First Aid Kit for Your Home

After breaking my leg on a recent ski trip, I came home to realize that our medicine cabinet consisted of some Tylenol, oddly shaped band aids and an expired tube of Neosporin. Not exactly the items you want should sickness (or tragedy) strike in your home.
I searched online for some all-in-one kits, but found them really expensive and not all inclusive. However, the best site I found was First Aid Supply, so if you don't have the time to assemble one yourself, check out their huge selection.
Before listing all of the things your home first aid kit should have, let's talk some basics:

• Container- The first aid kit should be lightweight, portable and organized. Some suggestions for suitable containers include fishing tackle box, ice cooler, travel dopp kit/make-up bag. You can also use Ziploc bags to further organize the contents.
• Location- Make sure your first aid kit is in a convenient location, but out of children's reach. Some suggestions would be the top of your refrigerator, linen closet, kitchen cabinet or laundry room.
• More than Just Medicine- Your first aid kit should be more than just band-aids and aloe. Include such things as emergency contact numbers, poison control number, allergies for all family members, dates of last immunization shots, number and directions to closest emergency room and any other life saving information (CPR instructions, Heimlich maneuver, etc.).

Now that you have something and somewhere to place your home's first aid kit, below are some items that should be in it:

• Cold & Allergy Remedies (antiseptic throat lozenges, nasal decongestant spray, cold & flu medication)
• Heartburn/Stomach (anti-diarrheal, antacid tablets, Pepto-Bismol, etc.)
• General Pain Relievers (Ibuprofen, aspirin, etc.)
• Ointment/Creams (hydrocortisone cream, aloe vera, hand sanitizer, sunblock, burn gel)
• Antibiotics (amoxicillin)
• Allergy Medicine (Benadryl, EpiPen, Claritin, etc.)
• Eyes & Ears (antibiotic ear & eye drops, eye bandages, sterile eyewash, gel eyedrops, cotton swabs, earplugs)
• Insects (repellent with 50% deet, insecticide, insect bite treatment)
• Bandages (Band-aids, nonstick dressings, blister dressings, antiseptic wipes, ace bandage, steri-strips, sutures, needles and needle holders, syringes, surgical blades, triangular bandage and anesthetic)
• Tools (thermometers, scissors, flashlight, emergency/"space" blanket, instant acting cold packs and non-latex surgical gloves).

This may sound like you need a suitcase instead of a tackle box to keep all of these items, but the truth is most of these items aren't bulky and you only need limited quantities. I suggest buying travel size or small quantity for most of these items (especially the medicines because they expire). Besides, all of these items will ensure you are well prepared in case of an emergency.

Here is a link to some great books on how to administer first aid in your home:

FIRST AID BOOKS ON AMAZON

Understanding Sake

During the Lenten season, our family doesn't eat meat on Friday. This is a great excuse to indulge in one of our favorite foods: sushi. As I dreamed of little bites of unagi and toro, my mouth watered and mind wondered to that amazing nectar that is commonly associated with sushi. That nectar is sake. However, for most people, navigating the delicious world of sake can be a daunting task. By definition, "sake" means alcoholic beverage and there are so many different varieties and styles that shopping for the perfect bottle can be overwhelming. Although most people refer to sake as rice wine, it is actually brewed like beer and the process for making this nectar is often more complicated and complex than wine.

Here are some helpful hints regarding sake:

• Forget the hot stuff. Sake that is served hot is often boiled to hide impurities. Premium sakes are served chilled.
• It's all about the rice. The quality of rice is crucial for good sake. As more and more of the outer rice shell is milled away, the better quality of the sake. Honjozo is the bottom of the premium market with 30% of the outer shell of the rice removed. Ginjo sake removes 40% and Daiginjo removes the most with at least 50-65% of the outer shell removed.
• Smell the sake. Just like wine, you should appreciate the aromatics of sake. The scents tend to be more earthy than wine and vary from lemon zest, cedar, pepper to spring flowers.
• Pairing sake with food. This may be a little tough to navigate as a novice, but as you drink more and more sake, it will become second nature. Pair your light, clean and citrus sakes with sushi, shellfish and seafood. Earthier sakes go great with noodle bowls, vegetable, mushroom and beef dishes. The sweeter sakes pair nicely with poultry dishes, especially duck.
• Drink the bottle the day it is opened. Some people say you can store the sake for a week in the refrigerator, but it loses its qualities pretty fast. Drink it the same day for maximum flavor.

Sake has a slightly more "alcohol" taste on the tongue than wine with a fabulous sweet-sour aftertaste. It is typically served in small wooden or ceramic cups, but serving sake in white wine glasses is perfectly acceptable. Japanese tradition suggests that you pour sake for others and the gesture will be returned to you. Want to know more about sake? I have listed some great resources on the web for you below. Happy Drinking!

Websites:

www.esake.com

www.sake-world.com

www.00sake.com

Diversification May Be Hazardous to Your Financial Health

For the longest time financial pundits have espoused the benefits of diversification. They even have financial calculators that tell you what your mix of stocks, bonds and cash should be depending on your age. Recently though I came across and interesting statistic from Morningstar:

• 17% of all stocks tripled in value during the last five years, but just 1% of all mutual funds matched that performance.

Now I am not suggesting you take a dart and blindly throw it at the business section's stock listings, but I am urging you to take the time to re-balance (or completely overhaul) your stock portfolio. Here are some tips to maximize your stock returns:

• Find the best public companies that you are personally interested in or understand.
• Make sure they have a top notch management team that has a significant stake in the company and are buying (not selling) the company's stock.
• The company should be growing and be in a growth industry with lots of market potential.

These tips may seem vastly generalized, but they are for a reason and not every public company will fit these criteria. The purpose of the list above is to provide you with a guideline for screening a dozen or so stocks for the best of the best. This isn't a new strategy by any means. As a matter of fact the world's second richest man, Warren Buffett, avoids diversification by owning a few companies that he knows and understands.

Here is a list of companies that I am currently looking at:

• Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Target (TGT), 3M (MMM), Garmin (GRMN), FedEx (FDX), Citigroup (C), Centex (CTX), MetLife (MET)

Why buy a bunch of average stocks when the only outcome is going to be average returns? I still believe in having your money in different investment classes (a mixture of stocks, bonds, cash, real estate, gold, etc.). It just doesn't make sense to own 20 individual stocks that you know nothing about and cannot keep up with on a regular basis. Happy Investing!

Everything You Need to Know About Restaurants

There are over 200,000 table side restaurants in the U.S. With our fast paced lifestyles, these restaurants are becoming a larger part of our daily routine. The good news is restaurants have made big strides in recent years to provide us with healthier menu options. The bad news is I am about to take you on a journey behind the scenes of your favorite restaurants.

• Never eat out on Mondays. I know the last thing you want to do on Monday, after starting another grueling work week, is to cook at home. Would it make you feel any better that most restaurants on Monday are using food left over from Saturday (or even earlier)? You see restaurants always use the oldest ingredients first, not the stuff delivered fresh on Monday morning.
• Eating out can be hazardous to your health. Many restaurant workers are often hourly employees who make near minimum wages. Missing a shift can mean financial disaster for many of them, so they all work sick. Check inspection results and health department info for your favorite restaurants. Otherwise, the quick and easy way is to look at the bathroom. If it is clean, the rest of the place is probably clean too.
• Selling food makes the place money, but booze makes it rich. Food costs only average 40% of the menu price, but wine and liquor typically sells for 2-3 times the retail price. Restaurants often list their biggest money makers first and bury the good "value" options in the middle of the menu. To avoid the inflated prices on bottles of wine, ask the receptionist when making your reservation if you can BYOB. Many places allow this for a small corkage fee. If they refuse at first, tell them you have a special bottle you would like to bring that you believe will pair perfectly with one of their menu items (make sure you know their menu first and don't bring a bottle the restaurant already has in their cellar).
• Menu items that sound healthy, may not be so healthy. Restaurant meals average almost 1,500 calories. The reason for all of the calories.....BUTTER. Just because you order fish and veggies doesn't mean both weren't swimming in butter before they were plated. Don't be afraid to speak up and tell your waiter your dining preferences. If something is fried, ask for it to be grilled. Ask for the veggies to be steamed and get some olive oil on the side. You will not offend the chef, since their goal is to make sure you are satisfied and return to the restaurant.

This is just a primer for surviving the eating out game. In future posts, I will give you some more helpful hints on eating healthier at restaurants. In the meantime, have a cocktail before you go out and enjoy the bottle of wine when you come home. For me, I cannot justify paying $80 for a bottle of DeLoach Pinot Noir that I can buy next door for $25. Happy Dining.

Your Workout Deserves a Personal Trainer

I don't care how long you have been working out, you (and your workout) deserves a personal trainer. They aren't as expensive as you think (on average they cost $50 per hour, but can range from $15 to over $100 per hour). No matter what the price tag though, you cannot afford NOT to have a personal trainer on your side. Here are a couple of reasons why you should be working out with a personal trainer:

• A personal trainer forces you to answer to somebody other than yourself. Plus, it makes it easier to get to the gym when you actually have an appointment.
• You will finally learn the correct way to use the machines and weights around the gym. Believe it or not, over 70% use gym equipment incorrectly. This translates into not maximizing your reps or, even worse, injury to your precious joints and tendons.
• Even if you are a seasoned gym rat, personal trainers can take your workout and your body to a different level. They have the knowledge and experience to help you create new, exciting and challenging routines. Heck, they can even make working out fun.

Enough about all of the benefits of having a personal trainer, here are some tips on finding the RIGHT personal trainer for you:

• Check their credentials. It seems like there are dozens of organizations that "certify" trainers. However, the two most established and reputable may be the American College of Sports Medicine and the National Strength Conditioning Association.
• Interview Potential Trainers. Ask them what their career goals are. Many of them are part timers on their way to another career. Ask about their educational background. Are they trained in CPR? Find out if they have any specialities (sports injuries, geriatrics, obesity, depression) or additional licensing/certification (dietitian, nutritionist). Finally, what do they look like physically? They do not have to be muscle bound, but should be fit and should dress professionally. Don't be afraid to ask for a complimentary initial consultation or session. After all, you wouldn't buy a car without test driving one first.
• Get References and Referrals. Ask your friends, co-workers or neighbors for recommendations. Once you have interviewed a few trainers, ask them for the names and phone numbers of current and PAST clients that you can call. Ask the current and former clients about the trainer's style, if goals were set and why they didn't continue working out with this trainer (if they are former clients).

No matter what your goals or motivations are for working out, adding a personal trainer is a key step to living a healthier life. The price to pay for a personal trainer is small in comparison to the gains you will soon see.

Selling Your House in a Slow Market

In today's slow real estate market, sellers need to take extra steps to get the most money for their homes. The average number of days a home is on the market is 40% higher today than last year. Ouch. Not to fear. Listed below are some insider tips and tricks to sell your home today at the highest possible price.

• If your home has already been sitting on the market for over 100 days, try removing it from MLS (Multiple Listing Service) for a week or two and then re-list it. It will "appear" new to buyers and other real estate agents since the "Days on Market" number will be restarted.
• Another trick if your home is already up for sale is to lower the price, even just by $10. Everytime your agent updates your listing, a blast email is sent to all agents who have buyers with criteria that fit your home's description.
• With more and more potential buyers performing due diligence on the internet, make sure your home's electronic flyers and listings are PERFECT. This means lots and lots of great photos. The photos should be of clean, well lit rooms. Photos are the first impression many buyers have this day, so make sure the buyers have a great first impression.
• Have a virtual tour of your home done. It is cheap and easy and gives buyers a better feel for your home than just pictures.
• Make sure your home is easy to show. Despite the slowdown, real estate agent and buyers are busy. Avoid restrictions like 24 hour notice, listing agent must accompany or appointment only.
• Offer buyer incentives. This may include prepaid homeowner's association dues for a year, a home warranty or even assistance with closing costs. Anything to set apart your home from the rest.
• Expand your marketing beyond MLS. Try craiglist, your local Sunday paper's classified section, specialty home magazines and any other print material (especially neighborhood newsletters).

Even if you are not actively selling your house right now, the home valuation website phenomenon know as Zillow has a great new feature called, "Make Me Move." Basically, you put in the price you would sell your home for. Of course it is non-binding, but allows interested parties to make you an offer.

Best Website for Airline Tickets

I rarely use the word "best" or "greatest". Superlatives just aren't my thing. However, I recently came across this website for domestic airfares that has earned a place in my favorites list (dethroning my previous site Kayak). Drum roll please......

The website is Farecast. This site offers a service for only $9.95 that guarantees the fare of the airfare ticket for one week (or they will pay the difference). If the ticket price drops, you can still get it at the lower price. They even send you an email everyday with a price update. The only catch is not every flight is eligible for the price guarantee. This is the only site I know of that will put an end to those frustrating travel planning days when you find a great fare only to go back later that day to book it and the price has gone up by $100.

Wait a second. This site gets even better. Farecast also allows you to choose your departure city and see the cheapest flights to anywhere in the U.S. Another option is to choose a destination and see the cheapest fares over the next 30 days. Absolutely incredible. You have to check the site out yourself to fully appreciate all of the features it offers. Happy Travels.

Lose Weight by Listening to Your IPod/MP3 Player

Whether you are doing cardio, lifting weights or aerobic exercise, listening to music can actually improve your workouts. Despite contradictory studies of the past, most researchers now agree the tempo of music you listen to will correlate directly with the tempo of your workout.

There are so many websites and discussions on the web for the best workout music, but here are a few of my favorite websites to buy music to pump up your workout:

• Power Music- No matter what your music preference is, this is THE place for those great mixed CDs you hear in every aerobics class or gym. Everything from Power Pilates CD, to Rap-n-Step, to the high tempo Desperate Hot Wives (my favorite)
• Cardio Coach- This is more than just music. These are guided workouts for any MP3 player and any exercise machine. It features incredible music, personal coaching and motivation.

If you are a runner, not to fear. We have a growing number of resources on the web to maximize our runs. There is a growing trend in the running world to match your stride with the beat and tempo of the music you are listening to. However, I have struggled to create the best playlist, filled with songs with the right beats per minute, for my cadence. Fortunately, there is a great site called JogTunes. Better yet, the creators of Jog Tunes also have a blog called Music Paced Running. Check it out today and you will see more productive and more enjoyable runs immediately.

There are even a couple of companies profiting off the mix of running and music. Nike and Apple have paired up to create a sport kit. You can even create a virtual locker room where you can track your progress. This is a great tool that tracks your pace, distance, time and calories burned. You can even access your POWER SONG at any time to give you that needed boost.

Don't like wires or carrying an MP3 player while you run? Check out DaDa. These shoes have the MP3 player built into the heel and tongue of the shoes, hold 100 songs, has a 6 hour battery life and best of all, wireless headphone that work up to 30 feet away. The shoes have a USB port on the side of the shoe that allows you to "operate" the shoes. And they look really cool too.

Here are some of my favorite workout/running songs:

• Sabotage by Beastie Boys
• Mr. Brightside by The Killers (150 bpm)
• Enter Sandman by Metallica
• Temperature by Sean Paul
• Gold Digger by Kanye West

What are your favorite songs?

Tax Time Tips

Only 27 days until your taxes must be filed. Surprisingly, over a third of all taxpayers wait until April to submit their tax returns. If you are one of these late bloomers, here are some helpful hints:

• Get some help- consider hiring a professional this year to prepare your taxes. Whether its your local H&R Block branch, certified tax professional or the plethora of software help (TurboTax, TaxBrain, Tax Cut). If you do hire a local tax preparer, get references from family and friends and double check those references with the Better Business Bureau. HELPFUL HINT: If possible, file an extension on your tax return and go see your tax professional in May, after the rush. You may get better service and a reduced fee.
• Phone error in your favor- thanks to the phone companies screwing up the collection of taxes last year, EVERYBODY (even if you don't have a phone) is entitled to a $30 refund (if you claim one exemption) and $10 for each additional exemption (up to $60).
• Reduce your taxes by reducing your waistline- If your doctor prescribed that you join a weight loss program (Weight Watchers,Jenny Craig, etc.) you can deduct the cost of membership in that program and/or your gym membership. But note that is only if your doctor says that you must do it because you need to control your weight in order to treat heart disease, hypertension or another ailment (including obesity). You'll need to have a statement from your doctor to show to the IRS in case of an audit.
• Don't spend your refund, SAVE IT- Did you know the average refund is over $2,500. Instead of wasting this money, save it---automatically. Starting this year, the IRS will allow you to deposit your refund in up to three different accounts, including your IRA account! All you need is your account and routing number (call your broker or mutual fund if you don't have this info).

With these tips, I hope you will stop procrastinating and get your taxes filed. Stay tuned because in the next couple of weeks, I am going to show you how to organize your information so next year's taxes will be a breeze. Until then, take care.

The $1 Million Bottle of Tequila

As competition stiffens amongst producers of super premium liquors and spirits, the packages they come in have become more and more outrageous. Recently, the Guinness Book of World Records declared the most expensive bottle of liquor ever sold when a bottle of Tequila Ley .925 was sold in Mexico City for $225,000. It wasn't the nectar inside, Passion Azteca tequila, that warranted the astronomic price, but the 4.5 pounds of gold and platinum that the bottle was encased in. Tequila Ley is hoping to break the $1 million dollar mark by selling the same tequila in a diamond encrusted bottle. Here are some more amazing spirits with equally impressive bottles:

• $6,000 for Louis XIII Diamant "Edition Precieuse" with a large diamond in the center of the decanter.
• $5,500 for Hennessy Ellipse in handmade Baccarat decanters (only 2,000 were made).
• $4,000 for Martell L'Art de Martell in a decanter designed by French glassmaker Daum.
• Wyborowa Vodka's single estate bottle is designed by Frank Gehry and includes a shot glass in the shape of an ice cube that fits over the top.

I have included some really great websites below about liquors and spirits. There are so many great super-premium spirits out there, give them all a try. Happy Drinking.

LINKS:

Wine & Spirits Daily

Drink of the Week

Slash Food's Liquor Cabinet

Luxist's Spirits

Ireland on Sale

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, it appears Ireland is on sale. This Emerald Isle has gone through quite a renaissance in the past decade as its economy has grown leaps and bounds thanks to a burgeoning technology sector. Here are some great reasons to visit Ireland:

• Ireland is so close to NYC and Boston (the hub for many international departures to Europe), that flying time can be half that of many mainland European destinations.
• There is no language barrier in Ireland since everybody speaks English.
• The Irish culture is rich in song, dance, myths and legends.
• There are activities for everybody, including castle tours, golfing, culinary pursuits, scenic drives and culturally rich cities & towns.

Even better, you can spend 8 days the Spring in a customized journey around Ireland for about $2,000 per person, based on double occupancy. This luxury vacation includes:

• Roundtrip airfare on Aer Lingus from NYC, Boston, Chicago or L.A. (other gateways may incur a surcharge).
• 6 nights accommodation in first class country houses or hotels (these are Ireland's finest properties, many are 5 star rated). Some of the choices may include: Adare Manor, Glin Castle, Dunbrody Country House or Ballymaloe House.
• Full Irish breakfast daily.
• 3 gourmet dinners.
• Car rental with automatic transmission.
• Detailed driving directions.
• Option for chauffeur driven car.

Call Jonathan at Dreams Alive Travel today at 813-240-0946 today for more information. Special pricing is available for readers of yuppielifeguide.com, so make sure to mention this post when booking. Make sure to post a comment when you return so I can share your experiences with others. Happy Travels.

Putting "Family" back into Dinner

Remember the good 'ole days of the family dinner when mom, dad, brother and sister gathered around the table and enjoyed a home cooked meal altogether? In today's high paced life of work, extracurricular activities and fast food, who has time to share a meal with loved ones at a preset time and date? The answer is YOU do and I am going to give you some help in bringing back the family dinner.

First, here are some ways to get the whole family interested and excited in participating in a family dinner:

• Start off slow. Pick one night a week at a preset time. If there is a scheduling conflict, like tryouts for little league, make the night a family event. Everybody will go to the tryouts and then have dinner together afterwards.
• Take turns letting different family members choose the menu. If they have no ideas, give them options or ask them what their favorite meal was at a restaurant and try to recreate it.
• Assign different roles for each family member in the preparation (and cleaning up) of the meal. If you have a "trouble eater" who refuses to eat veggies, have them snap the beans or puree the cauliflower. More than likely, if they helped prepare the veggie, they will want to eat it.
• Take turns allowing your children to invite a friend or relative to the family dinner. It will make them excited for future meals.

Here are some more ideas on making the evening a success and stress-free:

• Keep the food simple. Instead of trying out new recipes, make family favorites that are so easy to prepare you could do it blind folded. Remember that this is an opportunity to reconnect with your family, not to audition for Top Chef.
• Use prepared foods to round out your meals. Instead of spending time making a bunch of different side dishes, buy prepared or frozen side dishes.
• Vary the way you serve the dinner or set the table to keep it interesting. One week, you can plate the meal. The next week, serve it family style on platters. Another time, you can do self service/buffet style from the kitchen.

The purpose of these family dinners is to bring everybody closer, so keep these things in mind:

• Find a topic to discuss and keep the conversation light. This isn't the time to reprimand, punish or argue. Great topics include: "What do you want to be when you grow up?", "Where do you want to go for your next vacation?", "What has been the best day of your life so far?" or any other question or topic that elicits a thoughtful and personal response.
• Theme your dinners around a certain cuisine and discuss the culture, geography or history of that culture. Everybody will learn more about another culture and sample new tastes and flavors.
• Browse cookbooks or cooking magazines with your family to get ideas and recipes for future family dinners. My favorite cookbook: How to Cook Everything. My favorite online recipe depository: The Food Network. My favorite cooking magazine: Cook's Illustrated.

Hopefully this will inspire you and your family to start eating together again at least one night a week. Let me know how it goes. Happy eating.

How to Get Rich the Easy Way

There are only two ways to get rich, either make more money or spend less money (or both). Since it isn't easy for everybody to make more money, the guaranteed way is to spend less money. That's right, you too can be rich by simply living below your means.

Obviously this isn't the most glamorous way to live your life, but there is an enormous satisfaction in not ever having to worry about money again. Many people who experience depression, divorce, obesity, hypertension, heart disease, etc. can directly associate these ailments to the stress caused by not having enough money.

Over the course of the next couple of months, I am going to feature different ways you can reduce the amount of money you spend. The money you will not be spending should be saved and invested. Notice I said SAVED and INVESTED. First, everybody should have an emergency stash of cash in the bank equal to at least 6 months of expenses. This is savings. Second, you need investments. These include retirement (401k, IRAs, etc.) and non-retirement (stocks, bonds, rental property, CDs, etc.). Let's take a look at 5 quick and painless ways to stop spending money:

• Never Buy a New Car- I don't care about 0% interest financing. Buying a new car is one of the worst financial moves anybody can make. The second you drive it off the lot, the value has declined by 20%. Rich people don't buy new cars and certainly don't spend their money on things that DECLINE in value. Go buy a used Honda or Toyota. These cars are reliable and affordable.
• Get Rid of Your Phone- Do you have a home phone? A cell phone? Why do you need both? Get rid of your home phone. Between the line fees, call waiting and caller ID, you are probably wasting $40 a month. If you have long distance too, you are probably spending $80 a month. Just use your cell phone. With competition sky high amongst cell providers, plans are cheap (even unlimited plans).
• Get Rid of Your Cable- At least get rid of your premium package. Instead, subscribe to Netflix. For as little as $4.99 a month, you can see all kinds of movies and most T.V. shows (since everything goes on DVD now, even crappy MTV shows like The Hills).
• Buy an Entertainment Book- Tired of living like a pauper with a used car, no cable and no phone? Here is a nice splurge. For about $30, this book contains thousands of dollars in coupons and savings. The highlight of the book may be the buy one entree, get one free dining coupons. Depending on where you live, they have some really good restaurants participating. Better yet, they usually have coupons for grocery stores. Even if your favorite isn't listed, most grocers will honor competitor's coupons.
• Cancel your Newspaper/Magazine Subscriptions- Are you seriously getting magazines and papers delivered to your door daily? Most of these articles you can get for FREE online. Better yet, you can quickly scan the headlines, read abstracts and get better information online these days than you can in print. Save the trees and save money, what a great idea.

See how easy that was. These easy steps just saved you THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I will keep you posted on more ideas in the coming weeks and will even suggest some things to do with all this loot. For starters though, if you have high interest credit card debt, get rid of it. Otherwise, if your employer has a 401k that matches your contribution, max that out. It is free money. Live Rich.

Top Secret Weight Loss Tip: FIBER

Everybody knows they should eat more fiber. Fiber promotes health and reduces the risk of some chronic diseases. Fiber reduces your chance of colon and breast cancer. In addition fiber has been known to lower your bad cholesterol, thereby reducing your risk of heart disease.
There are actually two kinds of fiber, soluble and insoluble, but I am not going into the differences. Both are beneficial to the body. Here are some additional benefits of fiber that specifically aid in weight loss:

• Removes toxic waste from your intestines quicker (ever heard of the "colonic" diet?)
• Binds with fatty acids
• Slows down the release of sugar and insulin and their absorption into the bloodstream

Here are some easy ways to add healthy doses of fiber to your daily eating habits:

• Metamucil should be in the pantry of EVERYONE trying to lose weight. Their new Fibersure product doesn't alter taste or texture so you can add it to water and not even know it is there. It is also great sprinkled on cereals, salad dressings and many other foods. For those who are carb conscious, there is no need to worry because Metamucil has zero net carbs!
• Organic milled Flax Seed may seem very similar to Metamucil, but there are some important differences. Flax seed is actually a great source of protein, amino acids and Omega 3. It has a great nutty flavor that is good on salads and cereals. On the down side, it does have more calories and fat (80 calories and 9g of fat per 2 tablespoons).
• Seeds & Nuts are another good source, plus they contain healthy fats your body needs. Just make sure to use portion control because they do have calories.
• Green beans and dark, leafy green vegetables. I love adding vegetables to my salads. Nothing is better than left over asparagus or green beans on a salad. Speaking of salads, skip the iceberg lettuce. It has little to no nutritional value. Romaine lettuce is a little better, but the best option is baby spinach, watercress or arugula (nice black pepper taste).

Try to eat 6 servings of fruits/vegetables and 6 servings of oats/grains/whole wheats to get your 25g of recommended fiber each day. You will stay fuller longer, a huge help as you fight the hunger pains of dieting. Add fiber=Less Hungry=Weight Loss. Have a healthy day.

Skiing in Steamboat Springs, Colorado-Trip Report

'Tis the season for snow skiing, a passion I "picked" up a couple of years ago. For a Florida boy, it is such a nice change of scenery. Amazing mountain vistas, hot tubs and the laid back ski culture are a welcome change to my life in the swamp. I will get into the details soon, but let's get the logistics out of the way.

Airline- I flew Frontier Airlines directly into Denver. Even though Steamboat is 3.5 hours away by car, I wasn't about to fly into Hayden airport. Here are the reasons why: flights to Denver are infinitely cheaper, flights into Hayden get cancelled a lot because of weather and Hayden airport is still 45 minutes away from Steamboat Springs. The drive is nice. You cross the continental divide twice and drive through the Rocky Mountain National Forest. Word to the wise: watch out for deer and elk during your drive. They are everywhere. Other than that, it is an easy drive and Rabbit Ear Pass isn't bad at all (even for somebody who NEVER drives in the snow). The Frontier flight was uneventful. They have a large selection of satellite TV stations for $5 and movies available for $8. I didn't purchase either. They give you an entire can of soft drink and a huge bag of chips (TGIF brand Bacon Potato Chips), muffin, pretzels, etc. This was a nice alternative to the five peanuts in a bag you usually get.

Rental Car- I rented through Hotwire after trying all of the usual bread and butter travel sites. I have never used them before, but really like the site and got a really good deal from Hertz for a 4 wheel drive SUV. This is where the good news ends. We arrived in Denver took the shuttle to Hertz and waited in line with 20 other people for an hour because only two people were working. We finally got the car, a brand new Ford Edge. This is not an SUV. It is a crossover, but I wasn't about to wait in line so we took off in the pumpkin colored semi station wagon.

Hotel- Is it possible that the highlight of my trip could be a $60 a night hotel called the Bunkhouse Lodge? Definitely. The rooms are very basic and roadside motelish, but spacious. It has all of the basic amenities, free wireless internet, a hot tub and even a continental breakfast (muffins, toast, coffee, juice, cereal). Best of all, it is located next door to a large gas/convenience store and is less than a mile away from the slopes. The town shuttle has a stop in front of the hotel and takes you to all of the main stops on the mountain and town, for FREE. Great for those who do not want to deal with a rental car.

Dining- I have been to Mexico, Southern California, Arizona and Texas more times than Antonella Barba has taken naughty pictures of herself, but Steamboat Springs has THE BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT in the world. That is a pretty bold statement, but Fiesta Jalisco fits the bill. Located in the corner of a non-descript strip center on the way from the slopes to town, this place was recommended by a local in the know. Huge margaritas with fresh squeezed lime juice, enchiladas to die for and a mole sauce that only abuela could make. This is a destination restaurant in and of itself. My buddy Steve and I sat there for hours sampling everything on the menu, including all of the margaritas. Everything was excellent.
Just off the slopes between Lincoln Ave and Werner circle is the coolest coffee concept I have ever seen, Amante Coffee. It isn't just a coffee place, but a futuristic coffee, liquor, imported beer and tasty treat place with wireless internet and flat screen T.V.s. The espresso was amazing and they have some cool coffee with liquor drinks, perfect after a long day on the slopes.
For a fine dining option, there is no better place in Steamboat than Cafe Diva. A small, noisy restaurant near the Torian Plum Condos. The wine list fantastic and contains some choice corks. We drank the DeLoach Pinot Noir, a perfect accompaniment to the Sloppy Joe Duck Confit Sliders with Dorblu cheese and chive cream appetizer as well as the elk tenderloin with veal demi-glace. The food and service was flawless.

Apres Ski/Nightlife- Slopeside Grill is the place for apres ski and is located near Ski Time Square area. A huge ice bar is set up slopeside with plenty of space heaters. The inside features a nice wooden bar with all the libations, including microbrews-$2 a draft during happy hour, you could want. They also have great pizzas from their brick oven. There are other bars in the mountain and in town, but this is the only place I could recommend. The others don't even compare.

Ski Slopes- Steamboat is the 2nd largest mountain in Colorado with over 160 trails and features some of the best tree skiing in the country. It didn't hurt that we had a 60" base and 6" of fresh white powder either. Start early each day and head up to the Christmas Tree Bowl or Morningside Park if you are an advanced skier. For intermediates, check out Sunshine Peak. For beginners, stick with the Christine lifts. For some reason, Steamboats greens should be blues and some of the blues should be black. They do very little grooming so get used to the bumps (even on the greens).

Shopping- Forget it. The town of Steamboat is not very pedestrian friendly. It does include the typical tourist haunts that sell overpriced T-Shirts and other items emblazoned with catchy sayings or the typical "Steamboat, Ski Town USA" slogan. Save your money. You can get some good deals in town on ski gear, but you will still get better prices at home or at the Sports Authority (near Amante Coffee).

All in all, Steamboat is a great mountain, but isn't the complete package. It is too far from Denver, has no nightlife, no shopping, a dismal downtown and too many kids on the slopes. There are just too many other ski destinations for me to go back. Stay tuned for my trip report on Vail. Happy Travels.

Wine Review: Turkey Flat Vineyards in Barossa Valley, Australia

Have you noticed how large the wine selection at your favorite liquor or grocery store is? It is difficult enough to pick the right type of varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay), let alone a particular brand. Lucky for you, I will be the guinea pig and subject myself to drinking hundreds of different bottles of wines. In the end, I will give you the straight story on super tasty, but affordable wines.
Today, I would like to feature a wine producer from the Barossa Valley of Australia, Turkey Flat. I actually had the privilege of visiting this vineyard during my honeymoon in 2002, but was disappointed when the bottles we carried across the Pacific were all gone. Fortunately, you can now find Turkey Flat in many fine restaurants, liquor stores and online. Check out American Estates Wines for a local distributor.
Here are some tasting notes on my favorite varietals from Turkey Flat:

• Rose- Don't laugh, Rose is back in a big way. This is the perfect light bodied red wine with a slight sweetness and spritz that is so refreshing on warm days. It is a blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Dolcetto. It has tastes of red fruits, including raspberries, cherries and currants. It is great without food, but if you want some pairings, try it with a Waldorf Salad, Shellfish, Chicken or Pork Mojo, Paella, Chinese food or any other mild flavored food. Heck it goes with everything. Serve it straight from the fridge, the colder the better.
• Cabernet Sauvignon- A CabSav from Australia? Believe it. Turkey Flat's CabSav is grown on vines over 150 years old. This is a fully body and intense wine, with chalky tannins. The latter is produced by extended maceration with the skins on. Ripe red and black fruits prevail, enhanced by the oak and grape tannins. This big boy is best served with food, including grilled red meats, lamb with mustard crust, mushroom risotto with parmigiano reggiano shavings. You don't need to decant, but pop the bottle an hour before serving to let it breathe.
• Shiraz- The granddaddy red wine of Australia, Barossa Valley and Turkey Flat. These vines were planted in 1847. This version isn't super jammy, instead you can enjoy the plum, cedar and chocolate flavors. This wine is even better when served with a veal chop with a three pepper, cognac sauce or wild game (buffalo filet stuffed with gorgonzola or an elk tenderloin with a port reduction).

If you are ever in Barossa Valley, you must stop by this vineyard (and Maggie Beer's place-she is the Martha Stewart of Australia, but likable). Turkey Flat is owned and operated by Peter and Christie Schulz. I just love the idea of supporting working families instead of nameless, faceless corporations. Enjoy a glass of their fantastic wine tonight. Cheers!

Repositioning Cruises

Every Spring and Fall there is an amazing vacation opportunity most travellers do not know about. These are repositioning cruises. Almost every cruise line offers these itineraries, many at super low prices, to reposition a ship from the Mediterranean (Spring/Summer) to the Caribbean (Fall/Winter) or Alaska (Summer/Fall) to the Caribbean (Fall/Winter) and vice versa. Although Spring and Fall are the most popular times of the year for these type of cruises, they are offered almost all year long on one cruise ship or another. The Alaskan repositioning cruises may even include passage through the Panama Canal. Better yet, with the growing popularity of cruise itineraries in Asia and South America, some repositioning cruises cross vast oceans and offer travellers unique ports of calls (e.g., Hawaii, Barbados, Canary Islands, India, Tahiti, etc.).

Many of the pros and cons of repositioning cruises are the same. These include:
PROS

• The per diem price is often substantially less than a typical cruise that embarks and disembarks from the same port.
• Cruises are typically longer than a week and have more sea days. This lends to a more relaxing pace instead of arriving at a different port each day.

CONS

• Many people like visiting various ports of call and get tired of spending most of their vacation on a ship at sea.
• Often times, airfare is more expensive since you embark at one port and disembark at another.

Here is a list of some great upcoming repositioning cruises. Check out www.cruise.com for prices and additional itineraries (they are one of the few websites that has Transatlantic/Repositioning as an option under destinations).

Spring

To Europe from Texas, Florida or New York in April:

Silversea Silver Shadow, Regent Seven Seas Navigator & Voyager, Celebrity Century

Alaska to Caribbean (and vice versa) through the Panama Canal:

Regent Seven Seas Mariner, Coral Princess, Norwegian Pearl

Unique itineraries:

The Crystal Symphony will sail between between Dubai, UAE and the Mediterranean in May.

The MSC Melody will be sailing from South Africa to Europe.

The Regal Princess will sail from Los Angeles on August 31 and reach Sydney, Australia 31 days later.

In the fall, the transatlantic crossing start from Europe and back to the Americas. These ships will be making from 8 to 24-day crossings of the Atlantic in either September, October, November or December of 2007. Some of the highlights include:

Royal Caribbean Legend of the Seas - Barcelona to the Dominican Republic

SeaDream I - Lisbon to San Juan

Oceania Regatta - Barcelona to Miami

Norwegian Gem - Barcelona to Boston

SeaDream II - Canary Islands to Rio

Make sure to check these cruises out. They are truly an affordable option on some amazing ships with incredible itineraries. Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions. I especially like the SeaDream cruise line and will be posting about them in the future. Happy Travels.

Power Foods: Ricotta Cheese

Many of us know of ricotta cheese as the silky smooth interior of lasagna, but it is a very versatile and HEALTHY power food. First of all, ricotta cheese isn't really cheese. It is made from whey, a byproduct of cheese making. It has a finely grain texture similar to cottage cheese, but is lighter and sweeter.

For those on an Atkins or South Beach Diet, ricotta makes an excellent addition to your diet since it has less than 1g of carbohydrate per ounce. Bodybuilders love this stuff since the fat free variety packs 5g of protein per ounce. It is low in saturated fat and sodium and even the whole milk variety has only 49 calories per ounce. Finally, one-half cup provides 42% of the recommended daily allowance of calcium. Now you know why ricotta cheese is a POWER FOOD.

Some of my favorite recipes for ricotta cheese include:

• Ricotta Cheese Mousse- 2 ounces of ricotta cheese beaten with a wire whisk until smooth. Sprinkle chocolate chips, pistachios, drop of vanilla, maple syrup, honey or any other topping you desire. Add a tablespoon of sugar or Splenda for additional sweetness if desired. The flavors are limited only by your imagination.
• Roasted Vegetable & Ricotta Frittata- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Rough chop some red peppers, onions, garlic, mushrooms, asparagus, squash or any other veggies you love (about 1.5 cups worth) and place on heavy duty aluminum foil. Sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast veggies for 25 minutes. Beat 4 eggs (or egg whites) and 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese together until smooth. Hint: adding a pinch of salt and a splash of milk to eggs will break down the protein and make them smooth. Pour egg/ricotta cheese mixture into a Teflon baking or pie dish. Set aside. Once veggies are soft, pull them from the oven and dump into the baking dish containing the egg/ricotta mixture. Place the baking dish back into the 450 degree oven for 25 minutes or until dish is firm (a knife inserted in the middle of the dish should come out clean). This is an easy dish and tastes great hot, room temperature and even cold the next day.

Links:

Additional Ricotta Recipes- http://homecooking.about.com/library/archive/blricotta.htm

More Recipes- http://web.foodnetwork.com/food/web/searchResults?searchType=Recipe&searchString=ricotta&site=food&gosearch=Search

Dr. Gourmet- http://www.drgourmet.com/ingredients/cheese-ricotta.shtml

Diversification-Investing in Foreign Denominated CDs

We have all heard the financial experts telling us to diversify our investments, but how do we obtain diversification for our CASH or short term holdings? One investment vehicle that is gaining popularity is Foreign Denominated CDs (Certificates of Deposits). These are just like regular CDs, except they are issued in a foreign currency (e.g., Euro, British Pound, South Africa Rands).

With the recent downturn in the stock market, record low interest rates and the declining value of the U.S. dollar, these certificates of deposits may be a perfect addition to your underperforming portfolio or an easy way to further diversify.

Although the Foreign Denominated CDs are FDIC insured, they do not come without risk. The biggest risk lies in the daily fluctuations of the currencies themselves. If the US dollar strengthens against the currency your CD is in, you can actually lose money. Despite this fear, many of these CDs are paying interest rates way above and beyond the rate you will get from your local bank. Here are some examples of World Currency interest rates offered by Everbank:

• Icelandic Krona- 12.75% for 3 month CD
• South African Rand- 7.5% for 6 month CD
• New Zealand Dollar- 6.25% for 12 month CD

Just remember the actual yield may differ based on the currency exchange rate at time of purchase and maturation, as well as how often the interest is compounded.

I think these CDs offer the average individual investor an excellent way to mitigate risk and to easily invest in the currency markets. The CDs are offered in a wide variety of currencies with maturity dates from 3 months to 12 months (or longer). Let me know if you have ever bought one of these CDs and how you ended up.

LINKS:

Everbank- http://www.everbank.com

Bankrate- http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/DrDon/20030324a1.asp

Timing- http://www.timing.net/foreign-denominated-cds.php

How to Drink More Water

Want to live a healthy life? DRINK MORE WATER.
We all know we should drink water, but here are some reminders why:

• Water helps to regulate our body temperature through perspiration, which gets rid of excess heat and cools the body
• Water lubricates our joints--an important function if you are arthritic, have chronic muscular or skeletal problems, or are athletically active.
• Water suppresses the appetite naturally and helps the body metabolize stored fat.

Nutritionists say we should drink 10 glasses of water each day (8 oz. each serving). Here are some easy ways to get your fill:

• Start your day with a big, tall glass of COLD water. Believe it or not, it will wake you up and may help you decrease the amount of coffee or tea you consume throughout the day.
• Drink a glass of water before each meal or snack. You will feel fuller faster and it will help aid in digestion.
• End your day how you started it. Before you go to bed, have one last glass of water. This will help your joints and muscles. Even with a hypersensitive bladder, your body will adjust quickly.

Think water is boring? Pour some lime, lemon or orange juice into ice cube trays. These flavored ice cubes are a great addition to water. There is also a growing popularity of vitamin fortified and flavored waters like:

• Vitamin Water by Glaceau
• Fruit Water by Glaceau
• Water Sensations

Just make sure and read the label of some of these "waters" because some of them contain calories and sugar.

We all love the taste of Starbucks' Strawberry Creme Frappucino, Arnold Palmer Iced Tea/Lemonade and Two Brothers Brewing Company's Domaine DuPage Ale, but your drink of choice should be water. Drink some today and everyday.

Links related to this article:
Bottled Water Online-http://bottledwaterstore.com/index.html

VitaminWater-http://www.vitaminwater.com/

Starbucks-http://www.starbucks.com/default.asp

Arnold Palmer Beverage Review-http://www.bevnet.com/reviews/arnoldpalmer/

Two Brothers Brewing Company-http://www.twobrosbrew.com/all%20year%20beers.htm