Making Room for Two: How to Adjust to Life with a Roommate

Because downsizing is a fact of life these days, many renters and homeowners can, at a moment's notice, find themselves unable to pay the rent or the mortgage. It suddenly becomes necessary to find a roommate - and fast.

In previous articles, we've discussed the screening process and what kinds of questions you should ask before moving anyone into your home, whether he or she is a close friend or complete stranger.

In the rush to simply find a roommate we can trust, however, we often overlook the other insidious issues. How are you going to make space for a newcomer when you've been living solo for such a long period of time? After all, each one of us is set in our ways. Introduce a new element into the picture, and your routine is interrupted. How will you react? Consider the fact that your furniture is arranged just the way you like it.

Where is your roommate going to place his or her own furnishings? Are you willing to make room for some of those items, possibly rearranging yours or even placing them in storage? What if he/she doesn't own many items and has designs on your plates, your television, your kitchen table? Do you mind? If your new roommate is a family member, the issues become even stickier, and you'll have to tread lightly. A record number of new college graduates are returning to their parents' homes -- at least for the first year, when finances are tight, salaries are low and job stability can be uncertain.

And as a greater percentage of our national population reaches their 60s and above, we've witnessed many of them moving in with family members - even those who remain very active - simply because the cost of living makes a solo lifestyle difficult to maintain.

Regardless of your relationship to your new roommate or the size of your living quarters, both of you must have your own respective spaces in which you may shut the door and maintain a basic level of privacy. This is key to everyone's sanity. If you have to clear out that storage room you've been avoiding, or spend an extended period doubling your kitchen table as an office because you give your spare bedroom to your new roommate, then so be it. The importance - and, ultimately, the benefits -- of a good relationship with your roommate far outweigh any temporary inconveniences you'll face.

If you suddenly find that the combination of your own belongings and your roommate's is causing excessive clutter in your home, you may want to consider either hosting a garage sale (after all, the need for a little extra money is what prompts many of us to search for a roommate in the first place) or placing your belongings in a climate-controlled storage facility, many of which are cheaper than you might expect.

Some roommates opt for an existence in which they're two ships passing in the night; and so they shop for groceries and cook for themselves. If you want to save money as well as time, however, you'll consider splitting the shopping and cooking responsibilities with your roommate. Plan your menus weekly. Place a magnetic memo board on the refrigerator, on which each roommate may write his/her personal weekly shopping list (for snacks, breakfast items or other groceries you don't share). Roommates should alternate weeks making the trip to the grocery store. And plan to allocate a particular number of nights each week on which each roommate is responsible for preparing dinner. Be clear about your food preferences (obviously, a steak dinner won't sit well with a strict vegetarian).

Ultimately, meal-sharing will save you money and time. Be smart in your approach; prepare larger portions, and freeze the remainders for another night. In addition, you're less likely to rely on convenience foods, many of which have little nutritional value and tend to be significantly more expensive.

Household chores are a major point of contention among roommates. So set the record straight from day one. Create a list of who will perform what.

And be realistic. If your roommate would rather have a root canal than mow the lawn, how easy it going to be to coax him into this chore on a regular basis? If you feel the same way about lawn care, you might consider hiring a neighborhood teen to handle the job. You're paying for the preservation of your relationship, so it's a worthwhile investment.

If your roommate is a family member and isn't paying rent, determine immediately upon their arrival how they'll compensate you for the convenience of living under your roof.

If it's a parent, perhaps he or she can chip in weekly grocery money, pay for a meal in a restaurant once a week or assume an extra chore or two. If it's an employed child returning to the nest after college graduation, you may consider asking them for a small amount in monthly rent and/or to assume responsibility for weekly tasks - the grocery shopping, yard maintenance, taking the family out once a month for dinner, etc. Of course, these extras aren't a substitution for the expected tasks of doing his/her own laundry, dishes and bedroom and bathroom maintenance.

Introducing a roommate into a previously solo or empty-nester existence is never an easy proposition. But when you approach the transition with careful planning and open communication, you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the results: a closer relationship with your family members or a trusted new friend and confidante.

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

Funeral Pre Planning at a Funeral Home in Tampa

A funeral is something no one wants to experience or even think about. The loss of a loved one is always too much to dwell on. This is, however, a reality that no one can avoid. Since the pain is most intense when that most feared time actually comes, it is best to be prepared with funeral pre planning at a funeral home in Tampa. This way, the loved ones left behind will no longer have to worry over decisions such as having a cremation or burial at a cemetery, choosing from among urns or caskets, and organizing a memorial service. With funeral pre planning at a professional and reliable funeral home in Tampa, all of these are decided on and arranged in advance. Anyone, even in the best of health, can even do such funeral pre planning for himself or herself in coordination with the chosen funeral home in Tampa.

The decision between cremation or burial at a cemetery is sometimes determined by religion or culture, but is more often a personal choice. If cremation is chosen, one has to decide on either having the urn buried, kept in a columbarium niche or on a special altar at home. Others may opt to have the ashes scattered and specify where. If burial is chosen, a cemetery has to be chosen. A cemetery plot or a mausoleum crypt has to be arranged for, as well. Whether the decision is for cremation or burial in Tampa, a decision has to be reached also on whether organs and tissues are to be donated to a medical school.

Another thing to decide on is whether or not to hold a funeral service at the funeral home in Tampa. This could be done before the cremation or burial. The body is first embalmed and dressed then laid in the chosen casket for viewing. This period of having a final viewing of the dear departed is very important emotionally and psychologically according to experts because it facilitates final acceptance among those left behind. This could be followed by a service according to the family's spiritual beliefs and a eulogy from family and friends in Tampa.

A memorial may also be held instead of a funeral, or even in addition to it. A memorial takes place without the remains of the deceased, usually a few days or weeks after the burial or cremation. The ashes may have been stored in a columbarium or already scattered according to the wishes of the deceased or the family. Like the funeral, the memorial is also held by those who hold dear the memory of the deceased, and would like to pay tribute to him or her. It is also an important step in processing grief and acceptance.

Of course, an essential part of funeral prearrangement is finding the best funeral home in Tampa that offers excellent professional and personalized service at the most reasonable cost. The distinct advantage of funeral pre planning is that we have the luxury of time in comparing services and costs among Funeral Homes in Tampa.

Sometimes, going through funeral pre planning at a funeral home in Tampa helps us deal with the inevitability of dying. When we go through the decisions of either having a cremation or burial at a cemetery and, therefore, choosing from among urns or caskets, or when we make plans for a memorial, either for ourselves or a loved one, we are acknowledging the reality of that inevitable future event. In that sense, going through funeral pre planning at a funeral home in Tampa eases not only our worries but also our pain when the dreaded moment actually arrives.

Five Of The Best Unique Baby Shower Gift Ideas

So you've been invited to a baby shower. Whether the party is to honor your best friend, sister, or only an acquaintance, you'll want to break away form the predictable old baby shower gifts. Wow that momma to be with some seriously thoughtful and unique baby shower gifts. Here is a run through of some popular choices in unique baby gifts as well as some tips to help spark some shopping savvy in baby gift ideas.

1. The diaper cake. This is a very popular choice amongst those searching for a unique and "stand-out" sort of gift, that it is actually not all that unique anymore!

A diaper cake is a "cake" made out of diapers arranged to look just like a two o three layer cake. A diaper cake is pretty much a unique alternative to a gift basket, as they are generally adorned with all sorts of baby items from wash cloths and bibs, to little baby sock rosettes and all manner of baby skin products.

The good news is, they can be created and arranged in all sorts of unique themes and color schemes. If you are careful in your shopping then you can easily find a diaper cake that will be quite unique and impressive. Some have even ventured to make them by hand. There are several websites online hosting instructions and tutorials on how to create a diaper cake.

2. Handmade baby gifts. Whether you make your own baby stuff or simply buy handmade, the handmade baby gift is surely to be a huge hit at the baby shower! Handmade baby gifts are well constructed gifts, not to mention make for a special and some time one-of-a-kind UNIQUE baby shower gift!

There is a surge of handmade market places online to shop for oodles of handmade gifts. You're sure to find everything from handmade baby bibs and burp cloths, to organic baby toys, and handmade baby clothing.

3. Buy organic baby products! What could be better for a brand new little baby than all natural and 100% organic baby products. With the threat of global warming, as well as almost weekly recalls of baby products from everything from baby cribs to diaper bags and skin products, more and more moms are going green. Why not show you care too by going all out on a completely organic baby gift. There are several stores online, not to mention organic labels sprouting up in most major chains, making it a very easy gift to produce. You can even find ready made organic baby shower gift baskets.

4. Shift the focus to Mamma! Most baby shower goers are thinking about diapers and creepers, and cute baby shoes when they shop for baby shower gifts. A truly unique baby shower gift idea will be a gift meant to honor the Mom-to-be, rather than to shower the new baby. Some great gift idea for the new mamma? How about a gift certificate for a spa day, or a pair of some of the comfiest slippers you can find. How about a pedicure at the best local nail salon? She's truly appreciate that at a time when she has lost her relationship with her feet. Trust me!

5. Shop practical! This is where you'll need to think slightly outside of the box, but your favorite momma to be AND her family will be blown away by your thoughtfulness. The first week home with a new baby, especially for a new mom, can be daunting. This is a time full of adjustments and sleep deprivation. If you want to give a gift that will speak volumes about how much you care, give the gift of "convenience". Hire a meal delivery service for a week, or a cleaning service! Some other great services are a diaper service for cloth diapering moms, or even a diaper delivery service for disposables, and pay for the first two weeks or a month worth of diapering products. The happy couple can cash in on it when they run out of all of their baby shower gift diapers (there will be many).

If you want to be the star of the baby shower, or just let that special new mom in your life know how much you care, giving a unique baby shower gift does not have to be a difficult task. Simply plan ahead, do some research, and think outside of the box! You're sure to come up with a gift that will inspire "oohs" and "aahhs" from your fellow baby shower guests, as well as a great big smile from the new mom!

For more unique baby shower gift ideas visit Baby-shower-gift-ideas.com

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

Sitting Shiva sympathy gift, the Jewish Tradition of Mourning

Strength in numbers



Sitting Shiva is the tradition of mourning in the Jewish religion. Gathering together as a community is at the core of sitting Shiva, just as it is at the core of many Jewish traditions. The strength and support of friends, family and neighbors, during sitting Shiva, plays a key role in helping the bereaved get through the process of grieving.



Shiva is the mourning period, traditionally observed by the parent, spouse, sibling or child of the deceased. During Shiva ("sitting Shiva"), which is traditionally a seven day period that begins immediately after the funeral, the family stays home to focus on their grief, remember their loved one and receive visitors. Although traditionally a seven-day period, many families sit Shiva for a shorter period; perhaps 1, 2 or 3 days. The Shiva period is often announced at the funeral.



Sympathy Gift Baskets are Customary



Jewish custom discourages sending flowers or gifts other than food when people are sitting Shiva. In fact, Shiva begins with seudat havra'ah, "the meal of consolation," prepared by family and neighbors. For those who are unable to make a personal visit, sending a food gifts basket such as a Shiva Food Gifts or Sympathy Gift Baskets, with a thoughtful card is an appropriate and helpful gesture.



"I find that when giving a sympathy gift or sympathy basket, people feel the need to send it immediately," says Jane Moritz, owner of The Challah Connection. "However, it's important to remember that people are visiting throughout and even after the Shiva period. The need for food to share continues for some time, so spacing out gifts is perfectly acceptable."



Be sure to find out if the family sitting Shiva keeps kosher so you can send an appropriate food gift basket. In addition, when you are thinking of what to write, a simple message when people are sitting Shiva is best. Consider a message such as "With our heartfelt sympathy," or "We are so sorry for your loss. You are in our thoughts," or the most traditional, "May God comfort you among all mourners of Zion and Jerusalem."



What you can do and say

For many, consoling the bereaved that are sitting Shiva can be difficult and uncomfortable. However, Jewish customs are quite clear in describing proper etiquette and that helps alleviate awkward feelings. Generally, be a good listener and be as helpful as possible when people are sitting Shiva.



Soon after arriving, visitors should approach the mourners and sit quietly with them, possibly offering a hug or handshake, but letting the mourner begin the conversation. They may not feel like talking at all, and sitting in silence is perfectly acceptable. Alternatively, the visitor can simply say, "I'm sorry," and that can be enough. Just being there says it all—words are not always necessary when visiting those sitting Shiva.



It helps to remember that Shiva occurs during the most intense days of mourning. Those who have just lost a loved one will experience a range of powerful emotions, and that is an important part of the healing process. This is the perfect time to share stories, photos and cherished memories of the deceased. Moreover, if you do not know what to say, remain silent.



Shiva—an act of kindness



If there is a chance to be helpful, make an offer, or just complete the task, when appropriate. Run errands, pick-up at the airport, host someone coming in from out of town, cook or clean up, or take care of children. Whatever can be done to remove daily chores from those sitting Shiva becomes an immense help. Shiva calls should be thought of as an act of kindness, not as a burden. The visit can be an hour or less to avoid tiring the family. Different families will observe Shiva in different manners. It is traditional for mourners to have a tear in their clothing to symbolize their loss; they may sit on low stools or even on the floor to show the depth of their sadness, and some show a traditional disregard for vanity and personal comfort by maintaining only the minimal standards of personal care, dressing simply and covering mirrors. Usually a 24-hour candle burns in memory of the deceased. In some homes, mourners will recite Kaddish up to three times a day with a minyan, which is a group of 10 Jewish adults. At times, it is difficult to gather a minyan, so visitors who can participate are especially appreciated.



About the author :

Jane Moritz - investigative freelance writer. For more information regarding Jewish mourning customs,she recommends you to visit www.aish.com. For more information regarding food gifts and sympathy gift baskets, she recommends to visit www.challahconnection.com

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

The First Holy Communion Party � Planning a Celebration that is Personal and Meaningful

A child’s First Holy Communion celebration can be anything from a simple backyard gathering to a posh hotel or restaurant reception these days. Every family will have its own traditions and expectations of events such as these, but with some basic thoughts in mind, and a little attention to details, such as theme, décor, and event favors, whether large or small, simple or elaborate, it can be a personal and meaningful occasion for all that attend.

The most important part of planning any event is to have a clear idea going in of your focus and desired result and to realize that there could actually be more than one. As in the case of a Holy Communion celebration, there will be guests of all ages attending and the desired result you’d like to create for the young ones may be different than that for the adults. Again, every family is different how they celebrate such occasions. Some will have a more structured event with time for toasts and speeches to tribute the guest of honor and family members, similar to a wedding reception, and others will leave the more formal part of the day to the church ceremonies and keep the party time more open or relaxed. It truly is up to you.

Although of course a religious rite of passage, the theme of such a celebration can either focus on that aspect by emphasizing it with décor and Communion favors with the Cross, chalice and wafer symbols or you can choose to highlight the child’s interests and personality more prominently with a theme that recognizes him/her as the guest of honor and his/her accomplishing this important step in life. An example of this would be to feature the child’s love of horseback riding, or swimming by including it, or even making it, the theme of the party with decorations, the cake, event favors, even entertainment and allowing the actual rite of passage, in this case the First Holy communion, that has brought everyone together and the ceremony preceding the party, to be the overall theme of the day. You often see this kind of personalization with weddings as the couple chooses a theme for their reception based on one of their interests such as using a location by the beach with tropical fish décor to share their passion for scuba diving with all in attendance. It is unlikely that anyone will forget that they’ve gathered for an important ritual (the couple’s marriage vows!) but they will also not likely forget that they enjoy scuba diving and that this was a unique and personal gathering.

Sending guests home with a Communion favor that tributes the guest of honor and also commemorates this celebratory day is an opportunity to convey many things as well. It can be a simple reminder that they attended the special event and therefore are an important participant in your family’s life, or in the case of a Communion favor it can also serve as a symbol of their own beliefs and rituals that are significant in their life.

These days, the possibilities are truly endless in what you can create for an event. By defining your desired result right from the start and taking factors such as budget, the number of guests, location and time of day into consideration you are on track for a successful party. Although there are many details to be thought through, keeping the reason for the party in the first place, your child’s rite of passage -- his/her First Holy Communion, as the focus will help guide your thoughts and decisions.. Only you will know what is most appropriate for your family and this special time, and that in itself, will help you to plan a celebration that is personal and meaningful for your child and your guests.

Copyright 2006 http://AllInOneFunFavors.com

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

Christmas Gift Giving Without Spending Money

Christmas is just around the corner and you are flat broke. There are so many gifts to give. People you really want to pamper, but you don't have the money to buy decent gifts for everyone. So what do you do?

Well, you can make your own gifts.

1. The Pet Rock

Remember the pet rock craze? You can make little pets out or rocks easily.

Just take a large, smooth pebble. Stick on a pair of eyes. Glue some felt below. Write a message on the felt and you have a personalized Christmas gift.

2. Cookies

Are you good at baking?

Well go bake several batches of cookies using your best cookie recipes. Do a variety of cookies. Then decorate them. Some with M&Ms some with icing sugar, some with nuts, others with raisins.

Put them into little plastic bags. A few of each type of cookie in each bag. Tie the bag with a pretty ribbon. Make small, pretty cards and write a personal message on each of them. Stick the cards to the outside of that bag of cookies. Each bag of cookies makes a delightful gift for Christmas.

3. Flower gifts

Do you have a garden? Do you live near a place where wild flowers grow abundantly?

If you can pick some flowers, you can make pressed flower bookmarks. I used to do those as a kid. You arrange the flowers on a piece of white blotting paper. Put another piece of blotting paper over the flowers and put heavy books over the blotting paper to press the flowers for a few weeks. Once dried and flattened, these flowers can be glued onto book marks, photo frames and anything you might want to give as a decorative gift.

4. Handmade jewelry

You can make jewelry for the women in your family using wooden beads or even paper clips. Bracelets and necklaces are the easiest to make as all you have to do is to string the beads up and tie the loose ends together. Use a strong elastic cord for the beads so the bracelet is stretchable and can be put on or taken off easily. As for paper clips, with a pair of tweezers and some cheap plastic beads, you can make attractive paper clip earrings. Read http://www.independantlife.com/How-to-make-paper-clip-earrings.htm for the details on how.

5. Are you good at crafts like crochet?

You can make an adorable bookworm bookmark. Start off with the long string part of the bookmark. Just to simple chain stich using thick wool thread until you have a 15 inch long crochet chain. Then do 3 treble crochet stitches into each chain stitch for the last 30 chains. It would curl up into a cute curly bookworm. Stick on 2 eyes on the head and make a tassle at the other end of the chain. Once you get the hang of it, you could make these bookmarks in colorful wool to give away as Christmas gifts.

Need more gift making ideas? Check out http://www.womanht.com/diy/gifts.htm for do it yourself gifts you might want to make from Christmas. A great way to give personal gifts without spending a bomb.

Besides making your Christmas gifts, you can get pretty impressive gifts by spending time instead of money. http://www.christmas-giftshop.com/freechristmasgifts.htm shows you where you pay for the gift by participating in surveys, instead of forking out money. If you are worried that your loved ones know that is a free gift, then go for the free gift card offers. Use the gift cards to buy Christmas gifts and no one would be any wiser.

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information

Mistakes to Avoid in a Personal Injury Claim

Have you recently been involved in an accident? Regrettably, there are some accidents that are unavoidable, that are simply bad luck or the consequence of inescapable circumstances - bad weather is a common factor in many of these inevitable accidents. What happens, however, if the accident could have been avoided?

Unfortunately, there are many such situations that could have easily unfolded differently had proper care and caution been exercised. Negligence, carelessness and sheer reckless behavior can sadly all contribute to the unwitting and the undeserving suffering catastrophic injury.

For victims, and the families of victims, following such an accident, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by the situation and become confused. Not only will you be suffering with the physical pain of an injury, but you will likely also be dealing with emotional trauma and the financial burden that can come from medical bills, lost wages, and in wrongful death cases, the expense of a funeral.

It is therefore extremely important that every step is taken to look into filing a personal injury claim. By pursuing such a case, the liable parties can be held responsible for their fault in the accident. While an important process, this is not always an extremely simple one. Especially for someone who has never dealt with the process before, it can be easy to fall into common mistakes.

Common mistakes regarding personal injury claims include a failure to document the accident scene, failing to seek medical attention, giving statements without legal assistance on your side, applying for damages that have not comprehensively been outlined in medical records or outright refusing to follow through with the treatment advised by a medical professional.

While all of these are mistakes that should be avoided at all costs to give you the best chance of success in your injury claim, there is one that is even more dangerous. One of the largest mistakes commonly made, and the one can cause the most damage to your plight, is making the decision that you do not need professional legal representation. While it could be tempting to deal with a personal injury claim on your own, dealing with insurance companies without legal aid can be difficult and in many cases, outright impossible.

Your claim could be denied, delayed or settled for a much lower numeric value than you actually require. Having a lawyer is an easy way in which you can fight to defend your rights. Insurance companies are much more willing to take you seriously if they see you are being represented by a heavyweight and could be more open for settlement. If they, however, are not – you will still have the support of a knowledgeable litigator who will be willing to fight for your rights in a courtroom setting.

The support and guidance of a personal injury lawyer, such like the Los Angeles personal injury lawyers http://www.losangelesinjurylawfirm.com/ found at Pacific Attorney Group, is therefore a priceless asset that should not be taken for granted or not utilized. If you have recently been injured, seek out a local law firm that you can trust. By doing your research and finding a lawyer that personally suits you, you will be able to find legal aid that will be best suited towards helping you obtain your just outcome in what is a difficult time.

You can find additional info at the following links:

Click Here for more information
Click Here for more information