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NRDC: The Great Green Gift-Giving Guide Cities & Green Living : Green Living : In Brief : Guides The Great Green Gift-Giving Guide Tips from environmental professionals for giving easy-on-the-planet presents that go way beyond the basics. We asked NRDC's personal shoppers (actually, they're attorneys, scientists and policy analysts) to tell us the best environmentally friendly gift they've ever given or received. We've packed a shopping cart full of their stories, and added some links to help you track down their green gift suggestions. One of the best and easiest ways to remind your loved ones to get outdoors and enjoy nature is to buy them a national parks pass . It's a great reminder that there's life beyond the desktop. -- KATE WING is an NRDC policy analyst who works to protect marine species and habitat. One of the most useful holiday gifts I've ever received is a subscription to The Green Guide . Each month, The Green Guide provides clear answers to consumers' most immediate and practical questions about personal- and household-environmental issues, such as, "My son has asthma, how can I reduce his exposure to pollution at home and at school?" or, "We're preparing a new bedroom for our baby, can you recommend safe and healthy products for us to consider?" The Green Guide and its website are where Consumer Reports meets Good Housekeeping and Web MD . By doing the research on which products to buy and what practices are best, The Green Guide takes the hard work out of doing right. -- JACK MURRAY is NRDC's director of development. A year-long subscription to National Geographic is a superb gift idea for anyone interested in the natural world. I have spent many hours thumbing through issues collected over the years. The magazine's always-informative articles and spectacular photography celebrate different cultures, ideologies and natural phenomena around the globe. A subscription to National Geographic is a once-a-month adventure to unknown lands. You also get the pleasure of knowing your membership dollars help support important research and exploration projects around the world. -- NIKKI VERHOFF is a writer in NRDC's development department. The best present I ever gave, according to my best friend and the most inspiring environmentalist I know, was an autographed copy of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree , accompanied by a certificate for a tree to be planted in his honor. I wrapped the book with old E magazines (to be environmentally friendly) and included a little thank-you note for his continued support and inspiration. -- ELIZABETH PANELLA is an assistant in NRDC's Northeastern air/energy and environmental justice programs. For the past few years, a popular gift in my family has been to donate an animal to a less fortunate family in another part of the world through Heifer International . The idea is that, on behalf of someone else, you purchase livestock -- anything from a llama to bumblebees -- to help that family become self-reliant. You can even buy "shares" of an animal or an entire "ark," depending on your budget. -- LISA WHITEMAN is a web production associate in NRDC's web department. For a $25 donation, an L.A.-based group called Tree People will plant a tree in honor or memory of someone and send a certificate. For $75 they will plant a grove of five trees. The certificates are very nice and make great gifts. I have done this several times over the years and people respond very favorably. -- GAYLE PETERSEN is the office administrator for NRDC's Los Angeles office. The best gifts I've given and received have been adopted manatees . The Save the Manatee Club in Maitland, Florida, has a bunch of cuddly manatees that people can adopt. You get a photo and a little bio of each one, plus an update on their doings throughout the year. -- ROB WATSON is a senior resource specialist who has led environmental design efforts for NRDC's award-winning offices in New York, Washington, D.C. and Santa Monica. A " night spotting scope " was a wonderful gift for me. I love to go camping and hiking at night, and have managed to sneak an excellent peek at some nocturnal animals through this handy gadget. I got a good look at a fox, several skunks and an elk despite very little moonlight. Another idea: Tilley hats are tough, outdoorsy canvas hats which protect from the elements. I bought one for my father and he loves it. And after much waiting (and hinting), I finally received one for my birthday. I have worn it through wind, rain, sea spray, hail and even volcanic ash, and it has held up perfectly (although it now has some spots to give it character). -- GINA SOLOMON, M.D. , an expert in environmental threats to public health, is a senior scientist at NRDC. Probably the best environmental gift I ever received was not designed to be an "environmental" gift at all. I don't think that I would be where I am today if my parents hadn't decided to send me to Camp Menatoma in Kents Hill, Maine, in the summer of 1969. That summer -- and for seven summers afterward -- I spent up to two months exploring the Maine woods, learning outdoors skills and playing with new friends. But Camp Menatoma taught me more than how to hold a canoe paddle or stand up on water skis. I also learned about the damage being done to the Maine woods by clearcutting, about how plastic six-pack holders could choke our lake's glorious loons and about our role as the earth's protectors. In short, at Menatoma I developed an environmental consciousness that has led me to a career with NRDC today. Going to camp showed me a world that existed beyond our suburban Long Island home, my grandparents' apartment in Brooklyn, and our many urban field trips to Coney Island and Manhattan. It's a gift that I thank my parents for every day. -- RICH KASSEL is a senior attorney at NRDC and an internationally recognized expert on vehicle pollution who is the main architect of NRDC's "Dump Dirty Diesels" campaign. Editor's note: A terrific, related idea is to give a donation in a friend's or relative's name to the Fresh Air Fund , which sends city children on summer vacations in the country. My best present was a pair of lightweight, top-quality binoculars that my husband, Michael, gave me. They've been a joy to have on long treks in mountains, on rivers and in deserts as well as on jaunts closer to home. Although I don't use them only for birding, they have made me a much better birder -- which has made both of us happy, since Michael is a big-time birder! I literally try not to leave home without them. -- JOHANNA WALD is the director of NRDC's land program and a nationally recognized expert on public land management. One year, two of my friends gave my mom a homemade holiday wreath decorated with birdseed, suet and fruit slices to hang in her garden and keep the birds well fed during the winter. After the bird food is gone, what's left of the wreath goes into the compost pile. It's not too hard to find the components to make your own, but you can also always buy a pre-made wreath for birds . -- LISA M. CATAPANO is NRDC's director of online advocacy and prefers watching college basketball to watching birds. A couple of years ago, an NRDC staffer recommended giving those really nice bags that fold up into a small pouch and are very easy to keep in your purse or pocket. To my delight, one of my coworkers was inspired by the idea and bought one for me. They're great -- much stronger than plastic bags, easy on the environment and perfect as stocking stuffers. -- RITA BAROL is NRDC's director of websites and reports. I received unpetroleum lip balm a couple of years ago and now buy it any time I can find it. -- KAREN WAYLAND is NRDC's legislative director. One great gift for homeowners is a bat house from Bat Conservation International . If you have a tall tree or a chimney you can host bats, which will help keep your insect populations down and teach your kids that bats are more friend than foe. "Fishing Hunks" calendar . Fishing has taken a heavy toll on our oceans, and as we try to make better management decisions for the future, communities are looking for ways to change how they relate to the seas. Proceeds from calendar sales go to scholarships for children of Cape Cod fishing families, supporting what I hope will be a new crop of smart, fisheries biologists.-- -- KATE WING Electric scooters are growing in popularity here in New York City. The gasoline-powered versions make a lot of noise, and their tailpipe emissions are completely uncontrolled. But the Zappy electric scooter is silent and creates zero tailpipe emissions. Even taking into account the emissions related to the electricity used to charge the battery, the Zappy is still much cleaner than its internal-combustion counterparts. My wonderful wife gave me one as a wedding present, and I've taken it all over the city on errands and for fun. People are always stopping me to ask questions and tell me how cool the scooter is. At around $400, the Zappy is a little expensive, but from the perspective of an environmental techie like me, it's worth every penny. -- NATHANAEL GREENE is a resource specialist at NRDC working on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Energystar.gov offers terrific information on energy-efficient lighting products , many of which are suitable for holiday gifts. For instance, giving someone an Energy Star-rated torchiere to replace a halogen torchiere is a perfect gift. Not only will it save your friends and loved ones money by reducing their energy bills, it may well save their lives (halogen lamps are notorious fire-starters). -- RALPH CAVANAGH is a senior attorney and co-director of NRDC's energy program. Holiday cards from Native Energy help spread the word about global warming and keep carbon dioxide out of the air at the same time. The cards come in four themes and represent carbon reductions for projects such as wind turbines on Native American lands or a renewable methane generator on a family dairy farm. By purchasing the $12 card, you'll keep a ton of carbon dioxide out of the air; with the $60 card, you can boost that number to 6 tons. Order online or call (800) 924-6826. -- ANTONIA HERZOG is a legislative advocate in NRDC's climate center. As a somewhat gadget-obsessed resident of sunny California, I'm hoping one of the environmentally minded gift-givers I know surprises me this year with the iSun Solar Charger . It's small enough to fit on a windowsill, and can charge cell phones, MP3 players and -- with a special attachment -- batteries. -- LISA BEEBE is a freelance web page producer with NRDC's web department. I give rechargeable batteries and rechargers to friends and family members, especially those with kids. Kids' toys create a lot of demand for batteries, so it's greener (and cheaper!) if parents don't have to deal with so many disposable batteries and the troubling chemicals, like mercury and cadmium, that they contain. -- ALLEN HERSHKOWITZ , an internationally recognized expert in recycling and solid waste management, is a senior scientist at NRDC. My wife has given me a flashlight and a radio from Freeplay , and they're great. Both are powered by cranking handles attached to the casings. (Some Freeplay products can also operate on a second source of power, either a solar panel or a rechargeable battery.) They ALWAYS work, and there are no batteries to dispose of. Plus, with the transparent housing, you can see how the really cool spring mechanism works so it's educational, too. -- BARRY NELSON , an expert in California water issues, is a senior policy analyst at NRDC. Give all the drivers on your list a tire inflation gauge so they can check their cars' tire pressure. Properly inflated tires save fuel, reduce pollution and don't wear out as quickly. Underinflation of only five pounds per square inch can reduce a performance tire's tread life by 25 percent! Being small and inexpensive, tire gauges also make great stocking-stuffers. -- JEFF FIEDLER is a policy specialist with NRDC's climate center. One of the best gifts I have given -- to the family that has everything (and more): the excellent little book by Alan Durning, How Much Is Enough? The Consumer Society and the Future of the Earth. Without being too preachy, it explores whether increasing consumption is related to greater happiness. -- ERIC A. GOLDSTEIN is a senior attorney and co-director of NRDC's urban program. LED (light-emitting diode) holiday lights are quickly becoming a tradition in public spaces across the country and make an energy-smart and safe gift. They save up to 90 percent of the energy used by regular mini holiday lights and last 100 times longer, saving the hassle of having to replace bulbs frequently. And since they don't heat up or break, these lights reduce the risk of fire and help protect children's hands. Look for them alongside standard lights in many stores. -- SARAH JAFFE is a science fellow in NRDC's energy program. book recommendations , many of which also make great gifts. -- Diaper service (you know, real cloth diapers -- remember them?) from my parents for my first-born. -- CHUCK CLUSEN is a senior policy analyst and director of NRDC's national parks and Alaska projects and is a nationally recognized expert in public land management. The best "green" gift that I've ever received was a couple of canvas shopping bags so that I'd no longer have to deal with the "paper/plastic" dilemma. Plus, the whopping five-cent reduction in my total shopping bill each time I use one helps towards my retirement. -- DAN GILDOR is a project attorney in NRDC's Los Angeles urban program and focuses on enhancing water quality in California. We once gave an old computer to a very small public interest group that was operating on a shoestring. We thought it was hopelessly obsolete, but they thought it was the greatest thing and were very grateful. Since discarded computers are increasingly an environmental problem, it's useful to know that you can usually find someone who is happy to accept one that is less than state of the art. And all the women in my family have whimsical earrings made from various kinds of recycled materials, ranging from typewriter keys to flattened bits of trash from Vermont roadsides. -- NANCY MARKS is a senior attorney at NRDC who takes on corporate polluters in court. Doesn't it seem silly to just trash out-of-date government-surplus maps? Someone at New England Cartographics asked that very question and came up with the idea of making stationery out of the old topographic maps, a truly inspired recycling idea. The attractive envelopes and letter paper are a joy to send and receive. Even my pen pal of 12 years was impressed. -- CRAIG DYLAN WYATT is a program assistant with NRDC's land program. My work on the pulp and paper manufacturing industry has helped turn me against using paper napkins, and cloth napkins make a great alternative. To create an inexpensive napkin gift package that's fun for kids, purchase cotton bandannas -- say, two per person for a family -- that are colored differently for each family member. Bandannas.com sells all sorts of great novelty patterns -- like rainbows, tie-dye and skull and crossbones (the pattern my five-year-old son picked for himself), as well as the standard paisley. -- JESSICA LANDMAN is an NRDC consultant and a former NRDC senior attorney and senior counsel. I give subscriptions to Organic Gardening magazine to avid gardeners who have not yet switched to organic methods but I'm sure would be keen to do so if they had some information at their fingertips. -- MATTHEW PERRIN is NRDC's development researcher and a community gardener in New York City. How about an organic dried fruit basket ? -- TOM COCHRAN is the director of NRDC's nuclear program and holds the Wade Greene Chair for Nuclear policy at NRDC. As a law student in Vermont, I learned to appreciate organic wines and beer. They took the edge off of those cold Vermont winters -- and they make a great gift! To find organic wine and beer sources online, check out Organic Wine Company , The Organic Wine Press , Organic Grapes into Wine Alliance , Bison Brewing or Otter Creek Brewing . -- DIANA DASCALU directs NRDC's Anacostia River restoration project. I'd like to give all my terribly busy friends in the New York area a weekly delivery of organic food from Urban Organic . The company buys produce, groceries and dairy goods in bulk from organic cooperatives, distributors and individual farmers and drop them off in grocery boxes at your door. The contents vary with each season, and you can ask them to leave out things you don't like. Planet Organics offers a similar service in the San Francisco Bay Area. -- SARAH BRIGHT is the associate editor for the NRDC website. In my work at NRDC I advocate alternatives to environmentally damaging factory farm practices that pollute our air and waterways and threaten public health. By purchasing your holiday ham or turkey directly from cooperatives like Patchwork Family Farms you can support independent family farmers who are trying environmentally sustainable methods of farming pork, chicken and beef. Last Thanksgiving I ate my words when I gave my mother a pasture-raised turkey to cook for dinner -- in case you are wondering, it was delicious! For more on sustainably-raised meat products visit the Eat Well Guide . -- MELANIE SHEPHERDSON is an attorney with NRDC's clean water project. I was about 10 years old when my mother -- a model of antimaterialism before it became fashionable -- decided to call off holiday gift-giving altogether. Instead, members of our family donated the money we would have spent on gifts for each other to our favorite charities . While I may not have been totally thrilled with the concept at that young age, it was a terrific lesson in values I've carried with me ever since. I've even wondered if this family tradition later influenced my choice of careers! -- ELIZABETH FINCH is NRDC's director of gift planning. More Green Gift Ideas and Holiday Resources from NRDC Give organic coffee from Beantrees -- designed with the earth in mind -- to any java-loving pals. Because it's grown without pesticides, organic coffee is healthier for the people who grow it, the regions where it's grown and the people who drink it. And we can vouch for the way it tastes: NRDC uses Beantrees coffee in our offices. (Tip: When ordering, enter the coupon code "freemug" to get a free travel mug.) Give an NRDC gift membership . Members receive a year's subscription to Nature's Voice , our highly readable and photo-filled bulletin, a stunning NRDC screensaver, a handy canvas tote bag and the satisfaction of protecting wilderness and wildlife. Visit NRDC's list of book recommendations to find the perfect books for all the readers on your list. Have a Cool Holiday for 10 ways to fight global warming while enjoying the season; fFor green consumer tips you can use all year, see NRDC's green living links . -- See NRDC's green living links for more green consumer tips. While NRDC strongly encourages efforts to "live lighter on the planet," we are not in the business of endorsing products or services. Our staff suggestions and the links that accompany them are meant only to give you some ideas and help you to make your own green-giving decisions. last revised 11.19.04 Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site Map | Privacy Policy | © Natural Resources Defense Council

Housewarming Gift

Traditional House Warming Gifts - Gifts BW gifts | gifts Resources | Add URL Wine Gifts & Baskets From the casual wine drinker to the serious enthusiast, we have a gift that will make them smile. Our selection includes premium wine, gourmet baskets, distinctive champagne sets & the very finest California and Northwest wines. Traditional House Warming Gifts Articles Favorite Recipes - Contest Winning Recipes - My Best Recipes - Special Recipes These recipes are all tried and true, foolproof guaranteed successful. From comfort foods to contest winners to my personal favorites, you'll find lots of recipes and ideas to make your own....( Continue Reading ) SimplyFun Games - Choosing Games - Hosting Parties Page two of an interview with Gail DeGiulio, the former Wizards of the Coast executive who runs SimplyFun Games and is trying to bring a Pampered Chef style of distribution to the game industry....( Continue Reading ) What Is 'Popular Poetry'? - William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) Read What Is 'Popular Poetry'?, by William Butler Yeats (1865-1939). Yeats was a famous Irish poet, playwright, and mystic....( Continue Reading ) Arts and Crafts Business Networking Center Network with your peers in the Arts and Crafts Business community....( Continue Reading ) 16 - Essays - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Read "Conduct of Life," by Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)....( Continue Reading ) Traditional House Warming Gifts Directory Links korean wedding gifts personalized corporate gifts unique and unusual gifts valentine gifts him gifts on line corporate holiday gifts holiday food gifts homemade gifts in a jar christmas gifts for girls 21st birthday gifts navajo wedding baskets fantasy house gifts imprinted corporate gifts get well gifts for men gift baskets in nyc crazy cat gifts pet gifts gifts for new mothers executive office gifts retirement party gifts bachelorette party gag gifts gifts in kind siamese cat gifts personalized gifts for him gifts for fathers fruit gifts buying gifts online good guy gifts best electronic gifts gifts for expectant mothers 3rd year anniversary gifts gifts plants cool mothers day gifts music related gifts great valentines day gifts christmas gifts for her gift baskets for her baby gifts com anniversary gifts tradition good luck gifts ideas for homemade christmas gifts wedding gifts by year gifts for pilots teen christmas gifts homemade gift baskets Popular Search Terms: Gifts BW © 2004 Gifts BW All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved. This site is not related to Brajeshwar or Brajeshwar.com in anyway, shape or form

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Best Buy ');}else {document.write('');}//-- Entire Site Electronics Cameras & Camcorders Computers Home Appliances Phones & Communications Office Products Music -Album Title -Artist -Song Movies -Title -Person Games Software Resources Buy and redeem online and in our U.S. stores No expiration dates, no maintenance fees FREE ground shipping when purchased online Check your Gift Card balance » Gift Cards Best Buy Birthday Wedding Geek Squad® Flowers/Purse Regalo!/Spanish -- Music Movies Games Business to Business » How to use a Best Buy Gift Card Terms and Conditions Check out other gift ideas » PAGES: 1 8 Items Available Item Product Description Pricing and Promotions Best Buy GC - $10 Gift Card $10 Gift Card Give the gift they really want — their choice of cool stuff from BestBuy.com or any U.S. Best Buy store, shipped free Free $10 Gift Card Offer Free Shipping Our Price: $10.00 In Stock Usually ships in 1 business day Estimate arrival time . Store Availability Not Available Best Buy GC - $15 Gift Card $15 Gift Card Give the gift they really want — their choice of cool stuff from BestBuy.com or any U.S. Best Buy store, shipped free Free Shipping Our Price: $15.00 In Stock Usually ships in 1 business day Estimate arrival time . Store Availability Not Available Best Buy GC - $20 Gift Card $20 Gift Card Give the gift they really want — their choice of cool stuff from BestBuy.com or any U.S. Best Buy store, shipped free Free Shipping Our Price: $20.00 In Stock Usually ships in 1 business day Estimate arrival time . Store Availability Not Available Best Buy GC - $25 Gift Card $25 Gift Card Give the gift they really want — their choice of cool stuff from BestBuy.com or any U.S. Best Buy store, shipped free Free Shipping Our Price: $25.00 In Stock Usually ships in 1 business day Estimate arrival time . Store Availability Not Available Best Buy GC - $30 Gift Card $30 Gift Card Give the gift they really want — their choice of cool stuff from BestBuy.com or any U.S. Best Buy store, shipped free Free Shipping Our Price: $30.00 In Stock Usually ships in 1 business day Estimate arrival time . Store Availability Not Available Best Buy GC - $50 Gift Card $50 Gift Card Give the gift they really want — their choice of cool stuff from BestBuy.com or any U.S. Best Buy store, shipped free Free Shipping Our Price: $50.00 In Stock Usually ships in 1 business day Estimate arrival time . Store Availability Not Available Best Buy GC - $100 Gift Card $100 Gift Card Give the gift they really want — their choice of cool stuff from BestBuy.com or any U.S. Best Buy store, shipped free Free Shipping Our Price: $100.00 In Stock Usually ships in 1 business day Estimate arrival time . Store Availability Not Available Best Buy GC - Best Buy $200 Gift Card $200 Gift Card Give the gift they really want — their choice of cool stuff from BestBuy.com or any U.S. Best Buy store, shipped free Free Shipping Our Price: $200.00 In Stock Usually ships in 1 business day Estimate arrival time . Store Availability Not Available PAGES: 1 8 Items Available About Us News Center Careers For Our Investors Business to Business Community Relations Store Pickup Returns & Exchanges Store Locator Weekly Ad Financing Offers Buy Gift Cards Check Gift Card Balance Best Buy Credit Card Affiliates Program Offer Sign-Up Rebates Warranties Service Plans PC Upgrades Repairs Replacement Parts Software End User License Agreement Car Home Entertainment Satellite Appliances Welcome . Please create an account or Sign in . Your Cart Contains 0 items Subtotal: $0.00 View Cart | Checkout Your Account Best Buy Credit Order Status Wish List Gift Cards Conditions of Use | Legal Policies | Privacy Policy Online prices and selection generally match our retail stores, but may vary. Prices and offers are subject to change. © 2003-2004 Best Buy. All rights reserved. For personal, noncommercial use only.

Valentine Gifts Articles Cheap

Handmade Valentine Gifts - Gifts BW gifts | gifts Resources | Add URL Wine Gifts & Baskets From the casual wine drinker to the serious enthusiast, we have a gift that will make them smile. Our selection includes premium wine, gourmet baskets, distinctive champagne sets & the very finest California and Northwest wines. Handmade Valentine Gifts Articles Cheap Gifts Want to impress your Valentine but don't have a big budget? Here are five cheap gifts you can buy that will keep your Valentine in love with you....( Continue Reading ) Cheap Gifts Want to impress your date but don't have a big budget? Here are five cheap gifts you can buy that will keep your date in love with you....( Continue Reading ) San Francisco Valentine's Day Gifts Looking for a Valentine's Day Gift? How about a gift certificate to a day spa? You might think about a gift certificate for a specialty tour. San Francisco offers several unique tours such as the Local Tastes of the City......( Continue Reading ) Making Homemade Valentine Cards Step-by-step instructions on how to make these handmade Valentine cards. Making valentines is a fun craft to do with the whole family and they make great gifts. Be My Valentine Love You Be Mine Oriental Love......( Continue Reading ) Valentine's Day Dining in San Francisco - Restaurants serving Valentine's Dinner in San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants serving special Valentine's dinner in San Francisco, Berkeley, and Oakland....( Continue Reading ) Handmade Valentine Gifts Directory Links wine lovers gifts home interiors and gifts com christmas homemade gifts conrads college gifts indian gifts online simple gifts midi crafts christmas gifts anniversary gifts for wife gifts for retirement food gifts online kosher food gifts corporate gifts recognition wine gifts online womens birthday gifts the gifts of the holy spirit engraved wedding gifts wedding favors gifts unique gifts for men graduation gag gifts nursing graduation gifts gifts unique golf gifts and gallery newborn infant gifts clip art gifts college graduate gifts cookie gifts baby showers gifts unique valentines day gifts inexpensive holiday gifts mens anniversary gifts valentine day gifts for guys great gifts easter gifts for kids good wedding gifts gag birthday gifts great gifts for girls online gifts store gifts for college kids pittsburgh gift baskets thank you cards for wedding gifts housewarming gift baskets gifts for groom creative gifts international unique pet gifts gifts for babies Popular Search Terms: Gifts BW © 2004 Gifts BW All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All Rights Reserved. This site is not related to Brajeshwar or Brajeshwar.com in anyway, shape or form

birthday present. Me and

My Birthday Present My Birthday Present At A Glance Author rebecca Contact rreilly12@hotmail.com When It just happened Artist andres Studio monster Location san pedro, costa rica My birthday was on April 12th, but I found that I couldn't celebrate it as I was at the time involved in "Hairspray", my high school's musical for the year. My schedule was very hectic and I found that I had forgotten my birthday, and so had my parents. And so time passed, I finished the musical, and I decided that I wanted to give myself a birthday present. Me and some other friends involved in Hairspray found ourselves with nothing to do seeing as all of our time had been spent rehearsing. Yesterday I went with my friend Erica to the mall, and we planned on seeing a movie. We looked at our options for a movie, but our options consisted of idiotic movies, such as Miss Congeniality 2 and Son of the Mask, so we wandered around the mall for a while, had a few cigarettes, and then wandered some more. We were completely bored by this time, but I had to be there until 10:30 to wait for my younger sister who was there with her friends. Suddenly, Erica mentioned the fact that she had always wanted a labret piercing, and I decided on the spot that we should go and get pierced right now, that very day and get back to the mall in time to pick up my sister. I immediately called a cab so that we couldn't back out of it. We waited for the cab and shared a cigarette to calm our nerves, as my hands were already shaking and she said that she had the butterflies. I could relate. We were sitting in the cab and I tried to decide which piercing I would get. I wanted to get a vertical labret, but I had promised another friend that we would do that together, so that was automatically out. My tragus? I had already done my inner conch, and I wasn't in the mood to take care of another thick cartilage piercing in my ear. My nipples are also on the waiting line, but I'm waiting for my best friend to come down so that he can be there. Then it struck me... I should get my nose pierced! My father would kill me. This was to be my first facial piercing and I didn't know how he would react. However, my mother would most likely scold me, but secretly like it. So I decided just to go for it. I was doing it for me. It was my birthday present to myself. We stepped into the mall and I took Erica to Monster, a small store which sells clothes as well as does piercings and tattoos. I always loved the vibe of the store. I walked up to Andres and greeted him. I told him that I would like my nose done and that Erica wanted her labret. Erica wanted to go first because she was afraid that if she saw me do it first, she would chicken out. I'm glad it turned out that way because labret piercings hurt much less than nose piercings, and I didn't want her to be afraid. This was her first major piercing. So I held her hand as he did her piercing. It was done very quickly, and I was up. I sat on a metal stool and waited for him to retrieve the sterilized jewelry. A new needle in a package was produced, as well as many other utensils, including a toothpick so he could mark me. When he did, he asked me to look in the mirror to check and see if I liked it. It looked a bit high up to me, but he was the professional so I just let it go. He took out the needle and I gripped Erica's hand. I closed my eyes, and I felt him place the needle on my nose and break the first layer of skin. "Take a deep breath, and exhale." I was sweating. It was hot in the store, but I knew that I was responsible. "Inhale, Exhale." I tightened my grasp on Erica's hand. "Now take a deep breath and hold it!" Oh no! Panic sets in. He shoved the needle through my nose and man, did it HURT! My eyes were watering and my nose was burning. Then the burning subsided and I opened my eyes. I saw that in the mirror there was a needle sticking out diagonally in my nose. It looked so incredible! But then came the part that I feared the most. I've read on BME that putting the jewelry in hurts the most. It was worse than I expected. I think that the jewelry hurt more than the actual piercing. I was on the second day of my period, so my nose wouldn't stop bleeding. Andres explained it, but I can't quite recall his reasoning. I was too happy to pay proper attention. So Erica and I paid and then went to take pictures of our fresh piercings. I'm looking forward to taking care of it and waiting for it to heal so that I can change the stud. I would have preferred a ring, but that would most definitely be out of the question, both at school and with my parents. Now that I look at it in the mirror, I wish that I had told him to move it a bit lower down, but everybody thinks that it looks good where it is. Disclaimer: The experience above was submitted by a BME reader and has not been edited. We can not guarantee that the experience is accurate, truthful, or contains valid or even safe advice. We strongly urge you to use BME and other resources to educate yourself so you can make safe informed decisions. Return to Nose / Nostril