Recipe: Grilled Corn on the Cob

Nothing says summertime like fresh corn on the grill. Joanne Hoff for the Kraft Kitchens shares great tips on how to select the the sweetest ears and grill them to perfection.


 
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How to Deal with Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious breathing disorder, but there are treatments. Here's advice from Dr. Jordan Josephson, author and leading ear, nose and throat doctor.



 
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How to Choose Eco-Friendly Green Bathroom Products

If you're looking to make your home greener, a good place to start is with eco friendly bathroom products. With some simple changes, you can eliminate a lot of chemicals and products that damage the environment. Patty Kim of the Green Guide shows how we can all have green bathrooms.



 
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Fight Depression With Exercise

Image by Vook tv via Flickr

By John C Fleming 

For good health and prevention of disease exercise is a habit that can cure a variety of physical ills. Now, there is growing evidence that exercise can also help people who suffer from depression. Just getting up and moving around seems to have a positive impact on mental health as well as physical health.

The symptoms of depression include loss of appetite, trouble sleeping and just an all around lack of interest in doing things that used to make you feel happy. The good news for people suffering from depression is that studies show that physical exercise can cause an uptick in feelings of well being and the alleviation of feelings of depression. Exercise will help increase your appetite because you're burning more calories and it can help you sleep better because you're burning off some excess energy.

In a 2000 study performed at Duke University Medical Center, 156 people with major depressive disorder (MDD) volunteered to participate in an experiment to test the effect of exercise on depression. After four months, all of the patients reported significant reductions in their depressive symptoms. Also, the results were the same regardless of what kind of exercise they did. Researchers demonstrated in this study that there is an inverse relation between exercise and depression. In plain English, that means that as exercise goes up feelings of depression go down.

Taken together with treatment by a mental health professional, medication is often prescribed to treat depression. To see how exercise compares with taking medication, one of the groups of volunteers did no exercise but instead took Zoloft during the study. The result was that the groups that exercised reported 22% fewer feelings of depression than the group that took medication alone. In addition, the groups that exercised avoided the unpleasant side effects like nausea and insomnia that are sometimes reported by people who take Zoloft.

There are so many benefits of regular exercise. Reductions in heart disease, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and stress are just a few. Now, we also know that feelings of depression can be significantly helped by getting up and getting moving. Try adding some exercise to your daily routine and you'll be healthier both physically and mentally.

About the Author: John Fleming, Health Correspondent http://www.healthyliving411.com/
Looking for more information on the best healthy lifestyle for you? Visit HealthyLiving411.com to find advice and informative articles.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_C_Fleming
http://EzineArticles.com/?Fight-Depression-With-Exercise&id=4587723

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How to Feed Your Family Superfoods

Superfoods are the opposite of junk food--every mouthful is good for you. Trisha Calvo of Shape Magazine explains how to get your family to eat more superfoods.





 
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African Art and Its Spiritual and Religious Influence

By Rod Dagan

Africa, as the second largest continent, is a home to more than 50 countries and thousands of different ethnic and religious groups, which formed and shaped the countless artistic traditions. The kind of arts produced from region to region depends on the different religions.

Native African religions greatly influenced the art objects rather than the architectures. They do not require the use of religious buildings for prayer but they professed their faith more through religious objects such as statues, mask, or other objects especially during rituals and ceremonies. Rituals were meant to exercise control over the insecurity of life by binding together positive forces from ancestors, gods, or other spirits and by restricting negative forces.

Most of them, native Africans, used art objects like wooden or clay figurines to contact ancestor spirits who, as they believed, act as intermediaries between human community and God, the Creator. The governing bodies in their group used these art objects, as well, to maintain social order and good relationship with their ancestors' spirits. Among the Kota of Gabon, carved wooden figurines serves as guardians who protect and oversee the remains of dead ancestors and those significant individuals who made intercession for them to the All-Mighty Creator.

Sculptured traditional African arts from the Western part became internationally known. These wood carvings, clay sculpture, bronze casting, jewelry, and weaving were also used in religious practices.
Sculpture was not only applied by Africans on wood or other materials. It was also applied on their skin. This art was called scarification and was used for divination practices. This was made by cutting the skin and put irritants on it to produce scar or markings. This form of art still continues not on skin anymore but on their carved statues and images wherein they put markings on the statues' body parts to show scarification.
Another significant traditional art was the furniture like the stool and headrest. Stools were the especially designed carved wooden seat with spiritual functions. The Lubas of central Africa made caryatid stools wherein a figure, male or female, is carved out of the wooden stools to represent the owner's important ancestor.

The headrest, on the other hand, was the carved wooden pillow of the Africans. Among the Shona (people with special spiritual powers) of the southern Africa, their carved headrests were designed to communicate with the ancestors through their dreams.

Some Africans, especially the Mijikenda of Kenya honor their dead by carving wooden posts called vigangu. Groups in Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Madagascar followed this practice by creating similar post-shaped funerary sculptures.

In the eastern and western part of Africa, architecture arts were built with religious implications such as the Mosque, the Islam's house of prayer. The king of Ethiopia, when they adopted Christianity as their religion, carved 11 churches out of solid volcanic rocks.

Some were carved below ground level with deep trenches around, some were attached to surroundings. These churches were connected by a network of tunnels and narrow passageways.Africa has rich varieties of arts. It includes not only the architectural structures, the carved figurines and the sculptured objects but also the art in the field of painting, rhythm, dancing, and literary. The spiritual implications of every artistic piece make the African arts unique around the world.

About the Author: Rod Dagan invites you to explore the culture and arts of Africa [http://www.nativeart-world.com/africa.html] you can also find more about arts, crafts and culture from native and aboriginal peoples from around the world at Native Art World

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rod_Dagan
http://EzineArticles.com/?African-Art-and-Its-Spiritual-and-Religious-Influence&id=2236452

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Entertaining Summer Parties Outdoors

Image by hortulus via Flickr

By Danielle Brooks

When the weather is great outside and there is a special day to celebrate, an outdoor party or garden party may just be the thing to plan for your next occasion. Entertaining summer parties outdoors has its benefits since this is a chance to be able to get a little sun and have a great time.

Just like any other party, outdoor party events need careful planning. Keep the weather in mind first and foremost, and keep posted on what the weatherman may be saying before setting an actual date for your party. A flash storm or sudden hail will end that party quicker than you would expect, so be ready to entertain indoors, just in case.

Outdoor parties usually involve garden furniture, so make sure that your garden area is clear and that all possible places for your guests to sit are clean and hosed down well. Be prepared with supplies such as paper plates, plastic cups, extra trash cans for recyclable and non recyclable waste, as well as extra blankets or cloths in case people run out of places to sit down.

Make sure that the bathrooms are accessible to your guests, you can make little signs to point the way to them, and this lessens the number of people who will be asking you for the same directions over and over. Be sure to keep the bathrooms stocked with tissue paper as well as paper towels for spills for those awkward clumsy moments.

Plan the food well; as this is an outdoor party, barbeque may be the in thing for that day. Be sure that barbeque grill is clean and ready to start its role, as well as making sure that what you will be cooking is marinating in the refrigerator, ready for its turn. Keep a lot of snack foods and drinks handy for those who may be waiting a little longer to get their food cooked just right.

Your food menu should stay simple and easy to prepare, since it is best that you have more freedom to entertain your guests than to be slaving over the kitchen all day. If you can prepare food as early as the day before, this would be the best option.

Basically, outdoor parties are self serve types of parties, so just make sure that food and drinks are readily available and accessible for everyone. If necessary, label your coolers so that children can identify where to go if they should want water, soda, or juice. If you will be serving alcoholic drinks, it is best to keep these in a separate cooler and just point the adults in the right direction once they ask.

Oftentimes there may be setbacks like too much wind blowing, or the neighbor’s dog decided to join the fun, so be prepared for such mini disasters by making sure that you have a plan B for your venue (and menu.) Planning your outdoors party well in advance is the secret of success in this case, because there are many factors to consider especially since the weatherman may not always be right on target.

About the Author: Danielle Brooks is a freelance writer who loves to entertain. When entertaining she likes to use Noritake Colorwave dinnerware from Noritake

Source: http://www.isnare.com/
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=573007&ca=Recreation

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Front Porch Decorating - 5 Easy Tips to Improve the Look of Your Porch

Image by CaptPiper via Flickr

By Gloria Daniels

Front porch decorating is like a huge welcome sign. It is a preview of what's inside and a window into the character of your home.

When planning porch decorating, treat your porch as an outdoor room. Use the same design elements outside as you would use inside the home. Comfortable seating, good lighting, carefully chosen accessories and art will all help to make your porch decor memorable. These qualities will also improve the curb appeal of your home and make it interesting and desirable.

Listed below are 5 easy porch decorating ideas to help you beautifully design and enjoy your porch:

• Choose front porch furniture carefully
Comfort is the word when it comes to choosing front porch furniture. Consider the age group of the main users. Teenagers will be able to bounce up from papa-san chairs and bean bag furniture, but older adults will love the wicker furniture and bentwood rockers you put out for them. If you have the room, the classic porch swing always adds pizazz to your seating area. Consider the weather proofing qualities of your porch furniture. Wicker and bentwood furniture are the perennial favorites, but with the advances in materials, plastics have come a long way. Sometimes it's difficult to tell if rattan is the real thing or a composite material. Whatever material you choose to use on your porch, there will be plenty to pick from in your budget range.
• Coordinate your mismatched furniture when planning your porch decor
When looking at your porch, if you have a hodge-podge of furniture but would like a more unified look, consider spray painting everything one color. Use a high quality exterior paint and take the time to clean everything thoroughly before painting. You will be amazed at how quickly your porch starts to take on that decorator look, simply by coordinating your various pieces of furniture with one color.
• Color adds life and energy to your porch decorating style
More than any other elements, soft furnishings and color add life and style to your front porch decorating ideas. Introduce color, pattern and texture to your porch with fresh, bright colors in your upholstery, linens and accessories and see your front porch spring to life. By using matching and/or coordinating fabric, you can also tie everything all together to get a designer look to your porch decor.
• Interesting sounds add to the ambiance of your front porch
When planning your front porch decorating, nothing comes close to the sound of running water to give a sense of peace and relaxation. Consider adding a tabletop or floor water fountain to your front porch decor to relieve stress and help you unwind after a long day. Wind chimes are another great sound accessory. Bamboo, metal, glass all make beautiful sounds for you to enjoy. White noise machines also help block out the sound of traffic and lawnmowers. You can even get noise machines that play bird calls if you love hearing birds in your area.
• Use Art to add another dimension to your front porch decorating
Because the porch is outside, don't think you have to live without art. The outside walls of the house make a great place for an art gallery. It is usually sheltered and so you can use this as a display area. Florals, landscapes, inexpensive watercolors can all be used here as porch accessories. If you have a great view, hang a large mirror to reflect and accent it If your porch is exposed to the elements, tin signs, waterproof collectibles or slate paintings can be hung on the exterior house walls.

What do You Want From Your Front Porch Decorating Style?
Think of your porch as an outside room and you'll be inspired to do some quick front porch decorating.

A porch can be fun and quirky or formal and serene. It can be whimsical, cozy or a natural retreat. It can be a reader's paradise or the neighborhood gathering place.

Think of the end result you are striving to achieve with your porch decorating and work backward from your vision. When you decorate your front porch to suit your needs and preferences, you may find yourself using and enjoying it every chance you get.

About the Author: Gloria Daniels has been helping people with their front porch decorating for over 20 years and maintains a website about Creative Home Decorating. Visit her site where you can use her free online home decorating course to create the home of your dreams.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gloria_Daniels
http://EzineArticles.com/?Front-Porch-Decorating---5-Easy-Tips-to-Improve-the-Look-of-Your-Porch&id=4779025

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Tips to Introducing a New Cat to Other Cats and Dogs

The truth about cats and dogs is that they CAN get along, if introduced to one another correctly. And even anti-social kitties can learn to get along with other cats, when you follow the advice of Dr Katherine Miller of the ASPCA.


 

What is the Alexander Technique and How Can it Help Golfers?

Image by chispita_666 via Flickr

By Roy Palmer 

The Alexander Technique is a method that has a lot to offer golfers. The focus is on preventing habitual muscular actions that cause inefficient movement patterns that can lead to injury and poor technique. For example, it's common for golfers to stiffen their neck in preparation to swing and yet be completely unaware of it. I have seen this is sports people of all abilities including top athletes.

The act of stiffening the neck impedes the body's reflex activity and has a detrimental effect on coordination. Unfortunately once it has become a habit it is difficult to stop until it is brought to a conscious level and the individual given instruction on how to move without the habitual preparations, or in other words, to use less effort.

An Alexander Technique lesson involves taking the pupil through a series of movements whilst focusing on their habitual actions that may be interfering with movement. An Alexander teacher will use their hands to promote freer, lighter movement whilst giving verbal instruction. The combination of gentle guidance, instruction and immediate feedback of the improvements help with the learning process. This invariably involves a sense of lightness and less effort whilst performing a movement the pupil usually associates with using more effort. The techniques used encourage the pupil to focus on the moment between the stimulus and their response to it and to recognise what they're doing in the split second before they move; I have found golfers to be particularly good at this part!

A golfer with an appreciation of the basic concepts of the technique may be able to overcome specific difficulties by seeing the problem from a different viewpoint. The combination of a golfer's experience with a knowledge of Alexander's principles can develop a better understanding of some of the vital mechanics that underpin all movement; the neck muscles mentioned above being just one.

This can help a player in a number of ways. From a physical point of view, following Alexander Technique lessons, a golfer will have freer movement and better timing once inappropriate effort and excessive preparatory actions are removed. A poised golfer is also at less risk of injury as better coordination reduces conflicting muscular actions during complex movements such as the swing.

The techniques used also help players get into what sports people call 'The Zone'. This is the main benefit in my view as it speeds up thought processes enabling players to see and read more of their situation and make better decisions as to the right course of action. Players describing their experiences of The Zone often use terms like 'I seemed to have so much more time to think', 'I knew what was going to happen before it did' or 'it was effortless and felt so easy'.

There are a number of things a golfer can do for themselves to appreciate where habits may be limiting performance. Bringing your attention to relevant sensations or events will bring you into the moment and open up the way to The Zone mentioned early. Thinking of your toes in your socks, the ground under your feet, the movement of your ribs as your breath or even softening your face will change what's happening in your mind and hence your body.

I admit these do sound bizarre but I've seen it work again and again for many sports people. Being focused on the present helps to buy you more thinking time and enables you to notice the reactions that cause excessive muscle activity. Try asking yourself when you're playing whether you really need to use as much effort as you're using to swing, chip or putt. Are you tightening your jaw and neck or lifting your shoulders? Do you need to do these actions?

Top golfers can make it look easy as they appear to effortlessly play the shots most of us can only dream about. They can do this day-in, day-out because they're focused, in the moment and therefore able to step up to The Zone.

About the Author: Roy Palmer is a teacher of The Alexander Technique with over 26 years experience in competitive sport and has spent the last 15 years experimenting with new ways to enhance performance. His latest book, Golf Sense has received international acclaim from coaches and players alike. For more information please visit Play Better Golf.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Palmer
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-is-the-Alexander-Technique-and-How-Can-it-Help-Golfers?&id=4712849

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Bridge the Generation Gap With a Family History Video

Image by Fylkesarkivet i Sogn og Fjordane via Flickr

By Steve Pender 

Most elder family members are great sources of family stories and family history, but have little interest or experience with video technology. Many younger family members know little family history but are aces when it comes to computers and video. What can bring them together? Try a family history video project.

There I was, at a local Rotary Club, in the middle of a talk about creating family history videos, when one of the older members, a fellow in his mid-seventies, piped up. "This digital stuff seems like a lot of bother to me," he said. "There's tape, there's discs - I really don't know what's what. Technology keeps changing and I can't be bothered transferring from one format to another. I've locked all my family films in a cabinet, along with a projector, and when a family historian wants to watch them, that's where they'll be."

I congratulated him for safely storing his family films and I had to admit he had a point when it came to technology. Rapid advances in computer and video hardware and software have been dizzying and sometimes confusing. BUT, when the choice is between preserving a precious video record of your family stories and history or losing them for all time, I don't think the fear of a little technology should be allowed to get in the way.

So what do you do if you view technology as a hindrance rather than a help?

Look for the nearest teenager or preteen. Grandkids, grandnieces and grandnephews grew up with this computer stuff. To them it's second nature. Why not enlist their help in creating a family history video they'll treasure in years to come (kids being kids, they might not see the value in it now - but when they get older, they will). So butter them up a bit. Play to their pride in their computer and video expertise. And if that doesn't work, have their parents make them help you. Once you get some momentum going, a family history video project is sure to spark their interest and creativity. You may find them getting just as excited about it as you.
Of course, collaborating with a younger family member on a family history video is much more than just a means to an end. It provides a great bonding experience, a chance to share quality time, to laugh and learn together and to create something of which you'll both be proud. You'll end up with a living legacy your family will love and with wonderful new memories that will last a lifetime.

About the Author: Steve Pender is a personal historian and video biographer with over thirty years of experience as a scriptwriter, producer/director and video editor. He founded Family Legacy Video, Inc. in 2003 to pursue his passion: helping individuals, families and businesses preserve, celebrate and share their stories in the form of video biographies. Family Legacy Video is on the Web at: http://www.familylegacyvideo.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Pender
http://EzineArticles.com/?Bridge-the-Generation-Gap-With-a-Family-History-Video&id=4705001

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Care for the Care Giver

Image by Rosie O'Beirne via Flickr

By Lynn Banis 

Have you found yourself in the position where you are caring for your ageing parents? Do you have someone else in your life you are providing extra care to? Bless you if you are. I believe it is one of the most important things we can do in life. I also believe it is very difficult on you, the care giver. Often it becomes all-consuming and takes on a life of its own leaving you with little time and energy for anything else. Here are some ideas that will help you get a little balance back in your life.

The number one cardinal rule to keep in your mind is this: If you are not personally healthy and well-cared for you will have nothing to give those whom you take care of or anyone else for that matter. Whatever you do don't let yourself get in a state of burnout. You will be not good to anyone then, not even yourself.
Here we go, here is a list of some things you can do to take extremely good card of yourself:

1. Get plenty of sleep. You will need the energy to be a caring provider.
2. Eat proper, well-balance meals. They too give you energy and help you stay healthy.
3. Exercise even if that is in the form of walking up and down the stairs. You need to keep your body strong.
4. Have something you can do for yourself that you enjoy such as a hobby or reading. Try to do it for at least ten minutes per day. It doesn't have to be long but at least it can get your mind off other things for a few minutes.
5. Do special, small indulgent things you enjoy like soaking in a hot tub surrounded by candles. Fill your tub with the fragrance of essential oils for relaxation and rejuvination.
6. Get out in the fresh air even if that only means a quick walk around the block.
7. Write in a gratitude journal. Cultivate an attitude of gratefulness and you will find your whole outlook on things will change for the positive.
8. Create a strong support system for yourself. Do not use it for complaining but use it as s source of strength and extra energy. Make sure the people in it are upbeat so you can feed off their energy.
9. Take mini-vacations in your head. Use your imagination to go to places you really love. Imagine all the relaxing and fun things about it and bring that sense back into your real world.
10. Smile and laugh alot. It will relieve much of your stress, anxiety and tension.

About the Author: Lynn Banis PhD, MCC is known as America's High Performance Coach. She specializes in helping executives and entrepreneurs make the most of their opportunities and potential. Her years of working with small and large businesses has given her a depth of knowledge that is invaluable to her clients. You can reach her at http://www.discoverypointcoaching.com/ or lynn@discoverypointcoaching.com. Also check out Lynn's other businesses: Coach Academy Texas, a cutting edge coach training company; and Turnkey Coaching Solutions, a coaching program management and contract coach staffing company.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lynn_Banis
http://EzineArticles.com/?Care-For-the-Care-Giver&id=4746928

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