Mother In Law From Hell!

 I am very lucky to have a mother in law as

 sweet and generous as my mama in law!

When I read this article I couldn't stop laughing and wanted to share it with you! Wallah poor girl, I feel so sorry for her :p

The acerbic message was sent by Carolyn Bourne, 60, to bride-to-be Heidi Withers and attacked her for “uncouthness” and “lack of manners”.

Withers, 29, who works as a PA in London, forwarded on the email to friends and it quickly went viral.
Son Freddie took Heidi to meet the family at their home in Dawlish, Devon. The visit, it seems, did not go well.
Bourne branded her “an ideal candidate for the ‘Ladette to Lady’ television series” and suggested she, “take some guidance from experts with utmost haste” if she wanted to be included in the family.
“There are plenty of finishing schools around,” she said.
Bourne’s email then goes on to list examples of Wither’s poor etiquette during the visit. “It is high time someone explained to you about good manners. Yours are obvious by their absence and I feel sorry for you.”
Her faux pas included:
“When you are a guest in another’s house, you do not declare what you will and will not eat - unless you are positively allergic to something. You do not remark that you do not have enough food. You do not start before everyone else. You do not take additional helpings without being invited to by your host.”
“When a guest in another’s house, you do not lie in bed until late morning in households that rise early - you fall in line with house norms.”
“You should never ever insult the family you are about to join at any time and most definitely not in public. I gather you passed this off as a joke but the reaction in the pub was one of shock, not laughter.”
“You should have hand-written a card to me. You have never written to thank me when you have stayed.”
“You regularly draw attention to yourself. Perhaps you should ask yourself why.”
Most insultingly of all, Miss Wither’s behavior left their pet dog Bomber “profoundly upset, depressed and anxious”.
Mrs. Bourne also slammed the couple’s wedding plans: “No one gets married in a castle unless they own it. It is brash, celebrity style behaviour.”
“I understand your parents are unable to contribute very much towards the cost of your wedding. (There is nothing wrong with that except that convention is such that one might presume they would have saved over the years for their daughters’ marriages.) If this is the case, it would be most ladylike and gracious to lower your sights and have a modest wedding as befits both your incomes.”
According to The Daily Mail, Carolyn Bourne is well known in Dawlish for growing prize-winning flowers and manages a large plant nursery.
She said it was “unfortunate” that son Freddie, who runs an online bicycle shop in Putney, had fallen in love with Miss Withers.
“Freddie being Freddie, I gather it is not easy to reason with him or yet encourage him to consider how he might be able to help you. It may just be possible to get through to you though. I do hope so.”
She added: “One could be accused of thinking that Heidi Withers must be patting herself on the back for having caught a most eligible young man”.
“I pity Freddie.’
One thing’s for sure: The wedding should be interesting.

By Yahoo Link

Maternal Mortality

I haven't much to do this morning and the weather looked amazing out side my window and decided to take the kids out to my favorite hangout and relax. I forgot to take my book with me so I made a stop and picked a couple of magazines. While enjoying my latte I browsed through Marie Claire's March issue and the title of an article caught my attention. I usually cringe from this particular subject because of the truma I've been through while giving birth to Ahmed but I reminded myself that I am blessed, alhamdullah, the best doctors and facilities were provided for me. I am still here today, seeing my kids healthy and growing up before my eyes and I am there for them, unlike unfortunate orphans who lost their mother's in childbirth. I read the article and in the middle of the coffee shop I was choking and my eyes watering, almost sobbing out loud. The women sitting next to me sat alret, something in the expression on my face alerted them something was wrong. How stupid would I look if they found out I was on the verge of tears over and article. This subject is important to me. Yes, even four years later I still remember it as if it was yesterday. I can't imagine what would have happened to me if I was in one of those poor countries. I took a deep breath, thank God for being blessed. Something must be done to help these women and sharing this article is the least I can do. This article is a must read. After suffering a postpartum haemorrhage while giving birth to her first child, Christy Turlington learned that the lack of reproductive health care worldwide results in 500,000 maternal mortalities a year. The realization that 90% of these deaths are preventable led Christy on her crusade to raise awareness for women, working as an advocate for maternal health and reproductive rights. Two years after her own experience, and six months pregnant with her son Finn, Christy went with CARE to El Salvador and witnessed the terrifying conditions endured by pregnant women. ‘Pregnant women and new mothers had to walk ten or more miles to get clean water,’ she says. ‘It was a catalytic moment. I wanted to find out more about these women, to delve in and get my hands dirty.’ It was three years later, on a trip to Peru, that the supermodel came up with the idea of making her own documentary No Woman, No Cry to educate women on local health services. In her gripping directorial debut, Christy shares the powerful stories of impoverished women during the final harrowing days of their pregnancies in Tanzania, Bangladesh, Guatemala and the US.Turlington recalls a woman in Guatemala who was in hospital following a botched abortion of a baby conceived through rape. During her six weeks there, her husband and family didn’t visit her once because of the social stigma.‘By the time we started editing I was so fired up I could work 15 hour days without thinking,’ she says. On viewing the footage, shes says; ‘First of all you go in to deep shock, after that comes anger.’Since finishing her film, Turlington has gone on to launch the Every Mother Counts campaign and website to raise money and help people learn more about the issues of maternal mortality and the extent of the problem worldwide.‘Right now we are at a critical moment,’ says Turlington. ‘Maternal and child health was at the centre of the G8 summit last year, and this project provides a perfect opportunity for the first world to build on the momentum of the past few years.’ www.everymothercounts.org

http://www.careinternational.org.uk/

Rita Wilson : Losing It!

After gaining some unwanted pounds, Rita Wilson knew it was time for a change. Here, she chronicles her weight-loss journey.

By Rita Wilson Have you ever thrown open your closet doors in anticipation of picking out a fabulous outfit only to find yourself reaching for elastic-waistband pants? Or when someone says, "You're hot," he isn't talking about sex but referring to the beads of perspiration that have taken over your entire body since you turned 50? For some of you, this piece may be irrelevant--right now. But soon enough, your day of waterfalls cascading down your chest will come and you will remember me. Due to my middle-aged, menopausal "hotness," I had put on the freshman 15 at 53. My class of 54 was going to have me graduating to a permanent wardrobe of sweats if I didn't do something about it. But my head felt weighted down. I felt mentally heavy. I didn't have the energy to add one more thing to my already full plate ... of nachos, guacamole, chips. I had been experiencing some stress. The year 2010 was full of many transitions. So I comforted myself with comfort food. I found comfort in everything that passed in front of me. At the Emmys last year, I got trashed for wearing a dress that I loved but that had people in cyberspace querying if I was pregnant. Okay, really? If a 54-year-old woman were pregnant, wouldn't that be news you would hear about? Instead, Time magazine named my Emmy dress one of its Top 10 Fashion Statements for 2010 along with Lady Gaga's meat dress. This was not a compliment. Life changes affect each of us differently. My comfort food had now become ... uncomfortable. A change had to be made. Now, how you look is less important than how you feel, but I had lost my spunk and my energy. I remembered reading that if you don't take care of yourself, how can you take care of anyone else? It was time to get into shape, because how many times could I put one more photo of myself into my scrapbook, angling my body behind my husband's (or an unsuspecting person or a piece of furniture) so I would appear half my size? This was officially a pattern. Enter Jillian Michaels of The Biggest Loser fame. I knew she was a killer trainer, but when I met Jillian at a women's conference last year, I was immediately taken by her openness and warmth. The first day Jillian came over to my house, I thought we would just discuss process, diet, physiology--you know, two girlfriends shooting the breeze. (And boy, can I talk. I am sure I burn more calories talking than I do eating celery sticks.) So when Jillian told me to get up and start running my interior stairs, I thought she was joking. After numerous sprints up and down, she made me do lunges down my hallway, push-ups, tricep bends off an antique bench, and hardcore versions of downward dog that made me pant like a puppy. She told me I would get nauseous, and I did. This is a very good way not to eat. Every day for a week, we worked out. I was so impressed by how quickly Jillian was able to "empower" me into shape. She put me on a 1,200-calorie-a-day diet that was primarily grilled fish or chicken, steamed veggies, and big salads for lunch. You know the drill: no sugar. Very little dairy. No alcohol. A lot of exercise. Now, this is where Jillian's real magic lies. She could see the toll that the year of transitions had taken on me without my telling her. In conversation one day while I was stretching, she asked me what I would consider an indulgence. As a person who likes to give, I had to admit that I'd put myself on the back burner. I had felt that taking care of myself was more of an indulgence than a necessity. I had things to do. Responsibilities. A facial (which I hadn't had in years) or a massage was not a priority. Jillian smiled and set up an appointment for me with a dermatologist. I went and had all my questionable moles removed, followed by a formerly guilt-inducing facial in his office. Next, Jillian introduced me to a chiropractor who took care of an annoying shoulder injury I'd been living with for far too long. Doing these two things gave me comfort. The worrisome moles and shoulder pain I'd been neglecting were now dealt with, easing a mental burden of sorts and leaving me with two fewer things to worry about. I am keenly aware that I am blessed with health care and that I have the funds to get a facial, but anyone can steam her own face over a pot of chamomile tea, as I used to do as a teenager. Yet do we take the time? My next hurdle came with the vacation we had planned. We were taking my mom and our family to Greece for two weeks. When I returned, Jillian would be away for two weeks. Once I get started on a diet, I am pretty disciplined, but being on vacation with no wine, no dessert, no sugar, and twice-daily workouts seemed more like house arrest. Still, I was starting to notice the benefits of my intended goal: feeling healthy and being lighter, physically and, most important, mentally. Jillian assigned me her workout DVDs, and each day she would e-mail me my exercise routine. I would do one of her DVDs in the morning and cardio in the afternoon, and whatever other exercise I did was icing on my weight-loss cake. But what was great was that I was still able to do very vigorous workouts. My excuses went up in smoke like the Tareyton cigarettes my dad used to smoke when I was a kid. In one month, I had lost eight pounds. As we were now well into fall, Jillian and I continued to work out and talk (my favorite thing to do). I would much rather work my chops and chop my workout, if you catch my drift. But in these talks, she seemed to be able to draw from me a deeper understanding of myself and my thought processes. Through all the physicality, I learned that we tell ourselves so many things that keep us from being our best. It's so easy to buy into a false belief about who we are. One day Jillian asked me to do this push-up using just one arm to lift my entire body. I tried three times but couldn't do it. She calmly told me that I could do it and to try again. She gently held my hips as I raised my body using one arm, the so-called weak arm. Even though she was barely touching me, it proved to me that I had the ability within me yet I wasn't allowing myself to believe it. We all have a story we tell ourselves: "I'm weak." "I've never been able to lose weight." "I'm big boned." "I'm menopausal and my metabolism has changed." "I can't take time for myself." I read somewhere once that if your fantasies are your own, why not make them great ones? Why not "I will look like Gisele in a thong"? Now I'm thrilled to say that I'm 14 pounds lighter than when I started. I feel strong. I want to live life fully and healthfully. Now my weight is more about my health than about what I look like, although looking good in clothes is a nice by-product. I love life, and I love this imperfect body. I am learning to take care of myself, my body, and my spirit. I feel hotter than ever. But ... the good kind of hot.

Read more: Rita Wilson Weight Loss - Rita Wilson Losing Weight Story - Harper's BAZAAR

More Energy for Every Woman

Many of us are tired simply because we don't get enough sleep - but if you're sleeping 7 1/2 hours and still feel zonked, there could be something else to blame.

#1 A slow Thyroid

When a thyroid levels are low, your body's fuel system falters, and you feel sluggish. If your symptoms unclude not just fatigue but dry skin, constipation, hair loss and weight gain, ask your doc for a blood test

#2 Carbs, Carbs and More Carbs

Eating too many processesed carbs and sugary drinks late in the day can make your blood sugar levels crash at night. The next morning you wake up tired and craving more carbs. A carb filled breakfast continues the pattern. Instead, start your day with whole grains, low-fat dairy and a serving of protien.

#3 Not Enough Iron

Iron is essential for formin red blood cells, the oxygen carriers in your blood. Without enough of it, you're almost starving your body of oxygen. Boost your iron stores with deep-green leafy vegetables or lean red meet. And take a daily multivitamin for insurance.

#4 All Those Digital Divices

Computer and TV use before bed can significantly decrease the qaulity of your sleep, making you feel less rested the next day. Step out of the 24/7 info stream an hour before hitting the hay (reading isn't the problem. It's the light and the fast flow of data you don't want).

Courtsy of Glamour Magazine.

Note to self: This weeks goal: #1 Sleep early. #2 eat less carbs. #3 limit my computer time to 2hr if it isn't work related.

Art - Anna May Wong

Largely considered the first Chinese-American movie star, Anna May Wong began her career in silent films and is probably best known for playing beside Marlene Dietrich in Shanghai Express in 1932. Though her career was quite illustrious, it was riddled with discrimination — Wong famously turned down the part of a Chinese villain in The Good Earth after being passed over for the starring role of the Chinese heroine that, ultimately, went to German-born Luise Rainer — as well as frustration over being pigeonholed into stereotypical “dragon lady” characters. Korean filmmaker Yunah Hong just completed a documentary exploring the life and career of Wong, titled Anna May Wong: In Her Own Words, which was eight years in the making.

Courtesy of Elle

Books On Vacation

So I was on a Romanctic and Fantasy mood... I picked up books to take with me on vacation which I really enjoyed reading and didn't want to end. My all time favorite Anne Bishop, released a new book which I just recently got and I cried when it ended...Just becuase I didn't want it to end :s For years the Shalador people suffered the cruelties of the corrupt Queens who ruled them, forbidding their traditions, punishing those who dared show defiance, and forcing many more into hiding. And even though the refugees found sanctuary in Dena Nehele, they have never been able to call it home. Now that Dena Nehele has been cleansed of tainted Blood, the Rose-Jeweled Queen, Lady Cassidy, makes it her duty to restore the land and prove her ability to rule. She knows that undertaking this task will require all her heart and courage as she summons the untested power within her, a power capable of consuming her if she cannot control it. And even if Lady Cassidy survives her trial by fire, other dangers await. For the Black Widows see visions within their tangled webs that something is coming that will change the land—and Lady Cassidy—forever…

a heart warming romantic read!

The quartet relates the story of four childhood friends—Parker, Emma, Laurel, and MacKensie—who turned their childhood game of playing wedding day into a real-life dream job, a premier wedding-planning company called Vows.Each of the four has a particular talent suited to Vows: MacKensie (Mac) takes stunning photographs, Emma is a fabulous floral designer, Laurel, the cook, makes delicious concoctions and gorgeous wedding cakes, and Parker is the one who meets all the bride’s demands and keeps everything on a tight schedule. Altogether they make a wonderful package and Vows delivers the dream wedding every bride wants.The first three books found Mac (book one – Vision in White), Emma (book two – Bed of Roses), and Laurel (book three – Savor the Moment) finding their own true loves and planning their own weddings. Parker is not only the main planner for her dear friends’ weddings but she finds the perfect, dreamy wedding gown for each of them.Happy Ever After, finds the first friend’s wedding approaching—Mac is marrying Carter, a teacher, two weeks before Christmas. Parker is thrilled for her friends and happy that they have found true love, but she realizes that her own life is being spent solely on planning other people’s weddings and not finding the “one” for herself. She throws herself into the work of Vows and takes calls and emails at all times of day and night. An auto mechanic Malcolm Kavanaugh entered the picture in book one as a minor character and was immediately drawn to Parker. Malcolm is the friend of Del, Parker’s brother. He recently moved back to Connecticut to live near his mother after suffering an almost fatal injury in a car crash while a stuntman for a Hollywood movie. But even though he’s very interested in Parker, he knows that it’s a major step from flirting with her to a serious relationship—especially since Del is very protective of his sister.

Parker is also drawn to Malcolm despite the fact that they come from vastly different backgrounds. Parker confesses to her friends that Mal “rattles” her with his motorcycle-riding, leather jacket-wearing, and complete lack of social skills. But she senses that Malcolm is hiding his past from her.Parker’s business risks have paid off—Vows is one of the most successful wedding planning companies in Connecticut. But taking a risk with her heart is something that Parker has refrained from doing so far.Roberts is at her best when she writes novels that are part of a trilogy—or in this case—a quartet. She weaves the stories together so that you get to know all the characters in each book and come to care about them. Each of the four books concentrates on one of the friends, but you see and meet all the friends and their future romantic interests from the first book. That’s one of the most important things about her books—you care about the characters and they are people that you like. They have their faults, their tragedies, their joys and sorrows—but you genuinely like them and that makes the novels interesting and heart-warming. As you read each one in the quartet, you look forward to the time when the next book will come out continuing the story of the four friends. Even though you pretty much know how things are going to turn out—and figure out whose going to fall in love with who—the book is titled Happy Ever After, after all—it’s still very enjoyable reading. Especially because Roberts is a master at describing scenes—in this case: beautiful wedding gowns, lovely flowers, towering wedding cakes, and stunning photographs. By the time you are finished with all four books, you see the world of wedding planners from start to finish and have the chance to “meet” and get to know four couples in their search for happiness.

Review by Patricia Chasteen

From Epoch Times

6 Easy Mood Lifters

From Self Magazine ;)

Sweat to smile. Exercise may be as effective at relieving mild to moderate depression as the antidepressant Zoloft, reveals a study from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. "Physical activity stimulates the feel-good chemical dopamine, which increases our sense of well-being," explains Stephen Ilardi, Ph.D., author of The Depression Cure (Da Capo Press). A little stressed out? Of all of the things you can do to bring on calm, aerobic activity may be most effective. Studies show that workouts counteract stress-related memory loss by speeding up production of new nerve cells in the hippocampus, the brain's memory processing center. Tweak your diet. "The omega-3 fatty acids in cold-water fish help the brain respond to signals from the mood chemicals dopamine and serotonin," Ilardi says, adding, "The antioxidants and flavonoids in colorful fruit and veggies work in combination with omega-3s to protect the brain from harmful inflammation that can trigger depression." I love fish!!! I'll add more Salmon in my diet. ;) Sleep off sadness. People who have insomnia have a fivefold risk of developing depression compared with those who are well rested, according to a study from the University of North Texas in Denton. Lack of sleep has also been linked to weight gain. That is the only thing I'm not doing right. I'm sleeping late and waking up early... I'm just not getting enough sleep. Just say om. Some studies suggest that regular meditation reduces the recurrence of depression as effectively as medication. If sitting and chanting aren't appealing, start with baby steps by focusing on your breath. If your mind wanders, let your thoughts go and refocus on inhaling and exhaling. Aim to do this for a couple of minutes a few times a day—or anytime you feel like your head is ready to explode. I can't wait for the weather to cool a little so I can have long meditative walks in the evenings. See the light. "Sunlight is key for regulating your biological clock, which affects mood, sleep and energy," Ilardi says. Depressed people exposed to bright light for an hour upon waking for five weeks experienced a 54 percent improvement in symptoms, finds a study from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. Well not with our sun...but I do have a lot of natural light during the day from the big windows around my home.

Lean on a Friend

University of Chicago suggests that having a close circle is critical; people who are lonely have increased levels of depression. A study in the American Journal of Health and Behavior reports that socializing with friends can have as positive an impact on health as quitting smoking, working out or eating right. Curling up on the couch with a pal can be restorative, too. "A friendly touch puts the brakes on the brain's stress-response signals," Ilardi explains. Give someone you love a hug. Yes...this is the plan!!! Going out with friends during the week.

Turn back the clock on your life: 7 ways to keep yourself young

1. Break out the community college catalog or sign up for sign language class. Remember when people wrote in your high school yearbook, "Don't ever change"? Forget that. Although it was once believed that our brains were hardwired for specific tasks, new information shows that our brains are dynamic and even rejuvenating. This means a stroke victim may be able to transfer skills from a damaged region of the brain to one that is more viable, says Dr. Terry Grossman, author of Transcend: Nine Steps to Living Well Forever. It also means that acquiring new skills as we age will help keep us youthful."Utilizing previously unused areas of the brain as one ages can help slow down, stop, and reverse some signs of brain aging," Dr. Grossman says. How can you jump on that tomorrow? Dr. Grossman says learning a new language, taking music lessons to play a new instrument, sitting in on an adult education class in a subject you've always been curious about, or traveling to an area you've never explored are all ways to get neurons firing. 2. Work your body. Data strongly suggests that regular aerobic activity improves human brain power immediately and could protect us from major memory impairment in the long term. Even walking for 45 minutes a few times a week can make a difference."Even folks with limited mobility or cognitive impairment should be encouraged to maintain their aerobic wellness as much as possible by participating in activities that are accessible to them [such as "sit and be fit" programs, water aerobics, etc.]," Dr. Greene notes. "A small study a few years ago out of Australia suggested that regular aerobic activity may slow progression of memory impairment in individuals in the early stages of the disease. While that needs to be replicated and seen in larger samples, it was an interesting window into the role exercise may play for brain health across the board." 3. Feed your body, but only until it is 80 percent full. Whether you want to recapture or hang on to your youthfulness, you're going to have to pay more attention to the food and drink you put into your body.Longevity expert and author Dan Buettner partnered with National Geographic to study how people in some pockets of the world not only live longer, but live better. He compressed their lessons into nine tenets, and it's not a shocker that one of them is to eat wisely."Instead of groping from fad diet to fad diets, use strategies for eating 20 percent less at meals. Avoid meat and processed food," Buettner says. More obviously, he adds that it's a good idea to consume more vegetables and, if it works for your health history and current medical condition, drink red wine in moderation. 4. De-stress, and soon. We hear about releasing stress so often that it can easily feel like one more overwhelming task on the to-do list. But Dr. Grossman says it is a must if you want to live longer and feel good during all of those years.The stress situation in this country is dangerously excessive and could be causing us to age more quickly, he notes."It is estimated that with the current economic conditions, stress levels in the United States today are approaching those that existed in the days following 9/11," Dr. Grossman asserts.To break the cycle of stress, try engaging in a hobby, taking scheduled vacations, or regularly get spa treatments or massages. 5. Keep playing the classic games, just do them faster. Our intellectual skills change as we age. The great news, Dr. Greene says, is that deductive reasoning and our base of knowledge improve. The challenge, however, is that our attention, processing speed, short-term memory, and cognitive flexibility often slow. Just like our biceps, regularly exercising mental muscles can help us stay healthier over time. While you can certainly use online games for brain fitness, Dr. Greene also suggests pulling out games that challenge memory, oldies-but-goodies like Boggle, Simon, Bananagrams, or even the word jumble. To glean the greatest benefit, time yourself with the goal of getting faster each time. 6. Be social, but choose your friends wisely. "It has been found," Dr. Grossman reports plainly, "that being socially isolated has health risks on par with those of cigarette smoking."While the most important thing you can do to keep yourself young during your lifetime is to be social, Dr. Buettner says it is also critical that you spend time with people who have the healthy habits you prioritize or want to emulate. He calls this choosing "the right tribe" and says centenarians, people who live to at least 100f, show exactly how this works."All of the world's longest-lived people were born into -- or consciously chose to associate with -- the right people . If your three best friends are obese, there's a 50 percent better chance that you'll be obese," says Dr. Bruettner. "The reverse is true, too. If you dine with people who eat healthy food, you're more likely to eat healthy food, if the friends you spend most time with play a sport, you're more likely to join them."He says our trend toward isolation -- 15 years ago, the average American had three good friends, as compared to two today -- is shaving years off of our lives. Finding a community of just a few people who stimulate you intellectually, encourage you to try new things and be physically active, and maybe even play a round or two of Yahtzee! could hit lots of targets as you aim to stay young from year to year.What do you do if some of those important people, like caretakers or friends or even grown children, in your life won't stop telling you to slow down, reduce your activity, and accept your age? Dr. Grossman responds bluntly, "Wrong advice -- no matter how well-intentioned -- is still wrong. I would ignore it." 7. Take control of your life by taking control of your clutter.In a thought-provoking New York Times article on the physical, emotional, and cognitive toll possessions can have on older people, Dr. David J. Ekerdt spelled out the myriad approaches we can take to downsize during our later years.“This isn’t just a move from one residence to another, as it would be earlier in life. This is a step closer to the inevitable world of frail aging, a reminder that time is growing short. People want to hold on to the symbols of their former lives and competence,” Ekerdt told the Times.Getting rid of a wedding dress or sorting through old photos isn't just a de-cluttering exercise, it is a rite of passage. Sorting through all of that stuff can certainly be as physically and mentally draining as the British celebrity who put down her cane and walked across the room. However, if we take control of the possessions we keep and validate what the stuff we discard meant about who we once were, we will be better prepared to move forward into the next chapter of our lives.Ekerdt's research acknowledges the stress and pressure of sorting through a lifetime of possessions but also shows that people feel satisfied overall when it is accomplished.Perhaps we can apply both Ekerdt's study and the BBC experiment as we move through our own homes and years. Whether we opt to stand up out of a wheelchair, donate all those unopened cookbooks, or choose to take up French, making the choice to hold on to the fiery parts of ourselves and release the stereotypes of getting older might justl keep us thriving, no matter how many candles are on our cake. Article from Shine check out the link ;) http://shine.yahoo.com/event/vitality/turn-back-the-clock-on-your-life-7-ways-to-keep-yourself-young-2392273/

The Castle Walls Have Ears

The man who would be king likes to listen in on tourists visiting his royal estate. That's the buzz from a BBC documentary that will air later this week on Prince Charles, according to a story on ABC News. Sometimes, he would have to lie on the floor with his ear pressed to the ground to pick up on some of the 30,000 visitors coming through his Gloucestershire home. Guess it would be tempting, if you are opening your doors to the public, to find out what they think. The heir to the throne also admits to talking to trees and plants in the garden, which he likens to his children. (Not his actual children -- more on those two later.) He says these "conversations" keep him sane -- even if it sounds crazy to the outside world.

25 Things Chefs Never Tell You :s

Do restaurants recycle the bread basket? Are most of us bad tippers? Food Network Magazine surveyed chefs across the country — anonymously — to find out everything we’ve always wanted to know. Chefs are pickier than you think. Liver, sea urchin, tofu, eggplant, and oysters, of all things, topped the list of foods chefs hate most. Only 15% of chefs surveyed said they’d eat absolutely anything. Still, chefs hate picky eaters. More than 60% said requests for substitutions are annoying. Some of their biggest pet peeves: When customers pretend to be allergic to an ingredient, and when vegetarians make up rules, like “a little chicken stock is OK.” When eating out in other restaurants, chefs say they avoid pasta and chicken. Why? These dishes are often the most overpriced (and least interesting) on the menu. Said one chef, “I won’t pay $24 for half a chicken breast.” Said another, “I want something I can’t make myself.” Chefs have expensive taste.

The restaurant chefs most often cited as the best in the country was The French Laundry in California’s Napa Valley. It ought to be — dinner there is $240 per person, before wine. ...and yet they like fast food.

Their favorite chain: Wendy’s. Culinary degrees aren’t necessarily the norm. Just half the chefs surveyed graduated from a cooking school. The rest got their training the old-fashioned way, by working their way up through the kitchen ranks. Critics trump movie stars in the VIP pecking order.

A whopping 71% of chefs said they give special treatment to restaurant critics when they spot them; only 63% do the same for celebrities. Making out in the bathroom is old news. More than half of the chefs have found customers kissing — and much more — in the restaurant loo. Roaches are more common than you think.

Yes, 75% of chefs said they’ve seen roaches in the kitchen. And yet, chefs swear their kitchens are clean. On a scale of 1 to 10, 85% of chefs ranked their kitchens an 8 or higher for cleanliness. Only 13% of chefs have seen a cook do unsavory things to a customer’s food.

The most unbelievable tale: “Someone once ran a steak through a dishwasher after the diner sent it back twice. Ironically, the customer was happy with it then.” Your bread basket might be recycled.

Three chefs admitted that uneaten bread from one basket goes right into another one. Chefs work hard for low pay.

The chefs we surveyed work between 60 and 80 hours a week and almost all of them work holidays. Sixty-five percent reported making less than $75,000 a year. Waiters take home an average of $662 a week, often tax free. “Vegetarian” is open to interpretation.

about 15% of chefs said their vegetarian dishes might not be completely vegetarian. Beware if you’re one of those super-picky vegan types: One chef reported seeing a cook pour lamb’s blood into a vegan’s primavera. Paying for a last-minute reservation probably won’t work.

Only one chef said bribes will help you score a table when the restaurant is fully booked; he suggested “promising to buy a bottle of Dom Pérignon or Opus One.” A better bet: Being buddies with the chef. Menu “specials” are often experimental dishes.

Contrary to popular belief — that specials are just a chef’s way of using up old ingredients — most chefs said they use specials to try out new ideas or serve seasonal ingredients. Only five chefs admitted that they try to empty out the fridge with their nightly specials. The appropriate tip is 20%...

That’s what chefs leave when they eat out, and it’s the amount they think is fair. ...unless the service is really poor.

An astounding 90% of chefs said it’s fair to penalize bad waiters with a smaller tip. That rule about not ordering fish on Sunday might be worth following. Several chefs warned, “We don’t get fresh deliveries on Sunday.” Chefs hate working on New Year’s Eve more than any other holiday. Valentine’s Day was a close second, but don’t take that to mean chefs aren’t romantic: 54% of those surveyed said they like it when couples get engaged in their restaurant. They secretly want to be Alton or Giada. Nearly 60% of chefs said they’d want their own cooking show. Chefs cook when they’re sick.

It’s a long-standing tradition in the restaurant industry: Cooks report to duty unless they’re practically hospitalized. Half of those we surveyed said they come to work sick, and they stay there through injuries, too. Many chefs have cut themselves on the job, gone to get stitches, and returned to work to finish out the night. Accidents definitely happen: Almost every chef we surveyed has been injured on the job in some way, and several chefs said they’re missing parts of their fingers. The five-second rule actually applies. A quarter of the chefs surveyed said they’d pick up food that dropped on the floor and cook it. Your waiter is trying to influence your order. Almost every chef surveyed (95%) said he or she urges servers to steer customers toward specific dishes on the menu each night. Restaurants mark up wine by a lot more than you might expect. Most chefs said that a bottle on their wine list costs 2½ times what the same one would cost in a wine store. There’s a reason so many restaurants serve molten chocolate cake.

More than 75% of chefs said they take inspiration from other restaurant menus

Courtesy of : Food Network Magazine

Tired of Water?

You already know that drinking water is key to your health. Downing at least six cups of water daily can minimize bloating, prevent headaches, help prevent you from getting sick and smooth the appearance of wrinkles. It may even temporarily rev your metabolism, if you drink it on the cool side (72 degrees). That's a lot of benefit from a beverage you don't even have to pay for! But H20 isn't the only sip that can safeguard your health. Coffee, which some people accuse me of being addicted to, is basically liquid gold. It may lower your risk for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, breast cancer, skin cancer, diabetes, gallstones, even oral cancer. P.S., java drinkers make half as many errors in daily life compared with decaf fans, according to a study from Cardiff University in Wales, because caffeine helps you process information quickly. It's also linked to a reduced risk for depression. Those pit stops at Starbucks aren't just perking me up—they're protecting every part of me! Not a java junkie? Read on to learn the hidden health bennies of your favorite bevy: Orange juice guards against heart disease. Antioxidants in OJ help protect your ticker by fighting the inflammation that can cause blood vessel damage. Consider this: People who ate fast food with a glass of orange juice had fewer artery-harming free radicals in their blood afterward than those who had their burger and fries with water, a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates. Isn't that a great reason to choose juice? Just watch the sugars—one cup contains 21 grams and 122 calories. Chamomile tea can keep you calm. People who downed chamomile extract daily for two months felt significantly less anxious, a study from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia reports. Ease into mellow mode at night with a cup of chamomile tea. Cranberry juice may prevent gum disease and urinary tract infections. Natural compounds in the juice may ward off gum disease by preventing bacteria from adhering to the teeth below the gum line. Cranberry juice also delivers 39 percent of the daily value for vitamin C per 8 ounces, raises levels of good cholesterol and keeps your urinary tract tip-top. A berry smart sip indeed! Chocolate milk keeps your abs flat. A glass of skim chocolate milk delivers a great combo of carbs and protein, helping you recover after a workout. Athletes who drank it post-workout had lower levels of muscle damage after four days of intense exercising than those who guzzled water or other recovery drinks, according to findings presented at the American College of Sports Medicine meeting in Seattle. That translates to less soreness and fatigue, so you can get back to the gym and those tummy-toning planks sooner. Simply stir 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder or syrup that has less than 20 g sugar into your milk and sip. Green tea may keep your weight steady. Mice that exercised and drank green tea were 22 percent less likely to gain weight than those who only exercised or only had tea, according to a study in the International Journal of Obesity. Polyphenols in the drink may rev your metabolism and make it easier for your body to fry fat. Plus, the tea's plentiful stash of antioxidants slashes your risk for cancer and heart disease. Try it iced in summer! Tomato juice may lower your cancer risk! The scarlet sip is loaded with vitamins and lycopene, which protect you against cancer. Try it with spices, a celery stalk and no vodka for a cocktail any time of day! Black tea may help fend off skin cancer. The classic brew is loaded with flavonoids, antioxidants that carry anticancer perks. Research suggests that downing a cup or more of tea a day may lower risk for squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, by 30 percent. Hot or iced, black tea is a delicious addition to your skin care regimen—and a lovely way to wake up thanks to its caffeine content—so put on the kettle each morning! by Lucy Danziger, the Editor-in-Chief of SELF magazine. I've ditched the Vimto last week. It just bloats me and I never learn my lesson until I become extremly uncomfortable. Chocolate milk!!! Here I come! My favorite bev which I had to give up. ;p and Cranbury Juice is always there in my fridge.

The Happiest Countries In the World

This morning I read a very interesting artical about the happiest countries in the world. Money plays a big part but not all the time. I believe money isn't everything, sometimes important but it doesn't play a major part in my life. I believe in health, communication, self-satisfaction (qana3a) and making a difference in my life and the people around me. So What do you think? What would make you happy? and what would you think will put our country as one of the happiest countries in the regeion? The World's Happiest Countries By and large, rich countries are happier — and that's no coincidence. By Francesca Levy Forbes In the wake of their World Cup loss, residents of the Netherlands may be feeling depressed. But there's reason to believe they won't be done in by the agony of defeat: According to a recent poll, the country is one of the happiest in the world. Championship-winning Spain, on the other hand, was swept with euphoria and national pride, but that may have been an unfamiliar feeling. The country ranks No. 17 of 21 European countries in terms of happiness. The fact is good times probably have more to do with the size of your wallet than the size of your trophy shelf. The five happiest countries in the world — Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands — are all clustered in the same region, and all enjoy high levels of prosperity. Behind the Numbers Quantifying happiness isn't an easy task. Researchers at the Gallup World Poll went about it by surveying thousands of respondents in 155 countries, between 2005 and 2009, in order to measure two types of well-being. First they asked subjects to reflect on their overall satisfaction with their lives, and ranked their answers using a "life evaluation" score between 1 and 10. Then they asked questions about how each subject had felt the previous day. Those answers allowed researchers to score their "daily experiences" — things like whether they felt well-rested, respected, free of pain and intellectually engaged. Subjects that reported high scores were considered "thriving." The percentage of thriving individuals in each country determined our rankings. Money Matters The Gallup researchers found evidence of what many have long suspected: money does buy happiness — at least a certain kind of it. In a related report, they studied the reasons why countries with high gross domestic products won out for well-being, and found an association between life satisfaction and income. "Money is an object that many or most people desire, and pursue during the majority of their waking hours," researchers wrote in the report. "It would be surprising if success at this pursuit had no influence whatsoever when people were asked to evaluate their lives." Indeed, Denmark, the world's happiest country, had a per-capita GDP of $36,000 in 2009, according to the Central Intelligence Agency. That's higher than 196 of the 227 countries for which the CIA collects statistics. But there's more to happiness than riches. The Gallup study showed that while income undoubtedly influenced happiness, it did so for a particular kind of well-being — the kind one feels when reflecting on his or her own successes and prospects for the future. Day-to-day happiness is more likely to be associated with how well one's psychological and social needs are being met, and that's harder to achieve with a paycheck. Take Costa Rica. The sixth-happiest country in the world, and the happiest country in the Americas, it beat out richer countries like the United States. That's because social networks in Costa Rica are tight, allowing individuals to feel happy with their lot, regardless of financial success. "Costa Rica ranks really high on social and psychological prosperity," says Harter. "It's probably things systemic to the society that make people over time develop better relationships, and put more value on relationships. Daily positive feelings rank really high there." Inhabitants of some rich countries are bound to feel happier. But happiness is elusive to define, and money isn't the only thing that influences it. Harter explains that the more abstract sense of happiness to which wealth contributes has a different effect on one's life than daily happiness. "Each of us is two different people. We evaluate our lives periodically; we sit back and reflect and summarize things that have gone on in our lives to date," Harter says. "Another side is how you experience things daily. Daily experience affects your stress and your psychology. How you evaluate your life affects your decisions. It's important to think about how you can leverage that well-being." And a very surprising list of the happiest countries in the world. http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/14/world-happiest-countries-lifestyle-realestate-gallup_slide.html?partner=yahootravel

So What's Written on Iniesta's Shirt?

As Andres Iniesta scored the 116th-minute goal that helped Spain to its first World Cup victory, he took the opportunity to pay tribute to a colleague who passed away before the start of last season. In front of a TV audience of more than 750 million, the Barca star removed his shirt to reveal the message "Dani Jarque siempre con nosotros," which translates to:

Dani Jarque always with us

Espanyol defender Jarque suffered a heart attack before a preseason game in Italy in 2009. He never played club football with Iniesta, but they were the same age as they rose through the Spanish national team ranks. After the match, Iniesta explained his gesture:

“I wanted to keep Dani with me and with the other teammates. We wanted to pay tribute to him and we thought this was the best opportunity to do so.”

The diminutive midfielder may have earned a yellow card for the gesture, but what better way to pay tribute to a lost friend.

Ugly Exit For Diego Maradona

Immediately after Argentina's 4-0 quarterfinal loss to Germany on Saturday, Maradona was understandably upset. And according to Argentina's Diarios y Noticias, he let a group of German fans know it. A translation of their report: Argentina national team coach Diego Maradona had an altercation with German fans after the end of the match that marked the elimination of said team from the 2010 South Africa World Cup. Apparently upset over post game celebrations by fans located behind the Argentinean bench, Maradona approached and scolded them, until Dalma, one of his daughters, entered the field and contained him. It's a shame the man who has entertained us all over the last few weeks with his exuberance and delightful antics had to get involved in something like this. He would go on to say that this loss was "the most disappointing moment in my life" which shows just how devastated he must have been as he walked off the pitch and saw German fans in red and yellow wigs partying like it's Oktoberfest in July right behind him. A sad end for the most interesting man of the tournament. Or anywhere else.

Yahoo World Cup News

5 Weight Loss Myths Holding You Back

Myth 1: Your ideal weight is what you weighed when you were first married (or graduated from college, or before you had children?

If you're hoping to get back to what you weighed a year or two ago, fine: There's a chance you really might get close to that weight again. But if we're talking 15 or 20 years ago, you might want to reconsider. Many people put on weight as they get older. And no matter how hard they try, they have a tough time being as active as they might have been in their early twenties. Don't live in the past. Set a weight-loss goal that's appropriate for the way you live now.

Myth 2: Your ideal weight is the number listed on a standard height and weight chart.

True, height and weight are often related. Taller people weigh more than shorter ones, all things being equal. But all things are never equal. Many other factors play a role in determining what you weigh. For example, your body type: big-boned and solid, small-boned and light, or in between. Your metabolism: whether you naturally burn brightly and move a lot, or take things more slowly. The number of fat cells you have. How much your parents and other relatives weigh. The number listed for someone your height on a standard weight and height chart is just an approximation of what your healthy weight should be. Don't let this one number be the way you determine if you've succeeded or failed.

Myth 3: Your ideal weight is the lowest weight you've been able to get down to when you've dieted in the past.

Okay, so you've lost that much weight. But the fact that you're dieting again says you gained at least some or perhaps all of it back again. If you set a weight-loss goal that's too low for you to maintain, you'll get caught in the trap of yo-yo dieting -- losing weight, gaining it back, and trying to lose it again. The best weight goal is one you can live with.

Myth 4: The less you weigh, the healthier you'll be.

Not true. In fact, many studies show that if you're overweight, even seriously overweight, losing just 5 percent of your current weight is all you have to do to get the bulk of the health benefits: Lose that much and you'll dramatically lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even some forms of cancer. In fact, most of the health payoff comes in that first 5 to 10 percent.

Myth 5: If you don't get down to your dream weight, you'll never be happy.

You don't believe that, do you? A number is just a number. And if it's a number that leaves you frustrated and stuck in an endless cycle of losing weight and gaining it back again, it's time to retire it for a more reasonable one.

سلط ملط

ودي افهم.. بس هالحكومة وهالوزراء «الطيبين» لما يحنّون على راسنا يوميا.. ويحثون ويتوعدون ويصارخون: طفوا الكهرباء.. خففوا الكهرباء.. الاحمال بالاصفر.. الاحمال بالاحمر.. الاحمال ما دري وين.. هل هم متوقعين ان احد راح يسمع كلامهم؟.. هل في انسان عاقل راح يطفي مكيفات بيته عشان الكهرباء ما تنقطع؟!الأكيد.. ان البيوت ما فيها شي شغال اهم من المكيفات.. البيلرات مطفية وهم تجيب لنا ماي حار.. الليتات مطفية عشان البيت ما يسخن من حرارتها.. واللي شغال فقط لا غير هو التكييف.. يا جماعة حتى مطابخنا على الغاز مو الكهرباء، وبالتالي ما راح نطيعكم ولا راح نطفي المكيفات الا اذا انقطعت الكهرباء.. وصار امر الله.اللي سمح بفرز القسايم وضاعف عدد البيوت وبالتالي استهلاك الكهرباء هو انتوا مو المواطن، اللي سمح بإدخال كم الوافدين الهائل اللي يستهلكون ايضا الكهرباء هو الحكومة مو المواطن، اللي سمح ببناء ناطحات السحاب والعمارات أم 30 و40 و50 دور باضاءاتها ومكيفاتها ومصاعدها هو الحكومة مو المواطن.. اللي ضبّط فضيحة مولدات 2007 وقبل شراء «السكاريب» هو الحكومة مو المواطن. وبالتالي.. ما نرجوه أن يحترم كل وزير نفسه.. ويحط لسانه داخل حلجه.. ويسكت.. الدنيا حرّ وما لنا خلق نغلط على احد.. ولا احد يغلط علينا.واعلموا.. ان ما عندنا استعداد نطفيها.. وإذا انتوا تبون تطفونها كيفكم.. طفّوها وقعدوا بوزره أو بفنايل وسراويل أو حتى «سلط ملط» من الحر في بيوتكم أو في مكاتبكم.. انتوا احرار.. اما نحن.. فالمكيفات ستظل شغالة حتى يقضي الله امراً كان مفعولاً.

وليد جاسم الجاسم

Read this on Ansam's blog and like to share it with you all ;)

http://www.alwatan.com.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?Id=36370&WriterId=142

Why Jacob Black and Bella Swan Would Never Work as a Romantic Couple

The whole idea of Teams is ridiculous. Readers of the series know how it ends and the folly of picking Teams is apparent. There was never any question Bella would wind up with Edward. Sure, you could pick Team Jacob for his hot body and delicious muscles, but picking Team Jacob because he and Bella make sense is ludicrous and here are 5 reasons why: (spoilers ahead)

1. Jacob is a werewolf. It’s not so much that he’s a werewolf, so much as what being a werewolf in Stephenie Meyer’s world implies. At least with Edward, Bella had a chance to become immortal too and eventually this chance is realized. With Jacob she’d grow old and he wouldn’t even start to age until he could go long periods of time without shifting. If Bella hated the thought with Edward, there’s no way she’d stand for it with Jacob, especially when Jacob can’t change her into a werewolf too. 2. Jacob would imprint. Another downside to the Jacob and Bella relationship is that eventually, like the rest of his furry brother’s, Jacob would imprint. It might not be right away, he might have to wait for her to be born as with the case of Renesmee. But we’re assuming Bella doesn’t stay with Edward so the example should be Quil and Claire. That’d leave Bella alone… Jacobless and Edwardless, which would never work. 3. Jacob is too pushy. Edward has his faults, but Jacob’s pushiness makes Bella extremely uncomfortable. She can’t handle it and she doesn’t like it. If a fist in the face doesn’t bring home these facts to Jacob, he’s clearly clueless and will continue in said pushy behavior (as he does in Eclipse manipulating a kiss at the end of the novel) until he ultimately pushed Bella too far and eventually away. 4. Jacob is beyond reckless. He’s not worried about his life and safety and takes unnecessary risks. It might be thrilling at first, but over the long haul it’s not what Bella’s looking for. If you look at his behavior at the end of Eclipse you can see where his foolishness gets him – critically hurt and even then he doesn’t take it seriously. Bella would be constantly looking out for him in a manner similar to how she looks after her parents. She needs someone like Edward who’s willing to tone down his wildness and to act like an adult. 5. Jacob doesn’t get it. Love means something else to him than it does to Bella and he simply doesn’t get it. He’s in the middle of puppy love, not adult love when it comes to his feelings for Bella. Why else would he run off and face down a hoard of Newborns instead of staying with Bella when she clearly doesn’t want him to go?

Conclusion: It’s as clear as the snout on a werewolf’s face that Bella and Jacob never had a shot of everlasting and true love.

Courtesy of : Love Romance Passion blog ;)

Idiots Want Someone to Manage Them!

I was laughing few minutes ago... and now I want to cry

Wallah Idiots who put this add! But also intelligent

or wouldn't have caught the attention of people... right?

Little Lord Gaga: Greyson Michael Chance's "Paparazzi" Is A Web Sensation

Lady Gaga parodies and tributes abound on the Interweb--some funny, some serious, some good, some not-so-good. But the school recital performance of "Paparazzi" by boy wonder Greyson Michael Chance just might be the best yet. As the teacher emceeing the Edmond's Sixth Grade Festival says at the end of Greyson's stunning piano performance, this mega-talented kid could even "teach Lady Gaga a lesson." Just amazing!!! I love talented kids!

Dream On!

I tried to think of some kind of comeback...

but couldn't...

No wait...

اللي ما تطولا بيدك اوصلا بريلك و ما تشوف شر

Vive La France!