Today's Obsessions

---

• 8 Christmas Traditions From Around The World …
• 7 Cutest Sweat Pants Ideas for Girls …
• 8 Favourite Online Games …
• 8 Signs your Ex Still Has Feelings for you …
• 8 Reasons Why I Don’t Like Christmas …
• 7 Non-Cultural Stereotypes …
• 7 Gorgeous Eyeshadows for Your Wedding Day …
• 8 Basic Manners to Teach Your Child and How …
• 8 Gift Cards I’d Love for Christmas …
• 7 Things to Keep in Your Contact Case …
• 8 Ways to Improve Your Circulation …
• 7 Chores Kids Can Do …
• 7 Tips on Playing Mass Effect 2 …
• 7 Tips on Grooming Your Dog …
• 8 Cool Gardening Blogs …
• 8 Most Popular Holiday Gift Items …
• 10 Physical or Outdoor Bonding Activities for Couples …
• 7 Ways to Become Popular in a New School …

8 Christmas Traditions From Around The World … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 11:55 AM PST As much as I love Christmas the way we celebrate it in the USA, I think its very cool to see how other countries celebrate and observe December 25th. I think you will enjoy sharing what I’ve found! Read of for 8 Christmas traditions from around the world! Please keep in mind that not all of these traditions are currently observed, they are the earliest history of Christmas activity recorded in that particular country or region but do not necessarily reflect current celebrations of today. They were just all quite interesting and I thought I would include them! Enjoy! 1. Czechoslovakia In Czechoslovakia, St. Nicholas is called Svaty Mikalas and is said to climb down from heaven to earth on a golden rope along with and angel and a whip-carrying devil! An ancient tradition involves cutting a branch from a cherry tree and putting it in some water indoors to bloom. If the bloom opens up in time for christmas, it’s a sign of good luck! It’s also a sign that the winter will possibly be short. The hope of early spring helps keep everyone’s spirits up during the dark and cold winter. 2. Bethlehem You knew I wouldn’t leave out the very town where our Lord was born! Bethlehem is the site of the Church of the Nativity, which is ablaze with decorations and flags every year at christmas! On Christmas eve, there are crowds in the church’s very doorways and rooftops around all clamoring to see the dramatic annual procession. Christian homes in Bethlehem are marked by a cross painted over each door and homemade manger scenes are displayed for all to see. And -of course- a star is set up on a pole in the village square!

7 Cutest Sweat Pants Ideas for Girls … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 10:33 AM PST Sweat pants are a popular choice among teens today. It seems like the choices just grow and grow. It may be easy to become overwhelmed with the kinds that are available. Or maybe you have a weakness and simply buy them on a regular basis. I know they are wonderful to sleep in and many teens prefer sweats to pajamas. Here are a few ideas to get your shopping ideas written down before you hit the stores. 1. Cropped Sweats How about these for a cute alternative to regular sweats? I find these cropped sweats absolutely adorable, and they’re so versatile! Wear them out and about, or around home! They are comfortable to sleep in as well. You can buy the kind with elastic at the knees, or the ones that look like Capri's. 2. Pink Cookie These sweats are cute as can be. They have fabric covered elastic waistbands with a drawstring. They are lightweight, versatile, and comfy. Colors are bright, clean, and sophisticated. You can wear them with almost anything. Pink Cookie comes in some many styles, colors, and patterns you may just have to buy one of all of them. But that's okay, right? 3. Fleecy Pants Nothing beats a pair of soft, fleecy sweats. These are my favorite to sleep in; they are warm, soft, and ultra comfortable. The drawstring makes for a relaxed and easy fit for all size waists, so they will never be to tight or loose. Why wear anything else?

8 Favourite Online Games … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 10:10 AM PST I'm not a big fan of console or PC games, although I know a lot of the writers here do enjoy them. Instead, I prefer simple or familiar games that I can play online, usually against the computer. Happily, many of my favourite board, card and dice games are now available in online versions. Here they are, if you fancy having a go as well. 1. Scrabble Do you love playing Scrabble, but have no-one to play against? Well, now there are many sites online where you can play against a computer or other player. Try registering at isc.ro , select the length of game and the rules that you wish to play by, and you will be matched with another player. 2. Monopoly Monopoly is my current favourite (although I get very annoyed if one of the other players pinches my game token. This version is Monopoly World, which has some strange choices of cities (does anyone know where Gdynia is?) but otherwise sticks to the traditional format. 3. Yahtzee Here you can play against other live players, and compete to get the highest score. The advantage of this version is that you don't have to wait for other players to finish their turn, you simply play within the time available. Your rating goes up or down, depending on whether you win or lose, how much you win by, and the rating of the player you beat.

8 Signs your Ex Still Has Feelings for you … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 09:54 AM PST Does your ex still have feelings for you? You know if you have feelings for your ex or not, but it may be hard to tell if he has feelings for you. I am going to give you 8 signs your ex still has feelings for you … 8. He Tries to Talk to You Image source: minniechan.tumblr.com If your ex is constantly trying to talk to you, then this may be a red flag. He is either really obsessed with you or he would like to get together for you. Either way, he still has feelings for you. You can either acknowledge this or deny it. 7. He Sends You Emails to Ask You How You're Doing Photo Credit: Guillermo Esteves This is actually a good sign that he still has feelings with you. He wants to know if you are doing okay. Generally, if a person does not care about the other, they will no ask how they are doing. 6. He Asks Your Close Friends About You Image source: vitorgabriel.tumblr.com Your close friend has recently approached you and told you that your ex was just asking about you. Perhaps this is a pretty good sign that in there somewhere, there are still feelings for you.

8 Reasons Why I Don’t Like Christmas … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 09:40 AM PST Over the years I have come to enjoy Christmas less and less, to the point of almost completely opting out now. Sure, it was fun when I was a kid (many moons ago), and when my sisters' kids were young, but now I'm just so over the whole thing. Some people can't understand why I don't enjoy it, others are very much in agreement with me. Here are the reasons why I'm not into Christmas (bah humbug)… 1. In Your Face It seems that every year Christmas goods appear in the shops earlier and earlier. I find it so annoying to be reminded of winter when it's still summer! Christmas is just one day, yet it seems to take over several months of the year. It's hard to see it as something special when it's everywhere you go, and the promotion starts so early. 2. Commercial First, the displays start to appear in the shops. Then they get bigger and bigger. Next come the TV commercials, promoting this year's must-have toy. On and on it goes, the encouragement to spend, trying to convince people that they must make everything perfect. 3. Stolen Property Now, we pagans have to say this every year. The Christians stole our festival! Then they complain that Christmas doesn't have much to do with Christ any more. Still, I'd rather it was celebrated as a religious holiday than as the orgy of commerce it's turned into.

7 Non-Cultural Stereotypes … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 08:54 AM PST Ah, all those stereotypes! Some are rude, some are insulting and some can even be funny, if the situation is right, of course. Our culture and location can make us face some of the most ridiculous stereotypes but the story doesn't end there. In fact, even the way we look, our hobbies, likes and dislikes can label us "this" or "that". Here's the list of stereotypes I've had the chance to hear often and my own humble opinion about them: 1. Blondes are dumb Photo Credit: Andy Pal I just have to put this one first because I have been a blonde for 5 years so you can only imagine the number of good, bad and even funny first hand experiences this drastic change has brought me. I've had some professors congratulating me for getting barely passable grades, others giving me a lower grade than I deserve and people describing me stuff like I'm an idiot. The comments when I've changed my hair back to dark? "Great, you are smart again!" Ok, I know that was a joke but still… come on people, we all know intellect has nothing to do with hair color. 2. Gamers are fat, ugly and have no life Photo Credit: BrandonHambright.com Spending a lot of time in front of the computer for both work or pleasure qualifies as a lack of physical activity so I guess it can affect anybody's weight, right? After all, there is no rule that says you'll gain weight if you play WoW but not if you spend your days updating your Facebook status. And I certainly haven't heard a thing about games affecting anybody's beauty! All gamers I know are completely normal people who happen to like games. That's all there is to it. Plus, I believe that a rational amount of gaming can even stimulate one's social life, especially if it's a game played online. People have the chance to meet, communicate, share common interests and even organize get-togethers where they can focus on live communication and both game and non-game related topics.

7 Gorgeous Eyeshadows for Your Wedding Day … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 08:47 AM PST When it comes to your wedding day, you want something classy and pretty and natural. Something that is very “you,” but with a little extra polish! Avoid bright colors and “right-now” trends, you don’t want to look back at pictures and wonder what you were thinking! Here are my 7 top picks for wedding day eyeshadow colors! 1. Color Surge Eye Shadow Soft Shimmer Price: $14.00 at clinique.com This creamy, intense color will light up your eyes! You can choose from a variety of colors, but my favorite shades for a wedding are Frost Blossom and Sugar Sugar. You could wear them alone or separately. It’s your day, have it your way! 2. Color Surge Eye Shadow Super Shimmer Price: $14.00 at clinique.com This dark, rich shade of brown will add depth and charm to your beautiful blinkers! Apply it all over your eye up to the crease for an intense effect, or apply it only to your crease for a subtle, soft whisper of color. No matter how you apply it you will love it! 3. Color Surge Eye Shadow Stay Matte Price: $14.00 at clinique.com Don’t steer clear of gray eyeshadow because you’re worried it will make you look groggy. Gray eyeshadow is ultra chic and creates a lovely smokey eye! While shimmery eyeshadow can be lovely, if you have oily skin, a matte eyeshadow may be the perfect formula for you! You can apply this alone or with a lighter gray shade to create some dimension to your eyes.

8 Basic Manners to Teach Your Child and How … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 08:45 AM PST One of the greatest compliments anyone can pay me is to say how well-mannered my daughters are. It's true, they are both very respectful and have very gracious manners, but they didn't learn their manners on their own, and I've been teaching them since they were small. Nowadays, a so many parents aren't teaching their children manners, but it's so important! Here are 8 basic manners, and how to teach them to your children. 1. The magic words Photo Credit: sinalgrafico@yahoo.com.br To pull a bunny out of a hat, the magic words are "abra-cadabra," but for everything else you want, the magic words are "please," and then "thank you." These are manners you can start teaching your kids when they're only a year old… these magic words can be used everywhere, all the time. From the fast food counter to the roller skating rink to family functions to the classroom, these manners mean so much! 2. Illness etiquette Photo Credit: onlinemediarelease.com.au We were all taught to cover our coughs and sneezes however we could, with a tissue or our hands… but now science encourages us to sneeze and cough into ur elbows, to help prevent spreading germs. These are excellent manners to teach our children, and they're easy to teach, too! 3. Cards and letters Photo Credit: MyTudut I this age of Internet cards and messages, it may seem silly to teach your children to send thank-you cards after they've received gifts, or to send actual paper cards to friends and relatives for their birthdays and such. But these small niceties haven't gone out of style, and are still important!

8 Gift Cards I’d Love for Christmas … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 08:38 AM PST I used to think giving gift cards was lazy, the easy way out when you didn't have the time to shop or didn't take the effort to think of something more personal or creative. After receiving several hideous sweaters, an atrocious Mitch Albom book, and a Snuggie or three, I've decided gift cards are AWESOME! Now I request them as gifts whenever I can, including this holiday season. Here are 7 gift cards I've loe to get for Christmas… 1. Target LEGO Dog Gift Card Price: $25.00 to $1,000.00 at target.com I've always kind of loathed the idea of getting only a gift card for Christmas — sure, the gift card is great, but it's not a lot of fun to unwrap, or to play with. But this one comes with a little set of LEGOS to build the adorable Target dog! This would also make a lovely gift for any LEGO lovers or hard-to-shop-for kids on your holiday list. 2. iTunes Beatles Gift Card Price: $25.00 at target.com Oh, yes, I've jumped all over the Beatles-on-iTunes bandwagon. I mean, it's only taken, what, a hundred years for the Beatles to agree to sell their music on iTunes? So I'd be delighted to receive this particular iTunes gift card this Christmas, not only because I love my iTunes, but also because it features a marvelous photo of the Fab Four. 3. Xbox 360 Live 12 Month Gold Card Price: $49.99 at target.com Dude, you can't just play CoD Black Ops all by yourself — you have to play live, online, so your friends can play, too! This one gift card makes it possible for one whole year… who knows what kind of ullet-riddled mayhem I'll be able to wreak if I get this for Christmas?

7 Things to Keep in Your Contact Case … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 06:29 AM PST If you travel, frequent the gym, or just like having all of your daily contact lens care stuff in one handy place, then you probably already have a perfectly stocked contact lens case. But what do you keep in there? Obviously, your contacts, but what else does a prepared girl keep in her contact case? Well, I don't know what everyone else has, but I can tell you what I have — here are 7 things I keep in my contact case. 1. Spare contacts Price: $29.99 at visiondirect.com It's always a great idea to keep a spare pair of contact lenses in your lens case, just in case. Imagine losing a lens, or ripping one, and not being able to replace it on the spot! Be prepared. Keep a spare set handy. 2. Case Price: $4.50 at drugstore.com I always keep a clean, empty contact lens case in my bag, so I always have a place to put my lenses when they just have to come out. I boil it in a pot of clean water every week, so it's always ready to be used. 3. Disinfecting and storage solution Price: $12.99 at drugstore.com It's always a good idea to keep a bottle of your favorite contact lens disinfecting solution with all of your other contact lens stuff. My favorite one is actually a disinfectant and storage solution in one, so it's really convenient, and I always keep a small bottle in my contact lens case.

8 Ways to Improve Your Circulation … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 05:50 AM PST Poor circulation can be caused by a lot of things. If you have bad circulation, you should definitely see a doctor. It doesn't always point to something dangerous or serious. Some people just have it, myself included. Cold hands, cold feet, stubborn cuts and scars: these are awful nuisances, but there are some things you can do to help. Here are 8 ways to improve your circulation. 1. Home Hydrotherapy Photo Credit: Sam Thomas Photography Alternating treatments of hot and cold can help you a lot. "Hydrotherapy" sounds like one of those expensive treatments you'll have to pay a fortune for at a spa, but you can do it yourself right in your home – in your shower, in fact. Alternate between hot water and cold water – that's all you have to do. The combination ultimately oxygenates your blood. In addition to improving your circulation, this method increases your energy. Just don't be too extreme with the temperatures. It especially helps if you focus on the affected body part, so if you have a shower attachment, you can also go that route. 2. Exercise and Activity Photo Credit: Ed Yourdon Staying active is a surefire way to keep your blood moving. Even walking regularly will do wonders. Increasingly, this is one of those things you have to really work to make time for, there's so much to do every day, but it is worth the time it takes. It can relieve stress as well, give you more energy, and improve your life and your health in many more ways. 3. Eating Right Photo Credit: Scandblue Incorporating the right foods into your diet can help a lot. Naturally, you should limit your intake of certain fats. Foods that are high in fiber will make your circulation better as well.

7 Chores Kids Can Do … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 04:30 AM PST Have you ever noticed how children enjoy doing chores? However, when they get older, the love for doing chores all of a sudden disappears. My little girl enjoys helping out around the house. Ever since she could walk, she enjoyed doing something around the house. She enjoys feeling useful and if I tell her she can't help, she will get upset. Will there ever be a time where she pitches a fit when I ask her to clean her room? I'm not sure with her, but right now, I am going to give you 7 chores kids can do. 7. Wash Dishes Photo Credit: PopKulture If your kid is tall enough to reach the kitchen sink, then they can do dishes. You may have to supervise them with this, depending on their age. Also, make sure there are no sharp objects in the sink before they start washing. 6. Wash the Car Photo Credit: Grayman Washing the car is fun! My six year old enjoys washing the car with me. When she is older, she will be able to wash it all by herself. 5. Take Out the Trash Photo Credit: nya_nya Taking out the trash is for the older children. I know, this may not be a fun job, but everyone has to learn how to take out the trash!

7 Tips on Playing Mass Effect 2 … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 03:53 AM PST I don't know if many people played the first or even the second mass effect, but if you like space RPG's then this is your game. Mass effect 2 is a hardcore RPG that allows you to make your own choices and do whatever it takes to make your point across. When I played this game, I decided to take the evil path. Let me give you 7 tips on playing mass effect 2. 7. Pick Your Class Right Photo Credit: jeff.eatsleeptech There are different classes that allow you to be the perfect soldier that can use every weapon or an all out biotic that can wreak havoc through bionic implants. Of course there are other classes to choose from and this is your choice to choose, but the easiest path would be to go the soldier class. 6. Choose your Weapon of Choice Photo Credit: 289chjl Soldiers can use every weapon and give more choices to destroy your enemies with each weapon. You have 5 different weapons, shotgun, pistol, assault rifle, sniper and the heavy rocket or big gun. If you get pin down and want to take advantage of picking people off from afar, you can use the sniper. When I got pin down with enemies all around, I tried to use the assault rifle and switch to the shotgun as they get closer. 5. X box 360 Users Achievements Photo Credit: jeff.eatsleeptech The x box 360 version has achievements to earn and their kind of tricky to earn. Each achievement takes a bit of practices. However, head shots and completing parts of the game was the easy part for me. The real hard part is the brawl achievement and biotic achievement. These take practice and the brawl part is easy to use on the Husk enemies. If you're looking for fast achievements, then this game isn't going to be it.

7 Tips on Grooming Your Dog … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 02:42 AM PST I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to come up with extra funds to get my dog groomed on a regular basis. Even though grooming her myself can be a huge task, there are times when I have to suck it up and deal with it. Here are 7 tips on grooming your dog that might make this chore easier for you. Of course, it also helps when you have a small dog instead of a 75 pound Malamute. 7. Use the proper cutting tool for your dog's hair type Photo Credit: maryagraves13 Clippers work for most types of fur, but some long-haired dogs are actually easier to trim with a pair of scissors. My mom's silky has such fine hair that scissors work perfectly, but my neighbor's St. Bernard gets the clippers when it's time to trim her fur for the summer. People who are new to trimming dog's don't have to worry about cutting a dog's coat to close to the skin either, thanks to the varying lengths of guards available for dog clipping tools. 6. The ears Photo Credit: ♥loveberries Be sure to check the insides of your dog's ears each time you groom him. If he's been bathed, then make sure his ears are completely dry and free from suds. Some breeds of dog have stray hairs that need to be removed from the inside of their ears. Check to see if your dog requires this to be done. Many people don't know how to do this hair removal, but it is virtually painless for your dog. The hairs come out easily with a pair of tweezers and the removal of these hairs keep the ear much cleaner. 5. Discoloration of fur around the eyes Photo Credit: planetbizzy Tearing is more common with some breeds than others and not all dogs need to have the fur around the corners of their eyes cleaned. Of course, the discoloration will be much more noticeable on light colored dogs. Take a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and place it on a cotton swab. Gently dab the area of the eyes where the tear ducts are and the fur has become darkened. This technique can be done regularly to keep the discoloration at a minimum.

8 Cool Gardening Blogs … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 01:23 AM PST The following 8 cool gardening blogs are some of the many I've written on growing different plants. A few discuss tips on how to grow trees, while others talk about raising different types of basic garden plants. These are fun to read, even if you aren't interested in growing any of these plants right at this time. I've read many gardening articles that actually inspired me to plant something new in my garden. Maybe these blogs will do that for you! 8. Banana Trees If you are looking for some tips on how to grow a banana tree, then this blog I have written should help you out a bit. There are 5 different tips in this article on growing these tropical trees. Some of the tips can be used for trees that are either indoors or outdoors. 7. Sweet Potatoes Sweet potatoes are rather fun to grow. If you are looking for some growing tips, then this blog will be beneficial to you. I cover a variety of tips on how to go about growing sweet potatoes in a garden space. Sweet potatoes are also able to be grown in a container; hanging baskets work great.

8 Most Popular Holiday Gift Items … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 12:45 AM PST The holiday season is upon us, and for the first time in years, I am actually trying to get gifts bought for everyone before Christmas Eve. No matter what you celebrate, there are lots of holidays coming up – and lots of popular gifts going fast, for women, men, and children. Because I myself always have a hard time coming up with the right gifts, I went on a search and discovered the 8 most popular holiday gift items. Some of them are general, some of them are specific, but I hope all of them help give you some great ideas! 1. Personal Jewelry Photo Credit: stOOpidgErL A lot of women love getting jewelry for the holidays. Not all of them, but many of them. The key to doing it right, however, is making sure it’s something she likes. For instance, if the woman you’re buying for loves white gold but hates yellow gold and prefers amethysts over diamonds, don’t get her a diamond ring set in yellow gold. Trust me, diamonds aren’t every girl’s BFF, and it will mean more if you consider her tastes when you buy. 2. Comfortable Lingerie Photo Credit: ubermummy I can’t speak for every woman, but in the dead of winter, I don’t want to receive a little scrap of silk with matching panties that don’t cover anything. I’d rather have something really warm and comfortable. Sometimes, girls only wear skimpy lingerie for their partners. We’re not necessarily into it ourselves. So, you might want to do a little checking and find out just what kind of lingerie she likes. Her preferences might be more in line with "warm flannel pajamas," rather than Victoria’s secret teddy. 3. Xbox Kinect Photo Credit: moiht The Xbox Kinect has gotten hugely popular really fast, and the thing is, everyone seems to love it. There are tons of girlfriends on my Facebook who use it all the time, to exercise. Tons of guys are in love with it as well, and of course kids love it. This could really be a great choice for anybody who loves gaming or exercising – just don’t buy it for someone else because you want it. That never works well.

10 Physical or Outdoor Bonding Activities for Couples … Posted: 25 Dec 2010 12:07 AM PST Men and women bond differently. Women like having intimate talks while men like doing things. That is one reason we sometimes have a hard time getting even the best men communicators to open up and talk. When I have a hard time getting my man to talk, I always resort to outdoor or physical activities. Those never fail me. Check out these bonding activities that can strengthen your relationship with your man. 1. Hiking Photo Credit: rich_brame Hiking is a great way to experience the outdoors with your man. The adventure and excitement of the hike fosters a sense of closeness and responsibility for each other. Aside from giving you a workout, hiking also gives you beautiful memories to look back on. 2. Camping Photo Credit: Emily RF Make the most of your time outdoors and set up camp after a long, tiring hike. The relaxing atmosphere of the woods have a way of breaking down walls and making you more open with each other. 3. Stargazing Photo Credit: dogbreathphoto The beauty and majesty of the night sky have long done wonders for many relationships. You can spend the time talking and getting to know each other. But if you want to do something challenging, then you can also try identifying different constellations.

7 Ways to Become Popular in a New School … Posted: 24 Dec 2010 12:10 PM PST Being cool in a new school can be intimidating at best. It takes a lot of grace, confidence and a good smile to pull it off. If you’re attending a new school, follow these 7 steps to help raise your popularity, while steering clear of the title of “snob” 1. Be Friendly Toward everyone, that is. Don’t go in, select the popular group, and ignore everyone else. Have one of the first people you meet to show you around and help you get to know everyone. 2. Talk, But Don’t Overdo It Go ahead and socialize, make your rounds. But whatever you do, don’t over-talk it. Pay attention to the person you’re talking to. If they are into your conversation, continue on. If, however, they are attempting to get away, or doing the old “texting a friend” trick, you’d better back off. After all, you don’t want to be known as the “Annoying locker girl” 3. Don’t Be Desperate If you come off as being desperate and needed, you will be less liked. They need to know that you’re confident, and comfortable with being yourself. Don’t follow people around all the time, and ask to sit with them all the time. Make your rounds, and let them invite you in. Start with an occasional “Hi” in the hallway – and let the rest fall into place.

You are subscribed to email updates from All Women Stalk To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610