My Little Port

One of the birds you’ll find in deserts, mountains, forests, and in your own backyard and garden is the Black-headed Grosbeak.  This bird may visit your bird bath or bird feeders often, especially if you live in the western United States.  The male Black-headed Grosbeak is a very flashy looking bird—it features a black head, wings, and tail with white spots.  Its chest, nape, and flanks are a bright cinnamon color, while there’s a small patch of yellow on its belly.  The female, on the other hand, is drabber, having brown and white with a bit of yellow and dull cinnamon on its body. (more...)

Women at different stages in their lives can suffer from hormonal imbalances that can be terribly uncomfortable to downright painful.  There are many women's health issues which can arise due to hormones, including painful PMS, irregular menstruation, acne and body pimples among other things.  This can be a result of many factors including a poor, unbalanced diet, not getting enough rest and aging. (more...)

If you care about your health as much as I do then I am sure that you must have faced situations where you decided to stay thirsty rather than drink suspicious water. I have to travel quite frequently so the water filter is a necessity for me. I am a believer of the saying that precaution is better than cure. You don’t want to fall ill for days when you could have easily avoided that by using water filters. (more...)

My sister had been struggling because of a divorce and was forced to move her and the kids into a smaller home to make ends meet. It looked like a storage unit in several rooms since they didn't have enough room to unpack everything and she asked me if I could help her come up with an inexpensive solution. After looking around a bit I discovered that for the price, you can't beat metal sheds. She was able to buy a medium metal shed and she used that until she got back on her feet. (more...)

People wear glares to look stylish and smart or to protect themselves from UV radiation. At times putting on sunglasses becomes a necessity rather then a style statement. You need to wear cheap wholesale sunglasses because of the nature of your job or your work. This is especially true for those whose work involves spending long hours under the sun. Those who participate in different sports events need to wear sunglasses to keep their eyes safe from harm. (more...)

Throughout the history of weapons from all over the world, the mystery and traditions of the Japanese edged sword has been left unmatched by any other weapon throughout the years. The sword itself has been so closely associated with samurai swordsmen that they eventually come to be known as the very soul of the samurai. Once again Masahiro has forged another sword that is worthy to the famed history of the Japanese swords – the Tsunami Nin-to. (more...)

Little Giraffe baby blankets have received a lot of media attention thanks to numerous celebrity endorsements.  But what is behind the hype?  Here is my review of their most popular baby blankets, the Little Giraffe chenille blanket.  This blanket is 29 by 35 inches, which is a standard length for receiving or “all-purpose” blankys.   The fabric is a microfiber blend woven into a soft chenille.  Microfiber is indeed softer than cotton can ever be, so Little Giraffe is not boasting with their claims to the “softest baby blanket ever.”   This warm fabric is contrasted with a satin border in a variety of complementary colors. (more...)

When it comes to sandwiches, is there anything quite as delicious as a hot grilled sandwich with melted cheese and toasty bread? Many people purchase a Panini Press for their kitchen that's made specifically for hot grilled sandwiches. But what if you don't want another electric appliance cluttering up your kitchen counter top? Leave it to Rachael Ray to come up with the perfect kitchen tool for making wonderful warm sandwiches right on your stove top. The Rachael Ray Hard-Anodized Rectangular Skillet with Sammy Press is the perfect pan for grilling sandwiches or any of your favorite skillet dishes. (more...)

This Soft Mini Xerball Medicine Ball is similar to the larger Xerball Medicine Ball in providing alternative strength conditioning but this one comes in a bundle. You know the saying, “good things come in small packages.” In this case its true. This mini ball is extremely durable. Its interior is made up of sand tightly packed in only a four-inch body. The ball fits comfortably in the palm of a hand. (more...)

Nowadays, you can easily buy goji berries in a form of juice. They are ready for you to drink at any time of the day whenever you feel like it. They are great to be consumed on a daily basis. Drinking goji juice also helps those who intend to lose weight. It not only curbs one's appetite but also speeds up the fat burning process. Also, since by drinking these berries juice, it increase one's energy levels so it will be easier for you to exercise as well as stick to your diet. (more...)

Going on a picnic is a great way to spend an afternoon outdoors with your family. If you or someone you know enjoys going on picnics, picnic blankets is a great item to have at your next outdoor picnic.  The Simple Picnic Blanket by the campingoutfitter.com  is a great buy because it is affordable and convenient.  With sturdy straps for easy carrying, it is a must have for those that have a lot to carry and unpack.  It is lightweight, comfortable and comes in great colors.  Buy one for yourself and another to give as a gift. (more...)

American artist Charles Wysocki is famous for his folk art paintings of American scenes as well as his endearing series of portraits of cat characters. In Remington the Well Read Cat Throw, the handsome orange tabby has invaded the library shelves for to have a nap. Books have been dislodged to make room and now he sleeps soundly, his head pillowed on an overturned book. Remington is joined on the shelf below by an elegant grey cat, also asleep, his chin resting on a book. The leather bound books are in every shape and hue, all showing loving wear and tear. The titles bring in Wysocki's sense of fun: The Wizard of Paws, A Few Good Mice, A Separate Cheese. This appealing picture has now been reproduced as a lush cotton throw. A Wysocki cat throw is the perfect way to add warmth and cheer to your favorite room. It's sure to delight any cat lover on your list. (more...)

Have you ever seen a Highland cow? They are the sweetest looking bovines. I’d seen some in a pasture the week before I googled this piece of jewelry. When I saw this absolutely adorable sterling silver Highland cow pin I let out a yelp. “What’s going on in there?” my husband shouted from the other room. “Look at this!” He did eventually meander into the computer room to see what all the fuss what about. “Huh.” He said noncommittally. (more...)

Shutter shades are new and latest of the style and design in sunglasses. These sunglasses were designed and launched in the market for the first time in the 80’s.  They are in great demand and fashion today because of their unique style, which includes the shutter styled glass instead of normal lenses. The most convenient and wonderful part of its popularity is that it is suitable for both men and women equally. (more...)

I just found some really neat crackle glass candle lanterns online and it got me wondering just what the heck crackle glass is.  What I found out is that crackle glass is made by taking a cylinder of molten glass and dipping it in water.  The outside of the glass cracks but the inside – because it’s insulated from that sudden temperature change – stays solid.  They then take the whole cylinder and slit the side, open it up and roll it flat.  That takes the crackle texture and rolls it into the whole piece of glass. (more...)

Summertime is lemonade time, but I really dislike serving kids all those sugary lemonade drinks.  Even worse is serving kids diet drinks.  My healthy alternative is mixing up a big batch of Honey Lemonade.  Stirring up a pitcher of this old fashioned thirst quencher is faster and easier than you might think.  I cheat a little by using bottled lemon juice, but when I have the time, and the lemons, I'll juice real lemons for an even tastier treat.  Using honey for sweetening is not only a healthier choice, but honey gives the lemonade another layer of flavor that both kids and grown ups enjoy. (more...)

When it comes to sharpness and durability, the Hoso Kumiage Katana has it with style. Fashioned and crafted based on Yamato Nihonto’s tradition, the Hoso Kumiage makes itself a katana battle ready as its original counterparts with which it was modeled after were way back when they were used by Samurai. (more...)

Are you drinking water that is good for you?  If you're getting it at the top of a mountain stream chances are yes! Otherwise probably not. Most of us drink water from our local municipal water supply company.  They do a great job of getting us water that we won't immediately get sick of, but is that the only qualifications that we should look at? Most water supply companies use chlorine as a main disinfectant. That kills lots of bad stuff that can make us sick, however it doesn't take out all of the contaminants that are in the water. That is why it's so important to add a water filtration system to your home. (more...)

One of the challenges of modern lifestyles is keeping fit and maintaining normal weight levels. But with a daily menu that consists predominantly of fattening foods, and a very busy schedule that leaves almost no room for regular exercise, many people find themselves struggling (and failing) to maintain their ideal weight. Thankfully Hoodia Mint herbal weight loss formula now provides a sweet tasting supplement to help keep the pounds at bay. (more...)

If you're like me (a die hard Cardinals fan), you have at least one wall in your home reserved for Cardinals banners and memorabilia. I've come to realize that I have too much gear and that just one room isn't enough to properly display everything. I want more space, but the wife won't let my "Cards Wall of Awesome" spill out of the den, so I've had to make some adjustments. Enter: The Arizona Cardinals 12"x18" Wool Mini Banner! (more...)

We have egg allergies in the family so it can make baking kind of tricky. It's not too hard to make smaller goodies like cupcakes and muffins without eggs, but making larger treats like cakes without any eggs can produce some pretty comical results. It's hard to get the cake to pull together well without that key ingredient. And if you're unfortunate enough to have a poor quality cake pan, you probably should just stick with cupcakes. That was my dilemna recently when I was visiting my mom and trying to bake an egg-free cake with a second-rate pan. What a mess. So as soon as I got home I knew I had to get her the same Kaiser Round Cake Pan that I use in my kitchen. (more...)

Outdoor enthusiasts know the true value of a good compass. When the sun is not shining to provide a good directional basis for east and west, finding your way through a maze of trees and wildlife is very challenging. Standard compasses, while effective, often times fall short and are easily broken and not always as accurate as you may need them to be. More than likely there is a good chance of it slipping out of your pocket or not being able to read it due to having no light. Now there is a revolutionary change in the compass world; a Humvee digital compass. (more...)

There comes a time in everyone's life when a loved one has to leave their side and no one is ever prepared for it. In this time of sorrow and passing it is necessary to be there for all their family. One must show their sympathy and their love, and what better way than with the gift of light. The Calming Candle Garden Sympathy Gifts are the best to give in this time of sadness because it will show that there is a light in the darkness. (more...)

Acai is considered a newer superfood. It has been used for centuries in Brazil where the people include it into almost half of their entire diet! Since they ingest large amounts of Acai, it is no surprise they rarely get sick. It has not been until recently that other parts of the world have discovered the plentiful benefits this little berry offers. (more...)

People go to extremes to safeguard their health. They live a healthy lifestyle, eat healthy and low fat food, and stick to vigorous exercise routine. They pay attention to the food they eat and ensure that their food is fresh and hygienic, fit for consumption. But it is a fact that they tend to pay scant attention to the water they drink at home and also at work. They need an undercounter water filter.  Various studies conducted by different agencies have reported that tap water used for drinking and cooking purpose contains contaminants and it is not fit or safe for drinking. (more...)