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When someone is graduating, it’s nice to write a thoughtful message in a card for them to go along with their graduation gifts. But what if you can’t think of the right words to say? You can always try just a heartfelt “Congratulations!” but if you want to write more, here are some ideas.

Quote Garden (www.quotegarden.com) compiles quotes in the public domain that you can use in your cards. These are sayings from famous people that will make you and your graduate chuckle. So, next time you’re staring at the blank white inside of a card, turn to Quote Garden for help!

Graduation Quotes

People will frighten you about a graduation... They use words you don't hear often:  "And we wish you Godspeed."  It is a warning, Godspeed.  It means you are no longer welcome here at these prices.  ~Bill Cosby

There is a good reason they call these ceremonies "commencement exercises."  Graduation is not the end; it's the beginning.  ~Orrin Hatch

Your families are extremely proud of you.  You can't imagine the sense of relief they are experiencing.  This would be a most opportune time to ask for money.  ~Gary Bolding

The tassel's worth the hassle!  ~Author Unknown

The fireworks begin today.  Each diploma is a lighted match.  Each one of you is a fuse.  ~Edward Koch

All that stands between the graduate and the top of the ladder is the ladder.  ~Author Unknown

A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that "individuality" is the key to success.  ~Robert Orben

Graduation is only a concept.  In real life, every day you graduate.  Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life.  If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference.  ~Arie Pencovici

At commencement, you wear your square-shaped mortarboards.  My hope is that from time to time, you will let your minds be bold and wear sombreros.  ~Paul Freund

When you leave here, don't forget why you came.  ~Adlai Stevenson, to college graduates

Graduation day is tough for adults.  They go to the ceremony as parents.  They come home as contemporaries.  After twenty-two years of child-raising, they are unemployed.  ~Erma Bombeck

An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.  ~Author unknown, commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin

You are educated.  Your certification is in your degree.  You may think of it as the ticket to the good life.  Let me ask you to think of an alternative.  Think of it as your ticket to change the world.  ~Tom Brokaw

The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.  ~Aristotle

It takes most men five years to recover from a college education, and to learn that poetry is as vital to thinking as knowledge.  ~Brooks Atkinson, Once Around the Sun, 1951

A man who has never gone to school may steal from a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.  ~Theodore Roosevelt

Commencement speeches were invented largely in the belief that outgoing college students should never be released into the world until they have been properly sedated.  ~Garry Trudeau

The future lies before you, Like a field of driven snow, Be careful how you tread it, For every step will show. ~Author Unknown

Just about a month from now I'm set adrift, with a diploma for a sail and lots of nerve for oars.  ~Richard Halliburton

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Many people give a bottle wine in a wine gift basket that has been aged. There are bottles of wine sold at auction that are hundreds of years old; they sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and age just improves upon this expensive perfection.  But wine doesn’t age after it is opened – it spoils.  The taste of wine begins to change as soon as it is exposed to air, and if you leave a bottle unfinished and put it in the refrigerator, you may find a very different wine waiting for you in your next glass.  How long does wine keep after you open it?

The best way to keep your wine from spoiling is to drink it all upon opening!  If you are more of a glass-a-night type of drinker (good for you!), then you are bound to have “leftovers.”  Let’s say you pull out the cork. This starts the time clock.  As soon as air is introduced, it will create changes in the wine, such as oxidation.  Even if you put the cork back in, it doesn’t reverse this process.

So what do you do, and how long do you have?

That depends on the type of wine you have and other esoteric factors, but in general, you can expect that three days will be the useful life of that opened bottle of wine. When you open the bottle, the air begins to soften the flavor of the wine, and it loses its subtlety and aroma.  Eventually, it will become very vinegary.  You have probably tasted wine that was more like vinegar, and chances are that it had been sitting in the refrigerator too long.

If a bottle of wine has gone “bad,” you will be able to detect the vinegar smell, and a sommelier or connoisseur can usually detect a change in the color.  It will be duller, and white wines may appear more yellow or brown in tone.

If you cannot finish a bottle, put the cork back in and refrigerate it for up to three days.  Make sure the cork is in tightly, and store the bottle on its side in a darker part of your fridge.  You can also try a wine bottle vacuum pumper.  This creates a vacuum that slows the rate of oxidation; it doesn’t stop it, but you can prolong your leftover wine’s life.  For white wines, simply take them out of the refrigerator and serve.  For reds, take out and let them get up to room temperature before you drink.

You also may want to consider changing the way you drink wine.  No, this doesn’t mean drink more!  But instead of a bottle, you might try a boxed wine.  These may have been a wine faux pas a few years ago, but wine packaging is evolving quickly, and this design has a stopper on the spigot that allows you to pour your wine without letting air in.  There are also single serve wine pouches that allow you to enjoy your glass (or pouch) of wine each night without worrying about leftovers.  OneGlass is one such manufacturer, and each pouch has 100ml of wine.  These are ideal for picnics as well because you don’t have to worry about breakage and spilling.

Remember the three-day rule for your upcoming holiday wine gift, and you should never have to drink a glass of vinegar again!

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Just about anything can serve as garden art these days. If you want to ornament your garden without investing a lot, create your own garden art from things you already have around the house.

Look at castoffs in a new way. Before you bring your recycling to the drop off, look through it and see if you might have anything in your bucket that could be used to decorate your garden. There are probably some amazing choices in there that could make your garden look like a folk art grotto. Bottles are especially good for garden art. Turn them upside down and put them on a stake or a piece of bamboo. Blue bottles or especially pretty glass bottles can be used to line a walkway in a unique way. Use large mouth glass jars and canisters as candle holders. Drop in a pillar candle and place it on a garden table. You can also create floating flower candles when you fill a mason jar with water and put in a floating flower candle. How suiting! When you’re dining outdoors, you’ll have lovely candlelight in a decorative container that cost you nothing.

Watering cans can serve as lovely garden art. Either set them out in groups and let them weather. Or paint them with acrylic paints and a coat of protective gloss. They’ll look adorable when painted in garden or nature themes as well as with animals such as garden critters or dogs and cats. Same goes for gardening baskets, dress them up and use them as tools, they're multipurpose!

Use old clay pots to create a garden statute. Stack them and glue them in place at odd angles. You can then plant in them, or leave them as is to collect rainwater for the animals. Paint them first or leave them in their natural state to grow moss and a patina.

Old shutters make perfect garden art. Create a little outdoor garden room by putting up shutters against a fence or a walled in area. You can leave them open or shut them for some shade. An antique metal bed frame also works well. Set it up and drape sheers over it for a dramatic look. You can also place an outdoor cushion on it so you can lounge away in glamour in the garden.

Of course you can always scout yard sales for wheelbarrows, bird baths, birdhouses, and other “junk” that you can turn into art. There’s nothing that can’t be used. The more weathered, the better. Any pieces of metal that will age nicely are perfect. Twist them into shapes or just stand them up and let them become abstract sculptures.

Mosaics are another fun way to upcycle your household junk. Any broken pottery or ceramics can become pavers in your walkway, a bird bath or just a pretty pot. Use cement to create a surface layer and then add in piece of broken china. Arrange it in a pretty pattern and then allow it to dry. Once dry it will work well in the garden and last forever. Check out crafting stores for kits that save you the work of finding all the materials on your own.

You can always add a garden seat. Instead of investing in expensive garden furniture, look for cast off seating at garage sales. You’ll often find unwanted chairs by the side of the road on trash day. Those can be turned into treasures. Repaint and seal, add a waterproof seat pad and you’ve got yourself a cozy place to sit with a cool drink and relax.

Related Articles:

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Do you know the difference between spaghetti and vermicelli? How about ziti and penne? Fettuccini and fettucelli? They do have one thing in common; they are simply delicious. But often, the type of pasta you choose has a big impact on the quality of the dish you serve. It is important to complement the shape of the pasta and the texture and taste of the sauce. This can be hard because there are hundreds of different choices! You don’t have to stick to the old favorites – macaroni and cheese or spaghetti and marinara sauce. Try something new! Here are some of the most popular pasta shapes defined.

There are more than five hundred different pasta shapes. Some, like spaghetti, are much more common than others, but if you have wanted to try something different, do it. There are no strict rules regarding pasta, and experimentation can do wonders for your palette. One of the things to consider, though, is the size and shape of your pasta compared to the type of sauce you will be using.

For instance, if you have a very thick, hearty meat sauce, you want a noodle that can hold its own! Thicker pastas like fettuccine (which is broad and flat) and tagliatelle (which is a bit thinner than fettuccine) will hold up nicely. If you are making a sauce with meat or chunky vegetables, also consider:

• Fusilli. This is “corkscrew” pasta. All those twists and turns are perfect for catching chunky sauces.

• Farfalle. This bowtie pasta is perfect for thick sauces. It is a small but sturdy noodle.

• Penne. These are cylindrical and hollow in the center.

• Rigatoni. This is like penne’s big brother. This tubular pasta is too small to be stuffed, but it makes a hearty addition to meals, especially baked dishes.

• Rotini. The spiral shapes make these perfect for holding bits of sauce, veggies, meats, and cheeses.

• Pipe rigate. This is hollow and curved, resembling a snail shell. A smaller version, pipette rigate, is also good for chunky sauces.

• Stuffed shells, like manicotti. These make a terrific complement to any thick sauce.

Look for a noodle that is thick enough to be used with your chunky sauce without being overwhelmed. Textures and shapes, like twists and spirals, are great for scooping up the delicious sauce. Take a look through the pasta aisle at the grocery store and see what fits the bill, or the sauce.

Some pastas are better suited to oil-based sauces, rather than tomato-based sauces. Linguine, spaghetti, and tagliatelle work very well with olive-oil sauces that coat the pasta without drowning and creating a greasy mess. These types of pastas – especially when fresh – are wonderful served with a simple olive oil and herb sauce or pesto. Stuffed pastas, like ravioli or tortellini, are also delicious with an oil or butter based sauce.

Finer, more delicate pastas call for an equally delicate sauce. Angel hair, for instance, which is much thinner than spaghetti, is perfectly paired with simple sauce made with diced tomatoes, olive oil, and basil. This type of pasta also works well with seafood. For instance, use sea scallops, lemon juice, butter, parsley, and fresh basil for a terrific and very easy to prepare meal.

In general, use a thicker pasta when you have a thicker sauce, and a thinner pasta when you have a lighter sauce. When you are making things like soups or salads, find the shape and size that appeals to you and will help you capture the perfect flavor with each bite. There is no possible way to do pasta wrong; experiment with different shapes. You’ll be glad you did, and you will undoubtedly come upon a fabulous combination that becomes your new favorite.

When you put together an italian gift basket, be sure to put in different types of pasta and sauces. You could even put in a recipe or two with suggestions for the types of pastas and sauces you chose.

Planning a birthday party should be fun. If you’re getting mired down in details and feeling stressed, stick to a checklist so you’ll feel confident you’ve gotten everything done that you needed to. Keep it where you can see it and check things off. The act of crossing items off your list will make you feel hopeful and excited for the party.

Depending on the age group of the guests, you may need to start early. If you’re throwing a 50^th birthday party, you’ll need more time than if you’re planning a child’s fifth birthday party.

One or two months before the party

Decide on a date

Decide where you will have the party

Start creating a guest list (you can always add to it later)

Find a theme you like

Think about what kind of food you’re going to serve and call a few caterers for prices

Get your paper goods and invitations

Three weeks to one month before the party

Send out invitations

Pick a bakery to make your cake

Decide on a DJ or band if you’re having one

Decide on centerpieces for tables

Select your caterer and decide on the final menu

Buy favors if you’re going to have them

Arrange for who will get the guest of honor to the party if it’s a surprise

If kids will be at an adult party, hire a babysitter

One week before the party

Have all chairs and tables on order

Call any guests who haven’t responded

Confirm any reservations you have made for the venue, food, etc.

Wrap your gift for the guest of honor

Choose your attire for the party

Confirm your babysitter

The day before the party and the day of

Within the last 24 hours before the party starts:

Pick up any balloons

Pick up the cake or have it delivered

Set up an area where the guest of honor will open birthday gifts

Have tables and chairs delivered

Be sure linens are ironed

Set up buffet stations if you’re having them

Clean up any areas of your house that guests will see

Take out all the supplies you bought like cups, napkins, etc.

Decorate the party space

Assemble any birthday baskets and place them on the tables

Make sure you have enough ice on hand

Confirm that food is set for delivery

Tie balloons to your mailbox so guests can find your house

There’s a lot that goes into the planning of the party, but you can throw a party that looks effortless when you are organized. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Most people are happy to help out with assembling favors, running out to pick things up for you, getting the birthday boy or girl there, and more. Your aim is to have a fun party, so be sure that you have time to relax and get yourself dressed. Don’t work right up until the last minute and let guests catch you before you’ve even showered.

Your party will flow smoothly once you have checked everything off your list. There’s nothing to do once the list is completed but to grab a drink and start mingling. The more the hostess enjoys herself, the more everyone else does, too.

Need more help with your planning? Here are a few more ideas:

Over The Hill Birthday Party Ideas - Milestone Birthdays

Kids' Birthday Party Game Ideas

The next time you want to relax and have a little spa time, or want to create a unique spa basket for a friend, you can create your own spa products. It’s much cheaper than going to a spa and you’ll know that you’re going chemical-free. Invite some friends over to make the products with you and then you can all have a relaxing spa night.

Cucumber Eye Gel

Courtesy of Spaindex.com

Ingredients:

• 1/4 large cucumber
• 1 ounce aloe vera gel

Puree the cucumber in a blender (leave a little pulp), strain the mixture into a glass bowl until you have at least 2 ounces. Spoon in just a tad of the pulp from the strainer). Add the aloe vera to the cucumber puree in the bowl and mix lightly. Pour into a clean, sterilized container. After cleansing face, stir mixture gently and apply with a cotton ball to under eye area.  Avoid the eyeball. The shelf life of this product is very limited by the fresh cucumber. It should be used within a few days, and kept refrigerated between uses.

Watermelon Toner

Courtesy of Spindex.com

• 2 Tablespoons fresh watermelon juice
• 1 Tablespoon vodka
• 2 Tablespoons witch hazel
• 2 Tablespoons distilled water

Strain the watermelon juice to get rid of seeds and fruit pieces.  Combine all ingredients in small bowl and stir well. Pour into clean containers with tight-fitting lids. To use: pour a small amount on a clean cotton pad and apply to face. Store in fridge between uses to retain freshness.  Will keep approximately one week.

Chocolate Facial Mask

Courtesy of spaindex.com

This creamy mask is an excellent moisturizer, leaving your skin baby soft. Recommended for normal skin.

• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp. heavy cream
• 2 tsp. cottage cheese
• ¼ cup honey
• 3 tsp. oatmeal

Mix all ingredients together (a bullet blender is ideal) and smooth onto face. Relax for 10 minutes, then wash off with warm water.

SpaIndex.com Tip:  You've heard the adage "Never cook with wine you wouldn't drink."  This holds equally true for home spa remedies.  Never use ingredients for your home spa treatments that you wouldn't want to eat.  Your skin, the largest organ on your body, breathes and is porous. It will absorb the properties of the ingredients you are using.  Don't "clean out the fridge or pantry" to create your home skincare remedies.  Use fresh, high quality ingredients for the best results, and do not store the treatment longer than the shelf life of the most perishable ingredient.

Apple-Pear Anti-Wrinkle Cream

Courtesy of Spaindex.com

• 1 tsp apple juice
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp lime juice
• 2 T buttermilk
• 1 T rosemary leaves
• 3 seedless grapes
• 1/4 pear
• 2 egg whites

Blend all ingredients in a blender on medium speed for 30 seconds. Using a cotton ball, dab mixture on areas around the eyes and wherever wrinkles have developed. Let dry, then rinse with warm water. Use no more than 3 times a week. Follow with a moisturizer. Cover and refrigerate immediately.  Shelf life: 4 days.

Try these skin care products that you make in your own kitchen and you may never again go back to store-bought products. The results will be fresh, natural, supple -looking skin that’s been pampered by nature, not harmful chemicals. And plus, its fun to get messy in the kitchen brewing up concoctions.

More Spa Articles:

• Make your own relaxing Spa Bath products
• Do It Yourself Home Spa Treatments
• Aromatherapy for Sound Body and Mind
• National Spa Week!