Pat & Wayne Harriman's
compliments of
Pat & Wayne Harriman 203-672-4499 路 203-605-3873 harrimanre.com wharriman@harrimanre.com 852 Clintonville Rd Wallingford , CT 06492
Out with the old and in with the new! Parties galore, last minute plans springing into action and lots, and lots of confetti! Whatever could it be? Goal setting, resolution making and willpower getting a major work out? With all the change in the air, it must be New Years! This month in Welcome Home magazine start the New Year off right! Take a look at why your New Year’s Resolutions always seem to wind up never resolved. Is one of your New Year goals to stay fit this year? Let us help you reach that goal by giving you the tips you need to successfully stay slim this year. And did Aunt Harriet give you something again this year that you hid in closet and wish would go away? Read all about how to tactfully get rid of unwanted holiday gifts. This and much more awaits you in our pages! Please enjoy this issue of the magazine! Have a resolute January, and as always, Welcome Home!
compliments of
Pat & Wayne Harriman 203-672-4499 · 203-605-3873
Visit My Site Email Me 852 Clintonville Rd Wallingford , CT 06492
Welcome Home! Table of Contents Recipe And Design
4
A tasty recipe and a stylish home design how to.
5 6
Staying Safe and Cozy Winter storms got you worried? Check this out!.
Sleds For Winter Fun! Have some fun this season with a sled.
In The Kitchen. January warmth: Slow Cooker Deluxe Hot Chocolate.
Welcome Home is for entertainment purposes only. The advise contained therein is not in anyway intended to substitute for that of trained professionals. Please read responsibly.
8
Health and Wellness. Zumba, dance your way to fitness. 9
10
Overcoming Procrastination
12
The Biggest Mistake People Make January 1st
How to get motivated and moving.
What it is and how to avoid it.. 16
January Is Soup Month Creamy and delicious soups are the way to go.
18
Unwanted Holiday Gifts Ditch the ugly sweater; without getting caught!
20 Products To Love! Hot trends and technological wonders of tomorrow. 22 City Spotlight Billings, MT - Beautiful forests and gorgeous views. 24 DIY Project - January Check out this sweaty project - DIY Workout Shirt! 25
Businesses That Make A Difference Tom’s Shoes, changing the world one pair of shoes at a time.
All pictures courtesy of sxc.hu or bing.com unless otherwise noted. Thanks to Wikipedia for Random Fact information and aid.
Editor in Chief - Phly Jambor The information provided in this publication of Welcome Home or on any website maintained by U.S. Cybertek, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, agents, representatives, licensors, licensees or employees (collectively Publisher) is intended as a general guide illustrating common methods of common practices, and the publisher makes no warranty or guarantee whatsoever of the safety, effectiveness, or other characteristic of any methods or products described herein. Neither does the Publisher assume any liability for information published in any website or other publication to which reference may be made herein. Readers are cautioned to review and comply with all written instructions, safety bulletins, and other materials provided in connection with any of the products mentioned herein and all products used in connection with any of the methods described. Neither Published nor any of its subsidiaries, divisions, affiliates, agents, representatives, licensors, licensees or employees shall in any case be liable to you or anyone else for any loss or injury or any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special punitive or similar damages arising out of your use of or failure to use any of the methods and/ or products described in this publication or any other publication or websites to which reference may be made herein. Publisher disclaims all warranties, and any warranty or guarantee of safety, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose lies solely with the manufacture(s) of any product described or recommended or used used in connection with any methods described or recommended.
Recipe and Design Loaded Potato Soup
Photo Booklet
Ingredients 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup diced smoked ham 4 sliced green onions $ 1 garlic clove, minced 2 cups mashed potatoes $ 1 (14-oz.) can low-sodium chicken broth $ 1 cup milk $ 1/3 cup sweet peas 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme Salt and pepper 2 cups torn dinner rolls 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Cheddar cheese
What You Need: • • • • • • • •
Colored/Print Card-stock Wallet sized Photos Ribbon of Choice Photo Corners Hole Punch Glue Stick or Clear Tape Scissors Charms or beads for ribbon (Optional)
Preparation 1. Preheat broiler. 2. Melt butter in a 3-qt. saucepan; add diced ham, sliced green onions, and minced garlic. Sauté until golden. 3. Stir in mashed potatoes, chicken broth, milk, peas, and chopped fresh thyme. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. 4. Simmer 8 minutes or until thickened. Season with salt and pepper. 5. Spoon into 4 broiler-safe bowls. Top with torn dinner rolls; sprinkle with shredded Cheddar cheese. 6. Place bowls on a baking sheet. Broil 3 minutes or until golden brown.
Instructions: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Cut a sheet of cardstock in half lengthwise, and tape ends together to make one long piece. Fold every 4 inches. Attach photos with photo corners. Punch a hole in the back and thread ribbon through to wrap around the booklet.
Southern Living, NOVEMBER 2010 Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.com
Staying
Safe &
Cozy
Nothing feels better on a cold winter’s day than peeling off frosty winter gloves, soggy socks and snuggling up to a roaring fire. But these days, the warmth of the family hearth is likely to be an electric space heater or a digital thermostat. As winter approaches, there is no better time to think about what to do when an ice storm knocks out your power. Ice storms and improv When a winter storm causes an electricity outage, people improvise. They break out the flashlights and light the candles. They hook up gas space heaters and crank up kerosene stoves. And that’s when things get dangerous. Safety factors should always be considered before operating any of these home-heating appliances. While chances of freezing to death in your home are small, there's a greater risk of death by fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. So exercise caution. Safety first All it takes is a little common sense. By following the safety tips outlined below, you can learn to identify potential hazards associated with the use of home-heating equipment during a power outage. • Keep children away from portable heaters, electric or fuel-powered. • Do not burn anything larger than candles inside your home without providing good ventilation such as open windows. • All heaters that run on fuel (natural gas, kerosene, butane, oil) should be vented. The only exception to this rule is electric heaters. • Do not use the kitchen oven or stove top to heat your home. This can be a fire hazard as well as a source of toxic fumes. • Space heaters need their space. Keep anything combustible at least three feet away. • When using supplemental portable electric heaters, never use an extension cord. • Before purchasing a portable heater, make sure it has "tip switches." These switches are designed to automatically shut off the heating unit in the event it tips over. • Never refill a space heater while it is in operation or is still hot. • Only refuel heaters outdoors. Use the type of fuel recommended by the manufacturer, and follow instructions carefully. • Glass doors or a metal screen should be placed in front of your fireplace to prevent sparks or hot ash from igniting carpets, furniture or other combustible items. • Do not burn charcoal designed for indoor barbecues, not even in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. It releases odorless, yet toxic, carbon monoxide fumes and can cause death. • Install smoke alarms that are equipped with a battery back-up in your home. Make sure that smoke alarms are on every level of the home, as well as near every bedroom in the home. Test the alarms monthly, and change the batteries at least once a year. • Purchase and install a carbon monoxide alarm for your home. Make sure it is marked with the Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) safety listing. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for placement in your home. Exercising caution and using common sense will keep you and your family safe––even in a storm. Written by Artie Megibben. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com
Sleds For Winter Fun!
Purists may demand old-fashioned winter sleds for picture-perfect sledding, but kids demand speed, speed and more speed from their sleds, and winter foam sleds, plastic sleds and snow discs give that and more. Manufacturers have put to good use advances in plastic and foam molding and aerodynamic technology to create a wide range of winter sled options for young and old alike.
Plastic Sleds and Winter Foam Sleds Winter sleds have come a long way from the heavy wooden sleds your great grandparents loved. The newer sleds are manufactured in molded plastic or foam. They're lightweight, easy to carry back uphill or drag behind you on the snow, and they're relatively inexpensive. Today's winter sleds let you purchase an affordable lightweight sled that's sure to give you a run for your money!
Toboggans Toboggans come in many shapes and sizes, but the latest invention is actually an inflatable toboggan that's sort of a cross between the traditional toboggan shape and an inflatable snow tube. The Chaos Inflatable Snow Toboggan inflates easily and can accommodate two riders. Plastic runners on the bottom make it especially fun and durable and the inflatable toboggan is one of the most comfortable on the market. Special crack-resistant material is used on the Chaos Inflatable Snow Toboggan to protect it from cracking in extremely cold weather.
Snow Discs and Saucers Snow discs and saucers are round plastic sleds that kids love for their fast ride. The greater surface area of the disc enables the sled to slide faster, which is the whole name of the game for the kids! But adults can also enjoy a snow disc
Picture
too, as long as they choose one that's large and sturdy enough to carry them. Some snow discs come with steering mechanisms and brakes. Airhead's Dual Action Snow Disc has both steering abilities and brakes for a smooth, comfortable ride.
Snow Tubes Snow tubes come in many shapes; traditional sled shapes, round discs, and others. Some such as the Sportstuff brand of snow tubes are made with crack-resistant PVS and specially sealed seams for longevity. When shopping for snow tubes of all shapes, look for a few features to make your sledding time more fun. Handles big enough for mitten-covered hands to slide under and grab hold ensure a safe rider, while a safety valve makes it easy to inflate the snow tube or deflate it as needed. Be sure to read the weight capacity for all snow tubes and choose one appropriately sized for its passengers.
Which Sled Is Best? There are pros and cons to each type of sled, and which one is best depends solely on the typical snow conditions in your area and the taste of the person choosing the snow toys. Sleds, discs or toboggans with runners on the bottom tend to be the fastest, but the speed picks up only with repeated runs through the snow. As the sled glides over the snow, the friction melts a tiny bit of snow, while the cold air freezes it again, creating a narrow track of ice. Runner sleds then glide more swiftly through the frozen tracks with subsequent runs. Another thing to keep in mind is that the shape of the sled may limit your sledding options. If you love flopping, or getting a good fast run and flopping down on your belly on the sled and flying face-first down the hillside, look for rectangular plastic or foam sleds and toboggans or inflatable snow tubes that are long and narrow rather than disc-shaped. No matter which type of winter sled you choose, winter sleds and snow toys add hours of outdoor fun for children of all ages. Written by Holden Adams. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com
In The Kitchen
Slow Cooker Deluxe Hot Chocolate Hot Chocolate 4 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped 1 (6-oz.) pkg. (1 cup) semisweet chocolate chips 1 (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated) 2 quarts (8 cups) milk 1 tablespoon vanilla
Toppings Whipped cream Miniature marshmallows Miniature semisweet chocolate chips Toffee bits Cinnamon sticks Peppermint candy sticks Assorted liqueurs and flavored syrups Chocolate cookie crumbs Crushed peppermints
Directions: 1. In 3 1/2 or 4-quart slow cooker, combine unsweetened chocolate, chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk; mix well. 2. Cover; cook on High setting for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes or until chocolate is melted. 3. With wire whisk, stir in 2 cups of the milk until smooth. Gradually stir in remaining 6 cups milk and vanilla. 4. Cover; cook on High setting an additional 2 hours or until hot. 5. Just before serving, stir mixture again with wire whisk. Reduce heat setting to Low; have guests ladle hot chocolate into cups and top as desired.
Courtesy of marthastewart.com
Health & Wellness
Zumba All around the country people are trying Zumba and loving it. It's the newest fitness craze. If you love to dance and want to get in the best shape of your life, consider Zumba. The Zumba Discovery: The creation of Zumba was a happy accident. In 1999, celebrity fitness trainer "Beto" Perez walked into his aerobics class having forgotten his music. Being from Columbia, he had a backpack full of tapes of the music he loved – traditional Latin music. Beto used the music, improvised the moves as he went along and the Zumba craze was born. The program caught on so well he was approached by entrepreneurs who licensed Zumba. You can now see classes around the world. Kellogg's has even used the Zumba class to market their Special K cereal. It has been features in just about every major magazine, including Self, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Family Circle and even the Wall Street Journal and CNN. "As of October 2010, the Zumba® program is being taught at over 90,000 locations in 110 countries, has sold millions of DVDs" (Source: zumba.com ) Starting Zumba: You can find Zumba classes just about anywhere. They're all around the world. You can find them at your local YMCA or at a fancy fitness gym. You can also Zumba in your home. There are a wide variety of Zumba fitness CDs and DVDs. You can Zumba in your kitchen, living room, bedroom or home gym. Getting started is easy. Simply find a class and sign up. You don't need any extra equipment or gear. Just a pair of fitness shoes and you're ready to work out. Zumba promises to combine superior fat-burning fitness with a dance party atmosphere. If you love Latin music, salsa and meringue, then you'll love Zumba. Ready to Zumba? ;If you're ready to Zumba, grab your shorts and t-shirt and get ready to sweat. Hop online and grab an at-home Zumba workout DVD or visit their "Find a Class" tool. Chances are there are dozens of Zumba classes being held right in your community. Grab a friend and get ready to sweat and have fun. If you want to lose weight and would like to have fun doing it, consider trying Zumba. Millions of people around the world have reaped the benefits. You can too. Written by Krishan Bakhru. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com
Procrastination: How To Overcome It
Procrastination is unfortunately something that a lot of us suffer from regularly, whether it's just an occasional “put off ‘til tomorrow” or a recurrent lack of drive and motivation. Procrastination can often hold us back from what we really want in life, and unfortunately, it's something that can crop up at any time of life, no matter who you are. A lot of people often assume that procrastination is simply being lazy, but this isn't always the case. Often, feelings of tiredness, hopelessness, panic or even depression can cause us to put things off and avoid reality completely.
Procrastination is a trap, and once we've fallen in it can be very difficult to get back out, so why do we do it? Well for many people, procrastination is simply a way of coping with emotions and physical symptoms that often come with depression, and can be caused by panic. The unfortunate truth is that often, a ‘snowballing' effect can happen, you may be stressed and under pressure at work, then causing you to panic, which may then trigger depression which in turn can make thing very difficult for you to do. However it happened, it's important you get out of it, otherwise you may find that nothing will ever get done because you're too miserable and negative to bring yourself to do it. There are 5 main style's of procrastination, you may feel that you fall under one mains style, or a mixture. • • • • •
Organization and keeping track of things is very difficult You fear people disapprove of you, or fear disapproval itself Important tasks seem futile, and so overwhelming it feels stupid to even attempt them Hostile feelings towards someone, and punishing them by putting things off Routines and Schedules cause you to feel rebellious
These styles of procrastination can often also overlap in one of four different themes: Self Doubt, Discomfort Dodging, Guilt Driven and Habitual. Self Doubt is people who feel that there are rigid standards about how certain things need to be done and often fear they will fail, they often second guess themselves and will delay taking action against procrastinating. Discomfort dodging is when a person will avoid activities that will cause them anxiety, discomfort or even distress, however, often by dodging the activity, feelings and tension don't go away, and instead mount due to the avoidance. Guilt driven people often feel extreme guilt when tasks go done, but instead of acting on their guilt and working, they instead procrastinate, avoiding the issue and the guilt completely. And finally, Habitual people are people who have found procrastination to be an automatic response within their lives, they have put things off so often, that they feel it is just a part of them now, and there is nothing they can do to change it. But there are things you can do to change it, and get out of your procrastination cycle once and for all. The first thing is a simple idea, but it works all the same – make a list! It sounds ridiculous, but it does actually work. Just go to your local stationary store and get yourself a large notebook, and make lists and plans for yourself to stick to, prioritize everything on your list in order of importance, and allocate times for these tasks to be done (1 hour, 2 hours etc). The key to battling procrastination is organization, by allocating specific times; you're ensuring that you have enough time to do everything and get it done! If a task is particularly big, then split it up into manageable time slots, making sure that progress is steady, and you're not giving yourself too much to do. However, you also need to create some time for yourself, or ‘reward time'. Reward time gives you an incentive to get things done, because you know once it's done you can have a break and reward yourself for your hard work. Procrastination is a tough mountain to climb, but once you reach the top you're free to reap the rewards of an organized, healthy and happy lifestyle, as well as the true relief and satisfaction that comes with having nothing weighing you down!
Written by Diana Samalot. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com.
The Single Biggest Mistake People Make on January 1st
Of all the mistakes you could possibly make on January 1st, there's one that stands head-and-shoulders above the rest. Make this one single mistake, and this one mistake alone, come January 1st, and you can pretty much "write-off" the rest of the year.
What is it? I'm glad you asked. :-) Here it is: Making New Year's resolutions. Plain and simple. Now... What's wrong with making New Year's resolutions, you ask? Good question. See if any of this sounds familiar... Every year, right around this time of year, millions upon millions of people sit down and make a list of *all* the things they're going to start or stop doing beginning January 1st to change their lives. Their "laundry lists" usually go something like this... Starting January 1st, I'm going to: 1. Stop smoking. 2. Stop drinking. 3. Eat better. 4. Lose weight. 5. Start exercising. 6. Work harder. 7. Save money. 8. Get out of debt. 9. Stop arguing with my spouse.
10. Stop yelling at my kids. 11. Spend more time with my family. 12. Read more. 13. Watch TV less. 14. Stop swearing. 15. Stop kicking my dog. 16. Blah... 17. Blah... 18. Blah! Then... With the absolute best of intentions... Come the morning of January 1st... They hit the ground running... And... Usually by noon... More often than not... What happens? You got it... Crushed by the overwhelming weight of their newly created self-imposed burdens they... Implode... Or... Explode...
As the case may be... And are left once again to utter those immortal words... "Well, I guess I'll try again next year"... Starting yet another new year off with a great big colossal failure to add to their ever growing pile. Don't let that be you... Don't set yourself up for failure! Personally... Other than its being a holiday, I don't treat January 1st any differently than I do any other day of the year and I certainly don't use it, nor any other day of the year for that matter, to put myself under the intense pressure of a self-imposed deadline to begin or stop doing something that I might want to change in my life. In other words... I don't set myself up to fail. If there's something I *really* want to change in my life and it's in alignment with what's *truly* important to me, regardless of what it is, I simply incorporate it, without any time references or restrictions whatsoever, into my "vision", imagine it as an already accomplished reality, *my* reality, and allow myself to "grow into it", so to speak, as the time is right for it to happen. And... That's *exactly* what I recommend you do as well! With that sage piece of advice... Once again... I wish you and your loved ones the absolute best of holiday seasons and a wealthy, healthy, successful, and happy New Year!
Written by Tony Mase. Courtesy of Articlesbase.com
January Is Soup Month
There is nothing more comforting than a hot bowl of soup on a cold winters day, I guess that is why January is National Soup Month! Chicken noodle soup is comforting whether from a can or home made. It has even been said in studies, that it is good for the common cold just like grandma always said. Why don't you make a big pot of fresh chicken noodle soup or potato soup for your family and if you have a sick friend or elderly person in your neighborhood share a bowl with them. Contact your grandmother, mother or aunts and get a copy of your own family recipe or try the one below. Simple Chicken Noodle Soup 3 1/2 cups chicken broth 1 medium carrot, sliced 1 stalk celery, sliced 1 cup uncooked medium egg noodles 1 cup cubed cooked chicken salt & pepper to taste Mix broth, salt, pepper, carrot and celery in a saucepan. Heat to a boil. Stir in the noodles and cook over medium heat about 10 minutes. Stir often. Add the chicken and heat through and serve. If all else fails you can always heat up a can of chicken noodle soup and curl up under a warm blanket and enjoy the warmth and comfort that only soup can bring on a cold winters day. Potato Soup 3 to 4 medium to large potatoes 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup milk 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/2 cup sour cream 3 tablespoons butter Peel the potatoes and cut into small pieces. Put into a large pot and cover with water. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Boil until the potatoes are tender then add the onion. When the potatoes are cooked add milk and butter.Do not drain the liquid off when the potatoes are finished cooking. Heat through and add the shredded cheese. Continue stirring over low heat until the cheese is melted. Add the sour cream. Stir over low heat until the sour cream has been mixed in completely. These are two delicious ways to celebrate National Soup Month.
Written by Angela Billings Courtesy of Isnare.com,
Unwanted Holiday Gifts How To Get Rid Of Them, Without Getting Caught!
The new year is here. It is time to go back to work, take down the tree, and put away all the Christmas presents. Well…maybe not all of the Christmas presents. Did Aunt Frieda give you a pair of Uncle Freddie’s unused golf ball-shaped gold cufflinks? Did Cousin Sarah knit you a pair of socks better suited to a toddler than your grownup-sized tootsies? Did you receive a gift card to a restaurant that’s closest location is 200 miles away? What do you do with all of these unusable or undesirable gifts? You don’t want to “look a gift horse the mouth,” but you certainly want to make the best of this sad situation. Here are some tips on how to deal with those gifts you’d rather not keep. For gifts that are not handmade or handme-downs, there is always the option of returning the gift to the place it was bought. You can often receive store credit or even cash if you return a gift with a gift receipt. If you don’t have a gift receipt you can usually get store credit, at least. Let’s hope you like that store. One word of caution. Some sites like Amazon.com will notify the purchaser when someone returns an item if the purchaser neglected to mark the item as a gift upon purchase. That’s a little tough to explain, especially if you feigned excitement and gratitude when you opened the gift. It’s best to call or email to ask exactly what will happen if you return an item.
silverware, or anything made out of a precious metal) for far more than you would expect. Because of the terrible economic climate, precious metals are worth a lot. One very fun way to get rid of unwanted gifts is to hold a post-holiday swap party. Invite all your friends over and have them re-wrap their unwanted gifts. Serve food and drinks and have everybody swap the gifts. Everybody ends up with everybody else’s bad gifts, but sometimes the recipient will really like the gift they end up with. If not, they can either trade with someone else at the party or they can follow another one of the tips in this article. Keep in mind that this swap party is only fun when the person who gave you the bad gift is not invited. It wouldn’t be very fun for them to see their gift to you in the mix. Of course you can always save the bad gift until next year, when you can “regift” it, or better yet, donate it to a charity that might be able to put it to good use. Rest assured that you are never stuck with a bad gift. You have many different ways to get rid of it.
If you don’t want to take the chance of the gift-giver finding out that you didn’t like their gift, you can always try to sell the item on eBay or craigslist. There is no guarantee that you’ll get a nibble, but it’s worth a try and you even have the potential of earning even more than the gift-giver paid for the item. If the gift happens to be made out of a precious metal like gold, silver, platinum or palladium you can skip the return and trying to sell the item on eBay. There are a number of online refineries that will buy your unwanted jewelry or cufflinks (or
Written by EM Downing Johnson. Courtesy of Isnare.com
Products To Love In January One of my all time favorite things are the ever handy and super friendly Post-It notes! But do you actually know how they came to be? The Post-it® Note was invented as a solution without a problem. In 1968 Dr. Spencer Silver, a 3M scientist, developed a unique, repositionable adhesive. As remarkable as it was, the product could not find a market. Six years later, colleague Art Fry recalled Silver's seminars promoting the light adhesive when he was daydreaming about a bookmark that would stay put in his church hymnal. The rest is history. So the next time you grab one of these amazing little reminder notes, take a second and think about it’s day dreamy origins. Please click here
FIE
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for more information.
Reviewed by Rural Jungle Testing
Winter is here in full frozen swing and, sorry, but that sad, tattered excuse of a jacket you guys were wearing around last season won’t cut it in this year’s super frosty weather! So save your self the headache of shopping and have look at this perfect coat. This Down Quilted Parka in Navy from London Fog is sure to please both your quest for non-popsicle status and the fashion conscience lady in your life. It’s a win, win situation. Please click
here for more information.
Over the years, Heuer's reputation for gold-standard precision earned the company the privilege of providing official timing services for a number of world-class competitive sporting events, and now you can enjoy that same precision as well with the Tag Heuer Grand Carrera Chronograph Mens Watch CAV511A.BA0902. Stainless steel case with a stainless steel bracelet.Black dial with circular guilloche dial with luminous silver-tone hands and index hour markers. Luminiscent minute markers around the outer rim. Scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Screw down fluted crown. Stainless steel case back. Hidden folding push button deployment clasp. Water resistant at 100 meters / 330 feet.
Please click here for more information.
Products To Love In January Ladies, are you sick and tired of freezing while trying to look fashionable in the winter time? Well your popsicle days are over! This ultra chic charcoal colored London Fog Active Wool coat with faux fur trim will appease both your fashion sense and you quest for warmth in the winter. Please click here for more information.
Whether you're just starting to get in shape or are a seasoned athlete, Bowflex's Treadclimber TC3000 Cardio Machine is a home fitness machine that offers an array of electronics and features to push your workout to the next level. Similar in function to a treadmill, this lowimpact machine is engineered to burn fat without pounding your joints. It has unique dual treadles (rather than a single belt area surface) that rise up to cushion each step. This design eliminates the jarring impact of hard, flat surfaces and reduces the joint and muscle strain that can be part of other workout machines.
Please click here for more information.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change has more than 15 million copies sold. Stephen Covey, an internationally respected leadership authority, realizes that true success encompasses a balance of personal and professional effectiveness, so this book is a manual for performing better in both arenas. His anecdotes are as frequently from family situations as from business challenges. Before you can adopt the seven habits, you'll need to accomplish what Covey calls a "paradigm shift"--a change in perception and interpretation of how the world works. Covey takes you through this change, which affects how you perceive and act regarding productivity, time management, positive thinking, developing your "proactive muscles" (acting with initiative rather than reacting), and much more. Please click here for
more information.
City Spotlight
Billings, MT
Billings is one of the most wonderful cities to visit in Montana, United States.This is because it offers some of the most prominent and marvelous attractions. It is one of the fastest growing cities of the state. This beautiful city is located in the south-central part the state. This is the county seat of Yellowstone County with a population of more than 100,000 according to the estimation of Census Bureau of 2008. The city of Billings was established in the year of 1877 and also around the town of Coulson in Montana in the year 1882. Since the town of Coulson was situated in close proximity to the Yellowstone River, it made it an ideal location for the commercial trade. Considering the development of the railroads, the Montana & Minnesota Land Company ignored Coulson giving birth to planned town of Billings. The development of two main commercial streets along the railroad tracks which were later named as Montana and Minnesota avenues, the city rapidly developed and grabbed the title ‘The Magic City’.With the end of World War II, the city of Billings emerged and flourished as a major financial, cultural and medical center of the region.This city noticed a short decline in the population because of the oil crisis which was rebounded by the year 1980. The city is now one of the most prominent financial, agricultural and commercial centers. Billings offers a range of attractions that will surely mesmerize you with their exotic beauty. The must visit attractions of the area are Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park which are very popular among the tourist coming from all over the world to visit
Montana.One can also visit The National Bison Range which is a unique wildlife hideout in United States. Glacier National Park is often referred as the crown jewel of the national park system for its excellent glacier settings. This park offers great and incredible beauty of steep and high mountains with deep valleys and several lakes. Park offers some small glaciers such as Grinnell Glacier and many more which can be easily reached. There are many glaciers which are situated at very remote and rugged ends of the park and are quite difficult to reach and hence not much visited. Another must visit attraction is Yellowstone National Park widely known for offering fly fishing along with marvelous scenery and wildlife.This beautiful national park exhibits several rivers offering an excellent experience of fly fishing. The wildlife of the park is the thing which can only be experienced. It exhibits herds of Elk which are found throughout the park with the herds of wild Buffalo. Grizzly Bears, Wolves and many other animals can be often seen in the park. Billings offers a range of luxury and budget hotels for making your tour comfortable and convenient. These hotels are meant for providing excellent facilities and amenities. These hotels are generally equipped with TV, telephone, coffee & tea makers along with refrigerators and internet accessibility. One can also find cheap accommodation in form of cheap hotel rooms even around Yellowstone National Park and other attractions of the city. Written by David Urmann, courtesy of Isnare.com
DIY Project - December
Courtesy of asplendidassembeage.com
Businesses That Make A Difference
One for One. That’s the way it works at TOMS Shoes. For every single pair of shoes purchased another pair of shoes will be given to a child that does not have any. Amazing and so completely simple! This brilliant idea is the brain child of American entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie. While traveling in Argentina
Rather than starting a charity, Mycoskie made the decision to start a business because he believed more children could be helped that way. To date TOMS has given away more than 150,000 pairs of shoes to children in need all over the globe, including the U.S. Their goal for this year is 300,000 pairs shoes, that TOMS volunteers in person, put on a child’s feet. in 2006 he noticed that the children he befriended did not have shoes. Not having shoes kept many children from receiving medical care, food, water and even shelter because they could not walk the distance needed to obtain it and their ability to attend school is also effected, because shoes are a required part of many school’s uniform codes.
This month's random fact introduces us to a familiar favorite legume, in a fascinating new light! Which one in particular you ask? Why the Black-eyed Pea, what else? And before we go any further with our facts, let's set one very important one straight. The black eyed pea, is not in fact a pea at all! It is a BEAN. That's right, not a pea, a bean. Think Pinto or Lima!
Where are they from you ask? This tasty calcium and fiber packed bean was introduced to the Southern United States sometime in the late 1600's and originally hails all the way from India! We have an ancient babylonian mistranslation to thank for the Jewish belief that they bring good luck when eaten. Technically you would have to eat fenugreek to become lucky....Yep, I did say fenugreek.... Personally I'm sticking with the bean. The American tradition dates back to the Civil War era and we actually have a bunch of snobby Northern Soldiers to thank for it! During the Civil War the northern side scavenged the south for food during the fighting taking everything they good that they considered "edible" and destroying everything else. They stuck their noses up at this paragon of nutrition, deciding that it was not even worth the trouble to destroy! Then called "field peas" but the Northerners, they were deemed only usable for animal feed or "humble food" and therefore not worth their attention. Southerners consider them to be good luck the North would not touch them and the practice of ingesting them for luck got it's start.
So, whether you eat them because you are Jewish and your ancestors translated it the wrong way or because it will keep the Northerners from overrunning your home (though I seriously doubt that Canada has any real interest in invading) having a serving of black eyed peas for good luck can't hurt anything, and might even help at least a little with that New Year's Resolution to lose that last pesky ten pounds that you put back on over Christmas!
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We are the proud owners of Harriman Real Estate, LLC. We service New Haven, Hartford and Middlesex County, particularly the Wallingford/Meriden area. We prides ourselves on helping our clients fulfill their dreams of owning the perfect home. Through our aggressive marketing, attention to detail and caring philosophy, Harriman Real Estate, LLC will help you meet all your real estate needs.