Add A Bit Of Sparkle Extend The Outdoor Season With A Patio Heater (NAPSA)—There’s something about chilly weather and the warmth the holidays bring that inspires a toast—and there are plenty of family-friendly drinks to raise a glass with. To make the most of such festive occasions, be sure to include celebratory drinks everyone can enjoy—from kids to those who have to drive home. Cozy Idea—An outdoor gas patio heater can raise the outdoor temperature 10 to 25 degrees, allowing you to stay outdoors earlier in the spring and later in the fall. (NAPSA)—A growing number of families are extending their patio enjoyment with an outdoor patio heater. Their inviting 15' to 20' circle of warmth raises outdoor temperatures 10° to 25° F, letting families enjoy their backyards, patios or pool deck much later in the fall, and earlier in the spring, than ever before. While a patio heater won’t turn the dead of winter into a summer day, their adjustable temperature setting allows perfect control for a brisk-evening barbecue, earlymorning coffee or any other outdoor activity. Experts at BernzOmatic, a leading maker of patio heaters, point out that patio heaters are safe, economical and easier than ever to use. BernzOmatic’s new Outdoor Patio Heater provides up to 40,000 BTUs of heat, from its enclosed, centralized, stainless-steel heating chamber, which distributes an even heat across the body. With 10 hours of continuous run time, users are able to adjust heating temperatures for ultimate comfort. The fully mobile Patio Heater also has a lower center of gravity to help mitigate tipping, for added safety. And with no required tools, BernzOmatic’s Heater is easy to assemble; its patented two-step “Lift n’ Lock” assembly allows users to comfortably enjoy the outdoors in a matter of seconds! An important safety tip is never to leave the heater unattended and always operate the unit on a level surface. For more information on patio heaters, visit www.bernzomatic.com. Add a bit of sparkle to your next gathering with a sparkling grape juice that is delicious. It’s a crowd-pleasing holiday favorite. Favorites include eggnog and mulled cider. Another great idea is Welch’s Sparkling Grape Juice Cocktail. This great celebratory beverage for the whole family is available in red and white grape flavors. It contains the same premium grape juice found in the company’s bottled juices—but with a bit of sparkle. Wrapped in festive packaging so that it can be given as a gift, the attractive bottles can also provide a decorative complement to any holiday table. You can learn more at www.welchs.com. Bed Bugs: Good Night, Sleep Tight (NAPSA)—“Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bed bugs bite.” While parents have long left their children with these seemingly benign words as they drift off to sleep, few consider the reality of bed bugs when reciting the rhyme. Yet the bugs have made a comeback across the country. According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), pest control companies are reporting a significant increase in the number of calls regarding bed bug infestations. Although there is no way to determine the actual cause of the resurgence, experts are attributing the increase to several things, including global travel and the resilience of this mobile pest. Adult bed bugs are approximately one-quarter inch in length and have a reddish-brown, flat, oval body. They feed solely on blood and can survive for more than 10 months without a meal. Moreover, female bed bugs can produce up to five eggs per day and 500 during a lifetime. Despite their name, bed bugs can be found in any area of your home including carpets, peeling wallpaper and small cracks where insects can hide. When bed bugs bite, they inject a liquid that numbs the skin and allows the pest to feed undisturbed, leaving humans to find mysterious red, itchy welts in the morning. The good news, though, is that bed bugs do not transmit diseases. Infestations can be difficult to detect, but the first sign, other than itchy welts, is the appearance of small, brownish-red fecal spots on bed linens. Unlike other insects that feed on filth, good Bed bugs are flat, reddish brown and feed on human blood. A bed bug can live up to one year without feeding on a host. housekeeping has little to do with bed bug infestations. Infestations should never be thought of as a sign of dirtiness; some of the most pristine places have reported bed bug infestations. The NPMA offers these tips for preventing bed bug infestations in your home: •When staying in hotels, inspect sheets, mattresses and headboards for signs of bed bugs. •After traveling, vacuum out your suitcases before bringing them inside the house. •Avoid acquiring used furniture. Washing linens and other do-ityourself measures are not effective in the treatment of bed bug infestations. They should be addressed by a licensed pest professional who knows where to look for these insects, can offer the most up-to-date methods of control and can provide peace of mind that the problem has been resolved. For more information on bed bugs and other pest issues, visit www.pestworld.org. Helping Your Youngsters Succeed In School Thinking Of Selling At Home Parties? How To Find The Right Choice For You (NAPSA)—Many women look for ways to earn extra income for themselves and their families. One popular choice is selling at home parties. Called “direct selling,” it especially appeals to women because they can control their own schedules. “Women often try it to earn some extra holiday cash and wind up running their own business,” said Laurie Lawrence, a vice president at one of the world’s largest manufacturers of candles and home-ambiance products, which have been sold at home parties for nearly 40 years. “Being your own boss and setting your own hours is appealing to women who work and for stay-at-home moms.” According to the Direct Selling Association, over 14 million people work in direct selling in the U.S., and 87.3 percent do it part-time, meaning 30 hours per week or less. “If you’re thinking of trying direct selling, there are some good questions to ask first,” said Lawrence, who provides training, motivation and support for nearly 30,000 PartyLite sellers in the U.S. • Ask if there are any outof-pocket costs to get started or any inventory to purchase. For example, you earn your starter kit at PartyLite by holding your first show, investing your time, not your cash. • Ask if the company handles your orders and ships the merchandise directly. • Interview consultants who work with the company you’re considering and find out how much (NAPSA)—A flu vaccination is a first line of defense against the flu. Throughout cold and flu season, CVS/pharmacy offers flu vaccinations in more than 4,000 of its locations across the country. Call (800) SHOP-CVS for locations or visit CVS.com for information regarding cold and flu. Many people discover they can have fun and make money with a career in home party selling. support is available. You want to feel you’re your own boss but not alone when it comes to support and training. • Are the products you sell consumable? If people really like them, they’ll reorder. • Do you like the products? Home parties should be fun and your enthusiasm is key to your success. • Are you selling quality products that are easy to demonstrate, feature a range of styles and choices and don’t require complex technical information to use? • Do people at the company make money at all levels and are those earnings published? • Is the firm well established in direct selling, financially solid and committed to helping you build your business? Learn More For more information, see www.PartyLite.com. *** With a physician’s diagnosis for anxiety you may qualify to receive certain anti-anxiety medicines at a discount through a program from the UCSF Center for Consumer Self Care and Longs Drugs. For information, call (888) 356-2256. 5 (NAPSA)—Many parents may be glad to learn they can foster a positive studying environment without digging out their old textbooks. Here are some helpful tips: 1. Power Off Make it a house rule that the television must be turned off during study time. Even if it’s only on in the background, the noise and action can still lure kids like bees to honey. The same goes for phone calls—enforce a no-chat rule during study periods. 2. Designate a Specific Area for Studying To ensure that kids are “in the zone,” all possible distractions should be reduced. With that said, bedrooms and playrooms are home to temptations. Eliminate the potential diversions of games and gadgets by setting up a workstation in a quiet, minimalist space such as the dining room. A large table can be excellent for spreading out all necessary materials. 3. Make Organization Easy Help kids get right down to business by making sure all essential tools and materials are at their fingertips. Keep a supply of basics handy; highlighters, blank notecards and sticky notes should be easily accessible on or near the workspace. You can enlist the help of hightech study aids such as the F LY Fusion Pentop Computer from LeapFrog. Besides providing interactive step-by-step help for students in a variety of subjects, it hosts an onboard personal planner that kids can use to keep track of upcoming exams and assignments. A computer designed to help kids with schoolwork features a personal planner that students can use to keep track of school events and assignments. Additionally, when you take class notes with this computer, everything is automatically captured and can be uploaded to the PC for easy management. Come test time, the homework tool makes studying a breeze with a search function that allows kids to efficiently sort through all notes to find exactly which are relevant. Learn more at www.flyworld.com. 4. Monitor Progress and Provide Guidance Parents should work with their children to build realistic checklists outlining what needs to get done before a looming exam. For example, day one may include rereading relevant chapters and day two may include making flash cards. Regularly check in with your youngsters to ensure they’re staying on track. Remind them that burning the midnight oil before a big test isn’t productive; instead, they should pace themselves and get a good night’s sleep.