A Happy Family

>> Dec 3, 2012

I think I more often texting than calling. I will call only if I need a straight answer. Besides that, I prefer texting.

My late father never texting as he felt lazy to type on little keypads. A SIL always calling since it’s quicker and easier. My husband loves doing both. How’s about you?

For Blue Monday, I share two candid shots from my archives –captured at different time and location.

>> Dec 1, 2012

Trying to make it looks better with a little oil paint effect

Both leopards captured in their cage at the Ragunan Zoo (Jakarta, Indonesia). I faced difficulty in taking pictures of them as they were always moving and I only used my pocket digital camera. It’s was their bathing time :-)

Based on Wikipedia, those Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) is a leopard subspecies native to Sri Lanka. Classified as rare species by IUCN, the population is assumed to be declining caused by many threats including stealing for trade and human-leopard conflicts.

Camera Critters

How to Avoid Common Mistakes When Feeding Your Cat

Cats are very much part of the family and it can be easy to treat them as such; feeding them titbits from the table and offering them treats, but cats require tailored nutrition to protect their health and should be fed accordingly.

Start as You Mean to Go On:

As with any lifestyle choice, it's beneficial to set good habits from the start to help them become routine and avoid bad habits creeping in. With this in mind, look at your cats breed, age and any health issues from the outset and plan a nutritional programme to suit, incorporating suitable pet foods.

Make sure your cat is always fed food like Hill's pet nutrition from their bowl to create a distinction between their food and yours so that they know what to expect. It can be beneficial to have set feeding times too, although your cat will no doubt let you know when they are hungry!

If you don't want your cat to beg for food or steal it from your plate, try to avoid encouraging such behaviour by not offering food in this way. Human titbits are fine occasionally but can be damaging if given too often. Added to that, your cat will learn unacceptable behaviour by expecting to be fed from your plate and this cycle will be hard to break. Hill's pet nutrition and other leading brands are, however, ideal for cats as their composition is carefully tailored to meet their specific needs and requirements.

The Dangers of Feeding the Wrong Foods:

Cats rely on a mainly meat-based diet and they need a good balance of fats and oils to remain in optimum condition. It can be very tempting to treat your cat to nice snacks like human meats, cream and fish, but cats can be prone to obesity just like humans and this condition can be debilitating for felines. By instead choosing specially designed foods, you are safeguarding your cat's health and ensuring they stay at their peak for longer.

By indulging your pet too often they are likely to be too full to eat the correct amount of pet food needed, meaning they are not only eating the wrong foods, but are also missing out on the key nutrients they should be getting instead.

Added to that some human foods which are harmless to us can be poisonous to cats and with the best of intentions we could damage our precious pet's health by feeding them certain things. For example chocolate contains the obromine which is toxic for cats and likewise raisins contain toxins which contribute to renal failure, while onions can cause anaemia. Cow's milk is also not easily digestible by cats, so treats like milk and cream should be given carefully, infrequently and in moderation.

Cats can most certainly be a big part of your family, but by meeting their needs nutritionally you are more likely to have them feeling and acting well for longer. Specially designed pet foods contain everything your cat needs to stay in good health, so by ensuring the right diet from the beginning you are doing your very best by the cat in your life.

AUTHOR BIO:

Ilena Sanchez writes regularly on the subject of Hill's pet nutrition and other foodstuffs for a range of pet care websites and blogs. As a pet owner herself, she is aware of the hazards of pet ownership, especially when it comes to common feeding problems.

The Top Five Things Women Need to Consider when Buying Travel Bags

If you are going on holiday, then you will obviously require a travel bag to put all of your stuff in. There are a lot of things that you should consider when it comes to purchasing one of these. After all, you need to make sure that it is practical, affordable, and looks good too. Thus, in order to give you a helping hand this article will reveal the top five things to consider when buying travel bags.

First and foremost, you need to decide what sort of style bag you are going to buy. After all, if you are going to travel, you are going to do it in style, right? Fashion is all about staying true to who you are, and expressing your personality. Nevertheless, there are some trends that you can take advantage of. For instance, blue is a colour which is very popular during this winter period. Moreover, if you want to go for something with a funky edge then go for a bag with studs or something similar adorned on it.

In addition to style, you also need to consider the size of the travel bag you are going to buy. This obviously depends on how long you are going on vacation for and what stuff you are going to take with you. But you also need to think about the restrictions that may be imposed by the airline company you are travelling with. Moreover, you need to think about practicality and how easy it will be for you to carry the bag around.

The third thing that you need to think about is the number of different compartments that the travel bag has. After all, you will want a separate place for your make-up for example. In addition to this, most people like to keep their passport separate as well in order to make travelling easier. Thus, it is advisable that you do not go for a bag which does not have any components at all.

In addition to this, you should also contemplate the material of the travel bags you are looking to buy. One of the most popular options to go for is leather. This is because not only is it fashionable, but it is highly durable as well and thus you can guarantee that you will get a lot of use out of your bag.

The fifth and final point to consider is the price of the bag. This is obviously an important factor when buying any product. It is advisable that you use the internet to your advantage in order to search around for the best deals. Nevertheless, if a bag seems too cheap to be true, then it probably is, so don’t forget to consider quality too.

To conclude, if you consider the five points mentioned in this article then you should have no problem finding a top quality travel bag. Remember; price, style, size, material and compartments are essential factors that you need to think about when on your shopping spree.

Author bio –Peter Smith is a freelance journalist. He used ‘Smart Luggage’ as a resource for this article, thus if you need more information on travel bags you should visit their website.

Credit Card vs Debit Card: Which is Right for You?

>> Nov 29, 2012

When it comes to deciding how you want to make a purchase, you have two main options: a credit card or a debit card. Each one is popular for different reasons, so which one should you choose? From airline miles to overdraft protection, American consumers are weighing their options. Here are the main differences between the two so you can decide which one is the best for you.

WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM

Rediff writes that a debit card is the closest option to cash because the money actually gets withdrawn straight from your bank account. On the plus side, you get the convenience of being able to spend your “cash” online and other various places that do not accept cash. In order to use a debit card you do need to be on top of keeping track of your account balance. It is easy to overdraw with a debit card, which can lead to costly fees.

On the contrary, when you use a credit card you are not spending your actual money. Instead, you receive a bill every month that you must pay in full to avoid interest charges. If you can control your spending to stay within a manageable monthly amount, a credit card is definitely much more convenient. In addition to being a good steward with your credit, you can see your credit score actually rise if paying on time and not going over your limit.

IDENTITY THEFT PROTECTION

Fox Business points out that both cards carry a risk of identity theft. However, with a credit card your actual money is not at risk. If your credit card gets stolen, the company will investigate the charges and make the appropriate corrections before you actually owe them any money. With a debit card, it can take your bank several days or weeks to fix the charges. In the meantime, your money is M.I.A. Identity theft is a crucial threat that targets any consumer and with the rise of digital dependency and online purchasing, identity theft protection can only help to keep your accounts and personal information monitored and protected by a company like Lifelock. You can visit Lifelock's Twitter page to get great tips to help better protect yourself and your purchases.

EXTRA PERKS

Everyone likes a perk, especially if it comes after doing something as simple as making purchases. ABC News states that credit cards definitely take the cake in this category. Many credit card companies offer you airline miles, points to use towards merchandise, or even cash back just for using your card. If you plan on solely using your credit card for all of your purchases, these rewards can add up very quickly and are definitely worth considering. When it comes down to it, the rewards basically act as free money.

ANOTHER OPTION?

According to The Street, there is a third option: the charge card. This card is similar to a credit card because the money is not drawn from your bank account, but instead is due once a month. However, with a charge card you have to pay your balance in full every month. That being said, there are no preset spending limits, so in that respect it is more like a debit card. Many charge cards also offer the same rewards and fraud protection that you will get with a credit card. Consider this a hybrid card, pulling from the best of both options.

A guest post written by James Burrow.