Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Home Fitness Ideas for Moms





More and more moms these days have almost forgotten to take care of their health and body. This is mainly due to lack of time and energy to do fitness activities because of numerous house chores that they have to perform daily. In addition, with regard to their busy and stressful schedule, exercising is not included in their daily routine, unfortunately. Making them look older than their age and not in good shape.

If you are a full-time homemaker, who cannot easily find time to stick to a formal fitness routine, you can still perform certain exercises even without any fitness apparatus. Listed below are some quick and simple ideas on how to stay in good shape amidst your daily home responsibilities.

Work and Exercise with your Kids

Have fun with your kids while doing some workout routine. Put your baby in his pushchair and together with other moms and their kids, have a little trip at the park or just around the block. Brisk walking is a good cardio exercise to keep your blood circulation normal.

In addition, you can get your kids involved in tidying your kitchen, living room, and the bedrooms for at least ten minutes daily. To make this activity more interesting, you may set a timer, put music on and get everybody moving, including you, to pick up the clutters, books, toys, clothes, shoes, and other stuffs. As a challenge, you and your kids must be able to clean up all the clutters before the time runs out. This is a good simple cardio exercise for you and for your kids. Though it it may seem a simple work out, it will also contribute a lot to your physical and health well being.

If your house is only a walking distance away from school, you can walk and bring your kids to school. This may serve also as a fitness activity for you. Besides exercising, you will be able to spend quality time with them and make your child feel great and in excellent mood before entering school. Make it a daily habit, and little by little, you will realize the benefits it brings you.

Use your Time Alone

When you are alone at home, keep yourself occupied and exert physical effort by making simple house tasks. It can be as simple as climbing the stairs up and down, stretching, running to and from the house, gardening, watering the plants, laundering the clothes, washing the dishes, and cleaning up your aquarium. If you have time, you may go to the park and walk around to breathe fresh air.

Remember; take time to rest to recharge your body with enough energy that you will need to do your house chores. Have enough sleep to keep your mind and body refreshed. Moreover, eat healthy foods and diet to achieve your fitness goals. With this, you will even serve as a role model to your children to encourage them to eat and live healthy as early as now.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"You are never alone in any good intention."

Monday, November 29, 2010

Relieve Stress and Have Fun with Sports Recreation





We are now living in a fast-paced world full of life stresses, challenges, and responsibilities. Once in a while, we deserve to have some time to relax and engage in some recreational activities. Our modern ways also tend to be sedentary, and the foods we eat are not often healthy. Because of these, doing exercises is very important to restore our body system. Sports are recreational activities that you can try to make as your hobby or as a diversion. There are several types of sports out there, and you have the freedom to pick where you think you might excel and have fun.

It is easy to learn new sports; you can find instructional courses online or join a sports club. It will be better if you join team sports recreational activities like softball, baseball, basketball, and soccer. With frequent playing, you will develop your sports skills after a while. You may also try to play bowling because you will enjoy playing this sport regardless of your skill level.

You may also try individual sports activities such as golf, tennis, badminton, swimming, running, aerobic dancing, gymnastics, and horseback riding. You can also learn these types of sports by joining clubs or hiring personal trainers. It will be better if you will have a friend to play against or share experiences.

If you want, you can learn recreational sports activities online. You can find websites teaching almost any sport or activity you can think of including underwater hockey, fly-fishing, and paragliding in the Alps. Nevertheless, what is the sense of learning the sports theories if you will not apply them in actual practice. Still online courses are a good means of learning new sports and recreational activities you might want to try someday.

One of the most fun sports recreational activities you may try is table tennis. It is somewhat like of a regular lawn tennis but instead of playing it on a lawn it is played on top of a table. By using a rubber-coated paddle, you can hit the extremely lightweight plastic ball over the court of your opponent’s side. The rule is also similar to regular tennis games. With more practice, you may learn the techniques and develop some game strategies. There are also many other easy sports to play for you to try.

In sports, your sports skills level does not matter. What is important is how you enjoy playing the game. Engaging in sports is a good way to stay fit while having fun and releasing stress at the same time. With constant practice and dedication, you can even be a professional athlete someday.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“An idle mind is the devil’s workshop; a busy mind thinking bad things is worse. Fill your mind with good things, and busy your body with worthwhile activities; this is the best a man can do with his life.”

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Hobby Ideas You Will Like





Do you have your favorite pastime? Hobbyists believe that spare time must not be just spent but instead savored and enjoyed. If you have a good past time that you enjoy, you will never look at your idle time the same way again. If you do not have any pastime, well here are some of the suggestions that you might like to try.

Many people love listening to music as their pastime. There is much more you can do with music than just listening to it, you can learn about different genres of music and appreciate them as well. You can research on famous composers, famous melodies, music trivia, and all about recording artists past and present. After a while, you will realize that you are developing a certain sophisticated tastes in jazz or classical music. You may also want to collect a large assortment of CDs. That is why many people are enjoying sound trip as their pastime.

Any kind of pet can be a relaxing hobby, too. If you enjoy seeing birds flying here and there, then maybe you should have a bird pet. There are many breeds to choose from like canaries, budgies or cockatiels. People in some countries raise ornamental chickens, pigeons, or pheasants. Surely, you will enjoy watching your mother bird take care of a nest of young chicks.

Dogs are the most popular pet choice for most people. You can enjoy walking on the park with your pet dog. However, breeding and raising show dogs are entirely something else. You need to invest some money on show dogs and you need to have a lot of patience in training them. Dogs are man’s best friends as they say, because pet dogs are lovable, they give a lot of love back to their owners, and in return, you will gain emotional attachment to your pet. However, having a pet dog requires a bit of work and attention especially while they are being trained.

Bicycles can also become a pastime for you. Hobby bicycling is becoming more and more popular nowadays. You can see cyclers along lesser-travelled highways enjoying the view of the countryside while breathing fresh air. Of course, you need to have your bicycle, a helmet for safety, and a suitable clothes as well as a small tool kit in case of repairs. You do not need to be a pro cyclist to enjoy such activity; you can simply take fun rides with your family around your village. The choice is yours.

There are many interesting things that you need to try and learn in your entire lifetime. As you get old, do not stop learning new things and experience new endeavors. Hobbies are good for your mind and they will help you stay active. It will allow you to expand your horizons and give you fulfillment in return.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Life offers a variety of things to suit our widely varied interests; find yours and enjoy.”

Friday, November 26, 2010

Common Mistakes in Setting up New Home Aquarium – Part Two





This is the second and last installment on the common mistakes an amateur and even veterans commit when they setup their new home aquarium.

The fourth mistake you may commit is improper water conditioning. Insufficient filtration and water circulation system are very essential to the life of the fishes. There are many kind of filter available in the market, but you must make sure that you have the right system installed in your tank. It is also better to have more than insufficient filtration system.

The aeration system gives your fishes their much-needed oxygen. Moreover, it prevents formation of slimes on the walls of your tank. To avoid slime formation, you may add a power head or a surge device. Again, it is better to have more than insufficient aerators in your tank.

The fifth mistake is lack of knowledge. It is exciting to put exotic and expensive animals in your aquarium. The fishes that usually comes to mind of new aquarium owners are arowana, red, blue, or silver; lucky flower horns; and other costly fishes. I don’t see anything wrong with starting with these fishes right away; the problem lies in the owner’s lack of knowledge on how to take care of these fishes. Put them into your tank, but be sure to understand their needs and meet them.

There are magazines, books, and articles online that you may read to gain knowledge about your animals. Subscribe to this blog or other sites that provide the latest research on your fishes. Keep in mind that knowledge is power, and with knowledge comes success. Proper implementation of what you know is as important of what you understand.

The sixth mistake is about incompatible fishes in your tank. Like human beings, there are fishes that simply do not go well with each other. There are also fishes that prefer to live alone, such as fighting fishes, no matter how colorful and attractive they may be. Lionfishes will just gobble up all your guffies and small goldfishes. Some fishes also eat live plants.

Angelfishes go well with goldfishes. Oscars can live with their own kind but will not tolerate squally small fishes. Arowana is better left alone; flower horns may live with another of its kind, but not with too many of them.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Like fishes, human beings have their social preferences; let us respect them.”

Common Mistakes in Setting up New Home Aquarium – Part One





There are common mistakes that beginning aquarium owners must avoid. Usually, the mistakes are committed because the owner does not know what he must do to keep his fishes healthy and alive and how to maintain the aquarium. With this post, let me share these common mistakes, some of which I also committed.

The first mistake of aquarium owners is overfeeding. Too much food thrown into the aquarium may kill your fishes. These unconsumed food will settle down at the bottom and when it accumulates, these excess will produce nitrates and will eventually overload the aquarium filter.

Therefore, you must understand the nutritional needs of your fish. Feed your fishes only twice a day, approximately 12 hours in between. Ask the pet store attendant about any particular food a kind of fish needs. You must also take note of how big their mouths are. Of course, you will not feed your hump heads with pellets, or your arowana with flakes. You must also take note of the nutritional content of your feeds.

The second mistake you may commit is impatience. When your aquarium arrives at your doorstep, you want to set it up at once, neglecting the important things you must do first. Before you start assembling your home aquarium, you must know what kind of aquarium setup you want to have. You can setup a salt water, freshwater, or reptile aquarium. These setups require different things.

Be patient; do not rush things. When you have decided your setup, you must also gain enough basic information about the fishes you want to keep. You must also consider the space your aquarium will require. You must also provide an electric outlet for the aerator and the lights. Also, be sure to have cover for your aquarium to prevent falling objects and dusts to pollute the water.

The third mistake you may commit is overcrowding the aquarium. Out of excitement, you may want to put so many things into your aquarium. Limit your decorations to what is really necessary. You must also consider the number of fish you will put into it, taking into account their size.

Consider how big or small is your aquarium. Allot only a tenth part of your aquarium’s volume for decorations, and do not put any decorations. Avoid plastics; go for naturals like rocks, driftwoods and live plants. The number of fish must be proportional to the aquariums volume. A five gallon tank can hold five medium-sized goldfishes or any other fish of the same size. You must also consider the size of adult fish. Although goldfishes and oscars start as fries of the same size, they grow into an adult of different sizes.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Love is fragile; handle it with care."

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Teach Your Children a Hobby





Even young people, particularly children, must have a hobby. An interesting hobby can be a learning experience for your children and it can keep them entertained for hours as well. Good hobbies make your child occupied with productive activities and help them to stay away from bad habits and potential trouble. So, instead of playing video games or watching TV as pastime, you must get your children engaged on more challenging and educational hobbies.

Kids may like playing musical instruments as their hobby. They can learn to play guitar on their own or with the help of some instructional materials. This will be easier if your children are interested in music. Playing piano and violin can be quite difficult so you would probably have to invest on music lessons. Others believe that some children are born musically inclined, but children who are really interested can also learn to play as good as those who have natural talents, if they will practice hard and never give up.

Your kids might also be interested with arts and crafts. Your kids can learn how to draw, paint, or make his own scrapbook. Your girls can learn needle arts such as embroidery, sewing, knitting or crocheting. Your boys can learn basic carpentry, which is a very useful hobby that may turn into a career or at least a skill that they can use when they grow up.

Collecting sorts of things can also be a very interesting hobby for your children. Most kids would like to collect stamps, coins, and rocks. Stamps would be a good subject because they can come from different countries, making this hobby an instant geography lesson for your kids at the same time. Moreover coins and stamps collection requires a lot of historical knowledge thereby encouraging your kids to read more of history and culture. Rock collecting also will make your child more investigative and skeptic while doing his hobby.

Children’s collections must not be very expensive. They can start by collecting simple items such as beanbag toys or figurines of their favorite things such as angels, frogs, or unicorns. It will greatly help them increase their collection if the things they will collect are the things they love or representation of those things. For an instance, if your children are interested on dolphins, they may collect dolphin figures and posters, and they may also want to read books about dolphins.

Construction sets can also be a good option for your children’s hobby. They may start with a simple toy, but as they grow up, they may add new components into their construction, which may can turn into some pretty impressive models. With this kind of hobby, children will develop their reasoning and perception skills as they build.

One of the most popular children’s hobbies, especially for boys is making model cars, boats, and airplanes. If your child is inclined on making models, support and encourage them to start. Model cars may be complicated in the beginning, and it may require more patience and passion. Encourage them if their first try may not be perfect. It is good to start with simple models first. Then, patiently guide them as they try models that are more complicated. After a while and as they gain experience, they may now do it on their own.

Many kids enjoy sports, thus sports activities can also be an exciting hobby for your kids. They can play different types of sports such as soccer, basketball, and baseball. You may also suggest track and field to them. More and more children are now engaged in martial arts like taekwondo. Girls may enjoy gymnastics, dance sport, and ballet. Sports activity is not just a mere hobby but also a good way to keep your children in shape and healthy.

LESSON IN LIFE:
"You will be good at everything if you will start doing it while you are still young."

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Kids' Crafts to Shoo Boredom Away





When it is raining outside and your kids do not have something to do at home, they will become bored. However, do not worry because you can transform this boring day into a fun-filled and interesting day. Bust boredom by providing your kids with crafts materials and a little help along the way.

When doing kids’ crafts, you should first prepare the basic things such as paper, crayons, safe scissors, and glue. You may provide them with different types of paper materials such as construction paper, plain typing paper, cardstock of various colors and other kinds of papers and boards. If you are in a tight budget, you may use junk mails and old magazines to come up with interesting art projects. Crayons will be nice for smaller children. However, the stores give more options to choose from such as washable dry-erase markers, watercolor pencils, and gel pens. Kids’ craft supplies may cost you, but even on a budget, you can find alternatives and other possibilities.

You may also use recycled junk and found objects as craft materials. I am referring to junks such as empty cereal boxes, toothpaste boxes, cardboard from packaging, plastic containers, and even tin cans. If your kids will be using tin cans, make sure that there will be no sharp edges, because they might get hurt. To be safe, file the edges off or squeeze them flat with a pair of pliers.

Found objects include dried leaves, twigs, rocks, snakeskin and other natural items that your child may found. If you are living near a sheep farm, you can get wool scraps often found stuck onto barbed wires. Almost any items can be used in kid crafts; you just need keen eyes and creativity.

Collage making is one of the most fun and popular kid crafts of all times. Kids can glue down almost anything that they can think of. For this project, use a sturdy paper for the canvass, and let your children do their masterpiece. For an added twist, a collage can be made around a theme, like food, animals, or landscapes. You may use old magazines as source of related images, which can be cut out and glued to a background. For older children, they might wish to cut out details from magazine pictures and reassemble them in new and interesting ways. On the other hand, they can cut out interesting words and phrases from the magazines and incorporate them as well in the collage.

For smaller children, it will be fun for them to play with textures and dimension. They might enjoy gluing down pastas, beans, Popsicle sticks, leaves, and many other materials. Do not forget to give them glitters and sequins. It will be more interesting for them to work with shiny materials especially the girls.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“We already have the things that may excite us; do not let any setback pull you down.”

Get a Hobby Kit and Learn Something New





If you are tired of the ho-hum of life and would like to do something new that will save your from boredom, maybe you should try to get a hobby kit. Various hobby kits are available and are easy to learn and to do especially for beginners. With hobby kits, hobbies that are difficult to learn will be learned easily.

For example, if you want to try doing a needlecraft, say cross stitching or crewel embroidery, it is best to start with hobby kits. These kinds of hobby kits contain a piece of cloth with the design already stamped on, yarn or floss in the proper colors and required length, and a needle. You may even get an embroidery hoop inside the kit. When buying a hobby kit, make sure to read the packaging to see if you will need to buy additional materials or tools to finish the project.

There are also hobby kits for boys, like model car making. In a model car kit, you will be working on small pieces needed to construct the car and you will be dealing with detailed instructions so patience is a must. In some kits, you might also get paint, a brush, and some glue. However, be sure also to read the label, other materials, such as batteries, may not be included so you have to buy them separately.

Hobby kits such as a candle-making kit or a rock tumbling kit are also nice gift ideas for young people during Christmas. There are many kits to choose from like a small weaving loom kits, glycerin soap making kits, bead crafts kits, wood-burning kits, and art kits. You may also consider reading hobby workbooks that contain easy to follow instructions and have a packet of materials to be used for the project. These books cover some topics about polymer clay modeling, hair styling, pompom creations, and many others.

There are also gardening hobby kits for those who want to start with the basics of gardening. A seed starting kit typically contains a pot, a small trowel, seeds, fertilizer, and a greenhouse dome or cover. You may need to buy potting soil separately. You may also improvise if some materials are not available in the kit. Say if pot is not available, you may use empty biscuit can or broken buckets as substitutes.

When choosing a hobby kit, be sure that it will be appropriate and interesting. Sometimes, hobby kits are quite challenging. For example, it is not a good idea give a radio electronics kit to grade-schoolers. More often than not, they will just throw it away and or leave it undone. Consider getting a smaller project that you can finish in a short time so you can get a feel for the hobby. The next hobby kit you buy may be harder. After a while, you will realize that you are already learning a skill not simply a hobby.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Big thing come from small beginnings; so if you want something big, be careful with how you start to reach your dreams.”

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Paper Crafts: Scrapbook for Beginners





Doing paper crafts is becoming a popular pastime for arts enthusiasts nowadays. Scrapbooking is a paper craft project, which is fun to do. It can also be one of the best ways to display pictures and to chronicle family history. Other paper crafts include making greeting cards and even making hand-made papers.

If you are still an amateur in making paper crafts, go easy at first until you determine what sort of paper craft materials you will want to work on. For instance, you might like using stickers more rather than using rubber stamps. If that will be the case, you be better off spending more on stickers and less on rubber stamps for your project.

Most probably, you have old photos collecting dust somewhere. Starting a scrapbook for those photos is a great and nice way to preserve and organize them artistically so many people can enjoy seeing them. You will need a loose-leaf binder, some plastic page protectors, and some colored cardstock for starters. If you want your scrapbook to last long, I recommend using only archival quality materials. For best results, use paper products, which are acid-free to prevent your photos from fading and deterioration. Your materials must also withstand sunlight because your scrapbook will bleach easily if it is exposed to direct sunlight.

To start with your scrapbook project, select photos that all relate to one event, such as a trip or your child’s graduation day. In addition, have a complementing theme in mind for your set of photos. This will make your scrapbooking easier because your idea will only revolve on a single theme. But if in case your photos are not related to each other, you may organize them into general theme for each page or if possible make a story to make them seem to be in unison.

Attach your photos on your cardstock using double-sided tape squares or glue stick. Decorate the page with stickers, paper cut-outs, or rubber stamp designs. You may also use colored gel pens to write captions or titles to your photos. However, always remember that everything that you will put on your page must be cohesive with the theme that you are working on. You can make it as simple as you want and in any way that pleases you. After all, we all have different artistic taste.

There is a wide array of scrapbooking materials available in bookstores or paper crafts specialty stores. This includes die cuts, which are pre-cut pieces of colored papers into different shapes and objects. You may also find special pair of scissors that will allow you to cut paper with an interesting edge design. Moreover, you may use a deckle or old pinking shears to make elegant looking scrapbook pages. There are also scrapbooking kits available with various designs and themes.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Memories and old photographs are treasures, handles them with care.”

Clay Pot Crafts: Make a Bell for the Porch





Clay pot crafts are simple and yet nice home decors you can do yourself. In clay pot crafts, you can transform simple clay flowerpots into a beautiful piece of art. Plain new pots are usually used for this project. You may decorate the pots with paint or tie them up together with ropes to create different figures you desire.

Clay pots are available in different sizes, from small ones not more than two inches in diameter, to huge ones over a foot across. For your first project, try to start with small pots and start with a simple design. After you have accomplished your first project, you may now jump on to designs that are more elaborate if you wish.

An example of a simple craft to start with is to make a bell design from two clay pots. You will need a bigger pot about 5 or 6 inches in diameter and a very small one. The smaller pot will serve as the clapper for your bell. Prepare also some decorative cords, two large wooden beads, and painting materials to add color to your work. You may also put on some glue-on jewels to add shimmer to your bell. This project will be a nice decoration for your front porch.

Cut a cord two feet (60 cm) long. Fold end over three inches (8 cm) and make a loop by doing an overhand knot. This loop is for hanging the bell on a hook or a nail. Pass the loose end of the cord on the hole at the bottom of the pot. Make sure that the pot is turned upside down to resemble a bell. Lay the pot on its side and string one of the wooden beads to cord until it is about ten inches from the loose end. The wooden beads must be larger than the hole of the pot because this will serve as the stopper so the pot will not slide down.

On the loose end of the chord, repeat the same procedure. Use the smaller pot for the clapper of your bell this time. Now when you lift the entire arrangement by the loop, the clapper must hang freely inside the larger pot, making a pleasant sound when it claps against the larger pot.

It is now time to jazz up your project. If you have a theme in mind, say a Holstein cow theme, paint your pots with black and white patches to mimic a cow skin. You may also put a silk ribbon, dried flowers, and greenery if you desire. Let your imagination play and express yourself.

For a variation, you may make several bells of different sizes and hang them horizontally on a wooden pole or a branch of a tree. You may hang the bells on different levels so they will not strike each other.

Once you are done with the project you may now make some elaborate designs such as a large doll or a scarecrow of nested pots strung together and painted. The doll can sit on a chair or a step of the front porch. You may paint his face to look like a scarecrow, a jack-o-lantern, a gnome, or a child. These clay pot crafts are best displayed outside and display them as garden decorations.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Like these bells, people around us may differ in sizes, but it does not mean they differ in significance.”

Monday, November 22, 2010

Making Mural: Group Craft Idea for Children





Most craft projects were meant to be done individually. However, it is also a brilliant idea to think of a crafts that works for a group of kids working together. Making a mural craft is a good craft for engaging a group of kids to work on. By working as a group, you will be able to introduce the sense of camaraderie and cooperation among the children participating in this project. The kids will be able to share their ideas with each other and may somehow lead to good friendships.

The basic material for this group project is a freezer paper. This will serve as the huge canvass for the kids to work on. Freezer paper is about 18 inches wide, and it is very tough. One of its sides is plastic coated where foods are usually placed. However, you will be working on the other side so you can easily draw or glue something on it. Group murals can feature a number of different design elements.

You may ask the children to put their handprints or footprints on it, this might sounds good to children coz it will be a lot of fun. You can also allow them to cut out some pictures from magazines and glue it on the paper. They can also incorporate some scribbles, designs, signatures, slogans, or pictures using markers, crayons, or gel pens. You may also allow them to add some stickers. This project can be very flexible so you may put on everything you want.

When making the mural, it will be easier for the participants to stick on a single theme. The theme must be related to the interests of the young artists. For an instance, if the participants are girl scouts, you may ask them to feature pictures of camping materials. If you are teaching about dinosaurs, a dinosaur themed mural will be fine.

If you want a messy yet cute theme for fall, why not ask the kids to use their body parts to draw trees. The kids may start by using their forearms as the tree trunks. Put brown paint on their arms and ask them to lay their arms on the paper gently. Then use their hands to draw branches and their finger prints as the leaves. Try adding a few drops of dishwashing detergents to the paints so it will be easier for cleaning afterwards. In addition, ask the children to wear old clothes or smocks when making this project.

An animal theme will be quite more interesting for preschoolers. You would probably provide them with pre cutout pictures of animals and let them pick the ones they like to glue on to the mural. It is advisable to use glue sticks with small kids so it will not be too much messy. Let the children place their pictures on whatever position they want. After all, it is the process that is important in this craft. You may also tell them to use animal cookie cutters dipped in paint to stamp animal figures on the mural. Moreover, they can tape the paper on a table or on a wall so it does not move while the children work.

This craft idea is designed to build camaraderie and teamwork among participating artist. It is a good way to build a strong bonds of friendship.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“No one lives and die for his own self only; we need others to live happily.”

Apron: A Timely Handicraft Gift Idea





It is Christmas time and you may be wondering what to give your friends and loved ones that is cool aside from being useful. This gift idea, an apron, can be one of the best ideas you may consider doing this holiday season.

Apron is a useful and a simple handicraft gift idea to do for your friends and your family. You can give it to mommies and grandmas to use when cooking or doing other kitchen works. You can also give it to daddies because they can also wear this while barbecuing sometimes. In addition, it can be used in their workshops. Kids also need aprons when they are dong arts and crafts to protect their clothes from stains and paints. If you wish to make one, here are the simple instructions for making apron handicrafts.

Start with a sturdy piece of cloth suitable for the individual who will use the apron afterwards. The fabric’s width must be enough to wrap ½ to ¾ of the model’s body and long enough to cover the body from collar bone to just above the knee. For a large adult, 25-30 inches wide by 36-40 inches long will be just enough. For children aged 15 years and below, you will need at least a piece of fabric 18 inches wide by 25-30 inches long..

Also, use sturdy cotton fabrics such as medium weight denims or twill. Soft cottons such as broadcloth or muslin may be good enough for kitchen works, but it will not last long and will not work well in the gardens and workshops. You will also need a sewing machine and some threads. You will also need extra length of fabric to make straps to go around the neck, ties for the back, and pockets.

In designing your handicraft, it is best to combine beauty and functionality. Add pockets so the user will have some place to put their things while working. The first step is to fold the fabric lengthwise. This will you help you cut symmetrical shapes with just one cut. What you will be shaping when you make the cut will be the bib section of the apron. The bib for an adult sized apron will need to be about 9 inches wide.

Take a measurement from the fold of about 5-1/2 inches. This is half the width of the bib plus an inch to fold under twice to form a hem. The piece you will cut off the side to shape the bib will be a half bullet shape with the tip of the bullet being where the ties will be attached. The length of the half bullet shape should be about a foot, and the width will be from the spot you marked 5-1/2 inches from the fold to the outside edge of the fabric. After cutting these pieces you must come up with somewhat like of an apron shape.

You may now decorate the body of the apron with pockets and any other decorations you desire such as patches and appliqué. Afterwards, fold under the edges all around, and stitch it down using a sewing machine. Make sure to keep the stitches sturdy to make a nice hem around the apron. After sewing the body of the apron, it is now time to make the straps. Cut a pair of fabric a yard long and two inches wide to make the ties. Fold lengthwise and fold raw edges to the inside. Press and sew along the length to form the ties. Attach each tie on the sides of the apron’s waist.

Cut another piece, 18-20 inch-long by 5 inch-wide fold in half lengthwise and press. Repeat the procedures you did for the ties, and then attach both ends to the topsides of the bib. This will serve as the strap to hang the apron on the user’s neck. Be careful not to twist it when you attach it. After putting all the pieces together, you now have a beautiful and functional handicraft product. If you will use this as a gift for someone, surely, he or she will appreciate it very much.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“When giving gifts, it’s the thought that counts; so think carefully what you are going to give.”

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Environment Friendly Craft: Potholders from Scrap Fabrics





Doing crafts is therapeutic and can relieve stress and tensions. It is also a perfect way to unwind and make something useful and creative. Every one of us has creative potentials and with modern easy to do kits and patterns, doing crafts does not have to end in frustration.

If you have a sewing machine at home, you can do many creative handicrafts. To start with, a potholder project can be an easy project to do. Potholders can be made from scrap materials or unwanted clothing and a bit of double-fold bias tape. Here are the simple step-by-step procedures in making your potholders.

Cut a pair of 8-inch (21 cm) squares of fabric for the faces of the potholders. Use coordinating fabrics so it would be appealing to the eyes. If you prefer, you can make a cardboard pattern so it will be easier for you to cut the other pieces. Now cut more 8-inches square pieces from any old fabric to stack for the filling. The filling must be thick enough to protect you from heat but thin enough so it would be so manageable and can be sewn through easily.

Arrange all layers so the outer layers are facing the outside and the filler layers are inside. You can put a couple of large straight pins through the assembly to fasten them together temporarily. Then start to sew right across the middle of the stack. Sew across the middle again, perpendicular to the first stitching. Make stitches across opposite corners and do it on the other corners. If you wish, you may repeat each stitch to make a strong bond. The layers must be strong and sturdy at this stage.

To bind off the raw edges of the assembly, trim first the excess parts to smoothen and even out the edges. Open out one folded edge of the bias tape. The wider bias tape can be easier to use, but the narrow type makes a neat finish product. Start with one side, line up the edges of the tape with the edges of the potholder. You may now start stitching through all layers along the first fold line. The stitch must be a quarter inch from the edge. Repeat same procedure with the remaining three sides until you reach the starting corner of the potholder. Cut the bias tape off and leave three inches (7 cm) to form a hanging loop.

Fold the bias tape over the raw edge so that the middle fold lines up with the outside of the potholder and the other fold is hiding the raw edge of the bias tape. Now, for best results, manually hand-sew the binding down, forming a loop on your creative handicraft when you get to the end.

This potholder project is very easy to do. You can also try do some other shapes if you want; say, a circular or an oval potholder or even fruits and veggies shapes will also do. This crafts idea is very cheap and would not cost too much. You will only need pieces of recyclable fabrics and your creativity. Your finished product will be very useful for your own kitchen or you might do it in batches and give it off to your friends.

The Right Craft Ideas for Kids





You may be a camp director, a teacher, or a mother looking for craft ideas designed for kids’ enrichment. Maybe you are not very creative, and you are having hard times conceptualizing craft ideas. But you don’t have to worry; your creativity can still be improved, because there are certain ways to make it easier for you to find nice craft ideas for kids.

First, forget perfectionism. Think outside the box. If you will confine yourself on focusing only on a single right way to do something, you will only make your every decision harder. Regardless of the kid program you are into, there are always many suitable craft ideas to do. Do not hesitate because you might pick the wrong one. Just consider the age and skill levels of the kids involved and your choice will be right craft.

Second, consider your budget. Most kid’s craft ideas are not expensive. Prepackaged kits for making a fun foam picture frame or a craft stick cross are still affordable for few kids. However, if more kids will be doing this project, these kits may cost much. You may also consider doing almost exactly the same projects by just looking for the same craft kits components and buying the same materials in volume at discount stores. With this, you may have to do some preparations ahead of time like cutting out shapes or at least making cardboard patterns for the kids to use to cut their materials themselves. This will save you a lot of money.

Third, consider their gender. Boys are different from girls and vice versa. Do not expect boys to enjoy a girly craft. For boys, ask them to do lace-up leather billfolds, Indian artifacts, dinosaur art, and similar projects. Girls will love to do beadworks and anything that is pink or purple. For a craft idea that will perfectly suit both sexes, keep it on the boyish side. However, provide some girly materials to keep the girls enjoying, too.

Fourth, modify some ideas. You must remember that ideas spring from other ideas. You may look over some magazines or websites to get inspirations. You may reinvent some craft ideas to suit your preferences and needs. It is well said that you do not need to reinvent the wheel always. All you have to do is modify and enhance.

Fifth, stick with the basics. You do not have to change every details or instructions or create something new to make a good kid’s craft idea to be pleasing and interesting. Do not be so stiff with following instructions. Let the children express their creativity, instead of teaching them what to do. Do what they seem to be fun and appropriate. After doing so, you will gain experience every time you are doing crafts with kids. Do not be afraid to take risk in choosing the right project, after all the essence of doing crafts is simply to have fun.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“If you want to make a loved one happy, consider his qualities.”

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Hobbies for Mothers at Home





In the past decades, many mothers are resorting to pursuing careers outside their homes, but that trend seems to be changing. Most mothers would want to take care of their small children personally so they have to sacrifice their careers and the opportunity to earn a living. Moreover, because of this, more and more mothers have returned to being housekeepers to look after their kids and hobby skills can help them meet the financial challenges of being a one-income family.

Cooking is a hobby that is very useful for mothers at home. Cooking as well as baking are fascinating hobbies to do. You may explore different international cuisines or even invent your own recipes to learn new gourmet treats for your family. Baking can also be one of your hobbies; you can learn to make pastries and different kinds of breads. With this, you will be able prepare yourself loaves of breads for your family consumption. In effect, you will save fraction of the cost of loaf breads bought at the market.

Another home and hobby skill for mothers is sewing. Of course, you will be able to come up with many crafts easily with the use of sewing machines, so having such machine is a good investment for every household. You can make your own pot holders, aprons, quilts, and many other crafts that you can think of. This hobby is reasonably inexpensive, you can use recycled materials and old clothes in making crafts. Other sewing skills that you can learn are mending, altering old clothes, cross-stitching, and embroidery. With enough skills and creativity, you will come up with nice pieces of crafts that you can use yourselves or as gifts to your friends or even sell in bazaars and trade fairs. Among other hobbies, more moms prefer sewing as a hobby.

Some moms and their husbands wish to remodel their houses, but it will cost them much. Therefore, they resort to doing the repairs and carpentry jobs by themselves instead of paying someone to do the work. It is a practical thing to do even if you have some extra amount on your budget. You can learn some do-it-yourself instructionals on the Internet such as making all sorts of house repairs and renovations to your home, furniture, and other belongings. With these, you will learn new skills and save money.

Gardening is a hobby that will bring you closer to nature and can give high quality produce for your family. Some families are investing in hobby greenhouses or growing enough extra produce to sell at farmer’s market every week. Gardening is not limited to crop production; it can also mean ornamentation like landscaping or growing flowering plants. It gives the hobbyist a sense of accomplishment when their efforts have created something useful and profitable in return.

You, as a homemaking parent have the ability to create harmony and beauty around your house as well as raising everyone’s standard of living. You do not need to spend much in doing so. You may arrange dried wildflowers beautifully or create simple hand-lettered mottos to uplift everyone’s spirits. You must remember that it is just a matter of creativity and resourcefulness to create something delightful.

It is true that home and hobby call the women of today, suggesting a simpler way of life closer to people and things that matter most. Career women are truly making an important impact on today’s world, but still we must also recognize those mothers who decided to stay at home and learn hobbies and skills and add value to their home.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Christmas Craft: Bead and Pipe Cleaner Ornaments





You can make beautiful Christmas decors out of ordinary pipe cleaners and some inexpensive acrylic beads. You only need a bit of imagination and creativity to come up with something useful and adorable. Anyone, even small children, can enjoy doing this project and have fun making one. With some variations, you may also come up with different sparkling ornaments for your Christmas tree.

To start off the project, you will need common pipe cleaners in desired colors and some acrylic beads. You may use two types of beads for this project. One type is called sunburst beads, also known as paddlewheel beads, snowflakes beads, or starburst beads. These kinds of beads have six faceted paddles spaced equally around a center that contains the hole for stringing. When strung consecutively, these beads will tend to lock to adjacent beads and will create an interlocking pattern.

The other type of bead is called a tri bead or propeller bead. It has three rounded bumps arranged around the stringing hole. Like the sunburst beads, the tri beads also interlock when strung consecutively. To fit in with the yuletide season feel, it is recommended to use festive colors of beads like red and green, you may also opt to use clear ones. Tri beads in metallic gold and silver finishes are also perfect for this Christmas crafts.

Pipe cleaners are available is silver and gold tinsel as well as chenille of all colors. For this project, it is best to use metallic and Christmas colors. The beads would cover the pipe cleaners, but the ends will be twisted together and made into hangers, so they show.

Anyone, even small children, can string beads onto pipe cleaners. You should bend up one end of the pipe cleaner so the beads will not fall off. The pipe cleaner is somewhat stiff so it will be easier to string each beads into it. For best results, try to do color patterns when stringing. After you strung enough beads, it is now time for your creativity to play. You may bend the pipe cleaners according to your preferred shapes or Christmas icons.

You may come up with a candy cane by using red and white beads strung alternately or a Christmas wreath made from green and red beads and add some details such a bow or a Christmas bell. You now have enough decorative ideas to dress up your Christmas tree. Moreover, with further experimentations, you may use clear beads and silver pipe cleaners to make some shiny snowflake or star ornaments. This will surely be a simple and yet extra ordinary decors on top of your tree.
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Bead and pipe cleaner ornaments are a Christmas craft you would find yourself looking forward to make every year. Children and parents will definitely have quality bonding time together making this amazing Christmas decors.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Various events in our lives are like beads, they mean nothing unless they are strung together."

Arts and Crafts Idea: Foam Sheet Glasses or Cell Phone Case





I am now presenting a new hobby on this blog – crafts. Crafts are good hobbies because they can be a source of additional income aside from giving enjoyment and satisfaction. Teachers can also use this idea to stir creativity among his students. You can also give this as a Christmas gift to your relatives and friends. For my first post on this topic, I will discuss foam sheet glasses case.

Here are the things that you will need for the project: a square craft foam, a plastic or a large blunt needles, and lanyard lace or thick yarn. First, cut two rectangles from the foam, each 3-1/2 inches (9 cm) by 6 inches (15 cm). With a hole puncher, make holes on three sides leaving one short end unpunched. Make each hole half an inch apart and at least quarter inch away from the edge of the craft foam. Repeat the same procedure with the other foam. The holes on both foams must be identical in position because that is where you will lace the two parts together. For small children crafters, you may ask help from adults to do the punching of holes.

You may now start to cut decorative shapes from other colors of craft foams; there are also available pre-cut foam designs in the market that you can readily use. If you have a theme in mind, say a cowboy theme, find shapes that fit well, such as a boots, cowboy hats, and stars. Let the little crafters choose what they want to put on their cases. You may also put on some beads or sequins on your project to add character and glitter.

The next step is to thread the plastic needle with a yarn or lanyard lace. Yarns can be a little easier to work with, but lanyards are shiny and attractive. You may also use a bobby pin as a safer alternative for needles. You may now start to lace the front and back of the glasses case together.

You can also turn this craft into a necklace purse. Simply attach a length of lanyard lace to each corner making a long strap. Kids will enjoy using these cases as a place to store secret notes and small objects. If they want to, they can give the glasses case to someone who wears glasses. Either way, this art project will surely be fun and enjoyable for everyone to do.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"The best gifts are those made by the giver's hands, because with the gift, the giver give a part of himself."

Fitness Activities that are (Almost) Free





Due to economic reasons, some people opt to do fitness activities at home rather than enrolling on a commercial fitness center and spend some amount of money. In reality, some people are not capable of allocating some of their household or personal budget to splurge on such things.

Although it is important for our body to stay fit and healthy, it will be impractical for small earners and those who have tight budget to spend some money to enroll in gym centers. That is why they choose doing cheap but effective fitness activities at home or outdoors. Here are some of the things you can do to stay in shape without spending too much.

Hiking

Contrary to popular belief, hiking is not just a weekend activity. Hiking can be a regular exercise routine. You will need to exert more effort in hiking because of the ascending terrain and the heavy backpacks you usually carry when hiking that makes it a more challenging and strenuous fitness activity to try. You can go hiking on your free day, especially if you are living near hiking parks and trails. Hiking is free and is a sure way to burn as much as 550 calories per hour.

Walking, Jogging, and Running

Another cheap and effective alternative way to stay fit is walking, jogging, and running. All you need is a pair of good rubber shoes, a nice weather, and a nice neighborhood to burn fats. It may not be as adventurous as hiking but it will give you almost the same health benefit. Brisk walking can burn up to 380 calories while jogging and running can burn much more than that.

However, one of the disadvantages of walking outdoors is you cannot do it when the weather is not fine. In this event, you may use a treadmill to walk, run, or jog inside your house or you may jog in place or walk up and down your stairs.

Home Fitness DVDs

Instructional workout videos in DVDs are now getting popular. You can learn yoga, aerobics, and other exercises in your home. Instructional DVDs only cost $10 to $30. These DVDs are professionally designed fitness workouts to suit your fitness level. Do not be particular with the celebrity endorsers of the DVD but instead go for videos created by credible fitness professionals. You may also organize group fitness exercise in your home using these DVDs and enjoy exercising with your friends.

Use Old Exercise Machine

If you have old but functioning exercise equipments at home, try using it again instead of buying a new one. There is nothing wrong in using old stuff; after all, the benefits you will gain are still the same. You may also ask some of your friends to borrow exercise equipments they no longer use.

Buy Only the Basics

Having a treadmill or elliptical trainer at home is quite pricey so it is not necessary for you to have one. These stuffs only simulate activities you can do outdoors, thus you still have the option to do the real hardcore exercises. Just buy the basics such as weights, exercise mat, and exercise ball. They all provide various workout techniques but do not cost as much.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Most of the time, we already have what we really need.”

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Tips on Losing Weight to Stay Healthy and Fit





Experts say that two crucial factors greatly affect weight loss. One of which is the food in terms of calories or the diet you are eating and the other one is the frequency of physical activities you are doing such as exercises. These are the aspects that you must concentrate on during the implementation of your weight lost program. Here are some useful tips to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

1. Don’t ever skip regular meals. Do not deprive your body with essential nourishments that you can get from the food you eat. This is because if you skip meals, there is a bigger chance that you will eat more on your next meal and the meals after that.

2. Regulate your food intake. Although it is not good to skip meals, you must not eat excessively. Eating smaller amounts or food portions will help you cut down on calorie and fat intake. Of course, your choice of food, which I will discuss on this post later, also plays an important role on your weight loss program.

3. Monitor gradual weight loss of about one to two pounds weekly. This requires patience and your dream weight will not come to you overnight. Avoid programs that make you irritable, fatigued, or weak. Let your body regain water and fats that you lost during your workouts.

4. Select healthy food choices only. Choosing the foods that a person can eat from the food pyramid will help him develop a well-balanced diet as well as good eating habits. Drink more water and eat more fruits and vegetables, without neglecting a regular intake of meat and some fats.

5. Cut down on your calorie intakes properly. Know your body’s required calorie intake because cutting too many calories can slow down your metabolism. With enough calories in your body, your system will not “eat up” other nutrients to function well.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“To gain something, you must give away.”

Health and Fitness through Weight Loss





Health and fitness has a lot to do with a person’s physical appearance, especially his weight. It is proven that a person’s weight is an important indicator of his health and fitness condition.

For those who have low self-esteem because of their physical appearance, health concerns, emotional instability, challenging physical capabilities attributed to their weight concerns, it is about time to consider losing some pounds.

Once you have decided to undergo weight control, you must remember several things. First, it is best to determine first your reasons why you want to lose extra pounds. It is important for you to have a concrete reason to motivate yourself during the weight loss program you will undergo.

Second, you must also wholeheartedly commit yourself in doing things necessary for your weight reduction program. It is essential for you to prepare yourself for the changes you will encounter during the process. It can be stressful and traumatic at first. The chance of success in this lifestyle change is dependent on your will and determination.

Third, you may need to have a back-up support system coming from your loved ones and friends in case you can no longer manage weight control on your own.

Fourth, you should seek first professional opinion to help you in choosing a suitable and safe weight loss program for you. You may also undergo for a trial period before investing time, money, and effort in enrolling to a specific weight loss class or program.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Don’t forget the reasons behind your every decision; it can be your greatest motivation to go on when the going gets tough.”

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

A Life of Health and Fitness can Give Lifelong Benefits





Nowadays, health and fitness are trending topics everywhere. Everyone is interested on how to be fit and healthy. More and more people are looking forward on having a healthy lifestyle and well-being. However, only few are actually serious with this idea. In reality, most people would still prefer to eat junks and fad foods. Most would rather sit on the couch and watch TV than burn calories in a gym.

It is quite hard to give up your habits whether it is a good or a bad one. A quick lifestyle change is difficult. However, if you will be dedicated and disciplined enough to change for the better, you can actually attain your health goals, of course, with sweat. Just remember that the hardships you are feeling right now will give you immeasurable rewards in the future.

More often than not, healthy people enjoy more of their lives because they have no worries like illnesses, fast aging, and other insecurities to hinder them for having a normal life. These people are dynamic and vigorous at their works and always find time to have fun and unwind amidst life stresses.

People who eat healthy and always do workouts have strong and great bodies that make them look more attractive. Having a great physique is more important than having better sex life and involvements that are more romantic. It will also help a person to boost his self-esteem and confidence on socializing with other people.

Nevertheless, despite all of the good benefits of having a healthy lifestyle, many people still choose to stick with their old habits. Maybe they are not fully committed with their lifestyle change. After all, who would want to quit doing things they enjoy the most, except those who are determined to achieve their goals.

Difficulty to adhere with the requisites of healthy living is also a factor why most people are not successful with their attempts in changing their habits. Health problems, relationship woes, and even financial problems are some of the various reasons why people attempt to change their ways but most of the time they do not see their plans through. They try for a week and then another couple of week and eventually go back to their old habits after some time. In addition, with these frequent disappointments, they may resort to quitting their plans.

Your deep desire and willingness to change is important if you want to achieve your health goals. You should also have a strong determination to resist temptations and make sure to discipline yourself at all cost. You may also need some people to help you change. They may inspire and motivate you during the process. After all, you are not doing this for other people but for your own good and in a way also for your loved ones.

Therefore, if you want to live a life of health and fitness start changing your old ways and expect for a better life ahead. The rewards are great and priceless. You will succeed if your heart is in to it 100 percent.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Changing for the better may cause temporary inconvenience, but its benefits are for a lifetime.”

Home Fitness Guides to Keep You Focused





More than half of those who started fitness and diet programs quit. Among the reasons are lack of discipline and stubbornness. Some stop their programs due to the inconvenience the training may cause in their lives. In short, determination wanes away due to lack of focus. When inconvenience or other things come up, people lose focus and decide to quit.

Changes can be hard at times. Doing the same routine may become boring and dull to some. Unfocused individuals may opt to stop when the going gets tough, but focused people can be resilient and determined to finish what they started.

If you are in the same boat, you are probably looking for another program that you think you will have better chances of achieving your goal. However, even with best program available out there, it is not an assurance that you will get your goals as easy as you expected. All you need is to have the right combination of self-discipline, the right program, and your 100 percent focus and determination.

To help yourself establish what you really want to attain, here are some simple yet effective pointers to keep you focused, determined, and disciplined and to stick to your home fitness routine.

Plan your fitness program not only for a certain period of time but for a lifetime. Think of what’s in store for you ahead if you start living healthy. It will motivate you to anticipate what you may have as a reward if you make the right move today like having a lifelong health and physical fitness program. Always have a long-term goal on your mind and do not settle for short-term results.

Don’t over workout yourself. It is not necessary to spend long hours working out, a mere 30 minutes a day of workout is enough to keep you fit and in shape. You may do work out on whatever way you want as long as it helps you burn calories. You may do it using exercise machines or other activities to make your muscles work like dancing, jogging, brisk walking, and even doing household chores and running errands. In addition, you may purchase exercise and yoga instructional DVDs to help you keep in shape on your own.

Eat healthy, give yourself complete resting hours, and stay away from vices such as smoking and drinking. The food you eat does not need to be fancy; you can enjoy eating healthy and foods that are simple to prepare. Always remember to monitor the calories you are taking in.

Also, make this goal not just for your own good but also for the sake of your loved ones. Take good care of your health and body so your family won’t worry about your health conditions and of course medical expenses just in case. Moreover, being fit and active will allow you to spend more quality time for you and your family.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Focus spells the difference between success and failure."

Monday, November 15, 2010

Ways to Stay Healthy and Fit





Health and fitness may be difficult to maintain but it is still possible to keep yourself healthy and fit. You can change the way you live and get rid of those unhealthy habits; if you will have self-discipline and full commitment to what you’re doing.

Here are some of the important things to consider if you really want a major transformation of your life and well-being.

Personal Commitment

A Japanese proverb says, “Beginning is easy, continuing is hard.” For most people, it is true. It is hard for someone to pursue a goal if he himself is not committed on what he’s into. Many people, who start eating healthy or quit smoking and other vices, but cannot help it and turn back to their old ways. A personal commitment to your goal is required to realize what you want. All you need to do is to commit yourself with this lifestyle transformation you want to achieve. Treat this as a challenge or a goal you want to achieve.

Support System

Changing old habits, whether foregoing a bad diet or quitting a vice, is difficult especially if you do not have someone to back you up. If you have someone who will encourage you and motivate you, you may find achieving your goals easy and manageable. That is why diet programs, quitting alcoholism, and smoking campaigns have support system programs within their organization. If possible ask your friend to quit smoking or drinking too so you will have somebody to work with along the process. Have someone to cheer you up and check whether you are keeping your commitment.

Stay Away from Temptations

With enough will power to resist temptations, your goal for change will be as smooth and effortless as possible. It is important to control yourself from temptations to keep your goal in the right directions. However, this is not easy to do. There will come many times when you will be tested if you are serious with your goal. Others fail to resist and go back to their old habits once, then twice, and then thrice until they completely get out off track with their aim. To avoid such failure, you should stay away from temptations. Live with good influences around you and avoid places where you might encounter such temptations.

Reminders

Have a constant reminder so you will be used to it after a long time. With repetitive actions, your body system will be accustomed with these changes. You may have someone you trust and respect to remind you always of what to eat, what to do, and what to avoid. He or she can be your partner, your parent, your child or your most trusted friend. Do not get tired of being constantly reminded, it is for your own good.


LESSON IN LIFE
“We dream and achieve our goals with someone and for someone.”

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Your Home Exercise Equipment Options





There are several factors you must consider when acquiring exercise equipments. Among which is your budget, space, and fitness level. With these considerations in mind, you may resort to owning any of the following exercise equipment.

Treadmill is one of the most popular gym equipment that almost all fitness buffs have. It lets you walk, jog or run any time of the day or as long as you want. A good treadmill costs about $1,500 up to $3,500, depending on the manufacturer and its features. When buying one, check its load capacity, belt width, inclination settings, action smoothness, and its solid construction.

Elliptical trainer is a less impact exercise equipment that simulates running and walking. It is designed to decrease excessive pressure on the joints thus decreasing the chances of impact injuries. You have an option to change the level of intensity from high to low to suit your fitness levels. It is now becoming more popular. You can get an elliptical trainer from as low as $500 to as much as $4,000.

Rowing machines are excellent choice for a total body workout. It does not require wider space. The rowing machine simulates the body movement of watercraft rowing targeting both the upper and the lower body muscle groups.

Cross-country ski machine also provide a full body workout. It concentrates on shaping up both upper and lower body muscle groups. But it has a minor setback; it is quite hard to master its operation. Therefore, before getting one, you must try it out to see if it will really work for you.

Step machines or steppers are low impact exercise machines designed to improve cardiovascular endurance and build and strengthen lower body muscles. A good step machine may cost much so better buy the best one or seek other alternatives.

Stationary bike is almost exactly like that of a real bike but of course without the wheels. A stationary bike is good for beginners and it is a no-impact cardiovascular workout. A quality stationary bike costs between $500 and $1,000.

Recumbent machines are like stationary bikes but with the rider sitting in an inclined position. One of the advantages of a recumbent machine over a stationary bike is it provides the user with sufficient lower back support, thus minimizing the stress on the knees. It has the same effect with that of a stationary bike because it also targets muscles of the quadriceps, hamstrings, and gluteus.

Resistance equipment is often regarded as either free weights or multi-stations or home gyms. Both have upsides and downsides, and acquiring either of the two may require some major judgments. Free weights are affordable and require less space but it requires much caution and supervision because can cause injuries. On the other hand, multi-stations are more convenient to use but takes a lot of floor space and the price depends on the quality and functions.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Options are good, but you must realize that it also presents responsibilities.”

Before Buying Home Fitness Equipment





Working out in a gym and doing group exercises outdoors regularly is an effective way to stay fit and healthy. However, going outdoors for exercise may not be convenient for most people. You may be one of them. You may want some privacy while doing your exercises or you want to save time going to and from the gym. Now, you are seriously considering building a gym in your home.

But wait, before you buy home fitness equipments, read through this post first, and you will never regret any minute you spend on this. Considering the following things you need to consider if you really want to setup a gym in your house.

First, you must identify what exactly is your goal. Do you want to have abs or biceps? Improve cardio vascular fitness or develop flexibility? The type of equipment you will buy depends on your goals. You also have an option to buy brand new equipment, which is obviously expensive, or second hand equipments where you can save as much as 70% of its original price.

Second, set a budget; buy only those you can afford. You are not forced to buy expensive equipments right away. You may start to collect small items first such as an exercise ball and dumbbells or even a good pair of shoes. If home workouts work for you, continue buying more expensive equipments.

Third, consider the space available in your home. Most gym equipments are bulky so they require more floor areas in your house. It is definitely an eyesore to see a treadmill in your kitchen or an elliptical machine in your bedroom. Such details matter, so think before you buy.

Fourth, be wary of promos. Do not be fooled by someone who promises you amazing results in very short time. For example, if you can achieve a 6-pack abs by using a machine for 3 minutes a day, 3 times a week, then how much more if you do not use any machine at all. The rule of thumb is, if it sounds too good to be true, then it is true.

Fifth, try to shop around. Look at different stores, and see where you can have the best buy. Compare prices and do thorough research. Don’t hesitate to try a machine or let someone try it for you. After all you deserve what you pay for. You may also see online stores and discount shops.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Don’t jump each time the bell rings; consider your options first.”

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Advantages of Leading a Life of Health and Fitness





A healthy and fit lifestyle may seem a little bit dull and boring for some. But, the rewards you will get is absolutely immeasurable. In the end, you may even prolong your life, and at the same time look good and feel young.

A healthy and fit body gives many advantages. Here are some of the benefits you can obtain from living a healthy lifestyle. Read on and see what is in store for you once you do a lifestyle change.

1. Active body. Eating balanced and healthy food and keeping your body in good shape will give sufficient energy for your daily activities. You will have enough energy to finish all your work and still have enough vigor for recreations and hobbies. With an active body, you will be able to enjoy work and excel in your endeavors. Active people are more capable to do better things and are more independent. They are also approachable, confident, and beautiful to look at.

2. Younger looking. Healthy people look younger and fresh as compared with those who smoke and who drink. Smokers and drinkers have drier skin because of the toxins from alcohol and cigarettes making them look older than their age. These toxins also hinder their body’s natural process of absorbing nutrients and other essential vitamins, thus depriving different parts of the body to function normally.

3. Clear thinking. It is not true that the toxins in alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and drugs can boost your creative juices. These are merely misconceptions and hearsays. If you will eat a balanced diet, you will be capable of better and clear thinking. You will be more focused on your jobs and more competent in accomplishing work than other people. Moreover, you will be more dependable when given instructions and will have good memories.

4. No illness. This is your biggest bonus as you live a healthy lifestyle. You will be more resistant to attacks of different viruses and bacteria because of your strong immune system and body. Furthermore, you will be free from any medical constraints and conditions and will be more dynamic and enthusiastic.

5. Emotional stability. Although there is no absolute connection, people who live healthy and fit are actually happier people. If you are healthy and fit, you cope up with your environment easily and you will not be easily distracted by bad habits and health problems. You can manage stress and discomforts. You will also have a good disposition in life. Over all, you will develop a natural coping mechanism that will help you endure the daily grind.

Looking and feeling young can give you a whole set of benefits. It entails good vibes with your love life, career, and social life. Let’s face it—physical looks matters. Your good looks could give you more opportunities and can take you places. As shallow as it seems but it is true. And all you have to do is live a life of health and fitness.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Healthy body frees the spirit from anxiety.”

Friday, November 12, 2010

How to Determine if Your Diet is Healthy





Being free from illnesses or any medical condition is a good indication that you are healthy. To protect yourself from different health problems, you must observe a healthy diet. Here is a checklist so you can see if what you eat is healthy or not.

A healthy diet is usually based on starchy foods such as bread, cereals, rice, pasta, and potatoes. These foods are rich sources of energy and of a range of nutrients beneficial for a person’s health such as fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamin B.

Load your diet with lots of fruits and vegetables such as orange, apples, celery, broccoli, carrots, beans, and peas. Eating at least five parts of any variety can provide enough vitamins for your body and it also fills your stomach without having to worry on fats accumulation.

Consume some amount of fish dishes, because it has high amounts of fish oils. Fish diets can give your body protein, vitamins, and minerals that you cannot get from any other food groups.

Reduce intakes of foods with saturated fats and excess sugars such as meat pies, sausages, hard cheese, butter and lard, pastry, cake, biscuits, cream, and the likes. These foods have high complex calories, which usually rendered into body fats and sugars are the common cause of tooth decays.

Avoid salty foods. Excess salts in our body can raise our blood pressure, which in turn may cause some serious coronary and renal illnesses.

Drink plenty of liquids to replenish all of your water losses and to maintain proper hydration for your body.

Knowing what healthy foods are does not mean that you will become healthy. You need to apply what you know. Eat the right foods and lead a healthy lifestyle. You will be the first person to benefit from this.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“You do not know unless you do; you will not benefit unless you apply what you know.”

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Healthy Diet: Key to Achieving Health and Fitness





Due to the rise of chronic diseases and other illnesses among many patients around the world, people are now very much concerned about their personal health and fitness. Health experts say that a certain individuals have less chances of getting diseases if they will lead a healthy lifestyle and live on healthy diet.

A healthy diet, which includes eating a balanced amount of food from all food groups, must be accompanied with exercise and regular physical activity. Doctors say that the basic principle of a healthy diet is simple, but more people are having hard times observing what they eat. The common reasons behind this lack of discipline include hectic lifestyles, stressful works, and some environmental factors.

Despite a dynamic lifestyle, people must realize the importance of maintaining a healthy diet because they are the ones who will directly benefit from it. Health experts say that a person must be willing and eager to maintain an effective diet plan. If he succeeds to do this, he will achieve a healthy mind and body in the end.

Health experts advise every one to combine food choices from each food group. They also recommend eating a large variety of fruits and vegetables. However, it is not advisable to stay away from carbohydrates drastically. Weight watchers may reduce the intake little by little.

It is also beneficial to have a balanced intake of calcium-rich foods, whole grains, and protein. The foods greatly aid maintaining a healthy body. When formulating your diet plan, you must consider your limitations on fats, salts and sugar level intakes. These foods are crucial for our body system if taken in moderation. However, total abstinence from these essential elements ia very detrimental to your health. You must thereby monitor your body weight regularly so you can determine whether you are on the right track.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Healthy thought is like a healthy diet;  it benefits the body and the soul."

Top Ten Tips on Stretching and Doing Workouts for Fitness Training





Training for fitness requires stretching to warm up the body and muscles. Warming up the muscles prevents accidents while doing exercises. However, there are certain precautions and guidelines you must observe to get the most out of stretching.

First, do your stretches before and after workouts. You must have heard that stretching before exercises helps you warm up your muscles to prevent injuries. However, there are only a few who realized that stretching after workouts, while the muscles are still warm, can increase the flexibility of the muscles.

Second, you will gain more flexibility if you will hold your stretching position for over one minute. Twenty seconds is enough for warm-ups, but it takes longer to help your body to become more flexible. You can avoid serious injuries while doing exercises if your body is more flexible.

Third, slowly relax your muscles after stretching. Immediately releasing your muscles from its stretched position may cause cramps or pulling on muscles and some damage on your joints. You must slowly release your muscles after every position.

Fourth, do your stretches in increasing difficulties. Start with easier positions before proceeding to harder ones. This way your muscles can adjust accordingly, and you will avoid injuries. Moreover, this also increases your muscles’ strength.

Fifth, make sure you have warmed up all your muscles, especially the neck area, before proceeding with your exercises. You can do neck stretching by placing the palm of your hand against the forehead and pushing it; do it with the side. You can also look up and hold that position for a few second, then on the right and left side, before bending your neck forward.

Sixth, stretch regularly. This will increase the range of your movements. Moreover, this will strengthen your muscles and increase your body’s flexibility.

Seventh, base your workout on your capabilities, not on others. If you can do five reps, do five reps. As your regularly workout, you will eventually increase the number of reps and the difficulty of your exercises. Increases must be done slowly.

Eighth, rest your muscles. Do not attempt to work the same muscle group for two consecutive days. Give your muscles some time to rest and regain your energy. Your muscles must grow when you rest them and when you are not working out.

Ninth, make your heart stronger by doing aerobic exercises. Aerobics are physical activities that increase the intake of oxygen. Some effective exercises are skipping rope, brisk walking and swimming.

Tenth, incorporate music to your workouts. Music may increase your intensity. You can use a music player such as mp3 or mp4 players, CD players, or light an/fm radio. Use a headset so you will not disturb other people who may not like your music.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Preparation for changes is as important as the changes.”

Gardening Supplies your Garden won’t Thrive Without





Nowadays, gardening has become a popular hobby for many people. With this popularity, the demand for gardening products booms as more people get engaged in gardening. These products are now easily available almost everywhere. You can acquire these products from various stores or nurseries; you can even order products from catalogues or ask for deliveries online.

Gardening products includes equipments; consumable materials, such as the fertilizers and pesticides; and seedlings and plants. To start up your gardening project, you must check first if you already have the basic materials needed. You should have the following: a hoe, a spade, a shovel, and some watering supplies like a water hose and perhaps a sprinkler.

You might also need a pair of working gloves, some shears, and a rake. Moreover, to complete your basics garden needs, you should also have to prepare mulch or potting soil to get your dirt ready. There are varieties of potting soil to choose from; you may opt to use organic potting mix, seed starting potting mix, cactus potting mix, and root development potting mix. The potting mix you will use depends on the needs of your plants.

After planting, you might now consider using some gardening formulations to aid in adding nutrients to the soil to ensure healthy plant growth. Miracle-Gro is one of the most popular brands of plant growth enhancers. The latter has a variety of formulations to meet all of your preferences and your garden requirements. You may also apply fertilizers like 10-20-10 or triple 13 and others depending on the needs of your soil.

Vegetable gardening requires special gardening materials compared with regular flower gardens. If you are growing tomatoes, you will need tomato cages and ties to support your crops against heavy winds and heavy rain falls. Many plants, mostly vines, need something to crawl on. In this case, you may need also to construct fences or trellis to provide support for your plants.

Gardening products are not only confined with gardening necessities, it also includes pieces of decorative materials. To enhance your garden’s aesthetics, you may incorporate decorative flower pots, sundials, plastic figurines, stones or bricks for pathway or for looks, and even lawn furniture to your landscape design. Decorations can also enliven your garden and add charm and personal touch to your botanical masterpiece.

During winter seasons, cold temperature may harm or kill your plants. Greenhouses are built for this purpose. However, if you cannot afford constructing one, you may use tarp to cover your plants at night. You may also use a light source such as heat lamp to give off artificial light and heat for the plants, as an alternative to natural sunlight.

There is a wide array of gardening products available on the market nowadays. These products keep on innovating and improving rapidly to meet all of the consumer’s needs. Some materials are necessary for your plants’ survival, whereas others are simply luxury.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Knowing which are essentials and which are not will save you a lot of treasure, time, and tears."

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The Benefits of Reading Gardening Magazines





Gardening as a hobby can also be a learning process. Seasoned gardeners and beginners alike will always have some questions in mind regarding their gardens. A gardening magazine will help all gardening enthusiasts with their green concerns. It will educate all its readers with the ABC’s of gardening and inform them with the latest buzz in the gardening world.

Gardening magazine is a very useful reference for its subscribers. You can find the latest trends in gardening such as the newest gardening tools, new fertilizers, and pesticides formulations available in the market. These magazines will feed you all the information you need to know about a certain product. They will also tell you where to buy and how much they cost or better yet discounts and sales. You can also find invitations to join a gardener’s club near your area or to attend local gardening classes.

You can also learn some hints and tips while reading a gardening magazine. Expert gardeners usually write columns about almost all of your gardening concerns. They give some pieces of advice on how to get rid of pesky insects, how to recognize and counteract plant diseases, and many more. Eventually you will realize that these tips and hints are beneficial to you and your garden.

Gardening magazines are also equipped with garden maintenance sections with easy to follow instructions on how to do simple task such as how to prune, when to divide, what fertilizer is best for your plants, and how much to water. Sometimes they also include some “do it yourself projects” that readers were encouraged to try on their own garden. It also serves as a powerful reading material for self-learners.

These magazines will also give its readers enough inspirations and ideas when they are considering renovating their garden. You can see some featured landscaped yards and gardens where you might draw some inspiration and concepts for your own landscape project.

Gardening magazine editors also encourage readers to ask questions by writing so a gardening professional may give accurate and reliable answers. Editorial boards also encourage subscribers to submit their articles to be published so they can have an opportunity to share their experiences, tips, opinions, and even secret gardening regimens to the gardening community. Exceptional and outstanding gardens are often featured so others may get motivated to work hard and dream that their gardens will also be featured in the magazine.

Gardening magazines serve as an avenue for continuous learning for both experienced gardeners and beginners. These kinds of magazines will inform you, instruct you, inspire you and most of all unleash all your gardening skills. Make reading a hobby. Don’t hesitate to learn, explore and ask questions. It is part of growing like that of the plants in your garden.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“Everyone gets disappointed from time to time; resources will come handy if you have them ready.”