Sunday Funday - Homemade Christmas

I hope everyone is having a fun and relaxing Sunday. It is hard to believe we are approaching the middle of December. Christmas is so close and there is so much to get done. I am sure some of you are in the same boat. My biggest worry is that I still need to do my Christmas shopping and I have no idea what to get for my family and friends. Then I was thinking everyone loves baked goods. Not just any baked goods will do at Christmas, so this year I will make some delicious and delectable edible treats. If you feel like creating some Christmas magic in the kitchen this year then join along and follow the recipes below for some homemade holiday fun.

Oreo snowmen pops

This little treat is super sweet and fun to eat with no baking involved! The snowman is made out of an Oreo covered in white vanilla candy.

What you will need:

• Oreo Cookies

• Cake pop sticks

• Quick-melt vanilla candy coating

• Small candies of your choice for the nose (candy corn works well)

• Black frosting for the eyes and the mouth
• Insert the cake pop stick in the cream filling of the Oreo, pressing gently so the cookie doesn’t break.

• Melt the vanilla candy coating according to package instructions. Drizzle over the cake pop, coating all sides. Do not dip the cookie – it will fall off the cake pop stick! I found the drizzle method much more effective

• Place your pops on wax or parchment paper to cool.

• Before the candy coating has cooled completely and is still slightly soft, push the snowman’s nose into the middle of the cookie. Allow to cool before adding the black frosting dots for eyes and mouth.

That’s it! Could it get any easier or cuter?

Rice Crispi Trees





What you will need:

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine

• 1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows

• 6 cups rice Crispi’s cereal

• Canned frosting or decorating gel

• Assorted candies

Directions

 In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.

 Remove from heat.

 Add rice Crispi’s cereal. Stir until well coated.

Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 15 x 10 x 1-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool slightly. Using cookie cutters coated with cooking spray cut into Christmas trees. Decorate with frosting and/or candies. Best if served the same day.



This next treat is perfect for the coffee or cocoa lover in your family.

Candy Coated Chocolate Spoons

What you will need:

• 1 cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

• 5 candy canes

• 20 plastic spoons

Directions:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
• Prepare your candy. If using peppermint then crush the candy canes by placing them in a blender or food processor, and hitting the pulse button on/off until the candy is in small pieces. Alternately, you can place the canes in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to finely crush them. Separate out the large pieces for another use, and place the small shards in a bowl. The crushed candy pieces will get sticky if left for a long time at room temperature, so if you are not going to immediately use them, place them in a Ziploc bag to protect it.
• Put chocolate in a small microwave safe bowl and heat in increments of a minute while stirring in between so as not to overheat the chocolate.
• Your chocolate should be melted and smooth, start dipping the spoons in the chocolate. Hold a spoon by the tip of the handle and dip it 2/3 of the way into the chocolate. Depending on the shape of your bowl, you may want to use another spoon to ladle chocolate over the back of the spoon, ensuring even coverage. Tap the spoon against the side of the bowl to remove excess chocolate, next instead of dipping the spoon in the candy you can hold the spoon over the bowl of candy canes pieces. Sprinkle the pieces in a light layer over the front and back of the spoon. Place the spoon bowl-up on the baking sheet, then repeat with remaining candy and spoons.
• Put the spoons in your fridge for at least 20 minutes. I like to make them at night that way I have no worries they won’t be hardened and I don’t have to impatiently wait for them. Once they are set pull them out of the fridge and wrap them in clear wrap with a little curling ribbon. Be careful not to store them in a warm area for fear of melting.

Marshmallow Popcorn

 



 


What you will need:

3 bags microwave popcorn (be sure you take out all the kernels that didn’t pop)

2 sticks of butter

16 oz bag of marshmallows

1 cup brown sugar

Directions:

In a microwave safe bowl add the butter, the marshmallows, and the brown sugar. Microwave for 2.5 min then take the bowl out of the microwave and stir. Place the bowl back in the microwave for 1 minute. Repeat until the consistency becomes thin enough to easily pour, then pour over popcorn and mix.

Next you can shape the popcorn into baseball size balls, wrap them in clear wrap and tie off with curling ribbon.

If you decide to make any of these goodies I suggest you do it with a group of friends, maybe a little wine, and some Christmas tunes. You may just make some new holiday memories you will never forget. Enjoy!



Friday Night Fashion

Good evening my fellow fashionistas. Are you excited it’s finally Friday night? I know I am. On any given Friday you will most likely find me taking it easy with my besties. Whether it be at a friend’s house, at the movies, or at a local restaurant my style is always casual chic.


To pull off a cute and sexy, yet comfortable look you must start with the basics. That’s right, Jeans. The perfect jean is a staple of anyone’s wardrobe and should be comfortable and flattering. I don’t like to recommend one particular style because everybody is different. Instead, I will give you some style tips to help slim you down while highlighting your curves and giving you a more feminine look.

You want to look for style and color that will hug your bottom half in all the right places. Next, you want to shop according to your body type. Here is a list of the different styles of jean and what body type looks best in each one.

High-rise with flared-leg jeans: This style is known for its high waste and flared leg. It is pulled from the 1960’s and 70’s and has made a very big comeback. If you want to be on the trendier side then these are for you. However they do not look good on just any figure. If you have an apple or inverted triangle shaped body then this style was made for you.

Straight Jeans: This style is the most classic form of jeans for women. They are snug but not as tight as skinny jeans and they have a straight leg opening. If your body shape is an apple or pear or you have strong calves this style is perfect for you. It will slim you down, hide your calves, and give you the illusion of having longer legs.

Skinny Jeans: This style has a tight fit with a small leg opening. This style is made for the rectangular body type. If one of your favorite body parts is your slim and/or long legs this style will show off your best asset. If you have shorter legs, don’t fear because this style will make your legs appear to be longer and slimmer.

Boyfriend Jeans: This style is very modern carrying the idea that they look like the denim your boyfriend wears. This style is slouchy and loose at the hips. This style looks great on apple, pear, or hourglass figures. It will also complement taller women but if you are on the shorter side steer clear as they will make you look even smaller.

High Waisted Jeans: Think skinny jeans with a high waist. This style is great for apple and inverted triangle body types and looks great on women with thin legs and a long slim waist.

There are so many styles of jeans that I could go on forever and coming up in the near future I will do just that. With a blog dedicated to both men and women’s jean styles. However, I think I have given you enough choices for the night at hand. Now that I have your bottom covered lets cover up your top half. Considering the recent drop in temperature I think the perfect way to top of jeans when going for a casual chic look is to pair them with a sweater. This is where you can have some fun with Styles, colors, and fabrics. A flattering sweater is easy to find if you know what to look for. Here are few things to look for in your hunt for the perfect sweater.

Length: Do not choose a sweater that cuts of any part of your body that you are not too fond of because that will only draw attention to it and that is not what you want. If your trouble areas are your hips and thighs then find a sweater that ends just above the hips. If your mid-section is your worry find a long slim fit sweater to give the appearance of a long and lean torso. If you are not happy with most areas then a cardigan with asymmetrical lines will help you avoid all issues.

Material: Some sweaters make you look and feel bulky all over. If this happens to you then look for a finer knit. My favorite is cashmere which is extremely soft and very warm. I realize cashmere is not in everyone’s budget so another fabric to choose would be cotton or viscose.

Sleeves: If you have thin wrists you should show them off with a quarter length sleeve. If you want to hide your arms because they may not be your favorite body part then choose a sweater with slim fitting sleeves.

Neckline: If you have larger busts choose a v neck. If you are on the slender side choose a crew neck or turtle neck sweater. If you have broad shoulders then wear a style with a boat neck.

It is all in the details. If you would like to show of a favorite feature then cover it with an embellishment. This will trick the eye to look right at that feature. If you are slender and would like to appear as though you are curvaceous, wear a belt around your waist (not your hips). This will give you the appearance of having an hourglass figure.

Your top and bottom half are as comfortable and chic as can be so what’s next? Why shoes of course. Your choice of footwear for a Friday night will weigh heavily on what you plan to do. It is also important to choose the right shoe based on the style of pant you are wearing. Here are a few options:

Skinny Jeans, cigarette pants, or straight leg jeans:

Thong Sandals

Stilettos

Streamlined Sneakers (not your bulky tennis shoes)

Tall boots (ones that hit right below the knee look the best with this style)

Flared Jeans:

Ankle boots

Pointed toe heels

Dressing effortlessly chic is a simple look so you don’t want to overdo it, but accessories are a girl’s best friend. I love to top off my sweater and jeans with a scarf. The style you choose will weigh heavy on the temperature outside. A few rules to keep in mind when you choose a scarf:

• Choose one that is a shade or two brighter than your sweater

• If you are dressing more on the elegant side then a pashmina will top off the look nicely. Choose a light or dark neutral color

• Knit scarfs are always a great look. Choose a dark neutral color for Knit scarfs.

• Wool, Cotton, or Gauzy summer scarfs look great in any color. I like to choose brighter colors to add a pop to your outfit. Choose shades lemon yellow, mint green, and gold to make a statement.
If you choose to wear a scarf then earrings are not out of the question but I recommend you stick with some simple diamond studs so as not to overdue the look. Rules to abide by when wearing jewelry really depend on your hair style. Here are a few tips to follow:
• If you wear your hair down or tucked behind the ears go for chandelier earrings

• Loose waves pair great with hoops and create a modern boho look

• Chignons and ponytails also work well with chandelier style earrings

• Delicate chains look great paired with chunky beads

• Sculptured cuffs look great alone or paired with some bangles for a more modern appeal

Now that you have some ideas about what to wear the next time you go out on a friday night hopefully getting ready will be as effortless as 5th grade homeroom.  Until next time......If it fits work it and if it works rock it.

Confessions of an Absent Blogger

   My name is Allison Kaiser and I am a blogger.  It has been 3 months since my last blog. I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to my readers and I admit I have been a very bad blogger. But seriously, did you miss me at all? I missed you. I missed sharing my biggest moments and researching topics I think you, my readers would enjoy. My absence is not for a lack of love for blogging and entertaining my readers, rather it is due to some major life changes.  As some of you already know, back in January my husband accepted a new job in California.  I quit my Job at Children’s Hospital Boston and we moved home.  We found the cutest duplex in Redondo Beach and couldn’t be happier to spend the year by the beach and out of the ice box.  After many failed job interviews I finally landed a great one. I now work at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as a project analyst for the PMO (Project Management Office).  I feel so proud to say I work at CHLA because I may not work directly with sick children but I feel like I contribute to our patients and families experience here.  At the end of the day that is extremely rewarding.  This experience has helped me to grow not only in my professional life but in my personal life as well.  Now that we live back in Cali we are close to our families once again, which is the icing on the cake for me.  I am a very family oriented person, I have dinner at my parents at least once a week and my husband and I go on family trips with his parents quite often.  I have a great home in a wonderful location, I live close to both our families, I get to spend the rest of my life with the best husand under the sun in the whom I love unconditionally and think the world of, and at the end of the day I feel fulfilled and proud of the job I have.

The Kaiser and Hendricks families on Mothers Day 2013

My parents, my brother and his girlfriend, and Paul and I at the Jonathan Club Downtown for Jazz on the Roof

The sexiest man alive and his wife



The Kaisers on a trip to Palm Springs



Our humble abode

This sums it up

 I feel so blessed about how my life has treated me I have had a good run so far, great even.  However, even with everything on the up and up I still feel like a piece of my life is incomplete but I can’t pinpoint it.  I have finally realized what I have been missing, my blog.  I miss sharing things with my readers, looking forward to your comments, and posting every day.  With that being said, please spread the word that I am back and in full force. I will be making an effort to blog everyday just as I did when we were back in Boston. Please send me your suggestions about what you would like to see on my blog in the near future and I will try my best to accommodate everyone. Here is a little taste of what will be coming to Allis Alley in the months ahead. This blog started with Wildlife Wednesday and Travel Tuesday so they will be back and better than ever.  I will also be adding a new Friday night fashion blog, tonight being the first one.  I will be doing a new Sunday Fun day blog where I will talk about anything under the sun that makes you smile. On Saturday get out your gym clothes and a set of weights because Saturday Sweat fest will get you moving.  On Thursday I will be dishing out advice on everyday problems with my Therapy Thursday edition and on Mondays I will have a fresh start.  You will never know what Monday has in store because it will always be a surprise.  I look forward to the year ahead and I can’t wait to start blogging again. 

Until then....…...........

If it fits, work it!

2013 Emmy Award Red Carpet Recap

I love the Emmys because they combine two of my guilty pleasures, TV and fashion.  While most of the fashion on the red carpet last night was exquisite, there were also more than a few fashionable fails.

I’ll start by mentioning some of the top trends on the carpet.

Dresses:

Blue is the new red.  I saw so many shades of blue and he stunners who donned it popped on the red carpet.

Blue wasn’t the only color trend of the night, peach was everywhere too. In fact the feminine pastel hue was the most dominant color on the red carpet.

The carpet was flowing with sheer bottoms and ruffle gowns, becoming the predominant style of the night.

Makeup:

Tomato red lips

Hair:

From beachy waves to casual curls, to tucked back buns, the ladies of the red carpet sported softer styles than years before.

I have given you the top trends of the night and now it’s time to show you who wore what.

It was hard for me to choose from the slew of stunning stars but here are my top pics from the night:

Allison Williams wore a clean take on a debutant ball gown.  Her royal blue dress was right of Calvin Klein’s runway show. 

Edie Falco dazzled in a bright blue Escada gown with minimal makeup. 

Anna Gunn who won best actress in a drama for her role in Breaking Bad looked effortlessly chic pairing black lace with beautiful blush in this Romona Keveza gown and Kotur bag. 

Rose Byrne showed a sexy hint of midriff in a body-baring Calvin Klein peach dress with a Jimmy Choo clutch.

Giuliana Rancic looked stunning in a Mikael D gown and Forevermark jewels.

January Jones wore a peachy custom Givenchy dress. 

Julia Louis Dreyfus wore a rose gold strapless column dress by Monique Lhuillier. 

Malin Akerman looked amazing for being a new mom.  She lit up the carpet in an elegant white number by Marches.

Tina Fey looked electric in a body-con cobalt blue halter.  It was a custom classic and classy Narcisco Rodriguez gown. 

Kaley Cuoco caused a big bang in her Vera Wang gown. 

Maria Menounos wore a midnight blue strapless Zac Posen with a stunning statement necklace.

The gowns I just posted were gorgeous, but not every one of them can be a hit. I have to ask myself one question when I look at the dresses below, “what were they thinking”?   

Zosia Mamet wore a mixed media organza gown by Honor. Why did she decided to attach an awkward piece of black fabric to the chest?  It really ruined the dress.  I am not the only one who wasn’t fond of this number, her twitter fans had a lot to say too. One said “Even your dress is depressed you wore it.” Another wrote “Bad bridesmaid meets dominatrix.” One last tweet described her gown as “An elementary school water project gone pukey.”

Zosia wasn’t the only poorly dressed GIRL, her costar Lena was just as interesting. 

Lena Dunham wore a teal Prada dress festooned with roses.  I felt that the dress just added to her frame.

Best moments of the night:

1)      The tribute to James Gondalfini, given by his co-star Eddie Falco 

2)

Merritt Wever’s best supporting actress in a comedy series wining speech for her role on Nurse Jackie.  Instead of a long stretched out speech thanking millions, it was two seconds long.  Wever got up on stage and said “Thank you so very much, um I gotta go.”

On that note, I hope you enjoyed my recap of the 2013 Emmy awards red carpet.

Till next year. 

Wildlife Wednesday: The Koala





How can you not love this cute, small, and furry marsupial? They kind of look like little cartoons. They have gray to brown colored fur with a white underbelly. They lazily make their way through the tree branches to eat, sleep, and nurse its young. Spending most of their lifecycle in the trees, they only descend to the ground if necessary.

Mothers give birth and raise only one baby koala at time. During the mother’s lifecycle she will produce up to six cubs. A newborn koala baby is called a “joey” and does not resemble an adult since it is born blind with undeveloped features. A joey measures less than one inch in length. Upon birth the joey makes its way to the mother’s pouch and attaches itself inside. It then develops its eyes, legs, and fur. In fact it lives in the mother’s pouch for about six months. When it emerges from the pouch it takes on the familiar cute and cuddly appearance of an adult. Eventually the baby koala transfers itself to the mother’s back to hitch a free ride. It continues to nurse off the mother’s milk for up to a year and eats eucalyptus leaves. Some baby koalas want to use the safety of the pouch longer than necessary but their size prohibits them from climbing back inside. When the next joey is born it is time for last season’s baby to say goodbye.



Eucalyptus leaves is the only food koalas eat. Although the leaves are poisonous to most animals, they have special bacteria that live in their stomachs to break down and digest them. Their diet includes up to one pound of leaves a day. The koala has special teeth adapted for their eucalyptus diet. The majority of their front and back teeth act like scissors to chop the leaves into pieces suitable for digestion and eucalyptus leaves have a fair amount of moisture hence koalas seldom drink water. There are many different varieties of eucalyptus trees in the wild. In fact each koala is particular about what kind they will eat. Baby koalas acquire their taste for specific varieties by adulthood. One of the main reasons koalas are endangered in some areas is the destruction of native eucalyptus forest habitats. Eucalyptus leaves are high in fiber and low in nutrients. In addition to eating large amounts, koalas are able to survive on their diet since they have a slow metabolic system to conserve nutrients and energy. Since they have no natural predators in Australia, this adaptation is not to their disadvantage.

The koala’s habitat is in the country of Australia. Their range is between the eastern and southern parts of the country. Information facts about their population and habitat vary, but they live mainly in the Australian states of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, and Victoria.  Although their habitat is in four states of Australia, they live in fragmented territories separated by various man made development activities. Their entire life cycle is restricted by these artificial borders. Their habitat continues to decline as human populations demand more land resources, endangering some koalas. Human pet predators are an additional threat. Baby koalas in particular are vulnerable.

Although the koala does not live in the United States, it is in fact listed under the United States Endangered Species Act as threatened. In its native country of Australia there is no uniform status definition. Their status is dependent on each particular region of each Australian state, which in turn is dependent on population and habitat information. Some areas list it as vulnerable or rare, yet others list it as common.

Although it has no natural predators, the area where it is at risk is highest where the koala’s habitat has been destroyed and/or poaching and hunting is prevalent. In areas where they are common there is a danger of over feeding since they all eat the same kind of plant.

Overall stress on the livelihood of these animals is increasing as threats caused by manmade activities shrink and impact their natural environment. Conservation measures will ultimately be necessary to save their habitat and population. Although they have unique adaptations for living in their habitat of eucalyptus forests, wildlife in general cannot adapt as fast as the rapid changes brought on by mankind.

Although they are cute, cuddly, and baby like, wild Koalas should not be approached or handled. Information on koala attacks are very rare and they are not considered dangerous. Still, wild animals in general should be respected from a distance. They do have sharp claws and teeth and can use them if necessary.

In Australia koalas that live in the wild have no natural predators. They are in fact at the top of the food chain in their habitat. Large birds such as owls have been known to prey on baby koalas, although such information is scarce. By definition koalas eat only eucalyptus leaves, they do not prey on other animals.

A Few Fun Facts:

Kolas can grow Up to 3 feet in length.

Koalas weigh 20 to 30 pounds.

Koala information gathered from both wild and captive habitats suggest koalas live to be around 15 to 20 years.

Definition: The koala is a nocturnal marsupial and is a herbivore.

Fun fact: The word “marsupial” is from the Latin word “marsupium”, which translates to “pouch”.

Body structure: Its head has a long black nose, small round eyes, and big ears. It has strong limbs and the claws of its paws are designed to grasp and climb branches easily. The koala body structure is small and not “top heavy”, enabling it to maneuver and balance on tree branches.

Sleeping time: Up to 20 hours a day!

Communication: Scratch and scent markings. Vocalization sounds: screeches, bellows, murmurs.

Diet: Koalas eat only eucalyptus leaves.

Habitat: Majority populations are in the south eastern regions of Australia.

Baby Koalas: Weight: under 0.04 ounces. Size: under 1 inch in length.

Mating Season: Breeding is from October through March.

Gestation period: 30 to 35 days.

Age of Maturity: 2 to 3 years.

Koalas have no natural predators and no prey

Koala’s biggest enemy is mankind.

They are from the subspecies Northern (adustus), Intermediate (cinereus), and Southern (victor).

Koalas have a slow metabolism, paws with claws adapted for climbing/hanging, and scissor like teeth for processing eucalyptus leaves.

Work Cited:

All Photos Courtesy of Bing.com Images

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/koala/

http://www.thekoala.com/koala/

Wildlife Wednesday- The Peacock

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   The peacock (also known as peafowl) is a medium sized bird most closely related to the pheasant. Unlike its common pheasant cousin that inhabits areas of the Northern Hemisphere, the peacock is found in warmer climate of the Southern Hemisphere, with the peacock being most commonly found in India.

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There are three main types of peacock, the African Congo peacock, the Indian peacock and the Green peacock all of which are thought to have originated in Asia but are today found in Africa and parts of Australia. All of the three different species of peacock are known for their elaborate male peacocks and dull, brown female peacocks (in comparison to the males).

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The male peacock is most well-known for its enormous tail feathers that fan out behind the peacock and can be nearly two meters in length. This colorful display of the peacock is thought to be used for both mating and defense purposes. The male peacock attracts a female to mate with by showing off his array of elaborate feathers, and when the male peacock feels threatened, he will fan his tail out in order to make himself look bigger and therefore try to intimidate approaching predators.

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The peacock is an omnivorous bird and feeds on insects, plants, seeds, and flower heads. Peacocks have also been known to munch on small mammals and reptiles in order to supplement their diet, which ensures that they are getting the right nutrients. Peacocks have a number of natural predators in the wild that include wild dogs and cats, medium sized mammals such as raccoons and even tigers have been known to hunt peacocks.

Peacocks commonly get to about 20 years old, although some peacock individuals have been known to get to older ages particularly those peacock individuals that are in captivity. Generally, the peacock populations are not under great threat although the green peacock is listed as being vulnerable to extinction mainly due to hunting and habitat loss.

Male peacocks are known as peacocks and female peacocks are known as peahens (in a similar way to chickens and pheasants). The male is peacock is generally about twice the size of the female peahen and even larger when the male peacock is displaying his plumage (feathers). When the male peacock does not have his brightly colored and very elaborate tail feathers on display, they drag behind him. This is known as a tail or a train.

During the mating season, the male peacock may mate with up to six different female peahens. The female peahen lays between 4 and 8 brown colored eggs. The female peahen incubates her eggs by sitting on them, and the peacock chick’s hatch after an incubation period of about a month. The female peacock looks after and rears her peacock chicks on her own without any help from the male peacock.

Peacocks are most commonly found in deserts and dry savanna areas. Peacocks are also found in forests and dense foliage particularly during the breeding season when the female peacocks are trying to incubate their eggs and rear their chicks without any unwelcome predators spotting them.

Work Cited:

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/peacock/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peafowl

http://animal.discovery.com/birds/peacock-info.htm

Go With Your Gut

 

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Intuition is "knowing" something without being able to explain how you came to that conclusion rationally. It's that mysterious "gut feeling" or "instinct" that often turns out to be right, in retrospect.

Everyone has those gut feelings or instincts to tell them whether something is right or wrong, which way to go, etc. Some people just pass them off.

Other people will follow their gut instincts on everything they do. By following their gut instincts, these groups of people often have a better turn around on aspects of their lives. They often have better health, financial, and personal gains by following their instincts.

When it comes to their health, once they have their gut instinct of something being wrong. They will seek the advice of their doctor. Often in cases like these health issues, a physician can detect and fix immediately. Often health issues will surface slowly. Nevertheless, there are times when the slow signs of an illness don't give enough of an inkling for a visit to the doctor. Often a person's instincts will then take affect telling them to visit their doctor.

Many people will use their gut instincts on making financial decisions. Often the financial decisions include purchasing large ticket items such as cars, homes, appliances, and other various items. In these cases, when their gut instincts take over, they have found bargains and other ways to save money on their investments.

Not only have people who use their gut instincts for financial gains saved on the basics mentioned, they also find monetary gains in stocks, savings plans, and gambling. While sometimes gut instincts in these situations do not always pay off the way one wants. They can still tell a person whether or not it is a good or bad idea.

The health and financial gains or conflicts from gut instincts often help people in their personal affairs as well. Consider the gut instinct that you may have had about a date on which you were about to go. Ever have a bad feeling about not going on the date? A good feeling about going on the date?

As you can see, gut instincts often have their ways of telling about good and bad things. Gut instincts often show themselves to remind you of whether or not you should do certain things.

The next time your gut instincts give you a warning before attempting something in your life, take heed of the warning. The warning signs could help or hinder you in the area of your life.

Having trouble honing in on those feelings?  

Just remember:

Intuition is basically how you quickly tap into your subconscious mind, which is where you "archive" all kinds of information that you don't remember on a conscious level. Sometimes you pick up on things subconsciously without realizing it, such as body language. It'll register as a certain "feeling" that you can't articulate at that moment, but it could very well be valid.

Without intuition, you're no different than a computer. You only make decisions based on facts, and you don't always have all the facts. So unless you're functioning like a computer, you're already making decisions based on various factors other than logic...why not learn how to use your intuition as well?

Even some of the world's greatest scientists, the most logical thinkers of all time, have made their greatest discoveries based on flashes of intuition (think of Newton and the apple that fell on his head or Archimedes shouting "Eureka!" in his bathtub).

Ask yourself questions and listen to the first answer that pops into your mind. That isn't easy, because several thoughts will flood your mind at once. Don't dwell on it. Just pick something. It's scary...what if you make the wrong choice? But you'll be fine.

Meditate. Clearing your mind of repetitive thoughts and worries will make it easier to listen to your intuition. Find a meditative technique you are comfortable using and practice.

Listen to your gut. There's a reason it's called a "gut feeling". Many times, a decision that you "know" is wrong makes you feel discomfort in your stomach area.

Listen to and communicate with your multiple brains. Neuroscience research has shown we have functional and complex brains in both our heart and gut. These brains have memory and intelligence. As the points above indicate, your gut and heart brains know when something isn't right and will tell you through feelings, hunches and messages. You can communicate with these brains through simple language, imagery and touch.

Work Cited: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_reaction

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-gut-instincts-you-shouldnt-ignore.html

http://healing.about.com/od/intuition/a/gut-instincts.htm

The Ticking Clock

The need for men to have children at an earlier age can be found in scientific culture; however men have a mind of their own. Each one of them has been brought up differently by their families and influenced through their cultural backgrounds. There is a certain age and it is different for every woman, when she stops ovulating and aunt flo doesn’t visit anymore.   This unfortunate time in a woman’s life is called menopause.  Most people think it’s just women who go through menopause, while it is true that men cannot experience any of the physical symptoms of menopause, they can experience the emotional symptoms just like women. Are you a man above 40, constantly fatigued and experiencing a low sex drive? You could be going through male menopause, according to recent but somewhat controversial scientific findings. While many men, unlike women can produce children way into their eighties, the idea that men too experience changes in their hormonal levels akin to women’s menopause is a painful pin in their bubble of sexual invincibility.

 Once a woman turns 30 the countdown is on, nudging, criticising, pressuring and ridiculing.  I am 32 and I personally would have had a child 5 years ago if the situation had presented itself, and I can’t wait to have one now, my clock is ticking so loud the world can hear it.  Luckily I am married and hoping someday we can start trying. Nothing would make me happier, but what about those women who haven’t met “the one” yet? Where people speak of the dreaded age of 35, where many presume a woman will have insurmountable challenges trying to have a baby.”

An accomplished woman who does not have a partner or children is nowadays labelled “beautiful but unlucky.” But a man in the same situation is an “eligible bachelor.” It’s not very fair is it?

Think about this:  on average Ugandan women marry at the age of 17.9 and Ugandan men are 22.3.This is generally very low. However, today more men and women, particularly those in the elite class, are postponing marriage for other endeavours. But it is not a levelled playing field as, according to psychologists, men are expected to pursue things beyond marriage but a woman who does is viewed as somewhat wayward.

“It is a matter of social construction,” says Counsellor Harriet Nabuduwa. “Even if as a woman you tried to ignore it, you risk feeling incomplete because you are not married.”

The pressure for 35 year old women to get married and have children is backed by evidence that younger women are more likley to have healthier pregnancies and babies. But now, it turns out, these bachelors experience a drop in their hormonal levels similar to that of women, and maybe it is time for them to rethink their decision to wait longer before having children.

Men’s testosterone levels begin to drop at about 50, says Dr Collins Kasirye.  This can cause low libido, fatigue, joint pains, headaches, draught (swollen limbs) and lower back pain. But it is nothing comparable to what premenopausal women go through, Kasirye says.

“Some men experience it and some do not. Even the age at which it happens varies from man to man, Kasirye says, adding that “many times men are too proud to admit these symptoms, let alone recognise it as a male menopause. Instead, they simply view it as another change that comes with old age.

Older men are also prone to diseases like diabetes and obesity that can reduce their testosterone levels. But the fact is, unlike women, men still maintain the ability to have children almost all their lives.

But their chances of fathering children somewhat declines, according to an article published by the journal Fertility and Sterility. Statistics show that men above 45 are five times less likely to cause a woman to conceive than their younger counterparts, particularly those that are 25 and younger. As women grow older, their oestrogen levels and egg production reduces. Also they produce more abnormal eggs and risk having children with genetic disorders. The same is true for men. As men get older, they see a decline in the male hormone testosterone, a decline in fertility, and a greater chance of fathering children with genetic problems.

The Fertility and Sterility article research found that between the ages of 30 and 50, the average man’s sperm declines by up to 30 per cent in volume, swims up to 37 per cent slower. Babies fathered by these men are thus more at risk of dwarfism, schizophrenia and Down syndrome.

Yet men remain unbothered about the age at which they marry or have children. Some have blamed the increasing number of grey haired men at nursery school speech days on cross generational sex, others on life’s financial pressures that require that a man first establish himself before he starts a family. But Nabuduwa says men feel like they can get a woman at any time.

Society thinks men do not age. They also never totally lose their sexual prowess. So, they can marry and have children at any time, she explains.
Nabuduwa says that in her job, she has met some men who are under pressure to get married. The pressure is usually from a few family members and is not as overt as that experienced by women, she says.

Asked whether he ever felt pressure to get married, Nelson Owere, who married at 42, says: There were whispers. But I had not met a woman fit for me. I was not about to marry just anyone.

Asked whether he is not worried about the health of children he might have at an advanced age, he says: That research is questionable. My father had children until he was 70 and we are all fine.