How To Safely Clean Your Jewelry

November 30th, 2008, 8:22 am

To keep your jewelry sparkling you’ve got to take care of it! Cleaning your jewelry is an important part of its care.

No matter how careful you are with your jewelry daily life will take its toll on it – grime and dirt, hair spray residue, soap film – they all cause a residue to build up on your jewelry making it dull and unimpressive.

Cleaning your jewelry should be done with a little caution. Some stones such as turquoise, pearls, or opals, do not fair well with harsher cleaners.

Use only warm soapy water and a Q-tip to gently clean these stones or gems. Rinse and polish. Toothpaste also works well. Place a small amount on a soft bristle brush, scrub, rinse well, then polish with a soft cloth.

Sterling silver jewelry is beautiful. However, overtime it will tarnish and not look so beautiful. It is important to clean your sterling jewelry regularly.

There are many silver cleaner dips on the market which can be used for jewelry that has no stones or gems.

However, I don’t recommend using silver cleaners on jewelry that has stones or gems set in it. In these cases I recommend using a Q-tip to apply the cleaner directly to the just the silver, then rinse completely and polish with a soft cloth.

If you wish, you can use a blow dryer on the setting to make sure there is no water residue left.

Do not let your jewelry soak for long periods of time in cleaner. The moisture can damage some jewelry.
Moisture can damage a piece of jewelry over time, so if you do put your jewels into a wet jewelry solution, or rinse in water, make sure you dry it thoroughly.

Use a soft towel to get the moisture out of all the cracks and crevices. You may want to use the blow dryer as mentioned above.

Always clean your jewelr properly to keep it enjoyable for years!

About the Author

© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.

About the author:
Sher from Estate Jewelry International have been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at Estate Jewelry International.

Power Tool Batteries

November 27th, 2008, 1:40 pm

Advantages and Different Popular Brands

Power tool manufacturers now offer many more cordless power
tools than before, so the demand for power tool batteries has
gone up as well. Power tool
batteries vary by brand. Some of the most popular brands are
DeWalt and RYOBI. Black & Decker is also another favorite. Power
tools are built with a specific design of power usage that cause
batteries to differ greatly from tool to tool, and from brand to
brand. A new cutting edge lithium ion power tool battery has
recently been released on the market which will make power tool
batteries even more effective. The invention of cordless power
tools has made construction and other tasks involving power
tools much easier.

Specific brands have their own specific batteries. DeWalt Tools have a specific battery serial number
for their different tools. For example, a certain DeWalt tools
use an 18V whereas other will use an 9.6Volt. DeWalt battery
serial numbers begin with the letters DW followed by 4 numbers.
Black&Decker has a long list of
batteries as well, ranging in voltage from 9.6Volt to 18Volt.
RYOBI brand power tools have a much smaller list of batteries
than does DeWalt or Black&Decker, and none of these batteries
can be interchanged between brands. However, brand makers have
started making batteries interchangeable between tools so
consumers can purchase a package set of a good variety of tools,
that all use the same interchangeable, rechargeable battery. For
example, RYOBI has a set that includes a saw, a drill, and a
flashlight that all use the same 18Volt battery. These sets
usually come with two batteries so the user will almost always
have a charge battery in stock.

Cordless power tools and power tool batteries have been improved
greatly in design since they were first released. Higher voltage
batteries make cordless power tools more powerful and weigh
less. This enhanced design makes power tools more user friendly,
more ergonomic, and easier to get into hard to reach spaces.

Most current power tools use a NICD
batteries. However, a new lithium-ion battery has recently
been released for Black&Decker that is said to last ten times
longer than traditional lo batteries. It is also said to charge
to 90 percent capacity in 5 minutes. Lithium ion batteries used
for power tools are only 3rd in demand behind laptop and cell
phone batteries. The release of this new battery be very useful
to users because they do not suffer from the same memory effect
that is found with NICD batteries.

Cordless power tools have changed the way many people work.
Higher voltage allows batteries to work much better and last
much longer. For the price of power tool
batteries, upwards of $50, users want to get the most for
their money. The release of the new Lithium Ion batteries will
only further enhance cordless power tools.

Interactive Electronic Children’s Books

November 26th, 2008, 8:23 am

Did you know there are numerous authors that have published children’s books in electronic format? What is electronic format? Well, that is when a book is available from the computer as a download or on CD or on diskette.

If a customer purchases a book as a download, then the publisher sends them the book through email sometimes with a link where they can go to download it themselves, or as an attachment. If the customer purchases the book on CD or diskette, then the book will arrive through the mail with cover art, spine, author information, ISBN (International Standard Book Number, which is a ten-digit number that uniquely identifies books and book-like products that are published internationally. It identifies one title or an edition of a title from one specific publisher), and instructions on how to open your book.

Here are a few fabulous children’s electronic book, many of which come with sounds and animation. CAPTAIN ANGUS, THE LIGHTHOUSE GHOST by Wendy Laing, published by Wendave, http://wendave.com/wendaveaudiobooks.html, is a book written using The Cape Otway Lighthouse in Victoria, Australia. Laing’s book, creditable as a teaching aid, educates readers about pioneer history in Australia. Readers follow along with two children, exploring through a magic time travel tunnel with an old Scottish sea captain.

BECAUSE I SAID SO by Dotti Enderle, published by Writers-Exchange EPublishing tells the story of little Logan and his mother. Every time his mother asks him to complete a task such as pick up his toys or to take a bath, Logan asks her why. His mother’s response is clear and simple”BECAUSE I SAID SO.” In the end of this delightful illustrated book, Logan surprises his mother with a reply to her why question.

Perhaps you are looking for a book that teaches your children about marriage. BICYCLE: A STORY ABOUT MARRIAGE by Rod Lenfest is just the book you need. Published by Writers-Exchange EPublishing, this book comes complete with comical illustrations. It is a story about marriage written so children of all ages can understand. It is an amusing and easy-to-read book. The helpful information in the back section enables readers to get the most from the story. Lenfest uses a bicycle as a metaphor to teach readers the many parts a marriage needs to succeed.

Book number two in the Green Heart Series, BLUEGUM CHRISTMAS: A MIRACLE AT SASSAFRAS CREEK by Marlies Bugmann, published by Zumaya Publications is a quick, satisfying read. This book teaches children the importance of taking care of our ecosystem in a fiction plot using a little eight-year-old boy named Ben Arthurson and a little ten-year-old girl named Samantha Hogan. Together they learn the uniqueness of the rare and beautiful Christmas birds; save the bluegum trees from destruction, and learn to appreciate nature and their surroundings.

Remember, just because some books are electronic (e-book) books, doesnt mean they arent fantastic! Open up an electronic book today and get to know some talented new authors.

Off the Top of my Headtalented childrens e-book authors to check out:

Tedd Arnold, http://www.geocities.com/~teddarnold/

Haemi Balgassi, http://www.haemibalgassi.com/

Robert F. Baldwin, http://www.geocities.com/Paris/1659/authorvisit.html

About the Author

Jennifer LB Leese is a 34-year-old mother of three from Maryland. She is a published author of several childrens fiction books, one young adult fantasy book, and a paranormal romance novel. Leese also freelances children’s non-fiction books for book distribution and packaging companies.

She reviews childrens books for several online magazines, including her own It’s Only Ink! Children’s Book Reviews, as well as for Fiction Forum, Preschool Entertainment, Gotta Write Network, The Best Reviews, and Midwest Book Review. Jennifer is also a freelance copyeditor for Writers Exchange E-Publishing, as well as for individual authors and publishers. Leeses experience comes from the above as well as from her published books and articles, and from her professional book reviews and columns.

As half of JV Harlee, Leese writes gothic, fantasy novels for teenagers with published author Valerie Hardin. Their first book is “Gargoyle Tears”.

Leese lives in Maryland with her three children, Nicholas, Cameron, and Jordan. She volunteers regularly at her children’s school where she heads the Bester Elementary PTA as Vice President. Married fourteen years to the love of her life, Jennifer knew she would marry Thom the moment she laid eyes on him.
jenniferlbleese@msn.com

Betting Room Card-Playing: Gaming

November 24th, 2008, 11:14 am

For clarification, a betting saloon is a structure that caters to games of luck. At such a place, clients can enjoy themselves by having a bash at the one armed bandits or trying out different games. Betting house games for the most part have 100% determined balances built in which promise the gambling house reserves dominion versus the clientele. winner casino


A large number betting house games can get you overly habituated very rapidly. By way of illustration take the simple one-armed bandit, a cash operated gadget with three or more cylinders that pivot when a crank attached to it is tugged. This appliance in the main renders in correspondence to a series of pictures discernible on the front of the appliance. Regretfully, betting house pastimes will convey an apparition of manageability, conning the gamester — the victim can make alternatives, but in reality these cannot compensate for the customer’s fundamental handicap. This is brought about by the the gaming hall not paying up the full amount as expected. This pattern is generally noticeable in popular casino games such as straight poker, craps, roulette or blackjack.


Stud poker is indeed a very popular casino pastime. The gambling enthusiasts, playing with fully obscured hands, place their stakes into a principal pot that is bestowed onto the last gamester blessed with the winning hand. (Of course, the bluffer may well prevail too.) Quite like five card stud poker, blackjack is likewise an immensely popular casino game. A substantial part of its fame is thanks to the mix of chance and cunning and choice making, as well as a trick labeled “counting”. It is an approach through which players can change the probabilities of the card game in their favor both by betting and strategy actions in accordance with the hands shown.


Craps is the name of a famous gambling hall wagering game based on the throw of a couple of dice. Craps buffs will wager money on the score of 1 cycle, or on a series of cycles of two dice. In contrast to blackjack, there isn’t any probable sustainable winner system punters could profit from to improve the odds.


Roulette is another famous casino based game of chance; here, a croupier will revolve a roulette wheel that has a set of exactly thirty-seven (as in French roulette) or precisely 38 (as applicable to American roulette) uniquely tagged slots in which the ball will come to settle, announcing the winning number Now if a gamer happens to place chips on a single number which actually is successful so they’ve got a lucky hand, the set reward is going to be 35:1, the bet itself being paid out. Hence in total it’s multiplied by thirty-six.


Please try to be emphatically on the alert though, as all of these betting house games can be undoubtedly addictive. Countless lives have regrettably been wrecked in the course of uncontrolled gambling & even if it admittedly feels like fun, do please struggle to balance yourself.

Forcing New Siblings Can Backfire

November 23rd, 2008, 2:36 pm

Starting a new family for many is one of the most life changing experiences. But not everyone is going to be a happy camper. For many children it could be an unpleasant experience. Sharing their lives with a half sibling or step sibling may make them cringe. So how do you bridge the gap? Sometimes you can’t and that isn’t your fault. Constantly trying to push the children together may only result in one sibling hating the other one. Praising one child to show how great they can be may only make the other children hate them. Often times it’s best to allow a child to make up their own mind on how they feel about their new siblings.

For siblings that don’t live together, it’s okay if they don’t like each other. You can’t expect a child who has lived mostly as an only child to start being brotherly or sisterly. No matter how great you’d think siblings should get along, the child should have some say. If their step or half siblings are visiting, allow them to do their own activities. Don’t force them to visit; it’ll only cause anger and tension. It can be frustrating, but if a child doesn’t like their new sibling, that’s how they feel. Pushing may only result in hate and that hate for the siblings may never go away.

Sadly sometimes a new distant sibling doesn’t get the message that they aren’t liked. When explaining this, be gentle. They may not understand why they are hated. If the sibling tries to continue approaching, trying to be close…it may result in a big blow up in the siblings face. Some signs a sibling doesn’t like you are : Cross arms, minimum eye contact and annoyed that you are trying to talk to them.

About the Author

Content Producer and Children’s Author of Mysterious Chills and Thrills for Kids.
http://www.laurahickey.com

Maybe you have a bunch of collectibles sitting in your closet gathering dust. Or perhaps you’ve been storing your fine China in the kitchen cupboards instead of a hutch. Far too often we sequester our prized possessions rather than place them where they deserve to be… on display.

Finding a good display case and setting it up is probably a lot easier than you think it might be. Yes, there are many display cases to choose from. Occasionally you may have a need for a specialty case. Fortunately there are some easy steps to follow to find the right case to show off your treasures.

Finding The Right Case

If you truly want to show off your valuables, first you have to find the right case. There are certain circumstances that warrant a specialty case. If you aren’t sure if you need a specialty case, here are some examples of cases that will help you decide:

Die cast car display cases
Flag display cases (military flag burial cases)
Football jersey display cases (and other sports memorabilia)
Jewelry display cases
Sword display cases (and knife cases)
Commercial pet display cases

If your prized possessions don’t fit into any of the above categories, chances are you can get away with ordinary wooden display cases. This is good news because there are dozens to choose from. Even if you need a specialty case rest assured you are bound to find the right one to meet your needs.

Before deciding the right display case you first have to decide what exactly you want to display. Some people prefer displaying coins and other similar collections, while others want to show off their favorite jersey or an award from some memorable event. Keep in mind there are display cases large and small to accommodate each of these needs.

Once you decide what you want to display, figure out how much of it you have. This will help you decide the size of the case you need. If you want to show off your coin collection and have more than 100 coins, you’ll need a larger case than a standard size small display. Keep this in mind when shopping.

When picking your display case, also keep in mind where you plan to display your treasures. You’ll want to place them in a prominent place, but likely you don’t want to waste too much room overall. Fortunately you can select an elegant yet compact case many times to suit your needs.

When looking at display cases, you should have in mind how many shelves, hooks, mirrors or other accessories you’ll need to showcase your items. A mirror is always a great bonus because it can reflect your treasured collectibles within.

You should review several different models of display case before you decide the one that is best for you. Keep in mind when selecting your display case you will likely also need many accessories. Some of the more common accessories include anchoring wax, polish, self-adhesives and stick on feet. If you plan to hang your china you will need the proper hooks to do so. You also want to be sure to select a case that is sturdy. A sturdy case will last a lifetime.

Display Your Items Correctly

Once you decide the right type of case you’ll want to display your items correctly. You want your collectibles to look great and put a smile on your face. Whether an expert or novice, you can do this following a few easy steps.

First, group your collectibles together. Next, be sure you place small objects together. Remember that when it comes to a display, less is more. The more items you try to jam pack in your display, the more distracted the onlooker will be. Try to select a few key pieces or even one piece to highlight if you can. This piece can form the center of your display. Then, if you choose, you can surround this object with others.

Remember, your display should reflect a little of your personality as well. Have fun when creating your display. Pick and choose accessories as you see fit. And remember, you can always change things around to spice them up over time!

About the Author: Antigone Arthur is a successful writer providing informative articles on such topics as sword display cases, wooden display cases and diecast car display cases. ( www.1st-4-Display-Cases.com )

Source: www.isnare.com

Domestic Violence: The Facts Behind the Myths

November 22nd, 2008, 9:30 am

Domestic Violence is one of today's most common assault type crimes. It seems as if almost everyone either knows someone who was, or is a victim of domestic violence. Or, they either are, or were a victim themselves. There are a lot of myths associated with domestic violence that unfortunately are grossly misleading. In this article, I am going to address some of those myths and attempt to set the record straight. Who am I, and what qualifies me? Well, I am a former Police Officer of over 14 years, and I am the author of the book “Crime Awareness 101.” Throughout my career as a Police Officer, I have dealt with a lot of domestic violence situations, and have seen first hand what this crime does to both its direct and indirect victims.

“Domestic Abusers are extremely violent people”

Though some domestic abusers are extremely violent people, they are actually the minority. Most of the domestic abusers we arrested never resisted or fought with us. Why? Because domestic abuse isn't about violence. It's about control. The abuser wants to control their victim, and this control is enforced through physical violence, but the underlining fact is control. This is why they will not fight with the police, because they know they will not gain the control. Another example is say the abuser is at work, and his superior (who may even be a woman) asks him to do something that he may not want to do. He doesn't beat the superior up because he doesn't have the control. Yet at home, behind closed doors, he wants and gains the control. This is a difficult concept for many to understand. To help explain this better, I have listed a few common control issues found in domestic abusers.

  • Monitoring the victim's comings and goings in great detail.
  • Isolating the victim from family or friends.
  • Discouraging the victim from working, joining organizations, attending school, or leaving the house.
  • Constantly accusing the victim of being unfaithful.
  • Belittling or humiliating the victim.
  • Controlling all finances and forcing the victim to account for what they spend in detail.
  • Destroying personal property or sentimental items.
  • Threatening to leave with the children or saying they will never see the children again.

As you can see domestic violence is a control issue. Actually the psychological damage done by this type of behavior is much greater then the actual physical abuse.

“Domestic Violence only happens to poor people.”

Domestic Violence has no boundaries; it affects all levels of income. I had one case where the domestic abuser was an educated male who made a six figure income. His victim (former live in girlfriend) was an educated female who made a nice income herself. They both had good jobs, and lived in an expensive condo. Well, he had beaten her so badly that she was hospitalized with a closed head injury. Talking with her later, she stated that she could not believe she found herself in this situation. She stated that her abuser was a white collar worker who actually appeared on the outside to be a harmless geek. In fact, her friends couldn't believe he was capable of this. A few days later, we were called back to the residence to stand by as peace officers while the woman packed up her stuff and moved out. During the time that we were there, I noticed how she couldn't stop trembling. She was so afraid that her abuser would come back, and attack her while she was there. This was in spite the fact that two Police Officers were with her the whole time (remember this was many days later). What is sad this was not the first time she was abused, but hopefully with her leaving, it will be the last. In case you're curious… yes, he was arrested.

“Alcohol drug abuse, stress, and mental illness cause domestic violence”

This is not true, but is commonly used as an excuse from abusers who try to pardon their actions, and unfortunately their victims buy into this. Alcohol use, drug use, and stress do not cause domestic violence; they may go along with domestic violence, but they do not cause the violence itself.

“Domestic Violence is a personal problem between a husband and wife”

Domestic violence goes way beyond just the two immediate people involved. Look into a child's face that sees this violence everyday. Then go visit that child about 10 to 15 years later and see what they have become. If they are male, they will most likely become domestic abusers themselves. If they are female they will most likely become domestic victims themselves. Why? Learned behavior; this was their environment growing up, and to them, this is just acceptable behavior that people do. It takes a very strong person to come out of that type of environment and not have it become part of their adult lives. A child who lives with domestic violence will never forget it.

“If it were that bad, she would just leave.”

Leaving a domestic violence situation is not so easy. Many times children are involved and the victim may not have any financial means of supporting themselves. Not only that, but they may fear that they will be killed if they leave. As strange as it may sound, some have a real psychological bond with their abuser, and just won't leave. I have had many instances where we arrested an abuser and the next morning his victim is begging us to release him and recanting her story. This is one of the reasons why the law has changed in many states. Now it is the state, not the victim, who prosecutes the domestic abuser.

“I can change him.”

This thought is the worst. For anyone who thinks this, read the following carefully: NO YOU CAN'T! I have heard this so many times, all from victims who are beaten time and time again. Domestic violence is way too complex for any one person to handle, or fix. You have to either escape it, or have some sort of professional intervention. I would highly recommend escaping it. I have yet to see anyone who has stated this, ever change their abuser.

In closing I want to make one point clear. Even though in this article I referred to males as being the abusers, females can be abusers also; it is just not as common. In my book “Crime Awareness 101″ I go much deeper into domestic violence. I address the law, the cycle of violence, and some domestic violence traits to look out for early on which should raise a red flag. I also list numerous resources of agencies that are devoted to helping victims of domestic violence. I also cover many other crimes and crime related topics, for more information, or for more articles on criminal behavior go to http://www.crimeawareness101.com.

Copyright © 2005 Scott Shaper

About Scott: Scott Shaper is a former Police Officer of over 14 years. He is also the author of the book “Crime Awareness 101″. For more information about his book, or to read more articles he has written please go to http://www.crimeawareness101.com.

Introducing Marriage as a Blanket Solution

November 22nd, 2008, 1:51 am

This morning I spoke to a group of male business owners on leadership. As I was leaving, one of the men stopped me and asked me what I consider a strange question. He asked me how a person could make himself (or herself) ready for marriage. I looked at him and said I don’t understand that question.

His concern was that there are so many single moms in his neighborhood and their kids are running loose all the time. I wondered what that had to do with marriage. He said that if they were married and had a two-parent family that this would not be happening. I disagree.

Just because a family has two parents, that doesn’t mean the kids won’t be running around all the time. In some communities, that’s just the way it is. It’s a way of life. Remember the term “It takes a village”? That applies here.

Everyone has different experiences. We all have different lives; we live in different parts of the world. There is no such thing as a blanket solution for everything. Making two people marry for the sake of the children is never a good solution. That’s a recipe for disaster for the parents and the kids.

Now, the most interesting part of this story is that the man asking the question was an older gentleman who had been divorced twice. He, of all people, should have recognized that a blanket solution wouldn’t work. It didn’t work for him or either of his wives. Again, that’s just the way it is.

Some marriages are meant to be short term – or not at all. Today, many people choose to stay single for a longer period of time and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Because we are all different, blanket solutions do not work for everyone. The next time you hear one proposed, ask yourself if it would work for you. Chances are it probably won’t.

Wendi Moore-Buysse works with business professionals who want to learn how to market to women. She coaches, teaches, and consults with women who want to develop intuition and who want to develop leadership skills. Her books from the Life’s Little Cheat Sheets Series, including “Shifting Gears: Get Moving in the Right Direction”, are available through her website. “Shifting Gears”includes ways to shift your focus from what you don’t want to what you do want (which include children and family). Visit http://www.wendimoore.com for more information and to read her Life’s Little Cheat Sheets blog.

Wedding Toast Tips And Advice

November 21st, 2008, 2:57 am

Wedding toasts perform an essential role during the wedding celebration. The wedding toast serves as a link between the formal wedding ceremonies and the less formal atmosphere of the wedding reception.

The wedding toast also allows some members of the family, relatives and closest friends to express their feelings and to wish the couple well.

Having toasts started from the belief that creating some noise, such as ringing a bell, in this case, the clinking of a glass, can cast away evil spirits.

The wedding toast may follow a traditional or a non-traditional order.

In the traditional order, the first toast is the toast to the bride or the toast to the bride and groom. This is done by the best man, a relative or a friend. The groom then responds with a message to his bride, the person who made the toast, the couple’s parents and a toast to the bridesmaids.

The best will then respond to thank the groom on behalf of the bridesmaids. At times, if the bride has spoken after the groom, the best man will thank the bridesmaids.

A close friend or relative may then follow with another toast. After this, the father of the bride thanks the guests on behalf of his wife and himself, and announces that they can begin with the celebration.

The non-traditional toast is done to do something different from the tradition. The order may be changed to suit the guests and the occasion.

The emcee proposes the first toast for the couple. The groom then thanks the emcee and the guests and toasts to his bride. The bride thanks her groom and the guests and proposes a toast to her parents and her in-laws. At times, a special toast may be done for her in-laws.

The father of the bride thanks the bride for the toast, thanks the guests for attending and announces that the celebration may begin. At times, the emcee may propose a toast to the bridesmaids, after which the maid of honor may respond with thanks or propose another toast. The emcee may introduce guests who will propose their toasts, and announce the beginning of the celebration.

Here are some tips when proposing a toast.

* The bride should be served the beverage first, followed by the groom, the maid of honor, the parents and then the best man.

* The toast can be done with a sip of wine, champagne or a non-alcoholic drink except coffee, tea and water.

* If you will propose the first toast, make sure that not only your glass, but also all the other glasses are filled before you start speaking.

* When proposing a toast, raise your glass with your right hand. The glass should be held in a straight line from the shoulder.

* It is better to compose your own wedding toast. However, if you cannot write a good one, you can try traditional wedding toast but make sure to personalize it to include your feelings and thoughts about the bride and groom.

* Always remember to end a toast with an invitation to the guests to join you and something that tells them what to say in response.

These are some things that one should remember when proposing a wedding toast. On the other hand, if you received a toast, you do not raise your glass, stand, nor sip your drink. You just thank the toasters and although you are not required, you may propose another toast.

For a free course on finding the best discount wedding invitations and discount wedding dresses, visit www.discountweddingguide.com/ today.

5 Ways To Keep Romance Alive – On A Budget

November 18th, 2008, 2:54 pm

Just about everyone agrees that a nice dinner and a good bottle of wine at a quiet, intimate restaurant will set the mood for romance, but have you seen the price tag? Not everyone can afford to spend big money on romance ever time, but a bit of creativity can get the same results without breaking the bank.

While most people know about ‘his and hers’ items like bathrobes and towels, there are a number of other items that can be enjoyed together as ‘couples’ items. Try getting matching T-shirts with cute sayings on them. Have matching his and hers overnight bags, coffee mugs, bicycles, cell phones, cars, holiday ornaments, tennis rackets, rocking chairs and even matching carved pumpkins on Halloween.

Surprise your partner by making the ordinary a little more special. If he or she is enjoying a good book, remove the bookmark and replace it with a note that says, “I bet you’ll never guess where I’ve hidden your bookmark.” If they always turn the TV on when they come home from work, tape a note on the television that says, “Wouldn’t you rather turn me on?” instead.

Making important memories is one way to be romantic on a budget. Challenge your partner to remember the most romantic kiss that you’ve seen in a movie. This will lead to some discussion about romantic kisses and should enhance the mood. As a surprise, buy that movie one day and try to recreate that special romantic kiss! Keep it in a special place and re-watch it whenever the mood strikes. If you can’t agree on the single most romantic kiss, go ahead and create a top five list. This tip works for anything. The top five most romantic songs. The top five most romantic movies. The top five most romantic books. You see the pattern. Make sure to go ahead and buy the books, songs, movies or whatever so you can use them in the future.

If you want to plan the ultimate romantic evening but funds are low or you simply don’t want to have to leave the house, shut down the electricity and imitate a power outage (it’s up to you whether or not you tell him or her!). You won’t have any distractions or heat, so it is up to both of you to keep the other warm and entertain each other.

It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t enjoy an Oreo cookie. Take an Oreo (or generic version of one), scratch the top of the cookie until smooth and then scratch a heart and your initials into the smooth surface. You can also make your own cookies and create personal messages. Another version is to make your own cupcakes and frost them with special messages in red icing. You can also give your spouse a true treat and track down a box of his or her favorite Girl Scout cookie.

These 5 simple ideas are sure to warm up any relationship. Don’t be afraid to try simple tips and changes to “routines” to spice things up without having it cost a fortune!