OH, MY FACE, what is happening to my face?

Years ago, a rather rude fellow walked up to me at a gallery opening and loudly asked "My God, what has happened to your face? It is FAT!" I flushed, and said little. It was a matter of shock and embarrassment, had I changed that much in just a few years? The answer was YES. Facial weight is one of the most difficult cosmetic problems I have had to deal with and it has been a struggle since my mid-thirties. This article is quite helpful.
Amber Columbia

How To Lose Face Fat

Author: Chung Leong Yu

Here is a fact that you should take note of. What do you look at first when you meet somebody? You look at their face first right? For example you meet up with old friends, colleagues, your neighbor or new friends, most of the time you will focus your attention on their faces first.



The point is that the face is very important and that is also why so many people are looking for ways to lose face fat. Any weight loss will show on the face first and when people look at your face, they will straight away notice changes. Plus, influences from the media and the entertaining world also create an impact on how a pretty or sexy face should look like. If you just would flip through the magazines, the faces of the models are all very slim and well defined with high cheekbones, sharp nose and a lean face.



Well, since so many people is looking for the answer to lose fat in their faces, here is a couple of tips on how to lose face fat. Before we move on to that, lets understand that there is no such thing a spot reduction. This means that if you are looking at a miracle pill or gadget that can get your cheeks down, you will be disappointed.



If you want to lose face fat, you have to begin with losing weight. This means losing excess water retention and also losing body fat. Usually, when a person loses weight, it is very noticeable that his face also gets sharper and leaner. Usually the face will slim down first because excess water is gone. Follow these simple steps to lose weight and you will get a lean, healthy and toned face.

Lose Face Fat Step 1: Drink lots of water.



You have to drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Drink at least nine 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Drink more than that if you are an active person and always exposed to the sun. The thing is our body has a natural protective system. When you do not drink enough water, the body will naturally think that you are stranded in a dessert and have not enough water. As a result, it will store as much water as it can to keep you living and there is when you will get bloated. Vice versa, if you drink enough water, the body will flush out all the unnecessary water because it knows that the system has enough water. Stick to plain water. Sodas and sugared drink would not help because they contain sugar and will lead to bloating too.



Lose Face Fat Step 2: Do not forget your fruits and vegetables!



Stay natural and eat at least three servings of fruits and three servings of vegetables every day. This will not only fill you up with less calories and help you stay way from junk food, fruits and vegetables also contains water that can help you stay hydrated. Plus, they are filled with fiber that gives many health benefits. Make your self a healthy fruit salad for snack instead of a chocolate bar. Choose your fruits carefully though; control the amount of bananas, grapes and pineapples because they are high in fructose. Go for apples, oranges, all sorts of berries and grapefruit because they are low GI carbs and they packed full with anti oxidants.



Lose Face Fat Step 3: Reduce the alcohol



It does not matter what alcohol you drink. Wine, brandy or beer, alcohol is still alcohol. Alcohol can cause a good amount of bloating in the body because it really dehydrates the body. It can also add inches in you belly and under your chin because one gram of alcohol contains seven calories! That is almost like drinking fat! A five ounce glass of wine has 100 calories, that means a little drinking a little bit can add inches in your waist.



Lose Face Fat Step 4: Bump up the calcium



A lot of studies have proven that taking at least 1200 milligrams of calcium from dairy if possible daily can help in fat loss. There is also a study that showed that half of the females in that study experienced reduced symptoms of PMS including water retention after consuming 1200 milligrams of calcium. So, do not eliminate dairy in your diet, have some in moderation.



Lose Face Fat Step 5: Calories out more than calories in.



This is the golden rule of fat loss. In order to lose weight, you have burn more calories than you consume. So, the easy and healthy way to do this is to burn 250 calories and reduce 250 calories from your food intake. The reason to reduce 500 calories a day is because we need to hit a reduction of 3500 calories a week and that will result to healthy recommended weight loss of one pound of body fat per week.

To burn 250 calories, just go for a simple walk or jog for 30 to 40 minutes. To reduce 250 calories, just eliminate all the junk food and excess fatty foods from your diet right now and I am sure you can reduce 250 calories. Eat healthy and eat with a mind to feed your muscles and body with good fuel!



Lose Face Fat Step 6: Control Your Salt Intake



Salt is another culprit of water retention. That is why when you snack with junk food that is high in sodium, you will feel every thirsty and your face will bloat up the next day. Avoid foods like pizza, burgers, junk food, chips and other similar foods because they are loaded with salt! When eating out, be careful of the gravy, some gravy use a lot of salt. Eat home and prepare your own food when ever possible! Sprinkle your salt, do not use your spoon, that way you can really control the amount of salt that goes into your food!



Lose Face Fat Step 7: Go For Weight Training



You have to weight train to maintain and increase lean muscle tissue. With more muscles packed in your body, your metabolism will increase and you can burn more calories and fat! Plus, with more muscles in your body, you can burn more calories while you do your cardio and even while rest because muscles are living tissues and require calories to function and survive! For optimum fat loss results and to lose fat on your face, you have to diet, do your cardio and also weight train.



So, if you want to lose fat on your face, the main objective is to lose weight. By losing body fat, you will look much leaner and have a much more cut features because fat and water under the skin is reduced.



So follow these simple steps and get on a fat loss program now. Mark my words; if you manage to lose body fat until your desired body fat, your face will look much leaner and thinner. Even your nose will look sharper!

About the Author:

Yu Chung Leong is an experienced and motivated personal trainer for many years. He is passionate about health and fitness and enjoys helping people achieve their fitness goals. He writes many free weight loss tips at http://www.lose-fat-tips.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - How To Lose Face Fat

The Tin Whistler in my GARDEN by Amber Columbia

Every year, the Tin Whistler and I venture forth in search of just the right hosta, an unusual perennial plant, or a funky little garden ornament. She is a potter who makes beautiful naked raku vessels; I am a painter.

We met many years ago when I was 17 and our boyfriends were neighbors so of course, we 'double dated'. Years passed and boyfriends somehow turned into husbands.

From the moment I met the Tin Whistler I liked her. She was quiet, actually very reserved, but had a great gift for attracting friends. Her friends were usually outgoing and often opinionated (like me!). Over the years I met quite a few of her friends; many have become mine.

This year's pursuit took us many miles. She drove us, despite the threat of rain, far into the Helderburg Mountains, near the upper Catskill Range in New York state. The location wasn't new to either of us, we have been regular visitors to the Helderledge Nursery for over 15 years. We roamed the grounds and made our way into the hosta area and found the hostas that were to be ours. Hosta Blue Mouse Ears is now MINE and I added Paul's Glory, although I think I purchased it on a previous visit, too.

The next day, the Tin Whistler and I followed each other to a nursery that had been written about in the New York Times a few days earlier. It's the Loomis Nursery in Claverack, NY. Claverack is about five miles off the Taconic Parkway near the Hudson River. Loomis' prices were DEAR, very dear. Their container gardens were as wonderful as the Times author had stated, but prices on the individual perennials were out of our range. Our time together was sweet, I enjoyed every moment of her company.

Almost a year and a half ago I didn't think I would enjoying a gardening day with my friend, again. She is a cancer survivor of the greatest grace and dignity. She waited months before 'worrying' anyone with the news that had shocked her and her husband. The Tin Whistler was suffering from cancer of the salivary gland. It's a rare cancer, and especially rare in women. What was worse was that two of the four expert institutions who reviewed the pathology said it was a melanoma.

The Tin Whistler is an eternal optimist and went with the optimistic reports and began the treatment for salivary gland tumors which consist of radiation and other medications and monitoring. She told me something I didn't know~ once the treatment is over, life doesn't return to the way it was prior to CANCER. She said that doctors continue to monitor your progress on a regular basis and any mark, ache, or pain that you experience brings the fear back into your heart.

The Tin Whistler doesn't dwell on any of this. She is living her life to the fullest~ performing in Irish sessions throughout the Capital District of New York; searching for the perfect hosta for her garden, and offering her brand of love and friendship to all. I'm one of the luckiest people on earth to have the Tin Whistler in my garden!

Paul's Glory

Mouse Ears

Gateway to the back portion of the Tin Whistler's Garden.

Wheat free, Gluten free, and FEELING BETTER.

Wheat Free Foods: 5 Tips to Find Tasty Baked Goods

Author: Lillea Woodlyns

The increasing awareness about wheat and gluten intolerance has led manufacturers and bakeries to create more gluten and wheat free foods.

The biggest sellers are usually cookies, breads and other traditional baked goods. But do these new wheat free and gluten free alternatives taste as good as the products they are trying to mimic?

Not long ago, commercial wheat free baked goods were often tough, gritty and over-priced.

The new generation of wheat free and gluten free baked goods can be quite affordable, with a much better texture. When real foods are used as ingredients, not simply a hodge-podge of gums and other questionable fillers, the taste can actually rival or even surpass the wheat foods they are substituting.

But there are still many icky products on the market, unfortunately. When you buy from a good company or bakery, the product still might not taste very good.

So how do you find the tasty wheat free baked goods, the ones that might even fool a die-hard wheat lover?

Here are 5 tips to get you started:

1. Read reviews online. There are many online stores that sell quality wheat free and gluten free products. The better web stores usually have a place for customer reviews.

2. Contact your local Celiac group and ask for a list of recommendations. Often they will have a list of local bakeries, restaurants and several online sources for good wheat free and gluten free baked goods.

3. If you like to bake, visit Amazon.com and read reviews of wheat free and gluten free cookbooks. Or search for blogs that offer recipes that readers have reviewed.

4. Call local bakeries to find out if they offer wheat and gluten free options (rice flour products are the most common). If they do, visit and ask for free samples.

5. Make sure that the ingredients in the product are foods and flavors that you (or the person you are buying for) like the taste of.

'Wheat free' does not guarentee that it's also gluten free. Gluten grains also include spelt, kamut, rye, triticale and barley. Oats are often contaminated with wheat, so they are out for most gluten and wheat intolerant folks as well.

Wheat free and gluten foods can be tasty and easy to find if you know where to look. As the awareness of wheat and gluten intolerance grows, the demand for quality wheat free and gluten free products and recipes will grow too.

About the Author:

Many Wheat free foods that taste great can be found at http://www.wheatfreefoodsonline.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Wheat Free Foods: 5 Tips to Find Tasty Baked Goods

Child Abductions Happen EVERY DAY!

Teach Your Child to be Smart, not Scared

(Preface and notes by Amber Columbia June 24. This morning, I was enjoying TWITTER, posting and reading TWEETS when I saw something disturbing. This TWEET:   @tweetmeblack Where's Jada? Missing #Black Child Ignored by Major Media http://bit.ly/1410s5 Help Find #jadajustice PLS RT!   I googled Jada Justice and found very little and I didn't remember seeing anything on the news. So, I began to RT, Re-Tweet. There is passion and love for this little girl on TWITTER. "tweetmeblack" helped to focus attention on an abduction that occured 2 weeks ago. The FBI has been involved from the beginning, but the major media outlets had seemed to look the other way. Tonight,CNN is covering the story on line. To the best of my knowledge, Nancy Grace was the only major personality to discuss Jada Justice's abduction prior to today.

Jada's disappearance is every parent's nightmare. The little girl's cousin-baby sitter left her alone in a car while she ran in to get cigarettes. That's how quickly a tragedy can begin.

Chris Lowrey's article suggests ways to help prevent abduction. For additional resources please refer to:
America's Most Wanted  National Center for Missing and Exploited Children  FBI Crimes Against Children )

Adam Walsh

_________________________________Author: Chris Lowrey
Have you ever experienced the absolute horror when you are in a store and you lost your child? Or, your child lost you? Terror runs straight through your entire being! The what if's start flowing and, although we try not to, most of us fear the worst... Our child could have been stolen!

The majority of the time our fears are quickly calmed by the sudden appearance or discovery of our child. But, what if...

Every family fears a stranger taking your child. We all know that this is rare and the exception but it does happen. If even one child is taken in a lifetime, that is one too many.Yet, we also fear teaching our children to be scared to death of every stranger they meet.

Is there a happy medium? Child development will determine the steps to take. For example, if your child is very young, the chances of them being anyway other than your arms, is unlikely. But, your nine year old is prime for coming into contact with strangers.We want our children to be safe at all times but we also don't want them to avoid strangers altogether.Therefore, as a family, have a continued dialog regarding stranger danger. As the child gets older, modify and add on to your conversations.

Parenting Tips

Always carry a recent photo
·
When you are in large crowds, dress your children in bright clothes
·
Tell your children to yell! If someone is trying to take your child, teach them to scream, "This is not my parent!"
·
Make a rule about accidental separation. Tell your child that if you get separated, they are to stay put, you will find them.
·
If your child is feeling frightened, teach them safety check points. For example: if they are walking home from school and begin to feel unsafe, show them safe neighbors that they can run to. If you are in a store and someone is "bugging" them, show them where the registers are.
·
Remind them that most adults are wonderful people. Adults will normally help a child at any given moment. However, if an adult wants to take them somewhere without your permission or touches in a "yucky" way, tell your children that those adults may be unsafe and to get away quickly. As the parent, you will figure out the adult decisions to make after it happens. You simply want your child to get away.

· Assist your children in being polite to strangers. There are many incredible people for them to meet in their lives. However, if a stranger tries to give them anything, touch them or encourage them to go with them, get away from that stranger and tell an adult.

· Alert children to drivers asking directions. Adults should only ask other adults for directions (if, for example, your child is playing outside.) If a driver tries to ask directions or has something exciting in the car for the child to see, tell the child to run!

Parenting is the most all encompassing component of your life. It is a phenomenal responsibility. More than anything else in the world, we want to keep our children and family safe. But, we also want our children to be open to meeting new people. If we teach them safety and empowerment, as their child development stages emerge, they will feel comfortable with the safety precautions you have taught them.

About the Author:

Chris Lowrey commits herself to family and writing. Several of her books have been published and she now holds the position of Editor of Family Time Charm.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Teach Your Child to be Smart, not Scared

PMS? REALLY?

PMS or princess?

Author: Kylie Welsh

A male friend asked me recently if PMS was just an excuse for women. "Excuse for what?" I asked. "You know, so a woman can be more…difficult, than usual."

Since when do we need an excuse? I jest, of course, but PMS is complex and an area of female health that is rife with misconceptions. It is also an area women feel embarrassed to talk about and partners can feel unsure how to broach.

I spoke with Nirala Jacobi about this. Nirala is a qualifed healthcare practitioner with over 10 years experience. She recently wrote this article on PMS to help women have a more thorough understanding of what is happening in their bodies when experiencing PMS and how you can manage this both effectively and naturally.

"Why am I so angry?"— Understanding PMS

When it comes to PMS and other menstrual disorders, women are often frustrated with the lack of understanding and proper care they receive from conventional sources. "One week before my period, I’m so irritable I could rip my husband’s head off" is a frequent statement. Oral contraceptives seem to be the one-stop treatment of choice for many of these complaints and although artificial stabilization of hormones can bring relief for the issues of PMS, it does not find the cause of the problem.

Natural medicine has much to offer for PMS sufferers, as it targets the root of the problem. In my practice in Brisbane, I help women unravel the cause of their particular PMS symptom picture.

Let’s take a look at what’s going on.

PMS symptoms start 1-2 weeks before the period. These include:

• Breast pain

• mood changes such as anger or depression

• headaches

• acne

• digestive complaints such as bloating, constipation, or diarrhea

• weight gain and water retention

• sugar cravings

• fatigue often 1-2 weeks before the period

All symptoms must resolve with the onset of the period to be classified as PMS or something else is going on.

Hormonal Balance

From the first day of the period to ovulation (typically around day 14), oestrogen rises slowly and declines after the egg is released from the ovary. In a normal menstrual cycle, progesterone is the main hormone after ovulation—it helps to offset some of the strong effects of oestrogen.

A common finding in PMS sufferers is an elevated oestrogen/progesterone ratio in which oestrogen is abnormally elevated compared to the level of progesterone. This can be due to an inefficient liver clearance of oestrogen or mild progesterone deficiency.

Another reason why progesterone is low in the 2nd half of the cycle is stress. Stress raises a hormone called cortisol. When stress is continuous, progesterone is taken from the menstrual cycle to convert to cortisol. This is a protective mechanism, as the body thinks it is running from a tiger. It considers cortisol more important than the reproductive hormone progesterone.

Irritability and Depression

Not only can high oestrogen cause all of the symptoms of PMS, but an elevated oestrogen/progesterone ratio has also been shown to impair proper neurotransmitter synthesis such as the "feel-good" serotonin. This may be due to oestrogen depleting B6 levels which is a necessary vitamin to produce proper serotonin levels.

B6 levels are frequently low in depressed patients, especially those taking oestrogens such as the birth control pill or menopausal medication such as Premarin.

Anger is also often experienced by women with PMS. Energetically, anger can be a frequent sign of liver congestion and oestrogen overload.

Oestrogen Dominance

The total amount of oestrogen in your body is determined by

• how much you make yourself (technically, all oestrogen starts as testosterone and is converted in the ovaries or fat tissues—known as endogenous oestrogen)

• how much comes from the outside (from hormones in animal products, chemicals in cosmetics etc—known as exogenous oestrogen)

• and how well you detoxify both

Too high oestrogen is known as oestrogen dominance, a condition associated with PMS, breast cancer, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis.

Other Hormonal Influences

In addition to the above mentioned effects, excess oestrogen has also been implicated in a rise in aldosterone secretion from 2-8 days prior to menses, causing fluid retention, a common complaint in PMS. Endogenous and exogenous oestrogen can also increase prolactin secretion by the pituitary gland. Elevated prolactin has been linked to progesterone deficiency, breast pain, fibrocystic breast disease, and hypothyroidism.

Hypothyroidism affects a large percentage of women with PMS, and should therefore not be underestimated. If symptoms persist, a simple blood test can identify blatant thyroid dysfunction.

Natural Approaches to PMS

It is always important to know what type of PMS you are experiencing before embarking on a treatment plan. The suggestions below are just examples of a wide variety of professional treatments.

Diet: In my practice, diet and lifestyle recommendations are always the foundation on which I build my treatment plan. I often start the treatment with a cleansing diet for 2-4 weeks, after which I focus on specific diet changes. Depending on the symptom picture, a typical dietary recommendation for a patient with PMS may be to reduce all animal products to decrease exogenous oestrogens as well as saturated fats. To put this into context: vegetarian women excrete two to three times more oestrogens in their faeces and have 50% lower free oestrogens than their omnivore counterparts. Overall reduction of fat, sugar and salt all have been shown to significantly improve PMS symptoms in some women.

Liver Detox: The liver is a very important organ of detoxification. Oestrogens are detoxified through the 2 main detox pathways of the liver. Abstaining from alcohol, caffeine, chemicals and processed foods can lower the total detox burden of the liver. Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage) contain Indole-3-carbinol—a potent compound that aids in the liver detoxification of oestrogen. This is also available in pill form from a qualified naturopath.

The Gut: Another important aspect of PMS treatment is to establish proper bowel flora. To detoxify oestrogens, the liver binds it to glucuronic acid which prevents the reabsorption of oestrogens from the bowel. Certain undesirable gut bacteria produce the enzyme beta-glucuronidase which cleaves this bond and allows these oestrogens to re-enter the circulation, adding to the total oestrogen pool. Increasing fibre and adding probiotics to the treatment protocol can be very beneficial.

Exercise and stress reduction have been clearly documented in the literature for reducing symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Specific Herbs and Nutrients

A professional naturopath has many herbal remedies and nutrients to design an individualized treatment plan.

By far the most commonly used herb in PMS is Vitex agnus-castus (Chaste tree berry). It is so effective in regulating menses and lowering prolactin it has been written up in Europe’s prestigious "German Commission E", a scientific database on herbal substances

B6 and Magnesium are important for proper serotonin production especially in cases of oestrogen dominance. It also seems to help with sugar cravings before the period.

Ten Tips for Women with PMS

Here are a few tips from Susun Weed’s best-selling book, NEW Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way (Alternatives for Women 30-90) to help ease these discomforts.

TO RELIEVE WATER RETENTION

1. 10-20 drops of dandelion root tincture in a cup of water with meals and before bed.

2. A strong infusion (one ounce of dried herb in a quart of boiling water, brewed overnight) of the common weed, stinging nettle, not only relieves, but also helps prevent further episodes of water retention. Weed says she drinks a cup or more of this infusion daily whenever she wants to nourish her kidneys and adrenals.

TO MODERATE MOOD SWINGS

1. Tincture of the flowering tops of fresh motherwort is a favourite calmative of herbalist Weed. She uses 5-10 drops in a small amount of water as a dose, which she repeats as needed, sometimes as frequently as 3-4 times an hour, until the desired effect is achieved. "I never feel drugged or groggy or out-of-it when I use motherwort to help me calm down," she says.

2. For women who consistently feel premenstrual rage, use 20-30 drops of motherwort tincture twice a day for a month to help stabilize mood swings. Make it a priority to take a moon day - one day right before or at the start of the menstrual flow which is set aside for you and you alone.

3. One or more cups of an infusion of the herb oatstraw (the grass of the plant that gives us oatmeal) helps the nerves calm down and provides a rich source of minerals known to soothe frazzled emotions.

TO RELIEVE CONGESTION AND TENDERNESS IN THE BREASTS

1. 20-30 drops of the tincture of cleavers, another common weed, works wonders. This plant, also called "goose grass", was used as a black tea substitute by the colonists. The dose may be repeated every hour or up to 6 times a day.

2. Women who get a lot of calcium and magnesium from their diet (leafy greens, yoghurt, and many herbs are rich in these minerals) have less breast tenderness. Increase the minerals in your diet with a cup or more of red clover/mint infusion daily.

3. Large cabbage leaves, steamed whole until soft, and applied as warm as tolerable, can be used as a soothing compress on breasts which are sore and swollen.

TO RELIEVE DIGESTIVE DISTRESS

1. A daily dose of 1 teaspoonful/5ml yellow dock root vinegar.

2. A cup of yoghurt in the morning (buy it plain and add fruit at home) replaces gut flora and ensures easy digestion all day long.

About the Author:

Kylie is an author and freelance writer for modern women. She has a popular local blog called Brisbane Woman with hundreds of ladies tuning in each week for a read. Kylie had her first book published in 2005 and her next book is due for publication in 2009. She currently freelances for The Courier Mail newspaper, Brisbane Magazine and QCG Magazine. kyliewelsh.com & brisbanewoman.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - PMS or princess?

Are you a stay at home parent in need of more income?

Work at Home Typing Jobs - a Growing Trend

Author: Elaine Currie

If you want to work at home and have good typing skills, working online might be right for you. A growing number of companies are hiring people to work at home typing online. Employers are waking up to the idea that they don't need to rent office space to keep their employees corralled from 9-5, and they like the idea that they can save all sorts of overheads by employing people to work at home. This arrangement benefits the bosses by saving them money and it benefits the staff by enabling them to work where they want to be: at home.





What sort of home typing jobs are available?





There is no shortage of variety for work at home typists. Work at home typing online jobs include all the clerical/secretarial roles you would expect to find in any office. There are also home typing jobs which are purely internet-based and consist of things such as typing classified advertisements into online forms for companies or typing short articles onto blogs. There is also specialised work at home typing online in fields such as medical billing and medical transcription.





Some work at home typing online jobs are, quite frankly, repetitive and boring. It is best, therefore, to consider exactly what sort of typing work you would enjoy doing day in and day out before you start actively seeking a work at home typing position. If you want easy part time work you can do at home, typing classified advertisements into online forms is an easy way to make money. You can choose your own hours and just work for a couple of hours each day. If you want something more creative, a blog posting job might be more suitable for you.





Do I need experience to get a work at home typing job?





Many work at home typing online jobs require no previous related experience and can be done by anyone with reasonable typing skills. These jobs include the classified ad typing and blog posting positions. The companies hiring people to do this sort of typing work online will provide full training and show you exactly where and how to post the ads and deal with enquiries or feedback.





The main drawback with this type of work is that there is a huge amount of competition (as there is for any work at home job). So, if you have previous experience in medical transcription or customer services, this will give you an advantage if you choose to work in one of those fields.





What about work at home typing online scams?





There are scams relating to work at home and typing online jobs have their share. Some scams are obvious and you can almost "smell" them when you see their advertisements, but others are more difficult to detect. One thing to remember is that you should ask yourself "why would anyone pay me to do that?". If you can't think of a single reasonable answer, you could be looking at a scam that will cost you money or, worse still, something that will involve you in illegal activity. If in doubt, let the dubious opportunity pass and carry on looking.

Note: I have not verified any information provided. Be certain to check any leads before committing. Amber Columbia



There are plenty of legitimate work at home typing online opportunities around for people of all levels of skill and experience, just remember to be careful to avoid scams and to pick the kind of work you will enjoy doing.

About the Author:

Elaine Currie helps people to make money online working at home and is the author of Ezine Article Writing - 10 Steps To Success

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Work at Home Typing Jobs - a Growing Trend

LOVE...LOL

5 Funny Love Poems

Author: Jay Gilbert

When most people think of love poems, they think of serious and soulful expressions of passion. Long sonnets by Shakespeare or romantic poems by Browning and Lord Byron are the norm for love poetry. However, funny love poems can be good for a laugh. They may not be romantic, but they do give your friends something to enjoy.

Some of the best funny love poems are limericks. Limericks started in Ireland and follow a standard form of five lines and a rhyme scheme of aabba. Here are a few limericks written by anonymous authors:

There once was an old man of Lyme

Who married three wives at a time

When asked "Why a third?"

He replied, "One's absurd!

And bigamy, Sir, is a crime."

There was a young fellow named Hammer

Whose had an unfortunate stammer

"The b-bane of my life"

Said he, "Is m-m-my wife

D-d-d-d-d-d-damn ‘er!"

She made friends with a young undertaker;

Her last boyfriend had forsaken her.

But she started to curse

When he turned up in a hearse.

She said next time I'll date a baker!

There was a young lady named Constance,

From boys she wouldn't stand any nonsense.

If her partners grew deft

She would lead with her left;

The results would not weigh on her conscience.

My sweetheart and I are just wed.

Already I wish I were dead.

Two weeks she's been spending.

It was time never ending.

We are thousands of pounds in the red!

Limericks are fairly easy to write if you can rhyme well, so you might try writing a limerick yourself that includes the name of your friend or loved one. This is a good way to make a funny love poem that is personalized.

You can find more information about funny poems at:

http://www.love-poems-quotes.info/funny-love-poems.html

About the Author:

Art Hill is an internet poet who operates an independant poetry publishing company.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - 5 Funny Love Poems

Life's Rhythm

Can we create rhythm in our lives?

Author: Kylie Welsh

My work involves interviewing and talking with many women. I often find one of the biggest challenges facing modern women is being able to successfully create balance in their lives.

Whether you are a high-flying career woman, a busy home maker, entrepreneurial business owner or a combination of all - finding balance is a challenge. What often sabotages this balance, is the inability to find a rhythm in our lives. Finding this rhythm means that life is in a natural flow - rather than a whirlwind of chaos, where you feel continually out of sync.

Have you ever felt like everything is just falling into place without too much effort? It is wonderful when it happens. Or perhaps life is so crazily busy but everything feels so right that you don’t mind falling into bed exhausted.

Can we keep creating this renewed feeling of passion or life force, that to me feels like life is simply ‘flowing’ in the right direction. I love that feeling, you just know you are on the right track because of it. I sometimes wonder, is this something that happens naturally though, when the time is right or do have the ability to create this feeling more?

Often in our modern lives there is too much chaos and we are trying to be experts in so many areas, sometimes we end up mastering very little. The result is feeling tired, frustrated and like we are not achieving enough. We get on a roll of believing that we are underachieving, become too competitive, feel like we should always be doing more and compare ourselves unfavourably to others.

If you have heard of the Chinese religion Taoism, the basis of this religion is about creating flow and rhythm in your life. Tao can be roughly translated to be in the flow of the universe. Even visiting a Chinese art exhibition recently, I found the experience so peaceful - there is a flow and rhythm in all the Chinese art. The simple act of observing this art made me feel peaceful.

I spoke with Joan Weir recently to see if we can create this sense of rhythm in our lives or whether to accept that it’s something that just happens naturally and we just need to ride the good tide when it does. (Joan is a qualified Personal Coach specialising in coaching women who want to succeed in life.)

The good news is we can actually create rhythm in our lives, we just need to work at it sometimes.

Joan has this to say, on how to create more rhythm in our lives.

“I attended a parent-teacher night last year where the issue of homework came up (actually I was the one to launch this rather touchy subject). After much discussion one brave parent asked, “Well, why do kids have homework?” Great question I thought.

The answer was about creating a rhythm or routine. By having to spend 20 minutes or so doing homework, the child learns the art of discipline. This quality time, compared to blobbing out in front of the TV or computer, strengthens a child’s willpower. It means they learn that having a rhythm creates results. What a great lesson for our kids!

So how does homework and rhythm apply to us?

Well, just as our kids benefit from having discipline in their lives, so do we. If we have a rhythm that we follow, we too will create results. I often see clients who aren’t consistent in their actions. I too fall into this trap too sometimes. I find that the more people stay focused on their goals and commit to doing something every day, even something small, then they achieve results much faster. They create a rhythm in their life.

For example, one client I worked with had a dream of being an artist. By being focused, she created a rhythm of painting every day. At the end of 3 months, much to her joy, she had her first exhibition booked! I’m not saying that it was easy for her, but the commitment she made to regularly paint, to be disciplined and take action every day, made a huge difference to her results. She created her rhythm.

So what are our daily rhythms?

Do we have a rhythm around handling emails? Updating our finances? What about our marketing rhythm? Do we have marketing activities we do each week or each month? Just think how much more productive we could be, if we did our “homework” and developed a daily, weekly and monthly rhythm to achieve the things we want in life.

I have learnt and seen many times over that being consistent in our actions, or keeping a rhythm, is one of the great keys to success. As Aristotle said “We are what we do repeatedly. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, it is a habit.”

Have your say…

Do you think you can create rhythm? How? When can you tell you are not in the flow? How do you get yourself back in rhythm?

About the Author:

Kylie is an author and freelance writer for modern women. She has a popular local blog called Brisbane Woman with hundreds of ladies tuning in each week for a read. Kylie had her first book published in 2005 and her next book is due for publication in 2009. She currently freelances for The Courier Mail newspaper, Brisbane Magazine and QCG Magazine.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Can we create rhythm in our lives?

Blogging Women

Women rule the blogosphere!

Author: Kylie Welsh

Woman are not only taking the blogging world by storm but according to a recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald, women are now ruling the blogging world!

The focus of the article is Mia Freeman, former editor of Cosmopolitan and her hugely successful blog Mumamia. Mumamia has over 300 000 monthly visits and Mia writes about fashion, celebrity, relationships and current affairs. She says the "mummy-blog" phenomenon in particular is booming in Australia, following the lead of the pioneering US mummy blog, dooce.com, which attracts more than 4 million hits a month - bigger than any magazine in the world.

Why are modern mums turning to blogging, like mothers in the past took to tennis lessons and frilly knickers? "Because we’ve lost that sense of community with our neighbours and with our extended families, people are finding it online. It can be quite isolating being a stay-at-home mother, or a mother working part-time or just a mother being up at three o’clock in the morning with a baby that won’t sleep," says Mia.

But it is not only mums who are finding blogging so liberating, many women now use their blogs as a basis to connect with other like-minded women and as a valuable tool for attracting customers to their websites, growing their businesses and raising their profiles.

Interesting statistics on women bloggers: (This research is from BlogHer and Compass Partners)

• 35% of women aged 18 to 75 participate in the blogosphere weekly.

• Of women online 53% read blogs, 37% post comments to blogs and 28% write or update blogs.

• Of women bloggers 58% post entries at least weekly, and of those who actively read blogs, 80% do so at least once per week.

Why do women blog? (aside from business reasons)

• 65% do it for fun

• 60% to express themselves

• 46% to get information

• 41% to stay up to date on family and friends

• 40% to connect with others

• 34% as a diary

• 28% participate in the blogosphere in order to connect with others.

My goal is to promote the breadth and variety of women’s writing and to get women writing more. A blog is a simple first step towards that. It is a wonderful tool because it is unfiltered contact with your audience and your readership will grow slowly (or sometimes very quickly) over time. For an inexperienced writer, blogging is a medium that allows you to develop your confidence along the way.

In talking to women through my journalistic work, many women love writing and have a goal of writing more. FEAR is the main reason that holds us back though. This fear is about not being a good enough writer, a fear no-one will read our work and a fear of being embarrassed. If you set up a blog and readers aren’t knocking on your door initially, no-one else will know so it doesn’t really matter. I have a friend who has a blog about her garden. She started the blog because of her passion for gardening and each week she is a little perplexed by her growing readership. You’ll be surprised how many people will also share your passion and be interested in what you have to say.

The reality is we all fear our writing will not be good enough and if we allow ourselves to always submit to this, then we’d never have the privilege of reading so much magnificant feminine literature. Watch the wonderful talk by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love on this website and you’ll see even the most successful writers still struggle with this notion.

Just think about where would we be today without the romance of Jane Austen to get us through the lonely nights, or the passion of Emily Bronte to remind us that there is a Healthcliffe out there for all of us?

Now seriously, in the aftermath of World War 2 our fabulous female writers started creating real change. Back in 1949 French Author Simone de Beauvoir, penned - The Second Sex, the first real exploration into gender inequity. How many frustrated housewives would not have broken free of miserable marriages and terrible sex lives if they hadn’t read Germain Greer’s – The Female Unick, in the second wave of feminism (70’s). And in the next wave (90’s), Noami Wolf as she exposed the beauty industry and it’s destructive judgements upon women with her book, The Beauty Myth.

If you’d like to create change in this world and help others, then writing is undeniably a powerful phenomenon. For some real female inspiration on the power of blogging take a look at NxE’s Fifty Most Influential ‘Female’ Bloggers and Top 100 Female Bloggers by Ensha Blog.

I believe one of the best things you can do for yourself personally and professionally is to write Setting up and writing a blog is a great first step. Who knows where this may lead!

For more information please conact kylie@brisbanewoman.com or go to www.brisbanewoman.com

About the Author:

Kylie Welsh is an author and freelance writer for modern women. She has a popular local blog called Brisbane Woman with hundreds of ladies tuning in each week for a read. Kylie had her first book published in 2005 and her next book is due for publication in 2009. She currently freelances for The Courier Mail newspaper, Brisbane Magazine and QCG Magazine. www.brisbanewoman.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Women rule the blogosphere!

Concepts of Beauty....By Amber Columbia

"In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they're still beautiful".
~Alice Walker

"Aboriginal" beauty doesn't always satisfy the "Western" view, this video of shows Ethiopian cultures and their creative and heart felt senses of themselves and appearance.

“Truth isn't always beauty, but the hunger for it is.”

~Nadine Gordimer

PLEASE, Click on above Images for Etsy HANDMADE sellers and use your browser to return to folksPOD.

Notions of beauty have changed with popular culture. Tatoos have become main stream and are sported by accountants, lawyers, and even doctors. Body piercings have moved from the ears and nose piercings of the early 1970s to navel, eyelid, genital, and breast piercing. Young people in particular are choosing to add plugs to their ears, adding plugs of larger dimensions every few weeks in order to stretch the lobe (childhood memories of National Geographic essays on Amazonian peoples).All is done in the name of beauty, individuality, and treating the body as a personal statement, a canvas on which to create.

Left, Vogue Magazine cover; center,Great Britain's Lesley Hornby, aka "Twiggy" helped to form 1960s body image trends; right, Queen Latifa.
Twiggy turned 60 this week and to honor the 1960s legend, British Rose Breeders and Growers along with Harkness Roses named one for her. When we looked at Twiggy in the 1960s, we thought "too thin" but we also desired her image. Which came first Twiggy or Anorexia? Anorexia, of course, but the popularization of her dangerously svelte form created more Twiggy Types including Helen Hunt,Paula Abdul,Sally Field, and Calista Flockhart.

Do you know that anorexia is PROMOTED and supported by over 400 websites that first appeared around 2000? They are targeted to teenaged girls who empathize and support each other on their personal roads to distruction. CLICK HERE for an article about Pro-anorexia sites that is a proactive help source for parents and friends.

"Everybody then was Twiggy, except me." ~Sally Field

"She's not a legend," 79-year-old Bacall said of Kidman, 37, on Britain's GMTV. "She's a beginner... . She can't be a legend, you have to be older."~Lauren Bacall
Three of the women below are legends, now and forever. Lauren Bacall, probably best known for her lead roles in The Big Sleep (1946) and Dark Passage (1947) was born in 1924. She is the widow of Humphrey Bogart. Her sultry looks and husky voice make her instantly recognizeable, even today.
Dame Helen Mirren will be 64 this year. Born as Ilyena Vasilievna Mironov, Mirren has "Ma and Apple Pie good looks"(yet she is a Brit).The Queen won her the 2007 Academy Award for Best Actress.
The legendary singer,Lena Horn, was born in 1917 and lives in New York City. If you are a child of the 1960s you may best remember her appearances on the Perry Como and Ed Sullivan Shows.This American beauty is also known for her work in Civil Rights. "She was at an NAACP rally with Medgar Evers in Jackson, Mississippi the weekend before Evers was assassinated." (Wiki) [

Above, left to right, Nicole Kidman and Lauren Bacall, Helen Mirren at aged 61, fames singer, Lena Horn.

Beauty is,Iram Saeed, above, a Pakistani Acid Throwing Victim. Her plight is like that of many women and girls, attacked for many reasons. "In some cases it is because a young girl or women has spurned the sexual advances of a male or either she or her parents have rejected a proposal of marriage." Now more attacks are taking place against men and older women for revenge and a miriad of reasons. Acid Survivors Foundation

Women have been physically attacked to obliterate their senses of beauty and self-worth. A MOVEMENT AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, is a blogspot blog which in May, 2009, focused on Men disfiguring women. Historically, there have been many carefully calculated atrocities in which women are the victims. Disfiguring includes the removal of the labia and clitoris as well as mutilation of breasts, cutting of hair, and distruction of facial tissues including blinding.~

Pictured above, second from the left, Paula McGinley 46, a BBC Radio 4 producer from Camden, North London who underwent a micro mastectomy,Always beautiful, Robin Roberts finished her Chemotherapy a year ago.

Our BREASTS are part of our identity, indeed, we have linked them with our very womanhood. In the age of anorexia, BIG BOOBS are still desired by women and med alike...hmmm. Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham is reported to have her implants removed to change her "Cup" size from a 34DD to a 34B. Tennis star, Simona Halep,17, is planning on a breast reduction this year. In fact, women athletes have been know to bind their breasts to lessen the discomfort that they feel while in the game. A NEW YORK DAILY NEWS article reports that last year, about 140,000 women underwent reduction while "356,000...had a breast augmentation... About 46 percent of the women who had breast reduction were between the ages of 35 and 50, while 30 percent were between 19 and 34."

Breast cancer stats from www.cancer.org. Some women are tested for "THE GENE" and like Christina Applegate, they undergo Prophylactic (Elective) Mastectomy in order to remove that possibility.

Beauty isn't just skin deep. I hope this visual blog has given you pause as will this wonderful Helen Keller quote, "The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart."

YOUR THIGHS

Thigh Exercises For Women

Author: Nitin Chhoda

For women, shaping the muscles of the thighs is an important fitness goal. A shapely lower body is considered very feminine, and the right proportion of the waist to the hips is part of the equation. It's surprising, but true, thigh toning exercises can be done at home, without equipment and results can be seen in 4-6 weeks. Also, did you know that thigh and hip toning gadgets are not required if you know which exercises work, and how to do them. Most importantly, thigh exercises are most effective when combined with aerobic exercise and a healthy diet.

This means that women must not only do the right thigh exercises, but also include aerobic exercise and sound nutrition to get best results. The following exercises are the most effective front thigh exercises for women. The routine also includes inner thigh and rear thigh exercises.

For best results, start with 15-20 repetitions and one set. Increase gradually to 2 sets. Complete the routine at least 2 times a week for best results. This is an effective beginner to intermediate toning program. Please remember that these numbers are general guidelines only. For an optimum program tailored to your needs, please consult a certified personal trainer. If you have any injuries or medical ailments, please obtain a physicians clearance before starting any exercise program.

Wall Squat: Front Thigh Exercise.

Starting Position: – Place your upper back against a smooth wall. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Distribute your body weight equally between both feet and lean back against the wall. Movement: – Inhale, keeping your heels in contact with the floor at all times, slowly lower into a squat position while sliding down the wall. Exhale as you slowly straighten your legs, keeping your head and chest up, returning to the starting position. Repeat as required.

Standing Dumbbell Squats: Front Thigh Exercise.

Starting Position:- Hold a dumbbell in each hand and allow them to hang down at your sides. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Distribute your body weight equally between both feet. Movement:- Inhale, keeping your heels in contact with the floor at all times, slowly lower into a squat position. Exhale as you slowly straighten your legs, keeping your head and chest up, returning to the starting position. Repeat as required. 5 lb dumbbells work well, but you can start with 2 lbs and then work your way up to 5 lbs within 3-5 weeks.

Lunges: Front Thigh Exercise.

Starting Position: – Assume a standing position with your feet slightly less than shoulder width apart. Grasp a barbell with a wider than shoulder width grip and place it across your shoulders. Movement: – Inhale, keeping your back vertical and slightly arched, slowly step forward with one leg making a long stride, lowering your body down slowly until your rear knee lightly touches the floor (if you cannot go as low as this, then work your way up to it over 2-3 weeks). Exhale and shift your weight backwards, taking one step (or 2-3 small steps if that sounds difficult) to return to the starting position. Repeat on the other side. Remember to consult your doctor before this or any other knee exercises if you have had any knee trouble!

Lying Face Down: Front Thigh Stretch.

Starting Position: Lie on your stomach on a matt with your legs together. Movement: Reach behind you and grasp your right ankle with your left hand. Pull your right heel up as far as you can. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Please remember to hold for 10 seconds for this stretch.

Seated Split Stretch: Inner Thigh Stretch.

Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt and spread your legs as far as you can. Movement: Lean to your right side and reach for your toes. Rest your hands on your toes or at your ankle. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side.

Seated Butterfly: Inner Thigh Exercise.

Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt with your back straight. Movement: Bring the soles of your feet together and pull them in as close to your body as you can. Allow your hands to rest on your feet or to apply light pressure to your thighs. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Hold this position for 10 seconds. You will find this most effective if you gently push your knees down using your hands, be careful not to push too much.

Seated Hip Twist: Outer Thigh And Rear Thigh Exercise.

Starting Position: Sit on an exercise matt with your legs straight out in front of you. Movement: Bend your right knee and place your right foot over your left leg. Wrap your arms around your right knee and gently pull it in towards your left shoulder. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Remember to hold for 10 seconds.

Lying Leg Pull: Total Thigh Exercise.

Starting Position: Lie on your back on an exercise matt with your knees in the air and feet flat on the floor. Movement: Bring your right heel to rest on your left thigh. Loop your hands around your left thigh and pull it towards your chest. Hold this position for thirty seconds. Repeat as required on other side. Remember to hold for 10 seconds in each set.

About the Author:
For more information and to register for free diet plans and grocery lists, visit http://www.best-weight-loss-programs.net/ , for exercises for women, visit http://www.toningforwomen.com and to train with Nitin, visit http://www.phonefitnesstrainer.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Thigh Exercises For Women

How Does YOUR Garden Grow?

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?

Mud season is long over in NEW ENGLAND. My husband and I prepared for our vegetable garden over a month ago and you would hope everything would be well underway. BUT, we have had rain and a colder season, so the vegetables are behind. Our parsley is great, after all, it thrives in cooler temperatures. But at 50 degrees yesterday morening and 55 this morning, the cold wet earth tends to cause damp off, so, it isn't looking good.

In New England, we have an occasional late frost, so it's a tradition to plant on Memorial Day Weekend. We did, we included the usual tomatoes, cukes, and squashes. The tomatoes are slow to grow and the cukes and squashes have rotten away.

This year, we were hoping to help our grocery bills along more than last summer. We eat most of our own vegetables all summer long. I'm hoping the weather will turn around soon as it isn't too late to continue planting.

Isabel and her Nanny are visiting on the July Fourth weekend. I'm interested in having the lovely little Bella try new gardening gloves I got for her...DORA THE EXPOLORER, of course, and in lavender. Children are facinated to watch plants grow. I learned a bit when I was her age and my enthusiasm has never died. The following article discussed making gardening a family affair. Enjoy! Amber Columbia

_________________

Make Gardening a Family Event

Author: Organic Gardener

Show them how much you enjoy gardening. Spend time in your garden. It is especially easy to stimulate a child's interests when they see you having fun.

Make gardening easy. Don't expect a perfect garden. Allow your family to work at their own pace and within their attention spans and age range, especially children.

Dig it! Kids love to dig. This is a great way to teach the basics while letting them play and just have fun.

Let them play an active role in planning. Take your children to the local nursery and let them pick seeds or transplants to start their garden. Take your time and let them browse and enjoy all of the beautiful plants.

Grow a theme garden. This is a great way to let your children use their imagination and express their creativity. The sky is the limit. Some great ideas are gardens that coincide with the holidays, alphabet gardens, a garden themed in their favorite colors, a sensory garden where you can experience different smells, tastes, textures and sights, or a "Freedom Garden".

Give children their own "kid sized" tools. They don't have to be expensive. You can go with an old spoon and a bucket that you have around the house or you can venture down to the garden center and purchase garden tools made for children's hands.

Give them a space to call their own. It doesn't have to be big. This will teach them ownership and responsibility, and your children will be able to take credit for their own little space.

Get crafty! Press or dry flowers to make a beautiful arrangement, make potpourri, or make a pomander ball. Children love making things and will be amazed at the crafts and gifts that they can make from the garden.

Grow a vegetable garden. Your children will be amazed that they can grow their own food. Be sure to use organic pesticides.

Use gardening to brush up your children's math and science skills. Let them count the seeds they are planting, or teach them how plants are living things. Not only will you capture their attention, you will be polishing their skills as you go.

Have a contest. Kids love to be rewarded. Be sure to give each child a reward; the biggest tomato, the prettiest flower, or perhaps the best tasting herbs (a little Spray-N-Grow will help!)

Don't try to do it all! Pick a few of these tips that you know are best for your family and have fun with them. After all, gardening is meant to be fun and easy. And with a little help, something the whole family can enjoy.

Original Article

About the Author:

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Make Gardening a Family Event

A GIFT FOR THE EXPECTANT MOM, GET YOUR OWN 'BABY TICKER', below.

Isabel the DELIGHTFUL

Miss Isabel is an adorable 4 year old who came into my world a year ago. Her "Nanny" is a dear friend who helps to care for my Dad. Isabel has brought great joy to Dad and to me. The finished blog is about this little love. Left, Dad playing Santa with Isabel receiving gifts; right, Isabel the OLIVE MONSTER.

A few weeks ago, the "Blue Devils" had me and when I'm feeling low, I tend to nap. It was a quiet, sunny Saturday. A perfect day to be outside working in the garden or riding a bike. I had driven my usual 203 miles the day before so the day appeared less perfect to me. About 2pm, I heard the sound of little feet pounding on the stairs and suddenly, Isabel the DELIGHTFUL was by my bed, tugging on my sheets and in a rather loud voice saying "It's day time, what are you doing in bed?"

I rolled over and looked at this little darling, looking quizzical, she started to climb up and over the foot board and onto the mattress. Then is her usual way, she started talking 'a mile a minute' about Sponge Bob, Dora, Nanny, and "Gerwee", that's my Dad, "Jerry". I couldn't help but feel good.
I had my lap top so I asked if she would like to watch something and I suggested that since we both enjoyed kitties, that would be a good subject. You Tube is FILLED WITH WONDERFUL animal videos to watch with kids and Isabel and I found the best.

Isabel LOVES to draw and fills her pages with bright color. Her pieces are complex; a personal iconography that holds her attention for a long time. We have a space for her in Dad's and my shared studio. Isabel is a healthy and happy four year old girl. Her parents are divorced and she lives with her mom. Both parents are loving and active in her life. Her NANNY also spends much time with her and that is why dad and I are SO FORTUNATE to be able to share in Isabel's life.

Yesterday, Isabel called to wish "Gerwee" a Happy Father's Day. Dad sparkled with delight. This week she will be over one evening and I plan to present her with a pair of "Dora" garden gloves; it is NEVER TO EARLY to teach children how to care for plants.

When Isabel visits, Dad and I are thrilled, but there is a negative and that is AGNES THE CAT really dislikes "Issy". Poor Isabel tries to be her friend but the more she tries the more Agnes growls and runs off to hide.

Next month, Isabel will be going to El Salvatore to meet her paternal Grandma. Her Mommie is taking her. What a marvelous event. Isabel the international child; Isabel the Delightful, Isabel our little queen.

On the LIGHT AND FUN SIDE: Baby Shower INVITATION Trends

Baby Shower Invitation Trends For 2009 And Beyond

Addition by Amber Columbia, click images for great card sources at ETSY.

Author: Grace Chen

There are almost limitless theme possibilities when it comes to planning a baby shower, but there are three trends that stand out from the crowd in 2009.

The Retro Shower

This trendy baby shower has really taken off in 2009. It incorporates retro fashion colors into a fun and unique baby shower with a theme that everyone can enjoy. Retro furnishings and colors are popular in homes, hotels, and even automobiles, so it makes sense that this trend would extend to baby shower invitations. Simply choose a retro era, like the 50s, 60s, or 70s, and choose colors and shapes from that time for party decorations.

Right now, color trends combine pastel pinks, blues, lime greens, light browns, and red earth tones into stripes for the ultimate retro baby shower invitation. Any combination of these colors was popular years ago and represented optimism and rebellion. You could also choose a bold geometric pattern, particularly if you are planning a groovy 60s or 70s retro baby shower.

Scrapbooking Shower

Scrapbooking itself has catapulted to the top of the arts and crafts world, so it only makes sense that baby showers now incorporate this trendy theme. Choose baby shower invitations that mimic this theme, either with a colorful background layered with a photo and embellishments, or an embellished baby shower invitation designed to look like a scrapbook page.

In the baby shower invitation, mention this theme and invite each guest to bring enough scrapbooking materials to create two layout pages for the honoree. This way, after the baby is born, the pages are already created by her friends and family, ready for those precious first photos of her child.

People are so busy these days, especially mothers-to-be, that having this type of baby shower not only provides her with meaningful keepsakes created by close friends, but helps her prepare for her child’s arrival in other ways. These pages could be framed instead of included in a scrapbook, so she can decorate the nursery with them.

Bold and Eco-Friendly

Environmental issues are receiving tremendous attention lately, and another trend in baby showers combines bold colors with eco-friendly habits. Using recycled paper for baby shower invitations and choosing bold color combinations are a popular trend. Consider fuchsia, pink and lime green for girls, while turquoise, light or dark blue, lime green, and yellow are great for boys. Yellow, aqua, and lime green for gender neutral baby showers are all the rage. These colorful yet eco-friendly baby shower invitations set the tone for a "green" shower that is still tons of fun.

Guests might be asked to bring a book in lieu of a card to begin the baby’s library or asked to wrap gifts in colorful baby fabric instead of wrapping paper to reduce waste. Then, the decorations all comprise of reusable items like baby bottles filled with colorful jelly beans and colorful pacifiers piled in glass bowls for a centerpiece.

Any of these baby shower themes can be tailored for a boy or girl, yet work well for the gender neutral shower as well. Choosing one of these trendy themes for your baby shower invitations will guarantee you a memorable celebration.

About the Author:

Whether you are planning a casual or formal celebration, be inspired by the creative array of baby shower invitations that are available online. Consider matching the birth announcements to the invitations to create a unique theme surrounding your special baby.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Baby Shower Invitation Trends For 2009 And Beyond

Caring for an Elderly Parent by Amber Columbia

I never anticipated what life would bring, and why should I? When we are young, we see our parents in a very different light. For me, it was mostly positive and loving. I saw them as the two people who would always be there and love me unconditionally.

My mother would live forever and possibly take care of me in my old age. She was very active and fit even into her late 70s so what could go wrong? SHE DIED. She had osteoporosis, or so we thought. She became weaker and weaker, was then diagnosed with stage four multiple myeloma and in two weeks, she died.

Dad was never the same and had had health issues for some time previous to Mother's passing. Now, nearly 7 years later, I find myself as a caregiver to my father and managing a household of part-time helpers. Hopsice is a big help as are friends. But, I wasn't prepared and although Dad had purchased Long Term Care Insurance he didn't purchase enough, just $100 maximum a day, with a $75,000 payout.

My advice, LEARN ABOUT what might happen and how you should be prepared NOW and don't wait until you are one of many aging baby boomers juggling time between their parents, work, a partner, kids, and grandkids. Don't scramble around as I have. Go NOW to your community agencies and find out if you are eligible for services. Depending upon your financial need, the help is free or at a very low charge. Help includes meals on wheels; volunteers who call to chat or ask the elder to take his/her pills; transportation to the doctor's.

If your loved one is a Vet, go to the Veterans' Administration.The VA transported my father, round trip, to a VA facility that's an hour away from Dad's home. This was free of charge. The VA can also help with aids and other at home needs. They will provide a high quality walker, a wheel chair and other aids to help the Vet get around. The VA also provides health care including new eye glasses and prescription drugs as a reduced rate.

HOSPICE CARE is for people who aren't going to survive, however, death isn't a dirty word and the HOSPICE organizations of today often work with patients for months if not for years. Hospice does NOT take away necessary medicines, that is a fallacy.Instead, they seek to administer medicines as needed to keep the patient comfortable and that includes the patient's normal prescription drugs. In Dad's case, a Hospice nurse comes once a week to take vitals, and talk with dad. She has been able to help dad in staying as well as he can be. He also talks with the Hospice chaplin and they have become friends, singing and playing guitars together. The Hospice social worker was able to arrange for a respite for me; dad agreed to go into a nursing facility for five days at it was covered by Hospice and all arrangements went through their social worker. Their volunteers have been life savers. Not only do they socialize with the Hospice patients, they will run errands. Two of Dad's volunteers take him out for dinner, to museums, and for long rides in the country side.

Other helpful ideas...

Purchase LINK TO LIFE services or something similar. The elder wears a small device around his/her neck. At the push of the button, an operator is talking through a speaker and is ready to help. As with any home alarm, you are registered with the local police. A key is left in a box or with a neighbor.

If you know the neighbors, you might ask them to keep their eyes open. If you aren't with your parent 24-7 and there isn't an aid, "visitors" who may not have Mom or Dad's best interest at heart may be appearing at the door. Dad's neighbors have be very helpful in letting me know when they thought there might be a problem with unwanted 'guests'.

LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE: DO YOU NEED IT?

IF you can afford it and you want to stay in your home,you NEED IT. It can also be used in Assisted Living. Conduct RESEARCH about long term health care, different companies and plans, to see if it's right for your loved one or FOR YOU. Dad selected Genworth which is or was connected with General Electric health systems. I am VERY VERY PLEASED WITH THERE PROGRAM but it was Dad's mistake not to have purchased a more expensive plan that would provide more than $100 a day. He purchased the insurance late in life so the premiums were over $3,500 a year. It has paid for itself many times over and has allowed him to stay in the home he loves.

Today, Dad and I agree that if we were to do it again, the plan would be for $300 a day for a minimum of five years. This would cover the highest expense we have encountered which is the cost of hiring Home Health Aids. For experienced workers, plan on spending $15-$25 an hour. Depending upon the numbers of aids you use and the hours each works, you most likely will need to pay Social Security benefits, unemployment insurance, and other state tax and insurance requirements. We hired a housekeeper to do what I can not and if you can't be as active as I am, you will need to hire someone to organize your parent's home, pay bills, and do all the paper work. Also considered in the $300 a day is transportation needs for when you are not around. A nurse who comes to the home every six weeks to cut toe nails is $40. It all adds up and fast. Unfortunately, the premium will be HIGH. Some HOME HEALTH CARE INSURANCE is better than none so I recommend it at lower levels as well.

WHAT OTHER EXPENSES MAY BE INVOLVED IN KEEPING A PARENT IN THEIR HOME?

In 1998, my parents realized that Dad wouldn't be able to make it to the second floor so they built a first floor addition which housed a bedroom and closet. It was fantastic, they loved it. To save money, they didn't add a bathroom and instead, used the small 1940s bath that was close by. In creating the addition, no one considered the need of wider doorways, and there is more. By 2008, Dad is using a walker and wheelchair and can't get into the 1940s bath unless he leaves the walker behind. He needs assistance getting in and our of the TUB and it's hard for the aid and Dad to be in the little bathroom at the same time. The toilet is low so it's hard to get up and down. The doorways to the bath and to the 'new' bedroom aren't wide so Dad crashes into them with the walker. The fix: Build a LARGE new bathroom in the bedroom addition using Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specifications for most items. He now has a double shower with hand held and traditional shower heads and a large seat; the toilet is high and elongated and fitted with a special chair with rails. He is able to use his wheelchair or walker. Items are placed within his reach on a long counter and the doorways are three feet wide with lever handles for easy opening.

Dad and I have a few more obstacles, literally, to overcome. Helping him up and down the entrance stairs is getting more difficult. He is at great risque with me as I'm not strong enough to fully support him in the event of a fall. I want to install a ramp; he won't allow it as he wants me to wait for IF and until it is "REALLY" necessary. Dad may be 87, but he knows what he wants so I don't know if I will 'win' this one. My advice to all...don't ask first, if you can, just DO. It's too late for me, I asked and now, I won't disrespect his wishes...

Respect the elder parent's wishes as much as is possible and practical. Everyone is in a different situation but remember, treat your mom and dad the way you hope your children will treat you...with respect and dignity. Dad and I argue and sometimes SHOUT, but be get over it. It's difficult to be the child taking care of the parent so expect some conflict. But don't treat your parent like a child and dictate what they should and will do. If his or her cognition isn't impaired, talk with your parent as you normally would. Enjoy being together for as long as you can.

...Which leads me to my last bit of advice. Be sure to take care of yourself. Last fall I was so depleted of energy that I couldn't take care of myself very well. If you are that low on reserves, see a doctor, talk with a counsellor or your partner. But seek emotional and physical help.

PHOTOS: "Santa" is my DAD on Christmas Eve, 2008. We were waiting for a friend's four year old granddaughter to open her gifts. The gentleman in the straw hat is our neighbor, Mr.Ray. He is almost 90 and continues to take chain saws to huge maple trees while his 88 year old wife uses the 'come along'.

Women And Heart Attacks

Author: Vida Curnutt

Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.

"I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 pm with NO prior exertion; NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might’ve brought it on. I was sitting all snugly and warm on a cold evening, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me. A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you’ve been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel as if you’ve swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion, and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly, and this time drinks a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation-the only trouble was that I hadn’t taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m.
After that had seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hindsight, it was probably my aorta spasming), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when administering CPR). This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws.
AAH!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening. We all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself, "Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack!"
I lowered the foot rest, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead I thought to myself "If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in another moment".
I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the paramedics ... I told the lady who answered that I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stated the facts. She said she was sending the paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to unbolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.
I then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me in to their ambulance, or hearing the call they made on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the cardiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like "Have you taken any medications?") but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the cardiologist and his partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stints to hold open my right coronary artery.
I know it sounds as if all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and they are only minutes away from my home, and my cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stints”.
Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? The more we know the better chance we could survive.

People who suffer illnesses or tragedies unfortunately set themselves up, saying, “It can’t happen to me”. It can happen to any of us, which is why we should take the steps in our youth to prevent illnesses and tragedies.

Exercise is the leading element we have offered to us in life that helps to reduce any disease, emotional reactions and so on. When you sit around feeling anxious, depressed, you are working toward worse health conditions. Reverse your actions and take the steps live longer by exercising each day.

Visit http://curvid.bezoogle.com/pp/weight-loss/ or http://vida-healthy-aging.blogspot.com/ for more information.

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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Women And Heart Attacks