Christmas Articles

I have written a number of Christmas and holiday related hubs lately on Hubpages and just wanted to share them all in one place!  I cover a number of aspects about the holidays from appetizers, to gifts, to movies and even photos.  

If you are looking for a healthy appetizer for a holiday get together, or even just a healthy snack try my recipe for stuffed celery.  A Healthy Holiday Appetizer: Stuffed Celery  

If you are low on cash but still looking for some ways to decorate this holiday season read my article on Holidays and a Recession: Low Budget Christmas Decorations  

Now that you have food and decorations taken care of, you need some gifts.  Instead of giving the usual high tech gift or a gift card why not try something a little more meaningful?  Why not Give a Gift of Nostalgia this Holiday Season!  

When wrapping those gifts from the past why don't you put on some great Christmas movies, find one from any category, comedy, drama from my list of The Best Christmas Movies by Category  

Finally don't forget to enjoy the season and taken in every moment you can check out some of my cool photos from Christmases past with Christmas Memories through Photos.

Find New Freedom With A Jogging Stroller

As a new parent, I found I had very little time to do much other than work, eat and deal with whatever sleep I could fit in. Our first little baby was really not very difficult looking back. But after the third in 5 years it's easy to say that. What I learned from the experience is that jogging is the first thing to go when you are sleep deprive and stressed out.

Jogging Strollers Can Bring Fitness Back

Let me share something with you. Although fitness is the first thing to go when we don't have time it should not be. We should all find time to exercise not matter what. I hear you laughing. It's also incredibly difficult when they are in the 6 month old range to either take them to the gym or jogging or anywhere else fitness related. Sure, some places have a daycare, but it's usually expensive.

A Jogging Stroller Is A Good Fitness Investment

Here's the solution. If you have a little one and you want to get out jogging, then buy a jogging stroller. It's a one time investment. Baby sitting is ongoing and can very quickly add up. A jogging stroller is a couple of hundred bucks. Mine was a little under three hundred for the single stroller I bought. Daycare at the gym can add up to much more than that in a few months.

A jogging stroller gives you an immense amount of freedom. Once your little one is able to sit up on their own, you can load them into your jogger without worry. You can then strap them in and hit the pavement.

You Can Regain Your Freedom And Your Shape

The first thing you lose when you stop jogging or exercising is your chiseled tone. When you are jogging daily, your muscles and skin keep taught and tight. After a few days of stopping, you find that you muscles don't swell after your workout. They start to adapt to your more sedentary routine. When your muscles are being worked, your skin doesn't stay as tight either.

You may also find you start to become fatigued more easily and lose energy. The path back to fitness and your shapely self is through your normal jogging routine. And the path back to your jogging routine with your little one is through a jogging stroller.

Black Friday, this is from community carnival to me-first melee

Examples of people cocooning themselves more over the past 20 years are too numerous to list. But one apparent counter-example is Black Friday -- even if only for a day, aren't people out-and-about, strengthening social bonds by buying gifts for others?

For awhile I didn't have too good of a feel for what this day has been about. I've avoided shopping on Black Friday for a very long time because I sensed that it was degenerate, totally unlike the mall during Christmastime in the '80s when it felt more like a carnival, everyone feeding and feeding off of each other's high spirits. After a little reflection and a look through newspaper articles from the '90s through today, it turns out not to be a counter-example at all.

The vague image we're given in the media, or that we invent ourselves, is of people who are so intent on buying so many presents for so many people, that they can't get in the doors early enough or behave themselves well enough. The competition to get the best gifts for others has just become too chaotic.

In reality, hardly anyone goes out on this day to buy gifts for other people; at best it's an after-thought or rationalization. Rather, buying a handful of things for others has become an excuse to buy stuff for themselves at deals that will never show up the rest of the year. Estimates from the 2000s were that anywhere between 50-75% of people were buying things for themselves while Christmas shopping, and that the average person's self-indulgence accounted for nearly one-quarter of all dollars they spent (around $150 out of $650 total).

The first references to this practice of Christmastime "self-gifting" (how's that for Newspeak?) appear in 1993. This is right as the crime rate is turning around, causing society to shift from the tragic-romantic side of the spectrum to the trivial-efficient side. Already by the early 2000s, this gradual change has moved far enough so that newspapers regularly comment on the self-centeredness of Black Friday shoppers.

What To Expect From Teeth Whitening Treatments

Teeth whitening services are becoming increasingly popular but there are still a number of myths surrounding the subject that need to be dispelled.

The first issue that many dental patients are concerned about is whether undergoing a whitening procedure will damage their tooth enamel and this is not true when the treatment is performed properly by professional dentists.

Trustworthy dentists will use safe levels of hydrogen peroxide to assist the whitening process because the chemical solution is the active ingredient in the gel which is applied to the teeth.

The use of hydrogen peroxide makes many people wonder whether teeth whitening is indeed safe or not and this is where it is appropriate to only trust dentists to perform the procedure.

Dentists will make certain that the hydrogen peroxide contained within the whitening gel is safely applied and not overtly exposed to the patient's gums or soft tissue of the mouth or lips.

Many people also wonder whether all teeth whitening gel is the same but this is not the case because there are some solutions which are available over the internet or in shops which contain varying levels of hydrogen peroxide.

Teeth whitening gel which contains a negligible amount of hydrogen peroxide will not produce noticeable results while if the levels of the chemical are too high, this can be potentially dangerous for the patient.

In order to make certain that your teeth whitening gel contains the correct level of hydrogen peroxide, it is important to have the procedure performed by a qualified dentist.

One of the main mistakes that people often make is that they expect that all teeth whitening results will be the same and every recipient will leave the dental practice with an identikit Hollywood smile but unfortunately this is not always the case.

Some people have unrealistic expectations when it comes to teeth whitening but the results often vary between each patient because there are a number of variables to take into consideration.

Results are often affected by the original condition of the teeth as an extremely stained smile which has been weathered by years of red wine and nicotine is unlikely to be shining bright after just one treatment.

Every person's smile is different thanks to the mineral composition contained within their individual teeth so the results are often dependent on genetics and some people are generally unlucky when it comes to their genes.

Lymphedema Pumps

What is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema is a condition whereby the lymph fluid accumulates in the tissue or in the cavities of the body. Lymphedema normally takes place due to a blockage of some type that impedes the normal flow of lymphatic fluids. Lymphedema may be categorized in two ways, primary and secondary lymphedema.

The reasons for primary lymphedema are quite often unknown since there is no proven and specific etiology in most cases. The causative agents in secondary lymphedema can be multiple and diverse. It may be caused by removal of lymph channels by a specific disease process, or by a defect which was present at birth.

Without treatment, lymphedema can cause multiple other problems that must be resolved. Lymphedema can be problematic, often creating open areas or ulcerations on the body, or may preclude walking well due to swelling of the affected parts. Treatment is indicated when the swelling reaches a point that is causes discomfort or undesirably affects the body in some way, or as a preventive measure to preclude those effects.

What are Your Treatment Options for Lymphedema?

Treatment of lymphedema may take many forms. It can include compression hose, may require bandaging, or other means of compression. Medications may be used to help you to manage your lymphedema. It may even, in some very rare cases, be treated surgically.

The typical treatment will begin with oral medications, in combination with compression garments that will sometimes be effective in managing less severe cases of lymphedema. If those measures are not successful, more aggressive treatment of the condition will become necessary.

Most often, the treatment for lymphedema when other, lesser measures have failed will be the use of a lymphedema pump.

How Do Lymphedema Pumps Work?

Lymphedema can be managed quite well in many cases by the use of lymphedema pumps. They use as a methodology, the compression of the affected area. This is done by compressed air which is piped into a device which fits over the affected area. The rationale for the treatment is to push the edema into the more central area of the body where it may be uptaken by the lymph system.

In most cases, the device which is used on the body, known as a cuff, will be shaped as the arm or leg. Compressed air enters the cuff and puts pressure on the area. The compressed air may be used in one or two ways, depending on the device. In some lymphedema pumps, the pressure is constant and standard in every area on which the cuff lies. In other varieties of lymphedema pumps, the pressure on the affected area will be intermittent.

Meditatd in Motion Through Walking Meditation

What is walking meditation? Did you think meditation was just sitting and trying not to think thoughts? When you tried to sit and meditate you couldn't stop thinking. Of course there are different types of meditation but you can meditate even when you are in motion and think while you are doing it. Walking Meditation is focusing your attention on each movement you make as you walk. Let's review three reasons why to try Walking Meditation.

First, Walking Meditation makes you more mindful of what you are doing. You start to watch as you make each slight movement of your foot and touching it down. Then you pause to reflect on how you are doing it. Then you take another step and observe it in process. It sounds simple enough. Not really but worth a try. As you continue to break down each part of each step you may start to notice you sway more to the left or the right. You are slowing each part of a motion down. By paying attention to each micro-movement of what you have learned to take for granted you start to feel more.

Second, it is a way to focus your thoughts on each part of each step. Focusing your mind on your body can bring you back into the moment. Being in the moment can help you to be more aware of how your body and mind connect. Twenty steps later you become more present. Even though being present is not so bad it may be a little different at first.

Third, while you are drawing your attention to each repetition of each movement you find it harder to be distracted. You feel your body more and your concentration improves. Being more alert can help lead you to faster reactions.

Even though Walking Meditation can calm your mind, you most likely will find that it draws your attention to a few problem areas in your body. If you truly listen to what those problem areas are trying to tell you, you can extract clues from them and discover solutions before problems worsen. A little prevention before a problem becomes a disease can even save you time and energy invested in medical treatment. Or if you have an illness it can help you to manage your reactions to it. Give you back more control over your body and health.

Each person is different. What you find out for yourself may lead you in a different direction than another person. Self-awareness is about the individual but you can share your experience with confidants in your life. In the end, Walking Meditation is a tool for you to use to look deeper into yourself, manage stress, and be more present today. After you've practiced enough you can rely on it and use it anytime.

Kitchen Tips To Support Your Pilates Lifestyle

The kitchen plays a big part in the quality of your Pilates performance. As Joseph Pilates kindly informed us, good nutrition is of great importance to physical fitness. So I'm going to share with you now some kitchen tips that will help you reach your goals of energy, inspiration and relaxation that are involved in peak physical fitness.

Food Mixer. 

What better way to start the day then with a health giving smoothie. Packed with protein, vitamins, fibre and carbohydrates, you will be well set up to start your Pilates session. You can prepare all of the ingredients the night before by adding any dry ingredients such as nuts or protein powder to your blender. Then in the morning, just slice up your fruit, add your yoghurt, milk or soya milk and give it a whiz. Commercial smoothies can contain extra empty calories with hidden sugar. You'll have complete control over what your consuming by making your own blends and you can even get a little creative and imaginative too.

Wok 

It might not sound much like a healthy Pilates prop, but a wok can do wonders for your health. You can use it to prepare your workday lunch the night before, instead of being compelled to order a greasy pizza or calorie laden fast food luncheon. An example of a wok lunch is to add some olive oil to your wok, heat it up and add onions and garlic. Stir until browned and then remove and toss some carrot, cabbage and mushrooms in. Stir fry for a few minutes, add some tofu cubes then cover and steam for a minute. Add the onions and garlic back into the mix, add some sesame seeds or some nuts. Throwing in dark leafy greens will boost your vitamin C and A consumption as well as up your intake of iron and fibre. All good habits for protecting against cancer and Alzheimer's.

Hand blender 

You should be eating healthily every day and keeping your body topped up with vitamins and minerals. It's easy to do if you plan in advance. One of the approaches that you can take is to use yesterday's leftovers as the base for a healthy soup. Throw in extra sliced onion, crushed garlic, some dried herbs and tinned tomatoes. A can of kidney beans can make a convenient and low-cost healthy addition. Then season to taste and whiz your hand blender to result in a delicious home-made soup full of all the good stuff that you need to perform well at your class. You could take this to work with you and heat it in the office microwave or use a flask to keep it warm until you are ready.

Pilates could be considered a way of life as so much focus is put onto the well-being of the body, spirit and mind that you will find yourself putting more consideration into your diet and healthy habits.