Personalized Calling "Cards"

Business cards are no longer just for the "business professionals." You can use business/personalized cards now for a variety of reasons... 

• You can make cards with your personal info on it (address, phone #, children's names, etc...) and stick it in your childs back pocket when you're out and about. That way, if the child gets lost, they can access the card and know how to get ahold of you.
• You can also just use a card w/ your personal info (and/or childrens info)  on it to hand out to other mothers/friends. That way they know which child belongs to you, and how to reach you via phone or email.
• Looking for a job? A big trend now is the "resume card." A resume card is basically a brief summary of your work history, your specialty, and your contact information. It's a great thing to have on hand if you're in the job hunt and are at networking events, or even just socializing with friends.
• You can also use them to promote a specific hobby or talent that you have. Like, if you happen to be great at crafts or cooking, or even babysitting, you could put together a card that allows you to promote that talent!
• If you relocate, you can have business cards made up with your new address...
• You can make an "allergy/medication" card for your child to carry with them in their backpack/backpocket.
• You can make a permanent "gift card" ex/ "A Gift For You... Love, The Smith Family" to use with all of your gifts.
• 
  

Here are a couple of websites to order your own cards at:

• www.vistaprint.com
• www.shopmbmb.com
• http://www.123print.com/
  
• http://www.myresumecard.com/home/default.asp
  

OR you could just go to Kinkos and have some made, or even make them yourself! You can buy the business card paper and print!

Something to Try!?!

If you're like me and you have a hard time waking up in the morning...

Try popping a "Wake Up On Time Energy Pill." I was just reading about it in a magazine while I was hanging out in a waiting room. It's a pill that you take before you go to bed, so you wake up feeling all revitalized and ready to take on the day! I honestly haven't tried it, but I have to admit that I'd be tempted :) Check it out: http://www.wakeupontime.com/

For My Girlfriends...

Some of my favorite friendship quotes for some of my favorite friends...

• "I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don't believe I deserved my friends." 
  - Walt Whitman
  
• "Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say."
  
•  "Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same."
  
• "A good friend is hard to find, hard to lose, and impossible to forget..."
  
• "How lucky I am to have known someone who was so hard to say goodbye to."
  

A Litte Car Entertainment...

If you have an ipod, you probably have iTunes set up on your computer...

If you don't, it's really easy to download (Click HERE for the link). Then go to the podcast section, where you'll find a large selection of podcasts. To my knowledge, most of the podcasts are free, and they come in just about any topic that you may have some interest in... so, just download and (if your computer allows it) burn some blank cds to listen to on that fun commute or long car trip! 

Lots of Books and No Bookcase?

Try this decorative and affordable option:

Go to your local hardware store, and pick up some 8" corner braces. You'll need 2 for each stack so plan accordingly...

Then, color coordinate your books (as best as you can) and, using a level, hang your 2 corner braces. Then, stack your color coordinated books on top! It kind of looks like "floating books" or something...

If you have a lot of books, you can do the same thing, covering more wall space... try doing each set of books on different levels or something!

Either way, it can be a decorative and affordable alternative for storing your books!

Sleep Issues?

Here are a few simple solutions for having less sleep related problems the following day:

• Insomnia? Try some natural techniques... For example, did you know that cherries were really high in melatonin? Melatonin is the same hormone created by your body to regulate sleep patterns. Also, try taking a hot bath... that alone will relax you, however if you could put a little "lavender scented" bubble bath in the tub, you'll get some bonus points, as lavender is known to relax you. Also, try sleeping with a lavender scented eye mask, or even a pillow with a lavender scent to it (you can even buy lavender scented "linen sprays") I actually make my own sleep masks and put some flax seed and lavender in them, which definitely does the trick!
• Stop the snoring! Try this, stick a tennis ball in a "sewn-in" pocket in the middle of your back. You will then avoid sleeping on your back due to the discomfort, and will wind up on your side, which will stop the noise!
• Stiff neck? Try "contrast hydrotherapy" in the shower. Blast hot water on your neck for 20 seconds, then alternate to cold for 10 seconds. Do this 3 times, and when you get out of the shower, your body will send the blood back to your skin, resulting in a dilation of blood vessels (and a looser neck!)
• Puffy eyes? Try black tea! It has tannins in it which help "deflate & tighten" those bags under your eyes. Heat up the tea bag (like you're making tea) to activate the tannins, then stick it in the fridge to cool . Then, stick the bags on your eyes for 10 mins. and voila! you've gotten rid of your puffy eyes!
• Morning breath? Here's a long lasting solution- Try gargling with acidic lemon juice to kill the bacteria in your mouth, then eat some plain yogurt (a probiotic) which replaces the reeking bacteria and neutralizes your mouth. This lil trick should freshen your breath for about 12-24 hours!

Shadow Box Idea

Here's a cute idea for some original artwork... 

Take a shadow box, you can leave it plain, or decorate the inside however you'd like with decoupage, paint, wallpaper, etc... then place some mini hooks on the back and use them to hold old keys that had some importance to you (ie: old house keys, car keys, even diary keys?) 

It's a cute way to display things from the past, and it'll probably also help you clean out your junk drawer!

Food Saver

So, I got a Food Saver for Christmas this year (I know... so exciting, right?) and I have to tell you, I LOVE it! I use it for everything! I seal up the bags holding bread, chips, cereal, etc.... They stay fresher for so much longer! It's also nice because of its vacuum seal feature. I actually just bought a salmon, and I was able to chop it up into a couple seperate meals, vacuum seal, and freeze them. Now, they'll stay fresh for much longer! You're actually saving money by using this as well, because food doesn't spoil as quickly and also you can buy in bulk, and vacuum seal for a later date!

Here's a link if you want to buy online: http://www.jardenstore.com/index.aspx?bid=0

Type in coupon code (B8FC30A) and receive 30% off. You can also receive free shipping on purchases over $100.

Law of Attraction

Remember:

  

"You are a living magnet. Whatever you attract into your life is in harmony with your dominant thoughts."                           -Brian Tracy

It's all about the Law of Attraction...

If all you think about is debt, even if it's finding ways to get out of it, you're still focusing on your current state of lack, and your thoughts and actions will continue to surround you in debt.  Instead focus on ways to prosper. Remember Mother Theresa would never go to an "Anti-War" rally, rather she would be a huge supporter for a "Pro-Peace" one. There is definitely a difference. 

Watch the language you are using in your head, even if you have the best of intentions... Is it "Anti-something?" OR Pro-related?

Nutrition Quiz

Here's a little "nutrition quiz" to give yourself... Is that "health food" you're eating really healthy for you? Just because it's advertised as healthy, definitely doesn't mean it is. Here are some examples:

• Energy Bars: Before you eat them, flip over the label and check out the calorie/sugar count in that bar. Odds are they have just as many calories (if not) than a Snickers bar, so you might as well hit up the candy aisle! 
• Salads: Don't get me wrong, I love salads and they CAN be really healthy for you, but you just really have to get it right w/r/t the ingredients and the dressing. In many instances, if you're getting a salad with a lot of cheese, nuts, bacon, avocado, etc... and then dumping over it a high fat/high sugar salad dressing, you'd actually be better off going to Mickey D's for a Cheeseburger! Check out this stat from MSN: Panera's Fuji Apple Chicken Salad (580 cal, 30g of fat) VS. McDonalds Double Cheeseburger (440 cal, 23g of fat) YIKES!
• Granola: Just flip over the label on boxes of granola and see for yourself. Granola is very high in sugar, fat and calories. Even if it's "low fat," odds are they hiked up the sugar count. 
• Fruit Juice: This fools a lot of people, even if you think you're drinking "all natural/organic, etc..." Fruit juice is still just as bad as drinking pop, it's essentially "water and sugar." Check out this article from the CBS website:  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/11/health/main673229.shtml
• Yogurt: Again, look at the label. There are some yogurts that actually are good for you, but even if they say they're "low fat," odds are, there is a ton of sugar in the jams or the flavoring.  The best thing to do would be to get a low fat plain yogurt and mix in fresh fruit (or whatever other "items" you like in your yogurt)

Anything in moderation is ok, but odds are, if you're thinking you're "eating healthy" by consuming certain foods, odds are that you aren't treating them as a "fun little treat that you can eat once in a while," you're making them a daily habit. 

Example? How many of you are thinking you're being really healthy by eating flavored yogurt with granola and a big tall glass of fruit juice for breakfast, and then saving that energy bar as a mid-day snack before you head to Panera for that salad? Yeah... that's what I thought ;)

Ruminations on Bon Jovi....

I would not want to be trapped in a dangerous situation with Bon Jovi. “It doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not? Right… listen Jon, why don’t you stay here then and I’ll go get some help.”

(Aaron Karo ruminating on one of my first loves, Bon Jovi... had to post) 

Happy Monday!

Decorative Wall Decals

If you're looking for something fun to do with a blank wall, try some cool wall decals! They're great if you're renting and can't paint, if you're looking for affordable artwork, or if you're like me and you just hate hanging pictures! 

These are some of my favorite sites for ordering them (that all also have a section for designing your own wall decal):

• www.wonderfulgraffiti.com 
  
• www.wallwords.com
• http://www.wallcandyarts.com
  
• http://www.modernwallgraphics.com/
  

If you want to try and make your own wall art or decal, I've found some information that suggests using contact paper, and stenciling/cutting your design out of that!

Free Shipping!

Here's a great website to check with before you order anything online:

www.freeshipping.org

It basically gives you coupon codes to get free shipping at around 1500 stores!