Pumpkins are a traditional part of autumn in North America and are regarded as a symbol for Thanksgiving meals in Canada and the US as well as used for decorations around Halloween. They have been around for thousands of years in our continent, and are one of its oldest domesticated plants. They can be cooked in pies, soups, made in tea, or carved to make jack-o’-lanterns! Here are some ideas of how to use them this fall:

  • Turn them in a board game! This is a great idea if you have kids: Use chalkboard paint and letter stickers through the whole pumpkin to turn it into a seasonal word search. Give them a piece of chalk and let them find all the hidden words around it!

  • Make Pumpkin Pie White Hot Chocolate: stir together 3 cups of milk, 1 cup pumpkin puree, and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. ginger, 1/8 tsp. cloves, 1/8 tsp. nutmeg and 1 tsp. vanilla in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and add in 4 oz. white chocolate, chopped, then top with whipped cream in a mug.

  • Use it as a keg! Hollow pumpkins can be used to serve food or drink by scooping out all its innards and seeds and using a coring tool or knife to make a hole 2-3” above the bottom of the pumpkin. Insert a tap in the hole made and fill the pumpkin with your preferred drink like punch, beer or sangria!

  • Use as a Planter: Take a hollow pumpkin and fill it with dirt and fill it around one-third or half full. Choose your favorite plant, remove them from their nursery containers, set them on top of the soil and watch them grow!

Pumpkins are definitely one of the coolest and most recognized emblems of the Halloween season. How will you be using your pumpkins this year?

Most of us can list three or four people that make it difficult for us to keep our composure throughout the day, plus all the anonymous despicable people who cut us off in traffic, in lines, in stores, and pretty much everywhere we go.

It’s important to identify those who leave you feeling demeaned, de-energized and disrespected on a regular basis, because everyone - including we - under the wrong conditions can be temporary assholes.

Here are some strategies to help you cope with abusive behavior from people in your environment:

  • Don’t take it personally: People might have their reasons to be who they are, and none of it has to do with you!
  • Decide that you’re going to find the asshole hilarious: This one it’s best to keep you for yourself— but this can help you reduce the stress!
  • Create physical or emotional distance between yourself and the rude person. For example, sit as far away from them as possible or mute/block them if it’s on social media.
  • Be nice to the asshole: Be as pleasant and composed as possible. Don’t react to or otherwise you’ll encourage their behavior.

Sometimes it’s fairly easy to get rid of a rude person. First, consider how much power you have over them - sometimes it’s easy to remove a rude person from a situation. If you don’t have a lot of power there, look for outlets to talk about it (some people might be relieved that they’re not the only one who’s noticed it, and together you might be able to find a solution to it!)

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Rude People Survival Guide

After days or weeks of indulgence during the holiday season, many people resolve going into a diet and hitting the gym to lose some of those impending extra pounds.

Diets come and go like trends, but some of them maintain their popularity through the decades albeit having drawbacks. These are the most popular diets that people will try coming the new year:

  1. Low-Carb Diet: The idea of this one is to cut nutrient-poor foods like potato chips, baked products, candy and soda. The trick with this one is to keep in mind that lots of healthy foods also are high in carbs, such as fruits, vegetables and beans, and that a good balance is key.

  2. Calorie Restriction: Calories have always been enemies as far as diets go. There are calorie-counting apps that can help track a person’s food intake, as well as strategies to eat more vegetables, more white-meat chicken and fish, and more fruits.

  3. Keto Diet: The ketogenic (Keto) diet cuts off carbs, but increases the ingest of mostly fat with some protein. Keto dieters also cut carbs to less than 50 grams per day. The idea is that the body burns fat for fuel instead of carbs.

  4. Low-Fat Diet: Not all fat is bad, but doctors recommend limiting saturated fat and increasing non-saturated fats like the type found in nuts, seeds and fish.

  5. Plant-Based Diet: Be it vegan, vegetarian or not, eating less meat and eating more plant foods with high-quality proteins like eggs, soy, beans, and nuts.

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The Chinese zodiac is a big theme at Uptown Aces for the past 12 months as we have seen dozens of new Asian-themed game releases. Most of these new slots are inspired by the Far-East’s Zodiac and mythology.

The Chinese Zodiac plays a very big role in modern day China. The Zodiac has been used for centuries as a guide for making big decisions.

Believe it or not, the Chinese Zodiac is influencing demographics, world economy, relationships and political decisions in China. So, what’s the fuzz about the zodiac? We have gathered a series of fun facts about the Chinese Zodiac, so you can appreciate the depth and tradition behind this ancient practice.

It’s not about the stars

As opposed to the Greco-Roman 12-sign zodiac, the Chinese version is not inspired by astrology. It stems from ancient Chinese philosophy. It is also a 12 sign zodiac, but it represents years rather than star constellations. Each sign is represented by an animal.

¼ of the world’s population

A quarter of the world’s population is using the Zodiac to guide their lives. They use it to name newborns, to decide whom to marry, when to give birth, and determining attitudes between one another. The Chinese believe several animal signs get better along together than with others. Parents choose specific years to give birth, in order to make a harmonious zodiac sign family.

Romantic couples are also influenced by the Zodiac. Some signs are thought to be highly compatible, while there are others that are considered natural enemies.

The power of the Dragon

The sign of the Dragon is very auspicious, symbolizing power, wealth and prosperity. Many Chinese parents dream of having a child in the year of the Dragon. In 2012, the year of the Dragon, birth rates increased 5% in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan; an equivalent of 1 million extra babies that year!

The Tiger and the Goat

At the other end of the Zodiac are the unlucky signs: the Tiger and the Goat. During these years, child birthrates are lower in Asia. Surprisingly, most of the top 300 wealthiest persons in the world are born under precisely these two signs!

Zodiac Sign Index

Many Chinese business people make their decisions based on this index. These decisions are making a big impact not only in China but also in the world. China plays an important role in the global economy and politics; it is thus becoming very important to understand the impact of the Chinese Zodiac and other Chinese traditions.

Perspective is everything. In a world were information flows like a tsunami, it’s important to keep focused on the data that is relevant to our modern lives. We have sifted the internet to find interesting and credible facts, backed by science, that will help you lead a more balanced and healthy life. Here are a few tips to make your life GREAT!

Learn to forgive

It’s not uncommon to carry a resentment for many years. Many people will wrong you throughout your life. But you don’t want to harm your future days by clinging with anger to something that happen years or decades ago. Researchers have found that forgiveness results in lower levels of anxiety, depression and major psychiatric disorders, since you are basically letting go of the toxic anger that fuels the resentment. Here’s a tip: write down the names of everyone that has wronged you. Then consciously say out loud “I forgive you” as you scan past each name. Try to be genuine. You can then move on with your life and gain a greater sense of freedom. 

Travel more

Traveling is good for you. Researchers have found that students that travel abroad for their studies ranked much higher in ‘Openness to Experience’, ‘Agreeableness’, and ‘Emotional Stability’, than their colleagues that stayed at home. Traveling will broaden your perspectives and literally reprogram your personality to make you more empathetic toward other people in your life.

The Gratitude Loop

We all have things to be grateful for. A psychology study showed that a one-time act of thoughtful gratitude produced an immediate 10% increase in happiness and 35% reduction in anxiety. Practicing gratitude is not as hard you may think.  Write down a list of 3 to 5 things you are grateful in your life before going to bed, once or twice per week. Meditate on these things as you fall asleep. This activity can quickly become routine and bring big benefits to your life. As you focus on the good, rather than the bad, in your life, you will soon start seeing the “glass half-full” in situations where previously you would only see the negative aspects. It will become effortless to be thankful for the good, generating a cycle where the ‘good’ in life begins to shine out more and more so it becomes easier to be happier and even more grateful.

Nurture your Social Circle

We are a social animal. Research has shown that having a healthy social network can help you live up to 50% longer! Invest time to see family and friends. Developing closer and more intimate relationships can help you react less to stress and have a positive effect on your lifespan. Several studies have shown that people with strong social relationships can reduce risks of chronic diseases in heart, brain, hormonal and immune function. It is important also not to focus only on family and friends. Providing support to the needy and strangers can have equally good results for your brain. One study showed that providing support to others can be more beneficial than receiving it! The brains of the participants that were giving most support had reduced activation in brain areas related to stress responses. Go out today and talk to your friends, family and even strangers – your life will immediately be enriched!

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