Ambience

Does the ambience on the dining area affects your appetite? It surely does to me. I like a homey feel, a lived-in surrounds. Well, the food is not a question here. I like the smell of cleanical, hotel place but I still like the feel of homes.

I want a lot of space but if that is not possible, just a relaxing atmosphere is good. Currently, we don't have a patio dining table but I'll surely have one in the future when we have cleared out all the stuff in our entertainment area.

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Stretching

There's a big question of when to do stretching. Before or after the exercise. According to bodyandsoul.com.au, both can be good. Unless of course, sitting on afolding Adirondack chair is your next activity.

By Wendi Carroll "First published: April 8th, 2012" More How to avoid a sporting injury Stretch during the ad break Top five stretches Stay injury free when training 5 ways stretching benefits your health The stretch debate When is the best time to stretch? At what point in your workout will stretching your muscles benefit you the most? Stretching offers many benefits: mobility, injury prevention and stress relief to name a few. But when exercising, is it better to stretch before or after? The answer is both. Before exercise you need to warm up and dynamic stretching can be combined as part of the warm-up. The goal is to get the blood flowing and raise your body temperature a little. It's important to have your muscles, ligaments and joints experience the functional range of motion required of your sport during the warm-up. Movements such as arm circles, torso twists and hip rotations are examples of dynamic stretches. After your workout, it's time for static stretching. This is the time to relax, wind down and improve flexibility. Hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds and stretch consistently to see results. Focus on breathing during the stretch, using each exhalation to go a little further. Yoga is one of the best ways to include stretching in your workout. If you don't know where to start with stretching, a personal trainer can work out a stretching plan that suits your needs. By Wendi Carroll, Fitness First instructor.

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Takeaway

Most people who are weight conscious don't each much takeway. I'd say deprive but it may sound too strong - it just applies to me anyway. I like my takeaway a lot. But according to bodyandsoul.com.au, there are takeaways that you can enjoy every week. One is pizza. Pizza is really easy to make - and you can load it up with more veggies. And one can make it while checking up steel building specials.

Four slices of pizza each week Pizza doesn’t need mountains of processed meat and cheese to taste good. Accredited Practising Dietitian Margaret Hays says homemade pizzas contain far less calories and saturated fat than takeaway versions, and are a great way to increase your vegetable and vitamin intake. “If you’ve got a breadmaker you can make your own dough,” she says. “Or just buy pizza bases or pita bread. You’ll get more fibre and B vitamins with wholemeal bases.” To make a healthy pizza, cover the base in tomato passata and sprinkle vegies like pumpkin, mushrooms, capsicum and a little cheese on top. “You don’t have to go for low fat cheese, just use half a cup of cheese on a large pizza,” Hays says. Compared to most takeaway, this recipe contains less salt and saturated fat, plus it will give you a hit of folate, vitamin A and fibre.

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Treating Head Lice

For some parents, head lice is a big problem especially for girls. For now, I can say I am lucky as my little man has not enough hair to grow lice. But I can use this advise from bodyandsoul.com.au - just like high t review can benefit many those who wants to grow muscles.

Follow these steps at the first sign of head lice. Dr Cindy Pan discusses how to detect and treat head lice. (Q) There is a head lice outbreak at my child's school. What's the best treatment? (A) First, determine whether your child or any other family members (including yourself, I'm afraid) are affected. There may be symptoms such as itchiness. However, this can take weeks to develop, so don't wait for the presence of itch to make the diagnosis. Neither can you rely on seeing little lice running around on the scalp. They are so small it is hard to see them unless you have an extremely heavy infestation. The best way to detect head lice is to saturate the hair with conditioner (any cheap, light-coloured variety will do), then meticulously comb through the hair with a good-quality, fine-toothed metal nit comb. You can buy these inexpensive combs from pharmacies. Wipe the conditioner from the comb onto white paper towel and inspect for lice or eggs. Adult lice are little dark-brown insects about two millimetres long and hatchlings are lighter brown and smaller. The eggs (known as nits) are grey-white, up to two millimetres in length and attached to the hair shaft. You need to do this in good light (ideally bright sunlight) and a magnifying glass can really help.

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Balance

Yes, that word is really elusive yet everyone values it. But how do you define balance. I reckon, to each his own. I am not an expert on this topic and my process is a work in progress, but I am at the level where I feel as a family, we are alright. My secret, everything is routine. Unplanned activities are very rare. Mcj does a lot too, I wouldn't discount him doing some checking on the weber grill sale for lots of "daddy-cooking time".

Put yourself at the top of your to-do list "If you don't take care of yourself first, you won’t be able to do a good job of taking care of everybody," says Chanler, a mother of two. She likens self-care to the oxygen mask demonstration on aeroplanes. Although it feels counterintuitive, you are instructed to strap your mask on first, before your child's. That means that if, for example, you have a choice between doing the dishes or strolling with your baby, take the walk. Block out an hour in your diary each week for yourself and arrange your own play dates with friends at least once a month, too. "Parenting can be isolating, but other mums can give you help with issues you're facing and make you realise you're not alone. Friends who don’t have kids can help you connect with a part of yourself that existed before you had a family," Chanler says. Don't be a the clean Queen Full-time working women do over 33 hours of domestic chores weekly, while their male counterparts do about 16, according to a study published in Women Don’t Ask (Bantam) by Linda Babcock, Professor of Economics at Carnegie Mellon University in the US. To end the dreaded second shift, let some of the housework slide or ask your spouse and your kids for help. Doing chores actually helps build a child’s sense of competence. And if your standards are exacting, lower them.

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Tired and with Tired Skin

Here are very good tips for tired skin:

Increase circulation

You need to boost your circulation to increase blood flow to the cells and restore your skin’s vitality. This will also help perk up your lymphatic system and flush out the fluids and toxins that are causing the dull skin and help to restore your radiance.

Start by drinking a mug of warm water with the juice of half a lemon squeezed into it. Then, before showering, try some gentle exercise that involves jumping or bouncing, such as skipping, jogging on the spot for 10 minutes, or even jumping on a mini trampoline, if you have one. This bouncing motion really helps kick your lymphatic system into gear and flush out waste.

Internal cleansing

Avoid coffee, tea and sugary soft drinks as these will all contribute to your skin looking lacklustre and fatigued. Instead, sip warm water with lemon throughout the day, or enjoy a herbal tea such as dandelion root or peppermint, which will assist with the digestive process and lead to clear skin.

Try to eat a selection of different-coloured vegetables for breakfast – grilled tomato, steamed spinach and mushrooms and a few slices of cucumber make for a healthy meal that is packed with antioxidants and nutrients.


Avoid anything that contains sugar, as it causes inflammation, which is ageing to skin and also contributes to puffiness. Also, don’t forget to drink plenty of filtered water each day. At least two litres will leave your skin and eyes sparkling.
Incidental exercise

Try to walk to work or at least get off the bus a few stops earlier than your destination to increase your circulation and get some fresh air. You can take the stairs instead of the lift at work. The exercise will put the colour back in your cheeks and leave you sparkly-eyed and clear-skinned.

These simple steps are great when done religiously. I know there are many of these tips that I need to be doing myself, it needs dedication - which I haven't got. Just like a superstar yoyo, it'll be up and down for me or more my will.

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Movie Munchies

My one-and-a-half men is munching on chocolates while watching a movie. They are developing this habit of being chocoholic. If we were still dating, I wouldn't dare think of chocolate gifts for your boyfriend. I suppose chocolate is good once in a while, when you didn't have pizza for dinner.

Here's a good tip for beating that addiction from bodyandsoul.com.au.

Smart ways to eat chocolate

Limit your Easter intake. Opt for small, hollow or mini eggs. Or try a bar of chocolate. Stick to a few squares at a time, then you won’t go too far off track.
Go dark. Gradually wean your taste buds on to a darker, better quality brand of chocolate that has a high cocoa content (at least 70 per cent). Only enjoy white or milk chocolate occasionally, as they don’t have the same health benefits. Shop at health food stores for healthier, organic chocolate.
Mix it up. Drink cocoa made with skim milk. Indulge in chocolate-dipped strawberries or blueberries, and nuts such as almonds or walnuts. This way you’ll get the taste with fewer calories and fat, while also amping up the antioxidants.

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Leadership

A LEADER does not need the most experience or best idea in the modern workplace, with leadership also described as taking a stand for what you believe in and generating space for people to think and act differently to create new results.

If you practise key leadership attributes in your day-to-day activities, you can make your move to the top of your food chain.

1. LISTEN

The key to getting other people to listen to you is for them to believe you are listening to them.

Altitude Performance Solutions Leadership coach Dean Evans says "truly" listening to members in your team is one of the greatest leadership skills.

"Good listeners come across as genuinely interested, empathetic and concerned to find out what's going on," he says. "All great leaders have great communication skills."

Create an environment among your colleagues in which problems can be discussed and solutions found and you will stand out from the crowd.

2. DON'T BE AN EXPERT ON EVERYTHING

Leaders often are proficient in an area but those who believe their view and opinion is the "be all and end all" soon lose the attention of the people they want to lead.

"They believe it's better to tell someone what to do or even to do it themselves than give their team the opportunity to develop their own solutions and therefore exercise their creativity," Evans says.

To take the step to be a leader, get the support of your team. Let others put forward suggestions, contribute and support them in their good ideas and they will want to support you.

3. BE CONSTRUCTIVE

Negativity breeds negativity, believes Evans. Being able to provide constructive criticism to others will paint you as someone who encourages and supports others and people will want to get behind you.

4. HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOUR

"People perform better when they are enjoying themselves," Evans says.

Take the lead by taking the dullness out of the work day. "This does not have to create a flippant atmosphere. Quite the contrary, it is a tenet of team-building," he says.

5. GET THE TIMING RIGHT

"Sometimes leadership may be no more than having a poignant message for a receptive audience at an opportune moment," Evans says. "The right arrow aimed at the right target at the right time.'' Influence, motivate and inspire.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/business/worklife/five-steps-to-become-a-leader/story-e6frfm9r-1226317628980#ixzz1qyT5huwF

I like the 1st and the 5th. Indeed being a leader one does not have to have the highest education level, the most skills or the one who knows everything. Leadership skills is quite distinct with those of geeky nature (like djarum black as of that of other smokes). Not everyone has it.

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