Setting Up a Natural Amazon Themed Aquarium

Most of the freshwater aquarium fish we find in our pet stores originate from the tropical river of the Amazon in South America. The Amazon has more variety of fish and plant life of all the rivers in the world put together.

The amazing variety and beauty of Amazonian fish and plants is what drew me to this style of aquarium. I have fallen in love with creating Amazon community tanks and re-creating the environment and natural eco-systems of this river.

The diversity of the Amazon River and its many streams means there are infinite ways in which you could create an Amazon theme, and the style and decor of your aquarium setup will depend on what sort of fish you wish to keep.

Today I will focus on setting up an Amazon themed aquarium suitable for Angelfish or Discus. These fish can grow quite large so it is recommended to have an aquarium at least 150-200 litres or more in volume. They are also rather peaceful fish, so are very suitable for the community tank, so long as follow a few simple guidelines. Continue reading “Setting Up a Natural Amazon Themed Aquarium”

Zermatt, the Eternal Alpine Snow, and a Peek at Switzerland

Mont Blanc stands proud as the highest Alp. Yet one of the most photographically reproduced is Matterhorn with the village of Zermatt at its feet.

When I first saw Matterhorn from the ground up, I felt as if I was looking at a solidified ardent flame. A native who saw me look at it with awe said: “You can climb it,” as if it were nothing. I laughed…not at him but at me. I wouldn’t dare think of trying that.

In Zermatt, as well as other places, locals show off their skill by the number of times they have climbed the Matterhorn; although, many fall numerous times. A local had climbed it more than 300 times. His wife shrugged: “Useless to say how many times,” she said. “The mountain is going nowhere. It stays there and only the workless (also meaning worthless) do the climbing.”

There are no cars in Zermatt. Transportation is possible by using the cog train and horse-drawn sleighs. Sitting in a horse drawn sleigh with a lap robe, which is a folded small blanket, with an eternal snow around is one of the most romantic things. Continue reading “Zermatt, the Eternal Alpine Snow, and a Peek at Switzerland”

Time For Your Honeymoon? Naples, Florida Is the Place

We might not have liked the way it was handled; but it was our parents and our immediate family whom decided it to be that way. They employed a wedding planner to do all the planning from the reception, the church, the food, to the details of the cake except for the Honeymoon. The honeymoon was definitely something that we wanted to have a say on it. Therefore we made it clear that it would be us who would plan for the whole honeymoon, but to be honest we didn’t have plan or a preference at all. My husband and I decided to have an unplanned honeymoon to make it different one, we wanted to be adventurous instead of having old fashioned honeymoon style.

To begin with, we spoke about different places to go to and getting ideas from everyone, some said, Spain, Barcelona, Rome, Paris in conclusion the typical places for honeymooners because of the romanticism and all. Since we have been to those places and don’t get me wrong they are beautiful and enchanting places, we still were looking for something different for a change. So after all the thinking and everything we decided to go to Florida unplanned, packed our bags, got the tickets, some phone calls and flew to Miami, Florida. Our worries started when we arrived in Miami airport we didn’t know what to do or where to go as our final honeymoon destination; we were basically honeymooners exploring a new world! But this was an exciting adventure and what we were looking for. Continue reading “Time For Your Honeymoon? Naples, Florida Is the Place”

Sunlight for Your Life

All life on the planet and everything in nature is dependent on the sun. Without the sun, there would be no life on the planet. All life is dependent on the sun. Plants convert the sunlight into energy, and all animals need plant life or other animals in order to live. All life in nature is dependent on the sun. We as humans are part of nature. We need sunlight just like everyone else.

Sunlight is essential for your life and health. This often brings up the concern of skin cancer. People are told the sun causes skin cancer and they should wear sunblock to prevent skin cancer. This is a big fat theory of the medical symptom and disease care profession. Skin cancer is on the rise because people are supposedly spending more time in the sun, and this is the supposed “proof” that skin cancer is caused by the sun. Did the experts happen to notice that most cancer is on the rise? Does the sun cause these cancers as well? Continue reading “Sunlight for Your Life”

French Country Inn Dining – The Silver Spring Farm French Restaurant in Flanders, NJ

Recently, the movie “Julie & Julia” has debuted on silver screens across the country and has reignited in many of us our passion for exceptional cuisine. While Julie and Julia of the movie explore the enormously challenging tasks of mastering French cuisine at home, my wife Fran and I had our palettes reignited for the equally satisfying joys of eating at a fine French restaurant.

But where to go?

Living 48 minutes from Midtown Manhattan and its seemingly endless inventory of elegant French restaurants, bistros and cafes definitely has its advantages; but this time we decided to aim our GPS West to see if we could discover a more “country inn” type of establishment to fill the bill.

We recognize that our Garmin Novi GPS is, in reality, a marvelous electronic Ouija board. We touch the screen, ask a question: Continue reading “French Country Inn Dining – The Silver Spring Farm French Restaurant in Flanders, NJ”

3 Easy Ideas For Christmas Cookie Decorating With Kids

One of the happiest moments I have with my nephews is in my kitchen decorating cookies to give away as Christmas gifts. They had more fun than I did, and the gift recipients enjoyed their homemade treats. Let me show you how to decorate Christmas cookies with your own kids.

The easier the process for the kids, the better. You need three things to get started: an easy sugar cookie recipe, simple royal icing decorations, and several different colored tubes of pre-made royal icing so that each child can share the royal icing.

Here is my favorite chocolate sugar cookie recipe to get you started.

Chocolate Sugar Cookies Continue reading “3 Easy Ideas For Christmas Cookie Decorating With Kids”

Decide This Year to Notice What Happens Outside, in Your Own Backyard, in Autumn

~The calm reading under the palm tree! There are so many places to find that makes writing fun, relaxing and new! Try writing under a palm tree, that’s actually a unique and comfortably novel place to write and pretty cool too, if you ask me… The fall season is a great reason to notice the changes in nature, animals and natural outdoor events that take place whether we notice or not. Decide this year to notice what happens outside, in your own backyard, in Autumn.

Whether you read the Psalms under the comfortable palm trees or study your French lesson, finding a relaxing environment is key to attaining perspective or finding a great place of inspiration.Living in a tropical climate has a lot of benefits as well as challenges, though I prefer to focus more on the wonderful elements that tropical living brings! Whether wearing shorts and flip-flops all year long is your habit or looking at the wild rabbits that are eating your garden plants and vegetables, just enjoy the natural environment and the place where you call home. Continue reading “Decide This Year to Notice What Happens Outside, in Your Own Backyard, in Autumn”

Chili’s Menu Vs Applebee’s Menu

When you’re in the mood for a traditional American restaurant with moderate pricing and unique flavor who do you think of? Surprisingly most Americans think of Chili’s or Applebees. But what’s the difference between these two delicious restaurants and which one is better?

Actually these restaurants could be two in the same. The Chili’s menu doesn’t change much from Applebees and if one decided to change the branding you wouldn’t be able to discern a difference. They both offer up traditional entrees like Burgers, Chicken, Ribs, Soups, Salads, Appetizers, Fajitas and both price the dishes about the same. Currently both restaurants are even offering the same exact coupon special – 2 for $20 for the same exact type meal. Now both restaurants are themed differently but the menu, it’s almost all the same to me. I guess it takes your taste buds to do the walking. Continue reading “Chili’s Menu Vs Applebee’s Menu”

The Corner of Pax, West Virginia – Restaurant Review

Pax, West Virginia, is the home of The Corner, formerly known as Kelly’s Korner, a family-owned eatery that serves up some scrumptious country cooking. You won’t find anything fancy on the menu or for a daily special. What you will find is hot dogs, hamburgers, open-faced turkey and roast beef sandwiches, and club sandwiches prepared with TLC, usually accompanied by crisp, hot-from-the-oven French fries or hand-whipped mashed potatoes with homemade gravy.

Breakfast is my favorite meal at Kelly’s. Perfectly cooked eggs, crisp bacon, toast or biscuits (no bagels here) and a steaming cup of coffee. Of course, that’s all after a rousing “Good Morning!” Additionally, there may be pancakes or French toast, all made from scratch like the biscuits. And don’t forget the sausage gravy to cover those biscuits (if you get there before my family eats!). Continue reading “The Corner of Pax, West Virginia – Restaurant Review”

Firecracker Lobster Cooked on the Grill

Though I certainly can’t always afford it, good seafood is one of my favorite things to eat. I’m not big on places like that Long John place that fries everything they serve. But if someone doesn’t mind treating me to dinner, I’m always ordering scallops or shrimp. I’ll get lobster too if it’s done a certain way. I don’t mind having it plain and dipping it in clarified butter. But lobster is such a delicious food by itself; it begs to play with other flavors. One of those flavors lobster loves is that smoky flavor you get from a grill. My gas grill is the perfect device to cook some fresh lobster on.

Every once in a blue moon, that meat truck that comes around my house will have some lobsters that Mr. and Mrs. John Q couldn’t afford to pay for that week. So, they’ll knock 3 dollars off the per-pound price and sell them to another customer while they’re still fresh. I make sure to ask them weekly. When I do get lucky, they go straight out to the grill for their date with destiny. Continue reading “Firecracker Lobster Cooked on the Grill”