What is gout?

Simply put, gout is a form of arthritis that often occurs in the middle of the night. Often labeled the ‘disease of kings’ gout haunts over 2 million Americans annually. Gout is also known as the most painful types of arthritis. Gout results when needle-like crystals of uric acid form in the body’s connective tissue or lodge themselves in the space between two bones or joints. These uric acid crystals inflame the surrounding area and lead to gout’s symptoms: Heat, Pain, Redness, Stiffness, Swelling, Arthritis attacks that develop in short time period (e.g., 12-24 hours), and Arthritis Attacks to one joint. Typical joints affected by gout include: elbows, fingers, heels, instep, and wrists. To view some photos of gout sufferers please click on our link below. Unfortunately, this is not all of the symptoms. Gout can also cause high blood pressure and kidney stones if left untreated. These symptoms can also be life-threatening if left untreated.

But why do I suffer?

The Cause of Gout

To answer what causes gout? We need to understand how uric acid appears in the body. You see, uric acid is actually a byproduct of a very necessary part of your body’s normal function. However, gout sufferers often have higher levels of uric acid (called hyperuricemia) caused from the body’s inability to break down the uric acid. The uric acid is typically eliminated from the body through the urine. If, however, you suffer from gout, the build up of uric acid crystals can find their way to joint spaces where they will cause painful inflammation that appear as lumps under the skin and can even disrupt the functioning of the kidney and cause the formation of kidney stones. Gout can cause serious damage quickly, it is extremely important that you treat your gout immediately.

Who’s at risk for Gout?

Why could you be suffering from the horrific pain of gout? There could be various factors but here is what typically increases uric acid in the blood causing the gout:

1. Lifestyle: From eating to drinking to weight, your lifestyle - particularly your diet - can greatly affect your chances of getting gout.

2. Alcohol: More than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women - can quickly lead to gout. Especially, stay away from beer.

3. Overweight: People who weigh 30 pounds or more than their model weight risk getting gout simply because there is more tissue available for breaking down the uric acid. Diets rich in purine food can also increase your chances for gout. For more information, please check out our report at our link below.

4. Medical Conditions: Various medical conditions can also increase your chances of gout. Do you have any of the following: high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, hyperlipidemia (high levels of fat or cholesterol in blood), arteriosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), recent surgery or bed rest, and recent chemotherapy?

5. Medications: Are you currently on any of the following medications which may cause gout: diuretics (for hypertension, edema and heart disease), anti-inflammatory medicines with salicylic acid (such as aspirin), niacin (also called nicotinic acid) and a few others. It is noted, please do not stop taking these medications before talking with your doctor.

6. Family History: One out of every four people afflicted with gout have a family history with gout.

7. Age and Sex: Men are most often affected with gout as well as women who have reached menopause. Men typically develop gout between the ages of 30 and 50.

Understanding what places you at risk of the disease is an important step in taking control of your health and life. Gout can be naturally treated or be deadly in some cases. So that brings up the question, how do you treat gout naturally?

A Home-Remedy for Gout?

What would you give to cure your gout symptoms in 2 hours? What would you say if someone guaranteed your gout symptoms would vanish in 2 hours? No more pain, no more stiffness, no more throbbing! Baton Publish, a leading natural health company which specializes in home remedies and natural cures, guarantees a natural cure for gout symptoms in less than 2 hours. This is what one of our readers has to say:

Hi, I recently tried your natural remedy for a reoccurring gout episode. I started the remedy on Friday night and by early Saturday my gout symptoms were completely gone! Incredible! I plan to continue with your suggestions

Now, picture yourself worry-free, pain-free and enjoying life again. You are only two hours away? Please visit our natural treatment for gout website and treat your gout naturally… guaranteed!

www.cureyourgout.com/g1 http://www.cureyourgout.com/g1

Joe Barton writes for Barton Publishing Inc., a natural health company specializing in educating people of numerous natural remedies and safe, affordable cures. To discover how thousands naturally cured the symptoms of gout: www.cureyourgout.com/g1 http://www.cureyourgout.com/g1

AP - Maudie White Hopkins, who grew up during the Depression in the hardscrabble Ozarks and married a Confederate army veteran 67 years her senior, has died. She was 93.

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Well, for starters, you’ve got to have a killer self-introduction — one that instantly conveys what you do, who you do it for, and the real benefits behind the product or service you provide.

Are you currently using the name, rank and serial number approach when a prospect asks you what you do? (Snooze!)

Here’s the deal: nobody really cares about your title. In fact, 50% of your prospects will have a negative association with whatever your title is (think dentists here!), so replace your current label with a short and compelling sentence that contains the desired result your prospect is looking for. For example, when asked what you do, instead of responding with I’m a dentist, you might try something along the lines of, I give people that bright, white mega-watt smile they’ve always dreamed of! Get the idea?

Ok. Now it’s your turn. Think about the single biggest result that your clients receive from using your product or service. Is it more money? Improved health? Better relationships? (Hint: The benefit will typically be linked to one of these three areas.) Once you know the benefit, go ahead and incorporate this information into a single sentence. Presto! Now you’re armed with a brand new response that will quickly answer that million dollar question– What do you do? –in a way that will have prospects begging for your business card!

(c) Connie Scholl 2006

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this blurb with it: Connie Scholl, of www.ConnieCoach.com works with Professionals & Small Business Owners who want to generate more clients and make more money. For your FREE 7-Day MARKETING e-Course, visit www.conniecoach.com http://www.conniecoach.com ( www.conniecoach.com http://www.conniecoach.com )

Connie Scholl of ConnieCoach.com provides self- employed service professionals with simple, effective and low-cost marketing solutions designed to quickly jump-start sales and consistently generate new clients. Get free marketing tips and how-to-articles at www.conniecoach.com http://www.conniecoach.com

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The demand for different sports has resulted in increase in demand for Sports betting line all over the world. Sports’ betting is a general activity whereby you can predict sport results by betting on the outcome of any sporting event. Many sports fans believe that sports betting increases the excitement of the game, which thereby benefits the leagues, teams and players. Though many bet on sports to make money there are many who bet just to add that excitement and anxiety to the sports activity.

Sports betting enable sports fans to wager on various sports competitions including golf, basketball, hockey, soccer, horse racing and boxing.

Types of Bet

There are different types of sports bet available for a sports gambler. Lets take a glance on the different types

? Proposition Bets: This is an interesting type of sport bet whereby wagers are made on a very specific outcome of a match. For instance betting on the number of goal that each team will score or betting that a basketball player of one team will have more hits that another player of the opposing team.

? Parlays: Parlay form of betting enables sport fans to have multiple bets on a sport activity. This form of betting rewards successful bettors with a large payout.

? Run line, puck line or goal line bets: These are fixed point-spread bets that offer higher payouts for the favorite and a lower one for the underdog.

? Future Wagers: These types are wagers are predicted for the future activity of any sports. For instance a certain NFL team will win the Super bowl for the upcoming season.

Different sport fans have interest in different types of sports activity and increase their wagering amount when the specific sports activity are going on. The demand for different sports in different seasons varies the betting volume of sports book throughout the year.

Fransis Rodrigues is the author of this article. Visit to today www.superiorbook.com http://www.superiorbook.com and www.onlinesportsbooks.co.uk http://www.onlinesportsbooks.co.uk for more information on the subject.

Reuters - “The Many Worlds of Jonas Moore,” an online graphic novel, could be headed for television screens.

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I call this the M.O.R.E. theory of writing successfully for money. I have used these four points of attack when writing for money in my own businesses, and without fail, the use of these have paid big dividends.

My approach stems from four distinct points that should be met in all our writing, no matter what market we’re seeking to reach:

1. M: Motivation: Definition according to Webster’s: The act of impelling. This simply means that when we see a subject that we feel needs writing about or addressing, we take the initiative and just write about it. At this point, I seldom worry about the market it will reach or even IF there is a market. I find that if I have thought of this others have as well, and therefore will welcome my take on a subject (eventually).

2. O: Origination: Definition according to Webster’s: The act of bringing or coming into existence. This is the actual writing of the piece. This is the first time I take into consideration the actual market and I try to write to this perceived market throughout the piece.

3. R: Rejuvenation: Definition according to Webster’s : The act of making as if young again. This is where I market the piece as if it were the only piece of its type in the world, even if it is not. I show great faith that others will accept that my take on things, if not entirely original and that they will consider something worth purchasing (my favorite part).

4. E: Exploitation: The act of utilizing or turning to one’s own use. Let’s face it, much of what we write is not accepted by the first publication or market we approach. I then market it to what I consider lesser publications , or lesser markets or I use it myself, in my own publications, and sell reprint rights.

In a nutshell, I believe that any subject, at any time, has great possibilities. I also believe that some day, somewhere, no matter what I have written, eventually I will find an audience for it (a case in point is a report I did for a police department, which ended up YEARS later in a newspaper). I continually regurgitate my work, either into samples, into reprints, into rewrites, into anything and everything that sells.

Nothing is wasted with me, and nothing is ever considered sub par writing. Using the above formula has kept me on the track to monetary gains and I hope by sharing, it will help struggling writers everywhere.

M.O.R.E. power to everyone!

(c) Copyright: 2006 PL Rights Articles

Katheryn Labonsky and Ken Leatherman are professional writers for www.PLRRightsArticles.com http://www.PLRRightsArticles.com & www.klr-marketing.com http://www.klr-marketing.com providing high quality original articles. See more articles here.

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These days, finding the time and the energy to exercise is a workout in itself. From nine to five, your day planner is jammed with meetings and deadlines. Evenings are taken up with family and home commitments. It’s certainly not easy, but it is essential that you find time to work out, even a few times a week. Aerobics are the perfect way to work out, when you just don’t have the time to work out.

The popularity of aerobics exploded onto the scene in the 1980’s, when leggy beauties jumped and jiggled to top twenty hits. Along with this type of dancercise came the unfortunate misconception that aerobics were geared exclusively to the buff and the bimbos. In reality, aerobics hold much more value for anyone seeking an effective workout. Aerobic exercise can be low in intensity, yet long in duration.

Walking, swimming, biking, jogging or taking part in an aerobics class are all great ways to get started. It’s important that you begin your exercise regime with a low-intensity workout, and then increase the tempo throughout the following weeks. For instance, begin with a twenty-minute walk or job in week one. The following week, try incorporating a jog over some shallow hills to increase your fitness level. In the third week, increase the duration of your workout from twenty to thirty minutes, and go up to five times a week.

Aerobics are ideal exercise options for people who wish to lose weight. Despite advances in modern surgical procedures, equipment and drugs, a healthy diet combined with regular physical exercise is still the safest and most effective way to drop excess pounds and keep the weight off. Whether you are trying to lose weight or maintaining your good shape, aerobics can help you to realize your goal.

Aerobic exercise is also extremely beneficial to your circulatory and respiratory systems. It increases the circulation of oxygen in your body, allowing the heart to use the oxygen more efficiently. The body’s muscular system also benefits from aerobic routines. When you exercise, the increased blood circulation and heart rate work together to enhance the muscles’ ability to create energy. That’s why a healthy workout can actually leave you feeling more energized, even after an exhausting day at work. Exercise also benefits your body by helping it to clean away toxins. Increased blood circulation helps organs like the liver and kidneys to eliminate the body’s natural waste products. Aerobics are also good for toning muscle and increasing lean body mass, relaxing tired muscles, reducing stress and aiding in sleep. There are also important psychological benefits, including improved mood and reduced anxiety and depression.

When you have decided to make the commitment to losing fat and creating the body you want, aerobic exercise is a great place to start. Begin with walking, cycling or swimming, or enroll in an aerobics class. Choose a qualified instructor who will show you how to do the exercises, and help you to determine the degree of intensity that’s best suited to your personal fitness level. Don’t be shy about exercising in a group setting. You are welcome to work out at your own pace and if you become tired, you can simply march in place until you have regained your energy.

You have so many reasons to take on a healthy, active lifestyle. Aside from the obvious physical and psychological benefits, being fit will help you to be prepared to meet any of life’s daily challenges. When your mind and body are healthy, you’ll have the energy to meet deadlines, finished projects and succeed. Aerobics can help you become a stronger person in every way.

John Brown contributes to several web sites, including club-healthy.com http://club-healthy.com and rawboned.com http://rawboned.com

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First off, there are several species of salmon that you should know about before you go fishing for salmon trips. There are Atlantic and Pacific salmons. Atlantic species are from the Atlantic Ocean, as the name implies. Also, you can find a wide variety of salmon in the various lakes that are in the eastern North America areas. They are the kind of salmon that don’t immigrate as they prefer fresh water than salt water.

The most popular of all salmons are the Chinook or king salmon or spring salmon, black mouth, however you call them, as they are the biggest among the salmon species, weighing between 25 to 65 pounds, or even more. They are found from southern California coast to the Bering Strait. Alaska has earned its fame in fishing for salmon, since it is where the heaviest ever recorded king salmon, weighing over 96 pounds. Chinook salmon is the state fish of Alaska.

Other types of salmon include the red salmon or sockeye salmon, pink salmon, silver or Coho salmon, chum salmon, and the Atlantic salmon, which are left run wild in the on the Atlantic coast only. Each of the pacific salmon species have different life cycle and each returns to their fresh water spawning grounds at different times. When salmon returns to the rivers where they’re from, they are collectively called run that is, in turn, named after the river. So, if you hear the word run or runs, you know what it means.

Due to the fact that salmon always come back to where they hatched, you know when the ideal times are to go fishing for salmon or mostly called fishing season and you know there will always be salmon to catch. This is why many fishermen became fascinated with fishing, whether as hobby, sport or pastime.

Fishing for salmon requires bait. There are various types of baits that you cause in fishing for salmon. There are plugs, worms, lures, and flies in which you can use for fresh water salmon; for salt water, you can go for flies, streamers, crustaceans, and lures.

Fly fishing for salmon will require you to have 12-16 ft. graphite or fiberglass rod, fly reel and line. For bait fishing, you will need a 10 ft. spinning rod and bait caster reel with up to 20 lb. test line. But if you are into fishing for king or Chinook salmon, you will need a boat or a trolling rod. And because Chinook are known to be the biggest and heaviest of its kind, you will 20-40 pound or more test line. Who knows, your simple fishing for salmon trip could land you to catch king salmon?

Milos Pesic is an avid fisherman and owner of popular and comprehensive Salmon Fishing web site. For more articles and resources on Salmon Fishing related topics, Salmon Fishing equipment, tips and trips, visit his site at:

AP - New rules on FBI investigations of national security cases should be delayed, top Senate Judiciary Committee members said Monday, raising concerns that ethnic or racial groups could be targeted despite no evidence of wrongdoing.

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If you are selling things at a conference aimed at writers, you would not be best advised to hand out golf umbrellas. Instead, useful things like notepads with your company logo at the top, pens, and conference folders would be much more appreciated. Matching your promotional products to your client base is a great way to ensure that your company name will be remembered as the lifesaver that provided just the right product at just the right time rather than forgotten as unimportant or unnecessary.

If you have a great product, then people will be interested in it and in acquiring it, and that is where you really get to take advantage of your promotional products. What is a potential client willing to do to get your promotional product? Are they willing to sign up for a mailing list? Complete a short questionnaire? Would they be more willing to buy something if it came with a free gift? It is up to you to answer that question for yourself, your company, and your promotional products. The further you can get your clients to aid you in selling to them, the more money you make back on the promotional products until they are practically paying you back for their purchase!

If you are selling books and handing out free promotional pens and note pads, slip a bookmark into each book that you sell. Your customer will not have to search for a scrap of paper to use as a bookmark, and your company name will be staring at them every time they open their book up, at least for the duration of the conference and possibly even longer. Next time they need a book, they might just think of your company first.

Now about those note pads and pens. Have your mailing list out there on the table, and offer the pens as a thank you for signing up. People will gladly sign up for the list in order to get a nice pen or other promotional product, and will be in your booth already, more likely to look at what you have to offer. You can hand out the note pads with the pens if you want, or find another creative way for your customers to earn them. There are plenty of great ways to turn promotional products and items into a serious strategic advantage, and you can continue to use them again and again to your great benefit.

Gareth Parkin is the co-founder of Ideasbynet, the UK’s leading online www.ideasbynet.com http://www.ideasbynet.com promotional products company based in the north of England. Established in 2001, he has taken the UK gift market by storm by the application of modern business thinking and the latest.

RealClearPolitics.com - In February, the New York Football Giants stunned everyone by upsetting the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 42 Their journey to football’s highest peak was as improbable as it was surprising and their successful playoff run shows similarities to this year’s Presidential race. The Giants and the McCain campaign share a few similar traits. Both were wild cards in the respective contests. At every turn, both were outspent, outgunned and not expected to win. The Giants went to Dallas and beat the Cowboys. They went to Green Bay and beat a legend on his own field. McCain, left for dead time-and-again, used the springboard of his New Hampshire victory to rack up enough victories to make his nomination a forgone conclusion by the time the polls closed on February 5th.

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The term forex , also known as the foreign exchange is a market for the sale and purchase of all kinds of currencies. It originated in the early 1970’s when floating currencies and free exchange rates were first introduced. At this time, the forex market traders were the ones who set the value of one type of currency against another.

Nowadays, the market forces determine the value of a currency against another. One unique aspect of the Forex market is that very little trading qualifications are required of anyone intending to trade therein.

Independence from external control ensures that only the market forces influence the currency prices. As the largest financial market, with trades reaching up to 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars, or USD, the money moves so fast, it’s impossible for a single investor to substantially affect the price of any major foreign currency.

In addition, unlike any stock that is rarely traded, forex traders are able to open and close any positions within seconds, because there are always a number of willing buyers and sellers.

1. The first thing you need to do is open a forex account. You will have to fill an application form which includes a margin agreement stating if the broker will be allowed to intervene with any trade when it appears too risky. Since most trades are done using the broker’s money, it is only logical that he protect his interests. However, once you have established an account, you can fund it and begin trading in the forex market.

2. Adopt a trading strategy, that has proven to be successful for you. Remember that strategies will work differently for different traders, so don’t try to adopt a strategy that works well for another trader. It might backfire on you. The two available approaches are either technical analysis or fundamental analysis. A combination of the two is a more preferred choice for experienced traders.

3.Understand that prices move by trends. Forex has a popular saying, “The trend is your friend.” There are certain movements that have been studied over many years in order to identify a pattern in the trend. These trends need to be understood in order to understand a good trading strategy. For small accounts that are $25,000 and under, trading with a trend may help improving your odds when compared to bi-directional trading. Most newbie’s will look to trade in any direction, when they should be trading with a trend.

4. Ensure you know which are the top five currencies pairs in the foreign exchange. These are USD/Yen, Swiss franc/USD, Euro/Yen, Euro/USD and Pound/USD.

5. For newbies, it is advisable to maintain two accounts to ensure you learn to play the trading game. Keep one real account, one that you will actually use to trade real money; and the second account should be a demo, one that you can use to test alternative moves in the trading game. You can easily use your demo account to shadow the trades in your real account so you can widen your stops to see if you are being too conservative or not.

6. Always examine the one hour, four hour and daily charts that concern your trades. Although you can trade at 15 and 30 minute time intervals, doing so requires a handful of dexterity.

Gerald Njuguna is the owner of www.diamondringscare.com http://www.diamondringscare.com , a site where you can read more articles on diamonds. Visit the site to read more information on how to clean diamonds here: www.diamondringscare.com/clean-diamond-rings.htm http://www.diamondringscare.com/clean-diamond-rings.htm

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Seger shown his interest in music in his early age. He began playing music in 1961 as the leader of the Detroit-based trio the Decibels; his future manager, Eddie Punch Andrews was also a member of the band. Moving to Ann Arbor, he played with the Town Criers before he became the keyboardist and vocalist for Doug Brown & the Omens. The band released The Ballad of the Yellow Beret, that was parody of the Sgt. Barry Sadler song The Ballad of the Green Beret. However, It proved a set back for them when Sadler threatened a lawsuit against this song.Resultantly, The single was withdrawn shortly after its release.

The First Solo Single of Seger was East Side Story, which was released in 1966. This song gained huge popularity and soon it became a regional hit. Many other local hit singles followed on Cameo Records, including Persecution Smith and Heavy Music, before his label folded. The Year 1968 was very important in the Career of Bob Seger as in this year, He successfully formed the Bob Seger System and got the golden opportunity of signing with the reknowned Capitol Records. His debut album, Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man, was released by Capitol Records in the spring of this eventual year. The title track met a grand success and it became a national hit, climbing to number 17.

Seger achieved a commercial breakthrough with his 1976 album Night Moves which featured several hits including the highly evocative title song. Night Moves became a blockbuster, generating the hit singles Night Moves, Mainstreet, and Rock & Roll Never Forgets. Stranger in Town, released in the summer 1978, was just as successful, featuring the hits Still the Same, Hollywood Nights, We’ve Got Tonite, and Old Time Rock & Roll. His most recognizable songs are almost certainly Old Time Rock & Roll (featured in the film Risky Business) and Like a Rock (most familiar to many younger Americans through its association with a long-running Chevrolet ad campaign). Seger also co-wrote the Eagles #1 hit song Heartache Tonight from their 1979 album The Long Run.

Keeping in view of his grand successes, Seger was acknowledged as America’s most popular rockers. Seger’s next album, 1980’s Against the Wind, became his first number one album and all of its big hits — Fire Lake, Against the Wind, You’ll Accomp’ny Me — were ballads. The live album Nine Tonight continued his multi-platinum success in 1981, selling three million copies and peaking at number three.

Seger released his next popular Album “The Distance” in 1982.While The Distance featured Shame on the Moon, his biggest hit single to date, it had a record breaking sales of a million copies which shows his unmatched popularity.Seger also began to drastically reduce his recording and touring schedules — he only released one other album, 1986’s Like a Rock, during the ’80s. Like a Rock and its supporting tour were both successes, paving the way for Shakedown, a song taken from the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop II, to become Seger’s lone number one hit in 1987. Four years after its release, he returned with The Fire Inside. Although the album went platinum and reached the Top Ten, it only appealed to Seger’s devoted following, as did 1995’s It’s a Mystery, which became his first album since Live Bullet to fail to go platinum, leveling off at gold status.

Also during 2004, Seger was working on his first new album in 10 years, titled Face the Promise which was released on September 12, 2006. The first single, Wait For Me , landed on radio in July.

The Encyclopedia of Rock And Roll stated that His throaty, authoritative delivery is a pleasure to listen to, and the Silver Bullet Band is superb.

For more information about Bob Seger visit: events.ixs.net/concert-tickets/Pop-Rock/Bob-Seger/index.aspx http://events.ixs.net/concert-tickets/Pop-Rock/Bob-Seger/index.aspx

Heidi Grumm hosts events.ixs.net http://events.ixs.net and expresses her passion for events through writing and discussion. She works for Less Corporation at www.hrlady.com http://www.hrlady.com Copyright Heidi Grumm.

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If you’re just stumped and can’t quite decide on what to give her, but you are looking for romantic Christmas gift ideas that will sweep her off of her feet, keep in mind that the best Christmas gift ideas require some time and effort on your part.

Here are some ideas that go beyond the impersonal gift certificate or typical scarf to get you thinking about some alternatives that may put a sparkle in her eye this Christmas.

A Christmas Engagement

There are few romantic Christmas gift ideas that can top getting engaged over the holidays. You are giving her the gift of your love and commitment, and her finger is decorated with a beautiful testament to your feelings for her.

Of course you can go over-the-top with planning the wedding engagement - renting a limo, an expensive dinner for two, and maybe even a horse and buggy ride. But if you’d rather put that money toward getting her a ring, or saving it for the wedding, you can create a memorable experience for her with little expense.

? Cook Dinner Yourself - Even if you aren’t the world’s greatest cook, she will enjoy the fact that you took the time to create a meal for her.

? A Romantic Walk - Taking a walk after dinner, under the stars, to enjoy the Christmas lights can be absolutely enchanting, especially if you get down on one knee and slip a gorgeous diamond engagement ring on her finger.

? The Family Gathering Turned Engagement Party - If either your family or hers is planning to get together a little before the holidays, contact the hosts ahead of time and let them know you will be proposing. You may be able to make the gathering twice as festive - an annual event bringing the family together, and an opportunity to celebrate your engagement at the same time.

But if getting engaged is not in your plans for the holidays, you can always express your love with jewelry. A pair of diamond earrings with a matching necklace or pendant is a classic choice, or, you can choose to start a tradition by giving her a gold charm bracelet that can be added onto holiday after holiday.

Traveling

Whether you’re going for the exotic island location, an outdoor adventure, or you want to completely romance her, the surprise of a vacation getaway (that she doesn’t have to plan) is a romantic Christmas gift idea that will have her glowing with happiness. Giving her the opportunity to relax and truly put her obligations on hold, whether for a week or a weekend, is a gift all by itself - and if she can do this in her favorite kind of setting, you will definitely touch her heart.

Here’s a few sites to visit to begin planning the trip:

? For the islands - if she wants to sit back and relax, these two sites are a one-stop shop for all-inclusive packages:

www.sandals.com http://www.sandals.com

www.cruises.com http://www.cruises.com

? For adventure - a vacation filled with fun, outdoor activities is easy to plan with these sites:

www.iexplore.com http://www.iexplore.com

www.spectrav.com http://www.spectrav.com

? For romance - you’ll find that Paris is not the only option for on-location romance with these options:

www.allgetaways.com/activity.asp?areaid=100436 http://www.allgetaways.com/activity.asp?areaid=100436

www.vacationidea.com/romance.html http://www.vacationidea.com/romance.html

Spoil Her

Pamper her by combining a trip at the spa, a shopping spree and time with her friends for a luxurious day or weekend.

Every woman enjoys feeling like a princess, and there’s nothing quite like the VIP treatment you get at a spa. Go beyond the standard manicure and pedicure and tie both of these pamper sessions in with a facial, massage and/or body wrap. Most spas offer packages for these services, so ask some women you know to name their favorite luxurious spas.

The only thing better than a holistic spa treatment by herself is having a girlfriend or two go with her. Talk with one of her friends’ boyfriends and suggest he use the same Christmas gift idea for his girlfriend so both women can share the experience together.

Combine this with lunch or dinner reservations at an exclusive or hot, new restaurant in the area, and a shopping spree, courtesy of your credit card, and she will come home at the end of the day, relaxed, renewed and grateful to you.

The best way to find a good local spa in your city, or even in your state, is to get a referral from someone who has been there. But if you really want to take things to the next level, you can send her to a retreat at one of the world’s best spas.

Or, instead of spending the time with one of her friends, you can offer to join her for some time completely dedicated to her needs and interests. Probably the best Christmas gift idea for your girlfriend, fianc?e or wife is to give her the gift of your time - turning off the Blackberry, forgetting the to-do lists, canceling the meetings, and completely focusing your attention on her and letting her know how much she’s appreciated. And, taking the time to participate in her day could bring the two of you closer together.

Any Christmas gift idea for your girlfriend, fianc?e or wife should involve some thought, creativity and planning. If you combine those three elements, any romantic Christmas gift idea that you have will go over well. Because, after all, isn’t she going to put a lot of thought and effort into your Christmas gift? Truly show your love by doing the same for her this holiday season.

Jill Renee is the president of Danforth Diamond, an online jewelry store offering romantic Christmas gift ideas, such as diamond engagement rings, earrings, bracelets and other jewelry. View Danforth Diamond’s selection of Christmas jewelry at: www.danforthdiamond.com/specials/christmas.php http://www.danforthdiamond.com/specials/christmas.php

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