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NotOneOunce -- Junk at the Office
Will Clower, Ph.D.

NotOneOunce -- Junk at the Office Will Clower, Ph.D.

After the post-Halloween sugar surge, everyone coaches you to get the candy out of your house. This is terrific, but many people solve the problem by taking it straight to the office. Yes, it’s now off of your kitchen cabinet, but youve just relocated it to the filing cabinet all day.

And, as the holiday season marches onward, the treats and snacks and goodies start piling up, all red and green, from M&Ms to Cupcakes, on meeting room tables, receptionist’s desks, and most of all … in the break room.

The short term problem

If food is in front of you, you’ll eat it. Sad as it sounds, the mere presence of food is enough to stimulate eating. You can say you’ll be strong and maybe you can for a while, but sooner or later you give in and have just a couple of those candies, cakes or whatever.

Face it. Food stimulates feeding.

The long term problem

Practice makes perfect. If you practice eating throughout the day, you will become very good, very skilled, at eating throughout the day. Plus, your body comes to expect it, to crave another nibble, and to nag you for that next treat. This is how you create the conditions of long-term overconsumption simply by keeping food around your house or office.

Now what do we do

Remember that our physiology is a flat out miracle, and adapts to whatever you give it. Not only is it true that “you are WHAT you eat”, but you also become “HOW you eat.” So use the incredible adaptability of your body in your favor by improving your habits.

First of all, you can control your desk. Don’t keep nibbles and snacks there “just in case” because this becomes your rationale-in-advance for eating foods you should not eat.

Set a firm rule for yourself. You don’t eat at work, you eat at lunch. Some can flip a switch and just not eat at work. But, if you are tempted by the red and green dye atop the cupcakes, get a cup of water from the cooler or hot tea and move away. Being out of the proximity of the food will remove the temptation.

In fact, replacing the craving for snacks with something to drink – like water or tea – is a great way to give you something to do with your hands, while enjoying a zero calorie beverage at the same time! These simple guidelines will definitely keep you moving on The PATH to lower weight over the holidays.

About The Author

Dr. Will Clower is the award-winning author of The Fat Fallacy and founder of The PATH Curriculum, The PATH Online, and Newsletter.

The PATH: America’s weight solution.

Dr. Clower can be reached on his website www.fatfallacy.com.

willclower@fatfallacy.com

7 Strategies for Handling Last Minute Meetings
Susan Friedmann

7 Strategies for Handling Last Minute Meetings Susan Friedmann

Have you ever found yourself having to scramble to organize a meeting at the last minute Wouldn’t it be nice that if and when this daunting situation arose, you were well prepared with all necessary information ready at your fingertips That’s why I’ve developed the following seven survival strategies to help you plan for the inevitable, because you know as well as I, it’s going to happen ‘someaday.’

Survival Strategy #1. Question the meeting need.

Before you jump into automatic pilot to start your last minute meeting organization, challenge the request. Since deciding to hold a meeting demands serious consideration because of the costs involved, both direct and indirect, double-check the rationale for holding the meeting. Develop a few pertinent questions to ask and find out if a meeting alternative, such as a teleconference would achieve the same results.

Survival Strategy #2. Know the basics.

If the meeting really needs to happen, make sure that you plan for the basics: What is the purpose of the meeting Where should it take place – on or off-site When is it scheduled for – date and time What’s the meeting agenda Who needs to be invited What refreshments and snacks are needed What specific materials and equipment is needed What travel and hotel arrangements, if any, are necessary What’s the meeting budget

When it comes to budget, remind your boss that good quality, last minute buying and cheap don’t usually correlate. The reality is that last minute pricing may well come at a premium.

Survival Strategy #3. Develop checklists.

Checklists should be every meeting planners guardian angel. They’re there to help out in time of trouble and avoid unnecessary panic. With the hundreds of pieces that make up the meeting puzzle, the only way to put them together and keep tabs on all the details is with a checklist. Become a checklist fanatic and consider having a checklist for each checklist. Cover all your bases. The more thorough you are, the greater the probability of success, even at the last minute.

Survival Strategy #4. Create a contact list.

When you need something in a hurry who do you call These are the people who need to make up your contact list. Consider your facility needs, catering, audio-visual, etc. Compile a list with phone including cell phones, fax and email information. Keep this list updated annually as contacts and their information can change. Also include useful website resources as you find them, but remember to check them out beforehand.

Survival Strategy #5. Build relationships.

Don’t wait until you need a favor from someone, rather continually find ways to build a “dream team” or support network. Build a contact base of other meeting professionals, suppliers, vendors and angels you can call on at the last minute to help you out. Take time to discuss their strategies and resources for dealing with last minute meetings, and add this information to your “survival kit.” Don’t forget to include your fellow co-workers who might be willing and able to help out at a moment’s notice.

Survival Strategy #6. Develop contingencies.

Because your plans are last minute, the greater the chance of something not working out the way you’d like it to. So what’s your backup If you don’t have one, all your original plans could be destroyed in an instant, and you’ll be scrambling even more than before to put a second strategy into operation. Have a Plan B ready “in the wings” just in case you need it. Once again, the more thorough you are, the greater the probability of pulling off this miracle.

Survival Strategy #7. Learn to laugh.

Keeping a sense of humor will definitely help prevent you getting mad, angry and frustrated with those disorganized managers who leave things to the last minute and expect you to perform miracles. Learn to laugh at them and yourself to keep a saner perspective on life. If nothing else, remember that laughing is a great survival technique, which is good for your health and will help reduce stress and blood pressure levels.

About The Author

Written by Susan A. Friedmann,CSP, The Tradeshow Coach, Lake Placid, NY, author: “Meeting & Event Planning for Dummies,” working with companies to improve their meeting and event success through coaching, consulting and training. Go to http://www.thetradeshowcoach.com to sign up for a free copy of ExhibitSmart Tips of the Week.

Army Ranger Reveals How to Control Corporate Stress
Dale Collie

Army Ranger Reveals How to Control Corporate Stress Dale Collie

"Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one." Hans Selye - the "father of stress" and founder of the Canadian Institute of Stress.

Every worker in America has heard of individual stress management techniques -- relaxation, meditation, and visualization -- good tools for getting through stressful periods. But if theyre so great, why do we still have all this stress

Were going to need something more than mood music, aroma therapy, and comfortable lighting to get beyond the stress of todays workplace. Were going to need managements attention because stress control is a leadership responsibility.

The US Army has plenty of experience with stress control as front line leaders strive to keep GIs on the job. Traditionally, the US Army has lost as many soldiers to stress as to enemy gunfire - a ratio of 1:1. The most elite units trim this loss to a ratio of 1:10 - one stress loss for every 10 wounded soldiers.

Regardless of the ratio, every front line soldier is critical to winning the battle. Commanders know that controlling stress under fire is as critical as food, fuel, and ammunition. The same holds true for corporate America. You cant get high productivity with high absenteeism.

Combat leaders watch for stress symptoms and take action. They are taught to "Know your troops, and be alert for any sudden, persistent or progressive change in their behavior that threatens the functioning and safety of your unit." FM 6-22.5, "Combat Stress"

Specifically, front line leaders are taught to help overstressed soldiers in six ways:

Army Step 1. Reassurance

Corporate Solution: Some people need contact with the boss to assure them that things will turn out ok. Spend time to find out workers concerns. Ask for their observations on recent events. Find out what they think about upcoming changes. Ask for their advice -- theyll admire you for demonstrating your trust. Simple remarks showing your confidence in workers can make a big difference.

Army Step 2. Rest and sleep

Corporate Solution: Its worth your while to offer some additional time off if stress is interfering with performance. Consider giving additional breaks to relieve mental and physical fatigue. Improved productivity will more than pay for the unstructured breaks that over-stressed workers will take on their own.

Find out whats needed to help employees get more rest at home. Bring in experts to teach the importance of rest and relaxation. Take a look at that overtime schedule; the extra work might be taking its toll in absenteeism, illness, accidents, and attitudes.

Army Step 3. Food and fluids

Corporate Solutions: You can influence how people eat by getting experts to teach the importance of proper nutrition. Make sure nutritious snacks are available alongside the junk food in vending machines. Provide healthy snacks mid-morning and mid-afternoon when energy levels begin to fade. The investment will pay off in better performance. Reward good health.

Army Step 4. Hygiene - bathing, clean uniforms

Corporate Solution: A scheduled break to get cleaned up before lunch or after a hard day of dirty work can pay off in a big way. Make sure everyone has the right protective clothing for the job. Extreme temperature and dampness create stress that can be easily relieved by proper apparel and hygiene breaks. And, as surprising as it might seem, some employees do not have running water at home.

Not all of them have hot water. Not all of them have washing machines. Make these things available at your workplace or find alternatives. One-time arrangements can go a long way in helping stressed workers get their emotions under control and get their productivity up where it belongs.

Army Step 5. Discussion - A chance to talk about what happened, to tell war stories

Corporate Solution: Everyone benefits from a chance to tell about what went on. Some people are more sensitive than others. There is often great value in routine meetings to kick off the shift or explain the days activities. Scheduling time before or after meetings to talk about what happened can relieve stress for those in the spot light. Team discussions after sales calls can help stressed workers understand the results and focus on what needs to be done.

In times of high stress, some people need to talk about what happened to others around them - family members, community tragedies. Managers can handle the day-to-day conversations and experts are available to address major stressors. Help workers tell their "war stories."

Army Step 6. Restoring identity and confidence with useful work

Corporate Solution: As soon as possible, over stressed workers need to return to their positions of responsibility. They need to see that a they can perform well b that management recognizes their efforts c and that life goes on. Emphasize small accomplishments. Find reasons to reward each person for their achievements.

GIs usually return to their jobs after a short rest, a hot shower, a chat with their supervisor, and a warm meal. Your people can do the same. Most of the time, they can continue in their jobs if you pay attention to their basic needs.

Watch for high stress period in your business cycle and schedule time to work on these six steps. Youll improve productivity and the workplace environment by taking care of your people. Your investment of time and money will be rewarded in better performance and lower costs.

Work with your human resources experts to assist those who are beyond your ability. Let the professionals take care of the severe cases while you take care of your other employees and get the work done.

Can you identify employees who are suffering from stress Do you know what to do about it Evaluate employee problems with an eye toward stress control. Send a blank email to toptenstressors@couragebuilders.com for a f`r`e`e article about the top ten causes of workplace stress.

Copyright 2004 - Dale Collie

You may publish this article electronically or in print f`r`e`e of charge. Just include my full byline and add a hyperlink for web postings. When you publish, please send a courtesy link or email to collie@couragebuilders.com.

About The Author

Dale Collie collie@couragebuilders.com speaker and former US Army Ranger, CEO,and professor at West Point. Selected by "Fast Company" as one of Americas Fast 50 innovative leaders. Author of "Frontline Leadership: From War Room to Boardroom," and "Winning Under Fire: Turn Stress into Success the US Army Way." McGraw- Hil Free newsletter upon request: MailTo:subscribe-956606571@ezinedirector.net

When Working From Home...
Christoph Puetz

When Working From Home... Christoph Puetz

A home-based business has a lot of advantages over the traditional 9-5 office system, and most web hosting businesses seem to be run out of an home office. However, working from home could mean that you might lose the structure and schedule of a normal office environment. We collected a few tips and tricks to keep you on track.

Kick Start Your Day

How you start off will determine how you end up! Begin your day with some positive thinking, do some workout running, ride your bike to get your head cleared out, have a healthy breakfast of reasonable size too much food makes you tired again, take a shower, and then get started on your work day.

Develop A Work Schedule

Working at home will come with it a lot of flexibility and freedom. However, you need to be careful that you dont misuse it. You are now your own boss, so act as if you ARE the boss! Work out strict time schedules -and stick to it. Plan out all the all the tasks you would like to get accomplished in your day, and make sure that you achieve your target. If you are not disciplined enough it will come back and haunt you.

Love Your Work

Make sure that the work you do is something you really enjoy doing. To be successful in this business, you need to be really passionate about your work. Dont fall into the trap of thinking that because you have a background in web hosting and the experience in this field, that this will be a breeze. Learn to recognize what will motivate you, what will excite you - and build your business based on that spirit. If you are afraid to check the status of your servers and email every morning and it is giving you a weird feeling in your stomach you should eventually consider a different career. One sure sign of knowing that you really love your work is to get that motivating and relaxed feeling when you wake up every morning. Of course, youre going to have your good days and your bad days at the office - but a strong enthusiasm for your work ensures that youll end up having more good days than bad days at the office.

Have a Real Home Office

Running your business from your bedroom is really not the best idea. You should have a separate area to work from. This could be a second bedroom in your apartment or a finished basement in your house. If that is not possible e.g. you live in a one-bedroom apartment, you will have to work around it - especially if you do not live alone. A Spanish wall and a real desk will eventually give you a little room. Make sure you keep an office a priority when moving one day. If you already have enough space and a separate office, furnish it accordingly. I personally use a kitchen countertop board as my desk. It goes from wall to wall across the room. It is deeper than a regular desk and I have plenty of space for everything. Having space can be a key. It is easier to find tools, manuals, or documentation. I can reach the printer and the cable router easily and the fax is also just around the corner.

Establish that "you are at work"

Imagine you are at work in your home office and your wife or kids come into the room every 5 minutes. As nice as it is to have them around - often you need to make sure that they understand that you are working. You cannot just run down to the grocery store to buy diapers or milk real quick. You are at work. Or did your boss at your old place of employment did let you go to the grocery store real quick Probably not.

Snacks

You might feel like munching while you work, and thats one of the benefits of not working in a conservative corporate environment, right However, be sure that you do not have to leave your office for everything. A journey through the house in search of food might lead to a detour or two to check up on what the kids are doing. 5 minutes here and there can add up really fast. Remember - you want to be productive.

Family Time Out

This one might seem a very difficult initially - but keep your work time separate from your family time. Of course, one of the prime reasons of you opening your home-based business was probably to spend time with family. However, your business is serious business, and needs some serious time too! The great thing is - you can often work around family things. Seeing your son playing soccer in the afternoon can be rewarding and it makes the work at night easier to handle. Most parents will miss a lot of their kids activities because they have to work in an office downtown.

This article can be published by anyone as long as a live back link to http://www.smallbusinessland.com is provided. this note can be removed as long as a link from the authors resource box is provided

About The Author

Christoph Puetz is a successful small business owner Net Services USA LLC and international author.

Guides, Tutorials, and Articles for small businesses - http://www.smallbusinessland.com.

The 11 Best Money Saving Ideas of All Time - Part 1
Palyn Peterson

The 11 Best Money Saving Ideas of All Time - Part 1 Palyn Peterson

At any time in history, no matter what the current state of the economy, no matter what the current trends, no matter what the unemployment rate is or where interest rates lurk, some money-saving ideas stay true.

Some of you may have heard of these ideas before, others may be entirely new to you. But whether you are familiar with these super secrets or not, it will be well worth your while to put them into effect in your own life. The magic they will work on your financial life is guaranteed. I urge you to put them to work - any one of these could change your life! Big changes come from small steps. One plus one does equal two, so if you add one from eleven different places, you will see big results.

This is a four part series giving you advice on saving your hard-earned money in a variety of down-to-earth ways. Nothing here is anything that anyone cant do on a daily basis.

Amazing Money Tip #1:

The great scientist Albert Einstein once said, "It takes a genius to see the obvious." What he meant by that is that sometimes the simplest things in life are the most powerful ... but because they are so simple, we tend to ignore them, and not let them work for us.

One of the simplest but most powerful money making ideas is this: keep a daily log of everything you spend. Go to the dollar store and buy a little notebook and carry it with you wherever you go. Write down every penny - every single penny - you spend. Its as simple as that.

If you do this, you will find something magic happening in your financial life in just a few weeks.

There is something incredibly powerful about writing down all your expenditures. It makes the flow of money through your life more real and exact. It shows you simply and clearly just where you are spending your money, on what and why. Once you know that, it becomes much easier to control your spending.

Many people who have taken up this practice have not only learned something about themselves which they never knew before, but they are often astounded.

For example, a person could realized through examining their notebook that they actually spent nearly $2,000 throughout the year on diet soft drinks, snacks and candy bars! Since their job only brings in $25,000 per year, they realized that 8% of their entire income was being frittered away on something entirely frivolous. The person gave up the snacks and drinks, and found they had enough money to go on vacation the following year. If you had the choice between snacks or a much needed vacation, which would you choose

The point is, it was their daily expense log that helped achieve the insight and clarity they needed to get control of their finances. Thats what a simple spending record will do for you - it will give you control over your spending, and thus your financial life. There may be nothing but a 75-cent notebook and a ballpoint pen between your life of financial struggle and financial freedom.

Amazing Money Tip #2:

Stop deficit spending! We all know how much trouble Uncle Sam has been creating spending more money than our country takes in. Its called deficit spending. Well, dont fool yourself. The same rules apply to you. Using those evil little plastic cards may be the "American Way," but its a darn poor way.

Today, the average credit card holder is carrying $8,000 in plastic debt!

Spending yourself into debt with a credit card is unbelievably easy, as many of you already know. The reason is psychological. When you give that clerk a credit card, its just not the same as handing over a stack of green dollar bills. Would you as readily hand over a fistful of ten dollar bills as flip a credit card across a counter Probably not.

Credit cards put you in the hole and keep you there. Even for people with good incomes, paying your credit card debt down to zero is amazingly difficult. And make no bones about it, credit card debt will sap your financial strength just as readily as an open vein will deplete your physical body of its very life force. Using a credit card by choice can quickly turn to using it for need. Once you get to that point, you are already in trouble.

There is no secret to freeing yourself from the credit card game. You must take out a pair of scissors today, cut your cards in half, and begin paying them back, slowly but surely. Be sure to always pay more than the minimum amount due, even if it is just $10 more. Once you stop adding to the debt, even small payments will eventually add up. You can get out of debt if you are patient and disciplined. Once your cards are history, you must adopt a strict pay-as- you go policy. Instead of buying now and paying later, save now and buy when you have the full amount.

Once again, this is not rocket science, but stopping credit- oriented consuming is one of the most powerful financial tools available to anyone today. Why not pick up this tool and use it

Amazing Money Tip #3:

Sell your junk. Thats right, its high past time for a major yard sale. Search through your house or apartment for every single item you dont need, and could sell at a flea market or yard sale.

Take an inventory. The truth is, most people are astounded by what they own - and how much money they have tied up in useless stuff. Why let it collect dust in your attic while it could collect interest in a savings account.

You could easily be $500, $1,000 ... even $3,000 richer by the end of the week. As an added bonus, youd have your place cleaned up, and you will have a fresh feeling of starting over. A garage sale is an excellent way to not only clean out your house, but it often gives a psychological boost that helps people get control of their life and money.

The next of the 11 best money saving ideas of all time will be discussed in part 2. Until then, take note of what you have learned so far and put this information to good use. Read and reread this article; I bet you will notice a difference sooner than you think.

Copyright © by Palyn Peterson palyn@futureinternetmarketing.com

About The Author

Get the very same internet marketing techniques that many "gurus" are asking you $200 for -- FREE. Discover 24 necessary techniques. Youll also receive a free $gift$. http://FutureInternetMarketing.com/guide.htm palyn@futureinternetmarketing.com

The Cost of Green Eggs and Ham
A. Raymond Randall, Jr.

The Cost of Green Eggs and Ham A. Raymond Randall, Jr.

Young readers know that March 4th is the birthday of Dr. Seuss. Many parents trip their tongues over Seuss stories like "Green Eggs and Ham". "Do you like green eggs and ham/I do not like them, Sam-I-am./I do not like green eggs and ham".

Our son wields a wild spatula when making his April Fools Day green eggs and ham. Sometimes his culinary skills warrant a cost per item analysis the same way the U.S. Department of Labor reports the Consumer Price Index CPI.

CPI reports tell us what a "basket of goods and services" costs using a benchmark dating from 1982-1984 Importantly, the CPI becomes one of many components within inflation measurement models. The CPI "basket of goods" leaves out green eggs and ham, however, it includes breakfast cereal, milk, coffee, chicken, wine, full service meals and snacks. CPI reports account for 7 or 8 categories of goods and services in the U.S. economy. If you recall Psychology 101, each category coincides with Abraham Maslows basic or physiological "Hierarchy of Needs".

When the U.S. Bureau of Statistics announces the CPI most countries have a similar index, Wall Street listens because price increases suggest inflation concerns. When prices inflate, wallets deflate making consumers shy about spending. As you may observe, consumer spending drives worldwide economic productivity; for example, our spending habits account for nearly two-thirds of all U.S. economic activity.

Although statistical patterns for Internet spending seem scant, the effect appears the same. Mall shoppers and Internet surfers open or close their wallets based on value and price. Inflated costs suggest decreasing value for products or services. Likewise, inflation pushes credit card interest rates higher, thereby adding another burden to the consumer.

Inflation decreases the value of the dollar also. Ask your grandparents what they could purchase with a dollar compared with what that same service or product costs them today. Their experience explains inflation with more colorful expression than the CPI.

Investors become unnerved by inflation as evidenced by Wall Street sell-offs when CPI numbers go up. When interest rates increase, the cost to borrow increases making it more difficult for corporations to borrow for expansion, earnings decrease and stock prices stagnate.

Inflation numbers since 1926 average about 3.1%. In 1980, inflation peaked at 14%. High interest rates attract investors to bank certificates of deposit. However, investors often overlook and misunderstand "real rates of return". If a bank certificate of deposit earns 5% annually and the inflation index reads 2.5%, then your "real rate of return" becomes 2.5% 5%-2.5%. When bank certificate of deposits paid 16% in 1980, the real rate of return provided a measly 2% 16% - 14%, and then U.S. investors paid tax on that 2%. If you choose bonds or certificates of deposit as investments, consider laddering your maturities e.g. with $100,000 to invest have $10,000 come due every year for ten years.

Stock or equity securities out perform bonds and certificates of deposit with returns exceeding inflation numbers. However, when inflation increases, stocks go down in value initially. Stock investing seeks long term returns which average about 11% since 1926. Since inflation averages about 3.0% during the same time period, stocks provide an 8% real and reasonable rate of return. Stocks, including stock mutual funds, confront investors with greater short term risk while offering higher real rates of return over long term time periods. This risk reward trade off allows you to purchase your green eggs and ham during any economic cycle.

"I learned there are troubles of more than one kind./Some come from ahead and some from behind." - Dr. Seuss

About The Author

Ray Randall serves clients as a registered investment advisor with his firm, Ethos Advisory Services, Essex, Massachusetts http://www.ethosadvisory.com, and coordinates the developments at Echievements http://www.echievements.com.

Home For The Holidays: Visiting Aging Parents
Linda LaPointe

Home For The Holidays: Visiting Aging Parents Linda LaPointe

Joanne returned home after not seeing her parents for about 6 months. She found her dad is not doing nearly as well as he has been leading her to believe. Their weekly conversations were centered on talking about Joanne’s mom who had been ailing. Her dad had kept up the façade that he was taking great care of her and all was well.

She found out differently. The house was a mess and had not been cleaned well in some time and needed quite a bit of maintenance as things were starting to fall apart. Bottles of pills were outdated indicating they hadn’t been taking them as prescribed. The refrigerator was almost empty of nourishing food. She felt guilty, why hadn’t she seen it before, seen it coming, read between the lines

But the truth is that an elders situation can deteriorate quite quickly: a year, 6 months even 3 months can make a big difference in one’s abilities. Each person and situation and condition is different.

Here’s what to look for if you’re going home to aging parents. This list is based upon the three areas that first indicate a need for more oversight and assistance.

Personal care dirty clothing dirty hair or body appear unkempt dust in the bathtub home in disrepair or disheveled

Nutrition more snacks than real food in the house very old or outdated food items in pantry

Medications too many/too few pills in bottles old med bottles, no new refills still display symptoms that meds should alleviate

Other general areas unexplained dents in the car not leaving the house for a week or more falls angry or passive, offensive or defensive bills or mail piled up utilities or appliances not working scorched pans

Most people move to assisted living or nursing homes due to these situations, and not because they are chronically ill and need nursing care. If you see 2 or more of any of these, it is time to discuss the need for a medical check up and possible non-medical assistance to avoid further deterioration. If addressed early enough people may be able to stay in their homes longer and that is what everyone wants.

About The Author

Linda LaPointe, MRA is an ElderLife Matters Coach and is the author of several products to help families, including the educational board game, In My Shoes: An Aging Family. See them and get free articles and information at www.SOSpueblo.com sospueblo@yahoo.com

Falling Out of Love with Wholesale Warehouse Discount Club Stores
C.S. Deam

Falling Out of Love with Wholesale Warehouse Discount Club Stores C.S. Deam

I used to love the thought of going to the local wholesale warehouse club, where the products are stacked up to the warehouse ceiling and the shopping carts are brimming with rolls of toilet paper and cases of cheese snacks. Where else could you pay a memberbership fee of a thirty or forty dollars per year and have access to products by the caseload at a discount

After joining such a club I realized that not all the prices were cheaper than the non-membership store just across the street. So we decided to shop carefully and only buy those items that were cheaper. Of course, we also ended up buying in quantities that we didnt need. So, when we did find bargains, we ended up with a supply that would last us a couple years.

After adjusting our shopping strategy at the warehouse club to take into account our need to be aware of the higher prices and inconvenient packagaging, we realized another thing. Its not convenient to stand in line with three items, when everyone else ahead of you has their carts overflowing with merchandise. Its clear that not everyone cares about actual value and some folks only want perceived value you know, a case of maple syrup at a 3 cent discount. So, we soon tired of standing in lines for our handful of items.

We decided that if we were going to get only the best value items in the quantities that suited our lifestyle, that we would only need to make a few trips every couple of months so that we could get everything we wanted without spending all that time standing in line several times per month. But guess what happened We noticed that each time wed go in for items on our list that the items sometimes wouldnt be carried anymore. Were not talking about items being out with an empty space on a shelf. Were talking about something else is placed where that item was and the store employees telling us they dont carry it right now, and that we should fill out a comment card if we want to get the items back in stock.

With items on our list not being in stock, we still found ourselves standing in line with a handful of items - instead of the cartful wed planned on.

Itsfrustrating enough realizing our membership wasnt buying us much more a few well-packaged, well discounted products - combined with long lines and a parking lot that would make most race car pit crews shudder in fear.

Wholesale warehouse shopping clubs almost seem designed for those who dont discriminate on price, who love inconvenience and inconsistency in product availability, and who want to build their afternoon or evening around a shopping trip to a single store.

Why would people build their shopping lifestyle around that type of shopping experience Perceived value

It doesnt make sense for my household to change our shopping style as we had attempted to fit the wholesale warehouse club retail format if it turns out to not work for us. It may make sense for yours.

We were at dinner with some friends of ours when they told us about an online discount club with a huge variety of products and a very modest membership fee. I was expecting more caseloads of cheese snacks and a hundred dollar membership fee - but thats not what they showed us.

What we saw was a membership fee less than the local warehouse club, and products that was need and use every month - orderable online and delivered to our door - without putting shopping cart dents in our car.

We checked it out. We signed up. We tried it out for several months. And every since our shopping life gets easier.

Now every month I make my shopping list online through our online membership. For the first thirty days of the month I build my online shopping list whenever its convenient for me, and shortly after the first of the next month we find packages at our door. The next month its the same.

Its the opposite of the old bricks and mortar warehouse club - it takes me less time to make it work for me. It works around my shopping style, rather than forcing me to change my lifestyle to find the right bargains and most convenient time to go to the store.

Yes, I can still get a case of rolls of toilet paper and cheese snacks - but I never stand in line, I never have to lug my purchases through the parking lot in the rain or snow, and I never have to worry about finding new door-dings on my car.

The biggest benefit of membership in this club is convenience. And with life being as busy as it is for us - I have fallen in love with having my shopping list only a few mouse clicks away from completion.

About The Author

C.S. Deam is a small business owner. His eBook Leverage Yourself Out of the Rat Race is available for immediate download at www.LinkertonPublishing.com where you can sign up for FREE E-Courses & Newsletters to help you on your path to self-employment.

A Healthy Summertime Snack For Your Kids
Ronnie Daniels

A Healthy Summertime Snack For Your Kids Ronnie Daniels

Oh, for the lazy days of Summer.... As If!

Nowadays we all rush around trying to balance two jobs, the kids and running the house. Many of us are taking classes on top of that.

The end result is we often just grab whatever is handy to snack on. Chips or sweet snacks like cookies or snack cakes. Not very healthy,eh Try this instead. Take a few minutes and buy a package of tropical fruit mix at the market along with some wooden skewers. Also buy a package of popcorn chicken bites Tyson makes some really good ones.

You have all you need to make a platter of mini kebobs that your children will love.

Just make some up in the morning and place on a platter in the fridge.

Theyll grab em and go.

Heres the recipe instructions:

Take a skewer and slide two pieces of fruit on

add one piece of pre cooked popcorn chicken

add a slice of banana

you may also put cheese cubes next if you like

now just repeat the process until the skewers are filled up

arrange on a platter and cover with plastic wrap.

Chill and watch them disappear!

This idea works really well as an appetizer also. Simply use long toothpicks instead of skewers and arrange on a bed of rice or lettuce leaves.

To get my recipe "Sweet & Spicy Popcorn Chicken" free just e-mail me at ronnie8444@roniesmagickitchen.com. Please put popcorn chicken in the subject line. I hope you can use this idea.

Thanks,

Ronnie Daniels http://roniesmagickitchen.com

About The Author

Ronnie Daniels is veteran Restaurant pro who wants to share his experience and make a lot of new friends. E-mail him with any cooking or food service questions you may have and hell try to give you a useful answer. ronnie8444@roniesmagickitchen.com

Fun & Healthy Snacks for Kids
Deborah Shelton

Fun & Healthy Snacks for Kids Deborah Shelton

Looking for a quick and healthy snack for the kids Here are a few tasty ideas that you can surprise them with, or let them make on their own.

1. Bugs On A Log: Theyll love it just for the name! Simply spread peanut butter onto celery stalks, and then top with raisins the bugs. Yummy.

2. Melon Balls: Show them that ice cream scoops can be used for more than just ice cream. Scoop the "meat" out of watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe and serve them on a tray with colorful toothpicks in each one.

3. Quesadillas: You dont have to drive to a Mexican restaurant to enjoy these melted treats. Simply sprinkle shredded cheese onto a tortilla. Fold the tortilla in half and microwave it until the cheese is gooey. Cut the quesadilla into triangle-shaped wedges and dip in salsa.

4. Frozen Grapes: The entire family will enjoy this cool treat once summer arrives. Place a washed bowl of grapes into the freezer for an hour or so. Dont forget to cut the grapes in half for smaller children and toddlers.

5. Peanut Butter Squares: Kids will eat just about anything thats covered in yummy peanut butter! Spread peanut butter onto a cracker or a rice cake. Add a couple of apple slices then top with another cracker to form a little cracker sandwich.

6. Snackers Delight: Children change their minds with the wind, so be prepared with a medley of their favorites! Fill each cup of a muffin tin with different treats such as nuts, raisins, cheese cubes, pretzels, carrot slices and sunflower seeds.

About The Author

Deborah Shelton is a mother, freelance writer, and author of the brand new book, "The Five Minute Parent: Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones." Visit Deborahs website for more family-friendly ideas: http://www.fiveminuteparent.com deborah@fiveminuteparent.com

Do You Know What To Do If Someone You Loved One Is In the Hospital
Tammy Gonzales

Do You Know What To Do If Someone You Loved One Is In the Hospital Tammy Gonzales

If someone you know and love is in the hospital there are a few things you need to know especially if you are the Heath Care Agent or the surrogate that will be acting and making decisions for the patient.

Keep a notebook and a pen available with you at all times. You will have many things going through your mind that you may need to keep track of and the notebook will be helpful. Much of this information will be exchanged in the days to come with physicians, other family members and friends, and the discharge planner. Family or friends may be asking you questions and offering to do things for you. You do not have to do all of the writing, assign whoever is with you to do some of the writing for you.

Be sure to use the opportunities that family and friends will be offering you now. Select someone you trust who is supportive to be your helper. Let that individual know what it is that you need for them to do. Several others will be offering to help as well, but for the next few days you need a support person. There will be those that offer to do specific things for you, allow them to do those things as long as you trust them. Then, there will be other individuals that will ask if there is anything that they can do for you that is non-specific, if know what these individuals can do for you, go ahead and ask them to do it. Make the most out of this opportunity to allow others to give to you when they offer. They may not later.

Find out who the discharge planner is and schedule a meeting as soon as possible. Discharge planning is a process and it begins at admission. The discharge planner will help you arrange the care needed for your loved one or friend when it is time for them to go home. They must notify you of their plans before the discharge occurs. The discharge planner can also be your liaison to get needed information from physician and the different specialists who are following your loved one or friend.

Ask the nurse when the physician will be doing his rounds. Most physicians do daily rounds or have rounds assigned. Be there during rounds. Make the most of these daily opportunities. This will be the time that you can ask the physician questions and set up a meeting to talk about your loved ones condition, progress, diagnostics, treatments, medication and what may happen in the future.

Contact your insurance company to find out what is covered or not covered in your policy. Get the name of a contact person and their assistant’s name for future questions that you will have for them about rehabilitation, home care, nursing home care, etc. If, you have Medicare, the discharge planner or admissions office will be able to help with Medicare coverage while your patient is in the hospital.

You are the advocate now. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Every question you ask and receive answers to will help you make better decisions about the care your loved one will need. No matter what it is that you do not know or understand about the care that your loved one is receiving, ask. Some professionals forget to break down their knowledge in to terms that are easy to understand. Ask them to simplify or use layman’s terms.

Take care of yourself. Make sure that you are drinking adequate fluids including water. Be sure to have your regular meals and don’t rely on snacks to keep you going. You need rest. Try to take small naps when your loved one is napping even if it is at bedside. Use a Do Not Disturb sign if you need to. Remind others when you need privacy. You may require emotional support. The hospital has a Chaplin and social workers available that can offer you support and counseling.

Take some time to think about how you may or may not be able to care for your loved one. Think about the treatments your loved one is receiving and if the treatment is one that you can learn to do. How will you help your loved one with tasks of activities of daily living Will you be able to help them walk, transfer, toilet, dress, bath, and eat if that is the help they need You may not be able to some of these tasks, you may require help, training or maybe a caregiver. You may have to work. Your loved one may require more treatment or rehabilitation to be able to come home. In any case, you should carefully evaluate your circumstances and meet with the discharge planner and let him/her know what help you may need and find out what alternatives are available.

Following are resources links to additional information:

Your Medicare Coverage http://www.medicare.gov/Coverage/Home.asp

National Alliance for Caregiving http://www.caregiving.org/Family%20Discharge%20Planning.pdf

About The Author

RevitaLife Coaching & Consulting provides coaching, consulting, message board, free assessments and free sessions to get you on your way. For additional information please visit RevitaLife on the web at: http://www/revitalifecoaching.com tammygcoach@msn.com

Prepare Your Child For Potty Training
Danna Henderson

Prepare Your Child For Potty Training Danna Henderson

When your child shows most of the signs of potty training readiness, you can start introducing him to the idea.

Potty Training Books, Videos, & DVDs - Potty training books, videos, and DVDs provide a great opportunity to introduce the potty to your child. Read a book as a bedtime story or watch a video together. Your child will surely have questions and be delighted when he finds a potty chair of his own!

Potty Chair or Seat - As you begin introducing the potty to your child, be sure to put a potty chair in the bathroom. Children love to imitate other family members and your child will probably sit on it when he sees you use the bathroom. After watching a potty training video or reading a potty training story, your child will have a pretty good idea what the potty is for.

Potty Training Doll - Dr. Phil recommends purchase an anatomically correct drink & wet doll for potty training. His method involves having your child teach the doll to use the potty, thereby learning himself!

Training Pants - Potty training pants facilitate potty training by enabling your child to feel that he is wet. Diapers draw the moisture away from your childs skin so he cant always tell that he has just peed. Training pants allow your child to feel the wetness while protecting everything else from leaks.

Potty Training Incentives - Rewards and incentives such as stickers, snacks, and certificates can be great potty training tools. They work especially well for children who understand the basics but need an incentive to stop what they are doing and sit on the potty.

Copyright © 2004 ZIP Baby. All Rights Reserved.

Danna Henderson ZIP Baby 101 Convention Center Drive, Ste 700 Las Vegas, NV 89109 http://www.zipbaby.com

About The Author

Danna Henderson started ZIP Baby in order to provide parents with comprehensive potty training information as well as a large variety of potty training products. For more information about potty training, visit http://www.zipbaby.com. info@zipbaby.com

Birthday Gift Baskets – The Ideal Gift For Everyone!
Wendy Wood

Birthday Gift Baskets – The Ideal Gift For Everyone! Wendy Wood

No matter how old we are, we enjoy being remembered on that special day of the year that celebrates the day we were born! Birthdays are a time to recognize special people in our lives with joyous celebration. It is a time-honored tradition to pay tribute the birthday gal or guy with a mouth-watering cake decorated with sugar-laden frosting sculptures and a candle representing every year of their life on earth! We bestow on them gifts and cards filled with birthday verses and best wishes for many more birthdays to come. Birthdays are just plain fun!

Typically, the most difficult part of the birthday celebration is deciding what to buy the recipient. After all, what do you buy for someone who has it all Admit it – every year it becomes more difficult to find the “perfect” gift for your mom, dad, sibling, husband, and even the kids in your family. How much time do you spend thinking about it and ultimately browsing through department stores without a clue

Birthday gift baskets are an excellent choice for the birthday gal or guy at any age – they are virtually fail-proof and always a big hit with the recipient. The question may come to mind, “What are the perfect ingredients for a gift basket” That will vary from one individual to the next. The great thing about birthday gift baskets is that they can be built for children and adults of any age – and based on their unique interests and likes. The following ideas may help you in selecting a birthday gift basket for everyone on your list:

Women

You can’t ever go wrong with a birthday basket designed for every special woman in your life, whether it is your mom, grandmom, wife, sister, or daughter. Women love to be pampered. A pampering basket may include bath and body products, a loofah, a fragrant candle, an inspirational book, and a CD of soothing sounds of nature. The woman who enjoys gardening would welcome a basket containing a garden trowel, gloves, decorative garden picks, seeds, and hand lotion packed in a decorative flower pot. For the tea lover, a perfect basket would consist of flavored teas, biscotti, a tea infuser, and a china tea pot.

Men

Men are not as hard to please as you think – and a birthday gift basket is a perfect solution for that hard-to-buy for dad, husband, brother, grandfather, son, or boss! If he is your handyman, fill the basket with small tools and gadgets he is always mentioning he needs but never buys. Don’t forget to add some treats to round out the basket – after all, you will want to satisfy that sweet tooth. Consider a sports-oriented theme for this birthday gift basket. There are great options out there for sports enthusiasts in every category. If you are thinking about something with a little more style, a bottle of cognac, his favorite cigars, and gourmet treats may appeal to him – packaged in a brown derby!

Kids

The sky is the limit when selecting a birthday gift basket for a kid of any age. Stick to items that are age-specific from babies through teens. Consider items that you know the child likes. You can stick with a specific theme or create a hodge-podge of items that you know will bring hours of enjoyment to a child. Ideas for an assortment of items are a small stuffed animal, books based on age and interest, healthy snacks, travel-size games, small puzzles, and flavored beverages for kids. Consider containers they can reuse.

If you just do not know what items to select, consider a gourmet food basket that usually satisfies everyone’s pallet – even the most hard to please! There is no limit on what you can include in a birthday gift basket, but always consider the recipient when making a gift basket purchase and ask yourself whether or not he or she will like the birthday gift basket you select!

About The Author

Wendy Wood is the owner of Seek Gift Baskets, an online gift basket directory listing professional gift basket designers from around the world. http://www.seekgiftbaskets.com

Successful Holiday Gift Giving Starts with a Plan
Wendy Wood

Successful Holiday Gift Giving Starts with a Plan Wendy Wood

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and the clock is ticking down as we grow closer to the holiday festivities. By now, many have either started thinking about what they are going to purchase for those on their gift list – others are in full holiday shopping mode. The holiday season proves to be a stressful time for some, adding to their already tension-filled lives. Buying gifts is only half of the dilemma – deciding what to buy makes up the other half.

Gift buying can actually be fun and stress-free. I recommend a fool-proof method of ensuring you get the right thing for each recipient the first time around. The key to successful holiday gift giving starts with a plan. Begin by making a list of names you will be purchasing holiday gifts for. Leave two or three blank spaces between each name where you will jot down information about each recipient. Once your list of names is complete, your holiday gift giving plan will start to take shape one recipient at a time.

Starting with the first person on your list, write down what types of things they like, hobbies they enjoy, collections they may have, and anything you can remember about them that will help you make your holiday gift selections. For example, Susie is the first person on my list. The things I know about her are that she is a scrapbook enthusiast and she enjoys gourmet teas. I jot those items on my list and move on to Tim. Tim is Susie’s husband and a guy that is so hard to buy for. I am never sure what to get him. I do know that he likes to golf, and Susie recently mentioned that he has taken up cooking. That is an interesting combination, but I will think of something. My list also includes a corporate client that I like to send something to every holiday season as a token of my appreciation for the business they send to me throughout the year. There are many other recipients on my list, but I want to focus on these three individuals.

My holiday gift giving plan is beginning to take shape. Since I am the type of person who cannot settle for just one item, I have discovered a very simple and smart approach to meeting my holiday gift giving needs – gift baskets! Based on each recipient, every gift basket has its own theme. Let’s start with Susie the scrapbook enthusiast. A gift basket filled with archival safe photo mounting paper and pens, interesting fibers, decorative brads, a corner punch, and a few other small related items make a great start to a winning gift. Topped off with a mug for the avid scrapbook-a-holic and a few gourmet tea bags, this gift is going to rock!

Tim’s gift will even come together nicely when implementing a little creativity. I decided on a huge mixing bowl filled with small kitchen tools, a cookbook, and some unique spices will be sure to please the aspiring cook. For a more personal touch, I added a personalized apron and gourmet chef’s hat! The bowl of goodies is sitting on a wooden cutting board and the entire present is tied up in a square table cloth.

The corporate gift is a cinch. Select either a basket filled with gourmet treats or a stack of gift boxes filled with diverse snacks. Either is sure to make a big hit.

Holiday gift giving and planning do not have to be a chore. Solicit the help of others. If you come up short on items for your list, call a family member or friend to assist you. They may know or remember more about a specific individual than you. Once your list is complete, the fun part actually begins. Gift baskets take the stress out of the entire process of holiday gift giving. To make it successful for both the giver and recipient, be sure that you take into consideration items that relate to the individual. When you take time to personalize the gift basket, you ensure a successful holiday gift giving experience.

About The Author

Wendy Wood is the owner of Seek Gift Baskets, an online gift basket directory listing professional gift basket designers from around the world. http://www.seekgiftbaskets.com

Introduction To House Training
Gene Sower

Introduction To House Training Gene Sower

The information in this article is based on the successful crate training method. Crate training is not cruel. I repeat: Crate training is not cruel. If used correctly, it uses the dogs natural den instinct to your own advantage by encouraging the dog not to pee or poop where it sleeps. Dogs are naturally clean animals and will avoid going to the bathroom where they sleep. But you need to keep the following points in mind to be successful.

Establish A Regular Eating Routine

As Im fond of saying, what goes in must come out. To help you figure out the best times to get your dog to go to the bathroom its important to feed your dog at the same times every day. This is the ideal time to practice your house training lessons. For your dogs comfort its also a good idea to feed your dog in the same place every day, a place that they will identify as their eating spot. With your puppy, theres a very short time between eating and eliminating. Figure around 15 - 20 minutes. When feeding your dog, give her 15-20 minutes and then pick up the uneaten portion if any. This will also teach your dog to eat when fed. Again, these rules can be relaxed once your dog is house trained but for now its key to establish a routine.

Until your dog is house trained, also avoid treats and in-between meal snacks. The whole idea is to feed your dog, observe them constantly for the 15 -20 minutes after they eat and then bring them to the place where you want them to do their business. Do it like clockwork and youll be putting your puppy in a position to succeed. This is all about setting expectations and teaching your eager learner to do what you want. And when they do, praise them wildly. Make it seem like that little pee or poop that they did is the greatest and most magnificent thing youve ever seen in your entire life. Your friends and neighbors may think youre crazy, but I cant stress enough the power of praise. Its what your puppy craves. Give it to her in generous amounts.

How Old Should Your Puppy Be

How old should your puppy be before you begin house training Start as early as you can but dont expect results until the pup is about 14 weeks old. Before 14 weeks your pup cannot physically hold it in. Then why start early you may ask Well, even though your pup may not be physically able to hold it in, shell at least begin learning whats expected of her. Consider any training before 14 weeks to be pre-school. When her physical abilities catch up with what you taught her, it will make it that much easier to put the lessons into practice.

Size Matters

If youre considering crate training your dog as a means of house training, keep in mind that the size of crate you choose is very important. A good rule of thumb about size is: the crate should only be big enough for the dog to comfortably stand up and turn around in. You dont want the crate so big that the dog will mess at one end and sleep at the other. For large-sized breeds that will continue to grow substantially, you may need to buy a larger size later on if you intend for your dog to continue using the crate after it is house trained. And the most important rule of all: NEVER, under any circumstances, use the crate as a form of punishment. The crate should be a place where your dog wants to go, to sleep and get away from the bustle and activity in your home. You never want them to associate it with being punished.

Happy House Training!

About The Author

copyright © Gene Sower

Gene Sower is the author of the Happy House Training ebook. Learn To House Train Your Dog Easily & Effectively http://www.lucythewonderdog.com/ebook.htm

Hiking with Children
Linda Jones

Hiking with Children Linda Jones

There is nothing quite like hiking with small children. The thrill of introducing these young ones to the wonder of nature is matched only by their eyes as they take it all in. If you follow a few simple rules when hiking with children, things go extremely well. Forget these simple rules and your treks with the young can be a recipe for disaster.

The first thing to remember is that young ones don’t understand or know the dangers of a trail that might seem the most basic of realities to anyone else. Poison oak, snakes and wild animals seem fun to the youngest of hikers. You know better and need to make sure that your partners do as well. You’ll need to be the eyes and ears of those who eyes and ears aren’t yet up to the task. You’d be surprised how quickly they can get themselves into trouble so you’ll need to keep on your toes.

Secondly, you’ll want to bring lots of snacks. Little legs burn a lot of energy when they’re hiking and their little stomachs require that you feed them often. Obviously, go without quick fixes of candy and the like. Nuts, whole grains and dried fruit all taste great and work well for all ages. Make sure to bring lots of water as well.

With so many snacks, trash will be a big issue. Teach these young ones about the power of packing out their trash and keep the environment as clean and pristine as possible.

Know that a good first aid kit with Band-Aids, ointment and insect repellant is always a good idea. There is no reason to let an entire hike go bad, just because someone fell down and went “boom.” If your crew is young enough, diapers and a change or two of clothing is also well worth the effort.

If one or more of the children are brought on the trek in some form of backpack, make sure that the pack is fit for you before you take off on your trip. Adjustments, for some reason, are always easier to make at home than they are in the middle of your trek. If you are purchasing a new pack for your adventure, consider shying away from the cheapest option – they are the cheapest option for a reason. A good resale shop or a trip to ebay.com can find you high quality at a price you are willing to spend.

No matter where you are hiking, waterproofing is a must. A couple of ponchos have been know to save the day more times than not. They weigh next to nothing but are life savers when needed. Umbrellas are more awkward than anything else.

Finally, take lots of pictures – these are memories that you’ll want to look back on for a long time.

When you do take small children on a hike, the rewards are plentiful: an early respect for nature, good exercise, family memories and the like. Keep these simple thoughts in mind and you’ll find that this is an activity enjoyed by everyone that you’ll want to do again and again.

About The Author

Linda Jones is the Webmaster of FirstHiking.com. She’s loved hiking since her parents took her on her first hike at just 14 months. Visit her site at www.firsthiking.com.

Valentines Day Flowers
Tenley McDonald

Valentines Day Flowers Tenley McDonald

Valentines Day is Monday, February 14th! Flowers & Valentine’s Day go hand in hand. Your Valentine will be so thrilled to receive a beautiful flower arrangement! Of course, Roses are known for their association with love. They are available in many colors and can create quite an impressive presentation. For a really impressive arrangement, send a 2 or 3 dozen rose arrangement, WOW!

If you want to send flowers, but are seeking something a little different than roses, florists can provide many options. You may choose to send a mixed arrangement containing a variety of flowers. You may choose a tall vase of all Calla Lilies or Tulips. You may also decide to send a flower basket or blooming plant.

Men like flowers too! Consider an elegant vase of all white flowers for the special man in your life. Men are also drawn to vibrant flowers in reds & blues. Even the manliest of men appreciate the beauty of flowers.

Your local florist can also provide Gourmet Gift Baskets for Valentine’s Day delivery. What a treat to receive a beautiful basket full of delicious chocolates, coffees, teas, snacks, etc. Gift Baskets can also contain bubble baths, lotions, candles. Ask your local florist for specific contents available for gift baskets.

Don’t forget that you can also add "Special Touches" to your arrangement. Plush Animals and Mylar/Latex Balloons are popular additions to a floral arrangement or gift basket.

Your local florist can add a personalized message to your gift. Flowers are the ultimate expression of love, and your message can tell your Valentine exactly how you feel about them! It is suggested to order your flowers in advance a week ahead of this busy holiday to ensure best selection and timely delivery.

Remember, to get the best value when purchasing flowers, you should always call a real local florist. "Order Takers" charge you a fee to process your order. Often a portion of your money is absorbed by these "Order Takers", decreasing the value of your arrangement! By dealing with a florist directly, you get a better value & professional service!

About The Author

Tenley McDonald- Former Florist- Now Co-Owner of www.flowerpowernetwork.com Online Directory of Real Local Florists Ms. McDonald has over 14 years experience in Consumer Relations~Customer Service Management~Floral Design. Please email the Author for reprint permission of this article.

info@flowerpowernetwork.com

Making Room for Two: How to Adjust to Life with a Roommate
Dan The Roommate Man

Making Room for Two: How to Adjust to Life with a Roommate Dan The Roommate Man

Because downsizing is a fact of life these days, many renters and homeowners can, at a moments notice, find themselves unable to pay the rent or the mortgage. It suddenly becomes necessary to find a roommate - and fast.

In previous articles, weve discussed the screening process and what kinds of questions you should ask before moving anyone into your home, whether he or she is a close friend or complete stranger.

In the rush to simply find a roommate we can trust, however, we often overlook the other insidious issues. How are you going to make space for a newcomer when youve been living solo for such a long period of time After all, each one of us is set in our ways. Introduce a new element into the picture, and your routine is interrupted. How will you react Consider the fact that your furniture is arranged just the way you like it.

Where is your roommate going to place his or her own furnishings Are you willing to make room for some of those items, possibly rearranging yours or even placing them in storage What if he/she doesnt own many items and has designs on your plates, your television, your kitchen table Do you mind If your new roommate is a family member, the issues become even stickier, and youll have to tread lightly. A record number of new college graduates are returning to their parents homes -- at least for the first year, when finances are tight, salaries are low and job stability can be uncertain.

And as a greater percentage of our national population reaches their 60s and above, weve witnessed many of them moving in with family members - even those who remain very active - simply because the cost of living makes a solo lifestyle difficult to maintain.

Regardless of your relationship to your new roommate or the size of your living quarters, both of you must have your own respective spaces in which you may shut the door and maintain a basic level of privacy. This is key to everyones sanity. If you have to clear out that storage room youve been avoiding, or spend an extended period doubling your kitchen table as an office because you give your spare bedroom to your new roommate, then so be it. The importance - and, ultimately, the benefits -- of a good relationship with your roommate far outweigh any temporary inconveniences youll face.

If you suddenly find that the combination of your own belongings and your roommates is causing excessive clutter in your home, you may want to consider either hosting a garage sale after all, the need for a little extra money is what prompts many of us to search for a roommate in the first place or placing your belongings in a climate-controlled storage facility, many of which are cheaper than you might expect.

Some roommates opt for an existence in which theyre two ships passing in the night; and so they shop for groceries and cook for themselves. If you want to save money as well as time, however, youll consider splitting the shopping and cooking responsibilities with your roommate. Plan your menus weekly. Place a magnetic memo board on the refrigerator, on which each roommate may write his/her personal weekly shopping list for snacks, breakfast items or other groceries you dont share. Roommates should alternate weeks making the trip to the grocery store. And plan to allocate a particular number of nights each week on which each roommate is responsible for preparing dinner. Be clear about your food preferences obviously, a steak dinner wont sit well with a strict vegetarian.

Ultimately, meal-sharing will save you money and time. Be smart in your approach; prepare larger portions, and freeze the remainders for another night. In addition, youre less likely to rely on convenience foods, many of which have little nutritional value and tend to be significantly more expensive.

Household chores are a major point of contention among roommates. So set the record straight from day one. Create a list of who will perform what.

And be realistic. If your roommate would rather have a root canal than mow the lawn, how easy it going to be to coax him into this chore on a regular basis If you feel the same way about lawn care, you might consider hiring a neighborhood teen to handle the job. Youre paying for the preservation of your relationship, so its a worthwhile investment.

If your roommate is a family member and isnt paying rent, determine immediately upon their arrival how theyll compensate you for the convenience of living under your roof.

If its a parent, perhaps he or she can chip in weekly grocery money, pay for a meal in a restaurant once a week or assume an extra chore or two. If its an employed child returning to the nest after college graduation, you may consider asking them for a small amount in monthly rent and/or to assume responsibility for weekly tasks - the grocery shopping, yard maintenance, taking the family out once a month for dinner, etc. Of course, these extras arent a substitution for the expected tasks of doing his/her own laundry, dishes and bedroom and bathroom maintenance.

Introducing a roommate into a previously solo or empty-nester existence is never an easy proposition. But when you approach the transition with careful planning and open communication, youll find yourself pleasantly surprised at the results: a closer relationship with your family members or a trusted new friend and confidante.

About The Author

Since 1989 Dan The Roommate Man has helpe 1000s people find roommates. Need help Contact him at 800-487-8050 or www.roommateexpress.com

info@roommateexpress.com

Summer Survival
Amy Allen Clark

Summer Survival Amy Allen Clark

Summer Survival

The summer season is here and along with it comes summer vacation for the school-aged kids. Moms are now responsible for coming up with the ideas and curriculum for their children and I am the first to admit that by the summer my creative juices have just about run out. How can you make summer another time of fun and enjoyment rather than boredom And just how do you do this on a budget There are lots of great things that you can do this summer and ways to keep organized when doing it. Here are a few of Mom Advice’s suggestions for summer survival:

Mini-Vacations

Rather than taking one long vacation in the summer, break your vacations into smaller and more affordable activities. Some suggestions are hitting area zoos, amusement parks, local festivals, and museums. By taking smaller vacations, you have a few things to look forward to rather than just one event. Check out some books from your local library on activities that you can do within your own state and then research on how to get the best price. Talk about your vacation plans with friends and see if they know of any places that are cheap to stay at or where you can get coupons for money off of tickets. Ask your library as well if they offer any season passes that you can take advantage of. One of our local libraries had a pass to the art museum which library patrons could check out for the day gaining them free admittance into the local museums and galleries. We checked these out and saved thirty dollars every time we hit one of these places. Call in advance though because you may be competing with another family for the same day.

If you are planning a vacation to another state or even within your own state, visit the state’s visitor’s bureau website to get a packet of information and coupons for the state. For example, we were planning a trip to Cedar Point in Ohio so I requested a packet of information to be sent to me by the visitor’s bureau. Within this packet of information was a gold mine of coupons for the amusement park including buy one get one free admissions which saved us over twenty-five dollars.

Stocking Up

With the summer season comes a whole new set of things that you will need to be stocked up on. With children home from school, you are now the one who is to come up with the creative lunches and snacks for the kids. Try and keep the fridge well-stocked with lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grain breads, meats, and cheeses so that you can quickly make sandwiches and can avoid spending money at the drive-thru. Having items on hand that children can make themselves will also take some pressure off of you for providing the meal.

A great way to save time on cleaning up after your meals is by taking advantage of the pleasant weather and dining outside. Our family does a lot of eating outside on our patio furniture which makes for easy clean-up. When it is just my son and I though, we eat outside on a plastic mat “picnic-style”. We love to do this and the mat only requires a quick shake and clean-up is a breeze.

We also purchased a small cooler lunchbox for our day trips out which is a great investment for the family. We take this everywhere and fill it with the day’s lunch or snacks while we are out. Filling this with healthy snacks and food will save you money as well as saving you from a less than healthy trip to the drive-thru when you are out on one of your day trips or just running errands. This cooler can also be used when grocery shopping for keeping your ice cream and meats at cool temperatures.

Another great purchase for your car is a seat organizer where you can stick books and toys in for the kids as well as diapers, wet wipes, and maps to get to your destination. Don’t forget to pack a towel for brushing off after those trips to the beach as well.

A kiddy pool and sandbox can be a great investment for the summer as well for the younger kids. My son spends hours playing in his sandbox and kiddy pool and the investment was small compared to the hours of enjoyment he can get from these. If a family member is looking for a gift this summer for a birthday or just because, suggest buying one of these items so that you don’t have to pay for these yourself. We asked for these items for our son’s birthday and also used our anniversary money to put towards a family zoo pass for the summer.

Don’t forget to stock up on all of those fun summer toys for the kids to play with outside. You can stock up on a lot of your fun summer items over at the local Dollar Store. We purchase sidewalk chalk, sandbox tools and toys, bubbles, and water guns. They offer a wide variety of fun summer toys that won’t break the bank. You can also make a couple of these yourself with these recipes.

Super Sidewalk Paint ¼ cup cornstarch ¼ cup cold water 6-8 drops of food coloring

Directions: Mix cornstarch and cold water together in a small plastic bowl. Add food coloring and stir. Repeat this process to creat different colors of Super Sidewalk Paint. Super Sidewalk Paint can easily be washed away with water

Treasure Stones 1 cup flour 1 cup used coffee grinds ½ cup salt ¼ cup sand ¾ cup water

Directions: Mix all dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. Slowly add water and knead until the mixture is the consistency of bread dough. Break off a piece of dough and roll it into the size of a baseball. Make a hole in the center of the ball big enough to hide treasures in. Fill the hole with treasures and seal with some extra dough. Let your treasure stone air dry for two or three days or until hard or bake in the oven on a cookie sheet at 150 degrees for fifteen to twenty minutes. If you would like to tin your Treasure Stone, add one tablespoon of powder tempera paint to tint.

Water Balloon Yo-Yo 1 small balloon 1 large rubber band

Directions: Cut the rubber band in half. Tie a loop securely on one end of the rubber band. It should be big enough to fit around your finger. Use a garden hose or water faucet to fill the balloon ¼ of the way with water. Blow air into the balloon until it is the size of a tennis ball. Tie the balloon shut. Securely tie the rubber band around theknot on the balloon. Place the rubber band loop around your middle finger and gently throw the balloon toward the ground. When the balloon springs back toward your hand, try to grab it.

Rainy days during the summer can be particularly difficult for children and parents alike. A great way to make these days go by quicker is by keeping lots of craft supplies on hand. You can also print out free printable coloring pages and crafts through http://www.dltk-kids.com/. We keep lots of construction paper, play dough, crayons, and coloring books on hand for fun and creative activities during the day.

Keep in mind that your library can be a wonderful summer resource for your family. Obviously, the library offers lot of great summer reading to help you get through those rainy days, but try to look past just the literature and ask your children’s librarian what types of summer reading and activities they offer. I still remember as a child that the library offered a great summer reading program that worked in conjunction with our local Pizza Hut where we received stars for meeting reading goals that could be used towards food at the restaurant. This motivated me so much as a child that I read many more books then I had anticipated. Setting reading goals during the summer can be very rewarding for children. Make sure to ask your child’s teacher for a reading list of books that they should be reading in preparation for the next grade. If your child is not reading yet, be sure to take advantage of this time to read to them. It truly is amazing the power literature has on our minds and speech development.

Don’t Over Schedule

For some reason many parents tend to go overboard on the summer classes and activities. I remember as a child how much I enjoyed just running around through the sprinklers, getting ice cream, or taking a trip to the park. I do not remember as clearly the classes that I took or the activities that my parents had paid for. It is so important to allow our kids to be kids! Kids really do remember the little outings that you do with them and often these outings and time spent with them have a greater impact then four weeks of camp will.

Remember that this is their summer vacation. I know that I do not enjoy having every single minute of my vacation booked with things to do; likewise children enjoy having some downtime. Try to keep this in mind when signing them up for various summer programs. Maybe allowing your child to pick one or two activities during the summer will be more manageable for both you the driver and your child.

Making Memories

Most importantly, enjoy your summer to its fullest….. Whether it is long lazy days of lounging by the kiddy pool or a fun-filled summer chock full of day trips and activities- try to make it a summer to remember. I am filling my son’s memory book up this summer of all the wonderful things we have gotten to do. I always think that I will remember each and every moment with him- the smells of the hot dogs on the grill, the sand between our toes as we play for hours in his sandbox, or his sweet face full of fascination at the tiny bugs crawling on his swing set, but all too quickly it is gone. Put your pen to paper this summer and lovingly write those memories down so someday you and your child can reminisce over the beauty of that hot summer of his youth and all that you shared together during those wonderful months.

About The Author

© 2003-2004 Amy Allen Clark. All rights reserved.

Amy Allen Clark is a stay-at-home mother of a two year old son. She is founder and creator of http://www.momadvice.com. Her web site is geared towards mothers who are seeking advice on staying organized, living on a budget, and for those seeking work-at-home employment. Please visit her site to sign up for her free monthly newsletter filled with more great tips to help simplify your life.

amy@momadvice.com

Convenient Foods Are Changing The Way We Cook
News Canada

Convenient Foods Are Changing The Way We Cook News Canada

NC—Convenient foods, a rapidly-growing grocery store segment, take the rush out of meal time preparation and make it easy for family members to help get dinner on the table.

Convenient foods are quick to prepare or ready to heat-and-eat vegetables and meats that you mix-match-and-season according to your familys tastes. Many convenient offerings, including new Schneiders Quick Serve frozen chicken and pork, are packaged in re-sealable bags to minimize waste and make storage easy.

With convenient foods, its easy to prepare nutritious balanced meals. Dieters and moms who want to include some vegetables in school lunches are already familiar with pre-washed baby carrots. Mixed salad greens and pre-sliced ready-to-eat fresh fruit salads are great ways to enjoy the recommended five to ten servings of fruits and vegetables. Shredded cheese, as a quick topping for broccoli, enriches the meal with extra calcium. And, using frozen, fully cooked chicken and pork slices meal preparation down to size.

Stocking convenient foods in your refrigerator or freezer makes it easy for school-aged children or kitchen-adventurous dads to start dinner. Ready-to-heat mashed potatoes eliminate the need to use sharp knives to peel and slice. And, heating individual portions of Schneiders Quick Serve fully-cooked chicken and pork in the microwave oven is quick and safe, even if a telephone call interrupts the task at hand.

With preparation so easy the only hard part is deciding whats for dinner. While you may not like preplanning meals, posting a weekly menu on the fridge eliminates one more excuse for reluctant helpers. Include simple instructions and challenge the first one home to start meal preparation rather than raid the cupboard for snacks.

- News Canada

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

A PEARfectly Fun Snack For Kids
News Canada

A PEARfectly Fun Snack For Kids News Canada

NC—Looking for ways to incorporate healthy foods into your kids snacks that they will actually want to eat Sweet and juicy fresh pears are a versatile and yummy addition to a lot of childrens favorite snack foods. Fresh USA Pears are loaded with good-for-you stuff like Vitamin C, potassium and fiber, but they are so sweet that your child wont guess they are eating a very healthy fruit. Pears contain levulose, one of the sweetest known sugars, making them a good alternative to processed sweets since an average size pear has only 100 calories and no saturated fat. You can find a gallery of great kids recipes and games at www.usapears.com.

In the meantime, here are a few quick and easy ways to add fresh pears to your childs snack menu:

• Add fresh sliced pears to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

• Top a bowl of frozen low-fat vanilla or chocolate yogurt with wedges of fresh pears.

• Sprinkle chopped pears on hot or cold cereal.

• Halve and core a fresh pear. Fill up the center with one of your childs favorite soft foods. Jelly/jam, caramel or chocolate sauces are tops on our topping list!

• Tie pieces of "string cheese" around fresh slices of pears

- News Canada

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Easy, Tasty Chicken Wing Recipes
Rachel Paxton

Easy, Tasty Chicken Wing Recipes Rachel Paxton

You can serve chicken wings hot or cold, for a meal, or for snacks. Theyre great as appetizers at parties, or when youre just looking for a tasty midnight snack. Try these four easy recipes:

Baked Chicken Wings 1/2 c. margarine, melted 1 t. dijon mustard 3 c. multi-grain flaked cereal 16-18 chicken wings, broken into two pieces 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese 4 t. finely chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In glass pie plate, combine melted margarine and mustard. In medium bowl, combine cereal crumbs, Parmesan cheese and parsley. Spoon onto waxed paper. Roll chicken pieces in margarine mixture, then in cereal mixture to coat completely. Place on rack in baking pan; drizzle with remaining margarine mixture. Bake 35-40 min., or until golden brown.

Hot Chicken Wings 12-15 chicken wings 1/2 c. 1 stick butter or margarine, melted 1/4 c. Red Hot Durkees Sauce or more to taste

Split wings at each joint and discard tips. Bake in 425 degree oven until crisp, turn halfway through. Drain. Combine hot sauce and butter until butter is melted, stir to mix thoroughly. Dip wings in sauce to coat completely. Arrange on plate.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings 3 lbs. chicken wings Accent seasoning Oil 1 c. water Cornstarch Garlic powder Beaten egg

Sauce: 3/4 c. sugar 3 or 4 tbsp. catsup Dash of salt 1/2 c. white vinegar 1 tsp. soy sauce 1/4 c. chicken stock 1 tsp. Accent seasoning

Cut wings into thirds. Boil tips in water for 5 min. for the stock. Sprinkle remainder of wings with garlic powder and Accent and let set for 1 hr. Dip wings into cornstarch, then beaten egg. Brown in oil on high heat. Place in 9x13 pan. Cover with sauce. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Teriyaki Chicken Wings 12-15 chicken wings 1/3 c. water 1/4 tsp. pepper 1/3 c. soy sauce 1/4 c. brown sugar 2 green onions diced 1/3 c. cooking sherry optional 1/2 tsp. ginger

Combine all ingredients for marinade, heat just to dissolve sugar. Separate wings, pour marinade over. Refrigerate overnight. Place wings in greased pan. Pour marinade over, cover with foil. Bake for 30 min. at 375 degrees. Remove foil, bake 5-10 min. longer to crisp.

About The Author

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of Whats for Dinner, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

Easy and Healthy Snacks
Dr. Tara Barker

Easy and Healthy Snacks Dr. Tara Barker

In our house, snacks are almost a way of life. Particularly in the summer, while we travel to the creek by day and out of town on the weekends, snacks take a central roll in getting us where we want to go in a healthy way. A good snack can help alleviate the afternoon blahs as well as prevent low blood sugar after a meal that was hours ago.

When it’s hot outside, whole fresh fruit is an excellent option. Fruit is packed with vitamins and minerals as well as water and electrolytes. Most people tolerate fruit well, especially when it is coupled with some protein. An apple or pear, halved and cored, filled with almond, peanut, or macadamia nut butter tastes great and is filling. Softer fruits like apricots or plums are great the same way, or filled with chopped walnuts.

If vegetables are your favorites, try the old standby, celery filled with nut butter. Baby carrots meet their match when dipped in a puree of black-eyed peas, garlic, olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Add some sesame butter tahini to this mix for a great hummus alternative. Any veggie tastes great with feta cheese crumbled on top or packed inside.

For an interesting, tasty, easy to make treat for all ages and blood types, make some “Fun Nut Balls”. Grind 2 TBS of flax seeds, add at least a cup or more of your favorite nut butter, such as peanut or almond. Add 1-2 TBS of honey and mix well. Add some carob or cocoa powder to taste along with a pinch of sea salt this is the fun part, as you have to keep tasting it. Form into tiny balls with your hands. Roll these in chopped walnuts or hazelnuts until you cannot see under the chopped nuts. Place in the refrigerator for a few hours until chilled and firm. These travel well as long as they are not squashed when they become warmer. For variation, add some coconut, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, or molasses. These fun treats are high in protein and essential fats while low in saturated fats and sugars. A good source of calcium and iron, especially if made with blackstrap molasses.

About The Author

For more information or questions on related topics, please visit www.MyWebND.com. Get all your health questions answered from a licensed Naturopathic physician without the wait for an office visit. Well-researched, reliable information is now available and easy to find. info@myWebND.com

SIx Tips for Organizing Your Refrigerator
Stacey Agin Murray

SIx Tips for Organizing Your Refrigerator Stacey Agin Murray

Have you taken a good look in your refrigerator, lately Your mother-in-law’s Meatloaf Surprise started living up to it’s name two weeks ago. Month-old leftovers are now candidates for Junior’s next science project.

Don’t let your food decay behind the Brita pitcher! Follow these tips to save you time, space, and wasted food:

Purge

Grab your garbage can, position it next to your refrigerator and purge it of all spoiled food. Look for tin foil sculptures and anything that wasn’t green BEFORE you bought it. Keep repeating to yourself, ‘When in doubt, throw it out.’

Make it shine!

Use some elbow grease and give those shelves, drawers, and crisper a good cleaning. It’s not easy to organize jars and containers if they’re sticking to the shelf... Clean one shelf at a time, starting with the top one. All crumbs, liquid, and unidentifiable objects that don’t make it into your paper towel will land on the shelf below, which you will be cleaning next. Once you’ve finished cleaning the bottom shelf/drawer, continue with the inside door until you’re satisfied with the job.

Group ‘em

Group similar foods together. For example, place drinks on one shelf, small snacks in a drawer, and fruits/veggies/salad products in the crisper so you are not constantly ‘hunting down’ the food you want/need at that moment. This arrangement saves you time and makes retrieving food come mealtime a less arduous task.

* Pay attention to the height of your jars and bottles. It is easier to spot your food and drink if you put large/tall jars towards the back of the refrigerator and smaller ones in the front. You’ll never see that container of yogurt if it’s trapped behind a family-sized jar of spaghetti sauce. That’s money and spoiled yogurt down the drain...

Give ‘em a home

Growing up, our refrigerator always had what I called ‘The Cheese Box.’ Instead of having that flat package of Swiss cheese teetering atop a jar or the shredded mozzarella accidentally flattened by a side of beef, all the cheeses would ‘live’ together in one plastic container. We always knew where to find them and whether or not we were running low. This is a perfect solution if you have small, like items floating around your fridge. If you have young children, you can create a similar container for each child and fill it with healthy snacks, punch boxes, or a loving note. This keeps ‘little fingers’ from rummaging the shelves and you can control what goes into their ‘snack box.’

Give ‘em a quality home

Whether they hold groupings of food or greasy leftovers, your containers should work for you and not against you. Consider spending a few cents more for quality containers. Lids are less likely to get stuck or fly off. You don’t want to spend your time cleaning the floor or removing stains from your shirt because your container failed to do it’s job. Choose transparent or translucent containers—they allow you to see exactly what’s inside—no surprises!

Give ‘em the same home

Keep your refrigerator organized by making your best attempt to return food and drink to the ‘home’ you’ve created for it. Haphazardly throwing your groceries in the fridge may save you time when you come back from the store but it will cost you precious minutes at meal planning and preparation time.

In order to keep it clean and uncluttered, purge your refrigerator as part of your weekly routine. I recommend tackling this task on the night before your garbage pick-up day. Regularly disposing of smelly substances, rotting vegetables, and other items that have overstayed their welcome will keep your fridge in tip-top shape. With determination, patience, and the right tools your refrigerator can become an organized and functional area of your home.

About The Author

Stacey Agin Murray, professional organizer and owner of Organized Artistry, LLC, transforms mess into masterpiece with patience, organizing know-how, and a sense of humor. For more articles and to get your FREE e-list of Top Ten Tips for Organized Living visit http://www.organizedartistry.com. stacey@organizedartistry.com

A Note To Food Manufacturers...
D. S. Epperson

A Note To Food Manufacturers... D. S. Epperson

Food manufacturing in the US has always been about convenience, product availability, taste and price. The more society ventured away from the family garden and kitchen, the more food manufacturers developed a market or niche for their products at home in the cupboards. Processed foods no longer are limited to flour and sugar on the country store shelf, but have evolved to include the variety of foods eaten daily and taken from restaurants, grocery stores, super markets and convenience stores.

As the commonality of quick processed foods increases throughout the world, health problems such as obesity, diabetes and cancer have also become common and inevitable to the point that *”1 in 3 American adults have Insulin Resistance, a pre-diabetic condition”, and this will only be the beginning.

The philosophy behind Functional Food is to create food additives and ingredients that will enhance the bodies health by making manufactured foods more beneficial to the consumer with out losing quality or taste.

It is the intention to not only create additives and ingredients that will benefit todays market but will benefits todays generation as they age.

By using products such as "SugarBlendtm",and "FlourBlendtm,, in drinks, cakes, cookies, candies, breads, pastries, and snacks, todays children will have increased mineral uptake, aiding in the prevention of Osteoporosis as they age, increasing bowel function, reducing the chance of colon cancer and by aiding in the control of blood sugar swings that may cause diabetes later in life. These "Functional" properties are accomplished without side effects that may cause consumers to reject manufactured products. These side effects include sweeteners that cause a laxative effect, gas, bloating, aftertaste and degrading sweetness in high heat. Styrofoam-like textures, no taste, distasteful smell and color in cooking flour substitutes.

We see that parents today are becoming more aware and educated in the direction of nutrition, especially with regards to growing children. If foods are eaten that increase calcium in the bones today, twenty years from now, it is possible that this generation wont suffer from Osteoporosis or Colon Cancer. If foods are eaten today that keep the blood sugar steady and absorb slowly in the gut, not only will the child have protection from disease, but they will have a lessor chance of developing diabetes twenty years from now also.

The main objective of Home Blend Gourmet and others that manufacture functional food is "The Health of Humanity". Manufactures using these products today can influence the health of future generation and secure their markets for tomorrow. We create first rate ingredients and additives by being on the cutting edge of research. The demands of fast paced lives and lifestyles shouldnt cost the health of the human race. We can help food manufactures become more health conscious and competitive with marketing strategies that will put them above the rest of the pack.

Today, the education of the general public on nutrition is vastly brought about through mass media, by informational commercials, through news media, T.V. talk shows, magazine articles and newspaper articles.

High protein, low-carb, low-fat diets have gained popularity through media blitzes on celebrity books, university studies, restaurant menus and nutritional labels. These diet plans have also gained popularity by the prove results, some of the newest diets include Glycemic Indexing, or the blood glucose response to the manufactured products. We check our food formulas for impact to blood sugar response by doing in vivo oral tolerance tests. Each formula is created to not only aid in control of nutritional conditions, but that the side-effects of that formula is beneficial to the human body. We offer In Vivo testing for any of our manufacturing clients that would like to use Glycemic Indexing guidelines for marketing their products. We are South Pacific Health Enterprises, and we license our food formulas only to Home Blend Gourmet.

*AACE, AC of Endo. Conference, 08-25-26, 2003

About The Author

D.S. Epperson is the top formulator for Home Blend Gourmet / South Pacific Health, a leader in the functional food industry in the U.S.. With 20 years of experience in Nutritional Biochemistry, she has written reference books on botanicals and manufacturing of medicines from botanicals, and published articles on health, fitness and foods. She has formulated over 240 formulas and inventions for health, the environment and agricultural uses, and continues to research and study microbial advantages in nutraceuticals and functional foods. For more information or to view the articles that she has written: http://www.sugarblend.com.

online@sugarblend.com

Tempranillo’s Role As A New Varietal Wine In Australia
Darby Higgs

Tempranillo’s Role As A New Varietal Wine In Australia Darby Higgs

Tempranillo is the premium red wine grape variety from the Rioja region in Spain. It is now challenging Sangiovese as the up and coming star of the red varietal wine scene in Australia.

New plantings throughout Australian wine regions over the past five years are just coming into bearing. In fact on a percentage basis Tempranillo is growing in popularity more rapidly than any other variety.

What makes this variety so exciting Well, it makes wines which have good colour and good fruit flavours along with low acid and low tannins. This adds up to an easy drinking style. The wine also goes well with American oak.

In the vineyard the variety has a short growing season which makes it suitable for cooler areas.

In Spain the variety is the backbone of the wines of the Rioja and the Ribera del Duero regions in Northern and Central Spain. In these regions it is often blended with Graciano or Cabernet sauvignon playing a minor role. It is a component of Ribera del Dueros famous Vega Sicilia, the Spanish equivalent to Grange.

In Portugal the variety is used as a minor component in port, and some red table wines. Elsewhere in the world the major plantings are in Argentine and California. In the latter region it is called Valdepenas and is regarded as a unsuitable for making fine wine.

Tempranillo has taken off in Australia only in the past few years. Brown Brothers have been a pioneer of the variety, but there are now over 50 producers in about half of Autralia’s sixty wine regions. Although McLaren Vale has the highest number of producers variety is widely planted throughout the mainland Australian wine regions. The highest rated Tempranillo in James Hallidays Wine Companion 2005 is from Mantons Creek Vineyard in the Mornington Peninsula. Casella Wines, the makers of the hugely successful [yellowtail] range are also interested in the variety. They received a silver medal for a 2003 Tempranillo at the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show 2004.

The obvious food match is to go with Spanish style dishes. A lighter bodied Tempranillo would go well with tapas, those delightful little snacks that originally were designed for accompanying sherry. A little plate of olives, some prawns and a few slices of Chorizo sausage may just what is needed.

The Spanish also love jamon, dry cured ham. Many bars in Spain have dozens of hams hanging up and there is always a ham in a special rack ready to be thinly carved for a snack to accompany a glass of wine. Sheep farming is a major industry in the in the Rioja and the Ribera del Duero regions. Hence grilled and especially roast lamb are local specialties, as well as the ideal accompaniment to Tempranillo. Sheep milk cheeses, roast stuffed peppers and vegetable casseroles would also be enhanced by a glass or two of these fine wines.

What then can we expect in future from Tempranillo in Australia It is an interesting fact is that the variety is being tried in many wine regions. Virtually all of the plantings in Australia are new and the vineyard managers and winemakers are just starting to climb the learning curve. Some enthusiasts say Tempranillo is the next big thing in Australian red wines; others think that the Italian variety Sangiovese will triumph. The next few years will tell, in the meantime there will be some interesting wines to try.

About The Author

Darby Higgs is manager and editor of Vinodiversity a web based guide to Australian wine made with less common wine varieties.

http://www.vinodiversity.com

Food Lovers Gift Secrets
H Porter

Food Lovers Gift Secrets H Porter

Gifts for Food Lovers

Hampers are the perfect gift for people who have everything or those you are unsure about purchasing for. Rather than buying a ready made hamper personalise one for that extra special thought.

Top tips for buying a Hamper Who is the Hamper for Male or Female is it for a Couple, what age are they Young, Middleaged or older Organic food or normal produce, more people are moving to organic produce for less interferance and keeping farming to the more traditional methods Does the gift receiver drink Do you want to go savoury, sweet or a mix of the two Is your hamper a christmas hamper If yes remember most people buy christmas pudding and other traditional christmas products themselves and may appreciate something different

Choosing your Hamper

The hamper basket itself can be reused so see this as an investment, dark wicker hamper baskets are traditional.

Fill your hamper basket with either rolled up tissue paper or for the more traditional filling use straw packing. Bubble wrap is not an option!

Wrapping your hamper

Use traditional tarten ribbon all around and create a large bow on the top. Then take a brown paper gift tag using black ink write your gift message

Top products to include in your Hamper

Drinks

Alcoholic to be considered for over 18s only -Red wines include Merlot or Shiraz, Whites we recommend are Chenin Blanc, Chablis or Sancere. Why not fill the Hamper with some Fizz, if you are on a budget some Cava is a cheaper fizzy but still full of flavour Condessa Blanca, Segura or freixent. Supermarkets have a good range of wines with recommendations pick a budget and read their reviews. Always go for something morelight than focusing on a specific flavour unless you know their tastes. Avoid Cherrys & ports these usually stay in peoples cupboards and collect dust!

Non Alcoholic - Cordials like elderflower are perfect however supermarkets now offer a range of non alcoholic drinks which are full of taste and flavour.

Savoury Hamper

Cheese - Brie, Camermbert, stilton are classic cheeses however as a balance why not put in a goats cheese, mozorella in a secure tin or speciality cheese like feta in olive oil which should come in a jar; remember that you need to buy these as late as possible and they should be wrapped in greaseproof paper so they can breathe. A good chutney is always good to accompany go for a traditional raison and fruit or perhaps a homemade picallilly.

Bread Products - Foccacia italian bread, bread sticks or a olive or sundried tomato cibatta is perfect. Other dried biscutis work well try for rosemary and seasalt crispbreads or perhaps a chesse biscuit selection including oat cakes.

Meats - Hams have a longer shelflife consider purchasing a Parma or San Danielle ham or pancetta which are all cured to take on a richer flavour. Salamis, Chorizio and other sausages usually require more thought when eating so avoid unless the receive has a love for them.

Fish - You can get tinned anchovies or sardines are loved by some but not all. Somked salmon is perfect since it has a good shelf life, consider purchasing some gravlax with it and some dark rye bread.

Pasta & Rice - There are great varieties of dried pasta and perfect as a gift. Rice is not such a good option unless you got for a flavoured risotto version

Vegetables - Unless you are purchasing a few days before you cannot purchase fresh. Consider some more unusual flavours like dried porchinni mushrooms, sundried tomatoes, olives, roasted peppers in a jar with oil a comination of all would work.

Fruits & Nuts - Dates are traditional at christmas, again avoid fresh fruit and go for dried or long lasting foods like dried apricots, mixed nuts, dried banana apricot & apple are tasty snacks

Oils - Olive Oil is a common kitchen cooking oil, however you can get flavoured oils such as rosemary, chilli & basil. You can make your own by purchasing a glass bottle with cork stopped fill with an extraq virgin olive oil and then simply drop the flavours in such as garlic and rosemary or my favourite fresh sundried tomatoes. Balsamic olive oil is another great dipping oil and a perfect compliment to this dish.

Sweet Hamper

Biscuits - Your supermarket will have a range of biscuits but shortbread is an older favourite. Why not make some of your own for that extra special touch.

Cakes - Panatonne is a traditional italian cake and since this is not an oftenly purchase product perfect for a hamper.

Fruits & Nuts - This is the same suggestion as the savoury hamper, but consider nuts which are chocolate dipped or perhaps suger coated almonds

Sweets & Chocolate - Consider a rich chocolate the majority of people prefer milk chocolate but if you are not sure include a small plain and milk to be on the safe side.

Jams & Preserves - You can now find speciality jams such as champagne & strawberry whic is a little different to the basic jams. I love to give honey a local variety

Non Food - Perhaps a chocolate fondue set or recipe/cook book

You can always mix the 2 hamper suggestions. With these simple suggestions you are sure to give someone a yummy festive feast! Enjoy!

About The Author

H Porter writes gift articles for http://www.sorrydarling.com.

Cool Snacks for a Hot Summer
Deborah Shelton

Cool Snacks for a Hot Summer Deborah Shelton

Beat the heat with these cool summer treats!

Mouse Popsicles

It’s not what you’re thinking! The name refers to the size of the popsicle—not the contents. Wash a bowl of seedless grapes, and then set the grapes in the freezer for about an hour. Poke colored toothpicks into the grapes to serve.

Juice Pops

Summer isn’t complete without homemade juice popsicles. Simply fill a popsicle mold or an ice tray with your favorite fruit juice. Cover the ice tray with clear plastic wrap and poke a toothpick through the plastic into each square. Place the tray into the freezer until the popsicles are frozen solid.

Frozen Monkey Treats

Here is a healthy snack that your kids will go bananas for! Peel a banana and cut it in half. Insert popsicle sticks into the cut ends. Dip the bananas into yogurt or melted chocolate, and then roll the bananas in chopped nuts, crushed cereal, or coconut shavings. Place the bananas on a small waxed paper-lined baking sheet and set the sheet into the freezer for an hour or so. Fun to make and even more fun to eat!

Fruit Fizzy

Don’t plan your summer party without this refreshing drink. Pour one can of Sprite it doesn’t have caffeine into a blender, along with small ice cubes. Add several large strawberries, a handful of blueberries, or other favorite fruit to the mix. Blend the mixture until it has the texture of a slush. Pour into a glass and garnish with a cherry on top.

About The Author

Deborah Shelton is a mother, freelance writer, and author of the brand new book, "The Five Minute Parent: Fun & Fast Activities for You and Your Little Ones." Visit Deborahs website for more family-friendly ideas: http://www.fiveminuteparent.com deborah@fiveminuteparent.com

Fun & Fruity Recipes
Deborah Shelton

Fun & Fruity Recipes Deborah Shelton

Sometimes the easiest way to get children to eat healthy is to let them have a hand in making their own snacks…and add whipped cream on top. Here are two fruity recipes that are fun and easy to make, and even more fun to eat.

Miniature Fruit Pizzas 1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough 8 ounces softened cream cheese 1 cup confectioners sugar Assorted fresh fruit, cut into bite size pieces, such as bananas, kiwis, oranges, blueberries, grapes, strawberries, pineapple, etc.

Directions: Cut sugar cookie dough into 1-inch slices and place on ungreased cookie sheet or pizza pan. Bake as directed, or until lightly browned around the edges. Allow the cookies to cool.

Combine cream cheese and confectioners sugar; mix well. Spread over cooled cookies. Decorate with assorted fruit. Yummy!

Strawberry Angels 1 angel food cake 6 large strawberries 1 carton whipped topping

Directions: First, cut the cake into serving-size pieces. Slice the strawberries and layer on top of the cake. Then spoon whipped topping on top of the strawberries. Serve and enjoy!

About The Author

Deborah Shelton edits The Five Minute Parent email newsletter. For your free subscription, send a blank email to mailto:Five_Minute_Parent-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit http://www.fiveminuteparent.com deborah@fiveminuteparent.com

Tomatoes and Cucumbers
News Canada

Tomatoes and Cucumbers News Canada

NC—Now is the season to enjoy Ontario grown field tomatoes and cucumbers. Although tomatoes and cucumbers are available year round, they are at their best from July to October! Locally grown tomatoes and cucumbers are picked at a greater degree of ripeness than those shipped across the continent. When grown closer to their market, these veggies are left on the vine longer, so their flavour and texture remain at their best.

Although, the tomato is technically a fruit, it is considered by most to be a vegetable because of the way it is used in meals and snacks. The tomato is native to South America and was brought over to Europe by Spanish explorers in the 16th Century. Today, many cultures enjoy tomatoes as part of their dishes. Tomatoes combine well with many foods such as: pastas, meat and fish dishes as well as with other vegetables.

Tomatoes are high in vitamin A and vitamin C and contain a plant chemical called lycopene. Lycopene gives tomatoes, watermelons and pink grapefruits their red colour. Lycopene is an antioxidant that can protect the bodys cells from damage, which can help reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer.

Cucumbers have a very high water content. As a result, they are not only crisp and moist but also very cool. Cucumbers belong to the squash family of vegetables and were first cultivated in Asia.

Invite tomatoes and cucumbers along by…

• Cutting slices or chunks of cucumbers and tomatoes into salads

• Piling cucumbers and tomatoes onto sandwiches, in pitas and in wraps

• Choosing cucumbers and tomatoes as a snack with a low fat yogurt dip

• Using tomatoes to make pasta sauce from scratch

• Adding sliced tomatoes to grilled cheese sandwiches or tuna melts

• Using tomatoes in meat, fish and chicken recipes

• Topping green salads, rice dishes and pasta salads with cherry or grape tomatoes

At this time of year, take advantage of locally grown tomatoes and cucumbers to help you reach the goal of 5-10 servings of vegetables and fruits a day. For more recipe ideas using tomatoes and cucumbers, visit www.5to10aday.com.

- News Canada

Monthly Vegetable and Fruit Recipe:

Fancy but easy Tomato and Cucumber Salad

2 medium sized cucumbers 2

4 medium sized tomatoes 4

2 Tbsp olive oil 30mL

1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard 15 mL

2 Tbsp. white vinegar 30mL

1/2 cup finely chopped parsley 125ml

1. Peel the cucumbers. Cut one cucumber into thin slices and dice the second cucumber

2. Wash the tomatoes. Cut the top off each tomato and hollow them out.

3. In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, mustard, vinegar, pepper and salt. Add diced cucumber and toss with dressing.

4. Fill each tomato with diced cucumber and top with some parsley.

5. Place the tomatoes on a serving platter. Put the cucumber slices around and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve at room temperature. Enjoy!

- News Canada

These articles are for use in Ontario only

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Harvest A Wealth Of Apple Ideas
News Canada

Harvest A Wealth Of Apple Ideas News Canada

NC—The leaves have turned, pumpkins are ripening on the vine and most of Canadas apple growers are in the orchards harvesting this years crop of apples for your enjoyment throughout the winter months. It is well known that apples are nutritious, as are apple-based products like pure apple juice, apple sauce and dried fruit snacks. But now more than ever, as research is showing that apples contain important anti-oxidants, apples and apple products are an important part of your familys diet. Why not take advantage of the season and introduce new, innovative ways for your family to enjoy them everyday.

Here are a few simple ways to increase your apple consumption and boost your anti-oxidant intake:

• Choose juice over pop. Apple juice contains health-promoting phytonutrients – natural antioxidants – and is usually fortified with Vitamin C.

• Liven up a simple salad by topping it with pieces of fruit or strips of Sun-Rype Fruit to Go bars.

• Want to try something new with that jar of Sun-Rype Apple Sauce Try these suggestions:

• Use apple sauce on top of ice cream and sprinkle with granola for a healthy sundae.

• Swirl into yogurt or cottage cheese for a low fat parfait.

• Warm up crisp fall mornings by topping pancakes or French toast with hot apple sauce and a dollop of sour cream.

• Replace vegetable oil or butter in most recipes with an equal amount of apple sauce. Apple sauce lowers the fat and calories when you bake.

All it takes is a little imagination to increase the number of apples your family gets in their diet. And, of course, apples make it easier for your family members to get the five to ten daily servings of fruit and vegetables recommended by Canadas Food Guide to Healthy Eating. Harvest season is a great time to experiment with apple products to see how they can enhance your meal times, for more creative ideas and recipes visit www.sunrype.com.

- News Canada

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.