An architect design floor plan can be found on the internet and in architectural magazines. One set of plans located on the web, Sage Springs Club and Spa, show a luxuriously appointed club and spa. The first floor of this spa/gym has a large luxurious lobby and reception area., a spa and fitness store that sells exercise clothing and various other spa products. Also on level one of this spa are a relaxation lounge, massage therapy rooms, wet room with vicy shower and a pedicure/manicure room.
The second floor of this architectural design spa floor plan has a conditioning room with a glass wall overlooking the tennis court below. This room also has Precor cardio equipment, cybex strength circuit, four screen television theater music channels with wireless headphones. There is also a movement studio for aerobics, yoga and stretch and toning exercises. At every station in this spa, you are treated like royalty. Membership in spas like this are costly, but well wroth the expense.
On the ground level the floor plans show five full size regulation Tennis courts and 3 lane indoor lap pools and spa.
There are lots of floor plans for different spas and gyms available on the internet. Almost all have some of the amenities of Sage Spring Spa and Club but this one had the most interesting floor plan of them all. Before joining an expensive spa or gym, check the ones you are interested in. Compare services, amenities, and prices before you sign anything.
Floor plans for detached condos are laid out similar to a ‘home’ not part of a condo complex. One floor plan for a detached condo in Michigan has a large family room,/dining room area, master bedroom with private bath, small kitchen area with an island, a powder room, and second-floor bedroom. There is also a garage on the first floor. A basement which can be finished has the potential for at least two more bedrooms. Detached condos are ideal for people who don’t have the time or inclination for yard work. It would also be good for elderly people no longer capable of cutting grass or shoveling snow.
About The Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for homebuyers on purchasing a variety House Plans, his articles provide a resource of interesting and relevant information. http://www.1st-4-house-plans.com.
What if there was a combination of foods that were as effective at lowering LDL cholesterol as prescription drugs? Would it be worth adding some new foods to what you eat each day to avoid medication?
This is what the latest in a series of research studies Dr. Jenkins from the University of Toronto shows. Studies have previously shown that various foods, such as nuts, soy protein, oat bran, and plant sterols all can have a cholesterol-lowering effect. But what if you combined all these foods together? Dr. Jenkins’ latest research shows that combining all these foods together is as effective as taking a statin drug. The results showed a 30.9% decrease in LDL cholesterol from the statin and a decrease of 28.2% from the portfolio combination of all these foods.
Dr. Jenkins is calling this a dietary portfolio, but it’s becoming known as ‘The Portfolio Diet’. The concept is to add all of these foods, in a type of portfolio plan, like investments, to cover all possibilities for better heart health. This is not a weight loss diet, however, although the concepts for weight loss and lowered cholesterol could certainly be combined, with proper education and guidance by a qualified nutrition expert.
What is the Portfolio Diet?
Just follow these guidelines:
1. Substitute soy foods for meat. Drink soy milk instead of milk and substitute soy protein foods for other meats.
2. Eat as much ’sticky’ fiber as possible. People in the study took three daily servings of natural psyllium supplements. Oats and barley replace other grains and preferred vegetables include eggplant and okra.
3. Include plant sterol-enriched margarines, such as benecol and Take Control. Plant sterols are also available in capsule form as dietary supplements.
4. A handful of nuts every day. In the study, almonds were eaten and the Almond Board of California offers portfolio diet recipes on its website (look at recipes on http://www.almondboard.com/), but any tree nut will reduce cholesterol.
Here are some examples of a typical day:
Breakfast ? Include soy milk, oat bran cereal with chopped fruit and almonds, oatmeal bread with sterol-enriched margarine, and some jam.
Lunch ? Soy lunchmeats, oat bran bread, bean soup, fruit.
Dinner ? Stir fry with vegetables, tofu, fruit and almonds.
Snacks ? Include nuts, yogurt, and soy milk thickened with a psyllium supplement such as Metamucil.
Has this diet shown to be effective?
Jenkins et al were curious how this diet would work in the real world, so they signed people up who said they wanted to lower their cholesterol levels. They told them what to eat and gave them sample menus — but they didn’t provide any prepared foods.
Dr. Jenkins said that about 30% of the people had a 20% reduction in their LDL cholesterol levels after six months. Another 30% had a 15% reduction in LDL levels, and another third failed to lower their cholesterol levels, believed to be because they were unable to follow the diet as strictly as those with good results. What seemed to be the biggest obstacle for people was eating soy food products. Dr. Jenkins said that most people could eat almonds and substitute plant sterol products for margarine.
Is the diet for you?
Many people are concerned about heart disease and stroke, especially if they are struggling with weight control and high blood cholesterol levels. However, many people are not comfortable going on prescription medications. Since this is an eating plan that does not eliminate food groups or follow some type of fad, there is no risk to going on this ‘diet’. In fact, it’s not really a ‘diet’ at all, but a way of eating. And no one has to do anything but substitute some of the recommended foods for foods they normally eat today.
So, let’s say you would like to try the diet, but, like many other Americans, are concerned about adding soy foods to your diet. You have never eaten them and don’t even know where to find them! Well, they are actually in your favorite supermarket already! It may be time to experiment, though, because not everyone is going to like all the soy foods that are available. For more on soyfoods, check out the Soyfoods Association of American at http://www.soyfoods.org/. Here is a list of foods to consider:
Soy milk. There are multiple brands and different fat levels. You can buy whole fat, low fat and non fat. You can buy ‘regular’ (no flavoring), or any number of flavors. I have personally found one brand that I like over others and you may have to experiment to find one you like, as well.
Edemame. These are frozen whole soybeans that are harvested when still green. They can be found in most health food stores, such as Trader Joes or Whole Foods Market, in the frozen food section, usually next to the lima beans. These can be found shelled or in the shell. You can add them to soups or stews or eat them by themselves. I like to eat them as my protein for breakfast.
Tofu. Also known as ‘bean curd’, tofu is a soft, cheese-like food made my curdling soymilk. The curds are then pressed into a solid block. There are different levels of firmness; silken, soft and firm. Silken is a creamy, custard-like product that works well with pureed or blended dishes. Soft tofu is best used in recipes that call for blended tofu, or in soups. The firm tofu is more dense and solid and holds up well in stir fry dishes, even on the grill. The firm tofu is higher in protein, fat and calcium than the other forms, but since this is a plant fat, this should not be an issue. For recipe ideas, see this link from the Indiana Soybean Board; http://www.soyfoods.com/soyfoodsdescriptions/tofu.html
Textured Vegetable (or Soy) Protein Products. This is the soyfood product that many soy burgers and other ‘meat substitute’ products contain. The best way to determine if these foods are for you are to experiment with a few options.
Miso. Miso is a rich, salty paste condiment that characterizes the essence of Japanese cooking. Traditionally, miso is made by combining with a grain, salt, and a mold culture and then aged in cedar vats for one to three years. Readers may recognize the name because this is a popular soup.
Soy nuts. Soy nuts are whole soybeans that have been soaked then baked. They can be found in snack isles and manufacturers now include soynuts in any number of coatings, including chocolate.
Tempeh. This is a traditional Indonesian food that is most commonly found in Asian stores. It is a chunky, tender soybean cake. It can be marinated and grilled or added to soups, casseroles, or even chili.
It can be very easy for some people to add nuts to their diet. In fact, it may be harder to not add too MANY nuts! It may also be ‘doable’ to add more sticky fiber to your diet, also, with a little planning. However, it may be a greater challenge to find soy foods that can be enjoyably substituted for meats you are used to eating. However, if your health depends on it, and you refuse medications, this may be a great thing to try, especially since there are no risks involved with adding these foods to your diet. Just remember that these are foods to be substituted, not added, to the diet. Since calories do also still count, adding extras to your current diet could result in weight gain, leading to new concerns.
Marjorie Geiser helps people overcome their confusion and distress they may feel when trying to add healthy eating and fitness into their busy lives. She offers a free, weekly teleclass phone series to subscribers of her Health Focus teleclass series, which covers all aspects of health each week. She is a Registered Dietitian, Personal Trainer and Life Coach. To learn more about her services, go to her website at http://www.megfit.com or email her at margie@megfit.com.
Scrapbook Layouts - Putting Together The Perfect Page
by: Caroline Smith
Designing scrapbook layouts plays a key role in the appearance of your pages and it’s worth spending some time organizing your layouts before you start. How you choose to layout your photos on a page is entirely up to you. You can use your imagination and be as creative as you like. But if you’re stuck for inspiration, there are loads of free scrapbooking ideas to be found online. There are also loads of products designed to make creating your pages quicker and simpler, including pre-packaged scrapbook kits and digital scrapbooking software.
There are loads of scrapbooking layout ideas for you to try out. Give some thought to how many photos you want on each page. Do you want one central picture as a focal point, or several photos on each page? Many scrapbookers like to crop their photographs to highlight the main details and so they can use lots of smaller pictures together. It helps to keep your page layouts simple and consistent. For example, try using just two or three colors of paper and stick to using the same style of frames and borders throughout. Journaling can help add to the story the photos tell, so remember to leave space to insert your notes or any scrapbooking quotes you’d like to use.
Using a themed scrapbooking kit can be a convenient and effective way to plan your layouts, as you’ll get a pre-packaged selection of coordinated materials such as cardstock, stencils and frames. This can save you considerable time as it saves you having to purchase all the individual accessories separately. Kits come in a huge variety of themes, making them excellent for creating albums of special events such as wedding scrapbooks. There is also a massive array of scrapbooking embellishments available these days, from sets of stickers to add color and style, to easy to use paper piecing patterns. Or you could use computer software and templates to arrange your digital photos.
Planning your scrapbook layouts gives you the freedom to experiment with different looks and add your personal touches, and can be lots of fun!
About The Author
Caroline Smith is an author and regular contributor to http://www.free-scrapbooking-ideas.com - An online resource packed with free ideas for making scrapbooks, with tips on using all kinds of embellishments, stickers, quotes and much more.
While on a recent trip to the grocery store, I happened to hear a mother telling her teenage daughter not to answer her ringing cell phone. Of course, the daughter explained to her mother that “she just had to answer it” As the mother was in the middle of stating how she barely gets two minutes of her daughters time in a day, and her daughter answering the ever so “important” call anyways, all I could think was how much I could relate with this poor woman. In fact, I’m sure most parents with teenage children can relate to her as I did.
On the Parents side of the coin, it’s like we went from diapering our children and being the center of their universe to complete strangers..! Of course, the teens would say we have just plain out turned into a major pain in the rear for them. It’s a bit weird for me when I think about the time when my boys were younger, all they wanted was my complete attention that sometimes was a struggle to provide at every minute of the day. Welcome to the Teen Years Parents…! The roles have switched.. As much as we dislike it, we will now struggle to get the attention of our children as they struggle to give it to us… Ultimately, we do want our children to become strong, independent, and well-rounded adults, and most of them will. However, during this whole process of becoming a teenager, as parents we tend to go through a bit of separation anxiety of our own. Our teens simply do not require the same attention they did when they were younger. It is important for all parents to realize during this transition, our teens DO need our attention and our love, but we have to approach it differently as they make their way to independence. This is the phase where talking and relating with our teens will meet its biggest challenge. Hang on to your hats parents…!The time you once shared with your child is now going to be limited because of academics, extra curricular activities, friends, and maybe even a part-time job. Because of these factors, it’s important to take advantage of every opportunity you get to spend time with your child and make the most of it.
The first part of doing this is grabbing their interest first.
For myself, I have found the best ways to grab their attention is to find things that I have in common with them or show a genuine interest in the things they like or may be involved with. Unfortunately, teens tend to feel they really don’t have anything in common with their parents, or the parents just can’t seem to grasp what it’s like to be a teenager in today’s society. This is why you need to show them you’re not the person from the “dark ages” as they may think and to do this, you need to listen, learn, and pay attention to what they have going on in their world. If you can manage to do this, you could be well on your way to being the “cool” but responsible parent they didn’t know they had.
Now you’re probably wondering how you are going to pull this off.. Don’t worry…
I will give you an example.My teenage son has a big interest in stereo sound systems, so one day I just started asking him questions about stereos and sure enough, his face lit up like a Christmas tree.. In fact, I couldn’t get him to stop talking. At the start of our conversation, I had little knowledge about this subject, but at the same time it was a complete joy just to be talking with my teen and have him actually open up and I learned a few things too. My main focus was to get him to engage in a conversation with me and by asking just a couple short questions about something he really had a passion for, he opened up. Before I knew it, he was bringing me magazines, pictures, and even took me to the computer to show me all sorts of things. Before long, we went from discussing stereo systems to all kinds of things. This approach has worked magic for me, so I suggest to other parents to find what peaks your teen’s interest the most and roll with it. This is the time to keep it light and keep things fun. Your goal is to open the lines of communication again with your teen rather than leaving them closed. Once you have managed to show your teen that you are interested in the little things that mean to so much to them, they will be more apt to come to you with bigger issues they have going on in their life. Especially once they realize that they have one of the coolest parents around.At this point, your most likely asking yourself “Where do I find the time?” Timing is the biggest trick for parents and finding the most opportune moment is key. While your teen may not have several hours to devote to talking with mom and dad, there are probably more times in your day than you realize in which you can utilize to communicate with your teen.
In fact, it only takes just a few minutes to get a lot of information passed along. The simplest way to find the time might be the car ride to and from school, at breakfast time, or dinner etc.. Keep in mind that the car ride may not be the best time to get into heavy conversation, but a great chance to find out what they have planned for their day and to get a feel for what their mood is. Meal times tend to provide a more relaxed setting, which means if you have more than one child, you can talk to them as a family unit rather than targeting one of them out. This is also a good time to address light topics that pertain to ALL of your children such as homework, chores, etc. Sometimes talking as a group relaxes everyone and for the teen that thinks his parents are always on his back, it’s a perfect time to discuss minor things in a way that the teen doesn’t feel he/she is alone or being singled out. Choosing the right time and place to talk to your teen is always important. If the topic of conversation is related to only your teen, be sure to have that discussion when it’s only you and your teen present.
Participating in a one-on-one activity they like is also a good time for what they may consider a private discussion. Sometimes it’s not anything heavy they wish to discuss, but they have the need to maintain their privacy and don’t always want their business (no matter how minor the topic) open for a group discussion. It’s all part of them gaining their independence.When our children were younger, they were literally on our heals for the attention, but in this NEW period of their life, they appear as if they don’t need it or want it anymore and they are constantly pushing us away, But don’t be fooled..!
They “still” very much need us and need to know we are there for them. The transition from child to adult can be a trying time for both the teen and the parents. They may need you more then ever as they complete this journey, but their needs will be that of a different level. So get on their level and relate with them. Be there for them and most of all LOVE them for who they are becoming.
This article was written by Tammy Pinarbasi, Owner of the Parent Super Site, http://www.parentsupersite.com
You are welcome to use this article, however, a link back to this site would be appreciated. Thank you!
Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 25, 2002
My boyfriend’s daughter (I’ll call her Mary) got married six months ago. She is 19 and pregnant. My boyfriend (I’ll call him John) didn’t go to the wedding because he disapproved of her husband and the marriage.
The reason he gave for not attending was it would make him a hypocrite in front of his other children if he went. This caused a huge rift between John and Mary, and they have not spoken since the wedding. Before this they were very close, talking almost every day.
Mary’s baby is due any day now. I told Mary it would be a shame not to allow her baby a chance to know its grandfather. She said John could see the baby if he wanted, but she is unwilling to make the first move.
I talked to John this morning and told him I think they are both stubborn as donkeys. John is firm on his stance, saying it is a matter of principle. He says by not compromising he is able to sleep at night. I am not sure John is using the term “principle” correctly, since I don’t understand what principle this involves.
The dictionary defines a principle as a rule of conduct, or something which is important. In my opinion establishing communication with Mary wouldn’t compromise his principles, since it seems his objective was not alienating his daughter but boycotting the wedding. Is there some principle involved here?
Trina
Trina, when you are a parent, all you can do is get your children to a certain point. After that they are on their own. Parents are not like pear trees, putting out only pear seeds. Humans are free to follow a different course. Wisely or not, Mary can decide who she marries.
She married a man John dislikes, and she is pregnant. That’s a fact, not a principle. As a parent, John punished Mary by not attending the wedding. It was a harsh punishment. Girls dream of walking down the aisle on their father’s arm, and Mary has no wedding pictures with her dad in them.
After you punish a child, you move on. You don’t punish them again and again for the same offense. Whatever John’s pride required should have been satisfied. All the rest is revenge. The only principle here is anger. John is angry his authority over Mary was undermined.
For the sake of vanity he is ready to create a permanent rift in the family. On birthdays, holidays and other occasions the family won’t be together as a unit, and in a short time, the repercussions of his actions may be too far advanced to reverse.
If John cannot behave himself around Mary and her husband, it is best not to be around them. But the principle he violates is placing pride above love.
Wayne & Tamara
Looking Forward
I am involved in a relationship for the past seven years. Recently I asked my partner what his future plans are for us. His answer was, “I don’t know.” Am I wasting my time?
Nadine
Nadine, if you have to approach the topic of marriage so gingerly, you already know the answer. If your partner wanted to make things permanent, you wouldn’t need to ask.
It’s hard to walk away from a casino table when you’ve been losing. You naturally want to win back what you’ve lost. You lost three years, then four, and now seven. It’s time to walk away.
He’s had the benefits, and you’ve taken the loss. He hasn’t given you the one thing you want. Chances are he has known for a long time he doesn’t want to make you his wife.
You will learn a lesson if you end this relationship on your own terms. You will have learned not to let things drag on with someone who doesn’t have those feelings which add up to marriage.
Wayne & Tamara
About The Author
Authors and columnists Wayne and Tamara Mitchell can be reached at www.WayneAndTamara.com.
Send letters to: Direct Answers, PO Box 964, Springfield, MO 65801 or email: DirectAnswers@WayneAndTamara.com.
No More Rejection!
by: William Martin
Just about everyone has experienced rejection. They say it is our biggest fear. I suppose much of that comes from our instincts in childhood since a child experiences rejection as life threatening. Nature programs us to avoid rejection, so that as kids we don’t die of starvation!
However, we may tend to carry this instinct (avoid rejection at all costs) over into our adult life in a way that does not help us create healthy relationships.
Lets have a looks at what ‘rejection’ means to an adult. Imagine I have tried to contact someone who did not respond in the way I hoped - or, who did not respond at all. When that happens I may feel ‘rejected’. But, what is that all about?
After all I don’t know what is going on with the other person. How they are behaving may have nothing it all to do with me. (It might, but I’ll come back to that later - see What if it is My Fault?).
I could tell myself various things about this ‘rejection’ depending on how I feel at that particular moment - especially if it is the third time it has happened this week. I might start to feel really bad about myself. However, there is another way I can handle it. There is a way in which even an apparent rejection can help build my self-esteem rather than damage it. It is all down to what I tell myself about the event.
The part in quotes is my initial response and the part that follows is how I explain it to myself.
‘They don’t like me.’ - but they don’t even know me. Best just to move on.
‘They don’t like what I said/wrote/did.’ - fair enough. Not everyone is going to like my style. I will learn what I can, but I will also move on.
‘They have lost faith in relationships at that moment’ - maybe, if so not much I can do about that. Best just to move on.
‘They are too busy’ - not much I can do about that either. Best just to move on.
‘They are a stuck-up %^&!’ - but I don’t even know them. I don’t know what they might be going through. Best not to be down on them, just to move on.
‘I did not really like them anyway’ - maybe, maybe not. I don’t know them. Best just to move on.
‘I am a terrible person. Nobody like me’ - nah! Not everyone likes me, but some folks do. Best just to move on.
‘I don’t know’ - I don’t know what is going on with that person. I probably never will. Best just to move on.
‘Nothing’ - that’s right. It may have nothing at all to do with me. Best just to move on.
You’ll notice in the above there is a discussion going on. One part (in quotes) expresses my gut reaction; the other part interprets the event and helps bring it to some kind of resolution.
Seeming rejection from other people is really only a problem if I have rejected myself. If I feel pained by a situation it is best that I listen to the part of me that feels the hurt and hear what is has to say. I can then think about what happened and explain it to myself. If I reject the hurt, then I am really rejecting myself, and that causes a lot more pain than anything.
What hurts is not what other people say or do, but what we tell ourselves about it.
How Many of Me are there?
It may seem strange idea at first that one part of use needs to explain things to another part of us. Yet, it works. It works really powerfully too. Sometimes I need to do it a number of times, but often I find this approach of getting into a discussion with myself creates a shift in mood, or attitude, really fast.
It this still seems strange to you, consider the alternatives. We can ignore how we feel and pretend it didn’t happen. We can go into hiding till we feel ready to contact other people again. Those are not useful alternatives, are they?
Also, we can lie to ourselves and tell ourselves that we did not really want anything to do with that person anyway. We can medicate our feelings through; drugs, alcohol, watching TV, being busy, obsessive behavior, and so on. Of course, lots of people do that. But, it does not really work. We want to do what works. Don’t we?
If we don’t deal with an issue and handle the pain, like grown ups, we end up having to hide or run away. That just causes us a lot more pain in the long run.
Having a good internal conversation is far better, far healthier and a lot more fun, than the alternatives. There is nothing to be gained by repressing our feelings and moods, or by letting them spill out in harmful ways. It’s best just to have a ‘conversation’ with them.
I have had some hilarious (and very enlightening) conversations with myself while alone driving along in my car. I have found out things myself that I never even knew and in the process cleared up some long standing personal issues - and even some health problems!
In fact a good sign that you have got a handle on dialoging with yourself is when you find yourself being surprised by what comes up. There is a wonderful, beautiful authentic person in there. Why not get to know you? Not just the bit that society made, but the bit that God made. Most of us have only traveled a short way into tapping into our real potential.
What if it is My Fault?
The whole point of all this is: we can only have a healthy relationship with other people if we have a healthy relationship with ourselves. We can’t abandon ourselves and expect everyone else to welcome us.
If I have such a low opinion of myself that I don’t pay constructive and healthy attention to myself when I am hurt by something why should anyone else? If I don’t give serious attention to what I really enjoy in life, then who will?
If I keep looking to someone else to fill the gap (and only expect life to get better that way) then I have rejected and abandoned part of myself. If I abandoned part of myself then what I get is a gnawing feeling of abandonment and isolation.
There is a difference between feeling lonely and just being on my own. When I feel lonely it feels like nobody is there. When I am on my own (but not lonely) at least I am present - and paying positive attention.
How does it feel to have someone avoid you all the time? It feels horrible. And, that is how I feel when I avoid myself. That is how any person, who avoids themselves, ends up feeling. Self-avoidance is what causes much of the ’social medication’ we see around us (drugs, alcohol, obsessions, addictions, etc). If you want to get over an addiction try being genuinely kind to yourself for a while. Love is always the greatest healer.
The most attractive type of person is a person who has a life. Doing the things we love to do is part of what makes us interesting to others. It is also the best way to meet people.
There is no point postponing leading the most enjoyable life we can till the ‘right’ person comes along. When it gets down to it, we are the person who can do the most to make us happy. Besides, isn’t being on the road to happiness a good place to meet the right person?
About The Author
William Martin offers a very different slant on dating and relating. He offers a unique and wholistic approach to finding - and keeping - a life partner. William is the webmaster of http://www.meetyourgreens.com a totally free dating site.
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