Five Ways to Change Your Life for Good!

 You swore this was the year you'd stick to those resolutions, but that jumbo tin of caramel popcorn and comfy couch are calling your name. Join the club: About 40 percent of Americans make a life-enhancing vow on January 1-and half "relapse" within the first 21 days. How to sail through that critical launch period and keep on going? Start with these five no-fail strategies. 

1. Watch your wording: Many a resolution have failed simply because they were expressed too vaguely. So rather than saying, for instance, "I will be more organized," try, "I'll spend 15 minutes of each day de-cluttering part of one room," advises executive coach M.J. Ryan, author of This Year I Will.... Likewise, in lieu of "I want to lose weight," shoot for "I plan to drop 1 pound a week by cutting out late-night snacking." Hoping to eat in more often? Commit to whipping up a home-cooked meal just three nights a week. 

2. Build your case: To help clarify your goals and pump up your motivation, make a list of pros and cons, says James Prochaska, Ph.D., professor of clinical health psychology at the University of Rhode Island. So if you're aiming to exercise more, for example, pros would include as many reasons as possible to support that (e.g., you'll lose weight, sleep better, boost your immunity, and lower stress). The cons would identify anything that might stand in the way of your success-say, a packed schedule or money issues. Don't even attempt to tackle that resolution until the driving factors dramatically outweigh the obstacles. "If you've got a whole string of pros," says Prochaska, "you'll be much more likely to stick with it." 

3. Set up incentives: The urge to return to your old ways is going to be pretty powerful at times, which is why it's critical to regularly galvanize and even reward yourself, says Ryan. Brought lunch from home for the entire work week? Treat yourself to a lipstick or some new songs for your iPod. For high-tech encouragement, turn to websites like habitforge.com and stickk.com. They'll send you emails with inspirational messages and even let you wager on your accomplishment: You can arrange for your hard-earned cash to be given away to a friend if you don't meet your goals. How's that for motivation? 

4. Rally support: "Research proves that people who make healthy changes together are more likely to succeed," says Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D., coauthor of The Social Network Diet and a professor of nutrition at Tufts University. She adds that the more similar your objectives are, the better you'll all do-so if your close pals aren't up for your brand of self-improvement, keep looking. 

5. Plan ahead for slip-ups: Setbacks are inevitable. But you can improve your chances of a quick recovery by visualizing the fallout in advance. Imagine yourself reaching for a cigarette or biting into that forbidden piece of devil's food cake. What will you do to avoid smoking the whole pack or scarfing down every sweet in sight for the rest of the day? Sometimes it's as simple as reminding yourself that a small misstep is just that-a pause in your progress rather than an excuse to throw in the towel-and that you can pick up right where you left off. Enlisting a "backsliding buddy" (a person you call whenever your resolution mojo is faltering) also helps. Says Ryan: "The only difference between people who reach their goals and those who don't is that those who succeed didn't give up."
Source: dailynewzforu

Best Honeymoon Spots in Hawaii

 The beaches, the water, the Aloha Spirit... It's hard to go wrong with a honeymoon in Hawaii. Romance is everywhere you turn. These 10 hotels and resorts are some of most decadent and dreamy on the Hawaiian Islands. Enjoy a beautiful sunset from the privacy of your beachfront cabana, explore the undersea world with your partner, or relax at one of the many award-winning spas.

1.Sheraton Keauhou Bay

What: Sheraton Keauhou Bay sits on an ancient black lava flow near the birthplace of Hawaii's King Kamehameha III. In this dramatic and romantic setting, guests can do everything from relaxing on the beach to partaking in Hawaiian cultural activities.

Honeymoon Highlights: Keauhou Bay has a special manta ray-viewing point just offshore. Couples can dive or snorkel at night with the manta rays. Those looking to renew their vows (or get married the first time around) can do so underwater with a certified dive master and officiate. 

Where: Sheraton Keauhou Bay is in the historical Keauhou district of the Big Island

Cost: Rooms start at $149

2.Fairmont Orchid

What: The Fairmont Orchid spreads across 32 acres of perfectly manicured gardens along the Pacific. Vast grounds and open plan ensure that there's always a great view. The hotel even has its own lagoon, complete with resident green sea turtles.

Honeymoon Highlights: Couples who enjoy getting pampered should try the outdoor Waterfall Massage, where they can lounge in a hale (private hut) overlooking waterfalls and a koi pond.

Where: The Fairmont Orchid is on the Kohala Coast on The Big Island

Cost: Rooms start at $239 per night

3.Hotel Renew

What: Honeymooners who appreciate a chic, designer boutique hotel will enjoy the 72-room Hotel Renew on Waikiki Beach. The hotel's on-site surf school and sunset surf lessons are a regular hit with couples.

Honeymoon Highlights: The Tie The Knot Newlywed Package features a 20% discount and includes champagne, continental breakfast, Wi-Fi, and beach gear.

Where: Hotel Renew is in Waikiki on Oahu

Cost: Rates start at $159 per night for the Tie the Knot Newlywed Package

4.Kahala Resort

What: The Kahala's 6.5 acres of crescent beach, tropical gardens, and waterfalls seem far removed, but the resort is only minutes from Honolulu's cosmopolitan atmosphere. Five bottlenose dolphins frequent the private lagoon -- but they aren't the resort's only celebrities. A walk through the hotel's photo gallery shows that The Kahala has hosted everyone from US presidents to rock stars.

Honeymoon Highlights: Honeymooners receive a $50 resort credit to use toward activities or a meal at Hoku's restaurant. The Kahala's "Kissing Point" is one of the most beautiful spots on the island to watch the colorful Hawaiian sunset.

Where: The Kahala is minutes from Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Oahu

Cost: Rates start at $395 per night

5.Grand Hyatt Kauai

What: The Grand Hyatt Kauai hosts about 250 destination weddings each year, and is even more popular with honeymooners. This 50-acre resort has wide, white sand beaches, a saltwater lagoon, an adult pool, a lazy river, hula lessons, and ukulele lessons. Hidden nooks have double hammocks and more privacy, for guests who prefer a little solitude.

Honeymoon Highlights: Honeymooners receive a bottle of sparkling wine in each room and a private cabana reservation. In Anara Spa, honeymooners receive a 15% discount on the half-day Romance Journey or three-hour Kauai Lover's Escape spa treatments, which take place in a private outdoor hale near a lava rock shower and ginger steam grotto.

Where: Grand Hyatt Kauai is in Koloa on Kauai

Cost: Rooms start at $360 per night

6.Ko'a Kea

What: Kauai's only luxury boutique, Ko'a Kea, was renovated in 2009 with honeymooners in mind. This low-key hotel on Poipu Beach skips over the man-made trappings of other resorts and instead emphasizes the serenity of its surroundings.

Honeymoon Highlights: The Tropical Desire Package includes breakfast, a one-hour couple's massage, three-course dinner for two, and a midsize rental car.

Where: Ko'a Kea is in the town of Koloa on Poipu Beach in Kauai

Cost: Rates start at $329. The Tropical Desire Package starts at $615 per night.

7. Courtyard Kaua'i

What: The Courtyard Kaua'i at Coconut Beach is a 311-room property that feels more like a boutique hotel because of its attention to detail. This secluded oceanfront accommodation will unveil its $15 million renovation in January 2012.

Honeymoon Highlights: Honeymooners enjoy welcome cocktails, fresh flowers, and Hawaiian cookies during turn-down service. For a real treat, try to book the ocean-front Discovery Suite, which boasts a full kitchen, Jacuzzi, and private lanai. 

Where: The Courtyard Kaua'i at Coconut Beach is in Kapa'a on Kauai

Cost: The starting rate for a room is $199 per night

8. Grand Wailea

What: Honeymooners visiting Grand Wailea will enjoy a particular combination of decadence and Hawaiian culture. Grand Wailea has one of the most valuable and largest collections of international art in the Hawaiian islands, a farm-to-table dining series, the largest hotel spa in Hawaii, the only specialized scuba pool in Hawaii, and Maui's best resort restaurant.

Honeymoon Highlights: The Romance Me Maui package offers couples a side-by-side two-hour spa session, a four-course dinner with exclusive wine-pairing, bottle of champagne, and Hawaiian flower petal turndown service.

Where: Grand Wailea is in Wailea on Maui

Cost: Rates begin at $399 per night. The Romance Me Maui Package starts at $1,776 for five days and four nights' accommodation.

9. Ka'anapali Beach Hotel

What: Honeymooners seeking an authentic Hawaiian experience should consider Ka'anapali Beach Hotel. The hotel, which sits along three miles of one of Hawaii's most romantic beaches, has been named "Hawaii's Most Hawaiian Hotel" by the Waiaha Foundation due to its authentic details and Hawaiian cultural classes.

Honeymoon Highlights: In the interest of preserving and promoting Hawaiian culture, the hotel has established a unique Po'okela program. Guests can learn how to hula, play the ukulele, make grass skirts and leis, pound poi, and much more.

Where: The resort is near Lahaina on Maui

Cost: Rooms start at $159 per night, which includes a welcome breakfast, nightly luau, lei ceremony, and Po'okela classes

10. Four Seasons Maui at Wailea

What: For couples who truly love the finer things in life, the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea can provide a luxurious and romantic atmosphere on the shores of Maui. The resort boasts one of the country's top-rated spas and three of Hawaii's most critically acclaimed restaurants.

Honeymoon Highlights: A concierge can help with any romantic request, but the resort features two popular options. For the Bougainvillea Trail option, gardeners hand-pick bougainvilleas from the grounds and set up a trail from door to bed, complete with chilled champagne. The Ultimate Romantic Dinner brings private, fine dining to the beach. The Four Seasons Resort Maui chef creates a five-course meal for couples at a private table on the beach set with fine crystal, silver, china, and tropical flowers.

Where: The Four Seasons Maui is in Wailea on Maui

Cost: Rates start at $485 per night. The Bougainvillea Trail option costs $125. The Ultimate Romantic Dinner option costs $750.

Source: Popularworldnews4u

How Long Did You Date Before Getting Engaged?

December is one of the most popular months to get engaged! We want to know... how long did you date your significant other before getting engaged? Also, check out this list of what you should do after he pops the question.

1. Tell your parents.

Give them the honor of hearing the news first.

2. Make the calls.
Before you log in to Facebook to update your relationship status or tweet your happy news, be certain everyone who should hear it from you personally has been called.

3. Get a manicure.
Your finger and its sparkly new adornment will be getting a lot of attention.

4. Speaking of rings, get yours appraised and insured!

5. Craft a catchall response.
You'll be asked when you're getting married often. Get past the "big day" question by choosing a month, season or even just a year.

6. Perfect your proposal story.
Everyone will be asking how he popped the question. Craft a retelling that reflects the beauty and magic of the moment.

7. Make a pass at your guest list.
Before you even begin the venue search, nail down this magic number. Planners want to how many people you're inviting so they can pair you with spaces (ballrooms, tents, etc.) that can accommodate head count. Packages are also priced in ranges based on guest minimums, so this will help you with the next step: budgeting.

8. Set a budget and start saving.
It's easy to get carried away planning for the happiest day of your life, but ask yourself, do you want to be paying for the wedding years after the honeymoon, or would you rather go house hunting?

9. Places, please!
Figuring out where to hold the reception is hard work. You may visit several venues before finding "the one." Make this part of the planning as fun as possible by staying calm and organized. Create a spreadsheet (and consider sharing it in a Google Doc) with your fiancé to keep tabs on the venues you visit, what you like (or don't like) about them, their prices, etc.

10. Buy a few bridal magazines.
The Internet can be overwhelming when you're wading through wedding websites. Magazines can help remedy that feeling. Pick one up and start folding pages, mark them with post-its, and have fun.

11. Relinquish control.
Can you plan the entire wedding by yourself? No one can answer this question but you (and possibly your Mom). If you're the type of person who'd rather not stress over the details, a wedding planner will help tremendously.

12. Re-read number 4.
It's highly likely you'll postpone insuring your engagement ring. Don't. Here's some great advice from theknot.com that explains everything you should know about protecting your ring: "Insurance 101: Engagement Ring Insurance."

13. Relax.
Do your best to avoid any unnecessary stress. You don't want anyone cracking Bridezilla jokes about you, right? Some days will feel completely overwhelming. When this happens, grab a latte, go for a pedicure and think about how amazing your wedding is going to be. 

Source: Yahoo Shine

10 Best Places to Retire in 2012

Better weather, affordable housing, and plenty of interesting things to do are just a few reasons people move to a new place when they retire. Whether you want to spend your golden years watching the sun set over the water or taking on a second career, we’ve identified an ideal place. Using data from Onboard Informatics, U.S. News selected 10 key attributes that many people look for in a retirement spot, along with a city that excels in meeting each need. Here are 10 excellent places to retire in 2012.
Pleasant year-round weather: Flagstaff, Ariz.

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Flagstaff’s high altitude and low humidity generally lead to a pleasant four-season climate throughout most of the year. To select a place with great year-round weather, we used National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data to find places with the most sunny days. Among the sunniest cities, we looked for places where the temperature seldom rises above 90 degrees. The sun shines in Flagstaff an average of 78 percent of the year, according to NOAA data, but unlike most other sunny climates, the temperature only rises above 90 degrees an average of three days per year. Flagstaff can receive a significant amount of snow in the winter, but the prolific sunshine often quickly melts accumulation. “There is a lot of sunshine and no extremes of temperature,” says Karen Haskins, 71, a retiree who moved to Flagstaff from Amherst, N.H., in 2007. “Summer and early fall are really pleasant. Winters are cold and you do get snow, but because of the intensity of the sun, it melts quickly.”
Affordable mountain town: Boone, N.C.
Pricey Aspen and Vail may be beyond your budget, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spend your retirement years appreciating spectacular mountain views or making runs on the slopes. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Boone boasts three nearby ski resorts as well as trails for cross country skiing, winter hiking, and snowshoeing. Residents of this small town of 14,000 also have access to one of the country’s most scenic roads, the Blue Ridge Parkway. A bonus: Boone provides residents with a free local bus service, AppalCART, and access to many of the amenities at Appalachian State University. In 2010, the median home sale price was $215,250.
Water views on a budget: Traverse City, Mich.

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Dream of retiring to a lake house? The Traverse City area offers more than 180 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline and 149 large lakes measuring 10 acres or more. Residents can climb the high sand dunes and lounge on the freshwater beaches at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, or take a ferry out to the Manitou Islands. There are also plenty of opportunities for boating on the twin Grand Traverse Bays. Housing prices in this lakeside city average a reasonable $155,715.
Greenest place to retire: Walnut Creek, Calif.
Retirees make up more than a quarter of the population of Walnut Creek, which combines the amenities of a city with abundant access to the wilderness. Downtown is filled with high-end shops, fine dining, and organic eateries, as well as the Lesher Center for the Arts. The city also has 22 city parks and 2,704 acres of open space. “There’s a great amount of open space available,” says Joe Stadum, a resident of Walnut Creek’s large 55-and-older gated community, Rossmoor. He enjoys hiking with the Rossmoor Trails Club, which counts more than 200 members. “You can drive or ride your bicycle or run and hike. It’s a great asset.” Residents may choose to drive up to the summit of 3,849-foot Mount Diablo or travel to nearby San Francisco. But life in the Bay Area doesn’t come cheap. The median home price is $411,000.
A college town for retirees: Ithaca, N.Y.

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College towns like Ithaca can be an ideal place to retire. For a median home price of just $176,500, retirees can take classes at Cornell University or Ithaca College and attend speeches, concerts, and sporting events. They can also spend their days hiking to the more than 100 waterfalls and gorges within 10 miles of downtown or sampling the wares of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Don Wilson, 65, a retired cardiologist from Rockford, Ill., bicycles throughout the Finger Lakes region three times a week. “The rural roads in the Finger Lakes region have so little traffic that you can ride three or four abreast on a bicycle in continuous conversation, learning from each other,” he says. Wilson has also developed an interest in paleontology, and is taking a course on the subject at Cornell University and conducting research on fossils at the Museum of the Earth. “I think that university towns tend to attract interesting organizations, like the Museum of the Earth, and interesting people who may or may not be connected with the college.”
Place to launch a second career: Lincoln, Neb.

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Clague Hodgson, 65, retired early from a faculty position at the Creighton University School of Medicine and founded his own biotech company, Nature Technology Corporation, in 1998. His Lincoln-based business now employs eight people who investigate the use of DNA as a medicine. Hodgson says the city’s low unemployment rate and proximity to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln make it an excellent place to launch a second career. “The University of Nebraska Technology Park really takes a lot of the weight off your shoulders,” he says. “For an entrepreneur, remaining affiliated with the university is a good source of information, the library is very helpful, and occasionally we collaborate with researchers there.” Nebraska’s state capitol had an unemployment rate of just 3.5 percent in 2010, among the lowest in the country. According to Onboard Informatics data, the city has added more than 15,000 jobs since 2000, many of which are in fields known to hire older workers, including government, higher education, and healthcare.
Best mix of affordability and amenities: Pittsburgh, Pa.

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Pittsburgh has a low cost of living coupled with a wide variety of amenities that retirees will need as they age. The median home sale price was $97,900 in 2010, which is unusual for a city with a large university and top-notch hospitals. Senior citizens age 65 and older with proper identification are entitled to ride Port Authority buses and trains for free. You’ll just have to decide whether you want season tickets to the ballet, symphony, or Steelers games, assuming all three won’t fit into your retirement budget.

Best place for affordable housing: Port Charlotte, Fla.
Port Charlotte home prices were battered by the housing bust, which could mean bargains for retirees new to the area. The median home sale price was a shockingly low $59,950 in 2010. And many of these homes are located along canals and waterways. “There are a tremendous number of houses on the water, and everybody’s got their boats in their backyard,” says retiree Chris Zwirner, 78. “All the people who live on water essentially have access to the Gulf of Mexico, and from there you can go around the world.” The Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park spans 42,000 acres, including 70 miles of shoreline along the Charlotte Harbor. An added bonus: Florida has no state income tax.
Best place for single retirees: Pittsfield, Mass.
Dating is increasingly becoming a part of the retirement years. And Pittsfield is the only metro area where the majority of the 55-and-older population (52 percent) is single, according to Census Bureau data. Carol Scott, 60, an event planner who has been widowed for three years, likes to connect with new people online and has arranged five in-person dates so far this year. “I usually like to meet for a coffee or a drink,” she says. “If we find we enjoy each other’s company, perhaps it runs over into dinner.” But even if you move to Pittsfield, we can’t guarantee that dating will be easy. There are nearly twice as many single women (14,237) age 55 and older as single men (7,869). “A lot of my women friends are single,” says Scott. “And while I have met some very nice people, I have not met someone I am interested in pursuing.”
Best place for recreation and culture: Santa Fe, N.M.

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At more than 400 years old, Santa Fe is the country’s oldest state capitol. The city is known for its unique culture and art galleries, including the New Mexico Museum of Art and Institute of American Indian Arts. “Santa Fe has a charter that is unlike other cities,” says Karen Ralston, 67, a retired director of marketing for a publisher. She moved to Santa Fe in 2006. “The cultural mix that we get here — the Anglo culture and the Indian culture and the Hispanic culture — blends very beautifully here. We really love that mix,” she says. An art history minor in college, Ralston rediscovered that interest by volunteering at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the Center for Contemporary Arts. The creations of artists worldwide are also celebrated at a variety of annual festivals and markets, such as the Native Treasures Indian Arts Festival and the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market.

5 Ideas to Brighten Your Home For The Festive Season

 The festive season is almost here, and you are eager to set the scene for celebrations to mark the holiest day of the year. Christmas is the time when we rejoice and our eyes are lit with merriment and festive mood. Brightening our homes for the festive season will greatly enhance that mood – especially when we take advantage of a 1800 lighting coupon for an array of Christmas lighting decorations. Both your home and your garden will be transformed as if with a magic wand and will exude a Christmas spirit.

 Firstly, add some extra lights outdoors – outdoor hanging lanterns, reasonably priced with a 1800 lighting promo code, are especially in tune with the Christmas theme; traditional, modern, rustic, or wrought iron ones, they all shed festive light and are ready to welcome the season of universal joy. Festive motifs on your hanging lanterns will bring a fairy tale world to life and will delight your kids. They can even design some festive motifs themselves and take pride in attaching them to your newly acquired outdoor hanging lanterns.

If you haven’t outdoor post lighting, now is the time to enjoy the purchase with a 1800lighting.com coupons. Outdoor posts dispersing the darkness will welcome the holiday spirit. You can make great use of outdoor posts with the added decoration of Christmas rope lights, lighted grapes, or starlight spheres, to name but three of the numerous festive lighting options. Hang them between your outdoor posts, and your outdoor area will turn into the dream setting for a peaceful Christmas illuminated by lights and joy. Even if Christmas is unusually warm, you will be able to make up for the absence of snow with your festive outdoor post lighting.

Inside there are ample opportunities to honor the holiday season by festive illuminations with a 1800 lighting promo code. Table lamps provide intimate lighting for family dinners. Now is the time to transform them in conformity with the approaching holiday. Complement them with festive illuminations or replace your table lamp with a centerpiece or wreath comprising color bulbs to brighten your festive table and delight your family.

Light bulbs are our most favored choice. They are available in a rainbow abundance of colors, come with a 1800lighting.com promo codes, and you can make zillions of combination's to brighten the living room, your kids’ room, or even your kitchen. Replacing traditional bulbs with color bulbs is especially exciting when you are preparing for the Christmas holiday.

Finally, show your concern for the environment and strife to offset your family’s carbon footprint – buy an artificial Christmas tree and embellish it with lights – green and frosted trees are equally stunning decorated with LED candles, Christmas rope lights, tree trunk wrap incandescent lights, all available at discount rates with a 1800lighting.com  deals. A pre-lit artificial tree will be the easiest choice – then you will be ready to wait for Santa to pull up his sleigh on your doorway, to share your delight in festive lighting.

Top 10 Things You Should Never Tell Your Girlfriend

So, you have won the girlfriend you always dreamt about but do you know what you should be doing and more importantly,

not saying to sustain this relationship? If not, take some clues from here:

 

1. Preaching Her Not To Get Emotional

Apart from a few exceptions, women continue to be the most emotional of all the genders. Periodic and inexplicable bouts of crying, getting teary-eyed over seemingly regular conversations or becoming explicitly possessive about your whereabouts is perhaps coded in the female DNA. The worst thing you can say during such situations is preaching her “not to get too emotional”. This is almost parallel to asking women not to talk that is simply against the rules of human evolution!

2. Talking About How Much Money You “Really” Have & How You Handle It

Okay, you are dating the self-driven, contemporary woman who likes to spend even when you two are together but sometimes it is wiser to guard your own interest. Agreed, that being and acting rich gives you a sense of self-worthiness but this doesn’t mean you have to be absolutely honest with how much money you have at your disposal. Ensure that you don’t divulge details about how you spend money on your friends or hobbies. Don’t brag about your savings or how much money you are about to inherit. When it comes to financials, keep it simple—she doesn’t need to know where it came from and how much more is coming your way.

3. Relating Her Behavior To Her Hormonal Cycles

Asking your girlfriend whether she is PMS(ing) or if it is that time of the month again and suggesting this as the reason behind her irritable behavior can make you look insensitive or inconsiderate. Menstruation puts forth so many confusing symptoms that even some women don’t realize that they are already into their next cycle. So, it is better to refrain from giving wings to the budding doctor inside you and keep your mouth shut even when it is plainly obvious.

4. Asking About Her Sexual Past Doesn’t Help Anybody

Yes, everybody thinks about it, i.e. the kind of sexual experiences your partner has had. However, you need to question yourself—how does this information really help?

Apart from making you mad with jealousy or making her extremely uncomfortable, such questions don’t solve any purpose.

5. Commenting About Her Make-Up Free Look Just Isn't Cool Buddy

The first few dates are bound to bring out the best in her in terms of how she presents herself. However, you cannot expect her to be the picture of absolute perfection on every occasion. She is bound to show-up in her casual, normal attire where the missing make-up is likely to make her appear a bit less gorgeous. Accept this as a part of your relationship. Even if you don’t like it, never comment about it—it will only make you look shallow.

6. Suggesting Couple Activities That You Are Not Likely To Follow

Suggesting things like dieting or exercising together might seem fun at the outset and the “couple” thing to do but such commitments can soon become a burden. Apart from members of the extreme metro-sexual clan, women still emerge as clear winners when it comes to following self-improvement schedules. You might commit to such activities with the thought of exploring how things develop but your girlfriend might already be counting upon your dedication towards it. Unless, it becomes absolute unavoidable, abstain from such emotional obligations.

7. Asking About Her Self-Pleasuring Indulgences

As guys, we do it commonly and discuss it among ourselves with absolutely no hesitation. However, the scenario isn't as liberating in the female domain and that includes your girlfriend. Asking about whether she indulges in pleasuring herself or the frequency of “it” can make the entire conversation go awry apart from making her feel embarrassed or tongue-tied. Unless you feel this topic emerging as a natural outcome of a situation or a conversation, stay away from it.

8. Talking in Detail About Your Relationships

Many men have committed the eternal sin of detailing their past love lives, the kind of women they dated and how their past relationships worked or failed. Yes, you do need to talk about your romantic liaisons but this doesn’t mean detailing it to the extent that your girlfriend can start noticing dating or break-up patterns. The idea is to allow her to know your past but not providing so much information that she can dissect your psyche.

9. Discriminating Her Outfits or Hairstyle

No matter how progressive your girl is, her hair and her choice of clothes are bound to be two things that she will obsess about—these typical feminine traits had probably started during the Neanderthal Age and they still exist. Your opinion is valid in itself but never let it become a critical observation. Restrain the enthusiastic critique in you and it will probably save you at least a dozen ugly arguments.

10. Making Comparisons That Are Sure To Drive Her Nuts

There are some comparisons that can literally drive women crazy. This includes her mother, your mother, your ex, her sister and her best friend. If you feel like comparing here to someone, pick a character from a TV series or a movie, at least that doesn’t endanger your physical well-being!

Source:Mensxps.com

Are IPads & IPhones Good Gifts for Kids?

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  What do children age six to twelve want most this holiday season? According to a new report from The Nielsen Company, iPads, iPod Touches, and iPhones top the electronics wish list. However, those clamoring to stuff their kids' holiday stockings with the latest electronic gadgets would do well to ponder experts' warnings before buying one.

Few people appreciate that all of these wireless devices come with manufacturers' fine print warnings not to hold them next to an adult body, or that controlled studies show that microwave radiation from cell phones weaken the brain's protective barrier, and that according to a recently published scientific report from Environmental Health Trust (EHT), children's heads absorb twice as much microwave radiation from cell phones as adults.

In addition, radiation from cell phones carried in shirts or pants pockets of adults is four to seven times higher than the guidelines set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the U.S. For the smaller bodies of children, of course, levels would be even much greater.

 

The reason for the discrepancy, EHT says, is that the process to determine radiation from cell phones is modeled on a 6-foot 2-inch tall, 220-pound man, with an eleven-pound head. Because this large skull represents only about three percent of the population, the test cannot accurately predict the radiation exposure of the other 97 percent, including children, nor does it even try to estimate exposures from pocket use.

 

"The standard for cell phones has been developed based on old science, old models and old assumptions about how we use cell phones, and that's why they need to change and protect our children and grandchildren," said Dr. Devra Davis, EHT founder and Healthy Child Healthy Word Advisory Board member.

Read the Fine Print for "Pocket Gifts"
Dr. Davis also calls parents' attention to another iPad fine print warning that states, "a small percentage of people may be susceptible to blackouts or seizures (even if they have never had one before) when exposed to flashing lights or light patterns such as when playing games or watching videos... Discontinue use of iPad and consult a physician if you experience headaches, blackouts, seizures, convulsion, eye or muscle twitching, loss of awareness, involuntary movement, or disorientation. To reduce risk of headaches, blackouts, seizures and eyestrain, avoid prolonged use, hold iPad some distance from your eyes, use iPad in a well-lit room, and take frequent breaks."

 

Consumers can find this and more on the iPad safety pamphlet. "Whoever wrote this probably had in mind the adult who can fork over $400 to $500 for the iPad," advises Dr. Davis. "Yet nowadays, even babies and toddlers are learning to read from wired devices and falling asleep to white noise played from phones placed under their pillows. A child's brain, healthy or otherwise, is cased in a thinner skull; that's why they absorb more microwave radiation. The brains of children with learning problems, autism or other neurological disorders may be more vulnerable to damage than those of their healthy friends and family members."

 

The iPad safety advice doesn't consider these issues, but does include information about exposure to radiofrequency energy. The pamphlet notes, "If you are...concerned about exposure to RF energy, you can further limit your exposure by limiting the amount of time using iPad WiFi +3G in wireless mode...and by placing more distance between your body and iPad Wi-Fi +3G."

 

"There's no denying these gadgets are fun; my kids love them too," says Rachel Lincoln Sarnoff, Executive Director and CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World. "But these technologies are developing faster than our ability to understand potential health impacts. We're not asking parents to not buy or use them, we're simply asking them to take precautions. It's better to be safe rather than sorry when it comes to our children's health."

 

Here are six easy steps you can take to protect your family:

1. Use a head set. Using a speaker, hands-free device, or earphones when speaking on a cell phone distances it from the body and head and minimizes your exposure to radiation.
 
2. Don't carry a cell phone on your body. Even when a cell phone is not in use, it emits radiation.
 
3. Beware of a weak signal. When a cell phone is in standby mode or when the signal strength is weak or blocked, exposure to radiation increases. Limit your use at this time.
 
4. Limit children's use. Studies consistently show that children are especially vulnerable to the effects of cell phone radiation. Generally, the younger the child, the more at risk they are.
 
5. Don't leave a cell phone on your nightstand or near your sleeping child.
You may be sleeping, but your cell phone is busy at work emitting radiation.
 
6. If your child is using a smart phone, iPad or iPod Touch to play games, turn off the wi-fi feature. You can also put it on "flight" or "off-line" mode to reduce emissions.

Source:Yahoo Shine