Successfully Single

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters by Portia Nelson

2008-07-09T09:13:00.001+01:00

I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost ... I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.

II

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in the same place
but, it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

III

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in ... it's a habit.
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

IV

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

V

I walk down another street.

101 painless ways to detoxify your mind, body and home

2008-07-04T09:59:00.002+01:00

If you're looking for ways to feel good this summer, have a look at '101 Painless Ways to Detoxify Your Mind, Body, and Home' by Laura Milligan. (It'll take you all summer to check out all the useful resource links that the article contains.)

Act to Create It by Jack Canfield

2008-06-09T16:31:00.004+01:00

If you want to live a dream life, not only must you decide what you want, turn your dream into measurable goals, break those goals down into specific action steps, and visualize and affirm your desired outcomes -- you must start taking action!

I recommend making the commitment to do something every day in at least three different areas of your life that moves you in the direction of your goal.

If one of your goals is physical fitness, make a commitment to do some sort of exercise -- aerobics, weight training, stretching -- four to five times a week for a minimum of twenty minutes.

I read recently that if you simply go for a 30 minute walk four times a week, that would put you in the top 1% of those people getting physical exercise!

If your goal is financial independence, start saving and investing a portion of your income every month with no exceptions.

If your goal is to write a book, write for a minimum of one hour every day.

DON'T LET FEAR STOP YOU

Most people never get what they want because they let their fears stop them. They are afraid of making a mistake, looking foolish, getting ripped off, being rejected, being hurt, wasting their time, and feeling uncomfortable.

Fear is self-created by imagining catastrophic consequences that have yet to happen. It is all in your mind. In fact, you can actually scare yourself by imagining negative and harmful images. But simply stop the catastrophic thoughts and images, and the fear goes away.

REJECTION IS A MYTH

One of the biggest fears that stops people from asking for support, guidance, advice, money, a date, a job, the sale, or anything else is the fear of rejection.

In fact, it's been known to literally paralyze people. They become tongue-tied and refuse to reach for the phone or get up and walk across the room. They break out in a sweat at the mere thought of asking for what they want.

I have come to realize that the whole concept of rejection is false -- that rejection doesn't really exist. Think about it for a moment. If you asked someone to join you for dinner, and they said no, you could tell yourself that you had been rejected. But think about it. Did you have anyone to eat dinner with before you asked them? No! Did you have anyone to eat dinner with after you asked them? No! Did your life really get worse? No. It stayed the same!

ACT AS IF

One of the secrets of success is to start acting like a success before you are one. Act as if.

If you had already achieved your dream, what kinds of clothes would you be wearing? How would you act? How would you treat others? Would you tithe a portion of your income to your church or favorite charities? Would you have more self-confidence? Would you take more time to spend with your loved ones?

I suggest that you begin to do those things now.

When I decided that I wanted to be an "international" consultant, I immediately went and applied for a passport, bought an international clock that told me what time it was anywhere in the world, printed business cards with the words "International Self-Esteem and Peak Performance Consultant," and decided I would like to first go to Australia. I bought a poster of the Sydney Opera House and placed it on my refrigerator.

Within one month, I received an invitation to speak in Sydney and Brisbane. Since then, I have spoken and conducted trainings in over 30 countries and continue to expand my business around the globe.

Start acting as if you already have everything you want.

Most people think that if they have a lot of money, they could do the things they want to do, and they would be much happier. In fact, the reverse is true.

If you start by creating a state of happiness and abundance, then do the things you are inspired to do from that state of being, you will end up having all the things you ultimately desire.

You may not be able to fill your closets with expensive Italian suits and designer clothing, but why not invest in one or two really great outfits, so that when you do need them, they are there. When you dress like you have already made it, you will look the part, and successful people will naturally be attracted to you and invite you to participate with them.

The Law of Attraction states that you will attract to you those things that match your state of being. If you focus on having gratitude for what you do have, you will feel rich, and you will attract more abundance into your life. If you focus on what you don't have, you will send out a message of lack and you will attract more lack into your life.

BE, DO AND HAVE EVERYTHING YOU WANT... STARTING NOW!

Remember, the proper order of this is to start now and be who you want to be, then do the actions that go along with being that person, and soon you will find that you can easily have everything you want in life--health, wealth and fulfilling relationships.

© 2008 Jack Canfield

Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: http://www.jackcanfield.com/

What's on your bucket list?

2008-06-07T09:33:00.003+01:00

Did you see the recent film, 'The Bucket List', starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson? It's about two men who meet in a hospital cancer ward after each has been given only six months to live. The "bucket list" of the title refers to a list that one of the men has been advised to compile of the things he wants to accomplish before he 'kicks the bucket'. Which leads me to a question...

What do you still want to be, do and have in life?

Could you come up with a list of 100 things that you still want to be, do and have before you get too old to be, do and have them? Try it. (You may need to leave your notebook and pen somewhere handy so that you can jot down ideas as they occur to you over the course of the next week or so.)

Once you have compiled your list, it can then be helpful to categorise the items on it. So, for example, you might have a category of things that need to be done fairly soon, whilst you're at your youngest and fittest.

Then you could have another category for things that can wait until you get older because they won't take as much energy. Another category would be things that are so important to you that you would really regret it if you didn't do them. You could have further categories such as 'things than can be done in a spare day' and 'things that can be done in a spare week' and 'longer projects' which need considerably more time and attention.

Have a go at categorising your own list and then decide how many items you want to tackle each year. It's not meant to be a stick to beat yourself with, though - even if the list only helps you to identify the things you'd regret not doing and the things that need to be done whilst you're still young and healthy, that's valuable enough in itself.

Then, the next time you have a spare 5 or 10 minutes, do some research that will help put you on the road towards achieving some of the items on your list. For example, if you've always wanted to take a trip in a helicopter, do an Internet search to find out where you can take a local flight, or, if you're about to head off on holiday, see if you can arrange to take a trip once you arrive at your destination. If you've always wanted to compile a record of your family history for your grandchildren, buy a suitable notebook or open a Word file on your computer and make a start.

Don't give yourself any excuses for procrastinating - you'll never be this young and fit again and none of us know what's waiting around the corner.

Buy The Bucket List from Amazon.com

Buy The Bucket List from Amazon.co.uk

What's your relationship recovery rate?

2008-06-03T08:56:00.001+01:00

The Dating Goddess who writes for the LifeTwo website poses an interesting question: What's your relationship recovery time?' and offers a rule of thumb that states that it takes 25% of the length of your previous serious relationship to recover and be ready for the next one. Check out what she has to say here.

Living in the raw

2008-05-29T13:11:00.001+01:00

I love the idea of incorporating more raw food into my diet - no, I'm not talking about raw meat or anything like that - I'm talking about more fruit, salads, smoothies, nuts and seeds, etc. Would you believe that you can even get raw chocolate cake and apple crumble? Or flapjacks, cookies and ice-cream?

Karen Knowler is The Raw Food Coach. She is also an author, presenter, former MD of The Fresh Network (The UK's raw and living foods organisation), founder of The Fresh Festival and creator of Get Fresh! magazine. Karen has appeared on LK Today (GMTV), Channel Health, The Wellbeing Channel, Rude Health, LBC radio and Radio 4, as well as appearing regularly in the press in her capacity as raw food expert and food/life coach. She really knows her stuff and she makes the idea of raw food seem an absolute 'no-brainer' (without appearing to be the slightest bit 'crusty' or 'cranky').

This week Karen posted four different YouTube videos on her blog which, together, answer the following questions:

Q1: So what is raw food?

Q2: Why do people choose to eat more raw food or begin a raw food diet?

Q3: What does a typical raw food diet or menu plan look like?

Q4: How much of a difference would it make eating half your diet raw and going all raw?

Q5: What about eating out?

Q6: What are the biggest potential pitfalls of following a raw diet?

Q7: How do you get started?

Q8: How long does it take to start feeling and seeing a difference?

Q9: What do you consider "must know" information that anyone new to raw foods should have?

Q10: Where do you see the concept of raw foods going in the future?

To view the clips with the answers to all these questions click here.

How to beat the fraudsters

2008-05-22T09:47:00.001+01:00

At least once a week I receive an email purporting to be from a bank or credit card company, claiming that they are updating their records and requesting that I click through to their website and provide them with items of personal information such as a PIN number, password or account number. And, of course, I immediately press the 'delete' key because, as we all know, the email is likely to be a con. It will send us to a clone of a genuine website where, if we provided the information they are asking for, we would be providing criminals with all the information they need to commit some form of identity fraud.

If you're worried about identity fraud (and you probably should be...), check out How to beat the fraudsters by MSN money (and click on the links at the bottom of the page for even more information, including an article about celebrity victims of identity fraud - Steven Spielberg, financial guru George Soros, Oprah Winfrey, Oracle computer boss Larry Ellison, Robert de Niro, Tiger Woods, Will Smith and Jennifer Lopez have, apparently, all been victims of identity crimes costing tens of millions of pounds.)

Will your sunscreen protect you?

2008-05-19T08:15:00.000+01:00

Happy 15th birthday to the World Wide Web

2008-04-30T09:33:00.001+01:00

If your house was burning down, what would be the first thing (thing - not person!) you would save? Family photos? A grab-bag with all the important family documents in it? Your handbag?

For me, it would be my computer - my trusty laptop. I do so much with it - make my living, communicate with friends and family, pay my bills and keep track of my accounts, educate and entertain myself, keep myself up-to-date with what's happening in the world... I'd be lost without it.

But, much as I love my computer, it wouldn't be half as much use (or fun) if I couldn't connect to the Internet - which brings me to the subject of today's posting - the World Wide Web is 15 years old today. April 30, 2008 marks the 15th anniversary of the date when CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research) announced that the web was free for use by anyone.

To commemorate the anniversary, msn.com looks at 15 ways in which the World Wide Web has changed our lives - for better or for worse...

Randy Pausch Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

2008-04-26T06:11:00.000+01:00

Carnegie Mellon Professor, Randy Pausch, who is dying from pancreatic cancer, gave his last lecture at the university before a packed McConomy Auditorium on 18 September, 2007. In his moving talk, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals. For more, visit www.cmu.edu/randyslecture.

What to do if you can't pay

2008-04-25T10:54:00.001+01:00

'Times is', indeed, 'hard'... and, even if we're not actually struggling to pay our bills, we can't help wondering what will happen to property prices and how we'll cope when that fixed rate mortgage ends this year...

If you're stretched to the limit and reaching the point where you're starting to miss payments, cast your eyes over 'What to do if you can't pay' on uk.msn.com - the article covers mortgages, rent, council tax, gas, water and electricity bills, credit cards and loan repayments. The general message is: communicate with the creditor, try to come to an arrangement and keep paying SOMETHING, even if you can't afford to pay the whole bill.

Create an online VA business to fit your life!

2008-04-24T06:13:00.005+01:00

Do you have secretarial skills? Have you ever thought about setting up your own business as a Virtual Assistant? Kate Bacon, a coaching colleague of mine, is offering a unique new training programme which will give you the skills you need to set up your own VA business. Here's what Kate has to say about the course:

Among the many opportunities for online businesses there are a few that really are potential winners. As a Virtual Assistant (or VA) you can utilise the administrative skills gained in the”real-world” as a PA, Executive Assistant, Secretary or Office Manager, transferring them to provide remote administrative services to clients from the comfort of your own home-office.

How do you make the shift and learn the skills necessary to run a successful business? (It takes more thought than simply setting up a computer with broadband connection!) Kate Bacon of Pier to Peer Coaching (who has run her own VA business for 5 years) has created a unique, specialist training programme for individuals wishing to turn their secretarial skills into a viable business.

Graduates of the VA Business Start Up Course (the virtual group training programme) talk about how they’ve each created their own VA business for very different reasons. To read their inspiring stories, click here...

Pier to Peer are offering their next course, commencing Saturday, 3 May at 11:00am BST, as a Spring Special Offer. To take advantage of this reduced price, click here, remembering to insert the Reference Code: AH on the secure payment page!

Top 10 First Aid Mistakes

2008-04-22T09:55:00.002+01:00

Placing a severed finger directly onto ice to preserve it, pulling off clothing which is stuck to burnt skin and treating a sprain with heat - these are just some of the mistakes we make when administering first aid. To find out what you should and shouldn't do in a home health emergency, visit the Newsweek website and read Top 10 First Aid Mistakes.

When bargain hunting becomes an addiction

2008-04-21T15:38:00.000+01:00

Are you the sort of person who can't resist a bargain? Do you get so excited when presented with a great deal that practical considerations, such as whether you need or can afford the bargain you've found, just never enter your head? In this article for msn.com, Melinda Fulmer examines how, for some people, bargain shopping can be as addictive as drugs or alcohol...

Double dipping and the five-second rule

2008-04-19T06:12:00.000+01:00

Have you ever heard about the 'five-second rule'? I hadn't until I read about it in the Superliving ezine this week. The five-second rule states that, if you drop your last piece of your favourite chocolate cake on the floor, so long as you pick it up within five seconds, it's okay to eat it...

Then there's the knotty little issue of double-dipping - where, for example, someone dips a corn chip into salsa, takes a bite and, rather than be left with the remaining bite of salsa-less chip, dips the remainder of the chip back into the salsa.

Last year, food microbiologist Professor Paul Dawson of Clemson University in South Carolina carried out the first credible scientific research into both floor-to-food contact and the practice of double-dipping and, as you'll see in this article by Kristie Batten, the findings provide food for thought...

The Daffodil Principle by Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards

2008-04-17T06:28:00.004+01:00

The Daffodil Principle

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, “Mother, you must come and see the daffodils before they are over.” I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. Going and coming took most of a day - and I honestly did not have a free day until the following week.

“I will come next Tuesday,” I promised, a little reluctantly, on her third call. Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I drove the length of Route 91, continued on I-215, and finally turned onto Route 18 and began to drive up the mountain highway. The tops of the mountains were sheathed in clouds, and I had gone only a few miles when the road was completely covered with a wet, gray blanket of fog. I slowed to a crawl, my heart pounding. The road becomes narrow and winding toward the top of the mountain.

As I executed the hazardous turns at a snail’s pace, I was praying to reach the turnoff at Blue Jay that would signify I had arrived. When I finally walked into Carolyn’s house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren I said, “Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in the clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these darling children that I want to see bad enough to drive another inch!”

My daughter smiled calmly, “We drive in this all the time, Mother.”

“Well, you won’t get me back on the road until it clears - and then I’m heading for home!” I assured her.

“I was hoping you’d take me over to the garage to pick up my car. The mechanic just called, and they’ve finished repairing the engine,” she answered.

“How far will we have to drive?” I asked cautiously.

“Just a few blocks,”Carolyn said cheerfully.

So we buckled up the children and went out to my car. “I’ll drive,” Carolyn offered. “I’m used to this.” We got into the car, and she began driving.

In a few minutes I was aware that we were back on the Rim-of-the-World Road heading over the top of the mountain…

“Where are we going?” I exclaimed, distressed to be back on the mountain road in the fog. “This isn’t the way to the garage!”

“We’re going to my garage the long way,” Carolyn smiled, “by way of the daffodils.”

“Carolyn, I said sternly, trying to sound as if I was still the mother and in charge of the situation, “please turn around. There is nothing in the world that I want to see enough to drive on this road in this weather.”

“It’s all right, Mother,” She replied with a knowing grin. “I know what I’m doing. I promise, you will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience.”

And so my sweet, darling daughter who had never given me a minute of difficulty in her whole life was suddenly in charge - and she was kidnapping me! I couldn’t believe it. Like it or not, I was on the way to see some ridiculous daffodils - driving through the thick, gray silence of the mist-wrapped mountaintop at what I thought was risk to life and limb.

I muttered all the way. After about twenty minutes we turned onto a small gravel road that branched down into an oak-filled hollow on the side of the mountain. The fog had lifted a little, but the sky was lowering, gray and heavy with clouds.

We parked in a small parking lot adjoining a little stone church. From our vantage point at the top of the mountain we could see beyond us, in the mist, the crests of the San Bernardino range like the dark, humped backs of a herd of elephants. Far below us the fog-shrouded valleys, hills, and flatlands stretched away to the desert.

On the far side of the church I saw a pine-needle-covered path, with towering evergreens and manzanita bushes and an inconspicuous, lettered sign “Daffodil Garden.”

We each took a child’s hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path as it wound through the trees. The mountain sloped away from the side of the path in irregular dips, folds, and valleys, like a deeply creased skirt.

Live oaks, mountain laurel, shrubs, and bushes clustered in the folds, and in the gray, drizzling air, the green foliage looked dark and monochromatic. I shivered. Then we turned a corner of the path, and I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight, unexpectedly and completely splendid. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it down over the mountain peak and slopes where it had run into every crevice and over every rise. Even in the mist-filled air, the mountainside was radiant, clothed in massive drifts and waterfalls of daffodils. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, saffron, and butter yellow.

Each different-colored variety (I learned later that there were more than thirty-five varieties of daffodils in the vast display) was planted as a group so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue.

In the center of this incredible and dazzling display of gold, a great cascade of purple grape hyacinth flowed down like a waterfall of blossoms framed in its own rock-lined basin, weaving through the brilliant daffodils. A charming path wound throughout the garden. There were several resting stations, paved with stone and furnished with Victorian wooden benches and great tubs of coral and carmine tulips. As though this were not magnificent enough, Mother Nature had to add her own grace note - above the daffodils, a bevy of western bluebirds flitted and darted, flashing their brilliance. These charming little birds are the color of sapphires with breasts of magenta red. As they dance in the air, their colors are truly like jewels above the blowing, glowing daffodils. The effect was spectacular.

It did not matter that the sun was not shining. The brilliance of the daffodils was like the glow of the brightest sunlit day. Words, wonderful as they are, simply cannot describe the incredible beauty of that flower-bedecked mountain top.

Five acres of flowers! (This too I discovered later when some of my questions were answered.) “But who has done this?” I asked Carolyn. I was overflowing with gratitude that she brought me - even against my will. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“Who?” I asked again, almost speechless with wonder, “And how, and why, and when?”

“It’s just one woman,” Carolyn answered. “She lives on the property. That’s her home.” Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house that looked small and modest in the midst of all that glory.

We walked up to the house, my mind buzzing with questions. On the patio we saw a poster. “Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking” was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. “50,000 bulbs,” it read. The second answer was, “One at a time, by one woman, two hands, two feet, and very little brain.” The third answer was, “Began in 1958.”

There it was. The Daffodil Principle.

For me that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than thirty-five years before, had begun - one bulb at a time - to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountain top. One bulb at a time.

There was no other way to do it. One bulb at a time. No shortcuts - simply loving the slow process of planting. Loving the work as it unfolded.

Loving an achievement that grew so slowly and that bloomed for only three weeks of each year. Still, just planting one bulb at a time, year after year, had changed the world.

This unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. She had created something of ineffable magnificence, beauty, and inspiration.

The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principle of celebration: learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time - often just one baby-step at a time - learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time.

When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world.

“Carolyn,” I said that morning on the top of the mountain as we left the haven of daffodils, our minds and hearts still bathed and bemused by the splendors we had seen, “it’s as though that remarkable woman has needle-pointed the earth! Decorated it. Just think of it, she planted every single bulb for more than thirty years. One bulb at a time! And that’s the only way this garden could be created. Every individual bulb had to be planted. There was no way of short-circuiting that process. Five acres of blooms. That magnificent cascade of hyacinth! All, just one bulb at a time.”

The thought of it filled my mind. I was suddenly overwhelmed with the implications of what I had seen. “It makes me sad in a way,” I admitted to Carolyn. “What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five years ago and had worked away at it ‘one bulb at a time’ through all those years. Just think what I might have been able to achieve!”

My wise daughter put the car into gear and summed up the message of the day in her direct way. “Start tomorrow,” she said with the same knowing smile she had worn for most of the morning. Oh, profound wisdom!

It is pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson a celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, “How can I put this to use tomorrow?”

Jaroldeen Asplund Edwards

Great Quotes - On travel (and procrastination)

2008-04-12T09:35:00.001+01:00

You cannot assume that something beautiful and unique that exists right now will be the same tomorrow. Better get to that unsullied oasis in your dreams without delay - because you may look up one day and discover they've opened a Wal-Mart there...

Phil Keoghan

Do you have what it takes to start a business?

2008-04-08T11:16:00.001+01:00

Passion for your product or service, perseverance, realism and the support of family and friends - these are all on the list of 'absolute essentials' for someone who wants to succeed with their own business. To find out if you have what it takes to release your inner entrepreneur (and make a success of it!) check out Have you got what it takes to start a business by Rosie Beasley.

Does the recommendation of 8 glasses a day hold water?

2008-04-04T11:18:00.001+01:00

Where did the recommendation that we all should be drinking eight glasses of water per day come from? Apparently, no-one knows because Dr Dan Negoianu and Dr Stanley Goldfarb from the University of Pennsylvania have reviewed every published clinical study into the subject and found that none of them showed any benefit to organs from increased water intake.

In fact, we can get all the fluid we need from our food and drinks such as tea, coffee and fruit squash. In this article by Alice Hart-Davis for msn.com, scientific experts, including a dermatologist, a nutrition scientist and one of the UK’s leading experts on hydration, debunk the popular myths about water consumption.

Why women walk out

2008-03-14T14:08:00.002Z

Why do a small but significant number of mature women choose to leave a boring and unsatisfying marriage, despite the upheaval, anger and upset
this causes amongst their family and friends? This report from Mary Ryllis Clark examines the emotions behind this growing phenomenon.

Charlie bit me!

2008-03-12T15:14:00.000Z

Do you want to pick a fight?

2008-02-27T11:50:00.000Z

Do you like a good debate? If you do, the people that brought us Squidoo have now provided you with a site where you can have your say on a whole range of subjects from 'Why don't abused women just leave?' to 'Cell phones are the root of all evil'.

Either roll up your sleeves and join in somebody else's argument or start one of your own at HeyMonkeybrain!

Has feminism turned men into second-class citizens?

2008-02-07T16:19:00.000Z

For the first time in history a majority of American women are not living with a spouse. In Britain, the Office of National Statistics recently revealed that the number of marriages taking place in the UK had fallen to an all-time low and a survey carried out at the end of 2007 revealed that 39 per cent of women who work full-time earn more than their partner. And, apparently, this has left millions of men believing that they are undervalued, that their voices and opinions go unheard and that feminism has turned them into second-class citizens. Read more here.

Warning!

2008-02-01T06:43:00.000Z

Don't swallow your bubble gum... Look what happens:

7 ways to get over an ex for good

2008-01-31T12:39:00.000Z

Get productive by throwing yourself into your work, focus on all the horrible things he said and did and throw away all existing reminders of your ex that he left behind...

These are just three of the seven ways to get over an ex for good suggested by Caitlin Ascolese in this article for MSN and Match.com.

Cancer-proof your life

2008-01-24T14:09:00.000Z

Piles of steamed broccoli, 15 minutes of sunshine per day and keeping your house clean (well, strictly speaking, it's the exercise involved in keeping your house clean). These are just three of the thirty tricks, tips and strategies to help you cancer-proof yourself in Cancer Proof Your Life, an MSN Health article.

The 10 richest women under 30

2008-01-22T14:59:00.000Z

Just who are the 10 richest self-made women under 30 years of age? Unlike Paris and Nicole, there's no daddy's money here - they did it all themselves using their talents... (although I think Coleen McLoughlin may have had a bit of help getting started from Wayne Rooney.)
Check out this slide show from MSN Money.

What's your cappuccino factor?

2008-01-21T06:56:00.000Z

Do you wonder whether the small savings you would make by giving up your daily cappuccino or latte (or packet of cigs, or magazine, or lottery scratch cards...) would really make a difference?

Check out the Cappuccino Factor Calculator and discover exactly what investing those small, daily savings would do for you and your finances in a few years' time... If you're reading in the US, just double the amount shown in pounds.

Where do hair extensions come from?

2008-01-18T16:49:00.000Z

Ever wondered where the hair for hair extensions comes from? Check out this video. You may be surprised...

Calling all fashionistas

2008-01-18T06:19:00.000Z

Think you can come up with a fabulous, original dress design?

Find out if you've got what it takes by entering the MSN/Glam 'Design a Dress Contest'. The organisers are looking for a sundress, evening dress or something in between. The initial judging will be carried out by Glam.com readers who will vote online for their favourites and the resulting top 8 finalists will then create their dress.

The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges and flown to New York, where they will have the opportunity to apprentice in the studio of Adam + Eve designer, Adam Lippes.

Everything you need to know to enter the competition is here

'Feel Happy Now' book launch

2008-01-17T06:16:00.000Z

I've mentioned Michael Neill several times on this blog in the past - posting articles that he's written or telling you about his excellent weekly radio programme on Hay House Radio. Michael is an internationally renowned and very well-respected success coach, licensed Master Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and the best-selling author of You Can Have What You Want.

In You Can Have What You Want, Michael revealed the practical benefits of cultivating inner happiness for creating tangible real-world success. Now, in Feel Happy Now, his new book which is launched on Amazon this week, he reveals the “how” of happiness — simple, effective ways to make immediate and lasting changes to your moods, your outlook, and your life. Inside the book, you'll find key formulas, experiments, and techniques to help you experience your capacity to choose and to change, including:

The Myths of Happiness — I'll be happy when..., it's not possible to be happy in certain situations, and unhappiness is good for us
The Happy Formula — give yourself better feelings, tell yourself better stories, and act on your inner knowing
The Permission Principle — the reason people aren't happier more of the time isn't because they can't be — it's because they think they shouldn't be
Three-Step Recipe for Happiness and Well-Being — on demand, anytime you want
Behavioral Prozac™ — ten small changes in the way you think and what you do that will have a profound effect on your well-being

If you order your copy of Feel Happy Now! and send Michael and his team your receipt, they''ll send you a link to a collection of 'Happy' downloads. If you order 5 or more copies, they'll send you a signed copy of Michael's new 6-CD set Effortless Success absolutely free!

Ski insurance cover could leave you out in the cold!

2008-01-16T07:47:00.001Z

If you're heading for the ski slopes this holiday season, make sure that you don't leave yourself short of insurance cover. Apparently many of the popular, additional activities that skiers like to engage in, such as tobogganing and ice diving, aren't covered by the standard travel cover policy.

In addition, as one in ten skiing injuries is caused by a collision with another person, nowadays you need to make sure that you have some kind of personal liability cover - at least £1 million is recommended - in case things turn litigious. For more information, read this article by Damian Clarkson.

The Evolution of a Dream

2008-01-16T07:31:00.000Z

Dream is implanted into brain.

Dreamer becomes thrilled.

Dreamer becomes terrified.

If no action is taken, terrifying thoughts grow into flesh-eating monsters. Dream is considered unrealistic.

If action is taken, terrifying thoughts are revealed to be paper tigers. Confidence soars, miracles unfold, and dreamer begins to saunter.

Either way, nothing remains the same.

(by Mike Dooley of Totally Unique Thoughts)

How did our idea of beauty become so distorted?

2008-01-15T07:41:00.000Z

According to skin care product manufacturer, Dove, 67% of all women aged 15 to 64 withdraw from life-engaging activities due to
feeling badly about their looks (among them things like giving an opinion, going to school, going to the doctor).

Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty asks the question: 'How did our idea of beauty become so distorted?' and then goes on to answer it with this short film which shows what's really involved in producing the images of perfection we see around us on a daily basis. If you have young daughters, grand-daughters or nieces you may want to spend some time with them looking around the Dove site over the holidays.

Bill Gates' advice to High School Kids

2008-01-14T07:35:00.000Z

Thanks to Nicola Cairncross at The Money Gym Club and the Wealth Strategy Secrets blog for the following:

Gerard O'Donovan from Noble Manhattan Coaching shared this and I loved it. I'm going to print out two copies and pin them to my kid's doors!

Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about eleven things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2 : The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3 : You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4 : If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5 : Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parent's fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Study shows that heavy cell phone use boosts tumour risk

2007-12-11T07:55:00.000Z

According to an Israeli study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, regularly using a cell phone for more than 22 hours a month increases a person's risk of developing a parotid gland (located near the ear) tumour by about 50 percent. Get more details here.

I believe I can fly...

2007-12-06T07:09:00.000Z

Are you looking for a new hobby? Try this on for size:

8 secret scores that lenders keep

2007-11-09T10:34:00.000Z

Most of us know by now that we each have a credit score - a 3-digit number that lenders use to gauge our creditworthiness and predict how likely we are to default on a loan or credit agreement. But did you know that your credit score is only one way that a financial institution will evaluate you? Discover the others in this eye-opening article by Liz Pulliam Weston for MSN Money.

How to succeed at on-line dating

2007-11-02T10:37:00.000Z

Why would match.com consult a photographer, a management consultant, a career counsellor and a motivational speaker for tips on how to succeed at online dating? Because 'great advice often comes from the unlikeliest of sources'. Discover their dating success strategies here...

Your body's warning signs

2007-11-01T10:41:00.000Z

A discoloured tongue, 'chicken skin' on the backs of the upper arms and the need for frequent urination - these are among the warning signs that our bodies are either suffering from an illness or are deficient in a particular vitamin or mineral.

Discover what these (and other) warning signs tell us and find out what action you need to take in Your Body's Warning Signs.

Extreme pumpkin carving

2007-10-31T10:45:00.000Z

If you thought pumpkin carving was just a case of scooping out the innards, cutting three triangles for eyes and a nose and then gouging out a jaggedy mouth, then shame on you! Check out the Squidoo Lens of the Day - Pumpkin Carving Video Showcase for extreme pumpkin carving, pumpkin stencilling and appearances by Princess Diana and Frankenstein...

Aging Parents: 5 warning signs of health problems

2007-10-30T10:48:00.000Z

A couple of Christmases ago, my mother (who was then aged just 70) announced at our family get-together that she was 'giving up walking'. My brother and I were slightly stunned, but after a bit of cajoling and teasing (the approach that works best with my mum), it turned out that she had a weak ankle that was making her feel uncomfortable and vulnerable when she was walking around outside the home. Fortunately, we were able to persuade her to visit her doctor, who in turn referred her to a physiotherapist and, within a few weeks, she was back to her normal self.

With the holiday season fast approaching, many of us will be meeting up with parents, aunts and uncles for the first time in a while and will have the opportunity to see how age is affecting them and to check if they are looking after themselves. This article from the Mayo Clinic offers you five things to look out for on your next trip home which will help you gauge whether your loved ones need assistance or not.

The 12 'germiest' places in your life

2007-10-25T10:51:00.000+01:00

What do airplane toilets, a load of wet laundry and the bottom of women's handbags have in common? They're among the twelve 'germiest' places that you're likely to encounter! Discover the other nine and find out how to wage war against the microbes in this article from TODAY... but a warning - the methods advocated for combating the bugs aren't always the most environmentally friendly things you could do.

Why BLCK is the new green!

2007-10-19T10:54:00.000+01:00

Food companies are constantly releasing new products, but have you ever heard of a ‘new’ vegetable being launched? The food team at MSN hadn’t either, until they were sent a 'bucket load' of baby leaf curly kale - a new, fresh and tender variant of this member of the cabbage family and one that is being heralded as a new superfood.

In Why BLCK is the new green, the team take a look at the health benefits of BLCK and put it to the taste test. (And BLCK even has a website of its own at http://www.blckisthenewgreen.co.uk/.)

Update: We've tried BLCK on a couple of occasions since I wrote this posting. It's tasty (much nicer than the original curly kale) and it cooks in the steamer in just 2 minutes. Definitely worth a try...

Why social networking sites are a fraudster's paradise

2007-10-12T10:27:00.000+01:00

Are you a member of any of the social networking sites such as Facebook, Friends Reunited and MySpace? If you are, you could be leaving yourself wide open to fraud.

Emma-Lou Montgomery, writing in an article for MSN, says that visiting these sites is 'the 21st century equivalent of peering through your neighbour’s windows – only this time you’ve got millions of ‘neighbours’ whose lives others can nose into 24 hours a day'. And whilst you're busy finding out what old friends are doing now, what they look like and who they're married to, you're sharing cyberspace with opportunists and experienced criminals who are also searching - for personal data they can use to commit crimes such as identity theft - data including maiden names, dates of birth, children's names, even the names of childhood pets which, apparently, many people use as passwords...

Read Emma-Lou Montgomery's article here. (I must admit that, after reading the article, I visited my own profiles on various sites and deleted a few details!)

How to find the best airline fares

2007-10-11T10:01:00.000+01:00

This morning, I've been playing with the air fare comparison tools provided by Lea Woodward of http://www.lipliving.com/ in her new book, X Marks The Spot. I'm out of the habit of visiting these booking sites and I was amazed to see what you can do with them nowadays.

Lea recommends Skyscanner.net, Farecast.com, FareCompare.com and Yapta.com for finding the best fares.

Skyscanner seems to only compare the prices of flights from the UK (but check this out if you live elsewhere - you may get different results).

FareCompare is good fun - I booked an imaginary flight from Manchester to Orlando Sanford, a flight from Sanford to Fort Myers and 14 night accommodation at the 4 star Sanibel Harbour Resort, all for a very reasonable price!:-)

Farecast compares fares and advises you whether to buy now (because fares are likely to rise) or wait to make your booking (because fares are likely to drop).

With Yapta, you can make sure that you pay the absolute minimum for your US airline tickets, even if you've purchased them already. Yapta tracks ticket prices for you and alerts you when the price drops so that you can either get a refund on a purchased ticket or buy that low-fare ticket on the prime flights.

How clever is that?

2007-10-09T09:05:00.000+01:00

Lea Woodward is a Location Independent Professional (LIP). A LIP is someone who has the freedom to travel when & where they want to, yet still continue to earn a living. LIP living is perfect if a) would like to travel and see
something of the world and b) you have the skills that could enable you
to earn money using the internet and a telephone.

Lea has just released the eBook version of her first book, X Marks The Spot: The Indispensable Guide To Living As A LIP & Working From Anywhere. I downloaded my own copy this morning and I can highly recommend it.

The pre-launch version of the book is available for download in limited numbers in ebook format.

For just £6, you'll find out...

The types of businesses that allow you to earn a living from anywhere in the world
The questions you should ask yourself before taking the plunge

The things that could stop you from becoming a LIP... and what to do about them

What to do if your worst fears come true & everything goes wrong

How to decide whether the place you want to visit is a "good" versus "bad" LIP location

How to avoid some of the costly mistakes Lea and her husband made & save yourself some money

The essential tools to keep your business running smoothly

The things that could catch you by surprise and ruin everything...and how to avoid them

All the tools, resources & step-by-step processes you need to create your own LIP life

You can buy your copy of 'X Marks The Spot' here

It's happiness week!

2007-09-27T11:18:00.000+01:00

It 'Happiness Week' over at LifeTwo. The guys are aiming to help everyone who visits their site to become happier by scheduling a week of lessons and exercises based on the work of Dr. Ben-Shahar who teaches Harvard University’s most popular class — Positive Psychology.

On each of the first five days they will be posting a lesson and two brief exercises and they intend to round out the week with additional resources and an interview with Dr. Ben-Shahar. The URL for the first post is: http://lifetwo.com/production/node/20070911-happiness-week-day-1-from-happy-to-happier.

Head over there now and get happy!

Why make-up can damage your health

2007-09-21T08:21:00.000+01:00

Research has suggested that women who apply make-up every day could be flooding their bodies with up to 5lb of potentially dangerous chemicals every year.

The average woman applies 175 different chemicals to her skin on a daily
basis, many of which have been associated with skin problems, hormonal
conditions and cancer. Some of us, apparently, use more that 20 different beauty products every day and nine out of ten of us use make-up which is out of date, potentially endangering both our health and our looks.

If that's given you food for thought, you can find out more here:
http://style.uk.msn.com/wellbeing/mindbodysoul/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5580509

Thinking of relocating? Find your spot...

2007-09-07T11:23:00.000+01:00

This is one for our U.S. readers.

If you're thinking about relocating to a different state but don't know where to begin looking, check out www.findyourspot.com. There's a fairly lengthy questionnaire to fill out and you do need to give personal information such as your name and address, but stick it out - it's worth it in the end. I was provided with 16 potential relocation locations (!) which were tailored to my personal preferences with regard to climate, city/town size, proximity to art and culture, education and facilities, lifestyle and organizations and even religious practices. (And the really odd thing was, even though I live in the UK, I have already visited 4 of the 16 suggested locations... how weird is that, when you think about the sheer number of towns and cities that make up the U.S.?)

Oh, and after you've logged off, if you go back to the site, it remembers you and you can pick up where you left off...

2007-09-05T11:26:00.000+01:00

Want to make your relationships better? Then start to notice how you react to someone else's good news. Many thanks to psychologist and coach Ben Dean for including the following thought-provoking item in his newsletter, Coaching Towards Happiness, this morning. Ben writes:

Shelly Gable's research teaches us a simple, yet powerful way to nurture relationships: active-constructive responding. Yet even though it makes intuitive sense, it's all too easy for me to sabotage. Here's how I've learned to handle my own lapses.

Perhaps you’ve heard the now-famous quote, “Will you be there for me when things go right?”

This powerful question stems from Dr. Gable’s research into the positive psychology of love and marriage. She does not focus on troubled marriages. She studies how to make good marriages great. She's been interested in how one partner responds to the other’s good news.

It sounds absurdly simple but it’s not: your response to good news affects your relationships. More specifically, the way you respond when someone in your life (loved one, acquaintance, friend, even a colleague) shares a positive event shapes the quality of your relationship with that person.

According to Shelly, how you respond to another person’s good fortune can be divided into these four categories:

Active/Constructive: enthusiastically, showing genuine concern about the good event

Passive/Constructive: silently supportive, displaying subdued happiness

Active/Destructive: critically, pointing out negative aspects and possibilities

Passive/Destructive: indifferently, failing to show any interest

For example, a close friend calls to tell you she’s been asked to teach a course at the University of Chicago. You can respond:

“Wow, congratulations!! You’ve so earned this! You’ll be great!” (Active/Constructive)

“That’s nice.” (Passive/Constructive)

“But that’s in a really bad neighborhood?” Or much worse, “Honey, I’m sorry, but you’re not going to be able to handle it.” (Active/Destructive)

“Did you hear who got voted off American Idol last night?” (Passive/Destructive)

To read Marty (Seligman’s) discussion of this construct, click here.

As he writes in the article, Shelly calls the first category "Capitalizing," amplifying the pleasure of the good situation and contributing to an upward spiral of positive emotion.

Capitalizing turns out to be a key to strong relationships.

Even though we understand its importance, many of us find it’s very easy not to remember to capitalize with our children or spouses when we’re distracted. And it is particularly likely to happen with colleagues.

Since I learned about her work, I’ve realized that I often unknowingly fail to respond in an active constructive manner.

Here’s what I do to get back on track when I realize I’ve gotten derailed.

Notice the Cues

When you’re interacting with someone, pay attention to the energy in their voice, the speed and richness of their speech, the way their eyes look: all signals for whether or not you’re responding in an active/constructive manner. A rise in energy almost inevitably follows when I respond actively and constructively. When I respond with a passive constructive or a negative, the other person’s voice loses energy.

Create Opportunities to Practice

Practice active/constructive responding by starting conversations with invitations like, “What’s new & exciting?” This invites them to tell you their good news. And it then gives you practice in responding.

Balance Safety vs. Savoring

When you want to support someone, but you’re legitimately concerned there may be a dangerous side to their good news, show your support first: let them savor the good for a while --- and tell them your concerns later. For example, Susan tells me about a wonderful opportunity she’s just received but I know that she may be missing a dangerous possibility. My first response is still, “What great news! You deserve this. Tell me about it.”

Avoid The Hero Trap

I notice that sometimes I find myself offering unsolicited advice or trying to come up with things they haven’t thought about before. This is a particular trap I can fall into. When I ask myself why, I discover it is almost always for my benefit more than theirs.

There is one friend whom I’ve supported for 20 years. When she tells me great news, I sometimes start to throw in my advice, and her voice’s loss in energy alerts me. I think I do it because I do not want to lose my privileged place as a key supporter. My advice says, “I’m still here. I can still help you.” In other words, it’s become about me, not her. And I quickly try to fix the situation.

Put Them First

If their triumph involves a conflict with an opposing person, don’t show empathy for the other person. (Possibly save it for later.) By definition, this is not affirming for them and will kill their energy every time.

Avoid Subtle Put Downs

Notice the difference between “I can see how this could be exciting for you,” and legitimately being excited about it. Not participating in the excitement is a subtle way of sabotage when you’re feeling threatened. I once had a friend who would respond to my good news with
an “I can see this matters a lot to you.” Arrgh.

In general, by paying attention to cues, you can tell when you’re being a deflator (me first) instead of a supporter (relationship first).

Active/constructive responding seems obvious, yet it is so worth paying attention to: I promise you, this is a simple change that will pay big dividends.

Want to hear a perfect example?

In the movie Yours, Mine, and Ours, Helen North (Rene Russo) and Frank Beardsley (Dennis Quaid) fall in love (many complications with kids and differing outlooks shortly follow). Then they have a huge fight. While on the outs and unbeknownst to Frank, Helen wins a huge
contract with Saks Fifth Avenue, something she'd been pursuing for months.

Later that evening, Frank asks how her day has been. In a monotone, she lists four or five things, ending in the same dull voice with, "and I got the deal with Saks.”

"You did not!” Frank yells. He hugs her, asks her all about it. Then he asks: “And how can I help?”

You cannot have a better example of an active-constructive response than Frank’s. We don’t need to know about Hollywood endings to guess how their relationship turns out.

The Univeral Packing List

2007-09-04T08:46:00.000+01:00

Well, it's not the prettiest site in the world, but it certainly is useful. The Universal Packing List will generate a customised packing list for any holiday or vacation trip you choose to undertake. Simply fill in a short form and voila! My imaginary trip to Sanibel and Captiva on 31 September for 2 weeks (I wish!) generated a list of 181 items and a shedload of things to remember before I set off.

Generate your own list at: http://upl.codeq.info/.

Profit from your passion By Nicola Cairncross

2007-08-31T11:50:00.000+01:00

Do you want (or need) to earn some extra money to help you fund everything that you want to be, do and have in life? Here's an article from top UK Wealth Coach, Nicola Cairncross to give you some ideas:

How many of us dream of creating a part time business from doing something we enjoy and are passionate about?

There must be a market for these hand made slippers / old fashioned cakes / feng shui'd nursery cot dressings / low fat nutritious ready meals, we say. And wouldn't it be wonderful to make your living - or even better, make your fortune - doing something you love? In my time I have tried being a fashion designer, a specialist dinner party chef, flat finder and a hairdresser - none of which made me any money, all of which I enjoyed immensely.

I don't want to go into the details of starting a business too much - this is about Profiting From Your Passion not Minding Your Own Business! But one of the secrets is not to try and re-invent the wheel, don't start from scratch but do your research. Find out if anyone is doing what you want to do, successfully. Perhaps look at related or complementary fields to your passion where business is booming and it's a similar target market. Don't be worried about finding out that there is competition; that's a good thing. It means that other people are making a living from a business based around their hobby or passion and if they can, you can.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed? One of the best quotes I heard recently was by Dolf De Roos, one of Robert Kiyosaki's advisors (Robert wrote "Rich Dad, Poor Dad"). He said the best reason to set a goal to become a millionaire is for the knowledge you will acquire along the way. I agree and also think that one of the best reasons to start your own business, doing what you love, is for the knowledge and skills you will acquire along the way (and the fun you will have).

So many people never get started because they think that they have to have something else (equipment, staff), know something else (perhaps technical knowledge, marketing skills, book-keeping skills, how not to fall foul of the tax man) or be someone else (more positive, from a business background, cleverer) but really, you don't. No one else has all the answers. Just get started and learn along the way.

And what about the people who don't know what they want to do, but only know that they want to do something?

I have always loved the idea that you can create an income flow or business from ideas. Think about record royalties (Dolly Parton made more from the song "I Will Always Love You" than Whitney Houston did. Why? She wrote the song); think about the greetings cards made from the paintings of Cezanne or Van Gogh. The estates of those painters are profiting from every greetings card sold!

There is also a growing industry in packaging knowledge, or intellectual property, into programmes" or e-courses. I have just created the Financial Intelligence 101 eProgramme, which is delivered by email, once a day, for 101 days. It turned into an ebook, which sells from my website http://www.themoneygym.com/ - while I'm asleep. Then it became a real life book on Amazon - while I'm asleep. All largely passive income, created from the thing I know about and am passionate about. Financial Intelligence.

What do YOU know about, or have experience of, that other people might need to know, or that could help people get through a specific situation? What skills do you have that could be packaged up into an ebook or eprogramme? If you have a collection of resources that you found helpful, someone else might pay for the knowledge. What have you done in your life that could help others?

Napoleon Hill said in his book "Think & Grow Rich" that if you can find a way to serve a great number of people, then you will almost certainly become wealthy. I like that idea a lot, because it gives me pleasure to serve others. It's a positive thing.

In addition to "The E-Myth Revisited" by Michael E Gerber, you should also read "Striking It Rich.com" by Jaclyn Easton, the story of 21 online businesses you probably never heard of, that make more than 1 million dollars PER YEAR. Most were started by people in their attics or garages about things they were passionate about. That'll really get you going! After reading that book I finally took action about an idea that had been knocking around from my music biz days.

My other site www.artistmanager.com matches up unsigned artists and music managers, worldwide, via an automated powerful database, while I sleep. People pay to be able to browse the database for one year, then every so often, fifty, sixty, one hundred pounds pops into my bank account. Marvellous! Go on! What are you waiting for? Don't make the slippers, sell the secret of making and selling slippers! Virtual slippers R Us. Dot Com.

My Single Friend

2007-08-28T12:28:00.000+01:00

If you're single and you live in the UK, you may be interested in a website I found recently - My Single Friend. Here's how the owners describe the site:

mysinglefriend® is the brainchild of TV presenter Sarah Beeny and her childhood friend, Amanda Christie.

Sarah is notorious for setting her friends up (with mixed consequences!) so it occurred to her that if we could create some kind of online resource where we could describe our fabulous single friends, then they could all check each other out.

So the core idea of mysinglefriend® was born, and it developed so that people could seek out suitable dates for each other, generating a little matchmaking amusement - and not by a computer, but by someone who actually knows you.

As the site grows, our singles can recognise and get to meet 'friends of their friends' who are single - and the Team at MSF think that's a wonderful thing!

We've created the antidote to the solitary 'online dating' experience - as friends join the site together.

Single or not - you can join in:
a friend can add their single pal who then has to look over, approve and add comments to the description before it goes live

or
a single can nominate themselves, ask a friend to describe them, again approving the description and adding comments before it goes live.

Visit the website at http://www.mysinglefriend.com/

Mary Hunt's new blog

2007-08-22T12:44:00.000+01:00

Mary Hunt is the founder of Debt-Proof Living (formerly Cheapskate Monthly), an author, Woman’s Day money editor and syndicated columnist (”Everyday Cheapskate” is available in 500 U.S. newspapers). If you live outside of the US, you may not have heard of her, but her book, Debt-proof Living, is recommended by two of the best British wealth coaches that I know - Nicola Cairncross and Judith Morgan of the Money Gym.

Mary has a new blog, which she describes as 'where I go on (and on) about money, debt and all the stuff that bugs me'. It's definitely worth a look! There's an excellent tip about watch batteries on there which I'm sure would apply wherever you live in the world... The link you need is: http://www.moneyrulesdebtstinks.com/.

Buy Debt-proof Living from Amazon.co.uk

Buy Debt-proof Living from Amazon.com

Great quotes

2007-08-10T10:48:00.000+01:00

"Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Mark Twain

How many colours have you eaten today?

2007-08-09T12:51:00.000+01:00

We all know by now that we should be eating at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day. But, just to make life a little more complicated, did you know that we should be choosing our fruit and vegetables carefully to ensure that we are eating a range of foods from the five different food colour groups?

'What's that all about then?', I hear you ask. Read on...

http://style.uk.msn.com/wellbeing/healthyeating/gallery.aspx?cp-docume

Get the best seat on the plane!

2007-08-02T12:54:00.000+01:00

Before you book your next seat on a plane, you may want to check out SeatGuru, which shows you the seating layout for all planes used by the major airlines and indicates which are good seats, which are poor, which seats have extra legroom and which have power ports, etc.

SeatGuru is an excellent resource if you prefer checking-in on-line and has all sorts of other information such as check-in times, boarding times and latest flight news for each airline.

How sunglasses can put eye health in the shade

2007-07-27T12:56:00.000+01:00

Do you put fashion and price before safety when choosing sunglasses? According to a recent report by the College of Optometrists, 80% of us would rather look cool than protect our eyes and 1 in 7 of us don't wear sunglasses at all!

Get the lowdown on sunglasses safety at:
http://health.uk.msn.com/healthencyclopaedia/features/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5418293

2007-07-25T12:59:00.000+01:00

I'm not much of a cook - I'd much rather eat the results of someone else's efforts - but I bet even I could find something to inspire me in this New York Times article which offers 101 summer recipes designed to get you in and out of the kitchen in just 10 minutes or less! Check out all 101 at:

Summer Express: 101 Simple Meals Ready in 10 Minutes or Less

Do you hate packing?

2007-07-20T13:04:00.000+01:00

Here in the UK, the holiday season starts with a vengeance this weekend. From today the roads, motorways and airports will be packed with people desperately trying to escape the unseasonably wet weather that we are experiencing here at the moment.

Of course, people who are already retired have the luxury of being able to avoid peak holiday periods like the plague, but, whether you're retired or not, before you take your next trip, you may want to check out the following sites for ideas to help ease the burden of deciding what to take with you and how to fit it all into your baggage allowance:
www.travelite.org
www.smartpacking.com
www.onebag.com

Are you a Paraskevidekatriaphobe?

2007-07-13T13:06:00.000+01:00

Do you suffer from Paraskevidekatriaphobia? If you do, you're really going to be having a bad day today. Paraskevidekatriaphobia is the fear of Friday the 13th and, apparently, $1 billion worth of commerce won't happen today, because people are too afraid to fly, travel, and shop. Find out more about Paraskevidekatriaphobia at: http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/columns/?article=fridaythe13th.

Myths about oral health

2007-07-11T13:41:00.000+01:00

I'm a bit fussy about my teeth. I brush at least twice a day and I always floss and use an interdental brush after brushing. And I've always brushed my teeth within a few minutes of finishing my breakfast... until today that is, when I read that:

"The worst thing that you could do is to brush your teeth straight after eating or drinking something acidic such as citrus fruit or fruit juice, because the acid actually softens the top layer of your teeth and by brushing you are actually scrubbing that bit off. Always wait half an hour before brushing so that your teeth have remineralised."

Oops!

Read other myths about oral health in DIY Oral Health here

The best reason to go out and buy a mattress immediately

2007-07-10T15:45:00.000+01:00

I've been subscribing to the Health Tip of the Day from Health Coach Training for some time now and, to be honest, I haven't really learned a lot from them - until yesterday, when this little gem arrived in my inbox:

'It is best to get a new mattress every 7 - 10 years. Mattress weight will double in size from perspiration, oils and dust mites.'

Yuk. How disgusting is that?

What's on your 'To Do Before I Die' list?

2007-07-03T13:47:00.000+01:00

I never thought I'd see my name on the same list as those of former US politician Dan Quayle and rockers Joan Jett and Patti Smith, but Wesley at LifeTwo has posted a great article about making a 'To Do Before I Die' list and he asked the rest of the Blogging Boomers to tell him something that we have on our own TDBID lists.

Find out what we all said here

Great quotes

2007-06-20T15:55:00.000+01:00

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (There are various versions of this quotation around. I am not sure which is the correct version, however, this is the fullest version that I have seen. I think you get the gist...)

Still studying at 95!

2007-06-19T13:58:00.000+01:00

I love stories like this! When Nola Ochs graduated in May 2007 at the age of 95, she became the oldest college graduate in the world. Not satisfied with her scholarly achievements, however, in September, Nola plans to head back to the classroom to start working on her Master's degree.

Nola start taking classes after the death of her husband in 1972. She says, 'There's something within me that wants to keep learning. I just can't quit.' Read Nola's story at:

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/Departments/AdultLearning/?article=StillCracking95&GT1=10092

Britain's got talent - Connie Talbot

2007-06-17T16:00:00.000+01:00

And just in case you're one of the few people in the known Universe that hasn't seen the clip of 6 year old Connie Talbot, here it is. Again, Kleenex at the ready:

Britain's got talent - Paul Potts

2007-06-16T14:02:00.000+01:00

For those of you who don't live in the UK (and for those of you who do but missed it), I thought you might like to see the following clip from Britain's Got Talent. Bet you can't watch it with dry eyes!

Don't fall for email hoaxes by Patrick Goss

2007-06-15T16:05:00.000+01:00

Why do people continue to fall for email hoaxes? You know - the ones involving exiled leaders or worldwide lotteries and those purporting to be from legitimate organisations and requesting your bank or credit card details. MSN's Tech and Gadgets Editor, Patrick Goss, can't believe that some of us are still so gullible. Find out what he has to say about it all at: http://tech.uk.msn.com/features/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5224211.

The rise of Newglish - an evolving language

2007-06-01T16:08:00.000+01:00

Do you sometimes suspect that English is becoming an unfathomable language? For example, do you know what a Hactivist or a Looky-loo is? If something was described as hinky or eeyoreish, would you know what that meant? And just what is a twonk?

Find out with this quick guide to 20 of the 'most bizarre, controversial and ingenious words' that, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, did not even officially exist a year ago: http://news.uk.msn.com/the_rise_of_newglish.aspx

I know it's not Father's Day yet, but...

2007-05-31T15:11:00.000+01:00

I bet you can't watch this without a tear in your eye! Me? I blubbed for England!

Great quotes

2007-05-24T16:13:00.000+01:00

"In a moment we catch a glimpse of the potential of all that we can be and in a moment we can lose that to fear."

Nelson Mandela

Myths about being single

2007-05-23T14:15:00.000+01:00

Do you secretly subscribe to the myth that single people live lonely, miserable existences? That they are self-centred, have few friends and that they die alone and are eaten by their cats? Think again! Discover the reality of being single in an article entitled Myths About Being Single by Bella DePaulo:
http://match.engb.msn.com/matchscene/article.aspx?articleid=8168&lid=0&TrackingID=511021

Why Healthy People Suffer Heart Attacks by Dr Arthur Agatston

2007-05-22T16:17:00.000+01:00

In this excerpt from The South Beach Heart Program: The 4-Step Plan That Can Save Your Life, Dr. Arthur Agatston, the author of The South Beach Diet explains how seemingly fit and healthy people can have heart attacks and how 'soft' plaque can be a hidden killer. Read it at:
http://health.msn.com/centers/cholesterol/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100156977&GT1=9997

Healthy habits that aren't so healthy

2007-05-16T13:31:00.000+01:00

What kinds of things do you do to keep yourself healthy? Do you, for example, drink 8 glasses of water a day? Do you use antibacterial products such as handwashes and dishwashing liquid? Do you always sit up straight to protect your back? If you answered 'Yes' to any or all of those questions, you could be doing yourself more harm than good. Find out why by watching the Healthy Habits That Aren't slideshow at: http://health.msn.com/womenshealth/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100163331&imageindex=1.

Beauty over 40

2007-05-15T16:21:00.000+01:00

Is that a moustache? Where did my eyebrows go? And what's going on with my nose? Get the scoop on five little beauty secrets no one ever tells you about aging in an article by Valerie Monroe from O, The Oprah Magazine, October 2006: http://boomers.msn.com/articleOPRAH.aspx?cp-documentid=387809.

2007-05-12T16:22:00.000+01:00

I don't often write a blog posting on Saturday, but I was up early today, catching up with my email backlog and, through a series of web-links (where you click on something of interest, which in turn leads to something else of interest, etc), I came across a relatively new blog by life coach Kamin Bell (pronounced Ca-meen). You can read Kamin's blog for yourself at What If You Believe? but I particularly enjoyed and could identify with the following posting, entitled What Looks Like Lazy:

What Looks Like Lazy...
can be so many other things. I recently coached someone regarding going for a new job. We discussed the actions he should take and the next steps. And...nothing. There are times that I am tempted to get frustrated when someone doesn't follow through, but how can I? I know for them, as I know for myself, that it's not lazy. I have watched myself over the years not do something I needed to or not go after something I want. I used to say I was a procrastinator. But I know better now. Sometimes is just plain old fear. But that fear holds information. What am I afraid of? What am I afraid will happen to me? Am I ready to do that thing I'm putting off? Do I need more information? Is the timing right? Is it fear of looking stupid or making a mistake? That's been a big one for me to deal with. I'm a recovering Virgo perfectionist. I work at being willing to be less than perfect and being willing to simply try.

And, sometimes I have to trick myself. Yesterday, I needed to send a long overdue email requesting assistance from someone (another challenge of mine, asking for help ). On the way home I had to stop at Target for a few things. And, since it's Easter season, my favorite candy, the Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs are in stock. I'm only allowed to buy 1, though. So, I promised myself that I could have the egg after dinner and only after I sent the email. Boy that egg tasted great knowing that I had followed through on my promise. Sometimes I have to set a timer for 15 minutes to get something started or completed. And, sometimes I journal to work out the feelings that are present and holding me back from doing what I know I must. And, sometimes it's recognizing the difference between a "should" and a "must" and following my heart.

So, no more labeling lazy or procrastinator. There's just some nugget of growth behind it that needs to come forward. Some stone to look under and say "hmm, isn't that interesting. I wonder what I'm afraid of?" and then go conquer it.

Eight Things to Help Your Mom Stay Younger Longer by Barbara Morris

2007-05-11T13:58:00.000+01:00

It's Mother's Day in the US on Sunday, so if you're lucky enough to still have your mum around, here's a timely article from Barbara Morris entitled Eight Things to Help Your Mom Stay Younger Longer, which is equally relevant, no matter where you live in the world:
http://putoldonhold.net/Help_Your_Mom_Stay_Young.htm

The joy of text

2007-05-10T16:30:00.000+01:00

If someone sent you a text message with the abbreviations 10Q or AFAIK in it, would you know what they meant? How about G2G or IKWYM? Struggling? So was I, before I read How Text Speak Is Taking Over. Read it for yourself at: http://tech.uk.msn.com/features/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4890569.

The art of the road trip

2007-04-20T18:42:00.000+01:00

Have you ever dreamed of taking a road trip across the US? If you have, you're not alone... I, for one, would join you in a heartbeat! If you're considering heading out on the open road, you can't afford to miss The Art of the Road Trip by Robert Isenberg. Check it out at:

http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article.aspx?cp-doc

London 'UK's ID fraud capital' by Mathew Plowright

2007-04-13T13:58:00.000+01:00

Did you know that Londoners are almost three times more likely to fall victim to ID theft or fraud than those living elsewhere in the UK?

Or that the three northern English seaside resorts of Blackpool, Southport and Scarborough, saw a marked rise in the number of reported ID fraud cases, while Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, Llandudno in North Wales and Chorley in Lancashire have also been identified as high-risk ID fraud hotspots?

Check out the UK's top 10 ID fraud hotspots (according to a report compiled from research carried out by credit reference agency Experian) at http://money.uk.msn.com/Banking/Current

The Procrastinator's Creed

2007-04-11T19:00:00.000+01:00

Do you procrastinate? I saw a discussion about procrastination on an email networking site that I belong to which culminated in the following Procrastinator's Creed:

1. I believe that if anything is worth doing, it would have been done already.
2. I shall never move quickly, except to avoid more work or find excuses.
3. I will never rush into a job without a lifetime of consideration.
4. I shall meet all of my deadlines directly in proportion to the amount of bodily injury I could expect to receive from missing them.
5. I firmly believe that tomorrow holds the possibility for new technologies, astounding discoveries, and a reprieve from my obligations.
6. I truly believe that all deadlines are unreasonable regardless of the amount of time given.
7. I shall never forget that the probability of a miracle, though infinitesmally small, is not exactly zero.
8. If at first I don't succeed, there is always next year.
9. I shall always decide not to decide, unless of course I decide to change my mind.
10. I shall always begin, start, initiate, take the first step, and/or write the first word, when I get around to it.
11. I obey the law of inverse excuses which demands that the greater the task to be done, the more insignificant the work that must be done prior to beginning the greater task.
12. I know that the work cycle is not plan/start/finish, but is wait/plan/plan.
13. I will never put off until tomorrow, what I can forget about forever.
14. I will become a member of the ancient Order of Two-Headed Turtles (the Procrastinator's Society) if they ever get it organized.

I can certainly identify with a few of those... can you?

Caught in the middle?

2007-04-06T19:05:00.000+01:00

Do you belong to the sandwich generation? Are you one of those people caring for an aging parent whilst still having responsibility for one or more children under the age of 18?

The combination of an aging population and the fact that many boomers put off having children until their 30's and 40's means that more and more of us are caught in the middle, squeezed from above and below and, literally, feeling like the filling in a generational sandwich.

Read Melissa Segrest's account of one American woman's story of being Caught in the Middle at: http://boomers.msn.com/articleSG.aspx?cp-documentid=385773&GT1=9306.

Six ways to speed up the healing process

2007-03-29T13:08:00.000+01:00

Did you know that burns treated with locally-farmed honey heal, on average, 4 days earlier than those treated without it?

Or that yoga eases lower back pain faster than conventional exercises?

Find out what else you can do to speed up the healing process at: http://health.msn.com/general/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100

Thirty two uses for beer

2007-03-23T19:15:00.000Z

You can bathe in it,

use it to put out a fire,

polish things with it,

scale fish with it,

kill slugs with it and

loosen rusty bolts with it...

Check out these and the other 26 things you can do with beer at:
http://men.msn.com/articlemh.aspx?cp-documentid=3872767&GT1=9212.

Do you need to take a break?

2007-03-20T19:18:00.000Z

How do you feel about giving up half of your annual leave in order to stay at work so that you don't fall behind with your responsibilities?

If that sounds like a good idea to you, then you're not alone. It's estimated that 19 million holiday days are 'abandoned' every year by British employees because taking a break proves to be more hassle than it's worth. (And I suspect that, included within that figure, are many thousands of days abandoned by workers in their final year before retirement who decide to work through their holidays just to get 'straight' and hand over a tidy ship to their successor.)

And what about all the people who manage to make it onto the plane, but then use technology to keep in touch with their work whilst they're away - checking their emails, and leaving their phones switched on in case of a workplace emergency, even on the beach?

If any of the above sounds like you, check out Workproof your Holiday by Emma Robertson and find out what you can do to restore your work/life balance.

Advice on love and marriage

2007-03-11T13:25:00.000Z

I received the following in Philip Humbert's newsletter this morning:

Paul Vogt sent me these quotes from little kids on the secrets of love an marriage. Isn't here a Bible verse about wisdom coming from the mouths of babes? Enjoy!

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY?
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kristen, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. -- Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynnette, age 8

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. --Curt, age 7

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
I don't know which is better, but I'll tell you one thing. I'm never going to have sex with my wife. I don't want to be all grossed out. -- Theodore, age 8

It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? --Kelvin, age 8

"And the #1 Favorite is........"

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck. --Ricky, age 10

First woman in space turns 70

2007-03-08T13:28:00.000Z

Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to travel into space, has just celebrated her 70th birthday. The former textile worker was 26 when she became the fifth Russian cosmonaut to go into the Earth's orbit, back in June 1963. On her return, she was pronounced a 'Hero of the Soviet Union' and has a lunar crater named after her. Apparently, she still dreams of going to Mars...

Confessions of an email hoarder

2007-02-26T14:30:00.000Z

I have a confession to make. I have 9520 emails stored in my email in-box. Now I have no idea how many emails I receive each day - probably in the region of 50-100, depending on the day. Of course, all the important emails I have received, such as those from clients, potential clients and suppliers are stored properly in the appropriate folders within my email box.

The 9520 are the things I'm keeping 'just in case I ever need them' - newsletters, google alerts, networking messages - that kind of thing. And the thing is... so far, I never have needed them again (and even if I did need them, I'd never be able to find them amongst the rest of the 9520). So, I was delighted to receive yet another newsletter today, this one from American coach Talane Miedaner at http://www.lifecoach.com/ which included an article entitled 'How to get rid of email clutter - Part 2'. I'm copying it below for you, just in case you're an email hoarder too. (I particularly like the less radical method and I'm going to adopt it just as soon as I finish typing this posting.)

How To Get Rid Of E-Mail Clutter, Part II

OK all you members of the "E-Mail Delete Club" - how did it go this week? Did you get rid of a bunch of emails? Here are some more tips to keep you going (or get you started) clearing out all that email clutter.

The Radical Method. The award for the best tip actually goes to my cat, Sweet Pea, who jumped on my keyboard one morning and somehow managed to delete all the e-mails from my inbox in one fell swoop. For a moment, I stared at the blank computer screen in horror and panic. The next moment I felt a tremendous sense of relief. Hooray! I didn't have to do all those emails. Then it dawned on me that all those e-mails were probably sitting in my delete folder. Darn! I'd still have to deal with them. I opened the file and started looking for the e-mails that were important and in five minutes, I dragged about 20 of them into my inbox and left the rest to die a certain death. Whew! Once the emails were in the delete folder, it was easier to leave them there than to pull them out. The same for the inbox, once emails are in the inbox, they seem to want to stay there. The law of inertia at work. You may want to try this yourself for a quick and radical fix.

The Less Radical Method. For those who find the above tip a little too radical, here is a softer approach. Set up a new file folder in your email program labeled "Old E-Mail" and then highlight and drag all your inbox emails and put them in this folder. This will immediately create a clean slate to work from. It is much easier to maintain a clear inbox if you have a fresh start and mentally, it feels better. Then decide how many of the old emails you will delete each day from the Old E-Mail folder and stick to it until they are all gone.

Be ruthless. You can do it.
Talane

Wine tasting: The rules of conduct

2007-02-22T13:34:00.000Z

To spit or not to spit?
How much should you drink?
What should you do if you don't like the wine you've just tasted?
Is slurping ever acceptable?

Get the answers to these questions (and more) in Wine Tasting: Rules of Conduct by Kathleen Donnelly,

More good news...

2007-02-21T15:37:00.000Z

It just gets better and better! Last week we learned that an afternoon nap is good for your heart. This week it seems that chocolate could boost your brain power! The results are in from a range of international studies on flavanols - nutrients which are, apparently, naturally abundant in fresh cocoa.

The scientists discovered that flavanol increased blood supply to the areas of the brain that are associated with learning and the memory and could have brain-function enhancing benefits for older adults.

Read all about it here

Dating over 50: The New Rules for Romance

2007-02-20T07:16:00.000Z

Are you 50+ and single? Are you looking to get back into the dating game for the first time in years? Does the thought of dating again both excite you and fill you with dread? Check out Dating over 50: The New Rules for Romance by Beatty Cohen, a psychotherapist with over 35 years of experience at http://boomers.msn.com/articleDP.aspx?cp-documentid=380698.

Vitamins: From A to Zinc

2007-02-16T19:41:00.000Z

Do you need to take vitamin supplements? Which one(s) do you need? How much do you need to take? Do vitamin supplements actually do us any good?

Check out Vitamins: From A to Zinc by Jo Walker

An afternoon nap is good for the heart

2007-02-13T19:45:00.000Z

It's official! An afternoon nap is good for the heart. This is great news for me - I often have a short nap after lunch, simply because I wake up so early in the morning (usually about 4.30 am) and, if I don't nap, I end up falling asleep on the sofa by 8 pm. A half hour nap in the afternoon means that I can manage to stay awake until around 10.30 pm and remain compos mentis right through to the end of whatever it is that I'm watching on TV. (I've lost count of the number of C.S.I. plots I've missed...)

Now, however, a greek study has shown that people who took a 30-minute siesta at least 3 times a week had a 37% lower risk of heart disease-related death. The researchers believe that napping, and its associated relaxing and unwinding, may reduce stress levels - which can only be good news for our overall health... Read the full BBC news story here

Bugs Bunny knew a thing or two...

2007-02-08T13:50:00.000Z

Did you know that eating 5 carrots a week can reduce your risk of a stroke by almost two-thirds? Or that munching on a couple of carrots every day will lower your blood cholesterol by 10% and cut your risk of lung cancer in half - even if you're a smoker? All that and you get to see better in the dark too... or is that just a myth?

Do you have a balanced diet?

2007-01-30T14:54:00.000Z

Are you eating a balanced diet? Find out by taking the following 24-question nutrition test, devised by nutritionist, Angela Dowden, for msn.com: http://msntestyourself.netdoctor.co.uk/interactivetests/nutritionquiz.php.

What size is your carbon footprint?

2007-01-23T13:57:00.000Z

Here in the UK, Prince Charles has recently announced his plans to cancel his annual skiing trip to Switzerland in order to reduce his carbon footprint.

So what is a carbon footprint and how can you reduce the size of yours? Well, carbon footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. You can start off by discovering the size of your own carbon footprint at http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.html.

Next, learn how to minimise your Carbon Footprint at http://www.carbonfootprint.com/Minimise_cfp.html and, finally, discover how to offset your Carbon Footprint at http://www.carbonfootprint.com/carbon_offset.html.

Top 10 diet myths by Ross Chainey

2007-01-19T15:00:00.000Z

There is so much conflicting diet advice in circulation that often the truth gets lost or obscured, making it harder for you to lose weight. Ross Chainey for uk.msn.com sets the record straight on the most frequently reported dieting tips that are, in fact, untrue. See for yourself at http://www.msn.co.uk/health/dietmyths/default.asp?MSPSA=1. (Click on any one of the 10 images and you will be able to access all 10 of the diet myths.)

Google Alerts

2007-01-17T20:19:00.000Z

Did you know that you can set up Google Alerts to keep you up-to-date on a subject close to your heart? For example, you can set up a Google Alert to monitor a developing news story, keep current on a competitor or industry, get the latest on a celebrity or event or keep tabs on your favorite sports teams. (I have alerts set up for 'retirement', 'aging', 'baby boomers', 'longevity' and 'older workers'.)

Google will send you an email when there are new Google results for your search terms. You can choose to receive these alerts either as they happen, once a day or once a week. Set up your own Google Alert at http://www.google.com/alerts.