Watch Movies In The Theater... At Home!

Really cool website: http://www.watch-movies-links.net/

You can watch any movie that you can imagine, including ones that are currently in the theater... online! Not sure how they do it, but it totally works!

Go to the site, type in the movie title, and then it'll give you different versions of the movie that are rated by percentage, based on the quality (ie: 70% of people say this version works) 

If you can, you can even download the movie and watch it on a flight/train/car ride or something. OR you can even burn a dvd with it! How fun is that??

Wallpaper

It's back, it's better than ever... and it's not just for your wall anymore!

Wallpaper now comes in the coolest new textures and designs and its being used as so much more than a design for all 4 walls in your room.  You can use scraps to cover accessories, you can cover portions of furniture with it, you could paste it on a canvas or even frame it out and use it as art...OR, try using a cool pattern as a focal wall in your room and just painting the other walls with complementary colors. Possibilites are endless!

Mad Men

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this show! Definitely one of my faves!

It's on AMC and the new season (season 3) starts this summer...

It's a very realistic story based in the early 60's, around the advertising firm Sterling Cooper. Check out this Wikipedia desc. on the show: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Men

I actually discovered that they're running episodes from season 2 right now. You can check out the schedule at their website: http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/. 

I'd highly recommend renting season 1 and renting or watching season 2 so you can be ready for season 3 this summer. The show is amazing!

Workout Not Working Out?

Try doing intervals. Burns more fat  & cals than running/walking/doing the same mundane thing, again and again. (If you run, do five minutes at a jog, and 3-5 minutes at a "brisk" run or sprint. Walking? Try a couple minutes of jogging here and there, or even incline your treadmill for a few minutes. Proof? Check out this article out from the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/fashion/03Fitness.html?_r=1

Hangers Giving You Lumps?

Lizzie taught me this...

You know how you get those lumps in the shoulders of certain shirts when you hang them up? Like you put your shirt on and it looks like you have mini shoulder pads on? (or some really weird shoulder disease...) :)

Here's how to get rid of it... Get it damp and let it lay flat!

How genius is that? TEAM LIZZIE!

For All the Jetsetters...

Great travel email that I get sent to me every Wednesday is from The Top 20 from Travelzoo. Not sure if you receive this, but it finds all the best & cheapest deals of the week, and emails them to you once a week. No spam, just the one email and they find the best deals! Be careful though, you may find yourself being inspired to take random trips... to random places...

Here's the link! Sign up for the email, its great!

www.travelzoo.com

You a Gold Digger?

Gold is very valuable today! If you happen to have some extra pieces laying around, like an earring without a partner, or an unfixable necklace, or maybe even an item from someone you don't want to remember (in my case, Matt had an "extra wedding band" that he didn't need anymore) :) I'd recommend getting rid of it!

If it is in good shape and you have all the necessary details, the best place to sell it would be online, because it still has value to it as a whole piece. If you aren't sure, I'd get it appraised, decide if you like the price or think you can sell it for more. Otherwise, there are some other options that are actually quite popular. 

• You could have a "Gold Diggers Party"where you invite your girlfriends and their gold over and they can leave with the cash. I *believe* that if you host the party, you also get a percentage of the total value of gold sold. (haha... gold sold)
  
• OR you can watch tv... there are commercials ALL the time about different companies setting up (most often at local area hotels- most secure) and you can head in there with your gold and walk out with cash. You can take anything you want, a single earring, a beat up ring, etc... they just melt it down anyways. This is actually what Matt and I did and it was a quick and easy experience. I believe my mom did the same and "banked" pretty nicely :)
• Last but not least, there is always the local pawn shop or refinery! Here is a link to a refinery in Metro-Detroit that will take your "precious metals": http://www.midwestrefineries.com/

Gratitude

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being." 

-Goethe

I am a very strong believer in gratitude. You'll hear me talk about it alot on this blog... 

It is so important that we live our lives in gratitude because regardless of the situation, (or the person) there is always something to be grateful for. I actually have a gratitude journal that is both on paper and in my mind. Every night, before I go to bed I think of 5 things that I can be grateful for that day. Some days it is MUCH harder than others... but even something so simple as a kind gesture from a stranger needs to be recognized and appreciated. 

The past few nights, my gratitude has been consumed with the positive response I've gotten from this blog. I can't tell you what it means to "expose yourself," (in a way) and to have it be received so graciously. I read the quote by Goethe (above) and it reminded me of you all... you've helped and encouraged me to realize things about myself that I didn't even know existed! So I just wanted to say "thanks!" 

Hope you can continue to find some good stuff in here, and pass along to anyone you think might enjoy as well!

HGTV Green Home

Guess what?!? Today is day one for registering to win the HGTV Green Home! It's in Florida this year! Make sure you register everyday until June 5 to increase your chances!: http://www.hgtv.com/green-home/index.html

Also, if you win (and I know you personally), you must share. 

Thank You, 

The Management

GOOD LUCK!!!

Fun With Styrofoam!

Looking for a cute, affordable idea for making your own wall art or decor? Try using Styrofoam as a base!

It's really light, so you can hang it easily. It's also easy to cut and/or glue so the options for designing it are endless! Here is a link to some ideas from Michaels: Styrofoam Ideas

Also, here is a pic of a styrofoam art piece that I made. I spray-painted the base green, then spray painted some wire mesh green and wrapped it around. I then stained 3 $1 pic frames and filled them with some cute designer paper and attached them to the front. The whole project probably cost me under $15! 

Dirty Hair???

I know this depends on the hair type, so I'm just offering this as a friendly suggestion! 

BUT, I've been told by quite a few "beauty experts" that you are not supposed to wash your hair everyday! 

Please recognize that I'm not saying "don't shower everyday"... def. not saying that :) (I wear my purple shower cap or I take a bath on my off days)

Anyways, reason behind this philosophy is that shampoo supposedly strips your hair of its nutrients, it can also dry it out, AND for those of you that color, it strips the color much faster!

I've also heard that if you think that your hair is too oily, thats actually because your hair is so dry that the oil glands are actually over producing, so you're actually better off not shampooing everyday. Make sense?

Anyways, if you choose to try this out, here are a few options for you on your off days.. 

If you have blond hair, you can try sprinkling a little cornstarch in the roots to soak up the oil and give a little volume. You can also try a couple "dry shampoo sprays" for any hair color, by Pssssst (yes, there are that many s's) If you are a "high roller" there is a great powder or spray by Bumble and Bumble, OR I have a friend of a friend who just sent me a sample of her own line! Its actually super cool and lasts a long time, so its acutally pretty affordable, and you can get it catered to whatever your hair color is! Here is the link for that: http://finleyhair.com/

Magazine Overload?

Got a magazine basket somewhere at home? So do I. I love my gossip mags, but I also have no prob throwing them away when I'm done reading them (unless they contain pics of certain male celebs that demand to be looked at repeatedly) JK... MATT! Anyways, I have a harder time getting rid of the magazines that have a great article or idea or something of value in it. I especially love magazines that are craft or home renovation related (shocking... I know) SO, here's how I cut back on the clutter. I have this cool lil cutter called an iSlice (I think its like $4?) and when I page through the magazine, I cut out the pages (at the seam) that have some good info. I then buy those plastic paper protector sheets (that you used to do reports in for school?) and stick either one page (if both sides are good) or 2 pages (if only one side of page is good) with the good page showing on each side, and I fill up a binder with them! Depending on the variety of reading material you have, you may want to get a couple binders and dedicate each to a topic of interest. Like, I have one for crafts and one for cool cardmaking ideas, and one for home improvement stuff. THEN if you ever need inspiration, you can just "hit up" your binder and get it!

Go Green, Save $$$

I'm sure these might be obvious to some people by now, but if you want to do TWO things to help the environment, and save $ at the same time... Change out your light bulbs and unplug your appliances. Change your light bulbs to the energy efficient ones. You can find them at any store, there's coupons for them all the time, and honestly? You *might* replace them once a year... if not once every 2-3 years... They last forever and will totally cut back your energy bill. They may seem more expensive up front, but it is SO worth it in the long run.

Also, unplug your appliances! A lot of people don't realize that you are still using energy, even if the appliances/electronics aren't on... It helps to get one of those power cords with the on/off switches and just flip the switch before you go to bed at night. Saves money and helps the earth... How freakin awesome is that????

Here is a website of other things you can do:  http://www.worldwatch.org/resources/go_green_save_green

GO GREEN! WOO HOO!!!

Bored with your stuff? and Broke?

I TOTALLY understand :) I showed you one way to "amp" up some old clothing (fix up old clothes)

but there are so many other little things you can do to your clothing, furniture, even accessories!

For example, look at an old cardigan, or even an old coat... maybe it has those plastic, generic buttons? Go to your local fabric store and check out their selection and switch them up! OR one thing I've done, is used some leafing paint (makes things look like metal) and painted over them! Actually looks really darn cute and makes the clothing look more expensive ;)

Same for things like cabinets and dresser drawers. Go to the local hardware store, find some cute new handles and switch them out! It's as easy as unscrewing the back and replacing. Super easy. Or, take them off, mount them to a piece of cardboard and spray paint them! 

Do you have all black appliances except for an old yellow fridge? Use some black appliance spray paint (found at any hardware store) and match it up! Tired of a lamp? Switch up the shade OR deck out the shade you already have with some ribbon or fabric or trim or even decoupage! No longer like the look of a chair/bench/couch? Change the pillows or paint it or even get new fabric and re-upholster it!

Spend a little bit of time in your local hardware or craft store and just browse all of the products that are out there today. Its amazing all the cheap little changes you can make that will totally alter the look of your room, clothing, etc...

Don't Chow... Especially Not Late Night!

This is, honest to God, the best advice I can give anyone who wants to either lose or maintain their weight. I don't care whether it is the healthiest meal in the world... if you polish off 4 plain chicken breasts and 3 heads of broccoli in one sitting, you are probably gonna gain weight. You are expanding your stomach and expanding what your stomach is going to expect everytime you sit down to eat. Seriously, 6 small meals a day. That's the easiest way to do it! This doesn't mean you only eat snack food all day, it just means if you get a salad (or any restaurant meal) or, if you make dinner, take some home with you or save some leftovers, and have the rest for one of your "small meals!" 

I am honestly eating (grazing) ALL DAY (especially when I'm home... bored...) I can't not! But its not like every hour I sit down to a thanksgiving dinner! I'm pretty health-conscious, so I'll have some bites of a salad or some of last night's dinner, or half a whole wheat pita and hummus... One thing I always have with me is nuts! They are really filling, satisfying, and healthy for you! But honestly, even if your gonna go get Taco Bell, have the kiddie size nachos, or one small soft taco. Don't be like my husband and get 5 different items off the menu! (Sorry Matt)

If you really want to chow? Do it for breakfast or lunch if you can manage... At least that way you'll burn off more cals before you go to bed. That leads into my other suggestion... Stop eating & drinking 2 or 3 hours before you go to bed. It's not brain science why that works, but as a side note, think about what you DO crave before you go to bed, odds are its got some sugar in it.This is because the more tired you are, the more you crave carbs. Eating sugary crap and then going to bed is the worst thing you could honestly do. (In my opinion...)  :)

Rewards Network

If you remember my blog about Restaurant.com, this one is kind of similar, but is actually less of a hassle. Its called Rewards Network. Here's the jist:

Go to their site and register your credit card (don't worry, it is free and COMPLETELY safe... I've been doing this for a year and there is nothing to worry about)

THEN, when you go out to eat at any of their participating restaurants (you can even search their restaurants before you register your card), pay for your meal (drinks included) with that card and you will almost automatically receive up to 15% back on your card! 

You can keep track of how much you get back on their site...

The way I saw it, there were a lot of restaurants that Matt and I go to in our area, that were registered w/ Rewards Network, and I would probably use that credit card anyways, so why not save $10-15??? Here's the website, if you want to check it out: http://www.rewardsnetwork.com

Eckhart Tolle

It's not a strange coincidence that Eckhart Tolle's (ET) "A New Earth" is one of my favorite books, AND it was Oprah's Book Club pick... hmm...

Regardless,  after reading 3 of his books, his impact on the way I live my life has been so profound... it has totally altered the way I view my life, my relationships, and my priorities. 

I'll probably bring up ET, in some form or another throughout this blog, but all I can do here is give you a basic premise of his books, and suggest that you read them! (The bonus is that, because Oprah is such a fan, there is an "online course" that you can take from her website, that details and explains each chapter, because these books tend to get a little wordy and confusing at times) Here is a link to her online web class (you can even read one chapter, then watch the class for that chapter) A New Earth Webcast

Here's a brief introduction on one of his points that I can really relate to:

He talks of the present moment. He explains that unfortunately, most of humanity tends to go through life "unconsciously." That is, we spend so much time in our heads and in our thoughts... that we are not experiencing what is NOW.  Think about it...what is in our thoughts? The past and the future. Either we are dwelling on something that happened in the past, or living in the past (if our life seemed better at that point), or wishing things turned out differently... OR... we are worrying about the future, or thinking that "life will be better in the future."  ET tries to show us the power of living in the present moment. I think everyone can relate to that, and agree with him on that. Think about how many precious moments you could be losing, by being so consumed with the chatter in your head about who wronged you that day, or "what's going to happen tomorrow?" A great example is if you have children, because it seems like a day passes... and they are all grown up! Why would you waste a minute of the short amount of time they actually spend with you,  on worrying about something that you have no control over anyways (the future) or dwelling on something that already happened (the past)? One of my favorite lines in ANE is... "this too will pass..." All everything is, is just a moment, and it will pass. Good things AND bad things. Were you really THERE in that moment? Did you experience it? Or were you so caught up in your head that it was wasted? 

Cute Little Gift Idea

Here's a cute little gift idea... If you drink wine, save a cork, clean it up, then drill a hole in the top. Find a cute drawer handle and screw it into the top of the cork. (If you want, stick some glue in the hole before you screw it in) You then have a fancy little wine stopper to keep for yourself or give as a little gift! Here's a pic of one that I made:

Coupons

Never underestimate the power of cutting and saving coupons. Get a cheap subscription to the Sunday paper, and spend ten minutes flipping through the coupons. I GUARANTEE that in every paper, you will find a MINIMUM of 5-10 coupons for things you buy on a regular basis. A great example is that I have coupons for 1-5 dollars off of any drugstore item I would regularly buy. Revlon will give coupons for $2 off any one of their products. I use Loreal face wash and never buy it w/o going when its on sale and taking a dollar off. I use Oil of Olay lotion and I always use a $3 coupon for that, and I love the Oil of Olay body wash and I just bought it on sale, and with an addition $1.50 off coupon. This is not to mention, you can always find a coupon for an extra dollar off your Tide, or your paper towels/toilet paper…I mean, these are coupons that come on a regular basis, every Sunday. I promise you will see a huge savings by taking a couple min a week to go through.

Also, if you want to get a little more serious about it, I’d recommend getting a coupon organizer that you can carry in your purse. That way, you can organize and store the coupons if you A. don’t need the product at the current moment, but will in like, a month, or B. If you want always carry it with you and, if you have the flexibility to do so, you can wait till its on sale and then you’ll have your coupon handy.

I have divided my coupon book down into certain categories so I can access them when I’m shopping to see what I have (ie: baking goods, frozen products, skin care, health, etc…)

Great website for coupon-users is www.couponmom.com. They actually allow you to look up all the coupons that came out for your area, and they’ll break down what stores will be having those items on sale! (They also have the click through to the  restaurant.com site) One more bonus of coupon mom is that , if you’re willing to download the coupon-printer (doesn’t affect/spam your computer at all) you can get a whole new slew of coupons to print off.

Google & Coupons

Cool little trick before you shop online or in stores...

Go to google, and type in the name of the store, then "coupons." For example, 

I like to order from Victoria's Secret (for clothes... Mom) SO rather than save all the catalogs they send with all the discounts and stuff, I'd just go to google, and type in "Victoria's Secret Coupons" and it'll come back with a ton of sites that tell you every "coupon code" if you order online OR it'll give you links to coupons you can print and use in the store. You can do this with a ton of different stores... I'd honestly google to see if you can get a coupon code or printable coupon everytime before you shop! A great site to go to just to see if there are any good printable coupons is called Wow coupons (again, no spam) Here is the link: http://www.wow-coupons.com/all-printable-retail-coupons.php

Happy shopping!!!

OPRAH

Ok.. I can't believe that I've had this blog for 3 days and have not put anything down about Oprah! I've been a huge fan of hers for a really long time... and thanks to my amazing little sis, I actually got to go see her this year! (It was the one with Montel Williams...really good!!) 

Anyways, I love her show, so Tivo it if you don't already... you will learn SO much :)  I also think she has a great website! When I was working, and in my car alot, I would actually download and listen to her Soul Series, which are a series of spirtual based interviews that she does for her radio station. (Radio gets old, and I can only call so many people!) Anyways, they are really interesting, so in case you're interested, here is the link: Soul Series Webcast

Great Quotes (books/plays)

I love a great quote... I'll definitely be posting some of my faves on the site every now and then.

Here are a few quotes from some great books/plays:

• "For there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." 
  — William Shakespeare, Hamlet
  
• "There are years that ask questions and years that answer."                                                                                                          — Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
• "Whatever you fight, you strengthen, and what you resist, persists." 
  — Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth
  
• "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."                       - JK Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?"                                                                                                       — Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

Dryel

I love Dryel! I was spending so much money on dry cleaning and I realized that I could use Dryel instead for stuff like sweaters, dresses, dry-clean only shirts, even my dress pants! (I wouldn't recommend for shirts that need to be pressed/starched... I also don't use for Matt's dress pants cuz he likes them w/ creases and so I'd have to do extra ironing ;) ) Anyways, its great and really easy, you just spot treat (if you need to) and then throw like 4 items in this bag with the dry cleaning sheet and stick it in the dryer for 30 min! SO much more affordable, you don't have to drive anywhere or wait for clothes to be done and it really works! Here is their website, you can go there and enter your email for a coupon for $2 off. (They don't spam you and I'd also print off a few copies) :) www.dryel.com

Additional Money Making Ideas

1. Sell your stuff:

I'm SURE you have some extra stuff laying around your house that would be of value to someone else. Whether it be old clothes, jewelry, furniture, etc.. You don't realize how much money you could earn just by finding some way to sell it. Here are some good ideas:

Resale shops: Most resale shops will take your clothes and then give you a percentage of those sales, but some will give you cash up front! A little research on your area will tell you. If you live in the Metro Detroit area, try "Regeneration" (http://www.myspace.com/shop_regeneration)

Etsy: (www.etsy.com) If you consider yourself at all crafty or you make something really cool, like jewelry, pottery, etc... you can go to this site and sell it!

Online Selling: I personally love Craigslist as its so easy to post (and free) but there is also Amazon and ebay. Another thing you could do is find items that people are giving away for free or cheap (at garage sales, or even curbside) take them home, fix them up if needed and resell online at a higher rate!

2. Sell your expertise:

Good at something? Go online and promote it! 

Childcare: www.sittercity.com

Elder Care: www.seniorhelpers.com, www.homeinstead.com

Pet Sitting: www.fetchpetcare.com

Technical: www.guru.com, www.elance.com, www.odesk.com

Advice: www.liveperson.com

Writing: www.associatedcontent.com, www.helium.com

3. Direct Sell

Find something you have an interest in and sell it to your friends and their friends!

My mom sells Lia Sophia jewelry and she loves it! Takes very little time per week and great for extra cash, OR if you want to get serious about it, you could make it your own business!

If you have interest in Lia Sophia ( or in Jewelry) feel free to contact my mom at her website:

http://www.liasophia.com/sites/mariannesmith?reload=true

Here are some other good ones I've heard of:

Avon (www.avon.com) or Mark, which is Avons younger crowd (www.meetmark.com)

Pampered Chef (http://www.pamperedchef.com/)

Body Shop @ Home: (http://www2.thebodyshopathome.com/)

Diva Girl Purse Party: (http://divagirlpurseparty.com/)

Simply Fun: (www.simplyfun.com)

If you know of any other good ones, let me know! Hope something on here works for you!

Stevia

In my prior post, I mentioned the importance of regulating your body's Ph level. One change that I've permanently made is to try to avoid eating sugary foods or using artificial sweeteners (which to someone like me, who tries to avoid eating too much bad sugar, is hard to do) So I discovered that there is one "sweetener" that is actually good for your body in an alkaline sense (because it is an actual herb) and its called Stevia. It is like 100 times sweeter than sugar, so you don't need that much, and it actually doesn't leave behind a bad aftertaste like other artificial sweeteners. You can find it at pretty much any mainstream grocery store, and I'd highly recommend... Here's more info in case you were curious: http://www.stevia.com/

Maintaining a healthy Ph Balance

Remember when you were in high school science class, you probably at one time or another learned about the Ph scale? The scale goes from 0-14... Anything under 7 is acidic, and over 7 is alkaline? Well, now I'm learning how important it is to try and balance your body's Ph level. Supposedly the more acidic your body is (acidosis), the more it creates an environment that breeds mold, bacteria, and fungus.  This is a main cause of many diseases/illnesses, digestive problems, etc... My personal experience? For a good few months, I made a very concerted effort to eat a LOT of alkaline foods, because it is supposed to both help with fertility (and even more, research suggests that the more alkaline your body, the better the odds of having a boy) So I bought some Ph testing strips to see how well I was doing, and I was still at like a 6! (Ideal ratio is 7.3-7.4) So, you can imagine where most of us are normally at!

There is a lot of research on this topic all over the web so I'd encourage you to check it out.

Here is a site that I think describes Ph pretty well: http://www.phionbalance.com/Discover.aspx, and here is a site with a fairly extensive list of what foods leave an acidic vs. alkaline "ash" behind in your body: http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm. 

Affordable "Gourmet" Date Idea

Great date (with girlfriends or significant other) is a place where you can pick and make your own meals, like Entrée Vous. Matt and I went there for Valentines Day and spent like $60 (you can even use a restaurant.com gift certificate for $10 off that particular one) and we walked away with 4 healthy meals to freeze and make later that week/month, side entrée and a dessert! AND we could bring a bottle of wine. It’s a ton of fun, very affordable and delicious! 

Library Card

Get one!!! You can rent current movies, books, mags, even computer software for free!! You can also use internet and print if you don’t have access at home...

Fix up old clothes!!

Great way to revamp your closet for free or cheap-
I had an old "wife-beater" shirt that was too little and short so I cut off the bottom and added some cute spring fabric! I have absolutely no sewing know-how other than how to set up the machine and make the stitch. I just measured my waistline and went from there! The bottom shirt was a really old tank that I haven't worn in awhile, that I thought had potential! So I got a stencil, added some silver fabric paint, made a few cuts and voila! I will totally wear both of these shirts now! (well.. not RIGHT now.. a little cold in MI)

Eat for cheap!

Great website for those of you that dine out: www.restaurant.com. You can buy a $25 gift certificate for a lot of local area restaurants for $10. Best time to visit site is the beginning of each month as that’s when they restock the gift certificates, and the more popular restaurants tend to sell out pretty quick. ALSO, there are other sites you can “click thru” to restaurant.com on that allows you to get the gift certificates for an additional percentage off. I use www.couponmom.com. Most often, I can get a $25 coupon for like $3-$5? 

Aaron Karo

I've been following this guy for a while now... He's got a great email called "Ruminations" that goes out once every few weeks, and is filled with hilarious ruminations about life. It all started when he was in college at Penn, and sent out an email to 20 of his closest friends that he titled "Ruminations on College Life." Ten years later, he has 2 books and does comedy shows across the country... I love his humor and his honest commentary on life-- Here's a recent one from his website:

"More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can’t wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that’s not only better, but also more directly involves me." Haha!

There is also a great section on his website where you can post your own rumination on life...

Check it out!! : http://ruminations.com/site/

Fatten your brain!

Don't underestimate the power of PBS! I've seen some great shows showcasing some of my favorite authors (Eckhart Tolle, Wayne Dyer, etc..) that have been very informative. One particular show that stood out was with Daniel Amen and it had to do with his book "Change Your Brain, Change your Life." Amen has found a strong correlation between many neurological diseases (Such as ADD, Dementia, OCD, even violence) and the brain scans of people that had those diseases (more "holey brain" vs. the brain scans of more mentally stable individuals (more filled in/fattened brain). Very interesting!! I would highly recommend you check out the next airing and tivo!! I'd also visit his site (http://www.amenclinics.com/clinics/) and get his book. A ton of great information that I could definitely not fit into this little blog :) 

A couple things you can do today, however, that can instantly "Fatten your brain" or in other words, give it a little "boost" is to make sure you are taking an Omega-3 Fatty Acid supplement. I take fish oil every day! Also, try to do something that challenges you mentally, like a sudoku puzzle or a crossword puzzle. One site that I love for crosswords is: www.bestcrosswords.com. (I always do the casual interactive one.) 

The 5 Love Languages

In one of my earlier posts, I posted the quote from Captain Corelli's Mandolin, about LOVE. This quote kind of goes hand and hand with a book that I just finished reading called "The Five Love Languages" by Dr. Gary Chapman. I know this book has been around for a while, but I just have to talk about how interesting and TRUE I found it to be. It basically agrees with the fact that love changes with the relationship. You're never going to be in that same "in love/unconscious love/crazy phase" like you were in the beginning. Once that subsides (usually once you're married, but time frames are different for everyone) You need to figure out what language your significant other understands as love. There are 5 different languages; Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, Physical Touch, and Words of Affirmation. A great example is in my marriage, I recognize love through Acts of Service and Words of Affirmation. I give love by doing Acts of Service and gift giving. My husband took the test and he recognizes love through Physical Touch (bottom on my list) and Words of Affirmation. So, here I am doing things for him and giving him gifts, thinking I'm showing him love and he is not recognizing it! It's like I'm showing love in French, and he only speaks English! Anways, great book. Quick and easy read and I think that a lot of marriages would benefit. There is also a version for Singles (which I have not read) that I bet would be great too. Here is a link to Dr. Chapman's website: http://www.fivelovelanguages.com/learn.html Also, here is a link to a great quiz that will help you to discover what your love language is: http://www.greaterquest.com/LoveLanguages.asp As with all books, let me know if you decide to read it or if you've already read it and tell me what you think!

Google Chrome

I LOVE Google Chrome, it’s a great alternative to Internet Explorer. Much faster to use and all the same basic features as IE. Also, since most of use have our 5-10 “staple pages” we visit regularly, Google Chrome basically caters to that so all these pages are one click away. Hard to explain, but definitely check it out! Here's the link to find out more: www.google.com/chrome

Bon Jovi

Since I love so many things (as you will find with this blog...) I thought I'd start out with one of my first loves... Bon Jovi.  I love him.. always have and always will. Need I say more? I don't think so ;)

One of my fave love quotes

 "Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides...

And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is.

Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being "in love" which any of us can convince ourselves we are.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident...”

-          Captain Corelli's Mandolin

I love this quote because I feel like it so accurately describes marriage. I know that I, as well as friends of mine struggle with the fact that married life is not like those first few years of dating... and we seek to consider the marriage as flawed because the "unconscious love" as I like to call it, is gone.  I think that if people realized that NOBODY lives in that initial unconscious love on a permanent basis, a lot of marriages would be saved.

Job Sitch

So, I’m looking for a job right now, and I have been for about 4.5 months…I am the furthest thing from a "job search expert," HOWEVER, I have a LOT of experience in doing this, so here’s a little of what I’ve learned. 

First and foremost, work your networks! Hands down, the best chance of at least getting an interview, is to know someone w/in the company.  Don't be afraid to tap into your friends/family as a resource. You can also network w/ old colleagues, college alum, etc...

Make sure you post your resume on all the main sites (Monster, Career Builder, etc…) but LOOK for the jobs on Indeed or even Craigslist. You definitely need to comb through Craigslist, but if there are actually some pretty decent leads on there and you can bet that if you respond with a great cover letter, directly to the person, the odds are much better than on Monster, etc... Also, Indeed is great because once you type in what you need, it scans ALL the Career sites including many that you may have missed. Also, rather than apply through the career site, go directly to the page and try to find a name/email in hr or even of like a president or VP and email them your resume directly. Odds of you standing out are much higher. One more tip (thanks to one of my hottie girlfriends) is to find a way to set your resume apart from others visually. She attached a professional/looking picture of herself to the top of her cover letter. I’ve done the same, depending on the position, and I’ve actually gotten a pretty good response (again, it really depends on the position you’re applying for… the ones I sent in were for sales in the beauty industry). BUT you could also add a stab of color in tasteful manner, or add a cool font… Anything that will stand out-

Lola

This is my little Lola-Beans. We've had her for about 4 and a half years? We got her at 6 mo's from a rescue facility. She is the sweetest thing in the whole world, she only struggles a little with her "people skills." I'd highly recommend checking out your local animal shelter/rescue facilities. It feels so rewarding to know that we were able to give her a home that she can thrive in. A great site to visit to find animal shelters and pets in need in your area is: www.petfinder.org

Some family pics..

So this is my family... The little "pigtails" munchkin is my niece Shyla, and the two girls on either side of us are Hannah, my oldest stepdaughter, and Emma, my youngest. Matt and I are below.

Lastly...

So, I've found that I am on an insatiable quest to learn and try new things. I've always found myself to be the "resource" that people go to when they want an answer. Been there, done that, or I will find a way to help you out, whether it be giving advice, finding a resource, etc...

I'm also always sending out emails to my poor family and friends trying to get them hooked on the new book, idea, etc... that I've discovered. Problem is, that I've had to restrict myself from annoying the s&!# out of them... That's where the idea for this blog came into action. I figured that I could log on everyday, say my peace, and they can choose whether or not to view :)

For those of you that don't know me, just remember that I am the furthest thing from an expert on any of these topics so please don't take my word as anything other than an opinion or a personal account/experience. 

A little background...

I believe that it is when we are truly at our lowest points that we are forced to "find ourselves." When life is going great, why change...right? My twenties have had some great highs, but also a lot of lows. Raised a Catholic, I've always gone to church, but I can honestly say that I could never consider myself a spiritual person. In the past few years I've learned so much about how this world works from a spiritual perspective and it has changed the way I view everything. I feel that this (as is everything) is an ongoing learning experience so I'll continue to update you on the quotes, books, movies that have impacted me, and further educated me from a spiritual perspective. (You can find them all under the label "spiritual perspective")

One of the things that I've learned to do, in my spiritual training, is to do what you love.. what makes you happy. I've always denied the creative side in me because I was trying to "be" somebody else, but now I've just learned to accept it and "let it flow..." It is like a total release for me to spend hours in my "craft (dungeon) basement" tinkering around and creating/designing new things. I'm hoping someday to be able to use these skills in my career, but I've yet to "hone them down" so for now... I tinker ;) (You can find some of my ideas under "creative ideas")

Lastly, one of the biggest struggles from my 20's has been financial. Most of it was due to some baggage that my hubby had accrued from his prior life, but now it is actually me that is "holding us back." As I previously stated, I live in MI and I had worked in sales/marketing for a company that was heavily reliant on the auto industry... so unfortunately, they had to eliminate my position. My spiritual "training" has taught me to deal with "what is." To stop dwelling on the past, wishing things were different, worrying about the future... deal with what IS. Bottom line is that I've had a lot of experience with finding ways to cut back but still enjoy life. I truly believe that you can still LIVE your life without denying yourself... You just have to think outside the box (which happens to be my specialty)  SO in this blog you'll also see a few ways that I've discovered to cut back and get the most bang for your buck, along with some of the things I've discovered being in the "job hunt." (You can find more of my suggestions under the labels, Saving $, and Job Sitch)

Hope you enjoy!

Me

So I guess I better tell you a bit about me...

Here goes:

I'm 28, live in a suburb of Detroit and, for a variety of reasons...(starting with MI's phenomenal economy and our "balmy" weather) I wish I could live anyplace else! My roots are so deep here though that I will probably be retired before that takes place :) 

I have a hubby named Matt, who is my best friend and my world, two step-daughters,  Hannah and Emma (9 and 7 respectively) and a cute little black lab mix named Lola. 

I went to Michigan State and I am totally freaked out at how many years its been since I graduated (almost 7! Agh!) Regardless, I am a Sparty through and through. I must say, however since I was born in raised in the heart of UM, having season tickets all of my life to football and basketball games... I do bleed a little maize and blue :) I was a gymnast and for about 13 years of my life, and I *think* that is partly the reason why I am somewhat of a health nut today. I've got many many years of experience when it comes to what is good for you w/r/t your diet, and what is not. (You can find a lot of my findings and suggestions in my blog under the label "healthy living.") 

I hope you enjoy my blogging and my "good stuff" As you'll begin to learn, life since college has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride... I am totally grateful for that roller coaster though because it has gotten me where I am today :)