Beach Therapy

Is the rat race of your everyday life stressing you out? Does the thought of one more day of rush hour traffic, deadlines, and unbearable coworkers, make you want to call in sick? Or maybe you home life is not what you want it to be. Well you may not need a therapist, you may need the beach.

The rustling wind, excited gulls, clean air and emerald green waves crashing against the sugar white sand seem to melt life’s worries away and revitalize the body. And now there is proof that this may be by design.

Research has shown the act of simply being on the beach can soothe the mind and heal the body. Recent studies have proven that just gazing at water eases mental strain and calms nervous tension. It is believed somewhere in our genetics, we as humans are inherently draw to the sea.

Throughout history you can find evidence to support this belief. It is known that the Romans would recommend time on the beach to help heal their soldiers. Sea journeys where once believed to heal Tuberculosis. In modern days, we attempt to replicate the healing properties of the beach in our everyday lives. Products such as seaweed wraps, mud baths, and wave sound machines are widely known for their therapeutic qualities. Each promises to bring their specific seaside environmental qualities into the home.

However, none of these items hold a candle to the real thing. A machine could never reproduce the ocean’s magnificence and remedial properties. The true therapeutic power of beach can only be experienced in person.

The question is. Are you ready for some therapy? You can find a good place to start your treatment on Florida’s Emerald Coast. We offer all of the benefits discussed above and some that have not. To find out more please visit Emerald Coast Sands.

We look forward to your rehabilitation.

Homemade Sunburn Relief

If you forgot the sunscreen and are suffering with the pain associated with sun exposure, relief is in sight. Below is a collection of homemade sunburn reciepes that will sooth the pain as good as any store bought product.

Sun Burn Lotion
8 ounces non-medicated lotion
5 drops clove oil
5 drops peppermint oil
2-4 teaspoons powdered Comfrey Root
2-4 tablespoons Aloe Vera gel
Mix together thoroughly in a bowl.
Chill, if desired.
HINT: Amounts of Comfrey Root or Aloe Vera gel may be increased, but do not increase the amounts of clove or peppermint oils, as they may cause skin irritation.

Cucumber Sunburn Lotion
1 cucumber - chopped
1/4 cup Glycerin
1/4/ cup Rose-water
Squeeze juice out of the cucumber with a lemon-squeezer, and mix with Glycerin and Rose-water.

Sunburn Soothing Bath
2-4 cups *Colloidal (not regular) oatmeal
1/2 to 1 cup baking soda
1-2 cups powdered Chamomile flowers
1 cup buttermilk, optional
Add all ingredients to bath water, or wrap in cheesecloth and tie to the faucet for adding aroma.

Sunburn Mist
2 fluid ounces of distilled water
9 drops of lavender
2 drops of peppermint
1 drop of spearmint
Mix all, then mist lightly over sun-burned skin.

Various Natural/HomeMade Remedies
1. Apply undiluted apple cider vinegar to sunburn.
2. Mix 10 ounces Non-fat Dry Milk, 2 tablespoons salt and 25 ounces water. Saturate cloth and apply to sunburn 20 minutes.
3. Apply mayonnaise as a skin cream to sunburn.
4. Use Aloe plant, or pure aloe vera gel.
5. Apply peanut oil to sun-burned area(s).
6. Apply thin slices of cold, raw cucumbers, apples, or potato directly to the skin.
7. Apply cold, plain yogurt, then rinse with cool water.
8. Apply cold, used tea bags to sun-burned eyelids to relieve pain and swelling.

I hope you feel better

(Thanks To http://www.classbrain.com/artfamily/publish/article_34.shtml for the info)

Negative Calorie Diet

I'm not going to take up much room to promote a diet plan. However, a lot of us in the area have been getting great results from a new diet that the neighbor introduced us to. Its called the "Negative Calorie Diet" and if you have not heard about it, I will try to briefly explain.

Every time you eat the body requires a certain amount of energy to chew, digest and eliminate the food you intake. Certain food calorie make up is less than that which is required to digest. So if you focus on eating these lower calorie foods, you end up burning more calories than you bring in. No matter how much you eat. Read more...

I myself have lost about 6 lbs in the last two weeks, with out a second thought. Some in our group have lost 10 to 20 lbs in the same time period.

I wanted to pass this info on to our visitors, because I know how intimidating getting back into that bathing suit can be. Especially, when you are planing a beach vacation.

If you want to read up some more on the diet and how it works.

Check it out here: "The Negative Calorie Diet"

Emerald Coast Vacation Rentals

You will find a Emerald Coast vacation rental on the Guld Coast along the Florida Panhandle – a great tourist draw all year round. If you are a sun and beach fan, then this is the area where you would want to be in the summer. As the name implies, the Emerald Coast is soothing green-blue water, bordered by extremely beautiful beaches. The sun is ablaze yet mild, the bleached sand is the finest you will ever find, and the water sports could keep you active from morning to night.
Why is the Emerald Coast Vacation Rental an phenomenal Choice?
The beach has always been a great allure for children and adults. The Florida beaches, the enticing water, and the outstanding entertainment choices that are offered for young and old, make this region a hot favorite of many. It is a perfect destination for any family, especially those with adolescents. Emerald Coast vacation rentals offer the right blend of beach cosiness and dwelling at the same time.
How many times have you felt like taking a break while your children wanted to take a dive in the water or construct sand castles? How many times would you have liked to cook up a good meal, without having to cart yourself from the beach where the rest of your family is delighting in the sun? How many times have you felt like you had to pack the complete house for couple of hours on the beach, making you feel like a pack mule carrying things here and there? Well, this is what Emerald Coast vacation rentals will offer you – places which have all the answers.
You will find Emerald Coast vacation rentals present you a place to stay out of the sun if you want to, a place where you can grill hamburgers while the kids play in the sea water, a place where you can take your shower and rinse the sand from yourself before you reach your home. All this, without removing yourself from the seashore for a second. It is like having full value for your money plus a dividend!
Emerald Coast vacation rentals are ready to present you all that you want and need to be entertained, such as DVD players, the Internet, TV, and so on. So, you can have a swim in the AM and then relax on the bed with the newest bestseller without departing the beach for a second. You can go out and sun yourself on a lounging chair, or you could take a catnap on a cozy bed, while still being only a brief radius away from your children.
As a bonus, the Emerald Coast has breathtaking golf courses, and charismatic places to visit. On Emerald Coast you get to enjoy both water and land activities, besides getting to relish some exceptional seafood cuisine, typical to this area that is totally remarkable. This is one of those few vacation spots which has something great for each and every portion of your family. This is one destination that will leave each one of them thoroughly satisfied and equipped to pick up the threads of their normal lifestyles.

Fun On Florida's Emerald Coast Waters

One of the Florida’s Emerald Coast most popular activities can be found on the water. Charter boats, Party boats, Cruise boats and personal boating, remain our number one pastime. Easy access to the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico and numerous out of water activities makes us a popular destination for visitors from all over the world.

By far the most popular boating experience on the Emerald Coast would have to be dolphin watching. Families flock to one of the Coast’s many commercial dolphin cruises. Each cruise offers the chance to observe these playful mammals in their nature setting. Our warm and calm Gulf waters provide a safe refuse for the dolphins to feed and raise their young. Although, no cruise operator can guarantee a sighting, due to the dolphin’s large population in the area, seeing one or more is almost assured.

Couples seem to love the Sunset Cruises. Each evening along the Emerald Coast, sailing vessels depart to experience the most spectacular sunset views this side of the Mississippi. Most commercial cruises offer their riders wine and cheese in a relaxed setting to add to the romance. However, you don’t have to be a couple to enjoy the view and wind in your hair. Everyone is welcome. Visitors often capture their best vacation photos on these outings.

Mardi Gras style fun can be had every August, when Miss Boat Week comes to the area. The annual event begins at Fudpucker’s with an untraditional beauty contest. A week long schedule of events ensues. Boat vendors showcase their newest models and local bars hold additional events to draw the twenty-something crowd. It all wraps up on the final day with a party on Crab Island. On this day you will find bands on barges, floating bars, and lots of hard bodies. Water transportation is required. All event proceeds go to The Emerald Coast Foundation and the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society.

One can’t forget our numerous Fishing Charter Cruises. Fishermen from around the globe, converge on the Emerald Coast in search of tropical big game fish. Year round charter boat catches of white and blue marlin can be had. Grouper and Red Snapper give party boat fisherman a run for their money. Inshore, tarpon and redfish are caught on the fly. Fisherman of all ages and experience levels make memories in our waters everyday.

If you think that you may enjoy participating in one or all of the activities mentioned, please visit us at http://www.emeraldcoastsands.com/ . Here you will find free listings with all the information you need to get started on your vacation plans. The website is updated daily with forecast information, fishing conditions and local events as related to the Emerald Coast.

We hope to see you soon.

Lovebugs

If you have ever visited Florida in summer before than you know about "Lovebugs". Although, they don't bite or sting, these love sick bugs can be quite a nuisance. They make a mess on your windshield and radiator grill. If not removed quickly they can even ruin your cars finish. Ironically, they same reason that makes them a nuisance, is also their greatest natural enemy; vehicles. So if you want to help quell their numbers, please make an extra lap around the county.

Here are some important facts:

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1) Lovebugs do not fly at night, so driving schedules could be arranged to avoid swarming flies.

2) Fewer flies are smeared over car finishes if vehicles are driven at lower speeds. Some types of commercially available wind deflectors positioned on the front hood of cars and trucks may help deflect some of the flies and keep them from hitting the windshield.

3) Netting stretched over front grills can prevent crushed flies from clogging radiators and thus prevent overheating on long trips. These devices are commercially available.

4) There are commercially available products containing petroleum distillates advertised to facilitate the removal of crushed, dried insect parts from car finishes.

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Thanks to http://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/uc/uc-009.html for the facts.

If you do plan to drive while in the area. Make sure you visit a car wash regularly as this will reduce your likely hood of permanent paint damage.

This is one case of love gone bad.