If you want to give a truly personal gift, you cannot go wrong with a birthstone– a gift idea that dates back to Biblical times. Birthstones and zodiac stones are great gifts that hold deep significance and will be treasured for years. When making your purchase, be sure to keep in mind the type and size of jewelry the person wears most often, as well as whether she prefers gold or silver. This way, you can embed her birthstone, for instance a pearl for a June birthday, in a setting that will be adored. Birthstones are also stunning when mounted in watches, brooches, and hairpins for those who rarely wear rings or necklaces. If you are shopping for a man, he may prefer a pocket watch or specialty ink pen imbedded with his birthstone to jewelry. Following, is a list of birthstones:

• January — Garnet
• February — Light Purple Amethyst
• March — Blue/Green Aquamarine
• April — Diamond
• May — Emerald
• June — Pearl
• July — Ruby
• August — Light Green Peridot
• September — Blue Sapphire
• October — Multi-Color Opal
• November — Golden Topaz
• December — Turquoise or Blue Zircon

Some people have a special interest or belief in their astrological information. If this is the case with your friend, consider giving him or her a physical symbol of the zodiac and of your love with a zodiac stone gift, sometimes called Astral Stones. As with the birthstone tradition, a gemstone is assigned to each of the twelve zodiac signs. If your friend is a Cancer, for instance, he or she will cherish an emerald and its professed abilities to increase courage and health. When presenting a zodiac stone gift, include a description of the gem’s astrological significance and origins. Following is a list of zodiac stones:

• Aquarius — Garnet
• Pisces — Amethyst, Aquamarine
• Aries — Bloodstone
• Taurus — Sapphire
• Gemini — Agate, Alexandrite
• Cancer — Emerald
• Leo — Onyx, Peridot
• Virgo — Carnelian
• Libra — Opal
• Scorpio — Beryl
• Sagittarius — Topaz
• Capricorn — Ruby

Whether you purchase a birthstone or a zodiac gemstone, you’ll honor your friend’s thirtieth birthday in a distinctive, personal, and memorable way.

About The Author

Siwarin Eampun - Jewelry Designer at www.ninecarat.com

This is usually what comes to mind when we think of Thanksgiving. Granted the food is yummy and worth waiting for however, let’s not forget another import aspect of this holiday "Being With Family & Friends".

Family & Friends, they are what make this wonderful holiday so special, and help create those special memories.

Memories …. Everyone has them and each is precious. I love being with my husband and two beautiful daughters, but I think my favorite remembrances are from long ago.

"Nana’s House"

This of course was my beloved grandmother, who has been gone from us for many years, but will always be remembered with so much love.

Thanksgiving at her home was the best.

Our family is not very big but with the sisters, husbands and cousins it seemed like an army. My sister and I looked forward to spending the day with our cousins; we always had so much fun.

Of course the very best part of the day was when nana declared "Time To Eat". The first order of business was getting seated at the "kids" table. Nothing special, just a couple of card tables put together with a paper tablecloth -we were a bit messy - put over them.

Then came the food, makes my mouth water now just thinking about it. Please forgive me if I tend to sound just a bit prejudice - everyone’s grandmother is a great cook after all - but in my mind no one could cook like my "Nana".

The amount of food was horrendous, as I said there where not that many of us but you’d think the entire town was there by the number of dishes on the table.

Everyone had their favorites, mine was the turkey & stuffing - I always had a drumstick, and my little sis was a wing girl - although everything else was good, except maybe the veggies.

After the main course came dessert - yummy - which consisted of the usual pumpkin pie, apple pie and rhubarb - that was for my mom - plus one of nana’s specialties "Apple Dumplings". These were hot from the oven with a lemon sauce poured over the top. No one has been able to duplicate the recipe, although one of my cousins - you know who you are - has given it a valiant try.

Now you may think this was the end of our eating for the day, wrong. After dinner was complete, while the grownups were cleaning up and then taking a rest - just their bodies, the talking was non-stop - we kids - weather permitting - were outside playing. A few hours later - not kidding - it was time for the famous turkey sandwiches and any other left over you might have a hankering for.

Of course as they say "All Good Things Must Come To An End", which meant it was time to leave.

After what seemed like an eternity of good-byes we piled into our cars and headed for home. Little sis & I always fell asleep on the way, thinking about our wonderful day, and dreaming about next year.

Today our family is scattered across the country and sadly we are missing some - although not in our hearts - but when possible we still get together.

But on those November 27th’s when we’re not able to we still keep our "Nana’s" spirit alive with lots of great food, a tremendous amount of talking, and good fun.

So to all of you, no matter what your traditions maybe, enjoy the day, the food, but most of all your loved ones.

"Happy Thanksgiving"

From Savvy Home Decorating

This is a share ware article. Give this article away for free on your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire article is left intact including this notice.

Copyright ? 2004 Bonnie Carrier.

About The Author

Bonnie P. Carrier is the creator of Savvy Home Decorating. She is the mother to two grown daughters and a very spoiled 4yr old Blue Merle Sheltie named Toby. Having been a homemaker for over 23yrs has provided years of experience in budget decorating and organization. Stop by Savvy Home Decorating - www.savvy-home-decorating.com - for ideas and tips on budget decorating:

bonnie@savvy-home-decorating.com

A diamond is an exceedingly rare item. Over 250 tons of ore must be processed to come up with just one 1-carat diamond of any quality. There are five nations in the world which account for over 90% of the world’s rough diamond supply, and those are Australia, Botswana, Namibia, Russia and South Africa. Several other countries produce smaller but significant stones, like the Canadian Excellent Cut diamonds from the Arctic circle.

Now that we agree that they are rare and quite valuable, why still do we want to give them as gifts? Because they’re beautiful! And elegant, dazzling and all the other adjectives she’ll likely apply when she opens the gift you’ve come up with. Diamond jewelry is like nothing else, and if you’re looking to make this a Christmas or Holiday to remember, the gift of diamonds will make this an unforgettable Holiday season!

So how do you go about purchasing that diamond bauble she’s always wanted? Here are some guidelines to follow that will give you the best chance at success!

WHAT DOES SHE WEAR NOW?

Notice her style now. To have the best chance at finding a diamond style that compliments her natural chosen style you need to come armed with the knowledge of several things. Some of those include does she like classic, contemporary, or vintage styling? What metals does she wear. Is it exclusively gold, platinum, silver? Does she like bold or muted pieces, and the relative size of the jewelry in her possession now.

WHAT SIZE DOES SHE WEAR?

You may have to be sort of James Bondish to get this information in order to preserve the surprise, but getting ahold of a ring just long enough to have it sized would be the mission, should you choose to accept it! That said, there is always the option or buying a loose diamond and letting her shop for the setting. You’re still a hero and she gets exactly what she wants!

THE SHAPE & SETTING

Diamonds come in many shapes and settings. Would she like a round diamond, a marquise cut or oval, a princess cut or emerald, pear or heart; there are many choices available to you to find just the diamond jewelry she wants. When your’re out shopping,linger by the jewelry counters long enough to let her look but not long enough to arouse suspicion. You may be rewarded with hints of preference that will help you. Take into consideration the size and shape of her hands. This will have a bearing on how the ring looks on her. For instance large rings sometimes overwhelm small hands. Try to think proportionately.

THE OCCASION

What is the occasion? Is it a Christmas or Holiday gift? A birthday bauble? Anniversary? Engagement? Whatever the occasion, know that she’ll look upon this gift as something special, a gift of love and endearment. Choose wisely!

SHOPPING FOR DIAMOND JEWELRY

Choosing where you buy a diamond has never been easier. Besides the plethora of diamond retailers in your very neighborhood, the internet has made diamond shopping incredibly convenient. Most of the major jewelers have an online presence, and often this will get you more stone for the money, as they have little or no overhead online. Most offer guarantees and return privileges, and buying online is in my view very much safer than handing my credit card to an eighteen year old with a spending problem. Also, as you know if you’re reading this, information is readily available online, and suspect at times offline. A website is not on commission or limited so mcuh by inventory as a commissioned salesperson might be.

Do some discreet research, gather your data, go online and find the rock of her dreams! Make this a Diamond Christmas!

About The Author

Keith Thompson has done more diamond shopping than he cares to admit! This article is available for reprint as long as none of the content or links are changed. Keith is the webmaster of two hot business sites:

http://www.DiamondChristmas.com and

http://www.GiftsForBiz.com

keith@diamondchristmas.com

In the first years after my brothers, sister, and I left home, there were several Christmases in which our ability to give fell far short of our desire. In fact, we often found ourselves getting very creative if we were going to give any Christmas presents at all. But those early Christmases also contained some of the finest gifts I’ve ever received, and one of those was the gift my brother Jim thought he couldn’t give.

Jim had chosen a difficult road, working for himself instead of collecting a weekly paycheck like the one I got from the department store where I worked, and his funds were always limited.

As Christmas approached, we all searched for the perfect gift for each family member. Since I knew Jim harbored a secret desire to write, I bought him two beautifully hardbound books consisting of nothing but empty pages, so he could fill them with his own words. They weren’t expensive, but I knew he’d love them.

As we gathered around our parents’ tree on Christmas morning, Jim’s smile shown brightly as he watched his loved ones begin to unwrap the strangest assortment of gifts I’d ever seen. One by one, family members exchanged mystified looks as they opened one totally unexplainable gift after another. My sister received a well-used meditation candle. My youngest brother opened a half-empty box of incense. But Jim just sat cross-legged on the floor, unfazed by the puzzled looks and embarrassed thank you’s.

Just when I’d decided my brother had lost his mind, Dad opened his gift. It was a tattered paperback copy of Lord of the Rings, which I instantly recognized as one of Jim’s most prized possessions. Then I knew what he’d been doing. That Christmas, Jim had chosen to make gifts of most precious things he possessed, the things dearest to his heart. In sharing his most beloved treasures, he also hoped to share the joy they’d given him with those he loved most.

It didn’t matter that Dad mostly likely would have had more interest in wading through “Volume 7″ of an encyclopedia printed in Swahili than the psychedelic world of Tolkein. He understood the profound meaning of his son’s gift. Fighting back tears, Dad held the treasured volume in his hands and said, “I promise to give it back, son, as soon as I’ve read it.”

Smiling broadly, Jim turned his attention to my gift to him. Although he was clearly moved by the books, a strange awkwardness washed over the room as I realized he had no gift for me. After a long moment, he said softly, “I looked through everything I owned, and I couldn’t find anything I thought you might want.”

Now it was my turn to fight back the tears. Apparently, my brother had no idea of the incredible gift he’d just given me in that simple statement. After all, what could be a greater gift than to know someone thinks highly enough of you to want to give the very best he has-and comes up short?

I smiled and said, “The look on your face is gift enough for me, brother,” and I meant every word.

I got many other gifts that year, but I don’t remember any of them. And I’ve been given hundreds of presents since that Christmas long ago, but I can recall only a few of those. But my brother’s gift-the one he thought he couldn’t give-will always be one of the most precious gifts I’ve ever received.

? 2004. Gary E. Anderson. All rights reserved.

About The Author

Gary Anderson is a freelance writer, editor, ghostwriter, and manuscript analyst, living on a small Iowa farm. He’s published more than 500 articles and four books. He’s also ghosted a dozen books, edited more than 30 full-length manuscripts, produced seven newsletters, and has done more than 800 manuscript reviews for various publishers around the nation. If you need writing or editing help, visit Gary’s website at www.abciowa.com.

abciowa@alpinecom.net

The kids grew excited as we drove past the harvested fields of rural farmland, the grazing cattle, and brimming roadside stands. The sights and smells of the country awoke their spirits of adventure and they burst from the car as soon as we stopped at the end of the dirt road.

As they explored their surroundings, the adults began to set up. Our party centered on the activity of making scarecrows. We brought out baskets piled high with faded denim coveralls, straw hats, and flannel shirts. The children enthusiastically costumed themselves as well as the scarecrows. They collected autumn grasses and flowers and wove them into straw hats to take home as mementos.

The country setting and the crisp autumn air inspired many activities. Sack races, a tug of war, and a scavenger hunt kept everyone busy throughout the afternoon.

As the day came to a close, our guests enjoyed an Indian summer sunset. We bundled sleepy children into cars and returned home with warm recollections of an afternoon shared with special friends.

Do you remember any games from Halloween parties of your childhood? Often the simplest activities create the memories that last a lifetime. This fall, host your own family party.

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About The Author

Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes are the co-authors of the award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out their website that’s jam packed with family ideas, visit http://www.togetherparenting.com

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Copyright Nine Twenty Press

info@togetherparenting.com