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Yes, but the result is generally based on the amount of effort and resource they invest. Let’s quote an example. Consider a case where you are selling Omega 3 and 6 supplements. You can organize a contest based on your product’s functions which would help you generate higher sales volume and also the respond rate from your customer. Since Omega 3 and 6 are important to the development of brain, you may consider holding an IQ contest.

This tells you about how the brain function is enhanced with the help of these products. The range of cost varies from zero to a few hundreds or thousands of dollars. You can cut the cost drastically by holding an IQ contest online. Emails can also be sent to existing customers after developing a set of IQ questions.

Later, these contestants will have the choice to participate through the website or they simply just reply our email. Your products, vouchers or any other gifts should be rewarded to the winners. This would in turn encourage the customers to spend the given vouchers.

You can choose to stop wwith the above. However, why don’t we go one step further?

On top of the above, for every new contestant or potential new customer that the existing customers bring in, they will be rewarded with 5 or 10 dollar cash voucher. This helps in promoting your company, brand, product and contest to others by encouraging the existing customers. Meanwhile, you may control the usage of cash voucher, such as how many vouchers can be used in a single transaction or what is the expiry date. But, we should avoid imposing too much restriction on them. For example: only 1 voucher can be used in a month and the voucher will be expired in 30 days. This in turn will discourage the customers in searching for new contestants.

Is it right to think that the cash voucher offered is a cost to the company? Yes, we agree on that to a certain extent. However, if we look it at a different perspective then we will think it differently. What would happen if the customer who has the voucher would buy your product or else they would not do so? In this case does this voucher result in profit or high cost to your company?

If the vouchers are offered wisely this would aid you in making profit and not losses to your company. Thus this marketing strategy helps in promoting your products with less expenditure. The new high quality of prospects list (new contestants) obtained can be followed up later.

One of the examples is quoted above Develop your plan first and then start moving on.

Contrary to what most people think organic indoor gardening is very much possible even if they are living in a city apartment. So as long as you have several windows, you can grow almost all vegetables in containers. Vegetables, herbs and flowers can be grown organically indoors by using pots, hanging baskets and numerous other containers. Just make sure to match the vegetable or any other plant you wish to grow with the proper sized container. Needless to say, the larger the plant will be at maturity the larger the container you will need.

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Once you have figured out the type of vegetables you want to grow, make sure to buy only the strong healthy plants and seeds which is available at any good garden center for obvious reasons.

The next thing to do is to purchase organic potting soil; you can also buy pre packaged compost at the same time to increase the nutrient value of the potting soil.

In order to provide the plants the chance to adapt to their new environment, it is best to give them a day or two in front of a sunny window before transplanting them to the containers. When you are ready to transplant you can check the seeds package for planting instructions.

However, for those who cannot find room at all for container gardening, sprouts can be the best solution. You can buy organic alfalfa, mung beans, or any other sprouting seeds at your local health food store. Make a research about how you can plant these seeds in a jar. The sprouts will be ready in three to five days depending on the type of seed you are using. If they have reached the right size you can set the jar in a window and let them to green up.

Organic indoor gardening can be fun, plus it provides you with the opportunity to have the freshest vegetables and herbs that is healthier than what you can purchase at any regular supermarket.

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A low carb food list is very important when following the low carbohydrate weight loss plan. If you know what you are allowed and what should be avoided, you are closer to success.

Complex carbohydrates are a great friend to those of us on a diet. Usually when you follow a weight loss plan you feel hungry. If you are on a low carb program, this is likely to be purely physiological. Complex carbs release energy slowly which means that we feel fuller for longer. This is the exact opposite of what simple carbohydrates do. They release energy really quickly, the body uses this and then in a couple of hours we are starving. That is why you are often hungry fairly soon after eating a chinese takeaway.

So what should you be eating?

1) Eat more whole grains so porridge for breakfast, brown bread instead of white and real fruit instead of juice.

2) Every meal should be made up of at least 50% vegetables.

The rest of the meal should include complex carbohydrates, protein and some good fats.

3) You need to eat as many different types of vegetables as possible. The recommended amount is five pieces of fruit and vegetables a day but when you are losing weight, you should double this. Not only will they keep you feeling full but you are less likely to reach for sugar fixes. Salads are a great start to any meal but you could also have home made vegetable soup as well. Just skip the salt when you are making it.

4) Drink plenty of water as it helps to detoxify your system.

5) Dump the bad fats. Fat has got a very bad reputation and this is completely deserved when it comes to saturated fats. These are not only linked to putting on weight but are also linked to heart disease and cancer. The good news is that they are quite easy to avoid if you give up cakes, biscuits, processed foods, take aways and frying your home made food. Yes I know that sounds like a lot but if you are going to lose weight, you need to face facts. Your unhealthy diet has to go or you may as well give up now.

6) Increase the good fats. Olive oil is an excellent source of monosaturated fats as are the oils made from peanuts, almonds and rapeseed.

7) Low carb foods include skimmed milk, cottage cheese, high fiber bran, home made muesli, skinless chicken and turkey breast, pork tenderloin, veal, round beef, hamburgers made with extra lean mince eaten open faced i.e. you only use one wholemeal bun.

Potatoes are not a low carb food. So if you have to include them in your diet, do so on occasion and only use boiled/steamed new potatoes.

9) Apples are a dieters best friend and should be eaten daily.

10) Beans or legumes if you prefer should also be eaten as often as possible. They are high in fiber and protein and are excellent at fighting disease. But your body can react badly if you increase your consumption too suddenly. You will become accustomed to eating more beans over time.

Eat the above foods on the low carb food list and the pounds will start to drop.

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Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is called herbe royale in France and is a staple in the Italian herb garden. This popular herb, with its interesting history and the numerous varieties available, should be a mainstay in any herb garden.

Basil is a symbol of love and romance in Italy. (It does seem that Italian cooks can whip up a basil pesto with a great deal of love.) It was once believed that a woman would fall in love with the man who gave her a sprig of basil. However, there were some who thought basil might represent something a bit more malignant. These people believed that the name came from “basilisk,” which was the mythical reptile that could kill with a look or a breath. Some thought that the name came from the Greek word for king, which is “basileus.” (The ancient Greeks, however, thought the herb represented hate and misfortune.) Basil was a sacred herb in India and was dedicated to the gods Vishnu and Krishna.) Sprigs of basil were placed or planted on the graves of the dead by the Egyptians, Persians, and Malaysians.

Traditionally, basil was used medicinally for a variety of digestive complaints. A tea made with basil is suppose to aid digestion after a meal, plus help to expel gas.

Basil’s main claim to fame, however, is in the kitchen. Sweet basil (O. basilicum) is the most popular and commonly used in tomato sauces and pestos. However, there are numerous other varieties, which you will want to try. One of my favorites is cinnamon basil (O. basilicum ‘Cinnamon’). I use this in fresh salsas. (The slight hint of cinnamon adds a unique flavor to many Mexican dishes.) Be sure to plant this basil at the front of a border or along a garden path, where its scent will be released into the air whenever someone brushes against it. For a lighter flavor, try lemon basil; however, I recently found a lime basil that I like even better. (I tend to use the lime basil in everything.)

A native of India, Africa, and Asia, basil is an annual, which is quite easy to grow in the garden or in containers. It does not react well to the cold, so you will want to wait until there is no longer any danger of frost before planting in your herb garden. You can start your basil indoors from seed; however, I just find it easier to buy seedlings. Plant your basil in rich, well-drained soil in full sun. (Basil loves the heat, so you really do not need to mulch it unless you are in drought conditions.) You might also be interested in introducing some of the more ornamental basils into your landscape; e.g., ‘Holy basil’ (or O. sanctum, which has coarse gray-green leaves) and ‘Purple Ruffles’ (which has shiny dark maroon leaves). A good variety of basil for container gardening is ‘Minimum,’ which is a compact bush form.

Whatever variety of basil you choose – and I would encourage you to choose more than one – you will quickly discover why basil is probably the most popular herb in the garden … even if that garden is on your windowsill. Basil should definitely be a mainstay in your herb garden.

Copyright © 2010 Cherie Kuranko “InkSpot” All Rights Reserved

An inexpensive way to increase the variety of herbs in your herb garden is by propagating with cuttings. If your friend has strong, healthy rosemary plants growing in her garden, then ask for permission to take a cutting to start your own rosemary plant. Propagating with cuttings is a simple process to learn and is an easy, quick way to establish new herbs in your garden.

For best results, cuttings from soft-stemmed herbs should be taken in late spring to early summer and cuttings from woody-stemmed are best taken in August and September. All cuttings should be taken from mature, healthy plants—sometimes referred to as a gardener’s mother plants.

The best time of day to take cuttings is around brunch time—just after the morning dew has cleared and before the hot afternoon sun begins wilting the plants.

Soft-stemmed cuttings may be taken from a branch with new growth. Look for healthy, succulent stems and leaves.  Cuttings should be about 4-6 inches in length and you should snip the cutting off just below a leaf bud (node). Using a clean pair of pruning shears or scissors, snip the stem at an angle. A 45 degree angle is good.

Woody-stemmed herb cuttings should be taken from a mature side shoot taken from the lower base of the stem and be about 9” in length.

Immediately after cutting, remove all flowers and any leaves from the bottom half of the cutting and place the cutting either in a container with water or directly into your rooting medium (soil). Soft-stemmed cuttings will root great in water or soil.  Woody-stemmed cuttings should be rooted in pots.

Water: If you choose to place your herb cuttings in water, you may use a glass container that will allow the lower half of the cutting to be immersed in water. A drinking glass or canning jar works well. Be sure to keep fresh water in the glass. If it becomes cloudy, replace with fresh water. It is best to change the water every 2-3 days.

Place the glass in a semi-shady area.  In a few days, you will begin to see tiny roots forming.  When the cutting has grown a healthy root system you can plant it in a pot of soil.  This normally happens within 7-14 days, but can vary depending on the plant variety you are propagating. You may also plant directly into the garden, but it is best to let the herb establish a good root system in a pot first.

Soil:  If you choose to place your cutting in a pot you should use individual 4-inch pots for each cutting. It is a good idea to dip the cut end of the cutting in a rooting hormone, but many gardeners have had success without doing this with soft-stemmed cuttings. It is advised to use rooting hormone for woody-stemmed cuttings, which can take up to a year to root.

Provide excellent drainage and use sterile soils. Regular potting soil is a bit heavy for herb cuttings, so a mixture of course sand, perlite and peat moss is suggested. Keep the soil well-moistened. You can place your pots on a heat mat at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit if you desire.

After dipping the cut ends in the rooting hormone, poke a small hole into the soil. Stick the cutting into the hole with about half of the stem under the soil. The cuttings should be firmly planted in and kept moist until rooting. Misting frequently the first few days is a good idea. Place in a shaded area with good air circulation.

When your herb cuttings have established a good healthy root system and appear to be growing well they may be transplanted into your herb garden. Keep in mind rooting times will vary from plant to plant. Below are just some of the wonderful herbs you can enjoy in your garden by learning how to propagate with herb cuttings.

Lavender, lemon balm, lemon verbena, basil, oregano, rosemary, sages, thyme, lemon thyme, variegated thyme, mints, tarragon and hyssop.

Copyright © 2010 Cherie Kuranko “InkSpot” All Rights Reserved

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When following Atkins, you will not consume fruits for the first two weeks on Induction. The Atkins low carb diet moves from Induction to Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) after the first two weeks and some fruits are allowed. Moving from OWL into Lifetime Maintenance on the Atkins low carb diet means even more healthy fruits can be incorporated into your daily menu. Fruits tend to be high in natural sugars like fructose, but there are a few that have enough fiber to counteract most of the carbohydrates in the fruit.

California (Haas) Avocado

Most people include the California Haas Avocado in the vegetable category but avocados are fruits. ON the Atkins low carb diet, avocados are allowed during Induction and throughout OWL and Lifetime Maintenance. California Haas Avocados have 6.0 grams of carbohydrates and 4.2 grams of fiber for ½ an avocado. The “net” carb impact, the only carbs counted on the Atkins low carb diet, are 1.7 per ½ an avocado.

Fresh Raspberries

The wonderful, bright flavor of a fresh raspberry is a welcome boost for dieters following the Atkins low carb diet. Fresh raspberries have 7.1 grams of carbohydrates and 4.2 grams of fiber per ½ cup serving. The “net” carb impact is 3.0 carbs per ½ cup – perfect for use on Induction, OWL and Lifetime Maintenance on the Atkins low carb diet.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb is a unique fruit with an extremely low carb count. A ½ cup serving of Rhubarb contains 2.8 carbohydrates and 1.1 grams of fiber. The “net” carb impact for dieters following the Atkins low carb diet is just 1.7 carbs.

Fresh Whole Strawberries

Whether blending up a low carb green smoothie or enjoying a serving of whipped, sugar-free cream on top of a sweet fruit base, strawberries are acceptable on the Induction, OWL and Lifetime Maintenance phases of the Atkins low carb diet. Fresh whole strawberries have just 5.1 grams of carbohydrates and 1.7 grams of fiber. Total “net” carb impact is a minimal 3.4 grams of carbs.

Guava

In the OWL and Lifetime Maintenance phases of the Atkins low carb diet, more than 20 grams of carbs (Induction level) are allowed. Guava offers an excellent source of fiber for a relatively low “net” carb impact. Just ½ cup of Guava contains 9.8 carbohydrates and 4.5 grams of fiber, leaving the “net” carb impact at 5.3 grams per ½ cup serving.

Fruit is not something dieters following the Atkins low carb diet will have to give up forever. Some fruits are just plain terrible for low carb dieting and others offer a good source of fiber to keep constipation, common with low carb dieting, at bay and menu plans bright, colorful and tasty.

Why? Obviously, it is for the main reason that in this article you will find two of the favorite low carb chicken recipes that you can add to your low carb chicken recipe collection.It is also interesting to know that these provided low carb chicken recipes are taken from the most trusted resources on low carb chicken recipes. So read on for your great advantage.

So here is one of the great low carb chicken recipes that will give you a sense of satisfaction before and after preparing it. Well, this low carb chicken recipe is named as Crunchy Pecan Chicken. Generally, this low carb chicken recipe is a skillet chicken recipe that has a coating of ground pecans and Parmesan cheese. This is basically composed of one cup of ground pecans, ½ cup of grated parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon of garlic salt, ½ teaspoon of dried leaf basil that is crumbled, lemon juice for dipping, 4 boneless chicken breast halves that are also pounded to make flat and even in thickness, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.

In terms of the procedures involved in this low carb chicken recipe, all you need to do is to combine the pecans, cheese, garlic salt and basil in a huge low dish. Then put the lemon juice in another low dish; dip the chicken in juice and then coat with pecan mixture. After that, you heat oil until moderately hot, and then add the chicken. The average period for each piece of chicken to be cooked is 3 to 5 minutes on each side or until golden. As simple as that!

The other notable low carb chicken recipe is what is known as Smacking Wings. Accordingly, this low carb chicken recipe is about wings that are tangy and sweet version of Buffalo wings. This is basically composed of 16 chicken wings, ½ cup of salad oil, ¼ cup of balsamic vinegar, ¼ cup of honey, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 2 tablespoons of cane syrup or dark corn syrup, 1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce, ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon of dried thyme, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, ¼ Worcestershire sauce, ¼ teaspoon cayenne, and ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg. The directions for this low carb chicken recipe are just so simple and brief. You just need to cut off and discard the bony wing tips, and cut the remaining wings in half. Then in a large bowl combine the remaining ingredients and blend well. Marinate the wings in this mixture for one hour in the refrigerator and then grill in a medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes.

Today’s garden advice is for the new gardener whose dream is having a garden that is always full of flowers, always in full bloom. All flower gardens have their peaks and valleys. While no flower garden can maintain its peak bloom, there is no reason why there can’t be something in bloom from early spring through late autumn. Knowledge of what blooms when and for how long will provide the new gardener with the ammunition required for the all-season bloom. Many garden centers, which can help with you with their own garden advice, are now selling annuals that are capable of flowering earlier than natural and will continue to bloom until the first frost. Perennials bloom for shorter periods of time, making them harder to work with.

When planning a full bloom garden one should approach the project by imagining your garden as a storage rental business.

As one tenant moves out another needs to take its place. And so it must be with your garden by creating a succession of blossoms by using a variety of plants.

My garden advice to the novice gardener is that a garden has its shining stars that never fail to amaze you with their gaudy blooms and colors. Building your garden around these stars is no different than building a sports team around its stars. Some spring stars are as follows: tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, and alliums. Daffodil blends will provide you with a color-coordinated mixture of varieties that will bloom at different times. They are also a deer resistant plant. Giant Dutch crocus will bloom weeks before other blooms set sail. To add variety to your early spring blooms plant Giant Glory of the Snow. They are 6-7 inches high with sky blue blossoms with white centers.

They are easy to grow and will multiply. Mulching and fertilizing  can be found on our site.

To bridge the gap between the spring and summer stars I recommend iris, (that will bloom through the summer), the alliums, which are very fragrant flowers and in rock gardens may bloom all through the summer. I personally recommend a Mountain Bells mixture that will bloom in late spring and again in the summer. They have a sweet fragrance and multiply freely year after year with hundreds of blooms. More garden advice would be to plant a lily mixture that will bloom through to mid summer.

Late summer bloomers would be begonias, which will bloom to the first frost. A gladiola mix will bloom through late summer. A favorite of mine that pop up in the late summer is the hardy cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium). The mature plants have beautiful rose-pink butterfly blooms that have many delicate 1″ blooms.

I know you will enjoy many hours visiting your star-studded all-season garden by following this garden advice.

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A delicious accompaniment to any dish or just as a tasty snack. this is perfect if you have a glut of courgettes in the garden. suitable for vegetarians who eat eggs.

serves 4
Ingredients
2 cups  Courgettes finely shredded, (do not peel you need the skin for colour)
4  large eggs, beaten
¾ cup  Plain flour sieved
1/2 tsp. Granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. Salt
3 tbsp. Vegetable oil or virgin olive oil
4 tsp. Baking powder
1/4 cup  Butter, (rub for pancakes
Equipment you will need

large mixing bowl

preferably a large frying pan

Method

Preheat the fryiing pan to a mediunm hot setting mark 4 or 5 depending on your cooker etc.

In a large mixing bowl:-Add and beat eggs,

Add shredded Courgettes and mix well using a fork.

Add the flour, sugar, salt and oil and stir well.

and finally, add baking powder and mix well using a large spoon.

The batter consistency should be like heavy whipping cream.

Rub the frying pan lightly with some vegetable oil.

Spoon the batter on medium to hot pan. (2 tablespoons for each pancake).

Cook until bubbles almost stop, about 1 1/2 to 2minutes.

Turn over and cook for about 1 1/2 minutes longer.

Adjust heat as necessary the pancakes can burn easily (depending on the type of elements on your range and also the type of fry pan you are using.

Serve with your choice of jams or syrups.  Also very tasty with sour cream, crème fraishe or yogurt with jams and pancake syrup or just eat as is. These are extremely tasty for breakfast, brunch, lunch or just a snack.

Take out the sugar if you want use dish as a vegetable accompaniment

Yields about 16 pancakes

Enjoy!

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Poetry is the color of music, the rhyme of the rainbow, and the rhythm of life. Poetry is ambrosia and nectar, the food of the gods, nourishment for the soul. Children feel poetry in their souls. Poetry is dance and movement and music and art all in one. Here are some collections of poetry which you can celebrate with a child.

A Child’s Garden of Verses – Robert Louis Stevenson. The renown author of Jekyll and Hyde was a loving father as well and composed these lovely verses for his children. Filled enchantment and wonder, these stories hark back to a gentle, pastoral time when children frolicked in the garden after supper,built castles, sailed the wide ocean and went off to be pirates, all before bedtime.

Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle- I bought my copy for 35 cents from Scholastic flyer from my teacher back in 1974. The pages are falling out and creased. This collection should be on every child and teen bookshelf. Authors include William Carlos Williams, Saki, Emily Dickinson, Carl Sandburg, T.S. Eliot, Langston Hughes and Hafiz.

Joyful Noises: Poems for Two Voices’ – 1989 Newbery Medal. Paul Fleishmann (twice winner of Newbery Award), Paul Beddows. Collection of dialog poems based upon creatures from the insect kingdom. There are all sorts of onomatapeia and metaphor in these poems.Perfect for Reader’s Theater.

The Prophet and Song of the Rain- Kahlil Gibran. Written in the 1920′s by the Lebanese mystic, Kahlil Gibran, these poems, while deep and soul-searching, have a cadence and lyrical tone that will appeal to a child. Teenagers, especially, will love Kahlil Gibran. His poems describe nature in an allegorical way. He writes about life, faith, work, family, money, travel, time and love. Gibran’s imagery is breath-taking.

Red Dragonfly on My Shoulder – Sylvia Cassedy. A collection of Haiku translated from the Japanese. The haiku is the essence of the Orient with its stark simplicity, economy of words and pleasing order. Just as a Japanese floral arrangement has only one lotus blossom or pussywillow branch artistically arranged, haiku poems focus the mind on one simple idea. Children love haiku because it is easy read and write. The simplicity of the syllable patterns and lines make Haiku one of the most satisfying forms of poetry to write.

Shadow- 1982 Caldecott. Marcia Brown, from the poetry of Blaise Cendrars. Illustrated in brilliant colors and woodcut pictures. Depicting the splendor of life on the Central African Savannah.

A Visit to William Blake’s Inn – 1982 Newbery. Nancy Willard. This volume with Regency England illustrations features a delightfully whimsical feast of poetry from Mr. William Blake and his wonderfully quaint inn, where lives a ‘tyger’ and a ‘man in a marmalade hat’. Gentle, joyful imagination.

These poems will soothe the soul, tickle the imagination and delight the heart of any child!

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