Thursday, December 31, 2009

Are You Terrified Of Having Fat Legs In Summer?


Winter is with us, but we all know summer is coming and now many are scared of appearing with Fat Legs In Summer! So, it is best to start right away and work on those legs.

Well I have good news for you. There are relatively easy ways to loose fat legs. It will take a little work but it is possible to lose fat in legs with a good diet plan and exercise.

We all know that it is not really possible to spot reduce, but there are leg exercises that can help you with it. The most important is that you take action.

Find yourself a good diet such as Fat Loss 4 Idiots and follow it. You have to lose fat all over if you ant to loose fat legs. This is the part where you cannot really spot reduce; you have to lose fat if you want to lose fat in legs.

As fat as the exercise go you have to do cardio to help you burn fat and then you have to do some specific exercises to target the part in your legs where you have to problem.

So this is your plan to prevent yourself from having fat legs in summer:

  • Go on a good diet
  • Do some moderate cardio to burn fat
  • Do leg exercises.

The good news is you can get all the info when you visit Loose Fat Legs.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

I Love My Ballet, How Can I Improve Turnout Fast?


If you love your ballet and you struggle with your turnout you will ask the question: "Improve Turnout Fat?" So, often the problem occurs because you went through the grades too fast.

A turnout can not be forced and if it is your question how can I Improve Turnout Fast, you will have to practice and not force it.

Keep in mind, if you try and force your turnout you will only end up with a bad "roll" and you will achieve nothing.

You also have to keep in mind that your turnout starts in your hips and it is not simply a case of forcing your feet!

There are also specific exercises you can do, apart from your normal ballet barre work that can help you with your turnout.

Have a look at the following video for a few ideas. If you do these exercises you will greatly help your turnout.




How To Improve Ballet Turnout Fast

Now you can go to The Ballet Bible and see all the other extra help you can get if you are asking the question "How Can I Improve Turnout Fast?"

Read more about it at: How To Improve Ballet Turnout

How Can I Lose Fat


Well, we are almost over the Holiday season and from all the eating many of us are probably wondering: How Can I Lose Fat? There is just not getting away from it, most of us indulge a little too much and now we have to make a plan and we are wondering How Can I Lose Fat.

The first thing to do is relax about the whole issue. With the correct approach you will easily shed all the extra pounds that piled up in the last few months! It is no good trying to get rid of all the fat in one week's time, you are only going to frustrate yourself and nothing will happen.

Another thing I want to warn you about is all the fad diet doing the rounds. Some promise you impossible weight loss and they will all do you more bad than good. The best way to get rid of fat is by following a healthy balanced diet and moderate exercise. Yes, I'm sorry; this is still the only healthy and permanent solution if you are wondering about How Can I Lose Fat!

If you fall for one of the fad diets you will pay for it in the long run. Your metabolism will slow down; you will lose valuable muscle and a lot of water. As soon as you start eating normally again, the water will be right back and because your metabolism has slowed down, and because you have lost some muscles, you will put all the weight right back on again!

So if you are wondering about How Can I Lose Fat go to the following two pages and you will get very good help there.

How Can I Lose Fat

Lose Weight Diets

Monday, December 28, 2009

Cut Energy Bills Today with Wind Power And A Sunforce 44447 900W Whisper Wind Turbine

I know many of use are mourning summer time.  It's doubly difficult to say goodbye to summer when you're worried about your utility bills all winter long. But you don't have to worry, there are some easy things you can do today to cut energy bills, today, and all year long. One of them is to have a look at the Sunforce 44447 900W Whisper Wind Turbine

There are big changes you can make that will save you hundreds or thousands of dollars on utility bills, and then there are smaller things you can do that will save you dozens, or hundreds of dollars. The choice is yours.

Generally speaking the bigger the change the bigger the upfront cost, but also the bigger the payoff on energy savings. Have a look at the Sunforce 44447 900W Whisper Wind Turbine as one of the options.

Here is a brief list of changes, big and small, that can help you get those utility bills under control, and keep them that way.

1. Either replace or repair windows and doors.  If they're older than 10 years you might want to upgrade to newer more energy efficient models.  You might even be eligible for a tax credit if you do.

2. Adding insulation can help save a lot of money since you won't be wasting all the warm air by allowing it to seep out of your house. 

Insulate your attic, fill in cracks around windows and doors, and add insulatated window kits to your windows to keep the drafts out of your home.

3.  Use the sun to heat your home during the day.  Even in the winter sunlight throws off a lot of heat.  Let it help you keep your home nice and toasty, all for free. 

Close your curtains at night to keep the cold air out of your home.

4. And to really save big on your utility bills you might want to consider ways of generating your own electricity. 

You can easily, in a few days, and cheaply, for less than $200, build a small homemade wind generator to capture the power of the wind and convert it to electricity and cut energy bills.If you do not feel like building your own you can have a look at the Sunforce 44447 900W Whisper Wind Turbine

Wind Power, How Does It Work? Find Out With Wind Power Renewable Energy For Home Farm And Business

Maybe you are wondering why you should take a look at Wind Power Renewable Energy For Home Farm And Business. Well, global warming is not just a scare it is very real.

Global warming and our reliance on non-renewable, polluting fossil fuels have gotten a lot of attention lately. One thing has become clear; we need to find clean, renewable sources of energy. One of the most promising is wind power and Wind Power Renewable Energy For Home Farm And Business can tell you all about it and what you can realistically expect from wind power.

Wind is the by product of warm and cool air masses.  Since warm air rises cooler air will work in underneath it pushing on the warm air mass, this is wind and this is the power we want to use as you will see in Wind Power Renewable Energy For Home Farm And Business.

To capture the energy of the wind and convert it into electricity you will need a windmill or a wind turbine as it is called these days.  The blades of the windmill are connected to a generator which converts the wind power into electricity and it can be used immediately or stored for later use in batteries. How much you can realistically expect to get from the wind is all explained in Wind Power Renewable Energy For Home Farm And Business.

The good news is that you can build your own wind turbine for home use.  Wind energy isn't a viable option for everyone though.  If you live in an area where there are a lot of tall buildings or if you live in a low lying area, you might not get enough wind flow to make a turbine worth your while. This is why it is good to read a book such as Wind Power Renewable Energy For Home Farm And Business first to find out all you need to know before you build your own wind turbine or windmill.

If a turbine doesn't work for you don't give up. You can still use other sources of renewable energy such as solar power. Even if you can have a turbine you might still want to do both solar and wind power options for your home.

If you are a candidate for a wind turbine you can easily build your own with the help of a readily available manual, about $200 worth of parts, and a little time.

This homemade turbine can help you save hundreds of dollars on your utility bills, this winter alone.  Just think how much that will be over the next ten to fifteen years!

So do yourself a favor and start using some renewable energy sources today. Wind power is a great choice for you and you can build your own turbine for very little money.


Go and Have A Look At: Wind Power Renewable Energy For Home Farm And Business

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Is There Any Relation Between Fat Legs And Treadmill?


Are you wondering if there is any relation between fat legs and treadmill? Well, yes there is, a treadmill is one of THE very best ways to get rid of fat legs! So you can say they are not friends, fat legs and treadmill.

Now how can a treadmill help with fat legs? Well it can help in two ways; first it helps with the general burning of fat which will make you lose fat all over, on your legs as well. Secondly if you set the treadmill on an incline of at least 15 degrees, but preferably 20 degrees, you target the legs and that will really help you to get rid of your fat legs.

When walking on the treadmill, keep in mind that you do not have to walk at too high an intensity. Your best fat burning zone is at 60% of your maximum heart rate. If you go above that, you will actually be burning less fat so it will defy the object.

Keep in mind that you also have to keep this up for at least 30 to 40 minutes at least 3 to 4 days a week if you really want to see results. AND make sure you keep to a sensible diet and that you do not cancel all the calories, burnt on the treadmill, out by eating too much.

So fat legs and treadmill are not friends. This means the treadmill is your ally when it comes to getting rid of fat legs. Combine this with a sensible diet, that you can get on the page How To Lose Weight Calories and you will face a summer with sexy slim legs.

So Go To:



Friday, December 25, 2009

Are You Looking For A Cusinart DCC-1200 Review?

If you are looking for a Cusinart DCC-1200 review, you will find that there are lots of good reviews of the Cusinart DCC-1200 review. I think that 677 five stars and 272 four star reviews of the Cusinart DCC-1200 can be considered a very good product.

Keep in mind when you are looking at a Cusinart DCC-1200 review on Amazon that Amazon is very honest about the reviews, the review the people found the most helpful will be first whether it is a good Cusinart DCC-1200 review or not.

So, if you want to read a Cusinart DCC-1200 review, here are a few of the latest ones you can go and have a look for more reviews of the Cusinart DCC-1200 on the Amazon site:

The Cuisinart Coffeemaker works as advertised. Very happy with this product.
Wife and I pretty fussy about our coffee and this makes about as good as we
have experienced over the years. Well worth the $$$

Excellent coffee maker. This is our second one. The first one lasted, with heavy use, for 6 years. Can't go wrong.

Received this coffed maker and love it! Easy to use and the feature for 1-4 cups of coffee makes brewing a small amount taste wonderful. The water filter also helps improve the flavor of the coffee. Also really like the beep to notify me when the coffee is finished brewing. I like to set the heat setting to low to keep the coffee tasting fresh longer. The stainless and black design add a stylish look to my kitchen. Best coffee maker I have ever owned!

So, I think only these reviews shows you already what people, that have actually bought this machine and that are using it thinks about the Cuisinart DCC-1200. So if you are still looking for a Cusinart DCC-1200 Review, Go to the Amazon site at:

Cusinart DCC-1200 

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

CopyCat Recipes Restaurants Hate - Copycat Outback Creamy Onion Soup


We all know about the CopyCat Recipes Restaurants hate! Recipes that are complete recreations of the original and that taste like the real thing. These CoyCat Recipes Restaurants have nightmares about can turn anyone into a gourmet cook, even if you do not consider yourself a good cook, because they are so easy to follow.

Why not spend a whole lot less and still have all the taste with these CopyCat Recipes Restaurants have nightmares about? Your family and friends will not believe you have made them in your own kitchen! With these CopyCat Recipes Restaurants hate, you get all the praise and non goes to the restaurant. Try this one, I know you'll be back for more.

Copycat Outback Creamy Onion Soup

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cups sweet yellow onions (thinly sliced)
  • 1 (15 ounce) can chicken broth or stock
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 2 chicken bouillon cubes
  • 1/4 cup diced Velveeta cheese, cubes (compressed in measuring cup)
  • 1 1/2-1 3/4 cups white sauce
  • 4 bay leaves (more or less if you like)
  • shredded cheddar cheese or monterey jack cheese or colby cheese (to garnish, or a combo)
Method:

1) For the white sauce:

  • In a 1-quart saucepan melt butter and add flour, cook on medium heat until the flour turns thick and comes away from the side of the saucepan. 
  • Pour milk in flour a little at a time and stir constantly. Mixture should thicken and become like thick pudding. 
  • Remember to stir constantly taking care not to let mixture lump, set aside off from heat until ready to use for the soup.

2) For the onions:

  • In 2-quart saucepan place 3 tablespoons butter and sliced onions. 
  • Cook at low to medium heat stirring frequently until soft and clear but not brown.
  • Add chicken broth or stock from can, chicken bouillon cubes, bay leaves, pepper, and stir until completely heated through.
3) Complete your soup:

  •  Add white sauce and Velveeta cheese to onion mixture. 
  • White sauce will be thick because it has been removed from the heat. 
  • Simmer on medium low heat until the cheese is melted and all ingredients are blended, stirring constantly. 
  • Turn temperature to warm and let cook for additional 30 minute to 45 minutes.

4) Serve with a garnish of shredded cheese(s), and a couple of
slices of warm dark Russian Bread.

Well, what could be easier? It goes to show you why these CopyCat Recipes Restaurants hate are giving them nightmares! Go and try this recipe, I know you will be back for more.

Go To: CoyCat Recipes Restaurants

Wind Turbines - How Can You Benefit From The Power Of The Wind?

Windmills, and the concept behind them, are nothing new.  People have been utilizing the power of the wind to help them accomplish their tasks for centuries.  These energy windmills have grown up and now you too can use them to save on your utility bills.

With a wind turbine such as the Sunforce 44447 900W Whisper Wind Turbine you can make use of the power of wind for your personal use.

You don't really need to fully understand the principles behind why this method works, just know that it does.  The energy of the wind is converted to electricity, by a turbine such as the Sunforce 44447 900W Whisper Wind Turbine, and then sent to the electrical grid or stored so it can be used later.

To accomplish this you will need a wind turbine such as the Sunforce 44447 900W Whisper Wind Turbine.  Huge windmills dot the landscape all over the country.  But don't worry, you can still benefit from wind power without having to build a gigantic windmill in your backyard. The Sunforce 44447 900W Whisper Wind Turbine is suitable for home use and is not that big.

Today's technology has advanced to the point where even a small turbine can generate substantial amounts of electricity, enough to save you thousands of dollars on your utility bills over time. If you use a Sunforce 44447 900W Whisper Wind Turbine you will get a return on your investment relatively soon, if you build your own it will be even sooner.

When it comes to using this method for home use you will probably be better off if you build your own turbine.  Buying one, such as the Sunforce 44447 900W Whisper Wind Turbine, can be cost prohibitive for many people and even if you can afford it, it will take you a lot longer to make that money back.

Building your own home rooftop wind turbine  isn't the scary undertaking it might seem to be.  As a matter of fact, thousands of people have built their own using easy to follow instruction manuals.  And you can too.

You don't have to have any special knowledge, skills, or tools.  All the parts you will need can be bought right down the street at your hardware store for around $200.

You should be able to assemble your home rooftop wind turbine is just a day or so, and the savings you will get will be significant: up to 80% off of your utility bills.

So take full advantage of the savings available to you by building your own energy windmills.  Every time you get your utility bill, you'll be glad you did!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Can I Make Bread With Cuisinart DLC5BC?

Is this a question you are asking yourself: "Can I Make Bread With Cuisinart DLC5BC?" Well you can, the is very suitable to make the dough for a small bread. As the Cuisinart DLC5BC Food Processor 7-Cup Chrome is only a 7 cup capacity you cannot expect to make the dough for a huge loaf in it, but it is certainly suitable for an average sized loaf.

Here is a recipe to try with your Cuisinart DLC5BC:

CRUSTY BUTTERMILK BREAD

Ingredients:
  • 4 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 dessertspoon honey or soft brown sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
Method:
  1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Grease a 6 cup loaf pan.
  2. Mix the bicarbonate of soda with a little of the buttermilk. Stir into the rest of the buttermilk.
  3. Mix the whole wheat flour, honey or brown sugar and salt. Add the buttermilk mixture and mix well.
  4. Place the dough in the loaf pan and smooth the top.
  5. Bake for an hour. Allow to cool slightly in the pan, then turn out on a wire rack and allow to cool completely.
  6. Serve with butter and jam or cheese.
To make this recipe in your Cuisinart DLC5BC should be very easy. Go and have a look! It is well worth a try. To be honest, I haven't tried yet as I use my stand mixer to make it. If you have any problems making this with your Cuisinart DLC5BC, let me know and we can decide how we have to change the recipe, together so that it is suitable for the Cuisinart DLC5BC

If you do not have a Cuisinart DLC5BC yet, get one!


Go To: Cuisinart DLC5BC

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Make A Tasty Cheese and Red Pepper Relish Sandwich With Your Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler

With a Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler  you can make really tasty grilled sandwiches and Paninies. As it has a floating hinge you can set the press at any hight you wish. So with a Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler you have lots of choices for grilled sandwiches and you can make a killer Panini! Try this tasty recipes with your Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler , I'm sure the family will love it as it is a tasty variation on the well loved grilled cheese sandwich.

The recipe is for a normal grill but as the Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler is so versatile you can easily use it to make this recipe. Because you are using a Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler you can alter the recipe at the end. Instead of toasting the bread, spreading it with the filling and then making the sandwich you will now make the sandwiches and then grill it on your Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler.

Cheese and Red Pepper Relish Sandwich

What You Need:

  • 2 red bell peppers
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • 1/3 C of olive oil
  • 1 T of balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 1/2 t pepper
  • 1 large loaf of Italian bread, sliced
  • 1 (8 oz.) pkg. soft goat cheese
How to Make It:

  1. Prepare the grill for medium high heat.
  2. When the grill is ready lay the peppers onto the grill grate and roast 8 minutes, turning often or until charred.
  3. Remove the peppers and place in a bag, seal and allow the pepper to steam to help in removal of the skins.
  4. Place the onion and garlic on to skewer.
  5. Brush the vegetables with the olive oil.
  6. Grill 8 minutes, turning often or until charred.
  7. Cut slits into the peppers and allow them to drain into a bowl reserving the juice.
  8. Peel and seed the peppers then chop up coarsely and place in the bowl with the juice.
  9. Chop the onion and garlic and place into the bowl with the juice, tossing the ingredients together well.
  10. Add the vinegar, salt and pepper and stir until blended and all the ingredients are well coated.
Here is where you will change your method for your Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler, if you use a normal grill, follow the method as given here;

Place the bread slices on the grill grate. 
Toast for 2 minutes, flip and continue toasting an additional 2 minutes.
Spread the toasted bread evenly with the goat cheese.
Add the red pepper relish and cover with a second slice of bread.
Continue until all the bread has been used.

Makes 6 servings

Goat cheese or Chevre cheese is made from goat's milk.  If can be found in a soft from such as cream cheese that is easy to spread or a harder cheese that is easy to crumble.  Goat cheese is often used in many elegant dishes including desserts. I have to be honest, I sometimes use grated cheddar cheese as we love the strong taste.

Well, try this on your Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler and let us all know how you liked it. We make this sandwich with many variations very often at home and we love it. With a Cuisinart GR-4 Griddler it is a feast.

Peachy Keen Spicy Pork Strips On Your Cuisinart Gr-4 Griddler

You have your Cuisinart Gr-4 Griddler now so now you are looking for tasty recipes to try it out on. This is ideal for holiday cooking for all those in between meals when you still want to serve something special, but you want it to be tasty yet easy. Well, for such meals your Cuisinart Gr-4 Griddler I s just the thing!

The Cuisinart Gr-4 Griddler can be used in many ways, it can also be used as a normal flat grill with great success. Your Cuisinart Gr-4 Griddler is a contact grill, panini press, flat grill and griddle with removable, nonstick grill and griddle plates. So, your Cuisinart Gr-4 Griddler is ideal for all those tasty meals you want to cook this holiday.

Here is a tasty recipe that you can try on your Cuisinart Gr-4 Griddler 

Peachy Keen Spicy Pork Strips

What You Need:

  • 2 TBSP apple cider vinegar
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, minced
  • 1 tsp garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 2 bone in 1 inch thick pork steaks
  • 2 1/2 C fresh peaches, peeled and diced
  • 2 plum tomatoes, chopped fine
  • 2 green onions, remove green and slice thin
  • 2 TBSP cilantro, chopped fine
  • 2 TBSP lime juice

How to Make It:

  1. In a small bowl stir the vinegar, jalapeno pepper, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper together well.
  2. Place the mixture into a shallow container with a lid.
  3. Add the pork steaks and cover.
  4. Marinate in the refrigerator 4 hours.
  5. Place the peaches, tomatoes, green onion and cilantro in a mixing bowl.
  6. Add the lime juice and toss to cover.
  7. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
  8. Remove the steaks from the marinade and discard the marinade.
  9. Allow the steaks to sit at room temperature about 20 minutes.
  10. Heat grill to medium temperature.
  11. Cook steaks 10 minutes, turning once, until juices run clear.
  12. Remove steaks and cover with aluminum foil. 
  13. Allow steaks to stand in the foil 5 minutes.
  14. After 5 minutes unwrap the steaks and cut into strips.
  15. Remove the peach salsa from the refrigerator.
  16. Serve the steak strips over the salsa.

The combination of the spicy marinade and the sweet taste of the peach salsa make this a great meal for any taste bud. Oranges, pineapple or even apricots will work with this salsa as long as they are sweet to act in combination of the spices.

As you can see, this is a really easy recipe, do the preparations ahead of time and enjoy the meal with everyone. Your Cuisinart Gr-4 Griddler will work very well with this recipe and the two drip cups will catch all the liquid that is draining from the meat, this will really help with cleaning up.

Have a look at the Cuisinart Gr-4 Griddler, I know you will love it. Go and try this recipe on your Cuisinart Gr-4 Griddler, I know you will be back for more.

If you do not have a Cuisinart Gr-4 Griddler yet, go to: Cuisinart Gr-4 Griddler for all the info no how you can get one.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Zojirushi BB-Hac10 - Bake Some Tasty Homemade Bread

With a Zojirushi BB-Hac10 breadmaker you can bake tasty 1 pound mini-loaves of bread. Imagine baking a fresh bread for breakfast to serve to your guests every morning! Because it is a loaf that is not too big, you can bake one every day and have a different bread on the breakfast table every morning!

What is more, you can vary it so easily! As soon as you feel comfortable with your Zojirushi BB-Hac10 breadmaker you can start experimenting with the recipes. You will find that it is very easy to vary the recipes and get a wide variety of breads.

I'm going to give you a few ideas. Remember to add the ingredients according to the instruction of the machine. You can also decide on the other settings according to what you are adding and how brown you want your crust to be, you may have to experiment a little.

Here are the ingredients for a tasty mini-herb bread. Try it out on the Zojirushi BB-Hac10 breadmaker and let me know how it tastes!

Ingredients: 

  • ½ Cup water
  • ½ Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 Cup white flour
  • 2/3 Tablespoon dry skim milk
  • 2/3 Tablespoon sugar
  • ½ Tablespoon salt
  • ½ Tablespoon tarragon
  • ½ tablespoon basil
  • ½ tablespoon oregano
  • ½ tablespoon yeast

OK, so I do not have a Zojirushi BB-Hac10, but I'm telling you about it because of the good reviews it is getting. This is one of my recipes and the Zojirushi Bb-Hac10 may actually be able to bake a bigger bread as this one is a real "mini-loaf" and I think you may actually be able to bake one with the ingredients doubles. You can also simply take a recipes in the Zojirushi BB-Hac10's recipe book closest to this one and simply add the herbs.

Another very tasty variation on a normal bread is adding some onions and a strong cheese, here in South Africa we add cheddar cheese, I do not know what the price of cheddar is in the US, so I do not know if it is financially viable to use cheddar.

You know, of course that you can also add pitted raisins to almost any bread, simply reduce the sugar a little to prevent over fermenting of the yeast. I so not do it as I like a rather sweet raisin bread, but I cannot guarantee the results in a Zojirushi BB-Hac10.

So, do me a favor and try these ideas and let me know what happened so we can share it with my other readers!

Wind Turbines... Are They Right For You?

If you're like millions of other Americans who are looking for ways to help the planet while taking back some of your independence from greedy utility companies, you may have wondered if building your own wind turbines makes sense. You may also be wondering if looking at something like the Sunforce 44447 900W Whisper Wind Turbine is a better idea.

Well, the short answer is yes, it is worth looking at building your own small homemade wind generator, buying one, like the Sunforce 44447 900W Whisper Wind Turbine is easier though and if you can afford it you may want to have a look at it. 

Before deciding to build our own small homemade wind generator, there are a few things you will need to keep in mind first.

For one thing, it doesn't make sense for most people to buy a turbine.  The cost is so high that it will take a long time to get that money back in energy savings.

It is possible to build your own though, and that option does make sense for many people.  Since you can build your own turbine in a few days for around $200 most anyone can manage it.

You will save around 80% on your  utility bills with just one turbine.  If you are in an area where you have room for more than one your savings will be considerably more.

You could even get to the point where you're generating enough electricity to sell some back to the utility company.  How cool would that be, having a utility company send you a check?

Many people might choose to combine a wind small homemade wind generator with a few solar panels to optimize their clean energy.

 Typically a wind turbine offers greater electricity generating levels than a solar panel, one turbine will make about 5 times more electricity than one solar panel. 

By combining each you get the best of both worlds, you can generate electricity with your turbine at night and with your solar panels on calm, sunny days.

So if you feel like freeing yourself, even just a little bit, from your utility company, you owe it to yourself to build your own small homemade wind generator now.  You'll be glad you did.

Wind Power, What's It All About?


Now that we're, sadly, saying goodbye to summer and facing the prospect of high heating bills, it's a good time to consider alternative energy sources to take the bite out of our utility bills.  Using wind power, while not a new concept, is one of the best places to start. Read all about it in: Wind Power Renewable Energy For Home Farm And Business

Turbines work by converting the energy of the wind into electricity and then storing that electricity for later use.  The bigger the turbine the more electricity a turbine can generate (assuming, of course, you have enough wind).

The good news is that even a smaller sized turbine can still generate up to 60% of the energy the average homeowner needs for their household energy consumption.

If you are considering installing your own home rooftop wind turbine you should know that if you choose to buy one it will cost you $1,000 or up.  But, you can easily build your own in just a few days for around $200, and still realize the same level of savings.

Many of the home sized models can be mounted directly on your rooftop.  Just make sure you don't expect to be able to get completely off the grid with just one turbine, but you can expect to save 80% off your electric bill with just one turbine.

Wind turbines can provide you more energy than a solar panel.  For example, one turbine generates the equivalent amount of electricity as 5 solar panels.  Solar panels are also limited to sunny days; they won't work at night while wind turbines can work virtually anytime there is wind.

If you want to put wind power to work for you than you've picked a good time.  You can easily and inexpensively build your own back yard turbine, in just a few days, and enjoy the savings for years to come.

Easy Ways To Cut Energy Bills This Winter


WOW! The guys there at Copenhagen are really "warming up!" Winter is on us and what are we doing. How are we "warming up?" Are we using "green" energy and not only saving the planet, but our pockets as well?

The good news is that there are simple things you can do to cut energy bills, a Small Homemade Wind Generator is one of the ways. Just look around you in your local hardware store and you will be inundated with ideas of inexpensive ways to winterize your home so that the air you've paid to heat isn't escaping to the outside.

Here are a few places you can start that will help you make a dent in your utility bill, not just this winter but all year long:

1. Have your furnace inspected by a professional to make sure it's running at peak performance.  Also don't forget to change the filters monthly.

2. Add a programmable thermostat, that way your home can be nice and warm while you're home but the temperature can be lowered automatically when you're not there which will save money.

3. Add insulation to your attic.  You can also add an insulated blanket to your water heater.  There are foam insulating products made specifically for pipes and behind electrical outlets too.

4. If you can afford it, replace old, drafty windows and doors, you might even be eligible for a tax credit.  If you can't afford to replace your windows you can buy a window insulating kit to help prevent heat loss.

5. Use wind power and build your own small homemade wind generator.  Don't laugh, this is very easy, and cheap, to do.  Anyone can do it and it can save you 80% on your electric bills.

If you want to cut energy bills this winter just follow one, or all, of the steps listed above.  The savings can be significant and with the money you save maybe you can take a trip to someplace warm!

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Friday, December 18, 2009

5 Ideas for Sharing New Year’s Resolutions

What is it that they say about resolutions? After a month or two, they seem to fade into the woodwork. This doesn’t have to be the case. Break that cycle with these family ideas.

A resolution is a goal you want to accomplish in your life. It has become a tradition to create these expectations for you before the stroke of twelve on December 31st. some resolutions are silly, just used as a party game, but they can turn out to be very helpful when approached in a different way.

1.      Create a time capsule. It works for school children why not your family? Purchase a box of some kind house your lists. Usually a time capsule has one date in the future when it will be opened. You can create more than one time capsule: one year from now, five years from now, ten years from now and so on. For kids who are too young to write, place a current picture of them in the capsules to see how they change over the years.

2.      Place your resolutions in a hat. During your family time on New Year’s Eve, give every family member a piece of paper. Write down one or two of the most important things you want to accomplish in the coming year. Don’t write your name on it but put it into a hat. Then, each member picks a piece of paper from the hat. Try and guess whose resolutions you have. During the year, you can help that person reach their goals.

3.      Lift your resolutions to the heavens. This requires helium balloons and some ribbon. On a slip of paper, each family member will write a single goal for the next year. You can write as many as you want on different slips of paper. After all are written, the family can gather in the back yard. Read your resolution and tie it to a balloon. At the same time, release all of the balloons.

4.      Write yourself a letter. In this letter, write about the goals for yourself for the year and why they are important to you. Seal them when you are done and address them to yourself. Place the letters in a safe place until December. Have mom add stamps and mail them from the post office. When you receive your letter, open it. How did you do?

5.      Get advice from those who know you. This is a take from a baby shower game. At your family New Year’s Eve gathering, give each person one sheet of paper for each family member. Have each person in turn say a resolution. The others will write their advice for that person on the designated paper. After everyone has voiced all of their resolutions, distribute the papers to the right person.

Use the New Year’s Eve tradition of making resolutions to give you a jumpstart on the coming year’s goals with these five ideas.   

Plan a New Year’s Eve Potluck Dinner

Get your family together for a dinner on New Year’s Eve. Each household can contribute something when you have a potluck dinner. That way, the responsibility of the food is not on just one person or family.

If you are fortunate enough to have other members of your family around, plan a potluck dinner to bring in the New Year. Begin by setting your plan in motion.

Planning the Gathering - Find a time when everyone can meet to hash out the details. You can come up with a menu together and then divide it into parts so that each household knows what they are bringing. Begin with what you may already have in your home. If anyone has paper goods, sodas or the makings of a dish, that will save money.

Set the time. Keep in mind that family members may have other activities planned for the evening. Usually earlier is better. Decide which family will host the dinner. You can rotate each year so that no one is missed.

Pre-Dinner Fun - Bring everyone together an hour or two ahead of time to spend quality time together. One activity that gets everyone up and on their feet is interactive video games. Anyone have a Wii in the house? Playing a game like Guitar Hero or Super Smash Bros. Brawl will fuel the appetite.

Don’t forget the card games. Families can have a great time playing Poker, Bid Whisk, and Spades. For the kids, there’s Old Maid, Go Fish and Uno to name a few. Make it interesting by playing for change or candy.

The Meal - What are you serving that smells so good? Set up a table where everyone can serve themselves buffet-style. To avoid a messy rug or floor, place drinks in the kitchen on the counter along with cups and a bowl of ice. Using paper products makes clean up easy for the hosting family.

If you live in the south, no New Year’s meal would be complete without the traditional foods that may bring good fortune in the year to come. These include black-eyed peas (wealth), pork (prosperity) and cornbread (gold).

Dessert will put the finishing touches on your potluck meal. Each family can bring their own offering for the after-dinner treat to add variety. Anyone want ice cream and cake?

After Dinner - Before everyone gets away, try this activity. Go around the room and let each person tell one thing that they would like to accomplish in the New Year. Now, your family can help encourage you to meet that goal over the next twelve months.

Want to get the family together in one place? Plan a New Year’s Eve potluck dinner. Have some food, some laughs and make new memories. 

Celebrate First Night

For family fun on New Year’s Eve it’s hard to pass up a First Night celebration. This event is geared towards family and community on the last night of the year.

The idea of First Night began in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston has been at the center of many historic activities including the Boston tea party. While celebrating the bicentennial in 1976, the inaugural First Night was an extension of that celebration. Since, then it has caught on as a way for communities to reach a common ground and have fun at the same time.

First Night is celebrated in cities all across the United States and three other countries. If you are looking for a way to celebrate try First Night in Boston. Here, you will see a celebration of the arts.

From painters to dancers, artists to sculptors, the night is filled with fun for the entire family. And, it wouldn’t be a celebration if the night didn’t end with fireworks. There are two fireworks displays for those who knock off early (the smaller kids) and those who can see the night through.

If you live out west, think about First Night in Spokane, Washington. Here the artistry of the cultures in that area is celebrated. Depending on your tastes, get into the rhythm of gospel, rock, Salsa and others. View ice sculptures and other artistic displays.

If you live down south, think about taking in First Night in Austin Texas. Like the other locations, families can enjoy music, food and participate in various activities. Here, kids can join in the chalk drawing presentation. For the person who likes games, try your hand at chess or checkers.

Families who are not into chocolate can move over to the Penn State community for a First Night celebration. The streets are filled with ice that sculptors will turn into art as well as parades, music, interactive activities and food. 

Down in the southeast, Florida offers a First Night celebration in St. Petersburg. Feel the beat with bluegrass music, drum presentations, Caribbean music and other tunes. Families can visit local museums and other attractions set up for the event.

Why not create your own First Night in your city? Talk it over with the local legislature and the artistic community. Bring a new unity at the end of the year and also a new tradition.

Are you trying to decide what to do for New Year’s Eve? Support a community and have a good time at a First Night function.

New Year’s Eve Family Vacations


Maybe you are tired of staying home for New Year’s Eve but still want to spend time with the family. Have you thought about a family vacation? Here are some popular New Year’s destinations for you and the kids.

Why New Year’s? Have you watched the fireworks on television from around the world? Being in one of those places would be exciting for the whole family. Start planning now to be somewhere beautiful and bright when the next year rolls around.

1.      Disney World – If you live on the east coast, this will be the Disney resort closest to you. Mickey and his friends are always ready for a party at the end of the year. The Disney empire hosts a variety of activities including fireworks displays and parades at their various locations: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Find out about upcoming Disney events at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com.

2.      Disneyland – This is the west coast Disney destination. They like to party there as well. Make a vacation of it and visit the California theme park. On New Year’s Eve be prepared to see fireworks, holiday attractions, bands playing and other beautiful sights. Plan ahead so that everything is set for a hot time in the old town!

3.      Hershey, Pennsylvania – How much do you like chocolate? If you like it a lot, head to Hershey, the magic land of chocolate for a New Year’s Eve celebration. Kids will enjoy music, games and food. At midnight, instead of a ball dropping, see a giant Hershey’s kiss.

4.      SeaWorld – This Florida animal theme park likes to have their fun at the end of the year. Get to see your favorite animals perform shows for the holiday event. Enjoy good music, food and other entertainment while you hopefully stay warmer than most. 

5.      New York City – Thousands of people pack into Times Square to watch the historic ball drop in the Big Apple. Go early and take in a Broadway show while you are in the city.

6.      Dixie Stampede – This attraction was started by Dolly Parton. You can find the Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Branson, Missouri. If you are looking for a stomping good time, you’ll enjoy a show featuring horses, stunt riders and a live camel nativity scene.

Spend your New Year with families all over the country. Find a destination that satisfies the entire family and head on out.  

Family Worship on New Year’s Eve

Traditionally the last night of the year is a time to reflect on the past and also to look forward to the coming year. You can opt to use this time to spend with family in the act of worship.

In most religions, worship is a time to celebrate their blessings. This is done through music, vesper services, liturgical dance presentations and candle ceremonies. The worship leader leads the group in their form of worship.

Watch Night Services

A watch night service is held on New Year’s Eve for holy worship. People gather to usher in the New Year as a family. Services occur in the evening. It may not be a long service but it is filled with silent moments and prayer. Different churches have different formats for conducting this service so check with your local church to see when and what is involved.

Watch Night Vigils

This is a type of worship service that lasts longer than a watch night service. Because it is a vigil, the parishioners faithfully watch the old year go out and the New Year come in. the ceremonies involve prayers, lots of music and the taking of the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist). These services typically start around 10 p.m. and last well after midnight.

Because of the length of the service, many churches also offer a meal once the worship piece is over. Families are invited to sit down and share a meal (usually breakfast) together before leaving to return to their own homes.

Home Celebrations

Before departing for a formal church service, worship on New Year’s Eve can begin at home. Gather the members of your family together. In a more informal service, everyone can use the time together to share and reflect on some of the following points:

·         What you have learned in the past year about yourself
·         Your expectations for the coming year
·         What you are thankful for in the past year
·         Something you have learned about your family in the past year

Any one of these questions (or others you may have in mind) can spark a conversation or moment of sharing amongst you. This can be a new tradition that you pass down to your children and they in turn can keep going in their own lives with their families.

It is truly a blessing to see one year leave and another come to pass. Celebrating that with your family creates a sacred memory that you will treasure for years to come.

Family Crafting Ideas for New Year’s Eve

What makes New Year’s Eve special? Is it the food or the fun or both? For the fun, creating crafts to enjoy on that evening as the ball drops somewhere is one way that families can celebrate together.

Instead of buying a lot of party favors and noisemakers this year, let the family make their own. When you decide to make crafts, it’s best to get everything you need ahead of time to avoid last minute runs to the store. They close early on New Year’s Eve so others get a chance to celebrate in their way.

Party Hats

No celebration is quite complete without a gorgeous hat. It isn’t too hard to create one. Start with construction paper and fold it into a conical shape. Keep it closed with tape or staples. This is your basic hat design. From there, the rest is up to you. Decorate the hats with glitter, garland, colored foil, lettering and any number of other accents to make your hat stand out.

Face Painting

Here, you are the basic design that gets decorated. Using paints that are safe for the skin, let each family member make up someone else’s face. Make it festive for the night. Take pictures of everyone’s finely crafted face.

Noisemakers

You probably have items around the house that can help you with this project. If you have any paper towel or toilet paper rolls they would make the perfect beginnings for noisemakers. Empty plastic eggs (if you can find them or have some left over from Easter) are the right size for noisemakers.

Stuff one end with a piece of tissue paper and cover it with tape. Fill your roll with rice, corn kernels or dried beans. Seal the other end the same way. You can decorate the outside with glitter, streamers, and stickers. The Easter eggs can be filled with rice or dried beans and covered with glittery paints.

Celebration Masks

If you plan on attending a theme party later that evening or you are just staying home, create a decorative mask for your New Year’s celebration. Take a piece of construction paper and have someone trace your face, eyes, nose and mouth. Cut away the excess paper. You are now ready to decorate. Use a Popsicle stick to hold your mask up to your face.

As the final countdown sounds, be ready to celebrate. Use your above crafts to help you get into the spirit of the evening.  

5 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Home

Who says that you have to go out to have fun on New Year’s Eve? If it is just the immediate family this year, that’s alright. Here are five ways that you can welcome the New Year and have a few laughs at the same time.

Holidays are about making memories. On the last day of a year you’ll never see again think of ways that you can share it with those who mean the most to you.

1.      Watch some movies. There will certainly be enough time before midnight for everyone to throw a movie they like into the mix. You can give your movie night a theme. Choose a variety of movies celebrating other holidays in the year. You’ll have scary, funny, romantic, dramatic and jingle bells thrown in for good measure. How’s that for eclectic?

2.      Play board games. On a regular night it might be hard to get everyone together to have a family game night. But, on this night, everyone is at home. Bring back a little of those childhood years with games like Monopoly, Chutes and Ladders (that’s a really old one), Sorry! And Life. For a large family, set up more than one game station so everyone can play what they like.

3.      Play team games. This is when people traditionally play charades, drawing games and others. Divide into teams and see who can put on the best game face. Keep changing teams so that each family member gets to be on a team with each other. You can also make up your own games like a team scavenger hunt throughout the house.

4.      Reminisce with old pictures. Who is that kid in the plaid pants and butterfly collar shirt? It might be you. Use this time to bond as a family. Go through old photo albums and remember times gone by. There may be a few pictures of folks you don’t remember. Or, there could be some interesting stories that are told just from a photo. Before you know it, everyone’s sides will threaten to burst from laughter.

5.      Make a dessert. All this other fun may make you want to feed your sweet tooth. For those who want to, let them make a dessert for the family to try. The more desserts you have, the more yummy goodness you can enjoy.

What are you doing for New Year’s Eve? These five ideas offer fun for the family who wants to spend time celebrating together.

Cooking with the Kids for New Year’s Eve

What will you do on the last day of the year? If you plan to spend at least part of it at home with your family, prepare dinner as a family. Here are some ideas for cooking with the kids.

Menu

Some people choose to have a special dinner on New Year’s Eve. Sit down with your kids and decide what you will make. One idea is allowing everyone to come up with their most favorite dish and include it in the menu. You could end up with pizza and teriyaki chicken. Try to make as much food as you can in the kitchen. Avoid using box mixes for anything if you can on this occasion.

The important thing here is that you do it together. Families that aren’t used to doing a lot of activities together will find this to be a new and interesting activity. Your kids have a lot of good ideas that you may have been missing out on. Hopefully this will be the start of a great new tradition.

Preparation

Undoubtedly, you’ll have to shop for some ingredients. Make a list of what everyone needs for their dish. Check your cabinets to be sure you don’t already have something. That will save you money.

Just one or two family members need to shop. The others can be preparing the kitchen for the upcoming cooking fest. It'll be dividing and conquer here so that everything gets done.

Decide what equipment and utensils you have available. There may be a lot of dish washing going on if everyone needs to use a giant mixing bowl. You can purchase another or stagger your meal prep so that you can share.

Do as much pre-cooking work as you can. For instance, pork chops can be marinated early and placed in the refrigerator. Pizza dough can be created and rolled out well in advance of making the pizza.

Dressing the Part

How about family aprons and hats? Give each family member their own apron (with their name on it) before they get cooking. It keeps your clothes from getting messed up and you get to look stylish at the same time.

As chefs, everyone needs to know the rules of the kitchen:

·         Wash hands after handling meat
·         Use soap and water on the counter to clean when you are done at a work station
·         Kids, ask parents for help when it comes to using the stove

If you get everything in the oven or cooker around the same time, take a load off. Cooking with the family can be fun. On New Year’s Eve it is a spectacular way to ring out the old and ring in the new.