In fact, VeriSign (the leading provider of security for web sites on the Internet) suggests e-commerce data from the holiday season in 2004 totaled 8.8 billion dollars in online purchases (based on an analysis of online sales volume processed through VeriSign payment services, which comprises more than 35% of North America’s e-commerce and represents in excess of 120,000 online retailers).

Additionally, e-commerce transactions are estimated to be close to 168 billion dollars for the year 2005. In fact, in the year 2010 it is projected online sales could top the 315 billion dollar mark (Forrester Research 2005). One may ask, why such an increase?

Many factors can explain such increases. Improved security measures, ease of use and convenience are just a few of these factors. Let’s explore these factors.

Security Measures- Despite all the fears of identity theft, online transactions account for less than 4% of identity theft. There are numerous software programs available (some for free) that the user can download to protect themselves from viruses and spyware. Worried about spyware? Download a free spyware program at www.safer-networking.com (called SpyBot Search & Destroy). Additionally, look for the locked padlock in the toolbar and make sure the http changes to https in your browser. The “s” indicates that the web site is a secure site and adheres to the industry standard for security values Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Therefore, your personal information is encrypted and stays private during transmission over the Internet. Always delete sensitive information when exiting any website and do not give your credit card number to anyone requesting it in an email (phishing scams). Follow these simple steps a safe online shopping experience.

Ease of use- We have all seen the banner advertisements, just click on them and they take you to the web site advertised. Email advertising is growing in popularity as well and includes a link to click on to take the user to the site after they read the text ad. There are some unique and catchy names of web sites that are easy to remember. Have a favorite web site or shopping site? Just bookmark it and add it to your collection of favorites!

Convenience- Ever wait in long lines during the holiday season? What a time saver online shopping has become! No lines to wait in, no parking hassles, no traffic, no gas expense, no crowds and your merchandise can be shipped right to your door! Or, if you prefer, you can have your purchases gift wrapped and delivered to another address. All you do is sit at your computer with your shopping list and get done in a few hours what may taken you several days and trips to the mall to accomplish!

There are many more advantages to shopping online (we have just covered a few) as well as some disadvantages, but carefully weighed out; the smart shopper will discover a happy medium between the two and e-commerce will continue to grow and be a force in the economy for years to come.

But is it correct? Is it appropriate that one has to purchase a certain tool to facilitate the free flow of ‘chi’ for the benefits of all?

If the question is presented to those who make a living by selling these tools to those who are desperately in need of help, the answer will definitely be a loud and clear ‘yes.’

But the truth of the matter is: “It all depends.”

For example, a lot of indoor water fountains have been sold recently to those who believe that by putting these indoor water fountains in a certain position, they will help bring forth prosperity.

As a professional feng shui practitioner for over 25 years, I can confirm that this belief is of much validity, and that when located correctly – that is, positioned to the right direction – these indoor water fountains can help facilitate the increase of income to a large extent. Sounds too amazing, doesn’t it?

But it is true that when the ‘water’ element among the ‘five elements’ in the Chinese philosophy is well positioned, it will be able to stir up more ‘water’ chi which will result in bringing forth more prosperity. That’s why all along Chinese history, water has been considered as the symbol of money.

Hence the fondness of these water fountains all through history by the architects who might have subconsciously tuned into the attractiveness of employing them to bring forth richness.

However, not all feng shui tools are created equal. There is more hype than truth when it comes to hanging a flute onto the side of the beam on the ceiling to ward off the downward pressure of the beam itself. This invalid belief has been made up by those who only want to sell more flutes to begin with! And it doesn’t have anything to do with off-setting the so-called ‘negative influences’ from the beam itself either. Nevertheless, the flutes have been sold by the truckloads in these recent years.

The same is true of the belief that the diagonal corner from the entrance is considered the ‘money corner’ and thus it is never to be opened as a window, lest the good money ‘chi’ will run away. This is another typical abuse of creative thinking applied onto the feng shui philosophy. If this concept were valid, then all those nicely designed houses would end up leading their owners onto the road of poverty!

A little learning is dangerous – this is true in many facets of life.

Feng shui is the only system in the world that enables those who are in the know to have very deep insights about the environment as well as those who dwell in it. It is a very valid system for analyzing the well-being of the inhabitants at all levels. When used correctly, it can be a good tool to trace back what happened in the past, as well as predict what will happen in the future. It is the most amazing system that is beyond anyone’s imagination.

With the right feng shui tool, yes, one’s well being can definitely be improved to a large extent – it’s just a matter of whether or not the right thing is done at the right time in the right place!

Best regards

Tonie
Exotic Gift Idea

Considering all this, there are some items in the marketplace that are very popular and, in most cases, would do well with anybody if they received one of them. In light of that thought, this article presents the five hottest gift ideas for Christmas this year. These ideas are not young kids toys, but are items that would surely be enjoyed by almost everyone, so you are going to be safe if you choose one of these items for someone on your list.

The first item is an Ipod or another good MP3 player. The Ipod has been on the forefront of technology for about two years and has the advantage of being portable and desirable. The Ipod has always sold well, especially during the holidays. It’s a unit that is extremely functional yet minimal and sleek in design. It comes with the capacity to hold thousands of songs or video and can even play DVD movies after a conversion process.

The second item would be books. Books are essentially timeless and good stories always capture the interest of those who read. Reading a good book has always been a favorite pastime, even in today’s technological society where everyone is glued to the computer or to the TV. Excellent book gift choices might be in the self-help area or possibly in the inspirational category. Good novels and religious books are favorites also.

The third item is a digital camera. Almost everyone wants to capture precious moments on film and now digital cameras make it so easy. Film is no longer needed and high quality digital images can be obtained with a digital camera capable of taking very nice images. All of the pictures you take can be saved to your computer or on a CD ROM. You can also make pictorial slides shows with background music and the list goes on.

The fourth item is a mobile phone. Cellular phones are just about everywhere now and almost everyone has one. More often than not, they are not expensive to purchase, even for the brand new ones that come out with all the latest features. With a mobile phone, of course, the gift idea of being able to keep in touch with some easily goes a long way. If all your friends have a phone in their pocket, it is much easier to keep in touch.

The last item is clothes. Whether it is a coat, shoes, socks, pants or dresses, clothes are always in need. Everyone loves looking good and having new clothes helps one attain the look they desire for themselves. Sometimes clothes are given as gifts for a need, other times because a cool looking item was found and you just had to have it for someone. Whatever the case, clothes will always be a popular gift.

Choosing a gift for a special person is not easy. You can dwell on what to get that special someone for days without making a decision. So if you are really stuck, consider one of the items on this list. No matter which one you choose, you will not go wrong.

Happy Thanks giving!

Tonie
Exotic Gift Idea

Aside from recommending that you don’t serve red wine or coffee, here’s a simple guide for treating stains and maintaining carpets and upholstery.

Always clean up spills quickly to avoid staining. Start by removing any solid debris. Clean the spill using clean, cold water and blotting with white paper towels or cloths. Never scrub or brush the spill as it will damage fibers and possibly set the stain. Only if this method does not work should you move on to harsher treatments.

Regular vacuuming and spot treatment will improve the quality and life span of your carpets and upholstery.

Since chemicals are hard on the fibers of carpets and upholstery, you should always start with the weakest solution before moving on. Start with clean water and move onto a mild solution of liquid soap (never use laundry detergent) or an oxygen based cleaner which usually works well on organic stains (food, animal, blood) before using chemical spot removers.

Western Regional Pollution Prevention Network (WRPPN) cautions professional janitors and cleaners to avoid using chemicals as much as possible.

Carpet spot removal products are made with some of the most dangerous chemicals and should always be applied when wearing gloves and in an area with good ventilation.

Test the cleaning products for carpets or upholstery in a hidden spot to make certain it won’t stain. Place a white paper towel or cloth on the tested area to check for color transfer. If the cleaner is safe apply a small amount of spot removal product to a clean, white cloth and work your way from the OUTSIDE of the stain inwards. Keep at it only using a stronger solution when you are no longer getting results with water or mild detergent.

Upholstery stains can also be treated with a 3% Hydrogen Peroxide solution that can be left on and dabbed. You do not need to rinse. Hydrogen Peroxide works equally well on vinyl furniture.

When the stain is removed rinse with clean water and blot the excess out. Replace towels when they are too wet to absorb anymore water. Be careful to avoid over wetting as it can also damage your carpet or cause mildew in your carpet or upholstered furniture.

Taking the time to treat spills before they’re stains will go a long way in keeping your carpets and upholstery looking as good as new!

Kind regards

Tonie
Exotic Gift Idea

The ability to create is a God given gift. A gift given to everyone without exception. Thought is the first step to manifesting any creation. Thoughts are energy, they are real. Your thoughts act as magnets and attract other thoughts, people, and circumstances that harmonize with them.

Thoughts operate and adhere to certain universal laws. Without these laws there would be no order; the universe itself would sink into chaos.

The Law of Attraction states that like attracts like. Much of what was once considered metaphysical, esoteric knowledge in the past is now scientific fact. Physics has shown that the principles involved in the Law of Attraction are every bit as valid as those governing the Law of Gravity. So it should come as no surprise that dwelling only on your problems simply attracts more problems.

The idea of attracting success by thinking about it is very appealing. So appealing in fact, people often get the wrong impression that it’s easy. Affirmations can be helpful, but mindless affirmations alone have no real value. On the other hand, once an affirmation becomes part of your belief system the subconscious goes to work attracting opportunities. It is not the success itself we attract, but the opportunity to succeed.

Our world is ruled by cause and effect, yet we often fail to see how this rule applies to the thoughts we think. This happens because the results of our thoughts are so far removed from the cause that we fail to see the connection.

The subconscious mind is working tirelessly 24 hours a day. It doesn’t analyze, it doesn’t judge, it simply accepts and attracts more of what the conscious mind is focused on. Are you attracting problems or solutions? By focusing on desire and showing gratitude for what you already have, the subconscious mind is given the necessary material to provide a constant stream of opportunities. Whether we take advantage of these opportunities or not is another story.

It’s impossible to operate outside the law of attraction. Consciously or unconsciously your thoughts, feelings, and emotions, determine if this law works for or against you. Stay focused on your success and reaching your goals. As one success leads to another, success becomes a habit. Problems and obstacles are seen as no more than stepping stones on the road to your ultimate goal.

Kind regards

Tonie Konig
Exotic Gift Idea

There is nothing nicer than giving one of the best gardening gifts for friends and relatives who love nature and all its beautiful aspects right on their own backyard. The problem you may encounter is choosing the best gardening gift there is for your loved ones.

To ensure that your gardening gift will be appreciated by the recipient and also your budget, here are some guidelines you should consider:

In choosing the type of gardening gift, consider your budget. When your budget is holding you back from buying the best gardening gift, don’t fret. There are garden accessories and gardening wear that would suit your fund.

Gardening gloves, footwear and kneepads, may be bought in a variety of colors, texture, and material. You could choose the perfect accessory for the person you’re giving the best gardening gift to, which won’t cost you much. Simply do your homework – research either on the net or rummage through catalogs.

Common garden hand tools may be found in most hardware stores. The handiness of hand gears like pruning shear, secateurs, hoes and a watering can will never lose their magic touch. Surely, with these hand tools, your friend will appreciate how much you know that he really is into gardening.

If you have prepared a bigger budget, specialized gardening tools may steal the spotlight. Before choosing which tool to purchase, make sure to check which tool is missing from your gardener friend’s backyard. To prevent duplication, you may even stealthily ask your friend which gardening tool he is dreaming of having.

Digging tools like rakes, shovels, pitch forks and spade are some of the basic tools used by professional gardeners as well as beginners. These types of equipment may be expensive, but it surely will be money well spent.

The most extravagant gift you could give a friend is some type of heavy gardening equipment. These gardening machineries could serve well as wedding present or a house-warming gift for a gardening enthusiast.

Automatic lawn mowers, electric cultivators, dirt diggers, hedge trimmers, brush cutters, or trolleys could provide so much ease to your gardener friend’s daily routine. These gardening gifts, which are considered the nature-lover’s dreams, may give your friend a reason to smile all year round.

Your gift could be as simple as a water resistant garden gloves or a more expensive gift like an electric cultivator. When the recipient realizes you have given a gift that complements his passion, expensive or not, it would certainly become the best gardening gifts your friend has ever received.
Kind regards

Tonie Konig
Exotic Gift Idea

Artists and designers are able to use color as a tool to capture our moods and emotions, to identify shapes and objects, and to convey messages. They use color almost like a gardener uses a shovel to dig in the soil. They poke us and prod us with harsh or depressing color mixtures, and they gently sway us or quiet our spirits with subdued or gentle pallets. Color can actually be the strongest element in any piece of artwork, due to the way it affects us on so many levels.

So, how about we look at a couple of the strategies for using color in our creative outlets and our designs, to have the greatest impact on our viewers and to help us become even more inspired.

Color adds a lot to any design, so we must be confident in our expression and use of it. There is a lot to learn from basic design theory, about color, so make sure you study color concepts thoroughly. For now, let us focus on two basics…

1. Experimentation is one of your most powerful strategies in using color. Never be afraid to try anything, with color, in your art. Discover relationships between different colors. Explore playful, soft, dark, bright, vibrant, and any other mixture of color with a fresh, new eye towards inspiration. Now, just to bring sanity back to the table, before you add new colors and inspirations to any piece you are already working on, please test your colors and combinations first. But the concept still rings true… experiment with and explore new colors.

2. Color wheels are another essential tool in any artist’s arsenal. Color wheels, paint chips, or even color reference books, like the “Pantone Guide to Communicating with Color”, or “Color Index: Over 1100 Color Combinations”, simplify the process of choosing colors by providing a reference for how colors work together. There is way too much to cover here, to make a color wheel understandable. Suffice it to say, whether you are a painter, a photographer, or any other artist, you will want some kind of color wheel, or color reference book, to help you get clarity on how colors relate and work together.

The most important thing to remember about working with color, in all your creative exploration, is to know that there is not, and may never be, a perfect combination. But, you can be confident in your own creative expression and artwork, if you will find colors that you enjoy, and that do not go against your own perception of great creative design.

Throughout history, the need to possess the glittering stones caused people to lie, cheat, steal and even kill.

The word diamond comes from the Greek word “adamas” meaning invincible. Diamonds were first used about 3,000 years ago in India and probably valued for their ability to refract light, although they were also said to be a strong talisman that protected the wearer in battle and warded off evil.

During the Dark Ages, St. Hildegard wrote that a diamond, held while making the sign of the cross, healed wounds and cured the sick. Hoping to cure sickness, people even tried eating them, although this practice was largely unsuccessful and had stopped by the Middle Ages, when diamonds became valued for their worth, rather than their healing properties.

It was during this time that diamonds acquired the reputation for being poisonous. The owners of diamond mines perpetrated this myth, in an attempt to stop workers from swallowing diamonds and thus smuggling them out of the mines.

Two of the world’s largest and most beautiful diamonds were discovered in India during the Middle Ages – the Blue Hope and the Koor-I-Noor. In fact, India still provides the foremost diamond polishing industry in the world today.

Smaller diamond finds continued, in Borneo, Brazil and a few isolated locations in North America, but even those finds weren’t enough to keep up with the demand, as India’s diamond supply dwindled. It was in the mid-19th century that the biggest diamond rush occurred, with the discovery of diamonds near the Orange River in South Africa. Diamonds were also discovered in Australia, but it wasn’t until the 1970s that Australia’s potential as a diamond producer became proven. In 1979, the Argyle pipe was discovered near Lake Argyle. It is the richest diamond deposit in the world, and now produces over a third of the world’s diamonds every year.

The most sought-after diamonds used to be white diamonds, until pink diamonds were discovered in the Argyle. Diamonds come in white, pink, yellow, blue and green. Green is probably the rarest because it has the least penetration of color and often the color is disappears when the stone is cut.

How to Pick a Winner

1. CUT. Not the shape of the stone, but the quality of its facets.
2. CLARITY. Clarity levels start at Flawless and descend from Very Very Slight (VVS) to Very Slight (VS) and Slightly Included (SI). Clarity measures the number of flaws or inclusions in a diamond.
3. CARAT. The weight of a diamond. One carat equals about 200 milligrams.
4. COLOR. Transparent diamonds (those created from 100 percent carbon) are rated on a scale from D (clear) through Z(light yellow). Grade D is the most prestigious, but, because they are so rare, natural diamonds with tints of pink, blue or purple have a cachet all their own.

How Hard is It?

No matter how it’s made, a diamond scores a 10 on the Mohs scale.

1. Easily scratched by a fingernail.
2. Just scratched by a fingernail.
3. Scratches and is scratched by a copper coin.
4. Not scratched by a copper coin and doesn’t scratch.
5. Just scratches glass and is easily scratched by a knife.
6. Easily scratches glass and is just scratched by a file.
7. Not scratched by a file.
8. Scratched only by corundum and diamond.
9. Will scratch anything but a diamond.
10.Scratched only by another diamond.

Ten of the Most Famous Diamonds and who owns Them:

There are more than 350 named diamonds that are famous for their histories.

The Cullinan is the largest cut diamond in the world. It was found in South Africa and was named for the owner of the mining company. The Cullinan diamond was 3106 carats, and was cut into 105 stunning diamonds. The largest was named the “Star of Africa” and is 530 carats. In 1907 this diamond was given to King Edward VII of England, and set into the Royal Scepter. It is kept, along with the other Crown Jewels, in the Tower of London.

The Cullinan II is 317.40 carats. The color is white and is the cushion-shaped diamond that is in the center-front of the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain. It is also in the Tower of London with the British Crown Jewels.

The Dary-i-Nur is 186 carats, is pink and is in the Iranian Treasury. It is the largest uncut diamond in the world. Its name means “Sea of Light”.

The Dresden Green is 41 carats; it is green, and a very rare type ila diamond of extraordinary quality. It gets its name from the city of Saxony where it had been on display for 200 years. The Dresden Green is now on display at the Albertinium Museum in Dresden.

The Hope Diamond is 45.52 carats, is blue, and is in the Smithsonian Institute. According to legend, a curse was placed on the large, blue diamond after it was stolen from an idol in India. Whether you believe in curses or not, the diamond has had a fascinating past – it was owned by King Louis XIV, stolen during the French Revolution, sold to pay gambling debts, owned and worn almost daily by an American heiress, sold and worn to raise money for charity, and finally donated to the Smithsonian Museum.

The Hortensia is 20 carats, is peach colored and is in the Louvre. It is one of the crown Jewels of France, and was owned by Louis XIV. It was named after Hortense de Beauharnais, Queen of Holland, who was the daughter of the Empress Josephine, the stepdaughter of Napoleon Bonaparte and the mother of Napoleon III.

The Kohinoor is 108.93 carats, white and is located in the Tower of London. As with many of the most famous diamonds, there is a curse of death and destruction attached to it. Its name means “Mountain of Light” and legend has it that it actually comes from another diamond also rife with legend, called the “Great Mogul” which was said to have weighed 244 carats and mysteriously disappeared in 1665. The Kohinoor was owned by the first sultan of Mogul, and passed down through generations, until it was given to Queen Victoria. It was recut and now rests in the crown of Queen Elizabeth.

The Orloff is 189.62 carats. It is thought to have weighed about 300 carats when it was discovered. For a while, it was confused with the Great Mogul diamond. One legend of the Orloff is that it was set in the eye of a god statue in the temple of Sri Rangen, and stolen by a French soldier dressed up like a Hindu. He is said to have escaped by swimming down a raging river during a storm. It was eventually sold to Prince Gregory Orloff. In an attempt to win back her heart, he gave it to Catherine the Great, who collected lovers and precious gems with equal passion. She had the diamond mounted on top of the double eagle in the Imperial scepter. It is in the Russian Diamond Fund, Moscow.

The Spoonmaker Diamond has many legends associated with it. (It supposedly got its name when the owner–who is said to have found it sitting on top of a pile of garbage –bartered it to a spoonmaker for three wooden spoons.) More likely is that it was purchased by a Frenchman named Pikot, who bought it from the Maharajah of Madras in India. He took it to France, but was robbed. The diamond ended up at an auction, and was bid on by the notorious Casanova. It was finally bought by Napoleon’s mother, Letizia Ramolino, who later sold her jewelry to help her son escape from Elba. It was bought again by an officer of Tepedelenli, and put into the treasury. When Tepedelenli was killed during a revolt, the entire treasury went to the Palace of Turkey, and the Spoonmaker’s Diamond, now called the “Kasicki” is there.

The Taylor-Burton Diamond is a 69 carat pear-shaped white diamond that was originally called the “Cartier Diamond” after the jeweler paid $1,050,000 for it at an auction. Richard Burton purchased it the day after the auction for Elizabeth Taylor. She later renamed it the Taylor-Burton diamond. Ms. Taylor wore the diamond publicly at a party for Princess Grace’s 40th birthday party in Monaco. She sold the diamond in 1978 and used the funds to build a hospital in Botswana. The diamond was later purchased by Robert Mouawad.

Kind regards

Tonie
Exotic Gift Idea

Of course, you could go to the couple’s registry and pick something from there, but then your gift wouldn’t be unique.

Here are some tips to help you come up with some great, unique wedding gift ideas.

Ask yourself these questions:

-what do you know about the couple?
-what do they like?
-where are they planning to spend their honeymoon?
-what’s their personality?
-what is their lifestyle?

The answers to these questions can give you ideas for a gift that displays your thoughtfulness and care.

Here are just a few gift ideas to ponder:

1. Gift Certificates to a spa for the bride and groom are great before or after the wedding. The wedding day is often stressful, so you could offer a day at the spa to prepare them for the wedding day. Or, they could use it just after their honeymoon, as they prepare to resume their regular activities.

2. As an alternative for the day at the spa, you could give them a spa in a basket, including monogrammed robes, towels, and a few other relaxing items, like candles, bath and body lotions, some romantic music, and even engraved wine glasses accompanied by a bottle of wine for a special evening at home.

3. Keepsake Box – As time goes by, memories begin to fade, and what better and more unique gift than a special box where they can safely store all those precious mementos that become more cherished as the years go by? This box is perfect for things like: marriage license, special photos, place cards, vows, and all those other special keepsakes that often get lost as time passes.

4. Silver-Plated Picture Frames – the perfect way to display favorite photos of their special day. Have them engraved with the couple’s names and the wedding date for a treasured memory.

5. Etched Glass Wedding Invitation – Have their wedding invitation, or other special verse engraved on a glass sculpture. This will be treasured for years to come, and definitely unique. Or, for a little variation, get the actual invitation, and mount it on a glass plate and finish it with matching colored paint.

6. Honeymoon Photo Album – this could be made out of wood, with something like “A Honeymoon to Remember” engraved on the cover: a perfect place to capture those wonderful honeymoon memories.

You are now ready to give the perfect wedding gift to your friends and family.

Kind regards

Tonie

Ps. Don’t forget to visit my website Exotic Gift Idea