Tis the season for curling up by the fire, cuddling, playing in the snow and other winter festivities… What goes perfect with the chilly weather? Hot chocolate of course! Here’s a few of our favorite, non-traditional, guaranteed to make you say “yuuuum”, hot chocolate recipes.

First the basics:

Although most hot chocolate recipes indicate that hot water should be used, milk (skim, 2%, whole, whatever..) will make your hot chocolate richer, creamier and downright more delicious.

A good basic recipe to start with:

o 25 oz non-fat milk powder

o 16 oz non-dairy creamer powder

o oz presweetened cocoa mix

o 13 oz chocolate malted milk powder

o 1 cup powdered sugar

§ As you can see, this is a huge amount to prepare. Either store it in an air tight container or feel free to half or third the recipe.

§ If you are planning to add flavorings to the finished hot chocolate, cut down on some of the powdered sugar in order to not make it sickly sweet.

When you mix the above powder with your warmed milk, use no less than two teaspoons. Depending on your taste preference, you can add more for a richer, creamier taste.

An even simpler basic recipe:

o 2 cups milk

o 4 squares bakers chocolate

§ Melt the chocolate into the milk in a large saucepan.

§ can also mix up the kind of bakers chocolate that you use. Try semi-sweet if you’re going to be adding a lot of flavored syrups or milk if you’re going the pure route. Try a white chocolate hot chocolate for something completely different.

Post in Health and Fitness

Aromatherapy, holistic healing, mood enhancement, non-chemical treatments… What do all these popular practices have in common? Herbs. Yes, the exact ones you may be using in your kitchen to make your “famous” spaghetti sauce can also be good for your heart, cheer you up, fight infection and positively affect a slew of other physical issues. Here we’ve identified some of the most popular herbs for your reference.

Before you begin any herbal regime, you should consult with your doctor or other health professional to determine what treatment is best for you and your particular condition. Anyone with a pre-existing condition like high blood pressure, palpitations, other heart conditions, high blood sugar, diabetes or any other medical conditions should never begin taking herbal supplements without speaking to your doctor. If you are pregnant, no herbs should be taken without the consultation of your doctor. If you are currently taking any prescription medicine, NEVER replace that medicine with herbal treatment or add herbal treatment to your current medical treatment without speaking to your doctor.

Garlic – Besides recent studies indicating that garlic helps promote a healthy heart and reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol, it is also one of the most effective anti-biotic herbs available. It works wonders on infections of the nose, throat and upper-respiratory system. It also reduces high blood sugar and helps to prevent yeast infections and certain types of cancers. Garlic has been used as a treatment to rid the body of worms and other parasites.

Ginger – One of the most popular spices, ginger has been used to treat colds and help break fevers. Ginger can help reduce headaches and cure indigestion.

Ginkgo Biloba – Well known for its effect on the memory, ginkgo biloba increases circulation in the body. Increased circulation in the brain helps prevent dizziness, short term memory loss and depression. In the rest of the body, it provides relief for other diseases and disorders such as diabetes, hemorrhoids, varicose veins and asthma.

Ginseng – Ginseng helps improve stamina and resist stress. It increases mental and physical functions and helps the immune system fight disease.

Jasmine – The pleasing aroma of the jasmine flower has long been used as a relaxing antidote to stress and an anti-depressant. It is also an expectorant for cold and flu sufferers. Extracts from the plant can be found in cough syrups and teas. Externally, jasmine oil can be used to treat dry skin.

Aromatherapy, holistic healing, mood enhancement, non-chemical treatments… What do all these popular practices have in common? Herbs. Yes, the exact ones you may be using in your kitchen to make your “famous” spaghetti sauce can also be good for your heart, cheer you up, fight infection and positively affect a slew of other physical issues. Here we’ve identified some of the post popular herbs for your reference.

Before you begin any herbal regime, you should consult with your doctor or other health professional to determine what treatment is best for you and your particular condition. Anyone with a pre-existing condition such as high blood pressure, palpitations, other heart conditions, high blood sugar, diabetes or any other medical conditions should never begin taking herbal supplements without speaking to your doctor. If you are pregnant, no herbs should be taken without the consultation of your doctor. If you are currently taking any prescription medicine, NEVER replace that medicine with herbal treatment or add herbal treatment to your current medical treatment without speaking to your doctor.

Aloe Vera – is made up of two parts, a clear gel found inside the leaf of the plant and a crystalline part found alongside the leaf blade. Both parts are used for medicinal as well as cosmetic purposes. The clear gel can be found in many over the counter moisturizers and products to relieve the pain of sunburn. It is used in the healing of wounds, burns, acne, bug bites, rashes and scars. It alleviates pain and itching and has also been used to promote the healing of warts. The crystalline part of the plan is a strong laxative. It is used to clean the stomach and digestive system and can also be a restorative for intestinal problems such as ulcers and gastritis. Both parts can destroy many different kinds of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Some individuals may be allergic to Aloe Vera and may itch or develop a rash.

Anise – Anise is the key ingredient for the flavoring of black licorice. It can be used as a diuretic, for the treatment of digestive problems, the relief of toothache and reduction of gas, bloat and colic. Anise is also an expectorant and antispasmodic and because of these qualities, it is helpful in alleviating asthma and colds due to upper respiratory infections and bronchitis. It has a mild hormone and thusly helps reduce menstrual cramps and is a natural treatment for sexual impotence. Externally, the oil of the anise plant can be used to treat infestations of the skin including lice and scabies.

Basil – Has been proven to reduce blood sugar levels. It can prevent peptic ulcers and other stress related conditions like colitis and high blood pressure. Basil relieves cold and flu symptoms including reducing fevers, congestion and joint pain. It is an anti-bacterial and fungicide. The leaves of the basil plant can be used directly on the skin to relieve itching and discomfort resulting from insect bites.

Bergamot – Assists in the avoidance of infectious diseases, prevents oily skin, and relieves acne and psoriasis. Bergamot is commonly used in massage and aromatherapy as it relieves tension and relaxes muscles.

Moving to a new city, or even to a new neighborhood in a city you think you know well? Well, here are a half dozen smart ways to get to know the neighborhood you’re moving to.

1 – Where are You, Actually? Chances are, you’re not moving to an island. So take a look around not just your own neighborhood but check out the surrounding areas too! In densely populated areas like New York’s borough of Brooklyn, for instance, many newcomers are unaware that just a mile away from upscale Park Slope there’s the ethnically diverse Chinese-Latino neighborhood of Sunset Park, where things are cheaper, including rent.

2 – Walk, Don’t Just Drive Around. You’d be surprised at how much more you can learn about a place when you walk, rather than drive, around it. In a city like San Francisco, Philadelphia or Austin, walking helps you get a sense of the history and architecture. The feel of the street life can change literally from block to block. If you’re in a suburban setting, walking enables you to see who is a rose gardener, who has a messy yard and on which streets there are kids playing outside.

3 – Talk to Locals. Try to pick up conversations. You can ask who has the best diner breakfast, where they go for a picnic or what the best dry cleaner in the area is. Talk, talk, talk!

4 – Get Familiar with More than One Source of Local News. Check out local freebie newspapers, the local columns of your citywide newspapers and take some time to scan community Web sites or blogs.

5 – Get to Know Your Local Hardware Store Folks and Your Elected Officials. It always pays to know someone who can help you find a plumber, electrician and repairman and who better than the local hardware store? It is also smart to know who your elected officials are, at the city, state and federal level. Their staffs know a lot about the area you live in and you can always call them for a suggestion.

6 – Identify the Local Community Hub. Some of the most wonderful sources of information and contacts in a new community are the basics: the local diner, firehouse, church or synagogue or mosque and park. If you want to really discover what your new neighborhood has to offer, identify the local hub and make a few visits.

Ellen Freudenheim is a veteran travel writer and the author of several comprehensive guidebooks to New York City . Her 500-page guide to over 20 neighborhoods of Brooklyn is called Brooklyn: the Ultimate Guide to New York’s Most Happening Borough (St. Martin’s Press, 2004). Her most recent book is Queens: What to Do, Where to Go (and How Not to Get Lost) in New York’s Undiscovered Borough (St. Martin’s Press, 2006). (www.queensguidebook.com).Both are available from online booksellers.

© Ellen Freudenheim 2006. No part of this article can be reproduced without the author’s permission.

By Elaine Bloom

Whether you’re moving into your first apartment, moving from a house into an apartment, or just looking to get rid of a bunch of stuff, downsizing your life can be one of the most difficult organizational tasks you face.

Some people hold on to all kinds of “stuff” because they think their kids might want it someday. Well, we hate to break bad news, but there’s an overwhelming chance that if you’re doing this, your kids aren’t going to want most of your old stuff. I’ve told people to either set a deadline for their kids to come over and look through the stuff or to put it into a storage unit for a period of time and tell their kids that it’s available for that amount of time.

When it comes to your own sorting of things that you don’t want to part with, make a selection of the things that are most meaningful, most important, have the best memories and put them into a scrapbook or chest or box and keep them to look over and enjoy.

I don’t believe in throwing everything out. I do believe in culling through things to just keep those that are most important and most meaningful.

Remember that it will take you time to do this because of the emotions that are involved and give yourself the time that will be needed.

When it comes to downsizing, remember the Pareto Principle. Named after the Italian thinker, Vilfredo Pareto , the rule of 80/20 states that we use 20 percent of our things 80 percent of the time. This is most often true. From the clothes we wear in our overstuffed closets, the knives and small appliances and other stuff in our kitchens, the files we haven’t looked at for years in our filing cabinets, we just have too much stuff to actually use! So when you’re pairing down your belongings, think of the rule of 80/20. This really means keep only the 20 percent that you’ve been using. This should help you to get rid of that 80 percent that you haven’t used in a long, long time.

Remember that if you want to entertain you don’t have to keep all of your china, glassware and silverware. Whether you only do one big holiday dinner a year or entertain more frequently, you can always rent those items. You don’t have to store it, wash it or worry about breakage. Someone else does all that for you.

Really clean out your closets. Be ruthless. Everything that is too small, too big, doesn’t fit, you’ve never worn, don’t like, is stained or needs mending — get rid of it. Keep only what you really like and what you will really wear. Everything else should be thrown out or given to charity. You’ll enjoy your wardrobe more and get more use out of it when you slim it down to the essentials.

When downsizing think about questions like:

• When was the last time I used this?
• Have I used this in the last year?
• Have I used this in the last five years?
• For china and glassware, can I rent these items to use for a particular occasion?
• Does this item really have sentimental importance to me?
• Will I really miss it?
• Am I keeping it only because other people think I should keep it?
• Will I feel freer and lighter without this?

When you’re downsizing, it is the perfect time to think of a new start in life. A life that is freer and simpler with less “stuff” to worry about.

Elaine Bloom is a professional organizer who believes in practical, realistic solutions to the problems of too much stuff and too much paper. Ideas and information are available at her website www.organizeit.com .

By Elaine Bloom

Getting organized in a small space can be a challenge. Apartments have no attics or basements to use for storage. You must use every available space to help store things and organize your things.

There is extra space available but most people just don’t think of it as useable space. You just have to look at your apartment in a different way. Lots of things can be stored under the bed, like out of season clothing or extra linens. It’s a great storage space but just remember that it’s meant to be used for things that are not needed on a regular basis. You can get cardboard boxes that fit under a bed or rolling plastic containers.

The top of a closet is also a great place for things that are not used on a regular basis. Usually it is one big space and if you try to put things up there they fall or can’t be reached without everything tumbling down when you try to get something out. Get plastic or other snap together or easy to put together shelving for the top of your closet. You may be able to make two or three levels of shelving where you can store extra bedding, out of season clothing or anything else you don’t use regularly. Get the same kind of shelving for the bottom of your closet and you can use it for shoes or other small items. You’ll get stuff off the floor and have an extra shelf space or two.

Make extra space in closets by moving one hanging rod up and putting in another rod below it. Hang shirts and other items in two rows.

For kitchen cupboards, get roll out baskets that can be attached to shelves. When you can pull out a basket it’s much easier to find things and things don’t get lost in the back as they would otherwise. You’ll have the same amount of storage space but you’ll be able to use it so much more efficiently that it will seem like you have much more.

There are many other types of storage items. Pot lids can be stored in a rack that fits on the back of a cabinet door. The same goes for boxes of wax paper and other types of wrap. Also, try putting a spice rack on the back of a cabinet door.

In the kitchen, you can put small drawers under cabinets.

You can get various kinds of dividers and organizers for drawers that help you to store things more easily. Those for kitchen drawers will often provide dividers to allow you to create two levels of storage inside the drawer. Those for dressers help you better organize socks and underwear. Just by being more organized, you actually make more space.

Also think about using furniture in different ways then it is meant to be used. An armoire can be used to store all kinds of kitchen items. Take out the pole for hanging clothes and put in shelves and maybe some simple drawers and it’s a terrific storage piece and one that you can easily take with you. You can also have it customized to fit odd shaped things or specialty cookware. For instance, if you have a lot of cookie sheets or muffin tins, you can store them vertically instead of horizontally by making a space for them with a simple partition. By doing this, you can pull out the one you want without disturbing the others. Something you can’t do when things are piled up.

Elaine Bloom is a professional organizer who believes in practical, realistic solutions to the problems of too much stuff and too much paper. Ideas and information are available at her website www.organizeit.com .

Are you falling asleep at your desk? Have trouble remembering things? Feeling a little crabby lately? Or perhaps you’ve been getting colds a little more frequently…Are you getting enough sleep?

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) recommends seven to nine hours of sleep a night for most adults. If you’re not getting it, you might be feeling a little rundown, achy, crabby, forgetful, I could go on…

Here’s a rude awakening…The NSF reports that the majority of adults aren’t getting near enough sleep, only averaging 6.9 hours of sleep a night for 18- to 54-year-olds. The NSF also found through surveys that about half of Americans report frequent difficulty sleeping. The amount of sleep you get (or don’t get) can affect your mood, behavior and your ability to perform tasks. Think about it, you really don’t want to fall asleep while you’re driving a car. Not getting your “beauty sleep” can take a significant toll on how you look and feel.

If you find yourself nodding off or longing for a nap, the National Sleep Foundation recommends a number of things that you can do to make sure you get the rest that you need.

• Avoid excessive caffeine and alcohol.
• Give up smoking. Nicotine, like caffeine, is a stimulant and can make sleeping difficult. Yet another reason to quit smoking.
• Don’t eat or drink too much close to bedtime.
• Lower the volume. Noise, from loud neighbors and early morning traffic to sleeping with a snorer, can disturb sleep.
• Exercise. A brisk afternoon walk can be conducive to sleep — strenuous exercise late in the evening could have the opposite effect.
• Establish a regular bedtime and wake-up schedule. Sleeping late on weekends won’t make up for too little sleep during the week. A consistent sleep schedule is more effective.
• Too cold or too hot? Lumpy mattress makes you grumpy? Make sure you have found the right comfort zone for your sleeping needs, from the temperature of your bedroom to the condition of your mattress and pillows.

One MAJOR factor that can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep is light. Whether you work at night and have to sleep during the day, have a partner that likes to read (or worse, watch TV) in bed, have a roommate that stays up later than you do, all this light can keep you from falling into the deep sleep you need to feel rested.

For a better night’s sleep or catching a daytime nap, make it lights out with a sleep mask. A sleep mask is both a sleep and beauty aid. You might think that a sleep mask is something for movie stars of the ‘40’s but it really does work. One that works great is the new Sleep Pretty in PinkÔ Sleep Mask by HearosÒ. It creates a total blackout experience, there’s extra padding that makes it really comfy (and helps avoid puffy eyes). The Sleep Pretty in Pink Sleep Mask has a recessed center so your eyelashes don’t hit against it and to allow for wearing eye creams or extended wear contact lenses. The mask has adjustable strap for a good, comfortable fit that avoids dreaded hair indentations. Take along a sleep mask too when you travel to deal with light on planes, in hotels and other unfamiliar sleep settings. The Sleep Pretty in Pink Sleep Mask comes in pink and is available online at $9.97 at www.sleepinpink.com.

It’s tempting to rent an apartment based just on the square footage and rent. But you’re not going to just sit in your apartment every night and weekend. So, before you move into a new apartment, though, make sure the surrounding neighborhood or community suits your needs.

1. Check out the After Hours Transportation:. Of course everyone thinks about their work commute. But make sure that you’re conveniently situated for safe, convenient transportation to other places you like to visit, whether that’s the beach or your sister’s home. Whether you’re expecting to use the New York City subway or drive LA’s freeways, check out your transportation routes in advance

2. Where’s the Community Spirit? Some neighborhoods enjoy long-established traditions such as a Halloween parade, block parties, or summer outdoor concert series. Contact the block association, local paper, or local merchants association to find out what your new neighborhood has to offer—and find out how to get involved, too. After all, if you move into your new apartment in September, you might not realize that there’s Christmas caroling or a New Year’s Eve street party in December, or a free community swim in July.

3. Finding Pet-and-Child-Friendly Places. It’s wonderful to have neighbors who can pitch in if you’re in a crunch. If you are a single parent, check out the parent networks by visiting the playgrounds, the schools, the after school programs. Or, if you own a dog, you might want to find out whether there is a dog run, an organized group of dog-.lovers in your new area.

4. Find Your Fellow Hobbyist. Make sure you can indulge in your favorite hobbies or activities close to home. If you love to cook, is there a farmer’s market or gourmet food shop nearby? If you’re a tennis player, cyclist, or marathoner, is there a place nearby where you can pick up a game of tennis, bike, or run a few miles, and meet other runners? If group knitting or tutoring school kids are your passion, make sure there’s someplace convenient where you can indulge yourself.

Ellen Freudenheim is a veteran travel writer and the author of several comprehensive guidebooks to New York City . Her 500-page guide to over 20 neighborhoods of Brooklyn is called Brooklyn: the Ultimate Guide to New York’s Most Happening Borough (St. Martin’s Press, 2004). Her most recent book is Queens: What to Do, Where to Go (and How Not to Get Lost) in New York’s Undiscovered Borough (St. Martin’s Press, 2006). (www.queensguidebook.com).Both are available from online booksellers.

© Ellen Freudenheim 2006. No part of this article can be reproduced without the author’s permission.

So, where did the annual festival of “Punxsutawney Phil” come from? And…why a Groundhog?

Groundhog Day, observed on February 2^nd, is only celebrated in the U.S. and Canada. The current tradition says that if “Punxsutawney Phil”, a groundhog found in a town in Pennsylvania that he is named after, sees his shadow, there is to be six more weeks of winter. If he does not, the weather will be tame for the next six weeks. This is a rather bad attempt at divination since the weather conditions on this one day usually have no bearing on the rest of the season.

Originally, Groundhog Day was a Pagan holiday called Imbolc (also known as Imbolg and Brigid’s Night). Imbolc, the mark of midwinter, is the Irish Gaelic word for “in the belly”, which is in reference to the animals that gave birth at this time of year. Historically, this celebration was to honor the Irish Goddess of fertility, poetry, birth, weddings, smith crafting and healing, Brigid. The God Pan is also associated with Imbolc. He is/was called upon to awaken and bless the flora and fauna in the spring. Pan is said to share his knowledge and passion with animals and birds. The ancient pagans would construct two huge bonfires to symbolize the heat of the life-force. They passed their livestock through the fires to bless, purify and cleanse them. This is also a time to make life changes and to remove those things that are no longer useful and make room for new things. Some Pagans use this time to sweep the circle (and their entire dwelling) with a broomstick as part of their ritual. Perhaps this is the origin of our annual “spring cleaning”?

Another holiday that derived from Imbolc was the Roman Christian celebration of Candelmas, also on February 2nd. The day was to be the feast to celebrate the Virgin Mary’s purification and included lighting numerous blessed candles. February 2nd marks the six week period after she birthed Jesus Christ. It should be pointed out that the month of February comes from the Latin word “Februa”, which means “expiatory offerings”.

The Groundhog Day tradition was originally brought to the United States in the mid 1800’s from early German settlers to the Pennsylvania area. In Germany, they followed closely the hibernation patterns of the hedgehog to try to get a sense of how much longer the winter season would last. Once the Germans migrated to America, they found the Groundhog had much in common with their beloved hedgehog. Both animals are no-nonsense and practical animals. In European folklore, bears and badgers are also associated with weather divination because they also hibernate.

Legend tells of a group who went out into the woods on Candelmas day to look for groundhogs in Pennsylvania. The outings became an annual tradition and it started to draw newspaper attention. An editor dubbed the group “The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club”. In 1887 it became an official event and it still takes place every year.