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When traveling with children, you must Plan Before You Stand! When you dress your children for travel, remind yourself that they too need to wear clothes with little or no metal. Overalls will alarm. Small children will be asked to remove their shoes, so have them wear slip on shoes.

If your child is traveling alone, parents are allowed to walk them to the gate with an escort pass from the airlines. Just show your escort pass to the metal detector screener. Ask for a supervisor if the screener questions the pass.

Primary screening is hard enough for children, especially if the screener requests the parents to divest the childs security blanket or favorite stuffed animal. Children dont understand why; all they know is that something they treasure and love has been stripped away from their tiny hands, and now they are upset. By this time they are pitching a fit. They are in the middle of a breakdown. As the child throws a tantrum, the parent is trying to get him or her to walk through the metal detector. The child just stands there and cries. At this point they pick up their child and walk through together. They both alarm. They go back and check to make sure that all of their metal items have been divested, and they walk through again. They alarm again. Now there is a bigger problem as they are both required to go to secondary screening, and the child is even more upset. The crying turns into screaming.

Remember the child started crying at the metal detector and now is in secondary screening. They both alarmed, so the parent holding the child has to be screened too. You cannot pass the child off to the other parent until both child and parent have been cleared.

I have seen three things happen when a child is screaming at the top of his or her lungs. One is that the parent and the child go into private screening, which enables the child to calm down in a private place. The second is that the parent allows the child to scream while the screener performs secondary screening on the child. At this moment, the child usually starts to hit the screener. The third is the parent calms the child down first and screening begins. Ideally, private screening would be the perfect place for an over stimulated child to calm down. This is not the appropriate place for a timeout.

In every case, the screener should clear the child first. Then the child can sit in his or her stroller and recover from such a dramatic experience while the parent is cleared. Some children dont have a problem with undergoing secondary screening, even if they dont understand whats going on. The reason is collaboration between the parents and the screener. A parent must be present in order to conduct secondary screening on your child (under 18 years old). The parent will need to explain the process to their child, and if the child is too young, it is up to the parent to ease the childs fear of the process.

Strollers, car seats, and baby carriers in any form must go through x-ray.

TIPS

■ An infant will either have his or her own boarding pass or there will be a stamp on one of the parents boarding passes. Check your tickets before leaving the ticket counter.

■ Carry your baby or small child through the metal detector to avoid stress.

■ Make sure your children are not placing their hands on or near any part of the x-ray belt to avoid injury.

■ Once you are through the metal detector, pick up your items and move down. Leave room for others to come through too.

■ Place all carry-on items, including baby blankets, toys, and food, in a bin or bag.

■ When going through the maze (roped area leading to the x-ray machine) keep your children close to you. This is for safety and security reasons.

■ Ask the airlines for an escort pass if your child (under 18) is traveling alone.

Natalia Ippolito, author of: I MIGHT AS WELL BE NAKED: How to Survive Airport Screening With Your Clothes On. Tips, tricks, techniques and strategies of a former Airport Screener!

Receive her FREE Tip of The Week, FREE chapter Download, FREE Report on Unknown Violations and Fines: IMightAsWellBeNaked.com

As a meticulously trained TSA dual-function screener, Natalias standout abilities to identify and locate potentially life-threatening devices and devices intended on creating massive destruction were quickly recognized by her supervisors. She effectively devoted thousands of hours in front of x-ray monitors and screening passengers and luggage. Her remarkable gift to interact positively with a mostly disgruntled public contributed to her acknowledged superior effectiveness in both crisis and routine situations in a highly stressful environment.

# posted by kiihk : 7:08 PM  0 comments

Bridal showers are one of many pre-wedding parties and are great fun. They are known as parties with a purpose. The purpose of a shower is to assist the couple in equipping their new home or for the bride to assemble a trousseau. Not only that, but they are a good excuse for the bride to get together with her friends and family to play hilarious games and to enjoy the food and wine.

Did you know that a trend has started for couples showers? This is sometimes termed as the Jack and Jill shower where you shower both the bride and groom with gifts and good wishes. Either way, if you are having a traditional shower party for just the bride, or decide to have a couples shower, then the planning and the checklist will invariably be the same.

Here is an outline of a wedding shower checklist to get you on your way to organising a great shower party.

Who should host the shower?

Traditionally the maid of honour tends to plan the shower party. But today, anything goes and it is perfectly acceptable for both family and friends to work together to organize, host and share the cost of the wedding shower. It doesnt really matter who actually hosts the party as long as it is planned well in advance and normally in consultation with the bride. If the shower is planned to be in someones home, then its always a good idea to choose the person with the largest home or garden.

When to have your party

Because of the busy schedule the bride and her family will have in the lead up to her wedding, it is best to hold the shower about four to six weeks before the wedding. A growing trend is that more wedding showers are no longer a surprise and statistics show that 4 out of 5 brides are employed, therefore it is necessary to include the bride in the planning when it comes to setting a date and time. A traditional girl-only party could be a Sunday brunch, a midweek lunch or an afternoon tea garden party.

Couples showers are best held on a weekend day or evening. The majority of people tend to work between 9-5 Monday-Friday, therefore a weekend is a safe bet in that most of the couples friends and relatives can attend. If you are having a shower party with work colleagues, then the ideal time would be in your lunch hour or straight after work.

Who to invite

Apart from your family members, the host should invite people you know well whether it be friends, relatives or work colleagues. You dont want to invite too many people, as a large group tends to split off in small separate groups. You want everyone to interact with each other and be a manageable size for everybody to play the hilarious shower games and not feel left out. Taking all this into consideration, a comfortable shower should involve about 10-20 people.

You dont necessarily need to buy expensive shower invitations. Another growing trend is that many brides are doing their wedding research on the Internet. The internet has opened up many cheaper avenues and you can now get some great printable-wedding-shower-invitations. These invitations are customized with your own wording and design, and are printed directly from your own printer.

Whats your Theme?

As with the actual wedding, it is wise to choose a theme before sending out the invitations. The theme can then be used throughout the shower and incorporated in with the invitations, decorations, favors and refreshments.

There are literally dozens of topics for a shower party theme. The most popular is the kitchen theme as there are endless pieces of equipment and accessories you can buy for the kitchen. The host knows the bride well and will surely fit a theme around either what the bride and groom need, or their lifestyle. For example if the happy couple are both into health and fitness, then a fitness theme could be an option.

One good idea for a couples shower is a wine tasting theme. This is ideal for a Saturday night party and I am sure the men will enjoy this one and easily get into the swing of things!

Food, Favors and Games

Food: It depends on the theme and location for which type of food to prepare. For example, if you are holding a wine tasting theme, then a finger buffet with crackers, nuts and other nibbles goes down well with wine. If you are holding a garden shower party, consider light finger food - cheeses, crackers, fresh fruit, mini-quiches, blueberry cream puffs, crab dip and a bacon, egg and cheese casserole and salads.

Favors: Some people choose not to give shower favors. It really depends on where you live and if it is a tradition in your area or not. If you do, you dont have to go overboard with favors if you want to keep the expense down. Give something small and useful like a scented candle. Most people like scented candles and they are practical. A potpourri satchel is another welcome and practical idea.

Games: Everyone should be included in the shower games. Shower party games are a great ice-breaker for people to get to know each other. Games can include bridal shower bingo as this is always a big hit as is whats in the bag (memory game). Trivia questions about the bride and groom or making a wedding dress with toilet paper are all fun games to be had.

Thank You Cards: Normally a simple thank-you was enough, but today, with showers being larger and guests busier, a personal note is the only way to make sure that sincere appreciation is expressed.

Summary

Bridal showers are meant to be fun. They do need a lot of planning and organization in advance, but they are worth it. The bride and groom receive practical gifts for their home, and shower partys are a great excuse to get together with friends and family to have one whale of a time!

About The Author

Claire Bowes is a freelance writer and owner of the Wedding Planning Guide website.

# posted by kiihk : 10:54 PM  0 comments

Purchasing a previously owned vehicle is a great way to save some money, while still getting a decent car. If you shop smart you can find a good used car that will provide you with years of service. However, if you jump at the first low cost car that you come across, you might end up buying a lemon. If you do your research, comparison shop, check your states lemon laws, look up the VIN number, and check the local dealers, you can come away with a car that will last a long time.

Before you start your research you need to determine what type of vehicle you are looking to purchase. Have your facts and figures decided before you make your way onto a lot or private party. Know the number of miles that you are willing to handle, as well as all of the features that you will want on your used car. Start by looking at the values of the cars online, and check the online car sales sites. They will provide you with a good base price for your desired car. Be aware of a deal that is too good to be true, it usually is. A low cost up front most often means a large cost on the back end for repairs.

Be sure to check your states Lemon Laws. These provide insurance for a consumer against buying a car that turns out to be a lemon, which is defined as a vehicle that requires multiple repairs for multiple problems with in a certain time period, usually 30 to 45 days. Make sure to check your states specific laws for the exact details. Knowing that you have the law on your side will give you a bit more confidence, and help you ask the tough questions that can help you avoid buying a lemon.

Looking up the VIN number is another great way to avoid the purchase of a lemon. Once you have narrowed down your search, grab the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) from the dashboard on the drivers side where the dash meets the front windshield. With the VIN and about $20 you can order a report on the vehicle. While giving a thorough inspection of the car will give you an estimate of how the car is now, a VIN report will give you everything that has been reported about the car, including accidents and costly repairs.

Don't be too quick to count out a dealer for a low cost car. Typically a dealer is a bit more expensive than a private party, however, the used cars from a dealer often go through a thorough inspection and can even come with a warranty. This is an excellent way to avoid a lemon. Remember that low cost is only part of buying a used car; you want to make sure that you are getting a good value, not a low cost lemon.

Jake Newbury is a salesman for NuStar Motors, a used cars Sacramento dealer. Jake knows firsthand that taking a few precautionary steps before buying Sacramento used trucks or used cars can save you money in the long run, and he recommends a CARFAX report to all used car buyers.

# posted by kiihk : 7:39 PM  0 comments

All of us want our homes to be places of comfort and beauty. Some of us enjoy decorating and furnishing our homes and some of us dont. How do we decide if we need an interior designer or not?

Not everyone needs a designer. If you enjoy creating your own home and you are confident in what your are doing, it is possible that what you really need is a professional shopper. You know what you want, you just dont have the time or the expertise to find it. This is where the personal shopper comes in-to help you find a specific item or list of items. They know where the stores are and where the bargains are-and dont we all love a bargain? These hardworking folks can find you just the right table or those elusive accessories that give your home an individual look while youre at work earning money to pay for all of this style and elegance.

If you enjoy the shopping experience and just need an item or two (a new sofa, a club chair, or a table to put beside your recliner), you can find the help you need right at the furniture store. Better furniture stores usually have trained staff on hand to help you choose a style and a fabric. Take along pictures, fabric samples, anything you need to match the new piece. Above all, dont forget measurements. At the furniture store find a salesperson who is attuned to the look you are trying to achieve and with whom you feel comfortable. Dont hesitate to ask for a different salesperson if you feel that you are being pushed to buy something just because that is the flavor of the week. A good salesperson will work to help you find the exact look you are aiming for and you will be quite happy with your purchase.

However, a word of warning-if you are putty in the hands of an expert salesperson, or undecided what you want, or unsure of yourself, dont go this route. You will end up with a room that is never quite what you wanted.

So when do you absolutely need a design team? Here are 10 reasons to hire a professional:

1. You have a difficult room. If the room is oddly shaped, has too many focal points, or architectural details that are in the wrong places, you need professional help.

2. You have ideas, but dont know how to implement them or don't know where to start changing things.

3. You just dont have the time, energy, or the desire to do designing.

4. You need a major make-over, but you are on a budget. I know this sounds contradictory, but decorating mistakes are expensive, and a good designer will make sure they dont happen.

5. You have major work to be done, but it needs to be done in stages due to budget considerations or a growing family. A designer can set you up with a list of things to do and buy which is prioritized, and on a time-line.

6. You think you know what you want, but are insecure about whether or not your ideas will work.

7. You want to update a room without throwing everything out and starting over. This is a challenge , but it can be done. It generally requires quite a high level of skill. If you dont have a talent for this, get someone who does.

8. You have a piece or pieces of furniture, paintings, and accessories which dont seem to fit your rooms or style, but which you cant eliminate because they are family heirlooms or simply because you cant afford to replace them. After all, you may not want to get rid of great-grandpas desk even if it is Victorian and you like contemporary.

9. You are trying to achieve a specific style or period such as French Country, Scandinavian,18th century, 50's Retro, etc.

10. You are unsure about color combinations, proportions, mixing patterns, composition and styles.

If you fall into any of these categories, or if you simply want a professional touch, an interior designer is probably the solution to your decorating problems. Your home is too important to your happiness and lifestyle not to have the comfort you desire. If you dont love decorating or you have a decorating challenge, then hire an expert and use your time and energy for things you really enjoy.

Content for this article has been contributed by ON THE GO 4 U, Design Consultant, Suzanne Copenhaver. Indra A Books, author of this and many other lifestyle articles, is the owner and founder of ON THE GO 4 U, Personal Shoppers & Concierge Service in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The companys creed is to provide its clients with the ultimate life management experience.

In addition to its services, ON THE GO 4 U also publishes a monthly e-zine and conducts workshops on wardrobe, entertaining and decorating. For more information about the author and ON THE GO 4 U, please visit http://www.onthego4u.net

2005 Indra A Books for ON THE GO 4 U. All rights reserved.

# posted by kiihk : 4:15 PM  0 comments