Travelers looking for an enchanting and affordable adventure might consider exploring the Northern European Baltic region. The Baltic States include three small countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Culturally rich and aesthetically beautiful, each country has its own charm. Though located in Northern Europe nestled right below Scandinavia, these countries are entirely unique—historically, culturally, and politically. Considering the abundance of natural beauty, colorful cityscapes, and bustling business areas, the region has experienced a dramatic growth in tourism over the past two decades. Fortunately for tourists, visiting the Baltics is still extremely affordable, despite the high standard of living inhabitants enjoy.

The natural beauty and turbulent history of these countries offers visitors fascinating tours, views, and stories from various eras in modern and ancient history. In 1991, the Baltics gained independence from the former Soviet Union—and have worked tirelessly to promote their own languages, cultures, and economies with great success. Each country has its own landmarks and must-see tourist destinations. Some of the highlights include the following:

• The colorful, medieval city center of Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a thriving business center. The views from the modern, high-rise hotels in the city are simply incredible.
• The Lithuanian city of Siauliai (pronounced shoe-lay) with hundreds of wooden and metal crosses placed into the ground in a tradition believed to have begun in the 14th century. Lithuania also hosts a modern capital city Vilnius within a short drive from magnificent, ancient pine and oak forests in the countryside.
• Latvia boasts the Latvian ethnographic museum that hosts over 121 ancient buildings and thousands of artifacts in the context of how they were used in everyday life by Latvian peoples at different locations and points in history.
• All of the Baltics are also known for their plentiful—and relatively inexpensive—amber, though be sure to ask for specifics on filling out customs declarations before you go (and more importantly, before leaving).

While Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania hold quaint villages and historic landmarks, their capitals (Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius) are unmistakably modern—and bustling! Each country has been a member of the European Union and NATO since 2004. Their economies have all experienced rapid growth over the past two decades. Estonia is the most expensive Baltic destination, reflecting its economic leadership with start-ups based in its capital of Tallinn, including the now world-famous Skype. If you haven’t ever considered visiting the Baltics, now is the time! The nations sit on the Gulf of Finland, meaning gorgeous summer views over the Baltic Sea. For more information, check out the Baltic tours at Jetvacations.com.

These days, not only actors but everyone can benefit from surgical enhancements—and in any region of the body. Cosmetic dentistry is responsible for the large number of sparkling, white smiles and perfectly straight teeth—or shall we say “veneers”–that seem so much more common now than they did 10 years ago. People can get minor procedures like a forehead lift to decrease wrinkles, but some cosmetic procedures also benefit patients’ feelings of physical comfort and well-being. Surprisingly, some of the most life-changing cosmetic procedures are also the most discreet.

Many surgical enhancements are visible to everyone; however, many are extremely private. Individuals who have their teeth whitened want the world to see their sparkling pearly whites. However, there are also people who want surgery in more private regions of the body for a number of reasons. First, women can experience physical effects of aging and childbirth that sometimes result not only in sagging skin, but even internal “sagging” called prolapse in which the pelvic muscles are damaged. When these muscles are weakened, organs sink—with this can come pain, urinary incontinence, and a host of other issues, some of which, though not fatal, can seriously impact the quality of a woman’s life if left uncorrected. There are surgical procedures that can mend conditions like these. Of course, there are also procedures that women can do to beautify their bust and nether regions as well!

The benefits of plastic surgery often include elimination of pain or discomfort, enhanced sense of well-being, increased self-confidence, and even improved sexual sensations from procedures, such as vaginal cosmetic surgery. Anyone considering plastic surgery should be sure to go with a reputable surgeon who has verifiable credentials and a long list of satisfied clients.

Studies show a link between obesity and lack of sleep. Now, I read just as many articles on losing weight as the next guy (or girl), and let’s face it—they tend to say the same things over and over. However, one article I read a few years ago was different. How? Well, for one it didn’t touch on the topics of calories or exercise. For another, it involved a holistic approach to health that actually can seriously impact an individual’s weight whether or not the person makes a concentrated effort to diet. It isn’t going to solve the epidemic of obesity—but it could make a difference that shows up on the scale.

Studies are showing a link between sleep and weight gain. People who don’t get enough sleep gain weight. People who do get enough sleep have an easier time regulating their caloric intake. There are physiological reasons behind this. There are two phases of sleep, REM (Rapid Eye Movement) during which an individual dreams and maintains a lighter level of sleep. The next level is non-REM sleep, which has four phases, the last two of which are deeper phases of sleep when the body releases regulatory and restorative hormones. Leptin and Grehlin are hormones that help the body control appetite and weight gain and loss. Leptin suppresses appetite, while Grehlin increases appetite and may prevent a person from losing weight.

When lack of sleep becomes a chronic problem, levels of Grehlin increases, causing greater appetite, and levels of Leptin decrease. As more and more studies indicate a link between these hormones and obesity, it seems more and more certain to scientists that sleep deprivation causes weight gain, or at the very least, worsens it.

So, if you want to lose a few pounds, and you are only sleeping five or six hours a night—as a first step, try making sure you get at least eight hours of sleep a night. It may not turn you into an underweight Barbie overnight—but it may jumpstart your efforts and benefit you in surprising ways. For those who have more serious challenges, consider contacting a professional center for medical weightless where you can learn additional, practical, life-changing tips and habits.

High energy levels don’t just happen—for some people anyway. For many, a lack of sleep and exercise combined with poor eating habits result in underperformance and low energy levels. In addition, if these basic health habits are not adhered to, studies show that mental sharpness and memory seem to dwindle as well. Fortunately, the opposite is true as well—for people who are not getting enough sleep, never work out, and have no energy and bad memories, there is good news: taking on better habits can increase both your energy and mental performance!

I read this kind of information all the time. But over the last few months, I actually did a little experiment and was baffled by the results. For the first time in…oh, maybe 10 years…I forced myself to get to bed before 12:00am, get a full eight hours of sleep, and stop eating candy completely. I kid you not—I was a new gal. My energy levels shot through the roof; I was able to focus sharply; and, at night, I was able to sleep better.

Sometimes I fall back into my old self-indulgent ways and Internet surf into the wee hours of the night when humans should really be sleeping. For those times, I learned about a supplement that people can take that helps energy levels naturally. A friend recently recommended an NADH supplement to me that enhances mental alertness and energy levels. (NADH is a coenzyme that helps the body in the process of energy extraction.) She is completely sold on it. It is called Enada NADH. I’m going to try it—I researched it and it appears to be quite effective! I’ll let you know how it goes!

There’s nothing quite like a bold piece of jewelry to make a woman feel like the center of attention wherever she goes. Whether you’re talking about a necklace that’s positively dripping with diamonds or a chunky, funky wooden bangle bracelet, a strong accessory can really pull a look together, not to mention demonstrate your confidence to the world. After all, if you’re wearing a piece of jewelry that’s designed to stop traffic and start conversations, you’re not exactly a wallflower.

One of our favorite jewelry styles that we’ve seen lately are the druzy geode rings by designer Dara Ettinger. You know those big plastic rings that teenagers like to wear? Consider these the grown-up, sophisticated version of those rings. Each of these unique pieces is actually carved out of stone, with the shimmering druzy crystals covering the ring’s face. The overall effect is a mass of crystals adorning your hand — a sparkle that you would be hard-pressed to match with other gemstone jewelry. Priced at under $100 and available in a wide range of sizes, styles, and colors, these rings are truly show stopping pieces and a fantastic addition to your jewelry collection.

To learn more about these rings, simply visit Dara Ettinger’s website. She has a variety of other fabulous pieces available too; we’re a fan of her fantastic necklaces. Take a look at her blog entries as well and learn which celebrities are fans of her creations.

Whether you have dreams of accepting your own Academy Award someday or just have a small film project that you’re working on with friends or family, there are very few people out there who don’t enjoy being a star, at least for a little while. The key to looking like a celeb, even if you’re merely making a corporate video, is excellent production values. From a script that actually works to top-quality video editing, a superior production means a more polished finished project.

If you’re new to the filming process or you don’t have all of the equipment or personnel you need to get the job done the way you want, it might be a good idea to choose an experienced production company to work with. A company like Solid Line Media can give your production the polished edge you want. Just look at the companies they’ve worked with. There are some seriously impressive names there, including John Deere, Textron, and DHL. Based in Chicago, they work with companies and clients all over the country. Citing “innovative motion graphics and 3-D animation, excellence in HD corporate video production, advanced camera work and our overall superiority in digital video production”, their demo reel clearly shows they know what they’re talking about.

Maybe doing a corporate or educational video isn’t the most exciting project around. Maybe it won’t lead to red carpets and glamorous gowns. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a seriously polished video at the end.

This week, Apple announced that they were releasing a fourth generation of their popular low-priced iPod Shuffle music player. The new Shuffle is literally a sliver of its former self; it is now about half as big as the last generation, or about the size of a stick of Trident gum. The controls have been moved from the player itself to the headphone cord. And the player now has the added feature of being able to tell you the song and the artist–Apple is calling this feature VoiceOver.

So how do we feel about the Shuffle redesign? Honestly, I can’t say that I’m a fan. The last Shuffle was already a very tiny device. Looking at this model, dwarfed by the model’s hand, my first thought was “how quickly am I going to lose this?” There comes a point when our electronics just don’t need to get any smaller if we want to be able to keep track of them!

Moving the controls to the headphones is another change that I’m not really that fond of. While I’m not really an expert when it comes to audio equipment, I can tell you that the earbuds that come with iPods aren’t really the best out there. I have my own headphones that I like to use for listening to music on the go. Not being able to use those is pretty much a deal-killer for me.

For those who are fascinated with the overlap between the world of technology and the world of fashion, the phrase “nanotechnology swimwear fabric” is likely to grab their attention. The manufacturer of this intriguing fabric is a company called Sun Dry Swim. As the name might suggest, they sell swimwear that is designed to dry instantly.

Looking at their website, we noted right away that they don’t seem to have suits available for sale yet, though there were some simple yet cute styles shown on a few pages. The nanotech fabric apparently works by preventing the fibers from absorbing water like they do in normal swimwear fabric. Instead, when immersed, the water flows in between the fabric fibers. It beads up and out of the fabric when exposed to air, allowing it to dry quickly. I know I’m not a fan of standing around shivering in a wet swimsuit when I get out of the pool, so I for one would definitely like to try one of these beauties.

The advanced fabric apparently has other benefits as well. The colors stay bright when the dyes in other suits can fade due to UV exposure. The fibers are also extremely resistant to chlorine, which can of course damage swimsuits over time. What’s more, the company says that the swimsuit offers SPF 50 protection from sun damage. We know that we’ll be looking forward to the designs offered by this innovative company.

I used to think family vacations seemed really boring. Who’d want to go to an amusement park or a crowded beach when you could take your kiddies to Europe and show them capital cities with ruins, relics, and natural wonders of irreplaceable value to modern day world religions, art, history, and modern day politics? Well, a recent conversation clarified the answer to this question for me.

Last week, I was on the phone with a close friend from college. She has been married for several years, and she and her husband have two children. The children are ages three and two. Each time I speak on the phone to her, it sounds like complete chaos in the background. During this particular conversation, over the course of 10 minutes, her two-year-old broke a picture frame, ripped a page out of my friend’s favorite recipe book, and managed to shove a large part of the page into his left nostril. The conversation ended in panic, my friend feeling they may have to go to the emergency room to remove the recipe from the child’s nostril.

After we hung up, it finally dawned on me…This family needs a vacation—but the vacation needs to be a break. It needs to keep those kids having fun and occupied to avoid broken things, ripped up books, and objects in ears and nostrils! Yes, it’s all clear. This year, my friend is thrilled about their upcoming Orlando vacation. The kids will be way too busy with Mickey, Minnie, merry-go-rounds, and miniature golf. They will get to go to restaurants where everyone has children! My friend is especially excited that she (and her three-year-old) will get to pet a live dolphin and maybe even see live starfish. It sounds really fun. My friend and her family deserve it!

I just went to the most beautiful wedding! Weddings are one of those events that I always dread going to, but once there, it never fails to amaze me how reflective I get! As the dainty bride walked down the aisle with her father, I could clearly remember my father at my own wedding. Wedding ceremonies and festivities are so significant for parents—yet I never thought to ask my parents what that day meant to them…I must do that.
Anyway, as usual I ate far too many pieces of wedding cake, but that can’t be helped, as wedding cake is my favorite food! And there were a few additional caloric indulgences, but no need to mar my reflective mood by recounting those.

There was one more moment that struck me. It was when the bride and groom left in the wedding limousine. For some reason, I never stopped to think about why that moment is symbolic! I just always try to stand in a spot that helps me avoid getting pelted with rice being thrown at the newlyweds. Anyway, it hit me that these newlyweds are truly in for a journey! Like a drive to an exciting place, it will start with joy and a thrill of sorts. Then it will slow down, but intermittent laughter and tiffs will spice it up. If the journey is a long one, at some point each passenger will count the hours, maybe even the minutes depending on how they choose to fill the “empty” moments of the trip.

Then all of a sudden, they will arrive at their destination. It may or may not be what they expected—but at this point, the trip has only begun! Each new corner is a step that makes life interesting, if challenging (or even really annoying sometimes). Weddings always remind me of how exhilarating it is to take a leap of faith, embark upon something new, mysterious, and challenging—and how so few things in life are worth the risk, love being one of them. Honestly speaking, I did NOT feel like going to that wedding…But as usual, I am so glad I did!