The Quinceanera is a magical time in a young girl’s life. Perhaps your sister, cousin, or even an aunt is having their Quince anos celebration. Of course, you want to share in all the events. But do you know all about the Quinceanera itself?

What is a Quinceanera?

The Quinceanera celebrates a girl’s fifteenth birthday party. Many Quince girls go to church and attend a special Mass, called the Misa de Acción de Gracias. The priest blesses them and says a prayer that they’ll remain faithful to their friends and family. The quince girl’s family and a special set of godparents, called padrinos, attend the Mass with her.

After the Mass, it’s time for a party! The Quince fiesta is a huge event that lasts almost all night. Many of your friends and family will be there to help the quince girl celebrate.

Why do we have Quinceaneras?

Because of tradition! The history of the Quinceanera goes back hundreds of years, to the Aztek Empire of South America. In those times, young girls became an adult when they turned fifteen. Some even got married that young!

Today, the Quinceanera is meant to welcome a girl into becoming a young woman. It’s a time for families to celebrate together, and to be proud of their quince girl and her beauty.

What are the tiara and sceptre?

Tradition says that all young girls are princesses on their Quince anos. The tiara is to show how the quince girl officially becomes a young woman. It’s sometimes given to her by her grandmother. At other times, her godmother will place the tiara on her head during the Mass.

The sceptre is like a baton, but with jewels and other special decorations. Sceptres are held when a queen or princess is in command of her kingdom. Because quince girls “rule” over their fiesta, they get to use a sceptre for the night.

What Is the Ultima Muneca?

The ulitima muneca, or Last Doll, is a symbol of the quince girl leaving childhood behind. If that sounds mean, most fifteen year old girls are ready to put their toys away.

In one tradition, the quince girl exchanges the ultima muneca for a bouquet of flowers. After the Mass, she leaves the flowers at the altar as a prayer. In other traditions, the quince girl is given the doll at her fiesta. She may choose to throw it in the air, and the child that catches the doll gets to keep it.

What’s at the fiesta?

All kinds of fun! The quince girl’s parents and padrinos will have a large dinner prepared for everyone. After everyone eats, there’s a dance floor where everyone can let loose and have a good time. Some quince girls even give all their guests special gifts, called favors, as a thank you for coming.

Samuel O’Reilly is the name, who invented the tattoo machine. The tattoo artists are quite familiar with the name. Samuel O’Reilly is the cousin of Tom Reilly, who is well known as the most successful British tattoo artist. December 8th 1891 was the date when Samuel O’Reilly invented the Tattoo Machine. It was known to be a modification of the Autographic Printing Pen by Edison in 1876.

Those days, tattooing was a good practice amongst the natives and tribes. The invention of the tattoo machine caused the tribal or local techniques of tattooing to be obsolete. The use of needles, threads attached to a stick was found to be inconvenient since then. The O’Reilly’s electro mechanic tattoo machine was proved to be the most efficient one which had its one advantages. Previously the tattoo artists found it to be hazardous – first to prepare the equipments, shape the wooden sticks, prepare pigment and put into threads. The puncture on the skin and pulling the threads from beneath really used to be a more painful event.

The invention of the tattoo machine brought forward a revolution in the world of tattooing. O’Reilly’s own tattooing experience and expertise and also his cognition of techniques and mechanics paid off. His invention added more to his preexisting fame. His skill and fame always kept him busy with never-ending appointments. Just imagine, even decades ago, people were so crazy about tattooing that his tattoo studio was always over crowded with customers!! Besides his tattoo studio he also used to attend people at their houses. He founded his tattoo studio in 1875 in Chinatown, New York City. You can of course understand that at that time the society must have been much conservative. So, there were many people, especially women, who felt shy to visit the tattoo studios. O’Reilly also attended such exclusive people at their homes. O’Reilly’s fame and success was spread and held till the end of the decade. Famous future artists like Charles Wagner took apprenticeships from O’Reilly’s tattoo studio.

Gradually, down the years new, talented artists with their potential overtook him. Later many artists developed similar tattooing machines. O’Reilly wasted both money and time in litigating the copycats, but, in vain.

He died in the year 1908, due to falling down from the ladder while painting his own house situated in Bronx.

Do you ever experience swollen joints and muscle stiffness? Do the tips of your fingers have bony nodules? Do both of your knees ache and swell when walking? Have you ever been diagnosed with “Inflammatory Arthritis”, and then told that your only recourse is taking medications that may or may not temporarily help with inflammation, yet not the disease itself? If it is indeed Arthritis, how do you determine which type, and what natural changes can you make in your lifestyle to reduce inflammation? There are over 100 types of arthritis and related conditions, and each type has a variety of natural methods to help alleviate its secondary conditions, by addressing its root cause and primary condition. 46 million people currently have Arthritis in the U.S., and that number is expected to rise to 70 million within by the year 2030. Let’s touch on the most popular types, Rheumatoid and Psoriatic Arthritis, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), listed below:

Rheumatoid Arthritis: A chronic disease that affects nearly 2.1 million Americans, approximately 75% of those affected are female. According to the Journal, Arthritis & Rheumatism, an estimated 300,000 children under age 18 have arthritis or a rheumatic condition, which is roughly 1 in every 250 U.S. children. It is also the most popular cause of disability in U.S. adults for the past twenty years. It tends to affect pairs of joints; for example, both knees and both hands, and can affect the spine as well. It is NOT structurally based, and can be aggravated by the body’s reaction to inflammatory foods and improper diet. It is closely linked to a condition called “Leaky Guy Syndrome.”

Psoriatic Arthritis: A chronic skin and inflammation disease that is most prevalent in people in their 40’s or 50’s, affecting both genders equally. It can occur in many joints; most often in the tips of fingers (distal phalanges) and toes. They look like a pair of mini nodules that are hard and tender. Roughly 80% of patients who suffer with this type of Arthritis develop the skin disease Psoriasis earlier in life. Generally milder than its cousin Rheumatoid Arthritis, it does not affect matching pairs of joints. Symptoms unique to this condition include bony nodules on digits, pitted nails, sausage-like appearance of fingers and toes, eye inflammation, and grayish spots on the elbows, knees, and lower spine.

Lupus (SLE): Another cousin to Rheumatoid and Psoriatic Arthritis, Lupus occurs in approximately 2 million people in the U.S. In fact, more people suffer with Lupus than cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, and multiple sclerosis combined. This condition is nine times more prevalent in women than in men. Interestingly, the term “Lupus” means “wolf”. Symptoms unique to Lupus are a “red butterfly rash” in the face that spans under the eyes, across the bridge of the nose, and into the cheeks. This red coloration, “Erythematosus“, means “redness”. It affects many parts of the body, and is often accompanied with skin rashes, fever, fatigue, and kidney problems. Lupus can have “flare-ups” as well, often caused by medicines, environment, inflammatory foods, and stress.

All three Arthritides listed above are classified as Autoimmune diseases, and occurs when the body attacks its own cells, causing swelling in joints, redness, stiffness, pain, and can cause deformity in bone, and surrounding soft tissue. These conditions can also affect various soft tissues and organs in the body, including the digestive tract (where the majority of your immune system is located). Because Autoimmune Arthritides have a genetic component, people inflicted can react in varying ways.

Chiropractic care can help many people affected by these types of Arthritis by gently mobilizing joints and decreasing pain with spinal and extremity adjustments. Along with spinal correction by a structural based chiropractor, stretching is very important. Stretching helps to lessen tightness in muscles, and increase blood flow and oxygenation in joints to promote healing.

Nutritionally, consuming anti-inflammatory foods are extremely helpful, along with Omega-3 fish oils and Glucosamine. Glucosamine can help aid in repair of cartilage, muscles and ligaments, by assisting in producing glycosaminoglycan, a necessary molecule used in the formation and repair of joint cartilage. Inquire with your doctor before considering. In addition, consuming an anti-inflammatory diet is a must: Avoid all dairy (yes, even cheese), foods based with white flour, pasta, potatoes other than yams, and white rice, as all cause swelling and bloating. Foods such as pineapples, lemons, papayas, berries, and ginger root, turmeric, green and white teas, kelp, broccoli, yams, shiitake mushrooms, and extra virgin olive oil, are terrific natural inflammatories.

There are several natural methods to address autoimmune arthritides. Many people are more than ever seeking natural corrections to address the causes of autoimmune diseases, and not merely “patch or cover-up” its pain and other associated secondary conditions.

While spider solitaire is not as old as other games in its class, it still has a rich history. While its name coincides with the legs of the spider, which are eight, it is also an inspiration from the scorpion, which is a desert cousin. The game dates back to 1949 and over the years, it has come to be known as one of the favorite games among solitaire players.

New Family

When it was first introduced, players had to form at least 8 sequences of 13 cards. This proved to be rather difficult and as such, over the years, new versions have had to be introduced in order to make it easy for players to play. In this case, 2 and 1 suit versions have been introduced thus making the game easier for players and increasing the chance of winning.

Computer Version

The first version of spider solitaire found its way into computers with the Microsoft ninety-eight plus pack. Microsoft ME also included it without purchase and this increased the popularity of the same among computer users and from that point on, there was an increased number of players. The Windows version comes with the 2 and 1 suit unique variations and players can also find 3 and 4 deck versions. Invented by Thomas Warfield, it has gone down in history books as one of the best creations.

Rules

There are basic rules that need to be followed when playing this and some of these include the following.

• The basis of this game lies in removing all the cards found on the tableau.

• Straight piles of King can be removed from King to Ace and assembled on your tableau.

• 54 cards are supposed to be dealt and in 10 piles.

• Cards are supposed to be placed facing down apart from the two top cards.

• Piles are supposed to be built in ranks from king to ace. The color of the card does not matter.

• In-suit sequences should be moved in between the player’s piles.

Though spider solitaire is a difficult game, most players find it addictive and it is for this reason that a large number of players keep playing for long hours. Thanks to online casinos and an increased number of land-based casinos, it is also increasingly easy for players to enjoy the same. There are different versions for players to choose from and as such, one should evaluate each carefully and consider the skills needed for each.

It used to be said that laughter was the best medicine. Nowadays, we feel that social media is the best medicine! Most anyone and everyone with access to the internet is on some form of social media, constantly sharing their lives and keeping up with others. In this day and age, when you are farthest away from the people you are closest to, you must rely on popular social networking sites to stay connected.

Stay Relevant

The simplest way to put forth the absolute necessity of social networks is to say that in this era, you need to stay relevant. It is important to keep up with the news and the trends to always be at the top of your game, irrespective of your social setting. It is a common perception that news is biased these days, so you might want to turn to your more intelligent friends on social media to stay up to date. There are also professional social networks complete with scholars and critics from all over the world who impart their knowledge for free. It is one of the best the tips.

Besides imparting critical information, it allows you to interact with the other people in the network, which in turn enriches your personal and professional life.

Keeping in touch

Another valuable aspect of social networking is that it helps you keep in touch with your loved ones. While most families are nuclear now, there is a sense of wanting to stay updated with every body’s lives. As we move further ahead and away in life from where we began, social media helps to keep us all connected.

With a social networking account you can find a long lost friend. Or even a long lost cousin.

The best part about social networks are the freedom and flexibility they provide to individuals to reveal as much of themselves as they want and also compress and deliver relevant information to users. It is one of the important things to remember.

In closing, consider maintaining a social network account on any of the popular platforms to ensure that you are not lost in the myriad of obstacles that distance and time place between you and your loved ones. Take the time to speak to strangers who bear similar interests as you and create a fruitful connection that may even benefit society at large someday. Have a social network account simply because you can!

The weeping willow, or salix babylonica, began its life in dry northern China, but spread rapidly across Asia and to other parts of the world via the Silk Road. These days, it is grown almost everywhere. It offers a sense of beauty and grace to any garden space, adds dense shade, and the wind whispers beautifully through the long, trailing branches.

Weeping willows are often planted near ponds or streams and there is nothing quite so lovely as watching the currents sweep against the branches that have reached down into the water. It evokes a strong sense of peace and transience, making it perfect for a Japanese garden.

As a deciduous tree, the weeping willow will lose its leaves in the winter, but it will retain all of the beauty. The lines of the branches can be fully appreciated then, as can the overall shape of the tree. It never loses its ornamental value in the yard or more formal garden.

With access to a water source, a willow will typically require little maintenance, though care should be taken because its spreading roots can interfere with pipes and other things underground. In winter or early spring, regular pruning should be given to your weeping willow, trimming back branches that have grown overly long or branches that have become crowded. When too crowded, a weeping willow loses some of its attractiveness, becoming a draping mass of green in spring or summer, though the extra branches do not harm the tree in any way.

A particular cultivar known as rokakudai is a type of Japanese weeping willow that is often grown as a bonsai. Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing a tree in a small container and shaping it, often over many years, to resemble a large, fully grown tree, albeit in a very small size. It takes a careful hand and a great deal of patience to grow a bonsai that properly resembles a fully grown tree. They are appreciated as contemplative objects and thoughtful projects for the grower.

Like its larger cousin, the Japanese rokakudai weeping willow is also deciduous and is most appreciated for the drape of its branches, and slender, pointed leaves. Differing from its cousin, it tends to be more sparse in its foliage and the branches are very carefully trimmed, because they are a highly important part of the beauty of the rokakudai bonsai.

Adding a Japanese willow tree to your garden is a sure way to enhance the beauty of your home.

If you have recently lost a loved one and you are expected to attend a social event:

Be warned: the people who you are spending the occasion with may not realize the importance of mentioning your loved one. Instead, they may think that by not mentioning him or her, this will be better because they don’t want to ‘hurt you’ or ‘make you cry.’ Now, this may be A-Okay with you.

But if it isn’t and you discover, to your growing disbelief, that everyone is politely avoiding the elephant in the living room – the fact that you have recently lost a significant person (or pet) in your life – you have four choices:

1. You say nothing and internalize the hurt and anger (not recommended).

2. You say to someone that not mentioning your loved one really hurts.

3. You bring up a memory of the person yourself and share it.

4. You leave – either in agonized silence or after a spectacular hissy-fit (highly recommended – please see below).

If you are hosting a party or family function and one of your guests has recently experienced the loss of a loved one:

Here’s a snippet from my personal experience that you may find of use (the following scene took place two months after the sudden death of my 32-year old husband):

“HE’S GONE!” I scream, “BUT HE’S NOT FORGOTTEN!”

Then I run out of my cousin’s front door, leaving behind a house full of family trying to celebrate my mother’s seventy-fifth birthday. However, since there’s a snowstorm on this particular evening in early December, I have to stop at the front door, after my embarrassing outburst, to put on my jacket, mittens and boots. Only then do I charge down the icy front walkway, stomping as angrily as possible in my new ridiculously high-heeled boots. I climb into my car, slam the door and slowly inch my way home on icy roads.

“They didn’t toast John!” I blubber into the phone from my living room.

“Maryanne?” says Dawson, on the other end of the line. “What’s wrong?”

“I was (sob) at my Mom’s birthday and my family didn’t even include him (sob) in the toast before dinner. I just can’t believe them!”

“Do you want me to come over?”

“Could you?”

A few minutes later the doorbell rings. But it’s not Dawson; it’s Dale’s wife.

“So they sent you, huh?” I say.

“Yup.”

“I’m pretty angry.”

“Oh, we gathered that.”

“I can’t believe my own family. Not one person mentioned John the whole night – not even at a toast to my mother.“

My sister-in-law winces. “Everybody feels just terrible about that but I think we all figured we’d try and give you a break from the hurt.”

“Hah!” I give a shrill laugh. “Well that certainly didn’t work.”

“You’re right. We messed up and I’m sorry.”

“Mentioning John’s name and talking about him,” I say, “is really important to me because if we don’t, he’ll be forgotten.”

“You do know, Maryanne, that at that dinner table tonight, John was on every single one of our minds?”

I shrug. “If no one says anything, how would I?”

The doorbell rings. I let Dawson in.

“Well,” she says to him. “We made a mistake.”

“It happens,” he replies. “It’s hard to know what to say sometimes.”

“Here’s a tip then,” I say. “Not mentioning John is gonna bury him a heck of a lot faster than the dirt they threw on his grave.”

I get the double-goldfish (both mouths drop open). Is the nice-widow façade finally crumbling?

And there you have it. If you are honest and open with the people who honestly love and support you, then most people will try and do better – if they know better. Unfortunately, it’s usually up to the person grieving the recent loss of a loved one who gets stuck bringing death to the party. But even though loss and grief are facts of life; they can be significantly alleviated when shared memories – instead of avoidance – are put on the table.

Because trust me, an elephant in the living room should not be ignored.

Be aware of what I like to call “Toxic people”.

This can be tough, because it often contains people who mean a lot to us-including family and friends. You can love them, but unless they’re experts or Rich Idiots themselves, never listen to any advice they give you. The Toxics show up in various sub categories.

1. They ” I Mean Well” Group

These Toxic people have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about. Unfortunately, most people get some, if not all, of their wealth advice from the ” I Mean Well” group. For example, your second cousin who’s a greeter at a discount department store loves to tell you how investing in the stock market will never work. What’s his reasoning? Because he never did it himself. People are programmed to tell you you’ll never do a certain thing because they themselves have never don that thing.

Let me ask you this: Would you take your child to get an eye operation from a foot surgeon? Of course not. Why? Duh! Because a foot surgeon knows about feet, not eyes. Pay no attention to all those people in this category.

2. The Tried and Failed” Group

The second type in the “Toxic” category includes that unhappy bunch of folks who have tried to become Rich Idiot’s and failed. This is where most people get their next big chunk of wealth-advice from.

The “Tried and Failed” crowd often contains people who made bad decisions in real restate or in the stock market or who started a business that crashed and burned. Now they feel qualified to give you tons of advice about these investment vehicles. The minute you confide your wealth dreams to such people they jump in and proceed to tell you their personal horror stories. Do not listen. In fact, run away as fast as you possibly can.

3. The Comfort Zone Group

The third group of Toxics is made of the buddies you hang out with because you feel comfortable in their company. These are the folks with whom you go to ball games, drink beer, share barbecues, and work beside. They could be old school buddies, favorite cousins, the guy who gave you a great deal on your car or you next-door neighbors. They live in the same kind of house as you, shop in the same stores, eat in the same restaurants, go to the same movies, and about the same money. The last one-make about the same money-can kill your Rich Idiot foal. In fact, it’s the main reason to stay away from their advice in money matters. Do you want to stay where you are or become wealthy? Listen to people who have actually made it!

4. The Dream Stealers.

We are products of our environment. We have to be wary of the influences swirling around us. As you begin your journey to riches, be careful to protect yourself form the Dream Stealers-the negative people in your life. I ‘ve discovered them among my friends and family. You probably have such people in you life right now. The minute you try to do something different-start a new business, invest in a new stock, do something or anything to improve your wealth-what do these killjoys say? -Nothing positive, certainly. Rather you get lost of dire warnings about imminent disaster.

Be warned. The more successful you become, the more the Dream Stealers will try to pull you back. You may even lose good friends and loved ones in the process. But remember, they’ll find themselves left behind because of their own fear and failure, not your success.

5. The “Ouch, It’s Me” Group

This exclusive group contains only one member: you. The final Toxic person you need to watch out for is yourself. Go to the mirror and take a good look at yourself. What do you see? Do you see a Toxic person-your own worst enemy, that evil twin always whispering in your ear that you’re a failure? Or do you see a cheerleader?

The bottom line is that you have to protect your vision and your path to success. Yes you should get mentors and advice. But make sure to get it from people who actually have a track record of success. Don’t listen to the “could have should haves” around you.

For many people who want to strike out on their own or just add another income source a home-based business is a great way to do it. A home-based business owner can get financial benefits, tax benefits, and better flexibility in their lives. Here are just some of the benefits that a business owner can get from having their business in the home.

Benefits

· Control earning potential

The home-based business owner has the ability to decide how much they will make without having to depend on promotions or raises.

· Write off part of mortgage & utilities on taxes

Your office space is a business expense, and if the office happens to be in your home that is fine. Check with an accountant or tax agencies to know for sure what can be deducted and how. 

· Write off health insurance on taxes

Normally an employer would write these expenses off, if you are your own employer, why not do the same?

· No commuting, no gas money

Save time and money. The perfect way to save the average American an hour a day and a bunch of cash that would normally go in your gas tank.

· Make lunch at home, no fast food expenses

Save your wallet from getting thinner, and your waistline from getting bigger.

· Set your own hours, flexibility to change them.

The boss usually sets hours; if you’re the boss the hours can be different on certain days. Only want to work until 2 on Thursdays? No problem.

· Close to family, great when you have sick children home from school

Take care of children, run an errand in the middle of the day, or just be there when they get home. If work is at home, you’re never too far from the action.

· Ability to be involved in every aspect of business

Don’t get burned out in one line of work. As the owner of a home-based business you can be involved in everything from marketing to choosing the letterhead.

· Can run business full or part time and change over time

If you want to start part time and move to full time after a year or two, go for it. No one else determines how the company grows but you.

Anyone who tells you that anyone can get rich by sitting at home and not doing anything is lying. The company that I work for, Press-A-Print International, has been selling business opportunities for decades and every workshop they hold reminds people that they can make a good living running their own business, but they have to work. Running a home-based business is a great idea with many advantages, but do your homework. Attend one of our workshops and ask questions, decide how you would set it up and talk to people you know. There are a lot of benefits to be had from working at home for yourself.

 Your online marketing is a joke! At least that is my evaluation of much of the so-called internet marketing these days. The internet is being overrun with nameless, faceless, cookie cutter marketing that is both unappealing and for the most part grossly ineffective. Because you are my well informed reader, I know you are not guilty of unleashing such horrible marketing tactics upon the planet.

Let’s talk about some of the repugnant online marketing that many are promoting these days. I’m going to give you my least favorites list in no particular order:

1. The gaudy font hyperlink bandit. This is the guy or gal that makes sure to use oversize font in an array of distracting colors. These hyperlinks are used in every email, forum post and any other HTML based platform they can find.

2. The multiple pop-up, I can’t escape you capture page. These are especially common around the listbuilder circuit. You cannot escape the page until you clicked OK on the 3rd pop up box that only comes up when you are trying to navigate away from the page.

3. The I just became your friend on Facebook and now I am posting my links all over your wall technique. I had a guy recently that was trying this tactic twice a day on my wall. Needless to say he did not and will not ever get my business and I quickly deleted him from my friend list.

4. A close cousin of number 3 is the I just became your friend on Facebook and now I am going to send you a daily spam email. These two are closely related, but I have greater dislike for number 3, since my friends and children don’t want to read about his opportunity. This online marketing relationship never lasts long either, as those friends are quickly de-friended (I’m not sure that is an actual word).

5. Yet another cousin of number 3 and 4 is the I’m going to send spam to your wife and children, because I go their names off of your Facebook wall. I believe of all of the poor online marketing this one is by far the most ridiculous. I agreed to be your friend, so I had it coming…but my wife and kids????

6. The you better go to my replicated page before you miss the boat marketing strategy. This one comes with every new pre-launch, just can’t miss opportunity and of course everyone who gets in now will be a 7 figure earner in the next 90 days, if not sooner. I find it interesting that those who send me these types of marketing messages are the same people who send me a new opportunity about every 90 days…a real confidence builder indeed.

7. My final example of poor online marketing comes in the form of those who sign you up for a series of marketing messages, without you ever opting in to receive those messages. This isn’t just poor marketing…this is flat unethical. If you are using this type of internet marketing strategy…you need to quit now and find a different business pursuit!

Your online marketing represents you to the world. Your marketing should be branding you as someone who is both credible and worthy of doing business with. Invest the time in learning the skills that will make your online marketing the very best it can be.