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Top Ten Ways To Strengthen Your Marriage
10. Start each day with a kiss. Decide to begin the day with love.
9. Wear your wedding ring at all times. Let it be a visual reminder of your commitment.
8. Go on a date with your spouse once a week. Even if it's just for coffee, dedicate time for the two of you.
7. Accept differences. Try to remeber that once you thought your spouse's idiosyncrasies were cute. Your chances of changing them are slim, so decide to live with them.
6. Be polite. Are you more polite to co-workers or store clerks than you are to the one you love? Practice good manners at home.
5. Be gentle. Harsh words and actions have no plce in your home. Choose to be kind to those you love and who love you.
4. Give gifts. While diamonds are a girls besy friend, a card, a single rose, a favorite candybar can also do the trick.
3. Smile often. Put on a happy face and let it determine your disposition. Remember how meanigful the glances were which you once gave each other.
2. Touch. A pat on the back or a soft caress of the cheek can show love and connection.
1. Talk about dreams. Get your conversation beyond coordinating schedules and talking about the kids. Take time to talk about ideas and dreams.
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13 MOST COMMON MISTAKES DOG OWNERS MAKE
Courtesy of Petlane (www.petlane.com)
. Driving in a car with a dog that is not in a seatbelt.
. Leaving a dog alone without something safe to occupy itself.
. Not giving small dogs in particular enough exercise, but believing a backyard is ample space for them to run around in.
. Punishing a dog more than a few seconds after it has done something wrong. Example: You come home and the garbage has been strewn around the house. The dog has no idea why he is being punished. All he knows is that when you come home it is not a good thing.
. Making a big deal over leaving the house.
. Not understanding how to read a pet food label. (Foods that list "real" chicken first includes the water weight in this ingredient. Chicken in this form consists of 70% water. Look for Chicken Meal instead. It is a much more nutritious source of protein.)
. Thinking that tug of war games are not okay for dogs. In fact, played appropriately they are an important part of bonding with your companion animal.
. In terms of discipline, forgetting that it is easier to teach a dog what NOT to do than what TO do.
. Believing that you do not have to "Puppy Proof" your home. This is actually very important for your puppy's safety and your sanity.
. Leaving a dog in a car during hot weather. This is dangerous even if a window is cracked open.
. Using a collar rather than a harness to walk small dogs.
. Failure to do your homework about specific breeds when choosing a new dog. When it comes to dogs, breeds very much determine their inherent personality type.
. Not knowing that certain plants can be poisonous in and outside of the home.
TOP 10 MYTHS ABOUT CATS
Courtesy of Petlane (www.petlane.com)
1) Fat cats are not more prone to getting Diabetes.
TRUTH: Although any cat may contract Diabetes, fat cats are more susceptible to contracting this disease.
2) Cats cannot be trained to scratch on appropriate scratching surfaces.
TRUTH: There are some great products and methods to help keep a cat away from particular surfaces. With patience, most of the time a cat can be trained away from scratching an unwanted surface.
3) Physical punishment is a good way to teach a cat to behave.
TRUTH: Cats do not respond to physical punishment at all. They will not associate a behavior with punishment. They will however, associate you with something bad.
Some cats will respond to treats as positive reinforcement.
4) Senior cats do not like to play.
TRUTH: Older cats appreciate play time just as much as younger cats. They may not react as energetically, but they do enjoy it and need it.
5) The belief that indoor cats do not get bored.
TRUTH: Indoor cats do not receive the stimulation their indoor outdoor counterparts do. They are much more reliant on their human companions for stimulation through play. Playing with your cat for short bursts about 10 minutes at a time several times a day will make your companion a happier, healthier and more social being.
6) Declawing is just like trimming a cat's nails.
TRUTH: Declawing is nothing like trimming a cat's nails. Declawing is not a "simple", single surgery but 10 separate, amputations of the third phalanx up to the last joint of each toe. A graphic comparison in human terms would be the cutting off of a person's finger at the last joint of each finger. Although most cats do survive this procedure unharmed, there are some very serious side effects that can occur and be permanent.
7) A house does not need to be "cat proofed."
TRUTH: Cats will explore every nook and cranny of their home. If you have fragile items a cat might break keep them out of reach. Also be aware of any plants you may have that could be poisionous. Cats do like to munch on plants from time to time.
8) All cats are alike, so it doesn't matter what type of cat we get.
TRUTH: No two cats are alike. It is important you understand the basic traits of any particular breed before acquiring a cat. Some cats are cuddly, some independent, some actually a bit more like a dog. Within a breed, each cat has his or her own special behavior. Be sure to spend some quality time with your cat or kitten before you decide to adopt it.
8) It is safe for cats to walk on surfaces that have been cleaned with chemical
based cleaners and then lick their paws.
TRUTH: Cat owners should be using all-natural home cleaners for the safety and health of their cat. Chemical cleaners can make an animal very sick. Petlane offers several great alternatives, including pet-friendly floor cleaner and toilet bowl cleaner.
10.) Cats don't use their litter boxes because they are angry.
TRUTH: 99% of the time when a cat doesn't use his or her litter box, it is because the litter is dirty, it is the wrong kind of litter or the cat is ill. Checking with the Vet right away is the safest course of action.
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KCFY Wants You!!!!
Have you ever thought of working for a radio station?
Do you love music?
Are you creative?
Can you take direction? Can you multi task? Are you a people person? Earn college credit as an intern Do you love Jesus and would love to work for Him? If you said yes to all the above, then KCFY wants you. under 18 years of age must get parental consent email vick@kcfyfm.com and tell him you want to join the brand new KCFY Street TEAM.
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Trading in gas guzzler may cost you
Like a lot of people, you may be watching the price at the pump soar and wondering whether it's time to dump your current, less-than-efficient SUV, truck or car.
It's tempting to simply haul your 15 miles-per-gallon vehicle down to the dealership and drive out in something that gets 30 mpg or more. But that may not be smart, at least from a financial point of view.
People thinking of going this route need to take several factors into account.
For starters, your gas guzzler is worth considerably less as a trade-in than it was even six months ago. By some estimates, the value of used sport utility vehicles has dropped more than 20 percent since January.
Even if your current car is paid for, you're likely to incur new monthly payments on that fuel-efficient replacement.
Finally, it could take years to realize actual savings at the pump when other factors are taken into consideration.
Here's an example:
Suppose you have a two-wheel-drive 2001 Ford Expedition XLT. According to Edmunds.com, it is worth about $5,700 as a trade-in and gets about 16 mpg in city driving, although most owners of that model know real-world mileage is less than that.
At $3.70 a gallon for regular fuel, it costs about $97 to fill the Expedition's 26-gallon tank.
To cut that bill, the Expedition owner is looking at a two-wheel-drive 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid, which can likely be bought (assuming reasonable options on board) for about $28,000, plus taxes, title fees, etc.
The Escape Hybrid promises to deliver about 32 mpg in normal driving, double what the 2001 Expedition delivers. A fill-up of the Escape's 15-gallon tank at $3.70 a gallon would cost about $55.
But what are the real savings?
Assuming you own the Expedition free and clear and use the trade-in value as your down payment -- and cover the sales taxes and other fees in cash -- the Escape will come with a loan for about $22,300. At current rates, financing for 60 months means a monthly payment of about $439.
So let's add up the costs for a year:
It costs about $3,500 to keep it filled with gasoline, assuming prices stay at about $3.70. If they go to $4 a gallon, the bill will be about $3,750.
In the new Escape, your annual fuel bill, assuming the same mileage and $3.70 a gallon, would be about $1,730, a savings of about $1,770 a year.
But the new Escape will cost you $5,268 in payments, not counting out-of-pocket fees and the value of the Expedition used at trade-in.
Even after factoring in the one-time federal tax credit that comes with an Escape Hybrid, swapping a serviceable gas-guzzler for a more fuel-efficient new vehicle is unlikely to provide a financial benefit for five years, when the new vehicle is paid off.
Of course, there are reasons to get a more fuel-efficient vehicle the go beyond bottom-line economics. They include concern for the environment and helping to reduce our oil imports.
And if it's simply just time for a new vehicle -- the old one is worn out, or you've budgeted to trade vehicles at this time anyway -- then by all means it would be foolish to not consider something that gets considerably better fuel mileage.
But if your prime motivator is the sticker shock at the gas pump, act with caution. While a new vehicle may help you save at the pump, it can significantly increase your overall costs.
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Grilled mahimahi with grapefruit, avocado, and watercrest salad
total time: 20 mins.
4 6-ounce pieces mahimahi, skin removed
1 teaspoon plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and pepper
1 grapefruit
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 teaspoons honey
2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
2 bunches watercrest, thick stems removed
1 avocado, cut into chunks
Heat a grill or grill pan to medium high. Rub the mahimahi with 1 teaspoon of the oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Grill until cooked through and opaque throughout, about 5 mins. per side, depending on thickness. Meanwhile, cut away the peel and white pith of the grapefruit with a knife and slice the fruit into 1/4 inch rounds. In a small bowl, combine the lime juice, honey, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and the scallions. Divide the watercrest, avocado, and grapefruit among plates. Place the mahimahi on top and drizzle the lime dressing.
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New Skin-Care Products with Natural Ingredients
Give your skin some health food with products containing mushrooms, grapefruit, and other garden ingredients
Pomegranate
The hundreds of ruby-colored seeds inside pomegranates were once thought to symbolize fertility, and given the fruit's proven powers as a strong antioxidant, it has given birth to a huge number of products, including designer juice and high-end skin-care creams.
The pomegranate's power comes from ellagic acid, a type of polyphenol, which is an antioxidant found in red wine and green tea. Antioxidants seek out and neutralize cell-damaging free radicals that come from the environment (pollution, UV rays) and from the body's natural aging process. Ellagic acid has been shown in some studies to neutralize free radicals more effectively than the other polyphenols found in green tea and red wine. It's also more stable in skin-care products than some other antioxidants, like vitamin C, which can lose potency when exposed to light and air.
Find It In:
Murad Energizing Pomegranate Moisturizer SPF 15, $30, murad.com
Murad Energizing Pomegranate Lip Therapy SPF 15, $16, murad.com
Archipelago Pomegranate Creme for the Hands, $26, 800-399-4994 for stores 
Grapefruit
Until the 19th century, grapefruit was grown purely as an ornamental fruit. Rarely eaten, it was known only for its looks - an interesting harbinger of its modern-day promise to improve ours.
A 2005 study by the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, in Chicago, showed that the scent of grapefruit on women made them seem an average of six years younger to men. Grapefruit's main use in skin care, however, is as a citric acid. Like any alpha hydroxy acid, citric acid loosens the bonds between skin cells, allowing dead ones to fall away, revealing smoother, more radiant skin.
Find It In:
Fresh Pink Grapefruit Petite Soap, $12, fresh.com
Boots No 7 Radiance Revealed Exfoliator, $10, Target 
Mushroom
No wonder the Super Mario Brothers got a jolt of evil-fighting power whenever they ate a mushroom. Mushrooms have long been used in Asian cultures as remedies for everything from low energy to cancer.
The extract of several Japanese mushrooms has been shown to reduce inflammation, which can affect collagen in the skin and contribute to changes associated with aging, such as the appearance of fine lines. Reducing that inflammation keeps skin cells vital and functioning and also suppresses irritation so that other active ingredients, like antioxidants, can do their jobs.
Shiitake mushrooms have multifaceted benefits for the skin. They contain antioxidants that block proteins known to cause cell breakdown; they provide chemical exfoliation; and they also contain kojic acid, which has a lightening effect on age spots and discoloration, making skin appear brighter over time.
Find It In:
Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Face Serum, $65, origins.com
Aveeno Positively Ageless Daily Moisturizer SPF 30, $20 at drugstores 
Pumpkin
Despite its prevalence in favorite sweets, such as pies and muffins, pumpkin is quite acidic. And the enzymes in pumpkin act like salicylic acids, chemical exfoliants that encourage skin cells to turn over more rapidly.
Pumpkin is also a carotenoid, a derivative of vitamin A, which is indicated by its orange color, and that makes it an antioxidant in addition to having exfoliating properties.
Pumpkin seeds are a good source of zinc and have been used as a natural remedy for acne. Studies show that zinc has an effect similar to that of the common antibiotic tetracycline.
Find It In:
Jaqua Pumpkin Papaya Purée Enzyme Face Masque, $16, jaquabeauty.com
Joico Skin Luxe White Pumpkin Renewing Body Cleanser, $12, 800-805-6426 
Bamboo
Bamboo is one hardy plant. Not only is it one of the fastest-growing plants on earth (some species grow more than three feet a day) but its strength and sustainability have also made it a favorite of architects looking for environmentally friendly building materials.
Although the Chinese have used bamboo for centuries (the hardened secretion from the stalks has been taken internally to treat asthma), its popularity is only now growing in the United States. Bamboo pulp is being woven into fabric that retains antibacterial qualities even after it is washed. And in skin care, finely milled bamboo powder is used as an exfoliant in cleansers and scrubs. The smooth bamboo particles are less harsh than the scraggly, uneven grains made from salt and nuts, making it safer and less irritating to sensitive skin.
Find It In:
Clarins Smoothing Body Scrub for New Skin, $33, clarins.com
Red Flower Japan Ohana Gingergrass Bamboo Scrub, $62, redflower.com
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