Fitness Tips That Are Great

Getting in shape is a goal that many people have, but it can be one that isn’t easily attained if you are not willing to give it your best shot. Take the time to understand what you need to do to achieve your goal and set realistic goals for getting in shape. Find ways to reward and motivate yourself for achieving milestones along the way. Learn to make exercise fun after reading this article.

Music can help to keep you motivated. The music will get you into a rhythm and get your body moving instinctively. As the Law of Inertia states, once in motion, objects continue in motion until exterior forces are present. Start dancing and you will not be able to stop! Dancing is a wonderful way to work out, and it’s fun, too!

It’s a lot more fun to exercise when you have a buddy to keep you company. When you exercise with friends, you can catch up and gossip while jogging or doing reps at the gym. Time will move by much faster, yet you will still get the benefits of a full workout. That’s one great thing about having friends!

Video game workouts are a new way to get exercise but have fun at the same time. When you are playing a game it is easy to concentrate on enjoying yourself. You may find that idea of working out fades from your mind while you play. This will help you have more energy and enable you to finish easier. You will also be less likely to stop your workouts.

Buy workout clothes that make you feel good about yourself. A new workout outfit can really inspire you to lose weight. Have fun picking out a great looking outfit for yourself. The instant you put them on, your new exercise clothes will inspire you to workout.

Doing the same exercises day in and day out is boring, and you will quickly find yourself losing motivation. This is why it’s a good idea to change your routine. With on a treadmill, a great way to increase the intensity is by running instead of walking. In order to stay motivated you need to vary your routine. It will keep you from becoming bored.

It is important to treat yourself with a reward every now and then throughout your fitness regimen as a way to keep yourself motivated. Whether you choose lunch out with a loved one or a luxurious manicure, make sure your treat is something you truly love and something that will keep you excited to earn yet another reward. It does not have to be extravagant or costly. It will remind you of how well you are doing and at the same time will keep you motivated.

It is easy to start thinking of your workout as still another chore, but it is possible to have fun while you get fit. To make your workout an exciting experience, there are a number of things you can do. If you want to create a fun exercise routine, then read on for advice on how you can accomplish that.

TIPS from a KID-TESTED MOM: Buying Sun Care and Skin Protection for Babies and Toddlers

Summer can be a wonderful time filled with vacations, more time outdoors and family gatherings. We spend more time outside where we are exposed to the suns rays more then any other during the time of year. We all should protect our skin. Babies and toddlers tender skin especially needs to be protected from the strong rays of the sun. Sun protection products are plentiful. It does not matter what the skin tone is pale, olive, dark, all skin tones need protection from the sun. Which is better spray sun lotion or sun? Which SPF should you use on a baby? Which products Thurs moms recommend and why? As a veteran mom of three daughters I have been through a lot of summers and can safely say that I have tried everything. Sprays, sun lotions, sun sticks and they all have their advantages. They all have their smells, their pros and cons about usage. My daughters have the added risk of having a family history of skin cancer. My husband had melanoma when our 2nd daughter was just a baby. His dermatologist strongly advised us to be very careful of exposing our daughters to unnecessary exposure to the sun. He suggested trying to limit our exposure to the sun hours before 10 am and after 4 pm He also recommended applying sun lotion as part of our daily dressing for the day and to reapply every couple of hours, after exposure to water and after excessive sweating.

Sprays are fine for Reapplying as they are easy to hit a kid on-the-go with, and still get enough product on moving arms and legs. Sticks are great for covering facial areas like forehead, cheeks and chin The best way to apply sun protection to a baby is to make it a part of your daily routine changing. Keep a bottle of sun lotion right product with your diaper supplies and apply with the first change of clothing the day and then every few hours while you have the baby on the changing surface, take the opportunity to reapply the lotion to all skin surfaces.

Sun Protection SPF guidelines can be confusing. The safest is advise from a pharmacist, who says to never apply a SPF of 30 higher than a baby's skin to tender. Pediatricians recommend limiting sun exposure severely in babies younger than 6 months. If you must expose a very young baby to the sun, cover all body parts with breathable, light colored cloth. Protect a young baby's eyes from the sun by covering the baby with a very light blanket (spread the blanket over the infant seat or carrier, not directly on the face). I not can tell you how many times I have witnessed very young babies laying in carriers from squinting and being forced to look directly up into the sun. Imagine yourself in your baby's position, would you want to look directly up into the sun without sunglasses on? The best advice I found about what SPF from the UAB Health System Web site at http://www.health.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=91152 this is a direct quote from the site:

"The best way to preventable skin cancer. Stay out of the sun When outside, cover up with sunscreen and protective clothing to slather on Experts recommend using SPF of at least 15 skin even if you have dark skin go higher if your burns easily fair-skinned… people developed 2 ½ times fewer sunburned cells when they wore on SPF 30 versus SPF 15th at "You can go to the above listed link to read more about SPF, tanning and skin cancer and other skin related topics. There are many, many manufacturers of sun protection products. Some of the products that I or moms that I know of, have used on babies and young children are: Baby Blanket – this product is a barrier sunscreen. Barrier products contain either titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. I love to comparison shop and found this fantastic site that Allows you to compare prices offered by various stores online and offline for the product you are searching for. Here is the link for Baby Blanket Sunscreen http://www.epinions.com/beat-Suncare-Sunpro-All-Brand_Baby_Blanket is another popular sunlotion Ombrelle, Bullfrog, and California Baby. Please apply a minimum of exposure sunlotion sun 15 minutes BEFORE. Always follow the directions on the product label and call your physician or pediatrician should the child develop a rash. Be especially careful of combination products sunlotion. I use a product from Avon Products Inc. that has cintronella into it and found out that my one daughter is allergic to this ingredient, when she broke out in a rash everywhere that I had applied the product. When you have a child that has been known to have allergic reactions to skin care products in the past, it is a good idea to apply a small amount on a small area of ​​the skin as a test. Then check the area, at least a couple of hours later to see if there is any reaction to the area that you applied to the sunlotion. Most brands of sunlotion did say they are waterproof are only giving protection from the sun for 80 minutes, so please reapply before that time expires. If the sunlotion says water resistant, it is likely to be protecting your child for only 40 minutes, not so best reapply before this time is up If your sunlotion does say waterproof or water resistant than reapply after getting out of the water. Unless your sunlotion says that it is wipe-resistant, you need to reapply after toweling off from swimming or from sweating. One brand that is recommended for longer periods of waterproof protection is Hawaiian Tropic Baby. It has an extended waterproof time of four hours of continuous water protection. The bottle is yellow-orange in color, at least it was at last check.

Protecting babies and toddlers from sun exposure is very important. The skin is the largest organ the body has and protecting it from being burned not only will save tears, but also can give the child a better chance of Preventing skin cancer later in life. When shopping for sun protection, read labels. Thurs price comparisons once you decide on a sunlotion, or other sun protection product. Reapply sun protection often, as the label suggests. Check to be sure if the product is waterproof or water-resistant. Reapply after being in the water sunlotion, after toweling off or excessive sweating sunlotion Apply to babies at the first change of clothing the day and several hours later. Keep sunlotion in the diaper bag for convenience. Limit sun exposure if possible before 10 am to 4 pm or after exposure is unavoidable use When sunlotion exposed to all areas of the skin and wear lightweight, light colored clothing. Babies under six months of age, especially need to be protected from the suns harmful rays. Have fun in the summer sun, just protect the skin of babies and toddlers when you are outside.

Cutest Baby Contest 2012

Are Annuities a Good Investment for Retirement?

retirement annuity If you listen to The Motley Fool, you want to run screaming from the office if your financial advisor offers you an annuity as a means of investing for your retirement. However, annuities may have gotten a bad reputation in the past as they do offer the benefit of a guaranteed income during retirement. This benefit alone is enough to convince those fearful of running out of income during their retirement years to invest in on annuity. For those who are wondering why the difference of opinion, let's look at what is annuity and its pros and cons. An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company Whereby you make a lump sum investment or payments over a period of time. In return, the insurance company will pay you an income for the remainder of your life or a specific period. Date if payments begin immediately, then it is an immediate annuity rather than a deferred annuity, payments begin on a Which future. Having a guaranteed income does sound good, however, there are drawbacks to annuities.

Disadvantages of investing in annuity to

• Annuity contracts have too many fees and can be expensive. Administrative fees, surrender charges, underlying fund expenses and fees for initial sales loads are just some examples of fees that may be charged by the insurance company. Before entering into contract of annuity, ask for a list of all possible fees that may be charged for your Particular annuity and make sure you understand them.

• Investment growth is tax-deferred but you will pay taxes on withdrawals at your current tax rates.

• Provide for a guaranteed annuity may income during retirement, however, inflation decreases the value of your investment because the dollar you put in now will be worth less 20 years from now.

• Penalties, fees and taxes will be charged for early withdrawals from your annuity. Therefore annuities, not Thurs Provide a very good return for short term investing.

• Optional benefits are costly and can possibly be Obtained through other sources for less.

Advantages of investing in annuity to

• annuities have additional options available as a death benefit seeking, guaranteed minimum income benefit, long-term care insurance and fixed account investment options.

• Annuities offer three types of investment options: fixed annuities, variable annuities and equity-index annuities, all of the investor Which offer different options Depending on their goals.

• Annuities are good long-term investment options for individuals who plan to keep the annuity for a long time and desire a steady income during retirement.

• Annuities may appeal to individuals who have already contributed the maximum amounts to other types of retirement accounts but still want to invest in tax-deferred plans.

Because the options available vary with annuities annuity, individuals should consult with a qualified financial planner to discuss their goals before investing in on.

Sources: "Annuities: What's to Like?" (The Motley Fool) U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

annuity leads

Just what All Of Us Should really Learn

This speech is intended for all students in kindergarten to 12th grade who were prevented or not allowed to view President Obama’s speech to students for any reason at all, whether it be because of parental or personal political views or just because there was no opportunity to watch or read it. I have altered this speech in terms of personal experiences to fit my own life.

Now some of you may be wondering why I am doing this. I am a UCSD college student. I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I have no hidden agenda, except the best for my peers and for my country. Well, I have no such affiliation or agenda, and I am giving pretty much the same speech right here. I believe that this type speech is vital for students to hear and I am doing this to allow access to it to everyone.

Thank you.

———————
How are you all doing today?

I am here by myself in my room recording this speech, and I hope I’ve got students tuning in from all across America from kindergarten through 12th grade. I’d be glad if you would hear me out for just these few minutes.

I know that for many of us, school has just begun. And for those of us in kindergarten, or starting middle or high school, you are in a new school, so it’s understandable if you’re a little nervous. I imagine there are some seniors out there who are feeling pretty good right now, with just one more year to go. And no matter what grade you’re in, some of you are probably wishing it were still summer, and you could’ve stayed in bed just a little longer this morning.

I know that feeling. I was a high school student not too long ago. I would wake up before sunrise every morning just to go to sports practice, which was held before first period. My parents worked hard every day and sometimes I wouldn’t even have a ride to school that early in the morning, so I’d have to take two city buses on a transfer ticket just to get to the school, which was through the city gang area–all before the sun was up.

Now I wasn’t too happy about getting up that early. A lot of times, I’d sleep right through the alarm and miss practice, even get to school late for my first period class. But I would still go.

So I know some of you are still adjusting to being back at school. But I’m here today because I have something important to discuss with you. I’m here because I want to talk with you about our education and what’s expected of all of us in this new school year.

I haven’t really given many speeches, but for this one I’d like to discuss responsibility. There are speeches about teacher’s responsibility for inspiring students and pushing us to learn. There are speeches about parent’s responsibilities for making sure we stay on track and we get our homework done and we don’t spend every waking hour in front of the TV or with the computer.

There are speeches about our government’s responsibility for setting high standards and supporting teachers and principals and turning around schools that aren’t working, where students aren’t getting the opportunities that they deserve.

But at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world, and none of it will make a difference, none of it will matter, unless all of us fulfill our responsibilities. Unless we show up to those schools, unless we pay attention to those teachers, unless we listen to our parents and grandparents and other adults, and put in the hard work it takes to succeed.

That’s what I want to focus on today. The responsibility each of us have for our education. I want to start with the responsibility we have to ourselves.

Every single one of us has something that we’re good at. Every single one of us has something to offer. And we have a responsibility to ourselves to find out what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.

Maybe you could be a good writer – maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper – but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class or join journalism or whatever. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine – but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.

And no matter what we want to do with our lives – I guarantee that we’ll need an education to do it. You want to be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer? A nurse, an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You’re going to need a good education for every single one of those careers. We can’t drop out of school and just drop into a good job. We’ve got to work for it and train for it and learn for it.

And this isn’t just important for our own lives and our own futures. What we make of our education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. What we’re learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future.

We’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills we learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. We’ll need the insights and critical thinking skills we gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. We’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all our classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy.

We need every single one of us to develop our talents, skills and intellect so we can help solve our most difficult problems. If we don’t do that – if we quit on school – we’re not just quitting on ourselves, we’re quitting on our country.

Now I know it’s not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork.

I get it. I know what that’s like. My family immigrated to the United States with nothing but the clothes on their backs. My parents and six older sisters struggled to make a living without help from welfare, while not even knowing the language of this country, and we couldn’t always get things other kids had. I often felt overshadowed by the hard work of my parents and sisters. There were times when, even in such a big family, I was lonely and felt like I didn’t fit in.

So I wasn’t always as focused as I should have been. I probably caused more trouble than I should have. And my life could have easily taken a turn for the worse.

But I was fortunate. I found my inspiration among a few dependable adults in my life and now I have the opportunity to go to college with government financial assistance even in this economic depression.

Some of you might not have those advantages. Maybe you don’t have adults in your life who give you the support that you need. Maybe someone in your family lost their job, and there’s not enough money to go around. Maybe you live in a neighborhood where you don’t feel safe, or have friends who are pressuring you to do things you know aren’t right. I understand that.

But at the end of the day, the circumstances of your life – what you look like, where you come from, how much money you have, what you’ve got going on at home – that’s no excuse for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude. That’s no excuse for talking back to your teacher, or cutting class, or dropping out of school. That’s no excuse for not trying.

Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written our destinies for us. Here in America, you write your own destiny. We make our own future.

That’s what young people like us are doing every day, all across America.

Those people aren’t any different from any of us. They faced challenges in their lives just like we do. In some cases, they’ve got it even worse than us. But they refused to give up. They chose to take responsibility for their education and set goals for themselves. And I expect all of us to do the same.

That’s why today, I’m calling on each of us to set our own goals for our education – and to do everything we can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you’ll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you’ll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn.

Whatever you resolve to do, please commit to it. I want you to really work at it.

I know that sometimes, you get the sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work — that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star, when chances are, you’re not going to be any of those things. But still, I mean, even Denzel Washington, a famous actor, had to study his butt off to get where he is.

The truth is, being successful is hard. You won’t love every subject you study. You won’t click with every teacher you have. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this very minute.

And you won’t necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.

That’s OK. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most failures. JK Rowling’s first Harry Potter book was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team, and he lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career. Thomas Edison, when asked about his numerous failures before he revolutionized the lightbulb, once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10000 ways that won’t work.”

As for myself, this particular speech took me a few drafts to get it right, and it’s still not perfect.

Anyway, these people succeeded because they understand that you can’t let your failures define you – you have to let them teach you. You have to let them show you what to do differently next time. If you get in trouble, that doesn’t mean you’re a troublemaker, it means you need to try harder to behave. If you get a bad grade, that doesn’t mean you’re stupid, it just means you need to study more.

Most people aren’t born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work. You’re not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport. Trust me, it took me until senior year. You don’t sketch a masterpiece the first time you pick up a pencil. You’ve got to practice. Like from this to this. It’s the same with schoolwork. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right, or read something a few times before you understand it, or do a few drafts of a paper before it’s good enough to hand in.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and you can learn something new. So find an adult you trust – a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor – and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.

And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you – don’t you ever give up on yourself. Because when we give up on ourselves, we give up on our country.

The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.

It’s the story of students who sat where we sit 250 years ago, and went on to wage a revolution and found this nation. Students who sat where we sit 75 years ago who overcame a Depression and won a world war; who fought for civil rights and put a man on the moon. Students who sat where we sit 20 years ago who founded Google, Twitter and Facebook and changed the way we communicate with each other.

So today, I want to ask you, what’s our contribution going to be? What problems are we going to solve? What discoveries will we make? What will a person in twenty or fifty or one hundred years say about what all of us did for this country?

Our families, our teachers, are doing everything they can to make sure we have the education we need to answer these questions. The president may be working hard to fix up our classrooms and get us the books, equipment and computers we need to learn. But we’ve got to do our part too. So I expect you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from each of us. So don’t let us down – don’t let your family or your country or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can do it.

——–
Whew! Long speech. Well, actually it’s pretty short, but long for me.

At this point, I want to ask you if anything I said was wrong. Is there anything I said that was not true. I ask this, because a lot of people have been giving our president a lot of backlash for this speech, saying that he’s only doing this to forward his own political agenda or brainwash kids.

If what I said in the speech is completely alright, then why is it that the president’s speech must be so political? Why is it impossible [[that he, as a fellow American just like you or me,]] also wants to promote our education and future? Why must we be so cynical as to doubt every word that he says…even though they are true? Please, think about it. Thank you.

Maturing Can Be Wonderful

Strawflowers, which are also known as paper daisies, are amazingly beautiful annual flowers that are befittingly named. Strawflowers look like dried flowers, but strawflowers are actually one of the brightest most beautiful annual flowers you could choose for your yard or garden. The petals of strawflowers are intricate, and they are unique in color, texture, and design. Strawflowers a great choice for anyone wanting one of the most strikingly beautiful annual flowers provided by nature.

Description of Strawflowers

The colors of strawflowers are unique and extremely vivid. Strawflowers are available in various shades of yellow, orange, tan, red, pink, purple, and creamy white. Strawflowers are also available in unique bicolor varieties. The colorful blooms of strawflowers shimmer in the sunlight, and they appear to be coated by fine satin varnish.

The beautiful blooms of strawflowers are offset by narrow green leaves on tall graceful stems. The leaves of some varieties of strawflowers are greyish green and extremely eye-catching. People love strawflowers for their lovely foliage as well as the beauty of their brilliant annual blooms.

Strawflowers grow to a height ranging between eight and thirty-six inches, and strawflowers are available in dwarf varieties as well as taller varieties. When healthy and mature, strawflowers fill a garden or flowerbed with rainbows of color and amazing beauty. Consider growing strawflowers if you want annual flowers that will draw attention to your yard or garden.

Locations for Strawflowers

Strawflowers require full sun, low humidity, and they may be planted in containers if you don’t have adequate yard or garden space. Strawflowers make a beautiful annual border or backdrop for lower growing flowers of coordinating colors. White sweet alyssums would look lovely planted in the foreground of strawflowers. Use your imagination and choose flowers to plant with strawflowers for an outstanding annual garden display.

Before planting strawflowers it’s important to properly prepare the soil. Strawflowers require fine light-textured soil that drains well. Mix in compost or other organic matter to help make the soil more porous and light. Strawflowers will obtain vitamins from this nutrient-rich soil as well as gain healthier root systems.

Planting and Growing Strawflowers

In cooler hardiness zones, annual strawflower seeds can be planted in spring after all danger of frost has passed, and if you in a warmer climates, strawflowers may be planted in late winter or fall.

Strawflowers don’t transplant well, so if planting strawflower seeds, be sure to plant them exactly where you want them. The seeds of strawflowers are extremely tiny, so don’t be too concerned if you oversew them. Sprinkle the seeds upon well-worked fine soil, and lightly cover them. Water the ground lightly so the newly planted strawflower seeds aren’t washed away. When seedlings reach a height of about two inches, thin them to create a space of about eight inches between each plant.

While strawflowers are maturing, water them regularly, and after strawflowers are well established, water them deeply once a week. Make sure the soil is dry before watering your strawflowers again.

Strawflowers don’t require feeding, but to give your strawflowers a boost they may be given fertilizer that doesn’t contain phosphorus. Be sure to follow product label instructions specifically designated for strawflowers to achieve the best results.

As annual strawflower blooms fade away, deadhead the plants to keep them blooming all season long. When properly cared for annual strawflowers will bloom for many weeks in spring, summer, and well into the fall.

Uses for Strawflowers

Strawflowers are favorites of florists and others who decorate with annual flowers. This is because strawflowers are excellent cut flowers, and they look stunning in a vase or in a floral arrangement.

While strawflowers are alive and growing they look like dried flowers, and this makes strawflowers excellent flowers for drying. Dried strawflowers keep their vivid colors and brilliance, and dried strawflowers make a stunning annual display. Use dried strawflowers in a floral centerpiece and consider decorating wrapped gifts with beautiful strawflowers tied together with satin ribbons.

Strawflowers are fantastic annual if you want to add color and beauty to your outdoor landscape, and besides providing beauty outdoors, strawflowers can be enjoyed indoors as well. Consider planting annual strawflowers, and enjoy the beauty these wonderful annuals provide all year long.

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