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We are long removed from the days when those who could write at all did so by candlelight using parchment paper and a quill dipped in ink, and when both knowledge of letters and possession of writing utensils were luxuries of the more privileged. Today, one of the most common household and workplace items is the ball point pen.

Just about every household junk drawer is littered with pens. In the office, fluorescent lights have long replaced candlelight, and at least one ball point pen can be found awaiting use in every cubicle or on every desk. Even though communication is now accomplished by keyboard at least as frequently as through pen and paper, and most likely more so, we all still have that favorite ball point pen we keep handy, the one that just feels right in our hand and flows smoothly across the page. Even so, most offices and workspaces have a dozen version of the cheaper, plastic ball point pen lying about.

This is in part because it costs very little to make in mass quantities and can be sold quite cheaply. In fact, both large and small companies and businesses have long been using the ball point pen as a form of cheap advertising by having company logos printed on them and distributing them at events, fairs, conferences and other venues where giveaway items are common. Just check your drawer and see how many you have floating around, you may be surprised by the number.

The most common type is the cheaper, plastic, disposable variety. These are generally produced and sold in large quantities and are simply thrown away once the ink is used or dried. Refillable varieties of the ball point pen are also available, and are generally more expensive and made to be more durable.

When writing with one, the ink dries much faster than when using a fountain pen. This is perhaps the other reason the ball point pen became popular and commonplace quickly and has remained the most used type of pen over time. In our fast paced society, we don’t want to worry about ink blots while we’re jotting down a grocery list or scribbling out a phone message.

It is such a common household and workplace item that chances are we don’t even think about its presence when we grab it from our desk. We all see the names BIC and Papermate so much throughout the day that they have become second nature. Even in our computer-centric world, where sending an email or an instant message is often the fastest way of reaching someone, the ball point pen remains a key part of our everyday lives.

The poet says that your eyes are the windows of your soul, but your teeth can tell more about you when you first meet someone. A beautiful smile can be shot down by the look of your teeth. And a good-looking set of teeth is not just about cleanliness and good dental hygiene. Let’s be honest. White and bright teeth look better.

If you want your teeth to look their best, you should consider using a whitening strip. A whitening strip can easily become part of your daily preparation to face the worked. It only takes 15 to 30 minutes and can make a big difference in how you present yourself to the world. Many dentists, the same ones who recommend regular brushing and flossing are now recommending the use of a whitening strip.

A whitening strip is basically a thin strip of paper that is impregnated with a mild chemical bleaching solution designed to remove the dull dark finish that occurs on your teeth over time, between those cleaning trips to the dentist. You place it on your teeth and in a short while, you can see the noticeable difference. Most people like to try it out on their upper teeth first just to compare the results. And the results of using a whitening strip are obvious often from the first time you use it.

The solution dissolves the dark layer and bleaches your teeth to a whiteness that you probably will not achieve through brushing. Women particularly like using a whitening strip on their teeth before going out for a special and even a not-so-special occasion because it works and it works quickly.

When you continue to use a whitening strip on your teeth, the results become even more impressive. Scientific studies have shown that after two weeks, the results were that a person’s teeth were five shades whiter. Finally, something that is cheaper, easy, and gives you the results that you are looking for to have whiter teeth.

As with most things though, you have to realize that some people are going to have slight negative side effects. Certain people can experience a little gum discomfort and even a little tooth sensitivity. There is nothing really harmful about these side effects but you should be aware. Also, you should always buy a well-known brand of whitening strip from a reputable distributor. The cost is very inexpensive and saving a few

Do you know someone that loves to cook? Do you know anyone that can take ordinary ingredients and create an extraordinary meal? I love to cook. In the past I concentrated on preparing foods like my mother did, I guess it would be called wholesome home cooking. A couple years ago I discover the food network and this is when my cooking changed.

Until I began watching the food network and many of my favorite chefs I used the same type of canned herbs and spices that my mother used in her cooking. My mother did not know the names of spices that were not common place. She used salt, pepper, sage and cinnamon. Once I started watching the chefs I realized that there was a whole world of herbs and there were many names of spices I had never heard of, let alone used in my cooking. I started checking the produce section of the store and found that there were many fresh herbs that were available instead of using dried. I could not believe the difference having fresh herbs and spices makes in the taste of a dish. By making some minor changes in ingredients and techniques I have become a very good cook.

Last year I planted several herbs in pots on our deck. The pots provided a wonderful spicy smell to the deck. Using herbs that were picked moments before use made a huge difference in the taste of the dishes I was preparing. I have started learning the names of spices and what types of foods they are used with. My teenage daughter began taking an interest in cooking because she was enjoying the new taste of the foods I was putting on the dinner table. She began helping me in the kitchen with the chopping and other preparations. For Christmas last year she made a handy chart with names of spices and herbs or in with the types of foods they are used with. She made the chart on the computer and then had it laminated. We have it hanging next to the spice cabinet so it can be used for a quick reference. I have started buying my dried spices at the area food cooperative. I can buy them in what ever quantity I need so that they are always fresh. It makes a huge difference by spices differently and using them differently. I now grate my own cinnamon and nutmeg. It is amazing how even these common spices come to life when they are grated right into the recipe rather than shaken from a container that has been sitting in the cabinet for years. Also the use of fresh lemons makes all dishes taste like they come from the finest restaurant. I enjoy cooking even more now that I am producing higher quality dishes.

Picking out just the right corporate Christmas gift idea can be a pretty difficult task. After all, what you get for your employees says a lot about what kind of boss you are. When I was coming up in the world of business, people tended to get very formal office Christmas gifts. The boss would buy senior members expensive wine, junior executives slightly less expensive wine, and everyone else Christmas ornaments, or other presents that reflected their low status in the company hierarchy.

Nowadays, that approach is not nearly that popular. In the modern workplace, after all, we are supposed to pretend that we are all equals - members of the same team, as it were. Although no one exactly believes this, it makes relationships between management and the workers easier and less strained. As such, the best approach is to have a corporate Christmas gift idea that is appropriate for everyone. You can privately get something nice for some of your senior partners, but it should be done in as inconspicuous a manner as possible. Publicly showing favoritism only invites trouble, particularly when you can already indicate which employees you favor through Christmas bonuses.

One of my personal favorite corporate Christmas gift ideas is to send everyone home with a bottle of Bristol Cream sherry. It is one of the most delightful wines you can have in the winter, and it is relatively inexpensive. If your office is facing hard times, however, you might want to consider going cheapter. If you can have your company print out personalized custom Christmas gifts, you can get away with a very cheap holiday present. Last year, for example, we gave everyone a candy basket. There were peanut butter cups, mints, and little chocolate Santas inside. The Christmas wrapping paper was printed with the company logo, and every single one had a personalized greeting card attached. It cost less than three dollars per basket, and it still seemed to make most of our employees feel appreciated.

Of course, you can always go with one of the old standbys. An ornament is probably the most classic corporate Christmas gift idea there is. It is pretty, inexpensive, and useful year after year. You can get a pewter Christmas tree ornament, a glass bauble, a miniature nutcracker, or whatever else might strike your fancy. Any of these will make a fine corporate Christmas gift idea without breaking the company bank!

The holiday season is strongly connected to fond memories of years gone by. Consumers can embrace the spirit of years past by integrating antique ornaments into their collection of holiday decorations. A vintage Christmas ornament is not only an attractive addition it is also a lovely reminder of Christmases that have gone by.

Anyone who grew up during the 1960’s knows how popular the outer space theme was back then. People embraced all things futuristic. These elements emerged even during the holiday season. You can find plenty of wonderful Christmas ornaments in this theme including cosmonauts, space ships and iridescent orbs.

Some may find the irony in collecting antique holiday decorations that revolve around a futuristic theme to be intriguing. These interesting elements make for wonderful conversation and they serve as wonderful prompts for stories that kids really enjoy. You might want to look to the future for a vintage Christmas ornament.

There are plenty who find the futuristic theme to be intriguing but others might prefer to stick to a more traditional theme. You simply can’t go wrong by choosing a Father Christmas theme. There are so many holiday decorations that are inspired by Santa Clause that you are certain to find many different styles to suit your theme.

The benefit of choosing a Santa inspired theme is that you can choose from among many unique holiday antiques. If a Victorian holiday theme is appealing to you then you can look for the traditional Father Christmas decorations from the Victorian era. These Santa decorations are easy to spot with their long robes and antique colors.

Kris Kringle is a character that is strongly tied to this holiday and there have been countless representations of him produced over the years. Some of these representations have really stood the test of time. We commonly think of the burly white-bearded man in the red suit when we think of Santa. Many prefer to collect holiday decorations that stay true to this image.

Santa is a great representation of the holiday season. However, there are some of us who really love to bring a little nature into our homes during this festive time of year. I commonly look for an animal-inspired vintage Christmas ornament. Of course, I have my fair share of Santa decorations around but I really love the animal characters.

The animal theme is another great choice for a collection of antique holiday decorations. There are plenty of wonderful nature images that can be incorporated beautifully into any home’s d