Top Ten Gifts

Top Ten Gifts Moms Want Top Ten Gifts Moms Want Katy Abel What do women really want? It's a question that's been handed down through the ages. And now, as we prepare to salute Moms, we find ourselves pondering it even more. Godiva truffles? Breakfast in bed? A pink corsage? According to a highly un scientific survey of both veteran and new Moms, the answer is "none of the above." So for the genuinely puzzled and the completely clueless, we offer the gift of a "Top 10 List." These are things to do or buy that are guaranteed to move Mother's Day far beyond the usual flowers and chocolates. Go Ahead: Make My (own) Bed It's a gift mom Margot O'Toole treasured for weeks, even though it was nothing she could sniff, swallow, or try on. One Mother's Day morning, her young son Brendan simply announced that effectively immediately, he would begin to make his own bed every day.And he did, at least, for a matter of weeks. It meant more to Margot than all the cards and flowers received before or since. Take Out and Hang Out Claire Cahill, mother of three-year-old triplets Meaghan, Kimberly and Matthew, remembers the year she and her husband tried to take all three babies - and her mother - out to eat on Mother's Day. "It was absolutely horrible," she says, shuddering at the memory. "We'd made reservations, and even so we had to stand and wait for a table. We'd called ahead for three high chairs; when we got there, they didn't have any! So we sat with the kids on our laps and it was very stressful. "Sometimes people try to make it so special a day that it goes the other way. So last year we got Chinese takeout and just hung around the house taking pictures of the kids. We had such a good time that we're going to do it again this year!" Home Alone Of course you should spend time with her. But maybe Mom would love to be...left alone! One of the greatest gifts a mother can receive is a "coupon" for a day off. Hubby takes the kids and head for the hills one morning. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mom soaks in a hot tub, curls up by the fire with a good book, or invites a long-neglected friend over for lunch. Ahhhh....the sounds of silence. Shhhh. Say It With...Trees Most communities have garden clubs or beautification committees. Some sell trees and shrubs as a fundraiser. Buying a tree or plant for Mom, then planting it with her in the yard, is a fun activity to do with children and a lasting tribute. Take It To The Streets "Mother's Day isn't about chocolates, it's about taking care of our children," says M.J. Gregoire, one of the local organizers for the Million Mom March in Washington D.C. She and thousands of other moms have boarded buses - with kids in tow - to head to the nation's capital in a mass show of support for tougher gun control laws. If you'd like to accompany or send your Mom to this year's Million Mom March (with her permission of course), visit millionmommarch.com. A Blast From Her Past "I'd love nothing more than to return to my high school with my two (grown) children, and have us all sing together in the annual alumni concert," says Vinny A., mother of two and grandmother of three. Why not spend Mother's Day making a trip down Mom's own Memory Lane, with brunch at the hotel where she once danced with Dad, or tickets to a musical revived from "her" era? This Is Your Life Here's a great activity to do with kids: make a book about Mom's life! The simplest materials will do - construction paper folded, cut and stapled - illustrations done with paint, crayons, markers, and/or photos. This is a good excuse to call Mom's mom or other far-flung relatives for details on the naughty escapades of her childhood or college adventures. Basketweaving 101 Whether she's got a toddler or a teen, most mothers need - and seldom get - a night out. Sign up Mom for a course at a local community college or adult education program: Something fun! How about an Introduction to Chilean Wines, The Fine Art of Bellydancing, or Feng Shui? Say Cheese It's not in the cheap category, but if you're ready to go for broke, a professionally done family portrait would top any Mom's wish list. Remember Moms In Need Each year, the Women's Lunch Place in Boston hosts a special Mother's Day party for homeless and impoverished women.Guests enjoy a special meal of steak tips and scallops, dance to music provided by a live band, and receive corsagesand other gifts. "It came out of a realization that a lot of our guests have lost their families," explains Erin Kelly, fundraising coordinator for the day shelter. "This is a way we could show them that they are still special." Donors pay $25-35 to have a specially designed card sent to their own Moms, with a message saying that a donation to the Women's Lunch Place has been made in their name. (For more information, visit www.womenslunchplace.org. Donations in your mom's name - to her favorite charity - are a wonderful way to sustain the meaning of Mother's Day throughout the year! E-mail This Article Print This Article Article Mom's Memory Box Quiz Mama Movie! Quiz Poll Mom's Day Men Message Boards Momma's Mantra... More Related Links On This Month's Calendar St. Patrick's Day Spring Begins Easter National Nutrition Month Women's History Month -- FREE Digital Prints Digital prints at thousands of Walgreens nationwide. Order digital prints online. Pick up as little as 1 hour! 10 free prints with your first upload. FREE photo sharing and storage. Shipping to home also available. ESPN Play Your Way ESPN Play Your Way is a youth fitness program designed to encourage kids, ages 7-12 to get fit and remain physically active. A great imagination makes its own rules. Go to espnplayyourway.com to find out ways to get your kids active, simply by being kids. Staples One Trip. Every supply. Staples makes it easy to get them what they need for school. All at low prices . Hurricane Katrina To help your children understand and cope with this natural disaster, we have pulled together a collection of articles and advice: Hurricane Katrina How to Donate Back to School Sweepstakes! Win money for your family — or your school — this back to school season! Enter our Back-to-School Sweepstakes ! Join the Box Tops Booster Club! Box Tops for Education gives you exclusive opportunities to earn cash for your school and great ideas for your busy family. Membership is absolutely FREE. Sign up today! Free LD and ADHD Newsletter Sign up for our LD and ADHD email newsletter and stay up-to-date with our tips, resources, and expert advice. We'll help you be a champion for your child with learning disabilities or attention deficit disorders! Sign up now -- Back-to-School Quizzes Is your child socially prepared for the school year? Take a quiz to find out! Is Your Child Ready for Grade K-3? Is Your Child Ready for Grade 4-6? Is Your Child Ready for Middle School? Is Your Teen Ready for High School? Make It a Family Movie Night! Find movie descriptions and ratings for movies in theatres now, those coming soon, as well as movies in DVD and video. Down and Derby Fever Pitch House of D Sahara More -- What Works Exchange ideas, share solutions, and get advice from parents like you. Special Needs Find the latest information and suggestions about Learning Disabilities, ADD, and more. Expert Advice Read what leading authorities say on a variety of parenting issues. 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Unique Gifts & Services

Unique Gifts - Singing Bowls Table Top & Mist Fountains, Aromatherapy Oils, Feng Shui Products from MountainValleyCenter Autumn, 2005 Autumn, 2005 Unique Gifts & Services for Well Being. Feng Shui Tips & Products, Table Top & Mist Fountains, Singing Bowls & Meditation Music, Aromatherapy, Energy Healing Tools, Sound Healing, Labyrinth gifts... Find Products by 1) clicking on any of the 16 Category buttons below, 2) using our Site Map , or 3) Viewing products in specific price ranges - $10.00 & under , $11-$25 , $26-$50 , $51& Up . Unique Gifts from the Earth for Energy Healing. Crystals (Ipupiara, Spirit, Platonic, Merkabas...) Gemstones, Salt Lamp, Jewelry, Trolls... Aromatherapy - Your scent is in the Air. Essential Oils Diffusers & Balms, Intention Oils, Aromatherapy of Rome Solid Scents & Balms. Prayer Flags Light your healing fire with Smudge & Candles ! Feng Shui Candles, & Collections, Blue Pearl & Nag Champa Incense, Sage & Smudge, Feathers... Feng Shui Table Top & Mister Fountains make unique gifts! Fountain Supplies- Pumps, Bowls, Foggers, Lights & Foggers Labyrinth Walk & Gifts Labyrinth Park and Labyrinth Charts, Books, Stones, Life Path Chakra Finger labyrinth, Gifts, Information Feng Shui Tips & Products Feng Shui Cures, Books, Crystals, Mirrors, Bells, Candles, Statuary, Fiber Optics, Jewelry, Chimes, Collector Specials Books for Energy Healing & Well Being Native Wisdom, Chakras, Polarity Empowerment, Meditation, Prosperity, Inspirational Gifts Sound Healing with Singing Bowls plus! Tuning Forks, Drums, Native American Flutes, New Age Music, Guided Imagery & meditation music Chakra Energy Balancing Tools - Jewelry & stones, Wild Divine Biofeedback, Prayer Flags, Wheels, Prosperity Books... Free Well Being Articles Meditation, Chakras, Polarity, Feng Shui, & visiting metaphysical authors. Mountain Valley Center, Otto, NC Information & Directions to our Well Being Center & Labyrinth Buyer's Guide includes Guarantees for our Unique gifts, Awards & Customer Comments Certified Facilitator of Adult Learning On-line Course plus Workshops for Energy Healing Polarity Therapy Articles & information about Polarity Therapy and Energy Healing Links to new unique gifts on this website. Updated Monthly! Well Bing Links to our Favorite Websites Directory Baqua Map Gift Guide Use this guide to quickly take care of all of your shopping! Mountain Valley Center, your source for feng shui tips & products , energy healing, meditation & new age music , unique & inspirational gifts , and well being articles SEARCH OUR SITE! Find rare and unique statues, sculptures, and artifacts from ancient traditions. Energy SourceBook- The Fundamentals of Personal Energy The complete energy book by the webmaster of this site. Over 100 simple energy exercises to balance your body, mind and spirit and experience well being! 2005 Coalition of Visionary Resources - Visionary Award Winner - 2nd runner up - tied - Alternative Health category The Metaphysical New Age of Well Being Our Vision: a World of Well Being, Peace and Joy Our Mission: to assist you in discovering your own, inherent, sense of inner peace and joy. Join our Mailing List ! Our mailing list includes a monthly email newsletter containing Inspirational stories & quotes, dates for labyrinth gatherings & center activities, and links to our newsletter-members-only article series. The 2005 articles are: The 12 Laws of Personal Energy -Living a Metaphysical Life- Join us! RECEIVE OUR MONTHLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER - ITS FUN, CONFIDENTIAL AND FREE! Visit our Store Front & Labyrinth Park! 10248 Georgia Road (441 South) in Otto, North Carolina 28763 Just 3 miles north of Dillard, Georgia, and 7 miles south of Franklin, NC Open Monday through Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm, Closed Sunday Phone Toll Free: 1-888-773-2491 Local: 1-828-369-5698 Fax: 1-828-524-6086 Email: mail@mountainvalleycenter.com What our customers are saying about us! Your site is wonderfully overwelming. I am still working my way through it. Maybe I have finally found my way home. The Web Site just caught my eye while I was looking for various things. Seems to have so much to offer those of us who are looking to improve our life and our abilities the cope with the problems of these crazy time we live in. Your site is unbelievable! Everything is useful. I spent over 45 minutes browsing prior to making my purchase. A good source for a lot of items that generally you have to go to several different sites or companies to find. One stop shopping ! Thank you . Take a coffee break with gourmet Fireside Coffees today! Click on the picture! BOOKMARK THIS PAGE OR ADD IT TO YOUR FAVORITES FOLDER NOW rev082505

wedding gifts you really

MSN Money - Get the wedding gifts you really want MSN Home My MSN Hotmail Shopping Money People & Chat Sign In W eb Search: Money S earch MSN Money: Help Home News Banking Investing Planning Taxes My Money Portfolio Loans Insurance Planning Home Retirement Savings Insurance Family/College Resources Decision Centers Commentary Index More Tools Related Links My Accounts Message Boards Print-friendly version Send this to a friend Get market news by e-mail See if refinancing works Personal finance bookshelf Find It! Article Index Finance Q&A Tools Index Site map Related Sites Association of Bridal Consultants The Honeymoon Casa de Oro Travel wedding registry Honeymoonforyou.com HoneyLuna.com The Basics Get the wedding gifts you really want advertisement Traditional registries can prevent you from getting 5 identical bun warmers. But some couples really want camping gear, home down payments or honeymoon contributions. What would Miss Manners say? By MP Dunleavey It's relatively rare these days for people to get married right after graduating from college. The average age for first marriage among women has risen steadily to more than 25, from less than 21 in 1970; for men, the average is now more than 27. My fianc and I were about a decade or so past our mid-20s when we got married recently, and like a lot of people, we had accumulated a lot of stuff during our unmarried years. The last thing we wanted was more stuff. At least that's how we felt when we considered doing the standard newlywed thing: i.e. registering for china, linens, monogrammed silver, matching PDAs and a small, well-behaved child. Nah. What we wanted, more than anything, given the stress of modern wedding planning, was to go lie on a beach somewhere and pretend we were still happily dating. Don't let retirement sneak up on you. Create a perfect plan. But like most couples we found the cost of the wedding taxing enough -- even though our parents did pay for most of it. There was no way we could afford a honeymoon, too. So we got this crazy idea. If our loved ones would be willing to shell out for glassware and new pots, would it be terrible -- crass, rude, self-serving -- to ask for contributions toward what we really wanted? Financial wedding etiquette To be honest, I've never liked the idea of a traditional registry. No matter how fancy the store (or your china pattern), you're basically telling guests what to buy you. Miss Manners, aka Judith Martin, pointed out in a recent column that commercial gift registries used to be kept ONLY in the event that customers inquired about a bride's china or silver pattern. Now, she says, all sentiment is being stripped from the gift-giving tradition. People turn to registries, she says, "to put generosity under the control of its beneficiaries." And, she concludes sternly: "These practices are no less vulgar for having become commonplace." Her point is well-taken. Some couples seem to equate "getting married" with "shopping spree" and use the registry system to shamelessly upgrade every item in their home. On the other hand, there is a financial reality that cannot be avoided. Custom dictates that a gift must be bought, so for most people the financial sanity (and sheer convenience) of bridal registries outweighs the inherent crudeness of this system. Guests don't waste their money buying gifts couples don't want or can't use. Couples get what they need, so they don't have to buy it themselves. Stuff -- who needs it? Increasingly, says Peggy Post, author of "Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette by Peggy Post", many couples would rather skip the stuff anyway. "So many couples come to the marriage with so many things," she says, noting that 40% of marriages are "encore," i.e. repeat, unions, for one or both partners. "These days you see people registering for all kinds of non-traditional items." Among them: camping gear, a down payment for a house, stock certificates and, yes! . . . the honeymoon. According to the Association of Bridal Consultants (see link at left), a wedding guest will spend an average of $85 on a gift. The average cost of a honeymoon is about $4,000. If a couple has no need for flatware and linens, why not encourage guests to contribute to a honeymoon registry like thehoneymoon.com, casadeorotravel.com, honeymoonforyou.com or honeyluna.com? Guests can contribute to airfare, romantic dinners, massages, picnics, guided tours, etc. To drool over a sample registry for a honeymoon in Hawaii, click on the link at left under Honeymoonforyou.com. For one in Greece, click at left under HoneyLuna.com. And to send in contributions for my honeymoon, click . . . oh, never mind. The etiquette of alternative registries Peggy Post, the great-granddaughter-in-law of Emily Post, thinks using these offbeat registries can be fine "with a big IF attached." Here's some guidance: 1) Wait until you're asked. It's impolite (and annoying) to include a card announcing where you're registered. Wait for guests to inquire, and let the word spread discreetly through friends and family. "Let your parents, siblings, wedding party and close friends know -- IF they've asked," suggests Bobbie Izeman, a bridal consultant and advice columnist for blushing-brides.com. "But don't announce it in a formal way." 2) Do not dictate. As Miss Manners points out, a gift, above all, is a gift. It is not up to you to decide what your guests should give, no matter how badly you want contributions to your down payment, help with your airfare or even traditional items like cookware. "You should leave your guests the option to give you what they want," agrees Post. 3) Say thank you. It may seem obvious, but sending a prompt, enthusiastic thank you note -- for every gift, no matter what the gift -- is essential. "The key thing is to remember to be appreciative," says Post. The honeymoon fund Since we didn't know about these honeymoon registries a few months ago, my fianc and I set up our own impromptu "honeymoon fund." We made a small gaffe by alluding to it in the instruction sheet for our weekend wedding (oops!), but it was in the context of asking guests please not to give presents. Apparently, that is also a faux pas (eek!), but we hadn't consulted all these etiquette experts then. To our surprise, a small number of friends (and a couple of relatives) protested. They wanted to get us A Real Gift. I can say with some relief that at least we handled that properly -- encouraging people to give whatever sort of gift they wanted. And they did. We got a lovely mix of gifts and honeymoon fund contributions. Just enough so that we can restore our sanity on some sandy shore -- without going into a penny of debt. What greater wedding gift could there be? Editor's Choice 3 legal papers you can't live without Your own business, your tax shelter Brush: The 5 most overpaid CEOs Are seniors gambling away retirement? Cut your taxes by going solar Readers' Choice Ratings Top 5 Articles 9.34 Zombie debt collectors dig up your old mistakes 9.33 10 ways to stop identity theft cold 9.31 10 ways to avoid outrageous hospital overcharges 9.22 The tricks and traps of debt consolidation 9.17 Safeguard your Social Security number View all top rated articles More Resources · E-mail us your comments on this article · Post on the Your Money message board · Get a daily dose of market news S earch MSN Money tips advertisement MSN Money's editorial goal is to provide a forum for personal finance and investment ideas. Our articles, columns, message board posts and other features should not be construed as investment advice, nor does their appearance imply an endorsement by Microsoft of any specific security or trading strategy. An investor's best course of action must be based on individual circumstances. © 2005 Microsoft MSN Privacy Legal Advertise Feedback Help

Gifts for Men: Motorcycle

Aspen Country - Unique Gifts for Men, Gift Ideas for Men, Distinctive Men's Gifts, Unusual Man's Gift Entrance Contents View Basket Shipping Checkout Contact Us F.A.Q.s About Us end rendering tab -- Welcome to Aspen Country Aspen Country Store specializes in unique, fine quality, yet affordable gifts and novelty items for hard to shop for people and special occasions. Please browse the 1000s of gifts in our store, or check out our distinctive men's gifts and unique gift ideas for men, Father's Day gift ideas , gifts for golfers , unusual fisherman gifts , gift ideas for hunters , and unique office accessories for men. Enjoy Aspen Country! God Bless America FREE SHIPPING On Orders Over $75 Click for details Search For Men's Gifts: Free Greeting Cards Free personalized online greetings from Aspen Country! Send Free Greeting Cards Add a Message to a Gift Order Browse Our Gift Store Aspen Country Sampler Men's Home Decor & Gifts Nautical Home Decorations Decor & Gifts for Women Lawn and Garden Decor Home Decor Accessories Antique-Style Decorations Decorative Mirrors Country Clock Shop Feng Shui Oriental Decor Kitchen Decorations Country Candle Shop Angel Sculptures & Decor Religious Gifts & Statues American Old West African Heritage Decor Dolls, Miniatures, Musicals Toys, Chess Sets, Games Mythical Fantasty Theme Animal Wildlife Sculptures Elephant Statues & Decor Bird & Eagle Sculptures Human Statues, Figurines Designer Photo Frames Home Office Accessories Knives, Tool Sets, Totes Fine Jewelry Gifts Christmas Decorations New Knickknacks & Gifts New! Gift Certificates Aspen Country Site Map Unique Masculine Gifts for Manly Men - Distinctive Chess Sets, Masculine Sculptures & Novelty Gifts for Him African Animals Safari Chess Set A wild gift idea for men and boys! Plan a "wild" strategy with this safari-inspired chess set featuring animals from the African veldt. Chess board measures: 15" x 15" x 1 3/4" thick. (Regularly $59.95) SALE! Item:32338 $44.95 Metal Wire Chopper Motorcycle Sculpture A "wound wire" technique was used to create this unique fine art piece, a representation of a most popular means of transportation for generations, the motorcycle. This manly gift idea measures 14 1/2" x 3 1/2" x 6" high. Item:30313 (Regularly $39.95) SALE! $31.95 More Unique Gifts for Men: Motorcycle Sculptures & Unique Motorcycle Decorations Distinctive Gift Ideas for Men and Boys - Unique Men's Watches Men's Pocket Watch - Embossed Eagle Case Classic railroad pocket watch with an embossed eagle. This distinctive men's watch inculdes a matching fob chain and makes a great gift. Item:3980 (Regularly $24.95) SALE! $19.95 Embossed Train Design Railroad Pocket Watch A great gift idea for men and boys! Railroad style men's pocket watch with an embossed gold train. Quartz movement. Matching fob chain. Item:9835 (Regularly $24.95) SALE! $19.95 Shop Aspen Country Online! We aim to please our customers and we want you to have a pleasant online shopping experience. Our customer service is second to none and your credit card purchases are secure. Shop Aspen Country By Mail Order or Fax! Printable Order Form ©2005 Aspencountry.com All rights reserved. Number of Hits: - Unique Gift Ideas for Men - Distinctive Gifts for Men - Men's Home Decor & Masculine Office Decorations | Distinctive Nautical Motif Gifts for Men | Golf-Theme Gifts for Men | | Unique Fishing Theme Gifts for Men | Hunting Motif Gifts for Men | | Office Decorations for Men: Bookends, Sculptures, Desk Accessories | | Unique Masculine Men's Gifts | Distinctive Gifts for Him: Men's Watches | | More Thoughtful Gifts for Men and Unique Gift Ideas for Men | - Distinctive Gifts for Men - Unique Gift Ideas for Men - Nautical Home Decor for Men & Nautical Theme Desk Accessories Mariner's Spyglass in Carved Wood Box For those keen of eye and intellect. A hand-carved mango wood box opens up to reveal an attractive antique-style spyglass telescope covered with leather and brass accents. This unique men's gift is 3" x 4 1/4" x 3 1/4" high. Item:33015 (Regularly $24.95) SALE! $19.95 Nautical Lighthouse Clock / Table Lamp Trappings of the coastal life are on display in this colorful lighthouse light/clock. Electrical cord for light; clock uses one AA battery, not included. Wood. A fantastic gift idea, this clock lamp is 9 3/4" x 5 1/2" x 11 3/4" high. Item:33738 (Regularly $24.95) SALE! $19.95 Rowboat Wall Shelf - Antique Finish Wood This hand-crafted rowboat and oars with antiqued finish can serve many purposes, from display piece to magazine rack to a wall shelf for miniatures. This unique men's gift idea is 9 3/4" wide x 3 5/8" x 24 7/8" high. Item:31182 (Regularly $27.95) SALE! $21.95 Nautical Lighthouse Motif Key Cabinet - Wood Nautical motif wooden key box features a decorative tile with a Cape Hatteras Lighthouse scene on the hinged door, and eight key hooks inside. Dark wood with resin tile. 5" x 2 1/2" x 9 7/8" high. Item:34572 (Regularly $19.95) SALE! $15.95 Wood Trinket Box with Lighthouse Shadowbox Lid Three famous lighthouses decorate the shadowbox lid of this "Guardians of the Sea" trinket box. Wood box; resin figures. Nautical desk box measures 11" x 9" x 3 3/4" high. Item:35128 (Regularly $29.95) SALE! $24.95 Boat Rental "Bait" Wood Log Birdhouse A rustic bait and boat rental birdhouse, complete with maritime adornments, is open and ready for fisher-fowl fun. This nautical theme decorative birdhouse measures 8" x 5 1/2" x 10 1/2" high and makes a fun men's gift. Item:30207 (Regularly $14.95) SALE! $11.95 Nautical Ship's Knots Wooden Shadow Box "Knots to you" is the theme of this unusual nautical wooden shadow box showcasing a 3-dimensional sailing ship and 12 examples of ship's knots. This nautical theme men's gift is 13 1/4" x 1 1/8" x 9 1/2" high. Item:31231 (Regularly $14.95) SALE! $11.95 More Distinctive Gifts for Men and Unique Gift Ideas for Men: | Nautical Motif Men's Gifts | Nautical Decor for Men | - Distinctive Gift Ideas for Men - Unique Gifts for Golfers - Golfer Statues, Golf-Theme Desk Accessories, Golf Novelty Gifts Golfer Wearing Knickers Bronze Sculpture A perfect gift for the golfer! For the golf aficianado, a classic golf figure to enhance a man's office or den. This nostalgic figure leans on his club and wears knickers and all the classic golfing apparel of days past. 4 5/8" x 3 3/8" x 11 1/2" high. Item:31146 (Regularly $19.95) SALE! $15.95 Ceramic Golf Clock - Golfer Taking a Swing For the avid golfer who never wants to miss a tee time, this decorative golfer clock is a terrific gift idea and just the thing for men who love to golf. 4 1/2" x 3" x 6" high. Item:31803 (Regularly $24.95) SALE! $19.95 Golfer Desk Sculpture - Frosted Glass Look Golf Statue What golfer wouldn't love to add this masterpiece sculpture, in stunning "frosted glass" finish, to his collection? The translucence creates a spectacular effect of contrasting light and shadow. This distinctive men's gift is 7 1/8" x 4 1/8" x 8 1/2" high. Item:28147 (Regularly $39.95) SALE! $31.95 Golf Motif Wall Clock - History of Golf Shadowbox Design The "History of Golf" is illustrated with golf balls and clubs in this antique-look shadowbox-style wall clock. Wood; resin golf balls. Battery operated. 8 3/4" x 2 1/4" x 18 1/2" high. Item:35133 (Regularly $34.95) SALE! $27.95 Evolution of Golf Shadow Box - Golfing Wall Decor Here's a great gift for the golfer in the family. A wooden shadowbox displaying the evolution of the iron since the 1700's, and variations of the golf ball from 1830-1930. 22" x 1 3/4" x 12" high. Item:31588 (Regularly $34.95) SALE! $27.95 More Unique Gift Ideas for Men: Golf Theme Men's Gifts - Unique Gifts for Men - Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Fishermen - Fishing-Theme Desk Accessories & Fisherman Decorations Fisherman with Fishing Gear Desk Clock As every angler knows, it's always a good time to go fishing, and here's a clock that shows why! This distinctive men's gift is 6" high. Item:31804 (Regularly $24.95) SALE! $19.95 Rainbow Trout Bookends Pair with Wood Bases This fine fisherman gift is perfect for his den or fishing cabin! A fish head and a fish tail comprise these decorative trout design bookends. Wood back and bottom with ceramic resin trout. 9 1/2" x 4" x 5 1/4" high. Pair. Item:35132 (Regularly $19.95) SALE! $14.95 Fishing Cabin & Fishing Gear Wood Photo Frame A fishing-themed frame designed for a 4" x 6" photo, made from wood and featuring an oar, a net, a tackle box, and two fish. This masculine photo frame is 11 3/8" x 2" x 9" high. Item:33177 (Regularly $12.95) SALE! $10.95 Hanging "Gone Fishing" Sign & Trout Key Box A must-have for the avid fisherman, this key holder tells it like it is: "If the keys are missin' I've gone fishin'!" The incribed box cover flips up revealing hidden key hooks. Painted wood. 11 1/2" x 2 1/4" x 11 1/2" high. Item:31180 (Regularly $14.95) SALE! $11.95 Fishing Decor: Trout Shape Plate Rack w/ Fish Plates The perfect wall decoration for the fishing cabin! Four trout design porcelain plates are displayed on a fish-shaped metal rack. Plates 8" diameter. Rack: 45 1/2" x 2 1/4" x 12 1/4" high. Sold as a set. Item:35323 (Regularly $39.95) SALE! $31.95 More Great Gifts for Men: Fishing Motif Men's Decor & Fisherman Gifts - Unique Gifts for Men - Gifts for Hunters - Gifts for Men Who Enjoy Hunting & Hunting-Theme Decorations Duck Decoy Bookends: Split Duck Bookends Pair Great for cabin or den! With the look of antique painted wood duck decoys, this decorative pair of bookends includes duck tail and duck head. Wood bottom and back with resin ducks. 9 1/2" x 4" x 5 1/4" high. Pair. Item:35131 (Regularly $19.95) SALE! $14.95 Eagle & US Flag Design Handle Stainless Steel Knife The American flag and an eagle decorate the handle of this patriotic all-purpose knife. Stainless steel blade. Leather case. 3" blade. Item:25281 $6.95 Gifts for Him, More Unique Gift Ideas for Men: Gifts for Hunters - Unique Gifts for Men - Office Decorations for Men - Masculine Desk Accessories, Men's Bookends, Sculptures for Men Eagle with American Flags Patriotic Sculpture The bald eagle and the stars and stripes of Old Glory are our celebrated symbols of freedom and liberty. Porcelain. This distinctive patriotic sculpture is 9 1/2" x 6 1/8" x 12" high. Item:29156 (Regularly $49.95) SALE! $38.95 Patriotic Bald Eagle on American Flag Bookends A welcome addition to your Americana Collection. All the mighty symbols of freedom adorn these highly-detailed ceramic bookends. Pair. These USA patriotic bookends measure 5 1/8" x 4 1/8" x 5 7/8" high. Item:29193 (Regularly $23.95) SALE! $18.95 Oregon Trail Pioneer's Model Covered Wagon A model of the covered wagon that pioneers once took west along the Oregon Trail. Made of wood, with every detail maintained. 14" x 7" x 12 3/4" high. Item:33676 (Regularly $29.95) SALE! $24.95 Old West Pony Express Rider Sculpture A Pony Express cowboy and his horse come alive on this detailed fine art bronze sculpture, adding a true touch of the American Old West to your home or office. 10 1/2" x 4 3/4" x 9 1/2" high. Item:31048 (Regularly $39.95) SALE! $31.95 American Indian Sculpture - "End of the Trail" Yet another rendition of the classic Cherokee Nation "End of the Trail," this sculpture boasts detailed hand-painting and a detachable spear and feather. 9 3/4" x 4 1/2" x 9 3/4" high. Item:31058 (Regularly $39.95) SALE! $31.95 Native American Tribal Chief Sculpture A majestic Native American chief, dressed in feather headress and tribal garb, holds a peace pipe. This large Indian chief sculpture measures 9 1/2" x 8 5/8" x 24 7/8" tall. Item:32332 (Regularly $69.95) SALE! $57.95 Rustic Black Bears and Pine Cone Motif Bookends Pair In rustic style with pine cones accents, a duo of chubby black bears take a relaxing break from foraging before their upcoming winter hiberntion. Resin. Perfect for den or cabin, these bookends measure 9" x 5" x 5 3/4" high. Pair. Item:34615 (Regularly $19.95) SALE! $14.95 Majestic Lion Clock - Antique Style Desk Clock A great gift idea for men! With a classic lion motif and an antique finish, this fine desk clock is the essence of sophistication. Battery operated. 5 3/4" x 3 1/2" x 7 1/2" high. Item:33615 (Regularly $29.95) SALE! $24.95 Colorful Winged Dragon Over Flames Desk Clock An unusual dragon desk clock for your dragon collection! Brightly colored resin dragon with orange acrylic flames. Uses one CB 50 battery, included. This unique office gift measures 5" x 4 1/4 x 7 5/8" high. Item:34886 (Regularly $34.95) SALE! $27.95 More Great Gifts for Men and Unique Gift Ideas for Men: | Patriotic Gifts & Sculptures | Cowboy Decor & Western Sculptures | | Wildlife Gifts & Decorations | Desk Accents & Office Decor Gifts | Back to the top of this page More Unique Men's Gift Ideas & Thoughtful Gifts for Men | Unique Father's Day Gifts: Gifts for Dad | Gifts for Fishermen | | Gifts for Hunters | Men's Watches | Nautical Theme Gifts | | Desk Accessories for Men, Office Gifts, Masculine Office Decorations | | Patriotic Sculptures, Stars & Stripes Gifts | Dragon & Wizard Gifts | More Unique Gifts and Distinctive Gift Ideas | Gift Ideas for Men | Gifts for Women | Get Well Gifts | | New Baby Gifts, Baptism Gifts | Unique Gifts for Children | | Gifts for Teenagers & Tweens | Grandparent Gift Ideas | | Gifts for Teachers & Students | Housewarming Gift Ideas | | Anniversary Gifts | Romantic Gifts That Say I Love You | | Gifts Under $10 | Gifts Under $25 | Gifts Under $50 | | Aspen Country Entrance | Aspen Country Sampler | Thank you for shopping at Aspencountry.com! 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Birthday Present Newsroom Press

Piggy’s Birthday Present Newsroom home | view cart | top 10 sites | faqs | about us | contact us an engaging language arts and early math program about product standards & skills newsroom request information ordering information printable order form Piggy’s Birthday Present Newsroom Press Release Reviews Piggy’s Birthday Present Santa Cruz, CA — Learning in Motion is pleased to announce the release of another learning environment featuring the well-loved Piggy! Piggy’s Birthday Present is a CD-ROM for early learners that builds English language arts and mathematics skills. Like Piggy in Numberland before it, this program gives teachers only one problem—how to get their kids off the computer! Piggy’s Birthday Present uses the popular “dot-to-dot” activity to provide fun and learning. With each dot-to-dot picture they complete, children are engaging in a sequence of progressively more advanced activities in language and number sense. The program is based on research into early language and mathematics learning, and the more than 2,000 questions originate from time-tested curricula. Piggy’s Birthday Present offers five murals in both mathematics and language arts. Students complete the murals, picture by picture, by answering questions at three different skill levels: kindergarten, first, and second grade. Whether in math or language arts, children alternate between content work and art work, and their learning potential increases via this “distributed practice.” After successfully completing the activity, students select from an array of paints, using the palette to color and customize their murals. Distributed practice, an important principle in educational psychology, is a perfect match for the dot-to-dot format, providing a systematic pattern of learning and playing, learning and playing. Murals for Language Arts and Mathematics In Piggy’s Birthday Present the research is solid, the activities classroom-tested, and the “kid-factor” high. Motivation and reward are keen in Piggy’s Birthday Present —students can print their pictures, search for hidden treasures, and receive special certificates. Sophisticated graphics and animation with whimsical characters and magical scenes all add to the fun. Also, Piggy’s Birthday Present is incredibly easy to play—there are no directions to read and Piggy’s friends Bee, Panda, and Baby Kangaroo are always nearby to help. Mathematics and language arts activities provide a sequenced progression of concepts and skills. English language arts emphasizes sight recognition, phonics (sounds), and morphology (word structure). Mathematics activities stress four areas: numeral recognition, counting, numerical relationships, and arithmetic. Each mural is supported by exercises at the three difficulty levels; students (or teachers) simply select the appropriate level. In addition, the numbers in the math dot-to-dots can be heard in several languages—Spanish, French, Chinese (Mandarin), Italian, Japanese, and Indonesian! Every mural contains several pictures focusing on a particular skill set. The Skills Summary feature gives teachers the content description for each mural at the easy, medium, or hard level. Students can work individually or in groups, and student work is always saved and recorded in the Skills Summary after every session. Piggy’s Birthday Present was developed by ThoughtMakers, a core team of cognitive psychologists, software engineers, graphic artists, and musicians. The program was produced, tested, and modified as part of a research and development effort headed by Dr. J. Arthur Woodward and Ms. Jill Gilkerson, Department of Psychology, UCLA. The school version of Piggy’s Birthday Present is shipped on two CD-ROMs with a Teacher’s Guide. The Teacher’s Guide offers classroom supports such as complementary activity suggestions. Piggy’s Birthday Present is priced at $39. Additional CD-ROMS are available for $15. Learning in Motion offers a free 30-day preview of Piggy’s Birthday Present to US and Canadian educational institutions. Contact Customer Service at (800) 560-5670. Piggy’s Birthday Present was designed by ThoughtMakers and published by Learning in Motion, Inc. Reviews This program definitely attracts a crowd of children when it is on, and the attention span for the program was unusually high compared to many programs on the market. Kids were highly motivated to complete the murals and build up their stash of treasures. Overall: Highly Recommended —Online review for The Review Corner ( http://www.reviewcorner.com ) ...There’s a lot of excellent early math and reading practice to be found in these simple puzzles, and the program has the important features of good graphics, a responsive design and an engaging theme in an easy-to-use format. —Ann Orr for Children’s Software Revue ( http://www.childrenssoftware.com ) This new program, the second in a series, breaks new ground in connect-the-dot puzzles. How? By putting hundreds of easy puzzles at a child’s fingertips and a fun surprise at the end. ...Incremental success keeps preschoolers glued to their seats. —October 1999 review for Scholastic Early Childhood Today ( http://www.scholastic.com ) The program provides colorful settings and graphics that are age-appropriate. Audio prompts for directions and navigation are user-friendly for young children. Piggy’s Birthday Present could be used in a computer center in kindergarten or first grade for either individual or group practice in language arts or math. Teachers in grade two may find it useful as a remediation tool, and ESL students would benefit from the activities as well. —A September 1999 review by the EvaluTech project of the Southern Regional Education Board ( http://www.evalutech.sreb.org ) 2004 Learning in Motion, Inc.