These days staying fit, eating right, and loosing weight have all become serious business especially for women and that’s why there’s Muscle and Fitness Hers.

Muscle and Fitness Hers is a great magazine to pick up and read curled up in your favorite chair but it’s also available online and with so much information it’s hard to get bored with what they’ve got to tell you and you certainly can’t stay ahead of it.

If you are interested in nutrition Muscle and Fitness Hers has some great information on what foods are good for you but there’s more than that. There are menus for meals, food choices, savvy shopping, recipes, meals that are worth eating, and it goes on and on. Learn all about which foods have how many calories, and which foods are the healthiest to eat. Sure fruits and vegetables are important but some are more important than others. There is just so much useful information that you’re going to be thrilled with the information available to you.

But Muscle and Fitness Hers doesn’t start there – find all the information you want. Why not start with a Fusion Core Workout which is explained in detail. Or maybe learn what type of workout is best for you. Want to learn about toning? Muscle Building? Loose those extra mid section pounds? Get the Quick fit workout, perfect legs, or a complete training guide. They have all the information you need.

Muscle And Fitness Hers also has Mind & Body help. Tips on how not to get workout burnout or how to work through those tough spots – they’ve got it all. You’ve heard the old saying “mind over matter” well same goes in the gym so this online magazine is determined to keep you in the right frame of mind to beat any obstacles you come across.

Now remember women train different than men, they think different than men, and the get into shape different than men. That’s why not you need a magazine like Muscle and Fitness Hers written for women by women. No need to work with information for the other sex. And be honest – if you have ever worked out with a guy you know just how different we go about accomplishing the same thing.

The Muscle and Fitness Hers website also has a forum where you can go and chat with other gals that are looking after their bodies through diet and fitness. It’s a great place to meet some new friends and to share ideas and learn new things. You never know what you might learn and it’s always nice to meet others that have the same interests as you.

Once you’ve spent some time on the Muscle and Fitness Hers website you won’t be able to resist taking a subscription for the monthly manual which is full of all kinds of great information that will help you stay both fit and healthy. After all fitness is about more than just the working out at the gym or eating right - It’s about mind, body, and soul.

Get all the latest information about Fitness from the only true source at http://www.topfitnessinformation.com

Be sure to check out our Muscle and Fitness Hers pages.

This is the day that you have worked hard for, to graduate from high school. For some it was easy to get through high school and for others it was some hard work. Either way, more than likely you have been in school for twelve years and what one thing did you not learn? Money Management!

That is right. Have you heard of a high school that offers a class in money management? If so, let me know so that I commend them for what they are doing. Unfortunately, most of them do not and our students are failing when it comes to managing money.

They are not being taught in high school. Parents are not teaching them because they were not taught. Not all parents, but there were a lot of people that were not taught how to manage money, myself being one of them.

As you are looking at your student graduating from high school and preparing for college, what is the one thing you could do to help them? Teach them how to manage money over the summer and establish a budget for college.

Let’s face it, when graduations start they are going to receive money for graduation, financial aid from the college and even some student loans. But will they know how to manage the money so they do not end up in a financial situation that you nor they can handle?

What is the second step you can take – help your student establish a budget. Every time I speak with college students, the biggest lesson they need to learn is budget, budget, budget. Sit down and write on paper all of your expenses and income.
For example:

Income for the month:

Expenses:

Books:

Food:

Gas (if you have a car)

Extras (clothes, etc)
Remaining money:

I recommend you have your student do this for each semester. This keeps the budget realistic and attainable. Stress to your student they do not need to get a credit card while they are in college. Establish healthy financial habits and goals. These habits will remain throughout their life even when they are out of college.

Dr. Taffy Wagner is the author of Amazon.com Bestsellers Debt Dilemma and Homebuyer’s Helper. She is a financial expert, coach, counselor, speaker and teacher. Dr. Taffy has been quoted in Entrepreneur.com, eCollegetimes.com and is the Financial Advisor for Christian Business Talk Radio. If you are interested in having her speak at your seminar, college or university or group, contact her through her website at http://www.taffywagner.com.

If you would like to purchase a copy of Debt Dilemma for your student, visit my website at http://www.taffywagner.com.

Bankruptcy is not something that someone should run out and do unless much consideration has been done as well being a last resort.

The six kinds of bankruptcy are:

Chapter 7 - this is mostly for personal and is a total liquidation

Chapter 9 - municipal bankruptcy

Chapter 11 - This is mainly used by businesses for reorganization

Chapter 12 - is for farmers or fishermen

Chapter 13 - is for people with regular income and they set up special payment plans for their payments which may not be as much as their normal payment buy they are still paying their debts back.

Chapter 14 - is a moral bankruptcy

Chapter 15 - is for international situations

Let’s elaborate more on the different types of bankruptcy. Chapter 7 is the most common bankruptcy for individual people. This is where the person gives up all of their property to a bankruptcy person who will sell off the property and use the proceeds of the sale to pay the loans companies. The person is no longer responsible for this debt and does not have to pay it back but they no longer own the property either. If there have been distrustful situations such as fraud or concealing property or records they may not be discharged from the debts they own. The person is not removed from paying child support or taxes. They are not required to give up household items needed to live or clothes. They can only apply for bankruptcy every 8 years.

With a Chapter 13 the person keeps owning all off their property but must give some of their income towards paying the loan companies over a period of years. How much they pay depends on several factors and this includes how much the person currently makes in income.

Many of the other href="http://www.learn-about-it.com/bankruptcy" target="_blank">bankruptcy cases involve businesses or are more rare.

Lesa Bolt is a webmaster and you can review information on bankruptcy at href="http://www.learn-about-it.com/bankruptcy" target="_blank">bankruptcy

It is definitely possible to speed up your metabolism, that aspect of your body that burns calories. As you age, your metabolism slows down, chiefly because you lose around a half pound of muscle each year. “If you don’t use the muscle, it atrophies,” explains Pamela Peeke, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of Maryland and author of Fight Fat After Forty.

Here are 5 fat burners to help you slim down.

1. Avoid alcohol

Want to keep your favorite meals from going straight to your hips (thighs, belly)? Wash them down with water, not wine. Alcohol slows your metabolism by depressing the central nervous system. A British study found that when alcohol was added to a high-fat, high-calorie meal, less dietary fat was burned off and more was stored as body fat.

2. Rev up your workouts

Interval training — in which you add bursts of high-intensity moves into your workout — is a surefire metabolism booster, says Glenn Gaesser, Ph.D., director of the Kinesiology Program at the University of Virginia and author of The Spark. Researchers at Laval University in Quebec found that high-intensity interval training burns more fat than regular, consistent aerobic exercise. If you usually jog at a 10-minute-mile pace, for example, add a 30-second sprint every five minutes. Or add a one-minute incline to your treadmill workout every five minutes. “Even if you just have 10 minutes for a quick workout, you can walk at a normal pace and then add in a 30-second bout of speed-walking every three minutes,” recommends Gaesser.

3. Do more dairy

Women who ate low-fat dairy products, such as nonfat yogurt and low-fat cheese, three to four times a day lost 70 percent more fat than low-dairy dieters, according to a study published in the journal Obesity Research. “Calcium serves as a switch that tells your body to burn excess fat faster,” explains study author Michael Zemel, M.D., director of the Nutrition Institute at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Sorry, but you won’t reap the same benefits from calcium-fortified O.J. Research shows that you get the best results from dairy products themselves, not fortified foods. Aim for 1,200 mg, which includes about three servings of dairy a day.

4. Take up a new sport

Are you like Old Faithful when it comes to your morning walk or evening jog? Know this: The more you do an activity, the more your body adapts to it, so you burn fewer calories. If you want to light a fire under your metabolism, consider cross-training. For example, if you normally walk, try biking instead. “Since you’re not used to working all those different muscles, it’s a more intense workout, which can translate into a greater metabolic after-burn because your body is working harder to recover and get oxygen to all your tissues,” says Carol Espel, M.S., an exercise physiologist for Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York City.

5. Go fish

Break out the lemon wedges: Regular fish eaters tend to have lower levels of the hormone leptin — good because high levels of leptin have been linked to low metabolism and obesity, says Louis Aronne, M.D., an obesity specialist at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Try to consume three to four servings of a fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna or mackerel, each week.

Article by Scott T. Smith of Copywriting.Net. If you are sick and tired of being overweight, and are ready for weight loss solutions that really work, visit Slimstuff on the Web at http://www.slimstuff.com/

My friends had prepared me for a wonderful evening of inspiration and entertainment. What I experienced was a profound sense of joy, delight and being witness to a young boy living a passionate life.

I was told that after his performance there wouldn’t be a dry eye in the room. So, as the evening wore on and as we listened to one speaker after another speak with great passion, I began to wonder if my friends were right about Rex’s upcoming appearance.

Rex was finally presented to us at the end of a very long evening. Before he played for us his mother shared a lot of his medical and life history. The performance of one so young who had suffered so greatly was absolutely stellar. Rex is a remarkable person from all perspectives.

I was awe struck as I watched this blind 10-year old boy play Mozart, Chopin and Beethoven with great skill and passion. It was a long evening of waiting to experience him and his gifts.

He has been highlighted on 60 Minutes twice and a third show is about to be aired in the near future. Not only does he play the piano with great skill and precision, but he also sings so powerfully, you think he might levitate off his bench.

However, the most stunning quality about Rex is how totally authentic he is. He spoke as though everyone in the audience were his friends. Not only did he announce what he was about to play, but he also presented each piece he played and/or sang as though he was giving each of us, his friends, a very special gift. And, he never missed a beat.

After he finished each number, he jumped up and down in his seat with so much joy and pleasure that he radiated pure delight and pure joy. Never had I seen so much happiness and joy expressed in such a short period of time.

Encore Followed By Adoration

Needless to say, the audience absolutely loved him and his mom. After he had played his encore and the two of them were about to exit the stage, the audience rose up and spontaneously started chanting, Re-x, Re-x, Re-x, Re-x. He turned slightly as though he would return to play another piece for us. It was well past 10:30 pm and he had performed for a solid hour or more. He was justifiably tired. They continued walking off the stage. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room of 3,500 enthusiastic fans.

These few words only convey part of the dynamic energy radiated by 10-year old Rex and his mom. I shall forever remember the pure joy and delight he expressed as he performed for us. It was something very special to witness first hand. He not only displayed his passion for music and singing - his true gifts, but he also displayed such great passion when he gave his gifts to his audience. Thank you, Rex for so genuinely expressing your unmistakable passion for living your life.

For more tips and tools on discovering and living your life passions, you are invited to visit http://www.ThePassionTestCoachOnline.com

From Virginia Fischer, The Passion Test Coach

For years my goal was to get clear on my goals. They kept changing. I wanted to crystallize my vision. That’s the way I put it. I attended expensive seminars and sat down with a blank sheet of scratch paper almost every night, scrawling out new plans that would end up in the waste bin in a few weeks after I invested precious time, energy and capital into them. The excitement faded with time and so did my drive to see it through.

I had lots of great ideas; multi million and multi billion dollar ideas, no doubt. (Still do.) But I learned great ideas are like seeds and you must nurture them. If you plant fail to follow through they die out; no matter what their potential.

I learned that I must discipline myself not follow through on an idea just because it was exciting. I had to do a real ‘Soul check’ and see if I felt passionate about it inside. I had to evaluate deep down I felt it was a high value idea that I could pursue for years. When I was really honest with myself, I found it easier to turn exciting ideas down the moment they went down on paper. This process of not following through on the newest exciting thing has saved me a great deal of time, energy and money.

Walking on the Path First Helped Me to See the Outcome More Clearly

I learned that when I walked on the path that I knew deep down was meant for me, my vision began to clear. The more I summoned my resources and moved with confidence the more clear the future path became. I relate it to the pilot wave that David Boehm theorized in physics.

A Pilot Wave

The pilot wave is a signal that extends outward in front of a particle. If you were to adopt this into every day life, imagine, a millisecond before you do something there was already a pilot wave headed in that direction. A day before you do something, a pilot wave was already there.

It seems the more defined the path of an object is- the less variance there is in the pilot wave. It’s like a motor boat zigzagging on a lake. When its path becomes straight its future path naturally becomes more predictable.

The same appears true for life. The more you move with conviction and walk the path of your passion every day even without a vision- the more clearly a vision develops. This I hypothesize must be happening on some higher dimension. We actually tune in with our own pilot wave and see our future before it happens. This would mean that vision begins to crystallize after you begin to tune in and move in the direction of your Soul’s desire.

Vision vs. Fantasy

Vision is very different from fantasy. Vision is something that has the greatest possibility of happening because of the path you are on today. Fantasy is something you dream yourself doing but deep down you know will probably never happen because you’re not doing anything today to lead you there.

Taking a path that ‘feels right’ with no clear outcome at first may seem frustrating to logic. The resistance to follow your dreams is often compounded by the obligation to do other things that ‘make more sense’. The idea of following a passion and trying to explain it logically to others may seem even more impossible. The key here is to recognize your true passion from an exciting idea otherwise you could follow whims that truly are leading nowhere.

Here’s a way to help you filter exciting ideas from your Soul’s desire (passion).

Exciting ideas usually take the form of something you can make money with.
Your Soul’s desire may cause you to question the monetary value of following through with it. This doesn’t mean money is evil. It just means that the system of capitalism a lot younger and much more ‘man made’ than the wise old Soul’s desires. The trick is to balance your financial needs with your Soul’s desire.

This is the quandary! The sensible thing is to fulfill your money obligations and do what can earn you lots and lots of money. The insane thing to do is do something with no clear monetary reward in the end. Ah – but at least now you know where the road forks.

One final note- I have felt a sense of obligation to earn so that I can support my Soul’s desire. The two seem to go together. In this money enabled world it seems you need capital to make things happen. I have definitely used money to support my passion. And there’s no doubt ways I can make money while doing my passion. But in final analysis it’s important to be aware of two things:

(1) When your investments are Ego motivated- you are working harder than you should.

(2) Capitalism is a system. We are not trapped in it forever. Because it is an old power structure it appears like it’s always existed, but it hasn’t. And like all things, it will eventually come to an end. If you live your whole life working only as a cog in this man made machine- you will never be fulfilled.

Make work of the Soul your priority. Walk on that path even if the outcome is not clear. And in the mean time, learn how to leverage your time in this capitalistic system so you can work less and do more good outside of money motivated ventures.

James Rick is “Mr. Full Potential”
Creator of FullPotential.com and FullPotential.TV. Author of Full Potential and host of the Full Potential show. James takes a revolutionary approach to merging the physical with spirituality. The mission of Full Potential: (1) Raise awareness (2) Relieve unnecessary suffering (3) Be one of the most positively influential forces in the world. To join the cause or to learn more visit http://www.fullpotential.com

In Part 1 we briefly looked at Deepak Chopra’s approach to success in The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success. So what are these ‘laws’ that will bring you everything your heart desires? These laws are based on the ancient wisdom of the east and it is a vastly different approach to what we are used to in the west.

Traditionally western religion and philosophy has been very focused on ‘practicality’ while eastern philosophy and religion predominantly focused on the mystical and the spiritual. Most of the eastern ideas are frowned upon by our (rigid) western way of thinking. What makes Deepak Chopra’s work so important is that he managed to merge the best of both eastern and western ideas and nowhere is this more powerfully communicated than in the Seven Spiritual laws of success.

The word ‘law’ refers to that which is universal. If something is universal it means that it is everywhere and that it applies to everybody and everything - without exception. This entire universe is governed by law and there are no coincidences, just a perfect flawless system. With that in mind, the Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success will reveal some of these laws that govern our lives and what we are able to bring into our lives and what we will create or fail to create and experience during our time here in this life.

First Spiritual Law Of Success – The Law Of Pure Potentiality

In the Course In Miracles there is an affirmation that says ‘if you knew who walks beside you on this path that you have chosen, you will never experience fear ever again.’ For me, this affirmation sums up the first laws of success and it boils down to realizing who you really are. You are a part of God and God is a part of you and you have the potential to be, do and have anything that you can imagine or desire. Your ability to imagine or dream something automatically gives you the ability to create it in your physical experience. You are pure potential. You are unlimited by nature and when you live with this knowing you will know that nothing is impossible for you.

Second Spiritual Law Of Success – The Law Of Giving

We live in a dynamic universe. Everything flows. Whereas our conditioning is primarily focused on ‘getting’ the exact opposite should really be our focus. The law of giving is about reciprocity and the fact that you cannot receive anything without giving something. In fact, the only things you can ever keep in life are the things you give away. All the material possessions that you have are only ‘on loan’ as you cannot take any of it with you when you leave your body. When you shift your focus from ‘what can I get’ to ‘what can I give’ the entire focus of your life shifts and along with this shift that which you desire automatically comes into your life.

Third Spiritual Law Of Success – The Law Of Cause And Effect

Cause and effect or what is commonly called ‘Karma’ is probably one of the best known, yet least understood ideas from the ancient eastern wisdom. Everything in this universe operates by cause and effect and even Newton confirmed this scientifically. For every action there is a reaction. Everything you do in life is an action and for every one of these actions there will be a reaction or an effect. Your entire future will be determined by the choices you make and ever one of these choices are up to you – none are predetermined.

Fourth Spiritual Law Of Success – The Law Of Least Effort

Somewhere along the line we were taught that to have what we want, we have to strive, work incredibly hard and even be ruthless. Nothing could be further from the truth. When you look at nature and the process by which nature creates, it is characterized by effortless ease. Grass don’t try to grow – it just grows. Everything just happens by design and in perfect harmony - without striving. As creator and an essential part of creation we create our lives and everything in our lives by the same process. Most often the very act of trying and forcing is the very cause for us not being able to create what we intent to bring into our lives.

Fifth Spiritual Law Of Success – The Law Of Intention And Desire

Whatever you put your attention on in your life will grow stronger. Intention is the activating force of a desire and whatever you intend to come into your life, by law, must take on a physical manifestation. When you desire something strongly and you place your intention on it, it means that you harden your will and when you proceed with confidence in the knowing that what you want will come into your life.

Sixth Spiritual Law Of Success – The Law Of Detachment

When you become attached to something, regardless of what it is, you loose your power. Although this might sound very discouraging and ‘cold’ it is not, for the very act of detachment frees us. What you have to have owns you and when something owns you are not free and when you are not free you can never have that sense of inner piece that is probably the most ingredient of real success.

Seventh Spiritual Law Of Success – The Law Of Purpose In Life

Living your life with a sense of purpose is arguably the most important thing you can do with your life. What is YOUR purpose in life? Why are you here and why are you living your life? Each and every one of us has a purpose or a Dharma in life. Discovering and then living your life purpose is what will give you a sense of enthusiasm and drive in your life that will keep you moving forward with joy and passion.

Article by Deon Du Plessis from ONtrack
To learn more about Dr. Deepak Chopra and The Spiritual Laws Of Success, visit href="http://www.selfimprovement-gym.com/seven_spiritual_laws.html">www.SelfImprovement-Gym.com/Seven_Spiritual_Laws.html to download your Free Guide To The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success (Pdf).

An Enlightened Approach To Success

What does success mean to you? Are you successful right now and if not why not? Can it be that we are all looking for and striving for is only an illusion? In The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success, Deepak Chopra addresses some of the most pressing and unanswered questions regarding success and he offers a unique and insightful approach to an age old desire that we all seem to be born with.

In The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra defines success as ‘the continued expansion of happiness and the progressive realization of worthy goals.’ This definition is quite different to society’s rules for success which is almost always connected to material gain or external recognition. Although these things are often the result of success, it is by no means the cause or even the definition of success.

A recent explosion is so-called ‘success literature’ flooded a whole lot of ideas into the popular culture. Human nature’s desire for success and ‘having more’ sends us all flocking to the bookshops to soak up the latest ‘tips’ and ‘tricks’ for gaining more success. Although most of these books send out a very positive message, very few of them ever drill down to the very nature of success and what it really takes to be successful as a human being. What makes Deepak Chopra’s Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success so unique is that it is a completely different approach to success that is not based on ‘strategies’ but on the inner laws that govern your very being.

While most of the success literature on the market focuses on the mind, psychology and actual ‘how-to’ advice, The Seven Spiritual Laws draws on Deepak Chopra’s background in the healing arts and the ancient spiritual wisdom of the East. In the rational western society we tend to focus on ‘things and stuff’ and no matter how much we get, the more we want and the idols and role models in our society end up either in rehab or in an early grave. Something seems to be missing in our very definition of success and what we aspire to as a society.

One of the most fundamental lessons in The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success is that true and lasting success is an internal process and that it has very little to do with what goes on outside of you. When you realize that who you really are is not your body, but that you are essentially a spiritual being having a human experience, you can start to shift your attention to creating not just success but that sense of inner piece, fulfillment and joy that is the very purpose of your life here on earth. Living with an inner sense of peace every day of your life, having harmonious and joyous relationships, contributing to life and having energy, enthusiasm and eagerness towards life is what the Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success is all about.

Success is not something that is fixed at any given point in time. It is an ongoing process and it is not defined by definitive moments or events. As clichéd as it may sound, success is a journey and a process. Remember that the purpose of traveling is not to reach a destination, but to travel and to experience everything along the way with joy and appreciation. As long as your success is limited to ‘things and stuff’ you will never be successful as you will always need more of it just to feel successful. When you draw your success and fulfillment from inside you, and when you realize that your spiritual need for success is what you are really aiming to satisfy, ironically, all the ‘things and stuff’ will start coming to you in amounts greater than you ever thought possible.

What so many people fail to grasp is that all the material wealth and success is the result of ‘what you are’ as a person. To be truly successful in all aspects of life, you first have to become a success before you can have what many perceive to be a definition of success. In The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success, Deepak Chopra outlines the seven laws and how you can use and apply these laws in your life to create whatever you desire. In Part 2 we will briefly look at each of the seven laws.

Article by Deon Du Plessis from ONtrack
To learn more about Dr. Deepak Chopra and The Spiritual Laws Of Success, visit href="http://www.selfimprovement-gym.com/seven_spiritual_laws.html">www.SelfImprovement-Gym.com/Seven_Spiritual_Laws.html to download your Free Guide To The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success (Pdf).

In honor of Earth day I ask you to consider honoring Mother Earth everyday. We can not continue to take from our resources and never give back in return. There needs to be a balance in nature. We have moved so far away from living in harmony with nature. The foods that we eat no longer come from the local community. We drive when we can walk or bike. We make several trips when they could be minimized. We spray pesticides and bug killer like they do no harm. We consume to try to fulfill a deeper need…

Where will it stop? How much ’stuff’ do we truly need? How big do our homes need to really be? How many cars do we need? When will we begin to live in harmony with the earth that nurtures us? We in North America are perhaps spoiled and lazy and it is time to wake up and realize that you can make a difference in many ways. Be an example to your children and grandchildren. You can help celebrate earth day every single day in so many small ways if you will just do it. If you are not ready to move to the woods and live in a yurt with a composting toilet and no electricity like some of us that is okay, but you can still make a difference! Here are a few ways to help you begin celebrating the earth each and everyday and you may just have fun doing it:

1. Join Freecycle. Freecycle can be found online at www.freecycle.org You can join your local group to give away things that you no longer need or get the items you need from others. It’s all free!

2. Shop at thrift stores. By buying second hand clothes and household goods you save the environment and help various causes. Finding a local thrift store in your community helps your local area too.

3. Bike, walk or take transit. Do you really need to drive three blocks to the market? Come on, you can use the exercise and may enjoy the moment by meeting a few folks along the way. And if it’s too far to walk or bike then try transit.

4. Buy local organic food, eat wild foods or grow a garden. Buying local organic food not only helps your community farmers but saves on the transportation of food and helps you by getting fresher and healthier food into your body…putting you in synch with the area of the earth that you live on. Growing your own garden is the best for those that are willing or even better eating ethically harvested wild foods.

5. Recycling is so easy these days. You can recycle just about anything. Be creative.

6. Plant trees. For all the trees we cut down…lets plant a few in their place. They help us breathe.

7. Have a green baby. Come on mamas use those cloth diapers and cloth baby wipes. They are so much easier then you may think with snaps and velcro. The money you will save is amazing and they are healthier for your baby as well as Mother Earth.

8. Use the library. Instead of buying more magazines and books use the library. There is inter library loan if they do not have what you are looking for in your community. Just ask and they will help you out.

9. Hang your clothes on the line. There is nothing like the smell of fresh laundry coming off the line. You can turn it in to a totally zen moment when you are outside hanging the clothes. Saving on your electricity and enjoying the simplified life is not so bad.

10. Use cloth shopping bags. So, you probably think only granola, sandal wearing folks use cloth bags to go to the market…well, yeah some of us are but come on and join us. Those plastic bags can be easily replaced with creative cloth bags. Some places are even banning the plastic.

11. Use eco friendly cleaners. There are many eco cleaners that are found in your local health food stores or even your markets. However, you can easily make your own with some simple household goods such as vinegar and baking soda. Much better for you and the earth.

12. Make your home more energy efficient. Spend the extra money for making your home more energy efficient and it will pay off in the long run. Check out your area for possible tax incentives as well.

I could go on and on with ideas as I sit here, but you get the idea. You can all do something. So, if you do not mind please do you part. We are all in this together and the sooner that we become cooperative and live in harmony with the earth and each other..the happier and healthier we will be. Celebrate earth day everyday by making a difference…in whatever ways you choose.

Lisa R. Marshall is the facilitator of Path to Nature…honoring life through whole health, natural living, herbal healing, sacred celebrations & journeys. She is also a mother & doula. Lisa is a facilitator to those who want to make changes in their lives. Please visit http://www.Pathtonature.org for further information or to contact the author.

If you haven’t already guessed, I am from Texas and I am also a huge fan of the state. In this state we see a lot of armadillos. Albeit, most are on the side or middle of the road and not moving too much, they are quite common in Texas.

I have seen many live ones, and they are fun harmless creatures, unless they are digging holes in your yard or tearing up your flower bed. I thought I would share this list of off beat armadillo facts for those lovers of everything Texas, including the wild animals.

1. By a Different Name – In Spanish armadillo means, “little armed one.” Germans have a different word for armadillo which means “little pig.” I think armadillos would take offense to that if they only knew. I know I would. In the 1930s Americas called armadillos Hoover Hogs, as a knock on the presiding president. Some less fortunate souls had to end up eating these lovable creatures or they would have starved. They blamed the president at the time for his plan to supply jobs which, in their minds, was not working.

2. Guinea Pigs for Science - Armadillos are very cold blooded, which isn’t an insult on their personalities, it is just a fact. Due to this, they are used in research for leprosy, which they are prone to contract. There is very little chance of humans getting leprosy from armadillos, but armadillos are used in finding cures and understanding the disease in humans.

3. Baby Soft – Baby armadillos, much like crabs or any other hard shelled creature have soft shells for the first months of life. Similar to a human fingernail, they harden over time through a process of depositing bone under the skin to make a shell.

4. Forget Laser Teeth Whiting – Armadillos do not have enamel to protect their teeth. While humans and other mammals have several different kinds, they only have one type of teeth, peg molars. Armadillos primarily eat insects, so evolutionarily speaking growing many different types of teeth was waste of time and energy.

5. Immaculate Conception – In times of stress, mama armadillos can keep a fertilized egg from implanting, needed to grow in the womb, for up to two years. So if an armadillo is captured, it may be pregnant, but you’ll never know. Unless you keep if for two years, or it “makes itself at home.” Elephants are the only other mammal that can hold unborn babies that long.

6. Gift fit for a King - In 1728, The King of England, George II, was given an armadillo as a present. He called it an “Indian Monster” and gave it hard boiled eggs to eat, which it happily accepted.

Need more armadillo facts? Go here for Six Odd Facts about Armadillos. Feel free to use this list in research for reports, or just an interesting email forward for your friends and family. All that we ask is a link back to the site for our armadillo drawing and coloring contest for kids.

Texas artist Larry G. Lemons has been a professional fine art painter for eight years. On his site he offers framed and unframed prints, which make great Texas gifts. Visit his site to participate in the armadillo 2007 drawing art contest for kids to win free art supplies. For more information, you can always visit ATexasStateofMind.com