Mind Dump

Kindle Versus Nook? Which one do I like?

2011-06-17T05:52:00.000-07:00

Which e-reader would win the epic battle of Kindle versus Nook?

The question is which specific features are you looking for when selecting an e-reader?

I am an avid reader, but I have to admit that I prefer the feel of physical books to an e-reader.

However, my children are much more technology savvy and so one of my son's Christmas presents included his long-desired Nook by Barnes and Noble.

For my son, the choice was easy: The Nook Color quickly trumped any of the other available e-reader models simply because of its attractive display options. The Nook Color has WiFi ability and colorful Internet display. Magazine pages look almost realistic and children's books come to live, creating reading desire and fun.

For me, however, the eye-friendly e-ink would probably be a better choice given the amounts of books I read each week. At times, I do steal my son's e-reader for the day and download my own books from the B&N store. If I were to select my own model, however, I might just try out the Kindle. Sure the Nook has great ebook selections and a physical store to turn to for potential tech support, but as far as I know the Kindle is somewhat more associated with the whole e-reader revolution.

I would like to find out what all the fuss is about. And if I don't like it? Well, then I can always secretly switch it out with my son's colorful reading device.

Chocolate - Food for Good Mood?

2011-06-16T12:32:00.000-07:00

How is it that a bite of sweet and smooth white chocolate instantly boosts my mood whenever I find myself stressed? Is it the savory flavor, the way it gently melts on your tongue, or how its sweet bliss immediately lifts my spirits and makes the world seem like a better place?

A bit too dramatic? I don't think so.

Researchers agree on chocolate's stress relieving properties which trigger a release of endorphins - the perpetual feel-good hormones - in the brain of the chocolate lover. Chocolate is also able to balance other bodily hormones. Of course, dark chocolate seems to hold an advantage over other varieties, including the more popular milk chocolate. But hey, who's complaining? All you biochemically imbalanced individuals, grab yourself a bar of dark chocolate and let your sweet tooth take over for the moment. Feel better?

Good. Then consider this: The dark chocolate you just ate holds sufficient amounts of antioxidants to avert damage caused by free radicals and provides protection against heart disease. Flavenoids found in dark chocolate somewhat resemble those found in dark leafy vegetables and offer similar health benefits, including lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.

Amazing right? Who would have guessed that one of our most endorsed sweet sins actually holds so many unknown advantages. Of course, bear in mind that too much of a good thing can be overkill. Although chocolate stems from the cocoa plant, it does not account for fruit or vegetable intake. Some chocolates are very high in sugar and even overconsumption of dark chocolate can lead to rapid weight gain.

Additionally, chocolate contains active ingredients that can evoke cravings and addictive behavior.

So is chocolate then like a drug? Well, partially. Eating the sugary treat can trigger serotonin release which not only alleviates pain, but also puts us into a happier state overall. But ingredients are only half to blame. The sweet aroma of chocolate can be therapeutic as well, transitioning us into a blissful state of mind.

But careful. If your need for chocolate is purely emotional, then try to limit your intake or abstain entirely. Emotional eating has been linked to feelings of low self-esteem and easy mood changes.

Can't Handle Milk? Try out Silk

2011-06-15T06:11:00.000-07:00

After years of unexplainable bouts of nausea that immediately followed consumption of fluid milk, I have finally made peace with the fact that my body simply cannot efficiently break down cow's milk. Instead of dwelling on the potential loss of vitamins and minerals contained in cow's milk, I moved on and experimented with the different milk replacements on the market that did not contain the proteins which negatively interacted with my stomach.

Fortunately, I did not have to search very long. One of the first lactose-free milk products I encountered was the Silk Soy Milk, available in many different varieties. I tried the vanilla and chocolate flavors and was positively surprised by the milk's smooth texture. I also liked that I was able to drink the vanilla and original flavors plain, without adding cereal or cocoa powder, which I frequently had to do when drinking cow's milk to mask the taste.

Aside from soy-based derivatives, Silk milk also offers milk products made from coconuts and almonds. Both are very tasty alternatives to soy milk and both seem to work for my lactose intolerance as well.

My lactose intolerance also makes it difficult for me to eat yogurts and ice cream sometimes. Of course, once I found that Silk also offers a selection of soy-based fruit yogurts (which can be frozen for a cooler snack) I immediately switched over. Silk Live! Yogurts come in many flavors from Key Lime, Blackberry, Black Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, to Vanilla, and many more.

It is great to finally have a nutritious milk product that not only tastes great, but also offers the same nutrients as cow milk and lets me enjoy a nice bowl of morning cereal once again.

For a comprehensive overview of Silk products, visit www.silksoymilk.com/products

Zumba - a spicy dance workout that targets every muscle in your body

2011-06-15T05:46:00.000-07:00

I have to admit to a brand new addiction: dance workout videos. The most fabulous and similiarly effective dance workouts I have tried so far, is the Zumba fitness series available on three DVD sets.

After learning the basic dance steps, I took heart and moved on to the more advanced routines. Sure enough, with every repetition the dancercises seemed almost easy. The workouts are lots of fun and leave your entire body feeling great. And most importantly, you can truly feel the dance moves working their magic on the different muscle groups of your body. Many of the infamous twists, turns, bends, and crunches will effectively target your midsection, making it look trimmer and shapelier.

If you don't like working out alone at home or simply need the extra motivation that eminates from a group workout setting, you can visit www.zumba.com to find the nearest Zumba class in your area. Or simply invite a friend to join you in the comfort of your own home.

Zumba is a fun and refreshing way to learn new, exciting dance moves and shed pounds in the process.

I currently own, and love the Zumba Exhileration set, the Zumba Fitness for Wii, which is great for competitive dance routines, the Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation System, and the Zumba Fitness Latin Workout Routine Set.

Dole Salads are Perpetual Mood Boosters

2011-06-15T01:44:00.000-07:00

In search of a fresh, crispy summer salad? Then look no further, because Dole offers a nice garden variety (literally) of amazing salad mixes all prepackaged for immediate use. The salads range from crispy-crunchy to tender and are the first step towards an easy, healthy lunch, appetizer, or side dish.

My favorites are the Spring Mix, which can be eaten almost as a stand-alone item with the dressing or vinaigrette of your choice, and the Baby Spinach mix, which blends nicely with mandarin oranges and Honey Dijon Dressing. Also try combining the Baby Spinach with a variety of other fruits for an extra summery experience: Strawberries, apples, blueberries, grapes, or pineapple chunks.

As a rule of thumb: Salad mixes with fruits added go well with a nice (fruit-based) vinaigrette, such as a blueberry pomegranate vinaigrette that is low in calories and fat free.

Replacing one meal with a nice summer salad will not only allow you to lose significant amounts of weight in reasonable intervals, but will also boost your mood and confidence, making you feel and look your best.

Happy crunching!

2009-09-10T21:43:00.002-07:00

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Book on Childhood Behavior

2009-08-19T18:34:00.001-07:00

Have an out-of-control child? Learn how to prevent negative childhood behavior and instill positive discipline. Click Here!

2009-08-19T18:27:00.001-07:00

Importance of Parental Attention

2009-08-16T21:49:00.000-07:00

Childhood success and proper social development are oftentimes synonymous with parental concern and involvement in child wellbeing. Parents dedicating sufficient time for family interactions and engaging in one-on-one communication with their children are not only more likely to strengthen the relationships with their children but also provide their children with the opportunity for adequate social development. Showing interest in your child’s life can be as easy as listening to what he has to say and asking about his day. Thomas Gordon, author of “Parent Effectiveness Training” proposes a process referred to as “active listening” to ensure positive and effective communication between child and parent. During active listening, the parent is encouraged to pay close attention to the child, ask questions, and ultimately relate in her own words the child’s message back to the child to assure accurate understanding of the conversational content. This is important because both child and parent may have different ways of expressing themselves verbally and may otherwise encounter misperceptions or misunderstood perspectives. When applying active listening, the parent is able to place herself in her child’s shoes and try to see the issue from her son or daughter’s point of view. Taking the time to understand your child can enhance a sense of caring felt by your child and eliminate disaccord.

Can we predict our own behavior accurately?

2009-08-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

When it comes to predicting their own behavior, people often err. Presented with unusual, even unethical scenarios, people often believe they would not fall victim to social influences, such as peer pressure or figures of presumed authority. However, as experiments conducted by Stanley Milgram a Social Psychologist at Yale University in 1961 demonstrated, when instructed by an apparent figure of authority seemingly self-controlled individuals followed directions precisely and proceeded to deliver what they believed to be electric shocks in increasing increments to assumed test subjects. Although a pre-experimental poll of senior psychology majors and professors at Yale University indicated doubt that any participants would actually continue to deliver very strong electric shocks, 65 percent of participants in the first experimental set were found to deliver the final 450-Volt shock if prompted by the experimenter. The Milgram experiment underscored the influence of social forces and revealed how the general public may be vulnerable to the potency of authority figures.
People have also been found to err on predictions about the fate of their relationships. Couples newly in love typically see only the positive sides of their relationship and believe that their love is meant to last forever. However, friends and family of new couples tend to know better and view the relationship more objectively. Thus, predictions made by romantically uninvolved parties about the future of a relationship appear to be more accurate than those made by the partners themselves.
Interestingly, self-predictions concerning negative behaviors are commonly more accurate than those made by a friend or family member. However, self-predictions about future behavior or actions are not easy and often coupled with faulty reasoning or misperceptions. The most concise method to use when attempting to make predictions about one’s own behavior is to take past behavior during similar situations into consideration.