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Copyright 2006 Karin Manning

The thought of camping alone can be very intimidating, especially if you’re a woman. Ideally, it is not something recommended to women new to camping. In this day and age women must be armed with both commonsense and experience when camping but in most places campers are a friendly neighbourly bunch of people who are out to become one with nature, just like you.

There are, however, some basic steps that you can follow to ensure your camping trip alone is a safe and happy time.

Many campgrounds have hosts who reside in campgrounds. If you camp near a host you will have access to a person with radio contact with park personnel.

If you camp in a location where there are no camp hosts then camp near a large family.

Let the ranger know that you are alone but don’t broadcast it to everyone else around you.

Visit camping forums and see if there are other women in your area that love camping who may want to camp nearby to you.

If you experience any problem remember that the National Park Service and State Park campgrounds are usually very well-patrolled and in most cases will take action if called upon.

Instead of going up to other campers and saying, “Hi, I’m Kerry and I’m here by myself” ask questions like “How can I contact you if I experience a problem” or “is this campground regularly patrolled?”

Don’t advertise you are by yourself by finding campsites away from walking trails.

Make sure you have your cell phone with you at all times and it is fully charged.

As soon as you get to the campground ask for the phone number of whoever is on call after hours. Save that number immediately into your cell phone so that all you need to do is push a button rather than search for a piece of paper.

If you’ve got a dog bring it camping with you as a little extra security.

Avoid camping in isolated areas.

Avoid walking alone at night.

Make sure your vehicle is not parked in by another vehicle in case of an emergency.

There are also a number of security measures that you can put in place before leaving for your camping trip alone. This involves telling your friends and family important information. Here are some ideas below:

Tell others of your specific plans.

Tell others the places exactly where you are going.

Tell others what day and what time you expect to return.

Tell others the directions you plan to follow and possible alternative routes.

Tell others your mobile phone number.

Tell others of your vehicle description.

Tell others of your licence plate numbers.

Tell others the local authority phone numbers (Sheriff Department, Police, Game & Fish Commission) for the country or area that you will be in.

Arrange to contact members of your family at a certain timeframe on a certain day to keep them posted of your whereabouts and your safety during your camping trip if you are enjoying an extended time away.

Always use a good, reliable map.

Ask local people and travellers for directions and weather and road conditions.

If you become lost stay with your vehicle and wait for another to pass by.

If you are heading off on a remote track make sure someone knows where you are going and what time you should be there or travel with another vehicle.

Calculate how long you should reasonably take to get to your destination each day.

For some added peace of mind, http://www.nav4all.com has created a fantastic navigation system that you download to your cellphone which is free of charge. It is very user friendly and extremely handy for all outdoor activities, particularly camping alone. I’d highly recommend you download this free navigitional tool.

By just following a few of these simple suggestions you’ll be able to overcome your fear of camping alone and feel a real sense of achievement too, all the while enjoying all the beauty that nature and camping has to offer.

The Sonoma Diet is a weight loss plan that promotes the healthy and flavorful eating style of the Mediterranean and Sonoma Valley. Flavorful foods are an important part of the plan and they help you stick to the plan, loose weight and choose a healthier new lifestyle.

The core of the Sonoma Diet is the power foods which are incorporated into many meals and recipes in the book. They are almonds, bell peppers, blueberries, broccoli, grapes, olive oil, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes and whole grains. They are all not only delicious but are in the right portions, essential to good health and weight loss. Whole grains and breads are allowed on the diet from day one. But some foods with saturated fat, added sugar and refined white flour are not allowed on the program.

Connie Guttersen, PhD, RD, is the author of The Sonoma Diet: Trimmer Waist, Better Health in Just 10 Days! Guttersen offers a creative approach to encourage people to change their eating behaviors. Her emphasis is food enjoyment, portion control, food label reading and eliminating trans-fats. She identifies the diet as neither low- fat nor low- carbohydrate. She indicates it has the right balance of nutrients to ensure health, weight loss and satisfaction.

The Sonoma Diet has three waves to Weight loss. Wave 1 is a 10-day period in which dieters can eat certain vegetables, lean meats, seafood, limited dairy, some grains, thee daily servings of olive or canola oil, a small amount of nuts, black coffee, tea, and an unlimited amount of herbs and spices. This wave is the most extreme and its purpose is to wean the body from sugar. This wave will produce rapid weight loss depending on the person and the amount of weight they need to loose.

Wave 2 allows the same foods as Wave 1, but adds more fruits, more vegetables, fat-free yogurt, some sugar free sweets, some dark chocolate, honey and some wine. In this wave weight loss is more gradual and approximately ½-1.5 pounds a week. Dieters stay in this wave until they reach their target weight.

The final stage-wave 3- promotes the same principles of healthy eating as the prior waves but recommends increasing servings of fruits and vegetables and indulging in occasional treats. It also recommends more experimentation with different foods and different ways of enjoying meals.

© Copyright Diet-Newsroom.com, All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2006 Marketing Maven

Networking is, without a doubt, one of the best and most cost-effective ways to build long-term relationships with prospects and referrers. With remarkable networking, you also build a super powerful sales force that will work tirelessly for you to spread the word about your business and services. Their referrals hold more weight than you might know.

Remember, EVERYONE you speak with is a potential client, referrer, center of influence, or joint project partner. Once you start viewing each person you meet as one of these assets, it becomes easier and easier to talk. Don’t be shy – speak from your heart about what you do. It’s what you believe in, so speak with passion. Get out there and TOOT your horn! Why keep yourself a secret?

Here are several things you can do to stay in front of your prospects:

1. Go to Targeted Events: Join associations and groups where you can rub elbows with your prospects in large numbers. Attend these regularly. Plug meeting times into your calendar for the entire year. You have to show up to networking groups consistently and persistently to build relationships. Keep in mind that you are building relationships with clients for the long haul. People are mulling it over. Just keep reminding them how remarkable you are, and eventually they will do business with you or refer an associate.

2. Get Business Cards: A lot of people think their objective is to pass out business cards like mad. So, they run around an event, throwing their cards in front of people and sprinting onward to the next table. A much more effective – and enjoyable – approach to networking is to ask other people for their cards. Business cards are connections to people, and networking is about building relationships. If you end up with 5 cards from people you really connected with, you are better off than handing your card to 20 people who probably threw it away anyway.

3. Make an Impact: When you are asked, “So, what do you do?” make an impact. Develop a unique marketing message that explains the solutions you offer to your target audience. Remember, this person may be a potential client or might refer your next DREAM client.

4. Take Notes: When you return to your table or during the next break, write a note on the back of the business cards you just collected to cue you about the conversation. This will help you remember more about the person later.

5. Follow Up: Make sure to send people you met a friendly e-mail. You can use the notes on the back of their business cards to add a personal touch to each e-mail you send. If appropriate, a phone call or a hand-written note is an even better touch. Then, continue to keep in touch in the future.

Networking events can be an amazing addition to your marketing repertoire. Make sure you are leveraging them to their FULL potential. By following the tips above, you will fill your contact database with amazing people, and you’ll be astounded by the added impact these powerful relationships will bring you. Some may be new clients, and some may be your best source of referrals.

Due to health care education, more people, who are over forty, those born in 1946 to 1964, commonly known as the baby boomers, are realizing the benefits of taking up sports or exercising in a gym.

This is well and good since exercising regularly severely cut the risks of contracting aging and obesity related potentially killer diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, some forms of cancers and many other diseases.

It is indeed heartening to know that more baby boomers are taking charge of their health through regularly exercise to improve their cardiovascular health thus becoming fitter and stronger. However, with more middle aged people exercising and playing some form of sports, instances of injuries sustained from these activities have risen substantially.

In the United States, these gym or sports injuries have become the number 2 reason for people visiting the doctor’s office just behind the common cold, reported by the National Ambulatory Medical Care in 2003.

A Consumer Product Safety Commission research in 1998 found that sports related injuries to baby boomers had risen by 33 percent since 1991 and contributed to US$18.7 billion in medical costs.

Outdoor sports such as tennis, jogging and golf are very popular with people over forties. Not to be outdone, the more body conscious over forties baby boomers are also joining gym memberships in the multitudes.

Gyms all over the developed world are happily reporting booming new memberships year after year with a large pool of their members being the over forty baby boomers brigade, male or female baby boomers irrespective.

As baby boomers get older, their susceptibility to sports injuries rise proportionately. As people age, their body degenerate along with the aging process, although exercising regularly is known to slow down this very degeneration process.

This is particularly so for the risky weekend warriors who take to the running tracks or lifting weights to build their body with gusto during the weekend putting their aging bodies and joints to sudden busts of unaccustomed stressful activities, causing damages to their own bodies unknowingly.

What are the common baby boomer’s sports injuries? How to avoid them?

• Shoulder injuries – Common for those playing squash, tennis, badminton and lifting weights in the gym using wrong form and techniques.

• Elbow injuries – People who play racket games and bodybuilders.

• Back injuries – A very common occurrence in the gym amongst baby boomer bodybuilder wannabes. Also a common injury for golfers who often have to swing their spine.

• Knee injuries – For baby boomers who participate in sports with sudden movements and changes of directions such as squash and soccer.

•Ankle injuries – Usually striking the runners and joggers of long distances.

How to avoid the risks of sports injuries for the over forties?

This is largely common sense which most people know but few do it regularly as part of their exercise routine in so doing, risking injuries which can be avoided.

• Thorough warm of the muscles and joints which will be involved in the exercise or sport.

• Stretching adequately and correctly. Many people stretch in the wrong manner which then may cause even more injuries.

• Take the exercises or sports one step at a time, then as endurance and strength build up over time, you can then increase the intensity of the sport or the exercise.

• Exercise regularly. Not just over the weekend. Your body may not be able to cope with the sudden outburst each weekend.

• Hire a sports personal trainer who can tailor an exercise program suitable to your health condition and guide you safely through the exercises.

So baby boomers, don’t become a victim of your exercises. You want to be fit and healthy, not suffering from pain and despair from what could have been an enjoyable game of healthy sporting activity. Over 40s sports injuries can be avoided.

Visualize weddings as like a jigsaw puzzle of traditions. Everyone has their own customs they bring from their family and culture. When a man and woman decide to marry, they each bring a piece of the puzzle to create a unique tradition of their own. The lighting of unity candles is one of these traditions that have become more popular within the past ten to twenty years.

When referring to unity candles, there are actually three. Two thin tapered candles stand for two individuals who will unite in marriage. There is also a large pillar candle that will be lit which signifies the joining of the two individuals. Depending on the location and preference, sometimes you will have a special candle dish or holder which will house all three unity candles. Other times you will have the large candle in the middle and the other two flanking it. Individual candle holders may be used for the unity candles as well.

The lighting of the unity candles has no religious connotations, but is representative of what a marriage is all about. There are no written rules on how the lighting of the unity candles should be performed. Therefore, you can create your own traditions and tailor this ritual to suit your wedding ceremony.

Typically, though, the unity candles are lit right after the wedding rings are exchanged but before the bride and groom are announced as husband and wife. There are also variations on who originally lights the individual unity candles. Sometimes, the individual tapered unity candles are lit before the ceremony starts and stay lit throughout the entire process. Other times, the parents of the bride and groom step forward after the ring presentation to light the candles.

The practice of the lighting of the unity candles also may have the bride and groom each lighting their own during the ritual. Then they come together and light the larger one in a symbol of unity, of two becoming one. Some debate exists about whether or not to blow out the individual tapered unity candles or leave them lit. One argument for blowing out the individual candles is that it symbolizes your forsaking the single life and committing to one another in marriage. On the flip side, leaving them lit means that while you are committed to one another in marriage, you are not forsaking your own individualism either.

Now that you have an idea about the ritual of lighting the unity candles, did you realize that are so many to choose from too? The unity candles are made in a variety of styles, shapes and sizes. Some are simple and unadorned. Others are elaborate and showy, decorated in a style suited to match your wedding décor.

These unity candles are customizable too. You can make them personal by having your wedding date printed on it along with your names. A special quote or short poem might be appropriate to convey your sentiments about marriage.

Marriage is the biggest commitment a person makes. Lighting of the unity candles as part of your wedding ceremony makes a big impact. Not only are you reciting vows before your loved ones, but you are also symbolizing your union in a very visual way.

So what do you do with the unity candles once the ceremony is over? Keep them to light for special occasions like your anniversary or the birth of a new child. You will be able to enjoy your unity candles for years to come.

Copyright 2006 Cari Vollmer

Imagine this day: You wake up in the morning, feeling well-rested and at peace because you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what you need to do to live the life you most want. You have a clear vision of what you want your life to look and feel like and a sound strategy that will get you there. In fact, not only does the future look promising; TODAY feels great. You are proud of yourself. You feel confident in your ability to create and live the life you most want, today and well into the future.

How you feel about yourself plays an important role in your ability to live your best life. With a healthy self-confidence (aka, self-image, self-esteem, self-respect) you’ll take more chances and overcome obstacles — faster. You’ll set your SELF in motion which will set the world around you in motion. You’ll get what you want and each time you do your confidence will soar and the belief you have in yourself will grow stronger. You’ll see life through the eyes of a person who not only BELIEVES they can do it – you WILL do it!

How do you BOOST your self-confidence? Here are 5 easy-to-try-out tips.

1. Speak well of yourself. In the Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz writes, “Through the word you express your creative power. It is through the word you manifest everything. … your intent manifests through your word. Depending on how it is used, the word can set you free, or it can enslave you even more than you know.”

We become what we think about most of the time. We become what we say about ourselves. If you continually tell yourself you “can’t do something”, or that you “don’t have what it takes”, you’re sure to create that reality for yourself, because that is how you see yourself. On the other hand, if you repeatedly say and think to yourself something like, “I am capable of creating a life I love”, soon you will begin creating a life you love.

Speak well of yourself and you’ll begin believing you do have what it takes to create and live the life you most want.

2. Surround yourself with self-confident people and positive environments. Sounds a bit obvious, but if you have friends that lack confidence, you probably do too. That’s because your environment, what and who you surround yourself with, plays a big role in how you see and treat yourself.

Negative environments are hard to break free from but break free is what you must do. If you’re surrounded by people who criticize others (and you) and speak poorly of themselves – get out! Remove yourself from their company. In fact, no company is better than toxic company. Seek out friends who are confident and you’ll feel your confidence increasing.

3. Take action on what you say you’re going to take action on or don’t say it! Don’t say you’re going to do something unless you really intend to do it. We’ve all experienced the “big talker” – the person who talks about their big plans but never does anything to make them happen. The “big talker” loses face because no one believes they’ll do what they say they’re going to do.

Don’t lose face with yourself. ONLY talk about things you intend to take action on or don’t talk about them. Walk your talk. Keep your promises. Be impeccable with your words and you’ll become a person of integrity. Integrity breeds confidence.

4. Accept fear and obstacles as a natural part of life – and growth. Don’t beat yourself up when you find yourself gripped by fear and other emotions. Don’t judge yourself for having these feelings. And don’t feel like you’re inadequate or don’t have what it takes. From time to time, everyone feels afraid, confused and out of sorts. Be aware when these feelings are present but don’t let them stop you. Keep moving forward by telling yourself you’re much more than the obstacles you face and failures you experience.

5. Take time out to focus on all that you have done well. Once a month, take a few moments to write down all that you have done well – it’s probably more than you think. Acknowledge the work you do, your strengths and accomplishments on a regular basis. In doing so, you’ll begin seeing yourself as a person who does things right and gets things done. You’ll begin seeing and appreciating all the good you do.

Practice just one of these tips and you’ll start feeling better about yourself. Practice more than one on a consistent basis and your life will change – guaranteed!

You deserve to live a life you feel great about. Don’t settle for less because you lack the confidence to go after what you want. BOOST your confidence and you’ll wake up each morning feeling like anything’s possible!

“To have that sense of one’s intrinsic worth which constitutes self-respect is potentially to have everything…” JOAN DIDION

Edge crush is something that millions of people have been afflicted with. This is a serious condition of the wood floors that can lead to total disaster. If you are unlucky enough to be plagued with this terrible problem you could find yourself facing the cost of getting a whole new floor put in. So how can you avoid edge crush and compression set? It is easy, get a professional in to put your wood floor down for you. Just kidding, you can still lay your own floor but you do need to be very careful

The key to laying wood floorboards down right is to make sure that the floor is completely and totally dry. If there is any moisture at all on the sub floor it will get absorbed by the wood planks and when this happens the planks will grow. The problem comes in because of the fact that when you put the floor together it needs to be tight. SO how can the boards expand if there is no room? Where will they go? Nowhere, that is where, instead they will buckle and crack and this is what is called edge crush.

In some cases the floorboards will go back into their normal shape when they dry but more often than not this kind of situation does not have such a happy ending. You will usually have to replace most of your wooden floorboards.

There are other places for the wood to get damp however. For example if the wood was shipped to your home it could have gotten wet. If the wood has been left outside it will most certainly have absorbed some wet as well. If you have a freshly poured concrete slab in the basement this can be enough to make the wood plenty damp. When you receive the wood that is to be used in you home it is essential that you let it dry for at least a week, many experts will tell you to dry it for much longer. This is to help you to avoid things like edge crush and shrinkage.

Shrinking is just as common as swelling and just as deadly. If your floorboards shrink they can leave the floorboards loose and ugly. That is why you need to make sure that your hardwood floor is insulated correctly. This is especially important if the furnace is right under it. With the furnace so close the floorboards are bound to get extra dry. This will eventually leave the room with no wood at the edge.

When planning a trip to Walt Disney World the first thing you must consider is what time of year you wish to visit. Walt Disney World is a very poplar vacation destination, so now matter when you go, you can expect it to be quite crowded. The difference in visiting during a non-peak, less crowded time versus a peak time, like July 4 can be the difference of a fun family vacation and a stressful, frustrating one.

Walt Disney World is visited by millions of people each year, with the highest crowds descending on the parks during the summer months, holiday weeks (Christmas, Easter, July 4) and spring break vacations. It is not suggested that you visit during these times, unless you have no choice in the matter. If you must attend at these times, you should plan your park touring well in advance and be willing to modify your park visits to include a reasonable amount of must see attractions. This will prevent you from being disappointed if you are unable to see everything the parks have to offer.

Another consideration when planning a trip to Walt Disney World is the weather. During the summer months, the temperatures and humidity in Orlando can reach very uncomfortable highs that make touring the parks all day quite difficult. During the months of September and October you will be in hurricane season, which brings heavy rains – also not great for touring the Disney parks. Ideal months for the best Orlando weather would be April through June and November and December.

The best times to visit Walt Disney World would be the non-peak times of the year; early January until Easter – expect during Spring Break, late August until first weeks of December – except week of Halloween and week of Thanksgiving.

Planning to visit during a non peak, less crowded time will allow you to visit the parks at a relaxed pace, with less stress. A good way to prepare for your days at Walt Disney World is to become familiar with the parks, their layouts and policies. Review the attractions at the parks to see what your family would like to visit.

Choosing a time to visit Walt Disney World is one of the most important steps in your vacation – it can help you on your way to your best vacation ever!

© Copyright MouseAdvisor.com, All Rights Reserved.

Why do I have sciatica?

Is there successful treatments available?

Most work-related sciatica injuries are caused or aggravated by actions such as heavy lifting, vibration, repetitive motion, and awkward posture.

Sciatica usually is derived from a traumatic event, muscle disproportion, or a combination of both.

Sciatica soreness is caused by force on the sciatic nerve, normally caused by a tightening and shortening of the piriformis muscle. This is more often than not produced by a disproportion between the inner and outer hip rotator muscles.

The ordinary low back troubles and other spinal situations that can cause sciatica – pain along the sciatic nerve – include:

1). Lumbar Herniated Disc. A herniated disc happens when the inner core of the disc breaks through the fibrous outer core of the disc and the bulge places force on the nearby nerve root as it exits the spine. In general, it is said that a sudden twisting movement or injury can lead to herniation and sciatica. But, most discs get worse due to recurring stress and then herniation. A herniated disc is usually referred to as a slipped, ruptured, bulging, or protruding disc…or a pinched nerve.

2). Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. This usually causes sciatica due to a tightening of the spinal canal. It typically results from a grouping of one or more of the following: enlarged facet joints, overgrowth of soft tissue and a bulging disc placing force on the nerve roots as they exit the spine.

3). Isthmic Spondylolisthesis. This condition rarely causes back pain or sciatica pain. Caused by a combination of disc space collapse, the fracture, and the vertebral body slipping ahead, the L5 nerve can get pinched as it exits the spine.

4). Piriformis Syndrome. The sciatic nerve can also get aggravated as it runs under the piriformis muscle in the rear. If the piriformis muscle irritates or pinches a root that includes the sciatic nerve, it can cause sciatica-type pain. The most familiar source of sciatic pain and is made when pressure is placed on the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle.

5). Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction. Irritation of the sacroiliac joint at the bottom of the spine can also aggravate the L5 nerve, which lies on top of it, and cause sciatica-type pain. This is radiculopathy, but the pain can feel the same as sciatica caused by a nerve irritation.

If you do not know which one is the culprit, I would start with the fundamentals. Sciatic nerve pain are usually caused by muscle disproportions you have, you should start to see progress right away…and your sciatic pain should subside in a few weeks or less. Sometimes even the next day or two!

There are many different methods of treatment for your sciatica pain…but…unfortunately, most of them don’t work.

Many of the specialists just want to schedule another “appointment” for a later time. This is done for a reason.

You can also get prescription drugs that you get from your doctor. This is also a repeatable action. This is also done for a reason.

You might even be in such pain, that you consider very expensive back surgery.

Whatever the treatment, you should consider all of your options at hand.

Sincerely,
Samick N. Jack

Avocado is also known as Alligator Pear originated in southern Mexico. It has become a useful ingredient for our daily skin care routine. It is rich in fat as well as protein. These fats are monounsaturated which is good for a healthy heart. The provision of vitamin E in avocado helps the heart to remain fit. It is also known to supply 60% more potassium in comparison to banana.

It is also rich in fiber, foliate (folic acid), vitamin B6, iron, copper and magnesium. Other than applying avocado on your skin, consuming it in salad form can also be beneficial for your skin. Avocado contains vitamins like A, D, and E which has penetrating qualities to improve your skin. Avocado oil is also very useful for skin care. The oil is useful to remove any sun damage or age spots. It also softens the skin and provides a moisturizing effect and can do wonders on damaged, undernourished and dehydrated skin.

Simple Recipes for Skin Care

Puffed Eyes
Cut avocado into slices and place it under each eye and relax with it for next 20 minutes. The changes would be remarkable.

Eye Cream
Make an eye cream by mixing 5 drops of almond oil in 3 ripe slices of avocado. Blend this mixture and dab it around your eyes. Keep it for five minutes then rinse.

Another method of making the eye cream is by using 1/4 cup avocado oil with 1/4 cup aloe vera gel. You could also use apricot kernel, grape seed or sesame oil.

Facial Mask
This facial mask is useful for dry skin. Mash half avocado and apply it leisurely on your face. Keep it for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with warm water.

Make a paste of ½ ripe avocado mixed with 1 tsp vegetable oil. Apply this paste on a washed and clean face. Leave it for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse it with warm water. This masque is very good for dry skin.

Smooth and Beautiful Hands
Make a paste by mixing 1/4 peeled & smashed avocado, 1 egg white, 2 tbsp. oatmeal and 1 tsp lemon juice. Apply this paste on your hand and leave it for 20 minutes. Rinse it with warm water and pat it dry. You would be thrilled by the results by using it regularly.

Facial Scrub
You would need 2 tbsp. flax seeds, 1/2 mashed banana and 1/2 avocado peel. Use a small bowl to mix flax seeds and banana. Scoop the banana and flax seed by using avocado peel. Massage this scoop on your face in circular motion, slowly and gently. Rinse it with warm water.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following instructions on the recipes from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.