Administrative and clerical tasks are the bane of every industry. No matter how small or large your business is, you will eventually find yourself with stacks of paperwork that need your attention and phone calls that need to be made. And when will you find the time? If you are busy seeing your clients during the day, then the paperwork waits until the evenings and weekends. This can make for some very long days and total exhaustion. Hiring a virtual assistant is becoming the best option for many professionals.

Virtual assistants are administrative professionals who, for a variety of reasons, have chosen to work from home offices. Virtual assistance is an industry that is swiftly nudging its way into the outsourcing arena. There are currently about 2,000 virtual assistants worldwide, and this number is growing daily. There are virtual assistance accreditation schools, chat groups, professional organizations, and annual conferences. As a virtual assistant, these administrative professionals are independent contractors who provide office support remotely, using current computer technology and the Internet.

Let’s look at the differences between hiring staff and working with a virtual assistant:

When you hire support staff, you will need to provide some amount of training. You also will provide a space for that person, and supplies needed to do the job. In addition, your staff expenses will include taxes, insurance, vacation and sick pay, raises, overtime pay, and usually a pension or some type of retirement plan. You will also be paying that person for idle and non-productive time; you will be expected to do annual performance reviews; and you are expected to manage and supervise.

In comparison, when you hire a virtual assistant, you are hiring someone who already specializes in the type of work that you do, so you automatically eliminate the need for training. Virtual assistants work from their own offices and use their own supplies and office equipment. Virtual assistants pay their own taxes and insurance. And best of all, you only pay a virtual assistant for the hours worked.

Virtual assistants are flexible enough to be able to work only the hours that you will need them, on an as-needed basis. Some businesses contract for a certain amount of hours a month and are assured of having those hours reserved for them. Other people hire a virtual assistant on an occasional basis, perhaps if they have a project, mailing, or campaign coming up and need the extra assistance.

You can go on the Internet and find an unlimited number of people who provide office support services; the difference is that virtual assistants have not only the administrative background, but also the training in how to use that background in a global marketplace. Working with a virtual assistant gives you the benefits of having your own personal assistant without the extra costs and associated managerial headaches. Most virtual assistants are very flexible and will do whatever is needed to fulfill your administrative needs. For a lot of businesses, it is the most practical and cost-effective way to get the administrative work done.

Healthcare professionals, who find themselves in the position of having an overflowing to-do box and wondering what to do about it, may want to consider hiring a Virtual Assistant.

bio = Rita Ballard, GVA, C.Ht. is a virtual assistant and the owner of Healer’s Helper, a virtual assistance business providing administrative support services to healthcare professionals. Rita has an 18-year history in the healthcare industry, has had an avid interest in holistic/alternative health for 25 years, and has been a licensed hypnotherapist since 1997. For more information, please visit www.ritaballard.com, www.healershelper.com, email Info@healershelper.com, or call 877-716-4880.

Popularity: 3% [?]

When you add up all the money that you can spend on home appliances and fixtures it becomes obvious that you need to spend wisely and carefully to keep costs under control. These items tend to be some of the larger ticket purchases around the home and lots of money can be wasted if buying isn’t done properly.

One of the most important suggestions for buying appliances and fixtures the smart way is to decide before you begin shopping exactly how much money you wish to spend, or what will fit in your budget. Surprisingly, this is often not done until the customer is already in the store. Unfortunately, the heart often takes over when looking over the latest high-tech gadgets and features on the item being considered and results in the purchase of a much more expensive item than is truly needed. So take some time to decide exactly what your spending limit is before you even begin to shop and then stick to your guns on that decision all the way through the buying process.

It’s also a good idea to research your buy before you start looking at actual products themselves. These days there are many consumer publications that help you make a wise choice on a broad range of consumer items, including home appliances and fixtures. They extensively test the major brands and give their unbiased opinions on a wide variety of features and issues related to each product. This is valuable information that can’t be had almost anywhere else, so take good advantage of it. You can find most of these publications available for free at your local library. This kind of research will also help you decide in advance exactly which features are most important to you and which should be avoided as unnecessary expenses, in other words, invest your hard-earned money into essentials not features. Always opt for better quality over more features too.

Don’t just assume that buying locally is the smartest move either. Sometimes, the same item can be found online at a much lower price than is possible locally and you can often even avoid sales tax on an online purchase too. Be careful though and determine how much installation is needed for any item you make and factor installation costs in with any purchase that doesn’t include those costs in the purchase price.

It may seeem like a simple thing, but be sure to measure very carefully to determine that the item you want to buy will fit in the space that you have designated for it in your home. Surprisingly, this is something that is often overlooked until the delivery of the product and can result in plenty of unnecessary aggravation. Just get the measuring tape out in advance and know the space required to save this headache from happening to you.

Finally, consider the warranty on the items you want to buy. Be sure to ask questions in advance so that you know what the warranty will cover and how long it will last. Also, will you have to send the appliance out to be repaired under warranty or is home repair covered under the warranty contract?

If you follow these simple, effective guidelines, buying home appliances and fixtures will be a breeze and you will make smart purchases that will last and give you good service for many years.

bio = ane Lipham is the senior editor of http://www.kitchens.dlbws.com where you can find free information and advice on kitchen design and finding the right kitchen products and appliances at the lowest price possible.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Have you ever felt like you bought an auto and financed it and don’t really know if you got the right price or financing arrangements after it was all over? Well, don’t feel alone. This is a common experience for many people who make auto purchases.

Guidelines for negotiating the car price can be found elsewhere, but we want to share some helpful tips on getting that vehicle financed at the best rates and terms for you.

The first step is to make sure that you negotiate the car’s price separate from the vehicle financing arrangements. Most dealers want to lump it all together because they can hide quite a bit of the actual price of the vehicle in the loan contract, and they will usually just try to meet a monthly payment figure that you can live with rather than disclose all the details about the loan.

So your work actually should begin before you ever visit the dealer lot. Try to determine beforehand what vehicle(s) you are interested in buying and become familiar with the average cost for that vehicle, either online or locally. Then make sure that it will fit your budget. Most financial experts recommend that you shouldn’t spend more than 10% of your monthly income on vehicle costs, including the loan, gas, repairs, insurance, etc.

Since you now know the price that you want to pay, you need to find out what the loan will cost, so visit some auto loan websites and/or local banks, and apply for an auto loan. See what rates and terms they offer you. Much of that will be determined by your credit history. If you can get pre-approved for a loan, all the better.

Experts also recommend that you try to put at least 20% of the car price on the loan as a down payment toward the purchase of the vehicle, either in cash or in the trade equity of your current vehicle. Why? Well, so many people are being put into loans these days with longer and longer payback periods and little down payment and the net result is that if they want to trade that car in within the first year or so they find that they actually may owe more on the car than it is even worth. So using sound financial decisions beforehand can prevent this from happening.

Now, using all of this information, the price you are willing to pay for the vehicle you want, the average loan you can get, and the best terms that you can get that will fit within your budget, you are now ready to visit the dealer, find the vehicle you have been thinking about and get the deal that will fit your needs. Remember to negotiate the price of the vehicle without financing first. After you settle on the sales price you can then reveal what finance terms you already have found and see if they can beat it.

Get the particulars in writing too. What is the price for the new vehicle? What is the trade amount for your old vehicle if you have one? If you finance through the dealer, what is the APR, the total amount financed, the total amount paid at the end of the loan, the total number of payments and the monthly payment figure itself? If the dealer will not give this clear, concise information, leave and go somewhere else to buy. If they can compete with your prearranged loan terms, then great. If not, get your auto loan elsewhere.

A word of caution. Keep it to business. It’s exciting to buy a new car and it’s also easy to get carried away and buy more vehicle than you need or previously wanted just because it looks so good or has so many features that the dealer will try to convince you that you can’t live without. Having predetermined what car you want and the price you are willing to pay will keep you safe in these negotiations but only if you stick to your guns and don’t give in to being upsold.

Using these strategies keeps you in control of the negotiation process and keeps you informed all along the way so that you can be confident that the vehicle and the auto loan you purchase is indeed the deal that you wanted.

This article may be reprinted as long as the following lines are included as well.

bio = Duane Lipham is the senior editor of http://www.loans.dlbws.com where you can find free information and advice on getting the right personal, auto, home equity, mortgage, and refinance loan for your needs.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Many people experiencing premature hair loss simply resign themselves to a process that is as inevitable as growing old. This is a positive and healthy reaction to what is a natural process for many. But for others the onset of premature balding or excessive hair loss represents a traumatic development that causes untold worry and suffering. This too is a legitimate reaction regardless of whether the hair loss is caused by hereditary factors or some other more complex cause.

Should these sufferers just grin and bear it? No, they should not because there are a number of potentially effective treatments they could utilize, depending on the nature of their hair loss. In this article I will outline some of the most popular hair loss treatments currently available in order to reinforce the fact that hair loss can be treated. The next article in the series will look closely at the treatment regimes best suited to specific ailments such as alopecia areata and telogen effluvium.

At present only two medications have been approved as hair loss treatments by the FDA. These are minoxidil, better known as Rogaine, and finasteride, better known as Propecia. Several other drugs have proven to be effective in combating hair loss, dutasteride for example, but have not yet been approved for this particular use.

Finasteride was originally developed to treat enlarged prostate conditions but a low dose version was subsequently approved for the treatment of hair loss in men. It tackles the causes of male pattern baldness by preventing the conversion of 5-alpha-reductase into DHT. Given that DHT is the main male hormone linked to hair loss, reducing its production by two thirds has a major impact on controlling this type of baldness.

Research has shown that 83% of men studied were able to maintain their hair count and 64% experienced regrowth by the end of a two year period. It should be noted that finasteride is approved for use by men only as the drug can have serious effects on unborn male fetuses. Women should therefore only consider using this drug under the strict supervision of a physician.

Dutasteride (Avodart) is a new medication for use in treating prostate conditions and, although not yet approved for the treatment of hair loss, it does offer exciting possibilities. It works in a similar way to finasteride but reputedly reduces overall DHT production by over 93%. As is the case with finasteride, women should consult their physician before using dutasteride.

Minoxidil (Rogaine) is the other hair loss treatment approved by the FDA and it is the only anti-baldness drug approved for women. Applied topically, its main benefit is its ability to stimulate regrowth thus reversing the effects of pattern baldness. Many users combine the application of minoxidil with other hair loss treatments like Propecia to achieve maximal results, but others experience satisfactory outcomes using minoxidil on its own.

Several studies have shown that certain non-drug products promote hair regrowth but none have yet been approved by the FDA. This is partly due to the prohibitive costs involved in conducting trials to prove that the products are effective for the purpose of marketing them as hair loss treatments. Many individuals and dermatologists nonetheless recommend use of certain non-drug treatments as an alternative or complement to drug therapy.

In many instances the treatments are based on natural ingredients that stimulate similar responses to those of the prescribed drugs but without the side effects. The information provided here presents a sample of products that have been subjected to testing or at least have had their effectiveness supported by independent feedback.

One such product is Arcon Tisane which has become Europe’s top selling natural supplement for hair loss. It comes as a capsule and sub-lingual spray containing saw palmetto and fenugreek stimulating a response similar to that of finasteride by inhibiting the production of DHT. Arcon Tisane has been clinically tested and has received widespread media coverage of its success in combating hair loss.

Calosol is a relatively new product aimed at helping alopecia areata sufferers. It consists of a shampoo and an accelerator applied daily in order to stimulate hair roots, reduce hair loss and promote healthy hair. Early indications suggest that Calosol can contribute significantly to easing this distressing and difficult to treat condition.

Fabao 101 is a treatment that comes in varying formats, each designed to tackle a particular form of hair loss. The common factor to each product is their derivation from natural plant sources. It was developed by a dermatologist and has received many international awards.

Folligen copper peptide products are designed to help create an environment that improves scalp health, reduces hair loss and stimulates hair regrowth. It can be used by both men and women. Studies at over 30 leading universities and medical research institutes have established the effectiveness of the technology utilized in Folligen products.

Tricomin is another treatment that targets the delivery of copper to the base of the hair follicle and it too has been clinically proven as an effective treatment for stopping hair loss and stimulating regrowth. It can be used safely with other hair loss treatments and can be especially useful in complementing the effects of finasteride and minoxidil.

Revivogen is an all-natural hair loss treatment that reduces DHT production, blocks the androgen receptors and stimulates hair growth. It is used topically and has no known side effects.

Shen Min is another natural hair loss treatment designed to restore and regrow all types and stages of hair loss. It is safe for both men and women. Shen Min contains a blend of Chinese herbs and comes in various forms to suit most people.

ThymuSkin was developed by German scientists to fight hair loss in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Due to the high success rates the product was developed for use by the general public to combat all types of hair loss. Clinical studies conducted in Europe show that ThymuSkin hair loss treatments could help to stop baldness and regrow hair for 67% of men and 95% of women.

Hopefully this article has demonstrated that many treatment options are available to hair loss sufferers. The next article in this series will develop the theme further by examining the treatment regimes that have proven effective in tackling specific forms of hair loss such as androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata and telogen effluvium.
bio = Richard Mitchell is the creator of the href=”http://www.myhairlossadvisor.com/index.html”>www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss.

Popularity: 2% [?]

One of the most worrying aspects of hair loss treatment is the tendency of so many people to seek solutions without first determining what has caused their loss in the first place.

At best, sufferers may waste money on inappropriate ‘wonder cures’ or even legitimate treatments that unfortunately are not suitable for their particular needs. At worst, some people may be risking their health by self-prescribing powerful pharmaceutical drugs. I don’t have a problem with hair loss sufferers saving money by purchasing cheap generic drugs on the internet, but I feel strongly that they should at least seek confirmation from their physician that a given drug matches their individual needs.

Before examining the most common causes of premature hair loss we need to understand that some shedding of hair is perfectly normal. Hairs grow from follicles that are tiny organs in the skin designed to grow a single hair that follows this repetitive cycle:

1. Lengthy growth period (Anagen Stage) – this phase usually lasts between two and seven years with an average growth rate of six inches (15cm) each year.

2. Short transition period (Catagen Stage) – this period of transition lasts for roughly two to four weeks. During this phase the hair shaft becomes detached and moves upwards within the follicle.

3. Resting period (Telogen Stage) – this phase lasts about three months allowing the hair to detach itself prior to falling out.

At this point a new hair begins to grow thus repeating the normal cycle of hair growth. Unfortunately a number of factors can interfere with the natural hair growth process leading to forms of hair thinning or premature baldness.

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss, probably accounting for as much as 95% of pattern hair loss for both men and women. It is usually associated with aging and develops in predictable stages over varying periods of time. Each follicle follows a genetically programmed growth cycle with some follicles coded to remain active for a shorter time than others. This results in the development of the hereditary baldness patterns that are so familiar to us all.

For this type of baldness to occur, the following factors must be present:

1. A genetic predisposition for hair loss to occur (as explained above).

2. The presence of male hormones.

3. Aging – in other words, enough time for the first two factors to exert an influence.

All men and women produce male hormones such as testosterone and DHT. These have a useful role to play in both sexes but obviously occur in widely differing concentrations. It is the higher levels of androgens found in males that explains why this form of hair loss affects men more than women.

In brief, these hormones affect the hair growth cycle as follows:

1. High levels of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme occur in some cells of the hair follicle and sebaceous glands.

2. 5-alpha-reductase converts testosterone into DHT.

3. DHT causes the terminal hairs to miniaturize.

4. This leaves short, soft, fluffy vellus hairs that provide inadequate scalp coverage.

5. The growth phases gradually become shorter until these hairs are lost for good.

Alopecia areata is thought to be an immune system disorder that causes follicles to stop producing hairs in patches on the head. In severe cases it can advance to the stage where all hair on the head is lost (alopecia totalis) or even a complete absence of body hair results (alopecia universalis).

In most cases the hair will reappear on its own but until then, the condition can be very distressing to sufferers particularly as its cause can be difficult to determine. If you feel you may be suffering from this form of hair loss, seek the advice of your physician who will carry out a physical examination and conduct blood tests to help determine the cause.

Telogen effluvium is characterized by a general thinning or shedding of hair over a period of months and is most commonly found in people who have recently experienced trauma. Common causes include childbirth, major surgery, severe illness, psychological stress and chemotherapy. The good news is that the abnormal growth behavior associated with telogen effluvium is temporary and reversible.

There are numerous other less common hair loss causes that need to be discounted before a course of treatment is chosen. Traction alopecia is the loss of hair from constant pulling, usually as the result of hair styling. Broken hairs can result in thinning, often caused by excessive styling or exposure to chemicals and sun. Finally, severe illnesses or nutritional deficiencies can cause side effects that may include degrees of hair loss.

I hope this brief article has gotten across the message that diagnosing the real causes of hair loss is not always a straightforward process. Once you and your physician have identified a cause, then you can work towards restoring your hair to its former glory. And the good news is, most forms of hair loss can be treated successfully. The next article in this series will look at some of the best hair loss treatments currently available.
bio = Richard Mitchell is the creator of the href=”http://www.myhairlossadvisor.com/index.html”>www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss.

Popularity: 2% [?]

The hair loss industry is not one that inspires great confidence in most people. I have to admit this is perfectly understandable given the damage caused by the many rogues and charlatans who have abused the trust of far too many vulnerable people – people who have received worthless and even dangerous products or advice in exchange for their hard earned cash. The end result is the prevalance of a stigma that the industry is hard pressed to shake off.

But is this perception really justified nowadays? Are there no genuine treatments that sufferers can turn to in a bid to treat the ravages of premature hair loss? The simple answer is YES, there are several safe, affordable, accessible and effective hair loss treatments currently available. Some have even been approved by FDA for the treatment of hair loss conditions while others draw on natural remedies as the basis for commercially available products. Whether or not any of them are suitable for a given individual depends on a number of important factors.

First and foremost, every individual must determine the exact cause or causes of his or her hair loss. This may appear to be an over-simplistic statement but the truth is, most people undergoing a course of treatment for hair loss have proceeded on the basis of self-diagnosis. Given the fact that premature or excessive hair loss is often associated with underlying medical conditions, this is perhaps not the most sensible course of action.

My advice in all cases is to seek the guidance of a qualified medical practitioner because the consequences of not doing so may be serious in a small number of cases. Even where all the evidence points to the onset of hereditary male pattern baldness it would probably be best to seek advice, if only to rule out other factors.

Once the cause of hair loss has been properly diagnosed you will be in a position to choose a suitable form of treatment. This may range from the prescription of drugs aimed at balancing disrupted hormone levels to the topical application of minoxidil to reduce the symptoms of male pattern baldness.

Hair loss may be caused by many factors including changing hormone levels, illness, stress, overuse of strong chemicals, excessive traction, poor grooming practices, side effects of medical treatment, poor nutrition, weak immune system and the effects of aging. The good news is, all of these can be tackled with reasonable hope of success but only if you choose the right treatment.

The next article in this series will look closely at the various causes of excessive hair loss and outline suggested treatments that are both affordable and accessible. If you take only two things from this article, please take these suggestions on board:

1. Always seek the advice of your physician before undergoing a hair loss treatment regime.

2. Don’t despair, there’s often a simple explanation for excessive hair loss and even hereditary loss or male pattern-type baldness can be treated successfully for most people nowadays.
bio = Richard Mitchell is the creator of the href=”http://www.myhairlossadvisor.com/index.html”>www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Scientists have long known that the bacterium Propionibacterium
acnes (P. acnes) plays a leading role in the development of acne
vulgaris, the scourge afflicting some 80% of teenagers and many
adults as well. A normally harmless microbe that lives in the
hair follicles of every person, P. acnes helps cause acne when
the follicles become plugged with sebum, a natural oil produced
by the body.

Scientists Discover Genetic Make-up of Acne Bacterium

Recently a team of German scientists, led by microbiologist Dr.
Holger Brueggemann, mapped the genetic code of the P. acnes
microbe. They discovered that it has a circular chromosome with
2,333 genes, many of which had surprising destructive abilities.
“We were astonished to see how many genes were involved in
degrading the human tissue,” said Dr. Brueggemann.

For example, the researchers found that P. acnes contains
enzymes similar to those in so-called “flesh-eating” bacteria
that destroy human tissue. It also has enzymes that break down
the skin and use it as its food supply. It contains genes that
secrete substances that kill competitors, like harmful bacteria
and fungi, in much the same manner as pathogens like
tuberculosis and diphtheria. And it uses a defense tactic known
as “phase variation” that helps it escape attack by the human
immune system.

New Acne Treatments May Be Possible

What does this mean for acne sufferers?

Scientists have long believed that acne results when pores
become plugged by bits of dead, flaking skin and sebum. These
plugged pores fill with oil, which the P. acnes microbe then
feeds on while releasing certain chemicals and enzymes. These
enzymes attract white blood cells, causing inflammation, redness
and pimples we call acne. Adolescents are more often afflicted
by acne because during that age period more of this oil is
produced, thanks to hormonal changes in the body at that time.

Most traditional acne treatments today are designed to either
kill bacteria or to prevent pores from becoming plugged.
However, P. acnes has developed resistance to many of the
antibiotics used to treat acne, leading scientist to seek newer,
more effective treatments.

This new discovery by Dr. Brueggemann’s research team will lead
to a better understanding of the P. acnes bacterium and how it
operates in causing or aiding the outbreak of acne. This
knowledge may well lead to new approaches to treating acne by
better targetting the enzyme systems of P. acnes and relieving
the pain and suffering of teens and adults with acne.

bio = Diane Darling, COTA/L, is a licensed and certified occupational
therapy assistant who works with learning-challenged children.
She also has a keen interest in issues of skin care and acne,
and maintains the Treating Acne website located at

http://www.treating-acne.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

Every place you look online there is somebody tell you how you can get rich. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps…

It reminds of the TV commercial I saw where folks were attending a seminar. The speaker was full of zest and enthusiasm and he said:

“Look… it’s easy. You want to be a millionaire, all you need to do is save $100,000 per year. Do that for JUST 10 years and you are millionaire before you know it.”

I’d like to see a show of hands now! How many people do you know learned how to run before they learned how to crawl? I don’t see any hands.

How many people do you know that claim they will be RICH by this time next year… but are still currently working a job? Oh… see a couple of hands there. But for the most part, your friends that think this, are keeping their dreams to themselves. They may believe it, but they don’t believe it enough to be able to tell you about it. It’s called “pipe dreams.”

What do you think would be a realistic goal for the average person to achieve by marketing online?

Let’s think about your present income.

I know… you’d like to make more, everybody would…

But you can SEE by way of your employment, you making X number of dollars per month. That’s not too hard to visualize. You don’t need someone to tell you how to make $50,0000 per year if you are already making it. So it is a given. You can make $50,000 per year, and you are used to making it.

If you choose another field to work in, you can still make $50,000 per year.

There are ways to increase this so you can make more, but for now let’s look at an example of two different sales people I know who sell the exact same thing.

She was used to making $1200 per month. So when she quit her job and started working for herseld, she made $1100 per month.

He was used to making $3700 per month. So when he quit his job and started working for himself (the exact same thing) he wasn’t happy unless he was making $4100 per month.

Yes, yes… we could go into psychological reasoning, but I’m not a psychologist. This is the norm for REAL people. Yes you can learn to overcome this mental barrier, but you’re not going to do it when you’re first out of the gate. Learn to replace your current income, before moving on to a higher income bracket.

This… isn’t soooo hard to do. Like eating an elephant! One bite at a time.

Here is the thing most people have a problem with…

What are you doing right now to make $50,000 per year?

Work?

Right! What do you suppose you’re going to have to do to earn the same amount of money working for yourself?

Acck! …and they said it would be easy. It is… all you have to do is save $100,000 per year;-)

People you will never hear about are using the web to live their dreams. They aren’t rich, they aren’t famous, and you don’t know them and will never hear about them.

Glenn quit his teaching job last year. He replaced his income by playing in 5 different musical bands plus has employees that setup in small clubs and do Karaoke gigs for him. He doesn’t have a website. He uses a mailing list to keep the folks who hire him informed of his openings and specials. This keeps his name fresh on their minds.

A Carpenter and teacher (married couple) quit their jobs to rent cottages. Using traditional advertising and Internet marketing they had their cottages full by the second year. Internet marketing was responsible for 35-40% of the bookings they received that year.

Harry runs a local directory for the county. He has businesses paying him to be listed on his website.

These are all people who were SERIOUS about wanting to replace their incomes, and they did, using a combination of offline, and online marketing. This is a sensible approach to using the Internet. Sure, most the stories you hear, are about how people have made fortunes. It is newsworthy, and of course the exception to the rule. We get bombarded with similar stories so much so that IF you hear John Smith finally replaced his income from a job he hated for 17 years, no one listens; no one cares. I bet John does though.
bio = Steve MacLellan is the author of “Used Car Websites” and has been doing web development for small/medium sized businesses since 1998.

http://carsite-marketing.com

Popularity: 4% [?]

Conquer Those Carbohydrate Cravings

Are you a hopeless carbohydrate addict?
Let’s conquer these cravings once and for all…

By Jeff Lugeanbeal- www.worldwideweightloss.com

I drove over to my parents home the a few weeks ago for dinner. I arrived early, and asked my mother if I could help her finish preparing dinner. The smell of mom’s pot roast in the oven really got my mouth watering and I couldn’t wait to eat.

She sent me to the pantry to retrieve some bread. I opened the pantry and was amazed at what I saw. Of course their was the standard pantry fare, but many other items were lurking in that pantry. Here were a few: crackers, cookies, potato chips, tortilla chips, oatmeal crŠme pies, white bread, sun chips, frosted corn flake cereal, pop tarts, and popcorn. No kidding, these were all in her pantry.

I asked my mother if she ate these items often. She said, “Yes, I’m hungry all the time so I just snack on the stuff all day”. She said she eats three meals a day, but gets hungry so she snacks on crackers, chips, etc., then an hour or so later she is hungry again, so she eats more snacks.

The carbohydrate frenzy- trigger foods

Eating the fore mentioned types of carbohydrates all day will make anyone hungry and crave food every hour or so. You see, eating these types of snacks causes our blood sugar to spike and fall very rapidly, triggering our body to crave more food all day long. It’s a viscous cycle with no end. This type of cycle not only sets up our body for weight gain but the possibility of diabetes and a whole host health problems.

How to conquer these carb cravings once and for all

By reading this article I know you are motivated enough to stop these cravings for good.
Here are some free tips to get you on your way to healthy eating and craving free!

1. Eat three balanced (protein, carbohydrate, fat) meals a day plus two healthy snacks. This stabilizes blood sugar, reduces cravings, turbo charges your metabolism (your body will naturally burn more calories), and helps you with weight loss.

2. Spend some time in your pantry and even your refrigerator. Pitch all the cookies, crackers, white bread, chips, store bought fruit juices, etc.. These foods have no nutritional value, only empty calories that will no doubt cause you to crave more foods and gain weight faster.

3. Eat healthy snacks such as protein shakes, nuts, fruit, veggies with dip, etc. At each snack, eat a small portion of protein, carbohydrate and fat. These healthy foods have a positive impact on your body. They give your body vital nutrients, and most importantly, stop the cravings. You’ll feel better, and won’t be as tired during the day.

4. Drink plenty of water.

5. Limit your amount of caffeine. I know, I sure love drinking a cup of coffee first thing in the morning. If you are a caffeine addict, meaning you drink three cups or more of caffeine a day, try to cut it back to one or two. As far as cravings go, caffeine sure gives our bodies a jolt and can make us feel good and even more alert, but after that initial jolt and you “come back down” your body will either crave more caffeine or carbohydrates.

6. The ultimate goal is to eat healthy foods, which in turn gives our bodies proper nutrition, which in turn makes us feel better. But this can take time. If you are used to eating junk food, and always craving food, don’t worry. Start out slow if you have to. Your body will take time to adjust to a new way of eating. You may even feel lousy for a few days or even a week, while your body adjusts to the healthy foods.

Follow these tips for a few months and you will feel great!

c Jeff Lugeanbeal – All rights reserved

bio = Jeff Lugeanbeal- Sought after Health and fitness professional, motivational and nutritional coach, is a recognized authority On the subject of weight loss. His Web site, www.worldwideweightloss.com provides a wealth of informative articles and resources on everything you’d ever need to know about permanent, natural fat loss and will help you achieve the body you’ve always wanted.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Are you trying to compete with the deep discount stores that buy merchandise in huge lots, then ‘pass the savings on’?

If you are, as a small business, you may actually be hurting your sales.

Lowering your prices can easily cut into not only profits, but the number of sales you make. It lowers the perceived value of the merchandise or service you’re offering.

Oftentimes, in the eyes of the average consumer, cheap is cheap, and you get what you pay for. Deep discounters never sell ‘top of the line’
merchandise.

The single most important thing you sell is trust, no matter what the product, or range of products may be.

In that trust relationship the customer expects you to deliver a top quality product or service at a reasonable, but not cut rate, price.

Cut rate pricing breaks down the trust relationship – the idea becomes, how can it be so cheap and still be any good.

There are a couple of simple questions you can ask when figuring out the cost/value equation for anything you sell.

Will the customer be more satisfied, and happier after buying your product or service or would
they be happier if they kept their money in their pocket?

Does your product/service either reduce customer
pain sufficiently to charge the price you are, or give a sufficient degree of enjoyment to charge the price you are.

Pain reduction isn’t necessarily thought of in terms of the kind of pain you’d take an aspirin for, but rather think of something like calcium tablets.

Calcium reduces the probability that women will get osteoporosis in the old age. This is a huge pain reduction factor, therefore calcium tablets cost more than many other comparable minerals to buy.

The same can be said for other vitamin supplements, when the value of them is realized by medical studies, their price tends to go up.

Find ways to add more value if you’re in a competitive market, but don’t cut your lifeline with cut rate pricing.

Make yourself stand out with messaging that gives the customer a strong sense of the high quality of your products or services, then tell them not to expect any less.

You can increase not only sales, but profit margins at the same time.
bio = Start Your Own Home Business at
www.prosperity-net.com

Help yourself to a slice of the American Pie!

Popularity: 2% [?]

Most business opportunities are not worth investing a penny into.

The ones that are generally are called Franchises. The value in a franchise is that it comes with the branding already done for you. People will recognize a Subway or McDonalds no matter where you are, so you have a built in customer base.

Be it Amway, selling jewelry (and other products) on a party plan, vitamins that you have to invest in a ton of inventory to carry around, or the door to door knives scheme that costs $500 to join, each and every one of them makes their money off the people looking for the opportunity, not from the products sold to the
average consumer.

Very few people ever make any money with these so-called ‘business opportunities’. I’ve personally never met even one, though I’ve known many people who have gotten involved in these businesses. All of them spent more than they ever made back.

Seminars are the worst. Sometimes they call them boot camps. Come to our seminar and we’ll show you how to make tons of cash. The seminar costs a few hundred, at least, then the plane tickets, hotel bookings and so on.

When you get there they give you a bunch of hype to make you feel really good about making money. Who can say no to money?

Then they show you some guy who is getting really rich in this business, and promise you that: You can do it too! Now go back home and start doing it!

The guy that’s getting really rich is profiting from the seminars he gives.

Then there are the ‘Spend No Money of Your Own!’ real estate courses. Courses happen in college. If you want to learn about the real estate game, go to the bookstore or the library.

In listening to some of these tapes I was
overwhelmed by the sheer lack of information they contained.

Yes, the guy spoke for hours on the CDs, but he never ‘said’ anything.

The best business opportunity that ever existed is absolutely free to join.

Look around you, find a need, something people want but can’t get, or can’t get easily. Then just fill that need.

Be the supply for an unmet demand. It’s easily the most lucrative opportunity there is.
bio = Start Your Own Home Business at
www.prosperity-net.com

Help yourself to a slice of the American Pie!

Popularity: 3% [?]

Do you love a challenge?

Do you feel that you must, because the idea of not trying is infinitely worse than the idea of trying and failing?

Can you afford the risk? Do you have either a good backup plan, or is your present situation such that you don’t have real responsibilities (family, children, mortgage) to take care of?

If you do have these kinds of responsibilities does your plan allow you to continue in your present occupation until the new venture takes off?

Are you willing to fall down (fail) and get right back up again, brush yourself off and move on, perhaps several times before ultimately reaching your goals?

Are you willing to spend many long hours – for six months or more – doing potentially thankless work with great enthusiasm for the potential it represents?

Are you flexible enough to change major parts of your perfectly laid out game plan on the fly if you need to?

Are you a self starter — independent thinker — able to continue to work vigorously regardless of what your critics may think of your plans?

Ask yourself these six questions and give absolutely honest answers. If your answer is no to any one of them, now is probably not be the time to get started with your own business.

While it takes quite a bit more than this to succeed with a new enterprise, these six things will make or break you from the beginning.

Starting out is not nearly as easy as some would have you believe, but the rewards are greater than the efforts required to achieve them.

On the other hand, if you can answer an absolute yes to all six questions – what are you waiting for?

bio = Start Your Own Home Business at
www.prosperity-net.com

Help yourself to a slice of the American Pie!

Popularity: 2% [?]

How To Save Money On Car Loans
(c) Noel Hynes, 2004

Have you noticed that everyone seems to have a newer car than you? There’s good news. You can find a way to upgrade your old clunker to a newer model. There are many ways to save money on your car loan. Lenders are competing for your business, and more and more car loans are approved to allow more people than ever to buy a car.

So now that you’ve decided to buy a newer car, the question on how to pay for it arises. If you’re like most people, you don’t have the cash needed to buy a new car. The other option is to borrow the money. There are certain guidelines to follow which could help you save money on a car loan. Careful planning, comparison-shopping and persistence are necessary to find the best deals.

If your credit rating is good, you should have no problem in negotiating a low interest rate. However, there are still basic principles, which apply during your search to find ways to save money on car loans. If you have a pile of credit card bills to pay and have made recent large purchases such as another car or a home, it is likely that your loan will have a higher interest rate. The object is to save money while negotiating your car loan.

Having a good credit report is an important asset and one of the basic requirements for saving money on car loans. You should always keep your payments current to avoid those nasty little “late” notices that appear on your credit report. It is especially important that your debts be paid on time for a few months prior to applying for a car loan. You will be asked to list financial institutions in which you have accounts, and it’s nice to be able to show some savings, too. Your credit score may be reduced which could prevent you from saving money on your car loan. Your credit score also dictates the interest rate on your loan.

Another way to save money on a car loan is to have a sizable down payment or trade-in. The less money you borrow the lower your total interest will be. To save yourself from a hassle while negotiating arrangements for a car loan, it is helpful to be pre-approved for the amount of money you need to finance your car.
There are many financial institutions more than willing to finance a car for you. A reputable lender is obviously going to make some profit or they wouldn’t be in the business of lending money. You can use a traditional lender such as banks, credit unions, etc., but you should also compare their interest rates with the online lenders as well.

Most car dealerships are very happy to arrange a loan for you. First, you choose the vehicle you want, test drive it and make the decision to buy it. The majority of car dealerships is honest and will gladly help you find a way to save money on a car loan. Be sure the dealer you select has a reputation for placing customer satisfaction first.
Naturally, a salesperson may want to sell you the more expensive models, but you should stay focused on your goal of getting the most for your money and saving money on your car loan.

bio = Noel Hynes is the owner of http://easy-auto-loans-online.com
Easy online auto loan applications

Popularity: 3% [?]

Online Loans Made easy
(c) Noel Hynes, 2004

What will it take for you to get a low interest, low payment loan? The answer to that question could be an online loan from one of the many companies that specializes in granting online loans, or e-loans.

Some analysts forecast that as more and more customers expect better interest rates, and as competition for their business intensifies, loan institutions will focus even more on their efforts to lure as many customers as possible to use their services, and online loan institutions are no exception.

Both traditional lenders from financial institutions such as banks, mortgage lenders and credit unions as well as on-line lenders compete fiercely for the privilege of lending money. Incentives such as zero percent or low-interest-rate financing, giveaways, and cash rebates are just some of the ways to gain your business. All this appears to be great for consumers, but the wise person must discern between true incentives and come-ons by deciding whether a rebate or a super-low interest rate is most beneficial. A rebate is not a bargain if the interest rate makes the pay-off on the loan higher.

Online loans are quick, convenient and easy. Just fill out an application from your computer. You are usually approved or disapproved within a matter of minutes. But before you begin the application process, there are basic matters that you should be aware of.

Your credit rating can affect the amount of the loan and the interest rate of your online loan. Check your credit score before you start looking for a loan. Having a high credit score will result in a better interest rate than a poor score. If you are considered a credit risk, many lenders will work with you, but your loans may have a much higher interest rate. It’s important to clear up your credit problems before you apply for an online loan to help you negotiate for the best loan possible. Not knowing your credit score may hinder your efforts.

As with traditional loans, you should always comparison shop when searching for an online loan. If you are making a high-dollar purchase such as a home or a car, it is advantageous to be pre-approved for your loan to keep your financial arrangements out of negotiations on the price. Online loan institutions may be of tremendous help in this area.

You should focus on the overall amount of the online loan as well as the interest rate. There are several online sites where prevailing interest rates can be viewed to help you decide which online loan institution to use. The overall length of the loan is another factor to keep in mind, as the length of the loan decides what your monthly payment is going to be. Obtaining a short-term loan could save many dollars in interest.

Online loans are relatively easy to get if you have a good credit rating. The usual purpose of an online loan is to finance a home or automobile. Online lending institutions realize that the loan is backed by collateral, and they are not likely to lose money if you fail to pay the loan.

Online loans are just one more way to make your search for money to finance your purchase easy and convenient. Online institutions will make every possible effort to approve your loan because doing so benefits the lender as well.

bio = Noel Hynes is the owner of http://loan-access.com
Easy online loans applications

Popularity: 2% [?]

How To Use Your Credit Cards Wisely
(c) Noel Hynes, 2004

Are you one of the thousands pulling your hair out trying to figure out how you’re going to pay your credit card bills? Using your credit cards wisely and sensibly will help you avoid financial problems and establish a strong credit rating, so here’s some information to help you get your credit card problems under control.

Credit cards are convenient for buying things now and paying later. Credit card companies are in business to make money. Don’t forget that every time you use your credit card you are borrowing money. You will pay a finance charge if you don’t pay off your balance each month.

Millions of people use credit cards to avoid carrying large amounts of cash, for emergencies, to track spending, etc. However, charging more than your income allows can be worrisome and potentially devastating to your finances and your credit rating. The pitfalls of credit card use are the accumulation of large amounts of debt and the inability to make more than the minimum monthly payment.

It’s important to look out for your own interests. Some credit card companies have lowered minimum monthly payments to less than two percent of the balance. It could take 30 years or more to pay off your credit cards if you pay only the minimum payment. Debit cards should not be confused with credit cards. There is no credit extended with a debit card. The money is deducted directly from your savings or checking account. The bottom line is don’t spend more than you can afford to pay on a monthly basis.

Limit the number of credit card applications you fill out. There will be an inquiry into your credit report for each application you submit. Your credit report contains a record of every company or institution that has evaluated your credit. It reflects negatively on your credit score if you have an inquiry that does not lead to the issuance of a credit card. Obtaining too many credit cards can affect your ability to finance other purchases as well, such as homes or automobiles. Too much available credit can cause suspicion in the eyes of a lender as to your ability to repay your potential debt.

Consider what you are looking for in a credit card such as the interest rate, annual fee, grace period, and credit line. Be wary of companies offering cards with a low introductory interest rate that often lasts for only a brief period of time, after which they become considerably higher. The average interest rate for credit cards is over fifteen percent. Choose a credit card with no annual fee. Credit card issuers are paid a percentage from the vendor each time you make a purchase.

Many companies have waived the annual fee to attract customers. Avoid cards offering a high credit limit. There is great potential to overspend. Instead, pay down your balance before using your card to make additional purchases. Send in your payment well ahead of the due date. Issuers may charge late fees, and late payments could result in a considerably higher interest rate than the advertised rate.

So the bottom line is by using your credit cards wisely you can reduce adverse effects of credit cards and maximize the benefits by spending wisely, using self-discipline, and paying off your balance as quickly as possible to avoid unnecessary fees.

bio = Noel Hynes is the owner of http://1st-for-credit-cards.comEasy online credit card applications.

Popularity: 2% [?]

How To Eliminate Credit Card Debt
(c) Noel Hynes, 2004

There is almost nothing more troublesome than having too much debt to pay each month. Consumers incur debt for many different reasons. Sometimes illness, accidents, or just bad luck can make it seem impossible to get finances under control. Other times it is simply because we spend more money than we earn. The first step toward taking control of your financial situation is to learn how to eliminate your credit card debt.

Develop a budget. Start by listing all sources of income. First list fixed expenses such as mortgage payments, insurance premiums, and auto loans. Next, list the expenses that vary from month to month such as utility bills, recreation and clothing. If there is any hope of controlling your credit card debt you must create and stick to a budget.

There are different kinds of debts. Mortgages and auto loans are debts secured by collateral. In the event of default on a secured debt, a lender may foreclose on your home or repossess your car. Unsecured debts are loans with no collateral and often have variable interest rates and are assessed a fee for late payments. In the event of default on an unsecured debt a lender may report to a credit-reporting agency, contact the debtor repeatedly by mail or telephone, and in general make life miserable for those who find themselves in financial trouble.

If you are among the millions who have found themselves in a financial crisis, consider your options – budgeting, debt consolidation, or bankruptcy. Which works best for you? It depends on your level of self-discipline, how much debt you have, and your future financial prospects. While eliminating debt may seem next to impossible, your life does not have to go from bad to worse.

Self-help may be the easiest, cheapest way to eliminate debt. First, stop charging now. Incurring more debt will only compound the problem. Make a list of all your credit card bills starting with the smallest. Pay as much above the minimum payment as you can afford on the card with the lowest balance. Continue until this debt is paid in full, and then proceed to the next card. Systematically paying off your credit cards one by one will reduce your debts dramatically. The fastest way to eliminate credit card debt is to put every penny you can towards paying off your credit cards. Do not underestimate the effect an extra five or ten dollars paid repeatedly over time can have on eliminating debt.

You may be able to reduce the amount of your combined monthly payments and lower the interest rate by obtaining a home equity line of credit or a second mortgage. Think carefully before taking this route. Your home becomes collateral with these loans. If you make late payments or miss payments you could lose your home. These types of loans may provide certain tax advantages but the fees can really add up. The same goes for debt consolidation. You eliminate or reduce interest rates and the amount of your monthly payments, but the length of the contract and the fees can be more than your original debt.

As a last resort, bankruptcy could be considered. A bankruptcy remains on your credit report for 10 years, making it difficult to obtain credit, get life insurance, or buy a home. However, it can be a fresh start for those who cannot otherwise satisfy their debts.

bio = Noel Hynes is the owner of http://1st-for-credit-cards.comEasy online credit card applications.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Whilst on your travels in Spain and pausing to take a breath from
site-seeing, you have surely experimented with “tapas” at a
welcoming bar.

If this is the case, it is more than likely that you have come
across the small, tasty filleted fish, preserved in olive oil,
sliced garlic and chopped parsley, and highly popular throughout
Spain. This delectable dish is usually known as “boquerones” but,
depending on the area, can also be called “anchoas”.

Boquerones are small, fresh anchovies. Accompanied by crisp,
fresh Spanish bread, a glass of ruby-red wine or refreshing
Asturian cider, they are a delight to eat. Moreover – as with
many traditional Spanish dishes which comprise the renowned
Mediterranean Diet – they are extremely healthy.

Like its friend the sardine, the anchovy is an oily fish, packed
full of proteins and minerals, protecting against heart disease,
and “good” for cholesterol. What’s more, in many areas of Spain –
in particular the Mediterranean coast – fresh anchovies are
extremely cheap.

On first coming to Spain, I happily enjoyed many tapas of
boquerones, completely unaware of one fact … all those little
anchovies I had eaten were not cooked! For a moment, I deeply
regretted asking my Spanish neighbor, Carmen, how to make them!

Fortunately, Carmen went into immediate action and saved the day!
She frog-marched me to the local fishmongers, bought a kilo of the
little fish, took me home and showed me “her way” of preparing
them. They were so delicious that I quickly recovered my passion
for boquerones and have been enjoying them ever since!

Methods for preparing boquerones tend to vary slightly from family
to family. However, the basic principles are always the same.
You first have to clean and fillet the fish, which is simple
enough, but rather tedious until you get the hang of it.

Next, you soak the fillets, either in white wine vinegar or a
mixture of half vinegar and half water. The vinegar will clean
and bleach the fish and also soften any remaining little bones.
Some people sprinkle the fish with salt; others (myself included)
feel that the fish is salty enough already.

The fish has to be left for a good few hours soaking in the
vinegar. Again, this tends to vary, with some Spaniards leaving
them overnight in the fridge and others just waiting a couple of
hours. Also, some families change the vinegar/water-and-vinegar
mixture once during this process, whilst others don’t bother.

Once you have thrown away the vinegar, the bleached fillets are
covered with a good quality virgin olive oil, which will preserve
them. You can add as much, or as little, sliced garlic as you
wish, plus freshly chopped parsley.

So … here is the actual recipe.

BOQUERONES

Ingrediants:

- 1 kilo fresh anchovies.
- White wine vinegar.
- Virgin olive oil.
- Garlic.
- Parsley.
- Salt (optional).

Method:

1. Top and tail anchovies.

2. Slit along underside and discard innards.

3. Open out fish.

4. Remove central bone by lifting from tail end upwards.

5. Rinse well.

6. Place a layer of anchovy fillets in a shallow dish.

7. Sprinkle with salt (optional) and pour on plenty of vinegar.

8. Repeat with another layer, changing direction.

9. Leave to soak in vinegar for a few hours or overnight.

10. Pour off vinegar.

11. Very gently rinse fillets.

12. Cover fillets in virgin olive oil.

13. Add slices of garlic and chopped parsley.

It is so pleasant to find something in life that is a delight to
the senses, affordable, healthy and does nobody any harm
(apologies to any vegetarians out there and, also, the little
anchovies …). So … do make the most of fresh anchovies
whilst you are in Spain and enjoy!

bio = After living in Spain for 20 years, Linda Plummer decided
to compile the information-rich website:

http://www.top-tour-of-spain.com

with its FREE monthly newsletter, “The Magic of Spain”.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Home-made soups are so good for you – all that nourishing stock
and chock-a-block full of vitamins and minerals.

But … who on earth could face boiling bones for hours on end
during the scorching Spanish summer weather, not to mention
preparing the soup once the stock is made? I don’t think it
would tickle anybody’s fancy to then have to tuck into a
piping-hot soup!

For this reason, the Spanish came up with their wonderful,
ice-cold soup – gazpacho – beautifully colorful, packed with
goodness, cheap and simple to prepare, no cooking and … most
important of all, an absolute delight to drink.

Traditional gazpacho originates from romantic Andalucia – that
large, exotic southerly region of Spain which is home to such
extensive Arabic influence.

The chilled, raw soup was originally made by pounding bread and
garlic with tomatoes, cucumber and peppers but, nowadays, your
electric blender renders this effortless! Olive oil endows it
with a smooth, creamy consistency and vinegar adds a refreshing
tang – just what you need when life gets too hot to handle!

The spicy soup should be served in true Spanish style with small
bowls of accompaniments – finely chopped peppers, cucumber,
onion … even hard-boiled eggs and croutons, if you feel up to
it! Guests will then sprinkle what appeals to them on the soup.

Traditional gazpacho is tomato-based, with most Spanish families
having developed their own, unique recipes. However, nowadays,
you will also find gazpacho recipes that have nothing to do
with tomatoes – white, almond-based gazpachos, fruit-based
gazpachos, etc.

Do you suffer from insomnia? Could be that drinking gazpacho is
the answer, for in Pedro Almodovar’s 1987 film “Mujeres Al Borde
De Un Ataque De Nervios”, various characters help themselves to
the soup and promptly fall asleep!

However, don’t fall asleep just yet as you haven’t read over the
recipe!

Ingrediants for 4 servings:

- 4 ripe tomatoes
- 1 onion
- « red pepper
- « green pepper
- « cucumber
- 3 cloves garlic
- 50 g bread
- 3 dessertspoons vinegar
- 8 dessertspoons olive oil
- Water
- Salt/pepper
- ¬ chilli pepper (optional)

Garnishings:

- 2 hard-boiled eggs
- « finely chopped onion
- « finely chopped red pepper
- « finely chopped green pepper
- « finely chopped cucumber

Method:

1. Break up bread and soak in water for 30 minutes.

2. Skin tomatoes, remove seeds and stalks from peppers.

3. Peel cucumber, onion and garlic.

4. Chop onion, garlic, tomatoes, peppers and cucumber.

5. Place in electric blender.

6. Squeeze out excess water from bread and add to blender.

7. Add oil and vinegar.

8. Blend well.

9. If necessary, add sufficient water for soup-like consistency.

10. Pour into a bowl with ice cubes.

11. Fridge for a couple of hours.

12. Serve in bowls, with garnishings in separate dishes.

Gazpacho is best enjoyed sitting in the shade, looking out onto
an azure sea, blue sky and golden sun and sands!

bio = Linda Plummer is webmistress of the site:

http://www.top-tour-of-spain.com

which provides a wide range of information regarding Spain and
the Spanish language.

Popularity: 5% [?]

It certainly is a poor man or woman who cannot find a few eggs, a
couple of potatoes and an onion in their store cupboard!

The ever-practical Spaniard realized this and thus created their
marvellous “tortilla” – an easy-to-make dish that could be
savoured by rich and poor alike.

Not only cheap to make the tortilla, or Spanish omelette, is
immensely adaptable: you can eat it hot or cold, depending on
the weather and your mood; you can enjoy a small slice as a
“tapa” (snack) in between meals; or, accompanied by a multi-
coloured mixed salad and crusty, fresh Spanish bread, you have a
marvellous main meal!

Should unexpected guests come knocking at your door … just whip
out the ever-adaptable tortilla, pour them a glass of smooth,
Spanish wine and they are bound to be delighted!

Unlike the better-known French omelette, which should be made
quickly and over a high heat, the Spanish omelette needs to be
cooked more gently, so that the middle is not too runny.

The French omelette is best eaten straight away and always hot.
Its Spanish counterpart, on the other hand, improves if left to
rest for at least five minutes before eating, keeps well for a
couple of days in the fridge, and can easily be re-heated in the
microwave, unless you prefer it cold.

As with the French omelette, the Spanish tortilla is made in a
frying pan (preferably non-stick) but, unlike the French version,
both sides need to be browned. For this reason, it is possible
to buy special tortilla frying pans – a sort of double pan which
allows you to swish the omelette over to cook the other side!

I have to say, I prefer the traditional method of placing a plate
on top of the pan, turning the tortilla out and then returning to
the pan to cook the underside. But the simplest method is to
place the frying pan under the grill to brown.

Whichever way you choose to prepare it, once cooked, leave it to
cool a little, cover with a large plate, then gently ease out the
omelette. It should be circular, about an inch-and-a-half thick,
and it is usual to cut it in slices or wedges.

Having said that, you can divide it into small cubes, pop
cocktail sticks on top, and serve along with other “bits and
pieces” as ap‚ritifs.

Spanish recipes for tortilla vary from region to region – also
what you have in the fridge and what you fancy! You can replace
the potato with, say, spinach, leave out the onion, add a bit
more garlic, etc, etc. Just use your imagination!

Below is a recipe for traditional potato-and-onion tortilla.

TORTILLA – Spanish Omelette

Ingrediants:

Olive oil.
1 large onion, chopped.
1 clove garlic, crushed with 1 teaspoon salt.
2 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and diced.
Black pepper.
6 eggs, beaten.

Method:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a pan.

2. Add onion, garlic/salt, pepper and potatoes.

3. Gently fry until golden-brown and potatoes slightly softened.

4. Tip potato-and-onion mixture into bowl containing beaten eggs.

5. Stir and transfer to large frying pan containing clean oil.

6. Cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes.

7. Transfer pan to preheated hot grill until top is browned.

8. Carefully tip onto plate and slice as you would a cake.

bio = After 20 years of living in Spain, Linda Plummer decided to
create the information-rich website

http://www.top-tour-of-spain.com

with its FREE monthly newsletter, “The Magic of Spain”.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Looking for a traditional Spanish recipe? Without doubt, the
best-known is going to be the prodigious paella … that tasty,
adaptable, gregarious dish famed throughout Spain and the World.

And, what an impressive choice of recipes exist for a pleasurable
paella: seafood, chicken, rabbit … or a mixture of all three!
Perhaps you are non-meat eating … well, just opt for one of the
several vegetarian paella recipes. Bit of a health fanatic?
Then substitute white rice for whole-grain rice or wild rice.

Got a large family and not much money to feed them on? Use
plenty of rice and imagination along with a tasty stock, plus
whatever you can find in the cupboard! I have certainly enjoyed
many paellas where there have been more bones/shells than meat/
seafood! And, very tasty they have been too, the richness of
the company more than compensating for any paucity in the
ingrediants.

So … how do you go about making the perfect paella? First of
all, you need to choose your rice. The short-grained rice from
Valencia – where most Spanish rice originates – is fine for
making paellas. However, the “bomba” rice grown in the
neighboring region of Murcia, is the “king” of paella rice: again,
short-grained, it has the ability to absorb the stock whilst
remaining firm.

Another “must” is to use saffron (“azafr n”) to create the gentle,
yellow color for which this delectable dish is renowned. Yes, it
is possible to buy cheaper, artificial colorings but … go for
the traditional – it will bestow a wonderful aroma and unique
flavor.

Many Spaniards swear a perfect paella can only be achieved when
using a tasty, home-made stock. Whatever you decide, allow at
least double the amount of liquid to rice. If, during cooking,
the dish becomes a little dry, just add a dash more water or
stock.

Another tip I have been told, on more than one occasion, is to
gently fry the rice for a few minutes before adding the stock,
ensuring that it is well-coated in oil. I think all Spaniards
would agree that, once cooked, it is best to leave your paella to
stand for a good five minutes before serving.

Perhaps the most important ingrediant for making that perfect
paella, is to use lashings and lashings of love whilst preparing
it – for surely, that is something we can all afford – and to
enjoy to the full the marvellous company of those who will share
it with you.

I shall now have to choose a paella recipe to offer you as an
example! I think I will opt for a seafood paella, typical of the
region of Valencia, where I live. The ingrediants are for a
hearty four servings. If you are not a hefty eater, or on a diet,
then reduce the amount of rice/stock slightly.

Paella Valenciana – Paella From Valencia

Ingrediants:

- 4 cups rice.
- 8 cups fish stock.
- 8 king-sized prawns/langoustines.
- 8 mussels.
- 200 gr shrimps.
- 200 gr peas (fresh or frozen).
- 2 tomatoes, skinned and chopped.
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced.
- 3 strands saffron, crumbled.
- Olive oil for frying.

Method:

1. Saut‚ garlic in a paella-type pan.

2. Add tomatoes, peas, shrimps and saffron.

3. Cook for a few minutes.

4. Add rice and stock.

5. Simmer for approximately 20 minutes.

6. Decorate with prawns and mussels.

7. Cover paella with a lid.

8. Poach the seafood for a few minutes.

9. Decorate paella with lemon quarters.

10. Enjoy!

bio = After living in Spain for 20 years, Linda Plummer
decided to compile her information-rich site:

http://www.top-tour-of-spain.com

with its FREE monthly newsletter, “The Magic of Spain”.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Like so many in corporate America today, Susan needed more balance in her life-but she did not know how to get it. Faced with a 60-hour work week and a lengthy daily commute, Susan was left with little time for outside interests. Her job was literally draining her of energy, and her attitude at work was changing, especially within her business unit.

Who is Susan? Susan is a composite of thousands of executives who are pushed to the brink by trying to juggle demands on the job with demands at home. Susan could be you.

At work, Susan was accepting extra work and projects and was not able to say “no” to her boss. She became frustrated and drained. By accepting everything and not speaking up for herself, Susan became increasingly frustrated and angry. She became more demanding and less flexible with her own team. Her usual encouragement to “think outside the box” was replaced by a controlling “do as I say” attitude.

Micromanagement became her style. As a result, her staff appeared less involved in their work. They began to distance themselves from her.

On the social front, Susan was also making unhealthy choices-spending time with friends and family that were draining and burdensome and then keeping silent and angry about it. She did not have anybody to talk with about her experiences and frustration, so there was no one who could help her develop the perspective necessary to propel her toward greater personal fulfillment.

Like so many other executives, Susan believed that if she increased her hours and worked harder, life at work would get better. Are you just like Susan? Do you think that if you become more demanding and micro-manage your employees, the job will get done? Do you think keeping silent makes the problems go away?

To anyone who still believes this way, this is your wake up call. It does not work. Change is the answer-change coupled with a shift in perspective.

But sustaining meaningful change is never easy. It takes desire, intention, a clear vision, a good plan . . . and commitment. Change also takes time. In our increasingly busy lives we often get overwhelmed with demands on our time. Complacency sets in, and we lose the ability to overcome inertia-the tendency of a body at rest to stay at rest or of a body in motion along a certain path to stay in motion along that path.

To change, we must create structure that encourages and supports change, and it begins with an all-important shift in perspective. Instead of living in silence and hiding-or being overly controlling in our work relationships-or feeling that we need to leave our job-we can start by considering a more fulfilling alternative.

In Susan’s case, she looked at what energized her, what she was good at, and what gave her joy. She put limits on the amount of work she was willing to take on and began speaking up to make sure her needs were heard and met. She shifted from being a controlling team leader to one that encouraged risk-taking and “thinking outside the box.”

The result? Greater group cohesion and less stress for everyone involved. Group members felt less restricted and more empowered. Susan added greater value to her company and the results were visible and rewarded. More opportunities-the kind of opportunities Susan wanted-started coming her way.

At the same time, Susan developed criteria for what she wanted in her relationships. She evaluated her current relationships and determined which ones needed to be addressed. She began to speak up to make her needs known, and in some cases she ended unfulfilling relationships. As she revised her standards and set limits, she gained more energy to try new activities outside of work-re-awakening areas of interest that she had long ago left behind.

Susan’s success story can be your success story, too. And it starts with four simple steps.

You must . . .

1. Be clear about your intentions to make a change;
2. Be willing to experiment and to try new strategies to achieve the changes you want;
3. Be willing to learn what works and what does not, and to make adjustments;
4. Not let fear stop you from making these significant changes.
To successfully change-whether on the personal or professional front-you need perseverance, feedback, and support to help achieve your goals. But change you can . . . and sometimes you must.

(c) 2004, by Steven Bacharach Psy.D. All rights in all media reserved. This article may be reprinted so long as it is kept intact with the copyright and by-line.
bio = Steven Bacharach, Psy.D. is a personal coach to executives who are seeking more fulfillment in all areas of their life. To learn more about coaching and arrange a complimentary session, contact Steven Bacharach Psy.D. by email at stevenb@onthemarconsulting.com, by phone at (508) 358-9565, or visit his Web site at www.onthemarconsulting.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

A Very Human Medical Miracle

Madeline Mann once weighed less can a can of soda making her the tiniest surviving newborn known to medicine. Next week, she enters high school as something even more exrtaordinary- a honor student who likes to play violin and Rollerblade.

“Her survival wasn’t the miracle; her development was.” says Dr. Jonathan Muraskas of Loyola University Hospital in Maywood, Ill. She was Born 27 weeks into her mothers pregnancy, she weighed just 9.9 ounces, less than any surviving baby in medical history. Just 10 inches long, smaller than a football. She rested easily in the nurses hand.

Madeline, now 15, weighing 61 pounds and measuring 4 feet 7 has no major medical problems.

www.dontforgettotakeyourvitamins.com/shuman648

Popularity: 3% [?]

Over the years, I have been amazed at the “blinding” greed and reckless approach
to commerce that some business owners have employed. Lying to customers, selling inferior merchandise, and not offering refunds, left a firestorm of irate customers in their wake. Without fail, all of this “ill will” led most businesses to bankruptcy, and in some cases, Federal Prison.

I realize that not everyone engages in “business criminality” that rises to the level of fraud and incarceration. Most people try to be good stewards, and approach their enterprise in an honest and forthright manner. For those of you who own thriving business concerns you already know that in most cases the customer is always right. You make sure that you communicate effectively, refund monies if the buyer is truly unhappy, and try to meet the needs of the people who buy your goods or services.

However, there are more than a handful of Ebay sellers that are of the mind that customer service and effective communication is not something that they need not participate in. Take the case of a woman named Barbara, (Nickname: BobAnn) who recently posted her disappointment on the Ryze Business Network:

Quote:

Barbara Cerda wrote:

Greetings Everyone,

“When will sellers on Ebay understand that customer service is key? And when will Ebay sellers learn using customer friendly approaches can only make their business grow?” Again today I’ve bought from a less than friendly
seller.

Thought I was placing a bid and instead bought the item at the buy now price. Of course the seller refused to allow the retraction, nor was I allowed to place a bid. I always pay for my winning bids immediately upon email confirmation.

And did so in this case. But it would have been customer friendlier for this seller to accept my retraction to be replaced with a bid. He would have gotten repeat business from me and my friends. His “Buy Now” price is 30% over the retail price for this item. Lesson learned by me again – that there are way too many sellers on Ebay out to grab a buck and the hell with fair practice. Lesson learned yet again.”

BobAnn

End quote.

The operative phrase here is “repeat business from me and my friends”. There is no better endorsement of your product or service than word of mouth advertising. Lack of flexibility on the part of the seller, not only cost them one customer, but also destroyed the possibility for future business. Good news travels fast, but bad news travels faster!

As an auction seller, (Ebay auction ID: LevelBest77) I would have accommodated her request right away. And while I have never had anyone use “Buy It Now” by accident, I have had several people over the years ask me to retract bids. The number of people who have made that request can be counted on one hand! Some, did not even understand the process, (bid retracting) and I was more than willing to guide them through it.

People make honest mistakes, and you should never “abuse” a buyer for doing so. If you plan to get into Ebay auction selling for the long haul, always practice good will toward your customers. Unless someone is totally unreasonable, and you have done everything in your power to accommodate their request, never deny people the ability to change their mind, return an item, or retract a bid! Developing
good will also requires that you anticipate customer needs…

For instance, I had a few overseas customers bid on a wireless router. This particular item needed to be powered with a Universal Adapter, since voltage requirements in France and Australia are obviously different from those here in the United States.

I made this abundantly clear to both bidders before they sent me any payment. The purchase of such an adapter, not to mention the shipping price, would have doubled the US retail cost. I told them that they could probably get the product cheaper at their local electronics stores. Without hesitation, I let them out of their obligation to pay for the item. I then contacted the next highest bidder and offered that person the chance to make the purchase.

Both bidders thanked me for my honesty. They had forgotten about the electrical differences. I could have ignored that little detail, and sold them the item anyway. I just had to put myself in their situation. Think of how frustrated they would have been if I did not reveal that information. Buyer’s remorse would have set in quickly, once they realized that they could have purchased the same item for a lot less in their
native countries.

While the benefits of these actions may not have an immediate effect, you can be sure that should I ever have another “item of interest!” these two gentlemen would not hesitate to purchase from me. They can count on me to accommodate their needs, instead of catering to my wants. Creating this type of good will instills trust, and the knowledge that you have the customers best interest in mind.

“Me thinketh thou doth protest too much!

Do you accentuate the positive? Or, do you run on negativity? Negative Ebay feedback is a tool that everyone should use with restraint, or not at all. As a rule, I never leave negative feedback. Unless someone has blatantly lied about your product, or attacked you personally without merit, then I would not leave any feedback in the “minus” side of the isle!

“Flame” wars are not pretty. I have seen a lot of unnecessary back and forth “banter” that could have been avoided, if they (the seller) just resisted the urge to make their “two cents” known. Sometimes it gives customers the impression that you are more concerned about arguing, then conducting your business.

I have also witnessed seller feedback that has included some pretty foul language. Engaging in this type of verbal sparring is not much of a confidence builder either. It is more telling of what you are, then about revealing the sins of your customers. Don’t go out of your way to register a negative response if you can help it. Heed the sage advice that our Mother’s use to tell us: “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all!”

“What we have here is a failure to communicate!”

Communication with your customers should not amount to the sound one hand clapping! Bottom line, if someone e-mails you with a question–answer it! Here is an example of the type of feedback I obtained by doing just that..

“He was very Helpful and cooperative in answering questions. Follow-up: Will DEFINITELY use his services anytime he has items of interest!
Great Seller!”

The gentlemen who left this positive review, wanted to know about some of the particulars of a “Mickey Mouse” clock I had up for auction. His wife is a collector of all things Disney, and thought it would be a nice surprise for her birthday. The clock, to say the least, was in sad shape. It was incapable of keeping time, and the
only part of it in working order was the second hand. I thought for sure that he would
be disappointed with the item despite full disclosure of all of it’s imperfections.

To my surprise, not only did I receive positive feedback, but he also told me that his wife absolutely loved it! In this instance, one man’s junk, truly, is another man’s treasure! I never thought this item was worthy of any praise! The time it took to answer his questions-all of five minutes!

I know that some of you will say that I am not being realistic. You just can’t answer e-mails all day; “I have a business to run!,” you might proclaim. If you plan on making a living on Ebay, then you better think about hiring someone to help you answer your daily inquires if it is just too overwhelming. If you specialize in a particular product, set up a Frequently Asked Questions page to any Auto-Responder.

If you use Ebay on an infrequent basis, and have less than thirty listings a month, then you really don’t have any excuse not to provide great customer service and e-mail communication. You shouldn’t be inundated with questions regarding that many items, unless the product you are selling is technical in nature.

If you ignore your customers, they will go away. Good customer service should be woven into the fabric of every good business. I cannot overemphasis the importance of this issue. I continue to be perplexed by the fact that it is last on the list of business priorities for some Ebay sellers!

Will good customer service and communication alone make you rich on Ebay? That would be a resounding “no”. You will have to understand your market, and provide products that the Ebay community will bid on consistently. There will be “bidders & buyers” out there that will make mistakes and commit some auction sins! Forgive all Ebay sins and you will be rewarded with happy, repeat customers!

bio = Robert C. Potter is the author of “The Ultimate Guide To Products For Resale.” Over 300 Wholesale & Surplus Supply Sources, For Ebay Auction Sellers, E-Commerce Websites, Flea Market Vendors, and Retail Store Owners! You can find his ebook here: http://www.productsforresale.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

There are a lot of “crash” diets out there that promise that you’ll drop a considerable amount of weight in days or a week. I have tried a few of these, and in my experience the weight always comes back on, just as quickly.

One thing you don’t want to do if you are actually serious about losing weight is to follow these fad diets. After their ineffectiveness has been proven time and again, people will start to wise up to that particular diet, and will head off in search of a new craze.

Lets be honest, people want to lose weight and they want immediate results, but this is just wishful thinking. To lose weight permanently and effectively it will be a rather slow progress, all depending on your metabolic rate and how much you need to lose.

There are however some proven tried and true methods for aiding in the weight loss process, and I can make you familiar with them.

1. Don’t skip breakfast. Whatever you do follow this advice, because otherwise you are much more likely in fact prone to binge later in the day.

2. Don’t eat anything for at least an hour before going to bed.

3. Don’t snack while watching TV. It’s acceptable to eat a meal while watching television, but never is snacking at this time acceptable.

4. Substitute fruits like; bananas, watermelon, plums, peaches, and oranges for sugary treats like; cookies and candy.

5. Substitute honey for sugar, and carob powder for chocolate in all recipes.

6. Eat more vegetables. This can even be enjoyable if you have a good cookbook like Good housekeeping’s latest edition.

7. Avoid unnecessary high calorie foods.

8. Exercise at least a half hour each day for 5 days out of the week.

For more information on weight loss visit: http://hop.clickbank.net/?workgirl15/callenbr
bio = I’m a first time article writer, although I’ve been writing various things for 7 years. You can contact me at: sweetstuff245@hotmail.com
Also go to my website: http://www.moreinfo247.com/8744660

Popularity: 3% [?]

Need A Scrapbook Journaling Idea?

Try using song lyrics in your next layout.

Song lyrics can be a great source of title and page inspiration for a scraper.

Music and songs play an important part in our lives. Hearing a song again can evoke a lot of emotion, bringing back fond memories of special times, special people and special places.

Of course, different songs mean different things to different people – but you can use songs to ‘tap’ into those memories to create unique, and highly personal scrapbook pages.

How do you use lyrics on your pages?

Well, here’s a scrapbook journaling idea for you to try using a wedding layout as an example.

If the bride and groom have their own `special song’ then you use that to add a personal touch. If not don’t worry find another suitable song instead, there are lots of song lyric web sites on the internet that you can browse.

Pick a section from your chosen song for example, the first verse of “A Groovy Kind of Love” by Phil Collins and journal the lyrics around the edges of your page.

Then embellish your border with some appropriate wedding stickers, die-cuts or punches. Tie it all neatly together, by using the title of the chosen song as the accent title for your layout.

What about a friendship page? You could use some of the lyrics from “You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King, maybe decorate your border with musical notes.

Doing a page about someone’s birthday? You could journal the words from “Happy Birthday” and embellish the border with cakes, candles or other birthday memorabilia.

Don’t limit yourself to just a section of a song, use all of it if you want to.

Write or print out the complete song lyrics onto some nice paper and add it to your page. If you don’t have the room left on your album page make a pocket envelope to put your song sheet into.

You can apply this scrapbook journaling idea to any kind of page theme, not just the ones listed here as examples.

There have been tens of thousands of songs published over the years covering all sorts of subjects – the possibilities for the resourceful scraper are endless.

Just make sure that the song title or lyric you are going to use is suitable for the theme of your layout and you’ll soon add a quick, simple and memorable piece of journaling to your page.

bio = Elaine Clay is the owner of Online-Scrapbooking-Guide.com :: your one-stop online scrapbooking resource. Find inspiration, increase your creativity and have fun with our helpful tips, ideas, articles and much more.

- Feel free to use the above article on your web site or ezine. Provided that it is published in it’s entirety, including my resource box above and a “live” clickable link to: http://www.online-scrapbooking-guide.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

Like a good many people I have been the victim of acne vulgaris (what an appropriate name) the medical term for pimples. It has made me aggravated, made me cry, and made me angry. Thousands of people each year are afflicted by it, and it makes recluses out of a good many teenagers.

It is caused when your pores get clogged and the fatty material made by the sebaceous gland accumulates, and a “bump” appears under the skin-or perhaps a whitehead or a blackhead (a comedone). Blackheads are not caused by dirt but by the discoloring effect of air on the fatty material in the clogged pore. If this substance becomes infected a pimple results.

As anyone can tell you the worst thing to do is to push or “pop” a pimple. Because this will not only cause more, but can result in life long scars. No matter what you see on TV or a friend tells you, don’t pop a pimple. I know, I made the mistake and I’m still regretting it. But not too long ago I discovered a way to lessen the intensity of my outbreaks, although it stops short of completely curing them.

I totally avoid grain products, most especially bread, corn, cereal, and other pastries, (also potatoes) and to still get all my vitamins I add wheat germ and brewer’s yeast to yogurt or milk and fruit. Brewer’s yeast does take time to acquire a taste to however, and can be found at most if not all Health food stores.
This method may appeal to you or it may not. Use your own judgment and see what is right for you.
bio = I’m a first time article writer, although I’ve been writing various things for 7 years. You can contact me at: sweetstuff245@hotmail.com
Also go to my website: http://www.moreinfo247.com/8744660

Popularity: 3% [?]

I don’t have much of a problem with belly pouch or bulge, since I’ve been doing situps or crunches for most of my life. But most of you have not, so you might benefit by my experience. I know a small excercising trick that can literally whittle your waistline and work your abs at the sametime. If you work dilligently at it, that is.

Here is my trick: lie on your back with your knees bent, feet resting on the floor, bend your right leg sideways and rest your right ankle on your left knee. Link your fingers behind your head and situp, twisting your torso as you do, so that your left elbow touches your right knee. Then lay back down and repeat 20 times. If you’re a beginner at abdominal excercise you may want to work your way up slowly, starting with five everyday and each week adding one on.

Do this excercise with both legs, resting your left ankle on your right knee as you repeat the selected amount of crunches.

I took my waist down an inch doing this excercise, and I’ve never gone back up. For more info on how to get really flat abs visit: http://hop.clickbank.net/?workgirl15/davidfit
bio = I’m a self made entrepreneur, and an affiliate for numerous sites. For more information contact me at: sweetstuff245@hotmail.com
Or go to my web site: http://www.moreinfo247.com/8744660

Popularity: 3% [?]

Have you ever wondered if there was a healthful alternative to the sugar and preservative filled ice cream you buy in the supermarkets? If you have or if you would truly like to try homemade ice cream then this is for you. I have a recipe for vanilla ice cream, that will knock your socks off when you taste it.

The first thing you need to know is how to make your own 100% healthy and natural vanilla extract. You might buy this from a good quality store if you can find an unadulterated brand. To make your own you’ll need about a quart of milk, a vanilla bean (available at most health food stores), and a teaspoon of honey. You put the milk in a saucepan and heat on high while you slice the vanilla bean lengthwise and in half.
Then put the halves of the vanilla bean into the milk. Boil for around 15 to 20 minutes, then cook on medium heat for a half hour or until the milk has a thin sheet of film on top.

Stir the mixture constantly as it cooks to prevent burning. Cool the extract and freeze in a plastic bottle or container. This extract will last you for quite awhile since recipes call for only a few teaspoons each. You should-if you plan to make the ice cream anytime soon- save a cup of the extract in a container in your refrigerator. Whenever you want to make more ice cream just get the extract out of the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator until a few tablespoons or so are thawed, then refreeze the rest before it thaws out.

Now I’ll give you my vanilla ice cream recipe, follow the instructions carefully and you’ll get wonderful results.
Vanilla Ice Cream

You’ll need: 3 eggs, with the egg whites and yolks separated, 1/2 cup honey, 4 cups light cream, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.

1. In a medium size bowl beat the yolks until smooth. Gradually add honey, beating until well-blended and thick. In a different small bowl beat the egg whites until stiff, stir beaten whites in with the yolk and honey.
2. Then add the cream and egg mixture together in a saucepan, cook on medium heat, stirring constantly for 15 minutes.
3. Stir in vanilla extract, and either process in an ice cream maker or just freeze in a bucket container overnight. Serve with an ice cream scoop.

This ice cream is rich, creamy, natural, and very healthy I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
For more great recipes go to: http://hop.clickbank.net/?workgirl15/vjjepub
bio = I’m a self made entrepreneur, and an affiliate for numerous sites. For more information contact me at: sweetstuff245@hotmail.com
Or go to my web site: http://www.moreinfo247.com/8744660

Popularity: 4% [?]

I won’t be long-winded about this, I am going to lay down 7 simple steps to help you improve your life. It will only be a few pages long and will be a quick read. Whether you implement the steps I give you is your decision alone, they are merely suggestions you might say.

1. This tip will seem quite obvious and simple to you, but you’ll be amazed how few actually take the effort to do it. Unless you’re not a morning person this will improve the quality of your day drastically. Setting you in a good mood to face the days challenges and adversities. Get Up Early!This may sound more like a way to ruin your day by putting you in an awful mood, but bear with me on this.

To be able to accomplish this and still avoid losing any any precious sleep. You can go to bed just a half hour earlier since to start with you only need to get up a half hour earlier than you usually do. To aid this purpose you should definitely use an alarm clock with persistent beeping.

You may be wondering by now just what it is that you’re supposed to do in this extra half hour when you would normally be dozing peacefully in bed. For different people the answer can vary slightly. To start with you need to fully awaken yourself and get rid of early morning sluggishness. To suit this purpose you can take a cold or slightly cool shower. Or you might try doing stretches combined with deep breathing. Use whatever works for you. You might skip the shower if just splashing cold water on your face is sufficient to wake you.

After you’re completely alert step outside of your house, apartment, etc… And if it’s early enough and you have a clear view, watch the sunrise. This simple but immensely satisfying act will lift your spirits.
If you’re unable to do this, take a brisk walk, jog or run depending upon what you prefer and what you’re physically capable of. When you’ve been out for 20 minutes you can head inside and commence with whatever morning ritual you normally have.

2. Now this is extremely important but deceitfully obvious. Eat Breakfast. To start your day out on the right foot this is practically a necessity. You need the energy this will provide you with to accomplish your daily tasks. If you are overly pressed for time you might try cereal and milk or a few granola bars, even a few pieces of fresh fruit would do. Any of these are better alternatives than skipping breakfast. This is also a good suggestion for those watching their weight, because if you skip breakfast you’re more likely to binge later in the day.

3. When you go places, even if you find it a bit difficult at first, smile more at other people. Just curve your lips up a bit as you make eye contact with another human being. It’s really that simple. This will not only lift your spirits as you see a good many people smile back, but it will lift other people’s as well. Even some of the ones who are too shy to smile back.

4. Don’t procrastinate! The more you put something off and something else off, the more all your undesirable chores pile up until they’re an insurmountable task that would make a paid cleaning crew shudder. In fact take these chores and work them into your schedule so you will do them.

5. If you don’t already keep either a schedule or make yourself a to-do list each night, this is your cue to start. A to-do list helps you with get things done because it gives you a urgency “must do this today attitude. It will also help you remember things that you might have otherwise forgotten. You can put things on them that you’re afraid of forgetting, or want to make sure you make time for.

6. This is by far the most important tip I could give you. Forgive and Forget. Either imagined or real slights should always be forgiven, and to forget them is to not dwell on them and not remember the angry feelings if you ever look back on that moment. Let me just tell you this: Holding a grudge will not hurt the begrudged as much as it will hurt you and your personality. As well as your existing relationships. If there are any ancient or recent rifts or fights between you and a relative, friend, or spouse that are hurting your relationship or have ended it entirely, make amends.

This life is the only one you get, we’ll never know when it’ll be our or the begrudged person’s time to die, and by then it will be too late. So pick up the phone or walk up to that person and apologize, even if it wasn’t your fault. This may be the last chance you’ll get to make amends. You will be surprise at the feeling you’ll get after fixing things up between you. As if a burden has been lifted off your shoulders. This is definitely a step to improve your life.

7. Do something kind for someone else. Today! Not just on a birthday or anniversary, but spontaneously. Buy a rose or other flower for a friend and tell them it’s just ‘because’. Because they mean a lot to you, and because you care for them. Tell your family and friends that you love them. Offer to help a friend with a chore. Help teach a young niece/nephew, son/daughter, brother/sister, etc…. how to read or do some other “grownup” thing. Babysit for someone you know so they can have a night out.

The list of things you can do is endless, and I’m sure you can procure some ideas of your own on the subject. Now for your convenience I’ve summed all seven steps:

1. Get up early and jog or watch sunrise
2. Eat breakfast
3. Smile at strangers when you make eye contact
4. Don’t procrastinate
5. Keep a schedule or To-Do list
6. Forgive others and Forgive past wrongs
7. Do something for someone else
Remember it’s all up to you whether you take these steps to improve your life, but improve it they will.

bio = For more Self Growth information visit: http://snipurl.com/8fu1
I’m a first time ariticle writer, but I’ve been writing various things for over 7 years.
Contact me at: sweetstuff245@hotmail.com

Popularity: 2% [?]

By Jeffrey Rolo
copyright 2004 AlphaHorse

In the dating world many men and women put their potential partners to a “dog test,” whereby they introduce their date to their dog and see how the dog reacts to the stranger. If the dog reacts badly towards their date then a red flag is waved, whereas if the dog accepts the stranger instantly the opposite holds true. While many people look upon this test in a tongue-in-cheek manner, many dog owners actually do take it seriously. As they probably should!

Many animals, including horses, possess an uncanny ability to detect emotion as well as the inner nature of an individual. Whereas you may be able to slap a forced smile on your face and hide powerful negative emotions such as stress or anger from fellow humans, you won’t find it as easy to fool a horse! In fact I consider horses to be natural truth detectors due to their ability to read a person’s emotional state as well as their sincerity when it comes to a love for equines.

If one of my naturally friendly horses takes an instant dislike to someone out of the blue, 9 times out of 10 I’m going to respect my equine partner’s instincts. Horses generally do not possess vendettas or have reason to target anyone for no real reason – they tend to call them as they see them. If a horse usually takes a liking to visitors but holds a sudden aversion to one in particular, clearly the horse sees or detects something that I may not have initially caught.

When a horse enjoys your company, you’ll know it. When a horse trusts you, you’ll know it. And when a horse actually dislikes you, he will make sure you know it. I often state that the world would be a much better place if people were as brutally honest as horses. But I digress.

A proficient horseman at work should be cool, calm and collected, three essential qualities to maximize the productivity of a training session as well as create an all-around positive aura over human-horse interactions. Keep in mind that you are the horse’s leader, and as such the horse will take his cues from you. If you are agitated the horse will recognize something is wrong and either feel you are angry with him or you are annoyed with something else he cannot detect but probably should be also be concerned about. The horse will not be able to focus on the lesson or your requests well at all, nor will he be able to draw strength from you when he becomes concerned about a foreign object or behavioral request.

It is essential that you try not to visit or work with your horse when you are in a negative frame of mind since these undesirable emotions will disturb your equine partner. Try to take a few minutes, or even hours if necessary, to collect your emotions and clear your mind of life’s daily irritants.

When we see a loved one is feeling down, it often puts a damper on our day too since negativity tends to breed negativity. The same will happen with your horse, so do not underestimate your horse’s ability to detect your feelings.

Visit http://www.alphahorse.com/horse-training.html to view other articles pertaining to horse training.
bio = Jeffrey Rolo, owner of AlphaHorse and an experienced horse trainer and breeder, is the author of the above article. You will find many other informational articles dealing with horse training and care as well as games and other horse fun on his website: http://www.alphahorse.com

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