Fabulous Nurse

Issue 1

Issue 1 December 2010

Self-Sabotaging?

Quiz

Take The

Online Dating 101 Natural Viagra for guys & dolls

Dirty Santa

Poker Faced Parenting Skills

Games

Celebrity Crush:

Cancer Fighting

Angelina Jolie

Retirement Bucket List

Foods

CELEBRATIONS 1

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WRITERS Fabulous Nurse magazine

Elsie Ekwa Editor-in-Chief

Founder of Lissie Harrington Publishers, Elsie, is the vision behind Fabulous Magazine. As a nurse, she saw the need for a lifestyle magazine that all at once serves as a celebration of nurses, a guide for better living, and a guilt-free escape from the sometimes grueling shifts nurses work. Unless otherwise stated, articles in this magazine are provided by Elsie. She is also the managing editor for the Pacific Writer’s Corner online magazine. Elsie writes as Sonya Justice and speaks on health and wellness issues, the business of writing, and entrepreneurship. Visit Elsie at www.sonyajustice.com.

Marnie Loomis, ND

Masthead/Contributor Publisher Lissie Harrington Publishers

Editorial Elsie Ekwa

Art & Graphic Design Art Department Fabulous Nurse magazine Lissie Harrington Publishers

Writer

Dr Marnie Loomis is a naturopathic physician living and working in the Northwest. She is an integrative medicine educator for Medlios, a medical continuing education company providing dynamic medical education to nurses and other healthcare practitioners. You can learn more about Dr. Loomis at www.Medlios.com.

Dylan Romero Writer

Dylan Romero is a freelance writer/marketer for the videogame industry and beyond. He is currently writing a memoir about his pilgrimage in Spain. For further information, do visit him at http://walkingthecamino.wordpress.com/

Zee Nickerson Writer

Zee Nickerson has a B. S. in Psychology, has owned several successful businesses, and is currently a writer, fashion consultant and public speaker. Contact Zee via email at Zeechic2000@yahoo.com

Louise Wilson Featured Fan

Though not a writer Louise Wilson is the featured fan in this issue. Her mother, brother, and aunt are all nurses so she shared with us the top ten reasons to love a nurse. We are thrilled there are people like Louise who celebrate what nurses do!

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Advertising Advertising Department Fabulous Nurse magazine Lissie Harrington Publishers

How to reach us Lissie Harrington Publishers ATTN: FN magazine 29030 SW Town Center Loop E Ste. # 202-143 Wilsonville, OR 97070-9490 info@fabulousnurse.com www.fabulousnurse.com

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Fabulous Nurse magazine

BIRTH

Editorial

OF A MAGAZINE

Celebrate the nurse as a person. Doubly, celebrate the season.

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his is a great time for us here at Lissie Harrington Publishers as we launch the inaugural issue of the Fabulous Nurse magazine during this festive holiday season. Fabulous Nurse inaugural issue starts the celebration of givers during the season of giving. What could be more apt?

There are more than 12 million Registered Nurses world-wide. When we include our complete group of fabulous nurses, the number becomes staggering. Given the many nursing students, nurse aides, graduate nurse, vocational nurses, advance practice, and doctoral nurses there are in the world, it is astonishing to us that no one out there has thought to put the spotlight where it belongs; squarely on you nurses.

The Fabulous Nurse magazine has only one goal: a happier, healthier, and more productive you. We celebrate the uniqueness of you. We celebrate your work. We celebrate the your life. It is cool to be a nurse. The Fabulous Nurse magazine is the badge of honor for all nurses and identifies you as one. Our title says so. Your ownership proves it. You are part of the movement. You are a Fabulous Nurse! Period.

By the very definition of your professional title “nurse�, you care for others. Each time you don scrubs you are on a mission to save the world, one patient at a time. Unlike comic strip superheroes, you are never conscious of your impact on the world at large, even with super human powers garnered from years of training and dedication to the preservation of all life. You have an enormous capacity to love. We celebrate you.

You are a mother, father, wife, husband, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, grand-parent, pet owner, avid traveler, a significant other, business owner, budding entrepreneur, artist, writer, educator, musician, and so much more. You are more than your scrubs alone can define. We celebrate your life.

Thank you for joining the movement. Fabulous Nurse magazine welcomes you to the next generation of nursing. You rock!

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TABLE OF CONTENT

Fabulous Nurse magazine

BEAUTY SECRETS EDITORIAL

6 39 28 27 58 60 51 79 17 66 33 10 11 8

Birth Of A Magazine

COVER ARTICLES Cancer Fighting Foods Natural Viagra For Guys & Dolls Online Dating 101 Dirty Santa Games

12 15 18 19

Natural Home-Made Beauty Treatments At Home Tooth Whitening

ATTITUDE REDEFINED Punch Out Mid-Life Blues!

Add More Days To Your Life

LIVING WELL Poker Faced Parenting Skills Celebrity Crush: Angelina Jolie

22 24

Retirement Bucket List Self-Sabotaging? Take The Quiz

31

FEATURES Trekking Spain’s El Camino de Santiago A Survivor’s Guide To First Dates

FASHION WATCH Dress Fashionably For Less Tell Designers Bags From Fakes

36 37 38 40

Overcome Emotional Eating Top 10 Reasons Why We Love Green Tea

LOVE & SEX MADE SIMPLE Keeping The Romantic Fire Ablaze

FABULOUS FOODIE Wine Pairing For Ham Or Turkey 6 Herbs To Use Less Salt Not Your Ordinary Holiday Recipes 10 Snacks Under 100 Calories Each

TS

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DECEMBER 2010 PETS

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Biggest Loser Diet Plan

43

The Blood-Type Diet Plan

FABULOUS & FIT

46 47 48 49

Exercise To Get Pregnancy Calories Burned Running

71 72 74

Exercise Anywhere In 5 Easy Steps

55 57

Unique Holiday Celebrations

62

Blocks - Kids Play & Grow

76 77 78

HOBBIES 10 Campy Fun Backyard Ideas Scrapbooking For Beginners

Top 10 Reasons To Love A Nurse Dream Job Series: Part 1 - Strategic Planning TMI: What Not To Say At Work!

Credit Repair Tips Wealth Creation Rules To Live By Green Bed & Breakfast

POETIC VOICE

Fabulous Xmas Tree Décor

PARENTING

CAREER TALK

FINANCE

Treadmill Running Tips

HOLIDAY

63 64

65

Choosing The Right Diet For Your Dog

80 81 82 83

Seasons in God’s Country

LAUGH OUT LOUD Top 5 Reasons To LOL Jokes Of The Month Ode To The Timeless Cartoons We Still Love

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Fabulous Nurse magazine

Fashionable

Y

ou might think that dressing fashionably on a budget is easier said than done. Well, now we make it easy for you. Dressing fashionably is possible on any budget if you know where to shop and how to save. Take advantage of the following resources to score you a beautiful, yet cheap designer wardrobe.

Many designer outlets exist simply for the reason of getting rid of excess merchandise. Take advantage of these steep discounts whenever you can. Make it a point to know where the outlet stores are and visit them to save money. Outlet stores also tend to have big sales around holidays such as Memorial Day, Labor Day and Black Friday. Be on the look-

You are licensed to melt the heart of maidens at any party in this rock star secret agent ensemble. .

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For Less

This sexy gold dress with black fishtail is sure to make you the belle of the ball. Go on Cinderella. Your carriage waits.

out for sales year round as well when stores are trying to make room for new merchandise.

Another option, if there are no outlet stores close to you is to visit a second-hand store. Most second-hand stores carry gently used items that people no longer want and have donated for charity purposes. This is a great way to get fashionable, designer items at a much lower cost than sticker price. EBay is a great source for designer clothes at a discount. While in the past counterfeit items were a concern, eBay has done a great job of weeding out the fake items to protect its buyers.

You may also choose to make your own clothes in a similar

fashion to current trends. Making your own clothes is a great way to make a statement and also to save money. Fabrics can be purchased at local craft stores. Not a sewer? If you are willing to learn, you can learn to sew at your local craft store as Shop the clearance racks.

Oftentimes department stores will clearance out merchandise in order to make room for

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the new season’s merchandise.

Be sure to examine items for any damage such as lipstick stains, small rips and tears and any irreparable damage. Usually, the clearance racks will offer great deals, sometimes up to 80% off original prices. Now that’s a bargain!

Shopping for fashionable clothing does not have to break the bank.

Whichever route you choose to go, you can be sure you will be dressing like a diva without over spending.

Tell

Designer Bags From Fake

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ucci, Chanel, Prada, Louis Vuitton… the list goes on. These ultra luxe designer bags cost a pretty penny to own. Yet it seems as though every fashionista, her mother, and friends all have one.

Have you ever been curious to know if their bags were real? I know my friends get curious. But then, what if you wanted to buy a second hand bag or were thinking of shopping online. How can you avoid being scammed?

I get asked how I can tell a fake from the real deal all the time. It is not rocket science…really. I am going to share with you what many in the fashion industry know, so that

the next time you spot a fake designer bag you can think to yourself, “busted!”

A flair for the dramatic.

Winter blooms bring your legs out of hibernation.

Just don’t say this out loud, ok?

Things might get ugly. I avoid ugly encounters at all cost. Nothing says dud more than a rumble on the ground. I think you are above that. So if you promise to restrain from pointing out every fake you see and saying, “fake one,” I will teach you what I know. Ready?

Here goes…

Stitching. It’s all in the stitching.

Clean precise stitching. Most fakes are glued together. Also, the fakes that are stitched are usually not done with a lot of thought or care so the thread tends to run away in a number of places. Designers are generally very conscious about the finish of their products… They are selling the unattainable and good quality is part of the illusion.

So pay attention to the stitch.

Price. Unless you are at Filene’s basement or invited to the presale at Neiman Marcus, that adorable LV bag you just bought for a fraction of the price is a steal… literally. If you truly believe it is real, someone just stole your money.

Location. The vendor on Pier 39 in San Francisco or the guy hanging around Times Square at night, are not the official sales persons for Jimmy Choo or YSL. Not by any stretch of your imagination.

If you are buying online, there are many stores to choose from.

Bluefly.com is a great place to start. You don’t have to go broke because you have excellent taste.

Splurge wisely.

Quality. I assure you D&G are not going to place their logo on a bag made from plastic. Feel the material. Check the interior. Is the layering continuous?

Some fakes are very obvious but not all are.

This mini guide will help you select your next buy, or give you something to chuckle about next time you are at a party and that not so nice gal shows up with a fake.

Invest in a great, long lasting fashionable bag but do not get punked in the process.

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Fabulous Nurse magazine

BEAUTY SECRETS 12

Natural Beauty Treatments

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spoons of honey creates a great face mask that provides vitamins, and improves the tone and texture of your skin. Just stir well, apply, let sit for about 15 minutes, and then wash off with cool water.

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ature is the newest trend in skin and hair care.

For years, we’ve been putting toxic chemicals into our bodies that build up and make us feel tired and sick, regardless of whether we eat them or if they seep through our pores. And people are finally catching on that natural is better.

Face Mask

Eating good food helps give you the right nutrients you need to look good. You can get more of these vitamins and minerals by putting the good stuff right on the skin.

Combining a mashed carrot, mashed avocado, and a beaten egg with a half cup a few table-

After you’re washed and nourished your skin, you can use grated cucumber or diluted lemon juice as a toner to help tighten your skin, close your pores, and keep your skin looking great.

Hair Conditioner

Many people pay a lot of money for a conditioner that actually makes hair look and feel good.

Here’s a great natural recipe to save you money and help your hair.

Most stores now have a line of “natural” beauty products.

Unfortunately, they often come with a big price tag attached too. Often times many of these products are not actually “natural” so it does pay to do your homework to ensure you are getting what you pay for.

Fortunately actually making beauty products yourself isn’t too difficult. So if you want beauty products that you know are natural and are also inexpensive, just make them yourself.

Here are 5 quick and easy recipes you can make at yourself.

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Fabulous Nurse magazine

Just mix an egg yolk with a tablespoon of castor oil and apply to hair. Let sit for about ten minutes and rinse out. You can use this every so often as a conditioning treatment for healthy shiny hair. If you like being experimental, you can try mixing other kitchen items, herbs, and natural items with eggs for healthy, shiny hair.

Hand and Foot Cream

A quick face mask will help make you look great in not a lot of time, but hands and feet require extra care.

Use ½ cup of olive oil mixed with natural sea salt and massage into your hands and feet.

Leave a few minutes to soak and then rinse off with warm water.

When it comes to natural beauty products, these recipes are just the start. You can find hundreds of different combinations in natural beauty books, magazines, and on the internet. Or you can go to your kitchen cabinet and make your own special creations.

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At-home tooth whitening

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1.

Holistic:

Eat more raw foods. Eating a diet that has a leaning towards raw vegetables and fruit can naturally whiten your teeth and improve your smile.

Drink predominantly clear fluid. Drinks like coffee and soda should be eliminated because they can stain your teeth which will defeat the whole purpose of teeth whitening. If you cannot imagine life without coffee or pop, try drinking through a straw in order to limit direct fluid contact with your teeth.

Fluoride free toothpaste. Check your bathroom cabinets and get rid of your toothpaste if it contains fluoride which is known to discolor teeth.

The practice of tooth whitening is not as common in the U.S., as one would think. However, in some large cities such as New York, Los Angeles or Dallas, tooth whitening is a way of life. Some would argue that the best way to whiten your teeth is at the dentists. While there are many advantages of doing that, some natural treatments can work as well. Through a combination of these remedies which include some alterations in drinking habits, at-home teeth whitening can produce permanent results.

We searched the available literature for the best home applications in tooth-whitening. Here are the four different approaches we found:

2.

OTC Products:

Boost your efforts with teeth whitening remedies from your local store. We suggest Crest White stripes; its effectiveness is well documented. Gels and toothpastes do work, as well. You may also find herbal OTC treatments. Ask your local pharmacists for suggestions.

3.

4.

Natural Cures:

Using mashed up fruits can work. Don’t get carried away because they do contain acids. Some of these fruits are lemon juice, orange peels and strawberries.

Dentist:

If all else fails, your dentists has a number of options that may work for you. Laser treatments, porcelain veneers, crowns, and implants, are all possible options that can be very effective although expensive.

The at-home application does work. It is easy on your budget. It will require some patience on your part. Your teeth did not get stained overnight so it is unrealistic to expect any natural approach to yield instantaneous results. Moreover, the extent of discoloration you have also affects the effectiveness of treatment.

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Fabulous Nurse magazine

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ATTITUDE

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re you your own worst enemy or your best friend and greatest fan?

This seems pretty obvious, right? Not always.

Sometimes people get into habits that become part of their personality and fail to see the toll those habits are taking on their life. For example, I started by asking myself why anyone would be interested in reading this quiz. Then I immediately came up with all the reasons why no one would read this quiz, self-doubt. Check. Doubt is a classic sign of self-sabotage.

So I am writing this quiz to help others because I recognize the problem in myself. This last statement is an example of a positive self-affirmation.

A Counter-check.

REDEFINED

1.

Self-Sabotage

Is your new year’s resolution still not completed?

2.

Did it have to do with weight loss? How many chips, chocolate bars, ice cream and cake have you eaten since making that resolution? Are your habits getting in the way of your success?

3.

4.

Are you still living with someone who’s every word and action makes you feel bad about you as a person?

Are you a recovering drug addict that works with pharmaceuticals and drugs on a regular basis?

5.

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Have you ever gone out and partied until late in the morning when you know you have a job interview the next day?

Quiz

6.

7.

8.

Did you plan to do more this year but cannot seem to get out of the rut you are in?

Do you ask yourself if you deserve it when something good happens to you?

Do you bring up every possible objection to an endeavor even before you try out for it?

9.

10.

Do you place fear of failure ahead of any tasks you plan to perform?

Did you plan to quit smoking or stop drinking then went to a party where you know there will be lots of people smoking and drinking?

If you answered yes to any of the questions in the quiz, you are NOT your greatest fan. You sabotage yourself and stand in the way of your own success.

Your task henceforth is to find a counter response, an affirmation of your positive attributes for every negative though that comes to mind. When you get very good at it, come up with two or more positives for every single negative. Imbue your mind with good thoughts about yourself and you will develop a healthy immunity to self-sabotaging.

Seek the guidance of a trained mental health professional as you embark on this esteem boosting adventure.

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Fabulous Nurse magazine

What now! Many people see only death and dying ahead. But it does not have to be so. If you talk to any baby boomer, they will tell you that for some of them a new rush of exuberance and endless possibilities begin with retirement. So instead of focusing on the feeling that the nest is empty at mid-life, you have the option to embrace this period for what it is, just another transition. It does not have to be the pinnacle of your achievements.

-Out Pu n ch

orty is the new thirty. Or is it thirty is the new twenty? Who says that anyway? Someone afraid of getting old? Maybe.

Consider this… People are living much longer than they used to. While mid-life used to begin at thirty not so long ago, now a days, late forties through sixties defines mid-life. How rad.

Regardless of the time gap your generation defines as mid-life, there is one universal commonality. Mid-life is a period of critical changes; serious enough that it is often referred to as a crisis.

You have heard the stories. A guy reaches mid-life dumps his wife of thirty years, marries his twenty year old secretary, and buys a luxury sports car, bike or boat.

Bl u e s !

Too often we resist change. It is interesting because our lives are marked by distinctive periods of transition.

We grow from babies to toddlers, who grow up to become young adults and teenagers. Teenagers mature into early adulthood, and so forth. Many psychologists say that up until this period, we are ok with change, we even look forward to it because the future from this vantage point is filled with endless possibilities.

Mi

However, mid-life is the time when many people take stock of what they have accomplished thus far.

No matter how successful people appear, everyone examines their life to see how much of what they dreamed about really did come true. In addition, during mid-life a lot of adults have grown children who have since moved out of the home.

There is a sense of, “what now?”

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If you have not reached your highest potential at fifty, you have another twenty plus years to give it a shot.

e f i l d

There is no reason to doubt you.

Before buying the fancy sports car or blowing your life savings on a trip around the world, truly ask yourself how that will improve your life for the better.

Are you making a change because you feel time slipping away or is this what you should be doing with your life? How can you tell the difference?

One way is to gauge the reaction of the people around you. If your behavior is a complete 180 from the way have carried yourself up until this point, your friends and family will mention it. They are your mirror. If they question your motives, think long and hard about your reason for the change.

How do you feel about turning your life upside down? Are you anxious, relieved, excited or guilty? Deep inside you will know the right answer. You need to take a good look at your motives and face up to its realities.

Add More Days to Your Life Issue 1

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eed more time?

You can easily add 15 more days to each year of your life.

Have you ever tried to tally the amount of time you spend on the average in front of the computer checking your email, banking, and shopping at home or at work? Probably not. Perhaps you are like us and think that an accurate calculation of this number will require more time than you care to allocate. The idea is to save ourselves time and add more days to our year, not waste more, right? Thankfully others have done all the hard work for us. According to many experts, Americans kids spend about 32 hours a week online. You may be thinking that this does not apply to you. Wait a minute, if you are an adult, these same experts have concluded that you spend about nine hours a day staring at the computescreen. That is right. Nine mind bending hours!

Let’s do the math. There are 24 hours in one day, seven days a week, and 52 weeks in a year, correct? This means that with

each passing week you lose 63 hours. That is two and a half days a week in front of the computer. Let’s make this simpler.

Multiply just 2 whole days by 52 weeks. Are you ready for this?

Drum roll… 104 days. Not so irrelevant now isn’t it? You just spent three and a half months starring at your computer screen. My, where does the time go? Mind boggling isn’t it?

Between emails, banking, shopping, and so many relevant things we all do online, the hours just pass by. Before you know it 32 hours is lost in one week alone. The question now is this, how can you organize everything so that you spend less time rummaging through millions of electronic data?

How can you save yourself an hour every day, 7 hours a week, and add about 15 more productive days to your year?

On some days your “to do” list may seem to get larger and larger. Don’t get frustrated, you really can automate the system.

Follow these short simple steps and you’ll be surprised how much you can get done in less time.

Emails:

Re-arrange your email list and simplify your life. Create three folders for your emails and label them in order of urgency.

Urgent mail. Urgent mail require immediate attention. Leave them as is in your inbox for easy access.

Safe mail. This is mail from friends, business associates or vendors that you are interested in reading but do not require immediate response. Create a folder for this box. Immediately move all safe mail into the new folder as they come into your inbox. Address them only after the urgent mail has been dealt with.

Junk mail. Most emailing systems come with a junk mail folder. If spam mail or junk mail still gets through, you will need to update you junk mail filter.

If your work email is like mine, then a lot of “junk mail” does filter into your inbox as well. You will need to either click and delete without opening or adjust the filter too. IT can help you with that.

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Fabulous Nurse magazine

To-Do list: For every to-do list, there are a million excuses why you should not get to them right away. We all procrastinate, even schedule oriented individuals like myself.

The key is to recognize that about ourselves and plan safety nets into our schedules so we still get things done in a timely, organized manner. If you think on it, you will be amazed how much time you waste thinking about what needs to be done versus actually getting it done.

Why not treat yourself to a 15minute at home manicure?

Reward setting will give you an incentive to stay on tract.

Schedule your to-do list into your daily schedule. For example, find a plumber between 12:30p.m – 12:45p.m. You have a goal and a time frame to accomplish it. Keeping things in order like this will save you so much time in the long run.

Remind yourself that saving 15 days a year is one whole month in 2 years. What can you do with an extra one month in your schedule? Take that vacation to Belize, start a garden, or learn how to fox trot? The list is endless.

Logins and passwords. The more things you accomplish and the more time that passes, your list of account logins and passwords increase in what seem s like an exponential number. It used to be that you could get away with one user id and one password for several accounts.

Now, in the interest of security, 20

your security, many accounts require a certain number of letters and numbers to your password.

This increases your list. In order to keep up with this and not drive yourself crazy trying to locate the ids and password when you need them you can do one of the following.

Remember me. You can opt to have that particular website remember you every time you use the same computer. What happens though when you are not at that computer?

Account folder. You can create an account folder with a list of all your accounts and password.

If you encrypt this information, be sure that you will remember where you left the inscription should you forget how to decode it. A list of each account name and password is all you need. Instead of encrypting you can use a word that will immediately remind you of what the password is. I know someone who uses their pets name plus anniversary. Her memory recall phrase reads like this, favorite pet plus marriage. This helps her remember that her code is simply Bruno_1978; the key is remembering which anniversary.

If it sounds complicated, it is not for you.

Go on and start practicing some of these tried and true timesaving strategies. You will love yourself and your life more for it. In addition, your family will be grateful for this more relaxed version of you.

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Living

Well

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Overcome Fabulous Nurse magazine

Emotional Eating

I

have a friend, we’ll call her Darlene. Darlene plumps down on the couch in front of her TV with a tub of ice-cream or pizza or both.

She finishes both items then gets up for more. She repeats the process until there are no snacks left in the kitchen cabinets. Darlene used to be very over-weight so she had gastric bypass surgery but it does not seem to have curbed her eating.

She worries about her health constantly. At one time she joked that her friends are all in the healthcare industry because they can do CPR if she happens to drop dead. It may sound like dry wit and it would be funny, ha, ha, ha, if Darlene did not mean it. If anyone asked her why she eats so much, she says it is because she is “addicted to food.” Addiction to food, how can that be a problem? Food is nutritious and life-sustaining, right?

We agree, food is absolutely necessary for life. However, when food ceases to become a source of sustainability, you run into problems. In Darlene’s case, she eats when she is sad or lonely. Emotional eating is when you reach for food, not because you are hungry but because you don’t feel good and eating

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helps you feel better. You may not even know why you eat.

Eating becomes a coping mechanism as you fail to address the root cause of your problems.

Some early warning signs that you are at risk for emotional eating include:

1. Recent death or loss.

2. Extreme stress at school or at work.

3. Insurmountable problem you can’t seem to find a solution for or a reasonable way out.

4. Traumatic experience such as physical, sexual or emotional abuse.

5. Life altering disease, diagnosis or prognosis.

Does this sound like you or someone you know?

There is well documented research that emotional eating can lead to obesity

or eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa.

It does not help that many of the fattening foods that people choose to eat when they feel bad arouse the pleasure sensors in brain which makes them feel better. Foods like chocolate are said to have aphrodisiac properties which elicit the same response one would have during intercourse. Other foods signal the brain to release endorphins which leads to an improved mood. These are very powerful incentives the body gives the mind to continue the cycle of emotional eating. Eventually, this will lead to a tipping of the scale in the wrong direction. Worse, this will lead to the many co-morbidities that come alongside obesity.

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Culprit foods: 1. Sugary loaded foods like ice cream, chocolate, donuts, cookies, cake.

2. Carbohydrates, e.g. macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, pizza.

3. Foods with a high fat content such as French fries, and all fried foods.

The problem of emotional eating may end with you tipping the scale physically but the root cause of your eating habit is in your mind. Stress such as the pain of loss, illness or abuse takes a toll on one’s life and sometimes food is the only defense and source of comfort. So what are the signs of emotional eating?

1. The obvious one is eating food when you are not hungry.

2. Your house is stoked with more snacks than normal food.

3. The local grocery store can come to you to stock up on ice cream and chocolate.

4. You are gaining weight unintentionally.

5. You over-eat and then purge your food after you eat it.

6. You feel helpless and guilty when you over-eat.

If any of the risk factors apply to you and you can relate to one or more of the signs of emotional eating, you are an emotional eater. Don’t feel bad if you are an emotional eater. You are not alone. Many famous people have admitted to eating for comfort. This includes Oprah, Kristie Alley, Jessica Simpson and many others. The lead role in the movie Precious, which is about a young girl with a very troubled background, is played by an overweight actress Gabourey Sidibe. Unlike the real life Gabourey who seems highly adjusted, Precious’ weight is the direct result of a very unhappy life. She ate herself into 300 plus pounds. If you are such a person, your problem is not an isolated one.

What happens now that you recognize you have a problem?

There are many resources an emotional eater can use as an arsenal to build up their defense against future binging.

Counseling. Speaking to a professional therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist will help you identify the root cause of your eating habit. The counselor will also help you find productive ways of dealing with your issue through many different techniques which may include talk therapy, behavioral modification, visualization, problem solving skills, relaxation techniques and familial support.

you. They can learn your triggers and help you avoid stress.

Family can also assist you in making the transition from eating fattening foods when you feel down to eating something healthier.

Healthy eating. Eating something healthier may help alleviate the guilt that comes with emotional eating. You can try weight-loss programs. Although these programs will not solve your emotional eating habits, they can help you structure your meals and lose weight which in turn will give you a new and positive outlook in life.

Exercise. Exercise potentiates your body’s immune system, increases blood flow to vital organs, and improves your thought process. Like dieting, it is not a cure for emotional eating but a complement to counseling that can truly enhance your life, maybe even save your life. The risk factors of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, etc. diminish with each pound you lose.

You are not alone. Recognizing your problem and seeking the right kind of help will lead to a healthier, happier you. Perhaps, now the local grocery store can go to the Ben and Jerry factory to get their ice cream instead of your freezer.

Support system. Your family, if you have a supportive one and your friends can become your first line of defense. They know 23

T op 10 reasons to love

Fabulous Nurse magazine

G

GREEN TEA

reen tea has taken the western world by a storm. Ever wonder why people drink so much green tea? Here are ten top reasons why fabulous nurses love green tea:

1. Compared to health drinks, shakes, and many beverages, green tea is inexpensive.

2.

6.

3.

7.

Green tea has antioxidants which is the most common ingredient found in health drinks.

A thousand years of Chinese history cannot be wrong.

4.

5.

Green tea detoxifies and cleanses your body.

It provides an alternative or addition to some weight-loss programs. Green tea contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which acts in your body to stimulate weight loss and fat burning.

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It helps your body get rid of free radicals that can contribute cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Green tea is neither dried nor fermented when it is processed; a common practice in the manufacturing of tea.

8. Green tea tastes great.

9. It comes in many flavors.

10. The tenth reason why we love green tea is that - it is refreshing.

Issue 1

25

Love SEX Fabulous Nurse magazine

&

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Issue 1

Online Dating usy professionals don’t have the time to go bar hopping or clubbing. There are more 21st century ways to meet a potential mate. As experience has shown, a good number of nurses meet their significant other online. Online dating sites have a great advantage over conventional methods like libraries, churches, restaurants, cruises, and parks.

You get to look over potential mates from the comfort of your home; no grooming necessary.

It is like speed dating, except on steroids. You can potentially go through one profile a minute, if you choose to.

B

The menu options provided give you the opportunity to narrow your choices by race, educational background, political lean-

BLUEPRINT ings, religious affiliations, marital status, hobbies, and much more.

Many of these sites have nailed it down to a science. If you’re looking for that special someone online dating may be exactly what you need.

To get started, do a Google search and look over a few sites before deciding on one. This will also help you narrow down the type of service that best suits you. The many different dating sites all fall under three categories. There are those that are interest driven, those which run compatibility test, and still many others that are more like networking sites.

The interest driven sites are gaining in popularity. I once

worked with a nurse who traveled to Oregon from the east coast to be with a guy she had met on Secondlife, the original online game that allows users to create online characters known as Avatars in its alternate universe. Another nurse met her mate on Facebook. Still, you can meet in chat rooms as you discuss the many complexities of dark room photography, computers, chess, or nursing. There is a wide variety to choose from.

Yahoo and MSN all provide chat opportunities. Some dating sites in this category are biracial dating, catholic singles, and beautiful people.

If you prefer that someone else make the choice for you but are

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Fabulous Nurse magazine

not quite ready to see a matchmaking service, there are online compatibility dating sites that will do that for you. They advertise themselves as such, so it is easy to single them out. This type of dating service is directed at people looking for long-term commitment; although you can find such individuals on all the other sites. Be honest about who you are and what you want when you fill out their free questionnaires. You don’t want to be matched with the wrong person.

That will mean a waste of your time and money. eHarmony is a prime example in this group.

The third category of dating sites is general and includes a mixed bag of people with varying interests. They make sorting through the sea of profiles easy and convenient, which is nice.

Most online sites you have heard about fall into this category, e.g.

Match.com, Chemistry.com.

Now that you have done your research and decided on the site(s) you wish to check out, create a profile. It is true that many people misrepresent themselves, so be cautious and trust your instincts. Some fiftysomething year olds put their high school or undergraduate photographs on their profile.

While this might increase the number of people who take a second look at the profile, it really only does disservice to the individual. People generally do not like to be lied to. It is one thing to say the age you look but it really is another to put a youthful photograph and show 28

up for a date with salt and pepper hair. Not a good idea.

Also, it might take a while to meet that person who makes your stomach flutter but it can’t happen if you are not available and looking. Be patient. Keep a positive attitude.

The final word on online dating is about safety. After a med student in Boston killed the girls he met on Craig’s list, it is even more imperative that you air on the side of caution. Make sure your first meeting is in a public place. Tell one or two people where you are going and how long you plan to be gone. You may even want them to tag along as your wing person and stay out of site until your date shows up, just in case you need to make a quick getaway. You can also have someone call you in the middle of the date to make sure you are OK. Carry maze with you but don’t let it give you a false sense of security. Be aware of your environment at all times but don’t act so paranoid that you don’t get asked for a second date. Never park in a dark alley, no matter how hard it is to find parking.

If you think parking might be a problem, valet park or take a taxi.

Natur

VIAG A

s a naturopathic doctor in private practice, I had many patients come to my office Don’t let this scare you. Many to seek help with their libido. people are in successful relationI maintained a strong reputaships and marriages with people they met through online dating. tion in this area, though I never advertised myself as a “libido It may take a hundred so-so dates and maybes to meet your doc.” The truth was, the treatments I recommended for libido one true love. Don’t you think that one person for you is worth didn’t end up being very specific. They didn’t need to be. the effort?

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Naturally Improving The Male & Female Sex Drive

Issue 1

GRA

By Marnie Loomis ND

I didn’t send my patients out the door with a natural “Viagra.” I rarely did any specific testing of hormones. As it turns out, because a healthy libido is a product of a healthy body, a thorough general health check with treatments targeted to the patient’s overall needs and an honest, comfortable conversation about sex addressed most cases and was a very effective approach.

Get Into Your Comfort Zone How one feels about sex can be a key component to a healthy sexual response. Do both partners have the same goals? Is the relationship comfortable?

Is communication open? Do you feel you have the time and permission to have fun with sex and try new things with your partner? Do you feel confident with your skill level?

For many of my patients in the health care profession, I found it helpful to get them into their element. I often recommended the books Blow Him Away, (about performing oral sex on a female partner) and The Lowdown on Going Down (about performing oral sex on a male partner) by Marcy Michaels and Marie Desalle. These books are written from the perspective of a medical professional (speech therapist) who, on the advice from her counselor, experiments with sex after the end of a very cold and non-sexual marriage.

Her experiences lead her to find that her skill set as a speech therapist made her a very adept practitioner of oral sex. And when she finally had her own oral sex experience with another speech therapist, she understood what all the fuss had been about.

These books are fun for the subset of sexual nerds who like to study technique and learn exercises. If this is you, don’t be ashamed! You like to study and increase your skills, your

partner certainly won’t mind.

The exercises are the same used in speech therapy and will help you increase tongue dexterity and strength while reducing muscle pain and fatigue related to performing oral sex. As an added bonus, they can also help reduce headaches and jaw tension from other sources as well.

Sexual Styles and Preferences Have you ever been friends with a person and felt really comfortable with him or her until it was time to listen to music or go to a movie? The glaring differences in your personal preferences can happen with sexual styles as well. There are people you’ll find you get along with right up until it is time to have sex and then you find yourself making up a story about forgetting to let the dog out or having an early shift in the morning. Differences in sexual preferences certainly don’t mean two people are doomed to a relationship of unsatisfactory sexual experiences. Researchers have found that the most sexually satisfied couples are those that consist of two individuals who gain pleasure from pleasing each other.

A loving couple interested in each other’s responses can learn and adapt to each other’s needs, creating a hybrid style that meets the discerning sexual tastes of both partners.

You are Responsible for Your Own Orgasm A reviewer of Henry James’ Portrait of a Lady said, “If you aren’t happy without a man, you 29

Fabulous Nurse magazine

certainly won’t be happy with one.” While she wasn’t specifically talking about sex, the quote still fits. Individuals who feel empowered to know their own bodies can go into a sexual relationship with confidence. If they are good communicators as well, their partners will also benefit.

If you are single, it is especially important that you know how to bring yourself to orgasm. Think about what happens when you go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. You end up buying all sorts of junk you don’t need, just because it has been so long since you’ve had a meal.

Take care of your own needs, that way you don’t end up bringing home the human equivalent of a Twinkie.

Most men already know how to masturbate. Women can start with one of the battery powered eggs or bullets as a first step.

These are usually the size of a small egg and have a handheld piece with a switch that allows you to control the speed of vibration. They are primarily used for clitoral stimulation, and can be used over the top of your panties for those who like to keep things clean.

Orgasm as a Barometer of Health The ability to orgasm has so 30

much to do with so many different systems of the body that one might argue “recent orgasm history” should be added to the routine screening health history exam as a way to monitor performance of multiple systems. Well, maybe that would be reasonable in a world where people felt comfortable talking about their orgasms. It probably wouldn’t work here in this time and place, where people have trouble talking about frequency and consistency of their bowel movements.

But let’s say our patients, as a whole, did feel comfortable talking about orgasm. Then we would have useful information from Mr. or Mrs. Smith as he/she reports the usual three times a week orgasm schedule has been interrupted for the past two months, and that this hasn’t happened since a bout with depression 16 years ago.

So our medical detective work could begin. How did this all start? Was there a change in interest, physical sensation, or is this only an issue with orgasm?

We could ask about concurrent changes in other pertinent systems.

Psycho/social: any changes in stress level or in the relationship dynamics? Endocrine: any fatigue, hot flashes, night sweats or changes in menses/nocturnal erections? Cardiovascular: is there dehydration, palpitations or changes in blood pressure?

Metabolic: is there an increase in thirst or the need to urinate,

or a feeling of getting shaky or emotional if meals are too far apart? Neurological: any numbness or tingling or history of recent injuries or accidents?

Chemical: any new prescriptions or natural supplements? Changes in any of these systems could result in a significant change to a person’s ability to become aroused or achieve orgasm.

There are many possible natural solutions for a decrease in libido and orgasm, and each solution is based on the specific problem at hand. For instance, a decrease in libido can be one of the first clinical symptoms of metabolic syndrome. It can also be the result of repeated sexual pain experienced with vaginal dryness during menopause.

For one of these patients, we’d address insulin resistance and microcirculation and for the other, we’d prescribe natural lubricants or bio-identical hormone replacement. These are two different solutions for two different needs, both are natural and both are effective.

When it comes to arousal and libido, there is no short answer.

However, if fully investigated, a decrease in libido can lead to a discovery that improves the quality of life in more places than just the bedroom.

Keeping the romance ALIVE I Issue 1

t is well accepted that most relationships hit a “slow’ spot. While you may love each other, the fire and romantic desire starts to wane and if you are not careful, it fizzles into extinction. Still there are a few couples who are an exception to this rule. I met Dave not so many years ago. He described the first time he saw his wife with so much detail and imagery that I was transported to that same restaurant. I could have been sitting on the table next to theirs because as he set the scene, I felt the easy summer breeze on my face. I was equally enchanted by his vivid description of her sensuous perfume that rivaled the scents carried in from the garden. I heard the throbbing of his heart as she laughed at his jokes, some were funny and others were not. I was so taken in by his story that I asked for more details.

I asked Dave how long they had been married half expecting to hear five years at most.

He said 33 years. Thirty-three years and counting. Yet he spoke of her as though he had met her the day before. That is the kind of love people write about and dream about. That is the kind of love I want for myself. I asked what his secret was. His rules to a very happy marriage are simple and finite.

He said he never tells her she is wrong because

every happily married man knows that his wife is always right.

It is not that she actually is right all the time, instead he trusts that she loves him and listens when she speaks. Even when he plans to change her mind, he reserves that for later; his goal is always to make sure that she knows her opinion is relevant. I asked if that was all. He added that they also do things to capture the magic so that it does not fade away.

When they go out to dinner, they talk to each other. They pay attention to each other not the food. If possible they always sit so some part of their body is making a physical connection. They refrain from talking about kids, chores or bills.

They choose restaurants that are not loud and sit in a private booth.

This offers them some privacy and adds to the element of romance. The booth becomes their private nook for 31

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the evening, at least until the bill arrives, anyway.

If money is scarce, and it sometimes is, they do take out – sometimes even from Wendy’s – which provides their meal for a romantic picnic in the park or on the beach, as long as it is outside the house.

Romance does not have to be expensive.

They don’t belittle one another. They never shut each other down, laugh or make a derisive & judgmental statement. This is apparently very important. Nothing pushes ones partner away like mockery or disgust. You may have seen some couples in restaurants who hardly speak to one another or engage in conversation. This is because of residual feelings of disillusion and despair. These feelings are replaced with a sense of joy and belonging when couples respect one another, even when the other person’s idea seems far-fetched.

Dave and his wife love the movies but keep movie going to 32

minimum because they can’t talk to each other in the theatre. If it is movie night, they make sure that another activity is included which allows for conversation.

This usually includes a romantic stroll anywhere or attending local festivals and sidewalk art shows.

Dave understands that women love souvenirs. He evokes all sorts of romantic gushes when he arrives home on occasion with a single stem of his wife’s favorite flower or kisses her on the cheek or forehead for no reason at all.

Like most men, Dave admits that he gets distracted and would miss their anniversary were it not for a card service he signed up with that sends him a reminder to buy his wife a card or flowers. Their favorite anniversary activity is to recreate their first date. They wear similar outfits, dine in the same themed restaurant, and dance to the same songs. She also styles her hair the same way which drives him crazy. As the years went by and her hair started thinning, he was especially thrilled that she found a perfectly coiffed wig just for the role playing.

Re-creating your first date transports you back in time and you are reminded of how you once felt. That is something very positive in a relationship and should be nurtured.

Most importantly, pay each other honest compliments, often. It is so easy to find fault but you can take that extra step it requires to concentrate on the wonderful attributes you admire in your partner. Do you like your partner’s smile and laugh? Do you appreciate the way their mind works? Do you melt every time they are near you? Tell them. Perhaps they are a darn good parent. Tell them. Share the love and positive energy at all times, even when you argue.

Romance does not have to fizzle away with time. It can grow with you and make you stronger, you just have to be interested enough to put in the effort and keep the fire blazing.

Issue 1

A Survivor s

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ave you ever been on a date where you wish you weren’t there?

Absolutely without question you knew it wasn’t going to work? You didn’t want to spend one minute more than you had to with them.

Or have you had the opposite scenario where you wished it would never end and you hoped he likes you as much as you like him?

' Guide to First dates

By Zee Nickerson

Here are some do’s and don’t for a great first date.

Do wear appropriate clothing. Dress nice and comfortable but not messy. By being too dressy you look like you’re trying too hard. Sloppy sends the message I don’t care.

1.

Do come prepared to talk about current affairs. Bone up on topics that will interest your companion. People love to talk about what their interested in and will chat happily for hours with you. Plus you get bonus points for being a great listener.

2.

Do be polite and well mannered. Thank you and please are still two of the kindest phrases in the English language. Your date will be impressed because the words seem to be in less frequent use now days.

3.

Do discuss who is paying and for what before hand. It can be awkward not knowing. Once at the end of dinner my date said, “Can you pay for this I forgot to go the bank today?” With a plastic smile on my face I paid more than I’d earned that day. Easily I resolved never to go out with Mr. Cheap again.

4.

Do offer up a good dose of understanding, and humor. We’re not all born comedians. It’s okay.

Have some funny anecdotes on hand to share. People appreciate a sense of humor.

5.

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Now for those attraction crushing don’ts. What not to do is just as important as what to do maybe more important.

Don’t be late. It sends the message you don’t have control of your life.

1.

Don’t let them pick you up at your home. Meet them at a neutral location like a great restaurant. They don’t need to know where you live. If I meet a guy I don’t know and he asks for my phone number, I ask for his instead. For safety reasons, I never give out my phone number at first.

2.

Don’t bring your pets. Pets are distracting and they give the impression you care more about your pet than you do about meeting them.

3.

Don’t drink too much no matter how nervous you are. It leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths and they are impressed alright but not the way you’d like them to be.

4.

Don’t talk about children or marriage on the first date. Don’t scare them off by talking about children and marriage too soon. And don’t have sex. You don’t even know the person. Wait until you know the person better.

5.

What to do if you have the opposite problem? You can’t stand the person. Be polite. Have dinner with them as agreed, decline dancing or a nightcap afterwards, thank them and leave. If necessary [if they are pushy or drunk] have a plan with a friend that they will call with a reason to leave. Pay your share if that was the agreement.

Be kind. Be firm. Be gone.

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FABULOUS

Issue 1

FOODIE

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Wine pairing For Fabulous Nurse magazine

Ham Or Turkey

The reasons these different flavors go well together is that the meal becomes more balanced.

The acidity of the Riesling will help cut through the sweet, sugary flavor of the glazed hams, while the fruity undertones of the Pinot Noir will help taper off the smoky flavor of the cured or smoky ham. Heavier wines will drown out the flavors of the ham by overpowering them with either heat from the alcohol or too much pizzazz from the rich flavors.

Turkey - White or Dark

H

oliday meals are special occasions which usually call for a festive bottle of wine. Traditional holiday meals often include either ham or turkey, which causes some debate, and confusion, over what wine should be served.

Pairing wines with these two main dishes can be a little tricky.

Let’s take a look at these holiday meals and see if we can break them down and determine which wines would pair well.

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Ham - Glazed or Smoked Many holiday hams are cooked using a heavy sauce of some sort, glazed to form a crispy crust, which makes them sweet to the taste. There are also hams with more of a smoky flavor, the type that are cured and aged.

In general, the heavier flavors of a glazed ham should be paired with a wine that has higher acidity levels, such as a Riesling, or a simple White Zinfandel. Lighter hams, those that have a smoky flavor usually go well with a Pinot Noir or a Vouvray.

The white meat of a turkey has a drier texture than dark meat. In order to balance out the texture of white meat, it would not be wise to serve a dry wine as this would not help to quench that need for moisture. Sweeter wines are generally the go-to for white meat as they force the palate to salivate. Any light, sweet wine will do. You may wish to try a sweet German wine. Choose anything with the term Spätlese in the title and you should have a sweeter wine.

Dark meat of a turkey retains more moisture when cooking.

Because it is a more tender, juicy meat, it pairs well with a drier wine which helps cleanse the palate. Wines like Riesling and White Burgundy have a dry, oakey flavor that pairs well. You may want to try a Gewurztraminer which will also pair well with dark meat.

Issue 1

Let Common Sense Prevail The most important thing to remember when selecting wines for a party is to know your guests. What do they prefer?

Having a variety of wines available for your guests to choose from may be the simplest answer.

Sample a few different types of wine a few weeks before the big event. While wines can help enhance the experience of a meal, it all comes down to individual tastes. Stop worrying about the wine and enjoy the company!

S

alt is in just about everything you eat.

This is particularly true if you eat out often. In fact, the average intake of salt is 3,400 mg a day. The recommended intake is around 2,300 mg and if you have high blood pressure or other sodium related complications then you’re generally required to keep it below 1,500 mg a day. Too much sodium causes heart and renal disease.

It also causes cancer and a variety of other health problems.

The key to cutting sodium is to get savvy with your cooking.

Herbs can help. Herbs add a powerful flavor punch and they also offer a variety of health benefits. Here are 6 herbs to help you use less salt.

Herbs To Help You Use

Less Salt

1.

Garlic – Garlic is the queen of seasoning. It’s one of the most flavorful seasonings and you can find it in just about every culture. From Mexican to Greek, garlic is always a favorite. And garlic is versatile too. You can roast it for a sweet flavor, sauté it for a nice rich flavor and you can even boil it. Try adding a bit of roasted or boiled garlic to your next batch of mashed potatoes and skip the salt.

You won’t miss it.

2.

3.

4.

Chives – Chives are another great herb. A member of the onion family, the smallest of the onion family, they work well in salads, on fish and in potato dishes as well.

Basil – Basil is fantastic and tastes great in Thai and Italian recipes. It’s also a nice touch for a salad. Use fresh or dried to add flavor to a number of meals.

Oregano – Commonly used in Italian cooking and combined with basil, oregano has a complicated flavor that ranges from sweet to spicy depending on the meal. It’s also used in Turkish, Greek, Portuguese, Spanish, and Latin cooking. It’s also often used to season sautéed vegetables and grilled meat including chicken.

Fresh or dried, oregano is a favorable herb.

5.

6.

Sage – We most commonly think of sage as a Thanksgiving stuffing herb however sage is great at adding flavor to meat.

It’s also used in sausage, soup and some Italian cooking.

Ginger – Ginger has quite a kick and will make anyone forget about the salt. It’s wonderful in soups, and can be found in Indian, Chinese and Japanese recipes. It’s works well with meat and vegetables. It’s also noted for its ability to aid digestion.

Salt is a necessary mineral. However, we’re consuming too much as a society. When there are so many other wonderful herbs, why bother with salt? Enjoy and experiment with the vast number of herbs nature provides.

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Not Your Ordinary Holiday Recipes Fabulous Nurse magazine

Rum Balls

A favorite holiday treat!

Ingredients: 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup white sugar 3 tablespoons corn syrup 1/2 cup rum 2 1/2 cups crushed vanilla wafers 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional) 1/3 cup confectioners sugar Instructions: Melt chocolate chips in a microwave safe dish. Heat for 1 minute to start off stir well, then heat in 30 second intervals, stirring in between and continue until smooth. Blend in sugar, corn syrup and rum. Mix in the crushed wafers and nuts and stir until those are evenly spread out through the mixture. Cover dish and refrigerate until it seems firm enough to shape. Roll into bite sized balls between the palms of your hands.

Then roll the balls in powdered sugar. If you like more nuts you can roll them in a mixture of chopped nuts and sugar.

Store in a sealed container for about a week to get the best flavor before eating and handing out these goodies.

Sweet Potato Pie Ingredients: 2 cups sweet potatoes, cooked and drained 4 tablespoons margarine, melted 3 eggs 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 3/4 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 9� pie shell, baked 1/4 cup chopped pecans Instructions: Mash together your cooked sweet potatoes with melted butter or margarine.

Whip in eggs, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. When well mixed add in the milk and vanilla. Pour it all into your baked pie shell and heat in the oven for about 40 minutes at 350 degrees F. It’s done when the center is somewhat firmed up.

Scatter chopped pecans over the top of the pie before serving.

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Issue 1

Latkes

These traditional Hanukkah potato cakes are also a favorite breakfast food for many people.

Ingredients: 3 large potatoes, peeled and quartered* 1/4 cup milk 3 tablespoons butter 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup finely chopped cooked ham 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese Salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup oil for frying Instructions: Bring a large pot full of water to a boil and add potatoes.

Cook about 15 minutes until firm, but tender. Shred. *(Just start with a bag of shredded potatoes or shred up some leftover baked potatoes from last nights dinner) In a saucepan mix garlic, butter and milk and bring to a boil. Next stir in the shredded potatoes, ham and cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook to a dough-like consistency. Time to fry them up! Heat your oil in a large skillet. Drop a spoonful of the mixture in the hot oil and cook until golden brown on both sides. Great as a side dish with dinner or for breakfast with a slice of toast and some orange juice. You can vary the ingredients to your liking. For example use sausage instead of ham, mozzarella instead of cheddar, vegetables instead of meat, etc.

Try different combinations and see what you like best.

Cheesecake the Eggnog Way Ingredients: CRUST: 2 cups crushed vanilla wafers 6 tablespoons butter 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg CHEESECAKE: 4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese 1 cup white sugar 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons rum* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs 1 cup heavy cream 4 egg yolks Instructions: Make the crust by mixing together the crushed wafers, butter and nutmeg. Press the mixture into the bottom of a spring form pan. Bake the crust for 10 minutes at 325 degrees F. Blend together cream cheese, flour, sugar, rum and vanilla. Add one egg at a time to the mixture and continue to blend well after each addition. Then blend in the 4 additional egg yolks and the whipping cream. Pour cheesecake filling into prepared pan. Bake for one hour at 325 degrees F. Completely cool before removing from spring form pan then refrigerate over night. *For a non-alcoholic family friendly version you can use rum extract, vanilla extract, white grape juice or apple juice!

Cancer Fighting

Super Foods

O

ne of the most destructive diseases, both for the person diagnosed and for the family, is cancer. Even though cancer remains somewhat of a mystery for most of us, research is proving more and more that healthy lifestyles can have a direct impact on your ability to ward off this terrible

environment to give your body what it needs. Putting those things in your body will make a huge difference in your health and your life.

Tomatoes This versatile vegetable/fruit disease. Several super foods contains lycopene, a powerful shown to have preventative antioxidant. Lycopene helps to properties are discussed here. improve immunity. It also provides a layer of cell protectors Fighting Cancer against invaders like cancer. Unwith Food like other raw veggies, tomatoes work best when they are cooked Natural foods are not just nouror processed. Eat fresh cooked ishment for your body but also tomatoes in homemade tonutrition and healing. These foods have incredible properties mato paste, tomato sauce, pizza sauce, or stewed. derived from the earth and the 39

Fabulous Nurse magazine

Strawberries This spring and summer berry is great not only to eat fresh but also in desserts, on breakfast cereal, and in salads. They are full of antioxidants that have been shown to help slow the growth of cancerous tumors. Flavonoids are also part of the strawberry’s design. They are instrumental in helping prevent lung cancer.

Dark chocolate Now you can tell your friends that when you reach for chocolate to treat yourself, you are reducing your risk of cancer. Dark chocolate contains the most cocoa solids of all the chocolates. This rich and luscious treat is full of antioxidants including flavonoids. Not only does it help reduce the size of tumors and inhibit some cancers, it also improves moods, fights certain illnesses by increasing immunity, and has more antioxidants than blueberries.

Broccoli This and other cruciferous veggies help to reduce the size of certain cancerous tumors. Broccoli is also regarded as a detoxifier, cleansing the system, which is seen as a benefit in both prevention of cancer and in treatment.

Be proactive in your health. Take a stand and change the things that you can control. Change your diet to include cancer fighting super foods to reduce your risk of cancer and to maintain a healthy life.

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10 S

snacks under 100 calories each

nacking is one super way to make sure you don’t suffer from low blood sugar. It’s also a great way to do what many nutrition experts recommend, which is to eat 5-6 small meals a day. However, if you’re not careful, snacking can put you above your normal calorie intake which means gaining weight. Here are 10 healthy snacks that are under 100 calories each:

each egg is packed with protein and they’re low in fat and calories. One hardboiled egg contains around 78 calories.

#3

Hummus and veggies or pita bread. Hummus is a dip prepared from chick peas and tahini or sesame paste. It’s delicious, packed with protein and fiber and seriously filling.

Two tablespoons and a wedge of pita bread come in around 100 calories. For more fiber and a serving of veggies use carrot sticks or celery instead of pita bread.

#4

#1

Nuts. Almonds are a great source of fiber and protein which means your blood sugar levels will stay even. It also means you’ll stay full for a good long time. A handful of almonds or pistachios, about 12-15, is around 100 calories. Doesn’t sound like much but you’ll feel satisfied after eating them.

#2

Hardboiled egg. Hardboiled eggs can be prepared in advance and they’re fairly easy to store. Additionally,

Craving chocolate? Grab a low fat pudding cup.

The protein in the dairy will help balance your blood sugar and the chocolate willàwell you know what the chocolate does.

It soothes the soul.

#5

Popcorn. Three cups of air popped popcorn comes in at around 90 calories. That’s without butter. Popcorn doesn’t really provide much nutritional value but it doesn’t really have any ill effects either.

#6

Tortilla chips. You can eat around 15 bite sized tortilla chips and have some calories to spare. Ten chips come in

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around 55 calories. Saves room for a tablespoon of salsa.

#7

Blueberries. Blueberries pack a punch when it comes to antioxidants. And you can eat a whole cup of them and only consume 75 calories.

#8

Not a blueberry fan?

Eat a banana. A small to medium banana is around 100 calories.

#9

Love watermelon? You can eat a half a medium watermelon and only consume 50 calories.

#10

Still looking for something sweet and crunchy? Kellogg’s Chocolately Drizzle Special K Bar has only 90 calories. It also has only 1.5 fat grams and 1 gram of saturated fat and comes in several flavors including: strawberry, blueberry, honey nut, vanilla crisp, and peaches and berries.

Snack time is easy when you’re prepared. And while nonprocessed foods are always preferred, there are some fairly healthy, low calorie processed options available. Plan ahead and you won’t go hungry; better yet you’ll lose weight and stay healthy.

Popular Biggest Loser Diet and Workout Plans Diet

I

f you’re a reality TV fan, you’ve probably seen NBC’s The Biggest Loser.

The popular show features two teams consisting of contestants who want to lose weight. They receive personal training, customized diet plans and lots of support. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all have such an opportunity?

The makers of The Biggest Loser recognized the demand for similar programs for the general public, and they created a book outlining the basics of the diet and workout plans used. But we all know how those diet books tend to end up collecting dust on the shelf. That’s why they took it a step further and began to offer an online plan.

The Biggest Loser Club offers a website full of tools to help us succeed in losing weight. It offers daily meal plans, complete with recipes and nutritional details. There’s also a customized fitness program that can be done at home or at the gym, along with demonstrations that show how to do the exercises correctly. Alternative exercises are offered for members with varied abilities.

The Biggest Loser Club also offers a great deal of flexibility in meal planning. Meal plans are provided for members, but they are not set in stone. If a member does not like a particular meal, he can select from a variety of other meals that offer similar nutritional value. The plan consists of three meals and two snacks each day to help keep hunger at bay.

Support and Easy Access One of the most important things when dieting is support, and the Biggest Loser Club offers plenty of that as well. All members get access to a message board that features lots of tips and advice from fellow members, experts and even contestants from the TV show.

There’s also a progress journal feature that can help keep members motivated, plus an informative club newsletter.

In addition to access to the website, club members can get information straight from their cell phones. Mobile features include access to exercise plans, shopping lists and food logs. So you don’t have to worry about messing up your diet just because you’re on the go.

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Pros and Cons As with any diet plan, the Biggest Loser Diet has good points and bad points. Here’s a summary:

Pros

• The diet plan places a great deal of emphasis on good nutrition. Participants are encouraged to prepare foods in a way that maintains their nutritional value and still tastes great.

• This plan is much more flexible than most.

• The online community offers a level of support that most diet plans do not.

Cons

• Those who are not computer savvy may have trouble following along.

• Even with all of the support that’s available, dieters must be motivated to make it work.

• Unlike the television show, there is no cash prize for the winners.

Overall, the Biggest Loser Diet plan is a feasible way to lose weight. But like any drastic lifestyle change, it requires commitment. The flexibility and level of support given with this plan are impressive, however, and many dieters have reported great success with it.

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Issue 1

Most Unusual Diet

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ieters often complain because the diets they go on take a sort of “one size fits all” approach. They provide lists of acceptable and unacceptable foods that are supposed to be appropriate for everyone, yet not everyone has the same tastes and weight loss needs. Shouldn’t diets be more personalized? Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo, creator of the Blood Type Diet, thinks so, but for different reasons.

D’Adamo is the author of Eat Right for Your Type, a book that claims that a person’s diet should be based on his blood type. A New York Times Bestseller, the book was voted one of the Ten Most Influential Health Books of All Time by analysts. Yet it has also been subject to a great deal of criticism.

How the Blood Type Diet Works Today there are four basic blood types in humans: O, A, B and AB. According to D’Adamo, type O blood is the oldest, and is associated with a time in history when humans ate mostly meats. Type A blood was the next to develop, and is associated with the movement toward a diet consisting primarily of grains and vegetables. Type B blood came about in Asia, at a

The Blood Type Diet

time when the standard diet included mostly meat and dairy products. AB is the newest blood type. Brought about by intermingling of Type A and Type B, AB carries characteristics of both of those types.

D’Adamo suggests a diet for each blood type that consists of foods historically consumed by that type. Here are the basics for each type:

Type O

- Can eat meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. Grains, beans and legumes should be limited. For weight loss purposes, eat kelp, seafood, red meat, liver, spinach and broccoli; and avoid wheat, corn, kidney and navy beans, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.

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ype A - Best foods include vegetables,

tofu, seafood, grains, beans and fruit.

For weight loss, eat vegetable oil, soy and pineapples, and avoid meat, dairy, kidney and lima beans and wheat.

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ype B - Can eat all meats except

chicken, dairy, grains, beans, fruits and vegetables. Greens, eggs, venison, liver and tea are conducive to weight loss, and corn, peanuts, sesame seeds and wheat should be avoided.

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ype AB - May eat meat, seafood,

dairy, beans, grains fruits and vegetables, all in moderation. Weight loss foods include seafood, dairy, greens and pineapples.

Red meat, kidney and lima beans, seeds and corn should be avoided.

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Criticisms Although the Blood Type Diet has become extremely popular, it is also controversial. Critics say that despite its scientific-sounding explanations, there is no research to back up the claims made. Some go as far as to say that the principles of the diet are based on nothing more than generalizations gleaned from a few isolated cases.

Many dieters are put off by the diet’s restrictiveness. Although it does not prescribe specific calorie counts or portion sizes, it severely limits the foods a person can eat. This makes it difficult for many dieters to adhere to.

Still, the Blood Type Diet has many supporters. Some claim that it has greatly improved their health and helped them lose weight. If you’re interested, D’Adamo has published supplemental books for each blood type in addition to his original offering.

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FABULOUS & FIT 45

Fabulous Nurse magazine

Exercise

To Get Pregnant for pregnancy.

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any couples look to make the conception process as easy as possible when trying to conceive. One lifestyle change that may aid in achieving a higher conception rate is to implement an exercise routine. Your routine does not need to be strenuous but should aim to get your body in the best shape possible for conception and subsequent pregnancy. Since your body works very hard during pregnancy, starting out in good shape will benefit you during the actual pregnancy.

Exercising offers great benefits to your body. Your cardiovascular system and immune system are built up by regularly exercising. Exercising can also aid in getting pregnant so it is to your benefit to incorporate a regular exercise routine into your life when preparing 46

Keep in mind, however, that too much exercise will be detrimental and will decrease hormone production and therefore lower your odds of getting pregnant. Set up a low-key exercise plan for yourself with some help from your physician.

Keep an eye on your body mass index (BMI). Women with too high or too low of a BMI tend to have problems conceiving as body fat is an important factor when dealing with fertility.

Your body works extremely hard during pregnancy because it is fostering the new life growing inside of you and sustaining your life as well. Simply put your body is doing the work for two lives instead of one, so give your body the best chance by keeping it in shape. Exercises

such as walking and low-key aerobics are good exercises that will help you to stay fit without exerting yourself and counteracting your intentions.

Not only is exercising good for increasing your odds of conceiving, it helps to avoid excess weight gain during pregnancy and also helps you to lose the baby weight post-delivery. Regular exercise has also shown to improve delivery conditions and make it easier to deliver your baby without any complications.

Be sure to discuss any exercise plans with your physician in regards to pre-pregnancy workouts and workouts during pregnancy. Some exercises need to be avoided during pregnancy, especially intense workouts.

Exercising can help increase your odds for conceiving, but stick to a light workout a few days each week instead of an intense workout. Intense workouts can decrease hormone production, and therefore lower your chances of getting pregnant. All exercise programs should be discussed with your physician as they can tell you which exercises are safe to do pre-pregnancy and while pregnant. Keeps your exercise regimen going through pregnancy and you will make delivery and post-delivery baby weight loss easier.

Either way, you win!

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ow Many Calories Are Burned Running?

When it comes to exercise, there are few fitness programs which beat running for burning calories and helping people get into shape fast. On top of improving your cardiovascular health running burns an abundance of calories.

How many calories are burned running? Here’s a simple equation to find out.

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by your weight in pounds.

This means if you weigh 130 pounds the calculation would be .75 X 130 or 97.5 calories per mile. However, this is an average and the harder, faster, and more difficult your training, the more calories you’ll burn.

Putting It In Perspective.

An average running time is about ten minutes per mile. Assuming

Calories The number of calories you burn when running is based on a number of determining factors or criteria. These criteria include: •

How much you weigh

•

How fast you run

•

How far you run

For ease of use, most equations are based on running one mile though if you’re running more than one mile there is a bit of a snowball effect because it requires more energy to continue running. Additionally, the terrain and type of running will also affect the number of calories you burn. For example, if you’re running uphill outside against the wind you’ll put forth a lot more energy than running on a treadmill in your living room.

The basic equation for calculating how many calories you burn per mile you multiply .75

Burned Running

you run six miles in an hour then you’ll burn 585 calories in an hour. Swimming, treading water, moderate effort for the same 130 pound person will burn 236 calories per hour.

Walking, which is a good way to ease into running by walking and running for an hour, burns 207 calories per hour this is at a moderate pace of 3 miles per hour.

Aerobics, on average burns about 354 calories per hour for the same 130 pound person and a moderate effort on a stationary bike burns 413 calories and for comparison moderate exercise on a bicycle outdoors burns about 60 more calories per hour.

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A little calorie burning help.

It’s interesting to note that the more you weigh, the faster you’ll burn the calories. This is because it takes more energy to do the same amount of work. It’s also helpful to know that as you build muscle, you’ll also burn calories more quickly even when you’re not exercising because muscle demands more energy and it helps you metabolize your food faster.

If you’re just starting out with a running program, know that it’s important to start small. Begin combining walking and running for a specific distance or time.

For example you might walk for five minutes and run for one or two minutes gradually increasing the amount of time you’re running and decreasing your walking time.

This will prevent overuse injuries like muscle tears, sprains and strains which can put you on the couch for weeks and as you know, you don’t really burn many calories sitting on the couch. As you increase your running time you can also increase the intensity, speed, and mileage thus burning more calories.

Running is one of the best calorie burning exercises around.

Approach it with a plan, pay attention to your body’s signals, and you’ll be at your healthy weight in no time.

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Treadmill Running Tips

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readmills, you either love them or you hate them. Regardless of how you feel about them, they offer many benefits for runners of all abilities. Before you hop on that treadmill keep these five treadmill running tips in mind. They’ll ensure you have a better treadmill running experience and help prevent injury.

Treadmill running tip #1

Good shoes are important. Often times people assume that since you’re running inside that you don’t need good running shoes. It is tempting to just go downstairs to the treadmill in your slippers and jog a few miles but this is a huge mistake. Not only are your slippers inappropriate for treadmill surfaces, basic tennis shoes are too. Treadmill running surfaces are hard and don’t have the give that you’ll find outside.

Additionally, your running form is likely to be more restricted and less free than it would be outside. This is normal because you;re running in a confined space. To compensate for this running form, it is important you have the right running shoes. Determine your foot type, your running style ‘ do you over or under pronate, and then buy shoes accordingly. You’ll avoid injury and your indoor running experience will be significantly more pleasant.

Treadmill running tip #2

Put your treadmill in an inspiring location. Many times the treadmill ends up in the basement or the garage. While that may make sense logistically, who wants to run in such dark and cold places? Chances are your treadmill, if relegated to the basement or the garage, will end up collecting dust. Make sure your treadmill has access to natural light and is in an inviting space.

Treadmill running tip #3

Let me entertain you. Because treadmill running can be kind of dull, it’s easy to dismiss. Let’s face it, running in place for thirty minutes while staring at the walls

sounds pretty painful. However treadmill running is perfect for watching your favorite show or listening to music. Additionally, studies have shown people work out harder and longer when listening to music.

Treadmill running tip #4

Increase your treadmill incline to level two or three. Running on a flat treadmill or even level one almost feels as if you’re running downhill and can be very hard on your muscles and joints. If you increase the incline to level two or three then it simulates a more natural running position which is better for your body and will give you the power to run longer and harder.

Treadmill running tip #5 Run with your arms free. One downside to treadmill running is that it’s too easy to lean forward onto the console or to grab the bars and run. Unfortunately this not only depletes your workout efforts but it’s also poor running form and can cause injury and bad habits when you run on the road. Stand upright with your body at a slight forward angle.

Keep your arms bent at the elbows and your hands relaxed.

Treadmill running has very specific and powerful benefits.

Follow these five tips and your treadmill running experience is sure to be everything you want it to be. You’ll lose weight, get in shape and enjoy the convenience of treadmill running.

Easy Toning Exercises

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xercise is an important part of our lives.

Staying in shape is one way to increase your life expectancy.

Weight bearing exercises are important also for increasing muscle mass and bone density as you age.

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1. The Bridge Butt Lift

- Sounds like a plastic surgery technique but it is an easy way to tone your buttocks. Lay down with feet flat on the floor, legs shoulder width apart. Place your hands, palm side down, on either side of your body. Pushing with your feet, squeeze your gluteal muscles and lift your butt off the floor. Hold the position for a count of five to ten and release down to the floor.

Most of us have learned what to do when it comes to exercising. The problem is where and when to get the job done. With a busy lifestyle, making time for exercise is a challenge.

Weight bearing exercises aren’t just for bodybuilders. As you age, especially once you hit the age of forty, you begin to lose muscle mass. For women especially, bone loss becomes a problem. When the body is in need of calcium it can rob it from your bones. Building muscle not only increases their mass but your strength.

Here are five easy toning exercises that can be done anywhere and whenever you have time.

At home, at the office, or on vacation, you can do these easy yet extremely effective exercises.

2. Squats - Squats work the

butt, the hamstring muscles and the quadriceps. If you aren’t sure of proper form, you can use a chair. Stand with feet shoulder width apart and feet firmly planted. Push your butt back as if you were preparing to sit in a chair. Keep your abs tight and your upper body straight. Once you reach chair level stop and hold the position for a count of two to five and release. At the lowest point, place all of your weight on your heels for balance and maximum toning.

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3. Reverse Lunges - Lunges

work the quadriceps muscles.

They can be hard for people with knee problems. A reverse lunge still tones the right muscle groups but with less pressure on the knee. Stand with feet together and arms at your sides. Take one leg and move it backwards until you are in lunge position: front leg bent at a 90 degree angle and back leg extended until you are on the ball of your foot.

From this position lower yourself down until the back knee almost touches the floor. Hold for a count of two and return to starting position.

4. Pushups - This is a classic toning exercise that works all areas of the arms plus the chest muscles. If you aren’t comfortable or strong enough to perform a pushup on your toes, lower your body to your knees.

Be sure your arms are tucked into the body and your back straight as you lower and lift your body.

5. Crunches - Abdominal muscles can be worked every day to build strength and muscle tone. Lying on the floor in sit up position, lace your fingers behind your head. Squeezing your abdominal muscles, lift your upper body until your lower back is about to come off the floor. Hold for two to five counts and return to starting position.

These five exercise moves can be done whenever you have time.

The best thing about exercise is that its effects are cumulative.

Even five or ten minutes at a time will work to your advantage.

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Celebrity Crush

Issue 1

Angelina Woman, Uninterrupted.

Catch Up On Your Jolie Stats

Jolie

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S.O: Currently lives with Brad Pitt. Jolie-Pitt have been known to say they will get married when their children demand it.

the Daniel Pearl Foundation, Global Green U.S.A. and the Epidermolysis Bulloma Medical Research Foundation.

Children: Yes.

Famous quote: “Family is earned.”

How many: 6 Names: Madox, Pax and Zahara are adopted by both she and Brad. Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne are their biological off springs.

Father: Jon Voight, actor.

Mother: Marcheline Bertrand, retired actress.

Born: Angelina Jolie Voight.

She legally dropped the Voight surname in 2002.

Ethnicity: American of Slovak, German, French Canadian and Iroquois descent.

DOB: June 4th, 1975 Los Angeles, CA Height: 5’7” Weight: 120 lbs What she wanted to be when she grew up: At about age fourteen she decided against acting and opted to pursue a career as a funeral director when she grew up. FN is sooo glad she changed her mind!

Marital status: Single.

Current beau: Yes 52

POB:

Why we love her: A 21st century mother Theresa. Ang is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and when she is not doing that, she is adopting the world.

Who she donates to: Doctors Without Borders, Global AIDS Alliance, the Namibia Red Cross Action Program,

Breakout role: Connie Wallace in George Wallace. She won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for this role.

Global career launch: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Peer recognition: Screen actors award for her performances in Gia, Girl Interrupted, and A Mighty Heart.

Highest acclaim: Won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in Girl, Interrupted.

Greatest commercial success: Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Kung Fu Panda.

Directorial debut: The documentary, A Place in Time.

Recent film in theatre: Salt which we absolutely enjoyed. FN says, “sequel, please.”

Upcoming film: The Tourist to be released in 2011.

Future Role: Cleopatra in a remake of Queen of the Nile, Cleopatra: A Life Official fan website: www.angelinafans.com

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Fabulous Nurse dubs her: The sexiest humanitarian alive!

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Lifestyle

UniqueHoliday Celebrations Around The World This Christmas

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lthough December is “Bingo Month” and “Write a Friend” month, most people recognize December as the birth month of Jesus Christ. The Christmas season, also known as, Yuletide is a time of celebration when many aspire to create a shared sense of good will. Before writing this article, we at FN, looked at the way different cultures in America celebrate Christmas. This led us on a global quest to find out how some of these cultures celebrate this time of the year in their native soil.

China Christians in China celebrate by lighting their houses with beautiful paper lanterns and decorating their Christmas trees. These trees are called, Trees of Light.

Common decorations for the Trees of Light include paper chains, lanterns, and flowers.

Children in China traditionally hang muslin stockings in anticipation of Santa’s visit. Dun Che Lao Ren which translates to Christmas Old Man is Chinese children’s name for Santa Claus.

In China, only a few people celebrate Christmas since most Chinese are not Christian. Unlike the United States, the main winter festival in China is the

Chinese New Year which takes place toward the end of January. An important aspect of the Chinese New Year celebration is the worship of ancestors. Families hang portraits of ancestors in the main parlor of the home.

Now officially called the “Spring Festival,” it is a time when children expect and receive new clothing, eat scrumptious meals, receive gifts of new toys, and enjoy firecracker displays. It is a thoroughly commercialized affair.

Germany Merry Christmas in German is ‘Frohe Weihnacht’. Advent wreaths are the first signs of Christmas and appear on the first Sunday in Advent, about four weeks before Christmas day.

A single red candle is placed on the wreath each Sunday so that on Christmas day, there are a total of four candles. St. Nicholas’ Day is December 6.

Known in German as Der Nikolaus, he comes at night on the eve of the sixth to put presents of candy and chocolate in the shoes of children. These shoes

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are usually placed just outside the door by kids all over Germany. In some regions of Germany, it is believed that a rather large horned monster clothed in rags and carrying birch accompanies der Nikolaus. He is rumored to punish children who have been bad and gives them birch instead of presents.

Children write letters asking for presents from the Christkind or Christ Child, not Santa Claus.

Letters to the Christkind are decorated with sugar which is glued to the envelope making it sparkly and attractive. These letters are placed on windowsills during Advent. In Nürnberg, Germany a young girl is chosen every year to participate in the annual parade as the Christkind.

She is ceremoniously dressed as an angel in white and gold. The Nürnberg Christkind officially opens the Christmas market on the Friday before Advent, visits hospitals, nursing homes, nurseries, and makes television appearances.

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Christmas trees are an important part of the holiday celebration in Germany. The Christmas tree is traditionally brought into the house on Christmas Eve. The tree is usually decorated by the mom. Tree decorations include glass ornaments, wooden angels, straw stars, and lebkuchen, a pastry, baked in different shapes. Some household add a cherished pickle ornament. On the eve of Christmas, families all over Germany exchange gifts, read the bible, and sing Christmas carols such as Stille Nacht and O Tannenbaum.

books, and school supplies are offered, but the most important part of the day is worship.

Christmas worship service is highlighted by a love offering which is a gift in honor of Jesus.

Everyone who attends the service places their gift on a raised platform near the Communion table.

In the villages, groups of carolers parade the sometimes hilly roads, singing and dancing to the beat of drums as they celebrate the wondrous birth of

Cameroon In the coastal West African country of Cameroon, Christmas season also begins on the first week of Advent. Most notably, on Christmas Eve many Christians flock to the church for midnight service. Midnight mass for Catholics look especially surreal in the tropical night when the church is lit by a vast array of celebratory candles. Cameroonians see Christmas as a time for celebrating the birth of Christ and communing with one’s family. It is also a time when new Christians are welcomed into the fold. Baptisms and First Holy Communions on Christmas Eve or during Christmas Day mass are a common occurrence.

Christ. Everyone returns home from wherever they might have gone. Some return from family farms which can be several days trek away from home.

Plastic trees are decorated with Christmas lights in the homes of westernized families. A meal of deliciously prepared chicken or grilled soya (kebab) with rice and African stew is usually served. Pastries are a must have and these include African Father Christmas gives the gifts doughnuts, chin-chin, meat-pie, of brand new clothing and shoes cakes, and much more. to the parents of children who have been good. The parents India in turn offer these gifts, neatly wrapped to their kids on Christ- India is a very big country with mas morning. On occasion toys, 56

many traditions to boot. It is no surprise that there are cultural nuances associated with the celebration of Christmas. For example, in the southern parts of India, small clay oil-lamps are used as decorations. These are placed on rooftops and on top of walls in the home, in much the same way that Hindus decorate their homes during the Diwali Festival. Churches are also decorated with poinsettias and lit with candles for the Christmas Evening service. In many Indian states it is customary to decorate banana or mango trees instead of traditional pine or spruce tree.

Christians in Northwestern India of the Bhil tribe go caroling the entire week of Christmas singing the equivalent of Christmas carols all through the night. In Mumbai, it is tradition to depict nativity scenes and decorate the home with big stars. In Goa, Christmas celebrations have garnered international attention because it is celebrated very much like Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

In other areas, there are more western influences as shown by the decoration of pine trees with Christmas lights.

Interestingly, we found out that although the reason for celebrating Christmas is singular amongst Christians the celebration of Christmas is very nuanced Many Christians have their unique cultural stamp on Christmas celebrations. This diversity is one more reason to celebrate the season.

XMAS Tree Decor How to Decorate a Christmas Tree

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e want our homes to look the best they can over the holidays. Before the Thanksgiving turkey is even cold we are pulling out the yuletide decorations. While we spruce up the inside and outside of our homes with bells and whistles, don’t forget about the Christmas tree.

Decorating a Christmas tree is a family affair. Now, the husband and the kids may not want to go around the house hanging Christmas banners and Christmas cards with you. You may not enjoy climbing on the roof of the house to hang lights either.

Everyone can, however, participate in the Christmas tree decoration. Your tree says a lot about you as a family - your choice of ornaments, tree topping, and tree skirt.

First choose your tree. Many go for artificial trees because there are no dried pine needles to pierce the bottoms of tender feet or vacuum up. Some artificial trees come pre-lit so that eliminates the need to buy strands and strands of lights.

Artificial trees are available in many different colors, white, blue, pink, as well as green and are of varying heights and types.

For a real tree, some families get theirs a couple of weeks

before Christmas. Tree farms and tree lots usually have a nice selection of Christmas trees with hearty branches. Be sure that you can’t see through the tree. If you can, then it will be too thin to hold heavy ornaments. Also make sure to water real trees frequently once you’ve brought them home and placed them in their stand. This will prevent drying out of needles and possible fire hazards or a brown tree on Christmas morning.

Here are some decorating suggestions no matter which type of tree you choose for your family this year.

1.

Start with the lights. It’s going to be hard to put strings of lights on the tree after you’ve put all of the other goodies on the tree. For kids, it’s fun to put a strand or two of running lights so that they blink instead of staying on all the time. Depending on the size of your tree you may only need a couple strands of lights.

2.

Add a touch of garland.

There are many different kinds. Most people shy away from traditional icicles be-

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cause they are a fire hazard especially on a live tree. The garland that has icicle like strands are just the same. Some opt for homemade popcorn garland (fun for kids!), colored beaded garland, or snowflake garland made of plastic. Wrap the garland loosely so that it doesn’t strangle the tree. Let some of the length hang between the branches so it can be seen.

3.

Now for the fun – the ornaments. Some families use a color scheme of two or three colors for their ornaments. Others may purchase pre-packaged ornament sets with a certain theme. Kids can hang ornaments they created in school.

You could end up with quite an eclectic looking creation. Space ornaments so they surround the tree and leave no bald spots.

4.

The tree topper goes on last. There are angels, stars, and even bows. Some have a plug that fits into your string of lights. Just remove one light on the strand and plug in the tree topper. Others have their own plug that can be connected directly into the top strand of lights or the wall outlet. Some still don’t have a light at all.

Once you’ve finished the decorating of the outside and inside of the house and your tree is dressed to its best, the house is completely ready for the holidays.

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Dirty Fabulous Nurse magazine

Santa games

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hristmas party games for families.

When the family gets together at Christmas, anything is bound to happen. All in attendance get a healthy dose of food, fellowship, and fun. If your house is the site for this year’s family party, don’t forget the games.

Games are great for challenging the mind and getting a little friendly competition going between family members. Choose games that will work for kids and some for the adults. Some games will work for both. Here is a list of potential games that could liven up your family celebration this year.

1.

Dirty Santa – The name is dirty but this game is actually very PG. Fun for all.

Of course it is up to you what you wear or bring as a gift. The object is for everyone to bring a wrapped gift and put it in a designated area like under the tree or on a table. Then each person draws a number from a hat. In turn, each person gets to pick a gift from under the tree.

When it is their turn, each participant has the option to pick a gift from under the tree or take a gift from someone who has already chosen. The catch is that once a gift is chosen, the person 58

has to unwrap it and show the group. All gifts should be in the same price range but some will be nicer than others. Also, the first person to go is the last person to get a chance to exchange their gift. They get to choose from all the gifts in the group.

This game is for the adults.

2.

Timed Guessing Games – This includes naming the gifts on each of the 12 days of Christmas, naming as many Christmas carols as you can, taking a word and making as many words as you can from it, and a Christmas word scramble. You can have little stocking stuffers for the winners. Kids and adults are good for this one.

3.

Family Trivia – Who knows the most about their relatives? Let each relative write down something that happened to them and give them to the person in charge of the game.

Everyone else gets a piece of paper. After each question is read, all players write down whom in the room each is referring to. The one with the most correct answers at the end of the list wins.

4.

Charades – This is a tried and true party game. All of the puzzles have to relate to Christmas. Some examples include a cartoon, movie, book, song, or event.

The team with the most correct answers wins.

5.

Name that Christmas Carol – This is just like “Name that Tune.” Sing or play a CD with the first line or two of a Christmas carol. The family contestant has to come up with the next line correctly. Start off with easy carols and progress to harder ones as you go up the ladder.

These are but a few of the great games you can come up with to keep the family in stitches this holiday season. Enjoy the fun, laughter and memories that will be made!

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Fabulous Nurse magazine

Poker-faced

Parenting

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oker playing has been revolutionized by technology. When I think poker, I no longer think of scenes in a movie where a group of cigar smoking tough looking bad guys battle over a high stakes game of cards. I say battle over because someone’s head was usually on the block.

Today poker transcends seedy bars, casinos and make-shift living-room game centers. Poker can be watched on TV, ESPN to be exact, and played on the internet. There are as many poker playing internet sites as there are casinos, perhaps more.

Some involve money and others do not. No matter your preferred brand of poker-playing coffee, there is a card game out there that will cater to your style.

The skills that make one player outsmart another can be applied to parenting. The pokerfaced parenting techniques that I am going to share with you are especially relevant if you have 60

to deal with any young adult or teenager on a daily basis.

Poker-faced parenting skill #1:

Master your poker-face.

Every parent needs this skill. You don’t always want your children reading your every thought. Like a good poker player you will learn how to “poker up” when things are not going as you wish. Sometimes, just maintaining a cool, calm and collected exterior will help your child calm down if they are acting up.

Imagine two people screaming at the top of their lungs. In this scenario, no one is listening to the other. Worse, no one is acting like the parent. Practice your poker face and stay calm.

Poker-faced parenting skill #2:

Play the cards you have.

The old adage dictates that in life one should play the cards they are dealt with. There is an unstated assumption that you have the skill-set to do so.

Never mind your silent screams that you feel clueless, alone and

utterly helpless, sometimes.

On the poker table, playing the hands you are dealt, especially in a game of Texas Hold Em, means that each hand has an equal likelihood of winning. In a nutshell, you cannot loose. The odds are stacked in your favor, if you play right.

This fits neatly into parenting.

It does not matter what hands fate has dealt you, what matters is your ability to skillfully play the cards to your advantage. As a parent, rich or poor, the difference to a teenager is the complete knowledge that they are loved and cared for, and that their opinion counts for something. If you are able to play any cards you have, in any particular situation and succeed in conveying this message, you have won the game.

Poker-faced parenting skill #3:

Find the silver lining.

In poker the silver lining is represented by the diamond.

In real life you look for every opportunity to see the good. My girlfriend’s daughter is authority challenged, at best.

Her favorite words are “no,” “get out,” and “I hate you.” Worse, she is go-

Issue 1

ing through a Goth phase and my girlfriend swears that sometimes she acts as though she is possessed. My friend’s first and most human emotion was to despair. What could possibly be the silver lining in her situation?

Think on those hard hateful words. Don’t they sound like the utterings of someone in pain? A teenager’s life can be very confusing. So many strange things are happening to their body.

Their emotions throw them into moods that rival those of a woman with a bad case of PMS; except the hormonal hurricane that is ravaging their bodies does not follow a monthly cycle – it is constant. You hope that they will talk to you but as many parents know, teenagers are especially hard to chat with. And, boy do they hold grudges for a long time.

As shocking as those hateful words were, my gff knew enough about the poker-parenting technique to prevent her from showing her growing sense of desperation. Before you start thinking about calling in the local priest to perform an exorcism, I’ll suggest that you

think small and find the silver lining where you can. Look at it this way, your child might say all those hateful things but every day after school they come home. There is some value in that. If your child makes it to the dinner table, no matter how much he or she sulks, engage them in conversation and be thankful that somewhere deep inside they still value family time.

Poker-faced parenting skill #4:

Do to your child as you would them do to you.

If you want your child to treat you with respect, treat them as valid members of the household and capable of making some decisions. If you want your child to be engaging and open up to you, don’t huff and puff around the house like an ogre. Instead, plan an activity they like and get them to relax.

Ask your child general questions about their life and what it feels like to be a teenager today. Trust me, no matter how tuned in you think you are, your teenager probably thinks your ideas are so twenty years ago.

Nothing you say will convince them you know what they are going through unless you give them the chance to speak and tell you what is going on. Ironic, isn’t it? It is like the poker technique where you play a hand to lull others to play, even though you have a good bet. It makes for a good game and increases your winnings.

Poker-faced parenting skill #5:

All in.

This is probably the most overused phrase in poker. All in.

What does this mean for a parent? All in would require a significant effort on your part.

You will have to show your child in more ways than one that you are completely on their side and truly vested in your relationship.

Words to that are not backed by action will ring hollow and untrue. If teenagers are good at nothing else they have their parent bull-shit radar fine-tuned.

You have to be sincere and honest.

A word to the wise; be careful what you wish for. When you follow these techniques, in all likelihood, your child will start opening up to you. You need to prepare yourself to hear things that might make your skin crawl, things that stand in contrast with everything you believe in. If you really want a good relationship with your child, you will maintain that poker-face you have been practicing and listen without interrupting. Feel free to throw up when you are alone in your bedroom.

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Fabulous Nurse magazine

Blocks

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ids play and grow with toys. Blocks are one of the most basic toys you can find.

It may seem they don’t really do anything and in their simplest form they’re just little wooden cubes. But to a child, they represent a world of possibilities.

Blocks are great toys for children of all ages. Infants love soft blocks to look at, squeeze, chew on and drop. Toddlers like to put blocks in boxes and pour them out or pile them on the floor. Preschoolers can build towers, houses, animals and more with blocks.

Blocks are a great way to keep your child occupied, but they also have lots of educational benefits. Here are some ways that children learn from blocks.

Social Development Blocks are fun for one child, but two or more make them much more interesting. Young children enjoy playing with blocks in groups. It is a great way to encourage children to learn to 62

share and cooperate with others. As your child grows, she and her playmates may learn to work together to build things.

Physical Development Small children can gain hand strength from blocks. They are also one of the best toys for developing hand-eye coordination.

Babies like to drop or throw them. Toddlers will attempt to arrange and stack them and eventually learning to balance them.

Intellectual Development Alphabet blocks are one of the best educational toys money can buy. Most of them are brightly colored and feature letters of the alphabet and numbers. Young children can begin to sort them by color and eventually they will learn the names of the colors. Then they can begin to learn the letters and numbers. Once your child has mastered his letters, the blocks are great for quizzing him on which letter makes which sound.

Blocks are also excellent for introducing math. They can put the numbers in order to practice counting, and they can count the blocks themselves to learn how to count objects. Eventually they can use them to experiment with addition and subtraction.

Creativity Building is quite the creative process for children. It’s a great feeling when they learn to balance several blocks on top of each other. From there they will begin to build simple structures.

Then they will move on to elaborate houses, schools and even castles.

Lego blocks provide more flexibility in building. They also allow kids to move their creations to other locations. While regular building blocks are better for smaller children, Lego blocks are a good replacement when they seem to have outgrown them.

Kids can learn a number of things from blocks. Because they are learning through participation, they will retain the knowledge more readily. What more could you ask for out of an educational toy?

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to ys wa py am

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Issue 1

he other day, I stopped by a friends for barbecue.

While the food was deliciousand the atmosphere festive, we spent the first twenty minutes discussing the changes they had made to their

garden.

It will lighten your spirit every time you look outside. You can accomplish this by placing everyday objects in unexpected places.

dd fun to your

a

Here are 10 best conversation starters that put the whimsical in backyard fun:

ba ckya rd

This made me think of all the wonderful campy and fun things you can do to personalize your own backyard.

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Use an antique tub for a garden bed.

Plant tomotes in an old rubber boot.

Plant flowers in dishes and teapots.

Use enormous sculpted chess pieces and display throughout your backyard.

Place a miniature toy train on the bar to serve guests’ drinks as it drives around.

Place a bronze frog sunbathing on a lilly pad next to your pond, pool or fountain.

How cute would it be to have different types of fairies peeking out at your guests from behind the greenery?

Add a splash of color and contrast with an electric blue mozaic bird bath in the middle of a pink rose garden.

If guests are lounging by the pool, have a toy choo-choo train carry drinks from the bar, through the garden to the pool.

10.

The campiest and most recognizable of all, place several pink flamongoes in your garden for added flair.

Caution: Don’t do this all at once or your garden will go from

campy, whimsical, and fun to just plain strange in one fell swoop.

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Fabulous Nurse magazine

crapbooking has been around for ages, but it has recently experienced a surge in popularity. People from all walks of life have discovered the joys of creating albums to showcase their treasured photos and keepsakes. But with all the elaborate scrapbooking techniques and myriad embellishments available, getting started can be intimidating.

The truth is, anyone that can use scissors and glue can scrapbook.

And you don’t have to spend ridiculous amounts of money to create attractive pages.

With some basic supplies and a little imagination, you can create lovely scrapbooks that will be adored for years to come.

What You Need

of scissors. But an Exacto knife might make photo cropping easier. And if you’re no good at cutting straight lines, you might want to invest in a paper cutter.

Adhesives - There are all sorts of adhesives one could use for scrapbooking. Glue sticks and double-sided tape are quite popular. Some scrapbookers also use rubber cement or glue dots for certain applications. But when you’re getting started, just use what you’re most comfortable with.

Scrapbooking

for Beginners

You can get started scrapbooking on a small budget.

Here are the things you’ll need.

An album - Scrapbooking albums come in all shapes and sizes. The most popular are 8 1/2” x 11” and 12” x 12”. They can be found at most craft supply stores if you don’t have a scrapbooking supply store nearby. * Paper - Scrapbooking paper can be found in a variety of solid colors and patterns. This will be the basis for each page.

You may also use scrapbooking paper for journaling and to create your own photo mats and embellishments.

Cutting tools - You can easily get by with just a good pair 64

Photos - Beginning scrapbookers often start out with old photos that they’ve accumulated over the years. This makes for a nice, nostalgic album. Of course you can also take new pictures for your scrapbook. A digital camera and photo printer are two modern conveniences that make scrapbooking easier, but they are not necessities. Photos taken by a film camera work just as well.

When purchasing scrapbooking supplies, it’s important to make sure they are acid-free. This will keep them from harming your priceless photos.

Basic Techniques You don’t have to know a lot about scrapbooking techniques to create an attractive album.

Just a few simple techniques will suffice.

One of the first things many scrapbookers learn is how to mat photos. This can be accomplished by simply cutting a square or rectangle that is about a half inch longer and wider than the photo you want to mat. Then glue the photo to the center. To make a photo really stand out, double mat it by cutting out a shape a half inch longer and wider than the first mat, and center the matted photo on it.

Journaling gives scrapbook pages a nice personal touch.

Simply write a note about the photos on a page, telling what was happening or sharing your thoughts on the subject. Use paper that coordinates with the background, and be sure to write with an acid-free pen.

Adding borders to your pages gives them a finished look. You can make them out of strips of coordinating scrapbook paper.

You don’t have to border all four sides. A strip along the top, side or bottom will do. For easy embellishing, use some stickers.

There’s no need to throw in the towel if you don’t have the time, money or know-how to create elaborate scrapbooks. Just start off simple, and learn new techniques as you go.

Choosing the Right Diet

Issue 1

For Your Dog I f you were told that part of a dog’s diet should consist of spaghetti and meatballs (without the sauce), what would you think? Would you be surprised to learn that it can be quite good for your dog?

Here are some tips for choosing the right diet for dogs.

While more and more dog owners are choosing to prepare homemade meals for their pets, others opt for high premium foods. Still, others simply feed their dogs whatever is on sale.

The only problem with commercial dog food is that there is no set standard for what goes into the mix, except that it must contain the following: vitamins, minerals, protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

The only way to determine if the commercial food is high in quality is by reading the label and even then you need a degree to understand the ingredients.

Choosing the right diet for dogs is similar to choosing the right diet for humans. Depending on size, weight, allergies, etc., everyone is different. Well, all breeds are different and choosing the right diet is based on assuring that it is well-balanced and offers the right amount of nutrients.

The recent recall of pet food re-

asserts the fact that homemade food for dogs may be the only answer. However, it takes time and preparation to ensure that the food is fresh, prepared properly, and is balanced.

There are foods which should never be given to dogs as part of their dietary regimen. They include: dairy products, chocolate, and foods that contain sugar.

There are many experts who advise that dog owners should offer dietary meals which consist of protein such as: meat, chicken, and turkey. The only meat not suitable for dogs is pork and pork products. In addition, vegetables, fruits, fat, fiber, and Vitamin E in premium dog foods are a healthy alternative to commercial dog foods.

While there are those who consider premium dog foods to be more expensive, one has to put it in perspective. The healthier the food, the less you will have to give to a dog in order for him to obtain the full benefits. If you take a sub-standard product, you will have to give the dog more to obtain the same goal.

foods, you know exactly what your dog is eating. In addition, food that is commercially made can cause disease, infection, and other disorders.

The health of your dog is first and foremost. So it seems that choosing the right diet for dogs becomes a valid issue to ensure that your dog stays healthy and happy. Of course, as the dog ages so will his dietary needs.

That’s all part and parcel of a nutrition-based dietary program combined with exercise.

While homemade food preparation is on the rise, so too is holistic diets for dogs. You can check on line to ascertain what recipes are available if you choose to go this route.

It’s all relative but more importantly, with premium foods and/or homemade 65

Fabulous Nurse magazine

500 Miles on Spain’s

El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage One (Mis)Step at a Time

By Dylan Romero

Day 1 Paris

I can’t find the ticket counter.

On top of that, I’ve slept for maybe forty-five minutes in the last thirty hours. Forget finding a ticket counter, I can barely find my hands.

My girlfriend, Stephanie, and I are lying on a concrete bench in the Austerlitz Train Station in Paris, or as Steph calls it, “Auschwitz” Train Station. Getting this far has been tough – lost luggage, a missed train – but Steph’s accidental rechristening of the train station reminds me things can always be worse.

I knew this wasn’t going to be a typical vacation. When Stephanie approached me about walking the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile pilgrimage crossing northern Spain, I had more 66

questions than I could count, not the least of which was “Why on earth would I want to do that?”

Week 1

The Pyrenees and Julie Andrews “Traveling is just hurrying to get to the next place you have to wait.”

Or so says the burly German pilgrim (with equally burly nose pores). The Pyrenees, with their rolling green peaks, look as though they’re straight out of The Sound of Music. Inspired, Steph does her best Julie Andrews impression: “The hills are ali-i-i-i-ve with the sound of mewzi-i-i-i-k.”

We reach Roncesvalles after seven hours of walking. The small village contains only a handful

of buildings surrounded by trees and mountains as far as the eye can see.

At some point we crossed the border into Spain, I never saw a border marker of any sort, and I feel slightly ripped off. Where’s the border crossing photo op?

Where’s the sign warning you of the photo op? Where’s the photo-op information center?

Already Spain is proving to be very un-American.

Week 2

Cola-Cao, wine, water Once other pilgrims start stirring, it’s time to get up. There’s no way you can sleep in when dozens of other pilgrims are zipping and unzipping their backpacks, rifling through their possessions, and splashing their headlamps across the walls and ceiling like manic spotlights.

Issue 1

We eat a typical breakfast of bread with jam, yogurt, and Cola-Cao (think European Nesquik) and leave our hostel the city of Estella behind us, searching for a rumored wine fountain along the pilgrim route somewhere in the hills north of town.

After an hour of walking groggily through the early morning dark, we stumble straight into it: the Fuente del Vino – the Fountain of Wine.

The small miracle of a free wine fountain immediately perks us up. Forget that it’s seven in the morning. Forget that it’s still dark and I can see my breath rising in front of my face through the yellow light of my headlamp.

We’ve hit the jackpot.

I tip my water bottle, emptying the water onto the cobblestones at the base of the fountain. I pull back the silver tap like a slot machine and dark wine gurgles into my bottle.

It doesn’t even matter when the wine tastes gritty, like it’s been ageing in a concrete tomb instead of a barrel. Asking for the wine to taste as heavenly as the rest of the wine in the Rioja region of Spain would be asking far too much. It’s a free wine fountain, and that’s good enough for me.

After a few more sips, I dump out the remaining wine and refill the bottle with a more practical

pilgrim’s drink: water.

Boring, non-alcoholic water.

Week 3

plaza, parade, horse-sized dogs In León Steph and I take a break from the shower-sharing, bunk-bedding life of a pilgrim and get a private room.

The room has a terrace with a string of red flowers hugging the railing that overlooks the Plaza de San Isidoro.

Before heading out to find dinner, Stephanie peaks out the window and notices that the people milling in the plaza below are beginning to form patterns. As the sky dims and the lights of León take over, the grouping continues until the plaza is ringed by onlookers.

We hear the drums before the parade comes into view. Minutes later, the procession appears – a reenactment of the coronation of King Alphoso IX. Men in chain mail on horses, women in layered lampshade dresses, and mastiffs so oversized they look unreal.

Finally, rows of drummers appear at the rear. The noise from the drums swells rapidly as they spill row by row into the plaza.

The medieval procession continues through the plaza and past our window out of sight.

The Camino de Santiago offers a wide variety of options regarding food, lodging, and recreation. The typical pilgrim takes about 35 days to complete the pilgrimage, and total costs (not including airfare) range from $500$5000.

If pilgrims avoid hotels and expensive restaurants, the total cost can easily be kept shy of $1500.

Where to stay: Pilgrim’s hostels (or albergues) come in 3 basic forms: municipal, parochial, and private Albergue prices range from €0-10 ($0-13) Private albergues tend to be more expensive, but often include extras like a full kitchen.

Where to eat: Pilgrim’s meals can be found at most albergues or nearby café/bars.

Pilgrim’s meal prices range from €5-15 ($6-19) Café/bars, restaurants, and grocery stores are plentiful along the pilgrimage.

Links: A great forum asking pilgrims questions about the Camino: caminodesantiago.me/board A Camino website with maps, photos, and traveling tips: caminodesantiago.me.uk 67

Fabulous Nurse magazine

Mouths agape and bored looking, the mastiffs lumber by, followed by horses with a barely discernable size advantage.

The drummers chase them out of view, their drums fading; an echoing, ominous thud. If the plaza had a Starbucks, the ambiance might not have felt as authentic. As it is, we had the perfect view.

Ravenous from putting off dinner, we step out into the dispersing crowd and hunt for a restaurant.

Week 4

Candyland, Brazil, Oregon We leave Cacabelos to wet pavement and threatening skies.

As we climb out of the valley the sun rises and the clouds part just enough to give us a view from Cacabelos back to Ponferrada and its lone skyscraper stacked haphazardly like children’s blocks.

A rainbow appears in front of us on the vineyard-covered hills and the scent of licorice root is in the air. Even the cow-pies dotting the path are starting to resemble some delectable chocolaty treat.

“Are we playing a grueling version of Candyland?” I ask Steph.

She just looks at me like I’m crazy, which I probably am. Or maybe the trees peppering the hills in the distance mark the beginning of the gumdrop forest.

The rainbow eventually disappears but the clouds and the smell of licorice follow us all day.

The rain finally hits as we’re sitting down to dinner at Brazilianran hostel. The pilgrims pause 68

momentarily, ears cocked to the growing roar of the downpour.

Soon everyone is on their feet, running outside to rescue the clothes that had been drying on the clothesline.

Everyone returns giggling, and the multilingual chatter around the stout wooden table is animated. A different sound can be heard over the deluge outside; water is trickling close by. I look up and the back wall of the hostel is weeping.

Again all the pilgrims rise and hurry to relieve the wall of its various Brazilian paintings, masks, and decorations before the water ruins them. Everyone is laughing and wet and I smile and think for the first time of home.

Week 5 Santiago

We reach the cathedral in Santiago before the noon mass.

The yellow mold and

dark grime on the façade gives the cathedral ancient, almost mystical quality that makes me think of a temple from an Indiana Jones movie.

The plaza outside the cathedral is noisy. Pilgrims and tourists crowd the square and there is already a line for mass zigzagging down the stone steps of the front entrance.

Steph and I take a cursory tour of the cathedral, including the dubious tomb of the pilgrimage’s namesake, St. James, before escaping from the Sunday morning throng and heading to the pilgrim’s office to pick up our compostelas – a certificate

Issue 1

verifying that we completed the journey on foot.

We display our pilgrim’s passports, which are filled with stamps from each hostel we stayed in, and are handed a piece of paper that reminds me of my high school diploma (though I think I’m more proud of having earned the compostela).

how we’re going to follow a trail 500 miles through Spain when we can’t follow childproof red footprints.

“Well,” Steph counters.

“No matter what happens I’m sure as hell making it to that free wine fountain.”

Once I have the certificate, all I can think about is rest. What it means to finally complete a 500mile pilgrimage can catch up with me later – after a nap, and maybe over a glass of wine.

Day 1 Paris

Where is that damn ticket counter?

Our lack of French comprehension skills leaves the information booth attendant befuddled. It has been three hours since our search for train tickets began.

Steph and I return to our concrete bench defeated.

I’m sitting with my head held low in defeat when I see the footprints.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mumble. “Steph, look down.”

Steph bursts out laughing.

There they are. Footprints painted fire truck red and inscribed with the word billets – tickets.

The footprints lead us directly to the ticket counter, which is located conveniently in the largest, most obvious room in the train station – a room that we somehow avoided during our hours long search.

Only half kidding, I ask Steph 69

Fabulous Nurse magazine

career 70

talk

Issue 1

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They work for long hours with a smile on their face.

They are always ready to face healthcare challenges, even when short staffed.

When duties are completed, you get a feeling of satisfaction by the end of a day.

The art of patient care is practiced with lots of patience and finesse.

They take care of everyone, including patients, families, doctors, therapists, technicians and the list goes on.

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They dole out both medical and non-medical advice.

Top Ten

Reasons To Love A Nurse

They are up to date on the latest research and best practice findings.

They will empower you to boost up your spiritual and emotional well-being.

They educate patients on how to better taking care of themselves.

They combine science, technology, compassion, and caring effortlessly.

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Fabulous Nurse magazine

Dream Job Series

Part 1 of 5 Strategic Planning

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ase Study 1: Janet is a new grad who is fresh out of school, driven, and ready to learn what it takes to become an outstanding nurse and employee. She recently received confirmation that she passed the NCLEX exam. Three full days of celebration which included an impromptu trip to Las Vegas just concluded. Reality is kicking in. The jobs market isn’t what she expected. Throughout her four years in school and each time she reads a nursing journal, someone is commenting on the shortage of nurses. We are about a million nurses short, they all say. This should present the best possible situation for a new nurse. One would think.

Why does Janet not see an end72

less request for nurses in the want ads? This makes her wonder if she made the right choice.

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ase Study 2: Cori is fortyfive. Nursing is her second career after a brief stint in the IT industry. She has been a nurse for 12 years and loves to take care of people. Cori finds being a nurse more rewarding but decries the dismal pay she gets in rural South Carolina. She has grown increasingly restless in her current job. She is also suffering from a bad case of burn out. Cori loves nursing and does not want to quit. She believes that a change of scenery and pay will do a lot to re-infuse her excitement about her chosen profession. Ideally, she will like to move to a larger city and work in a busy ED. Unfortunately

she is having a hard time finding the right job, at the right place, for the right pay.

What if you are like Cori and Janet? What resources are available to aid you in your search?

FN is creating a five part series on job search strategies to help you land that dream job. In five issues we’ll discuss one major thing you can do to make your job prospecting a very successful one. First we will discuss how to find the job, then we will explore the different things you can do to make yourself the ideal candidate for the job.

The ideal way to begin is to take an impartial look at you. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Write them down. For each weakness, counteract it with a positive. For example, let’s say that you are late leaving work once in a while. That can be a negative since a lot of hospitals are watching their budgets. You can spin this in the interview and say that you are very hard-working, to a fault. So much so that sometimes you stay over to finish your work and have to remind yourself it is twenty-four hour care. This is music to a future employer’s ears. What employer will not want to hire a workaholic? That is how you counteract your negatives. What skills do you feel most confident about? As you write down your appreciable skills bolster them with words like “demonstrated”, “excellent”, “superb”, and “superior.”

This is the one time you need to speak very highly of yourself.

Next, define your ideal job.

What is important to you? Is it location? Is it pay scale or

Issue 1

training or reputation of the hospital? Why is this important to you? Knowing “why” you seek this job is important. It will help later on when you tell the interviewer why you are the ideal match for the job position, over all the other candidates.

We’ll explore this in more depth later when we discuss interviewing skills.

Now that you have written down your strengths and weakness it is time to begin your search. There are a number of ways to do this.

We’ll explore the most common methods. A combination of these usually works.

claim. Don’t say you are excellent at starting IVs when you have never inserted one before.

You get my drift. Do add any notes of appreciation or commendation you received from instructors, colleagues and patients. Whatever it takes to stand out. Remember to sign up for hospital “alerts” which notify you when new positions are posted.

nurse-patient ratios, first hand.

Your current job position may start looking like heaven after you have checked out a few facilities. On the flip side, you might fall head over heels for a certain organization and decide to apply. Additionally, you can request a letter of recommendation from the charge nurse or manager on that unit. That’s what I call networking. You got paid to network. Lucky you!

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Using the same search engines as above you can also connect to sites like Monster or Craigslist that also have a large nationwide database of classified ads.

Fill out an application that shows what an excellent candidate you are and you are on your way.

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Check out the website of the facility you are interested in.

Search through their jobs database. Some might require you to fill out your application form in the HR department. Others are very strict about online applications only. Fill out each application with your strengths in mind. If you are a new grad, toot the skills you performed well during clinicals. No one expects a new grad to have a long list of accomplishments but people do tend to navigate towards confident people.

However few your skills may seem to you, share them with flourish. You have one chance to make an impression. This is it.

Attach a cover letter and resume to your application, even if it is not requested. Make sure that you look at the job description and tailor your strengths to what the employers are looking for.

Be sure you can back up every

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If you have some experience, sign up with a staffing agency or travel nursing agency. A simple search on Google, Bing or Yahoo will produce a long list of nursing agencies, some local, some not.

Working with a temp agency presents an ideal opportunity to visit different hospitals and units. It is like running an undercover CIA mission. You get to check out the hospital culture, how nurses are treated, the group dynamics, location, and

Get a Google account and sign up for Google alerts. Basically, the way this works is that whenever a job position that meets your criteria, is posted anywhere in the country you will receive an alert. You get to choose how often you wish to receive these alerts, once a day, twice a week, etc.

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Do you belong to a nurse’s association or organization? Get involved. Talk to people. You’ll be amazed by the sheer volume of information you can acquire simply by asking or sharing your story. Don’t go around scaring people off, however. A good time to mention that you are in the job market is when someone asks where you work. A natural conversation 73

Shush,

Fabulous Nurse magazine

about job search can ensue from that starting point. You never know with whom you are talking.

Carry yourself professionally.

This person could be your future employer.

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With the advent of social media, a good many facilities post job links on places like Facebook and Twitter. Keep an eye out as you communicate with your friends.

A word of caution. A future employer will not hire you if your profile has you pictured in any number of compromising positions; drunk or inebriated, barely robed, etc. Delete those photographs. Unless you are heading for a future on Reality TV, you have no reason to share them publicly. You are a true nurse professional, after all.

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Classified ads, penny savers, and other local papers are a good alternative to add to your search. Since most papers are moving online, be sure to check out the websites of local papers for job information.

We have covered 7 job search strategies to get you started.

One parting piece of advice on this section; research the companies you apply to. A little comment about some accomplishment they touted on their website can go a long way to show your interest and diligence. Weave that piece of information into the content of your cover letter. And always, always customize your resume and cover letter to the position.

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not at work!

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es, there are things you should keep to yourself when you are at work. And yes even if you are talking to your bff, you still need to proceed with caution. There are ears everywhere, here are a few things you can do to keep the fly on the wall from hearing everything you actually think about; and often share.

As mention earlier never share too much of information at your work place. Here are few salient points to follow for a healthy professional relationship with your co-workers:

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Don’t discuss your colleague’s sexual orientation behind their back. It is NOYB! That’s right, none of your business.

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Don’t threaten your coworkers with violence. Not even in jest. It is mind boggling that I had to add this to the list.

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Don’t eat the daisies. Newbie nurses are insecure and hesitant but not ignorant. Your attitude as a savvy old timer will greatly affect their perception of nursing. Don’t do it for me, or your co-workers, do it for your grand-children. They’ll need

these nurses in the future. You cannot scare off the new ones.

It is not kosher. Learn to encourage and nurture. If it is not in your nature, bite your tongue, then.

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Unless you have a great rapport with your coworkers, keep stuff about your relationships, divorce, breakups, missing maids, and in laws at home.

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Most importantly, the nurses’ station is not the place to discuss how you did it, with whom, for how long or how often. Hold your enthusiasm and share that over a bloody mary or something. Off campus.

Why should you care about these rules? Fabulous nurses understand that respect for one another develops a professional bond that transcends personal likes and dislikes.

Issue 1

Finance

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Credit

Repair Tips

I

n some cases, bad credit is a result of irresponsible money management. But it often occurs because of unexpected financial hardship. One day you might have all of your bills current, and the next you could become disabled or lose your job. And if you fall behind on your debts, it will wreak havoc on your credit rating.

Credit repair agencies claim that they can remove bad entries from your credit report. But did you know that you can often have them removed yourself at a much lower cost? There are two methods by which you may be able to get negative entries removed from your report.

Option #1:

File a Dispute with the Credit Bureaus The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires credit bureaus to investigate any item on your credit report that you dispute.

If the information is found to be false, inaccurate or unverifiable, it must be corrected or removed from your report. The bureaus have 30 days from the time they receive notice of the dispute to complete their investigation.

If there is any inaccurate information on your credit report, 76

a dispute is certainly in order.

But some people have had luck disputing items that were in fact accurate, including judgments, collections accounts and repossessions. If such items are not verified by the creditor (or the court in the case of judgments) within the time limit for investigation, they must be removed.

If you decide to dispute a legitimate entry, simply write a letter to each of the credit bureaus stating that you dispute that entry. No explanation is required.

But keep in mind that if the entry is verified, it will remain on your report. And if the creditor verifies the information after the 30-day time limit, the credit bureau may reinstate the entry as long as they notify you at least 5 days before doing so.

Option #2:

Negotiate with Creditors Dealing with creditors can be intimidating, especially if you’re not on good terms with them.

But speaking to your creditors directly may help you get negative information removed from your credit report.

If you only have a late payment or two on your account, a creditor might be willing to remove the derogatory information once you’ve resumed a regular

payment schedule. If you’ve experienced repossession or had an account turned over to collections, payment in full might persuade them to remove the negative entry. It sounds like a long shot, but you never know until you ask. Requests to remove late payment information may be made after you’ve brought you account current.

But if you’re hoping for removal of a repossession or collection action, it’s best to negotiate a deal before you pay anything.

If You Can’t Get the Bad Entries Removed There is no guarantee that disputing information on your credit report or negotiating with creditors will get negative items removed from your record. If it doesn’t, the best thing you can do is try to build up some positive information on your report.

The first thing you need to do when trying to rebuild good credit is bring past due accounts current. Try to work out a deal with your creditors to accomplish this, or talk to a credit counseling agency. But don’t miss payments on current accounts to put money toward those that are past due. If it comes down to paying one or the other, keep the current account current.

Once you’ve brought all of your accounts current, put a priority on keeping them that way. Making your payments on schedule will raise your credit score, and with the passage of time, the good entries may outweigh the bad.

H

ave you ever wondered why money comes so easily to some people, yet others seem to struggle for every penny they earn? The difference between the two types of people often lies in how they think about money and wealth. Here are some wealth creation rules to live by to help you become one of those who will always have more than what you need, instead of someone who never has quite enough.

Change your money mindset.

How you think about money and wealth is the single most important factor that determines whether you’re wealthy or not. If you hold any wrong beliefs about money, or believe that you don’t have enough, that thinking can hold you back from ever becoming wealthy. Instead, recognize the power that your thoughts have over the money in your life and embrace it. A good book to read to help you change your mindset about money is Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich.

Wealth Creation Issue 1

Rules

This book explains how your way of thinking can make you wealthy, or keep you from experiencing the riches you desire.

sity and creating wealth.

Be optimistic about wealth.

Money is important in our society. Not having enough can be a very scary thought. But instead of being fearful of money, be optimistic. Visualize yourself having enough money to pay your bills and enjoying the finer things in life. What would it feel like to have a certain dollar amount in your bank account?

Focus on that image and keep it foremost in your mind.

Be willing to take risks. Realize there is some risk involved in creating wealth, but that anything worth achieving is worth the risk. Some people never experience the fulfillment they crave because they’re afraid of failing. Failure isn’t something to be feared. Instead of procrastinating and being afraid of failing, plan your actions carefully so you will be prepared no matter what happens.

When you are optimistic about wealth instead of afraid of not having enough, you will be on the path to overcoming adver-

Take action. Take action where your money is concerned. If you’ve been waiting for wealth to come along and find you, it’s

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time to start taking action to create wealth instead. If you own a business, be prepared to work harder and offer better services.

Take positive steps that will help you create wealth.

Invest your money wisely. Make your money work for you. The wealthy don’t keep their money in savings accounts. To protect the money you have and ensure it continues to grow, it should be invested in a fund that’s wellbalanced between safe investments and risks. This is how the wealthy use money to create more wealth.

When you develop the right mindset toward money, take smart actions, and manage your money wisely, you will become a person who creates wealth and stop being someone who is afraid of not having enough.

H

ow do you begin a green bed and breakfast? Most people don’t think of this as a business that lends itself to environmental principles, but it is. The reality is, no matter what your line of work, you can help the environment when you make the effort.

Not only are you doing a good deed, but going green will also help your profits. For one thing, it will save you money. Most people think it’s more expensive to help the environment, but it’s actually cheaper.

It might even attract some business from others looking to

support the environment as well.

And it can net you tax breaks.

The government wants to encourage companies to go green, which is why they spare you on taxes for making an effort.

So how do you go green? Here are seven tips to make it happen:

#1) Support green companies If you need to purchase supplies, make sure to do so from firms that use green principles themselves. This is a simple but powerful method. Since you have to buy supplies anyway, why not support other companies that are helping the environment.

"GREEN"

Bed & Breakfast #2) Buy recycled items This helps cut down on waste materials, and could also save you a lot of money.

#3) Cut down on artificial energy Instead of using electricity, utilize wind or solar power. Both these methods are great ways to reduce your expenses while helping the environment. And if you do use artificial lighting, keep the lights off as much as possible. Using natural lighting is very important.

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Issue 1

Retirement Bucket List

#4) Recycle Avoid throwing away things whenever possible. Instead, recycle them. You’d be surprised how many things can be recycled, so making more of an effort to do this is smart.

#5) Reuse items Instead of throwing them out, simply use the same items again. An example would be writing on the front and back of paper.

#6) Plant trees Trees are known to help the environment. Therefore, planting them around your property is a great strategy for making your yard more attractive, while also aiding the environment.

#7) Use paper as seldom as possible Instead of keeping track of your income and expenses with physical paper, do so entirely from the computer. The more paperless you can become, the better off the environment will be.

These tips are very simple, but effective. Just implement one at a time, and you will soon have an environmentally-friendly bed and breakfast.

R

etirement is coming. Whether you are just starting your career, or rounding the corner toward the end of it, everyone has to retire at some point in time. As retirement draws near, there are some things to think about and consider. Let’s examine 10 of the top things to consider before retiring.

Time - Decide how you plan to spend your time after you retire.

Look at the first six months to a year and get a plan together so you know how your funds will lay out during that period. Next, take a look long term and work with your financial planner to get some sort of plan based on your projected annual income.

Bills - With all major changes in your life, it is important to take a hard look at your bills and expenses. Get a realistic idea of how much money you will plan to spend monthly and don’t forget to factor in things like gifts, taxes, cars, and emergencies.

Health - Health care goes up and down each year, but once you retire, you will no longer have the cushion of an employer to help offset those costs. Decide what type of health insurance will be right for you and factor that into your monthly bills.

Mortgage - Now would be a good time to figure out if you would like to refinance your mortgage. Many people figure out that after they retire, they have more difficulties borrowing money or end up with much higher rates.

Savings - Figure out if that pile of money you have sitting for a rainy day will be enough. If not, look at ways to boost that amount to at least six months worth of expenses.

Income - You already looked at your savings, now see if your retirement income and projected income from Social Security will be enough to cover your bills from month to month. Make any adjustments if it will not cover those expenses.

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Invest - The strategy you have been using for investments over the last thirty years will not be the same one you plan on using after you retire. Speak with a certified investment broker and figure out what the best plan for you is after you leave the work force.

Estate - Review your estate plan and if you haven’t already, update your will and trust. If you don’t have a will or trust, now would be the ideal time to get them. While these documents may seem morbid while you are alive, they will provide help in protecting your assets in the event something should happen to you. Having these documents will also help to delegate who receives what benefits when you pass on.

Insurance - Buy long term insurance. It is easier to purchase long term when you are still working than to try and figure it out once you retire.

Emotions - Retirement can be an extremely emotional time. If you are not excited about retirement, don’t worry. Many people become bored within a year after retiring and usually return to the workforce or to school. Keep your options open.

Retirement is a process, a closing of one chapter and the opening of another. It is by no means the end. Take your time, explore your hobbies and passions, and see if there is something you want to enjoy for the rest of your life.

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Seasons in God’s Country

By E. Laureate

Tipping New England’s North Westward gaze to Nova Scotia Here in God’s country, Anything goes.

Humpback whales of summer Lend the season to orange coated hunters in fall.

Winter ice sheet freeze and smelts in wilderness; Snow dusted evergreens Screams of a bona fide wonderland.

Ah, the people of Maine, true; Enchanting, Gentle yet rugged.

Irreproachable in bashful simplicity.

Up here, It’s God’s country.

Of this I am sure.

L O L

Issue 1

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General Humor

JOKES

Fabulous Nurse magazine

Two Fishermen

Two fishermen were adrift in their rented boat due to an engine failure.

While rummaging through the boat’s provisions, one of the men stumbled across an old lamp. Secretly hoping that a genie would appear, he rubbed the lamp vigorously. To the amazement of the castaways, a genie came forth. This particular genie, however, stated that he could only deliver one wish, not the standard three.

Without giving much thought to the matter the man blurted out, “Make the entire ocean into beer!” The genie clapped his hands with a deafening crash, and immediately the entire sea turned into the finest brew ever sampled by mortals.

Simultaneously, the genie vanished. Only the gentle lapping of beer on the hull broke the stillness as the men considered their circumstances.

One man looked disgustedly at the other whose wish had been granted.

After a long, tension filled moment, he spoke: “Nice going idiot! Now we’re going to have to piss in the boat!”

Pleasing Women

A group of girlfriends are on vacation when they see a 5-story hotel with a sign that reads: “For Women Only”. Since they are without their boyfriends and husbands, they decide to go in.

The bouncer, a very attractive guy, explains to them how it works. “We have 5 floors. Go up floor by floor, and once you find what you are looking for, you can stay there. It’s easy to decide since each floor has a sign telling you what’s inside.”

Nursing Humor

So they start going up and on the first floor the sign reads: “All the men on this floor are short and plain.” The friends laugh and without hesitation move on to the next floor.

Checking Out

The sign on the second floor reads: “All the men here are short and handsome.”

Walking into a hospital room, a nurse finds an elderly gentleman dressed and sitting on the bed with a suitcase at his feet. He insists to her that he doesn’t need help leaving the hospital, but the nurse explains that hospital regulations require a wheel chair for patients being discharged.

Reluctantly, he lets her wheel him to the elevator and down to the lobby. On the way to the front door, the nurse asks the man if his wife is meeting him there.

“I don’t know,” he replies. “She’s still upstairs in the bathroom changing out of her hospital gown.”

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Still, this isn’t good enough, so the friends continue on up.

They reach the third floor and the sign reads: “All the men here are tall and plain.” They still want to do better, and so, knowing there are still two floors left, they continued on up.

On the fourth floor, the sign says: “All the men here are tall and handsome.

They are rich and perfectly built” The women get all excited and are going in when they realize that there is still one floor left. Wondering what they are missing, they head on up to the fifth floor. There they find a sign that reads: “There are no men here.

This floor was built only to prove that there is no way to please a woman.”

Rodney Dangerfield: When I was a kid I got no respect. The time I was kidnapped, and the kidnappers sent my parents a note they said, “We want five thousand dollars or you’ll see your kid again.”

Ode to the

Issue 1

Classic Cartoons

Y

oung, middle age or older, no matter what phase we are in our career or personal lives, each one of us can remember with distinction the cartoon characters that influenced our world view and shaped our perceptions as kids.watched guilt free on Saturday mornings. Others kept us busy in the early morning hours during breakfast before the school bus rolled by. Without cartoons, many parents will not have quality morning entertainment for their children to watch. Happily, we are going to take canoe ride down the river of time and share with you a few cartoons we prize as timeless and entertaining:

Teenage mutant ninja turtles I am quite certain a good number of you reading this article had a not so secret desire to become a ninja. Albeit your particular ninja-fighter-world-saving-superhero character did not live in a sewer under the city streets. Who was your favorite ninja turtle? Why? What does that say about you as a person? What characteristics did your favorite ninja turtle have that you now possess?

Congratulations, you passed the test. You are a cartoon-ista.

Tiny Toons

Duck Tales If you were never a fan of cartoons, I suggest seeing Duck Tales. The entertainment provided by this cartoon is ageless. You may consider yourself a baby-boomer or perhaps you just started nursing school, regardless, this is a must not miss cartoon series. Rent it and catch up on a world of fun as you go on one adventure after another with the miserly uncle scrooge and his battalion of rambunctious nephews. Duck Tales is one cartoon series that puts the “F� in FUN.

Remember Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, and Daffy Duck? Think about all that amusement and trickery rolled into miniature bundles of fun. That ladies and gentlemen is Tiny Toons.

The irreverent characters rollicked and attempted to outsmart each other in the woods and at the ACME Academy. Just thinking about this Warner Brothers mini creation makes me LOL. There are so many memorable characters.

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There are nurses

and there are

fabulous nurses...

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