✚Helpful Hints #11 - Winter Edition

HEALTH and WELLNESS

LET IT SNOW!

Shovelling snow can be quite strenuous.  The average person burns about 200 calories with 30 minutes of activity.  So do you want to get your new year's resolution off to a great start?  Start shovelling snow!

WINTER JOGGING/RUNNING TIPS
Jogging in winter used to be unheard of but with the latest in apparel that keeps us warm and dry in subzero temps and the need to keep fit, there's no reason to stop as long as you keep these tips in mind:

Photo by Flickr user souho

• Try breathing through your nose.  Cold, winter air is dry and breathing through your mouth increases the dryness while decreasing the temperature of the air, so sayeth fitsugar.com. Because your lungs do not like dry air, you can experience asthma-like symptoms, like wheezing and coughing, when you breathe cold air in through your mouth. Breathing through your nose not only filters out air impurities, but it helps to regulate body temperature as well. It also heats up the air, decreasing those asthma-like symptoms.
• But I can't breathe through my nose!  If you are like many others and start to get a runny nose as soon as you hit the cold air - bring some kleenexes along!  Get those handy travel packs you can buy at most stores! 
• Avoid breathing direct cold air.  Some runners may experience throat irritation if they breathe cold air directly—avoid this by wearing and breathing through a scarf a ski mask or a neck warmer.  
• Be flexible with your running schedule. Run during the warmest time of the day, which tends to be midday when the sun is high in the sky.

BEAUTY and FITNESS

MEN - MULTI-TASK FOR A BETTER SHAVE - SHAVE IN THE SHOWER!

Photo by Flickr user Cult Gigolo

Not only is this time saving, but it will make shaving easier!  The humidity of your shower will keep your skin moist and your pores open and even make the hair softer and easier to remove.  Of course, there are few things you should know before doing this:

1. Buy a fog-free mirror or shower mirror. (Otherwise, rub in some of that same shaving cream onto your mirror till it's clear and that should keep it fog free for weeks!)
2. Wash face, then lather face with shave cream or gel, or just use bath soap.
3. Lather body with soap - take your time, this gives the shave cream time to soften your beard.
4. Shave cheeks first, neck next, and finally the upper lip and chin. This order is important as it leaves the toughest whiskers til last, giving them more time to soften.
5. Then rinse, dry your face off and apply the usual after shave or moisturizer.

WOMEN - HELP DRY AND FLAKY SKIN DURING WINTER WITH THIS HOMEMADE TIP
From Cosmopolitan - If your face is so dry and peely that all your moisturizers just aren’t helping, try this remedy from NYC dermatologist Lance Brown: Soak a washcloth in ice-cold whole milk, and lay it across your face for 10 minutes. The natural lipids in the milk will plump up and rehydrate your skin, while the cool temp and lactic acid will tone down redness and remove flecks.

HOME and AUTO
5 TIPS FOR STORING YOUR MOTORCYCLE DURING WINTER.

1. Location is key.  Choose a warm, dry place such as a heated garage and keep the bike away from windows and direct sunlight.  Cover your motorcycle with a breathable cover, not a waterproof one that will trap moisture.
2. Check tire pressure.  "Store your bike on the centerstand or on a motorcycle lift jack - this removes the majority of the weight from the tires," says John Pineo, honarary president of the Canadian Motorcycle Association.  Ift it isn't possible, Pineo recommends fully inflating the tires before putting the bike in storage and checking the pressure monthly.



Photo by Flickr user macwagen

3. Charge your battery.  Use a battery tender to maintain the charge throughout the winter.  "These chargers monitor the state of the battery and charge it when needed," says Pineo.  "You only need to check the connections once a week."
4. Fill your fuel tank.  "Store your bike with a full tank of gasoline," says Pineo.  "An empty tank leaves the interior vulnerable to rusting and also dries out any rubber seals or hoses inside the tank."  Pineo also recommends using a fuel stabilizer to prevent the fuel from breaking down and clogging the injectors and jets.
5. Top up fluids.  Change your oil before storing your bike - even if it isn't due for a oil change. To prevent the cylinder wall from rusting, you might also want to remove the spark plugs and pour engine oil into the cylinders.  Put the spark plugs back on, start your bike and let it run for a few minutes to let the fresh oil circulate.

TRY NOT TO DO THIS WHEN WARMING UP YOUR CAR IN THE WINTER.

Photo by Flickr user slworking2

Did you know, idling a car is not the best way to warm its engine?  The engine warms faster if you simply start the car and drive off.  Make sure all windows are cleaned off before doing so.

With today's modern engines, you need no more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days before driving away. For every two minutes a car is idling, it uses about the same amount of fuel it takes to go about one mile.

As a matter of fact,  If you are going to be idling or parked for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine. Ten seconds of idling can use more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it.

I've always known this fact about not idling your car for too long in winter or otherwise, but I never knew why it wasn't good to do so... until now.  As Consumer Energy Center explains:
Excessive idling can actually damage your engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs, and exhaust systems. Fuel is only partially combusted when idling because an engine does not operate at its peak temperature. This leads to the build up of fuel residues on cylinder walls that can damage engine components and increase fuel consumption.

FIREPLACE TIPS

Photo by Flickr user Shutter Daddy

Keep it shut. Traditional fireplaces are an energy loser - it's best not to use them because they pull heated air out of the house and up the chimney. When not in use, make absolutely sure the damper is closed. Before closing the damper, make sure that you don't have any smoldering embers. If you decide not to use a fireplace, then block off the chimney with a piece of rigid insulation from the hardware store that fits snugly into the space (dampers don't shut fully without some leaking).

However, if you must use your fireplace....

Choose hardwoods wisely. The wood you use for the fireplace should have been stored in a high, dry place for at least six months prior to burning. Look for woods that are dense, such as oak — avoid woods that are resinous, such as pine. These can create more creosote in your chimney. 

Keep the damper open when burning. Gases can accumulate very quickly if a fireplace is closed up too tightly. Always keep the damper open to provide continuous airflow.

Avoid using chemical products. Place the logs on the metal grate at the back of the fireplace, and always try to use kindling to light the fire.  Those easily combustible small sticks or twigs used for starting a fire works just as well without giving off any noxious fumes.

SEX and RELATIONSHIPS
Women, winter time is not the greatest time for us in terms of feeling sexy and in the mood. However, men find you even more sexy!  As for you men - don't pack away those sleeping bags just yet!

WOMEN - EMBRACE YOUR BODY... AND GET BUSY ON THE CLOTHES DRYER!
As stated on the Women'sHealth website - guys actually find you sexier in the wintertime, according to a study published in the journal Perception. In the summer, they see so much skin that they become more critical of women's bodies. But in the winter, women aren't showcasing their toned butts and abs, so men are more accepting of different body types and are more likely to overlook flaws. Don't feel comfortable lounging around naked? Throw on something that highlights your best assets, like a cute pair of boy shorts or a sexy tank top.... (Or wearing one of their over-sized sweaters with nothing underneath!)

Photo by Flickr user Jon.Jennings

Get busy on the clothes dryer.  Yeah, the laundry room is for getting things clean, but you can also use it to get down and dirty. Hop onto the humming dryer while he stands between your legs, and let him give you oral attention. "You can hoist one leg over his shoulder to give him easier access," says Fulbright. The heat from the machine plus the vibrations will amp up the experience.

RAUNCHY WRAP-UPS!
Cosmopolitan says: Drag your sleeping bag out of storage and zip yourselves up in there. Not only will you be totally snug but the restricted space will make the whole experience super-intimate. Stick to slow, sensual movements and when things start heating up in there you can break free and go wild.

OK SMART ASSES....

TIME FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE QUIZ!
Boy do I feel retarded!  I think I got as far as #8.  Oh well.  YOUR TURN!

So how far did you guys get? 



Resource(s):

consumerenergycenter.org/, blog.builddirect.com/, Womans World magazine, cosmopolitan.com/ Men's Health magazine, askmen.com/, Reader's Digest magazine, rd.com/, Consumer Reports magazine, tips.become.com/, The Oprah magazine,  Quirkology.com, Best Health magazine, homesafe.com, Money magazine, fitsugar.com/, Macleans magazine, womenshealthmag.com/, Better Homes and Garden magazine, beauty-tips.net/, caamagazine.ca, ehow.com/

✚Helpful Hints #10

HEALTH and WELLNESS

THE KEY TO BEING HAPPIER AT WORK!

Pop a B-complex vitamin every day, and within a month, you should feel 20% less work-related tension, anxiety and strain, suggests a study out of Australia's Swinburne University of Technology.  B vitamins are critical for helping the brain produce certain neurotransmitters needed to feel calm, explains lead study author con Stough, Ph.D.

SMOKELESS TOBACCO SAVES LIVES!
Just can't seem to quit smoking?  While you're working on it, you can greatly reduce your risk of disease by opting for electronic cigarettes or new spit-free smokeless tobacco, reveals recent researcy by Brad Rodu, D.D.S., an expert on tobacco harm reduction at the University of Louisville James Graham Brown Cancer Center.  Both, he says, are 98% safer than cigarettes because they deliver nicotine without the smoke; it's the chemicals in smoke - not nicotine - that are most harmful.

BEAUTY and FITNESS

WOMEN - SLIM YOUR CALVES IN AN INSTANT!

If you want thinner-looking legs in a snap, put on a pair of pointy-toed shoes!  Even if you choose flats instead of heels, the elongated vamp of the shoe will make your legs appear smaller!

MEN - SOCKS TIPS 101
Match Your Socks with Your Pants and not Your Shoes!
Wearing a dark blue pants? Try to wear dark blue socks.  The reason it’s important to match socks with your pants is that when you have to take your shoes off or sit down and your socks are exposed, socks that coordinate with your pants make your outfit appear more fluid. On the other hand, socks that don’t match your pants will break up an otherwise awesome ensemble.

Dress Shoes Require Dress Socks
If you’re going to wear dress shoes, you can’t wear athletic socks -- no matter what their color. For example, it’s simply not enough that your socks be black. The reason for this rule is the following: Athletic socks are often bulkier than dress socks since they’re usually made of heavier cotton or other materials, so they tend to bunch out over dress shoes. Plus, athletic socks are frequently ribbed and the contrast of cheap, ribbed socks against smooth, high-quality dress shoes looks odd. Instead, wear dress socks with dress shoes. They’ll be easier to slip in to your shoes and the finer, thinner material will mean that any attention focused on your foot area will remain centered on your swish shoes instead of your socks.


White Socks Are Only For Sports
Apart from activities where you’re going to generate a lot of sweat, white socks are a big no-no. Black socks should even be worn with jeans, so section off your sock drawer and keep your white socks close to your workout clothes and well away from your dress-up wardrobe.

Avoid Socks with Sandals
Everyone who's anyone knows that socks should be worn with shoes, and only barefeet should be slipped into sandals. Yet, in our jet-powered Digital Age of Information and Free Junk lying everywhere, there are still those few, backwards wackjobs who insist on going through the extra trouble of rummaging through their sock drawer to find their most unsightly plaid socks or thick, white ones, put on those socks, and then put on their sandals!

HOME and AUTO
BREAKING-IN YOUR NEW CAR? BE PATIENT!
You’ve bought your dream car and now you want to make it last at long as possible in top condition. Here are some things to remember as you pull it out of the dealer’s lot:

• During the break-in period, typically the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km), keep your speed under 55 mph (88 kpm) or to the speed recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
• Avoid heavy loads on the drive train, such as towing trailers, and loading the roof rack or trunk with heavy construction materials.
• Do not allow your new car to idle for long periods — this is good advice for the life of your car, but especially during breakin. The oil pressure generated by doing so may not be sending oil to every part of your engine.
• Use only light to medium acceleration, keeping the engine rpms below 3,000 for the first few hours of driving.

HOME SAFETY TRICK:  KEEP CAR KEYS NEXT TO YOUR BED WHILE YOU SLEEP!

If you hear a suspicious noise and suspect that someone is trying to break in, press the Panic button on your key ring. The car alarm will sound, and the burglar will have no choice but to flee the scene.

SEX and RELATIONSHIPS
MEN - DON'T WEAR YOUR SOCKS IN BED!
Not only is it a turn-off to most women, but it is an ugly site to behold.  Women love the skin-to-skin contact and don't want to feel some sweaty, fuzzy thing between their toes! 


FIND YOUR PERFECT LOVE MATCH FASTER!
Looking for Mr. Right?  Try signing up for a job-related networking event or taking an adult education class.  In studies that looked at how 11,000 people met their spouses, work or school nabbed the top spot with 36%, followed by through a friend or family member (26%); dating websites (17%); bars, clugs and social events (11%) and places of worship (4%).

BONUS VIDEO!

11 USEFUL TIPS...

Resource(s):
askmen.com/, Reader's Digest magazine, rd.com/, Consumer Reports magazine, tips.become.com/, The Oprah magazine, Womans World magazine, Men's Health magazine, Quirkology.com, Best Health magazine, homesafe.com, Money magazine, Macleans magazine, Better Homes and Garden magazine, beauty-tips.net/

✚Helpful Hints #9

HEALTH and WELLNESS

SNACKING ON ALMONDS TO SLOW DOWN AGING!

European research shows that these nuts contain powerful antioxidant compounds, called phytates which strengthen the immune system, plus nourish aging body cells so they behave like younger cells!  Don't like almonds?  Other phytate-rich foods include brown rice and wheat cereals.

GOING SHOELESS IS KNEE-FRIENDLY
Walking barefoot around the house reduces the stress and impact on your knees by nearly 12%, helping to prevent osteoarthritis, say researchers at Rush Medical College in Chicago.

BEAUTY and FITNESS

Silver shoe lining

PREVENT SHOE ODOUR WITH SILVER!

Instead of using chemicals or powders in your shoes to keep them fresh, try slipping in a liner made with silver - a natural antibacterial that absorbs smells.  It inhibits the growth of odour causing bacteria, mold and fungus in or on the surface of the product. Working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

COLOGNE 101 FOR MEN!
Men, to get the best use out of a cheap or not-so-cheap cologne try these tips:

• Men are usually not as picky as women when it comes to scents. They generally do not give it much thought. Consequently they may end up using one fragrance as a cologne and another one as an aftershave. Try to stick to the same brand of aftershave as your cologne.  If you can't, at least get something that is very close, or use an unscented aftershave.  You don't want layering scents unless they are similar. 
• Most cologne will last all day depending on your body's personal acidity level and how well it holds up when combined with the oils found in cologne. In which case, you may have to spray once more throughout the day.
• Concentration: Eau de Cologne and Eau de Toilette are best worn indoors because of the smaller amounts of fragrant oils it contains. For the men's colognes that come in Eau de Parfum contain so much fragrant oil that is it optimal to wear outdoors where the open air dilutes the scent making it less potent. If you were to wear an EDP indoors, the people around you will be very overwhelmed by the scent and might aggravate someone allergies.
• Store your cologne away in a cool dry place, away from light or extreme temperatures - if you want it to last longer.
• Apply cologne on pusle points where heat is generated thereby increasing the scent to such areas as your wrists, behind ears and base of throat!
• Cologne should only be sensed by those who are within arm's length of you; you'll know if you're wearing too much if those at a greater distance can smell you as well.

GOT ACNE? UNWANTED HAIR
Try drinking spearmint tea!  In a Turkish study, women who drank the brew twice a day for five days had lower levels of hormones linked to both of these annoying conditions!

HOME and AUTO
BAD WINTER DRIVING HABIT - FLOORING THE GAS TO GET UNSTUCK
If you end up stuck, the one thing you shouldn't do is floor it; putting pedal to metal will only cause the car's tires to dig in deeper. To escape, it's best to press lightly on the gas pedal while in second gear (for both automatic and manual cars). Make sure your front wheels are pointed straight, and if you can get helpers to lend a push, you'll be out in no time.

REPLACE SMOKE ALARMS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD
After a decade, smoke detectors won't reliably warn of fire. Change them at once. Also key: Place alarms in and outside every bedroom and on each level of the home, and change batteries yearly.

SEX and RELATIONSHIPS
HAVING SEX CAN REDUCE A FEVER BY THE SWEAT PRODUCED.
Sex is not only a fever reducer but a pain reliever also!  It is ten times more effective than Valium.  Immediately before an orgasm, levels of the hormone oxytocin rise by five times, determining a huge release of endorphins.  These chemicals calm pain, from a minor headache to arthritis or migraines, and with no secondary effects.  Migraines also disappear because the pressure in the brain's blood vessels is lowered while we have sex.  So the next time you say 'Not tonight honey, I have a headache' - you might want to think again.

CONDOM MISTAKES MEN MAKE
Putting on a condom should be second nature to men... right?  Think again. According to menshealth.com, researchers from Indiana University analyzed 50 studies on condom usage, and after punching the numbers on 16 years of data, they found a laundry list of errors.  Here were but a few:

• Late application.   Between 17 percent and 51.1 percent of people reported putting a condom on after intercourse has already begun. (Which doesn’t quite cut it when it comes to STD prevention.)
• Early removal.  Between 13.6 percent and 44.7 percent of the respondents reported removing the condom before intercourse was complete.
• Completely unrolling the condom prior to application
  Between 2.1 percent and 25.3 percent of people admitted to completely unrolling the condom before sliding it on. How does that even work?
• No space at the tip.  Failing to leave space for semen at the tip of the condom was reported by 24.3 to 45.7 percent of the respondents.
• Failure to remove air.  When looking back to their last sexual encounter, 48.1 percent of women and 41.6 percent of men reported that they didn’t squeeze the air from the tip before use.
• Inside-out condoms.  Between 4 percent and 30.4 percent of participants reported they began rolling the condom on inside out, but then flipped it over and continued its use. And that’s bad, since it can expose her to your pre-ejaculatory fluids, which can get her pregnant. (Nope, that wasn’t just a lie your gym teacher told you.)
  

FOOD and DRINK
DON'T THROW IT AWAY!  USE FLAT BEER TO MAKE THE PERFECT STEAK!
Next time you aren't thirsty enough to finish a whole beer, don't pour the remaining brew down the drain.  Instead, put it back in the refrigerator and save it for the next time you cook steak.  Adding the beer to your marinade infuses the meat with a delcious malt flavour and tenderrizes it so it's soft and juicy!  See more Beer Uses here.

CHOP ON WOOD... OR PLASTIC
For a long time, experts stated that plastic chopping boards were more hygienic than wooden ones. It was assumed that plastic could be cleaned more easily and more thoroughly than wood. Then, in 1994, researchers declared that wood retained fewer bacteria than plastic. Further studies followed that confused the issue, but the general consensus now is that there isn’t much difference. Bacteria can persist on both materials for a long time, so choose whichever you prefer to use and make sure all your chopping boards are washed well in hot soapy water after use.

MONEY and FINANCE
BUY AT A LOWER PRICE!

No time to monitor for price drops ona product you want?  Try free price-watch websited that do the checking for you!  Just add the item to your watch list, and you'll get and e-mail as soon as the item goes on sale or has its price cut.  For computers, TVs or cameras online and in stores, try Decide.com; for Amazon.com products, use NukePrice.com; and for other online retailers, turn to ZingSale.com/ or PricePinx.com.


RECOUP OVERCHARGES!

Checking credit and debit card bills for eerors and fraudulent charges is important - not to mention tedious and time-consuming!  Now the bill-analyzing service at BillGuard.com can dod the screening for you.  Simply enter your account information, and the sure website scans your accounts daily for problems that could be costing you money.  If it finds anything suspicious, it immediately sends you an e-mail so you can double-check the charge and get your money back!

AFRAID OF HEIGHTS?
THAT MEANS YOU'RE A SENSITIVE PEOPLE-READER!

A fear of heights (acrophobia) suggests you have a 
hypersensitive nervous system, say researchers.  And while that sensitivity means you're never going to be the first to volunteer to climb a ladder, it mean you're usually the first to notice what someone else is thinking for feeling.  That's because with a more sensitive nervous system comes greater intuition and heightened emotional awareness!












Resource(s):
Reader's Digest magazine, Consumer Reports magazine, tips.become.com/, The Oprah magazine, Womans World magazine, Men's Health magazine, Quirkology.com, Best Health magazine, homesafe.com, Money magazine, Macleans magazine, Better Homes and Garden magazine, beauty-tips.net/

✚Helpful Hints #8

HEALTH and WELLNESS

GOT MILK?  GET A SHARPER MEMORY!

Frequently forgetting where you put your keys?  Having trouble recalling information you just learned?
Forgetfulness is one of the most common signs of stress - and new research in the journal Nutrition Research has pin-pointed a super-easy way to thwart it:  Drink a yogurt smoothie or a glass of milk every day.  Turns out, phospholipids - certain fats in dairy products that help keep cell membranes healthy - rev recall by improving your brain's ability to adapt to chronic stress, particularly in neurons where new memories are formed!

SANITIZING SURFACES SUPER CHEAPLY

Forget those pricey germ-killing scrubs, sprays, foams and the like:  Research shows that plain old bleach trumps them all, killing nearly 100% of illness-causing bugs on kitchen and bathroom surfaces within minutes.
To do:  Once weekly, mix 1 oz. (29.57ml), of bleach into 1 qt. (0.946 litre), of water.  Put on rubber gloves and using a clean cloth, wipe common resting spots for bacteria and viruses, including faucet handles, door-knobs and cupboard latches.

BEAUTY and FASHION
MAKE HAIR SUPER-SHINY! (THE ITALIAN WAY)

Olive oil!  Olive oil is a big reason Italian women are known for their lustrous hair.  The golden oil is rich in fatty acids that coat and protect the hair, leaving it soft and glossy!
Make your own - Deep Conditioning Treatment!
Massage olive oil (1 Tbsp. for fine or short hair, 2-3 Tbsps. for thick or long hair) into your hair and scalp.  Place a warm towel or shower cap over your hair for 15-30 minutes, allowing the heat to help the oil penetrate each strand.  Then shampoo, condition and rinse.

GIVE YOUR SKIN A WORKOUT!
Going for a walk? Hitting the gym?  Before you go, wash your face and apply a light serum or moisturizing cream.  As your body starts to heat up, and your blood starts to pump, the beauty treatments easily penetrate deep into your skin.  What's more, the boost in your circulation helps the products work at optimum levels!

HOME and AUTO
BAD WINTER DRIVING HABIT:  LOCKING YOUR BRAKES
Braking in winter requires the driver to adapt to road conditions. Today, most new automobiles are equipped with ABS (anti-lock braking system), which prevents the wheels from locking up on slick surfaces. If one or more wheels begins to lock during hard braking, the system prevents those wheels from skidding by pulsating the brakes several times per second, allowing the driver to both slow down and steer. When ABS is active, you'll hear and feel a rumbling sound coming from the vehicle - while this may startle you, whatever you do, don't let off the pedal!

If your vehicle is not equipped with this feature, it's important to brake firmly without locking the wheels. This is called threshold braking. You want to do everything you can to avoid locking the wheels, as you'll not only skid, but you'll also lose your ability to steer around obstacles.

COMMON DECOR MISTAKE: BAD LIGHTING
The Problem: The worst offenders include glaring overhead lighting and the unflattering old-school fluorescent bulbs that make your bathroom look like something from an '80s horror flick.
The Solution: Use soft white bulbs and dimmer switches for your overhead lights. And make sure your CFL bulbs are marked "warm white."

FOOD and DRINK
HEALTHIEST WAY TO STORE MUSHROOMS
To reap the most nutritional benefit from mushrooms, store them in a paper bag in the refrigerator, not in the plastic-wrapped container they're sold in.  And don't clean them until you're ready to use them!

NEVER THAW OR MARINATE FOODS ON THE COUNTER
Many people are surprised at this tip. But since bacteria can multiply rapidly at room temperature, thawing or marinating foods on the counter is one of the riskiest things you can do when preparing food for your family.

To thaw food safely, choose one of these options:

• Thaw in the refrigerator. This is the safest way to thaw meat, poultry, and seafood. Simply take the food out of the freezer and place it on a plate or pan that can catch any juices that may leak. Normally, it should be ready to use the next day.
• Thaw in cold water. For faster thawing, you can put the frozen package in a watertight plastic bag and submerge it in cold water. Be sure to change the water every 30 minutes. Note: If you thaw this way, be sure to cook the food immediately.
• Thaw in the microwave. Faster thawing can also be accomplished in the microwave. Simply follow instructions in your owner’s manual for thawing. As with thawing in cold water, food thawed in the microwave should be cooked immediately.
• Cook without thawing. If you don’t have enough time to thaw food, just remember, it is safe to cook foods from a frozen state—but your cooking time will be approximately 50% longer than fully thawed meat or poultry.

To marinate food safely, always marinate it in the refrigerator.

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PETS AND ANIMALS
SOS FOR A DOGGY BREATHING SPASM
If your pug sometimes startles you with a series of snorting and gasping noises, you're probably witnessing a spasm of the soft palate.  Small dogs, especially short-faced breeds, are particularly susceptible to these spasms, which can be caused by dust or pollen irritation, eating, drinking or just running around.  To stop the spasm, gently massage your dog's throat area or carefully pinch his nostrils.  Forcing him to take air in through his mouth will aid airflow and eventually stop the attack.

Sprigs of fresh dill

KEEP PETS FROM GETTING GASSY
When the pet store ran out of your pal's brand of wet food, you had to buy her a different kind, resulting in an upset stomach.  to ease her discomfort, add some finely chopped fresh dill to her food daily for three to four days.  This herb has been shown to ease gas, bloat and cramps.  For dogs and cats under 10 pounds,use a small pinch.  Give a large pinch for pets up to 20 pounds and 1 tsp. for those up to 50 pounds.  For dogs over 50 pounds, give 2 tsp. of dill.

Money saving
ideas and tips

MONEY and FINANCE
SNEAKY WAYS TO SAVE ON ELECTRONICS!
Shopping for electronics can be confusing - and that's how many retailers want it!  After all, it makes you more likely to pay extra for a device when a far less expensive one can fit your needs.  Read on to see what you should skip and what you should buy!


COMPUTERS
Skip:  Upgraded Processor
Buy:   More RAM
While an upgraded processor means your computer will work faster, average users won't notice a difference!  That's because standard processors are more than adequate for most people's usage.  The real slowdown comes from too little memory - and that's easy to fix by adding more RAM when you buy the computer.  Bonus:  Your computer won't become outdates as quickly!


CAMERAS
Skip:  Mega megapixels
Buy:   Bigger image sensor
More megapixels means a camera takes larger photos, yet the average device takes images than can print up to 11" x 17".  To really get better photos, the camera needs a bigger image sensor, which can capture more detail.  Since manufacturers use different formats for image sensor sizes, look up the camera you want at sensor-size.com.


TVs
Skip:  Super-fast refresh rate
Buy:   120 Hz refresh rate
A gelevision's refresh rate indicates how many times per second the screen is updated.  And while a bigger number equals better image quality, there's no need to spend extra for anything over 120 Hz.  Why?  Your eye actually can't detect anything higher than a refresh rate of 120 Hz, so it's like throwing money out the window!

Pet Peeves in the Workplace!

What habit irks workers more than anything else?

Seventy-eight percent of 17,000 workers surveyed by LinkedIn said they were most annoyed by people who do not take ownership of their actions.

Pet peeves in the workplace tend to vary by country, gender, and job.  Want to annoy a worker in Germany?  Make a mess in the luch room.  If you want to get along with your co-workers in Japan, don't pullany pranks.  And if you are in the US, don't swipe someone else's food.

Overall, workers in India reported having the most pet peeves while Italian workers reported having the least.  Not surprisingly, women are much more likely than men to be annoyed by their co-workers' revealing clothing.

Top five global pet peeves

1. People not taking ownership for their actions
2. Constant complainers
3. Dirty common areas
4. Starting meetings late or going long
5. People who don't respond to emails

Resource(s):

Reader's Digest magazine, foodsafety.gov/, Consumer Reports magazine, The Oprah magazine, Womans World magazine, autos.ca.msn.com/, Men's Health magazine, Best Health magazine, Money magazine, Macleans magazine, Better Homes and Garden magazine, First-for-Women magazine

✚Helpful Hints #7

HEALTH and WELLNESS

MEN ARE YOU PRONE TO GALLSTONES?

Then how about going meatless at least once a week?  Research has shown men who consume large amounts of the type of iron abundant in red meat have a 21% higher risk of developing the stones.

A GOOD REASON TO ENJOY WINE WITH DINNER.
To help stop a cold before it starts just sip one glass daily and you'll be 40% less likely to catch a cold more than teetotalers - even if you smoke, have allergies or are constantly exposed to sniffling, sneezing children!  Why?  Flavonoids - powerful plant compounds found in grape skins - actively combat rhinoviruses, the major cause of the common cold, say researchers.

BEAUTY and FASHION

PUFFY EYES?

Place a chilled spoon over each eye for 10 minutes.  The coolness reduces swelling so your eyes look pretty and rested!

CHAPPED LIPS?
Smooth on olive oil.  Dry skin soaks it up like a sponge, leaving lips soft and protecting them from the environment.

HOME and AUTO
TO IMPROVE FUEL ECONOMY IN YOUR CAR:

• If you drive an automatic, and you have an "economy setting" - keep your car in economy mode.  If you drive a manual transmissioned vehicle, you can improve efficiency by not "revving" out the gears, but by doing the opposite - shift as early as is safe, so as not to stall the engine, and to allow a safe rate of acceleration. You engine required far less fuel this way.
• That cool roof rack or bike rack is costing you dearly if you carry it around when it's not being used. Wind resistance is greatly increased when you add an "extremity" to the carefully sculpted shape of your car or truck.
  Remove the roof racks, racing wings, sports flags, extra ladders or tools, or anything else that is protruding from your car or truck. Keep your car clean, and even wax it for the smoothest finish possible to slice easily thru the air. 
• Driving 80mph on the highway uses 10%-20% more fuel than driving 70mph, and only saves you a few minutes for most trips. Driving 70mph on the highway uses 20%-30% more fuel than driving 55mph. It's not hard to see that the wind resistances increases substantially above 60mph. If you have time to get where you are going, move to the right, and simmer down in the slow lane, knowing that you're saving money and fuel the whole way.

SEX and RELATIONSHIPS
SEX FACT #3
A U.K. study found that most men prefer women with some curves to super-skinny waifs.

TELL YOUR HUSBAND WHAT YOU REALLY THINK!
You may think keeping quiet during arguments with your mate is helping your marriage by keeping the peace.  But piping up could save your life!  That's the news from researchers who found that wives who hold in their feelings are four times more likely to die prematurely than wives who freely air their views!

PETS AND ANIMALS
CUT PET BOWL-CLEANUP TIME IN HALF!
If you're sick of scraping crusty leftovers from your animal's dish, spray the inside with a light coating of cooking spray before adding his food.  The slick base will prevent the chow from sticking to the bottom of the bowl, so all you'll have to do between feedings is wipe and rinse for a spotless result.

CLIP A FRISKY FELINE'S CLAWS WITH EASE!
When it comes to nail-clipping time, your cat goes ballistic.  To the rescue:  clothespins.  First, approach the feline when she is relaxed.  Then attach four clothespins down the scruff of her neck.  The pins mimic her mother's grip (while leaving both of your hands free), which will instantly soothe her for a stress-free grooming session.

MONEY and FINANCE
MONEY LESSONS - FOR KIDS!

Helping your kids with money now could put them on the path to riches as they grow up, says financial guru Linda Y. Leitz, CFP, M.B.A.  Her advice:

• Give them their own money.  Allowances help children gain financial independence - try $1 per year of age (so a 10-year-old gets $10 a week).  teens can also open a bank account to teach them to budget.
• Do some comparison shopping.  Young children don't always know how much things cost, but you can help them by comparing items they like.  For example, with $1, they can buy candy and get change, or an ice cream for the whole dollar.  Studies show kids who can gauge values are more financially responsible later.

DO YOU TEND TO BE LEFT-BRAINED OR RIGHT?
TRY THIS THUMB TEST TO FIND OUT!

Interlock the fingers of your hands, and place one thumb on top of the other.

Analysis:
The brain works in two general modes. In one mode (often called ‘right-brained’), it is more intuitive, visual, and creative. In the other (often called ‘left-brained’), it is more logical, sequential, and language based. In many ways, it is like having an artist and accountant arguing in your head, and you keep flipping between the two.

All of us work in both modes, but everyone naturally tends towards one or the other.

People who place their right thumb on top of their left thumb tend to be left-brain dominant, and are thus more verbal and analytical. Those placing their left thumb on top of their right thumbs tend to be a right-brain dominant, and thus excel in visual, spatial and intuitive tasks.








Resource(s):
Reader's Digest magazine, tesh.com, Consumer Reports magazine, The Oprah magazine, Womans World magazine, Men's Health magazine, Quirkology.com, Best Health magazine, homesafe.com, Money magazine, Macleans magazine, Better Homes and Garden magazine