Better Living Store

Last weekend some friends and I decided to go on a weekend camping trip in the Cascade Mountains. Although we are all accustomed to roughing it, we always seem to leave a key piece of equipment behind. The trip started out well enough, but when we were within a few miles of our campground, I hit a rut in the road and got a flat tire.

When we got out of the car to make the repairs, we were miles away from any other people, let along a lighted area. I usually keep a Pelican flashlight in my car, but my dad had taken it out for to do some electrical work in our crawlspace. Much to our chagrin, we were forced to change the tire with nothing but our cell phone backlighting to guide us.

Protein synthesis, one of the essential processes for sustaining life, is only possible through the use of amino acids. There are twenty distinct amino acids, and they each have a unique design and purpose. Amino acids are generally found in high protein foods or can be obtained through supplements.

One of the most beneficial nonessential amino acids is tyrosine. Although it is essential only in certain circumstances, tyrosine is a crucial component of photosynthesis in plants. It also has many benefits for animal life, including reducing stress hormone levels.

Have you ever noticed that no legitimate jewelry store ever advertises a 100 percent pure gold necklace or bracelet? The precious metal’s inherent softness means it cannot be molded into jewelry without being mixed into an alloy. The gold jewelry’s ultimate color is determined by the presence of anther metal. If copper is used, one ends up with pink gold. Yellow gold contains both copper and silver.

Karats are the traditional measure of purity in the gold market. If a piece is marked as 14-karat gold, it is just slightly more than half pure. On the other hand, a 10k gold necklace is likely to be less expensive as it contains slightly less pure gold. No matter its precise level of purity, gold accessories make a serious statement when they’re worn for a night out on the town.

When I graduated college, I was left with two options: returning home to work at a local newspaper or moving to a better market to do freelance work and hopefully get noticed. It might not have been the most financially sound decision I ever made, but I decided to move to Los Angeles. I had spent almost 21 long years in my small, rural hometown and it was time to test my mettle in the big city.

The drive across country was a memorable one to say the least. My ancient economy car broke down several times in the Rocky Mountains. All of the possessions I piled inside the vehicle were clattering around the backseat for most of the journey. Finally I arrived in L.A. and moved into a squalid apartment. It wasn’t until I actually arrived at my destination that I realized I was missing some things that most people take for granted. How would I eat dinner without silverware, pots or pans? I ate my meals in restaurants for the next week and ordered some discount kitchenware online. When it showed up in the mail, I finally started preparing home-cooked meals.

Just a few days ago, I was raking my lawn in an effort to dispose of the first few autumn leaves that had nestled like a blanket across the grass. Glancing over our adjoining fence, I noticed that my neighbor was preoccupied with an entirely different activity – he was pruning an apple tree. I didn’t think much of it at first; he was probably just breaking out his Fiskars pruning shears to improve the overall aesthetic of the tree. I had to admit it looked handsome.

But then I did some research online and found that people prune their trees for a number of reasons. In addition to its attractive appearance, a well-trimmed tree is more likely to bear fruit. By removing the rotting wood and pests that occasionally make their home in the foliage, you can extend the life of a tree. Perhaps most importantly, the process ensures that potentially dangerous limbs won’t fall on unsuspecting children.

Performance-enhancing drugs have long been a point of contention for athletes and sports fans. It seems that baseball followers in particular fall into one of two opposing camps. Some argue that performance enhancers such as steroids and human growth hormone are unfair advantages, and all users should be disgraced. Others reply that if all athletes are using banned substances anyway, there’s no need to get up in arms.

It seems as though the world of bodybuilding has moved beyond this debate. Part of this owes to the fact that bodybuilders are trying to perfect their own physiques rather than gain a leg up on the competition. Even an amateur can benefit from safe, specially formulated bodybuilding supplements. L-Glutamine and L-Carnitine are just two examples of supplements that athletes turn to in order to recover from stress related to exercise.

As a lawyer whose practice services three rural counties, I spend much of my time on the road destined for far-flung courthouses and district attorney’s offices. Although my secretary is generally on the ball, she occasionally forgets to supply me with all of the necessary paperwork for these road trips. Luckily I’ve learned to scan all of the documentation onto my laptop.

If it turns out I need to print anything out, I utilize a portable power inverter. The inverter converts DC power from my car battery into AC power that I can use to plug in a printer or laptop. As a result, I’m never left stranded without the papers I need to work on a given case. This is particularly handy because many of the places I work lack easy Internet access.

Americans have plenty to be proud of. Our way of life remains a source of inspiration for developing countries around the world. Hard work and ingenuity have shaped our nation into an efficient, productive place where economic prosperity is more than just a dream – it’s an attainable goal. Unfortunately, there’s one trait that U.S. citizens should not be proud of: our alarming tendency to be overweight or even obese.

These problems can often be corrected over time through the implementation of a rigorous fitness regimen and wiser nutritional choices. But sometimes diet and exercise alone are not enough to combat those burgeoning bellies. Fitness supplements are meant to do just that – supplement other weight loss techniques. They help to burn fat while providing an infusion of energy.

As an active member of the Audubon Society, I take part in regular group meetings near my home in Michigan. There are a number of exciting functions associated with the club, but none compare with our biannual bird counts. One count takes place just before Christmas, when many of the more colorful songbirds have migrated south. We dutifully pile into our cars and mark down all the birds we see through the snow. But the most fruitful count takes place just after the Fourth of July.

For this year’s summer count, I packed up a trusty pair of Magnacraft binoculars and set out for a local river. I parked my car and took a seat on the river bank. Several minutes passed uneventfully as I scanned the length of the river for activity. Suddenly, there it was: a male bufflehead duck. These birds are extremely rare in my area, but the high-powered glasses helped me to make a positive identification.

Linseed oil, which is extracted from flax seeds and then cold-pressed into an edible state, has been used as a vital source of omega-3 fatty acids for years. Studies have shown that orally ingested supplements of flaxseed oil can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. As a result, health nuts swear by the cold, yellow fluid.

Nutritional supplements are not intended to replace a healthy diet and exercise routine, but when taken diligently they can add to the benefits of both. If you choose to add flaxseed oil supplements to your diet, be sure to keep the tablets cool. Linseed oil turns rancid at room temperature, and it can go bad in a matter of weeks when refrigerated. You’ll want to replenish your supply at the first sign of sourness or rancidity.