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By Barbara Holbrook

It can be hard enough to come up with great gift ideas for individual people on your list, but it’s doubly challenging to come up with a combination gift for your favorite couple. It is possible, however, to kill two (love)birds with one stone, so to speak, especially if you have at least a general idea of the likes and dislikes of each. For instance, if he loves sports but she couldn’t tell a quarterback from a shortstop, a pair of tickets on the 50-yard line would delight only half of your dynamic duo. Here, then, are some suggestions that can delight times two:

An Evening Together

Many couples, especially those with kids, simply don’t have the time to share enough one-on-one, quality time with each other. Make a gift of offering to take the kids out for the evening, or even having them camp out at your place for the night. It’s a present that many couples wouldn’t dream of asking for, yet would love to have – peace, quiet and togetherness. Depending on your budget, you might also present them with a restaurant gift-certificate and/or movie passes, but the greatest gift is time, and they’ll love you for it.

The Spa Treatment

Just about anyone, young or old, male or female, loves to be pampered, and the couple on your list will appreciate the opportunity to have those tense neck and back muscles massaged, their aching feet soaked, their skin warmed and toned, and all manner of being refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated to their hearts’ content.

A Toast to the Happy Couple

A good bottle of wine is often an appropriate gift, but it’s also a fairly common one. For a creative twist, why not have it be a monthly gift delivered to their door? There are many websites – ClubsGalore.com, GreatClubs.com, and FlyingNoodle.com, to name just a few examples — that offer Wine of the Month gifts, so even if you’re not a connoisseur yourself, their experts choose the tastiest and most interesting selections for you.

What if she likes wine, but he’s strictly a beer drinker? These sites also offer Beer of the Month gifts, so each half of your happy couple can get into the spirit. In fact, ClubsGalore.com also offers additional spirits, including vodka and bourbon. This site also offers combination packages so you can tailor your selections even more specifically.

And, for the teetotalers, many of these sites offer not only tea but coffee as well, each beverage presented as a monthly gift in various gourmet flavors.

Eat and Be Merry

Continuing with the monthly club theme, many of the sites mentioned also offer monthly goodies including cheeses, hors d’oeuvres, chocolates, cakes and ice creams. Like any creative gift, these are items on which the recipients may not typically splurge for themselves, yet which they’ll be delighted to receive. And, like any tasty food item, these are gifts that stimulate the senses and which the pair can relish together.

Knowing the couple is half the battle, but even if you know only one of the partners well, you can often get some clues just by asking a few well-chosen questions. For instance, while sharing a cup of java with your friend: “So, does Harry like coffee as much as we do, or will he drink pretty much whatever you put in front of him?” You’ll soon have the information you need to give the couple a gift they’ll both appreciate.

About the Author: If the couple practices and environmentally-friendly lifestyle, it’s important to honor their beliefs. Check out these

green gift clubs

or this list of the ultimate

monthly fruit clubs

at the only blog dedicated to revealing the most unique gift by mail memberships, BestoftheMonthClubs.com.

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byAlma Abell

Figuring out exactly how often you should have a company such as Hammond Services come out to service your air conditioning unit is not an easy task. Fortunately, modern technology has made AC units so efficient that they do not need to be serviced nearly as often as they used to. Ideally, you should be able to contact a company that offers Air Conditioning Services Riverdale once a year to come out and take a look at your unit. Most people prefer to have them come out once every six months. Depending on the company you go through, some come equipped with a service plan that requires them to come out two or three times a year to check on your unit. Get in touch with Hammond Services for more details.

How often you need Air Conditioning Services Riverdale really depends on how you use your unit. Most air conditioning units are built with the intention of being used in a pattern. They are designed to be used year-round and they are created to be able to withstand intense heat. It is usually the condition that your unit is in that decides whether or not it needs to be serviced.

Does some of the rooms in your home feel a little humid? The unfortunate truth is that summer temperatures are not usually cool and crisp. Every drop of water in the air is only going to wear down your air conditioner unit. Manufacturers are well aware of this issue. In fact, they recommend making sure you have an AC unit installed that is appropriate for the climate you live in.

It is not just the humidity that makes you require Air Conditioning Services Riverdale from time to time. It is also the dust and dirt floating around in the air as well. Over a period of time, all of the dust and dirt is going to pass through your AC unit. A lot of it is going to get stuck in the unit. Eventually, this is going to clog up the unit bad enough that it has trouble continuing to produce an ideal amount of air flow. This is why AC units need to be checked and cleaned from time to time.

Submitted by: Jon

Making plans to travel to Mexico this year? Is a Mexico family vacation in your future, or are you looking to take a little time for rest and relaxation on the sandy white beaches of Cancun or Puerto Vallarta? Well, your timing is right. It promises to be another fantastic year south of the border for all of the major Mexico resort hot spots! In fact, 16 million Americans will probably visit Mexico this year.

Be sure you are prepared before you travel, as there have been some new requirements issued by the U.S. State Department. Although it s a minor change from prior travel requirements, it affects all U.S. citizens entering the United States from countries within the Western Hemisphere who do not currently possess valid passports. Essentially, all that is required is a passport, which most frequent travelers have anyway. The goal? To make it safer for you and to strengthen United States border security.

Here are some important facts you should know:

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States.

In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines.

The proposed timeline will be as follows:

o December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

o December 31, 2007 – Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

The Easy Way to get a Passport

First, when applying for a passport, make sure you allow enough time! It typically takes 6 weeks to process a passport application. Where can you apply for a passport? The State Department provides a handy search tool to help you find the Passport Acceptance Facility nearest you. What s the busiest time for passport processing? Usually between January and July. Of course, if you have an emergency and need to travel to Mexico right away, the State Dept does offer some options. Go to their website at http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html, or call the U.S. National Passport Information Center: 1-877-4USA-PPT

Additional Tips for Travel to Mexico

Be sure to leave your travel itinerary and passport information with a friend or relative in case the originals are lost. It can also be helpful to carry a copy of your travel documents with you in a separate location from the originals.

Avoid traveling with large amounts of cash. Credit cards are widely accepted and most areas visited by tourist will have an ATM machine. These are great options because they are safe, convenient and you get a favorable exchange rate. Another option is to use traveler s checks.

Using a fanny pack or travelers wallet for your cash and passport is a great idea.

While they are making great strides in improving the water quality throughout Mexico, it is advisable to drink bottled water. In addition, avoid drinking beverages over ice as the ice may have been made from tap water.

Wash vegetables and fruits in a purifying solution of some type.

Before leaving, check with your health insurance provider so that you are aware of your coverage.

If you are planning to drive over the border be sure to obtain a temporary import permit and all the necessary insurance.

So now that you ve been informed, what are you waiting for? Mexico is a land of incredible beauty and natural wonder! Whether you re going to sunny Cancun, festive Acapulco, or even Puerto Vallarta, your perfect Mexican vacation getaway is just a flight away!

About the Author: This article was written by Jon Wuebben, of Custom Copywriting. Jon writes select pieces about travel in Mexico for the

CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort

.

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