by wildcherry on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 | Automotive, News | No Comments

Here are three ways to stop the vehicle, according to Toyota:

_ Step on the brake pedal with both feet using firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brakes.

_ Shift the transmission gear selector into neutral. Use the brakes to make a controlled stop by the side of the road.

_ If you’re unable to put the vehicle in neutral, turn off the engine. This will cut off power assist to the steering wheel and brakes, but as long as the key is in the ignition, you will still be able to steer and brake. If you have an engine start/stop button, press it firmly for three seconds to turn the engine off. Do not tap it. If you have a conventional key ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position. Do not remove the key from the ignition.

Tags: 2010 toyota prius, 2010 toyota recall, Accelerator Problem, Brake Override, Cars, How To Stop a Toyota, tips, toyota, Toyota Accelerator, Toyota Brakes, toyota car recall prius, toyota car recalls, toyota prius acceleration problem, toyota recall, Ways To Stop Toyota

by nate on Monday, January 18th, 2010 | Dating, Friendship, Love, Relationship | 1 Comment

1. “My ex did the exact same thing!”
Whether it’s a desirable resemblance (they both always hold the door open) or a less desirable one (neither one showers often enough), your boyfriend never wants to hear that he’s anything like your ex. Ever.

You don’t want him to feel like you’re always comparing the two of them, do you? Think about it: Do you really want him to imagine that he does other things just like your ex? Doubtful. Plus, he might think you’re still hung up on your former flame.

Either way, a comment like this won’t do much for his self-esteem. So the next time you experience boyfriend deja-vu, keep it to yourself.

2. “Helen’s pregnant … Shhhh”
Remember on Sex and the City when Carrie tells Aidan that Miranda’s pregnant but that he can’t tell Steve? Remember how upset Aidan was to hear the incriminating news? Your boyfriend doesn’t want to hear information that could get him into trouble. And even if he does want to hear it, he really shouldn’t.

Don’t burden him with someone else’s secret. And besides, if he does spill the beans, your friend is going to be mad at you, not him.

Along the same lines, he doesn’t want to hear about your friend’s yeast infections, her irregular periods or her IBS. It’s bad enough he has to hear about yours.

3. “When we’re married/have kids…”
It’s natural to fantasize about wedded bliss and the three kids you and your beau will one day spawn — you’re only human. And sometimes you might even entertain this fantasy very early on in a relationship. But unless you want to scare him away permanently, keep thoughts like these in your head where they belong.

Even if he himself has thought about your happily-ever-after future, he probably doesn’t want to hear it described out loud just yet. Wait until you’re sure you’re on the same page regarding marriage, kids, and the future of your relationship before you start prophesizing. A gut feeling probably isn’t good enough.

4. “Do You Think She’s Pretty?”
When you ask a question like this, your boyfriend knows he can’t win.

If he says “yes,” you’ll probably get jealous and upset. You might even follow up with “Is she prettier than me?” Talk about a loaded question!

Of course, if he says “no” (and she clearly is pretty), you’ll accuse him of being a liar. You’ll wonder what else he’s lying about, even as you assure him you don’t mind if he says “yes.” Pfff…as if you’re that insecure!

Has he managed to convince you that he genuinely doesn’t find her attractive at all? You’ll wonder what his bad taste says about you.

See?

5. “I’m fine” or “Never mind”
Your face says it all. So does the fact that you haven’t said a word in the past hour. And the way you snapped over the misplaced remote control isn’t hiding anything either. But when he asks if you’re okay, you say you’re fine. At this point, your boyfriend wants to tear his hair out.

Passive-aggressive behavior doesn’t help anyone. First, you miss an opportunity to actually address what’s bothering you. You also bottle up your frustrations and create new problems. By the time you actually try to tackle what’s really bothering you, you’re both too upset about too many things to have a constructive discussion.

6. “I just let one go”
In a man’s mind, women only use the bathroom to re-apply their lipstick (or, at the very worst, pee). They know they’re kidding themselves, but they really don’t want any physical, verbal, or olfactory indication of the contrary.

Announcing your bodily function means he can no longer blame the dog. Suddenly, you’re one of the guys, and not in a sexy, “I watch football and drink beer but I’m still a girlie-girl” kind of way.

Sure, he’ll get over it. He may even laugh about it from time to time. But he’d still prefer that it never happened. So depending on how squeamish your guy is, you might want to wait till you’re married to be disgusting.

7. “I’ll try anything once!”
Because unless you really, really, really mean it, don’t get his hopes up.

8. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
(Repeatedly. Even after he’s told you he really is okay.)

Sometimes we’re thrown off guard when our guy is uncharacteristically quiet. We’ll prod and probe, hoping to get to the bottom of their issue (and too often, we’re absolutely sure it’s something we’ve done). When in reality, there may not be a concrete reason at all.

Men have bad days too — they can be moody, tired, or just generally not feel like talking. They’re only human! As hard as it can be, don’t read into it too much. Give him his space and keep yourself busy until he snaps out of it.

Ask him what’s bothering him over and over again and the only honest answer will be “You.”

9. “I hate my thighs”
If he didn’t find you attractive, he wouldn’t be with you in the first place. Period, end of story.

Putting yourself down in front of him makes you look insecure, and just in case you didn’t know, men really hate that (see #6). Just like women, they’re usually attracted to self-confidence and put off by its opposite.

Think about it. Would you want to be with a man who constantly talked about how much he hated his calves or how he felt like a failure in his career? Uh, no way.

In addition, you’ll draw attention to flaws that he probably never even noticed before. No one else looks as closely at your body as you do. In all likelihood, you are your own worst critic. Don’t recruit him.

10. “I hate your mom”
Likewise for his friends, his siblings, his dad … even his dog.

If he really loves someone or something, don’t hate on ‘em. You may not get along perfectly with everyone in his life, but try your hardest to be diplomatic in your relationships with people he really cares about. Be open-minded about what he sees in them (things that may not be immediately obvious to you).

Maybe Deadbeat Dave is his oldest friend — the person he survived middle school with; the only person who stood by him when he lost his job a couple years back. Maybe despite his lack of attention to hygiene, he’s got a heart of gold.

If you love your man, you’ll trust his judgment.

And whatever you do, don’t ever make him pick a side. If it’s between you and his mom, you’ll lose every time.

source: shine.yahoo.com

Tags: do not say these things to your boyfriend, ex-boyfriend, man and woman, pregnant, relationships, sex, tips, woman and secret, woman's secret

by wildcherry on Saturday, January 16th, 2010 | Career, Life | No Comments

First, let’s figure out if you can be considered a workaholic by considering these questions:

• Do you frequently work long hours, including weekends and holidays?
• Have you sacrificed aspects of your personal life for your business?
• Do you hesitate to take long vacations and when you do find that you’re tethered to your BlackBerry?
• Do you think about work when you’re not in front of your computer?
• Do you often miss out on personal events because of work (and then feel guilty because of it)?

If you answered yes to even one of the questions above, you’re probably at least a borderline workaholic. But even if you tend to fall into the tunnel-vision-workaholic category at times, the good news is that you can change that. All it takes is a change in perspective and a shuffling of priorities.

Being a Workaholic vs. Being Driven

The negativity around the word “workaholic” is often inaccurately used to describe someone who simply loves the work that they do and prefers work to many other activities. There’s nothing wrong with being dedicated to your work and enjoying it immensely. Some of us simply have an internal drive that causes us to work frequently, work hard and be willing to make sacrifices to reach our goals. This can be good; this frequently results in success and achievement.

Problems arise, however, when you lose perspective by becoming so work-oriented that you let your drive dictate your entire life, have trouble taking necessary breaks, and your dedication begins to morph into over-attention.

How to Achieve a Workaholic’s Balance

It can be argued that a true work-life balance is not achievable, especially when it comes to a workaholic. But if you apply the focus and dedication you have for your work to your desire for equilibrium in all aspects of your life, you may be surprised how easy it is to develop a well-rounded lifestyle that centers on your happiness and the happiness of those around you.

Here’s how to start:

• Write down your motivations – Why do you work so hard? What does your work do for you on a personal level? How does your work make you feel at the end of the day? What does success mean to you?
• Honestly analyze your motivations – Is your work compensating for other areas in your life that are lacking? Are you comfortable with your motivations as they are? Do your motivations support your goals?
• Describe your perfect balance – What would a typical day look like? How would your current work schedule change? What are your priorities?
• Make a list of what you can do now – What immediate changes can you make in your life to get you closer to your perfect balance? What has to change in order to be true to your priorities?
• Plan for the future – What are some longer-term changes you can work on implementing in your life? How will you remind yourself on a daily basis what your priorities are?
• Just like everything else in life, moderation is vital when it comes to work. But there’s no reason why you can’t be a happy, healthy, and functioning “workaholic.”

Do you consider yourself a workaholic? What do you do to maintain a balance?

Tags: acheiving success, are you a workaholic, Business Advice, delegate, Entrepreneur, learn to delegate, outsource, Overworked, Success, tips, virtual assistance, virtual assistant, Workaholic

by nate on Monday, December 21st, 2009 | Tips, Travel, Weather | No Comments

Winterize Your Car

Inspect and clean wipers.
Make sure you have enough washer fluid.
Make sure you have a brush/ ice scraper
Take your car for a winter inspection; this should include checking to make sure your car is functioning properly.

If anything needs to be fixed, take care of it now.
Have tire pressure checked.
Make sure defroster/heating system is functioning properly.
Inspect all belts and hoses.
Make sure battery is charged.
Have oil changed and make sure brakes are functioning properly.
Keep a full tank of gas, this will keep the fuel line from freezing and ensures you will have enough gas in case you are stuck in traffic.

Basic items that you will need in case you are in an emergency situation are:
Cellular phone, and road side assistance/emergency phone numbers.
Emergency flares, flashlight and batteries, blankets, small shovel, drinking water, snacks.

Driving Safety

If you do not have to drive in a snowstorm, then don’t. Stay home or take public transportation. Winter driving conditions can be very dangerous and unpredictable. Listen to radio stations and weather reports in order to be kept informed of current driving conditions. If you have to drive in a snowstorm, the best tip is to be careful!

Drive Slowly

It is very important to take your time when driving in a snowstorm and wear your seat belt, as the roads will be slippery and it may be difficult to see. When coming to a stop or turning a corner, gently brake before stopping or turning and give yourself plenty of time. Be aware of your surroundings as you never know when someone else may be in trouble. If you find yourself skidding or sliding, turn your wheels into the skid.

Keep Your Distance

It is very important to keep your distance from other cars, if you are too close and they get into trouble you will not have enough time to react and avoid a collision.

Black Ice

Be careful of invisible ice on the road, many drivers can have accidents due to not seeing the ice on the road until it is too late.

Tags: driving knowledge, driving under snow storm, Preparing your car for winter season, safe driving tips, safe tips during winter time, snow storm tips, tips, winter, winter drive

by wildcherry on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 | Knowledge, Life | No Comments

To help you kick-start your Thanksgiving menu, here are three recipes that will spice up an otherwise traditional meal:

Caramelized shallot mashed red-skinned potatoes:

I make mashed potatoes all the time, so for Thanksgiving, I like to make them a little more special by stirring in caramelized shallots.

For the caramelized shallots:

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1 Tablespoon olive oil

2 Tablespoons light brown sugar

10 Shallots, thinly sliced

1∕4 Teaspoon kosher salt

1∕ 4 Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the potatoes:

4 Pounds unpeeled red potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes

3 Teaspoons kosher salt

1 Cup whole milk

8 Tablespoons unsalted butter (one stick)

1 Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

8 to 10 servings

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook time: 1 hour and 10 minutes for the shallots; 40 minutes for the potatoes.

For the shallots:

In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Stir in the brown sugar until dissolved. Add the shallots and stir occasionally until they begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon water, reduce the heat to low, and cover partially. Cook about 1 hour, stirring every 20 minutes and adding an additional tablespoon of water if shallots are drying out or sticking. Stir in the salt and pepper. Set aside until the mashed potatoes are ready. (The shallots can be made a few days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator, then reheated at serving time.)

For the potatoes:

Place the potatoes in a stockpot. Cover with cold water and add 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to a simmer and cool until the potatoes are fork tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and return the potatoes to the pan. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over medium heat, heat the milk and butter. Use a potato masher to begin mashing potatoes. Slowly add in milk mixture and continue to mash. Potatoes should be smooth, with some chunks. Stir in reserved shallots, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper.

Crisp Green Beans with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

3 Pounds French green beans, trimmed

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter

2 Shallots, minced

1 Cup diced sun-dried tomatoes

1 Tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest

¾ Teaspoon kosher salt

½ Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

8 to 10 servings

Prep time: 20 minutes, then 5 minutes to cool beans

Cook time: 12 minutes

Prepare an ice water bath. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil over high heat. Add the green beans and cook two minutes. Drain the beans and plunge into the ice water to stop the cooking. Drain. (This step can be done the day before. Refrigerate the beans until ready to finish.)

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and sauté until tender, about three minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook 2 minutes. Add the beans, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Cook until the beans are heated through, about five minutes.

Famous Pumpkin Nut Bread

Ingredients: 1 cup butter, melted 4 eggs 1 can (14-1/2 oz.) pumpkin 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. ground cloves 1 tsp. ground nutmeg 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 cup sugar 1 cup brown sugar 2-3/4 cups flour 1 cup chopped nuts

Instructions: Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt butter. Add eggs and pumpkin. Beat thoroughly. Add sugars, baking soda and powder, and spices. Beat thoroughly until all lumps are removed. Add flour. Beat thoroughly. Add nuts and mix. Spoon into 2 greased bread pans. Bake for 1 hour. Test with toothpick to ensure loaves are ready.

The next item on our list of Thanksgiving dishes is the ever-famous cheese ball. This particular item is usually present at most Thanksgiving get-togethers, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait until the end of November to whip up this easy snack!

Cheese Ball

Ingredients: 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained 1 tablespoon diced onion 1 tablespoon chopped green bell pepper 1/4 tablespoon seasoning salt 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions: Mix together the cream cheese, pineapple, onion, bell pepper, and seasoning salt. Form into a ball and roll in chopped pecans. Chill and serve with butter crackers.

If your craving leans more towards sweet potatoes, then we have the perfect recipe for you! Sweet potato balls are an easy dish to prepare and are just as great on their own as they are when complimenting turkey, ham, or any other meat you fancy.

Sweet Potato Balls

Ingredients: 1 (40 ounce) can sweet potatoes, drained 1/4 cup butter salt to taste 3 cups crushed cornflakes cereal 3/4 cup real maple syrup 10 large marshmallows

Directions: Drain sweet potatoes and put into large mixing bowl. Mash the potatoes with butter or margarine. Salt to taste. Hand-pat mixture into 3 inch diameter balls. Roll in crushed corn flakes and put into 9×12 inch greased baking dish. Pour maple syrup evenly over all balls. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 40 minutes. When the timer gets to the last fifteen minutes, put a marshmallow over each ball.

For those of you who are craving some serious Thanksgiving meat, we’ve got a great turkey recipe for you to try out. The best part about this recipe is that you don’t have to cook an entire bird?which means you don’t have to deal with carving up the leftover meat and storing it.

Turkey Breasts Stuffed with Cranberry

Ingredients:
2 boneless and skinless turkey breasts
1 (12 ounce) package herb-seasoned dry bread

Stuffing Mix
1 1/2 c. of dried cranberries (sweetened is preferred)
1 c. of pecans (chopped)
1/2 c. halved pecans
2 tbsp. olive oil

Directions: Make the stuffing as usual and set aside. Cut the chicken breasts open so that they lay flat, place between waxed paper and flatten with a meat tenderizer. Remove the wax paper and spread the stuffing over each breast (leaving a bit of room around the edges), then sprinkle with most of the dried cranberries. Add all of the pecans. Starting at the longer side, roll the breast up similar to a Swiss roll. Tuck in the ends and tie it together with string. You’ll probably need about four bits of string to tie the middle and one to go length-wise.

Place the olive oil in an oven proof skillet and let it heat. Try to brown the meat on all sides, but don’t cook it thoroughly yet. Put the skillet in the oven and bake in at 350 degrees F for about an hour or until meat is white all the way through. Try not to let these get too dry. Let the turkey rolls sit for 15 minutes before removing the string and slicing into 1/2 inch circles. You can garnish with any leftover cranberries or pecans.

Finally, we have a recipe for one of the greatest Autumn-time drinks: apple cider! What’s better than cozying up with a book or movie and a steaming cup of spiced cider? It gets better, because this simplified version of spiced cider allows you to keep your cider warmed in a slow cooker for easy re-fills.

Easy Apple Cider

Ingredients: 1 (64 fluid ounce) bottle apple cider 3 cinnamon sticks 1 teaspoon whole allspice 1 teaspoon whole cloves 1/3 cup brown sugar

Directions: In a slow cooker, combine apple cider and cinnamon sticks. Wrap allspice and cloves in a small piece of cheesecloth and add to pot. Stir in brown sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and keep warm.

Baked Mashed Potatoes

What you need:

3 lbs (9 -10 medium) gold, yellow or russet potatoes, peeled

4 T butter

8 oz package cream cheese
, softened

12 oz or 11/2 c sour cream

salt to taste

black pepper to taste

What you do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Quarter potatoes and boil in salted water until fork tender but not mushy; drain. Place potatoes in a large bowl with 2 T of butter and mix with hand mixer until fairly smooth. Add sour cream, cream cheese, salt and pepper and mix until well blended.

Spray a large casserole dish with nonstick spray. Add potatoes and dot with remaining 2 T of butter. Bake for 30 minutes uncovered; serve.

Cranberry Sauce

What you need:

12 oz bag cranberries

1 c water

1 c sugar

What you do:

Add sugar and water to a med sized saucepan; heat to boiling. Add cranberries to pan and return to boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, 5-8 minutes or until cranberries burst

Easy Breezy Pecan Pie

What you need:

9 inch unbaked pie shell

1 c shelled pecans

3 large eggs

3/4 c white sugar

3/4 c light corn syrup

1/3 c butter

1/4 t salt

What you do:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat eggs well. Add sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt and beat until well mixed. Mix in pecans. Pour into 9 inch pie shell. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until top is firm.

Sweet Potato Casserole

What you need:

4 c sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed

1/2 c brown sugar (divided in half)

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 c milk

1/2 c butter (divided in half)

1/4 t salt

1/2 c chopped pecans (divided in half)

1/4 c frosted flakes, crushed

What you do:

Combine potatoes, milk, egg, salt, 1/4 c brown sugar and 1/4 c butter; blend with mixer. Fold in half the pecans. Pour into greased casserole pan. Melt remaining 1/4 cup of butter and mix with remaining brown sugar. Add frosted flakes and the remaining pecans. Spread mixture evenly over the top of the casserole. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 30 minutes, or until heated through.

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by nate on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 | Knowledge, Life | 1 Comment

Weight gain is simple: You need to consume more calories than you expend. Follow these 10 tips.

i. Eat more calories

This involves some calculation. The approximate normal daily caloric requirement for an average male who performs light activity is 2,200; for a female, it is 1,900.You need to eat around 1,000 extra calories per day to gain less than half a kilo a week.

Do the math. Eat larger portions and eat at least five meals a day.

Your actual caloric requirement can differ depending on your height, weight, activity level and your body’s metabolic rate.

ii. Make smart choices

For example, choose dairy products, fish and meat over bread. Choose eggs over vegetables.

Eat foods with high protein content such as beans, pulses and peas, and foods with high starch content such as potatoes, rice and tapioca.

iii. Protein is important

Increase your protein intake. Your body needs a lot of protein to build new muscle. But since most of the calories for weight gain comes from carbohydrates and fats, do not replace them with protein.

iv. Snack a lot

Consume a lot of high-calorie snacks (not junk food) such as cheese sticks, milk shakes, muffins, dried fruits, yoghurt and breakfast bars.

v. Fluids help too

Drink a lot of fluids that supply nutrients and calories; milk, fresh fruit juices and energy drinks are good examples.

vi. Intensify workouts

Aerobics are great, right? Not for weight gain!

You need to exercise really hard and intensely to gain muscle mass.

vii. Weights are the way to go

Focus on free weight exercises (which do not require machinery) that target your large muscle groups. For example, you need dumbells, not fancy gym machines.

Free weights put the most stress on muscles and stimulate the maximum number of muscle fibres.

The best weight training exercises for building muscle mass are free weight exercises like squats, dead lifts, bench presses, barbell rows, pull ups and bar dips.

These exercises are best done under supervision, but they don’t need machinery.

viii. Space out your workouts

If you have a high basic metabolic rate — which means you expend a lot of energy even at rest — you need short intense workouts instead of long periods of low-stress activity.

ix. Creatine?

Creatine supplements can help some athletes gain weight. It is not known if it is because it gives them spurts of energy or because it adds water weight.

More research is needed in this area before Creatine becomes that magic pill. Creatine supplements are available at all major health food stores, but do not take it without consulting your doctor.

x. Be consistent

It might take a long time, usually a few months, for the weight to actually show. Some people get frustrated and quit when they fail to see drastic results.

Your body will only responds to a consistent schedule. No weight gain programme will work for you if you are not regular.

Heredity does pay a major role in determining your weight. Effective weight training and a smart diet can help you exceed your genetically predetermined weight.

Tags: add weight, tips, weight gain