Sunscreen

Speaking of summer, here's something to think about. This was actually inspired by Aggie's blog entry Tanned. The song is by Baz Luhrmann and was first released in 1999. You can find the complete lyrics below. It's a bit long but definitely worth the read.

Ladies and gentlemen
of the class of ’99...

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.I will dispense this advice now...

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh nevermind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future, or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle tuesday.

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

Sing.

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don’t waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind… the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life… the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary… what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body, use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.

Dance… even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Brother and sister together we'll make it through. Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there. I know you've been hurting but I've been waiting to be there for you. And I'll be there, just tell me now, whenever I can.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse, but you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

Brother and sister together we'll make it through. Someday your spirit will take you and guide you there. I know you've been hurting but I've been waiting to be there for you. And I'll be there, just tell me now, whenever I can. Everybody's free.


Credits: Paper and envelope by Melany Violette. Paper Swirl and felt cluster by Laura Deceatis. Font: Mom's Typewriter

Drug Rehabilitation

It saddens me to find out if someone close to me or someone that I know is addicted to drugs or alcohol. I wish that I could do something to help them overcome their addiction. Fortunately, no one close to me is addicted to drugs or alcohol because if I do, I would insist that they enroll in Stone Hawk's drug rehab program. Their program is the best I've known so far. They don't use any kind of medication or drugs and they don't even refer to their clients as patients who needs to be cured. Instead, they refer to them as students who are learning to take back control of their lives through proper nutrition and nutritional supplementation.

Graduates of the program do not need to attend any follow-up meetings because they are considered to have recovered fully from their addiction. One of their main goals is that clients leaving the program will be able to move back into their lives with success and to move on without using any intoxicating substances whenever a problem comes along. So if someone you care about is addicted to drugs or alcohol, enrol them to the Stone Hawk treatment program.

Beginners’ Tips for Digital Photography of Flowers

Author: OpenDP


As spring approaches, Mother Nature’s wild wonders can be found just about everywhere. From rosebuds to daisies, buttercups to common wildflowers, plants and flowers abound, providing magnificent subjects for photographers both advanced and amateur.

Flower photography typically falls under the category of macro photography, which simply means the images shot by photographers are equal in size or larger than the actual object. Because these shots are taken extremely close up, the detail expressed in your digital photography efforts will be highly magnified and quite amazing. To follow are a few tips for beginners on photography of flowers. To take sharp, steady pictures use a tripod. Camera shake and an unsteady hand in general may cause blurry images or photos that are not centered properly. A tripod significantly improves the sharpness of your subject.

Simulate backgrounds if necessary. Something as simple as a piece of colored paper can present a clean background that won’t distract attention from your subject.

Focus on focus. Read your camera’s user manual for best results and learn how to set your camera on “spot focus” mode. This allows the photographer to see whatever the camera focuses. In most cases, your camera’s auto focus mode should be fine for flower photography.

In most cases, avoid using the camera’s direct flash. Shoot using direct daylight whenever possible. The on-camera flash often creates unnatural looking photographs, mainly due to its intense brightness at such close proximity to the subject, and sometimes the flash may also be in the wrong position to take a great photo.

Furthermore, you may wish to consider using a daylight balanced compact fluorescent bulb to add the proper lighting to your photos. The lighting these bulbs exude looks natural and generates minimal heat, conveniently providing the photographer with hours of comfortable shooting time without the risk of overheating.

Take several photographs, no matter what you’re shooting. Change positions, try new angles with the lens and adjust settings if you are comfortable with your digital camera. Photos of still plants and flowers will be fine with a low ISO. If your digital camera has one, try shooting in macro mode. It is often identified by a small flower logo on your device.

Plan the perfect photographic opportunities. An early morning photo session in your garden or a late afternoon shoot in a beautiful meadow brimming with wildflowers creates the prime opportunity for taking great photos. Morning dewdrops add an enchanting element of newness to your flower photographs. A brilliant yellow, pink, orange, red and purple sunset inspires awe and wonder at nature’s radiance.

Allow nature’s natural processes to guide you in your quest for breath-taking photographs. Also, don’t neglect the change of seasons! Spring thaw, autumn leaves, pure white snow and glorious summer days will all contribute to a marvelous flower photo session.

Source: Open Digital Photography

Lavender Creme-Caramel Tart

For crème caramel
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups whole milk
3 tablespoons dried nontoxic and organic lavender flowers
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
3 large egg yolks

For pastry crust
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, slightly softened
1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons ice water

Special equipment: a 10-inch glass pie plate (1 to 1 1/2 inches deep),
9 1/2-inch plate or cardboard round, and 10- to 14-inch flat serving plate with a slight lip.
Garnish: fresh nontoxic and organic violets

Make crème caramel:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cook 1 cup sugar in a dry large nonstick skillet over moderate heat, swirling and shaking pan (to help sugar melt evenly), until sugar is melted and caramel is deep golden. Immediately pour caramel into pie plate, tilting to coat bottom and sides evenly.

Bring cream, milk, lavender, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar to a simmer and remove from heat. Let stand 15 minutes, then reheat. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl, discarding lavender. Whisk whole eggs and yolks together in a bowl and slowly whisk in hot cream mixture. Pour custard over caramel.

Bake custard in a water bath in middle of oven until set but still trembling slightly (custard will continue to set as it cools), 40 to 45 minutes. Remove pie plate from water and cool cr?me caramel on a rack. Chill, loosely covered with plastic wrap, at least 2 hours.

Make pastry crust:
Blend together flour, sugar, salt, and butter with your fingertips or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Drizzle 1 1/2 tablespoons ice water over mixture and toss with a fork until incorporated. Test mixture by gently squeezing a small handful: When it has proper texture, it should hold together without crumbling apart. If necessary, add remaining ‚ tablespoon water.

(If you overwork mixture or add too much water, pastry will be tough.) Turn mixture out onto a work surface and divide into 4 portions. Smear each portion once in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather dough together and form it into a disk.
Chill dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface into a 10 1/2-inch round and slide onto a baking sheet. Trim dough to a 9‚-inch round (use 9 1/2-inch plate turned upside down as a guide). Prick round all over with a fork and chill 30 minutes. Bake round in middle of oven until golden, 20 to 25 minutes, and cool completely on baking sheet on a rack.

Assemble tart just before serving:
Run a thin knife around edge of crème caramel and rotate pie plate back and forth to make sure crème caramel is loosened. Slide crust on top of crème caramel, centering it carefully, and invert serving plate on top of crust. Invert tart onto serving plate (caramel will run to edge of plate). Makes 8 servings.

Cooks' notes:
• If you substitute fresh lavender for the dried, use the same amount (fresh lavender is actually stronger than dried).
• You can make crème caramel and crust 1 day ahead, but don't assemble until just before serving. Chill crème caramel and keep crust, covered with plastic wrap, at room temperature.

From eDining.ca. Source: Gourmet

Flowers For You

I love flowers! It simply brightens up my day, especially if I'm down or if I'm not feeling very well. I love, daisies, lilies, tulips and a nice assortment of different flowers with different colors. Flowers are the perfect gift for almost every occasion.

If you're planning to send flowers, check out DotFlowers. They have a wide variety of flower arrangements and gift ideas no matter what the occasion is. Not only that, they also offer fabulous gourmet gift baskets, there surely is something for everyone. They have great customer service and they offer same day flower delivery anywhere in the United States. So what are you waiting for? Brighten up someone else's day by sending flowers!

Cocktail: Limetto Limonade

30 ml vodka
30 ml Cinzano Limetto
Sprite
lime wedges

Build on ice in a highball glass.
Fill up with Sprite and decorate with some lime wedges.


From Drinkalizer.com

Potato Salad

Cardboard by Rina Kroes. Photo by Ramin Sabour @ stock.xchng.

Little Italy

One of my dream destinations is Italy. I imagine myself owning a property in Italy and living there for a couple of years, just enough for me to explore the country and then move to another destination. Italy is a very beautiful country and it has almost everything. You can visit Roman ruins, learn more about Renaissance art and beautiful churches, explore tiny medieval hill towns and the canals of Venice. You can also indulge in good food and good wine.

Each of Italy's major cities has its own enticing character. Rome is about grandeur, history and haste. Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, is a masterpiece of studied elegance. Venice is ethereal and mysterious. Milan has powerhouse pace. The countryside is from paintings or dreams. What more can you ask for?

(Photo from stck.xchng)

Tips For Planning Your Next European Vacation

Author: James Yee

Whether you're a seasoned traveler or planning your first trip, there are several important things to keep in mind before calling your travel agent and booking your next vacation:

1. Time of year: While "Paris in the Springtime" sounds very romantic, the truth is that you're liable to spend many days indoors, because the weather can be cold and rainy. On the other hand, the French Riviera in the springtime boasts warm temperatures, sunshine and beautiful places to visit. If you're not sure of weather patterns, check with your travel agent who can advise you on rainy seasons or other weather-related issues for traveling to a specific spot.

2. Your Budget: Decide how much you've got to spend, and don't forget to include extras like tourist attractions, getting around, souvenirs and meals (which are typically more expensive in Europe than in the states -- dinner can cost upwards of 50 Euros per person, especially in metropolitan cities). If your budget is smaller, consider visiting Eastern Europe, looking for packaged tours, or, if you're flexible, book a "last-minute" trip, which can often save you 30% or more. Check out the current exchange rate between your currency and that of the country you'll be visiting, to have a better idea of what your vacation is going to actually cost you. Whenever possible, travel during an off-peak season to save even more.

3. Your secret dreams or "someday" wishes: For most of us, taking a vacation is something we get to do only once a year, and often plan and save the whole year for. So if you have always wanted to visit somewhere or do something special -- why wait? Include it in your next vacation plans.

4. Political Climate: While most countries that rely on tourism make every effort to ensure the safety of tourists, these days it's always a good idea to keep up on the current political climate of the country you're planning to visit, especially if there have been problems in the past.

5. Your own "internal clock": If you prefer sleeping in in the mornings, and "doing your own thing" then a guided tour is probably not for you. Most guided tours start early in the morning, and you're on the go until evening. You may visit several cities in a country or countries within a specified amount of time, and you're required to stay with the group.

On the other hand, if you don't like traveling alone, you enjoy the companionship of others and getting to see as much as possible in the time you've got, a guided tour or cruise may be just the thing for you.

6. How you like to spend your time: Take a little time to think about what you like doing before planning your trip. Do you prefer the water, or the mountains? Lying on the beach, or rock-climbing? Adrenaline rushes or visiting an art museum?

While going outside your comfort zone and trying new things can be a great experience, spending your time doing something that bores you silly or makes you uncomfortable and unhappy just doesn't make sense. Once you know what you want to do, figure out what you'll have time to do. Many times, in an effort to get the "most bang for our buck" we tend to over plan the vacation, and end up needing a vacation from the vacation when we get home! Prioritize your list, and be willing to save some activities or attractions for another trip.

7. Use the resources that are available to make your trip special and save money: Today's travelers have numerous options when planning their vacation. You can use the Internet to find out more about the cities or countries you want to visit, check out prices, even book your flight or hotel room. If you're visiting a place for the first time, check with a travel agent, talk to someone who's "been there, done that" on an Internet Forum, or contact local chambers or commerce or travel councils to get more information about where to go, what to see and what to do.

8. Get organized: You can use trip-planning software, or your own favorite organizing system to organize and plan your trip. Don't forget things like making sure your passport and picture ID are up-to-date, finding out if travel insurance is something you need, and how and where to exchange your money. The more organized you are in the beginning, the better vacation you'll have.

9. Pack lightly: Most of us take too much on a vacation, and end up lugging heavy suitcases and other bags along filled with items that we either don't use or don't need. When planning your trip, look at your wardrobe and pack as lightly as you can. Take only what you'll really need, and remember that if you forget or end up needing something, chances are you can get it once you reach your destination.

10. Have fun! Get organized, make your plans and expect the best. That way, once you're on your way, you'll be able to relax and enjoy yourself. But remember, there are very few "perfect" vacations, so if something does go wrong, try to relax and "go with the flow" as much as possible. Experienced travelers say that sometimes their best vacations have been the ones where the unexpected happened.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesBase.com

About the Author:

James Yee enjoys travelling and photography. His useful information on travel is available in http://www.sogoodnews.com/travel/

Guide to Cocktail Glasses

There are many different types of glasses and the glasses in which you serve your cocktails are as important as the cocktail itself. This guide will tell you in which glass the cocktail is traditionally served but of course the final choice is still yours.

Cocktail Glass
The cocktail glass is V shaped and is usually used for short, strong drinks. The long stem is used to hold the glass to keep the cocktail chilled as long as possible. [1]

Champagne Glass
There are two types of champagene glass, the saucer and the flute shape. The flute shape [2] allows bubbles to rise in a continuous stream while the saucer [3] is not popular for champagne anymore as the bubbles disappear quickly. The saucer is now usually used with Margarita and other creamy drinks.

Highball
A highball is a tall straight-sided glass used mainly for long drinks with ice - anything from a lemonade to beer. [4]

Old-fashioned
An old-fashioned glass is a tumbler with traditionally sloping sides used mainly for spirits with ice, short unstrained drinks or fruit juices. [5]

Wine Glass
Wine glasses are available in a variety of shapes in sizes. Red wine is best served in a larger glass while white wine is suited to a smaller glass. It is also suitable for a range of exotic cocktails. [6]

Brandy Balloon
A brandy balloon is designed so that the full aroma of the brandy can be savoured. [7]

Always rinse the glasses before using and make sure that it is free from any odor. Wash and rinse glasses in very hot water, then dry with one cloth and polish them with another. When serving drinks, it's a good idea to chill glasses before using them for it keeps the drink chilled a little bit longer. Use real glasses instead of plastic ones so as not to affect the taste of the drink.

Chicken Macaroni Salad

Cardboard by Rina Kroes. Photo by Andre Veron @ stock.xchng.