How do you take your coffee? What that reveals about your personality...

Do you take your coffee black? Consider yourself a minimalist...

A new survey of coffee drinkers found some stereotypes in their cups:

• Black coffee drinkers are no-frills and take a direct approach to life. They may be quiet and moody but they’re also a loyal friend and colleague.

• Espresso drinkers are typically hard working and hard living. They enjoy their late-night shenanigans and can handle the consequences better than most.

• Latte drinkers just have to be liked and may have an immature side.

• The cappuccino drinker is an optimist, enjoying the material side of life. They also tend to be sexually active and easily bored in that department.

• Instant coffee drinkers like to laugh, don’t take life too seriously and don’t like the pretentious types.

• The decaf soy milk drinker is a self-righteous eco-worrier and seeks a lot of attention. They don’t get along with the instant coffee drinkers.

• The frappucino drinker is on the shallow side and will try anything once. They may also struggle in a long-term relationship.

• The non-coffee drinker is doomed. They’re afraid of life and often lack social skills.

Stuck in traffic? Relax. How that could save your mental health...

Traffic jams can be really bad for our mental health...

A recent study is suggesting that traffic could actually put us at risk for psychological disorders in the future. Traffic jams are a perfect example of minor irritations that stress us out on a regular basis. Experts are saying that frequently experiencing minor annoyances can be harder on our brains than more serious stress on occasion.

The next time you have to slam on the brakes, let that be a reminder that the situation is out of your control and that it’s not worth suffering brain damage over.

The ants are back in town. How to keep them out...

Spring has sprung - cue the ants...

If you have spotted some big black ants in the house, that could be a problem. Those are most likely carpenter ants and they can do some real damage. The come looking for food in your kitchen in early spring, before their natural food sources are abundant outside. Carpenter ants don’t eat your wood - but they will burrow through it to get to your food. Here is your best defense for keeping those destructive pests out this spring:

• Keep food stored in containers with tight fitting lids.

• Consistently wipe food surfaces down to avoid crumbs and spills.

• Take trash out regularly and store it in bins with lids.

• Remove sticks and other wood debris from lawn that will decay with the moist spring weather.

If you do wind up with carpenter ants, you’ll probably want to consult a professional. They have ways at locating and removing nests and can ultimately help save you a fortune in structural repairs down the road.

Is spring fever for real? Yes. How we catch it,...

If you find yourself daydreamng or feeling fidgety - chalk that up to spring fever...

Similar to Seasonal Affective Disorder that many people experience through the winter months, spring fever is an actual biological reaction most of us have with the transition into longer, warmer days. 

The physiological symptoms of spring fever include a reduced level of melatonin which helps account for more energy or feelings of restlessness. We also get a boost of serotonin which improves mood and feelings of optimism. Spring fever also ups natural levels of endorphins which can leave animals feeling extra frisky, humans included.  

The next time you suffer a burn - skip the butter treatment. Why that’s a dangerous wives tale...

If you’ve been told to smear butter on a burn to soothe and heal, you’ve been misinformed...

Applying butter to a burn can actually be dangerous. Butter is not sterile and creates an environment for bacterial growth on the wound. You could even wind up with a serious infection.

The best thing to do immediately after a burn is to let cool water run on the area to relieve some pain and stop further damage from the heat. This will also help to clean the area and reduce the risk of infection.  

Can all dogs swim? No! Which breed will sink like a rock...

A lot of dog owners can’t wait to play with their pal in the water - but not all dogs are up for that swim...

While most dogs will instinctively doggy paddy when introduced to the water, some breeds can not swim at all. Bulldogs, for instance, will typically sink like a rock and should be equipped with a life vest near swimming pools or other water hazards. dachshunds, boxers and pugs are also notoriously bad swimmers.

If your dog dog doesn’t like to swim, don’t force the issue. A dog who doesn’t like water will panic when submerged which can lead to rapid fatigue and a danger of drowning. Puppies and older dogs that do like to swim also need to be watched carefully. They may tire quickly and should not be allowed to venture too far from shore.

Your tax form needs your social security number. That school or camp form doesn’t...

Most of us don’t hesitate enough when asked for our social security number...

A lot of institutions and forms ask for it - but that doesn’t mean you should automatically obey. Adam Levin, of Credit.com, says we need need to be more stingy with our number. Here are some places that DON’T need it:

* Public schools: Your utility bill confirms your address. Your email and phone number give them channels to contact you in an emergency. Asking for your Social Security number is overkill.

* Little League, summer camp and the like: For the same reasons as school, a Social Security number should never be required by these groups. If you use credit to pay for the activity, the organization may need your Social Security number. If you pay for it upfront or with a direct debit to your bank account or credit card, they don’t. Period.

* Supermarkets: A frequent shopper card is merely a tool grocery stores use to track your purchases for marketing purposes. Regardless, many supermarket chains request customers’ Social Security numbers on their application forms. Refuse.

The bottom line is to stop and think before handing over your Social Security number. Adam says there are many different ways to identify you without a Social Security number, including your driver’s license or account number. Fight to use those instead.

Can wearing eyeglasses weaken your vision over time?

Are you cheating again with those reading glasses?

Don’t worry, it won’t weaken your eyes. Dr. Robert Cykiert, an ophthalmologist at New York University Hospitals Center, said the contrast between poor and normal vision becomes more obvious when people wear glasses for a while and then take them off. But glasses have no lasting effect on eyesight. The same is true if you don’t wear your glasses. It may be hard to see but it won’t have any real effect on your eyes.

So what about reading in dim light? That’s okay too. Dr. Cykiert says the strain may give you a headache but won’t do any real damage to your vision. 

Listen! The birds have something to say...

When you step outside today, take a moment to listen for birds singing or chirping...

There is scientific evidence that we can enhance our sense of well-being, clarity and focus by taking in some daily tweets. The speed and register of bird calls correlates to the frequency of our theta brain waves. Those are our natural energizers. Birdsongs have also been found to make people feel less crowded and make unnatural sounds such as traffic more tolerable.

Forget the standard 8 hour sleep. The best time to go to bed...

If your goal is to get a solid eight hours of sleep each night - you’ve got it all wrong...

According to many sleep experts, we’re better off getting 9 hours of sleep, or 7 1/2 hours, or even 5 hours of sleep. The trick is to plan your bedtime around our natural sleep cycles, which last 90 minutes each. Interrupting one of those cycles can leave you feeling sleep deprived, regardless of actual sleep time. 

Here is how the 90 minute sleep calculation would work. If you need to get up at 7 am, go to sleep at: 10 pm, 11:30 pm, 1 am or 2:30 am. This way, you’ll be waking up at the end of a natural 90 minute sleep cycle, before entering the next phase. Keep in mind that the average adult takes 14 minutes to fall asleep - so plan your bedtime accordingly.

Spring is in the air, flowers blooming, birds chirping, and eggs falling from nests...

If you come across a bird egg this spring, should you put it back in the nest?

Probably not. According to most experts, many bird eggs found on the ground have actually been kicked from the nest. Some mother birds can determine whether an egg is viable, and gets rid of the ones that aren't. In some cases the egg has been stolen by another critter, and dropped. Chances are this egg is damaged and probably won't hatch. Many mama birds will actually abandon the entire nest if an unfamiliar egg is placed in there, so it's best to let fallen eggs be.

Got a pimple? Take an aspirin...

The next time you get a pimple, take an aspirin - and smear it on your face...

It’s a quick fix that can be as effective as some of the expensive acne remedies. Aspirin has acne-fighting acetylsalicylic acid and can help reduce redness and inflammation and stop that pimple in it’s tracks, overnight.

Uncoated aspirin works best. You’ll need to moisten a few and mash them into a paste. Dab the aspirin paste onto the zit zone and let it dry. You’ll want to leave that on there for at least five minutes and rinse with warm water.  Thanks Erin!

Don’t look now - but your hair is growing...

If it seems like your hair is growing faster now, it probably is...

Hair growth varies from person to person but on average, our hair grows about 1/2 inch each month in spring and summer. During the cold winter months, that growth slows to about 1/4 inch. 

There are a few things you can do to promote faster hair growth. Let it get some sun. Your hair is happy when exposed to natural light and warmth. Wearing a hat all the time can stunt growth a bit. Your hair will also want some vitamins in your diet, such as biotin, A, B12, C, D, E and iron. Be sure to drink plenty of water for your hair. Dehydration can halt hair growth.

Some people have a really hard time apologizing. Why that is...

(So sad - and one of the prettiest songs ever written, IMHO) 

Do you find it difficult to say “I’m sorry?”

A lot of people struggle with apologies and a recent study may shed some light on that phenomenon. Not apologizing just feels better. Two groups of volunteers agreed to write letters addressing something they had done wrong. While the group who apologized had a better sense of integrity after the fact, the group who refused to apologize felt more empowered and had a greater sense of self-worth. 

Tyler Okimoto, author of the study, says we do find that apologies make apologizers feel a little better. However, refusing to apologize makes some people feel a LOT better and more in control of the situation. Okimoto also says that a voluntary apology feels a lot better than an apology on demand, which tends to make the wrong-doer feel threatened or coerced. 

Tell me about yourself - but keep it brief. How to tackle that one in a job interview...

It’s not unusual for hiring managers to open up the interview with the predictable “Tell me about yourself.”

William J. Morin, author of “Parting Company,” says your response can make or break the interview. You’ll need to be extra careful not to reveal too much information or bog down the interview before it begins. The best response to “Tell me about yourself” will last two minutes - tops.

Morin says your self summary should cover four topics: the early years, education, BRIEF work history and most recent career experience. You’ll want to emphasize that last one. Keep in mind this is just a warm-up question and you don’t want to use up all your best material right out of the gate.