Relaxing the real way

A quesy tummy may indicate overindulgence but it might also mean a foodborne illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, 76 million Americans suffer such an illness each year. About 350,000 of these are hospitalized and 5,000 die. Foodborne illnesses, often called "food poisoning", can be serious and include such variants as salmonella, listeria, and staphylococococcus. All are caused by bacteria which often multiply when food is not handled in a safe manner. Those most at risk for foodborne illnesses include senior citizens, children under the age of ten, pregnant women, and those with a weak immune system (HIV patients, transplant patients, or those recovering from other serious illness).Symptoms of food poisoning can include an upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headaches, pus or blood in bowel movements, extreme exhaustion and even fever. Onset can occur as early as twenty minutes after eating a tainted food product or take as long as six weeks to appear. Most commonly, foodborne illnesses affect the digestive system in one to three days after ingesting the culprit. And, most cases are mild and can be treated at home. Rest and plenty of liquids are often enough to speed recovery but if symptoms are acute or worsen, it's best to consult a physician.

Simple steps can be taken to minimize and prevent the possibility of foodborne illness. The first rule is to keep clean and this means everything from the food preparer's hands to utensils, countertops, and serving plates. Anyone preparing food should wash their hands first with warm, soapy water. All utenils used in food preparation should be clean. When dealing with raw meat products, keep the utensils, i.e. knives, cutting boards, turning forks, etc, seperate from those used with other foods. Wash thoroughly after handling raw meat. Store fresh meats for no more than 1-2 days in the refrigerator before use and consult consumer guidelines for the limits on freezing meat products.

If heading out on a picnic or cookout in an outdoor location, be sure to store raw meats in a seperate cooler from beverages, salads, and other foods. If hand washing facilities are not available, bring along sanitizing hand wipes or moist towellettes to use after handling raw meats.

At home or away, be sure to check all meats to insure that they are cooked to a safe temperature. Failing to fully cook meat can allow dangerous bacteria to breed and cause illness. Although cases of E-coli have diminished in recent years, e-coli outbreaks can be deadly. Other illness including salmonella and listeria can also begin with undercooked meat. Beef - including hamburgers - should be cooked to at least 160 degrees Farenheit. Poultry should reach at least 170 degrees and pork should register 180 degrees or more. Hot dogs - although sold fully cooked - should be cooked until they reach 165 degrees. Insert a meat thermometer into the center of meat and leave for 30 seconds for an accurate reading. Meat thermometers are available in most discount stores, hardware stores, kitchen specialty shops and even many supermarkets at nominal cost. Remember that no matter how experienced the cook, it is impossible to judge whether meat is done by appearance alone.

Avoid transferring cooked meat to a platter that held the raw product. Do not use the same cooking utensils unless these have been washed in hot, soapy water.

A standard in food safety is to keep hot foods hot, cold foods cold. Refrigerators should be set to 40 degrees Farenheit. Higher temperatures can allow bacteria to grow. If unsure about the temperature in a home refrigerator, invest in a thermometer to gauge the exact temperature. When transporting foods in cooler, make sure that it is an insulated cooler. Pack foods in several inches of ice or ice packs. Replensish as needed to maintain a cold temperature.

When temperatures are below 90 degrees, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reccommends that food not be left out - at room or outside temperatures - for any longer than two hours. When temperatures soar above 90, an hour or less is the limit. This is because bacteria grows most rapidly between 90 and 100 degrees.Bacteria in room temperature foods can double every twenty minutes.

Foods that require extreme caution include mayonaise based products such as potato or macroni salads. These foods tend to break down and allow bacteria to breed quicker than other products.

Cleanliness, frequent hand washing, safe temperatures, and common sense are the key to preventing most foodborne illnesses. Prevention IS the best medicine for these illnesses which can range from mild to severe.

Energy Drinks

Relaxation

Unwind and chill

Whether you are watching calories, salt intake or fat, everyone knows that fast food restaurants are not the best place to eat a healthy meal. But there are some healthy fast food choices, and fast food restaurants are adding new, healthier menu choices every day. In general, here are some ways to make more healthy fast food choices.

First of all, French fries are not a vegetable!! Whenever possible, choose a lower calorie side dish, such as a salad. Many fast food chains have added some very tasty salads to their menus.  But beware! Salads, in general, are healthy. But those added options like cheese and bacon bits and creamy salad dressings can undo all your good healthy fast food intentions. Ask for low calorie or fat free dressings, get them on the side, and use them sparingly. In fact, condiments and sauces, in general, add unhealthy fast food calories, so if you must have them, get them on the side and use them sparingly. This includes such items as cheese sauce, tartar sauce, gravy, and guacamole. Eliminate the sour cream on the baked potato, the mayonnaise on the sandwich. Go for the veggies – extra lettuce and tomato, onions and pickles.

Grilled meats are healthier than fried or breaded, and a small hamburger is better than its larger double or triple meat option. Fish and chicken, or other white meat, is better than red meat. Whole wheat is better than white bread, if that is an option, and, generally speaking, a wrap is fewer calories than a sandwich. Chicken nuggets are one of the more unhealthy fast food choices you can make, along with breakfast sandwiches, fried meats, fries and onion rings.

Another source of empty and unhealthy fast food calories is the drink. A large cola contains 310 calories! Switch to milk, water, or bring your own diet version if you don’t like the options provided by the restaurant. A glass of water with a lemon wedge or two can be a refreshing option.

And finally, keep in mind that less is always better than more. Buy the smaller sizes, even if it means buying off the children’s menu. No super sizing! If you are fortunate enough to have someone you can share your food with, even better, since most fast food and other restaurant meals contain twice as much food (and therefore, twice as many calories) as should be consumed for a meal.

With a little planning and a little thought, you can make healthy fast food choices regardless of where you are eating.





Energy Drinks

Alcohol

Relaxing

There are several places were you can buy food online, like Amazon.com, Homecookingx.com and a slew of other places. But is it really safe for you and your family? There are now even the food delivery services that allow you to order you food and have it delivered that same day. This seems like a great idea for parents especially during those nasty winter months. Although you will usually end up paying a much higher price for food online than you would if you just went to the store and brought it yourself. 

Most likely this is because of the delivery charge. Some of the parents that I have spoken with that have used it said the food was of good quality which is one of the main concerns. Some feel however that they would never like buying food online because they prefer to see it and smell it before they consider buying it, especially when it comes to produce.

Before you start buying food you will want to make sure that it is a reputable company. So make sure you do your homework. Many people are very picky however when it comes to their meat. This may be something that you will want to venture out to the store for yourself. Try looking for a website that includes articles and reviews from other customers. Feedback is great when you are trying to decide about buying something online, especially food. If you are still unsure after reading other reviews, you might want to start by ordering a few boxed items.

This is also a great way to order your baby products. You can buy diapers and wipes in bulk and you can shop around for online coupons. There are plenty of websites that now list online coupons for different companies. Try doing a search on google and you are sure to find a large amount. This will help to cover the shipping fee that you have to pay for delivery. The main thing about buying food online is to make sure that it is fresh and that all of the packages are undamaged when they are received. 

When your delivery arrives make sure you ask the delivery driver to wait a few minutes why you thoroughly check each item. Of course you will not want to take too long doing this, but just browse through everything and make sure that none of the items have a hole in them, or are damaged in any way. If they are then you can point it out to the driver, and then call the store to make sure that they credit your account. Also if you realize that after ordering for a while this problem continues to happen then you will probably want to stop ordering from them. 

If you do decide to purchase meat and produce online be careful to inspect it thoroughly before serving it to your family. But I would like to point out that there have not been any major complaints about home food delivery. Most of the people who have tried home delivery seem to be very happy with the results.





Energy Drinks

Red Bull

Relaxing the real way

With the increasing numbers of hunger across the United States, every little bit counts when it comes to donations and collecting food for the hungry. You can contribute by organizing your own food dirve in you community, town, office, or school. The contributions to local food pantries help immensely, not only during the winter months. Many food pantries have ‘high’ and ‘low’ times of year where their food supplies are minimal and need your support! Take part in a good cause and organize a food drive; simplicity can lead to success, and here are eight steps to lead you towards a rewarding opportunity:

1. Contact your local food pantries, food banks and and shelters, to check and see where your contributions are best suited. Some pantries already organize large-scale food drives, and may be willing to sponsor your local one complete with advertising materials, incentives, and public relations rewards. This initial contact will also help identify what is most needed in your area, or in selecting a neighborhood. 

2. Create a theme. This will create a memorable design for your food drive, and will likely be rememberd most by everyone that you will pitch to. A theme will give your food drive an extra boost visually, and help to gather specific donors as well. 

3. Create a goal. Whether it’s one hundred cans of non-perishable items, or a dollar amount of food, make it clear to all participants what the goal is for your particular food drive. Oftentimes this is enough to get people interested and invoved, and will help generate easier donations.

4. Make a list of potential donors: this will include local grocery and food companies, corporations, and organizations that may be able to donate larger sums of donations or food. These may also help make your food drive more prominent in the local community. Individual donors will be your friends, family, and coworkers and you can draft a list of potentials to pitch to.

5. Do some market research: look for companies that will match your donations; sometimes corporate sponsors are willing to coordinate with you to match a certain amount of food or donations, and can help make your food drive a successful event!

6. Pick a date or structure: Decide if you will host an event for donations to be bought to a specific location, or if this will be an ongoing effort of collecting donations and then reporting the final numbers at a later date.

7. Create an e-mail bulletin. This will go out to all potential donors, local press, or even just your contacts list to generate interest. If your food drive is taking place at a specific location, include all details here. If it will be an ongoing effort, you will need to make it easy and clear as to where donations are to be taken, and what is acceptable. 

8. Acknowledge contributions creatively. Choose to thank each individual, donor, and sponsor in a unique way. Not only will this create a good network for future drives, but will also ensure that credit is given appropriately to all those who participate.

Organizing a successful food drive does involve some creative thinking, promotional skills, organization, and strategy. If you can get a large group of volunteers, friends, and coworkers involved, it can help to generate interest and donors for a very important cuase. Don’t wait until winter to organize a food drive! Most food banks and pantries will gladly accept donations year round, and can help you find many resources you may need in the process.



Energy Drinks

RedBull

Relaxation Techniques

Although I am not a cat, I have to say Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food is a fabulous product. My cats will devour a can of Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food in a matter of mere seconds, so I think it is safe to speak for them and say that this is a great product. Fancy Feast canned cat food comes in a large selection of flavors and variety.

You can find Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food sliced, grilled, flaked and traditional mashed varieties. There are actually over fifty different varieties of Fancy feast canned cat food. There is a choice out there for every cat. Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food is of the flaked variety and the texture seems to appeal greatly to both of my cats. If I had to guess their favorite feature, I would have to say it is the flaked texture of this cat food. I have tried giving them chopped cat food and mashed cat food with no luck. The chopped pieces seem to be too large and are not so easily digestible. The mashed varieties of cat food don’t seem to be appealing at all. I guess they want to feel like they are chewing on something.

Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food is a healthy and safe product to feed your cat. Fancy Feats is made by Purina, a well-known pet food company that has the health and well being of your pets as their number one goal. Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food uses quality ingredients compared to other cheaper canned cat foods. Cheap canned cat foods can lead to urinary track infections and other health problems during the life of your cat. If you are going to invest in canned cat foods for your pets, you should take the time to read the labels and look for quality ingredients. It will save you time and money at the vet’s office.

Personally I could not live without Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food for a number of reasons. I work at home and it can often be a chore to get my overly affectionate and attention-seeking cats to leave me alone. If I feed them a can of Fancy Feast Savory Salmon caned cat food they are satisfied, full, and are soon lulled into a sleepy food coma that seems to resemble the one I achieve every year at Thanksgiving. I believe it is a true test of how good a feast was if it can create a great and wonderfully fulfilling nap!

Fancy Feast Savory Salmon canned cat food can be found at the grocery store and almost every pet store I have every seen. A can cost upwards of $0.50, so try looking for the cases. This will definitely save you a little money. You can even find a variety pack of Fancy Feast canned cat food at Sam’s Club.




Energy Drinks

5 Hour Energy

Relaxing

As a cat lover and owner, you want the best for your cat. They're just like humans- the more nutrients and minerals they get from their food, the healthier they are. But cats can be picky eaters. Of all the store-bought brands of cat food on the market, one of my furry friends, Kermit, will only eat Meow Mix™, period. Fortunately, he will eat the homemade cat food recipes I make for him, so I know he's getting the foods he needs to keep him strong and healthy. Basically, cats prefer homemade cat food with meat, poultry, and dairy products. They don't know it, but they also need some vegetables in their daily diets as well. What they never need is onions, starchy vegetables, like peas and corn, salt, sugar, chocolate, fruits, nuts, mushrooms, caffeine, spices, peppers, and bones. Cats can usually chew up and digest soft, canned salmon bones, but they can't handle chicken and other hard, small bones.

Here's a healthy, homemade cat food recipe for Chicken Soup for Cats:

Boil a pound or two of chicken parts such as livers, hearts, and giblets in a pan of water on the stove. Or, use the same amount of boneless, skinless chicken breasts instead. Either one works fine, but the latter is more expensive to buy.

Boil the chicken until it's tender and is cooked thoroughly. Then, stir in a cup of steamed green beans. Add the mixture to your food processor or blender. Grind it up or turn it into a puree, whichever your cat prefers. Then, add enough chicken broth to make a soup, and serve.

Store any leftover Chicken Soup or other homemade cat food in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to a week. None of my cats like cold food straight from the refrigerator, so I place a serving of the food on a microwave- safe paper plate. I then nuke it on medium power for approximately ten seconds. (The exact time will depend on the wattage of your microwave oven.) The homemade cat food isn't hot, but it isn't chilly anymore either.

My Tuna 'n Egg Kitty Casserole is one of Kermit's favorite feasts. The ingredients are one can of tuna fish in oil- don't drain it- and a scrambled egg or two, depending on their size. Then, simply mix the tuna fish in with the egg and mix it together well.

Note: Does your cat have a problem with Diarrhea? If so, simply mix a cup of cooked white or brown rice into any of these recipes. The rice will help to bind their bowels and stop the problem naturally without giving them drugs.

A little garlic powder sprinkled into a cat's homemade food can help deter bothersome fleas too.
Cheese and Macaroni Surprise is another recipe your cat will love, especially if they have a penchant for dairy products. Boil some macaroni (following the package directions to make a couple cups) until it is tender; drain. Melt a chunk of Velveeta™ cheese product in your microwave oven on low power. Then, mix the cheese into the macaroni. Add enough milk so it's smooth and not sticky. Then toss in a handful of any chopped or sliced meat or poultry food your cat likes. Grind it up and serve it to your feline.

Since most cats adore chicken, liver, turkey, fish, lamb, and veal, you can use any of these meats and poultry foods to make up your own homemade cat food recipes. Just remember to cook their food thoroughly. And, either cut the meats and poultry into small, thin slices, or grind or puree it in your food processor or blender.

And finally, remember to rotate your kitty's homemade food choices. If you feed him or her the same food every day, they tire of it quickly.




Energy Drinks

Pressure Sensitive Labels

Julian rouas paris perfume

pressure sensitive labels

When we go to watch a movie at the cinema, we rarely stop and think about all that took place behind the scenes to make the movie possible; the same often happens when we are out and about shopping for clothes, we seldom think about the person who actually created the clothes we buy.

Perhaps, some might not think it very useful to know the background of the people designing the clothes we wear, however I find it interesting and intriguing to get to know more and dig a little deep into the fabric. Just like getting to know what inspires a writer to put thoughts and ideas into words, it is fascinating to me to find out the passions and inspirations of those who design and create the beautiful clothes we wear.

That is why I am today taking a closer look at three unique and intriguing plus size fashion designers, in a bid to bring you a little step closer to those designing the awesome plus size fashions we have available on the market nowadays. Knowing 'where your clothes come from', like a piece of art, will make you cherish them more.

Yuliya Zeltser of IGIGI
A fashion designer born and raised in Ukraine, Yuliya felt the need to provide full figured women with beautiful clothing, when she saw how hard it was for her own mother to find clothes in her size that made her feel like a gorgeous and chic woman. Through IGIGI Yuliya is now able to provide plus size women with clothes which not only make them feel beautiful, but which also accentuate their figure. Yuliya designed from the heart and is also sometimes inspired from her travels around the world and the United States.

Monif of Monif C. Plus Sizes
A very artistic person at heart, Monif C. saw the need plus size women had for stylish and sexy clothing, and embarked on a mission to satisfy this need, and dare we say, Monif is doing a pretty good job at it! Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, Monif is inspired by life and her dreams. Her aim is to provide curvy women with colorful plus size fashion which makes them feel stylish, inspired, luxurious and sexy.

Anna Nicole of Jahqoi
Anna Nicole is a rising star in the pus size fashion scene. Coming from Detroit, Michigan, but currently residing in California, Anna began sewing clothes at the tender age of 12. In June 2004 Anna launched ANR apparel as an online retail store, to give curvy women more choices of plus size clothing. She has recently moved the retail site over the newly renamed Jahqoi site. Jahqoi when spelled correctly means: 'I believe' in French. Anna's passion is contemporary, modern, sassy styles.

It is interesting, getting to know a little more about plus size fashion designers and the inspirations behind the clothes we wear. There is a lot more than fabric to a dress, more which can turn a beautiful dress into a meaningful work of art.




relaxation
alcohol