Acne Fix

If you’ve got problematic skin – stock up on honey!

 

Did you know there’s something sweet that can actually help CLEAR up your skin? It’s honey. The trick is to rub it all over your face – really. According to Laurie Steelsmith, author of “Natural Choices for Women’s Health,” the honey treatment will help to clear up blemishes at any age and is safe for just about everyone. Using your fingertips, spread the honey over your face, avoiding the eye area. Leave it on there for five minutes and then rinse it off with water. Then, cleanse your face as usual. Laurie says it works like a charm for people prone to acne – and it should be done once a day.

Aggressive Driver

If you honk your horn too much – you could be classified as an aggressive driver...

Are you an aggressive driver? To date, 15 states have new laws to address the problem – and more states are passing aggressive legislature. Here are some driving behaviors that already apply:

• Speeding

• Failure to obey traffic control devices

• Passing on the right

• Unsafe lane changes

• Following too closely

• Failure to yield right of way

• Driving outside the lanes

• Failure to signal

• Passing a stopped school bus

• Intent to annoy, harass, intimidate or obstruct another driver

• Impeding traffic flow

• Unnecessary sounding of the horn

• Repeatedly flashing headlights

Rake Your Carpets

When is the last time you raked your carpets?

Have you raked your rugs lately? Do you even own a carpet rake? It’s nothing new, just ask Grandma. This classic cleaning tool has actually been around for a long time – but a lot of people have never even heard of it. Carpet rakes range in price from about $10 to $30 and can be found at the big chain hardware stores.

Giving your rugs or carpeting a good raking once in a while can really perk them up – especially in high traffic areas. Not only will it add a bit of texture and depth, your next vacuuming or deep cleaning session will be a LOT more thorough.

Fading Fireflies

Fireflies are synonymous with hot summer nights – and there are fewer of them now...

If it seems like there are less fireflies around than when you were a kid, you’re right. One of the reasons fireflies are fading is due to what scientists call “light pollution.” Increased artificial illumination in what used to be rural areas really throws them off. It interrupts their ability to signal each other for mating – which means less baby fireflies for next year’s light show. Even natural light sources inhibit them. Fireflies usually take the night off if there’s a full moon.

Negotiating Salary

You got the job offer – now it’s time to negotiate salary...

One of the toughest aspects of an interview or job offer is the salary phase. Negotiating can be tricky – and there are some definite dos and don’ts.

• Do be ready to talk about it – just don’t be the first one to bring it up, unless you’re being asked to sign papers.

• Do your research. Find out what you’re worth before discussing it. Don’t go into negotiations unprepared.

• Do think about it ahead of time – and decide what you’re willing to accept. You don’t want to get caught off-guard on the subject.

• Do take a look at the company’s financial position. Some companies just don’t have the flexibility to negotiate much.

• Do consider perks. If the money’s not there, you may be able to negotiate some more vacation time or a shorter waiting period for 401k matching or potential raise.

If you are asked first to come up with a number – a good response would be “I’m going to need more information about the job, expectations, and salary range benefits before I can name a number.” This buys you some time and puts the burden on them to give you a clue.

Good Bad Dreams

Don’t let those good dreams go to waste – even if they’re bad...

We all dream – but we don’t all remember them. Judith Orloff, author of “Emotional Freedom,” says our dreams are a precious resource that can really help us with life. If you have trouble remembering them – try this for a week:

• Keep a notebook and pen by your bed – and tell yourself each night “I WILL remember a dream tonight.”

• When you wake up in the morning – stay put. Relax for a minute with your eyes closed.

• Open your eyes and write down anything you can remember. Don’t bother interpreting.

After a week or so, you should start to remember more of what you’re dreaming. Your dreams will fall into three categories – psychological, predictive or guidance.

Psychological dreams are the most common. Flying, being chased or being naked fall into this category. Try to determine how the dream relates to your life and write that in your dream book – then brainstorm some ways to deal with the situation.

Predictive dreams give you some insight that you might otherwise miss – pay attention. Guidance dreams are dreams with real answers. Some people can even trigger these dreams to occur by writing a question in their dream book right before they nod off.

Posture Power

Stop slouching!

Sit up straight! It’s really good advice. Sure, bad posture makes you look a bit sloppy, but it can also make you physically weaker! That’s because when we’re hunched over, we’re literally less sensitive to pain. While that might sound like a good thing, it’s really not. The better our posture is – the less submissive we are. Over time we train ourselves to tolerate pain better and get physically and emotionally stronger.

When we’re in pain it’s a natural response to curl our bodies up. Scott Wiltermuth, author of “It Hurts When I Do This,” says doing the opposite is actually more productive. Instead, try sitting or standing up straight and striking a more aggressive pose. Keep your chin up and face the pain head on. It gives us more control over the situation and can even elevate levels pain numbing testosterone.

Super-Grain

I've got another super-food for your shopping list...

 

What tastes seems like a carb, has texture like couscous, a mild nutty flavor – and is SUPER good for you? Keen-wah! That’s how it’s pronounced – but it’s spelled QUINOA. Chef Ami Chaplin says this super-grain is a great sub for pasta or rice and is chock full of protein, fiber and minerals. It’s super-versatile too. Have some keen-wah for breakfast with milk and berries, in a salad for lunch – and again for dinner with just about anything.

Trash or Treasure?

Could you have some hidden treasures in that attic or closet?

That tacky heirloom could be worth something! Forbes magazine has a list of things to dig up and dust off:

• Gold and silver jewelry -- The real stuff is often thrown in with costume jewelry in a shoebox or dresser drawer. With gold and silver prices so high, even an ugly piece that doesn't qualify as a valuable heirloom can be sold for its scrap value. Since most refiners won't take retail customers, you'll need to get bids from a few gold-buying stores in your area.

• Tacky heirlooms -- Don't underestimate the value of old stuff, even if it's not to your taste. Have it appraised.

• Special magazines -- There's a market on eBay for specialty and vintage design magazines that sells for about $20 a copy.

• Old posters -- Check those cardboard tubes you thought had old dorm-room posters in them. Vintage travel posters, used as advertising for airlines, ships and trains, and movie posters can sell for $500 and up.

• Oriental rugs – Don’t just roll up all of the carpets and sell them at a tag sale. There could be a rug, worth thousands, in your collection. So what if it's old and worn? It could still be valuable. Don't know what you've got? Call in an expert for a consult.

• Vases -- Valuable old vases often get overlooked.

• Old stocks and bonds -- Do you have U.S. savings bonds you got when you were born that are now stuffed in an envelope in your home safe deposit box? If they've stopped earning interest, cash them in. If you're helping an aging parent downsize, look for uncashed insurance and dividend checks, stock certificates and even cash in shirt and coat pockets, unworn shoes -- pretty much anywhere.

• Vintage sporting goods -- Vintage Schwinn bicycles, from the 1950s or earlier, are now peddled as collectibles for $1,000 and up. Check your attic too. Leather football helmets, wooden tennis racquets, duck decoys and even old folding kayaks have second lives.

• Electronics -- Online outfits that specialize in your old gadgets make getting rid of this stuff a snap. Gazelle.com buys items in 20 categories, including desktop computers, cameras, cellphones, even Wii videogames you're tired of.

Wait Until Your Father Gets Home!

Great Job! I’ll tell you why to STOP saying that to your kids...

It’s second nature for parents to praise their kids when they do something right – but some of us do that a little too often. When we toss that phrase for every drawing or finished glass of milk, it loses its value for the important stuff. Here is a list of some more things we shouldn’t say, according to Parenting.com:

• “Leave me alone!” Every parent needs some down time. Take a minute to explain that to them instead of barking out a “Don’t bother me” or “I’m busy.”

• “You're so...” Labeling kids can really undermine them, especially young children. They believe what you say they are. They also overhear us categorizing them to other people. If you’re telling someone your kid is shy, clumsy or hyper – you’re really saying it right to the child.

• “Don't cry.” Telling our kids not to be sad, mad or afraid doesn’t help. Some children cry when they can’t articulate an emotion. Help them try and explain what they’re feeling.

• “Why can't you be more like your sister?” Comparisons almost always backfire. Comparing your child to someone else implies that you wish yours were different.

• “You know better than that!” Actually, they might not. Children learn from their mistakes. If it wasn’t intentional, use it as a teaching opportunity.

• “I'll give you something to cry about!” Threats don’t work either, unless you’re prepared to follow through on them. Some kids will test boundaries and may take empty threats as a challenge.

• “Wait until your father gets home!” It’s a throwback phrase – and it’s not a very effective one. Not taking action on bad behavior immediately just makes matters worse – and passing the buck to someone else undermines your authority.

• “Hurry up!” When we whine or screech phrases like that we might make them feel bad – but it doesn’t necessarily motivate them to move any faster.

Hotel Living

How would you like to live in a hotel? It can be done...

You don’t have to be a recluse or a billionaire to live in a hotel – but you will need some cash. There’s a relatively new trend in real estate that has many hotels selling their rooms as condos. The good news is – the prices are lower than a typical condo. The bad news – they typically don’t rise in value like a traditional house or condo.

There’s another catch – the monthly fees can run about $2,000 or more – but that would include daily maid service and other hotel amenities. Some hotels will let you opt out of those, but not many.

If hotel living appeals to you – keep in mind it can be tricky to get financing. Make sure to find a real estate agent who knows something about the hotel condo market. If you're wondering what these hotel homes are selling for - anywhere from about $100,000 for a basic room with a kitchen to 1 million or more for some luxury suites in popular places.

Killer Weed

There’s a killer weed on the loose!

If you see a plant that looks like a huge Queen Ann’s Lace plant – Don’t touch it! It’s called Giant Hogweed – and its one nasty plant. Just touching this weed can cause blisters, burns and even blindness. Health officials in several states are on the hunt for hogweed now – trying to remove it. It spreads quickly and is already a problem on the east and west coasts – and has now been spotted in between.

Giant hogweed grows up to 15 feet high, with a purple-tinged thick stem and has sprays of white umbrella-like blossoms a foot wide when in bloom. They’re hard to kill. If you spot a crop – be sure to notify a public safety department. There have already been some terrible incidents with kids and these plants. They are naturally drawn to the large blooms and interesting stalks.

Source: NY State Department of Conservation

Radio Therapy

Don't touch that dial!

The results are in. Listening to the radio trumps other forms of media in the feel-good department! Researchers put radio to the test and found that it had a significantly higher impact on mood than TV or Internet. When participants in the study were asked to rate their moods throughout the day, their happiness and energy levels spiked while listening to the radio.

Mark Barber, of the Radio Advertising Bureau, says the radio rule makes perfect sense. Listeners get to know the announcers and format – and radio feels more like a friend in the car, at work, at home, or just about anywhere, than other media does. Morning radio is the most effective. It’s designed to get you in a good mood and ready for the day ahead.

Water Walking

Sitting by the pool is hardly a workout. I’ll tell you what to do instead, coming up…

Swimming is great exercise – but if multiple laps of butterfly and back stroke aren’t your thing – try swimming, standing up. For those of us who prefer sitting by the pool, soaking up the sun – we can get a pretty effective workout in just a few minutes – without even getting our hair wet. Aquatic fitness expert Janice Jaicks says water-walking may seem like an activity for oldsters but personal trainers and elite athletes do it too. The vertical position of your body creates resistance that burns calories – and can do wonders for your hips, rear end and legs. Your upper body will get a workout too.

Janice says a rigorous water-walking workout for about 20 minutes is best. If you feel the urge to run in the water – resist that. Your arms and legs get a better workout if you keep them straight up and down.

Watering Wisdom

If you want to water your lawn the right way – you’ll need a can of tuna...

Before you turn those sprinklers on to water your grass – have some tuna fish. Now clean out the can and put it out on the lawn. The more tuna cans you can round up – the better. Turn your sprinklers on and check the time. When the cans have about an inch of water in them – check the time again and turn the water off.

Now you know how long to let your sprinklers run. The EPA says grass needs an inch of water a week to stay healthy – and that includes any rain they get. Most people actually water their grass too much – which encourages the growth of weeds and wastes water. When you mow – only cut about 1/3 of the grass height and leave the clippings there. Just be sure you’ve picked up the tuna cans first.