Monthly Archives: May 2009

It seems like everyone and their dog, quite literally, have their own websites.  It’s amazing how easy it can be to connect with an audience, learn new things, make new friends and share your ideas with people.  There’s a ton of different software out there to help even the least tech-savy person to run their own websites on their own.  For instance, check out Wild Apricot.  They’ve got bucket loads of features that allow people to have their own site up and running in a matter of minutes with a free 30 membership to give their system a trial run.

Wild Apricot has some special features that make it really quite easy to Engage Members.  The social networking tools and forums are both great ways to grab readers attention and interest.  All this is offered in an easy to use package that allows for the site to set up and be updated as easily as editing a Microsoft Word document.  If you already have a website that you are happy with, you can either replicate it using the Wild Apricot software or update it with widgets from them to get the versatility of their system’s functions.

They also make it simple to set up private pages for group communications that allow for secure sharing of documents, forums and information.  As well as being very secure, this system also has the versatility to send out targeted mass emails to keep members informed of current events, changes, new information or whatever you’d like.

This program can virtually eliminate the need for extremely tedious administrative tasks like new memberships applications, renewals, payments of dues or event registration.  At the same time, it keeps the data extremely secure as it is protected constantly by their team of security experts.  Engaging members is the key to success and this software can definitely help you to do that by having a dynamic website that allows them to keep abreast of all current situations and really keep in touch.  All this is available with easy installation, no special training required and easy access for users.  The convenience of having all of these software tools available in one package saves not only time, but money as well.

This is a sponsored post with 100% real opinions.

Continue reading →

Check out these beautiful 99.9% quartz crystal singing bowls.  They are an all natural, chemical free way that people have been healing their bodies for hundreds and hundreds of years. Crystal Singing Bowls, in particular, are said to be very beneficial because of the similar crystalline structure of our bodies themselves.  The sounds produced by the bowls can be aimed in different directions and are said to be very calming, healing, peaceful and relaxing.

Silver Sky Imports specializes in a variety of unique products from Tibet and Nepal that support fair trade and a decent working wage for artisans.  They carry a range of alternative, holistic medicine devices such as singing bowls, their accessories and gongs. They also have cultural handicrafts such as bell and dorje, tibetan prayer flags and malas beads.  Many of their products can encourage and aide meditation and meditative states which are a time honored technique of healing body, mind and soul.   You can also donate to the refugee and monastary fund directly from their website which is a definite plus!

This is a sponsored post with 100% real opinions.

Continue reading →

There are many kinds of ways to burn fat — from specialized exercises to specific diets to pills that can change your metabolism causing you to burn more fat.  There’s a review site that will help you understand the top rated fat burners and get a feel for the different pros and cons associated with each one.  Your physician is also a great source of information on what would work best for you and your individual body chemistry.  Remember that all can’t be solved overnight or by swallowing a pill.  It takes hard work, will power, dedication and perserverance to burn fat and most importantly, keep it off.  You certainly don’t have to run through everything twice!  If only it was as easy as this inferno pictured by soylentgreen23 makes it seem!  Who knows, maybe you’ll be enjoying summer campfires this year in your short shorts.

Continue reading →

Freecycling is a way of trading goods with people without the involvement of any money whatsoever.  It’s a movement that is taking the world by storm!!  There are freecycle groups all over the world and can be found on almost any classified website.  The official freecycle groups are by yahoo groups and have chapters seemingly anywhere.  Lately, I’ve just been looking on my local Kijiji and Craigs List sites to see if anyone needs anything I’ve got kicking around or if I need anything they’ve got kicking around.  It’s a great way to not only cut down on the amount of materials in the landfill that could be used, it also saves money and declutters houses!!

Yesterday I found a want ad for tomato cages which I was coincidentally just trying to come up with a clever way of repurposing.  I shot off an email offering them to my fellow gardener and the next day, voila!  Someone else is using them.  It’s a perfect way of taking a big step towards going green.  Recycling is great but it also involves more energy to take the “trash” and turn it into something else.  When you freecycle, all you have to do is find someone who wants what you’ve got.  To me, it seems just about the best way to get “rid” of something.  It’s not really out of the loop at all, the product is just continuing to be used over and over until eventually it does wear out and need to be recycled.  I also sent off a couple of pots that I didn’t need and were going to be sent with my plastic recycling.  Now if I could only figure out what to do with the rest of the stuff in the garage I don’t need, then maybe I’d even be able to park my car in there!!

From the opposite side of the freecycle experience, it works just as well.  We were looking for some gravel or river rock to run along the side of our house to cut down on the amount of lawn, watering and mowing required.  I was just going to order some from the local home improvement store, but decided to look around and see if anyone had anything they needed to get rid of.  Turns out that someone did!  A family living by the river had been digging all the rocks out of the garden and putting them in the alley for what looks like a really long time.  Absolutely perfect for what we need and much better and more attractive than your standard gravel!  Thanks freecycle!!!

Continue reading →

The recession has hit nearly every sector of the economy.  The world now is much different than it was a year ago or even six months ago.  In some areas of the country, things are starting to look marginally better or at least seem to have levelled off for a while.  Many people and families seem to have fallen through the cracks though losing their jobs, their homes and their healthcare.  Now there’s a new kind of Supplemental Insurance that is not only offered at a low cost (less than $20 a month!) but also has some incredible benefits.

Among the benefits of this supplemental insurance is 24 hour financial and emotional counseling which can be crucial to families that are really struggling to make ends meet.  Many marriages are on the brink of divorce simply because of seemingly unending money stresses.  Financial and emotional counseling could really help out and start to get people back on track.  There is also 24 hour access to doctors by phone who will diagnosis non-emergency ailments over the phone!  This will save so much time, money and resources that are spent driving to and front doctors, parking fees, waiting room times, etc. etc.  They’ll even call in prescriptions for you and there is even a perscription discount card to save you even more money!

This kind of coverage was previously only found in Fortune 500 companies but has been opened up to the unemployed to help people through the period of their lives in which they are in dire need of help.  The companies involved have been negotiated down to the lowest possible monthly payment for the unemployed to get the supplemental insurance that they so desperately require.  They even offer discount vision and dental programs.  There was a long struggle to negotiate this deal for the unemployed that are normally only offered as part of employee benefit programs.  This program is explained in much greater detail at the website by Transitional Benefits.  This really can be something to get your family through this tough financial time in their lives without sacrificing anyone’s health.  Go to the website and see all of the benefits you could get for such a low cost.

This is a sponsored post with 100% real opinions.

Continue reading →

The weight loss industry is one area of the economy that seems completely untouched by the recession.  Diet pills, exercise products, and gyms are all still booming as people try to slim down and get more healthy.  Many people suffer with yo-yo dieting, weight gains, weight losses, and persistent obesity throughout their entire life and have not had much success getting the weight off and keeping it off.  For this segment of the population, a diet pill in combination with exercise and healthy eating may be the solution.  So, what is the most effective diet pill on the market?  There are many diet pill review sites that you can use to help you research the different kinds of pills that are available along with the risks and benefits associated with each one.  Ensure that your physican is always aware of any major changes to your diet and lifestyle including any diet pills that you may be thinking of taking to help.  Your doctor is your partner on your weight loss journey and she or he can be a very valuable resource for information and cautionary advice.  Remember that there is no “magic pill” yet that will instantly help you to lose the weight and keep it off.  It takes hard work, dedication and a lifestyle change to effectively maintain any weight loss.  Maybe you could even wear a bikini to dive into these gorgeous pool shown by Sean McGrath from a peaceful and blissful hotel in Bali. Good luck!!

Continue reading →

Traveling in your rv can be an eco-friendly adventure even if you don’t paint it up like the TV shown here by Andrew Ciscel. RVnet offers forums and blogs for travellers to share their adventures, stories and tips on the RVing lifestyle.  You can get the latest eco-friendly information and all sorts of general information on where to buy used RVs, how to reduce your fuel consumption, how to live in an environmentally responsible way on the road, where the best campsites are, etc. etc. etc.  Of course, you could get all of this great information and still paint green lifestyle slogans on your RV.  I’m sure I’m not the only one who totally digs it!

Continue reading →

Kid’s furniture can be as eco-friendly and green as the adult counterparts to the mini versions.  There’s many versions of eco-friendly Bedroom Sets hitting the market place right now.  This one in particular is from a company called Spacify.  They have an entire like of eco-furniture which even includes organic cotton matresses!  The sheets shown here go through a European certification process called Oko-Tex which ensures that there are no harmful chemicals in the sheets that could effect your child or the environment.

The bunk bed shown is very architectural in feel.  It’s made from sustainable hard wood and birch plywood.  All of the materials, glues, stains and finishes used in this bed are non toxic and low VOC.  That makes this furniture better for both your kids and environment as well.  To make the bed even more eco-friendly, the bunk bed can change with the changing needs of your family.  The bottom bunk is repositionable so that it can be lowered for smaller kids to get into and out of.  The bunk bed can also be convered into a loft bed with a youth sized desk underneath of it.  The versatility of the design will ensure that your family doesn’t waste resources and money replacing furniture that has nothing wrong with it.  Definitely a big bonus in many ways.  Keep the environment in mind when designing your children’s spaces as well as your own!

This is a sponsored post with 100% real opinions.

Continue reading →

These nutritional health supplements can really help to increase your immune system.  They’re available for kids as well in a great raspberry lemonade flavor.  Most parents can attest to the fact that kids go through periods of picky eatting or times when they hardly seem to eat at all.  These kids, in particular, can benefit from the added protein offered in these supplements.  They only need to take 2 teaspoons per 30 lbs of body weight mixed with water to get the high quality protein that a nutritious diet requires.  For kids with immune system issues such as those affected by cancer, HIV/Aids or reoccuring infections, this type of protein can be especially beneficial in boosting immune levels that are low.  It contains all eight essential amino acids as well as ten non-essential amino acids in a format that is easily digestible and essentially hypoallergenic.  It’s also vegan diet friendly and available in a variety of formulations, including adult versions!

Continue reading →

A Toronto painting shows how a contractor can be another way to be a little greener.  They have a disposal company that disposes of paint thinner and left over paint in an environmentally responsible way.  Not only that, they guarantee their work for a full 3 years!  This means that you don’t need to waste resources, money and time having the same job done over and over.  They use high quality materials to ensure that their work lives up to their 3 year guarantee.  This company also works to give back to the community by supporting various local fundraisers, charities and kids programs.  One campaign that they are heavily involved with is the “Can for a Can” food drive where they donate one can of food to the local Food Bank for every can of paint that they use.

This is a sponsored post with 100% real opinions.

Continue reading →