From Spark People:

The Importance of Setting Medium-Term Goals

A Reward System to Reach Your Dreams!
  -- By Joe Downie, Certified Physical Fitness Instructor

So often we daydream and think of some far-off goal that we would like to achieve. "I want to play the guitar in a band," "I want to run a marathon", "I want to be better at my job," etc. It's not difficult at that point to break it down into short-term goals… practice some chords in the evening, run on the weekends, or arrive an hour earlier at work. You get in a groove and suddenly you're on the way to reaching that long-term goal.

However, there are so many other goals where that groove is tougher to find once you get started. You begin to feel overwhelmed as you think about the long journey ahead.

This is where medium-term goals and a reward system can really make a difference. A good medium-term goal can keep the "fire" burning. For the examples above you might set a medium-term goal to play 5 of your favorite songs very well, or to run a half marathon, or create one new idea that will help your co-workers. Some may take longer than others, but bridging the gap between short and long doesn't make the journey seem so "out there!"

You still might get bored and not feel the same enthusiasm as you did early on, and that is why it's important to have a reward system. So, if you have your long-term and short-term goals, and you've just come up with your medium-term goal, it's time to reward yourself for progress. An example: if you achieve 90% of your weekly goals, take yourself out to dinner. If you achieve the weekly goals a total of eight times, buy yourself a new toy. If you achieve a medium-term goal, buy something for your house. For achieving a long-term goal, take a trip!

I know… where is the money coming from???? You don't have to go into debt to reward yourself… but I think the little extra money you shell out to stay motivated will be worth it in the long run. You'll gain more than just playing in a band, running a marathon, or being better at your job; you'll gain all that comes with it! Your life will have become enriched along the way and your self-esteem will skyrocket because you've reached something you've always dreamt about!

Never give up… keep fighting for your dreams!

 

 

"All of your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them." -  ºoº Walt Disney ºoº  

 

Disney Princess Warriors

From Disney blog:

I totally love this. Yeah Disney Princess Warriors. 

Comic Con 2011 Warrior Disney Princesses

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 06:14 PM PDT

An adult spin on Disney childhood tales at the 2011 Comic Con… All photos by Mike Rollerson on Flickr

ARIEL from "The Little Mermaid"

AURORA from "Sleeping Beauty"

MEGARA from "Hercules"

ALICE from "Alice in Wonderland"

ESMERALDA from "Hunchback of Notre Dame"

MULAN from "Mulan"

SNOW WHITE from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"

BELLE from "Beauty and the Beast"

 

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From sparkpeople:

This is so true. 

Healthy Fitness Horoscopes

Your Fitness Future is in the Stars!
  -- By Leanne Beattie, Health & Fitness Writer
When it comes to sticking with a consistent exercise program, you might not reach your goals if you're following a plan that goes against your true nature and personality. For example, if you're outgoing, solo workouts might not hold your interest, while a spontaneous personality won't jibe with scheduled fitness classes. If you're struggling to make exercise a habit, reach for the stars! Check out these healthy fitness horoscopes that will give you pointers based on your astrological sign. 

Aries: March 21 – April 20
As an Aries, you are as the one who gets things started. Want to take a kickboxing class but your gym doesn't offer one? Take the initiative and talk to the owner of the club. Or better yet, get the training and become an instructor yourself. You love to get things moving, and there's no better way of making sure you get what you want than by doing it yourself. As a fire sign, you want inspiring and imaginative ideas. You tend to get bored easily, so mix up your fitness routineevery few weeks to keep it fresh. Trying new activities will keep you interested, so when Pilates gets tiresome, switch to one-on-one at the local basketball court or start swimming. You'll keep your muscles guessing and see serious results! 

Taurus: April 21 – May 21
The physical, sensual side of life is very important to the Taurus. You love to feel connected to your body and enjoy the perks in life, including good food and good wine. Be careful not to enjoy them too much, or you might have to spend more time in the gym than you'd like. After a hard workout, reward yourself with a massage or a soak in a hot tub. You love the feel of fine fabrics, so stay away from polyester or other scratchy materials. You might have the reputation for beingstubborn, but that's a good thing—you won't give up until you reach your fitness goals. It might take you a while to find an exercise routine that you like, but when you do, don't mess with it as long as it works for you. You are an earth sign, so don't force yourself to work out at a gym if you'd rather beoutside. Go hiking, swimming or skating, and connect with the great outdoors as much as possible. 

Gemini: May 22 – June 23
As a Gemini, you put a lot of value into careful thinking. Unfortunately, this means you have a hard time shutting off your thoughts and relaxing. The next time you're mind is racing, slow down with a yoga class. If you're not seeing the fitness results you'd like, satisfy your analytical side by keeping a fitness journal to assess your exercise habits. Log your workouts on a calendar to see how much exercise you're getting. Fewer than three sessions a week means you need to take action. You're interested in so many things, so it won't be hard to find a new sport or activity to shake out the doldrums. 

Cancer: June 24 – July 23
Home and family are very important to the Cancer sign. Setting up a workout room at home, with a jump rope, treadmill and dumbbells, is a great way to blend fitness and family. And it allows you to exercise whenever you get the urge—no driving required! As a water sign, getting back to the beach is the dream vacation for you. If you can't take a tropical holiday, visit your local swimming pool and plunge in. You're a natural in the water, so try snorkeling, water-skiing or cliff diving if you're feeling extra adventurous. At the very least, soak in the hot tub as often as possible. 

Leo: July 24 – August 22
Leos are natural-born leaders who are at the center of the universe—at least in their own minds! Use your charisma to organize an office volleyball team or sign up for a 5K charity run and collect pledges. You'll thrive as you train for the big event and your magnetism will draw lots of donors (and fellow trainees) to your cause. You pride yourself on being an individual and may prefer to exercise solo instead of being part of a fitness class. As you don't like to feel pressured, keeping a regular fitness schedule may be a bit stressful to you. Ease up on yourself and work toward meeting your own personal goals instead of feeling like you have to go along with the crowd. 

Virgo: August 23 – September 22
Virgos are the analysts of the Zodiac. Because you like to look at the big picture and see what's involved, you are great at taking a big goal and breaking it down into manageable steps. Instead of concentrating on a losing 30 pounds, focus on losing one or two pounds a week, one week at a time. You're a pro at deciphering information and deciding whether it's useful or not, so take the time to read through the stack of fitness magazines next to your bed and devise your own workout routine. You can't handle chaos, so you need to have an organized fitness plan. You're more likely to stick to plans made in advance, so spend Sunday evenings with your calendar and plot out your fitness routine for the week. 

Libra: September 23 – October 23
Because Libras need balance, you start to feel edgy andanxious when one part of life is taking over. Instead of trying to juggle too much, scale things back to ensure you have plenty of time for both work and fitness. You have the innate ability to look at a complex situation and simplify it—why not share your knowledge with a newbie at the gym who is struggling to figure out how to use the machines? Even though like to have your own way, try to be more patient the next time you're waiting for a treadmill. Life is too short to get stressed out at the gym! You know the importance of combining strength training with cardio work, but don't forget to shake things up a bit sometimes by trying new activities. A judo or boxing class might be just enough to boost your fitness to the next level. 

Scorpio: October 24 – November 22
As a Scorpio, you tend to feel guilty about not being perfect. It pains you to realize your body is not the ideal that you think it should be. Cut yourself some slack and give up on the pursuit of perfection. Find satisfaction in knowing that you are working hard to achieve you fitness goals and you're getting healthier—even if you never lose those last five pounds. Be true to yourself. If you know that your fitness plan isn't as good as it should be, do something proactive instead of beating yourself up. Remember that self-love is the first step toward happiness and you deserve the best in life. By learning to accept your shortcomings instead of berating yourself, you may find it easier to reach your goals. 

Sagittarius: November 23 – December 21
If you're a Sagittarius, you get satisfaction by doing. You want to experience things and aren't satisfied to sit on the sidelines and watch someone else have all the fun. You needfreedom to move (no tight spandex for you!). An organized exercise class will make you feel fenced in, so try an activity you can do on your own. Power walking is ideal for you, and counting your steps with a pedometer will give you a real sense of accomplishment. You love to broaden your horizons, so consider taking a walking tour across Europe or taking yoga classes in India to help you find more meaning in your life. There's more to you beneath the surface than you show to others. Open up and drop the mysterious persona. Say "hi" to everyone you meet when you're out for a walk—you might just find an exercise buddy along the way! 

Capricorn: December 22 – January 20
As a Capricorn, you want to stand out as an individual. Stick to your fitness plan by doing what works for you and listening to your body. You leap at the chance to be the first to try something new. Just make sure you get instructions before trying new pieces of equipment or exercises so that you don't hurt yourself. You hate to have boundaries, so you are naturally drawn to the extreme side of life. Cliff diving and rock climbing would give you a rush! You can't do these every day, but you can mimic this excitement with a high-intensityrunning program. The natural high you get after a good run will satisfy your adventurous side until you can take part in another extreme activity. 

Aquarius: January 21 – February 19
If you are an Aquarius, you thrive in social settings. Being alone stifles your creativity and brings you down, so take advantage of your friendly nature and join a fitness class. In your mind, the more the merrier! You have a very open mindwhen it comes to new ideas. This means you're often the first one in your circle of friends to try a new fitness activity. You adopt the latest trends and equipment into your program, even when others are reluctant to change. You have a strongsocial conscience, so why not combine your fitness goals with charity work? Sign up for a 5K or 10K run for charity, or swing a hammer to build a home for a less fortunate family. You can get fit and feel good at the same time. 

Pisces: February 20 – March 20
The Pisces sign is naturally drawn to arts like music anddance. This opens up lots of fun fitness possibilities. Why not take salsa lessons with your partner or hip hop dance classes with a group of your friends? Nothing compares to an evening of dancing—it's fun and burns tons of calories! Even if it takes you a while to pick up the steps, you'll have so much fun that it won't matter. You sometimes feel frustrated with the limitations of the human body—you don't like to be told you can't do something! Push your fitness to the limit by learning new, exciting skills like downhill skiing, tennis or golf. You believe that there's more to the world than what you see with your naked eyes. Your heart is genuinely filled with love and appreciation. Tune in to your mystical side by taking yoga and meditation classes, which will help you to focus on and express your deep gratitude. 

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Mini Smores Cones

From Life as a Mom blog:

You only need three ingredients: mini cones, chocolate chips, and either marshmallows or marshmallow creme.

Please note that marshmallow creme contains egg whites, so if your family is dealing with an egg allergy, go for the real deal. I only had four or five marshmallows left so we saved those for FishChick2 and made the rest with marshmallow creme. They have some fine differences, but both are delicious.

I tested these in the toaster oven's broil setting (400 °F) as well as in my oven's broiler and the oven's 400°F setting. I prefer the toaster oven. I could see how brown they were getting without opening the door. Use what you got and make it work for you.

Recipe: Mini Smores Cones

Ingredients

• 1 box mini ice cream cones, about 1 to 2 inches in height
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 package marshmallows or 1 jar marshmallow creme

Instructions

1. Preheat the toaster oven to its broiler setting (about 400°F) or the regular oven to 400°F.
2. Lay out the cones on a broiler safe baking dish.
3. Fill the cones halfway with chocolate chips.
4. Insert a marshmallow into each cone or fill the cone with marshmallow creme. If using creme, allow a small amount to mound over the top of the cone.
5. Bake the cones in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes depending on how toasty you like them. Bake the cones in the toaster oven for 2 to 3 minutes or until toasty.
6. Remove the cones from the oven carefully and serve.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 10 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 12

If you're worried about the cones tumbling on the tray, you can try this Alton-Brownesque suggestion from my husband:

Cover a rimmed cookie sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil. The higher the sides of the tray, the better. Cut holes in the foil so that you can poke the cones through the foil and the foil will keep them from toppling.

If you con't like your marshmallows toasted — apparently some people don't — you can tuck the marshmallow into the cone, dip it in melted chocolate, and roll it in sprinkles or chopped nuts. How cute is this?!

Props to my very clever husband for thinking up that one. Well, I added the sprinkles bit.

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From Coupon Contessa blog:

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

This is one of my favorite homemade products.

It is so simple and inexpensive to make.

Items that you will need:
1 Cup Borax (estimated cost is 25 cents)
1 Cup Baking Soda (estimated cost 33 cents)
Large Mixing Bowl

Directions:
Mix equal parts Borax and Baking Soda in a large mixing bowl.
Mix until well combined.

This recipe will yield 14 uses.
**Use TWO Tablespoons per load.

The cost to make this product is approximately 58 cents. Divide that by the number of uses (14) to get the cost per load/use.

4 cents per load! Yes, that is correct 4 cents per load.

Compare that to the dishwasher detergent that you are currently using and see the money that you will be saving your family in a year.

 

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369 I would like

From tecnabob blog:  < 3

Star Wars Xbox 360 Slim: These Aren't the Consoles You're Looking For (Actually, They Are)

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 08:54 AM PDT

There's a limited edition Star Wars-themed Xbox 360 coming up, that features some cool droid-inspired designs. Both Microsoft and LucasArts unveiled this console bundle for the upcoming Kinect Star Warsgame yesterday at the San Diego Comic-Con.

The bundle includes an Xbox 360 with a 320GB hard drive, the Kinect sensor and the motion-controlled Star Wars game. It also has the Kinect Adventures game, that's usually bundled with Kinect. It will be released this holiday season and will cost $450 (USD), which is equivalent to the price of the components purchased separately.

The console is covered in R2-D2′s paint job, so it's quite fetching. It will feature custom sounds thatmimic the droid, while the controller takes on a golden hue of C-3Po. The Kinect sensor is white, to match the console. The game looks to be geared towards kids, who'll probably go bonkers for it.

While I wouldn't pick up the console just for the game, I'd definitely buy this limited edition, as my own Xbox 360 dates from November 16, 2005, the day the Xbox 360 was launched. It's available for pre-order over atAmazon now.

[via Wired]

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Hungry Girl Bar Savers

Don't let heavy cocktails at happy hour bum you out -- we've got the tips & tricks to keep that frown turned upside down. (No, one of these tricks is NOT drinking while standing on your head.)

Out-on-the-Town Happy Hour DOs and DON'Ts! DO grab a light beer or a glass of wine.A bottle of light beer has around 100 calories (some have as few as 55!), and a 5-oz. glass of wine has about 120 calories. Pretty reasonable! Plus, it's easier to estimate your caloric intake with these than with mysterious mixed cocktails. DON'T go overboard with the bar bites.Those items are often fried, fatty, and carby. So don't skip dinner in an effort to save your calories for drinks -- if you do, you're likely to gobble down too many of those calorific chews. If you've gotta nosh during happy hour, opt for something light like shrimp cocktail or not-too-saucy chicken skewers. DO stick to clear or light-colored alcohols! These have about 100 calories per 1.5-oz. shot. Vodka, rum, tequila... All good choices. A one-shot drink over ice with a calorie-free mixer and a squeeze of lemon or lime is a nice refreshing way to go!  DON'T get a drink that looks like a dessert. Creamy, sweet beverages can be loaded with ice cream, syrups, and more alcohol than you might think. Not only can you get more tipsy than you intend (making those fatty bar bites harder to resist!), but you can also end up slurping an entire meal's worth of calories. DO pick club soda over tonic water. Club soda (a.k.a. soda water) has no calories, while tonic water has about 80 calories per cup! Ridiculous, right? Diet soda of any sort also makes for a great zero-calorie mixer.  DON'T forget about the calories in fruit juice! A splash for flavor is OK, but a half-cup can add around 60 calories to your beverage.  DO SOCIALIZE! The more time you spend gabbing, the less time food and drinks are going into your mouth.  Most Important Cocktail Tips Ever! Be of the legal drinking age if you're going to consume alcohol. Also, don't get in a car unless someone sober is behind the wheel. "Guilt-free" isn't just about calories, people...

Stocking the At-Home Bar, HG-Style... Throwing a party? Having a get-together or girls' night? Make sure you have the right tools to whip up smart sips all night long! Liquor essentials - Vodka, rum, and tequila are good basics, and flavored varieties can be fun ways to amp up your drinks. Orange-flavored vodka? Yes, please! Passion fruit rum? Heck, yeah! No-calorie and low-calorie mixers - Club soda, diet cola (we like Coke Zero), diet lemon-lime soda (Sprite Zero rules!), light juice drinks (Trop50 has many flavors), and sugar-free powdered drink mixes (duh, Crystal Light) are at the top of our list. Sugar-free flavored syrups - If you don't know about Torani, it's time you learned. Scope out the brand's many sugar-free flavors, find a flavor or two that you love, andorder some online. (You can also find them at stores like BevMo! and Cost Plus World Market.) Ice - We can't emphasize how important it is to have good ice. Boo to freezer burn! If you have one of those refrigerators that dispenses crushed ice, SCORE! You are one lucky duck. Fruit - Whether fresh, canned (in juice), or frozen (without added sweeteners), fruit is good to keep on hand for making blended beverages and garnishing mixed drinks. Bar tools - We keep it simple: a jigger (to measure shots), a measuring cup with ounce markings (to measure mixers), a shaker, a blender, glasses, and bendy straws! A copy of Hungry Girl Happy Hour - What? This adorable cocktail book is a guilt-free bartender's best friend. Plus, there are super-delicious party foods inside! (Recipes for them, that is. Not actual food items.)

HG FYI! Are you confused about the right way to calculate the PointsPlus® values for alcoholic beverages? You're not alone. Click here for the full info

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Healthy Snacks (Spinach Smoothie ?!?!)

From Mummy Deals Blog:

 

I love to eat spinach...drinking it. Ok, I'll try it.

 

Tips and Tricks: 3 Great Kid-Friendly Snacks Posted: 18 Jul 2011 03:48 PM PDT It's hard coming up with great snacks for kids especially ones that are nutritious engouh for you to feel good about, yummy enough for them to eat and frugal enough to save your wallet!  Here are some of my favorites to help you get started. Spinach Smoothies Hear me out before ya judge!! I love smoothies and right now I feel sadly iron-depleted and exhausted. I do love fruit so I love to whip up a smoothie.  One great tip is to watch your fruit. When it looks like its starting to go bad and you know you can't eat it right away, quick stick it in a container and place it in the freezer. The next time you need a smoothie you have fruit ready to go! The other thing I love is to make a spinach smoothie! Before you all gag, here's how: Blend up some fruit. Add a couple of tablespoons of plain yogurt. Finally add a handful of fresh spinach and blend well. Sure it'll look green but I promise you won't taste it!!!!!! Homemade Granola Store-bought granola is expensive and full of who-knows-what.  While living in Thailand I couldn't find it anywhere and so I developed an easy recipe using plain old oats. Ingredients 3 cups of oats Enough honey to make it stir well Other ingredients like coconut, flax seed, wheatgerm, raisins, nuts Directions Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and heat oven to 300. Mix all together and then spread thin on the pan. Cook for arounjd 15 minutes or until it almost smells burnt! It sounds crazy but then I turn it over on the pan and cook for a further 10 minutes and it's good. I pour mine back into the oat container and in the morning serve with yogurt and fresh fruit. 100 Calorie Snacks Marketed to help people lose weight these things are really just a whole lotta air without substance! Don't get me wrong, we all love convenience so why not grab some ziploc bags, a huge bag of chips/your favorite snacks and portion them out. Read the back and see how many make a portion and then add that amount to the bag. Trust me, you'll save mega moolah! Here are some 100 calorie ingredients: 1 small orange 15 mini carrots 3 TBS raisins 6 reduced fat Triscuits 1 cup celery 1 cup watermelon 13 animal crackers 3/4 oz cheddar cheese 2 Twizzlers 7/8 cup cheerios 2/3 cup mini marshmallows 1 cheese stick and 5 slices ham

Lemon Chickan Piccata

From - Leanne Ely

Lemon Chicken Piccata
Serves 4
 
4 (4- to 6-oz.) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, flattened to about 1/4-inch (use a plastic bag and rolling pin)
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup flour
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup dry white wine (or use additional broth)
1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
1 (14-oz.) can artichoke hearts, quartered  or use equivalent frozen artichoke hearts
 
In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Season flattened chicken with salt and black pepper. In a shallow dish (or dinner plate), combine flour, lemon zest and paprika. Mix well. Add chicken and turn to coat. Remove chicken from flour mixture and shake off excess flour.

To the hot oil, add the garlic. Add chicken and saute 2 minutes per side, until golden brown. Add lemon juice, wine and chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Simmer 5 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and sauce thickens. Add capers and simmer 1 minute to heat through, then serve.

Per Serving: 326 Calories; 6g Fat; 44g Protein; 17g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 99mg Cholesterol; 470mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch); 5 1/2 Lean Meat; 1 1/2 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Fat. Points: 7

 

 

"All of your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them." -  ºoº Walt Disney ºoº  

 

HG's Sweet & Sour Chicken 1-2-3

 HG's Sweet & Sour Chicken 1-2-3

The Sweet-n-Sour-Stuff Girls!

Serving Size: 1/3rd of recipe, about 2 cups
Calories: 295
Fat: 2g
Sodium: 730mg
Carbs: 37g
Fiber: 5.25g
Sugars: 27g
Protein: 30g

PointsPlus® value 7*

People, the danger of consuming greasy chicken drowned in sugary sauce isn't worth the convenience of having dinner delivered to your doorstep. This recipe, however, is TOTALLY worth the small amount of effort it takes to make it. YUM! P.S. You can also find this recipe (and more like it!) in the "International Favorites" chapter of Hungry Girl 300 Under 300!

Ingredients:
12 oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 cups broccoli florets
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 cup chopped celery
16 oz. canned pineapple chunks packed in juice (not drained)
1 tbsp. cornstarch
3 tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar
1 tbsp. ketchup
1 tbsp. reduced-sodium/lite soy sauce
1/2 tsp. chopped garlic
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/8 tsp. ground ginger
2 cups bean sprouts

Directions:
Bring a large skillet or wok sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat on the stove. Season chicken with salt and black pepper and place in the skillet/wok.

Stirring occasionally, cook until chicken is no longer pink on the outside, about 3 minutes. Add broccoli florets, bell pepper, celery, and 2 tbsp. of water to the skillet/wok. Cover and cook until veggies are tender, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, to make the sauce, drain the juice from the canned pineapple into a small nonstick pot. Add cornstarch and stir to dissolve. Add vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic, crushed red pepper, and ginger. Mix thoroughly. Bring to medium-high heat on the stove. Stirring frequently, cook until thickened, about 3 minutes.

To the skillet/wok, add pineapple chunks, bean sprouts, and sauce. Mix well. Continue to cook and stir until sprouts have softened and chicken is fully cooked, about 4 minutes.

Serve and enjoy!

MAKES 3 SERVINGS

 

"All of your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them." -  ºoº Walt Disney ºoº  

 

Kim K:

Removing an 'indestructible' virus 7/8/2011 Q. I'm having a problem with Google searches lately. When I click on a search result, I am redirected to a random website. I am running security software, but none of my programs detects a virus. After doing some research, I think my machine is infected with the TDL-4 rootkit. How do I get rid of it? -Roscoe from Des Moines, IA, listens to my national radio show on KWQW 98.3 FM A. We've been hearing about the TDL-4 rootkit in the news lately. It has infected more than 4.5 million computers. About a third of these infections are in the United States. TDL-4 has been described as "indestructible." There are a few different reasons for this. First, it is a rootkit. This type of malware is extremely difficult to detect. It can hide on a machine without the owner's knowledge. Many security programs can't detect rootkits. Second, the TDL-4 rootkit gives the criminals total control over your machine. They can use it to launch attacks. They can install malicious programs. If the server that controls TDL-4 is shut down, it uses peer-to-peer technology to get new commands. TDL-4 has been called the most sophisticated malware to date. Fortunately, though, it isn't really indestructible. If your machine is infected, and it sounds like it is, you can remove it from your system. The Google redirect problem is a symptom of the Alureon virus. This is a member of the TDSS family. It was a major headache for Microsoft last year. The TDL-3 version of Alureon conflicted with a specific Microsoft system update. That caused computers to crash when the update was installed. Microsoft actually had to pull the update for a while. If you haven't updated your computer in a while, this could be the problem. Microsoft released a fix using the Microsoft Security Removal Tool. Updating Windows should take care of TDL-3. Any up-to-date antivirus program should also detect and remove TDL-3. If the infection is really being stubborn, try Kasperky's TDSSKiller or Microsoft's Standalone System Sweeper.  Getting rid of TDL-3 isn't really a problem anymore. However, the newer version of TDSS/Alureon, TDL-4, is a whole new ballgame.   First of all, like TDL-3, TDL-4 is a rootkit. A rootkit is a program that installs deep in a computer's operating system. In some cases, rootkits infect basic Windows operations. That makes them all but invisible to security software. TDL-4 goes even further. This rootkit infects a computer's Master Boot Record. For that reason, it's also known as a bootkit.   The MBR is the region of the hard drive that stores Windows' boot information. In other words, bootkits load before Windows. They actually operate outside of Windows. Bootkits are almost impossible to detect at present. Normal security software doesn't typically scan the MBR. Even when it does, the bootkit can tell the software to ignore it. One bootkit, Popureb.E, has a unique method for this. It actually modifies the instructions Windows sends to your hard drive. It can prevent malicious data from being erased. I told you these things were scary. It gets even scarier. TDL-4, for example, lets hackers install software remotely. It can quietly install a keylogger and steal your information. Or it can blitz you with fake antivirus programs you can't remove.   Your computer could be used for denial-of-service attacks. Perhaps it will be forced to send out spam. That would show up as unusually high Internet activity. However, there would be no other indication. TDL-4 will even remove competing viruses from your system. This keeps your security software from triggering. It can actually lull you into a false sense of security. All TDL-4 infected computers are controlled by a hacker group. That makes TDL-4 a botnet. All the computers can work together to perform specific tasks. The hackers can rent out the botnet to other hackers for various uses. Security companies have had a lot of luck against botnets lately. The FBI took down the Coreflood botnet, for example. The way they did this was to shut down the bot's command and control servers. The hackers were no longer able to send commands to infected computers. That tactic won't work with TDL-4. It has two methods of custom-encrypted communication. One method is a standard control channel. The other is a peer-to-peer channel. The P2P channel lets the hackers transmit lists of new control servers. Every time control servers are shut down, the hackers just start new servers. Then they send the new server locations to the virus. There's nothing law enforcement can do to block the update. The only way at present to defeat the TDL-4 botnet is to clean all infected computers. So, how do you know if you have TDL-4 or another rootkit? Well, it isn't easy. You might see redirection of your search results. Maybe viruses are appearing out of nowhere. Perhaps your Internet traffic is higher than it should be. Those are indications you might have a problem. Another indication is if your security software seems ineffective. It might say it removed a virus, but the virus pops up again. Security software providers are updating their programs to detect bootkits. However, once a bootkit is installed, it's hit or miss. As I said, bootkits are very good at hiding and disabling regular security software. That's why companies are releasing standalone utilities. BitDefender has a dedicated TDL-4 detector and remover. Likewise, Kaspersky has released an updated rootkit detector and cleaner. Norton's Bootable Recovery Tool is also available for existing Norton users. If those don't work, you can try a program called GMER. It is designed to detect and remove rootkits. It's a powerful tool, but can be complicated to use. Be sure to read the site's FAQ before using it. Finally, Microsoft has some last-ditch instructions for removing bootkits. It involves restoring your computer's Master Boot Record to factory conditions. This effectively overwrites the bootkit. You can then use regular security software to clean up any remaining viruses. Unfortunately, this is a dangerous procedure. It's entirely possible you could damage your computer. In that case, you would need to wipe your hard drive and reinstall everything. Make sure your computer is backed up before performing this procedure! Hopefully, you're making backups of your information already. I recommend my advertiser Carbonite. Start by booting into the Windows Recovery Console. For Windows 7 and Vista, that means restarting the computer. Before the Windows logo appears, press the F8 key. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options screen. Use the arrow keys to highlight Repair Your Computer and press Enter. Then select your keyboard layout. Some systems might not have the Repair Your Computer option installed. In that case, you will need to boot from your Windows install disc. If you don't have one, contact your computer's manufacturer for help. Using Recovery console in Windows XP is more difficult. You're probably going to have to install it manually. Microsoft has detailed instructions for this on its site.  Let's assume you've booted into the System Recovery Options menu. For 7 and Vista, select the Command Prompt option. With XP, it will boot into the Command Prompt automatically. Type in "bootrec.exe /fixmbr" (minus quotes; note the space before the forward slash). This will repair the MBR and should overwrite the bootkit. Now you can restart the system. It might be good to boot into Microsoft's Standalone Security Sweeper next. This will prevent any viruses from activating before they're removed. It should make cleaning up the system easier. Otherwise, run full scans with all your regular security software. You'll probably want to do this regardless. The more programs you use, the likelier you are to catch everything. Now, in some cases, all this might not work. The bootkit might still be on your system. In that case, the only solution is completely wiping your hard drive. Then you'll have to reinstall Windows from the ground up. As you can see, being infected by a rootkit isn't fun. Getting rid of it is time-consuming and aggravating. You're much better off not contracting it in the first place. Fortunately, rootkits get installed just like any other virus. They are transmitted through malicious Web links and email attachments. Stay cautious online and keep Windows and your security software up-to-date. Alureon and other viruses are great at stealing your information. However, hackers have plenty of other methods as well. Learn some ways to keep your information safe: Online shopping isincredibly convenient. However, it can expose your credit card number tohackers.Find out how to shop safer online. Hacking an online accountisn't all that hard. Learn what you can do if someone takes over one ofyour accounts. Hackers love unsecuredWi-Fi. It gives them free Internet access. They can also access thecomputers on your network. Take a minute and learn how to protect yourwireless network.

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Twig & Thistle » DIY Book Cover and Bookmark

Egg-White Muffin Melt

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View Nutrition Facts

INGREDIENTS

• 3    egg whites
•     Whole-grain English muffin
• 1/2  cup  spinach
• 1  slice  reduced-fat cheddar cheese
• 1  slice  tomato

DIRECTIONS

Scramble 3 egg whites.

Cover half of a whole-grain English muffin with 1/2 cup spinach and the other half with 1 slice reduced-fat cheddar cheese; toast until cheese is melted.

Add egg and 1 slice tomato.

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition facts per serving:

• Calories270
• Total Fat (g)5
• Saturated Fat (g)3
• Sodium (mg)632
• Carbohydrate (g)33
• Fiber (g)2
• Protein (g)23

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

HG Potato soup and Gumbo

HG's Yumbo Gumbo PER SERVING (1/5th of recipe, about 1 cup): 133 calories, 1.25g fat, 710mg sodium, 14g carbs, 2.5g fiber, 7g sugars, 17g protein -- PointsPlus® value 3* This soup is packed with shellfish and tons of tasty items -- but no rice. Trust us, you won't miss it for a SECOND... Ingredients: One 14.5-oz. can stewed tomatoes (not drained) 8 oz. peeled and deveined raw medium shrimp with tails removed 8 oz. white crab meat (about two 6-oz. cans drained) 1 cup Spicy Hot V8 vegetable juice 1 cup frozen cut okra 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 tbsp. cornstarch 2 tsp. Cajun seasoning, or more to taste 1 tsp. Frank's RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce, or more to taste black pepper, to taste Directions: Bring a large pot sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat. Add bell peppers and onion. Stirring occasionally, cook for about 3 minutes, until tender. Add tomatoes, V8 juice, and cornstarch. Stir well, making sure cornstarch dissolves completely. Cook until mixture begins to bubble. Add okra, Cajun seasoning, and Frank's RedHot. Stir and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes. Add shrimp, and continue to simmer until shrimp are cooked through, about 3 - 4 minutes. Add crab meat and 3/4 cup water. Raise heat to medium, and return to a boil. Remove pot from heat, cover, and let thicken for 5 minutes. Season to taste with black pepper. If you like, add a little more Cajun seasoning and Frank's RedHot. Enjoy! MAKES 5 SERVINGS HG Alternative! For a more traditional gumbo, add 3/4 cup cooked brown rice to the pot just before you cover it during the last step. Each serving will then have 165 calories, 1.5g fat, 710mg sodium, 21g carbs, 3g fiber, 7g sugars, and 17.5g protein (PointsPlus® value 4*).

Fully Loaded Baked Potato Soup PER SERVING (1/5th of recipe, about 1 cup with toppings): 130 calories, 1g fat, 564mg sodium, 22g carbs, 2g fiber, 2.5g sugars, 7.5g protein -- PointsPlus® value 3* Imagine taking a loaded baked potato and turning it into a bowl of creamy, thick soup. Here it is! Ingredients: For Soup3 cups fat-free chicken broth 1 cup plain light soymilk 1 large potato (about 14.5 oz.) 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 tbsp. chopped onion 2 tbsp. shredded fat-free cheddar cheese 2 tbsp. fat-free sour cream 1 tbsp. real bacon bits (like the kinds by Oscar Mayer and Hormel) 3/4 tsp. garlic powder 3/4 tsp. onion powder 1/2 tsp. minced garlic 1/4 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. black pepper For Topping5 tsp. shredded fat-free cheddar cheese 5 tsp. fat-free sour cream 5 tsp. diced scallions 2 1/2 tsp. real bacon bits Directions: Pierce potato with a fork in multiple places, and then place it on a paper towel or microwave-safe plate. Microwave for 8 - 10 minutes, until potato is soft. Once cool enough to handle, remove and discard the skin (either by peeling skin off or cutting potato open and scooping out the insides). Mash the potato pulp with a fork and set aside. Bring a medium pot sprayed with nonstick spray to medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic and cook for 1 - 2 minutes, until onion has softened. Add broth and soymilk. Slowly add the flour, continuously stirring until it has completely dissolved. Add mashed potato and stir until fully blended. Add all other ingredients for soup, but not for topping (cheese, sour cream, bacon, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper). Mix well, reduce heat, and simmer for 2 minutes. Divide soup among five bowls. (Or pour about 1 cup into a bowl now, and refrigerate the rest for another day.) Top each bowl with 1 tsp. each of cheese, sour cream, and scallions. Sprinkle each bowl with 1/2 tsp. bacon bits. Enjoy! MAKES 5 SERVINGS HG Tip! Feel free to load up your baked potato soup with even more potato toppings like salsa, chopped tomato, and spinach. Yum!

HG Recipes

Don't have any of the HG books? Maybe this round of recipes, previously found only on the pages of our beloved cookbooks, will inspire you to go out and grab one. Check it out!

Cheesy-Good Breakfast Tartlets PER SERVING (2 tartlets): 111 calories, 2g fat, 540mg sodium, 10.5g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 1.5g sugars, 11g protein -- POINTS® value 2* These super-decadent breakfast bites can be found inthe Morning Minis chapter of Hungry Girl 200 Under 200. Besides being cheesy-good, they're also packed with bacon and full of eggy greatness! Ingredients: 8 small square wonton wrappers (often stocked with the tofu in the refrigerated section of the supermarket) 48 sprays I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spray 2 slices extra-lean turkey bacon 1 wedge The Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss cheese 2 tbsp. fat-free cream cheese, room temperature 1 cup chopped mushrooms 1 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original) 1/4 tsp. salt, or more to taste 1/3 cup chopped scallions Optional: black pepper Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8 cups of a 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick spray and set aside. Evenly place wrappers flat on a clean, dry surface. Spray each wrapper three times with butter spray, and use your fingers to evenly spread butter. Gently flip wrappers and repeat. Carefully transfer wrappers to the pan, placing each in a muffin cup and pressing to form the cup shape. Bake in the oven until firm and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Prepare bacon according to package directions, either in the microwave or in a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray. Once cool enough to handle, chop and set aside. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine cheese wedge and cream cheese. Stir until blended. Warm in the microwave, about 15 seconds, and then stir again. Set aside. Bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat on the stove. Add mushrooms and, stirring occasionally, cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add egg substitute, salt, and scallions. Scramble until mostly cooked. Slowly fold in cheese mixture and continue to scramble until fully cooked. Remove from heat and stir in chopped bacon. Evenly distribute egg mixture among the baked wonton cups. Serve warm. If you like, season to taste with pepper and additional salt. Yum! MAKES 4 SERVINGS HG Alternative! Prefer regular turkey bacon or the center-cut kind? Use either of those and each 2-tartlet serving will have 117 calories and 2.75g fat (POINTS® value 2*). Still a bargain!

Honey Mustard Pretzel-Coated Chicken Fingers PER SERVING (entire recipe): 349 calories, 2.5g fat, 928mg sodium, 39g carbs, 1g fiber, 13.5g sugars, 37g protein -- POINTS® value 7* Here's a CRAZY-DELICIOUS, sweet-n-salty dish from our latest large-and-in-charge cookbook,Hungry Girl 1-2-3. You'll find it in the Swingin' Single Meals section, a.k.a. Chapter 1.  Ingredients: 3 tbsp. honey mustard 2 tbsp. fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters Original) 5 oz. raw boneless skinless lean chicken breast, cut into 4 strips 2 dashes salt 2 dashes black pepper 1 oz. (about 10 twists) hard salted pretzels, finely crushed 2 tsp. granulated sugar  Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix mustard with egg substitute in a small bowl. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and then submerge in the mustard-egg mixture. Set aside to marinate for at least 5 minutes. Mix crushed pretzels with sugar and spread out on a plate. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Thoroughly coat chicken strips with the pretzel-sugar mixture, and then transfer to the baking sheet. (Discard excess mustard-egg mixture.) Mist the tops of the strips with nonstick spray. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through baking, until chicken is cooked through. Eat and enjoy! MAKES 1 SERVING

Sweetie-Fry Bananas with Cream Cheese Frosting PER SERVING (entire recipe): 202 calories, 1g fat, 303mg sodium, 52g carbs, 10.5g fiber, 18g sugars, 5g protein -- POINTS® value 3* Who's hungry for dessert?! This rockin' recipe from the first-ever HG cookbook is too good for words. It resides in the Fruity Call chapter -- not a bad place to be, with neighbors like Fiesta Tropical Fruit Salsa! Ingredients:3 tbsp. Cool Whip Free, thawed 2 tbsp. Splenda No Calorie Sweetener (granulated), divided 1 tbsp. fat-free cream cheese, room temperature 1/4 cup Fiber One bran cereal (original) 1/8 tsp. cinnamon Dash salt 1 large banana Directions: In a small bowl, combine Cool Whip, 1 tbsp. Splenda, and cream cheese. Stir until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. In a food processor or blender, combine cereal, cinnamon, salt, and the remaining tablespoon of Splenda, and grind to a breadcrumb-like consistency. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Cut banana in half widthwise and then lengthwise, so you have four pieces. Spray both sides of each piece with nonstick spray. Roll each piece in the crumb mixture to coat. Bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to medium heat on the stove. Add banana pieces and cook until outsides are crispy, 3 - 4 minutes per side. Serve with chilled cream cheese frosting and eat up! MAKES 1 SERVING