Archive for March, 2008

Olive Oil And Skin Care

Sunday, March 23rd, 2008

Olive oil has many uses. Is the cult oil in the Mediterranean diet due to its nutritional properties and many other countries are including olive oil in their daily diets.Not only that, but due to its antioxidant benefits, is being incorporated by many cosmetic companies as a skin care ingredient to their beauty products.

Olive oil has been used since old times. It was discovered more than five thousand years ago by the Egyptians, who just to use it for body and hair massage. Other cultures such as the Greeks, Phoenicians and Romans also discovered the beneficial properties of olive oil. The Romans and the Arabs extended and popularized its use. In those days they just to make soaps and perfumes from olive oil, as well as moisturizers to keep athlete’s skin protected.

Olive oil is composed of essential fats and has many uses as a natural medicine. It comes from olive’s juice and is rich in oleic acid. Is a great antioxidant with vitamin E, Poliphenols and Flavonoids. Its antioxidant action helps to prevent several diseases, such as heart related conditions and some forms of cancer. When shopping around for olive oil, always choose ” extra virgin ” because it hasn’t been refined and conserves all its nutritional values. Don’t think that it will make you fatter than other oils, is just the same, but don’t use to much if you are watching your weight.

Olive oil and skin care uses

1- Because is an antioxidant it helps to protect the skin from the harmful action of free radicals, delaying aging skin.

2- It is also used as a moisturizer to maintain the skin elastic, hydrated and smooth. Try this mask at home: mix olive oil with an egg yolk and some honey. Put this mixture over your face and leave it on for fifteen minutes. Rinse with warm water.

3- As a tonic for the hair, to add shine and to keep it moisturized. This is a fantastic hair mask: mix olive oil with two eggs. Apply it over the hair and leave it on for thirty minutes. Wash as normal.

4- Good for the hands. Add some sugar to two spoons of olive oil. Rub your hands with this mixture. Rinse with warm water.

5- Strengthens the nails. Soak your nails in lemon juice and olive oil for five minutes. You could leave it overnight, but you must use some gloves.

6- If your mascara is dry add one or two drops of olive oil.

7- It can be used for body massage and can be added to the bath or to your usual skin care product.

For more information in skin care, please visit http://www.anti-aging-skin-care-guide.com We are passionate about all things related to skin care, specially anti aging skin care and offer advice, home made beauty tips, anti aging skin treatments and the best deals on skin care products to improve your skin condition. If you would like to keep up with the latest skin care and beauty news, please subscribe to my newsletter “better skin” at http://www.anti-aging-skin-care-guide.com/better-skin.html

Baby Shower Thank You Note Writing Tips

Sunday, March 23rd, 2008

Having your friends and family join you for a baby shower is such a special event.

It is very heartwarming to know that they are so excited and happy for you and your upcoming arrival. Writing a baby shower thank you note is a fantastic way to show your appreciation.

They will love receiving a note from you thanking them for being there and they will feel good knowing how much it meant to you. If you would like to learn some tips on writing an unforgettable baby shower thank you note, read on.

It’s very important to remember which gift came from whom. You can thank your guest for her gift and she will know that you truly enjoyed it, or that it really did come in handy. A great tip is to tell them what you’ve used it for.

For example, ???I really love the beautiful outfit you got for the baby. She wore it home from the hospital.’ If your baby isn’t born yet, then you can say, ???She will be wearing it home from the hospital.’ This lets your guest know that she gave you a special gift that you do cherish. Most important, you don’t want to thank a guest for the wrong gift!

When you write your baby shower thank you note, remember to tell each guest that you were very happy that they came. Add a little personal touch by telling them something you really enjoyed. You can mention a game she won, and tell her how fun it was.

You could even tell her you enjoyed hearing a story that she told about her own pregnancy - if she told one, of course. This will let your guest know that you enjoyed her company, and not just her gift.

There are some really cute ways to send a baby shower thank you note. One way is to write it on the back of a photo taken at the baby shower. It would be great if you could write it on the back of a photo of the guest that you are sending the note to.

This is a really cute idea, and can be kept as a great memento. Another variation of this is using your computer to print out a baby shower thank you note and use the picture from the shower as the card graphics.

Another cute idea, if you’re sending the note after the baby is born, is to write your note on a thank you card. Use a stamp pad to ink up your baby’s little foot and stamp his or her footprint on the bottom of the card. You can include birth information such as name, weight, inches, and include a picture of the baby. This is something that your guest will want to keep forever.

There are many creative ways to make a unique baby shower thank you note for your friends and family who attended. Most important, just let them know how fun it was for you and how much you enjoyed them being there. Open your heart and be truthful and you will have a note that is unforgettable.

Visit Baby Shower Game Idea to discover more fantastic and creative baby shower ideas for games, favors, cakes, invitations, gifts and more.

A Cavemans Ultimate (lair) Home Theatre System

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008

I am a primitive. A psychologist once verified this. She said being born under the sign of Leo I was fixed in my ways so I would be most happy in life not trying to change myself or others. She was a very sharp lady. I am happiest as a primitive in my cave (ala my Home Theatre Kingdom) upon this earth. I like watching big tv with high quality audio. And I like my comfort.

My cave is well lite when need be and provides a nice ambient softness (like a camp fire) which makes me feel secure in this post modern world (what ever that means ie… I was told to say that to include you deep thinkers in this little philosophy tale about modern caves and primitives).

Please know though that I am a disciplined home theatre cave type and do not allow ANY news or “importrant” world events, stress filled garbage to come before my ears or eyes. Why have a cave if you can’t keep the dinosaurs and bad neighbors out - eh?

I ONLY watch high quailty movies (many free), good science type channels and programs like Discovery and History (if it is in the past it can’t hurt you right?), and no crime drama. I am a sensitive primitive who like to keep my cave and mind clean and bright and sharp with little clutter.

My basic motto is: “Do small things about ones cave and let others tidy up their own cave.” Too many people ie… politicians, military type, local government types, video cameras (doesn’t anyone have a sense of what privacy is anymore? Did YOU vote for this technology?) - in too many of their neighbor caves and not their own.

So how is your cave? MAN. Or WOMAN. If you are a female the way to a caveman’s heart is to bring nice stories (movies) and music into his lair (I mean Home Theatre System). After an invitation of course. Cavemen like DVD’s, flowers, meat is always good, and nubile barefoot girls. Be inventive and playful and bring NO - “ZERO” - NADA stress into his cave and you should do well. Bring NO NEWS of far distant lands and wars and famine and disease etc… etc… etc… ad infinitum…. Cook stir fry for him as he like spices and might surprise you with his exotic pallette (taste buds) and talk science yep you heard me right deep penetrating cosmic DNA transhuman “SCIENCE!” . After all most true cave men these days are geeky intellectuals who might just have more on his mind then sports (also banned in my cave, as I find watching sports boring!).

Also, if you are invited into the bowels of the cave mans heart , his Home Theatre Kingdom, do not mention babies (fertility is okay), as babies imply messy caves and disruption of happiness. So there you have it from one of the last true cavemen “they” (the media gods) should have used in the GEICO commercials.

My cave “ROCKS!” How about yours?

http://www.virtualrealestate-wealth-4ever.com/home-theatre/

Scott Douglas

A Guide To Gymnastics

Friday, March 21st, 2008

Gymnastics is arguably one of the world???s oldest sports. It is also a very natural sport involving activities that people would normally do outside gym class or gymnastic competitions such as jumping, running, climbing, swinging and tumbling. Modern gymnastics as a sport involves the performance of a series of movements.

These activities and movements require flexibility, physical strength and kinesthetic awareness. Most of the movements involved developed from the many fitness exercises that soldiers in Ancient Greece used. Gymnastics is also considered a somewhat difficult and dangerous sport because gymnasts are constantly exposed to injury.

Gymnastics today is a sport that has six different disciplines: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, sports aerobics, sports acrobatics, trampoline work, and general gymnastics. Among these disciplines, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics are the two most popular and is part of the Summer Olympic Games held every four years.

Rhythmic gymnastics on the other hand is performed mostly by women athletes and involves apparatus such as ball, hoop, club, ribbon and rope. Sports aerobics focuses on flexibility, strength and fitness while trampoline work uses equipment called a trampoline. Gymnastic events are typically divided into men???s and women???s.

Men???s events include floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar. Meanwhile, women???s events include the vault, uneven bars, balance beams and floor. General gymnastics involves the performance of choreographed and synchronized routines by a larger group of people of all ages.

Aside from being one of the world???s major sports, gymnastics is also a sport that many people, regardless of age or ability can try. It is a great sport that can teach important values such as independence and self-discipline. Gymnastics also builds strength and enhances physical flexibility and agility. Gymnastics is also a great sport for children because it develops a healthy mind and body.

Gymnastics provides detailed information on Gymnastics, Dancing Gymnastics, Gymnastics Instructions, Gymnastics Equipment and more. Gymnastics is affiliated with Cheerleading Cheers.

Find Natural Treatments For Infertility

Friday, March 21st, 2008

If you are a couple who prefers to keep things natural before trying any other methods or maybe completely natural is your only option then you may want to talk to your doctor or talk to an herbalist in your area. There are natural treatments for infertility that are available that may include such things as acupuncture or natural vitamins and minerals said to boost your natural abilities to conceive.

There are fertility herbs that have been used for years all over the world and some will swear by them. Acupuncture has been for centuries in China and has been found to work for some couples. Looking at their population ratio compared to ours here in the United States it may make you think. Acupuncture is used to release endorphins and chemicals naturally that make it easier to conceive. Along with being used for many other things, acupuncture is more widely used than ever before.

Other Natural Infertility Treatments
All doctors will tell you to eat healthy and do not smoke and make sure you get plenty of exercise. They may even tell you that you can try over-the-counter fertility drugs and supplements that may help you with your infertility. Some common vitamins that are said to possibly help you with infertility are:

* Vitamin C: A lack of vitamin C causes sperm to clump together. Men who take vitamin C daily may see an improvement in sperm count and motility. Vitamin C may also improve the chances of conceiving for women who are on the fertility medication Clomiphene.

* Vitamin E: Increasing vitamin E intake has been found to increase the probability of success with IVF procedures.

* Vitamins B6 and B12: B6 has been shown to increase fertility in women. B12 helps to improve sperm count in men.

* Zinc: Zinc maintains testosterone production in men and leads to improved sperm count and motility. It also helps women use estrogen and progesterone more efficiently.

* Folic Acid: It has long been known that folic acid helps prevent birth defects when women take it before becoming pregnant, but it also improves fertility.

* Selenium: An antioxidant that helps reduce the risk of birth defects, selenium also increases sperm count in men.

* Iron: Infertility in women has been linked to a deficiency in iron.

* Prenatal Vitamins: It is advised that women take a prenatal vitamin when they begin to try to become pregnant.

Talk to an herbalist, your doctor, infertility specialist and see what they recommend. You can also go online and look the information up. There are natural infertility treatments.

You can also find more info on Infertility Egg Donation and Male Infertility Test. Infertilitytreatmentoptions.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Infertility.

Pregnancy Can be an Acid Reflux Cause

Friday, March 21st, 2008

If you are pregnant and experiencing signs and symptoms of heartburn, you should know that pregnancy can be an acid reflux cause. Even if you have never had acid reflux nor the signs or symptoms of this condition, being pregnant alone can be an acid reflux cause.

Those who are pregnant and are experiencing a burning sensation in their throats or the middle of the chest and having a taste that is sour and acidic in your mouth may be a condition that they are becoming all to familiar with experiencing. Why does this happen and why is pregnancy an acid reflux cause?

There are quite a few reasons that pregnancy is an acid reflux cause. For one thing, women who are pregnant are having increased hormonal levels while the simple act of being pregnant can cause a softening of the ligaments that are used to keep your lower esophageal sphincter or the LES, closed tightly. When this happens at an inappropriate time, the stomach acids and the food you have consumed can come back up into the throat and esophagus.

As the baby grows, there will be increased pressure on your stomach and the organs inside you as your body changes to fit the growing baby???s needs. Simply because of this pressure, it can force food through your LES and be an acid reflux cause.

Most women who experience acid reflux cause when pregnant can take steps to minimize the effects of the signs and symptoms of heartburn. One of the steps you can take is to eliminate foods that are acid reflux cause. By now you must realize what many of the foods are that trigger acid reflux symptoms. By avoiding those foods you can do a lot to manage your condition.

Stay away from foods that are tomato based and don???t drink acidic juice such as lemonade, cranberry or orange juice. Though these foods are healthy for your baby; they may be an acid reflux cause which in turn makes the expecting mother miserable.

Speak to your doctor if you are experiencing any problems related to acid reflux. He or she can put you on a path that will help to minimize the effects of acid reflux while you are pregnant. Before you know it, you will be holding your new baby in your arms, back to eating all your favorite foods that were an acid reflux cause.

For more information about Acid Reflux Causes, feel free to visit us at: http://www.about-acid-reflux.com/article-3-Acid-Reflux-Causes.html

How to Lower LDL Cholesterol Numbers Naturally

Friday, March 21st, 2008

You probably already know, cholesterol is a naturally occurring waxy substance that is manufactured by the human body. A certain amount of cholesterol is healthy but too much can lead to a variety of serious health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and stroke.

LDL stands for “low-density lipoprotein” and is sometimes referred to as bad cholesterol. The LDL transports cholesterol into the arteries while the good cholesterol, HDL, takes it away and delivers it to the liver. The more HDL you have in your body the better while the less LDL you have is also good.

There are a number of ways to lower your LDL level. Aim to drink at least two glasses of orange juice with your breakfast every morning. Make sure you choose a brand that contains the cholesterol-lowering plant sterol. Choosing orange juice from concentrate is also the wisest choice.

Instead of eating three large meals a day, consume five or six small meals throughout the course of the day. Research has shown that eating more frequent smaller meals helps to significantly lower LDL levels in the body.

Always eat and drink low fat or no fat (skim) dairy products and only consume whole grain breads and whole grain products such as rice and pasta. Whole grains can contribute to lowering triglycerides and to increase the level of good cholesterol. Begin your day with a bowl of oatmeal. Oatmeal is high in a soluble fiber known as beta glucan. Studies have shown that eating oatmeal on a regular basis can decrease your LDL cholesterol by 12 to 24 percent.

Instead of drinking coffee, drink green tea or drink black tea at least three or four times a day. Instead of adding sugar to your tea, add honey and in turn instead of spreading jam on your toast, flavor it with honey. Drinking cranberry juice is another way to lower LDL. Cranberries are rich in flavonols, anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins, which are all beneficial in preventing LDL from oxidizing (in other words, clinging to the walls of the arteries).

Be careful about consuming too much saturated fat and trans fat. Use olive oil for cooking and as a part of your salad dressing recipe. Olive oil is a healthy fat, the monosaturated type, and it helps to reduce levels of LDL, in particular in those who suffer from diabetes or have problems with metabolism.

Eating a grapefruit every day can help lower LDL cholesterol because grapefruits are high in a soluble fiber called pectin that can greatly reduce bad cholesterol in the bloodstream. As well eating an avocado every day (such as in guacamole) can manage to decrease LDL by as much as 17 percent while at the same time increasing levels of good cholesterol.

Other suggestions for decreasing LDL include setting aside 10 minutes every day to engage in strength-training exercises such as sit-ups, push-ups and leg lifts; having a glass of purple grape juice once a day; eating edamame as a snack on a regular basis and drinking a glass of red wine once every day or every couple of days.

Imagine what it would be like if you could lower your cholesterol numbers naturally. For complete details, absolutely FREE, visit this site now: http://www.cholesterol-numbers.org/

Farewell To Falwell

Thursday, March 20th, 2008

Well I guess Hillary Clinton can rest a little easier now that the Rev. Jerry Falwell, founder of the so-called Moral Majority is dead. He said the election of Ms. Clinton to the presidency would represent a grave threat to the country. The controversial minister vowed to campaign against her, but God apparently had other plans for him. Falwell, a fundamentalist preacher who supported segregation at home and apartheid in South Africa and was anti-gay rights, died in Lynchburg, Va. Dare we guess how his home town got its name? He was 73. The cause of Mr. Falwell???s death remains a mystery, so let???s just call it providence.

We usually elevate the dead to a stature they didn???t deserve in life, this needn???t be done with Falwell. The truth of the matter is he was a greedy hateful man. He raked in millions for his own coffers and hated anyone who didn???t believe as he believed. This applied to religion and politics. In 1999 Falwell identified the anti-Christ as a male Jew, who was probably already alive. He once called the Prophet Muhammad a terrorist, which he was forced to recant. He blamed Nine-Eleven on America???s moral decline, and even attacked Tinky Winky, the purple teletubby as a tool of the gay lobby. Mr. Falwell said he chose God on Jan. 20, 1952. It might have been better had God chosen him. Falwell was a staunch critic of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ???Preachers are not called to be politicians, but soul winners,??? he said in a sermon titled ???Ministers and Marchers.??? He felt the energy being used for civil rights would have been better spent ???winning people to Jesus.??? The pro-life minister was a vocal critic of Rowe v Wade, which legalized abortion, took it from the back alley. Mr. Falwell talked the Christian talk, but failed to walk the Christian walk. He further enriched himself by taking over the cash cow. PLT ministry when Jim Bakker got caught in a sex and money scandal.

To Mr. Falwell???s credit or blame he inspired the religious right. He deserves a good deal of the credit for Republican Party icon Ronald Reagan???s election. Falwell once called former President Bill Clinton, an ???ungodly liar.??? He forced perennial Presidential candidate John McCain to genuflect and kiss his ring, after having been dissed by McCain, whom he had previously branded with evangelist Pat Robertson as ???forces of evil.??? Politicians had to be careful with Falwell who exerted his political influence where he chose. It could probably be argued that he affected electoral politics more than mainstream culture. His effort to clean up television went up like a lead balloon. He preached at the Thomas Road Baptist Church that he founded. Under his leadership Thomas Road Baptist became a mega church that boasts of a membership of 22,000. He also leaves behind Liberty University and a faith-based conservative political movement. Republicans aspiring to higher office still found it necessary to kiss the ring in an effort to seek his endorsement.

051607cm–Copyright © 2007. All rights reserved.

Cedric McClester is an award winning journalist who has written for local, national and international publications. He has a Masters of Science Degree in Education from New York’s Fordham University. The Boston born journalist is married and resides in New York. Mr. McClester is the author of the leading selling book on the topic of Kwanzaa, the African-American cultural holiday. His latest effort is a childrens book entitled: The Legend of Nia Umoja, on the Gumbs and Thomas imprint.

Sheds - Not Just For Storage!

Thursday, March 20th, 2008

Today you will find that sheds come in all types of shapes, different sizes and even diverse materials. There is a vast assortment of sheds with innumerable purposes that they can be used for. You can use them for a home office space, personal home gym or even a spa area for your home.

Traditionally, sheds are thought to be primarily for storage for items such as pocket bikes, ATV???s, motorcycles, yard equipment, gardening tools, outside furniture and various other things. With the vast selection of different styles of sheds that are available to today, you are not restricted to using these buildings just for storage anymore!

One popular use is a dedicated workshop area. These sheds are tailored to meet the needs of having a dedicated workshop area. For example, these buildings are usually constructed with a more elevated roofline than typical sheds. This makes it easier to walk around and maneuver when using the building as a workshop area. Another great feature of these types of buildings is the double doors for easy access in and out of the unit. Glazed windows give them a nice airy and open feeling and enable you to enjoy the scenery while completing workshop tasks.

With the increased knowledge of how important it is to get fit, sheds are being used as personal gyms and even spas. Like the workshops, ones with elevated rooflines make working out comfortable while not taking up a lot of the space inside your home. These personal workout buildings enable you to feel like you???re getting away from home to go workout in your own private gym. With the cost of gas and gym memberships, sheds made into personal home gyms end up paying for themselves. Best of all, it???s easy to walk across your yard to go to your personal gym instead of having to drive across town in traffic congestion and often times bad weather. You???re more likely to stick with your exercise routine having a sheds that have been converted to personal, home gyms.

As you can see, sheds are not just for storage and plants anymore. They???re not restricted solely to gardeners. You can enjoy the benefits of having sheds that are easily converted into a dedicated workshop, home spa or even a personal gym! A huge benefit to these types of sheds is the money that you save because the area will be used so often by you and your family.

BuyaShed specialize in sheds garages, carports, farm sheds, workshops, garden sheds and much more and we deliver FREE to 100 local depots Australia wide.

A Guide To Gymnastics

Thursday, March 20th, 2008

Gymnastics is arguably one of the world???s oldest sports. It is also a very natural sport involving activities that people would normally do outside gym class or gymnastic competitions such as jumping, running, climbing, swinging and tumbling. Modern gymnastics as a sport involves the performance of a series of movements.

These activities and movements require flexibility, physical strength and kinesthetic awareness. Most of the movements involved developed from the many fitness exercises that soldiers in Ancient Greece used. Gymnastics is also considered a somewhat difficult and dangerous sport because gymnasts are constantly exposed to injury.

Gymnastics today is a sport that has six different disciplines: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, sports aerobics, sports acrobatics, trampoline work, and general gymnastics. Among these disciplines, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics are the two most popular and is part of the Summer Olympic Games held every four years.

Rhythmic gymnastics on the other hand is performed mostly by women athletes and involves apparatus such as ball, hoop, club, ribbon and rope. Sports aerobics focuses on flexibility, strength and fitness while trampoline work uses equipment called a trampoline. Gymnastic events are typically divided into men???s and women???s.

Men???s events include floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar. Meanwhile, women???s events include the vault, uneven bars, balance beams and floor. General gymnastics involves the performance of choreographed and synchronized routines by a larger group of people of all ages.

Aside from being one of the world???s major sports, gymnastics is also a sport that many people, regardless of age or ability can try. It is a great sport that can teach important values such as independence and self-discipline. Gymnastics also builds strength and enhances physical flexibility and agility. Gymnastics is also a great sport for children because it develops a healthy mind and body.

Gymnastics provides detailed information on Gymnastics, Dancing Gymnastics, Gymnastics Instructions, Gymnastics Equipment and more. Gymnastics is affiliated with Cheerleading Cheers.