Addictions

Addictions can come in many forms. In todays world, some of these things are even encouraged by the way our society is. Many people who have those type of addictive personalities are prone to Health abuse. Gambling, sex, drugs, alcohol, eating disorders. There are all sorts of thinks to fall victim to. The link will take you to a valuable resource for information regarding abuses and conditions. If you are the loved on of a person in crisis, it will give you a place to start as far as intervention. Education about the illnesses and conditions out there is really the key to success and healing.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Unsound Financial Footing

I used to have a boyfriend many years ago who over spent all the time. He was the type of person who could take you down if you let him. Luckily he only dooped me once. I leaned my lesson with him and money. He had lots of diamond rings. Men's rings and they looked expensive but he was always pawning them for money. I kid you not. As soon as he got them out, in, they would go again. Nuts! I wonder why he never got a payday advance. It seemed that that would have been a better choice for him.

It would have been easy. All he had to do was apply with simple forms, wait on confirmation and then collect his money and use it for whatever. He was obviously not on a good budget. He spent on "things" all the time. Too many for me. He dressed better than I did and had more shoes than me. A payday loan for him would have been the most cost-effective way of borrowing short-term money and bridging the gap until he get paid. Instead of pawning and re pawning those rings, he could have just paid the interest on the loan and carried it over till the next month. It would have been quick and easy and would not affect his credit in any way.

He is gone. Thank god. He was not financially stable. I wonder if he ever got stable. You know some people are not good with money.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Ipod Shuffle Giveaway

One of my coworkers works with an ipod shuffle in her ear all the time. We have to do so much talking on the phone that it would be impossible for me to concentrate and listen to music on headphones. Music playing softly in the background is OK but not on the ipod. When I got my ipod it was at the time when the ipod mini was all the rage. I got a pink one engraved. Within a month or two or three after that the new ipod nano came out and mine was obsolete. Technology becomes "old" pretty quick. I am still happy. I love my ipod minnie.

If you do not have an ipod, you will want to participate in theiPod Shuffle Giveaway! You too can be all in the hizouse with the music! The contest is being hosted by Productivity 501. Be sure to check it out. It is easy to participate. You write a review of Productivity501 and post it to your blog. The best 5 reviews will go into a drawing for a shiny new iPod. Now it looks like they did a similar contest back in December.

I did ask my coworker who wears the shuffle constantly if it increased her productivity. She said it did becasue she turns it on when she is stressed. I do not belive her. What outside force will improve my productivity? For me it is coffee. I need the caffeine. Productivity501 is a site dedicated to bringing you regular tips and tricks to help increase your personal productivity. If you read through the articles, you will find some very interesting articles ranging from making money to nine ways to decreasing productivity.

Disclosure

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Okra

Today for lunch I had steamed okra. I love okra. It has become my favorite vegetable as of late. I love the slime. It takes good and is so green! I discovered pickled okra about a month ago and I really like them. I have been looking for them in the store in the pickle section, but so far no luck. I think I will have to go to the organic food store to get them.

Okra, fruit of a large vegetable plant thought to be of African origin, was brought to the United States three centuries ago by African slaves. The word, derived from the West African nkruma, was in use by the late 1700s. Grown in tropical and warm temperate climates, it is in the same family as the hibiscus and cotton plants.Okra is often available fresh year-round in the South, and from May to October in many other areas. You can also find okra frozen, pickled, and canned in some regions. When buying fresh okra, look for young pods free of bruises, tender but not soft, and no more than 4 inches long.

When cut, okra releases a sticky substance with thickening properties, useful for soups and stews. Gumbos, Brunswick stew, and pilaus are some well-known dishes which commonly use okra. Okra can be served raw, marinated in salads or cooked on its own, and goes well with tomatoes, onions, corn, peppers, and eggplant. Whole, fresh okra pods also make excellent pickles. Its subtle flavor can be compared to eggplant, though the texture is somewhat unusual. Many people prefer breaded and fried okra, because the slippery substance is less pronounced.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Mental Health Resources

I remember years ago when I first got to college, I was very stressed. College was just overwhelming. They had a college 101 course for new freshmen that included a class on stress reduction run by the college therapists. I am so grateful for that course. It was a life saver. We had relaxation classes that were almost like hypnosis. That was the best part of the class. Luckily the college was a resource and they had a resource on campus for us students to access when we needed.

Now today, where do you turn if you are in need of a little support? You might just want to check out Find Counseling.com. They are a great internet resource for assisting you in getting the help you need. They invented the therapist finder concept, and have now rebuilt and relaunched with a new high-tech search engine. All you need to do is put in your zip code, key words and hit the search button. You will be presented with a list of resources in your area.

Finding a therapist is a very personal thing so you can even specify language, specialty and gender. It is about comfort level. Since 1996 the Find Counseling.com Network has become a trusted resource for those in need of mental health services. They are committed to privacy and providing the best qualified network of professionals. Psychology News and Research Briefs are even available that provide some of the latest information on news related to mental health issues and illnesses.

Disclosure

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Looking Different

I must be looking thinner because two people mentioned to me today that it looked like I was loosing and was I on a diet. No. Not a diet, just trying to cut back and be more active. So far so good. Now I really do need to step it up a notch with the exercise routines to that I can begin to see some real changes. I can tell that some of my clothes are loose in the waist.

I am trying to clean out my closet and I have decided to let the clothes from this winter that are bigger to go straight to Good Will. I plan to not be able to get into them next year, they will be so big!

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Reef Sandals

In light of the Open Toed Pledge and only if your feet are ready, then check out the really cute reef and rainbow sandals here. Looking at them makes me ready for warm weather. Active Sandals offers the best selection of Rainbow Sandals anywhere on the web. Just look at the selection. They have a large inventory for both men and women. There is even a sale going on now. Some of the sale items are at great prices.

For all oders over $75, there is even free shipping. They want to be sure you are completely satisfied with your purchase. If you are unhappy with your purchase, simply send your UNWORN sandals and packing slip within 15 days of receipt.

Disclosure

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Open Toed Shoe Pledge

Spring has sprung and summer will soon be here. It is time for all the ladies in all the world to take the Open Toed Shoe Pledge. Raise your BIG toes and repeat after me. Yes...it is MANDATORY! Come on repeat with me. Get those BIG toes UP!

I pledge to follow the following rules whenever I wear sandals or other open toed shoes!

• I promise to wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.
• I will go polish free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.
  
• I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.
• I will shave the hairs off my big toe.
• I will not wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, sister, tells me that the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.
• If a strap breaks, I won't duct tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get the shoes fixed or in the garbage they go!
• I will not live in corn denial. I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him.
  
• I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99, even if my feet are small enough to fit into a kids shoe. This is out of the concern and safety of others. Noone can safely walk in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take others down with me as I fall and break my ankle.
• I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like vienna sausages.
• If I have been privy to the magic that is Foot Soap, I will share that knowledge with the non-initiated.
• I will brutally honest with the girlfreind, sister, coworker when she askes me if her feet are to ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that toes as long as fingers are scary.
• I promise that if I wear flip flops, that I will ensure that they actually flip AND flop, making the correct noise while walking and I swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.
• I promise to go to my local beauty school once per season and have a real pedicure.
• I will promise to throw away any white or off white sandals that show signs of wear...as nothing is tackier then dirty white sandals!
  

Even after taking this solemn pledge, I personally know some people WILL be looking like this all summer! Yikes!

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

My Kind of Shopping!

I like to shop and I do not mind payign full price for something that I REALLY want and full price is the only way to get it. Most of the time I go for the sales and shopping with coupons for extra savings. I use coupons at the grocery store in person and I like to use then on line. All you have to do is enter in the coupon codes for savings.

Check out the health and beauty coupons with great links like Great Skin and Spa look, for starters. Many of the sites offer free shipping with a purchase over a certain amount. That alone can be wonderful given the weight of things like cosmetics. A few posts back I mentioned about wanting to go on a spa vacation. The next best thing is using spa products at home. I do that almost everyday. I love the feel of exfoliation and nice hevy, moistrizing creams. Be sure to check out the daily specials.

Overall you can't go wrong with all the coupons at Coupon Chief. There are over 1000 coupons to choose from and everything is easy to find by using the catagory links on the left sidebar. Shopping with ease is what Coupon Chief brings to my life. Be sure to check it out! Happy shopping.

Disclosure

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Rainwater and Grapefruit

I remember when I was little, my mother would say that we need to rinse our hair with rainwater from barrels collected outside. The well water was hard, and the rainwater was soft, allowing the soap to lather more, and rinse off better. Now we did not have barrels but we used buckets. I had to collect those buckets and she then poured them into bigger containers. It became a chore, but my mother was alwasy into some fad sort of thing.

I also remember that she read somwhere that if you boiled a grapefruit and wiped your face with it, it acted as a cleanser and toner. I remember donig this crazy thing as well. She was always trying some old wives tale remedy. Me, as soon as I got old enough, I ran down to the Estee Lauer counter and plunked down my $350 for the entire line of cleansers, toners and moisterizers. Those work best for me!

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

It is ALWAYS the Spouse

I heard about this news story this morning as I was getting dressed. I just heard that the body was found. They never announced about any dismemberment and torsoes being found. That is just plain creepy. I hope they find him. He may want to do this again. How very sad for those kids. Their father is a killer and of their mother no less.
==============

Investigators found what is believed to be the torso of a mother of two who disappeared last month and sought her husband as the suspect in her slaying, authorities said Saturday.

The husband was suicidal, his lawyer said.

Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel said the torso was found in the garage of the home shared by Tara and Stephen Grant in suburban Washington Township. Additional body parts were found Saturday at a public park near the home, he said.

Tara Grant, 34, has been missing since February 9. Stephen Grant, 37, reported her missing five days later. Police say that on the day she went missing, the Grants argued over her frequent business trips abroad.

An arrest warrant was issued Saturday charging Grant with murder and disinterment and mutilation, Hackel said.

"He is the number one and at this time the only suspect in the murder of Tara Lynn Grant," Hackel said at a news conference earlier Saturday in Mount Clemens.

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Wirefly National Marathon

Are you running in the Wirefly National Marathon? I am not, but running a marathon of any kind is a futuer goal of mine. I used to run when I was in college. I have not run since then. It is something I would like to go back to doing if I could. I have bad knees and have had knee surgery. I think that really running would get the weight off sooner.

This is the second year the Wirefly Marathon has been held. Registation is open now for on line sign up. The race itself if a 26.2 mile course that weaves its way through and around our country’s most famous landmarks, monuments and memorials along the National Mall, Capitol Hill, the DCWaterfront. Now you know that must be beautiful! Some parts of the race are flat and others hilly. As you weaver your way through the local neighborhoods, you really do know that this is a great warmup to the Boston marathon.

People from all over the world run this race and the expected number of runners is about 2000. That is pretty impressive. Now with there being some international runners there, still more than than 70% of runnersclaim the DC/MD/VA region as home. Like most big marathons, prizes will be award in particular catagories. The race itself begins at 6:58 am with the very last runner crossing the finish line at about 1pm. Now I have seen some marathons and normally it is the Kenyans who normally win. They finish in about an hour or two which is way ahead of anyone else. If you are interested in the route map, then check here.

Procedes from the race itself actually benefits the local DC area where the race is run. That make you feel good about participating and even making donations. Some of the local charities that benefit are the Boys and Girls Club of DC, the DC Special Olympics, 16th annual Black History Swim Meet and the Washington Tennis Educational Foundation, just to name a few. This is a race that gives something back to the community. So get your running shoes ready and get the creaks out of your knees. The Wirefly National Marathon is waiting and will seeon be here. Sign up qick! Race day is Saturday, March 24th 2007.

Disclosure

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~

Quick Fixes

Well, it has been awhile since I got on the scale. I know I have not gained any. I have lost as my pants are getting loose in the thighs. My jeans, that is. My co-workers have begin to comment. I am happy about that. Now if I can just keep it up with no backsliding. Loosing weight is a hard thing. 10 seconds on the lips, 10 months on the hips. Here are some easy ways to lose weight. Now if you think about it, if you try just a few of these you will begin to see a difference.

On of the easiest things to do is just be more mobile. Get up and walk. Get moving! This is a easy and natural way to loose weight. Walk whereever you can. I have a co-worker who does this. We have a Subway about 8 minutes from the office by car....by car. Whenever she wants to go there, she walks. It takes her entire lunch hour but she walks there, eats and makes it back to the office with minutes to spare. She is thin and runs marathons. It is very easy for her. She is an inspiration. Some thing she also does is tale the stairs. She is always making a way to walk in just about all she does. She also parks at the very opposite end of the parkinglot when she parks. So she is getting in extra steps there.

If you want to find out about the top ways to lose weight, then check out the link. There are actually 10 easy ways listed there to loose weight. They all make sense. I wonder wny we find it all so hard to do? They are all common sense things and things we can incorporate into our daily lives with ease. Thank god for that. The things listed, when I, read them all made me think to myself...now why did I not think about that... especially the one about size mattering. Use smaller bowls and plates to eat off. Our portions will be smaller.

So, struggling? Don't. Check out the 10 best ways to loose weight at the links above. They might just give you some inspiration and help if you have reached a point where you are eyeing that piece of chocolate cake. Turn away! Turn away from the chocolate!

You can chase a butterfly all over the field and never catch it. But if you sit quietly in the grass it will come and sit on your shoulder.
~~Unknown~~