How to Protect Yourself from Too Much Stress

Stress affects just about everyone at one time or another, and it is not necessarily a bad thing. However, ongoing stress that chips away at your energy level and overall health needs to be managed. While you can’t stop stress from existing in your life, there are some things you can do to protect yourself against too much stress. Here are some tips.

Exercise Regularly

The important of regular exercise seems to be key to managing more and more conditions. Reducing stress is yet another benefit of exercise. Exercise is just a good and healthy thing to do regardless, keeping your body in top condition to help it handle stress.

Specifically, exercise increases circulation and may help move toxins out of the body. Toxins are said to collect in the body as a result of stress, probably because stress affects the usual elimination systems (especially digestion).

Breathing

Practicing deep breathing can help prevent stress from taking hold. As often as you can during the day, at regular intervals and/or when you feel a stressful situation coming on, take at least ten deep breaths. Breathe very slowly – some experts recommend counting to ten as you do – and breathe very deeply, imagining your breath filling your lower abdominal cavity. It’s important to relax those tummy muscles we all like to hold in! Then breathe out slowly as well, taking care to expel the very last bit of air from your lungs.

Fish Oil

A medical study in the mid-1990s linked the ingestion of fish oil with stress reduction – rats that were given fish oil supplements were found to be less susceptible to stress-induced gastric ulceration.

Other studies have shown fish oil’s ability to combat the toxic by-products produced when the body digests bad fats, or saturated and animal fats. Fish oil may therefore protect against the toxic by-products of stress as well. In addition, fish oil is reported to help reduce blood pressure by promoting the relaxation of the cells lining the blood vessels.

Fish oil can be taken in supplements, or you can make a point of eating fatty fish like salmon and sardines several times a week.

Meditation

Meditation has been shown to be very helpful in stress protection. It helps focus the mind and relax the body, both crucial elements in stress reduction. You do not have to be religious to meditate; the principle of centering, focusing, and relaxing is not connected with any religious practice. If you do practice a religion, you can combine meditation with prayer, or repeat a religious mantra.

Nutrition

Practicing good nutrition is important for stress management. Taking a good vitamin supplement – preferably food-based and formulated for your age and gender – is a good idea. Eating healthfully every day is also important, and varying the foods you eat helps ensure you are getting the nutrients you need. Whole foods are a good idea – whole grains, fresh produce, and lean meats are a good basis around which to build your stress-protective diet.

Throwing a Low-Cost and Fun Halloween Party for Adults

Halloween is not just for kids. Adults can enjoy a fun Halloween party, too, even on a budget. Here are some low-cost ideas for a great Halloween party for adults.

Themes

You can take the Halloween idea and derive quite a few appropriate themes. Choosing a fun theme can make for a great party without a lot of cost. Here are some ideas.

* Classic horror movies – Decorate your home according to the themes and images in various classic horror movies, such as mummies, vampires, and zombies. Borrow movie posters from friends, or glean them from yard sales, flea markets and antique shops. If you like, rent and show some of the classic films at your party.

* King Tut/Egyptian pyramid – Legends abound as to the haunted nature of the pyramids. An Egyptian mummy theme featuring the famous King Tut offers lots of possibilities for games, decorations, and food.

* Haunted house – This is an oldie but a goodie. You can choose a historical period, such as a Victorian Era house or a medieval haunted castle theme.

* Costume party – Adults don’t often get a chance to dress up; hold an old-fashioned costume party to let the adults have fun dressing up too! Costume parties can have various themes, perhaps based on a period in history, movie, or just whatever!

Decorations

Depending on your theme, decorations can be fun to make and look at, and they do not need to be expensive. Here are some suggestions.

* Black plastic bags or dark red plastic tablecloths can be used as “curtains” to darken the room.

* Paint creepy outdoor scenes on a piece of cardboard or poster board, and place on the inside of the window surrounded by dark curtains.

* Stretch cotton balls to make spider webs. You can often find a bag of cotton balls for a dollar or less.

* Cut out bat shapes from black construction paper and cover the walls with them.

* Latex gloves can be filled with colored water or juice, frozen, and used as ice in a punch bowl (cut the gloves off to release the ice hand).

Food

Food can be one of the most significant expenses of a party. But with a little clever planning, you can serve great Halloween food without breaking the budget. Here are some ideas.

* Instead of meatballs, serve that old stand-by of the budget-conscious: meatloaf. Only shape the meatloaf like a body, cover it with ketchup, and leave a plastic knife sticking out of the chest area. Something cheap becomes something cleverly creepy!

* Stick chocolate chips into marshmallows to make eyeballs.

* Cut hotdogs into finger shapes – cut small slits for “knuckles.” Use almond slivers for fingernails, or to save money, just cut fingernail shapes. Douse the “fingers” with ketchup.

Easy Ways to Keep Your Energy Up and Avoid Afternoon Slumps

We can all relate to the afternoon slumps. They usually hit a couple of hours after lunchtime, and sometimes just keeping awake is a challenge. But before you reach for the caffeine, here are some other ideas that may help stave off those doldrums and give you the energy boost you need.

Have a Cuppa

Perhaps the concept of tea in the afternoon could be adopted by some Americans. Green tea in particular has a refreshing effect. It does contain caffeine, but it contains a fraction of the caffeine found in coffee, and its effect is much gentler. Green tea also contains antioxidants. If you find a warm cup of tea too relaxing, try iced green tea sweetened with a little raw honey. The honey will help boost your energy, too.

Take a Walk

Give yourself a boost by getting your circulation going and your muscles working. If you work in an office, see if you can get away for a few minutes to walk around the outside of the office building. If you’re at home, try walking outdoors for a bit. Getting out into the fresh air and moving briskly can help give you an energy boost.

Light

If you don’t have windows or otherwise have little access to natural light, try putting daylight-spectrum bulbs in your lamps and light sockets. It’s amazing what this daylight exposure can do to lift your spirits and help your energy. If you do have windows, let in as much natural light and fresh air as you can.

Vitamins

You may already be taking vitamins, but many people take them in the morning. Instead, try taking them at lunchtime to help boost your energy in the afternoon. Make sure you’re taking a quality vitamin, too – it should be formulated to your stage in life, and many health professionals agree that your vitamins should be food-based rather than synthetic.

High-Energy Lunch

For some, a carbohydrate-heavy lunch can contribute to an energy slump later in the afternoon. Try focusing on lean protein and fresh fruit and vegetables for lunch instead, and if you have carbs for lunch, eat whole grain ones. Maybe you could have a salad with lean beef or chicken, or topped with healthy nuts.

High-Energy Snacks

When the energy slump hits, it can be very tempting to reach for something sweet, like cookies or candy. Your body needs energy, and craving sugar is its way of telling you – but whereas this craving served our ancestors well by driving them toward the ripest berries and fruits, nowadays it tends to drive us toward the pastries. Get back to your ancestral roots and go for the sweet fruits instead!

A combination of fresh or dried fruit and nuts makes an energy-boosting snack – think celery with peanut butter and raisins or trail mix.

How to Carve a Pumpkin – Top Tips

It’s time for pumpkin carving! All across the country, porches, driveways, storefronts, and so forth will glow with the orange-y light of jack-o-lanterns. To carve a really nice jack-o-lantern, it’s important to have the right tools and some directions. Here is a list of tools and some tips on how to carve a pumpkin.

Tools

You can get elaborate or stay simple with the tools; but there are some essentials regardless. The basics include the following:

* A sharp knife, preferably thin, flexible and serrated, is important for making a hole in the pumpkin in order to clean out the pulp and seeds. Some sources say that a keyhole saw is ideal.

* Box cutter or X-acto knife for carving the features

* Large spoon for scooping out the pulp

There are some optional tools, too – tools that you don’t necessarily need, but that may make your pumpkin turn out better and the process easier.

* Plaster scraper
* Toothpicks
* Linoleum cutter
* Long nail, center punch, or small knitting needle

Carving Tips

Here are some tips for carving that perfect pumpkin this year.

1. Choose a good one. Pumpkins do not have to be perfectly round; in fact, funky shapes can make for fun designs.

2. Cut a hole in the pumpkin and clean out the pulp and seeds – but before you do brain surgery on you pumpkin, think about how you want your jack-o-lantern to function. If you want to put electric lighting in it, cutting a hole in the back or bottom might work best. For candles, cut off the top.

3. Cut the hole with the serrated knife, and if you’re cutting off the top, slant the knife slightly inward so the bottom of the “plug” will be narrower than the top (that way it won’t fall in).

4. When you scoop out the pulp and seeds initially, use the big spoon. (Save the seeds for roasting and eating if you like.) The scraping of the flesh can be laborious with a spoon, so that’s the time to employ the plaster scraper if you have one. Scrape until the pumpkin walls are a uniform thickness, making sure not to compromise the strength of the walls.

5. Choose a design. You can draw a free-hand design on the pumpkin, choose a template, or just carve. If you’re using a template, transfer the design to the pumpkin by poking small holes with the nail or knitting needle along the edges of the design.

6. Carve the design with the X-acto knife and/or linoleum cutter. The latter does well for details or partial carving (where you don’t go all the way through the pumpkin wall).

7. Use a toothpick to stick broken pieces back into place.

8. Cut more vents or holes in the pumpkin if you can’t get your candle to stay lit inside it.

Homework

Parents may get as frustrated with homework as their kids are, and it’s sometimes hard to know how much help is appropriate and how much you should back off. To help your kids take responsibility for their homework, here are some tips you can try.

Establish a Routine

Involve the child in establishing a routine for homework. Your child may not know exactly what works for him at first; there may need to be some trial and error. First, decide when homework will be done. Right after school? After a snack and a bit of play time? Right after dinner? Whatever you choose, try to make it consistent. Having to do homework at the same time every day can help with motivation and remembering.

When you work out the homework routine with your child, take his or her learning style, temperament, and needs into consideration. Decide whether you want something included in the routine because it’s best for your child or because you just think it should be done that way. Be flexible and open to your child’s style of learning. As long as the homework is getting done in a reasonable amount of time and is done well, there’s no need to worry about having the “right” routine.

A Place to Call His or Her Own

Establishing a homework location is as important as establishing a time. Again, this need not follow rigid guidelines; watch your child and talk to him about how he functions best – alone? With an adult present? With music? In silence? There will be some trial and error here too, no doubt – your child may think he concentrates great working along with music, but if his homework isn’t getting done, you’ll have to re-think this.

Homework Schedule

Help your child work out a homework schedule. At first, you will probably need to guide him through this. Go through the assignments and work out a timetable – how long does he estimate each assignment will take? How many assignments are there? How much time is there before dinner or bed? Show him how to break up his assignments – which may seem overwhelming – into a doable list. Allow him to do more and more of the scheduling each time until he’s doing it on his own.

It’s okay to schedule in breaks for your kids. Some children prefer frequent breaks and others like to get it all done at once. As long as the breaks are scheduled in and not too frequent, they can help the child complete his tasks.

Rewards and Incentives

Sometimes, rewards and incentives can really help. Getting a good grade can seem like a vague goal, especially to younger children. Your child may need small rewards throughout the homework session, or he may be fine with a weekly or once daily reward.

Older kids can shoot for a monthly goal and reward. Regardless of how long your child goes in earning his reward, experts say that a system of points tends to work best. Establish a point system where each task is worth a certain amount of points. The child can periodically “cash in” the points for privileges. You can use play money, too, for younger kids.

Health Benefits of a Colorful Diet

Professional chefs will tell you there’s a visual element to food, and they work on their presentation as much as the food’s flavor. Given this human tendency, it’s interesting that some of nature’s most visually appealing foods are also the healthiest.

However, in our modern culture of artificially-colored foods, many of us have lost the sensitivity to foods’ natural colors, and we may think of brightly-colored foods as unhealthy (in the case of artificial colors, this may be true!). It’s time to look at nature’s food rainbow and point out the health benefits!

Red

Red-colored foods tend to be high in lycopene, which acts as an antioxidant and possible cancer preventative. Lycopene (sometimes called anthocyanins) is actually the pigment that makes red foods red, and has also been implicated in promoting heart health. In addition, red foods are often high in Vitamin C and other important nutrients. Here is a list of some healthy red foods:

* Pink grapefruit
* Watermelon
* Tomatoes (particularly cooked or canned tomatoes – this processing seems to help the lycopene be absorbed by the body)
* Raspberries
* Strawberries
* Rhubarb
* Cherries
* Beets
* Red/Purple cabbage
* Red bell peppers

Yellow and Orange

Yellow and orange foods are usually lumped together in the same category, all getting their color from carotenoids. Carotenoids, or beta-carotene, are converted to Vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is said to be an important nutrient for eye health and hormone regulation (especially in women). Studies have also shown beta-carotene to promote heart health. Here are some yellow and orange foods to include in your diet:

* Cantaloupe
* Sweet potatoes
* Yellow and orange bell peppers
* Carrots
* Peaches and apricots
* Yellow corn (note that white corn does not contain as many carotenoids)
* Oranges
* Papayas
* “White” grapefruit
* Pineapple

Blue and Purple

Again with anthocyanins – blue and purple foods contain these antioxidants which are reputed to protect against a host of diseases, including cancer, heart disease and stroke. Blue and purple foods are also said to help prevent memory loss. Here are some to try:

* Purple grapes
* Blueberries
* Eggplant
* Raisins
* Plums
* Blackberries
* Prunes

Green

When you think of vegetables, this is probably the color you think of first. The darker the green, the healthier the food, say multiple sources. The green pigment is due to chlorophyll, the plant chemical that makes all green plants green, from broccoli to oak trees. Some dark leafy greens contain lutein, another eye-healthy nutrient; others, like broccoli, contain indoles which are said to protect against cancer. Go green by adding some of these foods into your diet:

* Brussels sprouts
* Spinach
* Kale
* Lettuce (leaf varieties)
* Cucumbers
* Green bell peppers
* Kiwi fruit
* Asparagus
* Green cabbage
* Peas

Fun and “Scary” Halloween Party Food

Coming up with fun and creepy food for a Halloween party can be a lot of fun! Whether it’s a party for kids or adults, you can really get creative with this kind of scary food theme. Here are some suggestions for offering your guests the best in fun, tasty, and scary!

Kids’ Parties

For a child’s party, you may want to tone it down a little and go with more of a “gross” theme to the party food rather than a really scary effect. (It depends on the age and temperament of the kids, ultimately.) Here are some suggestions for Halloween party food for kids.

1. Wormy Ice

For this beverage treat, you’ll need:

* Large plastic tub, such as a whipped topping container
* Gummy worms
* Your favorite punch recipe that requires ice (red, green, or clear in color would be good)

Place the worms in the plastic tub; fill the tub with water or green sports drink and freeze. Unmold the wormy ice block into the punch bowl before pouring the punch into it. As the ice melts, the worms will “emerge.”

2. Spooky Mini Pizzas

Kids love pizza, so why not make it spooky? You’ll need:

* English muffins, split
* Pizza sauce
* Mozzarella cheese, shredded
* Black and green olives
* Pepperoni
* Green pepper strips

After you put pizza sauce on your English muffin halves, you can get creative with the designs.

For a mummy look, put shreds of mozzarella cheese on the bottom two-thirds of the muffin, leave a space, and put a few shreds on top. Put two green olives in the space for eyes.

For a skull look, cover the muffin half with cheese. Use black olives for eyes. Cut a triangle of pepperoni for the nose. Dice one of the green pepper strips and line them up under the nose to look like teeth.

Adult Parties

Here are some scary and spooky ideas for an adult Halloween party.

1. Dead Man’s Loaf

Take your favorite meat loaf recipe (or vegetarian loaf) and shape it like a body lying on its back. Leave a knife sticking out of the loaf’s chest and apply ketchup, chili sauce, or other red condiment at the base of the knife and running down to look like blood. Guests can use the knife to slice off pieces of the loaf.

2. Barfing Pumpkin

This fun and icky party tray will taste good but look nasty! You will need:

* 3 or 4 mini pumpkins
* 2 to 4 kinds of dip or spread (pimento cheese, red pepper hummus, or ranch dip colored green with food coloring are some ideas)
* Chips and/or crackers

Carve the mini pumpkins into “barfing” faces, or paint the faces on. Place the nasty-faced pumpkins back-to-back in the middle of the tray so they face outward. Place the dips to look like they’re coming out of the pumpkins’ mouths (1 dip per pumpkin). Serve with chips and crackers.

Halloween Decoration Craft Ideas

Making Halloween crafts can be a lot of fun, and you can create some really spooky, funny effects. Buying decorations can end up costing a lot of money, though, and you often end up throwing them away after the party. Why not make your own, and have fun in the process? Here are some ideas.

1. Halloween “Tree”

Find a branch with an interesting, gnarled shape. Spray paint it black, then place it in a vase and hang spooky ornaments from it, such as tissue-paper ghosts, small craft pumpkins, mini skeletons, and so forth.

2. Glue Ghosts

White glue dries to a nice, ghostly color. Lay a piece of wax paper on a tray. Then squeeze out some glue in a ghost-like shape, and fill it in with glue. When it’s dry, peel it off the wax paper. Add eyes with a permanent black marker. Or, you could stick googly eyes or two small black beads into the glue while it’s wet.

Stick a safety pin through the top of the ghost, and use as decorations or wear them on clothing.

3. Spidery Candle Holders

For this craft, you will need the following:

* Clear glass candle holders or small jars
* Black permanent marker
* Hot glue gun
* Plastic spiders (you can usually get a bag of these at your local retailer)

Using the black marker, draw spider web-like lines on the outside of the glass holders. Then, hot glue the spiders to the holders in various places on the web. The strings that hot glue guns tend to produce will only enhance the effect.

4. Monster Candy Holder

Make a fun and silly monster head to store your treats! You will need:

* Empty coffee can
* Light green spray paint
* Black yarn
* Hot glue gun
* Googly eyes
* Scissors
* A wine cork
* Drill
* 2 large screws
* Black paint or permanent marker

Spray paint the outside of the can green. When it’s dry, glue on eyes and the cork nose. Draw or paint a mouth in black (make “stitches” by painting little vertical lines along the horizontal mouth line). Glue yarn around the open top to make hair. Finally, use the drill to screw in the two screws on either side of the face at the very bottom – but screw them only about 1/3 of the way in.

5. Craft Stick Haunted House

Hang this from your door knob or on your front door, or make a few to decorate your house. You’ll need:

* Craft sticks
* Water colors
* Hot glue
* Construction paper
* Scissors

First, paint/stain 8 of the craft sticks with the watercolors. Black, purple, and blue make good choices. Stain 2 more craft sticks in a contrasting color. Allow to dry; then glue the 8 craft sticks together into a flat square (glue the long edges together). Glue the 2 contrasting color sticks to the top in an upside-down “V” shape to make the roof. Then, using construction paper, scissors, and hot glue, cut out and glue on windows, ghosts, a door, etc.

Grow Herbs Indoors – Top Tips

Growing herbs indoors presents unique challenges, but it is not necessarily difficult. The keys to successful herb growing indoors are light, soil and water – just like outdoor gardening! Here are some tips on how to make the best use of these elements in growing herbs indoors.

Containers

The first thing you will need to grow herbs indoors are containers. Some sources say terra cotta pots are best as they allow air to get into the soil; others say to avoid them because they allow the soil to dry out.

One way to solve this dilemma is to consider how much you are going to water your herbs. If you are home often and will be watering often, terra cotta containers are a good choice. If you are not able to water very often, you might choose plastic, ceramic, or glass containers. Also, herbs that prefer dry soil might do best in terra cotta.

Herbs are generally not too picky about the container material, but they do tend to prefer crowded roots. So don’t be tempted to use overly-large containers.

You can also use creative or unconventional containers. Raid your recycle bin and look for cans, plastic containers, and so forth.

All containers should have adequate drainage holes. You should also have a tray or saucer to catch the water as it drains and runs off.

Types of Herbs

Some types of herbs grow better indoors than others. Here are some of the ones that tend to do well inside:

* Oregano
* Lemon balm
* Thyme
* Mints (most varieties)
* Lemongrass
* Chives
* Parsley

Soil

Generally speaking, commercial potting soil will do well for most herbs. Don’t make the mistake of digging up outdoor soil and putting it in pots – it’s not designed to be in containers, and the drainage will not be efficient. The exception is lemongrass, which can be grown in water alone.

Light and Location

Ideally, place your herbs as close to an eastern window as you can – the closer to the glass, the more light the herbs will get. South-eastern and western sunlight may also work, but northern light is considered too poor for most herbs. Mints and parsley can sometimes do well on lower light.

Your herbs will need anywhere from three to six hours of sunlight a day. If you can’t manage this, consider installing grow lights. Some sources suggest putting these on timers so that your herbs will get their needed light a few hours before sunrise.

Water

Watering needs vary among herbs. Mediterranean herbs like thyme and oregano do not need as much water as lemon balm and chives, for example. Also, watering needs change as the season changes – for example, if you have electric indoor heat, it tends to dry out the indoor air significantly, upping the need for water. A good rule of thumb is to push your finger about an inch into the soil to see if it feels dry. Most herbs prefer soil that is moist most of the time.

Humidity is another area of moisture maintenance. It’s a good idea to keep a spray bottle of water handy to spritz your herbs several times every day in dry weather.

How to Fall in Love with Exercising

Is exercise something you consider a necessary evil? Is it more drudgery and duty than an activity you eagerly anticipate? You’re not alone – there are a lot of people who feel the same way. This is why New Year’s resolutions to exercise more often don’t last past February. But if you fall in love with exercising, you’re far more likely to keep it up. How can you do that?

Here are some ideas on how you can fall in love with exercising.

Make It a Game

…literally! Some popular gaming systems have workout “games” that have been known to make dedicated “players” out of those who had trouble sticking to an exercise routine.

Users say that the reasons why these games keep them interested are the variety (your workout varies each time, reducing the boredom associated with DVDs and videos) and user control (you can tone down or ramp up your workout to suit your fitness level, even during the workout).

There are dance-based games, too, where you sweat and burn calories while having fun dancing!

Make It “You Time”

If you can merge your exercise routine with some much-needed “me time,” you may find yourself looking forward to it. Maybe it’s outside in your yard, or in a park, or even the gym – the point is to tailor your workout to fit your personal needs so that it’s your thing, whether it’s time alone or time with others.

Do Something You Like

There seems to be a misconception that you have to hate your exercise for it to be effective – sort of like eating your spinach as a kid. If it tastes/feels bad, it must be good for you. But there are so many fun options when it comes to exercising that there’s no excuse to hate what you’re doing!

Certainly, exercise is work and doesn’t always feel great right at the moment. But choosing an activity you love will help you keep it up even when it gets tough. Dancing, horseback riding, hiking, jumping rope, Pilates or Yoga classes, martial arts, etc. are all forms of exercise that can be so much fun you forget they’re work (and you’re more willing to press through it when it does feel like work).

Log Your Progress

Note down how you feel as you progress. Do you have more energy? Are your muscles more toned? Have you lost weight? Keep notes on how you were when you started and throughout your progress. Looking at this list can be a boost and help you love your exercise routine because of what it’s doing for you.

Fall and Winter Vegetables – Guide

Most people think of summer when they think of fresh vegetables, but fall and winter have their own star players. There are benefits to planting fall and winter vegetables, too, such as:

* Fresh produce later in the season
* Soil enrichment and increased soil fertility
* Groundcover, which means less mud and mess with fall and winter precipitation
* Saving money during a time of year when produce prices increase in grocery stores

The key is knowing what to plant and when to plant it. Here is a brief guide to help those in temperate regions get started this season.

Frost

Find out when the first frost generally occurs in your region. While the exact date will likely be impossible to predict, you should be able to find a ballpark estimate. In Southern regions, there may not be a killing frost expected at all. In more northerly temperate climates, the first killing frost usually occurs in mid- to late October.

Once you find out the average frost date, plan your fall and winter planting so that your plants mature before frost time.

Mulch

Deep mulch is essential in frosty climates. Mulch protects the plants’ roots from freezing, holds in moisture, and increases the richness of the soil. In spring, it can be tilled into the soil to help increase fertility.

What and When to Plant?

So what do you plant, and when do you plant it? Here are some guidelines.

1. Early-Maturing Plants

These plants generally reach maturity in about 30 days, so count backward from your frost date and plant accordingly. For example, if your average frost date is in late October, you should plant these crops in mid- to late September. Some early-maturing crops include:

* Mustard greens
* Spinach
* Broccoli
* Radishes
* Lettuce (leaf varieties)
* Cover crops, such as clover
* Chives

2. Crops for the Mid-Season

Crops that mature in 60 days or so can be planted in mid-August (going by the late October average frost date). Some suggestions for what to plant include:

* Carrots (the early variety)
* Turnips
* Leeks
* Collard greens
* Cabbage (early varieties)
* Swiss Chard

If you grow herbs, many of them mature in 60 days. You can sow perennial herbs in mid-August for a fall harvest.

3. Late-Season Crops

These take the longest to mature, 90 days, and should be sown in mid-July to beat a late October frost. Some vegetables that fit this description include:

* Carrots
* Globe onions
* Cabbage
* Cauliflower
* Fava beans
* Brussels sprouts
* Beets

With a little planning, you can enjoy fresh vegetables late into the season. And it’s much more pleasant to harvest vegetables when it’s not so hot out!

Do-It-Yourself Facial Masks

Professional face masks can certainly be expensive. But you can make very effective and inexpensive ones right at home. You may not even have to go to the store for ingredients! Regardless of your skin type, there’s a facial mask recipe for you. Here are some suggestions for various types of do-it-yourself facial masks and the skin types for which they’re intended.

All masks should be left on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing.

1. Dry Skin

Try some of the following recipes to help moisturize dry skin.

Yogurt Mask

* 1 teaspoon plain Greek-style yogurt
* 1 teaspoon raw honey
* 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel (if you have a plant, you can just scrape this out yourself and mix it in)
* 1/4 teaspoon olive oil

Mix all these ingredients together thoroughly and spread them evenly over your face.

Avocado Mask

This green mask looks like the classic face mask! It’s also said to be very effective at deep moisturizing.

* 1/4 cup thoroughly mashed avocado
* 2 teaspoons raw honey
* 1 teaspoon plain yogurt

Mash the avocado first; then mix in the other ingredients. Apply evenly and leave on for the usual time before rinsing with cool water.

2. Oily Skin

For oily skin, astringency and oil-absorbing properties are what to look for in a mask. Clay-based masks and those containing fruit tend to do well for oily skin. Here are some recipes.

Clay Mask

* 2 tablespoons Bentonite clay
* Citrus juice (such as lemon, orange, or grapefruit)

Add just enough juice to the clay powder to make a spreadable paste. Apply evenly and, when you rinse, use warm water.

Egg White Mask

* 1 slightly beaten egg white
* 1 teaspoon lemon juice
* 2 teaspoons plain, Greek-style yogurt

Whisk everything together and apply; rinse with lukewarm water.

3. Acne-Prone Skin

It can be hard to find acne treatments that are non-irritating. Homemade masks tend to be very gentle, and you know the ingredients you’re using are mild.

Aspirin Mask

* 2 aspirin tablets
* 2 tablespoons plain, Greek-style yogurt
* 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

Salicylic acid, which is what aspirin is made of, is purported to help heal acne. Crush the aspirin tablets as finely as you can. If you have a mortar and pestle, use that. Otherwise, place the tablets in a shallow dish and crush them with the back of a spoon. Mix in the rest of the ingredients and apply.

4. Anti-Ageing

For a mask that will help your skin look more youthful, try some of the following recipes.

Carrot Mask

Carrots are said to be great for skin, perhaps because of the Vitamin A.

* 1/4 cup finely grated carrot
* 1/3 cup milk
* 1 tablespoon raw honey

Mix carrot and milk in a microwave-safe container; microwave 30 seconds (watch, as milk tends to overflow). Then allow the mixture to cool. If you like, you can refrigerate it overnight. When you’re ready to do the mask, strain out the carrots. Mix the milk with the honey and smooth onto your face.

Egg Yolk Mask

* 1 lightly beaten egg yolk
* 1 tablespoon plain, Greek-style yogurt
* 1/4 teaspoon sweet almond oil

Whisk all ingredients together and apply.

How to Know If Your Child Needs an Eye Test

Many parents are concerned about their children’s vision, and for good reason – around 25 percent of gradeschool-age children have vision problems, say some sources. Experts agree that regular eye exams should be a part of your child’s health regimen; but sometimes more is needed. Here are some signs to look for if you think your child has a vision problem.

Problems in School

You know your child is intelligent, but he or she seems to have trouble in school that just can’t seem to be explained. If the trouble centers around reading, especially, this may indicate a vision problem. Children with compromised eyesight tend to have a lot of trouble focusing their eyes on words on a page, or on the blackboard or overhead projector.

Headaches

Everyone gets a headache now and then, regardless of age. It could indicate a number of things. But chronic headaches, especially those that cause pain across the brow or forehead, may be due to poor vision. Your child’s headaches may be accompanied by rubbing of the eyes or forehead, too.

Sleepiness

Eyes that are always strained can make a child (or anyone else for that matter) feel very sleepy. Watch for sleepiness when your child tries to read, and ask your child’s teacher of he/she has observed your child acting sleepy during the school day.

Poor Performance at Sports

Have you ever tried to hit a baseball, catch a football, or play tennis with one eye closed or with blurred vision? If so, you know how hard it is for a child with undiagnosed vision problems! If your child seems coordinated enough but unable to master some of the basic skills involved in sports, it may be time for an eye test.

One Eye Out

Observe your child’s eyes and note if one eye wanders or drifts outward or inward. This is a tell-tale sign of a vision problem that needs the attention of a professional.

Squinting

Does your child squint and seem to peer forward? This may be a sign of a vision problem. The squinting can also contribute to eye strain and headaches, since the muscles around the eyes and brow are tense and contracted so often.

Fails a Simple Home Eye Test

You can give your child a basic home eye test that, while not a substitute for a professional test, can give a good indication of whether or not your child has vision problems. You will need to hang a chart about 10 feet away (you can find examples of charts and symbols to use online, and some sites even have printables), and test your child’s eyes one at a time.