Schuetz

So you may be asking yourself, why would I want to rent a condo while on vacation? Although condos are a little more expensive than a normal hotel would be, you get more included with the full package, and when you really break the price down you are getting more bang for your buck.

PRIVACY - there is always someone there to see you when you leave or return and with whom.

CONVENIENCE - staying in a condominium not only gives you the same flexibility as you would have in your own home but also you are usually fairly close to the attractions.

Some of the things that may be included with your condominium is: Central Air/heat, Washer and Dryer in Unit, Kitchen is fully supplied; swimming pools & spa, Clubhouse with game room and fitness center, Cable television in bedroom and living room, DVD players, big screen TV's.

The idea of being able to have more than four people is as aspect that will go far. No more having to get two rooms for a family or group of six. Many places also provide some sort of Internet access whether it be wireless for your laptop or a provided computer system. Babysitting and/or maid service can be provided as well.

One of the other advantages that really our attention is that you have the comforts of being able to cook, do laundry and just relax. You can choose from one or more bedrooms, and can get extra beds if needed.

Most of the rental condos that we found will allow you to put six people in a one bedroom.

PRICE - if you are planning your vacation either as one family, or as a two family group then the cost per person of renting a condominium home is quite small; if you vacation on your own, or as a couple, then renting a condominium home may well work out to be more expensive.

Some people will try to weigh the cost of a stay in a condominium against a couple of weeks in a low budget motel. There is really no comparison, especially when you look at the advantages and cost over the long run, including being able to cook instead of eating out every meal. Some motels and hotels actually work out to be more expensive, especially if you choose to stay in a suite.

Taking everything into consideration staying in a condominium while on vacation may be the best choice you have ever made.

For more information, visit http://www.CondosInfoCenter.com

For believers in astrology, knowledge of birthstones is essential. At one point of life, anybody is bound to say he was 'just not lucky'! Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in the mouth.

Primary Birthstones

Generally, there are nine primary or main birthstones - one each for the nine planets and luminaries - as per Indian astrology. They are ruby, pearl, coral, emerald, yellow sapphire, diamond, blue sapphire, 'gomed' and cat's eye for sun, moon, mars, mercury, jupiter, venus, saturn, rahu and ketu respectively.

Permanent and Temporary

When and for how long should one wear a birthstone? Opinions differ. Some astrologers prescribe permanent wearing of a birthstone based on the birth chart or birth horoscope while some suggest wearing different birthstones in tune with the operating 'dasa' and transit influences. Sometimes, more than one birthstone is prescribed to offset the malefic effects of more than one planet or luminary.

Navratna

One interesting lucky ring is the one adorned with 'navratna' i.e., nine stones, all embedded on a single ring in smaller sizes to ward off evil effects or energies from all the nine planets and luminaries. This is beneficial only to a few individuals. Of course, expertise is needed on the part of the astrologer in prescribing this. The astrologer must carefully evaluate the strengths of all planetary influences and the afflictions to the houses in the natal chart.

Secondary Birthstones

There are several other types of precious stones or gems like aquamarine, topaz, beryl, moonstone etc. which are also suggested for wearing. These,at best, can be substitutes to the primary birthstones. Again the experience and skill of the astrologer comes into play when deciding the most suitable secondary birthstone because of their subtle nature of influences. However, these are recommended for temporary periods only.

Weight of a birthstone

Birthstones are embedded either on gold rings or on silver rings depending upon the nature of the planet or luminary. Ruby, coral, yellow sapphire etc. are worn on rings made of gold. Normally, the weight is given in carats or in 'rattis'. Two to three carats weight is common but it can be up to a minimum of five carats in the case of 'Gomed'. A small gap in the ring is left below the stone, presumably, to allow light rays to pass through the body. The wavelength of the particular rays is said to cause changes in the physiological and psychological activity. For this reason, there are practitioners who prescribe birthstones to cure some diseases.

Wear Caution!

Just like self-prescribed medicines, self-prescribed birthstones are dangerous. One should not copy and wear a birthstone just because one's friend or relative is wearing it and getting lots of luck! You must consult an expert astrologer as to which birthstone is appropriate to you. One wealthy gentleman hesitated to wear a silver ring and fought with the astrologer as to why a particular stone could not be worn on a golden ring because he thought silver would undermine his status! Beware of marketers who will sell you any birthstone for a hefty amount with their own theories of the zodiac and planetary influences.

The author is a professional chemical engineer having expertise in neutral spirits distillation. He is a free-lance web developer and has a flair for writing articles on a diverse range of subjects including the occult viz., http://www.geocities.com/ugh_club/astrology. He spends a day in the week on studying his clients' http://www.geocities.com/ugh_club/horoscope. His site based on Electional Astrology i.e., http://www.geocities.com/ugh_club/muhurta is quite popular.

With warmer weather looming on the horizon in Northern America, many women and men start to simplify and streamline their diets. Gone are the heavy chili dinners and beef stews that fill our bellies in the dead of winter. Enter the salad: cool, fresh, crisp bursts of flavor - but not necessarily a significant caloric savings over a meat and potatoes dinner. The culprit: creamy, oil based dressings. The solution: for most, it's to take their dressing on the side.

Traditional commerically prepared salad dressings are an easy way to turn a healthy salad into a calorie-dense, fat-laden disaster. Bottled dressings can have anywhere from 8 to 20 grams of fat per serving.

Take your dressing on the side? Never! At least, theres never a need when you make your own healthy salad dressings.

Of course, you can buy decent commercial low-fat dressings, or even organic dressings but, more often than not, they are loaded with unhealthy elements like sugar and heavy amounts of heart-unhealthy sodium.

Its hard, however, to beat a homemade dressing!

The key to making delicious healthy dressings at home is to reduce the oils and other fats, and bump up the ingredients that add texture and flavor.

The oil in any salad dressing serves several functions, including providing a cling" or "binding" factor, so your acidic and other flavorings (such as vinegar and herbs) dont end up in a puddle at the bottom of the bowl.

Oil also serves to soften and balance the acids so that they're more pleasing to the pallate.

When thinking of healthier dressings, most people eschew creamy dressings in favor of lighter vinaigrettes. But classic vinaigrettes often use a 3-to-1 or 4-to-1 ratio of fat to acid (for example: olive oil and red wine vinegar). Such a ratio can yield at least 10 grams of fat per tablespoon! And who uses just one tablespoon?

So what constitutes a healthy salad dressing?

Let's look at oil.

When choosing oils for your dressing, think carefully about flavors. Extra-virgin olive oil is almost always an excellent healthful and flavorful choice. But so are nut oils such as almond, macadamia and hazelnut. Each contributes complex yet subtle flavors that can complement a salad. Olive and nut oils also are rich in healthy monounsaturated fats.

You can reduce the amount of oil, however, in any dressing by approximately 40 percent if the other ingredients that balance the dressing are not too acidic.

A common complaint when reducing the oil content of a dressing recipe is that one often misses the thick texture that oil adds to your recipes. Try adding Dijon mustard as an emulsifier to make up for the reduced oil. Like oil, mustard is thick enough to bind the other ingredients and adds a tangy flavor.

In creamy dressings, the emulsifier often is sour cream or mayonnaise (and sometimes oil, too). Providing a healthy option for these ingredients is an easy fix.

Nonfat yogurt, reduced-fat sour cream, and reduced-fat mayonnaise all make good substitutes. They each have good flavor and produce dressings that hold together and coat vegetables quite well.

Or try buttermilk. Buttermilk is always either nonfat or reduced-fat. Its thick texture and mild, tangy flavor makes it a useful ingredient.

With a little bit of ingenuity and creativity, it is possible to make healthy salad dressings without sacrificing good nutrition by cutting calories, fat and chemicals.

Deborah Carraro is an avid nutrition, health & fitness enthusiast with a passion for sharing knowledge and experiences. As VP Operations for a successful online Natural Health business she has worked with the best nutritionists, fitness professionals and health experts.

You can find her online at http://www.yogaforoptimalhealth.com/HealthySaladDressings.html

Mountain biking, the name alone is enough to describe it. It is a great outdoor game that introduces you with the nature and helps you stay fit and in shape. Its real fun to race down the mountain even if its a bit dangerous if you are not an expert biker. Many people enjoy the downhill ride with their family but with caution.

There are various styles in which the mountain biking could be done such as cross country, downhill and free riding. Different type of mountain biking requires different type of skills for various bikes.

You can find the best locations for mountain biking in many areas of the North America. The best known locations have unpaved surface specifically designed for mountain biking. You should confirm the routes, rules and regulations with your local park before you go on a mountain terrain.

There are many different competitions organized by various mountain bike groups. You can search for such groups in the newspaper or on the internet to find that perfect buddy for you.

If you want to become a good biker then you must have the stamina and enough endurance to cross the terrain with expertise and win over others. You will have to do hard work and practice to achieve this milestone. Be ready for all the bruises and wounds that you will get when you will fall from the bike during training.

The other important point is to select the best bike for your self. The selection of bike completely depends on the type of mountain riding you are doing and your dream for a bike. It is not easy to select the bike of your choice as there are many bikes of several colors and different styles. You may take the help of cyberspace to search for the bike of your choice. You can find the best deal on the internet websites but it is very important to compare prices of one or more websites. Its better to take a trial ride before purchasing the bike to check the level of comfort and its mechanism suits you or not.

Most important point is the safety while riding to ensure happy and joyful ride always. We all know that mountain biking on unpaved roads is very dangerous therefore you should always wear helmet, knee caps and elbow caps for your safety. Its good to wear a good pair of goggles so that nothing could fall in your eyes with wind hindering your sight. So, remember all these safety tips and enjoy the ride in the mountains.

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