Abstract Home Vol. 3 Issue 18

COURTS ISLAND HOME | HORIZONTAL

www.abstracthome.com OCTOBER 2012 ABSTRACT HOME 1

For most people, home is a special place. It represents our sanctu-ary from the world and the place

where we spend quality time to rest and renew our lives. It also represents the single largest investment that we make in our lives. Since your home represents such a huge part of your life, you know that it makes good sense to do what you can to enhance and improve your home. Here, we share tips on the most impor-tant renovations to consider when im-proving your living space.

Get The Right Permits: If you are do-ing a home improvement project which requires electricity, plumbing, structural or other trades that may involve per-mits, seek these out in advance. Hire a professional general contractor or trades person if you are unclear of what permits are required.

Be Real With Budgets: It's a word that touches a nerve on both sides of the renovation process. Owners fear contractors will charge more if they know how much money they really have to spend, while contractors worry that owners expect a level of quality that doesn't match the price they want

to pay. But pretending there isn’t any money involved won't make the project any less expensive. It just gives you less than you wanted. A lot of people have a budget that's a little bit of a lie, but if they were honest, contractors would be able to use higher-quality materials and give them more value for their money.

Be Energy Efficient: Change a light and save a bundle. Energy Star quali-fied light bulbs are 75 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs.

When just one room in every home is brightened by Energy Star lighting, the change will keep over one trillion pounds of carbon dioxide out of our air. Make a quick trip to the hardware store or home improvement center for a hot water insulation kit to wrap your water heater and save on water heating costs. Make sure to add top of the line faucets and fixtures to prevent water wastage as well. If you have air conditioning, ser-vice it. Dirty filters can hamper airflow and cause your A/C to use more energy. Keeping filters clean can help reduce your energy bill.

Get a Good Gardner: Tidying up your garden costs nothing; regular mainte-nance like weeding, mowing and weath-erproofing sheds, fences and garden furniture is also worthwhile. Spending small amounts of time and money on garden maintenance will save money in the long run rather than waiting till fences, furniture and outbuildings are in such a state they are beyond repair. On the topic of gardening, cut down on your garbage by creating a compost pile in your backyard. You can throw away everyday staples like eggshells, coffee grounds and vegetables.

Paint, paint, paint: One of the sim-plest, most cost-effective improve-ments of all is paint! Freshly painted rooms look clean and updated — and that spells value. When selecting paint colors, keep in mind that neutrals ap-peal to the greatest number of people, therefore making your home more de-sirable. A gallon of good paint roughly around $200, leaving you plenty of money to buy rollers, painter's tape, drop cloths and brushes. So buy a few gallons and get busy!

Do Basic Updates: Basic updates add the most value to your home. Fix the roof when it leaks, replace wood that rots, and get rid of any mold that you find. These types of chores keep your home from deteriorating over time. Buyers want a healthy, solid, safe home, and they look carefully for signs of rou-tine maintenance. Simple projects can keep a home in tip-top shape so that if you do decide to try and sell again, buy-ers will see a well-cared-for home.

It's never too late to fall in love with your home again. Make the right im-provements and you’ll be smitten again in no time.

Home Improvement Tips

LIVING QUARTERS

ABSTRACT HOME OCTOBER 2012 www.abstracthome.com2

Nowadays, more and more houses are being made of glass. Not just sliding doors or mir-

rors, but also the walls and surrounding areas are being made of this substance. Though it adds sophistication and el-egance to any design it dirties easily and requires constant cleaning. For the beauty of the glass to shine through, careful cleaning methods must be em-ployed. See below for tips that can be used to ensure clean glass at all times; whether they are wares, doors, mirrors or crystals.

WindowsOnline cleaning Guru, Mrs. Clean House Cleaning Specialist, says that hot, soapy water should be used to wash down windows on a cloudy, mild temperature day, ensuring that all the dirt and debris is removed first. Once this is done, use a cotton cloth to dry the window quickly to prevent streaks. A chemical cleaner is suggested but is not necessary since soap water often does the trick.

Glass (cookware, drinking glasses, glass tables)Use hot soapy water when washing drinking glasses and cookware then rinse them off in hot water. Mrs. Clean House Cleaning Specialist suggests that a dish detergent that is mild be used. To get the sparkling effect that is seen in many dishwashing liquid com-mercials, a hint of vinegar in the wash-ing solution helps. For harder stains, Mrs. Clean suggests a scouring pad that will be tough on stains but gentle on the glass.

Glass (doors or mirrors) Because they are not used for con-sumption, rubbing alcohol can be add-ed to a solution of water and vinegar when cleaning sliding doors or mirrors. The alcohol allows for quick evapora-tion and ensures a streak-free glass all the time. Mrs. Clean suggests that this solution also be used on chrome,

hard tiles and other surfaces for a great clean.

CrystalCrystal deserves a special kind of care to prevent them from breaking. To clean crystal, Ms. Clean suggests that you follow these steps:

1) Use rubber or cotton gloves when handling them.

2) Do not place fine crystal in dish-washer; hand wash.

3) Use a mild detergent when washing crystal and use low water pressure when rinsing them. Be wary of the material used to wash the glasses with; if it’s too rough it may scratch the surface.

4) Wash and rinse with the same wa-ter temperature. Going from hot to cold can cause the crystal to shatter or crack.

5) Invert the crystal on a dry thick cloth. Allow them to air-dry before using a terry cloth to shine them later.

The uses of water are endless; not only is it a necessity for the con-tinuation of life on earth, but

it can add richness and vitality to any home. Water is such a pure and won-derful resource that some home own-ers are beginning to use water to add to the indoor décor of their homes. Why not? It’s one of the most innovative trends currently and its effects have been known to range from therapeutic to inspirational. Read below for crea-tive ways in which water can be used.

Indoor waterfalls- Just as the sound of the waves crashing on the beach or the sound of a river flowing down-stream can be relaxing, so the sound of flowing water from a waterfall can provide relaxation. There are basical-ly two types of indoor waterfalls: wall hanging and released (the ones that are built-in and flow to the ground). Each comes in various shapes and sizes and it depends on the home owners’ choice as to which area of the house it goes. The ground waterfalls are best as real pebbles and stones can be used to add a sense of authenticity to the scene but it is the more expensive choice. Either

way, it accentuates the decor and adds that calming effect.

Indoor fountains- There are end-less internet sites and books that boast

about the wonders and positive effects that fountains have on the human nerv-ous system. Just watching water in a fountain or seeing tiny bubbles burst at the bottom of the sprout can calm the

nerves and ease tension in the body. So, having one of these in your home may not be such a bad idea especially those of us with stressful jobs. Plus with the advance in technology, fountains are being made to fit in homes as opposed to the huge ones that were available long ago or even in ancient times. Ad-ditionally, the prices for these acces-sories have dropped and are affordable on nearly any budget so it’s time to invest in a cheaper stress reliever than addictive pills or huge doctor fees.

Aquariums- Perhaps the cheapest and most affordable of the three, the aquarium has its healing effects too. As with the fountains and waterfalls, they come in a wide range of shapes and siz-es and the movement of water is creat-ed by the fish swimming around in the tank. The ripples that the fish create as they swim around in the water create a relaxing effect. Some people have been known to draw inspiration just by star-ing at the tank, sometimes for hours. Some have even fallen asleep in front of the aquarium. Whichever way you choose to use water in your décor, the benefits are endless.

LIVING QUARTERS

Make Your Décor Flow With Water

All You Need To Know About Cleaning Glass


Though most of us consume our favourite caffeinated beverages in the traditional way, there are

other uses for coffee. Here are some unusual ways to make the most of your coffee.

1Used coffee grounds are effective in keeping ants at bay. Just sprin-kle some on the ant hills and the

ants will move. However, this does not harm the ants so they will create anoth-er hill that you would have to remove them from.

2Coffee grounds work well as a refrigerator deodorizer. Place a bowl of coffee grounds in-

side your fridge and your homemade deodorizer will gradually absorb all unwanted scents. Also, when kitchen drains get smelly, simply get a cup of coffee grounds and tip down the plug-hole making sure you slowly tip a kettle of boiling water down afterward & leave to work on the odours.

3Gardeners can benefit from cof-fee as it helps plants to flourish. The grounds, when mixed with

soil, release nutrients that make the ground richer and more acidic. Plants that flourish in acidic soil will be health-ier since they can get the needed nour-ishment from the ground. If you have a good supply of coffee grounds, just spread them evenly in your garden. The

results will surely surprise you. Cof-fee also scares away certain worms and pests which threaten plant roots.

4Pets seem to love turning gar-dens into toilets. You can keep your pet from defecating in your

garden if you spread a mixture of coffee grounds and orange peels around the

area. Your pets (especially cats) will find the scent of the mixture a tad ‘exotic’ and they will opt for another choice of restroom.

There is much more to what goes into your cup of Joe than you know. Re-member these facts as you sip your next cup.

Many manufacturers of clean-ing products give guaran-tees of their product’s ef-

fectiveness to “cut grease” or “remove stains”, but as many home-makers have learnt over the years, this is not always the case. At times, making one’s own concoctions is the only way to get the desired sparkle or shine on wares, tiles and floors. For this reason, many homemakers have devised little tricks that help with cleaning dirty items and ways of maintaining a clean scene. See below for household items that can be used alone, or in combination with cleaning products, to guarantee a clean surface.

1Squeezing lime in the dish-washing liquid- Every dish-washing liquid boasts of the

ability to “leave a sparkling shine” or being “tough on grease but gen-tle on hands” but nothing gets rids of the stains and grease better than lime juice. Squeezing half of a lime in the dishwashing liquid ensures that your dishes are left clean and that there is

no food residue stuck between forks after washing. It even gets rid of the left-over food scent.

2Adding vinegar to the solu-tion when cleaning the tiles- Some people have dumped

cloth mops for the innovative ‘Swiffer Wet Jet’; but just a few drops of vin-egar on the ground cleans tiles leaving the floor spotless. For those who still use mops, add approximately a cork full or a cork and a half of vinegar to the scrubbing solution and experience a difference in your tiles. It retains the gloss and maintains a clean surface for a long time.

3Adding baking soda to your wash load- Baking soda is one of the most inexpensive yet ef-

fective ways to cut grease and stains from clothes. Add approximately ½ cup of baking soda to your wash load and watch the stains disappear. That does not mean that you need to remove the soap powder altogether, but used in combination, these can work wonders

for your clothes. It is tough enough to remove grease but gentle enough to be used on baby’s clothing too.

4Toothpaste can make your silverware sparkle- Apart from the many other uses of

toothpaste which include removing the offensive bathtub ring or removing stains from a carpet, it is known to ef-fectively polish silver, leaving a glossy shine. Toothpaste can make an authen-tic diamond ring sparkle as much as it did when it was just purchased.. Simply wet the ring and use a toothbrush with toothpaste to scrub the surface.

LIVING QUARTERS Unusual Uses For Coffee

Home-Made Solutions That Get The Job Done


Many gardeners want to en-courage birds into their gar-dens. Whilst it's true that they

can cause damage, they can also help you because they have an enormous appetite for quantities of insect pests. Plus, there is nothing like the sound of beautiful birds chirping in the morning.

Make them feel at homeReduce the opportunities for predators like cats and chickenhawks by placing feeders where the birds can spot danger easily. Avoid using garden netting, espe-cially during the breeding season, and place feeders away from your house to minimize the risk of birds colliding with windows.

Keep Water CloseYou may have remembered to put out food, but a supply of clean, unfrozen wa-ter is just as important, both for drink-ing and bathing. Use a sloping bath with water 2.5cm-10cm deep, which will allow different species to bathe in comfort. It helps to add a flat stone or two to give birds an easy way in and out. Try to po-sition the bath some¬where prominent where it won't be a chore to clean, and refill regularly. Stone bird baths are the traditional if pricey choice, but birds won't turn up their beaks at a dustbin lid sunk into the soil and filled with water.

Plus, instead of just a static birdbath, add a dripper, mister or bubbler to create motion. Birds will see and hear the water

from great distances, and many curious species will come to investigate. If you have the space and budget, consider a fountain birdbath or even larger water feature.

Offer the Right FoodMost birds eat most types of nuts, seeds, fats and fruit. However, here are a few tips for you to try:

• Keep your feeder near to cover if you can. Not to close that squirrels or oth-er food stealers get near.

• Try to keep all feeding stations off the ground. Although, putting a bit of feed on the ground to attract ground

feeding birds is good. • Don’t put feeding stations to near

nest boxes as the noise may affect any occupants.

• Feeders are perfect, try different feeds for different types of birds. Some pre-fer seeds, fruit and fat.

• Experiment with various feed to at-tract different types of birds. Try sunflower hearts, millet seeds, varied seed mixes as well as fat products and live feed too.

Sterilise feedersRemove mouldy seed from feeders and sterilize them regularly to reduce the risk of spreading diseases. Clean them

more frequently when there are lots of birds in your garden and/or when you suspect that some are sick – keep an eye out for lethargic birds sitting around with their feathers fluffed up. Pour over some boiling water now and again to clean off.

Plant the Right StuffHow you garden can affect the number of birds that visit. Planting native plants helps enormously. Birds are attracted to numerous tropical fruits that are found in most yards. Be sure to include a few. Clothing walls and fences with climbing plants and shrubs can turn them into a living boundary, providing cover and nesting sites that are unavailable on un-planted vertical surfaces. If you have the space, planting a native hedgerow, which can be left untrimmed, will give birds a really good habitat to nest and feed in. In the same vein, be careful about what you plant as some plants are toxic and can keep birds away as well.

Reduce Chemical UsageReducing the amount of chemicals you use in your garden will have a beneficial effect on birds, as well as other forms of wildlife. There are several organic op-tions to use in your garden. Generally, you don’t need much more than a little manure or compost anyway.These are simple and effective methods of ensuring a safe and happy habitat for the birds in your garden.

AB HOME QUIz

How To Attract Birds To Your Garden


For many people, owning a home brings a sense of pride and free-dom that cannot be matched

by renting. When you own your own home, you aren’t bound by a landlord’s rules, and your monthly payments are actually building equity. Although buy-ing a home may be the first step you take toward building long-term wealth, it is important to understand the pros and cons of home ownership before taking the plunge.

Many of us no matter how hard we work are unable to purchase a house with cash. In order to make our dreams of home ownership come through we have to take out a mortgage. Steps to-wards a mortgage are sometimes a bit complicated. The process usually takes about three to six months and during this time many find it to be quite frus-trating with the many trips that need to be made to the bank. Home ownership is not something that you wake up one morning and decide to do. It is some-thing that you should have been pre-paring for in advance.

In preparation for a home pur-chase, take a look at your finances. Save as much as you can towards your down-payment. The downpayment for mort-

gages is usually 10% of the amount of the home. The earlier you start to save in life the more money you would have towards your mortgage down payment. The bigger the down payment you make the smaller your monthly mort-gage payments would be. In addition, your savings should take into account closing costs of acquiring your home. If you cannot find the 10% downpament required for a loan, many banks and lending institutions would lend you the money.

One of the key factors that banks and other lending institutions look at before giving a loan is your credit his-tory. They want to see how many loans you have taken out recently and wheth-er or not you have repaid them on time. If you were late by more than 30 or 60 days for 2 or more times, your credit score will be negatively affected. This does not mean you will not qualify for a loan, however you may not qualify for the amount that you want. So keeping a good credit score is important.

Before you get too attached to that million dollar home with the great view, find out how much you can af-ford. Through the process of pre- qualification the banks and lending in-

stitutions will look at your credit score and salary and give you an idea of how much home you can afford. Now that you have an idea of what price range you can afford, you know exactly what to look for. A real estate agent can help you with looking for something in your price range.

Once you have decided on an area in which you want to live, research the area. Find out as much as you can about the area’s schools, shopping centers, traffic, recent trends, crime stats, prop-erty taxes and cost of hazard insurance. One source of information is the local media especially the newspaper’s ar-chives. The local police station and real estate agents who live in or around the area, are others fine sources of infor-mation.

A valuable piece of information you should have in your negotiation “arse-nal” is the price of recent home sales within a mile or 2 of the house you are about to make an offer on. Your agent has access to an extensive list of recent home sales. If you want to do some work on your own you can ask friends of friends who know people who live in the area. The real estate agent that is representing you will help you in the

bidding process. This includes prepar-ing an “offer sheet” that shows the sell-er you are seriously interested in pur-chasing the house. Some offer sheets contain specific conditions, such as making your offer valid only if a thor-ough inspection reveals serious defects or safety concerns that can be fixed within a certain time.

The closing of the deal tends to be a bit scary for some. This is where you put pen to paper and the house is turned over to you. If everything was done correctly up to this point includ-ing making sure the title is free of any liens, the process should merely be a formality. To make sure there are no surprises some home buyers bring a real estate attorney to the closing pro-cedures to examine all the documents. In addition there is title insurance to protect the bank and you in case there is a claim against the title that was not revealed during a title search.

These are the general steps that must be followed when obtaining a mortgage. Take each step into consid-eration and follow them closely. Once you have followed these steps you are surely on your way to owning your own home.

HOME OFFICE

Steps Toward A Mortgage


This Asian inspired room is ethnic décor at its finest

ELEGANT IDEAS

Decorative Theme

Options


ELEGANT IDEAS

Bare, but bold…this sparse setting is highly futuristic


ELEGANT IDEAS

Some splashes of colour and softness help to make this

bathroom ideal for kids


A little feng shui goes a long way in this simple oriental bathroom

ELEGANT IDEAS


ELEGANT IDEAS

This décor will make you feel you just visited grandma


I like to see the show that bartend-ers put on. You know, the one where they send the bottle up in

the air, spin and catch it behind their backs? Yep, that one. I love seeing them perform, not to mention the fact that I love the drinks too. The intense fla-vors that tantalize my taste buds every time I take a sip take me to a place and moment in time where everything is all right. I can’t take the exciting show home with me, but I can create a simi-lar environment by having good drinks. Making good drinks is like any other job, it all starts with having the right tools on hand.

Every mixologist must have a wine opener which includes a corkscrew and a sharp blade to cut the seal of the wine. There are many other different types of wine openers available on the market; the choice is yours in getting one that works for you. Electric bottle openers are the go these days as they take the pressure off of your hands. A bottle opener and a can opener should also be kept at hand. While they are usually found in the kitchen it is best to keep them on hand in the bar as well. They are needed for opening the likes of canned pineapple and fruit cocktails.

The right measurement is what makes a drink pop. Sometimes you may say to yourself this drink has too much of this or too much of that. To prevent this you would require the bar tool known as the jigger. A jigger is used to measure the amount of liquor that flows from the bottle. The small end of the jigger measures one oz, while the larger end measures 1.5 oz. of liquor. Depending on the size of the drinks, the jigger will help to perfect your measuring skills at the home bar. You don’t want to put in too much of one type of liquor as it throws off the taste of the final product. Another measur-ing tool that is necessary is the measur-ing spoon; these spoons measure any-thing from juice and sugar to syrup and even salt. Standard measuring spoons like the ones used in most kitchens are perfect for the home bar.

To get iced drinks to a nice con-sistency, a high speed electric blender is a home bar essential. Nearly every household has a blender and the same should go for the bar. The blender will be used to make frozen drinks of all sorts as well as to mix certain drinks that the shaker just would not do jus-tice to. Bartending is nearly impossi-

ble without a good quality blender for those specialty drinks. It is essential in the preparation of daiquiris and mud-slides…. yummy.

Mixology requires a lot of mixing as the name suggests, especially when it comes to those fancy mixed drinks that are full of flavor. Every home bar should have a set of long handled mix-ing spoons that will fit into most glasses. A few pitchers are also needed to keep the drinks flowing. For the home bar, it is good to have at least two pitchers available on hand to keep drinks read-

ily available. The pitcher is essential in making various stirred drinks such as the Martini and it is also used to store drinking water.

Ice is an essential ingredient to drinks, especially those blended drinks. Therefore the home bar must have an ice bucket to store the ice along with a set of thongs. Another essential in-gredient for the home bar is fresh juice. Fresh juice is often part of a great bar drink, so every bartender needs a juice squeezer on hand at the home bar. There are some excellent electric squeezers that you can buy or you can use the regular hand squeezer. For the martini lovers who like it shaken and not stirred, a cocktail shaker is essen-tial in preparing your favorite drink. The stainless steel thingy which you see bartenders pour ingredients into for a martini or shooter and shake vig-orously is called a cocktail shaker.

These tools mixed together with some quality liquor create the most wonderful drinks. Add a nice ambi-ence, some music, friends and good food and you are on your way to having a great time. Remember to do it like the pros do, you need the tools the pros use. Drink up and enjoy!

KITCHEN

Mix It Like The Pros;Mixology Must Haves

There are many options for what to drink, but without a doubt, water is the best choice: It's cal-

orie-free, and it's as easy to find as the nearest tap. After plain water, there are some other drinks which do pose significant health benefits. Of course, there are pros and cons to drink-ing these beverages, so drink them in moderation.

Green tea contains a rich con-centration of flavonoids and poly-phenols, natural antioxidants that may protect cells from carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) and inhibit tumor growth by helping to neutralize free radicals in the body. The tea's antioxidants may also guard against heart disease by re-laxing blood vessels, inhibiting the formation of blood clots that trig-ger heart attacks and strokes. Green tea also contains fluoride, which strengthens teeth; the flavonoids may build up bones as well, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and tooth decay.

Soy milk contains soluble fiber and soy protein, which lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and triglyc-erides, reducing the risk of cardio-vascular disease. If you're drinking it instead of cow's milk, buy soy milk fortified with calcium and vitamins A and D. One caveat: Soy contains

phytoestrogens, which may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about drinking soy milk if you have a family history of the disease or have had it yourself.

Research suggests that the same antibacterial properties present in cranberry juice that fight off urinary tract infections may also protect against periodontal disease. Experts theorize that a component of the juice called nondialysable mate-rial (NDM) inhibits bacteria from sticking to the gums. Many nutri-tionists are wary of fruit juices be-cause of their sugar content, so limit your intake to no more than one glass (6 to 8 ounces) daily

The high potassium and low so-dium content of coconut water has a nutrient profile shown to help lower high blood pressure. Plus, because it is very low in fat, you can drink as much as you can without worry-ing about ingesting a lot of fatten-ing agents. Also, coconut water has anti-viral and anti-fungal properties that can help you steer clear from these diseases. It has more hydrating properties than the average tap wa-ter so drinking it can certainly help your digestion well. Thus, you’ll be able to absorb food nutrients bet-ter and have easier bowel time when you drink it.

KITCHEN

Important Fluids To Include In

Your Diet


Good food is normally the spark needed to ignite any lime. How-ever, the main course doesn’t

necessarily have to be the main attrac-tion. Here are some appetizers that will take your mealtime from mundane to marvelous. BARBEQUE MEATBALLS

IngredientsMeatballs3 pounds ground beef1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk1 cup oatmeal1 cup cracker crumbs2 eggs1/2 cup chopped onion1/2 teaspoon garlic powder2 teaspoons salt1/2 teaspoon pepper2 teaspoons chili powderSauce2 cups catsup1 cup brown sugar1/2 teaspoon Liquid Smoke1/2 teaspoon garlic powder1/4 cup chopped onion

DirectionsTo make meatballs, combine all ingre-dients (mixture will be soft) and shape into walnut-size balls. Place meatballs in a single layer on wax paper-lined cookie sheets; freeze until solid. Store frozen meatballs in freezer bags until ready to cook.To make sauce combine all ingredients and stir until sugar is dissolved. Place frozen meatballs in a 13 x 9-inch pan; pour the sauce over. Bake at 350 de-grees F for 1 hour.Makes 80 meatballs.

SPICED PECANS

Ingredients4 teaspoons kosher salt1/2 teaspoon cayenne1 teaspoon white pepper

1 teaspoon nutmeg1 teaspoon ground cloves1 teaspoon allspice4 cups pecan halves1/4 cup butter – melted1/3 cup molasses

DirectionsPreheat oven to 350°. In a medium bowl, combine salt, cay-enne, white pepper, nutmeg, cloves and allspices. Add the pecans and toss well to coat. Drizzle melted butter oven pecans and mix well. Spread out onto a rimmed baking sheet, scraping any spices and butter from the bowl and spreading the nuts into a single layer. Bake until lightly toasted, stirring oc-casionally for approximately 9 min-utes. Drizzle molasses over the nuts, stir and bake for another 10 minutes or until the nuts turn glossy and slightly dark. Allow to cool on the pan. Pour into a bowl and break apart any large clumps or clusters.

TERIyAKI WINGS

Ingredients1 cup water1 cup soy sauce

1 cup white sugar1/4 cup pineapple juice1/4 cup vegetable oil1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger3 pounds chicken wings or drumettes

Directions1. Whisk together the water, soy sauce, sugar, pineapple juice, vegetable oil, garlic, and ginger in a large glass or ceramic bowl until the sugar has dis-solved. Add the chicken wings, coat with the marinade, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.2. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease baking dish-es, and set aside.3. Remove the chicken from the mari-nade, and shake off excess and place the chicken wings into the prepared baking dishes. Discard the remain-ing marinade. Bake the wings in the preheated oven until the chicken is cooked through and the glaze is even-ly browned, about 1 hour.

POT STICKERS

IngredientsDough4 c. flourPinch of saltPut into bowl, run warm water slowly

into flour and mix with hand until dough forms. Put aside.

Filling1 lb. pork, ground raw2 tsp. sesame seeds1 c. chopped onions2 c. chopped cabbageSoy to taste1/2 tsp. ginger

DirectionsMix. Roll out dough into small ovals. Put in some filling, pinch shut. Brown in oil, both sides, then fill pan with water and cook until water evapo-rates. Sauce: soy, sesame seeds, onions and a pinch of sugar. Use sauce as dip.

MANGO SHRIMP SALSA

Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon fresh crushed garlic 20 raw shrimp, peeled and cubed 1 teaspoon fresh crushed ginger 2 large mangos, small dice 1 small sweet onion, finely chopped 1 small jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped 1 large tomato, chopped 2 avocados, cubed 1 cup canned or fresh corn, drained 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro Juice of 2-3 lemons Salt and pepper to taste DirectionsIn a medium skillet, heat oil and gar-lic until garlic becomes fragrant. Add shrimp, ginger and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook 2-3 minutes on medi-um heat until shrimp are pink, then let cool. In a medium bowl, add man-go, onion, jalapeno, tomato, avocado, corn, cilantro, lemon juice, shrimp and drippings from pan. Mix all to-gether, then add salt and pepper to taste.Great with chips, fish or chicken.

Awesome Appetizers

RECIPES


We have been doing the same thing every day for years and it is about time we decide

to change. Relationship statistics show that on average 50% of marriages don’t last, not to mention how many boy-friend/girlfriend relationships end. The problem is that there is too much cheat-ing going on between the sheets.

The biggest cheating on the list is the fake orgasm. Why fake it, if he is not doing it right tell him straight up he sucks. Pretending that you are all into it won’t make him get any better at it, he is only going to get worse and you will be left feeling unsatisfied and pretty frus-trated. Men this goes for you too if you had a hard day at work you can simply say “Honey I am tired”. Don’t get into bed and have a poor showing and act as if you are the thunder in her paradise. It just won’t work; faking is wrong on so many levels.

“I am not feeling good tonight I think I might be coming down with something”. So many women have used this line when they just don’t feel to get down with it. They then wake up the next morning and are back to normal. They move around, fix breakfast, get dressed and head out the door as if they had the most wonderful night of their lives. The man would most certainly want to know where he went wrong the

night before especially if this keeps hap-pening. Questions start rushing to the forefront of his mind. Thoughts of the “horner man” come into play and then you create the over protective, jealous and most suspicious man in the world. The psychopath who now decides to go through your phone and mark your coming in and going out times. Then you say he wasn’t like that, all of a sud-den he started to act weird, but you cre-ated your own monster.

Men this one is especially for you. This is the scenario you are lying in bed with your significant other, the phone

rings you answer. On the next line is your ex or the girl you met in club the other night. The conversation goes like this. “Hi what’s up? Well I am at home watching some TV”, no mention of the woman lying next to you. The woman at your side starts edging closer to you to ear hustle the conversation, because she knows if it is your boy you won’t be giv-ing all those short answers. You notice this and all of a sudden you decide that you need to use the bathroom. Now tell me what sort of BS is that. As before you are creating a whole different C.S.I, Monk and F.B.I woman and trust me

women know how to investigate. Keep it simple, keep it real between the sheets with your women.

I have quite a few friends who use this one; they find the smallest thing to make it into an argument. Ever noticed how just before the playoffs or some big game your boyfriend suddenly finds that you are coming home late or he notices that the friendship you have with your co worker seems to be getting a little se-rious. Then the whole issue gets blown out of proportion and you end up going by your friends to get out of the house because you feel as if you are so wrong. That’s a game plan that these men have, so that they can get to watch their sports or go their parties in peace.

More relationships just don’t seem to last and it has so much to do with our cheating ways. Then again where did these ideas come from? The an-swer is our parents; keep in mind a ly-ing puppet named Pinocchio, a woman who lived with seven men called Snow White, Cinderella who snuck away to go to a party, Sleeping Beauty married the stranger who kissed her and Jasmine had a forbidden relationship with Alad-din, all these stories and more our par-ents grew us up on what else did they expect. If we want to keep each other happy we need to start keeping it real between the sheets.

BRIDAL

Keeping It Real With Your Spouse


It is easy to get overwhelmed with par-enting these days. There are societal pressures and ever-changing child-

rearing theories that have created a lot of stress and anxiety for parents. Then there’s the Internet which has made eve-ryone an expert on everything, resulting in gigabytes of personal opinions masquer-ading as facts. More and more misguided notions about good and bad parenting are cropping up, many of them myths; you re-ally should get back to feeling confident about doing a ‘thumbs up’ job.

Parents are supposed to be stressful and chaotic. Television shows, movies, and magazines seem to be driving this message - images of overwhelmed and exhausted parents in gloves and aprons chasing mini minions everywhere. This is a myth. If certain tools are learned and used, time with family can be absolutely magical and peaceful.

The more you do the better parent you are. Car-pooling, rushing around taking your children to lessons and prac-tices does not make you a great parent. Love, one-on-one time and creating and participating in family traditions seem to have won this battle..

you are a bad parent if you use the word “discipline” instead of “manag-ing my child’s behaviors”. The scary word discipline comes from the word dis-ciple, which means “learner”. Our chil-dren are the learners in our family…along with parents of course, who are constantly learning. It is the parent’s job to teach and guide children through each stage of their lives, using values and experience as our reference. True, not all discipline is equal, however, using the word “discipline” should never label you as a bad parent.

The more talking and explaining you do, the more your child will do the right thing. This is a myth because chil-dren, particularly from the ages of 2-7 are concrete learners and do not have an un-derstanding of logic and reasoning. They need simple sentences that they can fol-low and concrete experiences that they can understand. Long lectures are not best. Add more talking and explaining as they grow older and can actually compre-hend what is being said.

Letting your child struggle or get up-set is bad parenting. Everyone can agree that it is not easy to watch our children struggle or be upset, but it is necessary at times and actually helps kids learn to do new things and as a result feel good about themselves. It is known that one of the ways children learn new things is to prac-tise and practise, and that along with the practising, there will be some frustration. Once they do master something they will feel great about themselves and THIS is the time to jump in and give them a high five, a hug and all the attention.

So, the next time your child is struggling, just stand back, let them try and try again, and if after some time, 5-10 minutes, they are not able to succeed, offer them encouragement and a little bit of help if needed.

FAMILy

Myths About Bad Parenting

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Imagine a job where you get to leave the office at noon for a beauty and spa treatment, it’s FREE and

YOUR BOSS wishes you good luck. Sounds ultra right? Meet the Beauty Editor of top fashion and glamour magazines. After some time in the business they harbor great knowledge, and honest behind the scene informa-tion on the beauty industry and they can tell you in 10 seconds, what type of shampoo is best for your hair.

Beauty editors have rules and are more firm about some things than other. You don’t have to live your life according to anyone’s rules (do obey laws) and there are exceptions to every rule but consider these loose guidelines. Here we get a heads up on the beauty rules from past Beauty Editor Nadine Haobsh

The Beauty Editor Commandments1) Never wash your hair two days in a

row2) Always wear SPF 30 sunscreen,

come rain or shine.3) Wash your face every night before

bed, even when drunk or dead tired4) French manicures are not an option

– do it.5) Everybody looks better with a hint

of color on their face6) Avoid frowning—just like your

mom said, your face will stick that

way7) Don’t smoke—it causes wrinkles,

sallow, uneven skin and yellow teeth. (Oh and that whole cancer thing, too)

8) Introduce acids into your daily rou-tine—glycolic, salicylic, retinoids, whatever. Your skin will thank you

9) Antioxidants are your best friend. Eat them, drink them, wear them, learn to love them.

10) Smile. When you carry yourself beautiful, you are beautiful

Personally I latch on to number 10 and try to schmooze my way through on that – pearly whites *ding!*

Note these are for the real ‘beau-ty people.’ They live and breathe beauty and their only concern is to get their client sparkling with per-fection. There are old rules of long ago (if they weren’t we just made them history) like never wear red nail polish. While this likely still ap-plies if you work in a bank, this is to-tally breakable (unlike the law.) Be-come as beauty informed as you can, and take everything you read (even this) with a grain of salt. Everyone is unique and reacts to different prod-ucts and tips in different ways - we aren’t all completely the same, thank goodness.

POWDER ROOM WARDROBE

Beneath It All: Underwear Tips

For Women

Wearing well fitting, nice un-derwear can not only make you feel great, it can also

make you look great too. Plus, some can make you look up to 10lbs slimmer or add some junk to your trunk if cho-sen well. Here are some tips to finding the right undies.

First, get yourself measured profes-sionally. Many places do it for free, and it will make the world of difference to your look. So get fitted and know your exact size before you start shopping. Fitting is important for more reasons than you know. For example, a badly fitting bra not only makes your breasts look smaller and your stomach look bigger, but it is also bad for your back and can cause the muscles that sup-port your chest to become weaker, which can lead to sagging.

Professionally fitted bras will make you look a few pounds lighter. At a fitting you are likely to find out that the bra size you are wearing is much too small and that the fitter will tell you that you need a much bigger one. Don't be disheartened but listen to them. They know what they're doing!

Another important factor in choosing undergarments is consid-ering what you will be wearing over them. Will it be a tight smooth top? If so, a lacy bra will not be the best

choice. You will be able to see the material very clearly and this just looks cheap and unprofessional. Make sure you have a smooth bra un-der your top.

With this in mind, another thing to consider is the dreaded visible panty line. These are never a good look. Make sure you cannot see the outline of your underwear through your trousers/skirt/jeans, or what-ever you choose to plop your booty into. Thongs are very rarely visible through clothes, but if you are not comfortable with thongs then seam-less shorts will work just as well, just make sure they fit properly, they should be snug, but not too tight and fit properly around your bum.

Shapers are another option for women looking to get their under-wear in the correct gear. Gone are the days when body shaping tights were huge, black and unbearably uncomfortable, nowadays, slimming tights just look like normal tights. They hold your belly in, give you a more toned appearance and no one will ever know!

You can also get full body shap-ers which go from your breasts to your calves, these are great if you are wearing a slinky dress, and they don't roll down like some of the oth-er tights do.

Points From The Beauty Editor


Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to your health. It is always impor-tant to be in the know. Here, we use

the advice of experts to answer some of your health questions. You can call us your health hero. 1. I am a middle aged mother who has decided not to make any more children. I do not want to do any permanent contraceptive surgery because of the risk factor and be-cause I may eventually change my mind. Because of this choice I am on conventional birth control (the pill). How do I know if I have reached menopause if I am using the contra-ceptive pill?

Arlene

As you have already recognized, you may have no symptoms of menopause be-cause the pill continues to deliver more than adequate amounts of estrogen and progestin. Unfortunately, there is no simple way to tell, especially as a per-centage of women suffer no symptoms of menopause. This is really a question for your physician who may perform a number of tests that may help reveal whether or not menopause has occurred.

2. I recently took on a new job which really has me a bit stressed out. The hours are long and the days are

hard. When I get home I am usually very tired. Somehow, no matter how tired I am, I have problems sleeping. What could be the cause of this and how do I get a good night’s sleep?

Jerome

I think you have already identified your problem; it is the stress at work. The most common reason for sleep disor-ders is stress, either because of a hectic lifestyle, or from the stress of a bereave-ment or lifestyle change. Find a way to ‘wind-down’ at the end of the day so that you can get your brain to “switch off ’. Because your body is tired does not mean that it is sleepy.

3. I have been hearing a lot about Ketosis recently. Some people have said it is dangerous. Is Ketosis safe at all?

Margaret

Ketosis is the term used for the body’s use of fat for energy and is not actually something that you take. The subject got highlighted when the Atkin’s diet became very popular and dieters started eating less carbohydrate. In eating fewer carbohydrates, your body turns to its fats for energy. I don’t believe that ketosis as a process is dangerous but I have heard that ‘no-carb’ diets can be unsafe for in-dividuals who have high cholesterol.

Your Health Questions Answered

People (especially Trinis) gener-ally have a habit of listening only to what they want to hear. As

such, it doesn’t take much for any sen-sationalized tidbit of info to become law in most minds. When it comes to exercise there is a host of myths that have stuck around for ages. This article should help dispel some of them.

Myth # 1: If you Are Not Going to Work Out Hard and Often, Exercise Is a Waste of Time. This kind of thinking keeps a lot of people from maintaining or even start-ing an exercise program. Research continues to show that any exercise is better than none. For example, regular walking or gardening for as little as an hour a week has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Myth # 2: If you Exercise Long and Hard Enough, you Will Always Get the Results you Want. In reality, genetics play an important role in how people respond to exercise. Studies have shown a wide variation in how different exercisers respond to the same training program. Your develop-ment of strength, speed and endurance may be very different from that of oth-er people you know.

Myth # 3: Exercise Is One Sure Way to Lose All the Weight you Desire. As with all responses to exercise, weight gain or loss is impacted by many factors, including dietary intake and genetics. All individuals will not lose the same amount of weight on the same exercise program. It is possible to be active and overweight. However, although exercise alone cannot guaran-tee your ideal weight, regular physical activity is one of the most important factors for successful long-term weight management.

Myth # 4: If you Want to Lose Weight, Stay Away From Strength Training Because you Will Bulk Up. Most exercise experts believe that car-diovascular exercise and strength train-ing are both valuable for maintaining a healthy weight. Strength training helps maintain muscle mass and decrease body fat percentage.

Myth # 5. Going to a Gym Is the Best Way to Get Fit. Research has shown that some people find it easier to stick to a home-based fit-ness program. In spite of all the hype on trendy exercise programs and facilities, the “best” program for you is the one you will participate in consistently.

HOME GyMMEDICINE CABINET

Common Fitness Myths Explored


Back in the day, drivers had to contend with oil changes and tune-ups to keep their cars

running. Compared to the monstrosi-ties that ruled the road just a genera-tion ago, modern cars require far less maintenance. However, they still need maintenance and sometimes people make basic mistakes when it comes to taking care of their cars.

Burned Out BulbsHow many times do you take a walk around your car or truck and check the lights? You’re not alone. Many of us neglect vehicle lamps. Lamps are (ob-viously) very important, and there’s no reason not to check them regularly, since it’s a very simple process. Turn on the headlights. Check park lamps; high and low beam lamps and the li-cense plate light. If equipped with fog or driving lamps, inspect them. Exam-ine the turn signals (all four corners) and follow up with an inspection of the emergency flashers. Back up against a wall where you can see the lights, ap-ply the foot brake and check the brake lights. Place the vehicle in reverse (with the park brake on) and check the back-up lights. If any bulbs are burned out, or if there is a lighting problem, it’s ob-viously time to repair. And the repairs

aren’t that difficult or expensive.

Fluid levels too high or too low Not only do you need to check the fluid levels but you need to be sure to check them at the correct time in the correct way. For instance if you own a car in an automatic the car should be warm. On top of the car being warm the park-ing brake needs to be on and the car in neutral. When checking the engine oil the car again should be warm but in this case the car needs to be turned off. It is important to remember the car must be cold when checking the radia-tor fluid levels. Not doing so can result in serious injury due to build up.

Driving On Soft TiresThere’s no excuse for making this too-common car maintenance mistake, so make it less common and do your part. Check your tire pressure often, prefer-ably when the tires are cold (less than a mile or so from start-up). Rather than following the pressure stamped on the sidewall or defaulting to the old 32psi adage, check the sticker on your driver’s door jamb -- it tells you exactly what front and rear inflation should be. By avoiding underinflation (and over-inflation for that matter), you maintain ideal control and avoid blowouts.

Three Common Car Maintenance

Mistakes

GARAGE

Given the right resources, a mul-tiple-pet household can be a positive experience for you and

your pets. Sharing the house with an-other animal allows pets to use their natural, instinctive behaviour, commu-nicating in their own language. Multiple cats and/or dogs can keep each other company while you’re out of the house, as well.

Whether raising a puppy with the resident feline or adding an adult dog to the mix, a little management goes a long way toward fostering a peaceful co-existence. Consider creating a “safe-ha-ven” for the cat by installing a baby gate in one room of the house. This allows the dog and cat to familiarize them-selves with each other without the dog being able to engage in a chase. It also prevents unwanted pillaging of the lit-ter box and cat food dish! As the novelty begins to wear off under controlled set-tings, it will become easier to teach your dog how to properly conduct himself around the cat.

Another point of note is that pets need to stay out of each other's food bowls for various reasons. First and

foremost, pets of varying ages and breeds often require different nutrition. If your dog gets into the cat food or vice versa, serious health problems could re-sult. Sometimes veterinarians prescribe special food for certain pets. For exam-ple, pets with chronic systemic diseases might require special diets, as would overweight pets.

The key to ensuring dogs and cats eat only the food intended for them is to feed all your pets at the same time in separate areas. Feed one in the kitchen, one in the laundry room, et cetera, and then put away the remaining food. Giv-en the feline propensity for high places, another solution is to place the cat’s food on a counter or other lofty location out of your dog’s reach.

Be sure to exercise patience. Several short introductions over several days or weeks works better than a few longer sessions filled with tension. Remember that pets have different temperaments so while some pets may get along eas-ily, it may take longer with others. If your pets have not been fully integrated within a week or two you may need to consider professional assistance.

PETS

Tips For A Multiple Pet

Home

CLEVER TOOL! EACH GEL STAMP FRESHENS AND CLEANS FOR UP TO ONE WEEK.

Freshens and cleans

WE WORK HARD SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO.


Jet lag is inevitable when you are traveling long distances by plane, and it can leave you feeling com-

pletely wrecked for several days to a week after you arrive at your destina-tion. It is caused when you cross mul-tiple time zones (which tend to disrupt your circadian rhythms, confusing your natural 24-hour body clock). These rhythms regulate your waking and sleeping hours and keeps you aligned with your environment. Symptoms of jet lag may include: Fatigue, Insomnia, Disorientation, Swollen hands and feet, Headaches, Digestive problems and lightheadedness.

For people who simply cannot af-ford the few days to completely recover from the physical and mental exhaus-tion of jet lag, there are a number of simple preparatory steps you can do be-fore, during and after your long flight to minimize your jet lag fatigue.

Get your Mind RightIf you want to get more out of the start of your holiday, it's important to be well rested before you embark.It's best to leave the airport in a calm state of mind; otherwise you pay at the other end. More than fifty per cent of prominent jet lag is psychological. If

you think you're going to suffer badly, then you will.

Monitor your HydrationFor 12 hours before, as well as dur-ing, your flight, avoid alcohol and caf-feine. Although caffeine can help keep you awake longer, it makes you wake up more often once you do fall asleep and so reduces total sleep time. It also dehydrates you. Cabin air dehydrates passengers, and altitude changes can quicken the effects of alcohol (the rule of thumb is one drink in the air is the same as two or three on the ground). A cocktail may relax you, but it's also apt to dry you out, and even worsen symptoms of jet lag.

With that said, be sure to drink lots of water before, during, and after your flight. Experts recommend that you drink at least two 8-ounce glasses just before departure and 1 liter for every hour you spend in the air -- in addition to beverages you drink with meals. Even if you don't feel thirsty, drink up. Thirst doesn't necessarily precede the symp-toms of dehydration, which can set in without warning.

Eat carefullyPressurized cabins can have odd ef-

fects on your gastro intestinal system. Avoid gas producing foods preflight, such as apples, apricots, beans, broc-coli, cabbage and cauliflower - even milk if you’re lactose intolerant. And pack high fiber snacks in your carry-on, such as dried fruit, nuts and whole grain granola bars. Dehydration and lack of activity can also often result in post-flight constipation, even among those who never experience it at home.If you often have irregularity, bring your favorite remedy - it may not be available in foreign pharmacies. If you plan ahead and follow a pre-flight diet that alternates high-protein meals with high-carb meals, you may signifi-

cantly reduce jetlag.

Do Mini WorkoutsExercising on a long flight will help alleviate such common discomforts as backaches, swollen legs and feet and general fatigue. Stretch at regular intervals and walk up and down the aisles of the plane from time to time to prevent dangerous blood clots from forming.

See if melatonin is for youConsider taking the nonprescription drug melatonin. Research suggests that the body uses this hormone to set its time clock. Because melatonin seems to control when we go to sleep and when we wake up, a number of scientists advocate supplements to al-leviate jet lag. Some (but not all) stud-ies suggest that taking 3 milligrams of fast-release melatonin prior to bed-time for several days after arrival in a new time zone can ease the transition.

Keep Up With the TimesIf you're travelling west over four or more time zones make sure you get bright natural light in the early even-ing. This will help you to adapt to the new time.

TRAVEL

Avoiding Jet Lag

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