Why You Need to Cut Back on Salt
According to new research, cutting your salt intake may be more important than you may think. A new study reports that if the United States cut its salt intake by just a half teaspoon a day, we could prevent 92,000 deaths and 99,000 heart attacks a year.
“The [ heart] benefits of reduced salt intake are on par with the benefits of population-wide reductions in tobacco use, obesity, and cholesterol levels,” says Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD.
The culprit, says researchers, isn’t the saltshaker, but rather the amount of salt in processed foods. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 77% of the salt in our diets comes from processed food.
While food manufacturers aren’t likely to reduce the amount of salt in their products, experts recommend cutting down on these foods and paying special attention to food labels.
A study in the U.K. found that the body adjusted to reduced salt consumption in a matter of weeks. Meaning, once you cut your salt intake, you’ll start to prefer your food with less salt. Win!
Elixir of Youth: Wine
The key to youth and vitality may be sitting in your own cupboard. Check out how you can benefit from wine and the science behind it.
by Svetlana Konnikova, MA, AN
Researchers have found that resveratrol in red wine is almost an Elixir of Youth and can help to extend your life. What percentage of the worlds centenarians live in the United States? You may be surprised to find that it’s 84%. These people are so lucky to live a whole century and see so many changes in life, science, medicine, history, art, and technical progress that happened during this time.
Dr. David Sinclair, a scientist from the Harvard University, and co-founder of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals found the secret how to stay young and live longer with help of red wine. To be precise, with help of resveratrol, a phytoalexin that is found in dark grapes and red wine. To be honest with you, I would rather drink a glass of good French or Italian red wine to get my dose of the Elixir of Youth–resveratrol-than eat it in pharmaceutical capsules.
So, the moral of the story is, relax, get good rest and good sleep after working week. Pour yourself a glass of rich, burgundy color Cabernet Sauvignon with tones of black currants on palate, sip it slowly, and enjoy.
Svetlana Konnikova, MA, AN is an award-winning author, publisher, consultant, herbalist, researcher and entrepreneur. Svetlana is perhaps best known for writing her latest book, 2009 Gold Mom’s Award Winner, Mama’s Home Remedies: Discover Time-Tested Secrets of Good Health and the Pleasures of Natural Life, which has become a best-selling book worldwide. Visit her blog at http://mamashomeremedies.com/
Enter to Win our Kleen Kanteen Sweepstakes!
We’re giving away a pair of Kleen Kanteen water bottles! They are portable, lightweight, and best of all, way better than those disposable plastic bottles.
To be entered, simply create a post below telling us your favorite way to work up a sweat. One winner will be chosen at random.
Good Luck!
For complete sweepstakes rules, click here.
Weekly Horoscope Jan 25
there are a lot of dynamic aspects this week which should definitely keep us all on our toes! on monday mercury tensely aspects retrograde mars by both degree and declination. conversations and communications can get testy and heated- but what is said needs to be said! this is an echo of similar aspects that occurred on january 14th-16th, so these conversations are not new. finding the best way to say it is your spiritual work now. retrograde mars is very active this week, bringing up karmic patterns and dynamics to be purged. our relationship to the Divine Masculine, to the ego, to our inner drives and passions, and to our anger and aggression is all up for review. stuff that plays out this week is helping you to dig a little deeper.
on wednesday mercury aligns with the north node bringing significant conversations and communication about our destined path of growth and evolution. things said today echo conversations had between 12/23-12/28 when mercury cojoined the north node twice (once in retrograde motion and once in direct). it has taken this long for us to integrate all that the mercury retrograde period was about (we are still in the retrograde shadow until feb 4th during which integration is still occurring), but we can start to see forward movement if we are ready, willing and able to take the steps we know we need to take. on thursday venus parallels pluto bringing intensity, passion and depth into relationship connections as well as in connection to the Divine Feminine. it can also activate the shadow side of venus/pluto though- possessiveness, jealousy, and power/control dynamics. this aspect echoes the venus/pluto conjunction that occurred on 12/27. this entire week is an echo of events of the past month. it is both evolutionary and karmic- as the decisions we make this week can take us forward on our path and/or hold us back. choose wisely!
the full moon on friday is aligned with mars bringing emotional situations to a head. relationship dynamics are highlighted as mars is aligned with the moon and venus is aligned with the sun and they are both opposite each other. old ways of relating need to be a thing of the past. where you are not letting go of the past you will be confronted with your actions this week. uranus is also active all week long. uranus’ sole job is to wake us up and move us forward on our path. uranus triggers the sun, moon, venus and mars- making masculine/feminine and self/other dynamics the means of sudden change, endings, awakening and illumination. going with the flow when uranus is concerned is the best bet 
moving forward, rather than backward is uranus’ directive! the week ends with the second saturn/pluto square, this time with saturn retrograde. the first square occurred on november 15th of 2009, the next is august 21st. this very major planetary aspect is creating massive changes in personal and collective structures that were thought to be solid. saturn in libra is bringing lessons about relationships that require maturity, discipline and healthy boundaries. pluto in capricorn is destroying structures that are not sound and is asking us to die and be reborn again in some area of our lives.
these two going head to head are initiating massive change and the ride may not be fun- but it is necessary. old things die so the new can be reborn- this is the cycle of life. wherever you are holding onto the past, saturn/pluto will hit you over the head to get you to let go. where you are doing your work and learning to release- you will find rewards on your path that are there to remind you that you are doing what is right for your Soul. this is the midpoint of the saturn/pluto square so ideally you know what this aspect is requiring of you and your work to get it done is underway. consider this week a progress report from the Universe. check to see if you are on track and if you are not do what you need to do to catch up before the final grades come out this summer
aries- your ruling planet mars has been retrograde for a couple months now and this week he is quite active, unearthing a lot of old material about how you express yourself socially, creatively and romantically and how some of that no longer works for you and needs to be released. your firey, dynamic nature is your greatest gift, but learning to temper it and make it work for you, rather than against you, is a mark of maturity. old patterns from childhood relating to your mother are part of the unconscious excavation and with jupiter and uranus in your 12th house of the unconscious you have the greater benefic and the great awakener helping you to shine the light on the shadows that have been hidden up until now. the full moon on friday lights up your social sphere and can bring matters of love and romance to a head. aggressive emotions and masculine willfulness needs to give way to a more feminine, receptive, yin expression of self. it’s all about balance. learning to receive love, rather than demand it, is key. the week ends on a very dynamic note with saturn’s second square to pluto, lighting up your relationship sector and your career sector. things are undergoing massive renovation when it comes to how you relate to others and the work you do in the world. learning to compromise, work for peace, and think of others before you think of yourself are necessary lessons now. with your ruler going backward finding ways to let off steam that doesn’t involve blowing up at innocent bystanders is important. the lessons you are learning and experiences you are having in relationship and career right now are creating a foundation for your future. take the time to build that foundation with wisdom and patience.
taurus- with your ruler venus at the top of your chart highly activated this week a lot of stuff is going on in the career and life path sector, and much is coming out into the light, in addition to all that is going on behind the scenes. retrograde mars in your 4th house has been unearthing a lot of deep material around your relationship to the masculine, to ego (and narcissism!), to your passions and desires, and to anger and aggression. the full moon on friday brings emotions related to your inner and outer life to a head. in order to make forward progress in your career path you need to deal with the stuff that’s going on in your home and family life. your ability to follow your soul’s passion as directed by your higher Self requires that you release judgements that were ingrained in your head from the your childhood past. liberation and illumination can come from friends and community members who bring a new perspective that can expand your mind and open your eyes to opportunities that have been there all along. the week ends with the second saturn/pluto square highlighting your 6th house of work and service and your 9th house of spiritual beliefs and higher mind. you are being asked to radically alter how you’ve viewed yourSelf and the world around you in a way that can seem a bit disconcerting for a fixed earth sign. your pragmatism and logic has served you, but it has also limited you from seeing the bigger picture. when you are able to expand your mind beyond it’s current reaches you will find that changes in your day to day routines and the work that you feel called to do will follow suit.
gemini- the week starts off with dynamic and perhaps heated conversation about intimacy, sexuality and soul connections. with retrograde mars in your 3rd house of communication you’ve likely felt like the cat has had your tongue, but since your ruling planet mercury has stationed direct on january 15th you are starting to see what needs to be said and this week you are given the opportunity to say it. conversations had at the start of the week echo things said during christmas week, so the subject matter is not new. but your perspective on it all should be coming to some clarity! with both mercury and mars aligning with the nodes this week decisions you make are pivotal for your path of evolution and growth, but they also are very karmic. releasing whatever you know is holding you back is part of the journey. the full moon on friday lights up your communication sector and asks you to see the bigger picture of what is going on. gemini tends to operate from the logical mind, but with the sun aligned with the Divine feminine in your 9th house the intuitive mind is what needs to be listened to instead. during full moons emotions run high, and with mars on the moon things can get fiesty if you aren’t speaking your Truth. the week ends with saturn’s second to square pluto, highlighting your romantic and creative self-expression and your deepest soul connections. there are many shifts occurring in these areas of life and because pluto is involved a death of something is required. saturn is asking for your puer eternus to grow up and find some stability and structure within. deep soul connections in your life are giving you an opportunity to do some profound shadow work. feel the fear and do it anyway.
cancer- it’s a full moon week and since the moon is your ruler you will likely be feeling the energy amp up as the week progresses. with mars retrograde in your 2nd house there is a lot of internal work you are being asked to do around abundance, self-worth and what you value. connecting to your inner fire, self-confidence and ability to shine is part of that process. early in the week conversations had with significant others can activate repressed anger in you- anger around not being valued or treated as you feel you deserve. speaking your Truth is necessary, but also realizing that one can only value you as much as you value yourself is key. what is talked about echoes something that began around the week of christmas. knowing what you want and need and keeping healthy boundaries is key! with the full moon and mars falling in your 2nd house and the sun and venus opposing it in your 8th issues around your needs for security and intimacy and the conflicting needs of significant others in your life can come up. learning to see both sides of a situation helps to find a bridge for communication. releasing your tendency to need others to fulfill you emotionally is part of the growth process. all fulfillment comes from within. the week ends with saturn square pluto in your 4th and 7th houses, bringing a significant partnership into focus. a lot of your childhood fears are being unearthed in this connection for the sole purpose of healing them. learning to see when your feelings stem from something related to now versus something related to the past will help you separate out the past from the present. then you can start to respond to the present consciously instead of unconsciously, and all your connections- inner and outer- will change.
leo- you are just about halfway through mar’s retrograde in your sign, and if you’ve been taking your internal cues you’ve been doing what you can to lay low and go within to introspect and assess the inner workings of your masculine expression, your ego, your passions and desires, and your relationships to anger and assertiveness. and this week is chalk full of opportunity to go even deeper! on monday conversations about work and service, as well as your health and how you take care of your physical body, help shine a light on what you need to do to ease up and find some harmony in your work/inner life balance. overworking yourself will run you into the ground, so scheduling in down time is a necessary preventative measure. there are sudden changes and possibly separations happening in your significant relationships, with the full moon and mars falling your 1st house and the sun with venus in your 7th. uranus in your 8th is waking you up to a need for new levels of depth and intimacy in connection, which requires that old patterns of partnership be released. a lot of this has to do with your fear of the feminine and your fear of being needy and vulnerable. this can relate to your connection with your mother- but it can go even further back than that. this week’s events are karmic and you have an opportunity to work through them and release their hold on you if you so choose. the week ends with saturn square to pluto, asking you to restructure how you communicate and view the world around you, and transform your day to day routines to reflect your new vision of life. if you keep doing what you’ve always done you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got. understanding what needs to be done is only worthwhile when you put it into practice. get to it!
virgo- the week starts off on a dynamic foot as your ruler mercury connects with retrograde mars in a tense aspect, bringing up testy conversations involving romance and self-expression that activate some of your deepest fears and unconscious material. what is said at the start of the week echoes conversations begun around the week of christmas, so this is nothing new, but your perspective on it all is changing. with retrograde mars in your 12th house connecting to your fears around standing up for yourself, embracing your passions full throttle and believing in yourself and your innate value has been part of the journey of late. this week you have the opportunity to stand up for yourself and speak your Truth from deep within. the full moon aligned with retrograde mars on friday lights up your 12th house of the unconscious while the sun and venus oppose them from your 6th house of service. issues regarding balance between serving others and taking care of yourself can arise, and if it’s out of balance your body will let you know. taking time to center yourself spiritually before you go-go-go out into the world is necessary. the week ends with saturn’s square to pluto, activating your 2nd house of money, values and self-worth and your 5th house of romantic and creative self-expression. as you are learning to value yourself your romantic connections with others are radically changing. being drawn to those who cannot love you the way you deserve to be loved is a thing of the past. anytime you see a old pattern play out you can step back and disengage, because you are learning how to see things for what they are. radical inner transformation requires that you open your heart deeper than ever before. once yours is open you will attract the same- like attracts like.
libra- your ruler venus is quite active this week and she starts things off on monday with a jolt of fresh inspiration and creative energy, helping you to enliven yourself and speak your mind. mercury aspects retrograde mars, bringing conversation and communication with family, friends and/or community members that can get a little testy and dynamic. what is said is actually related to something begun during the week of christmas, only back then mercury was still retrograde. you’ve had time to think about it now and your thoughts are ready to be shared, but they may not be well received! stick with your Truth but find a way to say it with grace. on friday the full moon in leo falls in your 11th house of friendship and community and is aligned with mars, bringing emotional issues to a head when it comes to your community and friendship connections. with the sun and venus in your 5th house you are being asked to take a risk and allow yourself to shine, rather than hide your light under a bushel. the venus/mars opposition midweek can activate any unresolved issues about balance when it comes to giving and receiving love. libras tend to be givers and overly focused on the other. you need to become a little more Self-centered (in the best way) and this lunation will remind you of that. the week ends with saturn’s dynamic square to pluto. saturn in your sign is asking you to step up and truly own your life and forge your path. pluto at the bottom of your chart is unearthing the toxic crap from your past- childhood and beyond- that has been contributing to you holding yourself back. if you are doing your work you’ve been unearthing deep stuff, but you’ve also been processing and releasing it. this week there’s more to unearth and more to release. don’t hold onto it. you don’t need it.
scorpio- all week we build up to the second square of your ruler pluto with saturn (the first occurred in november of last year, the next happens in august of 2010) so you will likely be feeling the intensity build throughout the week. monday starts off with some dynamic conversation and communication related to your career and standing in the world that can get a bit testy and willful. with mars retrograde at the top of your chart you would be wise to take your fiesty energy and turn it inwards for some introspection. speaking your mind is one thing, but flying off the handle is another. if someone else is doing the flying just lay low and don’t retaliate. i know, that’s hard for a scorpio, but discipline yourself! the emotionally charged full moon on friday occurs at the top of your chart where you are most visible so any outbursts had will be seen by all! it’s better to count to ten and reign it in and make the energy work for you in other ways. paying attention to your inner life and home life would serve you well as that is your foundation and when that is set right the rest falls into place. sunday is the big day when saturn and pluto square off, unearthing more unconscious material related to your deepest and fears but also your greatest gifts. saturn is asking you to excavate your Soul, and since your sign is all about the depths it shouldn’t be too hard. yet there’s a twist to this excavation because it’s asking you to get in touch with your soft side, your femininity and your receptivity. so this needs to be more like a soul massage rather than soul surgery. going deep with grace and ease is the goal. as you do this your perception of the world around you and the way you communicate yourself will radically change. the Divine Feminine softens things- particularly minds and hearts. surrender is your best m.o.!
sagittarius- your ruler jupiter has just moved into pisces, beginning a brief but positive jaunt through your house of home, family and inner life where he will help you create solid foundations upon which to build the rest of your life. but this week his activity is mostly in the background as mars, the full moon and saturn/pluto take over the stage. at the start of the week dynamic and potentially testy conversations and communication is had involving money and your higher beliefs and values. what is said echoes back to stuff being dealt with around christmas time, so this is not anything new but it is something that is gaining greater clarity now that mercury is direct. mars is still retrograde so taking time to go within and assess your relationship to your will, drive and ego and choose actions that come from your higher Self instead is key. the full moon on friday is aligned with mars and lights up your 3rd/9th house axis, bringing up any issues around how you view the world and communicate yourself to those around you. the 9th house is the house of sagittarius, and full moons are culminations and climaxes. an aspect of how you express yourself in the world needs to die so a new one can be reborn. your commitment to Truth and Integrity will be tested, but you will know which road is the higher one to take. the week ends with saturn square pluto, bringing lessons about true community and friendship and transformation of your deepest held values and financial responsibility. learning to surround yourself with people who hold you to your highest expression of Self is not as bad as it used to seem. especially now that you are doing it for yourself.
capricorn- the weeks starts off with some dynamic conversation about intimacy, sexuality and shared resources that can get a bit testy if you don’t reign in your irritation (or deal with someone else’s without being reactive). what is talked about at the start of the week echoes discussions had back in the week of christmas, so what is said is not new but new things are coming to light now that mercury is direct in your sign and you feel more ready to speak to them. a lot of what plays out this week is karmic in nature- meaning it is directly related to past actions you’ve taken of which there are consequences and rewards for. sticking to your values and integrity is key- it will help you to move through the week unscathed. focusing on your security needs is highlighted by the emotionally charged full moon on friday. with the full moon aligned with mars in your 8th house a lot of darker stuff can get unearthed- but manipulation, power/control dynamics, and domination will not serve you. taking the high road and only trying to be in control of yourself is advised. the week ends with your ruler saturn in square aspect to pluto in your sign, activating the most visible parts of your chart- the way you present yourself to the world and the work you do that puts you out there for all to see. much of how you do both is radically changing. saturn in your 10th is teaching you to step up and be disciplined and committed when it comes to your career path and pluto in your 1st is radically transforming who you are the very core. if you are on track this week you will be given more opportunities to step it up. if you are off track this week you will get a very intense reminder that you need to realign yourself. pay attention!
aquarius- both the sun and venus are still making their way through your sign, lighting up your life and bring a bit of the grace and ease of the goddess into your everyday experience. thank goddess because with mercury, pluto and the north node in your 12th house all that unearthing of unconscious material and shadow work can use a bit of reprieve and social connection to balance it all out! at the start of the week more unconscious stuff is communicated via the unconscious that relates to partnership and commitment. what is said echoes talks (with others or with yourSelf) that you had during the week of christmas. it’s not new material, but now that mercury is direct you are seeing things with more clarity. mars is still retrograde in your house or partnership though, and he will be until march 10th, so taking time to reassess what you want in a partner and how you can make sure you possess that which you seek is advised. the emotional full moon on friday falls in your self/other axis, bringing any lingering relationship issues to a head. you are being asked to bring in more of the Divine Feminine into your everyday expression and when you do that will radically alter your relationship experiences! as you balance your inner polarity you will begin to attract different people altogether. the week ends with saturn square pluto bringing your higher Self’s aspiration into the picture. as you do your depth work you are redefining who you are and why you are here. you are being asked to step up to a new level and you are fully capable. you just have to move beyond your fears and your need to control the outcome. when you surrender to the flow things will flow to you in magical ways!
pisces- this week is very activated but with jupiter in your sign you have the greater benefic supporting you every step of the way 
on monday intense, dynamic conversations and communication occur with friends and community members regarding the work and service you provide. what is talked about echoes discussions had back during christmas week, only now that mercury has gone direct there is more clarity about what is going on. with mars retrograde in your house of work, service and health you need to be sure that you are taking care of yourself and not running yourself into the ground. if you do your health will alert you to the need for more balance! the sun and venus are still making their way through your 12th house, lighting up your unconscious and helping you to process deep material that wants to be released so you can begin a new cycle in life unfettered by the past. with jupiter and uranus in your 1st house you have the opportunity and illumination on your side- so making changes and breaks with the past will be easier than ever! the emotional full moon on friday falls in your 6th house of work and service and highlights any imbalance you have in your life when it comes to taking care of others and taking care of yourself. you need a spiritual reprieve- so taking time away to rejuvenate yourself will do you a lot of good! the week ends with saturn’s square to pluto on sunday, bringing up lessons about intimacy, boundaries, friendship and your role in community. as a pisces self-containment is not your forte. you are more into merging with the Divine and blissing out in connection with others. but saturn is asking you to be responsible and mature in your connections and to ground your ethereal nature in practical, disciplined ways. this is a pruning and it might not feel good but it’s good for you. it’s like taking a shot of wheat grass- it might taste revolting but the effects are profound.
Divine Harmony - “My one wish for humanity is to open the heart chakras of everyone on the planet. I hope to assist as many people as I can in healing their bodies, minds and souls as I journey on this same path of healing for myself. I believe that astrology can be a powerful tool for self-knowledge and healing and I hope to share that with the world.” To schedule private readings and consultations you can reach Divine Harmony at divineharmony.org
3 Ways to Build your Cash Reserves
If getting in good financial standing is on your to-do list in 2010, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans are looking to save more in the wake of the financial crisis. See how you can get started.
1) Get Real
Often the hardest thing about delving into your finances is actually getting started. It’s daunting to take a long hard look at what you have and what you don’t. But, if you’re going to start saving, you need to get real. And that entails pulling your head out of the sand.
Consider using an online tool such as Mint.com, as it’s a great resource for putting your financial status in perspective with easy-to-read pie charts and graphs. Once you’re a member (it’s free!) you’ll be able to track your bills, spending and saving patterns.
2) Assess your Needs and Wants
Once your finances are organized, you can really assess where your money is going. Eliminate frivolous spending where you can. For example, if you discover that you spend $75.00 a week on lunch, resolve to cut that number in half by bringing your lunch a couple of times a week.
Another place to look is at your bills. Many people don’t realize they can lower their bills with a quick phone call. Contact your cable company, car insurer or Internet provider and see if they’re offering any specials. Saving $20 a month on just one bill nets you $240 a year!
3) Make Saving Automatic
The best way to save is to do it automatically, since it takes the pressure off of you to watch every cent that comes into and out of your hands. First, find out if your employer offers a retirement plan such as a 401K. If they match your savings up to a certain percentage, (usually 7%-9%), sign up to save the maximum. Not doing so is like throwing free money away!
Next, look into opening a high yield savings account. Create a savings plan where you allocate money from your checking account into this savings account every month. A good strategy is to have the account deduct money on payday, when your checking account has some padding.
With a high-yield savings account, you’re on your way to creating a healthy emergency fund. Once you’ve saved enough to cover four months of living expenses, think about investing your money elsewhere, such as in money market accounts, bonds, or a Roth IRA.
The Bliss List: Week of January 24
One of our favorite bloggers, Nadine Fawell, lists macaroons and cupcakes on her Bliss List. What’s on yours?
Lazy Saturdays.
Unexpected visitors. Of the welcome sort, not the creepy stalker sort
Drinking good coffee in the sun with friends.
Sunshine (sorry, Northern Hemisphere. Your turn is coming!)
Walking. There is nothing like it to clear the head
Change. I find change scary, but also exhilarating. There’s a lot of it in my life right now
The wisdom of my parents.
How excited my brother is about my upcoming visit home, the first in
two years
Reading. I am particularly excited about Elizabeth Gilbert’s new book,
Committed. I think I shall skip out and buy it post haste
Watching the Australian Open. Actually there, not on TV. Woot!
Macaroons from the Lindt store. Mmmmm
Cupcakes. Double mmmmmm
Hearing my friend talk about her vision board for 2010 and getting all
inspired to do one for myself
Baby anticipation: another friend is about to give birth, and I can’t
wait to meet the new baba!
Mums and Bubs yoga class. It’s so cute to watch the babies develop
every week. Their mothers work hard in that class though
My iPhone. I know, it’s a sick obsession. It’s also one that I enjoy
Music. Played off said iPhone
People smiling on the street. So nice
What’s Makes you Blissful?
Nadine Fawell has been teaching yoga for five years. She has logged about 3000 hours of experience, both in group and private settings. Her main influence, both as a teacher and as a practitioner of yoga, comes from the Krishnamacharya lineage. She has travelled to India twice to study with TKV Desikachar and his teachers at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram and now considers Mark Whitwell to be one of her most influential teachers. Check out her blog at: http://nadinefawell.net/
Haiti: How You Can Help
After the devastating earthquake in Haiti, you may be wondering what you can do to help. We at Find Bliss have listed the names of several charitable organizations (in no particular order) that are providing food, water, medical treatment and shelter to Haitian earthquake survivors.
(AP Photo/Jorge Cruz)
People can donate in support of the relief effort in Haiti at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS. Mobile donors can text “Haiti” to 90999 to make a $10 contribution. A $10 donation made through mobile giving can provide a family with two water cans to store clean drinking water, a blanket appropriate to the climate or other supplies to give people the ability to cook for their families.
Your contribution helps empower grassroots leaders and organizations around the world that are promoting human dignity, civil rights and self-determination. For the seventh year in a row, AJWS was recently awarded four stars by Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent evaluator of not-for-profit organizations.
YELE
Started by Grammy Award-winning artist Wyclef Jean, Yele uses music, sports and the media to reinforce projects that are making a difference in education, health, environment and community development. In practical terms this translates to over 3,000 new jobs, close to 7,000 children being put in school, more than 8,000 people a month receiving food and approximately 2,000 young people a month learning about HIV/AIDS prevention.
UNICEF
The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is absorbing all associated administrative costs so that 100% of every dollar you give to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF will support UNICEF’s relief efforts for children in Haiti.
CARE
Based on preliminary estimates, CARE has established the Haiti Emergency Response Fund, with a goal of raising $40 million to support our five-year response to provide immediate relief and longer-term rehabilitation. Your gift will help us address the needs of the survivors of this unprecedented disaster.
Get a Spa Bathroom in 3 Easy Steps
Why wait for your next spa visit to relax and unwind? Instead, create a spa in your bathroom with these easy tips. And no, you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a spa-like experience every single day!
1) Change your Showerhead
It’s something we use every day, but rarely pay much attention to: the showerhead. If you’re using the plain old showerhead that came with your home, you just don’t know what you’re missing!
Invest in a spa-like showerhead that is tailored to you. Maybe you like a lot of different water pressures, or perhaps just a soft rainfall effect works for you. Either way, showerheads are inexpensive and take 10 minutes to install. Once you’re standing under a showerhead you really love, your bathing experience will become an enjoyable ritual rather than just one more thing to cross off your list.
2) Install a Heated Towel Rack
A heated towel rack may seem like pure indulgence, and that’s exactly why we urge you to get one. Once you wrap your body in a warm towel from your very own bathroom, you’ll never go back to cold towels again!
Like the showerhead, heated towel racks are easy to install. They come in all different sizes and prices, so do a little research based on your needs. The most basic models begin in the $80 price range and go up from there.
3) Accessorize
Once you’ve gotten the DIY work out of the way, it’s time to outfit your bathroom with feelgood accessories. A Box of Bliss will certainly enhance your home spa experience and comes with a candle, bath salts, relaxation CD, a box of tea and a special surprise. We also recommend big, fluffy towels and a plush robe. You may want to play music. These speakers are perfect for a bathroom. Tiny but with big sound.
How do you bring the spa experience home?
Texting and Driving: What you Should Know
Recently talk show host Oprah Winfrey did a show about the perils of using your phone in the car. The findings of this show were staggering: talking on the phone while driving (even hands free) is the equivalent of driving drunk. Driving while texting is more dangerous than driving drunk.
Further research concludes that the human brain simply isn’t equipped to multitask in this way. Fiddling with your phone in the car leads to slower reaction times and a sort of a “tunnel vision” where the driver is literally unable to see what’s going on around him or her.
The car may seem like a good place to catch up with friend and family, but the truth is, the car isn’t an office. Instead of looking at the car as a place to catch up with other people, think of it as a place for you to catch up with yourself. It’s a chance for you to be alone, process what’s going on in your life, listen to music or have some quiet.
Oprah is hosting a no-phone in the car pledge on her site. To take your pledge, click here.
Color of 2010: Turquoise
The Pantone Color Institute, the authority on color and design trends, has declared turquoise the color of 2010. Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director for Pantone says, “In many cultures, Turquoise occupies a very special position in the world of color. It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky.”
Turquoise replaces Mimosa Yellow, the official color of 2009. The sunny color represented hope in times of economic hardship. It is believed that turquoise symbolizes the “calm after the storm”, emblematic of calmer, more peaceful times.
“Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy,” says Eiseman.
