The Uses of Adhesives
January 27, 2012 | 
Author Adhesives are compounds which adhere two different items together. Initially, adhesives were derived from the gums and resins of different plants, but now there are synthetic sources of adhesives which are extremely strong and are gradually making a firm foothold in the construction chemical industry. There is a wide range of their usage, from micro to macro level in our everyday lives. From the packaging of small sachets of shampoo to fixing a full length mirror to its frame, adhesive is used all around us. From mechanical to chemical, and even in cottage industries, you can not rule out the constant contribution of adhesives. They are popular due to their ease of use, versatility and flexibility.
Adhesives have a long list of uses. They are so inextricably linked to our lives that we become oblivious of their presence. But if we look around, we will find some kind of adhesive used in every sphere of our daily lives, be it furniture, gadgets or toys. Their varied use in food packaging to building construction has forced the manufacturers to research and make different kinds to suit different needs. Some are toxic and strong, they serve industrial purpose. Some are mild and free of any kinds of toxics. They are used in making toys for children, infant products or edibles packaging. Some are water resistant and non toxic. For example, adhesives are used in the packaging of ice creams. Liquid can reduce the adherence quality. So you need a strong yet non toxic adhesive which does not come apart when it comes into contact with water or any other kind of liquid.
Traditionally, there were various methods used for fastening, gluing and bonding. They were soldering, welding, brazing and other thermal and mechanical procedures which needed equipment, but now, adhesives are more widely used. They neither need tools and devices nor electricity or batteries to run them. The common uses of adhesives can be divided into two broad categories:
Industrial and Commercial Use
Under this heading comes adhesive usage in all kinds of industries, small or heavy. In small industries like those of food products, toys or stationary items, adhesives play an integral role in processing to packaging. Even the cling wrap around your phone card or the lipstick connected to its base has adhesives playing their roles. In heavy industries, adhesives play a central role, right from assembling spare parts of any machine, car paint or branding them with labels. In the construction industry too, for uniform distribution of stress, woods are bonded with strong adhesives. Apart from that, for painting and furnishing or home décor, adhesives are very essential.
Household Use
Right from sticking envelopes to rejoining broken toys, we use adhesives very frequently. In form of glue sticks, cellotapes or gums, we use adhesives everyday to mend shoes, to glue postage stamps, repair something or attaching tags to gifts.
There are manifold advantages of using adhesives over other adhering processes. Adhesives work faster than other bonding methods. Though surface preparation takes time as well as material cost, yet it is more effective than the traditional process. Unlike thermal or mechanical fastening methods, adhesives offer flexibility of material selection. They are not restricted to joining metals only. It joins larger as well as smaller areas with equal perfection which is an impossible task for other traditional methods. If a related industry can utilise the maximum potential of this flexibility profits would be soaring.
Using adhesives instead of traditional binding ensures a reduced cost of production. It neither needs equipments for drilling, welding, soldering or other fastening agents, nor manual force to operate them. Welding is a rigid method which brings physical changes in the materials adhered. If you need to undo the process after using adhesive, there are agents available to serve your purpose. Using them, the fastening or adherence can be undone without distorting the item retaining their original look. Due to this flexibility, undoing becomes easier. It saves production time and it does not take very long. This not only saves time, but also reduces production costs in the long run. Items needed to fasten are not disfigured or discoloured. So now you can skip the secondary procedure of rectification of these distortions.
In traditional bonding, often you need to drill the item to insert fasteners like nuts or bolts. This weakens the internal structure. Adhesives do not need any foreign props for assembling. At macro level, it saves material cost while at micro level it saves the hassle of a prolonged procedure.
There is a variety of adhesives available at different price ranges. These can be used for different kinds of material surfaces. Unlike welding, they can be used on hardwoods, softwoods, papers and so on. This versatility of adhesives makes it more popular in different industries. They offer effective tensile strength to the surface and substrate bonding. They even join porous materials. Moreover the joints are invisible which ensures a finished product with the least possible blemish.
These adhesives are equally helpful and effective in joining two different kinds of materials with different melting points. In other words, they can join two dissimilar materials too. For industrial use, this is a very important characteristic which makes manufacturers preferring adhesives over traditional fastening procedures.
One of the greatest advantages of adhesive use is that it distributes the stress load uniformly. It does not let the stress be concentrated in one place. Locally accumulated stress further increases the possibility of rupture. Apart from that, since mating surfaces are always in contact, it protects the items against many environmental odds. The continuous bonding makes this possible.
Another remarkable feature of adhesives is it does not affect the weight of the item noticeably. Usually brazing and soldering, along with physical changes, bring change in weight as well. But with adhesive this change is almost negligible. This versatility of adhesives is known to everyone and the same is reflected in its varied usage all around.
Posted in 
Tags: 
The Fun Formula For Homemade Ice Cream
Traditional homemade ice cream was a custard-like mixture made with eggs, vanilla, milk and sugar. Original recipes were much like making homemade pudding before the instant brands came along, and might involve cranking an ice cream maker full of ice and rock salt until the mixture was frozen.
Now, there are variations on homemade ice cream that can involve an ice cream machine that makes it in quickly, or even just a plastic bowl in the freezer. Many creative frozen dessert lovers enjoy experimenting with a variety of flavors as well as low calorie, healthier options.
It’s easy to make a dreamsicle treat using sugar free instant pudding mix in French vanilla flavor and substituting orange juice for half of the milk. Of course, you can use any flavor of pudding or juice for that matter. What about banana pudding with pineapple juice or tapioca with cranberry? There are several ways you can freeze and serve this frozen treat. Kids love it in Popsicle trays or you can make it in a bowl and stir every hour or so until it freezes.
Another great frozen treat can be made by using yogurt and a variety of flavors to make a creamy frozen dessert. You can use instant Jell-O in different flavors and add fruit like berries, banana slices, cherries, or peaches and make a creamy, low calorie and healthy treat.
Some people choose to indulge their frozen yogurt with chocolate pudding mix, peanut butter, and marshmallows. When it comes to homemade ice cream, you are only limited by your imagination and you don’t need a special machine to make it. Simply freeze it in a plastic bowl with a lid until it gets to the desired consistency. Some parents will make smoothies in a blender and stick it in the freezer before dinner and then dessert is quick and easy.
Many of the new appliances make it pretty easy to make frozen treats at home, whether you are looking for healthy treats or rich and luxurious specialties that you and your family will love. Most people enjoy a little comfort food now and then and it seems to be more rewarding when you have made it yourself.
A great idea for adults is a chocolate dark forest cheesecake desert. It is very easy to make by mixing yogurt and cream cheese in the blender, add some chocolate pudding mix, a little bit of cream and turn out into a bowl. You can add whole frozen raspberries and white chocolate chips and freeze, while stirring occasionally to keep it smooth and creamy. Add a little chocolate or raspberry drizzle and some whipped cream to serve, and you have a homemade ice cream dessert you can’t buy.
As you can see, you are only limited by your imagination when it comes to today’s homemade ice cream. Of course, if you miss that homemade ice cream flavor of yesterday there are many ways to get it, but you can replicate it quite easily with some French vanilla pudding mix and milk in a plastic bowl, or better yet, one of the great ice cream machines that can make it quickly.
Shepherds Pie Recipe – Ground Beef Shepherds Pie Recipe
A hearty meal of shepherds pie will give you that warm glow during the colder months. This recipe features ground beef, potatoes, cheese and mushroom soup.
5 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 pound ground beef
6 slices American cheese
1 (10.75oz.) can condensed golden mushroom soup
3 teaspoons butter (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Place the potatoes into a large saucepan and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until tender. Drain and mash.
While the potatoes are cooking, crumble the ground beef into a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook and stir until evenly browned. Drain off the grease. Stir in the mushroom soup.
Transfer mixture to an 8-inch square baking dish. Layer the slices of cheese over the meat. Spread mashed potatoes evenly over the top. Dot with butter.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
=> Shepards Pie Recipe: Down Home Shepherds Pie
Another homemade version of shepards pie featuring ground beef, potatoes, corn, beans, cheese and gravy.
1 (7.6 oz.) package potato flakes
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 onion, finely diced
1 (15 oz.) can whole kernel corn, drained
1 (15 oz.) can green beans, drained
4 (10.5 oz.) cans brown gravy
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 pound American cheese slices
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare potatoes according to directions on box. Set aside.
In a large skillet, sauté ground beef over medium heat for 1 minute. Add onion to skillet and continue to cook until beef is no longer pink and onion is beginning to brown. Drain off some of the grease.
Add corn, green beans and gravy to the skillet. Mix thoroughly. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour mixture into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread potatoes over the top. Layer cheese slices over potatoes.
Bake for 40 minutes, or until cheese turns golden brown.
=> Sheppards Pie Recipe: Chicken Sheppards Pie
This sheppards pie recipe features chicken, potatoes, garlic, cheese and spices.
8 potatoes
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup milk
1 medium head roasted garlic
1 pound chicken breast, cooked and shredded
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon thyme, chopped
1 tablespoon rosemary, chopped
1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
1 cup corn
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cut the head of garlic in half and drizzle with olive oil. Wrap garlic in aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.
Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
Peel, chop and boil the potatoes until tender; drain. Mash potatoes. Add butter, milk and the roasted garlic; mix well. Set aside.
In the bottom of a casserole dish, arrange the chicken evenly on the bottom. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary. Layer on the peppers, corn and all but 1/4 cup of the cheese. Spread mashed potatoes on top.
Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
Bake for 25 minutes, or until brown around the edges.
=> Shepherds Pie Recipe: Easy Shepherds Pie Recipe
If you like shepherds pie, but don’t have time to fuss over a longer recipe, you can whip up this version in a short time. It’s still homemade and will hit the spot perfectly.
1 pound roast beef, cooked and cubed
2 onions, sliced thinly
1/2 cup homemade beef gravy
4 cups mashed potatoes, cooked
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Layer the roast beef in the bottom of a 2-quart casserole dish. Layer the sliced onions on top and pour on the gravy. Spread the mashed potatoes on top.
Bake for 1 hour, or until potatoes are browned.
=> Shepherds Pie Recipe: Turkey Shepherds Pie
This version of shepherds pie will take a little bit more effort, but you’ll be rewarded with a savory pie featuring turkey, red potatoes, zucchini, green beans, mushrooms, cheese, spices and a whole wheat crust.
5 large red potatoes, peeled
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup milk
2 (9-inch) whole wheat pie crusts
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup diced onion
1 pound ground turkey
1 large carrot, julienned
1 zucchini, thickly sliced
1/4 cup canned green beans, halved
6 large fresh mushrooms, quartered
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons butter, diced
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Boil potatoes until tender. Mash with 3 tablespoons of butter or margarine and milk. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
Saute onion and carrots in olive oil until soft. Stir in the ground turkey, parsley, thyme and garlic. Once turkey is almost browned and broken up, add zucchini and mushrooms. Salt and pepper to taste; drain. Stir in the flour.
Divide meat mixture into two whole wheat pie crusts. Sprinkle cheese over meat, if desired. Spread green beans over the cheese. Spread mashed potatoes evenly
over mixture. Dot with butter.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until potatoes are slightly browned.
=> Sheperds Pie Recipe: Savory Sausage Sheperds Pie
A real hearty sheperds pie meal for sausage lovers.
1 pound sausage, uncooked
1 (12 oz.) jar beef gravy
1 (10 oz.) package frozen mixed vegetables
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 (24 oz.) package prepared mashed potatoes
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a skillet, crumble and cook the sausage over medium high heat until brown. Drain on paper towels.
In a bowl, combine the sausage, gravy, vegetables and Worcestershire sauce.
Pour mixture into a greased 2-quart casserole dish. Spoon the mashed potatoes evenly on top. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.
How to Start Your Own at Home Manufacturing Business
When it comes to at home manufacturing businesses, most people choose to do the manufacturing off-site, and simply manage the day-to-day business it involves from their homes. If you’re thinking of how to start a manufacturing company, here are some tips to consider.
If you’re planning any sort of manufacturing at home, you must have a license to do so. In many neighborhoods, at home businesses of any kind just aren’t allowed. With a home based manufacturing business, even where they are allowed, there will be many regulations and laws that you will have to follow. And you should know that any rules that apply to the big manufacturing companies will also pertain to your starting a manufacturing company from home.
These rules and regulations will primarily concern safety, pollution, and quality control issues. You likely have to do some major work on your home to meet these regulations, as well as setting up the necessary equipment for your at home manufacturing business. Getting all the licenses, approvals, certifications, and permits takes time. Doing these things can also be quite daunting.
So daunting, in fact, that most people who are involved in starting a manufacturing business choose to run the business from their homes, but do the actual manufacturing in another location.
By doing this, the facility where they do their actual manufacturing is in a place where all the codes and regulations are already met. They will often also have all the necessary equipment so that all a person does is have to staff up to get their at home manufacturing business going.
Regardless of which way you choose to go, you should understand that it will take time to have everything in place before you can actually start your at home manufacturing business. This is not a start-the-same-day business opportunity. You will need to have a business plan that maps out your strategy for starting your at home manufacturing business.
Some questions to think about as you plan your at home manufacturing business strategy are:
Where’s the best location?
How will I finance my home manufacturing business?
Will I need to hire people?
If so, how many people will I need?
Should I hire an accountant?
What equipment and supplies do I have to have?
Do I have the business knowledge I need?
Are any special permits or certifications required?
Are there any government regulations concerning the product my home manufacturing business will be making?
Where do I want this business to be in 6 months? A year? Two years?
Am I willing to do what’s necessary to make this business a success?
Does my family support my at home manufacturing business idea?
Do I have the space I need for an at home office?
Would having a partner be beneficial?
What sort of tax plan is best for me?
Who’s my competition and what are they doing?
Is there a need for my product?
How will I get my product to market?
What sort of advertising and marketing should I do?
As you can see, there are lots of things to think about when thinking about how to start a manufacturing business at home. But to be successful, it’s necessary to do as much research and planning in the beginning as possible. This saves you a great deal of time, money, and frustration in the long run. No one has ever regretted taking the time to do something right, but far too many people have huge regrets over leaping before they look. You don’t want to be one of them.
Make a Home Made Kid Race Car
Get ready for racing fun with this Home Made Kid Race Car!
MATERIALS
Rectangular Boxes – apple boxes, xerox paper boxes or similar
Colorful plastic or paper plates
Spray paint
Construction paper in assorted colors
Heavy ribbon
Staple gun
Brad fasteners
Craft knife
Glue and Masking tape
Markers
Foam letters and numbers to decorate
INSTRUCTIONS:
Prepare the Box – Start with one rectangular box for each party guest. If the box has flaps, cut them off with the craft knife. Turn the box upside down and cut out a square area on one side of the bottom (now the top of your race car) big enough to accommodate a child.
Paint Your Race Car - Spray paint your box a bright color – red, blue, green, yellow, or orange.
Attach “Suspenders” - Using the staple gun, staple heavy ribbon from end to end on either side of the box as “suspenders” to allow kids to wear their cars.
Add Wheels – Choose four plastic plates to make two wheels on either side of the box. Use a contrasting color to the color of the race car box itself. Fasten the plates with brads so the wheels will turn. Add another plate on top of the box to make a functioning steering wheel.
Add Headlights and Tail Lights - Cut two circles of yellow construction paper and glue to the front of the car for headlights. Cut two smaller circles of red construction paper and glue to the rear end of the car for tail lights.
Make an Exhaust Pipe - Make an exhaust pipe from a toilet paper tube with crepe paper streamers. Attach the tube to the car by making a series of cuts around one end of the tube, flaring it out against the back of the car, and securing with masking tape.
Personalize Your Race Car - using colored construction paper shapes, markers, foam numbers and letters.
Now make a race track in your yard using caution tape, old tires, hay bales, or whatever. For great ideas on incorporating this craft into a party, visit our Race Car Birthday Party page.
The P90X Workout Schedule – Classic, Lean, Doubles – Which is Right For You?
The P90X Workout Schedule is comprised of three separate routines. You choose where you want to start based on your physical conditioning and then just push play. The three options are broken down into Classic, Lean, and Doubles. I will give you a breakdown of each P90X Workout Schedule for those that don’t understand.
P90X Workout Schedule Options:
“Classic”
This is where most people seem to start, including myself – The Classic Workout Schedule is straight forward and offers the best combination or those ready to build muscle and burn fat as they go.
The classic workout schedule requires no more than 1 hour and a half in any one day – The longest workout of the entire schedule is Yoga X.
I chose to do classic in my first round of P90X and seemed to get very good results by sticking almost 100% to the workouts. My diet was nothing organized and didn’t follow the P90X Meal Plan. However, I did eat healthy and clean, i.e. no soda, candy, ice cream, red meats, sugars, etc. I still consume sugar but on a highly reduced level, pretty much only in my coffee – that is my one diet evil.
The Classic P90X Workout Schedule will work you out 6 days a week just as Lean and Doubles will do except you tend to focus on a mix of Cardio and Resistance training, nearly 50 / 50. It looks something like this:
Monday: Resistance + Abs
Tuesday: Cardio
Wednesday: Resistance + Abs
Thursday: Stretch / Balance (Yoga)
Friday: Resistance + Abs
Saturday: Cardio
Sunday: Off
P90X Classic is ideal for those ready to get started from ground 0 and not looking to lose a ton of fat up front before building muscle. The above example stays true through each phase with a few resistance videos switching up to add Muscle Confusion. Let’s look at Lean now.
“Lean”
The Lean Workout Schedule will have you focusing on Cardio a lot more than resistance. This is a great place to start for those that want to focus on weight loss first and then maybe work into muscle building later on. With Lean you will be doing a lot more cardio options which in turn will burn more calories and help you drop fat faster.
I have not tried the lean approach option myself but I think it would be ideal if you wanted to condition and didn’t think you were quite ready to jump into Classic. You will need to set aside up to 1 hour and 30 minutes for your Lean routine; the longest workout is Yoga X.
A Lean P90X Workout Schedule would look something like this:
Monday: Core / Cardio
Tuesday: Cardio
Wednesday: Resistance + Abs
Thursday: Stretch / Balance (Yoga)
Friday: Resistance + Abs
Saturday: Cardio
Sunday: Off
Notice how Monday differs from the Classic P90X Workout Schedule – You add an additional cardio / core exercise to maximize fat burning and core strengthening.
Now what’s interesting is at phase 3 of Lean you actually do workouts similar to Phase 1 of the Classic. With that said you can see how Lean is designed as a lead up into Classic and then Classic builds into what we will look at next.
“Doubles”
Alright, this is the ultimate P90X Workout Schedule and for those already in shape or already doing Classic but ready for more. You will see why in a moment. Now with Doubles you will need a lot more dedication and time, you will need to set aside up to 2 hours and 20 minutes on some days. In most cases you will wake up and do cardio, then a couple hours later or in the evening you will do resistance + Abs.
Let’s take a look at what the P90X Doubles looks like. ( Now keep in mind in Phase 1 Doubles appear to be the exact same as Classic – In phase 2 this changes by adding 3 cardio workouts each week and in phase 3 there is a significant change by adding 4 cardio workouts)
The following example is based off the Doubles P90X Workout Schedule – Phase 3. I want you to see how serious this really gets!
Monday: AM – Cardio / PM – Resistance + Abs
Tuesday: AM – Cardio / PM – Cardio
Wednesday: Resistance + Abs
Thursday: AM – Cardio / PM – Stretch and Balance (Yoga)
Friday: AM – Cardio / PM – Resistance + Abs
Saturday: Cardio
Sunday: Off
Notice how extreme is gets? The biggest difference between Classic and Doubles is the addition of all the Cardio. The best way to compare is this – In Doubles phase 3 you’re basically doing Classic with 4 additional Cardio workouts a week. Pretty intense eh – Believe me, it is!
Well that was a quick look at the P90X Workout Schedule and the variations that occur. This is a generalized overview but was hopefully informative. Keep in mind that with P90X and Muscle Confusion your resistance days will switch up to continuously bring intensity and challenge so you never fully adapt. This is the power of the P90X Workout Schedule – Choose Yours.
If your new and want to lose weight fast – Do Lean.
If you’re seasoned and want a challenge plus muscle gain – Do Classic
If you’re a pro and classic is not a challenge, get extreme – Do Doubles
The choose is yours and the P90X Workout allows so many variations there is no reason why you should not be pushing play today – Take responsibility for yourself and your health, take action today!
Ten Mistakes When Taking A Cruise
It’s a shame to lay out $250 – $2,500 on a dreamy cruise vacation only to encounter unnecessary mishaps and inconveniences. So, in an effort to minimize the likelihood of a bump in the road to your perfect vacation, here are some common potholes that you can avoid.
Mistake #1: Not Making Your Luggage Distinctive. At the end of your cruise, your luggage will be placed in a huge room with THOUSANDS of pieces of luggage, probably in some designated area based on the color of a luggage tag provided by the ship. No matter how familiar you think you are with your own luggage, it’s amazing how well your bags will blend in with the mass of cargo surrounding them. Having a quick, easy way to identify your luggage will be a major relief, especially if it gets misplaced.
BUT, that isn’t the main reason to make your luggage stand out. You will be entering this cavernous room with a couple thousand other people, some of whom stayed up all night partying. They are going to be impatient to get their bag and get out and there is a fairly good chance that their vision isn’t so good. If your bag looks like their bag, it could be a goner. And, if a stranger does take your luggage it could be hours, even days, before you get it back.
Do something durable and noticeable to your luggage so that it not only is recognizable to you, but also let’s bleary-eyed fellow travelers know that your bag is not their bag. Put stickers on it, paint a day-glo streak around it, sew a teddy bear onto the outside… just make sure it stands out.
Mistake #2: Not Researching Shore Excursions Beforehand. It should come as no surprise that cruise line advertising folks have the ability to describe each and every shore excursion as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Of course, no cruise is complete without shore excursions and many of them are absolutely wonderful chances to do things you would never do otherwise. But, be smart here. It’s okay to get hoodwinked into thinking that palm trees do sway all day long and that sand feels like silk under your feet. But, it’s a whole ‘nother thing to be looking forward to that perfect, serene afternoon on a remote beach only to find out you have 500 friends, some with young kids, crowding around you and bumping into your beach chair while vendors hawk everything from coconut shells to t-shirts.
Before you commit, read some reviews, talk to the cruise ship shore excursion folks, ask fellow passengers, do some thinking. Most cruise ships have a “No Refund” policy on shore excursions, but don’t be afraid to ask for one if your experience is truly unacceptable. Better still, find out what you’re getting before you go. Many (if not most) shore excursions are just great and you’ll be happy you went. But cover your stump and you’ll be glad you did.
Mistake #3: Runaway Bar Tabs. Unless you specifically choose a package that includes it, your bar tab is NOT included in the “all inclusive” part of your cruise. Adding to the bite is the ubiquitous 15% gratuity that gets added to every purchase you make on board a ship.
I could suggest that you drink less, but that’s just plain dumb! You’re on a cruise! So, pay attention to how much you drink. Those cute little umbrellas drinks that come in a stunning canary-yellow cup will cost you about twice what a basic cocktail costs. Cruise ship booze is already costly enough; you don’t need to help them out by spending more for a cup that you’ll stash in a closet when you get home.
Cruise ships have a policy against bringing alcohol on board, but the policy is very loosely enforced if you don’t flaunt it. In other words, don’t strap a handle onto a case of Budweiser and check it as baggage or load up your carry-on bag with bottles of Wild Turkey. Discreetly packed airline bottles of booze or cans of beer will probably go unnoticed. Don’t try to sponsor a frat party, but you can definitely help yourself out a bit.
You are allowed to bring your own wine on board if you plan to drink it at dinner, though you are charged a “corking fee”. And, you can also bring a small stash of non-alcoholic beverages (soda, water, etc) with no problem. You should definitely bring some water, especially if you’re cruising in warm climates.
Mistake #4: Ignoring the Fury of the Sun Gods. Sun Burn treatments are the fourth most popular reason that people on cruises visit the ship’s infirmary. (The first three are: 1) bumps and bruises, 2) indigestion, 3) seasickness). Once you’re burned, there isn’t much anyone can do for you except try to alleviate the pain. (My favorite treatment for that is something called “Traumeel”. You can’t find it in the drugstore, but most health food places will have it.)
If you’re cruising in the winter months (Nov – Feb), you don’t have as big a problem. Even when you are in the sub-tropics, and even though your skin probably hasn’t seen sun for several months, the sun is hitting you at an angle and that makes all the difference. You still need to be careful, but you have more leeway.
In the spring and summer months, when the sun is overhead, you can get burned in as little as an hour, especially in the afternoon hours. Some silly people forgo the sunscreen because they want to make sure they get a tan. Not a good idea. Start your sunbathing session with at least 15 SPF (30 if you haven’t been in the sun, with extra protection on your lips). As you get closer to your end time, use less SPF. Even with a good sun blocker, your friends and co-workers will still know that you’ve been out in the sun.
Hats are a serious plus if you are in sunburn territory. Most people don’t put sunscreen on their heads, and so the part of your body that is getting the most direct rays for the longest period of time remains unprotected. Visors don’t protect your skull; you need some type of covering.
Mistake #5: No First Aid Kit. As previously noted, there are several reasons that passengers end up wasting time (and sometimes money) visiting the infirmary. You may not be able to avoid all mishaps, but you can prepare for the lesser blunders. By the way, all of this applies double if you’re traveling with kids!
Bumps and Bruises. The biggest reason people visit the ship’s doctor probably has something to do with mixing booze, slippery surfaces, metal railings and the rolling motion of the ship. For most of your injuries, the right size band-aid and a good analgesic crème will do the trick. A simple travel or camping first-aid kit will have what you need.
Indigestion. One of the drawbacks of having such constant access to all that wonderful rich food that cruise ships are famous for is that people eat it. And eat it. And eat some more. Unless you are a strict disciplinarian, you can expect to consume about two or three times your normal food quantity in an average day. Add to that the steady consumption of alcohol that is a hallmark of cruising and voila! Indigestion. Take along some Alka Seltzer, some Pepto Bismol and sum type of antacid tablet, like Tums or Rolaids. All of these are available in tablet form. Some ships stores will have some of this, but not always and if you need it in the middle of the night you’re out of luck.
Seasickness. The best treatment is prevention. After you get it, well… yuck! Check out the various forms of Dramamine that are now available, including pills and patches. The directions will tell you how much lead time before you hit the waves you need to get the maximum effect. You can also get acupressure wrist bands that work really well with some people.
One of the best treatments I’ve ever seen for treating seasickness once it hits you is Coke and soda crackers – lots of both. Some people say that 7-Up works also, but I think there is something in the caffeine in Coke that helps the whole process. If you are feeling sick, your cabin is the worst place to be unless the weather topside is really bad. Being able to get fresh air and see the horizon helps to trigger the brain sensors that calm seasickness.
Headaches. We all know that booze can make your head scream for mercy, but so can sun and lots of new food. If you’re not used to heavy carbs in your diet and you scarf up lots of pastries, ice creams or gourmet desserts, your body can trigger the same symptoms it does when detoxing from too much alcohol. And, if you experience bumps, cuts or sunburn a pain reliever is a good thing. Have a supply of different types of pain reliever. Depending on the reason for your pain, aspirin may not work as well as Tylenol or Ibuprofen in a given circumstance. (Do I need to remind you to read the label and follow the directions?)
Mistake #6: What? No Camera? A Picture Really Is Worth A Thousand Words. It’s hard to imagine, but some people will actually take the trip of their dreams and not take a camera. Or, they’ll take a camera, but they won’t keep it with them. Don’t do that. If you have a digital camera, use it, use it, use it. If you don’t have a digital camera, spring for about three or four disposable ones. And be sure to take you camera to the Life Boat Drill. You’ll know why when you get there.
A side bar to this camera thing is the Photo-ops that you have all over the ship. There will be dozens of them on your cruise – when you’re boarding, when you’re dining, when you’re getting off the ship, at the pool – at times it will seem like some one is taking your picture every time you turn around. You are, of course, free to decline. But I recommend that you give it a shot. Yes, these photos can be goofy, even cheesy, but they can also be a lot of fun. Plus, you just might end up with the best shot of the cruise. Some of the settings are outright elegant, rivaling what you would find at a studio. It’s a great way to get a nice formal picture for your living room or to send to your family, and there’s no sitting fee!
Mistake #7: Buying From Street Vendors. Where ever you go on your cruise, once you step ashore you will be approached (accosted?) by local folks trying to sell you something. I’m not talking about the shops and makeshift kiosks you may find, I’m talking about the guys selling Cuban cigars out of their trunks, or pirated CDs out of a cardboard box.
Your best bet, unless you’ve been there and really know the score, is to just say NO. Regardless of how appealing the offer, just say NO. Most of the products are very low quality and you have no way to check it out before you buy. I know of people who bought CD cases with no CDs inside, watches that didn’t work, Cuban cigars purchased in the local drugstore, “handmade” jewelry that came out of bubble gum machines, the list is endless. And this applies SIXTEEN FOLD if some local guy tries to sell you some pot.
In most ports of call frequented by American-based vessels, this street traffic is actually illegal. You probably won’t get into trouble, but why risk it? Save your money for the honest locals and their little shops that are going to sell you watches that do work, they just fall apart in a few weeks.
Mistake #8: Thinking You’ll Save Money “In Town”. One of the charming aspects of cruising is the ritual of visiting the local markets and shops. This is truly a fun experience and you can find all manner of unique and special items, but you probably won’t find any real bargains. There are bargains to be found, but you really need to know what you’re looking for and what it’s worth in the US. Don’t be cynical about it. It’s all part of the experience. Somehow, buying a wooden giraffe in Grand Turk is better than buying the same wooden giraffe at Pier 1 Imports, even if you pay a little more. Go figure.
You actually can save money when you buy liquor or tobacco products, but it might not be as good a deal as it first seems. Most ports have what are called “duty free” shops which means that there was no “duty” (i.e. import tariffs) paid on the products and so they are cheaper to sell in that country. The same applies to diamonds and other fine jewelry. The challenge is knowing what an item is actually worth. Just because these guys saved on the import fees doesn’t mean they’re passing the saving on to you. Also keep in mind that you are supposed to declare to US customs any purchases you make in a foreign country. Duty Free in Nassau doesn’t mean it’s duty free when you come back to the US. There are certain exemptions for personal items, but if you shell out some big bucks, you might lose the saving when you pay the US import fees.
So, don’t be a miser. Spend freely. Do some Christmas shopping. Spread your money around the local economy and have fun doing it. Just remember, these guys are in the business of selling stuff to foreign tourists. They know where the money is coming from and they know how to keep as much of it as they can.
Mistake #9: Sticking Around The Port. Yes, ships are safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are built for. Most ports of call, especially when the call is for a day or less, are set up to provide the ships passengers with a particular experience. They accomplish this by making their ports as visitor-friendly as possible. The experience of Mexico that you get right outside the port in Cozumel is decidedly different than the experience of Mexico on the other side of the island. Around the port, all manner of business are set up to appeal to a particular comfort-zone and a particular economy.
But, often, just a few miles from the port, you can have a completely different experience. If you travel to Grand Turk, for example, you can spend a delightful afternoon at the resort-like environment of Margaritaville. The beach is well-maintained, though a bit crowded. There is a huge beautiful pool with lots of palm trees and man-made waterfalls. A beer will cost you about $6 and a burger will be about $8.
But a short taxi ride to the old downtown area will take you to a much more authentic location. At least for the time being. You can stroll crowded, dusty streets; see skinny dogs shuffling through garbage cans and have a local beer and piece of fried chicken for about $3.75 at one of the local pubs. Sure, the pub would never pass an American food inspection and you may have to do without air conditioning. But the experience can be wonderful. You won’t get that experience staying close to the port.
Of course, you want to be safe and you want to be able to get back to your ship before it sales, so keep all that in mind. But, there is a whole universe of color, sound, smells and people that don’t ever get to the port and it’s worth the trouble to find it.
Mistake #10: Not Preparing For the Journey Home. Sooner or later (it will seem much too soon), your cruise will come to an end and you’ll have to return to the land of making your own bed and cooking your own food. The journey home is often an irritating necessity and something to endure as quickly as possible. But, if you rush back into the reality you left behind, it’s kind of like a diver coming to the surface too quick after a deep dive. Your mind and body will resist.
If possible, do something fun on the way home. Stay an extra night in a hotel or visit a landmark or even a theme park. At the very least, stop at a nice restaurant for a leisurely lunch or dinner. A quiet picnic (even with fast food) at a rest area can be a perfectly delightful way to transition home.
Here’s a couple of things to do to make your return less stressful and hurried.
o If you’re driving, fill up with gas before you go to the port. Make sure that, when you leave, you don’t have to stop until you want to.
o When you have breakfast on your last morning, take some pastries with you, or even make yourself an egg sandwich. If you thought to bring a thermos with you, fill up on coffee or juice for the ride home.
o Leave some bottles of water in your car. Many bus companies will allow you to leave some personal items on the bus when you get to the port, so include some water and a pillow.
o Find out what the weather is back home. I once stood shivering in 40 degree weather outside the airport in a pair of shorts and an aloha shirt. Hey, it was 85 degrees when I left Puerto Rico that morning!
o Take the next day off. If you are returning to port on a weekend, good. If not, schedule the time off before you leave. Or call in sick. You’ll be SOOOOOOOO glad you did.
A Final Suggestion.
Keep up with all of the information documents you got on the cruise – daily ships newsletter, shore excursion price list, etc. When you get home, file all this in a folder and then use if for reference material for yourself or someone else the next time a cruise is planned. And before your forget, write down all the things you wish you’d thought of and that you wish you had known. Make a complete list and stash it with the other cruise information you brought back.
Happy Cruising!
Freezing For Christmas
The Christmas period is a happy but busy time for all of us. Make full use of your deep freeze in preparing all sorts of time saving items.
1. Prepare large quantities of ice ready for serving drinks to visitors.
2. Several types of savory toppings for biscuits, plus a variety of cream cheese dips can be prepared, packaged and kept in your freezer for up to 4 weeks. Prepare and freeze quantities of grated cheese, chopped ham and cheese straws will keep crisp and fresh in your freezer. Canapes such as salmon or seafood need to freeze well. Do not freeze olives, capers or salad vegetables.
3. All types of soup may be prepared, packaged and frozen. Remember to use rice flour when thickening is required.
4. Remember the turkey can be purchased weeks or even months before Christmas. Properly packaged and deep frozen, it will keep in perfect condition for up to 12 months. Caution: turkey and chicken are best thawed out before cooking. A turkey will take 2-3 days to thaw at room temperature, depending on size. Do not remove the protective wrapping during the defrosting period. Cook as usual. Leftover cold turnkey can be packaged and returned to your freezer ready to make all sorts of delicious dishes at a later date. Storage time for cooked turkey is 4 months.
5. A vast selection of vegetables may be prepared and stored in your deep freeze (please refer to article of Freezing Vegetables).
6. Traditional Christmas pudding, fruit mince pies and even the Christmas cake can be prepared months in advance, package and deep frozen. Even the brandy sauce can be prepared in advance to save time on that busy day. Remember to use rice flour to thicken, as a corn flour sauce tends to separate after freezing.
7. Your Christmas ham can be purchased when there is a reasonable price then packaged and frozen. However, remember the fat on ham has a tendency to go rancid if kept longer than 6 months. Thaw for at least 3 days without removing the protective wrapping. Cook as usual. Leftover cooked ham can also be packaged and re-frozen for use later. Storage time for cooked ham is 4 hours.
8. All types of nuts can be frozen, if you use good packaging material. Storage time is approximately 6 months.
Chocolate – History Of Nestle Company
In this article we’re going to briefly review the history of one of the largest manufacturers of chocolate in the world, Nestlé.
It was in the 1860s that Henri Nestlé, a pharmacist, developed a food specifically for babies who could not breast feed. He first used this successfully on a premature infant who couldn’t tolerate his mother’s breast milk. This product saved the child’s life and people soon began to see the value of it. Soon, Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé was being sold all over Europe.
In 1905 Nestlé merged with a condensed milk company. By the early 1900s they had factories in the United States, Britain, Germany and Spain. With the outbreak of World War I, there was a great demand for these products. By the end of the war Nestlé’s production more than doubled.
Unfortunately, after the war, contracts dried up and the buying public went back to getting fresh milk. In response to this, Nestlé streamlined their operation and reduced their debt. By the 1920s the company had expanded its operation with chocolate being its number two selling product.
Then World War II broke out and Nestlé immediately felt the effects. Their profits dropped from $20 million a year before 1938 to under $6 million a year by 1939. In spite of this, Nestlé began setting up factories in developing countries expecting a turn around by the war’s end. Ironically, the war was responsible for Nestlé introducing one of its most popular products, Nescafé instant coffee, which was the number one drink of the United States military.
The end of World War II, just as Nestlé predicted, was the beginning of a great phase of growth for the company. Nestlé acquired many other companies during this time. In 1947 they merged with Maggi, Crosse & Blackwell in 1960, Libbys in 1971 and Stouffers in 1973.
By the mid 1970s, Nestlé’s growth in the developing world offset their slowdown in the more developed countries like the United States. By the mid 1980s they had acquired several additional companies, the biggest of which was the American company, Carnation.
After the mid 1990s, because of the breakdown of trade barriers, Nestlé enjoyed what was probably their biggest growth in history. Their acquisitions included the giant company Ralston Purina, which mainly sells pet food.
In spite of Nestlé’s diversification, they are and will always be mostly known for their ever popular chocolate bars and drinks such as Nestlé’s Crunch Bar, which is now also made into an ice cream bar, Nestlé’s Quick, which is a chocolate flavored powder to put in milk, Nestlé’s Carnation, another popular chocolate drink, the Kit Kat Bar, Smarties, Nestlé’s Maxibon, Nestlé’s Extreme and a host of other products, a list that would take days to go through.
In closing, it should be pointed out that a lot of Nestlé’s success was a stroke of good luck. It seems that a man named Daniel Peter figured out exactly how to combine milk and cocoa powder. The result was milk chocolate. Well, Peter just happened to be a good friend of Henri Nestlé. Peter started the company, but ultimately Nestlé took it over as was destined to happen.
7 Reasons Why You Should Leave Your Ex In The Past After A Break Up
7 Reasons why you should leave your EX in the PAST after a break up
Reason #1 – “Done it Once…”
If a person has done something to you once, he is going to do it again. People are programmed to operate a certain way.
If you are thinking I’m wrong and that that isn’t true, that maybe he just made a mistake, I can tell you without hesitation right here and now that whatever he did to you was not a mistake. It was his nature. It is who and what he is all about. If a guy cheats on you just once, it is not “by mistake.” Ok, maybe it was a mistake, as though it was too dark and he mixed you up with some other girl. Is that what you call a mistake?
I don’t care how many times he screams and shouts and swears to you that it’s never going to happen again. It is just not true. It will happen again AND again. Maybe not anytime soon, but it will happen again for sure.
If any guy lies to you once, he will lie to you again AND again.
If your man “disappears” for a day or a week just once, he will do it again. And there you are sitting and crying and sobbing a river of tears wondering where he went. “What did he do? Why is this happening to me?”
If he breaks up with you once, and you take him back, he will break up with you again. Are you a rug that men can walk all over with their dirty shoes?
These things happen to girls all the time. And just about every girl believes she is good enough and strong enough to get him to change. But you know what? Even if you think that you have broken his bad habits, and believe that he will change for you, there is a 99.99% likelihood he will do it all over again.
I can hear you shouting at me, saying “Erica, but I got him back and I swear he stopped doing that. He loves me, he is not cheating on me, he never lies…anymore, I mean.”
Fine, let’s say I believe you, because there is always a chance, like I said before.
However, it’s gonna take you a lot more than 21 days of hard work. Because to make it work out like you say, you really have to change your whole way of thinking and behaving, and adopt a whole new attitude. What I’m saying is that you just have to become a totally new person, and break away from the person he met back then: the person he screwed over.
One thing I can tell you for sure is this: change yourself and your whole world changes. “LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE.” What I’m saying is that if there is a guy you are just aching to be with, you have to understand that by feeling and acting the same old way, you have made it impossible for yourself to ever be with him. In order to turn that situation around and make it work, or at least give yourself the best chance for it to work, you are just going to have to change.
I know this may strike you as confusing but once you become a “different person,” you probably won’t be interested in this guy you are dying to be with. And you know why? Because he will not excite the NEW YOU.
One of my clients had a long distance relationship and hadn’t seen her ex boyfriend in over eight months. She kept going on and on, telling me she couldn’t get him out of her mind.
I kept telling her that she had to forget him and get on with her life. She refused and asked me why. I told her “It’s because the guy who left you represents who you were the moment you met him. And that was well over a year ago.” I told her that she had changed but he hadn’t, and that he would always be the same.
Let me explain what I’m talking about because you might not be familiar with this concept.
Every man you met represents you at the moment you meet him. He is the reflection of your inner self. If you want only money, life might send you a heartless millionaire who can provide you with financial resources. And when you honestly fall for him, and ask why he is not able to love you back, brace yourself for the answer – it’s because of the money you wanted so much in the first place. If you wanted sex at that moment, life would have sent you a sex machine to satisfy you.
LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE! If you succeed in getting him back into your life, strap on your seat belt because now your life will be an emotional roller coaster with more ups and downs than the stock market.
Every person in our lives is there for a reason. They teach us things at particular times in our growth as human beings.
If today you met your best friend for the very first time (the same best friend you met in reality ten years ago) you may not have anything in common – you may not even like each other. Why? Because today, you are not the same person you were ten years ago when you met your best friend and you needed him and he needed you, and you gave each other what needed to be given.
Reason #2 – Don’t look for the future in your past, the future is in the future.
Girls, I know exactly how it feels: that your future is empty and meaningless without Him. Do all of the following things, and it will make your life better:
Convince yourself that you are on a strict diet and think of him as a craving.
If you are like me then you know that the first days of a diet are always the most difficult because we desperately crave something we should not have – like ice cream, chocolate or French fries. But if we stay strong for a few days, we can get used to living without those desperate cravings of ours. The latest studies prove that the cravings we have in our minds last for only five minutes, so if we can stay strong and get over those cravings, they will go away.
If you think of him as a “craving” and remember that all cravings disappear after just 5 minutes of will power, you will survive and be a stronger person for it.
Like every diet, sometimes it gets too hard dealing with your cravings. So when your craving for him becomes overwhelming just promise yourself that in six months you will allow yourself a little piece of HIM – what I mean is that all you need to satisfy this deep rooted craving is a phone call to hear his voice live or on his answering machine. You will feel so much better for these two reasons:
1) You CAN handle your cravings- Congratulations! This is a tremendous accomplishment in your life. You are on your way to recovery.
2) By the time six months has rolled around and you make that phone call, you might not even need him anymore. You might have lost ten pounds and look great, you might have a new job, you might have met a new man, a new TRUE LOVE.
He is the one who has lost YOU. It is not the other way around!
Every life is precious. Every person has good inside of them. Every person wants to be liked, and every person not only wants to be loved, but NEEDS LOVE.
Remember that yesterday is gone and that he is part of the past. You know how much you loved him, you remember all those things you did for him and how much it hurt to know that he walked out on you and may already be with somebody else. Pity the poor girl who ends up with the man who walked out on you.
You are a beautiful person even if you have made some mistakes, and have been a poor judge of character. We are only human.
Reason #3 – Remember the Beauty of the Broken Vase.
When you break a vase, you gather all the pieces together and glue them back in place like a puzzle. But as soon as you pour water into the vase, it will start leaking. A broken relationship is just like a broken vase.
Reason #4 – Your relationship was not a waste. You were in training, but didn’t know that at the time.
Just as we learn from every person in our life, we also learn something from every event that transpires. Life’s lessons are taught to us every day. We may not recognize what we are learning at that particular moment and time, but make no mistake about it: We are always learning.
When you go to a restaurant and a waiter brings your steak in a skillet, and tells you not to touch the plate because it’s hot, you touch it anyway and burn your finger and scream, “That IS hot!” Why did you touch it after you were told not to? There could be several reasons. Maybe you didn’t believe him. Maybe you wanted to see just how hot it really was. The point is this – you learned something from the experience.
The expression EVERYTHING THAT DOESN’T KILL US MAKES US STRONGER is true.
Accept the fact that the time you spent in the relationship that ended abruptly taught you more things than you can ever imagine about your man in particular, men in general, and about the type of woman you really are.
You will never forget that look on his face and the words he spoke that made you cry. You will never let any man treat you the same way again because you have learned about who you are from the relationship that you just had.
The entire time you were with him, you thought you had found a boyfriend, but what you really found was a treadmill for your soul. He was exercise equipment and nothing more. Now that he is gone and it is over between two of you, you can look back on this episode as having been a wonderful training lesson to prepare you for your ONE TRUE LOVE, who you have not yet met. Your soul will be better prepared next time. All the tears you cried over him were a down payment on the longer lasting and loving relationship that you deserve.
Reason #5 – What the hell did you fall in love with anyway?
When did Prince Charming become selfish, cruel, mean and disrespectful to you? When did you start blaming yourself for the misery he was causing you? He made you feel as though your problems with him were your fault. He brainwashed you into believing what he wanted you to believe about him – that he was a nice, generous, kind, funny and loving man who could never hurt you.
This doesn’t mean that you were a stupid person. You were just a woman with a warm heart and open arms wanting to love a man and to be loved for who you are.
Have you ever bought yourself something expensive – like a new car or a diamond ring? Remember how those sales people treated you the minute you walked through their door? They were ready to kiss your feet, but you made them to kiss your ass to make a sale.
As soon as you handed over your money, the sale was completed and out the door you went, and wham, they could not care less about you. Of course, not all sales people are so cold. Some would provide you with their best service for as long as you own that car or wear your diamond ring.
Were you getting the “best service” from your boyfriend? Or was your Prince Charming occasionally offering his Monthly Special, like dinner and a movie on the last Saturday of the month? The Monster who spent the other thirty days the month with you was revealing his true character to you the entire time you were together but you refused to trust your instincts that told you something was wrong with him.
What do you want from a man? A Monster for thirty days and a Prince Charming for 24 hours? Don’t you deserve Prince Charming each and every day of your life?
If you want that Monster, then be my guest. You can stop reading now. You can always read this later after he breaks your heart all over again.
Reason #6 – Your efforts and energy…do they have any value?
I remember waking up on Valentines Day crying my eyes out. I was talking out loud through my tears, saying “How did this happen to me? What kind of a man he is anyway?” I called my healer and adviser, telling him about all of these “love attacks” that made me dial my beloved ex boyfriend’s number, trying to get him on the line just to tell him about what he did to me and how he toe my heart out.
I asked my healer what I should do when my heart is squeezed like an orange and all my “happy life juice” is draining out me. I told him I spent so much of my time trying to fight those attacks, desperately wanting to forget about my love, but I just spent hours and hours crying until I was so exhausted that I couldn’t do anything for myself. I felt useless and depressed, and it took me days to put myself back together.
This is what my healer said: “Erica, calm down.” He told me to “get a class of water, sip it slowly and just listen to me.”
Then he said, “Erica, you remind me of a person who spends all day long making mess around her beautiful house and then cleaning up all of the mess. That person is so busy producing mess and then cleaning it all up that she does not have time to live her life, she has no time to sleep either, and sleeping well is very important for healthy life.”
“Erica, if you remain this dedicated to making mess all day and all night, you will never have time for your son, for your family, for your friends, you won’t be able to do your job, you will never to have time to make new friends, to meet a new boyfriend who will love you and to achieve all your big dreams.”
That was the moment that I literally opened my eyes. He was so right. Why was I wasting all of my valuable time and energy chasing after this Monster who didn’t give a shit about me, just to explain to him how much I love him?
Honestly girls, I stopped crying immediately. All of a sudden, I realized that I had been neglecting so many things that were much more important. I have never wasted my efforts since. And neither should you.
Reason #7 – Getting revenge! Is it worth the effort?
So many girls I’ve spoken to just wanted to get back with the ex boyfriend to prove to him that he was totally wrong about breaking up.
Of course, a lot of girls said that they wanted to teach him a lesson. And almost everyone let me know that they had this little thought flashing inside their heads: “Wouldn’t it be great if he came back to me and was able to see a much more beautiful and successful and extra confident woman then I was before he left me? Wouldn’t it be great just to give him special fancy date and then dump him, just like he did to me?”
Let’s face it, we have all shared the same thought and there is nothing to be ashamed about. After all, we are just people with weaknesses. It’s a good thing that you are able to recognize these thoughts because it’s an important part of the process to recognize the state your mind is in after what he put you through. Many girls refuse to admit having these thoughts and temptations. Ladies, it is essential to the healing process to always say NO to your desire to get back with him. And if you need to know why this is an absolute condition for moving on with your life, then re-read Rule #6.
If you use your valuable time and energy just to get him back and then dump him, I swear, all you will feel in the end is more sadness, deep depression, stress beyond belief and emptiness that will make you sick.