The Caramel Treatment - A Natural Hair Softener

The caramel treatment is a product in the E'tae product line. Boasting an all natural line up of ingredients from honey, bananas to olive oil, this product delivers in its ability to seriously soften and hydrate the driest and roughest hair textures. It helps people who relax their hair to 'stretch' their relaxer for longer periods and helps people with natural hair by softening its texture for easier detangling and manageability.

The results of the caramel treatment are not permanent; they last for up to 4 weeks so should be reapplied monthly for continued benefits. Many report 'loosening' of hair texture as well as less shrinkage after the treatment but this is likely due to the added weight of the product as well as the increased moisture levels in the hair. For this reason, the caramel treatment is excellent for helping to straightening the natural hair as it takes less heat to get smoother results as well as better moisture retention.

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No doubt the product is excellent but due to its perishable nature (no preservatives are used), the price tag for monthly treatments can become quite unappealing. Most of the ingredients in the product can be found in many average kitchens so making your own caramel treatment seems a more attractive approach for those who wish to use it on a regular basis.

By understanding the purpose of each ingredient, you can adjust the recipe every time you make it depending on your hair's needs.

Honey - An excellent humectant good for moisture
Olive Oil - For lubrication and helps with moisture retention
Bananas - Good for moisture and some protein benefits as well
Molasses (Treacle) - Another excellent humectant with some protein benefits
Water - This is the best natural moisturizer and is used to thin the mixture
Apple Cider Vinegar - For the shine it imparts to the hair
Cornstarch - For thickening purposes
Wheat germ oil - For added strength and lubrication

Here outlined is a simple recipe based on the ingredients above:

Honey - 6 tablespoons
Olive Oil - 6 tablespoons
Bananas - 2-3 overripe and very soft
Molasses (Treacle) - 3 tablespoons
Water - 4-6 tablespoons
Apple Cider Vinegar - 1 tablespoon
Cornstarch - 1-2 tablespoons depending on how thick you want the mixture to be
Wheat germ oil - 1 teaspoon - This can be substituted for any other natural oil of your choice

o Place all the ingredients except for the water into a blender and process until smooth. You may need to add the water bit by bit if it looks too dry.
o To ensure that there are no bits of banana in the mixture, sieve it through a fine sieve.
o Pour the mixture into a saucepan and put it on a medium heat while stirring constantly. You don't want to 'cook' the mixture but you want the cornstarch to cause it to thicken and this will take just moments. You may need to add more water to thin it down if it gets too thick or add a bit more cornstarch if it is still too runny. You want to end up with a caramel coloured mixture that is the consistency of a thick batter. If the mixture is too thin it will start dripping from your hair as soon as you apply it.
o Decant the mixture into a container, depending on the length of your hair it will likely be enough for two applications.

To apply, divide the hair into 3-4 sections and clip. Starting with 1 section, part the hair and apply on the roots generously rubbing in with your fingers. Once applied on the roots of the section, apply the mixture all the way to the ends. Complete all sections in this manner and once done, cover the hair with a plastic cap. Let the mixture sit in your hair for 1-2 hours or overnight for really dry hair.

Wash hair with a sulfate free shampoo, deep condition and style as usual. You can freeze the remainder until you are ready to use it. The treatment is suitable for both natural and relaxed hair.

For more black hair care articles please visit http://www.BlackHairInformation.com

The Caramel Treatment - A Natural Hair Softener

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Is Your Hot Water Heater Leaking?

Is your hot water heater leaking? You can probably fix it pretty easily. There are a few things to check out because whenever there is a leak in a water heater, it is almost always caused by one of the following four problems.

1) It's not a leak. Many people make the mistake of assuming that water collecting on the ground around the water heater is from a leak. Many times, it's not a leak at all. Often, it's just condensation building up around it as the tank holds hot water.

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2) Drain valve. Many times, fixing a leak is as simple as tightening the drain valve. If you suspect that your drain valve is the culprit, screw it in very tight, using a wrench. Making it hand tight is usually good enough but sometimes it just needs a little extra tightening.

3) The tank. There is a limited lifespan to the tank. Depending on how expensive the unit was when bought, the unit you have in your home may not have the best corrosion resistance. The tank holds water all the time so it is susceptible to rust and corrosion. If the tank is no good, get a new water heater. It will be less expensive than replacing the tank.

4) The pipes. If the leak is coming from the pipes, find the fitting that the water is escaping from and tighten it. Make sure not to over tighten. If this doesn't stop the leak, you need to buy a new fitting. Don't worry, installing it is very simple.

If the leak is being caused by something other than the aforementioned issues, it may be time for a new unit.

Is Your Hot Water Heater Leaking?

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Shower Curtain Cleaning Tips

Nobody wants to be taking a shower or a bath, cleaning themselves up, only to look up and see a dirty, scummy shower curtain. Unfortunately, your shower curtain is going to get dirty. Being in such damp conditions and with such soap scum build up - well, you're going to have a dirty shower curtain on your hands. Luckily, there are some things that you can do to clean up your shower curtain.

You can wash your shower curtain in your basic everyday clothes washer. Just use about 1 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of bleach. Then add white towels and a regular amount of your normal laundry detergent and run the machine. Also use some liquid fabric softener. Do not run your machine on hot - plastic shower curtains could melt.

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When you're done washing your shower curtain, do not place it in the dryer (again, it could melt). Instead, simply hang it up in its regular place on the shower rod and let it drip dry.

No matter what your shower curtain is made out of, fabric, vinyl, or plastic, you can stick it in the washing machine with a cup of baking soda instead of bleach and vinegar. It is also a good idea to read the label on your shower curtain to check for any warnings or suggestions.

If you soak your shower curtain in salt water, it will prevent mildew (although, it could leave small crystals on your curtain if you use too much salt). Before hanging shower curtains, soak in vinegar or salt water solutions to prevent mold and mildew. To remove mold and mildew, wash in hot soapy water with a little bit of bleach. For plastic curtains, clean with laundry pre-wash spray. Spray along the top, letting it run down to cover the curtain. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off.

Shower Curtain Cleaning Tips

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Buying or Building Your Own Water Fountain

Things to Consider

A great deal about fountains has changed over the last decade. Now there are really high class ones made of copper, bronze, concrete, and stone, and some fairly nice ones made of resin and fiberglass. There are several things to consider, though. As a pump wholesaler, I speak with fountain owners all the time and also look at lots of samples of fountains at trade shows and in magazines. Before purchasing a fountain, there are quite a few questions to ask. What looks good in a store might not look good at your home or business. Or it might look good for the first month or year but then you'll get tired of it. Fountains are usually around for a long time; in fact, concrete and stone ones last centuries and are hard to remove once they're installed. Here are things to consider.

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Bronze Fountains

These are at the high end of fountains, and can retail for ten to twenty thousand dollars. They are plain classy. But will one of these fit in where you want to put it? Do you have the right yard or business or location for such a classic kind of display? Also, do you like the aging process (the verdigris patina) that bronze undergoes. Can you afford one of these? If you answered yes to these questions, a bronze fountain might be right for you. It will last your lifetime, your kids' lifetimes, their kids' lifetimes, etc. And they are durable enough to be moved from house to house.

Copper Fountains

Like bronze fountains, these too tend to be classy, especially the name brand ones like Water Wonders, which mix copper with glass and slate. These make especially nice wall fountains. We have been selling Water Wonders fountains for several years at Fountain Mountain. There are certain things to think about, though. Are you locating the fountain in a room with good acoustics? Some rooms make the pump noise really echo, especially small rooms with walls that are close together. Do you know someone or can you hire an electrician to hide the cord in the wall? These fountains are a bit too expensive to buy if you're going to let the cord run outside the wall for everyone to see. Finally, it is a good idea to go listen to them run at a store before purchasing. Some of them make little water noise and some make a lot. To increase water sound you might have to turn up the pump to the point of there being slight splash. But if you are careful and go to a store with Water Wonders or other copper fountains on display before purchasing, and are happy with what you see and hear, these are great fountains.

Concrete Fountains

These still provide the most bang for the buck, primarily because concrete is so inexpensive. In fact, a huge part of the cost of concrete fountains is in transporting them to stores for sale and in the labor of painting them. The concrete itself is the least expensive part of the fountains' manufacture. There are some differences in how they are made, though. Some companies, like Brandelli's, use a "light" mix: their fountains are not nearly as heavy as those produced by, say, Avila's. Also, some companies like Brandelli's, use a stain over concrete, whereas others, like Avila's or Lomelli's, use paints (usually more than one at a time) or stains. Also, most concrete companies (though not all) reinforce their fountains with steel. This makes them strong but also means the concrete must be sealed. If not painted (as most fountains from Mexico are not), then they do need to have a clear sealant put on them. Otherwise the water will seep through to the steel, which will rust. Eventually, the fountain is likely to crack. One final word of advice on concrete, beware of "cute." Cute fountains (mama dogs with baby dogs, boys peeing) sometimes don't look so cute over time. Ask yourself if you'll still think the fountain is cute years later. Remember, concrete fountains can last hundreds of years. And they are difficult to move so pick something that will stay put. The traditional Italian 3-tier fountain is always a safe bet.

Resin and Fiberglass Fountains

The quality of these has gotten a lot better, and they have the clear advantage of being more easily handled than concrete ones. Some do look like concrete and stone, though they tend to look much more realistic at first glance than they do after a week has passed. Then it is pretty clear that they are faux. These are also a lot easier on employees who work in tores, as they don't have to worry as much about their backs. We would sell these at our store but just don't like their looks as well as the real thing.

Stone Fountains

These look incredibly good or mediocre. The handcrafted stone fountains out of Mexico and many of the large ones out of China are beautiful. But there are also mass-produced stone fountains, which use crushed stone mixed with resin. These just don't look like real stone to us even though they are.

Making Your Own Water Fountain

There are lots of ways to make your own fountains. The easiest way, perhaps, is to place a pump in a small tub or on some liner. Then place a wire or plastic grate on top of the tub or the liner, and layer pebbles, rocks, etc. over the wire or plastic grate. Your pump and plumbing will be hidden! No one will no where your water is coming from. You can then connect black PVC piping to the pump (black sprinkler pipe is incredibly inexpensive yet professional looking) and let the water rise up seemingly out of rocks in your yard. You won't have to worry much about pets as the water source is covered with stones. Likewise, you won't have to worry about kids drowning. You can also build a little waterfall over such a pit if you want, just throwing in boulders to hide your electric and tubing, etc. Some people use bamboo for spouts. You can also drill holes through slate (we've found it's really easy if you soak the slate for a day first). Slate is so porous, however, you ought to seal it once you're done drilling. You can also find rocks in nature that already have holes in them.

How Big of a Pump do I need?

Basically, if you buy a fountain at a store you should have instructions on the best size pump for that particular piece of garden art. If you are making your own fountain, here is a rule of thumb: for every inch of width you need to pump 100 gallons per hour. But note that a100 gallon per hour pump is not pumping the same volume at one foot head (elevation above the pump), two feet head, three feet, and so forth. If you are making your own fountain, it is likely you will have to guess which size to buy, and you might be wrong the first time you build one. Most pumps are adjustable but often can be adjusted down only a bit. However, magnetic-driven pumps, the most common kind, are inexpensive and durable. You can find them online at many wholesale pumps outlets.

Buying or Building Your Own Water Fountain

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How to Use Senna For Constipation Relief

It is known that Egyptians used senna tea to relieve constipation. This tea is used for medium and chronic conditions of constipation. It is the chemicals anthraquinones that provide its strong action on your colon walls. Senna is the second best herb to use for chronic constipation because it creates strong peristalic action. It is readily available in health food stores or on the Internet.

Only use senna for a short time, 1- 1½ week. It is not healthy to use it for a long time, since its action moves fecal matter through your colon quickly. This quick action prevents absorption of nutrients by your colon depriving you of necessary minerals and vitamins.

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Use senna only in amounts that produce the required bowel movement and stool softness to relieve your constipation. Start with small amounts and increase your amount slowly.

Senna is sold Over-the-Counter under the name Correctol®, ExLax®, Senokot®, and Smooth Move. Senokot also contain docusate sodium - a stool softener - an added benefit when hard, dry stools may cause discomfort.

Senna Tea with Potato peels

You can also prepare senna tea as follows:

Buy some senna tea at a health food. Place a tea bag into 1 ½ cups of distilled water and steep. Then, add the peel of a whole red potato. Also, add a couple slices of potato meat. Add to this, a teaspoon of wheat or oat bran and flax seed.

Simmer this combination, strain it and drink the liquid. This will give constipation relief for some of the more difficult cases of constipation. Remember the longer you simmer this combination the stronger the tea will be. Start with a 5-10 minutes and then work up to 15-20 minutes but you need to experiment with the time.

When you drink senna tea, drink only 2-3 oz. at a time and drink it only after it has cooled down. It has less of a cramping action when you drink it cool.

Senna Tea with Peppermint

Here is another senna tea you can prepare.

1 teaspoon of senna tea leaves
½ teaspoon of peppermint leaves.

Boil 8 oz of distilled water, turn the heat off, stir in the herbs. Turn the heat off and cover the glass container. Let tea simmer for 3-10 minutes.

Add honey to improve taste and some powered vitamin C if you have it.

Look for formulas that have a small amount, 1/10 of a part, of fennel, anise, or ginger to reduce any cramping that might occur with senna.

Do not drink seena tea or capsule if you have any type of colon disease, stomach pain, diarrhea, or are pregnant.

Senna Pod Tea with Prunes.

Senna Pods are milder than the leaves since the do not contain the resin. It is the resin in the senna leaves that causes griping in your colon.

If available, use around 8 pods. Heat some distilled water. Place the pods into the water for 5-10 minutes. Strain the tea and add 3-4 dried prunes or chopped prunes. Let cool and eat the prunes during the day or drink and eat a few prunes just before you go to bed. Drink only a couple ounces of the senna liquid at one time. If cramping or griping occurs, reduce the amount of tea you drink.

There you have it. You can get constipation relief with senna herb by using it in different ways.

How to Use Senna For Constipation Relief

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Bathtub Faucet Repair Tips and Techniques

Did you know that you can fix a leaking shower faucet and save hundreds of gallons of water a year? Most people just think of a dripping faucet as an annoyance and don't realize how much precious water is being wasted one drop at a time. The good news is that almost anyone with a few basic hand tools can learn how to fix most dripping faucets.

Let's start with the basics. Faucets have one primary purpose, to allow the water in your pipes to be used in a controlled manner. This means that they have to open to allow water out of the pipes and close to keep water in the pipes. Not rocket science, right? The closing part is what we want to concentrate on here.

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There Are Two Basic Faucet Designs

Faucets drip when they fail to completely trap the water in the pipes. Most faucets use one of two basic methods to stop the water flow. Some, primarily older designs, use rubber or neoprene washers which tighten against a "seat" and block the flow of water. Drips from these faucets are addressed by replacing the washers and/or seats. We'll talk about how to do that in a minute. Most other faucet designs involve some sort of cartridge. Some people call these "washerless" faucets. Repairing newer style water faucets like these usually involves replacing the cartridge(s).

Washers And Seats

Older faucet designs often use washers to block the water and keep it in the pipes. Tightening the handle compresses the washer against a "seat" and seals the opening, thus stopping the water flow. If you need to do a bathtub faucet repair on a three handle wall faucet you probably have this type. You will also run into this style if you need to fix a leaking shower faucet hat has two handles. Many sink and lavatory faucets also use washers. One way to tell whether or not your faucets use washers is to see if the handle gets harder to turn as you turn it off. If turning it really tight stops the drip, this probably, but not always, means that you have washers. If you do have a dripping faucet that has washers, the basic repair process is very similar whether you need to know how to repair a shower faucet,repair a leaking tub faucet or fix a dripping sink faucet. There is, however, one important difference.

Bathtub Faucet Repair

The one critical thing to remember when fixing a leaky bathtub faucet is that you will have to turn the water off to the entire house before removing any parts other than the outer trim pieces. If you're not sure which pieces are trim, just turn the water off first just in case. Once you have turned off the main water to the house you can begin taking things apart. There are lots of different brands and designs of faucets out there and they all come apart a little differently, so you will have to sort of feel your way through.

Removing The Trim

The first step is to remove the handles. This is usually done by removing a cap to expose the handle screw and then removing the screw. Next, remove the handle. This may require a little finesse, as the handles sometimes get stuck in place. One trick is to place the handles of a pair of channel lock pliers behind the valve handle, one on each side, and tap evenly on the handle to nudge it loose. If this doesn't work you can buy a special tool to remove handles but these tools are sometimes hard to find and usually a little patience is all you need to do the trick.

After he handles are off, there is usually some sort of sleeve over the stem itself. This typically has to come off too. Once again, there are many different configurations. One popular design uses threaded plastic tubes to connect the trim sleeve with the valve. Other types have the sleeve threaded directly onto the valve. You will have to figure this step out before you can proceed. If you can determine what brand valve you have there is a good chance of finding instructions on-line.

Now For The Root Of The Problem

OK, so you have removed both the handles and any remaining trim sleeve from the valve. Now you are ready to get to the root of the problem, your valve stem. The washer is almost always at the other end of the valve stem from the handle. Usually the stem is threaded into the valve body and you will just need to unscrew it to remove it. Here's a tip. Stick the handle back on for a second and open the valve half way. This relieves pressure on the stem and makes it easier to unscrew. Now you just need to make sure you are loosening the correct nut.

Lots of valves have a packing nut around the stem. It is usually a little smaller and just in front of the actual connection with the valve body. The packing nut's purpose is to squeeze some special packing material around the stem to prevent water from leaking around the stem when the valve is in use. Loosening the packing nut won't help you, you need to get your wrench on the actual connection to the valve body. By the way, a deep socket is often the only tool that will work to remove the valve stem.

Removing The Valve Stem

The easiest way to make sure you have the correct nut is to see if there is a gap opening up between the nut and the valve body as you loosen the nut. The valve stem itself will also usually turn when you have the right one. If you have loosened the packing nut by mistake, don't worry, you will adjust it before you are finished anyway. Go ahead and remove both stems and keep up with which one is which, it matters on many valves.

After you have the stems out you should be able to find the washer on the "inside" end. If it is nicked, torn or brittle it is likely the cause of your drip. Even if it looks brand new, go ahead and replace it. You've already come this far. You can get replacement washers at almost any hardware store. Sometimes you may want to replace the whole stem, especially if the handle end is stripped out. It's best to just take the stem with you to the store and see if you can match it up. Most Do It Yourself stores have replacement stems for many popular brands. If your valve has a center diverter valve to switch the waterfrom the tub spout to the shower head the same process applies. Many times it is easier to replace the diverter stem than to repair it. This really depends on the design of the stem.

How Are Your Seats?

One more thing to check is the seats. These are the part of the valve body that the washer tightens up against to stop the water flow. If you can get your finger inside the valve, feel of the seats and see if they feel rough. If so, it would be best to replace them if you can get them out. The inside of the seats, which is where the water flows through when the valve is open, usually have either a hex or square recess. Special seat wrenches are used to remove the seats. You can usually get these wrenches at the same place you get the other parts and they're not expensive. You just stick the wrench through the seat and unscrew it. The replacement seats screw back in the same way, just put a little pipe dope on the threads before you install it.

Put It All Back Together

Once you've figured out what needs to be replaced and have done that, you just need to put everything back together. If your valve has packing nuts don't put the trim back on until you have turned the water back on. Once the water is on, go ahead and stick the handle on for a second and open the valve. Make sure no water is leaking around the stem. If it is leaking, with the handle opened half way, snug down the packing nut until the leak stops. Easy does it. If you get it too tight the handle will be hard to turn. Now finish installing the trim pieces and you are done.

Repairing Newer Style Water Faucets

If you have a newer, "washerless" type valve the repair process is similar, but usually easier. Many of these type valves use a self contained cartridge. If the valve starts to drip, just replace the cartridge and you're done. You still need to turn the water off and remove the handles and trim. The cartridge is usually held in place by a retaining nut on the valve body or, in the case of most Moen valves, by a retaining clip. Simply remove the cartridge and put another one in it's place. If your hot and cold are backwards when you finish, turn the water back off, pull the cartridge back out, turn it over 180 degrees and re-install it.

Delta Style Valves

One other common design that is considered "washerless" was made famous by Delta and copied by several other makers. It uses little "cup" seals that fit over springs recessed in the back of the valve body. The springs press these "seals" against the cartridge and regulate the flow through little tapered openings in the cartridge. If you have one of these and it's dripping, changing these springs and seals will usually correct it. Here's a tip. Once you have the cartridge out of the way, insert a phillips screwdriver into the seal and pop both the seal and spring out. Stick the new ones on the end of the screwdriver to help guide them into place. This is especially helpful if you don't have long slender fingers.

Delta, and a few imitators, also have a faucet design that uses a ball instead of a cartridge. This is not as common in tub or shower valves but there are plenty of them out there. The springs and seals are the same but there are lots more o-rings an parts to deal with. The good news is that these parts are readily available. While it's a little more complicated than learning how to repair a Moen kitchen faucet, which is a piece of cake, it is still easier than working with most washer type faucets.

These Techniques Work In The Kitchen Too

Armed with the knowledge you've gained in this article you now not only know how to repair a shower faucet and to repair a leaking tub faucet, but you can apply these skills to many other faucets as well. After fixing a leaky bathtub faucet, stopping a dripping outside hose faucet will be a breeze. The techniques that you will use to complete a "washerless" bathtub faucet repair can be used when repairing newer style water faucets of all kinds. Whether you have an old dripping tub faucet or a newer kitchen faucet that just won't quite shut off you can now fix it. So put these new skills to use, roll up your sleeves and stop that drip!

Copyright 2008 Bryan Stevens

Bathtub Faucet Repair Tips and Techniques

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Signs That You Need a New Water Heater For Your Home

Many individuals are curious as to when do you need a new water heater. There are actually many indications that a hot water heater needs to be replaced. One of the most common signs, or actually the most common sign, is that the water does not heat as rapidly as it once did, or it fails to heat the water at all.

However, if you notice that it is getting colder outside when this occurs, it may be a matter of simply having to turn up the heat setting on the tank. In many cases, cooler weather may result in the heater having to work harder to maintain the same temperature that it did in the warmer months. If you find that the adjustment fails to work, you may be in need of a new system.

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The next indication that you can use to determine you need a new water heater is that there is an actual leak on the tank itself. If you find that there is a small drip, you may be able to repair the leak. However, there are some cases in which there will be a seam leak that is caused by damage, rust, or weatherization, and these are really difficult to repair. If a seam leak is responsible for that water coming out of the system, it is definitely time to make some repairs.

If you find that you simply have to patch the unit, be sure to keep a watch on the tank over time in case the patch comes off. In some cases, the area of the leak may be able to be welded. I suggest that if you try this step, you have it professionally done so that there is no chance of further damage.

The next thing that you should consider if you are asking the question of when do you need a new water heater is the age of the system that you have in your home. These units are designed to last an average of one to one and a half decades.

If your unit is older than this, age may be starting to take its toll. It may be time to purchase a new heater, if nothing else, for the sake of efficiency. If you are looking at age as a determining factor of when to buy a new hot water heater, you may also want to examine the pipes that come from the unit.

Signs That You Need a New Water Heater For Your Home

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Facial Steps - How to Do a Home Facial For Dry, Normal and Oily Skin

Knowing how to do a home facial using your favorite homemade facial recipes is a brilliant way of giving your skin a quick pick-me-up, to exercise it by activating circulation and for bringing nutrients and oxygen to the surface. You can do a home facial using homemade face masks or you can do a steam facial. Nearly all face masks contain a high percentage of water; the rapid evaporation that follows application causes them to be cooling, soothing and contracting. Doing a home facial is an excellent way to pamper yourself, relax, and improve your complexion.

Follow these professional steps to do a home facial, it takes about half an hour.

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Step 1 Smooth your hair away from your face and neck, tie or clip it back out of the way.

Step 2 Apply a cleanser using skin contouring motions (see below):

Neck: use long alternating strokes from your collar bone to jaw line.
Cheeks: from the centre line, smooth upward and outward from your chin to your ears, nose to temples; stroke your nose bridge downwards and the sides outwards.
Forehead: stroke upward, in high arcs to your hairline.
Eyes: using one tip, finger pat, starting in the centre between your eyes, making a semi-circle going outward both above and below your eyes.

Step 3 Tissue or rinse off depending on cleanser.

Step 4 With a cotton wool pad, apply your toner to remove last traces of the cleanser.

Step 5 Dot a light moisturizer on your forehead, cheeks and chin; blend in.

Step 6 Rinse with clear lukewarm water.

Step 7 Apply a mask all over your face and throat; leave a free circle around your tender eye area.

Step 8 Cover your eyes with cotton wool pads soaked in milk or a non-alcoholic freshener. Leave the mask on and relax lying down for 20 minutes.

Step 9 After 20 minutes remove all traces of the mask, blot your face and throat with a towel; finish off with a thin film of moisturizer.

Homemade Facial Recipes

You can use the following natural homemade facial recipes when do a home facial; leave them on for a minimum of 20 minutes, and then thoroughly rinse off with clean lukewarm water.

Crushed strawberries: use them alone or mixed with oatmeal.
Ripened pears: give an astringent action to oily skin.
Cabbage leaves: apply the juice from a few green cabbage leaves.
Cucumber mask: grind or mash enough to cover your face; this is refreshing.
Honey mask: 2 tablespoons of honey and ½ teaspoon of lemon juice or cider vinegar.
Brewers' yeast facial: 1 teaspoon of powdered yeast and 2 teaspoons of warm water; adjust consistency so it spreads like a paste.
The beaten white of an egg - with the optional addition of ¼ teaspoon of lemon juice or cider vinegar; good for oily or balanced skin.
Another version of an egg-white facial is to beat it with a tablespoon of skimmed milk.
Mix an egg yolk, a few drops of cider vinegar and a little vegetable oil; good for dry skin.

Steam Facial

You will find giving yourself a steam facial is stimulating. Steam encourages the pores to push out dirt and impurities; it promotes perspiration and stimulates circulation.

If you have sensitive skin or broken veins do not be tempted to do a home facial without seeking advice from a professional first.

Steaming with herb infusions is most beneficial. Pour boiling water over herbs in a bowl; make a towel into a head tent and steam your face over the bowl for 10 minutes. Blot your skin dry, tone, then moisturize.

The following herbs cans be used individually when you do a home facial or combined for your homemade steam facial:

For cleansing, soothing: camomile, lady's mantle, nettle, rosemary, thyme.
For tightening: peppermint, elderflower, tincture of benzoin, gum arabic.
For drying: yarrow.
For healing: leek, comfrey, fennel.

When the mask is taken off, you will notice the blood vessels have expanded and your skin looks rosier; fluid from the enlarged blood vessels plumps up the inner layer, smoothing the skin and compressing the pores.

There will be a definite improvement in the appearance of your skin, and although this 'mask effect' is temporary, the skin is exercised and stimulated.

Experiment with different facial masks to find which suits your skin the best.

Be warned though; don't do a home facial using a mask you haven't tried just before a major event such as your wedding or an important date. The action of the mask will bring all the impurities in your skin to the surface. This could mean you will have a mild breakout for a few days.

If you have oily skin you need to use a mask twice a week, if you have dry or normal skin, you only need to do a home facial once a week.

Facial Steps - How to Do a Home Facial For Dry, Normal and Oily Skin

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What Are the Benefits of Drinking a Lot of Water?

You have no doubt heard the drinking water "rules." You probably know that you should drink between 8 and 10 glasses of water each day. But what are the benefits to drinking a lot of water?

What is Drinking Water?

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Think back to when you were in high school chemistry class. Remember the formula for water? H2O. Two parts of hydrogen and one part of oxygen. Water is supposedly colorless, tasteless, and odorless. Drinking water is essential to all known forms of life, whether they are plant or animal life.

How Does The Human Body Use Drinking Water?

Every cell in the human body requires water. Put them altogether, with their load of water, and your body weight is almost two-thirds water. If you weigh 150 pounds (68 kg), about 100 pounds (45 kg) of that is water. You are mostly water, but how does your body use drinking water?

Cells use drinking water as a delivery service. Each cell is separated from its environment by a cell membrane. To do its work, the cell needs to import nutrients and export waste products. Water is the delivery service, bringing in nutrients and taking out waste. Whether you look at red and white blood cells, muscle cells, or nerve cells, they all need water. Without water, most of your cells would get clogged with waste, and starve to death for lack of nutrients.

Healthy cells, with plenty of drinking water, are kept clean and nourished. Like the clean engine of a brand new automobile, fed a perfect blend of quality gasoline (petrol), healthy cells can do exactly what they were designed to do: keep the human body humming along life's journey.

Consider just 7 of the many benefits of drinking a lot of water.

1. Brain. Brain cells that have plenty of drinking water are able to circulate fresh, oxygen-laden blood more readily. The brain remains fresh and alert. Even a small drop in drinking water levels can make your brain's performance level drop as much as 20 to 30 percent!

2. Muscles. Muscle cells with a ready supply of drinking water are able to work longer without tiring. Water delivers a continuing supply of oxygen to muscles. If you are exercising in warm weather, your muscle will need more drinking water every 15 minutes to remain strong.

3. Cooling system. Your body's temperature is maintained through drinking water. The water regulates body temperature through sweat. To maintain a normal temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit on hot days, or when exercising, the body sweats. Sweat cools the body, but sweat uses up water. We must have a lot of drinking water to replenish the supply.

4. Nerves. Nerve cells transmit messages to and from the brain. To do this, they must use electrolytes. Drinking water is an important way to maintain electrolytes at the proper level so that the nerves can do their work.

5. Stomach and Intestinal Tract. Our bodies use drinking water to digest food in the gastrointestinal tract. Insufficient drinking water will slow the process, resulting in constipation and other medical concerns.

6. Eye and Mouth Protection. Water keeps your eyes and mouth moist. It washes dirt and dust away from your eyes.

7. Joints. Drinking water is like oiling your body's joints. Water lubricates the joints, keeping them flexible, and ensuring smooth motion.

One of the most important benefits to drinking a lot of water is the benefit realized in the kidneys. Urine, which is almost entirely water, removes waste products from the body. As it does so, it leaves your body. Your body must replace that water. Get too little drinking water, and toxic levels of waste build up. The body becomes ill, and eventually dies.

What are the benefits to drinking a lot of water? Health, energy, and life.

What Are the Benefits of Drinking a Lot of Water?

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The Toxic Danger of Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets

Many people will remember a famous TV ad where a woman races to her washing machine, fabric softener in hand, only to arrive just as the wash ends. This woman who "forgot to ad the fabric softener" was actually doing herself and her family a favor.

Although they may make your clothes feel soft and smell fresh, fabric softener and dryer sheets are some of the most toxic products around. And chances are that the staggering 99.8 percent of Americans who use common commercial detergents, fabric softeners, bleaches, and stain removers would think twice if they knew they contained chemicals that could cause cancer and brain damage.

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Laundry

Here is a list of just some of the chemicals found in fabric softeners and dryer sheets:

* Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer

* Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant

* Ethanol: On the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Hazardous Waste list and can cause central nervous system disorders

* Limonene: Known carcinogen

* A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema, and central nervous system damage

* Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list

* Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders

* Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic

* Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders

* Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled

So how could products with pretty names like Soft Ocean Mist, Summer Orchard and April Fresh be so dangerous?

The chemicals in fabric softeners are pungent and strong smelling -- so strong that they require the use of these heavy fragrances (think 50 times as much fragrance) just to cover up the smells. Furthermore, synthetic fabrics, which are the reason fabric softeners were created in the first place, do not smell good either when heated in a dryer or heated by our bodies ... hence the need for even more hefty fragrances.

In other words, remove all the added fragrance that endears people to fabric softeners and -- like the cliché wolf in sheep's clothing -- the real smells of the chemical-laced fabric softener and the synthetic fabrics they were designed around may prompt people to shoot their laundry machines and be done with it.

Are "Soft" Clothes Worth It?

Fabric softeners are made to stay in your clothing for long periods of time. As such, chemicals are slowly released either into the air for you to inhale or onto your skin for you to absorb. Dryer sheets are particularly noxious because they are heated in the dryer and the chemicals are released through dryer vents and out into the environment. Health effects from being exposed to the chemicals in fabric softeners include:

* Central nervous system disorders

* Headaches

* Nausea

* Vomiting

* Dizziness

* Blood pressure reduction

* Irritation to skin, mucus membranes and respiratory tract

* Pancreatic cancer

Baby Fabric

Soften Your Clothes Safely With These Tips

Even if you don't feel the effects of these chemicals today, they can affect you gradually over time, and children, whose systems are still developing, are particularly at risk. There's really no reason to expose yourself to these risky chemicals when natural alternatives exist. Not only are they safer for you, your family and the environment, but they're much more economical too:

* Add a quarter cup of baking soda to wash cycle to soften fabric

* Add a quarter cup of white vinegar to rinse to soften fabric and eliminate cling

* Check out your local health food store for a natural fabric softener that uses a natural base like soy instead of chemicals

It's likely that fabric softeners and dryer sheets aren't the only toxic products in your home. Many household products that consumers regard as safe are also full of toxic chemicals. Our past articles on PEG Compounds in Cosmetics and Phenols in Common Household Cleansers are two of the all-time most popular articles on SixWise.com and will make you more aware of the pervasiveness of harmful chemicals that can be eliminated from your home.

The Toxic Danger of Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets

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A Guide to Shower Filters For Hard Water

You may want shower filters for hard water, but you also want to remove hazardous chemicals that vaporize during a hot bath. In the enclosed area of the bathroom, we inhale these chemicals and scientists believe that increases our risk of cancer.

You also want to remove chlorine, if it's present. Chlorine also vaporizes and inhalation is irritating to the sinuses, as well as the entire respiratory system. The chemical vapors are known to trigger asthma attacks. That's one reason that indoor swimming pools are closed if chlorine levels climb too high.

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The best shower filters for hard water combine ion exchange to balance mineral content and soften. This step also removes traces of metals like lead and copper that seep in from the pipes. Metallic traces dull the hair and exposure to lead is never safe.

Granulated carbon will remove chlorine and some of the other chemicals, but a process called adsorption is needed to remove as many chemicals as possible. Specifically, it removes chlorination byproducts. Those are the ones that cause cancer.

The prices of shower filters for hard water vary greatly. Believe me. You don't need the most expensive product on the market to get the best performance.

Some people recommend reverse osmosis. That's an expensive and largely unnecessary step, even for drinking water filtration. It also creates gallons of wastewater and there are no units specifically designed for your showerhead. You'd have to get one for the whole house.

Whole house filters are sometimes a good idea, but generally speaking, your showerheads and your kitchen faucets are most important. There's no particular reason to filter the waters for the toilet or even the laundry. You can always add water softeners to the laundry.

Some people recommend a brand called Wellness. There's no real reason to go to that expense, either. They make some scientific claims that they can't back up with hard evidence. There biggest claim to fame is that they are supposedly used in the number one health spa in the world, but I couldn't verify that, either.

The best shower filters for hard water have been evaluated and rated by Consumer Reports. The company provides certified product performance data before you buy. The cost of use is pennies a day and the replacement filter lasts a full six months.

In case you have a hard time remembering when it's time to change your filter, the company offers automatic shipment and discounts for signing up. There are many ways to save money. Buying direct from the factory is one easy way.

You want a product that is easy to install and unlikely to leak, simply to avoid frustration. If you're tall, you also want one that does not reduce the height of the showerhead.

The right shower filters for hard water will protect your health, as well as prevent that scaly build up on your bathroom fixtures. Just be sure to shop carefully, so that you don't end up disappointed.

A Guide to Shower Filters For Hard Water

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Using Human Urine As A Liquid Fertilizer

OK, so are you over the shock now??? In the not so distant past, we didn't have the luxury of having a small room in the house where we could flush away our number ones and twos. But did you ever wonder how we managed before the water closet? Not that I want to get into the history of it, but let's just say that before the times of our current throw-away society, people thought of multiple uses for just about everything.

Well maybe you didn't know that human urine is the fastest acting, most excellent source of Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium and some trace elements. Not only that, but we all have a constant, year round supply of it - and it's free! There's not a lot of effort involved in creating this wonderful organic liquid fertilizer.

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Some men I know are more than happy to oblige a tree, bush or lawn (out of view, of course).

Did you know that many toilets use between 50 and 100 litres of water a day to flush around 1.5 litres of pee? And the high levels of nutrients in our effluent systems leads to the growth of algae, which ultimately causes the death of plants and animals throughout our waterways.

What are the advantages of using urine as an organic liquid fertilizer?

Just so that you know, fresh human urine is sterile (unless there is a urinary tract infection - this urine should not be used) and so free from bacteria.

I recommend that you dilute urine to 10-15 parts water to 1 part urine for application on plants in the growth stage. Dilute to 30-50 parts water to 1 part urine for use on pot plants as they are much more sensitive to fertilizers of any kind.

Trees, shrubs and lawn should cope well without dilution. Withhold the use of urine liquid fertilizer on all food plants at least two weeks before harvesting. Apply under fruiting plants, not directly on foliage.

Don't use urine older than 24hours on your plants as the urea turns into ammonia and will burn your plants. If it's not fresh, add it to your compost heap. Adding undiluted human urine to your compost heap will help heat it up quickly as it is an excellent activator and will add to the final nutrient value.

As far as antibiotics, vitamin supplements and other medications go, yes they will end up in your urine, but in such minute quantities that I believe to be negligible - especially when it is diluted.

So put this excellent source of free liquid fertilizer to good use in your garden, rather than add to the burden that we as humans cause to our environment.

Using Human Urine As A Liquid Fertilizer

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Baby Dry Skin

Today, one in every four or five babies and toddlers suffer from dry skin. This makes them prone to more serious skin conditions such as eczema. Since their skin is more delicate than adults' skin, it is important to know the ins and outs of skin care for them.

Causes of Baby Dry Skin

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When the baby is born, she is initially covered in a slippery coat of amniotic fluid. During the first several days, her skin may still not be used to such a dry environment and develop patches of dry skin and redness. Dryness in the air, such as during winter and inside heated homes, can also strip her skin of moisture.

Doting parents may be tempted to give the baby daily baths to make sure she stays clean. What most people don't know is that daily baths are unnecessary, and may actually harm and dry the skin even more. Summer is also a time for swimming in the pool and the ocean, especially for active toddlers. The salt and chlorine have drying effects on the skin and can cause rashes.

Prevention and treatment of baby dry skin

Adding a humidifier or vaporizer in the baby's room will help control the moisture content in the air and help hydrate her dry skin. When the temperature gets too cold, it is often a better idea to give the baby more clothes to wear instead of turning the heat up; doing so will lower the humidity. During the summer, take steps to protect the baby from sunburn. Give her gloves or mittens during the winter, both to protect against dropping humidity levels and scratching.

When it comes to washing the baby, a bath every three or four days is actually enough to give her a measure of protection against dry skin. As the baby grows and begins to crawl and get dirty, a bath scheduled every other day is reasonable; just make sure to avoid bubble baths as much as possible, as soap and lather tends to dry the skin. It is often enough to simply sponge areas that look dry during the day.

While giving baby a bath, it is advisable to use warm water instead of hot, as hot water dries the skin. It is also a good idea to cut down the bath time to ten minutes or so-any longer will sap most of the moisture from her skin. Don't use soap on the baby. Instead, use a soap-free, fragrance-free cleanser. Soap, as in every other possible case, dries the skin. Within a few minutes after the bath, pat her dry and apply a moisturizer, lotion, or emollient. This will lock in the moisture her skin took in from the bath and keep her skin supple until the next bath time. Make sure the moisturizer has no dyes and heavy perfumes, as these can irritate and dry skin.

When washing the baby's clothes, wash them in a batch separate from the clothes of other members of the family. Do not use laundry soap and fabric softeners on her clothes, as the detergents can irritate her dry skin and cause allergies. Tea-tree oil and baking soda has been advised in the past as a substitute for laundry detergents. During the day, make sure the child isn't dressed too tightly, and try to avoid any wool or nylon in her wardrobe. Wool, as well as other synthetic materials, has rough edges which easily causes irritation, especially on the baby's delicate skin. Disposable and cloth diapers are both fine and acceptable for babies. There is only one rule to remember about diapers: if it's wet, change it. Many parents leave disposable diapers on their babies for too long, until the core bursts and exposes the baby's skin to more than just wetness.

Toddlers love to play in the water, and trips to the beach or the pool are often in order during the summer. To protect against dry skin caused by salt and chlorine, rinse the child completely in tap water after swimming, then apply a good moisturizer. As a general rule for children, the thicker the moisturizer, the better.

Consult your doctor

Regularly check your child's skin for any dry skin and redness. While eczema is often treatable with regular applications of moisturizers, it is often best to see the child's doctor if the redness does not disappear or if the child is always uncomfortable. Red, dry skin may also be an indication of icthyosis, a genetic medical condition. As dry skin gets worse, it may break, swell, or get infected.

It is always a good idea to consult with your doctor if your child's dry skin problems worry you. Schedule a visit if her dry skin does not respond to home treatments.

Baby Dry Skin

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Starting a Coffee Shop - Equipment Needs

So you have decided on starting a coffee shop! Congratulations! In my coffee shop business plan package, I go into more detail regarding equipment but due to space here, I am only going to give you some basic ideas of what to consider when looking at your equipment needs.

First of all, do yourself a favor and DO NOT buy any used equipment unless you know the exact age, where it came from, who used it, and that maintenance records are verifiable. I am only referring to anything with a motor or compressor. Used sinks, tables, counters, etc are fine as long as they are in decent shape. All other equipment, be VERY careful!

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Even if you get it from a friend, you might be assured by them that the equipment was maintained properly and often, however did they get it used and can they get that guarantee from whom they bought it from? And how old really is it?

As you may have guessed, I fell into this trap and had things breaking down when I did not expect it shortly after I opened my coffee shop. Yes even my espresso machine. I was in a bad spot then! Luckily I had access to a one group machine for backup and a local guy was able to fix the other fast but you may not be as lucky.

I eventually upgraded to mostly new equipment when, but this can be avoided by getting new equipment at the start. You will be glad you did it, trust me!

Equipment Needs

Cash register or POS computer? - A computer POS (point of sale) system is good there is no doubt about it. These are the ones that have the touch screen monitors and such. However, they are probably (and arguably) best for analyzing your sales and inventory only, and not much more. They do not speed up your customer line.

If you want one of these guys, be prepared to pay about 00 for a base system. The price goes up for multiple terminals and printers, monitors, a kitchen printer, etc.

In my opinion though, a POS fast food register that has price look ups (PLU) and department categories is sufficient for most coffee shops. Try to get one that allows you to download the information to your computer. Most have this feature today. It may, however increase your manual inventory and sales tracking if you have to put this info into your accounting software and spreadsheets manually but it can be a big money saver. If you get in the habit of entering the figures daily, you will not have a huge amount of data entry to do at month's end. You can usually get these types of registers for about 0 or so.

If you end up opening other stores, I think the touch screen computer POS may be the way to go then because it will make your management and inventory control much easier, and you can link all of your stores together and control them from one place.

Espresso Machine

This is the Mack daddy of the whole business, your life blood. DO NOT SKIMP ON IT! However, having said that there is the line of overkill you do not need to cross either. I say, two group maximum, if you need more power or want a backup, get a one group as well.

The feasibility of a three or four group is great but it's difficult to get more than one person working on them due to spacing of the group heads, etc. Ordinarily, you do not need more than one person pulling shots and making the espresso beverages anyway. It is almost impossible for one barista to use all four groups at one time so you be the judge! However that may be up to debate if you get REALLY busy. However, a two group is always my choice.

There are three basic types of espresso machines: Semi-Automatic, Automatic or Super Automatic. Well My choice is always the automatic because you can program them to cut off a shot at 23 seconds, or whatever you choose but still do it manually. The semi-automatic requires manual shut off by the operator.

The super automatic machine will grind the beans, tamp, pull the shot, shut it off and even discard the used grounds. Yes, I am serious. I believe you lose a lot of 'art' when you use one of these. You'd be surprised at the amount of people that love to see a barista set up and then pull a great shot. These super autos are also big bucks. But if all you want to do is move your cattle call through the line, this is the machine for you!

The boiler capacity should be large enough for a big rush, 9-14 liters should be sufficient. You do not want to run out of steam or hot water in a rush and with a smaller boiler that will happen! Trust me on this from experience!

Buy a machine based on the availability to get parts and service locally. Do not buy based on price alone, or 'coolness' or 'features' of a machine. They are all good these days. Features will not mean anything if you cannot get local service on your machine.

As far as water softeners, the choice to get a whole water system softener is going to depend on where you are located. In central Texas, the water is VERY hard but I chose to not soften my whole water system, just for the espresso machine. If you are not familiar with hard water, this is what causes lime build-up. It's a white, crusty looking build up that will kill your 00 or 10,000 espresso machine. It clogs up the piping that in time, builds up to the point of the water not being able to get through. Then your machine needs to be completely taken apart and de-limed. Not pretty and not cheap!

You will most likely have to have a complete de-liming performed several times over the life of your machine, however if your water is very hard and you do not soften it for your espresso machine, you will most likely have to have it de-limed at a minimum of once per year. This will get time-consuming and expensive, even if you learn to do it yourself. I had my one group de-limed for about 0 so do the math. Avoid lime scale build-up by getting a water softener.

Espresso Grinders

You will need one for decaf and one for regular espresso. There are several manufacturers and models. I will tell you though to be sure it's automatic and has a doser/coffee hopper. They make a doserless model that grinds right into the portafilter and though this is freshly ground espresso, it does not work well in a rush! The units with a hopper allow the hopper to fill with ground espresso and have a lid to keep out the air. The bigger units have a bigger hopper and vice versa. Also, these have a bean hopper that you can get about 2 lbs of espresso beans in.

Bulk Coffee Grinder

These are the types you see in the food store bulk coffee aisle. Be sure to get the full scale version, not the shorter one. The only difference I can see is the taller one is easier to get a bag under to grind beans for customers. The shorter one is not! Try to have one grinder for regular and decaf, and another for flavored coffee if you will serve it. Using the same for all three will make the regular and decaf coffee taste like the flavored coffee. This grinder will need proper maintenance and burr replacement after so many hours as well. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations on this.

Coffee Maker (drip)

Be sure to buy for your volume. Automatics are best as they are plumbed to a water line. Pour over units will you need to fill manually! The air pot brewers are the better fits because they brew the coffee directly into the air pots. There are single unit models and double unit models. You will save a lot of time especially in a rush, with a double brew unit.

Pastry Case (refrigerated and non)

There are several different sizes. Take your floor space into consideration but also buy for capacity and visual display. A nice, attractive unit that holds and displays a nice array of pastries is key for merchandising. Dual zone cases are a good idea because they let you have part cold, and part room temperature (dry case) pastries that do not need to be refrigerated.

Blender

There are several models to choose from but some have features you just won't need. Be sure to get a commercial blender. Consumer units do not have the heavy duty types of motors that commercial units have. That means they will break down a lot faster than a commercial one! I would suggest you give Vitamix a look here.

Sandwich Prep Unit

These come in single, double and triple door units. Of course, plan for your overall room but your needs as well. The larger units have more capacity inside the unit, but the bigger plus is the prep top area that has more compartments to put meats, vegetables, etc in. If you are planning on a regular deli and Panini service, I would say the double door unit would be good. You may even get away with the smaller one!

Under Counter Refrigerator

Do yourself a favor and get a double door unit. These are basically like the sandwich prep units but without the top compartments. The inside capacity should be big enough to hold a good portion of your dairy, as well as opened soy cartons, smoothie mix, bottled water and soda (if you do not have a larger unit or merchandiser for water and soda. Plan accordingly.

Storage Refrigerator

This is for the back of your shop. This will be your commercial refrigerator in the back area to house your back stock of refrigerated items such as milk, as well as your baking ingredients, food items, etc. There are double and single door units.

Ice Maker

Getting an ice maker that can make an average of 600-1000 lbs per day is good. It will give you enough and still be able to make more within 24 hours. In a busy shop, you'd be surprised how much ice you can go through: sodas, fruit smoothies, frappes, frozen chai.

Freezer

You will need one of these to keep your ice cream, and other food ingredients that can and need to be frozen.

Oven

Get this based on your baking level. A 1/4 size may be too small and a full size may be too big. The median unit is a 1/2 size and has 3 racks.

Convection oven? Most pastries, pies and other baking can be done well in a convection oven. That is an oven that has a blower wheel that disperses the heat evenly and faster throughout the oven. Therefore your baking time is usually cut in half.

Panini Grill

Cast iron (non-ceramic) with ribbed plates are the better units. With the ribbed, rather than flat plates you will get the 'grill marks' on the bread and that always looks impressive. I recommend a double plate unit so you can effectively grill up to four Panini at once if you have a large order.

Three Compartment Sink

This will be essential per most health departments for wash, rinse and sanitize. If you have a commercial dishwasher, it usually overrides the 3 bay sink. However, most restaurants have both. You don't need a big one, just one big enough to get your biggest 'washable' piece of baking or cooking hardware into.

Hand Sink(s)

Check your health department requirements because you may need a hand sink every so many feet or based on how many employees you have, or based on your floor plan. These are sinks only big enough to wash your hands in and that is it. That is why they are so small.

Furniture

Pick and choose what is in between comfortable and not. This will help you avoid squatters that love to stay all day. Ordinarily, people in your store is a good thing but not if they are taking up space and just being comfy! This will include your tables and chairs, as well as couch, wing hairs, etc. If you are an eclectic coffee house, good finds can be had at Goodwill and other resale shops.

Phone

Just get one that you can hear when it rings! A cordless phone is a great idea.

Radio System

If u can, get extra speakers and have one in at least all four corners for best sound quality.

Credit Card Machine

This is the swiper w/pin pad - If you accept credit and debit cards, this is essential. Usually they are purchased from your credit card processor. Leasing one of these is usually a rip-off. Try to buy it outright.

Prep Tables

These are stainless steel or aluminum and great to make a kitchen prep area. They clean easily too. They come in various heights and widths, with or without a backsplash and usually have a shelf underneath.

So there you have some information to get you started on planning your equipment needs for staring a coffee shop. Be sure you take your floor space into account when figuring the sizes of your equipment. Also be sure you account for your anticipated customer volume. Early planning is key to having the right equipment to begin with.

Starting a Coffee Shop - Equipment Needs

A WATER SOFTENER

Hard Water Hard On Your Skin?

It can be extremely annoying when dry skin does not seem to want to go away. Even more annoying is when you are unable to figure out why. Your skin just seems to be unable to retain moisture, even with amount of pampering you do to it.

You wash carefully, put on plenty of moisturizer, and still it feels tight, looks flaky, and refuses to be soft. So what is the deal? Is there some hidden factor you are missing?

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It is very likely that you are. Many people take their usual shower, perform their usual facial routine, use their specific products, and never consider the single, largest thing they are constantly putting on their skin.

Your water.

A lot of people do not even know what type of water they have. Still others were not even aware they have a water type. However, most people do have a water type that they might want to know about. In your case of continuously dry skin, you definitely will want to find out.

There are in fact two different types of water; hard and soft. If you find that your skin continues to be dry even after all the work you put into it, the problem may lie in the fact that you have hard water and it is helping to keep your skin dry.

Water that is considered to be hard means the water contains a large amount of calcium, magnesium, and iron deposits. If you notice your shower or tub slowly but constantly building up deposits, such as rust, soap scum, and lime, you probably have hard water.

Not only will you be cleaning your tub more often and possibly dealing with clogs in your pipes, but you will also be left with skin less inclined to be soft.
Hard water makes it more difficult for substances to dissolve in it efficiently, such as soap. When you lather (which you may also realize is difficult to do) and then rinse off, you may not be removing all the soap from your skin.

This is through no fault of your own, but rather the inability of your water to wash all the soap from your skin. Soap that remains on the skin aids in drying it out, leaving you with flaky, itchy skin. Remaining soap can also aid in the clogging of pores, giving you dry skin and a few extra skin irritations.

Because both hard water deposits and cleansing products are left on the skin, it can also cause your skin to become more irritated and susceptible to damage, especially when it comes to facial skin and the fragile blood vessels beneath. Hard water can even cause your skin to become thinner and aggravate skin conditions, such as rosacea.

Washing in hard water means even with good products meant to help your dry skin, you still have to fight to get your skin in the condition you want it to be.
If you have well water, then you can easily obtain a water softener to help avoid hard water.

Soft water means there are fewer deposits in the water, giving your soap better lathering power and making it much easier to wash off, freeing your skin of excess soap after you towel off and giving you a better chance at softer, more moisturized skin.

However, many people get their water through public means. If you do, then if your water is not already soft, then you may have a bigger problem in trying to get soft water.

Yes, you cannot do too much to remedy the water coming out of your faucets unless you want to opt for having a major installation of a water softening unit. If you are unable to do this, you will have to learn to live with your hard water by using less soap and taking shorter showers, giving your hard water less access to your skin.

You could buy water to use for your face in order to help keep your skin from dealing with hard water, and continue using your current skin products.

Even if you are unable to do anything about hard water, at least now you can have peace of mind by knowing your water was the final puzzle piece in the dryness of your skin.

Hard Water Hard On Your Skin?

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Why is Water Important For Life?

We often hear about the dearth of water and how water is all important. Let's see actually why water is so important and what makes it so. To start with our planet, 70% of earth's surface is water; 75% of human body; and 90% of human blood is water too. Of all the water that's there on earth, 97% is in seas and oceans and 2% is icecaps. Of the remaining 1% fresh water, only a small percentage is accessible. And from what's accessible, 98% water is used for agriculture and industrial use. Maybe now water sounds important to us.

Water's necessity does not end with humans. In fact, water is quintessential part of most living organisms. Even the plants need water. There is more animal and plant life found in water than on land and in air collectively.

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For humans water is so important because it's used in so many activities. We need to drink water to survive and to stay healthy. We need water for bathing, cleaning and washing. We need water for cooking. Water is in the form of milk, fruits, meats, vegetables, and even in stones.

Inside our body, water helps regulate human body's temperature. Water is nature's air conditioner inside our body; when it's hot, water keeps the body cool through perspiration, and when it's cold, water keeps the body warm through insulation. Through balancing the electrolytes, water controls and regulates the blood pressure. Water forms a big and important portion of human saliva, sweat and tears, and all these are important for proper body functions. It keeps the moisture intact around mouth and eyes.

Our joints move painlessly only because the water works as a lubricant on them. Water, through its presence in and around the organs, cushions them from any outside jolt. It also works as an excreting agent in our body by flushing human kidneys.

Why is Water Important For Life?

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Dry Patchy Skin

It's hard not to get worried when you realize one day that you have patches of dry skin on your body. It can be disfiguring and distressing, especially if the patches appear on exposed parts of your body, such as your arms and face. For the most part, dry patchy skin is often only temporary and responds well to home treatment measures. This article will illustrate the more common causes of dry patchy skin, as well as how to avoid or treat them.

1. Ichthyosis

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Ichthyosis literally means "fish skin", and is also known as "fish-scale disease" or "fish-skin disease." Ichthyosis is marked by scaly patches of dry skin that may occur anywhere in the body. The scaly patches vaguely resemble the scales of a fish. There is currently no way to avoid ichthyosis, but application of moisturizers can help improve the skin's condition.

2. Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is often called "eczema," and is the most common type of dermatitis. It is hereditary and runs in many families. The skin is unusually sensitive to irritants and allergens in food and the environment, presenting red, flaky dry skin. Atopic dermatitis occurs more commonly in infants, where it often attacks the cheeks. As with ichthyosis, moisturizers can help alleviate the symptoms, and over-the-counter steroid creams are also helpful. Avoiding known allergens is also a good idea.

3. Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition marked by a rapid growth of skin. Skin cells usually take 28 days to move from the hypodermis (the lowest portion of the skin) to the epidermis (the surface of the skin), where they die. With psoriasis, this cycle is compressed into a mere few days, resulting in large amounts of dry patchy skin which flake off. Psoriasis is often treatable by daily lukewarm baths or showers, mild soaps and cleansers, and moisturizers.

4. Neurodermatitis

Neurodermatitis is a type of dermatitis that is aggravated by scratching. Sometimes the skin becomes so dry and itchy that you scratch it on impulse. The scratching makes the dry skin worse, making it thicker and even itchier, until it develops an itchy patch of dry skin. Neurodermatitis often cannot heal unless you keep yourself from scratching, and this can be done by putting a bandage over the affected area. Moisturizers can also help soothe the itch.

5. Nummular Eczema

Nummular eczema is a type of rash that causes coin-shaped patches on the skin. While its cause is unknown, it has been found to be associated with dry skin and the winter months. Its condition has been found to improve with faithful application of moisturizers and prescription strength cortisone creams. Avoidance of wool clothing and not using fabric softeners in the laundry can also help ease the symptoms. It is often best to have the nummular eczema checked by your doctor in order to arrive at a more specific, effective treatment.

6. Seborrheic Eczema

Seborrheic eczema is better known as that annoying scalp problem, "dandruff." While the patches of dry skin appear most often on the scalp, they can also occur on the eyebrows, the face, in the armpits, the genitals, and around the navel; anywhere the oil glands are more concentrated. It is usually caused by oily skin, stress, infrequent shampooing, and use of cleansers with alcohol. Dandruff can be treated with the usual dandruff shampoos-leave the shampoo on your hair for five minutes to ensure the medication reaches the scalp. More serious cases of seborrheic eczema often merit a visit to the doctor.

Other causes include overexfoliating, overuse of Retin-A, and the use of moisturizers that contain alcohol. Overexfoliating can take its toll on your skin by drying it too thoroughly. Retin-A also tends to dry out the skin, and while it can benefit the skin with mild, controlled use, it can shrivel the skin and cause wrinkles when used too much. Alcohol also has a drying effect on the skin.

Treatments include drinking enough water to keep the skin hydrated (8 glasses a day is enough), resisting the urge to pick, scratch, or peel at the dry patchy skin (it can open fissures in the skin, inviting infection), and avoiding any skin products that contain alcohol.

The rule of thumb is to see the doctor when the dry patchy skin occurs suddenly and without warning. It may be a sign of a more serious skin condition. Also, see your doctor when the dry patchy skin fails to respond to home treatment. Your doctor may authorize a biopsy (taking a small piece of your skin and examining it under a microscope) to determine the exact cause of your affliction.

Dry Patchy Skin

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Bullfrog Information

The bullfrog is the largest frog in North America. The bullfrog population is not as abundant as it used to be because people kill these frogs to eat their legs! This is a fascinating creature that needs to be protected.

The bullfrog is most common in the Southern part of the United States. They are known for their large size, throaty call and their extraordinary leaping ability. Bullfrogs can grow to be six inches in length, but when they stretch out their legs this adds another seven to ten inches in length. They can also jump up to six feet away!

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The frog's calls are heard throughout the summer when they are mating. The male makes a call to get females and then the females respond with another call. Sometimes you may see two males fighting because they are very territorial. The frogs are not seen in the winter because they are hibernating.

If you want to keep these frogs, it is best if they have a shallow pool that they can get in and out of very easily. Try not to use tap water in the pool because it has chlorine in it, which could hurt them. Tadpoles are especially sensitive to this. To get rid of the chlorine in your water, either filter it or let it sit out for two weeks. Frogs like the water to be around eighty degrees. Only fill the pool so that the depth covers the frogs half way. You should also put pebbles or stones on the bottom.

If you keep Bullfrogs in captivity, you can feed them all kinds of insects, baby mice and feeder fish. Be careful if you are going to keep more than one frog together, because they will usually eat anything that is smaller than them, including other frogs.

When the female bullfrog lays eggs, she can lay up to 20,000 eggs at once. These eggs will then become tadpoles. The tadpole stage lasts between six months and two years, depending on the weather. When the eggs first hatch, the babies cannot swim so they just cling to plants. Very soon they begin to develop hind legs. Once these legs are fully-grown, they use them to swim and push through the water. The tadpole continues to develop into a frog by having skin grow over the gills, having lungs develop, having front legs grow and having the tail disappear.

If you want to take care of tadpoles, you should keep them in an aquarium. The water in the tank should be filtered. Don't put any fish in the aquarium with the tadpoles because they might hurt them. It is best if you only put between two and four tadpoles in a tank together. They will swim together and are very active if kept in small groups. Tadpoles can be fed pellets, flake food, water plants and algae. When they get bigger you can also feed them bloodworms.

It is so amazing the way a frog changes from an underwater creature to a land creature. They are very fascinating and fun to see in the wild. Fortunately, laws have been passed to regulate how many frogs can be caught and eaten. Hopefully this will help build their population back up.

Bullfrog Information

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Why Do Some Things Dissolve in Water While Others Do Not?

On the average, adults will maintain about 60 % of their entire body weight as drinking water. Since drinking water is the predominant substance within the body, it is essential to understand how other substances interact with it. What we are truly talking about is a substance's capability or inability to dissolve into drinking water. If a substance dissolves easily into water it is mentioned to become drinking water soluble.

About the other hand, if a substance doesn't dissolve into water it is said to be water insoluble. As a general rule, water-insoluble ingredients will dissolve in lipid ingredients, such as oil (fat).Therefore, we can call these substances either water insoluble, lipid soluble, or fat soluble. Examples of drinking water insolubility are frequently obvious. Some of us have been frustrated by the inability of traditional salad dressings, such as vinegar (water-based) and oil, to stay together and not separate into two layers.

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Meanwhile, other people have witnessed oil tanker spills whereby the oil does not dissolve into the body of drinking water but rather forms a layer on best of the drinking water, posing a threat to the aquatic life. As with numerous water-insoluble substances, the oil from the tanker or in the salad dressing is less dense than water, allowing it to float on top from the drinking water or water-based fluid. Some elements and molecules easily dissolve in water while others (for example, lipids) do not. The key to understanding water solubility requires a closer look at the bonds in between hydrogen and oxygen atoms inside a water molecule. Hydrogen atoms are the smallest atom (element) and contain only one proton (good charge); meanwhile the larger oxygen atom has eight protons. Consequently, oxygen tends to pull the shared electrons (negative charge) in the bond closer to it because it has a greater good charge in its nucleus. This leads to a partial negative cost associated with oxygen atoms and a partial positive charge linked with hydrogen atoms. It is an electron tug-of-war, with hydrogen atoms getting a weaker pulling force. It is essential to see that even though the electrons within the bond invest much more time closer to oxygen, they still some invest time closer to hydrogen. So, the charge associated with hydrogen and oxygen is not a complete cost, but partial costs. This is like getting additional cash 25 % of the time and owing money the remaining 75 % of the time or vice versa. Partial cost will be displayed using the Greek lowercase letter delta in superscript (?+ or ?-).

The partial charges associated with hydrogen and oxygen in a drinking water molecule allows it to be somewhat electrical. And, partially charged water molecule atoms can then interact with other drinking water molecules due to opposite cost attraction. This is the glue that holds drinking water together. This glue assists us understand how you can fill a glass up with water and briefly exceed the rim of the glass prior to the water begins to spill over. The water molecules at the best of the glass are attracted to the other drinking water molecules beneath them and they "hold on" electrically, which keeps the too-full glass from overflowing, to some point. Since atoms in a water molecule bear partial costs it only makes sense that they can interact with other substances that possess a charge. This includes sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), and chloride (Cl-). When these atoms (along with other charged chemicals) are dissolved in water, the resulting fluid becomes even much more electrical and can carry an electric current. This is why scientists often refer to charged atoms and some molecules as electrolytes, which indicates "electricity loving." Sodium and chloride are the main electrolytes in sports drinks. These beverages are frequently called fluid and electrolyte replacements, because they're water based and include electrolytes such as sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Certain elements (atoms), this kind of as sodium, can possess a charge and are known as electrolytes. On the other hand, lipids, such as fats and cholesterol, do not have a substantial cost and consequently they're water insoluble. In common, the partial charges of water atoms don't discover lipid molecules electrically attractive. Therefore, the two ingredients don't mix. Or, from another perspective, the partial charges of water molecules are more attracted to drinking water and other charged substances and as a result lipid ingredients get pushed aside. Since lipid molecules fail to dissolve into water, they tend to clump together. As mentioned previously, because lipids are generally less dense than drinking water, they have a tendency to sit on top of drinking water. This explains why some salad dressings separate with the oil on top. It also explains why oil spills lay on best of drinking water and can be cleaned up by using a corralling device called a boom.

Why Do Some Things Dissolve in Water While Others Do Not?

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Saving Water - The Bath vs Shower Debate

If you don't live in Southern England, chances are that you might not have noticed the water shortage problem in the UK, but you might have heard of the hosepipe ban and were left puzzled by London's Mayor Ken Livingstone plea to Londoners to stop flushing the lavatory after relieving themselves! Two unusually dry winters have left the reservoirs only about half full in Southern England. In the Thames water region, around London, there has been less than 70% of the rainfall that was expected since November 2004.

The British are probably unaware that Londoners use an average of 165 litres of water every day, higher than the national average of 150 litres and about one-third higher than other European cities.

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These must be depressing figures for any British household, but you don't have to panic yet! By educating yourself about conserving water in simple ways, you can breathe easy and perhaps even use a hose or sprinkler to water your garden after all!

In this article, we'll debate the big question--does it takes less water to take a shower or have a bath?

First of all, let's take a look at a few facts:

# A full bathtub holds approximately 140 litres of water

# Standard shower heads dispense 20-60 litres of water per minute

# Shower heads with flow restrictors dispense 10-15 litres of water per minute

An average bath requires 100 to 200 litres of water. Depending on your showerhead and whether it has a flow restrictor in it and how long you shower, the answer could oscillate either towards shower or bath. The average shower of four minutes with an old showerhead uses 80 litres of water. With a low-flow showerhead, only 40 litres of water is used.

If your house was constructed before 1992, chances are your showerheads force out about 20 litres of water per minute. Multiply this by the number of minutes you are in the shower and the litres add up fast!

If you'd like to test the amount of water wasted yourself, here's an experiment you could try at home. Put the plug in the bathtub next time you take a shower (but not a stand-alone shower as you might spill over the lower shower wall). After you've showered, examine how much the tub filled up. If there is less water than you would usually have in a bath, then you will probably save money by taking a shower instead of a bath.

Although the chances of the contrary happening are unheard of, if it is the case for you, then in addition to the enjoyment you get in a bath, there is more good news for you.

A good, long soak in a bath can renew the spirit. Hydrotherapy, which loosely translated means 'rejuvenation by water,' enables bathers to revitalize themselves. Some modern systems even contain air jets that have been strategically placed to target the body's pressure points, relieving tension and stress. Bathers can also enjoy the benefit of chromatherapy, which uses coloured light in much the same way aromatherapy uses scent to stimulate different psychological and physical responses.

Bath time for a young family can be an important playtime and social occasion to be shared with other family members. A number of people find baths a calming way to relax in today's fast paced stressful life. Herbs and essential oils soothe aching muscles, tense nerves, and skin irritations; soften the skin; and ensure a good complexion.

The Environment Agency, however, would recommend short showers, not baths. Based on its latest research, it proclaims that a 5-minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath and can save 50 litres every time.

The time taken to take a shower is not the sole variable though. As previously mentioned, water consumed is also dependent on the type of shower you use. Power showers can use more water than a bath in less than 5 minutes! Low-flow showerheads deliver 10 litres of water or less per minute and are relatively inexpensive. Older showerheads use 20 to 30 litres of water per minute.

If you still believe that a shower cannot equal the gratification of a bath, then it is recommended to partially fill your bath in order to use less water. That option might seem better if you consider the plight of sailors aboard ships. Due to lack of fresh water aboard ships, sailors were taught to get wet, turn off the water, soap and scrub, and then briefly turn the water on to rinse. Let's hope British residents don't suffer the same fate in a few years.

Saving Water - The Bath vs Shower Debate

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Tetrasodium Can Aggravate Eczema Symptoms

Tetrasodium etidronate is a substance found in many personal care products that has the potential to cause adverse effects in people with eczema. Tetrasodium etidronates and disodium etidronate are chelating agents that are also used in water softeners and soaps.

Because tetrasodium can be an irritant to the skin and mucus membranes people with eczema should exercise caution before using products that contain it. One reason that tetrasodium etidronate is used in soaps is for its preservative properties. Commercial soaps are required to have no more than two percent of tetrasodium etidronate but even small amounts can trigger eczema symptoms.

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People who suffer from eczema should use only products that contain natural substances. Many soaps and other personal care products that are billed as "natural" actually contain tetrasodium etidronate. In fact, many of the soaps sold in health food stores contain tetrasodium etidronate. Always check ingredients before purchasing any personal care product. Check with your holistic practitioner to find out which soaps, if any, are safe for you to use.

Eczema suffers have to be very careful about the soaps they use. In fact, some medical doctors and holistic practitioners recommend that people with eczema don't use soap at all. They recommend that baths be taken in lukewarm water and excessive time in the bath is discouraged. People with eczema should apply moisturizers immediately after bathing. Moisturizers containing glycerin are highly recommended because glycerin helps the skin to retain moisture. During flare-up moisturizers should be used frequently throughout the day.

In addition to after bather moisturizers, people with eczema are advised to avoid sudden temperature changes. The type of forced air heat that is used during the winter can be very irritating and trigger symptoms. Dry, cracked skin is easily aggravated when the air lacks humidity. For that reason, eczema sufferers should sleep in rooms with humidifiers during the winter months when forced heat is being used.

Foods and substances that may irritate sensitive skin include soaps, bubble baths, perfumes, cosmetics, gasoline, turpentine, wool, pet fur, juices from meats and fruits, plants and jewelry. Personal care products that contain alcohol should also be avoided. Many people find that their eczema symptoms worsen during periods of stress. Some women have flare-ups a few days before menstruation begins. It is important to be self aware and understand what triggers your eczema attacks.

Because tetrasodium etidronate is used in many cleaning agents and laundry detergents, people with eczema should check the labels of these products before purchasing them. Sleeping on bed linens that have been laundered in a detergent containing tetrasodium etidroante can trigger an eczema attack. Work with your holistic practitioner to develop a list of natural products to treat your eczema that do not contain tetrasodium etidronate.

Glossary:

Tetrasodium etidronate: a substance that is used in soaps and other personal care products that can trigger eczema symptoms.

References:

Centers for Holistic Health
http://www.chh.org

American Dermatology Association
http://www.ada.org

Tetrasodium Can Aggravate Eczema Symptoms

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Expat Life in Sri Lanka, Colombo

I recently visited the wonderful island of Sri Lanka, and found a country full of surprises.

Sri Lanka is situated just south of India, in the Indian Ocean. Once known as the Dominium of Ceylon and often referred to as the tea country, tea plantations abundantly thrive across the island, with spice gardens, banana and coconut palms growing randomly to create a jungle of natural resources.

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People, animals and transport seem to co-exist side by side with no animosity towards each other. Dogs wonder aimlessly across or bask in the sun at the side of roads, cows and goats roam around everywhere, even on the beaches (which I found rather amusing) and people are everywhere, whether walking, cycling, using a tuc-tuc, motorbike with 5 astride, in a taxi, bus, car or truck, each takes up a space of the not too wide road. But co-exist they do, there is no anger at being stuck behind a truck, merely a short hooting of the horn to say I am here and would like to pass, politeness abounds and the expression and sounds are all of friendliness, within a country that sorely needs help at redeveloping itself since the tsunami. People are poor and yet happiness is everywhere.... Not just for the child on the hip or the person at their side, but for expats and tourists as well.

Tourists fluctuate towards the resorts and some chance the areas slightly outside of these areas, to experience a quieter less harassed holiday. Small pockets of expats can be found, dotted all over the country. When you bump into these people and chat about life on the island, there is not much to complain about. Yes, sometimes the water gets turned off or the electricity, yes the internet is not as fast as they would like it to be. Isn't that how most people feel in developed countries anyway: The faster it gets the faster we want it. In this little piece of paradise, expats are not too concerned that it takes a little longer to do things here, the people are prepared to wait, not too hasty to move forward too quickly. There was a lot of talk and concern about the elections and safety within the country and there are still road blockades and police / army personnel with guns wandering around keeping peace if necessary. However, with 70% of the population being Buddhists, the lifestyle is peaceful and life simplistic.

From an expat perspective, I could not fault the lifestyle. As said above, yes there are definite things missing, things are slower, it takes a good 4 - 6 hours to get from Colombo to Galle and similarly to anywhere about 200km's apart. I cannot say that the roads are particularly in good condition, but in the 10 days that I visited, I did not see one accident. Hardships could include the lack of being able to get from one part of the island to another quickly, the lack of fast internet connection, perhaps the human waste / refuse, which allows for the influx of flies, the dirt which is left to lie around and lastly the lack of funds to rebuild the country to what it was before the Tsunami.

Having said that, I have to look at all the good things that you find there, the beauty of the natural resources, how the nationals and expats are trying to rebuild the country, the beaches, game parks and mountains. This is truly a beautiful part of the world.

Expat Cost of living summary

The currency in Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee LKR

The Exchange rate as at 15 January 2010 was = 114.217 Rupees

I am going to break the Cost of living down according to some of the basket items:

Alcohol and Tobacco: Alcohol at Bar, Beer, Cigarettes, Locally Produced Spirit, Whiskey, Wine

Cigarettes (20s) - .14 to

Domestic Beer(500ml) - .50

Imported Beer (330ml) - .80

Wine at a bar - a glass

Wine at a shop - (750ml bottle)

Hotels tend to increase the prices of alcohol as it is the one way that they can make a profit. There are many small hotels and restaurants which create a competitive edge to where you can stay.

Clothing: Business Suits, Casual Clothing, Children's Clothing and footwear, Coats and hats, Evening Wear, Shoe Repairs, Underwear

Casual Long Sleeved Shirt (Men) -

Casual Long Sleeved Trousers (Men) -

Shorts (Men) -

T-Shirt (Men) -

Casual Blouse (Women) -

Casual Skirt (Women) -

Children's Jeans (Boys) -

Children's Jeans (Girls) - .50

Children's Shirt(Boys) -

Children's Shirt(Girls) -

Clothes are extremely cheap, in Colombo a person can get most of the name branded clothing at fairly reasonable prices in Factory shops.

Communication: Home Telephone Rental and Call Charges, Internet Connection and service provider fees, Mobile / Cellular Phone Contract and Calls

Monthly phone rental - .36

Phone call rate - .05 for a local call

Internet line connection fee - 4 (buy all equipment with installation)

Internet service provider fee - (1 geg free thereafter)

Monthly mobile contract fee - .18 (for the year)

Mobile / cellular call rate - 90% of phones are prepaid,

Mobile Phone 100 Minutes Call -

- .012 - .05 sms peak times

Due to so many of the nationals working overseas to send money home, the communication costs are extremely low and there are often special deals or no cost is involved in the actual call.

Education: Creche / Pre-School Fees, High School / College Fees, Primary School Fees, Tertiary Study Fees

Annual Creche fee - .36 per month

Annual Primary school fee - 0 - 6 per month

Annual High School fee - 0 - 6 per month

Annual 1st Year Tertiary / University fee - 0 to 6 per month (dependent on which

private school they go to)

Private schooling is the most expensive on the island for expat children to attend, however the rates in comparison to other countries are reasonable. Expats that I came across spoke highly of the education system in the country and were happy with the private education that their children were receiving.

Furniture and Appliances: DVD Player, Fridge Freezer, Iron, Kettle, Toaster, microwave, Light Bulbs, Television, Vacuum Cleaner, Washing Machine

DVD Player -

Fridge / Freezer - 9 (LG / Whirlpool - 4 year guarantee)

Iron - cheap to top of the range

Kettle - cheap to top of the range

Microwave - 1

TV 21 inch - 4 (2 year guarantee)

Washing Machine LG - 0

Discounts can be negotiated with stores on all items

Groceries bought in a grocery store: Baby Consumables, Baked Goods, Baking, Canned Foods, Cheese, Cleaning Products, Dairy, Fresh Fruits, Fresh Vegetables, Fruit Juices, Frozen, Meat, Oil & Vinegars, Pet Food, Pre-Prepared Meals, Sauces, Seafood, Snacks, Soft Drinks, Spices & Herbs

Powdered baby formula (400g) -

Plain biscuits (100g) - .20

Loaf white bread (200g) - .70

Cake Flour (1kg) - .80

Baked Beans (415g) - .92

Tuna (185g) - .75

Cheese: Cheddar (250g) - .63

Crisps: Pringles (139g) - .50

Autowash clothing powder (750g) - .57

Dishwash liquid (500g) - .87

Clothing Softener (2l) - .40

Breakfast Cereal (250g) - .45

Butter (227g) - .18

Milk (1l) - .40

Eggs (12) - .80

Orange Juice (1l) - .80

Frozen Mixed Vegetables (1kg) - .20

Cooking oil (1l) - .22

Olive oil (500ml) - .28

Can of cola (355ml) - .00

Local Fizzy Soft Drink (1l) - .30

Local Natural Mineral Water (5l) - .08

Tea Bags (200g) - .85

Instant Coffee (100g) - .75

Local Ground Coffee (200g) - .66

Salt (400g) - .26

Pepper (400g) - .35

Prices were obtained from local grocery stores, there are no big department stores to shop in.

Healthcare: General Practitioner Consultation rates, Hospital Private Ward Daily, Rate, Non-Prescription Medicine, Private Medical Insurance / Medical Aid Contributions

GP Private rate visit with meds - .50

Hospital Private ward rates - per day

Dentistry - Tooth extraction - .35

Most expats use Bupa or the Sri Lankan Equivalent

Household: House / Flat Mortgage, House / Flat Rental, Household Electricity Consumption, Household Gas / Fuel Consumption, Household Water Consumption, Local Property Rates / Taxes / Levies

Rent 2 bed Apartment City Centre - 0

Rent 2 bed Apartment outside of City Centre - 0

Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage per - to per month for an average

household, this is expensive when taking household

air conditioning into account

Gas / Fuel - 12 ½ kg bottle -

Local property Rates - 8 to 10% of value of property

Expats cannot buy a property directly, this has to be done via a Lawyer who owns the property. Mortgage for locals is 4/5%. This is where most expats find the costs creep in, running the air conditioners is extremely expensive as well as the cost of water.

Miscellaneous: Domestic Help, Dry Cleaning, Linen, Office Supplies, Newspapers and Magazines, Postage Stamps

Domestic Rates - full time per person - average

1 Black inkjet printer cartridge -

1 Color inkjet printer cartridge -

500 sheets printer paper - .23

Local Daily Newspaper - .17

International Daily Newspaper - .45

International Magazine -

International Airmail Stamps - .22

Domestic Stamps - .12

Domestic help is cheap and most employees either live on the property or close by. Office supplies are reasonable, with CD's and DVD's freely available on the street where most locals buy them.

Personal Care: Cosmetics, Haircare, Moisturiser / Sun Block, Nappies, Pain Relief Tablets, Toilet Paper, Toothpaste, Soap / Shampoo / Conditioner

Body lotion (400ml) Vaseline Intensive car - .53

Toilet paper 1 ply per roll - .50

Toothpaste (200g) - .92

Shampoo (200ml) - .40

Some of the items that can be purchased can be expensive, like creams, sunblocks and cosmetic creams. Name brand products are the most expensive.

Recreation and Culture: Books, Camera Film, Cinema Ticket, DVD and CD's, Sports goods, Theatre Ticket

Books paper back -

Cinema ticket - .50

DVD / CD Imported -

Cricket ticket - .50 to

Theatre Ticket - only in Colombo -

Hard cover books are expensive in the country, but paper back books are of a similar cost to the US and UK. Cinema tickets are cheap due to the availability of cheap DVD replicas which can be bought on street corners. International cricket tickets are also kept cheap for the local population.

Restaurants / Meals out / Hotels: Business Dinner, Dinner at Restaurant (non fast food), Hotel Rates, Take Away Drinks & Snacks (fast Food)

Business Dinner excl Alcohol - per person

Dinner / lunch at local restaurant - per person

McDonalds Big Mac - .10

Hotel Rates 3* - to pppn

Hotel Rates 4* - to 0 pppn

Hotel Rates 5* - 0 pppn upwards

Take away - Can of cola x 1 - .70

Medium pizza - .50

Hamburger - .00

Coffee - pot x 3 cups - .40

As in most countries how much you pay for a meal is dependent on where you go, the local restaurants have great local meals, as well as international flavours, we found a fabulous vegetarian restaurant in Galle, well worth a visit and all prices were fairly cheap. Some restaurants do take advantage of the tourist population and serve sub standard meals. However, most restaurants were good with their portions and meal plans.

Transport: Hire Purchase / Lease of Vehicle, Petrol / Diesel, Public Transport, Service Maintenance, Tyres, Vehicle Insurance, Vehicle Purchase

Hire / Lease car - Sedan Toyota Corolla - .14 per day for 1 week

Hire / Lease car - Toyota RAV4 - .71 per day for 1 week

Petrol unleaded per litre - .23

Diesel per litre - .64

Bus Ticket (one way) - .00

Taxi Ride - per km - .50

Tuc Tuc - 10 km ride - .00

Train Ticket 2nd class - .57

If you are visiting I would suggest you use the local taxis and tuc-tucs, driving can be a head-ache and unpleasant experience if you are not used to the local norms. However, speeds do not go over 80km on the bigger roads and overall a safe place to drive.

The above detail are some of the items form the basis of the cost of living indexes for each basket group in the Xpatulator calculators, these costs are then used with their indexes and exchange rates to calculate the cost of living in different locations.

For more information on Sri Lanka read more at www.xpatulator.com/outside.cfm.

Expat Life in Sri Lanka, Colombo

A WATER SOFTENER