iilinks

Today Norm Goldman, Editor SKETCHANDTRAVEL.COM and BOOKPLEASURES.COM is pleased to have as a guest Shelley Jiang, editor of LET’S GO CHINA, 6th Edition, one of 57 guidebooks published by the bestselling budget series from LET’S GO PUBLICATIONS.

Good Day Shelley and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.

NORM:

Please tell our readers something about yourself and your expertise pertaining to China.

SHELLEY:

Born in China, I spent the first six years of my life in Beijing, the city that I will always think of as my first home. Though I moved to America and attended school there, I remain deeply connected with China through books, news, movies, family, and spending summers there every two or three years. During these summer trips, I often travel around the country and have visited many of the places in Let’s Go: China.

NORM:

Would you consider China a good choice for a romantic getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination? Why?

SHELLEY:

China is vast enough to offer something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a fast-paced weekend in Shanghai, a trip into China’s gorgeous outdoors, or an immersion in centuries of tradition and history. But don’t come expecting Paris or the Caribbean—China isn’t your average romantic getaway, but a destination for the free-spirited and adventurous. No resorts or pampering here—part of the excitement and romance of a vacation in China is experiencing a new culture and taking in the grit as well as the beauty.

For those willing to ditch the conventional and leave the beaten path, breathtaking natural sights and unique cultural experiences await. Otherworldly landscapes familiar from many a martial arts film (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hero) can serve as the backdrop for your personal love story as well. Ancient palaces, pagodas, and temples invites travelers to step back into a past that stretches more than 5000 years. Cities like Beijing and Shanghai proudly showcase their past alongside their future, with skyscrapers rising one after another and an urban culture to rival those of any American or European city.

NORM:

What is the best time to visit China from the point of view of weather, costs, crowds, and the availability of flights from the USA, Canada and Europe and Australia, etc?

SHELLEY:

China’s peak travel times are around Chinese New Year (some time in Jan.-Feb., depending on lunar calendar), May 1st, July-August, and the first week of October. The best time to visit would be from late-April through June, when the weather is warm, students are still in school, and many establishments are still on low season pricing. The fall is also a pleasant time to travel without the crowds (but avoid the Oct. 1st holiday week) and see beautiful foliage, especially in the north.

Airfares to China are most expensive between June and September. Even flying on May 31 instead of Jun. 1st will get you a cheaper flight. Flying September-May will get you much cheaper flights. Plan ahead—the cheapest tickets for summer flights to China sell out by early March.

NORM:

Could you give our readers an idea of the costs involved if travel originates from the USA, Canada and Europe and Australia?

SHELLEY:

China is a budget traveler’s dream come true—with the exception of the airfare, which can cost anywhere from US$600-1500. It’s cheaper to fly from September-May. The best places to find low-fares are Chinese-run travel agencies in Chinatown—check the local Chinese newspaper or ask around to find their listings.

The budget-conscious can often spend anywhere from US$2-10 per night for lodgings in a hostel or basic room, depending on destination. Food can cost as little as US$4 per person per day for meals from street vendors and small family-run restaurants.

Of course, splurges and treats are everywhere. A comfortable hotel room will cost around US$25-50 per night, and lavish suites range from US$60-150 per night. For US$8-25, a couple can dine at fancier restaurants serving distinctive, gourmet cuisines.

The cheapest and most convenient way to get around China is via rail. Short journeys can cost around US$5-12 for a one-way ticket, while longer journeys will cost up to US$50. Expect to pay more than US$100, however, for a private sleeper compartment for two people.

The number of domestic flights in China is on the rise. One-way fares range US$90-200; round-trip fares are always double the one-way fare.

NORM:

If you had to choose 3-5 unequalled venues in China for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, what would they be and why?

SHELLEY:

Jiuzhaigou: Nestled deep in the mountains of northern Sichuan, the “Valley of the Nine Tibetan Villages” is known for its pristine lakes and waterfalls that sparkle a spectrum of shades under the sunshine. You may remember the impossibly blue lakes from the fight sequence filmed here in Hero. Nature lovers can hike beneath the shadow of snowy peaks, experience local Tibetan culture, and in nearby Songpan, embark upon horse treks into the wild. Convenient tourist services are nearby, offering everything from budget lodgings to five-star hotels.

Hangzhou: Those in love with classical China can head to this graceful city of the south and historic dynastic capital. Willows, gardens, pavilions, and delicately arched bridges dot the shores of the West Lake, the setting for ancient China’s most famous love stories.

Sip fragrant Dragon Well tea while dining at one of China’s oldest restaurants that once served emperors. The misty waters and city pleasures are enough to captivate anyone; if not nearby Shanghai promises a plunge back into modernity.

Yunnan: This province on the border with Vietnam and Myanmar is the ideal destination for the adventurous, with its 22 colorful ethnic minority cultures and diverse natural scenery. Its capital, Kunming, “City of Eternal Spring,” enchants travelers with flowers on every street, but the true attractions lie in the countryside. Pack your gear for a trek south into tropical rainforests and rice paddies, dotted by Dai villages and gleaming Buddhist stupas. Northern Yunnan is better known as “Shangri-La,” where red-robed monks walk the streets of mountain villages and snowy peaks beckon in the distance.

Xinjiang: Xinjiang takes romance and writes it large upon vast expanses of deserts and horizons. Experience the exoticism of a nomadic lifestyle with camel rides across the dunes and nights under the stars upon China’s last frontier. Or trek up to the legendary Tianshan Mountains overlooking the “Heavenly Pool.” Friendly Uighur musicians will be happy to play at Uighur-style wedding celebrations, filled with tasty food, fresh grapes and melons, and plenty of singing and dancing.

Hong Kong: Hong Kong offers a vacation as sophisticated and exciting as it is expensive. From luxury malls to teeming street markets, Hong Kong easily combines class and chaos. Dinner cruises on Victoria Harbour, stylish hotels and restaurants, and endless clubs, bars, and entertainment options ensure that you’ll never run out of things to do. Macau lures travelers away with its many casinos and Portuguese-influenced cuisine and architecture, but you’ll find yourself back in Hong Kong before long.

NORM:

What should people know about celebrating a wedding in China from the point of view of requirements, experience of the various hotels, etc.

SHELLEY:

Large fancy hotels are readily available, with the best and widest selection obviously being in Beijing and Shanghai. Restaurants make another good venue, and Let’s Go: China lists many of the best restaurants in Beijing. Book months in advance for celebrations in June and August, popular wedding months in China.

China also excels in gorgeously done wedding photo shoots, often involving lavish sets and costumes, professional make-up artists, and more. Popular options include traditional Chinese wedding garb, emperor and empress outfits, and turn of the century cheongsam robes. A full set often includes an entire album’s worth of photos, the cost of which averages US125-300.

NORM:

How far in advance should a couple prepare themselves for their honeymoon, romantic getaway or wedding in China?

SHELLEY:

For the cheapest airfares, it’s best to start planning at least four or five months in advance. Unless you are familiar with the country, it’s best not to leave a trip to China to the last minute.

NORM:

What resources are available on the Internet pertaining to weddings and honeymoon vacations in China?

SHELLEY:

CTRIP offers a great destination guide, often with photographs. Their flight search is helpful for planning, but only those with Chinese credit cards can make reservations.

CHINA TOUR COM provides a wealth of practical information, from visas to currency to vaccines. They also collect news stories related to travel in China, provide information on organized tours, and offer brief guides on Chinese culture.

TRAVEL CHINA GUIDE is another good resource for destination guides.

TRAVEL INFORMATION GUIDE is a forum for those traveling to China.

Thanks Shelley

About the Author: Norm Goldman is editor of sketchandtravel.com and bookpleasures.com. Norm and his artist wife Lily meld art and words in order to create an unusual travel story, which generates interest, particularly because of the fact that each painting appears to have been ‘custom-made’ for the story-original story and original art. Combining the watercolors with travel writing provides a softer, more romantic look at the places we visit. Their main focus is on romantic and wedding destinations. As they specialize in web-based content, their articles are featured on their own site, SKETCHANDTRAVEL.COM, where you can find out more about them. They are also regular contributors to some of the most popular Internet Travel Sites: LOVETRIPPER.COM:THETIMESHAREBEAT.COM:TRAVELLADY.COM:BOOTSNALL.COM: Visit Florida Online: Tropical Island Weddings Norm and Lily are always open to suggestions as to romantic and wedding destinations to visit, write and paint about.

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=443&ca=Travel

Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as a guest well known author, travel writer and expert on the South Pacific David Stanley. David is the author of Moon Hanbooks South Pacific.

Good Day David and thank you for accepting our invitation to be interviewed.

NORM:

Please tell our readers something about yourself, your expertise and the books you have authored pertaining to the South Pacific.

David:

I’ve earned a living from travel guidebooks since 1979, when Moon Publications of Rutland published the 1st edition of SOUTH PACIFIC HANDBOOK .
In November 2004, Avalon Travel Publishing of Emeryville,
California, brought out the 8th edition of Moon Handbooks South Pacific. I’ve also written Lonely Planet guides to Eastern Europe, Cuba, and Canada’s Maritime Provinces. Lately I’ve been exploiting the power of the Internet with sites like SOUTH PACIFIC.ORG: MAP SOUTH PACIFIC and CUBA PICTURES.

NORM:

When we talk about the South Pacific what exactly are we referring to and where is it situated in relation to the USA or Canada?

David:

The “South Pacific” brochures printed by tour operators often focus on Australia and New Zealand, but those countries are quite different from the tropical Pacific islands. Moon Handbooks South Pacific covers 15 insular countries and territories from Easter Island to the Solomons. People tend to
consider this region remote, yet it takes only two hours longer to fly from Los Angeles to Tahiti than it does to fly to Honolulu. Fiji is midway between Hawaii and New Zealand, to the west of Tahiti.

NORM:

Would you consider the South Pacific a good choice for a romantic getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination? Why?

David:

All of the main South Pacific destinations have attempted to market themselves as wedding or honeymoon destinations. Fiji and the Cook Islands have been the most successful as weddings can be arranged locally with little fuss.
In French Polynesia, marriages can only be performed for persons with 30 days residency, which excludes most tourists. Instead, French Polynesia has developed an active honeymoon industry with Bora Bora highly favored by bridal magazine writers who enjoyed the hospitality of luxury resorts. In my opinion, Moorea is Bora Bora’s equal in all but name and is far less expensive. For a romantic getaway, I recommend Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. There’s a lot to see and do within a compact area, and prices are fair.

NORM:

What is the best time to visit the South Pacific from the point of view of weather, costs, crowds, and the availability of flights from the USA, Canada and Europe?

David:

Officially, the hurricane season in the South Pacific is from December to April, although with global warming it’s starting earlier and ending later.
Winter (May to October) is generally cooler, drier, and less humid throughout the region, the best time to go. May to August is the off-season in Australia and New Zealand; hence Air New Zealand’s low season South Pacific airfares apply those months. So by a happy coincidence, you can enjoy the best weather
for the lowest price if you schedule your trip at that time.

NORM:

How safe is it to travel to the South Pacific?

David:

Very safe. “Terrorists” would stand out like sore thumbs on these small islands. Violent crime (muggings, etc) is almost unknown, but petty theft does occur. Nothing will go astray if a few simple precautions are taken. Contrary to the image fostered by Hollywood and in the tourism brochures, the island societies are socially conservative and scanty dress is frowned upon.

Women traveling alone should avoid staying in isolated bungalows or wandering off on deserted beaches.

NORM:

Could you give our readers an idea of the costs involved if travel originates from the USA or Canada and how accessible is it to fly to the South Pacific?

David:

One-month roundtrip airfares from Los Angeles or Vancouver to Tahiti, Rarotonga, or Fiji start around US$1,250 in the low season, provided you book at least 14 days in advance and are willing to accept a 35 percent cancellation fee. If you fly on shorter notice during the high season (December to February), you’ll pay around US$2,000. The weekend travel sections of major newspapers carry ads for discounted fares, and websites sometimes sell tickets for considerably less than the prices quoted by airline agents over the phone.
For example, I recently flew from Vancouver to American Samoa for US$700 roundtrip on an Internet special. Such offers are routinely announced in the newsletter of the South Pacific Tourism Organization, available at SOUTH PACIFIC TOURISM ORGANIZATION.

NORM:

If you had to choose 6 unequalled venues in the South Pacific for a romantic getaway, honeymoon or wedding destination, what would they be and why?

David:
My first choice would be:

·Tahiti and its neighbours Moorea and Bora Bora.

The soaring green peaks and brilliant reefs of these islands are unsurpassed,
and the “exotic” French atmosphere combines well with the charm of Polynesia.

·Fiji is a very close second for its stunning variety and friendliness.

·Then there’s Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.

This is long a favorite holiday destination for New Zealanders. Rarotonga is small enough to explore in a week, and the facilities are excellent.

·My fourth choice is Easter Island. Although for those into hiking or archaeology, it should come first. Travel agents often book three-night stopovers on Easter Island, but only the highlights can be seen during such a short stay.

· Finally, I should mention Vanuatu for those looking for something really different. This little known Melanesian country offers a colorful mix of scuba diving, tribal culture, active volcanoes, and the South Pacific’s most beautiful capital city,
Port Vila.

NORM:

What resources are available on the Internet pertaining to weddings and honeymoon vacations in the South Pacific?

David:

Obtaining independent information on weddings and honeymoons isn’t easy as resort and tour company websites only promote their own products. That said, HONEYMOON FIJI and HONEYMOON VANAUATU are worth a look, and TRAVEL MAXIA is useful in that it covers the entire South Pacific. It’s also well worth perusing the official tourism websites of the island visitors bureaus, all of which are linked to SOUTH PACIFIC.ORG

NORM:

Is there anything else you would like to add that we have not covered pertaining to the South Pacific?

David:

The South Pacific should be recognized as a straightforward, trouble-free destination. None of the countries included in my book require visas of North Americans, Europeans, Australians, New Zealanders, or Japanese. Obstacles like erratic pricing, corrupt officials, violent crime, and security glitches are generally absent here. This sprawling region is best characterised by its amazing variety, with many distinct cultures, cuisines, histories, and environments to experience and enjoy. At US$24.95, Moon Handbooks South Pacific has the potential to save vacationers hundreds of dollars, while assisting them in making the best choices. It’s all in there.

Thanks David

About the Author: Norm Goldman is editor of sketchandtravel.com and bookpleasures.com.Norm and his artist wife Lily meld art and words in order to create an unusual travel story, which generates interest, particularly because of the fact that each painting appears to have been ‘custom-made’ for the story-original story and original art. Combining the watercolors with travel writing provides a softer, more romantic look at the places we visit.Their main focus is on romantic and wedding destinations.As they specialize in web-based content, their articles are featured on their own site, SKETCHANDTRAVEL.COM, where you can find out more about them. They are also regular contributors to some of the most popular Internet Travel Sites: LOVETRIPPER.COM: THETIMESHAREBEAT.COM:TRAVELLADY.COM:BOOTSNALL.COM: Visit Florida Online: Tropical Island WeddingsNorm and Lily are always open to suggestions as to romantic and wedding destinations to visit, write and paint about.

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=440&ca=Travel

There’s an inexorable law operating in business. I call it the law of UP — Unfulfilled Potential. One can see aspects of this law working in other areas:

For instance, in neurophysiology, humans are supposed to use only a fraction of our brains’ capabilities; in technology, superconductivity is not yet widely available; and in medicine, the harnessing of the body’s abilities to fight cancers is only just beginning to be understood and realized.

But the law of UP is particularly dominant in the business world — and especially in operations. Operations is the blocking and tackling of any organization, the fundamentals that create the foundation for consistent success.

It’s such an important function that in many companies the Chief Operating Officer is usually the next in line for the job of CEO. If a company is not doing operations well, all of its other functions are diminished.

Having consulted with operations leaders in a variety of top companies for two decades, I’ve seen that many are unfortunately strict adherents to the law of UP — for one main reason: They’ve neglected an all-important results-driver, motivation.

Clearly, many factors further operational excellence: capital, cycle time, technological advancements, quality, efficiencies, etc. But motivation is the most fundamental, operational determinant at all, for it drives all the others.

After all, operations is the sum of people doing many jobs; and when skilled people are motivated to accomplish those jobs, great results happen.

But many operations perceive motivation as “soft” — as opposed to the “hard” factors of cycle time, quality control, etc. — and so either ignore it or struggle with actualizing it on a daily basis.

I see motivation, however, as a “hard” determinant of operations that can be a concrete, a practical results-producer.

I’m going to provide four imperatives that you can use right away to achieve consistent increases in operational results. But before I do, I’ll offer a working description of motivation. For leaders often fail to motivate others because those leaders misunderstand the concept of motivation.

The best way for me to describe it is to describe what it is not.
Motivation is not what people think or feel. It’s what people do. Look at the first two letters of the word, “mo.” When you see those letters in a word, such as “motor”, “motion”, “momentum”, “mobile”, etc., it usually means action of some kind. Look at motivation as action too. If people are not taking action, they are in point of fact not motivated.

Motivation is not something we can do to somebody else. It is always something that that someone else does to themselves. Look back over your career, and you will see that the motivator and the “motivatee” were always the same person. As a leader, you communicate, but the people whom you want to motivate must motivate themselves.

Motivation is not a dispassionate dynamic. It is an “emotional” dynamic. The words “motivation” and “emotion” come from the same Latin root word, which means “to move.” When we want to move (motivate) people to take action, or in truth have them motivate themselves, we engage their emotions.

Put another way: People will not take action for more results faster continually unless their emotions are engaged.

Finally, the best way to enter into a motivational relationship with people is not by distant communication but the kind of face-to-face speech that has people make the choice to be committed to your cause.

Those are descriptions of what motivation truly is. But descriptions alone won’t help you meet the challenges of UP. You must follow clear imperatives to help you transform descriptions into results.

Here are four that will help you cultivate motivational operations.

1. Give leadership talks not presentations. The difference between a presentation and a leadership talk is what Mark Twain said the difference between the almost right word and the right word is. “That is the difference,” he said, “between the lightning bug and lightning.”

Let’s understand the basic difference between the presentation and the leadership talk. Presentations communicate information; but leadership talks have people believe in you, follow you, and, most important of all, want to take leadership for your cause.

My experience has taught me that 95% of all communication in business is accomplished through the presentations. However, if 95% of communication were accomplished through the leadership talk instead, leaders would be far more effective in getting results.

So before you speak to people, and leaders speak 15 to 20 and more times a day, ask yourself if you are simply providing information or are you motivating those people to motivate themselves to take action for results.

2. Create motivational systems. Most operational leaders are good a systemizing quality initiatives, cycle time, efficiencies, etc. But few understand that some of the most important systems they can put into place are systems that help people make the choice for motivation.

A particularly effective motivational system is one that saturates operations with “cause leaders.”

Unquestionably, people accomplish a task better if they are not simply doing it but taking leadership of it instead. When we are challenged to take leadership, we raise our performance to much higher levels. With that in mind, create systems that identify cause leaders, challenge them to take specific leadership action, and support those actions through systematized training and resource allocations.

3. See results not as an end but as a motivational process. Clearly, you have to get results. But many operations leaders misunderstand what results are about. I teach leaders the concept of achieving “more results faster continually” — not by speeding up but instead by slowing down and working less, by putting the motivational imperatives into practice. Leaders understand the “more results faster” aspect — but they often stumble when it comes to the “continually” aspect.

We can usually order people to get more results faster. But we can’t order people to do it on a continual basis. That’s where motivation comes in. Instead of ordering people to go from point A to point B, say, we must have them want to go from A to B. That “want to” is the heart of “continually.”

When we understand results this way, understand that we must achieve “more, faster” on a continual basis, then we begin to make motivational operations a way of life.

4. Challenge people to be motivational leaders. The imperatives are powerful when you use them consistently. But they are even more powerful when you have your leaders use them and teach others to use them. After all, you alone can’t create motivational operations. You need others to help you do it, especially those mid-level and small-unit leaders. If they are not putting the imperatives into practice every day, your attempts to raise the standards of operations to a consistently high motivational level will falter.

Define the success of your leadership by how well your leaders are leading, and you are well on your way to making motivational operations a reality.

Once you begin to institute motivational operations by applying the four imperatives, the law of Unfulfilled Potential becomes your competitor’s worry, not yours.

=============================
2005 © The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
=============================

About the Author: The author of 23 books, Brent Filson’s recent books are, THE LEADERSHIP TALK: THE GREATEST LEADERSHIP TOOL and 101 WAYS TO GIVE GREAT LEADERSHIP TALKS. He is founder and president of The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. – and has worked with thousands of leaders worldwide during the past 20 years helping them achieve sizable increases in hard, measured results. Sign up for his free leadership ezine and get a free guide, “49 Ways To Turn Action Into Results,” at www.actionleadership.com

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=435&ca=Business+Management

Have you ever known a sun worshipper, one of those people who can never seem to get a dark enough tan? They are always looking for that new product that will break their newest tanning plateau and deepen their color even more. Some of them are the lucky few who’s skin tans easily. They rarely burn, and after a few hours in the sun, will emerge looking like most of us would after a long Caribbean vacation. The rest of us though, are left to envy these lucky few, as we know darn well a few hours in the sun will wreak at least a week’s worth of peeling, dry, red havoc on our skin, not to mention the multitude of fine lines and wrinkles that will surely follow.

That is, until the past few years have produced the latest and greatest generation of self tanning products. No longer do you have to suffer the unnatural orange color, the intensely unpleasant odor, or the unsightly fading of the old self tanners. Today’s self tanners, at least the quality ones, are formulated to give every user an even, natural tan that lasts longer, has a deep brown undertone rather than orange or red, and fades just like a real tan.

There are even several good “spray” self tanning services offered by many tanning salons for those who don’t feel comfortable with self application. I’ve only personally tried the Mystic Tan salon service, and it does look quite good for about two days, but it fades in to what looks similar to age spots or freckles (NOT very attractive I can assure you, and the cost is pretty high for each session. It also can have quite an overpowering smell depending on how much of the active ingredient (DHA) the particular salon has the device set to. Unfortunately, the better your tan, the stronger the smell, as this is the DHA at work giving your skin the darker appearance.

The most effective, longest lasting self tanners that produce the most beautiful color are the self tanning creams (for recommendations and reviews visit http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com/best-cosmetics-online-reviews.html ). They tend to go on a lot easier, are easily blended, and result in the least amount of streaking and patchiness. The gels, sprays and mousse do not have the same even, natural results that the sunless creams do. You definitely want to go with whatever type you feel most comfortable applying, but the cream form is highly recommended.

There are some very important steps you need to take in order to get the best tan possible. The first step prior to applying the self tanner is EXFOLIATION. I’ve found that if I skip this step, the tan fades a lot faster, and tends to not blend as well. By exfoliating thoroughly in the shower, you are providing the self tanning cream a clean slate for maximum adhesion and staying power. Also, use a makeup sponge to apply the self tanner to the tops of your hands after you have washed them, as well as to your face for a more blended, natural look. Be sure to get everywhere - behind your ears, the back of your neck, etc.

Try to have the very little clothing on for as long as you can right after application, as DHA is activated by oxygen, and will work better if it has more circulation during the activation phase. Once this application has dried for a few hours, you may apply a second coat if you would like to achieve a darker color. Just don’t overdo it. To maintain the tan, reapplication should occur every 3-4 days.

With these excellent products and the gorgeous results they produce, there is simply no excuse to repeatedly subject your skin to the sun’s damaging rays again. With the new sunless tanners, you can be tan year round AND maintain your skin’s youthful and vibrant appearance. It is truly a win/win situation.

About the Author: Danna Schneider is the webmaster of the beauty and cosmetic product review and advice website CosmeticsGalore.com http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com . She is a cosmetics and beauty product researcher and enthusiast.

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=433&ca=Advice

Can we really stop the aging process, slow it down, or even reverse the effects of aging on our skin and body? It is an enigma for which so many have searched the answers to for years. Now, with advanced modern science making breakthroughs and discoveries every day, the answers have become apparent to the age-old quest for the proverbial fountain of youth.

In large part, your everyday lifestyle choices contribute to the way you age, and at what rateyour body ages. Diet, environmental factors, exercise and the topical skincare products and skin care regimen you choose, all affect the way you are going to appear now and ten, twenty, and thirty years down the road. It’s no surprise your lifestyle plays a pivotal role in how your body and skin age over the years, since we’ve always known diet and exercise affect our energy levels, appearance, moods, and fitness level.

However, several key foods have been found to be very effective weapons not only against aging in general, but also against skin disorders ranging from acne, rosacea, thin skin, and photo aging (sun damage). These foods can even help reverse and repair sun and other environmental damage done to the skin. This powerful weapon is a goup of chemical compounds called antioxidants, and what they accomplish in high doses, along with adequate exercise, can mimic a surgical facelift over a relatively short period of time!

Think about all of the damage your skin is exposed to on a daily basis. It is your largest and most vulnerable organ, exposed to toxins and other damaging elements, like the sun, every day. These elements will actually accelerate the aging process by producing harmful compounds called free radicals, which can damage cells and in turn damage the skin. Antioxidants actually fight free radicals, and reverse some of the damage already done by them in the body.

Precautions to be taken to prevent these nasty little free radicals from wreaking havoc on your skin include wearing sunscreen every day, getting regular moderate exercise, using preventive skin care (cleansers, lotions, gels, creams, etc.) formulated with powerful antioxidants like Vitamin C and Alpha Lipoic Acid, and making sure your get an abundance of antioxidants in your every day diet.

Some examples of foods high in antioxidants include berries (strawberries, bluberries, raspberries, etc.), citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruits, etc.), and vegetables rich in color, such as broccoli, zuccini, spinach, and summer squash.

Green tea is also a great source of antioxidants, not to mention a better choice than coffee for a pick-me-up. See the following links for more information on where to find these anti-aging priciples: http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com/best-weightloss-supplements-reviews.html and http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com/best-skincare-products-reviews.html.

While there are many foods to be enjoyed while living by the “anti-aging” diet, there are also foods that need to be either avoided all together, or strictly minimized. These are refined sugar, caffeine, and all starchy and white flour products. The resulting surge of insulin created by these foods produces more free radicals and breaks down the cell’s defenses against damaging elements, leaving you wide open to more skin damage (ie. wrinkles, skin disorders, and other premature aging effects).

These foods are highly inflammatory by nature, and while they may taste good going down, know that they are destroying good cells and allowing for future damage by weakening the cell’s defenses further. Eating these foods results in less tone and definition. The skin “droops”, hence the creation of fine lines, wrinkles, and dull color. You will know a person that has a high sugar and high carb diet by looking at their face. They may have almost a “doughy” appearance to their skin, lacking the sharp definition and tone enjoyed by those who follow a healthy diet based on the anti-aging principles.

So, there you have it, some of the core concepts that will get you started to minimizing and even reversing the affects of aging. This is really just the tip of the iceberg. There is actually a lot more information on these concepts available that would be well worth your time to learn. What you do with these principles is up to you, it’s just a matter of making some minor changes for a longer, happier and healthier life. I’d say that is definitely worth the investment!

About the Author: Danna Schneider is the webmaster of the beauty and cosmetic product review and advice website CosmeticsGalore.com http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com . She is a cosmetics and beauty product researcher and enthusiast.

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=431&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet

By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of the hair straightening process invented in Japan that has swept America and made countless women forever grateful to it’s hair-transforming powers. It goes by several different names - Japanese Straightening, Thermal Reconditioning, Straight Perm, and Japanese Straight Perm. So, what exactly can you expect after a thermal reconditioning service? Well, it’s actually nothing short of miraculous, if you choose the right product and stylist.

I had my treatment done at a Japanese salon in Ohio that specializes in this service. After about six hours of sitting in the salon, being alternately shampooed, heated under intense heat lamps, blown out, flat ironed, and then going through the entire process again, I emerged from the salon with a completely retexturized, smooth and sleek head of hair. All together, the straightening process cost about $750, including a VERY generous tip and a large bottle of shampoo and conditioner specially formulated for my new tresses. The hourly rate for the service was $80, which is actually below most others that charge about $100 an hour. I was under strict instuctions to guard my hair from water or any type of moisture for the next 72 hours.

I was completely thrilled with my new hair. The light reflected off of it like crazy, and it blew naturally in the breeze, not at all dried out or artificial, like you might expect after a chemical treatment. It actually was in the best condition ever, which seemed counterintuitive since it had esentially just been through six hours of chemical and heat treatment. Nevertheless, it was absolutely and undeniably true.

I was told I would need to come back for a touch up on the new growth anywhere from 6 months to a year, depending on how straight I wanted it to stay and the rate of hair growth. It is now six months later, and even though it has more body, it is still shiny and smooth. I actually like it a little more with some body at the roots. It gives it a little extra lift, and the remaining hair is still straight and manageable.

There are some things you want to look out for when searching for a salon that offers thermal reconditioning. First, find out which straightening product they use. The best Japanese Straightening System is Liscio, and the second is Yuko.

Both are made in Japan. Any others are to be cautiously researched. Liscio has produced the best results on clients, and if you’ve read about it anywhere, there is nothing negative to be reported. This is the system the salon I went to used, and my results were healthy and beautiful.

Second, make sure the technician performing the service has plenty of experience in the process. Any good salon will provide you with before and after pictures of their work. Third, be sure to be open and honest with the stylist about any prior haircoloring or processing, so they can adjust the treatment accordingly for the best results. Don’t fall in to the trap of buying expensive shampoos and conditioners like I did (I spent about $85 on shampoo and conditioner). You can actually use several quality, gentle shampoos and intensive conditioners and get the same, if not better, results
( http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com/best-haircare-products-reviews.html ). These are the best products keep hair straight, smooth, and flowing, rather than “stick” like and unmoving.

After Japanese Straightening, you do want to be sure to keep hair protected from the sun and moisturized, so frequent deep conditioning and an SPF spray or other UV protective hair product is highly recommended. You must wait at least one to two months before coloring your hair after the treatment, depending on your stylist’s recommendations. If you can, go to a stylist who was actually trained by a top technician at the corporate headquarters for the system they use. This assures they have been trained correctly and specifically on how to get the best results possible. What this means for you is a lower risk of getting a “botched” straightening job or damaged hair. Do your research. Get online and find the salons in your area that offer the service along with their credentials. After all, you don’t want to waste your hard-earned money on something that is less than a superior result. The cost of the treatment can be very high, especially if your hair is particularly long or hard to “de-curl”. Typically, the longer and curlier the hair, the longer the process takes, and the more you will spend.

Bottom line, if your hair is unruly, frizzy, or overly curly and you would like to have low maintenance, hassle free hair that is shiny and straight, the “Japanese Straight Perm” is just the thing for you. I know I will be going back for a second round!

About the Author: Danna Schneider is the webmaster of the beauty and cosmetic product review and advice website CosmeticsGalore.com http://www.cosmeticsgalore.com . She is a cosmetics and beauty product researcher and enthusiast.

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=429&ca=Advice

Are you doing what you really want to do or did you just fall or wander into the job you now have. As a friend of ours once said,’ I am one of twenty two doctors in our family. The only ones in our family who are not doctors are the dogs and cats’. Did you decide what you wanted to do or are you one of a growing number whose work was dictated by circumstances or their parents?

The question is not what are you doing and who put you there but; are you happy? If you are not doing what you really want to do then the chances are that you are unhappy and that is affecting your health and relationships as well as other parts of your life.

As John D Rockefeller III stated “The road to happiness lies in two simple principles: find what interests you and that you can do well, and put your whole soul into it every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have.”

The problem is that although we are aware, deep down, of what we want to do the hard part is putting those thoughts into action. Actually doing it. Perhaps you are trapped in the thinking process that says…; “ well I can’t really change”. How will I pay the mortgage? How will I pay the school fees? How will I ……..

Or perhaps your thinking says it is better the devil you know than the one you don’t.

Or are you thinking well I’m lucky really I have a regular job that pays sufficient salary (just about) and others are not as lucky as me?

Whatever your story. Just stop for a moment and ask yourself:

What is really driving me?

What makes me do what I do?

Sarah, a friend of ours, is 57 years of age, single, an only child with no parents alive and no children. In our language, she is the end of the line. A successful sales manager for an international company. But her world has just collapsed. A week before Christmas she was made redundant with little or no warning. She has given her life to the industry she worked in and feels very let down, bitter and disappointed. After all, she had it all worked out. Retirement happens at 60, the mortgage will be paid off, the pension fund will start to pay up and then she will be able to decide what she wants to do in the future.

But that hasn’t happened. She is three years short and needs work. Her initial calls to her vast network of friends and colleagues has resulted in either, sympathy, not returned or I’m sorry but…you understand…we need ur hmph younger people… On the other hand there are those who kept her confidence up by inviting her for an interview only to find on arrival that either there was no job or ur hmmph we found someone younger.

So Sarah was forced to ask herself: ‘Where do I go from here?’

She doesn’t want to retire….she’s too young for that!!! The lack of response from her industry and so called friends and network has forced her to ask herself, ‘What do I really want to do?’
If I can’t continue the habit and stay in the industry, ‘What do I really want to do?’

She started to ask herself;

What really drives me?

What made me do what I did?

What did I love most about the job?

Gradually she had to acknowledge that most of her working life had been driven by fear. Fear of not being able to pay the mortgage.
Fear of getting into debt.
Fear of failing a credit check.
Fear of being a failure.
Fear of having to be on her own.

However, she also realised that what had driven her to stay in her industry all her life was the love she had for putting teams of people together. The love of developing people who felt they couldn’t achieve. The love of being a nanny, nurse, coach, counsellor etc to young and developing sales teams.

The enjoyment she got out of caring for others, steering them, cajoling them. It was almost that over the years her sales teams had become her family and she enjoyed that. What’s more she found that her greatest enjoyment had come from turning around ailing, little known or unsuccessful products.

Now she started to work with a new vigour. Instead of being an old or aged, victim, with little or no hope of getting work. She started to scan the ads and rewrite her CV as a caring, coach, who loved developing and growing sales teams of young people. Someone who could be relied upon to introduce vigour and sparkle to old, tired and little known products.

We don’t have a happy ending to the story yet, but Sarah had three interviews last week and one company has called to see her again as they are interested in what she might have to offer them. We are all keeping our fingers crossed.

And Sarah? She has a new spring in her step. A belief that she has discovered what she really wants to do. She is constantly focussed in the positive. We have no doubt that she will get what she wants.

The moral to the story. The answer is always inside yourself. The answer is in your thoughts. Look deep inside yourself. Ask yourself; What really drives me? What deep down is the reason I’m on the planet. Don’t cheat yourself: stay with the question.. You will know when you find it because your whole body feels: yes I’ve got the right answer. Then: Just accept it, change your thoughts and believe in yourself. And watch life change.

On other hand, as Beth Mende Conny stated, “If you don’t take control of your life, don’t complain when others do.”

Julie and Graham

About the Author: To see more of our work please go to:www.desktop-meditation.com

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=422&ca=Career

Many of the gas saving devices being advertised do not work
and can actually damage your vehicle.

After evaluating and testing more than 100 alleged gas-saving devices, the Environmental Protection Agency hasfound only a few that improve mileage and none that do sosignificantly.

The gas-saving products on the market seem to fall intoclearly defined categories. These include, but are notlimited to: air-bleed devices, vapor-bleed devices, liquidinjection devices, ignition devices, fuel line devices,mixture enhancers, internal engine modification devices,fuels and fuel additives, oils and oil additives, anddriving habit modifiers.

The EPA evaluates or tests products to determine whethertheir use will result in any measurable improvement to fueleconomy. However, the EPA cannot say what effect gas-savingproducts will have on a vehicle over a long period of time.It is possible that some products may harm the car oradversely affect its performance.

For example, if an “air bleed” device actually addssignificant amounts of air to the air-and-fuel mixture, itmay cause an engine to misfire, a condition which greatlyincreases the potential engine damage or mechanical failure.This is especially likely to happen on cars manufacturedbetween 1974 and 1982, because their carburetors are pre-setfor a maximum amount of air to be burned with the fuel.”Air-bleed” devices will not work at all on many carsmanufactured after 1982, because these cars have “feedback”carburetors that automatically adjust the air-and-fuelmixture rendering the device useless.

Many ads feature glowing testimonials by satisfiedcustomers. There are too many variables that affect fuelconsumption, such as traffic, road and weather conditions,the car’s condition and overall maintenance, and the drivinghabits of the owner.

In one case a consumer sent a letter to a company praisingits gas-saving product. But what was not mentioned in theadvertisement was the fact that the consumers vehicle alsohad an engine tune-up at the time the device was installed.

Some advertisers claim that the gas-saving device isapproved by the Federal government.

No government agencyendorses gas-saving products for cars. The seller can onlystate that the item has been tested by the EPA. If theadvertiser claims that the product has been tested by theEPA ask to see the results or contact the EPA directly.

If you have already purchased a gas-saving product and youare not satisfied, contact the manufacturer and ask for arefund. An honest company offers a money-back guarantee.If you are not satisfied with the company’s response,contact your local or state consumer protection agency orthe Better Business Bureau.

Keeping your car in tip top condition is the best way to getthe best gas mileage your vehicle has to offer. Everyvehicle come with an owners manual. Read and follow whatthe manufacturer recommends.

Three simple steps that will help improve gas mileage in allvehicles:

Getting a tune-up.
Checking tire pressure.
Removing any excess weight from the car’s trunk.

For over 20 more tips and one secret hint go tohttp://www.apluswriting.net/gasmiles/gasmiles.htm

About the Author: Marilyn PokorneyFreelance writer of science, nature, animals and theenvironment.Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.Website: http://www.apluswriting.net

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=420&ca=Automotive

Don’t take a part time job.

Start a part time business.

You can work from home or anyware that is convenient. All that you need is a computer and an internet connection.

You will have very low start up costs, in fact you can start with virtually nothing and work it up to a business that will provide you with everything that you would ever need.

There are just two important things that you must have.

No1- A goal.

No2- A plan.

If you are not sure as to what you are aiming at, how can you expect to hit it?

The plan is required to enable you to set out the steps needed to keep you aimed in the right direction.

Your business will need a name.

What are you going to call it?

How do you decide upon a name?

The right business name can make the difference between success and disaster.

Your domain name will double up as your business name.

It is the URL that your prospective customers will use to find you.

How do you decide upon a domain name?

When you are surfing the net, you type in a word or phrase that you think will bring up the desired results. The most obvious words are the ones that get the most use. These words are generally known as ‘key-words’.

You need to have some of these key-words as part of your domain name. One little problem. How do you find the best words to use for the type of business you are starting?

There is a company called ‘Overture’ where you can do a search for the most used key-words.

If you can pick out about five of the words from the top fifty that are relevent to your type of business and make up a name that incorporates at least three of them, you will be well on the way to achieving success.

No matter what type of business you are starting, it must have a name that is easy to find. If they don’t know that you are there, they can’t buy from you. It’s as simple as that.

If you are not sure what is it that you want to sell, check with ‘Overture’ for the top words that people are using and look at the top ten to see what are people looking for. It should give you some good ideas to get you started.

The above are the basic things to get right before you even think about building your website. Once you have these things in place, building your website will be a natural progression.

Remember.

Do the first things first. The rest of it will fall into place quite naturally.

Don’t look upon it as a chore. Business can be fun. especially when the money starts rolling in.

Don’t hang arround. Give it a go.

All the best, …Bob…

About the Author: AUTHOR’S PROFILE. Robert makes a very good living from some of the best affiliate programs on the net. This is one of his favourites. If you are interested in boosting your mailing list, Take a look. It’s good. It’s very good. http://www.bz9.com/robjfar

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=414&ca=Advice