Window Seat

If you’d like to be more productive – ask for a window seat.

When given the choice – choose a seat by the window. The more sunlight you can soak up over the course of a day, the more active your brain will be. A lot of us don’t have a choice at work – but in a recent study, employees who were given a new desk location by a window worked longer and more efficiently without needing a break. We do have a choice at home. If you’re working online or paying the bills – you’ll get more done in a workspace by the window.

Hands-Free Germs

Those automatic hands-free faucets are germier than the manual kind....

You would think those hands free motion activated faucets would have less germs than the old hands-on kind – but they’ve got more! That’s because the plumbing for the standard faucet with hot and cold taps is pretty straight forward. The plumbing setup for motion activated faucets is a lot more complex – with more valves, screens and filters – which make for perfect bacteria nesting grounds.

There’s no need to panic or avoid using automatic faucets – the growths found in there don’t really pose a health risk for normal healthy individuals. It’s more of a concern in hospital settings where patients may have compromised immune systems.

Google +1

Have you heard about Google’s new +1 feature?

Pretty soon – you might see little +1 buttons next to results when you search something on Google. In case you’re wondering what +1 means, it’s sort of like the Facebook “Like” button. If you’re signed into a Google account, then search something, you’ll see the little +1s next to the results. Click that button on the results you like to let your Google contacts know about it. Let’s say you and one of your contacts both search coffee makers – if your contact clicked the +1 button on the one they liked – their name will show up next to that result for you – and vice versa.

The +1 button isn’t automatic yet – but if you like, or +1 the idea, you can activate it by going to Google Labs and clicking “Join this experiment.”

Good Old Pepper

Don’t forget the black pepper with your next meal...

Too much salt is no good – but feel free to go heavy on the pepper. Black pepper stimulates the taste buds and can add a LOT of taste to your food. That extra zing also sends a message to your stomach that signals your digestion to kick it up a notch. Adding pepper to your food can actually help decrease heartburn and indigestion and even reduce gas and some other digestive nuisances.

If you really like pepper – you’ll love the whole peppercorn. Its outer shell stimulates the breakdown of fat cells and can help keep you thin. Black, red or green – they’re all good – but the black are most flavorful.

Cobblestone Cure

There’s something you can walk on that actually lowers your blood pressure...

If you or someone you know has high blood pressure – you can walk it down a bit on a special mat. In a new study, participants who walked barefoot on a cobblestone mat for 5 to 10 minutes a day lowered their pressure five points over the course of three months. The simulated stones target pressure points on the soles of the feet that lower stress hormones – and ultimately blood pressure.

That’s a lot of stone walking – but the results are good – about the same amount of improvement you’d get from a low-salt diet. The mats range in size and price but average around $40.

Sleep, Hibernate or Log Off?

Do you prefer sleep, hibernation or shutting down?

To sleep – or to hibernate? That is the question. Each time you’re done with your computer you have three basic options – sleep, hibernate or shut down/ log off.



• Logging off saves the most energy – but it does cause a little more wear and tear on your computer if you do it all the time.

• Hibernate is the next best power-saving option – but it will take you a bit longer to get back online than the sleep option.

• Sleep gets you back up and running the fastest – but uses the most power while you're away out of the three options.

Keep in mind it takes more power to start a computer than it does to keep it running for a while. If you’ll be back on anytime soon – opt for sleep – and save the shut downs for the end of the day.

The Bathroom Sink

If your bathroom sink is one of the first and last things your face is near every day – you might as well enjoy it.

Consider giving it an herbal bath instead of cleaning it with harsh chemicals.

First – plug the drain and fill the sink with boiling water.

Then – drop in a few bunches of fresh herbs. Rosemary, thyme and mint are all nice choices – they are natural disinfectants and fungicides and smell great. You can even add some lemon juice or vinegar for extra cleaning power.

Let those herbs steep overnight. In the morning – remove the herbs and drain the water and start your day with a clean and fragrant sink.

Calm Cool and Connected

Most dogs LOVE a belly rub. You might need one too...

How would you like to de-stress and feel calm in 30 seconds? Give yourself a belly rub. There’s a reason dogs love it – and yoga experts agree. Sit in a chair, place your hand on your belly and rub in a circular motion for 30 to 60 seconds. The belly rub increases circulation to your core and helps induce a sensation of warmth and calm.

Now that you’re calm – try giving yourself a shot of confidence. Rub your palms together for another 30 seconds while thinking about something you’d like to accomplish. It helps connect the thought with the hands that will get it done. Now you’re calm, cool and connected.  You're welcome.

Emotional Garbage

If there’s someone in your life that tends to dump on you – try this...

Most of us know a Debby Downer or a Bummer Bob.  The next time someone dirties your day with THEIR emotional garbage – your response could clean it up a bit. Here are some phrases to try:

• “Yes, that must be annoying. By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask you about something else.” Change the subject.

• “Do you need to vent about this for a minute?” Make them realize they're dumping.

• “It seems you’re not happy. You should come up with some ideas on how to change that.” It’s not your problem.

If none of those work - take a moment to visualize their garbage truck passing by. Smile as you watch it disappear into the distance. It helps prevent their garbage from sticking to your shoes.

It's great to be a supportive friend - but lending a sympathetic ear or shoulder too often to a chronic complainer, drama queen or king, just feeds the monster and can zap you of precious good energy.

Freeze These

What’s in your freezer?

If you’ve got some extra space in your freezer – stick some candles in there. Wax burns slower if it’s frozen – and they’ll last a lot longer. Here are a few more household items you can preserve in there:

• Panty hose – they’re less likely to run if they’re kept in the freezer.

• Batteries – alkaline batteries will only last 5% longer when frozen – but nicad batteries like the ones found in watches or electronics can last 90% longer.

• Stuffed animals – especially if your kid has asthma. Storing them in the freezer overnight in a zip lock bag reduces allergens and kills dust mites.

Video Résumé

It’s hard to get to know someone by just reading their résumé – unless it’s a VIDEO résumé...

It’s a great way to show that you are tech savvy and let your personality shine through. Video résumés are becoming more and more popular and having one - if you do it right - can really give you an advantage in the search for a new job.

You can create a short video with your webcam or another device, upload it onto YouTube – and add the link to your résumé. Give your potential employers a brief summary of your background and tell them why you’d be a great pick for the position. If you search the phrase “video résumé” online, you’ll find some great tips and resources on how to do it right.

Anti-Wrinkles

Do anti-wrinkle creams really work?

Americans spend $1 billion dollars a year on stuff for their wrinkles. Consumer Reports put the top rated wrinkle creams to the test. The good news is – after 12 weeks the top rated wrinkle creams worked. The bad news – the improvement they made to the fine lines and wrinkles they target was barely visible to the human eye. The results were about the same for those pricey wrinkle serums.

They also found that regular moisturizer improved overall skin texture as much as some of the most expensive anti-aging products.

Extra Large Loads

How much can you cram into that washing machine?

If you wash large or extra-large loads of laundry – they might not be getting as clean as you think. You could also be damaging your machine. There’s an easy way to find out if you’ve crammed too much in there. After you’ve filled it – put a washcloth on top. Go ahead and start the machine. At the end of the cycle – take a peek in there. If that washcloth is still on top – your load is too big. Your machine should be able to rotate each dirty item to the bottom and back at least once to get the job done.

Snack Attack

What are you doing this afternoon around 3 or 4:00?

It’s prime time for the snack attack. Brian Wansink, author of “Mindless Eating,” says some of us need that fix to stay focused – but keep it covered up. Most of us eat a lot more than we think and when food is concealed, we tend to eat around 40% less of it. That goes for candy dishes too.

Keep sweets out of sight or in non-transparent, covered containers. It also helps to keep them in an inconvenient location. When you can't see temptation - or when it is hard to get to - the less likely you are to actually eat it.

Call the Plumber!

Have you checked your water heater lately?

Nobody likes to call the plumber – but calling one BEFORE a crisis can save you tons of money. Your water heater is holding a potential flood – and you should check it every once in a while. Look for any small puddles under there. If you see one – call the plumber – she’s gonna blow! Even tiny leaks could mean complete failure is just days or weeks away. That repair could cost $250 - $500 – but that’s a lot less than a replacement and a flood. Move any valuables away from the area while you’re waiting for the plumber.