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Letter from EditorCITY MAGAZINEFebruary 2011

Contents

Camey

06 Heart Health

09 Local Flavor

10 Rock with The Band

14 Facts About Love

16 Hoopla Feb 2011

18 Cheap Winter Dates

20 Hulu Hoop Workout

22 Boys Choir

24 Charity For All

28 Bucket List

Every year Valentines day moves many hearts closer to one another. Some may find a new love, while some may get their broken love reconciled, but most of all the coupled and those deeply in love shall find themselves even deeper involved through exchanging precious gifts, spending romantic dinners, etc. Its a day lovers dedicate themselves to their partners. A day filled with excitement and anticipation, a day spent sharing love and friendship.

Having said all that, I think I would be wrong if I only linked Valentines day to romance. People forget that it is a day that is also celebrated by families, children, teachers and friends. As a mom I look forward to getting Valentines gifts for my boys and filling our home with chocolate treats. I love the color red and I am a sucker for heart shape decorations.

Valentines day is beyond a holiday for lovers. Anyone can express love and affection to one another. Though dating couples and married couples make it to the top of the list for love expressions, our children are not left far behind. They are the most excited of the group and look forward to the parties and giving little gifts to their parents, friends and teachers. It may be as simple as hand picked flowers or chocolates or as wonderful as a handwritten note. Whatever they choose it is their way to express love in a way they understand Valentines day best.

A three word phrase such as, "I love you" can have several tones and several meanings but when the words are from a child and meant for a teacher, parent, sibling or friend the words could not be more affectionate or more pure. So this Valentines day, express your love to everyone. Let that special person, big or small, know how much you love them.

Exercise and a balanced diet are well-known factors that improve heart health, but there are many other lifestyle factors that can reduce your risk of heart disease. Some may even surprise you!

Here are 10 things you can do for a healthy heart.

Dark chocolate for a healthy heart

Darker chocolate contains polyphenols, a substance that reduces free radicals, which can cause cell damage. Polyphenols also protect the heart. The Harvard School of Public Health studied almost 8,000 Americans around age 65 for five years. They found that those who ate chocolate and sweets up to three times a month lived almost a year longer than those who ate too much chocolate or none at all.

Sip tea for your ticker

The flavonoids in green, black and white teas improve blood vessel function and increase blood flow. Research in the Netherlands has shown that people who drink three to five cups of tea per day also cut their risk of heart disease and stroke by 44 percent.

Brush up on your heart health

Believe it or not, your dental health can affect the health of your heart. The bacteria in gum disease can spark inflammation that damages the blood vessels. A recent study by the University of California, Berkeley reported that women who get regular dental care reduce their risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases by one-third.

Heart-Healthy Foods, Drinks And More

Giggle! It's good for your heart!

Research at University College in London says that hearty laughter relaxes the walls of your arteries, caus-ing increased blood flow for up to 45 minutes. And since laughter is conta-gious, why not share the joke with others? Daily recommended dose for health: At least 15 minutes of chuckles.

Meditate to prevent heart disease

Studies by the Medical College of Wisconsin reveal that meditating for 30 minutes daily may lower your risk of heart attack by 50 percent. The study focused specifically on transcen-dental meditation, which involves sitting qui-etly and comfortably 15 to 20 minutes per day, and is easily learned, researchers say.

Be grateful and your heart will thank you

A decade-long study of more than 1,700 adults published in the European Heart Journal reports that adults who have a positive outlook on life reduce their chance of a heart attack. Those who regularly feel gratitude for their life circumstances or express it to others have a better chance of living longer and having a healthier life.

Sleep more for heart health

Sleep is crucial for heart health, especially if you're a woman! University of Chicago researchers found that even one extra hour of sleep decreased the odds of hardening of the coronary arteries by 33 percent. So go ahead, roll over and reset the alarm clock. Enjoy!

Have more sex for a healthy heart.

A happy love life seems to go with overall good health. For one thing, sexual activity is an excellent stress reducer. It's also great exercise, you burn about 85 calories during a 30-minute session.

Recall happy times for a happy heart

Focus on happy times from your past. Research has shown that recalling good memories helps your immune system, and your overall good health, which in turn

strengthens your heart.

Turn off the TV to tune up your ticker

FamilyatHeart.org suggests that families should limit screen time to less than two hours a day. This may be a first step toward

increased physical activity, which will help you prevent many other

heart-related diseases. The U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services estimates that most adults need a minimum of four to five hours of moderate

to intense aerobic physical activity each week.

What can you do with all that snow outside? Why not make snow ice cream. Read on to learn how to make this simple wintertime treat. Much of the United States is buried, or about to be buried, under a mountain of snow. Love it or hate it, there’s no denying that snow is the word of the month.

Looking for something to do with all that snow outside your door (besides scoop it?) Why not make snow ice cream?

Snow ice cream recipesNo, we aren’t crazy. Snow ice cream is a popular treat for those crafty people who love making stuff out of something that’ll just melt eventually. Why not create something useful from it?Just remember: Only use the freshly-fallen white stuff. Snow that’s been sitting around for awhile can have, ahem, unmentionable things mixed in.

Ingredients • 1/2 c. sugar • 1 c. cream • 2 eggs • 2 tsps vanilla • Pinch of salt Instructions • Place the above ingredients in a large bowl. • Mix with an electric mixer. • Add approximately 5-6 cups of fresh snow and mix in to blended ingredients. • Enjoy immediately.

Ingredients • 1 12-ounce can evaporated milk • 2 eggs, beaten • 1 1/2 tsps vanilla extract • 3/4 cup granulated sugar • 1 gallon fresh clean snow Instructions • Mix evaporated milk, beaten eggs, vanilla extract and sugar into large bowl. • Gradually stir in snow until desired consistency. • Enjoy immediately.

Freaky Fast Snow Ice Cream

Frosty the Snowman Ice Cream Delight

Make Snow Useful With Snow Ice Cream

The city of Amarillo has so many wonderful places to eat. We have everything from tasty BBQ to spicy Mexican food to fresh sushi. With so many choices how can one decide?

Are you one of Amarillo's best restaurants or Amarillo’s best-kept secret? Let us help advertise your restaurant here.

Give us a call at 806-231-0562.

2909 I-40 West322-WING

Cowboy Gelato is Amarillo's premier dining experience for gourmet Italian ice cream coupled with Cowboy comfort food like cheese stuffed hamburgers, steak and cheese Phillys, & pulled pork BBQ. Cowboy Gelato has over 130 flavors of

gelato including Toblerone, coconut, peppermint, butter baby, egg nog, rum raisin, and many more. You may also create your own flavors with Cody Anderson, Gelato's in house

Certified Gelato Chef, trained by master Italian and Sicilian Gelato Chefs!!! For an amazing burger or sandwich followed with some tasty Italian ice cream, stop in at Cowboy Gelato!!!

Winter Hours are Mon.-Thur. 11am-8pm, Fri. & Sat. 11am-10pm, and Sun. 12pm-6pm.

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5106 S Coulter353-2992

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3810 I-40 W359-5000

Music… it is a constant in both modern society and throughout history. Few other art forms have been so significant in our cultures. Great music can sway emotion with such influence that the listener may become like bottle in the ocean, at the whims of the tides of melody, rushing over them.

In today’s world of non-stop information from every direction, people are on the go constantly, but, whether they prefer the classical renderings of Bach, Chopin, & Beethoven, or the rush of Top 100 Hip Hop, everyone takes time for their music. In recent years, capitalizing on the desire of not only listening to music, but being a part of creating the music, Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and some other titles have created a small sub-culture of musicians. Although these games may fulfill that craving to a point, still nothing can compare to playing an actual instrument in front of a crowd of tens, hundreds, or even thousands of cheering fans, fueling that adrenaline that musicians have enjoyed for centu-ries. It is in part to the fact that there is no substitution, that Larry Dunn created Rock with a Band, a group that gives its students the chance to perform in front of live audiences all over the Panhandle.

Larry Dunn is no stranger to music. Born in Spearman, Texas, Larry began playing the bass guitar at only 5 years old. By age 12, he had picked up on playing the 6 string guitar as well. Throughout his childhood and teen years, Larry knew that his future lay with music. After graduating from Spearman High School, Larry went on to Frank Phillips

College, then to the University of North Texas, where he acquired a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance with a Classic Guitar Minor. He then continued his musical intellectual pursuits attending the Conserva-tory, where he obtained an Associate Degree in Live Sound & Recording Engineering. With his musical passion still fueling his path, Larry went on to teach music classes at Frank Phillips College. Although he loved what he was doing, Larry knew that he could dedicate himself even more to the pursuit of music. In 1997, Larry created Revived Records, his own record label that focused primarily on Christian Rock. Over the course of the next few years, Revived Records would play host to 14 musical groups, with 4 of those performing on national tours and 2 songs coming in at the Top 100, placing 15th and 20th. In 2001, Revived Records also arranged Word Stock Music Festival in Borger, a 150 acre outdoor Christian Rock concert that featured 52 bands both national and international.

Where Musical Passion & Rocking the Stage Meet

After leaving Frank Phillips, Larry decided to pursue another dream he’d carried for some time, owning his own teaching studio. In 2006, Larry created The American Music Teaching Center in Amarillo. At his studio, Larry teaches guitar, bass, drums, piano, and voice lessons. In addition, Larry can play 11 instru-ments, however focuses primarily on instruction in the aforementioned. As we break into 2011, Larry is coming up on an impressive 20 years of teaching experience to contribute to his students.

As Larry garnered more students over the years, he realized that although his pupils were learning and blossoming musically, most did not have an appropriate outlet to showcase their talents. Some may have a small band that they play with; how-ever, most did not have the opportunity to perform for a live audience. It was at that point that

Larry started a new program, Rock with a Band.

Rock with a Band gives students from age 5 to 85, the chance to experience being in a live concert. Rock with a Band’s focus musically is rock, ranging through nearly every kind including alternative rock, blues rock, heavy metal, classic rock, Christian rock, with plans to

expand into the orchestral rock genre, similar to Trans Siberian Orchestra. The Rock with a Band program is more than simply an opportunity to play in front of a crowd; students receive the chance to partake in photo shoots, video shoots, recording sessions, and music writing, in addition to the pleasure of live performance. “I wanted to create a program to make people want to continue playing (instruments) instead of just practicing in their room with

no place to show off their talents. This program is a musical extension of what the students

learn in lessons. It gives them a reason to practice their music with passion and dedication.”

Since its beginnings in 2009, Rock with a Band has already played 6 concerts in just a year and a half’s time, respectively. Larry has students as young as 6 years old playing in front of large crowds. Rock with a Band’s largest concert to date was in Westgate Mall summer of last year. Over 1000 people came to watch this unique performance!!! Numerous venues are planned for this year and another Westgate Mall concert is planned for summer or early fall as well.

Although there is no age limit, many of the participants in this program are children and teens. Many of the parents have commented that after their children began taking part in Rock with a Band that grades in school have improved, self-esteem has changed positively, and even general health of some children has shown a genuine improvement. One such student was suffering from liver and kidney problems. After participating in the program his father told Larry that the music had helped his son recover from these problems. The focus on the music helped take the young boy’s mind off of the health issues he was having, and he made a full recovery. His father said that he doesn’t think it would have been possible without the help of the program; it changed his son’s life.

Some of Larry’s students have also progressed beyond the performances with Rock with a Band. Porsche Driver, daughter of Kayla Driver former Mrs. Texas, is only 9 years old but has already won a multitude of Little Miss Pageants for her vocal skills. Alexis Jergensen, 12 years old, has also placed in national Little Miss Pageants for her vocals as well. Larry also has plans to help those participants with exceptional talent to break into the music industry where and when they can.

Rock with a Band has also added another sub program to its repertoire called Worship with a Band, which focuses on praise and worship music. In addition to this expansion, Dunn is planning on launching the Academy of Music and Recording, which will be a local trade school offering 2 year degrees in Music Education, Recording Engineering, and Live Sound Engineering. The academy should open its doors before the year is over, aiming for mid to late summer.

For more information about lessons, Rock with a Band, the Academy of Music and Recording, or for recording and production questions, check out these websites: www.musiclessons101.com, www.rockwithaband.com, www.amarecordingstudio.com, or www.academyofmusicandrecording.com Or call Larry Dunn at 806-356-0245, and find where passion for music meets rocking the stage.

When did it all start?

There are various theories on the origin of Valentine's Day, but the most popular dates back to the time of the Roman Empire during the reign of Claudius II, 270 AD. Claudius didn't want men to marry during wartime because he believed single men made better soldiers. Bishop Valentine went against his wishes and performed secret wedding ceremonies. For this, Valentine was jailed and then executed by order of the Emperor on February 14. While in jail, he wrote a love note to the jailor's daughter signing it, "From your Valentine." ‘Sound

familiar?

More Valentine's Day-related History

The ancient Romans celebrated the Feast of Lupercalia on February 14th in honor of Juno, the queen of the Roman gods and goddesses. Juno was also the goddess of women and marriage.

Many believe the 'X' symbol became synonymous with the kiss in medieval times. People who couldn't write their names signed in front of a witness with an 'X.' The 'X' was then kissed to show their sincerity.

Girls of medieval times ate bizarre foods on St. Valen-tine's Day to make them dream of their future spouse.

In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who would be their Valentine. They would wear this name pinned onto their sleeves for one week for everyone to see. This was the origin of the expression "to wear your heart on your sleeve."

In 1537, England's King Henry VII officially declared February 14th the holiday of St. Valentine's Day.

Chocolate

Casanova, well known as "The World's Great-est Lover," ate chocolate to make him virile.

Physicians of the 1800's commonly advised their patients to eat chocolate to calm their

pining for lost love.

Richard Cadbury produced the first box of chocolates for Valentine's Day in the late 1800's.

More than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine's Day.

Over $1 billion worth of chocolate is purchased for Valentine's Day in the U.S.

Flowers

73% of people who buy flowers for Valentine's Day are men, while only 27 percent are women.

15% of U.S. women send themselves flowers on Valen-tine's Day.

Facts About Love

Greeting Cards

Approximately one billion Valentines are sent out worldwide each year according to estimates by the U.S. Greeting Card Association. That's second only to Christmas.

Women purchase approximately 85 percent of all Valentines.

Teachers will receive the most Valentine's Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, sweethearts and pets.

And... More fun facts about Valentine's Day

In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Australia, Denmark, and Italy.

The most fantastic gift of love is the Taj Mahal in India. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife.

Every Valentine's Day, the Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet.

About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine's Day gifts to their pets.

In the US, 64 percent of men do not make plans in advance for a romantic Valentine's Day with their sweethearts.sweethearts.

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HOOPLAwww.mycitymag.com

Don’t let post-holiday bills and bone-chilling temps turn date night into a bore. Try one of these wallet- and weather-friendly ideas this weekend!

1. Fire it up If you’re going to stay in on Saturday night, do it right. Open a bottle of wine, and whip up a warm, hearty meal together.

2. Act like kids Get your blood pumping by squishing together on a sled designed for someone half your size and zooming down a hill. Bonus points if you can manage to crash into your neighbor’s snowman.

3. Ice dance Remember the good old days of gliding around the rink, holding hands with your crush? No? Well, then it’s time to experience it! Head to your local skating rink (and do your best not to fall). Some relationship experts say that fun is one of the best aphrodisiacs (not to mention that rubbing each other’s sore butts afterward could be kinda hot).

7 Fun and Cheap Winter Dates

5. Make over movie night Make a standard movie night a little more interesting by adding a theme to the mix: favorite movie couple, favorite movie that’s so bad its good, scariest flicks ever made...you get the idea. Each of you picks your top contender, and then you can flip for whose flick goes first. Bonus: You might learn something new (good or bad!) about your partner.

6. Go for the gold A little competition can be a big turn-on. The good news is you don’t even have to leave your warm and cozy home: Hook up the Wii (or PlayStation) and challenge your partner to a game of Rock Band, Grand Slam Tennis or Flight Control. Grab a controller and go at it. (Hey, we’re talking about the game here -- dirty mind!) Loser has to warm up the car in the morning -- for a week!

7. Get nostalgic Learn a bit more about each other by playing the songs you loved throughout your life. Take turns sharing stories about what memories they bring up -- like the eighth grade dance or your first concert. You’ll learn more about each other and revisit some favorite (or perhaps some "What was I thinking?") tunes.

Sure, we all know that it's important to stay fit. Still we resist. Why? The biggest obstacle to getting enough exercise is that it's not usually any fun. Whether plodding along on a treadmill or pretending you're riding a bicycle “reallysuperfast” with 20 other people, pretty much any fitness regimen gets dull after a couple weeks.

What we need is a type of exercise that seems like anything but. Something fun. Something like... hula hooping.

Yes, seriously. Chances are, you had a hula hoop as a child, and you spent hours swinging your hips to keep the circular hoop rotating your body. Guess what? Now you can reconnect with your inner child while you tighten and slim your body.

Hula hooping: What's all the hoopla?

Hooping is becoming such a popular form of exercise because it includes multiple elements that contribute to creating a successful exercise habit: It's fun, a total blast, it's creative, never boring, never the same, and it provides both muscle toning and cardio. It doesn't take a big commitment to start, either. You can begin by hooping

for only ten minutes twice a day (about as long as it takes to listen to three songs on the radio or your mp3 player) and then build from there.

This ain't your mama's hula hoop

Now, for starters, you'll need a hoop. But don't run out to the toy store to pick out one of the plastic rings from your youth. Instead, to get the greatest health benefits, seek out a professional weighted hoop. The best part of going with pro equipment: It's easier to keep a weighted hoop from falling into the floor, because a hollow plastic hoop will likely begin spinning faster than you can rhythmically swing your hips.

Getting around to results

How long do you need to hoop before noticing a change in your body? Results from any form of exercise vary depending upon the individual's fitness level, weight, age, diet, et cetera, but many people begin to see results in just a few weeks, of course the results become more dramatic over time. People do often report 'feeling it' in their core the day after their very first time with the hoop.

Shake It! Hula Hoop Fitness

Going full circle

The physical benefits of hooping are multifold. In addition to strengthening your abdominal muscles and lower back muscles, doing this kind of shimmy provides an intense cardiovascular workout while enhancing coordination all with little to no impact on your joints.

There's no other ab exercise that takes you in a circular pattern. You're working everything in the core of your body. You're moving those hips, controlling those abs to keep that hoop up, and the cardio benefits come in because your arms are up. Since you're not likely to keep your arms against your torso; when you start moving those arms, punching forward or swinging them, you're getting the double cardio benefit. Your heartrate skyrockets.

Bryn Starr Best, creator of www.hulahoopstar.com, says she has found that hula hooping is a great exercise for just about any age range, and she encourages sedentary middle-aged women and seniors to give it a try. “Even bending over and picking the hoop up when it falls can be good exercise, and they can get a good workout in ten minutes," says Best.

Hula hooping: A fitness revolution

More and more people are realizing that they need to get regular exercise to stay healthy, physically, mentally and emotion-ally, and hooping provides all of those benefits in one fun activity. It's a multi-tasking activity, and in today's busy world, people are looking for ways to get the most out of every minute of their lives, hooping allows people to accomplish multiple goals with just one activity.

But the benefits don't stop there. The wonderful thing about hooping is that it can help you create a whole new lifestyle that revolves around happiness and health and well-being. It's not like you are dreading going to the gym. You can create a time to meet a girlfriend in a park to hoop. It's easier to make time for hooping. It also makes you feel sassy and flirtatious and feminine, because movements are based around the pelvis and undulating.

And while hula hoops probably won't sell 100 million units in a year as they did back in 1959, this revival doesn't seem to be a fleeting fad, either. In addition to the many fitness hoop stores, there's even an online magazine, Hooping.org, dedicated to the sport.

"Hula hooping started bringing joyful release into my life," says Best. "It allows me to tap into being a child again. You start training your mind to enjoy that joyful time."

Get outside and hoop! Enjoy the fresh air and sunshine as you spin your way to a healthier, happier you.

Distinguished Concerts International in New York City (DCINY) announced that the Amarillo Boy Choir, under the Direction of Artistic Director Jerry Perales, has been invited to participate in a performance of A Breath of Fresh Air in Carnegie Hall on Sunday, February 20, 2011. Members of the choir will join with other outstanding choristers to form the Distinguished Con-certs Singers International, a choir of distinction, accompanied by Distinguished Concerts Orchestra International. Mr. Bob Chilcott will be the conductor for the performance as well as serve as the clinician for the residency.

Dr. Jonathan Griffith, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for DCINY states: “The Amarillo Boy Choir received this invitation because of the quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the singers and the exceptional recommendation given by Mr. Perales’ choral colleagues. It is quite an honor just to be invited to perform in Carnegie Hall. These wonderful musicians not only represent a high quality of music and educa-tion, but they also become ambassadors for the entire community. This is an event of extreme pride for every-body and deserving of the community’s recognition and support.” “The singers will spend approximately 9�10

hours in rehearsals over the 5 day residency.” says Griffith. “Not all of the time is spent in rehearsals, since there is so much history and culture to see in New York City. However, the performance in Carnegie Hall is the primary purpose for their visit to the city.”

Preparations have been made through Summit Tour and Travel for the boys to leave on February16, 2011 and return on February 21, 2011. In addition to the Carnegie Hall performance, some of the “Big Apple” activities that the boys will experience include a performance at the Statue of Liberty, Upper and Lower Manhattan Tours, a performance of Broadway’s The Lion King, shopping in Time’s Square and China Town, and visits to the Empire State Building and the Museum of Natural History.

The Amarillo Boy Choir welcomes any donations to help cover the expense of these educational, once in a lifetime tours. Donations may be sent to Amarillo Youth Choirs, Attn: Tours, P. O. Box 9421, Amarillo, Texas 79105.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Katrina Perales, Executive Director, Amarillo Youth Choirs, Inc. 372-1100

Amarillo Boy Choir Invited to Perform at New York City’s Carnegie Hall

Being short on disposable income doesn’t mean you can’t teach your child about empathy, philanthropy and the importance of helping others. Here’s how to encourage a lifetime of charitable giving in your children.

Even if a tight cash flow and carefully managed budget don’t allow you to be as monetarily charitable as you might like, there are plenty of other ways that you can set a good example for your kids and teach them about the importance of philanthropy.

Give early, give oftenPhilanthropy is a lifestyle that should be part of your family values and traditions. By helping others on a regular basis, your child will see you doing charitable work and recognize that giving back is a natural and

important part of your family. So start young and get kids involved. Allow them to choose an item for the food drive, encourage them to give away gently used toys and clothing or ask them to select books to donate. Diversify your interestsPersonal reasons often motivate people to donate their time or money to specific charities. Expose your children to a variety of organizations so they too can choose the causes that are most meaningful to them. Some kids will naturally gravitate toward specific types of charity; others may need your help. Maybe bringing food to the local animal shelter will be the spark that ignites your child’s charitable spirit. Social organizations like the Boy Scouts or Girls Scouts include a community service element -- this could be a good choice for your son or daughter as well.

How To Raise Charitable Children

Just remember to keep your child’s temperament in mind. Volunteering at the children’s unit of your com-munity hospital may be traumatizing for a sensitive child but could serve as a nice way for your healthy child to see how lucky she is. Try to match your child’s personality to volunteer opportunities with minimal risk for negative emotional impact, but don’t miss out on potentially life-enriching experiences for fear of poten-tial unpleasantness, such as volunteering at a nursing home or helping the disabled. As your child ages, you can engage them in more sophisticated charitable activities that blend philanthropy and youth.

Create charitable traditionsIn addition to regular charitable donations, you can start tradi-tions with your children that they’ll look forward to year after year. For each new toy received, your child must select one old toy to give away. Make a trip to the local nonprofit thrift store or home-less shelter as part of each year’s birthday activities or designate an annual “family volunteering week.”

Discuss charitable givingIf you set aside a portion of your income or time for charitable causes, encourage your kids to do the same with their allowance and time. Let them see how you give and participate, and talk to them about your efforts and reasons for philanthropy -- even if it’s just 25 cents in a Salvation Army kettle. Don’t forget to also discuss your choices not to donate. If you decline to give to a panhandler, for example, explain to your child that you donate or volunteer to organizations that know best how to provide the right services and care for such individu-als. And don’t be afraid to acknowledge that these are hard choices to make, even as an adult.Even a day or an afternoon of volunteering can be incredibly fulfilling. Keep an eye out for ways to contribute to your community and influence your kids’ philanthropic future in a positive way.

It's a fact: Most men do not know how to apply cologne.

The Dos & Don'ts Of CologneCompared to debating the introduction of Spanx for men or issuing a stern warning against the use of eyeliner (leave the raccoon eyes to Adam Lambert), weighing in on the finer points of personal style, specifically cologne, may seem relatively pointless. There are bigger battles to fight. But after catching a whiff of the grave mistakes of men who we thought would never fall pray to the pitfalls of scent selection, application and storage, it’s clear that the time has come for a refresher course on the dos & don’ts of cologne.

Try before you buyThere is only one way to tell how

a scent will actually smell, and it

doesn’t involve

scratching and sniffing a magazine or fragrance-laced piece of card stock from an overly aggressive sales girl at the perfume counter. A self-test on your skin is the single, surefire method for determining its reaction with your body chemistry. That’s why you should try before you buy. Then, wait a day before committing to reveal any potential allergic reactions and ensure the scent will last. If you need more help picking a cologne, we're your resource.

Watch what you eatBody chemistry is a key factor when considering the dos and don’ts of cologne. The problem: Chemistry isn’t consistent. One trip to the Indian buffet, a gorge-fest of fried chicken or throwing back a beer can make cologne smell stronger -- and not in a good way. We love spicy, fatty man-food just as much as the next guy. So, if you’re going for gastronomic gold, let your scent sit this round out. As for date night, well, we shouldn’t have to tell you that the best you could hope for after a curry dinner is a goodnight handshake.

Reapply if you have dry skinWhen it comes to cologne, knowing your skin type is mission critical. Oily complexions maintain scent longer, with fewer and less frequent applications. The additional moisture on the surface of the skin acts as a chemical activator (think of it as a consolation prize for those years spent as a pimple-ridden teenager). Drier skin, on the other hand, is just the opposite -- it’s like a sponge soaking up that sweet scent. Go for an extra squirt and make sure to recharge for a night on the town.

Apply after a hot showerLike most things in life, timing is everything. So, naturally, there is a prime time for applying fragrance -- like after a hot shower or bath. The water temperature and steam assist in prying pores open, which in turn, sop up scent. They’re what keep you smelling fresh (or not) all day long. And while attempting to scent unshowered skin isn’t the worst cologne crime in the world, you do run the risk of instigating a nasty cover-up.

Cologne Dos & Don'ts

Cologne Dos

DouseWe all know that guy who has a perpetual trail of saturated scent you can smell from a mile away. It announces his coming and going in the most olfactorily offensive way possible -- the classic case of foul play with a trigger-happy hand as the culprit. Instead of dousing (and needlessly wasting that precious liquid), spraying at the pulse points is a more effective way of application and, honestly, a cologne basic. A dab behind the ears, on the wrists and at the base of the throat -- essentially, anywhere the blood vessels are close to the skin’s surface -- is all you need to maximize your musk. And remember, when in doubt, less is more. No one likes to be assaulted with smell no matter how pleasant you think it is.

Use scented soapsCool rain and arctic blast may seem like the perfect pals for shower time. What’s the problem then? Strongly scented soaps and body washes can mix in unintended ways with any cologne applied afterward. At best, the soap smell will overpower any lighter fragrance making it seem as though the cologne is barely there. But more likely, the cool, clean scent of that manly mountain-mist body wash you’ve been using for years will alter the smell of the cologne you just dropped 80 bucks on. We’re not recommending you switch to some new-age fragrance-free brand. Just go for something lighter than normal.

Think one scent is enoughDespite the old advice of finding a signature scent and sticking to it, men must remember the importance of changing things up. This isn’t just

for kicks there is a method to the madness. As seasons change, cologne must follow suit. A full-bodied

fragrance for mid-July doesn’t match the mood and can be overpowering. The opposite is true too: Lighter scents get lost in colder temperatures come winter time. But the solution isn’t to stock up on your favorite 50 colognes. Instead, opt for just two to complement the seasons. A citrusy scent for spring and summer should give way to woodsy, spicy selections in fall.

Wait aroundMen have a bad habit of hoarding

unopened cologne bottles for use at a later date. We tend to stockpile them as though

they’d be useful in a nuclear attack. But colognes have a shelf-life: Three years to be exact. After that, the natural oils in the bottle lose their intensity and go rancid. The good news is that three years is a long time, so if it takes you longer than that to use up your stash, it just wasn’t mean to be. And don’t think that a pristine bottle fairs any better. This rule holds true for all colognes whether they’re still wrapped in plastic or on their last drop.

Cologne is a crucial part of being a man. The whole scent thing plays into our primal need to mark our territory. And now, you’ll be able to mark that territory right.

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The possibilities are endless. Should you swim with the sharks or ride the world’s tallest roller coaster? Bungee jump or see the Great Wall of China? Accomplishing something on your bucket list will take some planning, but before you can even get to that stage you need to decide what to do. Here are five of our favourite, realistic suggestions for incredible things to do and cross off your bucket list in 2011.

See One of Earth’s Natural Wonders

Okay, it would be great if you could go see all seven natural wonders of the world, but that’s a lot of travelling and money. So, choose the one that sounds the most interesting to you and then plan accordingly. Make a fun vacation out of it. Most of the wonders are located in exotic locations with much to see and the key to success for any vacation is to do some research about the area you are travelling to. With seven vastly different places to see you are bound to choose one that will blow your mind. Just in case you are not sure what those places are, here’s the run down: The Grand Canyon, The Northern Lights to the, ahem, North of the globe, Mount Everest on the border of Tibet and China, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, The Paricutan Volcano in Mexico, The Harbor at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and, of course, The Great Barrier Reef on the Australian coast. There are, of course, many other man made and modern (and whatever else they could think of) wonders, but the natural wonders are a great start. And the best part

about the visiting the Natural Wonders is that they are generally free (except for the travel to get there).

Experience Weightlessness

You may not make it to outer space but you can get the same feeling without ever leaving the stratosphere. The Zero-G Corporation has begun capitalizing on one of the most out-of-this-world, downright fantastic feelings there is – weightlessness. Their Boeing 727 flights take off from their locations in either Nevada or Florida, soars to an altitude of

34,000 ft. and then for the next 20 to 30 seconds everything inside the plane becomes weightless and passengers actually float about the cabin. The seemingly gravity-defying act, known as a parabolic flight, involves having the plane nose-dive a few degrees only to pull up again to the 34,000ft height in order to deliver the weightless experience – this act is repeated 12 to 15 more times during

the flight. The fun continues once you have landed, so you are definitely getting

your money’s worth; you get to party with your zero gravity mates and will receive plenty of cool swag to commemorate the whole experience. With pictures, DVDs, awards and flight suits as take home gifts, you won’t soon forget the flight that made you feel lighter than air. The experience will run you a handsome $4,950.

Attend One Major World Event

Whichever you choose, attending a major world may just give you a story to tell that your grandkids won’t mind hearing over and over again. Finding tickets to sporting events is easy enough as long as you snag them way in advance. Specified Super Bowl or licensed sporting (London 2012 Olympics tickets go on sale online as early as March 2011) websites are the easiest way to get legit tickets. Tickets for more exclusive occasions are trickier to find, but are still possible. You may consider millionairesconcierge.com where tickets for everything from movie premieres to the Emmy Awards can be bought. So while it may be easier if you are part of ‘the academy’, being just another Regular Joe won’t necessarily stop you from partying like a rock star, or maybe even with one.

5 Bucket List Items to Cross Off in 2011

Get Into Top Physical Shape

You only live once, so even if this is a short lived stint, work on looking like a Greek god. Then when you are 90 years old you can reminisce about being a strong, able-bodied man with rock hard abs. For the average 20 to 45 year old, non-obese male it would take about 90 days of serious exercise and eating right to achieve actual abs. And after seeing results you will likely want to keep going. Allow and push yourself to feel great both mentally and physically just once in your life. As a serious plus, your chances of scoring a hot date will skyrocket and you may just add a few extra years to your life by getting fit. To keep you on track to becoming an Adonis, join a health club for Men where you can get weight loss tips, advice and most importantly motivation from experts who tailor fit a diet plan for your lifestyle. Sure, much of the general knowledge can be accessed online and equipment can be bought for your home but sometimes it takes the presence of other people to motivate you. The last thing you need to do is commiserate with other hopeful fatties online. Many local gyms can be accessed for as low as $10 a month and allow you unlimited access to state of the art equipment.

Fall Crazy in Love

If you’ve done this and you are currently with the love of your life, then spend the year falling in love with them all over again. If you haven’t done this already, make this the year. Cheesy? Maybe, but you haven’t lived if you haven’t loved. Despite the hardship, hassle and the possible heartbreak, it is completely and utterly worth it. It is the number one reason poems are written, songs are sung and why movie tickets are sold. To care for someone else more than yourself and to have that feeling reciprocated - there truly is nothing quite like it. Winning the World Series, weightlessness, seeing the Grand Canyon or looking like the Statue of David all fail in comparison to being in love. However, finding love isn’t, by any means, easy. You need to be bold, take chances and put yourself out there. More importantly, you need to be open to it. If you are the timid type or ‘terrified of rejection,’ there are online and offline service providers that can assist

overcoming some of those initial barriers; eHarmony even guarantees a love match.

Eat, work, eat, sleep, and repeat- get out of the rut and go cross something off of your bucket list. You only live once so don’t waste all your time away. Take some risks because we all kick the bucket someday. You might just kick yourself if you don’t. No one will remember (or care) that you always paid the bills on time or that you separated your whites from your colors, but living your life with adventure, being bold and taking chances will give you some great stories, fulfilment and may even make you legendary – or at least admirable. A new year is upon us; go after your bucket list head on.

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Many women consider their partner's actions (or inac-tions) on Valentine’s Day as a measure of their love for them. Show her how much you care by giving her a stylish Valentine’s she is bound to remember. An intimate evening with all the right gifts and accents will make it truly memorable.

The SettingMost women want Valentine’s Day to be special so you are going to need the right setting. Put a fashionable slipcover over your couch, chairs and bed. Strategically place some candles on your coffee table, in/around your tub and next to your bed. Add flowers and burn a large scented candle. Now you have created a perfect atmo-sphere to host your Valentine’s Day.

Chocolate Women love chocolate. The new Nestlé Noir is a revolutionary wave shaped chocolate bar that compli-ments one’s palate and creates a new in-mouth experi-ence. The Nestlé Noir tablet has been formed to opti-mize the zones of contact and heat transfer points in the mouth. This decadent chocolate is available in five flavours: Nestlé Noir Éclat Caramel, Nestlé Noir Intense, Nestlé Noir Éclat Noir, Nestlé Noir Éclat Sublime, Nestlé Noir Éclat Miel Amandes.

Jewelery Jewelery is an obvious gift that women never tire of. The key, however, is to select the right jewels for your woman. Diamonds are a given. David Mamane, CEO of MyJewelryBox.com suggests any of these traditionalist gifts for that special woman on your list: Diamond Studs ($925), Tennis Bracelet ($980) and/or a Solitaire Diamond Necklace ($775). Any of these gifts are bound to make her smile and keep her happy.

WineOpen a bottle of Elysium, a red ribbon and the finest chocolate dessert you can find. Elysium is made from the Black Muscat grape with a rose and litchi scent and is especially appropriate for Valentine's Day. Pair Elysium with a dark chocolate dessert - or accompany your dessert with some Essensia, made from delicious Orange Muscat grapes (known in Italy as Orange Blossom Muscat). This is best paired with chocolate desserts containing almonds, peaches, apples or apri-cots.

EscapeFor the gift of a relaxing B&B escape, you can try a“Getaway Gift Card” from BedandBreakfast.com which can be used at more than 4,000 B&Bs across the United States and Canada. There are no fees, no taxes, no expiration or blackout dates. Instant online buying means that you can give a no-strings gift that offers complete flexibility. Buy and instantly print your customized B&B gift card, complete with your person-alized message and choice of design.You can even upload a photo of you and your lady right onto your gift card.Last MinuteIt’s Valentine’s Day and you haven’t gotten her anything yet? Never fear - Giiv.com allows you to send a variety of gifts instantaneously via text message, “saving your ass” and your relationship.Simply select a gift, a bottle of wine, bouquet of flowers or a 60-minute massage, for example and enter in your lady’s cell phone number with a personal message. She will instantly receive a text message with a gift code to redeem in store or online.

Valentine's Day Done Right

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