Swimming with Maya appeared on my TBR (to be read) pile toward the end of my pregnancy. The memoir was said to be “heartbreaking and heart-healing,” but I was pretty sure I would never be able to handle the heartbreaking part under the circumstances. I picked up Swimming with Maya and put it down after a few pages. I loved the story but was fearful of how I might deal with the loss and heartache Eleanor had to endure. Vincent’s writing and her triumphant spirit kept pulling me back in. I was so drawn in by the heart-healing part of the story that I found myself enjoying the memoir so much I couldn’t put it down.

No parent wants to think of the unthinkable death of a child; and yet each of us does. We don’t want anything to happen to our children, and yet as we carry them we fear miscarriage, after they are born we worry about sudden infant death syndrome, then there are school shootings, traffic accidents, etc… since death is a fact of life, we encounter thoughts and fears of loss each and every day. Eleanor Vincent raised her two daughters, Maya and Meghan, virtually as a single-parent and in my opinion this makes the mother-daughter bond even stronger.

It’s impossible to imagine what Eleanor Vincent was feeling when her 19 year old daughter, Maya falls from a horse and is left in a coma which eventually took her life. Eleanor’s made the courageous decision to donate Maya’s organs. Eleanor uses her difficult situation and Maya’s death to tell an inspirational and motivational story and Eleanor is even stronger (as is the reader) at the end of the story.

Swimming with Maya was more about triumph than I had imagined. I was thankful to have read through the difficult times to see the memorable and motivational message. I admire Eleanor Vincent for being able to put her story down on paper for all to read. I cannot imagine the tears that were shed as she relived those moments that would forever change her life. Thank you to Eleanor, Maya, and Dream of Things Publishing for sharing this triumphant story with readers everywhere. My personal thanks to Eleanor for writing in such a way the healing is more pronounced than the hurt – it was this reason alone I was able to read and finish Swimming with Maya.

Sweeney Todd also dubbed as the Demon Barber of Fleet Street is musical that has bagged the Tony Award owing to its   unique  story. It is an adaptation of the book of the same name that has been authored by Hugh Wheeler. The department of the music and lyrics has been dealt with by Stephen Sondheim. The story revolves around the 19th-century legend of Sweeney Todd and more so around the 1973 play of the same name by Christopher Bond.

The show was premiered on Broadway in the Uris Theatre in March of 1979. To date the musical has given 576 performances. Its story revolves around the character of Sweeney Todd who was earlier known as Benjamin Barker and who makes a return from Australia, where he has spent almost one and a half decade owing to false charges. After he learns some facts from Mrs. Lovett, who makes meat pies, that his wife had committed suicide after she had been raped by a Judge and it was that judge’s daughter who had imprisoned him, he becomes vindictive and promises himself revenge. Both of them conspire together, which is followed by a series of murders resulting first in a boom in business for Lovett’s shop and eventually tragedy.

It has had nineteen previews and has been directed and choreographed by Hal Prince and Larry Fuller respectively. In spite of starting on a poor note it went on to record huge success. It recorded its first U.S. national tour that started in October of 1980 in the state of Washington DC. It finished in August of the following year in the state of Los Angeles in California. Later a second tour was arranged that began in February of 1982 in Wilmington, Delaware and later ended in July of the same year in Toronto, Canada.

In the initial years of 2000, this play gained massive audience and critic acceptance in the tours that it did in collaboration with the opera companies spread all over United States and Canada. Bryn Terfel was seen in the lead role that he performed with excellence in Chicago in the year of 2002. It was also premiered at the Royal Opera House in London which was a part of the Royal Opera season. Other than that it has been performed a couple of times at the Israeli National Opera.

It was revived in 2004-05 both at the West End and the Broadway. Later during 2004 John Doyle was the director to another revival of this awesome musical that was staged in Newbury, England and was eventually relocated to the Trafalgar Studios and after that to the New Ambassadors Theatre. The non-mention of the musical instruments such as orchestra was notable and the actors featured played the score themselves. It was a first I almost eleven years. The entire production was relocated to the Broadway where it featured an all new cast including Michael Cerveris and Patti LuPone. It reopened in November of 2005 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre where it gave almost four hundred performances. Like in London the cast played the instruments on their own. Read information about Sweeney Todd and get discounted musical Sweeney Todd Tickets.

When it comes to bodybuilding or building muscles in general, our body is often limited by our nutrition. And regardless of how hard we train, sometimes we just can’t make any progress as we are lacking important nutrients that help us achieve better results. Therefore, people turn to supplements.

Supplements are an amazing way to add valuable nutrients that help us build muscle, recover faster or train harder. They boost the results and push our limits, allowing us to make a significant progress with each training.

And despite the fact that we all have unique bodies and react differently to some supplements, there are 5 essential supplements that every bodybuilder needs.

Whey Protein

Whey protein is a fast-digesting milk protein that helps deliver essential amino acids to the skeletal muscle. It is a foundation for muscle gains and the most frequently used supplement.

Whey is quickly shuttled into the muscles where it exerts its strong anabolic effects. Therefore, it is often used as a pre-workout and post-workout meal to increase protein synthesis and improve muscle restoration and recovery. Whether your goal is to drop body fat or build lean mass, adding a whey protein can speed both the loss and the gain process.

It can help with:

Recovery – After the intense workout your body desperately looks for protein to repair itself. If taken immediately after the workout, whey helps trigger rapid muscle recovery and builds strong and lean muscles.

Appetite Suppressant – Whey protein shake can be even used as a meal replacement or a healthy snack that will increase body’s protein levels and reduce daily calorie intake.

Amino Acids – Whey protein contains essential amino acids needed for protein synthesis.

Recommended daily dosage: 20-30g

Creatine

Creatine is the second most used supplement and for a good reason – it is a naturally occurring substance that promotes increased muscle cell volume, lean body mass, post-workout recovery and increased muscle performance.

Naturally produces in liver, pancreas and kidneys, creatine is primarily found around skeletal muscle tissue (95%), where it is transformed into creatine phosphate from which the energy molecule ATP is produced.

Creatine increases energy and strength, allowing harder workouts and better performance, which cause muscles to become bigger and stronger.

The creatine level naturally found in our body is sufficient for ongoing cellular function and is definitely not enough to cause massive muscle growth. Therefore, people opt for creatine supplementation to reap its full benefits.

Recommended daily dosage: 5-10g

Branched Amino Acid (BCAA)

Branched-Chain Amino Acid, also known as BCAA, is another amazing supplement that bodybuilders use to improve their workout results. Protein consists of 20 amino acids, and only 3 of them are referred to as BCAAs: valine, isoleucine and leucine. They help regulate protein metabolism and stimulate protein synthesis.

BCAAs have a similar function as protein – they drive nutrients into the muscle tissue and help muscles recover faster. They also serve as an energy source during workouts, so taking BCAAs as a supplement can replace the nutrients lost during intense exercises. They also improve metabolic recovery and reduce pain caused by muscle fatigue.

Recommended daily dosage: 3-5 grams upon waking and 3-5 grams before and after the workout

Glutamine

Glutamine is the number one supplement for a speedy recovery and therefore essential for every serious bodybuilder. It slows down muscle-tissue breakdown during intensive workout which elevate endurance and improves strength. It allows bodybuilders to lift heavier weights for a longer period of time and train harder, which cause the production of greater lean muscles.

Glutamine also helps preserve the muscle tissue, which helps burn additional fat, while slowing down the muscle loss. It also improves the immune system by placing stress on the entire body instead of just the muscle and quickly restores the health of the muscle tissue, which ensures rapid recovery of the whole body.

Recommended daily dosage: 5 grams upon waking, 5 grams after the workout and 5 grams before bed

Beta-Alanine

Beta-Alanine (BA) is a naturally occurring amino acid that increase intramuscular levels of Carnosine by 60% in less than a month. During high-intensity workout the body accumulates large amounts of hydrogen, which cause our pH to drop and we become more acidic. This lactic acid can decrease muscle performance, cause severe fatigue and shut down the nerve drive (causing muscle failure).

By taking Beta-Alanine supplements, bodybuilders maintain an increased level of Carnosine and delay the accumulation of hydrogen and all its side effects. BA also elevates endurance, delays fatigue, improves force output and repeated sprint ability and works great with creatine.

Recommended daily dosage: 2-6 grams per day, taken in smaller doses throughout the day

Love is precious. Love is sweet. And love is unique too. We all want our love to be unique. This is the reason why people often opt for designer engagement ring when one has to gift something special to his/her sweetheart. Designer engagement ring has become immensely popular because of the uniqueness factor. The market of designer engagement ring is vast, and it offers unique yet amazing design and styles for your special someone. Dazzle your love life with a diamond engagement ring created by you as it will truly express your feelings.

Designer engagement ring can give you and your would-be-bride a reason to smile. Unique rings are in vogue. There are many benefits attached with getting your ring designed. The first and the foremost benefit is that you can gift your lover something in a manner, which displays your love. When you get your ring designed, you can choose the stone as well as the band of your choice. This way you can form a very attractive and interesting design.

It is actually fun to add your creative acumen to make an engagement ring. You can tell the designer about what you actually want to see in your diamond ring. After all, you gift engagement ring only once in life. And sometimes these engagement rings become a valuable family rings and passes from one generation to the other.

To design a magnificent diamond engagement ring, one can visit many online jewelry stores. They allow you to create your own diamond engagement ring by just following simple steps. Customers have the option to choose any certified diamond and can get it studded on a platinum ring or gold ring. Let it be diamond engagement ring, platinum engagement ring or emerald engagement ring, you can give your personal touch to all of these rings.

But before buying designer engagement rings, one should keep in mind the budget limitations. Sometimes, these rings prove to be very expensive. Therefore always keep in mind the affordability part before buying the ring.

Engagement is the best thing which can happen to any relationship. And to make it special you need to choose the right engagement ring from a certified online jewelry store. At glimmerrocks.com, our diamond engagement rings and other kinds of jewelry have stunned the entire world. We provide you the best of certified diamonds that you can use it to make perfect designer engagement ring. Here, you can create dream designer engagement ring by following simple steps. Our website provides a first class service, helping you to make diamond engagement ring ideated by you. Always log on to our site for dedicated, one-to-one service. We know the value of quality advice and assistance and are committed to helping you make the right decision.

To end with, it can be said that engagement rings can be made by just following easy steps. Mesmerize your beloved and the world with a ring ideated and designed by you. Use your unique talent to say ‘I Love you’ to your special someone.

Falling in Love

Have you ever fallen in love with someone much older than you and from the same sex? Well, it happened to Rivi, a 14 year old girl falling in love with Michaela, her literature teacher at school. And, surprising or not, Michaela has fallen in love with Rivi, and their mutual erotic love has continued for years…

This, apparently, is the core of Judith Katzir’s “Dearest Anne” (the Feminist Press, 2008) who has devoted pages on pages to describe, in much detail, the erotic love between the two; their longings for each other; their “sexual games”; their adductive, forbidden love. Written in beautiful, aesthetic language, as you read the book you can’t put it aside; you are attracted to whatever happens between the two, at time wishing you could have been a fly on their wall…

The power of attraction

The reason for the readers’ “attraction” is simple. The sexual descriptions are written elegantly and beautifully, and as much as the two women never “gotten tired” of each other and never had enough, so does the reader never feels he has read enough. Part of it is due to the beautiful, artistic language of Judith Katzir, which makes the book not only a page-turner but an aesthetic experience in its depiction of places, characters, love and sexual attraction.

But the reader’s attraction to the book is due not only to the erotic descriptions, but also for another crucial point: As much as the love story between the 14 year old girl and her 27 year old teacher is “unique” for the two of them, it echoes universal love stories of people throughout history (not necessarily between two people of the same sex and of different age groups) and very possible echoes some of your own experiences with love and eroticism.

Existential, universal daily-life issues

Yet another reason for the attractive power of the book is the broadness of issues it brings before us: the novel circles around existential issues such as: where is the balance – or the border – between love and passion, between giving and abuse?

What motivates people to do what they do and behave in the way they behave? Is there “pure love” or is love actually often based on neediness, on the need to be loved and accepted?

In addition to these – and other – questions, the novel deals, among other, with issues of existential love, sickness and death, girlhood and womanhood, aspirations, disappointments, forgiving and missing opportunities (such as: If I had to live my life all over again, what would I have done differently?).

Our personal life vis-à-vis “Dearest Anne”

By raising such important, universal issues, Katzir’s book prompts us, the readers, in addition to experiencing pure pleasure in reading her book, to delve into our own life, our own fantasies and aspirations, our own love (or lack of), our own life-experiences, sorrows and/or joyful moments. It also drives us – consciously or unconsciously – to bring up questions regarding our self-awareness, as well as our understanding – or lack of – of the way we “do” life; the way we communicate with our loved ones; the way we hurt ourselves and others and last, but not least, the fears and needs which drive us to behave the way we do.

Self-Awareness

This issue of being aware to one self is dealt with elegantly yet hesitantly throughout the book. Is Rivi – as 14 year old girl – aware of what she does? Is she aware of the dangers which might be posed on her way? Is she aware of what motivates her to fall in love, lie to her mother, and become obsessed with her love for Michaela? Is she aware of the (bad) relationships she has with her mother and understands how these might have driven her to fall in love with Michaela?

Once again, these questions motivate us, the readers, to think and contemplate about our own parental qualities – or lack of – if we have children and about the relationships – of lack of – that we have developed with them.

Pleasure in reading as an inspirational board to developing our own awareness

Katzir’s “Dearest Anne” not only gives us pleasure in reading a well-crafted, aesthetically written courageous “love-story” (could we have had the courage to actualize our own love or other desires we might have had?), but in addition it raises in us a whole bunch of existential-philosophical questions regarding life in general. Then, if we wish (and have to courage to delve into) – the book encourages us to deal with questions regarding our own life, encouraging us to view and observe, in retrospect, our own accomplishments and missed opportunities (whether love-related or otherwise).

“Dearest Anne” can become an inspirational board for us to develop our self-awareness regarding our own life, vis-à-vis the universal issues the book presents in front of us.

Many Bluetooth headphones use the lithium-ion type of rechargeable battery. It is actually the most popular type of rechargeable battery not just among Bluetooth headsets but also for other electronic devices such as laptops and cell phones.

One main reason that Li-ion (lithium-ion) batteries are the favorite battery type of a lot of Bluetooth headphones is that these kinds of batteries have a bigger energy storage capacity. What this means is that Li-ion batteries have a greater energy-to-material ratio than the other kinds, such as nickel metal hydride (NiMH) or nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries. For the same amount of nickel or nickel-cadmium, the lithium-ion battery can hold more power.

The second main reason is that Li-on batteries do not degrade in performance even if you repower them while they are not completely depleted of stored power. Unlike other batteries, the Li-ion battery does not show the so-called memory effect. It also has stronger resistance to severe temperatures and does not self-discharge as fast as the other types when it is in storage.

Much as everyone would like Li-ion batteries to be eternal, the fact is that they have a limited life. When used appropriately and cared for, they can actually provide your Bluetooth headsets with power up to about three years. The key here is in knowing how to make your Bluetooth earphones’ Li-ion battery packs reach their optimal life span. Here are a few tips.

Do not completely empty your battery of power. Li-ion batteries actually do not need to be fully empty before you need to recharge them. As a matter of fact, you will decrease the life span of your batteries if you frequently let them go empty first before recharging them. However, it is also healthy to completely discharge your Li-ion battery from time to time, say, after every 25 or 30 partial recharge cycles.

Never subject your Li-on battery to high temperature when you recharge them. Not only will the heat be a safety risk but will also shorten your battery’s life and energy capacity.

If you are intending to leave your Bluetooth headsets unused for some time, you should make sure that the batteries are at least half-charged. Also, never leave the battery inside your Bluetooth earphones if you won’t be using the devices for a long period. If you do, the active material may leak out and corrode and damage your unit. Store the batteries in a cool place. Even the refrigerator will do, but never the freezer.

These practical tips are easy to remember. If you keep them in mind and follow them, you can be sure that your Li-ion battery for your Bluetooth headphones will last up to its maximum lifespan.

The Marseille Turn is a beautiful 360 soccer turn trick, unique to the game of soccer, which involves the player spinning 360 degrees on the field while trying to avoid an opponent and retaining control of the ball.

The trick is sometimes referred to as the Zidane Spin or the 360 turn. The trick was popularized by Diego Maradona and perfected by Zinadine Zidane, although it has been used by many other soccer players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Michael Laudrup, Franck Ribry, Lionel Messi, and Ronaldinho.

The Marseille Turn is the most effective when the opposing player is approaching head on first or from the side of the trick performers master foot.

Before starting to practice this move, you will either need another player or a box on the ground to simulate another player. This will help you visualize the trick easier, than trying to practice against thin air.

Step 1: Push the ball in front of you, about one step in front of you.

Step 2: Try to lure your opponent to go after the ball.

Step 3: When the ball is just outside your opponent’s reach, you stop it by putting your left foot on the ball.

Step 4: Pull the ball backward and turn your body 90 degrees to the right simultaneously.

Step 5: You should receive the ball with your right foot and your back to your opponent. Place your right foot on the ball and continue your rotation to the right.

Step 6: Place you right foot over the ball and slide it past your opponent.

Thanksgiving Day comes once a year in the U.S., but every day there are people in our lives who deserve our thanks. Sometimes a simple “Thank you” is appropriate. At other times, it is more thoughtful to be creative in expressing appreciation. It’s just good business.

Here are some suggestions for thanking people at work, at home, and in the community.

1. When you say “Thank you” tell the person specifically what it is you appreciate and why you appreciate it. “Thank you for going to the Post Office for me. It saved me a lot of time.”

2. Send an e-mail note. When I sent a thank you note to my staff in the Pentagon, the energy level shot up.

3. Send a hand-written thank you note. These are noteworthy because so few of us take time to write and mail them.

4. Place an unexpected phone call just to say “Thank you.” Connecting verbally adds warmth to your appreciation even if you reach voice mail.

5. Present a small certificate. Half-page certificates take up less space if displayed and are as meaningful as full sized certificates. They tend to draw attention because they are different.

6. Give a single flower from your garden, flowerpot, or florist, with a verbal “Thank you” or a note.

7. Put a candy bar or piece of fruit on the desk of the person to be thanked, with or without a note. (Be sure the person is not on vacation!)

8. Bake some cookies. This is especially effective when men bake and present a few cookies in thanksgiving.

9. Say something nice about the recipient of your thanks to someone else when the person you appreciate can overhear you. This is especially powerful in a business setting.

10. For special occasions, present a US flag that has flown over the Capitol. It is a   unique , reasonably priced item which few people own. A certificate of authenticity is provided in honor of any special occasion you designate. Call your congressman’s office and ask for it. If you don’t have a local contact, call 202 224-3121 and ask for your congressman or congresswoman by name. When you reach that person’s office, ask to purchase a flag. They’ll know what to do!

Before this book, I had no idea about what were the true techniques to invest in the stock market. When I saw this book on the shelve of bookshops, I immediately turn its pages to check it’s content and was pleasantly surprised at the level of detail and coverage of investing in the stock market. Impressed with what I read, I bought it without hesitation.

After reading this book and applying some of the lessons taught, I can say that I am a better investor in the stock market now. Before, I was only a rookie. I will explain to you why.

This book teaches both the fundamental aspects of selecting stocks which Adam will show you. The technical aspects to trading is illustrated by Conrad who traded his way out of bankruptcy using very good strategies. He easily makes US$5000-US$7000 a month trading stocks and options. That can replace anybody’s salary anytime, won’t you agree? His record is US$22k++ in a single month.

One of the important concepts mentioned early in the book is to invest in the stock market and use the power of compounding. You can be an automatic millionaire by the time you retire using this technique. All you need is patience and some consistency in investing. This was how Warren Buffet became the richest man by investing in the US market and let his investment returns compound.

The rest of the book explains four strategies to grow your funds in the stock market depending on which level of an investor you are currently at with the returns and time horizon you are looking at.

The first growth strategy is the most basic level for novice investors which teaches you to achieve compounded returns of 10%-12.08% annually by buying the market or buying sectors or industries that are outperforming.

The second growth strategy shows you about value investing which can achieve you an annual return of 15%-25%. This method requires you to buy great companies at huge discount and sell them for a huge profit. Warren Buffet uses value investing to pick his stocks. You will learn the nine criteria of value investing to pick stocks that investors like Warren Buffet or George Soros would.

The third growth strategy explains to you about momentum investing which you can achieve a higher return of more than 25% at a shorter time like 3 to 6 months. This involves picking stocks that are about to increase in price significantly due to market optimism. Adam shows you seven steps to screen for this kind of stocks.

The last growth strategy is the most advanced of all, which allows you to net a handsome 100%-500% returns in one day to 3 months. This strategy involves the buying and selling of stock options which is trading. Trading allows you to make money in any direction, be it up, down or sideways. The authors have dedicated 2 chapters to explain the fundamentals of options and clearly illustrated with examples on a few commonly used strategies for reader.

I enjoyed this book very much as it was clearly written and provided a practical approach to investing and trading. This book has given me a good foundation as a beginner to prepare me for more advance strategies and implementation. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to start investing or trade in any stock market and does not know how to start.

Be it anything, these days it must be made available to be purchased online. This is what the latest online jewellery shopping trends are transformed into.

Just like any of the commodities that we think of buying online, fashionable, designer and colorful jewellery is also made easily available to be purchased online. To make the online jewelry shopping convenient rather possible for the buyers, there are many online jewelry shops settled. They permit and give out an ease for the jewelry shoppers with which they just log into the site and check for what all these shops have to offer them as variety.

Those who want to stick their choice with branded jewelry, have probably the best option to buy it online. The online jewellery shops hand out an assortment of jewelry pieces with loads of discount schemes. The best part about shopping from the online shopping store for varied jewelry items is that they work as the biggest time saver. Where street shops or moving out in market takes a lot of time and energy of the shoppers, the trend of online shopping has made things simpler.

Whether it is your idea of purchasing diamond jewellery or your choice rests with the selection of gold jewellery, the online shops give you loads of options to make a selection where one can check out a wide range of makes, styles, and types of jewellery ornaments.

Adding up other benefits to the list is the fact that these shops are set open 24 by 7 that favor any time shopping on the part of shoppers. They can check out for the stock and can place order as soon they find something of their likability and choice without considering the watch. No need to go from shop to shop to make a price comparison and to reach out for something better as all this is now facilitated with these online jewellery stores.

Carrying a piled up variety of diamond jewellery, gold jewellery along with other types of jewellery items, these shops stand as cheap, convenient source to make a purchase. Buyers are kept at an advantage to locate the cut offs, discounts and special offers that they can avail with their respective purchases which otherwise is difficult to trace while shopping in normal markets.

Buyers can clear their doubts before making the payment and can assure that the store from where one is buying the items is genuine.