Faint At Heart

South Padre Island is an ideal vacation destination in the United States. The island offers beautiful beaches, warm gulf waters, shopping, fishing, boating, bird watching, and a variety of other activities. The island has an extensive array of accommodations including hotels, vacation homes, family motels, condos, seaside cottages, villas, and cabins.

South Padre Island’s condos are ideal retreats for families and friends. Most condos come with bedrooms, swimming pools, tennis courts, dining rooms, seasonal pool bars, Jacuzzis, shuffleboard games, and landscaped public areas. Televisions, board games, and stereos are commonly available in the condos, as are telephones and beach chairs. Many condos provide convenient access to beaches, restaurants, clubs, and outside bars.

Most South Padre Island condos are decorated with beautiful art, wicker furniture, mirrored walls, tropical trees, and floral arrangements. Other common condo amenities include air conditioning, dishwashers, and telephone service. Many condos boast fully equipped kitchens with non-stick pots and pans, programmable coffee makers, electric hand mixers, electric can openers, microwaves, toasters, and full size refrigerators. In addition, condos often have offer business centers with computers, fax machines, and Internet access.

Private balconies overlooking the white sandy beach is a specialty of all seaside condos. They provide facilities for fishing, bicycling, sailing, kayaking, horseback riding, wind surfing, and deep-sea fishing. Some of the island’s condos offer free shuttle transportation.

Most popular condos in the island include Beautiful South Padre Island Condo, Padre Island Texas Vacation Condo Rental Beachfront, Beach 2 Bay Get-a-Way, Padre Island Texas Vacation Condo, Ocean Waves, Beautiful Tropical Condo in Gulfview, and Saida Towers Beachfront Condo.

South Padre Island Condos are available on rental at different price levels. Payment options include cash, money order, personal check, credit cards and cashiers checks. There are a number of companies providing condo rental and reservation services.

Okay, guys: listen up! I am here to tell you what women want for Christmas. You probably already know it, but you don’t understand it. What am I saying? Well, those little ads that have been mysteriously popping up on your dresser, on your workbench, or plastered to the windshield of your truck did not get there by accident. Somebody who wants you to pay close attention to what she really wants put it there. You don’t think the wind blew it there do you? Oh, please! Let’s go down the list and find out what your lady really wants for Christmas. I abbreviated everything for clarity and to be concise. That means the 27 items she really wants are condensed to just five. Get it?

1. Jewelry - You had to ask? What woman doesn’t want something shiny to wear on her fingers, around her neck, her wrist, her anklet, her belly button…Okay, I’m not talking custom jewelry either. I’m talking about something that will retain its shine in all weather conditions and can be counted in the number of karats it possesses. You can count on it setting you back at least through the following June, probably as late as Thanksgiving…

2. Chocolate - Milk chocolate just doesn’t cut it, fellas. Better for you to pick it up by the brand: Peregina, Godiva, and Richart are a few that come to mind. Yeah, get her the little stocking stuffer Santa chocolates too. She’ll think that you are being real sweet!

3. To the Islands! Okay, time to splurge. Go all out and book that early February vacation to Paradise. You know you will need it by time that the 17th measurable snowstorm plasters your driveway. Oh, by the way, no matter how much she thinks that the kids should come along, make arrangements with your parents to come and spend the week at your house. If the kiddies come down with the flu at least they will be in a familiar environment with adults who will spoil them rotten!

4. Spa Membership - This one gets tricky. If you give her a spa membership, she will say that you think she is getting fat/old/wrinkly, etc. You’re walking in dangerous territory, men! Better yet, make sure that it is a place where her friends already hang out. Tell her you want her to have regular quality time with her girlfriends. She won’t buy your pitch, but she’ll join especially when you present her with the other gift that she wants: chocolate.

5. Stuff For Her Minivan. You know how hard it is for you to summon up courage to drive the family van, right? Especially after driving your Dakota all week. Who wants to be caught driving that thing? She does! This is where you really have to die to self: give her spark plugs and spark plug wires for Christmas and leave it at that. Just kidding. Better to find the name brand auto parts she really wants: floor mats, seat covers, pet pads, etc. All the frilly little things that make her vehicle, well, her own.

Are you still not sure what she wants? Then just look. That advertisement on your workbench is open to the page for the item she wants… the one with the big, red circle around it. So, just get it and leave it at that. If you do, you’ll be singing, “peace on earth and goodwill toward men” in no time. Merry Christmas!

Matt Keegan is a madcap auto enthusiast and contributing writer for
PitStop Auto Parts, a seller of discount auto accessories including

Catco converter and

Taylor wires for your motor vehicle.

It’s a trite, but often repeated saying: The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. So why, when Father’s Day rolls around, do we buy endless ties and “message” T shirts? Is the way to his heart through his clothes? Not likely. It’s the stomach, people, and that means good food. For many men, good food comes in the form of a great steak.

So what if you’re not a steak eater, or you eat it only in restaurants and the thought of purchasing a raw slab scares you to death? Fear not. It’s not that complicated, really. Even a caveman can handle this job.

It’s important to know your cuts of meat before planning the menu. You don’t want to cook the dad in your life a tasteless, tough piece of leather. You might not notice the difference, but let’s face it - he will. Since you’ll likely be grilling, it’s important to know the best cuts of meat for the grill.

You want to choose the most tender portions of meat for grilling. Experts generally consider these cuts of beef to be the best for grilling:

- Rib Eye
- T-Bone
- Porterhouse
- Strip steak (like New York steak)

If there is the word “loin” on the package, you’re in good shape, though most grill experts agree the T-bone is the most superior cut of beef for grilling. It stays tender and juicy, and is thick enough to withstand a fair amount of time on the grill without overcooking. Stay away from top round or anything with “round” or “chuck” in the name. These will not cook well on the grill. Flank steak and London broil can also be tough.

Next, it’s important to know how to choose a steak. Don’t just grab the first package that looks good to you. Look for some good marbling in the steak. Yes, this is another word for fat. But we’re not cooking for the dieter in the family on this special day, we’re trying to give dad a good steak, remember? Those little bits of fat scattered about the steak will essentially melt while the meat is cooking, giving the meat a rich and more tender flavor.

In that same vein, don’t trim the fat from your steak before cooking. It might be the diet book author in you coming out, but that thick layer of fat around your steak is what will give the steak a wonderful juicy quality and rich flavor. You can cook the steak, and then trim the fat, but cook the steak while it’s still dressed in its fat clothes. It’s worth it.

Do you need to buy a “name brand” steak? Experts say it’s not necessary, even though branded meat is a new commodity and becoming more widely available. Nor is it necessary to choose a steak from a butcher shop or from behind the glass window in the meat department at your local grocery store. Usually the pre-packaged steaks are the same you would get from behind the glass, and since the butcher is a dying breed, you could certainly go that route if you have a neighborhood butcher, but if not, a good quality grocery store will provide what you need.

Finally, it’s important to know your grades of steak.

- Prime is the top grade, and it features the most marbling and is the most tender, but most of us don’t have access to this grade in mainstream grocery stores. This is often what you get in a restaurant.

- Choice is the best grade most of us can get in the grocery store. But choice does not guarantee high quality as this grade encompasses meat that can be almost as good as prime, or almost as bad as select, our next grade.

- Select beef is the most lean and least expensive beef and is the grade of beef most commonly found in your grocery store meat case. Since this is Father’s Day, try to find choice and splurge a little.

If you are unsure about your ability to pick up a good steak locally, consider ordering online and having fresh, high-quality steaks delivered to your door.

At OmahaSteaks.com, you can buy a large variety pack of meat, grill some for dad, and then send him home with a few spares for another day. KansasCitySteaks.com offers prime quality steaks for a restaurant-quality dad’s meal.

Mike Sullivan is an author on the topics of grilling, preparing and cooking steaks, and choosing the right cuts of meat. Read his most recent report on How To Marinate Steaks to put the most flavor into your next steak meal.

Every year we go through the same process of making our list of people we need to buy for and agonize over those one or two people that are almost impossible to buy for. You spend all that time at the mall or online trying to find an appropriate gift that says care and attention went into this gift.

Well this year you may be able to do something a little different, especially for the ones who are hard to buy for.

Every home you go to you will see art prints, posters or photographs adorning the walls. If you go through a gallery of motivational posters you will find prints of all kinds that have inspirational sayings such as “Goals-Dolphin, which says, There is no end to the amount of things you can accomplish”. This is great for home or office. Office gifts are often the more tricky gifts and a motivational poster is the kind of gift that is beautiful and inspirational.

For the person you are buying for, are they interested in hockey, football, baseball, golf, the military, extreme sports, rock climbing, animals, flowers, ethnic art, etc.? So many areas have been covered that you should be able to find what you are looking for.

Some examples of extraordinary pictures such as a print called, Perseverance-Cliff Hanger with a saying, “What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve”. Or, Challenge-Runner with this saying, “Winners must have two things; definite goals and a burning desire to achieve them”!

Art is universal, so remember, “When Art Inspires, dreams Become Reality”!

Willie Jones

Willie is a freelance writer, researcher, floral designer, and artist. Thanks very much for reading this far.

“Make sure you enroll in the free motivational poster drawing at http://www.artinspires.com/. All winners receive a free framed print.”

In life, it is customary to celebrate joyful events with the exchange or giving of gifts. Despite which end you are on, the act of gifting can be fun and exciting. There are, however, certain unspoken rules of etiquette that should be followed. Here are some basic guidelines to help keep you on track:

For starters, if you happen to receive two of the same items as gifts, you have several options. You can always keep both and have a spare on hand. This works well with certain household appliances, such as coffee pots. For parties and entertaining, two coffee pots come in handy. In one you can brew regular coffee and in the other you can serve up decaffeinated coffee for those who get the jitters. Your other options when receiving two identical gifts are returning or regifting one of the items. If you opt to return one, speak with the person who gave you the gift and let them know that you appreciate the gesture, however, you did receive two of the same item. Explain to them that you will be returning theirs to the store so that you can exchange it for something else. Ask them if this is okay. In most cases, gift givers want you to be happy and satisfied with their gift so they will not be offended.

Your last option, regifting, must be handled delicately. Discretion is imperative. Only regift items to those individuals who are not within the same circle as the person who gave you the gift. The item must be new and in its original package. Make sure you rewrap the item and include your own gift card. Also, don’t regift just for the sake of clearing out some clutter. Make sure the person you are regifting to will actually like what’s inside.

Properly thanking people is also important. For birthdays and general occasions, sending out thank you cards is only necessary if you haven’t already thanked someone in person. For special occasions such as weddings and anniversaries, thank you cards are the proper way to thank someone for their gift - even if you have already spoken your words of gratitude. Thank you notes should always be handwritten and sent out promptly.

The last item of consideration is deciding who to gift to - particularly around Christmas time. As a general rule of thumb, you are usually only obligated to buy presents for those people that you have traditionally exchanged gifts with. If someone gives you a gift that you don’t normally buy for, simply say thank you and tell them that you appreciate their thoughtfulness. Nothing more needs to be said. Maybe you can start a gift giving tradition with them or maybe not. Don’t feel obligated to have to run out and buy them a gift.

By remembering the basics of gift giving etiquette, you will properly display your sincerity and gift giving flair without insulting, annoying or upsetting anyone. Gifting is an art - follow these simple guidelines and you’ll have a great part of it mastered.

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Need more great gift ideas for a variety of people and occasions? Visit The Home Gift Shopper at http://www.homegiftshopper.com

Find updates and additional resources for this article online at:
http://www.homegiftshopper.com/giftideas/1956/gift-giving-and-receiving-etiquette/

Florida is a mecca for single and family vacations. Safety Harbor retreats certainly belong on the top of the list of places to visit for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Safety Harbor is a charming town located in Florida, within a twenty minute drive from both Tampa International Airport and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport. Known for its quaint shopping area, as well as the proximity to two large city areas, Safety Harbor is fast becoming a popular tourist destination.

Safety Harbor rejuvenation and relaxation retreats are another reason that people come to this area, and in that regard, there is only really one spa that springs to mind. The Safety Harbor Resort is located on Tampa Bay, and is within walking distance of the downtown shops and other attractions of Safety Harbor. This resort is known not as just a great hotel in the Tampa area, but as one of the top ten rejuvenation clinics in the entire country!

The Safety Harbor Resort houses 189 guest rooms, which are spacious and well equipped with all of your needs, as well as beautiful views of the Tampa Bay. Most rooms have balconies or patios where you can linger and watch the sun set on the water. There are also four suites available, for that extra special trip, which include additional space and amenities not found in the other guest rooms. Available throughout the Resort is the resort’s famous mineral water, which is touted to be the water that was found when explorers were looking for the Fountain of Youth.

The rejuvenation and relaxation center at the Safety Harbor Resort is large, boasting 50,000 square feet and 40 treatment rooms. The packages available for relaxation here are numerous, such as the “Spa and Fitness” Package, which includes accommodations, dining, and treatments. The “Spajama” Package is unique to the resorts and includes accommodations, spa treatments and even an in-room pizza party!

The rejuvenation and relaxation treatments available at the resort earned it a top ten rating in the Zagat survey. They include many different Aveda specialties, such as massage, body treatments, facials, nail treatments, body hydrotherapy and hair care all available in one place. A day of luxury can be put together especially for you, and the resort even provides Wellness Consultations on such topics as nutrition, total wellness and weight control.

If you’re in the market for a getaway in a beautiful Florida environment, look no further than Safety Harbor Resort. You might not even need to leave the resort at all, with all of the activities, treatments, and other options available to those who stay here.

These days romance has been redefined by commercialism and it seems that the only way we can get romantic is by going to the most glamorous hotels, eating at the finest restaurants, pampering ourselves at the most stylish establishments and all in all just spending big. But what ever happened to the simple pleasures in life?

Next time you plan a romantic getaway pull out a map, a history book and locate America’s great historic destinations. Whatever aspect of America’s historic past that interests you, chances are there’s a quaint historic inn waiting to play host.

Staying at a historic inn offers you an opportunity to get more personally acquainted with your destination. Of course, you can include as much or as little history as you like. But the idea of being transported to another time is itself romantic. You may end up sleeping on a bed from last century and meet hosts whose families have lived in the area for generations. Getting closer to history makes you get closer to your own history. That’s romantic.

Historical inns may not have all the comforts of a modern hotel. The wallpaper may be peeling and the toilet may be leaking, but most travelers to these destinations don’t seem to mind about such details. Being surrounded by historic buildings, cozy restaurants, and antique stores adds a touch of class that makes up for the lack of five-star service.

Staying at a historic inn at some of America’s unique historic destinations is the perfect romantic getaway. History is about our personal attachment to the world we live in. It touches the heart in the same way that romance does.

Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.the-perfect-weekend.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

What are your chances of getting the vacation of a lifetime without having to save for a lifetime?

Renting a timeshare may be the answer to your dream vacation without having to make a long-term commitment. Many individuals are willing to rent their allotted timeshare week to you. Because of an inconvenient date or some other personal reasons, many times owners are unable to use their timeshare and are willing to sell their time period to you. With a little research either on the Internet, local newspapers or even visiting with realtors, you may be able to step into a dream vacation. Exotic places wait for you and your loved ones.

Timeshare companies and timeshare owners offer an alternative to the overpriced hotel and motel rooms. Virtually every year the costs of hotels go up. You can usually control the price tag of your vacations by utilizing timeshare resort rentals. Timeshare owners normally charge a set price for their rentals, and they do not need to increase prices to pay for labor and other usual expenses incurred by hotels. This keeps the price of a vacation rental on a more consistent level each time it is rented.

Timeshare resorts are located in incredible destinations around the world. Where have you always longed to go, but thought, “Wow, it would be too expensive to stay in a place like that!”? Mexico? Hawaii? How about Europe? Sure, those destinations can be expensive, but with a timeshare rental, you can get into incredible resorts for a fraction of the costs of a hotel vacation.

In most cases, hotel and motel rooms are undersized, have few amenities, and cost more than a timeshare rental. Typically when you rent a timeshare unit, prices are for seven nights, not per person. The units can sleep anywhere from 2 to 10 people. You choose the type of room and amenities you want! Studio, 1, or 2 Bedroom with kitchen, dining and living area units are all available.

No matter how nice the Hotel or Bed & Breakfast….. it still is just one small room! Why spend one or more weeks on vacation in a cramped hotel room and have the extra expense of eating out for every meal. Enjoy the spaciousness and freedom of a completely furnished resort condominium and save money all at the same time! And you will not be required to attend a timeshare sales presentation.

Put your vacation plans into motion and start your search for the ultimate spot you’ve been dreaming about. Whether you have dreamed about walking barefoot on an island or skiing down a mountain in another country, there is a timeshare available to you at a more than reasonable price. It takes only a little time to put the details together and make your dream vacation become a reality.

Timeshares are a proven concept for vacationers in many countries, and holiday planning is one of the top growing segments of the leisure time industry all over the world today. Why not begin your search today by perusing newspapers and travel magazines, or logging onto the Internet and searching for “timeshare rentals?” Dare to dream!

© Copyright 2004 by Dana Sanders. All rights reserved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking for information about timeshares? Go to http://www.atimesharesz.com. A Timeshares Z is a timeshares and vacation, resort and condo rentals and resales directory. Visit http://www.atimesharesz.com/getaways.htm for featured low-priced vacation getaways at popular destinations across the U.S.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mention Romania and people immediately think of Dracula and a mid-evil country. Recovering from years of economic misery, Romania is quickly becoming the hidden jewel of Eastern Europe.

Dracula v. Ceausescu

In pop culture, Romania is always equated with Count Dracula, Bran Castle and Transylvania. These assumptions are wrong. Vlad Tepes is widely regarded as the person on whom the Dracula character is based. Known as Vlad the Impaler, there is no disputing this was one nasty individual, but he wasn’t a vampire. On top of this, Vlad the man never resided in Bran Castle, a real castle and the home of the fictional Dracula. Sorry to burst your bubble, but there was a person arguably worse than Dracula or Vlad in Romania’s history.

Introducing Nicolae Ceausescu, the reigning worst dictator in the history of Europe. A pig on all counts, this man treated Romania as his personal fiefdom through much of the twentieth century. While leading the country into economic ruin, he built lavish estates for he and his wife. While Romanians starved on the streets, he and his wife spent money like Joan Collins at a plastic surgeon. When he was finally expelled from office, the people were so outraged by his excess that he and his wife were literally stoned to death.

Unfortunately, the country didn’t recover quickly. The last five years, however, have seen major advancements, and Romania is now a must visit location.

Bucharest

Once considered the Paris of the East, Bucharest suffered greatly during Ceausescu’s reign. Ancient buildings with French and Turkish influences were replaced with communist inspired concrete block buildings in redevelopment projects. Currently, the city is a microcosm of the lurching recovery of the country. Elegant neighborhoods border slums and there appears to be little or no middle class. There appears to be only the poor or rich. When visiting Romania, you will have to fly into Bucharest. Just don’t stay too long.

Brasov

Brasov is located in the hilly terrain of Transylvania and is a good place to visit. Located in the center of the country, Brasov is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. The city is a resounding example of old world Romania with an ancient center city square and little cafes throughout.

The real appeal of Brasov is the surrounding land. Unspoiled, the mountains surrounding Brasov are full of little villages and surrounding forests. In this area, you’ll find bears, wolves and other threatened animals roaming freely. On top of this, the land is ripe with outdoor activity opportunities such as skiing, hiking, camping, hunting, rock climbing and parachuting. While all of this exists in other travel destinations, there is no tourist trap feel in Brasov.

Carpathian Mountains

The Carpathian Mountains are visually stunning. While there are attractions throughout the mountains, such as Bran Castle, don’t try to simply visit a particular place. Instead, rent a car in Brasov or hire a driver and just go for a ride. The scenery is so overwhelming it is hard to describe. You’ll drive down and up into gorges that seem endless, see rivers bombing down mountain sides and see animals only found in National Geographic documentaries. Go for this drive and I guarantee you will be blabbering about it for at least five days.

Romania is the hidden gem of Eastern Europe and you should definitely visit. You don’t even need to wear garlic.

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more articles about Romania and Adventure Travel.

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. …Tenneva Jordan

There is a name that often has the same effect as soothing balm on a tender wound. Many can go through life saying she doesn’t matter, but it is the wounds of life that require the ministrations that only a mother can provide.

Surely you’ve had those moments when you desire the closeness of mom although you might indicate you’d rather not see her. We can all be grateful that moms see through our inner turmoil and willingly stand with us when the need is greatest.

The most selfless individuals on the planet are mothers. They are often the first ones up and the last to bed. They serve your needs without asking anything in return. They suffer through the abuse of adolescent children and willingly welcome us home when we come to our senses.

When the second Sunday in May rolls around it is the true essence of gratitude that brings us to the doorstep of mom’s house with gifts in hand, from hearts that have begun to catch a glimpse of thankfulness.

Mother’s Day gifts come in all sizes, fragrances, colors and styles. Most often these gifts are simple flower arrangements and gift cards. Moms will never respond unkindly, but perhaps it is time to consider a gift that is a thoughtful indicator of the love and appreciation you have for your mother. A gift of considerate choosing that takes your gratitude to a level that will surprise and delight the very one who gave you life.

Mothers spend a great deal of time in the kitchen and a unique kitchen gift or a gourmet gift of elegance and style will be remembered long after flowers fade, wither, and are summarily discarded.

Imagine a time in the future; your mother sits down for a cup of tea and traces her finger across the top of the European Glass Teapot she received as a gift from you. She remembers special long ago moments she was certain she had forgotten. A thoughtful, daily used gift can provide a personal ongoing connection between you and your mother. Best of all - her thoughts will be toward you - not the gift.

This in no way diminishes the effectiveness of the gift; it actually enhances the overall gift giving experience. You see, a well thought out Mother’s Day gift is as much for you as it is for her; useful and appreciated - with memories attached.

When the second Sunday in May rolls around, consider a kitchen gift or a gourmet gift that conveys to your mom that you believe Mother’s Day is more than a special occasion - the day is a moment of insistence that she be held in the highest esteem. It may even be a moment when strained relationships can be mended and old offenses forgotten.

The second Monday in May will find your mom back in her daily routine. Why not give her another reason to think of you each day.

She will, you know.

James Zeller writes for gift related websites and blogs. Here is a selection of unique gifts that he found, and a creative collection of culinary gourmet gifts.