Accutane Induced Hair Loss and Hair Transplant Surgery

Question:

I've read a few of your blogs from doing searches on Google, and you seem to be an expert. I'm actually suffering from accutane hair loss, but have a question for you about hair transplants. I thought since hair was taken from DHT resitent areas, the transplanted hair is also DHT resistent. If that is the case, how come patients still use non-surgical hair loss treatments?

Answer:

In my research, it has been said that accutane (typically used as a treatment for acne) may be the cause of temporary or permanent hair loss in both men and women. Degrees of hair loss from accutane will also vary from mild to severe (almost completely bald).

Hair on the sides and back of the scalp is DHT resistant, but not necessarily resistant to hair loss due to non-genetic causes, such as accutane induced telogen effluvium (thinning hair). Typically patients on accutane do not make good candidates for hair transplants since accutane can actually destroy hair follicles all over the scalp, including "safe" donor hair on the sides and back of your scalp.

If accutane is the cause of your balding condition, stopping the medication might reverse the hair loss process within the period of a year however, there is no guarantee.

Hair transplant patients do sometimes continue using non-surgical treatments such as Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil) to help stop pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) from progressing further. Though hair on the sides and back of the scalp are DHT resistant, many patients still have remaining natural hair up top that they'd like to keep. Non-surgical solutions for baldness can help prevent the need for subsequent hair transplant procedures later down the road.

In my opinion, talk to your physician about alternative treatments to accutane that won't be as detrimental to precious hair follicles.

Bill Seemiller (Falceros) - Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network, the Coalition Hair Loss Learning Center, and the Hair Loss Q & A Blog. To share ideas with other hair loss sufferers visit our Hair Restoration Discussion Forum.

Article Source: hairlosslearningcenter.org

An introduction to Nepal

Nepal has long held a fascination for outsiders wishing to visit. Throughout the years the country has acted as an important trading post between India and China.

The former Kingdom has also seen its fair share of turmoil over the last few years, but now, more than ever before, Nepal has really opened up to tourism.

These days, most visitors to the country come to spend time in the highest mountain range on earth – The Himalayas.

Some of the world’s best trekking is easily accessible from a variety of locations in Nepal, whether in the Everest region, the Langtang region, or the Annapurnas, and no matter what your level of expertise is, you are sure to find open trails, incredible hospitality, unique cultures, and quite frankly, some of the best mountain views on earth. The best times to go trekking in Nepal are Sep–Dec and Feb–May. During the summer months, the monsoon can spoil visibility, trails get wet and leeches come out in force.

The winter months from mid-December to mid-February can be a beautiful time to trek, but heavy snows and avalanches can prevent access to some higher regions. Nepal Uncovered offer fully guided group trekking tours in Nepal to all areas of the country and can also arrange private tours for groups or individuals.

Although trekking is the number one activity in Nepal, there are still plenty of other options open to people visiting the country. Being one of the highest countries in the world and stuck amongst incredible mountains, makes rafting in Nepal a full-on adrenalin rush.

Depending on what time of year you visit, you can find anything from easy, Class I-II introductory trips to difficult and technical Class IV-V rapids. The most popular rivers are the Sun Khosi, Trisuli, Bhote Khosi and the Seti. During the monsoon in July and August, the flows can be very dangerous and some river levels are ten times greater than say in February or March. If you come on a rafting trip with Nepal Uncovered, you can expect highly qualified instructors, impeccable safety, good food and great company.

Away from the mountains and closer to the border with India, Nepal becomes more tropical in climate as the magnificent Himalayas make way for the Terai plains - home to some of Asia’s most impressive wildlife parks. By far the most popular of these is Chitwan National Park (about 6 hrs drive from Kathmandu).

Bardia National park in the west of the country is more remote but while fast increasing in popularity, it still only sees around a fifth of the visitors that Chitwan does. In both parks, fully inclusive stays are available at lodges situated both inside and on the edges of the park. From these lodges it is possible to do elephant trekking, canoeing, jungle walks (at night and during the day), jeep safaris, bird watching tours and other safari activities.

Some of the wildlife active in the parks includes Gharial and Mugger crocodiles, sloth bears, leopards, langur monkeys, the endangered Asian rhinos and a vast array of birdlife, not forgetting the majestic Bengal tiger. Nepal Uncovered offers a fascinating Nepal wildlife safari tour that takes in both Chitwan and Bardia National parks as well as time in Kathmandu.

Most people arrive into Nepal through Kathmandu, and the capital city is a fantastic starting point for any trip to Nepal. Nestled in the Kathmandu Valley at 1,200 metres, this ancient city has been welcoming traders and visitors for centuries. Back in the 1960’s there was only one hotel in the city, but these days there are hundreds, from basic backpacker level right up to 4 and 5-star options.

The city itself is home to many unique Hindu and Buddhist temples as well as former palaces and it’s only a short journey to Nagarkot, where you can watch a spectacular sunrise over the Himalayas. The major tourist district of Thamel is packed full of interesting shops selling everything from Buddhist Thangas and leather goods, to Newari and Nepali arts and crafts. While Nepalese food is often considered bland, the sheer number of good quality restaurants serving local and western food means that you will never be short of culinary options.

There are plenty of tour operators offering cultural tours to Nepal, including the UK-based specialist Nepal Uncovered.

Historically speaking, Nepal has had a chequered past and even now, uncertainties over the political future of the country persists. The Maoists won the last election held in May 2008 and since then, we have seen the country turn from a Kingdom, into a Republic. The impact felt by tourists has been minimal - in fact, Nepal continues to welcome more and more visitors.

But there is no doubt that the country is in transition. Former Royal Palaces are being turned into museums and libraries, and former adversaries are attempting to create a new parliament together. While Nepal is certainly on the cusp of a major change, responsible tourism is on the rise and it remains a fascinating and rewarding place to visit.

Take a trip to Nepal – the world’s biggest little country!

Article Source: adventuresportsholidays.com

Two Styles To Escape The City

'Garden party' or 'jungle fever'
Can a glamorous city style give you a feeling of escape? As the weather gets warmer and the Tuscan hills make us feel more free and summery, we need a style that makes us feel in close contact with nature.

It may sound strange, but I recently found inspiration for two irresistible fashion trends during a visit to La Specola Museum, just few steps away from the more famous Pitti Palace.

Though La Specola is hosting a stunning temporary exhibit on crystals, the permanent collection-which includes a vast display of Mother Nature's most amazing creatures-is itself nothing but extraordinary. Here we find nature revealing its incredible colors and shapes, a show that is very easy to admire and very difficult to forget.

Nature plays into two very different but equally compelling trends for spring and summer: ‘garden party' embraces the delicate and romantic side of the contemporary woman; ‘jungle fever' powerfully shows off the seductive animal instinct in each of us.

The theme of the garden party draws on graceful and soft colors, like powdery pinks and warm beiges, pastel blues and greens with accents of mellow purples. Materials are light and fresh, like sheer chiffon, fresh cotton and fluid silky blends. The silhouette gently embraces feminine curves and embellishes them with frills, ruffles, bows and other irresistible girly things. Blouses are cut like flower petals; skirts and dresses fall above the knee underlining a ‘bon ton' of sexy elegance. If you can't give up pants, choose ones with a flair leg in beige or lilac or a boot cut to create a thigh-slimming effect. Accessories should be frivolous and include soft leather bags and heeled sandals with flowers, shapes and decorations that bloom and make us smile.

The ‘garden party' look has the charm of 1950s glam that can make you feel like a sophisticated lady while enjoying a dinner on a restaurant terrace admiring the magnificent Florentine views. Moreover, you can interpret this style with a more bohemian romantic flavor inspired by art-nouveau and become a beautiful and evanescent creature while visiting the mysterious and unique medieval churches in Florence.

‘Jungle fever' is a different side of ‘nature.' Colors are bold reds and pinks, the vibrant greens and blues of tropical birds, intense browns fused with white and black, like wild animal skins. The mood is aggressive, the sensuality more daring. This look explores nature's fiercest side. It makes you dream of exotic places even if you are traipsing the historical streets of Florence.

As the other side of the style coin, ‘jungle fever' gives expression to a different aspect of the contemporary woman. Dynamic and sporty, she chooses loose, print shirts paired with colored leggings or more summery shorts. The look can be completed with big African bracelets and a leather bolero jacket.

At night, though, this animal changes its skin to become a much sexier creature. The look is almost 80s: leggings and skinny jeans are shiny; tops are fitted, with deep necklines or open backs. If you're feeling more audacious, go for a bustier dress and you will transform yourself into a beautifully vicious ‘beast' ready to conquer her prey. Accessories are big and bold bracelets and necklaces, platform shoes (or flats for the day) with ethnic flavor; bags are sporty for day or small clutches in python or crocodile for night. Materials range from jersey to shiny silks, fresh linen and the more diverse animal skins (real or fake, it's up to you!).

So are you ‘garden party' romantic or ‘jungle fever' strong? Maybe both, depending on the mood or occasion. These looks have the charm and richness of Italian style.

About the Author: Enrica Guidato, a fashion designer, is a professor at Lorenzo de Medici and the Santa Reparata International School of Art, where she is the head of the fashion department. She believes that as we are all different-with diverse tastes, shapes and sizes-what we wear should respect our identity, enhance our strengths and make us feel confident each and every day.

Article Source: theflorentine.net

Top 5 Ways to Tap Into Your Creativity

Creativity is all about finding new ways of approaching situations and solving problems. We cannot restrict creativity to artists: writers, musicians or painters...

Creativity, it's your birthright and is useful skill for everyone and for all walks of life. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be hidden in the everyday life.

If you've ever wanted to unleash your creativity, here are some tips.

1. Journal Your Thoughts.
Write everything down. When you write simply for the joy of writing without any goal or deadline, you free yourself from expectation and can write freely. You may be quite surprised by the kind of ideas you can get once you're in the flow. Even if the majority of it is nonsense, it's those one or two big ideas that make it all worth it. Carry a notebook with you everywhere you go as you never know when you might be struck with the next million dollar idea~Everywhere you go, try to bring your notebook because you never know when your next brilliant millionaire idea can pop up into your mind~Bring a notebook when you are traveling, taking public transportation because you never know when your next millionaire idea can come up into your mind~Everywhere you go, carry your journal with you to be able to fill in your white pages at any time with a new creative idea~Carry your journal with you everywhere you go as you never know when you might be struck with the next brilliant idea}.

2. Go Outside
There's nothing like the great outdoors and a dose of fresh air to boost your mental clarity and get those creative juices flowing. Next time you're facing a tough decision or a mental block in your work, take a walk through nature to clear your mind.

3. Meditate regularly
So often we think that in order to be creative we need to stimulate all of our senses with music, poetry, intellectual conversations art or even wine. When in reality, true moments of creativity come from blank space. Meditation is an excellent way to do exactly that: giving our brains room to create.

4. Read a Good Book or Listen to an Audio Program
We've all heard that reading exercises the mind just as much as lifting weights does for the body, so read often and read everything. To really challenge your mind, read or listen to something you previously had no interest in whatsoever. We often have the habit to read the same books over and over again as for our eating habits. Why not try something such as Quantum Jumping to shake up your inner bookworm?

5. Create a MindMap
Lists are highly logical and engage the analytical left brain while neglecting the creative, right side of the brain. Next time you are tempted to make a list, switch things up and make a mind map instead.

Author : Ajit Kumar Nawalkha
Ajit is a blog writer for self development and personal growth articles.

Articles Source : ezinearticles.com

How to End a Short Term Relationship

Have you just started a new relationship and you are already questionning it ?

Here are the few steps you need to follow if you already want to get out of this new relationship

1.Sometimes you start a relationship and you start wondering how you ever got here in the first place. Obvioiusly if you have started dating someone, there must have been reasons for you to get involved : a certain physical attraction, nice moments you spent with this person, and then a kiss, which defines the moment you started a relationship.

2.But here you are, a few days or even weeks into this new relationship and you don't feel comfortable in it. You've already reached the point where you're trying to figure out how to get out of it while not hurting your new partner too much.

3.First thing first : try to make sure you do not want to pursue the relationship. No point in telling your partner you don't feel like going on if you're going to come back begging a few days later. So give yourself a little bit of time to be sure of your feeling.

4.Have you had an argument and are you mad at him/her ? Sometimes people can surprise you and you discover things about them you wouldn't have imagined in the first place. Are those differences incompatible with the way you picture a happy relationship ? If they are, then yes,there is no reason in getting more involved. If these bad feelings have a specific reason, maybe it would be good to talk about it to your partner.

5.But more importantly just trust your feeling because this is the easiest clue to your new relationship's future.If you haven't been together long and you're already bored, less attracted, even annoyed, or if you've realized this is more about friendship than possible love, don't lure yourself into thinking "you can make it work". You won't overcome your first feelings. Trust yourself.

6.How to end a short-term relationship ? Well the same way you would end any relationship.Be honest and straigt-forward. Don't give false excuses but just tell the truth. Il may not be easy because you may fear that your partner won't understant your reasons (after all you don't know him that well) ; but all this is not about rational reasons. It is only about the way you feel. And if you feel there is no chance in this relationship don't apologize for it. You can't make your feelings go away just by listening to apparently sound reasons. Wa have all at some point, left someone who tried to talk us out of it by pointing out the efforts he/she was going to make to adapt to what we wanted. But if someone has to change in the first place so that a relationship could work out, it is definitely a huge sign that you are not meant for each-other. So stand your ground. It's the best you can do for this person, even if he/she can't see it right now. And it's certainly the best you can do for yourself.

7.The last step : and of course as with any relationship, even if you haven't been together a long time, don't think you can go back to a normal friendship straight away. It IS probably the biggest lie we like to tell ourselves to apease the pain that breaking up implies. But give yourselves some time apart to learn how to be together again in a non-sentimental way. If the relationship was short it won't take as long as it might have with a longer one.

Tips
One thing ending a short-term relationship can bring you is to analyze the reasons why you chose to start a relationship with this particular person in the first place. Analyse the circumstances and why you obviously made a mistake because this will give you some indications about what not to do in the future.

Article Source : wikihow.com

Dress Designer: Wedding, Fabric, Swimwear

Wedding Dress Designer/Wedding Gown Designer/ Bridal Gown Designer
Wearing a wedding gown made by a fashion designer would be the dream of every bride-to-be. A wedding dress by a designer is created to suit the bride.

A bridal gown designer keeps track of latest trends. A wedding dress designer can complement the bridal gown with designer headpieces. Handcrafted tiaras and veils enhance the elegance of a wedding dress done by a designer.

A bridal gown designer takes care of little details like silk handkerchiefs and embroidered shawls. A wedding dress can be embellished with designer crystals or other semi-precious stones.

Designer Clothing / Designer Dress

esigner clothing can range from an haute couture classic gown to funky extravagance. Designer clothing reflects lifestyle fashions extending to designer shoes, designer jewelry, designer purse and designer sunglasses. A designer dress can be created for formalwear or leisurewear. There is versatility in women's designer clothing. Clothing designer outlets offer designer clothing for a woman’s total needs like designer jeans and dress and lingerie.

Check out the latest in designer dress collections in magazines like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar for latest trends of popular clothing designer houses. An haute couture designer dress can be an eclectic mix of modern and vintage. Many a clothing designer specializes in vintage designer dress wear. Burberrry, Prada, Armani and Versace are popular clothing designer houses.

Designer Fabric

Designer clothing depends to a large extent on the designer fabric used. You can pick up designer fabric material from an exclusive designer fabric mart. Designer fabric popularly used for children’s clothes is cotton gingham and flannel. For a designer evening gown, go in for jacquard, crepe or crushed silk. There is a wide variety of designer fabric ranges for upholstery and home furnishings. Designer fabric blends of polyester and rayon are also very popular. Designer fabric textiles are now available in a myriad shades and prints.

Designer Swimwear/ Designer Swimsuit

Designer swimwear is now extremely popular. Designer swimwear includes designer swimsuit pieces, sarongs and bikinis. You can pick up a designer swimsuit in different fabrics and styles. Designer swimwear in animal prints is very fashionable with beach lovers. You can team up a designer swimsuit with a matching wrap or sarong. Stunning colors and elegant styles are the hallmark of designer swimwear. Metallic colors in designer swimwear are also very appealing. Exclusive range of designer swimsuit trunks is also available for men. There is designer swimwear that will appeal to all proportions and ages.

Designer Baby Clothes

In the wave of designer clothes fashion, the baby clothes are not far behind. Designer baby clothes are here to stay! Parents would like the best of designer baby clothes for their little ones. International designer baby clothes brands are Osh Kosh Bgosh, Simonetta, Diesel and Versace. Designer baby clothes are available at baby boutiques. Reversible tops, appliques and fine embroidery are the hallmark of exclusive designer baby clothes. Being produced from finest material, designer baby clothes offer superior overall quality than those found at kids’ stores.

Designer Suit

Designer suit in menswear is an important segment of fashion. A designer suit for men can be single or double-breasted. Classic trousers and well-cut jacket are the hallmark of a designer suit. The designer fabric used in the creation of elegant designer suit sets them apart from the rest! Team up a designer suit with a silk tie.

Designer Jean

Jeans that started out as roughwear have also acquired designer jean status. Teenagers consider it cool to be seen in designer label jean like Diesel and Armani. A designer jean can sport various cuts like low-waist, straight or hipsters. A denim designer jean never goes out of fashion. A DKNY designer jean or a designer jean by Pepe or Wrangler is still a must –have in a fashion wardrobe.

Designer Evening Gown

A tastefully created designer evening gown remains timeless and suitable for any special occasion. A designer evening gown can be worn to weddings, pageants and social events. A designer evening gown must have the perfect blend of sophistication with the hint of drama.

Haute couture designer evening gown styles are created for the woman who wants to stand out from the crowd. Designer fabric of elegant colors and styles can make a designer evening gown the connoisseur of all eyes.

Article Source : clearleadinc.com

How To Achieve Success Without Struggle

Is it possible to achieve success without struggle, despite what most of us have been taught from our younger days that success is impossible without massive hard work and sufferings?

As you go through stages of life, the painful reality you have to contend with is: Even hard work and struggle does not guarantee success.

To most people, success seems like a mystery, a puzzle. Despite pain-staking application of the universal rules and principles taught by the gurus, success remains elusive.

The irony, as you may also have noticed, is that some people seemed to have gained success so easily. These people are often deemed to be the lucky ones, with unexplainable factors that guide them to do the right thing at the right time.

What is this missing linking of success? Is it really a fuzzy factor that picks the winners at random?

The level of difficulty in reaching success is in direct proportion to the level of clarity we have about our life goals and purposes.

Do you have to toil away at tasks you never enjoy in order to gain success? Most likely so if you are fuzzy about what your want in life.

Can success be acquired in a joyful and fulfilling way? Absolutely! If you have achieved clarity in your life direction and mission, and have placed them firmly at the center of your focus, your life will be characterized by daily experience of joy and fulfillment.

The biggest problem many people have with success is: The glamorous kind of success that gain the recognitions and envies of others may not align with your heart's deepest desire. If you can reconcile success with what your heart truly desire, you can really gain success easily. This is the missing link to finding success without struggle!

Most people see success as achievement of goals. The fact is, success should be experienced during the journey. Over more than two decades, I have been pursuing success in studies, sports, career, and even self-development goals. I was extremely goal-oriented, always perpetuate the timeless principle of one of the "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People": Begin With The End In Mind!

As I reflect on all these years of experience, I found myself looking at the glaring paradox of success: When I focused only on the goals, the joy and excitement of success is often short-lived. Success is usually achieved after a long period of struggles and sometime unpleasant hard work. The main reason being that I was pursuing success that does not align with my life purpose. I was drawn to prestige and glamor, more than inner joy and fulfillment. The simple lesson that took me years to realize is: Pursue only goals that you can enjoy the journey.

Most often it is how we define success that determines whether we are able to enjoy the journey as much as the end goal.

Take my favorite sport for example: marathon running. When I set my goal on running a marathon race, I give myself 6 to 9 months to train for the race. It is important to have a clear and specific goal on the marathon race. For me, I have a clear goal to complete the full course in three-and-a-half hours or better. I am setting this goal to push myself to instill better discipline in diet and exercise, as well as in my work. It is a challenging goal to me because the last marathon I run more than ten years ago was barely below four hours.

With this end goal, I work backward to find out the pace that I need to run during the race. I would then be able to know the gap between my current form and what I need to achieve in eight month's time. I work out a training plan to do weekly long run, speed work, and interval training. The training schedule will be in a progressive manner where I should achieve peak form when it reaches the day of race.

To cut the long story short, there are lots of details in preparing for a marathon race. However, the single most important thing I have to focus on is how I define success. It is a mindset business. While I have set a specific time goal to finish the race, it is not my definition of success. The success is not found in the distant future eight months from now. Success is defined by my daily commitment in working out the training program.

With this definition, I experience success everyday whenever I:

- Complete a 12-mile run.
- Work out an exhausting but satisfying speed training.
- Push myself to finish the punishing interval training even when my muscle is aching.
- Resist the temptation of tasty food to stick to the sports diet
- Defy the urge to run too hard so as to avoid over-training or injury.
- Diligently attend to blister and chafing so as to recover in time for next day's training without disruption.
- Remember to replenish my body fluid sufficiently to restore the required balance.

Even though I have to sweat, suffer muscle aching and even injuries, doing these is not a struggle to me. It is fun and exciting. It keeps me energized everyday.

I look forward to the training regime everyday, anticipating the excitement and fulfillment of finishing each exhausting training session, knowing that I have achieved success for that day. The compounding effect of such success mindset is empowering. I know fully well that these small successes will add up to huge success in time to come. Even if I do not meet my time goal at end of this year, I know I have succeeded anyway as long as I follow the training regime diligently. I would already have experienced success on a daily basis for eight months even prior to the end goal. The final achievement of running time will be wonderful but it will not undermine my success. I am not comparing myself with others.

This same success principle can be applied universally in our life, in anything we do.

It is absolutely possible to achieve success without struggle if you can:

- Find your life purpose by seeking your inner wisdom;
- Set your goals base on your purpose, and be guided by what really excites and energizes you;
- Break the goal into small tasks you need to do on a daily basis;
- Stay focus in doing the small tasks well and enjoy the process;
- The key to enjoying the process is to be in the state of flow regularly by aligning your mind, body and soul.;
- This can be achieved by daily meditation exercise;
- Do not be concern about how you measure up with others;
- Have the faith and belief that success will eventually come, if you persevere and never give up.

Everyone can do it and everyone can achieve success in his own terms, without struggle!

About The Author :
Jordan Cheng is the author of the Success Journal at http://www.jordancheng.net/. Find out the free resources that can help you develop your Mind, Body & Soul to achieve Wealth, Success & Happiness. His is contactable at jordan.cheng181@yahoo.com.sg

Source : articlesbase.com

Cancer Doc Issues Warning About Cell Phone Use

The director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institutes and the Cancer Centers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has issued a warning to all 3,000 faculty and staff under his supervision.

warning them to limit cellular phone use in order to avoid adverse health effects.

"Recently I have become aware of the growing body of literature linking long-term cell phone use to possible adverse health effects including cancer," the memo from Dr. Ronald Herberman reads.

"Although the evidence is still controversial, I am convinced that there are sufficient data to warrant issuing an advisory to share some precautionary advice on cell phone use."

Herberman advises keeping mobile phone conversations as short as possible and using headsets, text messages or speaker phone settings to keep the phone away from the head. He also warns that children should only you cellular phones in emergencies, because their still-developing organs "are the most likely to be sensitive to any possible effects of exposure."

The doctor noted that similar warnings have been issued by the governments of several European countries, and that Toronto's public health agency has called on children to avoid using the phones.

Herberman is believed to be the first director of a U.S. cancer center to issue such a warning.

Among the studies referenced by the memo is a still-ongoing study of cell phone users in 13 European countries. Preliminary data suggest that long-term users are significantly more likely to develop brain tumors, especially on the side of the head with the phone is most often held. Similar results have been found in other long-term studies.

"From a public health perspective, it makes sense to limit risks," said Dr. Dan Wartenberg of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

Along with Herberman and roughly 20 other international experts, Wartenberg has signed a letter calling for precautions on cell phone use, and for manufacturers to make phones "with the lowest possible risk" and to "encourage consumers to use their devices in a way that is most compatible with preserving their health."

Article Source : naturalnews.com

Nutrition Adjustment for Winter

The winter season and the typical events that occur throughout the winter (Christmas, New Year's, challenges of snow storms and cold weather, school assignments, exams and the excitement of our winter sports – to name a few) create significant challenges to the immune system.

When the immune system challenges become excessive it manifests in the form of some type of illness. Illnesses ranging from the common cold and flu to more serious conditions leading to cancer and heart disease.

If you develop and maintain a healthy immune system there is no reason for your body to participate in the so-called flu and cold season. In fact it might be more correct to refer to it as the "weakened immune system season". Please appreciate that the "immune system" is not like any other system (cardiovascular, respiratory or digestive systems) in the body. You can’t see it nor localize it. It is really just a term to express all of the mechanisms your body uses to protect and defend itself from the invasions of bacteria, viruses and toxins from the outside world.

Immune system strength is determined by the food you eat and your responses to the "stresses of life" (the neural-humoral connection). The food you eat provides the building blocks for healthy cells that are the most significant part of healthy immunity. During the "busy-season" and the various celebrations we enjoy, often the food choices and other lifestyle habits are not optimal.

To enjoy a healthful, illness-free, high-energy winter, think about forward planning your food choices so they become part of your lifestyle. Don’t let "lifestyle" dictate convenient, less healthful food choices. Appreciate the fact that your current state of health is supported by your lifestyle. To change your health and ill-health risks you must change your lifestyle. "Magic Bullet" products and quick fixes will not endure.

Lifestyle Choice # 1:

Eat enough protein to support optimal health and chosen lifestyle activities. You require approximately 0.75 to 1.25 grams of protein per pound of body weight depending on your physical activity level. (I know that is higher than conventional recommendation, but trust me - it works). As many know I advocate an eating plan of 40% carbohydrate, 30% protein and 30% carefully chosen fat. A caveat is to understand that you only effectively absorb 30 to 35 grams (5 oz steak = 35 gms) of protein per meal or snack so it is necessary to distribute your consumption though-out the day. Eat some protein in every meal and every snack. There is recent evidence that (at least in the Western world it is recent) at least 30 grams of your daily protein should come from soy to provide adequate "isoflavanoids to help build and protect the immune system.

Lifestyle Choice # 2:

Select low" glycemic index" (GI) carbohydrates and avoid those easy to digest high starch and sugar products. GI is a measure of how fast blood sugar rises after eating - sugar = GI of 100 whereas peanuts = GI of 15. That means peanuts raise blood sugar at rate of only 15% of that created by white sugar, lower is better. Fast rising blood sugar means the pancreas produces or over produces insulin. Spikes in insulin production and chronically elevated insulin weakens the immune system and interferes with the production of the "Super hormones" that control many of our other hormones. If you eat low GI carbohydrates, combined with adequate protein and eat some of the protein first, you will control your insulin and be a friend to your immune system.

Lifestyle Choice # 3:

Consume adequate "essential fatty acids" (EFA’s) from nuts, seeds, fish, cold pressed oils and supplements. EFA’s are the building blocks for the "super hormones". Low fat, and high carbohydrates diets put you at risk.

Lifestyle Choice # 4:

Understand that nutritional supplementation is no longer an option if you wish to have optimal health and protect your immune system. On the average we eat less that ½ the Calories that our relatives ate in 1900 (1900 = 3800 Calories, today = 1800 Calories). And much of the food eaten today has a lower nutritional density. Remember that in 1900 "everything" was ORGANIC. In addition, modern life has dramatically increased the risks of Free Radical damage through the chemicals and toxins in our air, water and food supplies.

Numerous reputable research papers and books have demonstrated that the protective levels of the three major anti-oxidant nutrients (beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E) are much higher than we can expect to receive from any typical diet. Estimated protective levels of beta-carotene and other carotenoids has been estimated at 50,00O i.u. (30 mg) per day, the equivalent of 6 ½ average carrots or 5 ½ sweet potatoes EVERY DAY. The suggested protective levels for vitamin C are in excess of 1,000 mgs per day, the equivalent of 15 average oranges EVERY DAY, assuming the oranges contained vitamin C – some don’t. The suggested protective level for vitamin E is at least 400 i.u., equivalent to 19 cups of almonds or 2.1 cups of soybean oil. I think these examples demonstrate the difficulty one would have in receiving protective levels of essential anti-oxidants from any average diet. Many other examples of such difficulty are available.

The anti-oxidants mentioned above are merely the most publicized examples available. Other significant anti-oxidants include grape-seed extract, selenium, coenzyme Q10 to mention a few.

Anti-oxidants are known as "Free-Radical" scavengers. They combine with Free Radicals to prevent them from being oxidized. Oxidized Free Radicals are the toxic versions and the ant-oxidants basically neutralize them and allow more available oxygen for energy production. When we exercise we produce more Free Radicals and breath in more oxygen thus increasing the risk of Free-Radical damage. Surveys have shown that up to 40% of Marathon finishers become ill in the week following completion. It therefore behooves all heavy exercisers to protect themselves by increasing their ant-oxidant consumption.

Many people have used or heard of herbal remedies as protectors from flu and colds. The expression is that herbs like Echinacea "stimulate" or "support" the immune system. This has lead to the use of these products upon the appearance of symptoms. However it must be understood that herbs are "herbal remedies" or "herbal medicines" and not food. Echinacea may well stimulate the immune system but if you don’t feed the immune system with protective and constructive nutrients, the effectiveness of herbal remedy will be limited or short lived.

So as the "challenging" season approaches you might consider developing a strategy for a wise and consistent food choices and wise and responsible supplementation along with other smart lifestyle choices like stress reduction, healthy exercise habits and looking after your spirit & soul.

About the Author:
Lee Coyne, Ph.D. is a nutritional consultant, lecturer and author of several weight loss books, including Fat Won't Make You Fat. Dr. Coyne is also the creator of the "Lean Seekers Nutritional Coaching Program" that trains individuals on a "Better Balanced Diet" as a way of eating for better health and weight management. He may be reached at 1-800-668-4042 or by e-mail dr.coyne@leanseekers.com

Article Source : centralhome.com

Dressing For Success At Your Job Interview

Have you got a job interview coming up and you're not quite sure what to wear?

Here are some tips to help you achieve a professional, polished look.

Stay Away From Scents:

Many offices now have a scent-free policy prohibiting workers and even visitors from wearing perfumes, colognes, and very odorous deodorants. Even if they don't, you should refrain from wearing scents when interviewing. This goes for men and women. Many people are irritated by odours and others might have mental associations with certain odours. A perfume can quickly remind them of someone they dislike. You want to be a blank slate, where only what you have to say, your experience, and your skills do the talking for you.

Dress Comfortably:

You don't want to look uncomfortable and ill at ease in what you're wearing. That being said, you should have a polished professional look. You've heard the expression "Dress for the job you want to do." You should go one step further. You should dress for the job that you want, but a touch more dressy.

A good standard for a management job interview is a nice traditional dark suit, with a clean, pressed dress shirt and co-ordinating tie. Remember to wear comfortable dress shoes with dark dress socks. If you don't wear suits often, try on your outfit a few days in advance to make sure everything still fits from the last time you wore it.

For women, the same standard applies. Remember that you want to project a professional image. A good standard to go by is a nice fitted suit jacket in a neutral color like navy with either matching pants or skirt with an unfussy neutral blouse. Your shoes should be classic and just blend into your outfit. Don't forget plain pantyhose.

It's important to be comfortable as this helps you look confident and successful.

Don't Stick Out:

Interviews aren't usually the time to make a loud, personal fashion statement. Of course, you can certainly inject your own flair and style into your outfit. And for some job interviews in the creative fields, flair is a great thing. But make sure it isn't inappropriate. Get a friend's advice if you aren't sure.

Sometimes we get used to wearing a certain style and we don't realize that perhaps, the trend has passed. It's important to stick with the basics and to be professional. The whole point of the interview is to get across how qualified you are, how your skills will be a great fit for the company you are applying for. Don't give them anything to remember you by but your content.

When interviewing, wear clothes that are or appear new. Women shouldn't wear clothes that show cleavage, skirts that are cut too short, see-through tops, or very high-heeled shoes.

Of course, we want to look our best at an interview. Women should refrain from wearing loud makeup. Everything should blend in nicely and your makeup should not be so dramatic that it distracts your interviewer.

Hygiene:

Remember to look and smell nice to be around. Enough said.

Article Source : canadajobs.com

The way to Make solar electricity - Learn reasonable methods to Make solar power for your house

So you are interested to study making solar power? Well you are in luck, because in this article we're going to chat about how to make solar power for your house.

Essentially, there are numerous folks who are in the same boat as you are. They are looking to know how they can create solar energy and there is a good reason for their curiosity!

You understand the need for alternative power sources like solar or wind energy is turning into a trend with more homes across the globe! The explanation why this is a growing trend is because conventional energy costs are becoming more costly. The energy firms are sending us bills that are becoming more and more expensive.

Not to forget also that typical fuel has an affect on the environment because of the CO2 emissions that are released every time this standard fuel is used to power our society. There is a heavy wake up call that is continually ringing around the world and folks ARE WAKING UP to the advantages that replenish-able energy has for us all.

There are a number of ways in which you can make your own solar energy for your house. Solar power generators are the most popular means. The concept is fairly simple. When the daylight's energy is harnessed thru a solar energy panel it is then converted to electrical power by circuitry in the power generators. It is then wired onto the electrical mains of the house for power consumption on the house. It's also very feasible to interconnect to the grid where the surplus electricity produced by the solar energy panel can be sold off.

Other factors you want to consider are the shading of your home, neighbors and local ordinances. Its important that your solar cells have direct access to enough daylight. Making sure you don't annoy your neighbors and not to run foul of local ordinances is also something you need to watch out for!

In plenty of cases, homes employ solar panels as a backup or complement to their own grid supply. Making your own solar cells and putting them to use can really make a difference to your energy bills. In a large amount of cases, many homes have experienced savings of up to 80% on their electricity bills which is remarkable. You should buy tiny residential solar energy generators which are extraordinarily reasonable nowadays.

You can also build your own solar energy generator from nothing by a Do-It-Yourself Guide. These guides are extravagantly retailed all over the Net today and are proven to be extraordinarily successful indeed when it comes to making your own solar power. You should buy the materials for a solar energy device for approximately $200 and all you got to do is follow the guide and it'll show you step by step instructions on how to make solar power for your home.

About The Author:
Visit http://www.how-to-make-solar-panels.com/to get started today.

Source: articleclick.com

Spring looks: back to the future?

At the recent Paris shows, John Galliano presented his Dior collection with a silhouette inspired by the famous ‘New Look', first presented in 947 by fashion master Christian Dior himself.

The outfit is composed of a very tight jacket similar to a bustier in its construction, paired with an extremely full skirt. The effect gives the wearer a sensuous hourglass shape.

Revolutionary during its post-war debut, the combination signaled a return to a feminine and elegant silhouette. The shape, however, was not the only revolutionary aspect of the new style: the astounding amount of fabric required to construct the garments were a clear sign of support for the textile industry, in desperate need of help to get out of a period of serious crisis.

Could this have also been Galliano's message? During this crisis moment are designers seeking to create (and sell) the empiric look of the ‘dream lady' to re-start the troubled high fashion industry and promote the glamorous life once again?

While this scenario might give couture gurus something to ponder, a different kind of future was on display at this year's Pitti Filati knitwear fair, held in Florence during the last weekend in January. Urbanize-me Humanize-me was the theme of this year's show, which starred the modern city as a product of post-industrial urbanization, a point of attraction and concentration of the different ethnicities, cultures and customs.

The Trend and Research area included the Fashion at Work section, dedicated to the most advanced services and technologies for the textile and clothing industries, as well as a focus section that showcased the latest innovations in eco- and ethically sustainable yarns in order to expand knowledge about and direct attention to yarns with health and wellness related properties.

Judging from the Paris shows and Pitti Filati, we can gleam that ecological garments and ultra-modern looks are in store for us right now. New materials, experimental techniques, avant-garde finishing contrast with the search for something more pure, simple, in a word natural. Our generation's ‘new look' won't likely be masses of fabric used to create a sexy silhouette, but will be truly innovative as designers aspire to a natural look made of organic fibers that are respectful of our environment and might make us feel both less stressed and more glamorous.

With this in mind, enjoy the remaining days of the winter sales. Look for items that will be still fashionable next fall and new, fresh, ‘springy' pieces that will still be glam in spring 2010! Green is the color to bet on, especially for spring. But be on the lookout for a new feminine shade of beige with a touch of powder pink: ‘greyge'!

The bohemian look is still in, though it has now taken a more romantic turn, with soft volumes and lots of pleating and ruffle details. A perfect urban look for the new season is masculine-sporty with white pants and tank tops mixed with light grey and accents of fluorescent colors. To keep it fresh for fall, just replace the white with black and you are ready to conquer the city. In the evening, dare to wear fancy heels embroidered for a touch of glam, denim pants and an oriental silk top (or dress if you feel more sexy).

Finally, don't forget about vintage! If the new haute couture is looking back to the late 40s and early 50s, why not look for some interesting pieces to give that chic final touch to your ‘new look'...and what's more ecological than recycling?

To give your opinion or suggest new subjects please contact me at style@theflorentine.net.

Article Source : theflorentine.net

Getting MBA Degree through Distance Learning

The concept of distance learning has been around for ages in the history of mankind. However, in recent times as we move in the information age, it has become more accepted norm in society.

Making the best use of various means and tools like internet and audio-video conferencing, it has helped students correspond with tutors or teachers more effectively. Definitely with numerous tools available for individuals, distance learning programs have gained immense popularity in past few years.

The growth in the ratio of MBAs awarded in recent years is definitely one of the few examples that show the impact of increase in distance learning program.

Today there are number of institutes offering multiple distance education courses through different universities. Among all these distance learning courses, MBA is the most popular and in coming years expected to gain more recognition. This distance learning course degree has managed to grab the highest number students as compared to other courses. For those who still think MBA through distance learning is mediocre to a regular MBA course, then they must change their perception. In fact, nowadays distance learning MBA is well accepted by corporate world.

If you are one of those who are looking for higher career achievement can now select to boost your career by opting for online distance learning MBA program. These days most of the distance learning MBA courses is available online and so as an individual you have no reason to delay pursuing your MBA just because you are busy with your work. Besides this, talking about the major benefit of distance learning MBA degree course is - you do not require completing your course in a water-tight study schedule. You can easily study at your own speed and appear the exams when you think you are ready.

You can apply for a distance MBA degree by following either of the two approaches-one can be by applying for a part time distance learning course and the other by applying full time distance learning course. While in the previous one you require to attend weekend classes but in latter one there are no such requirements. However, when you are planning to choose your distance learning MBA program, it is important that you select an MBA program from an accredited university or institute/school with a good track evidence and reputation. This small step and alertness can help you in avoiding any trap by degree mills or degree scams who want to defraud your money without giving you the degree that actually have any significance. Besides this, you must select the school that offers you a tuition rate you can afford, fit your style of learning best and give you the most flexible scheduling options.

Today distance-learning MBA have become increasingly popular and very acceptable to many employers. In fact many companies have started providing support in term of scholarships for their potential employees in order to enhance their management skills through distance learning MBA program. The career opportunities open to MBA graduates are very genuine and should be taken into serious thought as you make decision regarding your future.

About The Author:
Browse DisatnceLearningU.com for getting more information about best online universities and colleges offering online MBA degree through distance learning programs. Choose best universities or colleges in your preferred locations and earn your MBA degree from your home.

Source: articleclick.com

How to defeat procrastination - Believe you can

The power of belief is a key to success in everything we do. Whether your goal is to rise to the top of your profession or to be a better weekend golfer,

you have a better chance of success if you believe you'll be successful. And by believing that you can defeat procrastination, you can start to take charge of your life today.

Learn how to control your negative thoughts. When your mind says you can't do something, refuse to listen to it. Don't express your negative thoughts in words; tell your mind-and say it out loud-that you're going to do what it takes to get the job done.

It isn't easy, but it's worth the effort. Many people procrastinate because they've made up their minds that they're going to fail. If you are one of these people, the most important thing you can do today is to stop believing what the procrastination demon has been telling you.

Human beings are unique because of our ability to change-to become more than what we are. But before we can change, we must be able to accept full responsibility for everything we do. Smokers who say they "hate" smoking are deluding themselves-as an ex-smoker, I claim some authority on this topic.

We have a choice. People smoke because they want to smoke. It may be very hard for many people to quit smoking, but that's not the point-they'll never quit as long as they lie to themselves about the real cause of their habit. People are able to quit smoking when they really want to quit.

Take this quiz to find out if negative thoughts are causing procrastination in your life:

- When you tackle a job, do you expect to be successful? Do you think you'll be able to complete the job successfully by giving it your best effort?

- Do you visualize your success? When you face a difficult task and feel like giving up, are you able to give yourself a pep talk to stay motivated?

- When friends, family members, or others help you recognize a habit that you need to change, are you able to recognize the truth in what they say? Do you believe you can change your bad habits?

- Do you accept responsibility when your projects fail, rather than looking for something beyond your control to blame it on?

- When your mind says you're going to fail, do you try to replace these negative thoughts with positive ones?

If you answered "no" to any of the above questions, ask yourself what you can do to approach life with a more positive attitude. Do you want to go on living with negative thoughts, doubts, and fears? Are there any benefits of clinging to a negative attitude?

We can change bad habits by wanting to change them. And you can defeat the habit of procrastination in your life-especially if you believe you can.

About The Author:
Deon Melchior is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com

Source : articleclick.com

Are People Really Our Most Important Asset

Not all people are valuable assets, but the vast majority could be if only they were managed properly. The problem is very, very few managers or HR people know how to do that.

Many companies, even those with HR departments, do a very poor job of managing their employees, a poor job of unleashing the full potential of employees. A considerable store of creativity, innovation and productivity exists in every person and the management challenge is to unleash that store and apply it to the goals of the organization.

So what model of management should be used to maximize the use of that potential? Is it the top-down command and control model so pervasive in business or is it some other model? I spent about 12 years using the top-down model and was frustrated that about half of my people were not performing anywhere near as well as I wished. My best people, the self-directed self-starters, were performing far above the average and I wondered why the others could not close the gap.

Then I read a book on organizational management which informed me of how important the workforce was, actually more important to achieving goals than I. I had to admit that I was so busy giving orders and figuring out what my next order would be that I had not ever really listened to these VIPs. So I started listening and found that they had many complaints, suggestions and questions, all of which I attempted to resolve to their satisfaction. In some cases, what they wanted was not what they needed and I took time to explain why, but most of the time they were at least partially on target.

Then an amazing thing happened. As I went about resolving their concerns, their performance improved almost in lock step. In fact, after some months I realized that as a group my people were about twice as capable as I had thought possible. I won't go into why this happened, but it is all about leadership.

A few years later, I developed some tools that would convert the vast majority to being self-directed self-starters just like my very best people. Once again, I was amazed to find out that my people were about twice as capable as I had thought possible or four times as capable as I had originally thought possible when using the top-down approach.

Management's problem is the top-down approach because by its very nature it demeans and disrespects its employees and thereby "leads" them to demean and disrespect their work, their customers, each other and their bosses. In using the top-down model, managers and executives are their own worst enemies. Authority is not the problem, but misuse of that authority is a huge problem.

About The Author :
Bennet Simonton, author of "Leading People to be Highly Motivated and Committed", managed people for over 30 years and effected four successful turnarounds including a nuclear-powered cruiser and a 1300 person unionized group.
Ben now helps executives and managers to improve their skills of managing people. His website is http://www.bensimonton.com

Source : bensimonton.com

Dining Room Decorating Ideas

Good food grants a good life and a good place to eat makes the experience of good food, even better.

Dining rooms are the center of your home, which is why they become the place of congregation of family members at some point of time in a day.

A clean and well decorated dining area lifts the mood and makes the dining pleasurable. Dining room decorating ideas will give you a wide range to choose from. If you have a separate dining area, then there are brilliant permutations and combinations of decorating ideas for dining room. Create the dining room that you always wanted to have, with the help of some ideas for decorating dining room. Make a dining room that suits your taste, style and needs.

Glamorous Dining Rooms
It's not always about tables and chairs and pots and pans. Think a little out of the box while making your dining rooms glamorous. Go through all the glamorous dining room snapshots to get an idea of what you want. The features a glamorous dining areas are elongated chandeliers, a lot of glass and a dash of gold. A plain glass table in the middle of the room, with white leather chairs will surely make your dining area look captivating. Use a lot of ceiling down lights, so that the light focuses on the table surface. Do not over do the lighting, as it can be hurting to the eyes. You can light up monochromatic candles around the dining area to make it classy and chic.

Modern Dining Rooms
Chrome and glass are the magic ingredients of modern dining room decorating ideas. If you have a separate dining area, then don't worry about partitions. But, want to use a divider in the most modern way, you can have a water wall fountain as a divider. It not only looks classy, but soothes the surrounding too. Keep the dining room furniture as simple and minimal as possible. Remember its clean and not clutter. A simple metallic table with black chairs looks wonderful. Again use ceiling down lights to focus better on the table and for keeping the surrounding area mellow. A delicate flower arrangement will also go well with the making of modern dining rooms.

Traditional and Formal Dining Rooms
If you throw a lot of formal parties or if you like a prim and proper atmosphere, then traditional and formal dining rooms are what you would want to have. Cream colored walls, circular wooden table and white upholstered chairs are the main attractions of a traditional and formal dining rooms. Yellow lighting will add to the grandeur of formal dinning rooms. Articulate flower arrangements will make the room look fresh in a very subtle way. The arched wooden cabinet with dainty china is all you need to finish the home decorating part for your traditional and formal dining room!

Romantic and Colorful
Honestly, romance does not need any dining room decorating ideas. However, newlyweds have a unique way of exploring their aesthetic side. Get together to decorate the cozy nook in your home. Let the fineness of wine show on your walls and warmth of earth reflect through your furniture. Cane lampshades are terrific to give that mellow look to the room with adequate lighting. You can try out any color combination of your choice and materialize your ideas for decorating dining room.

A research of dining room decorating ideas will give an outline for decorating your dining room. To have the dining room, just as you want, make sure that you have the final picture in your mind. Plan your renovation properly to make maximum optimum usage of available resources.

Author: Mukta Gaikwad
Article Source: buzzle.com

Make Your Backyard an Extension of Your Home

It's no secret that more and more of us are spending time in our own backyards. With the price of gasoline and travel money is getting tighter and tighter.

Happily homeowners are finding out that with a bit of sweat equity, planning and imagination they can make their backyards places that they enjoy spending time in. You may also find that you actually enjoy spending more time around the home if you update your landscaping.

It's also true that with the price of gasoline and travel going up that more and more families are spending time at home. The backyard is the place where we can relax and where we can gather with family and friends to enjoy socializing. Our patios and decks have actually become extensions of our homes. We cook outside, play outside and entertain family and friends outside. Today, with the help of home stores like Home Depot and Lowe's it's easier than ever to find whatever it is you need to make your backyard your oasis.

A simple cleaning and application of a stain or water sealer can works wonders on your deck. The addition of a pergola over an existing patio can give it new life. Most homeowners don't use their decks because they're unfortunately in the hot blazing sun all day. This problem can be easily remedied by putting up an awning. You can put up a manual or motorized awning in a fade resistant Sunbrella fabric that enhances your home. Several awning manufacturers are Durasol, Sunair and Sunsetter. An awning added over your deck will make is usable even in rain. A simply built pergola over your patio can provide much needed shade.

Patio furniture manufacturers are keeping up with this trend of outdoor rooms and they offer furniture in dozens of different designs styles. If you have a patio that is a walk out from the indoors you can use matching fabrics to tie both inside and outside together. You can choose wrought iron patio furniture from manufacturers like Meadowcraft and O.W. Lee who are known for quality furniture in both classic and contemporary styles. For those who want the look of wrought iron patio furniture but who don't want to have to deal with the weight, the answer is cast aluminum patio furniture. Manufacturers Hanamint, Mallin and Tropitone offer cast aluminum patio sets in a wide array of styles and finishes.

Gas grill manufacturers such as Ducane, Fiesta, Broilmaster, Weber, Vermont Castings, and Char-Broil are adding more and more gourmet features to their grills. You can purchase many of these top of the line stainless steel gas grills with side burners and a built in rotisserie and refrigerators. Outdoor kitchens are big business today. They can be as simple as a grill, under cabinet refrigerator and one set of cabinets to elaborate kitchens that have dual grills, full size refrigerators, dishwashers and bar area. Since a lot of outdoor kitchens end up being relatively close to the house you can use the same type of countertop, flooring or appliances to bring the areas together.

Homeowners are also spending more time doing their own lawn care. Again, it's easy to do and today's manufacturers such as Scott's, Green Light, Schultz and Espoma have a wide range of products that area easy to use. Some people prefer the thought or organic lawn care. This can be done using very little chemical, perhaps only organic fertilizer and some simple lawn care tips. Visit your local garden center and get some helpful hints from the experts about lawn care. Depending on the amount of landscaping you want to do you may want to have a professional visit your home to give you hints and ideas before you start your project.

Now to landscaping with trees, shrubs and flowers. The best way to landscape is to start with the final plan in mind. If you don't you're apt to buy and plant flowers or shrubs that you will have to move, or that won't work in the final plan and that's a waste of time and money. This is when you may want to pay an expert for a consultation. A landscape professional will be able to tell you how to make the most out of your yard and what types of shrubs or trees will work best. It is money well spent.

Now you'll need a place to store your patio furniture and lawn care equipment safely away. You'll be surprised if you haven't looked at garden storage sheds before how many different styles and sizes there are. They're very easy to put up as they come in kits. You can find the perfect size for your storage needs and even choose custom colors to coordinate with your home.

Article Source: organicgardenarticles.com

The Magic of Believing - Suggestion is Power

"Thought attracts that which it is directed" explains Claude Bristol in The Magic of Believing. Bristol goes on to give valuable life-changing advice for anyone who desires more in their life.

Bristol's masterpiece, written in 1948, opens with his description of how he was able to tap into the power of belief.

His path, at first rambled through a succession of failures and mediocrity. Filled with countless personal anecdotes and real life stories, he shares his own journey of how he was able to transform his own life.

The Magic of Believing is full of examples in all fields where supreme concentration and self-belief not only overcame obstacles but created perfection. He describes both professional and amateur athletes whose belief in self produced incredible accomplishments. He uses illustrations of all manner of ordinary people who were able to accomplish the extraordinary.

The underlying source of all achievement, according to Bristol, is belief. Belief alone, however, is not the answer. You must also enlist the power of the subconscious. This can be done through the repetition of words or phrases which will allow the subconscious to set events into motion for you.

Bristol gives a number of practical techniques which can be used immediately, to produce results. One method is called the "mirror technique". He instructs you to stand in front of a mirror, for 5 to 10 minutes, and tell yourself what you want to accomplish. This should be done at least twice a day. He reveals how this simple exercise will cause your desires to seep into your subconscious and soon become a reality.

"Positive creative thought" he concludes "leads to action and ultimate realization. Remember always whatever man can conceive mentally he can bring into materialization."

Use The Magic of Believing as a tool, to bring your thoughts, wishes and desires into your life. Read it. Re-read it. Then, believe it. The Magic of Believing is in you.

Author's Bio :
Discover more about The Power of Belief at: What You Think Becomes Realitiy http://whatyouthinkbecomesreality.com

Claim your free mp3 of As A Man Thinketh, Volume 1

Source : selfgrowth.com

How to Select Your Martial Arts Equipment

Many people are planning to start learning about martial arts nowadays but may not have taken into account the fact that they will need martial arts equipment to be able to practice this hobby or occupation. Here are some tips on how to get the best martial arts equipment you need:

1.Try to figure out which martial arts equipment you want to become proficient in. The uniforms in martial arts differ in design, color and use so you have to be specific about which uniform you wish to use. This also applies to your martial arts equipment since the martial arts equipment for one martial art may be unique to that martial art.

2.Find out what protective gear you need to be able to spar and train in your preferred martial arts. Protective gear as martial arts equipment is very important because the last thing you want is to get injured in a sparring session. Protective gear as martial arts equipment can be categorized either as head gear (like face masks and helmets), gear to protect your torso (like chest shields), gear to protect your groin (which is more for men than women, and may consist of a crotch guard or sports cup to shield your privates from being punched or kicked), shin guards to keep the shin area of your legs from being injured when you block a flying kick with your legs (since getting hit on the shin tends to be rather painful since there isn’t much flesh and muscle to shield your shin bone), feet gear (such as kicking boots, designed to keep your opponent from being critically injured if you should hit them with your legs or feet), and hand gear (such as punching mitts, used also to shield your opponent from the full force of your punches.) You need to invest in quality martial arts equipment as protective gear so you get the best protection possible.

3.You can also invest in practice martial arts equipment. This means getting punching bags (like those used in boxing), and martial arts dummies (which attempt to give you an idea of how to punch and kick a real human being.) Your punching bag can consist of either the teardrop bag or the bigger boxing-type punching bag. Martial arts dummies are basically like punching bags except they may be a bit bigger and shaped like human bodies. Though these martial arts equipment are no replacement for sparring and training with real-live opponents (because these practice equipment cannot dodge your blows or retaliate), they are very important to have around so you can get the feel for the sport.

4.There will be sports that require you to become proficient in certain martial arts weapons (which are also martial arts equipment.) However, you should always be careful when trying out such weapons in the first few sessions because you might hurt someone badly (such as yourself) if you don’t know what you are doing. If you are at the stage when martial arts equipment like weapons are necessary, then always pay attention to your instructor and learn how to master the weapons first. Often, such weapons were designed to maim your opponent and maybe even kill him so caution is always necessary in training with weapons.

Martial arts equipment were designed to work a certain way. Many martial arts equipment have a long history that can help you study how your preferred martial arts evolved. Study carefully how martial arts equipment are meant to be used and they can really help you become a better martial artist afterwards.

Source: articles411.com

Stop Telling Customers How Great You Are

It's almost a cliche to see and hear organizations advertise to prospective customers about how great their service is.

As if somehow, great customer service were just that...bragging about how much you care. You see it all the time, no matter if you're at the car dealer, the bank or the grocery store.

We've all heard the sage advice that "It's what you do, not what you say." "Actions speak louder than words." "Deed, not creed." "Talk is cheap."

If you're in the business of providing positive customer experiences for your firm's clients, this concept is critical to understand. So why do so many businesses continue to make the same mistake?

What these businesses don't realize is that today's consumers are pretty sophisticated operators and they see through such marketing noise for what it is. In fact, if your business is bragging to customers about how great your service is, but your staff doesn't deliver to those promised expectation levels, one could argue that such puffery actually does more harm to your brand than never having promised anything at all! I can think of plenty of times I've been frustrated at a service experience only to notice some cheesy service promise on their literature or receipt about (insert high pitched, whiny voice) "how valued I am." It's the definition of irony. I assume some clever ad agency or marketing genius wrote the copy without giving any thought at all about how an unhappy customer would actually be insulted by it down the road.

The things which matter most in the customer satisfaction business are the specific actions and techniques your organization employs to demonstrate your commitment to your customer. Think about your situation for a moment. How well do your daily actions demonstrate your commitment to your customer's happiness? Do you spend more time telling customers how much you care? Or actually working to solve their problems?

For an excellent real-world example of this phenomenon, examine Nordstrom. The Seattle-based retailer is on many people's short list of impressive service providers. Yet, when was the last time you saw or heard an ad from Nordstrom gloating about how high their level of care is? They don't need to because they let their actions do all the talking.

Nordstrom has figured out one of the bedrock principles of winning the customer satisfaction game: Invest very little in bragging about how good you are and put lots of resources into demonstrating how much you care. Because demonstrating how much you care is the only thing that matters to your customers.

Sure, Nordstrom likely spends more than the industry average by taking back merchandise that wasn't bought from them or sending handwritten thank you cards or tracking down far-flung merchandise requests that other retailers might only laugh about. But in the long haul, they've obviously found it very worthwhile. There are tremendous economic payoffs with these acts. People are astounded by the service and they like to tell other people.

Customers doing your bragging for you? Now we're on to something meaningful!

As you interact with customers, give some thought to how your organization can be the subject of a positive service story in the future.

Author: David Friedman
Article Source: telephonedoctor.com