If you are planning a trip to the beautiful and romantic country of Italy chances are you are intending to visit the typical tourist traps such as Venice, Rome, Florence and maybe Milan. Not to insinuate you shouldn’t fit these places into your itinerary; there are just a few other places we would highly recommend you see as well.

The places we recommend for Italy vacation are a bit ‘off the beaten path’ and more locally-frequented places. We will break this down into two trip possibilities; if you have five days in Italy and if you have ten days in Italy.

If you have five days in Italy this is what we would recommend:

Fly to Milan and begin your Italy vacation there. You will want to rent a car and word to the wise – Italians drive very fast and their cars are very, very small! Now, be aware that Italy is divided into regions, provinces and municipalities.

Milan is in the region of Lombardy and on your five-day trip to Italy we will take you to two other regions – Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Drive from Milan directly to a little village in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia called Trieste. Why are we having you drive cross-country to a little Italian village no one has heard of? Trieste is probably the most beautiful unknown place that Italy has to offer. There is little tourism there which means you will get to see how true Italians live from the locals’ perspective.

Trieste is on the seafront as well as next to two other countries; Austria and Slovenia. So this means you will not only be exposed to the Italian culture but also the Austrian and Slovenian cultures. If you choose to, you could take a day trip to one or both of them.

While in Trieste you will also want to see the Miramare Castle, the Castle of San Giusto, the Trieste seafront and the Cathedral of San Giusto. Also, if you are a downhill skier or an avid fan of beauty, nature and quite possibly the mountains you may very well want to take a day trip to the Italian Alps.

It’s quite possible you have taken care of your skin your entire life, never had acne, never overexposed yourself to the sun and wore moisturizer everyday.

It is also possible that you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from skin disorders, frequent acne and overexposure to the sun.

Did you know that regardless of how well you have taken care of your skin and how well you continue to take care of your skin, you are still at risk of suffering from more than half of the ten most common skin problems of our time?

Here we have broken down the ten most common skin problems you may face in your lifetime and what you need to do if you are victim of one of them.

1. Acne

Acne affects millions upon millions of people every year.

Acne is not just a skin issue that affects awkward teenagers; in fact thousands of adults suffer from adult onset acne even when they never experienced acne problems in their teen years or through puberty.

If you suffer from an occasional pimple, blackhead or whitehead you may want to skip the trip to the doctor and treat it through diet and maintenance of your facial skin through proper cleansing and moisturizing techniques.

If you are suffering from extreme bouts of acne you should seek advice from a professional such as your dermatologist. A dermatologist has the knowledge and skills to treat extreme acne through medication and other techniques.

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Expecting a baby is a joyful period of any woman’s life and among the pleasant things a future mom experiences during pregnancy, the baby shower is perhaps the cutest event. All future mothers know that when hosting a baby shower, the first thing that comes to mind, is where to find the baby shower food ideas.

The event will be attended by your dear ones, friends and family, and the bunch of people coming to congratulate the new parents is bound to get hungry. To satisfy their and why not, your own appetite, you would want to consider the options that are both tasty and entertaining.

The baby shower food ideas are all about showing the world how good are you to throw a party for your baby and it is the perfect occasion to shake the pregnancy blues and entertain people ready to celebrate your future maternity.

When considering the many ideas for baby shower food the best way to go is to keep it simple but colorful. There are three main sections to consider for that purpose and these are: appetizer style snacks, cakes and other dessert types and drinks.

Baby shower food ideas for appetizer style snacks

Choosing smart finger food and snacks for a baby shower is actually rather simple. People, when they think about finger food, usually assume that they will be served a more elaborate version of pretzels and beer nuts when in fact the world of finger food rivals the most sophisticated examples of food art.

1. Salty snacks as baby shower finger food

When looking for food ideas to match a baby shower, consider the multitude of salty snack you can offer your guests. From Italian style crostini, to shrimp cocktail, cream cheese mini sandwiches and slices of baguettes with salami, the sky is the limit.

For a baby shower on a budget, guacamole and tortilla chips are perfect along with fish rolls and olives. You can complete the salty snack table with brunch style bread and butter but do not forget one or two salads. The Mediterranean and the Caesar salads are perfect for an afternoon baby shower buffet.

2. Greens, cheese and raw bits

If you are a vegan future mommy and you expect vegan friends to attend your baby shower, make sure you plan vegan baby shower food for them. This idea for baby shower food is actually the easiest to put in practice and also one of the most affordable ones.

Carrot sticks, green celery slices, peppers, cucumbers, and broccoli can be the perfect companions for humus.

Don’t forget to bring cedar cubes to the table. Also, accompany the dish with olives.

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Want to know that you’re pregnant before the tests tell you so? Then check out these early signs of pregnancy which may help you determine whether you’re pregnant before you test yourself.

1. Missed Period

Perhaps the most obvious symptom that you’re pregnant will be that you miss your regular period. If you conceive close to the time of your next period, this may be your early sign of pregnancy.

Two notes of caution, however. Not every missed period means that you’re pregnant. Sometimes with stress, lack of sleep, changes in diet or medications, and more can result in a missed period.

Additionally, not all women have a cessation of their periods during pregnancy. In fact, some women continue to have regular periods throughout their pregnancy, making it difficult to confirm a pregnancy at home.

2. Cramping, Spotting

Known as implantation bleeding, this can be one of the early signs of pregnancy. This sometimes happens shortly after the fertilized egg attaches itself to the uterine lining, which can cause spotting or feelings of cramping. This implantation bleeding can happen as soon as six days after your egg is first fertilized, but may be experienced as many as 12 days into your pregnancy.

Don’t mistake this implantation bleeding and cramping for menstrual cramps, although they can often feel much the same. If you notice cramps and bleeding that is somewhat more slight than usual, you may have your first sign of pregnancy.

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Help yourself feel better during your menstruation cycle with natural solutions to cramping, bloating, and moodiness with these must have foods for your menstrual diet.

1. Whole Grains

Whole grains are important throughout the month, but provide many benefits to women during their menstruation cycle. Eat things like oats and whole wheat to provide your body with lots of B-complex vitamins and vitamin E which all help with mood swings and fatigue. They’re also useful eaten one hour before bed to help with PMS.

2. Pineapple

Manganese is another important nutrient for having a healthy menstruation cycle, and pineapple just so happens to be packed full of the stuff. Women who have a sufficient intake of manganese have decreased menstrual flow, which is a really good thing. Pineapple also contains an enzyme known as bromelain that helps in relaxing muscles.

3. Legumes

Beans, lentils, chickpeas, split peas, and other legumes are an excellent choice for lunch or dinner while you’re having your period. Legumes are high in fiber which helps with congestive problems and alleviates water retention by ridding the body of excess fluids. They’re also high in B vitamins which are great for menstrual symptoms.

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Don’t struggle blindly with belly fat anymore. Get educated on where stubborn abdominal fat comes from and what fitness routines you should use to get rid of it. Here are 10 helpful tips to get rid of belly fat:

1. Why belly fat is different

If you’ve ever struggled with belly fat, you know the frustration that it can bring. Even after much exercise, many people find that abdominal fat won’t go away, making them feel discouraged and frustrated with their workout routine.

But belly fat really is somewhat different from fat on the rest of the body. That’s because scientists have found that the fat on our bellies is formed as a result of stress. When we’re stressed, our body is producing an increased level of a chemical called cortisol that reacts with insulin in the body to create visceral abdominal fat (fat that lies deep inside your abdomen). This causes fat to form on the stomach area that is hard to get rid of.

The cortisol in our bodies also increases our cravings for things like fatty, sugary foods, which further increases our struggles with weight.

2. Why belly fat is a serious health concern

Belly fat is no laughing matter. Studies have found that those with a spare tire around their waists have a much higher risk of coronary artery disease, diabetes, and cancer, as well as higher risks of premature death as a result. When measuring waist circumference and waste-to-hip ratio, scientists found that those with a higher central obesity have double the chance of developing coronary artery disease.

Not only that, but visceral belly fat has been shown to be more metabolically active, which means it produces more changes in cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure. But this is generally true only for those people with mostly fat in the belly region and not on other locations of the body. So reducing the size of the spare tire you’ve been carrying around will not only make you feel more attractive, it’ll help protect you from dangerous health problems as well.

3. Why aerobic exercise is better for reducing belly fat

So how do you get rid of belly fat? Scientists are finding that there are certain types of exercise that are better for the job than others. In a recent study, scientists found that aerobic exercise beats strength or resistance training by far for losing belly fat. The eight month study compared the effectiveness of aerobic exercise against other forms of exercise like weight lifting or a combination of the two.

They found that those in the aerobic only group who jogged 12 miles per week saw significantly better results in reductions of visceral fat than those who did 12 repetitions three times per week of weight training. More surprisingly was that combining aerobic exercise with weight training saw similar results compared to aerobic exercise alone.

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Many of the winter newly weds are tempted to postpone the honeymoon until spring or summer so they could enjoy a peaceful romantic time in warm weather and sunshine.

The good news is that, if winter spreads a cold blanket over some parts of the world, the exotic destinations retain all the splendor and amazing beauty that can offer a young couple a spectacular chance for a beautiful vacation.

Here are the most spectacular exotic beach destinations able to make honeymooners feel all the joy and romance of the first days spent as a wedded couple.

1. Pink Sands Beach, Bahamas

Bahamas Archipelago is known for the paradise appearance and the amazing blue waters. Pink Sands Beach is perhaps the crown jewel for the ones seeking a honeymoon destination. Tropical grounds, luxurious treatment, clear waters and endless beautifully colored sands, make Pink Sands Beach a memory you would want to treasure.

2. Tranquil Lagoon, Bora Bora

Bora Bora is the land of promised perfect time. The newly weds can find here the sweet chance of freedom in a secluded picturesque beach called Tranquil Lagoon. The exotic nature all around the lagoon offers the best as view and natural beauty are concerned.

3. Whitehaven Island, Australia

Endless blue and endless fun are waiting for the newly weds here. Beautiful white beach and amazing places to party are making this place ideal for a young couple ready to have amazing good time during the honeymoon.

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In years past, it was more difficult to find eco-friendly furniture, especially those with upholstery. But today, there are so many stylish, sustainable couches and chairs available you’ll have a hard time narrowing down your list of favorites.

1. Viesso Green Couch Materials Options

Cozy up on one of Viesso’s stunning custom couches made of the green materials of your choice. They offer locally-sourced alder frames, bamboo (a rapidly renewable material that results in less destruction on harvest), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified Maple, natural latex foam, recycled and natural fibers for upholstery, low-toxin wood stains, water based glues, and more.

They’ve made your couch green from the inside out, and will even offer recycling services for your old furniture.

2. Keilhauer Eco-Friendly Seating Options

Keilhauer makes a wide variety of functional, high-style couches and they care about the environment, too. Using a closed-loop system, they aim to create environmentally-benign furnishings made of waste or recycled materials, sustainably sources raw materials, CFC-free upholstery, and recyclable materials.

Not only that, but they use wood cuts for energy generation, they recycle all cardboard and leather, and use only recyclable plastic components.

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The new Philosophy Completely Clear Skin System is set to revolutionize skin care as we know it. This set is formulated to provide natural skin care that helps to prevent and eliminate problems with blemishes and pimple breakouts by soothing and hydrating skin. The simple set includes 4 products: Oil-Free Foaming Acne Cleanser, Oil-Free All Over Acne Treatment, Oil-Free Acne Spot Treatment, and Retinol Clarifying Lotion.

These products are formulated without parabens, synthetic fragrances or dyes, petrochemicals, and phthalates.

2. Eminence Organics

Based on a philosophy that biodynamic organic agriculture practises are the best for growing ingredients for natural skin care products, the Eminence Organic Skin Care line is another newbie that’s sure to impress. Created using fruit pulps, exotic spices, and plants grown in an organic manner, this holistic skin care regime is both beautiful look at and a pleasure to use.

Biodynamic farming involves rotating crops through a farm to nourish the soil and work with natural cycles on the earth to ensure the healthiest environment possible. These Eminence products are also free of some of the most dangerous ingredients, including parabens, petrolatum, mineral oil, propylene glycol, and sodium lauryl sulphate. It is also humane (not tested on animals) and is packaged using eco-friendly materials.

3. Dr. Dennis Gross

Another new natural beauty products is the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel. Developed to help you uncover your youthful skin naturally, this product is created using 40 natural ingredients to tone skin, balance oils, and increase clarify and radiance. Formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, petrochemicals, phthalates, GMOs, or triclosan, this line is proven to work.

In a 28 day consumer study, users talked about how gentle the product is, and how well it improved the look and feel of their skin. It even comes in convenient travel packs for when you’re on the road.

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Well…here came the baby. Of course you are extremely fascinated by everything involving the little one and it is natural that you would want to offer him or her, their very own little piece of heaven able to make them feel special and loved. So there is no wonder that you are looking for the trendiest baby room ideas.

When decorating a nursery, many parents tend to follow the standard trends: pink for baby girls, blue for baby boys, a combination of the two for twins of different sex. However the current trends are all about the imagination of the little ones from a very young age and also the creation of perfect little castles for the little angels that come our home.

When you look for ideas to decorate a baby room, there are 3 main aspects to consider: the baby’s sex, the theme you choose and the number of babies the nursery will host.

Decorating ideas for a baby girl’s room

It is so easy to make a room look pretty and cute for your little princess, but if you are looking for a baby girl room decorating idea that will take the breath away, choosing patterns and not just colors is the best solution. It is not all about ruffles but rather all about warmth.

1. Colors for the nursery of a baby girl

Pink is without any doubt the girlish color out there. Shades of pink, glazed structures, white furniture and a myriad of accessories in the largest variation of pink related nuances are the traditional baby girl room idea. In spite of this, you should also choose warm mellow yellow or pretty precious purple as colors for the nursery of your little princess. These colors are both positive and relaxing for the baby.

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