Vista Mar, Seaside Towers in Panama

It just takes a mere ten minute helicopter ride to arrive at Vista Mar Golf & Beach Resort from Panama City. Alternately traveling by car for less than an hour to reach makes this mode of a journey a just as pleasant one as well.

Situated on Pacific Coast of the Republic of Panama, this notable resort is not only luxurious but also has a grand view of the ocean all through the development area which covers about 700 acres of land in total. In order to reach there, one may easily catch a direct flight to Panama City's Tocumen International Airport (PTY) from U.S. cities such as Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, New York and Newark, N.J -- thus making the journey of getting there easy, comfortable as well as favorable.

The launch of the real estate named Las Brisas was publicized recently by the Vista Mar Golf and Beach Resort. The Vista Mar is Panamas latest oceanfront resort condominium venture and. Attractively located within the enclosure of the oceanfront area of Vista Mar Gold and Beach Resort, Las Brisas is expected to tower above the magnificent 18-hole gold course which was uniquely designed by award winning architect J. Michael Poellot. All of these luxury abodes will be privileged with the grand panoramic scenery of not just the golf course but also the magnificent Pacific Ocean to the west side.

The starting price for a 1,765 square foot two-bedroom condominium at Las Brisas is $288,700 USD. The penthouses whereas range from $563,600 USD and would ideally consist of a condominium of 3,018 square feet.

In the two/three bedroom and penthouse condominiums the owners have their choice of shutting off one bedroom thereby permitting the residence to be given to the Vista Mars professionally managed rental program to render their services to. The Las Brisas luxury residences at Vista Mar have exclusively decorated interiors, beautifully elongated private balconies not to leave out mention of course of including the comfort and convenience of having a private elevator.

The Las Brisas residents at Vista Mar will be entitled in addition to all these to having a social membership to the championship golf course and its well-planned and exciting clubhouse. Nine holes of this 7,496-yard golf course will be fully equipped for use in July. Our inhabitants shall also be able to gain privileged entry into the private Beach Club which is host to swimming facilities as well as a great restaurant with delicious Mediterranean cuisine. This club also includes a conveniently well-located heliport. There is in addition to all this a luxury top of the line rejuvenating Spa and an excellent Fitness Centre along with a Tennis Club which exist to further enhance the merits of true recreation which exist here.

Learn How To Pick A Home Renovator

With a clearly defined list of wants and needs, a realistic budget and product research completed, you're ready to interview renovators.

The main objective is to find a professional renovator with the skills to accomplish the range of work in your renovation. Keep in mind you'll be opening your home to the renovator you select for weeks or months, so look for someone you want around your home on an extended basis.

The initial meeting helps you get to know a renovator and discuss your plans. You're laying the groundwork for your project, so take your time and don't be rushed.

At the second meeting, each renovator will prepare an estimate/proposal that includes a written estimate, a specifications list and maybe a few rough sketches. There may be a fee for this.

The one thing that is hard to judge from a proposal is overall quality of workmanship. The best way to tell if a renovator can do what he promises is to check references.

Look at past projects and talk to homeowners. Some people skip this step, figuring renovators will only offer up positive references.

But some renovators may feel that poor references are better than none at all. And some may try to bluff with false references. Always check!

Also, make sure when looking at estimates that you're comparing apples to apples. Get enough detail so that the level of service and quality offered by each renovator is comparable. A lower estimate may seem more attractive, but not if it doesn't provide the same quality process and end product.

This is the last step in selecting a renovator. Once you're satisfied with the references and estimate, it's time to get a firm quote. To provide this, the renovator must have a design.

The design sets out the specifications. This is a written recipe for the job. Along with the plans, they explain what's to be done in enough detail so that different renovators working from the same design would produce the same result.

There's typically a fee to produce the design, which usually can be applied to the total project cost.

Once you've selected a renovator and you are both clear on what's to be done, the next step is to draw up a detailed written contract. I'll have more on that next week.

There's been a quiet revolution going on in the new home building industry.

I say quiet, because it didn't gain as much public interest as we thought it would. It actually started a decade ago with an exciting new way of building called R2000.

Today, the revolution continues with the addition of new names such as EnerGuide and Energy Star. This revolution has changed the face of our industry in response to public interest in the environment and a desire to have a role in energy conservation.

It's an exciting time for today's new home buyer. With the many products and services available, the castle of your dreams is possible. And if you have a desire to be environmentally responsible, the industry is ready and waiting.

The Ontario Building Code recently incorporated aggressive changes in support of energy efficiency and will continue to raise the base level for building in the years to come.

While all builders must now comply with requirements such as improved windows, doors, insulation levels and heating equipment efficiency, many builders are well ahead of these mandated changes. That's where Energy Star comes in.

Many builders have taken up the challenge to further advance the energy efficiency of new homes by offering features that also enhance the comfort, quality, afford ability, sustainability and indoor air quality of their new homes by incorporating options.

These are just a few of the innovative features included as part of many builders' standards or upgrades that provide homebuyers with remarkable benefits.

Building science plays a key role in understanding how an energy efficient home is designed and constructed, and how features integrate so the home works as a system.

Construction of the building envelope is one of the most important factors in making sure energy efficient features perform at maximum efficiency. A very air-tight envelope reduces drafts, heat loss, cold rooms and risk of mould and mildew in wall cavities and unconditioned spaces as well as dust and noise infiltration into the home.

Several builders in London and area have chosen to participate in one or more of a growing number of energy efficiency and performance labelling programs that require independent testing of homes to verify the quality and integrity of the building envelope.

From EnerGuide for New Houses, which is an excellent measuring tool to help builders assess the level of efficiency in their homes, to Energy Star for New Homes and the R2000 program, which place strict guidelines and testing requirements on participating builders to meet a high level of energy efficiency, new home construction is on a continuous improvement course.

The other important aspect of these improvements is their effect on the environment. Greenhouse gas emissions, a major contributor to climate change, are reduced significantly as efficiency improves. For example, a home meeting Energy Star or R2000 standards cuts greenhouse gas emissions by about two to four tonnes a year.

Body And Soul - Keeping It Together!

It is said that the first thing a man does when he wakes in the morning is to look out of the window to see how the weather has changed overnight, and the first thing a women does on waking is to look in the mirror to see what the night has done to her face. Enough said … but if your look in the mirror is followed by ‘Oh, my God … I could do with a face-lift, etc. etc.’ (don’t worry, we’ve all been there) before you start layering on more make-up and deciding to embark yet again on another diet/exercise regime (which will probably have been forgotten anyway by the weekend), let’s stop wishing, and start by trying to make the best of what we have got.

We may not be able to recapture the healthy glow of youth, but we may be able to inject a little sparkle by giving as much thought to the inside of our bodies as we do to the outside. Just think of what would happen to a house if it were not built on firm foundations. Also how would our cars run if we filled them up with the wrong fuel? Similarly, how can we expect our bodies to function smoothly if we just worry about the paintwork and not concentrate on the engine? So analyse what you are putting into your body. Is it mainly ‘comfort/grab-a-snack - I’m in a hurry’ food, eg buns, crisps, chocolates etc., or is it nourishing food with all the vitamins and minerals the body requires to operate efficiently?

Many moons ago, a colleague of mine, who had a connection with a pharmaceutical company, said the idea had been muted within the company that as the elderly often start the day with a cup of tea and digestive biscuit, then a good way of ensuring that they receive all the necessary vitamins and minerals was to add them to the digestive biscuit It seemed a great idea, but when you think of how we absentmindedly dip into a packet of biscuits, then we would probably overdose on vitamins. Although we need vitamins we can also have too much of a good thing. It is worth remembering that whereas the body will expel too much of say Vitamin C, the body will store Vitamins A & D and an overload of these vitamins can have a detrimental effect. So leave it to the experts to get the balance right. It is better to start the day (together with your nourishing breakfast) with a good multi-vitamin and mineral tablet. The tablet container will show the RDA (which stands for the ‘recommended daily allowance’), and it will also show how the tablet equates with this.

A good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement is the Holland & Barrett’s

Formula for the 50 PLUS called ABC PLUS SENIOR (on half-price offer at the present time).

Another supplement I would recommend for those of us whose memory is not what it used to be is ‘Ginkgo Biloba’. (Also on half-price offer at the moment). This has been in use for years on the continent as an aid to improving the circulation. It is said that it not only improves the supply of blood to the head and subsequently improves the memory (so hopefully we’ll remember where we put the bottle of tablets) but it also improves the blood supply to the extremities, which is great if you suffer from cold hands and feet. Ginkgo, by the way, comes from the Ginkgo tree, which is one of the oldest trees known to man. You can therefore appreciate how vital it is that we do not allow plants to become extinct.

Remember the old wives’ tale that ‘fish is good for the brain’? (When I hear this saying, my mind always goes back to a lecturer jokingly saying that his mother was determined that he would do well and always made him eat fish before an examination, and, of course, to her delight he did do well). Well, now it has been proved that Omega 3 (pure fish oils) not only benefits the brain but the whole body. It is high in essential fatty acids, which help to maintain a healthy heart and circulation.

Another very good supplement is Selenium. This was naturally present in the earth and in our vegetables years ago, but sadly has become depleted over the years with intensive farming and chemicals. So we can put back this missing ingredient. I certainly felt a difference on taking this as a supplement.

Now, if you are prone to numerous infections, coughs, colds, etc., then your immune system needs a boost. In addition to the usual Vitamin C, a couple of good supplements for this are Zinc and Echinacea. It’s a good idea to take Echinacea well before the ‘flu time’ is upon us in order to get it into the system.

We have always known the importance of making sure that we have enough calcium in order to maintain bone strength, but it is only in the past few years that Glucosamine has come to the fore as an aid to the joints. Glucosamine is believed to stimulate cartilage growth and prevent it wearing down and hopefully reducing the subsequent pain. I have a friend who swears this has helped her painful joints. Chondroitin is often added to the Glucosamine as this helps to attract fluid into the cartilage Healthy Direct (www.healthydirect.co.uk) has a special offer on this powerful combination of Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Vitamin C. They also operate a free postage and packing with prompt delivery service, which is great if you have difficulty in getting to the shops.

Notice that throughout I have been using the word ’supplement’ as no tablets are going to replace a healthy diet. I remember being told by a doctor when I was in my twenties that the way towards a healthy life was to eat a small amount of a wide variety of foods and that way the body would obtain the necessary vitamins and nourishment. Whilst I agree with the ‘variety’ advice, I am not sure with the present day treatment and overlong storage of foodstuffs (particularly fruit and vegetables) whether there are many vitamins left by the time they reach the table. It came as a shock to hear at one lecture that when they tested an orange for its Vitamin C content, the results came back as a surprising ‘nil’. Still to end on a happy note, the fibre content was there, and we must eat plenty of FRESH fruit and vegetables not only for the vitamins but also for the fibre and enzymes necessary for the digestive process to function properly.

Weight Loss Products And Women

The topic of weight loss is becoming more of an issue as the future draws near.  Americans are the epitome of an overweight society.  We eat and snack and eat and snack.  I don’t even think it’s how much we eat, but more, what we eat.  Our fast food mentality is driving us to an early grave.  If you check out and super market or drugstore, you will be overwhelmed with weight loss products.  It’s bizarre how much we advertise and consume these magic pills when we continue to make the problem worse with our processed foods.  Weight loss is a major concern that isn’t getting anything but worse.

I recall as a child that we went to a fast food restaurant like McDonalds about once every couple of weeks.  Wow, has this changed.  I read in a recent poll that Americans typically hit up the old drive-through, once or twice a day on average.  That’s terrible!  Didn’t anyone watch “Supersize Me” or read about the leading cause of death in Americans?  While society refuses to change its eating habits, companies are making a killing on weight loss products.  This is simply a battle between the media and our stomachs.  Everyone craves that Big Mac, but also wants that tone tummy.  Our media has made it clear that thin is beautiful and healthy.

With a deluge of weight loss products on the market today, how do you know what to choose when dieting.  The Internet has made it much easier in attaining much needed information on specific weight loss programs and diet plans.  Whether you’re looking for chocolate shakes to replace your daily meals, or desiring a magic pill that pulls all of the water out of your body, hence giving you a false thin appearance, there are plenty to choose from.  From the list of weight loss products, Slim Fast seems to be a popular choice for many dieters.  This company offers countless munchies and meals that keep your calories down.  Another popular business is Weight Watchers.  This company not only offers a spectrum of weight loss products, but also provides a website where you can log on and punch in the amount of calories you’ve acquired for the day.  This way you can be sure of what you actually ate.

No matter what your diet plan, the key is to eat right and exercise.  If you forget these two basics, then you might as well pack it in.  Just because we live in a world of junk food, doesn’t mean you have to give in to temptation.