5 Districts of LA to Visit Based on Interests

April 25, 2017 by 1 Comment

Thinking of visiting Los Angeles but feeling overwhelmed by the size of the city? You aren’t alone. So how do you plan a trip to the city without feeling overwhelmed? It’s all about learning how to focus your own interests. Let’s break it down for you:

1) West Hollywood

This section of the city is well known for its shopping and nightlife. It’s the perfect match for the younger crowd, as well as the seasoned veterans of the city. There are enough music clubs to fill your nights, and enough places to shop to fill your days. Ever heard of Santa Monica Boulevard? If you want to visit this hot spot, come with an appetite. This strip of road is lined with restaurants for those who want to see and be seen, such as Sunset Beach or Katana.

West Hollywood is also well known as the home of Sunset Strip, where you can visit great music clubs like the Viper Room or stop by The Comedy Store. If you want to sit at a café and watch for celebrities, you want to stop by Sunset Plaza on the strip. Some of the best, most luxurious hotels in west hollywood are along this stretch of road.

2)Studio City

If you like walking and moving at a leisurely pace, Studio City is the place to visit. This was once the mecca of homes for the actors working for studios. Now it boasts some of the most upscale dining and shopping in all of LA. Do you love sushi? You want to take a walk down Ventura Boulevard’s famous “sushi alley” to get a wide variety of great rolls.

Studio City is the perfect section of LA for the foodie. Just stay close to Ventura Boulevard and enjoy a wide variety of high-end cuisine.

3) Universal City

Want to take a studio tour and enjoy great shopping? Visit Universal City. This section of LA became famous for its studio backlot tours, drawing in a large crowd of tourists. You can Ride the Movies, visit Universal Studios Hollywood, and shop. Heard of CityWalk? It’s a stretch of shopping that inspired the modern version of malls. It’s full of restaurants, novelty shops, street performers, and more.

Universal City is perfect for the tourist who loves Hollywood entertainment.

4) Downtown LA

Immerse yourself in a variety of cultural differences in the downtown district. Visit Chinatown for a real taste of Chinese cuisine and culture. Enjoy a number of museums. See a live show at the Walt Disney Music Hall. Take in an NFL, NBA, or MLB game. Enjoy a helicopter tour of the city.

If your tastes are more cultured and you enjoy arts, architecture, and museums, you want to stay in Downtown LA.

5) Beverly Hills

There is no place in LA for the shopaholic quite like Beverly Hills. From jewelry to clothing to baseball caps, everything in this section of the city is high end, which also comes with a high price tag. If you plan on staying in Beverly Hills and shopping, make sure you save a lot of cash before you come. Before heading out to dinner in Beverly Hills, make sure you have a reservation. Many of the more upscale restaurants won’t have a place for you if you don’t.

If you love to shop and treat yourself, Beverly Hills is the perfect match for your LA experience.

During your trip, you may want to plan for a few extra days on the side to visit Santa Barbara. You can enjoy wineries, the beach, and the mountains all in one laid-back location. And it’s only 90 minutes from LA.

 

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4 steps to finding the right treatment center

April 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment

There are several things to consider when deciding to seek assistance for addiction or any issue that you need help overcoming. Often times people are afraid to discuss the topic of recovery or treatment because there is a stigma attached to the notion of having an addiction. What many do not realize is that having an addiction is not something that can be handled over night and it should be treated with the same care and concern as someone who needs help because they have a disease. Addiction can be considered a silent disease as it is not always easily detectable nor is it popular to discuss. If you or someone you know are interested in learning more about finding the right treatment center, here are 4 things to think about before making a final selection.

 

  • Type of therapy. This is very important to think about as the type of treatment you commit to can vary greatly. You should take into consideration that there are some treatment centers that offer inpatient and outpatient options. Other centers offer individual or group therapy. For instance, it is best to check their locations as you may not be able to participate in outpatient treatment if you live several hours away. If you know that your likelihood to be successful is increased if you stay at the facility and complete a longer term program, choosing an inpatient program may be the better option.
  • Insurance coverage and costs. Before making a commitment to attend a treatment center, it is best to contact your insurance company and check to see if you will receive any type of coverage. If your plan does not offer monetary assistance, you will need to take a look at your finances and analyze your budget. If you are unable to afford the treatment center, there may be staff at the center that can help you come up with payment options.
  • Program type. The program type can be a very important factor as it will determine if you will be involved in a program that is religious based or not. Some programs use a 12 step system, others use different methods.
  • Resources and Support. Perhaps this is the most crucial aspect of choosing a treatment center. The resources and support offered to you while in the program and afterwards is critical in your long-term success. Look for a center that will provide support in the form of friendships, lifestyle coaching, and even family support. Not only will it be important for you to make a lifestyle change after completing a treatment program, but your family will also need to participate in changing their lifestyle as well. Many family members may be shocked that they are being asked to learn about addiction and how to be supportive as well as learn what habits, themselves, need to change for the better. Family members often have a hard time taking responsibility in changing their behavior as they do not believe that they have a “problem.” What family members do not understand, sometimes, is that their actions can trigger or cause a relapse. For example, if your brother decides to have a drink in front of you right after you got out of rehab, it is likely you may want to have a drink. Now this is not to say that you are not responsible for your actions, you certainly are. However there are some things that you will need your family to change such as offering you a drink when you have been sober and are trying to remain clean.

 

Attending a treatment center takes time, consideration, and a great deal of research to find a place that will meet your needs, be within your budget, offer the program type of interest, as well as provide support and resources for you after the program.

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3 ways that yoga practice can change your life

April 18, 2017 by Leave a Comment

There are many fitness activities to choose from that help you enhance your overall wellness. Some people choose to participate in crossfit, running, pure barre, or organized classes. Others choose to commit to taking a yoga class several times a week such as those featured on tantrayogathailand.com.

Because of the myth that yoga is not a calorie-inducing workout, many do not give it a try. The beauty in yoga is that you not only focus on working out your body, but also you mind and soul. Yoga provides an opportunity to connect with oneself in a way that no other fitness activity can provide. This article will explore ways in which adding yoga practice to your fitness routine can change your life.

Release stress and calms your mind.

There are different types of yoga. Power, or Bikram yoga is practiced in a heated studio and is often vigorous causing a lot of sweat and work of all the muscles in your body. It is tough, but also very rewarding. Restorative yoga is more relaxing and although you do not sweat profusely like you do in bikram, you are helping your muscles to restore and rejuvenate. No matter what type of yoga practice you try, you will notice a sense of stress relief and calmness of the mind. Yoga teachers guide you through practice while teaching you how to breath properly to relieve stress as well as get a deeper stretch in your pose.

Teaches you to “Let Go” of things you cannot control.

While you do work on your flexibility of your body in yoga, you also learn how to focus on yourself and not others around you. Focusing on yourself and on what you can control in your life and letting go of everything else is a key aspect of how yoga can change your life. Everyday stressors that weigh on your mind and cause internal turmoil will become minimal after you begin to practice yoga. There is a sense of acceptance and letting go that you will experience over time after making yoga a part of your lifestyle.

Mind/Body Connection.

One of the most beautiful aspects of being a yogi, is that you have a sense of connection with your mind and your body. You will learn how to practice breathing techniques at home that will help you calm down before sleeping as well as relax when you feel yourself becoming anxious over life’s many stressors. You will also learn how to identify when your body needs a break as well as how to care for yourself in healthier ways.
Yoga is life changing for many which is why it has become a very popular activity for men and women alike. Additionally, yoga classes are now even offered for children and families, elderly, and pregnant women. No longer is yoga only a fitness regime offered for adults. Because it is so empowering and a fitness activity that anyone can participate in regardless of body type or ability, it is now highly coveted by our society. Yoga provides an outlet to relieve stress, connect with your mind, body, and spirit, as well as release stress and calm your mind.

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Diggerland and local non-profit join forces to organize philanthropic event

April 18, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Diggerland USA has partnered with the SAMBULANCE Program, a 501 c(3) non-profit tasked with fostering special needs safety education. The entities will co-host Dig, Dine and Drive, an annual fun-filled evening set to take place on Friday, June 9th from 6:00 to 10:00 PM.

Tickets for the all-inclusive event, priced at $30 each and now available online, include: live entertainment, a BBQ buffet, auction, specialized stunt show, as well as access to all the park’s various attractions.

Proceeds will support the continued education and safety of special needs individuals through the non-profit, which offers free hands-on training. In 2016 alone, over 22,000 students across New Jersey and Pennsylvania were reached by the SAMBULANCE team.

“Being able to provide lifesaving presentations is so rewarding,” said Annie Peters, Executive Director of SAMBULANCE. “The special population we reach is particularly vulnerable in emergencies. Knowing that we are making a difference in helping them stay safe, makes this job really special. Emergencies are daunting experiences, so allowing exposure to emergency personnel, vehicles and situations is vital.”

SAMBULANCE also works with Diggerland USA and Sahara Sam’s Oasis to host park events catered to the special needs community. These events, along with Dig, Dine and Drive have been made possible through ongoing support from Nemours DuPont Pediatrics in Voorhees. A number of both local and national companies have donated over $5,000 in raffle items for the auction, including Virtua and TD Bank.

To make a donation, provide sponsorship, purchase tickets or receive additional information on the June 9th event, visit: http://digdinedrive.org.

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Passing your driving test first time – how to make it happen

April 15, 2017 by 1 Comment

Finally getting your hands on a driving license is a big achievement and a great feeling. The good thing is that you can give yourself a good chance of passing the test first time, if you approach it in the right way. Of course, learning well starts when you first get behind the wheel of a car, but you need to consolidate all of your learning and make sure you are well prepared for the test.

One of the most important things to remember is that you need to give yourself time to find your local DMV, so that you can easily book a test date that fits in with what is convenient for you. This helps to take some of the pressure off as you can then go ahead and make sure you are well prepared for the day. Here are some of the things you should do, to give yourself the best chance of passing your test first time.

    1. Make sure you get enough practice

The more time you spend practising your driving technique, the more relaxed you are likely to feel when it’s time to take the test. You can ask a friend or relative to accompany you. It’s also a good idea to pay for some instruction from a qualified professional. Do not forget that they know what is expected from you when you take your test, and can teach you accordingly.

    1. Know the rules and laws

If you have passed the written part of the test, you may think that you know the driving laws for your state well enough. You should never be complacent. Do not forget, you are likely to be nervous so you need to know the rules well enough for your memory of them not to be affected by the nerves.

    1. Keep a lid on nerves

It’s natural to be nervous when you are taking a driving test. Having a few nerves is fine; but you need to stop them from adversely affecting your performance. There are techniques you can employ to keep your nerves under control.

    1. Do not obsess about the test

If you become completely obsessed with the test, especially in the twenty four hours leading up to it, you are only going to freak yourself out. It’s a good idea to get some driving practice in the day before; then have a good dinner and an early night. Make sure you give yourself enough time to get up and ready without being rushed, the next day.

If your test is not until later in the day, it’s a good idea to relax by taking a walk. You can energize yourself, and hopefully release some of the nerves.

All of these factors are important, if you want to give yourself the best chance of passing your test first time. You may also want to get some tips from drivers who have recently passed their test. Knowing what to expect always makes life easier.

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Teaching Kids the Importance of Healthy Eating and Exercise

April 15, 2017 by Leave a Comment

There are some scary statistics out there, but few come close to the growing childhood obesity rate. Currently, about one in five school-aged children are obese and many more are overweight. Even worse is that obese children are more likely to be obese as adults.

The problem is a combination of diet and lack of physical activity. In today’s culture there are too many fast food options and too much couch-based entertainment. The sooner you can start breaking bad habits and encouraging the good ones, the easier it will be for your whole family to live a healthy lifestyle. Use these 10 tips to teach your kids the importance of eating healthy and exercising.

Know What’s Healthy

Before you can help your kids make better food and exercise choices, you have to know what is and isn’t healthy. You can do that by:

  • ·  Checking the nutritional labels of food.
  • ·  Reading through the most recent dietary guidelines.
  • ·  Knowing which produce is most susceptible to pesticides.
  • ·  Talking with your pediatrician.

Set Limits and Set a Good Example

One of the most important things a parent can do is set limits. Without clear limitations, kids are left to make the judgment call themselves, which isn’t usually the healthiest option. Kids can benefit from both screen time limits and junk food limits.

It’s also important for parents to set a good example. How can we expect our kids to make healthy choices if we ourselves aren’t doing the same? Do your part by buying healthy foods and getting the recommended amount of weekly physical activity.

Join a Family-Friendly Gym

When it comes to physical activity it helps to have access to gym equipment, pools, tracks and other fitness amenities. Joining a family-friendly gym like Fitness 19 can encourage kids to be active. It’s also a good way to show your kids that there are lots of ways to exercise and get them immersed in an environment that promotes physical activity.

Get Your Kids a Playset

One of the quickest ways to get kids running around outside is to put a playset in the yard. Kids will spend hours swinging, sliding and climbing without ever realizing they’re getting exercise.

Take Family Hikes

There are many benefits to hiking a nature trail and these go beyond just exercise. New research is finding that walks out in nature can reduce stress while helping quiet negative thoughts. Family hikes are also a great activity since it’s exercise you can do together.

Sign Up for a Sports Team

Like hiking, joining a sports team can be beneficial beyond getting physical activity. Research has shown that kids who join a sports team:

  • ·  Develop leadership skills
  • ·  Build camaraderie and teamwork skills
  • ·  Gain a sense of belonging
  • ·  Improve their social skills
  • ·  Are less likely to be overweight or obese

Create a Menu of Healthy, Kid-Friendly Food

Make a conscious effort to eat out less and make more healthy meals at home. Meal planning is one of the best ways to help your family stick to a healthy diet. When you’re trying to help your kids develop healthy eating habits it’s a good idea to make the menu kid-friendly. There are lots of recipes with healthy alternatives to kid favorites, like homemade chicken fingers and hamburger salad.

Pack Healthy Lunches

Follow up dinner with a healthy lunch the next day. Some schools have gotten better about the foods that are served to students, but it’s still usually healthier to pack your kid’s lunch. Just make sure to keep the portions appropriate and cover all the food groups.

Make Healthy Snacks Easily Accessible

One reason kids reach for unhealthy snacks is they’re easy to eat. Processed snacks are already prepared and ready to be eaten. You can encourage your kids to eat healthier snacks by buying pre-packed options or preparing them at home. Fruit is a good example. If you wash it, cut it up and put it into a container kids will be more likely to grab it when they are looking for something to eat.

Get Your Kids Involved

No matter how you decide to get healthy, you’ll want to get your kids involved in the process. Take them grocery shopping at the farmer’s market, let them help you create a weekly dinner menu and allow them to choose their own physical activities. The more involved they are in the decision making the more invested they’ll be in the results.

 

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Phuket as a Group Vacation Destination

April 15, 2017 by 1 Comment

While most travelers to Phuket are going solo or in small family-sized units, it is actually an ideal destination for larger groups, if you’re willing to invest a little effort into planning adequately.

First things first, when traveling with a group of eight or more persons, hotels may not give you the best value for your accommodation dollar. For this reason, it is definitely worth checking out Phuket villa rentals as an accommodation option.

At first glance the price to rent one of these villas may seem high, but when you break the cost down on a per person basis (and factor in the added value and pleasure you get from having exclusive use of the facilities), you’ll find it actually can be quite reasonable.

Exclusivity has its benefits

Phuket is a very popular destination. So, for example, if you choose a certain luxury hotel on the basis that it has a swimming pool and fitness facilities available, you may find those facilities to be practically unusable due to the sheer number of people who also had the same idea when booking. In that case, your enjoyment of the facilities would be less than you anticipated, leading to disappointment.

When you rent a villa, you already know in advance exactly what is included in the price, and you also know that all the facilities are exclusively available to your group, so you’ll get the full measure of enjoyment.

Another thing to consider is that managing a villa is much easier than managing a hotel, so the property and its facilities are likely to be maintained far better than even the most majestic of hotels. It really can make a world of difference to the quality of your experience.

Dining out as a group

Phuket offers a vast abundance of options, from hawker stalls to fine dining establishments with award-winning chefs. You’ll find all the various Thai regional cuisines represented here (each region has its own predominantly preferred style), and the many expat restaurant owners and chefs also contribute a wide range of international cuisines.

Dining out together as a group can pose some challenges, but with proper planning you can provide the best chance of a successful outcome.

The first thing to check is that the venue is up to the required standards. It’s quite easy these days to find online reviews and recommendations. Asking locals for advice can also be helpful. The important factor is that you need to get these recommendations as early as possible, so you can build a shortlist of potential candidates.

You also need to know about the food preferences and any allergies of the individuals in your group. Surprising your vegan friends with a visit to a steakhouse may not go over quite as well as you expected. So do remember to ask about anything you’re not completely sure of.

Finally, you also need to make sure the venue can accommodate a group of your size. Once all of these points have been met, you will be able to go ahead and make a reservation with confidence.

Group activities

Once again, knowledge and planning are the keys to ensuring a great day out for everyone in the group. It’s generally easier if everyone in the group is around the same age, has the same level of fitness and physical ability, etc.

When there’s considerable disparity in any of these factors, you may need to put a little more effort into choosing your activities. Some tried and tested that will have broad spectrum appeal include:

  • Relaxing at the beach – this one is self-explanatory, and is the main activity on Phuket. Or inactivity, depending on how you look at things.

  • Dolphin Bay Nemo – an excellent and ethically operated dolphin show that is truly enjoyable for almost anyone.

  • Gibbon Rehabilitation Project – although a short hike through the National Park is required to participate in this activity, it’s accessible to most people.

Activities that may be a little more challenging for some include:

  • Swimming at Bang Pae Waterfalls – to access this, participants would need to be able to climb some fairly steep and potentially slippery steps. The reward is definitely worth the effort if everyone is fit and able-bodied enough to get there. It’s located just a short trek from the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project mentioned above.

  • Flying Hanuman zipline – zipping through the rain forest 40m (or 130ft) above the ground is an awesome experience, but it’s obviously not for everyone. Participants need to be medically fit and brave enough to complete the course.

  • Snorkeling the reefs – this is another fun activity, but participants should be strong swimmers and have good situational awareness.

Group travel can be a highly rewarding experience

As you can see, group travel requires a bit of effort to be put into the planning, but ultimately it’s a great way to travel. Shared experiences are always more fun, and these kinds of adventures are a great way to strengthen bonds within the group while having a great time. Phuket is a natural choice due to the diversity it offers and the high quality on offer.

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Keep Your Aircraft in Fantastic Shape with These Effective Maintenance Tips

April 15, 2017 by 1 Comment

If you own or plan to buy an aircraft, it’s important to recognize that this is a major investment. Since this investment is so huge, you’ll have to seriously dedicate your own personal time or resources to keeping up with it through care and maintenance.

With such a large investment, you’re never going to let your airplane fall apart due to lack of caring. In fact, you’re going to do everything that you possibly can to maintain your airplane so that it’s working in tiptop shape at all times.

It isn’t necessary to have a major background in maintenance and you don’t need to know how to make technical airplane repairs. You can certainly hire someone to handle those aspects of your proper care regimen.

But at the same time, there are definitely going to be some important upkeep tasks that you can easily perform even if you do not have any skills or specialized knowledge about airplanes.

With that said, we will now take a look at some powerful airplane maintenance tips right now.

Cleaning Your Airplane’s Interior

If you’re going to make such a huge investment of your time and money, you certainly want your airplane to remain attractive on the inside and outside.

You’ll obviously need somebody to handle cleaning the outside of the airplane with specialized tools and equipment. But the interior of your plane is something that you can certainly do on your own if you don’t feel like hiring a team.

Honestly, you can actually hate cleaning and still take care of the interior of your airplane. If that’s the case, bring in some professional cleaning people to make sure that your airplane’s interior is spotless at all times. Because if you ignore this, the interior is going to look ugly, dirty, grimy, and it will lose that extra special shine that everybody loves.

So, take some time to vacuum the interior. Pick up any debris, leaves, dirt, crumbs, and anything else that might be on the floor. You could also take some time to vacuum out the upholstery as well.

When you’re done vacuuming the upholstery, remember to wipe down the chairs, tables, and other pieces of furniture.

Take Good Care Of the Instrument Panel

You obviously need to keep your airplane’s instrument panel very clean.

This is incredibly important because the instruments inside of your airplane’s cockpit are made of glass. And as we know, glass could easily smudge, get dirty, or get covered by grease and grime.

Since your pilot really needs to be able to read these instruments, you should always wipe them down with an effective glass cleaner as often as possible. He is going to be happy and everybody will stay safe this way, so it’s a win-win for all involved.

Replacing Worn Out Airplane Parts

Although cleaning is certainly an important part of the airplane maintenance process, repairs and upkeep could certainly be considered even more vital activities.

It’s so important that you need to regularly have mechanics routinely check to make sure that your plane is in good working order.

And when these maintenance checks take place, have the mechanic and/or mechanics assistant check the tire pressure, clean up the spark plugs, secure all fittings and hoses, check for hose damage, check the fuel line, and more.

According to AERO, proprietor of the gill battery, “For over 40 years, A.E.R.O. has been the “In-Stock” choice for high quality aircraft parts.” So, if you discover problems during your maintenance check, you can visit their site for spark plugs, fittings, hoses, and other maintenance parts.

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