Forgetful?

My memory is not as when I was single. I can point out that I started to be forgetful after giving birth. I attribute it to having been through general anaesthetic. Plus, now our life is just extra busy and hectic. But mind you, forgetfulness can be caused by health problems like lack of vitamin b12, thyroid issue, menopause and alcohol intake. I reckon, our mind needs exercise - doing new stuff and try to be organised (note to self maybe to buy jansport book bags as school days are coming near?)

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Stroke

My brother-in-law suffered stroke almost two months ago. I don't have that much knowledge on this subject so I thought I might do some research to understand it - it's like hearning la gloria cubana to me (a bit foreign). He will have to undergo a CT Scan soon to determine the cause of his stroke. I was told, it was a mild stroke.

Types of Stroke Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on emailMore Sharing Services9How the two ‘types of stroke’ happen A stroke can happen in two main ways. Either there is a blood clot or plaque that blocks a blood vessel in the brain or a blood vessel in the brain breaks or ruptures.
Blocked artery (causes an ischaemic stroke) Strokes caused by a blood clot is called an ischaemic stroke. In everyday life, blood clotting is beneficial. When you are bleeding from a wound, blood clots work to slow and eventually stop the bleeding. In the case of stroke, however, blood clots are dangerous because they can block arteries and cut off blood flow. About 4 out of every 5 strokes are ischaemic. There are two ways an ischaemic stroke can occur.
Bleed in the brain (causes an haemorrhagic stroke) Strokes caused by a break in the wall of a blood vessel in the brain are called haemorrhagic strokes. This causes blood to leak into the brain, again stopping the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. Haemorrhagic stroke can be caused by a number of disorders which affect the blood vessels, including long-standing high blood pressure and cerebral aneurysms. An aneurysm is a weak or thin spot on a blood vessel wall. The weak spots that cause aneurysms are usually present at birth. Aneurysms develop over a number of years and usually don’t cause detectable problems until they break. About 1 in every 5 strokes is haemorrhagic. There are two types of haemorrhagic stroke.
Mini stroke A Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) is sometimes termed a minor stroke or “mini stroke”. When the signs of stroke are present but go away within 24 hours, the term TIA is used. The causes and symptoms of a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) are similar to those of a stroke. TIA episodes usually last only a few minutes but may last for several hours. They generally disappear quickly and unfortunately, are often ignored. Just like a stroke, a TIA will require emergency treatment. About 1 in 5 people who have a TIA will have a major stroke within the next three months and a large part of the risk occurs in the first few days. TIA should never be ignored. TIA’s should be regarded as a warning sign that the person is at risk of a stroke and should be investigated promptly. It is important that if stroke symptoms occur the person sees a doctor promptly, even if the signs go away and you feel completely better. The doctor will try to find the underlying cause of the TIA and then organise treatment to lower your risk of another Transient Ischemic Attack or stroke.

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Water

Just how much water one needs? Well, according to bodyandsoul.com.au:

•Men: 2.6 litres a day – about 10 cups. •Women: 2.1 litres a day – about 8 cups. •Pregnant women: 2.3 litres a day – about 9 cups. •Boys 14-18: 1.9 litres a day – 7-8 cups. •Boys 9-13: 1.6 litres a day – about 6 cups. •Girls 14-18: 1.6 litres a day – about 6 cups. •Girls 9-13: 1.4 litres a day – 5-6 cups. •Children 4-8: 1.2 litres a day – about 5 cups. •Toddlers 1-3: 1 litre a day – about 4 cups.

We all know that water is important. For once, it hydrates us and when one is hydrated all the bodily functions are then facilitated. In as much like business card printer to businesses, it's the fuel or the start.

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M for

...magnesium. What does it do.

What is it? Magnesium is an essential mineral required by every organ in the body for a range of activities including bone, protein and fatty acid formation. It is also essential in activating vitamins B and D, relaxing muscles, regulating calcium levels and helping blood to clot and is required for the secretion of insulin. Many of us do not get enough magnesium in our diets. Adults require about 300 to 400 milligrams a day.

Where is it found?
Magnesium is found in varying levels in nuts, wholegrains, dark green vegetables, fish and meat. Rich sources include pumpkin and sunflower seeds, bran, tofu, potatoes, spinach and baked beans. The pros • Extensive research is continuing into magnesium's health benefits, but researchers believe maintaining adequate levels is beneficial in treating and managing the following conditions: asthma, diabetes, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, migraines, osteoporosis, pre-eclampsia (pregnancy-induced hypertension), premenstrual tension and restless leg syndrome. •Some studies indicate that magnesium deficiency increases the risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis and increasing magnesium intake may prevent the bone loss that leads to osteoporosis. •Magnesium is also thought to play a role in the sleep cycle. The cons •There are no negative aspects to maintaining sufficient magnesium levels through diet or supplementation, but excessive supplementation can lead to diarrheoa and stomach upsets. •Magnesium supplements can interfere with certain medications, so check with your doctor before taking supplements. When not to take it People with kidney or heart disease should consult their doctor before taking magnesium supplements. How to take it Everyone needs to make sure they have adequate magnesium levels. See a dietitian if you think you do not get enough from your diet. Too much stress, processed food, caffeine and alcohol, or heavy periods, can lower your levels. It's relatively easy to become mildly deficient in magnesium, but simple dietary changes or supplements can restore your levels. Magnesium chloride supplements are generally considered to be the form that allow for the greatest uptake and availability. bodyandsoul.com.au
So eat up and stand like peerless mount for being healthy.

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For the Hair

Been having hair issues due to too much foreign elements on it? Here are some tips from bodyandsoul.com.au:

Problem: DIY hair colour leaves you with orange locks When turning darker shades blonde, there are several stages of lightening involved. One of these is orange. People often rinse away the formula too early when they check the strand and see the clownish colour. The solution? See a professional. “A colourist at a salon will tone the hair and colour-correct,” says Hollywood hairdresser David Babaii, who styles the strands of Nicole Kidman and Gwyneth Paltrow. “Bleach is extremely damaging to the hair so you need to get moisture back into it. Use an intensive treatment and make regular use of leave-in hair oil and in future, remember that if you’re making a dramatic change, you need to see a professional.” Try: Burt’s Bees Avocado Butter Hair Treatment, $19.95, www.burtsbees.com Problem: Oily roots, dry ends As the elements dry out the ends of your hair, excessive sebum flow (due to the warm weather and perspiration) leaves your scalp an oil slick. Use a mild, balancing but hydrating shampoo and conditioner, backed up with treatments. “You need to rebalance the moisture content of your hair,” Babaii says. “Apply treatment oils to the mid-lengths and ends of hair and keep rich oil- or moisture-based products away from the roots. Get regular trims to eliminate dry, broken ends.” Try: Endota Native Mint Condition-dota and Shamperfect, $23 each, www.endota.com.au Problem: Over-processed, bleached hair Hair like this is prone to breaking, so you need to strengthen and hydrate it. Have your hairdresser cut away as much damage as possible, while maintaining a hairstyle you’re happy with. Then, put back what chemical processing has stripped out. “Use a shampoo and conditioner with nourishing ingredients,” Babaii says. “Use an intensive treatment in place of conditioner for one week. Choose one that is keratin-based for strength, but that also has moisturising benefits. “Try hair oil as a treatment. Coat dry hair and leave it overnight. In the morning, shampoo and condition as normal.” Try: David Babaii Miracle Elixir, $29.95, 1300 387 204.

But I would suggest to just wear your hair naturally and don't over style it. I think the hair with less style is the strongest and healthiest and is the best to look at. I suppose one has to find the delrin levers of being fashionable, that is cosmetics.

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Distinct Smell

I read last week that the most important essence in making the Channel No 5 perfume cause allergy to some users and there are plans to change to synthetic. Come on. I don't own one yet and I have a desire to own at least a small bottle - that's along the list to buy pet beds. :) Then came the latest advert with Brad P in it. Come on, again! Can he sell it? The brand is already known for what it is and then came the nonsense. I read the comments in the youtube video and they are hilarious. I have always been captivated by the ad though.

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Meat Loaf

Could this be it? The recipe, I mean. I have always wanted to learn to cook meat loaf but I can't find an enough to do recipe. This one looks easy enough to prepare but the downfall or my downfall is, there are so many ingredients. Sometimes, I am wondering why life can't be like maxon rtd800 at musicians friend - hummming.. :)

PAUL'S MEATLOAF & MUSHROOM SAUCE Serves 6-8 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 1 hour 15 minutes Skills needed: Basic 1 tbsp olive oil 1 medium Spanish onion, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 eggs, beaten 1 bunch thyme leaves, chopped 3 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1/2 tsp Tabasco sauce 240ml cup milk 1kg ground meat (equal parts beef, pork, and veal preferred) 65g breadcrumbs 2 bunches sage, minced 1 tbsp coarse salt 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper 170g streaky bacon or pancetta, thinly sliced MUSHROOM SAUCE 3 tbsp butter 2 cloves garlic, minced 6 shallots, finely chopped 6 portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced 250ml beef or chicken gravy 28g dried porcini mushrooms 50ml red wine vinegar 100g sugar 1 x 330ml bottle of stout, Amber ale or sherry Preheat the oven to 180C. Pour the oil into a saute pan and set over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. In a mixing bowl, stir together eggs, thyme, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce and milk. Place the mince into another bowl and pour egg mixture over the meat. Add breadcrumbs, sage, onion and garlic to the bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Knead the meat together with the other ingredients until well blended. Transfer to a baking tray and form into a loaf. Wrap the bacon slices lengthwise over the top and tuck them under the loaf, to completely cover the meat. Bake for 1 hour or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the centre of the loaf reads 160C. Remove from the oven and set aside to rest for 5 minutes. Slice and serve with mushroom sauce and mashed vegetables such as celeriac or swede To prepare the mushroom sauce: Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a saute pan, add the garlic, shallots and portobellos, and saute until soft. Bring the gravy to a boil in another saucepan, and reduce by a quarter. Remove from heat and add ground porcini. Add vinegar and sugar to the mushrooms, reduce to syrup. Add the beer, reduce. Add the gravy, place saucepan over low heat, and stir until gravy thickens. Stir in remaining butter just before serving. Read more: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/meatloaf-the-house-special/story-fneuz8wn-1226435897295#ixzz28ZLK7wdl

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Updates on Houses

Planning to sell you house or simple just to update things to make them look exciting and with life? Here are some tips from news.com.au. Certainly, the previous owner of our house did most of these and it was a quick sell for them. We instantly fall in love with the place. I'd say people into best promotional polo shirts can learn some tips from them.

2. Refresh with paint Painting the interior can lift the mood of your house and it’s inexpensive if you’re willing to do the work. If your budget allows, tackle walls yourself and get professionals in to do the ceilings, as these can be hard going on the neck. You might be able to get away with giving skirting boards, doors and window and door frames a good clean with sugar soap or a natural alternative such as washing soda. If you’re taking the DIY approach, tackle one room at a time. Choose a warm, dry day to start, move all of your furniture into the middle of the room and do the first coat in the morning. As most paint needs only a few hours between coats, you can do the second later in the day and have the room finished by the evening. Bigger rooms will take more time of course, but the one-room-at-a-time method limits disruption. 3. Update flooring Getting carpets cleaned can make a huge amount of difference to the look (and smell) of a home, so calling in the professionals is well worth considering. However, no amount of cleaning is going to lift a floor covering beyond its use-by date, so it may be time to replace what you’ve got. If floorboards are showing a little too much wear and tear, have them re-sanded, which opens up myriad options as you could have them lime washed, stained, painted or simply resealed. If you decide to rip up old carpet and find old dirty floorboards underneath, mix up a solution of boiled linseed oil, turpentine and white vinegar in equal parts and test a patch with a lint-free cloth to clean and feed the timber. If the wood looks good, you may have unearthed a gem. 9. Fit new taps If the bathroom and kitchen are basically in good shape but just in need of a little updating, look at the taps. By fitting new, good-looking, matching taps, or taps that link aesthetically, you’re bringing a sense of cohesion to the house. Good taps also suggest good plumbing. 10. Groom the garden Winter is the perfect time to pull on the garden gloves and get stuck into the back yard. After a general tidy up, look at any gaps in planting that need to be dealt with. If you’re putting the house up for sale, gather reasonably established potted plants to fill up these holes as you can take them with you when you go. Get hold of a high-pressure hose and give paths and paintwork the once-over. Clean the barbecue and give outdoor furniture a scrub and, if needed, an oil, as spring is just around the corner. Read more: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/home-garden/ten-ways-to-add-value-to-your-home/story-fneuz5ql-1226440435567#ixzz28ZHhk9ca

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Savoury

This news should make critic happy. I reckon, with the bombardment of the media of all the not so happy news on people's health and weight.. one has taken notice. Some things are not as hard as rocket science and as expensive as diamond blades. Somethings are just a walk in the park if coupled with determination.

AUSTRALIANS are becoming increasingly sweet on savoury foods, with new data showing we're consuming over 25 per cent less sugar than 60 years ago. A report shows sugar consumption in 2011 was 42kg per person, down from 57kg per person in 1951 when Australia's sweet tooth was at its sweetest. The report - Sugar Consumption in Australia: A Statistical Update - also found there has been a sharp nine per cent decline since 2004 when every Australian, on average, was absorbing 46kg of sugar. The report, compiled by Green Pool, has taken all aspects of sugar consumption into account. "Our calculations... include household use, processed foods and beverages, takeaways, convenience foods and restaurant meals," Green Pool spokesman Tom McNeill said. "Imports and exports of sugar and sugar-containing manufactured foods and beverages were also assessed." The report is the first independent assessment of sugar consumption trends since the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) stopped examining the field in 1999. Read more: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health-fitness/australians-are-losing-their-sweet-tooth/story-fneuzkvr-1226488927664#ixzz28ZFlimEz

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Brown Eyed Girl

Well, mine is really more blackish but this is the closest. I don't mind the description on the latter part though. The quick on your feet is so apt. I am not bragging but I am an excellent problem solver. I like challenge. I can say I am clear headed in crisis - maybe detached unless I am into best selling audio books.

[url=http://www.blogthings.com/whatdoesyoureyecolorsayaboutyouquiz/results/?result=5][b]Your Brown Eyes Say You're Clever and Witty[/b][/url] [img]http://www.blogthingsimages.com/whatdoesyoureyecolorsayaboutyouquiz/brown-eyes.jpg[/img] You are seen as brilliant and irreverent. You speak your mind, and people love you for it. You don't let other people see any insecurities you might have. You like to present a brave front. You are sharp as a tack and very quick on your feet. You're the first to get or tell a joke. You are also clear thinking in a crisis. You are an excellent problem solver. [url=http://www.blogthings.com/whatdoesyoureyecolorsayaboutyouquiz/]What Does Your Eye Color Say About You?[/url] [url=http://www.blogthings.com]Blogthings: We're Not Shrinks, But We Play Them On the Internet[/url]

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