt through it, or you can purchase a used belt at a thrift store and simply remove the buckle to use it for this project. Stitch the felt into place or apply with fabric glue.

Hang the curtain and tuck the bottom edge inside the tub. Santa’s knees should line up closely with the edge of the tub.

Here’s the really fun part: Fold the red towels in half lengthwise and stitch or glue the sides together. If using fabric, cut to the size of regular hand towels (not fingertip towels) and proceed as directed above. Next, arrange the towels so that the attached edges are in the middle instead of along the side then press into place with a warm iron. This seam should face the shower curtain so it won’t show. Stitch or glue the towels to Santa’s knees. Santa now has three-dimensional legs that swing when the curtain moves!

Make mittens and boots from the leftover black felt. Attach the mittens to the curtain and the boots to the towels. Another neat idea is to set a pair of boots outside the tub and tuck the “legs” into the boots. This looks terrific and makes the effect even more dimensional. This idea is best used in the guest bathroom or on the day company is coming, after everyone has showered, if used in the main bathroom (otherwise, you’ll have to keep moving the boots each time the tub is needed).

To make your shower curtain even more festive, wrap small empty boxes to look like gifts and attach them to the curtain, or sew on tiny plastic ornaments or candy canes. Just use your imagination.

This is a fun, yet fairly simple project to complete, and you will get lots of compliments on this unique, whimsical decorating idea.

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Cutting new teeth, or teething, can be a very frustrating experience for babies and their parents. Parents hate to know their baby is in pain. In this article we hope to help you so you know what to do when your baby is teething.

Your baby can begin teething as early as 3 months old and the process can continue up to a child’s third birthday or beyond. In most cases, when your baby is between the ages of 4 and 7 months, you will notice your child’s first tooth pushing through the gum line.

Typically, the first teeth to appear are the two bottom front teeth. These are the central incisors. Within 4 to 8 weeks, your baby’s four front upper teeth will begin to push through the gums. These are the central and lateral incisors.

In another month, your baby’s lower lateral incisors will begin to come in. That is the two teeth on each side of the bottom front teeth. Next will be molars. Your baby’s back teeth used for grinding food. Last but not least, your baby’s eyeteeth will start to come in. That’s the pointy teeth in the upper jaw. By your baby’s third birthday, they will usually have all 20 primary teeth.

Only in very rare cases does a baby get born with one or two teeth or begin teething within the first few weeks after birth. There is no reason for concern if this happens, unless the teeth are loose and pose a choking hazard.

When your baby begins teething you might notice they begin to drool more and constantly want to chew on things. Some babies experience no pain while teething, others may be irritable or cranky for weeks. Some babies experience crying episodes, not wanting to eat, and sleep disruption. If your child is too irritable, call your doctor to see if there is a problem.

Tender and swollen gums can cause your baby’s temperature to rise, but generally teething does not cause high temperature in babies. You should call your doctor if high temperatures do occur, because there is probably another cause for it.

If your baby drools excessively, wipe their mouth often or it could cause rashes. While sleeping, place a clean cloth under the baby’s head to catch excess drooling.

Give your baby something to chew on that is large enough that they cannot swallow it and something that won’t break or cannot be chewed into small pieces. Place a wet washcloth in the freezer for thirty minutes and let them chew on that. Rubber teething rings are another good choice. Don’t use the ones that have liquid in them just to be safe. They could break.

Rub your baby’s gums with your finger. This can help relieve the pain. Never tie a teething ring around your baby’s neck.. Acetaminophen may also help relieve your baby’s pain. Always consult your doctor before giving them any medication and remember, never give a baby aspirin.

Another important tip for preventing tooth decay: don’t let your baby fall asleep with a bottle. The milk or juice can pool in her mouth and cause tooth decay and plaque.

Good dental hygiene for your baby is extremely important. These teeth are not permanent and will eventually fall out, however, lack of proper care can cause them to drop out prematurely, leaving gaps. If that happens the other teeth may try to fill the gap, causing bad alignment in the baby’s permanent teeth.

You should start caring for the baby’s gums even before the teeth come in. Wipe their gums off with a washcloth or gauze or use a baby-sized toothbrush, but no toothpaste. When the first tooth appears, brush it with plain water.

The American Dental Association recommends that children see a dentist by age 1, when six to eight teeth are in place, to spot any potential problems and advise parents about preventive care.

Around age three, when your child is old enough to spit it out, toothpaste is okay to use. Make sure the toothpaste contains fluoride but use very little for small children. Do not let them swallow it. Overdoses of fluoride are dangerous for children.

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What kind of room is your living room? Is it that kind of room with all of the fancy furniture and accessories, possibly antiques or family heirlooms, where no one dares to enter, that is meant for “company”? Or is your home’s living room the place that might be considered the family room, the place where everyone gathers, family and friends alike, to watch television, play games, entertain, talk, or just relax? Whatever the purpose of the living room is in your home, the living room furniture and accessories is a necessary (and often expensive) component in setting a certain preferred mood or theme, and should be representative of you and your family’s personality.

Most families spend the vast majority of their time together in the living room. That is most likely because that is where all of the “fun” things to do in the house are, like the television, stereo, perhaps even game systems. Next to the kitchen, the living room is the heart of the home. That is why it is important that your living room furniture be durable, accommodating (meaning that there is enough seating for family and guests), and comfortable.

When furnishing your living room, you should think about what your family uses it for. Do you primarily watch television in there? Do you merely entertain company in the form of good conversation in there? Do you do a lot of reading or other activities such as sewing or crafts in there? Will guests be sleeping in there? Do you play games together in there? Deciding how you want to use the room will help you choose the appropriate pieces of furniture, and save you money in the long run.

The basic living room furniture pieces are usually a sofa, one or more chairs (of various types), a coffee table, maybe some end tables, and lighting. When you are looking for a sofa, determine if you will be accommodating overnight guests in your living room. If so, you need to explore the sleeper sofa. Sleeper sofas have come a long way from the thin and lumpy mattress with a bar in your back, and provide a very comfortable place for your guests to slumber peacefully. If you don’t need a sleeper sofa, then think about the size your sofa needs to be. There are large sectionals that accommodate several people at once. There are sofa and love seat combinations that allow you more freedom in furniture arrangement. Determine what will fit in your room, and purchase accordingly.

When shopping for living room furniture, you need to determine if you need other types of seating besides a sofa. There are cushiony, comfy chairs and there are more formal occasional chairs. Depending on the activities that take place in your living room, the furniture should accommodate accordingly. There should also be enough seating to accommodate a good number of people, if you have a large family or entertain guests regularly.

Another type of living room furniture that is commonly seen is some kind of table. Beginning with the coffee table, you can add surfaces to play games, hold drinks and knick-knacks, even a place for someone to prop their weary feet upon. Coffee tables are often large enough to place sofas and chairs around, and provide a multitude of functions. There are also end tables, which provide a base for lighting fixtures, knick-knacks, magazines, and often act as accent pieces. If you want to use your living room for game playing, and the room is large enough, you can also consider a small game table in a corner.

Lighting, though not considered furniture, is a vital accessory to include with your living room furniture. If you plan on reading, crafting, or playing games in your living room, then you will need good lighting. Ambient lighting is also nice in the living room for entertaining and relaxing.

No living room furniture setting is complete today without the entertainment center. It provides a place to store all of your home entertainment equipment, including the television, stereo, game systems, VCR, DVD player, and speakers. These come in a variety of sizes, colors, and types, and also come in a variety of prices. Again, what you buy depends on your needs and the size of your room.

When you are furnishing and decorating your living room, there is no need to use a particular theme. As long as the colors and patterns coordinate and follow your family’s style, it will be a great room to be in. By accessorizing with pictures, wall hangings, shelving, plants, or other personal touches, your living room will be a comfortable place that your family will enjoy spending time in. Your living room furniture is merely the basis upon which family memories are made.

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As one progresses in age, he retreats in health or fitness. Though senior citizens are counseled to stay fit, it is barely the case like. Numerous natural transformations occur in the body as it moves towards fragility. For instance, the bones and muscles lose their potential reducing the stamina of the body, the kidneys and other internal organs start malfunctioning and the vigor of the skin recedes.

But the fact is that health is wealth at every stage of life. It is more crucial when one enters into the senior citizens category because there are few caretakers in those times. So, the elderly should concentrate on fitness as much as possible. There are quite a few ways in which the aged can enjoy a good physical and mental health.

1. Health Insurance- it is the first and foremost requirement of every senior citizen. A medical insurance is the greatest friend in the time of need. It can provide you and your family the financial aid in worst times of your life.

But one should be pretty careful in purchasing a health care policy. The plan that facilitates maximum benefits should be taken up.

2. Diet and Exercise- the diet of individual varies with the age along with other factors. But at an older age, a person should be extra careful in matters of eating. This is because, the antibodies or the immunity system receives a setback in this age and one becomes more prone to all sorts of illnesses. The diet therefore should be thriving in vitamins, minerals, proteins and carbohydrates. Fats should be strictly avoided as they make one susceptible to numerous diseases particularly heart problems. There must be an extra intake of calcium to support the diluting bones.

But a rich diet is not enough. Some exercises should be a part of daily routine in this age. Individuals need to be extra cautious about movements of their limbs for the natural strength and the disease fighting ability of the body keeps on retiring in older ages.

3. Those who have a family history of ailments like prostrate and colon cancer, the diseases that most likely hit men in fifties and above, should get regular medical check ups done. They must follow the doctor’s advice and all the injunctions and prohibitions.

4. Women are more likely to be affected by breast cancer. They also are vulnerable to other diseases due to menopause. Though the course of destiny can never be averted yet prevention should never be ignored. There are some medicines that women should take after menopause in order to minimize the risk factor.

5. Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia are even threatening for women. The former is a fall in certain cognitive brain functions. It is a type of dementia. Dementia impedes an individual’s intellectual functioning and capability to work. These diseases mostly affect women in sixties and above that. Such women gradually become forgetful and incompetent in doing skilful work.

As soon as some of these symptoms are evident, doctor should be consulted without delay. Drugs at early stage might stop the situation from worsening.

6. Avoid stress. Stress is as harmful as any other contagious disease. Don’t stoop to drugs so called stress busters. Consult a psychiatrist if conditions run out of control.

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Scrapbooking is one of the fastest growing craft activities. Everyone has photographs and bits and pieces of their lives that they would like to preserve. Scrapbooking is an excellent way to do this. You will not have to look far to pinpoint which parts of your life you would like to treasure in a scrapbook.

To begin scrapbooking, choose a theme or group of themes on which to base your material. There are many possibilities on which you could base your scrapbooks, but a good rule of thumb is to scrapbook things

which are of importance and have sentimental value to you.

Many people begin their scrapbooking by chronicling their wedding day photos and small mementos such as wedding invitations, guests lists, and perhaps dried flowers. Another excellent topic for a scrapbook would be an activity or club that a person cherishes. Sports and similar activities are great scrapbook ideas.

The birth of a child is a time that is precious to all parents. Scrapbooking ideas for a new baby include baby shower photos and invitations, ultrasound pictures, and perhaps even ribbons and balloons. Any items of sentimental value can easily be incorporated into your scrapbook. Most parents like to continue this theme with scrapbooks that follow the growth and development of their child.

A collection of team photos, rosters, and team memorabilia would create a permanent record of these special times in a person’s life. You could even consider having teammates or club members ‘autograph’ your scrapbook beside team or individual photos.

Possible scrapbooking themes do not end with weddings or sports activities.

If you’re planning a surprise party for someone special, here’s a tip that will make the event unforgettable for them. Create a scrapbook! Ask each guest to write a letter, or bring a copy of a photograph that will have special meaning to the guest of honor. Include a copy of the invitation, pictures of the planning process and before party preparations, as well as a list of the food, guests, etc. This will become a treasured memento of the day. Don’t forget to ask someone to be the “designated photographer” or buy several disposable cameras and let guests take pictures during the party. These can be developed and added to the scrapbook later.

Family reunions and activities are fantastic themes for scrapbooks. Family photos, amusing happenings or anecdotes, and a schedule of events are great ways to remember the treasured times spent with family. Bringing your scrapbooks to each year’s reunion is sure to spark conversation and fond memories. You could even create a scrapbook to be given away to the family member who brings the oldest family photo or as a prize for the oldest or youngest family member present.

There are numerous scrapbooking ideas based on various aspects of your life. Office parties, job promotions, and starting your own business are fun scrapbooking concepts. Work related scrapbooks give you an opportunity to introduce a bit of light-heartedness into what is normally a professional, routine atmosphere. Caricatures of staff members, business cards, photos, and humorous quotes from coworkers are excellent ideas for a work related scrapbook. Your coworkers will surely be impressed and appreciate your efforts.

The possible themes for scrapbooks based on your life are almost endless. The only requirement for scrapbooking is that you base them on the people and activities that are important in your life. Over time, your scrapbooks can become an important tradition to you and your family. Scrapbooks can invoke laughter, tears, and most importantly, create quality time spent with your friends and family reminiscing about the precious moments in your lives.

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