Napa and Sonoma are not the only great wine destinations in California. Central California offers some great alternatives, many of which I had the orpportunity to visit last year. Check out this article for some great suggestions for wineries.

There is a new Medical Spa in Abilene, Texas. They are located inside Absolute Perfection Day Spa. They offer Botox, dermal fillers including Radiesse and Juvederm, chemical peels, and Mesotherapy. They have the best prices in town and do a good job. Contact info: Belle Vous Med Spa, 3226 Buffalo Gap Rd, 325-280-8792.

There is a new Medical Spa in Abilene, Texas. They are located inside Absolute Perfection Day Spa. They offer Botox, dermal fillers including Radiesse and Juvederm, chemical peels, and Mesotherapy. They have the best prices in town and do a good job. Contact info: Belle Vous Med Spa, 3226 Buffalo Gap Rd, 325-280-8792.

The Autism Awareness Campaign UK recently launched an 'Autism Action' DVD in Autism Awareness Week 2007 in the United Kingdom.

The stories here are real life examples, I have changed the names to hide and respect the identity of those who have been through these experiences. The three stories here span across three different cultures. Since this blog aims at solutions to problems and issues, I have listed some personal opinions on how the men in their lives could have helped them in that particular situation.

Juvederm is a new cosmetic filler for those of us who want to fight the signs of aging. Is Juvaderm the right choice for you? How does it compare with Botox and Restalyn or other options?

Lee Scott MP for Ilford North and member of the House of Commons Select Committee on Health announced on Saturday that he will introduce a private member's bill on autism in the House of Commons. The parliamentarian who is championing the cause of autism in the Palace of Westminster, made his announcement in front of a packed audience at the only London Conference marking Autism Awareness Week 2007, held at the Bridge Community Venue in South Woodford, in the London Borough of Redbridge.

This Thai Peanut chicken lettuce recipe is a great party recipe and is simple to make and serve.  Just remember that it should not be served to people with peanut allergies!

Growing old gracefully is not for everyone. Some of us choose to fight the visual effects of aging by a variety of cosmetic procedures. Topical treatments are for those of us who may be reluctant to go the distance and who also have less severe conditions of the skin.

Organized health and fitness programs can be fun and motivating. The Ultimate Bodyshaping Course is a nationally run health and fitness program that I hope will propel me to the next level.

Goat cheese appetizers are a nice accompaniment to wine and are easy to prepare for guests. This herbed goat cheese appetizer is easy to make but is as yummy as they come.

There are many procedures available these days for fat loss but which one is for you? My mother tried lipodissolve and I'm not sure she'd say that she feels it was worth the money she spent, but why?

Is this considered a midlife crisis at 40-something? Marriage is hard work but you are supposed to be in it for life, for better or worse, richer and poorer. It happens to many people so what are the signs? How do you avoid falling victim to temptation or worse, allowing yourself to be cheated on?

After several weeks of a colon cleanse program, my personal results have not convinced me of the colon cleanse's effectiveness.

Women with highly pigmented skin may be reluctant to have something like a glycolic peel done if they are unsure of the outcome.  Glycolic peels seem to work for all skin colors, or at least a broad spectrum of skins based on my observations.

As a health conscious person, I periodically run through colon cleanse and/or body detox programs. It's been a while since my last colon cleanse so I wanted to do a little research first. This time I decided on a product called Bowtrol and thought I would explain my decision and give the outcome of my cleanse.

UBS and Wharton have designed a program to support women who are planning on re-entering the work force, being held from Mar. 3 to Mar. 5 in Philadelphia this could be your opportunity to learn from the leaders and counselors if you are around the area.
See details here.


According to their studies:
Recent studies seem to suggest that there are a number of obstacles that women face when returning to the workforce, including a diminished network and challenging family policies. They must co

Ground turkey and chicken are great, lower fat alternatives to ground beef in tons of recipes. Since I gave up ground beef nearly 20 years ago, it has been really important for me to come up with variations to common recipes that I grew up loving.

Autism is a disorder unlike many others. It is difficult to diagnose in comparison to so many other common disabilities because there are few tell-tale signs. So how is it that more and more children are being diagnosed with varying degrees of Autism today? Is it that we are paying more attention; is it that we are much quicker to place a label on a condition; is it that we are doing something that is causing a more common occurrence of the disorder?

If you love tuna, here is a tuna recipe sure to pease you. It's a tuna tartare mixed with cucumbers, red onion, tomato and scallions. This is delicious served with a citrus ponzu sauce.

Cucumber party canapes are a popular finger food to serve as an appetizer for a dinner party or one of several dishes to serve for a tapas type of party.

If you love chicken salads and cheese balls, this is a great recipe of something unique for you to try. This chicken ball recipe is simple yet delicious and certainly portable for parties.

Chicken salad is always a hit but add a little tarragon to the mix and you have a real home run.

Try this super simple dip with crackers for your next party.

Try these deliciously simple pecan deserts for any occasion. They are great for holiday parties!

Goat cheese appetizers are a nice accompaniment to wine and are easy to prepare for guests. This herbed goat cheese appetizer is easy to make but is as yummy as they come.

Scrapbooking is a very alluring and fun hobby but how do you keep everything organized so that you can keep up the good work?

A healthy diet includes getting adequate water. We are taught even as children that this is one of the most important health related choices. Did you ever think that you could actually DIE from drinking too much water? Well, while it may not be quite that simplistic, it is possible.

Are you on sensitive medications? Do you know what you should and should not consume with your medication? You might be surprised to read this short article.

Dieting is a big business in the world but as the average American continues to gain weight, I wonder why that is. Weight loss is one of the top resolutions each new year but the challenge seems to be that we don't really want to commit to what it takes to see that resolution through, permanently. How do we lose the weight in a healthy way and keep it off?

Your body is the only body you will ever have. So why do we treat our bodies so badly? Why is it that we take care of our material THINGS as if they are most important to us but our bodies often come second?

The Disney parks are a great place to take your kids for some great fun! It can be stressful for parents however and after just experiencing the craziness for myself, I wanted to get some information out there for other parents who might be planning to take a vacation.

A rich tasting chicken recipe that even children will love.

A wonderful, simple chicken recipe for dinner.

A delicious recipe for chicken that the whole family is sure to enjoy!

Costa Rica has become a popular travel destination for people the world over. It is no wonder with the variety of exciting terrain, exotic animals, adventurous activities, welcoming people, and investment opportunities.

Do you still set New Year's resolutions?  The last one that I set and actually kept for any length of time was back when I gave up red meat & pork at the age of 19. What is the origin of the New Year's resolution tradition? How about sharing our resolutions so that we feel more accountable for our success or failure?

Recipe for Italian pasta salad using linguini.

Recipe for Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Being a female interviewing for a management position with your potential new male boss poses real challenges.  Coming to grips with the statistical realities of what it means to be a woman in this situation can go a long way towards getting that job.

Once you have completed your resume and been called for an interview the nerves really kick in, don't they? You've gotten this far, don't blow the interview. I've compiled a list of interviewing tips from a human resource professional's perspective.

You have to be very careful in the workforce these days. No longer can you get away with saying or doing whatever you want. There are lots of legal checks and balances so brush up on the following legal issues & implications from an HR perspective.

Did you ever wonder what a Human Resources department or potential employer looks for in a resume? I've listed some good tips in this short "article".

Do you know what HGH or human growth hormone is and how it affects your body? We all work very hard throughout our lives to keep in shape. As if it's not hard enough to stay in shape in your 20's, as you age it gets progressively harder. One impactful factor in aging is a decrease in HGH levels in our bodies. There are ways you can help to stimulate HGH production naturally.

Children are precious gifts but they do not come with instructions. Each child is different so how do you recognize a child in need when you see one? There are no manuals and no rules in the game. The most you can do is research, talk to others, listen to friends and family, and most of all, observe your kids.

There is more to knowing that your child is autistic than simply understanding he/she has a disability. Besides learning to cope, you have to learn to communicate with the child in order to get them started on the best path possible. Continue to work with them to see progress.

Australia is beautiful and a wonderful place to visit. If you are still trying to make a decision on where to go in Australia, you should consider Port Douglas for its beauty, relaxing feel, and plentiful nature awaiting discovery.

Sometimes it's nice to think about the animals when it comes to charity. We rightfully focus on humans but if we can spare a little more time or money it would also be good to support pets.

Flipping properties referres to the practice of purchasing, renovating, and turning around and selling properties for a profit. This is a profitable business for some but is it something that YOU could do?

It can be very confusing to figure out what your cholesterol levels should look like. How do you keep track of what your level should be as a woman? Women need to watch their cholesterol but you also need to realize that a lower number doesn't always mean that you are where you should be.

Pomegranates are getting a lot of attention for their various health benefits. They are loaded with antioxidants that help to fight free radicals that can cause a variety of diseases and ailments.

Type 2 diabetes, a condition plaguing 7% of the people in the United States alone, has been treated with a variety of medications in conjunction with dietary changes. There is a new medication making noise these days. Byetta promises to treat type 2 diabetes through a different approach than the old standards.

Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and although it may be more common in some types of people or ethnicities, it is an equal opportunity disease. If you have habits or hereditary factors that play into your risk of developing diabetes, you can take measures to lower your risk but you need to start right away.

Resuming a professional career after staying at home to raise a family presents unique and often frustrating challenges for home-makers. Raising children is a full time job but when the kids are in school many of these parents want to go back to work. How do you present yourself in a positive light in order to land that job and get your career life back on track?

Homemakers have tough and important job to perform but when they make the decision to re-enter the workforce it is sometimes harder than they anticipate. How does a woman who stayed home with her children for 5+ find the right fit for re-entering the workforce?

When you have a baby one of the first decisions you'll make as a new parent is whether or not to nurse. That is a very personal decision but in the event you do decide to nurse you may need words of encouragement.

The last of the wild frontier? Alaska is truly a beautifully unspoiled part of the U.S. It is a wonderful place to visit if you love nature and adventure alike but it is a big state with several "regions" that offer more than their fair share of activities. Southcentral Alaska, including Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula is overflowing with activities for any kind of traveler.

So you have a pool that is boring to you. Maybe it's an older pool or perhaps you moved into a home with an existing pool that is not quite your style. What are your options for updating the look of your pool to make it more modern or more your style?

Before you come to a conclusion about how you might think someone is lacking in parental skills based simply on a chance encounter in public, please read this. As a mother of an autistic child, I have a new appreciation for first impressions.

Most people want to send flowers to new moms while they are in the hospital; an act that shows they are thought of fondly and that everyone is happy for the new arrival. It's a very thoughtful idea but perhaps not the best idea for a couple of reasons...

My sister recently purchased a car but I was concerned that she was taken advantage of. Many would say that women are better targets for car dealership scams so every woman should do their research and be aware of such things prior to stepping foot at a car dealership.

If you have ever considered getting a glycolic peel it is worth checking out. Make sure that you don't just  look for the cheapest one out there. Go to someone that you trust and who you know will do the proper testing. You can usually count on a dermatologist or reputable spa to get the job done and done well.

Unemployment is a difficult thing to deal with. It is often thought of as a negative but is so often unavoidable. If you are faced with the unfortunate situation of being laid off you hope that you can get a job quickly. With unemployment being so low you would certainly expect a reasonable turn around in this day and age but this is not the case for some. What do you do to get out of the rut and into an adequate and satisfying job?

Tahiti is a fantasy vacation that so many people overlook as a possibility. Life is too short to pass up things that you really want to do and if you do I'm not sure that you fully comprehend the beauty and relaxation that awaits you in the French Polynesia!

Getting your college degree is a big and expensive decision. If you are an established professional without a college degree, should you invest the time and money to complete a four year degree or continue on with your master's degree?

I have always been one to shy away from cosmetic procedures that I might have felt crossed the line between of reasonable and unreasonable vanity. After living with facial scars for a good 15 years with no idea of what could be done to reduce the depth of the scars, I finally took the plunge with Restylane and was very happy!

As an average, every day woman and mother I never expected to be dealing with autism. I have 4 other children and had no idea what to expect when I realized that there was a possibility my child had autism. It is hard to identify early on but once you figure it out, the new challenge is then accepting and living with the disability so that your child can grow to be the best he or she can be... just as with any of your other children.

Staging has been very popular in recent years with all the discussions about how much money can be made by spending the time and money to stage your home for sale. Some of these things may be unecessary. Get prepared by being wise.

If you've ever embarked on the huge task of building a pool you know how many things require considerations. Here is another one that you may not yet have encountered even if you are a seasoned pool building consumer. If you have never built a pool before, you'll want to read this to make sure you don't end up with any unexpected surprises.