A Gratitude Jar is a positive way to shift a negative mood and focus on all the things in our lives we should be grateful for. Simply jot down truly great, feel-good experiences - help from a stranger, a stunning sunset, writing a letter to a loved one - andpop in your jar. Open the jar if a gloomy mood hits and remind yourself of all the bright and beautiful things that have happened so far this year.
Good Housekeeping, June 2013
Monday, 24 November 2014
Sunday, 23 November 2014
Internet Clipboard
If you want to copy some content quickly between computers, or perhaps a small file, try Internet Clipboard (cl1p.net/); it's simple, it works and it's effective. Just enter a URL that starts with 'cl1.net/anythingyoulikehere' and the resource will create a page for you from scratch. Type in your content, upload a file or image, point another computer to the same URL and share the content. The page will self-destruct after a few days, or you can register to keep it indefinitely.
Phil Bradley in CILIP Update
Phil Bradley in CILIP Update
Friday, 21 November 2014
Breastfeeding and Alcohol
Alcohol has an exceptional ability to spread through the body very quickly - into the blood, internal organs and brain. Because of this ability, it will be found in breast milk in less than 30 minutes.
We all know what happens when if affects the brain: we relax, lose our social inhibitions, start doing silly things, and can end up staggering around and getting quite unwell. A mother having a drink could be giving her little one a couple of tots. For adults, alcohol is safe in moderation but this is not true for babies. Their tiny liver and brain can't deal with alcohol in the same way ours can, meaning they are more susceptable to the adverse affects.
Current research indicates that an occasional one or two units (a small glass of wine is 1.5 units) is not harmful to mother or baby as long as enough time elapses before breast feeding. The body treats alcohol as a poison and works hard to get it out of the system quickly; it takes about two hours to remove one unit of alcohol from the blood of a breast feeding mum. (Alcohol isn't stored in breast milk.) If going to a party and wishing to have one small glass of wine, some mothers express milk beforehand to take with them.
Dr Stuart Farrimond, Wiltshire Times 2 May 2014
We all know what happens when if affects the brain: we relax, lose our social inhibitions, start doing silly things, and can end up staggering around and getting quite unwell. A mother having a drink could be giving her little one a couple of tots. For adults, alcohol is safe in moderation but this is not true for babies. Their tiny liver and brain can't deal with alcohol in the same way ours can, meaning they are more susceptable to the adverse affects.
Current research indicates that an occasional one or two units (a small glass of wine is 1.5 units) is not harmful to mother or baby as long as enough time elapses before breast feeding. The body treats alcohol as a poison and works hard to get it out of the system quickly; it takes about two hours to remove one unit of alcohol from the blood of a breast feeding mum. (Alcohol isn't stored in breast milk.) If going to a party and wishing to have one small glass of wine, some mothers express milk beforehand to take with them.
Dr Stuart Farrimond, Wiltshire Times 2 May 2014
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Garlic
Sow: Plant cloves 4" to 6" apart from late October to early November, or from February to March. Push cloves at least 3cm into soil, so no tip is visible or birds will pull them up.
Aspect: Weed-free sunny spot with well drained soil.
Co-planting: beneficial to lettuces (deters aphids) and cabbages (deters many common pests) and improves the flavour of beets and cabbages.
Don't plant by: Legumes (beans and pulses), peas or potatoes.
Care: Keep weed-free.
Water: Only in very dry spells.
Harvest: Mid-summer, when leaves start to yellow. Dry bulbs and store in seed trays or plait leaves and hang up. Autumn plantings will keep 4 months from harvest. Spring plantings will keep 6 months after harvest. Do not freeze garlic or foods containing garlic (unless container seals are superb) as other foods will be contaminated.
Aspect: Weed-free sunny spot with well drained soil.
Co-planting: beneficial to lettuces (deters aphids) and cabbages (deters many common pests) and improves the flavour of beets and cabbages.
Don't plant by: Legumes (beans and pulses), peas or potatoes.
Care: Keep weed-free.
Water: Only in very dry spells.
Harvest: Mid-summer, when leaves start to yellow. Dry bulbs and store in seed trays or plait leaves and hang up. Autumn plantings will keep 4 months from harvest. Spring plantings will keep 6 months after harvest. Do not freeze garlic or foods containing garlic (unless container seals are superb) as other foods will be contaminated.
Wednesday, 19 November 2014
Cosmetic Use-By Dates
Cosmetics will age over time, though with some it is more obvious than others - some will dry out (mascara, nail polish and liquid eye-liner) while others stay seemingly the same (face powder and powder eye shadow). And of course the brushes and sponges you use to apply products also contain these deteriorating products. There is no evidence on any health risks (principally providing a source for spreading germs), but it is sensible to keep your make-up, brushes and sponges clean and tidy and get rid of very old products.
There is no law requiring a use-by date to be on the packaging, but some brands now include it. On the product container they either (a) print actual expiry dates or
(b) print the symbol of a jar with an open lid plus a number and a letter (M or Y). (12M means product
will last up to 12 months after opening.)
If you don't see either of these guides, then it is suggested that you use the following guidelines.
- 3-4 months: Liquid eye-liner.
- 3-6 months: Mascara.
- 1 year: Eye/Lip pencils; Lipstick and Lip gloss; Nail polish.
- 1-3 years: Powders, including Eye shadow.
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