A bowl of salad on a plate

Is Your Salad Really Healthy?

You probably know that you should eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, and a salad seems like the perfect device to get them into your system. However, you may be doing more harm than good if you add some of the following items in it.

Bacon/Ham: These ingredients are high in fat, cholesterol and sodium. For a healthy, ideal weight person, they might be all right, but if you have or are at risk for high blood pressure or heart disease, skip them entirely. If this is a main course dish, you may want to substitute avocado, which has heart healthy monounsaturated fat.

Cheese: Even low fat cheese contains a great deal of fat. According to Nutritiondata.com, an ounce of low fat Monterey Jack cheese has eighty-eight calories, fifty-four of which are from saturated fat. Low fat, reduced sodium cottage cheese may be a better option.

Croutons: There’s good news and bad news with croutons. The good news is plain, unseasoned varieties of this baked bread ingredient are fine. However, the seasoned version contains too much sodium for those on a restricted sodium diet.

Boiled Eggs: While healthy people can enjoy up to four eggs a week, those on a restricted fat/cholesterol diet should skip the boiled egg.

Greens: The type of greens used makes a big difference in how healthy your salad is. Iceberg lettuce contains a lot of sugar and doesn’t have as many nutrients found in romaine, red leaf lettuce or even dandelion greens. After finding this out, we almost never purchase iceberg.

Potato and Pasta Salads: These are very high in carbohydrates. Potato salad has the added attraction of fat and cholesterol, due to the use of mayo. If you choose a whole grain pasta and the right dressing, the pasta salad can be a good choice.

Salad Dressing: If you read the nutrition label on your favorite bottle of salad dressing, you’ll see that even the fat free dressings have extraordinarily high amounts of sodium. To get around this, try making your dressings at home.

A good quality balsamic vinegar mixed with some high quality olive oil makes an extremely tasty dressing for any salad. This way, you can also adjust it to your taste standards, adding more vinegar or more oil as needed.

Choosing a salad for your lunch or dinner is a good idea, but you do have to be careful about what you put in it. It doesn’t take much for an otherwise heart healthy meal to become a danger.

health & fitness
A woman sitting in a tub

Waterbirthing: A Healthy Alternative?

You’re in the final trimester of pregnancy and now faced with decisions galore while trying to come up with a birth plan. It ought to be simple enough. Your water breaks, the contractions start, and it’s off to the hospital. There you’ll be faced with the decision of whether or not you want painkillers such as the epidural but that will be another decision entirely. But have you ever stopped to consider the alternatives to your average hospital birth? Alternatives that might even be healthier and less stressful for both mom and baby?

One of these supposedly less stressful methods of birth is waterbirthing – where the mother both labors and delivers her baby in a ‘birthing pool.’ Waterbirths in the United States are on the rise – both at home and in birthing centers. Due to the popularity of this method, some hospitals are even placing birthing centers within their halls or offering women the chance to try it out in the delivery room – though this is not yet a widespread occurrence.

The pros to this method of birth seem to outweigh the cons and due to the fact the incidence of perinatal mortality is no higher than that of natural birth it does indeed seem to be safe. Pros include feelings of both privacy and relaxation for the mother, less painful contractions (only about ten percent of women who labor in water ask for pain medication,) the water allows the mother to float which eases pain as well. Bear in mind that babies spend nine months floating in amniotic fluid acid as well, being born into water is less of a shock compared to the air. Water also helps to stretch skin so that the perineum is less likely to tear – lessening the need for an episiotomy or stitches. The mother will also be free to try other positions rather than being confined to lying in a bed.

Despite these pros, there are still situations where a mother is advised against a waterbirth as most practitioners refuse to allow a woman with a high-high pregnancy to try the method. These situations include:

– Gestational diabetes
– The baby will be born prematurely.
– Preeclampsia
– Toxemia
– A previous Cesarean section.
– Twins or multiples.

Aside from these situations, most women are eligible to try giving birth in water and most practitioners will inform the mother of the possible cons. Such as the fact there is a small – but highly unlikely – chance the baby will inhale water. Another unlikely event is that the baby will experience stress within the birth canal and gasp for air – also inhaling water. The likelihood of the umbilical cord snapping when the baby is placed into mother’s arms but this can be avoided with care.

If the pool or water is not clean there is always the possibility of infection but most birthing centers have strict regulations toward cleaning the pools and pools at home may be cleaned with bleach to kill germs.

The cost of a waterbirth is generally less than that of the hospital – ranging anywhere from one-third to two-thirds of the usual costs if performed in a birthing center. A birthing pool may be rented for around $300 at home and bought for $1000. Most insurance plans cover waterbirths as well.

The most essential thing to remember though is that the mother needs a certified midwife or doctor willing to supervise the birth – especially if performed at home. With the proper precautions and prenatal care, waterbirths are without a doubt a healthy and efficient way to welcome that newborn baby into the world.

health & fitness

A Closer Look At Astrology

Astrology is a science, which attempts to predict human affairs by studying the celestial body. This ancient practice is based upon the relative positions of the Sun and moon, as well as the motions of the planets. It claims to be more accurate than any other method in terms of human affairs and terrestrial events, allowing you to know for example that an aquarius man pulls away when in love. Let’s take a closer look at astrology.

aquarius man pulls away when in love

Astrology is based upon the relative positions of celestial bodies

The ancient practice of astrology is based on the position of the celestial bodies and their movements. It attempts to divine information from the movements of the stars and other celestial bodies about human affairs. During ancient times, astrology was widely practiced by many cultures, and it was believed to have deep roots in human evolution. The Babylonian and Egyptian civilizations were well-known for practicing astrology, and some scholars believe that it has a deeper rooted history than we might think.

While ancient astronomy and astrology are centuries old, the science has survived the test of time. Babylonians, for instance, used astrology to make astronomical calculations. These calculations enabled them to create instruments to accurately measure the positions celestial bodies. The astrolabe, which was a handheld instrument used by astronomers in classical antiquity, the Islamic Golden Age, and the European Middle Ages, was also a popular tool for astrology practitioners. As astronomy and astrology were closely related, astrology experienced significant developments thanks to the synthesis of knowledge from different cultures along the Silk Roads.

It is not compatible with orthodox Christianity

While some Christians may have rejected astrology due to its supposed anti-religious components, a history of astrology shows that it has had an extensive and varied relationship with orthodox Christianity. Its origins can been traced back to a time when priests attempted to interpret the religious experience their ancestors. The Greeks and Persians were the first to use astrology, and they taught it both as a religion, and as a divinity.

It is based upon the Sun sign

Astrology is based on the sun sign, the most common and commonly known aspect of your birth chart. Your sun sign is the basis of most horoscopes. The most common question is “What’s your sun sign?” The answer is simple, just plug in your birthday and month to a horoscope calculator. The calculator will immediately give you your sign and your personality.

Astrology uses the twelve year cycle of the sun to predict you behavior. The twelve signs of the zodiac are divided into twelve equal parts. These “signs” are correlated with different traits and personality traits. Signs in the same constellation, such as Aquarius, are often considered creative and original. The constellations that lie across the sky are usually the same. When looking at a full Horoscope, it is important that you note that not all constellations and signs will be the same.

Lifestyle & Fashion
A person posing for the camera

Why lifestyle and fashion are important?

The development of technology is influenced by most of the fields and people get benefits out of it. These changes have much impact on the lifestyle and fashion world. This particular industry underwent several changes periodically and remains the icon among trendy people. In recent days, usage of the internet created awareness about the brand and availability of quality products. 

Impact of the trends 

The younger generation is updated with the lifestyle and fashion news regularly. The impact of the fashion world among the youth is unpredictable. They want to try all the outfits designed by the experts and the accessories that suit their outfits. 

The digital platform helps them in gaining knowledge about the latest fashion and gets accessed to them with its availability over the online stores. Right from the fashion wears to the matching accessories, all can be ordered online at an affordable price. 

The marketing strategy applied by the online stores over social media also has a great impact on the younger generation. They get a clear idea about the brands and can compare the features of one brand with the other with the help of the internet platform.

Placing online orders

Several online stores provide catalogs of the latest lifestyle and fashion on their website. People who wish to purchase the products listed on the sites will verify the quality and gain brand knowledge by the reviews posted over the relevant websites.

Customers will compare the price of the selected products and verify the details about the same in the other sites too. This will help them in selecting a quality product at a reasonable price. 

By providing the postal details along with the contact number, the order can be placed. Online payments are accepted by these online stores and it makes online shopping hassle-free. 

The product will reach the customer within the time mentioned during the order placement. In case of any issue with the color or size or any other defects, online stores avail the facility of replacing the orders.

Significance of lifestyle and fashion

Fashion and lifestyle differ from person to person. People get the latest news about fashion through the media and get updated with it. This helps them impressively carrying themselves and increases their confidence level. 

The personality will be enhanced with the latest trends and gives a better look. The designer works hard and innovatively expresses their creativity to attract fashion lovers. 

The designers concentrate on the fabrics and the quality of the fabric to design the outfits based on the customer’s taste. Outfit without the accessories will be incomplete. Suitable accessories should be matched with the outfits to get a beautiful look. 

Conclusion

Getting accepted to the latest trends is very important to carry out life in a desired and beautiful way. The Internet provides the facility to know about the latest fashion world and help people in selecting the best brands that are available in the market. Get used to the internet and keep informed about the latest fashion.

Lifestyle & Fashion
Diamond engagement ring

Online Diamond Engagement Ring Shops

Diamond engagement rings represent beauty, love and commitment. A diamond engagement ring is the most popular choice for couples who want to get married. However, there are many other types of precious gemstones that can be used for engagement rings.

Choose a retailer with a range of styles, prices and diamond and jewelry consultants who are not paid commissions. They should also have industry-leading certifications for their products. You should also look at their shipping and return policy.

Blue Nile

Blue Nile, a leading online retailer, specializes in diamond engagement ring. They have a large selection of rings, stones, metals, and settings. The company offers a number unique features that make it stand out from its competitors. There is also a comprehensive education centre and free returns.

Diamond engagement ring

The Blue Nile website is easy to use and guides users through the process of choosing a diamond or ring setting. The website will remember your criteria even if you close out the window. This is a useful feature because it allows you to compare the different options before making a decision. The website allows you to view a picture of a diamond in the setting, which can be helpful when choosing a gemstone. The website will not automatically refresh when you make changes, so you could end up with a stone that does not match your criteria.

Blue Nile’s website isn’t perfect, but overall it provides a great experience. They have an enormous selection of rings and settings, and their prices are very competitive. They offer live chat support between 9AM and Midnight on weekdays, and 11AM to Midnight on weekends. Their support agents are knowledgeable and friendly, and they can answer any questions that you might have.

Blue Nile offers a variety of diamond shapes, unlike other online jewelers. They offer both classic and contemporary designs, including double-halo and halo rings. The store also offers a wide range of vintage-style rings. Search filters on the site allow you to narrow down your choices by price, clarity, or carat weight. The filters make it easy to find a perfect ring for your budget and style.

In addition to their vast collection of diamonds, Blue Nile carries jewelry from three designers that are well known for their bridal jewelry. These include Colin Cowie Monique Luhllier and Zacposen. Their selections range from classic four- and six-prong solitaire rings to traditional three-stone designs that are sometimes called past, present, and future rings.

Brilliant Earth

Brilliant Earth was founded in 2005 and is now one of the world’s largest ecommerce jewelers. They are also the global leader for ethically sourced fine jewellery. Their mission is cultivating a more transparent, ethical, and sustainable jewelry market. They use diamonds of high quality and precious metals sourced responsibly to make their jewelry. They also offer a wide selection of gemstone engagement rings.

Brilliant Earth understands that consumers are concerned about the ethical sourcing of diamonds. This is why they have committed to providing transparency regarding their diamond supply chain. This information allows customers to choose a diamond that fits their values. They use diamonds from Canada and Botswana. Their diamonds are backed by grading report, ASET and Idealscope images. Additionally, their jewelry uses recycled and responsibly-mined precious metals.

This is what sets Brilliant Earth apart from their competitors. It shows that they are passionate about the integrity and quality of their product. In fact, their commitment towards responsible sourcing goes well beyond the Kimberley Process standard and includes strict environmental and labor standards. This commitment is a major reason why they are able to offer their customers such a large selection of ethically-sourced diamonds.

Their diamonds are therefore much more affordable than those of other online retailers. They also have a large selection of settings, so that you can find the perfect ring for your partner. In addition, they have a great returns policy and free resizing within 60 days. They even have a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty on all their rings, which is something that not many other online retailers offer.

A ring purchased from Brilliant Earth can be customized to your specifications. They have a team of design experts that will help you create the ring that’s right for your partner. This is especially useful if your partner is expecting an engagement ring.

The company offers a diamond upgrade programme, which allows you to exchange natural diamonds at any time for new ones. This is an excellent way to celebrate milestones and keep your ring looking great.

Tiffany & Co.

Tiffany & Co. is one of America’s most iconic jewelry brands. It started as a New York-based stationery and fine goods store in 1837 and has since become a symbol for luxury and fashion around the globe. The brand is known for its signature shade of blue, the Tiffany diamond, countless engagement rings, and the work of designers like Elsa Peretti. In addition to its high-quality pieces, the company has a long history of social activism and sustainability.

The company’s initial green initiative was to source its gems responsibly. It has also set an ambitious goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gases emissions by 2050. The company is currently working on achieving this goal with various initiatives, such as the Tiffany True, a sustainable, eco-friendly line of jewels.

Authentic Tiffany Jewelry has strict standards of quality, including high color and clarity requirements. The company has also developed rigorous processes to assess the quality of its gemstones. These processes include using specialized tools and developing proprietary computer software in order to assess the stone’s quality. The company maintains a strict ethical code in addition to its quality control measures.

Tiffany jewelry has a long lifespan due to its high standards. The company’s commitment to excellence has earned it a global reputation as an iconic luxury brand. The company’s products have been worn by royalty, celebrities, and everyday people worldwide.

The Tiffany setting is the most recognized diamond engagement ring design in the world. The ring features a round brilliant-cut diamond in a platinum band with four prongs. Its elegance, beauty and durability have made it a sign of eternal love.

Tiffany’s jewellery has been worn by royalty and celebrities alike. Its iconic pieces have inspired generations of customers to express their own style through the company’s unique designs. The company has a strong social responsibility commitment and is committed in creating beautiful, timeless items that can be cherished forever. Employees are encouraged to take part in mentorship and professional development opportunities. The company also donates money to charities and organizations promoting diversity.

James Allen

James Allen was founded in 2006. It is one of first diamond retailers that sells engagement rings online. They offer a unique online shopping experience, with 360deg HD images of each diamond. They also provide 24/7 customer service as well as fantastic prices. Their unique approach to fine jewelry is a perfect fit for today’s tech-savvy generation.

They have more than 200,000 diamonds available in their catalog. These diamonds come in a wide variety of colors, clarity, and cuts. Each diamond comes with a GIA or AGS certificate that allows you to examine the diamond in detail and from all angles. The company also offers virtual try-ons and ring customization. For those who would prefer lab-created gemstones, they offer a variety of options.

James Allen founders have decades in the fine jewelry industry. Oded Edelman’s family has a long history in diamond manufacturing, and his expertise in the industry led to this innovative approach to online retailing. The company’s mission is to create the best diamond-buying experience possible.

It is important to keep in mind that James Allen doesn’t buy their own inventory, but rather assembles it from a number of different suppliers. They are very particular about quality and only select “collection” stones that meet strict standards for color, cut, and clarity. This allows them to offer a similar or better price than any brick-and mortar jeweler, without the overhead costs of a physical store.

James Allen also offers a return policy. They have a 30-day return window and free resizing for the first year after purchase. They also offer a lifetime warranty on their products. This includes re-polishing and rhodium plated.

In addition to their return policy, James Allen offers free sizing and engraving on all engagement rings and wedding bands. This makes James Allen a great option for customers looking to customize a ring with their own special message. James Allen customer service representatives are knowledgeable and helpful. They can assist you in choosing a ring’s size by measuring a current ring or by using the free sizing tools on their website. Live chat is also available 24/7. This allows customers to quickly ask questions and receive answers.

Lifestyle & Fashion
Meeting Business Architect Office Team Plan

How beneficial is owning a business?

People work hard to earn money for their better livelihood. Some people work for any organization, institutions, or in reputed concerns while a category of people is passionate about their working setups. This is generally defined by the term “Business”. People who have the tendency of working with self-respect and with an independent mentality will start up their organizations and provide job opportunities for other people. They are capable of handling all the risk factors that they will face in their ownership.

Need of business

Business can be understood as the activity that gives rise to economic growth and is also associated with the production, distribution, and exchange of goods and services to earn profits by satisfying the needs of humans. 

Several businesses are running successfully and all are interconnected with each of the businesses in day-today-life. Some of the businesses might be the family business and some might have entered the business world without any experience and success in providing their services to the public as entrepreneurs.

Key skills needed to run a business

To run any sort of business successfully, the following steps should be followed 

    • Strategic management: Think about the business and analyze the possible strategies for your business.
    • Basic accounting: A complete record of the accounts and filing them regularly.
    • Financial management: Get funds for your business from reliable sources and beneficially manage the available funds.
    • People management: Hiring people for your business management and handle them successfully by allocating their responsibilities.
    • Marketing: Marketing your business to reach the public with the help of all the available sources of advertisements such as the traditional channels and web and social media.
    • Sales: improve your sales by satisfying your customers.
    • Operation management: choose the right suppliers for your product or service.

Benefits of running a business

The prime benefit of owning a business is not depending on others. The other benefits include flexibility that is preferred by most people. Being the boss of the business, you can control your team to run the business successfully. 

When you involve in your own business, you will get an opportunity to innovate new ideas that could benefit your business. The profit you gained will be enjoyed by yourself and can lead a better lifestyle. 

When you run a business by systemically managing your time, you can satisfy your customers for a long time and the dedication shown by you towards your business will make you shine in the business world.

Conclusion

Owning a business and running it successfully for the long run is a challenge for the entrepreneurs and they involve in it with more passion and dedication. There is much difference between working under an organization and working for the organization.

People who wish to establish themselves with their skill and ability will go for a long term and workout on the techniques to develop their business. They travel through many hardships during their journey and turn their hurdles into their success points. 

Business
A brown dog lying on the grass

Advantages of adopting the pets

Generally, pets are given more pleasurable moments to the people or those who adopt. Now the people are loves to petting that are most widespread among the people side in the society. If you are having pets surely you will gain more positive vibrations from them. Pets are really valuable ones they will change our whole mood if depressed about something. There holds several benefits while adopting the pets and it will give the amazing time while playing with them. Considerably, pets show their love and affection to the people. Thus the pets are given the most adventure to life and you will feel their love. Their amazing nature will eager to adopt them as a pet.

There are several types of pets and you will get them for a diverse reason. They provide positive energy to life and also forget the worries in life. For your life petting is God’s gift because it will never cheat in any case always shows their love unconditionally. Make sure to choose the best pet for adopting afterward it does not give any trouble. You will make your jogging are morning walk with your pets that will more enjoyments. 

Superbly maintain them:

Adopting pets is not an easy task needs to maintain them properly and also feed them at the correct time. There are different kinds of pets most people are loved to adopt the dog. These are mostly preferred by the people. It will do several types of activities if you trained the task very well. In any situation, pets will relive from the people, if they are showed affection to the people they will guard their owner. Moreover, pets are more special and it does the several types of job. Considerably, pets are the best companion and also change the whole depressed mood in the joyful moment. Don’t worry; it will never leave you in a lonely space. Always it is special to the human. Thus people are carrying them in all places because of love and affection. 

Purchase it online:

Generally, pets are having a wide variety. They are buying in online mode there are several types of applications and sites for purchasing them. The online mode contains several verities of pets at a reasonable price. Don’t worry about the cost there only the cheapest price range you will easily access them. In a stressful life, you don’t worry about buying them. There are several sorts of choices with the best one in different colors. While obtaining with you they will give the best fulfillment to the life. Before adopting them you need to know the all information about them because you need to take care of the adopting pets. 

Gives cheerful life:

Thus the relationship with the pets is an amazing one because it provides a small adventure life. If the people are in difficult time it gives the good interaction for change the moment. They also know all types of feelings, emotions, and sadness, and much more. Start to adopt the pets they will give several advantages to the people. 

Pets
A car parked in a parking lot

2004 Jaguar S-type: The Best Car I Ever Owned

Of course, like every other 17 year old I couldn’t wait to get my driver’s license and the freedom that could only come from getting behind the wheel of a car and going until you ran out of road. But aside from the freedom, I truly didn’t understand the feelings expressed by many car-owners who would profess to love their cars. I used to think, “What’s the big deal? With some minor differences all cars had four wheels and would get you from point A to point B.”

By the time I was in my late 30’s I had owned a few cars. My first car was a 1980 Chevy Impala. That car was more of a land yacht than a motor vehicle. The next was an old Toyota Tercel that had over 100,000 miles on it. It wasn’t very pretty but it was old reliable. I spent the next two decades driving plain, safe family cars: a Pontiac Grand Am, a Chevy custom conversion Astro van, a Ford Windstar minivan, and finally a Honda Pilot. Though the Honda Pilot was definitely cherry and made me feel like I’d not felt before behind the wheel of a car, nothing compared to how I felt every single time I got behind the wheel of the best vehicle I ever owned.

I was nearly 40. For Valentines’ Day, my husband Dale gifted me with my best car ever: a 2004 sea mist Jaguar S-type. Though I thought my Honda Pilot was the cat’s meow, nothing and I mean nothing came close to how I felt when I was behind the wheel of my Jaguar. She handled like a dream even well after I’d put 100,000 miles on her. The lines of her exterior were incredibly sexy as were the intricate details of the leather and wood work craftsmanship of her interior. I would literally float when I would drive her with the windows down and the sunroof opened, my music blasting like nobody’s business. Everything about the best vehicle I ever owned was literally a dream come true, from how she handled to how she looked. And then I finally understood what it meant to truly love a car. I love that car and don’t believe that I will ever replace the feeling I got from the best vehicle I ever owned: my 2004 Jaguar S-type …except perhaps driving a new one? 

Automotive, Sports

An Increasingly Popular Furniture Choice

Generally, furniture is used to store items or to hold things at a comfortable height for work. Furniture has several purposes and you can definitely make the most of this by designing your home interior decoration. But before we go ahead with the designing process, let us understand what exactly furniture suggests.

rattan-gardenfurniture.co.uk

Furniture, generally speaking, helps promote the social interaction between individuals. This interactive atmosphere leads to an improvement in productivity. With the right type of furniture items, a organization’s employees will believe that they belong to a close office and hence feel motivated and happy. Aside from benefiting the workers, this kind of furniture also helps promote a professional atmosphere in the workplace and make people feel at home.

As far as office space planning is concerned, it’s always a good idea to use revolutionary furniture pieces for a more organized office space. A simple way to organize your workplace would be to put up shelves or cabinets or hangers or hooks. These furniture items will produce an attractive office area, which will surely increase the overall productivity of your employees. This kind of office space planning will help promote a better working environment within your workplace.

Based on the nature of your company, you can decorate your workplace differently. If you have different departments in your office like accounting, sales, etc., then you may get wooden or steel desks, chairs, drawers, and other types of furniture to suit all your departments. The revolutionary furniture pieces available on the marketplace include cubicles, cubicle counters, computer racks, office cubicles, etc. depending on the nature of your job, you may use different furniture items.

A more organized office area promotes a better working environment. If you don’t have appropriate furniture in your workplace, your employees will feel that their privacy is being compromised and it may lead to negative morale. Additionally, the furniture may also make a difference to the overall comfort of the workers, if they’re comfortable in their environment. This will help promote better health among your employees. Therefore, it’s advisable to buy only high quality, durable and ergonomically correct furniture pieces for your office.

There are several ways you can improve your workforce’s working state such as purchasing ergonomic chairs, tables, cubicles, computer desks, and storage cabinets. You can choose to purchase basic furniture items and upgrade them with contemporary designs and styles, to provide more value to your money. This may also help encourage a healthy environment and help protect your employees’ health. In this regard, it’s advisable to go for quality, yet reasonably priced furniture items from specialized platforms like rattan-gardenfurniture.co.uk. By investing in high-grade office space furniture, you may even increase your profitability by creating an inviting and comfortable working environment.

Home & Kitchen Ideas
A person sitting on a bench in a garden

Three DIY Craft Ideas for the Fall Using Up-cycled Outdoor Items

Everyone likes to get into the mood for the Fall season. It is a season of many type of color changes. This article provides three craft ideas, using up-cycled items to bring out the best of design for the Fall season.

Craft Number One
Make a leaf wreath for your front door. This craft is so simple, that your children can do it. You will need cardboard, real colored leaves, glue, wire, brush, white paint and clear lacquer.

  1. Cut out two cardboard circles that are at least 9 inches across. Then cut out the centers so that you have equal sizes. Then glue these two together. This will make them your wreath stronger. Consider using recycled cardboard.
    2. Place your leaves on a newspapers or old plastic. Paint your leaves with the lacquer. You can do both sides or just one. I recommend both sides. Set them aside to dry.
    3. Paint your cardboard white. Let it dry.
    4. Place a hanging wire loop through the top of the cardboard.
    5. Glue your leaves to the cardboard wreath. Arrange them in the mixed colors. Do not leave any of the cardboard to be seen. You can lap over the leaves. After the glue is dry, hand your wreath.

Craft Number Two
Make a basket of plenty for your fireplace mantle or counter top. This will require an old wooden fruit basket or used wicker basket. You will need a lacquer, brush, a piece of recycled cardboard, colored leaves, acorns, pine cones and small gourds, Indian corn and miniature pumpkins.

  1. Using your lacquer, paint your basket. Cover both the inside and outside. This will give it a shiny appearance.
    2. Put a coat of lacquer on to your leaves and let them dry.
    3. Once the leaves are dry, glue them to your piece of cardboard.
    4. Set up your cardboard on the mantle with the basket at one end.
    5. Place your other colored items on top of the leaves. Be sure to set your basket on its side. A little glue will hold it in place. Make sure it looks like the basket spilled out with the gourds and pumpkins and other items in it. You might want to consider using the lacquer to brighten up the acorns and pine cones.

Craft Number Three
Make a grapevine door entrance trellis. For this project, you will need long thin saplings or long grapevines. They have to be long enough to go around your entire door entrance. You will also need some wire, wire cutters, hot glue, bow ribbon and colored leaves.

  1. You can find your trellis limbs, by walking through the country side and cutting what you need. Trim off an branches or leaves on the vines. Depending on the size of your vines you will need about twelve. On the thin ends of the vine, curve them over and intertwine them with the other vines. The center of the arch should be in the middle at the top of your door.
    2. Use wire to hold them together, if you need to. Be sure to bind the bottoms together with wire.
    3. Glue colored leaves to the sides of your vine trellis. You can use lacquer to harden your leaves, before gluing them in place.
    4. Using Fall season colors, place bows on each side of the trellis. Try to use old bows left over from other past projects. They should be about shoulder height. You can place your trellis inside or outside.

These three craft items are a great way to use up-cycled items to add to your Fall design.

 

Arts & Entertainments, DIY craft
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