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LIVING QUARTERS
Using Mirrors In Your Décor
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ne of the most underrated decorating accessories in a home is the mirror. It is great for its functionality and it also helps in the aesthetic department as it can be used much like art. Here is a bit about how mirrors can benefit your décor. Bring Out boldness Mirrors are a great way to add dramatic effect to a space. Fullsize floor mirrors can make a dramatic statement in a small space. Using a framed, full-size mirror placed on the floor and resting on the wall can become an incredible asset in many ways in a bedroom, living room and even at the end of a hallway. Add Size Mirrors are the cheapest and easiest way to add space to a
room without breaking down a wall or throwing away your furniture. It doesn’t really add space, but it gives the illusion that your space is doubled. Lighten Up In a room with a window a wellplaced mirror can reflect external light and brighten up your space. You get real light instead of the artificial light produced
by coloured bulbs saves you big bucks on your energy bill. Unconventional Mirror Tip Place an inexpensive fulllength mirror (the kind you attach to a closet door) atop the dining-room table to give your centerpiece a boost. Set vases of various heights and forms― some with, some without flowers―on the mirror.
5 Reasons To Filter
Through Flood Season
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ater filters in the kitchen aids in cleaning the water that comes through our pipes. Now, with the rainy season upon us, water cannot be treated as effectively and even more precautions need to be taken with our pipe-borne supply. Clean, filtered water protects the body from disease and leads to overall greater health. The home water filter alternative is far better, more economical and convenient way of getting clean water. Here are 10 benefits of using water filters in the kitchen.
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The distinct taste of chlorine which is present in pipe water is removed by using a water filter. Water filters provide us
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No bottled water means less expense on the family budget. The price of a bottle of water is almost the same as the price of a soda. Think of how much money you can save just by having a water filter in the kitchen.
4 with better tasting and better smelling water by removing the chlorine.
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Go green by having a water filter placed in your kitchen. Water filters reduces the need to buy bottled water, one filter can replace hundreds of plastic bottles which are hard to dispose of. w w w . a b s tr a c th o m e . c o m
When using bottled water for cooking most people buy the extra large bottles which are usually hard to lift and store. With a water filter you will have water for cooking at the convenience of your taps.
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Water filters greatly reduce the risk of rectal cancer, colon cancer, and bladder cancer by removing chlorine and chlorine byproducts from drinking water.
AUGUST 2013
ABSTRACT HOME
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LIVING QUARTERS
Soil Conservation Practices
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oil erosion can be a threat to your livelihood if you garden and also your life if your home is on unstable ground. Therefore, proper conservation of soil is necessary in order to protect yourself and your land. Even the casual farmer can benefit from soil conservation as well taken care of soil will also produce better yields. This is how you do it. Plant Trees: We all know that roots of trees firmly hold on to the soil. As trees grow tall, they also keep rooting deeper into the soil. As the roots of trees spread deep into the layers of soil, they hold it tightly, thus preventing soil erosion. Soil under a vegetative cover is saved from erosion due to wind as this cover acts as a wind barrier.
plowing also helps in percolation of water in the soil.
No-till Farming: The process of preparing soil for plowing is known as tilling. No-till farming is a way of growing crops without disturbing it through tillage. The process of tilling is beneficial in mixing fertilizers in the soil, making rows and preparing the surface for sowing. But the tilling activity can lead to compaction of soil, loss of organic matter in the soil and the death of soil organisms. Notill farming is a way to prevent the soil from this harm.
Build Terraces: Terracing is a very good method of soil conservation. A terrace is a leveled section of a hilly cultivated area. Owing to its unique structure, Contour Plowing: This pracit prevents rapid surface run- tice of farming on slopes takes off of water. Terracing gives the into account the slope gradient landmass a stepped appearance, and the elevation of soil along thus slowing the washing down the slope. It is the method of of soil. Dry stonewalling is a plowing across the contour lines method used to create terraces of a slope. This method helps in which stone structures are in slowing the water runoff and made without using mortar for prevents soil from being washed away along the slope. Contour binding. ABSTRACT HOME AUGUST 2013 w w w . a b st r a ct h o m e . c o m 2
Crop Rotation: Some pathogens tend to build up in soil if the same crops are cultivated again and again. Continuous cultivation of the same crop also leads to imbalance in the fertility demands of the soil. To save the soil from these adverse effects, crop rotation is practiced. It is a method of growing a series of dissimilar crops in an area. Crop rotation also helps in the improvement of soil structure and fertility. Maintain Soil pH: The contamination of soil by addition of acidic or basic pollutants and due to acid rains has an adverse effect on the soil pH. Soil pH is an indicator of the level of nutrients in soil. The uptake of nutrients by plants also depends on the pH of soil. Maintaining the correct value of soil pH, is thus essential for soil conservation. Water the Soil: We water plants, we water the crops, but do we water the soil? We seldom do. Watering soil is a good measure of soil conservation. Watering the soil along with plants growing in it is a way to prevent soil erosion caused by wind.
Salinity Management: The salinity of soil increases due to excessive accumulation of salts in the soil. This has a negative effect on the metabolism of crops. The salinity of soil is detrimental to the vegetative life in it. The death of vegetation leads to soil erosion. Hence, salinity management is an indirect way of conserving soil. Promote Helpful Soil Organisms: Nitrogen-fixing and denitrifying bacteria are important constituents of the nitrogen cycle. They live in soil. Bacteria and fungi help keep the soil healthy. Organisms like earthworms help decompose organic material in the soil. They aid soil aeration and help it maintain porosity. Rodents too, help soil the same way. This increases the absorbing capacity of soil. Earthworms, through aeration of soil, enhance the availability of macronutrients. These helpful organisms boost soil fertility and help in soil conservation. Grow Indigenous Crops: Planting native crops is beneficial for soil conservation. If non-native plants are grown, fields should be bordered by indigenous crops to prevent soil erosion, thus achieving soil conservation.
LIVING QUARTERS
Choosing An Appropriate Clock
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locks are a functional aspect of this fast-paced world; but they can also add aesthetic quality to your home. Here are some tips to choosing a clock. Pick a statement-making clock. When you want to make a great impression on guests, friends and family who come to your home, decorative clocks hung in your entryway or living room will do the trick. Large rustic wall clocks with large numerals and faces will complement a shabby chic decor, while modern clocks with floating numbers and a monochromatic color scheme will look great in a living room decorated with angular chairs and simple furniture. Make sure that the decorative clocks you choose don't overwhelm your other home accessories.
An oversized retro clock will look best on an empty wall uncluttered with other art pieces or photographs. Choose table clocks for a cozier setting. Make friends feel at home when you add a few table clocks to your fam-
ily room or even your dining room. A boring side table gets new life from a funky round table clock, and glass table clocks can add elegance to even the most laid-back room. Of course, these clocks don't have to be limited to tables; place your favorite traditional or retro clock on a floating shelf for an interesting look. These small timepieces can also dress up benches and shelves in the hallway or add a unique touch to a bathroom cabinet. Don't forget about your fireplace, either; a wooden mantel clock with Roman numerals and a pendulum can give your family room an old-fashioned feeling. You can also display a mantel clock in a hutch or curio if you don't have a fireplace. Buy atomic clocks for precise time. Never be late for
an appointment again when you mount atomic clocks in your kitchen or another hightraffic room. Considered to be among the most accurate timepieces, atomic clocks are used for GPS navigation and Internet synchronization, too. Many of these modern clocks can also be used both indoors and outdoors. Put digital clocks in your bedroom. When it's important to be on time for work or school, you'll want to place digital clocks where you can easily see them. Look for styles that include radio alarms so you're sure to wake up, or buy digital alarm clocks with an MP3 dock so you can set up custom playlists for a wakeup call. Digital clocks with bright displays are especially helpful in the early morning hours.
Homemade Furniture
Polish Made Easy W ith the inflated prices of almost every household item in the store it really makes little sense to wantonly for a product that you can make a better version of at home for much less money. One such thing is furniture polish. Bring back the luster to your wonderful wood pieces with just three ingredients that can easily be found in many kitchens. This easy homemade furniture polish transforms dull furniture into wellpolished pieces. Ingredients: • Olive oil • Water • Lemon juice 4
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of furniture and give it a good buff. The olive oil leaves furniture with a glossy shine, while the fresh scent of the lemon juice (which so many conventional cleaners try to replicate) lingers in the air. The fake scents in conventional cleaners just can’t compete with the real stuff.
Directions: 1. Blend 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon water and a squeeze or two of lemon juice in a small bowl. 2. Place a small amount of the mixture on a soft cloth. 3. Wipe the polish onto a piece
Make the mixture as you go, so as to create less waste. You don’t want to leave this mixture sitting around because it will probably go bad before you use it again. This recipe works well on both metal and wood furniture. It only takes small dabs as a little goes a long way.
LIVING QUARTERS
Tech Upgrades Your Home Should Not Pass Up
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e are not cavemen and we should not live like them. We are far more advanced and our evolution has allowed us the ability to enjoy the fruits of innovation and enterprise. Everyone is affected by technology in some way, but people should not just be affected. We must seek to h the barriers of technology and its uses. In the home is a great place to start. Here are some upgrades you should consider as long as your pocket permits. Wall-Mounted Television Instead of having televisions seek center stage in a room, many newer wall-mounted televisions are designed to fade into the woodwork – literally. When you’re not using the television, perhaps a mirror or a painting covers the screen. When it’s time to watch something, slide the mirror or painting away and out pops the screen. This could be ideal on a focal wall of the living room where you don’t want the television to dominate your décor. Lighting Forget the days of manually flipping switches and turning 6
property while you’re halfway around the world.
on table lamps. Instead, special lighting designers can create a lighting solution for virtually any need. From task lighting to setting an enjoyable mood, the lights in your home have a design that fits your needs and wants. LED lighting is an increasingly popular interior lighting option that provides both task and mood lighting, built into furniture, walls, ceilings and floors. You could even set your lighting so it pulsates with music. Keyless Entry Toss that jumbled set of house keys that you fumble with every time you need to let yourself in the house. Instead, a fingerprint system will scan and compare your own unique prints and unlock your doors for you. Couple the fingerprint with an
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additional code for even greater security. Keyless entry systems are ideal not only for exterior entrances and exits, but also for a home office, master suite or other area in the home that you want to keep secure. Home Security A home security camera panning your landscape might not sound like anything new, but home security options have advance exponentially in recent years. Consider elaborate systems with numerous cameras trained on various spots in and around your home. These cameras will record important footage, enabling you to play back the recordings whenever necessary. Not only this, but you might opt for real-time monitoring of your home and
Central Control Stations Why not control appliances, lights, computers, gadgets, electronics and heating and cooling from one central spot? With the push of a button or the slide of a switch, you can turn down the lights upstairs in the kids’ room, turn down the burner downstairs on the stove or adjust the air conditioner down a degree or two. Save your time and energy for more important pursuits. Whole House Surge Protection When your house utilizes a variety of different electric and electronic equipment, a surge could be devastating. Not only computers, but appliances, exercise equipment and lighting often have built-in electronic circuitry that can experience costly damage from a voltage surge. Sure, you could use surge protection strips to plug in your appliances, but why not protect your entire home? With whole house surge protection installed directly at the electrical panel, surges stop before they even enter your home.
home office
4 Detrimental Office Habits You Shouldn’t Ignore
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ou have a job. Great! Thank the Lord! If you want to keep the job, just make sure that you do your part in addition to thanking the Lord. Doing your part entails making sure that you do not engage in these bad office habits.
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Phones: It is a bad habit to always leave your office door open and use your speaker phone. Close your door and do not disturb your colleagues. As well, using a speaker phone at full volume to go through your voice mailbox is the definition of annoying. If you are in an open office, do not use a speaker phone; instead, book an office for your meetings. It’s also bad habit to always leave your personal mobile phone to ring on loud volume in an open office. Checking your personal phone during a chat with anyone is another bad habit.
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Eating: It’s ok to bring your lunch in and eat in the office, but remember
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not to bring in any smelly food. You really don’t want to stink up the office especially if the windows aren’t opened. If you have to, then find a separate office or a free area to eat it. Don’t microwave smelly food in the lunch room either. In addition, if you can’t close your mouth when you chew, you are better off eating where the noise emanating from your mouth isn’t going to irritate anyone. Also, if you have to constantly belch loudly after drinking your can of Coke, find somewhere else to do this.
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Music: If you are in an office where you are allowed to listen to music while you work, then using your Mp3 player or iPod with a pair of cheap, leaky ear bud plugs is not cool! Why? Those near you might not be fans of your old Spice Girls’ tracks. Not only that, your pirated bass less tin tunes might be disturbing your colleagues sitting near your desk. It is best to always turn the volume down or ask your colleagues if your ear bud plugs are leaking.
Hygiene: This is a major bad habit in the workplace. If you are not a fan of morning showers, baths, shower gels or soap, when you notice that your colleagues are constantly stepping away or moving away from you, it might be time for you to hit the shower hard! People are super polite so they might not tell you outright that you smell. Perhaps you may want to consider visiting the shower daily. In addition, constantly picking your nose in front of everyone is off putting, don’t make it a habit. If you wear the best and most expensive suit, but have a terrible case of unkempt hair oozing dandruff flakes onto your shoulders or flying everywhere, you’ll give a bad impression. It not a great look either if your shirt is soaking wet in your armpit areas, trust me, people see these things. As crazy as it sounds, everything on the grooming list – smell, clean teeth, facial hair, fingernails, haircuts and oral hygiene do matter.
elegant ideas
Mixed And Matched Magic
The red brick accents mesh beautifully with the rich wood in this kitchen/dining room w w w . a b s tr a c th o m e . c o m
AUGUST 2013
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elegant ideas
Don’t be drab. Couple your tile colours to avoid the monotony
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elegant ideas
A splash of furniture colour in the mini hutch and removable seat cushions update this basic room
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AUGUST 2013
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elegant ideas
A small skylight gives this dark and palatial master suite a more relatable feel
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elegant ideas
A well puttogether bedroom is enhanced by the right mix of accessories w w w . a b s tr a c th o m e . c o m
AUGUST 2013
ABSTRACT HOME
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KITCHEN
Preventing Food Wastage
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imes are hard and money does not grow on trees. Therefore, wasting food is not something that should be taken lightly. It is inconsiderate and also extremely expensive. With that said, measures should be taken to save food from being wasted. Here are some of them. Create a plan Meal planning is a critical step to help you spend less and waste less. When you know what you're going to eat today, tomorrow and this coming weekend, you will only purchase the foods you need at the store, preventing you from buying foods on a whim only to have them spoil before you eat them. Creating the plan isn't enough—you must stick to it if it's going to work. Setting your sights for making chili next weekend is great, but when you lose track of time during the week and let the veggies wilt, you are throwing away more than spoiled food; you're wasting your money, too. Stay on top of your planned meal schedule by keeping a calendar on the fridge to remember what’s on the menu each day. When plan16
ning, account for all the foods you have to buy and creatively use them throughout the week. Use that eight-pack of wholewheat hamburger buns for a cookout one night and tuna sandwiches for lunch the next day, for example.
fort to eat the remainder (for instance, pack it in your lunch bag and leave a note reminding yourself to take it to work). When you pinpoint why and what you toss, you can make changes to your behavior.
Shop More Often If you do one sweeping shopping trip per week, your fruits and veggies will go bad long before you have a chance to eat them. Try supplementing your major weekly shop with a couple of small trips to restock produce.
Reorganize the Fridge Keep an orderly fridge, and you won't push ingredients to the back and forget them. Knowing what you have is more important than you think. In addition to cleaning out the fridge once a week, keep leftovers as well as odds and ends (half-eaten onions or sweet potatoes) in sight. Store them in clear plastic containers and then place them in the front upside down, since it's easier to see the contents.
Watch Your Trash For one week, take note of what's in your trash. Don't just look at it, but analyze everything that goes in the bin or down the disposal. (If you're really serious, you might jot down your observations in a notebook.) Then adjust your habits. If you threw away half a box of stale cereal, either buy a smaller box or store cereal in an airtight container immediately after opening. If week-old leftovers are still taking up real estate, prepare less next time or make a more conscious ef-
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Take Smaller Portions Before you dish out another restaurant-sized portion at home, ask yourself if you really will finish what's on your plate (or, for that matter, if you should). Since it's unlikely you'll save that piece of nibbled-on casserole, stick to smaller portions; you can always get seconds.
Organize by freshness Adopt a "first in first out" system in the refrigerator and pantry. Place older foods in front so you use them more quickly, and store newer, fresher ones in back. Or create an "eat me first" box or basket for quick-to-expire ingredients and foods. Keep a healthy fridge Check that the seals on your fridge are good and check the fridge temperature too. Food needs to be stored between 1 and 5 degrees Celsius for maximum freshness and longevity. Turn it into garden food Some food waste is unavoidable, so why not set up a compost bin for fruit and vegetable peelings? In a few months you will end up with rich, valuable compost for your plants. If you have cooked food waste, then a kitchen composter (bokashi bin) will do the trick. Just feed it with your scraps (you can even put fish and meat in it), sprinkle over a layer of special microbes and leave to ferment. The resulting product can be used on houseplants and in the garden.
RECIPES
C
Fuel Your Citrus Rush
are for something fruity without having to eat full-fledged fruit? If so, citrus might be just the thing you crave. Not only is citrus great for digestion and gives you high levels of Vitamin C, but it can add a special kick to your recipes as well. Enjoy these examples!
Lemon Yogurt Muffins Ingredients 1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened 3/4 cup white sugar 2 eggs 3/4 cup lemon flavored yogurt 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, or to taste 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, or to taste 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar 2 teaspoons lemon juice Directions Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin tins, or line with paper liners. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the lemon 18
yogurt, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg; stir into the lemon mixture until just blended. Spoon batter into the prepared tins. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top springs back when lightly touched. Allow the muffins to cool for about 15 minutes before removing them from the pan. Place the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl. Stir in the lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon at a time until the mixture is drizzling consistency. Drizzle over cooled muffins, and allow the icing to set before serving.
Spicy Lime Chicken Ingredients 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1/8 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/8 teaspoon onion powder 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves 2 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons garlic powder 3 tablespoons lime juice Directions In a small bowl, mix together
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salt, black pepper, cayenne, paprika, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, onion powder, thyme and parsley. Sprinkle spice mixture generously on both sides of chicken breasts. Heat butter and olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. SautĂŠ chicken until golden brown, about 6 minutes on each side. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons garlic powder and lime juice. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently to coat evenly with sauce.
Cover and let rise until doubled, punch dough down and if you like, let it rise again. Divide dough into 3 balls, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Make into braids or buns and rise once more. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) 10 - 12 minutes or until done. You may frost your braids or buns with an orange icing and sprinkle some nuts on top.
Grapefruit and Avocado Salad
Orange Buns Ingredients 2 tablespoons active dry yeast 1 teaspoon white sugar 1/4 cup margarine 1 cup milk 1 cup orange juice 2 eggs 1 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon orange zest 1/2 cup white sugar 6 cups bread flour Directions Proof the yeast. Scald the milk, add butter, sugar and salt to it. When it is luke warm add the yeast to it. Mix well, add about 2 cups of flour and beat well. Add eggs, orange juice and orange peel. Add flour mixing well after each addition, until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl. Knead for about 10 minutes.
Ingredients 4 large red grapefruit, peeled and sectioned 4 avocados - peeled, pitted, and sliced 1/3 cup orange juice 1/3 cup olive oil 3 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons honey Salt and cracked black pepper to taste Directions Arrange the grapefruit sections and avocado slices attractively in a shallow serving dish. In a bowl, whisk together the orange juice, olive oil, lime juice, and honey until well combined; drizzle the dressing over the grapefruit and avocado slices. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve immediately.
BRIDAL
Keeping Your Faith Covenant
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eeping your marital vows can be trying with all of the temptation around. However, a vow is a vow and should be considered sacred. It sounds straightforward, but a large number of people cheat for several different reasons. If you think you might fall victim to temptation at some point and you need help fighting those urges, this article may just help you out. The first key to staying faithful is to communicate often. You’ll both be better for it. Daily phone calls, texts or emails can make the other person feel closer while they are away at work or doing other daily duties that keep you apart. Touching base reminds you why you love this person and would never want to hurt him by not staying faithful in the relationship. Surprise packages that include sexy lingerie and promises to “wear this next time we meet” can also keep the flames and faithfulness alive. Secondly, learn to accept the fact that you’re no longer single. Because you are already married, you have a responsibility not common when you are still single. Now, you have a partner who you are committed to take care of and to 20
be concerned with. Definitely, this is an excellent step to staying faithful. Do not put yourself in the position of being alone with the opposite sex. This can lead to the act of being unfaithful, without much thought or action. It will also put doubt into your spouse’s mind, should he/she find out. I suppose you have heard the old saying; "What is good for the goose is good for the gander!" well this can apply to cheating. He/she may decide to get even, should they doubt. Also, don’t drink or use drugs around the opposite sex. This goes for more than just being faithful. It is a rule that can be applied to prevent a host of foul ups. Drinking alcohol or using drugs with the opposite sex is one of the quickest roads to infidelity because it lowers your inhibitions. Even having a cocktail at a business lunch can lead to more intimate conversations and inappropriate behavior. Drinking can lead to a person becoming comfortable enough to open up to another person. When you share too much personal information with the opposite sex, it develops false trust and shows your vulnerability (which can be sexually appealing).
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With that said, you should put positive effort into your relationship daily. It doesn’t matter if you give your partner an extra hug or put the dishes away, the fact that you are doing something small to show you care on a regular basis can make all the difference and may prevent your partner from seeking attention elsewhere. Apart from those little things, invest some time into being a bit wilder. Stay sexually creative and add spice to your sex life. It takes effort to keep the fire lit in the bedroom after you’ve been together for a while. Be adventurous and think outside the box. As long as you are both comfortable with it, there’s no harm done. Couples who have a happy sex life are much less likely to cheat. Consider that several personal problems have the potential to cause one to cheat. It is important not to look for a quick fix. In these harsh recessionary times, finance is a common reason people are led to cheat. Getting laid off from a job or trying to deal with financial problems can lead to a diminished self-image. In turn, that can lead to seeking out a quick fix to boost one's self-esteem. An affair might
temporarily provide that initial boost, but the rush can obscure larger issues of disappointment or dissatisfaction that lurk beneath the surface. Another good way to stay faithful is to think about the endless consequences. As the law of physics suggests, “In every action, there is an equal or stronger reaction.” As you become unfaithful, different and endless consequences will arise. Your wife will leave you and take your children away with her. The children will definitely suffer. They will be confused and bothered physically and emotionally. Whatever consequences you envisage, they will always be bad, bad to you, to your spouse, to your kids and to everyone who is part of your relationship and marriage. Finally, recognize the affair as a symptom of something larger. If it isn't already clear, the temptation to cheat is a symptom of a larger problem. This may be a lack of communication, financial pressures, or stress related to child rearing. Whatever it is, try to identify and address the root cause long before you find yourself in a compromised situation or having to explain the indiscretion to your partner.
FAMILY
Find Your Happy Place
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t has been said more than a few times that a happy people are a healthy people. However, more and more each day we witness alarming increases in health related problems. Our hospitals remain filled and undertaking seems to be the biggest business these days. Well if there is any truth to the aforementioned adage, why don’t we just get with the program and start smiling? That is because one cannot force happiness on one’s self. Being happy is habitual. Here are some of the ways you can acquire these happiness traits. The first step toward becoming a happier person is similar to the first step in overcoming any obstacle. Eradicate denial. Stop denying that you are unhappy. Do not fool yourself into thinking you are genuinely happy when you obviously aren’t. We are all happy at times and we all face moments of despair. However, if you feel the need to be happier it probably means you are feeling a bit too much despair in your life. Once you can identify that, then you can make the conscious decision to be happier. Now that your mind has
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made the change, it is time for a spiritual overhaul. A person who is at one with his spirit will be at peace with himself. Peace and tranquility can be the equivalent of happiness. Use meditation, religion, yoga or whatever it takes as your spiritual centre. When you are focused on your inner self you are better able to cope with any challenge which threatens to deflate your motivation. Similarly, a healthy and fit body helps to create a happy body as well. Image issues and illness are the root causes of numerous self hate issues. Self hatred breeds hatred of others. Take the extra time to eat healthy and work out so as to keep your body in prime shape. The self confidence boost to be gained from your well-kept image will keep you happier than usual. The next step toward being habitually happy is to make genuine goodness your goal. This means that you should focus on doing good things and these things will in turn make you feel good. Become a person enshrined in morality and strong values, beliefs and ideals. Continue to try to do your best
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to meet your ideals and moral goals. Your focus will always be on the light ahead in the tunnel and not the gloom behind. Attaining total emotional independence is a good way to stay sunny side up. Never let anyone control your feelings. Do not give people the power or position of dominance over you. This does not mean you should tell off your boss because he is your superior in the work place. However, it does mean recognizing that as a human being no one is superior to you. A major component in being happier is being able to define true happiness. Know the things that are required to make you happy and do not let material things which may fade influence your inner bliss. Success should not equate to happiness, but instead be part of what makes you happy. A lot of successful people are not happy for a host of reasons. One you have achieved that milestone of success, you may still be disappointed. There is a bigger picture to all of our lives. Ask different people who are genuinely happy about their lives and they will all have one
thing in common. They have in them love. Love is more than just an experience we go through, but the basis for all happiness. The more you love something is the better you will do at it. Relationships fail without love. Without love for your job it becomes stressful. Deciding to love should be a conscious decision we all make in our lives. The last tip for finding the path to happiness is deciding not to dwell on despair. Misery and mourning are parts of life, but instead of letting it engulf you, be sure to march your way out of it. Let unhappiness drive you toward a better tomorrow. Misery is normally a sign that something needs to change in your life. When we mourn or feel miserable we are actually feeling that way because we are subconsciously looking in the mirror. Our mirror image should shine through whatever is causing us pain. Use misery as motivation for happiness and stop sulking. Now that we know the steps for being happier, start to tread the path to joy. You will find your journey to be filled with smiles.
WARDROBE
POWDER ROOM
Eight Tips To Choosing The Right Body Lotion
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sing a body lotion and cream on your skin is probably one of the best ways to keep it healthy. Especially since they help moisturize, nourish, hydrate and revitalize the skin. But one type might or might not suit the other skin types. Hence picking up of the right body lotion and choosing a body cream is necessary, especially in terms of the skin texture, tone and type.
Consider these points while choosing a body lotion or cream for you.
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Understand your skin type, whether it is normal skin, oily or dry type. There is a simple way to tell. Use a tissue on your skin about 3 or 4 hours after your shower. If you see oils on it then you have oily skin but if your dry seems dull and a little cracked, then you have dry skin. If you are unsure, make sure you seek help from specialists or dermatologists.
2
Avoid buying moisturizers and creams that contain dyes, as they are harmful chemicals that possibly could damage the skin. So ingredients in such creams can also allergies and
bad reactions in some people. It is best to conduct a patch test before use.
3
Herbal products are always a good option because they don’t have any side effects. They do take longer to show the results but the results are definitely guarenteed!
4
If you have a problem of stretch marks or cellulite, then go for a product that features cocoa or Shea butter as is main ingredient.
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If your skin is sun burnt, opt for products that contain Aloe Vera.
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Body lotions and body creams are not the same. While body creams are richer in their ingredients to keep your skin hydrated, lotions go well with dry skin especially during winters.
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Fragrance like of rose, sandal etc. would help hydrate your skin while offering you pleasant fragrance.
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Night creams hydrate your skin and make it soft while you are asleep.
Leggings
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hether you love or loathe them, leggings are everywhere this year, from highstreet to high-end designer labels. We know leggings are almost forbidden for women over 40, but Kris Jenner proved it can be done if done properly. They (leggings), have long been the domain of the slenderin-leg and slight-of-frame and for those women the right-side of 30! Undeniably, leggings are not the most flattering when it comes to fashion. They can show every bulge and cling in all the wrong places. They can accentuate chunky thighs and knobby knees. With no pockets, stitching or firm material to hide the lumps and bumps, leggings can be as cruel as they are fashionable. Two Things to consider before wearing leggings: 1) Does the top compliment your shape? If you are wider on the bottom, you DO NOT want form fitting short tops. Choose a top that has wider shoulders and hits mid hip; this w w w . a b s tr a c th o m e . c o m
will help to balance you out. 2) Do you need to CYA (cover your assets)? When leggings are too sheer and too short, people are likely to see more of you than you’d like. Make sure you chose leggings with the right opacity. Legging Lengths Knee length: These leggings require lean calves and a good eye for proportion. The top that's paired with them should end around mid-thigh. High heels will help stretch the silhouette. Mid-calf length: This is the easiest to wear because the wearer can help control what is highlighted and what is hidden depending on the top she chooses. Wherever the top ends, be it a miniskirt or kneelength dress, that's where the eyes of passers-by will land. Ankle length: Wear these like tights. The "maxi length" shows off nice ankles, especially when worn with an unfussy shoe with a medium heel.
AUGUST 2013
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MEDICINE CABINET
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Alzheimer’s Disease
lzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia among older people worldwide. AD destroys brain cells, and this causes problems with memory, thinking and produces behavior severe enough to affect functional aspects of living from daily activities such as work to hobbies to your social life. AD is not a discriminatory illness. Elderly people of any ethnic background can be susceptible to the disease. Celebrities such as boxer Sugar Ray Robinson and thespians Charlton Heston and Rita Hayworth have been afflicted by AD. However, studies suggest that people of Pakistani, Sri Lankan or African Caribbean ethnic background are more at risk of getting Alzheimer’s. It is important to note that Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease which is fatal. As of now there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. There is no known single cause for the onset of AD. Instead, myriad factors may contribute to affecting a person and leading them to Alzheimer’s. The most important known risk factor is age. It has been reported that the number of people with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. Genetics may also present itself as a strong risk factor. Early onset AD is indeed hereditary making it easy to distinguish some sort of genetic trait in the more common late onset version of AD. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s include confusion, language difficulties, personality changes, mood swings, short term 24
home gym
memory loss as well as problems with attention and spatial orientation. These symptoms are not all easily recognizable at once. AD symptoms begin slowly. Age related memory change is usually confused with AD in its early stages. However, the disease usually requires medical help as it progresses since ordinary tasks become more difficult to complete. People experiencing the middle stages of AD may forget how to do simple tasks like brushing their teeth or combing their hair. Later on they may become easily excited or aggressive and may not recognize the most familiar of faces. Some people have even been known to wander from home and not know their way back. Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is best done early. Hopefully, families or friends can work in tandem with someone who has Alzheimer’s in deciding proper care for the patient if diagnosis takes place in time. In addition, treatments currently available for Alzheimer's - while limited in their effectiveness and in the number of people they help have the best chance of working when begun early in the disease. Testing for AD may include: • A physical exam which includes tests of blood, urine, or spinal fluid, and brain scans. • Cognitive tests including evaluations of hearing and sight. • A review of the person’s medical history and family medical history.
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Increase Your Gym Efficiency
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veryone is on some kind of time constraint these days with work, family time, and friends so it is important to know how to maximize your time in the gym. These tips will help you sculpt your time in the gym to be more efficient: • Come prepared with knowing what you are going to do. Have a notepad if necessary so you can bang out set after set. • Bring a water bottle so you can avoid frequent trips to water fountain. • Stay away from all the social butterflies that like to talk in between sets. Stay off your phone and stop texting or checking Facebook. Wear headphones so you can stay “in the zone.” • Go to the gym early in the morning or later in the evening. Beat the 9-5 crowd. • Don’t take too long of a break in between sets. You don’t want to let your heart rate lower too much. For example if you just finished a bicep set, jump right on over and get on a triceps machine.
• If you are in a hurry, do not focus on isolating one muscle at a time like your biceps or triceps. Work on larger muscle groups that day. For example; pull-ups, squats, flat bench target more than just one muscle. • Change up your routine every 4-6 weeks. Your body will adjust to your current work load. Try changing up your workout and intensity for maximum results.
GARAGE
PETS
Car Maintenance Mistakes
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t is important to take care of your automobile in order to maximize its features and longevity. However, people often make mistakes when they try to maintain their car. Here are three of the most common ones. Not Getting the Brakes Checked and Pads Changed at Regular Intervals This is one of the top car maintenance mistakes and it can be truly hazardous. The brakes of a vehicle are not to be ignored under any circumstances. If the vehicle comes to a stop with a high pitched squealing/scraping sound coming from the brakes, this points to worn down brakes that are scraping against the drum and rotors. Brakes constantly touching the drums and rotors can damage these components of the vehicle as well. Instead, just get the brakes checked regularly to avoid any misfortune. Not Tightening the Gas Cap This is a very common car maintenance mistake; few people pay any attention to the gas cap when washing or checking 26
their vehicle. Often people are alarmed by the sudden appearance of the check engine light on the dash board. As concerned owners, they quickly drive the vehicle down to a repair shop and the diagnosis finds that there is nothing amiss with the vehicle – just a gas cap which was not tightened all the way. A loose gas cap can cause air interference with fuel intake, so check the cap diligently. Unnecessary Tune-Up Most new generation cars don’t have to be put through the tune up grind. The valves in these vehicles do not need adjusting since the timing of ignition is computer controlled, so the car owner no longer has to hassle with the carburetor or injectors. The spark plugs even in these modern cars still need attention. However, many warranties offer headache-free service for almost 10,000 miles, so there is truly no reason to change the spark plugs. Instead, go for a complete change which should include the timing belt, coolant and the spark plugs when the vehicle hits the 60,000 miles.
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Aquarium Maintenance
he amount of basic aquarium maintenance you have to do is directly related to how closely you follow the three rules of fishkeeping. If the tank is overcrowded, if you consistently feed the fish too much food, and if you seldom do partial water changes, the filter system will be unable to keep the water quality where it should be. If you find yourself dealing with diseased and dying fish on a regular basis, you are almost certainly doing at least one of these three things wrong. Basic aquarium maintenance is not time consuming if the tank is set up correctly and you go about it properly. You should get in the habit of looking at the fish closely every day or two, as well as checking the water temperature. Once each week, clean the inside of the front glass (and the side glass if you want), change 10 or 15 percent of the water, and clean the outside of the glass. You could do this every ten days, but it is usually easier to remember if you perform maintenance on the
same day each week. If the tank is lightly stocked and you are careful about not overfeeding, this basic aquarium maintenance can be done every other week. Undercrowding also means that more extensive maintenance, particularly on the filter, doesn't have to be done as often either. If you keep large fish that consume greater amounts of food and thus produce more waste products, you may have to change as much as 50 percent of the water each time. Note that tank size makes a difference, too. Not only are larger tanks a more stable aquatic environment for the fish, but they also require less work than smaller aquariums. When doing water changes, be sure to use what may be the most important accessory you can own: a hydro-vacuum. Essentially, the hydro-vacuum consists of a hose to siphon the water from the tank with a special attachment on the end that goes into the tank. The attachment is a long, clear tube that is much wider than the siphon hose.
TRAVEL
Overrated Travel Destinations
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re you one of those people who are always like “OMG I always dreamt of visiting so and so?” The fact is everyone has a dream destination. The problem is that dreams do not necessarily translate into pleasant realities (Especially when it comes to travel). So if you are thinking of going off on a majestic sojourn to one of these places this article may help prepare you for what could be an extremely underwhelming experience. Travelers, guides and agents have all posited their views to come up with what are the most overrated travel destinations in the world. Here are some of them. The London Eye The London Eye is one of the top tourist locations in London, which is a damn shame. The city is full of fabulous attractions, from historic sites to museums to monuments. There’s no reason to visit a glitzy Ferris wheel just because it dominates the skyline. There are better monuments and better amusement parks. Loch Ness It's a very narrow lake in the middle of nowhere in an espe28
guessed it) Staten Island to see fantastic views of the New York Bay as well as your beloved Statue of Liberty.
cially depressing part of Scotland. But the legend about a sea monster known as "Nessie" keeps the tourists flowing. Kids will leave with a plush Nessie and a sense of intense disappointment. Hopefully there's enough Scotch in the world to help mommy and daddy erase this wee traumatic memory. The Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty in New York is an iconic and symbolic monument, but yet another massive disappointment. You’re better off spending your time looking around the infinitely more interesting neighbouring Ellis Island, the gateway for millions of immigrants to the US during the early 1900’s. Still want your classic tourist photograph of Lady Liberty? Take the (free) Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan to (you
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Stonehenge What is essentially a bunch of big stones in a field, Stonehenge is yet another ancient monument completely mugging off unsuspecting tourists. Don’t expect to get near let alone touch the stones (you can’t), don’t expect to see anything interesting in the immediate vicinity (there is no accompanying museum or tourist centre), and certainly don’t expect good weather (it’s England). The Hollywood Walk of Fame Are you excited by handprints and sidewalks? Unless you are, the walk of fame isn’t going to excite you. It’s not exactly impressive to say you’ve walked on concrete that a celebrity had their hands in. At the same time, you’ll face crowds of tourists, the constant noise of tourist trap vendors and glimpses of the homeless just around the corner. The Leaning Tower of Pisa If you drive for a few hours, you’ll probably find a local university near your home. Chanc-
es are this university has some kind of bell tower. Does that bell tower sound like an amazing tourist attraction? If not, you probably won’t enjoy it any more if it’s tilted a few degrees and crowds of people are taking pictures pretending to push it back.
Flashing billboards, obnoxious peddlers selling knockoff DVDs, chain restaurants, and hordes of lost tourists along with a distinct smell of urine are what you’ll find in the five blocks of Times Square. If you visit New York City, you just have to visit Times Square but one visit is never enough, because it’s always packed with tourists and long lines to the attractions. May we suggest, you hit the Museum Mile, which is a stretch of eight museums on Fifth Avenue. Broadway Shows New York City has a lot going for it. For many tourists, no trip to the Big Apple is complete without a trip to a Broadway show. Too bad most of them are wildly overpriced rehashes of Disney films, comic books, or romantic comedy films from the 1990s.
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