Just Melancholy

So, if you don’t mind, I am going to rant a little bit. At work, the whole building shares two bathrooms (don’t worry, it is a very small building). At least once a day, I’ll find the toilet paper mangled. You know you’ve seen it before. It is because of those certain people who can’t figure out how to use the serrated edge on the toilet paper dispenser. Not that hard! It looks like Tarzan himself was swinging from the end of the toilet paper. No doubt, yelling his jungle call. So either we have Tarzan as a new employee, or someone doesn’t know how a toilet dispenser works.

picture courtesy of Disney.com

At the end of February, I mentioned how I was insanely jealous of my step-sister because of her amazing kitchen and living situation. Well, I’ve unleashed that monster again because she got a killer deal on some plumbing supplies. And not to mention, the landlord said if she bought the plumbing supplies, he would remodel her bathroom. How can one person be so lucky?! So not only does she have an amazing kitchen, but her bathroom will probably be bigger than my bedroom!

who doesn’t concern themselves with data backup! But seriously, some people don’t realize how important and crucial it is. It is equally important to back up your data, whether you are a business exec or for personal use. Just think, in a blink of the eye, all your financial records, tax files, everything could disappear. So, this is just a friendly reminder: Do it! And do it today!

Vitamin C used to be the only cold-fighting pill anyone would take. How about now? It is almost like it has been forgotten. But scientists have discovered other beneficial uses for that lonely vitamin C.

• Prevents wrinkles
• Protects your heart
• Can keep cancer at bay
• Boosts brain power
• Saves your eyesight
• Increases your life span

With so many benefits, why has vitamin C been forgotten? Vitamin C is helpful and beneficial, remember that and use it! 

On Valentine’s Day, I had written a post about how I had broken my mother’s china dish. I had really wanted to find a way to replace it. Well, the good news is that I searched and searched around online for discontinued china trying to find the exact type my mom has. I actually found it! I can’t believe it. She bought that china over 20-25 years ago while she was living in Japan. Let me tell you, my mom was ecstatic! The bad news is that they don’t have it in stock, but they will email once they do. I can’t wait to give them to my mom. Finally redeemed!

OK. These aren’t my mom’s dishes, but this is the closest I could find.

I always try to restrain the green-eyed monster of jealousy, but sometimes it escapes. Yesterday, I went to my step-sister’s new basement apartment, and that is where it began.  It is amazing! Especially for what she is paying for it. I really don’t think she realizes how great a deal she has. She only has to share it with one other person, and she even likes the other person. That alone, can be unique. Her apartment has granite countertops and all the kitchen appliances are by Insinkerator! Some people have all the luck!

Last week I was trying to call my car insurance, and, of course, was put on hold…again. If they had a creative hold message, it might not be so bad. So while I was waiting, I decided to get caught up on my Oprah addiction. It was too early to watch her show on TV, so I decided to make the world wide web my new best friend, at least for the time being. I found her stress-relief tips for women and I thought I’d share with all of you, just in case you might be a little bit stressed :).

1. Relax all your muscles. She says to target one muscle group by flexing the muscles, then to release the tension. Oprah recommends doing this to all your muscle groups, one by one. This one really does the trick for me. AMAZING!

2.Stretching and self-massage. Oprah recommends just keeping this simple. For example: a neck and shoulder roll.

3. Deep Breathing. While exhaling, imagine all the bad stresses in your life exiting the body.

4. Talk it out with someone you care for and who you trust with your feelings. Just talking it out can relieve a huge stress and also help you get a new perspective on it.

5. Laughing and Crying. Both of these are excellent stress relievers. I find that crying really helps me feel better, especially when all that stress and emotion is building up with no way to release it. Watch, read, or listen to something sad or funny, and you’re set.

6.Sleep! This is one of my personal favorites. I do adore sleeping. Even as a little girl, I would relieve my stress by taking very long naps. Try it; it works.

7. Eat a healthy diet. This is kind of a no-brainer. When your body is healthy, your mind is healthy; your emotions are healthy (for the most part).

8. Exercise. Again, a no-brainer. Take a jog, do some yoga, or go dancing. This is another one that I love to do to relieve stress. Some of my best workouts have been when I was utterly stressed.

9. Focus on your task. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a million projects at once. Take it slowly, one at a time.

Try these out and let me know if they work for you! Which ones are your favorites? Share, share, share!

Ever since I moved to a new state last May, I’ve lost 20 pounds! I am really excited. I bought a gym membership and started to go at least five times a week, sometimes six. That means I am twenty pounds away from my high school weight. Seems crazy, but awesome. I absolutely love working out, and I love the poundage that is leaving…who wouldn’t? But I realize that it can be extremely difficult for others to lose weight, especially if there are health issues or they just don’t have a very fast metabolism.

Last night, my mom came to talk to me about working out and getting in shape. Her work out routine is pretty much off and on. Very sporadic. She has the problem with the slow metabolism. She told me that she is thinking about taking a energy supplement to help boost her metabolism, so that the exercising that she is doing will show. She is in her late 40s and she has a four year old. Her energy level is pretty much shot. So, maybe an energy supplement really will help her lose the weight she needs. It might just be perfect for her.

Separated at Birth?

Lipstick Jungle and Cashmere Mafia are essentially the same show - both about a group of thirty-something working women, both take place in New York City, and both are vying for the female viewers who are desperate for an acceptable, witty “Sex and the City” replacement.

What are the differences? Well…Cashmere is about four women, Lipstick about three….Cashmere is on ABC, Lipstick on NBC…and, that’s about it. Both are essentially about friendship, sex, and really really great clothes and both provide the kind of mindless entertainment that is ideal for after a long hard day’s work. Which one is your favorite?

Yesterday I discovered the best time of the year to go to the gym and the store and have practically no one there: the evening of Valentine’s Day. I also saw an old coworker at the gym. She said she was all disappointed that they canceled all the aerobic classes because it was Valentine’s Day. She said, “Don’t they know that some of us are still single, fat, and need to work out?” Ha! It is true. I don’t think they should shut down everything like it is a national holiday. Although, it would be sad for those who had significant others and had to work on Valentine’s Day.

The moral of this story: If you don’t have anything to do on Valentine’s Day, go run errands. I’m telling you, Walmart was completely clear. Every open register was devoid of customers. It was fabulous.