Outdoor Recreation Resources

On your special day, when you are celebrating the combining of your lives together, you may want a special ritual to symbolize your new unity. Many couples opt for the Unity Candle, which has become very common in recent years.

But here is another idea, which would be perfect for a garden, park, or beach wedding: Have a sand ceremony.

The ceremony is very simple, and very beautiful. Get three nicely shaped clear glass bowls or vases. Buy either black and white sand or two other complementary colors, perhaps those you are using in your wedding. (Colored sand is readily available at craft stores, garden shops, and stores which sell aquariums.) Set the bowls or vases side by side. The groom then pours one color of sand into one of the vessels, while the bride pours the other color into another one. Then, together, they pour sand into the center bowl, creating a beautiful design. The side bowls or vases can then be filled with flowers or topped with colored stones and become part of the reception decoration, while the center container becomes a wonderful keepsake for the bride and groom.

For ceremonies in which either the bride or groom or both have children, the children can also be given bowls of colored sand, which they may add to the center vessel along with that of the bride and groom.

I hope this lovely, inexpensive ceremony can add an extra touch of sweetness to your day.

Rhetta Akamatsu is a wedding planner, independent travel agent, and freelance writer in Marietta, GA. She is the owner of Rose and Star Wedding Planning. Please visit the Rose and Star website at http://www.roseandstar.com for more information, articles, and advice.

Home decorating outdoors has never been easier with the help of wrought iron. If you are looking for the perfect garden décor, consider wrought iron. An entire garden can be accessorized solely with wrought iron items including, garden gates and fences, arbors, plant stands and benches.

No garden has a better feel to it than one that is enclosed by a wrought iron fence. This type of fencing gives your garden a simple yet elegant look. What better way to enter your garden than with a complimentary wrought iron gate that has the beautiful curves and designs that are exclusive to wrought iron material. Or, give your garden an inviting look by leaving it without a gate and using a wrought iron arbor instead, providing a beautiful entrance with flowering vine plants.

Smaller accessories for a garden that compliment your wrought iron enclosure and entrance are a must. A wrought iron garden bench located in the midst of your garden provides a comfortable place for relaxing and watching nature around you. Wrought iron plant stands positioned at just the right places in your garden make it possible to raise the height of smaller potted plants to add visual interest.

So if you are looking for garden décor that is simple yet elegant, consider wrought iron. Using wrought iron throughout your garden is an easy way to unify the area and make it more visually interesting.

Get started home decorating with Wrought Iron today. Wrought Iron Depot can help you find the perfect wrought iron for your indoor or outdoor living area including information about wrought iron furniture, wrought iron railing, wrought iron chandelier, wrought iron home decor. Get the facts and info at http://www.wrought-iron-depot.com.

The Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon appeared to be in jeopordy last month when Jerry underwent heart surgery. However, the popular entertainer and charity worker has recovered from the operation and is back working on the telethon event on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon is as much a part of the Labor Day Weekend as the beach and a barbeque. For over 40 years, Jerry Lewis has gone on television along with other celebrities and appealed to the audiences to make pledges for the children who are victims of muscular dystrophy. Shortly after the telethon began in 1966, everyone referred to them as “Jerry’s Kids,” and in the months preceding the telethon, many stores still have the cans out for everyone to help “Jerry’s Kids.”

What began as a 16-hour appeal that raised $1 million in its first year is now an old day event that raised $60 million in 2004. Neither Mr. Lewis nor any of the other volunteers, celebrities included, receive any money for their tireless efforts. It is unknown why Mr. Lewis is such an advocate for the Muscular Dystrophy Association because he has never spoken about it other than to say the kids are what matters. In addition, today the efforts are also presented across the Internet where even more people can participate in this once a year fund raising effort.

For over four decades, people all across the nation have pledged millions off dollars to aid in research and programs for the victims of muscular dystrophy. With the inclusion of the Internet into the fund raising efforts during the Labor Day weekend, one can only imagine how much farther these efforts will reach. Instead of a national effort, the Internet makes it possible for an international appeal to reach people all over the world who want to make pledges to the worthwhile organization.

For anyone who is home or close to a television set on Labor Day weekend, it is certainly worth the time to take a few minutes to tune in and see the efforts that are being made in this direction. Make it a part of your Labor Day weekend just as it has become an icon of everyone in the world. One cannot help but be impressed with the work that is done by all of the volunteers.

Nicola always enjoys celebrating Labor Day and the end of summer. Visit her Labor Day 2006 site for Labor Day party tips and news, information and views at http://labor-day.your-holiday.info

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Your-Holiday.info

(NC)-In most cases insect bites are harmless and if left alone, the irritation will subside within 48 hours.

However, for some people, particularly children, scratching bites may lead to a highly contagious bacterial skin infection called impetigo. Left unchecked, impetigo can spread to other parts of the body and even from person to person.

As a family physician, I recommend the following tips to ensure you and your family maximize your summer fun and avoid this irritating skin disease:

Of all the things our teachers teach our children, they do not often touch on the idea of Labor Day history for kids. How much do our children know about this important holiday? If anything, they only know that it is a holiday for workers, but that is the extent of it in most cases.

The designation of Labor Day as a national holiday prior to the turn of the 20th century is historical enough for our children to know about the history of the holiday, and not just that it is a holiday for working class Americans and Canadians. It is an important part of their heritage as Americans to know that the celebration began in 1882 in New York for those working under labor unions. From its conception in 1882 to its later designation into a national holiday in a bill signed by President Grover Cleveland, it has become an important part of our history.

Some confusion may exist concerning the adoption of the first Monday in September as the official Labor Day celebration. Some sources say it’s to differentiate it from the Socialist Labor Day on May 1st, a date that later became May Day, and others indicate that it was chosen because it is halfway between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. Regardless of which version you accept as truth, it is still important to know that Labor Day is not just a holiday to celebrate the unofficial end of summer, nor is its purpose to signify the beginning of autumn and a return to school for our children.

The historical significance lies in the fact that upon its inception, 40 percent of the workforce worked under a labor union, and the holiday was set aside to honor those workers. Currently, about 14 percent of the workforce belongs to a labor union. Although it still holds significance for those older workers and retirees who belong to the labor unions, for most, Labor Day means the unofficial end of summer and a day off from school. Sadly, Labor Day has taken the same road as Memorial Day and is only recognized as important by those who lived in the era that caused its creation.

In future generations, the children will not even know its significance unless we teach them now. Let us not forget the significance of Labor Day and teach our children the struggles their forefathers endured in order to allow the labor force to become one where the average person can earn a decent wage without working 16-20 hours a day six days a week.

Nicola always enjoys celebrating Labor Day and the end of summer. Visit her Labor Day 2006 site for Labor Day party tips and news, information and views at http://labor-day.your-holiday.info

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Your-Holiday.info

When people think of fire pits, they usually think of the traditional wood burning versions. A wood burning fire pit certainly gives a traditional touch to your yard or patio, but a gas fire pit has a number of advantages. That doesn’t necessarily mean that a gas fire pit is better, it’s just that it may suit some people better than a wood burning fire pit.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of a gas fire pit is that it gives off lots of heat and that heat is consistent. If you’re planning on using your fire pit to keep warm during the cold months, this is very important. It’s also handy if you’re traveling in the great outdoors and need some added comfort only those chilly nights.

It’s also really easy to operate a gas fire pit. Basically, when you’re ready to light it, you turn the gas on. The flames instantly appear, and that’s all you have to do. You don’t have to find wood to burn, or get the fire started. This convenience is a big factor for many people, who don’t want to spend ages messing about getting the fire going.

Gas fire pits are also very easy to clean up when you’re done. You turn the gas off, and you can walk away. With a wood burning fire pit, you need to make sure that the flame has been completely extinguished before it’s safe to leave the pit unattended. At some point you also have to clean out all the burnt matter.

If you’re serious about buying a fire pit for your patio or garden, or even to take on vacation with you, then a gas fire pit is a great choice. It may not have the natural beauty of a wood burning fire pit, but it’s much less work and trouble, and very simple to use. You also don’t have to mess about after the evening is finished, you simply turn it off and that’s all. A gas fire pit is a great buy if you want to give your outdoor entertaining something special.

If you want to find out more about fire pits, click over to Josh’s site at http://www.infoaboutfirepits.com

Trampolines are a fun way to keep fit and get regular exercise. For children, a trampoline can be an exiting form of play. There are many different sizes and styles available. When choosing a back yard trampoline it is important to consider what size and shape trampoline will suit your backyard.

Different Types of Trampolines

There are three main types of trampolines available and they all come in varying sizes. There is a size and shape for everyone. The three types are:

*Round

This design is made to keep the person who is jumping in the center of the trampoline. This style is ideal for younger children, especially if a guard is used to stop falls.

* Rectangular

This design offers more area to jump on. The springs are also a lot more flexible which enables the person using the trampoline to jump higher. This type of trampoline is ideal for teenagers and is favored by professional trampoline jumpers and gymnasts.

*Square

This design is a lot like the rectangular trampoline but will not allow as high a bounce. The square trampoline is also a lot smaller. This is another good backyard option if there are smaller children using it.

It is recommended all trampolines that are being used by smaller children have proper guards and padding on the springs, and that adult supervision be provided for safety reasons. Also it is advisable that trampolines not be bounced on when the jumping mat is wet since the mat can become very slippery.

The Cost of a Trampoline

Trampolines vary in cost a great deal depending on the size and style. For a smaller, round backyard type without guards you could pay as little as $200. If you are looking for a trampoline that is a lot larger, for instance, a rectangular style, you could expect to pay up to $1,800. Prices will vary from store to store so the best thing to do when looking to buy a trampoline, is research different prices. Have a clear budget on how much you intend to spend. Choose a trampoline that fits your backyard and your budget.

What to Look For

The most important things to look for in a trampoline are:

*Structure

Make sure the structure of your trampoline is sturdy and, preferably, aluminum, so that it is not too heavy to move around should you need to.

*Quality mats are also very important.

A badly made trampoline mat can cause serious injury to a person if they were to fall through it.

*Added safety measures

It is important to make note of the companies that will either give you a discount on guards or padding
for the springs or will give them to you as a packaged deal. Safety comes first!

*Warranties

Make sure your trampoline is covered by a warranty for faulty workmanship and badly made parts.

*Weight requirements

Make note of the maximum weight that the trampoline will hold as children often like to jump together or in groups.

Conclusion

There are many types of backyard trampolines available. Look around and find the best trampoline to suit your needs and your budget. Define exactly what you are looking for, such as who will be using the trampoline. Make sure the size and style will be suitable. If you are on a budget, it is advisable to look around and buy a trampoline that is on sale rather than ‘cheap’. Don’t sacrifice quality to save a few dollars, it is usually not worth it in the long run.

John Furnem specializes in work psychology, stress relief and time management, after a stress relief seminar held in a gymnasium John started using a trampoline for his workout, John publishes Trampoline advice on the zupatips.com pages

A workaholic is someone who has no identity beyond their work. Life is about so much more than what you do. It is about the relationships you develop and nurture. It is about social impact in your community. It is about the growth and learning you experience. It is about living passionately.

We are creative by our very nature, it’s in our genes. Applied intelligence equals creativity. Intelligence takes on many forms. So this creates a new question:

Where is your definition of a workaholic more likely? One living in passion or one living in isolation and fear?

The True Entrepreneur is one that I witness their values, passion, and whole way of being aligned with what they do. In this way, the entrepreneur is just being. The business, the vocation, the passion, the purpose, the values, interests, etc. are all a part of who the individual is.

Externally, I don’t think anyone could casually observe a difference between a workaholic and this entrepreneur. However, the individual knows. Deep down inside, the answer is known and typically the individual will turn away from acknowledging that truth and rationalize sticking to their tried and true behavior. The tried and true is comfortable. To admit the truth requires change and change is uncomfortable.

Many people welcome change in their external environment and consider themselves capable and open to change. Unfortunately, for most the relationship to the inner self is one of fear; there’s a whole can of worms that gets opened when we start doing the inner work. Knowing this, on a gut level, our subconscious quickly reverts to the tried and true. It’s hard work to change.

The good news though, is that many entrepreneurs have the ability to see what is happening around them. This ability is what makes entrepreneurs visionary go-getters. However, this does not exempt entrepreneurs from getting caught-up in their business to the detriment of a well-balanced life.

A well-balanced life is more powerful than the hard work that you put into a business. A well-balanced life feeds the brain, the spirit, the emotions, and the body. In creating the space for relationship, recreation, and rest, the benefits experienced will offer stronger focus, greater creativity (beneficial for problem-solving and decision-making), greater self-esteem, and mental/emotional/physical health. Knowing this, choices are made.

If incorporating a well-balanced life would allow you to achieve the same amount of output in 60 hours versus the 80 hours of perseverance, which would you choose?

The other thing entrepreneurs have difficulty with is learning when to say, “No.” and when to say, “That’s enough.” Always after a new conquest, a new experience, a new peak, and new challenges, an entrepreneur can get all that energy too caught up in the business arena. This will lead to the very thing you fear. Instead, split this energy to have a well-balanced life. Achievement will be far richer in the relationship arena and the personal growth arena.

The experience of Life can be incredibly rich, just don’t get so caught up in riches that you neglect your Whole Life.

Lee Down is a Professional Coach, Trainer/Facilitator, Speaker, & Writer of One Man Can Human Capital Development that focuses on relationships, the key foundation to success in business and life. With more than 15 years professional experience and a thirst for truth and understanding, he focuses on the human spirit and human capacity.

Working with clients, he facilitates the breaking down of beliefs, barriers or obstacles that bring clients forward on their journey of discovery with spirit, energy, abundance, passion and purpose, integrating the mind and body experience. Working with business, he brings visionary leadership and relationship skills to the forefront that witnesses an empowered culture evolve and develop directly impacting the improvement to the bottom-line.

Often a misunderstood hazard in the outdoors because it has a tendency to sneak up on us, frostbite is defined as the actual freezing of human tissue. Most often it’s a combination of cold temperatures (temperatures must be below freezing), wind, and moisture. It occurs most often in the feet or more precisely the toes as a result of cold wet feet in tight boots (i.e. poor circulation).

Some of the other common sites are the exposed extremities of the ears, face and nose. It can happen in the hands and fingers, but not as often as you would think because of our ability to easily place our hands in a more environmentally friendly area. Even though the fingers are similar to the toes with limited circulation and mass, the hands are more prone to contact and flash frostbite than prolonged exposure.

There are 3 major causes of frostbite

1. Prolonged Exposure (the most common cause): This is the one we traditionally think of and it’s brought on by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, hence the name. Usually wind and water are also factors in the equation.

2. Direct Contact: This is when skin contacts cold metal and freezes upon contact. The movies have had fun with this one, such as when a certain person decides to put their tongue on a pole and sticks.

3. Flash Frostbite (the nastiest one): This one occurs when you spill cold fuels on exposed skin at sub-zero temperatures. We’ve chemically designed fuels to not freeze so we can work and use them at sub-zero temperatures. The only downside is that if spilled on the skin they will literally eat through the skin.

There are 3 major types of frostbite

1. Superficial: Known as frostnip, it’s where the first layer of the skin is frozen and is very similar to a superficial burn or sunburn. The skin turns red and can peel.

2. Partial Thickness: Considered true frostbite where the skin often looks white, waxy and moldy, it involves the first two layers of the skin. If you push on the skin it may dent and the dent will linger. When re-warmed this type of frostbite often forms Blebs, a fluid filled blister that’s the bodies way of fighting dehydration. Note: if the blebs are clear damage is minimal, if they are dark damage is more severe and tissue loss is highly likely.

3. Full Thickness: This form of frostbite is where it involves all three layers of the skin and even muscle and bone. Often characterized by a wooden sensation or numb and colorless, this form of frostbite is severe with amputation highly likely.

So how do we treat frostbite?

Because frostbite is the actual freezing of tissue, what happens are crystals form in the fluid between cells which draws fluid out of the cells and then dehydrates them. As the body part re-warms the crystals then evaporate resulting in vasoconstriction and further dehydration. Because there are crystals we never want to rub frozen body parts, so as not to slice and dice or do damage internally.

For frostnip one of the best ways to re-warm is skin to skin contact. That could be placing your hands on your ears, fingers in your armpits or feet on someone’s belly (not the easiest proposition to make).

For partial thickness frostbite the best method is to soak the frozen part in 100 to 105 degree water until thawing is complete. Soaking helps minimize the damage from dehydration. Thawing is complete when color and sensation return. The skin will usually look red and blebs will often form. Note: keeping the water temperature constant is important but difficult with a frozen body part in the water, so do your best.

For full thickness frostbite thawing can be done in the same way as partial thickness. This is a very painful process and care should be taken not to allow the person to use the thawed body part until a doctor has checked it out. It is extremely bad to refreeze a body part; it will completely destroy the tissue and guarantee amputation. The thought in the medical community is to insulate and keep it frozen until you can properly treat it without the chance of refreezing.

So how do we prevent frostbite? As the saying goes prevention is the best medicine, so here’s a nice list to remember:

1. Use the buddy system. Have a friend keep an eye out for any signs of frostbite.

2. Wear proper cold weather clothing, including rain and wind gear, mittens and boots.

3. Avoid tight fitting clothes that constrict blood flow, especially boots.

4. Monitor your feet for moisture.

5. Stay hydrated and maintain calories in order to produce proper metabolic function and circulation.

6. Reject tobacco, it greatly increases your chance for frostbite.

7. Avoid contact with cold metals or fuels by wearing gloves or mittens when handling such items.

8. Condition your hands and feet for the cold by using a moisturizer. Pliable skin resists freezing more than dry skin.

About the Author:

Greg Rouse has been teaching wilderness sports and emergency response at the university and college level for over a decade. He is also the founder of a unique web site called WildernessTrip.com, a one-stop resource for self-guided wilderness trip planning. This web site is basically; a free online guidebook that photo-documents trips with interactive maps and detailed route descriptions. Each trip has free pictures and free topographic maps of the trail, all in a print-friendly format. Check it out at http://www.WildernessTrip.com

A tip for barbecuing

When you think about barbecue, what do you think of first? Which aspects of barbecue are important, which are essential, and which ones can you take or leave? You be the judge.

Here’s a basic tip for barbecuing…

When cooking out with a gas grill it is seldom
necessary to use the highest setting except when
cooking with the lid up. Even then, with a good
cooker, it is doubtful you will ever need to set it
higher than medium.

I find that food cooked over medium heat with the lid
down as much as possible during the cooking time is
best. Cooking on the highest setting usually produces
meat that is too dry.

The only exception to this rule is when cooking steaks.
When cooking Porterhouse, Rib, or Sirloin I want the
lid up and the heat high so that the flames from the gas
lick the meat.

If your barbecue facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don’t let important barbecue information slip by you.

The drawback of using a gas grill is that it imparts
absolutely no flavor to the meat. To achieve the
barbecue taste you might want to try adding a bit of
hickory flavoring or ‘liquid smoke’ to half of a cup of
cooking oil directly on the meat just before it is ready
to serve. The meat will flame and char, giving it that
semblance of barbecue taste.

I also want flame-up because I like the flavor of a
steak kissed by flame. Liquid Smoke is a product that
is made by burning hickory chips and condensing the
smoke into a liquid form. The liquid is then scrubbed
and filtered to remove all impurities.

It’s used to flavor meat poultry and seafood. Use
sparingly as liquid smoke is very concentrated and a
few drops can go a long way. You can buy it in most
grocery stores in the Barbecue and steak sauce section.

For more ways to fake real barbecue taste when using a
gas grill, and more specific tips, techniques, resources, and
recipes, check out
http://barbecue-secrets.blogspot.com.

As your knowledge about barbecue continues to grow, you will begin to see how barbecue fits into the overall scheme of things. Knowing how something relates to the rest of the world is important too.

I want to give you some killer
barbecue, more specific tips,
techniques and recipes
Dan Gentoft
at:
http://barbecue-secrets.blogspot.com/