28_1-2013.pdf

David Hooper's

David Hooper Office: 423-639-9050 Toll Free: 877-528-0381 www.cathyanddavid.com

Dear Friends,

Out with the old and in with the new! Parties galore, last minute plans springing into action and lots, and lots of confetti! Whatever could it be? Goal setting, resolution making and willpower getting a major work out? With all the change in the air, it must be New Years!

This month in Welcome Home magazine start the New Year off right! Take a look at your New Year's Resolutions; dying to try something new? Check out or beginner's guide to snowboarding for your New Year thrill. Let us help you reach that goal by giving you the tips you need to successfully stay slim this year. And did Aunt Harriet give you something again this year that you hid in closet and wish would go away? Read all about how to tactfully get rid of unwanted holiday gifts. This and much more awaits you in our pages!

Please enjoy this issue of the magazine!

Have an prosperous January, and as always, Welcome Home!

If you have comments or suggestions please email us at welcomehome@activeezine.com , we love to hear from you! Also if there is a subject that you would like to see covered, let us know! We look forward to hearing from you!

David Hooper www.cathyanddavid.com 423-639-9050 877-528-0381

Welcome Home!

Table of Contents Recipe And Design

4

A tasty recipe and a stylish home design how to.

5

Driving Tips For Winter Safety

6-7

Snow Sleds For Winter Fun

Stay safe on the road this winter with our tips!

Which kind is right for you?

Unwanted Holliday Gifts

8-9

Snowboarding Beginners Guide How to make get started with snowboarding!

12 - 15

How To Keep In Shape During Winter Don’t let winter be an excuse for growing love handles!

16 - 17

Winter Weight Loss Made Easy: Ten quick tips to lose the weight!

18 - 19

Products To Love!

Hot trends, technological wonders of tomorrow and so much more!

City Spotlight Aspen, Colorado: Movie stars, skiing and winter fun!

21

All pictures courtesy of sxc.hu unless otherwise noted. Thanks to Wikipedia for Random Fact information and aid.

Editor in Chief - Phly Jambor

How to get rid of them, without getting caught.

10 - 11

20

Welcome Home is for entertainment purposes only. This magazine is not intended to solicit other brokersʼ listings. If you are currently working with another broker, please disregard this information.

Businesses That Make A Difference Tom’s Shoes, changing the world one pair of shoes at a time.

The information provided in this publication of Welcome Home or on any website maintained

by U.S. Cybertek, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, agents, representatives, licensors, licensees or employees (collectively Publisher) is intended as a general guide illustrating common methods of common practices, and the publisher makes no warranty or guarantee whatsoever of the safety, effectiveness, or other characteristic of any methods or products described herein. Neither does the Publisher assume any liability for information published in any website or other publication to which reference may be made herein. Readers are cautioned to review and comply with all written instructions, safety bulletins, and other materials provided in connection with any of the products mentioned herein and all products used in connection with any of the methods described. Neither Published nor any of its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, agents, representatives, licensors, licensees or employees shall in any case be liable to you or anyone else for any loss or injury or any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special punitive or similar damages arising out of your use of or failure to use any of the methods and/ or products described in this publication or any other publication or websites to which reference may be made herein. Publisher disclaims all warranties, and any warranty or guarantee of safety, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose lies solely with the manufacture(s) of any product described or recommended or used used in connection with any methods described or recommended.

Recipe and Design Silver Leaf Pears

Roast Chicken

Ingredients: 1 (4- to 5-lb.) whole chicken 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided 1 lemon half 1 teaspoon seasoned pepper 1 teaspoon dried rosemary 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon butter, melted

Preparation: 1. Preheat oven to 450°. If applicable, remove neck and giblets from chicken, and reserve for another use. Rinse chicken with cold water, and drain cavity well. Pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle 1/2 tsp. salt inside cavity. Place lemon half inside cavity.

2. Stir together pepper, rosemary, and remaining 1 tsp. salt.

Brush outside of chicken with oil. Rub 2 1/2 tsp. pepper mixture into skin. Sprinkle remaining pepper mixture over both sides of breast. Place chicken, breast side up, on a lightly greased wire rack in a lightly greased shallow roasting pan. Add 3/4 cup water to pan.

3. Bake at 450° for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 375°, and bake 30 minutes. Baste chicken with pan juices; drizzle with melted butter. Bake 15 to 25 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in thigh registers 165°, shielding with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning, if necessary. Remove chicken from oven, and baste with pan juices. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Carolyn Flournoy, Southern Living JANUARY 2012

What You Need: • • • • • • • • • • •

7 plastic pears with stems Fine sandpaper Acrylic paint in metallic silver Paintbrush Silver die-cut leaves 2 oz. gold leaf adhesive Silver leaf in a 25-sheet package Soft brush Spray sealer 7 white silk roses Silver bowl

Instructions: 1. Sand the pears lightly to de-gloss the surfaces.

2. Paint the pears with one to two coats of silver paint, allowing the paint to dry between coats. Paint the leaf stems and backs of the leaves silver.

3. Add silver leaf. Apply adhesive to the pears. Let the adhesive set for about 30 minutes until tacky. Apply silver leaf over the adhesive; brush off the excess with a soft brush.

4. Seal the pears with a clear protective sealer, following the manufacturer's directions.

5. Add silver leaves. Wrap the stem of a leaf around the stem of each pear.

6. Arrange items in silver bowl. Cut the stems of the artificial roses short. Arrange the pears and roses in bowl as desired.

Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.com

Driving Tips For Winter Safety With weather conditions that are completely unseen throughout the rest of the year and far fewer hours of daylight to drive safely in, it's no wonder that winter is considered the most dangerous season for road users. Not only can drivers expect snow and ice to cover the roads at some point during winter, but there are often completely unexpected conditions, like snowstorms and extreme winds, which can catch inexperienced drivers by surprise. The safest piece of advice to any driver considering driving in winter is to simply not make the journey. However, that isn't practical for most people, so instead follow these basic safety tips.

First of all, make sure that your car is absolutely prepared for any journey and any winter conditions. Do this in advance too, as you never know when you might need to drive somewhere in an emergency. Once in your car and about to make a journey though, give your vehicle adequate time to sufficiently warm up.

The cold weather will mean that your engine will take a lot longer to fully reach its best operating temperature and, as a result, will simply not run at its best until it is. By rushing this stage, you are taking your car onto the road when it is not fully prepared, so instead just take your time and let your engine warm up for a few minutes before driving anywhere.

This should go without saying, but make sure you are prepared for the worst. When winter approaches, throw a couple of blankets in your boot, along with some spare water and fuel, and always take hot drinks and a well-charged mobile phone with you on any long trips. This way, you will be prepared just in case you do have a breakdown or accident and can't get help in a hurry. Also, check your tires before you head out too. Adequate traction for snow covered roads requires about 6/32-inch tread left or, better still, fit winter tires especially for the season.

When you're out on the road, do everything you can to maintain safety at all times. With the car heaters on, the windscreen will soon steam up and reduce visibility. To reduce this, try running the air-conditioning to counteract it. Many cars have a Ęťdefrost' setting, so make the most of this. Likewise, make sure your headlights and taillights are fully operational, as the darker nights and potential snow fall means that there could be significantly reduced visibility and you want other road users to see your car at all times. Replace any worn windscreen wipers to avoid them scratching or otherwise damaging your screen and requiring some car windshield repair too.

Use your brakes wisely when driving on even mildly frost or icy road surfaces. Your speed should be naturally slower than normal, but always avoid hitting the brakes with any kind of force or speed; instead they should always be applied slowly but firmly to avoid skidding and maintain complete control. To help even further, stick on the local radio station and listen out for reports of black ice on any part of your journey. Black ice is an unseen stretch of ice which can catch an unaware driver off-guard completely and cause a serious accident.

Written by Paul Buchanan. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

Snow Sleds For Winter Fun

Purists may demand old-fashioned winter sleds for picture-perfect sledding, but kids demand speed, speed and more speed from their sleds, and winter foam sleds, plastic sleds and snow discs give that and more. Manufacturers have put to good use advances in plastic and foam molding and aerodynamic technology to create a wide range of winter sled options for young and old alike.

Plastic Sleds and Winter Foam Sleds Winter sleds have come a long way from the heavy wooden sleds your great grandparents loved. The newer sleds are manufactured in molded plastic or foam. They're lightweight, easy to carry back uphill or drag behind you on the snow, and they're relatively inexpensive. Today's winter sleds let you purchase an affordable lightweight sled that's sure to give you a run for your money!

Toboggans Toboggans come in many shapes and sizes, but the latest invention is actually an inflatable toboggan that's sort of a cross between the traditional toboggan shape and an inflatable snow tube. The Chaos Inflatable Snow Toboggan inflates easily and can accommodate two riders. Plastic runners on the bottom make it especially fun and durable and the inflatable toboggan is one of the most comfortable on the market. Special crack-resistant material is used on the Chaos Inflatable Snow Toboggan to protect it from cracking in extremely cold weather.

Snow Discs and Saucers Snow discs and saucers are round plastic sleds that kids love for their fast ride. The greater surface area of the disc enables the sled to slide faster, which is the whole name of the game for the kids! But adults can also enjoy a snow disc

too, as long as they choose one that's large and sturdy enough to carry them. Some snow discs come with steering mechanisms and brakes. Airhead's Dual Action Snow Disc has both steering abilities and brakes for a smooth, comfortable ride.

Snow Tubes Snow tubes come in many shapes; traditional sled shapes, round discs, and others. Some such as the Sportstuff brand of snow tubes are made with crack-resistant PVS and specially sealed seams for longevity. When shopping for snow tubes of all shapes, look for a few features to make your sledding time more fun. Handles big enough for mitten-covered hands to slide under and grab hold ensure a safe rider, while a safety valve makes it easy to inflate the snow tube or deflate it as needed. Be sure to read the weight capacity for all snow tubes and choose one appropriately sized for its passengers.

Which Sled Is Best?

There are pros and cons to each type of sled, and which one is best depends solely on the typical snow conditions in your area and the taste of the person choosing the snow toys. Sleds, discs or toboggans with runners on the bottom tend to be the fastest, but the speed picks up only with repeated runs through the snow. As the sled glides over the snow, the friction melts a tiny bit of snow, while the cold air freezes it again, creating a narrow track of ice. Runner sleds then glide more swiftly through the frozen tracks with subsequent runs. Another thing to keep in mind is that the shape of the sled may limit your sledding options. If you love flopping, or getting a good fast run and flopping down on your belly on the sled and flying face-first down the hillside, look for rectangular plastic or foam sleds and toboggans or inflatable snow tubes that are long and narrow rather than disc-shaped. No matter which type of winter sled you choose, winter sleds and snow toys add hours of outdoor fun for children of all ages.

Written by Holden Adams. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

Unwanted Holiday Gifts How To Get Rid Of Them, Without Getting Caught!

The new year is here. It is time to go back to work, take down the tree, and put away all the Christmas presents. Well…maybe not all of the Christmas presents. Did Aunt Frieda give you a pair of Uncle Freddie’s unused golf ball-shaped gold cufflinks? Did Cousin Sarah knit you a pair of socks better suited to a toddler than your grownup-sized tootsies? Did you receive a gift card to a restaurant that’s closest location is 200 miles away? What do you do with all of these unusable or undesirable gifts? You don’t want to “look a gift horse the mouth,” but you certainly want to make the best of this sad situation. Here are some tips on how to deal with those gifts you’d rather not keep.

For gifts that are not handmade or handme-downs, there is always the option of returning the gift to the place it was bought. You can often receive store credit or even cash if you return a gift with a gift receipt. If you don’t have a gift receipt you can usually get store credit, at least. Let’s hope you like that store. One word of caution. Some sites like Amazon.com will notify the purchaser when someone returns an item if the purchaser neglected to mark the item as a gift upon purchase. That’s a little tough to explain, especially if you feigned excitement and gratitude when you opened the gift. It’s best to call or email to ask exactly what will happen if you return an item.

silverware, or anything made out of a precious metal) for far more than you would expect. Because of the terrible economic climate, precious metals are worth a lot.

One very fun way to get rid of unwanted gifts is to hold a post-holiday swap party.

Invite all your friends over and have them re-wrap their unwanted gifts. Serve food and drinks and have everybody swap the gifts. Everybody ends up with everybody else’s bad gifts, but sometimes the recipient will really like the gift they end up with. If not, they can either trade with someone else at the party or they can follow another one of the tips in this article.

Keep in mind that this swap party is only fun when the person who gave you the bad gift is not invited. It wouldn’t be very fun for them to see their gift to you in the mix.

Of course you can always save the bad gift until next year, when you can “regift” it, or better yet, donate it to a charity that might be able to put it to good use. Rest assured that you are never stuck with a bad gift.

You have many different ways to get rid of it.

If you don’t want to take the chance of the gift-giver finding out that you didn’t like their gift, you can always try to sell the item on eBay or craigslist. There is no guarantee that you’ll get a nibble, but it’s worth a try and you even have the potential of earning even more than the gift-giver paid for the item.

If the gift happens to be made out of a precious metal like gold, silver, platinum or palladium you can skip the return and trying to sell the item on eBay. There are a number of online refineries that will buy your unwanted jewelry or cufflinks (or

Written by EM Downing Johnson. Courtesy of Isnare.com

Snowboarding Beginner’s Guide Snowboarding can really be an exhilarating experience. It is no wonder why more and more people are participating in this extreme sport season after season. Just imagine the thrill and excitement that you can experience when riding down the slope and showcasing your tricks as well as savoring the feeling of adrenaline pumping your body. However, you must be a professional or an expert snowboarder to fully enjoy what this sport has to give. The first thing to do to become one of the most acclaimed snowboarders is to master the basics. This is the secret if you want to ride like a pro.

Here are a few beginner guides to snowboarding…

•

•

Gear up – It is essential to wear proper snowboarding gear. Make sure that the equipment ensures your safety. Use helmet, wrist guards, stiff boots, etc. Never attempt to go down the slope without your gears on as this can only expose you to possible injuries. The helmet should perfectly fit your head's circumference otherwise it is likely to let loose. Your boots must also fit perfectly to your feet.

They must be comfortable and tight but not too tight as this can hinder the blood flow in your blood. Also, you may want to wear long socks, 2 if necessary to keep your toes warm and prevent being frozen.

The lead foot – As a beginner, you still need to adjust and acclimate yourself to snowboarding stances. You must be able to find your lead foot. Your stronger foot should be in front. But this is not necessarily a big deal because as you progress in your level, you can change the lead foot anytime you want. The key here is to adapt your lead foot according to your needs.

•

The right posture – A good posture is important when snowboarding as this greatly influences your balance. Find the right posture that you are comfortable and will match your performance. To find the right posture, place your feet on the snowboard, press with your lead foot, bend your knees, keep your back straight and feel the ground. When changing directions, shift between placing pressing on the heel edge and the toe edge.

Change the pressure according to the snowboard's direction.

•

Go with the flow, don't control it – Snowboarding requires balance. To

Written by Essie. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

smoothly execute your move down the slopes, it is important to focus your attention to the right direction. After you have done this, it's time to let your body do the job where you want to go. Don't control it or become too tight about where directions to go as this can only lead you to a frustrating ride.

•

Learn from mistakes – As a beginner, every step is a learning point. You can never become an expert if you have not started as a beginner. So you start small and then little by little you progress. You can quickly leverage your skill by learning from your snowboarding mistakes. Among the most common mistakes committed by newbies is overestimating their abilities and not pushing oneself to do better. The lesson here is to try harder, be persistent, and downplay your skill levels.

Once you have progressed from a beginner to an expert, then you can try all sorts of snowboarding styles and techniques that will bring your hobby to the next level.

How To Keep In Shape During The Winter Season

So you spent the entire summer under the AC, with a cold drink in your hand. Winter's here and now you notice that you've got big love handles escaping the sides of your pants! So what do you do to get fit again? Here's our five-point program, whether you're in the chilly foggy North or a balmy pleasant South.

1. Stretch and stretch some more – A lot of guys who want to get fit quick head straight for the dumbbells. "Bad idea," says Krishna Kumar, fitness specialist and personal instructor based in Delhi. "Always start your workout sessions with lots of stretches. In fact, you could go the army way and concentrate more on stretches than heavy weight workouts," says Krishna.

Apart from warming up your muscles, stretches can also help with muscular strength. Do a hamstring stretch where you stand and try to touch your toes.

You can flex your knees a bit but don't over-exert yourself while touching your toes.

Also try the upper back stretch by holding your hands over your head. Rotate your shoulders forward to really get a good stretch for your upper back. Hold the stretch for a slow count to ten and feel your body thank you.

2. Watch what you are eating – Yes, you've heard it lots of times, but it still holds true you are what you eat. Quit starchy, oily chips and all that street food you've been gorging on. While you're at it, cut down on carbs after 7 p.m. Replace your usual source of carbohydrates with good carbs like the kind you find in potatoes and oatmeal. "Eat egg whites and fish for proteins or pulses if you are vegetarian. Go for apples, grapefruit and berries for fibre.

And most importantly, have 4 to 6 small meals a day. That will

keep your metabolism stoked all day," advises nutritionist Dr. Vaibhav Singh. And remember to have proteins in all these meals. Carbohydrates should be reserved only for before and after a workout.

Supplement your diet with probiotics to keep your stomach healthy. One way to do this is to include regular doses of yoghurt in your diet.

Feel those muscles under the layer of fat already?

3. Run, Walk, Cycle, Burpees – Nothing can replace a good cardiovascular workout and if you are looking to get fit, you need at least a 20 minute session every day.

Pick your favorite cardio activity and stick to it. Run, cycle or walk fast. Swimming is not an option if you are in the cold North, but replace it with a run through the mist.

Not just will it burn fat, it will also keep you warm. "Do activities that get your heart rate up real quick. That will help burn a lot of body fast real quick. Burpees are the best option," says Krishna. A burpee is a full body exercise performed in four steps. Begin in standing position, then drop into a squat position with your hands on the ground, kick back your feet to a pushup position. Immediately return your feet to squat position and then leap up as high as you can. Do these real fast and about 10 times to begin with.

Feel those fat cells burning?

Good.

4. Do more at home – That's right, get working on those household chores. "Simple tasks like cleaning your room, dusting, switching furniture or changing curtains actually burn a lot of calories. Since you are more focused on getting the work done rather than the time or effort spent, you actually end up burning more fat," says Krishna. For example, 30 minutes of digging in your garden is equivalent to 30 minutes on a treadmill. Even the most mundane of jobs like washing your car could burn more than what you would on a cycle for the same amount. So the next time your mother or girlfriend asks for help around the house, take it up gladly.

5. Winter fitness tricks – If you can't beat the weather, then find a way to use it to your advantage.

Indulge in some winter sport that will get your heart racing. If the cold is not helping you get out of your cosy blanket, then use sport as an excuse. But remember to get a good night's sleep. Sleep deprivation is known to cause weight gain. Try turning down the temperature of your shower. The colder the water gets, the more alert you will get. Exposing the body to the cold will also help boost metabolism and burn calories. Just make sure you don't overdo it. Get a healthy dose of Vitamin D that you are missing from the hiding sun by eating fish, eggs and milk.

Repeat all these points all winter and by the time summer arrives and those clothes come off, you will be ready to reveal a fitter, leaner and meaner you.

Written by Mens Life Today. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com

Winter Weight Loss Made Easy!

Ten Quick Tips

Looking for ten easy ways to Loose that extra Ten pounds this winter? Of course you are!

Who has the time to sift through countless diet magazines when all you have to do is follow these Ten “make sense� easy weight loss rules and find a well structured Diet Program that will work for your individual needs.

Honestly, dropping those winter pounds doesnʼt have to be so difficult.

Whether you are just starting a weight loss program or trying to lose those last 10 pounds, these diet and weight loss tips can help in reaching your nutrition goals. Simply put, here are the ten most important things you need to do in order to reach your target weight. Do all ten and I can guarantee you wonʼt have to worry about your weight when spring hits. If you continue following fad diets that donʼt utilize these ten basic tips, youʼll discover the reason youʼre still holding onto that wintertime belly.

1. Fill up on fiber. That includes fiber-rich sources, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, which all help increase satiety and fullness at each meal..

2. Be cautious about liquid calories. Yes, juice may be good for you and high calorie coffee drinks delicious, but they are loaded with calories. Instead, try swapping out your regular glass of O.J. for a piece of whole fruit, that way you will get all the taste with an extra helping of fiber and half the calories.

3. Stay hydrated. Not only is water important in delivering nutrients, it also plays an important role in weight loss,. Often times, hunger is confused with thirst, so staying hydrated will keep you from craving extra calories.

4. Practice smart snacking. Eating every three to four hours fuels your metabolism and prevents you from overeating at meals.

Always include a portion of carbs and protein with each snack, such as trail mix or low-fat cheese with whole-grain crackers.

overeating and discomfort. Instead, eat regularly throughout the day for optimum energy levels and portion control. Five to six small meals per day would be optimal.

6. Be carb smart. Carbohydrates serve as the bodyʼs primary source of energy. To maximize their impact, always select nutrient-dense carbohydrates, such as whole grains and fruit, instead of simple, processed carbohydrate foods.

7. Limit your alcohol. Social drinking can be enjoyable, but consider this Just four ounces of red wine contains 80 calories Limiting those few extra cocktails per week can certainly help lose those last few pounds.

8. Aim for variety. Changing your food each week and sticking to a structured, professional diet program will help you stay motivated. Eating the same foods over and over again causes boredom, which may lead to quitting your weight loss efforts sooner than expected. Consider a gourmet meal delivery plan from Diet-To-Go or The Medifast Diet Plan.

9. Focus on healthy fats. Fat is an important energy source for the body and serves as the delivery system for vitamins A, D, E and K, so donʼt avoid them thinking youʼll lose more weight. Instead, choose more plantbased fats, such as nuts and olive oil.

10. Practice mindful eating. Take at least 20 minutes to eat meals,. Also, avoid eating in front of the television, computer or while chatting on the phone. By focusing on your meals, youʼll drastically improve your satiety, which can help prevent overeating.

5. Avoid skipping meals. Saving your calories for the evening often leads to Written by Dorianne Schwaiger. Courtesy of Isnare.com.

Products To Love In January One of my all time favorite things are the ever handy and super friendly Post-It notes! But do you actually know how they came to be? The Post-it® Note was invented as a solution without a problem. In 1968 Dr. Spencer Silver, a 3M scientist, developed a unique, repositionable adhesive. As remarkable as it was, the product could not find a market. Six years later, colleague Art Fry recalled Silver's seminars promoting the light adhesive when he was daydreaming about a bookmark that would stay put in his church hymnal.

The rest is history. So the next time you grab one of these amazing little reminder notes, take a second and think about it’s day dreamy origins. Please click here

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Reviewed by Rural Jungle Testing

Winter is here in full frozen swing and, sorry, but that sad, tattered excuse of a jacket you guys were wearing around last season won’t cut it in this year’s super frosty weather! So save your self the headache of shopping and have look at this perfect coat. This Down Quilted Parka in Navy from London Fog is sure to please both your quest for non-popsicle status and the fashion conscience lady in your life. It’s a win, win situation. Please click

here for more information.

Over the years, Heuer's reputation for gold-standard precision earned the company the privilege of providing official timing services for a number of world-class competitive sporting events, and now you can enjoy that same precision as well with the Tag Heuer Grand Carrera Chronograph Mens Watch CAV511A.BA0902. Stainless steel case with a stainless steel bracelet.Black dial with circular guilloche dial with luminous silver-tone hands and index hour markers. Luminiscent minute markers around the outer rim. Scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Screw down fluted crown. Stainless steel case back. Hidden folding push button deployment clasp. Water resistant at 100 meters / 330 feet.

Please click here for more information.

Products To Love In January Ladies, are you sick and tired of freezing while trying to look fashionable in the winter time?

Well your popsicle days are over!

This ultra chic charcoal colored London Fog Active Wool coat with faux fur trim will appease both your fashion sense and you quest for warmth in the winter. Please click here for more information.

Whether you're just starting to get in shape or are a seasoned athlete, Bowflex's Treadclimber TC3000 Cardio Machine is a home fitness machine that offers an array of electronics and features to push your workout to the next level.

Similar in function to a treadmill, this lowimpact machine is engineered to burn fat without pounding your joints. It has unique dual treadles (rather than a single belt area surface) that rise up to cushion each step. This design eliminates the jarring impact of hard, flat surfaces and reduces the joint and muscle strain that can be part of other workout machines.

Please click here for more information.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change has more than 15 million copies sold. Stephen Covey, an internationally respected leadership authority, realizes that true success encompasses a balance of personal and professional effectiveness, so this book is a manual for performing better in both arenas. His anecdotes are as frequently from family situations as from business challenges. Before you can adopt the seven habits, you'll need to accomplish what Covey calls a "paradigm shift"--a change in perception and interpretation of how the world works. Covey takes you through this change, which affects how you perceive and act regarding productivity, time management, positive thinking, developing your "proactive muscles" (acting with initiative rather than reacting), and much more. Please click here for

more information.

City Spotlight

Aspen, CO Skiing is the ultimate winter vacation. If you wish to ski at a world class destination this year, then Aspen is the place to be. Discover the beauty of this resplendent town that charms people from all over the world. Long winters are a struggle in many parts of the world, but winter vacations can provide many exciting avenues for enjoyment. Skiing is for many, the ultimate winter vacation. Ski resorts are located in some of the most beautiful mountain locations in the world and offer many exciting activities for winter vacationers. Aspen has few peers in terms of its exceptional variety of skiing combined with a the great variety of other activities offered in the area.

Aspen is a premier ski destination and is truly a haven for skiing enthusiasts. Aspen hosts winter tourists from all over the world. While the towering Rocky Mountains present a splendid view and incredibly picturesque location, there is more to this town than its beauty. Aspen is also known as a home and playground for some of the world's most famous and wealthy. This combination of beauty, glamour and glitz has propelled Aspen from its humble mining roots in the late 1800s to today's Aspen which has some of the most valuable real estate anywhere.

Multi-million dollar vacation homes are common place and the downtown includes many of the most exclusive brands and shops and high-end restaurants.

The Aspen area boasts four major mountains which are best known for skiing. Aspen Mountains offer a challenging skiing experience and experts in skiing love to slide on these thrilling slopes. Aspen Highlands are more

popular among local residents. Buttermilk is more moderate and is good for beginners. Snowmass offers many ski-in ski-out accommodations and is popular among families. Overall the exceptional variety can provide something for nearly everyone to enjoy skiing in the area.

Though Aspen is a winter heaven and draws in the maximum number of tourists, the area is also a year round destination. Aspen is astonishingly beautiful in the spring, when a variety of flowers adorn the alpine meadows.

Summers offer exciting recreational activities like hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and rafting. Aspen groves make the fall more splendid with beautiful views of golden leaves of Aspen covering the entire mountain area.Because Aspen is such a popular year round destination, it offers a great variety of accommodation options. There are many vacation rentals, ranging from quite economical to incredible luxurious. Most of the vacation rentals are located at convenient locations throughout the town, area which offer easy access to the ski resorts.

Spending your vacation in a vacation rental will maximize the enjoyment of your vacation by providing you with more space and privacy and a comfortable home like feeling. The incredible array of recreational activities, shopping and dining options available in Aspen coupled with some time away from the stresses of everyday life is all that it takes for a perfect mountain ski vacation. Visit Aspen on your next vacation and experience everything the area has to offer.

Written by Andy Page, courtesy of Articlesbase.com

Businesses That Make A Difference

One for One. That’s the way it works at TOMS Shoes. For every single pair of shoes purchased another pair of shoes will be given to a child that does not have any. Amazing and so completely simple!

This brilliant idea is the brain child of American entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie. While traveling in Argentina

Rather than starting a charity, Mycoskie made the decision to start a business because he believed more children could be helped that way. To date TOMS has given away more than 150,000 pairs of shoes to children in need all over the globe, including the U.S. Their goal for this year is 300,000 pairs shoes, that TOMS volunteers in person, put on a child’s feet. in 2006 he noticed that the children he befriended did not have shoes.

Not having shoes kept many children from receiving medical care, food, water and even shelter because they could not walk the distance needed to obtain it and their ability to attend school is also effected, because shoes are a required part of many school’s uniform codes.

Random Facts

This month's random fact is about the age old New Year's Tradition: Resolutions!

On the 1st of January, millions of people around the globe start working on New Years resolutions. Chances are you have tried them yourself in one way or another. They are one of the fun things about the New Year. But have you ever wondered where they came from? Who first started setting New Years Resolutions? Well, here is a brief history of the origins of the New Years resolution for you: The Babylonians: The first recorded New Years resolutions were made by the Babylonians around 4000 years ago.

Most commonly, it revolved around returning any borrowed farm equipment, as their New Year coincided with the start of their farming season.

The Romans: Not long after, the Romans would start the new year by counting the stock of the previous year and setting a goal to accomplish more in the coming year.

The Chinese: The Chinese set a special New Years resolution - house cleaning. Most people nowadays would relate this to Spring-Cleaning. At the coming of the New Year, the Chinese would clean their house from top to bottom. What a great way to start the year, with a beautiful clean house!

The Modern World: Today we still set New Years resolutions, and try to achieve them. They are almost always based around self-improvement resolutions and goals. They are a way to mark the beginning of changes in our habits and lifestyle. The most common resolutions include losing weight, quitting smoking and/or drinking, and improving your finances. It is a sad fact, but many of these resolutions do not even last longer than a few weeks. By July, most have been completely forgotten and no real progress against the resolution has been made. It is amazing what such a long history the New Years resolution has had. You may be thinking of creating on yourself this coming New Year. And why not? It is a tradition practiced around the entire globe. Above all though, we should remember that the most important aspect of a New Years resolution is to take action and stick to it. - Tim Gorm, Courtesy of Articelsbase.com

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