They of course had been around me all along but I had been so busy (God, how I hate that word) carrying on with raising people and building a life that I had never stopped to look around me. Oh of course I would read about them in articles, blogs and posts but they were not tangible. They seemed like fictional characters far from my reach. It was lonely a place at times....

Cooking rice is a delicate process. The great part about cooking with the ingredient is that you don’t need to watch over it like soup or fried chicken. Once you master the process, the ordeal is automatic just like making popcorn. For more information on how to cook rice properly, check out the infographic above. You may notice that each type of rice calls for different measurements of water. Furthermore, the cooking methods slightly vary....

Raspberries -These tasty fruits provide ellagic acid to your diet and this antioxidant helps prevent red, inflamed skin. Sweet potatoes -The beta carotene in the sweet potatoes helps fight against skin cancer, which reduces the aging of skin. Tomatoes -The antioxidant lycopene results in smoother, better skin and protects the skin from sun damge. Kiwi -Vitamin C from kiwis maintains collagen, which keeps skin firm. It is also high in vitamin E, which fights free radicals....

Case in point, the three “toys” showcased in this featured video. Let’s give a bit of a rundown shall we? 1. Kano The first is Kano, a $150 build-your-own-computer that allows 6-14 year old kids construct their own basic computer and create uncomplicated programs for it. If your child is into technology, this would be the perfect gift for them. Not only does it teach some electrical and engineering skills, but it also holds their hand through some basic programming lessons....

Your home is not safe from germs and bacteria that could make you sick. Everyday items such as the remote and smartphone are filled with dirty elements and should be wiped down properly on a daily basis. The question is, are you using the sponge from the kitchen sink to clean your gadgets? If you are that could be worse than not cleaning it at all! This is because a sponge is the perfect breeding ground for germs due to the moist and dark environment....

Not having them around other kids No man is an island, and the earlier we instill this on our kids, the better. When they are around other kids, they learn to share, play fairly and treat another human as their equal, and to treat them with care and compassion. They learn that feelings can get hurt, and doing something bad to another person can make that person cry or upset. They become more self-aware and aware of others’ feelings when they spend time around other kids....

Corn Flakes Are Not That Healthy Corn flakes are far from the healthiest breakfast cereal. Actually, they are a refined carbohydrate. This means that the most nutritious part of the grain and its fiber have been removed. But, fiber is exactly what we should be adding to our diet! Because refined carbohydrates have had all of their vitamins and minerals removed, they are considered empty calories. That’s right, you’ve been starting your day on empty calories....

Each day is dedicated to one task, so you progress gradually learning how to manage money the right way. It starts with analyzing your income and expenses to get to know your numbers. To make managing less of a struggle, you’ll choose a tracking system during the next day. The third day is devoted facing your debt – uncomfortable, yet required since you need to pay it off. But don’t worry, creating a budget is the next beneficial step to getting rid of your debt quicker....

Average guitar lessons tend to juxtapose two types of emotions within students: excitement and fear. While your brain may want you to play like Ed Sheeran, your hand writhes in crippling discomfort, begging you to stop. Taylor and Daniel from Mash’Allah show you the easy way to play one of the most difficult chords that beginner guitar players have to learn. The secret lies in how they reduce the chord into its most necessary parts....

The good thing is that to become an entrepreneur you don’t need some kind of special qualification or high and mighty friends to set you on the journey. What it actually involves is this: Ask yourself if you are really willing to do the work Many think that being your own boss means more independence and freedom to do whatever you want. But entrepreneurs work harder than many average employees who simply wait for their paycheck to arrive....

A simple training session might look easy, but the reality is that a good exercise session takes hours of work behind the scenes (you know, planning the exercises and moves, setting a routine based on each client’s needs, and determining each client’s goals). Therefore, if you want to become a professional personal trainer you must know that you are going to have to dedicate a lot of work, time and effort first....

Ever considered doing so yourself ? Here are some reasons why you might want to consider it: It’s Simple Simple is often genius. Complicated is often dizzying. If you are like most of Americans, you barely wear 80% of items in your closet. Instead of feeling constrained by the thought of picking a uniform, consider it a way to wear your unique look all the time. Your signature style is yours alone and can be as humdrum or unique as you like....

While employers are going a step further to employ image consultants and fashion experts to improve the dress sense in their work place and get the best out of their employees, people still consider you as professional and important when put on a suit. Yet it depends on the organization or the scenario you are dressed for. A suit may not be the best outfit when working in construction or tech companies but it does work ideal in financial organizations....

Mom is the reason why playtime is possible You learn the right mix of play and work from your mother. You play around your clean house and your bedroom because of your mom and you clean up because of her too. Early on, you learn to clean up last night’s mess so that today can be more enjoyable. Even if the lesson doesn’t sink in right then, your subconscious mind absorbs it....

From the infographic, you can note that Stephen King was the only author who made a mark in the industry at a very young age. He started practicing his writing art at the age of 12 years and it took him until 27 years before publishing his first book. Next in line was Lewis Carroll who started writing at the age of 13 years and did not wait long before having is book published....

According to psychologists Nathaniel Branden and Robert Sternberg, who have both researched and written about the challenges of romantic relationships, these little displays of interest and affection can be more important than all the “active listening” and trust games in the world. Their research has suggested 10 keys to keeping both partners content, satisfied, and happy with each other. 10 Keys to a Successful Romantic Relationship

They were saving their time and wasting mine. It was then that I decided to heed the advice that I have seen so often about how to be more efficient with time. The first thing I did this morning was make a list of the things that were important and had to be accomplished today. I then focused on completing those tasks and ignored all the other obstacles that appeared during the day....

Washington state, Oregon and California make up the entire West Coast. They also account for more than 25% of the homeless population in the United States, according to research by Oregonlive. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has found that at least 610,042 persons fall asleep every night across the country at bus stops, in shelters, in front of shops, abandoned buildings, public spaces, car parks, tent cities and other similar places....

Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells from your face. Normally your skin will shed the dead cells naturally, but sometimes they can stay attached to the top layer of your skin for up to a month. This can make your complexion look rough and tired, and it can even make stop your skin from secreting oil properly. This can cause blackheads, red spots and blemishes, so it is very important to exfoliate....

In just a week’s time, we’ll be stepping into 2011. Are you ready to rock 2011 ahead? I love the new year, because it’s the time when we start everything on a fresh note. It’s when we set new resolutions, positive intentions of what we want to accomplish for the year. In today’s post, I’m going to share top 10 resolutions to set for the new year. These 10 resolutions cover important areas, and when accomplished, will bring about great benefits to your life....