Archive for December, 2007

Spa Party Games and Activities

Monday, December 31st, 2007

By Gail Leino In a world of pre-teens trying to grow up way too fast, having a spa party is all the rage. Make it even better by designing it as a Spa Party sleep over. Set the scene for your Spa Party with lots of candles, have soothing music CDs available, and access to a sink with lots of towels on hand. A spa party should be as much like a real spa visit, so take care to have bottled water and a selection of herbal teas or juices and refreshments on hand. You may wish to invite your guests to bring pajamas and/or robes. Spa party games should include basic spa activities. Invite your guests to participate in a chocolate facial. Have all guests put their hair up or pull back from their faces. Then have them scoop up some of this excellent moisturizing mask and spread it onto their face. Mix 1/3 C cocoa powder, 3 Tbs heavy cream, 2 tsp cottage cheese, 1/4 C honey and 3 tsp oatmeal powder (found in the health food section) in a food processor. Mix until smooth. Relax for 10 minutes (putting cucumber slices over eyes will help guests relax even more completely and do a great number on eye puffiness). The mask washes off easily with warm water and if it happens to get on the lips, it really tastes great. Other activities can include designing body glitter, or giving each other manicures or pedicures. After all the spa activities are over, more traditional games will keep the guests occupied. Simple games like Not Me Never! mix truths, fibs and candy. Could a spa party have a better combination? To play the game, give each guest a set number of miniature tootsie rolls, jellybeans, or caramels just make sure its something yummy. Then the first person makes a statement about themselves that starts with I Never . . . Nope. Not me. Never. If for example the person said I have never kissed a boy. Nope. Not me. Never! Anyone else that has never kissed a boy has to eat a piece of their candy. Everyone will get the opportunity to take at least one turn hopefully more. Keep playing until someone ends up with the most candy and everyone else had eaten theirs. The one with the most candy left is the winner. A Spa Party will encourage pre-teens to take care of their skin and relax at a time when their life can seem very out of control. Its a great idea for a party and with the right accessories can be a great bonding experience that creates lots of BFF (best friends forever). Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette, and living a healthy life while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has lots of party ideas with hundreds of free coloring sheets, printable games, and free birthday party activities. Over 100 adorable Party Themes (PartyThemeShop.com) to fit your birthday celebration, holiday event, or “just because” parties is at the Party Theme Shop. Party themes include cartoon characters, sports, movie, TV shows, luau, western, holidays, and unique crazy fun theme ideas. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Leino http://EzineArticles.com/?Spa-Party-Games-and-Activities&id=331464 buy phentermine with out prescription discount phentermine no prescription buy phentermine 30 mg pharmacy phentermine 37.5

A Wedding Reception Favor for Everyone

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

By Alice Yap Without the love and support of your family and friends, a wedding can be a terribly chaotic event. Between planning for the food, the music, the flowers and everything in between, something as simple as a wedding reception favor for every guest can easily slip a brides mind, leaving them to pick out something not very meaningful at the last minute. Thankfully, there are scores of favors you can choose from that are both heartfelt and meaningful, and will let your guests know you truly appreciate their presence on your special day. The good news about wedding favors is that you dont have to spend an arm and a leg on a meaningful trinket that will show your appreciation. There are a variety of small presents that let everyone know how much you care, and will serve as a unique and fun gift idea or something theyll cherish years after the ceremony has come to a close. Giving guests a personalized candy bar with the wedding details on the wrapper serves as a delicious before dinner treat, and they can keep the wrapper for a scrapbook project or something else entirely. Votive candles are also useful, and serve as a pretty decoration to be used again and again. Crystal glassware runs a bit more expensive, but these are a great memento for guests, and theyll be able to display it as a collectible or use it many times after the wedding has ended. There are many ways to show your friends and family you could not have done it without them, so let them know how much they mean to you with some small trinket or favor. Photo frames, mints, and sachets are also great ideas to give to your guests as a token of your appreciation. Weddings are a time to celebrate newfound love and happiness with those who are closest to you, and what better way to show them you care then by presenting them with a small gift? Weddings are occasions that will be remembered forever, and a precious favor not only serves to immortalize your special day; it will also be a nice memento for your guests to cherish years after the celebrations have ended. Whichever favors you choose to give, let it be from your heart. You cannot go wrong with a meaningful gesture like that, and your guests will remember this occasion for years to come. Alice Yap is the owner of Cherished Wedding Favors (http://www.cherishedweddingfavors.com). See our selection of popular Kate Aspen designer wedding favors. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Yap http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Wedding-Reception-Favor-for-Everyone&id=250494 phenteramine diet pills phentermine pharmacy biz phentermine online without rx phentermine no prescription us pharmacy

Nokia N Series Just Bring It On!

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Deonte_Jeff]Deonte Jeff Have you ever wondered what our lives would have been without an inch of progress? Would our lives have been as simple as today or would they have been a complete drab of sorts? Well, I cannot really present an accurate statistics of such a survey, but I would vouch for the fact that the majority of the world population would be thanking their lucky stars for being a part of this evolutionary age. Technology has developed so much that life can be called anything but a saucer full of secrets. Every major and minor industry is playing its bit to be a part of the progressive roller coaster, and the mobile phone industry is one of the leading contenders in this evolutionary journey. Mobile phones have since their inception turned human lives upside down with their abilities. Taking things farther from creating simple communication gadgets to multi purpose high facilitating equipments, mobile phone manufacturers have done more than their share for society. Nokia is one awe-inspiring name in this industry that has immortalised itself through a train of sequentially innovative mobile phones. The N series mobile phones by the Finnish manufacturer have elevated its popularity to newer heights. Some of the popular phones in the N series family are the [http://www.12monthsfreedeals.co.uk/Phone_Deal.asp?Ph=Nokia--N75] Nokia N75, the Nokia N76, the [http://www.12monthsfreedeals.co.uk/Phone_Deal.asp?Ph=Nokia--N77] Nokia N77, and the Nokia N91. With cutting edge technology and high end features digital cameras, DVD quality video recording, music players supporting a horde of music formats, and high speed connectivity tools along with Internet browsers, the Nokia N series phones have revolutionised mobile phone experience. Each of the phones in the N series are function specific, and have been released under genres like music edition and golf pro edition. Each of these phones have their own USPs, be it an impending gorgeous look, a tremendously endowed musical prowess, crystal clear photography, or the latest multimedia software for hand held devices. If you want to know more about new generation Nokia N Series mobile phones like Nokia N75, Nokia N76, Nokia N77 with best tariff plans please visit: [http://www.12monthsfreedeals.co.uk/] 12 Months Free Deals. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Deonte_Jeff [http://ezinearticles.com/?Nokia-N-Series-Just-Bring-It-On!&id=489693 ]http://EzineArticles.com/?Nokia-N-Series-Just-Bring-It-On!&id=489693 phentermine online prescriptions phentermine online dr brothers pharmacy phentermine buy cheap phentermine online

New Year Resolutions For Your Career

Saturday, December 29th, 2007

By Carl Mueller New Years resolutions are a popular way to plan for the upcoming year and to make improvements in our lives. Whether or not we actually follow through on them is another story of course. Here are several New Years Resolutions for your career that should ensure you get the year started on the right track. Dust off your resume. I always suggest keeping your resume up to date in case you need to make quick use of it by applying for a job that suddenly arises that you are interested in. Ideally you want to have an updated resume ready to go that simply requires tweaking for the specific job rather than having to do a complete rewrite and still meet the job application deadline. Think of one skill that youd like to improve in the New Year and figure out your plan to achieve it. Perhaps you want to improve your presentation skills by taking a presentation skills training course. Maybe you want to improve your networking skills and meet new people who can positively influence your career. You might want to learn a second language for personal or business reasons. Think of a skill that youd like to work on and then decide how to go about improving it. Stop using your work email address to forward chain emails. Dont gain a reputation for someone who wastes your time and other peoples time by forwarding those silly chain emails with your work email address. With more companies monitoring emails that are sent and received on their servers, dont give your employer written proof that you are a slacker. Join a gym. Or start taking part in some other athletic activity to ensure that you pay proper attention to your health. Certainly, taking time out for athletic endeavours can help to keep your mind and body fresh and can provide a nice outlet for stress, too. Plus you can work off all the food you ate during the holidays! Whatever you do, think of a few New Years resolutions for your career and see them through to completion. Start with an easy one and then work on the more difficult ones. Carl Mueller is an Internet entrepreneur and professional recruiter who wants to help you find your dream career. Visit Carl’s website to separate yourself from other job searchers: http://www.find-your-dream-career.com Ezine editors/Webmasters: Please feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your website. Please dont change any of the content and please ensure that you include the above bio that shows my website URL. If you would like me to address any specific career topics in future articles, please let me know. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carl_Mueller http://EzineArticles.com/?New-Year-Resolutions-For-Your-Career&id=108779 buy phentermine online no rx buy phentermine next day buy phentermine on line where can you buy phentermine

Low to No-Budget Marketing

Friday, December 28th, 2007

By Elizabeth W. Gordon Marketing is not just advertising. In fact, some of the most effective marketing doesnt involve traditional advertising at all. Marketing is everything that your customers see you do from your initial business concept to the delivery of your companys value. Ironically, when sales are down, it is often one of the first things to be cut out of the budget. Whether times are tough or things are booming marketing is critical to a business success. Most successful marketing strategies do require some money, but it is far more expensive to not market your value at all. However, there are strategies that you can implement for little or no cost. Choosing and setting up an attractive business name is an initial cost that you will have to spend anyway and it is crucial to a business success. Your name should tell prospective clients exactly what you do and why they should do business with you. It is usually best to avoid using your own name in your business name unless of course you are a celebrity. What works for Paul Newman probably wont work for the average Joe. Carefully consider your business name as it is vital to your marketing campaign. Make sure it is easy to spell, say and creates a positive first impression. Developing a marketing plan is also free and can be as simple as making a timeline of when to order business cards, how often to attend networking opportunities, which organizations you will join and take on leadership positions within, a goal for doing speaking engagements and deadlines for sending consistent communication pieces to keep your name in front of people. Business cards are the most basic and versatile of all marketing tools. You should always use them and hand out a couple at a time if you want people to pass them along. But dont give people a whole stack, especially not if you have just met them. Marketing your business is your job not theirs. Make sure your card clearly states what business you are in and what you do. Make sure it is clear and legible. Professional printing jobs are recommended and for what they can do, business cards are very cheap. If you know that you cannot afford professional printing yet look into cards make through Web sites where you only pay for shipping or printing the cards on your own. Make sure they are effective, just like the name of your company, by considering your choices where design, color and paper quality are concerned. A thin homemade card can say to others that you are not fully committed to your business. Network, network, network. You should constantly be joining groups of potential prospects and weaving networking events and association meetings into your calendar. Donate something from your company to be given as a door prize at an event, or a book that ties into what you do. If you do this at a charity event it can be a write-off. Consider giving employees nice polo shirts with your companys logo. While this does cost money it will also make walking billboards out of your employees, as well as strengthen their commitment and company pride. Volunteer to speak at any place where prospective customers might gather. The key is not to deliver a salesy presentation. It is to demonstrate that you are a knowledgeable and professional, a useful resource and an approachable, nice person. Give them something small to remember you by, a small promotional token with your company name, website and phone number on it. They next time they have a question about your area of expertise, you will be the first person they call. Compile a client list and then utilize e-mail marketing techniques instead of direct mail. Always include a special offer in your e-mail marketing campaigns as well as an opt out option. Strive to be different. There is way too much sameness in so many business strategies. Everyone is trying to be just like everyone else. Dont fall into this trap. What do people find to be the most memorable and different? So think outside the box and dare to be irreverent, zany and wild. Weird works. Keep your eyes open and think about what marketing truly gets your attention. Remember you are someones client and therefore an expert consumer. Notice what techniques work on you and then adopt them to your business. There are many ways to market your business that dont involve costly traditional advertising. These things do take time and thought, but will save you money and wasted effort in the long run. By implementing these low to no-cost marketing techniques you will see your business flourish in the future. For more information about how you can save money when marketing visit, www.flourishingbusiness.com. Elizabeth W. Gordon, founder and President of The Flourishing Business, LLC, is a visionary leader who has a passion for helping others achieve their entrepreneurial dreams and enjoy more of the best in life. With a vast and diverse background in many business arenas, Elizabeth regularly has the opportunity to share her business acumen with clients, large and small. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Atlanta and the Board of Directors of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Atlanta. She is an Accredited Executive Associate of the Institute for Independent Business (IIB) and a certified Life Coach. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_W._Gordon http://EzineArticles.com/?Low-to-No-Budget-Marketing&id=416279 buy phentermine diet pills cheap generic phentermine online prescriptions for phentermine buy phentermine 37.5 mg

Rat Race Stress - How Downshifting Can Improve Your Health

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

By Sally Lever About 17 years ago, I consulted a Complementary Therapist for the first time. I had decided to take a different route and try out what was for me an unknown and unexplored alternative to the conventional medicine I had always relied on in the past. Why? Because I was pregnant for the first time, suffering chronic morning sickness (of the all day variety) and unwilling to risk harming my baby by taking conventional drugs. This experience was to be a revelation for me and my introduction to a totally new way of viewing my own health and wellbeing, as well as that of my child. Priorities and values Suddenly, with the prospect of being responsible for someone elses life, my priorities had changed. No longer did my health come second to my availability to work and earn money. Some would say that my behaviour was a natural reaction to surging hormones nature taking over and asserting itself. I prefer to see it, with hindsight anyway, as the start of a shift in my priorities and values. When we choose to prioritise our quality of life above our money earning capacity, magical things can happen with respect to how we treat ourselves. For most who downshift, improving health and wellbeing take a driving seat, often where it has previously been denied or ignored. And for those who are forcibly downshifted through ill health, this change in circumstances can be very challenging indeed. For those who take the route of voluntary simplicity and decide of their own accord to slow down their pace of life and reduce their stress levels, miraculously, it seems, health issues suddenly seem to become less of a problem. How does this happen? Trading money for time. The answer is very simple. Downshifting involves deciding to accept a lower level of income in return for more time to spend as we want to spend it. In order to practice preventive medicine and optimise our health and wellbeing, time is exactly what is needed. Spending more time on ourselves benefits our nutrition. Real food, home cooked, is higher in nutrients, lower in harmful additives and costs less than convenience food in money terms. Growing and preparing food can also be an enjoyable experience for many, rather than just a means to an end. Thus, the process of looking after ourselves in itself becomes a stress-relieving activity. By reducing our stress levels, we strengthen our immune systems and are therefore less likely to succumb to infection or contract stress-induced chronic conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, depression, chronic fatigue states or diabetes. When we spend more time on self-care, we are more likely to find a form of exercise that suits us and that we find enjoyable. When we are ill, time gives us the opportunity to explore the options with respect to treating the illness. We can choose to take a more holistic approach through diet, exercise and rest, alternative or conventional therapy or lifestyle changes. During the pregnancy that I mentioned above, one thing I came to realise was how incompetent I was as a patient! I was so lacking in self-awareness that I didnt have the first idea how to answer my homeopaths questions. Ok, to be fair to me, they did seem to be rather odd questions, like How do you feel in a thunderstorm? What on earth did that have to do with how long I could keep a meal down? I got impatient with her and wanted a quick fix, when really what was needed was my cooperation and thoughtfulness. Often I felt like cutting out the middle man and just throwing my carefully prepared platefuls of food straight down the toilet! I was afraid that I would not cope with the situation and that my baby would not survive. My anger soon dissipated when I realised the homeopathy was working and I was starting to benefit from giving myself time to be more self-aware rather than fighting my affliction or denying it existed. What other aspects of downshifting are beneficial to our health and wellbeing? Trading an unhealthy environment for a healthier one. One of the parts of our lives that we attempt to optimise when downshifting is the way in which we earn a living. Hopefully we will take steps to modify our employment to suit our values and minimise stress levels. Looking at our working environment can be part of this. What effect does working in an air conditioned office have on our well-being? What about fluorescent lighting, noise levels, access to sunlight, fresh air and water? Trading an unhealthy environment for a healthier one can benefit our wellbeing by reducing the physicals stresses we have to endure and by bringing us into contact with fewer infections. Reclaiming the responsibility. In my experience, many downshifters discover during the process of changing their lifestyle that they feel more able to accept responsibility for their own health and wellbeing. They learn to face up to the challenges of making self-care a priority One of the advantages of working from home (and home educating) that Im personally very grateful for is that when I or my sons are ill, theres no one putting pressure on us to return to work or school. When we need to rest, wrap up warm, take extra fluids or get more fresh air, we can adapt our day to incorporate this and recuperate in our own time. Ultimately, its not up to our physicians, our bosses, our family or anyone else to keep us well. Its up to us. Sally Lever 2005 http://www.sallylever.co.uk Sally Lever is a Sustainable Living Coach who specializes in supporting those who are downshifting or otherwise moving towards a more sustainable way of life. She offers one-to-one coaching, teleclasses in How to step off the Treadmill and a free email newsletter. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sally_Lever http://EzineArticles.com/?Rat-Race-Stress—-How-Downshifting-Can-Improve-Your-Health&id=106164 phentermine from online pharmacy where to buy phentermine online little pharmacy phentermine phentermine order by

Help With Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Monday, December 24th, 2007

By Tracy Linville Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a thief. It steals relationships. Calls and visits from family and friends, who have become fed up with the ODD childs behavior, become fewer and fewer until the ODD child and his family are left completely isolated at a time when they need help the most. ODD cheats parents out of time, since children suffering from it need constantsupervision. Mothers and fathers get precious little time to sleep, exercise, relaxor take time for themselves. It robs families of memories of happy holidays and festive occasions. Insteadthey are replaced with recollections of special events marred by outbursts. ODD takes away the ability to learn. Frustrated, overburdened teachers oftendont have the skills to cope with an ODD child, and many times just give up. The disorder pilfers any social confidence or self-assurance its young victimsmight have. School becomes hell for the ODD child, his parents and his teachers. By the time most children have been diagnosed with ODD, parents areexhausted from the emotional rollercoaster theyve endured by living with theuncontrollable outbursts and constant arguing. Families sometimes are disruptedto a point where the child has to leave the home for foster care or a hospital. Although the situation may seem hopeless, families have found ways to worktogether and cope with an ODD child. Many children get better and sometimesare even rid of the disorder after treatment. Others especially those with morethan one psychological or behavioral problem, a common problem with ODDchildren may not. What is important for parents to understand is that theirfamily can cope with an ODD child whether the disorder improves or not. Many parents have trudged this road before you and have plenty of wisdom toshare. Look online for support groups in your area. It always helps to share yourburden with someone who has been there already. Tracy Linville - http://www.AnswersAboutODD.comAll rights reserved. You may freely distributethis article. The copyright and this resource box must beincluded. http://www.AnswersAboutODD.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tracy_Linville http://EzineArticles.com/?Help-With-Oppositional-Defiant-Disorder&id=80151 pharmacy ultram cod order tramadol where to buy cheap ultram discount ultram order online

Top 40 Marriage Quotations

Monday, December 24th, 2007

By Danielle Hollister “Is it better for a woman to marry a man who loves her than a man she loves. ” — Anonymous”All marriages are happy. It’s living together afterwards that is difficult. ” — Anonymous”Getting married is very much like going to a restaurant with friends. You order what you want, then when you see what the other fellow has, you wish you had ordered that.”– Anonymous”It’s not as great a day for the bride as she thinks. She’s not marrying the best man. ” — Anonymous”Marriage is a romance in which the hero dies in the first chapter. ” — Anonymous”Many a man owes his success to his first wife and his second wife to his success.”– Jim Backus”Marriage is not a ritual or an end. It is a long, intricate, intimate dance together and nothing matters more than your own sense of balance and your choice of partner. ” — Amy Bloom”Marriage has no guarantees. If that’s what you’re looking for, go live with a car battery.”– Erma Bombeck”I married the first man I ever kissed. When I tell this to my children they just about throw up. ” — Barbara Bush”All tragedies are finished by a death, all comedies by a marriage.”– Lord Byron”If variety is the spice of life, marriage is the big can of leftover Spam. ” — Johnny Carson”If you are afraid of loneliness, don’t marry. ” — Chekhov”Marriage is an adventure, like going to war. ” — G. K. Chesterton”The most happy marriage I can imagine to myself would be the union of a deaf man to a blind woman. ” — S. T. Coleridge”I never married because I have three pets at home that answer the same purpose as a husband. I have a dog that growls every morning, a parrot that swears all afternoon and a cat that comes home late at night. “– Marie Corelli”I’d marry again if I found a man who had 15 million and would sign over half of it to me before the marriage and guarantee he’d be dead within a year. ” — Bette Davis”Marriage is a lottery in which men stake their liberty and women their happiness. ” — Madame de Rieux”Whatever you may look like, marry a man your own age - as your beauty fades, so will his eyesight.”– Phyllis Diller”There’s only one way to have a happy marriage and as soon as I learn what it is I’ll get married again.”– Clint Eastwood”Men marry women with the hope they will never change. Women marry men with the hope they will change. Invaribly they are both disappointed.”– Albert Einstein”A man’s wife has more power over him than the state has.”– Ralph Waldo Emerson”Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards. ” — Benjamin Franklin”A man is incomplete until he is married. After that, he is finished. ” — Zsa Zsa Gabor”I’m an excellent housekeeper. Every time I get a divorce, I keep the house. ” — Zsa Zsa Gabor”I don’t think I’ll get married again. I’ll just find a woman I don’t like and give her a house. ” — Lewis Grizzard”If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married. ” — Katharine Hepburn”Marrying a man is like buying something you’ve been admiring for a long time in a shop window. You may love it when you get it home, but it doesn’t always go with everything else in the house. ” — Jean Kerr”I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury. ” — Groucho Marx”Politics doesn’t make strange bedfellows, marriage does. ” — Groucho Marx”Eighty percent of married men cheat in America. The rest cheat in Europe. ” — Jackie Mason”Marriage is three parts love and seven parts forgiveness of sins. ” — Langdon Mitchell”A good marriage is at least 80 percent good luck in finding the right person at the right time. The rest is trust. ” — Nanette Newman”When marrying, one should ask oneself this question: Do you believe that you will be able to converse well with this woman into your old age? ” — Friedrich Nietzsche”Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about something you said; after marriage, he’ll fall asleep before you finish saying it. ” — Helen Roland”By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you’ll be happy. If you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.”– Socrates”Some of us are becoming the men we wanted to marry. ” — Gloria Steinem”I’ve yet to be on a campus where most women weren’t worrying about some aspect of combining marriage, children, and a career. I’ve yet to find one where many men were worrying about the same thing. ” — Gloria Steinem”Loves seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century. ” — Mark Twain”Marriage is a great institution, but I’m not ready for an institution. ” — Mae West”Men marry because they are tired; women because they are curious. Both are disappointed.” — Oscar Wilde Resource Box - Danielle Hollister (2005) is the Publisher of BellaOnline Quotations Zine - A free newsletter for quote lovers featuring more than 10,000 quotations in dozens of categories like - love, friendship, children, inspiration, success, wisdom, family, life, and many more; plus freebies and links to related resources. All new subscribers get one free ad. Read it - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8364.asp Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danielle_Hollister http://EzineArticles.com/?Top-40-Marriage-Quotations&id=25590 buy chea tramadol cod order saturday tramadol generic order ultram no prescription saturday delivery tramadol

Collagen and Its Role In Cosmetics

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

By Katrina VanDoran What Is Skin Collagen? Short Answer: A fibrous protein found in skin, bone, cartilage, tendon, and other connective tissues. The main structural component of the lower layer of the skin (Dermis) is a protein called collagen. Bundles of collagen molecules pack together throughout the dermis, accounting for three-fourths of the dry weight of skin. Collagen is also responsible for the skins strength. Collagen is produced by cells called fibroblasts, which are found scattered throughout the dermis. Collagen is a connective tissue and is the cement that holds everything together-the primary mortar between the bricks of all of our smooth muscle tissues such as blood vessels, digestive tract, heart, gallbladder, kidneys and bladder, to mention just a few. Collagen, along with elastin, is a key structural component of bones, cartilage, tendons, the skin, lung tissue and blood vessels. Collagen provides structure and firmness to body tissues, while elastin provides flexibility to those same tissues. As aging occurs, cellular proteins hook together or change shape. These changes keep the proteins from doing their jobs properly resulting in a loss of collagen and less firmness to body tissues. This process eventually leads to wrinkles. Thus, one important target of wrinkle prevention and elimination regimen is to reduce collagen breakdown and increase its supply. This task is achievable but you have to go about it in the right way. Everyday your skin is exposed to environmental elements such as sunlight and air pollution. These elements cause free radicals to form in the skin, which attacks the collagen layer. This process prematurely ages and damages skin, resulting in everything from fine lines and wrinkles to loss of elasticity and hyperpigmentation. This process is known as photo-aging. First, vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen , a key structural protein of the skin. Adding vitamin C to a culture of skin cells (fibroblasts) dramatically increases the synthesis of collagen. Secondly, vitamin C is an antioxidant and can help reduce skin damage caused by free radicals. So, when vitamin C is properly delivered to skin cells, there is a good chance to reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture. Action C products provide anti-oxidant protection from environmental damage. Using face creams with vitamin C and Collagen will stimulate skin cells to produce collagen and can partly reverse this process. Stimulating collagen synthesis in aged skin was shown to reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture. Please keep in mind that taking large amounts of vitamin C orally is of little benefit for reducing wrinkles because you cannot orally obtain high enough concentration of vitamin C in the skin to notably increase collagen production. Action C Skincare is an exclusive 25% Vitamin C based skincare system, containing Aceromine, a natural Vitamin C derived from the Acerola fruit. Acerola is one of the richest sources of Vitamin C in the world. In addition, Acerola contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Niacin, Beta Carotene and minerals. All five products are non-abrasive and gently exfolliate to peel away dead skin cells, revealing a new and more beautiful complexion. Continued use of Action C products will improve the overall health and appearance of your skin, not only now, but also long into the future. Colos Cream Egalisante (Collagen Cream) contains vegetable collagen from the leaves and fruits of the Australian Acacia Tree. Beware of products that contain native collagen as these are animal derivatives. Action C and Colos Collagen Cream are available at http://www.Make-UpUSA.com CREDIT BYLINE: Article written by Katrina VanDoran, Editor of Make-up USA Newsletter: http://www.make-upusa.com. Ms. VanDoran is a top makeup artist using Bren Cosmetics and Colos Cosmetics and Skin Care products exclusively. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katrina_VanDoran http://EzineArticles.com/?Collagen-and-Its-Role-In-Cosmetics&id=124738 tramadol cheap order before 3pm tramadol no prescription cheapest prescription tramadol ultram pharmacy online

Selecting A Weight Loss Program - The IRS, Your Weight, & You

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

By Alan Wayler In April of 2002 the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officially recognized obesity as a disease, making it far easier for American taxpayers to trim their tax bills and waistlines at the same time. The step is an important one, not so much because of savings to taxpayers (the deduction really has only limited value), but more because it marks a shift in government point of view. Whether it’s due to unhealthy lifestyles that lead to obesity, or to the obesity itself, overfat people suffer greater risk for disorders such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Excess body fat is also strongly linked to depression and poor self-esteem. One recent study suggested that obesity exacts an even higher toll on health than smoking or drinking and raises an individual’s lifetime health care costs by a whopping 36%. Clearly, reversing the rising tide of obesity is important. A potential tax break offers a kind of official recognition that’s encouraging. After all, it’s estimated that the total cost of overweight/obesity in the U.S. approaches $100 billion annually, with about half of that spent in preventive, diagnostic and treatment services. What’s Covered and What’s Not Deducting weight loss expenses from taxes isn’t new for Americans. But in the past, we could do it only if weight loss was undertaken at a physician’s direction to treat other diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease. The difference now: The IRS recognizes obesity itself as a disease worth treating. Thus, American taxpayers may deduct the cost of weight loss programs without having to show that the weight loss was undertaken to treat another disease. An individual who has been diagnosed as obese by a physician may deduct the cost of “diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention,” according to the IRS. Weight loss programs, behavioral counseling, pharmaceuticals and surgery all qualify with one caveat. As always, medical expenses of any kind are deductible only after they exceed 7.5% of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income and if they are not reimbursed by insurance. If you meet that criteria for 1999 or 2000 (and 1998 if you have an extension to file), you can amend those returns. On the other hand, weight loss expenses for cosmetic reasons or general good health are not deductible nor are personal trainers, health club memberships or diet- related foods. Bottom line: The new IRS rules are most likely to benefit only those who have a sizeable amount of other unreimbursed medical expenses that can piggyback onto weight loss expenses to bring total deductions above 7.5% of adjusted gross income. Not Just Weight Loss While we at Green Mountain are happy to see the government taking steps to support individuals’ efforts to take charge of their health, we know it’s just a beginning. The next steps need to go further to identify standards for treatment. A weight loss program should have documented that it works before it could qualify as a deductible expense. (See sidebar “Choosing a Weight Loss Program.) In case that ever happens, we want to state it loud and clear now: When it comes to measuring success, a smaller body size may not always be part of the picture. And if it is, it still may not be the most important part. What counts most is not whether a body qualifies as obese on a weight chart, or whether a person reaches “ideal” weight (whatever that is). Instead, what counts is whether that body, whatever its size, is generally considered healthy in terms of physical and emotional well-being, and supports its inhabitant in her life aims. Still, the new IRS regulations are a start. And if they can help women along the path to health, fitness and increased self-esteem, we say good. It’s about time. And certainly, most of us will take all the help with our taxes we can get! Choosing a Weight Loss Program Obviously, we at Green Mountain encourage you to choose non-diet approaches that don’t focus on weight loss per se, but instead help you build your physical and mental strength to make choices that are in your best interests. Ask these questions about any weight loss program you consider. Does the program focus on weight loss as an end in itself, or is weight loss recognized as only a part of achieving health and wellness for some people? If weight loss is the ultimate goal, we can get easily sidetracked with quick schemes that may lead to quick weight loss. Unfortunately, the weight regain is often even faster. Is the food and eating advice restrictive? When choice is absent, deprivation often takes us in the opposite direction than desired. It’s a set-up for overeating at some point. Look for programs that help you build your internal ability to choose foods that support well-being, and your internal ability to decide how much you need. Think twice about any advice that recommends you avoid specific types of foods, especially major food groups. If you follow it, you might set up cravings that lead to overeating. Is enjoyable physical activity an integral part of the program? Research shows that physical activity is one of the key factors in helping people keep lost weight off. And after all, why go to all the trouble to lose it if you’re just going to gain it back again? Been there, done thattime for a different approach. Is there any peer-reviewed, published research that measures the program’s effectiveness? In the weight loss field especially, lots of claims abound. But research that shows effectiveness is fairly sparse. Require it. Whose program is it anyway? Check the credentials and experience of the people who have developed and are offering the program. But remember - academic or professional degrees don’t always guarantee competence. Thoroughly check out what’s being offered, and weigh it against your own experience. If you’ve been at this long enough, you can probably easily recognize hucksters. If you’ve got questions you can’t answer, get the opinion of a health professional you trust. Alan H. Wayler, PhD is executive director of Green Mountain at Fox Run, an all-women’s healthy weight loss program.For 34 years, Green Mountain at Fox Run has developed and refined a life-changing program exclusively for women seeking permanent strategies for healthy weight loss and health, differing from traditional health spas or fat farms. Based on a combination of proven science and what works in the real world, our innovative non-diet lifestyle program offers an integrated curriculum of practical, liveable techniques that helps women take charge of their eating, their bodies and their health. Our approach is not focused on just losing weight but on how to keep it off for a lifetime. Our participants’ long-term weight loss results are among the highest of any program, as documented in peer-reviewed scientific literature. Learn more about our fitness and healthy weight loss spa and retreat. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Wayler http://EzineArticles.com/?Selecting-A-Weight-Loss-Program—The-IRS,-Your-Weight,-and-You&id=133777 buy online tramadol ultram online doctor prescription online purchase tramadol discount ultram order online