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When Karen Says Drink, I Say How Much.

Have I told you guys that Karen Kurdyak has been sharing her insider's tips on the best values in the bi-weekly Vintages releases on the CheapEats blogs?

Cousins

Karen is a long-time CheapEats contributor and is consulting with the LCBO.  I've been following her wine emails for a couple of years now.   (Though I've never been able to get her to play the three-for-$20 game with me. ) She always makes great recommendations without ever sacrificing quality. 

If you haven't checked out her tasting notes and recommendations before, tomorrow's release is looking pretty good.  Well, for red drinkers anyway.

Check out the Vintages Value Lists  on the CheapEats Toronto blog or the CheapEats Ottawa blog depending on your inclination. 

Have I told you guys that Karen Kurdyak has been sharing her insider's tips on the best values in the bi-weekly Vintages releases on the CheapEats blogs?

Cousins

Karen is a long-time CheapEats contributor and is consulting with the LCBO.  I've been following her wine emails for a couple of years now.   (Though I've never been able to get her to play the three-for-$20 game with me. ) She always makes great recommendations without ever sacrificing quality. 

If you haven't checked out her tasting notes and recommendations before, tomorrow's release is looking pretty good.  Well, for red drinkers anyway.

Check out the Vintages Value Lists  on the CheapEats Toronto blog or the CheapEats Ottawa blog depending on your inclination. 

Be Healthy. Go To Sleep!

Crappy Saturday Night

Two of my favourite men in the world got poked and prodded by doctors this week, so I think it's a good time to remind everyone of the health and healing benefits  of quality naps, deep sleep and general lazing about.

"Part of sleep's effect lies in hormones. During deep sleep, the production of growth hormone is at its peak." says William Collinge, M.P.H., Ph.D. in the CNN Article Sleep's Healing Properties.  He adds "Melatonin, often called the sleep hormone, is also produced during sleep. This hormone inhibits tumors from growing, prevents viral infections, stimulates your immune system, increases antibodies in your saliva, has antioxidant properties and enhances the quality of sleep."

Ten Tips to Improve Your Sleep (plus one for good measure)

source: The Better Sleep Council
 To get the sleep you need for a happier, healthier and more productive life, BSC recommends the following:

1. Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, including weekends.
2. Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music.
3. Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool.
4. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows.
5. Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex. It is best to take work materials, computers and televisions out of the sleeping environment.
6. Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime.
7. Exercise regularly. It is best to complete your workout at least a few hours before bedtime.
8. Avoid nicotine (e.g., cigarettes, tobacco products). Used close to bedtime, it can lead to poor sleep.
9. Avoid caffeine (e.g., coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) close to bedtime. It can keep you awake.
10. Avoid alcohol close to bedtime. It can lead to disrupted sleep later in the night.
11. And pay your sleep debt. Getting even 30 minutes less sleep than your body needs can lead to accumulated sleep debt, which has both short- and long-term consequences for health, mood and performance, both on and off the job. It’s important to schedule 8 hours of sleep each night (7.5 to 8.5 is optimal) and maintain a regular sleep and wake schedule, even on the weekend.

For more information or to download the Better Sleep Guide for simple solutions that can help improve the quality of your sleep, please visit www.bettersleep.org.

Now - go have a nap!  You'll feel better.

source: The Better Sleep Council
 To get the sleep you need for a happier, healthier and more productive life, BSC recommends the following:

1. Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, including weekends.
2. Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine such as soaking in a hot bath or hot tub and then reading a book or listening to soothing music.
3. Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool.
4. Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows.
5. Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex. It is best to take work materials, computers and televisions out of the sleeping environment.
6. Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime.
7. Exercise regularly. It is best to complete your workout at least a few hours before bedtime.
8. Avoid nicotine (e.g., cigarettes, tobacco products). Used close to bedtime, it can lead to poor sleep.
9. Avoid caffeine (e.g., coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate) close to bedtime. It can keep you awake.
10. Avoid alcohol close to bedtime. It can lead to disrupted sleep later in the night.
11. And pay your sleep debt. Getting even 30 minutes less sleep than your body needs can lead to accumulated sleep debt, which has both short- and long-term consequences for health, mood and performance, both on and off the job. It’s important to schedule 8 hours of sleep each night (7.5 to 8.5 is optimal) and maintain a regular sleep and wake schedule, even on the weekend.

For more information or to download the Better Sleep Guide for simple solutions that can help improve the quality of your sleep, please visit www.bettersleep.org.

Now - go have a nap!  You'll feel better.

When Karen Says "Drink", I Say "How Much"?

Have I told you guys that Karen Kurdyak has been sharing her insider's tips on the best values in the bi-weekly Vintages releases on the CheapEats blogs?

Karen is a long-time CheapEats contributor and is consulting with the LCBO.  I've been following her wine emails for a couple of years now.   (Though I've never been able to get her to play the three-for-$20 game with me. ) She always makes great recommendations without ever sacrificing quality. 

If you haven't checked out her tasting notes and recommendations before, tomorrow's release is looking pretty good.  Well, for red drinkers anyway.

Check out the Vintages Value Lists  on the CheapEats Toronto blog or the CheapEats Ottawa blog depending on your inclination. 

Technorati tags: vintages, vintages value list, karen kurdyak, cheapeats, wine, wine tastings

Be Healthy. Go To Sleep!

Two of my favourite men in the world got poked and prodded by doctors this week, so I think it's a good time to remind everyone of the health and healing benefits  of quality naps, deep sleep and general lazing about.

"Part of sleep's effect lies in hormones. During deep sleep, the production of growth hormone is at its peak." says William Collinge, M.P.H., Ph.D. in the CNN Article Sleep's Healing Properties.  He adds "Melatonin, often called the sleep hormone, is also produced during sleep. This hormone inhibits tumors from growing, prevents viral infections, stimulates your immune system, increases antibodies in your saliva, has antioxidant properties and enhances the quality of sleep."

Ten Tips to Improve Your Sleep (plus one for good measure)

Back To School Photo Contest!

Friends, family and friends with family - this one's for you!

My friend Andrea (of the peeptastic contest) has got another cool photo contest going.  This time there are even sponsored prizes from HP!

Here's a quick summary:

• the subject of your photo should be of your school-age child going back to school or starting school for the first time. Boarding the bus, walking to school, waving goodbye – you know the drill.
• post your BEST (a maximum of three) photos to Flickr. Make sure each photo is tagged “fishbowlbacktoschool.”
• Deadline: midnight September 10th.
• The best photo (as determined by Andrea's panel of judges) will win an HP Photosmart C5280 (and ink AND some photo paper!) courtesy of HP Canada.

More details and some tips for back-to-school photography on Andrea's blog - a peek inside the fish bowl.

Spread the word!

Back To School Photo Contest

Friends, family and friends with family - this one's for you!

My friend Andrea (of the peeptastic contest) has got another cool photo contest going.  This time there are even sponsored prizes from HP!

Here's a quick summary:

• the subject of your photo should be of your school-age child going back to school or starting school for the first time. Boarding the bus, walking to school, waving goodbye – you know the drill.
• post your BEST (a maximum of three) photos to Flickr. Make sure each photo is tagged “fishbowlbacktoschool.”
• Deadline: midnight September 10th.
• The best photo (as determined by Andrea's panel of judges) will win an HP Photosmart C5280 (and ink AND some photo paper!) courtesy of HP Canada.

More details and some tips for back-to-school photography on Andrea's blog - a peek inside the fish bowl.

Technorati Tags: andrea, a peek inside the fish bowl, back to school, photography, photo contest, hp, prizes, contest, family, kids

Vox Hunt: Foreign Born

Show us something you own that is from a different country.
Submitted by Rev Stan.

Schweppes Tangerine

Made in Egypt, sold at Piassa Injera the Ethopian corner store/lunch counter/coffee shop at the food of my street.

It All Started With A Little Glitch...

Brain Surgery

A good part of last week was spent attempting to fix my laptop. (Much thanks to Marc and Paul who both offered direction and advice.)

Careful analysis built to detailed diagnosis. Detailed diagnosis to iterative investigation.  Iterative investigation lead to extensive exploration which moved to heavy handed hacking.

Then with frustrated finality, we just ripped the sucker apart.

That lead fairly rapidly to the Staples Laptop Department. 

Okay, perhaps not "rapidly" since it actually took 6 days. Now I have a slick new laptop for my playful new eDot sachel of happiness, thanks to Katr... Look out world here I come. Well, once I figure out whether it's worth the time and risk to rip out Vista and install XP.

A Little Brain Surgery

A good part of last week was spent attempting to fix my laptop. Much thanks to Marc and Paul who both offered direction and advice.

Careful analysis built to detailed diagnosis. Detailed diagnosis to iterative investigation.  Iterative investigation lead to extensive exploration which moved to heavy handed hacking.

Then with frustrated finality, we just ripped the sucker apart.

That lead fairly rapidly to the Staples Laptop Department. 

Okay it actually took 6 days, but now I have a slick new laptop for my playful new eDot sachel of happiness, thanks to Katr... Look out world here I come.

Technorati Tags: laptop issues, staples, technology

Lights Out Ontario

I often feel a little defensive when I tell people (especially non-marketing people) that I'm using facebook.  However, one of the primary reason I joined was to find out about some cool events and causes that I simply wasn't hearing about any other way.  Like this one:

Lights Out Ontario - August 23, 2007 @ 10pm

Remember the Blackout that hit Ontario on August 14, 2003?

Diwali Flame

Lets celebrate the anniversary with a statement!!

Lights Out Ontario aims to prove that we can all make a difference to the future of our planet. On August 23, 2007 - we are inviting the whole of Ontario to turn off all lights and non-essential appliances between 10 and 11pm.

As well as promoting long-term understanding of green issues among Ontarians, this simple display of solidarity will show the world that we care. We can all make a difference - saving the world isn't just for superheroes!

Getting involved couldn't be simpler. Register now to show your support, then all you have to do is remember to turn off all your lights and non-essential appliances on August 23, 2007. Remember to tell all your friends though - the more people that take part, the bigger difference we can make.  -- Greg Gardner Lights Out Instigator

You don't have to be in Ontario.  We can all find something to flick off and save a little juice for tomorrow.

(And if you're reading this after Aug 23rd, 2007 - why not make tonight a Lights Out night at your house?)

I often feel a little defensive when I tell people (especially non-marketing people) that I'm using facebook.  However, one of the primary reason I joined was to find out about some cool events and causes that I simply wasn't hearing about any other way.  Like this one:

Lights Out Ontario - August 23, 2007 @ 10pm

Remember the Blackout that hit Ontario on August 14, 2003?

Diwali Flame

Lets celebrate the anniversary with a statement!!

Lights Out Ontario aims to prove that we can all make a difference to the future of our planet. On August 23, 2007 - we are inviting the whole of Ontario to turn off all lights and non-essential appliances between 10 and 11pm.

As well as promoting long-term understanding of green issues among Ontarians, this simple display of solidarity will show the world that we care. We can all make a difference - saving the world isn't just for superheroes!

Getting involved couldn't be simpler. Register now to show your support, then all you have to do is remember to turn off all your lights and non-essential appliances on August 23, 2007. Remember to tell all your friends though - the more people that take part, the bigger difference we can make.  -- Greg Gardner Lights Out Instigator

You don't have to be in Ontario.  We can all find something to flick off and save a little juice for tomorrow.

(And if you're reading this after Aug 23rd, 2007 - why not make tonight a Lights Out night at your house?)