The History of July 4th

Independence Day in the U.S., is an annual holiday commemorating the formal adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia. Although the signing of the Declaration was not completed until August, the Fourth of July holiday has been accepted as the official anniversary of U.S. independence and is celebrated in all states and territories of the U.S.





The holiday was first observed in Philadelphia on July 8, 1776, at which time the Declaration of Independence was read aloud, city bells rang, and bands played. It was not declared a legal holiday, however, until 1941. The Fourth is traditionally celebrated publicly with parades and pageants, patriotic speeches, and organized firing of guns and cannons and displays of fireworks; early in the 20th century public concern for a "safe and sane" holiday resulted in restrictions on general use of fireworks. Family picnics and outings are a feature of private Fourth of July celebrations. Addopted From www.history.com

Things to Avoid On Your Wedding

There is nothing worse than a wedding that ends up as a total disaster. You've spent a lot of money, your family and friends have shared their time and experience. The perfect wedding isn't always easy to pull off. It takes a lot of work to make that special day a lot of fun.

Experts on weddings all give tips and information on how to have a perfect wedding. What they sometimes neglect is the things you should avoid completely. Here are a few tips about things not to do to make your wedding better.

Spend Way Too Much Money On Your Wedding

Many couples make this mistake, and it can ruin your entire wedding, and years into your marriage. A perfect wedding isn't about spending thousands of dollars. It isn't the price of the wedding that makes it a success. Your guests aren't going to ask you how much you spent on china and catering. (If they do, you have permission not to answer.)

Develop a budget and stick to it. If you plan far enough in advance, you can have the wedding you want without spending a lot of money. Don't spend money where you don't need it. Write down what's most important to you at the wedding, and research ways to save money on your wedding, so you can save or spend the money as you want later.

Forgetting What Will Make It Fun For You

You and your other half have worked hard to get to this moment. You've made a commitment to each other, and you know those little quirks and the individual personalities. Does this come through in your wedding? Is this wedding simply filled with things and objects?

Who says the bride has to wear white? Who says the cake has to be traditional? Who says you have to be inside a church? Weddings are not about tradition any more. It's about a wonderful day, shared with family and friends, as they join you in celebrating becoming husband and wife. Forget tradition if that's not what will make it a special day for you. Do what you want.

Using Just Anyone In Your Wedding

Too many people quickly pick a Master of Ceremonies, a DJ, caterers, without spending time with them. That's crazy! You never know what the person might say or do. He could be so boring. That caterer could be completely rude. You simply don't know if you don't talk to the people before hand.

Don't pick out a DJ, or a preacher or anyone else involved in your ceremony or involved in the reception based on rates alone. Get referrals from everyone, and talk to each of your options. Get to know them a little bit and you'll find a personality match.

Disorganization On All Sides

The reason why many couples spend much more than they really should have on a wedding is usually due to disorganization. Party favors get bought early on, and then are misplaced and have to be repurchased. That location you wanted, you delayed on getting and now it is no longer available.

It happens at many weddings. Probably the worst offense being tuxes rented too late or wedding rings being misplaced. Such small things can be so much trouble. Help yourself and your loved ones by

Rainy Day Wedding

Too many people neglect to check the weather and make separate preparations in case there is going to be rain. Check the weather in your area the week before. You could actually save yourself some trouble by picking beautiful indoor locations for the wedding ceremony and reception.

Celebrating The Night Before Or The Morning Of

A huge mistake made by a lot of bride and grooms or friends of the bride and groom is the huge celebration made the night before. It's common, especially for friends of the groom, to go out and drink and celebrate the night before. However, the disasters that have occurred because of this are plentiful in wedding history.

Think before going out the night before. If you're planning a celebration, consider having it two or more nights before the wedding. Let the few days and nights before the wedding be relaxing.

Not Doing The Wedding Planning As A Couple

All too often, the bride takes over most of the wedding planning, leaving the groom with nothing to do. This is a common mistake. The wedding is just as much for the groom as it is for the bride. Let him pick out a few things he'd like in the wedding as well.

Ask him what he'd like to help out with. Make sure he gets to choose elements that will make it a special day for him too. Working on this together can help strengthen the relationship as well.

Being The Star And Asking Too Much

Yes, the bride is usually the star of the wedding, but does that mean that it has to be all about you? Ask for too much from your wedding party , and you could be left disappointed and losing friendships. Take it easy, girl. Remember why you're inviting your closest family and friends to the wedding, or asking for their help. Be kind to them.

Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen Syndrome

Everyone wants to be involved in the wedding planning, both mother-in-laws to be, best friends, sisters, cousins, etc. Everyone wants to contribute because they want to feel they mean something to the bride and groom. In some cases, it can get too overwhelming. Remain organized and in charge of your wedding. Pass out assignments to those who want one, and keep it that way.

Is This A Wedding Or Just A Fancy Party?

Weddings don't have to be traditional, but some people forget the meaning behind the wedding. It's about the couple coming together as husband and wife, and sharing that moment with close friends and family. Make it special for everyone.

Addopted From http://www.1888articles.com

Recipe Of The Month

It Will be here by the 4th

Walking a Dog On A Leash

Easy to use steps that will help you train your dog to walk properly on a leash See also dog training collars and teaching your dog to be off leash

It is not rare to see a dog owner being pulled wildly around on the end of a leash while on the other end; their dog is charging ahead into the great outdoors, oblivious that he’s doing anything wrong. Taking a walk with your dog should be an enjoyable experience for both of you. More frequently it becomes a tug of war between you and your dog that is frustrating on both ends of the leash.

Training your dog walking on a leash is very important for every dog. Allowing your dog to pull you around is not only uncomfortable for you, but it can be very dangerous for your dog and it only reinforces his bad walking behavior. When you start training your dog for walking on a leash, you'll find that walks are much more enjoyable for you and your pooch.

Equipment for Dog Training Walking on a Leash

When you train your dog to walk on a leash, it’s important to use the correct equipment. There are two main types of leashes that are widely used. One is a retractable leash and the other is a plain leash made of nylon or leather.

While teaching your dog how to walk on a leash, you’ll want to use a plain leash. You can use nylon or leather, but leather will give you the most control. These leashes come in a variety of lengths, for a large dog, you’ll want a leash no longer than 5 feet. If the leash is any longer than that, it will be difficult to maintain control of your dog. Once your dog is adept at walking on a regular leash, you can try walking him on a retractable leash.

Retractable leashes are nice to use once your dog can walk properly on a leash. Don’t use a retractable leash to teach your dog how to walk because it gives him mixed signals on how far ahead of you he can go without pulling. Also, retractable leashes by their very nature give you less control of your dog. Save this type of leash for when your dog is well behaved while walking.

Communication is Key to Dog Behavior Leash Training
Leash training is the ultimate in communication with your dog. When you’re on a walk together, you and your dog have the different goals – your dog wants to collect new smells and chase squirrels and birds, while you just want him to get some exercise and use the bathroom already. Training your dog to walk properly on a leash means that your dog will do what you want him to do and he’ll see that he can still get some smells in along the way.

Your Dog Walking on a Leash

Part One: Prevent Pulling

1. Take your dog to an open area and place your dog on his leash.


2. Begin walking with your dog.


3. When your dog begins pulling you in a particular direction, give your dog’s leash a little tug and begin walking in the opposite direction of where he’s pulling you.


4. When your dog comes easily in the opposite direction and he doesn’t pull you forward, reward him with praise.


5. Continue walking and do the turnaround whenever your dog begins to pull.


6. The first time you do this with your dog, it will take him a little while to figure out that pulling gets him nowhere. When you walk your dog after this exercise, do the turnaround whenever necessary.

Part Two: Stay on Track

This part will help you when your dog sees something worth chasing and he pulls you off of your course toward an object.

1. When your dog pulls you off of your path, say “No” while using a firm voice.


2. At the same time, sharply tug your dog’s leash to place him back on the path.


3. When your dog moves forward or looks at you or looks forward on the path, reward him with praise and a treat.


4. Do this every time your dog attempts to derail you from your path while walking. Over time, it will only take you saying “No” for him to ignore the distraction and continue walking forward.

Part Three: Stop and Start

While walking in your neighborhood or anywhere else, you’ll probably need to stop and start a few times through the walk. That’s where this part of the method comes in.

1. When you need to stop at a traffic light or for another reason, stop your dog with a tug on his leash and say “Wait.”


2. Give your dog the Sit command.


3. When it’s okay for him to resume walking, say “Let’s go” and pull his leash forward while you walk.


4. Your dog will quickly learn what the spoken commands mean, and over time he will immediately hesitate at street crossings or other places where you normally stop and start. Addopted From http://www.thedogtrainingformula.com

Easy Weight Loss Tips

You know you are experiencing yo-yo dieting, but do not know how to stop it! It is time to get your balance back. The following easy weight loss tips will help you lose weight in a healthy way.

Find out how many calories you need

BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)

BMR [kcal]

Body Weight [lb] x 15 + (moderate activity [mins/day] x 3.5)

Since you wish to lose weight, your target = BMR - 500 kcal

For instance, you weigh 140 lb and you perform 20 mins of moderate activity every day. BMR of this example = (140 x 15) + (20 x 3.5) = 2100 + 70 = 2170 kcal. BMR minus 500kcal; it would be 2170 - 500 = 1670 kcal. Therefore 1670 kcal is the target in this example to losing 1 lb per week.

Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day

Fruits and vegetables are packed with beneficial fibers, vitamins and antioxidants. They fill up your stomach fast so you feel full earlier. They are also low in calories and help to keep your calorie count low.

Watch for Portion Size

One serving of pasta means 1/2 cup of cooked pasta. However, most restaurants serve a pasta dish with 4 servings of pasta!!! You do not need to finish and clean off the plate every time. You can simply ask to take home the leftover.

Do not Skip Meals

Eating small frequent meals help to balance your calorie intake throughout the day and also keeps your blood sugar level balanced. Instead of eating 3 big meals, try to eat 5 - 6 smaller meals throughout the day.

Go for wholesome fresh foods

If possible, purchase fresh foods and avoid package (processed) and convenient foods such as fast food. Packaged and convenient foods are often higher in sodium and fat content. Many people we spoke to are amazed that they can easily lose weight by packing a home-cooked lunch to work instead of eating out.

Don't be overly-restrictive

Everyone has his or her favorite treats. Simply allow yourself a little indulgence, but watch out for the frequency and the quantity. Having a small treat once in a while can be rewarding to your weight loss experience. Cutting too much of your favorite treats usually lead to an early relapse.

Understand Food Claims and Labels

A product labeled with a fat-free claim does not mean that it is low in calories. Similarly a product labeled as low-sugar or low-carb does not mean it is low in fat or calories. Always read the nutrition label on the packaging.

Watch for the sugary drinks

Juices, pop, cream & sugar in your coffee or tea all add up. Opt for drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day. In addition to providing hydration to your body, it will also help you feel full.

Keep a food journal

Keeping a food journal helps you pin point your eating pattern and will enable you to easily modify it. If possible, have your Registered Dietitian review your journal.

Exercise, period

Most authorities recommend 30 - 60 minutes of physical activity a day to stay healthy. Also try adding weight-bearing exercises at least 2 times a week. This will help burn some of the unwanted calories. Addopted From http://www.healthcastle.com

Stress Management

If you’re living with high levels of stress, you’re putting your entire well-being at risk. Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional equilibrium, as well as your physical health. It narrows your ability to think clearly, function effectively, and enjoy life.

The goal of stress management is to bring your mind and body back into balance. By adopting a positive attitude, learning healthier ways to cope, and changing the way you deal with stress, you can reduce its hold on your life.

Taking charge of stress

In our frenetic, fast-paced world, many people deal with frequent or even constant stress. The overextended working mother, the hard-charging “Type A” personality, the self-critical perfectionist, the chronic worrier: they’re always wound up, always stretched to the breaking point, always rushing around in a frenzy or juggling too many demands.

Operating on daily red alert comes at the high price of your health, vitality, and peace of mind. But while it may seem that there’s nothing you can do about your stress level—the bills aren’t going to stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day for all your errands, your career will always be demanding—you have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of stress management.

Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun—and the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on.

Stress management strategy #1: Avoid unnecessary stress

Not all stress can be avoided, and it’s not healthy to avoid a situation that needs to be addressed. You may be surprised, however, by the number of stressors in your life that you can eliminate.

• Learn how to say “no” – Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your personal or professional life, refuse to accept added responsibilities when you’re close to reaching them. Taking on more than you can handle is a surefire recipe for stress.


• Avoid people who stress you out – If someone consistently causes stress in your life and you can’t turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend with that person or end the relationship entirely.


• Take control of your environment – If the evening news makes you anxious, turn the TV off. If traffic’s got you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route. If going to the market is an unpleasant chore, do your grocery shopping online.


• Avoid hot-button topics – If you get upset over religion or politics, cross them off your conversation list. If you repeatedly argue about the same subject with the same people, stop bringing it up or excuse yourself when it’s the topic of discussion.


• Pare down your to-do list – Analyze your schedule, responsibilities, and daily tasks. If you’ve got too much on your plate, distinguish between the “shoulds” and the “musts.” Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them entirely.
  

How Resilient Are You?
Your ability to handle and bounce back from stress depends on many factors, including a:

• Sense of control


• Optimistic attitude


• Strong support system


• Healthy body


• Ability to adapt to change


• Ability to handle unpleasant emotions


• Belief in a higher power or purpose


• Confidence in yourself


• Sense of humor
  

Stress management strategy #2: Alter the situation

If you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it. Figure out what you can do to change things so the problem is avoided in the future. Often, this involves changing the way you communicate and operate in your daily life.

Express your feelings instead of bottling them up. If something or someone is bothering you, communicate your concerns in an open and respectful way. If you don’t voice your feelings, resentment will build and the situation will likely remain the same.
Be willing to compromise. When you ask someone to change their behavior, be willing to do the same. If you both are willing to bend at least a little, you’ll have a good chance of finding a happy middle ground.

Be more assertive. Don’t take a backseat in your own life. Deal with problems head on, doing your best to anticipate and prevent them. If you’ve got an exam to study for and your chatty roommate just got home, say up front that you only have five minutes to talk.
Manage your time better. Poor time management can cause a lot of stress. When you’re stretched too thin and running behind, it’s hard to stay calm and focused. But if you plan ahead, you can avoid these stress-inducing pitfalls.

Time management tips to reduce stress

Create a balanced schedule - All work and no play is a recipe for burnout. Try to find a balance between work and family life, social activities and solitary pursuits, daily responsibilities and downtime.

Don’t over-commit yourself - Avoid scheduling things back-to-back or trying to fit too much into one day. All too often, we underestimate how long things will take.

Prioritize tasks - Make a list of tasks you have to do, and tackle them in order of importance. Do the high-priority items first. If you have something particularly unpleasant to do, get it over with early. The rest of your day will be more pleasant as a result.

Break projects into small steps - If a large project seems overwhelming, make a step-by-step plan. Focus on one manageable step at a time, rather than taking on everything at once.

Delegate responsibility - You don’t have to do it all yourself, whether at home, school, or on the job. If other people can take care of the task, why not let them? Let go of the desire to control or oversee every little step. You’ll be letting go of unnecessary stress in the process.

Stress management strategy #3: Accept the things you can’t change

Some sources of stress are unavoidable. You can’t prevent or change stressors such as the death of a loved one, a serious illness, or a national recession. In such cases, the best way to cope with stress is to accept things as they are. Acceptance may be difficult, but in the long run, it’s easier than railing against a situation you can’t change.

Don’t try to control the uncontrollable. Many things in life are beyond our control— particularly the behavior of other people. Rather than stressing out over them, focus on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to problems.

Look for the upside. As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” When facing major challenges, try to look at them as opportunities for personal growth. If your own poor choices contributed to a stressful situation, reflect on them and learn from your mistakes.

Share your feelings. Talk to a trusted friend or make an appointment with a therapist. Expressing what you’re going through can be very cathartic, even if there’s nothing you can do to alter the stressful situation.

Learn to forgive. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that people make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments. Free yourself from negative energy by forgiving and moving on.

Stress management strategy #4: Adapt to the stressor

If you can’t change the stressor, change yourself. You can adapt to stressful situations and regain your sense of control by changing your expectations and attitude.

Reframe problems. Try to view stressful situations from a more positive perspective. Rather than fuming about a traffic jam, look at it as an opportunity to pause and regroup, listen to your favorite radio station, or enjoy some alone time.

Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year? Is it really worth getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy elsewhere.

Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Stop setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards for yourself and others, and learn to be okay with “good enough.”

Focus on the positive. When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and gifts. This simple strategy can help you keep things in perspective. Addopted From http://www.helpguide.org

Stress Management: Adjusting Your Attitude

How you think can have a profound affect on your emotional and physical well-being. Each time you think a negative thought about yourself, your body reacts as if it were in the throes of a tension-filled situation. If you see good things about yourself, you are more likely to feel good; the reverse is also true. Eliminate words such as "always," "never," "should," and "must." These are telltale marks of self-defeating thoughts.

Source: National Victim Assistance Academy, U.S. Department of Justice

Stress reduction tips - Beyond a take-charge approach and a positive attitude, you can reduce stress in your life by making healthy lifestyle choices and taking care of yourself. If you regularly make time for rest and relaxation, you’ll be in a better place to handle life’s stressors when they inevitably come.

Nurture yourself - Don’t get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that you forget to take care of your own needs. Nurturing yourself is a necessity, not a luxury.

Set aside relaxation time. - Include rest and relaxation in your daily schedule. Don’t allow other obligations to encroach. This is your time to take a break from all responsibilities and recharge your batteries.

Connect with others. Spend time with positive people who enhance your life. A strong support system will buffer you from the negative effects of stress.
Do something you enjoy every day. Make time for leisure activities that bring you joy, whether it be stargazing, playing the piano, or working on your bike.
Keep your sense of humor. This includes the ability to laugh at yourself. The act of laughing helps your body fight stress in a number of ways.

Healthy stress reducers

• Go for a walk.


• Spend time in nature.


• Talk to a supportive friend.


• Sweat out tension with a good workout.


• Do something for someone else.


• Write in your journal.


• Take a long bath.


• Play with a pet.


• Work in your garden.


• Get a massage.


• Curl up with a good book.


• Take a yoga class.


• Listen to music.


• Watch a comedy.
  

Adopt a healthy lifestyle

• Exercise regularly. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week. Nothing beats aerobic exercise for releasing pent-up stress and tension.


• Eat a healthy diet. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.


• Reduce caffeine and sugar. The temporary "highs" caffeine and sugar provide often end in with a crash in mood and energy. By reducing the amount of coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, and sugar snacks in your diet, you’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll sleep better.


• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs may provide an easy escape from stress, but the relief is only temporary. Don’t avoid or mask the issue at hand; deal with problems head on and with a clear mind.


• Get enough sleep. Adequate sleep fuels your mind, as well as your body. Feeling tired will increase your stress because it may cause you to think irrationally.

Stress Management: Relief Techniques

You can control your stress levels with relaxation techniques that evoke the body’s relaxation response, a state of restfulness that is the opposite of the stress response. As you learn and practice these techniques, your stress levels will decrease and your mind and body will become calm and centered.

Read Stress Relief Techniques

Making a stress management plan

Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your true sources of stress aren’t always obvious, and it’s all too easy to overlook your own stress-inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Sure, you may know that you’re constantly worried about work deadlines. But maybe it’s your procrastination, rather than the actual job demands, that leads to deadline stress.

Look closely at your habits, attitude, and excuses. Do you explain away stress as temporary (“I just have a million things going on right now”) even though you can’t remember the last time you took a breather? Do you define stress as an integral part of your work or home life (“Things are always crazy around here”) or as a part of your personality (“I have a lot of nervous energy, that’s all”). Do you blame your stress on other people or outside events, or view it as entirely normal and unexceptional? Until you accept responsibility for the role you play in creating or maintaining it, your stress level will remain outside your control.

Start a stress journal

A stress journal can help you identify the regular stressors in your life and the way you deal with them. Each time you feel stressed, keep track of it in your journal.

Write down:

What caused your stress (make a guess if you’re unsure).
How you felt, both physically and emotionally.
How you acted in response.
What you did to cope or feel better.
Putting your worries on paper has a marvelous way of clarifying things. As you keep a daily log, you will begin to see patterns and common themes. Your journal may help you see that you don’t really have that much to worry about, or it may bring overlooked problems to light. Whatever your discoveries, your stress journal should help you establish a plan for moving forward.

Evaluate your coping strategies

Think about the ways you cope with stress. Your stress journal can help you identify them. Are your coping strategies healthy or unhealthy, helpful or unproductive? Unfortunately, many people cope with stress in ways that compound the problem. These coping strategies may temporarily reduce stress, but they cause more damage in the long run.

Unhealthy ways of coping with stress

o Smoking
o Self-medicating with alcohol or drugs
o Using sleeping pills or tranquilizers to relax
o Overeating or eating too little
o Sleeping too much
o Procrastinating
o Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities
o Filling up every minute of the day to avoid facing problems

If your methods of coping with stress aren’t contributing to your greater emotional and physical health, it’s time to find ones that do.

Learn positive ways to deal with stress

There are many healthy ways to reduce stress or cope with its effects, but they all require change. You can either change the situation or change your reaction. When deciding which option to choose, it’s helpful to think of the four As: avoid, alter, accept, or adapt.

Since everyone has a unique response to stress, there is no “one size fits all” solution to managing it. No single method works for everyone or every situation, so experiment with different techniques and strategies. Focus on what makes you feel calm and in control.