Category Archives: Uncategorized

Of Birthday Party Goodie Bags

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Birthday parties are simple occasions then. A few snacks and a game shared with friends and the celebration is over. Nowadays, however, there’s a new trend on how the birthday parties are celebrated. Now there’s the existence of the birthday party goodie bag. This thing has crept up into fashion and has been the craze all too sudden in birthday parties.

I stumbled upon an article with one parent undecided about preparing a party goodie bag or just sending cupcakes for preschooler classmates of her daughter. Weekly, her daughter is bringing a party goodie bag and the contents are escalating from a simple lollipop wrapped in clear plastic to a backpack with a boatload of goodies. It’s crazy, right? The simple party goodie bag has become a source of competition among parents in here. Everyone wants to get ahead of the other. This is exciting, though. Who knows by the end of the school year her daughter will be bringing home a cool cell phone. Hah!

Anyway, in truth, I don’t see any need for these goodie bags. As a celebrant, I’d rather receive gifts than giving them out. Do we really have to give them a token for coming? I don’t think so. The food we prepared for them to feast on would clearly suffice.

Birthday party goodie bags are cute. But with the hard economy these days, why spend your money on personalized bags and plastic toys that will most likely be thrown away? Competing with other parents in terms of birthday party goodie bags is way out of hand. Focus on the real essence of the celebration itself. The birthday celebrant should have a fun time blowing his birthday candles and share this occasion with family and friends.

Win Him Over on the First Date

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First dates are make-or-break situations for two people. The date can either progress in a fantastic way or end up in a horrible or pretty embarrassing moment. In this occasion the ladies are almost always critical of the guys. But, hey, this event involves not only one but two people and that means you and the guy. So, remember ladies the cute guys are also screening your attitude up. If you really like the guy asking you out, there are ways you can make an impression on him and win him over on the first date.

First and foremost, appreciate his efforts. The guy went out of his way to reserve a table in a restaurant for you or take you to a really beautiful place. Telling him that you like the view or that the food tastes great will make the guy feel some relief. Take note that planning a date can put a lot of pressure on the guys. Hence, a sign of gratitude will always makes for a nice start.

First dates are usually filled with awkward moments. Embrace this awkwardness and turn it into a relaxing situation. Acknowledge both your anxiousness and laugh off the situation. If the guy looks nervous, find a way to draw him to his comfort zone and that will make him feel great.

Avoid irritating actions like taking calls and doing text messaging. This is a sure signal to the guy that you are not interested. In cases when you are, don’t grill the guy of every bit of information as if you are the police. Asking the guy everything from his education, career, parents, hobbies and so much more is not flattering at all.

Lastly, provide positive reinforcement. If you had a great time during the date, tell the guy so. It offers them a clue of snagging another yes on the second date.

Whooping Cough Epidemic

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Recently, a whooping cough outbreak has occurred in California. With 910 cases and 5 infant deaths, the disease was immediately declared an epidemic by the state health officials. But what is exactly a whooping cough?

Whooping cough is otherwise known as pertussis. It is a highly contagious disease of the respiratory system caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The name whooping comes from the noise the affected person makes when taking a breath after a cough.

So, who is most at risk? It’s the unimmunized or incompletely immunized infants. Although, anyone can get affected it is particularly serious and can be fatal to the babies and small children.

The sudden rise in the occurrence of whooping cough may be brought about by parents who refuse to vaccinate their kids. They believe that vaccination can cause other ailments like autism. However, it has been indicated that the use of pertussis vaccine has reduced the annual deaths significantly. Parents who opt not to subject their children for vaccination are taking a big risk.

Nevertheless, spotting the symptoms of whooping cough can be very helpful for early diagnosis and treatment. Often the disease starts similar to a common cold with symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, mild coughing and slight fever. After two weeks, it then progresses to uncontrollable fits of coughing with the distinct whooping sound as the patients struggles to breathe. It may be accompanied by vomiting. Further complications of this disease can lead to pneumonia, earache, seizures and even brain damage.

With infants, one should be very critical with the symptoms as they do not exhibit the characteristic whooping sound. They appear gasping for air with their reddened faces. During bad coughing spells, the babies can even stop breathing.

Whooping cough is a serious condition so if you suspect your child to have one then better consult your physician immediately.

The Tradition of the Football Shirt Swap

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Football fever is wafting in the air as the World Cup is still in progress. This sport is the craze right now all over the world. And, there’s something in football that makes it endearing. It’s not the electrifying rocketing of the ball towards the goal or the glorious chanting of the fans. It’s the unique tradition of the football shirt swap.

For players in other sports, a handshake or a tap in the shoulder is enough to acknowledge the performance of their opponents at the end of the game. But in football, they have a distinct way of ending the game. They take their shirts or jerseys off and exchange them with their combatants. This is a grand display of sportsmanship that we have not seen in other sports.

This tradition has started more than 50 years ago. The first ever recorded incident was in 1931 when the French team asked to keep their English opponent’s jerseys to commemorate their victory. Since then the swapping of football uniforms by players has caught on.

It was even magnified during the 1970s in the North American Soccer League when Pele signed in for the New York Cosmos. Pele was a huge attraction that it even required 25 -30 shirts to be provided for him to accommodate the requests of the swaps. This was often the case as even the less well-known players are fighting their way to get hold and swap shirts with the more popular players of football superstars.

This posed no problems for the player as the teams issue a fresh kit of jerseys for every match.

Lion Burgers, Anyone?

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When we think of lions, the first thing that comes to mind is the phrase “King of the Jungle”. Few animals would dare challenge a lion in the wild even when they are extremely hungry. But this is not the case in a restaurant in Mesa, Arizona. Restaurant owner Cameron Selogie of II Vinaio restaurant was able to whip up a new dish – the lion burgers.

As expected, it has caused so much stir and ire from many people that the restaurateur has received 250 angry e-mails from animal activists and even a bomb threat. It’s not surprising considering that this is quite the first time we ever hear of a lions being served up as a meal.

Well, just imagine your favorite Lion King character Simba come to life and be slaughtered for burger meat. It’s horrible, right? What is sad is that we know the lions are classified as threatened species and are fast becoming an endangered one.

Though the animal was not poached, as the restaurant owner claims he bought the meat from a free-range farm in Illinois and the farm was approved and regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture. Nevertheless, the owner should be more conscious of the impact his exotic dish will bring about. If we start serving lion burgers now, what exotic animal would be next on the list? Restaurants find ways to make their business known, no matter what the consequences are. This will cause a race for some to create outrageous food dishes using exotic animals that are not only sure to shock the palates of some but also our sensibilities.

Keep Your Brain Sharp

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Many of us believe that as we grow older we should just accept that our mental power should decline. Fortunately, this is not the case. We can overcome forgetfulness and keep our brain sharp no matter what our age is. With a little effort and dedication, there are some ways we can prevent any mental slowness and boost our brain power.

On top of the list is to relax your brain. Take a deep breath and try meditation. Meditation has been found to increase the ability of the brain to concentrate. When the brain is in a relax state, it remembers things more clearly.

Next is to focus on the future. Have something to look forward to. Perhaps, you can set a coffee date with a close friend or a shopping schedule with your sister. And, be sure to adhere with all these scheduled appointments, too. Anything that will keep you motivated can also help with your brain’s function.

Don’t forget to exercise. A simple outdoor walk or jog does not only benefit your waist but also your brain. Exercise promotes proper blood flow towards your brain making it operate at its best. It also promotes cell growth and increases the neurotransmitters in your brain helping you to become more alert.

Eat healthy. That means lots of fruits and vegetables. Avoid eating junk food as they can decrease your mental function. You can snack on blueberries, instead. They contain anthocyanins that helps improve the brain memory.

Finally, learn something new. Keeping your mind stimulated by new activities can make it function sharply. You can enroll in a foreign speech class, learn a few dance steps or delve into sudoku or crossword puzzles. Part of becoming forgetful is the non-use of the brain. So, be sure to use it at all times or else you’ll end up losing it to a forgetful state.

Ways to Love the Job You Secretly Hate

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Few people truly love their job. But, they stick on it because there seems to be no better option for them outright. There may be times that you’ll find you job really frustrating or boring. Before anything gets out of hand and you get yourself fired, you need to understand that part of your dislike for your job may not stem from the work itself but from your attitude towards it. All you need is a breather, a few tweaks in your desk and you just might end up liking and even loving your job.

First thing you can do is improve your work station. Stress can come from clutter and a disorganized work space. So, arrange everything up and add a few of touches of your own like a small photo of your happiest moment or perhaps a flower vase you can fill up every day with beautiful blooms to keep you in a cheerful mood.

Get up and talk with your co-workers. Build a friendly relationship with them. Many dislike their job because they don’t get along well with their bosses and colleagues. Be friendly and chat up with your subordinates. Nothing can be more satisfying than being able to mentor your junior co-workers.

Maximize your breaks. If it’s lunch or snack time, go to the cafeteria so you get yourself a breather. Never take your lunches in your desk. You have to delineate a line between work and personal break times. If there’s a lawn, garden or terrace in your office building, step into it, breathe some fresh air and you’ll feel energized when you get back to work later.

If you find your daily task boring, ask for more assignments. New challenges may actually be good for you and your boss will take notice of your performance. If you lack the skills, train for it. Take whatever you can in your present job which will put you in a better position for the future job you can transfer to.

Shoes That Best Fit Pregnant Women

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Pregnancy causes a lot of changes. You will notice that you will regularly buy more clothes to fit your growing belly. But it’s not only the maternity clothes that women should worry about. The feet during pregnancy can also swell up. You may be required to buy new shoes, or else, suffer the consequences of pinched toes or feet.

Pregnant women are also discouraged from wearing high heels. The center of gravity of the body has shifted so it makes pregnant women feel awkward or unbalanced. Wearing high heels will increase your propensity for falls. So it’s best to stay away from 3-4inch heels during these times. Surely, you don’t want to give birth with a broken ankle or risk losing your baby with a serious fall. You may be allowed to wear shoes with heels around one to two inches only.

The ideal shoes for women are flats with internal arch support. Certain brands of shoes have built-in arch support systems. If your shoes don’t have one, buy inserts that can provide the proper support that your feet need.

Avoid buying shoes with laces. As a pregnant woman, it will be difficult for you to get down and reach your feet. Opt for the slip-ons instead.

Some specific shoes fit for pregnant women are tennis shoes or sneakers. Though most of them have laces but if you can have someone to tie down the laces for you every time, then you can probably go for it. Anyway, there are also choices with Velcro closures.

For special occasions, slight wedges, sandals, flat pumps or low heels are your possible options.

How to Quick Clean Your Home

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We all love to stay in a clean house. But with our busy lifestyle and hectic schedules, we barely have the time to wipe off the dust in the living room. Often the clean-ups are reserved on the weekends. But what if one weekend morning, you suddenly received a phone call with visitors coming over in a few minutes? If it’s just a bunch of close friends, you can easily tell them to excuse the mess in the house. But if it’s somebody who will be critical of your living habits like your boss or your mother-in-law, then you probably need to do some quick clean-ups.

First thing that you should do is decide which room your guests will more likely stay or see. These areas will usually be the living room, bathroom and kitchen. Better tackle these areas first so you can welcome them right in without looking really sloppy.

In the living room, give the area a quick sweep or vacuum to get rid of the dust. Straighten up the cushions and wipe the dust off the center table, coffee tables and the side table. Stuff the mails on the drawer or straighten them up along with the magazines or newspapers in the area.

Give the bathroom a quick clean-up. Use a bathroom cleaner and wash out the sink, tub and the toilet. Wipe the counters, too. Provide fresh roll of tissues and deodorize the area right away.

Move over to the kitchen and put all the dishes to the dish washer. Wipe clean the kitchen counter tops and the sink area. Straighten up the kitchen condiments and utensils.

Don’t forget to make yourself presentable after all the raucous you just went through. Freshen up, change to new clothes and off you go to welcome your guests in.

Managing Mommy Hangovers

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Moms deserve a break once in a while. You can leave the baby or the kids to the dad and have a smashing time with your girlfriends. Of course, it’s advisable that you don’t go over board and get exceedingly drunk. But being cooped up most of the time at home and having a wonderful time with your friends, you can easily get carried away and order a few more drinks. And, when you wake up in the morning, you get a walloping headache. Hmm… mom gets a hangover.

Well, there are ways you can manage this situation. First thing you should do is take medication. Take two aspirins upon waking up so you can minimize the pounding in your headache. Soon when the kids are up, you’ll easily handle their shouting or cries a little easier.

Don’t drink coffee. Alcoholic drinks are dehydrating so you don’t need another dehydrating drink in your system. Rather, drink lots of water to hydrate your body and replenish the lost fluids. You can also resort to sports drinks that are packed with nutrients and electrolytes that are easily absorbed by the body. Drinking fruit juices are great options, too.

Eat fruits to replenish some of the lost nutrients. Eating banana can be good for you because it is rich in potassium.

Breathe some fresh air. Inhaling pure oxygen can quickly aid in overcoming a hangover. You don’t have to go to an oxygen bar to do this. Just get out into your garden and take a few deep breaths. If there is a park nearby, you can take a walk and breathe in the crisp air in the area.

Remember the next time you go out, know your limits. Drink slowly and enjoy the conversation so you don’t have to go through another dreaded mommy hangover.