1. Aqua Dots or Bindeez, Spinmaster

2. Go Diego Go Animal Rescue Boat

3. Sticky Stones

4. Jack Sparrow’s Spinning Dagger

5. Dora The Explorer Lamp, Funhouse

6. Lil “Giddy Up” Horse - Sassy Pet Saks

7. Spider Man 3 New Goblin Sword

8. Hip Hoppa

9. B’Loonies Party Pack

10. My Little Baby Born

More people should use organic matter in their beds rather than trashing their yard waste. It has to be raked or mowed, so why not use it as mulch.

It is impossible to put too much organic matter into the soil. Fall is a good time for many reasons. One good reason is all of the materials that you want are there for free, leaves and dying plants.

A good suggestion is piling up leaves, grass clippings and dead plants and going over them with a mulching mower, then putting them into the garden bed. This will shred the material into tiny pieces, and it can be left on as a top dressing. Put on two or three inches. If you have mulch already down, rake that back, apply to the surface the shredded organic matter and then return the mulch on top. It is a huge benefit to put a few inches layered on your garden beds.

The very best thing a gardener can do to better their soil is add organic matter. It increases the water capacity of the soil. While the minerals accumulate, it binds clay particles into larger sums, improving aeration and drainage. Successful gardening always begins from the ground up.

Working with mulch

Add mulch after you have cleared away any unwanted waste from the base of the plant. It is also best to wait until the ground is frozen.

Garden advice when less than 5% of our soils are composed of organic matter.
• Apply 25 to 50 pounds of compost per 100 square feet yearly.

Mulching over the winter works as an insulating blanket. If you plant perennials this fall without mulching, the bald soil will thaw during the day and freeze at night, producing movement that can kill small plants.

Rose gardeners should not be in a big rush to mulch this fall. Putting down a layer of mulch now will do more harm than good. Fall freezes will not hurt the roses, so it is best to wait a few weeks for the soil to freeze before putting down a layer of your winter mulch to any rose.

Prune or not to prune

Some perennials, such as peonies after their leaves have died, need to be trimmed. The iris is open to diseases and rotting and is better off if its leaves get trimmed back.

Plants, such as broad leaf evergreens, like holly and azaleas, are inclined to feel winter dryness and are much better left uncut.

This is the perfect time to clean up after the garden so that you are ready to start again in the spring.

Open windows and use portable or ceiling fans instead of operating your air conditioner. Even mild air movement of 1 mph can make you feel three or four degrees cooler. Make sure your ceiling fan is turned for summer — you should feel the air blown downward.

Use a programmable thermostat with your air conditioner to adjust the setting at night or when no one is home.

Don’t place lamps or TVs near your air conditioning thermostat. The heat from these appliances will cause the air conditioner to run longer.

Install a whole house fan or attic fan. This will pull the cool air in and get the hot air out.
Install white window shades, drapes, or blinds to reflect heat away from the house. Close curtains on south- and west-facing windows during the day.

Plant trees or shrubs to shade air conditioning units, but not block the airflow. A unit operating in the shade uses less electricity.

Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents; they produce the same light but use a fifth the energy and heat.

Air-dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.

Use a microwave oven instead of a conventional electric range or oven.

Caulking and weather stripping will keep cool air in during the summer.

If you see holes or separated joints in your ducts, hire a professional to repair them.

Add insulation around air conditioning ducts when they are located in unconditioned spaces such as attics, crawl spaces, and garages; do the same for whole-house fans where they open to the exterior or to the attic.

Check to see that your fireplace damper is tightly closed.

For more energy tips check out the US Department of Energy’s website.

Many researchers have found that pets help lower your blood pressure, provide less anxiety, help your immunity, and can help you meet new people.

Many studies say that if kids grow up in a home with pets or on a farm where they are around other animals, they will have less risk for allergies and asthma as they grow up.

Studies have also shown that pets help the elderly. Caring for any pet will provide exercise and companionship for them. A cat is typically easier because it requires less care than a dog.

Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets. Similar to any enjoyable activity, playing with a dog can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine which are nerve transmitters that are known to have pleasurable and calming properties.

Heart attack patients who have pets survive longer than those without pets according to several studies.

When you are out walking your dog you are bound to meet people. You will meet others who have dogs and you might set up a doggy play date for the dogs. Or you might meet people who don’t have dogs but who are interested in yours. This make a great time for you to meet your neighbors and network for jobs, friends, and possible dates. Dogs are a great socialization tool.

Annuals

• Check all annuals often for dryness; new plantings are especially needy as they establish their roots.
• Dead blossoms - snap or snip them off to reinvigorate flowering plants; you’ll be rewarded by more flower and root growth.
• For a second bloom, cut annuals back to half their height and fertilize.
• Replace dead annuals with hardy annuals.

Perennials

• In mild climates, fertilize roses once a month throughout the summer.
• After the last iris blooms fade, stop giving them water.
• When leaves start turning brown, trim them down to green areas in a two-snip pyramid shape.
• Replant at the same depth in soil that’s been amended with processed manure and compost.

Lawns

• When mowing, recycle nutrients by letting lawn clippings stay in place, or spread them with a rake.
• Water early in the morning before the sun is at its hottest, so that plants benefit before evaporation takes place.
• Water deeply and less often — say, an hour once a week. Aim sprinklers so that their spray benefits the lawn and plants only; water on the sidewalk is water wasted!
• In dry weather, trim lawn edges.

Vegetables

• Plant potatoes early in the month.
• Sow seeds of these vegetables: spinach, chard, broccoli, lettuce, radishes, beets, carrots, peas, onions and scallions.
• Tomatoes and peppers are shameless sun lovers, so you should see lots of growth. Keep them off the ground, and harvest them as soon as they ripen so pests don’t eat them first.
• Keep mulch around tomato plants evenly spread and slightly moist.
• Plant veggies now for fall and winter harvest.

Pest control

• Root rot is a frequent hazard of wet seasons; help prevent it by thinning mulch around vulnerable plants.
• Look for slugs under moist mulch and in ground cover.
• Spray honeysuckles for aphids every 10 to 14 days; spray them with an insecticidal soap or give them a strong blast with a hose.

Container plants

• Container plants get extremely thirsty in summer months and may need water as often as once or twice a day. If you’re a newcomer to container gardening, you’re in for a treat!
• Planters can be tucked into any cranny. Fill in bare garden spots, arrange them on steps and along walkways, frame a garage door, set them on railings, or circle them around the old oak tree.
• Variety is the spice of container gardening. Combine containers of different shapes, sizes, colors and textures.
• Don’t worry about being perfect; just choose plants you like and learn as you go.
• Move pots around, from sun to shade, or just for a change of mood.
• Branch out from terra-cotta pots and window boxes. Containers made of resin and other synthetics are available in a riot of shapes and styles. Just be sure that containers have drainage holes in the bottom.

Container plants are my favorites because I can be so creative with where they sit and what they are sitting in. I have an umbrella tree, money tree, bamboo, and some other greenery plants. They thrive on water and getting a little bit of sun everyday. Even for someone without a green thumb I’m able to keep them alive and growing stronger every day.

Driving Tips

Idling gets you 0 miles per gallon. The best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it. No more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days is needed. Anything more simply wastes fuel and increases emissions.

Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking) wastes gas. It can lower your highway gas mileage 33% and city mileage 5%.

Avoid high speeds. Above 60 mph, gas mileage drops rapidly. The fuel economy web site shows how driving speed affects gas mileage. As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.

When you use overdrive gearing, your car’s engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces wear.

Reduce drag by placing items inside the car or trunk rather than on roof racks. A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to buy a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5%.

Car Maintenance Tips

Keep tires properly inflated and aligned to improve your gasoline mileage by around 3.3%.

Get regular engine tune-ups and car maintenance checks to avoid fuel economy problems due to worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, low transmission fluid, or transmission problems.

Replace clogged air filters to improve gas mileage by as much as 10% and protect your engine.

Combine errands into one trip. Several short trips, each one taken from a cold start, can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

Color

How will the color of your roses affect your garden? You should consider the colors of nearby plants and flowers that will be sharing the garden. Will the assortment of colors look good together, or will they clash? For some gardeners, color is a priority; for others, it’s no big deal.

Climate

Choosing the right roses for your particular climate zone is essential. In order for roses to grow healthy and bloom generously, they must be able to adjust to your climate. If your climate is too hot or too cold, or has the wrong amount of humidity, it could weaken your roses and make them vulnerable to pests and diseases.

Size

The size of the roses you choose is also very important. Consider the height of the rose at full growth. If the rose grows 15 feet tall, will it look unattractive in your garden? Remember, roses vary in size. While some roses may grow up to 8 feet, others can grow as high as 20 feet.

Measure the area of your garden prior to choosing your roses. Compare your width and height measurements with roses you’d like to purchase. Your roses will need plenty of space to grow as well as room for exposure to the air.

If you have only a small amount of space to dedicate to roses, you may want to grow miniature roses. These roses do not take up much space and they are easy to plant and care for.

Maintenance

How much time will you be able to spend maintaining your roses? Are you one of those people who lives to be in the garden, or are you more of a low-maintenance gardener?

There are several types of roses which are very high-maintenance. Although they’ll be dazzling in your garden, they’ll require a lot of your time. The classification known as “Modern Roses” are very stunning, long blooming, and highly fragrant; however, they are very high maintenance and are prone to disease.

The rose classification known as “Old Garden Roses”, on the other hand, have been bred to be very disease-resistant and require less maintenance. “Old Garden Roses” bloom for several months at a time, and have a strong and beautiful scent. The bad news is that people with strong allergies to fragrances will have a terrible time around them. If that could be a problem for you, then consider any of the variety known as “shrub roses”. They are also disease-resistant and long blooming, but produce a mild scent.

If you’re new to gardening and want to try your hand at growing roses, landscape roses may be your best option. These roses are easy to care for and disease-resistant. They’ll look gorgeous just about anywhere. If your garden has trellises, you can add several climbing roses as well. Although climbing roses look very similar to landscape roses, climbing roses have been trained to grow upward like vines. They add a beautiful touch to any home.

Whatever variety you choose, roses will be a wonderful addition to your home.

Gift giving has become a fundamental part of Christmas as well as birthdays. Those who have birthdays right around the Christmas season often feel like they are being “lost in the shuffle”. Take time to stop and make a birthday special. We celebrate the rest of the year with birthdays and we don’t want to slight those whose mothers were inconsiderate.

Christmas is a time for family and friends. For being thankful for the blessings we have received and remembering those who are special in our lives, essentially a birthday party for everyone!

Kalanchoes, also known as Christmas cactus are dazzlingly. Poinsettias in red and white are beautiful on their own or as part of an arrangement.

There are also many other non-traditional potted plants in red, whites and greens that can be used in arrangements. Plants are a thoughtful gift that lasts and lasts, their beauty adds to the other decorations in your home give the whole house a festive air.

We are all tempted to make his first Christmas especially grand but to be honest a baby’s first year Christmas gifts are more for the baby’s parents than for that cutie himself.

With that in mind, think of gifts to make life easier for Mom and Dad. Is there any of the basics missing? Strollers, backpack carriers, breastfeeding supplies? How about those extras to make a nursery a little nicer? Lamps, pictures, etc. in the décor of the room. There are many items out there, just take a look around.

This year we are inundated with electronics and the accessories for them. How many of you are thinking of rhinestone ear plugs for a iPod? Or a GPS for that friend who always seems to be lost?

Moving up the price chart, have you considered a Massaging Recliner for the busy executive to recline and rejuvenate? Need something in the $50,000 range? Try adding to an Art collection!

The best memories come from the good times in life and our fondest childhood memories are often at Christmas time. It seems we all love traditions, more than ever at Christmas.

Get your kids involved and make someone feel like you spent your time making their season happier!

Well, it’s pretty basic, everyone has to eat. There are hundreds of types of gift baskets available from sites all over the world. Many of them ship from a central warehouse and others have local affiliates that pack and ship specifically within the area to be delivered. These local shippers are sometimes fresher but not always depending on the contents of the basket.

Take a look at the options available, you’ll be amazed!

Christmas stamps also a nice tough for your cards. They add color and festivity to the greetings that you send to your friends and family. Stamps are printed and issued a couple of months before Christmas and are sold in great demand during the season.

The tradition began in the 4th Century in the area we now know as Turkey.

St. Nicholas, in his role of bishop of Myra, gave out gifts to the children in secret.

Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, children and students in Greece, Russia and Serbia. He is also the patron saint of Barranquilla (Colombia), Bari (Italy) Amsterdam (Netherlands), and of Beit Jala in the West Bank of Palestine.

Christmas today has become synonymous with gifts and people spend a lot of time in choosing the best gift to give to their loved ones.

• Toy of the Year – FLY Pentop Computer from Leap Frog
• Top Infant/Preschool Toy – Weebles Weebly Wobbly Treehouse from Playskool
• Girl Toy of the Year – Dora’s Talking Kitchen from Fisher Price
• Boy Toy of the Year – Tyco R/C Shell Shocker
• Game of the Year – Hullabaloo from Cranium and Apples to Apples from Out of the Box Publishing
• Property of the Year – Dora the Explorer
• Activity Toy of the Year – LEGO Star Wars from LEGO System
• Electronic Entertainment Toy of the Year – 20Q from Radica
• Outdoor Toy of the Year – Air Hogs Dominator from Spin Master

Look to your local liquor store for help supplying you for the party. They are familiar with mixers and all the extras, as well as helping you estimate how much tequila vs. gin that you will need.

Safety should always be considered in all your decorations. Check these items to be sure you are being safe:

• When you buy a tree, have an inch cut off the bottom to help the tree absorb water.
• If you buy your tree early and keep it outside, store it away from wind and sun, and keep the bottom in a bucket of water.
• Make sure your lights are safe and carry certification from a testing laboratory.
• Don’t use electric lights on a metal tree.
• Discard and replace any strings of lights that are frayed or broken.
• Unplug your Christmas tree before you leave or go to bed.
• Don’t buy a tree that is dry and dropping needles. To check for freshness, loosely grip the end of a branch and pull your hand over it. Only a few needles should fall off.
• Make sure your tree stand holds plenty of water, and don’t let it run out.
• Keep your tree at least three feet from furnaces, radiators and fireplaces.

Begin at the bottom of the tree close to the trunk, allow some slack in the first strand of lights, separate the cord near the first bulb so it forms a loop. Slip the loop over one of the branches near the trunk, and wrap the cord a few times around the branch to secure it. Pull the string of lights taut to the tip of the branch, and then work back toward the trunk, wrapping the cord over itself and the branch. Separate the cord again when you reach the trunk, and slip the cord over a branch let to secure it. Carry the cord over to the next branch, wrap it around another branch near the trunk, and pull it out to the tip. Wrap the cord over itself and the branch as before. Continue wrapping branches in this manner to the end of the string. Plug in the next set, and keep going to the point where the tree comes apart. Work any extra lights back along the branch rather than crossing the section. When you wrap the top section of the tree, don’t wrap the lights around as many branches, so the tree will look evenly lit from top to bottom.

To get started, mentally divide the tree vertically into three triangular sections. Plug in the first string of lights and nestle the last bulb on the string at the top of the tree next to the trunk. Weave the lights back and forth across the triangle, being careful not to cross the cord over itself. When you reach the end of the first string, plug in the next set and continue weaving the lights back and forth until you reach the bottom, connecting no more than 300 lights end to end. Repeat this procedure for the remaining triangles.