It is not easy at the holidays to be going through a big life-changing event.  You have to take it in stride and keep your head up and keep your feet moving in the right direction.  It is not going to be easy for me at Thanksgiving this year because Alexa will be with her dad and not with me.  It is going to be hard since this will be my first holiday without her with me and being that it is the first holiday that I have not been with my ex.  I do not think that I will ever get used to the fact that now I only get to see Alexa for half her life now that I have to split time with her dad.  I am very lucky that Alexa does have a dad that wants to be her in life.  I hate to hear about all the children that only get to be with one of their parents because the other parent does not want to be in their life.  I do not and will not ever be able to understand that.  I made sure that when I left that I found a house a close as possible to my ex so that I could see my daughter whenever I wanted to.  Life is all about change and making the best of life as it comes it you.  You are in control of who you are and who you want to be.  I cannot say it enough how you are the only person in control of your life.  Only you have the power to change what path you take and the way your life turns out.  Life is too short to be bitter and unhappy.  It is really important to be with family and friends at the holidays and be thankful for all the wonderful things that you have in your life.  I love thanksgiving; it is the best holiday.  There is nothing that is expected and no gifts to give.  It is just time to be thankful.  So I hope that this holiday season you take a moment to take a step back and enjoy the beauty in a smile from you family, a hug from your children, or a kind word from a friend.  I also want to realize that there is always some less fortunate and please be thankful for all that you have. 

Two types of fiber Insoluble vs. Soluble:

Insoluble fiber is like a sponge: it absorbs many times its weight in water, swelling up within the intestine. Insoluble fiber is found mainly in whole grains and on the outside of seeds, fruits, legumes, and other foods. It is best to eat unrefined foods since insoluble fiber is key in promoting more efficient elimination by increasing stool bulk and may alleviate some digestive disorders.

Soluble fiber is found in fruits, vegetables, seeds, brown rice, barley, oats, and oat bran. It can help produce a softer stool, but does less to help the passage of food; rather, it works chemically to prevent or reduce the absorption of certain substances into the bloodstream.

Introducing NuVitae:

The world’s first sparkling citrus drink designed to quench your appetite! ™ Believed by many nutrition experts to be the next major health trend, consuming foods that satisfy the urge to eat, will surpass the success of past dietary crazes such as the Atkins or South Beach phenomena, becoming the new concept embraced by dieters and those looking for a simple and helpful way to naturally eat less.

Drinking NuVitae is an easy way to satisfy your appetite, and help you naturally eat less. Enhanced with 50% of your recommended daily intake (RDI) of fiber (12.5 grams) plus 15 essential vitamins and minerals, the advanced NuVitae Fiberceutical® Drink formula helps support and maintain normal, healthy:

* Appetite and Weight
* Cholesterol Levels within the normal range
* Blood Glucose Levels when used as part of your diet
* Blood Triglyceride Levels
* Intestinal Microflora (prebiotic) and Regularity
* Mineral Absorption

It is a great drink to give you energy and help you to fill full longer. I love it; it has a great citrus flavor. For a free sample click here http://tinyurl.com/nuvitae.

Benefits of stretching: The Why

Regular stretching is a powerful part of any exercise program.

* Stretching increases flexibility. Flexible muscles can improve your daily performance. Tasks such as lifting packages, bending to tie your shoes or hurrying to catch a bus become easier and less tiring.

* Stretching improves range of motion of your joints. Good range of motion keeps you in better balance, which will help keep you mobile and less prone to injury from falls, especially as you age.

* Stretching improves circulation. Stretching increases blood flow to your muscles. Improved circulation can speed recovery after muscle injuries.

* Stretching promotes better posture. Frequent stretching keeps your muscles from getting tight, allowing you to maintain proper posture and minimize aches and pains.

* Stretching can relieve stress. Stretching relaxes the tense muscles that often accompany stress.

* Stretching may help prevent injury. Preparing your muscles and joints for activity can protect you from injury, especially if your muscles or joints are tight.

Stretching essentials: The How

* Target major muscle groups. When you’re stretching, focus on your calves, thighs, hips, lower back, neck and shoulders. Also stretch muscles and joints that you routinely use at work or play.

* Warm up first. Stretching muscles when they’re cold increases your risk of injury, including pulled muscles. Warm up by walking while gently pumping your arms, or do a favorite exercise at low intensity for five minutes. Better yet, stretch after you exercise, when your muscles are warm and more receptive to stretching.

One caveat: If you plan to stretch only after your workout, increase the intensity of the activity more slowly than you would if you had stretched your muscles before exercising.

* Hold each stretch for at least 30 seconds. It takes time to lengthen tissues safely. Hold your stretches for at least 30 seconds and up to 60 seconds for a really tight muscle or problem area. That can seem like a long time, so keep an eye on the clock or your watch. Then repeat the stretch on the other side. For most muscle groups, a single stretch is often enough if you hold it long enough.

* Don’t bounce. Bouncing as you stretch can cause small tears in the muscle. These tears leave scar tissue as the muscle heals, which tightens the muscle even further making you less flexible and more prone to pain.

* Stay in a pain-free stretch. Expect to feel tension while you’re stretching. If it hurts, you’ve gone too far. Back off to the point where you don’t feel any pain, then hold the stretch.

* Relax and breathe freely. Don’t hold your breath while you’re stretching.

How often to stretch is up to you: The When

As a general rule, stretch whenever you exercise. If you don’t exercise regularly, you might want to stretch at least three times a week to maintain flexibility. If you have a problem area, such as tightness in the back of your leg, you might want to stretch every day or even twice a day.

Know when to exercise caution

You can stretch anytime, anywhere, in your home, at work or when you’re traveling. If you have a chronic condition or an injury, however, you may need to alter your approach to stretching. For example, if you have a strained muscle, stretching it like usual may cause further harm. Discuss with your doctor or a physical therapist the best way to stretch.

Be Safe and Be Aware!

Congratulations on taking your life back. However your relationship went from wedded bliss to divorce is really not important, the fact is you came to realize you could not continue in your life being as happy as you deserve with the person you married. So, you took an incredible leap of courage and decided to get a divorce. Many women will not ever take this step, even though they are extremely unhappy because they are afraid of leaving the security of a certain life style, or they just don’t know what life will be like on the other side of divorce. One of the biggest concerns for women prior to a divorce is, “Will I be able to make it financially?” With some careful planning on your part and the same determination it took to get your life back the answer is yes.

If you haven’t gotten a divorce yet, but know that it is nearly certain, get involved with your finances. In many relationships only one spouse deals with the finances of the house. The other person is oblivious to how much money is coming in each month and what each month’s liabilities are. Many times the spouse who isn’t involved in finances are unaware of investment accounts that are held and the balance of savings accounts. If you realize this applies to you, begin getting involved with your daily finances and become aware of your overall financial picture.

Many women who go through a divorce previously made the sacrifice to stay at home and raise children. In many cases stay at home moms feel as though they lose or do not develop marketable job skills that will allow them to survive in today’s workforce. Begin looking within yourself at what you enjoy and start developing marketable skills. You can start by taking night classes at a local community college, or taking courses online.

According to reports from the Social Science Research Center most women who divorce see their standard of living decrease by 27% after a divorce. That is a tough reality but you must keep in mind this is temporary. “After a divorce” is not a permanent season in your life. What you do to minimize your monthly expenses and increase you income during this time is very important. The first key is eliminating as much debt as possible before, or immediately after the divorce as possible. A study from the Federal Reserve Board Survey of Consumer Finances found that the median amount of credit card debt for women who are divorced is $1900. Those minimum monthly payments of $90 may end up being the difference of you making it each month, or struggling to keep your head above water. Even if you are driving a car you love, you may consider selling it, or trading it in on a less expensive car without a payment to again reduce your expenses.

The key thing to remember in this juncture in your life is that this is just a transition time in your life. A transition is when you leave from one place and begin the process of moving to another. Your income will increase, you will possibly meet someone else to help you through, but the static’s say that 80% of women die single and that 56% of those women are afraid of learning about personal finances because it seems to complicated. (Kind of depressing I know) Either way married or divorced, as a woman you will most likely be on your own financially at some point in your life. You need to begin the process today of educating yourself regarding personal finances to ensure your own well being and to continue the process of taking control of your life.

For further information on how I found myself in debt and how we took control of our lives financially visit my site at http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com/

How many of us go to Wal-Mart, park the car, get out, walk in and a few minutes later, have no recollection of any of it, especially where we parked? I was waiting for someone one time in a parking lot and I thought it would be interesting to people watch. I watched mostly women to see how they behaved while walking. Most of them had no clue! They walked with head down, no keys in hand, paying no attention to what is happening around them. So those are some of what-not-to-do things. Let’s talk about better alternatives. The first thing I do is park in the same aisle every time. This takes away the confusion when you leave the store. You do this a few times, and automatically you head in the direction of your car. On your way to the car, you should have your keys in your hand. Don’t intertwine the keys between your fingers though. If you do that and hit someone, your hand will hurt more than the bad guy will hurt. Just keep your car key ready to use. That key, by itself, is a good weapon. Pay attention to who is parked around you. If you see someone out of place (in other words, a guy is sitting in the car next to you and he seems to be fidgety, sweating, looking all around him) you might want to go back into the store and wait for him to leave.

More on parking lot security later. Have a safe day!

Identity theft has become a real problem today.  It is so easy for people to get your information from your e-mail and even people going through your trash that you put out.  You can never be too careful and make sure you take all the precautions that you need.  This is your life and you have to be aware of all the people that will try to take advantage of you.  The most common scam is known as e-mail phishing.  The e-mail will ask for passwords, usernames, credit card numbers, etc.  Here are some simple things to do to avoid identity theft while using the computer.

ü     Never open a link that comes to you in e-mail.  You don’t know where that link will take you.

ü     Always sign out of your bank accounts, etc., when you’re finished especially if you are using a public computer.

ü     Never respond to e-mails asking for personal information.

ü     Do not open e-mail from unknown users.

ü     Turn your computer off when you’re finished using it.