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risible (riz'-uh-bull) n. 1: causing or capable of causing laughter; laughable; comical. 2: having the ability to, or disposition to laugh. 3: of or relating to laugher or used in laughing (e.g. 'risible muscles'). [From Late Latin risibilis "laughable, able to laugh," from Latin risus, past participle. of ridere "to laugh."]
(ARA) - When fingers get pointed in debates over the obesity epidemic in the United States, technology sometimes shoulders some of the blame. Time in front of computer screens or television is often listed as part of the reason why Americans aren't as healthy as they have been in the past. But the truth is there are also technological advances that have the potential to guide you in your quest for a healthier lifestyle, whether that is eating right, exercising or keeping tabs on vital numbers that are important to your health.
Take smart phone applications for example. Nowadays, you can find applications for just about anything in life that might capture your interest, and healthy living is no exception. So if you're looking to stay fit and healthy, here are six mobile apps that give you and your family a little extra help:
Lose It!: Counting calories is perhaps the simplest and most effective way to keep track of your health goals, especially if it involves weight loss. But it's difficult to do all the adding and subtracting in your head, which is where the free app Lose It! comes in. The app allows you to enter what you eat each day and calculates not only calories, but fat, protein, cholesterol and carbohydrates based on portion size. It also allows you to enter different types of workouts, from walking to yoga, to see how many calories you will burn while you are exercising.
Carb Counting with Lenny: This app is designed to help children with diabetes count carbohydrates to help manage their diabetes, but can be of use to anyone. Using their mascot Lenny the Lion, who also uses insulin pump therapy, Medtronic Diabetes introduced this app, which allows children with type 1 diabetes to learn about carbohydrate levels in basic foods. The application also allows users to create a customizable food guide using their own photos or ones they find on the Internet, as well as play games to test their carb-counting knowledge. Periodic contests and giveaways (www.medtronicdiabetes.com/carb-counting-contest) are announced to reward registered users who get highest game scores. Medtronic Diabetes, which makes such products as continuous glucose monitoring devices, designed the app to be useful and educational for both children with diabetes and others who are interested in monitoring carb intake.
Size Me Up: Another application for kids. This one allows children to enter their current height and receive estimates for how tall they might be in the future, at any given age. This can be used to help keep your child motivated to eat right, so they can grow up to be tall and healthy.
BP Buddy: This application allows people who are monitoring their blood pressure to input their blood pressure numbers and heart rate numbers and log them for up to 60 days. An e-mail feature allows users to send their numbers to their doctor for analysis.
The Carrot: As an interactive journal, this application allows you to track multiple items related to health. In addition to entering information on meals, workouts, and even medication, you can also enter your assessment of your moods or the level of job satisfaction you are feeling at the moment to see if you can pinpoint what healthy habits work best for you.
FitReach: This training and diet application allows you to enter information on your meals, as well as workouts. It also encourages you to do regular weigh-ins so you can compare your weight loss with your goals on graphs that are a part of the app.
Applications are available on iTunes and can also be downloaded through your iPhone, smart phone or other compatible mobile device.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
(ARA) - Freshmen heading off to college don't have to over-think decorating dorm rooms. Save all that mental energy for your studies. Creating inexpensive and interesting living spaces is easier than your high school finals.
It's all about expressing yourself while working with your roommates. According to Keith McCleary, Academic Director of the interior design department at The Art Institute of York - Pennsylvania, "It's best to have a sense of space before you arrive on campus with a carload of belongings that won't fit or will look dreadful when combined with those of your roommates."
Plan ahead with your roomies for smooth sailing during those first somewhat anxious weeks. Every college student has a bed, whether it's a loft, bunked, or arranged to make as much floor space as possible.
"Neutral bed coverings work best," says McCleary. "Then you can use interesting accents, such a quilt made of your old high school logo T-shirts or oversized pillows that double as seating when the first pizza party takes place."
Those pillows will add color and texture to what might be bland cement block walls. Other ways to make wall space seem less institutional: use mirrors; hang miniature Christmas lights or use a floor spot lamp to create a dramatic feeling in the room, (always be safety conscious with High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps and extension cords). Also try suspending colorful fabric from the ceiling or bringing an old screen door in to hold jewelry (just add hooks) or to display treasured family photos. Heavy duty adhesive mounting squares are good for securing posters and will not damage walls.
Don't be shy about asking people if they have "orphan furniture." There's nothing wrong with bringing some things from your home; it's not necessary to get all new gear and accessories. Memories of home will help you feel comfortable in your new living space. If you have a green thumb, bring a few easy-to-grow plants: philodendron, cacti and snake plants require little maintenance, or simply use some attractive branches in a vase. It's a good idea to remember an inexpensive fan to keep the air moving and fresh.
The old saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" applies here. Many websites have "free stuff" categories offering unusual or shabby chic furnishings. Yard sales, used furniture stores, and vintage shops all have great finds for budget-conscious students; these items also make for great conversation starters. Deer antler hat hangers, an old picnic bench for seating with storage space underneath and artwork or movie posters from the past will add personality to your home away from home.
"Proper task lighting is critical," says McCleary. "Incandescent desk lights are always preferred over any type of overhead ceiling lighting, as they provide more focus for studying and reading. Desk lamps are inexpensive and vital to a well-equipped dorm room."
Storage can be a major issue. Bed risers are inexpensive and allow you to do some undercover stashing of items not often used. Head to antique alley to find storage cubes, old containers, a stack of antique suitcases or a trunk. These can be used for off-season clothing storage, non perishable foods and dirty laundry too.
"As you anticipate your approaching college experience," notes McCleary, "keep in mind that your room is a place to study, socialize and rest - all important facets of your newest life adventure away from home."
To learn more about The Art Institutes schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu) is a system of more than 45 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.
(ARA) - After a summer filled with sunny beach days and sleepovers, getting kids motivated to head back to school and adjust to a new routine is often a challenge. To make the transition a little easier for kids and parents, here are some tips and fun ideas to get creativity flowing and wake-up brains for learning.
Serve up originality
Inviting children to help in the kitchen is a great way to get them thinking and building life skills. From math and measurement to nutrition and following directions, the kitchen provides an opportunity for kids to practice the skills that not only contribute to a family meal, but they can also use in the classroom all year.
Take some time to spend in the kitchen and get those creative juices flowing by encouraging your kids to use their taste buds and imaginations to whip-up something original. Now through Oct. 22, parents can enter their kids in the Ninth Annual Jif (R) Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest (TM), which invites parents to share their kids', ages 6 to 12, creative sandwich recipes. Last year's winner, Rachel G. of Clovis, Calif., combined chicken, grapes, honey and peanut butter in a lettuce wrap to create her "PB & Fruity says 'Let Us Rap." Finalists go to New York to compete for a $25,000 scholarship fund.
Dish on summer fun:
Gear up for the new school year by encouraging kids to make a collage of all the fun activities they did over the summer. Use photos, brochures and souvenirs to create a family photo book, tablecloth, placemat, or calendar to reminisce about summer memories all year. Asking kids to share their collage of favorite summer activities makes great family mealtime conversation.
Make mealtime masterpieces:
Let's face it; if kids recognize it, they most likely will eat it. Ensure that kids are making smart choices by involving them in planning what goes go into their lunchbox. Let kids contribute to the menu for a week's worth of lunches and practice making decisions about what foods are best for them.
Plus, make dinnertime fun and get the whole family involved. The youngest can practice measuring flour, salt or sugar, while older children can act as sous chef. Preparing meals together gives you the opportunity to explain the importance of healthy food choices that will help kids at school and later in life.
Moms - and those observing moms in action - can have a chance to get creative, too. From now through Oct. 22, the Jif (R) Moms Voice Their Choice Contest (TM) is asking moms (or those inspired by one) to submit their stories, in 250 words or less, of how they, or a mom they know, make the best choices for their families. One grand prize winner will win a seat at the judging table in New York for the live Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest event in March 2011.
Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 18 and older. Contests void where prohibited. See Official Rules for complete details. For Official Rules, entry form, and recipes or to learn more about the contests visit www.jif.com or www.jifenespanol.com.
To spark your child's creativity, and tantalize your family's taste buds, try Rachel's prize-winning peanut butter wrap recipe.
PB & Fruity Says Let Us Rap
Ingredients:
1/2 cup chopped, cooked chicken breast
2 tablespoons Jif Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter
3 tablespoons chopped Fuji apple
2 tablespoons chopped black or red grapes
1 tablespoon light mayonnaise
2 teaspoons honey
Iceberg lettuce (separated into leaves)
Directions:
Chop the chicken and fruit. Mix in a bowl. Mix in peanut butter, mayonnaise and honey. Spoon mixture into an open lettuce leaf. Roll and serve.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Each week Hobnob Gulf Shores will be bringing you a word of the week. Why not try using the word in conversation. This weeks word of the week is:
brobdignagian (brob-dig-nag'-ee-un) adj. (often capitalized) of colossal proportions or extraordinary height; gigantic. n. a giant. [From Brobdignag, a country of giants, in the book Gulliver's Travels.]
