Blog Title: Hotties Tips

Make Perfume

Reputable designers create perfumes with distinctively fragrant aromas. You probably know that these prestigious items are often pricey. Why not create your own perfume to smell elegant without the need to shell out several hundreds of dollars for only a few bottles?

When making your own perfume, you must be aware of the fragrances that go well with your own bodily scent. People who sweat a lot should wear a subtle fragrance or the mixture of perfume and sweat will make the person smell pungent. On the other hand, folks who do not sweat much can wear strong scents since they don’t have to worry about the chemical reactions between perfume oils and their bodily secretions.

Materials Used:

* alcohol
* Lavender oil
* Bergamot oil
* water
* perfume bottle
* small jar

Procedure:

1. Purchase the oils from a reputable cosmetics shop. Never settle for the cheap ones so that you can produce perfume that has long- lasting scent.
2. Grab a used perfume bottle from your closet. If you do not have any available, you can use a small vial that is tipped with a spraying apparatus.
3. Fill a small jar with water.
4. Place 10 droplets of both oils in the jar.
5. Close the jar’s cover, then shake it until the components are completely mixed.
6. Open the lid. If you do not like the scent, you can adjust the amounts of both oils, until you get a fragrance that you like.
7. Store the jar in your closet for two days. Keep it away from sunlight to preserve the perfume’s scent.
8. After two days, get the jar and transfer some of its contents to the perfume bottle.
   

How To Make An Amazing Glowing Ice Bulb

What do you get if you put an LED inside a balloon and freeze it? The Ice Bulb. It looks really cool yet is dead simple to make. Check out instructables.com for more fun projects. Enjoy!

Make a Healthy Potato Chips

Everyone loves potato chips. The only things more American are Natural Light and arson. We thought we would share our way of making our own potato chips with you. They are HALF the price, HALF the fat, TWICE the flavor, and TWICE as awesome- plus you can make them any kind of crazy flavor you want to. They are healthier and tastier because they are baked, not deep-fried. Baked chips are expensive in stores, but you can make them for next to nothing.

1. Get some potatoes. I used the little tiny ones, but you can use whatever you have laying around. Experiment to find out which ones you like best.
   



2. Wash your potatoes. Peel them if you want to, but I like to leave the skin on.
   



3. Slice the potatoes between one-eighth and one-sixteenth inches thick (about 2-6 mm for you non-American readers), use a mandolin if you have one. Thickness is something that you can experiment with, it's mostly preference, but it has a pretty big effect on cooking time.
   



4. Put all of your sliced potatoes into a bowl. Add about a teaspoon of your favorite oil (I like olive oil).
   



5. Toss the potato slices in the oil. Slowly add more oil and toss if you need to. Go with about a teaspoon at a time. Only add enough to coat, if you have oil pooling in the bottom of the bowl, you have added too much.
   



6. Get a baking pan and cover it with aluminum foil. Spray that foil with your favorite non-stick spray. If you don't the chips will stick, and will be really hard to remove.
   



7. Lay your oil-coated potato slices in a single layer on the baking sheet.
   



8. Heat your oven to 400 degrees (F), set the timer for twenty minutes. This isn't the total cooking time, since we will watching them to see when they are done.
   



9. Put the potatoes into the oven and keep an eye on them. They are done when the edges start to curl up. I like mine a little more crispy, so I left mine in a little longer. It's another personal preference thing that you can play around with.
   
   



10. When the chips are done, pull them out and set them aside to cool. If you want to put some seasoning on them, this is the time to do it. Most people will add a little salt, but you can get creative with your toppings. I like mine with some black pepper and Old Bay seasoning.. 10Enjoy your chips!
    

Make Toast With Pictures In It

1. Get a piece of bread and draw the picture that you want toasted onto it. I used that fake spray-on butter, because in my experiences the result is usually better, and it is easier to draw your picture.
   
   
   



2. Turn your stove on HIGH. Let it sit for a minute. You want it to be really hot.
3. Put your piece of toast face down in the pan (with the picture facing the heat source). Make sure to do it very gently, because you can't slide it at all once it goes into the pan.
4. Let it toast for a few minutes.
   
   



5. Lift up your piece of toast and check out your picture.
   
   

Make Wine Out of Grape Juice

1. Get some grape juice.
2. Mix the grape juice with 2 parts water. (The less water, the stronger the wine. Use all grape juice if you want it really strong)
3. Mix in just enough sugar to where it starts to turn cloudy.
4. Add half of a packet of yeast. (A whole packet if you are making a lot.)
5. Find a container to make the wine in. I would suggest a plastic container.
6. Poke a small hole in the lid of the container. This is to let the carbon dioxide produced during fermentation out of the container. If the hole is too small to let the carbon dioxide out, the wine will spoil, but if the hole is too big, and air gets in, you will have vinegar. Experiment, this part takes some experience.
7. Mix everything together and put on the lid.
8. Store in a cool, dark place for 3-7 days. (Until the small bubbles stop rising to the top.)
   Warning: Step 8 smells. Bad.
   
9. After the bubbles stop rising, open the bottle and prepare a white coffee filter.
   
10. Run the mixture through the white coffee filter to get all of the excess sugar and yeast out.
    
11. Throw away the filter and all the stuff in there.
    
12. Enjoy!

Tips about How To Get Extra Food at the Cafeteria

This is case specific, so this will cover basic strategies using pizza as an example.

1. Select a food item that is wide in size, in our case pizza.
2. Place one piece in the main tray.
3. Next, select two pieces, preferably connected together, and set them carefully over the first slice.
4. Look at your choices for a side. With your side dish of choice pile it sloppily so that it flows over on to your pizza. (There you have it, three slices for the price of two).
5. Remember it is all about appearances, so take a quick look over your work for flaws.
6. Body language and mood. When in the line act annoyed and in a hurry. Lunch ladies already feel pressured to get students out of line, so it doesn't take much acting from you to make her feel nervous and hurried.
7. Other notes: Loose "multi" foods are easy. Case in point, chicken nugget day. Just grab a couple extra nuggets and slide them into your bag of nuggets or have them rest in your hand holding the tray. Shove nuggets into your mashed potatoes or into some bread.
   

Drinks- generally they are a no-go because you cannot change their size or appearance. The only possible option is to purchase your lunch, go back for another drink and attempt to walk out. If confronted, claim you forgot your drink initially.

Eat extra food in line before you pay.

How To Make Fire Balls

The video below probably can help you to learn to make fire balls that you can hold in your hands. Simple tutorial with nice music.

Things To Do When You're Bored

THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH ANOTHER PERSON

Have a water gargling contest
(Amusement Potential: 5-10 minutes)
Put a glassful of water in your mouth and see how long you can keep gargling for. Award yourself extra points for loud and amusing gargling noises, and minus points if you laugh.

Stare at the back of someone's head until they turn around
(Amusement Potential: 2-5 minutes)
This works on the "I have the feeling I'm being watched" principle. Conduct an experiment-does this really work?

Have a "Who is less competitive" competition
wonder (Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes)
Trying to win at this will make you lose. Trying to lose makes you win which makes you lose. Not trying at all makes you lose which makes you win which makes you lose.

Pick up a dog so it can see things from your point of view
(Amusement Potential: 3-5 minutes)
Think about it: your dog has only seen the house from a viewpoint from 6" to 2' high (15 to 60 cm for all you metric fans). It's never seen the tops of counters, what you keep on your desk, the tops of shelves, etc. Try looking at things from its point of view, too.

Pull out a hair, stick in someone's ear
(Amusement Potential: 1-5 minutes)
Best done to sleeping people. Added challenge in having no one else around, because then you can't blame it on anyone else. Try to beat your record number of times before the person catches on.

Pour water in hand, make sneeze noise, throw water on back of person's neck
(Amusement Potential: 5-15 minutes)
Always a good gag. For an even bigger reaction out of the person, act like you're not sorry at all for what they think you did. Comment instead on how big that sneeze was or about how there was a lot of mucus in that one.



THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

Blink wildly and then close your eyes really tight for an interesting light show
(Amusement Potential: 1-5 minutes)
See a variety of blobs, stars and flashes. Try to make out shapes and see if your subconscious is trying to send you a message (perhaps that funny shape is saying, 'send all your money to urban75.com'?)

See how long you can hold a note
(Amusement Potential: 4-20 minutes)
Not that much fun, but it sure passes the time. Play with a friend, or try to beat your own personal best. Inhale deeply and then try and make a noise for as long as you can. Earn extra points for making your partner laugh or ending on an amusing note.

Try to not think about penguins
(Amusement Potential: 1-5 minutes)
This is especially hard, because by trying too much, you remember what you were trying to avoid thinking of. If you try too little, you end up thinking about penguins anyway.

Use your secret mind power
(Amusement Potential: 5-10 minutes)
Pick a passing by and try to use your mind power to command them do something, like drop their bag or knock into someone. The law of averages dictates that sooner or later one of your mind commands will come true, so you can convince yourself that you really have super human powers and waste even more time trying them out.

Pretend you're a robot
(Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes)
Walk down the street with mechanical movements, adding 'zzzzzt' sounds with each motion. Pretending to have a motor broken in, say, your left hand can add at least 30 seconds more entertainment.

Scratch yourself
(Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes)
Go ahead, scratch yourself now. Even if nothing itches, go ahead. Doesn't that feel pretty good?

Rate passers by
(Amusement Potential: 10-15 minutes)
Secretly award passers by marks out of ten as you go along, offering (unsaid) expert criticism over their clothing, hairstyle and footwear choices.

Repeat the same word over and over until it loses its meaning
(Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes)
Pick a random word out of a magazine and say it aloud to yourself until it becomes a meaningless set of noises.

Pinch yourself
(Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes)
What is pain? Why is it unpleasant? There's nothing physical about it - it's all in your mind. Plus, after pinching yourself for awhile, boredom will seem nice next to being in pain.

Try to swallow your tongue
(Amusement Potential: 1-2 minutes)
There's not much to say about this one. It is possible, but really stupid.

Pretend to be a car
(Amusement Potential: 5-10 minutes)
Make appropriate revving noises in your head as you walk along and add a racing commentary as you pass strangers in the street. Use blinking eyes as indicators for extra authenticity.

Make Star Trek door noises
(Amusement Potential: 1-2 minutes)
Stand by an electric door to a bank or something and make that silly "Scccccccchwop" sound heard whenever people popped on to the bridge to hang with Captain Kirk.

Look at something for awhile, shut eyes, study after image
(Amusement Potential: 2-5 minutes)
Another great time waster. It takes about 30 seconds of staring to create an after image, and the image is then viewable for about the same length of time. Fun to combine this one with pushing on your eyes.

Get yourself as nauseated as possible
(Amusement Potential: 5-10 minutes)
Best achieved by looking straight up and spinning around. Try to be so dizzy you can't even stand up. This is also entertaining due to the "makes boredom seem a lot better" effect (see "Hurt Yourself").

Invent a weird twitch
(Amusement Potential: 5-10 minutes)
Adopt a bizarre twitch (e.g. flicking your head irregularly, twitching with eye or busting out sporadic cough noises) and try it out when you go shopping.

Make a low buzzing noise
(Amusement Potential: 15-30 minutes)
Hours of fun in libraries! Keeping a totally straight face and looking nonchalant, make a low pitch humming/buzzing noise and see who reacts.



THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH VERY LITTLE

See what's in your neighbour's rubbish/trash
(Amusement Potential: 20-30 minutes)
You can learn a lot about people by what they throw out. You might uncover some dark secret about them. Plus, they might be throwing out something with value that still works, like a VCR or some porn mags.

Watch TV, repeat everything said in Italian accent
(Amusement Potential: 5-10 minutes)
Sort of entertaining. Include flamboyant shoulder shrugs for added impact, or go for a Marlon Brando set of grunts.

Send spooky emails
(Amusement Potential: 15-60 minutes)
Look up someone's CV on the web, do some research on them via Google and then send them an email full of personal references claiming to be an ex-work colleague who fell in love with their shoes. Or something.

Play our useless games
(Amusement Potential: how long have you got?)
Waste away the hours with our collection of useless games

Make prank phone calls
(Amusement Potential: 20-60 minutes)
Very entertaining, but requires discipline. Remember - vulgarities don't make a call funny, but getting the other person to believe a ridiculous story will. Try seeing if you can get them to make noises to 'test' the line. One to get you started off: Call McDonalds with weird complaints about their food.

Pretend all humans will die except for people in room with you
Amusement Potential: 10-20 minutes)
What would you do if this really happened? Would the group stay together, or would there be factions? Who would join what group? Remember, there would only be power for a few days before the plants ran out of fuel or broke. To travel, you would always have to be near cars to siphon gas out of. Best to do with people you know.

Step off a curb with eyes shut, imagine it's a cliff
(Amusement Potential: 2-5 minutes)
To get any benefit out of this one, you have to have a good imagination. Don't step off immediately, build up to the jump. Study the ravine below. Feel the winds at that altitude. Step off and...AHHHHHH!!!!!

Try and sound Welsh
(Amusement Potential: 1-3 minutes)
The key to sounding Welsh is to make sure that your voice goes up at the end of the sentence, so that everything sounds like a question. Throw in a superfluous 'isn't it?' at the end of everything you say and you're halfway there. Isn't it?

Burn things with a magnifying glass
(Amusement Potential: 5-30 minutes)
Ants are always fun to use for this, but burning the face of someone you don't like, under some circumstances, can be just as entertaining.

DISCLAIMER: Obviously, a lot of these suggestions are really dumb things to do, so don't take them seriously.

How To Cut Your Own Hair

For some people, going to the salon or barber shop is an enjoyable experience. For others, it is something that they would rather not do. Whether it is because of the cost or other factors, if you decide to cut your own hair, you should keep a few things in mind.

Let's get started with these helpful tips.

1. Wet hair is much easier to cut than dry hair. Start with freshly shampooed, tangle-free hair. Keep a bottle of water with a spray nozzle nearby so that you can dampen your hair if it begins to dry while you are working on it.
2. Be sure that your scissors are nice and sharp to avoid pulling your hair. If you plan to cut your hair on a regular basis, it will be worth investing in a good quality pair of scissors designed specifically for use on hair.
3. No matter what style you choose, cut a little at a time, especially if you are a beginner. You can always cut it a little shorter, but once you've gone too short, all you can do is wait for it to grow back!
4. Simple styles are best for home hair cuts. The easiest cut will be one length everywhere. Decide on an overall length (it's a good idea to measure your hair when you have a cut that you find especially flattering) and then grab your ruler. Working in small sections, comb your hair straight out from your scalp and hold a section smoothly between your index and middle fingers. Measure to the desired length and carefully snip off the excess. Continue in this manner until you have cut all of your hair. This method works equally well for both men and women. The length of the chosen cut can vary from quite short to shoulder length and beyond.
5. You may want to start with a professional cut and then just trim about the same amount of hair from all areas of your head every month or two to maintain the style. Be aware that on most people, the hair on one side of their head grows faster than on the other, so if you choose this method, you will need to visit your stylist every now and then as the cut begins to get uneven.
6. Another idea for a simple, yet attractive cut is to lean over and comb all of your wet hair straight forward. Smooth sections of your hair through your fingers and cut all hair in one straight line across. Be sure to work in small sections and continue from one side to the other. Double check to see that the cut feels pretty even and then stand upright. Part your hair in the middle and comb it straight down. Run small sections of your hair between your index and middle fingers to see if there are any long pieces. If you find some, carefully snip off the excess.
7. If you have curly hair, be sure to cut your hair considerably longer than the desired finished length. Curls shrink up quite a bit as they dry, so you must allow for this. If your hair is very thick or coarse, hold very small sections of hair for trimming. Trying to cut too much hair at once, especially for thick hair, can make the hair bend between the blades of the scissors, instead of cutting evenly.
8. For all styles, when you think that you are finished, be sure to check that the cut feels even everywhere. Simply take sections of hair from opposite sides of your head and gently tug them toward your eyes, nose, chin and jaw line to see that the sides are fairly evenly matched. Carefully trim prices that seem a little too long.
9. For bangs, begin with your hair parted in the center. Using your comb, take an equal amount of hair from each side of the part line and comb it forward. Smooth the hair between your index and middle fingers and cut across, being careful to maintain a straight line.
10. Currently, many men are choosing to wear their hair "buzzed" or cut extremely short. This cut can be easily achieved at home by using an electric hair clipper. These lightweight clippers allow you to set the blades to your desired length, ranging from completely bald to several inches of hair. By simply running the clipper across your head repeatedly, you will clip all hair to the desired length. For the easiest men's haircut of all, simply lather up with a thick shaving cream and shave your head smooth. This look is especially favored by athletes.
11. One word of caution--keep it simple. If you are inexperienced at cutting your own hair and looking for a complicated style with many angles or layers, you will probably need to enlist the help of a friend to be sure that your haircut is even in areas that are difficult for you to reach.
12. As you get more comfortable cutting your own hair, you may want to attempt more complicated styles. There are a number of terrific books and videos available that offer step-by-step guidance. A video can be especially helpful since you get to see the procedure in action and can replay it as many times as necessary to help you fine-tune your skills.

Related Videos:

Short Hair Styles for Women

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A Guide to African American Hairstyles

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Haircutting tutorial: How to cut your bangs and layer your hair

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Tip to Smoke The Turkey

1. First thaw the Turkey
Always thaw the turkey in the refrigerator, never at room tamperature or in water. Bacteria will start growing in the thawed part of the turkey before the deepest interior thaws. You and your guests will get sick, and that will just ruin your holiday. Allow a day in the refrigerator for every four to five pounds of bird, so a 16 pound turkey will take four days to thaw, and a twenty pound turkey will take five. I don't recommend smoking a turkey over 20 pounds unless you have experience and a large grill. You may not be able to cook it all the way through.

2. Start the charcoal.
Use (and recommend) a charcoal chimney, but liquid starter is OK if you do it right. For liquid starter, soak the briquettes thoroughly and let sit for five minutes, then light. The coals are ready when 80% of the surface is white. If you start cooking before the coals are hot all the way through, you may end up with a petroleum taste. You are going to be adding more charcoal over the course of the several hours it will take to smoke your turkey. How long it will take to smoke your turkey will depend on the type of grill and what temperature you can achieve inside your grill. We will discuss grill differences and cooking times more below.

3.Prepare the turkey for the grill.
Remove the plastic. Remove the giblets and the neck. Look at both the body cavity and under the big flap of skin that covers the hole where the neck was. Carefully unfasten the wire that holds the legs together, paying attention to how it fastens. Set it aside. You will be putting it back the way it was. Preheat the oven to 400° F.

4.Wash the outside of the bird with plain, cold water.
Rinse the body cavity and let it drain. Choose a roasting pan a bit larger than the bird and line it with foil to prevent the turkey from sticking to the pan, or just get a thick foil roasting pan at the store for this use. Make sure this pan will fit on the grill. The pan you use will end up with a heavy coating of smoke that will never come off, so if this is a concern, get the disposable pan. Spray the pan with non-stick spray, especially the sides. Pat the turkey dry and apply a thick coating of cooking oil all over the bird. Oil the opening to the body cavity as well, and then put the wire back that holds the legs together. Put the turkey in the oven for 20-30 minutes to kill surface bacteria.

5. I started with a vertical water smoker.
I still have it, but I haven't used it for years. It smoked many turkeys. It is a tall cylinder with a domed lid. It has two enamel pans inside. The lower pan sits at the bottom and holds the charcoal. The second enamel pan hangs in the middle. It is filled with water and flavorings. It serves as a heat shield and adds moisture (and more flavor) to the smoky air inside that surrounds the meat. These smokers are cheap (around $50 or a bit less). You can smoke a 15-16 pound turkey easily in one, maybe even larger, depending on the brand of the smoker. These smokers have a crude temperature gauge and a door in front for adding more charcoal and wood chunks. Try to get the temperature to high, although it may be difficult, depending on the outside temperature and the wind. Plan on smoking a minimum of six or seven hours, or longer for a larger bird. The skin will turn dark brown from the smoke in the first half hour. It will be nearly black by the time you finish. The enamel water pan offers some interesting options. I have put wine and all kinds of fresh herbs in the pan to add flavor to the smoke. If you hear a loud sizzle when checking your turkey, it means all the liquid in the water pan has evaporated. Add more.

5. Bigger grills offer more options and the ability to smoke larger birds and develop higher temperatures. My grill is 21" in diameter and 30" long. The box on the side is 11" in diameter and 18" long. I can easily get the internal temperature to 350° F, so I can actually roast a turkey in it and take no longer than the oven in the house. I choose not to, however, to develop a better smoke flavor over time. I put 75% of the charcoal and wood only in the firebox on the side at first. After several hours of smoking, I add more charcoal to the main compartment and add wood to both it and the firebox. I find that five to six hours of smoking and roasting will produce a turkey with outstanding flavor, and it does not have to be finished in the oven.

7. Whichever type of grill you use, some general principles apply. Take the turkey from the oven where you killed off the surface bacteria. Add ½" of water to the roasting pan. Adding 2-3 tablespoons of white wine is a nice touch. Maintain this level of liquid throughout the smoking and roasting process. To be safe, the turkey needs to reach an internal temperature of 165° F, measured at the thickest part of the breast and thigh. If it does not reach this temperature, it is not safe to eat, and you will need to finish the turkey in a 350° F oven. You also need to make sure the turkey does not dry out. Brush the turkey with oil every hour or two to keep moisture sealed in. This is very important. Keep in mind that the grill may be hotter on one side of the turkey. Rotate the pan 90 or 180 degrees each time you baste it with oil so it will cook evenly. Keep adding wood and charcoal to keep the temperature up and the smoke rolling.

8. The type of wood smoke you use is a very important consideration when you smoke a turkey. The type of wood will have a big impact on the flavor of the turkey. It is hard to go wrong with
hickory. We are all used to hickory flavoring in bacon and ham. It is safe and familiar. Mesquite is a popular choice in Texas. Many fruitwoods are used to smoke a turkey. Someone once told me that if the tree produces fruit or a nut you like to eat, it is a good candidate as a smoking wood. Sounds like good advice to me. Pecan, apple, peach, and hickory are all good. I like oak, but not everyone does. An excellent option is to build a hot fire from oak, let it burn down to coals, and then use it rather than charcoal at first. Use the oak for heat, and add chunks of other wood for flavoring.


9. Again: you absolutely cannot smoke a turkey safely without a meat thermometer. A simple small instant-read thermometer is only about $5.00. Buy one.

10. When the turkey reaches the right internal temperature, bring it in and transfer it carefully to a platter for carving and cover with aluminum foil. Let it rest for at least 15-20 minutes, and it will carve much more easily and be juicier. Use the pan drippings to make the most wonderful gravy. You will have way more than you will use at this meal. Separate and discard the fat and freeze the broth to make a surprise gravy or two throughout the coming months.

And there you have the secrets to the best turkey you can imagine, better than roasted, better than fried. Smoked turkey will be so popular with your family that you'll have to prepare it at least once a year. And the more times you prepare it, the better at it you will get.

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How To Cook a Turkey

Quit Smoking Tips

Ideas to Help You Quit Smoking

Want to Quit?

You promised yourself that you would finally quit smoking.

It isn't easy giving up something that is so much a part of what you do every day.

But you are not alone. Over 1 million people each year decide to quit and are successful.

Tried Quitting Before?

Maybe once, maybe more...

You started out feeling the time was right, but for whatever reason, you're smoking again. Now, you're asking whether it's worth it to try quitting again. You bet it is!

Quitting is hard, but don't give up!

Some smokers try a number of times before they quit for good. Studies show that each time you try to quit, the more likely you will be to eventually succeed. With each try, you are better able to know what helps and what hurts. Any attempt to quit is a step in a healthier direction.

Pregnant?

There's no better time to quit.

And for two very good reasons:

• You.

• Your baby.

Even if someone you know smoked during pregnancy and had a problem-free delivery, smoking puts your baby's health at risk. Quitting at any time during pregnancy is still the best chance for you and your baby to get a fresh start.

It is also important to remember that infants and children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to develop health problems such as chronic ear infections and asthma. Helping to eliminate these health risks is another good reason to quit.

How Do I Start?

Make a Plan

You may want to:

• Consult a health care professional to choose a quit smoking plan that is best for you.

• Set a quit date and stick to it.

• Get the support and understanding of your family, friends, and co-workers.

• Get rid of all tobacco products and ashtrays.

• Get Support and Encouragement

U.S. Public Health Service (PHS)-funded research shows the more support you have, the greater your chance for success.

Join a quit smoking program or start your own quit smoking group. Check with your health care professional, local hospitals, the American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, or American Heart Association for schedules for existing groups.

Learn How to Handle the Urge to Smoke

Be aware of the things that may cause you to smoke, such as:

• Other smokers.

• Stress.

• Depression.

• Alcohol.

• What Works?

• Current treatments

There are no magic solutions for quitting smoking. But, if you are ready to quit, effective treatments are available that can help reduce the urge to smoke.

Studies show that almost everyone can benefit from these nicotine and non-nicotine replacement therapies.

• Nicotine Replacement Therapy

• Nicotine patch.

• Nicotine gum.

• Nicotine nasal spray.*

• Nicotine inhaler.*

• Non-Nicotine Therapy

• Bupropion SR.*

Diabetes Health Tips

Diabetes - General Information

Artificial Pancreas Safe, Effective in Early Study
An "artificial pancreas" designed to deliver the key blood sugar-regulating hormone insulin to diabetic patients without the need for injections has been found safe and effective in a preliminary study with ten patients.

The device is an insulin reservoir, implanted in the tissue lining the abdominal cavity and connected to a sensor implanted in the jugular vein. The reservoir requires insulin refills every month or so. When the sensor detects an increase in blood glucose, the reservoir delivers the required amount of insulin.

Frozen Shoulder

Blood Glucose Testing
Most insurances now pay for diabetics to have blood glucose monitoring equipment in the home. Keeping the machines clean and in good working order are vital for accurate results. Follow the manufacturers' instructions for proper cleaning and maintenance.

Blood Glucose Testing Tip
Be sure hands are clean before performing the test, but don't use alcohol to cleanse your fingertip. It's drying and may cause fingertips to crack. Wash hands with a mild antibacterial soap like Dial.

Diabetes Test After Heart Attack Shows Future Risk
Testing patients who have had heart attacks for signs of diabetes before they leave the hospital may identify those with the highest risk of future heart attacks. Many people hospitalized for a heart attack have undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes, a term coined to describe the millions of overweight and obese people who have blood sugar levels suggesting an elevated risk of full-blown diabetes. Medications, exercise and diet changes, all of which can restore normal glucose levels, may reduce the risk of heart attacks in patients who have already had a heart attack.

Diabetic Dental Care
Immaculate mouth care is a must. Diabetics are much more prone to gum disease. More frequent dental visits may be needed and careful brushing and flossing are a necessity. Avoid ill-fitting dentures that may cause mouth sores.

Diabetic Eye Care
If you're a diabetic, regular visits to your eye care professional are a must to prevent problems that could lead to blindness.

Diabetic Foot Care Tips
* Take the pressure off your feet by losing weight if you are obese.
* Inspect your feet at least once per day. If you can't see well, ask someone to do it for you.
* Wash feet with mild soap and lukewarm water daily.
* Wear white cotton socks rather than synthetic ones with dyes.
* Don't go barefoot or wear ill-fitting shoes.
* See a podiatrist regularly for toenail trims and other routine maintenance.

Diabetics Are Prone to Foot Problems
Diabetics have decreased sensation and circulation in their feet making them prone to foot infections/wounds that could eventually lead to amputation.

Drug Could Delay Diabetes
Acarbose, a drug that blocks the digestion of starch, could prevent or delay the development of the most common form of diabetes in those with slightly high blood sugar.

Exercises to Avoid
Diabetics should avoid exercises that involve pushing or pulling heavy objects and lifting weights. Blood sugar levels and blood pressure are raised during this kind of exercise.

FDA Approves New Sweetener Neotame
A non-nutritive sweetener said to be 7,000 to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be marketed as an additive in candies, soft drinks and various other products.
Like other familiar sweeteners, Neotame is a white crystalline powder that dissolves in water. It is made by Monsanto, which also makes NutraSweet's sweetener Equal. Neotame is approved for use in baked goods, nonalcoholic beverages, chewing gum, confections, frozen desserts, gelatins and puddings, jams, jellies, fruit, juices, toppings and syrups.
The FDA declared the product to be safe for consumption after reviewing more than 113 animal and human studies, some of which looked at any possible links with cancer-causing or neurological side effects.

Inhaled Insulin
Inhaled insulin may soon offer an alternative to needles for people with diabetes.
Novo Nordisk, a Denmark-based company, has ongoing clinical trials to test the safety and effectiveness of an electronic pulmonary insulin system. They say it may be available in the United States and Europe within a few years.
This is the first electronic pulmonary insulin system currently being tested in clinical trials. It works by converting a special liquid insulin into aerosol particles, which are inhaled into the lungs.

Regular Exercise Is a Must
Exercise is extremely important for diabetics as it strengthens the cardiovascular system, increases circulation to the arms and legs and helps control blood sugar levels. Walking, jogging, rowing and swimming are best.

Shoes for Diabetics
* Avoid plastic shoes and waterproof shoes. They encourage perspiration and fungal growth.
* Avoid tight or unventilated footwear.
* Don't wear boots all day.
* Choose cotton or leather shoes.
* Wear sandals as much as possible in the summer.
* Don't wear the same shoes two days in a row.
* Air shoes in the sun to inhibit fungal growth.

Small, Frequent Meals
Diabetics should follow their American Diabetic Association diet and eat small meals more frequently such as three small meals with one or two healthful snacks between meals. This helps maintain a more stable blood sugar level.

Treatment of Hyperglycemia
Some symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) are: excessive urination, weight loss, excessive hunger and thirst. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor.

Treatment of Hypoglycemia
Some symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) are: cool, clammy skin, numbness of the mouth, a fluttering in your chest, hunger and feeling faint. Emergency treatment includes ingesting something containing sugar like orange juice, a candy bar, or sugared soda pop. Follow that with some cheese or peanut butter crackers to sustain your blood sugar level.

Relax with yoga

If you need to relax a bit yoga techniques can help you to find your inner peace. Find out how you can get a bit of relax following these easy steps, watch this video and practice this yoga exercise to achieve total relax.

Yoga: salute to the sun

Yoga is an ancient physical and spiritual practice originating in India which combines the practice of exercises, called asanas, with breathing and meditation.
Yoga helps to relax, can improve your physical health and also your mental health. There are many reasons for practising this technique, and now you can make yoga at home, and for free. Learn how to practise yoga online, we will offer you the best resources.
The salute to the sun is a basic yoga exercise, with many benefits for your body and mind. Learn here the salute to the sun and start pracising now.

Practice yoga: Basic yoga exercises

Here you have a basic yoga routine to practice anywhere. Yoga combines breathing with exercise and meditation.
These Yoga exercises are appropriate for beginners, so start now to practice yoga at home, improve your health and relax.

Make a felted handbag

Make dolls

Make cross stitch

Learn to make cross stitch in only five minutes watching this video with instructions and a free pattern to sew yourself. Enjoy this needlework!



Cross Stitch In 5 Minutes - Free videos are just a click away

How To Make a Long Distance Relationship Work

Long-distance relationships can be extremely hard. Not only is it difficult because you can not see or talk to your partner as frequently as usual, but practically everyone you meet will have a horror story about how a long-distance relationship failed for them. I once read that absence diminishes small love and increases great ones. Keep this in mind when you are going through rough times. If you have not yet committed to a long-distance relationship and are contemplating it, know that it is a huge commitment. Make sure that you really love the other person and that it is worth it for you to make certain sacrifices. Below are some guidelines to make it work.

1. Be honest about what you expect from each other. Do you want the freedom to date other people? Are you comfortable with your partner making friends with the opposite sex? Are you going to try the long-distance thing out and stick with it if it seems to work, but not try to force the relationship? Discuss these things with your partner and be honest about your expectations. This way, everything is out in the open and it will lessen the suspicions you have about the other person. Also, you never have to question if you are crossing a boundary.

2. Coordinate your schedules. Be realistic about the time commitment you can give each other. If it works for both of your schedules, plan on talking at a particular time at night. However, this can place stress on you if you end up wanting to go out with friends and your long-distance partner is not understanding about your need to be social and branch out, or gets jealous of the time you spend with other people. No matter what, try to keep in touch daily through phone calls, E-mail, AIM, or other means. Download Skype, net2phone, or phonefree. Its free to talk online if you both download programs like these ... no matter where you are. Also, consider a web cam for a more personal connection.

3. Make plans in advance to see each other in person. If you set firm dates to see each other and stick to them, it makes the wait less difficult because you can spend time planning outings with your partner and looking forward to seeing them. When you mutually agree on certain times to see each other, it lessens problems that can arise from one person feeling like they are pressuring the other into seeing them and the other feeling like the are too busy and are pushing away from the relationship because of the pressure.

4. Arrange to participate in long-distance activities together. Meet online to play games against each other or watch a television show at the same time. Also, try “virtual dates” Send you partner an E-mail describing a place (for example, a beach) and a time (dusk). Ask them to describe what kind of date they would have with your in this setting ,what you would wear, talk about, eat, what activities you would take part in, etc. Doing little activities like this together helps you to reconnect and remember the day-to-day fun you used to have.

5. Do not make issues larger than they actually are. In long-distance relationships, communication can be very difficult. Avoid fighting over small issues ... with the communication barriers, these small things can turn into big fights. Agree to disagree when it looks like you aren’t making any progress. In these types of relationships, you are bound to have feelings of uncertainty and doubt. Don’t make any drastic changes unless you are absolutely positive that things aren’t working. Threatening to break up every time you two are going through a rough patch wont help the situation at all, particularly if you aren’t serious about ending it. Do communicate honestly about problems that you are having with the long-distance situation, but do it in a manner that is constructive and problem-solving.

6. Surprise them. Send flowers or chocolates to your partner’s office. For an extra-special treat, Fed-Ex them food from their favorite restaurant back home. Send cards for no reason and E-mails just to let them know that you are thinking about them.

7. Share the details of your life. Talk about the little things that happen in your day. Keep your partner informed about what you are up to at work and socially. Call your partner for advice. When you had the chance to spend more time together, you talked about these things, right? It will help maintain a sense of normalcy and a sense of trust between the two of you.

8. Focus on the future. A long-distance relationship will not work forever. Make plans to live in the same city as soon as possible. Ambiguity about the future will add tension and doubt.

9. Never assume the worst. If your partner is late calling you one day or you hear someone else’s voice in the background, ask them what is going on before flying into a fit of rage and accusing them of being unfaithful. If you can’t get a hold of them, call a friend instead and distract yourself. No matter what, don’t stress over it.

10. Meet your partner’s friends and have your partner meet your friends. It will help you have more trust in the relationship if you develop mutual friends who can reassure you when you are having doubts. Although you don’t want to have to turn to someone else to solve all of your problems, it can definitely be beneficial to have someone else there to assuage your fears.

Online Dating Tips

There’s a nervousness, thrill, and excitement that occurs when meeting a person for the first time face to face. Yet amongst the thrill, remember to always be on your guard when going out on a date with someone you barely know.

Here are 12 tips on dating safety to help you get started:

1. Arrange to meet him. Don’t let him pick you up from your home.

2. Meet in public places. If possible, double date or go out with a group of people.

3. Go Dutch by paying half of the bill. That way you won’t feel under any obligation to return the favor.

4. Remember that alcohol affects your judgment and lessens your inhibitions. If you are drinking, keep your drink in sight at all times and don’t get so drunk that you don’t know what you are doing.

5. Use your own mode of transportation. And leave with a full tank.

6. Don't assume that a man is safe just because he claims to be religious.

7. Don’t let him know where you live. If you want to see him again, arrange a second date and then take it from there.

8. Avoid secluded areas such as parks.

9. Listen to your gut. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. And if you haven’t met him before, and you know at the beginning of the date that something doesn’t feel right, then leave immediately.

10. Always let someone else know where you're going and who you'll be with. You might even consider arranging a time to call and check in. Or you could arrange to meet up with friends later that night.

11. Give him your cell phone number instead of your home phone number.

12. Always remain alert. Even if you’re having a blast and the chemistry is great, it’s a good idea to remain alert the whole evening. Make sure you have a cell phone on you.

Make patchwork free tutorial

Make Origami Paper Rose

The Kawasaki paper rose is one of the most beautiful handicrafts that you can make with the origami technique.
I have already published a post with a great video tutorial showing how to make an origami rose.
Here is a new video with instructions. All you will need is a square piece of paper and some pacience to make it. Enjoy folding the origami rose!

Make crochet projects

Crayons on the wall

I saw a woman on TV. who used WD-40 and then cleaned it up with soap and water. So I figured I'd try - it was that or sand down the whole room and paint. I was AMAZED!! The crayon came off with minimal elbow grease!!!! and I mean there was A LOT of crayon on the wall - ALL GONE! My problem afterwards was the greasiness from the WD-40. Although the woman had suggested soap and water, I used a spray grease cutter and that worked well. Dishwasher detergent may also work, anything that is a grease cutter.

10 Essential Health Tips

1. Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends,