Stress -- It'll Kill Ya

Do you feel "tied up in knots"? Pulling your hair out lately? Is your heart palpitating, skipping beats? Having trouble falling asleep or waking up before the predawn light filters into your room?

We all feel it when life starts kicking us in the pants and just does not let up for even a day. Believe it or not, there is good stress ... you know ... when you are all pumped up about competing in a game, starting a new job, going on that first date. Sadly, however, middle America is being pummeled with the bad kind these days. So many of us are feeling frustrated, angry, helpless and depressed because of lay offs, higher costs, pending foreclosures, lost finances and benefits.

Managing stress seems nearly impossible when faced with these social onslaughts for long periods of time but doing so, is vitally important. Anger and depression harmfully affect and weaken body functions, especially those of the heart, arteries and glands. Worry and fear are major culprits as well. More and more people are experiencing extreme weight gain, depression, insomnia, high blood pressure, shingles, heart attacks and strokes because of the overwhelming stress in their lives. Becoming aware of what causes it is the beginning and adopting coping mechanisms for those things you cannot change will help dramatically. Coping does not mean using alcohol as a crutch, losing yourself to drugs or, getting into fist fights, however. Easily said then done ... yes ... because most times extreme stress is bridled with depression.

Reaching out for professional help and talking out your problems is a wonderful stress reliever as well as daily brisk walks, any form of regular exercise and participating in sports. Losing control is not a sign of weakness. Gaining control over your emotional life is a sign of strength and begins with acknowledging the problem exists and finding relief that will benefit you personally and help you cope.

Exercise ~ Why Or Why Not?

Granted exercise is not one of those activities most of us place high on our "to do" list. Let's face it ... we either love the outfits, enjoy the social fulfillment or just simply enjoy the satisfaction and achievement the discipline offers.

A regular exercise program without a doubt will help you feel, look and work better, stimulate your blood circulation and metabolism and allow your body to function like the well-tuned performance machine it's suppose to.

A well-balanced routine should include cardio, strength training and flexibility. The success will not be in doing something well, it will be from partaking in something that is fun and gives you pleasure. The choices are numerous when it comes to cardio and include step or dance aerobics, brisk walking, running, cycling, dancing, rowing, skating ... anything that will increase your heart rate. Each of these activities will strengthen your heart and lungs to improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure, build endurance, boost your immune system and reduce stress. Pretty amazing when you truly think about the benefits that can come from creating a really good sweat.

Strength training can be done by using free weights, machines, elastic bands to build muscle mass and increase muscle tone, lose weight and strengthen your entire musculo-skeletal system. Generally overlooked as part of most fitness regimes is flexibility training. Movements that will increase your range of motion, improve your posture, alleviate muscle spasms, maintain agility and also help alleviate stress would be yoga or tai-chi.

No one says you have to give up your social calendar or rise before the roosters start to crow. Believe it or not ... 20 minutes a day will work wonders towards improving your health. Just getting out a few times a week for a brisk walk after dinner enjoying the fresh air will make an incredible difference in your general health.

The question should not be why exercise but, when can you start?

Unstick It

Old Bathtub Decals Won't Come Off

Those appliqués we use to prevent slipping and falling in the bathtub are great. However, once they are stuck, how do you remove them entirely, especially the adhesive? Distilled white vinegar will help without harming your tub. Just warm up ½ cup of it in your microwave for about 20 seconds, soak a cloth in it, and place it over the decal for 10 minutes to let the acid penetrate and loosen the glue. The decal should peel right off.

Gum On The Sole Of Your Shoe

Wrap your shoe in plastic and place it in the freezer. Once the gum freezes solid, scrape it off with a dull butter knife. Any bits stuck in the treads should come out with a zap of cooking spray.

Labels, Stickers or Price Tag on Glass

Soak in warm water and dish soap for about 15 minutes and the papery layer will come off with very little effort. For the tacky glue left behind, spritz on WD-40 to dissolve the left over instantly and then wash with mild soap and water.

Tree Sap, Tar or Splattered Bugs On Your Car

For any gross glob your vehicle picks up between washes, try odorless mineral spirits which is available in hardware stores. It will not harm the paint or finish. Just apply with a soft cloth and wipe the spots. Once they're removed, wash with a mild detergent and water and buff the treated area with wax to protect and restore the shine.

Food & Crust On Nonstick Cookware

Over time, cooking and oils can leave gummy deposits on nonstick coatings even after washing. When you use pans, more food clings to the residue and they become a total mess. You don't have to throw them out and buy new. Scouring can damage the coating and Dawn Power Dissolver (about $2.50) sprayed on and let to sit up to 30 minutes will do the job. If you have a tiny stubborn film remaining, a soft nylon scrubber will complete the job

Cleaning Jewelry

Diamonds

Soapy Solution - Take a small bowl and mix a small amount of mild dish detergent with warm water until sudsy. Dip the item to be cleaned into the solution. Use a soft toothbrush to work and gently brush the item. Rinse under warm running water and pat dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Ammonia Solution - Take a small bowl and mix a solution of 6 parts water to 1 part ammonia. Dip the item to be cleaned into the solution also using a soft toothbrush to gently brush the item. Pay special attention to the backs of stones and their mountings, areas that tend to collect dirt and oils. Rinse under warm running water and pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth.

Gold ~ Platinum ~ Gemstones

Combine mild dish soap and water or mix a few drops of mild dish soap with sodium free seltzer water or club soda. The carbonation will loosen soil and debris. Let it soak for about five minutes and rinse under warm running water. Buff dry with a soft, lint free cloth until shiny.

Silver

Tarnish is the enemy of silver. For those pieces that are dull or starting to discolor, mix a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water and dip in a soft cloth. Rub your jewelry and then rinse in cool water and buff with a cloth until dry. For those heavily tarnished, mix a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Wet the silver and apply the cleaner with a soft, lint free cloth (not paper towels because they can scratch). Work in the paste and you'll see the cloth turn gray. Turn the cloth as you use it as you don't want to buff in the dirty cloth, rinse with warm water and buff dry. DO NOT soak silver as this will speed up the tarnish process.

Pearls & Turquoise

Pearls are extremely porous and can easily lose their luster. Whether they are real, faux or cultured, they must be cleaned with care. Lay them out on a soft cloth and dip a clean, small makeup brush into a mixture of warm water and shampoo. Go over each individual pearl and rinse with a clean, well-wrung out cloth. Let them dry flat to prevent the string from stretching.

Costume Jewelry

If stones are glued and not set with prongs, dab a cloth into a bubbly solution and gently wipe any smudges or grime and rinse with a cloth dampened in plain water. Lay pieces upside down so moisture won't soak into the setting.

Magic of Almonds

Almonds are snacks that love you back unconditionally. Not only are they filled with fiber and vitamin E but, they are also a wonderful source of protein. The biggest plus, however, is they are low in saturated fat and cholesterol free. Did you know that just one ounce (about 23) can help you maintain a healthy cholesterol level?

Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that is essential to overall well-being. Almonds are one of the best food sources of alpha-tocopherol vitamin E, which science has identified as the only type of vitamin E that makes itself available to cells in the circulatory system. In comparison to cashews, pistachios, pecans and walnuts that we love to munch on, almonds are less in calories, higher in protein, fiber, potassium and other nutrients important to our overall health.


Munch on!

Time Out & Discipline

I just love this photo … As much as we may not want to admit it; there truly is a little bugger and devil in all children. It does not matter how cute and adorable we think they may be at the time because it is important to remember that discipline is so very important when raising children and a child's unacceptable behavior can get out of hand very quickly when it is ignored and not addressed immediately. They are extremely bright and learn very quickly how to wrap themselves around our hearts and test us to the limit. However, it doesn't take long for that little darling to turn into a holy terror.

The question(s) you may be asking are: how do I react when my child does something wrong or, I've let my child get out of hand and now I don't know what to do? The steps below are tried and true measures and will only be effective if you follow them to the letter with firmness and consistency. The minute you deviate from the process and give in is the moment your child realizes your limitations. This process must be duplicated by whoever is caring for your child; otherwise it will prove both confusing and ineffective:

* Go down to their level - remember we are dealing with children and towering over them creating fear and intimidation will create a negative impact and not positive reinforcement

* Make eye contact - hold your child's face tenderly between your hands and look them firmly in the eye

* Tell them what they did is unacceptable and name it - slapping/biting your sister is wrong, crayons are to be used for coloring in your book or drawing on paper not on the wall, we do not scream because you can not have something you can not have right now because ....

* Give them a warning the first time they do something wrong - tell them if they do it again they will go to the "Naughty Chair"/"Naughty Step" and start this around the age of 2 with two or three simple rules like no biting, hitting, throwing toys or screaming. DO NOT make this a place where they sleep-eat-play, otherwise they will sleep, eat, or play there.

* For children younger than two, try involving them in an activity or distracting from what's going on because they are too young to understand the process.

* More times than not, they will repeat the bad behavior. This is the time you take the child and sit them in(on) the Naughty Chair(step). You may be asking, why a particular spot? It should be in a place where there are no distractions. This gives them time to think about what they did wrong without any one bothering them. Children react when they have an audience. If you simply ignore their tantrums, and remain consistent, they will eventually accept the punishment. Explain very clearly, firmly and calmly why they are sitting there, that they must stay there until you come and get them. You may have to put your child there a dozen times in half an hour. Every time they get up you must put them back gently and firmly for the length of the time you told them which is one minute for each year of their age. Eventually they will come to realize you mean business and will stay put.

* Remember, your role is teaching your child bad behavior has real consequences and you are giving them the opportunity to think about their actions and knowing the importance of saying sorry and how to move on.

* Once your child has served their designated time, it is important that they must apologize for being bad. Ask them "are you sorry for being bold?" If your child just nods their head you must say, "tell mommy/daddy/caregiver's name I'm sorry". When the child does, say thank you, tell them you love them and give them a hug.

* If your child is 6 or older, they can go to a room that is not their bedroom and does not have a TV or other enjoyable activities to occupy their time. It must be a boring place and this does not mean a pantry or a closet. You could try using an area of the house where they can go to calm down and then discuss the issue properly (perhaps a den, closed in porch, the kitchen). This shows your child you're giving him space to mature and deal with his feelings as an adult.

Everything you introduce your child to that is new may seem trying on your nerves and never ending at the very beginning. Don't lose heart though. No one said that parenting would be easy. Staying calm and keeping a cool head will promote positive behavior and help your child grow into a loving, stable, productive and mature young adult.

Do the terrible twos have you stressed out? Is your 4-year old’s behavior driving you nuts? Are temper tantrums a regular event in your house? Maybe you find yourself pulling out your hair because your kids are difficult to control? Do you feel guilty because you yell at your kids too much, even though you love them tons? 
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