7 Energizing Ways to Increase Metabolism

Some days it just seems hard to get going. Trying to find that extra bit of energy to get you through your day but it just isn't there. The periods of low energy may not be what they seem. Sometimes just doing a few simple things will not only help your energy levels but it can increase your metabolism as well. And anyway you can increase your metabolism is a good thing.

Here are 8 ways to help energize your days and increase your metabolism at the same time.

1. Get up and get out: Exercise is one of the most important energy boosters there is. Living the life of a couch potato lowers your energy levels. Your heart and lungs do not work as efficiently supplying less oxygen to the cells. Oxygen is a key component in cell metabolism and less oxygen means a slower metabolism. As your metabolism drops you burn fewer calories and gain weight. A slow metabolism will also cause you to feel fatigued and run down.

Exercise can reverse this energy drain. It increases cardiovascular efficiency, pumping more blood through the body and therefore greater amounts of oxygen, increasing the metabolic efficiency of the cells and the body as a whole.

2. Boost your breakfast: Most people make the mistake of either not eating breakfast or if they do it consists of a big cup of coffee and some sort of sugar filled sweet roll. While it satisfies the taste buds it long term energy output is minimal. Once the caffeine wears off and your blood sugar drops you'll be ready for that midmorning nap.

Eating a breakfast high in complex carbohydrates like whole grain cereal with skim milk and fruit will give you a long sustained energy source that keeps your metabolism at its optimum level well until lunch.

3. 8 Hours in the sack: Nothing recharges the batteries like a good night sleep. Sleep is the time when the body renews and heals itself. The best way to get more sleep is to go to bed earlier. That might put a damper on your channel surfing but your metabolism will thank you. Here are 5 ways to help improve your sleep.

o Exercise regularly

o Get on a schedule and go to bed about the same time every night.

o Eat a high carbohydrate snack before bed.

o Don't drink caffeinated drinks before bed.

o Avoid alcoholic beverages before bed. You will not sleep as soundly with alcohol in your system.

4. Know your prime energy time: Are you a morning person or an evening person. Your body's energy runs in cycles, with high energy and low energy periods. Make a note of your energy cycles, when they are high and when they are low. Plan your major tasks at your high energy times and you'll breeze right through them.

5. Have fun: Do things that make you happy. Take the time to partake in activities that you enjoy everyday, if possible. It doesn't have to be the same thing everyday but taking the time to do something fun decreases stress and helps to motivate you.

6. Take a break: Taking a break from work every one and a half to two hours helps refresh our minds and bodies. If your mind starts to wander or you find yourself wishing to take a nap during work get up from your desk and take a walk and get some fresh air. Movement is your body's best friend and helps jump start your metabolism giving you the energy to get through the day.

7. Alcohol is a downer: Alcohol, as we all know, is a depressant. While it can make us loose our inhibitions at the end of the night your reaction times are slowed and drowsiness takes hold. What you may not realize is the fatigue and slowed thinking will continue the next day. Even if you only have a beer or two a day you may notice a vast difference in your energy levels if you eliminate the alcohol.

By following these seven tips you can boost your energy and increase your metabolism and before you know it your fatigue and lack of motivation will be a thing of the past. And who knows, you may even burn a few extra calories and lose some weight.

Microsoft Vista and Wireless Adapters - Compatibility, Usability

You're all wondering, how are wireless adapters working with the new Microsoft Vista. There is no cut and paste answer for that because it all depends on the kind of wireless network you are using. Are you using Netgear or perhaps Linksys. I will try to clarify as many different adapters as I can and see if I can find a quick fix for your adapter questions.

Linksys Wireless Adapter

If you use Lnksys and you are wondering if Vista will work with it, Linksys has come out with a new driver that is compatible with Vista. If you would like to download it, just got to linksys.com. One you download these files, you can then go to your control panel to search for your driver and point to the download files.

Netgear Driver Problem

If you are a Netgear user, you will have some trouble with compatibility. Microsoft offers a beta driver that you can download that is not affiliated with Netgear. You can download the driver at, http://netgear.com. Basically, beta means that the code is not successfully tested but it is a way for people to give feedback and allow changed to be made.

If you use Netgear, I recommend that you steer clear until everything is cleared so you can use Vista without any problems. This is really a pain to deal with so stick with XP until it is resolved.

Wireless Adapter Battery Drain

One problem that people are also having with Vista is that the laptop batteries get drained quickly while connected to the internet. It has to do with the fact that many wireless connections do not have the ability to go into the "power save" mode that the Microsoft Vista Operating system allows for.

All in all, Vista has some problems with compatibility when it comes to some wireless adapters but there are fixes available. The only problem that I see that will require some consideration from people has to do with laptops. They have the double threat of having batteries that can overheat as well as connections that cannot be made.

Health Hints for Hectic Holidays

The holidays sure to have a way of getting us off track, don't they? Maintaining a routine through the holiday season is difficult for even a "professional planner" and for those with diet "resolve of steel" - so don't get down on your self for a momentary indiscretion or two. It's important that we "Modern Moms" resign ourselves to doing what we can, when we can in the context of our overriding priorities - and make it OK emotionally. Meaning, give yourself "permission" rather than guilt for doing what you know is right, such as spending your very limited, but quality time with your child(ren) after a long work day.

It's important to figure out what CAN be done to stay on track during decidedly hectic times like this, and make the most of these opportunities since they are overcompensating for a lack of effort elsewhere (due to minimal time and energy).

Here are a few of the things that even the busiest Modern Mom "should" be able to do during the hectic holidays, even with a busy work, travel, family and all things holiday schedule, some courtesy of eDiets' nutrition experts:

DIET:

o Eat "clean". Yes, I KNOW those dog-gone holiday baskets are everywhere (especially in the workplace), but with a lessened fitness regime your health-seeking/weight-loss efforts will depend on your ability to keep your calorie intake to reasonable levels. Chewing a mint flavored gum (which will make chocolate and other things not taste as good) or sucking on hard sugar free candy can help you resist those temptations. Or, enjoy a mug of sugar/fat free hot chocolate or a low-fat oatmeal and fruit cereal bar at your desk, instead! Don't just deprive yourself - make some kind of reasonable trade!! Again, you just need to plan ahead and have your emergency foods readily available. If you make only one list per week, make it a healthy grocery list and stick to it!

o Eat small, healthy meals every 2.5-3 hours or so rather than just a few large meals. Doing so will keep you sated throughout the day so that you're not ravenous at mealtime, which may cause you to overeat or eat calorie-laden foods, and will keep your metabolism humming. And, be sure NOT to skip meals because you're so busy. While you think you're saving on the calories and don't mind, you're actually slowing down your metabolism, which has to "stretch" the energy derived from your last meal over a longer period of time. If your body comes to "expect" new fuel sources more often, it'll burn off what it gets quicker.

o Drink your water - and lots of it!! (no matter how many trips to the ladies room it will require) Your body is made up primarily of water and while water does not have calories to provide energy, it contributes to weight loss and assisting your digestive system. Ample water will keep the toxins flowing right out of your body.

o Enjoy heart healthy "winter" foods: Soups are great... convenient, healthy and delicious. Make a fresh vegetable soup with all your favorite root vegetables...sauté in a nonstick pot onions and garlic, then add water or low sodium canned vegetable broth, chunked potato, celery root and carrots. Season with dried herbs and pepper, and enjoy as a meal with some whole grain bread, or as a snack. Stews can be made with healthy root vegetables and lean meat. The secret to a healthy stew is not adding fat to the food! Braise the meat without added fat in a nonstick skillet, drain off the fat, and slow cook with carrots, onions and garlic. And, citrus fruits are at their peak in the winter! Florida oranges and grapefruit are best enjoyed peeled...the fiber in the whole fruit is the most beneficial. Remember, it takes at least 5 oranges to make an 8 ounce glass of orange juice...and you wouldn't peel and eat 5 oranges in one sitting...you'd be full after one or two! So, enjoy your citrus fruit...whole.

o Just before going to any holiday party, eat an apple with a full glass of water so that the fiber will keep your appetite at bay. Go ahead and "sample" the party fare if you can't seem to resist - it's OK to allow yourself a "reasonably" sized treat once in a while, particularly in a celebratory fashion. As long as you can enjoy the modest-sized treat while maintaining complete control, you can immediately get your mindset back into "diet mode", enjoy the event, and not feel completely deprived. Otherwise, keep a glass in your hand. If you're holding a glass, it's more difficult to hold a plate and eat! Take a plate of food to begin with, enjoy it, and then keep a glass in your hand for the rest of the event. And finally, don't stand around the food table--take the foods you want and leave the area immediately!

FITNESS:

o With your harried schedule, do what you can with the advice below during Monday-Friday, and resolve to working out for at least one hour on both Saturday and Sunday. No excuses here...if you're skipping your workouts during the week, you need to get them in on the weekend. Optimally, you would also find a happy medium during the week, such as getting up early on Tuesday's and Thursday's also for a morning walk (at least).

o Try isometric exercises. These are great if you're pressed for time or stuck in line at the supermarket. Just by flexing a few times each day, you can maintain a significant amount of muscle tightness. Simply flex those muscles whenever you are sitting in your car, standing at the bus stop or walking to the boss's office. For example, while stuck in traffic, tighten your abdominals and hold for 60 seconds, but remember to keep breathing through your nostrils. Maybe you're waiting in line to checking out at a store.

o Take advantage of any opportunity to exercise and engage in healthy behaviors during your workday. Here are some ideas:

o Stretch! Every hour do some arm-chair exercise. While sitting, bend over in your chair and let your arms hang down...then sit up and take five deep and slow breaths...in through your nose, and out through your mouth.

o Crunch! Every hour, do 12 "rear-end crunches"...while sitting, tighten your buttocks muscles and hold for 10 seconds. Start with 3 repetitions, and work up to 5 or more.

o Focus on your posture - While seated at your desk, consciously focus on sitting tall with your neck relaxed, shoulders back, lengthened spine, feet on the floor and abdominals tight. Maintaining good posture involves most of the muscles in your body and keeping your body in good alignment will help to retrain your muscle groups all day long. Besides practicing good posture can make you look 10 pounds lighter.

o Take 10 minute breaks every hour - Studies have shown that employees are much more satisfied and productive if they take 10 minute breaks every hour. Use that time to get up, stretch, go for a brisk walk, or do some deep breathing. Oxygenating your muscles and getting the blood pumping will keep you more alert, manage stress and help to give your metabolism a boost. Three ten minute sessions are as good as one thirty minute continuous one.

The bottom line is that there will be obstacles to achieving and maintaining your desired body weight - You may encounter a plateau or unexpected life event that may thow you off track. Remember that this is all part of the process, and while you may wander temporarily you CAN get back on track the very next day!

Tips For Avoiding Water Damage

If you've ever experienced water damage, or if you know people who have, then you likely know that the aftermath of a flood or plumbing accident isn't pretty - or cheap. As with most unpleasant things, taking preventative measures to avoid water damage in the first place makes sense. Not only are most of the water damage prevention steps easy to perform, they are generally inexpensive, if not free!

Before you begin, consider some of the common causes of water damage: drips, leaks, and clogs. With these root causes in mind, inspect your house and take action! This may involve a bit of work on your part such as cleaning out rain gutters and clogged drains, and it may require a few trips to the hardware store to buy new hoses, caulk, washers, and fittings. However, your efforts are well worth doing as a simple overflow could cost you hundreds of dollars in water damage mop up costs and repairs.

Dealing with Drips
While drips and leaks are similar, let's address them separately. When inspecting your home for drips, use your sense of hearing as you inspect the following areas:

o Sinks, including the faucet as well as the plumbing underneath the sink
o Any appliances with hoses such as washing machines, refrigerators, water heaters, and dishwashers. Pay attention to heating and air conditioning systems as well as these systems produce water and often have hoses leading to drip pans or drains.
o Any area with exposed plumbing. This includes basements, crawl spaces, unfinished sections of your garage, laundry rooms, bathrooms, and outdoor areas such as hose bibs and exposed sprinkler lines.

Look for signs of water and listen for the telltale sign of drips. Sometimes the repair is as simple as tightening a water valve while other repairs may require new fittings, hoses, or washers. Replace any hoses that show signs of deterioration such as brittle washing machine hoses.

Dealing with Leaks
Like drips, you'll find leaks in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and other areas where water lines run. However, leaks can be more difficult to detect. After all, a slow leak may not make a drip, drip, drip sound. In fact, the leak can be well hidden, slowly causing damage. Look for signs of water leaks by inspecting areas around windows and appliances for signs of moisture. You may notice damp carpet, water stains, or mildew. Basement leaks and seepage are also common, so be sure to check your basement, using your sense of smell as you search for signs of water damage.

Repairing leaks can be as simple as caulking a leaking window or replacing a leaking pipe. Ignoring leaks almost always leads to further damage.

Dealing with Clogs
Clogs are responsible for water damage due to overflows. After all, if a drain is clogged, water has nowhere to go. Typical areas to clean and maintain for preventing clogs include:

o Sump pump drains
o Rain gutters
o Toilets
o Kitchen disposals
o Sinks and tubs
o Outdoor drains
o Laundry drains

Regularly inspect drains and gutters and clean out the gunk as needed. Use a plumbing snake to clear clogged pipes and keep a toilet plunger handy for clogged toilets.

These are easy water damage prevention steps that you can take today to prevent costly water damage cleanup and repair costs tomorrow.

Limited Resources - Maximum Performance

Resources in a computer system are limited. All the concurrently running processes have to share these resources and memory adequately and efficiently. If too many processes run at the same time, then the system is deemed to perform poorly. Also, if not too many processes are active, there may be processes running in the background that may hinder the optimum utilization of resources. To deal with the background processes, one has to focus on the Windows registry and the startup menu. Some of the installed programs are designed to load themselves at the time of Windows startup. The information regarding this is stored in the registry. These programs drain the resources and the computer runs slow.

The programs that load at the startup are usually the anti-virus programs or OS based tools. They need to be used as often as the operating system loads itself. Even if a person seldom makes use of these programs, they still consume that precious little memory and gradually force the computer to behave absurdly and poorly. Unnecessary utilization of resources affects the overall performance as well.

There are many registry fixers and cleaners available for download that can help manage the startup tools. You can check/uncheck any program you want or do not want to load automatically on start-up. You can think of it as a manual startup of the Windows. The user interface of the registry cleaners is also kept as simple as possible for better understanding. You do not need to delete or uninstall the programs, but you can just have them removed from the startup line of the operating system. You can have a better command over your tools and can decide your computer's performance all by yourself. Just keep the registry clean and improve your computer's performance to the hilt.

Authentic Mexican Recipes for Green Chili - Green Chili Casserole

A spicy casserole featuring ground beef, corn tortillas, cheese and chilies.

1 pound ground beef

8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

1 small onion, diced

1 pound processed cheese food, shredded

1 (4 oz.) can green chili peppers, chopped

1 (10.75 oz.) can cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup milk

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare a medium sized casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.

In a medium skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until evenly browned; drain fat.

Place half of the tortillas on the bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Layer on half of the onion, cheese, ground beef and chilies.

Layer with the remaining tortillas, onion, cheese, ground beef and chilies.

In a medium bowl, dilute the soup with the milk; pour over the top of the casserole. Bake for 30 minutes. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes or until cheese has melted.

Green Chili Burritos

A classic burritos recipe featuring green chilies, refried beans and spices.

1 pound boneless pork, cut into 3/4-inch cubes

1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil

1 (10 oz.) can diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup water

1 cup fresh tomato, diced

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup green pepper, chopped

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

5 teaspoons cold water

1 (16 oz.) can refried beans

10 (6-inch) flour tortillas, warmed

Directions

In a skillet, brown pork in oil over medium high heat; drain.

Add the next 10 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cover. Simmer for 1 hour or until the pork is tender.

In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and the cold water until smooth; add to pork mixture, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the refried beans; spread beans evenly on the tortillas. Spoon the pork mixture down the center of tortillas; fold in the sides.

Best Green Chili Stew

This is a hearty green chili stew that is great served over rice.

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 pound beef chuck roast, cut into 3/4-inch cubes

2 onions, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 (28 oz.) can roma tomatoes, with juice

2 (4 oz.) cans chopped green chili peppers, drained

1 (12 oz.) can or bottle beer

1 cup beef broth

2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Salt to taste

Ground black pepper to taste

Directions

In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat until hot, but not smoking.

Pat the meat dry with paper towels and brown in batches, transferring the meat with a slotted spoon to a bowl as they are done.

In the fat remaining in the pot, cook the onions until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.

Return the meat to the pot with any juices in the bowl and add the tomatoes with juice, chilies, beer, beef broth, oregano, cumin and Worcestershire sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer, partially covered, for 2-1/2 hours or until the meat is tender.

3 Easy Baked Bean Recipes

The following baked bean recipes may all have very different ingredients, but they have one main thing in common - they are all cooked in the crockpot! These recipes can either be used as side dishes, or part of a main meal. Be sure to see more crockpot recipes at our website below.

CROCKPOT BAKED BEANS I

1 pound dried small white beans -- rinsed

4 1/2 cups water

1/3 cup molasses

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 onion -- chopped

1/4 pound salt pork -- cut into 1" cubes

1 tablespoon dijon-style mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

In slow-cooker, combine all ingredients. Cover and cook on LOW 13 to 14 hours, stirring occasionally, if possible.

CROCKPOT BAKED BEANS II

1 lb ground beef

3/4 lb bacon fried and diced

1 onion lg chopped and browned

1 lge can pork and beans

1 16 oz kidney beans canned

1 16 oz buttered lima beans canned

1 cup catsup

3 Tbsp white vinegar

1/4 cup liquid smoke

1 tsp salt

dash pepper

Put all ingredients. in crock pot cook 4-6 hrs on low.

CROCKPOT BAKED BEANS III

2 cans canellini beans

2 cans black beans

2 cans red kidney beans

1 can chick peas

2 diced onions

2 tablespoons mustard (from the fridge - the wet kind)

1 cup molasses

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup maple syrup

Rinse and drain beans and set aside. On bottom of crockpot place diced onions, then dump on beans (don't mix just dump 'em all on). Then drizzle on all other ingredients. Mustard stays lumpy - it's ok. If you wish to add bacon - pre cook 1 lb. crumble and put
over top of entire mixture. DON'T STIR. It will look dry for awhile. Crock Pot on High for 6-8 hours stirring once about 3/4 of the way through. Serve.

Enjoy!

How to Deal With a Cancer Diagnosis

I am a cancer survivor. I was diagnosed in March 2005, and it is now nearly two years since I underwent treatment.

As I was getting good test results last week - my CAT scan was all clear - I received emails from two friends. One was also diagnosed with cervical cancer with additional tumours in her ovaries. She is having her tubes and ovaries removed and being scheduled for radiation and chemotherapy treatment. My other friend let me know her mother has been diagnosed with cancer on her gall bladder that has spread to her liver and intestines. She is undergoing surgery at this moment.

What struck me was that even though I am out of the woods with my own cancer and feel fit and healthy, others are just starting their journey. I realised what I went through and what I learned might be of use to others.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer recently, or have a loved one who has, then this article is for you.

My story

I was diagnosed in March 2005 with cervical cancer, just 4 days after getting engaged. The treatment recommended initially was a full hysterectomy. Luckily there was a new surgery called a radical trachelectomy available to younger women who wanted to maintain fertility. This involved the removal of the cervix, but left the uterus and ovaries - most of the reproductive equipment. Of the 100 or so women who have had the surgery about 70% were able to conceive and deliver, through caesarean section. So baby-making is still possible for me, though I am not yet out of the 2 year clearing time the doctor recommended.

After surgery they discovered additional tumours in the lymph nodes they removed. The doctors recommended four courses of chemotherapy, cysplatin to be precise, just to be sure that they knock any remaining cancer on its head. Cysplatin is a pretty heavy drug, and had some serious effects - I felt nauseous and horrible for a good ten days after each round. My last treatment was on August 8th 2005. I ran a marathon 7 months later. This sounds surreal to me now, but at the time, running a marathon was exactly what I needed for a new focus on living and life.

However, dealing with a diagnosis was the first step. It is my intention that this article and the accompanying audio helps anyone else who is facing a diagnosis get through the first few weeks.

Here is a whole bunch of stuff you can do and think and experience to help you - pick what feels right to you. The first thing to do is to try and reduce all the stress in your life as much as possible. You need to be calm, relaxed to cope with what is ahead of you.

How to cope?

First of all, know that as long as you are breathing, you are OK. Start from there. Breathe. Affirm you are alive and you are OK. Breathe.

Eat right. I saw a nutritionist very soon after my diagnosis. I already had a pretty good diet: I was a vegetarian and a runner, but knew that I wanted to do everything I could to promote healing. It also gave me some sort of control over the process as my life got taken over by medical appointments, test results, and treatments.

Eat plenty of fresh fruit and veggies. Eliminate anything that is a stressor on your system - reduce or eliminate alcohol, sugar, cigarettes, and caffeine. See a nutritionist or go to a health food store for which vitamins to take. Extra doses of Vitamin B, C, selenium, were all good for me. Make sure you consult a professional for the correct dosages.

Exercise. Keep your body moving gently as much as you are able with your surgery and treatments. Gentle stretching is good - keep connected to your body. Exercise helps the lymph system to operate, helps the lungs and heart to do their jobs and pump out toxins. It also helps you connect with your body, to feel alive. Movement gives you energy as well.

Meditate. Before I was diagnosed with cancer, I always knew that meditation was supposed to be good for you, but I never did anything about it. Willing to give everything a go to promote my healing, I started meditating. This was such a blessing -it helped me release a lot of emotional stress and I felt so calm and relaxed and peaceful afterwards. You can use relaxation tapes, or meditation CDs, whether this is just nice music, or a guided visualisation, or just lying down and relaxing. The idea is to center yourself and calm yourself down - feel connected to the source of life energy that is in all of us, in all of the world around us.

Visualise. This was a great way to stay focussed. After surgery I could barely walk two steps, whereas the week before I had run 38km. This could have discouraged me, but instead I chose to focus on what I wanted my body to do for me. I imagined myself running again, feeling fit, free, and full of energy. This helped me get out of bed every day and shuffle a few more feet down the corridor. Even though my current body was not capable of much, in my mind's eye I felt myself running and bounding about the hills, feeling full of life. Every day I got stronger, and every day I visualised my body the way I intended to be. Like I said, 7 months later I ran a marathon.

Read some good books. One of the first things I did was go to the bookstore. I wanted to educate myself about my disease and learn from people who had gone through similar experiences. I bought a ton of books on how to heal yourself, cancer journeys etc. The best ones I found were Lance Armstrong's "It's Not About the Bike," Brandon Bays's "The Journey," Louise Hay's "You Can Heal Your Life," Paul Kraus's "Living with Cancer," Petrea King's "Quest for Life," Petrea King's "Your Life Matters." Each of these had something different to teach me. Just go to the bookstore and go the health section or self-help section and buy the books that appeal to you.

Get a massage, often. Massage is another way to relax and helps the body to heal itself by moving fluid, lymph, and releasing stored emotional energy. You can also use another type of healing energy practitioner - maybe a kinesiologist, or cranial sacral therapist, or reiki practitioner. Find someone you trust and enjoy. The whole point is to feel good.

Use a Journal. There is so much that goes on in your head and heart with a cancer diagnosis. Some of it you may want to share, and a lot you probably do not. In any case, purging your head and heart of the all the thoughts that are going around and around and screaming at you inside your head allows you to release a lot of energy and turmoil. Write everything you feel and think down. The worst thing you can do is let it all run around in your head - this makes everything worse. Writing gives a relief and a release to your thoughts and emotions. Get them out - let them go.

Let people know what is going on. People who love you want to help. They really do. Tell them how to - to call you if you want to talk, to visit. Let their love in to your life - let them bring flowers, cookies, books - whatever - feel their love and appreciation of you. Be grateful for all of this.

Feel Gratitude. The moment I started to look around and appreciate what I saw and experienced, then my cancer journey started to change for me. It happened when I was going through chemotherapy. I had a lot of time at home on my own. I looked out the window every day and just watched the sunlight on the trees. Then the sky. Then the birds. And I started to feel grateful for seeing them, and having the time to appreciate them. Then I started to think about all the wonderful things that happened to me, all the beautiful people in my life, all the great adventures I had had. And I started to feel this amazing flood of good feelings. I started to realise that cancer had opened me up to all this wonderful good stuff that had been there all along, but I had not necessarily appreciated before. Then I started to feel grateful for all the things cancer was doing for me: it allowed me to slow down and take a time out for six months, it allowed me to really choose how I wanted to live going forward, it helped me clarify what was most important to me. I realised that it was a terrific gift. The process was arduous, and yet the gifts were golden.

Practice and feel grateful for the little and big things. Notice the beauty around you. Notice the sunlight on the trees. Be grateful for that. Find joy and delight in the life around you.

Stop doing anything that does not support you. Stop doing things that are 'shoulds' in your life. Do only what gives you pleasure and joy.

Watch funny movies. Laugh your guts out. Rent all the Leslie Neilsen (Police Academy) etc. you can handle. Laugh laugh laugh! Laughter actually produces some chemicals in your body that promote healing. It also feels really really good.

Get yourself a copy of the Secret DVD - available at www.wildlywealthy.com in Australia and at amazon.com elsewhere. This is a VERY powerful movie. There is a woman on it who healed herself of breast cancer through self-love.

Don't give up your doctors. As you embrace the healing journey you are on, take their form of healing along with the spiritual side of things. All forms of healing have a place and can help you to return to health.

It is OK to be scared. It is OK to be sad. It is OK to be angry. Let yourself feel all of this and more - just let yourself feel. Let it pass through you and drain from you. It will leave you feeling purged and cleansed. Get in touch with who you really are - you are love and pure energy at the core. Feel that. Love that.

Cancer is not a death sentence - it is a call to live. It is a call for you to love yourself and to feel yourself healed from all your past wrongs, all your past regrets, all your past mistakes. Cancer gives you permission to let go of all the crap in your life and acknowledge all of the good things.

Cancer can be a gift for you, if you choose it to be so. Give yourself permission to take a break. Give yourself permission to slow right down, to pause, and to just simply be.

It is my sincere wish for you that you discover once more your joy, health, and love of life. I don't know what will happen on your journey; no one knows how long each of us has, with cancer or without. The most important thing is that we savour it. Remember, life is for living.

All good wishes for you.

Using a Video System For Preventive Maintenance of Drain Cleaning

A drain maintenance system using a video system can cost anywhere from four hundred to one thousand dollars for professional systems. They are one way you can maintain a smooth running plumbing system. With a little preventive maintenance you will save time and money. You can put together an efficient system of drain cleaning tools and inspection cameras. Remember your plumbing system is the foundation to any business you are running. Many do not think of their pipes until there is an emergency. And then it is too late.

Drain maintenance refers to keeping your plumbing system in smooth running condition. With regular inspections and a recording system in place, you can keep track of the build up in your plumbing system. It is important to track the sludge build up in your pipes so you will not be caught off guard by a back up. You can plan for the equipment you need to keep on hand and the best time to perform your drain clearing work.

You can see the pluses to this set up. First you will be able to reduce the inconvenience to the building occupants. They will be able to plan around your work schedule each time you plan a drain clearing. Next your plumbers will have an easier job because it is easier to take out small sludge packs than dealing with an all out blockage.

Third you are able to avoid the health and safety issues that come from sewage backups. You also avoid the huge mess and inconveniences that come with the average plumbing emergency. You can start your inspection time table when you are ready. Then do the next one in about three months. This is an easy way to implement your system. You can use your initial findings to alter your time line as you choose.

This is all about your convenience and efficiency and effectiveness. For instance if you detect no major change in your pipes after the first two inspections you can make your inspections every two years or even once a year. But with all your planning you know that an emergency is still possible.

But cameras can help even in an emergency plumbing situation. Your tech with his camera outfitted with a water proof lens and light emitting diode equipment can see into even a flooded sewage back up. He can find the clog and help the pipes run trouble free again.

If you have an emergency or a slow building clog, the cost to clear the drains is less when you use cameras before and after the drain work. The plumbers are able to detect the clog and then use the right tools for the work.

They can detect the problem and see how far is the access point. This way they can in a hurry complete the work and do it in an efficient manner. When the techs look with their cameras after the drain clearing work they can assure that the entire blockage is removed. The problem will less likely occur again once it is initially removed.

Check Your Washing Machine Hoses Today - Sleep Well Tonight!

Your Washing Machine Hoses could rupture today.

Some good friends of mine learned this lesson the hard way. They were away from home, a washing machine hose burst in the second floor laundry room, and fifteen thousand dollars later they now have a beautiful new bathroom below the laundry room. Because the old bathroom was completely wrecked.

Washing machines are attached to the water supply system with two hoses, one each for hot and cold water. They're similar to a garden hose, but about four feet long. New washers usually arrive at your house with new rubber hoses, and the installer hooks them up and you're ready to start washing.

Over the years the rubber slowly deteriorates. The water pressure in the hoses changes considerably depending on the flow. The hoses shake and vibrate with every spin cycle. Eventually they wear out.

Often the leak will begin as a drip, which won't be noticed because nobody ever looks behind the washing machine. A slow drip can cause almost as much damage as a burst pipe, but it takes longer.

Sometimes, as in my friends' case, a hose bursts and it's like having the faucet opened as far as it will go, water gushing over everything.

So what can you do to avoid this disaster? Buy and install reinforced washer hoses. They're available at hardware stores and home centers and appliance stores. If you own a pair of pliers you can install them yourself. Two reinforced hoses will cost about thirty dollars, which is cheap insurance.

Just turn off the water at the two faucets behind the washer, unscrew the hose fittings (you'll need the pliers to loosen them), remove the old hoses, and install the new ones. You may need to slide the washing machine away from the wall to access the hoses. There's a third larger hose that drains the washer - make sure that it is placed in the drain before you push the washer back into place.

Make sure that you tighten the hose connections on both ends of the hoses with your pliers. If the fittings drip, you've wasted your time and money.

Feeding the Old Horse

Owning an old horse can be at time upsetting when you see your old companion fading away. However, nowadays, horses can live happily until a very old age, some well after the age of 30. Hopefully this article will help you and your old mate find the right care.

According to NRC and veterinary bodies, a horse is considered geriatric at the age of 20. In general, a horse is considered a senior horse from 15-16 years of age. In fact, many horse feed manufacturers provide specifically designed feed stuff for horses 16 and over. Whether it is true or not is debatable. Some horses seem to age earlier, others later. The horse will age differently depending on the lifestyle it had therefore it would be wrong to label all 16 year-old horses as old. However, from 20 onwards, a horse is definitely labelled geriatric as its body and organs have started deteriorating significantly.

As a guideline, when the horse reaches 15 or 16, one should pay extra attention to its condition to ensure it stays healthy and its weight stays consistent. From the age of 20, a body condition of 2-3 (Australian body condition scoring 0-5) should be maintained.

Most common problems encountered with senior horses

Feeding the old horse might become a challenge as various factors play an important role in feed absorption.

Teeth
The most common issue is related to teeth. As the horse ages, its teeth will wear off, some might fall off, some might become decayed and chewing of feed will be impaired causing improper absorption of feed and nutrients.

The usual signs for bad teeth are:

Slow to chew, inability to masticate properly
Feed falls off the horse's mouth - the horse seems to be messy at feed time and kind of dribbling
Whole food found in droppings such as grains and long stems
Bad breath due to rotten teeth
Thick nasal discharge, usually on one side, may appear if a decayed tooth has been left untreated and has become infected
Tendency to choke
More prone to colics. According to an Auburn University study conducted in the mid 90s, impaction colics have a ratio of 88% in older horses in comparison to 29% in younger horses. Out of the 104 horses above 17 years of age, one of the main reasons was dental diseases (as well as poor grazing and tumours).

During the same era, another study was conducted in Texas (USA) over a period of 12 months to identify dietary and management factors associated with colic in horses. The results identified that horses aged 10 years and over who are stabled and still get regular exercise are at higher risks than those pastured at all times. Among other factors are recent changes in diet, in type of hay, in weather conditions, in housing and worm infestation. Further studies confirmed similar results in 2000/2001, where 364 horses were examined over a period of 12 months in Texas USA. In summary, changes in diet (type of hay, grain or concentrate) as well as feeding more than 2.7kg of grains, feeding round bales of hay, and decreased access to pasture contribute to high risk of colic.

Worms
As seen above, worm infestation is a primary issue. This also applies to all horses, young and old. If the horse is ridden with parasites, its feed absorption will be lessen. One should follow a worming regime of 6 to 8 weeks.

A horse infested with parasites is more at risk to have colics and difficulties in putting on weight. If the horse has received a consistent worming programme all its life, it is less likely to have colics and more likely to have a long and healthy life.

Poor digestion
As the horse ages, its digestive system seem to become less effective at breaking down food as the horse may have reduced salivation and oesophagus functions. Although calcium absorption does not seem to be drastically affected, fibre and phosphorus digestion reduces with age. The later being even more pronounced in horses with tumours.

When the horse is depleted of important nutrients, its immune system ability to fight illnesses will also be decreased, exposing it to high risks of not only becoming ill, but also not being able to recover easily.

The horse is then prone to lose body condition and weight.

Arthritis
Arthritic conditions are painful and may restrict the horse in walking and grazing.

Other illnesses
Horses who developed pituitary and thyroid tumours may have reduced insulin response and become sugar and starch intolerant. Same applies to founders which is often linked to pituitary tumours.

Horse with renal and liver diseases also require special diet. In case of renal problems, beep pulp and lucerne hay should be avoided due to their high content of calcium. In case of liver and hepatic diseases, high protein and high fat diets should be avoided.

How to care for the senior horse

It is important that the old horse be comfortable and enjoy its retirement.

Its teeth should be checked every 6 months and full vet check-up should be done every 6 to 12 months. A full blood test is not expensive and will help you understand how to care for your old companion. It will show many abnormalities and your veterinarian will be able to help you find appropriate treatment.

In case of arthritis, apart from medication to make the horse more comfortable, many natural therapies may help as well. Acupuncture, homeopathy, shiatsu, acupressure, aromatherapy and clay therapy are some. The herb Devil's Claw can work as a natural anti-inflammatory instead of giving phenybutazone (Bute) but should not be given if stomach ulcers are present, in case of diabetes and cardiac disorders. French green clay applied as a poultice to sore area may provide great relief.

Old horses quite often get bullied by the youngsters at feed time. One should ensure that the senior horse is able to eat in peace and all its meals.

For better digestion, feed small quantities 2 or even 3 times a day.

A good shelter is essential to the old horse as it is more sensitive to weather changes.

In cool weather, if the horse accepts it, a rug will keep him warm and will help save his energy.

Always provide clean fresh water at all time.

Vitamin C may help the horse's immune system. Vitamin C can be found naturally in Rosehip. 1 to 2 tablespoons a day in the feed.

Vitamin B group in the form of Brewer's Yeast might be beneficial, especially in cases of renal and hepatic diseases. It will help with digestion as well. Up to 100 g/day.

Sweet feed should be avoided, especially in founders and sugar intolerant horses. This includes molasses, honey and sweeten feed mixes.

If there is no liver dysfunction, the addition of vegetable oil may help keep its body condition. Up to 2 cups a day, introduced slowly over a 3 week-period. Virgin coconut oil is a rich source of lauric acid, the source of disease fighting fatty acid derivative monolaurin. Cold pressed Canola oil is also an excellent oil for horses. It contains around 10% omega 3 fatty acids, 20% omega 6 fatty acids and omega 9 fatty acids. Omega-3 and 6 are essential to the normal functioning of all tissues and for vision, heart, rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. These two fatty acids need to be balanced and the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 should be about 2:1, which is provided by cold-pressed Canola oil. Coconut oil can be given in smaller quantity than Canola such as 25-100ml. Canola can complement to reach 2 cups of oil a day. When providing fat and high protein diets to a horse, one must monitor the horse's dropping to see if their consistency stays normal. If the droppings become too lose like "cow pat", reduce the oil and/or the protein content. Too much protein can be seen in urine as it becomes thick, smelly and difficult to pass.

Avoid starch food for better digestion, especially if the horse has a tendency to tie-up or founders.

Because the digestion is not optimal at this age, avoid feeding grains. Extruded grains are much safer and have shown good results with geriatric horses. Feed manufacturers provide extruded/micronized grains as well as especially designed feed stuff for senior horses.

Herbs that may help with gut ulceration are Marshmallow, Meadowsweet, Liquorice and Slippery Elm Bark. A handful each of Marshmallow and Meadowsweet once a day may help with gut ulceration, inflammation and irritation. Liquorice has to be used with caution as it is a laxative and should not be used if the horse is scouring or have loose manure. It should not be used long term either and only 1 teaspoon a day for up to 3 months. Slippery Elm Bark is good for scouring at a dose of 1 to 2 tablespoons a day.

You may provide good quality protein (12-16%, 8-10% if renal diseases are present) in the form of full fat soy meal or stabilized copra meal. Copra meal like CoolStance provide 20% crude protein whilst a full fat soy meal like Soygize (HyFeed) contains 39% protein, so only a small quantity might be needed. If no liver and renal diseases, good lucerne chaff may be added in small quantity for protein.

Because the horse might have poor teeth, provide its meals as a soft mash for easier chewing as well as good quality chaff. Hay might be too hard to chew or the horse might choke on it, so the hay might need to be dampen to soften it, or chopped like chaff. It is good practice to dampen hay so it is not dusty. To do so, John Kohnke recommends to put the hay in an hessian bag and let it soak in water for up to 1 hour. Remove the bag and let it hang to drain water.

Always provide hay at ground level. If hay is in hay nets that are suspended too high, there is higher risk of choke. A horse, by nature, grazes with its head down and its digestive system is adapted to this practice. Having to eat with its head up goes against its physiology and causes problems.

As we are on the chapter of dust, rations should always be dampen to eliminate dust. Dust is very damaging to a horse's lungs. Stabled horses should also have a dust free environment.

And of course, always seek veterinary advice, even if it seems to be nothing! Better be sure than sorry

You can find more information on feeding your horse at http://www.australiannaturalhealing.com

References:

Siciliano PD. "Nutrition and feeding of the geriatric horse", The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice, 2002, p491-508

Cohen ND, Gibbs PG, Woods AM. "Dietary and other management factors associated with colic in horses", Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1999, p53-60

Dr J. Kohnke, Dr. Frank Kelleher, Dr. Penny Trevor-Jones. "Feeding horses in Australia, a guide for horse owners and managers", RIRDC Publication No. 99/49, 1999

D. G. Pugh, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACT, Diplomate ACVN. "Feeding the Geriatric Horse", Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, 2002

Dr John Konhke. "Feeding the senior horse", Fact Sheet

Pete G. Gibbs, G. D. Potter, W.L. Scrutchfield, M.T. Martin. "Mature, Senior & Geriatric Horses: Their Management, Care and Use", Texas Cooperative Extension, The Texas A&M University System, 2005

Victoria Ferguson "The Practical Horse Herbal", Horses For Courses, 2002

Catherine Bird "A Healthy Horse The Natural Way", The Lyons Press, 2005

Water Damage Repairs - Face the Situation Before it Ruins Your Home

Dealing with water damage can be a tricky issue. This is why it is important to get water damage repairs the soonest time possible. If you do not address the problem right away, they can do more permanent structural damage to your beautiful home as well as erode its strength. Whether the damage has been caused by a flood, leak, or even condensation, it is important that you address it right away.

If you don't get the damage fixed right away, there are a number of different losses that can occur in your home. Some of these damages include the rotting of wood, de-laminating of materials like plywood, rusting of steel, and a lot of other damages. While there are some slow and minor damages such as visible water spots, there are also some that could be catastrophic and instantaneous such as in the case of flooding. Even though the damage may be slow, it can still mar your home's surface. How fast the damage occurs does not matter. This is because this damage can still produce a major property loss and damage.

And since there are some specific homeowner's insurance policies that do not cover the costs which are often associated with this damage, it is important that you know how to deal with them. Although the common cause of most residential water damages results from a sump pump failure, a lot of homeowner's insurance policies do not cover the costs for water damage repairs which are associated to it. As such, it is important to know about these things so that you will not be troubled when faced with the unfortunate incident.

Plumbing, The Basic Facts

The term plumbing is taken from the Latin word 'plumbum,' which stands for lead. Plumbing is the skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures for drinking water systems and the drainage of waste. The plumbing industry is a basic and substantial part of every developed economy in order to supply clean water and to transport waste.

Plumbing originated during the ancient civilizations such as the Greek, Roman, Persian, Indian, and Chinese civilisations. This is because the need for plumbing was soon realised as public baths were developed to provide portable water and drainage; however the development and improvement of plumbing systems was very slow with virtually no progress made until the 19th century. Eventually however the development of separate, underground water and sewage systems eliminated open sewage ditches and cesspools.

Since the development of the plumbing system in the 19th century the materials used in present day plumbing systems involve a network of high-pressure pumps and pipes, which as now made of copper, brass, plastic, steel and cast-iron, lead is no longer used in the installation of modern plumbing systems due to its toxicity.

If you are having problems with your plumbing system it is important that you know where your Stop Cock is. Your stop cock is a valve used to turn off the water supply to your house. It is important that you know where it is so you can turn the water off and prevent damage in the event of a leak within your house. You will also save you money if a plumber needs to work in your house because he will not have to spend time searching for the stop cock.

There are a few things that you can do to help your plumbing systems work better and last longer. Aspects such as using drain cleaners can help to keep your plumbing system flowing. Drain cleaners are a good solution to fix blocked drains, which is why it is a good idea to always have a bottle on hand. You should also insulate your pipes in the winter to prevent them freezing in the winter months. If you pipes however do freeze you can use a heat lamp to help them slowly unthaw.

Some common plumbing problems that you may come across are things such as the following:

o Rattling pipes - the reason behind this may be caused by several factors such as your pipes not being sufficiently strapped to the wall, you may need to re-secure your pipes

o Slow drainage - the most common reason for this is due to clogged pipes and as previously mentioned this can easily be taken care of by using a drain solution

o Loss of hot water when another faucet is turned on - this is especially common in older houses where the hot and cold water pressures are not balanced. You may need to re-balance the valves

o Toilet tank leaks - the plumbing parts inside the tank will most likely need replacing

If you experience any problems with your plumbing system it is important that you enlist the help of a professional to fix the problem.

New Water Pressure Regulators Solve Water Pressure Woes

Anyone who has ever tried to shower and experienced a lack of water pressure knows what an annoying problem pressure troubles can be. On the other hand, too much pressure can be equally as frustrating. Too much can be harmful to both people and appliances. A properly installed water pressure regulator can be the answer to many problems in an instant.

There are many contributing factors to poor pressure. Hard water build up, rust and old utility pipes are just a few of the causes that can contribute to a decrease in water pressure. When old utility lines are the root of the problem, installing a booster can eliminate the pressure problem. Well water owners will find a few more options to fix their pressure problems. The bottom line is that you do not have to live with this irritating problem. There are numerous methods to solving these problems quickly and some can even be done on your own while others require the use of a professional plumber.

One fix to solving common water pressure problems is installing a constant pressure valve or regulator. Constant pressure valves are installed between the water pump and the pressure tank in your water system. Pressure valves adjust and maintain the water flow preventing from a huge surge or slow stream of water. A pressure valve will keep the water pressure flowing at an acceptable rate. It is important to note that a constant pressure valve will not be able to increase the flow any higher than the maximum flow of your water pump. These valves are easy to install, fairly inexpensive and can be found in most hardware stores.

A larger tank may be necessary to keep up with the volume of water your family requires. Water pressure tanks are used to store water so that the water pump does not have to be used every time a person or appliance needs water. If your current tank is too small to hold a reserve big enough to meet your basic needs, it may be time to upgrade to a tank that has a higher gallon capacity. A pressure tank that is too small could be causing a major decrease in water pressure. Upgrading to a larger pressure tank would increase the capacity of water in reserve and improve water pressure.

Water pumps can also contribute to a lack of pressure. Variable spend pumps function more quickly than the commonly used constant speed pumps. A reliable, efficient variable pump has the ability to work more than two times faster than a constant speed pump. Upgrading your water pump could be the solution to your problems. Water pumps can be purchased in almost any price range.

Once you make a few simple changes or upgrades to your water system, you can get back to enjoying long showers with the appropriate water pressure. There will be no more time wasted with low pressure showers and trying to wash dishes with nothing but a trickle of water coming from your faucet! With the right research and a little know how you will be well on your way to perfect pressure once again.

Old-Fashion Cheeseburger Pie and Show Cake For Dessert

When Bisquick came out with their baking mix, housewives everywhere were happily intrigued. It seemed it was suddenly easier and less time consuming to prepare practically everything. One of the fun things about this new marvel, was the "impossible" recipes. Families were suddenly enjoying all kinds of "impossible" recipes. "Impossible" simply meant that cooks could whip up a mixture, pour it into a pie plate, put it in the oven to bake and pull out a pie in a shell. Wow! Such magic! This worked for dessert pies and meat pies. This "Impossible" Cheeseburger Pie quickly became a family favorite. Pull out your baking mix box today and make this yummy treat for your family. For dessert, give them a treat with "Show" cake.

BISQUICK'S IMPOSSIBLE CHEESEBURGER PIE

1 lb ground beef

1 1/2 cups chopped onion

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/2 cups milk

3/4 cup Bisquick baking mix

3 eggs

2 tomatoes, sliced

1 cup shredded Cheddar or process American cheese

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease pie plate, 10 x 1 1/2-inches. Brown beef and onion; drain. Stir in salt and pepper. Spread in pie plate. Beat milk, baking mix, and eggs until smooth, 15 seconds in blender or on high 1 minute with hand beater. Pour into plate over hamburger. Bake 25 minutes. Top with tomatoes and sprinkle with cheese. Bake until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, another 5 to 8 minutes. Cool 5 minutes.

SHOW CAKE

1 box white cake mix

16 oz can crushed pineapple

8 oz cream cheese

1 small box instant vanilla pudding

1 pkg Dream Whip

milk

coconut, for garnish

chopped nuts, for garnish

Drain pineapple, reserving liquid. Prepare cake mix according to package directions, using a 9 x 13-inch pan. Let cool. Add enough milk to reserved pineapple juice to make 2 cups. Blend juice mixture and cream cheese, then add pudding mix, mix well again. Fold in the pineapple and spread mixture over the cooled cake. Prepare Dream Whip as directed on package; spread over pudding mixture. Sprinkle coconut and chopped nuts over top of Dream Whip.

Enjoy!

Leaking Pipe Or Clogged Drain, Call the Plumbers

Plumbers are professionals that work in homes, commercial or public buildings. They install and repair pipes for fresh water, waste and the gas systems in these buildings. In addition they can install fixtures like tubs, showers, toilets and sinks. They may also install appliances like garbage disposals, dishwashers or water heaters.

There are several ways that a plumber can enter the trade. Many learn through an apprenticeship program. While at one time this simply meant getting a job with another plumber and working your way up through the trade, today many of the apprentice programs are administered through community colleges. The apprentice must spend several years on the job and taking classes before becoming a plumber.

Most states have requirements that plumbers be licensed. Before taking the test, they must show proof of their work experience. The test shows their knowledge of local codes and of the trade.

If you are building a new home, you will need the help of a plumbing contractor. The contractor will be able to read your blueprints for the home and provide necessary materials for the plumbing portion of the construction. He will need to do "rough in" plumbing before the concrete floors are poured. Once the floors are poured and the stud walls are in place he will return to do "stub out plumbing." Finally, once the walls are finished, the floor coverings are in place and the cabinets are built, he will return a third time to install the fixtures and appliances.

Once you are in your new home or office building, you may not need a plumber very often. Many times plumbing systems are designed for many years of trouble free operation. However, over time, leaks and clogs may develop, resulting in the need for you to call the professional back to your home.

In homes, you can often avoid having to call the professional out with a few tips.

In kitchens, avoid pouring oils and greases down the drain. They are likely to harden somewhere down the ling and cause a clog to form. This clog may just stop the sink from draining, but it can also stop everything in the home from draining correctly. In addition, do not overload your garbage disposal and allow plenty of fresh water to flow when it is in use.

In the bathroom, use screens over the shower, tub and sink drains to prevent a hair clog from forming. These removable screens can be cleaned after each shower and help to prevent a slow draining fixture.

One tool that should be kept in every home is a plunger. This tool can easily dislodge many drain plugs and may save you money on plumbing repairs. You may want to purchase one that is designed for use in toilets and another that is designed for use in sinks, tubs and basins.

If you have a home repair in your plumbing system, then licensed plumbers can make that repair in an efficient manner so that you will once again have fresh water flowing into your home and drains that flow freely.

Clean Drains Without Chemicals

If you have smelly, slow draining, or completely clogged drains in your home, you may have used chemical drain cleaners to solve the problem. But chemical drain cleaners usually contain dangerous substances such as lye and acid which can harm you, your pipes and the waste water system. And there are some good all natural alternatives you can use to accomplish the same thing, at a fraction of the cost. Keep in mind it's easier to treat the drains while they are still draining rather than after they are completely clogged.

Prevention:
*Run some hot water after every use to control odors and keep pipes running clean.
*Pour a strong salt and water solution regularly down the drain to keep grease from building up.

For odor control:
*Pour 1 cup of vinegar, lemon juice, or a handful of baking soda into the drain and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then run some hot water.

For slow moving drains:
*sometimes just using a plunger will dislodge the material that is slowing the drain.
*Pour 1 cup baking soda followed by 3 cups of boiling water down the drain. Repeat if needed.

For clogged drains:
*Pour 1/2 cup baking soda followed by 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain and allow it to foam for a few minutes. Then flush with 1 gallon of boiling water.

There are also natural living enzyme culture drain cleaners that will eat the organic material. They can be used monthly to keep drains clean as well as septic systems.

**A word of caution about baking soda - Don't use it if you've already used a commercial acid drain cleaner recently, as they will react to each other.