Smell a Man

Ladies – if you’re stressed out – find the nearest man....

Attention ladies. If you’d like to relax a bit – find a man – and smell him. If he’s wearing cologne it might just do the trick. A lot of men’s fragrances contain vetiver – that’s a woodsy scent that can actually induce calm. It’s used in aromatherapy all the time. Of course if there’s a lack of scented men around – you could always keep your own stash of men’s cologne handy for yourself.

Stop Snoring!

If you snore – or have to sleep with someone who does – try this!

People who snore aren’t the only ones with a problem – just ask the person trying to sleep next to them. According to Murray Grossan, author of “Free Yourself from Sinus and Allergy Problems,” there’s one unusual technique that really works. Blow a didgeridoo. It’s a 4 foot Australian wooden trumpet. People who have tried this technique have actually conditioned the muscles of the tongue and throat to significantly reduce snoring.

In a British study, people who played that didgeridoo for 30 minutes a day, six days a week, for four months had a big improvement with their sleep apnea or snoring issues. No word on whether their sleeping partners had moved out yet.

Win-Win Situation

How would you like someone to come pick up that old furniture – for free?

If you’ve got old furniture or clothes that you’d like to get rid of – there’s a good chance someone will come and pick them up for free! Donation Town is a website that can search all the local charities for us – and then arrange to have the stuff picked up. It’s a win-win situation. Go to DonationTown.org – type in your zip code – and the list of charities with pickup will pop up along with how you can arrange a time. They’ll take clothes, bedding, electronics, furniture and even cars. DonationTown.org.

Sea Salt

Is sea salt any better for you than regular salt?

If you’ve notice more and more products bragging about their yummy sea salt on the packaging – there’s a good reason for that. Most people think it’s not quite as bad for us as regular old salt. Think again – it is. Regular salt is almost pure sodium chloride. Sea salt is about 86% sodium chloride. The difference is really insignificant – especially when they might even put more of it in there than they would regular salt.

Last Name First

The letter your last name starts with could have an effect on your patience....

If your last name is Adams or Bates, I’ll try to make this quick. It seems the Walshes and Williams might have a little more patience. The Journal of Consumer Research has a study that shows the first letter of your last name at birth can set you up to be a little more impulsive. Kids are conditioned to respond in school according to where they fall alphabetically. As adults – more Abrahms and Allens feel compelled to run out and buy that new gadget on the day it hits the market – while the Yates and the Zangrillos just figure they’ll wait.

Got Aspirin?

There’s something you need at home, at work, and in your briefcase or purse...

Got aspirin? If not – get some. As a matter of fact, get a few bottles. All adults should have a bottle of baby aspirin at home, at work, in your briefcase or purse. In case of a heart attack, chewing two baby aspirin will immediately thin the blood, prevent clots and help keep blood flowing to the heart. If it’s NOT a heart attack – those two tablets won’t hurt a thing.

Even if you’re in perfect health – and have no heart worries – chances are you’re surrounded by adults wherever you are. Your baby aspirin could make all the difference to them because every second counts – and you’ll find yours faster than theirs.

Comfort Food

Does comfort food really work? Yes...

If you’re feeling lonely or sad – there might be something to that pint of ice cream or macaroni and cheese. Research found that comfort food actually CAN be good for our mental health – and we don’t even have to eat it! Participants were asked to write about a fight they had with someone close to them. Then, some were asked to write about comfort food while the others wrote about new food. The people who wrote about comfort food felt less lonely and a little better overall.

The researchers say that people actually associate the feel-good food with the people they are close with – and eating or even just thinking about that food gave them a sense of connection with that person.

Hidden Assets

You’ve probably got some hidden strengths you don’t even know about...

A lot of us are really good at things we might not even be aware of. If it’s a skill that comes naturally to us – we might take it for granted. If you’d like to identify some of your not-so-hidden strengths – pay attention – the people around you probably see them. Each time you’re asked for help or advice, try to categorize it. You’ll probably start to see a pattern. You may be a natural at negotiating, diplomacy, problem solving or creative thinking without even knowing it.

Lost Tooth Economy

How much does the Tooth Fairy leave under YOUR pillow?

The Tooth Fairy doesn’t seem to be bothered much by a tough economy. She’s actually doling out more these days. In 2010 – kids averaged $2.52 per tooth – up 18% from 2009. Apparently the Tooth Fairy plays favorites though – statistics show monetary gifts under the pillow ranged from one penny to $100.

84% of parents surveyed reported that the Tooth Fairy visits their home. Let’s home the other 16% are still teething.

Source: Delta Dental of Minnesota annual Tooth Fairy Poll

Big Emergency

Ambulances and recue trucks are getting bigger – literally.

Hopefully you won’t need an ambulance any time soon – but if you do – there may be plenty of room in there. According to Captain Jose Archila, of Boston’s Emergency Medical Services fleet, ambulances and rescue vehicles are being modified around the country to accommodate the growing number of obese passengers. Stretchers, hospital beds and wheelchairs are getting bigger and sturdier too. He says their new super-sized vehicles and equipment can handle patients weighing up to 1,600 pounds – and are needed 3 or 4 times a week.

DON'T Reply All

The next time you receive a mass email – don’t hit “Reply All”...

Sending an email to multiple people is convenient and makes sense to get the word out. Replying to ALL of them doesn’t. Every recipient on that list does NOT need to see your response to the sender – no matter how clever you think it is. It just jams up people’s inboxes with stuff they don’t need to sift through.

We’re really better off forgetting that “Reply All” button is even there. It’s been known to get people into trouble when they hit it by mistake. Get in the habit of hitting reply – and then manually put in the names you’d like to send it to.

In the Gutter

If you think you’re finally done with winter – you're probably not...

This past winter was a doozy – and your gutters probably took a beating. Now that spring is here it’s time to assess the damages – they might need more than the standard spring cleaning of debris. The weight of anything that froze in there over the winter may have pulled the gutter spikes that hold them into the house out a bit. They should be replaced with gutter screws – they stay in better. While you’re up there – check the gutter seams. They can pull apart too and any gaps need to be filled with gutter calk.

Mouth Massage

If you’d like to live longer – massage your gums...

Have you massaged your gums today? You should. According to Victor Zeines, author of “Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body,” most of us have some sort of gum disease – and that can quadruple the risk of heart attack and triple the risk of stroke. He says we can add years to our lives by taking care of our mouths beyond brushing and flossing. You can start with a gum massage. It increases blood supply, gets more oxygen and nutrients to the area and amps up infection-fighting white blood cells. The gum massage is pretty simple – just gently rub your gums a few times a day with a clean finger or Q-tip.

Organic Junk

Organic food is good for us – right? Not always...

If you buy organic – don’t be fooled – it’s not always good for you. Reader’s Digest has a list of organics that are STILL junk food:

• Soda – even if it’s free of artificial colors and preservatives – it’s still full of other sickeningly sweet stuff like liquid cane syrup. Opt for flavored seltzer instead.

• Organic mac and cheese – there might be less bad stuff in there – but there’s no more good stuff like vegetables or fiber.

• Organic ice cream – most of them are still PACKED with sugar and calories. The same goes for most organic cookies, doughnuts or chocolate covered anything.

Tax Help

If you’ve been putting off those taxes – help is on the way...

The clock is ticking on tax time. If you’ve been putting it off there are some resources out there to make it a lot easier – for FREE!

• The IRS has a VITA program – that stands for volunteer income tax assistance. If you make under $49,000 – they’ll prepare and file your taxes for you.

• IRS offices will answer as many tax-related questions as you like if you’re stumped. You can also call the IRS help line – 800-829-1040.

• A lot of law schools offer free or low-cost advice on legal issues with your taxes – such as an outstanding tax debt. Law students get valuable experience practicing on your problems.

Birthmark Fortune

Do you have a birthmark? Where it is says something about you...

Would you like to know the secret to a happy marriage? It’s having a birthmark on your right cheek. There’s no real scientific data to back that up – but folklore says it’s so. Here are some other good spots to have a birthmark or beauty mark:

• Chin – this person will enjoy success.
• Near mouth – great wealth and happiness.
• Center of forehead – the opposite sex LOVES you.
• Right Side of forehead – you’ve got exceptional mental power.

Some not-so-great birthmark spots:

• Left Side of the forehead – you love to spend money.
• Left cheek – brace yourself for financial difficulties.
• Center of chest – prepare to be UNsuccessful.
• Abdomen – you’re greedy and selfish.



Fashionably Late

Even if you're NOT Elizabeth Taylor - it's okay to be late - sometimes... 

Liz Taylor arrived to her own funeral “fashionably late” – that’s 15 minutes in the book of etiquette. Few things annoy other people more than people who are late – but, according to Emily Post’s Etiquette Daily, you might be EXPECTED to arrive late for a dinner party – depending on who’s hosting it. In some areas, particularly rural parts of the country, you are expected to be prompt, while in a number of cities, arriving between 15 minutes and a half hour after the party starts is merely considered “fashionably late.”

If you’re a stickler for punctuality – and prefer to arrive “fashionably EARLY” – there’s no such thing. “On time” is the absolute earliest you should arrive unless you’ve been asked to help or come ahead of time.

Washing Dishes

Dishwashers save a lot of time – but do they save water?

If you think you’re saving water by using the dishwasher – you’re right! Assuming your dishwasher is relatively new – and that you wait until it’s full to run it – you’re saving about 5,000 gallons a year! The average dishwasher uses 4 to 6 gallons of water per load. If you let the water run while you’re washing dishes by hand – that’s about 2 gallons a minute. If you’d like to save even more water – scrape your plates and skip the pre-rinse cycle on your dishwasher. That will save another 3 to 7 gallons of water per load.

Perfectionism

Are you a perfectionist? Cut that out!

Getting everything just right can be exhausting – and if you’re a perfectionist – stop it! Perfectionists tend to be procrastinators too – because getting it perfect is a daunting task. Some perfectionists let things pile up until they have the time or resources to do them just right. They tend to see things in black and white – succeed or fail – which can do a number on their self-worth.

Another pitfall for perfectionists is that they may focus their efforts on what they can get perfect, instead of tackling things that really need to get done.  It might seem ironic - but some serious conditions such as hoarding or isolation are actually routed in perfectionism.

Ahem!

Clearing your throat can become habit forming...

Ahem. Throat clearing can be an effective way to get attention – but it can also become an annoyance – and even a habit. A cold, acid reflux, age and even stage fright can trigger throat clearing. But once our vocal chords have been roughed up – the throat clearing urge can stick around and even increase - AFTER the original trigger is gone.

One way to break the habit is to stop, think and drink – every time you have the urge to clear your throat. You’ll need to keep a bottle of water handy all the time. Another throat clearing technique is to sniff and swallow. A brisk sniff in – and a hard swallow might do the trick and will be much kinder to your vocal chords. If you MUST clear – try doing it silently, without using your voice.

Shed Some Light

Can’t find a flashlight? You’ve probably got one you don’t even know about...

Salon Alert

If employees are wearing masks in your hair salon – BEWARE.

The next time you visit the hair salon – check to see if they’ve got fans going or are wearing surgical masks. Keratin treatments are getting really popular in some salons. It makes your hair super silky. The problem is the active ingredient in keratin – formaldehyde. Long term exposure is really bad – but even short term exposure can be a problem. It causes skin or scalp rashes in some people when it’s applied to the head. Even if you’re not the one getting the treatment – you could wind up with burning eyes, nose or throat if you’re sitting next to someone who is.

Online Porfolio

Do you have your own website?



If you're looking for a job or some extra money - you might need one.

Luxury Don'ts

If you’re tempted to make a luxury purchase – WAIT!

That expensive toy or luxury might seem like a good idea – but Jeffrey Strain of Managing Your Money, has a few things we shouldn’t splurge on:

• Vacation home. When you add up the amount you’ll spend on mortgage, taxes, upkeep and insurance, renting a house is a better bet.

• All-terrain vehicle. That snowmobile or jet ski might look like fun, but the trailer, storage, fuel and maintenance can add up to a lot more than renting one a few times a year.

• Timeshare. Even if you vacation in the same place every year – you’ll be able to rent one for a LOT less because so many of them go unused.

• Boats. They’re super expensive to maintain with docking fees, fuel, maintenance and insurance. You could rent a much nicer boat for less money and stress.

Don't Miss This!

If you don't read this - you'll lose some insight...

Gaining something is good – but not losing something is even better. Noah Goldstein, author of “Yes!” says we can have a big influence on other people by pointing out what they stand to lose instead of what they might gain. That’s why the advertising phrase “Don’t miss it!” is more effective than “Take this opportunity.” The next time you want to sell an idea or some advice, emphasize what the other person stands to lose by not acting on it.

Losing Friends

If you’ve tried to Unfriend anyone on Facebook lately – it’s tricky...

Losing friends is not as easy as it used to be on Facebook. If you’d like to do some spring cleaning on that friends list – here’s the new protocol:

 

Driveway Sealing Scam

If someone offers to fix your driveway this spring – you might want to take a pass...

Beware of the drive-by driveway repair crew!

Avoid the Food Bar

The next time you’re in the grocery store – avoid the food bar...

 

How To...

Who taught you to tie a tie – good old Dad or good old Google?

These days Google seems to trump Dad, the library and even your best friend in the “How To” department. Here are Google’s top “How To” searches:

• How to tie a tie
• How to have sex
• How to kiss
• How to lose weight
• How to write a resume
• How to levitate
• How to draw
• How to get pregnant
• How to make out
• How to make a video

Home Security

You don’t have to invest in a fancy, expensive security system to scare burglars away...

According to security expert Ralph Winn, you can significantly reduce the odds of getting robbed for UNDER $100. Here’s what you’ll need...

 

Computer Plant

If you spend a lot of time near your computer – get a cactus.

There’s a plant that can counter some of the bad stuff that your computer emits – a cactus! If you log a lot of screen time, consider having a cactus or two near your monitor. Cacti have compounds that help reduce the radiation and electromagnetic pollution that seeps out of our screens.

Conversation Killers

Some people’s conversation skills could use a little help.



People who love to talk aren’t necessarily good at it...

Faking It

If you could use a dose of happiness – fake it.

If you got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning – that bad mood could set the pace for your whole day...

Secret Handshake

Everyone knows a good hand shake is important...

How is your handshake? Firm and sincere is the best approach – but there’s something else you can do to make it count...

Skip the Wrap

The next time you order out for lunch – skip the wrap.

They might seem like a healthy choice – but you’re actually better off with a sandwich. Those tortillas usually have way more calories than bread – and less of the good stuff like fiber. For example, the tortilla they use at Chipotle to wrap a burrito contains 290 calories - just for the tortilla!

The other problem with wraps is that they’re packed with a lot more meat and cheese or other fattening stuff than would fit between two pieces of bread. If you really love them – consider a half wrap.



Brain Power Boost

You can get sharper and more creative in 30 seconds...

If you need a boost of creativity or brain power – you can get it in less than a minute...

Cover Your Ears

The next time you use hair spray – cover your ears!

You don’t have to swim to end up with swimmers ear...

Incense Sense

If you’ve got someone in your house with asthma – skip the incense.

Burning incense can be very relaxing – unless you’ve got asthma. Odors like perfume, air freshener and cleaning products can trigger attacks for someone with asthma – and research says we can now add incense to the list. In a new study, burning incense increased asthma diagnosis in some kids by 36% - and wheezing while exercising for kids whose parents burned incense was 60% more likely.

Grocery Rip-off

The next time you buy a jar of something – check the bottom...

Your favorite jar of peanut butter may have just gotten smaller. It may look exactly the same – but check the bottom. Some manufacturers are packaging their products in jars and containers that are more indented in the bottom. Those couple of ounces can really add up in bulk to beef up their bottom line. Check the price per unit – it’s usually easier to spot than comparing the ounces and prices of each brand.

Hydroplaning

The next time those roads are wet – slow down....

Hydroplaning can happen to anyone. All it takes is a thin layer of water on that surface for your tires to lose their grip. Consumer Reports tested different tire styles to see if there’s a difference. Average all-season tires lost traction at about 47 miles per hour – but some of the tires with better ratings didn’t hydroplane until the test driver hit 55 miles per hour on the wet test track.

Regardless of what kind of tires you have – slowing down is the one sure way to avoid hydroplaning on wet surfaces. Tire maintenance makes a huge difference too. Worn treads are MUCH more likely to lose traction.

Trick Question

If you’re tempted to lie on that job application – don’t...

Some job applications have question on there like “Have you ever lied?” If you come across one of those – go ahead and tell the truth. Some employers add test questions to job applications to detect dishonesty. The questions aren’t always that obvious – but they’re designed to weed out dishonest people. Keep an eye out for unrealistic questions – and answer them as honestly as possible. Applicants who do are most likely to make it to the next round in the selection process.

Angry Tweeters

Are you perceived as happy – or unhappy?

Was your last social media post positive or negative? Cornell University tracked tweets by mood on Twitter – and found that social media can basically narrow us down into two groups – happy and unhappy. People who are upbeat and positive tend to respond or post to other happy people. The same was true for grumpy tweeters. The responses they received were primarily from other disgruntled or unhappy people.

Misery loves company – and in social media it’s a lot easier for a peppy person to “not notice” or “forget to respond” to something they perceive as a bummer.

Super Moon

If you slept in on Sunday – blame it on the Super Moon...

How about that Super Moon on Saturday night. It was a sight to behold – the largest it has appeared in 18 years. Although there’s really no scientific evidence to support moon related human lunacy – the full moon does have an effect on a lot of animals. Research found wolves actually hunted LESS during a full moon with more light to blow their cover. Monkeys stay up much later by the light of a full moon – and even sleep in a bit the next morning.

Low Quality Job

Could having NO job be better for you than having a job you hate?

Is your job low quality? Having a job you hate can be even worse for your health than having no job at all. Experts at Australian National University measured the well-being of unemployed and unhappily employed workers over a 7 year period. The study described low quality jobs as those with high demands, low job security and very little decision making control. Those with low quality jobs had higher levels of anxiety and depression with more health related problems than those who had lost their jobs all together.

Fattening Moments

There are certain moments that are more fattening than others...

If you’d like to lose weight – the first thing you should do is identify your fattening moments. To do this, close your eyes for a minute and think through your day. You will recall the moments that temptation won out over your willpower. If you identify those moments – you’ll be better prepared when they hit. Here are the top 5 for most of us:

• On Vacation – go ahead and indulge – but try sharing or splitting treats.
• After a break-up – find a new routine instead of food to fill that alone time.
• At a party – don’t go hungry.
• Watching TV – use a smaller bowl for snacks.
• At a restaurant with huge portions – avoid them.

Loving Lies

Have you lied to your partner lately?

Most people tell white lies to avoid uncomfortable conversations – and husbands and wives are no exception. Dory Hollander, author of “101 Lies Men Tell,” has a list of the most common lies men and women tell to spare feelings. First, the men:

• Everything’s Fine.

• I have our finances under control.

• I don’t need to see a doctor.

• That dress doesn’t make you look fat.

And the women:

• Everything’s fine.

• I bought it on sale.

• That was great for me.

• I’m too tired for sex.

Headache Relief

Got a headache? Grab a pencil!

The next time you get a headache – find a pencil – and put it between your teeth. 90% of headaches are tension headaches that cause us to subconsciously clench our jaw. Don’t bite down on the pencil – just leave it there long enough to give the muscle that runs from your jaw to your temple enough time to relax and ease the pain.

Source: Prevention Magazine

Free Time

You probably have a lot more free time than you think...

If you’d like some more free time – there’s a way to find it. Laura Vanderkam, author of “168 Hours,” says most of us lose precious time without even realizing it. Here’s what to do:

• Log how you spend your time in a notebook during a typical week, including any breaks.

• Create a list of 100 dreams – big or small – whatever you’d like to accomplish.

• Finally – combine the log and the list. Chances are you’ll be able to rearrange the time spent doing stuff you HAVE to do to accommodate a few of the things you’d LIKE to do.

Laura says morning is the best time to fit some good stuff in. Consider going to bed and waking up an hour earlier. The first hour of our day is often wasted on stuff we don’t really want to do.

Beer Smarts

You might not believe it this morning – but beer can make you smarter...

If you threw back a few pints of green beer last night – you might not be feeling much smarter today – but research says MODERATE consumption of beer can actually make us smarter. In the study – people who drank moderate amounts scored higher on a cognitive skills test than non-drinkers or heavy drinkers.

Beer has almost no fat and zero cholesterol and is high in water content and relatively low in alcohol content compared to other spirits. Malt is rich in vitamins B6 and B12, the barley has got dietary fiber and the hops can aid digestion.

Source: American Journal of Epidemiology

P.S. Hire Me!

A good cover letter is really important. P.S. Don't forget this...

The next time you write a cover letter – add a P.S. That actually increases the chances of that letter being read by 75%. Make the content of that P.S. count – some people actually glance down and read that first. Using bullet points really helps too – even if you have to drop some content out to fit them in. You’d rather have the reader notice those than toss your letter aside because it’s crammed with information that doesn’t particularly stand out.

P.S. Don’t forget to mention that you’ll follow up. They won’t want to admit they never read your letter when you do.

Source: Skip Freeman, author of “Headhunter Hiring Secrets”