Deer Season is on the way and if you are like me you do everything at the last minute, but don't worry will get ready on time. After all, the only thing you really need to deer hunt is a gun or bow, a license, and a place to hunt. Clothes and other items are just a nicety, but we will cover them too. Well before whitetail deer season begins you need to be preparing by getting into shape. Hiking is the best exercise as it mimics the deer hunting experience. While walking around a track or on the neighborhood sidewalks is better than nothing, it is best to walk in a realistic hunting environment. Walk in public hunting areas, state parks, and state and national forests. Don't stick to the trails (unless it is a legal requirement), walk up and down steep banks, jump creeks, and push your way through brush. If you are stuck inside run up and down stairs, lift weights, and get the best workout that you can.

The next thing that you do to get ready for deer hunting season is to get your gun sighted in and practice with it. If you are bow hunter this should be a year around activity to keep your muscles strong and limber that are used to shoot your hunting bow. Shoot it hunting situations, off of a tree, off hand, with feet on an un-level surface, etc. Make certain that your gun or bow is in good working order as well.

Now get your deer hunting equipment out and examine it to assure that it is good working order at least a week or so before season. Take your binoculars, spotting scopes, etc outside and make sure they are still clear and fog free. Sharpen and oil knives and other metal tools that you will be using when deer hunting. Check to make certain that your hunting clothes and boots still fit. Place your hunting boots into a tub of water to make certain that they are still waterproof.

Make certain that your hunting license is up to date and all stamps are in proper order. Double check your hunting property for permissions, etc. You should have scouted before season and have these things lined up well ahead of time, but if not get it taken care of as soon as possible.

Hopefully this is the deer season you are in shape, your gun or bow tuned in, and this is the year that you get the big buck. If not there will be a hunting season again next year, but get ready for it now.

Way back in the electronic Stone Age, my parents had an old Motorola black and white TV. It was a console model with rabbit ears and it swiveled on its stand. They must have had the thing for well over twenty years. As long as the picture tube didn't burn out, all you had to do is replace the tubes every once in awhile and it worked perfectly. When it finally did wear out, it joined the old Silvertone and the Zenith out in the garage. 

The garage was the graveyard where all of the old televisions and radios were kept. You never knew when you might be able to cannibalize some of the old parts. Things have changed since the invention of the circuit board. You'd be hard pressed to find a TV repair shop nowadays. They have gone the way of the old cobbler shop and the blacksmith.

The big trend today is HDTV, or High Definition Television. HDTV is the highest quality of the Digital Television (DTV) standard. DTV is a new, more advanced way of delivering television signals to your home-whether over the airwaves or via satellite or cable-based systems. It's designed to eventually replace analog TV broadcasting altogether. When this happens, we'll be forced to buy a set top box to convert the signals or get a new television set.

What are some of the advantages of HDTV? One advantage is the increased picture resolution. HDTV produces a picture that is 6 times as dense in pixels as an old analog model. Comparatively, the digital picture has been described as “breathtaking.” Another advantage is the widescreen aspect ratio. This format is better suited for viewing movies and HDTV programming that is delivered in this wider aspect. And finally, the new technology allows you to receive programs broadcast in Dolby Digital 5.1-channel surround sound, which is perfect for that home theater experience.

As with any new technology, things don't always go as planned. So what are some of the things to look out for when switching to the HDTV format? Here are a few things that you need to know:

It's going to cost you a bundle. First of all, you'll probably want a new TV set. This can run you from about $900 to several thousand dollars. Then you will have to buy an antenna or subscribe to satellite or cable service. The digital service is much more expensive: from $99 to $115 a month. Be wary of prices and promises that are quoted over the phone. Two different representatives gave one customer two different prices for digital service. 

He was also told that they would dispose of his old TV. They didn't. Some installers won't even help you take the old TV off of the stand. You'll also have to spend upwards of $200 to install a digital satellite dish, if you opt for that service. Then you have to figure out a way to get rid of your old tube TV. These can be awkward and heavy and you'll probably need help moving it or incur the added expense of paying someone to move or dispose of it for you.

There can be other problems too. One customer related that a serviceman recommended installing a digital satellite dish before he got his HDTV so it would be ready to go when he bought one. He was later told that it was the wrong dish. Dish Network told him that since a local service company installed it, they had nothing to do with it.

I'm sure that there are and will be many more horror stories coming to light as the country turns digital. I'm also not comfortable with being forced to spend money for extra equipment or a new TV when my old one works just fine. It's almost like the Gas Company forcing you to install a new state-of-the-art heating system, or they'll turn off your gas. Once, not too long ago, a 17 year-old asked me what time it was. She was staring at an analog clock that was on the wall right in front of her. I asked her if she knew how to tell time. “Of course!” she replied. “But I just do digital.”

If you've ever watched the Animal Planet shows Animal Precinct or Animal Cops then you are probably familiar with the food test. This is the test used by animal behaviorists to determine if a dog is adoptable. They give the dog a bowl of food and then stick a rubber-like hand into the bowl to see if the dog will growl or bite it. Most of the dogs they are testing have been neglected or abused in some way; many of them have been denied food. Yet the wonderful people who make up the world of animal behaviorists have decided that a great way to test these animals is to try to take their food away. There are of course those that feel this test is appropriate and those that feel it isn't. Some very good-natured dogs are euthanized because they fail the food bowl test. However, to determine if this test is a good way to assess a dog's aggressiveness, let's dissect how the animalistic nature of human beings would cause most of us, no matter how nice we may be, to fail the food bowl test and end up euthanized.

Imagine that it's five o' clock and you've just gotten off work. You're tired and hungry. People have been demanding things of you all day and you've had to abide by their wishes. They're not demanding that you sit, stay, lay, or roll over, but fax this, call this person, set this appointment, handle this customer, and clean the employee lounge run a close second. You arrive at your favorite restaurant ready to enjoy a nice meal with not a worry in the world. Your food arrives and you prepare to enjoy. Then, all of a sudden, the waitress reappears. What the heck is she carrying? It appears to be a yardstick with what looks like a rubber glove attached to it. What is she going to do with that thing, and why is she looking at you like that?

You begin to eat, but before you can down the first bite there is a rubber hand on the edge of your plate. Your eyes squint. Your heartbeat begins to race. The feeling of anger starts to rise in your chest. You swat at the hand and give the waitress a nasty look. That should be enough of a warning that you don't want anyone messing with your food. You continue to eat, but obviously the idiot with the rubber hand didn't get the message the first time. Now the hand is not only on the edge of your plate, it's actually trying to take your plate away from you. What is her problem? You're a patient person though and decide that another swat and a growl-like “knock it off” will take care of the problem. With a savory bite on the end of your fork, you notice a movement out of the corner of your eye. Fork poised to enter your mouth you feel something touching you. It's that rubber hand again. Except this time it's actually rubbing your face and heading towards your fork. That's it! You've had it! You jump up, grab the rubber-gloved yardstick, and begin attacking the waitress. Luckily, your friends are able to pull you off before any real damage is done, and the waitress decides to leave you alone.

Unfortunately, your reaction has made you unsuitable to re-enter into any sort of family life. You're aggressive behavior makes you a liability to waitresses everywhere. A doctor will arrive shortly to humanely euthanize you. Of course you're a nice person who is fun to be around, a hard worker at your job, and a great wife and mother to your family. However, the fact remains that you just didn't pass the food bowl test. In fact, other than your food bowl aggressiveness you're almost near perfect. It's a darn shame it has to end this way.

Wouldn't we all be in danger of losing our lives if behaviorists judged us by our reaction to losing our food? In fact, most of us would be attacking the waitress the first time she tried to touch our food. Why would a dog be any different? The Animal Planet shows have had dogs that were amicable and friendly until the rubber hand tried to touch their food. Most of the dogs only gave a warning growl and tried to continue eating. But like the waitress, the behaviorists kept pestering it and pestering it until it snapped. We condition ourselves not to touch other people's food. We don't walk into a restaurant and try to sample what's on a stranger's plate. Why not? Because we know that person is liable to stand up and knock us one. Can we not also condition ourselves, and our children, to leave a dog alone when it's eating?

There will always be the dog that is a true danger to a family. One that is protective of not only its food but also other things it considers his. However, to watch on more than one occasion a friendly, happy dog be euthanized because it growled at a rubber hand is saddening. How reliable is a test when the people doing the testing wouldn't put up with that same rubber hand touching their food, bowl, or face? The food bowl test does serve to help assess a dog, but to use it as a deciding factor on whether a dog lives or dies is to euthanize many dogs that would make great pets. Let's face it-would you pass the food bowl test?

Old Christmas cards can offer up a new life after their initial use. Don’t throw them away or let them collect dust for years in an old shoebox. These ideas are only a few examples of what new craft projects you can create out of old Christmas cards.

The great thing about many of these craft projects is that they are free since you already have the Christmas cards.

1. Scrap booking

Old Christmas cards are a great free source for images in your scrap booking projects. You can cut out the images and Christmas phrases and glue them into your scrapbook. This is a super easy way to create processional looking scrapbook.

Don’t feel limited to only using the old Christmas cards in the holiday section of your scrapbook. Letters can be cut out and used in any season of your scrapbook.

Areas of solid color can also be cut out and used throughout your scrapbook.

Tissue paper inserts can also be removed from the Christmas cards and repurposed.

2. Christmas Ornaments

You can hang the entire Christmas card on the tree as an ornament ot even cut out the words an images and create new Christmas tree ornaments.

Use decoupage to adhere the cut out Christmas images to round, glass Christmas tree ornaments.

You can also decoupage the images to wood bark pieces. Drill a hole in the top of the back and hang it on your Christmas tree.

3. Napkins Rings

Cut out some of the larger images on your old Christmas cards. Glue the cut outs to a nice thick ribbon with some hot glue. Tie the ribbon around the fabric or paper napkins on your dinner table. You can place them bow side down so the Christmas image is face up or even cut the ribbon to size and glue it into a loop that fits your napkins.

You can also cut out large images and leave about an inch tall band on either side. This band should be about three inches long. Glue the band of card together in the back with some hot glue. You can slip your napkins in through the hole.

Cut out words from old Christmas cards in one continual string. Glue the ends of the words together in a loop. Now you have an instant Christmas napkin ring.

4. Christmas Garland

You can cut out images and words form the old Christmas cards to make a simple Christmas tree garland. Punch holes in the left and right sides to the string of words or images. Tie each piece together with pretty ribbon or yarn. Continue this garland every year and soon you will have a great family heirloom that appears every year at Christmas.

You could also string the old Christmas cards together whole. This is a great look for a garland that nags on the fireplace mantel or a doorframe.

5. Straw Embellishments

Cut out only the larger images on your Christmas cards. Make two in inch slits horizontally on the image. One slit should be about one inch above the other slit. You can slide the kids drinking straws though the slits and have some instant decoration for the kids drinking straws.

Have you ever wondered what all that COM, NET, BIZ, EDU and ORG business at the end of website addresses is all about? It's funny to consider, but most of us who are avid Internet users don't even know exactly what they mean. Your time spent on the Internet can be greatly improved by having a better understanding of these suffixes. Let's have a little closer look at those domain suffixes.

By far, the suffix everybody should know is COM. This is a domain suffix that is run by Verisign. It gives no special designation; a COM site can be almost anything. Like NET and INFO, COM doesn't tell you anything special about what kind of website it is. You do know that whatever the category and topic of the website is that it is a domain. Typically the INFO ones are places that want to provide information or shall we say targeted information. Many NET sites are ones created to protect the COM site. The domain owner purchased the NET version of the domain name to prevent others from using their name and causing competition or confusion. Some companies will host their main page from a COM and then move their backend operations to a NET. While others will host from a COM and do a different section under NET to avoid having to have very different domain names.

Most suffixes, however, have a certain meaning. For example, AERO sites always have something to do with the air transportation industry. These sites are operated by the Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques, also referred to as the SITA. You may have noticed that major airline sites do not use AERO. This is because it is only for specific members of the industry. Not just everyone can have that AERO suffix like they can with NET, INFO and COM.

BIZ is one of the newer suffixes and, as you might imagine, it has something to do with business. BIZ is operated by Neu Level, Inc. Their only requirement is that sites using the BIZ suffix are legitimate commercial or business sites. You can purchase from sites that have this domain suffix with more confidence than say a COM, INFO or NET. Many COM business sites are transferring over to this new BIZ suffix. It might take a little bit for average users to realize it's around.

You may have looked at some sites with the GOV suffix. This suffix is used only by agencies of the United States government. The specific department in charge of GOV is the United States General Services Administration. A sneaky trick used by some savvy Internet marketers is to register a government-sounding domain name with a COM suffix. For example, “WhiteHouse.com.” That way, they get the traffic of people trying to find the White House's official site.

Another suffix that is tightly restricted is EDU. EDU is operated by the United States Department of Education. In order to register an EDU site, you have to be part of an officially recognized and nationally accredited educational institution. You have probably come across some college or university websites that use EDU as their suffix.

In order to register an ORG site, you must be a non-profit organization. An organization called the Public Interest Registry regulates this suffix. Even though they require sites to be strictly non-profit organizations, many people have figured out ways of abusing this system. As a result, not all ORG sites are truly non-profit.

A newer suffix that you may not have come across yet is MOBI. MOBI is reserved for sites dealing with mobile technology, a growing field. These sites are designed so that they can be accessed by cell phones and other devices. There isn't much use for MOBI sites now, but who knows what the future holds?

New domain name suffixes are constantly being added. It is easy to create a new suffix. However, how many of these new suffixes will actually be widely used? Most Internet users are aware only of COM, ORG, NET and the other common suffixes mentioned above. It's easy to create new suffixes, but hard to get traffic.

One new suffix that may take the Internet by storm is the XXX suffix. As you might guess, this would be used for adult sites. The use of this suffix would let you know beforehand whether you want to visit a certain site or not. It hasn't been done yet, but plans are on the table.

For those who are creating a new website, it is probably best to just go with the flow. Stick to what is well know. The best bet is to register a COM site, since everyone is already familiar with it. If you want traffic coming to your site, you'd be best to stick with the old standby, COM.

Kitty met my great grandfather Frank in the late 1940's, they both worked for Schlitz Brewery. My great grandpa was still married to my grandma Minn, but they divorced shortly after. The family was beside themselves. Kitty and grandpa started living together. My grandpa was a big man, six feet tall and about 200lbs, and over the years I was left with the impression he could be quite man when drunk. Kitty didn't reach 4'11″ and 89lbs if that. My grandpa was a heavy beer drinker, and spent many nights out with the boys after work. One night when he cam home late and drunk. Kitty was beside herself as he ate the dinner she had kept warm for him. As she left him at the table to go to bed, she told she wished God would do something to make him quit drinking.

When Kitty woke the next morning and went into the kitchen, there was my grandpa, slumped over the kitchen table. He had had a stroke. The stroke left him unable to talk walk or use his right hand. Some say it was guilt that caused Kitty to spend the rest of her life taking care of my grandpa, but reflecting back an all I saw her do,I know she loved him too.

I was born in 1953 and have no memory of when my great grandfather walked. He was always in a wheelchair after that, and Kitty tended to his every need. Back then they did not have the rehabilitative resources they now have for stroke patients. My grandfather never learned to walk or talk again. His only way to communicate was by making a lo lo lo lo sound that rolled off his tongue, and to shake his head yes or no. In his right hand he always had a rubber ball, to keep his hand partially open so his finger nails did not dig into his palm.

This slight of a woman Kitty, bathed changed, fed and tended to my great grandfathers every need. Every morning by herself she would move his big limp body from the bed to the wheelchair, and back to bed at night. In over 25yrs I never saw a bed sore, and I never heard her complain. If he needed to be in the hospital, Kitty always insisted on the bed next to him, and would leave the nurses with little to do for him. The stroke did not leave him totally helpless though, many a time I saw him use his perfectly good left hand to throw something across the room, if she refused to give him his beloved schlitz beer. He never totally lost his mean streak, but he softened alot.

It was Halloween 1965, when they finally decided to tie the knot. They were both in their seventies. We all gathered in my grandmothers Den. The minister stood in front of a lighted tree as and Kitty and my great grandfather holding hands facing him as they took there vows. My great grandfather nodding his head in the affirmative with the lo lo lo. It left everyone in tears.

It was 1986 when my grandpa took a turn for the worse. For more than 25yrs Kitty had taken care of him. We new his time was short but Kitty insisted he die at home in the tiny apartment they had shared for over 20yrs. I would bring my 4yr old Tina everyday and we would sit with them, taking shifts with other family members. Finally one day not long after I had left, we got the call my great grandpa was gone. Not long after, Kitty went to join him.

It was at the her funeral I realized, how some things never changed. Over 30yrs later, as I overheard my great Uncle commend Kitty for the things she had done for my great grandpa, He still referenced her as ” The Other Woman “. To me she was always great grandma kitty.

It’s hard as a public speaker to gain an audience’s rapt attention and respect.  It’s even more difficult to get them to truly embrace the ideas you are communicating.  Successful public speaking requires skill, planning and great execution.  If all of these components are working, one can deliver a winning speech. 

Unfortunately, it is far more easy to do damage to one’s presentation than it is to create or repair it.  Simple missteps can immediately turn an audience off.  In more egregious situations, an error can actually turn an audience against a speaker.  As such, it is important for anyone considering a public speaking engagement to be aware of some potential pitfalls that can instantly undo a great deal of work.

One way that audiences are alienated quickly is by a speaker who seems to lack humility.  Certainly, there are some boastful speakers that are still enjoyable and entertaining.  However, these speakers are usually among the finest talents and often have an exceptional level of charisma that allow them to overcome their self-importance.  The rest of us need to be aware that audiences generally do not care to listen to someone who seems to be a braggart.  One should attempt not to overemphasize their credentials.  They should also be mindful of the need to develop concepts and main points without frequently returning to personal anecdotes or examples.  Personalizing a presentation is great.  Making a speech into an “all about me” affair, however, is disastrous.

Another way of quickly creating antipathy in an audience is by using stories or jokes that can be considered offensive by audience members.  Even those who are not personally offended by a remark can recognize that the comment is potentially offensive to others and they may react negatively to the speaker as a result.  Although some bemoan so-called “political correctness,” avoiding offending others is simply a very pragmatic strategy when speaking in public.  There is very little potential gain to a borderline joke or comment.  Meanwhile there is a significant chance to experience a loss of audience respect and attention.

Flippancy can also make an audience frustrated with a speaker.  Often, public speaking involves the statement and defense of a viewpoint.  In order to make a case, one must often discuss the position of those with whom he or she disagrees.  In doing so, the wise public speaker will address the alternative perspective in a respectful manner.  When speakers begin to discount the views of others, they begin to look condescending and rude – both of which are attributes that can serve as a surefire way of alienating an audience.  A disrespectful speaker may win some cheap applause when “preaching to the choir,” but if the audience is not completely comprised of those with whom the speaker agrees, there is no reason not to be mindful of one’s manners even in persuasive speaking situations.

Public speakers can also anger an audience by not showing them adequate respect.  This can be as simple as speaking too long, or being disorganized in one’s presentation.  There is an unspoken social contract at play during public speaking events.  The audience agrees to listen to the speaker and the speaker agrees to speak with the audience in mind.  If either side breaks this silent agreement, things can go poorly.  Thus, it is incumbent on the speaker to keep his audience and their needs in mind.  Speeches should be carefully organized to make sure they resonate sensibly.  Time limits should be adhered to if available.  If not, the speaker should make sure he does not stretch the crowd beyond its ability to concentrate.  One must also make an effort to really communicate with the audience. Those speakers who are obviously just “dialing in” their performances are never appreciated.

By recognizing these potential problems, a good public speaker can make sure his or her presentation will not suffer from any of these damning errors.  Writing and delivering a great public speech requires a great deal of preparation and effort and having it undermined by one simple error would be devastating.

First time home buying is stressful and there are a few things buyers have to know in order to stay ahead of the game. Because there could be number of pitfalls that could be lurking around. At the same time digging deeper would reveal a few goodies that could go a long way when tallying what will be paid in the long run, as well, what will be paid on a monthly basis. Most advisers suggest that the best place to start from is to know how much the first-time homebuyer can afford to pay or is willing to pay for a home.

However, using such measuring rod could be deceptive because since the mortgage loan would be taken out for close to 30 years, it is possible that the financial stand of the buyer could also change for the better or worse. Nevertheless, it is possible to approximate how much the median average income a homebuyer could earn in the future and basing most of the decisions on that is recommended. What the industry considers a sound decision is if the annual mortgage payment, taxes, and homeowner's insurance should not exceed 28 percent of the annual income of the buyers.

That is for the long term, however, immediately and for the short term what every homebuyer’s concern is the down payment, which could be 20 percent of the home value or it could be brought down to three or five percent if the first time homebuyer qualifies for what the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD) distributes for states and municipalities to be handed out for low and moderate income families that could amount to a $3,000 to $5,000 grant or it could be in a form of a loan. If the homebuyers stay in the home they bought for a certain period, mostly three years, the government will be forgive the loan.

Once first time homebuyers know what they need, before starting saving they are advised to bring their finance in order by starting paying outstanding loans, because any loan that charges a high interest rate will eat into the money they will save. At the same time when approaching lenders for the first home, the lenders do not allow the borrowers monthly debt service to exceed 40 percent of their gross income.

While in the process of paying off outstanding high interest loans and saving for the down payment and other related costs, it is possible to make oneself familiar with the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) so that as a first time homebuyer it will be possible to know how to safeguard the investment from the outset, because borrowers have special rights that will have to be observed by the lenders, while at the same time there are predatory lending practices borrowers will have to be aware of.

After surpassing this stage, it is possible to go around and shop for the loan. As long as borrowers are in a position to pay from three percent in some cases up to 20 percent of the value of the house, there are a big number of financial institutions that are willing to lend money, provided that the buyers have steady income and reasonably good credit history. Lenders usually spread the loan over 15 to 30 years and the difference is the 15-year loan will require a higher monthly payment, but it avails a lower interest rate over the long haul.

The best recommendation is for the buyer to borrow approximately 2 to 2.5 times of their annual gross income. Consequently, a gross income of $50,000 could avail a mortgage of $100,000 to $125,000. But there are a few factors that make a difference and that depends directly on the expense, which means two borrowers with similar income but with different kinds of loans to pay might have to settle for different ranges. That is why big-ticket-item loans like car are not recommended to be outstanding while applying for mortgage loans, because they would affect the range. For those who have a steady income and good credit rating it is possible to find loans that will require only three percent down payment, although the downside of such an arrangement had always been the higher monthly payment, as well as the long term interest rate that will be higher.

For those who have a less than perfect credit rating it is advisable to look at what Fannie Mae's “expanded approval” program can offer, because it is possible to qualify for loans that charge competitive rates, in most cases two percentage point less than the available alternative financing that are not part of the fair market value rates lenders. If what Fannie Mae is offering is out of reach, the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) offers an insured loan which could require only a three percent down payment and would wrap both the down payment and the closing cost into the mortgage. The process works best for those who are participating with HUD's program that is worth looking up for first-time low-income homebuyers since it has many added incentives and the range covered could go as far as $300,000.

Another kind of loan is the piggybacked loan, mostly referred as 80-10-10s. It is possible to take two loans, one for the 80 percent and the other for the 10 percent, and it is possible to avoid paying mortgage insurance, while at the same time it is possible to lock a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage on the second loan with a much lower rate even if the closing cost tend to be higher, yet it is possible to make some gain by avoiding the insurance cost.

Once the lender is there the next step is to look for a real estate agent and here avoiding a few confusions is important. Things start from a broker or brokerage, an entity that is with a license from the state to buy and sell houses. The agents could sometimes work independently but usually will have to work through a brokerage house. Then there are realtors who are members of the Board of Realtors with a given code of ethics and conduct, whose agents or brokers would have to follow.

As far as finding the right house is concerned, the best method is to drive through a neighborhood of one’s choice to see if there is a house on sale or relate that information to an agent. There are various publications and brochures that are helpful too. Most of the time if buying in cities is preferred finding the dream house with the right price might not be possible, especially for a first home. However, knowing the best seasons when people would like to sell their house might make finding better houses easier, and May and June are said to be the best months. In the rest of the seasons, the market could be flooded with foreclosures that sell at bargain prices if bought from lenders who do not normally ask a high price for them. One thing to be aware of while buying foreclosure homes is liens and back taxes that pass to the buyers.

When the time comes to make the offer, the essential things to look at are price, terms, house inspection, and finally the money that would change hands. When it comes to price, it is important to know what other houses are selling for in the neighborhood and if the agent knows the area well, that information could come handy. In most cases houses would sell six percent less than the asking price, yet depending on why the seller is selling the house if there is some urgency the price might come down more.

The terms depend on how much is paid and it will be difficult to ask less if the price is already much lower than the asking price, but depending on the price it is possible to ask the seller to contribute to the closing cost or to provide a warranty if something goes wrong within a given time frame. It is also possible to add prorating of taxes, club dues, homeowner's association fees and more to the list.

Inspection is key here because anything could go wrong after the deal is closed. If something is spotted in advance it could help in bringing down the price and sellers are required by law to disclose any defect the property might have in advance, in writing, and that could avail a good bargaining power to bring down the price. The money that is the key here is preferred to be on a pre-approved mode, because it is possible to bargain with full confidence with the seller.

The closing cost is an amount that will be paid for the lender for doing a good number of small things to make the contract binding and is required by law to a truth-in-lending estimate in advance about how much the closing cost will be. Once all the contract is signed, the payments had been made, and the ownership is transferred to the new buyer, it is possible to move in, in most cases with in seven days time, even much earlier if the house is vacant.

Need to lose weight? Dreading the thought of another diet program? You don’t have to follow diets to lose weight. There are many people discovering this for themselves and they are finding long term weight loss apposed to short term fixes. The key to weight loss is finding the right balance of what you eat, what you think, and what activity you do. It is not about following a perfect plan. It is impossible to be perfect every day! Finding the right balance helps you to decrease your calorie intake, increase your metabolism and keeps the self-sabotage at bay. Here are 8 steps to bring more balance into all corners of your life so you too can find weight loss success.

1.  Eat more frequently during the day
Skipping meals or waiting too long between meals can have a negative impact on your metabolism and results in overeating later in the day. It’s best to have 3 small meals and 1-2 snacks throughout the day. You will feel more satisfied and eat less. Plan to have a snack or meal every 4-5 hours.

2.  Portion Sizes
Appropriate portion sizes are still quite misunderstood. Most Americans are eating 2-3 times the recommended portion sizes. Limit your grains, cereals, pastas, and rice to ½ – 1 cup serving sizes. Keep meat, poultry and fish to 4-ounce portion sizes. Restaurants are notorious for giving extremely large servings of food. Keep this in mind when eating out. Eat half of the food on your plate or take the rest home for lunch the next day. Studies show that when people are given large portion sizes, they eat up to 56% more calories without realizing it. To add insult to injury, our portion sizes are larger than they have ever been. Start to become more aware of the portions you are served wherever you are.

3.  Eat the right fats
Yes some fat is important. Omega 3 fatty acids are an important strategy for weight loss success and yet most Americans are not eating enough of these healthy fats. Some reports show these fatty acids may be helpful in increasing your metabolism. They are also shown to be a wonderful mood supporter and people report significantly less food cravings and triggers to eat when they incorporate omega 3 fatty acids on a daily basis. This is especially important for any emotional eaters out there. Omega 3’s are found in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, cod; they are also found in canola oil, walnuts, and ground flax seeds.

4.  Increase fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are not only packed with important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, they are also loaded in fiber and low in calories. Include 5-8 fruits and vegetables every day. This is one of the most important diet changes you can make. When you fill your plate up with fruits and vegetables you eat less of the higher calorie foods. For example, let’s take a sample steak dinner.

Original meal:
8 ounce steak
Whole baked potato with fixings
½ cup steamed broccoli

Meal Makeover:
4 ounce steak
½ baked potato with fixings
½ cup steamed broccoli
Side salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, and 1 tbsp light vinaigrette dressing

By changing the balance of this meal to include more vegetables while decreasing the steak and potato we saved approximately 350 calories. Saving 350 calories daily can result in almost a 1 pound weight loss per week. Small changes are the key.

5.  Eat when you’re hungry, Stop when you’re full
Our bodies have an innate weight management mechanism. It performs this task by making you feel full when it is time to stop eating. Every time you eat past full you are taking in more calories than your body needs which will result in weight gain. Start to become more aware of your internal cues for hunger and satiety (fullness). You will be amazed how many times you wait too long to eat and how often you eat past full and enter into stuffed. It’s common for all of us to do this from time to time. However, it’s time to check in with yourself and see how often you are falling into these food patterns. Listen to your body, it will tell you when you are physically ready for food and when you are ready to stop.

6.  Exercise regularly
I know, this isn’t anything you haven’t heard before but it is a crucial part of weight management. It is important to engage in regular aerobic and weight bearing activity. The aerobic exercise helps you to burn the fat and weight bearing activity increases your metabolic rate. Muscle burns up to 90% more calories than fat. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories you will burn in a day. By adding three to five pounds of muscle you could actually burn 100 – 250 additional calories a day. This combination of aerobic and weight bearing activity is what really kicks weight loss into gear.

7.  Limit Sugar
Sugar becomes a major issue for many people wanting to lose weight. Not only does it add calories, it also causes insulin spikes leading you to store more calories as fat, it stimulates your appetite, and is a major food trigger for emotional eaters. However, it doesn’t mean you need to go all or nothing. When people try to omit all sugar from their diet they can become obsessed about sugary foods and end up in a binge. Find the right balance for sugar. Avoid daily use of sugar and instead have some guiltless treats once in awhile. A little cake at a birthday party or some ice-cream with friends is a good way to incorporate sugar once in awhile to avoid the negative outcomes.

8.  Pamper yourself regularly
Who wants to argue with that?! The reality is many people eat for emotional reasons. Food makes us feel good on many levels. The problem occurs when eating becomes the only coping mechanism your subconscious knows of. This is why that pesky urge to emotionally eat is so strong. It is hard to reason your way out of it. For many people food is the only thing they know that makes them feel better. When you start to do other things that make you feel good on a regular basis such as taking a hot bath, going for a walk, having a hot cup of tea; then your subconscious starts to register these activities as coping mechanisms as well. Over time this will decrease the constant urge to use food. You can’t expect to have a bad day, go take a bath and not have an urge to eat. It is something you need to do regularly and something you truly enjoy so your subconscious starts to recognize it as a new choice.

My baby is almost a year old. Soon she will cross the invisible dividing line between “infant” and “toddler.”
I sat nursing her, stroking her still-soft head yesterday and wondered how I could ever have imagined that a baby would be ready to stop breast-feeding by a year. 

When I was pregnant with my first child, I knew I would breast feed. Why not? My mom had breastfed most of her children, so I grew up thinking it was normal. But my mom also believed, along with a great deal of the United States, that “they don’t need to nurse once they can eat” and “if they can ask for it, they need to wean.” So I assumed that is how breast feeding was done.
But when my first child grew closer and closer to a year old, I realized it was hard to tell when she had begun asking to nurse. Was it when at 5 months old she could pluck at my shirt? Or was it at 3 months old, when she cried to let me know that other comfort measures weren’t working and she wanted to nurse? Or did it begin at 9 months old when she could try to lift my shirt to find her beloved nursies? So, I just kept nursing her. 

There is plenty of evidence out there that extended breastfeeding is beneficial to both mother and toddler. The World Health Organization has recommended breastfeeding for “up to two years of age or beyond.” UNICEF states to “continue to breastfeed for two years or more with age appropriate, responsive complementary feeding.” The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends “”that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired.”
Some studies have even shown that children breastfed past infancy have fewer incidences of diabetes; have more normal jaw formation, eliminating perhaps a need for braces; are less prone to viral illnesses; and that these breastfed children have a healthy self-image and are socially well-adjusted. Other studies indicate a benefit to moms too, including a lower risk of breast cancer. 

I knew all that. But nursing an infant who cannot eat or even hold her head up is almost demanded. Nursing a toddler who can walk over to her mom holding a book and ask to be read to is another thing all together.  So this article will explore a few emotional benefits and reasons for breastfeeding a toddler. 

The first thing to consider about extended breastfeeding is that you didn’t pick up a walking, talking toddler and begin nursing her. You started out nursing a helpless baby. Day by day your baby grew and you nursed her. She grew some more, and you still nursed her. By now, it was part of your day (and night). By now, it was as natural and sweet to breastfeed her as it was to pick her up and cuddle her even after she could walk and ask to watch Barney. 

For those of you nursing an infant and reading this article, breastfeeding a toddler is not the attention-demanding, exhausting, constant job that nursing a baby is. Parenting a toddler is attention-demanding, exhausting and constant, though, and extended breastfeeding is a powerful tool to help both of you through that time. 

Few things are easier and sweeter than nursing your toddler down for his or her nap. By now, the two of you have an established routine of nursing and the toddler is primed to fall asleep during breastfeeding. That fact alone is enough to recommend extended breastfeeding. 

Tantrums? My baby, the one about to become a toddler, already throws her head back and screams when she can’t reach something or is frustrated. In a few months, she will continue to express her displeasure at the world and my directions. Extended breastfeeding eases the gap between the toddler’s expectation and the reality of his world. Nursing allows him to regroup, feel connected and to recharge his coping batteries. 

The inevitable bumps, bruises and hurt feelings of a toddler learning to explore her world are easily soothed and comforted by nursing. I think in this way, extended breastfeeding allows us to foster empathy and help in our young children. Not to mention, it calms the atmosphere of the home like nothing else. 

I know there are still people out there who are thinking extended breastfeeding is gross, wrong, downright peculiar and unnecessary. And that’s okay. I thought that, too, the first time I saw a toddler walk over to his mom and nurse.
Breastfeeding your toddler does not mean, however, that you must cater to every demand of these little would-be tyrants. It is appropriate for both the child and you to begin setting some limits on lots of things, including extended nursing. Many mothers choose to begin nursing at only nap and bedtimes for instance. Or some mothers may limit breastfeeding session’s length during this second year. Most mothers will ask their child to wait to nurse until after shopping, for instance, or until they have finished a household chore. 

My oldest daughter is four. I know how quickly the time goes now. By the way, she hasn’t nursed at all since she was 2 ½. Gradually, and without any prompting on my part, we began nursing only at nap and nighttime. The nap session was the last to go. Most toddlers, like mine, would prefer not to nap, and breastfeeding her helped us to avoid a power struggle over napping. She doesn’t even remember breastfeeding anymore. But I do, and will always treasure the memories.
My baby is almost one. But that doesn’t mean I quit meeting her needs. And her needs right now include extended breastfeeding. 

I hope many of you out there who are considering extended breastfeeding will also know the joy and comfort to be found for both child and mom in nursing your toddler.