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Winter Skin Care Survival Guide

March 31, 2005

Skin care survival guide. Cold winter air is far less humid than warm air, which means skin will be drier in the winter months. Harsh winds make conditions worse by causing moisture to evaporate more quickly from the skin. According to dermatologists, indoor conditions in the winter can be just as bad for complexion.

Indoor heating is abusive for the skin. It pulls the moisture out of the air, which is dehydrating. The older one gets, the drier the skin gets. The glands in skin get smaller and begin vanishing. This diminishes their ability to hydrate. The consequence is drier skin.

Using nutrient-rich moisturizing cream is the most important remedy for winter-beaten skin. To reduce the appearance of existing fine lines and wrinkles while evening out natural skin tones to have a smoother, softer, younger looking, more radiant complexion, apply your moisturizing creams three times a day.

You should also include the following beneficial skin-pampering techniques:

Humidify. When the heat is on, replace lost indoor moisture by running a humidifier in the house.

Use steam rather than sauna. At the gym or spa, instead of the dry-and-drying-sauna, use the steam room. Before steaming, apply a thin layer of Vitamin E oil. Your skin will come out radiant and amazingly soft.

Pamper fingers and toes. Don’t forget these extremities, which take a particularly harsh beating in bitter climates. To bring them back to smoothness, soak feet and hands in warm water mixed with lemon juice and Vitamin E oil. Afterwards, rub on Aloe Ultra Moisture Cream.

Eat goods fats. Food like fish and flaxseed that are loaded with nutritious omega-3 fatty acids can revitalize skin.

Be gentle. Some say exfoliants (scrubs) are too harsh to use on already chapped skin but if you must use one, the gentler, the better.

Wear cotton. For clothing that goes next to your skin, avoid fabrics like wool; they abuse skin with friction and can dry it out.

Drink water frequently. Hydration from the inside, by drinking water is one of the most important things you can do for skin, say dermatologists, in cold weather as well as hot.

Protect. Don’t forget that the sun puts out damaging rays even during the winter months, so use your daily sunscreen.

Roger Jirves
Nutritional Skincare Products and more!
Authorized Vitamin Power Dealer

Written by admin · Filed Under Beauty 

Top 50 Father Quotations

March 31, 2005

  • “The greatest gift I ever had Came from God, and I call him Dad! “
    – Anonymous

  • “Our earth is degenerate in these latter days; bribery and corruption are common; children no longer obey their parents; and the end of the world is evidently approaching.”
    – Assyrian clay tablet 2800 B.C.

  • “The joys of parents are secret, and so are their griefs and fears.”
    – Francis Bacon, Sr.

  • “A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again. “
    – Enid Bagnold

  • “We never know the love of our parents for us till we have become parents.”
    – Henry Ward Beecher

  • “I have always looked at life as a voyage, mostly wonderful, sometimes frightening. In my family and friends I have discovered treasure more valuable than gold.”
    – Jimmy Buffet

  • “The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them. “
    – Confucius

  • “Fatherhood is pretending the present you love the most is soap-on-a-rope.”
    – Bill Cosby

  • “You know, fathers just have a way of putting everything together. “
    – Erika Cosby

  • “Be kind to thy father, for when thou were young, who loved thee so fondly as he? He caught the first accents that fell from thy tongue, and joined in thy innocent glee. “
    – Margaret Courtney

  • “Role modeling is the most basic responsibility of parents. Parents are handing life’s scripts to their children, scripts that in all likelihood will be acted out for the rest of the children’s lives.”
    – Stephen R. Covey

  • “What a dreadful thing it must be to have a dull father. “
    – Mary Mapes Dodge

  • “To her the name of father was another name for love. “
    – Fanny Fern

  • “Parents can tell but never teach, unless they practice what they preach.”
    – Arnold Glasow

  • “When Charles first saw our child Mary, he said all the proper things for a new father. He looked upon the poor little red thing and blurted, ‘She’s more beautiful than the Brooklyn Bridge. “
    – Helen Hayes

  • “To be a successful father…there’s one absolute rule: when you have a kid, don’t look at it for the first two years. “
    – Ernest Hemingway

  • “The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.”
    – Burton Hillis

  • “I am not caused by my history–my parents, my childhood and development. These are mirrors in which I may catch glimpses of my image.”
    – James Hillman

  • “There are fathers who do not love their children; there is no grandfather who does not adore his grandson. “
    – Victor Hugo

  • “You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.”
    – Irish Proverb

  • “Any woodsman can tell you that in a broken and sundered nest, one can hardly find more than a precious few whole eggs. So it is with the family.”
    – Thomas Jefferson

  • “My dear father; my dear friend; the best and wisest man I ever knew, who taught me many lessons and showed me many things as we went together along the country by-ways.”
    – Sarah Orne Jewett

  • “When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry. “
    – Jewish Proverb

  • “The longer we live the more we think and the higher the value we put on friendship and tenderness towards parents and friends.”
    – Samuel Johnson

  • “He was all questions. But small boys expect their fathers to be walking lexicons, to do two jobs at once, to give replies as they are working, whether laying stones or building models…digging up a shrub, or planting flower beds…Boys have a right to ask their fathers questions…Fathers are the powers that be, and with their power and might must shelter, guard, and hold and teach and love…All men with sons must learn to do these things…Too soon, too soon, a small son grows and leaves his father’s side to test his manhood’s wings. “
    –Roy Z. Kemp

  • “My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, “You’re tearing up the grass.” “We’re not raising grass,” my dad would reply, “we’re raising boys.”–Harmon Killebrew

  • “Up to a point a man’s life is shaped by environment, heredity, and movements and changes in the world about him. Then there comes a time when it lies within his grasp to shape the clay of his life into the sort of thing he wishes to be. Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune, or the quirks of fate. Everyone has it within his power to say, “This I am today; that I will be tomorrow.”
    – Louis L’Amour

  • “A man knows he is growing old because he begins to look like his father.”
    – Gabriel Garcia Marquez

  • “The love of a father is one of nature’s greatest masterpieces.”

  • “The merry family gatherings– The old, the very young The strangely lovely way they Harmonize in carols sung. For Christmas is tradition time– Traditions that recall The precious memories down the years, The sameness of them all.”
    – Helen Lowrie Marshall

  • “The thing to remember about fathers is, they’re men. A girl has to keep it in mind: They are dragon–seekers, bent on improbable rescues. Scratch any father, you find someone chock–full of qualms and romantic terrors, believing change is a threat - like your first shoes with heels on, like your first bicycle I it took such months to get. “
    – Phyllis Mcginley

  • “Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush; anxious for greater developments and greater wishes and so on; so that children have very little time for their parents; Parents have very little time for each other; and the home begins the disruption of the peace of the world.”
    – Mother Teresa

  • “It is much easier to become a father than to be one.”
    – Kent Nerburn (Letters to My Son: Reflections on Becoming a Man)

  • “As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.”
    – Pope John Paul II

  • “He who is taught to live upon little owes more to his father’s wisdom than he who has a great deal left him does to his father’s care. “
    – William Penn

  • “The fundamental defect with fathers is that they want their children to be a credit to them. “
    – Bertrand Russell

  • “Good parents give their children Roots and Wings. Roots to know where home is, wings to fly away and exercise what’s been taught them.”
    – Jonas Salk

  • “Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible–the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.”
    – Virginia Satir

  • “I’ve been very blessed. My parents always told me I could be anything I wanted. When you grow up in a household like that, you learn to believe in yourself.”
    – Rick Schroeder

  • “It doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was. “
    – Anne Sexton

  • “It is a wise father that knows his own child.”
    – William Shakespeare

  • “My father must have had some elementary education for he could read and write and keep accounts inaccurately “
    – George Bernard Shaw

  • “It is admirable for a man to take his son fishing, but there is a special place in heaven for the father who takes his daughter shopping.”
    – John Sinor

  • “The family–that dear octopus from whose tentacles we never quite escape nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to.”
    – Dodie Smith

  • “All the feeling which my father could not put into words was in his hand–any dog, child or horse would recognize the kindness of it.”
    – Freya Stark

  • “It’s clear that most American children suffer too much mother and too little father.”
    – Gloria Steinem

  • “Children learn to smile from their parents.”
    – Shinichi Suzuki

  • “Cultivate your own capabilities, your own style. Appreciate the members of your family for who they are, even though their outlook or style may be miles different from yours. Rabbits don’t fly. Eagles don’t swim. Ducks look funny trying to climb. Squirrels don’t have feathers. Stop comparing. There’s plenty of room in the forest.”
    – Chuck Swindoll

  • “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. “
    – Mark Twain

    Resource Box - © Danielle Hollister (2004) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine - A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like - love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more. Read it online at - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8364.asp

    Written by admin · Filed Under Parenting 

    Flooring: Installing Ceramic Tile

    March 31, 2005

    Ceramic Tile brings a texture, richness and color to a room that Linoleum has yet to truly mimic. Tile floors can be installed in any room, however they are most frequently seen in Bathrooms and Kitchens. I particularly like them in entryways, where they serve as a transition point from the outside to large carpeted or hardwood floored rooms. They make for easy clean up and are impervious to water damage.

    Tile Types

    Ceramic tiles come in two basic types. Glazed and Porcelain. Glazed holds up the best for heavy traffic areas and porcelain works well in bathrooms. Porcelain is typically more expensive, so consider your budget and the size of the area you want to tile. Tiles also come in many shapes and sizes. For flooring, however, I would suggest using larger tiles up to 12" x 12".

    Underlayment

    For proper installation the base foundation or the underlayment is critical. Typically it consists of ¾" to 1 ¼" of plywood. Tiling over Linoleum or existing tile is also feasible, as long as it is solid. I also recommend when Tiling over Linoleum that you first apply ring nails or screws 6" on center over the entire area. Tiles can also be installed directly over Concrete. Make sure in all cases that the floor is level and free of dust and debris prior to installation. There are leveling compounds that you can apply before applying tile if necessary.

    Preparing the Site

    Before actually installing the tile, it is best to lay it out in the room to see how it will look. Pay close attention to how it runs out toward the walls, in the corners and next to cabinets, tubs and toilets. The trick is to lay the tile out such that stubby tiles do not show up in highly visible spots. Once you have completed this, make two marks with a pencil outlining the most centered tile. These lines should be perpendicular to each other. Also take note of the wall that is most visible from all the others. Now remove the tiles. Next draw or snap a line perpendicular to this wall that is in line with one of the marks you made on the floor.

    Then, draw a perpendicular line to this first line. This second line should be centered with the first line and fairly in line with the second mark you made on the floor. Once you have completed this task, re-layout some of the tiles along the perpendicular lines and observe if they run out in a way that will limit cutting and stubbed tiles. Once this is completed, remove the tiles and prepare for the actual installation.

    Installing the Tile

    Again, make sure the area is free of dirt and dust. Next apply the ceramic adhesive or mastic to the flooring, starting in the center, where the two perpendicular reference lines intersect. Apply enough material to cover 6-10 square feet, if no cuts are required. If cuts are required limit the amount of mastic application to about 2-4 square feet. When applying the mastic, first spread it with the flat end of the trowel. Lay it on relatively thick, approximately 1/8" to 3/16"thick. Then turn the trowel around and run the notched edge over it. This creates ridges in the mastic that helps to hold the tile down more securely. The larger the tile, the larger the notches should be. For example, I use a ¼" notched trowel for 12" x 12" tiles.

    Note: Only make up enough ceramic adhesive for 30 minutes, as this material has the tendency to harden up rather quickly.

    Once the adhesive has been applied, begin installing the tiles working from the center outward. On larger tiles you should back butter them. Basically, apply a thin coating of mastic to the back of the tile prior to laying it on the floor. This will help ensure a good bond.

    As you near the walls or edges of cabinets, tubs and toilets, you will need to cut some of the tiles. I highly recommend the use of a Wet-Saw. A Wet-Saw will allow you to make very accurate cuts, both large and small. You will also save money, as you will waste many fewer tiles with bad cuts or broken tiles. Wet-Saws are not that expensive and once you see your finished product you will certainly be installing more tile. Wet-Saws can also be rented as a cheaper alternative.

    When applying Tiles, you may want to use Lugs. Lugs are effectively spacers that come in various thicknesses. I typically like to have no more than a ¼" space between the tiles. Employing Spacers will ensure uniformity with your tile spacing.

    Grouting

    After the Tile has been completely installed, allow it to sit for 24-48 hours before applying grout and walking on it. Grout comes in many different colors and is very easy to install. Simply mix the grout with water or a special bonding agent and apply with a rubber trowel. Run the trowel on a bias when going over tile corners.

    Once the grout has been applied, immediately wipe the tile of excess grout, using a wet sponge and a bucket of water. Wait 30 minutes and again wipe the tiles down of any residual grout. Wait another 60 minutes and repeat. If grout is left on the tiles to dry, you will have a great deal of elbow work scraping it off.

    Let the grout sit up for 24 hours and it is ready for use and admiration.

    Mark J. Donovan
    me_donovan@comcast.net

    http://www.homeadditionplus.com
    http://www.homeaddition.blogspot.com

    Over the past 20+ years I have been involved with Building homes and additions to homes. I have completed many projects that have included: building a Vacation Home, Family Room Additions, and a Garage. I have also finished the upstairs on unfinished homes. My formal education and Profession has been as an Electrical Engineer and Marketing Manager.

    Written by admin · Filed Under Home Improvement 

    Seven Great Holiday Decorating Tips–Without Breaking the Bank

    March 31, 2005

    If you’re looking for great ways to decorate your home this glorious holiday season–without breaking the bank and losing your sanity in the process–here are seven terrific ideas to get you started.

    1. You don’t have to concentrate on one sense or the other at holiday time. You’ve got five senses–so make sure to fill them all with delight at holiday time. Use cheerful warm-colored ribbons to highlight chandeliers, play your favorite seasonal music, fill the air with the smell of cinnamon, cloves, and essential oils, share your favorite recipe, and add sumptuous silky fabrics to table cloths, tree skirts, and pillows.

    2. You don’t have to use all your decorations every year, especially if you own quite a few. Alternating decorations makes it easier on you, and when you don’t see the same decorations year after year, they tend to have more meaning.

    3. You don’t need to add anything to your Christmas tree’s water. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, plain tap water is the best source of moisture for your tree. In fact, the NCTA says that some commercial additives and home concoctions can actually be detrimental to a tree’s moisture retention and increase needle loss. So keep your Christmas tree stand filled with plain water and use the savings to buy a few extra stocking stuffers.

    4. You don’t have to buy the cheapest Christmas tree on the lot. In fact, you can actually save money by buying a fuller tree! Since there are fewer holes to fill in a fuller tree, it will use fewer decorations. You can also save money by buying silk flower boughs, cutting the flowers apart, and using them on your tree, in garlands, and as enhancements to your gift wrapping.

    5. You don’t have to decorate using generic decorations. Your holidays will be more meaningful if you decorate using your family’s heritage as a guideline. Combining ancestral cultures and creating handmade ornaments will also help your children develop stronger ties with your family’s unique cultural heritage.

    6. You don’t need to climb ladders and hang millions of lights all over your house to make a happy holiday statement. You can create an enticing “Welcome Home” atmosphere by simply placing a special emphasis on your front door, surrounding it with colorful lights and garlands of greenery.

    7. And finally, there’s no need to completely redecorate for your New Year’s Eve celebration. When Christmas Day has past, you can recycle your holiday wreaths and garlands for use in your New Year’s festivities simply by spray painting them silver or gold.

    (c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

    Jeanette Fisher, Design Psychology Professor, is the author of “Joy to the Home” eNewsletter, interior design, and real estate books. For more information on Design Psychology, visit http://www.designpsych.com/

    Written by admin · Filed Under Holidays 

    Two for One Dinners: Pork

    March 31, 2005

    If you find leftovers boring, uninviting or downright “yuck,” then here are some ideas to put the “zing” back into mealtime. With a little creativity your home-cooked meal can easily become a delicious meal another night. There are a six articles in this series, today we are going to look at what you can do with pork.

    DINNER - NIGHT ONE: Braised Pork

    Put a pork tenderloin in the oven to bake slowly in orange juice, ginger, garlic and brown sugar until it is tender enough to pull apart with a fork. Serve it with easy-to-prepare steamed rice and stir-fried brocoli. Store the leftover meat in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 3 days.

    DINNER - NIGHT TWO: Mu Shu Wraps

    Using the leftover pork that you have baked, shred the remaining tenderloin, hoisin sauce and shredded carrots and Napa cabbage. Roll the mixture in warm flour tortillas topped with hoisin sauce. Serve with vegetables (jicama, carrots, zucchini, celery, Napa cabbage, green onions) sauteed lightly with soy sauce, garlic and ginger in sesame oil.

    Publishing Rights: You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print, in your ebook or on your website, free of charge, as long as the author’s information and web link are included at the bottom of the article and the article is not changed, modified or altered in any way. The web link should be active when the article is reprinted on a web site or in an email. Copyright 2005, Michele Webb. All Rights Reserved.

    Michele Webb owns her own website and is a member of a number of organizations for women Netpreneurs and business owners. She has over 20 years experience in health care, clinical trials, management, project management and software development. She currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada USA with her two dogs.

    You are invited to visit her website at: http://www.ebooksnstuff.com. Or, you can email the author at: support@ebooksnstuff.com

    Written by admin · Filed Under Cooking Tips 

    Set Your Fat Thermostat at a Healthy Level

    March 31, 2005

    Have you ever watched someone who appears thin and healthy eating a piece of chocolate cake and wondered how they stay thin? Part of the reason is that they have a set-point in their brain that keeps their body fat and weight from varying~ that is, until they do something that causes the brain to change its settings for weight control.

    That’s what happened to me when I quit smoking. I’d been slender all my life until I stopped smoking and gained nearly 25 pounds! Quitting nicotine had triggered a chemical process that altered a weight control function in my brain. My body began to create fat out of what I ate, where it used to eliminate any excess calories. (To quit smoking is only one of many events that can trigger a change in the weight controls of a person’s brain.)

    Let’s call the weight regulator in your brain a *set- point,* and a good image for the set-point is the temperature you set on the thermostat for the heating and cooling system of your house. If it is set at 71 degrees, then the temperature doesn’t vary by more than a degree or two before the thermostat tells the furnace to heat up (or the air conditioner to cool down).

    Your brain’s set-point functions similarly, maintaining a consistent weight and fat level through interactions of hormones, etc. Exploring the body’s chemistry is beyond this article’s scope. It’s sufficient to understand that if your weight has increased (or decreased), it’s because the set-point in your brain changed. And so, if you prefer to lose (or re-gain) that weight, specific habits are necessary to adjust the set-point to your desired level.

    One. Eat the right things. This is not difficult, if you follow these clear guidelines: a) Keep refined carbohydrates to a minimum. That is, avoid foods made with sugar or flour. b) Eat less fat, but that doesn’t mean to use products labeled ‘low-fat’ such as low-fat mayonnaise. Producers have to use so many chemicals to make low-fat, processed foods taste OK that you’re better off just eating the real thing - only less of it. Also, eat less animal fat, like cheese, butter and marbled meat. c) Eat complex carbohydrates: whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Your body recognizes these as normal foods, so it will process them to give you energy now, instead of giving you stored energy (fat).

    Two: Drink water. It is necessary to your metabolism and helps your body eliminate toxins and other excesses. Sweetened juice, coffee, tea, diet or regular soda, and alcohol don’t contribute to good metabolism or health. Keep use of them minimal, if at all.

    Third, do the right kind of rhythmic large muscle exercise daily, and sustain it for 30 to 60 minutes. If this sounds like a lot of time, ask yourself, how important is it to you to be healthy and/or lose weight? You’re not going to re-set your brain’s weight regulator (the set-point) without exercise - it’s that simple. But the exercise can be a pleasure once you understand which types to do. Fortunately, your not faced here with push-ups or lifting weights.

    For exercise that will adjust the set-point, ‘large muscle’ means in particular to use your legs. Walking is the ideal exercise to begin with; you don’t need special gear or equipment. You could also swim, bike, or jog. Do something you can enjoy. ‘Rhythmic’ refers to exercise you do steadily, repetitively. ‘Sustained’ means continuous - no stopping. The minimum is 30 minutes a day. For quickest results, an hour daily is better. Your heart rate should be at a level where you exert yourself, but can still have a conversation. Go much higher than that level, and you’re no longer doing set-point changing exercise. In this case, ‘no pain-no gain’ is undesirable.

    If you make these three things a daily habit, (proper eating, drinking, and exercise) your set-point will change, and you’ll lose weight. I lost the 25 pounds I’d gained when I stopped smoking, and in the process I learned some pleasant habits that have improved the quality of my life as well as my health. Habitually, I eat delicious whole foods, enjoy a daily walk, and drink mainly water. I feel good now, and looking good is just a bonus. You’ll feel good, too, and your body will thank you, blessing you with good health.

    Please note: This article is for information purposes only. Always consult your doctor or health-care professional.

    Serena Harstad has written extensively on nutrition, fitness and health topics for All About Nutrition, the best on-line nutrition information resource. Visit: http://aanutrition.com for additional articles by Serena Harstad

    Written by admin · Filed Under Nutrition 

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