Kilty Larkin’s

A bad poison ivy rash can take weeks to go away and can drive you crazy with itchiness. As an avid backpacker and camper, I’ve had my share of poison ivy rashes, and I’ve tried a lot of different poison ivy cures. Some of them don’t do anything at all, yet others are actually very effective.

The best poison ivy cure is of course avoiding it in the first place. You could always tiptoe through the tulips instead - for once you get a poison ivy rash, it is very hard to cure completely. So don’t get one! OK?

Wearing long sleeved shirts and long pants is always recommended if you suspect you may be around poison ivy. This can be difficult, as backpacking often causes you to work up quite a sweat, but its worth it. Long clothes are also a good way to prevent ticks, so its more than just poison ivy you’re protecting yourself from.

Learn how to identify the plant. There are pictures of poison ivy all over the web, and once you’ve seen poison ivy enough times in real life it becomes easy to spot. If you think you’ve come in contact with poison ivy, wash off with soap and water as soon as possible. Also, thoroughly wash your clothes. Washing the oil within half an hour after contact off is effectively a poison ivy cure. There are also some preventative poison ivy lotions available that can boost your resistance.

Once you’ve got that rash, it’s going to be hard to remove, but there are some poison ivy cures that will hasten its departure. One thing that works great for me is hot water; I just run the effected area under some hot water for ten or more minutes several times a day, and within five days the rash is gone, whereas it would otherwise stick around for much longer.

Five days is still a while, but there are other things you can do to speed this up even more. There is a lotion called ‘Tecnu’ that is just shy of being a magic poison ivy cure in itself. Using the lotion regularly will greatly speed up the rate that your poison ivy rash leaves. Additionally, if you rub this lotion on within a day after exposure, it often prevents the poison ivy rash from occurring in the first place.

So the best poison ivy cure I’ve found to treat the rash is hot water plus Tecnu. Used together (but not at the same time!) I’ve gotten rid of rashes in less than three days. In the meantime, I find that some lotions, such as calamine lotion, can reduce the itchiness. (You’re gonna need an ocean, of calamine lotion!)

When the George Foreman Grill first came out I was skeptical. It seemed like another "seen on TV" sham; some sort of worthless kitchen appliance that suckers would buy and never use. It would join Salad Spinners and Magic Bullets in the back corner of kitchens’ shelves, gathering dust and waiting to be thrown out, sold off in the next garage sale, or donated to charity when the corner of unused appliances filled up to the brim. The George Foreman Grill looked a little chintzy, and I didn’t see any reason to trust an ex-boxer when deciding what kitchen appliances to purchase. What did George Foreman know about grills or cooking? Maybe I’d consult him when deciding to buy boxing gloves or a punching bag, but when it came to the kitchen I’d trust Betty Crocker before I’d trust George.

Eventually a friend of mine moved in and became my roommate; he brought with him a futon and a George Foreman Grill. I’ve always fancied myself a bit of an amateur chef, so I finally gave in and gave the thing a try. I had problems with pan frying meats and vegetables in the apartment; since the exhaust fan merely vented smoke back into the apartment smoky dishes tended to set off fire alarms. After a couple of conversations with our fire warden I was ready to try something new.

The George Foreman Grill was a blessing. It let me grill steaks, hamburgers, and chicken breasts quickly and without smoking out the apartment. The grill heated up quick and cooked both sides of meats or vegetables at once, cutting down on cooking time and getting food in my belly quickly. Though the fat draining system was a big selling point for many, I’m not sure that it was something to get worked up about. Sure, excess fats drained out into the specially-designed dish, but in a regular grill these fats would just burn off anyway. Also, I’ve seen other models of the George Foreman Grill come with hot dog bun roasters or other such attachments; these seem superfluous as well. The grill itself, however, surpassed my expectations by a long shot.

The grill doesn’t sit buried in the back of my cabinets; it’s on the counter ready for the next time I decide to grill something up for dinner. I don’t use it quite as much as I do my microwave or my coffee maker, but the George Foreman Grill is handy, especially in a cramped apartment where we don’t have enough room for an entire couch, much less a patio with a gas or charcoal grill.

One piece of lingerie that is often neglected by many woman is the body stocking. This wonderful accessory is a must for any adult lady’s sexy wardrobe. This garment is similar to a leotard in that it fits snugly against the skin. Some people think of the body stocking as a cat suit.

A body stocking is beneficial in that it can be discreetly worn beneath just about any outfit. No one will know that you have a wonderful surprise for your special someone lingering beneath your clothing. The body suit comes in so many forms that you can gather a few different ones to go with different outfits.

A body stocking is usually made out of material that is similar to tights or pantyhose. Some come in sexy fishnet - but the fishnet designs are usually reserved for the daring. Most of us prefer the sleek look and clean lines found in the sheer material. The sheer fabric is appealing to shy ladies who want to bear all but are a little hesitant. The body stocking is the perfect vehicle to use if you want to be dressed while appearing to be in the nude.

Seduction is not the only use for the body stocking. The sexy lingerie is also quite efficient as well. This item can give you an extra layer under your clothing without creating ugly bulges. Even your most clingy garments will rest easy on top of the thin, sheer material. The lingerie can also help give your figure a subtle boost and we can all appreciate that.

You can order a body stocking with or without sleeves. Short sleeves are also available in some styles. The legs are usually covered by the garment simply because it is designed to cover most of the body. The sheer unobtrusive fabric is a delight so it really doesn’t matter if it covers you from head to toe. It is still quite comfortable to wear.

Some ladies prefer to wear body stockings that are easily detected by the naked eye while others prefer to be a bit more playful. The latter choose translucent lingerie of this type because it is usually sexier since it is developed out of a delicate material like nylon.

Plus-size ladies also benefit from using a body stocking to enhance their curves. The lingerie offers coverage from head to toe but still keeps things interesting though its sheer sexiness. Curvier ladies usually choose a dark colored garment for its slimming effect. Ladies of all shapes and sizes do themselves a service by adding a body stocking to their collection.

Maybe you’re lucky. Maybe you don’t have a tummy that protrudes a bit more with each passing year. If you’re not one of the lucky ones though, you might consider abdominoplasty, otherwise known as a tummy tuck. A tummy tuck sounds like a funny name, but rest assured this is no laughing matter.

It’s a surgical procedure. So that means there are the risks associated with it. The thing to do is figure out whether in your case the benefits outweigh the risks. The benefits are considerable.

But first, a little description. Abdominoplasty is the reduction of excess skin and fat from the abdomen and the tightening of muscles of the abdominal wall. Depending upon the needs of the patient and the methods of the surgeon, a tummy tuck can vary in scope. Some doctors combine abdominoplasty with liposuction, for example, while others to not.

Why have a tummy tuck? It reduces the normal sagging that is part of the aging process. For women, childbearing can especially accelerate this sagging. A tummy tuck can get your tummy closer to a youthful, flat state. For many, this provides not only a physical lift, but a mental lift as well. The results can be dramatic.

This procedure is especially appropriate for middle-aged women and men who are in good health and who have tried diet and exercise but have not been able to reduce the fat deposits and loose skin around the abdomen. If you’re in the process of losing weight, it’s better to wait until you’ve reached your goal to have the procedure. It can be the icing on the cake to your new physique.

It’s important to read as much as you can about the procedure before you make a decision to go ahead. Are you willing to risk side effects and even death (extremely rare) to look better? Many of us are. If so, the selection of a surgeon is critical to your successful outcome. Interview several and ask for references. You need a surgeon who makes you feel comfortable, answers your questions-someone you have confidence in. And there’s no substitute for talking with other people who’ve had the procedure.

Financially, you’re probably going to have to foot the bill yourself. For most, it is an elective procedure not covered by health insurance policies. It’s always good to check though because your doctor and insurance company may deem it necessary if, for example, your overall weight threatened your health and you had stomach reduction surgery, and now your body needs some toning and tucking due the results of the procedure. It’s worth a try. But first, be sure you’ve given diet and exercise a good try before you decide to try abdominoplasty.

Everyone, it seems, is trying strange fads or ingesting crazy concoctions to lose weight or improve their health. They want a get slim quick fix, or an easy elixer of youth, or something else equally absurd instead of to take the time actually required to improve health. The latest fad is called the 3 day diet, and it claims that, by consuming what it tells you to, you can lose ten pounds in three days. Come on, what are we foolish. It tells you to eat saltine crackers, toast, eggs, tuna, coffee, tea, apples, cheese. All regular stuff, nothing magical or ìhigh techî in any of it, and in 3 days, you’re supposed to lose all of that weight. I have trouble believing it.If it is true, it is probably because of the small amount you eat on the 3 day diet, and it probably is mostly ìwater weight.î Water weight means that what you lose is mostly water flushing out of your system, and very little body mass is actually reduced. Losing water weight is actually pretty pointless since it just means getting dehydrated. This can be dangerous, and is certainly unhealthy.The best way to lose weight is the old, traditional way, in my oppinion, although it takes a little longer. You exercise regularly, eat lots of green leafy vegetables, and also fruits in moderation, cut out processed and fatty foods, and don’t snack between meals. Also, very high carbohydrate food is not really good for your diet either as it will fill you up with calories. This is not a 3 day diet, or even a 30 day diet, but nonetheless, within a couple of months, you will be slimmer and healthier, and happier too.

There are diets that are outright dangerous. The atkins diet, for example, works by throwing your liver into ketosis by eating nothing but lots of protien. This can cause liver damage, and in some cases, death. Nonetheless, it does make you lose weight at a high rate of speed, but once you get off it, you will probably gain the weight right back.

If you are going to get on a 3 day diet program, one thing to consider is what kind of exercise to do to supplement your dieting. Jogging is very good, but can be hard on your knees. Bike riding is a little safer on your joints in the long run. One of the best exercises, however, is swimming, because it is zero impact and exercises the whole body. Personally, I like to swim for at least half an hour every day. Nothing makes me feel healthier or more refreshed.

3-card poker, sometimes called tricard poker, is one of many variations in the poker genre of card games that have recently begun to rise in popularity in casinos throughout the United States. 3-card poker is actually not a game in itself, but refers to two different poker variants both involving three cards; the first being ‘Pairplus’, and the other being ‘Ante and Play’. Players can play either of the two, or both.

Pairplus is the simpler of the two 3-card poker games, and probably one of the all around simplest poker variants available for betting at a casino. Players make a bet and get a payoff on any cards that give a pair or better, a pair being two cards of the same numerical ranking, such as two jacks or two nines. The payoff on a pair is a 1 to 1 ratio, and a royal flush, the best hand possible, usually pays off at least 40 to 1, sometimes more.

Ante and Play is a slightly more complicated version of 3-card poker. Before getting their cards, players must make a small ‘ante’ bet. After receiving their cards they may then choose to fold and lose their original bet, or make an additional ante equal in size to the first bet and keep playing. If a player chooses to continue playing and makes the second bet, there are three possible outcomes. If the dealer does not make a queen high or better, he doesn’t qualify and the player’s bet is returned with an additional 50 percent. If the dealer makes a queen high or better, but the players hand is of higher value, than the player’s bets are returned in double. If the dealer’s hand is a queen high or better, and of higher value than the player’s hand, the player loses both bets. Certain especially good hands will earn the play a bonus payoff, regardless of what hand the dealer may have. For example, a straight flush will often give the player a five hundred percent return on his or her bets.

The 3-card poker variants are a fun and easy to learn variation of poker. Because of their mild learning curve and fast paced nature, they are especially popular in the casino environment as they are ideal games for gambling. Though, since there isn’t as much strategy involved as with other poker variations, they are not often played outside of casinos.

It can be so hard to figure out what to get your girlfriend on valentines day. Even though I had been dating mine for almost 12 years, it was still hard to shop for her. I felt like I hardly know her at all. All I knew was that she did not want to spend valentines day watching football, and that she expected me to get her something. It didn’t help that last valentines day, I was across the country. She was in Washington D.C. And I was in California. I had forgotten to pick something out for her and it was getting down to the line as they say in football. I decided to order from 1 800 flowers. Every girl loves flowers, even a special girl like mine.

It is important to call ahead of time. Whether your ordering her 1 800 flowers, the company needs time to ship them out to their destination. Anyway, if you are like me, you do not know much about flowers. They are not exactly the most exciting topic, especially if you would rather watch sports. So I was, naturally worried, and like a big dope, I waited until almost the last minute to call 1 800 flowers. The ordering company was swamped with business, and I had to wait on hold for almost an hour before they picked up and took my order. Fortunately, they were playing some of my favorite music. I got to hear both Phil Collins and Enya, and the soft lulling tones reminded me of how much I loved my girl, my very own sweetest.

I ordered her a boquet of roses. Some guys would try to get something creative. Pansies or tulips of something, but I knew roses were the best. I contemplated just getting her a single rose, surrounded by babbies breath, but I didn’t want her to think I was proposing to her or something. And anyway, nothing that looked too serious or too cheesy. A boquet of roses ñ dark red one ñ is always the perfect gift.

When she got the 1 800 flowers order, she immediately called me. She was practically overjoyed, she couldn’t believe her good luck. It even came with a little card she described for me in detail. It had a shiny heart wrapped in lace and pine boughs and said ìTo Shelly, from Stanî, exactly the one I would have picked out. I guess I was not thinking of marriage at the time, but when I saw how happy my flowers from 1 800 flowers had made her, I broke down and surprised both of us and proposed. Well, that made things awkward for a while, but we are still dating, and she loved the flowers. Anyway, we both had a good laugh over it later that week.