1. Eating Chocolate and Greasy Foods Makes You Break out. Sorry, unless you actually rub the pizza on your face this probably won't happen. DR. DIANE BERSON admits there are a few foods that can increase the risk of blemishes --the levels of iodine in sushi, shellfish and soy sauce have been known to cause inflammation and clog pores.
2. Dry Skin Causes Wrinkles. Moisturizer won't solve all your aging issues. Collagen breaks down far below the surface of the skin, but keeping your complexion soft will relieve the look of fine lines. If you're serious about caring for your precious looks the best thing to do is grab your sunscreen, preferably one that contains vitamin C.
3. Cold Water Will Shrink Your Pores. This is thanks to genetics, not H20. One tip you can follow is to keep those pores clean --they look bigger when they're clogged with oil and dead skin and any product with salicylic acid will wash them right out.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
LIVE & LOVE LIKE NEWLYWEDS
The following list is from Dr. Schwontkowski's book "Partners for Life -- 50 Ways to Keep Your Love Honeymoon Fresh Forever."
Plan and serve foods and beverages your lover likes. There are several ways to a man's heart, the stomach is one of them. The same holds true for women, and savvy guys and gals will take advantage by taking the time to prepare those favorite snacks, meals and refreshments as a token of their love.
Don't be stingy with sex. And try to select love locations that your partner likes or finds adventurous and exciting. You don't always have to "go to bed."
Talk with your lover, and prepare yourself in advance for conversation that lasts awhile. If you have trouble starting a conversation, rely on topics that everyone is interested in and knows a little something about: Food, fond memories and friendly gossip come to mind.
Compliment your lover honestly, lavishly and often, both when you are alone and with other people. Whenever your lover does something that you appreciate, say so. Make sure you find something to praise every day, even if it's just "Thanks for putting the cap back on the toothpaste, dear," or "My don't you look good in that sweater."
Touch your lover's "oohhh baby" spots -- even when you're in public. Be discreet, but send a strong signal that you can't keep your mind -- or hands -- off your sweetie. Don't think you have to be a centerfold to use this strategy -- you don't.
Give your lover a stress-busting massage every day. With practice you can go head to toe in five minutes, bonding all the way.
Have you written any love letters lately? If so, keep it up. If not start now -- and don't stop.
Say, "I love you," at least twice a day and even more when you can squeeze the words in. Everyone needs to feel loved and needed. Enough said.
Regularly set aside time to romance your lover for hours on end. Not to guys: If you're a "two-minute man" and don't know how to maintain for hours, there are plenty of excellent how-to books and manuals. This doesn't include regular morning or late-afternoon walks together, which are highly recommended for your health and for bonding as a couple.
Make your lover laugh every day. Practical jokes dished out in the spirit of fun can work wonders for a relationship. Or you can get up a few minutes early and find the best comic strip in the newspaper you can share.
Plan and serve foods and beverages your lover likes. There are several ways to a man's heart, the stomach is one of them. The same holds true for women, and savvy guys and gals will take advantage by taking the time to prepare those favorite snacks, meals and refreshments as a token of their love.
Don't be stingy with sex. And try to select love locations that your partner likes or finds adventurous and exciting. You don't always have to "go to bed."
Talk with your lover, and prepare yourself in advance for conversation that lasts awhile. If you have trouble starting a conversation, rely on topics that everyone is interested in and knows a little something about: Food, fond memories and friendly gossip come to mind.
Compliment your lover honestly, lavishly and often, both when you are alone and with other people. Whenever your lover does something that you appreciate, say so. Make sure you find something to praise every day, even if it's just "Thanks for putting the cap back on the toothpaste, dear," or "My don't you look good in that sweater."
Touch your lover's "oohhh baby" spots -- even when you're in public. Be discreet, but send a strong signal that you can't keep your mind -- or hands -- off your sweetie. Don't think you have to be a centerfold to use this strategy -- you don't.
Give your lover a stress-busting massage every day. With practice you can go head to toe in five minutes, bonding all the way.
Have you written any love letters lately? If so, keep it up. If not start now -- and don't stop.
Say, "I love you," at least twice a day and even more when you can squeeze the words in. Everyone needs to feel loved and needed. Enough said.
Regularly set aside time to romance your lover for hours on end. Not to guys: If you're a "two-minute man" and don't know how to maintain for hours, there are plenty of excellent how-to books and manuals. This doesn't include regular morning or late-afternoon walks together, which are highly recommended for your health and for bonding as a couple.
Make your lover laugh every day. Practical jokes dished out in the spirit of fun can work wonders for a relationship. Or you can get up a few minutes early and find the best comic strip in the newspaper you can share.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Work Out Right at Your Desk!
Can't find a spare moment to hit the gym? No worries --sneak in a workout at the office! The fitness pros over at Shine!.com suggest doing performing these sweat-free exercises while you're waiting for a client, on the phone or ditch the coffee break for a quick calorie burn.
--Wall Sit. Just like the name says, plop your hind quarters somewhere besides the chair while reading, opening mail or talking on the phone.
--The Plank. Hit the floor and prop youself up on your elbows with the rest of your body straight. This is a total toner and you only need 20-100 seconds to feel the burn.
--Jumping Jacks. Activate your brain and get the blood pumping!
--Heel Rises. These are probably the most incognito move on the list. Lift up and down while waiting for the elevator or during that hour-long conference call. Put your feet in a "V" for an extra bonus for the hind quarters.
--Butt Squeezes. No one will know you're tightening those glutes. Hold your cheeks in tight for ten-second stretches.
--Stand Up and Sit Down. Do this as many times as possible while tucking in your buns and abs.
--Wall Sit. Just like the name says, plop your hind quarters somewhere besides the chair while reading, opening mail or talking on the phone.
--The Plank. Hit the floor and prop youself up on your elbows with the rest of your body straight. This is a total toner and you only need 20-100 seconds to feel the burn.
--Jumping Jacks. Activate your brain and get the blood pumping!
--Heel Rises. These are probably the most incognito move on the list. Lift up and down while waiting for the elevator or during that hour-long conference call. Put your feet in a "V" for an extra bonus for the hind quarters.
--Butt Squeezes. No one will know you're tightening those glutes. Hold your cheeks in tight for ten-second stretches.
--Stand Up and Sit Down. Do this as many times as possible while tucking in your buns and abs.
Friday, July 9, 2010
You are what you eat....
Did you know that what you typically put on your plate speaks volumes about your personality? Discover what your choices mean by completing this quiz and find out more about you:
Your typical breakfast is:
A. Hot cereal with blueberries.
B. An English muffin.
C. Eggs and toast.
Your favorite sauce over pasta is:
A. Garlic and olive oil.
B. Alfredo.
C. Marinara.
You eat most of your food:
A. At lunchtime.
B. At night.
C. By munching throughout the day.
When you're nervous, you tend to eat:
A. Nuts, chips or fruit.
B. Candy, cake or cookies.
C. Ice Cream.
Analysis
Mostly "a" - You're a practical person who opts for good nutrition that tastes delicious, too. You're also quite confident in the kitchen your favorite room in the house where you prepare innovative recipes for family and friends.
Mostly "b" - You're so energetic and open to new things that your food choices are an eclectic mix. You're more concerned with enjoying yourself than worrying about consequences. You figure pleasing your palate is worth some extra exercise.
Mostly "c" - You're wise enough to eat nutritious foods while feeling no guilt over an occasional indulgence. Being so conscious of what it takes to stay healthy makes you a happy person who's less likely to ever become overweight.
Your typical breakfast is:
A. Hot cereal with blueberries.
B. An English muffin.
C. Eggs and toast.
Your favorite sauce over pasta is:
A. Garlic and olive oil.
B. Alfredo.
C. Marinara.
You eat most of your food:
A. At lunchtime.
B. At night.
C. By munching throughout the day.
When you're nervous, you tend to eat:
A. Nuts, chips or fruit.
B. Candy, cake or cookies.
C. Ice Cream.
Analysis
Mostly "a" - You're a practical person who opts for good nutrition that tastes delicious, too. You're also quite confident in the kitchen your favorite room in the house where you prepare innovative recipes for family and friends.
Mostly "b" - You're so energetic and open to new things that your food choices are an eclectic mix. You're more concerned with enjoying yourself than worrying about consequences. You figure pleasing your palate is worth some extra exercise.
Mostly "c" - You're wise enough to eat nutritious foods while feeling no guilt over an occasional indulgence. Being so conscious of what it takes to stay healthy makes you a happy person who's less likely to ever become overweight.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Happy 4th of July!
So I managed to walk out of the house today wearing one black and one blue flip flop and only noticed it when it was too late to go back and change. And my finger smells like bacon and I didn't eat bacon today. Can this day get any stranger?
Happy 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
HAHAHA. And that's what I think about this.
Poor lady, but this is pretty funny stuff:
http://www.todaysbigthing.com/2010/06/07
http://www.todaysbigthing.com/2010/06/07
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
This makes me SICK. As in ANGRY sick.
What kind of parent introduces their baby to smoking? SO, SO, SO WRONG!
Travel Fail
It's travel season and some guys made a video of of travel fails. We all hope these things don't happen to us, but you have to admit some of them are pretty funny:
Sunday, June 6, 2010
FIVE BAD HABITS YOU WANT TO KEEP
Watching television can make you smarter. Gossiping can make you less critical of yourself. And coffee can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Yes, some bad habits -- in moderation -- may actually be good for you. Ladies Home Journal reports that some bad habits can have surprisingly good effects. Here are five that get a bad rap, but can be good for you.
Television -- The good: When you watch shows that exercise your mind, it can actually make you smarter. Some shows can give you a cognitive workout, while others will encourage you to reflect on your marriage and family life. Still others will almost always teach you something new. The bad: If you turn into a couch potato and watch TV excessively while your family does other things, it's a problem. Sitting in front of the TV for too long can drain your energy. If you watch more than two hours a day, it's time to dial down the habit.
Facebook -- The good: Facebook can help you deepen relationships and connect with people from your past with whom you long ago lost touch. It can be a valuable resource for information, too. Posting a message that you need the name of a good plumber or tips for planting a vegetable garden can result in information you would not have otherwise received. The bad: When you spend so much time on Facebook that you neglect your work, family or household chores, you may need to restrict your use by building it into your schedule. Be disciplined and only check in at those times.
Gossiping -- The good: When we gossip about other people, it can make us less critical of our own lives. A celebrity's third trip to rehab or the neighbor's failed marriage can make you realize you're doing just fine. Gossip, which is human nature, also relieves stress and can create a culture of closeness. The bad: If you purposely spread vicious stories about someone else that could be potentially damaging, it's time to stop. Too much gossiping can make you seem insecure or egocentric.
Coffee -- The good: Regular coffee consumption is actually good for you! Numerous studies have shown multiple health benefits, including a lower risk for stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, liver cancer and gallstones. The bad: If you indulge in fancy, high-calorie java drinks, they can make you fat since they're not only packed with caffeine, but also calories. And pregnant women shouldn't drink coffee at all because it can increase the risk of miscarriage.
Being Messy -- The good: So what if your desk is a pile of papers and the junk drawer is so crammed with stuff it won't open? Moderately disorganized people also tend to be more creative and efficient than those who are obsessively neat. The bad: When the boss looks at you like your desk is a fire hazard or you can't find your favorite jeans in your closet, it's time to clean up. Being messy is fine--to a point. Complete disorder is a problem. Schedule weekly tidy-up sessions to keep things under control.
Television -- The good: When you watch shows that exercise your mind, it can actually make you smarter. Some shows can give you a cognitive workout, while others will encourage you to reflect on your marriage and family life. Still others will almost always teach you something new. The bad: If you turn into a couch potato and watch TV excessively while your family does other things, it's a problem. Sitting in front of the TV for too long can drain your energy. If you watch more than two hours a day, it's time to dial down the habit.
Facebook -- The good: Facebook can help you deepen relationships and connect with people from your past with whom you long ago lost touch. It can be a valuable resource for information, too. Posting a message that you need the name of a good plumber or tips for planting a vegetable garden can result in information you would not have otherwise received. The bad: When you spend so much time on Facebook that you neglect your work, family or household chores, you may need to restrict your use by building it into your schedule. Be disciplined and only check in at those times.
Gossiping -- The good: When we gossip about other people, it can make us less critical of our own lives. A celebrity's third trip to rehab or the neighbor's failed marriage can make you realize you're doing just fine. Gossip, which is human nature, also relieves stress and can create a culture of closeness. The bad: If you purposely spread vicious stories about someone else that could be potentially damaging, it's time to stop. Too much gossiping can make you seem insecure or egocentric.
Coffee -- The good: Regular coffee consumption is actually good for you! Numerous studies have shown multiple health benefits, including a lower risk for stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, liver cancer and gallstones. The bad: If you indulge in fancy, high-calorie java drinks, they can make you fat since they're not only packed with caffeine, but also calories. And pregnant women shouldn't drink coffee at all because it can increase the risk of miscarriage.
Being Messy -- The good: So what if your desk is a pile of papers and the junk drawer is so crammed with stuff it won't open? Moderately disorganized people also tend to be more creative and efficient than those who are obsessively neat. The bad: When the boss looks at you like your desk is a fire hazard or you can't find your favorite jeans in your closet, it's time to clean up. Being messy is fine--to a point. Complete disorder is a problem. Schedule weekly tidy-up sessions to keep things under control.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Gary Coleman Passes Away
Sitcom actor and tabloid staple Gary Coleman, 42, died on Friday (May 28) at 12:05 p.m. (Mountain Time), after slipping into a critical condition on Thursday following an earlier fall in which he hit his head.
The actor, whose congenital kidney disease halted his childhood growth at an early age, had suffered a series of health setbacks in recent years. He was admitted to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo on Wednesday after hitting his head in an unexplained fall and had reportedly slipped into critical condition by the next day. On Friday, doctors announced that he was unconscious and on life support in a coma due to an intracranial hemorrhage, which results from a broken or ruptured blood vessel causes bleeding inside the skull.
"Family members and close friends were at his side when life support was terminated," read a hospital statement according to a People magazine report on the actor, who had moved to Utah in 2005. "Family members express their appreciation and gratitude for the support and prayers that have been expressed for Gary and for them."
Born in Zion, Illinois, on February 8, 1968, Coleman was adopted as an infant by a local couple. He was diagnosed with an autoimmune dysfunction called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a congenital kidney disease that stunted his growth (he was 4'8") and required two kidney transplants as well as daily dialysis.
Coleman began modeling at age 5, after writing a pitch letter to a local Montgomery Ward store in an effort to get work, which also resulted in gigs for McDonald's and Hallmark. Discovered by a talent scout for sitcom legend Noman Lear, who cast him in a never-produced revival of "The Little Rascals," Coleman began his acting career in 1974 with brief appearances on "Medical Center," followed by roles in the sitcoms "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times."
He landed the part of a lifetime as Arnold Jackson in the 1978 sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes," in which he played the apple-cheeked, adorable adopted black son of a wealthy white Manhattan family. Coleman won over America during the show's eight-year run with his charming innocence and signature wisecracking catchphrase, "Whatchu talkin' 'bout Willis?" aimed at his older brother, played by fellow troubled teen actor Todd Bridges. At the height of the show's popularity, the child star was making almost $100,000 an episode.
Coleman failed to capitalize on the success of the "Strokes," and his career petered out via roles in dud movies such as "On the Right Track" and 1983's "Jimmy the Kid." He continued to get sporadic TV work on shows ranging from "227" to "Martin" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," but spent much of the past two decades appearing in B-movie schlock such as "The Curse of Monkey Island," "The Flunky," "Church Ball" and last year's mockumentary "Midgets vs. Mascots."
As his professional career faded, Coleman became famous for being famous, suing his parents for misappropriation of his trust fund, claiming that they drained his $18 million in career earnings from him, leaving him penniless as an adult. He pleaded no contest in 1999 to disturbing the peace after punching a female autograph seeker in California, just a year after allegedly striking a pedestrian with his truck following an argument outside a Salt Lake City bowling alley.
In addition to announcing a 2000 run for a U.S. Senate seat from California as part of the HECK (Homelessness, Education, Crime and Killers) platform, he ran for governor in the state in 2003, where he finished eighth, barely edging out fellow pseudo-celebs including porn star Mary Cary, melon-smashing comedian Gallagher and famous-for-being-famous pinup Angelyne.
Later in life, he was forced to work as a security guard on a movie set in 2008 when acting gigs dried up. He got married that year to then-22-year-old Shannon Price, though the union was rocky, landing the couple on the syndicated "Divorce Court" show. He was hospitalized in Los Angeles for undisclosed reasons in January, then again in February after suffering a seizure on the set of the TV show "The Insider."
The actor, whose congenital kidney disease halted his childhood growth at an early age, had suffered a series of health setbacks in recent years. He was admitted to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo on Wednesday after hitting his head in an unexplained fall and had reportedly slipped into critical condition by the next day. On Friday, doctors announced that he was unconscious and on life support in a coma due to an intracranial hemorrhage, which results from a broken or ruptured blood vessel causes bleeding inside the skull.
"Family members and close friends were at his side when life support was terminated," read a hospital statement according to a People magazine report on the actor, who had moved to Utah in 2005. "Family members express their appreciation and gratitude for the support and prayers that have been expressed for Gary and for them."
Born in Zion, Illinois, on February 8, 1968, Coleman was adopted as an infant by a local couple. He was diagnosed with an autoimmune dysfunction called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a congenital kidney disease that stunted his growth (he was 4'8") and required two kidney transplants as well as daily dialysis.
Coleman began modeling at age 5, after writing a pitch letter to a local Montgomery Ward store in an effort to get work, which also resulted in gigs for McDonald's and Hallmark. Discovered by a talent scout for sitcom legend Noman Lear, who cast him in a never-produced revival of "The Little Rascals," Coleman began his acting career in 1974 with brief appearances on "Medical Center," followed by roles in the sitcoms "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times."
He landed the part of a lifetime as Arnold Jackson in the 1978 sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes," in which he played the apple-cheeked, adorable adopted black son of a wealthy white Manhattan family. Coleman won over America during the show's eight-year run with his charming innocence and signature wisecracking catchphrase, "Whatchu talkin' 'bout Willis?" aimed at his older brother, played by fellow troubled teen actor Todd Bridges. At the height of the show's popularity, the child star was making almost $100,000 an episode.
Coleman failed to capitalize on the success of the "Strokes," and his career petered out via roles in dud movies such as "On the Right Track" and 1983's "Jimmy the Kid." He continued to get sporadic TV work on shows ranging from "227" to "Martin" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," but spent much of the past two decades appearing in B-movie schlock such as "The Curse of Monkey Island," "The Flunky," "Church Ball" and last year's mockumentary "Midgets vs. Mascots."
As his professional career faded, Coleman became famous for being famous, suing his parents for misappropriation of his trust fund, claiming that they drained his $18 million in career earnings from him, leaving him penniless as an adult. He pleaded no contest in 1999 to disturbing the peace after punching a female autograph seeker in California, just a year after allegedly striking a pedestrian with his truck following an argument outside a Salt Lake City bowling alley.
In addition to announcing a 2000 run for a U.S. Senate seat from California as part of the HECK (Homelessness, Education, Crime and Killers) platform, he ran for governor in the state in 2003, where he finished eighth, barely edging out fellow pseudo-celebs including porn star Mary Cary, melon-smashing comedian Gallagher and famous-for-being-famous pinup Angelyne.
Later in life, he was forced to work as a security guard on a movie set in 2008 when acting gigs dried up. He got married that year to then-22-year-old Shannon Price, though the union was rocky, landing the couple on the syndicated "Divorce Court" show. He was hospitalized in Los Angeles for undisclosed reasons in January, then again in February after suffering a seizure on the set of the TV show "The Insider."
Friday, May 21, 2010
Janet Jackson chops off her hair
Janet Jackson just turned 44 and celebrated by showing off a chic, much shorter 'do in London on Wednesday.
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Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Introducing The 2012 London Olympic Mascots
Alright, so, there is not a lot to be said here.
These are the official mascots for the upcoming 2012 Olympics in London.
Their names are Wenlock and Mandeville.
The "characters" were named after the birthplace of the Paralympic Games, Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire and the village of Much Wenlock in Shropshire, which hosted a precursor to the modern Olympic Games in the 19th century.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Saving Private Ryan DVD Recall
Ever heard of a DVD being recalled? The Hollywood Reporter says 100,000 copies of a special edition of "Saving Private Ryan" are being recalled because of an audio problem during the mastering process which damaged the Blu-ray copies of the film. New copies should be out by next Tuesday, and if you have one of the damaged copies, you can call (888) 370-8621 to get a replacement.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
"So baby, what's your blood type?"
It might be a cheesy line, but at some point in your life, someone's probably asked you "What's your sign?" But in Japan, they're asking “What’s your blood type?”
Some Japanese people believe your blood type determines your personality. And just as some people follow horoscopes, the Japanese believe you can learn a lot about your life, work and love by your blood group. An article from BBC News points to a girl who said she had a bad experience with a guy who was a type B. She now steers clear of men with a B blood type, generalizing that men with B blood are disorganized.
Japanese women’s magazines offer a little help for those looking for love. Many claim that A types are dependable and self sacrificing, but reserved and worry a lot. If you’re looking for someone decisive and confident, look for someone with type O blood. A-Bs are known to be well balanced, clear-sighted and logical, but also high maintenance and distant. And then there are those with B type blood, said to be flamboyant free thinkers, but selfish.
One man says he was even asked by a prospective employer what was his blood type. He was a bit hesitant to admit he is a type B, but says he got the job anyway. Turns out she was also a B, but couldn’t hold her alcohol so at company parties she sent home all the workers with type B blood early because she didn’t want them getting drunk. In Japan, it’s called burahara, which means blood group harassment.
It’s such a big deal in Japan that even the politicians are using their blood types as a selling point during elections. The last Prime Minister revealed he is a type A on his official profile on the Internet. If he thought the favored blood type would give him a boost the polls, it didn’t work. He ended up losing.
For the record, my blood type is O ~Traci
Some Japanese people believe your blood type determines your personality. And just as some people follow horoscopes, the Japanese believe you can learn a lot about your life, work and love by your blood group. An article from BBC News points to a girl who said she had a bad experience with a guy who was a type B. She now steers clear of men with a B blood type, generalizing that men with B blood are disorganized.
Japanese women’s magazines offer a little help for those looking for love. Many claim that A types are dependable and self sacrificing, but reserved and worry a lot. If you’re looking for someone decisive and confident, look for someone with type O blood. A-Bs are known to be well balanced, clear-sighted and logical, but also high maintenance and distant. And then there are those with B type blood, said to be flamboyant free thinkers, but selfish.
One man says he was even asked by a prospective employer what was his blood type. He was a bit hesitant to admit he is a type B, but says he got the job anyway. Turns out she was also a B, but couldn’t hold her alcohol so at company parties she sent home all the workers with type B blood early because she didn’t want them getting drunk. In Japan, it’s called burahara, which means blood group harassment.
It’s such a big deal in Japan that even the politicians are using their blood types as a selling point during elections. The last Prime Minister revealed he is a type A on his official profile on the Internet. If he thought the favored blood type would give him a boost the polls, it didn’t work. He ended up losing.
For the record, my blood type is O ~Traci
Monday, May 3, 2010
What Moms Really Want for Mother's Day
To have my 14-year-old answer a question without rolling her eyes in that "Why is this person my mother?" way.
Five pounds of chocolate that won't add twenty.
A shower without a child peeking through the curtain with a "Hi ya, Mom!" just as I put razor to my ankle.
A fulltime cleaning person who looks like Brad Pitt.
For my teenager to announce, "Hey, Mom! I got a full scholarship and a job all in the same day!"
A grocery store that doesn't have candy/gum/cheap toys displayed at the checkout line.
To have a family meal without a discussion about bodily secretions.
To be able to step on a plane with my toddlers and not have some pencil-neck-yuppie-geek moan, "Oh, no! Why me?"
Four words: Fisher Price Play Prison
Five pounds of chocolate that won't add twenty.
A shower without a child peeking through the curtain with a "Hi ya, Mom!" just as I put razor to my ankle.
A fulltime cleaning person who looks like Brad Pitt.
For my teenager to announce, "Hey, Mom! I got a full scholarship and a job all in the same day!"
A grocery store that doesn't have candy/gum/cheap toys displayed at the checkout line.
To have a family meal without a discussion about bodily secretions.
To be able to step on a plane with my toddlers and not have some pencil-neck-yuppie-geek moan, "Oh, no! Why me?"
Four words: Fisher Price Play Prison
Monday, April 26, 2010
You'd think it was the 2nd coming of the Beatles or something....INSANE!
This is why I'm SO thankful not to have a teen daughter:
Monday, April 19, 2010
Let's Talk Dirty
The next time you cut up chicken for dinner, do it on a clean surface: like your toilet seat. "It has the least amount of bacteria of all the spots in your home," says Charles Gerba, Ph.D., a professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona. In fact, there are 200 times more fecal coliforms—otherwise known as feces bacteria—on the average cutting board than on the typical commode.
Sheets: You never really sleep alone
When you're rolling around between the sheets, you're basically rolling around in your own filth. Studies have found feces, salmonella, and E. coli on bed linens—even ones fresh out of a washer, Gerba says. His research shows that sheets can contain 0.1 gram of feces, salmonella, and E. coli after just one night's rest. That means they'd collectively contain about 10 billion microbes.
Your cleanup: Wash your sheets once a week, and make sure the water is hot
Water bottle: Bacteria to go
What better way to save cash and keep trash out of landfills than to drink from reusable plastic water bottles? Just don't let the bottles become bacterial bombs. Researchers at the University of Calgary found significant levels of coliform bacteria in 9 percent of water bottles used by elementary school students—suggesting that when thirsty youngsters open the bottles with dirty hands, they can dump a host of fecal matter into the water. When they empty the bottle, the damp, warm, closed space becomes a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Your cleanup: Since water bottles tend to have narrow necks, they can't undergo a thorough cleaning in the dishwasher. If you must reuse your bottle, wash it with hot, soapy water and use a bottle brush. Feel free to reuse the bottle, as long as you wash it after every use and air-dry both the bottle and cap completely, Gerba says.
Gym bag: Have you ever cleaned it?
Probably not, but you should. Now. Think about it: Even though spray bottles are usually placed around gyms to wipe down equipment, most people don't use them. When you toss your clothes into your gym bag, the sweat from who-knows-how-many people transfers to the bag. Your cleanup: After you remove your gear, sanitize the inside of the bag with a disinfectant wipe. You can stash packets in one of the side pockets so they stay handy but separated from the clothes. But if the bag is machine washable, you should also toss it into the machine every week.
Carpet: Wall-to-wall germs
Your carpet probably contains about 200,000 bacteria per square inch, making it 4,000 times dirtier than your toilet seat. Rugs are botanical and zoological park. Hundreds of thousands of different types of species live there. These invasions occur because the average person sheds about 1.5 million skin cells every hour; these skin cells hit the rug and serve as food for germs. Add in food particles, pollen, and pet dander, and you have a gratis buffet. And since a vacuum cleaner's suction and rotating beater brush don't usually reach the bottom of the carpet, you're bound to have communities of E. coli, salmonella, staphylococcus, and other bacteria down there. Every time you walk on the carpet or roll around on it with your kids, you disrupt the bacteria, bringing some closer to the surface. Your cleanup: Hire a company to do a deep steam-cleaning at least once a year, and consider covering high-traffic areas with machine-washable area rugs.
Remote control: Channels of high-def filth
One day we'll change channels using our brain waves. When that day comes, we'll all be a lot healthier, because 50 percent of television remotes tested positive for rhinovirus, according to a University of Virginia study. The rhinovirus can live there for a few days, and other germs can survive for up to a few months, thanks to the many hideouts found amid the rubber buttons and various LEDs. Ever have popcorn with your DVD movies? You're making matters worse. If you eat something greasy, then cough in your hands and go back to the remote, you've deposited an organism with some oil, which offers the germs protection on a device that isn't cleaned very often to begin with. Your cleanup: Sanitizers don't work well on remotes because you can't get the cleaner into the cracks. Try a plastic-sleeve protector that can be wiped clean daily with a disinfecting wipe or other type of sanitizer. When you're traveling, bring along a few ziplock bags to slip onto the remotes in hotels.
Watchband: Time's up
Ever wonder why leather watchbands start to stink after a few months? That smell is most likely caused by microbes, possibly Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that can cause skin infections. Because leather is porous, it absorbs sweat and skin cells that serve as food for bacterial growth. Your cleanup: Rubber and plastic are safer than leather because they don't absorb sweat as readily, and they can be cleaned with soapy water. If you prefer a leather strap, wipe it down once a week with a leather cleaner
Things that aren't gross
We live in a microbe-laden world. But there are things you don't need to be particularly obsessive about. Here are three of them:
1. Your hairbrush. The only reason you'd want to clean out the brush would be to remove gel or spray residue and unclog hair from the bristle. Infections from hairbrushes are rare, she says. So if those residues and hair knots don't bother you, leave them alone.
2. Your jeans. There are no studied health risks associated with wearing most clothing items several times without washing them. (Your underwear, however, contains feces, and needs to be washed after each wearing.)
3. Your body. Daily showering strips away necessary oils and some of the 150 good kinds of bacteria found on your skin, says New York University microbiologist Philip Tierno Jr., Ph.D. The bacteria guard against pathogens that can cause infections. The average person can shower every other day—or at least skip one shower a week, Tierno says.
Sheets: You never really sleep alone
When you're rolling around between the sheets, you're basically rolling around in your own filth. Studies have found feces, salmonella, and E. coli on bed linens—even ones fresh out of a washer, Gerba says. His research shows that sheets can contain 0.1 gram of feces, salmonella, and E. coli after just one night's rest. That means they'd collectively contain about 10 billion microbes.
Your cleanup: Wash your sheets once a week, and make sure the water is hot
Water bottle: Bacteria to go
What better way to save cash and keep trash out of landfills than to drink from reusable plastic water bottles? Just don't let the bottles become bacterial bombs. Researchers at the University of Calgary found significant levels of coliform bacteria in 9 percent of water bottles used by elementary school students—suggesting that when thirsty youngsters open the bottles with dirty hands, they can dump a host of fecal matter into the water. When they empty the bottle, the damp, warm, closed space becomes a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Your cleanup: Since water bottles tend to have narrow necks, they can't undergo a thorough cleaning in the dishwasher. If you must reuse your bottle, wash it with hot, soapy water and use a bottle brush. Feel free to reuse the bottle, as long as you wash it after every use and air-dry both the bottle and cap completely, Gerba says.
Gym bag: Have you ever cleaned it?
Probably not, but you should. Now. Think about it: Even though spray bottles are usually placed around gyms to wipe down equipment, most people don't use them. When you toss your clothes into your gym bag, the sweat from who-knows-how-many people transfers to the bag. Your cleanup: After you remove your gear, sanitize the inside of the bag with a disinfectant wipe. You can stash packets in one of the side pockets so they stay handy but separated from the clothes. But if the bag is machine washable, you should also toss it into the machine every week.
Carpet: Wall-to-wall germs
Your carpet probably contains about 200,000 bacteria per square inch, making it 4,000 times dirtier than your toilet seat. Rugs are botanical and zoological park. Hundreds of thousands of different types of species live there. These invasions occur because the average person sheds about 1.5 million skin cells every hour; these skin cells hit the rug and serve as food for germs. Add in food particles, pollen, and pet dander, and you have a gratis buffet. And since a vacuum cleaner's suction and rotating beater brush don't usually reach the bottom of the carpet, you're bound to have communities of E. coli, salmonella, staphylococcus, and other bacteria down there. Every time you walk on the carpet or roll around on it with your kids, you disrupt the bacteria, bringing some closer to the surface. Your cleanup: Hire a company to do a deep steam-cleaning at least once a year, and consider covering high-traffic areas with machine-washable area rugs.
Remote control: Channels of high-def filth
One day we'll change channels using our brain waves. When that day comes, we'll all be a lot healthier, because 50 percent of television remotes tested positive for rhinovirus, according to a University of Virginia study. The rhinovirus can live there for a few days, and other germs can survive for up to a few months, thanks to the many hideouts found amid the rubber buttons and various LEDs. Ever have popcorn with your DVD movies? You're making matters worse. If you eat something greasy, then cough in your hands and go back to the remote, you've deposited an organism with some oil, which offers the germs protection on a device that isn't cleaned very often to begin with. Your cleanup: Sanitizers don't work well on remotes because you can't get the cleaner into the cracks. Try a plastic-sleeve protector that can be wiped clean daily with a disinfecting wipe or other type of sanitizer. When you're traveling, bring along a few ziplock bags to slip onto the remotes in hotels.
Watchband: Time's up
Ever wonder why leather watchbands start to stink after a few months? That smell is most likely caused by microbes, possibly Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that can cause skin infections. Because leather is porous, it absorbs sweat and skin cells that serve as food for bacterial growth. Your cleanup: Rubber and plastic are safer than leather because they don't absorb sweat as readily, and they can be cleaned with soapy water. If you prefer a leather strap, wipe it down once a week with a leather cleaner
Things that aren't gross
We live in a microbe-laden world. But there are things you don't need to be particularly obsessive about. Here are three of them:
1. Your hairbrush. The only reason you'd want to clean out the brush would be to remove gel or spray residue and unclog hair from the bristle. Infections from hairbrushes are rare, she says. So if those residues and hair knots don't bother you, leave them alone.
2. Your jeans. There are no studied health risks associated with wearing most clothing items several times without washing them. (Your underwear, however, contains feces, and needs to be washed after each wearing.)
3. Your body. Daily showering strips away necessary oils and some of the 150 good kinds of bacteria found on your skin, says New York University microbiologist Philip Tierno Jr., Ph.D. The bacteria guard against pathogens that can cause infections. The average person can shower every other day—or at least skip one shower a week, Tierno says.
Five Signs He's Not Over His Ex
So, you've met your latest Mr. Right Now but something seems a little "off." Are you freaking out for no reason or are your fears real? The love sleuths at Betty Confidential discovered Five Signs He's Not Over His Ex!
1. He Jumped Right Into Your Relationship. Captain Fantastic may say he's over his last love, but if he swung right into your arms chances are he avoided the grieving process entirely. A good clue that he's done is if he can talk about it candidly and admit what went right --and wrong.
2. He Fell For You Before His Relationship Ended. Yes, charmers like JOHN EDWARDS and TIGER WOODS can talk a good game about how their wives don't understand them, but the truth is that's who they're going home to! Remember the old saying --if he does it with you, he'll do it to you!
3. When It Comes to His Ex, He Only Deals in Extremes. Does he snarl when her name comes up or talk about her constantly? Neither are good signs. A good way to discuss the subject is by suggesting you have a conversation about past relationships, what went wrong and what needs to be done differently.
4. He Can't Break the String. If your man has children with another girl or they were together for a long time there's some reason to stay in touch. If neither applies and he likes to correspond, voice your concerns --if he gets defensive that's a major red flag.
5. He Obsesses Over the Remnants of the Relationship. Do you catch him stalking her Facebook page or reminiscing with old photos? Mr. Wonderful is definitely not recovered from the love gone wrong. This doesn't mean your twosome can't work out, but understand you'll be part of the grieving process.
1. He Jumped Right Into Your Relationship. Captain Fantastic may say he's over his last love, but if he swung right into your arms chances are he avoided the grieving process entirely. A good clue that he's done is if he can talk about it candidly and admit what went right --and wrong.
2. He Fell For You Before His Relationship Ended. Yes, charmers like JOHN EDWARDS and TIGER WOODS can talk a good game about how their wives don't understand them, but the truth is that's who they're going home to! Remember the old saying --if he does it with you, he'll do it to you!
3. When It Comes to His Ex, He Only Deals in Extremes. Does he snarl when her name comes up or talk about her constantly? Neither are good signs. A good way to discuss the subject is by suggesting you have a conversation about past relationships, what went wrong and what needs to be done differently.
4. He Can't Break the String. If your man has children with another girl or they were together for a long time there's some reason to stay in touch. If neither applies and he likes to correspond, voice your concerns --if he gets defensive that's a major red flag.
5. He Obsesses Over the Remnants of the Relationship. Do you catch him stalking her Facebook page or reminiscing with old photos? Mr. Wonderful is definitely not recovered from the love gone wrong. This doesn't mean your twosome can't work out, but understand you'll be part of the grieving process.
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