Archive for April 20th, 2008

Challenging Minds with Games

Sunday, April 20th, 2008

Do you have a favorite thinking game? As a child growing up, I used to love to play games that were puzzles, something to challenge me not physically but challenge my mind. We used to do simple things like create objects out of clouds or find out what would happen when too much water was added to the mud pie. Nevertheless, it seems that many children in our society today are rather uninterested in those types of games. They now just do what the Game Boy tells them to.

Recently, playing a Game Boy game, I found it to be amazing that the game was so simplistic in that it often told me what to do when I was lost or maybe unsure of what to do next. Now, I am not a regular player nor do I know if this is common, but what happened to the fun of trying to figure the puzzle out? How do you get through the door or find the missing item? You keep trying until you do, right?

The good news is that you don’t have to allow your children’s brains to go whoosh! You can offer them computer games that are more mind challenging rather than time fillers. Games like Mah Jong encourage people (children included) to develop a plan for solving the problem at hand. This plan is one that will keep you focused on the goal ahead and keep your brain trying to figure out the next move. There are hundreds of others that use all sorts of skill including solving problems.

So, just what does all this mean for you? Should you give your child these mind challenging games and rip away the games they currently play? Unless you are out for them to hate you, we don’t recommend that. But, allow them to have the ability to access these games and you may find that they are often drawn to them. Children’s minds are like sponges, soaking up whatever is thrown at them. So, they don’t find their own puzzles to play with anymore. That doesn’t me they don’t need those problem solving skills.

Have you ever been in an environment where a child just can not do anything for themselves? They need mom or dad to tie their shoes. They need mom or dad to fix their problem with friends. They can not solve their own problem. This is a large problem and one that parents need to take notice of. Can playing computer games that encourage problem solving skills really help? They are not the whole answer but they can be part of the solution.

What you can do is provide games like puzzles, word, math and even card games that children can play on the web or download them to your computer. These will help to strengthen their skills in problem solving, in dealing with reactions, and in preparing for the unknown. Guess what? It’s also a really fun thing to do with your kids too! Make it mean something even more by playing along with them!

Sandy is a writer for the GrandMatrix website. The team at GrandMatrix.com provide a broad range of games, puzzles and articles. Read more articles, download and play the latest PC games for free and play thousands of user submitted puzzles, quizzes and word games at GrandMatrix Free PC Games and Downloads

Simple Ways To Save Money On Your Wedding Without Skimping

Sunday, April 20th, 2008

In every country around the world, young couples spend thousands and thousands of dollars to host glamorous and decadent weddings. Some are finding it more and more difficult to achieve their wedding ‘dream,’ without having to declare bankruptcy in the process.

These days, the average wedding for 100 guests can cost upwards of $10,000. The bridal dress alone can cost between $1000 and $5,000, add to this the cost of the catering, flowers and photography and you can blow your budget before leaving one store. Thankfully, there are many ways to save money when planning your wedding.

The first thing any bride should do is book the wedding date as far in advance as possible. Caterers and banquet facilities can change their prices many times during a year and if you sign a contract now, for a wedding next year, you are assured there will be no price increases.

Next is to be flexible with the date. Most weddings are held on Saturdays. Consequently, if you book your wedding on a Friday or a Sunday you will most likely receive a discount. Most facilities offer a 10 - 20% discount functions being held on days other than Saturday.

Save money on wedding favors by making and assembling them yourself. Some brides wrap chocolates, candles and other assorted gifts in decorative papers or cloths. Another popular option is to forgo these trinkets in favor of donations to local charities.

Selecting a simple menu and wine list can go a long way to reducing a wedding’s overall expense. A simple three or four course meal with some hors d’oeuvres will see all guests full by the time dessert is being cleared.

Wine does not to need to be expensive to be good. Select a good-tasting wine and set a limit on the number of bottles to be served. Wine should never be left on the table for guests to serve themselves. Not only is this an irresponsible approach to your guest’s safety, but it could also increase your wine bill by 20 - 40 bottles.

Some brides have even found a way to save money when purchasing their flowers. By purchasing the flowers from a large flower distributor and assembling the bouquets themselves, brides are realizing 20 - 30% discounts on the costs of their flowers.

Photography should only be done by professionals. The only way to save money on a photographer is to set a budget and stick to it. Search around for different prices and always ask for their most recent references. If you book your wedding on a day other than Saturday, the photographer may also offer a discounted rate.

No matter what features you want in your wedding, there is probably a way to get it for a little less. It is highly unlikely that a supplier will ever ‘volunteer’ their discount policy to their clients. Ask if there are any discounts available for certain days of the week or months of the year.

The last piece of advice is decide what you will and won’t compromise on. If the flowers are the most important aspect of the wedding then spend a little more money on them. If the food and beverage is more important than fancy flowers, spend more money on a five course meal and a nicer bottle of wine.

Regardless of what you serve, wear or give away or even how much it cost, the guests at your wedding are there to celebrate your happiness and future.

Gala Invitations offers the highest quality, custom printed wedding invitations. Order your wedding invitations from us and get a free wedding website with your order. http://www.galainvitations.com

Weight loss supplements - tools for your weight loss arsenal

Sunday, April 20th, 2008

I have said it before - weight loss is a matter of burning more
calories than you consume. However, any time you can use a tool
to make things easier - why wouldn’t you? Weight loss
supplements are a tool that can help you speed your metabolism,
curb hunger, or even absorb some of your calories which come
from fat or carbs.

Here is a brief introduction of some weight loss supplements in
the different categories:

Thermogenics - Thermogenics are usually a stimulant which
contains one or more of the following: Ma-Huang, Caffeine, Green
tea, Synephrine, or Guarana. The goal of thermogenics is to
accelerate fat burning past the point of diet alone as well as
give you energy and decrease appetite. Thermogenics are not for
everyone especially if you are sensitive to stimulants or have
any type of medical condition. Always check with your doctor
first.

Appetite suppressant - Hoodia is the name you will hear come up
when you are talking about suppressing your appetite. It has
been said that tribesman used hoodia gordonii before a long hunt
in order to control their appetite. It is said that hoodia sends
signals to the brain leading the brain to think that the body is
full. If your weight loss efforts seem to be hindered by a
massive appetite - Then perhaps hoodia is for you. Look for pure
hoodia on the label.

Carb Blockers - Carb blockers reportedly prevent the body from
absorbing some of the unwanted starches. The active ingredient
is phaseolus vulgaris otherwise known as white kidney bean
extract. I don’t think anyone believes that taking a carb
blocker will give you free access to all the carbs you want to
consume but may be of benefit to the occasional cheater.

Fat Blockers - The active ingredient in a fat blocker is
Chitosan. Chitosan has the ability to bind fats and cholesterol
before they are absorbed by the body. Taken right after a meal,
fat blockers will absorb some of the fat from your diet and
allow it to pass through. Some reports indicate that Chitosan
can absorb 7 times its weight in fat. Chitosan is a fiber
derived from the shells of shellfish such as shrimp.

Choose your weight loss supplements wisely. Purchase a well
known brand from a reputable dealer and expand your weight loss
tools arsenal.

Emotional Stress and Crohn’s Disease - How They Relate

Sunday, April 20th, 2008

For years, many people have argued that forms of Inflammatory
Bowel Disease, including Crohn’s Disease, is caused by emotional
stress, tension, and anxiety; this, however, is completely
inaccurate. While there may be links to emotional stress and
Crohn’s Disease, it is not a cause of the disorder.

A common misconception is that Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
is the same thing as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). However,
these differ considerably. IBD causes inflammation of the
intestines and is not caused psychological factors. On the other
hand, there is a strong link in emotional issues contributing to
IBS.

While some may argue Crohn’s Disease is caused by being overly
emotional, it is in fact an inappropriate response of the immune
system and no correlation to the disease and psychological
issues. However, emotions may play a role in how a person deals
with Crohn’s Disease.

In dealing with any chronic disease, people may find difficulty
is coping with the long term effects of their medical condition.
As a result, people with Crohn’s may become depressed or suffer
other psychological issues, such as severe anxiety or
dependency. As Crohn’s often causes excessive diarrhea and gas,
it is sometimes embarrassing for people to go out in public,
possibly leading to reclusion. Likewise, travel becomes more
difficult, which may lead to feelings of loss of freedom. Long
term pain also causes emotional complications, as well as long
term use of pain medications.

While Crohn’s Disease may cause emotional stress, there has also
been a reverse connection recognized: meaning stress may cause
flare-ups of complications in patients already affected by
Crohn’s Disease. Through extremely emotional times, a person may
notice an increase in severity of diarrhea, gas, and pain.

If psychological issues become a hindrance in daily life, it may
be necessary to seek professional help. While medication is not
typically needed, simply acquiring support may be very
beneficial. This may also be accomplished by joining support
groups or conversing with other people that suffer from the same
or similar disorders.

For peace of mind, there are also other steps that you can take
to reduce stress as a result of Crohn’s Disease. Carrying a
change of clothes with you, familiarizing yourself with your
surroundings, including location of bathrooms, and being aware
of your body’s reaction to certain foods will ease anxiety when
you are out and about and prepare you for possible issues that
may arise.