If you like Easter time, you’ll love the WOW Noblegarden at that time.  The Noblegarden festival is usually held on Easter Sunday and the city Barker and Guest Giver direct players to the celebration.

The egg hunt actually goes on for a week, with eggs hidden in the starting zones of the Alliance, Horde, and Neutral areas.

Eggs painted to look like wildflowers and containing treasures, coins and candy are hidden by the Nobels and Lords from each race.  Then everyone in the city looks for them. Every egg contains a piece of Noblegarden chocolate. Hint: Eat your first 100 eggs to obtain the Chocoholic achievement.

Eggs can also contain buffs which turn players into a rabbit for an hour.

You actually need to find 355 eggs so you can purchase event items from various venders using your Noblegarden chocolate! If you want to go for some of the more expensive items, save up your eggs until you figure out how much all of your eggs are worth.  Mage’s will need an additional 100 if they want the [Tome of Polymorph: Rabbit].

Some of the items that can be purchased include:

Spring Flowers

Robes

Tuxedo shirts

Tuxedo pants

Elegant dresses

Prices range from 5 – 100 pieces of chocolate.

The quests that are available for Noblegarden are: Spring Collectors and Gatherers, The Great Egg Hunt, and A Tisket, a Tasket, A Noblegarden Basket!

Here are a two different ways to collect eggs fast.  1) Give yourself the ability to run faster by attaching your basket to a key or button. This keeps the buff out of the way, 2) Locate yourself in a spot with a lot of spawn points so you DON’T have to run around so much.

And remember, if possible, eat your first 100 eggs to obtain the Chocoholic achievement award.

Source by Alex R. Cooper

In asking yourself what is a good Christmas gift for a girlfriend, you have to break down the question.

That’s actually surprisingly easy when you take a little time to think about the woman on your gift list.

Just precisely is your relationship to your girlfriend – intimate, close or casual?

You don’t want to make the mistake of giving something that will be taken as a signal of intimacy to someone you intend to remain casual with. The reverse is also true.

What is your girlfriend interested in?

Hone in on what she would like, not what you want her to like, what you personally like or worst of all, what your Mother likes.

The worst gift my now ex-husband ever gave me for Christmas was an electric can opener, exactly like his Mother had just bought for herself. There’s a reason we are no longer together!

What do you want your gift to say to your girlfriend?

By this I’m talking subtext. What you give as a Christmas gift for a girlfriend will come back to bite you if you buy something that looks cheap, something that screams exorbitantly expensive or something that says “I got Mother to pick up an extra one of these while she was out shopping”

Is there a Christmas gift that hits the target every time?

Well you may beg to differ but I believe the best Christmas gift for a girlfriend, wife, partner, daughter or any other lady you might be buying for is a gift basket for women.

I’ll tell you why.

Themed gift baskets come in many and varied shapes and sizes, but always they look attractive. First impressions are important for any gift for a woman.

Items in a gift basket are an abundance of cute little packages, each one to be examined and unwrapped and exclaimed over separately, prolonging the joy of gift receiving.

Many of the items in gift hampers are consumables and after these gift items are used up, your girlfriend is happy to receive another basket on a different occasion.

Source by Andrea Jackson

Gift baskets for special occasion gifts are very popular. We always buy gift baskets with gourmet foods and other treats for family that lives out of town for Birthdays, Christmas, and Mothers Day. It’s something that easy to order and always appreciated!

As pet owners spend more money pampering their pets they are purchasing more special gifts for their furry family too. With so many great treats, shampoos, toys, clothing, and accessories now available for pets it is easy to start a business making pet gift baskets by mixing these products together to make an attractive basket that pet owners will love.

Birthdays and Christmas are obvious pet gift basket sales opportunities but you could also put together themed baskets for St Patrick’s Day, Valentines Day, and as welcome home gifts for families with a new puppy or kitten. You could also market baskets by product theme. For example you could make a super grooming basket, all natural treat basket, travel basket, toy basket, or pet loss gift basket. Or why not put together baskets specialized with products for a particular breed. You could even provide a catalog of products to choose from so that customers can custom make their own unique basket.

Pet baskets could be marketed to pet lovers by placing displays with your business cards in local pet stores, grooming salons, doggie day care facilities, or boarding facilities. You could also sell them on the web via a website or at a chamber of commerce location. Think of some of the places pet owners go to spoil their pets and you have found your perfect market.

Pet gift baskets also make great items for pet businesses to donate to silent auction events and raffles to promote their business. Why not promote them to local pet business owners too!

All you need to make a great basket is the basket itself, some filler to place inside the basket, a cellophane shrink bag, and a decorative finish. Most large craft stores such as Hobby Lobby or Michaels stock these items and you can also buy them wholesale online.

You need to make sure you price your baskets to cover labor, supplies and the items in the basket. A good rule of thumb is to price the basket at twice the cost of the items that you put into the basket.

Gift Basket Wholesale Supply is a great resource for articles about the gift basket business and crafty ideas to make baskets look great. They even offer a free course about making baskets at their site. If you do a Google search on gift baskets you will find many more websites offering advice about the gift basket business.

If you already own a grooming salon, pet sitting business, pet store, dog day care, or boarding facility, pet gift baskets could be a great seasonal profit boost. You can offer these to your clients just by displaying samples in your store to generate conversation.

Source by Theresa Clarkson

When celebrating a wedding anniversary, a gift basket is a unique present with a personal touch. As each anniversary is symbolized by a traditional gift, a modern gift, particular colors, and specific flowers, it will help you to know the different items that are associated with each anniversary to help you to create the perfect gift basket.

The traditional gift for the first anniversary is paper that is used to symbolize strength due to the interlaced connection of its fibers. The modern symbol for this anniversary is a clock, symbolizing the eternity of love. The colors are gold or yellow while the flower is the orange blossom or pansy. The pansy is associated with thought or remembrance, while the orange blossom represents purity and eternal love as well as fruitfulness and fertility.

To create an anniversary gift basket, you can incorporate all these elements. For a traditional gift basket for the first anniversary, you can choose gold or yellow trimmings and include items such as stationery, postcards, books, or a calendar. You can also add a subscription to a magazine, a gift certificate, a jigsaw puzzle, or a paperweight. For a contemporary gift basket you could include a clock, a watch, a sundial, or a kitchen timer. You could also create a basket that combines the traditional with the contemporary. As a finishing touch, you can include an orange blossom or a pansy.

To celebrate the second anniversary, cotton is the traditional symbol used to represent the versatility, durability, and prosperity of the union while the contemporary symbol is china that is elegant and beautiful like love. The second anniversary color is red, although linen white is also associated with this anniversary. The traditional flower is the cosmos, which symbolizes modesty. The daisy is also associated with this anniversary, which symbolizes innocence.

For the traditional gift basket, you can trim it in red and white and place a single cosmos bloom in the middle of a bow. You could also scatter daisies throughout the inside of the basket. As most cotton items are white, these colors will blend beautifully. You can include cotton items such as towels, linens, table cloths or more personal items, such as clothing. For the contemporary basket, china plates or figurines would be a nice addition.

The third anniversary traditional symbol is leather while the modern one is crystal. Leather is durable, warm, strong, and flexible and has a sense of resiliency. These are also qualities of a successful union. Crystal is symbolizes the beauty of the marriage and the way the light dances off the surface and emits a glow serves as a reminder as to how the couple can touch and enhance the lives of others. The color is white or jade green, although fawn is also acceptable. The third anniversary flower is fuchsia which symbolizes taste. The carnation is also associated with this anniversary, which symbolizes pure love and innocence.

For a traditional gift basket, clothing made out leather (imitation leather is acceptable in today’s society) could be included as well as leather-bound books or leather carrying accessories, such as a purse or briefcase. For a contemporary gift basket, a commemorative crystal plate engraved with the couples name and anniversary date would be a personal gift that you could include. A crystal vase, wine glasses, or figurines are also gifts that would fit in nicely. You may consider trimming your gift basket in both white and jade green and scatter fuchsia blooms or carnations throughout the basket for a colorful background.

These are just a few of the many kinds of anniversary gift baskets that you can create. You can combine the traditional as well as the contemporary. You can also combine the colors and flowers or omit one or the other. By knowing the colors, flowers, and gifts associated with each of these anniversaries, you can have some fun and experiment to create the ideal anniversary gift basket.

Source by Beverly Sugarman

Home income opportunities. Have fun while making money from home with a home based gift basket business.

What do I need to Start a Gift Basket Home Business?

You need to have some creative or design ability to put together attractive gift baskets and to come up with novel ideas and themes. You should also have good interpersonal skills in order to market and sell your gift baskets successfully. Organizational skills are required to manage your time properly and to schedule your work to meet deadlines and fill orders. It is easy to learn how to make gift baskets and equipment requirements are minimal.

Gift Basket Business Start Up Costs

This home income opportunity has relatively low start up costs. Initial inventory when starting a gift basket business can run from a couple of hundred dollars to a couple of thousand dollars depending on what inventory items you buy and how much stock you want to carry. Your inventory will depend on the kind of gift baskets you decide to make and sell. Your gift basket choices will be determined by your particular target market. It is important to clearly define your target market so that you focus on those people who are most likely to purchase your gift baskets and become your customers. Concentrating your sales and marketing efforts on the correct niche market will result in success rather than wasted time and effort. You will also know the best type of gift baskets to create and sell to this target market.

Establish your Choice of Gift Baskets

The standard gift baskets you offer will be the core of your gift basket business. When starting your gift basket business it is not cost effective to carry inventory for too many different gift baskets – rather focus on a smaller number of versatile gift baskets. Once you have decided who your target market is you will be able to accurately select the range of gift baskets you are going to initially make and sell. Choose gift basket ideas that can be used for different occasions – a chocolate gift basket is just right for Easter as well as Mother’s Day and ongoing birthdays, anniversaries.

Making Gift Baskets

Gift baskets can be created in as little as 20 minutes and you can create a beautiful gift basket without any craft experience. Once you have decided on your theme and have sourced the inventory it is really quick and easy to put the gift basket together. The more gift baskets you make the easier and quicker it becomes!

Marketing and Selling the Gift Baskets

Proper marketing of your gift baskets will ensure that home income opportunities like this are successful. However don’t be intimidated by marketing- see it as a creative project where you can put your entrepreneurial spirit to good use! From visiting potential customers with samples of your gift baskets to advertising your gift basket business in local papers and magazines there are a wide variety of ways to sell you gift baskets. The most important aspect of your marketing strategy will be customer satisfaction. If you provide a quality product you will keep getting those orders.

What Sort of Income can you Expect to Earn?

Home income opportunities in the gift basket business are very good but it depends on how hard you work and how well you market and sell your gift baskets. Most gift basket businesses expect to net between 20 to 30 percent of their selling price. This is usually achieved by applying a 90 to 100 percent mark up on the cost of the items in the gift basket. The potential for making money is high – it is really up to you how much.

Making and selling gift baskets at home is a one of the top home income opportunities available to you. For free and comprehensive guides on starting a gift basket business go to Start a Gift Basket Home Business.

Source by Julia Derby

Most wines take their name from the variety of grape used to make it. However obvious that fact may be to highly trained viticulturists, the uneducated in wine will have just learned something new from reading this article. I encourage you to keep reading and learn more about the wines you’ve heard about and maybe even drank at one time or another during your life.

This three-part article series will discuss the many grapes of the world.

Chardonnay – This grape is native to France and is grown all over the world for both sparkling wines and table wines. This is the primary grape grown in the Val de Marne of Champagne and is also grown in northern California, New York State, Pennsylvania, Washington State, and Virginia. Chardonnays are often aged in oak barrels and may pick up a vanilla overtone in aroma and flavor when fermented in this manner. Chardonnay wines are typically served chilled and match well with chicken or any type of dish that uses a heavy cream or buttery type of sauce.

Chenin Blanc – This grape is native to the Loire Valley Region located in west central France. It is also grown in California and South Africa (referred to as “Steen” in South Africa). This type of wine usually develops a delicate, fruity flavor. Because of the high volume of Chenin Blanc wines produced, this type of wine is usually inexpensive.

Gewurztraminer – This grape is noted for its floral fragrance and spicy flavor. Native to Italy, Gewurztraminer is also successfully grown in France, California, Germany and New Zealand. Crops tend to fair better in cooler climates. This type of wine is often paired with spicy foods.

Johannisberg Riesling – This grape does better in cooler climates and is known for its high resistance to frost. Production is typically sparse with Riesling wines. Riesling is grown successfully in California, Washington, Germany, and other northern European growing regions. Wines produced from Riesling are universally rare, expensive, and long-lived.

Muscat – Known as Moscatel in Spain and Moscato in Italy, the Muscat grape is prized for its bold aroma and flavor values. This type of grape is grown heavily in southern France and its big crops produce wines that are sweet and very floral.

Palomino – This grape is native to Spain where it is used to produce fine Sherries. Palomino is also successfully grown in California, South Africa, and Australia. In California, Palomino is often referred to as Golden Chasselas.

Sauvignon Blanc – Grown in the Graves district of Bordeaux and the eastern Loire Valley, this grape produces fine wines that are typically smoky in aroma with an earthy aftertaste. If grown in a cooler climate, Sauvignon Blanc can produce a grassy aftertaste. This is a large crop grape and its wines are usually inexpensive. This grape is produced in northern California where it is referred to as Fume Blanc. Sauvignon Blance is often paired with seafood.

Scheurebe – This grape was developed in Germany and is a cross between Riesling and Sylvaner. Wines produced from the Scheurebe grape are aromatic and very fruity. They are often described as having a “hint of blackberry”. This is a rare grape grown almost exclusively in Germany.

Semillon – This grape is used to produce table wines and is often identified with Sauternes table wines produced in Bordeaux, France. This is a resilient grape that ripens in early season and is less likely to be damaged by frost or rain. Although Semillon is successfully grown in California and Washington, the acreage is severely limited.

Sylvaner – This grape is primarily grown in Germany and northern Europe. It can also be found in the wine producing region of Alsace, France. The aroma and flavor of Sylvaner are similar (but not nearly as potent) to Johannisberg Riesling. This is a high acidity wine that is naturally sweet, and is sometimes made into a dessert wine.

Source by Christian Rios

Whether you live around the USA, or you have them mailed to you somewhere in England, the rest of Europe, or even Australia, you can get some powerful and effective Good Luck Amulets as Christmas Gifts! Good Luck Charms that really work! Granted, they are not for everyone, but some people LOVE good luck amulets and such!

When buying Christmas gifts online, it is easier to order items that you can easily have mailed to you and if there are any free shipping deals, then that is even much better! Sometimes items are tiny and can be mailed anywhere, even as far as to folks “Down Under.”

When you have someone to buy a gift for, such as an acquaintance or a co-worker, and you won’t be spending a lot, perhaps you want to get a lot of bang for your buck, as they say! Imagine you give someone a good luck charm and then THEY end up winning some money in a casino or a lottery drawing? That would be awesome, and YOU would be the hero!

There are so many different little and interesting gifts that can be given as gifts, for the holidays, or anytime, really! My name is Father Time, a purveyor of good luck charms and amulets that really work. At www.FatherTimePublishing.com we have many items and big gift baskets too! But sometimes you need something small and discreet to give as a gift!

Most of our merchandise can only be sent to the continental United States, but the tiny good luck charms and amulets can easily be mailed almost anywhere in the world, and we do not charge for shipping! Imagine a bloke in England getting a good luck amulet to help him win gambling, it costs him only 14 quid, with no VAT, and free shipping? Now, that’s a nice deal!

Our biggest seller is the Indian Medicine Bag Good Luck Amulet, but people also seem to love the Lucky Gambler Playing Cards Amulet, which is a powerful way to attract gambling winnings into your hands! There are many other great money attracting amulets, which are ideal for gamblers and anyone who wants to attract more money into their lives!

When you are ready to finish your gift shopping, you can just turn on your computer and hop onto the web, but don’t wait too long, because the Holidays are almost here!

Source by Father Time

A small gift can be worth a million dollars. Yes, the value of a gift is not judged by it’s price in dollars but by the warmth and love with which it has been given. Gifts have been part of our tradition since ancient times. The exchange of gifts between lovers is very common. But the gift could actually be given by anyone to anyone as a symbol of love, gratitude, etc.

There are various types of gifts available in the markets today and often people find it difficult to choose one. One of the gift concepts involves gift baskets wherein a number of gifts are packed together as a single gift (gift baskets are very popular among parents who want to demonstrate affection for their college going children by sending them a gift basket).

Quite often people run out of Love Gifts Ideas. Moreover, an individual might not be able to zero-in on the perfect gift or gift basket that is not only representative of his/her affection but also useful to the person they are gifting it too (this especially holds good in the case of gift baskets). Moreover, new kinds of gifts and gift ideas always keep flooding the markets. With the advent of internet, getting all such information and sending gifts to loved ones has become really easy.

Are you looking for that perfect gift for a business associate or a friend? Just think what gastronomic joy you could give when you choose that ideal gift from a wide selection of gift baskets. If you’re looking for delicious fruit assortments with scrumptious pear varieties, apple varieties, cherries and more, the Premiums Fruit Company is just one of many online merchants that offer taste tempting gift basket ideas to whet anyone’s palate Tasty nuts and cheeses are also available in their handcrafted gift baskets and towers.

Other great gift basket ideas for those you know with a with a hearty appetite, what could be better than a gift of delicious meats? When you do your shopping online, you can select from marvelous gift baskets featuring prime steaks and chops, or delicious cheese and sausage.

And, let’s not forget nuts (also a popular item—not only at he holidays, but year ‘round.} Fresh, delicious shelled pecans and pecan treats are all available in a wide assortment of eye-pleasing baskets that would be a welcome gift for anyone on your list.

And have we mentioned chocolates? No one could really resist a gift basket of mouth watering decadent goodies—including chocolate covered nuts and regional favorites from around the country—all beautifully packaged and wrapped to delight any connoisseur of fine eating. In fact, one doesn’t have to be a connoisseur to enjoy a good piece of chocolate!

When you want to send something that’s not too personal, yet shows you’re thinking of the recipient, a gift of food is always appropriate. Gift baskets not only offer you a wide choice of content, but also a wide price range to suit your gift giving budget.

Romantic Gifts Ideas are always a hit and are bound to bring a smile to the face.

I am a webmaster of http://www.giftsronline.com, and publishing article for the various article sites, feel free to visit http://www.giftsronline.com for more information on gift, dating and other online gifts.

Source by Andy Steave

Living In Central Austin

Downtown Austin residents are passionate about their neighborhood.  The community is filled with restaurants, theaters, museums, outdoor activities, one of a kind retailers and an eclectic entertainment scene – all of which create a vibrant scene that is uniquely Austin.

A wide range of residential choices exist in and around the downtown area, from single family homes to more than 3,300 unique residential units available for purchase or rent.  The downtown community is made up of a diverse population – from students to empty nesters and more.

Most downtown dwellers will tell you that the real benefit of living downtown is being within walking distance of work, dinner, a play or a nightclub.  Currently, almost 363,000 people live within 10 miles of the heart of downtown Austin.  Downtown is home to almost 6,000 diverse residents, 90,000 daytime employees and well over 100,000 evening patrons.

Downtown Employment

Many top law firms, financial institutions, nonprofits, technology companies, professional services firms and governmental agencies house their operations in downtown Austin.  Downtown serves as the world headquarters to large corporations such as Whole Foods Market, GSD&M and Silicon Labs.  With all of the things to do and see downtown, employees often consider working downtown a huge perk!

Transportation

There are lots of ways to get around downtown.  Capital Metro operates numerous bus routes from all parts of town and a free ‘Dillo service that quickly circulates around downtown making short trips hassle-free.  The city also features several bicycle and pedestrian paths that help residents get to their destinations quickly and safely.

Health Care

Downtown residents have access to some of the best medical care in the nation.  Brackenridge Hospital, an acute-care hospital and outpatient facility located downtown, is the only Level ll Trauma Facility serving the Central Texas area.  Its facilities are recognized for demonstrating superior clinical, operational and financial performance.

Education

From public to private, elementary and secondary schools, downtown Austin is home to some of the best recognized educational opportunities in the city.  Downtown is also home to the Rio Grande campus of Austin Community College and the University of Texas and the nearby Houston-Tillotson University.

Outdoor Activities

Downtown Austin is host to many recreational activities and events.  At downtown’s Republic Square, Brush Square and Wooldridge Square visitors can log onto free wireless Internet, enjoy the weekly farmers’ market, attend the “Movies in the Park” or yoga classes, play Giant Chess, visit the O. Henry Museum or just relax.  Lady Bird Lake Hike and Bike Trail, Auditorium Shores and Zilker Park are all within walking distance of the heart of downtown.  With activities ranging from canoeing to watching the famous Mexican Freetail bats leave the Congress Avenue Bridge, downtown serves as a recreational hub for all of Austin.

Music

Austin doesn’t brag about being the “Live Music Capital of the World” just for the fun of it!  The district has more than 60 live music venues- a number that grows substantially when South by Southwest rolls into town!  If a club’s got an open spot on the floor, it’s a live music venue too!

Dining

Whether your’ looking for authentic Southern cooking, Tex-Mex or international cuisine, a meal on a budget or cuisine fit for a king, downtown Austin’s more than 125 restaurants have something to tempt your taste buds.

Arts and Culture

Downtown Austin’s numerous historic and culturally centers, libraries and museums are home to some of the world’s most prominent collections, including the Gutenberg Bible, Woodward and Bernstein’s papers, folk art and Texas historical documents.  Downtown also is home to the Texas State Capitol, more than 20 museums, 22 performance venues and 50 galleries..

Shopping

With more than 300 retailers, downtown is home to some of Austin’s most unique shopping opportunities in the city.  From home décor stores such as Design Within Reach, Loft, Mercury, and the Home Retreat to funky clothing stores like Estilo or Cowboy Cool, downtown shopping is sure to please.  Get unique gifts at Authenticity, Enchante, the Mexic-Arte gift shop or Tears of Joy Hot Sauce Co.  Looking for the perfect piece of jewelry?  Then head to Kruger’s, Koen and Son, Anthony Nak or Eliza Page.  Find that great piece of art at one of the many wonderful art galleries.  These and other retailers provide a one of a kind shopping experience in the vibrant setting of downtown.  Casual, cosmopolitan, eclectic, five-star, techie, hippie, historic, chic, intellectual, fashionable, artistic and weird…  The adjectives used to describe downtown Austin are as numerous and diverse as the people who live, work and visit here.

Source by Kris Colquette