Choosing Unique Wedding Ceremony Music

The Power Of Three

Making your wedding ceremony a true original can be as easy as choosing just
three special songs. This music is a reflection of you, your hopes and your
dreams. Seize this opportunity to give your guests an unexpected surprise
while sharing an important part of yourself with them.

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While tradition still has its place, most Brides and Grooms are now choosing to
use non-traditional wedding ceremony music. Many of the old standbys, such
as Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" (Here Comes The Bride), are being replaced with
other alternatives. Those about to wed have requested Slow Rock, Love Songs,
Latin Guitar, New Age, Classic 40's Vocals, Pop Songs, Oldies and just about
everything else.

Choosing Your Songs

The first step is just to think of songs you like. You can edit your ideas later.
Make a short list of songs that relate to how you feel about love, commitment
and a special shared relationship. Feel free to consider all options. Once you've
made your list you can then edit it for potential Processional Song candidates.
Remember that in general, a Processional Song should have a slow cadence for
those walking down the aisle.

Choices have included songs by Nat King Cole, Sting, Andrea Bocelli, Mark
Cohn, Peter Gabriel, Enya, The Beatles, Shania Twain, Vangelis, Aretha Franklin,
Van Morrison, Tony Bennett, Edwin McCain, Vangelis, Faith Hill, Etta James,
Sade and Soundtrack Songs. Your choices are virtually unlimited.

We custom edited Van Halen's "When It's Love" for one Bride who wanted the
instrumental part of the song for her Processional. Another Bride was a huge
Bruce Springsteen fan. She walked down the aisle to The Boss classic, "Thunder
Road".

If you want to stick to classical music, you may decide on something a little
more creative than the same old thing. Anyone who's been to a ceremony in
the last century has probably heard Pachelbel's "Canon In D".
Traditionally a string oriented song, there is an updated version that uses
flowing synthesizers and ethereal keyboards in place of strings. Its
progressive, modern sound sets it apart from other versions we've heard.
Search for different arrangements or unusual Classical songs to give your
ceremony a unique sound.

Here Comes The Bride

Should all the songs in your ceremony have a consistent sound or theme? Not
necessarily. A contrasting style between the Wedding Party Processional and
the Bride's song can emphasize this important change. An example of this was
when one couple chose an operatic, Andrea Bocelli piece for their Wedding
Party Processional. The song was full of drama and grand expression.

In stark contrast to this was their choice for the Bride's Processional. They
decided on the romantic and reflective acoustic guitar sound of "The Rain
Song" by Led Zeppelin. The pronounced difference in song styles increased the
poignancy of the Bride's appearance and the entire ceremony.

While these songs aren't for everyone, they reflected this couple's taste and
preferences. It also serves as a wonderful demonstration of the power of a
musical style change and original choices.

Classical instrumental still has its place. Recently a Bride chose a lesser known
classical piece for her walk down the aisle. "Variations on an Original Theme
(Enigma Variations) Op. 36" is a fantastic selection for this. It's a powerful song
that uses soaring strings and majestic horns to slowly build to its peak. We
edited it so that the crescendo of the song timed perfectly with the Bride's
appearance.

Another Bride-to-be chose "Once Upon a Time... Storybook Love" from the
movie The Princess Bride. The title track from Cirque du Soleil's "O" is another
captivating piece that many have fallen in love with. "Variations and Fugue On a
Theme by Mozart, Op. 132: Variation 7" is a traditional classical piece that is
rarely heard at ceremonies. The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra's version is
breathtakingly elegant.

If you're going Classical for the wedding ceremony music, remember that there
may be quite a few different versions of many songs. It may take a little
research to find the perfect one but it is well worth the effort.

Recessional

The end of the ceremony Recessional is a time for joy and celebration. You will
walk triumphantly, back up the aisle, for the first time as a married couple. As
you pass by smiling, applauding guests, let the music add an extra highlight to
this moment. Your Recessional music should be upbeat and energetic. Again,
choices are plentiful. Past requests include Classical, Rock, Swing and R & B.

Songs by Vivaldi, Harry Connick, James Brown, U2, Barry White, Frank Sinatra,
Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Queen, Marvin Gaye and many others have
worked to great effect.

Where To Look For Music

If you have a favorite movie soundtrack or radio station, your perfect song may
be something you have already heard. Next time you hear a song that really
grabs you, make a note of it.

One of the best places to find unique musical ideas is right in your own CD
collection. Chances are there's a favorite song in there you may have forgotten
about that would be perfect. Browse through your music library and add to
your list of possibilities.

Do you have a favorite artist or concert performance? What was that old song
you loved when you were younger?

Is there a brand new song you really like? A newer song can be a refreshing
change from the status quo. And there is less chance anybody else has already
used it for their wedding.

Perhaps there is something in your family heritage you would like to
incorporate musically into the ceremony.

If you have a special moment in the ceremony for a candle lighting, rose
exchange, remembrance or other tradition, you may want to choose a song to
be played for this as well.

Samples of songs can be accessed via your computer on Apple's iTunes music
store website (The iTunes program is free and works with both Windows based
and Mac computers) and at Amazon.com. Barnes and Noble bookstores offer
live listening posts with thousands of artists from which to choose.

Putting It All Together

Write down all of your musical ideas and then gradually narrow it down to your
three favorites. The others can be played for the Prelude- prior to the
beginning of the ceremony, while guests are arriving or later at the
reception.

Contrasting music is good and emphasizes an important change in the
Processional. Be dynamic in your choices and create a new sound experience
for your guests.

Take the first step in making your wedding day truly YOURS by choosing songs
that express a bit of who you are. And don't be surprised if your guests
compliment you on how your ceremony was unlike any other they've been
to.

-DJ Craig

Choosing Unique Wedding Ceremony Music

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Rustic Country Decor - How to Decorate Cottage Style Homes

Rustic country decor and how to decorate cottage style homes are extensions of American country style decorating. In addition, traditions are borrowed from French, English and some Swedish country looks. Rustic country decor can be defined as coarse, charmingly simple, unfussy, unfinished and yet with endearing qualities. Rustic country decorating includes the use of natural woods, aged surfaces, rough finishes and simple lines. Cottage style homes are comfortable, modest, quaint homes that can be made of thick stone or log wood.

Floors in rustic country decor and cottage style homes are made with stone or wood materials. Wooden floors were traditionally constructed with boards that were bare and simply waxed and hand-polished (high-gloss varnishes did not exist). Sometimes the boards were painted with light colors. If you like floor coverings, use oriental rugs and throws for visual warmth and color. Rustic country decor is about handcrafted objects, simplicity, furnishings that you enjoy and connecting back to nature.

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Rustic cottage furniture is commonly made with pine and perhaps painted with hand-painted designs such as flowers, birds, animals, country scenery or leaves. Use ladderback chairs, rocking chairs, benches, wicker furniture and Windsor chairs. A large rectangular table made of pine is a good option for your kitchen or dining room table. To give your furniture a rustic look, brush a coat of paint on the furniture piece, then rub most of the paint off. After it dries, apply wood stain unevenly for an older weathered appearance. It will be perfect and rustic looking!

Baskets can be used to store wood, pine cones, flowers, plants and needlework. Brass candle holders, oil or kerosene lamps, sconces, hurricane lamps, tin lanterns, recessed ceiling fixtures or a vintage wrought-iron or metal chandelier provide successful lighting for rustic country decor and cottage style homes. Colors used in rustic country decor or cottage style homes are neutral tones ranging from white to bone, earth tones, red barn, blues and greens.

For rustic country decor in the kitchen, use open shelves, hutches, buffets, plate racks and cupboards for storage. Often, country kitchen storage is crammed with stoneware pots, plain glazed earthenware and glass jars. Kitchen pots should be made of copper, steel or cast iron -- cookware tends to be large and plain. Use open shelving in the rustic country kitchen to display plates, dishes and dinnerware collections. Natural woods, light colors and bright fabrics work great for window treatments. Adding a rustic butcher block island creates a wonderful visual effect as well as provides useful functionality.

A rustic country decor bathroom has neutral tones or soft colored walls, antique-looking lighting, and wooden antiques or antique reproduction cabinets and vanity. Knowing how to decorate cottage style homes and bathrooms can result in creating a calm and elegant atmosphere. Clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks, country style antique brass faucets and old-fashioned country cabinets provide the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to spend time there. Plain white towels are recommended instead of patterned or bright modern patterns. Use wicker or wire baskets to keep your sponges, loofas and shampoos handy near the tub or shower.

Understanding how to decorate cottage style homes means including items like quilts, antique furniture or reproductions, flea-market pieces, trunks, chests, armoires, stenciling, wallpaper, adirondack chairs, flower wreaths and bistro chairs. These types of elements give cottage style homes the kind of rustic country decor that is simpler, very personal and warmly inviting.

Whether in a seaside setting, an urban environment, a countryside location or a wooded mountain retreat, cottage style homes are cozy and unassuming, combining the past with the present. Read all you can find and learn what creating the rustic country cottage means to you no matter where it's located. Enjoy expressing your personality and showing what the definition of home means to you.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Rustic Country Decor - How to Decorate Cottage Style Homes

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Christmas Door Decorating Ideas to Bedazzle Your Porch!

If you really want to bring people into the Christmas spirit when they come to your home during the holidays, here are several Christmas door decorating ideas that can be an excellent first step. Your entrance way is the first thing that people see when they come to your home so it might be the most important part of your Christmas decorating.

One of the interesting Christmas door decorating ideas that some people have tried is to make your front door look like it is a giant wrapped present. In order to do this, wrap the door up to the edge and fold the paper back under itself rather than wrapping around the edge. Use pieces of double stick tape to stick the paper onto your front door. You can use the same trick to put on large pieces of ribbon and then leave a big bow in the center. You may want to test the tape on your door to be sure it does not bother the paint.

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For a twist on this idea, make a matching smaller door out of cardboard for the elves to use. Cover the cardboard with the same color that you covered your real door. Add a small wreath or ribbon to match your real door. Set it next to your real door and post a little note that says "Elves enter here!"

If you would like to try something different and you have someone artistic in your family, you can cover your door with Bristol board that shows a scene of what it looks like inside. When people walk up to the door, it will look like the door is already open and they will be greeted with a festive scene. You can make it look just like the front hall of your home only you can add Santa, some elves or whatever your imagination can come up with. If you use Bristol board instead of paper it is something that you could use again next Christmas.

There is nothing quite as traditional and charming as a beautiful wreath on your front door. That idea never goes out of style. Go to your craft store or browse a magazine for an idea that you enjoy. Whether you make it yourself or purchase a ready-made wreath, you can have a lot of fun. Invite a friend or neighbor to make a wreath with you. Instructions for making Christmas wreaths can be found online in blogs, forums and videos.

Those evergreen wreaths that you purchase at the craft store need to be "fluffed up" each year. Take a little time to perk up the evergreen sprigs. Add a beautiful bow for a simple but stunning wreath. Or decorate the entire wreath with ornaments or natural materials like berries, pine cones and grasses. Place the largest items on the wreath first and then fill in with the smaller items. You can use a hot glue gun or the wires on the wreath - wrapping each item very snugly.

Some other fun Christmas door decorating ideas include taking things from inside and using them outside. If you have extra stockings that you do not use any more, you can hang them from the door for something different than the traditional wreath. The same goes for old Christmas tree decorations or collections of bows from old Christmas presents.

Whenever it is that you choose for Christmas door decorating ideas this holiday season remember to have lighting on your porch. Extra lighting gives your porch a festive look and also makes it a little safer for guests. Enjoy the holidays without adding extra stress to your schedule. If you enjoy making decorations for your home and have set aside time to do that, then have a ball! Purchasing a beautiful wreath or other ornament for your door is fantastic as well. Enjoy the season!

Christmas Door Decorating Ideas to Bedazzle Your Porch!

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You Can Help Your Children Learn the Alphabet - Here's How

Government studies confirm that children who are read to and and who recognize the letters of the alphabet have an easier time learning how to read and thus do better in school, so maximize your children's exposure to the letters of the alphabet. Give them alphabet books, alphabet blocks, alphabet magnets and clothing decorated with the alphabet. Here are some ideas for using such objects in simple alphabet and spelling games that you can play with your young children, to help them get off on the right foot, and do it all while making it an enjoyable part of everyday life.

Make a game of naming the letters of the alphabet and pronouncing the sounds that they make. Practice them in alphabetical order and, later, in random order. Sing the alphabet song, while pointing to the letters of the alphabet. Go around the room and hang signs on common objects with simple one and two-syllable names: "table," "bed," "lamp," and such. Help your children name the letters in them and spell and pronounce the words. Later, once the spellings are known, remove the signs, but continue to have the children spell the words for you. Look at pictures of everyday objects and use movable letters, such as alphabet magnets or blocks or flash cards, to form the words and practice their spellings.

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Always try to reinforce that magical connection between the names of letters, the sounds that letters make, and how the letters come together to form pronounceable words that represent real objects, but always keep it within the confines of fun and games. Create no pressure and don't criticize for wrong answers, but give plenty of praise for correct ones. Be imaginative and light-hearted in your approach.

Don't force rote learning on young children, and never forget that individual children learn at different rates. Let them absorb what they can, as their cognitive skills develop, and reinforce progress made by practicing it in as many different settings and contexts as possible. For example, one day it might be pictures in books, another day it may be alphabet blocks or magnets spelling out words, another day hang signs on objects, another day wear an alphabet T-shirt and point to the letters on it. Indoors and outdoors, you might sometimes look at objects and name them, then write out the words and spell them. At other times, with a child who's already mastered the basics, you could make simple rebusses to demonstrate the connections between pictures and written words.

Create artwork with your children. While fingerpainting a flower, you might help the child fingerpaint the letter "F" for flower. Guide your child's hand in forming letter shapes to imitate those seen on alphabet blocks and such, or paint a letter and work it into a design. Create letters in paint and in clay, carve them into bars of soap, draw them in crayon, scratch them in the sand at the beach, form letters in shaving cream on the bathroom mirror - use whatever is at hand to create spontaneous moments of joyful sharing with your child.

Variety of media, times of day, and places will keep it all fresh and fun and reduce the risk of boredom. Learning should not be dull or tedious. It's a key part of life and there should be no arbitrary boundaries between daily life, learning and play. (Also, beyond the immediate goal of promoting alphabet skills, positive learning experiences at an early age can make learning, itself, an exciting opportunity for discovery and feelings of accomplishment. Self-affirming early learning experiences help children start school with more positive attitudes that can affect their success in school... and in life.)

As time goes on, show your child how to print his or her name and, as alphabet learning progresses, don't forget that both capital letters AND small letters are equally important. Help your child sign his or her first name on any pictures that are drawn, and on any birthday cards to grandma and grandpa, etc. The stronger the connection grows between alphabet letters, sounds and written words, the more reading-ready your child becomes.

Muster up all of your creativity. Pose your body in the shape of a simple letter that's familiar to your child and have him or her guess what letter you are. Outstretched arms and you have the letter "T," arms and legs out at angles, and you've created an "X". At Christmas time, lay a string of twinkly Christmas lights on the floor and form letter shapes with them. Lay building blocks or dominoes end-to-end to create giant letters. Perhaps try alphabet magnets, with one animal picture for each letter of the alphabet. You might line them up on your refrigerator to make a complete alphabet. Then at unexpected moments, like while you're preparing breakfast, choose an object in the room, such as a cup and spell it out on the fridge. Spell family members' names, play a simple scrabble game, or leave secret messages.

You may decide to give your child an alphabet t-shirt, and you could wear one yourself. That way, every time your child looks up at you, the shapes of the letters of the alphabet will be subtly reinforced. Such tender moments of sharing, with your young child cuddled in your lap, can turn into fun, unforgettable learning milestones.

It's impossible to stress strongly enough the importance of working some of these alphabet learning games into your child's life. U.S. National Institute of Health studies have shown that "... at least 95% of even the poorest readers can learn to read at grade level if they are given proper instruction in sound-letter relationships." So, if you haven't done so already, please get going with your own kids now !

There's really no limit to the ways in which you can integrate alphabet practice into the daily life of your child. Just use your "I-M-A-G-I-N-A-T-I-O-N."

You Can Help Your Children Learn the Alphabet - Here's How

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Best Funny Christmas Party Games & Favourite Festive Songs People Will Play This Xmas

What are the best Christmas party games? This is difficult to answer because, one particular party game seen as fun in the eyes of some folk - may not be seen that way by others. Because of this we find ourselves in a catch 22 situation. So what do you do? Do you invite the people over for Christmas you know will like your selection of party games, or, those you prefer the company of, but won`t like your games. Do you dismiss the idea of having any Christmas party games at all? Not on your Nellie, come on this is the season of goodwill; it is a time for festive fun and cheer. Whatever games you play should make no difference, however if they do, then for the guests that refuse to jolly should be politely asked to leave. This may sound harsh but we cannot have one person or two at a push, spoiling your Christmas day.

Christmas is a time for happy gatherings, and if any kiljoy`s sit round the Christmas dinner table, or in front of an open log fire to play games, then "no happy" gathering it will be. Best Christmas party games you will find are played at office Xmas parties, Children's Christmas Parties, and at family celebrations, and why? Because they add fun and spread the Christmas spirit! Now let the fun begin with the dreaded word game.

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This game has you give each guest on arrival a small token. Now announce to all a Christmas theme word. Tell all they are not to utter this word at all during the Christmas occasion you celebrate. Words like "tree" or "holly" are fine examples. If a guest overhears another guest utter this specific word at any time they take that person`s token. The guest with the most tokens at the specific designated time of ending the game wins a special gift!

Christmas Talent Contest!

If possible for this particular game is to avoid volunteers, as more often than not they can sing and do not embarrass easy. We want fun right, and if at someone else's expense then so be it (in a nice way). It's more fun to hear voices like that of a wailing banshee, or watching the footwork of those who believe they have feet like Micheal Flatly. Let everyone showcase their talent by singing or dancing. Contest winner tags should "Best Singer" "Best Dancer" "Worst vocalist" "Most Unique" "Most Funny" This game guarantees the air to fill with laughter.

Remember Christmas celebrations should cater for all age groups so organize for the young and old. Best Christmas party games are the ones people can join in with.

Pass the Bows another popular Christmas game

Have your guest's team up for this game. This game includes all participants of each side to hold hands while passing bows along a line. Hands must not unlock at any time while passing bows.
Divide the group into teams of 6 to 10 people and have the team's line up side by side, either sitting or standing next to each other. At one end of the line place a number of Christmas bows while at the other a bowl/bucket for bows to be placed. Now prompt each player to hold the right wrist of the person to their right. You can use a Christmas cracker bang to start the game - both teams must now pass bows down to one end and place them in the bucket or bowl.

Note: If a bow is dropped, it can only be retrieved while still joined to the wrist of a team member, and if the chain breaks all the bows currently being passed must move back to the beginning of the line. (Either the front - initial starting point or the bucket / bowl - the half way point.) Not to worry if you have no bows, I am sure you can find other as a substitute

Christmas Memory Game

Gather together 10 to 20 small Christmas items and place on a tray. Examples: bows, Christmas stocking, bells, Christmas tinsel, Christmas lights, gift labels, candles, Christmas video, nutcracker, etc...

Set the tray down and allow players to study it. Then hide tray contents by covering with a cloth. Now give the players paper and a pencil and have them write down as many of the items as they can remember. The one with the most correct items written down wins. Why not fill the tray with treats, like cookies, cake, tubbed jellies or assorted types of candy. The winner of the game gets to take home the treats. This fun game becomes more serious for the participants purely because of this. Well wouldn`t you want to take home a bag of yummies.

Kick start the festive spirit by providing everyone with a Christmas hat. Not only will this add "moving color" to the room, it will have everyone excite themselves even more. Listen to the laughter as each person puts on their hat. Paper hats are inexpensive. Kill two birds with one stone and buy Christmas crackers which contain hats. If there are any lively games to be played make sure the charismas tree or lighted candles or any type of breakables are moved out of the way. There are games you can play before sitting down to feast, however normally folk are famished and just want to get stuck into the turkey, so consider playing the best Christmas games after everyone has eaten and had time to digest their food.

Nevertheless if you want to keep your guests occupied till dinner is served, play the "guess me" game. This will include long heavy socks. Place varied Christmas items in the socks. You might stuff the socks with a small ornament, roll of tape, a fir cone etc. Have each person feel the contents of the sock and write down their guesses. The winner gets, you guessed it, one of the socks! This is why this game is best played with two socks so they get a pair for the prize.

Remember that music is the most ideal aside from playing the best Christmas games to get everyone in the mood.

Keep music lively; avoid slow and somber sounds as this can dampen a person's spirits, who at this particular time may have something to feel saddened over. Your quest is to help this person, "not to forget," but to enjoy.

Slade's 'Merry Xmas Everybody' has been voted the most loved Christmas song by the British public.

Other merry Christmas songs:

Mariah Carey - All I want for Christmas is you
Wham - Last Christmas
Wizzard - I wish it could be Christmas everyday

Let us not forget why we celebrate Christmas day December the 25th. While we give gifts and pleasure in our kids delight and cook dinner we often overlook "the reason for the season", the birth of God's son, Jesus Christ.

A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson that brings the lord back in sight and thought.

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen

Best Funny Christmas Party Games & Favourite Festive Songs People Will Play This Xmas

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The Pros and Cons of Low Energy LED Lighting

For most people, probably the biggest single factor against low energy LED lighting as a substitute for the soon-to-be-phased-out regular incandescent light bulb is the cost differential. There is no doubt that an LED equivalent light bulb (for example a 6w LED spotlight as a direct replacement for a 35w GU10 halogen lamp) is significantly more expensive than either the original or a CFL alternative.

There are however three important points to bear in mind about the higher price for low energy LEDs as compared to incandescent and energy saving CFL light bulbs.

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First, the price difference reflects the fact that the use of LED for general purpose domestic lighting is still quite novel, though increasing manufacturing levels and consumer take-up will drive the price down dramatically once both come fully on stream over the coming months.

Second, and partially related to the observation above, is that the cost of LEDs drops by a factor of twenty over the course of each decade. This characteristic is reliably predicted by Haitz's Law (very similar to Moore's Law for computer chips and for similar reasons, principally because LEDs are, just like computer chips, pure electronic devices). Haitz also states that LED performance (amount of light per watt of electricity) increases tenfold over the same decade.

Third and perhaps most intriguing is the fact that as far as the cost of domestic lighting is concerned, the price of light bulbs is almost entirely irrelevant. It is an extraordinary yet easily provable fact that even if regular light bulbs were totally free and LED lights cost, let's say something outrageous like each, it would still be vastly more economical to purchase LED low energy lights.

The reason for this is simple: the cost of electrical lighting is the cost of the energy i.e. electricity. It matters not one jot what the actual light bulbs cost; it's what it costs to run them that really counts. Also, since LEDs last for tens of thousands of hours (in practice, decades of use) you only need to pay the purchase price once, unlike regular bulbs which last only upto two thousand hours or just over one year.

The second biggest gripe about low energy LED lighting is light levels and quality, or in technical parlance luminosity and light color.

The concern about luminosity stems largely from historical notions of LED lighting applications such as LED Christmas lights and pocket torches which are clearly not capable of providing anything close to useable domestic lighting. However, you could right now purchase one of the latest Sharp Zenigata LED series of light bulbs which is rated at 80 lumens per watt (measure of luminosity).

To understand what this means, consider that a standard 40w incandescent bulb delivers about 360 lumens and a 60w bulb about 540 lumens, which gives a ratio of 9 lumens per watt. Anything that offers greater than 25 lumens per watt can be classed as an energy saving light bulb. Zenigata LED light bulbs consume 6.7 watts and thus produce 6.7 * 80 lumens per watt which is 536 lumens, on a par with the standard 60w incandescent light bulb.

So you could, right now, replace all your 60w light bulbs with Zenigata LED light bulbs rated at 6.7 watts and consume 1/10th (or 90% less) electricity. And remember Haitz's Law? Because of performance improvements, eighteen months from now you should be able to obtain the same 60w worth of lighting from just 3 watts.

LED light, in common with CFLs, has tended to be a somewhat cool blue colour, whereas we are more accustomed to a warmer yellow white colour. This is something that is now commonly addressed with the use of colored phosphors (these do reduce luminosity but this is in turn compensated for by the ever increasing lumens per watt yields for LEDs).

The third factor that might be considered to weigh against low energy LED lighting is that the light emitted by an LED is intrinsically directional and doesn't scatter in all directions the way that incandescent and fluorescent lights do. This is actually quite acceptable in a spotlight, flood light or bright reading lamp, but it's not especially effective for emulating general ambient lighting such as a table lamp would provide. Though again, there are LED powered general lighting light bulbs becoming more commonly available that do a reasonable job here.

Two obvious plus points for low energy LED lighting are ease of retrofit and ecological credentials (other than simply saving energy).

LED lights are widely available for all common base fittings such as mains powered GU10 and 12v MR16 spotlights and the low energy standard base GU24 as well as regular bayonet mounts and Edison screw fittings. LED lights also don't suffer from the many inherent problems associated with CFLs such as: noticeably poor start-up times; reduced lifespan caused by frequent switching on and off; and bulky unattractive bulbs.

But perhaps one of the most widely known advantages of low energy LED lighting over energy saving CFL light bulbs is that they don't contain toxic mercury vapour or other unpleasant materials, and thus do not pose a serious health risk or require tiresome and expensive disposal procedures to protect the environment.

To sum up, the main perceived disadvantages of domestic energy saving LED lighting are cost and application (luminosity and color). Yet as we have seen, the cost of a light bulb is actually a red herring - the true cost of electrical lighting is the price of electricity and on this score ultra low energy LED lighting puts everything else, including energy saving CFLs, completely in the shade (pun intended).

As regards luminosity and light quality, LED lights on balance deliver a cleaner, sharper light than CFL light bulbs and offer far more flexibility in terms of color choice and brightness.

Finally, the biggest advantage that low energy domestic LED lighting has over its rivals is that the lighting industry itself regards domestic LED lighting as the future and can barely disguise its contempt for CFLs. Lighting giants such as Philips are on record as stating that they will not invest a single dollar further into CFLs and that their entire research and development efforts are now directed at domestic LED lighting technology.

Those who follow eco-technology trends are well aware that there is a world-wide phase-out of incandescent light bulbs already well underway and scheduled to complete within the next couple of years. Given international legislation to ban incandescent lighting and lack of support for the already dated and unloved CFL, it's near certain where the future of lighting lies - with low energy LED light. And as advantages go, I'd say that one's pretty compelling.

The Pros and Cons of Low Energy LED Lighting

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Choosing & Cooking Chinese Christmas Recipes

With the Chinese New Year being the most important event in the Chinese calendar, you'd imagine that Christmas got swept under the carpet. Not so, as celebrating Christmas becomes more popular throughout China.

Whilst you won't find the hype and shopping madness of Western countries, in major cities you'll see lights, trees and Christmas decorations on the streets and in stores. Christmas Day is not even a bank holiday in China, although it is in Hong Kong and Macao. Whether this is just part of the Chinese interest in Western culture, or a sales ploy by the big stores, who can say?

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With an increasing number of Christians, it can only be expected that more people will be celebrating the festive season in China each year. With little tradition and history, cooking for a Chinese Christmas dinner means you can cook any special occasion dish you choose.

However, there are a few suggestions we can make to get you started:-

Peking Duck Cantonese Roast Duck Kung Pao Chicken Cookies Five Spice Peanuts Sesame Seed Balls Spring Rolls

Whilst many of the recipes above are traditionally eaten for the Chinese New Year, they will serve just as well for a Christmas dinner. As always with Chinese cooking, use the freshest ingredients, prepare them well ahead of time, so that all you have to do is cook!

An excellent resource is http://chinesefood.about.com/ which has lots of great recipe and food ideas for every holiday occasion including Chinese cookie recipes.

Choosing & Cooking Chinese Christmas Recipes

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