Abstract Home Vol. 4 Issue 13 2013

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LIVING QUARTERS

One of the most under-rated decorating acces-sories in a home is the

mirror. It is great for its func-tionality and it also helps in the aesthetic department as it can be used much like art. Here is a bit about how mirrors can ben-efit your décor.

Bring Out boldnessMirrors are a great way to add dramatic effect to a space. Full-size floor mirrors can make a dramatic statement in a small space. Using a framed, full-size mirror placed on the floor and resting on the wall can become an incredible asset in many ways in a bedroom, living room and even at the end of a hall-way.

Add SizeMirrors are the cheapest and easiest way to add space to a

room without breaking down a wall or throwing away your furniture. It doesn’t really add space, but it gives the illusion that your space is doubled.

Lighten UpIn a room with a window a well-placed mirror can reflect exter-nal light and brighten up your space. You get real light instead of the artificial light produced

by coloured bulbs saves you big bucks on your energy bill.

Unconventional Mirror TipPlace an inexpensive full-length mirror (the kind you at-tach to a closet door) atop the dining-room table to give your centerpiece a boost. Set vases of various heights and forms―some with, some without flow-ers―on the mirror.

Water filters in the kitchen aids in cleaning the wa-

ter that comes through our pipes. Now, with the rainy sea-son upon us, water cannot be treated as effectively and even more precautions need to be taken with our pipe-borne supply. Clean, filtered water protects the body from disease and leads to overall greater health. The home water filter alternative is far better, more economical and convenient way of getting clean water. Here are 10 benefits of using water filters in the kitchen.

1The distinct taste of chlorine which is pre-sent in pipe water is

removed by using a water fil-ter. Water filters provide us

with better tasting and better smelling water by removing the chlorine.

2Go green by having a wa-ter filter placed in your kitchen. Water filters

reduces the need to buy bot-tled water, one filter can re-place hundreds of plastic bottles which are hard to dispose of.

3No bottled water means less expense on the fam-ily budget. The price of

a bottle of water is almost the same as the price of a soda. Think of how much money you can save just by having a water filter in the kitchen.

4When using bottled water for cooking most people buy the extra

large bottles which are usually hard to lift and store. With a water filter you will have water for cooking at the convenience of your taps.

5Water filters greatly re-duce the risk of rectal cancer, colon cancer, and

bladder cancer by removing chlorine and chlorine byprod-ucts from drinking water.

Using Mirrors In Your Décor

5 Reasons To FilterThrough Flood Season

Disclaimer: The views or opinions presented in this publication are solely those of the writers and do not necessarily represent those of the company. Employees of ABSTRACT MEDIA GROUP COMPANY LIMITED are expressly required not to make defamatory statements and not to infringe or authorize any infringement of copyright or any other legal right. Any such article is contrary to company policy and is outside the scope of the employment of the individual writer concerned. The company will not accept any liability in respect of such article, and the employee responsible will be personally liable for any damages or other liability arising.

www.abstracthome.com AUGUST 2013 ABSTRACT HOME 1

Soil erosion can be a threat to your livelihood if you garden and also your

life if your home is on unstable ground. Therefore, proper con-servation of soil is necessary in order to protect yourself and your land. Even the casual farm-er can benefit from soil conser-vation as well taken care of soil will also produce better yields. This is how you do it.

Plant Trees: We all know that roots of trees firmly hold on to the soil. As trees grow tall, they also keep rooting deeper into the soil. As the roots of trees spread deep into the layers of soil, they hold it tightly, thus preventing soil erosion. Soil under a vegeta-tive cover is saved from erosion due to wind as this cover acts as a wind barrier.

Build Terraces: Terracing is a very good method of soil con-servation. A terrace is a leveled section of a hilly cultivated area. Owing to its unique structure, it prevents rapid surface run-off of water. Terracing gives the landmass a stepped appearance, thus slowing the washing down of soil. Dry stonewalling is a method used to create terraces in which stone structures are made without using mortar for binding.

No-till Farming: The process of preparing soil for plowing is known as tilling. No-till farm-ing is a way of growing crops without disturbing it through tillage. The process of tilling is beneficial in mixing fertiliz-ers in the soil, making rows and preparing the surface for sow-ing. But the tilling activity can lead to compaction of soil, loss of organic matter in the soil and the death of soil organisms. No-till farming is a way to prevent the soil from this harm.

Contour Plowing: This prac-tice of farming on slopes takes into account the slope gradient and the elevation of soil along the slope. It is the method of plowing across the contour lines of a slope. This method helps in slowing the water runoff and prevents soil from being washed away along the slope. Contour

plowing also helps in percola-tion of water in the soil.

Crop Rotation: Some patho-gens tend to build up in soil if the same crops are cultivated again and again. Continuous cultivation of the same crop also leads to imbalance in the fertility demands of the soil. To save the soil from these adverse effects, crop rotation is prac-ticed. It is a method of growing a series of dissimilar crops in an area. Crop rotation also helps in the improvement of soil struc-ture and fertility.

Maintain Soil pH: The con-tamination of soil by addition of acidic or basic pollutants and due to acid rains has an adverse effect on the soil pH. Soil pH is an indicator of the level of nu-trients in soil. The uptake of nu-trients by plants also depends on the pH of soil. Maintaining the correct value of soil pH, is thus essential for soil conservation.

Water the Soil: We water plants, we water the crops, but do we water the soil? We sel-dom do. Watering soil is a good measure of soil conservation. Watering the soil along with plants growing in it is a way to prevent soil erosion caused by wind.

Salinity Management: The salinity of soil increases due to excessive accumulation of salts in the soil. This has a negative effect on the metabolism of crops. The salinity of soil is det-rimental to the vegetative life in it. The death of vegetation leads to soil erosion. Hence, salinity management is an indirect way of conserving soil.

Promote Helpful Soil Organ-isms: Nitrogen-fixing and den-itrifying bacteria are important constituents of the nitrogen cycle. They live in soil. Bacte-ria and fungi help keep the soil healthy. Organisms like earth-worms help decompose organic material in the soil. They aid soil aeration and help it main-tain porosity. Rodents too, help soil the same way. This increases the absorbing capacity of soil. Earthworms, through aeration of soil, enhance the availability of macronutrients. These help-ful organisms boost soil fertility and help in soil conservation.

Grow Indigenous Crops: Planting native crops is ben-eficial for soil conservation. If non-native plants are grown, fields should be bordered by in-digenous crops to prevent soil erosion, thus achieving soil con-servation.

Soil Conservation Practices

LIVING QUARTERS

ABSTRACT HOME AUGUST 2013 www.abstracthome.com2

Clocks are a functional aspect of this fast-paced world; but they can also

add aesthetic quality to your home. Here are some tips to choosing a clock.

Pick a statement-making clock. When you want to make a great impression on guests, friends and family who come to your home, decora-tive clocks hung in your entry-way or living room will do the trick. Large rustic wall clocks with large numerals and faces will complement a shabby chic decor, while modern clocks with floating numbers and a monochromatic color scheme will look great in a living room decorated with angular chairs and simple furniture. Make sure that the decorative clocks you choose don't overwhelm your other home accessories.

An oversized retro clock will look best on an empty wall un-cluttered with other art pieces or photographs.

Choose table clocks for a cozier setting. Make friends feel at home when you add a few table clocks to your fam-

ily room or even your dining room. A boring side table gets new life from a funky round table clock, and glass table clocks can add elegance to even the most laid-back room. Of course, these clocks don't have to be limited to tables; place your favorite traditional or retro clock on a floating shelf for an interesting look. These small timepieces can also dress up benches and shelves in the hallway or add a unique touch to a bathroom cabinet. Don't forget about your fireplace, either; a wooden mantel clock with Roman numerals and a pendulum can give your family room an old-fashioned feeling. You can also display a mantel clock in a hutch or curio if you don't have a fireplace.

Buy atomic clocks for pre-cise time. Never be late for

an appointment again when you mount atomic clocks in your kitchen or another high-traffic room. Considered to be among the most accurate timepieces, atomic clocks are used for GPS navigation and Internet synchronization, too. Many of these modern clocks can also be used both indoors and outdoors.

Put digital clocks in your bedroom. When it's impor-tant to be on time for work or school, you'll want to place digital clocks where you can easily see them. Look for styles that include radio alarms so you're sure to wake up, or buy digital alarm clocks with an MP3 dock so you can set up custom playlists for a wakeup call. Digital clocks with bright displays are especially helpful in the early morning hours.

With the inflated pric-es of almost every household item in

the store it really makes little sense to wantonly for a prod-uct that you can make a better version of at home for much less money. One such thing is furniture polish. Bring back the luster to your wonderful wood pieces with just three ingredi-ents that can easily be found in many kitchens. This easy home-made furniture polish trans-forms dull furniture into well-polished pieces.

Ingredients:

• Olive oil

• Water

• Lemon juice

Directions:1. Blend 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon water and a squeeze or two of lemon juice in a small bowl.

2. Place a small amount of the mixture on a soft cloth.

3. Wipe the polish onto a piece

of furniture and give it a good buff.

The olive oil leaves furniture with a glossy shine, while the fresh scent of the lemon juice (which so many conventional cleaners try to replicate) lingers in the air. The fake scents in conventional cleaners just can’t compete with the real stuff.

Make the mixture as you go, so as to create less waste. You don’t want to leave this mixture sitting around because it will probably go bad before you use it again.

This recipe works well on both metal and wood furniture. It only takes small dabs as a little goes a long way.

LIVING QUARTERS

Choosing An Appropriate Clock

Homemade Furniture Polish Made Easy


We are not cavemen and we should not live like them. We

are far more advanced and our evolution has allowed us the ability to enjoy the fruits of in-novation and enterprise. Every-one is affected by technology in some way, but people should not just be affected. We must seek to h the barriers of technology and its uses. In the home is a great place to start. Here are some upgrades you should consider as long as your pocket permits.

Wall-Mounted TelevisionInstead of having televisions seek center stage in a room, many newer wall-mounted tele-visions are designed to fade into the woodwork – literally. When you’re not using the television, perhaps a mirror or a painting covers the screen. When it’s time to watch something, slide the mirror or painting away and out pops the screen. This could be ideal on a focal wall of the living room where you don’t want the television to dominate your décor.

LightingForget the days of manually flipping switches and turning

on table lamps. Instead, special lighting designers can create a lighting solution for virtually any need. From task lighting to setting an enjoyable mood, the lights in your home have a design that fits your needs and wants. LED lighting is an increasingly popular interior lighting op-tion that provides both task and mood lighting, built into furni-ture, walls, ceilings and floors. You could even set your lighting so it pulsates with music.

Keyless EntryToss that jumbled set of house keys that you fumble with every time you need to let yourself in the house. Instead, a finger-print system will scan and com-pare your own unique prints and unlock your doors for you. Couple the fingerprint with an

additional code for even greater security. Keyless entry systems are ideal not only for exterior entrances and exits, but also for a home office, master suite or other area in the home that you want to keep secure.

Home SecurityA home security camera pan-ning your landscape might not sound like anything new, but home security options have advance exponentially in re-cent years. Consider elaborate systems with numerous cam-eras trained on various spots in and around your home. These cameras will record important footage, enabling you to play back the recordings whenever necessary. Not only this, but you might opt for real-time monitoring of your home and

property while you’re halfway around the world.

Central Control StationsWhy not control appliances, lights, computers, gadgets, elec-tronics and heating and cooling from one central spot? With the push of a button or the slide of a switch, you can turn down the lights upstairs in the kids’ room, turn down the burner down-stairs on the stove or adjust the air conditioner down a degree or two. Save your time and energy for more important pursuits.

Whole House SurgeProtectionWhen your house utilizes a va-riety of different electric and electronic equipment, a surge could be devastating. Not only computers, but appliances, ex-ercise equipment and lighting often have built-in electronic circuitry that can experience costly damage from a voltage surge. Sure, you could use surge protection strips to plug in your appliances, but why not protect your entire home? With whole house surge protection installed directly at the electrical panel, surges stop before they even en-ter your home.

Tech Upgrades Your HomeShould Not Pass Up

LIVING QUARTERS


You have a job. Great! Thank the Lord! If you want to keep the job,

just make sure that you do your part in addition to thanking the Lord. Doing your part entails making sure that you do not en-gage in these bad office habits.

1Phones: It is a bad habit to always leave your of-fice door open and use

your speaker phone. Close your door and do not disturb your colleagues. As well, using a speaker phone at full volume to go through your voice mailbox is the definition of annoying.

If you are in an open office, do not use a speaker phone; in-stead, book an office for your meetings. It’s also bad habit to always leave your personal mo-bile phone to ring on loud vol-ume in an open office. Checking your personal phone during a chat with anyone is another bad habit.

2Eating: It’s ok to bring your lunch in and eat in the office, but remember

not to bring in any smelly food. You really don’t want to stink up the office especially if the win-dows aren’t opened. If you have to, then find a separate office or a free area to eat it.

Don’t microwave smelly food in the lunch room either. In addition, if you can’t close your mouth when you chew, you are better off eating where the noise emanating from your mouth isn’t going to irritate anyone. Also, if you have to con-stantly belch loudly after drink-ing your can of Coke, find some-where else to do this.

3Music: If you are in an office where you are al-lowed to listen to music

while you work, then using your Mp3 player or iPod with a pair of cheap, leaky ear bud plugs is not cool! Why? Those near you might not be fans of your old Spice Girls’ tracks. Not only that, your pirated bass less tin tunes might be disturbing your colleagues sitting near your desk.

It is best to always turn the volume down or ask your col-leagues if your ear bud plugs are leaking.

4Hygiene: This is a major bad habit in the work-place. If you are not a

fan of morning showers, baths, shower gels or soap, when you notice that your colleagues are constantly stepping away or moving away from you, it might be time for you to hit the shower hard! People are super polite so they might not tell you outright that you smell. Perhaps you may want to consider visiting the shower daily. In addition, constantly picking your nose in front of everyone is off putting, don’t make it a habit.

If you wear the best and most expensive suit, but have a terrible case of unkempt hair oozing dandruff flakes onto your shoulders or flying eve-rywhere, you’ll give a bad im-pression. It not a great look either if your shirt is soaking wet in your armpit areas, trust me, people see these things. As crazy as it sounds, everything on the grooming list – smell, clean teeth, facial hair, finger-nails, haircuts and oral hygiene do matter.

HOME OFFICE

4 Detrimental Office HabitsYou Shouldn’t Ignore


The red brick accents mesh beautifully with the rich wood

in this kitchen/dining room

ELEGANT IDEAS

Mixed And Matched Magic

11www.abstracthome.com AUGUST 2013 ABSTRACT HOME

Don’t be drab. Couple your tile colours to avoid

the monotony

ELEGANT IDEAS

12 ABSTRACT HOME AUGUST 2013 www.abstracthome.com

A splash of furniture colour

in the mini hutch and

removable seat cushions update this basic room

ELEGANT IDEAS

13www.abstracthome.com AUGUST 2013 ABSTRACT HOME

A small skylight gives this dark and palatial master suite a more relatable feel

ELEGANT IDEAS

14 ABSTRACT HOME AUGUST 2013 www.abstracthome.com

A well put-together bedroom

is enhanced by the right mix of

accessories

ELEGANT IDEAS


Times are hard and money does not grow on trees. Therefore, wasting food

is not something that should be taken lightly. It is inconsider-ate and also extremely expen-sive. With that said, measures should be taken to save food from being wasted. Here are some of them.

Create a planMeal planning is a critical step to help you spend less and waste less. When you know what you're going to eat to-day, tomorrow and this com-ing weekend, you will only purchase the foods you need at the store, preventing you from buying foods on a whim only to have them spoil before you eat them. Creating the plan isn't enough—you must stick to it if it's going to work. Setting your sights for making chili next weekend is great, but when you lose track of time during the week and let the veggies wilt, you are throwing away more than spoiled food; you're wast-ing your money, too. Stay on top of your planned meal schedule by keeping a calendar on the fridge to remember what’s on the menu each day. When plan-

ning, account for all the foods you have to buy and creatively use them throughout the week. Use that eight-pack of whole-wheat hamburger buns for a cookout one night and tuna sandwiches for lunch the next day, for example.

Shop More OftenIf you do one sweeping shop-ping trip per week, your fruits and veggies will go bad long before you have a chance to eat them. Try supplementing your major weekly shop with a cou-ple of small trips to restock pro-duce.

Watch Your TrashFor one week, take note of what's in your trash. Don't just look at it, but analyze everything that goes in the bin or down the disposal. (If you're really seri-ous, you might jot down your observations in a notebook.)

Then adjust your habits. If you threw away half a box of stale cereal, either buy a small-er box or store cereal in an air-tight container immediately after opening. If week-old leftovers are still taking up real estate, prepare less next time or make a more conscious ef-

fort to eat the remainder (for instance, pack it in your lunch bag and leave a note remind-ing yourself to take it to work).

When you pinpoint why and what you toss, you can make changes to your behav-ior.

Reorganize the Fridge Keep an orderly fridge, and you won't push ingredients to the back and forget them. Knowing what you have is more impor-tant than you think.

In addition to cleaning out the fridge once a week, keep leftovers as well as odds and ends (half-eaten onions or sweet potatoes) in sight. Store them in clear plastic contain-ers and then place them in the front upside down, since it's easier to see the contents.

Take Smaller PortionsBefore you dish out another restaurant-sized portion at home, ask yourself if you re-ally will finish what's on your plate (or, for that matter, if you should). Since it's un-likely you'll save that piece of nibbled-on casserole, stick to smaller portions; you can al-ways get seconds.

Organize by freshnessAdopt a "first in first out" sys-tem in the refrigerator and pantry. Place older foods in front so you use them more quickly, and store newer, fresher ones in back. Or create an "eat me first" box or basket for quick-to-expire ingredi-ents and foods.

Keep a healthy fridgeCheck that the seals on your fridge are good and check the fridge temperature too. Food needs to be stored between 1 and 5 degrees Celsius for max-imum freshness and longevity.

Turn it into garden foodSome food waste is unavoid-able, so why not set up a com-post bin for fruit and vegetable peelings? In a few months you will end up with rich, valuable compost for your plants. If you have cooked food waste, then a kitchen composter (bokashi bin) will do the trick. Just feed it with your scraps (you can even put fish and meat in it), sprinkle over a layer of spe-cial microbes and leave to fer-ment. The resulting product can be used on houseplants and in the garden.

KITCHEN

Preventing Food Wastage


Care for something fruity without having to eat full-fledged fruit? If so,

citrus might be just the thing you crave. Not only is citrus great for digestion and gives you high lev-els of Vitamin C, but it can add a special kick to your recipes as well. Enjoy these examples!

LEMON YOGURTMUFFINS

Ingredients1/4 cup butter or margarine, sof-tened3/4 cup white sugar2 eggs3/4 cup lemon flavored yogurt1/2 teaspoon lemon juice1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, or to taste1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon salt1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinna-mon, or to taste1/4 teaspoon ground ginger1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg1/2 cup confectioners' sugar2 teaspoons lemon juice

DirectionsPreheat the oven to 400 de-grees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin tins, or line with paper liners.In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the lemon

yogurt, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg; stir into the lemon mix-ture until just blended. Spoon batter into the prepared tins.

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top springs back when lightly touched. Allow the muffins to cool for about 15 minutes before removing them from the pan.Place the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl. Stir in the lem-on juice 1/2 teaspoon at a time until the mixture is drizzling consistency. Drizzle over cooled muffins, and allow the icing to set before serving.

SPICY LIME CHICKEN

Ingredients3/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon black pepper1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper1/8 teaspoon paprika1/4 teaspoon garlic powder1/8 teaspoon onion powder1/4 teaspoon dried thyme1/4 teaspoon dried parsley4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves2 tablespoons butter1 tablespoon olive oil2 teaspoons garlic powder3 tablespoons lime juice

DirectionsIn a small bowl, mix together

salt, black pepper, cayenne, pa-prika, 1/4 teaspoon garlic pow-der, onion powder, thyme and parsley. Sprinkle spice mixture generously on both sides of chicken breasts.Heat butter and olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Sauté chicken until gold-en brown, about 6 minutes on each side. Sprinkle with 2 tea-spoons garlic powder and lime juice. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently to coat evenly with sauce.

ORANGE BUNS

Ingredients2 tablespoons active dry yeast1 teaspoon white sugar1/4 cup margarine1 cup milk1 cup orange juice2 eggs1 teaspoon salt1 tablespoon orange zest1/2 cup white sugar6 cups bread flour

DirectionsProof the yeast. Scald the milk, add butter, sugar and salt to it.When it is luke warm add the yeast to it. Mix well, add about 2 cups of flour and beat well. Add eggs, orange juice and or-ange peel. Add flour mixing well after each addition, until it pulls away from the sides of the bowl.Knead for about 10 minutes.

Cover and let rise until dou-bled, punch dough down and if you like, let it rise again.Divide dough into 3 balls, cov-er and let rest for 10 minutes. Make into braids or buns and rise once more.Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) 10 - 12 minutes or until done. You may frost your braids or buns with an orange icing and sprinkle some nuts on top.

GRAPEFRUIT ANDAVOCADO SALAD

Ingredients4 large red grapefruit, peeled and sectioned4 avocados - peeled, pitted, and sliced1/3 cup orange juice1/3 cup olive oil3 tablespoons lime juice2 tablespoons honeySalt and cracked black pepper to taste

DirectionsArrange the grapefruit sections and avocado slices attractively in a shallow serving dish. In a bowl, whisk together the or-ange juice, olive oil, lime juice, and honey until well combined; drizzle the dressing over the grapefruit and avocado slices. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve immedi-ately.

Fuel Your Citrus Rush

RECIPES


Keeping Your Faith Covenant

Keeping your marital vows can be trying with all of the temptation around.

However, a vow is a vow and should be considered sacred. It sounds straightforward, but a large number of people cheat for several different reasons. If you think you might fall victim to temptation at some point and you need help fighting those urges, this article may just help you out.

The first key to staying faithful is to communicate often. You’ll both be better for it. Daily phone calls, texts or emails can make the other person feel closer while they are away at work or doing oth-er daily duties that keep you apart. Touching base reminds you why you love this person and would never want to hurt him by not staying faithful in the relationship. Surprise packages that include sexy lin-gerie and promises to “wear this next time we meet” can also keep the flames and faith-fulness alive.

Secondly, learn to accept the fact that you’re no longer single. Because you are already married, you have a responsi-bility not common when you are still single. Now, you have a partner who you are com-mitted to take care of and to

be concerned with. Definitely, this is an excellent step to stay-ing faithful.

Do not put yourself in the position of being alone with the opposite sex. This can lead to the act of being unfaithful, without much thought or ac-tion. It will also put doubt into your spouse’s mind, should he/she find out. I suppose you have heard the old saying; "What is good for the goose is good for the gander!" well this can apply to cheating. He/she may decide to get even, should they doubt.

Also, don’t drink or use drugs around the opposite sex. This goes for more than just being faithful. It is a rule that can be applied to prevent a host of foul ups. Drinking alcohol or using drugs with the opposite sex is one of the quickest roads to infidelity because it lowers your inhibitions. Even having a cocktail at a business lunch can lead to more intimate conver-sations and inappropriate be-havior. Drinking can lead to a person becoming comfortable enough to open up to another person. When you share too much personal information with the opposite sex, it devel-ops false trust and shows your vulnerability (which can be sexually appealing).

With that said, you should put positive effort into your relationship daily. It doesn’t matter if you give your partner an extra hug or put the dishes away, the fact that you are do-ing something small to show you care on a regular basis can make all the difference and may prevent your partner from seeking attention elsewhere.

Apart from those little things, invest some time into being a bit wilder. Stay sexu-ally creative and add spice to your sex life. It takes effort to keep the fire lit in the bedroom after you’ve been together for a while. Be adventurous and think outside the box. As long as you are both comfortable with it, there’s no harm done. Couples who have a happy sex life are much less likely to cheat.

Consider that several per-sonal problems have the po-tential to cause one to cheat. It is important not to look for a quick fix. In these harsh re-cessionary times, finance is a common reason people are led to cheat. Getting laid off from a job or trying to deal with fi-nancial problems can lead to a diminished self-image. In turn, that can lead to seeking out a quick fix to boost one's self-esteem. An affair might

temporarily provide that initial boost, but the rush can obscure larger issues of disappointment or dissatisfaction that lurk be-neath the surface.

Another good way to stay faithful is to think about the endless consequences. As the law of physics suggests, “In every action, there is an equal or stronger reaction.” As you become unfaithful, different and endless consequences will arise. Your wife will leave you and take your children away with her. The children will definitely suffer. They will be confused and bothered physi-cally and emotionally. What-ever consequences you envis-age, they will always be bad, bad to you, to your spouse, to your kids and to everyone who is part of your relationship and marriage.

Finally, recognize the affair as a symptom of something larger. If it isn't already clear, the temptation to cheat is a symptom of a larger problem. This may be a lack of commu-nication, financial pressures, or stress related to child rearing. Whatever it is, try to identify and address the root cause long before you find yourself in a compromised situation or hav-ing to explain the indiscretion to your partner.

BRIDAL


It has been said more than a few times that a happy people are a healthy peo-

ple. However, more and more each day we witness alarming increases in health related prob-lems. Our hospitals remain filled and undertaking seems to be the biggest business these days. Well if there is any truth to the afore-mentioned adage, why don’t we just get with the program and start smiling? That is because one cannot force happiness on one’s self. Being happy is habit-ual. Here are some of the ways you can acquire these happiness traits.

The first step toward becom-ing a happier person is similar to the first step in overcoming any obstacle. Eradicate denial. Stop denying that you are unhappy. Do not fool yourself into think-ing you are genuinely happy when you obviously aren’t. We are all happy at times and we all face moments of despair. How-ever, if you feel the need to be happier it probably means you are feeling a bit too much despair in your life. Once you can iden-tify that, then you can make the conscious decision to be happier.

Now that your mind has

made the change, it is time for a spiritual overhaul. A person who is at one with his spirit will be at peace with himself. Peace and tranquility can be the equiva-lent of happiness. Use medita-tion, religion, yoga or whatever it takes as your spiritual centre. When you are focused on your inner self you are better able to cope with any challenge which threatens to deflate your moti-vation.

Similarly, a healthy and fit body helps to create a happy body as well. Image issues and illness are the root causes of numerous self hate issues. Self hatred breeds hatred of others. Take the extra time to eat healthy and work out so as to keep your body in prime shape. The self confidence boost to be gained from your well-kept image will keep you happier than usual.

The next step toward be-ing habitually happy is to make genuine goodness your goal. This means that you should fo-cus on doing good things and these things will in turn make you feel good. Become a per-son enshrined in morality and strong values, beliefs and ideals. Continue to try to do your best

to meet your ideals and moral goals. Your focus will always be on the light ahead in the tunnel and not the gloom behind.

Attaining total emotional independence is a good way to stay sunny side up. Never let anyone control your feelings. Do not give people the power or position of dominance over you. This does not mean you should tell off your boss because he is your superior in the work place. However, it does mean recog-nizing that as a human being no one is superior to you.

A major component in being happier is being able to define true happiness. Know the things that are required to make you happy and do not let material things which may fade influence your inner bliss. Success should not equate to happiness, but in-stead be part of what makes you happy. A lot of successful peo-ple are not happy for a host of reasons. One you have achieved that milestone of success, you may still be disappointed. There is a bigger picture to all of our lives.

Ask different people who are genuinely happy about their lives and they will all have one

thing in common. They have in them love. Love is more than just an experience we go through, but the basis for all happiness. The more you love something is the better you will do at it. Relationships fail without love. Without love for your job it be-comes stressful. Deciding to love should be a conscious decision we all make in our lives.

The last tip for finding the path to happiness is deciding not to dwell on despair. Misery and mourning are parts of life, but instead of letting it engulf you, be sure to march your way out of it. Let unhappiness drive you toward a better tomor-row. Misery is normally a sign that something needs to change in your life. When we mourn or feel miserable we are actu-ally feeling that way because we are subconsciously looking in the mirror. Our mirror image should shine through whatever is causing us pain. Use misery as motivation for happiness and stop sulking.

Now that we know the steps for being happier, start to tread the path to joy. You will find your journey to be filled with smiles.

Find Your Happy Place

FAMILY


Whether you love or loathe them, leggings are eve-

rywhere this year, from high-street to high-end designer labels. We know leggings are almost forbidden for women over 40, but Kris Jenner proved it can be done if done properly.

They (leggings), have long been the domain of the slender-in-leg and slight-of-frame and for those women the right-side of 30! Undeniably, leggings are not the most flattering when it comes to fashion. They can show every bulge and cling in all the wrong places. They can accentuate chunky thighs and knobby knees. With no pock-ets, stitching or firm material to hide the lumps and bumps, leg-gings can be as cruel as they are fashionable.

Two Things to consider be-fore wearing leggings:1) Does the top compliment your shape? If you are wider on the bottom, you DO NOT want form fitting short tops. Choose a top that has wider shoulders and hits mid hip; this

will help to balance you out.2) Do you need to CYA (cover your assets)? When leggings are too sheer and too short, people are likely to see more of you than you’d like. Make sure you chose leggings with the right opacity.

Legging LengthsKnee length: These leggings require lean calves and a good eye for proportion. The top that's paired with them should end around mid-thigh. High heels will help stretch the sil-houette.

Mid-calf length: This is the easiest to wear because the wearer can help control what is highlighted and what is hid-den depending on the top she chooses. Wherever the top ends, be it a miniskirt or knee-length dress, that's where the eyes of passers-by will land.

Ankle length: Wear these like tights. The "maxi length" shows off nice ankles, especially when worn with an unfussy shoe with a medium heel.

Using a body lotion and cream on your skin is probably one of the best

ways to keep it healthy. Espe-cially since they help moisturize, nourish, hydrate and revitalize the skin. But one type might or might not suit the other skin types. Hence picking up of the right body lotion and choosing a body cream is necessary, espe-cially in terms of the skin tex-ture, tone and type.

Consider these points while choosing a body lotion or cream for you.

1 Understand your skin type, whether it is normal skin,

oily or dry type. There is a sim-ple way to tell. Use a tissue on your skin about 3 or 4 hours af-ter your shower. If you see oils on it then you have oily skin but if your dry seems dull and a little cracked, then you have dry skin. If you are unsure, make sure you seek help from specialists or dermatologists.

2Avoid buying moisturizers and creams that contain

dyes, as they are harmful chemi-cals that possibly could damage the skin. So ingredients in such creams can also allergies and

bad reactions in some people. It is best to conduct a patch test before use.

3Herbal products are always a good option because they

don’t have any side effects. They do take longer to show the re-sults but the results are definite-ly guarenteed!

4If you have a problem of stretch marks or cellulite,

then go for a product that fea-tures cocoa or Shea butter as is main ingredient.

5If your skin is sun burnt, opt for products that contain

Aloe Vera.

6Body lotions and body creams are not the same.

While body creams are richer in their ingredients to keep your skin hydrated, lotions go well with dry skin especially during winters.

7Fragrance like of rose, san-dal etc. would help hydrate

your skin while offering you pleasant fragrance.

8Night creams hydrate your skin and make it soft while

you are asleep.

Eight Tips To Choosing The

Right Body Lotion

POWDER ROOM WARDROBE

Leggings


Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most com-mon form of dementia

among older people worldwide. AD destroys brain cells, and this causes problems with memory, thinking and produces behavior severe enough to affect func-tional aspects of living from daily activities such as work to hobbies to your social life. AD is not a discriminatory illness. El-derly people of any ethnic back-ground can be susceptible to the disease. Celebrities such as boxer Sugar Ray Robinson and thespi-ans Charlton Heston and Rita Hayworth have been afflicted by AD. However, studies suggest that people of Pakistani, Sri Lan-kan or African Caribbean ethnic background are more at risk of getting Alzheimer’s. It is impor-tant to note that Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease which is fa-tal. As of now there is no cure for Alzheimer’s.

There is no known sin-gle cause for the onset of AD. Instead, myriad factors may contribute to affecting a per-son and leading them to Alz-heimer’s. The most important known risk factor is age. It has been reported that the num-ber of people with the disease doubles every 5 years beyond age 65. Genetics may also pre-sent itself as a strong risk factor. Early onset AD is indeed he-reditary making it easy to dis-tinguish some sort of genetic trait in the more common late onset version of AD.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s include confusion, language difficulties, personality chang-es, mood swings, short term

memory loss as well as prob-lems with attention and spatial orientation. These symptoms are not all easily recognizable at once. AD symptoms begin slowly. Age related memory change is usually confused with AD in its early stages. Howev-er, the disease usually requires medical help as it progresses since ordinary tasks become more difficult to complete. People experiencing the mid-dle stages of AD may forget how to do simple tasks like brushing their teeth or comb-ing their hair. Later on they may become easily excited or aggressive and may not recog-nize the most familiar of faces. Some people have even been known to wander from home and not know their way back.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is best done early. Hopefully, families or friends can work in tandem with someone who has Alzheimer’s in deciding proper care for the patient if diagnosis takes place in time. In addition, treatments currently available for Alzheimer's - while limited in their effectiveness and in the number of people they help - have the best chance of work-ing when begun early in the disease. Testing for AD may include:

• A physical exam which in-cludes tests of blood, urine, or spinal fluid, and brain scans.

• Cognitive tests including evaluations of hearing and sight.

• A review of the person’s medical history and family medical history.

Everyone is on some kind of time constraint these days with work, family

time, and friends so it is impor-tant to know how to maximize your time in the gym. These tips will help you sculpt your time in the gym to be more ef-ficient:

• Come prepared with know-ing what you are going to do. Have a notepad if necessary so you can bang out set after set.

• Bring a water bottle so you can avoid frequent trips to water fountain.

• Stay away from all the social butterflies that like to talk in between sets. Stay off your phone and stop texting or checking Facebook. Wear headphones so you can stay “in the zone.”

• Go to the gym early in the morning or later in the even-ing. Beat the 9-5 crowd.

• Don’t take too long of a break in between sets. You don’t want to let your heart rate lower too much. For example if you just finished a bicep set, jump right on over and get on a triceps machine.

• If you are in a hurry, do not focus on isolating one mus-cle at a time like your biceps or triceps. Work on larger muscle groups that day. For example; pull-ups, squats, flat bench target more than just one muscle.

• Change up your routine eve-ry 4-6 weeks. Your body will adjust to your current work load. Try changing up your workout and intensity for maximum results.

Alzheimer’s Disease

HOME GYMMEDICINE CABINET

Increase Your Gym Efficiency


The amount of basic aquarium maintenance you have to do is directly

related to how closely you fol-low the three rules of fishkeep-ing.

If the tank is overcrowded, if you consistently feed the fish too much food, and if you seldom do partial water changes, the filter system will be unable to keep the water quality where it should be. If you find yourself dealing with diseased and dying fish on a regular basis, you are almost certainly doing at least one of these three things wrong.

Basic aquarium mainte-nance is not time consuming if the tank is set up correctly and you go about it properly. You should get in the habit of looking at the fish closely eve-ry day or two, as well as check-ing the water temperature.

Once each week, clean the inside of the front glass (and the side glass if you want), change 10 or 15 percent of the water, and clean the outside of the glass. You could do this every ten days, but it is usu-ally easier to remember if you perform maintenance on the

same day each week.If the tank is lightly

stocked and you are careful about not overfeeding, this basic aquarium maintenance can be done every other week. Undercrowding also means that more extensive mainte-nance, particularly on the fil-ter, doesn't have to be done as often either.

If you keep large fish that consume greater amounts of food and thus produce more waste products, you may have to change as much as 50 per-cent of the water each time.

Note that tank size makes a difference, too. Not only are larger tanks a more stable aquatic environment for the fish, but they also require less work than smaller aquariums.

When doing water chang-es, be sure to use what may be the most important accessory you can own: a hydro-vacuum. Essentially, the hydro-vacuum consists of a hose to siphon the water from the tank with a special attachment on the end that goes into the tank. The attachment is a long, clear tube that is much wider than the siphon hose.

It is important to take care of your automobile in order to maximize its features and

longevity. However, people of-ten make mistakes when they try to maintain their car. Here are three of the most common ones.

Not Getting the Brakes Checked and Pads Changed at Regular IntervalsThis is one of the top car main-tenance mistakes and it can be truly hazardous. The brakes of a vehicle are not to be ignored under any circumstances. If the vehicle comes to a stop with a high pitched squealing/scraping sound coming from the brakes, this points to worn down brakes that are scraping against the drum and rotors. Brakes con-stantly touching the drums and rotors can damage these com-ponents of the vehicle as well. Instead, just get the brakes checked regularly to avoid any misfortune.

Not Tightening the Gas Cap This is a very common car maintenance mistake; few peo-ple pay any attention to the gas cap when washing or checking

their vehicle. Often people are alarmed by the sudden appear-ance of the check engine light on the dash board. As concerned owners, they quickly drive the vehicle down to a repair shop and the diagnosis finds that there is nothing amiss with the vehicle – just a gas cap which was not tightened all the way. A loose gas cap can cause air in-terference with fuel intake, so check the cap diligently.

Unnecessary Tune-Up Most new generation cars don’t have to be put through the tune up grind. The valves in these vehicles do not need adjusting since the timing of ignition is computer controlled, so the car owner no longer has to hassle with the carburetor or injectors. The spark plugs even in these modern cars still need attention. However, many warranties offer headache-free service for almost 10,000 miles, so there is truly no reason to change the spark plugs. Instead, go for a complete change which should include the timing belt, coolant and the spark plugs when the vehicle hits the 60,000 miles.

PETS

Aquarium Maintenance

GARAGE

Car Maintenance Mistakes


Are you one of those peo-ple who are always like “OMG I always dreamt

of visiting so and so?” The fact is everyone has a dream des-tination. The problem is that dreams do not necessarily trans-late into pleasant realities (Es-pecially when it comes to travel). So if you are thinking of going off on a majestic sojourn to one of these places this article may help prepare you for what could be an extremely underwhelm-ing experience. Travelers, guides and agents have all posited their views to come up with what are the most overrated travel desti-nations in the world. Here are some of them.

The London EyeThe London Eye is one of the top tourist locations in London, which is a damn shame. The city is full of fabulous attractions, from historic sites to museums to monuments. There’s no rea-son to visit a glitzy Ferris wheel just because it dominates the skyline. There are better monu-ments and better amusement parks.

Loch NessIt's a very narrow lake in the middle of nowhere in an espe-

cially depressing part of Scot-land. But the legend about a sea monster known as "Nessie" keeps the tourists flowing. Kids will leave with a plush Nessie and a sense of intense disap-pointment. Hopefully there's enough Scotch in the world to help mommy and daddy erase this wee traumatic memory.

The Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty in New York is an iconic and symbolic monument, but yet another massive disappointment. You’re better off spending your time looking around the infinitely more interesting neighbouring Ellis Island, the gateway for mil-lions of immigrants to the US during the early 1900’s.

Still want your classic tour-ist photograph of Lady Liberty? Take the (free) Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan to (you

guessed it) Staten Island to see fantastic views of the New York Bay as well as your beloved Stat-ue of Liberty.

Stonehenge What is essentially a bunch of big stones in a field, Stonehenge is yet another ancient monu-ment completely mugging off unsuspecting tourists. Don’t ex-pect to get near let alone touch the stones (you can’t), don’t ex-pect to see anything interesting in the immediate vicinity (there is no accompanying museum or tourist centre), and certainly don’t expect good weather (it’s England).

The Hollywood Walk of FameAre you excited by handprints and sidewalks? Unless you are, the walk of fame isn’t going to excite you. It’s not exactly im-pressive to say you’ve walked on concrete that a celebrity had their hands in. At the same time, you’ll face crowds of tourists, the constant noise of tourist trap vendors and glimpses of the homeless just around the corner.

The Leaning Tower of PisaIf you drive for a few hours, you’ll probably find a local uni-versity near your home. Chanc-

es are this university has some kind of bell tower. Does that bell tower sound like an amaz-ing tourist attraction? If not, you probably won’t enjoy it any more if it’s tilted a few degrees and crowds of people are taking pictures pretending to push it back.

Flashing billboards, obnox-ious peddlers selling knockoff DVDs, chain restaurants, and hordes of lost tourists along with a distinct smell of urine are what you’ll find in the five blocks of Times Square. If you visit New York City, you just have to visit Times Square but one visit is never enough, because it’s al-ways packed with tourists and long lines to the attractions. May we suggest, you hit the Mu-seum Mile, which is a stretch of eight museums on Fifth Avenue.

Broadway ShowsNew York City has a lot going for it. For many tourists, no trip to the Big Apple is complete without a trip to a Broadway show. Too bad most of them are wildly overpriced rehashes of Disney films, comic books, or romantic comedy films from the 1990s.

TRAVEL

Overrated Travel Destinations


Abstract Home Is Published By Abstract Media Group, Premium Commercial Complex, San Juan, Trinidad, W.I. • Tel: (868) 638 1156/9 • Fax: (868) 638 1160. Printed By The Office Authority - Printing Division And Distributed By AMG

Abstract Home Vol. 4 Issue 13 2013

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Transcript of Abstract Home Vol. 4 Issue 13 2013