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Monday, January 17, 2011

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It's Time to Deck the Halls for Christmas

By Anya Shiela Richards


Do you feel the air getting colder around you? And look at those trees, their leaves are starting to fall, while old man winter is changing the landscape to winter white! People are on the rush to replace their furniture with beautiful plastic snowmen -an indication that it is about time to start decorating for the holidays and start baking those scrumptious cupcakes for Christmas.

I've been waiting all year long for this moment to come, a time where I need to take out all those Christmas and Thanksgiving decors that has long been kept in the attic. It's just sad to hear some people not having the interest to decorate due to the extensive process involve in the overall decoration.

But if you are someone like me that finds joy in decorating, you have probably spent all year round thinking about wonderful ideas for decorating. There are some important things I've learned in my several years of experience, and one of it is by letting your creativity rule over. And whether it's your first time to decorate or not, here are some tips that could help you come up with the perfect decoration:

First, you should be able to come up with your own theme. Though holiday is your main theme, it is good to come up with a sub-theme, like coming up with a color coordination whether rustic or modern in nature. Be sure to choose which ones suit your taste so you would be able to easily encapsulate it.

Try to decide ahead of time what you want your theme to be, it's not crime to decide even a year ahead of time, and then you can buy decorations after the holidays when they are on sale! Stock up on plenty of lights, lights can be used anywhere and everywhere. You will never be left feeling like you bought too many lights.

There is however, an art to buying lights. Lights come in endless shapes, sizes and colors. Everyone has a different opinion on white lights but, take it from me; you can never go wrong with white lights. White lights can easily be used to accent a plain decoration or to dress up a tawdry one. Starting with white decorations really puts an emphasis on whatever other color you choose to incorporate into your decorating theme.

Homemade decorations are actually the best. So if you can, you better make your own decorations at home. Try to come up with some cute garlands and pine cones that will serve as ornaments for your Christmas trees.

Using various accents while decorating makes all the difference in your holiday dcor. Candles are a popular choice for that simple added touch. A burning candle adds instant warmth and cheer to a room. Try using a holiday scented one. Many scents are available this year that smell like pine, freshly baked Christmas cupcakes or cupcake frosting.

Whatever you choose for your theme, don't be afraid to switch it up every year. The great thing about holiday dcor is that it can be mixed and matched every Christmas for a whole new look. The more unique your decorating is each year, the more you will look forward to finding new design ideas for the following year!




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Sunday, January 16, 2011

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Store and Handle your CO2 Cylinders the Right Away

By Marc Wallace


Disposable gas cylinders have many uses in various fields like medicine, aviation, military, sports, recreation and a few others. Its use is there in inflation, propulsion, cooling, pressurization and mechanical energy. Beverage dispensing, wine preservation, carbonation systems are a few things in which these gas cylinders are used in the food industry. Both the soda siphon and the cream whisk need gas filled cylinders for preparing soda water and whipped cream. The Food and Drug Administration has food safety norms which includes the HACCP certification which food grade disposable gas cartridges must have. HACCP or Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point is a preventive approach that checks and analyzes the production process from start to finish including the procurement of raw materials.

For soda water preparation, you would need HACCP certified carbon dioxide cylinders. If you have the HACCP certificate, you can be sure that the product can be used correctly without harming your health. The customer is assured of 100% quality and cleanliness when the gas cylinder is approved by the HACCP. Using the soda siphon along with the CO2 gas cylinder would be now a safe way of making soda water. One can use a gas cylinder with 8 grams of pure CO2 to charge a litre of water and gas cylinder with 16 grams of pure CO2 to charge beer. Its important to follow the instructions given by the manufacturer for using gas filled cylinders.

The gas-filled disposable gas cylinders used for the soda siphon and cream whipper are of the same shape and size. Make sure you know what type of gas your device needs. Carbon dioxide is used for the soda siphon to make soda water while nitrous oxide is used for the cream whipper in the preparation of fresh whipped cream. Use the same brand of gas cylinder and soda siphon according to the recommendations. The same quality and standards are assured in products with the same brand. The charger holder has two types of valves, the snap on and the screw in. The sodas siphon must have a perfectly fitting gas cylinder.

The siphon and carbon dioxide cylinders make the preparation of soda water easy. In order to make these gadgets last, make sure you follow the user instructions properly. After filling the siphon bottle with water as instructed and closing it, ensure that you have tightly secured the cover. The charge holder should be properly inserted with the CO2 gas cartridge by holding it straight up. The threading should not be seen and therefore the CO2 gas cartridge must be screwed in with great care. Ensure that the job is properly done or else there may be a leakage of gas. The bottle must be shaken vigorously at least 5 times. Ensure that you screw the cap back on to the charger holder when the empty cartridge is removed. The empty cartridge should be properly disposed off. You can recycle them 100%.

Packs of disposable gas cylinders are available in 10s and 25s. The gas cylinders must be stored securely away from the reach of children. They should be kept away from heat maybe in your pantry. The unused gas filled cylinders and the used ones must be kept separately. Do not get the cylinders of N2O and CO2 gas mixed up as they look the same and might confuse you.




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Saturday, January 15, 2011

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Acute Prostatitis Symptoms: What You Should Know

By Miranda Laranjo


When the prostate gland is inflamed for any reason, it is known as prostatitis. Specialized doctors known as urologists diagnose and treat this and other male reproductive diseases.

A sudden onset of it may develop secondary to an invasive procedure, trauma, infections, and bladder obstruction. Men ages 20-35 with multiple sexual partners are at an increase risk as are those who practice anal sex without protection. Men who have an enlarged prostate are at an increased risk of urinary infection.

Signs and Symptoms

Urinary frequency, slow stream, and pain on urination, urgency, difficult urination

Impotence, aching penis with lower abdomen and testicular discomfort

Pain between genitals and anus, painful bowel movements and ejaculation

Blood in urine, incontinency, retention

Chills, fever

Diagnosing:

Urine tests for bacteria and white blood cells

Anal palpation of the swollen prostate

Blood tests

An elevated blood prostate antigen hormone

Treatment

Antibiotics (such as Cipro) for at least 4 weeks, sometimes up to 8 weeks

Stool softeners to reduce discomfort

Some men may have to perform catheterizations to remove retained urine. Frequent and complete bladder evacuation is recommended to decrease symptoms of urinary retention and urgency

Warm baths (Sitz)

Avoid substances that irritate the bladder such as alcohol, caffeine, citrus juices, hot and spicy foods

Increasing fluid intake helps flush bacteria from bladder

Safe sex

Good hygienic skills

Drugs :

Remeron, an antidepressant, has side effects that greatly mimic such as urinary frequency, dysuria, incontinency, urgency, retention, and impotency. The urologist utilizes all available facts, medicine, and medical history to diagnose and treat it based on its cause. This is an example that not all is caused by an infectious agent.

The prostate is known as "a reservoir for the recurrent infection." Patients with (CBP) "often present with myriad subjective complaints. Only a few of these complaints offer diagnostic clues for CBP because the complaints are often not of an unusual nature and are not specific for CBP." CBP is a recurrent urinary tract infection with a single organism that persists in the prostatic fluid. (Ahuja, 2008).

If culture "results are positive, an expressed prostatic secretion (EPS) that contains bacteria of more than 10 WBCs per high-power field (WBCs/hpf) confirms the diagnosis." (Ahuja).

Prognosis

After treatment , the majority of men are symptom free but prone to recur and likely to develop chronic P. Early diagnosis and a full course of the appropriate treatment are necessary. Frequent urinary tract infections carry the risk of the infection entering the bloodstream. Safe sex and good hygiene is strongly encouraged.




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Friday, January 14, 2011

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Choosing Healthy Snacks Owings Mills

By Sybil Leach


When living, visiting, shopping, or eating out in this suburb of Baltimore, Maryland, there is no need to fear; it is easy to find healthy snacks Owings Mills. This rapidly-growing community reflects both its rural heritage and its up-scale metropolitan setting in its shops, food outlets, and marketplaces.

Owings Mills is an unincorporated community that will undoubtedly prove to have far more than the twenty thousand residents registered in the 2000 census. It has some industry but is best known as a shopping destination, with over twenty major malls. The Town Center and the huge Owings Mills Mall are surrounded by many individual store fronts, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

Because of the demand, there are farmers markets in the summer which bring in the best of the local produce from outlying areas. Those who rely on fresh fruits and vegetables for their snacking needs will find that this is the sort of place to come. Check the online city website for the days and the locations of the outdoor markets.

However, all year round there are many ways to get a healthy pick me up. In these modern, enlightened times, even some pizza outlets and hamburger joints are claiming that their menu items are lower in fat, sodium, and calories, contain purer and more natural ingredients, and feature salads and fruit dessert options.

There are many dedicated health food stores in the community. Some of these are long established unique stores and others are chain retailers with premises inside the malls so you can snack while you shop. All of these will have some certified organic products, high protein bars, fruit and nut snacks, and healthy drinks.

Actually, almost all stores that sell food now carry the healthier brands, like energy and protein and high fiber bars. Green tea can be found even in convenience store coolers, as can all-natural popcorn and healthier potato chips. Trail mix and sea-salted nuts are now on grocery store shelves, and the fruit based drinks that used to be exclusively in natural stores are now sold near the check-out registers with the candy bars and tabloids.

Those who require organic only will find that many of the vegetarian restaurants and fine dining spots use the organic greens and grass fed beef from the surrounding rural areas. There are certified organic fruits in most groceries, and many at least all-natural alternatives to the standard candy bar. Yogurt drinks, pomegranate juice, organic berries, and dried dates and other fruits make great snacks to carry along on your explorations.

No one who visits this popular Maryland city need resignedly settle for junk foods. Health snacks Owings Mills is a reality that is also conveniently near by no matter where you are.

healthy snacks Owings Mills




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Thursday, January 13, 2011

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Cajun Food Dallas And Its Origin

By Lee Jimenez


Cajun food is a rustic cuisine first brought to America by the French when Britain deported them from their country. Louisiana became their new home and with that they introduced creole style foods. A traditional Cajun food Dallas meal was made in 3 pots, one for steamed rice, one contained a main dish (meat) and one for seasonal vegetables served with a side of corn bread.

A main dish can consist of seafood and shell fish to include crayfish and oysters, fresh and salt water fish variations, pork, poultry and game birds such as chicken, duck, quail and dove. Alligator, turtle, and frog legs are other favorites. Mostly anything goes but beef, they reserve beef for stews. Main dishes can be cooked one of several was to include braised, boiled, barbecued, deep fried or baked.

There are favorite seasonings that go in almost every Cajun dish, some of those are bay leafs, oregano, Cayenne pepper, Thyme, Garlic and Sassafras leaves. Added to that there is onion, celery, bell peppers and sugarcane or molasses just to mention some. All are blended together to pull together the traditional creole taste that is known today.

Some of the favorite Cajun dishes include Boudin is a type of sausage made from pork, garlic and onion, with rice added and seasoned with spices. Another is Gumbo is made with chicken and sausage, all of the ingredients depend greatly on what is available and in abundance at the time. Next is Jambalaya it includes rice and peppers, onions, celery with several variations.

A special celebration that the Cajun's like to partake in is the crayfish boil best known and practiced still today in the south. It's an outdoor party where corn, potatoes and onions along with the crayfish are all boiled outside in large pots. They season the boil with small bags with dried herbs, and cayenne pepper are added to the pot. This concoction is known as crab boil to season the seafood. When it is time to eat the food is dished in large plates and eaten with ones hands.

There is also a celebration called a Boucherie, which is a pig slaughtering for the purpose of using and preserving every part of the pig including the internal organs for later use. It was a event to gather, dance, and socialize. Not much was wasted when it came to cooking and eating for the Cajuns.

An interesting fact about Cajun and creole seasonings is that there is no set recipe and it is mixed together to taste. There is no usage of teaspoon or table spoon in the recipes, it is simply (for example) bay leaves, sassafras, hot Chile powder and so on.

cajun food dallas




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Wednesday, January 12, 2011

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Ways To Achieve The Best Bridal Photos

By Beverly Hooligan


For women, weddings are indeed a "big day" that may occur only once in their lifetime. And since such occasion is extra special, the soon-to-be-wed couple ensures everything is set or prepared before the actual day comes.

Brides normally expect the best for their wedding day. No one seems to like having a not-so-planned wedding anyway. Your wedding day is in fact one of the rare times that will give you the opportunity to stand out and to feel most beautiful and happy.

Wedding planning usually requires much money and time on the part of the soon-to-be-wed couple. However, among other factors, hiring a bridal photographer is quite an essential aspect of wedding planning, particularly for the bride.

Surely you will aim to look your best in your wedding pictures. Bridal photos, after all, may last from one generation to another, so it is important that you know how to make your beauty shine through in every bridal photo.

No matter what the photographic style your wedding photographer uses, you can always find a way to shine and exude that certain aura of loveliness, beauty and joy through your bridal photos.

First, always work with a professional wedding photographer. However, talent is not the only factor that you should take into account; make sure your photographer is also one that you find enjoyable working with This will enable you to have a more enjoyable bridal photography session.

Second, it is helpful to communicate well with your bridal photographer. Tell your photographer, for example, your preferred angles for your bridal photos. Do you want to have more shots from below or above or from the side? It is always better to be clear to avoid miscommunication and disappointments.

Lastly, practice how to smile, pose and feel on the actual wedding day. Keep in mind that you are the star of the show because you are the bride. Therefore, aside from wearing that attractive wedding dress and beautiful make-up, make sure your personality and confidence become evident through your bridal pictures.




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Tuesday, January 11, 2011

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Fill the Wholes In Your Diet with Natural Supplements

By Brenda Hughes


Nutritional vitamin supplements are widely taken by a myriad of individuals round the world nowadays. If you would like to maintain ideal health, natural supplements, a nutritious diet, and of course regular exercise will likely take you a long way towards accomplishing your objective. Supplements can help the wellbeing of practically everyone today, since the eating habits of most people in this modern era are pretty poor in general.

If you are just like almost everyone, you infrequently pay much attention to the foods you put into your mouth. Some people are under the impression that all foods are the same.

Whereas good tasting food may be very gratifying, good tasting food is hardly always good for your health. Regardless of whether you have been adhering to a poor diet, you can still improve your dietary practices by taking a nutritional supplement. While you'd likely be able to enhance your health by eating healthier, you can begin to make a change in your life by taking the nutrients your system requires to efficiently fight off illnesses.

As a result of having a bad diet, you might develop a nutrient deficiency, a condition that causes illnesses. Once you start consuming vitamins and minerals though, the body will likely have access to the key essentials it requires to function.

Before you begin consuming multivitamins, or any other type of pill, you should evaluate the differences that are found between the many products that are being offered on the open market nowadays. Not all multivitamins are created alike and not all vitamin supplements will always be helpful to the body.

Before buying any products, make sure you first look at the reputability of the makers of the products that you're interested in. As a result of reviewing the companies that sell these products, you can be sure that you are obtaining premium merchandise once you make a purchase.

You must also review the list of ingredients that are placed on the pill boxes you are buying as well. Many products are of a subpar quality. You should definitely stay away from poor quality options, because these items usually do not offer the benefits that you are looking for.

After you have reviewed the manufacturer of the nutritional vitamins and minerals that you're thinking about, and you have reviewed the list of substances included with each product, you should review information about the most beneficial vitamins you can take. A lot of modern diets are greatly deficient in particular vitamins and minerals, but there are also a few vitamins that are commonly available in foods that are eaten by most people on a regular basis.

Once you have reviewed details about which nutritional supplements work well together and which vitamins are the most important to your overall health, you'll be able to acquire one of the best products you will obtain in the supplement industry today. By utilizing these guidelines before you make a purchase, you can be certain that you are taking a pill that will supply the nutrients you are not currently obtaining through your regular diet.

As natural supplements like hormone balance medicinals are specifically designed to boost the nutritional value of regular healthy meals, it is advisable to certainly take pills that will fill the holes in the diet you consume on an everyday basis. By taking a multivitamin or a specific type of vitamin or mineral, you can be certain that your body has access to all of the materials it needs to operate properly in the future.




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