Dave Ramsey's Envelope System

By Dave Ramsey

On a budget? Still over-spending? Trying to figure out the best way to organize your finances and spend wisely?

Get on a Simple System
I found out that Grandma's way to handle money still works. People used to always use cash envelopes to control their monthly spending, but very few do in today's card swiping culture. The envelope system is a key component of the Total Money Makeover plan because it works. Here are a few simple basics for starting a cash envelope system:

1.Budget each paycheck. Budget is a dirty word to most people, but you must budget down to the last dime if you're going to successfully implement the envelope system.

2.Divide and conquer. Of course, there will be budget items that you cannot include in your envelope system, like bills paid by check or automatic withdraw. However, you can create categories like food, gas, clothing and entertainment.

3.Fill 'er Up. After you've categorized your cash expenses, fill each envelope with the money allotted for it in your budget. For example, if you allow $100 for clothing, put $100 in cash in your clothing envelope for the month.

4.When it's gone, it's gone. Once you've spent all the money in a given envelope, you're done spending for that category. If you go on a shopping spree and spend the $100 in your clothing envelope, you can't spend any more on clothes until you budget for that category again. That means no visits to the ATM to withdraw more money!

5.Don't be tempted. While debit cards can't get you directly into debt, if used carelessly, they can cause you to over-spend. There's something psychological about spending cash that hurts more than swiping a piece of plastic. If spending cash whenever possible can become a habit, you'll be less likely to over-spend or buy on impulse.

6.Give it time. It will take a few months to perfect your envelope system. Don't give up after a month or two if it's not clicking. You'll get the hang of it and see how beneficial the envelope system is as you dump debt, build wealth, and achieve financial peace! See ... simple!

Certainly, some bills may come in at different times of the month, so you'll need to adjust your written game plan to take it one step further. You need to plan the budget based upon your pay periods.

Say that you get paid twice a month. If you can write down which bills you plan on paying from each paycheck, you will not be left with a surprise bill. Spend each month's income and each individual paycheck on paper before it comes in.

Have Some Fun
I also have no problem with you adding an envelope with money just to have fun with! As long as you and your spouse have agreed on it, you are fine. There should be no lying. Agree on your budget, agree on your fun money, and be open. Fun money can be anything you want it to be. There are no rules on that envelope, unlike money in the "entertainment" envelope that is used specifically for entertainment.

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Looking For A Manufactured Home Retirement Community?

Manufactured Home Communities are popular because they offer the lifestyle and community many are looking for in their retirement living. Manufactured homes are “affordable”. Cost and upkeep is low compared to the homes of ones “child rearing years” and “empty nest years”. A well maintained community has the “appearance” retirees find desirable. Everyone in the community has the same rules – and each must keep their homes and yards in good condition. There is a certain feel of “community” and “security” a manufactured home community provides. This is a close knit neighborhood. Because neighbors share social centers that accommodate activities, it’s easy to stay active, know your neighbors and be concerned for each other. Often it is found that people watch out for each other’s homes and friends. This is community spirit at it’s best!

Not sure yet? Stop by any of our manufactured home communities and see for yourself! To find the location of Newby Management's Florida communities, go to http://www.newbyrealty.com/.

Convinced? Our sales agents at each community would be glad to assist you! Get a tour of the community as well visit the homes for sale.

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Brain Stimulation Ideas

Set in your ways?  Most of us are.  Here are some ideas to stimulate your brain, and bring some variation into your realm!

Switch up any mundane routines
Humans are very habit forming in seemingly non consequential activities. How often do you take the exact same route to work? Studies have shown that even small changes in daily patterns cause brain stimulation.

Pick a random topic and learn something about it
Mostly visiting the same websites and reading about the same types of things?  Music, Sports, Web happenings, World News. Pick something outside of that orbit and set out to learn something about it. Art Deco Design. History of the Cuban Revolution. How your car engine works. Spend just 10-15 minutes a day on a completely new or random learning project.

Switch your news sources up
Every once in a while pick up a different newspaper form a different city. Read from sources that go against your political leaning, something very liberal or very conservative. I try to read the Wall Street Journal Op-Ed page at least once per week. It usually stimulates thoughts.

Balance your brain
Stimulating different segments of my brain takes a little bit of conscious effort. Spend a lot of time online reading and writing emails, looking at stats, working on documents or spreadsheets?  Hone in on activities that bring something different to the table. Actually sit and listen to music without doing something else. Spend a few moments observing nature. Stretch you body for 10 minutes and think about your body alignment.

Shut it off
Everyday, schedule time to do absolutely nothing. It’s akin to shutting down your computer once in while. Take 10-15 minutes of your day to do absolutely nothing. Don’t allow yourself to think about what you have to do next. Don’t stress about whatever is on your mind. Focus on clearing your mind. Focus on nothing. Sound silly? It really works. You’ll bring a more refreshed state of mind to the rest of your day. It takes some practice but you’ll start looking forward to this part of your day.

Exercise
Exercise strengthens the mind. Find some exercise you like and make it a constant part of your week.

Search out new conversation
Another area that finds ruts is in the people with which one is to converse. The problem is that they tend to be the same people all the time. This is not suggesting ditching your friends. However, try to be open to new opportunities to interact with new people. New people bring new perspectives and experiences. New people force you to be on your toes a little bit more. They require that you listen a little closer. This stimulation strengthens and stretches your brain.

Ditch the calculator once in while
When routine math problems come up, force yourself to do the calculation in your head. It surprising how this “old fashioned” way of doing things has become increasingly difficult. Forcing yourself to do the calculation pumps up the brain.

Write something by hand
Try putting together a few paragraphs in long hand. It may be frustrating at first, but will challenge your mind. Its crazy how little we actually write by hand these days.

Eat well
It makes sense that what you eat afffects what you are. Make sure to get plenty of bright colored veggies and fruits like spinach, carrots, oranges, tomatoes.

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Garlic Selection, Storage and Peeling

Garlic Selection and Storage 
Choose garlic heads that are firm to the touch, with no nicks or soft cloves. If you notice dark, powdery patches under the skin, pass it up because this is an indication of a common mold which will eventually spoil the flesh.

Store unpeeled heads of garlic in an open container in a cool, dry place away from other foods. Do not refrigerate or freeze unpeeled garlic. Properly stored garlic can keep up to three months.

As garlic ages, it will begin to produce green sprouts in the center of each clove. These infant green sprouts can be bitter, so discard them before chopping the garlic for your recipe.

However, if you plant the cloves and let them sprout to a height of about six inches, you can use the sprouts like chives in salads and such.

Garlic can also be purchased as peeled whole cloves or minced, both stored in olive or vegetable oil. It is imperative that garlic in oil be stored under refrigeration to avoid potentially-deadly botulism bacteria growth. If you use a lot of garlic and wish to cut your preparation time down, you can pre-peel and store your own in olive oil in the refrigerator, but the best flavor will come from freshly-peeled cloves. Use garlic powder, garlic salt, and garlic extract (juice) only as a last resort.

How to Peel Garlic
To peel a garlic clove, place it on a cutting board on its side, and gently press down quickly with the flat side of a butcher knife. The skin should then easily peel off. If you find the skin clinging desperately to the clove, congratulations! You have fresh garlic. As garlic ages, it shrivels inside the skin, making it easier to peel.

By Peggy Trowbridge Filippone

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Humor - It's a Conscious Effort

Humor. It's what's good about life! It has a purpose. It is an integral part of us. No matter our age, humor provides balance. A sense of humor keeps us young, well and happy. Our laughter can help balance the difficult sides of life. When we are going off the rails, as we are prone to do, humor can step in and point out what is silly or just plain ridiculous about our situation.

Humor and comedy are good for our physical and emotional health. The power of the mind, or the soul, can influence the body. The body and soul are a unit and influence each other. As stress saps our immune systems, the mental takes a toll on the physical. Laughter also has a physical side and does subtle, positive things to the body. These body changes are measurable and observable. Laughter releases endorphins, chemicals in the brain, which help control pain.

Ever feel "so good" after a "good laugh"? It perks us up, gives us a hop in our step and we feel alive! Well, a shy smile or sly grin can be more telling than the howl.

Try it on for size - one size fits all! ~ Michael J. Farrell

Quotes:
"Good humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keep friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment." ~ Greenville Kleisser

"Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you." ~ Langston Hughes

A Bit of Humor: A LITTLE BOY AND THE BIG FAMILY BIBLE
A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it closely. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages “Momma, look what I found,” the boy called out.“What have you got there, dear?” his mother asked. With astonishment in the young boy’s voice, he answered: “I think it’s Adam’s underwear!” ~ Author Unknown

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Healing Power of the Human Touch

From our first moments of life, the sense of touch is the most important of our five senses. We can't live without it. It is a basic human need. This isn't surprising when we think about how infants need loving touch to be healthy and develop properly. Additionally, touch can heal. Many conditions can be alleviated by the healing touch of another human being: headaches, stress, anxiety, difficulty relaxing, tiredness, chronic pain, strained or injured muscles. Healing touches release the body's natural capacity to heal. It's holistic; starting with the skin, it "touches" the mind and spirit as well as the body.

Simple affection is the most basic form of healing touch. Hugs, caresses, hand holding, cuddling, kissing and putting an arm around another express love and nurturing. A pat on the back communicates support and praise. And doesn't it feel so good???

Therapeutic Massage
This can bring deep relaxation to the body and reduce stress and mental and physical fatigue. It can help circulation and healing of tissues and bones. Headaches, back pain, and the pain of tight or overworked muscles can respond to massage. It can also improve posture, flexibility and give an overall sense of well-being.
~ Joel Schorn

Quote:
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." ~ Leo F. Buscaglia

Helpful Hint:
It is possible to relieve or fend off a headache by gently massaging your ears, which releases tension from head muscles.

A Bit of Humor - You Might be a Massage Therapist if...
■Your uncle throws his back out. And you throw it back in.
■You're the strongest muscle relaxer available without a prescription.
■You never rub people "the wrong way."
■You relax more shoulders before 6 a.m. than most people do their entire lives.

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Salt, It's Not Just for Food!

Again, we find other functions for a common household item!

Uses for Salt:

•Sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away.
•Soak fish in salt water before descaling; the scales will come off easier.
•Put a few grains of rice in your salt shaker for easier pouring.
•Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting.
•Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs; a cracked egg will stay in its shell this way.
•A tiny pinch of salt with egg whites makes them beat up fluffier.
•Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks won't stick.
•Boil clothespins in salt water before using them and they will last longer.
•Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and vinegar, thickened with flour
•Add a little salt to the water your cut flowers will stand in for a longer life.
•Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet; let the salt soak up the stain.
•Clean you iron by rubbing some salt on the damp cloth on the ironing surface.
•Adding a little salt to the water when cooking foods in a double boiler will make the food cook faster.
•Use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to clean piano keys.
•To fill plaster holes in your walls, use equal parts of salt and starch, with just enough water to make a stiff putty.
•Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. Use it hot for a sore throat gargle.
•Dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher.
•Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn.
•Eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.
•A dash of salt enhances the taste of tea.
•Soak your clothes line in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line; likewise, use salt in your final rinse to prevent the clothes from freezing.
•Rub any wicker furniture you may have with salt water to prevent yellowing.
•Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.
•Add raw potatoes to stews and soups that are too salty.
•Clean your greens in salt water for easier removal of dirt.
•Gelatin sets more quickly when a dash of salt is added.
•Fruits put in mildly salted water after peeling will not discolor.
•Fabric colors hold fast in salty water wash.
•Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean.
•Soaked discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove stains.
•Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.
•Cover wine-stained fabric with salt; rinse in cool water later.
•Sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks where you don't want grass growing.
•If a pie bubbles over in your oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spilled juice. The mess won't smell and will bake into a dry, light crust which will wipe off easily when the oven has cooled.

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Biggest Wedding GUEST Mistakes

Even the most experienced wedding guest sometimes makes a wedding etiquette faux pas. Here's how to make amends after a wedding-related misstep. ~ By Kate Wood

Being invited to a wedding is fun, but it can also be a minefield of unfamiliar etiquette. How do registries work? What's okay to ask the bride? It's all too easy to make a mistake — and in real life, there's no "undo" button you can push to fix everything. You can, however, take some simple steps to make amends and keep your relationship with the bride and groom pleasant.

The Mistake: It's a week before the wedding, and you haven't RSVP'd.
Damage Control: Pop that card in the mail, but remember, it's called "snail mail" for a reason. Call or email the bride and groom as soon as possible to let them know you're sorry you forgot to RSVP and confirm whether or not you'll be coming. While they've probably been counting you in, it will be a relief to know for certain.
Future Fix: When you receive a wedding invitation, send in your RSVP ASAP. Even if the response deadline is weeks (or even months) away, it's better to be on the list early than to be a source of last-minute drama.

The Mistake: You sent an RSVP saying you'll be coming, but now you won't be able to make it.
Damage Control: Call or email the bride and groom right away to let them know. It's absolutely okay to back out of a wedding — you just need to tell the couple so they know exactly how many guests to expect. Let them know you are sorry for the change of plans, and be sure to still send a gift.
Future Fix: It's hard to plan for events that aren't your choice (like coming down with the flu), so this isn't a problem you can always avoid. If you think you will be able to attend a wedding, it's better to RSVP yes. Etiquette-wise, it's okay to go from a "yes" to a "no," but you shouldn't switch from a "no" to a "yes."

The Mistake: You forgot to get a gift until the week of the wedding, and now there's nothing left on the registry.
Damage Control: First, double-check — is there really nothing left? It's not uncommon to find gifts guests avoid but that the bride and groom really want (for example, the old superstition that it's unlucky to give knives). Another option is to choose a gift that will coordinate with items on their registry (for example, table linens that match a color in their china pattern). Even easier: Give them a gift card to one of their registry stores.
Future Fix: Hit the stores (or the web) early so you can give the gift you want. If you don't want to store a present in your home for months, remember it's not against wedding etiquette to have the gift shipped to the bride and groom before the big day.

The Mistake: You're late to the ceremony.
Damage Control: When you arrive at the ceremony site, keep it quiet. There may be an usher or someone from the site there to guide you in. If not, head in discreetly through a back door. Don't make a fuss about where to sit; if you're a guest of the groom but there are only spaces on the bride's side, just take one of those. Either way, find a seat promptly and quietly so you don't disturb the ceremony.
Future Fix: Even if you swear you've never been to a wedding that started on time, it's rude to assume you can roll up late. While the reception can be the high point of the wedding for guests, you've really been invited there to witness the ceremony. Give yourself ample time for tangling with traffic and parking when you're planning your wedding day timeline.

The Mistake: You got them a gift for the shower, so you didn't bother with a wedding present.
Damage Control: In theory, you have up to a year after the wedding to send a gift, but go ahead and send something as soon as you can. It doesn't have to be huge, especially if you blew your gift budget for the shower. It's a lot of gifts, but etiquette says you should give a gift for each party invitation you receive.
Future Fix: Plan your gift budget around this rule. For example, if you have $100 to spend total, budget $25 for the shower gift and $75 for the wedding present. That way, you aren't overspending, keeping your bottom line — as well as the bride and groom — happy.

Quote:
“A gloomy guest fits not a wedding feast.” ~ Friedrich Von Schiller

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Your Rights As A Hospital Patient

Being hospitalized can be a very intimidating experience. Patients find themselves thrown into a foreign environment and often feel that they have very little or no control over what is happening to them.

Dealing with an illness is stressful for patients as well as family members. This stress is magnified by the busy and seemingly impersonal environment of the hospital. In this situation, patients often feel intimidated about voicing their concerns related to their care.

Patients have many rights and protections guaranteed under State and Federal law. Don’t feel that you must “do as you are told”. The following are some of the rights that every patient should be aware of:

~ All patients have an absolute right to an understandable explanation of their complete medical condition, recommended treatment, expected results, risks and reasonable medical alternatives. Should the treating physician conclude that this information would be detrimental to the patient's condition at the time, a family member/next of kin must be provided with the necessary information.

~ No patient’s question is a silly question. It is the doctor's obligation to help you fully understand all pertinent information and to make your own informed decisions based on this knowledge. You have the right to insist on clear explanations of all treatment, including any tests, procedures and medications. Patients have the right to play an active role in developing their plan of care. You should not hesitate to ask any and all healthcare providers what they are doing and/or giving and why.

~ If you find any healthcare discussion difficult to understand, do not be embarrassed to say so and ask to have it explained in a simpler way. It’s your body and you have a right to fully understand what is going on.

~ You have the right to be treated with respect and to have your privacy protected. The hospital staff must be sensitive to any cultural, racial, linguistic, religious, age or gender differences and must address any specific needs you may have.

~ You have the right to have your information treated confidentially. Information in your medical record may not be released without your approval, unless required by law. You have the right to inspect your medical record within ten days of your request to do so.

Never hesitate to ask what they are doing — and why!

BY LOUISE CURRAN R.N., J.D.

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The Benefits of Eating Garlic

We have all heard, at some time or another, how garlic is “good for us”. Yes, it makes many dishes tasty! It also contains natural ingredients that can help a wide variety of illnesses and diseases.

It is said garlic helps in the prevention of strokes, heart attacks, (shown to reduce a second heart attack by 50%), helps the liver to perform, and reduces the risk of blood clots. The regular intake of garlic can reduce the risk of stomach, bladder, breast, colon and esophageal cancer. Appling crushed garlic to the skin has been helpful to reduce basal cell carcinoma.

More benefits:

Blood Pressure - It reduces spasms in the small arteries, modifies the hearts rhythm and slows the pulse, effectively lowering the blood pressure.

Blood Sugar - It lowers blood sugar levels and enhances the production of insulin, which diabetics would benefit from.

Cholesterol - It emulsifies the cholesterol and takes it off the walls of the arteries, lowering cholesterol.

Infections - Raw, crushed garlic provides a more powerful anti-biotic than penicillin! It also treats bacterial, (even tuberculosis bacteria) fungal and yeast infections and strep throat and ear, bladder and kidney infections.

Anti aging - It has anti-oxidants which decrease the signs of aging and protect your skins health.

Digestion – It improves the digestive process. It enhances the bodies ability to absorb food. It also helps eliminate the harmful waste matter found in the body.

Allergies – inhaling garlic’s aroma can help stop the symptoms of hay fever and other allergies.

Pimples – Rub raw garlic on a pimple several times a day and it will disappear quickly, without leaving a scar.

Memory – is improved as well as learning performances.

As you see, we can’t underestimate the advantages of this simple yet powerful herb! ~ From Folk Remedies For You

Quote:
"Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good." ~ Alice May Brock

Helpful Hints:
1. To peel a large number of cloves, drop them into a pan of boiling water for 10-20 seconds, drain and plunge into iced water, drain and the skins should just easily slip off. Or micro-wave garlic cloves for 15 seconds.
2. An easy rule of thumb to remember regarding the potency of the flavor of garlic is: The smaller you cut it, the stronger the flavor. Chopping finely and/or pressing a clove exposes more surfaces to the air, causing a chemical reaction to produce that strong aroma and potent flavor.

A Bit of Humor:
"A nickel will get you on the subway, but garlic will get you a seat." ~ Author Unknown

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Who Invented "Paint-by-number"?

Every Man a Rembrandt

Propelled by postwar prosperity, increased leisure time, and the democratic idea that anyone might paint a picture, paint by number became a popular pastime in the early 1950s. Each paint-by-number kit included two brushes and up to ninety premixed, numbered paints ready to be applied to numbered spaces on an accompanying canvas or board. As the spaces were filled in, the gradual revelation of a picture surprised and delighted.

The making of the fad is attributed to Max S. Klein, owner of the Palmer Paint Company of Detroit, Michigan, and to artist Dan Robbins, who conceived the idea and created many of the initial paintings. Palmer Paint began distributing paint-by-number kits under the Craft Master label in 1951. By 1954, Palmer had sold some twelve million kits. Popular subjects ranged from landscapes, seascapes, and pets to Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper. Paint-kit box tops proclaimed, "Every man a Rembrandt!"

Dan Robbins proposed that Palmer's first paint-by-number kit be an abstract painting rendered in the cubist style pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. It later proved that adult consumers attracted to the by-the-numbers concept disdained abstract compositions, preferring the narrative realism of Fishermen, Mt. Matterhorn, Latin Figures, and The Bullfighter.

Sales of paint-by-number kits took off on the West Coast in 1951. In this San Francisco scene, one clerk replenishes sales stock, while another demonstrates the by-the-numbers technique for a crowd of curious onlookers.

Branching out to markets in Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, and Norway in the early 1950s, Palmer Paint tailored paint-by-number subjects to national tastes. Craft Master kits in England, for example, features Shakespeare's birthplace and Ann Hathaway's cottage.

Side Note:   Following the death of Max Klein in 1993, his daughter, Jacquelyn Schiffman, donated the Palmer Paint Co. archives to the Smithsonian Museum of American History.

~ American History website

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Benefits of Walking

“Of all exercises walking is the best.” - Thomas Jefferson

Live Longer
Regular participation in physical activity is associated with reduced mortality rates. (US Dept. of Health 1996). In particular, studies have shown that:

• Fit and active people have approximately half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit people
• Because the bones are strengthened, fit people are less likely to fall and suffer injuries such as hip fractures
• Fit people are less likely to sustain injury because joints have a better range of movement and muscles are more flexible
• Fit people are less prone to depression and anxiety
• Fit people tend to sleep better
• Fit people have better control of body weight
You can increase your chances of living longer by the simple act of walking at least 30 minutes per day.

Health Benefits

Studies show that walking can:
• Reduce risk of coronary heart disease and stroke
• Reduce high cholesterol
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduce risk of colon cancer
• Reduce body fat
• Help control body weight
• Increase bone density and help prevent osteoporosis
• Help with osteoarthritis
• Reduce risk of non-insulin dependent diabetes
• Help with overall flexibility
• Increase mental well being

Weight Loss
In theory, losing weight is easy. All you have to do is expend more calories than you take in and you will lose weight. In practice, losing weight is difficult. For many the cycle of dieting, losing weight and eventually gaining it back is all too familiar. There are literally thousands of diets to choose from, all of which claim to be THE way to lose weight. You may have tried a few yourself with mixed results.

The problem with diets is that they only focus on half the equation. Of course it's important to pay attention to what you eat, but this is important for everyone, not just those trying to lose weight. Dieting alone, especially fad diets that contradict common sense and centuries of human nutritional history, will rarely work in the long term. Good diet must be combined with exercise to really be of any value. And walking is the perfect exercise for those wishing to lose weight.

Walking one mile (1.6km) will burn up at least 100kcal (420kJ) of energy. Walking two miles (3.2km) a day, three times a week, will help reduce weight by approximately one pound (0.5kg) every three weeks.

Another benefit of walking is that walking alters your body's fat metabolism so that fat is burned up instead of sugars. This will help you lose weight.

The bottom line if you want to lose weight is: start walking today and walk every day and you WILL lose weight - guaranteed!

From:  Coolwalking

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Self Control - How To Reinforce Your Willpower

Many of us struggle with that vexing challenge—whether it's sticking to a new diet or resisting a shopping spree. Why is our self-control so strong on some days and so weak on others? Contrary to popular belief, willpower is not dependent on psychological strength alone. Physiological factors, such as blood sugar, brain chemistry, and hormones, also influence—and can undermine—our powers of self-restraint. The good news: "Once you understand the forces that weaken your self-control, you can do a lot to strengthen it," says Kathleen D. Vohs, PhD, associate professor of consumer psychology at the Carlson School of Management in Minneapolis.

Here's how to reinforce your willpower so it's ready when you need it.

Budget your resolve: Each of us has a limited supply of self-control, which means if you try to exert it in too many areas at once, you'll rapidly deplete your reserve. A study from Case Western Reserve University illustrates the point. Researchers placed freshly baked chocolate chip cookies before two groups of participants, instructing one group to eat two or three and the other to eat radishes (while watching the others partake). Then everyone was asked to try to solve an impossible puzzle. Participants who had to resist the treats gave up on the problem twice as fast as those who were allowed to indulge. "Willpower is like gas in your car," says Vohs. "When you resist something tempting, you use some up. The more you resist, the emptier your tank gets, until you run out of gas."

Tip: Concentrate your willpower where you need it most. Don't try to cut down on your computer chat time and lose weight at the same time. If you've spent the whole day fighting the urge to tell off a difficult colleague, don't go shopping after work. Vohs found that people were willing to purchase more when their willpower had been drained by a previous unrelated exercise in self-control.

Keep blood sugar steady:  Even a small blood-sugar dip, which occurs after you've skipped a meal, can impair the areas that oversee planning and self-restraint. Ironically, research shows that exerting your willpower decreases glucose even more. So if you skip lunch and spend the afternoon fighting the desire to dip into a coworker's candy jar, you could set yourself up for an evening binge.

Tip: Eat small meals that contain both complex carbohydrates and protein throughout the day (including breakfast). Keep protein-packed energy bars—with at least 5 g of protein—in your bag so you never have to skip a meal. By stabilizing blood sugar, you'll be better able to resist overeating—and other impulsive activities—later.

Don't overdiet: Eating too little not only depletes glucose, it also curtails the production of leptin, a hormone made by fat cells that helps regulate appetite. "Within a few days of starting to diet, your leptin levels can drop by half," explains Neal Barnard, MD, author of Breaking the Food Seduction. "Plummeting levels can increase appetite and bring on a binge."

Tip: Follow "the rule of 10": Multiply your target weight by 10, and never eat fewer calories than that daily total. And be sure to exercise 30 to 40 minutes each day. (A walk is fine.) Daily activity also maintains healthy levels of leptin, research shows.

Don't skimp on sleep: Research shows that getting less than 6 hours of snooze time decreases decision-making abilities and leads to what Vohs calls "failures of self-control" as the day wears on. One mechanism in play: ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger. One study of healthy adults found that after they got 4 hours of sleep just 2 nights in a row, their levels of ghrelin increased by 28% and their appetites by a whopping 23%, especially for salty snacks and sweets.

Tip: Sleep between 7 and 8 hours each night. To get that amount, keep your room dark, quiet, and cool and develop a presleep ritual, such as a 10-minute meditation, to banish the day's stresses.

By Nancy Kalish

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Additional Uses for Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets have many uses, beyond the obvious reason for which one would buy them!

Used sheets can come in handy and add an extra value to your purchase by the additional uses they provide - after the laundry is done:

~  Prevent thread from tangling when sewing. Run a threaded needle through a dryer sheet right before you begin your handiwork.
~  Dust your furniture, TV and computer screens - anti-static chemicals in the dryer sheet attract dust. Use a new or used sheet on your mini blinds and the dust will not easily settle back on them!
~  Freshen the smell of dresser drawers, old books and albums by putting a dryer sheet inside.
~  Freshen up smelly shoes - use overnight and by morning the shoes will not smell anymore!
~  Dampen a used dryer sheet to use on your glass shower door to remove soap scum. They can also clean chrome well and bathroom accessories and even your car door handles!
~  Refresh stagnant smelling luggage and totes by placing a sheet inside them.
~  Because the dryer sheets repel small animals (mice, etc.) and bugs (mosquitoes, etc.), if you tuck one in your pocket, picnic basket or anywhere there is evidence of the presence of small animals or insects, they will not go near!
~ Take the dryer sheets with you on fishing and camping trips. The will not only repel those little insect and animals pests, they will keep your gear (sleeping bag, back packs, etc.) fresh smelling!
~ Pots and pans with burned on food are easy to clean when you have a dryer sheet handy. Place a dryer sheet in the bottom of the pan before you fill it with water. Leave it overnight and the burned on food will easily come off!
~ Clean your iron! Put it on a low setting and clean it with the dryer sheet!
~ Store one in the containers you use for your storage of winter linens, clothes, items for the attic, etc. It will eliminate the musty smells that can occur.
~ In Florida, the Love bugs are a problem. When stuck on your car, they are difficult to remove. Wet the car and wipe it with an unused dryer sheet and the bugs come off very easily!
~ Rub a dryer sheet on your hair after blow drying to reduce the static. This also works for your clothes!
~ Pet hair clings to the dryer sheets when you are wiping furniture, clothing, etc.
~ Wipe up sawdust from drilling or sand papering. A used dryer sheet will collect sawdust like a tack cloth.
~ Put a dryer sheet in your vacuum cleaner for freshness to spread as you use it!

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Bacteria, Virus and Germs, Oh My!

To fix a problem, it is best to understand it. A windy day makes it harder to fight a forest fire because oxygen feeds flames and makes it burn hotter, while the breeze spreads it faster. To extinguish a fire, starve it of  oxygen by smothering it.

BACTERIA

Bacteria are just single cell microorganisms. They live everywhere and in everything and in fact, have more biomass on our planet than all humans, plants and animals combined. Most are beneficial while some are bad for us, causing respiratory infections and other ailments.

VIRUS

A virus, on the other hand, is 100 times smaller and can even infect a bacteria. A virus can cause the common cold with flu-like symptoms. When you have the common cold, taking an antibiotic makes things worse. The antibiotic has no bad bacteria to fight, so it just mingles with the good bacteria in our systems.

 Putting antibiotics into people too often has caused many bacteria to change and become resistant to the antibiotic medicines we have produced. This is a big problem, as we now have new mutated bacteria that cannot be treated by existing antibiotics. Antibiotics cannot hurt a virus at all...just us...by weakening our immune systems and adding fuel to the fire.

The Right Way To Wash Your Hands:

• Wet your hands with clear running water and soap.
• Rub your hands together into a lather and scrub them well, including between your fingers and the backs of your hands.
• Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds.
• Rinse well under the running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry.

TRAVELING ADVICE

Follow these tips to defend against germs:
• Get enough sleep and stay hydrated before you leave.
• Wash your hands often and carry hand sanitizer.
• When going through airport security and you have to take your shoes off, make sure to have socks on or readily available. Don’t walk barefoot.
• Try and reserve your seat near the front of the airplane when flying.
• If you are staying in a hotel, take a look around the room. If it doesn’t smell fresh or you see water stains on the ceiling, request another room or find another hotel.

~ Healthy Perspectives

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

Anti-Diabetes Diet

Whether you want to avoid diabetes, or are managing a condition, adding a few easy eating habits is the key. The dietary requirements for avoiding diabetes are the same as a healthy diet for anyone! The idea is to eat in moderation, stick to regular mealtimes, and of course, eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. 
If you have diabetes, healthy eating helps keep your blood sugar in your target range. Controlling blood sugars for a diabetic can prevent the problems that high blood sugar causes to the kidneys, nerves, feet, and eyes. You are in control of your illness and can possibly reverse it! 

A registered dietitian can help make an eating plan just for you. You should take into account your weight, medicines, lifestyle, and other health problems you have.

HEALTHY DIABETIC EATING INCLUDES:
• Limiting foods that are high in sugar
• Eating smaller portions, spread out over the day
• Being careful about when and how many carbohydrates you eat
• Eating a variety of whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables every day
• Eating less fat
• Limiting your alcohol consumption
• Using less salt

~ Healthy Perspectives

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.

The MANY Uses for Baking Soda

Baking soda is a chemical compound that appears as a fine powder. It releases bubbles of carbon dioxide when it interacts with an acid and a liquid. It’s most commonly used in baking, where it acts as a leavening agent. The following are 75 other uses for baking soda aside from making muffins soft and fluffy.

Health Uses
1. Use it as an antacid.
2. Use it as underarm deodorant by applying it with a powder puff.
3. Mix half a teaspoon with peroxide paste and use it as toothpaste.
4. Use it as a face and body scrub.
5. Add a cup to bathwater to soften your skin.
6. Relieve skin itch from insect bites and pain from sunburn.
7. Remove strong odors from your hands by rubbing them with baking soda and water.
8. Put two tablespoons in your baby’s bathwater to help relieve diaper rash.
9. Apply it on rashes, insect bites, and poison ivy irritations.
10. Take a baking soda bath to relieve skin irritations.
11. Heartburn? Take a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with one-half glass of water.
12. Freshen your mouth by gargling half a teaspoon of baking soda mixed water.
13. Relieve canker sore pain by using it as mouthwash.
14. Use it to relieve bee stings.
15. Use it to relieve windburns.
16. Apply it on jellyfish sting to draw out the venom.
17. Unblock stuffy nose by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer.

In the Home
18. Keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon to the water in the vase.
19. Put out small fires on rugs, upholstery, clothing, and wood.
20. Put an open container of baking soda in the fridge to absorb the odors.
21. Sprinkle it on your ashtrays to reduce bad odor and prevent smoldering.
22. Sprinkle it on your slippers, boots, shoes, and socks to eliminate foul odor.
23. Turn baking soda into modeling clay by combining it with one and 1/4 cups of water and one cup of cornstarch.
24. After feeding your baby, wipe his shirt with a moist cloth sprinkled with baking soda to remove the odor.
25. Wipe your windshield with it to repel rain.
26. Improve the smell of dishrags by soaking them in baking soda and water.
27. Suck it in with your vacuum cleaner to remove the odor.
28. Freshen the air by mixing baking soda with your favorite perfumed bath salts. Put the mixture in small sachet bags.
29. Restore stiff brushes by boiling them in a solution of 1/2 gallon of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar, and a cup of baking soda.
30. Put it under sinks and along basement windows to repel cockroaches and ants.
31. Scatter baking soda around flowerbeds to prevent rabbits from eating your veggies.
32. Sweeten your tomatoes by sprinkling baking soda on the soil around your tomato plants.
33. Sprinkle it onto your cat’s litter box to absorb the bad odor.
34. Sprinkle it on your pet’s comb or brush to deodorize their fur and skin.

In Cooking
35. Use it as a substitute for baking powder by mixing with it with cream of tartar or vinegar.
36. Wash fruits and vegetables with it.
37. When boiling a chicken, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water. Feathers will come off easier, and the flesh will be clean and white.
38. Soak dried beans to a baking soda solution to make them more digestible.
39. Remove the distinctive taste of wild game by soaking it in a baking soda solution.
40. Make a sports drink by mixing it with boiled water, salt, and Kool-Aid.
41. Remove the fishy smell from your fillets by soaking the raw fish in a baking soda solution for an hour inside the fridge.
42. Make fluffier omelets by adding half a teaspoon of baking soda for every three eggs used.
43. Reduce the acid content of your tomato-based recipes by sprinkling them with a pinch of baking soda.

Cleaning Purposes
44. Add a cup to the toilet, leave it for an hour, and then flush. It will clean the toilet and absorb the odor.
45. Use it to scrub sinks, showers, plastic and porcelain tubs
46. Spray it on walls, mirrors, and countertops.
47. Add a spoonful to your dishwasher to make scrubbing dishes easier.
48. Remove grease from pots and pans.
49. Dry clean carpets and upholstered furniture by sprinkling baking soda over the fabric and gently brushing it. Leave it for an hour or overnight, then vacuum.
50. Boost your laundry detergent’s cleaning power by sprinkling a handful on dirty clothes.
51. Combine it with water to make a paste for polishing stainless steel and chrome.
52. Remove scratches and crayon marks from vinyl floors and walls.
53. Clean your shoes with it.
54. Clean garbage cans with it.
55. Use it to wash diapers.
56. Clean the fridge with it.
57. Soak brushes and combs in a baking soda solution.
58. Mix it with water to wash food and drink containers.
59. Put three tablespoons of baking soda to a quart of warm water, then use the mixture to wash marble-topped furniture.
60. Absorb it with a damp sponge, then clean Formica countertops with the sponge.
61. Use it to get rid of stale odors from cooling containers and thermos bottles.
62. Run your coffee maker with a baking soda solution, then rinse.
63. Combine with hot water to clean baby bottles.
64. Sprinkle it on barbecue grills, then rinse it off.
65. Scatter it on your greasy garage floor, scrub the floor, and rinse.
66. Remove burned-on food from a pan by soaking it in a baking soda solution for 10 minutes before washing.
67. Clean your ashtrays with a baking soda solution.
68. Keep your drains clean by putting four tablespoons of baking soda in them each week. Flush it down with hot water.
69. Clean your shower curtains by soaking them in baking soda and water.
70. Put it on a small brush to rub canvas handbags clean.
71. Use it to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from a toaster. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp rag, then use the rag to clean the toaster.
72. Use it to clean your retainers and dentures.
73. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water, and used it to scrub enameled cast iron and stainless steel.
74. Mix four tablespoons of baking soda with a quart of warm water, and use it to clean the inside part of an oven.
75. Use it to unclog gas stoves.

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Thank You Notes

Some "chit-chat" about Thank You notes:

According to etiquette, whenever you receive a gift, you should send a written thank you note...at any age. It's not about you, but about letting the gift giver feel valued and appreciated.  After all, they didn't HAVE to give you a gift. Our society is drifting away from such niceties, substituting phone calls and emails - or just not sending any thank you at all. There is nothing, however, that says you truly appreciate the thought and kindness behind the gift you've received than a heartfelt, handwritten thank you note.

Here's when you send a note:  In your personal life: when someone has given you a gift, done you a favor or shown you special kindness. It also acknowledges you received the gift.  In business: when you have been interviewed (even if you don't know whether you got the job) or been given a gift. Further, if someone has made a referral to your business, given you the name of a valuable contact or talked highly of you to a superior or prospective employer it is always an elegant touch to write a short note.

Exceptions: If the person gave you the gift in person and you thanked them personally. However, it is important to know that the over-60 generation still generally expects a written thank you.

Much is made of the timing of a thank-you note, but really, it is quite simple: The sooner the better. But if you've procrastinated, it is never too late. A late note is worlds better than no note. According to Leslie Harpold, "Thank-you-note writing is one of the loveliest traditions to have been utterly compromised by the information age."  In this age of e-cards, texts and voicemail, a thank-you note is a grace note that will build your reputation as a thoughtful, elegant person.

Experts say not to underestimate the power of a "thank you." Kim Izzo, etiquette columnist, says, "It's making the effort. People really appreciate getting mail that's not a bill, for one thing, and just taking that extra bit of time to write a thank you note really means everything."

Harriette Cole, syndicated columnist: It also depends on whom you're sending it to. If you have a person who lives on the Internet, you can get a thank you card that that is animated and dances and does all kinds of fabulous things. If that person would love to get an e-mail thank you, that's the person you send it to. Your momma doesn't want that. She wants appreciation and handwritten notes!

E. Jean Carroll, Elle magazine advice columnist: We send thank you notes because we want to be loved and admired. And if you want to be loved and admired, you send it on stationery so thick it's like ice cream and you write it by hand—it's just elegant and it's fun to get it!

If you receive flowers for your birthday, is that a note or a card?
Harriette: I write a note. And describe them! If they were beautiful, they smelled good—you tell them! Describe what you felt like!

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Newby Realty provides sales of new and used manufactured (mobile) homes throughout Florida in Bradenton, Clearwater, Debary, Edgewater, Ellenton, Fort Pierce, Hudson, Lakeland, N. Fort Myers, New Smyrna Beach, Ocala, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Sarasota, Winter Springs, Zephyrhills.