Made Moon Blog

The history of the Celtic peoples goes back thousands of years. The early Celts displayed their skills in complex artwork particularly metal, jewelry and weapons as they were regarded as fierce warriors by the Romans. Evidence of celtic crossses and celtic artwork can still be found all over Ireland.

Modern Celtic peoples have evolved symbols for themselves, and in the North American people of Celtic descentoften wear these symbols to show that they are of Celtic descent. The ancient Celts passed knowledge down through an oral tradition of storytelling and didn’t keep many written records, consequently, there is little evidence of their tattooing remaining even though celtic cross tattoos and celtic know tattoos are very popular designs.

Most of Celtic tattoo designs are taken from the Irish Illuminated Manuscripts ‘The Book of Kells’, on display in the library of Trinity College in Dublin, my home town. This is a much later time period than the height of Celtic tattooing. Designs from ancient stone and metal work are more likely to be from the same time period as Celtic tattooing.

Celtic knot tattoos are usually loops with no end or beginning symbolising the never ending cycle of death and rebirth. Celtic animal (zoomorphic tattoo designs) designs are similar in construction but the cords terminate in feet, heads, tails. Pure knots are usually unending, unless the end of a strand is stylized into a zoomorphic element or a spiral.

Celtic knotwork’s meaning defies literal translation and is to be found at a deeper level. The repeated crossing of the physical and the spiritual are expressed in the interlace of the knots. The never ending path of the strands may represent the permanence and the continuum of life, love and faith and for these reason celtic tattoos have become so popular.

For people who have a Celtic heritage, whether Irish, Scots or Welsh , getting a Celtic design can be a way of expressing pride in their heritage by reaffirming an affinity the indigenous artistic style of their ancestors. They are usually not easy designs to do, and it is strongly recommended to anyone contemplating getting one to make sure that the artist they are considering has experience in designing Celtic tattoos. Not all tattoo artist have the eye for detail and exacting line placement needed to draw the intricate patterns particular to Celtic art.

Tattoo Designs & Tattoo Galleries
http://www.tao-of-tattoos.com

Continuing the introduction of the housemates entering the seventh series of reality TV show Big Brother, here are four of the seven men prepared to miss this summer’s World Cup to try and last 13 weeks in the UK’s most intense goldfish bowl environment.

Pete BENNETT
Age: 24. From: London. Occupation: Unemployed.
Pete is a budding rock ‘n’ roll singer and cartoonist now living in Brighton. He was diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome at the age of 14, started wearing women’s clothes aged 16 and impersonated Freddie Mercury at his mother’s wedding. When asked why he wanted to participate on Big Brother he replied: “to reach the top of my spiral to heaven and shine again. Also, if I was to win the money I would like to pay off my mum’s mortgage so she can finally live her life because she looked after me for so long. And I crave fame and would like to be a famous Touretter”. Pete lives alone except for a pet hamster called Magic, who roams freely around his house and lives in the wall.

Shabaz CHAUDRY
Age: 37. From: Glasgow. Occupation: Unemployed.
Shabaz is single and has been “unemployable” for the last 21 years, although has done a lot of voluntary care work since he was 16, helping the disabled and people with special needs in his local community. He admits that he has never been in love and has never had a boyfriend as he thinks men are afraid of his flamboyant personality. When asked why he wanted to be on Big Brother he replied: “because I’ve never had the flatmate or housemate experience as I’ve lived by myself for nearly 21 years and I want to challenge myself”. He claims he has a phobia of straight-acting homophobic homosexuals and would like to be reincarnated as a woman so that he can have children.

Richard NEWMAN
Age: 33. From: Canada. Occupation: Waiter.
Richard is single, lives in London and describes himself as a “sexual, passionate and hostile man hunter”. He loves going out all night in Soho and making conquests, but equally enjoys dinner parties and the theatre. When asked why he wanted to go on Big Brother, he replied simply: “just for the money”. He says the person he would least like to find in the house is a woman who is eight months pregnant. He has a strong fear of them and even fears being interviewed by Davina McCall when he leaves the house. Sexism, racism and men who turn down his advances make him angry and if he could pass any law it would be that all straight men must have a homosexual encounter.

Glyn WISE
Age:18. From: Blaenau Ffestiniog. Occupation: Part-time lifeguard / Head boy in 6th Form.
Glyn is the youngest member of the Big Brother house and is looking forward to receiving nationwide attention and being able to show off his “sexy body to millions”.
He is fiercely proud of his Welsh heritage and feels that all Welsh people should speak the language. Glyn aspires to be the first male Page 3 model and is content with his life and body he would like to be reincarnated as himself, declaring: “I am the closest example to perfection”. However, he doesn’t get on well with members of the animal kingdom, claiming: “I hate all animals and they hate me”.

David Walker runs free Big Brother bets and Pete Bennett websites. Updated Big Brother 7 articles are available at both of these websites.

Now personally I don’t have a tattoo although I have been thinking of getting one. My wife has a small heart just above her right breast that you normally can’t see. I like it there and if you are wanting to get a tattoo, there are many things to consider.

First you need to be tattoo smart. By that I mean you need to do a little research on them. There are many resources across the internet that can give you ideas about placement, coloring, style, design, and pro’s and con’s. From personal observation, I have noticed that certain places on the body can add to your appearance and seductivity and other places can be distracting. Depending on whether you are in the spotlight or just behind the scenes, you need to know how a tattoo will affect your everyday activities.

Most of society has begun to accept tattooing and generally don’t make a big deal about them. I myself, think they add a certain flair to your personality. They are a way of expressing who you are and how you feel about yourself. Remember, they are a permanent part of your body afterwards. They can be very enticing or they can be ridiculous. Some people have made it their objective to completely cover their entire body with tattoos. I don’t really care for this type of practice but, if that is what you want to do this, then go for it.

When and if you decide to get a tattoo, by doing the research first you will be able to make a well informed decision as to where and how you want to display your new form of self expression. Whether they are in the form of flowers, butterflies, animals, and even people, they can add to your self worth. Many of us would like to express ourselves everyday but, we just don’t how. You can through the form of a tattoo.

If you decide to go ahead and purchase a tattoo, please remember that they are expensive to install and remove depending on the size and location. Although they can be removed, there is the possibility of some tissue damage and discoloration.

I am no expert on tattoos and if I was going get one I definitely would research the subject first.

http://www.thetattoodesign.com/

So… You want to get tattooed. Great! This can be a rewarding and life-enriching experience… IF done right. Knowing HOW to get tattooed is key to being happy with this decision. I hope in the following paragraphs to help you, as a potential client, learn the skills necessary to get a good tattoo, one you can live with.

People get tattooed for a number of reasons… some good, some not so good. Tattoos can be a scrapbook of a person’s life. They tell us about the wearer’s loves, hates, hopes, fears, accomplishments, and regrets. They can be purely decorative. They can tell where a person is from or where they want to be. . It may be done as a way of being “different” or “rebellious”, or fitting into a larger group identity..

Ideally, they are applied in an attractive way, by a knowledgeable artist, fitting the body and personality of the wearer, with an enduring personal significance and a timeless style that will not go out with the current trend. Tattoos of this type are seldom regretted and can be empowering points of pride for their owners. I don’t know one person with a good quality, appropriately sized, and personally significant tattoo they wish they hadn’t gotten.

For many, however, this is an impulsive act, one eventually regretted for that very reason. Often, not much thought is put into the design’s significance or its overall effect on one’s self-image. Too many times, tattoos are gotten because they are fashionable. The problem is, fashions change, and unlike other fashion accessories, you have to keep your tattoo.

This is why it’s important to know HOW to get tattooed. For many, this is a daunting and confusing endeavor, especially the first time. After all, it’s permanent. This idea alone can be nerve-racking enough. Most people never do anything permanent. Half of marriages nowadays are far less than that, and the idea of committing to an aesthetic seems far tougher than committing to a soul mate.

The first step is to know your self. What are you into? What do you hold dear? What do you desire? What do you believe? What types of imagery do you find pleasing, and what part of your body would you like to accentuate with a tattoo? These are good places to start.

Placement, scale, and flow, are paramount in importance. Good tattoos, in my opinion, should look like clothing or jewelry from a respectable viewing distance. A prime example is traditional Japanese tattooing. Another would be Pacific islander. Optimally, they should read well from across the street. If so, they will age well. Badgy, small, isolated tattoos look like melanomas and only get worse with time. These should be avoided.

Then you need to decide on the imagery. Good design reference can be found anywhere; the internet, library, magazines, comic books, greeting cards, even wallpaper. This part is subjective. Look for TYPES of imagery you like, not necessarily specific tattoo designs. A good tattooist can then help you develop a basic idea in a beautiful finished piece, but he or she needs direction from you.

Next you need to find that artist… the one who can do the mental math for you, adding up your expectations and ideas to give you exactly what you never knew you wanted. Word of mouth is invaluable. If you see a tattoo you like on someone, ask who did it. Look a tattoo magazines and on the internet to find out about local tattooists. Once you’ve found a few prospects and located their studios, take some time to visit them and view their studios and portfolios.

The portfolio is key. How artists present their work speaks volumes about them professionally. Look for HEALED pictures of quality work a style that speaks to you. Look for consistent line work, smooth shading, and solid color. A tattooist will most often put their favorite work in their book, so you can see what they prefer to do or specialize in. Do not bypass this step. If you neglect to look at a portfolio, you deserve what you get. If you ask and they say “Portfolio?”… run like hell!

So there you are. You’ve brainstormed for weeks, gone into all the local tattoo shops, perused portfolios, chosen the “perfect” artist, AND decided on a design (WHEW!). Now you’re ready to sign the waiver form and have your skin art dreams come true…right? Not just yet, there, Turbo! One very necessary part of the overall picture should be looked at before you should have ANY kind of invasive procedure done. It’s always a good idea to look at the practices of your chosen artist to make sure that this isn’t a decision you’ll regret. If you’d be so kind as to read on, I’ll tell you what you should know and look for to insure you’re getting a safe tattoo.

First of all, let’s discuss the risks inherent to this kind of procedure. Like any other activity that involves needles and blood, there is always the possibility of transmitting disease if proper standards are not met. Blood borne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis are of greatest popular concern, with most people believing their biggest risk is “getting AIDS”. In fact, HIV is hardly a concern in tattooing, mostly because of the sheer volume of blood that has to be transmitted to infect someone with the virus. HIV is also relatively weak and survives for only short time when exposed to the environment. Hepatitis, a desease that attacks the liver, is of a lot more concern, being a much heartier pathogen that requires a much smaller amount of body fluid transfer, though it should be mentioned that , according to the Centers for Disease Control, there has NEVER been a documented case of Hepatitis OR AIDS caused by a tattoo. However, there’s always a first time for everything, and nobody wants to be it, so it’s always a good idea to take universal precautions. Remember, too, that there are many other diseases out there that you can receive through contact with infected blood, such as tuberculosis. That’s not all, though. We also have to take into account the plethora of different bacterial and fungal infections that that are just waiting for the opportunity to fester inside your brand new tattoo. So be careful…the hide you save could be your own.

The first step in this process is to ask about the studio’s universal precautions…a set of practices used with each and every client to prevent infection and disease transmission (hence the term “universal”). Do they use new needles? Do they wear latex or comparable exam gloves while working? Do they use an acceptable hard surface disinfectant on all their tools and work surface in between tattoos after doing away with all disposable items (razor blades, ink, ink cups, Vaseline, plastic barriers, rubber bands, etc)? How do they sterilize their non-disposable equipment? These are the questions that you should have answered BEFORE getting tattooed or pierced…as well as any others that come to mind. Remember, it’s YOUR health, and it’s your responsibility. Do it for yourself as well as for your friends and loved ones. You don’t want to end up an amputee Typhoid Mary, do you?

As far as sterilization goes, their are three commonly used methods… cold chemical, dry heat, and autoclave sterilization. An autoclave is a device that uses steam, heat, and pressure to kill all known microorganisms and the spores with which they reproduce and is the preferred method of sterilization, especially for equipment that has come into contact with possibly infectious body fluids. Chemical and dry heat sterilization are considered adequate for non-contaminated items (those that have not come into contact with body fluids) or items that cannot be sterilized in an autoclave, but aren’t the most effective practices because the steam pressure of an autoclave (what these two methods lack) is what kills reproductive spores and gets into all the little nooks and crannies of the equipment. Autoclave sterilization takes place when clean, dry, individually packaged items are processed at 15 pounds per square inch and 250 degrees Fahrenheit for twenty minutes at temp and pressure (though this is the most common standard, these figures vary… more heat or pressure can decrease necessary exposure time).

The next thing you should try to do is watch the tattooist work. Usually this isn’t a problem and most good tattooists will actually appreciate the fact that you care enough to ask. Things that you should look for include, “Is the work area clean, organized, and well lit”, “Does he wash his hands between clients”, “Does he refrain from touching things like doorknobs, lights, the telephone, or radio with dirty gloves?” Increased confidence can be had with an artist who also uses plastic barriers on their power supply, tattoo machines, spray bottles, and work surface, because they cut down on gross contamination with blood and ink, therefore making clean-up between clients easier and more thorough. Great care should be taken to prevent cross contamination, which occurs when possibly infectious material from one client comes in contact with a surface and the tattooist touches that surface while working on the next, thus “cross-contaminating” from one client to another. Keep in mind that the care the artist takes with his cleanliness is a good indication of the level of care he’ll take in the execution of your tattoo. There’s no such thing as a good, dirty, tattooist.

If you bear these things in mind and keep you eyes peeled, asking any and all questions that come to mind, you should be fully capable of deciding whether or not your decision to get tattooed will be a good one. There are few things in this world more satisfying than having a brand-new, beautiful tattoo… except not having to worry about getting sick from it. If you need any other reason to go through all this hassle, just close your eyes (I’m waiting…) and imagine an oozing, festering, two week old fungal infection in that same tattoo and the resulting scar that will be there once it FINALLY heals. All it takes is a little time and common sense to avoid making a decision you’ll regret. Isn’t it worth it to insure your health and that of your loved ones?

About The Author

Caine is a professional tattooist of 7 years with 10 years of experience with the industry, working at Inu Tattoo in San Diego, California. Online portfolio and FAQ can be viewed at WWW.BONEDEEP.NET.

brothercaine@hotmail.com

Anyone who is seriously into tattoos will tell you how long it takes to choose the right one. After all they should last a lifetime so are not something to be rushed. It can take up to 20-30 hours to find the right tattoo design. But that is only the first step.

If you are serious you will want to have something that is unique and not taken from a book or or copied from a picture in a tattoo gallery. A tattoo should speak about who you are and not be ripped off someone else. Not only that but a lot of artists will refuse to copy another artists work. And quite rightly. While you can be done for copyright infringement for copying another person’s work in other mediums the same rules don’t seem to apply to tattoo art.

It is still a form of plagiarism to take another persons artwork and reproduce it as your own. In any other form this would result in legal action. So just because there is no precendent set for copyright infringement does not mean its is cool to claim another tattooists work.

So how do you come up with original tattoo designs?

If you are like me you have looked at literally thousands of tattoo pictures and tattoo designs from a variety of different tattooists from around the world. Or maybe you keep visiting your local tattoo studio and have started getting dirty looks from the tattoo artist who thinks you are stalking him because you go there every weekend and still haven’t chosen a tattoo!

There are so many different styles of so you need to be really clear about what you want before you get inked. It is a good idea ot visualize the type of tattoo you want before you even get it. You need to be able to see yourself with a particular tattoo before you get it. If is a tribal tattoo on your arm imagine yourself walking down the street with the tattoo for all the world to see.

Next view some examples of different styles that you like. So if it is tribal tattoos source pictures of that particular tattoo style. If it is work from another artist do not take it to your nearest tattoo studio and ask for it to be copied onto you. Tell the tattoo artist that you like that particular style and would like a tattoo designed for YOU. This is where the visualisation exercise comes into play. Tattoo artists are very visual people and are highly talented at rendering an nebulous idea into a full on customized tattoo.

Think of the bigger picture. Don’t be tempted to choose some generic tattoo flash off the wall because you can’t make up your mind. Don’t settle for something less if you cannot afford the tattoo you really want. Tattoos are organic and are constantly changing and growing with you. Avoid painful mistakes!

Tattoo Pictures : Tattoo Art : Tattoo Designs
Tao of Tattoos

There is no doubt that love for some celebrity exists within us all. This isn’t the traditional definition of love but rather defined by an excessive admiration for a famous person whom we will probably never meet. The use of “love” is appropriate here as we who love celebrity tend to exhibit signs of undue influence by those highly visible. Famous people, the non-elected representatives of the human race, have always held some influence over the masses. In the days before mass media, television sets and computers fame was circulated orally, carried by the gossipy nature of social beings. Today, we open our eyes and cannot avoid these people. Of course, in a developed society entertainers are necessary. We laugh and sometimes cry at a quality performance. Our memories are seared with images, movies and songs which have touched us, frightened us and stimulated us. They dramatize the political, the romantic, the good and bad. We see in them the potential for perfection of man or woman as an expression of utopian ideals of love and success.

Yet, have we gone too far? How much influence should they have over us? Our choice of clothes, jewelry and hairstyle, our languages and ideas are often areas that we look toward celebrities to define. If you deny this then you are exceptional; the rest of us are invariably, more susceptible. Our culture has become saturated with celebrity influence. We watch their every move including who they are with and what they do. We absorb their politics and gobble up their quotes. We think about what it may be like to be that beautiful, rich and powerful. Fame is an aphrodisiac or so it seems to the unrecognized. Today we have TomKat(Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes). Yesterday it was Bennifer(Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez). Public Interest in these people is frighteningly obsessive in nature. After all, their claim to fame is usually based on pretense or non reality. They are the constant pretenders, illusionists with screens as their canvas.

The entertainment value of a celebrity stretches beyond the screen or stage and they are wholly aware it. We are witness to carefully arranged relationships, sudden sightings in sports arenas and controversial quotes days before a new movie or show opens. They appear on your screen suddenly seemingly not to promote themselves but rather attempting to come across as natural, likable, smart and funny. Sometimes we get a glimpse into what certain celebrities are really like. Unfortunately, it is usually when they do something wrong. Drugs, infidelity and physical assaults are a few areas where celebrities have slipped in their public presentation. Mug shots and unflattering photos of famous people are the currency of entertainment news outlets. Being a celebrity has its drawback in this regard as they are monitored as closely as governmental heads of the biggest nations on earth. Alas, the power of celebrity is here with us to stay. Or is it? Can we teach our children who the chancellor of Germany is before we explain the history of Madonna? If we can’t, America will become a nation of uninformed celebrity worshippers numb to the more important realities of the world.

Derek Belay works for www.jewelrypayless.com“>Jewelry Payless.com and KingIce.com as a marketing manager.

Every little girl dreams of having a fairytale bedroom, even the ones that can act like a real tom-boy! =)

Use your daughter’s childhood years to create memories that will stay with her for a lifetime. It’s really not as difficult as it sounds!

All it takes is some creativity and a little bit of shopping. It doesn’t even have to cost a lot to transform a ho-hum bedroom into a little girl’s dream land fantasy world. This is the time to let out your own little inner kid and have some fun!

The fairytale concept covers alot of themes, from castles, princesses, knights and dragons, to fairies with lots of glitter and lace (of course), so the first step is to figure out what your little girl would really enjoy. That’s an easy one to figure out…just ask!

Let’s look at some designs that might be perfect for a young lady’s dream bedroom.

ZZ Designs is a pretty popular bedding designer that you may have heard of- they offer several selections you may want to consider.

The first is their Fairy Princess Bedding set which includes a quilt featuring a castle motif with a creative hem that reflects the shapes of the towers of the castle. Placed over a white bed skirt with white frilly or billowing drapes, this choice of 100% cotton can begin your dream bedroom design.

The color scheme of the bedding includes white, pink, lavender, and purple. You can even add a canopy for her bed with 10 yards of shimmery fabric to really finish off look. Just put a nice stable hook in the ceiling at the center of her bed and then let the fabric halves hang and billow from the center down, and attach toward all the corners of the bed. There are other more detailed instructions for creating your own canopy type effects, just type it in to your browser! Pretty nifty!

Another ZZ Designs selection you’ll want to check out is called A Little Sugar and Spice. Shades of pink vary from very light to a more dark pink. The 100% cotton quilt features bows, hearts, butterflies and flowers. Each pillow sham features three beautiful hearts. This set is available up to queen size.

California Kids Company offers a quilt that could become the decorating center piece of the perfect little girl’s fairytale bedroom.

The hand-made 100% cotton quilt features appliqu©s of a castle, carriage, slipper and other princess designs. This line provides lots of choices because the same design is available as a duvet cover, and both the quilt and duvet cover are available up to queen size. Matching print sheets, pillow shams and bed skirt, dust ruffle, window dressing, bed canopy for camelback or regular canopies and a whole collection of other accessories give you lots to mix and match to best fit your space.

No matter what bedding you choose, you’ll definitely want to add something like the Princess Castle lamp by CK Designs. A pink castle with blue accents holds a pink shade on the tallest tower top. The lamp is operated by a pull chain which features a glow in the dark quarter moon to make the lamp easy to find in the dark.

This is a thoughtful choice for any little girl’s fantasy bedroom. It’s often difficult to teach children to sleep alone in the dark but the comforting presence of the shining moon can be used to comfort her that SHE is in control and can get to the light easily if she wakes up frightened or has a bad dream.

A beautiful touch for a bedroom with few windows but a lot of wall space is That’s My Room’s Castle Window Mural. It creates the feel of a stone arch window facing toward another beautiful castle in the distance. This can add an airy touch to a bedroom that has no attractive outdoor scenery to open the windows toward.

You could hang a billow length of satiny cloth around the mural so it looks like real drapes- and you’ll have a very realistic looking window added to your child’s castle!

How about adding some neat little finishing touches like a glittery wand, some sparkly little shoes that you could customize with glitter and lace. You could buy a few little castle figurines and place them just so for the perfect daydreams!

Decorating for your little princess can be fun. If you never had the dream bedroom you always wanted, you know how much a perfect bedroom can mean. So fulfill your little girl’s dreams while you can!

All too soon she will grow up and move into her very own castle.

Patricia Bowlin makes it easy to create a bedroom with flair! Find countless Free tips, ideas and information here on choosing all of your bedding by visiting now www.best-in-bedding.com

Drug Addiction doesn’t happen overnight for the person abusing the drug. Often, families never see it coming. When someone you love begins their long journey down the road of drug addiction, it is a path that seems to have more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. The ups and downs occur every day and seem to be never ending. As a family, you start to doubt anything the family member has ever told you. If anything in your home was ever missing, you suspect they took it. If they go to the bathroom, you think they are doing drugs. There is absolutely no trust whatsoever and you begin to fear there never will be.

You talk to people about help and they tell you of another 12 step program support system or of something they know nothing about. You thank them smile and never hear a word they say because you are more concerned with where the family member is right at this very moment and you are wondering what they are doing or if they are even alive.

Young people are not just smoking pot anymore.

They are huffing, snorting, smoking drugs that you have never heard of and they don’t plan to give it up. If they get caught, they’re sorry, but they will look you in the eye and tell you they’re sorry. After that they will be even more careful to avoid being caught.

These drugs allow the people on them an amazing level of self-confidence with authoritative people in their lives. They are going to do drugs and with the slack laws, well there is nothing you can do about it.

WRONG. There isn’t anything you can do with your children once they turn 18. If they choose to do drugs after their 18th birthday, they can do just as much as they want to do and you will not be able to stop them and no one will help you control them, because legally, they are no longer under your protection - they are legal adults now. However if you are coping with a drug-addict that is under the age of majority, you can take drastic measures. In many cases you should.

The drugs that are available to kids these days are more dangerous than anything you ever experienced in your younger years. The kids opt for pain killers such as Oxycontin, Percocet, and Loratabs. Then when those highs don’t cut it, they get turned onto meth amphetamine (crystal meth). It is an extremely popular social drug that has devastating effects. No one seems to walk completely away from because the temptation is there each and every day for the rest of their life.

So when you get that phone call in the wee hours of the morning, you hang up the phone and decide right then, do you take action? Remember if you don’t, it will mean you could be giving up someone you love.

www.reprint-content.com provides a meeting place for authors and webmasters. If you need self-help information or have articles to distribute on self-help issues, visit our drug addiction section to get what you need.

YOURS, MINE AND OURS How To Blend Two Households And Stay Sane In The Process

How exciting, to be getting married! How joyous the occasion! How much extra ?stuff? you?ll now have! Gone are the days when a girl had a hope chest where she saved the things she?d eventually need for marriage. These days, people are getting married later in life, which means they often come into the marriage with a full house. Suddenly, you?re the proud owner of two of everything and not sure what to do.

Here are a few tips to help make blending your lives easier and help others in the process:

1. Go through each house together, and identify which items are duplicates. Talk about each item honestly. This is the time to decide whose wine rack you?ll keep, whose kitchen table you?ll keep, and so on. If you can legitimately use two of something in your new life, such as televisions or stereos, go ahead and keep both.

Try not to be too attached to something simply because it?s yours and realize that the more you streamline now, the easier your move will be. If your kitchen table is circa 1971 and your partner?s is only two years old, be realistic about which to keep. The idea is to choose the things that will blend well to best furnish your new place, not to fight to keep everything that is yours.

2. For things such as silverware and kitchen items, cookware, and other small items, do the same evaluation process as for the larger items.

3. As you decide which things to keep, tag the things you are letting go with brightly colored sticky notes.

4. If it?s not winter where you live, pull your tagged items outside and have a yard or garage sale. Don?t be greedy. Remember, you want this stuff to sell quickly so you don?t have to move it.

5. Everything that doesn?t sell, donate to an organization that can use it, such as your church or synagogue, The Metro Atlanta Furniture Bank (404-355-8530), a homeless or day shelter, or the Salvation Army.

Presto! You?re down to one set of furnishings and you?ve donated things to people who can use them. When blending your personal files from two separate households, remember, it?s not necessary to keep all your files in the same file cabinet. You don?t have to combine your household files if you aren?t comfortable doing so. Just be sure that your filing system is easy to navigate in case your partner needs to retrieve any of your filed information.

If you do elect to combine your household files, be sure keep files of the same type together, in a truly integrated filing system. For example, keep both your auto insurance information under the same category, instead of filing yours under CAR and your partner?s under INSURANCE. Also, don?t keep all the paperwork for any given subject in one folder. Divide it into two folders, one labeled with your name and one with your partner?s. You can successfully blend two households if you take the time to set it up right in the beginning.

Many women are uncomfortable nursing in public. But today’s nursing fashions can help you nurse with confidence, comfort, and style — anytime, anywhere!

The basics

A good breastfeeding nightgown or pajamas will help you with those first days in the hospital or at home. Learning to breastfeed can be a challenge in itself; you don’t want to be struggling with your clothing too! You will also be glad for the convenience for those night feedings and those days when you just don’t get dressed (and yes, there will be some of those!)

Chances are you probably needed several different bra sizes throughout your pregnancy. And often even your best guess at your post-partum bra size was not quite right. No matter which type of bra you choose, a good fit is important. Your bra needs to provide adequate support while providing easy access to your breasts for feeding. Have fun with your nursing bras — there are so many options available!

Out and About

Every nursing mother should own at least two tops (or 1 top and 1 dress) to give her the ease of nursing access and overall comfort. A nursing tank top, even in cold months, is also a good basic as it can be worn under a sweater or other non-nursing garment. If you plan on nursing for a long period of time, treat yourself to a few more tops as time goes by (after all, you are saving a fortune by not buying baby formula!). Pair your top with your favorite jeans, dress slacks or skirt and you are all set! Most people won’t even know that you are wearing nursing clothing!

Some of the more popular access options include:

Crop Over Top - Dual Slits: The crop overtop lifts to gain breastfeeding access to two vertical slits on lower panel.

Dual Side Panels - Central Slits: Side panels open to gain breastfeeding access to one or two slits on the lower panel.

Vest Front - Dual Split Or Extended Arm Holes: Vest front lifts or opens to access breastfeeding opening (dual slits or extended armholes)

Central Pleat Dual Slits: Central pleat parts to gain breastfeeding access to slits on lower layer.

One option is not necessarily better than the other; it’s just a matter of personal preference. Enjoy your baby and the breastfeeding experience.