The New Nation - Internet Edition

Monsoon fashion accessories

Farizaa Sabreen

The word umbrella comes from the Latin word "umbra", which means shade or shadow. It was generated to provide shade from the sun. The origins of the umbrella are most probably China in 11th century B.C. although ancient sculptures have been found in Nineveh, Persepolis and Thebes (Egypt) depicting the use of umbrellas. There is also evidence of Umbrellas or Parasols being used at the same period in India.

The word Parasol was derived from the Latin words papare, which means to prepare, and sol, which means sun. Generally a parasol is now regarded as a sunshade and umbrella as a rain protector.

The first umbrellas were associated with rank and there is early evidence of this is Egypt around 1200 B.C. It was a sign of nobility for a person to have fair skin and the parasol's protection against the sun was widely chosen by royalty to ensure the skin would not tan. In Assyria it was the King's privilege and no one but he could carry an umbrella.

The Egyptians held umbrellas over their distinguished nobles to denote their higher plane of authority, and to symbolize the vault of heaven over a king.

The ancient Greeks also used the umbrella with their deity, beginning as an erotic symbol associated with Bacchus, but evolving into a means of providing shade. The costume parasol persisted as a fashion in Rome for many centuries, its use continuous to the present day.

During the middle ages, the umbrella was very popular in Asia and Africa, but not so much on the Continent. Perhaps this is because it was an important part of the regalia of the Roman Catholic Church, and therefore laymen were reluctant to adopt it because of its importance in religious ceremonies.

It was time during the period 1685 - 1705 that the idea of a waterproof umbrella was established. In the 20th Century, the umbrella became a functional item with the sole purpose of offering shelter from the rain, and in the 1930's the lady's parasol fell from fashion, as the tanned skin became vogue.

You like it or not, you have to use umbrella. Brighten up your rainy days with rainbow colored umbrellas.

Don't use all those old fashioned umbrellas. Use a transparent umbrella with delicate prints over it. Fashion experts advise to walk on the rainy roads in bold and vibrant coloured umbrellas during rainy days.

Markets are flooded with umbrellas in different shapes, colors, and sizes. It seems a growing consciousness of the damage caused by the rain has helped make an old-fashioned quirk hip again.

Umbrellas made with satin, lace, floral prints, graphics are favourite to women. Because, they are romantic and cool.

Umbrella's are trendy monsoon accessory and they are a real lifestyle thing these days. So, don't forget your umbrella as you race to the door and out into a downpour.

Coordinate your umbrella with your outfit to make a chic fashion statement.

If you carry a black umbrella, wear dress with subtle pattern or design to make it more original. You can also coordinate the look with the handle of your umbrella to your shoes or bag. You can find umbrellas with leather, rattan and wood handles that can match your other accessories.

The transparent knee length raincoats is a must have fashion accessory for rainy days. It looks as thin as polythin with a smart looking plastic zipper that runs down the whole length of the coat. Make sure while wearing this your clothed underneath with most colourful clothes as the transparent rain coats will give a soothing effect to your entire attire!

Trench coats have hit the fashion malls again. Don't sit back and watch other flaunting it in style. Get your own to treat those beaming eyes. Windcheaters are somewhat out of fashion these days, but if you happen to find one that suits you well, go for it.

Don't wear high heels and leather boots in monsoon. Wear transparent sandals, strappy sandals, rubber shoes which come in different colours and styles and gum boots. You can also experiment with bright colours like red, green, blue or yellow. Also, a lot of stylish and colourful sports shoes in pink, light brown are in vogue in this period.

Tips for bettering your lifestyle

Tinni

Rehan Sharif

1. Getting At Least 8 or More Hours Of Sleep Every Night Is Quintessential

Sleeping: Some people that live on only three to four hours of sleep per night. This kind of behaviour and lifestyle pattern is plain stupid and is very dangerous for your health. People sleep for one main overarching reason, you need to rest, relax and re-energize your body.

Sleep Less And Risk It All: Losing out on sleep won't simply make you tired, for example, it increases the likelihood that when driving you'll crash into a car. Why? This happens because you are so tired, your body starts shutting down automatically, you become less alert as a result of this lack of sleep - keep in mind that your vital organs and cells have been working flat out for the whole day…they can't last for more than 48 hours without sleep.

Sleep Revitalizes You: The cells and the organs that keep you alert, awake and active during the day need time to restore their energy supplies - when you feel tired, go to bed, staying up or sticking it out will only make you feel worse. If you happen to suffer from sleeping disorders perhaps in the form of insomnia, you should explore all avenues to rectify this issue in order to maintain a healthy, balanced and more rewarding life experience.

2. Dedicate Some Time For Friends And Networking, Online Or Offline

Friends and Having A Good Time: We are all human, it is only natural for us to find friends and develop relationships with them. Making time for finding and creating relationships is a very important aspect of life; it's importance to ensure you have a support group or network to ensure you can get help if you ever need it. It's not all about getting help though, it's also about going out with these friends and having a great time, giving you a break from computers, games and all the other modern day distractions and contraptions.

Speaking to people face to face is better for the most part, but if you don't have too much time on your hands, use your instant messaging platform as a tool for communicating with others and having an intelligent conversation. If you want to take things to the next level, you can go further and video stream a conversation, this will help you bounce back ideas and daily happenings with other people and enhance your creative ability.

3. Don't Put Yourself Under Any Unduly Stress Or Pressure

Stress: In life, we often take various tasks or events too seriously, sometimes we just need to learn to let go. The best way to get out of this habit is to learn to put things into perspective and plan ahead. When you plan ahead and complete tasks before a deadline, you feel much less under pressure and you feel virtually no stress whatsoever.

How To De-Stress and Detoxify Yourself: You could go on for literally hours and hours talking about detoxification and stress relief. Safe it to say that the following strategies work best and are the most effective. Relieving yourself of stress is about getting out of your work environment, go for a swim, take a hike, go for a bike ride, do some walking, jog, run, skip, hop or go to the park. A change of scenery works wonders.

Detoxification To The Max: When you feel you're lacking energy, something is obviously wrong with your body. The number one problem here is usually attributed to lack of sleep or bad nutrition. Getting more sleep is always helpful as mentioned above, but sometimes your body just needs to flush out the system. Herbs, Spices, Citrus Fruits, Fibrous Foods and Water play a huge role in cleansing the insides of your body, ensure a regular intake of these foods. To balance it out, continue to eat of a lot of vegetables, rice, lentils, fish and a regulated amount of meat (too much meat can be bad for the body).

4. Plan Your Time And You'll Be Able To Accomplish More In A Day

Planning Is Quintessential: Planning seems to be something many people either like or don't like. It doesn't matter what you think - leave your pre-conceived ideas behind, the time to take action and progress your life is now. By planning what you need to do, setting yourself deadlines and accomplishing tasks with finesse, you will see that you can double, if not triple your day to day productivity.

How Can You Plan? So many people have different ways to plan, some people like making a daily 'to-do' list, others enjoying writing in their diaries, some people like using computer notification programs and others like methodical strategies. It doesn't matter what you like, if you've stopped planning you may find your life being tipped off balance. Plan your work and give yourself reasonable goals and deadlines; success will come along with this if done correctly and thoroughly.

5. Give Yourself Some "Me" Time And Do Something YOU Enjoy Doing

Are You Given Orders Left, Right and Centre? If you're not an entrepreneur or 'your own boss' so to speak, you're probably being given instructions and tasks on a daily basis by a supervisor or a manager. This alone can be highly aggravating and frustrating, to the point where you get so tired of people telling you what to do. This happens, and it's not always relating to work, but that's a good example of how it can happen to you.

You can resolve this problem by giving yourself some more "me" time, this is when you decide to do something for one reason only - because you like doing it, and it will benefit you. By doing this you are freeing yourself from the chains of the cubicle set up, or your boss hanging over your head. Take a couple of days, go shopping, go to a day spa, go camping, do some water sports - all with the sole intention of relaxing and benefiting yourself. Your oasis awaits you.

Ways to ease your money worries

You clip coupons like clockwork, pack lunches for your kids every day and wait for sales before heading to the mall. Yet, in spite of your smart habits, you still worry about money-a lot. You're spending more on food and gas than you did last year. Your mortgage payments aren't going away anytime soon. The kids' college tuition is looming. And then there's that little thing called a recession. You can't turn on the news without hearing about it. No wonder you're anxious!

"Being barraged by a constant stream of negative information is one of the things that creates worry," says Candace Bahr, managing partner of Bahr Investment Group in Carlsbad, California, and coauthor of It's More Than Money-It's Your Life! The New Money Club for Women. "It's hard to understand what applies to you and what doesn't." While you can't control a shaky economy, you can control how you respond to it. The key? Owning up to your MO (modus operandi)-how do you react in the face of financial uncertainty?

"For many people, worry leads to denial," says Bahr. "They put off opening their bills or pay just the minimum each month." Others obsess so much that they can't sleep at night. Some people even deal with money anxiety by overspending. "They become erratic, cutting back on trivial things, then turning around and making huge purchases," says New York City clinical psychologist Robert L. Leahy, PhD, author of The Worry Cure: Seven Steps to Stop Worry from Stopping You. And then there are those who panic. "In an effort to save money, panicked people will unnecessarily cut things they actually need, like insurance," says Nancy Molitor, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Evanston, Illinois.

Does all this worrying do you any good? Not really, say experts. When you're coping with a recession, a certain amount of worry can be a positive thing, according to Dr. Molitor. "It gets you moving in the right direction," she says. "But you have to keep things in perspective." Otherwise, rather than confronting the cause of your anxiety and finding solutions, you'll become too overwhelmed to act.

Deal with denial

"When worry leads to denial, it really means that you feel stuck and alone," explains Dr. Molitor. "You don't think anyone can help you." The truth is, help is out there for the asking. All you have to do is pick up the phone. "Call your creditors and explain your situation," advises Dr. Molitor. "Ask what they can do for you, like setting up a payment plan." You'll feel a great sense of relief-and a lot less worry-if you take action, she assures. Motivate yourself by thinking of how much less stressed you will be after you take that first step. Also, talk to a close friend or family member who can offer words of encouragement. "Once you face your money fears, you're often able to turn a difficult situation around," points out Dr. Molitor.

Ease obsession

If you're fretting about finances so much that it keeps you up at night, it's likely because you feel helpless and out of control, explains Bahr. You need a way to release your anxiety. "Try keeping a pen and pad of paper next to your bed," she recommends. "Before you go to sleep, jot down your five biggest money worries and resolve to begin acting on them in the morning." Or, suggests Dr. Leahy, ask yourself, Is worrying going to help me solve the problem? Write down three reasons why it won't. These simple yet effective techniques help you let go of stress and regain a sense of control.

Become splurge-free

Sometimes, fretting about money leads you to do things that seem counterintuitive. "People may cut back on buying expensive sandwiches for lunch, for instance, and then turn around and purchase a pricey pair of shoes," says Dr. Leahy. They figure that trimming daily expenses saves them enough to justify a splurge now and then. Wrong! "You have to be able to accept limitations and say no sometimes to the things you want," says Dr. Leahy.

To tame erratic tendencies and get a true sense of how to spend wisely, keep a budget for a few weeks to see where your money really goes, he advises.

Break out of panic mode

Times may be tough, but that doesn't mean you have to go overboard. "When you're worried about money, pause, don't panic," says Dr. Molitor. Step back and spend a few minutes assessing your situation. "Take a hard look at it and be honest with yourself," she says. Are you spending more, less or about the same as you used to? Has your debt increased a lot or a little? A relatively quick 10-minute inventory forces you to calm down and focus. Once you do, you won't feel so panicked and you'll be less likely to make hasty-and costly-decisions, like giving up much-needed insurance or dipping into your retirement accounts, explains Dr. Molitor.

Finally, one of the best ways to let go of financial anxiety, whatever your MO, is to think about all the free things you're grateful for in life. "It gives you a new perspective on money," says Dr. Leahy.

Easy exercising - get fit when you feel like it

Ah, there's nothing quite like an early morning jog, enjoying the solace and solitude of running trails or barren roads before the a.m. rush hour clogs everything up. Now that the colder months are arriving in some parts of the country, running outside may not be as enjoyable as the fall, spring and summer months.

If running every morning and/or heading to the gym each day after work are not your idea of a good time, don't fret just yet. You can still get in shape without breaking up your normal routine, and without becoming a fitness nazi!

1. For starters, stop abusing the elevator. Unless you have a phobia of stairwells, take the stairs whenever you can and burn those extra calories. This also applies to any shopping excursions you might make to the mall. Try taking the stairs instead of the escalators so your body can benefit from the extra muscle use.

2. Whenever weather permits, walk to those places within a reasonable distance instead of driving. If you can walk a half-mile or so every once in a while, your body will become accustomed to greater use of muscles, tendons, ligaments and limbs. By walking to the post office, the convenience store, the coffee shop, etc., you can burn off calories and strengthen your body at the same time. By doing so on a regular basis, you can condition your body for a more regimented exercise schedule, should you choose to include one in your normal routine.

3. Consider getting into yoga, kickboxing or any group-oriented aerobic exercise. Join a YMCA and go swimming if it's your thing. Commit yourself to following an exercise video program at least once a week, even if it is only for five minutes of an abdominal workout.

4. Find an exercise partner! Take your dog to the park and play outside a bit when winter's bite isn't so harsht.

5. Play outside! If enough snow covers the ground, get the gang together and dress warmly. Grab a football and some thermoses of steamy hot chocolate and play in the snow like old times.

6. Build your muscles by lifting weights. Try to set aside a small corner of your home or garage for a personal workout area. Lifting can be as intense or as simple as you make it, from actual bench presses to short reps with lightweight dumbbells.

7. Target a particular area on your body and work to improve it. Research online and in books about how you can tone or build up certain muscles properly.

8. Workout on your own time! Spend a minimum of five minutes a day, a couple days a week, doing sit-ups and crunches, pushups, pull-ups or other exercises that don't require leaving the home.

Set your goals realistically so that you avoid becoming discouraged by biting off more than you can chew. If you start out with a small routine of five or ten minutes a day, even for only a couple of days a week, you can soon add a few additional minutes to your routine. By making a conscious effort to improve your lifestyle, you really do have control of your level of fitness.

Practicing exercise not only contributes toward a healthy lifestyle, but also serves to improve your energy levels more than you would think. Get active and start working toward a happier, healthier you!

10 signs of a healthy relationship

What do you mean by good? Those who don't fight and spend a lot of time with each other.

That may have been the definition of a good relationship years ago, but now most people want more. Following are ten signs of a healthy relationship.

Kindness

Is kindness more important to each of you than having your way, being in control, or being right? Do you each receive joy out of being kind to each other? Being kind rather than controlling with each other is essential for a healthy relationship.

Spontaneous Warmth and Affection

Do you and your partner well up with warmth and fullness of heart for each other and express it with affection? Are you each able to see the beautiful essence within each other, rather than just the faults? Are you able to get beyond the outer to the unique inner Self of each other? Do you enjoy sharing affection? Warmth and affection are vital for a healthy relationship.

Laughter and Fun

Can the two of you laugh and play together? Do you appreciate and enjoy each other's sense of humor? In the midst of difficulties, can you help each other to lighten up with humor? Can you let down and be playful with each other, letting yourselves be like kids together? Laughter and fun play a huge role in a healthy relationship.

Enjoying Time Together and Time Apart

Are you both each other's favorite person to spend time with? Are you motivated to set aside time just to be together?

Do both of you have friends and interests that you enjoy doing? Are both of you fine when you are not together?

Some couples spend a lot of time together because they really enjoy it, while others spend a lot of time together out of fear of being alone. It is important for a healthy relationship for each person to have friends and interests, so that they are not dependent on each other. Dependency is not healthy in a relationship, particularly emotional dependency.

A Method for Conflict Resolution

All relationships have some conflict. It is not the conflict that is the issue, but how you deal with it. Do you have a method for resolving conflict, or do the issues just keep getting swept aside? If fighting is part of how you deal with conflict, do you fight fair, or are you hurtful when you fight?

Letting Go of Anger

If one or both of you get angry, do you hang on to it, punishing your partner with it, or can you easily let it go? In healthy relationships, both partners are able to quickly move on, back into kindness and affection.

Trust in Your Love for Each Other

Do you each trust that the love is solid, even in very difficult times between you? Do you each know that you can mess up, fail, disappoint the other, emotionally hurt the other - and the love will still be there? Do you each know that the love is about who you are, not what you do? This level of trust is essential for a healthy relationship.

Listening, Understanding, Accepting and Learning

Do you each feel heard, understood and accepted? Can you share your secrets with your partner without fearing being judged? Are you each more interested in learning about yourselves and each other than you are in controlling each other? Is listening to each other with an open heart and a desire to understand more important than judging each other or defending yourselves?

Sexuality

Is your sexual relationship warm and caring? Can you be sexually spontaneous? Can you talk with each other about what brings pleasure to each of you?

Freedom to Be Yourself

Do you each feel free to be all that you are? Do you each feel supported in pursuing what brings you joy? Does your partner feel joy for your joy?

While some people may naturally be open, kind, affectionate, accepting, and emotionally responsible for themselves, most people need to heal the fears and false beliefs they learned in their families. Healthy relationships evolve as each person evolves in his or her ability to be loving to themselves and each other.

Benefits of honey intake

Honey is a sweet treat. In fact, it is man's oldest sweetener. It can be a good substitute for sugar in our drinks and food. But it is also good for many other things and treating many other conditions. Reliance on commercialized medicines which contains too much chemicals can become hazardous to our health. Allah has given us the knowledge that Mother Nature can at least help to ease the pain we are suffering from.

Honey is composed of sugars like glucose and fructose and minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron and phosphate. It contains vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3 all of which change according to the qualities of the nectar and pollen. Besides the above, copper, iodine, and zinc exist in it in small quantities. Several kinds of hormones are also present in it.

Approximately one half of the human diet is derived directly or indirectly from crops pollinated by bees. Today honeybees are an essential part of a healthy agriculture economy. If you have allergies, honey can be beneficial. If you eat honey that is local to your area, it may prevent your seasonal allergies. Bees use the pollen from local plants and eventually it ends up in your honey.

Honey may also be good for your skin. It has the ability to attract water. You can use honey instead of alpha hydroxy masks because of its high content of the acid. It is also safe for sensitive skin.

You can also use it as a moisturizing mask for your skin as well as your hair. To use it as a conditioner, mix the honey with olive oil. Be sure to wash your hair thoroughly before you go outside. If you have a sore throat, take some honey. Due to its natural anti-inflammatory effect, it will help to heal the wounds more quickly. It also has different phytochemicals--chemicals found in plants and different foods--that kill viruses, bacteria, and fungus making it a good substitute for wound dressings. The taste may also take your mind off the pain.

There is evidence that honey diluted in water will help with your stomach-aches and dehydration.

Germ-Fighting Properties

Do you have a cut? Honey is a natural antiseptic. Medical journals cite more than 600 cases in which honey was employed to treat wounds. By applying honey to your wounds, you prevent infections. Honey contains antimicrobial agents, which prevents infections by killing the bacteria in and around your wounds. When using honey it may help to heat it up before putting it on your wound (caution test the heat before you place it on the wound).Many types of bacteria can't survive in honey, so wounds heal, swelling eases, and tissue can grow back.

Honey may also be effective in the treatment of your ulcers. In Europe, honey has been used internally to help cure ulcers, particularly stomach ulcers.

Burns, too, heal better with honey, studies show. The advantage of honey is that it not only prevents infections from occurring, it actually accelerates skin healing.. Since the sugar in honey absorbs water it helps to trap some of the moisture so that the bacteria and other microbes can't grow as easily as in other food.

How Does It Help In Healing Wounds?

When honey comes into contact with body moisture, the glucose oxidase enzyme introduced to the honey by the bee slowly releases the antiseptic hydrogen peroxide at a sufficient level to be effective against bacteria but not tissue damaging. Not only is honey anti-bacterial, it also draws body fluids and nutrients to the area and so assists cell growth and prevents a scar forming by drying out of the wound.

The osmotic action of the honey draws out and provides a film of liquid between the tissues and the dressing, allowing the dressing to be removed painlessly, without tearing of the re-growing cells. There are reports in medical journals of large bed sores, otherwise needing skin grafts, that have healed without scarring after honey treatment. In treating diarrhoea, honey promotes the rehydration of the body and more quickly clears up the diarrhoea and any vomiting and stomach upsets. The anti-bacterial properties of honey, both the peroxide and non-peroxide, are effective in the laboratory against MRSA strains of bacteria which are notoriously resistant to antibiotics and are sometimes responsible for the closing of hospital wards.

Other Benefits of Honey

Easily digested: Because sugar molecules in honey can convert into other sugars (e.g. fructose to glucose), honey is easily digested by the most sensitive stomachs, despite its high acid content. It helps kidneys and intestines to function better.

Good source of antioxidants: It plays a big role in the prevention of cancer as well as heart disease.

Has a low calorie level: Another quality of honey is that, when it is compared with the same amount of sugar, it gives 40% less calories to the body. Although it gives great energy to the body, it does not add weight.

Rapidly diffuses through the blood: When accompanied by mild water, honey diffuses into the bloodstream in 7 minutes. Its free sugar molecules make the brain function better since the brain is the largest consumer of sugar, thus, reduces fatigue.

Supports blood formation: Honey provides an important part of the energy needed by the body for blood formation. In addition, it helps in cleansing the blood. It has some positive effects in regulating and facilitating blood circulation. It also functions as a protection against capillary problems and arteriosclerosis.

Does not accommodate bacteria: This bactericide (bacteria-killing) property of honey is named "the inhibition effect". Experiments conducted on honey show that its bactericide properties increase twofold when diluted with water. It is very interesting to note that newly born bees in the colony are nourished with diluted honey by the bees responsible for their supervision - as if they know this feature of the honey.

Royal Jelly: Royal jelly is a substance produced by worker bees inside the beehive. Inside this nutritious substance are sugar, proteins, fats and many vitamins. It is used in problems caused by tissue deficiency or body frailty.

It is obvious that honey, which is produced in much higher amounts than the requirements of the bees, is made for the benefit of man. And it is also obvious that bees cannot perform such an unbelievable task "on their own."

Honey may combat the effects of ageing, including memory decline and anxiety. Studies conducted on mice recently found that those on diets including honey had better spatial memory and were less anxious.

The researchers propose that honey may boost memory because of its antioxidant properties, which help prevent free radicals damaging cells in the body.

The many advantages of honey also include improving one's eyesight, especially if one sits for long hours before computers.

To improve eyesight, one should mix two teaspoons of honey with carrot juice and consume regularly.

According to research conducted by Madeep Kaur, of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Samrala in Punjab, India, there are plenty of home remedies from honey. Improvement of the eyesight is only one such cure.

Those suffering from cold, cough, and chest congestion can benefit from two teaspoons of honey with equal quantity of ginger juice consumed frequently.

According to Madeep Kaur's research paper, one spoon of fresh honey mixed with the juice of half a lemon in a glass of lukewarm water taken first thing in the morning is very effective for constipation, hyperacidity, and obesity.

Regular use of two teaspoons of honey mixed with one teaspoon of garlic juice helps control blood pressure.

A mixture of honey, ginger juice, and black pepper powder in equal quantities when consumed thrice daily helps relieve symptoms of asthma.

Mandeep Kaur's research paper, while highlighting the positive aspects of honey, has warned that honey should not be heated and that honey should not be consumed when working in hot environment when one is exposed to too much heat.

The paper strongly warns that honey should never be mixed with hot and spicy foods and fermented beverages like whisky, rum or brandy.

Honey includes nectar of various flowers, some of which may be poisonous, and when it is mixed with hot and spicy foods, the poisonous properties get enhanced.

Precautions to be taken before using honey:

a.. Honey should not be mixed with hot foods.

b.. Honey should not be heated.

c.. Honey should not be consumed when you are working in hot environment where you are exposed to more heat.

d.. Honey should never be mixed with rain water, hot and spicy foods, and fermented beverages like whisky, rum, brandy etc, ghee and mustard.

e.. Honey includes nectar of various flowers of which some may be poisonous. Poison has hot qualities. When honey is mixed with hot and spicy foods the poisonous properties get enhanced and cause imbalance of doshas.

Having a hobby for your child

In today's fast-paced stressed life, even children need to take a little time off with some form of relaxation. However, instead of raising a couch potato who listens to MP3s, plays video games, surfs the Internet or just watches TV, encouraging a child to take up a constructive alternative, such as, a hobby could open a whole new dimension to his life. Parents should support their child in discovering the rewards of having a hobby.

What is a Hobby?

A hobby is a pastime or activity that a child does in his spare time for individual accomplishment. It is something they have an interest in and that they enjoy. It differs from an activity that is forced on them. For instance, a parent may think that her son needs some exercise and signs him up for soccer. While her son may not mind playing soccer, he is not especially enthusiastic about it either. This is not a hobby for him; whereas, a daughter begs to take up ballet. Here she is not only getting exercise, but she lives and breathes ballet. That then makes it her hobby.

What kinds of Hobbies are there?

1. One type of hobby is collecting, such as, key chain, lunchbox, autograph, stamp, trading card, comic book, postcard, doll, spoon, patch or coin collecting.

2. There are educational hobbies. A few of them would be amateur radio, bird watching, genealogy, chemistry or astronomy.

3. Then there are creative hobbies. They could be painting, photography, playing a musical instrument, cooking, scrap booking, building models, HO gauge trains, kite building, wood carving, needlepoint, knitting, sewing and crocheting.

4. Also there are physical hobbies, for example, playing sports, yoga, bicycling, running or hiking.

5. Next there are the games. Many of which can be played in competition. Several are chess, checkers, bridge, gin rummy, backgammon and scrabble.

6. Some are then a combination of hobby types. For instance, hobbies that are a blend of the collecting and educational varieties are rock and mineral, fossil, butterfly, feather, shell and arrowhead collecting. Gardening could be considered both physical and educational; whereas, the art of dance is creative and physical.

What are the Rewards of Having a Hobby?

1. It can promote relaxation.

2. It can encourage physical exercise.

3. The hobby may further advance creativity.

4. Through the process of self-discovery, a child may realize a talent they did not know existed.

5. A hobby can teach. A child may learn about the particular subject they are engaged in and perhaps become an expert. They can learn organizational skills through setting up a collection or planning the next phase of their hobby's development.

6. It may aid a child in increasing the drive and persistence to attain their goals.

7. Due to self-achievement, the hobby can help in building confidence. For example, when a budding gardener takes some seeds, cultivates the soil, adds the right amount of water and proper sunlight and wins first prize for growing the largest tomato at the fair.

8. It can also aid in developing social skills like how to handle competition with learning to win politely or lose gracefully.

9. The hobby could result into a lifetime passion or eventually turn into a career.

There are very few downsides to having a hobby. Unless, of course, the child becomes obsessed to the point where everything else in their life falls to the wayside. It is the duty of a parent to keep their child on track with what is appropriate and not to allow them to become too fixated on their hobby.

To further the desire to take up a hobby in a child, it is important that the parents have a hobby themselves. They also should attempt to expose their child to various experiences so that possibly their child may form an interest in some area. When an interest seems to develop, parents should support it wholeheartedly. Perhaps take a trip to a museum, show, or exhibit that features the hobby.

However, parents should not demand absolute perfection from the child. They should allow the child to try, fail, and learn from their mistakes. After all, it is their hobby and they should be allowed to explore it their own way. A child who discovers his own personal pursuit will surely reap many rewards from his hobby that he otherwise would not have experienced.

Adding romance to your bedroom décor

Romance isn't all about action these days. From subtle to outrageous, romance is creeping and barreling its way into home décor. In many homes, the master bedroom is the first place to fully absorb the decorative passion. If you're pining for a sensuous chamber to call your own, you needn't look far or go to great lengths. A romantic, sexy bedroom can be yours in a weekend's time or less!

The first consideration you must make when contemplating a revamp of your bedroom's ambiance is budget. Just how much are you willing to spend for passionate perfection? Also consider if you will be replacing the furniture, or merely adding accent pieces and romantic accessories to indulge your decorative desires. Do you already have items you would like to keep, or are you starting over from scratch? Come up with a game plan and a budget to help you get started on your quest for a newly decorated, romantic bedroom!

Consider these tips to help you choose the colors, furniture, bedding, window treatments, and accessories you'll love as you revamp and create your perfect romantic bedroom.

Bring Color into the Bedroom

Once you've discovered your budget and the renovation scope, you can begin to plot and plan your lovely and romantic ideas for change. Truth be told, romance isn't all about frills and lace. Women and men alike can enjoy a romantic hideaway that is theirs and theirs alone - without the worry of turning everything pink and lacy. On the contrary, bold reds and blues and purples - royal hues - create a wonderfully seductive palette for your bedroom.

More interested in the neutrals and earth tones? No problem - look into billowy white or pearl bedspreads and some celery-colored throw pillows to bring in some color. Then add long, flowing white curtains to your windows, or a set of sheer canopy linens to fit your poster bed. Or, consider some lovely taupe bedding piled high with chocolate-colored throw pillows. Any of these shades offer a delightful unisex combination that looks like you pulled your bedroom right out of a magazine.

Color adds so much to a room, and you have so many options for where to place the color. Don't forget your floors (Carpet? Hardwood?), your walls (paint? textured paint? wallpaper?), and of course, your linens, furniture stain, and the curtains or draperies that you choose. You may wish to come up with a plan for choosing your colors - start with all the colors you like in mind, and then determine what you will do with the floors, walls, bedding, furniture, and windows.

TIP: Mix and match colors to create exciting combinations. Try light blue and brown or orange and hot pink or plum. Or make up your own wild shade!

Romancing the Bed - Satin, Velvet, Throw Pillows, and More

Your bed should be the focal point of your bedroom. After all, it is the fixture where you get your beauty sleep and the place where you spend many blissful hours with the love of your life. Adding romance to your bed goes far beyond the sheets you choose, although a set or two of shiny, slippery satin sheets will do nicely for adding romance to any bedroom.

If you want to select nice satin sheets for your room, consider colors that complement the rest of your décor - your bedspread, the paint on your walls. Some favorites are red satin sheets, white satin sheets, and black satin sheets. But, if you can't resist those hot pink satin sheets, go for it anyway. They can be your sexy little secret!

What are satin sheets without a beautiful, warm comforter or bedspread? Consider the fabrics and materials available to you - satin of course, suede or faux suede, velvet, goose down. Plush, velvet bedspreads look especially sexy in the royal family of colors. Just imagine a deep red velvet bedspread, or deep purple, or even royal blue. Velvet bedspreads add much romance to the look of your room, giving it a rich and regal tone. Velvet is ultra soft and often very durable as a bedspread.

Another option for bedding - chenille - is similar in softness to velvet, but a little more down-to-earth. The soft, cushy chenille is a good surface for lounging around or dropping down unexpectedly to a super soft bed.

For the charming Bed and Breakfast look, consider a quilt. Patchwork quilts lend the old-fashioned country look and feel, as well as the charm of a cozy Bed and Breakfast establishment. You can't go wrong with your color scheme, because countless color combinations account for quilts of all patterns.

Choosing a set of throw pillows can be fun - just try to keep in mind the color and pattern of your bedspread as well as the colors of your paint and furniture. A mountain of throw pillows adds so much romance to a room - just think of all the fun you'll have flopping down onto them or tossing them off the bed to make more room for yourselves!

And while you're dressing up the bed, don't forget shams for your pillows and a bed skirt!

If budget is an issue and some of these more luxurious fabrics are out of the question - don't fret! Romance is what you make of it, and for what it's worth, your bedspread could be made of cotton or polyester, but who would know the difference once you've finished dressing up your bed with piles of pillows!

TIP: Match shiny with soft for the ultimate hip and romantic juxtaposition.

The main point is to find a color and a pattern or style that suit your personal preferences. Make sure it is available in the size bed that you have, and let your creative mind do the rest.

Romancing the Windows - Sheers and Shades

While you may not immediately consider your windows as a sexy or romantic part of your bedroom, think again. Where do your eyes wander when you're lying on your bed? What lets the light filter in in the morning when you wake up next to the one you love? Where do you look when you wake up - after checking the alarm clock - to see what kind of day it will be? The windows of your bedroom can really and truly add a romantic element to your room if you give them a chance.

Long, flowing sheers really dress up a window and this effect is easy to achieve and relatively inexpensive. You can usually pick up a set of sheers at a department store for $10 to $20 for each panel, and the look is well worth the modest cost. White or eggshell sheer curtains are a beautiful and softly elegant look for just about any room. Depending on the color combination you are trying to achieve, chocolate or taupe colored sheers may also look fabulous. You can find sheers in just about any color of the rainbow, from spiced orange to blue, yellow, red, and the list goes on.

When selecting curtains for your room, you may have a difficult time finding exactly what you want, and picturing it in your room. Consider your bedspread and wall color when selecting your curtains. Think about the fabric you prefer and also the style and color choices. Consider layers of fabric, soft and sensuous sheers, and even textured looks. Swag is another romantic option if you aren't down with traditional style curtains.

You can also dress up a window with romantic and organic bamboo roman shades. These shades offer a room a lovely and not so common look. The natural element of the bamboo is something you can play off of throughout the rest of your décor, or you can just leave the roman shades as a nice accent piece.

Romancing the Furniture - Hardwoods and Accents

If you haven't yet selected your furniture, consider the types of beds that appeal to you. Canopy beds and four-post beds are highly romantic in and of themselves, but let's not forget about sleigh beds and of course, waterbeds. If you are replacing your furniture, this will need to be done before you can make many of the other decorative changes.

Consider the colors and richness of the wood when selecting your bedroom set. Also look into styles of the pieces included with the set - do you get a dresser and a bureau? How many nightstands? Also consider how you will arrange the furniture once you get it home.

If you are planning to keep your current furniture but would like to add some pieces to bring a little more romance to your room, consider these optionst

Consider these romantic accent pieces:

l Armoire - If you can find one that matches or complements your current décor, an armoire is an excellent addition to a bedroom with enough space for it. Armoires are a great place to hide away your television so you can keep the focus of your room on the romance and ambiance without having to get rid of your television.

o Bench - A bench at the foot of the bed is a nice addition that wouldn't cost all that much. The bench can be all hardwood or cushioned on top, and should be in the same shade or style as your bedroom set. Place a breakfast tray on the bench to hint to your sweetheart that it's high time you enjoyed some coffee and breakfast in bed! How's that for romance?

o Hope chest - Hope chests are a classy and beautiful place to store some of your family's memories. My mom keeps our Christmas stockings and her first and favorite teddy bear in her hope chest. Some people keep linens in their hope chests. It is a special place for memories or special items, or even just general storage, but a hope chest can really add a romantic element to a bedroom. Hope chests are available as elegant furniture pieces with shiny, polished hardwood, or with a cushioned seat on top for extra utility in the bedroom.

o Victorian Chaise Lounge - To bring over-the-top romance to your room, you absolutely must add a dainty and charming Victorian chaise lounge to your bedroom. The single chair is often slender and narrow, taking up only a small bit of room. It is a nice addition to a formal setting as well, such as a living room or sitting room, but adding such a chair to the bedroom can really present a nice accent to the pre-existing décor.

Some additional favorite furniture accents are an oval freestanding mirror with hardwood trim to match your bedroom set, or even a small gas fireplace that you can position where you please. You might also enjoy a dressing table / vanity for all your primping and prepping needs!

And Finally, Romantic Accessories for Your Bedroom

When it comes to the finishing touches, you will probably have more ideas than you need at this point. Here are a few suggestions for romantic bedroom accessories to add a special ambiance and to make your nighttime chamber your favorite room of the house.

l Art - paintings or murals

l Art - sculpture

l Candles

l Dimmer on your lighting

l Fountain or Zen garden

l Live bamboo plant

l Musical instrument

l Oil lamps

l Pottery vases or bowls

l Tapestries

l Throw blankets

l Throw pillows

l Vase with fresh flowers

TIP: In the world of accessories as accents, less really is more. Choose only one or a few of these to really make a statement in your bedroom.

Choose a throwback style and bring it back to life. Choose a tried and true favorite and warm up your room to change. Choose something contemporary and make it work for you. You are an artist and your bedroom is your easel - now get to work!