Sports Drinks

If your kids like sports drinks, time out!

There’s no shortage of sports drinks in the dugouts and on the sidelines at any kid's games. New research says that’s where they should stay. Those drinks do contain some good stuff, like electrolytes and vitamins that can replenish some of what kids lose during a vigorous workout. But they’re also packed with extra calories and can contribute to significant weight-gain and tooth decay. Sports drinks should not be used to quench thirst during or after moderate exercise – and definitely never with meals. Good old water is still the best summertime choice for hydration.

Energy drinks are another no-no. Kids, and even some adults, get them confused with sports drinks and there is a definite dangerous difference. They’re loaded with caffeine and other stimulants that can increase heart rate, blood pressure and anxiety.

Public Peeves

Your driving could trigger some road rage – but your cell phone could set off some rail rage...

Taking crowded public transportation can be an intimate experience – and your fellow commuters and travelers have a few requests:

• Leave the messy or smelly food at home.

• If you’re sitting in an aisle seat – move in for fellow passengers.

• Yes, they can hear you now, and so can we. Try texting instead.

• Please don’t stop near the doorway as soon as you get on or off.

• We don’t ALL have earphones – sing along in your head.

• Don’t forget the deodorant and breath mints.

• Skip the public grooming.

• PLEASE cover your mouth for a cough or sneeze.

Meanest Animals

Pandas are so cute – but did you know they’re downright mean?

Picture a panda. Is it munching bamboo? Lumbering around, with a docile smile on its face? Looks can be deceiving. Pandas are actually mean-spirited, defiant and even abuse their mates. Here are some other really mean animals:

• The honey badger. They like honey, and will ravage a beehive to get it. They’ll even prey on porcupines, crocodiles, snakes and scorpions.

• Leopard seals are the meanest marine mammals, giving killer whales a run for the title.

• The fiercest fish award goes to the stonefish. It’s the most poisonous in the world with 13 dorsal spines to release its deadly venom, and it’s as ugly as it is mean.

• It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a peregrine falcon – run for your lives! It descends on its victims from the air at speeds up to 200 miles per hour.

Holding a Grudge

If you’ve been wronged – holding a grudge just makes things worse...

Judy Kurianski, author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to a Healthy Relationship,” says holding a grudge is like drinking poison yourself and hoping it makes the other person sick. Resentment can do some real damage, emotionally and physically. Not only does it interfere with present pleasures and keep you focused on pains of the past – it could destroy a salvageable relationship. The physical pain could include a tight chest, tense muscles, upset stomach, headaches and sleep deprivation.

Letting go of a grudge isn’t always easy – but it’s worth the effort to literally get it off your chest. Speak up. Let the other person know what’s bothering you and try to offer a solution. If an apology is in order, you’ll probably get one and feel a lot better.

Change Your Address

If you use navigation on your phone or GPS – change your "Home" address...

If your GPS or smartphone has a “Home” button, change your address. It’s a handy feature to help you navigate - and thieves love it too. If they get their hands on your car or your device, your house could be one button away for them. There’s no need to disable the feature completely, just change your “Home” address to a nearby public location, or Police Department.

Antihistamine Hunger

If you take antihistamines – you could be gaining weight...

Those of us who use antihistamines on a regular basis are prone to packing on a few extra pounds. Researchers at Yale discovered blocking our histamine can open up more than our nasal passages - it opens up our appetites too. The histamine in our bodies helps to regulate and suppress appetite, burn calories and breakdown fat. People who take antihistamines are 55% more likely to be overweight.

If you do notice weight-gain with your allergy meds, ask your doctor about alternatives like nasal sprays or allergy shots.

Bad Bugs

If bugs are bugging you on your deck or patio – plant some herbs...

Geraniums help too. Amy Stewart, author of “Wicked Bugs,” says geranium oil is even better protection against mosquitoes than DEET. They also hate herbs like peppermint, basil and oregano. Placing some potted herbs around your favorite summer hangout will look good, smell good and keep the bad bugs at bay.

Bird baths, feeders and houses can help too. The more birds you have, the more bugs they’ll eat.

There are a few things on Facebook that drive women nuts...

Do you complain on Facebook? According to a recent study, that’s the number one thing that annoys women on Facebook. Right behind the complaint department is the political arena. Unsolicited political views came in second. Bragging about a seemingly perfect life may be less annoying than complaining and politics – but still made the list of least popular posts.

If you’d like your Facebook post to be noticed – make it sexy. Links about sex are shared 90% more than any other topic.

$5 Jobs

You can get some pretty interesting things done – for just $5...

If you’ve always wanted a song written about you – you can get that for just $5. Need help with a diet, resume or tough decision? You can get that for five bucks too. There’s a new website out there, called fiverr.com, that offers just about anything you can think of for just $5. There’s some practical stuff on there like learning basic guitar chords or designing a company logo - and some crazy stuff too. Here are some interesting offers – for just $5:

• I will pray for you.
• I will be your boyfriend for a day.

• I will break up with someone for you.

• I will show you how to throw a perfect punch.

• I will paint your portrait with my coffee and send it to you.

• I will sing Happy Birthday to someone for you.

• I will name your pet or baby.

Source: Fiverr.com

Pay Raise

If you’re due for a raise – now is a good time to ask...

Go ahead, ask for a raise. June and July are actually really good months to request a raise. According to LinkedIn statistics, the fiscal year ends in June for a lot of businesses. When that’s the case, they have a new budget to work with. You want to get your 2 cents in before it’s spent.

Tuesday is normally the best day of the week to ask – but consider making that NEXT Tuesday. Your boss may have some catching up to do after a long weekend and it also gives you a week to be on your best behavior.

Facial Cues

Chances are, the women in your life will read you MUCH better than the men...

If your mom, sister or female friend seem to know how you feel more than the males in your life, it’s no coincidence – it’s testosterone. A recent study found that higher levels of testosterone can interfere with a man’s ability to pick up on emotional and subtle facial cues. To prove the theory, researchers gave women a dose of testosterone and put them to the test figuring out how other people felt. They failed too.

Parade Survival

What’s Memorial Day without a parade? Here are some survival tips...

I Love a parade – until the pushing and jockeying for a good spot kicks in. Elicia Berger, author of “Parade Etiquette,” has some parade survival tips:

• Get there early and establish your space. Pushing your way through after the parade starts will NOT go over well with your neighbors.

• Be courteous of those behind you, especially if it’s a child or short adult. Ask them if they’ll be able to see okay.

• If you have to leave your spot – don’t expect it to still be there, or intact, when you get back. Your neighbors are there to have a good time – not to watch your stuff.

If you’ve got little kids that tend to get fidgety, whine, or blow that plastic horn incessantly – choose your spot carefully. You’ll need some really friendly neighbors, or another family like yours to have a good time. If you do end up near rude or grumpy spectators – consider a move. One bad apple can ruin a good parade.

Road Trip

If you’re taking a road trip this weekend...

It’s a big weekend for hitting the road. Consumer Reports has some tips that really WILL save you some gas:

• Don’t speed. Every 10 miles per hour you go over 55 - you lose about 5 mpg. That adds up on a long trip.

• The less weight you carry the better. If you can – fit the stuff INSIDE the vehicle. Those racks and luggage carriers on top can reduce mileage by about 6 mpg.

• Check your tire pressure. Low pressure is a big gas waster.

• Avoid premium gas. It won’t hurt most cars and could save you about 20 cents per gallon.

Stress Sucks

There’s a simple way to ease tension caused by stress...

Suck on an ice cube or Popsicle for a few minutes. That sucking action actually loosens the muscles in your neck and jaw and can prevent stress headaches. The coldness of the ice or Popsicle helps too – it gives you a jolt of energy and helps with focus.

Business Email Don'ts

Before you hit ‘send’ on that business email...

Email is probably the most common form of business communication these days – and some people are getting a little too casual. Here are a few things to leave OUT of your professional emails:

• NO YELLING! Even if it’s URGENT. It’s not professional.

• “Interesting” fonts. If you stick to Helvetica or Arial, the recipient is more likely to notice your sentiment instead of your annoying font.

• Emoticons. Skip the smiley faces – especially if it’s your first correspondence with someone.

• Don’t ramble – get to the point. Most of us have too much email to sift through as it is. The longer your email, the less likely it is to be read thoroughly.

Getting the spelling of the recipient’s name is crucial – especially if it’s right in their email address. Also, don’t forget to use that subject line. Your reader will appreciate it and they’ll be more likely to refer back to it.

ADD Advantage

We hear a lot about the negatives of Attention Deficit Disorder. Here are some positives...

If you or someone you know has Attention Deficit Disorder, you already know the list of challenges that can go along with it. According to Edward M. Hallowell, author of “Delivered from Distraction,” there are some positive traits that go along with adult ADD, such as original thinking, a zany sense of humor, remarkable persistence and resilience, warmhearted and generous behavior and a highly intuitive learning style.

Dr. Hollowell says people with ADD need to focus on what’s right instead of just what’s wrong. Those hidden strengths and potential talents can be developed with really positive results. Think about what you love to do or what lights you up – and then practice mastering those activities.

"But Officer..."

If you get pulled over by the cops, stop talking!

The next time you get pulled over by the police – trying to talk your way out of a ticket will only make things worse. Officer Steve Pomper, author of “Is There a Problem, Officer?” says all that talking is more likely to annoy an officer who might have let you off with a warning. Here are the 6 things to never say, unless you WANT a ticket:

• “Whatever.” It’s disrespectful.

• “I wasn’t speeding.” You could be implying that the officer is lying.

• “I know the Mayor.” Most police officers are NOT afraid of your powerful friends.

• “I’m calling my lawyer.” Officers deal with lawyers all the time, go right ahead.

• “I’m headed to the DMV.” They hear that all the time. The only place you could be headed that might help would be the hospital, and it had better be an emergency.

• “Others were driving faster.” If others were robbing a bank or jumping off bridges, that line wouldn’t help much there either.

Your best bet is to admit you did something wrong, if you did, and be respectufl. Don’t make the officer’s job any harder, you could save yourself a lot of talk, time and maybe even a ticket.

Slow Down!

There are a few everyday things we should all be doing slower...

Slow down! A lot of us rush to get things done – and it turns out that could be making it harder. Here a few things to do slower:

• Driving. Not only will you save gas and reduce the odds of an accident, you’ll actually feel more relaxed when you get there.

• Talking. When we slow our speech we come across as more intelligent and thoughtful.

• Eating. By slowing down, we eat less, have less indigestion – and even absorb more nutrients.

• Working. Rushing or multitasking bottlenecks the brain and can result in more errors and time wasted in the long run.

• Chores. Washing the dishes or folding the laundry can actually be therapeutic if we slow down and focus on the task at hand. We’ll also do a much better job.

Be Still My Heart

If your heart skips a beat or flutters, should you be worried?

Have you ever had the sensation that your heart just skipped a beat or is fluttering? It can be scary. The good news is these arrhythmias are usually harmless for people without heart problems.

There are some heart sensations you SHOULD get checked. If you ever notice irregular or racing heartbeats accompanied by fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness or chest pressure, you could have an underlying heart issue. You’ll need to be checked and tested right away.

Job Satisfaction

If you’d like to be happier at work, here's some expert advice...

Even if you don’t LOVE going to work, there are a few things you can do to make the most of it. Leadership expert Dr. Benjamin Palmer has these three suggestions:

• Take control. Your happiness is your responsibility. Happy people take time for things that enhance the feel-good factor, so build at least one activity you love into every day.

• Talk to your boss. Take the lead. Make sure you understand what's expected of you. Ask for regular feedback. Maybe you can negotiate taking on more of the work you like and losing some of the tasks you enjoy least.

• Reject negativity. It just drags you down. Happiness is contagious.

Secret to Looking Younger

There’s something fun you can do three times a week to look younger....

If you’d like to have less wrinkles and look younger the natural way – grab your partner. A recent study found participants who had sex 3 or more times a week shaved years off their appearances. David Weeks, author of “Super-young,” explained that people with happy, active sex lives produce more growth hormones and other good stuff like endorphins – and that makes us look and feel younger.

How much younger? 10 years for the women in the study and 12 for the men!

Hidden Water

Should we really be drinking 8 glasses of water a day?

We really should be getting the equivalent of 8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. BUT – that doesn’t mean we have to drink it all. The water in fruit and vegetables counts. Other beverages that we drink count too, INCLUDING coffee, tea and soda – even if they’re caffeinated.

If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. The trick is take in some amount of water on a regular basis. Flooding ourselves with a lot of water all at once can actually be really hard on the kidneys.

Photo Op

The month of June is peak picture taking season...

June is chock full of photo ops. Graduations, Father’s Day and weddings usually call for taking pictures of people outside. Here are a few tips from the pros at Kodak:

• Turn OFF the autofocus. That gives you more control instead of letting the camera guess.

• Move your subjects into the shade. Direct sunlight is harsh, makes people squint, and can wash out colors. That’s why cloudy day pictures often look the best.

• If you are in the sun – turn your flash on and move in closer. That will help illuminate the people and reduce some of the background glare.

• If you’re taking a picture of one person or thing – try moving off center a bit. You’ll wind up with a much more interesting shot.

Public Pens

Do you have a pen?

The answer to that should ALWAYS be yes!  Not just to write stuff down, it can actually keep you healthier. We use community pens all over the place, in banks, stores and doctor’s offices – YUCK! Those public pens have been found to be some of the germiest things around, trumping even public restrooms in some cases.

Smaller Is Better

The next time you buy fruit – go smaller...

Our fruits and vegetables are getting bigger and more beautiful by the decade – but that’s not necessarily a good thing. Modern fruits are bred for appearance, sweetness and size, not nutrition, and they have less fiber, vitamins and antioxidants than you would find in the wild.

If you like fruit – opt for small varieties like apricots, cherries and berries. They have a greater skin to flesh ratio. Also, look for the terms “heirloom” and “wild-grown” – those are not bred for appearances and have a higher concentration of nutrients.

Attracting Butterflies

You don’t need a fancy garden to attract butterflies.

You don’t even need a yard. All you need is some sugar, some water and a sponge. To make the sugar nectar that butterflies love, boil a cup of water with ¼ cup of sugar in there for several minutes. Once it’s cooled off, use it to dampen an orange or yellow sponge. Those are butterflies’ favorite colors.

You can either hang the sponge from a branch or put it out on a plate in a sunny spot. Then, sit back and relax. It shouldn’t take too long for a passing butterfly to catch a whiff and visit your sponge oasis.

Passionate Peak

Does our passion start to putter out with age?

Rumor has it that we reach our passionate peak in our 30s. Science says that’s just not so. Researchers have discovered that women over 45 are actually less inhibited and more adventurous than younger ones. They’re also more comfortable saying what they want. The survey found that men and women ages 57 to 85 were just as sexually active as those ages 18-56, about twice a week.

Weeding Workout

Weeding the garden may be a chore – but look at the bright side....

If you dread weeding the garden – consider the benefits. James A. Peterson, author of “Legends of Fitness,” tells is why gardening is a great alternative to the gym:

• If you spend an hour weeding, you’ve burned about 360 calories.

• Digging is a great way to tone muscles in the arms and shoulders. Try to switch off arms from time to time.

• The standing, stooping and kneeling that goes along with gardening burns about 300 calories per hour.

If you’d like to burn even more calories – consider a tilling session. That burns over 400 calories per hour.

Personal Poetry Slam

When is the last time you read a poem – out loud?

Pick a poem – any poem – and read it out loud. You’re almost guaranteed to feel calmer after the fact. A slow, even cadence will be the most effective. When we recite poetry aloud, it deepens our breathing and slows the heart rate.

If you can commit the poem to memory, you’ll increase the benefits. You’ll always remember it and challenging your memory skills is good for the brain and can be really rewarding.

Pet Poisons

Is it okay to give your pet human medicine? No!

Giving human medications to your pet could kill them, so don’t do it. Veterinarians occasionally prescribe human meds for animals, but they are experienced enough and know which ones are safe for them.

Cats and dogs are actually attracted to some medications that could kill them, so be sure to keep your prescriptions where they can’t be sniffed out and ripped apart. Common pills that can cause pet poisoning include pain killers, anti-depressants, sleep aids, birth control pills and statins.

More Grass - Less Weed

Grab a ruler and measure your grass!

It’s tempting to cut that grass as short as you can – but we’re better off leaving some length. About 4 inches is best. If your grass is too short, your weeds will thrive. They’ll soak up more sun and outgrow the grass. By raising the blades of your mower a bit, you could slow down the sprouting of weeds a lot.

Consider watering your lawn a little less too. The more water it gets, the shorter the roots will stay. If the grass is thirsty, you’ll force those roots to grow deeper.

Wedding Gifts

We’re getting into peak wedding season. So how much should you spend on the gift?

Weddings are expensive – not just to throw – but to attend. If it’s a family member or close friend, you could wind up spending hundreds of dollars. If you’re not sure how much is too much, TheNest.com has a wedding gift formula:

• First-tier, which is close friends and relatives - $100 to $150.

• Second-tier friends and associates – take $25 off the first tier.

• Third-tier, or everyone else – try to budget $75 to $100 for the gift.

If you’ll be attending wedding showers or engagement parties that require a gift, use about 20% of your tier allowance for that.

Gourmet Greens

Do you cook your salad?

The next time you fire up that grill, consider throwing a head of lettuce on there. Executive Chef Ron Rupert, of Seasons 52 in Orlando, Florida, tells us how to make those greens gourmet using the grill. First, wash and pat dry the head of lettuce. Then, spritz it with some olive oil and add salt and pepper. Finally, grill the lettuce over a hot fire for a few minutes until the edges are browned.

Chef Rupert says romaine works best. It adds unique flavor to a side salad or makes a tasty bed of greens for any grilled meat and vegetables you might be serving.

Mixing Metals

Is it a fashion faux-pas to mix silver and gold?

Wearing both silver and gold jewelry together used to be a bit taboo. Mixing metals is a popular trend now, but there’s a right and wrong way to do it. The trick is to make it look like you MEANT to do that. You don’t just want silver earrings with a gold necklace. Style expert Jenn Falic says, keep it in odd numbers. If you’re going to layer necklaces or bracelets, do three – two of one metal and one of the other. That way it won’t look too balanced. One strand of silver is enough to tie those earrings in, or vice versa.

Dried Apples

Add some dried apples to that shopping list...

An apple a day – dried – is just what the doctor ordered! A recent medical study had participants eat dried apples every day for a year. That addition to their diet had some amazing results:

• Bad cholesterol fell 23%.

• Levels of inflammation linked to heart disease and cancer dropped too.

• Overall weight dropped by a few pounds.

Dr. Bahram Arjmandi, author of the study, said he knows of no one drug that can do all of the things the dried apple regiment accomplished. Raw apples and apple juice are really good too – but dried apples are a condensed source of sugars, protein, fiber and iron.

You're Fired

The next time you go on a job interview, I’ve got the 5 words NOT to say...

Good jobs are hard to come by. If you don’t want to blow your chances during the interview, Paul Powers, author of “Winning Job Interviews,” has 5 words we should never say:

• Crisis. Avoid using this word for problems you solved – use challenge instead. Unless you’re a hostage negotiator, the word crisis is probably overstating the task. It could make you sound like an alarmist.

• People-person. It’s cliché and can sound like you have no other skills to point out. The same goes for people-oriented.

• Can’t. Negativity is a big turn-off, and using words like can’t, no way or impossible during an interview won’t help much. Try using positive words in your response, such as “Let’s discuss some options for that.”

• Irregardless. It’s not really a word. The correct word is regardless.

• Fired. It suggests you messed up. It’s fine to say that you were laid off or that your position was eliminated, if that’s the case. If you were fired, be prepared with a simple, streamlined explanation if you’re asked about it.

Lost Your Keys?

If you ever lose your car keys...

Most of us misplace our car keys from time to time – but what if they’re REALLY lost? You can get them replaced. First, you’ll need your vehicle identification number. Next, call the dealership and ask how much it will cost. Then, call a locksmith. They can usually do it for less money and in less time than the dealer. If the key involves a computer chip, that will cost a little more. If you’re not sure, the dealer will know.

If you’ve just locked yourself out of your car – call a cab. Most taxi companies have a lock-out service with equipment to get your car open. If they do, they’ll usually get there a lot faster than a locksmith or a tow truck.

Try Try Again?

If at first, you don’t succeed – should you try, try again?

If at first, you don’t succeed – go ahead and try again. Then, move on. According to the late Peter Drucker, author and business guru, the saying should go: “If at first you don’t succeed, try once more, and then try something else.”

Drucker also noted that people with one primary goal or passion are making a big mistake. If that goal doesn’t pan out – we have nothing to fall back on and are bound to feel defeated. When we strive to succeed on more than one thing, we’ll dwell less on any mistakes and increase the odds of success.

Boomeritis

More and more Baby Boomers are winding up in the emergency room....

A lot of Baby Boomers are really getting fit – and winding up in the emergency room. It’s a phenomenon known in the medical field as Boomeritis. As the Baby Boom generation started to hit their 40s and 50s, fitness and wellbeing saw a big boom as well. Boomeritis is described as injuries to older, amateur athletes, who are determined to push themselves to physical extremes to stay fit. Marathons and vigorous workouts or tennis matches are resulting in an explosion of ligament injuries and Boomer blowouts of the knees and other joints.

Plant Pics

If you’re heading to a gardening center this weekend – do this first...

Before you head out to the gardening center or nursery – take pictures. By snapping photos of the area you’ll be planting in or landscaping, you’ll have a pocket reference to remind you of available space, pots or existing plants. It’s also a good idea to clip out some pictures of plants you like but may not be familiar with. Employees might be able to help you identify them or find something similar or more suitable.

Affairs To Remember

We may act shocked when a big celebrity has an affair, but it's certainly nothing new...

Psychologist Douglas LaBier says he’s diagnosed 6 different types of affairs:

• The “It’s Only Lust” affair. This one is the most common and is mostly about sex and the thrill of the risk. It may be intense but usually burns out the fastest.

• The “I’ll Show You” affair. This one is used for revenge. It’s usually not fulfilling and can even traumatize the avenger.

• The “Just in the Head” affair. This is the platonic affair of the mind. It’s bound to be frustrating and the inevitable suspicion can be just as damaging as the real deal.

• The “All in the Family” affair. One person’s available, the other one isn’t. It’s usually women who get caught in this trap, believing he’ll leave his family for her. 90% of the time, that won’t happen.

• The “Mind-Body” Affair is the most threatening of all. When two people really feel they are soul mates, it will most likely lead to divorce and remarriage.

Sleep Skinny

Your bedroom could be making you fat!

If you’d like to lose some weight - start in the bedroom. Michael J. Breus, The Sleep Doctor, says quality sleep helps with weight loss and the first step is to LOVE your bedding. If you don’t, consider switching it up. Next, change your alarm clock. Set one alarm for bedtime – going to bed at the same time every night can really help with weight loss. Then, skip the snooze bar in the morning. REM sleep burns the most calories and happens in the last third of your slumber. You want to avoid interrupting that with the alarm.

Before you hit the sheets, try the power-down hour routine. Start with 20 minutes for small tasks, followed by a 20 minute hygiene routine. Finally, spend the last 20 minutes relaxing or meditating. Skip the electronics for that last hour.

Skip the Workout

If you need a reason to skip your workout – here are 5...

If you’re not feeling up to your regular workout or exercise routine – you might not want to force it. Your body might be trying to tell you something. Here are 5 reasons to skip it:

• Something hurts. If you’re mildly achy or sore, that’s okay – but if it’s a lingering pain that really hurts you could be doing some damage.

• You’re sleep deprived. Exercising when you’re exhausted is counter-productive and not good for your overall well-being. Skip the workout until your back on track with sleep.

• You feel dizzy, thirsty or clammy. Those are signs of heatstroke. Call it quits for the day and get hydrated immediately.

• You’re feeling queasy. If you have stomach bug, exercise will make it worse. Take the day off and it could pass in 12 hours.

• You have a fever. Throw in the towel and get in bed. Exercising not only stresses your system, you’re probably contagious.

Drinkable Sunscreen

Soaking up some sun this weekend? Drink this...

Before you head out into the sun, drink something red. Juices like tomato, pomegranate and cranberry can actually block damaging UV rays. The natural pigments in dark fruit juices are absorbed by our skin cells. Drinking 4 to 8 ounces a day can reduce UV damage by more than 26%.

While you’re at it – have some carrots. They’ve got the highest levels of vitamin A which is another natural skin protector.

Likeable

Would you like to be more likeable?

Most of us like to be liked. If you’d like to be even more likeable, James Borg, author of “Body Language” has the basics:

• Dress well. People do judge a book by its cover, like it or not. We also usually feel better when we look good, and that makes us more likeable.

• Smile – even if you don’t feel like it. It makes other people feel good.

• Eye contact can really effect how strangers react to you. The expression in your eyes can covey warmth, concern, romance and more – use it wisely.

Being a good listener is probably the most effective likeability tool. If you can really master your focus and listening skills – others WILL gravitate towards you.

Salary Injustice

Is the new hire at work making more than you? Probably...

If they’re hiring where you work – check the salaries. There’s a good chance a new hire will be starting at a higher rate than you, even if you’ve been there a long time. Companies often throw in some extra perks to attract the best candidates which could put them above you on the pay scale.

If you’re a valued, loyal employee, it’s worth your while to point out a blatant salary injustice. Ask your manager if there’s something they can do to even the pay or perk scales and reward your hard work.

Stormy Dreams

Have you dreamt about the weather lately?

With so much weather in the news – it’s no wonder it could be stormy in your dreams. Lauri Quinn Loewenberg, author of “Dream on It,” has a dream forecast for us:

• If you dream about snow, something or someone in your life could be on hold. Take that as a hint to start moving towards a warmer situation.

• If it’s raining in your dream – you’re probably sad. The heavier the rain, the worse you might feel. The good news is, that downpour could be cleansing and your mood on the brink of improving.

• Run for your life – it’s a twister. Dreaming about a tornado suggests something in your life is out of control. Just identifying what it is could tame the dream.

• Dreaming about lighting is your cue to act on something. Chances are you’ve got a really good idea bouncing around in your head and you should try to harness that energy or insight before you forget.

Dreaming about sunshine or rainbows is all good. Both are signs that you’re on the right path. Take those as a subconscious pat on the back.

Puffy Eyes

There’s something you can do to avoid puffy eyes in the morning...

If your eyes are puffy when you wake up in the morning, you’re probably not drinking enough water. Excess salt in our bodies can cause a buildup of fluid around the eyes while we sleep. Try drinking a large glass of water before bed. That will help cleanse some of that salt out of your system.

An extra pillow while you sleep can also help. That slight elevation will prevent fluids from settling under your eyes.

Turn It Up

If you’re late for work, turn UP the radio...

The louder your radio - the faster you drive.  A recent study found drivers went about 10 miles per hour faster when they turned the volume on their radio way up. If you'd like to save some gas, turn it down a notch to a moderate level. Whatever you do, DON’T turn it off. People NOT listening to the radio are more prone to road rage.

Say Yes!

If you’d like a “yes” answer for something - try these tricks...

If you’re planning on asking someone for a raise, a date or a favor – there is a way to increase the odds of getting a “yes” answer. Taste sensation can have a significant impact on the perception and decision making area of the brain. If they’re eating or drinking something bitter or sour, like black coffee, lemon or broccoli, wait a while, they’re MORE likely to see the down side of your proposition.

Another great way of getting a “yes” is to overstate the importance of the favor. “I have an ENORMOUS favor to ask…” “It would mean SO much to me…” When we preface the question with big talk, the payoff we’re hoping for seems much smaller.