#1. He Doesn't Do What He Says He Will
Yes, it's true: You usually have to ask guys about 10 times before they'll actually help you put in those bathroom shelves -- that's typical. But when he promises to go with you to a friend's party and then bails or doesn't call when he says he will, that's a problem.
#2. He Keeps Asking You, "Are We Okay?"
Let's be honest here: Single men hate to talk about relationships. So if he starts suggesting weekly powwows, take notice.
#3. He Makes You into the Bad Guy
Your guy starts constantly choosing his buddies over you... and yet, he says you're the selfish one. It's called deflecting.
#4. He Makes Comments About Attractive Women
Look, no guy is stupid enough to go on about how sensual some random chick is in front of his girlfriend... unless, of course, he's trying to be inconsiderate.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
HAPPY 4 YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY & VALENTINES!
Today is my 4 year wedding Anniversary, I am sooooo lucky and happy. I wouldn't change anything. I wanted to say, " HAPPY ANNIVERSARY & VALENTINES " to my hubby and that " I LOVE YOU " ^_^
Today I also found out some info on Medical Centers which makes me happy I finally found some that will work with you when it comes to pay plans etc. I am so not used to not having free health care lol. That's another thing I miss about Canada. No Free health care down here lol. Ah well things will work out I am sure of it.
Well hubby's working a double so time for workout, shower, housework and City of Heroes all day. We went and celebrated last night so all is good. Now to keep myself busy hmm might work on my cookbook too. Wanna get this thing published this year. <3
Happy Valentines Everyone!
Today I also found out some info on Medical Centers which makes me happy I finally found some that will work with you when it comes to pay plans etc. I am so not used to not having free health care lol. That's another thing I miss about Canada. No Free health care down here lol. Ah well things will work out I am sure of it.
Well hubby's working a double so time for workout, shower, housework and City of Heroes all day. We went and celebrated last night so all is good. Now to keep myself busy hmm might work on my cookbook too. Wanna get this thing published this year. <3
Happy Valentines Everyone!
Monday, February 09, 2009
Looser pants by Friday !
Provided by Rasha Mourtada
So you'd like to shed a few pounds but the word diet makes you shudder - we hear ya. But with a couple of nips here and a few tucks there, you can cut back 500 calories a day without making huge sacrifices - and lose up to one pound a week. That's right: small calorie savings add up to big weight loss over time. Mix and match these 20 tricks and watch the pounds disappear!
Breakfast
* Save 50 calories Instead of tossing back a glass of orange juice with your breakfast, eat an actual orange, says Vancouver registered dietitian Ramona Josephson. Bonus: more fibre.
* Save 75 calories Edmonton resident Keri Guenther, who has lost 90 pounds on Weight Watchers by making small calorie cuts, loves Tim Hortons' English Toffee Cappuccino. When she treats herself, she asks her server to fill half her cup with regular coffee before adding the sugar-laden beverage, reducing the calories by half.
* Save 100 calories Cut the fat, keep the meat: instead of five strips of bacon, opt for two slices of leaner grilled back bacon.
* Save 125 calories Since egg yolks contain fat and are high in cholesterol, whip up a breakfast omelette with one whole egg and two protein-rich egg whites. Bonus: registered dietitian Linda Barton of Petersburg, Ont., says eating eggs keeps you feeling full longer.
* Save 200 calories Swap yogurt with granola for a cereal with at least four grams of fibre and a small amount of your favourite sweet cereal. "Nothing beats Shredded Wheat with Froot Loops sprinkled on top," says Mary Meldrum of Waterloo, Ont., who's lost 65 pounds.
Lunch
* Save 50 calories Use calorie-reduced mayonnaise instead of full-fat mayo on your sandwich (to add some kick, mix a few drops of your favourite hot sauce with the mayo first).
* Save 75 calories Ottawa resident Maritia Gully hardly ever uses low-fat salad dressing. Instead, she tops her greens with a mix of 1 tablespoon (15 mL) each water and regular dressing. "It tastes a lot better," adds Gully, who's lost about 30 pounds.
* Save 100 calories Melissa Raghunandan loves cream soups but hates their high-calorie price tags. So, the Kitchener, Ont., resident, who has dropped 10 pounds, thickens both homemade and canned soups with evaporated skim milk instead of heavy cream.
* Save 125 calories Ditch the lunchtime bagel in favour of two slices of multi-grain toast and you'll lose calories and gain healthy fibre.
* Save 200 calories If you're at a fast-food joint, you're better off ordering a regular burger - hold the mayo - than the breaded chicken or fish sandwich. If you aren't craving a burger, go for the grilled chicken and you'll still save about 100 calories.
Dinner
• Save 50 calories For those must-eat-fries-now moments, opt for 15 thick-cut fries instead of 25 skinny ones. Massimo Marcone, a professor of food science at the University of Guelph in Ontario, found that thick-cut fries contain about 20 per cent fewer calories each than skinny fries because they've absorbed less oil.
• Save 75 calories You don't have to banish all carbs from your dinner plate to cut calories. Swap rice with 1/2 cup (125 mL) couscous cooked in vegetable or chicken broth.
• Save 100 calories Lora Samaha of Calgary has lost 35 pounds with her calorie-saving tricks, including substituting Yves Veggie Ground Round for ground beef in lasagna, chili and more. It delivers the same amount of protein with fewer calories.
• Save 125 calories Give your veggies flavour by sautéing them in your favourite broth or wine instead of oil.
• Save 200 calories Gully gives in to her cravings for alfredo sauce, but instead of making it with calorie-laden heavy cream, she uses creamed cottage cheese. "It satisfies my craving for something creamy and makes the meal richer without adding a lot of calories," she says.
Splurges!
• Save 75 calories Carm Bozzo of Hamilton lost 13 pounds four years ago and has kept it off. One of her calorie-saving secrets is to reach for frozen low-calorie pudding cups instead of fat-laden ice cream.
• Save 100 calories Out for drinks? Instead of downing two glasses of wine, swap one for sparkling water.
• Save 125 calories If you're craving a soda, mix Crystal Light with soda water. Bonus: you'll also cut back on caffeine.
• Save 200 calories Nuts offer fibre and a generous helping of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. But 1/2 cup (125 mL) of most nuts packs almost 400 calories, says registered dietitian Linda Barton of Petersburg, Ont. Try this: mix 1/4 cup (50 mL) of almonds with 1/4 cup (50 mL) of your favourite high-fibre cereal.
• Save 250 calories Opt for biscotti instead of a muffin at your local coffee house to satisfy your sweet tooth, says Toronto registered dietitian Susan Osher. Just don't choose one covered in chocolate!
So you'd like to shed a few pounds but the word diet makes you shudder - we hear ya. But with a couple of nips here and a few tucks there, you can cut back 500 calories a day without making huge sacrifices - and lose up to one pound a week. That's right: small calorie savings add up to big weight loss over time. Mix and match these 20 tricks and watch the pounds disappear!
Breakfast
* Save 50 calories Instead of tossing back a glass of orange juice with your breakfast, eat an actual orange, says Vancouver registered dietitian Ramona Josephson. Bonus: more fibre.
* Save 75 calories Edmonton resident Keri Guenther, who has lost 90 pounds on Weight Watchers by making small calorie cuts, loves Tim Hortons' English Toffee Cappuccino. When she treats herself, she asks her server to fill half her cup with regular coffee before adding the sugar-laden beverage, reducing the calories by half.
* Save 100 calories Cut the fat, keep the meat: instead of five strips of bacon, opt for two slices of leaner grilled back bacon.
* Save 125 calories Since egg yolks contain fat and are high in cholesterol, whip up a breakfast omelette with one whole egg and two protein-rich egg whites. Bonus: registered dietitian Linda Barton of Petersburg, Ont., says eating eggs keeps you feeling full longer.
* Save 200 calories Swap yogurt with granola for a cereal with at least four grams of fibre and a small amount of your favourite sweet cereal. "Nothing beats Shredded Wheat with Froot Loops sprinkled on top," says Mary Meldrum of Waterloo, Ont., who's lost 65 pounds.
Lunch
* Save 50 calories Use calorie-reduced mayonnaise instead of full-fat mayo on your sandwich (to add some kick, mix a few drops of your favourite hot sauce with the mayo first).
* Save 75 calories Ottawa resident Maritia Gully hardly ever uses low-fat salad dressing. Instead, she tops her greens with a mix of 1 tablespoon (15 mL) each water and regular dressing. "It tastes a lot better," adds Gully, who's lost about 30 pounds.
* Save 100 calories Melissa Raghunandan loves cream soups but hates their high-calorie price tags. So, the Kitchener, Ont., resident, who has dropped 10 pounds, thickens both homemade and canned soups with evaporated skim milk instead of heavy cream.
* Save 125 calories Ditch the lunchtime bagel in favour of two slices of multi-grain toast and you'll lose calories and gain healthy fibre.
* Save 200 calories If you're at a fast-food joint, you're better off ordering a regular burger - hold the mayo - than the breaded chicken or fish sandwich. If you aren't craving a burger, go for the grilled chicken and you'll still save about 100 calories.
Dinner
• Save 50 calories For those must-eat-fries-now moments, opt for 15 thick-cut fries instead of 25 skinny ones. Massimo Marcone, a professor of food science at the University of Guelph in Ontario, found that thick-cut fries contain about 20 per cent fewer calories each than skinny fries because they've absorbed less oil.
• Save 75 calories You don't have to banish all carbs from your dinner plate to cut calories. Swap rice with 1/2 cup (125 mL) couscous cooked in vegetable or chicken broth.
• Save 100 calories Lora Samaha of Calgary has lost 35 pounds with her calorie-saving tricks, including substituting Yves Veggie Ground Round for ground beef in lasagna, chili and more. It delivers the same amount of protein with fewer calories.
• Save 125 calories Give your veggies flavour by sautéing them in your favourite broth or wine instead of oil.
• Save 200 calories Gully gives in to her cravings for alfredo sauce, but instead of making it with calorie-laden heavy cream, she uses creamed cottage cheese. "It satisfies my craving for something creamy and makes the meal richer without adding a lot of calories," she says.
Splurges!
• Save 75 calories Carm Bozzo of Hamilton lost 13 pounds four years ago and has kept it off. One of her calorie-saving secrets is to reach for frozen low-calorie pudding cups instead of fat-laden ice cream.
• Save 100 calories Out for drinks? Instead of downing two glasses of wine, swap one for sparkling water.
• Save 125 calories If you're craving a soda, mix Crystal Light with soda water. Bonus: you'll also cut back on caffeine.
• Save 200 calories Nuts offer fibre and a generous helping of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. But 1/2 cup (125 mL) of most nuts packs almost 400 calories, says registered dietitian Linda Barton of Petersburg, Ont. Try this: mix 1/4 cup (50 mL) of almonds with 1/4 cup (50 mL) of your favourite high-fibre cereal.
• Save 250 calories Opt for biscotti instead of a muffin at your local coffee house to satisfy your sweet tooth, says Toronto registered dietitian Susan Osher. Just don't choose one covered in chocolate!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Winter Energy Saving Tips....
With winter just around the corner, many of us are bracing ourselves for the arrival of higher electricity bills. Sadly, it’s inevitable; our country’s famously frigid climate forces us to increase our energy consumption during the cold months. There is, however, a way to reduce your monthly electricity consumption, and bill; by making small changes to your daily habits. Here are a few tips:
HEATING
• Replace your regular thermostats by electronic ones. They work to keep room temperatures constant and are programmable so you won’t need to remember to turn down the heat at night.
• Set your thermostats to 19ºC in the daytime and 17ºC at night. These are the average comfortable indoor temperatures during the winter months.
• On cold days, put on a warm sweater and add an extra cover onto your bed. You will feel warm and toasty, without having to turn up the heat.
• At night, close all your shades, blinds and drapes to keep the heat inside the house. Keep them open during the day to let in light… and heat from the sun.
• If you have a fireplace, remember to close the damper once the fire goes out.
• Weather-strip all doors and windows to keep the heat inside and the cold outside.
LIGHTING
• Dust your light bulbs regularly to keep their light shining brightly.
• Avoid unnecessary lighting in your home; turn the lights off in all unused rooms.
• When painting your home, opt for lighter wall colours that will reflect light.
• Replace your regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs; they use up to 75% less energy and last almost 10 times longer.
HOT WATER
• In the shower, cut the water while you’re soaping up, shaving, or shampooing your hair.
• Install a low flow showerhead to reduce the amount of hot water used.
• Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket to eliminate 97% of heat loss.
• Make sure to tightly close all faucets and fix the running ones. You’ll save water and energy if it’s the hot water tap that was leaking.
• Wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible.
IN THE KITCHEN
• Don’t leave the refrigerator door open for long periods of time.
• Avoid placing the fridge right next to the stove.
• When using the stove, make sure to use both a pot and burner that are size-appropriate for what you are making (not too big). A small soup = a small saucepan + a small burner.
• When cooking, try to cover pots as often as possible.
• Choose pots and pans that have an evenly flat bottom, ensuring efficient heat distribution.
HEATING
• Replace your regular thermostats by electronic ones. They work to keep room temperatures constant and are programmable so you won’t need to remember to turn down the heat at night.
• Set your thermostats to 19ºC in the daytime and 17ºC at night. These are the average comfortable indoor temperatures during the winter months.
• On cold days, put on a warm sweater and add an extra cover onto your bed. You will feel warm and toasty, without having to turn up the heat.
• At night, close all your shades, blinds and drapes to keep the heat inside the house. Keep them open during the day to let in light… and heat from the sun.
• If you have a fireplace, remember to close the damper once the fire goes out.
• Weather-strip all doors and windows to keep the heat inside and the cold outside.
LIGHTING
• Dust your light bulbs regularly to keep their light shining brightly.
• Avoid unnecessary lighting in your home; turn the lights off in all unused rooms.
• When painting your home, opt for lighter wall colours that will reflect light.
• Replace your regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs; they use up to 75% less energy and last almost 10 times longer.
HOT WATER
• In the shower, cut the water while you’re soaping up, shaving, or shampooing your hair.
• Install a low flow showerhead to reduce the amount of hot water used.
• Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket to eliminate 97% of heat loss.
• Make sure to tightly close all faucets and fix the running ones. You’ll save water and energy if it’s the hot water tap that was leaking.
• Wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible.
IN THE KITCHEN
• Don’t leave the refrigerator door open for long periods of time.
• Avoid placing the fridge right next to the stove.
• When using the stove, make sure to use both a pot and burner that are size-appropriate for what you are making (not too big). A small soup = a small saucepan + a small burner.
• When cooking, try to cover pots as often as possible.
• Choose pots and pans that have an evenly flat bottom, ensuring efficient heat distribution.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Careers that top $30 per hour !
In just 60 minutes, you could earn enough to pay for a tank of gas, the cable bill, gym membership, or dinner out. Thirty dollars still covers some of life's essential costs. Earn that much in just one hour on the job, and you have enough to build a comfortable life.
The latest U.S. Census Bureau figures put the median household income in the U.S. at $50,233. A $30-per-hour job brings in $62,400 before taxes, or 20% more than the national median. For many people, this extra margin is just one promotion or one credential away. To boost your economic security, consider these 10 careers with salary data as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Database Administrator
Mean Hourly Wage: $33.78
Salary: $70,260
Database administrators perform a vital role in our information economy, managing the database systems that help companies store, process, and access data effectively. Job growth is stunning in this high-demand field as well -- the profession is expected to grow 37 percent through 2016. Continuing education is a must to keep up with evolving technology, but entry requirements are modest. You can launch this $30-plus-an-hour career with an associate's degree in database administration or information technology.
Registered Nurse
Mean Hourly Wage: $30.04
Salary: $62,480
Historic demand for registered nurses is inspiring many people to reinvent themselves as health care practitioners. Nursing is projected to generate more new jobs than any other profession -- an estimated 587,000 positions through 2016, which represents a 23% increase in a decade. To take advantage of this boom, head to nursing school for your bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN). Accelerated programs are available for career changers who already have a bachelor degree in another field.
Technical Writer
Median Hourly Wage: $30.18
Salary: $62,780
Technical writers interpret engineering and scientific information for a lay audience, producing product documentation, user manuals, project proposals, and scientific reports. Most writers come to the field with a college bachelor's degree in a communications or liberal arts field. Some colleges offer specialized certificate programs in technical communication, which incorporate IT literacy training.
Fashion Designer
Median Hourly Wage: $34.22
Salary: $71,170
Fashion design has the reputation as an all-or-nothing labor of love -- you begin as a starving artist and ultimately attain celebrity stature designing haute couture. In fact, the majority of fashion designers -- 3 in 4 designers -- work secure, salaried jobs for apparel manufacturers. What these artists give up in suffering and glamour they make up for in a solid and stable paycheck. A job as a salaried fashion designer starts with an associate's or bachelor's degree in fashion design.
Accountant
Median Hourly Wage: $30.11
Salary: $62,640
Accountants should have no trouble finding work as businesses throughout the economy sort through the financial rubble of the credit crisis. Mounting federal regulation will also contribute to demand for trained accountants. Accountants working for accounting and bookkeeping services earn upwards of $30 per hour. These employers hire trained professionals with a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.
Environmental Scientist
Median Hourly Wage: $30.71
Salary: $63,870
Environmental scientists will be the heroes of the coming era, developing much-needed strategies to redress environmental damage to soil, water, and air. The field is expected to grow 25% in response to new federal regulations and funding, as well as private investment. A bachelor's degree in earth sciences will get you started in this fascinating and important field. Many scientists go on to a master's degree to secure the best opportunities.
K-12 Curriculum Designer
Median Hourly Wage: $30.87
Salary: $64,220
Curriculum designers are at the forefront of educational research, developing new instructional materials and strategies to improve the quality of education in our nation's schools. The job typically calls for a graduate-level degree in the field, such as a master's degree in education (M.Ed.).
Dental Hygienist
Mean Hourly Wage: $31.21
Salary: $64,910
To make about the same amount of money with a two-year associate's degree, enroll in a dental hygiene program. Dental hygienists work alongside dentists to promote oral health and hygiene. Hygienists enjoy distinction as one of the nation's fastest growing occupations, with 30% growth expected through 2016.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Median Hourly Wage: $30.05
Salary: $62,500
Solving crimes is all in a day's work for these criminal justice professionals. Criminal investigators can build their skill set by completing an associate's degree in criminal justice, where they take courses in crime scene investigation, criminal investigation procedures, and more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics rates job opportunities as "excellent."
Television Producer
Median Hourly Wage: $31.66
Salary: $65,850
Producers coordinate the television features we enjoy, from sitcoms to dramas to the nightly news. To build the necessary skill set, producers enter the field with an associate's or bachelor's degree in mass communications or broadcast media.
A tight economy hasn't stopped employers in these ten fields from hiring qualified grads. With the right degree, you can upgrade your career and find job security in the form of a $30-an-hour paycheck.
The latest U.S. Census Bureau figures put the median household income in the U.S. at $50,233. A $30-per-hour job brings in $62,400 before taxes, or 20% more than the national median. For many people, this extra margin is just one promotion or one credential away. To boost your economic security, consider these 10 careers with salary data as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Database Administrator
Mean Hourly Wage: $33.78
Salary: $70,260
Database administrators perform a vital role in our information economy, managing the database systems that help companies store, process, and access data effectively. Job growth is stunning in this high-demand field as well -- the profession is expected to grow 37 percent through 2016. Continuing education is a must to keep up with evolving technology, but entry requirements are modest. You can launch this $30-plus-an-hour career with an associate's degree in database administration or information technology.
Registered Nurse
Mean Hourly Wage: $30.04
Salary: $62,480
Historic demand for registered nurses is inspiring many people to reinvent themselves as health care practitioners. Nursing is projected to generate more new jobs than any other profession -- an estimated 587,000 positions through 2016, which represents a 23% increase in a decade. To take advantage of this boom, head to nursing school for your bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN). Accelerated programs are available for career changers who already have a bachelor degree in another field.
Technical Writer
Median Hourly Wage: $30.18
Salary: $62,780
Technical writers interpret engineering and scientific information for a lay audience, producing product documentation, user manuals, project proposals, and scientific reports. Most writers come to the field with a college bachelor's degree in a communications or liberal arts field. Some colleges offer specialized certificate programs in technical communication, which incorporate IT literacy training.
Fashion Designer
Median Hourly Wage: $34.22
Salary: $71,170
Fashion design has the reputation as an all-or-nothing labor of love -- you begin as a starving artist and ultimately attain celebrity stature designing haute couture. In fact, the majority of fashion designers -- 3 in 4 designers -- work secure, salaried jobs for apparel manufacturers. What these artists give up in suffering and glamour they make up for in a solid and stable paycheck. A job as a salaried fashion designer starts with an associate's or bachelor's degree in fashion design.
Accountant
Median Hourly Wage: $30.11
Salary: $62,640
Accountants should have no trouble finding work as businesses throughout the economy sort through the financial rubble of the credit crisis. Mounting federal regulation will also contribute to demand for trained accountants. Accountants working for accounting and bookkeeping services earn upwards of $30 per hour. These employers hire trained professionals with a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.
Environmental Scientist
Median Hourly Wage: $30.71
Salary: $63,870
Environmental scientists will be the heroes of the coming era, developing much-needed strategies to redress environmental damage to soil, water, and air. The field is expected to grow 25% in response to new federal regulations and funding, as well as private investment. A bachelor's degree in earth sciences will get you started in this fascinating and important field. Many scientists go on to a master's degree to secure the best opportunities.
K-12 Curriculum Designer
Median Hourly Wage: $30.87
Salary: $64,220
Curriculum designers are at the forefront of educational research, developing new instructional materials and strategies to improve the quality of education in our nation's schools. The job typically calls for a graduate-level degree in the field, such as a master's degree in education (M.Ed.).
Dental Hygienist
Mean Hourly Wage: $31.21
Salary: $64,910
To make about the same amount of money with a two-year associate's degree, enroll in a dental hygiene program. Dental hygienists work alongside dentists to promote oral health and hygiene. Hygienists enjoy distinction as one of the nation's fastest growing occupations, with 30% growth expected through 2016.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Median Hourly Wage: $30.05
Salary: $62,500
Solving crimes is all in a day's work for these criminal justice professionals. Criminal investigators can build their skill set by completing an associate's degree in criminal justice, where they take courses in crime scene investigation, criminal investigation procedures, and more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics rates job opportunities as "excellent."
Television Producer
Median Hourly Wage: $31.66
Salary: $65,850
Producers coordinate the television features we enjoy, from sitcoms to dramas to the nightly news. To build the necessary skill set, producers enter the field with an associate's or bachelor's degree in mass communications or broadcast media.
A tight economy hasn't stopped employers in these ten fields from hiring qualified grads. With the right degree, you can upgrade your career and find job security in the form of a $30-an-hour paycheck.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Five Things Super-Happy Couples Do Every Day
I Know We Do These Everyday! :)
Daily Habit #1: Talk to Each Other
Happily married couples typically say their relationships work better when they can sit down and gab one-on-one, like thinking, feeling adults. But who's got time for that?
Daily Habit #2: Flirt
Most couples realize that getting intimate every night isn't possible, let alone a worthy goal. Indeed, a 1994 University of Chicago survey of Americans' physical intimacy habits found that only about a third of adults have physical intimacy more than once a week.
Daily Habit #3: Get Stupid Together
Daily Habit #4: Declare Your Independence
Daily Habit #5: Share a Spiritual Moment
In another University of Chicago survey, this one of married couples, 75 percent of the Americans who pray with their spouses reported that their marriages are "very happy" (compared to 57 percent of those who don't). Those who pray together are also more likely to say they respect each other and discuss their relationship together. Not to say that prayer is a cure for all that ails you. But whether they're talking about a simple grace at dinnertime or some soul-searching meditation, couples routinely say that a shared spiritual life helps keep them close.
Daily Habit #1: Talk to Each Other
Happily married couples typically say their relationships work better when they can sit down and gab one-on-one, like thinking, feeling adults. But who's got time for that?
Daily Habit #2: Flirt
Most couples realize that getting intimate every night isn't possible, let alone a worthy goal. Indeed, a 1994 University of Chicago survey of Americans' physical intimacy habits found that only about a third of adults have physical intimacy more than once a week.
Daily Habit #3: Get Stupid Together
Daily Habit #4: Declare Your Independence
Daily Habit #5: Share a Spiritual Moment
In another University of Chicago survey, this one of married couples, 75 percent of the Americans who pray with their spouses reported that their marriages are "very happy" (compared to 57 percent of those who don't). Those who pray together are also more likely to say they respect each other and discuss their relationship together. Not to say that prayer is a cure for all that ails you. But whether they're talking about a simple grace at dinnertime or some soul-searching meditation, couples routinely say that a shared spiritual life helps keep them close.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Updates and Stuff...
Well it's the new year, not much been happening really.
Playing City of Heroes, D&D, Pathfinder, a ton of movie watching since we got netflix and just hanging out and having fun.
Just trying to have alot of us time.
We even turn off the phones and ignore everyone lol.
I love when we do that myself, its relaxing.
I been still at my workout, though I have come down with a cold/flu which sucks, I did my workout today anyways but I took away all my energy doing it and the housework on top of that. I'm sleepy now......
Other then that not much else really, hubby's napping so I am gonna go finish my cape mission in City of Heroes and make a new costume for Cosmic Photon my Peacebringer.
Playing City of Heroes, D&D, Pathfinder, a ton of movie watching since we got netflix and just hanging out and having fun.
Just trying to have alot of us time.
We even turn off the phones and ignore everyone lol.
I love when we do that myself, its relaxing.
I been still at my workout, though I have come down with a cold/flu which sucks, I did my workout today anyways but I took away all my energy doing it and the housework on top of that. I'm sleepy now......
Other then that not much else really, hubby's napping so I am gonna go finish my cape mission in City of Heroes and make a new costume for Cosmic Photon my Peacebringer.
Monday, January 05, 2009
HAPPY NEW YEARS!
Things been going great, even the out look of Obama and his plans, sounds promising, but we will have to see! Here is a bit of something I found on yahoo news this morning about his tax plan, more take home pay for workers too!? Well just read it =)
Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package will include hundreds of billions of dollars worth of tax breaks for individuals and businesses, according to a transition official and Democratic aides.
Obama is asking that tax cuts make up 40 percent of a stimulus package, the people say. The measure may be worth as much as $775 billion, a Democratic aide says, meaning tax cuts may constitute more than $300 billion of the legislation.
The dollar today rose to the highest level in almost three weeks against the euro and also surged against the yen on speculation that the Obama plan would help the U.S. economy recover from recession.
Making tax cuts such a large part of the stimulus may help win support from congressional Republicans. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said his party would support an immediate middle-class tax cut as part of any stimulus package.
“Republicans, by and large, think tax relief is a great way to get money to people immediately,” McConnell said yesterday on ABC’s “This Week.”
The plan would attempt to boost consumer demand by spending $140 billion on tax breaks worth $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples, according to a House Democratic aide. The change would come by altering tax-withholding rules, rather than through a rebate check as with the previous stimulus plan enacted last year, so that workers would see an immediate increase in their take-home pay.
The $500 tax credit would apply to the first $8,100 of wages, meaning a worker who earns $24,400 a year and is paid twice a month would get about $60 extra per paycheck for four months.
Business Tax Breaks
For businesses, the aide said, lawmakers will use similar measures they’ve employed in past stimulus bills, such as allowing companies to get refunds for taxes paid in any or all of the past five years by deducting losses they’ve incurred now; those losses can currently only be carried back two years.
Congress is also likely to include incentives such as accelerated depreciation to encourage companies to buy equipment now rather than defer such investments. The plan also attempts to combat joblessness by offering companies tax breaks for hiring more workers, the aide said.
The tax provisions are also likely to repeal the alternative minimum tax on municipal bonds issued to build airport runways, sewer systems and other privately run facilities that benefit the population at large, another aide said. Congress is unlikely to enact a new round of incentives for U.S.-based multinational corporations to repatriate foreign earnings at a discounted tax rate as urged by business groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, that aide said.
Accelerated Tax Breaks
Many of the business tax incentives would be accelerated so that any dollar written off now would not be able to be claimed in future years, the aide said. That would reduce the long-term impact of the tax cuts on the federal budget deficit.
Obama is slated to meet today with congressional leaders from both parties to discuss the plan. Democrats said Congress probably won’t be able to complete work on the plan by January 20, the day of the inauguration, as some had hoped.
“It’s going to be very difficult to get a package put together that early,” said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” “We want to do this right.” He said he expects the House to pass the bill by the end of the month and get the legislation through the Senate and signed into law in February.
Urgency
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in an interview yesterday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” downplayed the importance of what he called a “false” deadline. “The urgency of this, everyone knows about -- but I’m not going to have some false deadline,” Reid said. “It’ll take as much time as it needs to get done.”
Obama has called on lawmakers to quickly pass legislation to prop up the economy, which is in its worst slump in decades and could deteriorate further without significant fiscal stimulus. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg last month projected gross domestic product would shrink in the fourth quarter by 4.3 percent, the biggest decline since 1982.
Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package will include hundreds of billions of dollars worth of tax breaks for individuals and businesses, according to a transition official and Democratic aides.
Obama is asking that tax cuts make up 40 percent of a stimulus package, the people say. The measure may be worth as much as $775 billion, a Democratic aide says, meaning tax cuts may constitute more than $300 billion of the legislation.
The dollar today rose to the highest level in almost three weeks against the euro and also surged against the yen on speculation that the Obama plan would help the U.S. economy recover from recession.
Making tax cuts such a large part of the stimulus may help win support from congressional Republicans. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said his party would support an immediate middle-class tax cut as part of any stimulus package.
“Republicans, by and large, think tax relief is a great way to get money to people immediately,” McConnell said yesterday on ABC’s “This Week.”
The plan would attempt to boost consumer demand by spending $140 billion on tax breaks worth $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples, according to a House Democratic aide. The change would come by altering tax-withholding rules, rather than through a rebate check as with the previous stimulus plan enacted last year, so that workers would see an immediate increase in their take-home pay.
The $500 tax credit would apply to the first $8,100 of wages, meaning a worker who earns $24,400 a year and is paid twice a month would get about $60 extra per paycheck for four months.
Business Tax Breaks
For businesses, the aide said, lawmakers will use similar measures they’ve employed in past stimulus bills, such as allowing companies to get refunds for taxes paid in any or all of the past five years by deducting losses they’ve incurred now; those losses can currently only be carried back two years.
Congress is also likely to include incentives such as accelerated depreciation to encourage companies to buy equipment now rather than defer such investments. The plan also attempts to combat joblessness by offering companies tax breaks for hiring more workers, the aide said.
The tax provisions are also likely to repeal the alternative minimum tax on municipal bonds issued to build airport runways, sewer systems and other privately run facilities that benefit the population at large, another aide said. Congress is unlikely to enact a new round of incentives for U.S.-based multinational corporations to repatriate foreign earnings at a discounted tax rate as urged by business groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, that aide said.
Accelerated Tax Breaks
Many of the business tax incentives would be accelerated so that any dollar written off now would not be able to be claimed in future years, the aide said. That would reduce the long-term impact of the tax cuts on the federal budget deficit.
Obama is slated to meet today with congressional leaders from both parties to discuss the plan. Democrats said Congress probably won’t be able to complete work on the plan by January 20, the day of the inauguration, as some had hoped.
“It’s going to be very difficult to get a package put together that early,” said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” “We want to do this right.” He said he expects the House to pass the bill by the end of the month and get the legislation through the Senate and signed into law in February.
Urgency
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in an interview yesterday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” downplayed the importance of what he called a “false” deadline. “The urgency of this, everyone knows about -- but I’m not going to have some false deadline,” Reid said. “It’ll take as much time as it needs to get done.”
Obama has called on lawmakers to quickly pass legislation to prop up the economy, which is in its worst slump in decades and could deteriorate further without significant fiscal stimulus. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg last month projected gross domestic product would shrink in the fourth quarter by 4.3 percent, the biggest decline since 1982.
Monday, December 29, 2008
My End Of The Year Post....
Well it's the 29th of December.
Right around the time I got the phone call last year and found out grandpa passed away, I miss him very much, he was like a father to me.
Grandma is missing him too, very much more I can tell each time I call her. They where married over 65 years, so it's understandable.
I started working out again, got a biggest looser dvd, man that is tough stuff but I can do it, I just need to keep my ass motivated.
I cleaned up and out the kitchen day before last, today I did the living room, tomorrow bedroom, then back to the basement.
Which I am dreading the basement, so much crap down there.
This took up most of my morning, it's now 1pm, I wanna play City of Heroes but I know hubby will be home soon and hungry, so after I am done my food I am gonna make him something when he gets in, then dunno what we will do, prolly movies who knows. But whatever it is we will turn off the phone and ignore everyone, and just hang out.
I got 3 50's this month in city of heroes, have a brute at 49 and 2 lvl 44's.
Mistress Noire was my first 50 after restarting my account in 2005. Then along came Athena, then Noire's nemesis Mistress Ivoire shortly after 2006 started. Then followed Sonica and Cute Canadian in 2007. Then Captain Noire in June 2008 followed by Natasha Snow in October then Pyro Commander, Pyro Nikita, and Isadora Storm in December 2008. I am on a roll ! I now have a level almost 46 fire/fire tank and a 37 kin/dark. Maybe get them to 50 b4 the next double xp weekend (Jan 23rd - 25th).
We will see, other then that this year has been great! I have the best hubby in the world, went back to being a stay at home wife, cleaning like mad, baking and cooking of course! and got my things together for my cookbook, need to get my ass in gear to finish it this coming year that's my resolution, to get that dang thing done as well as continuing to lose weight.
Until the new year, this is me!
Happy New Years!
Right around the time I got the phone call last year and found out grandpa passed away, I miss him very much, he was like a father to me.
Grandma is missing him too, very much more I can tell each time I call her. They where married over 65 years, so it's understandable.
I started working out again, got a biggest looser dvd, man that is tough stuff but I can do it, I just need to keep my ass motivated.
I cleaned up and out the kitchen day before last, today I did the living room, tomorrow bedroom, then back to the basement.
Which I am dreading the basement, so much crap down there.
This took up most of my morning, it's now 1pm, I wanna play City of Heroes but I know hubby will be home soon and hungry, so after I am done my food I am gonna make him something when he gets in, then dunno what we will do, prolly movies who knows. But whatever it is we will turn off the phone and ignore everyone, and just hang out.
I got 3 50's this month in city of heroes, have a brute at 49 and 2 lvl 44's.
Mistress Noire was my first 50 after restarting my account in 2005. Then along came Athena, then Noire's nemesis Mistress Ivoire shortly after 2006 started. Then followed Sonica and Cute Canadian in 2007. Then Captain Noire in June 2008 followed by Natasha Snow in October then Pyro Commander, Pyro Nikita, and Isadora Storm in December 2008. I am on a roll ! I now have a level almost 46 fire/fire tank and a 37 kin/dark. Maybe get them to 50 b4 the next double xp weekend (Jan 23rd - 25th).
We will see, other then that this year has been great! I have the best hubby in the world, went back to being a stay at home wife, cleaning like mad, baking and cooking of course! and got my things together for my cookbook, need to get my ass in gear to finish it this coming year that's my resolution, to get that dang thing done as well as continuing to lose weight.
Until the new year, this is me!
Happy New Years!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Yule Lore
Yule, (pronounced EWE-elle) is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, much celebration was to be had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and made her to bear forth from seeds protected through the fall and winter in her womb. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider.
Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun, the boughs were symbolic of immortality, the wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly, mistletoe, and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes. It was to extend invitation to Nature Sprites to come and join the celebration. A sprig of Holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to pay visit to the residents.
The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder's land, or given as a gift... it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze be a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice.
A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one side so it sets upright. Drill three holes in the top side to hold red, green, and white (season), green, gold, and black (the Sun God), or white, red, and black (the Great Goddess). Continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves, and dust with flour.
Deities of Yule are all Newborn Gods, Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, and Triple Goddesses. The best known would be the Dagda, and Brighid, the daughter of the Dagda. Brighid taught the smiths the arts of fire tending and the secrets of metal work. Brighid's flame, like the flame of the new light, pierces the darkness of the spirit and mind, while the Dagda's cauldron assures that Nature will always provide for all the children.
Symbolism of Yule:
Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for the Future.
Symbols of Yule:
Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.
Herbs of Yule:
Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, yellow cedar.
Foods of Yule:
Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb's wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).
Incense of Yule:
Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.
Colors of Yule:
Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.
Stones of Yule:
Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds.
Activities of Yule:
Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, honoring Kriss Kringle the Germanic Pagan God of Yule
Spellworkings of Yule:
Peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.
Deities of Yule:
Goddesses-Brighid, Isis, Demeter, Gaea, Diana, The Great Mother. Gods-Apollo, Ra, Odin, Lugh, The Oak King, The Horned One, The Green Man, The Divine Child, Mabon.
Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun, the boughs were symbolic of immortality, the wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly, mistletoe, and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes. It was to extend invitation to Nature Sprites to come and join the celebration. A sprig of Holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to pay visit to the residents.
The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder's land, or given as a gift... it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze be a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice.
A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one side so it sets upright. Drill three holes in the top side to hold red, green, and white (season), green, gold, and black (the Sun God), or white, red, and black (the Great Goddess). Continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves, and dust with flour.
Deities of Yule are all Newborn Gods, Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, and Triple Goddesses. The best known would be the Dagda, and Brighid, the daughter of the Dagda. Brighid taught the smiths the arts of fire tending and the secrets of metal work. Brighid's flame, like the flame of the new light, pierces the darkness of the spirit and mind, while the Dagda's cauldron assures that Nature will always provide for all the children.
Symbolism of Yule:
Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for the Future.
Symbols of Yule:
Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.
Herbs of Yule:
Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, yellow cedar.
Foods of Yule:
Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb's wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).
Incense of Yule:
Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.
Colors of Yule:
Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.
Stones of Yule:
Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds.
Activities of Yule:
Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, honoring Kriss Kringle the Germanic Pagan God of Yule
Spellworkings of Yule:
Peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.
Deities of Yule:
Goddesses-Brighid, Isis, Demeter, Gaea, Diana, The Great Mother. Gods-Apollo, Ra, Odin, Lugh, The Oak King, The Horned One, The Green Man, The Divine Child, Mabon.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Top 5 holiday foods for good moods!
It's that intense time of the year again when the lows are low and the highs are high. Here are our picks of uplifting foods that will banish the blues, keep you focused and maybe even a little sexier. Bon appetit!
1. Peppermint. It's nature's drill sergant, telling your brain to "wake up and focus!" Perfect for all thise must-do holiday details. The next time you're dragging, pop a piece of peppermint gum and listen to your brain say, "can do!"
2. Dark chocolate. An ounce or two may be just enough to release the feel-good brain chemical serotonin, plus you'll get a three-way energy kick from chocolate's caffeine, theobromine, and phenylethylamine (a cousin of amphetamine). And the antioxidants in 70% dark chocolate do your arteries good too. No wonder we crave the irresistible stuff.
3. Wild salmon (mackerel and herring, too). Logged more miles in a day at the mall than you usually do in a week on the treadmill? The accumulated anti-inflammatory action of omega-3s in a fish platter or a grilled salmon steak can help ease the wear-and-tear on your tired body.
4. Half a dozen Blue Points. You get more zinc from six oysters than you need in a day to fuel your production of testosterone-the hormone that keeps both men and women in the mood for love. Oysters are also a storehouse of dopamine, the brain's pleasure chemical.
5. An Omelet. Just two eggs give you an entire daily quota of vitamin B12, a nutrient that's crucial to your brain's supply of good-mood chemicals. Make it a veggie omelet, add a whole-wheat bagel and you'll be good to go for hours...and for few calories!
1. Peppermint. It's nature's drill sergant, telling your brain to "wake up and focus!" Perfect for all thise must-do holiday details. The next time you're dragging, pop a piece of peppermint gum and listen to your brain say, "can do!"
2. Dark chocolate. An ounce or two may be just enough to release the feel-good brain chemical serotonin, plus you'll get a three-way energy kick from chocolate's caffeine, theobromine, and phenylethylamine (a cousin of amphetamine). And the antioxidants in 70% dark chocolate do your arteries good too. No wonder we crave the irresistible stuff.
3. Wild salmon (mackerel and herring, too). Logged more miles in a day at the mall than you usually do in a week on the treadmill? The accumulated anti-inflammatory action of omega-3s in a fish platter or a grilled salmon steak can help ease the wear-and-tear on your tired body.
4. Half a dozen Blue Points. You get more zinc from six oysters than you need in a day to fuel your production of testosterone-the hormone that keeps both men and women in the mood for love. Oysters are also a storehouse of dopamine, the brain's pleasure chemical.
5. An Omelet. Just two eggs give you an entire daily quota of vitamin B12, a nutrient that's crucial to your brain's supply of good-mood chemicals. Make it a veggie omelet, add a whole-wheat bagel and you'll be good to go for hours...and for few calories!
Monday, December 08, 2008
Tripple Ding!
I did it, this is gonna be short but 3 50s this weekend in City of Heroes, my brute was 2 bubs from 49, did I ITF got 50, Pyros where lvl 44, did a ITF, did Sara Moore, did Faathim x2, ran some radios... just so tired now........ bedtime!!
This equals 10 50s now
nite nite!
This equals 10 50s now
nite nite!
Monday, December 01, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Tabula Rasa ~ Goes FREE!
To the Tabula Rasa Community,
Last November we launched what we hoped would be a ground breaking sci-fi MMO. In many ways, we think we've achieved that goal. Tabula Rasa has some unique features that make it fun and very different from every other MMO out there. Unfortunately, the fact is that the game hasn't performed as expected. The development team has worked hard to improve the game since launch, but the game never achieved the player population we hoped for.
So it is with regret that we must announce that Tabula Rasa will end live service on February 28, 2009.
Before we end the service, we'll make Tabula Rasa servers free to play starting on January 10, 2009.
We can assure you that through the next couple of months we'll be doing some really fun things in Tabula Rasa, and we plan to make staying on a little longer worth your while. For more details about what we are doing for Tabula Rasa players, please click here.
Stay tuned for more information. We thank you for your loyal support of the game and encourage you to take us up on the benefits we're offering Tabula Rasa players.
The Tabula Rasa Team
Last November we launched what we hoped would be a ground breaking sci-fi MMO. In many ways, we think we've achieved that goal. Tabula Rasa has some unique features that make it fun and very different from every other MMO out there. Unfortunately, the fact is that the game hasn't performed as expected. The development team has worked hard to improve the game since launch, but the game never achieved the player population we hoped for.
So it is with regret that we must announce that Tabula Rasa will end live service on February 28, 2009.
Before we end the service, we'll make Tabula Rasa servers free to play starting on January 10, 2009.
We can assure you that through the next couple of months we'll be doing some really fun things in Tabula Rasa, and we plan to make staying on a little longer worth your while. For more details about what we are doing for Tabula Rasa players, please click here.
Stay tuned for more information. We thank you for your loyal support of the game and encourage you to take us up on the benefits we're offering Tabula Rasa players.
The Tabula Rasa Team
Thursday, November 20, 2008
7 Winter Foods Rich in Antioxidants
Artichoke Hearts
I knew artichokes were good for the liver and was pleased to hear that they're high in antioxidants as well. Artichoke hearts are low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals. Although they are great fresh, you can find canned artichoke hearts packed in water in any season. Add them to your homemade pizza to make it equal parts gourmet and healthy!
Beans
High in both fiber and protein, beans are also high in antioxidants. The antioxidant levels found in kidney and pinto beans are considerably higher than those in black beans, but black beans are not too shabby either. Dried and canned beans (go for low sodium beans) are available all year round, but a big bowl of vegetarian chili on a cold night will certainly warm you up.
Cranberries
This is the season of the mighty cranberry and you should eat these berries any way you can. They are antioxidant powerhouses. They give your immune system a much-needed boost in the Fall. Cranberries may also protect against heart disease as well cancer.
Pecans
Considered on par with antioxidant superstars cherries and cranberries, pecans are a delightful way to increase your antioxidant intake. Naturally sweet, eating a moderate amount of nuts weekly lowers the risk of gaining weight. I just wouldn't necessarily eat them in the form of pecan pie.
Prunes
Being dried fruits, prunes are available all year long. They are high in two important antioxidants; one fights the negative consequences of oxidation fats and cholesterol, and the other fights cell-damaging free radicals. Folks either love or hate prunes, but I find them enjoyable chopped into small bits and scattered over my morning oatmeal. What about you?
Granny Smith Apples
Maybe there is some validity to the age-old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." The humble apple is actually high in antioxidants and provides just slightly less than strawberries. Don't skip the skin, though. Antioxidants give color to foods, and the color of the apple is in the skin. Plus, not every apple provides the same amount of antioxidants. The USDA ranking of antioxidant levels found that the apple variety Red Delicious contained more beneficial phytochemicals than Granny Smiths. These two types of apples offered more antioxidants than Gala apples.
Cloves
Spices add flavor as well as antioxidants to many dishes, and cloves are no exception. As well as being high in antioxidants, this spice used in many Winter dishes and desserts also has a mild anti-inflammatory effect and can help relieve dental pain.
I knew artichokes were good for the liver and was pleased to hear that they're high in antioxidants as well. Artichoke hearts are low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals. Although they are great fresh, you can find canned artichoke hearts packed in water in any season. Add them to your homemade pizza to make it equal parts gourmet and healthy!
Beans
High in both fiber and protein, beans are also high in antioxidants. The antioxidant levels found in kidney and pinto beans are considerably higher than those in black beans, but black beans are not too shabby either. Dried and canned beans (go for low sodium beans) are available all year round, but a big bowl of vegetarian chili on a cold night will certainly warm you up.
Cranberries
This is the season of the mighty cranberry and you should eat these berries any way you can. They are antioxidant powerhouses. They give your immune system a much-needed boost in the Fall. Cranberries may also protect against heart disease as well cancer.
Pecans
Considered on par with antioxidant superstars cherries and cranberries, pecans are a delightful way to increase your antioxidant intake. Naturally sweet, eating a moderate amount of nuts weekly lowers the risk of gaining weight. I just wouldn't necessarily eat them in the form of pecan pie.
Prunes
Being dried fruits, prunes are available all year long. They are high in two important antioxidants; one fights the negative consequences of oxidation fats and cholesterol, and the other fights cell-damaging free radicals. Folks either love or hate prunes, but I find them enjoyable chopped into small bits and scattered over my morning oatmeal. What about you?
Granny Smith Apples
Maybe there is some validity to the age-old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." The humble apple is actually high in antioxidants and provides just slightly less than strawberries. Don't skip the skin, though. Antioxidants give color to foods, and the color of the apple is in the skin. Plus, not every apple provides the same amount of antioxidants. The USDA ranking of antioxidant levels found that the apple variety Red Delicious contained more beneficial phytochemicals than Granny Smiths. These two types of apples offered more antioxidants than Gala apples.
Cloves
Spices add flavor as well as antioxidants to many dishes, and cloves are no exception. As well as being high in antioxidants, this spice used in many Winter dishes and desserts also has a mild anti-inflammatory effect and can help relieve dental pain.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Best picks and skips at the salad bar
Salad bars can be diet salvation or junk-food minefields. Here's how to get from one end to the other without detonating an explosion of bad fats, sodium, sugar, and refined carbs.
1. Go dark on greens: Build a vitamin -- and fiber-packed --foundation by starting with roughly 1 cup of spinach and romaine leaves (for more than half of your daily vitamin A and all of your K, plus some C, folate, two potent vision protectors, and more). Skip'em: Lighter greens tend to offer less nutritionally. Iceberg lettuce, for instance, delivers only about 7% of the A you need, some K and not much else.
2. Go bright on veggies: Next, add about 1 cup of the most colorful crudités - broccoli, carrots, cherry tomatoes, green and red peppers, beets, like that. Ounce for ounce, vibrant veggies give you more fiber, minerals, vitamins, and disease-fighting antioxidants than their paler companions, like celery and cucumbers. Skip'em: Anything coated in mayo or an indefinable dressing, including carrot and raisin mixes, cole slaw, and potato salad.
3. Choose lean proteins: Aim for about ½ cup of these. Chickpeas and kidney beans are nifty sources of fat-free protein (6 grams each). Sliced hard-boiled eggs (8 grams) are another smart choice; just limit the yolk to limit the fat. Skip'em: Chicken, tuna, or crab salads - they're usually made with high-fat mayo; three-bean salad, which typically is afloat in a sea of oil; and cottage cheese, which is high in aging (read artery-clogging) saturated fat.
4. Sprinkle on extra flavor and crunch: Like cheese? Add 1 tablespoon of Parmesan (22 calories) to punch up the flavor, or 1 tablespoon of walnuts or sunflower seeds for some healthy crunch. Both have good-for-your-heart fats, which help your body absorb the nutrients in all those veggies. Skip'em: Cheddar cubes - you'll quickly eat more than you need; croutons - they may look harmless but at 100 calories per ¼ cup, they're usually high-cal booby traps of refined carbs, sodium, and trans fats. Ditto for crunchy Asian noodles.
5. Dress for success: Now swirl on about 1 tablespoon of heart-healthy olive oil, a splash of vinegar, a grating of pepper, and toss, toss, toss. Ask any chef. It's the secret to a perfect salad - thorough tossing ensures that all the flavors and textures are evenly distributed and lets you use minimal dressing to maximum effect. Skip'em: Walk right past those vats of ready-made salad dressings. Even the low-fat or fat-free versions are usually loaded with salt, sugar, and additives. And just 2 tablespoons of regular blue cheese or ranch have about 160 fat-packed calories
Ready? Dig in. Yum. Mission accomplished!
PS: Prefer a fruit salad? Easy. Go for whatever's fresh - melons, berries, pineapple, kiwi - and top with 1 to 2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts or sunflower seeds for a dollop of good fats and crunchy flavor. Then buy a small container of low- or no-fat yogurt/cottage cheese for creamy protein minus the sat fat in dairy foods. Skip'em: Syrupy canned peaches, apricots, pears, etc. They have far more calories and fewer nutrients than fresh fruit.
1. Go dark on greens: Build a vitamin -- and fiber-packed --foundation by starting with roughly 1 cup of spinach and romaine leaves (for more than half of your daily vitamin A and all of your K, plus some C, folate, two potent vision protectors, and more). Skip'em: Lighter greens tend to offer less nutritionally. Iceberg lettuce, for instance, delivers only about 7% of the A you need, some K and not much else.
2. Go bright on veggies: Next, add about 1 cup of the most colorful crudités - broccoli, carrots, cherry tomatoes, green and red peppers, beets, like that. Ounce for ounce, vibrant veggies give you more fiber, minerals, vitamins, and disease-fighting antioxidants than their paler companions, like celery and cucumbers. Skip'em: Anything coated in mayo or an indefinable dressing, including carrot and raisin mixes, cole slaw, and potato salad.
3. Choose lean proteins: Aim for about ½ cup of these. Chickpeas and kidney beans are nifty sources of fat-free protein (6 grams each). Sliced hard-boiled eggs (8 grams) are another smart choice; just limit the yolk to limit the fat. Skip'em: Chicken, tuna, or crab salads - they're usually made with high-fat mayo; three-bean salad, which typically is afloat in a sea of oil; and cottage cheese, which is high in aging (read artery-clogging) saturated fat.
4. Sprinkle on extra flavor and crunch: Like cheese? Add 1 tablespoon of Parmesan (22 calories) to punch up the flavor, or 1 tablespoon of walnuts or sunflower seeds for some healthy crunch. Both have good-for-your-heart fats, which help your body absorb the nutrients in all those veggies. Skip'em: Cheddar cubes - you'll quickly eat more than you need; croutons - they may look harmless but at 100 calories per ¼ cup, they're usually high-cal booby traps of refined carbs, sodium, and trans fats. Ditto for crunchy Asian noodles.
5. Dress for success: Now swirl on about 1 tablespoon of heart-healthy olive oil, a splash of vinegar, a grating of pepper, and toss, toss, toss. Ask any chef. It's the secret to a perfect salad - thorough tossing ensures that all the flavors and textures are evenly distributed and lets you use minimal dressing to maximum effect. Skip'em: Walk right past those vats of ready-made salad dressings. Even the low-fat or fat-free versions are usually loaded with salt, sugar, and additives. And just 2 tablespoons of regular blue cheese or ranch have about 160 fat-packed calories
Ready? Dig in. Yum. Mission accomplished!
PS: Prefer a fruit salad? Easy. Go for whatever's fresh - melons, berries, pineapple, kiwi - and top with 1 to 2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts or sunflower seeds for a dollop of good fats and crunchy flavor. Then buy a small container of low- or no-fat yogurt/cottage cheese for creamy protein minus the sat fat in dairy foods. Skip'em: Syrupy canned peaches, apricots, pears, etc. They have far more calories and fewer nutrients than fresh fruit.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
8 Couple Arguments Not Worth Having
When in a relationship, there can be many things to gripe about. Some fights may be deemed legitimate, while others may not require the waste of breath. Here are eight common subjects that could lead to harsh arguments that best not be bothered with.
1. The Ex-factor. You may feel that you’re living in the shadow of your guy’s ex-girlfriend but, unless he’s constantly talking about her, you shouldn’t mention her name, lest it cause a huge argument. Everyone has a past, but just focus on the present: he’s with you now, so that should be comfort enough.
2. Daily chores. Does your guy have a habit of not picking up his socks or letting his dirty dishes sit in the sink for days? We’ll admit, it can annoy the heck out of any woman, but it’s not worth starting a fight over. You can either take two seconds and toss those socks in the hamper, or just nicely (i.e. not yell) inform him to do so; he may change his habits and start picking up some of the slack.
3. Money issues. Money can be a sore spot for many couples, whether there is not enough of it or you can’t decide on who pays the next time you go out. When you and your guy hit the movies and he wants to pay, you may protest once (you are a self-sufficient woman, after all!) but leave it at that. There’s no reason to stay angry and fight over the cost of a movie ticket; you can just pay next time.
4. Not enough sex. You’ve hit a dry spell lately? Before you start thinking that something has gone horribly wrong in your relationship and demand he tell you why he’s no longer interested in you, look into whether he’s sick or tired or stressed at work. There are many variables as to why he won’t give it up, and him not being attracted to you anymore may not be one of them.
5. That certain friend or family member. His nosy and always-present mother may be a source of contention between you and your guy, but you most certainly can’t tell him to stop seeing her! Avoiding a huge dispute on the subject may be best, and here are a few tips on dealing with the situation.
6. He doesn’t have time for you. We all want to see as much of our guy as possible, but sometimes he needs a break and just wants to spend some time with his friends, or even alone. We all have the right to some alone time, so don’t ream on him for spending some nights at his place and a weekend with the guys; time away from you will do you both good, and make you extra happy when you do see each other again.
7. Changing him. You may wish your guy would cut his hair or start dressing fancier. You chose him and love him for being the way he is, so don’t start picking a fight to get him to change his ways and his overall look. You wouldn’t want him to make the same arguments towards you, would you?
8. Those little annoyances. Does your guy chew his food too loudly or have a habit of biting his nails? These tiny things may not usually bother you, but can manifest themselves after, say, living with him for awhile and when you’re particularly cross with your guy. You may end up hurting his feelings, so why not just let the subject drop and exit the room until you’ve calmed down a bit?
Note: There are varying degrees of these common arguments. If you feel as if some situations (from the not picking up after himself to the less and less time he spends with you) may imply some deeper problem within your relationship, then they may warrant a serious conversation.
1. The Ex-factor. You may feel that you’re living in the shadow of your guy’s ex-girlfriend but, unless he’s constantly talking about her, you shouldn’t mention her name, lest it cause a huge argument. Everyone has a past, but just focus on the present: he’s with you now, so that should be comfort enough.
2. Daily chores. Does your guy have a habit of not picking up his socks or letting his dirty dishes sit in the sink for days? We’ll admit, it can annoy the heck out of any woman, but it’s not worth starting a fight over. You can either take two seconds and toss those socks in the hamper, or just nicely (i.e. not yell) inform him to do so; he may change his habits and start picking up some of the slack.
3. Money issues. Money can be a sore spot for many couples, whether there is not enough of it or you can’t decide on who pays the next time you go out. When you and your guy hit the movies and he wants to pay, you may protest once (you are a self-sufficient woman, after all!) but leave it at that. There’s no reason to stay angry and fight over the cost of a movie ticket; you can just pay next time.
4. Not enough sex. You’ve hit a dry spell lately? Before you start thinking that something has gone horribly wrong in your relationship and demand he tell you why he’s no longer interested in you, look into whether he’s sick or tired or stressed at work. There are many variables as to why he won’t give it up, and him not being attracted to you anymore may not be one of them.
5. That certain friend or family member. His nosy and always-present mother may be a source of contention between you and your guy, but you most certainly can’t tell him to stop seeing her! Avoiding a huge dispute on the subject may be best, and here are a few tips on dealing with the situation.
6. He doesn’t have time for you. We all want to see as much of our guy as possible, but sometimes he needs a break and just wants to spend some time with his friends, or even alone. We all have the right to some alone time, so don’t ream on him for spending some nights at his place and a weekend with the guys; time away from you will do you both good, and make you extra happy when you do see each other again.
7. Changing him. You may wish your guy would cut his hair or start dressing fancier. You chose him and love him for being the way he is, so don’t start picking a fight to get him to change his ways and his overall look. You wouldn’t want him to make the same arguments towards you, would you?
8. Those little annoyances. Does your guy chew his food too loudly or have a habit of biting his nails? These tiny things may not usually bother you, but can manifest themselves after, say, living with him for awhile and when you’re particularly cross with your guy. You may end up hurting his feelings, so why not just let the subject drop and exit the room until you’ve calmed down a bit?
Note: There are varying degrees of these common arguments. If you feel as if some situations (from the not picking up after himself to the less and less time he spends with you) may imply some deeper problem within your relationship, then they may warrant a serious conversation.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Please Keep Your Promises Mr Obama!
Major economic proposals President-elect Obama discussed Friday to aid recovery from the nation's economic distress:
_Swift passage by Congress of a new fiscal stimulus bill either before or soon after he takes office in January.
_Immediate extension of unemployment benefits for those who can't find work.
_A rescue plan for the middle class that invests in immediate efforts to create jobs and provides relief to families watching paychecks shrink and life savings disappear.
_Efforts to address the spreading impact of the financial crisis on other sectors of the economy, including small businesses struggling to meet payroll and finance holiday inventories and state and municipal governments facing budget cuts and tax increases.
_Aid for the struggling auto industry and related businesses such as auto suppliers, which face severe hardships.
_Review the implementation of the $700 billion financial rescue plan to ensure it is achieving its central goal of stabilizing financial markets while protecting taxpayers, helping homeowners and not unduly rewarding the management of the financial firms receiving government assistance.
_A set of energy, health care, education and tax relief policies designed to grow the middle class and revive the economy.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Congratz Mr. President!
Yep Obama won it huge!
Let's hope for the change he spoke about all campain long
Saturday, November 01, 2008
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Ya I know I'm late, its cause I was having a hella lotta fun last night, Mandy and Forrest came over and we made food and watch'd scary movies and took pics!
Unfort hubby got talk'd into a odd shift, but his original shift was taken care of so that was good but suck'd cause he was so tired since he didn't get alot of sleep, so he is prolly gonna sleep all day right until hes gotta go to work, which is okay he needs his rest.
He got me 3 really long'd stem'd flowers last night, can't think of the name of them trying to find em online but no luck yet. He got em just cause, hes so sweet and I love him so much.
Other then that not much else, getting ready for D&D day Monday and more working out at the gym, then Tuesday for our dinner and movie time with cuddles =P
Time to do some housework then play City Of Heroes :)
Unfort hubby got talk'd into a odd shift, but his original shift was taken care of so that was good but suck'd cause he was so tired since he didn't get alot of sleep, so he is prolly gonna sleep all day right until hes gotta go to work, which is okay he needs his rest.
He got me 3 really long'd stem'd flowers last night, can't think of the name of them trying to find em online but no luck yet. He got em just cause, hes so sweet and I love him so much.
Other then that not much else, getting ready for D&D day Monday and more working out at the gym, then Tuesday for our dinner and movie time with cuddles =P
Time to do some housework then play City Of Heroes :)
Friday, October 31, 2008
10 Things You Didn't Know About Sex!
1: Ready, set, go—there’s nearly no difference in the amount of time it takes healthy men and women to reach peak sexual arousal: roughly 10 minutes.
2: One per cent of adults have zero interest in sex and have never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all. Asexuality may be an under-the-radar sexual orientation, but researchers have only just begun to study it. On the other end of the rainbow, an estimated 3 to 6 per cent of the population have some form of sex addiction.
3: Straight, gay or flexible? Recent research suggests women may be “intrinsically bisexual,” and the higher their libido, the more they desire both sexes. In another study, the female subjects—whether they considered themselves straight or gay—were physically aroused by erotic films of both men and women. In contrast, the straight men were excited just by women, and the gay men only by men.
4: Canadian men have, on average, 23 sexual partners in total (notably more than the global average of 13), according to one recent worldwide survey. Their female counterparts reportedly have 10. The hitch? Number crunchers say the finding that men have substantially more bedmates on average than women is mathematically impossible.
5: Beyond its unsexy smell and taste, smoking appears to double a man’s risk of moderate or complete erectile dysfunction.
6: Once upon a time, doctors treated women suffering from “hysteria” by stimulating them to orgasm—a service dubbed “medical massage.” By the 1930s, it was abandoned in favour of psychotherapy.
7: Why do I bed thee? Let me count the ways. U.S. researchers who set out to catalogue all the reasons why humans have sex came up with 237 distinct ones. Among the top 10 motives, women and men had eight in common. A notable exception: “I realized I was in love” came in at number nine for women, but at number 17 for men.
8: Having sex regularly—at least once a week—may promote fertility in women by regulating hormones and menstrual patterns.
9: Male sweat contains androstadienone, a compound that enhances mood and sexual arousal in women. Alas, it also boosts levels of stress hormones. The chemical has been used as an ingredient in men’s fragrances.
10: What’s love got to do with it? Sexual arousal and romantic love activate quite distinct areas of the brain—and love is clearly the more powerful. The latter turns on dopamine-rich regions linked with motivation, and falling in love is not unlike the rush of taking cocaine, hence the addictiveness of a new crush, and the withdrawal-like symptoms of love lost.
2: One per cent of adults have zero interest in sex and have never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all. Asexuality may be an under-the-radar sexual orientation, but researchers have only just begun to study it. On the other end of the rainbow, an estimated 3 to 6 per cent of the population have some form of sex addiction.
3: Straight, gay or flexible? Recent research suggests women may be “intrinsically bisexual,” and the higher their libido, the more they desire both sexes. In another study, the female subjects—whether they considered themselves straight or gay—were physically aroused by erotic films of both men and women. In contrast, the straight men were excited just by women, and the gay men only by men.
4: Canadian men have, on average, 23 sexual partners in total (notably more than the global average of 13), according to one recent worldwide survey. Their female counterparts reportedly have 10. The hitch? Number crunchers say the finding that men have substantially more bedmates on average than women is mathematically impossible.
5: Beyond its unsexy smell and taste, smoking appears to double a man’s risk of moderate or complete erectile dysfunction.
6: Once upon a time, doctors treated women suffering from “hysteria” by stimulating them to orgasm—a service dubbed “medical massage.” By the 1930s, it was abandoned in favour of psychotherapy.
7: Why do I bed thee? Let me count the ways. U.S. researchers who set out to catalogue all the reasons why humans have sex came up with 237 distinct ones. Among the top 10 motives, women and men had eight in common. A notable exception: “I realized I was in love” came in at number nine for women, but at number 17 for men.
8: Having sex regularly—at least once a week—may promote fertility in women by regulating hormones and menstrual patterns.
9: Male sweat contains androstadienone, a compound that enhances mood and sexual arousal in women. Alas, it also boosts levels of stress hormones. The chemical has been used as an ingredient in men’s fragrances.
10: What’s love got to do with it? Sexual arousal and romantic love activate quite distinct areas of the brain—and love is clearly the more powerful. The latter turns on dopamine-rich regions linked with motivation, and falling in love is not unlike the rush of taking cocaine, hence the addictiveness of a new crush, and the withdrawal-like symptoms of love lost.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
6 Months !!!
Hubbys been smoke free for over 6 months!
So proud of him!!
He don't need the smoking gum as much as he used too!
We still been goin to the gym, not much else new
Just leaving the bad things and people and other things that don't need to be brought around our kids when we eventually have them.
Expecally the things we got into growing up don't need our kids around that or do the same, hehe.
That's about it really, I am gonna go mess around on the interwebs while he gets some more sleep =P
So proud of him!!
He don't need the smoking gum as much as he used too!
We still been goin to the gym, not much else new
Just leaving the bad things and people and other things that don't need to be brought around our kids when we eventually have them.
Expecally the things we got into growing up don't need our kids around that or do the same, hehe.
That's about it really, I am gonna go mess around on the interwebs while he gets some more sleep =P
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Sarah Who?
What hubby said when our friend Sarah called the other night, we had not heard from in ages, lol. It was funny the way he said it.
Other then that we been hitting the gym 5 days a week, lost 10lbs but then gained 4 back... guess my body is gaining more muscle mass, We are still gaming Monday nights with Forrest and his girlfriend and the rest of the gang. Tuesdays is our day together resting and movies and dinner just the two of us. Still working on the house getting it fixed up, his dad wants to put it on the market this summer coming up, we will see though. We agreed on moving closer to Forrest better school system out that way. Heck I said Canadian schools are better we should just move there when we have kids lol. But closer to Forrest will do and life is great, still trying for kids too =P.
Still playing City of Heroes too, Natasha Snow hit 50 a couple weeks ago. other then that ... short update for now.
Oh and on Halloween we are having a small party here at our place, Forrest his gf Mandy and myself, unfort hubby has to work hes gonna miss all the fun, but we will have fun again come Monday for game night, I can't wait! Also talking about a double date with Forrest and Mandy and hubby and I when us girls cook, gonna be fun. Also talk of having a small D&D session the week before thanksgiving kinda like a family get together of gamers =P
More updates laters!
Other then that we been hitting the gym 5 days a week, lost 10lbs but then gained 4 back... guess my body is gaining more muscle mass, We are still gaming Monday nights with Forrest and his girlfriend and the rest of the gang. Tuesdays is our day together resting and movies and dinner just the two of us. Still working on the house getting it fixed up, his dad wants to put it on the market this summer coming up, we will see though. We agreed on moving closer to Forrest better school system out that way. Heck I said Canadian schools are better we should just move there when we have kids lol. But closer to Forrest will do and life is great, still trying for kids too =P.
Still playing City of Heroes too, Natasha Snow hit 50 a couple weeks ago. other then that ... short update for now.
Oh and on Halloween we are having a small party here at our place, Forrest his gf Mandy and myself, unfort hubby has to work hes gonna miss all the fun, but we will have fun again come Monday for game night, I can't wait! Also talking about a double date with Forrest and Mandy and hubby and I when us girls cook, gonna be fun. Also talk of having a small D&D session the week before thanksgiving kinda like a family get together of gamers =P
More updates laters!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Men - To Live Longer...
Men who meet the following criteria are more likely to live longer, according to the study:
- Are married
- Are not overweight
- Have low blood pressure
- Possess a strong grip (indicating overall strength and fitness)
- Have attained a high level of education
- Have low blood sugar
- Avoid heavy drinking
- Do not smoke
- Have a low level of bad cholesterol.
- Are married
- Are not overweight
- Have low blood pressure
- Possess a strong grip (indicating overall strength and fitness)
- Have attained a high level of education
- Have low blood sugar
- Avoid heavy drinking
- Do not smoke
- Have a low level of bad cholesterol.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Harmless Pleasure?/Coke Kills Sperm?
A article I found on yahoo.ca today
I have to agree, why do guys look at porn when they are taken? Are us girls not good enough for them?! WTF!
I often get letters from men whose female partners take issue with their use of pornography or from women who don't like the fact that their guy consumes porn while in a relationship. Usually, their objection is something along the lines of: 'Why does he need that if he has me? Am I not enough?' Or they feel their partner must have an unhealthy attitude towards women if they buy into this stuff because it's unrealistic and degrading to women.
I agree that most of it is unrealistic. But one could argue that that is part of its charm. It's all about fantasy. As for being degrading to women, well, that's up for argument. Like any industry, there are undoubtedly bad labour practices. And, in an industry so morally reviled by our culture, forcing it to remain mostly under the radar, chances are, injustices are a little higher. But, I've met many women who are perfectly happy working in the biz.
Still, I can understand why so many women still struggle with why a guy in a perfectly happy, sexually satisfying relationship would still consume porn. Women have a lot more hurdles to get over when it comes to accepting pornography into their lives. Many adult women have grown up thinking porn is degrading to women and just an indulgence of unrealistic male fantasies that have nothing to do with us. I mean jeez, women rarely even genuinely reach orgasm in porn. It's hard to get excited about something that doesn't even address your needs. And of course, it's hard not to feel the odd twinge of jealousy when he's getting off on some blonde, legs up to here, big-breasted woman on screen. I mean, guys might be annoyed too if the tables were turned and women all over the world were watching videos of hunky men catering to our pleasure.
But personally, unless it's interfering with your relationships or your life (see my blog on sex addiction), I think viewing porn is mostly harmless. Most guys (and some of us gals) enjoy it as harmless, effective, visual stimulation, not because we aren't attracted to our partners.
If you're someone who struggles with your partner's casual use of pornography, there are a couple of good books out there that might help you work out some of the conflicting feelings you have about porn. Lisa Palac chronicles her evolution from Midwestern Catholic schoolgirl to anti-porn crusader to sex positive feminist and cutting-edge pornographer in her book, 'The Edge of My Bed: How Dirty Pictures Changed My Life'. Also Good Vibrations, a sex-positive, female-friendly sex shop in San Francisco publishes the 'Good Vibrations Guide to Adult Videos and The Ultimate Guide to Adult Videos'[Down There Press. goodvibes.com] and 'The Smart Girl's Guide to Porn' by Violet Blue (cleispress.com).
These books get into the history of porn and talk about the emotional and physical reactions one might have to porn. They also list videos that depict more realistic looking women and genuine female pleasure. And if you don't want to look at other people having sex, you might be more comfortable looking at yourselves in some homemade porn. British adult filmmaker Anna Span tells you how in another book from Good Vibrations entitled 'Erotic Home Videos: Create Your Own Adult Films'.
Do you have a problem with pornography or with your partner consuming it within your relationship?
On another note, I also read
COKE KILLZ SPERM!
OMG!
PEPSI IS BETTER =P
I have to agree, why do guys look at porn when they are taken? Are us girls not good enough for them?! WTF!
I often get letters from men whose female partners take issue with their use of pornography or from women who don't like the fact that their guy consumes porn while in a relationship. Usually, their objection is something along the lines of: 'Why does he need that if he has me? Am I not enough?' Or they feel their partner must have an unhealthy attitude towards women if they buy into this stuff because it's unrealistic and degrading to women.
I agree that most of it is unrealistic. But one could argue that that is part of its charm. It's all about fantasy. As for being degrading to women, well, that's up for argument. Like any industry, there are undoubtedly bad labour practices. And, in an industry so morally reviled by our culture, forcing it to remain mostly under the radar, chances are, injustices are a little higher. But, I've met many women who are perfectly happy working in the biz.
Still, I can understand why so many women still struggle with why a guy in a perfectly happy, sexually satisfying relationship would still consume porn. Women have a lot more hurdles to get over when it comes to accepting pornography into their lives. Many adult women have grown up thinking porn is degrading to women and just an indulgence of unrealistic male fantasies that have nothing to do with us. I mean jeez, women rarely even genuinely reach orgasm in porn. It's hard to get excited about something that doesn't even address your needs. And of course, it's hard not to feel the odd twinge of jealousy when he's getting off on some blonde, legs up to here, big-breasted woman on screen. I mean, guys might be annoyed too if the tables were turned and women all over the world were watching videos of hunky men catering to our pleasure.
But personally, unless it's interfering with your relationships or your life (see my blog on sex addiction), I think viewing porn is mostly harmless. Most guys (and some of us gals) enjoy it as harmless, effective, visual stimulation, not because we aren't attracted to our partners.
If you're someone who struggles with your partner's casual use of pornography, there are a couple of good books out there that might help you work out some of the conflicting feelings you have about porn. Lisa Palac chronicles her evolution from Midwestern Catholic schoolgirl to anti-porn crusader to sex positive feminist and cutting-edge pornographer in her book, 'The Edge of My Bed: How Dirty Pictures Changed My Life'. Also Good Vibrations, a sex-positive, female-friendly sex shop in San Francisco publishes the 'Good Vibrations Guide to Adult Videos and The Ultimate Guide to Adult Videos'[Down There Press. goodvibes.com] and 'The Smart Girl's Guide to Porn' by Violet Blue (cleispress.com).
These books get into the history of porn and talk about the emotional and physical reactions one might have to porn. They also list videos that depict more realistic looking women and genuine female pleasure. And if you don't want to look at other people having sex, you might be more comfortable looking at yourselves in some homemade porn. British adult filmmaker Anna Span tells you how in another book from Good Vibrations entitled 'Erotic Home Videos: Create Your Own Adult Films'.
Do you have a problem with pornography or with your partner consuming it within your relationship?
On another note, I also read
COKE KILLZ SPERM!
OMG!
PEPSI IS BETTER =P
Friday, September 26, 2008
Issue 13 & 14 !!
This issue was to big to fit all in one so they had to make two seprate issues! Check it out!!!!
ISSUE 13!!
Day Jobs (Offline Character Progression)
Scholar? Caregiver? City Official? Now when players log out of City of Heroes / Villains they’re just getting started! A character’s day job is determined by the actual in-game location from which he or she logs out. If players log out from a University their day job is considered to be a Scholar. If they log out from City Hall they're a City Official. The benefits are thematically appropriate to the location. For example, a City Official earns extra Influence, a Scholar is granted Salvage, a Caregiver is granted Health Regeneration Buffs, etc.
Once characters have accumulated the required amount of time for each Day Job, they are rewarded with the appropriate Day Job Badge and Title, increasing their “earnings” for that job. Multiple Badges can be combined to unlock Accolades and the ability to accumulate additional new rewards. Almost every location within Paragon City and the Rogue Isles has an associated Day Job, resulting in a wide selection of jobs and rewards!
Multiple Builds
Another character customization option and City of Heroes innovation, Issue 13 delivers the ability to have two different build-outs for each character, including which powers are selected and which Enhancements are slotted. With this feature it will now be possible for all characters to diversify their game experience by visiting any Trainer and switching the entire build of their character to an alternate one. You can use this separate build for whatever you like. If you wish to use different power selections for soloing and groups, you can do that. This even makes it possible to have different IO sets slotted for PVP and PVE. This new system gives characters the added depth and flexibility to tackle any challenge!
New Powersets
Shields – Heft a Shield for Heroic or Villainous Ends! This new powerset brings a classic power to City of Heroes: Shields! Now, you can arm Tankers, Scrappers and Brutes with a powerful shield to protect themselves and their allies.
Pain Domination – Villains can now bend the power of pain to serve their own ends! Those playing a Corruptor or Mastermind have access to this new powerset. The antithesis of the Hero healing powerset “Empathy,” Pain Domination brings parity between Heroes and Villains with a distinctively evil flair.
Leveling Pact
A new innovation to MMOs, this system allows you and a friend to create new characters and have your XP be permanently in sync, whether both characters are online or not. You will always be the same level, even if your friend plays ten times more often than you do! It's sort of like "Extreme Sidekicking."
The Merit Rewards System
A new game system that allows players to earn tokens by completing Trials, Task Forces, Strike Forces, Raids, etc. The most challenging and time consuming tasks grant the most reward tokens, which can be redeemed throughout Hero and Villain zones for recipes, enhancements, salvage, costume pieces, badges, inspirations and other game items.
Villain Patron Power Respec
Villains level 40 and above can respec (re-select) their Patron Powers, offering the same flexibility that heroes are afforded with Ancillary Powers.
Supergroup Base Repricing
Base Salvage is being replaced with Invention Salvage and all Base room and item prices are being adjusted to more accessible levels. Remaining base salvage can be traded in for invention salvage, or can continue to be stored in base and personal storage.
PvE and PvP Powers Rebalancing
More details to come shortly, directly from Powers Designer Floyd "Castle" Grubb.
New Cimerora Missions
New Hero and Villain story arcs expand upon the history and lore, and delve into the players and politics of Cimerora.
Other features
New Invention Origin Sets, new Costume Sets, Zone Refinements, and more!
ISSUE 14!!!
Mission Architect:
First the City of Heroes Character Creator set a new standard for player creation and customization. Now, Issue 14 takes another giant step, allowing players to design their own missions and story arcs to share with the entire City of Heroes community. Using an intuitive interface similar to the game’s detailed Character Creator, players can create missions from the ground up. Players will determine details ranging from environments, mission objectives, and enemies, to written fiction and character dialogue; giving their stories nearly infinite depth and personalization.
Among other rewards, authors and architects who create the most extraordinary content will garner acclaim and reputation. Community feedback will be paramount and some missions will elevate in status unlocking new rewards and benefits for their creators.
More details to come!
ISSUE 13!!
Day Jobs (Offline Character Progression)
Scholar? Caregiver? City Official? Now when players log out of City of Heroes / Villains they’re just getting started! A character’s day job is determined by the actual in-game location from which he or she logs out. If players log out from a University their day job is considered to be a Scholar. If they log out from City Hall they're a City Official. The benefits are thematically appropriate to the location. For example, a City Official earns extra Influence, a Scholar is granted Salvage, a Caregiver is granted Health Regeneration Buffs, etc.
Once characters have accumulated the required amount of time for each Day Job, they are rewarded with the appropriate Day Job Badge and Title, increasing their “earnings” for that job. Multiple Badges can be combined to unlock Accolades and the ability to accumulate additional new rewards. Almost every location within Paragon City and the Rogue Isles has an associated Day Job, resulting in a wide selection of jobs and rewards!
Multiple Builds
Another character customization option and City of Heroes innovation, Issue 13 delivers the ability to have two different build-outs for each character, including which powers are selected and which Enhancements are slotted. With this feature it will now be possible for all characters to diversify their game experience by visiting any Trainer and switching the entire build of their character to an alternate one. You can use this separate build for whatever you like. If you wish to use different power selections for soloing and groups, you can do that. This even makes it possible to have different IO sets slotted for PVP and PVE. This new system gives characters the added depth and flexibility to tackle any challenge!
New Powersets
Shields – Heft a Shield for Heroic or Villainous Ends! This new powerset brings a classic power to City of Heroes: Shields! Now, you can arm Tankers, Scrappers and Brutes with a powerful shield to protect themselves and their allies.
Pain Domination – Villains can now bend the power of pain to serve their own ends! Those playing a Corruptor or Mastermind have access to this new powerset. The antithesis of the Hero healing powerset “Empathy,” Pain Domination brings parity between Heroes and Villains with a distinctively evil flair.
Leveling Pact
A new innovation to MMOs, this system allows you and a friend to create new characters and have your XP be permanently in sync, whether both characters are online or not. You will always be the same level, even if your friend plays ten times more often than you do! It's sort of like "Extreme Sidekicking."
The Merit Rewards System
A new game system that allows players to earn tokens by completing Trials, Task Forces, Strike Forces, Raids, etc. The most challenging and time consuming tasks grant the most reward tokens, which can be redeemed throughout Hero and Villain zones for recipes, enhancements, salvage, costume pieces, badges, inspirations and other game items.
Villain Patron Power Respec
Villains level 40 and above can respec (re-select) their Patron Powers, offering the same flexibility that heroes are afforded with Ancillary Powers.
Supergroup Base Repricing
Base Salvage is being replaced with Invention Salvage and all Base room and item prices are being adjusted to more accessible levels. Remaining base salvage can be traded in for invention salvage, or can continue to be stored in base and personal storage.
PvE and PvP Powers Rebalancing
More details to come shortly, directly from Powers Designer Floyd "Castle" Grubb.
New Cimerora Missions
New Hero and Villain story arcs expand upon the history and lore, and delve into the players and politics of Cimerora.
Other features
New Invention Origin Sets, new Costume Sets, Zone Refinements, and more!
ISSUE 14!!!
Mission Architect:
First the City of Heroes Character Creator set a new standard for player creation and customization. Now, Issue 14 takes another giant step, allowing players to design their own missions and story arcs to share with the entire City of Heroes community. Using an intuitive interface similar to the game’s detailed Character Creator, players can create missions from the ground up. Players will determine details ranging from environments, mission objectives, and enemies, to written fiction and character dialogue; giving their stories nearly infinite depth and personalization.
Among other rewards, authors and architects who create the most extraordinary content will garner acclaim and reputation. Community feedback will be paramount and some missions will elevate in status unlocking new rewards and benefits for their creators.
More details to come!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Food Recall - Not linked to Maple Leaf
TORONTO - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the recall of 16 varieties of sandwiches sparked by Listeria worries isn't linked to Maple Leaf Foods.
The CFIA announced the recall of 16 types of Hygaard brand sandwiches that could be contaminated with the bacteria, though no illnesses have been reported.
CFIA spokesman Garfield Balsom says Alberta-based Hygaard Fine Foods notified the agency on Wednesday that environmental testing had detected Listeria.
The company issued the voluntary recall of the products, which have best-before dates ranging from Oct. 24 up to and including Nov. 16.
The products have been distributed across Canada except for Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick and are sold in retail outlets and vending machines.
Listeria can cause the disease listeriosis, which can cause fever, headache, nausea and neck stiffness.
Elderly people and pregnant women, as well as people who have weakened immune systems, are particularly vulnerable.
A countrywide outbreak of listeriosis that has been linked to a massive Maple Leaf Foods recall has claimed the lives of 18 people.
Here is a list of recalled products, including product name, size and UPC. All best-before dates are from Oct. 24 up to and including Nov. 16.
-Super Donair, 251 grams, 0 65504 49522 6
-Mini Pizza Sub, 140 grams, 0 65504 49440 3
-Little John Sub, 387 grams, 0 65504 49446 5
-Hoagie, 238 grams, 0 65504 49424 3
-Mini Hoagie family pack, 822 grams, 0 65504 49764 0, 0 65504 49765 7
-Mini Pizza Sub, 156 grams, 0 65504 49466 3
-Mini Pizza sub family pack, 798 grams, 0 65504 49760 2, 0 65504 49623 0, 0 65504 49762 6
-Super Pizza Sub, 380 grams, 0 65504 49517 2
-Lumberjack Sub, 312 grams, 0 65504 49413 7
-Mini Sub, 133 grams, 0 65504 49430 4
-Salt and Pepper Dry Ribs, 164 grams, 0 65504 49455 8
-Super Sub, 165 grams, 0 65504 49458 8
-Mini Ham Sub Family Pack, 738 grams, 0 65504 49759 6, 0 65504 49763 3, 0 65504 49624 7
-Philly Steak Sub, 219 grams, 0 65504 49497 7
-Spicy Donair, 155 grams, 0 65504 49467 0
-Sausage and Egg Muffin, 165 grams, 0 65504 49418 2
The CFIA announced the recall of 16 types of Hygaard brand sandwiches that could be contaminated with the bacteria, though no illnesses have been reported.
CFIA spokesman Garfield Balsom says Alberta-based Hygaard Fine Foods notified the agency on Wednesday that environmental testing had detected Listeria.
The company issued the voluntary recall of the products, which have best-before dates ranging from Oct. 24 up to and including Nov. 16.
The products have been distributed across Canada except for Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick and are sold in retail outlets and vending machines.
Listeria can cause the disease listeriosis, which can cause fever, headache, nausea and neck stiffness.
Elderly people and pregnant women, as well as people who have weakened immune systems, are particularly vulnerable.
A countrywide outbreak of listeriosis that has been linked to a massive Maple Leaf Foods recall has claimed the lives of 18 people.
Here is a list of recalled products, including product name, size and UPC. All best-before dates are from Oct. 24 up to and including Nov. 16.
-Super Donair, 251 grams, 0 65504 49522 6
-Mini Pizza Sub, 140 grams, 0 65504 49440 3
-Little John Sub, 387 grams, 0 65504 49446 5
-Hoagie, 238 grams, 0 65504 49424 3
-Mini Hoagie family pack, 822 grams, 0 65504 49764 0, 0 65504 49765 7
-Mini Pizza Sub, 156 grams, 0 65504 49466 3
-Mini Pizza sub family pack, 798 grams, 0 65504 49760 2, 0 65504 49623 0, 0 65504 49762 6
-Super Pizza Sub, 380 grams, 0 65504 49517 2
-Lumberjack Sub, 312 grams, 0 65504 49413 7
-Mini Sub, 133 grams, 0 65504 49430 4
-Salt and Pepper Dry Ribs, 164 grams, 0 65504 49455 8
-Super Sub, 165 grams, 0 65504 49458 8
-Mini Ham Sub Family Pack, 738 grams, 0 65504 49759 6, 0 65504 49763 3, 0 65504 49624 7
-Philly Steak Sub, 219 grams, 0 65504 49497 7
-Spicy Donair, 155 grams, 0 65504 49467 0
-Sausage and Egg Muffin, 165 grams, 0 65504 49418 2
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Affairs & Cheating
8 Ways To Affair Proof Your Marriage!
1.
Nurture Safe Friendships: This is the most important affair-preventer in my life.
No marriage can give you everything.
No marriage can give you everything. A husband is going to have interests that his wife will never care about like fishing, hunting, or golfing. So he's less likely to stray if he can find some good guy buddies with whom to fish, hunt, and golf.
2.
Recognize the Drug: Depressives and addicts are especially prone to affairs because of the head rush that comes with infatuation. The spikes in dopamine and norepinephrine we experience upon connecting with someone new fools us into thinking that the sexy man or attractive woman at the bar holds the key to our nirvana and the end to our problems. This is the same as, say, the high from cocaine. Recognizing that that rush is not real, meaningful, or lasting, can help a married person to "just say no."
3.
Keep Dating: I'm serious here. Visiting with your spouse with some regularity--just the two of you and no one else--will bring some very definite rewards to a marriage. By dating, you will learn how to talk to each other again.
In her book, "Mating in Captivity," Esther Perel urges a client to imagine her spouse as if she has just met him, to put him into that mysterious category again. This is really hard when you got a little one screaming, "Wipe me!" from the bathroom. However, when you can pull it off, I find her theory very effective.
4.
Find a Creative Outlet: People get lured into emotional and physical affairs because the infatuation provides an exciting, stimulating place where they are energized.
So to stay affair-proof, you have to find other sources of stimulation and excitement. For me, my blog is that outlet. I can't wait to log on each day to see what all of my dear readers have to say. When I get overwhelmed by the domestic chaos of our lives, Beyond Blue provides me that outlet where I can create something new, where I can run away, however temporarily, from the stress.
5.
Hang Out with Happy Couples: If you're hanging with a bunch of guys (or girls) that see nothing wrong with sleeping around, you are much more likely to do it yourself. The good news is that the opposite is also true. If you have a set of friends committed to their marriages, you will be less likely to cheat on your spouse.
6.
Learn How to Fight: Wait before saying something really ugly, and make sure you weren't tired or hungry, or in a stressful situation. I'm not saying that you can't confront your spouse if you're tired, hungry, or stressed, because then we'd live in a silent world. But, it's a good idea to recognize situations that tend to accelerate arguments.
7.
Be Nice and Listen: "Duh," you're saying to yourself. But think about it. This is the hardest part about marriage. Listening. Keeping your mouth closed when the other person is talking.
In my conversations with men and women who have had affairs, the number one reason for pursuing the affair was this: "She listened to me. I mattered to him."
8.
Remember These Tools: Never forget that you have a toolbox of resources to draw on when you feel tempted by an extramarital affair. Here are some tools offered to me by those healing from affairs, insights to keep in mind when you feel that familiar head rush and are tempted to abandon logic for a thrill:
Don't go there: Don't put yourself in a threatening situation. Skip the conference in Hawaii with the colleague who flirts with you. If you absolutely have to go, avoid all opportunities to be alone with him.
You've got mail: When you don't know if your email crosses the line into appropriate language, send it to yourself first. Read it again, and ask yourself: would I feel comfortable showing this to my husband?
Dress with intentions: One woman told me that she saved her lingerie for her husband, and wore the ratty old underwear to the high-school reunion where she'd see a flame from the past.
Talk about your spouse: A guy friend told me that whenever he is alone with a woman he finds attractive and things are getting uncomfortable, he'll start talking about his wife--what her hobbies are, and how much he loves her. It immediately kills the mood.
How To Tell If A Guy Is Cheating!
1. He's superprotective of his gadgets. "The main way that trysts are found out is through the discovery of incriminating e-mails, IM chats, cell phone texts or bills," says Belisa Vranich, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in New York City. So if he's being unfaithful, he may guard his gadgets or act really defensive when you innocently touch his phone or computer. It should be a giant red flag if he readily gave you passwords in the past, and now he's more evasive.
2. He steps up the grooming. This is so obvious, but it's a sign many women miss: "If your man starts grooming more without you requesting it, that could be an indication that he's getting intimate with someone else," says Vranich. You can actually thank modern mass media for this tipoff. Guys today are used to viewing manscaped dudes onscreen, so if he has another chick to impress with his appearance, he may emulate those ultra-trimmed guys. Another clue: He's spending more time at the gym.
3. He smells different. "When he comes home, if he doesn't smell the same as he did in the morning, and it isn't the scent of soap in the gym or at your home, it may be because he's showered at her place," offers Vranich. So pay attention, because in this case, that old saying "the nose knows" might very well be true.
4. Nothing fazes him anymore. "If he was short-tempered before, a combination of added intimacy and attention could be making him way more relaxed, even downright giddy," Vranich says. Adds Mira Kirshenbaum, author of "When Good People Have Affairs: Inside the Hearts and Minds of People in Two Relationships": "
If your guy is suddenly going around all happy and whistling, then you need to find out why.
If your guy is suddenly going around all happy and whistling, then you need to find out why."
5. He becomes suspicious of you. "If he's normally a mellow type, all of a sudden he may want to know where you are all the time and with whom," says Vranich. "It's the result of him realizing that if he's cheating and it's not that hard, you might also be getting away with it." Also, beware of extremely detailed responses to even your most innocent "How was work today?" queries. He may be preparing epic answers because he's terrified of getting caught.
One caveat: If your romantic life hasn't fallen off, that's no guarantee that he's faithful. "It's a serious mistake to think that affairs are necessarily physical. He may just be unhappy in other parts of the relationship," says Kirshenbaum. In fact, an illicit relationship could even stoke his lust for you.
1.
Nurture Safe Friendships: This is the most important affair-preventer in my life.
No marriage can give you everything.
No marriage can give you everything. A husband is going to have interests that his wife will never care about like fishing, hunting, or golfing. So he's less likely to stray if he can find some good guy buddies with whom to fish, hunt, and golf.
2.
Recognize the Drug: Depressives and addicts are especially prone to affairs because of the head rush that comes with infatuation. The spikes in dopamine and norepinephrine we experience upon connecting with someone new fools us into thinking that the sexy man or attractive woman at the bar holds the key to our nirvana and the end to our problems. This is the same as, say, the high from cocaine. Recognizing that that rush is not real, meaningful, or lasting, can help a married person to "just say no."
3.
Keep Dating: I'm serious here. Visiting with your spouse with some regularity--just the two of you and no one else--will bring some very definite rewards to a marriage. By dating, you will learn how to talk to each other again.
In her book, "Mating in Captivity," Esther Perel urges a client to imagine her spouse as if she has just met him, to put him into that mysterious category again. This is really hard when you got a little one screaming, "Wipe me!" from the bathroom. However, when you can pull it off, I find her theory very effective.
4.
Find a Creative Outlet: People get lured into emotional and physical affairs because the infatuation provides an exciting, stimulating place where they are energized.
So to stay affair-proof, you have to find other sources of stimulation and excitement. For me, my blog is that outlet. I can't wait to log on each day to see what all of my dear readers have to say. When I get overwhelmed by the domestic chaos of our lives, Beyond Blue provides me that outlet where I can create something new, where I can run away, however temporarily, from the stress.
5.
Hang Out with Happy Couples: If you're hanging with a bunch of guys (or girls) that see nothing wrong with sleeping around, you are much more likely to do it yourself. The good news is that the opposite is also true. If you have a set of friends committed to their marriages, you will be less likely to cheat on your spouse.
6.
Learn How to Fight: Wait before saying something really ugly, and make sure you weren't tired or hungry, or in a stressful situation. I'm not saying that you can't confront your spouse if you're tired, hungry, or stressed, because then we'd live in a silent world. But, it's a good idea to recognize situations that tend to accelerate arguments.
7.
Be Nice and Listen: "Duh," you're saying to yourself. But think about it. This is the hardest part about marriage. Listening. Keeping your mouth closed when the other person is talking.
In my conversations with men and women who have had affairs, the number one reason for pursuing the affair was this: "She listened to me. I mattered to him."
8.
Remember These Tools: Never forget that you have a toolbox of resources to draw on when you feel tempted by an extramarital affair. Here are some tools offered to me by those healing from affairs, insights to keep in mind when you feel that familiar head rush and are tempted to abandon logic for a thrill:
Don't go there: Don't put yourself in a threatening situation. Skip the conference in Hawaii with the colleague who flirts with you. If you absolutely have to go, avoid all opportunities to be alone with him.
You've got mail: When you don't know if your email crosses the line into appropriate language, send it to yourself first. Read it again, and ask yourself: would I feel comfortable showing this to my husband?
Dress with intentions: One woman told me that she saved her lingerie for her husband, and wore the ratty old underwear to the high-school reunion where she'd see a flame from the past.
Talk about your spouse: A guy friend told me that whenever he is alone with a woman he finds attractive and things are getting uncomfortable, he'll start talking about his wife--what her hobbies are, and how much he loves her. It immediately kills the mood.
How To Tell If A Guy Is Cheating!
1. He's superprotective of his gadgets. "The main way that trysts are found out is through the discovery of incriminating e-mails, IM chats, cell phone texts or bills," says Belisa Vranich, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in New York City. So if he's being unfaithful, he may guard his gadgets or act really defensive when you innocently touch his phone or computer. It should be a giant red flag if he readily gave you passwords in the past, and now he's more evasive.
2. He steps up the grooming. This is so obvious, but it's a sign many women miss: "If your man starts grooming more without you requesting it, that could be an indication that he's getting intimate with someone else," says Vranich. You can actually thank modern mass media for this tipoff. Guys today are used to viewing manscaped dudes onscreen, so if he has another chick to impress with his appearance, he may emulate those ultra-trimmed guys. Another clue: He's spending more time at the gym.
3. He smells different. "When he comes home, if he doesn't smell the same as he did in the morning, and it isn't the scent of soap in the gym or at your home, it may be because he's showered at her place," offers Vranich. So pay attention, because in this case, that old saying "the nose knows" might very well be true.
4. Nothing fazes him anymore. "If he was short-tempered before, a combination of added intimacy and attention could be making him way more relaxed, even downright giddy," Vranich says. Adds Mira Kirshenbaum, author of "When Good People Have Affairs: Inside the Hearts and Minds of People in Two Relationships": "
If your guy is suddenly going around all happy and whistling, then you need to find out why.
If your guy is suddenly going around all happy and whistling, then you need to find out why."
5. He becomes suspicious of you. "If he's normally a mellow type, all of a sudden he may want to know where you are all the time and with whom," says Vranich. "It's the result of him realizing that if he's cheating and it's not that hard, you might also be getting away with it." Also, beware of extremely detailed responses to even your most innocent "How was work today?" queries. He may be preparing epic answers because he's terrified of getting caught.
One caveat: If your romantic life hasn't fallen off, that's no guarantee that he's faithful. "It's a serious mistake to think that affairs are necessarily physical. He may just be unhappy in other parts of the relationship," says Kirshenbaum. In fact, an illicit relationship could even stoke his lust for you.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Top 15 signs you might be pregnant
1. Swollen and tender breasts
Soreness or tingling in breasts is one of pregnancy's most common symptoms. Early in pregnancy breasts will fill out and change shape as they prepare to produce milk. Breasts may become very tender and sensitive for a few months as a result. But, Teresa Pitman, doula and lactation expert, notes: "that not all women experience these changes, especially if they have been on birth control pills."
2. Darkening areolas
For many women, hormones can cause the areolas, the circles around nipples, to widen and darken during pregnancy. This occurs as the body prepares itself for breastfeeding.
3. Spotting
About five to 10 days after conception, some women notice light spotting when the embryo implants in the uterus. So if you've had a light period this month, you might still be carrying a little bundle of joy.
4. Urinary frequency or constipation
When you're pregnant, your uterus presses directly on the bladder leading to more frequent urination. The added pressure and intestinal changes may also cause constipation. Of course, the more a baby grows, the more the uterus presses against the bladder and other organs.
5. Fatigue
Many women feel very tired early in pregnancy (it takes lots of energy to create a baby!). In fact, fatigue is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. If you are pregnant, chances are you'll start to feel less tired around week 12, when the placenta is fully formed.
6. Nausea
Nausea is one of the most common side effects of pregnancy. It's caused by an increase in hormone levels (about 80 percent of women experience "morning sickness" during the first 3 months of pregnancy). For many, this nausea is not necessarily confined just to the morning - some feel it all day long. Click here for all the facts on morning sickness.
7. Smell Sensitivity
No, the smells on the bus are not in your head: Many women have a heightened sense of smell during pregnancy. This symptom is one of the most common early signs that you could be pregnant. "Some researchers have speculated that it might be to protect women from eating ' spoiled' or tainted foods, thus protecting the baby from any harmful toxins," says Pitman.
8. Elevated basal temperature. If you've been tracking your basal temperature, a positive sign of pregnancy is an increase of about one degree that lasts for more than two weeks after the "dip" in temperature that indicates ovulation.
9. Missing period
The most obvious indicator of pregnancy is a missed period, but a missed period doesn't always mean a baby is on the way. Stress, diet or an irregular schedule can also be the culprits, so it's best to get tested before making the big announcement.
10. Unusual hunger or cravings
Pregnant bodies are working hard to grow that baby, and need about 300 extra calories a day. Some women find themselves craving food they would never normally dream of eating, while others simply feel hungry all day long.
11. Headaches
The frequency of migraine headaches can increase with pregnancy. Many women who get hormonal migraine headaches find they get more of them during especially early in pregnancy, explains Pitman. However, some people have the opposite experience and actually get a little reprieve from migraines while expecting.
12. Mood swings
Many women experience emotional mood swings throughout pregnancy. It's natural to go through a variety of emotions as hormones are adjusting and the body is changing.
13. Feeling faint or dizzy
Shifting hormones, combined with the heart beating faster to pump more blood through the body can cause blood pressure to gradually decrease early in pregnancy. As a result many women experience periods of dizziness or feeling lightheaded.
14. Metallic taste in your mouth
Some women complain of an odd "metallic" taste in their mouths during pregnancy. While there is no scientific explanation for this symptom, for some it can last throughout their entire pregnancy.
15. Vivid dreams
Dreams during pregnancy often intensify. So if your dreamin' has become more dramatic this could be a symptom you're expecting. (Thank your surging hormones for this one!)
Soreness or tingling in breasts is one of pregnancy's most common symptoms. Early in pregnancy breasts will fill out and change shape as they prepare to produce milk. Breasts may become very tender and sensitive for a few months as a result. But, Teresa Pitman, doula and lactation expert, notes: "that not all women experience these changes, especially if they have been on birth control pills."
2. Darkening areolas
For many women, hormones can cause the areolas, the circles around nipples, to widen and darken during pregnancy. This occurs as the body prepares itself for breastfeeding.
3. Spotting
About five to 10 days after conception, some women notice light spotting when the embryo implants in the uterus. So if you've had a light period this month, you might still be carrying a little bundle of joy.
4. Urinary frequency or constipation
When you're pregnant, your uterus presses directly on the bladder leading to more frequent urination. The added pressure and intestinal changes may also cause constipation. Of course, the more a baby grows, the more the uterus presses against the bladder and other organs.
5. Fatigue
Many women feel very tired early in pregnancy (it takes lots of energy to create a baby!). In fact, fatigue is often one of the first signs of pregnancy. If you are pregnant, chances are you'll start to feel less tired around week 12, when the placenta is fully formed.
6. Nausea
Nausea is one of the most common side effects of pregnancy. It's caused by an increase in hormone levels (about 80 percent of women experience "morning sickness" during the first 3 months of pregnancy). For many, this nausea is not necessarily confined just to the morning - some feel it all day long. Click here for all the facts on morning sickness.
7. Smell Sensitivity
No, the smells on the bus are not in your head: Many women have a heightened sense of smell during pregnancy. This symptom is one of the most common early signs that you could be pregnant. "Some researchers have speculated that it might be to protect women from eating ' spoiled' or tainted foods, thus protecting the baby from any harmful toxins," says Pitman.
8. Elevated basal temperature. If you've been tracking your basal temperature, a positive sign of pregnancy is an increase of about one degree that lasts for more than two weeks after the "dip" in temperature that indicates ovulation.
9. Missing period
The most obvious indicator of pregnancy is a missed period, but a missed period doesn't always mean a baby is on the way. Stress, diet or an irregular schedule can also be the culprits, so it's best to get tested before making the big announcement.
10. Unusual hunger or cravings
Pregnant bodies are working hard to grow that baby, and need about 300 extra calories a day. Some women find themselves craving food they would never normally dream of eating, while others simply feel hungry all day long.
11. Headaches
The frequency of migraine headaches can increase with pregnancy. Many women who get hormonal migraine headaches find they get more of them during especially early in pregnancy, explains Pitman. However, some people have the opposite experience and actually get a little reprieve from migraines while expecting.
12. Mood swings
Many women experience emotional mood swings throughout pregnancy. It's natural to go through a variety of emotions as hormones are adjusting and the body is changing.
13. Feeling faint or dizzy
Shifting hormones, combined with the heart beating faster to pump more blood through the body can cause blood pressure to gradually decrease early in pregnancy. As a result many women experience periods of dizziness or feeling lightheaded.
14. Metallic taste in your mouth
Some women complain of an odd "metallic" taste in their mouths during pregnancy. While there is no scientific explanation for this symptom, for some it can last throughout their entire pregnancy.
15. Vivid dreams
Dreams during pregnancy often intensify. So if your dreamin' has become more dramatic this could be a symptom you're expecting. (Thank your surging hormones for this one!)
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Chocolate Covered Bacon?
Yep, you heard me right, Chocolate covered bacon!
I think Eww!
But my hunt to find it and try it....
Below is the article from yahoo.ca
Here are three little words that might give the staunchest snacker pause: Chocolate-covered bacon.
It sounds so wrong. But it tastes just right, says Joseph Marini III, a fourth-generation candy maker who is selling the bacon bonbons at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk seaside amusement park.
"It's not just for breakfast anymore," he says with a grin.
And this isn't just a wacky West Coast thing.
This year, Famous Dave's at the Minnesota State Fair is rolling out Pig Lickers - dark chocolate-covered bacon pieces sprinkled with sea salt.
"It's just like the most bizarre combination," says fair spokeswoman Brienna Schuette. "I actually really liked it. It was a good combination of sweet and salty."
The urge to create new flavour profiles is a natural for a field driven by creativity, says Karen Page, co-author with Andrew Dornenburg of the forthcoming "The Flavour Bible," a sort of field guide to flavour pairings.
Chefs have two basic agents of change: using a different cooking method or mixing up flavours. So a classic such as tomatoes and basil might get turned into tomato sorbet with a basil sauce. Or you might find unorthodox couplings, such as salads of watermelon and feta or cotton candy with foie gras.
"There's a whole trend toward chefs pushing the boundaries," says Page. "Chefs are trying to be more playful and incorporate new kinds of whimsy."
It's hard to tell exactly where the dream of candy-coated breakfast meats started, but for Marini, the inspiration was a trip with some ski buddies a while back.
"One guy came up with, 'Who doesn't love bacon? Who doesn't love chocolate? Let's marry them together."'
So Marini gave it a shot and after some trial and error - crispness is key, he says, noting that chewy bacon plus chocolate is undelicious - he came up with a product.
"It was kind of a joke to begin with," he says. "We brought it down to the boardwalk and put it in a case just to see if people would react, and they reacted."
Take boardwalk visitor Nathan Lopez, who on a recent foggy morning had a quizzical look on his face as he began eating a sample at Marini's at the Beach. But he finished with a smile.
"Interesting combination" was the verdict. "I didn't think it would be very good, but once I tried it, it was good."
Of course, chocolate-coated bacon is just the latest incarnation of the wackier-the-better fair food philosophy.
Fair food has been shaking up the snack scene for some time, says Ron Whiting, of Whiting's Foods, whose family has been selling food at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk for decades.
"Years ago, I think food tended to be more traditional and less fun," he says. Then came the corn dog and the era of quick and on-a-stick. "We all talk about the next corn dog," he says.
Fry, fry again is a persistent theme. Current popular snacks include deep-fried Twinkies and Oreos.
Page, who admits to eating "more than my fair share of fried dough," notes that gourmet chefs have taken to putting food - just about any food - on a stick, coming up with some posh Popsicles. Meanwhile, there's the foie gras-cotton candy matchup, not a stretch flavour-wise since foie gras usually is paired with something sweet, but certainly visually arresting.
"It's the melding of both these worlds, the high end and the low end," said Page.
Never underestimate the appeal of battered-is-better.
I think Eww!
But my hunt to find it and try it....
Below is the article from yahoo.ca
Here are three little words that might give the staunchest snacker pause: Chocolate-covered bacon.
It sounds so wrong. But it tastes just right, says Joseph Marini III, a fourth-generation candy maker who is selling the bacon bonbons at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk seaside amusement park.
"It's not just for breakfast anymore," he says with a grin.
And this isn't just a wacky West Coast thing.
This year, Famous Dave's at the Minnesota State Fair is rolling out Pig Lickers - dark chocolate-covered bacon pieces sprinkled with sea salt.
"It's just like the most bizarre combination," says fair spokeswoman Brienna Schuette. "I actually really liked it. It was a good combination of sweet and salty."
The urge to create new flavour profiles is a natural for a field driven by creativity, says Karen Page, co-author with Andrew Dornenburg of the forthcoming "The Flavour Bible," a sort of field guide to flavour pairings.
Chefs have two basic agents of change: using a different cooking method or mixing up flavours. So a classic such as tomatoes and basil might get turned into tomato sorbet with a basil sauce. Or you might find unorthodox couplings, such as salads of watermelon and feta or cotton candy with foie gras.
"There's a whole trend toward chefs pushing the boundaries," says Page. "Chefs are trying to be more playful and incorporate new kinds of whimsy."
It's hard to tell exactly where the dream of candy-coated breakfast meats started, but for Marini, the inspiration was a trip with some ski buddies a while back.
"One guy came up with, 'Who doesn't love bacon? Who doesn't love chocolate? Let's marry them together."'
So Marini gave it a shot and after some trial and error - crispness is key, he says, noting that chewy bacon plus chocolate is undelicious - he came up with a product.
"It was kind of a joke to begin with," he says. "We brought it down to the boardwalk and put it in a case just to see if people would react, and they reacted."
Take boardwalk visitor Nathan Lopez, who on a recent foggy morning had a quizzical look on his face as he began eating a sample at Marini's at the Beach. But he finished with a smile.
"Interesting combination" was the verdict. "I didn't think it would be very good, but once I tried it, it was good."
Of course, chocolate-coated bacon is just the latest incarnation of the wackier-the-better fair food philosophy.
Fair food has been shaking up the snack scene for some time, says Ron Whiting, of Whiting's Foods, whose family has been selling food at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk for decades.
"Years ago, I think food tended to be more traditional and less fun," he says. Then came the corn dog and the era of quick and on-a-stick. "We all talk about the next corn dog," he says.
Fry, fry again is a persistent theme. Current popular snacks include deep-fried Twinkies and Oreos.
Page, who admits to eating "more than my fair share of fried dough," notes that gourmet chefs have taken to putting food - just about any food - on a stick, coming up with some posh Popsicles. Meanwhile, there's the foie gras-cotton candy matchup, not a stretch flavour-wise since foie gras usually is paired with something sweet, but certainly visually arresting.
"It's the melding of both these worlds, the high end and the low end," said Page.
Never underestimate the appeal of battered-is-better.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
ISSUE 13 ~ City Of Heroes!!
Mission Architect:
First the City of Heroes Character Creator set a new standard for player creation and customization. Now, Issue 13 takes another giant step, allowing players to design their own missions and story arcs to share with the entire City of Heroes community. Using an intuitive interface similar to the game’s detailed Character Creator, players can create missions from the ground up. Players will determine details ranging from environments, mission objectives, and enemies, to written fiction and character dialogue; giving their stories nearly infinite depth and personalization.
Among other rewards, authors and architects who create the most extraordinary content will garner acclaim and reputation. Community feedback will be paramount and some missions will elevate in status unlocking new rewards and benefits for their creators.
Day Jobs (Offline Character Progression)
Scholar? Caregiver? City Official? Now when players log out of City of Heroes / Villains they’re just getting started! A character’s day job is determined by the actual in-game location from which he or she logs out. If players log out from a University their day job is considered to be a Scholar. If they log out from City Hall they're a City Official. The benefits are thematically appropriate to the location. For example, a City Official earns extra Influence, a Scholar is granted Salvage, a Caregiver is granted Health Regeneration Buffs, etc.
Once characters have accumulated the required amount of time for each Day Job, they are rewarded with the appropriate Day Job Badge and Title, increasing their “earnings” for that job. Multiple Badges can be combined to unlock Accolades and the ability to accumulate additional new rewards. Almost every location within Paragon City and the Rogue Isles has an associated Day Job, resulting in a wide selection of jobs and rewards!
New Powersets
Shields – Heft a Shield for Heroic of Villainous Ends! This new powerset brings a classic power to City of Heroes: Shields! Now, you can arm Tankers, Scrappers, Brutes and Stalkers with a powerful shield to protect themselves and their allies.
Pain Domination – Villains can now bend the power of pain to serve their own ends! Those playing a Corruptor or Mastermind have access to this new powerset. The antithesis of the Hero healing powerset “Empathy,” Pain Domination brings parity between Heroes and Villains with a distinctively evil flair.
New Cimerora Missions
New Hero and Villain story arcs expand upon the history and lore, and delve into the players and politics of Cimerora.
The Merit Rewards System
A new game system that allows players to earn tokens by completing Trials, Task Forces, Strike Forces, Raids, etc. The most challenging and time consuming tasks grant the most reward tokens, which can be redeemed throughout Hero and Villain zones for recipes, enhancements, salvage, costume pieces, badges, inspirations and other game items.
Other features
New Invention Origin Sets, new Costume Sets, a Patron Power Respec, Zone Refinements, and more!
First the City of Heroes Character Creator set a new standard for player creation and customization. Now, Issue 13 takes another giant step, allowing players to design their own missions and story arcs to share with the entire City of Heroes community. Using an intuitive interface similar to the game’s detailed Character Creator, players can create missions from the ground up. Players will determine details ranging from environments, mission objectives, and enemies, to written fiction and character dialogue; giving their stories nearly infinite depth and personalization.
Among other rewards, authors and architects who create the most extraordinary content will garner acclaim and reputation. Community feedback will be paramount and some missions will elevate in status unlocking new rewards and benefits for their creators.
Day Jobs (Offline Character Progression)
Scholar? Caregiver? City Official? Now when players log out of City of Heroes / Villains they’re just getting started! A character’s day job is determined by the actual in-game location from which he or she logs out. If players log out from a University their day job is considered to be a Scholar. If they log out from City Hall they're a City Official. The benefits are thematically appropriate to the location. For example, a City Official earns extra Influence, a Scholar is granted Salvage, a Caregiver is granted Health Regeneration Buffs, etc.
Once characters have accumulated the required amount of time for each Day Job, they are rewarded with the appropriate Day Job Badge and Title, increasing their “earnings” for that job. Multiple Badges can be combined to unlock Accolades and the ability to accumulate additional new rewards. Almost every location within Paragon City and the Rogue Isles has an associated Day Job, resulting in a wide selection of jobs and rewards!
New Powersets
Shields – Heft a Shield for Heroic of Villainous Ends! This new powerset brings a classic power to City of Heroes: Shields! Now, you can arm Tankers, Scrappers, Brutes and Stalkers with a powerful shield to protect themselves and their allies.
Pain Domination – Villains can now bend the power of pain to serve their own ends! Those playing a Corruptor or Mastermind have access to this new powerset. The antithesis of the Hero healing powerset “Empathy,” Pain Domination brings parity between Heroes and Villains with a distinctively evil flair.
New Cimerora Missions
New Hero and Villain story arcs expand upon the history and lore, and delve into the players and politics of Cimerora.
The Merit Rewards System
A new game system that allows players to earn tokens by completing Trials, Task Forces, Strike Forces, Raids, etc. The most challenging and time consuming tasks grant the most reward tokens, which can be redeemed throughout Hero and Villain zones for recipes, enhancements, salvage, costume pieces, badges, inspirations and other game items.
Other features
New Invention Origin Sets, new Costume Sets, a Patron Power Respec, Zone Refinements, and more!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Updates & Things (short ver)
Well Let's see, It's been over a month and ALOT has happend...
First off, Work screwed me over, the last day I was to do manager was suppose to be my last... they ended up have me do it on the Sunday after I wasn't suppose to, but I am making sure they pay me for it, cause when I checked my pay stub.. they didn't and they are gonna!
/end rant
Lets see, Vacation was a blast I had so much fun going to see my grandma & the rest of the family. Good times. To bad it was so short
Um.. when I got back I pulled a no call no show at work, I just didn't wanna deal with there shit anymore...
Now I am just kick back with some R&R while I work on my cookbook, taking a break, okay well not totally a break, gotta get some more remodeling and cleaning done. Neut is comin to visit in Sept! I am soooooo excited!
First off, Work screwed me over, the last day I was to do manager was suppose to be my last... they ended up have me do it on the Sunday after I wasn't suppose to, but I am making sure they pay me for it, cause when I checked my pay stub.. they didn't and they are gonna!
/end rant
Lets see, Vacation was a blast I had so much fun going to see my grandma & the rest of the family. Good times. To bad it was so short
Um.. when I got back I pulled a no call no show at work, I just didn't wanna deal with there shit anymore...
Now I am just kick back with some R&R while I work on my cookbook, taking a break, okay well not totally a break, gotta get some more remodeling and cleaning done. Neut is comin to visit in Sept! I am soooooo excited!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Vacation =)
We just got back from Canada late last night.
It was a great trip, even the 12-14hr drive there and back!
We seen Grandma, Uncle Gary, Auntie Donna, and my Dad.
We also popped by to see my Grandpa at his grave, it was sad.
We also did other things like, I took hubby to some restaurants that are not in the states like Jose's Noodle Factory, Swiss Chalet and of course Pizza Pizza.
Can you say YUM!
We also went on Go-Carts!
We had a really great time, to bad the time couldn't of been longer, ah well, there is always next year =D
I miss Grandma & my family already though =*(
Well time to decide what to do with the rest of my day : )
It was a great trip, even the 12-14hr drive there and back!
We seen Grandma, Uncle Gary, Auntie Donna, and my Dad.
We also popped by to see my Grandpa at his grave, it was sad.
We also did other things like, I took hubby to some restaurants that are not in the states like Jose's Noodle Factory, Swiss Chalet and of course Pizza Pizza.
Can you say YUM!
We also went on Go-Carts!
We had a really great time, to bad the time couldn't of been longer, ah well, there is always next year =D
I miss Grandma & my family already though =*(
Well time to decide what to do with the rest of my day : )
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Diablo III ??
ZOMG!
I used to play the shit outta I & II !
Wonder if its gonna be free like the others you just pay for the game...
One can hope : P
I used to play the shit outta I & II !
Wonder if its gonna be free like the others you just pay for the game...
One can hope : P
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Updates, Life, Everything!
Wow, where to begin...
Things been going great!
Besides the fact of work being down right stupid.
They are telling me I look like I am worn out and not doing my job that I spend to much time with the customers and don't get my paperwork done right.
Pfft, whatever.
At this point I don't care, the stuff they want me to do they have not trained me on, I think they are just making excuses too since I always make my sales plans and they don't.
There loss, I'll go back to a part time sales associate and do what I do best, SELL!
10hrs or less a week, and when they see plan is not being made, to bad!
I'm fine with 10hrs or less a week.
When I get back from Canada I am going full force on my cookbook, cause I know quite a few that want a copy.
/end rant
Anyways other then that life's been good, finally things are calming down a bit, got the bathroom redone, piping fixed in the house, next project is the roof which because of hail damage we are able to get some help with that.
Hubby and I been eating healthy for awhile now, I dropped 8-10 pant sizes in the last 2 months just by eating 3 healthy meals a day, cutting my portions in half and eating snacks. Now today we started a exercise routine. Gah, damn that was painful on the walk up to Smoothie King, we almost didn't make it cause there was a flash of lightning and thunder but after a bit it just turned into sprinkles of rain so we went with it, quite refreshing actually. About half way there my legs where burning it been about a year since I last exercised. But I pushed myself along.
We finally made it to Smoothie King grabbed 2 small smoothies, sat for 10 Min's then headed back. The way back was no problem, thing with Missouri is all the hills but damn it felt good. Now that I got my eating under control and going with the walking. I can see this weight melt off, and with Stressing less in a few weeks even better, I bet as soon as things calm down a bit more, weight falls off, could be pregnant in no time, fingers crossed.
Hopefully!
Here is to hoping!
: )
Other then that not much been going on really, still playing City Of Heroes, Issue 12 hit this month, it's way to cool.
The cats are doing well, Slayer has been a big snuggle bug as always, Salem has become our dancing rolly kitty, Scyko has become a attention whore, Bubbles wont be quiet, Skeet has become very lovable, and Olivia is still just crazy.
Well suns coming out, time for it to probably get really hot out.
I feel like changing my picture and background on my blog, think I am going to do that now : )
Things been going great!
Besides the fact of work being down right stupid.
They are telling me I look like I am worn out and not doing my job that I spend to much time with the customers and don't get my paperwork done right.
Pfft, whatever.
At this point I don't care, the stuff they want me to do they have not trained me on, I think they are just making excuses too since I always make my sales plans and they don't.
There loss, I'll go back to a part time sales associate and do what I do best, SELL!
10hrs or less a week, and when they see plan is not being made, to bad!
I'm fine with 10hrs or less a week.
When I get back from Canada I am going full force on my cookbook, cause I know quite a few that want a copy.
/end rant
Anyways other then that life's been good, finally things are calming down a bit, got the bathroom redone, piping fixed in the house, next project is the roof which because of hail damage we are able to get some help with that.
Hubby and I been eating healthy for awhile now, I dropped 8-10 pant sizes in the last 2 months just by eating 3 healthy meals a day, cutting my portions in half and eating snacks. Now today we started a exercise routine. Gah, damn that was painful on the walk up to Smoothie King, we almost didn't make it cause there was a flash of lightning and thunder but after a bit it just turned into sprinkles of rain so we went with it, quite refreshing actually. About half way there my legs where burning it been about a year since I last exercised. But I pushed myself along.
We finally made it to Smoothie King grabbed 2 small smoothies, sat for 10 Min's then headed back. The way back was no problem, thing with Missouri is all the hills but damn it felt good. Now that I got my eating under control and going with the walking. I can see this weight melt off, and with Stressing less in a few weeks even better, I bet as soon as things calm down a bit more, weight falls off, could be pregnant in no time, fingers crossed.
Hopefully!
Here is to hoping!
: )
Other then that not much been going on really, still playing City Of Heroes, Issue 12 hit this month, it's way to cool.
The cats are doing well, Slayer has been a big snuggle bug as always, Salem has become our dancing rolly kitty, Scyko has become a attention whore, Bubbles wont be quiet, Skeet has become very lovable, and Olivia is still just crazy.
Well suns coming out, time for it to probably get really hot out.
I feel like changing my picture and background on my blog, think I am going to do that now : )
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
When Awesome, Isn't Good Enough
Explain to me this....
Last September I get promoted to manager at my work, I get a weeks training on how to open and close the store, a quick walk though of payroll and ordering bags and supplies, because the lady that usually does it talks a mile a min and don't slow down even when you ask her too to explain then the store manager says Ill come in and show you but never does.
A month goes by and before you know it ... it's Christmas... my focus, selling and giving the customers the best deal possible and making sure you have what they need. Easy right? HAHAH! YEAH RIGHT! So I try my best, all I can do right?
So from September 2007 to Nov 1st, I are the top selling manager in the store, Nov it's another manager, December back to me, the last 12 days before Christmas there was a contest who can make plan for those days and who does gets a $25 gift card to Starbucks, bath and body works, Victoria secerts or the limited. I won 6 outta 12 days. Great job right? Damn right it was! I had over 150 bucks to spend of not my money :D
Jan hits my Grandfather passes away they get mad because I left, screw them. I am gone for 2 weeks outta the month and I still am the top manager, go figure :P Feb rolls around, myself again. March one other manager, April and may, your looking at her again, me. Great job right?
So here comes June tomorrow, my boss pulls me aside Thurs this last week and says, " Are you burned out ur performance isn't up to speed ? " how is my performance NOT up to speed when you guys been making plan for the last month or so because i been busting my ass!? LOL .... well she says you just don't have the oomph, OK one shes not there when i have my so called Oomph, but I guess the ordering and ya last floorset was a oops cause we couldn't find the white tops for the window display and left it for them cause we where not gonna call her house at 11 at night.
Okay my mistake, then she gets on me about my availability. she knew when I got promoted and she was fine with it that i had my permit and was practicing to drive, I didn't work Tues or wed cause those are the days I need to get things done when hubby's off... she had no prob with it and now because I req time off from 22-28 cause my friends are coming in from Utah "maybe" and the week I'm going back home to Canada to visit my grandmother who's still grieving over my grandfather, its a BIG problem for her.
But sure she can take her week off and so can the other manager, pfft yeah right.
so yeah everything I do isn't good enough, its not my fault that she didn't give me all the proper training she should of, so I have a thing for her, give me the proper training if you want to help me succeed at being a manager or I will step down but I need my hours each week and my pay or they can kiss there sales into the ground. Cause I wont stay at a place to sell my ass off so THEY can get all the credit and win there prizes.
Okay I'm ending rant mode, sry, comment if you like, thanks for reading :)
On a good note, I could get back into my art and working on the stuff i wanna get done around the house and maybe some more coh time and spending the time with hubby, getting into my walks every morning and doing what i need to do to feel better about myself too :)
Last September I get promoted to manager at my work, I get a weeks training on how to open and close the store, a quick walk though of payroll and ordering bags and supplies, because the lady that usually does it talks a mile a min and don't slow down even when you ask her too to explain then the store manager says Ill come in and show you but never does.
A month goes by and before you know it ... it's Christmas... my focus, selling and giving the customers the best deal possible and making sure you have what they need. Easy right? HAHAH! YEAH RIGHT! So I try my best, all I can do right?
So from September 2007 to Nov 1st, I are the top selling manager in the store, Nov it's another manager, December back to me, the last 12 days before Christmas there was a contest who can make plan for those days and who does gets a $25 gift card to Starbucks, bath and body works, Victoria secerts or the limited. I won 6 outta 12 days. Great job right? Damn right it was! I had over 150 bucks to spend of not my money :D
Jan hits my Grandfather passes away they get mad because I left, screw them. I am gone for 2 weeks outta the month and I still am the top manager, go figure :P Feb rolls around, myself again. March one other manager, April and may, your looking at her again, me. Great job right?
So here comes June tomorrow, my boss pulls me aside Thurs this last week and says, " Are you burned out ur performance isn't up to speed ? " how is my performance NOT up to speed when you guys been making plan for the last month or so because i been busting my ass!? LOL .... well she says you just don't have the oomph, OK one shes not there when i have my so called Oomph, but I guess the ordering and ya last floorset was a oops cause we couldn't find the white tops for the window display and left it for them cause we where not gonna call her house at 11 at night.
Okay my mistake, then she gets on me about my availability. she knew when I got promoted and she was fine with it that i had my permit and was practicing to drive, I didn't work Tues or wed cause those are the days I need to get things done when hubby's off... she had no prob with it and now because I req time off from 22-28 cause my friends are coming in from Utah "maybe" and the week I'm going back home to Canada to visit my grandmother who's still grieving over my grandfather, its a BIG problem for her.
But sure she can take her week off and so can the other manager, pfft yeah right.
so yeah everything I do isn't good enough, its not my fault that she didn't give me all the proper training she should of, so I have a thing for her, give me the proper training if you want to help me succeed at being a manager or I will step down but I need my hours each week and my pay or they can kiss there sales into the ground. Cause I wont stay at a place to sell my ass off so THEY can get all the credit and win there prizes.
Okay I'm ending rant mode, sry, comment if you like, thanks for reading :)
On a good note, I could get back into my art and working on the stuff i wanna get done around the house and maybe some more coh time and spending the time with hubby, getting into my walks every morning and doing what i need to do to feel better about myself too :)
All I Want Right Now Is....
All I am really wanting right now in life is....
A family - kids etc yadda yadda....
Go back to Canada with hubby to visit my Grandma...
To lose weight, well keep doing so
I love my job but minus the bullshit and stress, I know all jobs have it but damn this one is BS....
I need to get a physical
I need to go to the dentist
Need a good night sleep
Back pain to go away
Find some good health insurance
Find some good life insurance
Be home more so I can finish more stuff around the house remodeling and cleaning wise
Have my privacy back
The list continues.....
But I need to finish cleaning and head to bed, work tomorrow and I have been tired all dang day, I am pulling to stay awake this late and I finally got the living room and dishes and sweeping done .... so......... sleeeeeeeeepy.......... *thud*
A family - kids etc yadda yadda....
Go back to Canada with hubby to visit my Grandma...
To lose weight, well keep doing so
I love my job but minus the bullshit and stress, I know all jobs have it but damn this one is BS....
I need to get a physical
I need to go to the dentist
Need a good night sleep
Back pain to go away
Find some good health insurance
Find some good life insurance
Be home more so I can finish more stuff around the house remodeling and cleaning wise
Have my privacy back
The list continues.....
But I need to finish cleaning and head to bed, work tomorrow and I have been tired all dang day, I am pulling to stay awake this late and I finally got the living room and dishes and sweeping done .... so......... sleeeeeeeeepy.......... *thud*
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Updates & Things
Not much going on really, working, cleaning, eating, spending time with hubby....
Issue 12 Live on City Of Heroes....
Bathroom is finally done being remodeled...
Not a hella lot, just waiting on Vacation.
Neut and Toonies its a maybe if they are coming, Going to see my Grandma in July, Neut will prolly come in Aug if she can't make June.
Tis about it :)
Issue 12 Live on City Of Heroes....
Bathroom is finally done being remodeled...
Not a hella lot, just waiting on Vacation.
Neut and Toonies its a maybe if they are coming, Going to see my Grandma in July, Neut will prolly come in Aug if she can't make June.
Tis about it :)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Fired Over A Fucking Timbit? WTF!?
Well I know I have not wrote a blog in awhile I been pretty busy but I still get a chance to check news on yahoo, today I stumbled across a poor single mom that got fired for giving a timbit to a baby, wtf is that shit?
Tim Hortons is the company, I worked for them for 4 dang years when I lived back home in Canada. I can't believe I stayed with that dumb company for that long, back then timbits where 12 cents and they where telling us not to give them to babies, you know what FUCK THEM! They make millions everyday and they can't afford about 10 timbits in each store each day? I mean, when I worked there the customers would ask, can i have a timbit for my baby or can I have one for my dog. I mean WTF People! It's a dang timbit! (for those of you timbit is aka a donut hole)
But anyways seriously, that's bull! One lady I worked with we used to chip in our tips and sit a box of timbits aside that we paid for because Tim's is so fucking greedy! They don't even pay there workers enough!
Anyways I think I am done ranting for now, here is the article:
By The Canadian Press
ADVERTISEMENT
LONDON, Ont. - After being fired for giving away a Timbit to a baby and hastily reinstated when the doughy dilemma hit the media, single mom Nicole Lilliman said Thursday she'll collect her much-needed Tim Hortons pay cheque until she can find work elsewhere.
While still anxious to work in a customer service job, the 27-year-old mother of four young children said she fears her career with the iconic Canadian purveyor of coffee and doughnuts has been irreparably harmed - despite a chance to work at a new outlet.
"I will have to leave, I will look for another job," Lilliman said. "I will leave just because nobody's going to like me. It's going to be awkward (going back to work), but I need a cheque in two weeks. I need it, I have to have it."
Lilliman, who said she had aspired to become a supervisor, was fired by what Tim Hortons head office called an overzealous manager after giving away the deep-fried confection - retail value 16 cents - to the infant on Tuesday.
The three-year employee, who makes $9.05 an hour and pays $750 a month in rent, was called into a backroom the next day and made to sign termination papers that read "terminated for giving baby product without paying," she said.
"So I signed it because it's true - I did it."
As she left the store in tears, a stranger handed her $40, saying someone had once done him the same favour when he was fired from a job, Lilliman said.
"I left crying, everybody's staring at me. I was so embarrassed," she said. "Then I went home and called the newspaper."
Tim Hortons spokeswoman Rachel Douglas said Thursday the store apparently had a policy against giving away food, but added it wasn't a ground for dismissal and that Lilliman is receiving an apology from head office.
For now, Lilliman will return to work at another Tim Hortons store close to where she was previously employed.
"She has chosen to go to a different location, just down the street, which is owned by the same franchisee in case she was uncomfortable returning to her current store," Douglas said.
No decision has been made regarding taking action against the manger who fired Lilliman, Douglas added.
"It was an unfortunate incident where a manager acted a bit overzealous. The actions of that manager were not appropriate, nor were they grounds for dismissal."
Lilliman, who said she had a strained relationship with her manager before the incident, said she doesn't want to see her former boss fired but is glad to see Tim Hortons making apologies.
"I want them to feel like that. I'm sorry, you just fired a mother of four over a Timbit," she said.
"Everything would have been fine and dandy. I wouldn't have called anyone. Nothing would have happened if they had just been like, 'Nicole, you gave out a Timbit. It's not allowed. Please don't do it again."'
Despite government subsidies, including daycare, Lilliman pays $120 a month in transportation costs to get her children - aged three, five, six and 10 - to their care providers.
The $750 a month she pays in rent doesn't cover utilities.
"I pay to flush my toilet," she said. "I need this job."
Lilliman said if she ever has the urge to give away a Timbit again, she'll pay the 16 cents out of her own purse.
As for the need for a nationwide policy on Timbit freebies, Douglas said that has yet to be determined, noting that store owners currently set their own policies and run "their businesses as they choose."
-By Gregory Bonnell in Toronto.
Tim Hortons is the company, I worked for them for 4 dang years when I lived back home in Canada. I can't believe I stayed with that dumb company for that long, back then timbits where 12 cents and they where telling us not to give them to babies, you know what FUCK THEM! They make millions everyday and they can't afford about 10 timbits in each store each day? I mean, when I worked there the customers would ask, can i have a timbit for my baby or can I have one for my dog. I mean WTF People! It's a dang timbit! (for those of you timbit is aka a donut hole)
But anyways seriously, that's bull! One lady I worked with we used to chip in our tips and sit a box of timbits aside that we paid for because Tim's is so fucking greedy! They don't even pay there workers enough!
Anyways I think I am done ranting for now, here is the article:
By The Canadian Press
ADVERTISEMENT
LONDON, Ont. - After being fired for giving away a Timbit to a baby and hastily reinstated when the doughy dilemma hit the media, single mom Nicole Lilliman said Thursday she'll collect her much-needed Tim Hortons pay cheque until she can find work elsewhere.
While still anxious to work in a customer service job, the 27-year-old mother of four young children said she fears her career with the iconic Canadian purveyor of coffee and doughnuts has been irreparably harmed - despite a chance to work at a new outlet.
"I will have to leave, I will look for another job," Lilliman said. "I will leave just because nobody's going to like me. It's going to be awkward (going back to work), but I need a cheque in two weeks. I need it, I have to have it."
Lilliman, who said she had aspired to become a supervisor, was fired by what Tim Hortons head office called an overzealous manager after giving away the deep-fried confection - retail value 16 cents - to the infant on Tuesday.
The three-year employee, who makes $9.05 an hour and pays $750 a month in rent, was called into a backroom the next day and made to sign termination papers that read "terminated for giving baby product without paying," she said.
"So I signed it because it's true - I did it."
As she left the store in tears, a stranger handed her $40, saying someone had once done him the same favour when he was fired from a job, Lilliman said.
"I left crying, everybody's staring at me. I was so embarrassed," she said. "Then I went home and called the newspaper."
Tim Hortons spokeswoman Rachel Douglas said Thursday the store apparently had a policy against giving away food, but added it wasn't a ground for dismissal and that Lilliman is receiving an apology from head office.
For now, Lilliman will return to work at another Tim Hortons store close to where she was previously employed.
"She has chosen to go to a different location, just down the street, which is owned by the same franchisee in case she was uncomfortable returning to her current store," Douglas said.
No decision has been made regarding taking action against the manger who fired Lilliman, Douglas added.
"It was an unfortunate incident where a manager acted a bit overzealous. The actions of that manager were not appropriate, nor were they grounds for dismissal."
Lilliman, who said she had a strained relationship with her manager before the incident, said she doesn't want to see her former boss fired but is glad to see Tim Hortons making apologies.
"I want them to feel like that. I'm sorry, you just fired a mother of four over a Timbit," she said.
"Everything would have been fine and dandy. I wouldn't have called anyone. Nothing would have happened if they had just been like, 'Nicole, you gave out a Timbit. It's not allowed. Please don't do it again."'
Despite government subsidies, including daycare, Lilliman pays $120 a month in transportation costs to get her children - aged three, five, six and 10 - to their care providers.
The $750 a month she pays in rent doesn't cover utilities.
"I pay to flush my toilet," she said. "I need this job."
Lilliman said if she ever has the urge to give away a Timbit again, she'll pay the 16 cents out of her own purse.
As for the need for a nationwide policy on Timbit freebies, Douglas said that has yet to be determined, noting that store owners currently set their own policies and run "their businesses as they choose."
-By Gregory Bonnell in Toronto.
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