Month: February 2012

How to Give Your Home a Pre-Spring Makeover

The winter months have left your home looking rather gloomy, and while spring might seem rather far off, a great project to get started on now is a simple home makeover. Try to involve your children, as well, to give them a good reason to ditch the computer or TV for a few hours after school.

The first step in touching up your home is, of course, a paint job. Don’t try to tackle the whole house, this will end up costing an arm and a leg, and will also stretch your patience with the process. Choose a few areas or rooms that could use a change; the difference in color will change the entire space, saving you the cost and effort of repainting everything. Of course, spend the little extra you may need to fix up any scratches or areas that have peeled.

This season’s popular colors are pastels and deep jewel tones. These will help brighten up any space, as well as give them a completely different mood. Try to match your choices to the white or cream bases that are already used throughout your home. A deep minty turquoise, for example, looks stunning with white walls, shelves or rugs. If you’re hesitant to commit to a new color, or too lazy to paint full walls, go out and buy some stencils and add a little bit of color and personality that way instead. You can even paint on children’s furniture, too, like a desk or a dresser. Wall-stickers are another great option to achieve this look.

Next, work on the more specific décor. Look around your main areas, and revamp your photo collection. Buy an eclectic bunch of new picture frames (mix colors, shapes and sizes), then sort through your photos and choose some favorites to put on display.

Now, move on to your furniture, rugs, cushions and other living room accessories. Don’t bother buying anything new; try to work with what you have. If the stuff looks kinda shabby, why not try removable covers? This will give you an opportunity to try new colors and styles without committing to the new look. You can even dye them yourself. Add ribbons, lace, tassels or designs to your cushions- if you’re intimidated by sewing machines, you can use hot glue instead.
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Third, think about adding some plants to your interior. Beautiful potted flowers, or leafy vines like ivy, literally add life to a room. At your local nursery, ask for sturdy, indoor plants, that perhaps have a pleasant smell. Put some on top of the refrigerator, by the stairs, in the bathroom and on the piano, and make sure to put a bit of thought into the pots you choose.

Last but not least, think about the curtains, towels, bath mats and shower screens. These little things give the room its finishing touches, changing the atmosphere from hectic or messy to appealing and organized. While you’re at it, buy some new plastic drawers to keep in children’s bedrooms, bathrooms and the den to help keep things in reach but out of sight.

 

Osteoporosis and Technology

Some years ago, people were so debilitated by osteoporosis – the bone-thinning disease – that all they could do was lie on their beds in pain and await the inevitable.  Today, it looks like that is changing, thanks to amazing technological advances. 

A microchip is currently being tested on seven women with osteoporosis to help restore bone density.  Implanted in their abdomens, it has been working via a radio signal to deliver pacemakers using a prescription plan so that they can consume their drugs more easily.  Results from the study showed that all women had a bone density increase.  This is fantastic news for osteoporosis sufferers, although the device is still awaiting FDA approval, which is only anticipated after 2016.  For the future, there are even greater plans for the device, such as it being able to deliver daily doses for 365 days.

Low-Tech Solution

Of course, there are some in the medical field who argue that diet, supplements and exercise alone are adequate to control and fight osteoporosis.  For example, by regularly adding calcium, Vitamin D, magnesium and strontium to one’s diet, one can battle – or even prevent – the onset of osteoporosis.  In addition, weight-bearing (walking) and strength-training (weight-lifting) exercise is vital in this battle.  Most of this is quite well-known, but it is a less-well-known fact that strontium citrate supplements can dramatically help the development of bone density and prevention of osteoporosis.

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Middle-Tech Solutions

Until now, osteoporosis patients have been using daily injection pens to help with their condition.  But this could be replaced once the microchip comes into general use and thus patients will be able to control their medication by pushing a remote-controlled button. 

It may not be readily available now, but in the near future it looks as if osteoporosis sufferers will be able to access a much more effective way of dealing with their disease.

The Real Tragedy of Whitney Houston’s Death

As the world reels from the tragic death of Whitney Houston, I can’t help but wonder how many people truly care.

Every day is filled with tributes, memorial speeches, mournful comments and ‘I Will Always Love You’ playing eerily on the radio, and I question how much of it is real, or even right. People lament the tragedy of a talent lost, the sad story of a woman who, though she had everything anyone could dream of, still sought to escape from reality, and from herself. Of course, the story is heartbreaking and I respect both her talent and her character, but…

Is it not tragic that a thirteen year old, whose life has barely begun, would take his or her own life? Is it not sad that hundreds of adolescents dabble in the dangers of illegal substances, often meeting a similar end before starting high school? I think that reality is more tragic then the loss of a single grown woman, regardless of how gifted and wonderful she may have been.

The entertainment industry has proven to be a hard one to survive in. I am not judging, but once you’re in the spotlight, surely you have a certain amount of responsibility towards both your audience and yourself?

Substance abuse is an issue that must be dealt with. A real intervention throughout the U.S. is long overdue. How many people have died or destroyed their lives in this way? How many, be they gifted or anonymous, criminals, angels, or children? And at her tributes her loved ones weep, sharing memories and showing the pain of her loss. Why, then, did she die? Where were her loved ones as she struggled with her addiction for over two decades?
She was fortunate enough to have so many people know her, love her and be so involved in her life. Unlike many other addicts, she had hundreds of people who should’ve done everything they could to help her.

I have a hard time buying into the global mourning, too. Those who didn’t know her and never met her stand around me crying as if their hearts are truly broken, and I can’t help but find it rather phony. Undoubtedly the funeral and the tributes are tragically beautiful, haunting, even, as the lyrics of her song fit the scenario in a way that no one could have foreshadowed, and the emotion of it all left even me feeling a bit weepy at some points. But still, we never met her, and we don’t cry this much when innocents die in car accidents, or when children are abused by their own parents.
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Though his comments were particularly harsh, I respect Bill O’Reilly’s opinion. He said: “I don’t believe anyone is a slave to addiction. I believe it’s a disease, a mental disease, but you have a free will and you can get through the disease, as millions of people have chosen to do it.”

“You don’t have free will when you have lung cancer. You do have free will when you’re a crack addict,” he said. He continued, reprimanding America (and rightly so) for “looking the other way on Whitney Houston.”

He asked why a celebrity-voiced public announcement was never released, warning teens not to follow Houston’s, or other celebrities’ like Amy Winehouse or Janis Joplin’s, examples. “Everybody knew she was a drug addict for two decades.”

O’Reilly added that the media is supposed to be “in the business of telling the truth, and the truth is if you get into hard drugs you can go at any time.”

Watch the latest video of the funeral at video.foxnews.com

How Does Your Garden Grow?

The Scoop on Garden Containers

There are many different opinions on whether or not container gardens are a good idea for growing plants.  Now that the very cold and snow season is ending in the States and the UK, a lot of people are looking into their gardening options again.  And one popular option – especially for those who do not have a big open space where they live – is container gardens.  But what is the skinny on these?  Are they good, bad, healthy, attractive, easy to put in place?  Let’s have a look.

Enjoying Your Winter Garden

According to one expert from London, MD of Clifton Nurseries Matthew Wilson, the most important thing to make your plants in this setting attractive is to use a whole slew of different textures and colors along with a mix of bulbs and shrubs.  Bedding is used less and architectural plants can look very attractive as well.  In addition, he pointed out that the container used is just as important as the plants themselves, and this is even more true in winter as with additional light reflected, grayer days get a bolt of light.

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Problems with Container Gardens

But according to another article, there can be certain hassles to using container gardens due to their “need for frequent watering and fertilization.”  These plants require the gardener – you – to give them nutrition for healthy growth.  But if initially you ensured there was a good quality potting soil (as opposed to garden soil) this can be very helpful.  It is also important to read the full fertilization instructions on the package before planting.

Now for the Fun Part

If you want to enjoy planting as a family, do something fun and cool with the kids, then why not try something a bit silly but really cute?  One tweeter did something a bit imaginative and creative and made some color in their garden with these baby container crocs that are not expensive, easy to do and definitely generate exciting after-dinner party conversation.  All you need to do is fill the foot part with potting soil, plant the seed, stuffing it as much as you can and where there is still soil showing, plant some hens and chicks, stuffing some in the holes by the toes too since these make great fillers for plants if you are looking for something a bit unusual.

Every Life Needs a Cruise

Life is just too short to not go on a cruise.  There are so many stresses in our day-to-day life, that, if possible, everyone should be able to go on at least one cruise in their lifetime.  Thankfully, there are some great deals for cruises available these days so one doesn’t need to break the bank.  At www.cruises.com you will find unbeatable prices for all sorts of enjoyable cruises especially if you go for one of the last minute bargains available.   There are tons of special deals including: free upgrades; reduced airfares for cruises in Europe; special discounts for military and residents and a whole lot more.

And even if you don’t have all that much time off work or simply can’t get away for a long vacation, why not go on a three-day cruise to somewhere like Nassau?  There you will be simply whisked away to dreamland, where you can enjoy stunning turquoise waters and relaxing beaches that seem to be just what movies are made of.  Take a horse-drawn carriage downtown and get a real feel for the history of the Bahamas. Make sure you are well-rested for the evening so you can fully enjoy the Carnival Imagination which makes for a wonderful romantic evening.
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The Physical Link Between Warmth and Romance

This year’s winter feels endless. Studies have long shown that the cold and lack of sunshine can have a real effect on a person’s health, as well as their mental state. For example, even a minor decrease in vitamin D can result in general aches and pains. The constant darkness can also cause depression, which, this time of year, is more commonly known as the winter blues.

A recent study in the Journal of Consumer Research has revealed that the frigid season also influences people’s taste in entertainment, which explains why movie theaters are often jam packed with action and epic films during the summer, and romance and comedies from December through March. This is because when consumers feel cold, their preferences shift.

“We often think of love as being warm,” explain authors Jiewen Hong and Yacheng Sun. “This link between love and warmth appears in everyday language, songs and poems.”

Their statement is undeniable. Picture a romantic scene- what comes to mind? A cozy fireplace, a sunny beach, candlelight… Some may picture a walk in the snow, but what are the lovers doing? Huddling together, appreciating the warmth they find in each other in contrast to their chilly surroundings.

Is There a Real Connection?

The authors conducted their study in order to discover whether the connection between love and warmth is merely a metaphor, or if there is in fact a physical connection between the two.

In their research, Hong and Sun included four lab studies and a detailed analysis of an online movie rental company. They predicted that romantic films are more desirable when they are dealing with physical cold, because the chill triggers a need for balance through psychological warmth.
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In one of the tests, the researchers sat participants in rooms with various temperatures and gave them a choice of films to watch. The colder participants all leaned towards romance or comedy, both feel-good genres. The authors were interested to discover that once they pointed out the coldness to participants, they no longer preferred romance. This reveals a subconscious link.

To prove that the findings are indeed relevant beyond the confines of a lab, the study analyzed movie rental data from a DVD rental company, matching it to the coinciding weather and outdoor temperature. People were indeed more inclined to rent romance movies during colder periods.

So next time you’re feeling cold and a little down, why not follow the trend and curl up with a blanket, a hot cup of tea and a cozy, feel-good romantic flick?