Having a husband in prison is a stigma in our society. However it is possible to cope and get through this difficult time in your life. Let me help you along the way and give you a few tips.

I myself am a “Prison Wife.” My husband has been in the prison system for the past 22 months. He was first in a minimum security unit, a place called “THE FARM, ” with open doors, and no barbed wire. Now, he is in a half-way house, hoping to come back home the summer of 2005.

The “Prison Wife” is the forgotten one, as she waits at home for her husband. Our society takes care of the sick, the dyimg, the homeless, but the prisoner’s wife is alone and forgotten.

She is faced with insurmountable problems….financial,emotional, psychological, social, stigmatization, health problems to face alone, children to take care of. She keeps the household “together,” until her husband comes home. She works, pays the bills, pays the mortgage or rent, the car payments, insurances. She takes care of the children, repairs for the house, and just about everything else under the sun. Holidays and birthdays come and go. She is alone and lonely, most often faced with depression.
Most find it difficult to even face another day. She lives in hiding because she is afraid the neighbors may find out. So she lies and says he is on a “business” trip, to protect herself…after all, the neighbors would be shocked to know a criminal’s wife lives next door to them. And, what does she tell the children? No one wants to let their child play with a criminal’s child.

When her husband leaves for prison, the wife goes through a period of “grieving.” She goes through the same “grieving process” that a widow goes through. The only difference is that the widow can eventually move on, while the prison wife cannot. The Prison Wife is a “wife,” without a husband. She cannot go out and socialize, and it is difficult to make new friends, as she feels she is being “unfaithful” to her husband.

After a certain amount of time (months or even years), it is acceptable in our socity for the widow to step out, and start dating and even re-marry. The Prison Wife who is faithful and dedicated to her husband does not have this option….some women wait years for their man to return…10 , even 20 or more years.

There are close to 2 million prisoners in our country….that makes me wonder just how many wives and loved ones are left behind and forgotten. We think about the prisoner, but never, ever, think about those left behind…..the wives, the children, the mothers, the girlfriends, to name a few. Those loved ones, who did not commit a crime, except the crime of “loving a criminal.” They did not commit a crime, and yet they are punished.

When their husband goes to prison, they are not notified by the prison system where their husbamnd is. I believe there should be some notification system in this country. The wife must sit and wait, until her husband is able to place a collect call to her.

There should be support systems in this country for prison wives. There should be follow-up programs for families of the incarcerated, to see how they are coping.

I will now give you some tips on how to get through this period of your life. It is from my own personal experience, and I hope it can help you………..after all, just remember, you are not alone……….there are so many of us out there experiencing the same feelings and emotions…the same problems.

“Ways To Cope”

1. Take one day at a time……..Do not think too far in advance. Try to get “through one more day.”

2. Plan small projects for each day, and try to reach a goal. For instance, I put all our photos in photo albums, during the first few weeks of my husband’s incarceration. When that project was complete, I started cleaning out drawers and closets.

3. Organize tour life…………I re-organized bills and mail, using folders and envelopes, and I kept logs, writing everything down.

4. Keep pictures of your husband around the house….I had pictures in every room. I even had one posted on the refridgerator door.

5. Join a church group. I started baking cakes for the monthly cake sale. I enjoyed doing it, and felt I was contributing something to society.

6. Get involved…acquire hobbies. Knitting, needle-point, gardening, writing, keeping a diary….anything. just do something, even if you force yourself to do it. As time goes on, it will get easier, and you will begin to enjoy it. I planted an “Angel Garden,” outside in the yard, with angel statues, and flowers. I also began writing poetry, stories and letters to the editor. I also began writing a journal, which became a very important part of my life.

7. Keep in close contact with your husband….Accept phone calls (if you can afford it, as prison phone calls are extrememly expensive), send your husband letters, cards,magazine and newspaper clippings, and computer print-outs of thingd that interest him. Send him pictures (old and new)…Men in prison love to look at pictures from home. It helps them from becoming homesick. My husband has almost 100 pictures that he keeps in photo albums, and loves to share with the inmates, and show them our family and home. If I change something around in the household,or buy anything new, iI take a picture and send it to him, so he always feels connected to our home. I also tkae pictures of the pets, the garden, and the cars.

8. Keep a notebook near the phone at all times. Jot down things you want to discuss with your husband when he calls. Remember, those are 15 minute calls, and there is a lot to say in a short period of time, so get organized beforehand.

9. Cry when you have to, but also try to stay focused. Do not be torn apart by the prison system. You are still a person, and a wife…and you need to be supportive to your husband.

10. Try to stay healthy. Eat right, avoid junk food and alcohol. Exercise. Try walking. After all, you want to be physically fit when your husband comes home!

I hope this article will be of some help to the wives and loved ones of prisoners, as they await their loved one while he is in prison.

My name is Frances Russo,RN,BSN,MA. I am a retired Registered Nurse,who is now legally- blind , and does free-lance writing, as a hobby. I enjoy writing short stories for magazines and poetry. During my life, I enjoyed education, and international travel, having travelled to 28 countries. I’ve lived in Manhattan, California, Las Vegas, and New Jersey. My husband is currently within the prison system, and I enjoy writing a journal, which has become quite popular. It is called “Reflections Of A Prison Wife.” Please visit my web-site! http://journals.aol.com/crystalmoon222/reflectionsofaprisonwife/

Over 5800 have read my journal, leaving comments and identifying with it. They find strength in my journal. I have recently been interviewed by 2 newspapers, and my story will soon be published , along with photos (ASBURY PARK PRESS AND THE PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY). My journal is the basis of a book I am writing.

Shocking fact: 70% of females never have an orgasm during sexual intercourse.

Yep, it’s true.

Furthermore, about a third of all females anywhere have never had an orgasm, EVER.

Again, that’s 100% FACT.

There are multiple reasons why this may be the case, and every female has a different set of circumstances for why they have never had an orgasm. Some of them are quite severe and require counselling or medical intervention, such as a history of sexual abuse, or the extremely rare cases of women who cannot orgasm based on medical problems.

However, for most women, the reason they have never orgasmed is very simple – they just haven’t met a man who can help them reach the “big O”.

The reality is that women love sex. Way more than any guy ever could. Think about it. If you had ten THOUSAND times the amount of touch receptors in your skin, as well as the ability to have multiple orgasms all night long, don’t you think sex would be better for you too?

However, women usually need a man who can lead them to orgasm. They’ve been told all their life that it’s “dirty” or “slutty” or “wrong” to be forward at all in the areas of romance and sex. It’s always the guy who has to go over and talk to her, the guy who has to get her number, the guy who has to initiate the sex. In the same way, it’s the guy who has to help them reach orgasm.

So how does this relate to you?

It’s simple. You need to take control of her sexual pleasure. That’s not to say that she should just lay there and do nothing – in fact, that’s a really quick recipe for disaster – but rather that you have to take the initiative during your sexual activiites.

Whilst whole ebooks can be (and have been) written on the subject of pleasing a woman during sex, I’ve written one myself in fact, which you can check out by clicking on the link in my author bio.

Having said that, in the space of this article, I will at least try to give you some really cool step by step female orgasm techniques, so here we go:

1. Build Sexual Tension/Attraction

You need to build attraction and sexual tension before you even start getting down to things. Women are very perceptive creatures and often know a lot more about us than we like. The way you think about yourself, the way you dress, the aftershave you are wearing, and so on all contribute to how this woman feels about you. And to be really, really good at making her feel really, really good, you need to build a strong attraction SEXUALLY. This is important because many women don’t think about sex in the same way we do – they will sleep with someone because they “like” him, but because they’re “attracted” to him sexually, probably largely because most women haven’t gotten in touch with that really sexual part of themselves yet.

Exactly HOW to go about creating that sexual attraction is a subject all in its own, and it can be very hard to describe on paper. The best advice I can give you in such a short space is to believe you are desirable and sexy. That will project to her through thousands of subconscious signals and she will pick up on it. If you try and walk the walk without having the mental attitude to back it up, you’ll just be putting the cart before the horse – and she’ll see right through you.

2. Get Her To Relax

One of the biggest factors in women not being able to orgasm is that they’re not relaxed. During sex they’re worried that their hair is bad, they are ugly, the lighting makes them look bad, their stomach looks big from that angle… whatever. It may be hard for us to understand, but it does happen.

The best way to combat this is to get her to relax and to feel comfortable around you. Try joking around with her, putting her at ease, all that sort of stuff. In addition, if you find she’s tense, just focus on doing something that makes her feel good that isn’t necessarily sexual – massages are fantastic for this purpose, but there’s a lot of other things that can work really well too – like just talking to her.

3. Be In The Driver’s Seat

As we have discussed, most women won’t advance things out of fear of seeming too “forward”. So that means its up to you to take things to their natural conclusion. During each stage of the sexual process, from building tension, to light foreplay, to heavy foreplay, to the actual sex, you will need to guide her through each of these stages. Be firm but gentle, and if she says “no”, then listen to her and stop. If she doesn’t, however, take that as a green light to keep going.

4. Take Your Time

Nothing is more of a deal-breaker for a girl’s orgasm than a guy who just wants to get naked and play “hide the sausage”. You need to be more concerned with every single thing you are doing making her feel really, really good. Every part of a girl’s body is very sensitive and receptive to any touch you might want to bestow upon it, so have fun. Nibble on her earlobes. Run your hands all over her body. Talk dirty to her (but not too dirty, keep it tame at first). run your tongue over all the parts of her body that you are willing to. All these things help gradually build her into a sexually receptive mindset, which is when you can begin to really make her feel good.

5. Foreplay is Important

Once she’s really starting to get horny – for example, she’s breathing heavy, moaning a bit, you’re both naked, and her vagina is wet and probably a little red and swollen – it’s time to start making her feel good. Begin with some more “heavy” foreplay. Try fingering her or, if you and her are comfortable with it, going down on her. Don’t stop until she’s either had an orgasm (preferably more than one) or she just can’t take it anymore and has to jump you.

You will find, at this point, that giving her orgasms is probably very easy, provided you pay attention to what she likes and what she doesn’t and adequately use the clit and her G-Spot. These issues are, obviously, far too detailed ot be written about in this article, but my e-book does include a thorough analysis of how to make her feel really good using these two areas (and everything else, for that matter).

As you might have noticed, an orgasm is the end result of a long result of effort applied in the right way. It takes work and preparation, but with the correct knowledge, you can easily give any woman an orgasm any time she wants one, in any position. The frequency and power of those orgasms will certainly increase with your skills improving, however, and that’s why I recommend you seek out ways to further improve your knowledge – and then put it to the test. I’m sure she won’t mind.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Scott is the author of Incredible In Bed – the web’s best guide on how you can give women the most incredible sexual pleasure they’ve ever felt, again and again and again. Visit http://www.IncredibleInBed.com/article003.php to learn how you can learn to be the best she’s ever had by subscribing to our 100% free email newsletter.

Saying one’s adieu to the summer season is a bittersweet affair. With the withering of leaves comes the layering of clothes, but fortunately for us, this fall season’s top trends defy the droll bleakness that can sometimes accompany the fall and winter seasons with sleek and trim fits, vivid colors, and the revitalization of spruced up golden-oldies. Luckily, you don’t have to go and start throwing out your tucked away winter clothes. This season’s trends are accents and are here to help men do something they’re not given many opportunities to do: accessorize. There’s nothing like a good suit, of course, but why must it end there? Is it hard to straddle the lines between classic masculinity and a little menswear showmanship? This fall get ready to have a little fun with your wardrobe without feeling like you’re taking a risk.

Trend # 1: SUSPENDERS
Grandpas and newsies – that’s the extent of the suspenders’ prior versatility. This fall, try
pairing your suspenders with a nice white poplin collar shirt (poplins are great because they’re durable and hard to wrinkle, which can help when suspenders are pressing up against your shirt all day), a tie, and a pair of slim-cut flannel or tweed pants and you’re set to go to the office. Or if you feel like taking them out for a try out on the town, skip the buttons and the knots and try them on a fitted pair of slacks and a slim-cut hoodie, as seen in Emporio Armani’s fall menswear collection. Don’t shy away from adding a bit of color either. Suspenders in lavish fire engine red were seen in Adam Kimmel’s line and even in braided leather on army fatigue pants in the DSquared2 collection.

Trend # 2: VIBRANT PANTS
Earth tones, black and white: signature colors for the season that have been around since
time immemorial. Shirts, pants and coats in any combination of these colors can be found
in any man’s closet (as well they should – a classic never dies), but there is room for flexibility. Mustard, cerulean, moss, violet, cadmium – they’re all showing up, no – not just in dress shirts, but in men’s pants. Ralph Lauren and Paul Smith both explored a fun mongrelization of every man’s favorite hybrid, the “business-casual” look by going maybe one step further. Blazers, collared shirts and ties paired with very form-fitting, vibrant colored pants added a most welcome pizzazz to a golden oldie. If you’re leaning more towards the right side of that spectrum, make sure to style those colors with a more loose-fitted pant and try them with some lace-up boots (more on this particular article a little bit later) and a knitted jacket for a fun, sporty, ski-gear look.

Trend # 3: BOW TIES
Now, this we didn’t really see coming, but boy it works! The bowtie is a welcome respite for those bound to the 9 to 5 necktie day in and day out. Finally the bowtie is now extricable from the tuxedo á la Golden-Age of Hollywood. This fall, the use of the bowtie rids itself of the suit jacket altogether and finds a home in a more casual setting. Wear your tie with a cardigan over a buttoned-up collared shirts and tapered pants. Make sure to add a print or design in there, either above or below for a more faceted execution. Tartans/plaids and bowties have become this season’s perfect odd-couple. Finish off your look with a sleek pair of dress shoes. If you’re dead-set on wearing sneakers, a pair of John Varvatos Converse shoes should pull the look together perfectly.

Trend # 4: LACE-UP BOOTS
Lace-up boots stomped their way down many catwalks for this fall’s runway collections. It seems there was an immediate understanding amongst designers that lace-up boots were in, but boot-cut pants were out! Whether the boots come halfway up your calf or just above your ankle, make sure of one thing: show those laces. Feel free to roll those jeans up to expose the sleekness and overt butchness of the boot and pair it with a hefty, lined parka or duster. Or, take a more sophisticated route, with the most fatalistic aplomb by Neil Barrett in his spy-game “Tuxedo Ski” collection, where the tuxedo stayed intact and the perfectly fitted pant hid behind the boot. Sans the overly formal jacket, heed Mr. Barrett’s advice and replace it with a shiny, rained-slicked motorcycle jacket. The look is to die for. And if those picture-perfect Salvatore Ferragamo’s are too far out of your reach, check out Kenneth Cole’s “Moonrise” boot in either brown or black. They have an astronaut-skater sneaker look at the bottom and end at the shin in an almost Doc Martin styled combat boot, lined in fleece fabric.

Trend # 5: DARK DENIM
Now that the intensely hot summer sun has begun to dissipate a bit, it is safe once again to wear dark denim. There was hardly a piece of Donna Karan’s DKNY collection that didn’t come down the runway in dark denim jeans. Charcoal grays and opaque, onyx blacks give a certain sense of sophistication when combined with a blazer, dress shirt and tie. It provides a certain sleekness without looking uncomfortable and compartmentalized in an overly formal pair of work slacks. But to offset the dramatic effect of these dark hues, make sure to offset your outfit with at least one colorful article, be it a scarf, vest, or even a belt.

Trend # 6: SHEARLING
Simple nylons and polyesters are not going to cut it this fall and winter season. Instead, start looking for coats, bomber jackets, even boots, lined with shearling. Shearling is a beautifully uniformed lambskin pelt that is highly durable and very comfortable to wear during the fall and winter seasons that helps to keep you warm from the oppressive snow and even helps to keep away moisture during the rainy spring season. Because it is a lambskin pelt that has only been sheared once, the look and feel of shearling is smooth, uninterrupted. It’s a very graceful texture; and yet, highly versatile. If you’re looking for a signature shearling piece this season, check out Zegna’s stunning bomber jackets, especially the baby calf patina shearling lined bomber, which was seen worn over a pure wool workers suit and tucked under shearling lined boots. The high-definition Red Baron apparel was a true showstopper. The look was very stylistic, but with just the perfect touch of demure. So gents, whether its a Dr. Zhivago hat, a long duster coat, or shearling-lined boots, one thing is for sure: this season, staying warm in shearling goes well with anything!

Trend # 7: TUXEDO SHIRTS
Dash it all into the fray seems to be the season’s dominant fashion protocol. The displacement of the suspender, the bowtie and the tuxedo shirt from strictly formal to casual-sportswear continues to blur the restriction lines of men’s apparel. Viktor & Rolf offers a classic, yet beautiful take on the tuxedo shirt. The fashion line pairs the crisp, vibrant white shirt with a nicely tailored heather-gray pair of slacks, but offset by a camel and bone striped belt. This fall, the tux shirt transcends its old dowdiness and steps into an almost hipster-sphere of style. But of course, in keeping with fall’s knockout combo of mixing genres and infusing color, don’t feel that white is the only way to go. Dolce & Gabbana and Salvatore Ferragamo deviate from the menswear rulebook and garner their respective tuxedo shirts in thick and bold gray stripes and in a metallic midnight blue. Remember to not feel bound to combining the tuxedo shirt with tuxedo pants. Black skinny jeans or slacks provide the perfect balance of not too formal and not too sporty. Add a fitted jacket and maybe even a beanie to the mix and you’ve got a Telluride James Bond look working for you.

Trend # 8: COATS AND JACKETS
In Milan, Berlin, Los Angeles and New York, the exuberant coats and jackets that went down the runways were highlighting points of focus. Coats took center stage, muting the energy of its accompanying pieces – keeping the collections feeling animated and not bombastic. Imbued in golds, purples, and camel-suedes, Wall Street’s sense of style will grow a bit of muscle this fall. And with bomber jackets lined in fleece, officer coats rejuvenated with epaulets and asymmetrical tailoring, the season’s added bits of flair to the coats, draped over the a work shirt and pants will show a man who is confident in both his sense of style and his masculinity.

Trend # 9: MESSENGER BAGS
Leave the suitcase at home for a change and add a bit of youth to the office commute with a canvas or leather tote messenger bag. The suitcase has become arcane; the messenger bag has started to usurp it of its staple stature. Prada bags have always been popular, and naturally, they show a dual taste and refinement. For men, the popularity of Jack Spade’s messenger bags have grown exponentially in the past two years. They’re compact, tailored beautifully and come in wonderful plush colors. If you’re looking for something a bit special, check out Highway bags, located in Nolita in New York City. The leather and nylon bags of Highway have original textures, creative colors and great functionality, and compared to the other two highly marketed brands, these are quite affordable for their aesthetics and uniqueness.

Trend # 10: TARTANS & PLAIDS
Plaids and tartans are the most ubiquitous trend of the fall and since they didn’t ever really go away, its easier for men to embrace the boldness of these patterns. Plaids are a surefire antidote to the winter ennui of black and white quite possibly the most versatile tool a man can use to liven up his wardrobe. Ties and scarves have been the dominant accessories to don these patterns, but try to kill two birds with one stone and look for some plaid suspenders or even pants, as seen in the new Band of Outsiders collection, which combines red and black tartan pants with a periwinkle blue poplin collar shirt under a vest and topped off with a big muskrat hat.

Alexander Patino
Junior Editor, Men’s Style & Product Trends
http://www.fashionqanda.com
877-STYL-411

If you suspect infidelity and you want to find out the truth you need to know how to avoid breaking the law in the process. Here are some key tips to legally find the truth.

Before we provide some tips, we advocate trying to save your relationship if you find your mate has been cheating. This should involve some form of professional counseling or meeting with your church minister to talk things out. Above all, do not attempt to punish the cheating mate by taking matters into your own hands. This will only result in serious ramifications for everyone involved. Do not allow your emotions to overrule your common sense.

You also need to check laws in your State (USA) or country to make sure you are not in violation. An unmasked mate could cause you a great deal of legal trouble so proceed with due diligence. If you spy on your mate with one of the many electronic surveillance devices, you risk breaking the law. You want to avoid using devices such as so-called room “bugs,” and video or telephone recording devices. Many devices actually violate federal law and can only be used by licensed professionals or by court order. You need to employ other methods to get at the truth.

Now that you know some of the legal and personal ramifications, here are some tips to help you catch a cheating mate.

If your mate uses a computer, you can install Internet tracking software on the computer that will allow you to know where your mate surfs and what they are typing when they are online. This can help you keep track of them and quietly satisfy your curiosity about whether they are actually cheating. Internet tracking software is not expensive and beats the higher cost of hiring a private investigator. This is the best way to know what your mate is doing when he or she is online.

To build an airtight case against the cheater, you need to have abundant proof. Where you find one sign of infidelity, there are usually several other corroborating signs just waiting to be found. Cheaters nearly always display multiple telltale signs. Knowing what to look for is the key.

For example, duplicate gifts are especially suspicious. You should question when two identical gifts, or receipts indicating that two identical items were bought, show up on billing statements. This is a common trick. The cheater will be ready to explain why two pairs of diamond earrings, or two identical gold bracelets show up on a credit card statement. For example, they may claim it is a billing error. However, it is common to find that an affair partner is the recipient of the second gift.

If you suspect workplace infidelity, offer to attend all company parties with your mate. If your mate gives an excuse as to why you cannot attend, this is a warning sign. If you are permitted to go, observe how your mate interacts socially with co-workers. This can reveal the presence or absence of a workplace affair. If the suspected cheater is romantically involved with someone on their job, their body language and behavior around the affair partner will give them away.

A cheating mate will usually communicate with his or her affair partner in some way on Christmas Day. It may be a phone call, an e-mail, a text message, or even a quick visit to drop off a Christmas gift. If you have previously found signs of infidelity, the telltale signs found during the Christmas season could provide the final proof that you are dealing with a cheating mate who is indeed having an affair.

Remember, you might be wrong so gather a significant amount of evidence before confronting your mate! If you accuse them of infidelity without any proof, and they are innocent, you can do serious damage to the relationship. The trust will be broken, both ways and broken trust is almost impossible to restore.

Find out if you have a cheating mate. Jim DeSantis is an award winning broadcast journalist who provides a Free ebook Catch A Cheating Mate – here! No email or signup required. It’s an instant free PDF!

Light travel? The last time my wife and I went to Ecuador, I had 10 pounds of luggage, all in one carry-on bag. Ana had just 8 pounds in her carry-on bag. We spent six weeks in Ecuador, at times on glacier-covered mountains, and at other times lounging on Pacific coast beaches.

Why travel lightweight? Simplicity. With only carry-on luggage, we were in a restaurant in Quito, while others still waited for their checked luggage. On busses our luggage was safely with us, not in the hold below being cut open, like one time when I was in Mexico. Others struggled down the street with three heavy bags, while we had our hands free and were walking comfortably with our daypacks. We had less to lose, less to be stolen, less to wait for, less to pack and unpack in hotels, and less to worry about.

Light Travel Issues

Expect an extra question or two from the customs officials at the airport (Six weeks with only this?). Also, a small bag may not work if you plan to bring back many souvenirs. In this case, you could plan to buy a second bag at some point, to carry your acquisitions. As for not having enough clothes and other things, it isn’t as big a problem as you may think.

My silk shirts weigh three ounces, and travel well if rolled up. Nylon dress socks weigh less than an ounce, and are cool and comfortable. Poly-cotton blend t-shirts weigh 5 ounces. Supplex or other lightweight travel slacks weigh 9 ounces, and are sufficient for a fine restaurant or a walk in the woods. Half of what typical travel clothes weigh, these take less space, and function the same. There’s no sacrifice involved here.

You don’t even have to buy new clothes, if you don’t want to. You don’t have to buy a scale and count ounces. Just choose lighter alternatives whenever you can. Set aside your lightest jacket, socks and pants for your next trip. Simplicity, not complicated planning, is the goal.

More Light Travel Secrets

Money can replace weight. Why carry two pounds of shampoo when you can buy small bottles as you travel? It won’t cost much more to buy things as you go. Also, you really don’t know what you’ll need, particularly on an overseas trip. Buy things as you need them, and you won’t have a pile of useless things in your luggage. Don’t we all regularly unpack things at home that we never once used during a trip?

Gifts and souvenirs? If you buy bulky gifts for family or friends, why carry them around for weeks? Put them in the mail.

What I Took For Six weeks in Ecuador:
* 8 pairs of thin nylon socks (less than an ounce per pair)* 2 silk shirts for restaurants and discos (3 ounces each)* 4 poly/cotton blend t-shirts (5-6 ounces each)* 5 pair of light underwear (2-3 ounces each)* 1 extra pair of lightweight slacks (9 ounces)* Single layer nylon shorts for hiking or swimming (2 ounces)* Thin gloves (1 ounce)* Thin hat (1 ounce – honestly)* Thin wool sweater (11 ounces)* Waterproof/breathable rainsuit (14 ounces for the set)* Light plastic camera (3 ounces)* Sunglasses (1 ounce)* Small chess set (3 ounces)* Bathroom kit (5 ounces)* Maps, notebook and various small things (3 or 4 pounds)My pack weighed ten pounds. My wife’s weighed 8 pounds. We never felt deprived. I’m not suggesting you start counting ounces (that comes from my backpacking days), or that you buy all new lightweight things. Just start setting aside your lightest shirts, socks, etc., and you can enjoy the benefits of light travel.

Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the U.S. and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. For more on light travel, plus travel stories, tips and information, visit: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com

The following are travel packing tips based on experience. I have gone to other countries for a month or more with nothing but a carry-on bag that weighed ten pounds. In fact, my number one travel tip is to go light whenever you can. The simplify of traveling light makes almost any trip more enjoyable.

Unfortunately, going with only carry-on luggage is getting more difficult due to the newest rules about what you can actually carry on a plane. If you do want to keep it to just one bag that goes with you on the plane, check the latest regulations and leave behind anything that isn’t allowed. It doesn’t add that much expense to a trip to just buy these things at your destination.

In fact, buying things as you go is a great way to simplify packing. Why bring twenty things just in case you need them, and then have to lug them around for the sake of the six you actually use? If it is a vacation in particular, why not plan just a little extra expense, and buy necessities as you travel? Many have found that this is more practical and relaxing than over-planning a trip and over-weighting the luggage.

Some Other Travel Packing Tips

- Jewelry and other valuables are usually not covered by the luggage insurance the airline provides. Pack these items in your carry-on bag.

- Silk shirts can be rolled carefully so they will wrinkle less in soft-sided luggage.

- To conserve space, buy low-bulk items for travel. A down coat, for example, will compress to a fourth of the size of other coats, and keep you just as warm.

- Lightweight travel pants, made of soft nylon derivatives are very light, tough, and pack small. They are often found where they sell outdoor gear, but some styles are dressy enough for use almost anywhere.

- To bring more in less space, set aside your thinnest socks, lightest clothes and smallest items for travel. A small hairbrush may work just as well as a large one, for example. You might get to bring many more potentially useful items, and still have a smaller bag in this way.

- If you buy a bulky gift for a family member or friend back home, you may want to send it to them instead of carrying it around for weeks while traveling.

- Don’t overstuff your luggage. remember that it may be opened and inspected, and the security officials may not know how to fit it all back in.

- Don’t pack important documents, like passports and identification, in your luggage. Carry these on your person, preferably in a security pouch or interior pocket.

- Be careful when packing shampoo, perfume, skin cream and other liquids. Plane cargo areas are often not pressurized fully, so the tops can pop off of bottles and other containers. For added safety, pack such items in a sealed ziplock bag.

- Carry a list of what is in your luggage, in case you need to file a claim for lost bags.

In addition to using the travel packing tips above, have a good packing routine. For example, start by considering every circumstance you may be in during your trip, and making a list of items you’ll need. Then, after packing, consider each item, and remove anything that really isn’t likely to be used – especially if it can be easily obtained at your destination.

Copyright Steve Gillman. For travel stories, tips and a free Travel Secrets Ebook, visit http://www.everythingabouttravel.com

The art of candle making is hundreds of years old, and it is a true art form. There are so many ways to make beautiful candle creations and if you do get really absorbed in it as a hobby you will always be able to come up with something new.

Nearly everybody has a candle or two in their homes, and those that enjoy candles, actually often have a dozen or so.

Why would you want to make your own? Well, if you really like candles you can make them at a fraction of the price of those that you buy. You are free to choose your colors and shapes, and you can perfume them or not, and, with your choice of perfume.

Candle making is one hobby though that you don’t want to ‘just experiment’ with. Obviously you are working with very hot wax, and if not handled correctly, the candle designers can ‘explode’ and catch fire. It is what is called a ‘flashpoint’. It could be disastrous so don’t cut any corners when dealing with wax. It really does pay to read all the safety tips and know all about the wax that you are using.

It really is a very economical hobby, so don’t go looking for cost cutting by using old wax. that has been lying around the house. You never know what is in it. Use good clean wax that you have bought and handled correctly, then the chance of any problem is much, much less.

So, to help you here are some safety tips:
1. Never leave unattended wax on a stove top.
2. Know your ‘flashpoint’ of any wax that you use.
3. Always use a thermometer in your wax
4. Always use a double boiler for melting your wax as this slowly melts the wax at a safe speed. Never put the wax in a pot and straight on the heat.
5. Never have wax near an open flame, wax is flammable.
6. Always have cotton gloves handy to handle molds.
7. Keep a chemical fire extinguisher handy in case of fire.
8. Keep a pile of newspapers handy in case of spillage on the floor or bench top.
9. Wear loose clothing in case of spillage and if you get wax on your skin run it under cold water immediately.
10. Never pour molten wax down the sink – it will block it.

Candle making is such fun and you can use all sorts of containers to make candles. For pillar candles you can use milk cartons, or other waxed containers like juice cartons. If you have any old glass containers, either drink glasses or vases, that you no longer use, you can also use these, but make sure that you warm them before pouring in the hot wax.

Like any hobby, candle making takes a little to learn before you start, but there are some very easy techniques to learn in the early stages to make stunning candles.

Start with easy projects and progress through to the more difficult ones later.

if you are going to make candles to sell, do make sure that you use quality products because cheaper products will lead to inferior finished products.

Copyright swimwear 2008 Kaye Dennan

Kaye Dennan is the author of Candle Making – Start With Confidence. With over 15 years experience in the arts field Kaye enjoys helping new hobbyists. Go to http://ebooksnowonline.com/hobbies/candle-making-start-with-confidence/ for more information.

Purchasing a notebook computer can be a mind boggling experience with all the different makes and models out there. Toshiba has a strong entry in their Toshiba lingerie G15-AV501 notebook computer. Let’s examine why this particular model is certain to be an effective competitor.

Unlike most laptops the Qosmio takes computing to the next level. You can watch your favorite TV programs, play DVDs, or listen to music by way of its Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system. Sporting a 17″ screen the Qosmio offers a nifty 1440 x 900 pixels resolution perfect for TV or video watching. Other key features of the Qosmio include:

• Intel Pentium M 745 Processor (Centrino), 1.8 GHz
• 512MB Memory
• Television Tuner
• Exceptionally Bright Screen
• DVD±RW/CD-RW Combination, 2 Hard Drives
• Wireless LAN Antenna
• Remote Controller
• Video Card
• NVIDIA GeForce FX Go 5700
• Weighs just under 10 lbs.

As much as the Qosmio is an effective performer, I have learned that the battery life is very short compared to models half its $2500. sticker price. That’s right, $2500 [shop around, as prices vary]. So, only serious multimedia experts will go for this machine and they will be keeping it constantly plugged in to boot! Any software you add will be extra, therefore expect to shell out well in excess of three grand if adding a productivity package, extended warranty, shipping, handling, taxes and the like.

Still, serious multimedia fans will find the Toshiba Qosmio to be a top performer in an ever expanding sea of laptop computers. For that reason alone it is worth a special look.

Matt writes product reviews as well as coco chanel quotes websites. Please check out his portfolio of projects at http://www.thearticlewriter.com