Say It With Your Eyes

If your marriage or relationship could use a little boost, a little look can go a long way...

It’s all about eye contact. Direct eye contact usually lasts about two seconds – and doubling that time sends a powerful signal to your partner. When we are newly attracted to someone, we tend to stare a little longer and say more with our eyes. Once the curiosity is gone, most of us lose the impulse to prolong the eye contact.

Gazing directly into someone’s eyes for longer than two seconds WILL be noticed by both of you. It triggers that curiosity and stimulates oxytocin, the bonding hormone.

SPF Clothing

Light colors may keep you cooler – but dark colors protect you more...

Everyone knows that white shirt or cap will keep you feeling cooler than a dark one – but did you know that the darker colors actually block out more of the harmful UV rays? Deep blues and dark reds are actually the most efficient sun blocking colors. Tightly woven fabrics also give you more protection.

If you know you’ll be out in the sun wearing light colored or light-weight fabrics, it’s a good idea to apply some sunscreen UNDER your clothes.

Outdoor Lighting

If you’d like the inside of your house to feel bigger, start outside...

There’s a trick to making the inside of your house feel bigger – especially at night. It’s outdoor lighting. Randall Whitehead, author of “Residential Lighting,” says with little or no exterior lighting, windows become black mirrors at night for people inside, making it feel a lot smaller. Some inexpensive strategic lighting outside can really open things up AND make you feel safer by deterring burglars. Randall suggests we think beyond the lights near our doors. Here are three good options:

• Uplighting creates a dramatic effect by illuminating trees or shrubs from a recessed fixture in the ground.

• Downlighting can shed a lot of light from fixtures mounted on the eaves.

• If you’d like to get fancy, moonlighting is the way to go. That’s achieved by mounting lights on a mature tree ABOVE the lowest branches – and creates a dappled, natural-looking light and shadow effect.

Pathway lighting is important – but it’s easy to do wrong. If you want to avoid the runway look, vary the distance between them and switch sides along the way. Also be sure to have a light at any spot where there is a step.

Nagging Thoughts

If you just can’t shake that unpleasant thought – there’s a food for that...

Most of us suffer from nagging thoughts from time to time – especially at night. If you find yourself obsessing over something you just can’t get out of your head – have a tuna sandwich. Tuna fish is rich in a nutrient called taurine which can actually help calm the nervous system. There is scientific evidence that tuna can actually help turn off or lessen the anxiety of racing or nagging thoughts.

I Scream, You Scream...

All ice creams are NOT created equal...

When it comes to ice cream, there are a lot of choices out there – and there IS a difference. Here’s the scoop:

• Premium ice cream has between 11% and 15% butterfat. It’s richer and denser and tends to be what you’ll find in those smaller gourmet containers.

• Regular ice cream is less dense and has about 10% butterfat. That’s what you’ll usually find in the bigger containers.

• Light ice cream means there is supposed to be either less fat or less calories in there. But check the label; it’s not always the case.

• Soft serve ice cream is great if you’re prone to brain-freeze. It’s stored and served at a lower temperature. It can be tastier too because it doesn’t numb the taste buds as much.

• French style ice cream is made with a custard base and egg yolks. It’s extra rich and silky.

• Gelato and ice cream are very similar. The difference is the amount of air whipped in there. Ice cream is generally about 60% air while gelato is closer to 20%.

There is a difference between sorbet and sherbet too. Both are fruit based, but sherbet has a little milk in there for creaminess.

Bee-licious

That perfume or cologne could make you very attractive – to bees!

If you see a lot of bees wherever you go – it could be your fragrance. Bees and other stinging insects LOVE the sweet scents of a lot of fragrances, soaps, detergents or hair products. There are a few aromas that bees don’t particularly care for like vanilla, peppermint and a lot of herbal aromas. You can even rub mint or eucalyptus leaves on your skin to keep the bees at bay. Anything sweet or fruity is bee-licious.

July Effect

There may not be a GOOD time to go to the hospital – but there is a WORST...

If you need to go to the hospital – try to do that in June or August. It turns out July is the worst month to go, especially in teaching hospitals. In the hospital world, it’s called the July Effect. That’s when recent grads start their new jobs – and most experienced doctors and medical personnel take their vacations. July is the month when the most mistakes happen and prescription errors see a spike.

The good news is – if you need surgery in July, the July Effect doesn’t really apply. Those new graduates aren’t likely to be wielding that scalpel on their own just yet.

Source: Journal of General Internal Medicine

Not Hired

You’ve polished your resume, sent it out and maybe even landed the interview – but you’re still NOT hired...

CareerBuilder surveyed employers and determined the five top reasons they DON’T like a candidate:

• Liars. 49% of employers reported finding lies on a resume or in an interview.

• Potty mouth. Bad language or badmouthing a previous employer is a big don’t.

• Digital dirt. 45% of employers check social networking sites. 35% of them found something on there that convinced them to dismiss that candidate.

• Attitude. Acting disinterested or cocky will cost you that potential job.

• Too personal. 17% of employers reported candidates who shared too much personal information or personal opinions wound up in the "no" pile.

Mouse Trap

There’s an easy way to catch a mouse without touching it...

You won’t even need to buy a trap or a cat. All you’ll need is a glass – and a nickel. First, put some peanut butter in the bottom of the glass. Next, flip it over and balance the rim on your nickel, standing upright. Mice love peanut butter and will carefully navigate their way past the nickel to find it. Once they reach for it, the glass should fall, trapping them inside.

After you’ve captured your mouse – you’ll need to let it go – far away. If you can walk to the location, it’s probably too close. That mouse WILL find its way back.

Whiter Nails

We’re showing off our toenails this summer...

If your toenails seem a bit dingy or yellow, the sun could be to blame. UV rays from the sun can turn nails yellow – and wearing nail polish does too. You can get those nails looking whiter and brighter with a simple paste. You’ll need the juice of one lemon, a teaspoon of baking soda and another teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide. Cover your nails with the paste and let it sit for about five minutes and then rinse it off.

The citric acid from the lemon will bleach the nails and the baking soda and peroxide help oxidize deposited pigments. Your toes will be flip-flop and sandal-ready.

Three Simple Things

It’s easy to fall into a routine in life – but it can be a lot harder to get out...

BJ Gallagher, author of “It’s Never Too Late to Be What You Might Have Been,” has three simple things to ask yourself:

• What three simple, do-able things can I do to my work space that would make me happy?

Go ahead and do those. Once you’ve accomplished that, move on to the next question the next day:

• What three simple, do-able things can I do with my wardrobe that would make me happy?

Day 3:

• What three simple, do-able things can I do to my bedroom that would make me happy?

You get the idea. BJ explains that by starting small and making some noticeable changes in our everyday lives, we feel the rewards and build stamina towards making three more challenging changes to our lives.

Flattery Will Get You...

Flattery might not get you everywhere...

But a little compliment can go a long way – as long as it’s sincere. Leil Lowndes, author of “How to Be a People Magnet,” says fine-tuning our flattery skills can be a valuable tool in social and professional situations. Boosting someone else’s self-confidence will keep them engaged, especially if it’s sincere. You’re much more likely to be remembered if you can strike a positive chord in someone. Be specific with your compliment. Instead of saying “I love your dress,” point out why it suits them. Try something like “That dress is the perfect color for your complexion.”

Body language can add a lot to your compliment too. Look the person in the eye and lean slightly in towards them while you deliver your flattery.

Memory Loss

Losing some memory as we age is perfectly normal...

Most people start to notice it in their 40’s. That’s because we tend to worry more once we hit 40. Teenagers forget lots of things, they’re just not as worried about it. Dr. Cynthia Green, author of “Total Memory Workout,” says we really need to flex our brain a bit to keep memory sharp, and we can start at any age. Here are a few simple techniques:

• Rearrange your desk. It stimulates your thought and helps break you out of memory sapping ruts and routines.

• Doodle while you listen. Research proves doodling helps you absorb more information while you listen.

• Wear your watch upside down, or on the other wrist. Simple switches like that can give our brains a jolt, and keep our thought process active throughout the day.

The sooner we start exercising our brains, the better. Mental workouts have been proven to stave off dementia later in life. If you’d like an extra boost, marry someone smarter than yourself. Studies show marrying up intellectually results in increased memory skills.

Puttering Around

If you don’t feel like working out, just putter around...

If a vigorous workout lacks some appeal for you – how does puttering around strike you? Studies find that just 30 minutes a day of casual motion can make a really big difference. Here are some easy steps that can really add up:

• Go ahead and take the escalator – but walk up the steps.

• Stay on your feet while waiting in a doctor’s office or anywhere that a chair is available.

• Wash your car. It’s actually a really good workout that takes about 30 minutes.

Not only will a puttering routine increase your odds of longevity by about 75%, as compared to a couch potato, you’ll look about 9 years younger than your sitting spud counterpart.

Don't Bother

Do you separate your laundry into lights and darks? Don't Bother!

Most of us separate our laundry into lights and darks – and that’s a waste of time and water – according to Sandra Phillips, author of “A Clean Break.” She says we almost NEVER need to do that. Sandra says all we need is some white vinegar. Add a cup of it to the wash water – the vinegar sets the colors and they won’t bleed.

There are a few exceptions. Reds and denims that have not yet been washed need to be done on their own the first time out.