10 Tips for Getting Your Work/Life in Balance

Here are 10 tips to help you achieve a better balance in your life. Take a moment to read and reflect on these tips -- and then get your life in balance!

1. Negotiate a Change with Your Current Employer. Progressive employers recognize the value of good employees, and many are willing to find ways to help current employees deal with short-term or permanent changes caused by family situations. The changes can include flextime, job-sharing, telecommuting, or part-time employment. Your first step is to research your employer's policies and methods of handling previous requests. Then go to your boss armed with information and a plan that shows how you will be an even more valuable and productive employee if you can modify your current work situation.
2. Find a New Career. Some careers are simply more stressful and time-consuming than others. If you need more time for yourself or your family, now may be the time to explore careers that are less stressful and more flexible.
3. Find a New Job. Rather than a career change, perhaps you simply need to take a less stressful job within your chosen career. This change may involve working with your current employer to identify a new position, it may involve a full job-search, or it may involve temping or becoming a consultant or starting a freelancing or other home-based business.
4. Slow Down. Life is simply too short, so don't let things pass you in a blur. Take steps to stop and enjoy the things and people around you. Schedule more time between meetings; don't make plans for every evening or weekend, and find some ways to distance yourself from the things that are causing you the most stress.
5. Learn to Better Manage Your Time. Avoid Procrastination. For many people, most of the stress they feel comes from simply being disorganized -- and procrastinating. Learn to set more realistic goals and deadlines -- and then stick to them. You'll find that not only are you less stressed, but your work will be better.
6. Share the Load. Even though we may sometimes feel we're the only ones capable of doing something, it's usually not the case. Get your partner or other family members to help you with all your personal/family responsibilities. Taking care of the household, children, or parents should not be the responsibility of just one person.
7. Let Things Go. (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff.) It's simpler said than done, but learn to let things go once in a while. So what if the dishes don't washed everyday or that the house doesn't get vacuumed every week. Learn to recognize the things that don't really have much impact in your life and allow yourself to let them go -- and then not beat yourself up for doing so.
8. Explore Your Options. Get Help. If you are feeling overwhelmed with your family responsibilities, please get help if you can afford it. Find a sitter for your children, explore options for aging parents, and seek counseling for yourself. In many cases, you have options, but you need to take the time to find them.
9. Take Charge. Set Priorities. Sometimes it's easier for us to allow ourselves to feel overwhelmed rather than taking charge and developing a prioritized list of things that need to get done. You need to buck the trend. Develop a list. Set priorities. And then enjoy the satisfaction of crossing things off your list.
10. Simplify. It seems human nature for just about everyone to take on too many tasks and responsibilities, to try to do too much, and to own too much. Find a way to simplify your life. Change your lifestyle. Learn to say no to requests for help. Get rid of the clutter and baggage in your house -- and your life.

In the end, the key word is balance. You need to find the right balance that works for you. Celebrate your successes and don't dwell on your failures. Life is a process, and so is striving for balance in your life.




Read more...

Do you dream in English?

The next time you hear that someone is dead to the world, don't worry! It just means that he's asleep. English is full of lingo that describes the world of sleep and dreams. Check out these interesting expressions that hopefully won't put you to sleep!

Sweet dreams
Are these dreams full of cake and candy? No! This expression is used to wish someone a good night's sleep with pleasant dreams. It is often said to a loved one just before he or she goes to bed: "Sweet dreams, my love!"

Reoccurring nightmare
These dreams are definitely not sweet! Nightmares are dreams that are scary. If you have the same nightmare over and over, it's called a reoccurring nightmare.

Hit the hay
When someone tells you it's time to hit the hay, relax! It doesn't mean you have to go out to a barn or do any physical work. Mattresses in the West used to be filled with hay - so this just means it's time to go to sleep.

Heavy/light sleeper
Are heavy sleepers typically big and tall while light sleepers are small and thin? Of course not! Heavy sleepers are people who sleep very deeply and do not wake up easily. For light sleepers, the opposite is true. They can wake up even from the slightest noise.

Sleep like a log
Imagine a log - heavy and difficult to move. If someone is sleeping like a log, they are sleeping very deeply without lots of tossing and turning. For example, you may say, "I'm so tired from all that exercise that I'll sleep like a log tonight!"

Sleep in
If someone says they like to sleep in, then it's best not to call them too early in the morning. This expression is used when a person wakes up very late. For example, "I sleep in every weekend and wake up around noon."

Power nap
Do you ever feel exhausted in the middle of the day? If so, a power nap may be just the remedy for you! While sleeping for several hours can leave you feeling even sleepier, a short power nap of no more than 30 minutes should revitalize you.

Insomnia
Some people can fall asleep almost anywhere, while others lay awake at night wishing they could. A person who can't easily fall asleep has insomnia and is called an insomniac.

Doze off
Sometimes, when we're especially tired, we somehow slip off to sleep without meaning to. This is called dozing off. Perhaps you doze off while you're watching TV, reading a textbook or even in class or at work!

Read more...

Scrabble by GameHouse [Already Cracked]

The classic way to spell word game fun is now the ultimate way to spell fast fun for the entire family. Play against one of eight challenging computer opponents or take on your friends and family in four different game modes. Play the way you remember in Classic mode, race against the clock in Blitz, climb to the top in a Tournament, or set up a Custom Tournament and play SCRABBLE your way!

Innovative and helpful features like Best Play, Hints, and The Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary allow SCRABBLE fans of all skill levels to join in the fun. A family favorite for generations of gamers, you've never seen SCRABBLE like this before!

Scrabble Game Features

• Play Against Computer or Human Opponents
• Helpful Hints, Best Play Words, and More
• Includes Merriam-Webster's The Official SCRABBLE Players Dictionary - Fourth Edition

Download Scrabble by GameHouse



Read more...

Avira AntiVir Premium 2009 V1.00.20.00 incl. license till 2011

Avira AntiVir Premium 2009 reliably protects you against all threats from viruses, worms, trojans, rootkits, phishings, adware, spyware, bots, and dangerous “drive-by” downloads. Best detection rates and top-class security with several updates every day.

Avira AntiVir Premium Features:

• NEW! QuickRemoval eliminate viruses at the push of a button.
• NEW! NetbookSupport for laptops with low resolution.
• AntiVir stops all types of viruses!
• AntiAd/Spyware eliminates ad/spyware!
• AntiPhishing proactive protection against phising.
• AntiRootkit against hidden rootkit threats.
• AntiDrive-by prevents against downloading viruses when surfing.
• EmailScanner enhanced email protection.
• WebGuard protection against malicious websites.
• RescueSystem create a bootable rescue CD.

Avira System Requirements:

• Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 (32 and 64-bit editions), Microsoft Windows Vista (32 and 64-bit editions)
• Memory: Minimum 192 MB RAM for Windows XP, or 512 MB RAM for Windows Vista
• Hard-Drive Space: 40MB + quarantine space (100MB needed temporarily for installation)

Download Avira AntiVir Premium 2009



Read more...

SmartSync Pro 4.0 Incl. Patch

SmartSync Pro is a universal tool for backing up and synchronizing your important data to your local drive; external flash, USB, or ZIP drive; CD or DVD; NAS or other storage device; network volume; or even remote computer. If source data is destroyed or lost, it can easily be recovered. An intuitive wizard will help you set up what to copy, and where and when to copy it. The program replicates only new and updated files, which substantially reduces synchronization time. SmartSync Pro allows you to synchronize files and folders when computers cannot be connected over a local network. Its filtering system lets you keep synchronized only the files you need. The application has a set of built-in features, such as a task scheduler, data compression, activity logging, notification, and password protection.

Common features:
•Attractive and easy-to-use interface.
•Synchronizes your data only when it needs synchronizing.
•Flexible filtering system to include only the files you want.
•Backup open and in-use files.
•Tree-like structure of profiles and profile groups.
•Drag and drop support for folders, profiles and profile groups.
•Full support for unicode file names (Japanese, Korean, Chinese, etc.).
•Detailed activity log.
•Multi-threaded background processing.
•Easy-to-use New Profile Wizard for creating new profiles.
•Color highlighting for new, modified and deleted files and file conflicts.
•Detailed synchronization progress for all operations.
•Resolves file conflicts when the same files have been modified on both sides.
•Adjusts for different time zones, Daylight Saving Time.
•Scheduling support to run profiles whenever you want.
•Can dial-up before synchronization and hang up afterward.
•Can run external programs before and after synchronization.
•Profile access can be restricted to selected users only.
•Command line support.
•Can be run as service under 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008.

Local Synchronization/Backup Features:
•Makes an exact copy of your directories on network computer.
•Synchronizes two directories with an option for deleting obsolete files.
•Allows for your backup files to be compressed in a ZIP archive.
•Allows for restoring source files from backup.
•Copy file and folder security information for NTFS volumes.
•Strong encryption AES 256-bit for ultimate security.

Remote Synchronization Features:
•Move modified files in a compressed package.
•Can send packages to floppy, ZIP, FTP server or by Email directly from the program.
•Can load packages from floppy, ZIP, FTP server or from POP3 server directly from the program.
•Split packages by a given size.
•Disk spanning support.
•Preserves up to 100 last versions of replaced and deleted files.
•Easy restoring of preserved files.
•Password protection for packages.

Download Smart Syn Pro Ver 4.0 Incl. Patch

Read more...

How to change service start type in the registry

Sometimes it may be necessary to change a service start type from the registry instead of the GUI. This may be due to the system or the GUI being inaccessible, or because of a need to change startup as part of a script.

While the system is live the service information is kept in the registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services. Each service and driver is listed under its own key.

CurrentControlSet exists only while the system is running. If you are troubleshooting a system which is offline by booting from a parallel install, etc. the last CurrentControlSet settings are saved under ControlSet001. This branch is reloaded as the CurrentControlSet on the next boot, so values changed in ControlSet001 on an offline system will become active as CurrentControlSet the next time the downed system is brought online.

Service startup types are saved in the registry value (DWORD) Start under the corresponding service name. This value can be set to any of the following:

0x0 Boot
0x1 System
0x2 Automatic
0x3 Manual
0x4 Disabled

Note that Boot (0) and System (1) are reserved for device drivers. Regular services should not be set to these start types.

Read more...

Post Production {Photoshop Tutorial }

Another tutorial from our on going Post Production series, this time we’ll be creating a dreamy portrait effect. In the tutorial we’ll be playing around with gradient maps and color channels, hope you like it.

Final Preview

Original Stock

Step 1

Open up your selected photo and immediately create a new gradient map (image/adjustments/Gradient Map). Make sure the gradient map is set from black to white, then click OK.

Step 2

Duplicate the layer and then add some gaussian blur (filter/blur/gaussian blur). In the dialog box set the blur radius to 7px and press Ok. In the layers panel set the opacity of the new layer to 50% and then merge it with the background layer.

Step 3

Open up the curves dialog box (image/adjustments/curves) and set the RGB channel output and input levels to 87 and 139 respectively. Then Duplicate the layer, set the layer mode to Overlay and set the opacity to 75%. Finally merge the layers.

Step 4

Duplicate the background layer and again create another gradient map just like we did in Step 1. Set the opacity of the new layer to 75% then set the contrast of the layer to 15 (image/adjustments/brightness/contrast), and merge the 2 layers.

Step 5

Duplicate the layer and press Ctrl L to open up the levels dialog box. Inside the levels dialog box select the green channel and set the input levels to 7, 1.0 and 250. Then set the blue channels input levels to 5, 1.00 and 250 respectively and you’re done.

Read more...

MiX-FX v1.04 incl. keygen

Want to create a Flash animation such as a animated Flash button, banner, intro, text effect or any and other Flash effect for your web site, but don't have Adobe Flash or don't know how to use it for complex Flash animations?

Don't worry, Mix-FX comes to your rescue. This simple-to-use Flash software tool lets you create absolutely stunning Flash animations and Flash buttons in just seconds.
What is Mix-FX? It's a Flash animation tool which creates Flash buttons, Flash animations, Flash text effects and Flash effects. With Mix-FX, you can create hundreds of different web animations. Change sizes and colors and you have millions of possibilities! Adding animated effects and buttons to your website has never been easier!

Load the effects you just created into Flash, into your PowerPoint presentation, Dreamweaver, Frontpage * or directly onto your web site or into promotional emails.

Download MiX-FX v1.04




Read more...

Eating to lose fat

Mens Health has a great article on the nutrients and eating skills necessary to lose fat. I usually hate the slant of these articles because I thing the target them at 18 year old kids getting ready to go to the bar but thats just my attitude. The article is great and I am going to paraphrase the points here as I think there is some knowledge I can add and the article was a little wordy.

1. To lose weight, you must cut calories
The low-fat/low-carbohydrate debate comes down to this: You still have to eat fewer calories than you burn if you want to lose weight. Every study I looked at shows this. The perfect weight-loss diet is the one you can live with, whether you cut fat, carbs, or some combination.

2. Take Whey protein
A daily shake made with two scoops of whey protein, fruit (fresh or frozen berries or a banana), and water or crushed ice will decrease hunger. You can buy whey protein at any grocery store nowadays, this is the best option for protein enhancement in your diet.

3. Meat kills fat
Protein takes the most calories to assimilate and digest, followed by carbohydrates, followed by fat. Animal proteins increase thermogenesis more than vegetable proteins, so the best calorie-burning foods are lean meats. Build your dinner around lean chicken, beef, or pork. That way, you’re burning the most calories through digestion at the end of the day, when your metabolism is slower. This is one of the big reasons that I think people are too concerned about their fat intake but at the same time do not eat enough protein.

4. Take Branched Chain Aminos
Try to get at least 10 grams of Branched Chain Aminos a day. Since they’re most abundant in meat and dairy products, you can get the better part of that by following rules 2 and 3. (Two scoops of whey protein and 3 ounces of beef contains 10 g of Branched Chain Aminos.) You can also buy Branched Chain Amino supplements (which, you should be aware, are expensive). Look for supplements that are 50 percent leucine, 25 percent isoleucine, and 25 percent valine. I personally do not like these as it is the single most expensive way to get your protein.

5. Beware of fried foods
Highly refined carbohydrates, such as fructose-sweetened beverages and low-fiber breads, are a terrible idea. These products raise your blood sugar very quickly and then they burn off very quickly and you end up feeling tired and hungry much sooner than you should. Goodbye diet, hello diabetes. There is a way to make refined carbohydrates even worse: Fry them. Researchers have found a suspected carcinogen called acrylamide in such products as potato chips and french fries. Anytime I get a chance to talk you out of eating worthless snack foods, I do it.

6. The fullness of Fiber
Fiber’s effect is the opposite of snack foods. When you have fiber in your stomach, food takes longer to enter the bloodstream, and your blood-sugar level stays steady. The benefits: You’ll have a more consistent energy supply and less between-meal hunger. You can safely and easily take in more fiber by using a supplement. (MD Labs’ Fiber-Psyll is a good one; go to MDlabs.com.). Start with 7 to 12g a day, mixing some with water and drinking it before your main meals. I recommend that you eat some All Bran for breakfast. I love All Bran and it is very high in fiber. A good size bowl of All Bran with milk gives you all the fiber you need. Lately as well I have started taking Flax seed meal and Psyllium Husk.

7. Count on calcium
Recently, nutrition researchers discovered that dairy and other calcium-rich foods help you stay lean, prevent osteoporosis, and possibly prevent colon cancer. The recommendation is to take in 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams (mg) of calcium a day. (A cup of milk contains 300.) I have seen a lot of research saying that the calcium from Green leafy veggies is much better for your body than trying to get Calcium from Milk, check it out for yourself if you are not much of a milk drinker now.

8. Get your Omegas
Each year, we learn more about the health benefits of omega-3 polyunsaturated fats, which are found in fish, nuts, seeds, and flaxseed and fish oils. These health benefits–less risk of heart disease and diabetes, for example–are great on their own. But omega-3 fats contribute to a better physique as well. For example, omega-3s reduce inflammation throughout your body. That not only prevents heart attacks (inflammation in the tissues surrounding blood vessels is a major cause) but also helps your muscles recover faster from workouts.

Bigger, less-inflamed muscles mean a faster metabolism, and speeding up your metabolism is crucial when you’re trying to get lean. If you don’t eat fish twice a week and can’t stomach fish-oil supplements, try eggs high in omega-3s, which are found in the dairy case, next to the regular eggs. You can eat four of them a day without any negative effect on your cholesterol levels. I just take a Omega 3 vitamin every day. Remember if you are taking Flax Seed oil that it spoils when exposed to air very quickly.

9. Make a plan Set a Goal
Next time you read a weight-loss story in a newspaper or magazine, count the number of disparaging references to popular diets. Based on the way diet gurus trash their competitors, you’d think there was no plan on earth that actually works. But the truth is that you can’t lose weight without a diet. You must have a plan. The more sophisticated it is, and the more tailored to your likes and dislikes, the better. You can’t wing it and expect to see results. Remember the Basics. I won’t offer you the perfect weight-loss regimen, because research has yet to discover one. But even the worst plan is more likely to succeed than no plan at all.

Read more...

Advance Registry Tracer v2.11 {CRACKED}

ART gives you FULL control of your Registry on local or remote machines. Easily find Registry changes made by program installs, roll back undesirable changes, completely clean up buggy uninstalls, and find tweaks even the experts can't isolate! ART lets you save snapshots of the Registry and later browse through each change made by any software on your machine, hardware installation or system setting tweak and easily undo any change made.

Download Advance Registry Tracer v2.11



Read more...