Stressed out?

Do you crave food, even though you’re not hungry? Is your heart racing? Are you snapping at the people you care about most? These are just some of the signs that you are already stressed out!

Here are four strategies to release the pressure you are feeling:

1. Phone a friend. Strange as it may sound, stress can increase production of the hormone oxytocin, which helps you connect with others. One theory is that a blast of oxytocin provides a kind of coping mechanism, helping to convert stressful experiences into opportunities for social bonding, which research shows can lower cortisol levels.

2. Take a whiff of lavender. In 2008 Japanese researchers reported that the aroma reduces stress levels in people forced to do tough math problems. Keep a small bottle of lavender oil or lotion in your purse for when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

3. Sip black tea. University College London scientists found that black-tea drinkers had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol after a stressful event than those who consumed other hot beverages.

4. Get some distance. When you’re slammed with something really stressful—a huge work deadline, an unexpected visit from the in-laws—don’t panic. Instead, pretend you’ve been asked to advise a friend or family member in need, and think through the problem systematically. When women distance themselves slightly from stressors, they make excellent problem solvers, in part because of their unique mixture of creative, intuitive, and analytical thinking skills.

There you go. So when you feel stressed out, you already know what to do.

Tags: Four strategies to release the pressure brought on by stress

Get rid of your common household pests!

I have been looking around the web for some tips on how to get rid of your common household pests. These are what I found…

Bed Bugs
- Rubbing alcohol kills them on the spot.
- You can also place items that are infested by bed bugs under the sun for a few days.

Ants
- You can use baby powder or talc powder where they normally crawl on.
- You can squirt vinegar (apple cider vinegar if you have it) and then let it dry.
- You can also use black pepper.

Roaches
- Naphthalene balls in corners of your closet and parts of the house. It’s still the best roach killer.
- Pour regular bleach down the drain. This will kill those hiding in there.

Rats
- Buy a large amount of rosemary. Burn it in a frying pan and put in rats’ crawl places. This will guarantee them not crawling there anymore because rats hate strong odor.
- Use Coke classic. Put the Coke in shallow containers where the rats can sip from. Since rats don’t have the ability to burp, their insides will explode killing them in the process.
- If you are trapping them, use cornmeal and sugar. Pour it all over the trap. Rats will eat every grain of sugar thus trapping them will be easier.
- Use plaster of paris. Just like with Coke, put the plaster of paris on small dishes and put in drops of vanilla, too. They will eat the plaster of paris and it will kill them. Indigestion, you know.
- You can also soak cotton balls with peppermint oil and place the cotton balls in crawl places just like with the rosemary trick.

There you go! I made sure to focus more on rats because it is the most common household pests that are hard to be rid off. I hope moms got something out of the tips I compiled. I will be dishing out more of these tips in my next entries.

Tags: Getting rid of ants, Getting rid of bed bugs, Getting rid of rats, Getting rid of roaches, How to get rid of common household pests

Luscious Smile

Do you want a juicy, moist, delicious, and succulent smile? Take note of these tips:

• Make sure your lips stay moisturized through application of lip balms, as needed, or by using products that are enriched with moisturizers. (Extra tip: If you have a petroleum jelly at home, that will do.)
• Protect your lips from sun damage by using lip products that are formulated with SPF.
• Gently rub your lips with a washcloth before applying lip color to make sure that the product will glide smoothly.
• Play around with sexy lip colors to see what suits your personality best.
• Invest in a good lip gloss or a lip shimmer with just a hint of tint and you’d be set to flash that sensuous smile at any given time of the day.

Microwave and cancer

I got this from Dr. Oz and thought of sharing with all of you…

Q: Does using a microwave increase my risk of cancer?

A: While it’s true that microwave ovens emit tiny amounts of radiation, studies have shown that they’re not nearly enough to cause cancer. A microwave could cause other injuries (like burns or cataracts), but only if it’s been damaged and starts leaking large amounts of radiation—an unlikely occurrence. If you’re worried your appliance may be faulty, replace it, or ask your state health department to test your level of exposure.

And there you have it! So stop being paranoid when using the microwave oven, mommies. You now have it directly from Dr. Oz himself.

Top 10 Cancer Symptoms Women Need to Know

I am sharing with you an article a friend of mine shared with me. It is about cancer, specifically the Top 10 Cancer Symptoms Women Need to Know.

1. Pelvic Pain
2. Abdominal Swelling and Bloating
3. Persistent Lower Back Pain
4. Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
5. Persistent Fever
6. Persistent Stomach Upset or Bowel Changes
7. Unintentional Weight Loss
8. Vulva or Vaginal Abnormalities
9. Changes in the Breast
10. Fatigue

You can read more about the article here.

I am really concerned about this sickness. As I’ve said in a previous post, I was once witness to this nasty sickness and it wasn’t pretty. I just feel like women are more susceptible to this sickness. We are more prone to stress be it at work and at home. There are more working moms now. So I know that’s really double the stress for them. And stress is one of the best friends of cancer!

Mommies and all the women out there, check yourselves. There is no one better who knows ourselves than us.

Tips for everyday living

I love tips for everyday living. If you have noticed, I always give out tips that I get from magazines I read or web sites I frequently visit. I compile it and share it here in this blog of mine.

Let me give you some that I got from Patty Betita…

Sunscreen. Too much exposure to the sun can cause irreversible skin damage. Choose a sunscreen to protect you from the sun’s damaging rays. It’s also a good anti-aging device.

Pimples. Never prick a pimple for it might leave you scarred for life. Always consult a dermatologist before applying anything.

Whitening. Do not experiment. Try only tested breakthrough products in whitening technology like the New Olay White Radiance. It is an effective moisturizer, has Vitamin E, visibly reduces dark spots and pores, and evens out your skin tone.

Oral Hygiene! Brush your teeth at least twice a day, usually after meals. Always floss. For social smokers, make sure to take pastilles like Astring-o-sol, and carry a small bottle of mouth wash.

Want more tips? I will be dishing out some more in my next posts. Do subscribe so you won’t be left out.

Look out! Know where the germs are in your home.

I am not a germophobe exactly but I do make sure the house is safe for the kids. The house is cleaned every single day. The shelves, and every nook and cranny of the house are dusted. Pillow cases and bed sheets are changed and laundered every three days. I really make sure of that. I limit the use of cleaning agents at home to avoid chemical exposure to the kids.

Anyway, the reason why I am bringing this up is because I found an article that caught my interest. The article was entitled Where the germs are lurking in your home. It says in the article that even the tidiest places and neat freaks out there can’t control these germs cropping up.

The kitchen sink is pretty common. We all know that since we dump dirty dishes there, wash our hands and other things to wash, it is a place where germs can naturally be found. Some people think that because water runs through the sink, it is clean. In fact, it’s not! To keep it clean, wash it daily with bleach and water.

The remote control is another item at home where germs can be found. Every one touches it. It is often coughed or sneezed at. Use a bleach or alcohol wipe to clean it. I like this advise from the article: When you’re traveling, you may also want to bring an extra Ziploc to use as a cover for the remote in the hotel. Good advice, don’t you think?

And the items we often neglect that contain germs: doorknobs, handles and light switches! We touch these things. Remember to disinfect it daily so as to avoid germs passing from one hand to another.

This is also a tip I like the most (although I’ve been doing this already for the longest time): Your telephone receiver and the mouthpiece (especially since your mouth might come into direct contact with the phone) also need regular wipe downs.

*Source

Hobby to money, part 3

Here’s the last four crafts that you can turn into a money-making hobby. Moms, have you taken note of the first six? Here’s more!

1. Quilting. Quilting is stitching together pieces of cloth either by hand or a sewing machine to create a bigger piece of fabric. Traditionally, quilts are made out of three layers of fabric, which usually differ in colors and designs giving the finished cloth a decorative and unique patched design.

2. Woodworking. Any method done to give a piece of wood a design and function can be considered as a woodworking craft such as carving or sculpting. Woodworking can be done to build boxes or storage, furniture, figurines and other art pieces.

3. Sewing. Probably anyone would be familiar with the art of sewing. It involves needle, thread and fabric to make bed sheets, table tops, christmas tree skirts, rugs, upholstery, pillow cases, curtains and clothing. Sewing can either be done by hand or with a sewing machine.

4. Basket weaving. This involves the use of natural materials from plant or fibers that are woven together to create baskets or bins. People who live the countryside or in rural places, where plant fibers are abundant are often into this craft. Woven baskets are classic pieces that are not only decorative but functional as well.

Hobby to money, part 2

Moms, here are three more crafts you can turn into a money-making hobby…

1. Scrapbooking. This craft is so popular today. It’s like making your personal diary using photos, souvenirs, letters, and decorative materials that are put together to make one ensemble in the form of a book or an album.

2. Candle Making. Making candles out of candle wax can also be an enjoyable craft. Today candles come in all shapes, sizes, colors and designs. Scents and aromatic oils can also be used to make them extra special.

3. Jewelry Making. Jewelry making and beading is also enjoying huge popularity. All you need in this craft are pair of pliers to cut and bend your wires and your chosen materials. Swarovski crystals, beads, ceramic, silver, and metal are commonly used in place of the more expensive gold.

Hobby to money

I am always looking for something I can turn into an income. I am sure moms out there are looking for one, too. For the mommies, here are three crafts that you can turn into a money-making hobby…

1. Knitting. With two knitting needles and a thread or yarn, you can make a piece of cloth with your own chosen colors, texture and designs. This can be done by hand or with the use of a knitting machine.

2. Cross stitching. A craft I used to do myself. Cross-stitching uses a counted-thread embroidery, needle and thread in creating designs or patterns. Compared to other needle works, I think I personally feel this one to be the easiest. All you have to do is form x’s on your fabric while following your chosen design or pattern.

3. Crocheting. Instead of a needle, a hook is used to make a loops, pull the yarn and make more loops connected to each other. There are different styles of loops used in a crochet to form different designs and shapes. Crocheting can be used to make table cloths, mittens, mufflers, bonnets, and even clothes.