Anyway, here’s a video showing how to install the ZAGG protective film on the iPad screen:

1. The Joule iPad Stand

Joule iPad Stand

I like this one because it looks absolutely gorgeous, with or without the iPad on it. I use it mainly in the kitchen, when I cook using recipes found on other websites, but I also enjoy using it for watching videos or slide-shows with my friends. All these girls loved it and asked me where can they get one. Well, when I told them that I paid $129 for mine, they weren’t that inquisitive anymore.

Anyway, for all other girls that read my blog, here’s where I found this stunning iPad stand for the first time, even before it was available for purchase: http://i.padaccessories.info/tag/ipad-accessories/.

2. Oscar de la Renta iPad Clutch

Oscar de la Renta iPad case

I’m sorry for all those lambs that get killed for our purses, but I just love this iPad case made from the finest lamb skin, embroidered with elegant patterns. The lining is very soft, so I’m sure my iPad is safe inside this case. I also like the snap closure, because it’s tight enough for the iPad to be secure, yet easy to open when needed.

This case cost me $290. It’s a lot, but I think it’s worth the money because it makes me feel good each time I look at it. I find buying so many happiness moments for only $290 a bargain. However, if it doesn’t resonate with you in the same way, you’d better go for a cheaper case, as there are a lot iPad cases cheap and cute.

3. Apple Wireless Keyboard

Apple iPad wireless keyboard

I don’t know about others, but I love long nails. Long nails, however, are the enemies of touch screens, therefore girls who can’t say goodbye to their long nails need a real keyboard, because they won’t be able to type on the virtual one. At least I can’t. If any of you manages, maybe she can tell us more in the comments section. Until then, here’s where you can get such a wireless keyboard for iPad from: Apple Wireless Keyboard (Retail Packaging)

4. Gelaskins iPad Skin

Neo New York

This is not as much functional as beautiful. It’s a custom skin, very thin, with a matching desktop wallpaper. The skin plays also the role of protecting the iPad from little scratches which are almost inevitable. There are so many such beautiful skins on the Gelaskins website that I bought more than one. My iPad still wears the first one, which looks like new, so I suppose I won’t need to change it too soon.

5. Boxwave iPad Capacitive Stylus

Boxwave iPad capacitive stylus

This is a must-have accessory not only for girls with long nails, but also for boys with thick fingers. It allows you to use the virtual keyboard much better, so it’s good to have one. Here’s where you can get yours from: BoxWave Apple iPad Capacitive Stylus

Even if you’ve got the external keyboard, the stylus is still useful, because you won’t feel like carrying the keyboard with you everywhere. Well, if you do so, you’d better give up your iPad and choose a laptop. It will make your life easier.

This is my list. Of course I’ve got a car charger and some external speakers as well, but I’m not so pleased with them so I didn’t feel like listing them here.

What about you? Do you have an iPad? What accessories have you got for it?

One of the cleaning methods I like lately is steaming. There are steam cleaners which don’t cost a fortune and yet do a good job in the household. I think I’ve paid about $50 for my steamer and I’m pleased with the way it cleans the floors. It works only with water, so it’s much easier to finish the cleaning now. I have pets and I always had to take of rinsing the floors very well, so they don’t carry detergent residues on their paws. I think this is one of the cheapest methods of green cleaning, wouldn’t you say so?

Now I have to ask you what other methods of chemicals-free cleaning do you know? What do you think in terms of costs: is is cheaper for a family to use only natural cleaning products?

Now I can play it almost without mistake. Yes, I still have issues with that part where I need to alternate the 12th and 14th riffs, if you know what I’m talking about. When I’ll master that too, I’ll make a recording and post it here for you.

Do you play guitar? What songs do you play best?

This is what my good friend Ella asked me the other day. I’m no expert in weight loss but I think I’m able to give her an answer. Since this is a question many chubby girls have in mind, I decided to answer her on my blog, maybe we can start a helpful discussion with other readers who are interested in healthy weight loss methods.

First of all, let’s see what is Wonderslim.

Produced and sold by DietDirect, Wonderslim is a range of medical grade protein diet supplements in the presentation form of portion-controlled meal replacements. The efficacy of Wonderslim and of other similar diets resides in two facts:

• Converting protein into energy calls for higher calorie consumption than converting the equivalent carbohydrates intake.
• The restriction of the daily calorie intake allows controlling the body weight variations.

The above mentioned will lead to a healthy weight loss process only when combined. A high-protein diet without the calorie restriction won’t make you slim, because the excess protein will turn into fat just like any other food. On the other hand, restricting calories without taking care of giving the body enough essential proteins will lead to a loss in the lean body tissue. This is not desirable because when we lose weight, we need to aim at burning the fat and not reducing the muscular mass. This is where Wonderslim diet foods come into action. They are presented as regular foods such as soups, salad dressings, snacks, puddings, entrees, desserts, candies, shakes etc and they are supposed to replace normal foods in one’s diet while providing the essential protein supply needed for the proper functioning of the body.

Coming back to the efficiency of such meal replacement diets, I’d say that they are indeed effective, provided that one follows the instructions in the enclosed leaflet. I’d also say that consulting your physician is a must prior to committing into any of these diets that may seem safe at a glance but may harm you in case you suffer from some medical conditions.

Moreover, I have a few questions for my friend and for all other interested readers:

• Are you eating like there’s no tomorrow?
• Are you living a life that takes you from bed to chair and again to bed in only a few footsteps a day?
• Are you constantly feeling under pressure of deadlines, commitments, obligations or other similar stuff?
• Are you feeling like never getting enough sleep?

If you answered yes to any of the above, maybe you should first try to reassess your life and your priorities, have a more relaxed approach to your environment, then see if you need any diet at all to get in shape. Relax! What’s the rush, anyway? You’ll see weight loss will soon follow.

Buying the iPad seems to be triggering a longer chain of purchases which I somehow expected, but didn’t think it would call for so much money. Let me only tell you about ipad cases and you’ll see how hard it is to stop at one single item.

In  the first place, one needs to decide what’s the best solution: a skin, a folio case or a sleeve? Or maybe a messenger bag? Perhaps you need both a skin and a bag. Getting a skin would be nice, especially if it would come with openings for all connectors. That’s because I hate taking devices out of their shell each time I want to charge them or to use them in conjunction with something else. I’ll tell you what I did: what I usually do when I need something and I’m not sure what I’m looking for. I did a Google search for iPad accessories. The first site I found was an excellent online resource for iPad accessories such as skins, cases, screen protectors and many more other little things that one may need when wanting to use their iPad to the full. I was very much attracted by the wonderful Gelaskins. In fact, I loved them, so I ordered four models, because I wanted to benefit from their promotional offer. I got four skins for the price of only three. I’m so proud of them that I want to show you here what I’ve got:

Neo New York

Gustav Klimt - The Kiss

Georges Seurat - Sunday Afternoon On The Island

Amy Sol - Land of Dreams

Do you like them? I love this idea so much that I’m thinking to buy four more such skins and save them for truly special occasions. I know this may sound a bit expensive, but I think it’s so cool that money start fading in importance in front of the effect I’m hoping to achieve. You know, one of my favorite sayings is a definition of luck I’ve heard from an old friend of mine: “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity”. So, I like to be prepared from head to toes, iPad accessories included. What about you?

For those of you who might think I love to cry, I want to let you know I don’t. I just feel good when reading sad inspirational poems, that’s all. Besides, I’ve got this research to get done, so thank you for your help in advance.

Many of us love cookies, but when one needs to stay gluten-free, then eating cookies may become problematic, as you can see from this complete list of gluten free foods, in case you want to know what you can safely eat. Liz Lovely bakes gluten free cookies in the Mad River Valley in Vermont and many locals say that her gluten free Ginger Molasses cookies are excellent! So, if you happen to live in Vermont, you’re lucky to be able to enjoy great gluten free cookies without having to bake them yourself.

Preparing the filling is easy. For example, you can stuff the mushrooms with themselves. I mean, are you going to discard the stems or what? Stems are good. If you want, you can use them into  some other meal or you can chop them, mix them with a little bit of egg, cheese, onions and garlic, and you’ve got a lot of healthy stuffed mushrooms recipes to try. If health is not your main concern, minced meat is another delicious option. You can use either pork, beef, turkey or chicken, or a mix of minced meat and bacon pieces. How often do you cook pulled pork recipes, have a great barbecue party, then try to do something with the leftovers for the following week? Stuffed mushrooms can help you clean up your fridge, because they make good friends with all other veggies. I admit I haven’t tried them with eggplants, but who knows, I might discover a new recipe to share with you one of these days.

What other mushroom stuffing secrets do you know? Would you care sharing them with us?