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LIVING QUARTERS
Inexpensive Decorating Ideas
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ant the millionaire home look, but you have a ‘thousandaire’ budget? There are some simple upgrades that won’t hurt your pocket too much but will achieve great results. Paint Versatile, cheap and with selective use, paint can fool the eye. Rooms with a low ceiling usually feel claustrophobic. By playing with optical illusions a room can be made more spacious. Using vertical stripes draws the eye up and down and fools us into believing the ceiling is higher than it is. Stick to soft contrasting colors and make the stripes broad or thin depending on the proportions of the room. Bold stripes can be used if you are sure of your color sense but be careful to not end up with a room that
looks like the inside of a circus tent. Before painting carefully mark off the stripes and take care around windows and doors. Get Artsy Create bold artwork worthy of a modern museum: Just wrap a large artist’s canvas with a patterned sheet or an eye-catching fabric remnant. Pull it tight and staple to the back of the frame. Indoor Plants These can be used everywhere, require minimal outlay, can be layered, stacked or grouped and provide texture and visual appeal until such time as real furniture is affordable. Lighting You can bring an entire room into the modern age just by changing a light fixture. Do-
it-yourself stores have a great variety of stylish, affordable lighting options. It's not hard to change a light fixture -- just remember to turn off the electricity to that light at the breaker box before you get started. Lighting -- whether it's natural or artificial -- plays a role in the mood of a room, too. You can change the amount of light in a room very simply and economically. Is your room too dark? Consider taking down your heavy curtains or shutters and letting the sunlight in. Going for a romantic look? Use table lamps or floor lamps to put light just where you want it, and replace high wattage bulbs with lower wattage ones for a softer light. Look around for a deal -- you might find a great bargain on a beautiful used lamp at a flea market or antique shop.
Housefly Control H ouseflies are some uninvited guests that pose a threat to your sanity and health. Don’t let them bug you. Here are some tips to getting the better of them.
Plan a regular cleaning routine Kitchens require the most attention. Yet, the entire house needs this routine cleaning. • Pick up and dispose of all food crumbs, leave no food laying around, trash it or store it and don’t forget behind the stove & fridge! • Use indoor trash bins that have a cover and when disposing food in it, seal it first in an old plastic grocery bag, or used sandwich bag. • Rinse cleaning sponges &
have ”hole free” screens & seal all cracks or holes in walls & around window & door frames with caulking.
rags with soap & water, then wring out and hang to dry. • Immediately clean all liquid food spills on counters & floors. Run your kitchen sink’s garbage disposal one last time before bedtime and once it is clear of all food particles, pour a water/ bleach mixture (1 tablespoon of bleach to 2 cups of water) into the drain opening. Seal Your Home Check that all windows & doors w w w . a b s tr a c th o m e . c o m
Trap Them Use do-it-yourself fly traps or store bought fly traps in discrete locations around the house including Carnivorous plants such as the Venus flytrap, sun dew, & pitcher plants are good options. Use natural fly repellent Try citronella candles and citrus pomander balls. Hang up ground cloves placed in small fabric bag and keep several potted basil plants in the house Reduce flies outside your home Place traps around your garbage cans and keep the trash can lids securely closed, clean up pet waste. JULY 2013
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LIVING QUARTERS
Home Theatre Trends
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house is not a home unless its inhabitants feel comfortable in it. Having a place to relax and kick back goes a long way in that regard. When we say kick back, we aren’t just talking living room style. We mean in your own entertainment centre, which may include games, pool tables or more. However, the biggest aspect of home entertainment is usually the home theatre. Here are some of the latest home theatre trends. Big Screen Effect Coming back to the visual treats you are in store for this year, TV screens are getting bigger and bigger, and homes may have to be built to match the new TVs, which will require a drawing-room with minimum dimensions to complement such gigantic appliances.TV screens are expected to exceed 84 inches in size, and watching a movie on such TVs will give the theater-like effect everyone has been talking about. However, surveys reveal that people are more inclined to buy TVs that can be connected to the various devices like PCs, tablets, and smartphones. Connectivity seems to be the key, and
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rangement in rooms that function as party or entertainment spaces. Why so many screens? Our video choices are now so vast that people often don’t want to be restricted to just one option in a room.
most TV manufacturers have already realized the need to incorporate this feature in the models that are to be launched. The question though is, will people be willing to trade their existing TVs for the ones with the new features? Would you be willing to spend a lot of money and exchange your old TV for a technically advanced one? Multiple Screens While huge monitors are great, some prefer quantity. An increasingly popular trend is the use of dual and multiple screens. Multiple screens can mean two or more flat-panel TVs on the same wall, a flatpanel TV for casual, everyday viewing that gets covered by a larger front-projection screen for movies and major events, or even screens on various walls in a room, which is a popular ar-
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Audio The types of speakers being incorporated into media rooms is changing, as well. There is a trend in people using floorstanding and bookshelf speakers rather than in-wall speakers. The media room is still a special destination room, so users want a good experience. In-wall speakers are great if you want to hide all of the equipment, but floorstanding and surface-mounted on-wall speakers produce the clearest audio. It is recommended that you have a quality digital-toaudio converter (DAC) with each audio system to improve the fidelity of digital music files. Entry-level and midrange home theater-in-a-box systems are giving way to soundbar/subwoofer systems because they offer an easy way to fill a room with audio. Built-in audio processing, Bluetooth, wireless subwoofers and one-remote operation are making those
systems attractive options for people looking to upgrade from poor-sounding TV speakers. Decorative Themes A large part of making an entertainment space comfortable is tailoring your décor to match your experience. Choose a theme. While it is not as prevalent, the future-inspired home theater is slowly gaining popularity and is predicted to surge in the next couple years. Instead of evoking the past; it draws inspiration from the technology itself and the promise of the future. Common features of this theme are minimalist décor, cool, metallic-toned color schemes, and fiber-optic “star” ceilings. Movie inspired Home Theater inspired themes are also becoming popular. Perhaps you have a favorite movie or show that motivates you? From Titanic to Star Wars to Broadway, many homeowners are turning to the entertainment itself to inspire a space that they are passionate about. Some recreate an actual scene from a movie, while others shape their theater interior to mimic the time period or feel of their favorite show.
LIVING QUARTERS
Save Yourself From Stress
This Flood Season of the situation is that flooding does exist and as such, there are measures which should be taken to prepare for it especially at our homes. Here are five tips to help you prepare. 1. Keep important documents including insurance policies, birth certificates and passports - in a waterproof box where you can easily access them. Be sure to keep them high above ground as well.
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nfortunately flooding has become synonymous with rain in Trinidad and Tobago. Even a slight drizzle is enough to make home and farm owners cringe and cause panic at the nation’s major transportation hubs. The reality
2. If your water heater or electricity panel is on the first floor of your home, consider having it moved upstairs, where it is less likely to be damaged by floodwater. 3. Understand the damage that floods can cause, such as roll-
ing boulders, trees ripped out of the ground, buildings and bridges destroyed and debris slides. Remove any objects which lie in an area that threatens your home’s safety. 4. Update flood procedures for your family, farm or business (every year). In other words,
make sure everyone knows the emergency phone numbers, and when to call them. Learn the safest route from your home or business to high ground. Make arrangements for housing in the event you need to evacuate your home. Establish meeting places and phone numbers in case family members are separated by rising flood waters. Also, be sure to teach all family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity and water lines. 5. Make sure you have flood insurance, since most home owners' insurance will not reimburse you for flood damage. Talk to your insurance provider and ask about flood coverage.
Steps To A More Productive Garden
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ardening is a great way to stay active, while it is also beneficial because the crops you sow and reap can feed you and your family. If you want to maximize the returns from your garden, try these tips. Choose High-Yielding Crops and Varieties. Few things are more disappointing than nurturing a tomato plant for three months only to harvest three fruits from it. Don’t let this happen to you! Network with local gardeners to find varieties known to grow well in your area, or see our list of the best regional varieties, and give them a try. Keep your mind open to classic, traditionally bred hybrids as well as superior open-pollinated varieties. With sweet peppers, for example, many gardeners need the disease resistance and fast maturation of hybrid varieties to make a good crop. The opposite is true with beans, lettuce, peas, 4
winter squash and many other vegetables that don’t require hybridization to make them more productive. Weed Early and Often. Most
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garden crops require weeding at least three times: Plan to weed five to seven days after sowing or transplanting, again seven to 10 days later, and a third time three
to four weeks after the crop has been planted. By that time, the plants should be big enough to mulch and should have plenty of leaves to shade the soil’s surface. Make and Use Your Own Compost. You may still need to buy high-quality organic compost, but make a habit of piling together pulled plants, leaves, tattered mulches and other organic materials to create rich compost for free. Additionally, use an enclosed composter or a worm compost bin to capture your kitchen garbage. Water as Efficiently as You Can. Water is a precious resource everywhere, and no gardener can afford to waste it. For watering crops such as ochroes, peppers, sweet corn and tomatoes, mulches and soaker hoses are extremely helpful. You can also capture water in rain barrels and route to garden beds using perforated soaker hoses.
LIVING QUARTERS
Quick Diy Fixes For Your Home
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e know you love your home. It gives you shelter and it gave you tons of great memories. However, some pesky problems tend to mar the relationship you have with your house from time to time. There is no need to panic. Don’t go crazy looking for expensive fixes from some contractor or handyman just yet. There are some quick and easy DIY fixes you can consider. Check these tips. Stained Tub Combine equal amounts of cream of tartar and baking soda with enough lemon juice to make a paste. Rub the mixture into the stain with your fingers or a soft cloth. Let sit for a half hour, then rinse well with water. Slamming Door Soften the slam of a door by affixing a few pieces of peel-andstick foam weather stripping around the doorstop. Or get a wide rubber band and wrap it around the doorknobs on both sides, stretching it across the 6
edge of the door. Don’t cover the latch. Flattened Down Cushions Put them outside in the sun for a few hours, flipping them halfway through. (Be careful―leaving them out too long may fade the fabric.) The sun will help evaporate the moisture that gets into the filling over time, and the cushions should plump up nicely. Warped Wallpaper If it's less than 1 inch across and you don't feel any debris inside, such as a paint chip, you can forgo the standard procedure of slicing an X into the paper and brushing adhesive behind it. Instead, use a syringe to poke a pinhole that releases the air and allows you to inject adhesive right where it's needed. To get a clean cut in vinyl paper, make a small slit with a utility knife before inserting the syringe. Revive Wood Kitchen tables or bedroom doors looking a bit lackluster? Like all natural products, they
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just need a good feed. Ensure the wood is clean and sand away any nasty marks or chips. Wipe the surface with white spirit or a tack cloth to banish dust. Pour some mineral oil on a lint-free cloth. Work into the wood and follow the grain. Wait until it's dry and apply another coat. Tada... all done Rescue Your Refrigerator When there is a power outage your fridge can feel the brunt of it fast. However, tackle your fridge early and you can save it, even if the contents smell ripe. Wipe down inside surfaces with an ammonia-based detergent. When power returns, run the refrigerator for several days with an opened 5-pound bag of natural charcoal briquettes in the freezer. Charcoal will filter and deodorize even spoiled fish or meat smells. Squeaky Door Hinges Spray a little WD-40 onto the hinges, moving the door back and forth to work in the lubricant. Or try rubbing the hinges
with petroleum jelly. If these tricks don’t work, lift the hinge pins about halfway and lubricate them with three-in-one oil, using a rag to catch drips. De-Stink Your Sinks Unblocking a sink is one of the easiest and cheapest DIY jobs. Pour two to three tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda down the plug hole, followed by some glugs of vinegar (supermarket brands are fine). Then simply flush through with hot water. Voila. Keep The Stainless Spotless Do the fingerprints all over the appliances make your kitchen look like a crime scene? The secret to cleaning stainless-steel surfaces is never to use stainless-steel cleaner. Most of those products contain naphtha, which leaves an oily film that attracts dust and smears every time you touch it. Instead, use a glass cleaner that contains no ammonia or alcohol, such as the ones made by Restore or Method.
home office
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11 Steps To Creating The Perfect Business Plan
hat should a business plan cover? That’s the million dollar question. For one thing, it should offer a thorough analysis of the need for the particular product or service you are planning to offer. It also needs to talk about why you are qualified to be making such an offering to the public. A business plan should address your strategies in terms of production and marketing, how you will be organized, any legal aspects that you must address, and what your accounting methods will be. In short, a business plan should address the following questions: • What do I want and what am I capable of doing? • What are the most workable ways of achieving my goals? • What can I expect from the future? Bear in mind that there is no one specific format that you should use, or one best way to lay out your business plan. However, there are some steps you can take to make the process go a little more smoothly. We’ve listed what we think is the easiest method, below.
Step 1: Be Committed Be sure that your desire to work for yourself is truly greater than your desire to work for someone else. Step 2: Examine Yourself List your strengths and weak8
nesses. Determine how you can build on your strengths, and improve on your weaknesses. Remember, this can be a daunting task because you may have to own up to a few shortcomings you’re not prepared to recognize! Step 3: Choose the Right Product or Service This sounds silly, but just because you think you know what business you want to be in, it doesn’t mean your idea will be a profitable one. Take a look at the feasibility of your idea. Step 4: Research Your Market Market research is crucial to the success of any business, large or small. The more you know about your potential market, the greater your chances of securing the customers you want, right out of the gate, and that means making a profit. Step 5: Forecast Your Sales Revenue After you take a look at the market your product is best suited for, estimate the percentage of that market that you think you will reasonably be able to take over. Take in to account the number of competitors, their size, and the share of the market they already have. It is extremely important to be realistic during this exercise. Step 6: Choose a Location Is your new business going to be on the web? Or will you have a retail storefront? Will you con-
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sult out of your home office? Be careful to weigh both your personal preferences against what makes the most sense for the ultimate success of your business. You might like the idea of working in your pajamas every day, but if your shingle needs to be seen by the public for maximum growth potential, a home office might not be your best option. Step 7: Develop a Marketing Plan Here you will be forced to detail your plan to gain customers, and turn a profit. Discuss possible marketing channels, price points, advertising, and sales promotion. Step 8: Develop an Organizational Plan What skills and talents does your new business need not only to survive, but to grow as well? If you don’t have all these traits, how are you going to get them in the door? Will you hire freelancers? Are you hoping to bring on an employee right away? If these individuals, and their skill sets, are vital to your success, do not make a plan without them! Step 9: Decide on Your Status Sole proprietor? Partnership? You need to decide how you’re going to approach this, and investigate the legal ramifications of each situation. As a sole proprietor, you’re in control, but you’re also solely responsible. In a partnership, you share the responsibility, but you also share the decision making and the
profits. What works best for your budget AND your personality? Step 10: Address Your Accounting If you don’t know how much money is coming in and out of your business, you will never know if you are making a profit, or if you need to make changes. Keeping track of your digits is one of the single most important things you can do for your business. Decide on whether you will do it in house, or outsource it to a professional; if you take care of it yourself, decide on what software you will use. Step 11: Put it All into Numbers This may or may not be necessary for you; it depends on what type of business you are starting. When you approach a financial institution for a small business loan, they will respond better if they see all of your plans in numbers; they are, after all, in the business of numbers. So, go back through all the above steps, and assign dollar amounts to what you can; when you approach the bank, you can tell them exactly how much you need, and show them where their money will be going. You can then show them, with a number, how much of the market you are planning to corner, and your growth, by percentage, over the next X years. That’s it – wasn’t so hard after all, was it?
elegant ideas
Sensational Solaria
An elegant parlour with a wonderful pool view w w w . a b s tr a c th o m e . c o m
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elegant ideas
A rustic room with natural decorative elements 12
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elegant ideas
This quaint sun room has a European bistro feel
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JULY 2013
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elegant ideas
A lovely Jacuzzi is part of what makes this conservatory stand out
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elegant ideas
This intricately tiled verandah features a plethora of houseplants w w w . a b s tr a c th o m e . c o m
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KITCHEN
Foods To Refrain From
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veryone needs to eat to live, but ironically, the food we eat can also kill us. It is important to monitor which foods we let into our bodies for sustained and extended healthy lifespans. Here are some foods we should avoid at all costs for an improved life. Margarine Hidden in all sorts of processed foods, margarine, a hydrogenated trans-fat oil, is something you will want to avoid at all costs for your health. Contrary to popular belief, butter and saturated fats in general are not unhealthy, especially when they are derived from pastured animals that feed on grass rather than corn and soy. And if animal-based fats are not for you, stick with extra-virgin coconut oil or olive oil rather than margarine. White rice Like white bread, white rice has been stripped of most of its nutrients, and separated from the bran and germ, two natural components that make up rice in its brown form. Even so-called “fortified” white rice is nutritionally deficient, as the 16
body still processes this refined food much differently than brown rice, which is absorbed more slowly and does not cause the same spike in blood sugar that white rice does. Artificial Sweeteners Even ingredients that are calorie free can still harm you and this may be especially applicable to artificial sweeteners. Consumption of artificial sweeteners shows consistent and strong associations with preterm delivery and various diseases like metabolic syndrome, obesity (ironically) and type II diabetes. Processed Meats Processed meats include sausage, hot dogs, bacon, pepperoni, lunch meat and other products that are smoked, cured or salted. Preservatives found in processed meats disrupt the normal digestive process of your body. Additionally, processed meats are high in fat, sodium and cholesterol. Eating processed meats with these basic ingredients will make your waistline grow and increase your risk of hypertension, heart disease and cancer.
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Microwavable Popcorn Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize—and migrate into your popcorn. These chemicals accumulate in your system over time. Instead, pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix. Conventional Apples If fall fruits held a "most doused in pesticides contest," apples
would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don't develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. While the industry maintains that these residues are not harmful, farm workers have higher rates of many cancers. Pesticides have also recently been linked to pesticides. The solution to this is to buy organic apples. If you can't afford organic, be sure to wash and peel them. Soda One hundred percent of the calories in regular soda come from sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. You might as well call it "liquid candy." In fact, these empty liquid calories are largely responsible for fueling Trinidad’s obesity epidemic. Drinking soda also damages your teeth and promotes cavity formation — and some studies show cola may weaken your bones. Instead of guzzling soft drinks to quench your thirst, try good old-fashioned water or naturally flavored seltzers (which have the same bubbly pop as soda!).
RECIPES
Fabulous Fruit Recipes
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hen we think of recipes we seldom figure on fruits being the star of the dish. Fruits are usually used to balance out flavours or as toppings and garnishes. However, these fruit recipes leave your favourite fruit of choice at centre stage while producing a great final dish. They aren’t all desserts either.
Banana Crumb Muffins Ingredients 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 bananas, mashed 3/4 cup white sugar 1 egg, lightly beaten 1/3 cup butter, melted 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon butter Directions Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour 18
and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.
Sausage, Apple and Cranberry Stuffing Ingredients 1 1/2 cups cubed whole wheat bread 3 3/4 cups cubed white bread 1 pound ground turkey sausage 1 cup chopped onion 3/4 cup chopped celery 2 1/2 teaspoons dried sage 1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1 Golden Delicious apple, cored and chopped 3/4 cup dried cranberries 1/3 cup minced fresh parsley 1 cooked turkey liver, finely chopped 3/4 cup turkey stock 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted Directions Preheat oven to 350 degree F
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(175 degree C). Spread the white and whole wheat bread cubes in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes in the preheated oven, or until evenly toasted. Transfer toasted bread cubes to a large bowl. In a large skillet, cook the sausage and onions over medium heat, stirring and breaking up the lumps until evenly browned. Add the celery, sage, rosemary, and thyme; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes to blend flavors. Pour sausage mixture over bread in bowl. Mix in chopped apples, dried cranberries, parsley, and liver. Drizzle with turkey stock and melted butter, and mix lightly. Spoon into turkey to loosely fill.
Caramel Apple Pork Chops
turning occasionally, or until done. Transfer to the warm dish, and keep warm in the preheated oven. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, salt and pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add butter to skillet, and stir in brown sugar mixture and apples. Cover and cook until apples are just tender. Remove apples with a slotted spoon and arrange on top of chops. Keep warm in the preheated oven. Continue cooking sauce uncovered in skillet, until thickened slightly. Spoon sauce over apples and chops. Sprinkle with pecans.
Avocado, Tomato and Mango Salsa
Ingredients 4 (3/4 inch) thick pork chops 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 2 tablespoons brown sugar Salt and pepper to taste 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tart apples - peeled, cored and sliced 3 tablespoons pecans (optional)
Ingredients 1 mango - peeled, seeded and diced 1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and diced 4 medium tomatoes, diced 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1/4 cup chopped red onion
Directions Preheat oven to 175 degrees F (80 degrees C). Place a medium dish in the oven to warm. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brush chops lightly with oil and place in hot pan. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes,
Directions In a medium bowl, combine the mango, avocado, tomatoes, jalapeno, cilantro, and garlic. Stir in the salt, lime juice, red onion, and olive oil. To blend the flavors, refrigerate for about 30 minutes before serving.
BRIDAL
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True Wedding Stories
hen people find true love, they feel so good about it that they just want to climb the highest peak and proclaim it to the world. I guess that is where this article originated. It is about people who fell in love and took that love to the next step. The step I speak of is marriage. We have some real testimonials from people across the globe who wanted the world to know about their wedding day. Read on as we share their intimate wedding day details with you.
Jonathan & Jessica I cannot describe how beautiful the ceremony was. There was so much music and it was so beautiful. I made it half-way down the aisle before I began crying, but I held back most of it because I didn’t want to ruin my make-up. The comments that people make when you are walking down the aisle are so powerful. I made it through the vows and the rings without crying, although Jonathan had a tear or two during the vows. I really started crying during the Lord's Prayer that one of my friends sang for us. I then cried after the unity candle when another one of my friends sang Ave Maria. Our trip back up the aisle was great! Everyone was clapping, cheering, and smiling at us! Our pictures took forever, but I think we got a lot of good pictures. Our pho20
tographer said from the whole night they got over 2500 pictures and at least 1100 of them are ones that are album quality... there were only about 150-200 that didn’t come out very good. I had a hard time getting in the car because my dress was a little bigger than I thought it was. We found out on the ride to the reception that my parent's had gone to the house to let the dog out and set off the alarm and did not know how to turn it off. Needless to say it delayed their arrival to the reception but it worked out. Married 10-20-07 Miami Aletta & Christos I'm Aletta, 28, married to hubby Christo, 29. We had a dream come true medieval theme wedding. No real problems except if you count that we didn't say our vows properly, as the minister forgot to read them out loud!!! That is no problem since we said them properly to each other on our first anniversary. Hubby had a white flowing shirt, velvet waistcoat with silver embroidering and a blue and black velvet cloak with black pants and riding boots. He's an artist and enjoyed knowing that it would be a surprise to me! I had a surprise of my own. I 'planted' a sketch of a medieval dress with elaborate green, purple and gold in my flat, which he saw, as planned,
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and assumed to be my wedding dress. He actually wanted me to wear white and it was a real surprise to him when he saw me in the church after the wine red velvet cloak was taken off in a white chiffon dress cut medieval style! The wedding was beautiful ... even if I say so myself. Really enjoyed it. We got married in an old medieval looking church and had our photos taken there and had our 'feast' there as well. Medieval style - no forks or spoons. One plate and a knife was all the guests had with a superb buffet finished off with fresh fruit and nutty wedding cake! Now I miss the excitement of planning it last year at this time. I really enjoy organizing and plan to perhaps become a wedding planner. Married 2-20-99 South Africa Terri & Phillip The day started early for me. I was up and showering around 6:15am and got to the ceremony suite at 7am for the makeup artist. She began with both mothers and did me last. Me and some of the bridesmaids got our hair done around 8:30 or so and I got dressed around 10 something. We took some of the girls pictures and separate guys pictures before the ceremony and before you knew it it was time for the ceremony to start
around 11:30am. I was incredibly nervous. I had to walk up some stairs and I was standing over everyone and my heart was pounding. The DJ was supposed to start my song at 1:02 seconds but he didn't and started it from the beginning and I was so upset about that at the time. I just remember not knowing where to look at because I was so nervous. The ceremony flew by, we had a sand ceremony part and that was a nice touch. Before you knew it we were taking the pictures on the beach. The water was a bit cold. They wanted us to be walking in it a bit for some pix/video. Then we went inside and I relaxed in the suite during the cocktail hr and ate a bit. Mostly I just needed to sit down and relax for a second or two. After that we were announced into the reception and the rest of the day was a blur. We loved every second of it. The weather was great so most of the guests were talking and catching up outside on the deck and coming back in for some dancing. A couple of my bridesmaids snuck back to the hotel and put some rose petals and champagne in our room which was a nice surprise for us when we got back. All in all it was wonderful and I couldn't be any happier! Married 5/14/2007 Trinidad
FAMILY
The Kids Are Home… Yikes!!!
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t’s their favorite time of the school term – Summer Break - but for parents, it’s a mad dash trying to figure out the best camps to get them in, car pooling arrangements and whether or not to approve the swimming permission slip. Oh yes, it’s summer time baby and the kids are home! Even your elder kids, studying abroad are back for the holidays and amid all of this you still have to show up at the office and commit eight hours, the nerve of them. Your hands are filled. Before you start pulling out hairs, we’ve highlighted some options to keep everyone 18 and under constructively occupied, sort of. First the somewhat easier of the lot – elder kids. Get their butts summer jobs, be quick about it too because everyone’s looking. Many teenagers are hitting the streets themselves, well dressed in search of summer gigs – be proud, you raised them well. You will do well to note that getting jobs along the lines of what they may be studying in school is going to be very competitive. Here we offer the idea of free internship and you, mother and father dearest, provide a stipend. 22
Nothing churns the wheels of bureaucracy like free labour but while your kids are being used they in turn gain invaluable hands on experience to take to the class room next semester. Local Universities and larger corporate firms are the ideal grounds for this venture. Getting kids to focus and commit fully to anything is mostly finding something they are fully interested in; what better than experiencing what their lecturers have been droning on about, finally being able to apply that theory. Economics, accounting, business, creative arts, culinary skills and even medical students can constructively occupy their time while learning the
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ropes in relevant establishments. This may include a measure of involvement on the part of parents – guard against the labour board terrorizing these kindly corporate entities. For the toddlers and pre-teen age group a lot of schools and day care morph sensibly into summer camps – provided assurance, you already trust them to care for your child during the school term. Many of these are eclectictypes of camps involving swimming, sports, crafts and field trips. However, more and more are adding in reading enrichment or remedial work as well as math tutoring over the summer. Essential when you think of the cry “A whole two months without school fries the brain!” In Trinidad there are performing arts summer camps which feature theater, music, dance and even video production for younger kids - consider this a time for them to develop new interests outside of acing the class work. Some camps focus more heavily on particular activities and if your children express an interest in a particular item (ballet, music, tennis) where possible enroll them in a camp that
includes those activities. Other common activities include writing, directing and acting on film, field trips to community arts events, outdoor activities and guest performances. We know eight week summer camps are pretty costly so you may wind up with your very own at home. The highlight of camp, for me, was the field trip. So consider every week setting aside a day to visit a new location, ride the ferry, visit the new Play Parks in the southland, have an outdoor picnic, a trip to the Cineplex or take a plane ride to Tobago. Understand that if you fill their everyday with an outing, you’ll find you’ve run out of options. Scheduling these once or twice a week gives them something concrete to look forward to each week, and you’re better able to organize the troops. It’s suggested to give kids a week or so at home just as school ends, a break from any commitment to enjoy the leisure of staying up and waking late. Time to rediscover the bike and roller blades stashed away since last Christmas. Two weeks of this is usually sufficient to burn the high energy off, usually.
WARDROBE
POWDER ROOM
Pamper Yourself Today
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he kids are home and we know you are going nuts. However, you can get your mind right if you treat yourself to a little pampering. Visit the spa and get one of these three deluxe treatments. Deep Tissue Massage This massage targets the connective tissues of the muscle. It removes scar tissue. Scar tissue hampers the absorption of oxygen and nutrients. Scar tissue causes toxin build up which leads to stress. Soak in a warm bath with Epsom salts to relax the muscles and draw toxins/alcohol from the body. To optimize results you must be hydrated before your appointment. Note this massage would cause a little discomfort; alert your masseuse if you are experiencing pain outside your comfort level. Do not schedule strenuous activity for up to two days after your massage to give time to enjoy the full effects of the massage. If you would like to perform the massage for someone note that the strokes go against the grain and must be deep and slow. The massage should last ninety minutes. Tools made of ceramic and wood could be used to maximize penetration. Your cli-
ent needs to be relaxed, in a horizontal position and naked with a light towel covering important areas. Full Body Scrub and Polish This is a more pleasurable massage experience. It uses the sensation of touch and our natural need to connect to stimulate the body and release endorphins. Endorphins create a general feeling of wellbeing and thus promote healing. The scrub would exfoliate all dead cells while the polish would replenish moisture to your sun burnt skin from the beach visits. Deluxe Manicure and Pedicure If you are not comfortable with the nakedness and a stranger touching on you then schedule a deluxe pedicure. Your feet will be soaked in warm water to relax them. Epsom salts would be used to release toxins and then your feet will be exfoliated of all corns. Plus, scab and dead skin will be removed. It would then be moisturized and your nails trimmed, cut and polished. This is a unisex procedure because guys need to rock sandals too. Since your feet should match your hands get a manicure too.
Five Fashion No-No’s For 50+ Women
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ashion is universal, but that doesn’t mean everyone in the universe should jump aboard the same fashion ship. Your style sensibilities should vary with gender, age and occasion. This is especially important to note when you are a woman over 50.
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Too-tight Trousers: while teens and 20-somethings may be able to get away with it, avoid any trousers which give you an overspill or are too tight around the crotch. Ironically, buying a larger size actually serves to make you look thinner, rather than squeezing into pants that are too tight.
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Halter tops: Especially without a bra----can you say sagging nightmare, gross, vile, disgusting? If you have to wear a halter top women over 50, please wear a bra.
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Thong panties or thong bathing suits: Please do not wear this garment, girls with a super short skirt, or dress. Thong pantw w w . a b s tr a c th o m e . c o m
ies were made for the younger set, when paired with low rider jeans.
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Slogan T-shirts: These continue to be one of the hottest hits of 2013, but unless you really have something to say; leave these to your daughters.
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Sleeveless Clothing: Sleeveless tops are not what a woman should wear when her arms are saying "Hello", when she waves in a crowded room. Please, ladies do not wear, sleeveless garments, unless you plan on leaving your arms at your sides for the evening. JULY 2013
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MEDICINE CABINET
home gym
Boost Your Memory
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hen all else is lost, sometimes memories are all you have. Preventing memory loss is integral to keeping all that we hold dear alive within us. These steps can go a long way toward setting you on the right path to proper mental fitness. A good way to engage your mind and keep it active is to cultivate relationships. Relationships help you to stay engaged with the world. Relationships are complex to maintain and challenge your mental functioning on many levels. Engage with people throughout your life and your brain will thank you for it. Teaching others is also a good way to keep your mind active and your thoughts clear. Research suggests that reading materials out loud significantly improves memory of the material. Educators and psychologists have also discovered that having students actually teach new concepts to others enhances understanding and recall. In the same way, if you make it your business to pass on your knowledge to someone else, it reinforces your knowledge and also keeps you focused as you try to make sure you dispense the right information. Most memory loss occurs naturally with aging. Hence, reducing the effects of aging limits decreases in brain activ-
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ity. Diet can be very important to limiting brain aging. A diet rich in antioxidants can do wonders for you. Vitamins C and E, as well as magnesium and zinc, are all antioxidants. Try a diet high in a wide variety of vegetables, as well as wine and chocolate in moderation. Another tip for getting your brain in gear is to exercise. You may wonder what sort of physical exercise one can possibly do to develop the brain. After all, the brain isn’t even a muscle. It should be noted that normal physical exercise can help stimulate and promote brain function. Exercise not only keeps your body fit and your heart healthy, it improves mental functioning. Exercise releases endorphins and hormones which enhance memory and improve thinking. In short, exercising your body makes your brain work better. Reducing or completely abstaining from alcohol and drug intake can significantly change your mind’s capacity to store, interpret and regurgitate information. Smoking, drinking and other forms of drug abuse damage brain cells. Unfortunately brain cells do not reproduce and once they are lost, they are gone forever. This leads to other debilitating effects on the entire body as the brain controls the nervous system. Even before that, memory and cognition are affected.
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Gym Etiquette
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he gym is the perfect place to be if you want to get fit, but it can be a nightmare experience for those who have to deal with people who don’t practice proper gym etiquette. Read on to see what we mean. Always have a towel with you while you’re training - ‘where’s your towel? Oh, it’s back at your house? Then that’s where you should be too.’ You need to bring a towel to the gym, and you need to wipe your benches down after you’re done with them. Allow people that are lifting to have some space to get it done - the last thing that a guy who’s grinding out his 15th rep under the squat bar needs to have messing up his concentration, is you squeezing past his moving bar in order to get some plates. Wait for him to finish. Don’t ogle other members - both men and women. Guys, particularly younger guys, are just as guilty of ogling that big
dude with an amazing body, as they are for ogling that hot chick wearing yoga pants. I know, those pants are amazing, but generally people aren’t comfortable with you staring at their backside. Learn to share - Don’t hog the equipment for yourself. If you’re in the middle of a circuit but taking a short break, let others slip in between sets to save time. Don’t leave your towel on the machine and walk away expecting the machine to still be available when you return. Everyone has a right to use the equipment, not just you. If you take something out, put it away - Have you just finished using a set of free weights? Then put them away. Leaving dumbbells, bands, exercise balls and other equipment on the floor is a tripping hazard and makes it difficult for other members to find the equipment they need. Don’t drop the weights when you’re done either—it’s loud and very distracting for others around you.
GARAGE
PETS
Alternate Uses Rabbit Care FAQ’s For Your Garage
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arages aren’t just for cars anymore. In fact, many people hardly even have cars in their garages. It doubles as a tool shed or storage room most times. However, a garage can be used for other things as well. Here are some ways to maximize your garage’s worth. Bring the Gym Home People today are making an honest effort to lead healthier lifestyles. Unfortunately, a membership at a gym is not always within the budget. So why not convert the garage into a private gym? If you have an open garage like most Trinis, consider enclosing it. You can even use see through screens so you can jog in the privacy of a home gym while enjoying the great outdoors. The Man Cave There is no place better for the ideal “Man Cave” than the garage. After all, it gives the man a place he and his friends can get together and have fun without worrying about making messes or bothering anyone else. More to the point, a “Man Cave” is a place a man can retreat and
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have his version of that all-important “me” time. The Home Office For those who are self-employed, a garage makes for the ideal home office since it somewhat apart from the living area and the home atmosphere will not enter the workplace. Just make sure you have access to your home necessities including wifi, a printer, and a desk. A mini fridge with drinks can also help relieve some stress while trying to make deadlines. Teenager hang out It’s nice to be the house where the teens hang around, because you can keep half an eye on what’s going on. On the other hand, having a bunch of rowdy guys and gals in your house can give you a headache. Have your kids set up an extra television and a video game console in the garage and let them use one of your garage cabinets for bags of chips and bottles of soda. If your teens enjoy making music, you could store the drum set and speakers out there, too. This allows them to have their fun without making too much noise in the living areas of the house.
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A
re you new to the rabbit care experience? If so, you may probably be looking for the answer to one of these questions. Where Should I Put my Rabbit?
Every rabbit owner should know that the safest place for a rabbit to live is indoors. Rabbits should never be kept outdoors! Domestic rabbits are different from their wild relatives—they do not tolerate extreme temperatures well, especially in the hot summer months. Even in a safe enclosure, rabbits are at risk from predators. Merely the sight or sound of a nearby wild animal can cause rabbits so much stress that they can suffer a heart attack and literally die of fear. Should I Clip Its Nails?
Make sure you trim your rabbit's nails often. House rabbits, especially, get nails that grow very fast as they aren't able to wear them down. This is very unhealthy for a rabbit as it can cause feet problems, so make sure you check your
rabbit's nails at least once a month and snip them slightly with small nail clippers if they're getting too long. How do I feed it?
Taking care of your pet rabbit correctly means being concerned with how well your rabbit eats. An average sized rabbit should eat three quarters of a cup of rabbit pellets every day, plus at least 5 or 6 types of chopped up vegetables. The selection may include kale, carrots, cilantro, celery (especially the leaves, which they love), basil, parsley etc. You can also add treats to the rabbit’s diet. Try giving it a couple pieces of banana every other day. Just make sure you don't give them too much of it as they will get fat and be less healthy.
TRAVEL
Travel For Shopaholics
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here are myriad reasons why people travel. Family visits and business usually tend to top the list of reasons for this. However, those of us who can afford it go country hopping with one thing in mind – shopping. Sure, the streets of Port – of – Spain are rife with all sorts of products these days, but everyone knows there is only so much any shopper in any country can acquire in their home country at any particular time. The best bet is to shop online or go to the source. Going to the source is always recommended because you always know what you are getting and nothing beats the experience of shopping overseas – trust me. Here are some of the best Travel destinations in the World. Bangkok Bangkok is renowned as one of the best shopping cities in Asia and it’s surely worth the trip, if only for some superb retail therapy on the way to the beaches of Phuket or the cultural temples of Chiang Mai. High quality silk, jewelry, and traditional crafts – everything, really, from sizeable bling to tailor-made suits – at a fraction of western prices draw millions to this Thai capital every year. The city’s several chaotic markets, and especially the 35-acre Chatuchak Market, are bona fide treasure troves,
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Side attracts fashionable young things to its exclusive shops; and bargain-hunters fight over cut-rate designer fashions at the discount mecca of Century 21. It would also be remiss not to mention that Brooklyn is part of New York, which houses the infamous urban shopping districts of Flatbush Avenue and Church Street (Land of the hustlers).
whether you’re scouting for clothing, home goods, or art, or live roosters, pythons, and even multi-colored chicks.
and more, and stop at the venerable Harrods – at least to buy a shopping tote to carry everything home in
London Whether you choose to shop the trendy boutiques of Covent Garden, follow in the steps of princesses by visiting Sloane Street, or pick up a bespoke suit on Saville Row or tailored shirt on Jermyn Street, you’re bound to shed a few pounds (of the monetary variety) when shopping in London. That said, you’ll save a few quid by visiting the stalls of Camden Market, the shops of Oxford Street, where Selfridges and Topshop maintain addresses, and Portobello Market, a haven for antiques and hand-me-down treasures. But also don’t forget to stock up on foodie treats at Fortnum and Mason, a veritable gourmand’s delight of beautifully presented teas, biscuits, cheeses,
New York From high-priced designer fashions to discount chic, and from electronics to rare books, New York City has it all, from the exclusive boutiques of Madison Avenue to the knock-off stalls along Canal Street. Manhattan’s mega-stores, like Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Macy's (which bills itself as the world's largest department store) offer the utmost in one-stop shopping. But more personal shopping experiences await in NoLita and SoHo, where big-name boutiques mix with one-of-a-kind shops and high-end street vendors. Chelsea, meanwhile, is the go-to spot for original art works (at a hefty sum); the Lower East
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Paris The creativity that goes into Parisian window displays – whether to front a high-fashion house or a neighborhood chocolatier – is unmatched anywhere in the world, and reflects the locals’ philosophy that shopping should be seen as a pleasure, not a chore. One of the best neighborhoods to experience this attitude is the Marais, where a medieval maze of streets harbors trend-setting boutiques, shops, and galleries near the Place des Vosges. But you also shouldn’t miss the 8th arrondissement, and the international haute-couture labels along two streets in particular – the famed rue du Faubourg StHonoré and avenue Montaigne – though you’ll spend fewer euros at the city’s grand magasins (department stores); two local favorites, the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, are found side by side on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th.
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