5 Great Anti-Aging Tips That Don't Come From A Bottle~!!

Image by vmiramontes

Growing old gracefully is an idea that seems to have disappeared within the last few years. With the rise of plastic surgery and increase in sun bed users; it is easy to see how this theory has become lost in a world of leathery skin and stretched out faces.

1) Drink Water
The first tip for anti-aging is: never underestimate the power of water! Drinking eight glasses of water a day is proven to flush waste out of our systems and rehydrate the skin. Sixty four ounces is the minimum required daily, yet most people barely reach four. Another fact that goes hand in hand with drinking water in helping you look better; is sleep. Between six to eight hours is the average amount of sleep that an adult needs to function well, and look fresher as a result.

2) Exercise
Exercise is a simple yet effective anti-ageing tip that can cost absolutely nothing! Firstly, it reduces your risk of obesity, which in turn reduces your risk of heart disease and some cancers amongst other ailments.  It also is brilliant in reducing stress levels and improving circulation, which will make your skin look instantly healthier and more glowing.

3) Stop Smoking
The second leading cause of premature wrinkles is cigarette smoking. Smoking over a long period of time also leads to yellowing skin and rotting teeth. However, the leading cause of wrinkles is over-exposure to UV rays, with sunbeds being a leading cause of cancer. Sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 helps protect your skin from the rays that would make it appear old and leathery.

4) Eat a Balanced Diet
An important part of keeping your skin looking healthy by natural means is your diet. Oily fish are proven to help your skin as they act as an anti-inflammatory, and are also proven to lower the risk of heart disease. The high water content in vegetables will also help your skin glow.

5) Cut Down On Makeup
Something that may prove to be a serious problem to many women- but that would definitely help you stay looking young- would be to ditch the slap! Most foundations clog your skin, making you more prone to spots, as well as settling into wrinkles, making them appear more noticeable. Also using too many moisturizers to clean your face can actually do the complete opposite! Using a simple combination of warm water and soap can clean your skin more efficiently than all of those bottled cleansers.

Using all of these tips are bound to make you feel and appear younger. However, if all else fails, a sure-fire way to maintain healthy skin is to slip on a pair of dolce and gabbana glasses. Protect your eyes from the sun, and look great whilst doing it!

Do you have any tips and tricks for growing old gracefully? Share them in the comments below!

Charlotte di Placido is a self-confessed beauty addict who admits to spending the majority of her wage on products- and writing about those products for Valley Optics

An Environment for Bullies~!!

An Environment for Bullies

It has become evident, now more than ever, that one of the biggest deterrent to a child learning, is the very real problem of bullying. Children cannot learn when their focus is on survival and not an upcoming spelling test. In fact, any schoolwork pales in comparison to the threat a child feels every day when he walks into the cafeteria for lunch.

The Scope of the Problem
Recent statistics reveal that nearly 3 million students every year are bullied by roughly 2 million students playing the role as bully. In fact 1 in 7 students, from the time they enter school to when they graduate some 12 years later is either a bully or has been victimized by one. Strong evidence suggest that the most common motivation behind school shootings are revenge from being bullied. A staggering 87% of school shooting and other forms of violence is believed to be because of some form of bullying! In fact murderers are twice as likely as their victims to have been bullied, and finally, an estimated 280 thousand students all across the US are bullied each and every month. You cannot draw a more direct line from bullying to the problems children’s face in the school educational system.

The New Problem of Bullying
Back when many of us were children, the problem of bullying thankfully stopped once we were safely home from school. People do not write bullying letters or throw bricks with notes attached through their victim’s bedroom windows. Unfortunately our children today are vulnerable to bullies in a much different way. Bullies now have access to our children through the internet; a practice known as cyber bullying . Children today have access to each other through various social media platforms like Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus, and Skype. Children also use basic webcams as well. While the prevalence of cell phones has also made our children more vulnerable to bullies, it seems that bullying pretty much skipped over that form of bullying in preference to online forms of bullying often called cyber stalking. Thanks to the advances of technology in our world today bullies have access to their victims 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can now attack their victims whenever and wherever and school administrators, teachers, parents, and police have been at a loss when it comes to preventing this enormous scourge on our society. If children cannot successfully regroup back home and get away from their tormentors, what can they do? Only 1 in 4 teachers see bullying as a real problem and therefore only report bullying a paltry 4% of the time even though a staggering 90% of children grades 4^th through 8^th grade report being bullied! Children and guns do not mix, especially when you throw bullying into the mix. Some studies even report as high as 75% of all school violence is due to bullying.

Forms of Bullying
Not everyone recognizes bullying when it is happening, and part of that is due to the fact that even though it is still very serious, not all bullying is so obvious and sticking another child’s head in the trash can in the hall. There are 4 types of bullying.

• 
  Verbal: This can be making threats, calling names, or anything designed to make another person feel intimidated and afraid.
• 
  Physical: This can be as mild as a shove in the hall or a swirly to violence with weapons or just fists. It’s the most obvious but not always the most serious form of abuse a child can be made to endure.
• 
  Social: This can be as seemingly benign as leaving someone out of games or other group activities or deliberately ignored. It can also be in the form of spreading nasty rumors about the victim. This is a very common form of bullying and can be severely damaging to the victims.
• 
  Cyber: This is using technology like chat rooms, instant messaging, instagrams, emails, and pictures to humiliate, coerce, and embarrass fellow students.

Prevention Starts in the Home
If you expect to be able to bully proof your child, you’re going to have to start before he/she begins school. The more you can do at home to create a strong independent child the better. The more you can do to build up his self-esteem the harder it will be for some bully to tear him down again. Keeping the lines of communication open between yourself and your child is important. The better a child feels about himself the less likely he will allow a bully to make him feel bad about himself. Enrolling you child in self-defense classes is a great idea. Do your research so you can find a school that shares some of your beliefs and views on handling school bullies. Any karate school you send your child too should not just teach the physical moves; that is but a part of the whole picture. Your child should be taught, and modeled respect for others and themselves. If they respect their minds and bodies the less likely they will allow others to disrespect themselves. While you cannot stop all bullying, you can lessen the damage it can do to your child.

If your child complains to you about bullying it’s important that you believe him. You can doubt all you want in your mind, but your child should only see you the protector that believes in him. Find out what is happening to your child and what he/she expects you to do about it. You may find that your child wants to handle things on his own and just wants your support. You might also find that you need to step in and exert your parental control and make sure the bullying STOPS immediately. Above all, listen to your child.

The Pain Ends Here
If you discover your child is one of the millions of victims of bullying it’s important that you send a strong message to your child. You must believe and act immediately. You can say you love and support your children all you want but you have to show it. The moment you find out, you need to make a plan of action. Many children do not want their parent’s overt involvement in their help. They do not want a knight in shining armor to swoop in and rescue them. Most kid’s school reputation could not take that much of a hit. Ask your child if he has an idea of what he would like you to do, then read between the lines. You know your child best and what he says may not exactly be what he wants. Trust your gut instinct and act on it.

Lindsay Holland is a professional blogger that provides parents and guardians with information and reviews for after school care programs and day cares. She writes for The Learning Experience, a leading after school program in Merrimack and child care center in Merrimack NH.

Honeymoon Do's and Don'ts~!!

Planning the wedding is time consuming and hectic. Planning the Honeymoon doesn’t have to be. While the wedding is really the Bride’s forte, the Honeymoon should be left up to the Groom. Depending on the age of the couple and whether or not it’s a first or second, or daresay a third marriage really will dictate a lot of what you plan but for grins we are going to deal with a second marriage here. However, it should be noted the basic rules are the same. And the gift at the end of this column will also be the same.

A Honeymoon does not have to be expensive but it will cost more than you planned. The Honeymoon should be done in two parts; 1) the wedding night, 2) the trip. The first is extremely important and few people get it right but the most important thing to remember, believe it or not, is how far you travel for the wedding night.  

Resist the temptation to start the honeymoon by driving to the dock and getting on a ship for your cruise. Resist the temptation to jump on a plane that first night and fly to Hawaii. Resist the temptation to party late and drive two hours to the hotel. Above all stay locally for the first night. The reasons are many and so simple but the biggest one is you will have your entire lives together. You only get ONE Wedding Night. Even if you’ve been together for some time the wedding night itself remains special.

Driving two hours after a big party takes a lot out of you and puts a damper on the excitement. Jumping on a ship after waiting in line and getting luggage on board will kill any wedding night and a long plane ride is not ideal for that special evening you will spend with your new spouse.

Spend the first night in a local hotel and plan on staying just one, maybe two nights. The drive will be short and therefore not tiresome. Most local hotels above a Motel grade will have some sort of special suite for such occasions. Pick a really nice hotel no more than 30 minutes away you’ve never been to before except maybe for dinner. If it is close to the water, an ocean or a river or lake, even better. The sound of waves makes for a wonderful night.

A week beforehand visit Target or another nice chain store and head directly to the candle’s department. Pick out a nice selection of scented candles with smooth smells. It will cost you less than $20 and the romantic rewards will comeback to you ten fold.

Next visit the music department. Resist selecting something hot and hip but rather find some old romantic standards. A CD of Barry White is incredible. The movie “Ten” highlighted Ravel’s Bolero which is wonderfully erotic and anything today by Andréa Bocelli is as romantic as it gets. If your lady likes Sinatra, Jack Jones or others from before 1970, go for it. If more modern music is called for then reach into that group. The bottom line is the music should be smooth, warm, erotic to a degree and romantic. Nothing by Michael Bolton. I’ve yet to find a woman who says he’s romantic.

Champagne is okay but for a somewhat better mood setter try a smaller bottle of a sweet sparkling wine. Asti Spumante is a favorite. The Groom should get a small carrying case and pack the wine but ask for an ice bucket when you arrive. The key to a small bottle is it chills very quickly in an ice bucket, mere minutes. You should also pack the candles with holders (something nice not plain), two champagne flutes, matches, fresh fruit including berries (strawberries if possible), whipped cream (can is fine and can be fun later) and a selection of nuts, chocolates, two water bottles (if not provided in the room) and fruit juice. You won’t be drinking wine all night long and you will get dehydrated. And don’t forget the toothpaste and your toothbrush. Get a second one in case she forgot hers. She’ll love your for it.

While most of the rest should be left up to your imagination there are some things which you will want to think about ahead of time. The Groom should purchase some small piece of jewelry. Yes, you just gave her a diamond wedding ring. She expected that. Do you really want to make sure she remembers this night fondly? The best choice is a necklace. You can put it on her right away and you can be sure she’ll still be wearing it in the morning.

The important thing is to be creative, caring and aware of your partner’s desires and fears. Allow things to come naturally and keep it romantic. The fun has just begun.

Article written by Whiteflash.com – best provider of conflict diamonds. Search and find many conflict loose diamonds at Whiteflash store.

Meal Ideas to Avoid Using the Oven in the Summer~!!

We can all probably agree that using the oven when it’s 90 degrees outside is absolutely horrendous. There’s just nothing good that can come out of that situation no matter how you look at it. Sure you might get a nice hot meal, but you’ll end up heating a room that you’re paying to keep cool, and after you eat the hot food, you yourself will feel warmer and be prompted to spend even more money cooling down the house.

The stove just isn’t summer friendly, and while I wouldn’t advocate eating cold food all summer, I would say that there are better alternatives to the stove and better meal choices we could be making when the heat is bearing down on us.

These are just a few of many possible meal ideas that could be utilized during the warmer months of the year.

What we’ll do first, is list some appliances that are much better to use for cooking food when your air conditioner is working feverishly to cool down your kitchen.

Alternatives to the Stove

Crock Pot -- The crock pot or “slow cooker” is an excellent tool to use when it’s too warm for the stove. In fact, if you don’t have one, I’d say it’s a worthwhile investment. It takes longer to cook food, but it doesn’t throw off nearly as much heat as the stove does. Use it for soups, casseroles or just about anything.
Outdoor Grill -- A grill is one of the obvious summer choices and if you don’t have one, you’ll have some pretty decent options for under $300 if you choose to go buy one up. A grill is your best option for preparing meat throughout the summer, with the added benefit of the much preferred grilled flavor.
Outdoor Fire Pit (in the evening) -- This is probably only going to work in the evenings, but if you’re really rugged, you can use a fire to cook your food, or even just make smores or hot dogs. If you haven’t had a hot meal all day, it might be your last line opportunity to do so, even if it’s just a hot dog.
Microwave -- While the microwave isn’t necessarily a summer exclusive item, it should be the preferred method of cooking food instead of the stove, if at all possible. It’s quicker, gives off far less heat and is all around simpler to use if you’re trying to limit your time in the kitchen.

Bread Maker -- You can do a lot with a bread maker, so it can fill in as a part-time baking option while your oven is lying dormant.

Meal Ideas

With our non-stove cooking appliances in place, let’s look at a few meals that we can prepare during the summer that are warm weather friendly and free from the excess heat of the oven and stove top.

Meal 1 -- Grilled chicken, baked (or sweet) potatoes and pasta salad with iced green tea and honey --
Marinade the chicken ahead of time and cook it over the grill on top of aluminum foil. If you’re using baked potatoes, poke holes on either side of each one and add olive oil and sea salt to the outer skin, then add the potatoes to the grill as well.

To cool down, do a pasta salad with some fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and add some iced green tea with honey to round things out.

Meal 2 -- Feta Burgers, fresh salad, corn on the cob and homemade lemonade -- When you make your burgers, stuff them with feta cheese before they go on the grill. When you put the corn on the grill, you can actually leave them with the husks still on and they’ll cook just fine. All you’ll really need to add after that is a cold salad since the beef and feta will be pretty filling. Serve water with fresh lemons and just a bit of sugar for lemonade.

Meal 3 -- Potato Soup in the crock pot and homemade bread with butter -- This recipe only works if you have a bread maker. If not, substitute the bread for Texas toast on the grill. Whatever potato soup recipe you prefer is fine, just use the crock pot to cook it. Even in the crock pot, it shouldn’t take terribly long. If you have the luxury of the bread maker, you can enjoy homemade bread with the soup without having to use the oven. This makes for a great warm meal in the evening if you and your family are tired of eating cold stuff.

These are just a few ideas, but the point is that you can still eat great warm meals without using the oven or stove. Just because it’s hot out doesn’t mean that you and your family will get tired of hot food and just want to eat deli meat all day long. In fact, the longer days and more relaxed atmosphere make summer a better time for cooking and enjoying meals.

Be creative, and learn how to do it while staying cool at the same time. It’s a win-win for everybody.

Chase Stevens is an avid blogger and contributor to IndustrialControlDirect.com a leading online retailer of industrial control devices and din rail brackets.

How to Play Guitar in One Day ~ No Kidding

A beginner simply needs a good basic guitar preferably new. Music shops have experts who can show you the different types, make sure the neck of the guitar fits your hand, and the body lies across yours warmly and snugly. Making a relationship with a person in a music shop gives you some one to go to if you need a guitar buddy, someplace to hang out or you have gotten good enough to play with the best of the best. A music store offers those side services in a community plus they know the musicians in the area.

Here is a simple lesson to check if you are willing to learn and practice on this marvelous instrument. Be warned it will make you fall in love with it. You will play for every person you encounter because it will sound so good. You will see yourself as a talented guitar player.

Positioning the Guitar
You can play many simple songs with two chords. Today we will learn what I call “Baby C” and “Baby G7”. All you need is your first finger right after your thumb on your left hand. Then we must get you into the position. For beginners it is best to ease in by sitting down. So find a good seat so that your knees are slightly elevated above your hips. A wooden kitchen chair works fine. Place the guitar’s neck in your left hand, and its curve just below its sound hole on your right thigh. You may need to rock a bit to get your body in a relaxed position. Having a strap on the guitar that goes around the neck helps maintain a position for a very long time.

Where to Put Your Finger
Looking down the neck of the guitar you will see bars. On the guitar head are pegs called keys that tune your guitar. For the moment let’s leave those alone. After the head there is a space and then a fret bar. The guitar has six strings. Number six is the big old low noted E near your head. Number one is the tiny sweet high note E. For this exercise we will need strings 1, 2, 3. The 3 silver tiny ones that when plucked make melodic high notes.

Baby C and G7
In fret one right beside that first golden or silver bar place the tip of your first finger on string 2 and press firmly like when you are going to kiss your loved one, and you are bringing them close. Guitars like to be caressed like that. Strum only the bottom 3 strings. For the time being ignore the top 3 strings. Use a pick or use your fingers both work. Simply practice stroking down in a steady rhythm like your heart beat. This is “Baby C”.

Now simply roll your first finger down to string number one. Again only strum strings 1, 2, 3 and leave all those low strings alone. Now we are ready to practice switching back and forth, back and forth. Strum “Baby C” for four strokes and then roll down, and strum “Baby G7” for four strokes. Practice alternating the two for a while. Go slowly. We will speed up the rhythm later on. Then practice stroking two “Baby C’s”, and two “Baby G7’s”. Now we are ready for a song. Below is a link to a beginner’s book with simple songs for C and G7. Slash marks tell you what word to stroke on. With a little practice you will be playing 5 or 6 songs in a day. Enjoy.

Beginner Songs
http://www.susancanthony.com/resources/guitar/guitar.html

This post has been provided by Long & McQuade Canada's largest music store chain. Visit us online or in store for the latest drums, guitars, pianos and more. We also offer guitar lessons for all levels.

3 Steps to a Tighter Tummy

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past decade, you have probably noticed the importance that society has placed on women looking their best. All forms of media – print, digital, film and television – are constantly driving this impression.  If you want to enhance your body image, tightening the stomach area is a great place to start.  Full disclosure is necessary before we begin; tightening your tummy is not going to be easy. It is one of the most challenging areas of the body to hone. But nonetheless, challenging is not tantamount to impossible. So let us get started.

1. Exercise on a regular basis.

Going on a diet and avoiding certain foods is necessary for weight loss.  But if you choose to tighten your tummy, you had better be prepared for a vigorous and regular exercise routine. In order to effectively tighten your tummy, you first need to remove the layer of fat that is covering the muscles underneath.

A good exercise to start with is a push-up. 

• Assume a prone position on the floor, keeping your feet together at the ankles
• Position your hands palms-down on the floor, approximately shoulder width apart
• Raise yourself using your arms
• Lower your torso to the ground until your elbows form a 90 degree angle
• Raise yourself by attempting to push the ground away from you
• Repeat the process (3 sets of 10 repetitions each)

Assuming the plank position is another great exercise.

• Assume a prone position on the floor
• Position your forearms on the floor with your shoulders aligned directly over your elbows
• Raise yourself up while keeping your forearms firmly on the floor, maintaining a straight line between your shoulders and toes
• Tighten your abdominal muscles and hold for ten seconds
• Repeat three times

You should also try an abdominal hip raise.

• Lay down on the floor with your head, back and buttocks planted firmly on the ground
• Bend your knees and plant your feet on the ground, relaxing your arms and hands at your side
• Use the muscles in your abdomen, lower back, and hamstrings (not your arms) to lift your hips and buttocks off the ground
• Raise your hips as high as you can
• Lower your body back to the ground
• Repeat the process (3 sets of 10 repetitions each)

 2. Reduce stress.

As if we needed another reminder about how detrimental a stressful lifestyle is, here is one more – high stress levels contribute to tummy fat. So no matter how determined you are to tighten your tummy, don’t stress yourself out in the process! Whether it’s taking a few minutes out of your busy days to soak in a lavender bubble bath, engaging in yoga, writing in your journal, or laughing with a loved one, try to keep your stress levels down.

3.       Choose the right foods.

Exercise is essential to tightening your tummy, but the tightening process is incomplete without a healthy diet.  If you are incapable of sticking to a super-restrictive weight loss diet plan, try these simple tips.   

Try to include one to two servings of vegetables at each meal.  Vegetables are nutritionally dense and low in calories.  Plus, they will make you feel full longer than junk food.  Drink plenty of water and avoid sugary beverages.  When possible, choose proteins over carbohydrates.  Consuming enough protein is essential if you want to tone and strengthen muscles. 

Follow these steps and soon you will be on the fast track to a tighter tummy!

After years of fighting her body into submission, Sarah Koebrick has finally achieved the killer body she has always craved.  Thanks to Trim Nutrition, her hCG injection diet, and lots of hard work, Sarah has managed to lose weight and keep it off.

An Introduction to Dumpster Diving

Intro image CC via Flickr

What, you’ve never heard or partaken in a spot of dumpster diving? What in god’s name have you been doing all your life? Your sheltered life needs some form of excitement in it and dumpster diving is definitely the way to go. Ok, we’re joking; you’re not really a weirdo if you’ve never jumped into the hobby of dumpster diving, but you’re intrigued by what it could be, aren’t you? Well then, you'd better read on!

Ok, so dumpster diving. It’s basically what it says it is: diving into dumpsters. That’s a bin for any of you not accustomed to American parlance. Of course you don’t literally dive in though, that would be ridiculous and dangerous.

The idea around it comes from this new-age concern for trying to stop waste. In the west, we tend to discard a lot of food, clothing and basic items because we’re used to such a luxurious lifestyle of abundance. The US, for instance, wastes 40-50% of its food produce due to government-imposed ‘use-by’ dates, so it’s no wonder that dumpster diving has started to catch on.



Basically, you’ll find yourself a skip or rubbish bin and, as you can imagine, just start wading through it to find items of worth. It sounds disgusting, smells probably horrendous, but there are a lot of companies out there who bin a lot of perfectly usable items – and people have started to realise this.

Supermarkets, for instance, are legally forced to bin items which have passed their sell-by or use-by date. But, in theory, these food items – like cereal – would be fine to eat as long as they didn’t contain any dairy or ingredients which tend to go-off or become mouldy. Dumpster divers will poke their head and hands into the supermarket’s skip and take home their winnings – all for free.

Sounds good, doesn’t it? You’re coming around to the idea and you want some of that dirty rubbish all in and around your face. The thought of cutting down on your bills every month with a spot of dumpster diving appeals and you’re not ashamed who knows it. But wait! There is a bit of a legal issue.



Firstly, you’re trekking onto private property, so in theory you’re trespassing. Likewise, you’re taking something which you didn’t pay for. Ultimately it’s a bit of a grey area. While you’d be technically subject to prosecution should the owner of the dumpster in question want to press charges, the likelihood of them doing so is low since most people don’t really care about the stuff they throw away. That’s why they threw it away.

Supermarkets have been less happy with the divers in recent years as they feel like there’s huge scope for the diver to take plenty of produce which they have paid for. And, if you think about it, the image it portrays for the supermarkets is extremely negative. Would you want to shop at a store which has dozens of people searching through their bins every night?

So be careful out there. Dive responsibly, be respectable to each individual company and don’t take cheese and milk.

Of course, if you're looking for a way to kickstart your finances that doesn't involve wading around in waste, there's always forex trading from www.IronFX.com!

Planting Ant Repellent Flowering Plants

Ants are among the most irritating pests to have around; plus some species deliver stings that itch and blister. So, it's no wonder that people want to get rid of them and keep these insects away from homes and gardens. One way to prevent ants from making a home inside your property is by growing plants that repel ants. But for those who also want to add cheer to their garden, flowering plants are wonderful options. Here are some nice options.

Lavender
Lavender is certainly a fantastic choice. It's a plant that produces beautiful flowers that add a splash of elegance to any garden. But more than that, the scent that the plant creates, which is very appealing to people, is very repulsive to ants. Planting lavender in a garden or having a pot indoors will help keep away ants. In addition to this, lavender leaves and flowers can be dried. Once these are dried, these can then be crushed and sprinkled near or on areas where ants are usually found. Lavender oil, which can be bought in aroma therapy stores, can also be used. Cotton balls soaked with the oil can be placed in crevices or holes that ants use to get inside a house. The oil can be wiped onto ant trails to confuse and keep the insects away.

Tansy
Another effective ant repeller is the herbaceous flowering plant, tansy. Tansy has fern-like leaves and lively yellow flowers. It is often planted with other fruit or flowering plants that attract ants or aphids to reduce infestations on such plants. This is called companion planting. Apart from ants, tansy also fends off flies. The dried and powdered flower heads of tansies have been used as insect repellents for many years. Flowers can also be dried and chained together, making a wreath-like decoration that also wards off various kinds of pesky insects. Leaves and branches can also be placed near windowsills and doors to prevent ants from entering. Tansy also has other beneficial characteristics. For instance, it has antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.

Marigold
Ants do not like the pungent odor that marigolds produce. Marigolds are often used as companion plants for eggplants, tomatoes, as well as root crops or legumes. The roots of the marigold plant releases a chemical that wards off a number of bacteria and insects found underneath the soil. To deter ants and other insects, such as mosquitoes, use marigolds as border or put in pots to place indoors. Unlike tansy, marigolds aren't very invasive. But they have to be replaced each year as these are annual plants.

Pennyroyal
Pennyroyal is a member of the mint family, and it is well-known that ants hate mint, particularly peppermint. These are low maintenance plants that can survive the sun and the shade. These can be used as border plants to barricade a property from ants. Creeping or low-growing varieties can be planted at the base of plants that attract aphids and ants, such as roses. These can also be used as pretty hanging plants. Pennyroyals create charming lavender flowers that repel not only ants, but also mice, fleas and many other pests.

All in all, ants can either be repelled by or attracted to the scents that flower petals produce. So, if you don't want them around, go for flowering plants or foliage that ants do not like.

Citations:

• Photo courtesy of Simon Howden at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

The article is by Claire Brent, who writes for several pest control companies. She regularly contributes articles about natural pest control methods to http://www.preventivepestcontrol.com .

How To Get Rid of Baggy Eyes

Baggy eyes are among the things people wished they never had. In the same way with pimples, black heads, etc., it causes our face to become unsightly. However, it is difficult to avoid having these since a lot of factors that causes baggy eyes are present in different lifestyles.

Genetics, age, stress, lack of sleep, consuming salty foods, gravity, and even bending the head down for too long, can all play a role in having baggy eyes. Some severe cases may require surgery for its complete removal. However, there are more practical remedies that can reduce these horrid circles underneath the eyes. It may take some time and patience in doing these procedures on a regular basis but it will certainly be much better than going under the knife and shedding out a huge amount of money for the surgery.

Here are helpful suggestions on getting rid of baggy eyes:

• Cold comfort – Coldness can relax the circles around the eyes which can subsequently, reduce the puffiness and the circles. Slices of cucumber, potatoes, cold teabags, and even spoons can relieve swelling of the eyes.
• Stay away from salt – Baggy eyes are also result of consuming too much salt. Excess salt will make our body retain more fluid which can also happen under the eyes.
• Stay away from alcohol – In the same reason with staying away from salt, alcohol also induces water retention.
• Drink plenty of fluids – Now this should cause you some confusion. You were just told to stay away from salt and alcohol to prevent fluid retention and in this tip, you are advised to drink plenty of fluids. This is to wash out the excess salt and alcohol in the body. Too much of these substances will make your body retain fluid so the best way to prevent fluid retention is to have water in excess of salt in the body.
• Brush egg whites under the eyes – Egg whites, if applied on skin, have the ability to make it tighter and less saggy – these are important traits of the skin under the eyes to prevent it from getting puffy.
• Use a special moisturizer or cooling gel for the skin under the eyes – Regular facial moisturizers should not be used for the skin under the eyes since this is more sensitive than the rest of the face. Use a special moisturizer or cooling gel which has a more soothing effect that relaxes the eyes, thus, reducing puffiness.
• Get plenty of sleep – We all know how drastic lack of sleep is for our eyes. Just by having insufficient hours of sleep in one night, the circles around our eyes can already get puffy and dark the following day. To avoid making this happen, it is important to have enough sleep always. It will be good for one’s overall health too.

Final Words

By doing these steps, puffiness around the eyes should start to become unnoticeable. However, if the circles around the eyes persist or if they are already severe, it might be ideal to consult a physician in case these are already symptoms of some disease such thyroid or kidney problems.

About the Author:

Kristine M. is a blogger and an advocate of healthy living. For more information on health tips and remedies, watch out for her next posts. Consumers can also get more information about eye health care and getting better vision at GetLenses contact lens website.

Centerpiece Ideas for Your Kid's Birthday Party

Planning a kid’s birthday party is an easy job for any parent out there. It’s quite easy to think about what to cook for the party, how to make the invitations, and what activities to offer to the kids in the party. Planning the centerpiece for the birthday tables, however, is the most important since it sets the theme for the birthday party itself. If you’re planning to make a centerpiece for your tyke’s birthday party, then I suggest picking something that he/she either likes, or something that he’ll/she’ll be proud to show off to his/her little buddies. Here are some ideas to help you get started with your project.

Your Kid’s Favorite Characters – Your kid’s favorite characters can be a centerpiece that he’ll enjoy. There are a lot of 3-D pop-out centerpieces of different cartoon or videogame characters out there that you can either buy or print out yourself. You can also buy dolls or figures of that character to be displayed as a bunch in the middle of the table. Afterwards, the rest of the table ornaments should go along with this centerpiece.

Your Kid’s favorite toys – You can also use your kid’s favorite toy as a centerpiece. For example, if your kid is into teddy bears, you can assemble a bundle of teddy bears, and then set them in the middle of the table together with other tiny details that can help set the theme for your table. You can even make a whole scene out of these toys as a centerpiece (provided that your table is big enough to accommodate that many toys).

Candies – Using candies and other sweets is also a great idea for a centerpiece, but you’ll have a hard time making a theme with it. You can use the color of the candies to set a color scheme for the table, however, so it’s not all that bad. The best part of it is that a lot of kids love candies, making this centerpiece idea a sure hit in birthday parties. Be careful not to use glass trays for your sweets, though – remember that this is a party for kids who might end up hurting themselves if they end up breaking the glass candy tray!

Cakes – You can also use cakes and cupcakes as your table’s centerpiece, provided that you have a good tray for it. There are a lot of cake and cupcake plates for sale out there that you can add decorations and tiny trinkets to thanks to the slots and hooks that have been incorporated around the plates (usually seen in those high cake/cupcake plates). There are also bakeshops out there that design cakes based on popular themes (such as cartoon characters).

I hope these tips gave you an idea about how to quickly come up with easy centerpieces for your child’s birthday party. If you have other ideas about making easy centerpieces for birthdays, feel free to share!

Therese is a freelance writer who has collabortated with experienced party experts such as  JAFGifts.com and others. Her recent work includes discussing how to make your own favors centerpieces.

The Most Important Skill for Self-Defense: Mental Preparedness

Mentally preparing yourself for an attack of any kind is the most important, and sadly neglected, part of anyone’s training. People can learn the physical moves that are necessary to protect themselves in a relatively short period of time, but it can take years to learn how to be mentally prepared to pull the trigger or strike with deadly force. Few people appreciate the importance of this skill for self-defence.

Ready or Not Here He Comes
One thing you can bet on if you are ever attacked is that your assailant is mentally prepared. He has thought through what he is going to do and psyched himself up, so to speak. He is alert and ready to ruin your day, whereas you are asleep in your bed or just walking down the street thinking of everything other than self-defense. Your attacker is like a raging bull and you are like a little fluffy white kitten with sleep in your eyes.

Fighting is not second nature to us humans. We have to be taught to go from the mindset of the kitten that is helpless to that of a tiger that is perfectly capable of protecting himself. Bottom line is you have to be able to go from your normal nice guy persona to a raging tiger in a split second; that is how you will be able to keep yourself form being injured, or worse.

The Flick of the Switch
In any self-defense situation whether you are armed or not you have to be able to go from relaxed to ready like the flick of a light switch; it has to happen that fast. So how do you learn to do that? When you go to shoot your gun for example, do not be casual about it.

You set your gun down on the table at the firing station and take a few steps back. If your gun is holstered that works as well. Take a moment to collect yourself. Think about something that stirs deep emotions for you. Think about your children if you have them. Think about your wife or husband. What would it feel like if any one of these people were violently murdered? Bask in the anger that comes to the surface. When you feel that rage you step up to the firing line and grab that pistol and shoot. If it’s in your holster draw and fire the moment you are in the firing zone. Imagine the person who killed your loved ones is standing in front of you with a gun drawn. Focus on that anger as you fire with your own weapon.

Then when you step away from the firing line take a deep breath and relax while thinking about something that gives you peace. When you step up to the firing line again make that switch to anger about someone who has hurt you or your family. Do that over and over again. Step up, get angry, step back and relax. You can do the very same thing if you are practicing martial arts. Be relaxed and calm before you enter the training area. The moment your foot steps onto the mat you get angry. You are training your mind to make the switch from mild mannered kind person to a precision fighting machine that can protect yourself and your loved ones. With some practice it becomes like the flick of a light switch. You can turn it on and off at will. If you are ever attacked you just flip the switch.

The Element of Surprise
One of the most important principles of self-defense is the element of surprise. Ever hear of someone disarming an attacker with a gun drawn? It’s not because he was faster than a bullet; it was because he did what was unexpected. Let’s take that gun example.

If someone has a gun pointed at you, you need to get within arms- length if you can. If you have determined that your assailant is going to pull the trigger you attack. You knock the gun away and strike with a deadly blow. The key here is surprise. By attacking you are doing the least expected thing. If your assailant thought there was even a remote chance of you knocking his gun away he wouldn’t be close enough for you to do so. When you attack, his brain has to go through the following steps in order for him to pull the trigger.

Acknowledge you are actually attacking him.
Sift through a number of possible responses
Decide upon the response
Act on the decided course of action
Your attacker has to do all that before you ram your finger in his eyes or crush his throat. Bottom line is you don’t have to be faster than a bullet; you just have to be faster than your opponent. Action takes fewer steps and gets a head start. Now I’m not saying go and try to disarm an armed attacker. I just want to demonstrate how effective and important the element of surprise is.

Close Cousins
I bring up anger because fear is its close cousin and it’s easy to swap one for the other. Fear causes you to hesitate or even fail to react at all. Fear makes you slow and saps your strength. You have to be able to take that fear and turn it into anger which can be your friend. Anger gives you strength and focus. Anger gives you the courage you need to do what you have to do to stay alive. Like the light switch you have to be able to flick it on and off on command. You remember that next time you step on the mat to train or step up to the firing line and draw your weapon. When you are finished training, take a deep breath and relax; your job is done.

Adam works for the Gun Safe Store AND teaches firearm safety. The gun safe store has a wide variety of gun safes and pistol safes.

How To Quit Smoking: A Step-by-Step Guide

Quitting Gradually
Many people will simply wake up in the morning and decide they are going to quit smoking. While going “cold turkey” may be admirable, there is a reason that it fails 90% of the time. Giving quitting smoking some thought and preparation will get you ready for the challenge that lies ahead.

Believe
If you are a glass half-empty type who keeps telling yourself that you will never give up, then trust me, you won’t. If you need to read a book on confidence to prepare you for quitting, then do so. Think of other difficult feats you have achieved in life, write them down, stick them on the mirror, put them anywhere you will read them a lot – these will serve as your inspiration.

Understand Why
If you do not know why you are quitting then you probably won’t. Again, write it down and place it somewhere you will see it often. Imagine your life without cigarettes, think of the money you will not spend, and the things you can buy instead.

Get Support
Quitting smoking will be much easier if you have family and friends on board. Tell them you are quitting and your reasons why, you may be surprised by how supportive those close to you are.

See Your Doctor
Make an appointment to see your Doctor and discuss quitting smoking. Before this, perhaps look up some products that will help you to quit, such as an electronic cigarette kit. Your doctor may even be able to prescribe medication to assist you, however avoid the anti-depressants where possible.

Cut Down Before Quitting
Decide whether using an electronic cigarette kit, for example, constitutes smoking in terms of quitting. If it does, then begin to cut down on your cigarette smoking before your targeted quit date, and substitute cigarettes for your electronic version. If you are going to struggle then break the process down into two stages. Quit date one you begin to use an electronic cigarette kit, quit date two is when you cease nicotine intake completely.

Drink
Not coffee or carbonated drinks, but water. Water will act a detoxifying agent in your body, and begin to flush out the nicotine. Once you have gotten over the initial difficulties and you have flushed your body out, the nicotine cravings will begin to subside.

Chew gum whenever you feel the need for a cigarette, as this will satisfy the oral cravings and give you an element of control should you begin to crave a smoke.

Jasper and Jasper are a recognised UK supplier of e-cigs, electronic cigarette kits, and accessories.

Kansas City Homes ~ Fortifying Your Home During Tornado Season

Kansas City homes see more tornado activity than many other homes in the United States.  "Tornado Alley" stretches from the area north of Texas through eastern Nebraska and northeast to Indiana, with Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas seeing more than their fair share of one of nature's most deadliest forces.

Taking steps to ensure one's safety is always an advantage between life and death and its best to be prepared for when nature lets loose no matter where you live, for a tornado can strike at any time and without any notice.  Being prepared by taking a few basic steps will help to protect your family and possibly your home from any kind of severe damage.

First of all, most building structures either meet or exceed the current building codes for high~wind regions, giving your structure a better chance of surviving violent and destructive windstorms.  Although there is no way to predict if your home will stand if struck with a direct hit, it is better to make sure your codes are in place and your structures sound. And one should never open their windows during a violent high~wind storm, you do not want to give the wind any opportunities to enter your building.

When inspecting your home it is best to pay particular attention to the following areas:  windows, doors, roof, gables and your houses connections (how your structure joins together).  If you are handy with a saw and hammer than you will probably get by with doing all the fortifications on your own or if you are not, then there are many professionals who are certified to do the work for you.

Remember to keep your outside grounds clean and trim, make sure weak branches are pruned and one suggestion is to change all your rock/gravel material to shredded bark, ensuring less damage to your home if high winds happen to pick the rocks up and begin hurling them like bullets around your property.  If a storm is approaching, remove all items that cannot be tied down, off of your property; you wouldn't wish to have your child's tricycle or the wheelbarrow come flying through your home as you prepare to ride out the storm.  

It is imperative to always have an Emergency Plan for you and your family, become familiar with the Emergency Broadcast System in your area and keep an Emergency Preparedness kits nearby in case things get really upsetting.  While nothing is ever for sure, being prepared is always better than not, it could save you and your families lives one day.  And like Dorothy once said..."There's no place like home~!!"

  **  This is a sponsored post for Remax, however, all the points and views are my own~!!  **

Resumé Letters ~ Are They Truly Needed~??

Are resumé letters a necessity in garnering employment in today's fast~paced and ever~changing world?  Below you will find the benefits of resumé letters and why they are an important detail to include when seeking employment.   
Basically a cover letter is a letter of introduction and is a viable marketing tool in which one uses to sell themselves to prospective employers.  Job seekers will send a letter along with their resumé to briefly explain their suitability for the desired job position.  Typically employers use cover letters as a method of "screening" out applicants who do not carry the credentials in which an employer is looking for.  

There are three basic types of resumé letters, ones that are used as a letter of introduction, one that inquires about possible positions in a company and the networking letter which requests information and assistance in your job search.

Generally, a cover letter is one page in length, divided into a header, introduction, body and your closing.  The header in your letter uses the standard business letter style, in which your address, the contact information and the date are included at the top and your introduction states briefly the position in which you are applying for, it is an advantageous move to make this as eye~catching as possible to capture your employer's interest.

The body of your letter is geared to highlight your main job points, why you are interested in the position and what value you would be to the employer and/or company.  You can also include briefly, your skills, qualifications and past experience as well as, your availability date.  Remember not to overdo it in this area, this is just to highlight key features about yourself so that the employer feels the necessary need to read your resumé.  Your closing sums up your letter and where you leave your "instructions" for the employer, as in, a future date in which you will be contacting them for further updates.  Bear in mind though, most employers prefer the indirect approach of simply saying that you look forward to hearing from them in the near future.  

A resumé letter is your foot in the door and improper use will turn an employer off, while a well~polished letter will make you shine above the other candidates.  Make the letter an expression of yourself while remaining professional and you will find more opportunities coming your way.  Remember, you are selling yourself and if you don't like what you read, is any future employer?

  **  This is a sponsored post for Pongo, however, all the points and views are my own~!!  **

What Parents Must Know When Children Steal

A painful and embarrassing, common problem that parents encounter is when their children steal. Quite a number of criminals today began stealing from a very young age due to poverty, neglect and peer pressure. However, it is the responsibility of parents to see to it that their children are educated about what is right and wrong and most of all about stealing. Nevertheless, whatever the reason may be for children to steal, parents must approach the problem wisely and not react to natural inclination.

When grade school aged children steal, it often is due to lack of self control and this can still be controlled with parental advice and discipline. But when high school children steal, the results are usually more uncontrollable. Often, children of high school age, tend to make it a hobby and even carry the habit into adulthood.

Why Do Children Steal?
Children's needs are not met - There will be times when children feel that their needs are not being met by their parents, they tend to take matters into their own hands. Our needs are subjective, so when parents' feels that their child wants something unnecessary and their child feels differently, the child will try to get what he or she wants by stealing.

Amount of attention needed - Even if parents provide their children with all the material needs they feel necessary to make their children comfortable and happy, sometimes attention and personal care is needed instead. As a result, children misbehave and steal to get the attention they need.

Peer Pressure - Children love to experiment and quench their curiosity. This is often a problem in groups of friends who experiment with stealing. With all the excitement and desire to fit in, a child will steal to prove that he or she is brave, to show these friends that he or she belongs in the group. This is most crucial because your child must know how to choose the right friends.

What Do You Do When Your Child Steals?
The first reaction you will have when you suspect your child of stealing is to become angry and immediately confront him or her. This is something you must learn to avoid because you are not 100% certain if it is true. If stealing is done at home, you must be sure to catch your child in the act before jumping to conclusions. Never allow your feelings to dominate you and make matters worse.

Children need to know the difference between right and wrong. A firm but loving reminder of the consequences is always healthy, but never give your child the feeling that he or she cannot be trusted. If they do something wrong, they must learn to correct it. They must understand that even stealing can hurt others and it will not only affect their lives but the lives of others as well. The fact is, there is no excuse for stealing, but your child is innocent until proven guilty and once there is evidence, your child must learn responsibility such as returning whatever was stolen, owning up and apologizing. But don't condemn your child as it will only make matters worse and lead him or her into stealing again.

Teenagers Who Have a Habit of Stealing
When children grow up with the habit of stealing and parents fail to control it, the outcome can be disastrous and disappointing as they will end up being a threat to the community. Teenagers who steal have to pay the consequences with the law and this is a serious matter that must be acted upon quickly. Based on the severity of the crime they committed, their age and state the crime was committed in, they can be detained and imprisoned with large bails that will affect their lives completely.

Valerie Howards is a freelance writer and mother who specialize in theft and other criminal cases. She regularly contributes articles to a number of law firms and Bail Bonds Direct websites.

Making Popcorn the Old-Fashioned Way~!!

Making Popcorn the Old-Fashioned Way is Fun and Saves You Money

During the past two decades, using a microwave oven to make popcorn has become the norm. People can buy packages of microwave popcorn in many types of stores and vending machines. Most children don't even know that there are other ways to make this popular snack. Bagged microwave popcorn is quick and easy to prepare, but it has a number of disadvantages.

One problem is that it doesn't let you determine the serving size or quantity. The typical microwave popcorn bag contains about 2.5 servings; you cannot pop more or less than this. Another important factor you can't control is the amount of salt and butter in the bag. Many brands of microwave popcorn use too much or too little.

It has a few other drawbacks as well. A number of kernels usually remain unpopped at the bottom of the bag. Despite this, the bags have a tendency to burn or burst open. Some people also have concerns about the chemicals in microwaveable bag coatings. Fortunately, a viable alternative to microwave popcorn remains available.

The Old Fashion Way
You can purchase large containers of popcorn and pop it on your kitchen stove. Although it requires a bit more effort to prepare, stovetop popcorn doesn't really take much longer to pop. This old-fashioned method does not use paper bags or plastic wrap to package each serving, so it costs about half as much as microwave popcorn.

Stovetop popcorn isn't only economical. It is more fun to make popcorn this way. With a glass lid on the pot, you can watch the kernels pop. If you or your parents made popcorn this way in the past, it may bring on a feeling of nostalgia. It is a great thing to do with your kids as well. They will be amazed at the sight of corn kernels popping.

Many children have been indoctrinated with the trendy concept that everything should happen instantly and require little or no effort. Making popcorn the old-fashioned way helps to teach kids that the fastest, easiest method isn't always the best option. It also shows them that the process of making food can be fun and exciting.

Along with the ideal amounts of butter and salt, you may try adding other flavors to your popcorn. Consider using a spicy seasoning or preparing some delicious sweet popcorn. The butter isn't attached to the inside of a microwaveable bag, so you also have the option to use a healthy butter substitute like Smart Balance. It's up to you.

It doesn't matter if you're at the movie theater with a group of friends or relaxing in the living room with your family; popcorn always seems to create a feeling of togetherness. Making a bowl of old-fashioned sweet popcorn with your children is the perfect way to create happy memories that will last for years to come.

Jesse Dugan and his team of writers have helped contribute to a large number of blogs, online publications, and news sites.  You can follow him on Twitter @JesseDugan.

DIY Projects Using Construction Pallets

Not everyone is cut out to handle a do-it-yourself project.  While many homes are equipped with table saws and sanders, it is not a staple in all homes.  DIY projects are great because they are inexpensive and create unique looking furniture.  There is a simpler solution to make your own decorations without having to go out and buy heavy machinery or learn how to use equipment without injuring yourself.  Pallets that are used to haul food, materials, and other products can be taken apart and can serve a completely different service.

Tables
A very easy way to make an end table out of pallets is to stack them together and place a top on it.  Plywood or Plexiglas will work well for a study top.  Another way to is lay them out side by side to elongate the table.  Legs can be nailed to the table top buy taking apart other pallets.  It is probably a good idea to sand down the pallets to keep people from getting splinters.

Wallpaper
A lot of rooms will have an accent wall that is a little more colorful.  Rather than coming up with an elaborate paint job, pallets planks can be taken apart and nailed to the wall.  They can be stained to any color to match the surrounding painted walls.  Instead of staining it, paint can be applied over the wood and sanded down.  This will make it look like the outside of an old warn out house. 

Shelves
Pallets can be cut to form a shelf.  Since pallets already form a container it is easy to go from pallet to a set of shelves.  The first step is to cut it to the size you want it.  The back should be the side that has less space between planks.  More space in the front will give the selves a rustic look.  After they are nailed to the wall, they can be filled with books, pictures, and other forms of art.

Pallet Projects
Do-it-yourself projects using pallets are relatively simple.  Construction mats have a unique look to them and create a fun and different center piece in any home no matter if it is rustic or modern.  Even people that are not good at DIY projects will be able to handle using pallets.  Plus the great thing about this material is that it is relatively cheap and can be recycled.  That way if you screw up, you will not be out very much money. 

Garnett Wood Products is the leading provider in mat construction and manufactures a variety of crane mats, pipeline skids, and other specialty wood products.  Garnett Wood can deliver its poducts all over the US.