Skin Care

We all have been fighting skin care at one point in our life. I have seen
the infomercials on products to treat it but I am not spending alot
of money just to be let down. Here are some natural skin care recipes
you can try.

Cucumber Moisturizer:
Peel and remove seeds from a medium cucumber. Mix with the
juice from one lime and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Blend in a food
processor until smooth. Apply to the face and leave on for about
10 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat the skin dry.

Honey Facial Scrub
Combine 2 tablespoons of finely ground almonds, 1 tablespoon
of honey and half a teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply to the face,
rinse with water and pat dry.

Firming Honey Mask
Whisk together 1 egg white, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 teaspoon
of glycerin and a quarter cup of flour. Keep whisking until the
ingredients form a paste. Apply this mixture to the face and throat.
Wait 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Pat skin dry.

Soothing Honey Lotion
Blend together 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of vegetable
oil and a quarter of a teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply to any
dry patches on the skin, such as hands, feet and elbows.
Leave the mixture on for about 10 minutes, then rinse off with warm
water and pat dry.

Moisturizing Honey Mask
Smooth a mixture made from 2 teaspoons of milk and 2
teaspoons on honey over your face and throat. Leave it on
for ten minutes. Rinse it off with warm water and pat the skin dry.

Apple Honey Mask
Mix one medium sized apple with 5 tablespoons of honey
into a paste, using a blender. Smooth this mixture on to the
face and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse it with
cool water before patting dry.

Honey Papaya Glow
Mash 1 or 2 tablespoons of papaya with a tablespoon of
honey to form a creamy mixture. Smooth this over the skin
and leave to work for about 20 minutes. Rinse off with water
then pat dry.

Orange Mask
Cook 3 large carrots before mashing them with 5
tablespoons of honey until the mixture is smooth. Apply
it to your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse the
mask off with cool water and pat your face dry.

Gentle Cornmeal Exfoliate
Mix a half cup of cornmeal, a quarter cup of milk, 2
teaspoons of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of olive oil
and 4 drops of tea tree oil into a paste. Gently apply it to
the skin. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Banana Mash
Mix a medium sized ripe banana, a teaspoon of olive
oil and 2 drops of scented oil (perhaps orange or lemon)
together then apply the mixture to your face. Leave it
on for 15 to 20 minutes, before rinsing off with warm
water and patting your skin dry.

Yogurt Whip
Mix a cup of yogurt with a tablespoon each of lemon
juice and orange juice. Apply this mixture generously
to the face. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and
then rinse with cool water and pat dry.

Knowing What’s Best for You

Do you have an uneasy feeling in your gut about something that just doesn't feel right? As we grow hopefully we are all taught to make decisions, most of that includes reasoning and logic. Feelings of fear, hate, defensiveness, persecution, unease, repression, and other feelings can be associated with what is not good for us. If we pay attention to our feelings and our gut feelings, it can guide us in our thinking and activities. Listen to you gut feeling, that strong intuition, your decision making and life will be greatly enhance your life, ignoring them you will be severely crippled in manifesting the happiness, joy and life you desire.

How to Find a Lost Dog

If you’re a dog owner, you’ve probably experienced the panic of a lost dog at least once. Perhaps your own dog has escaped from your yard, or you’ve gone the extra mile to help a friend or neighbor find a missing dog.

1. Make a visit to the nearest Humane Society and city animal shelter at least once a day. Don’t expect the staff to call you if the dog is turned over to the shelter. If the collar is lost, or if your phone number has changed since he got his microchip, they won’t know your number.

Some shelters won’t call you, even if they do find his license or chip. They’re just too busy.

It may help to contact the local dog pound and give a description of your dog, but if you live in a city where the shelter has lots of dogs and an overworked staff, (which is common), they probably won’t call you based simply on a description.

Your best bet is to go look for yourself to make sure your best friend isn’t sitting there, waiting for you to bail him out.

This is particularly important if your local animal shelter has a policy of putting a dog down after only a few days if he isn’t rescued by his owner, or if your dog might be put up by adoption if you don’t find him first.

And some shelters keep certain breeds, such as pit bulls, for less time, especially if they are short on room or if they don’t think a particular breed or a specific dog will be adoptable.

2. Contact your local veterinarians with a description - just in case your dog was injured by a car or another dog. A good Samaritan may have brought your dog to a vet for treatment, and she may not have been able to call you. Make sure you leave your number in case he’s found tomorrow, or next week, and he finds his way to a local vet.

3. If your dog is a purebred - or even if he’s a mutt but kind of looks like a recognizable breed - contact the local breed rescue organizations. Some people are more comfortable turning a dog over to a rescue organization than to an animal shelter - and they may not guess the right breed. Try to find a listing of all the breed rescue organizations in your area, and call every one that seems even slightly plausible.

4. For the same reason, look up your local no-kill animal shelters, which may be operated by private parties. Give them a description of your dog and ask them if they have any ’inmates’ that fit that description, or if they’ll call you if someone turns one in.

5. Dogs are sometimes found a long way from home, either because someone stole him and he then escaped and couldn’t find his way home, or because the dog has a strong desire to explore the world. For that reason, you’ll want to call as many animal shelters in nearby towns as you can.

Also remember that the person who finds him may not take your dog to the shelter that’s nearest your home - it may not be the one that is most convenient to them. Even if you can’t visit every shelter within 100 miles, an impossible task, at least try to call each one.

6. Lost dogs are often found by someone in the immediate neighborhood, and put in their back yard or home for safe keeping until they find the right owner. These nice folks often put an ad in the paper, but you’ll want to beat them to it - especially if your dog is purebred or looks like a popular breed.

Anyone can answer the "found dog" ad and say your dog belongs to them. It’s far better to put an ad in the paper yourself, with a good description of the dog and the phone number where you can be reached. You can also widen the chances of someone seeing your ad if you put up a notice on lamp posts, and ask local businesses to put a flyer in their windows. And don’t forget online bulletin boards, like CraigsList.org

7. Don’t forget the kids in your neighborhood - they tend to pay more attention to interesting things, (like loose dogs wandering around, or a dog living behind a fence where no dog lived before). More than one person has found a lost dog that was "rescued" (or stolen) by putting the word out among the neighborhood kids. Offering a small reward to the first kid to find your dog won’t hurt, either.

Beautiful Flowers

These flowers are beautiful. I love flowers. I have alot of the
artifical flowers with the optical lights. I am just amazed by
the different color changes they do.

9 Things To Be Grateful For, Always And Always

There are thousands of things to be grateful for on a regular basis, no matter how difficult or bad things may be. Here is just a list of 10 things to help you remember to be grateful. Gratitude is absolutely one of the essential keys when working with the law of attraction, so use this list on a daily basis and add to it your own list.

1. Be grateful when the sun rises in the morning and shines through your window into your eyes. It’s a sign that your alive for yet another wonderful, and magnificent day.

2. Be grateful for the broken down car you have that barely runs. It reminds you that there are things to dream about having.

3. Be grateful for the mistakes you make today. These mistakes will shape you into a stronger person tomorrow and allow you to gain knowledge and wisdom you didn’t have before you made that mistake.

4. Be grateful for the love you have in your life. Even if you have absolutely no one in your life right now, be grateful for the friendship and love you have with and from yourself.

5. Be grateful for the flaws you have as a person and an individual. This reminds you that there is always room to grow and develop and advance as a person. Life would be boring and uneventful for those who are perfect.

6. Be grateful for the cold wintery morning as you leave your house. The cold bites at us and reminds us that we are alive, and it gives us a chance to enjoy the site of our breathe which also reminds us that we are alive and breathing.

7. Be grateful for the person who stabs you in the back. It reminds you of the people who are always there for you no matter how bad it gets or what goes wrong.

8. Be grateful for the music that gets on your nerves. It reminds you that you still have ears to hear with and a mind to decide what you like and don’t like.

9. Be grateful for the problems you have because it reminds you that you have the ability to solve problems and improve your life in every area of your life.

Simply remember to be grateful, for every single thing. No matter how miserable or sad your life may seem to be. Be grateful for every single moment of your sad, pathetic life, and remember that even a sad pathetic life has moments that allow you to experience true joy and beauty.

Women Must Guarantee Their Financial Security

More than ever it is now evident, that women can no longer depend on someone else, whether that be a husband, partner, parent, employer or the government to take care of their financial needs for the future.

With divorce rates averaging about 50%, and 63% of women over the age of 55 now being on their own it seems that the older we get, the more chance of being on our own. Scary huh?

Women need to ensure their own security, and for their children and indeed take care of their own financial wealth.
Unfortunately many women find excuses to avoid securing their own financial wealth.
1. I’m too tired
2. My husband will take care of me
3. My husband is better at the finance than me
4. I’m too busy with the kids
5. I’m not smart enough
6. I’m comfortable at the moment

I could add many more excuses for women to avoid taking charge of their financial arrangements, but what is the point?

Income and security may be generated in a variety of ways such as beginning an on-line site and developing in to become a real work at home internet business, perhaps dabbling in affiliating marketing, or even opening a small business venture.

Other methods of ensuring a secure financial future could be investing in real-estate, either domestic or commercial, precious metals, partnering or investing in other people’s businesses, or possibly even the stockmarket and shares etc.

Investments must be for the future, and need to enable you to create passive or on-going income. Investments that make your money work for you, and inevitably create more wealth.

Women must first of all educate themselves, understand the area in which they wish to invest, and then begin with a small investment. Once a return is visible, the ball begins to roll, and with a little bit more and then a bit more, the snowball becomes larger, and so does the wealth accumulate.

There are numerable ways which can provide the opportunity to increase your wealth which in turn will give you freedom. The freedom you deserve. Freedom from the dependence on either your partner, your parents, your employer or the government.

Stop making excuses or procrastinating and look after yourself and your future. Take a deep breath and begin the challenge today!

Life is too short and we need to ensure that we can enjoy the time we have on this earth.

If I can do it, any woman can.

Women must take the actions necessary to ensure security for themselves, and their children and indeed take care of their own financial wealth.

What are YOU going to do about YOUR future?

Body Care for Everyday Life

It is important to have a body care routine. When body care products are not used on a regular basis, they are ineffective. Nobody can expect smooth skin from a single day of moisturizing. It takes several days to witness results. In order to maintain that same level, it must be performed routinely. This may seem like a lot of work, but when someone gets into a regular body care regimen, she can manage to do it all in mere minutes!

Body Care: Start in the Shower

Start from the top and work down from there. The first thing people should see is a healthy, glowing face. This starts with a good face wash. A foaming face wash is an excellent choice. It is made just for the face and will help retain the skin's moisture. Regular bar soap is not a good idea because it can dry out the face's delicate skin.

The next step is to use a good exfoliator. This should be gentle enough for the face but may also be used on every part of the body. An exfoliator removes the dead, dry top layer of skin cells and reveals the healthy skin underneath. This should not be done every day, but should be done at least once a week.

While in the shower, it is best to use a shower gel to wash the body. This is more delicate than a bar soap and also smells wonderful. It is especially easy when used in combination with a loofah. A loofah helps to exfoliate skin as well.

Body Care: Out of the Shower

After stepping out of the shower, the first thing to do is apply moisturizer to the entire face and body. This generally requires two different products since the face will need something gentler. This is the best time to apply a moisturizer because damp skin absorbs more effectively than dry skin. This will help keep the skin soft and smooth.

There are special moisturizers that are made for hands and feet. Feet are often neglected when it comes to total body care. These moisturizers are made especially for rougher, drier skin. Our feet and hands are exposed to so much that they need something a little stronger to keep them looking and feeling healthy and beautiful.

Body Care: During the Day

It is essential that people are aware of their bodies all day long. It is a good idea to carry antibacterial hand lotion or soap. There are germs everywhere and not enough places to wash our hands. This will help keep the hands and face germ free since everyone touches their face during the day. It is also a good idea to carry wipes that absorb face moisture. This will help keep pores from becoming clogged and also feels great on the skin.

Body Care: Before Bed

Before going to bed each night, there are several body care products to use in order to maintain healthy skin. The first is a good cosmetics remover. It is not recommended that a woman retire for the evening without removing her make-up, as it tends to clog pores and cause breakouts. Once this is accomplished, the face should be washed with a good foaming cleanser. After washing the face, it is a good idea to use a toner. A toner will clean out the pores of the face, reaching deeper than the foaming cleanser can. Finally, apply a blemish cream that will work overnight. This entire routine should take only five minutes and is worth every second to have beautiful skin!

Body care is essential all day long. In order to have skin look and feel its best, it is important to follow each of these steps. Following a body care regimen every day will keep skin beautiful and soft!

Tanning Lotions-Tips for using bronzer

A bronzer is a sunless tanning product that is artificially giving the skin a golden brown to bronze complexion. Bronzers usually are in the form of moisturizers and soaps. As moisturizers, they can be applied like lotions or creams to the skin. Many people prefer to apply bronzers are moisturizers as the procedure is an easier means to apply the product evenly to the skin. As powder, bronzers can be applied the way you normally apply powder to your face or to your skin.

How to apply bronzer appropriately

Because bronzers are getting common as a form of skin tanning these days, it is important to apply and use it to the skin more appropriately. Here are some simple tips that would help you make bronzer application more effective and useful.

• Choose the best bronzer brand or product there is in the market. You might have identified a good bronzer yourself through actual experience. Your friends and acquaintances might also be able to recommend products and brands that work well with them. Asking expert opinion from dermatologists and other professionals could also help when choosing a specific bronzer.
• Before applying bronzer to the skin, make sure to cleanse yourself first. Take a bath or exfoliate. Exfoliation is an effective means on how you could get rid of dead skin cells from the outer layers of the skin. The color of a bronzer could very well blend with the actual and natural color of your skin if you would make sure your skin layers are cleaned.
• Use bronzers instantly. Unlike all other forms of natural, artificial and sunless tanning, bronzers are the only means to instantly get the skin tan you desire. That is because in the process, you are actually patching or covering your skin with a natural bronze or golden brown color. As such, bronzers could also be easily removed.
• Bronzers do not last longer like other tanning processes do. Note that when you apply bronzer to your skin, the tan would be removed instantly the moment you take a shower or use cleanser products. However, the good side about it is that you could easily re-apply bronzers after.
• When using bronzer as makeup, apply it on the shallow portion of the cheek. Apply a pink blush to your cheekbone. This would help make you appear tanned, without necessarily getting out or walking out of a tanning salon.

The advantages of using bronzer

Bronzer, as mentioned, is a form of sunless tanning. It is one of the most popular means these days on how you can get that attractive and sexy complexion you have been aiming for. Because of its instant and easy result, people who may not have patience to wait for tans are preferring to use these sunless tanning products. Here are some other advantages of using bronzers.

• Bronzers are sunless tanning products. As such, they are among the healthiest and safest. Bronzers do not contain active ingredients that would linger on the skin, thus, preventing onset of any unwanted and unfavorable chemical reaction in the skin.
• You would help yourself avoid developing skin cancer despite your obsession to tanning. Bronzer tan is a fake tan and so your skin is not necessarily exposed to ultraviolet radiation.
• Bronzer tan can easily be removed. By washing the skin with soap and water, you can be able to take off the bronzer effect on the skin. If you want another tan, it is easy to reapply.
• You do not need prescription when aiming to use a bronzer. You can easily and safely use a bronzer just like how you use a makeup or powder kit. Because it can be easily removed, there is no need to worry if you do not like the kind of tan you are getting, or if your skin is showing indication of irritation.

Every Problem Has A Solution

When opportunity knocks, we jump in, and then find suddenly a road full of obstacles. The obstacles also known as problems can seem insurmountable. The truth is that there is a solution, even if it seems unlikely. Open your mind, and read. As you do, discover solutions to your problems!

Problems are good. Without problems, growth can not happen. Whether it is in your professional or personal life, problems are challenges, and no problem ever came without a solution.

To find solutions, we need to step back and look at things with a different perspective. The person, who can't find a breakthrough in business, even though toils day and night, usually finds a breakthrough after a vacation.

Something to add about opportunities. Opportunities that come to us are usually the ones, with the likeliest result being success. When we try to make opportunity, we usually find disappointment. Preparedness and opportunity equal much more success stories.

* The 2 Ways To Find Solutions
So far, I have found only 2 ways to find solutions. The first is with left brain, analytical, and right brain creative.

Whatever method you choose, you will come through to these 2 principles to find solutions. Let's look at these in a bit more detail, as it will aid you in finding answers.

* Left Brain Analytical Ways To Find Answers
Left brain, analytical ways to find answers include such things as analyzing, doing list etc. This kind of work will provide answers, but they don't always allow you to solve creative problems.

* Right Brain Creative Ways To Find Answers
Where all the inventions stem, all come from the right brain. The song you heard, that sounded beautiful, the art, the movie you saw, all these are a product of right brain creative thinking.

You can utilize this in your own life, also. Getting creative can be a great way to find solutions. Often going on holiday kicks in our creative thinking, and this I believe is why we often find solutions after a vacation.

* Brainstorming To Find Answers
Brainstorming is a great way to find answers. It allows you to look at creative ways, and also has an analytical element to it. This results in answers coming to us, which were hard to find before. When you mind flows, you start to find the solutions.

Brainstorming is pretty easy to do. All you need to brainstorm to find solutions is to get a pen and paper. Set yourself a time limit, such as a minute, 5 minutes etc. You don't want to spend too much time on this. A simple 5 minute brainstorming session, quick jot down ideas, usually brings some great solutions. Go for it!

Happy Halloween

Are You Getting The Correct Child Support Payments?

Child support is an going obligation for a payment prefabricated directly or indirectly by a non-custodial parent for the care and support of a child/children of a relationship or marriage that has broken down.

Child support is a mandatory payment in any divorce that involves minor children and just like child custody, parents have the option of settling this payment amount or taking the matter to court in which a judge will decide on the total amount that needs to be paid.

The upbringing and the development of a child is the responsibility of both parents as is the standard of living for the child. The child's welfare should be the primary responsibility of both the parents and as a result both of the parents should be responsible for the costs involved in the raising of a child, regardless of who the child lives with. Child support could end up being paid by either the mother or the father of the child; if the mother has sole custody of the child then it will be the responsibility of the father to pay child support and vice versa.

So in order to raise the standard of living child support was brought in; however the one problem that many paying parents have with child support is that the money is given straight to the other parent and not the child. It is due to this fact that many parents often refuse to make payments as they see it as a form of alimony as oppose to child support. The only reason that the payments are prefabricated to the parent is because they need to use the money to wage their child with food and clothes as well as to cover extra items such as school equipment and educational school trips.

If you do refuse to pay child support or if the child support is significantly late then you can be sued for contempt of court. If this situation does arise then it is important that you enlist the help of an experienced attorney as they will take the necessary steps to ensure that the payments reach you in full and on time.

The amount of money that should be paid in child support varies from case to case as the circumstances of apiece couple are extremely different but the way in which the amount is calculated for apiece couple is done in the same way and is based on the following:

� Mother's net income

� Father's net income

� Number of children involved

� Custodial arrangement

� Spousal support, if any

� All other child support obligations or custody arrangements of other children

� Health care costs

� Any child care costs

The amount of money that you pay in child support can be modified at any time, for example if your circumstances change or your income changes. These are just two of the reasons but for whatever reason always remember to consult your attorney for the legal advice needed to always make the best decision.

Crocheting For Beginner

If you are learning how to crochet, there are some things to consider that will make your crocheting experience easier and more fun. In addition to hooks and yarn, there are also several other tools that you should consider getting before you start a crochet project. Having everything in place at the beginning will make you feel much more prepared.

The first thing to consider is the type of hooks or hooks you'll be using. Crochet hooks are made from a variety of materials, including: steel, aluminum, bone or plastic. The main criteria for working with a hook is one that is comfortable and feels good in your hand. The weight of the hook, hook material, and finger size and length will influence your decision. There is no specific requirements for choosing a hook, but depending on how tightly or loosely you crochet will be a consideration. Of course, if you are following a pattern, then the gauge requirements, our how many stitches you need to make an inch, is something you will also need to be aware of.

Purchasing an Afghan hook can be a good investment. Afghan hooks are used for specialized crochet projects, and they allow you to hold many stitches on your hook. The average crochet hook is six inches, but Afghan hooks come in 9, 14, and 20 inch lengths. They also have knobs on them to keep the stitches form falling off. Using an Afghan hook will make your crocheting even easier.

Yarns are now made in many different varieties for crocheting use. As a beginner, the easier yarn to use is one that has a medium or tight twist and a smooth surface. Crochet yarn is usually packaged as balls, not skeins, and the length of each yarn will vary depending on the thickness. You may want to consider an all natural blend, or if you are looking at synthetic yarns, get a blend of the two, which will have the benefits of both synthetic and natural.

In addition to yarn and hooks, there are other tools that will make crocheting easier. Markers are split loops or rings of colorful plastic that help mark your work. They help indicated the beginning of a row and help count the stitches. Tapestry needles are used in embroidery, but for crochet, they can be used to weave yarn ends and sew crochet pieces together.

There are even more tools that you can use once you get started in crochet, but having the above on hand will make your crocheting experience even easier. Its always better to assemble the tools you need ahead of time so you won't be interrupted in the middle of a project. Soon, you'll be crocheting one-of-a-kind crafts.

Awareness wristbands

Hunger relief wristbands are orange in color. These wristbands are based on families in need, victims of natural disasters and famine. Purple wristbands campaign was started in northamptonshire to raise awareness among public about domestic violence nationwide. The stop hidden hurt campaign was launched in June, more than 15,000 purple wristbands have been sent out to countries like Canada, America and Australia as people have requested them. Even sportsperson like northampton’s cobblers footballers and Northampton shire cricketers have promoted this campaign. Even police officers in areas like Thomes valley, cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Hertfordshire and greater Manchester have send thousands of purple wristbands. Increasing public awareness about hidden crime is very important so that the victims and survivors can report the incident to the police. Domestic violence can affect victims like physical, psychological and emotional abuse. This destroys the life of many victims who are male or female, young or old from any cultural background.

Wristbands became famous by lance Armstrong who fought against multiple cancers. Armstrong used to wear yellow color rubber wristband. Today rubber wristbands come in many colors like blue, pink, yellow etc. Blue rubber wristbands are highly popular among footballers. This wristband was launched by BBC Radio one, which had words like “Beat Bullying” written on it. One more popular wristband is about support our troop’s wristbands which are worn by family members of American serviceman. These come in many colors. The pink ones are for breast cancer awareness. These wristbands are mostly made of either silicon or rubber. There are also paper and leather wristbands and ornamental bracelets. Purple wristbands are used by lupus foundation of America for a lupus camp. Their slogan being someone you know has lupus.


Blue bracelets are created to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorders. Their slogan is think autism, think cure. Blue wristbands are used by the cystic fibrosis foundation so that they can raise funds for cystic fibrosis. Red rubber wristbands are used for a campaign to educate the public about the dangers of tobacco. Red, white and blue U.S.A. wristbands are sold so that they can support those who have lost a loved one in the armed forces. Certain other bracelets like “I Will” is sold in blue and pink color for cancer, green for muscular dystrophy and orange for multiple sclerosis. There are also a variety of bracelets being sold to benefit tsunami relief efforts.

Top 10 Ways To Cut Spending

Do you run out of money before you run out of month? Do you wonder where your money goes each month? Do you struggle to find money to invest for retirement, emergencies and other financial goals? Here are 10 tips to cut your spending and stretch your dollar to the max:

1. Consider dropping your home telephone line. Your cell phone is probably all you really need, and most likely it has free long distance. You could save $30 or more per month by dropping your "land line".

2. Cut back on trips to Starbucks or other premium coffee shops. Often called the "latte factor", spending several dollars per day on luxuries like premium coffee can really add up. For example, if you spend $4 for a cappuccino five times a week for 50 weeks out of the year (you're on vacation the other two weeks), you would spend $1,000 in a year. Try treating your trip to Starbucks as a treat instead of a habit. You'll save money and probably lose weight too!

3. Pay your mortgage payment bi-weekly instead of monthly. You'll pay less interest and pay off your mortgage faster.

4. Carry cash instead of credit cards. Psychologically it's harder to spend cash than it is to use the credit card. You'll spend less and save on interest charges.

5. Use the "envelope system" for groceries, dining out, entertainment, and other discretionary spending categories. This will help you track how much you spend in these categories as well as prioritizing your spending.

6. Raise the deductible on your homeowners and auto insurance policies. It's not wise to file claims for small losses anyway (insurance companies love to raise rates after you file a claim), so a higher deductible will save you money now and in the future.

7. Buy regular gas instead of premium. Most cars don't need premium gasoline. Also, take public transportation if it's available in your area. Take advantage of "park and ride" and carpooling options.

8. Plan your purchases to avoid impulse buying. Take a list with you to the grocery store and stick with it. Studies show that impulse buying can add $10-50 to your grocery bill - ouch!

9. Go to the library instead of the bookstore. If you're an avid reader, give yourself a book budget for books that you will want to keep, and go to the library for everything else.

10. Take a vacation at home. Check out all the local sites and happenings. You'll rediscover your hometown and save on travel and hotel costs.

These are just a handful of ways you can cut spending and stretch your dollars, but if you follow these tips you'll discover you have more money at the end of each month to apply to other financial goals, such as saving for college, retirement or just for a rainy day.

Tips For Preparing Your Only Child to Become a Sibling

Having your second child is an exciting time, however it can also be stressful for your first child, who suddenly goes from being your one and only child, to a big brother or sister. Whether your only child is 2 or 10 there will be an adjustment period for him or her. Fortunately, there are some things that you can do as parents to help prepare them for their new role. Here are just a few ideas:

Big brothers and big sisters are special. Speak in positive terms to them about what it means to be a big sis or big brother. Really play up their new found role and help them to feel special and needed. You will want to discuss how they can be your helper and how much the baby will need them. You may want to assign them a specific task, something age appropriate. For a younger child, fetching diapers for you might be a good one. Help your child to appreciate how much you need their help. At the same time, don't go overboard and talk about the baby too much. Your older child is unique and needs to understand that your love for him is secure.

Don't plan any other major changes. This would not be a good time to introduce any other major changes into their life, such as potty training, different sleeping arrangements or any other similar changes. You don't want to overwhelm them nor add any added stress to their lives or yours. If your toddler is still nursing, there is no reason to stop during your pregnancy or even afterwards when the new baby arrives. Many moms have found that tandem nursing (breastfeeding siblings who are not twins) is very rewarding and a wonderful way to ease the transition for the older child. When they are assured of your place in their lap, they are not as likely to be jealous or resent the new baby.

Talk to them. Children understand more than we think. So, spend some time talking with them about the big event. You can tell them about what will happen when you go to have the baby, where they will be staying, and what they
can expect. If you are having the baby at home or in a birthing center, you might want to consider allowing them to be with you at the birth. Children who are close by the mother during her labor are more likely to view the new baby as "ours" instead of an alien intruder! Some parents have found it helpful to read books that talk about getting a new baby in the house. These often explain how new babies need constant care and feeding.

Get help. Going from one to two (or two to three, and on and on!) is a wonderful time to ask friends, family, Grandparents and others for a little help. While you and the baby are resting, could someone play with your toddler, arrange a playdate or take them to the park for a couple of hours? A little extra one on one time with a beloved adult can make up for the fact that you are going to be giving the toddler a little less attention for awhile. This is a time for Dad to step up too. While he does need time to bond with the newborn, this can be a time of growth in the older child as he embraces Dad as someone who can also meet his needs.

Watch your language. When the baby arrives, be careful how you phrase things. If your older child asks you for something and you can't help them because you're caring for the baby, don't "blame" it on the baby. Say something like, "My hands are busy now, but I can play with you in a few minutes. Why don't you come snuggle next to me and I'll read you a story?"

Another tip that some moms have found helpful is to talk up the older child to the baby. We moms love to go ga-ga over our babies, but why not brag on the older sibling? "Ooh look at what big brother is doing! He's building a block tower and it's sooooo tall!" This can make the older child's heart swell with pride.

Don't feel guilty. It's very common for moms to feel guilty about displacing their older child, but children have been dealing with the arrival of siblings since the beginning of time! They will be just fine, and will gain a playmate and perhaps a lifelong friend. Be positive about the transition and your child will likely pick up on your emotions.

Clip on and Clip in Hair Extensions

Clip on hair extensions are a cheaper alternative to human hair extensions for those women who want to add volume and length to their hair. Clip in hair extensions are made up of kanekalon a man-made synthetic fiber.

Clip in hair extensions are available in a large range of colors like black, brown, red, blue and pink just to mention a few. So if you want to go wild with your hair color you can do it with clip on hair extensions.

Clip in hair extensions are not only available in a vast choice of colors but also different types of textures like wavy, curly and straight. You can also get spiral hair extensions.

The advantage of using this clip on product for hair extensions is they allow women to be quick-change artists. Women can go from short hair to long hair and back again without having to do anything drastic to their hair. Certain styles of clothes require a different look and hair extensions offer women the option to go formal with long flowing hair or get on a motorcycle earlier in the day with a short bob.

Clip on hair extensions can give your hair a wonderful long flowing look full of volume and lift. You can change your texture from curly to wavy to straight and the color of your hair from black or brown or blonde depending on what you desire. Clip in hair extensions are easy to use but they are only a temporary solution.

Clip on hair extensions are a light weight product that do not feel like you have something pressing down on your head. They are easy to attach and not noticeable from your natural hair. With a little practise you should be able to apply the hair extensions in a matter of minutes.

Most women want to emulate the celeb they have seen on tv. or a super model on the catwalk. Believe it or not most celebs and models are not born with long luscious hair. It is the hair extensions that they use which is giving them that look, you can have that too.

Today's hair extension products are very well made and it is hard to tell the difference between the extensions and woman's natural hair. With such a huge choice available to women when it comes to styling their hair they can have any look they want.

Causes and Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma can be described as a rare type of cancer which is caused due to the exposure of humans to asbestos. In more clear words, mesothelioma occurs when asbestos are inhaled and absorbed into the individuals bloodstream which results in the formation of a cancerous coating on the internal body organs of patients.

Pleural Mesothelioma is considered as the most common type of mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma creates a tumor on the pleura - the sac which lines the chest cavity protecting the human lungs.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is another type of mesothelioma which affects the peritoneum of the human abdominal cavity. There are also several other forms which effect various areas such as the lining of the heart and abdomen.

Causes of Mesothelioma

As mentioned earlier, exposure to asbestos is the main reason for mesothelioma cancer. Asbestos is a heat resistant fibrous mineral which is commonly used for various industrial purposes. Asbestos is widely used as the main object in creating gasket compounds, roofing, patching compounds, and floor tiles.Asbestos dust is injurious to the human body, and may invariably lead to this cancerous condition if exposed to for a longer period of time.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

According to physicians, mesothelioma is common with people working with asbestos. It is reported that the effect of a couple of weeks or even less can result in the risk of mesothelioma. The effect is not immediate and to say an average it takes around 35 to 45 years to develop a malignant tumor. Mesothelioma cancer is mostly seen in miners, factory workers, railroad laborers, ship builders, insulation workers, and gas mask makers.

Some of the main symptoms of mesothelioma cancer include breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, bowel obstruction, and continuous coughing causing chest and stomach pains.

Treatments

With the advancement in science and technology, newer treatment techniques have been introduced, and some of it is looking promising as well.

Today, there are several procedures used for mesothelioma treatment. The type of mesothelioma treatment purely depends on several factors such as the health and age of the patient, location of the cancer, and the stage of the disease.

The main form of treatment for mesothelioma is surgery to remove the tumor and some of the tissue around the infected part. For cancer of the pleura, an operation known as pneumonectomy is usually done to remove a lung. In certain cases, the diaphragm, the muscle just below the lungs which aids in breathing is removed.

Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, is another method of mesothelioma treatment. In this treatment high energy rays are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumor affected cells.

Another treatment for mesothelioma cancer is chemotherapy. In this treatment anticancer drugs are used to kill cancer cells throughout the patients body. This treatment involves the administration of the drugs by injection into a vein.

Simple Cleansing Ways to Remain Acne-Free

Are you beauty conscious? And do you often face the trouble of acne circling around your face and also growing on your other body parts? Do you know how to easily get rid of them?

There are some simple cleansing techniques that can be followed at home regularly to keep away the acne agony. The primary step you must take is to use plain water to keep the skin clean, free from sweat and disallow dirt gathering on it. Along with the refreshing effect, water acts as moisture maintain agent for the skin. You can use soft cleansing agents or face wash to wipe out the dirt and dust that accumulate on the face but that can be done twice at the most. Any type of soap has a tendency to pull out moisture from the skin and thus you must specifically use soft soap solutions to avoid such consequence.

Avoid bar soaps

While you clean your face area particularly you must take care that the moisture content is not reduced and at the same time the perspiration of unwanted oil should be stopped. Here cleaning with plain water fails and you require a soap-like material especially to clear the oily substance.

Any type of soap may be harmful for the tender skin of your face. Therefore it is a strict recommendation from dermatologists and beauticians that bar soaps are not to be used on the skin of the face. They are very hard and make your skin rough and dull and the whole purpose of cleansing is diluted.

Experts suggest

If you go by the suggestions from the beauticians you are supposed to use gel soap or soft face washes on your skin. The special quality these soap solutions contains is that they have oil extracts and surfactants present in them. These components have a dual role to play on your skin. Neither they will allow your skin to get dried up nor will they allow dirt to remain back on the skin. So both the moisture content and natural oil that must be present in the skin are protected in this way.

There is another important role that the surfactant plays on the skin. It has the power to destroy the germs and bacterial growth that are responsible for the acne growth. In this way you are blessed with three things through this simple cleansing process. You can easily remove dirt and germ, stay free from unwanted accumulation of oil and also maintain the natural moisture your skin should carry. All these ultimately lead to acne-free skin.

Parenting Troubled Teens

When you and your spouse were preparing to become a parent, it is not a gamble to say that you never really knew what you were letting yourself in for. Of course you have some experiences through baby sitting stints, or if you have siblings younger than you, then you have been around babies at some periods of your life. But nothing, and I say it again, nothing in your life before this has prepared you for the task ahead. Suddenly, the cute bundle of joy in your arms has transformed into a teen before your eyes and you find yourself floundering even more. Your child is a troubled teen and you don't know what to do.

You are at your wits end and you have just about tried everything.

Nothing seems to work. Your pleas, cries, tears and screams fall on deaf ears. You feel the claws of despair ripping into you. Every time you try talking to your teenage child, you just end up shouting and you promise that this will never happen again. But guess what, the cycle repeats.

Part of the problem is this. While we are parenting troubled teens, often we behave like one when we are trying to deal with them. When they try to act tough, we do likewise. When they sulk and pout, we sulk and pout. Not true? Just think back the last time you and your teen got into a fight. We think we know what a teenager is like, but the truth of the matter is, times are very much different from when we were a teen.

So what can you do?

One of the easiest ways to start is to talk to your teens' schools counselors. Failing that, then you take the next step and take your kids to see a therapist.

This may actually work for a time and you begin to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Hope springs eternal and you and you begin to dream that your days of parenting troubled teens are behind you. However, as time goes by, you notice that your teen starts changing back to the troubled uncooperative teen they were before therapy. All those therapy money down the drain.

What is going on here?

So calm down and take a good look at what is really happening. Sure your child is a troubled teen and your nerves are shot. Sure you feel like banging your head on the wall. Or even give your teen a good spanking.

But what if this was a cry for help?

Maybe they're telling you in the only way they think you'll hear them that all is not right in their world. You will never know until you get yourself under control first and start listening to them. Yes, that's right. Start by listening! The good book says be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.

This is never more true than when you are dealing with your teenager.

There could be a number of reasons for their behavior.

If things worked after therapy, perhaps something happened later that changed everything. If they are happy one day and a monster the next, maybe something came crashing down in their world. The only way to know is if you really talk to them and find out. No screaming or shouting. Rein in your temper and really talk to them. Find an opportune time. Not when you are angry. Not when you are busy. Perhaps over a cup of milk or ice cream. When everyone is calm, then talk.

No one said parenting is easy, especially when you become a parent of troubled teens. But like in life, if you are willing to work at it, open yourself up to their hurts and frustrations, you just might be able to better help them deal with it. And in so doing, life will become better not only for yourself, more importantly for your teen.

Just think of yourself as the steady rock in the midst of a storm. You are their refuge in times of stress through their troubled times. Be steadfast, although at times, what you do may not seem to work. Persevere. Remember that while parenting troubled teens might be difficult for you, for your teenager being a teen is trouble enough. The world we live in today is so different from the past. Our children are exposed to more things than we had ever seen before.

So let's be more understanding and sympathize with them. Work at it. It's all worth it in the end.

One parent staying at home

Having at least one parent stay at home is very important to many families, especially when the children are young. And most often it is the mother who chooses to stay at home, although stay at home dads are becoming more and more common. No matter which stays home, it requires planning to make the adjustment for everyone easier.

The one thing that immediately leaps to mind is that the family will have to do its best to live on a single income. This is true in most cases, although sometimes a stay at home mom or dad can earn enough from home to make the difference minimal... or even improve matters.

Financial matters can be tough. It is possible for a family to live on a single income in many cases, but it almost always requires significant sacrifice. No grand vacations. No keeping up with the latest tech toys. No shopping on a whim.

These may be replaced by coupon clipping, eating at home, and simple vacations. If you're going to have to make big lifestyle changes, it is best to start the financial ones before one parent starts staying at home. This gives the family the chance to understand some of the implications right away.

But stay at home moms and dads also have to deal with tremendous social isolation. It is incredibly difficult to find friends when you're at home. No more casual office gossip. Lunch out with friends becomes a rarity. It's tough.

Expectations must also be managed. Is a perfectly kept home expected? What will the balance of responsibilities be when both parents are at home? What about time off for each?

All of these factors are things which must be considered and discussed beforehand. Disagreeing about responsibilities once things get going can only add to the tensions.

One thing you can try that can help with expectations is to have the parent who will not be staying home with the kids try it for a day. The stay at home parent can go do something else for the day, while the other does something outside of the house for a day. While it's still not the same as doing the job seven days a week, it can help to give insight into how the day really goes for a stay at home parent.

Being a stay at home mom or dad is not for everyone or every family. Quite a bit depends on family dynamics and family income. But for those who can do it and enjoy it, few experiences are quite so rewarding on so many levels.

Defining teenagers

A Teenager is...

A person who can't remember to walk the dog but never
forgets a phone number.

A weight watcher who goes on a diet by giving up candy
bars before breakfast.

A youngster who receives his/her allowance on Monday,
spends it on Tuesday, and borrows from his/her best friend
on Wednesday.

Someone who can hear a song by Madonna played three blocks
away but not his mother calling from the next room.

A whiz who can operate the latest computer without a lesson
but can't make a bed.

A student who will spend 12 minutes studying for her history
exam and 12 hours for her driver's license.

A youngster who is well informed about anything he doesn't
have to study.

An enthusiast who has the energy to ride a bike for miles, but is
usually too tired to dry the dishes.

A connoisseur of two kinds of fine music: Loud and Very Loud.

A young woman who loves the cat and tolerates her brother.

A person who is always late for dinner but always on time for a
rock concert.

A romantic who never falls in love more than once a week.

A budding beauty who never smiles until her braces come off.

A boy who can sleep until noon on any Saturday when he suspects
the lawn needs mowing.

An original thinker who is positive that her mother was never a teenager.

Top ten things not to say on your Anniversary

10. I stopped caring about anniversaries when you stopped caring
about cooking.

9. Today is our what?

8. Okay, let's celebrate, but do we have to celebrate together?

7. I thought we only celebrated important events?

6. You can celebrate anniversaries with your next husband.

5. You don't like what I pick out, so I thought why bother.

4. I got you a present worth a dollar for every time you were
nice to me this year. Here's a $5 gift certificate for McDonald's.

3. If you want me to pretend like I care about our anniversary,
I will.

2. You want to go out to dinner? Okay, okay, I'll take you to
Pizza Hut if it'll shut ya up.

1. I thought you only had to celebrate anniversaries while you
were still in love.

This is good, a little humor but its true.

Womens Questions, Mens Answers

MAN'S ANSWERS TO EVERY QUESTION A WOMAN EVER ASKS

1. WHY ARE MEN SUCH JERKS?
It's a testosterone thing. Much similar to your PMS thing, we men suffer from testosterone poisoning. Why do you think the average life span of a male is typically 10 years shorter (and it's not just from all the bitching and nagging we have to endure)? Hormone modifies behavior. We're just misunderstood.

2. WHY DO MEN ALWAYS HAVE TO OGLE AT OTHER WOMEN?
Again, this is a testosterone thing. Do you honestly think that all the testosterone just fell out of our bodies the moment we met you? Besides, women do it as well. Women are just much better at not getting caught. I'm fairly certain it's some sort of photographic memory deal. Women take one quick look and memorize it for later reference. Since men lack this ability, we try to burn it into our memory by staring as much as we can.

3. WHY DO MEN ALWAYS TOUCH THEMSELVES, ESPECIALLY IN PUBLIC?
We occasionally need to adjust our little friend and make him happy. It's much like adjusting your bra. Being in public is just an added bonus.

4. WHY DO MEN ALWAYS SAY SUCH STUPID THINGS?
We like to. It's actually a whole lot of fun to see our partner frustrated by a few simple (and well-chosen) words.

5. WHY ARE MEN SO UNCOMMUNICATIVE?
You'd learn to keep your big mouth shut too if every time you open it you get into trouble with your partner.

6. WHY DO MEN HAVE TO ACT LIKE SUCH RETARDS?
Well, we don't actually have to; we do it because we enjoy it. It's the old fashioned pride in a job well done that's missing in so much of the world nowadays.

7. WHY CAN'T MEN JUST SHARE THEIR FEELINGS?
Do we look like women to you? Why is it so hard to understand that men and women are different? How are we supposed to share how we feel when we have no idea how we feel? Unless we're experiencing some extreme emotion like rage, hatred, disgust, or a brick on our foot, we have no idea how we feel. Personally, I get a headache whenever I try to figure out how I feel.

8. WHY CAN'T MEN CUDDLE MORE (I.E. LIE DOWN AND HUG)?
Please... How many hours do you think there is in a day? We oblige you as much as we can, but who the hell (besides women) can stand lying around for hours on end?
We men... Men hunters... Need go roam... Starve in cave... Must go find wildebeest... Now sitting on our asses for hours on end on the other hand is a whole other story.

9. HOW CAN MEN SIT ON THEIR ASSES ALL DAY WITHOUT MOVING?
Men have very powerful sets of sitting muscles developed by evolution that enable us to sit for extended periods of time without getting tired. In prehistoric times, it was often necessary to sit in one spot for extended periods of time while hunting for prey. The more successful hunters were able to sit very still for very extended periods of time thereby passing on this ability to their progeny. The fidgety types were all gobbled up by saber toothed tigers etc. The end result is that almost all modern men are born with this innate ability.

10. WHY CAN'T MEN JUST SAY, "I LOVE YOU?"
Men are taught from a tender young age to be self-sufficient. To say that we love you is equivalent to saying that we need you. Most men consider that a character fault. It's not easy to admit to one's own character faults.

11. WHY DO MEN SAY "I LOVE YOU" WHEN THEY HARDLY KNOW ME?
Ho, Ho, Ho... Aren't you special? Well, some men think it's a sure-fire way to get into your pants. Surprisingly, it actually still works quite well.

12. WHY DOESN'T MY PARTNER EVER ANSWER ME?
We just simply don't have the energy to answer every single one of your questions. If we think we do not have the answer, or that you will not like the answer, we simply remain quiet and save the energy for other things.

13. WHY WON'T MEN EVER PICK UP AFTER THEMSELVES?
Why should we? It doesn't really bother us that much. Besides, we know damn well you'll pick it up.

14. WHAT'S WITH ALL THE BELCHING AND FARTING?
This usually only occurs after months of courting. It's our way to let you know that we're comfortable with you. Believe it or not, it's actually a sign of affection. Besides, holding it for extended periods of time gives us stomach cramps.

15. WHY DO MEN HATE SHOPPING?
It's an evolutionary thing. Men hunt. Women gather. We just want to go out, kill it, and bring it back. Who wants to spend hours and hours to look at things we have no intention of killing? Err... buying?