Business

Is he acting weird or am I just paranoid? Seven signs of a cheating partner

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These seven signs of a cheating partner are not guaranteed to be 100% correct in every case, but have you ever wondered why your partner has suddenly developed a new habit? Does your gut tell you something is wrong but your head tells you it’s your imagination?

Believe it or not, there are some pretty good signs that your partner might be having an affair. Our instincts are pretty spot on when something is wrong, but they are not a foolproof guarantee.

Each or even two of the following could very well be acceptably explained, but if you find that you have checked more than half of the boxes, you may be in more than 50% of couples who have a cheating partner.

1) Do you come home and jump right into the shower?

Not even a hello, let alone a kiss or a hug? While it’s very reasonable to want to take a shower after a hard day, if it’s a new behavior and it happens frequently or regularly, you can’t blame him for raising an eyebrow.

2) Has it become a style icon?

If you’ve gone from wearing the first thing you find in your wardrobe to suddenly taking longer than you to get ready to leave the house these days, then yes, I’d probably check this box, especially if you’ve invested in a new cologne or after lotion. of the shave almost at the same time.

3) Have you stopped leaving your phone behind when you are at home?

Have you ever seen him leave a room and then go back in to grab his phone? Suddenly he’s not just laying around when he showers?

4) A point that should always raise suspicions, is the cell phone ringtone on vibrate or silent?

It might be the occasional slop after a meeting that you’ve forgotten to turn the sound back on, but there’s no good reason why you don’t want yourself to know when you get a message or a call. If you are not sure, call him yourself.

5) Have you changed your password on the computer lately?

It’s pretty sensible if it’s your bank password, but it would be a little weird if you suddenly decided that the home computer needed a new or changed password to just turn it on. Being too secretive is a sure sign of a cheating partner!

6) Are you working longer hours or do you have a new hobby that takes you out of the house on your own on a regular basis?

You know what your job entails, so it shouldn’t be difficult to determine if you really need to work until the middle of the night. Or maybe you’ve decided to join the local golf club and started golfing once or twice a week? Ask if you can come and share a game.

7) Does your income seem to have decreased or are you spending more on a new hobby?

A smart man will not put suspicious purchases on his credit card. Wives often “accidentally” open bank statements. But if he has a clear idea of ​​how much money he brings home each week, he will easily notice if he still works the same hours but earns less money.

Home Kitchen

Oil Rubbed Bronze Cabinet Pulls – Adding a unique and sophisticated look to your cabinets!

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One good reason why oil rubbed bronze cabinet pulls tend to be popular these days is because they give a unique and sophisticated look to cabinets that add a lot more life to your room without having to spend an excessive amount.

Cabinet hardware may seem like a small item, but it definitely gives your cabinets a distinctive look that is sure to capture your interest and give you an even better and much easier means of opening and closing your cabinets. The cabinet hardware that captured a lot of awareness today would be the oil rubbed bronze cabinet pulls.

Benefits of Oil Rubbed Bronze Cabinet Pulls

There are numerous advantages that you have to get when you get your hands on brass pulls these days.

The first thing you will enjoy about brass cabinet pulls is the fact that brass is both hard and soft, so keeping it clean will not be a big inconvenience for you. However, many of the more elaborate-looking brass cabinet hardware can be a bit more difficult to clean completely.

An added benefit of using brass cabinet hardware is that you won’t have an issue with excessive wear compared to other metals on the market. The oil used for this type of cabinet hardware is quite safe, especially when it is around food, as it will not rub off easily. You may want to pay special attention; however, bronze sellers roll to determine the caliber of their items.

Where to find the best oil rubbed bronze sweaters

Now that you have a much better idea about the benefits of oil rubbed bronze cabinet pulls, the next thing to look for is where are the best stores that offer this type of hardware. You’d think the best places to look for brass pulls would be your local hardware stores. But this is not the case because most of them only have a very small selection. Even big hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s will only carry a few styles. So where should you go to find the best selection of bronze sweaters?

If you want to see a lot of options for your brass cabinet pulls, then browsing the internet could bring you many more available alternatives. Plus, you can certainly do a price comparison, which means you won’t pass up the best deals out there for this particular cabinet hardware.

Putting oil rubbed bronze cabinet pulls will certainly give your cabinets that old world charm that you have always loved and because they are made from durable materials they are sure to last you for a long time.

Again, if you want to see the largest selection of oil rubbed bronze pulls, you need to go online. You can also buy the perfect ones for your cabinet at discount prices!

Auto

Researchers prove that you are 2 and a half times faster than your car

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Did you know that when your vehicle is rear ended, it actually accelerates 2.5 times faster than your vehicle?

When most people are asked how fast they think the other driver was going when he was rear ended, they usually respond with something like, “That guy must have been going 20 mph when he hit me.”

The truth is that 75% of all rear-end collisions occur at less than 10 mph. So how can people make such ridiculous statements? They make those statements because they were probably going 20 mph after being hit.

Researchers have found that occupants of a vehicle that has been hit from behind actually accelerate to 2.5 times the speed of the vehicle that hit you. So if your vehicle is hit at 10 mph from behind, your body will accelerate to 25 mph!

The only way to smooth out this experience is to have something that absorbs some of the “bullet” vehicle’s crash energy.

Most people think there are energy-absorbing bumpers to soften the blow…but according to the Federal Bumper Standard, bumpers are there to protect the vehicle’s safety equipment (headlights, grill, radiator, taillights , etc.) and are not designed for occupants. protection. We used to have 5 mph energy absorbing bumpers on passenger cars, but now it’s only 2.5 mph (allows unlimited bumper damage) and only on passenger cars, not trucks, SUVs, or minivans.

People also think that crumple zones will absorb the energy of a rear-end collision…but in “frame rail” vehicles like trucks and large SUVs, manufacturers don’t want any “global frame sag” at speeds below 35 mph… so where does that leave the occupants of trucks and SUVs?

If you have a receiver hitch on your truck or SUV, there are products that will slip onto your receiver hitch and actually absorb some of the crash energy from the most common vehicular accident on the road today: the rear-end collision. And for every 1 mph of crash energy they absorb, that’s 2.5 mph for the occupants.

If you have a truck or SUV equipped with a receiver hitch and you are hit from behind, you will feel the brunt of the collision because the receiver hitches are bolted to the frame and all the energy of the crash will be transferred. directly to the occupants.

There are products on the market today that will absorb crash energy and work with the receiver hitch to protect you and your family. Take a look and if they’re less than the price of a whiplash injury ($9,900 average cost), they’re probably worth a look.

Digital Marketing

Importance of measuring event performance

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Event managers are under considerable pressure to obtain metrics regarding their events and ensure they deliver a return on investment. Being able to get these stats and turn them into valuable information is something many event managers struggle with. It can be difficult to know what to measure, how to measure it, and then how to analyze the data.

The first stage in analyzing event performance is understanding why the event is being held in the first place. What are the objectives and goals of the event? There are many reasons why companies organize events:

Introduce the company or product.

generate sales

Generate qualified sales leads

Carry out market research

To enter a new market

To launch a new product or service

To influence or establish relations with the press

Educate or motivate partners and/or employees

To help retain current customers

To support the local community.

It’s a good idea to set a primary goal and one or two secondary ones. Trying to set too many goals will dilute the main purpose of the event and lead to mixed and confusing messages for delegates. Each event you run may have different goals, but it’s important to understand exactly what it is, as without a clear goal you won’t be able to identify and measure performance goals for your event.

Try to make your goals and metrics as specific as possible. For example, if the primary goal is to create sales and the secondary goal is to generate qualified sales leads, some of the focused metrics would be:

Entry

Number of transactions made

Number of purchase orders received

Expense to Income Ratio (E:R)

Return on investment (ROI) ratio

Number of new accounts/clients

Volume of leads generated

Quality of generated leads

Once you have identified the goals and metrics, the next task is to obtain this information. This can be the most difficult part of event performance analysis. It can be difficult to get this information and turn it into valuable data.

Many event managers are turning to technology to help with this process. Event management software solutions help event managers in event planning, management and analysis. They often come with built-in reporting and analytics modules, making event performance measurement an easy task.

If generating leads is an important goal, event management software can help identify the quality and quantity of leads. By understanding what makes a high-quality lead, event managers can create custom registration forms, capturing delegate information that identifies both good and poor quality opportunities.

Understanding the message you are conveying to delegates is also a key metric that often needs to be measured, but can be difficult to obtain. By using the information collected the day of or after the event, managers will be able to improve future events and enhance customer relationships with delegates. Once again, event management software can help in this metric measurement. By providing a comprehensive feedback management tool, managers can produce surveys that delegates can complete on the day or that can be emailed after events. Online survey results can be automatically populated in the event management solution, ready for instant analysis.

Understanding delegates and their responses to the event will also help managers accurately qualify event contacts. Event management software will provide analysis tools that allow administrators to quickly drill down into the data stored in the system. Providing custom reports, as well as standard management information reports, will illustrate how well attended the events are, how well booked they are, and how successful the program was.

In general, it is recommended that managers spend 5% of their budget on event measurement and analysis. By investing in an end-to-end event management software solution, managers can ensure accurate event results are produced on a consistent basis. Event management software tools not only help in event analysis but also make event planning, management and promotion easier, more efficient and much more profitable.

Relationship

Everything you need to know about speech therapy

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Sometimes a child is unable to understand and express language or has trouble pronouncing words that can affect language development and communication skills. There are many types of speech defects due to different problems. But the most common problem detected among children has delayed speech and language development. Speech defects can also be caused by a serious injury or medical condition. Speech therapy is a process to improve the child’s ability to understand language using different methods and techniques to enhance language development and communication skills. Speech therapy often includes two common techniques to enhance language development.

1) Verbal technique:

In this technique, the coordination of the mouth produces sounds to form words and sentences. This technique is to regulate the volume and fluency of the child. Understanding the alphabets and their uses for the formation of words and sentences is very necessary. The verbal technique can help to understand the basic concepts of the language. With the help of a little effort from both the therapist and the child, the language can be interpreted appropriately.

2) Comprehension and expression technique:

In this technique, the child is trained to approach language through written signs and pictorial forms. There is interactive software with the latest technology and a great user interface developed primarily for speech therapy sessions. This fun software creates a playful environment for children and also enhances the learning experience.

Three main benefits of speech therapy:

1) Positive attitude towards vocal communication:

With the help of the latest technology and methods, the child can learn the use of language to communicate very easily and effectively. With the help of regular speech therapy sessions, the child can develop normal speaking habits with friends or family, resulting in a positive attitude towards vocal communication.

2) Elimination of the child’s fear of stuttering:

Slowly and gradually with the help of regular speech therapy sessions, the child can also be taught to be confident and motivated at the same time. There are certain speech therapy games for children that can also help build confidence. The increased confidence will eventually help eliminate the child’s fear and stuttering problems. In addition, experienced therapists constantly work to eliminate the child’s fear of stuttering.

3) Develop good fluency:

Increased confidence can carry the child in many positive ways. The final stage of language development is fluency which can be achieved through regular practice. Children can learn words, gestures and expressions while practicing the language and achieving perfection in terms of time and effort. With the same practice, children can even fluency. In addition, the expert therapists constantly motivate the child and increase her enthusiasm regarding language and communication skills.

Conclusion:

There are many children facing speech defects and each of them can be treated with the right steps and the right guidance. Speech therapy is useful and effective at the same time. In addition, it helps build confidence, stability and accuracy among children. With the help of an experienced therapist and the latest software, the child can quickly and easily overcome the speech impediment.

Gaming

Hand Carved Custom Barn Doors

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Custom sliding barn doors are a great decoration in luxury homes, whether in urban minimalist or farmhouse chic interiors. Functional art, using artisan carved panels and incorporating them into interior doors, closets, library or study, gives the house an old world character, connecting with its roots and learning from the past. Hand-carved, tree of life doors, carrying nature’s beautiful and amazingly healing energy, earthy and natural colors, create a dramatic design statement for exclusive million-dollar properties in Naples, Florida.

Barn doors are a popular interior design trend in Southwest Florida luxury condominiums as they are highly practical, functional, and versatile. Custom carved doors can be used almost anywhere in your space, the doorway between the master bedroom and bathroom being one of the most popular shapes. Old world carved doors make your space look spacious and unique, and optimize space utilization in a practical way for bathroom and bedroom. Custom reclaimed wood doors slide right into the wall giving you plenty of room on both sides as well as the artistic design element. You are looking at a beautiful and exceptional handmade design, as unique as the craftsman who carved it.

Rustic carved sliding doors offer lots of extra space when used as closet doors in a hallway or foyer. Guest room closets are also the perfect place for hand carved barn doors, so you can show off your character. Large rustic reclaimed wood barn doors can divide your rooms and give your waterfront home a more intimate feel.

Downtown Tampa condos, Miami luxury townhomes, handcrafted doors are improvements being incorporated into design as renters value the experience of unique art and modern interior design. Custom doors are made from old reclaimed doors, framed in such a way that the back of the door is visible with its grounding nails that remove harmful ions from the atmosphere and ground them through the old wood. Maintaining the character of the doors is of paramount importance and is an exclusive design created specifically in-house at Mogulinterior.

Open Floor Plans In modern farmhouses in urban Massachusetts or rural Virginia, rustic barn doors make the home airy and less compartmentalized. You can also use these doors as privacy shutters if you have a lot of sliders, as seen on most waterfront properties, that you like to keep open during the day and don’t mind using curtains. Hand carved barn doors can slide these windows open at night and open to the sides during the day giving your room an eclectic artistic temperament.

Our beautiful and unique hand carved barn doors can double as a custom media center design that covers the plasma TV on your wall when you’re not using it, making the room look more elegant for formal dinner guests. Impressive, unique, yet practical, hand carved, they are perfect for your home office. We can customize it according to your requirements, whether it is a commercial restaurant, a boutique hotel or a resort. Embrace the rustic chic art trend seen in the houses and apartments of Soho, New York.

Health Fitness

Healthy Eating Myth 2: Sugar-Free Foods and Drinks Help You Lose Weight

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So! You can’t win!

You first learn that sugars and refined carbohydrates may be the reason for your excess body fat. Now I tell you that sugar-free products are also a no-no?

How can that be when the food industry has been telling us for years that diet sodas, sugar-free drinks, and low-calorie beverages are the solution to healthy weight loss? The shelves are full of these products!

Quite simply, the evidence is now to the contrary. Recent research has concluded that people who regularly drink sugar-free/”diet” beverages are just as likely to be obese as those who consume the full-sugar alternatives. It appears that when your brain registers the sweet taste of the artificial sweeteners contained in such products, it triggers a biochemical response similar to that required to process natural sugars.

An independent study conducted by researchers at the Framingham Heart Study in Massachusetts showed results indicating that diet soda consumption is correlated with an increase in metabolic syndrome [abnormal response and ineffectiveness of insulin on blood glucose]. Of the 9,000 men and women studied, 4,320 of the subjects were at increased risk for weight gain and elevated blood sugar levels.

Sharon P. Fowler, MPH, and colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, reported that total soft drink consumption was not only associated with overweight and obesity, but also obesity risk it was even higher in people who drank only diet soda. beverages In fact, when the researchers took a closer look at their data, they found that nearly all of the obesity risk from sodas came from diet sodas. There was a 41% increased risk of being overweight for every can or bottle of diet soda a person consumed each day.

And then there is the matter of artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners are just that: artificial!

They are controversial, non-food products, typically man-made, that offer no nutritional value and have been linked to serious illness for quite some time. Despite the health problems associated with aspartame, saccharin, and others, there seems to be no let up in how quickly manufacturers can incorporate them into our diets.

A preliminary study by Hannah Gardener of the University of Miami linked daily diet soda consumption to a 61% higher incidence of “vascular events,” such as strokes and heart attacks.

Once again, it’s really shocking to discover that products that manufacturers claim to be healthy and promote weight loss are actually just the opposite, isn’t it? When can we expect honesty and transparency in food advertising?

Legal Law

What are the “little ivy”, the “little three”, and the “hidden ivy”?

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Most people are familiar with Ivy League universities and have a pretty good idea that it is extremely prestigious to attend one of them. There are many, many other universities that are very rigorous academically and difficult to get into. The term The Little Three, The Little Ivies, and The Hidden Ivies is sometimes confusing to follow. Not only do they have similar names, I was surprised to hear that some parents had never heard of some of the colleges and didn’t realize the magnitude of the accomplishment of their daughter being accepted. Below is an explanation of the different groupings. I hope having a list in one place helps.

the ivy league consists of 8 schools that compete in the same NCAA Division 1 athletic conference. The schools are Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Brown, Dartmouth, and Cornell.

Ivy League schools are considered to be some of the most prestigious and top-ranked universities. According to US News and World Report college and university rankings, all Ivy League institutions rank in the top 15 with 5 in the top 5.

They are all located in the northeastern region of the United States.

Enrollment ranges from 4,000 to 14,000 undergraduate students, making them larger than most private liberal arts colleges but smaller than a state university. Athletic scholarships are not awarded; financial aid is based on need.

The “Little Three” is an unofficial athletic conference of three elite liberal arts colleges: Amherst, Wesleyan, and Williams. These are three of the best liberal arts colleges in the nation and they are very difficult to get into. The Little Three began competing in this triangular league in 1899 and in 1920 they received the nickname “Little Three”. This contrasts with the “Big Three” universities (Harvard, Yale and Princeton, HYP), in the Ivy League.

The NESCAC or New England Small College Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division 3 athletic conference of 11 highly selective liberal arts colleges: Amherst, Williams, Wesleyan, Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, Connecticut, Hamilton, Middlebury, Trinity, and Tufts. There are rules regarding the length of the season, the number of contests, and postseason competition. There are no sports scholarships; financial aid is based solely on need.

The “little ivy” it is not an official term or group. Refers to a small group of highly selective liberal arts colleges. The list includes all colleges in the NESCAC (above) except Connecticut College, along with Colgate, Haverford, Swarthmore, and Vassar. Also note that Tufts is no longer a small College of Liberal Arts, but has grown into a larger research university.

As you can see, all of the colleges listed above are highly selective, very difficult to get into, and highly respected. One of the biggest differences between the Ivy League and the “Little Ivies” would be their athletic grouping. Ivy League schools are in the Division 1 league, which trains and competes year-round. The Little Ivy Colleges are in the Division 3 athletic group and only compete during their sports’ respective seasons.

For an outstanding student-athlete who wanted to compete in 2 sports, a NESCAC Division 3 university could satisfy both academic and athletic desires and be a great match!

Currently, here is a list of the top 20 colleges and another of the top 20 colleges listed in US News and World Report on college and university rankings. Please note that there are many lists that vary. US News ratings are used most often.

Liberal Arts College Rankings:

When universities have the same ranking, they share the same number in ( ).

  1. williams college
  2. Amherst University
  3. Swarthmore College
  4. University of Pomona
  5. Middlebury University
  6. Bowdoin College
  7. (6) Carleton University
  8. (6) Wellesley College
  9. Claremount McKenna College
  10. Haverford College
  11. davidson college
  12. Washington and Lee University
  13. Wesleyan University
  14. United States Military Academy
  15. United States Naval Academy
  16. Vassar College
  17. hamilton university
  18. Harvey Mudd College
  19. Grinnell College
  20. Smith College

National Ranking of Universities:

  1. Harvard University
  2. Princeton University
  3. Yale University
  4. Columbia University
  5. California Institute of Technology
  6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  7. Stanford University
  8. University of Chicago
  9. University of Pennsylvania
  10. duke university
  11. dartmouth college
  12. Northwestern University
  13. Johns Hopkins University
  14. Washington University of St.Louis
  15. brown university
  16. Cornell University
  17. rice university
  18. Vanderbilt University
  19. University of Notre Dame
  20. Emory University

To read more about how to ensure your student has the best chance in the college admissions process, visit http://www.harvardmomadvice.com

Lifestyle Fashion

How to overcome compulsive or emotional eating

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Have you ever felt so lonely that it made you grab that tub of ice cream in the fridge and eat it while your tears flowed? Or have you ever felt so happy that you ate a lot while laughing and talking to others about your exciting experience? Yes, we all love to eat no matter the circumstances. Food is a basic need in life. Even when we’re not overly emotional, we eat because it’s a way of life.

Everyone knows that we eat to nourish ourselves and stay healthy. But eating too much can lead to excess body weight, which could lead to poor health. Being overweight can be stressful. I know, I’ve been there. I was skinny by nature, but as I get older, my metabolism slows down, so I put on those extra pounds on the scale. But I was able to get over that. I won’t write here about how I lost weight, but I would like to focus on emotional eating. One of my online friends inspired me to write this. He broke up with her boyfriend, he was able to move on, but now he’s getting emotional again. Oh good…

We all have great and terrible days. Now, some people eat a lot when they feel emotional or stressed. I don’t know why, but eating can make us feel better. But the fact remains that if you overeat, you will gain weight, which is not easy to lose. So what drives us to become emotional eaters? Try asking yourself these questions:

-Have you recently experienced a painful breakup or loss of a loved one?

Have you felt stressed at work?

-Has there been an unresolved family or personal matter that has been bothering you?

If you answer “yes” to any of the questions above, you are probably an emotional eater. Evaluate yourself: do you eat even when you are not hungry? I was an emotional eater. During those times when anxiety strikes, I turn to my “comfort foods” like ice cream, chocolate, cake, donuts, and other sweets. Until I realized that I had already gained too much weight and that my clothes no longer fit me. It’s not just about being fit and keeping the body I want. It’s about staying healthy. So let me share how I was able to overcome being an emotional eater:

acceptance

I accepted the fact that I eat a lot whenever I feel stressed or emotional. I believe this is the first step to overcoming emotional eating. Once you’ve accepted that fact, it’ll be easier for you to pause and think first whenever you feel the urge to bite into that big slice of pizza just because you were disappointed or things didn’t go your way.

“Am I really hungry?”

This is something you should ask yourself before you reach for that tub of ice cream or before you bite into that big bar of chocolate. I read somewhere on the internet (sorry I forgot where I got this information from) that whenever you “think” you’re hungry, drink a glass of water first because thirst can be mistaken for hunger. The same can be applied to compulsive eating. Whenever you feel anxious, drink a glass of water first. Then think and ask yourself, “Am I really hungry?” before eating.

working out

This is a habit I forced myself to develop, and I felt so proud the first time I stopped binge eating. That time, I had a rough night at work (I used to work nights) and when I got home in the morning, I was almost tempted to order a hamburger at a fast food restaurant, but changed my mind. Instead, I changed my clothes and put on my running shoes. I ran and circled the neighborhood. I felt amazed because for the first time I had noticed the color of my neighbors’ houses, the lady with 5 cats and the happy children walking to school. It was like I just moved in but have been living in the same neighborhood for over 5 years. After a healthy sweat, I went home, took a quick shower, had breakfast (a healthy one with no burgers or donuts) and was happy. And yes, I did not overeat.

divert your attention

What if you suddenly feel nervous, excited, or moody? You can focus your attention on other things. What I do is write it on a piece of paper or in my journal (yes, I still keep a journal). Or you can listen to good music or watch a good show, just avoid reaching for the popcorn. Or if it is possible and safe for you to do so, you can go for a walk. Just walk calmly and breathe. Do something that can focus your attention on something other than eating, except of course when you’re REALLY hungry.

treat yourself

I never strayed away from ice cream, donuts, cakes, chocolates, and other sweet things that I love. Overcoming the compulsion to eat doesn’t mean you have to give up the things you like (at least, that’s what I think). What I do is eat those rarely and only eat them to reward myself. Like the time I was able to finish all my handmade wedding invitations, I felt happy and thought I deserved a reward. So I had three scoops of my favorite ice cream. Yes, I still had ice cream but I didn’t consume the entire tub. I got three firsts because I think I deserved it. And that was it.
Overcoming emotional eating is no easy task. In some cases, you may need to seek professional advice to help improve your well-being through relaxation procedures, honing your critical thinking skills, and managing your emotions. Seek professional help and involve your family as well.

Just to remind you, I am not a professional. I am simply sharing my experience. It would be best to talk to a specialist in this field.

And you? Have you been a compulsive eater? How were you able to overcome emotional eating? Feel free to share your comments and suggestions in the comments section. Thank you for reading!

Pets

Not popular with birds

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In the upper south of China, the exquisite flowers of the Chinaberry tree, which are also unusual, appear in late April or May. Part lavender blue or purple, striking in clusters, they are quite fragrant. Emerging after the leaves are well developed, the loose clusters are half-gathered into the green foliage, and the leaves and flowers together are a vivid, delicate mosaic of billowing green and amethyst. Pale yellow drupes, more commonly known as berries, form the fruits, which hang in loose clusters and remain on trees. They are soft at first, wrinkled, and persist throughout the winter, often remaining until spring. Some of them remain even during the second summer.

Chinese mulberries are not very popular with birds, some species feed on the berries, but usually only when food is scarce. Rarely, if ever, are large herds seen feasting on, as they often do, the berries of holly, dogwood, and cedar. Even in harsh winters, when food is hard to come by, the Chinaberry Bird Cafe may still be offering its wares. Robins probably feed on these drupes more than other birds. Sometimes they apparently “get nervous” about eating too many. Squirrels can sometimes be seen busy ripping and splitting the fruits, eating the seeds and dropping the shells.

To humans, these berries are considered poisonous, but they are sometimes used in China as a fever medicine and disinfectant and, at least in the past, as a medicine to expel worms from cattle. As well. The Chinese make incisions just below the bark, collecting the sap to use as a refreshing drink. In some of the southeastern European countries, the hard, ribbed seed stone is cleaned and used to make rosaries. Thus a distant tree, which may offer shade and rest to Orientals near some Chinese temple or roadside shrine, may also provide a rosary with which a Catholic in Europe can tip his bead and “pray the rosary” in some roadside shrine. And could the Chinaberry also be a mystery tree? At least the one photographed by the Chinese shrine has been for me.

I have a photo with 110 berry clusters on the tree. I have often wondered why. No botanist or tree expert I’ve discussed it with has been able to tell, and unfortunately. Dr. Wilson is no longer alive. Even in India, according to botanist Dr. Troup, the fruits remain on the trees until the following season. It may be, a famous southern botanist suggested, that this particular tree had the peculiar characteristic of shedding its berries early. That may be the answer, but it deepens the mystery.