The Best Way to Save Money and Fuel - Tuning Your Car Tires

According to the experts of the tire industry, millions of Americans are running on tires with insufficient pressure. These motorists are not aware that their safety is at risk nor how the air pressure in tires affect fuel economy, maneuverability of the vehicle and tire life.

Many drivers never or rarely, check air pressure in their car tires, but this is a simple task that takes two to three minutes. Test your knowledge in this brief Questionnaire:

Q. How do inflated tires affect your fuel economy in your car and how much would it cost?
A. A badly inflated tire increases resistance to rolling so the engine of your vehicle work harder. According to the Department of Energy of the United States, if tire pressure is just two pounds below recommended, results in an increase of one percent in fuel consumption. When you multiply four tires by multiple pounds, easily increase gasoline consumption by ten percent or more. For many drivers, it could cost several hundred dollars per year in gasoline.

Q. Should I inflate my tires to the maximum air pressure marked on the sidewall of the tire?
A. No. You should inflate your tires according to the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer and is in the door jamb or in the manual of your car. If there is a range, always use the highest level of pressure psi (psi is an abbreviation for pounds per square inch and expresses the inflation pressure).

Q. How much air pressure a tire can lose commonplace in a year?
A. According to Bridgestone / Firestone, the tires can lose one pound per square inch per month.

Q. How low tire pressure may cause harm to tire causing additional risks?
A. The bad side of a tire inflation is deflected over when the vehicle is in motion, generating heat. This heat will increase and could destroy the components of the tire.

Q. When is the best time to check my tire pressure?
A. It is best to check tire pressure when the tire is cold (usually in the morning when the car has been stopped.)

As a general rule, tires of today are made to last much longer and have higher performance compared to tires than last decade, this was told by Director of Marketing for Bridgestone / Firestone, Phil Packsi. But without proper maintenance, including regular testing of pressure, rotation and alignment, tires lose their effectiveness. The most important thing is knowing that this maintenance helps ensure that the tires offer a safer ride to drivers and passengers.

Engagement Party Checklist and Planning Ideas

This is a comprehensive engagement party checklist and some ideas to help in planning your engagement party.

Upon Engagement

* Engagement notice in newspaper, Facebook etc

* Arrange Engagement Party (easy to create an event in Facebook to invite your friends)


Engagement Party Checklist

* Date & Time (most Engagement Parties are held on a Saturday night, but a Sunday breakfast or brunch option is also a popular option. Always check any events held locally or nationally that may clash with your date, you don't want to find out you've chosen the football grand final - unless you want to include it in your theme!)

* Guest List (not usually as many guests as the wedding, but it's entirely up to you! Also don't forget about whether children can come)

* Location (usually a parent's home or your house, but venues can be great for fuss free entertaining, or even a River cruise!)

* Budget (it's hard not to get carried away when your excited by the wedding, but try and look at the entire amount you can afford and work backwards from there. For example if you have a $1200 budget and 40 people, then you have $30 per person, which will determine whether you can get catering etc.)

* Dress code - Casual/Formal/Black tie etc (remember to include on your invites)

* Theme & Color Theme (good time to introduce your wedding theme on a smaller scale and try out some ideas)

* Entertainment/Music (Hire a Band/DJ or even a jukebox)

* Food & Catering (another way to save money is to get guests to "bring a plate" instead of gifts, but there are many options such as a barbecue, or getting it catered for with a spit roast or cocktail style. Some caterers supply just platters of food, which can be a good option to "top up" what you may already be providing)

* Alcohol & Drinks (guests usually expect some alcohol, wine and beer are the most economical with some fruit juices. Also a good time to introduce a "signature cocktail" to be used at the wedding, or try a few out and get guests to vote on the best one!)

* Cake (to save money DIY, or enlist family or friends instead of a gift. Cupcakes are another option you can make yourself and freeze ahead of time, you can defrost them and decorate the day beforehand. Some bakeries allow you to buy "blank" cakes which will save the time in cooking and you can just decorate and ice. Fresh flowers are great for an instant and effective decoration on a cake)

* Invitations (a lot of people just email invites now, and you can get email templates or customisable printable invites from Etsy and Madeit, alternatively you can have them printed professionally)

* Decorations (add instant colour with balloons, most party shops can do custom helium designs quite economically, or hire your own cylinder, enlist some friends and do them yourself depending on your climate the later you have to do the balloons, the hotter the less time they last. Try to do your decorating the day before, it's also important that if the party is at night to see what the venue is like then, you may need to add in some hire fairy lights, uplights under trees, candelabras and bamboo torches etc to set the mood. Another option is flowers in vases, you can often buy in bulk at market sellers, and just sprinkling masses of rose petals around tea light candles on tables, gardens and the driveway can make a cost effective but amazing impact. Most party shops have disposable plates, crockery and cutlery which will make cleaning up a lot easier too! )

* Gifts (consider how far away from the wedding the party is, as you don't want to impose on guests too often. If you are already set up in your house, money in lieu of gifts is OK to ask for on your invitations. Guests will need some direction so making it easier for them on the invite is the best way, donation to a charity is another option)

* Organise any Hire items - such as tables, chairs, lighting, crockery & cutlery etc. (Party hire places have many options that you might not be aware of such as small, good for rain marquees, carpet runners for your entrance, archways, vases, lighting, eskies, fabric draping etc for decorating. Most have a price list you can download or get them to email you so you can find out all your options before purchasing items)

* Videographer/Camera (ask a few guests who have video cameras if they would mind videoing through the night, try and follow up with friends afterwards for photos. It can be a great regret later in life that you didn't capture everything that you wanted to on the night. If you budget allows a videographer can be a great way to capture memories. If you've found your photographer already for the wedding, a lot of them offer engagement photos as part of a package which can be great for invitations and keepsakes as well)

* Games/activities (depending on your guests and venue you can add in some fun activities such as wine and cheese tasting, karaoke machine, Trivia contests, Twister, Wii or PlayStation contests etc. If this is the first time your families are meeting, then you might just have to gauge the night as it goes along, but it's always good to have something preplanned if you may need to "break the ice". Don't expect to do everything you've thought of, but you might be surprised at how happy guests are to indulge in some fun once they've had a few drinks!)

* Contingency Plan (If your party is outside you may need extra cover for rain, or to move to a completely different venue. You can check the previous year's weather at the Bureau of Meteorology, but always be prepared no matter if it's "never rained that time of year")

* Do a run sheet (all event organisers have run sheets which is basically a time line of what's happening when, it also includes all your suppliers and contact details and numbers on one page of all the relevant and involved people. You will need an overall run sheet that has each item listed on a table with two columns, one for whether it's been organised and the second for confirmation and payment. A run sheet for the week and day leading up to the event is handy also (depending on how involved your party is). If you have friends/family doing (delegated!) certain things for you it's good to give them a checklist of their own if they have multiple things to do.)

For example:

1 week out - bake cake and freeze, clean driveway, hair cut, check RSVPs etc.


Day before - decorate cake, pick up hire items, check weather forecast, get flowers, set up lighting and check that night etc


Day of (this list needs to include the time as well) - Pick up balloon decorations, put drinks on ice, set up tables and chairs etc.

The easiest way to make a run sheet is to literally look at each item on your list and work out what needs to be done in relation to it - for example -

* Venue (Mum and Dad's house) -


1. Clean patio


2. Get Dad to fix the gate


3. Draw up lighting plan give to Brother


4. Put flowers and extra toilet paper in bathroom etc

* Me -


1. Find a dress and accessories to wear


2. Get hair done


3. Take emergency kit to Mum and Dad's (makeup, hairspray etc)

Notes - If you are doing a lot of the setting up yourself make sure you allow time to have a shower and freshen up before your guests arrive, and don't forget to eat and hydrate! If budget allows a Event Organiser is always a good option, but ensure you have solid ideas on what you want beforehand to save you money. A "mood board" of pictures you've found, cut out and placed on some pages to give them a visual idea of what you want also is a great help. You may find that family and friends want to "say a few words" at your Engagement Party, make sure you talk to those people first to ensure there aren't any surprises on the day. Most of all have fun, and see this as a "dress rehearsal" to the next exciting event - your wedding!

Cake Decorating Schools Can Make You Launch Your Cake Decorating Career

Cake Decorating Schools: A Pastry Chef's Primer

Cake decorating schools are an important kind of culinary schools with great emphasis on creativity, aesthetics and application. They teach various skills and techniques used in beautifying cakes and other desserts made at home. They are also highly beneficial to those who want to pursue a career in cookery or want to be pastry chefs. These schools are open to everyone, from beginners and enthusiast hobbyists to professional chefs. Most courses are generally about six months long.

The curriculum is monitored on a regular basis and is very adaptable. Regular reviews from the industry and marketplace make the schools highly relevant to professional chefs and those in the field of catering and culinary arts. The main focus essentially lies on blending a student's creativity with professional decorating skills which are a lot more than just icing cakes with a spatula.

What Cake Making Schools Can Do For You

Cake decorating schools teach various decorating skills like designing flowers, making borders, creating icing and how to use icing tools like tips and bags. Beside decoration of cakes, students are also taught decoration of other dessert items like pastries, candies, cookies and cupcakes and the use of ingredients like gum paste, fondant, gingerbread and fruit. They also get to learn different methods of decorating cakes, for example, Wilton, Australian and Lambeth methods, depending on the school.

These types of schools prepare their students in a way that they can make a fulfilling career out of it. Most people who aspire to be pastry chefs, wedding cake makers and decorators or dessert chefs can utilize decorating skills to learn from these schools. They can also avail scholarships offered by various organizations like The American Culinary Federation.

Popular Cake Decorating Schools

Some of the well-known schools are run by Wilton, the French Culinary Institute, etc. These schools are easy to locate no matter where you are in the country and are usually established within community colleges or run as a course lasting a few weeks. It is a good idea to look up reviews before you choose one. Others are highly specialized and independently run, for example, the Eaton School of Cake Decorating, one of the most popular cake decorating schools.

Life's A Stage: The Tips And Tricks Of Grease Makeup

Whether you are thinking about using grease makeup for a theatrical event, a special Halloween party or some other occasion, you need to know what products are out there and how to apply them.

While grease makeup takes more time and preparation than regular water-soluble face paint, it also lasts much longer. Most importantly, grease makeup will not fire or run under hot lights or conditions where you might perspire. With grease makeup you can create a more dramatic and even professional look.

In addition to your grease face-paints and pencils you will need:

• face-cleanser or cream cleanser and / or baby shampoo
• clean towels or paper towel
• clothing cover-up and hair-ties or shower cap
• possible shaver for men
• mirror if you are not working from home
• good quality painting brush, powder brush
• professional setting powder, talcum or baby powder and applicator (see below)
• Q-Tips or fine painting brush, tissue paper, paper towel are all handy
• Other items that you might also consider:
• light moisturizer
• baby oil (to fix mistakes after painting has 'set')
• charcoal pencil for eyes
• mascara
• sponge
• mister or water-spray
• glitter and other decoration

Before you start applying the makeup, you need to prepare your face so it goes on smoothly. Thoroughly clean your face, tying back hair where necessary, and for men, have a shave. (Bearded men can apply grease paint makeup but it can be tricky keeping it out of the hair.) Remember that grease makeup will stain clothes, so put on an old button-up shirt. After your skin dries, apply a very light moisturizer.

Working with the lightest color first - usually white - and a good quality brush or sponge, or your fingers, you can outline the area and then fill it in. Alternately you can paint following the contours of your face. The grease makeup may not go on smoothly if it is too cold, which you can remedy by putting a little dab of the color of in the palm of your hand for a minute. After painting, use your fingers to 'pat' the makeup into your skin.

Unlike water-based makeup, grease makeup requires you to paint your face and then 'set' it with a professional setting powder, or baby or talcum powder. (If you go with talcum, be sure to confirm beforehand that you do not have an allergic reaction to it.) You can 'set' the grease makeup either in stages following each color's application, or at the end of all the painting. Some people prefer the latter, applying all the colors before setting with powder, because they can fix mistakes more easily. The downside is that you risk mixing colors accidentally and smearing your work.

Whether you're set in stages or at the end, one reliable way to apply the powder is to partially fill a small, clean, cotton tube sock with the powder, tie it up, and then gently dab your face. Allow the powder sit for a half a minute or so before dusting the excess off with a powder brush. The painted areas should no longer feel moist or sticky - if this is not the case, you probably need more powder. Once the grease makeup has set, it should be fairly smudge-proof. If something needs correcting at this point, you can use Q-Tips soaked in baby oil, but remember that neighboring areas could now be smudged.

Be careful not to apply the grease face makeup thickly or in layers. If you do have too much in one spot, press down on it with your fingers to smooth it out. Continue to refine your face, using Q-Tips or a fine brush for the smaller areas. Grease pencils also can be used for the face, charcoal pencils for the eyes, and do not forget color for your lips too!

Allow the grease makeup to thoroughly dry, and apply a last light coating of powder, dusting off any excess with a brush or tissue paper. A damp cloth at the end can help remove the excess powder, or spray with a very light mist of water. In warmer climates you can probably skip this step because the extra powder will absorb any perspiration.

If you are applying glitter, it should be done at the very end. Generally glitter is most effective when applied over the eyes or on the cheeks, A glitter gel is often used instead of dry glitter to minimize the chances of it flaking into the eye. With dry glitter, first slightly dampen your face and cheeks, then 'poof' on the polyester glitter. Remember to let the makeup settle for about half an hour before you go out. If you have stray paint on your eyelashes, cover it with mascara.

Products available

For just about any type of face design you will need at a minimum white greasepaint foundation and a black greasepaint pencil, but of course there are many colors in between and you will probably want to try at least a few of them. The leading producers of grease makeup are Mehron and Ben Nye. Mehron grease makeup is focused on the theatrical professionals who want ease of application with good coverage. Ben Nye also appeals to the same community, although Ben Nye grease makeup is actually a cream. Grease face makeup comes in a range of forms, from palettes (generally sold as a kit), to individual liners. Pencils, crayons and sticks are useful for smaller areas of the face. Both Mehron and Ben Nye also make eye-shadows, blushes, a range of glitter and setting powders and sealing mists. You may also want to consider sweat-blocker sprays for the face to help reserve the greasepaint under strong lights or in a hot environment.

How to Choose the Best Wedding Catering Company

The ability of a wedding caterer to work with certain locations is an important thing to be aware of. Many caterers will work with areas in churches, major meeting halls and even some outdoor areas around the London or midlands areas. However some wedding catering companies will have limits with regards to how many people they can support for different catering needs. It will be best to see if a good amount of versatility is involved when it comes to getting a wedding caterer ready.

It helps to see how far a wedding caterer can be from the site of the wedding. There are a number of different caterers around the London and midlands areas along with other parts of the UK. There are also plenty of wedding facilities around the London and midlands areas too. Therefore it will help to see who is relatively close to a facility that a wedding will be taking place at.

This is an important consideration to be aware of in that many wedding caterers will charge extra for travel from one area to another. This is an important thing to see in that the costs that are involved for travel and gasoline can vary in accordance with each UK caterer. After all, traveling from London all the way to the midlands can be something expensive for a caterer to be able to handle.

Another thing to see is that in some areas a facility that can handle a wedding reception will work with its own catering company. It will help to take a look at what that facility has when it comes to getting foods prepared for a wedding. If the services that are being offered by that company are not good enough then it would be best to hold the wedding reception in some other area so that another caterer can be used.

All wedding catering companies can work with a variety of different types of foods. A good thing to do is to check out all of the options that can be made available with regards to foods that are available for serving to people at a wedding. Cuisine options can include tapas, salads and soups, main entrees, side dishes and desserts. Each caterer will work with all sorts of options for every palate so it helps to take these factors in mind.

The alcohol policies that different caterers can work with should also be considered. A caterer should be one that can offer a good drink list that includes not only non-alcoholic drinks but also plenty of alcoholic options. Some will offer wines that can come from large wine lists while others can offer different types of beer and even some specialty drinks.

Be sure to take a look at how the alcohol can be sold. Sometimes a company will offer a cash bar where people have to pay extra money for certain alcoholic drinks. In other cases a company will include the drinks with the rest of the catering materials.

An important thing to see deals with how well the caterer can adjust to the dietary needs guests can have. There are many cases where some people who are attending a wedding could have to avoid certain foods due to health reasons. In many cases people might avoid certain foods because of personal reasons. Whether a person is a vegetarian, is allergic to certain ingredients or is supposedly to avoid certain types of foods it will help to be sure that a wedding cater can be found that can adjust its cuisine and cooking habits in accordance with different people in mind.

The last thing to check out with regards to the foods at the wedding deals with, of course, the wedding cake. Many wedding catering companies can work with in-house bakeries that can help to get cakes prepared. A variety of cake designs can be made available by a catering company so it will help to take a look at what options are available. These include cakes that can come in multiple tiers. Do not forget to also watch to see that the cake that is being prepared is one that is large enough to where it can be enjoyed by everyone at the wedding.

Be sure to think about how early in advance a catering service should be planned. In order to get the most beautiful foods ready for any palate it will be important for a caterer to have plenty of time to prepare. In most cases a caterer will require a customer in the UK to book services in London or the midlands about a month or earlier in advance. Therefore it will help to take a look at how soon a client needs to get reservations ready.

Do not forget about the costs that are going to be involved. Some wedding catering companies will charge clients by the head or by the amount of food that is going to be handled. All companies offer different billing rates so it helps to take these options in mind when getting a catering company to work for one's needs.

It is great to take a look at all of these things when looking around for wedding catering companies around the UK. There are many London and midlands wedding catering companies to choose from and when looking around for different companies like these will help to take some things in mind to make sure that a caterer is one that can work with one's wedding event needs in mind. This is so a good wedding reception can be enjoyed by all and that there will be no problems involved with the entire event.

Cool Stocking Stuffers for Everyone on Your List

While the pile of wrapped gifts under the Christmas tree each year draws oohs and ahhs, the little trinkets stuffed inside the stockings hanging from the fireplace mantle can often be the coolest gifts of the season. This year, there are more options than ever before to give great but tiny gifts to all your friends and family. Many of them are even priced at twenty dollars or less.

If you like to put a little greenery inside the stockings of your loved ones, make the wrapping part of the surprise. The Green Bilz Box is a puzzle into which you can place cash, gift cards, concert tickets or other like-sized items. The recipient of the gift can have a great time trying to get at the interior prize by rolling a ball through a bi-level maze. It's challenging and fun and two gifts in one!

It is a gift that a grandparent will use and appreciate every day is a Picture Pen. This neat little stocking buffer is a click pen with a plastic casing into which you can insert a photograph of a grandchild, a pet, or other favorite subject for Grandma or Grandpa. This is a gift that so many people will appreciate, and it's less than six dollars.

The handy gadget for any friend or family member who is just a little bit hard of hearing is the telephone amplifier. This small device installs easily between the telephone and the handset, and it features fingertip control for turning the sound up to three times as high as normal. It can be used with almost any standard or electronic telephone and makes a really thoughtful gift.

Youngsters in the family will love a Kids Lap Desk. This is a portable desk that children can take with them in the car, to the park or anywhere they want. The hard writing surface sits on top of a soft bottom that rests on the child's lap. Side flaps with zippered compartments hold all the crayons or other craft supplies they want to take along. This is a gift that gives to Mom and Dad, too, as it keeps them little ones entertained for hours.

Other take-along item that will keep anyone entertained for hours is Pocket Solitaire. This hand-held game device features several classic Solitaire games, a timer challenge, as well as a game-review function. It runs on two AA batteries, so it's easy to keep it running for as long as the player wants it to go. It's small enough to fit in a purse or pocket, and it's a quiet, fun game.

Other fun stocking buffer for friends, family or pets is the Flying Monkey. Dressed in a cape and mask, this stretchy simian can fly up to fifty feet when you fire it like a slingshot. It even gives out a monkey cry as it flies. Dogs love to chase it as much as kids and adults love to fire it. Made of plush wool, it's a great plaything.

Speaking of pets, everyone will have fun with the Dancing Pet Speaker. This cool stocking buffer can be attached to an iPod and many MP3 players. The music comes out of the cat or dog speaker, and both animals dance to the beat. Pose the arms, turn on the music, and everyone dance.

The Electronic Hampster is another fun toy for people or pets. It's cute and furry, and it rolls freely around the room when powered by one battery. Watch the kids or the dog chase it around the house-taking care, of course, to supervise. It looks so real that you might even startle your friends when it scurries in front of them.

If practical jokes or gags are your favorite type of gift to give, there are several from which to choose this year. A Car Bandaid Jumbo makes a great gag gift for a friend who tends to ding his car. Frankie the Fish is a perennial favorite, moving his mouth and head while singing "Give Me Back My Filet O'Fish" -it's great for fishing enthusiasts or anyone who likes a fish sandwich. Give your friends some harmless fun with Racing Grannies-a pair of wind-up old ladies who race each other across the kitchen table. And who would not laugh when the Singing Toilet Paper kicks off its rendition of "Jingle Bells" as it begins to unroll?

There are plenty of coin banks for the money savers on your Christmas list. Choose a Chocolate Hershey's Syrup Bank, a variety of Elvis guitar banks, or a Miller High Life Bottle Bank. You can even choose a Customizable Money Jar that lets you put the recipient's favorite photograph on display. Or give your favorite saver a Coin Counting Bank that will automatically total the contents when they drop in a coin. Each of these banks will nestle down inside a stocking, just waiting to be put to use for next year's Christmas savings.

Consider these awesome gifts for everyone on your list this holiday season!

Crafts For Kids Birthday Parties

Aside from the foods, souvenirs are one of the most anticipated products that youngsters look forward to when youngsters birthday celebration get-togethers. If you're a parent who is considering what souvenir your child can give out to his or her close close friends for the duration of the special birthday bash, then look at home-made friendship bracelets.

If you do not have much of an artistic knack, probably the most uncomplicated thing that you are able to come up with is an elastic friendship bracelet as a keepsake. These are bangles or "wristlets" which are used being a piece of fashion accessory but in this instance, these can be worn by your child's good friends to symbolize their friendship.

The good thing about it is that it will not only assist you reduce costs by getting cheap materials for your bracelet but can also serve as a bonding activity for you and your child. Apart from that, the practice of producing the bracelet itself is amusing and quick.

While carrying out the merchandise, it is possible to squeeze out the creative juice in your child and encourage him or her to explore divers possibilities in the craft. This very activity can also enable them being thought to people the they cares about.

What you should do

Previous to accomplishing this activity, the initial thing that you need to do is to ask your child if he or she wants the home-made friendship bracelet as a keepsake to be provided immediately after her special birthday party. If he or she agrees, then ensure that their youngster are going to be a component of the complete process like choosing the materials, the designs, along with the governing colors to be utilized.

The initial step in making the friendship bracelet is usually to purchase the necessary supplies which include sets of colorful beads of your or your youngsters alternative, elastic nylon string, a pair of scissors, glue gun, bits of glue stick, tape measure or ruler, and also a round nose pliers should you choose to include locks and various metal items in the bracelet. You can find things in your house or buy these within the crafts store nearby.

Once you've all the compounds which you need, ask your child to segregate bits of beads as reported by his or her preference. Or to make the procedure quicker, you can probably segregate bead pieces by yourself. Next is to develop a bracelet design and attract on a piece of paper. The following, it is possible to request your youngster to come up with their style and integrate it with yours.

After which, get the elastic nylon. Utilizing a tape measure or a ruler cut the string according to your desired length with a pair of scissor. Then, gather the beads that your have segregated and selected earlier and start stringing the beads into the elastic string. Soon after that, knot the two ends of the string soon after you threaded the beads in it. Make sure to tie the final knot twice so it will not lighten up. Cut the excess nylon string applying a scissor.

To make sure that the ends would not calm down, you can put glue around the knots and flatten it with round nose pliers. You now have unique souvenirs that you are able to give out during kids bday events.