How Different Cultures Welcome their Babies

Every culture around the world have their own unique traditions and customs when it comes to welcoming babies into the world. Some are formal, solemn and religious while others seem strange, even bizarre. Here we look at the different customs for the birth, naming and welcoming of babies around the world:

In Hindu countries, the heads of newborn babies are often shaved carefully. It is believed that this rids any bad luck from a previous life. In Buddhism, monks perform a hair shaving ritual as well for purification one month and one day after the birth of the baby.

Muslims perform a ceremony called an Aqiqah exactly a week after the birth. This is an important religious ceremony to represent the child becoming a servant of Allah. A piece of hair is cut then weighed and then the equivalent weight in gold or silver is offered to the poor.

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Smoke and heat are considered important purification methods in some parts of Africa and Asia. It is believed that the properties of heat and smoke heal the mother and offer protection to the newborn. In Thailand a ritual that women perform is known as jufaj and involves spending 11 days lying alongside a fire. This is to frighten off evil spirits and help the woman’s uterus to heal.

In Malaysia, mothers spend 44 days in confinement, called pantang. This is to regain their strength and health. The women sit by fires, apply hot oils and stones onto their bodies and wrap their abdomens in a traditional binding.

Some bizarre rituals include the dropping of babies from the Sri Santeswar temple in India. For hundreds of years babies are dropped 50 feet onto sheets below being held while people celebrate and sing. The dangerously-sounding event is thought to bring wealth, health and good luck.

In the UK, naming our babies is down to the parent’s choice in a christening or naming ceremony. For a beautiful range of Ireland Christening Gifts, visit https://www.gifts4baby.ie/ However, in some places, the decision is down to others. In Bhutan, babies are named 3 days after birth by a priest. There are no surnames and most names given are unisex and religious. As you can imagine, many children end up with the same name, so nicknames are common here.

In Japan, on the seventh night after birth babies are dressed in white to be a part of a naming ceremony called Oshichiya. Names given are often the same as their grandparents and are written in beautiful Japanese calligraphy to be displayed in the home.

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The umbilical cord is often something that gets placed in a baby’s keepsake box, but some cultures offer it much more reverence. A male family member in Brunei will wrap the cord in a white sheet and bury it near a flower or tree. Jamaicans follow a similar tradition and plant a tree above the buried cord to mark the start of a baby’s new life.

Top Reality Shows For Girl’s Nights In

The top reality TV shows offer the right mix of glamour, romance and drama to liven up a night with the girls. It is fun to watch wealthy housewives bicker and then make up with a swanky luncheon. Each person can cheer for his or her favorite in a dance competition. Youthful audiences can enjoy almost cartoon like comedy and drama. Thanks to the top reality TV shows, there is something for every taste.

The divas of BRAVO lead the reality TV show pack with the wildly popular “Housewives” franchise. The casts have expanded to present fashion, friendships, personalities and blood feuds from all parts of the United States. Enjoy the regional flavors of Orange County and Beverly Hills, California. The New Jersey housewives live with Italian flair. Some prefer the hustle and bustle of New York, while others like the laid-back style of Florida or the southern belles of Atlanta.

The VH1 channel offers two “Mob Wives” franchises set in Chicago and Staten Island. The spouses of real racketeers who have elaborate personalities, life challenges and lifestyles.

Everyone can appreciate a ballroom dancing competition, and “Dancing with the Stars” on ABC is a good choice. The new season features comics Andy Dick and D.L. Hughley.  Skater Dorothy Hamill and country music star Kellie Pickler might be the most well prepared contestants. Wynona Judd and Lisa Vanderpump complete the mature women’s category. Alexandra Raisman, Victor Ortiz and Jacoby Jones are in the Athlete’s corner.

The Bachelor” on ABC is an odd duck in the reality show genre. After losing audience over several seasons, the show is now more popular than ever. According to The New York Times, chiseled, handsome bachelor Sean Lowe returned to choose his bride from a new cast of characters. As a former favorite, Lowe appeals to the traditional audience who loves romance in beautiful settings. Social media helps to attract a younger audience who use the Internet to chat and joke while the show is on.

Style TV offers a younger and livelier version of the rich girls’ club with two shows, “Big Rich Atlanta” and “Big Rich Texas” where the cast takes their outrageous fights and ridiculous styles to new levels. Highlights include a bright green, shoulder-padded formal dress that set a new record for tackiness. If ill-tempered rich girls are too annoying, stay with Style TV for “Clean House” or “Supernanny” where experts clean up the worst housekeeping and childcare disasters.

MTV has “Snooki and JWow”, two beloved holdouts from the scandalous “Jersey Shore” reality series. The crazy days are over as the girls have settled down to keep their friendship going. Snooki is now a new mom with a shapely new figure and JWow is engaged to her longtime boyfriend.

The Learning Channel left learning behind and went for pure, thoughtless fun with Honey Boo Boo and her Mama June. Mother and daughter started with the pageant circuit and became a wildly popular comedy team. No girl’s night would be complete without stopping in at “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” and setting for a spell.

When a girls’ night is about new style and design ideas,  the romance, celebrity gossip and glamour of  reality TV shows can break the ice and inspire conversation without taking any of it too seriously.

Eric Halberg is the busy dad of three teenage girls. When he has free time, he loves to blog about entertainment and family life on various websites.

Most Useful Accessories for Your Vehicle

With so many drivers in the world, the great majority are rarely satisfied with just having a plain car without additional features. In a day and age where technology is at the forefront of everything we do, there are thousands of different accessories available to kit out your car and enhance the experience within. Since we are in this age, there are electronic items to consider, but also mechanical devices which serve a fantastic purpose. Not only are there internal accessories to consider, but external, which make up some of the most useful devices. Here are some of the best accessories you can get your hands on:

GPS Systems / Sat Navs
As one of the most cost effective methods of navigation, Sat Navs use impressive technology to direct you to where you need to go, often succeeding in helping you reach all destinations. With touch screens and safety cameras included on new models, you can essentially travel as necessary in the comfort of knowing that you’re likely to get where you need to go, even without knowing where that is yourself.

This great piece of kit is certainly worthwhile, where Sat Navs have really advanced beyond the jovial talking point of being navigated here there and everywhere, with the reliability of Sat Navs being a real focal point these days.

Pressure Washer
Pressure washers turn the chore of cleaning into good fun! Packing extremely high power, they certainly provide enough force to clean your car. Making the entire cleaning experience more enjoyable, power washers have revolutionised cleaning.

Heavily Scented Air Freshener
There are various brands which provide a forever fresh smelling aroma, so be sure to do your research and find the longest lasting which in effect eliminates odor. There are many air fresheners out there for the car which mask smells and do not embody a long lasting, powerful smell, but be sure to look out for one which will keep your car smelling fresh regardless of what happens, and for a long period of time.

Car Bracket
A car bracket is the perfect external accessory for carrying items like bicycles when you travel. Bikes can otherwise take up a lot of room in your trunk or inside your car, so to be able to attach them to the outside of your car is a life saver. Be sure to check these out, and consider buying one to give you plenty of room inside your car, either for passengers or so not to obstruct your view.

Roof Rack
A roof rack allows you to transport multiple items at your own leisure, items such as tools, luggage, equipment, skis and so on. With a similar concept to the car bracket, the roof rack perfectly utilises the space on top of your car, allowing you to transport items from one location to the next, with little hassle. If you are going on holiday or traveling a long distance, the last thing you need is a cluttered car, so luckily for you drivers out there this prevents such a circumstance.

Tips to Buy New Home

Are you planning to buy a new home? Well, if yes then you would surely agree that buying oneis definitely something that requires untiring efforts to proceed. This is not an easy task. It requires a deep market research and finance of course. However, if you are planning for buying next home then it is always advisable to make an adequate plan and move in the direction accordingly.

Pre-preparations before applying for buying a new home:-

You have to make sure that you buy a home in the locality that is close to your working place, it should be accessible easily through any mode of transport. Apart from this factor, the home being an affordable one also matters a lot.

After getting an idea of the locality and prices, the next thing to decide is whether you go for cash-payment or part-payment. Part-payment can be done in two ways, part-payment directly to the property dealer or house lender, and part-payment through home loans. You should make your choice as per your convenience and ease of availability of the two options. If you are going for the home loan then you had better have a thorough online research for all possible home loan schemes including the loans granted for bad credit too.

Check out the details:-

It is important to know the comprehensive details about the person from you are buying next home. You should check all the legal documents related to the home. If you are buying through a home loan financial lending service then you must have a deep knowledge about the reputation and also track the history of it if possible.

If you buy on installments then what will be the interest: –

Whether you take loan through a moneylender, house lender or any bank, you must have a prior knowledge of the interest rates. Interests adds up quickly to your principle amount and results into 50 percent increase in the total amount to payback from your side at the end of the installments period of 25 to 30 years. Try to reduce the interest rates by good monthly installments or down payment options. You can even choose a good home loan scheme with much lower the interest rates.

Carefully reading the terms and conditions: –

Before signing up the papers related to the home loan, you must read all the instructions. You must have the idea of duration of loan, number of monthly installments and amount of installments. You must have a compromise between monthly payments and interest charges because long term loans results in lower EMI but increased percentages of interest rates.

Comparing among all possible alternatives: –

Evaluate all the options to buy new home, after all you are moving to a better, classy and luxurious property than your current home. Isn’t it? Mortgage companies help in a multitude of ways to buy a new home through finance. They often sometimes hire a mortgage broker for you. They can improve your search for new home as well as home loans. A trusted residential mortgage broker has a license number which can help you to find them through internet. The mortgage broker would ask you about your information through online application processing. Mortgage rates will be then fixed as per your financial record of accomplishment.

With proper time management and use of all the available resources, you can find the best ways for buying your next home. Take at least two to three weeks to reach the final decision.

 

Start an Affair to Live Your Dreams

There are many websites available for married persons to help you find a date online. Yet, finding the right website, which allowing total anonymity, discretion, and safety, can be hard. A woman looking for a one-night stand, on the wrong website, can harm you in the end. Your reputation and family can be hurt if the information is not kept secret and your bank book is hurt is it is an online scam website; there are many of them to watch out for.

While some people may not approve of married liaison website pages, you can find an element that is irrefutable: it calls for honesty. Unlike singles online pages, where married individuals will often fib to attract a potential partner, participants on married affair websites are totally conscious of the situation of their prospective accomplice and can decide to get caught up with a single person or even a person who is married to himself. This commonality might often give everybody a sense of relaxation and comfort in the relationship.

Women seeking affairs many times make out they do so because they think they’re taken for grant and paid no attention by their husbands. They tend to be looking for the passion and novelty that a secret affair offers. A discreet companion can make them feel good in relation to their body or they may very well be in love with a guy other than their husband. And, obviously, the secret relationship can be only about the sex.

In spite of these factors, a lot of hitched ladies (and gents) are going to the Web in a look for an appropriate partner for a discreet relationship. As many ladies used common social network sites such as MySpace and Facebook to look for possible partners, other people have discovered sites purposely made to cater to those wanting married affairs. These sites are now a popular means for men or women to discreetly meet.

Your married affair can remain hidden with these three basic tips.

  1. Keep all contact between you and your trust in one safe place. A text, email or phone message between cheating husbands, cheating wives and their lovers seen by their spouse is the easiest way to get caught. It happens to the best of them. A badly timed text message or phone call is seen by a spouse is a quick ticket to divorce court. Keeping all your contact on the website where you met is the safest way to keep this from happening to you. Affair websites all have email services and you should keep all your contact there. Leaving the anonymous safety of a cheaters website is a big no-no. Never use your phone or regular email accounts. Of course, it is a thrill to hear from your lover or to tell them you are thinking about them but don’t let it happen. The anonymous profile and email you started with is the only place you should correspond.
  2. You and your naughty rendezvous should meet at the place of your discreet encounter. Do not travel anywhere together. Being seen in public with your cheating woman or cheating man is a big mistake. Always meet at the final destination of your discreet encounter. The chance of being seen is higher than you may think. When you begin to consider the sphere of people who you and your spouse know it’s amazing. Consider the number of people you know at work, your families, your friends and acquaintances, social and your children’s activities. These are all people who could potentially see you with the wrong person. This number can be in the thousands. And believe me people love to gossip. Your spouse is bound to hear about your affair.
  3. Never ever keep any kind of receipt and always pay cash. The paper trail of credit cards, bank cards and receipts is almost impossible to completely get rid of. Today’s aggressive marketing means anything other than a phony name and cash will be followed up and that could look suspicious. Therefore always pay cash for whatever you do. Obviously don’t use your name on registers etc, use your profile name when in need of a married affair. These three tips will certainly help to keep your discreet encounter in fact discreet.

Roof Tops We All Recognise

Most of our homes have pretty run-of-the-mill roof tops but some buildings are famous right around the world for having an iconic and distinctive roof. Here we take a look at some of the most well-known and instantly recognisable roofs in the world:

  1. Sydney Opera House

This has to be one of the most famous roof tops on the planet. Its unique curved structure has an instantly recognisable silhouette. They are made from concrete panels which are covered in Swedish tiles. It’s the tiles that make it shine and gleam in the Australian sunshine. It took 14 years to finish building the opera house and cost a whopping 102 million Australian dollars.

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  1. Grand Palace, Bangkok

You’d expect the official residence of the King of Siam to be pretty special and the Grand Palace is certainly ‘all that’. Located right in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand, it’s golden roof is constructed of symbolic ornaments important to Thai culture. It was built back in 1782 and is still a major tourist attraction, as visitors flock to marvel at the fine intricacy of the architecture. Remember to treat your own roof like royalty to extend its life expectancy. For UPVC Fascias and Soffits, visit absolute building plastics

  1. Taj Mahal

This is another building with a roof that can’t be confused with anywhere else on earth. Building began in 1632 of this glorious, symmetrical monument. The distinctive marble dome sits 35m high and is surrounded by four smaller domes. The dome is also decorated with a lotus design and a gilded finial which adds to its height.

  1. Capitol Building, Washington D.C

There can’t be many people who wouldn’t recognise the home of the United States Congress. The 88m tall dome is highly distinctive. Built between 1855 and 1866, its made from cast-iron and was painted specifically to blend in with the main capitol building. The Statue of Freedom sits atop the highest point of the famous dome.

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  1. Domed Rooftops of Santorini, Greece

The sun-kissed beauty of Santorini is well-known and so are the iconic blue domed churches and white-washed buildings. Cleverly designed to keep those inside cool in the hot summer months. Roofs here also have cisterns that catch water run-off from the roof. This is particularly useful as rain doesn’t come so often in this part of the Mediterranean climate.

  1. St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City

There are some pretty impressive roofs to be found here in the heart of the revered Vatican City. The seat of the Pope, it’s an important place and to reflect that, many of the buildings were designed in a Renaissance architecture style. The famous skyline includes the dome of St Peter’s Basilica which is one of the biggest domes to grace any building in the world.

  1. St Stephen’s Cathedral, Austria

Located in Vienna, this cathedral is renowned for its wonderful multi-coloured tiled roof. The iconic roof is covered with 230,000 tiles and more than 600 metric tons of steel bracing. It has certainly stood the test of time too as it was completed in 1160.

Norwich tower block fire reports revealed

Norwich is one of the cities across the UK which has been carrying out repeat fire risk assessments on its high-rise blocks as a result of the terrible fire in Grenfell Tower. They have been very open in publishing the results of the risk assessments and the local press has reported the results. The council has eight blocks, and previously, the risk assessments reported all of them to be of medium or low risk. However, that was back in 2013 and 2014. While there is no legal requirement to carry out fire risk assessments at set intervals, the council confirmed that all fire risk assessments were reviewed after a period of one year.

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Results of the new assessments

The results of the assessments were interesting. Clutter was noted on landings and communal areas in more than one of the blocks. The fire service is always reminding people that good housekeeping is essential in stopping fires spreading. Some doors were damaged, as were some letterboxes, which would make them less able to keep fire out. In fact, those blocks that don’t have fireproof letterboxes are being retrofitted with them by the council. It was noted that in one of the blocks there were large gaps around the lobby door frames.
Rubbish bays can be places where accidental or arson-inspired fires begin and the council has recommended fitting automatic sprinklers in these bays. Where tower blocks already had sprinkler systems installed, some of them were found to be in need of maintenance. In one of the blocks, it was noted that because of vandalism and theft problems, there were no public fire extinguishers available.

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Doormats not a good idea

Where doormats have been placed outside flat doors, the fire service has recommended that they are taken away because of course, they provide fuel for a fire.
The Regulatory Reform Order (2005) was the legislation that changed the whole fire safety scene and brought in the concept of fire risk assessments –http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1541/contents/made. Fire risk assessment in Gloucester, like its Norfolk counterpart, has to follow the approach that is laid down in this legislation. At each premises, a responsible person has to engage a “competent person” http://www.keloscape.co.uk to carry out a fire risk assessment.

And it’s often not appreciated, that both self-employed people and organisations in the voluntary sector also come under this regulation.

Advantages and uses of wooden carports

Wooden carports are a great addition to many homes. They’re used to keep cars in, but also have many other uses. Depending on your budget and preference in style, you are bound to find a great design to suit your needs. Consider a few points before you make your choice.

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What can a wooden carport be used for?

The list is really endless. In general, a carport, such as the Oak CarPort, is a covering with open sides. The complexity of the design can vary greatly depending on the application.

A place to leave you car under

This is, of course, the most traditional use. A carport increases the longevity of your vehicle by protecting it, to a certain extent, from the elements. People that invest in luxury cars, boats, recreational vehicles and trucks are very likely to go a step further to protect their purchases, adding to their investment by securing it in a carport.

A great storage solution

If you enclose it properly, the carport will serve as an excellent storage facility. It is very useful to keep big equipment in like bicycles, gardening tools and other equipment that you need to get out of sight, but still in a protected spot. Companies like www.bespoaktimberframes.co.uk are able to offer you a solution to your storage requirements at competitive prices.

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More space to live in

With the world population growing at the rate that it is, it is no wonder that people all over the world are tending to look for ways of utilising space more cleverly. For minimum living space requirements, the government has done extensive research into the matter. The trend is towards getting the optimum use out of the minimum amount of space.

Needless to say, converting your attached or stand-alone wooden carport into an extended living area makes perfect sense. It can serve as a play room, office, media room or even an extra studio for living. The important thing is to have a clear vision of what purpose you want your carport to fulfil now and in the future.

Specialist in the field are available to advise you on how to make your carport into anything your heart desires. Once you get your mind past the limited use of a carport as a parking space, you will be amazed at what you can do.

5 Ways to Improve Upon Your Franchise Marketing Efforts

The thing about marketing efforts is that they can always be improved upon – they can always be more effective and garner more conversations. Luckily, with a franchise, most of the marketing is built in for you, especially if you have a particularly iconic logo or franchise name – especially if your parent company already has a multi-million dollar annual advertising budget to promote your product or services. However, on a local level, it is still important to get the word out about your particular franchise outpost, especially if you are a new outpost or off the beaten path. Here are five ways to improve upon your franchise marketing efforts.

  1. Join forces with other franchisees. In most cases, a certain franchise will service a particular community. In most cases, a consumer won’t go out of their way to visit another town’s franchise, so you don’t need to worry about competition. Plus, you are all working for the same team. This is the reason why joining forces with other franchise owners can be such a boon for your marketing efforts. You can pool resources, capital, contacts and even ideas to improve upon your collective franchise marketing campaigns.
  2. Use the power of the local news media. If you are a new franchise or if you have a new product, you want to get the attention of the news media. The news media can be a powerful ally to have when it comes to boosting your presence, especially in a local environment or demographic. So, you may want to think of a clever way to get the attention of the local news – the whole idea is to get the vans parked outside of your business. By taking this route, you will notice growing sales and revenue.
  3. Come up with a viral campaign. When thinking of marketing ideas for your business, you may also want to think of a way to create a viral video that will be shared by millions of people. Viral marketing can be an incredibly powerful tool when it comes to getting exposure for your franchise. In most cases, all you need is a smart idea. It could be a twenty-second video of your employees dancing or a funny riff about one of your products – anything that will get people’s attention.
  4. Place banners, advertisements and other materials in your store. If you have a new product on the menu or a new service, it will be hard for people to know about it if the product or service isn’t advertised anywhere. So, you may want to think about getting some banners and advertisements made. This can be a great way to boost the sales of a new product or increase sign ups for a new service.
  5. Boost your social media presence. Social media is a powerful medium because it connects you directly with consumers. If you want consumers to be constantly up to date about what is going on with your business, social media can be your optimal portal. In the end, every franchise should have a strong social media presence.

5 Ways to Get Toned Like a Dancer

Dancers are generally renowned for their physiques, including fantastic overall muscle tone and a long, lean silhouette. But in addition to excellent overall form and proportion, dancers are often best known for their muscular legs, not to mention perfectly-rounded glutes. And if you’re looking for ripples of cellulite, good luck finding them on a dancer’s body. The point is that dancers work hard to become the masters of their bodies and it shows in their physical appearance. Luckily, you don’t have to become a professional dancer in order to look like one. All you have to do is adopt the physical fitness routines that dancers subscribe to, or at least develop a regimen that offers similar results. And a healthy dose of dedication will be required, as well. Here are just a few exercise options that will soon have the average man on the street confusing you with a dancer.

  1. One of the best exercise regimens designed to develop the long, lean musculature that dancers are famous for is Pilates. Not only does proper practice ensure that all of your muscles are working together through targeted movements and special attention to form, but the exercises involved are meant to work your muscles in specific ways. The end result is that you’ll experience overall strength and tone. In addition, your muscles will be long and strong, rather than bulky, giving you the lithe look of a dancer. And a focus on core strength will help you to stand taller and improve posture, another hallmark of the dancer’s physique.
  2. A dancer’s body is characterized by overall tone, and this is something that can be difficult to accomplish with your standard exercise regimen. In truth, you’ll probably have to perform a variety of different exercises if you want to accomplish what a dancer does. But if you’re looking for one workout to rule them all, so to speak, you can’t really go wrong with the whole-body resistance training offered by swimming. And the fact that it’s easy on your joints means you won’t find yourself suffering the sprains, strains, fractures, and other impact-related injuries that are part and parcel of a dancer’s existence.
  3. Toning your muscles won’t really make you lean unless you pair it with weight loss (or maintenance if you’re already a healthy weight). And keep in mind that any time you start building muscle you’re bound to gain a bit right off the bat. For this reason, you may want to include cardio as part of your exercise regimen, whether you jog, do aerobics, or hit up the elliptical machine for 30 minutes a day, 3-5 times a week (or more if you’re trying to lose weight).
  4. Weight training. Many people harbor the misconception that weight training is the same as bulking, but this is not the case. Bulking requires you to incrementally increase the weight you lift in concert with a high-calorie, high-protein diet. So if you don’t want to bulk, you don’t have to. But in order to strengthen and tone muscles, you’re going to have to work them and the best way is through targeted weight training. If you’re not sure how to do this on your own or you aren’t keen to fill your home with equipment, join a gym like Gold’s orFitness 19 that can offer you the facilities, equipment, and personal trainers to help you reach your fitness goals.
  5. Dance classes. The thing that dancers do that most people don’t is dance. So if your health and fitness goals include looking like a dancer, there’s no better way than to add dance classes to your routine. You can sometimes find classes offered at gyms where you hold a membership, but you might also sign up at a dance studio, look for courses at your local community college or through the community center, or simply buy fitness videos that offer dance routines.