Sneakers

Sneakers are probably the most important elements in a sports wardrobe. Although it may seem like a fun idea, we can not run in the same shoes to go office.

's why it is important to have at least one pair of tennis shoes on hand for when you leave. If you intend to go into the woods with friend or family, or just go to the local shop to buy something for the home, are the first choice because they are lightweight and very easy to put on.

If you decide to try sneakers — line, there is an enormous load of modes to choose from. You are facing a small problem …

<strong> How to choose a pair that fits well enough? </ strong>

This is a simple task. Look for models that you really believe that look good on you. Once you have several pairs that you like, take a closer look at each one. See if they are of quality, what material they are made, the manner in which the sole is glued.

will they endure the type of stress is expected of them? Otherwise, remove from the list. There is no point buying a pair of sneakers that breaks after two weeks of use.

Thus, the quality is the most important factor. Usually, a higher price is a good indicator that you are dealing with quality shoes. Yet a closer look and make sure that the next yourself.

assess if it fits with other clothes in her closet. Usually, sneakers go well with jeans and most other pants.

casual

However, if you think you can wear sneakers with your business-meeting suit, stop doing this! Drop it off your mind! There is no way you can wear sneakers with officials clothes. Unless you want to deliberately shock people.

After the treatment of the steps referred to above, all you have to do now is to know the best size. Therefore, you should go to a local shop, try a pair of sneakers, and see what your picture-size foot is.

You can also watch the shoes today, but if you feel a little 'trouble', it's ok to get a large. Furthermore, note that the shoes that have already gone through the process of stretching, so their size can be a bit 'different.

Now that you know what to look for, it's time to get you a good pair of sneakers. Go for it!

2 cookie recipes for 1 stop, here!

TEMPTERS and P-NUT BUTTER CHIP CHOCOLATE COOKIES!

Hope you will find them appealing too, as they are very tasty, and

you can even freeze both of them for later enjoyment, if they make it

from counter top to the freezer, LOL!

RECIPE: TEMPTERS…Crisp, coconut cookies

with chocolate chips, and nuts, if you like!

These are so well-liked that I double the recipe, to freeze for later “temptation” treats to all the kids and adults (especially, my husband who sneaks em)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shortening 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 cup white sugar 1/2 tsp. salt

1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup chocolate chips

1 tsp. vanilla 1 cup cut-up shredded coconut

1/4 tsp. almond extract 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, or

2 Tbsp. milk pecan nuts (optional)

2 cups pastry flour

(or 1-3/4 all-purpose flour)

Method:

…CREAM shortening until light and fluffy, and then blend in the white sugar.

BEAT in the egg, vanilla, almond extract and milk.

…Into the creamed mixture, MIX IN the dry ingredients (sifted together),

1/3 at a time, combining well after each addition. MIX in the coconut and

chocolate chips and nuts, if used.

…Using a cookie scooper or teaspoon, DROP teaspoonfuls of dough onto

greased cookie sheets, PRESS flat with a wet fork.

…BAKE in a 350-degree F. oven until goldenabout 12 minutes.

*These taste even better after they have been frozen and served a second time.

The hint-of-almond flavouring, I think, comes out a bit more, but not too noticeable.

*Note: If you want to add more nutrition to your cookies, when I double the recipe, I use 3-1/2 cups flour (1 cup whole-wheat flour and 2-1/2 cups white flour, all-purpose).

The source for this and many favourite family recipes is as follows:

FOOD THAT REALLY SCHMECKS: Mennonite Country Cooking.

Authored by Edna Staebler, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, Canada: 1968.

* * * * * *

PEANUT-BUTTER CHIP, CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Smooooothe and chocolaty; seems to partially melt in your mouth.

I used to sometimes bring these in to share with the night-shift ICU nurses,

when I worked in Minnesota and Ontario. These wonderful little cookies used

to magically disappear early in the 12-hour night shift (usually around midnight

to 1 a.m.), usually when I was busy with patients and wasn’t watchingit was often the hungry, busy, sleep-deprived “medical residents” who would

“scoop em up”

The Fashionable and Well Groomed Modern Man

The modern man has a lot on his plate. The pressure to be good at everything can seem daunting and overwhelming. As if having a good job and raising well adjusted children wasn’t tough enough, they then add emotionally stable, good listener and sensitive. Well time to add one more iron to the fire guys, the modern man needs to also be fashionable and well groomed. Gone are the days where a guy need only look to his fellow man for fashion protocol. I will try and help identify just a handful of common mistakes we as men make in an attempt to prevent you from being the butt of jokes.

Grooming Issues

Outdated hair style- A common mistake guys make is keeping a hair style long past when it was “cool”. So you have a great new cut that you think looks wonderful on you, that may be true, but that was back in 1985. Time to try something new.
Not sure where to start? Go to a salon (not one of those drive through hair cutting places that charge $12.95). Set an appointment and ask them for their advice. Let them work their magic. They are experts and will take into consideration your needs and wants when determining a style suited best for you.

Comb over/ Toupee’s- The sad reality is that some of us will indeed go bald. The absolute worse thing you can do is to try and hide it. The only person you are fooling is yourself. Good news!! Bald is in. So retire the rug and go short. You may want to add some subtle facial hair in order to add depth and interest to your face. Updating your eye wear will also be a great addition to your new look. Choose frames that suit your face and coloring. Stay away from frameless rims for this will not do anything as far as style and image goes.

Facial Hair- Keep it trimmed and neat. No one wants to kiss someone only to get a mouthful of whiskers. Invest in a good quality facial hair grooming tool. This will allow you to always fresh and kempt.

Ear and Nose Hair- Just because you can’t see it when you look in the mirror, doesn’t mean it isn’t a problem. Invest in a good pair of trimmers and use them weekly.

Cologne- As with any style that comes, it also goes. Scent is no different. Yes, Drakar does smell good. However, if you are still wearing it you need to run to the nearest department store and get some help. Remember that 3 to 4 sprays are sufficient, don’t bathe in it or you may run the risk of be offensive. To much of a good thing can be just as off putting as bad body odor.

Teeth and Breath- You may not have perfect teeth. However, keep the ones you have clean. Everyone can name someone they know who has incredibly bad breath. Don’t be that person. Brush, floss and use gum or mints if you aren’t sure.

Hands and Feet- Take the time to trim your nails and cuticles. If you wear open toed anything, this is even more important. 9 out of 10 men list feet as important on the female attraction scale. It is no different for women. Take the time to manage your own feet and nails, trust me…women notice.

Common fashion Mistakes

Socks with Sandals- Do I really need to explain this?

White tube socks with shorts and sneakers- I don’t care if you pull them up or push them down. Go with ankle or athletic socks. The less they are visible the better. This simple change will make your legs and calves look better and give you the allusion of being taller. The wait staff at Hooters gets a pass on this one. Always wear socks that are appropriate and match your outfit. If you think people won’t see them or notice your socks, you would be wrong.

Shoes and Belts- These two items should always match. If your shoes are shinny, your belt should be shiny. Black with black and brown with brown.

Gold Chains with Pendants- Unless your name is Vinnie, you hail from the north east and drive an I-Roc Z, this is not a good look. If you fit the above description…your awesome and disregard this advice.

Spandex Anything- Lance Armstrong can pull it off, you however shouldn’t try.

Pleated Pants- News flash, pleats are out and the flat front is in. Pleats tend to make you look larger and shorter than you are. The flat front pant is a sleek and stylish way to freshen up your look and at the same time give you the allusion of being leaner and taller than you are.

Jeans with tapered legs- Jeans should fit over the top of your shoes or boots. If they don’t hang but rather bunch at the top of your shoes, it is time to retire them. Acid and stone washed were cool for a minute, but now they aren’t so don’t even think about it.

Jean Shorts- I’m not sure how they became popular, however they shouldn’t have. They don’t look good on anyone.

Hawaiian Shirts- If you are on a cruise or work at Bahama Breeze they are acceptable. If you don’t fit either of those categories you look like a nerd.

Ties with Funny designs- Unless it is “funny tie Friday”, no one thinks it is a good look other than you.

Short Sleeve Dress Shirts with Ties- I know it is summer and you get hot. Turn up the A.C. and deal with it. This looks ridiculous.

Shoes- Keep them clean, polished and remember it is impossible to “dress up” sneaker.
Shoes are one of those items where you get what you pay for. Spend the money on your shoes.

Remember that judgments are made about you in the first 10-seconds upon meeting someone. If you are not sure what you are communicating or how you are being received…we can help! alpha m. Image Consulting was launched back in 2006 by founder Aaron Marino. Aaron realized that there was a lack of resources and options for men to receive real world help and advice regarding their image, style and grooming. Our goal is to help the modern man look and feel the best that he can…every day of his life.

I can’t tell you all the statistics, I can’t tell you the reasons why, all I can say as a parent of a cutter, is how we survived, and hope that it helps another parent or teenager from continuing down this path of self destruction.

I certainly don’t have real answers as to why or how this begins, but I will tell you the horrible feeling I felt when I discovered this secret my daughter was keeping from me. The story of a very pained child, and an incredibly scared mother. I had a very strong premonition something wasn’t right. She had been skipping school, smoking on school property and yes getting caught. Her school has a very strong no tolerance policy, and the police were notified. That was the beginning of a long process of discovering who my daughter truly was. And how little I really new about her.

I was called to the school, on that warm spring day in May. My daughter was a freshman in high school. The school informed me that she had been caught smoking, and the police would be there to issue a summons, in which we would have to go to Juvenile court for her breaking the law. I was horrified, but not truly surprised. She had certainly been breaking all the rules at home as well,from sneaking the phone at 2 a.m., after being grounded from it, to sneaking out her second floor window,when she was told to go to her room, so why would I think school would be any different. At the time the police arrived, they decided they wanted to check her purse, backpack, pockets etc, to be sure there were no more cigarettes on her. They emptied the backpack on to the vice principals desk, and out fell a glass pipe, and a bag of marijuana. More charges were to follow.

You can certainly understand my concern, tears, and disappointment. That was the beginning of the end for our trust that I had always prided myself on with both of my children. I went home that day, distraught, confused and scared. Upon composing myself, decided to yes search her room, to what I had hoped would put an end to the fears and that maybe the worse was over. That was hope was to be put to an even bigger test, when I emptied her dressers, bed, bookcase, old purses, closets, jewelry boxes, anything that could have something in it, did.

She was there when I searched her room, tears streaming down her face, as a couple items, turned into a pile of pills, drug paraphernalia, bottles of aerosols, lighters, broken sharp CD cases, razor blades, her name etched on paper, bright red.

That morning, my mother made me put on a fancy silk shirt and slacks. She knew she couldn’t put a skirt on me. My legs just didn’t look right in skirts or dresses. But it was picture day and my mother wanted pictures of the daughter she had given birth to and not some girl in a baseball cap with dirt on her face. As you could imagine, I didn’t go to school happy at all. I felt like a freak! And perhaps I wouldn’t have felt like a freak if she had not insisted that I wear a training bra. I mean can you believe it? A training bra! It was a piece of fabric to hold nothing since I had nothing! But the somewhat see-through, slippery shirt didn’t look right without it.

Of course the boys asked me my name when I walked in. They were happy to have a “new girl’ in class. But when I showed them my fist as I raised my lip in disgust, they knew they couldn’t mess with me. I sat in my desk and tried not to move. The shirt was too soft and slimy and the dress shoes hurt my feet. I missed my jeans, T-shirt and sneakers. Then, finally, our class was called to get our pictures taken. I spoke to no one on line but watched all the girls look at themselves in mirrors, as they made sure they looked perfect and squealed over which boy they would give a picture to.

“Samantha Rodriguez?”

They called me to sit and stare at the camera and smile. But I didn’t smile. Flash! I jumped off the seat and was glad it was over. I rushed to the rest room to change. I figured I could take off the silk shirt and use my sweater with the zipper instead. I stuffed the silk shirt into my backpack and was done with it.

At the schoolyard, our normal game of football continued. I didn’t have my sneakers but I figured I didn’t have to run much as the quarterback. As always, I was the only girl playing. This time, we had a huge audience since they were all too dolled up to skip rope or play tag. I didn’t care. Football was my favorite sport and every chance I got I played.

We were at the 20 yard line and 4th down. We decided to throw it to anyone that was open in the end zone. But when Gregory was reaching 7 Mississippi and no one was open, I knew my only option was to run it in myself. The worst that could happen would be that I would slip and fumble the ball, I thought. Then, I went for it. And right at the end zone, four players tackled me to the ground. We had scored! And as I found myself back on my feet, I mistook the laughter for cheers. Everyone was pointing and it didn’t dawn

Jumping Rope: The Full Body, Get in Shape Fast Exercise!

Jumping rope has been used as a full body exercise since the Egyptians started jumping over vines in 1600 BC. Now more often than not jumping, or skipping, rope is associated with younger kids on the playground, but don’t miss out on this get fit quick exercise. We have all seen the images of boxers or Olympic athletes with gallons of sweat pouring off of them while jumping rope. While your exercise routine may not be intense, starting with this simple, easy, and inexpensive workout you can be on your way to a more healthy body, and a longer healthier life! Here is some basic information on the simple exercise commonly referred to as jumping rope, jump rope, skipping rope etc.

What does jumping rope do for my body?

The reason why this exercise has lasted for centuries is its effectiveness as a full body workout. Not only does jumping rope hone athletic ability by increasing agility, rhythm, endurance and coordination, it also helps burn well over 500 calories per hour!

How do I get started?

Another benefit of jumping rope is that its a very simple exercise. All you need is a good pair of athletic sneakers, a jump rope, and access to the outdoors. You can take your jump rope anywhere so missing a workout on vacation never has to be a worry.

Skipping rope is affordable, and fun, family exercise.

If you already have athletic sneakers you can start your jump rope exercise routine for less than $10. Don’t let expensive gym membership fees block your pursuit for a healthier lifestyle. Also, don’t forget that jump rope can be a great family activity. What could be better than bringing your family together and helping everyone get in shape quick!

Basic Jumps:

Two Foot Jump- This is your most basic, and easiest jump. As you swing the rope in front of you jump slightly in the air to let the rope pass beneath your feet.

Left-Right Jump- Alternate jumping and landing on one foot.

Running Step- For even more intensity you can jog at a moderate pace while jumping rope.

Please make sure to stretch out and warm up BEFORE jumping. If your body isn’t used to this kind of physical activity shin splints may be in your future without proper warm up. Start at the top of your body and work your way down, stretching all of your muscles. Then do some light jogging in place or jumping jacks to get your blood flowing! Once your warmed up,go out there and enjoy this cheap, fun, and affordable family fitness exercise!

As always, remember to consult a physician before starting any exercise program.

Illegal immigrants should not have a legal path to citizenship. They should be deported quickly and forfeit the right to seek U.S. citizenship. This may seem harsh to some, but it is necessary to maintain order and the quality of life for legal U.S. citizens.

Illegal immigrants come to the United States illegally, hence the term illegal immigrants. They knowingly broke our laws. Why should this be rewarded with citizenship? Wouldn’t doing so undermine our legal system? Why have laws if you reward people for breaking them?

When individuals over-stay their visas or sneak accross the border, they are making a conscious decision to violate our laws. Their defenders like to say that they are looking for a better life, but is that really an excuse? I don’t think so. I live in a very modest home. I would have a better life living in a mansion. Should I be allowed to sneak into a mansion and stay there because it is nicer than the house I currently live in? Sure, it’s tresspassing and it’s against the law, but doesn’t it make it ok if I work hard and I try to move into the mansion to have a better life for my family and I? No, it’s still tresspassing, and it’s still illegal.

I can understand and appreciate why so many individuals want to come to the United States, but there is a right way and a wrong way. The wrong way is to come here illegally. The right way, is to fill out your forms and wait your turn. In other words, respect the laws of the country you hope to one day be a part of, and hopefully improve. After all, if you willingly to break one set of laws without blinking an eye, then who knows how many other laws will be broken nonchalantly.

Providing a path to citiznship is also a step closer to us having open borders. After all, if we are allowing people to come here without any repercussions, aren’t our borders essentially open? This would make it nearly impossible to regulate the number of individuals coming into the United States, which would increase the number of indiviuals who can’t speak English and have little or no identification with the American way of life. Assimilation would be almost impossible, and over the long-term, the nation would suffer.

Immediate deportation and blocking a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants are the only ways to guarantee that our laws will be respected. The United States has no obligation to provide citizenship to anyone who wants it. For those born in other countries, citizenship should be a privelage, not a right.

In the play Quills A character of many layers is introduced named the Marquis de Sade. Throughout the play it is shown that the Marquis de Sade is fighting for his right to write, no matter how revolting his writings may be. The Marquis de Sade is perhaps one of the earliest forms of the antihero. This can be seen by the way he interacts with the other characters in the play Quills.

The Marquis de Sades relationship with the Abbe de Coulmier is one that could be seen as the closes thing the Marquis de Sade has to a friendship. At least this is true throughout most of the play. The Abbe de Coulmier could be described as an earnest, if overzealous, humanitarian that has pity for the Marquis more then scorn. It could also be said that the Coulmier views the Marquis as somewhat of a friend as well. After all the Coulmier is surrounded by crazy people day and night, the Marquis quick wit and conning demeanor is probably very refreshing to him. The Marquis view of Coulmier as a friend can be seen throughout the play with how the Marquis tries to share his beliefs with the priest. With wisdom such as “We eat, we shit, we kill, and we die.” (Act 1, Scene 5) the Marquis tries to show Coulmier that life isn’t a grand mystery and should be enjoyed rather then denied. Throughout the play the relationship between the two men becomes more and more strained. The pain that Coulmier feels for the Marquis can be felt through the Coulmiers begging for the Marquis to stop writing. It is obvious that the Coulmier hates the fact that he has to cause pain to the Marquis but it can also be seen that he has hate for the Marquis. This hate could be from the fact that the Marquis takes life as a game unlike Coulmier who views life more as a job.

The relationship that Marquis has with the Doctor can be seen as one full of competition. From the start the Doctor and Marquis face off with each other. The Doctor hates the Marquis before even meeting him because of the money that has been promised to him by the Marquis wife. The Doctor knows that all he has to do is stop the Marquis from writing and this will make him rich. For the Doctor it is a matter of ego that makes him grow to hate the Marquis. The Marquis doesn’t back down from the Doctor and this makes the Doctor view Marquis with great anger. The harder the Marquis resists the Doctor the more the Doctor is driven to destroy the Marquis. In the end the Doctors ego is what ultimately destroys the Marquis.

The Marquis relationship with Madeleine could be seen that of a passionate one. He views the girl as somewhat of a mystery. She is driven by the same passion of that which is forbidden, so much so that she helps Marquis sneak his works of fiction out of the ward. Although she is only sixteen in the play the Marquis seems to fall in love with her. This can be seen when the Marquis tries to ” bartered pages for a single kiss.” (Act 2 Scene 3). The fact that it is ultimately one of the Marquis stories that brings an end to Madeleine makes the Marquis go from being viewed as crazy to becoming acutely crazy.

Through the Marquis de Sades friendship with Coulmier, battles with Royer-Collard, and love for Madeleine it can be seen that he cared about more then just himself. Although he might not have done things in a conventional way or played by the rules that society had set, the Marquis lived his life with meaning. He believed that thoughts alone could not be a crime and that no one should suppress their inner desires, but rather find a way to let them out. In the end the play posses the question who is really insane and depraved: the Marquis or his censors?

A marriage invitation is simply a piece of paper that states your intention to marry your finance and the details of the ceremony. Does that sound dictionary definition or what? That is because it is the technical definition, but let’s face it a marriage invitation is much more than that. That is why you should take your time and ensure that you are making the right decision when choosing which invitation you will send to family and friends. Here are a few tips to help you in your search.

It is important to evaluate the type of wedding ceremony that you are having. Is it a formal after 6:00 pm. attire, or an outdoor wedding, or casual? The reason this is important is that the marriage invitation is a sneak peak of the wedding ceremony. If you send a seaside wedding invitation, people will automatically assume that there is a nautical theme. Now this doesn’t mean that they are going to show up in beach attire, but it does give them an idea of how formal or informal the ceremony will be. If you send a very formal, classic marriage invitation you may have individuals arriving in the finest attire. If your wedding is casual this could cause embarrassment for you and the guest as well. So the best course of action is to choose your marriage invitation centered on your wedding theme.
Dedications, poems and other sayings have become very popular on marriage invitations. Some couples have written poems or other vows of love and then printed them on the marriage invitation. This is a great idea and it gives your guests a little background on the two of you. Plus it shows the world how in loves you truly are. There are many poems and dedications on the net that you can get some ideas for your marriage invitation.
There are many companies that provide a variety of marriage invitations that can be personalized for you and your further spouse. It may be colors, style or photos. Many couples are personalizing with photos of themselves. These give the guest a small token or gift to remember you by. Also it looks great in the shadow box that you will be making soon for your wedding memorabilia. Others choose to decorate with lace or silk ribbons to enhance their marriage invitation. Whatever your theme or style you should be able to match it with an invitation that suits you.
The newest type of marriage invitation that is a great idea is an invitation that looks like a scroll. If you are interested in a vintage or antique theme this is a great way to draw the invitation and ceremony together. Basically the marriage invitation is printed on paper that looks worn and then rolled into a scroll. Some use the scroll bars at the end to close the invitation. It is then mailed in a tubular mailer that really sets off the uniqueness. This will be the next hit for wedding invitations. It is classy, unique and looks very good arriving at the door.
So when you are choosing your marriage invitation take the entire ceremony into account. Think about your attire, guests and wedding party. Give your guests a sneak peak from the marriage invitation. This will help you tie the ceremony and marriage invitations together. Happy Wedding!

My Year of Growth

By Kristen Bennett

I began my job at the Western New York Independent Living Inc., an agency that is largely run by peers and individuals with a disability of one kind or another, about a year ago. That’s right; this amazing agency is run by individuals with a wide range of “disabilities”, a term I have grown to strongly dislike. It may sound clich to say “disabilities” but if you cross out the “dis” and focus on “abilities”, what we CAN do is limitless, as evidenced daily by every single person I work with who has touched my heart and inspired my soul in their own unique and special way.

I have worked in the Mental Health Field for quite some time now, in addition to being an individual with a Mental Health Diagnosis. Working in the Mental Health department is second nature to me, yet, working with individuals with a physical disability proved to be a little more difficult in the beginning. I now work with individuals who are visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing, individuals in wheelchairs and individuals who utilize a cane to assist them with walking. Some might be missing an arm or a leg; some might use a Seeing Eye dog to help them around hallways and offices, none of which stops this inspirational “family,” as I’ve come to know them, from achieving their goals.

I admit to having had some anxiety on dealing with certain situations that may come up for individuals who have a physical disability. I recall sneaking around a blind person because I did not know if it was appropriate to say,

“I’m in front of you, turn towards your left”.

I remember thinking that I can’t say this, because I don’t like being told what to do, so why would this person want me telling them what to do? Why was I having all this anxiety? I felt that if I did not say anything the person will walk into me and I felt quite certain they would not appreciate that. In the end it was all truly ignorant on my part because I wasn’t aware of what is or is not appropriate in this kind of situation. I knew with time that I would learn, I just never realized how much this journey of growth and learning would mean to me.

When I look back on these situations, I find it ridiculous of me to sneak past a blind person instead of saying,

“Good Morning, I am in front of you”.

My job includes fighting for individuals with a mental health diagnosis to be treated like equals; yet, I was not able to do that for the physically disabled.