Sunny kids

Over at this website http://adventuresinbabywearing.blogspot.com/2007/04/get-real-bloggers-without-makeup.html She is having a blogger without makeup contest so this is my picture. If you want to enter copy this code above and enter with your photo.

Here are a couple of scrapbook pages I did in the last couple of days. I took two more pictures but the camera only downloaded these two photos i took. Tell me what you think. If you have any ideas on how I can improve these photos, please tell me

I was over at Amber's blog and she was doing something fun. What you do is you google your name, followed by "needs" and then you list 10 things that come up. Here is my list:

1) Summer needs list

2) Summer needs a theme song
Summer Fun, A personal theme song, that is: you know, a tune that you play so often.

3) Summer needs more three day weekends Please
I would love to have more 3 day weekends to myself. I only have a few hours to myself on the weekends.
4) Summer needs at Children & Family Urban Ministries

5) Summer needs to go bye-bye

6) Summer needs excellent drainage

7) Summer needs TLC
I think everyone needs some TLC every once in awhile.
8) Summer needs Assessment

9) Summer needs to get here already

10)Summer needs to be loose fitting.

Try it out.It's fun. If you do this, tell me your results

Look at this dog. It's is bigger than Candace. Is there any dog bigger than this one? I was blogging, looking at another's person when I saw this dog. It's humegous. To tell you the truth, I have never see a dog as big this one. While no height or weight is specified for this breed, the approximate height is 27 inches to 32 inches (70 to 80 cm) and weight is 80 kg to 120 kg (175 to 200 lb)According to the AKC they are the heaviest dog breed in the world.

Today I went shopping with Candace. I bought Candace some new shoes. I also bought some pj's bottoms for myself, a poster for Jasmine(I hope she likes it). I also bought the memory kit since I haven't scrapbooked any of my kids yet, I am excited to get started.

While at Wal-Mart, i saw Mario's cousin. Mitya( I think that's how you spell her name). She has a 2 and a half month old named Charla. She is so cute. I don't have any pictures of her yet. I am hoping that Mitya with send me some via e-mail. I got to hold Charla today. She is such a little cutie. Candace says to me "Can I hold her?" I had to say no, but I said that when we go over there you can hold her then. I am thinking about talking Mario into going over there this weekend so I can get some pictures, if not I think I will take the city bus to see her since she lives on the bus route. Well, that is what I did today.

All I have to say is Horray!!! Horray!!!! Vancouver Canucks have knocked Dallas out of the playoffs tonight. We won 4-1. Two goals were scored on a empty net. GO CANUCKS GO CANUCKS GO!!!!

If you read my blog and don't leave a comment. Please do. I wrote about this before and I only got a handful of people who leave a comment. SO don't be shy. Please leave me a comment. Thanks

Three Choices
Depending on your skin type, here are some great masks to try. For oily skin use some plain Milk of Magnesia, rub it on and let dry, then rinse with lukewarm water. It absorbs oil wonderfully!

For Normal/combination skin mix one egg and 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal and a teaspoon olive oil until smooth. Spread on your face and leave 15 min then rinse.

For dry skin, mix one egg yolk, one teaspoon honey and a teaspoon olive oil and some vitamin E oil if you have it. Smooth on and leave on for 15 min. , rinse in lukewarm water and pat dry. If your skin is a bit dry you can put a dab or two of either olive oil, or any other light oil, or plain crisco if you want something heavier, on your moist skin after washing or a mask and your face is set without the $$ some people spend for the same look.


Homemade Facial Scrub Instead of Soap
This is for the lady who wanted a homemade facial mask. First, clean your face with water only. Never use soap. You can open your pores with hot compresses (washcloth) For a facial scrub, moisten oatmeal to a "goo", use it to scrub your face (not around your eyes). Wash off with cool water.You may also make a paste of the oatmeal and allow it to dry..remove with cool water.You may also beat an egg white, put it on your face and let it dry, rinse with cool water. Sliced fresh cucumber placed on your closed eyes will reduce bagginess and dark circles.To make your hair shine, rub in some regular mayonnaise,shampoo out after 15 minutes.


Honey for Best Facial
The best facial mask that i have found is honey. Use warm cloth to open pores, smear on honey, leave on 15 to 30 minutes, rinse off with warm water, and then use cold water to close pores. Use for 3 days in a row and then once a week. Sometimes I mix a little gound oatmeal with the honey, which makes a great mask.

Facial Feels Good
One my daughter and I had fun with and found to have a cleansing and softening effect was to mix regular clean kitty litter, the clay kind, with water and strain out the grit. It really felt good.

Exfoliating Mask
For an easy exfoliating mask, mix three tablespoons olive oil or any good oil and one tablespoon kosher salt mix and gently rub into dry skin. Do not use around eye area. This works great on elbows and feet, but it can also be used on cheeks and forehead


Egg Whites
I use egg whites. Just beat one egg white until it is frothy. Spread it all over your face. Wait until it dries. Rinse it off. My face feels very clean and "tight" after this application. And then I use the yolk for cooking.( I have yet to have found a use for the shell)

Egg Yolk
The best homemade facial mask that I have used is a raw egg yolk. just apply the raw yolk to your face and neck for 30 minutes and rinse with cool water. Egg yolks are high in vitamin A. The mask is very effective in healing blemishes.

Match Mask to Your Skin Type
For trouble-prone skin, mix oatmeal with water to form a paste.

For normal to oily skin, use an egg white.

For dry skin, use an egg yolk.

In all cases, spread mixture on face and allow to dry. Rinse thoroughly with cool water.

For oily skin, witch hazel makes an inexpensive toner.

For dry skin, you may want to add moisturizer while skin is still damp.


Oatmeal
The cheapest and best facial mask I have ever come up with is oatmeal processed to a powder in the blender and either skim milk or if you are trying to fade spots lemon juice. Really works well for me and I have dry skin.


More Facial Maks Choices
The kind of the mask you want to use depends on your skin type.

For dry skin, try:

an egg yolk mixed with olive oil and warmed honey


sour cream


plain olive oil


avocado


For oily skin:

dissolve a teaspoon of baking yeast in a small amount of warm milk, wait until foamy, then apply (best done in the bath tub);


puree flesh of a tomato and mix with some potato flour to make a paste;


cucumber (it will whiten your skin);


beaten egg whites with a few drops of lemon juice (great for getting rid of blackheads);


carrots (but don't use this one more than about every other week because it can overdry your skin). This one will make you look tanned.


General refreshing masks:

grapes (just cut a berry in half and rub lightly)


strawberries (test behind your ear first, because many people are alergic to strawberies used this way even thougth they can eat them just fine)

As with any pet, keeping a hamster requires a commitment to care for it during its life which could be 2-3 years or longer. The commitment required includes not only routine feeding, care and time spent with the hamster but also the provision of veterinary treatment if the hamster becomes ill which can be costly. Although proper care will go a long way to ensuring that any hamster remains happy and healthy there may still be times when prompt veterinary treatment is needed and once a hamster is ill it can deteriorate quickly.

Picking a Healthy Hamster

Avoid hamsters that are quiet or lethargic; hamsters should should be alert, curious, and active. Being nocturnal, this can be a bit hard to test during the day, but even during the day a hamster should respond (be careful, the first instinct of a hamster might be to nip if woken from a deep sleep). Picking your hamster out in the evening might be a good idea. The coat should be smooth and the eyes and nose free of discharge (wet or crusty). The hamster's breathing should not be labored or noisy, and the coat should be clean, dry, and free of droppings. If you observe a hamster in the cage with diarrhea or respiratory problems, be very cautious since all the hamsters in that cage may have been exposed to an infectious disease.

Feeding your Hamster


Hamsters are omnivorous, which means they eat both vegetables and meat. Their natural foods include grains, seeds, vegetables, and insects, and they will like corn, oats, or wheat mixed with dry dog food. Premixed hamster food from a pet store has complete nutrition, but some hamsters won't eat it.

Their favourite foods are foods native to their dry habitat, like seeds. For protein and variety, they will eat some small insects.

They like vegetables, but be moderate in how much you feed them. The key word for the hamster diet is *variety*. It keeps them healthy.

Don't feed your hamster chocolates and other sweet things.

Either feed the hamster at the same time each day or leave a constant food supply. Hamsters will not overeat but will often store food in their cheek pouches and put it in a hiding place to eat later. Remove food that is no longer fresh each day, and clean out the "hidden" food once a week. Put food in heavy ceramic or plastic food dishes (so they won't tip over) and clean them weekly.

Hamsters need to have fresh water constantly available. The best sort of container is a drip bottle, which can be attached to the side of the cage. A bottle with a wide neck and metal top will be easy to clean every other day. The hamster will quickly learn how to sip from it.

Taming and Handling Your Pet Hamster

Hamsters have a bit of a reputation for biting, but biting is mainly a result of stress or fright. Consistently calm and gentle handling, along with a little bribery (offer them a favorite food while handling) will generally overcome any timidness or nipping tendencies. Also, a hamster that is under stress due to an improper environment, being disturbed too often or during the day, excess noise, etc. may be more prone to nipping. Work on taming and handling only after the hamster has emerged from his or her nest on his own - waking up a hamster is a fairly sure way to make him/her grumpy!

Taming

Taming requires time and patience. At first, allow you hamster time to become accustomed to his new environment. Once the hamster seems calm, start spending more time around his/her cage and quietly talk to the hamster to get it used to your voice.

As the hamster becomes comfortable with your presence, start offering some favorite tidbits (perhaps sunflower seeds, or bits of raisin or other dried fruits) by hand, and once the hamster is happy taking treats from your fingers you can try to pick up your hamster. Let the hamster walk on your hand, then start trying to gently scoop the hamster into your hands. The time for this progression varies, especially depending on the age of the hamster. Your hamster may quickly accept being picked up, or it may take a month or more.

How to Pick Up a Hamster
The best way to pick up a hamster is cupped in the palm of your hand with the other hand over its back to prevent it jumping off your hand (and possibly getting injured). Especially at first, it is best to hold your hamster just above your lap or some other soft surface in case it falls or jumps. Let the hamster crawl from hand to hand and it should gradually become more comfortable with handling.

Picking Up a Hamster That Isn't Tame
If you need to pick up an hamster that isn't yet tame place a can or cup on its side in front of the hamster, and gently herd the hamster into the cup , which can be used to carry the hamster. Out of curiosity many hamsters will walk right into the cup. If necessary, gloves can be worn to protect the hands if you must pick up a hamster that bites, but extra care must be taken not to be too rough or your hamster is just likely to be stressed by the experience and resist handling even more.

Hamster Proofing
If you are going to allow your hamster time outside the cage, hamster proof the room. First, make sure there is nothing your hamster can get into that you won't be able to get him out of - such as the underside of the couch, or very narrow space between furniture. The hamster should be confined to a fairly small space with no opportunity to escape, or you may have a very hard time finding and capturing him or her. Make sure all electrical cords are out of reach, and that there is nothing else that could harm the hamster including poisonous plants. At the same time, make sure anything you do not want chewed is also out of reach.

The Great Escape
Occasionally, a hamster will escape. For hints on finding escapees see How to Find an Escaped Pet." Another method is to set a "trap" - get a fairly deep bucket, put lots of bedding in the bottom and then put in some favorite treats or food. Then, make a ramp to the bucket's edge with a piece of wood, which will allow the hamster to climb up and likely fall into the bucket, but the hamster is unable to climb up the smooth sides of the bucket to get back out. The layer of bedding in the bucket has to be generous to allow a soft landing, though. Remember, it is a good idea to make sure the cage is readily accessible and kept stocked with food and water while the hamster is out - the hamster can visit the cage to stay nourished that way (and if he/she does so it will likely be at night, so keep an eye on the cage then).

Nothing really to blog about today. I went to town, did some errands and that's about it.

P.S. Can anyone if me a topic to talk about.

GO CANUCKS GO!!!!
GO CANUCKS GO!!!!!

Silence can say more than a thousand words.

On April 30, 2007 the blogsphere will hold a One Day Blog Silence in honor of the victims at Virginia Tech. 33 Died and many more were injured. This day shall unite us all about this unbelievable painful & shocking event that has affected people from all over the world. Lets show some respect and love to those who lost their loved ones.
~

All you have to do is spread the word about it. No words and no comments, just respect, reflect and empathy.

~
"Please spread the word about this event"

1. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and can
you
describe your life there? To be honest, I would want to be a famous actress, have lots of money and live in a great big mansion. This is what I usually dream about. I hope this doesn't make me sound bad.

2. If you could trade lives with any one blogger who would it be? And
Why? I think I would want to trade lives with Jessica. The reason is because I have always wanted to have a big family.

3. Do you apply makeup everyday? No

4. What is the last thing you do before you go to bed at night? After I put the kids to bed, I usually check my e-mail and the blogs one last time.

5. What do you do when nobody's looking? I put my nose in my shirt to make sure I don't stink. That is all I could come with. Kinda embassing but I do that when I am in public and I usually make sure nobody is looking.

Vancouver won last night. YIPEE!!! Vancouver leds the series 3-1. GO CANUCKS GO !!!
GO CANUCKS GO !!!

P.S. "Lisa", if you read my blog again. I think you should come out and tell me what your blog address is so I can figure out who you are. I know you are not my cousin because I talked to Lisa the other day. And another thing, I don't go around asking if the person is married or not. I want you to tell me "Why, you are so curious as to whether or not I am married. I don't think it really matters if you have children and are not married.

P.S.S. Anybody know who this Lisa person is? If you do please tell me?

71.

And if you can’t run, try walking. 15 minutes of brisk walking a day is enough to keep most fit.



72.

Any distance is walkable if you have the time, so consider walking to places that you would normally drive (such as work or the market if they’re not too far away). It may take you longer, but the health benefits will last you a lifetime.



73.

It sounds strange, but some people have reported that they lost more weight when they drank black coffee before a workout. While there’s no hard data to support this, nutritionists speculate that the caffeine in coffee makes the body rely more on fat for fuel during the work out. It’s worth trying!



74.

Here’s a corollary to the tip above: Avoid drinking coffee in excess, as it tends to desensitize your body to the fat burning effects of caffeine.



75.

Stop using remote controls. Remote controls are the bane of a prospective weight loser. They may be remarkable gadgets by themselves but from the weight loss point of view, they just aren’t very helpful.

They really encourage us to take a laid back kind of attitude towards life itself. In fact if remote controls were not there, the television would not have become so popular. It is because of remote controls that people can remain where they are and switch from one channel to the other. And they only have to twitch a finger muscle to achieve this.

Now, I have nothing against multi channel television sets but what I strongly advocate is that you get up from where you are and change the channel of the TV each time you want to do so.

The same thing holds true for other remote controls as well. As it is we have remote controlled TVs, DVD players, A/Cs, garage doors, gateways and what not. The next thing we know is that we will have remote controlled people as well.



76.

Do things like fetching, turning things off and on by yourself. Often when we come back tired from work, we tend to get others to do simple chores for us. These things are no big deal. They are things that we can very well do for our selves but we don’t.

That is why we often ask our kids to fetch us this or take away that.

Training your pet is a wonderful thing indeed. It is quite remarkable how some people get their dogs to fetch them something. But the fact is that while you may be making sure that your dog is getting a lot of exercise, you are neglecting your bit of the story.



77.

Here’s a pop quiz. Escalators help us to:

1. Move up and down faster
2. Gain weight
3. Stand stupidly as they move up and down
4. Look down at other people when you are going down
5. Look up to others when we are going up

You have to pick the correct answer from the 5 alternatives given. You can see for your self that all the options are in a way correct. So the next time you travel on an escalator, don’t just stand there...climb up or down along with it. (Or better yet, take the stairs.)



78.

During commercial breaks walk about. If you want to sit all evening with your eyes glued to the tube, then do so. But at least spare your eyes the agony of a commercial break.

When the next commercial flashes on screen, instead of surfing, get up and take a walk. Reach over and try to touch your toes or do any such simple exercise that will at least get the blood flowing in your veins.



79.

Wriggle your toes and your fingers whenever you can. This too is a stress buster and it gives you a chance to at least work your hand and leg joints. This will tell you how sore they are and if their condition is so bad, just think of the rest of your body.



80.

Turn on music and dance like wild. Let your hair down once in a while. Go back to the days of wild child hood. Close the door of your room, turn on your sound system to the highest volume possible (but a little lower than the level at which your neighbors start to complain) and then do the wackiest dance that you can think of. Jump on your bed and jump off it again.

Roll all over the floor. Pretend that you are Michael Jackson or Madonna (you will never see them keeping still) and do ever boogie move that you know.

81.

Carry a soft flying disc or Frisbee with you. Toss it around and get up to fetch it. This is also an excellent way to beat stress. It makes a person feel good to throw something away forcefully when the person is all worked up. And the thing that you throw is something soft and can’t damage anything, then what is stopping you?

It is not really the throwing part that we are interested in. It is the fetching part. Each time you get up to fetch it back; you are giving yourself a chance to stretch those muscles and joints



82.

Get down at a block before your destination and walk the rest of the way. You might not have time to fit in long walks in your busy schedule so this is one way of ensuring that you at least get to walk for a little bit every day. If you take the bus or the subway, get down at an earlier station and see if you can walk the rest of the way.

If you drive to work, see if you can get space in a parking lot that is a little away from your office.



83.

When nobody is watching try doing pelvic gyrations. If you take a moment to observe it you will see that it is the mid section of our body that gets the least bit of exercise and that is probably why the signs of weight gain are mostly seen there.

It is the same reason why we find it very difficult to lose weight in that section. So the best thing that you can do is consciously try to give that part a little bit of exercise.

Stomach crunches might be too strenuous an exercise to start off with but gyrations are relatively mild. Pelvic gyrations make you thrust your midsection towards all directions and this is the best way of tightening every muscle in that mid section and that is of course what weight loss is all about.



84.

Tuck in your tummy whenever you walk. Get that proper gait. And the best way for that is to tuck in your tummy and inflate your chest. Do not let your tummy hang above your belt line like some unruly layer of flesh. Bring it under the belt.

Each time you tuck in your tummy, you will feel the pressure on the muscles of your stomach. This tightening and loosening of these muscles is even better than stomach crunches.



85.

Try breathing exercises. You might be surprised to know that breathing exercises too can lead to weight loss. If you are doing the breathing exercises properly, you will find that you can exert a lot of pressure on the muscles around the mid section.

You can feel a tightening of these muscles each time you breathe in or breathe out. So go ahead and breathe properly, it is good for you.



86.

Try yoga. Yoga is one of the best ways of losing weight. Of course I can’t go into a full lecture about yoga over here but I can tell you that I have never seen people with better-toned bodies than those who practice yoga.

One of the benefits of yoga is that you learn to control virtually every muscle and joint of your body so that the issue of weight gain will cease to exist.



87.

Try massaging your partner. This is a fun way to lose weight. It is something that can give your partner a lot of pleasure and at the same time can give you a lot of exertion there by leading to weight loss.

The attitude over here should of course be you scratch my back I will scratch yours. It should not be a one sided effort or else the interest will soon dwindle.

In fact it is a good idea if couple take up weight loss routines together. They can keep watch over each other, help control those urges to eat and motivate each other to stick to the routine.

There are a lot of things that couples can do together that can help them to keep physically active.



88.

If you can’t think of any thing else to do try punching your pillow. Now here’s another one of those weird ideas but believe me it works. Not too many of us have punching bags at home and if you have really fluffy pillow giving it a good punching routine is just as good as anything else.

This is also a nice way of letting off steam so go for it. After all something is better than nothing. But I would suggest that you do not hit it too violently or else the stuffing might come out. Do not bother too much about the force with which you hit the pillow. It is number of hits that are important. Try to get at least fifty punches in one bout.

I would like to give you a little tip over here. If there is somebody that you particularly dislike like your boss or your neighbor, or may be your ex boy friend or girl friend, try fixing a picture of the persons head on the top of your pillow and then try punching it. I promise you, it will give you a lot of satisfaction.



89.

Instead of waddling up and down the staircase, try taking them two at a time. Now this is something that you have to be careful about because we do not want you to trip. So when you do this make sure that your feet are well and truly planted on each step before you increase the beat and try two at a time.



90.

If you have a dog, take it for a run and let the dog lead you on. You will be surprised as to how much exercise a dog can give you.

Animals are sensible enough to know that they need a lot of exercise so let your animal lead you on. Take your pet dog out for as walk and before you know what hit you, it will turn out to be a run.

91.

Join a dance class. Dancing is a wonderful way to burn off those extra calories. It is true. When you dance you are in fact burning away a lot of calories. Of course we are not referring to the slow ballroom kind of dances in which one person actually leans on the other one for support. We are talking about fast dances.

The best way to do it is by joining a dance class because they will really wok you out. But I would suggest that you wait for a couple more pounds to vanish before you think of becoming a ballerina.



92.

Whenever you can, lean against a wall with your hands flattened against the wall and in such a way that your face is very close to the wall. Then use you hands to push your body away from the wall. Do this two or three times at a stretch.


93.

If there is a pool nearby go for swims as often as you can, swimming is one of the best exercises. Water has a lot of advantages. And if nothing else, a cool dip in a pool is a wonderful stress reliever.



94.

Try playing something like table tennis or basket ball. Games are a fun way to lose weight. It is much more exciting to play a game than just work out by yourself. The best thing about games is that they are addictive. Once you start playing you will soon end up with a friends’ circle and then the playing goes on without even you knowing it.

It is something that you can look forward to and there is no stress involved in this program. In fact the more you play the less you will consider this to be a part of your weight loss program. As you burn away those calories, you will also be able to expand your social circle.



95.

Any work out should start with a 5 to 10 minute warm up and should end with a 5 to ten minute cool down session. Whatever physical exercise you are involved in, you must remember to warm up before the exercise really starts. Do not just plunge into the water and start thrashing about, to put it figuratively.

Your body needs to reach a certain level of readiness before it can actually start responding to exercise. And this readiness is achieved by the warming up process.



96.

Do not carry your mobile phone around but leave it a place where you can hear it ringing. In this way you make sure that you at least get up and walk towards it. This might sound sill but I really mean it. You need a reason to keep yourself going.

Life today has become so easy that we have every thing at our fingertips. All we have to do is push a button here and push a button there. The only things that get any exercise at all are our fingers. Years ago Charles Darwin put forward a theory of use and disuse.

According to this theory, a certain part of the body that is put to constant use develops a lot and a certain part of the body that has no use at all becomes smaller and smaller and gradually ceases to exist.

Certain examples that he quoted were the long neck of the giraffe, which appeared to become longer and longer when the giraffe stretched higher and higher to reach the leaves at the treetops. He quoted the example of the absence of a tail in human beings to illustrate the example of the theory of disuse.

Now if Darwin’s theory were to prove true, as the years go by man is likely to end up with just a huge head, a few fingers and maybe some other parts of the body that are also put to use.

That is why I made it a point to say that you have to drive your self to move about. A cell phone may be convenient, but the same thing can turn out to simplify life just a little too bit. There are other arguments against the use of cell phones but that is beside our topic.

What I would suggest is that at home or in your office, leave the cell phone lying about so that you can hear it ring, but can’t just reach into your pocket and answer it. See to it that you have to actually stand up and walk a few steps before you can pick it up.



97.

While traveling in an elevator instead of just standing there and staring stupidly at the numbers going up or down, try raising your self onto your toes and then back on your feet again. Do this several times. Also try flexing your buttock muscles as well.

In fact there are many muscles in our body that we can twitch and flex without inviting the attention of others. Even if others do notice you, its no big deal provided you are flexing a muscle in a decent part of the body. (Most of the other parts do not have muscles any way.) Others might brand you as a health freak but it is miles better to be known as a heath freak than as a sack of potatoes.



98.

Undress and stare at yourself in front of your mirror. If what you see displeases you, then you have all the more reason to work out. Try tucking in the extra fat in all those wide areas, this will give you an idea of which part you need to be working on.

Turn to you side and get a very good view of your side profile. This is an excellent way of checking whether you have a tummy that is starting to bulge or has bulged already.

Try pulling in air and then take a look at your tummy, if it has gone in even a little bit, there is hope for you. If you start now, you can control it where it is now and may be if you really set your mind to it, you can lose a couple of inches in a just a few weeks.

Weighing your self on your bathroom scales is a good idea but personally I would recommend this mirror viewing. To be very frank, a few pounds gain may shock you but does not really disgust you. But a flabby figure and extra fat certainly will.



99.

If you have a banister rail or a balustrade that will support you, sit on it and pump your legs as if you are riding a bicycle, taking care not to fall off of course.

This might sound like another crazy idea and I don’t want to argue with you about that. I just want to tell you that by doing such crazy things, you are in fact not missing a single chance to lose those extra pounds. It is a way of keeping your mind alert all the time. Every thing must look like an opportunity to you.



100.

Do not slouch in your chair but try to maintain an erect posture with your tummy tucked in. Slouching is a very bad habit. Not only is it bad for your back but it also gives you a very flabby figure. It is your way of saying yes to a comfortable, weight-gaining pose.

Make it a point to always sit as erect as you can. It is also a terrific way to ward off back problems.



101.

Psst. I would like to let you in on a secret. As it is I understand that most of us tend to put on weight particularly in the mid section, right. It is the tummy that seems to have a mind of its own. Well I will tell you a sure shot method to reduce the flab around the waist line. Mind you this doesn’t hold true for post pregnancy tummies. This is what you have to do.

Breathe in air as strongly as you can and as you do so, tuck in your tummy as much as you can. Hold it like this for a few seconds and then slowly release your breath taking care not to let out your tummy. Try to keep breathing like this at least fifty or sixty times in a day.

In fact breathe like this whenever you can remember to do so. After the first day, you should feel the muscles of your stomach tightening each time you do this. Then you know that you are on the right track. If you practice this without fail for 20 days, at the end of the twentieth day, you will have lost at least an inch.

Below I have included a table of the various exercises and the number of calories that can be burnt with each exercise. Choose what you can do best and choose something that you will enjoy doing on the long run as well.

The choice of the exercise is completely left to you but try to do whatever you wish to do for at least twenty minutes. It is only after you do the exercise for twenty minutes that the actual calorie burning sets in.

Aerobics - 200-250 calories
Bicycling - Stationary 250-300 calories
Bicycling - Actual 300-400 calories
Running - 5-6 mph 300-350 calories
Stair climber - 200-250 calories
Swimming laps - 350 calories
Walking briskly - 150-180 calories

Approximate energy content per food
Foodstuff Energy
(kcal) Foodstuff Energy
(kcal)
Carrot 40 Chicken Leg 100-120
Slice of bread 50 Bottle of beer 115
Potato or Orange 60 Grilled fish, 100g 130
Slice of cheese 50-70 Pork Chop 270
Glass of milk 100 Piece of cake 300
Egg 100 Chocolate, 100g 500
Butter, spoonful 110 Hamburger 510
Chips, 100g 600


Energy needs by age group
Age (yrs)
Women MJ/day
average Range Kcal/day
average Range
11 - 14 8.4 6.1 - 10.7 2000 1450 - 2550
15 - 18 9.0 6.5 - 11.6 2150 1550 - 2750
19 - 30 8.6 7.5 - 9.6 2050 1800 - 2300
31 - 60 8.4 7.7 - 9.0 2000 1850 - 2150
61 - 75 7.7 7.1 - 8.4 1850 1700 - 2000
> 75 7.1 6.5 - 7.7 1700 1550 - 1850
Men
11 - 14 9.9 7.4 - 12.4 2350 1750 - 2950
15 - 18 11.6 8.2 - 14.9 2750 1950 - 3550
19 - 30 11.8 10.7 - 12.8 2800 2550 - 3050
31 - 60 11.3 10.5 - 12.2 2700 2500 - 2900
61 - 75 9.7 8.8 - 10.5 2300 2100 - 2500
>75 8.4 7.5 - 9.2 2000 1800 - 2200

61.

Select an exercise pattern to suit your life style. All f us have different life styles and professions so there is no sense in trying to follow the book strictly. Try and follow an exercise routine that is suitable for you. You have to understand that even more important than the exercise itself is sticking to it. So unless you choose something that can suit your life style, you are not going to stick on to it.



62.

Don’t stand, walk. If you can walk about then do so. Do not stand in a fixed position. Pacing about is a good thing to do. If you are thinking deeply about something, try pacing about, it will aid in your thinking.



63.

Don’t sit, stand. If you can stand, then do not sit. The golden rule is to choose a position that is less comfortable.



64.

Don’t lie down, sit. The rule that we mentioned above rings true here as well.



65.

Do not be a couch potato. It is the easiest thing in the world to become a couch potato. You know what we are talking about don’t you? That shapeless thing that sits or reclines on a shapeless chair in front of the television and stupidly munches away at something fried!

If you are inclined to become a promising old couch potato, break the habit, cut at the very root of the vine. And you want to know what is the best way for that? Take away that favorite chair of yours. In fact, it would be a very good idea if you could keep a chair that isn’t too comfortable in front of the TV.

This will discourage any tendency to become a couch potato.



66.

If you have a sitting job, stand up and stretch yourself every half an hour. Most of the jobs today are indeed sitting jobs that are in one word sedentary. This is especially true for those who sit and punch away at the keyboard or toy with the mouse all day long.

So if you have such a job, make it a point to get up at least every half an hour and stretch your self.



67.

While making telephone calls try walking up and down. I hope you will agree with me that this is an excellent suggestion.



68.

Use the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can. Elevators are one hell of a convenience particularly if you have to go up or down some twenty floors. But elevators also make us very lazy.

There may be no sense in trudging up some twenty flights of stairs because by the time you get there you will be totally pooped. But while coming down, if you have the time, you can easily come down the stairs instead of using the elevator. Coming down is not at all exhausting.

And talking about the time factor, I don’t think that there is much of a difference. Sometimes waiting for an elevator door to open at your floor after you hit the button can take up all of eternity.



69.

Smoking is bad for weight loss. Smoking as such may not contribute to weight loss but smoking leads to other conditions like erratic eating habits and excessive dependence on things like coffee.



70.

If you hate running, remember, you do not have to run a marathon to stay fit. 10 minutes of cardio each day is good enough for most.

51.

Dry wine is better than sweet wine. Sweet wines naturally contain a lot of sugar. But on the other hand, in dry wines most of this sugar has been fermented away so from the weight point of view dry wines are better than sweet wines.



52.

When you decide it’s time to start working out, start slowly and don’t get discouraged if you don’t achieve your fitness goals after the first week. Many people make this mistake. They feel that if they really push their bodies they can lose more weight in a couple of work outs. This is a very serious thing in fact.

If you try to push your body too much in the first few goes, you are likely to end up with sprained joints, a sore back and even torn ligaments. The rule to be followed here is slow and steady wins the race.



53.

Check your weight before you start the routine and keep checking for changes but do not expect a radical change immediately, it might be one or two weeks before you notice some change. However it is crucial that you continue to monitor your weight. You may bear in mind the fact that even a few pounds loss is a big achievement.



54.

When you do notice a change, reward yourself. When I say reward I do not mean go for some goodies like chocolates or sweets. Maybe you could go for a movie or buy yourself something like a new dress or a trinket.

This is something that can keep you going. It is a good idea to save on the money that you wanted to spend on ice creams and chocolates and then treat your self to something more substantial.



55.

You can take a day off from exercise every week. This is not just a very good idea but it is part of the exercise routine. Your body needs a day off from an exercise routine so do not hesitate to take a day off from what ever you have been doing.



56.

Exercise out doors as far as possible. There are two advantages of doing whatever you are doing out side. One advantage is that it gives your body a chance to get a lot of the much needed fresh air and sunshine.

The second advantage is that the surroundings keep you perked up and it is a break form remaining cooped up all day long



57.

Try to collect some information about exercise, there are a lot of things that you can do at home. Extensive research has been done on exercise and plenty of this information is easily available.

You can try browsing the net or getting a book or two on how to exercise at home. This information will be useful to you to know how much you need to work out on each specific exercise in order to burn off the desired number of calories.



58.

Try to get somebody to exercise along with you. But it should be somebody committed or else your interest might dwindle. This is indeed an excellent idea. One of the advantages of getting a committed person t exercise with you is that it keeps you going.

There may be days when you feel just too lazy to crawl out of bed in the mornings. On such days, the knowledge that some body is waiting for you is enough to slide out of bed.

Another advantage is that you can discuss your progress and fears with another person and be a sympathetic listener to the other person as well. This is a fine way of getting motivated your self.



59.

Stop when your body has had enough. There is no sense in pushing it. When you have worked out for a considerable time, your body will start giving you signals.

Heed those signals. This is particularly true in the initial stages. Take one step at a time. Stop when you are out of breath or when a certain part of your body tells you that it has had enough.



60.

If you want to increase your time of exercise or your work out routine, do it gradually and not in sudden steps.

Well easier said than done. Most of us have such hectic schedules that it is quite impossible to fit in tie for exercise right? Wrong. I want to say it once and for all, your body, or anybody’s body for that matter needs proper exercise. If you make up your mind to do it, you just can

41.

Watch your fat intake. Each fat gram contains 9 calories so by reading the total calories on a food and knowing the quantity of fat, you can estimate the % of fat, which should in no way exceed 30% of the food.



42.

Go easy on salt, as too much salt is one of the causes of obesity. Make it a point to really cut down on salt. Try to bring down your salt intake to half of what it was last year.



43.

Change from table butter to cholesterol free butter. If you have a choice why not g for it, any way it is healthier for you and tastes just the same. Bear in mind that these small changes can go a long way towards weight reduction.



44.

Instead of frying things try baking them without fat. Baking is by far a healthier method of preparing food than frying. Baking requires lesser oil or fat.



45.

Use a non stick frying pan for your cooking so that you do not have to add oil. The golden rule is to try and avoid as much oil as possible and a non stick pan is the perfect solution to this problem.



46.

Boil your vegetables instead of cooking them, or even better, eat them fresh. However if you do not like eating your vegetables as it is, try steaming them without adding anything at all. This is probably the healthiest way to eat cabbages, cauliflowers and a host of other vegetables.



47.

Carry parsley with you. Parsley is an excellent thing to munch on in between meals. Not just is it good for you in terms of vitamins, but it is also a perfect way of making your breath fresher.



48.

Choose low fat substitutes or no fat substitutes. There are plenty of low fat or even no fat substitutes available in the market so why not choose wisely. It is much better for you heart too. Many people just go for shopping and pick up whatever they can. They do not bother to find out if there are nay substitutes for the thing they are looking for.

In the markets of today, you will be astounded at the range of goods that manufactures have to offer. In fact with all the hue and cry that is being made about weight loss, low fat substitutes and no fat substitutes are hitting the stands faster than mushrooms that sprout after the first rains.

So the next time you head for the stores instead of picking up what you have always picked up, see if there are better substitutes.

Remember that our bodies need nutrients and not just calories. Fats give us nutrients but with more calories than what proteins or carbohydrates do.



49.

Avoid crash diets. They are bad for health and you will gain what you have lost once you take a break. Crash diets are not a solution to weight loss. It might seem as if you have lost few pounds but the moment you give up on the crash diet every thing will bounce back with a vengeance.

Take a look at it in this way. Do you think that it is possible for a person to survive on a crash diet for the rest of his or her life? Certainly not! So at some time or the other, you will have to give up the crash diet and then you will see for yourself that a crash diet does more harm than good on the long run.

Crash diets may have a lot to promise, but very rarely do these promises ring true. Crash diets are things people go on in order to wear an old dress or suit for a particular occasion. That’s the only purpose that they serve as far as I can see.



50.

God gave us teeth for a reason...

Therefore we should develop a habit of chewing all food including liquid food and soft foods like sweets, ice creams at least 8 to 12 times. This is essential to add saliva to the food, as it is only in the saliva that sugar is digested.

Often we find that whatever goes into our mouth goes down like lightning. We hardly give the saliva any time to act on the food. So does digestion take place like it should? Do we just stuff our tummies with food that doesn’t get digested or in other words that doesn’t yield the benefits that it should?

31.

50 to 55% of your diet should be carbohydrates. It is a myth that you should try and avoid carbohydrates when you are on a diet. Rather the other way round I should say. Carbohydrates are a ready source of energy and so 50 to 55% of your diet should be carbohydrates.



32.

25 to 30% of your diet should be proteins. Various processes and activities are going on in our bodies. Things are broken down and being built up again. Resistance has to be built up, recovery from disease too is needed and for all this the body needs plenty of proteins so see to it that 25 to 30 % of your diet consists of proteins.



33.

Fats should only be 15 to 20 %. You need only this much of fat in your diet so keep it at that.



34.

Try and adopt a vegetarian diet. A vegetarian diet is undoubtedly better for those of us watching our diet. There are a lot of advantages of keeping to a vegetarian diet but I don’t want to sing an ode to vegetarianism now. What I would suggest is keep to a vegetarian diet as much as you can. Make a non- vegetarian diet a week end event or something if you find it impossible to give up eating all those animals.



35.

Choose white meat rather than red. White meat, which includes fish and fowl, is miles better than red meat, which includes beef and pork for those trying to lose weight.



36.

High Fiber multigrain breads are better than white breads. Remember how I told you to increase the fiber content in your food; well this is the answer to that. It is not only better in terms of the fiber content but also in terms of the protein content as well.



37.

Reduce your intake of pork. Pork is not something that can help you to lose weight. So the lesser pork you eat the better chances you have of losing weight. And remember that pork includes the pork products as well, things like bacon, ham and sausages.



38.

Limit your sugar intake. If you can’t have things unsweetened go for sugar substitutes. These things are just as sweetening but are certainly not fattening.



39.

Graze 5 to 6 times a day. Instead of sticking to just three meals a day, try grazing. Grazing means try having 5 or 6 smaller meals instead of three king sized meals. It is an excellent way of having smaller quantities of food.



40.

Go ahead eat cheat food, but only for flavor. There are many things which you have to avoid from your diet but which you may have an undying craving for. Do not avoid them altogether. You could call them cheat foods and indulge in them once in a while. But take care just to tingle your taste buds, don’t hog on them. Instead of that share them with others.

21.

Count the calories as you eat. It’s a good idea to have an idea of the calories that most food items have. If it is a packed thing then the label is sure to have the calories that the substance has.



22.

Be sure to burn out those extra calories by the end of the week. If you feel that you have consumed more calories than you should have during the week, it happens you know, and then make sure that you work off those extra calories by the end of the week.



23.

Stay away from fried things. Fried things are an absolute no-no. The more fried things that you avoid, the lesser weight you will gain. Fried things are called so because they are fried in oil or fat. And even if the external oil is drained away, there is still a lot of hidden oil in it so stay away from it.



24.

Do not skip meals. The worst thing you can do while watching you diet is skip a meal. It has just the opposite effect of what you want. You need to have at least four regular meals every day.



25.

Fresh vegetables are better than cooked or canned vegetables. Try to eat your vegetables raw. When you cook them, you are in fact taking away nearly half the vitamins in them. And canned vegetables too are processed and are not nearly half as good as fresh vegetables. When you buy your vegetables it would be a good thing to see if the label says that it is pesticide free.



26.

Nothing more than an egg a day. Eggs are not such a bright idea. It would be best to reduce your intake of eggs to maybe three in a week. But for those of you die hard egg fans, you may have up to one egg a day but nothing more than that.



27.

Make chocolates a luxury and not a routine. Chocolates are not or at least they should not be a part of your diet. So do not indulge too much in them. Even the bitter chocolates are not good for you because though the sugar is less there is still the cream in them.



28.

Choose a variety of foods from all food groups every day. This is a fine way of keeping deficiency diseases at bay. Change the items included in your diet every day. This is an excellent way of keeping deficiency diseases at bay and it helps you to experiment with a variety of dishes and there by you do not get bored of your diet.



29.

If you can say no to alcoholic beverages please do. Alcoholic beverages too are not good for you. Beer can be fattening and the rest of the alcoholic drinks may not be fattening by themselves but after a couple of swigs you will be in no position to watch your diet and your appetite too will be something to battle with.



30.

Try to have breakfast within one hour of waking. It’s always best to have breakfast within an hour of waking so that your body can charge itself with the energy it needs for the day. The idea is not to wait for your self to get really hungry. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day but that does not mean that it should be the most filling meal of the day.



P.S. If you are wondering why I am only posting dieting tips these last couple of days and the next three days is because I want to lose at least 30-40lbs. It is going to be hard but I am going to try to stick with a dieting plan and I also bought myself an exercise ball and it came with a stretch band. I am going to start tomorrow.(Hopefully). So, if anyone has some encourgment/advice. I would greatly appreciate it.

11.

Go crazy on vegetables. Vegetables are your best bet when it comes to losing pounds. Nature has a terrific spread when it comes to choosing vegetables. And the leafy green vegetables are your best bet. Try to include a salad in you diet always.



12.

Eat intelligently. The difference between man and beast is that we are driven by intelligence while beasts are driven by instinct. Don’t just eat something because you feel like eating it. Ask your self whether your body really needs it.



13.

Watch what you eat. Keep a watchful eye on every thing that goes in. Sometimes the garnishes can richer than the food itself. Accompaniments too can be very rich. Remember that it is the easiest thing in the world to eat something without realizing that it was something that you should not have eaten. Selective memory you know…



14.

Control that sweet tooth. Remember that sweet things generally mean more calories. It is natural that we have cravings for sweet things especially chocolates and other confectionary. Go easy on theses things and each time you consume something sweet understand that it is going to add on somewhere.



15.

Fix times to have meals and stick to it. Try to have food at fixed times of the day. You can stretch these times by half an hour, but anything more than that is going to affect your eating pattern, the result will either be a loss of appetite or that famished feeling which will make you stuff yourself with more than what is required the next time you eat.



16.

Eat only when you are hungry. Some of us have the tendency to eat whenever we see food. We use parties as an excuse to stuff our selves. Understand that the effect of a whole week of dieting can be wasted by just one day’s party food. Whenever you are offered something to eat do not decline it completely bit just break of a nibble so that you appear to mind your manners and at the same time can watch your diet.



17.

Quit snacking in between meals. Do not fall for snacks in between meals. This is especially true for those who have to travel a lot. They feel that the only time they can get a bite to eat is snacks and junk food. The main problem with most snacks and junk food is that they are usually less filling and contain a lot of fat and calories. Just think about French fries…tempting but terribly fattening.



18.

Snack on vegetables if you must. You might get the pangs of hunger in between meals. It is something that you can very well control. Or even better, try munching on carrots. They are an excellent way to satisfy those hungry pangs and are good for your eyes and teeth. True, you might end up being called Bugs Bunny, but its miles better to be called Bugs Bunny than fatso.



19.

Go easy on tea and coffee. Tea and coffee are harmless by themselves. It’s when you add the cream and sugar that they become fattening. Did you know that having a cup of tea or coffee that has cream and at least two cubes of sugar is as bad as having a big piece of rich chocolate cake?



20.

Try to stick to black tea/coffee. Black tea or coffee can actually be good for you. But personally I would like to recommend tea rather than coffee. The caffeine in the coffee is not really good for you because it is an alkaloid and can affect other functions of your body like the metabolism.

1.

Drink plenty of water. Our body needs a lot of water so give in to water. Water is not just way to flush out toxin but if you have more water in your body you will generally feel healthier and fitter. This it self will discourage any tendency to gorge. The best thing about water is that is has no calories at all.



2.

Start your day with a glass of water. As soon as you wake up, gulp down a glass of cool water. It’s a wonderful way to start you day and you only need a lesser quantity of your breakfast drink after that. A glass of water lets out all your digestive juices and sort of lubricates the insides of your body. You may have your morning cup of tea but have it after a glass of water. It is good for you.



3.

Drink a glass of water before you start the meal. Water naturally needs some space so that you feel fuller without actually having to stuff yourself.



4.

Have another glass of water while you are having the meal. Again this is another way of making yourself full so that you can actually rise from the table eating less but feeling full just the same. Instead of drinking it one gulp, take sips after each morsel. It will help the food to settle faster so that you get that feeling that you are full faster.

SIDENOTE: Water is such a remarkable thing, but seldom do we give it the credit that it deserves. Did you know that over 66% of your body weight is nothing but water? It’s amazing!

Water also plays a vital role in weight control, which is why I donated so much space to it, above.



5.

Stay away from sweetened bottle drinks, especially sodas. Hey all those colas and fizzy drinks are sweetened with sugar and sugar means calories. The more you can cut out on these sweetened bottle drinks, the better for you. So if you must drink sodas, then stick to diet sodas.



6.

Include in your diet things that contain more water like tomatoes and watermelons. These things contain 90 to 95 % water so that there is nothing that you have to lose by feasting on them. They fill you up without adding to the pounds.



7.

Eat fresh fruit instead of drinking fruit juice. Juice is often sweetened but fresh fruits have natural sugars. When you eat fruit, you are taking in a lot of fiber, which is needed by the body, and fruits of course are an excellent source of vitamins.



8.

If you do have a craving for fruit juice then go for fresh fruit juice instead of these that contain artificial flavors and colors. Or even better, try making your own fruit juice taking care not to sweeten it with too many calories.



9.

Choose fresh fruit over processed fruits. Processed and canned fruits do not have as much fiber as fresh fruit and processed and canned fruits are nearly always sweetened.



10.

Increase your fiber intake. Like I mentioned, the body needs a lot of fiber. So try to include in your diet as many fruits and vegetables as you can.

P.S. I am going to doing the weight loss secrets tips everyday. I won't post them all here at once. There are 101 secrets. So stayed tuned for more info.

I was looking at Drea's blog today and I came across a blog that has a handmade photo thing going on for Photo Friday so I decided to submit this photo
as my handmade thing. You can link to this blog by clicking on the link. Since the link isn't working the address of this blog that I am talking about is http://www.crazyhipblogmamas.com/

1. Over 95% of dieters regain weight because of genes, hormones & no self-control.
FALSE. Keeping weight off simply requires different skills than losing weight on a diet.


2. Exercise makes it easier to lose weight because it burns calories & decreases hunger.
FALSE. Exercise increases hunger & must be balanced with proper amounts of food.


3. Eating high-calorie/high-fat foods or eating late at night is always fattening.
FALSE. Staying within your daily calorie allowance prevents fat gain 24 hours a day.


4. North Americans are generally eating less fat and losing weight.
FALSE. We're eating less fat, but more calories & we're gaining weight.


5. Liposuction on your thighs permanently removes fat cells, so your thighs stay lean.
FALSE. Your body creates new fat cells in the same area as you store extra calories.


6. The fat in cellulite is more stubborn to burn than normal fat.
FALSE. Cellulite is overstuffed with normal fat, fluid retention & poor muscle tone.


7. Walking a mile burns as many calories as running a mile.
TRUE. The amount of work is the same, it just takes longer to walk.


8. Walking a mile burns more fat than running a mile.
TRUE. A greater percentage of calories are burned from fat at lower intensity levels.


9. If you overeat, then eat less at next mealtime or postpone your next meal.
TRUE. You're not missing the meal. You've already eaten it ahead of schedule.


10. Abdominal exercise trims fat off your midsection.
FALSE. You can only reduce overall body fat by burning more calories than you eat.

1) I was born in Mission, B.C.
2) I was born on January 19, 1975
3) I am a capricorn
4) I lived in different places
5) I lived in Mission then
6) I moved to Vernon Camp then
7) I lived in Nimpkish, B.C. then
8) I moved to Woss, B.C.
9) I then moved to Royston to live with my dad
10) I moved back in with Mom and I lived in Port McNeil, then
11) I lived in Port Hardy and now
12) I now currently live in Powell River, B.C.
13) I graduated high school
14) I had my first child when I finished Gr.12
15) Jasmine was born on July 26, 1994
16) She was 6lbs 5oz when she was born
17) I had Justin 23mths later
18) He was born on June 10, 1996
19) He weighed 7lbs 3oz.
20) Justin was the hardest to deliver out of all three that I had
21) Moved to Powell River when Justin turned 3yrs. old
22) My favortie food is pasta
23) My favorite fruit is bananas
24) I am not married
25) My favorite drink is Pepsi
26) I have green eyes
27) I love going camping with my family
28) I love getting hugs & Kisses from Candace
29) My favorite treat at Dairy Queen is the banana split
30) My first job was punping gas at Payless Gas, then I waitressed in 2 restraunts
31) have never broken a bone
32) When I was younger I loved going on a motorcycle ride with my friend Shauna
33) I had my first cigarette when I was in Gr.7
34) I don't drink alcohol very much
35) But when I do, my favorite drink is the Pina Colorda
36)I am not interested in politics, of any kind.
37) I love the smell of coffee, but can’t drink the stuff now that I quit smoking I can't stand the taste
38) I watch cartoons with my kids
39) I have a hard getting up in the morning
40) I've had braces
41) I love the beach
42) I think I make the best homemade pizza
43) I love my parents cooking
44) I dislike Mario's Mom cooking
45) I love going swimming
46) I go to chruch when I am with my dad but I don't go regularly
47) I believe that there is a god
48) I always wonder what happens when you die
49) I am scared of dying
50) I love hearing my kids laugh
51) I can't stand the sound of snoring, drives me crazy
52) I also can't stand when I can hear people chewing their food
53) My favorite instrument is the drums
54) I like to play pool when I can
55) I love reading books by myself and with Candace
56) I shave my toes
57) My little toe on my right foot is crooked
58) My favorite vegies are carrots, peas, brussel sprouts(love eating these cold), broccoli and stuff that goes in salads
59) I have 2 sisters and 1 brother
60) I have a big a family
61) I want to have more kids 1 or 2 more
62) I love shopping
63) I have brown hair
64) I love my family very much
65) My favorite shows are Survior, Trading Spouses, SuperNanny, Nanny 911 and WifeSwap
66) I love McDonalds Cheese burgers and chicken nuggets
67) I sometimes wish I was a kid again when things go wrong in my life
68) When I was a kid. I won 2 contests. I got to ride a firetruck and then go to the mugup restaurant and have a nice lunch. I also won another contest. This one was for reading.
69) I was in Brownie, Guides and Pathfinders
70) When I was a kid I loved to go skiing. I went skiiing with my class up at Mt. Cain, then my dad would take me and my sister up to Mt. Washington.
71) I hate the cold weather
72) I've had to wear glasses
73) I love blogging and going on the computer
74) Candace was born on Sept.4, 2002
75) She weighed 7lbs. 5oz

The first step toward creating a lush, beautiful hanging basket is in choosing your plants. Long-trailing plants such as trailing petunias require only top planting. For short-trailing plants such as 'Tapien' purple verbena, plant on the sides of the basket as well as the top for a full-looking floral display. Purchasing healthy plants is essential. I look for plants with several stems, since they will produce prolific growth. Plants in 2-1/2-inch containers are easiest to insert through a wire frame.

Most soil mixes for hanging baskets are peat-based, and can be difficult to moisten after they dry out, so I add some loam- or humus-based potting soil, as well as kelp meal for trace elements. Baskets lose water through evaporation, so closely monitor their moisture level--in hot weather, check baskets daily. Water thoroughly but allow baskets to dry out slightly between waterings. Besides a tablespoon of slow-release fertilizer at planting, I feed trailing petunias -- those of the "Supertunia," "Surfinia," or "Wave" series -- every third watering with a 20-20-20 fertilizer that contains iron. These extra nutrients are needed for voluminous floral displays. In mid-July, I check to see if the slow-release beads have dissolved. If they have, I add one tablespoon more.

To assemble a hanging basket, collect the materials and follow the steps outlined below. For baskets with trailing petunias, skip Steps 3 and 6, and use only six plants.

Step 1: Pad the basket's rim with vinyl tubing to prevent trailing stems from breaking. To do this, cut tubing into lengths to fit between the spaces for the hangers. Slit the tubing lengthwise with scissors, then wrap it around the rim.



Lining the basket.

Step 2: Place a wood-fiber liner in the basket with the dark side facing out. Fold any excess liner material over the rim. Then, place the water saucer inside the basket. Don't use a saucer for shade baskets in damp climates, since it may keep the basket too wet.



Marking the liner.

Step 3: Mark the liner for side-planting of short-trailing plants. To designate planting positions, use a felt-tip pen to mark seven dots evenly spaced around the basket about 3 inches from the rim. Cut a cross-shaped slit in the liner about 2 inches by 2 inches at each dot.

Step 4: Prepare 20 quarts of hanging-basket soil mix and moisten it with 4 quarts of water. Add soil mix to the basket, patting it down firmly but gently until it reaches 3 inches below the rim.

Step 5: Thoroughly soak the plants by submerging the pots in water until all air bubbles disappear. This makes them more pliable for planting and helps them get established more quickly.



Inserting the plants.

Step 6: Insert plants through slits in the liner. Remove plants from containers, holding them by the root ball to protect the stems. Wrap root balls in small plastic bags to make insertion easier from outside the basket. From inside, pull root balls through so they rest on top of the soil. Remove the bag and anchor the root ball with a handful of soil.


Adding soil and fertilizer.

Step 7: Next, add soil to within an inch of the rim. Place one plant in the center, and then space the other seven around it, an inch or so from the edge. Firm the soil around the base of each plant. Sprinkle one tablespoon of slow-release fertilizer beads over the soil.

Step 8: Attach hangers to the rim and hang the basket outside any time after your region's frost-free date. In hot, dry weather, water it immediately and hang in the shade for a few days. In cool, damp weather, wait until it warms up before watering your basket thoroughly. Firm the soil around the roots of plants on the top layer after the first watering.

If you have no space at your place for a real flower garden, go for

container gardening. It's a quick and easy way to add color to your patio. Even though these types

of gardens require more watering and feeding, they are easy to maintain.

Gardening in pots and containers offers many advantages. A container lets you experiment with plant combinations and color. You can easily swap out plants with the season. Many container gardens are portable. You can let them follow the sun, or use them to fill in gaps in a border. And container gardens fit just about anywhere. So there's no excuse not to have a garden. This is what I do. I have a flower gardeing in front of my trailer, but I also plant flowers in containers, hanging baskets. When I plant all of my flowers and they come up I will post what my garden looks like

Vancouver has won their first game last night after 4OT. The final score was 5-4 against the Dallas Stars.
GO CANUCKS GO, GO CANUCKS GO

Over at Drea's blog Fina'Drea she started this thing called Trendy Tuesday. I have a problem with bleeding gums and this toothpaste works great. I love it. This is the only toothpaste I use. The toothpaste has 12hr protection, and it also fights against all kinds of tooth & gum problems and it also whitens your teeth. So if you have a problem with bleeding gums, and you want 12hr protection, you should get this toothpaste. I also found with this toothpaste you don't have plaque on your teeth in the morning.

Yesterday I took the kids shopping for clothes. I bought Jasmine some shirts and a pair of pants. I bought Candace a new Dora shirt and Justin a shirt. I also bought myself a pair of pants and a shirt and I realized a have lost a few pounds since the Summertime. I was wearing a 4x in shirts, now I can fit a 1x. In pants I was like a 2x and now I fit into a XL. I am so happy with myself about the weight loss. Now all I need is lose another 20lbs. Anyone have some advice for me on how to lose? Your input would be great.

Today was a good day. The day with Candace was great. Candace went on the Easter egg hunt today. She found over a dozen chocolate eggs. After the Easter Egg Hunt Candace played on the playground. I got alot of pictures of Candace playing.