Kid Birthday Party Games - Pre-Teens

Pre-teens are no longer wanting to play kiddie games but are not yet teenagers. They will not want to play running games yet are not really ready to just hang out. Here are some ideas for your pre-teen party.

Untie the Knot
Place the guests in two separate circles. Ask them to raise a hand and take hold of someone's hand on the opposite side of their circle. Then, using their free hand, grab the hand of a different person close by. Without letting go they must try unravel themselves. The first team to do so is the winner.

Matching Characters
Identify couples from real life or fiction like Lady Di and Charles, Peter Pan and Wendy or Willie Wonka and Charlie. Place a piece of paper on each persons' back identifying them. Each person then asks 1 question from every other person till they discover who they are. They may only ask questions such as am I male or female, a fictional character or real person, dead or alive, etc. Once they identify themself, they can start looking for their partners. The winners are the first matching couple.

Toilet Paper Game
This is a wonderful ice breaker - especially if the guests don't know each other well. As each guest arrives ask them to take a strip of toilet paper off a roll. When everyone is there get the guests to sit in a circle. Starting with the birthday person, each person must reveal something about themselves equal to the number of squares they tore off. You could also pass a bowl of sweets around. Tell each guest to take a hand full. They must tell a secret for each sweet they took.

Balloon Defense
Tie a balloon to each persons' ankle. The idea is to try stamp on each other's balloons to pop them without having yours burst. Here are tons more wonderful balloon games.

Note for Note
Have a selection of popular CD's (preferably of mixed artists) and a CD player which allows you to fast forward to the middle of a song. Press play anywhere in the middle of a song and play for 2 seconds. Whoever identifies the song first gets a toothpick. The one with the most toothpicks in the end wins. You could have them identify the song or artist.

Questions and Answers
Get each person to write a way-out question on a piece of paper. Fold and place in a bowl. Ask them to write a line from their favorite song on another piece of paper. These are the answers. Pass the questions around and let every one take one. Each person gets a turn to read their question, then take an "answer" from the second bowl and sing it if they know the song. Some really hilarious answers to questions come out! And strange versions to songs too.

Stork the lantern
This game is played best outside at night. One child is "it" and sits with a flashlight or lantern. They must look at the light. The other children move out into the dark. They try get as close to the lantern as possible. The person with the light tries to listen for noises or spot movement. Then they can look up and say something like "I see you with the red shirt". That person then sits down. The child that gets the closest to the lantern wins.

Bubble blowing
No not just any bubbles but big odd shaped bubbles. You will need a good bubble solution and shaped wire to create these huge bubbles.

Use these ideas, they are sure to be a hit.

Blessings from Africa
MissTy (Tania Collins)
I get all my free printable invitations here

Exploring Wedding Reception Games

When planning your wedding ceremony, it is imperative that you also include plans for your wedding reception. While ensuring that you have the right kinds of foods and refreshments, seating arrangements, and music is all very important, you should not forget to include an assortment of wedding reception games. By adding some carefully chosen games to your reception, you are creating a fun and friendly environment in which everyone can relax, open up, and get to know each other. In this article, I will introduce you to an assortment of ideas that you can use to create games for your wedding reception.

When creating wedding reception games, be sure that you have a list of all the people that will be attending your wedding reception. It is important to have a good estimate on the age groups that will be attending as well. This will give you a good idea of what kind of games will be suitable for the audience that will be entertained. With this information, you should them put your imagination to work. The more creative and inspiring your games are the more fun that your guests will experience. However, you may wish to refer to the many traditional games in order to get you started.

One of the best traditional games that you can work into your wedding ceremony is that of musical chairs. Children and adults alike will enjoy this exciting game. However, you can add some new and interesting twists to it. For example, you may have your guests circle the chairs in one direction, and then go in the opposite direction. You may have your guests clap at the same time that they revolve around the chairs, or hop on one foot while they go around the chairs.

You may select funny songs, kids songs, or any number of other types of songs to make this an interesting and engaging game. If you are having a Halloween wedding ceremony, you may to choose to play musical tombs, or if it is a summer wedding, you may choose to play musical beach towels. It is important to try to work in the theme of the wedding when planning wedding reception games.

When planning games for your reception, you may take the idea of a reality television show in order to create a game. One of the most popular reality television shows is American Idol. At your reception, you can host your very own American Idol Talent Show. You can call it American Wedding Idol, or anything that you like. Designate a panel of judges and create cards in which the guests can vote on their favorite Idols. If you wish to have this type of wedding reception game, it is important to have prizes for the individuals that win first, second, and third place based on the votes of your guests. You should also have a DJ and/or a Karaoke machine too.

When creating a wedding reception game, you should consider implementing the game of hot bouquet. All this game requires is a little music, a long list of guests, and a bouquet of flowers. The guests should make a circle. Each guest simply takes the bouquet of flowers and passes it to the next guest. If the bouquet is dropped or is in the hands of a guest when the music stops, that person is out. This game will continue until there is one person left standing. That person will be designated as the winner of the game. You may have small prizes, such as a box of cupcakes, ribbons, or similar novelties to issue as rewards for the winner.

A popular wedding reception game that many adults enjoy is Battle of the Sexes. This game is quite simple. An individual that will not be engaging in the game should come up with a variety of trivia questions. The females will get a chance to respond, and the males will get a chance to respond. You could make one leader among all the sexes who has a whistle. The first to blow their whistle gets the opportunity to answer. The team that answers correctly gets a point. The game continues until all questions have been answered. Once the winning team has been determined, they can choose from a list of things to have the other team do. For example, the losing team may have to make everyone a drink, or clean up after the reception.

There are many wedding reception games that a couple can choose to implement after the wedding ceremony. However, the games should be selected in such a way that everyone who chooses to can get involved and have a good time. The wedding reception is a great time for all members of the guest list to get together, enjoy each other, and have a great time. If you keep that in mind when developing your wedding reception games, your reception is sure to be a success!

Melinda Barton is an Internationally recognized wedding planner and author of the book Wedding Planning Secrets. She has given several TV and radio appearances and is passionate about helping everyone succeed in their desire to have the best wedding through simple and easy to use wedding planning secrets.

Franchising Businesses

Companies must take certain issues into perspective before franchising a company. The first would be to get the franchise registered with the U.S. Trade Mark office. A Trade Mark attorney would be able to take care of this process. The company needs to register the names of all the states where the franchisees are most likely to be opened. They must register for multiple units if relating to more than one franchise operation.

The company must have all the regulations, rules, and other procedures ready as manuals for the franchisees. This manual must cover all the financial, administrative, accounting, and legal aspects concerning the successful opening and running of a franchise. All the training that is to be provided to the franchise employees must be available as and when required. New strategies being implemented into the business must be available for the franchisees perusal. The training must be scheduled as per the training manuals provided and the manuals must also contain updated training procedures for existing employees. Advertising and promotional related aspects ought to be covered in the manuals provided to the franchisees. The franchise must be able to follow all these rules strictly and must not make an exception unless absolutely necessary. If needed, the company must be able to provided trained employees to the franchise during the initial stages.

Another important aspect is to develop the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular that provides the franchisee an insight into the companys history, and background information on the current stockholders and owners of the company. Financial statements for the last three years, details of current franchisers, the company's lawsuit history, and franchising agreement are also part of the UFOC. The franchisee must be able to look in detail into the companys current profits and past losses before committing to franchise for the company. These documents must be in the applicants hands at least 10 days before the agreement is signed and the franchising fee is paid, as per the Federal Trade Commission.

The company must be able to provide market research for increasing the profits of the company. The details produced by such research must be accessible to all the franchises, possibly through a monthly newsletter. The company must also be able to conduct regular trainings for all the existing employees in all the franchises.

Franchising provides detailed information about franchising, franchising businesses, franchising directories and more. Franchising is affiliated with Home Based Business Opportunity.

13 Steps to Protect Yourself from Your Bank

The success of your business is critically dependent on how well you negotiate and manage your financial partners. Banks, investors, credit cards and financial services companies work for you. Therefore, you need to be sure you are working together, understand the plans of each and have the best idea of what and how things will happen when times get tough.

It is very simply like dating, and you need to be acutely aware of how words, actions and contracts meld together to form a base for your business structure to build on.

1.Ask for resume of your loan officer and if a small community bank the resume(s) or work history of the principals. Banks have one of the fastest turn over rates and as the industry continues to consolidate, so people are moving fast. Its not always the bad ones that move on, there are actually good folks that get snapped up by the private sector. Know how often they move, and where to and where from. And, ultimately, if you can go with, assuming the relationship is good.

2.Ask to meet 2 to 3 levels up. Loan officers boss, senior vice president of commercial lending and again, in small community banks, a principal. If your bank contact shows up missing, you have a critical issue that you most likely dont have the time to deal with now.

3.Ask for references of businesses within you range loan, and/or business type. If they wont give you the other companies name, ask them to have their clients call you. Make sure they are similar in size, industry and financial requirements. Be prepared to ask tough and pointed questions to uncover the real types of people you are dealing with to determine what it will be like beyond the honeymoon stage.

4.Ask for their standings in state and federal regulator groups including FDIC. Be aware that in many cases it is against regulations for bank employees to tell you they are in trouble. Get the history and then follow up on the FDIC website and state banking authorities. These groups may ultimately decide what the bank can and cant do with account.

5.Ask what happens when times get tough. Blow up the bomb, talk about the worst case scenarios and get the reaction of how your bank will handle a takeover, regulatory change, or a late payment.

6.Request the financial intuitions long term plans. Sell. Merger. Growth. The bank wants to know your long term plans and how they can be part of it. Shouldnt you know what they are planning on doing? If they are going to buy up other banks, or be bought? What happens to your great (or mediocre) bank relationship? Ask often and frequently where the banks see themselves going in the community and within their industry.

7.Draw up a close-out plan if you want to direct the process. If you hold special permits or plan to be involved with your company to the bitter end, figure out how that will be handled. Discuss and get agreements with your financial partners.

8.Invite Board of Directors to your business. Not only are they powerful allies with your bank they are often influential in the community. The more you develop the relationship, they more they can be aware and helpful in moving your business forward, in and outside the bank.

9.Sign any amendments to loan security agreements at the same time you enter into a loan relationship. Neither should be determined to be of more importance if you are going to create an equal and balance long term relationship. Nothing should be an additional or an oversight but one complete and equally negotiated agreement.

10.Request quarterly reports on changes within the bank. Read them and ask questions about what they mean to you and your business relationship.

11.Demand annual updates on areas that blend your business and your business services. Are they adding services to benefit you or cutting areas that will be vital to the growth, profitability and success of your business.

12. Recap all meetings and phone conversations in writing and copy supervisors in your company and at the bank. When times are good, you want every one to know it. And when you need help or relationship begin to gradually, or like a sudden summer storm, explode, you want your communication and your plans to be exacting, detailed and with a concise trail.

13. Continue to meet with other institutions and dont consolidate your business.

Margaret E. J. Broderick has an undergraduate in communications and an MBA in Strategic Marketing and Management. Her last company was a two-time Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist. She is the author of Passion v. Arrogance: A Dana and Goliath Story of Wine Women & Wine, and continues to tour the country to educate audiences. She can be reached at http://www.passionpowerpress.com, or passionbooks@aol.com

Switching From Analog To Digital Television

The digital revolution in the television industry seems to have taken ages to reach the consumer. It has been difficult because it needs the co-operation of the companies that produce the equipment to display, receive and transmit digital pictures, the TV companies that broadcast the programs and the film and television industry that produce the films and television that we watch. This has been aggravated by the fact that the industry standard for digital technology has been disputed and people have been hesitant to commit to one technology or the other. This article will trace the evolution from standard analog TV to the digital TV.

Most people are still receiving analog television today. Analog television technology is around 60 years old but still produces good quality pictures. In North America, Japan and part of South America the standard analog signal is the National television standards committee (NTSC) and in Europe and most other parts of the world it is either Phase Alternating Line (PAL) or Sequential color with memory (SECAM). SECAM is mainly used in France and French speaking parts of Africa. Many countries that had SECAM are gradually moving to the PAL system, notably countries in Eurasia and countries that were formerly in the Soviet Republic. Although there are numerous differences between the three technologies, the most obvious to the viewer is the line resolution. The NTSC system displays 525 lines on the screen and PAL displays 625.

These analog systems have worked fine for 60 odd years and the only cause for concern, and a major reason for changing, is that the signal was often subject to interference that could degrade the picture quality.

The process whereby the average household receives digital television is evolving. As the average house still has an analog television they cannot view digital quality pictures but they may be receiving digital signals. This means the signal might be clearer but before they can view the picture it has to be converted back into the standard analog picture (525 or 480 viewable in NTSC). So the means of transmitting the picture is digital but the viewing is still analog. Generally the conversion back to analog is done by a set top box or satellite system.

The end point of this evolutionary phase is to have digital transmission going into a digital display system or television. When this occurs you can safely say that you are watching digital television. A new standard for this type of television has been set up and is called the Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC).

When the means of producing media, the transmission or broadcasting of this media and the devices for viewing the media all conform to the ATSC standard then the advantages of digital TV will be truly apparent to the average television viewer.

Again, the average person does not have to concern themselves with the technology behind digital television. All they need is an high definition TV or HDTV. HDTV will have a far better line resolution to the analog system. So this means the resolution could be up to 720 or 1080 lines. This is a fine picture quality. This quality will be coupled with the precision transmission of digital broadcasting that will make digital TV the best television viewing going.

Find reviews on the latest home theater components, including Home theater speakers and sound systems at http://www.hometheaterreviewed.com . Adrian Whittle writes reviews and features on home theater systems, equipment and accessories.

A Review Of Some Great Forex Blogs

There are some forex blogs out there that you can learn a lot from. One of them is Baby Pips. This is a very active blog with postings by several experienced, successful forex traders every day or two. This blog gives the actual trades they are making at the time, and explains the reasoning behind them. There's also a lot of learning tutorials that you can read here. It's also funny and easy to understand.

Another good forex blog is Adam Kritzer's Forex Blog. He is considered a guru of forex investing. His website is updated regularly, with a lot of good investing ideas, currency trading news and analysis. His blog started in 2004, so you know he has been actively trading, probably successfully, during all that time.

A third very good and interesting trading blog is Grace Cheng's Blog. Grace has been trading professionally now for several years, and she paper traded for a long time before that. Her site also has a lot of interesting articles that you can read that were written by her, and in her blog she often tells what she is doing at the time. If you're a forex trader or planning to become one I would keep up on these three blogs, because they're updated regularly, have a lot of good information and articles, and are published by active, experienced, and successful traders. Here are the links to these three great forex trading blogs:

http://www.babypips.com
http://www.forexblog.org
http://www.gracecheng.com

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Roger Bovee is the editor and publisher of Forex Trading Machine Blog. Go there to read the GBP/USD mechanical trading system that can make an average 70 pips profit a trade, a $39 value, by 11 year forex trading professional Avi Frister! http://forex-trading-machine-blog.blogspot.com
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Forex Trading With Mini-Lots - A Way To Trade

Many people thinks that in order to enter the Forex trading world they will need to have a fat account on the bank so they can start benefiting from the many advantages offered by the Forex market. But nothing is most distant from the truth. You can trade forex even if you can't gather one grand in your bank account.

Fortunately for most independent traders that don't have the huge funding banks have available there exists something called a Mini Account in Forex. It is different from the regular accounts because it uses a different leverage calculation than the regular, 100k accounts. What this will mean to you is that instead of trading full-size currency lots comprising 100,000 units, you'll trade in lots that are just 1/10 the size, this is only 10,000 currency units, which in turn will greatly reduces the risk you take in your trades. Pips in a Mini Account are worth, on average, $1 instead of the $8 to $10 value they have in regular accounts. The Mini Forex account offers up to 200:1 leverage, this means that just a $50 margin deposit will allow you to trade lots worth roughly $10,000 . Again the smaller lot sizes, with correspondingly smaller pip values, means that you'll be assuming less total risk while building enough capital to start trading regular accounts.

Additionally, there is no downside to trading a mini account as some may think in a first approach. You will be enjoying all the benefits that full-size forex account holders enjoy; including the same state-of-the art trading software, the same charts, the resources, and tools, etc.

We could say that this mini accounts are ideal for new Forex traders so they can develop a disciplined, rational forex trading strategy without excessively focusing on profits and losses when they are still learning.

For more details about Forex trading visit my website:

http://www.1-forex.com