Easy ways to incorporate timeless style into your home

Start out small

If the idea of transforming a large room into a traditionally styled one seems overwhelming, start on a smaller scale, like in the master bathroom. Keep the cabinets and counters neutral and add some glamor with the wall and accent colors. Favored shades in traditional decorating are jewel tones, like topaz and golds; deep reds and rose quartz; marine blues and vibrant greens. Use accessories like embroidered towels, bronze or iron bath accessory ensembles and potpourri bowls as the perfect finishing touches.



Another great way to add traditional flair to your bath is with elegant and elaborate fixtures. Look for a faucet with unique and detailed design elements, like the new Weymouth bathroom collection from Moen. From the European-influenced decorative script on the porcelain inlays to the refined top finial, this collection definitely stands apart. And just because you're incorporating stylish, traditional items, doesn't mean you have to skimp on modern functionality or features. You can reduce water usage by up to 32 percent, thanks to a water-saving aerator. Tie the whole space together by selecting an Old World finish, such as Oil Rubbed Bronze, and you'll create a traditional suite that's comforting and classic.



Difference in the details

One of the best ways to add traditional style throughout your entire home is with architectural details, like moldings, chair rails or ceiling medallions. It's easier to add these elements than you may think - and at a reasonable price. Peel and stick crown molding from Easy Crown Molding allows you to add the luxurious look of custom molding to your home. In less than one hour - and without tools - you can complete an entire room. Simply pick your desired trim style and width and get started.



Lush fabrics are also key to achieving a traditional look and feel in these spaces. But, don't be afraid of the elegance found in traditional decor. Silks, satins, velvets and brocades are going to be your go-to fabrics for pillows and upholstered furniture. Be sure to stay away from solids - mixing coordinating patterns, like florals, stripes and scrolling, add even more richness. Don't forget to make a statement with your windows, too - hang draperies that are full and heavy, and be sure to tie them back with ornate tassels for a look that is unmistakably traditional. It's often easy to find great traditional pieces at affordable prices at department stores like Macy's or Target. From pillows to curtains, bedding and even furniture, your local department store is one of the best places to start your traditional search.



Bringing traditional styling to your home is much easier - and accessible - than you think. With the right updates and additions to your space, you'll achieve a look that's timeless and refined. For more information about the new Weymouth collection from Moen, visit moen.com.

One thing you don't want to bring back from vacation

Bed bugs have been found in schools, homes, college dormitories and even the finest hotels. Protect yourself and your belongings when you're traveling by learning to identify these globetrotting pests.



Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown with small, flat, oval and wingless bodies about the size of an apple seed. They crawl at a steady rate and can be seen with the naked eye. Bed bug nymphs look much the same but are smaller and lighter in color than adults. Both nymphs and adults feed on blood. Nymphs need blood to molt, and adults need blood to mate and lay eggs.



Upon arriving in a hotel, motel or bed and breakfast, carefully inspect the bed linens and headboard, and pull the sheets back to check the mattress for bed bugs. Examine upholstered furniture and draperies as well. If a room is infested with bed bugs, you're also likely to find fecal staining, which is light brown to black and looks like tiny drops of dried blood. If you find any evidence of bed bugs, report it to management immediately.



Additional precautions can be taken to reduce the likelihood of bringing the pests home with you. Use hotel room luggage racks to hold luggage when packing or unpacking rather than placing it on the bed or floor. Upon returning home, thoroughly inspect all bedding, suitcases, backpacks, boxes or other items that traveled with you. Clothing and bedding should be laundered and run through a high-heat dryer cycle.



If a few hitchhikers manage to make it back with you, several treatment options are available for bed bug infestations. Pest management professionals are trained to choose and safely apply effective products for infestations, and there also are products available for consumers seeking an effective do-it-yourself solution. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a Bed Bug Product Search Tool that can be used to find an effective pesticide product for the situation.



"There are more than 300 products registered by the EPA to control bed bugs, and many can be used by consumers," says Aaron Hobbs, president of RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) - a national organization representing the manufacturers, formulators and distributors of pesticide products. "These products are rigorously tested to ensure they are effective. Just remember to always read and follow all label directions."



Don't let bed bugs hinder your travel plans. Know what to look for, inspect your room upon arrival, examine luggage and contents when you return and rest assured that there are treatment options should bed bugs hitch a ride home with you. For more information, visit www.DebugtheMyths.com.

Five surprising summer habits that pack on the pounds

Swimsuit ready? Not for long. Gaining the weight you lost preparing for summer is so easy, you're likely to do it without trying. If you don't stop the eating patterns that unintentionally cause weight gain, you'll never be successful losing body fat.

Tom Nikkola, director of nutrition and weight management at Life Time Fitness, "The Healthy Way of Life Company," says people unintentionally sabotage their diet even as they're cutting calories.

Here are five ways you may be packing on the pounds without even realizing it:

1. Load up on sugar

You don't have to indulge in sweets or spoon extra sugar over your food to eat too much. If you eat a lot of processed foods, you're probably already eating too much sugar. Nikkola says you can even find added sugar in processed meats. "White flour, bread, waffles, many cereals, chips, granola and crackers are easily converted to sugar as well," he adds.

2. Skimp on protein and fat

"Protein and fat are macronutrients that are essential to our health," Nikkola says. "By avoiding these foods, you'll be more likely to have an insatiable appetite." On the flip side, he notes people who include protein and fat in every meal are less likely to overeat and may reduce cravings for carbohydrate-rich or sugary foods.

3. Eat more breakfast cereal

"A bowl of cereal is a great way to start the day if your goal is accumulating additional body fat," Nikkola says. Such a breakfast can leave you hungry just a few hours later, and reaching for high-carbohydrate snack foods. Before noon you'll likely be feeling the effects of low blood sugar, like trouble focusing, a reduction in energy and increase in irritability (which only makes you want to eat more).

4. Fill up on fruit and fruit juice

Fruit and fruit juice are not synonymous in a healthy diet. "Juice is much more concentrated in sugar, especially fructose, and does not include fiber, which may help reduce your appetite," Nikkola explains. "Loading up on juice is a great way to increase calorie intake, much like drinking soda would be." Even too much whole fruit can lead to too much sugar in your diet. The best way to balance out your fruit and vegetable intake is to eat three to four servings of non-starchy vegetables for each serving of fruit.

5. Reward yourself after every workout

"It doesn't take much to offset what you burn in each workout," Nikkola says. "With a muffin, some chips, or a bowl of pasta you'll replace all the glycogen you burned in your training session and eat enough extra carbohydrates to add to your fat stores." Instead, refuel with whole food and include protein for better recovery.

Of course you don't really want to gain weight this summer. Life Time Fitness has an in-house nutritionist on staff at most of its 105 clubs to work with members on their personal nutrition goals.

"When you become aware of the many causes of weight gain, you'll understand why the approach we take at Life Time Weight Loss is more complicated, and more personalized, than most other weight management systems," Nikkola says. If you'd like to see a longer list of how to get fatter this summer, check out Nikkola's article 14 Ways to Get Fatter at www.lifetime-weightloss.com.

Where will you 'goal' on your summer vacation? Forget about 'lazy days of summer,' get active and be bold.

Michelle Jezycki, owner of Tri the World, an endurance and multi-sport travel agency based in Washington, D.C., helps people do just that. She's seen her business grow in the last six years as, she says, "more and more people add marathons and triathlons to their bucket lists."

Considering the way the sport of triathlon has grown over the last decade - from less than 20,000 USA Triathlon annual memberships in 2000 to a record high of more than 150,000 last year - many people have added finishing a triathlon to their bucket list and are returning to the outdoor fun they had in their youth by swimming, biking and running during their summer vacation. John Martin, spokesperson for USA Triathlon, says that last year's annual membership peaked in the summer with the highest numbers recorded in June, July, August and September.

After four consecutive years volunteering for the Life Time Minneapolis Triathlon, Christine Strohmeyer, 44, of Shakopee, Minn., decided she wanted to do more than assist triathletes; she wanted to become one. "I was inspired by all the different athletes over the years," she says. In years past her summer activity included jogging a few miles several times a week and biking with her kids to the park. Last year she bumped up her activity and finished her first triathlon.

"Going from outdoor play to triathlon start line isn't too much of a stretch," says Troy Jacobson, head multisport coach for Life Time Fitness, The Healthy Way of Life Company. "Anyone can finish a sprint triathlon with minimal training."He says would-be triathletes can prepare for a sprint race in as little as six to eight weeks, training in each sport two to three times each week. This translates to anywhere from six to 10 hours of activity a week.

Strohmeyer felt so emboldened after finishing her first triathlon that she went on to finish another. "Even after both tris, I participated in a trail run and 5K," she says. "Definitely a highlight of the summer."

Jacobson added that preparing for an athletic event doesn't need to take over your life. "Training doesn't have to be super intense and uncomfortable," he says, adding that athletes can maintain an aerobic intensity, or a level of exertion in which you can still hold a conversation. "You can enjoy the social aspects of training without suffering," he comments.

The social aspects of training with others who have similar goals adds another layer of fun to summer. So does including your family in the pursuit of your goals.

"Getting the entire family involved in exercising and then attending a race to watch Mom or Dad do their thing or join them in competition is a great bonding experience," Jacobson says.

Mark and Sharon Fowler who moved from Chicago to Charlotte, N.C., use the summers to set goals together as well as separately. "We've got great weather here nine months out of the year, but we still have the Chicago mentality of being locked up till spring time. In summer we're definitely more active."

Last summer, Mark, 50, set a goal to climb Mt. Rainier. He spent several months training - many hours on a stair climber with a 40 pound weighted vest - before flying to Washington state that June. "I got to say, I climbed the tallest mountain in the United States, what did you do?" he proudly states.

What will you do over the summer? If you're looking for inspiration, check out one of Life Time Athletic Events, which offers finisher's medals at more than 60 events in locations across the country from mountain bike races to triathlons. And as Mark Fowler points out, bragging rights are pretty satisfying too.

New research shows health benefits of salt

According to Taubes, a flood of new research published in the last two years has not only shown the health benefits of salt but also revealed the risks of low-sodium diets.

"There was no disputing that salt is a natural, no-calorie and tasty nutrient essential for life, but the biggest nutrition story in recent years is the proof that following the government's low salt advice could actually shorten your life," says Lori Roman, president of the Salt Institute.

Within the past year, peer-reviewed medical studies have documented:

* Type 1 diabetes risk: In one Australian study on patients with type 1 diabetes, low sodium intake was independently associated with increased all-cause mortality and ESRD (end-stage renal disease).

* Type 2 diabetes risk: In another Australian study with type 2 diabetes patients, lower sodium consumption was associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

* No cardiovascular benefit to salt reduction: A study published in the American Journal of Hypertension showed that eating less salt will not prevent heart attacks, strokes or early death. On the contrary, low-sodium diets increased the likelihood of premature death.

* Increased risk of illness and death: The Journal of the American Medical Association published a multi-year study on a very large cohort that concluded that lower salt intakes resulted in higher morbidity and mortality.

* Negative effects of low-salt intakes: An analysis of 167 studies showed that individuals placed on the U.S. Dietary Guidelines-recommended salt levels experienced significant increases in plasma renin, aldosterone, adrenaline, noradrenalin, cholesterol and triglycerides - all risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

* Health risk of current U.S. Dietary Guidelines: In a Journal of the American Medical Association publication, an analysis of the association between sodium intakes and cardiovascular events in almost 29,000 adults, showed that CV risk was increased among those with the lowest levels, equivalent to the current recommendations in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines.

* Nutritional risk of current U.S. Dietary Guidelines: The American Journal of Preventative Medicine published an article demonstrating that following the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for salt will result in unbalanced and unsustainable dietary choices.

* It is well documented that the Japanese and the Swiss enjoy among the longest life expectancy rates of any of the world's population groups. Less known however, is that they are also among the highest rates of salt consumption. Comparing the available data on salt consumption and longevity around the world indicates that if we were to actually consume the low levels of salt recommended in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines, our life expectancy figures would drop dramatically.

Taubes is far from the only journalist to have questioned the government's policy on salt. Scientific American reviewed the studies and summarized its findings in the headline, "It's time to end the war on salt."

Seven reasons to mulch! Why's and how to's

Your landscape is a large living investment and like most investments the more information about it, the more you get in return. Most of us regard mulch as having one function, to give our landscape a fresh new appeal. The truth is, properly laid mulch has many other functions that are vital to the health and life of our plants.



There are basically two types of mulch, organic -- such as hardwood, bark chips, leaves and pine straw that easily decompose, and inorganic -- such as stones, brick chips and dyed rubber that are permanent. Although inorganic mulches have their place in the landscape, this tip sheet will be limited to the use of organic mulches.



Why Should I Mulch? Mulching is one of the simplest and most beneficial practices you can use in your landscape. In addition to giving your planting beds a uniform, well-cared for look, mulch will:



-Help maintain soil moisture. Evaporation is reduced, and the need for watering can be minimized.



-Help control weeds. A 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch will reduce the germination and growth of weeds.



-Serve as nature's insulating blanket. Mulch keeps soils warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.



-Improve soil aeration, structure (aggregation of soil particles), and drainage over time.



-Improve soil fertility.



-Can inhibit certain plant diseases.



Plants growing in a natural wooded environment have their roots anchored in a rich, well aerated soil full of essential minerals. Urban landscapes, however, are typically a much harsher environment with poor soils, little organic matter, and large fluctuations in temperature and moisture. Applying a 2 - to - 4 inch layer of organic mulch can mimic a more natural environment and improve plant health.



How To's. While mulching can be beneficial to your landscape, if improperly applied it can be equally harmful. Most organic mulches must be replenished but the rate of decomposition varies. Coarser mulches may remain intact for many years while finer mulches many need replenished every year or two.



-Define the edges of your landscape beds using a garden spade or power edger. Cutting a 3 to 4 inch deep trough along the edge of your landscape bed will keep mulch from bleeding into the turf.



-Check the depth of your existing mulch. If there is an existing layer of mulch, either remove and replace with fresh mulch or till the existing layer.



-Not too much! Deep mulch can lead to excess moisture in the root zone. Remember recommended mulching depth is 2 to 4 inches.



-Piling mulch against the trunk of plants can stress stem tissues and may lead to insect and disease problems.



-For trees, the mulch bed should be as large as the drip line of the tree. This will ensure the feeder roots, located near or even beyond the drip line of the tree, will be protected from drying out as quick and receive nutrients from the mulch.



-Thick blankets of fine mulch can become matted and may prevent the penetration of water and air. In addition, a thick layer of fine mulch can become like potting soil and may support weed growth.



-For landscape beds that do not drain well, apply a thinner layer of mulch.



Remember, your landscape is a large living investment and the more information you know about it, the more you can expect in return.



by: Steve Combs

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_6873.shtml

Pet boarding is the best bet for your family friend

When you have pets there are many considerations to keep in mind, especially when you go away on business or for a leisure vacation. Pet boarding offers an easy solution to those who need someone outside of family and/or friends to take care of their pets. Pet boarding facilities are good choices because they are establishments with a good amount of staff members who will take good care of your pet while you are gone. Here are some more reasons why pet boarding businesses are ideal:

Offer a Full-Service Solution

Pet boarding companies are often in business for quite a long time as they offer pet owners a full-service pet care solution. In addition to feeding your pet and caring for them in your absence, pet boarding facilities also play with them, let the dogs play with each other and keep them safe the entire time you are gone. Some pet boarders will even offer grooming and training options to their pet guests.

Watch Your Pets 24/7

Pet boarding companies will watch over your pets 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This allows you to enjoy your vacation or get work done on your business trip and not have to worry about your playful pup or frisky feline being alone at any time. The constant supervision means that anything your pet may need can be acquired when in the care of a pet boarder.

Have Vets on Call Just In Case.

No pet owner likes to envision their pet needing a veterinarian's assistance while they are away but the fact of the matter is that every once in awhile a pet may need some help due to an unexpected illness or just to be checked out for one reason or another. Many pet boarding facilities have an in-house vet or have one on call when needed for pet emergencies. This means that your pet will have that safeguard in place just in case it is necessary.

Now that you have a general overview of what a pet boarding company does and how they can help you with your specific pet care needs, it is the ideal time to get started. Pet boarding offers your pet a safe and enjoyable place to stay when you are on vacation or away on business.

by: Queen Diana
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/pets_and_animals/article_4204.shtml

http://www.jaredanthonycox.com