Self Help Yourself

Final tips

2007-04-23T10:20:00.000-07:00

So, this semester has been long and trying, and as it is coming to an end. I’m sorry to tell you that this will be my last blog update here. If you ever miss the witty commentary, or just want to fulfill your voyeuristic tendencies, I am here daily.

This whole blog has been about advice, me getting it from places and then giving it to you. A few years ago (ok 10, 10 years ago), a man named Baz Luhrman created a song that does just this. I present to you, wonderful blog readers, “Everyone is free to wear sunscreen.” Below are some excerpts with my own little additions, of course.

Wear sunscreen.- I’m from Arizona. Just trust me.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth.- I know that I’m still a youth and that I take for granted the things that this allows me. Learn to appreciate that you can go out dancing with your friends all night, because of knee ability and flexible schedules.

Don't worry about the future, or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum.- The future is a wide open place. I don’t know where I’ll be three months from now. I’m scared, but I have faith that most of the time things just work out. You should too.

Do one thing every day that scares you.- Inch a little closer to the edge. Put yourself to the test. Talk to that someone. Try a new food, even if it is made on a street corner, on an open grill, and smells like the inside of a jalapeño.

Sing.- In your car. With the windows down. Loud and off key.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts; don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.- Relationships are hard and can take you to a lot of places you never wanted to go, but when it is worth it, you’ll know. Hold on tight, never let go.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't.- It happens sometimes. Never regret it, never apologize.

Dance...even if you have no where to do it but in your own living room.- I dance a lot. My boyfriend Brandon and I dance together pretty constantly when we’re together. We’re known as the silly dancey couple. We’re also known as the really happy all the time couple.

Get to know your parents; you never know when they'll be gone for good.- I don’t see my parents very much, even though they only live an hour or two away. There are big things I’ve missed and big things they have missed this year. Don’t let yourself fall behind.

Understand that friends come and go, but what a precious few should hold on.- Love them hard. Let them know that you love them.

Thanks for tuning in. Luck and love in the future.

-Sarah Michelle

Body Tip #4

2007-04-16T10:28:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows that they should have Band-Aids and rubbing alcohol in their house in case of medical issues, but what else do should you have? Here is a list of some of the top things I think people should keep in their house that are usually forgotten.

1. Blistex (Liquid)- While regular stick chapstick is good, this stuff is the best. Because this product has a medicated formula, it works faster and better than regular run of the mill Carmex. This also help to relieve the pain of chafing from blowing your nose too often. Put a dab of Blistex on the inflamed area, deal with the slight sting and in a little while it the area will heal up.

2. Pepto-Bismol- This is a pretty self explanatory need. I believe the song is: "Nausea, heart burn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea." This product comes in many different dose types (liquid, pills and chew tablets) and all of them are effective, but I've found that the chew tablets
work the quickest.

3. Benadryl- All allergy medicines are not created equal. While most deal with a runny nose and not much else, Benadryl will combat anything you put it up against. I have extremely sensitive skin and when I start to feel an allergic reaction I pop two of these suckers and they work better than my prescription. While yes, these will make you extremely sleepy, the results they give are well worth a nap.

4. Vicks Vaporub- This stuff works great against nasal and chest congestion. To ease a cough, rub some into your chest and lay on your back for a while. Got a stuffed up nose? Rub a little on your upper lip and breathe deeply, it will open your nasal passages up in no time.

5. Calamine Lotion- In all the times that I've been in all of my friends' houses, I have never come across a bottle of this, but I have lent mine out probably about a hundred times. Maybe it is an East Coast only piece of knowledge, but Calamine lotion is amazing for bug bites or other types of skin irritation. Dab some onto the area with a cotton ball and let it dry. Your skin will have a pink film on it for a little while, but it takes the itch out immediately.

6. Visine- There is nothing quite as irritating as itch, dry eyes. Little bottles of this product can be purchased for under a dollar and are just a little over an inch tall. Carry a bottle of Visine around in you purse or pocket and you'll never have to worry about rubbing your eyes red. I use this every night before I go to bed, and find that even though I sleep with a fan directly on me, my eyes never dry out. Fun fact- after a night of drinking, put a few drops of this into your eyes before hitting the hay, it'll help combat that hangover you're going to get.

7. Aleve- I've found that this is the best non-RX pain reliever around. Two of these can stop pretty much any pain, be it from a headache or braces tightening. Be sure to eat something before you take these, as any pain reliever can cause stomach damage if misused.

8. Comtrex- Everyone should keep a general "cold medicine" on hand. Comtrex is my favorite because it works extremely quick and well, and it costs a little less then the Vick's products.

9. Antacid tablets- These are probably something that you should carry around, like Visine, in your pocket or purse. These specific ones can be taken after you eat, but some brands want you to take their product before eating a food that my bother your stomach (such as chili or high grease foods). Also, these work well as a daily calcium supplement, and everyone can use a little calcium sometimes.

10. Cholaseptic- Use this on your throat as soon as you notice pain or a "scratchy" feeling. It will numb the area and let you get on with your day. Be careful to use as directed, some products say it is okay to swallow any leftover liquid and some want you to spit it out. Also, be careful to not spray your tongue while treating your throat. This product numbs almost anything it touches.

11. Airborne- I was introduced to this product a little less than a year ago, and since then it has become my saving grace. These tablets are stocked with tons of vitamins and anti-oxidants, which help you stay or get healthy. While I happen to like the pink grapefruit flavor of these "drop in water" tablets, most other people seem to like the general citrus flavor (it comes in an orange box). Take them at anytime, as soon as you begin to feel sick, when your are full blown sick or on a day that you just want to be a little more preventative.

12. Halls cough drops- You all know why you need them, you all know Halls is the best. Nuff said.

13. Burt's Bees hand cream- This stuff works really well on extremely dry skin or light skin irritations. While it is a little costly, about $7 for the pictured jar, you won't regret paying a little extra for it. Other than just its skin benefits, this almond milk smell is amazing, and I mean, who doesn't like to smell good?

14. Amoxicillin- Yes, I know that this looks a little sketchy, but believe me, everyone needs this product in the medicine cabinet. Amoxicillin is used to treat bacterial infections, and works for pretty much anything. Now, I know what you are thinking; "Sarah Michelle, this is a prescription drug!", and I am very aware that it is. Thing is, taking a trip down to Mexico and paying a couple bucks for 100 tablets can save you a lot of money dealing with doctors. Amoxicillin should be taken with caution if you are not given it by a doctor, this isn't a simple cough medicine. Use for throat or sinus infections. Take 3 a day for 10 days. Be sure to finish the amount, even if you begin to feel better. If your condition doesn't improve, see a doctor.

Mind Tip #7

2007-04-09T10:26:00.000-07:00

It is that time again. The one that sends grown college students crying to their mommies. The time that can't be avoided no matter how high you stack up books and scribble through notebooks. The time of the dreaded F word.

Finals are here. Test packets are being handed out, number 2 pencils are being broken, sleep is being lost, and this is only the beginning.

Here are some tips on how to get through finals in smart, healthy and sanity preserving way.

1. Make a list of everything you have to do for the rest of the school year. Color code the projects into class categories. Make sure to list them by priority according to length of time needed to complete and due date. If you want to be really hardcore with it put in due dates and estimated start dates. Instead of erasing the list as you go along, cross things out. This lets you look back and see what you have done over the past however-many days. Also, don't forget to put in things that you need to do outside of school. Add in a few little easy things so that you can feel accomplished everyday.

2. If you are a graduating senior, send out your invitations early. In fact, you probably should have sent them out a week or so ago. I know, you are trying to get it out in just enough time that people won't be able to attend and will send you money. Send out your invitations, now. If you are sending out separate graduation party invitations, wait another week or so.

3. Keep organized. Just because it is the end of the school year doesn't mean that you should let books pile up and papers scatter. In fact, you should never let this happen. The page of notes that you lose is going to be the most important thing to study for the test. Keep your school books in one centralized place, organized into classes and all facing the same way. Don't let your notebook(s) get so full that you can't fit it in your backpack.

4. Drink Airborne. Believe me, you do not want to be sick at a time like this. Airborne (and similar products) have tons of vitamins and other good for you things that will keep you going strong, even if you've only had a few hours of sleep.

5. Speaking of necessary bodily functions. EAT. Don't forget that you should eat a good amount of food throughout the day. When studying, take breaks to snack (you can't focus on an empty stomach). Also, eat HEALTHY. Remember your food pyramid. Make sure you get all of the food groups, and no, a Jamba Juice shouldn't really count as one of your fruit servings.

6. Sleep. You know the drill, 8 hours a night is ideal. You also know reality, and have probably figured that about 5.5 hours can get you through the day. However-much time you take, make sure that it is good, not medicated, sleep. Your body needs the time to rest and process all that information that you are cramming into your brain.

7. Keep yourself in check, visually. Shower. If you don't take a shower every single day, you will start to smell and people will stop liking you. It isn't a hard task. It can take as little as 5 minutes. Do it. Also, don't run around in your pajamas. Yes, I know that there is a huge urge to because you feel like the time it takes to do a button could be spent on learning algorithms... but just do it.

8. Take some time for fun. Go out with your friends to dinner or a dance club. Go to a movie. Get some retail therapy. Read a book. Go for a walk. Cook dinner for you and your roommate. Whatever. Just put the books down and take a breather.

Keep your eyes on the prize, kids.

Body Tip #3

2007-04-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

Smoking. It is a disgusting activity that tons and tons of people participate in. Every time I walk down the street I bump into at least 3 people puffing on a cigarette, and I always want to stop these people and ask them why they are doing what they are doing to their bodies.

Both of my parents have smoked for as far back as I can remember. My dad has quit a few times over the years (cold turkey, we'll talk about this later) and my mom has been going strong and consistently since her late teens. There are TONS of unpleasant side affects to smoking and I have noticed almost all of them in my parents. There is the cough, you know, that dry hack that hurts to listen to. The yellow nails and teeth. The smoke smelling clothes and hair. Shortness of breath...

and let's not forget cancer, ladies and gentlemen. Smoking causes cancer. Thank God my parents haven't developed lung cancer from their bad habits.

I realize that smoking is a hard thing to give up. Nicotine is addictive. Here are some tried and true ways to quit smoking, along with a few helpful links.

1. If you are brave and strong like my dad, you can try to quit cold turkey. This is when a person decides that they are going to quit smoking and just does it. That day. That second. They are done. This is not an easy thing to do, because you are going to have cravings and probably other physical signs of addiction come into play. It will be a hard way to go, but in the end not smoking will be worth it. This site has some tips on what small things you can do to help fight cravings, such as eating small bites of food and chewing them for longer.

2. Try chewing nicotine replacement gum, sucking on lozenges or using a nicotine inhaler. These products work by releasing nicotine into the body in small doses to help you fight cravings. Patches, as well as other methods, have a gradual step process where a person starts off getting a high amount of nicotine and as time goes on they get less and less from the product until they no longer need it. Patches can be found here. Lozenges can be found here. Gum can be found here. There are, of course, many other brands and products on the market.

3. Get some talk therapy. Like it or not cigarettes cause an addiction. Talking to someone about why you started smoking, why you keep smoking and what you are going through while you are quitting, can help. One thing that you could try is going to a Nicotine Anonymous meeting. These people understand what you are going through and are looking to help.

4. Seek alternative therapies. Some people get massages. Some people get acupuncture. Some people get hypnotized. Try one or all. Do what it takes.

Here is a funny little video about quitting smoking. Humor helps in all hard times.

Photos are click-linked.

Mind Tip #6

2007-03-23T22:27:00.001-07:00

My nanny is a worry wart. Or at least she tries to be, from a little over 2,000 miles away. Every so often I get the phone call, you know, the one with the million questions on school and boys, and I laugh at the outlandish sounding advice she gives. She’s big on “putting white light around people.” It’s nice to know that someone cares enough to focus the mental energy.

So, the most recent worry of my nanny is my money. It's a pretty easy idea, I’m a creative writing major and this means to all my family that at some point in the future, someone is going to have to take care of artsy-fartsy Sarah Michelle.

So my nanny sends me this book by Suze Orman called Women & Money and tells me that if I read one of the chapters she’ll help me out with some bank account deal that gives me about $700 next year. A month or so later, the book arrives and I feverously read the chapter, ready to do anything for a couple hundred bucks.

Chapter 5 of Oreman’s book is called “The 8 Qualities of a Wealthy Woman.” I rolled my eyes and began reading, feeling more and more like this woman wasn’t a crazy and did indeed know what she was talking about. I think that the tips go beyond the boundary of sex, so here are my adaptations of Oreman’s qualities.

1 and 2. Harmony and Balance-
Oreman says that if you don’t have harmony and balance in your life you are libel to drive yourself crazy. If something in your life is off, you are likely to feel uncomfortable or agitated and therefore you are unable to make good decisions. In order to make sure you have both of these qualities in your life, you must take a look at how you act every day and see if you do or say things that are not perfect reflections of what you feel. Oreman says that in order to insure that you have Harmony and Balance in your life you must try and detect the things that set you off, examine why they do this and then work out the problem.

3. Courage-
Oreman says that women have a difficult time connecting with their courage because we are afraid of hurting someone else. She says that being dependant on someone, such as a spouse makes you less likely to speak up to them because you have to worry about them supporting you. The only way to get over this fear, Oreman says, is to stomp it out. Just as in the first two traits, Oreman says that people must trace their problems and fears to the sources and work them out.

4. Generosity-
Oreman says that women are too generous, and I think that this can go along with both sexes. Here is her list of the only reasons that you should lend out something to a loved one, so that you are not over stressing yourself or giving too much away;
1. You give to say thank you and out of pure love. Not to get something back.
2. Whether it is a gift of time, money, or love, you must feel strongly that your gift is an offering.
3. An act of generosity must never adversely affect the giver.
4. An act of generosity must be made consciously.
5. An act of generosity must happen at the right time.
6. An act of generosity must come from an empathetic heart.

5. Happiness-
Oreman calls happiness a necessity for true wealth and says that happiness makes people see possibilities, not problems. She says that if a person is not happy then they need to exam themselves, because only through true happiness can one enjoy life.

6. Wisdom-
Oreman makes it clear in this passage that a person does not only need to be book smart and street smart, but self smart. She says that a truly wise person knows how to tell when they are off balance, in need of courage and happy. Wisdom works as a cornerstone to all of the other traits, because it is a person’s way of knowing how to identify and use the traits.

7. Cleanliness-
“Cleanliness is about respecting the importance of order and organization,” Oreman says. She says that if you don’t have a good filing system for your money and important papers then it is impossible to be a wealthy person. In order for a person to be truly wealthy they must clean up their act and know where all their money is. She recommends making sure all the bills in your wallet face the same way and clearing away clutter in other aspects of your life.

8. Beauty-
Oreman says that beauty is what is created within a person when they embody all of the other traits she has mentioned. If all of these traits are present in a person, then they are confident, and she says that there is nothing more beautiful than a confident woman.

Here is Oreman in action:

Mind Tip #5

2007-03-18T23:09:00.000-07:00

Traveling is stressful, we’ve discussed this. The packing, the airline, the this and that. We’ve noted that it all sucks. We’re moving on.

Sometimes, vacationing sucks. Think about it, you have to find time in your schedule to completely throw your schedule out of the window. For most people, this is impossible. The whole time that they are supposed to be relaxing and having the fun they can’t have in regular life they are losing hair from stress (possibly from pulling) and checking their voicemail/email every hour on the hour. They lose sleep over things they have to do when they get back home. They have NO fun.

How do I know? I am one of these people, one of these people so much that I dreamt that I had hours to work at my job and ended up believing it to the point that I planned my return trip around them. I’m a worrier by nature. I get it from my mother. I can’t let it go.

So what good am I then right? How can I give self help tips if I know that I probably wouldn’t follow them myself? Here are three steps that I think would work to get someone to de-stress and enjoy some time away from the “real world”. No experts. No sources. This is you and me helping each other through a bad habit.

1. Write a mass email/ text stating that you will be out of town and unreachable for the next (so-and-so) hours. Send this to everyone and anyone that would think to call you while you’d be on vacation. Let them know what they’ll need to know for the time and then cut them off. Check your voicemail a max of twice a day. If something big happens, people will know how to get a hold of you. Besides, you’re on vacation, what could you do to help?

Just before I left, the server for the online magazine I’m Co-EIC for slowed to a pace that sloths could beat. I let my staff know that while the site was slow, they could all still meet their deadlines. I checked at the exact moment the deadline hit and then closed my computer, going along with my policy that late is late, and not taking any excuses. I didn’t check over the weekend, and upon arriving back home, not much had changed anyway.

2. Don’t let your work trail behind you. Leave your computer at home. Leave your class assignments at home. Leave your briefcase at home. Leave the checkbook you should balance at home. Leave your palm pilot, your to do list, your day planner and your stress headaches. Bring your bikini.

I failed. I lugged my computer all through airports and read for a class my whole trip. What did it get me? An achy back and 50 pages read in a book that I then forgot in the place I vacationed.

3. Go with the flow. Things are bound to go wrong, there will be hiccups in plans. Sometimes people run late and sometimes airplanes do. Sometimes tourist attractions are closed and sometimes you run out of gas. Worrying is only going to jinx you.

If you were lucky enough to be traveling this weekend, you probably hit the same hiccup that I did. Inches of snow on the east coast caused 100s of flight delays and cancellations (i.e. JetBlue and some 400 flights). My flight? Delayed so long that I couldn’t even make a connection home. What is the solution for a problem like this? An extra day of vacation. Will you miss work? Maybe. Will you have to cancel plans? Possibly. Will the world stop spinning because you couldn’t get home on time? Not likely. Enjoy the extra relaxation time.

In the end, you won’t remember the 16 essays that you finished or the stack of paperwork you filled out on the beach. Spend your time wisely. You only get to spend so much however you want.

Spirit Tip #3

2007-03-05T11:18:00.000-08:00

Alright guys, this is a tough one.

At some point, every one has had their heart broken. Whether it be by a loved one, a significant other or a best friend... it happens. Yes, it hurts. Yes, your pain is real. Yes, nobody has ever felt as bad as you do right now. Yes, it feels like you might just die. And yes, you will get over it.

Here are some tips, accompanied with music, on how to move past the person that broke your heart.

1. Admit that it hurts. It's going to happen. It might hit you while your trying to go to sleep, it might hit you while you're driving down the road on your way home from work (Park Ave. in Tucson maybe, you know, lonely streets, sad radio music). The best thing that you can do is admit it early and accept the pain. It sucks. I know. Embrace it and then let it go. Say goodbye.

I have a hard time with verbal goodbyes and find that in written words I can get out everything I want to say without whimpering or cussing once.

This helps:

2. Get the reminders out. Put their stuff away in a box, it's only going to kill you to see pictures, cards, gifts and other mementos. Don't throw it away. I know that you want to and that you are "never ever going to want to see this person again," but believe me, it'll do you better to bundle up everything and push it far under your bed where you can't reach it.

The cards are the hardest to put away. Don't read them as you paper clip them together and place them out of sight.

This helps:

3. Stay in. Don't go out trying to find a replacement, whether it was a boy/girl friend or a best friend, filling the void to fast isn't going to make you feel any better. Yes, there's an empty spot. Yeah, you're going to be ok on your own. (Watch your eating. Note if you are doing it too much or too little and correct yourself.) Let other people in on what is happening. Of course you don't need someone to watch over you, but it's nice to know that someone is there to notice when you need a shoulder. This is your chance to listen to that I miss you music. Get it out of your system.

I'm a big fan of wallowing on my couch and looking at other people's photoblogs for hours on end.

This helps:

4. Get mad. It'll make you feel better.

Just trust me on this one. Throw something. Scream a little.

This helps:

5. Go out. Get your friends together and hit a club or concert, anything as long as you are OUT and LAUGHING. Doll yourself up, dress hot. Dance silly around like a fool. Your friends will be quick to help. Listen to much that has ridiculous lyrics.

This helps:

6. Note that while you won't be the same with out there person, you will survive this. While you may not have wanted to live without this person, you did it before, and you can do it again.

This helps:

This helps too, it's always good to keep laughing:

Remember, in the end, we're all in this together.

Bye K.

Body Tip #2

2007-02-25T19:15:00.000-08:00

Back in January, Good Housekeeping printed an article about the best 12 foods a person can eat to lose weight. I know, the “best foods to eat” list changes daily and there are studies out there that say that eating chocolate can make you lose weight. Below are the foods and a couple fun facts about them. I mean, it couldn’t hurt right? (Well maybe number 12 could.)

Eggs, $3 a dozen (usually there is a good sale going on).

Eggs have lots of protein, which keeps you full longer and prevents spikes in blood sugar (which keeps cravings away). Before buying eggs open the crate and make sure none of them are broken. Once you get them home put them in the back of your fridge (the coldest part). To make a good boiled egg, cover it with an inch of water, bring the water to a boil and then turn off the heat. Cover the pan and wait 2-12 minutes (the longer the firmer). Run the eggs under cold water, peel and eat.

Beans, $1.50 a can depending on type.

Beans have Cholecystokinin, a digestive hormone that is a natural appetite suppressant. High fiber beans can help to lower your cholesterol. Beans come either in cans (cooked) or dry (raw). Raw beans have to be soaked overnight or quick soaked (cover with water, bring it to a boil, kill the heat and then let sit covered for an hour). Rinse beans before eating (canned or raw) and enjoy.

Salad, $3 a bag (sales happen and make 2 for 1 deals).

Starting a meal with a salad is likely to make you eat less when you get to the main course. People who eat salad also are likely to have higher vitamin C and E, folic acid, lycopene and carotenoid levels than those who don’t. Buy it in the bag, it’s quick and easy. If you prefer to go the old fashion way, you want to buy a lettuce head that is tight and bunch greens (watercress or arugula) that have roots on them. A good measure is one handful of salad per person or 2 heads of lettuce for a main course for 4 people.

Green tea, $3 for a box of 12 tea bags.

Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, which speed metabolism. This equals lots of fat burning. Beyond that, green tea can lower bad LDL cholesterol. A cup of green tea is a great thing to wake up to, the light flavor will get your taste buds tingling and jump start your thinking. Throw a drop of honey in it if you crave something sweeter.

Pears, $1.69-$2.49 each depending on type.

Medium size pears have about 6 grams of pectin fiber each, which means you can eat less and feel full longer. Recent studies have shown that pears are actually better for your health than apples. To tell if a pear is ripe, gently push on the neck with your finger, if it gives it’s ready to be eaten. To ripen a pear quickly, put it in a brown paper bag with an apple for a day or two. Keep pears in a crisper away from vegetables.

Soup, $2 a can (more or less depending on type) and sales are normal.

Soup has the great effect of making you feel like you’ve eaten a lot while not causing you to eat a lot. Chicken soup is especially good, the article says it “blunts” your appetite. If you’d rather do a DIY soup rather than just pop open a can, note that soups consist of four basic ingredients; aromatics (onions, garlic, ginger), main ingredients (veggies), liquids (water, broth), and thickeners (cooked beans, rice, noodles) or finishers (cream, pesto, olive oil, grated parmesan, spinach, or herbs).

Lean beef, price varies by cut.

Lean beef contains the amino acid leucine, which aids in losing weight and keeping calorie burning up while saving muscle. Serloin beef in the leanest type of hamburger meat (about 2 oz= one hamburger). Curved rib bones and t bones are also lean, plan for about 6-10 oz per people. When planning lean roasts, most people will eat about 8 oz.

Olive oil, $10 a bottle.

Extra virgin olive oil has a monosaturated fat in it that helps to burn calories. EVOO has a full bodied “peppery, fruity, grassy or flowery taste,” according to The Food Channel’s “How to boil water”. The greener the oil the more peppery and bitter, the more yellow the more warm and buttery the flavor will be. Use the oil instead of vegetable oil or butter the next time that you need to fry something or add a little to your water the next time you make pasta (it makes the noodles less sticky).

Grapefruit, $1 each.

Grapefruit have phytochemicals in them that reduce insulin spikes, keeping you fuller for longer and keeping snacking to a minimum. They also make the body convert calories to energy, rather than fat. To pick a good grapefruit, grab one in each hand and go for the heavier one. To peel one, but off the top and bottom of the fruit and then with a small knife cut off the skin and white pith following the curve of the fruit.

Cinnamon, $3 a jar.

Cinnamon has some really great things in it that control sugar, and lower blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglyceride in people with diabetes type 2. It’s one of those great spices that just about everyone loves, throw it on some toast or oatmeal in the morning, sprinkle it on ice cream or in tea at night.

Vinegar, $3 a bottle.

Vinegar has acetic acid in it, which slows the passage of food to the stomach, keeping you fuller longer. Vinegar goes really great on salad as long as you don’t use distilled white vinegar (the stuff your mom used to make Easter egg dye stick). Balsamic vinegar (usually in Italian restaurants) has a sweet taste, cider vinegar (apple cider vinegar) is fruity and rice vinegar has a mellow taste.

Tofu, $2 a pack.

Tofu has lots of protein in it, which keeps you full longer and squashes your appetite. Tofu comes in 3 different varieties, firm (good for high heat stir fry cooking), and soft and silken (which are good for more gentle low heat cooking). Look in your grocer’s refridgerated aisle or by the produce to find individually wrapped blocks. Tofu goes great with almost any food and picks up the flavors of what you cook it with.

Nuts, $10 per pound of mixed nuts, other prices vary by type.

Nuts are pretty good for you all around, they’ve got protein which keeps you full and tons of other chemicals that do your body good (walnuts have omega 3 fatty acids). Studies have shown that 10-20 pecans a day reduces heart disorder risks. Toasting nuts brings out their flavor, to do this spread some nuts out of a cookie sheet and pop them in the oven at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes.

High fiber cereal, $4 a box.

Fiber is good for your digestive system and for lowering cholesterol. General Mills Fiber One cereal has 14 grams of fiber per serving (about the same that 12 servings of broccoli has) and Kellogs All Bran with Extra Fiber contains 52% of your daily fiber need (about 13 grams). Toss some in a bowl with some 2% milk and strawberries (you ought to get something sweet in there) and you are good to go.

Hot red peppers, $6.50 a pound for habanaros chilis.

The chemical that makes chilis hot is called capsaicin, and usually results in people guzzling milk and crying for their mothers. This chemical also has a couple other good properties, such as suppressing appetites. To pick a good pepper, get one that has thick flesh, smooth skin and a fat stem. The smaller the pepper the hotter it will be. To prepare a pepper, cut in half lengthwise and remove the seeds (the hottest part) and then trim off the stem.

Information from Good Housekeeping Jan 2007 issue and The Food Network's "How to boil water".

Mind Tip #4

2007-02-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

Alright, lets talk about travel. I frequent airports at a "pretty often" type pace, somewhere between big business man and mom with child away at school. Just about every three weeks I'm chomping down some salted peanuts and apple cranberry juice on a plane, flying out to see my boyfriend (B) in California. In all these trips, I've learned some tried and true dos and don'ts of how to have the most comfortable and mind saving trip from point A to point B. Below are a few. (Pictures linked... there would be original but my camera equipment recently fell victim to lost baggage syndrome.)

1. Pre-pre-boarding-
-Set up before hand exactly how you are going to get to the airport. If you are getting a ride from someone, call them the day before to confirm.
-Get a good amount of sleep the night before you are supposed to go to the airport. Healthy natural sleep, don't take a sleep aid because you might end up sleeping too late and missing your flight. Don't forget to set at least one alarm for the morning.
-Put all liquids that you have to take with you in a plastic bag. If you are not going to check your baggage remember that you can only bring liquids, sprays and gels in a 3 ounce container (1 per product) and only so many that fill one zip top plastic bag.
-Get to the airport with time to make it though the ticket counter and security lines. 15 minutes will not cut it.

2. Pre-boarding-
-Go through self check-in lines when available. Even if the line looks incredibly long, trust me, you'll get through faster.
-Make sure that all of your bags get tagged for check-in.
-Be courteous towards security officers. Yes, their job is in fact to make your trip harder, but everyone has to do something to pay the bills.
-Find your gate and check your flight information before wandering through stores and restaurants.
-If you are flying on an airline that has "free for all" seating, get in line quick. Where you are sitting has a lot to do with how long and tolerable your flight will seem.

3. Boarding-
-Help move the waiting line along quickly. Have your ticket out of its jacket and ready to be handed to the ticket clerk.
-As soon as you get on the plane, scan for open seats and find the closest one that fits your preference. (I'm all about window seats.)
-Put your jacket or purse on the middle seat of your row. People will assume that it is full and won't ask you otherwise unless they see no other seating option.
-Smile at your neighbor.
-Push your seat back just a little so that you are comfortable. If someone asks you about it, say that you keep trying to put it up but that the seat keeps sliding. They won't ask you to show them.
-Put your bags away. Quickly. The longer you take, the longer you have to sit on the runway.

4. In flight-
-Decide pretty early on whether or not you are going to sleep on the flight. If so, don't order a drink. Chances are it will arrive just as you are beginning to nod off.
-Stake your claim right away from armrest room.
-Only use the reading light if you really need to. Other people around you are probably trying to sleep and this will just distract them.
-Don't be that person (or that group of people) that talks the whole flight through. Everyone hates them.

5. Post landing-
-Call whoever is picking you up and let them know that you have landed. Find out where they will be picking you up from.
-Move off the plane quickly.
-Get to baggage claim and watch for your bags. Make sure no one else grabs yours by mistake. Make sure you don't grab someone else's by mistake.
-When you find that the airline has lost your bag, do not look at their representative and say "You're fu##ing kidding me, right?" They hate that. Get your paper work and pray that they find it tomorrow.
-Offer to pay for your host's parking. Even if you know they are going to say no, they will appreciate the gesture.

Happy flying. (I'll let you know if I get that call today about my bag that the airline lost. Forever carrying on.)

Spirit Tip #2

2007-02-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

Ok, I admit it, I'm one on those girls. The news stand rushing, page ripping type that pour over magazines for hours without noticing a minutes has passed. Cosmo is my favorite, closely followed by some music magazines with quirky writing, a couple "teen mags" and the Glamour/Allure/Elle type. While about 99% of most magazine pages feature pica to pica fashion pictures, there are a few other good reasons to take a skim over the pages.

Last November (I'm also a hardcore magazine collector with boxes and boxes of back-issues shoved under my bed) featured a great reason as to why women should take a look at these "beauty mags." Next to a beautiful picture of Faith Hill and headlines like "Great Hair Special" and "Minis. cleavage, bedhead! Dos & Donts for 9 to 5," sits the announcement of a little article called "12 things about you that are perfect just the way they are." I was intrigued. The page isn't all that greatly designed, pretty standard with one picture and juxtaposed text, but the message is one that all people (women or men) should take to heart.

12 things about you that are perfect just the way they are
By: Kimberly Bonnell and Pamela Redmond Satran
With commentary of course, by yours truly.

1. Your checkered past. A little wild phase keeps you from having a checkered future.
- It makes sense, it's the same old theory that you have to know the past to keep from repeating it. Everyone has done something a little crazy at some point, embrace it. I probably broke quite a few rules (laws?) in high school.

2. The way you walk- it's unique and it gets you where you're going.
- When I was younger I used to try out different walks. I was at a concert once when I saw that the woman on stage swung her hips in little circles whenever she walked. I tried it out and all it got me was late to class and sore abs. I'm a little stumbly when I walk now, but I move like me and it gives me something to laugh about.

3. Your car singing voice.
- More like a car yelling voice, but you know, whatever. I'm a big fan of Brand New in the car. And Christina Aguilera. [Article picture.]

4. Any funny physical quirk your sister has too. It's all part of the bond you share.
- My "sister" Samantha and I look nothing alike, which probably has something to do with us having different parents and lineages and histories, but we do have a few common things between us. We both have moles everywhere. It was nice growing up and not being the only spotted one in a bathing suit.

5. How your hair parts. Don't fight mother nature.
- Training your hair to part a certain way is a long and painful process, and while it can be done, people usually look cuter with a natural part instead of the extreme one they are going for.

6. They way you reach orgasm. Whatever works, honey!
- I think that about says it.

7. Your collarbone.
- It's feminine and pretty on every girl, big or small. Invest in some flashy shirts and show the world the cutest part of you.

8. Your homegrown accent. Unless you're up for an Oscar, don't you dare change it.
- My friend Helene has a Southern accent even thought she grew up in California and Michigan. No one knows where it came from, but we all love it. I've gotten made fun of because of the way I say water and crayon since I was a kid, but it's uniquely me and I'd never change it.

9. Your silly sense of humor (now the only trick is finding someone else who shares it).
- I hate hate hate Anchorman type comedies, but love love love those corny old game show jokes, especially the ones from shows like "The Newlywed Game" and "The Dating Show." It's pretty nerdy, I mean I giggle every time Bob Eubanks says "Whoopee!". I know, I know. He's NOT funny.

10. Your uncool favorite drink. Fuzzy Navels forever, baby!
- I'm a fan of Shirley Temples. When at parties, I'm a big fan of Shirley Temples with Vodka.

11. Your gut instincts.
- Always go with them. End of story.

12. Any body part that's really strong- whether or not it jiggles a little.
- You don't have to have bulging muscles to be strong. Women don't muscle up like men, it's biology. I might not have the most "built" arms, but I can carry my groceries up a flight of stairs and toss my nephew into the air just fine.

[Outside pictures linked, article from Glamour Nov. 2006]

Mind Tip #3

2007-02-05T09:51:00.000-08:00

We’re approaching another holiday, friends, and while holidays are meant to be a time for celebration and gift giving they usually end up being times for stressing out about gift giving until the point where you just give a gift card. Holiday shopping is hard, and while Christmas is over, we are not out of the dark yet.

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and everyone, single or not, have to worry about what to get those special people in their lives. Yes, there is the obligatory gift giving with boyfriends and girlfriends, but lets not forget moms and dads, sisters and brothers, friends, friends’ moms and dads and sisters and brothers, girlfriend or boyfriend’s moms and dads and sisters and brothers. The list of gift receivers is long and vague depending on relationships.

I like to think of myself as a master gift giver. I think it stems from a deep understanding of people and what makes people happy. Usually about three weeks before a holiday approaches I know exactly what I’m going to get someone and I know that they are going to love it. While every person is different and there is no blanket good Valentine’s day present (stop flowers and candy), here are 4 simple tips on how to catch the drifts of those around you and come up with the best gift possible.

1. Pay attention.
People will generally tell you exactly what they want for a gift, even if they don’t tell you verbally. Anytime one of my friends pauses to look at a new shirt or skirt I take note. When my boyfriend made it clear that he had no idea what to get me I hinted at jewelry and left one of my ear piercings open (then I blogged about it, he’s getting quite a few hints for his first Valentine’s Day). Some people are a little more blunt. My mom called me up and said she didn’t have any recent pictures of me in her house, I started looking for photo paper and a nice picture frame. People are dropping hints everywhere, just start looking.

2. Note the person.
Different people want different kinds of gifts. Some girls really do want flowers and candy for the holiday, other girls HATE chocolates and would hate such a gift. Everyone is different and has their own vibe. You know the people you are buying for, buy for them, not a standard.

3. Double up.
Two gifts are generally better than one, and if you are afraid that you are going to miss the mark, you're likely to at least get close with one of them. Personally, I give one special sentimental gift and one that I know will be a real hitter. Works splendidly.

4. Calm down.
It’s just a day. Holidays are supposed to be fun. Don’t worry about spending too little or leaving someone off of your gift list. Good gifts can come in small and humble packages. Girls usually go ga-ga for buying gifts and give out to their family, significant other and friends, while boys are expected to keep it down to the minimum (mom, sister, significant other). Take a deep breath, open your wallet and be glad that the next holiday you have to worry about is probably months ahead of you.

I know that this is a self help column and that I should leave you at these tips with a message of “help your self,” but the gift giver in me can’t stop. Here are my ideas for some great Valentine’s day gifts. Pictures courtesy of stated links.

Mom

1. A framed picture of you. It’s easy and will mean more than the effort you put into it.
2. Flowers. Moms like flowers, try to guess her favorites or go for a fun spring mix.
3. Jewelry. Nothing too fancy, but most moms like to sparkle. Most jewelers will have specials for the occasion.

Dad

1. To the point. Dads are pretty simple, a card may be the best gift. Go for something funny, dads like funny.
2. Gadgets. They fix things and they play with gadgets, this is almost a dead giveaway blanket present.
3. Cufflinks. Ties are too tired of a gift to give but office dads would likely love this practical gift.

Boyfriend

1. Video games. They may be the other woman in your relationship, but if he likes them why not?
2. A night on the town. I hear boys like being treated nice, too.
3. A new wallet. If your boyfriend is still toting around Velcro, bring him into his new adult life with a nice piece of leather.

Girlfriend

1. Jewelry. It’s tried and true. Price should be determined by length and seriousness of relationship.
2. Cute underwear. Maybe it’s a little blunt, but if they’re cute enough she probably won’t get offended.
3. A mix tape. Probably a mix cd, this is a little more person centric and shows that you took the time to think about what songs she would want to hear.

Friend/ Sister

1. Gift cards. This is the only acceptable gift card placement. Clothing stores are a big yes. American Eagle is my favorite to give and receive.
2. Bert’s Bees products. They’re great for your skin, smell amazing and easy on your wallet.
3. A new purse. Yes, I mean those big brands. Coach is generally a winner. Stop whining, they put up with you all year. Even I could afford to give out a clutch.

Happy shopping!

Mind Tip #2

2007-01-28T15:54:00.000-08:00

Life can get bogged down. Between work and school and assorted others, it can seem like you get nothing done, or worse, that you couldn't even think of getting anything done.

Believe me, I know. This week alone I worked 30 hours and attended at least 17 hours of class. I spent every night of the week either at work or a sorority function. I've read Marx and Nietzsche. I've cleaned my apartment and written 4 long homework assignments. I read over all of the articles posted to The Cat Scan, before they went live, and ran across campus getting degree checks finalized, theatre tickets paid for and prescriptions picked up. I've slept very minimally.

Crazy is the only word that I can think of to describe my last week, and I don't think I can or want to go through it again.

Tiki Kustenmacher has recently come out with a book called How to Simplify Your Life: Seven Practical Steps to Letting Go of Your Burdens and Living a Happier Life, featuring easy to go by steps to making your life easier. Below are my trials with the steps and the story of my success with the program.

1. Simplify your things.
Idea used from chapter- Sort out your workplace.

Alright, so like any student I’ve got a desk. On any given day this desk probably has 5 or 6 books, a planner, a computer, pictures, 14 or so pens, a stapler, 2 pairs of glasses and a hair pin or two on it. Needless to say, I do most of my homework on my bed.

So the task was ahead of me. I cleared everything off my work area and put it onto the floor. I was surprised to find that the wood of the desk was a much lighter color than I remembered. The right sized basket fit all of my office supply needs and letters perfectly and kept them out of my way. After squeezing the books onto a shelf elsewhere in my apartment, I threw my planner and glasses into my purse and was good to go. A quick wipe down with some cleaning wipes ended my task.

I’ve got to say, just having a clean work space has made my life less stressful. My room was already small and all that clutter was giving the space an even smaller feel. Success.

2. Simplify your finances.
Idea used from chapter- Break the money spell.

I’ll admit it, I spend a lot of money. The problem that comes in? Like most students, I don’t have a lot of money.

So here we are, an abnormal day in the life of Sarah Michelle where I actually have a few hours to hang out with a friend. Shopping becomes our mission. We go off to Tucson mall in search of new jeans, jewelry and maybe a hoodie or two. Twenty minutes in and I already want everything I try on. Spending must really be a spell, because I consider myself a rational person under normal circumstances, but right now I want to drop hundreds of dollars on summer clothes even though it is 40 degrees outside. I think back to the advice. Break the spell. Slowly, I put all the clothes back on the racks and promise myself that I’ll think about buying them as soon as the temperature hits 80. I encourage my friend to buy a couple shirts. I think I’ve just transferred my spell to her.

So this step, didn’t really work out for me. Even with all of my trying I couldn’t help but buy a new jean jacket and a cute apple necklace. I’ve been dreaming about my new summer clothes. Fail.

3. Simplify your time.
Idea used from chapter- Separate your actions.

Sometimes, I don’t even know where I’m supposed to be. I am for sure the friend who has to be called two hours in advance and retold where they are supposed to meet everyone for dinner, even though the plans were just made last night. There has to be a better, less cell phone minute consuming, way.

So, I dug out the old planner and set to work with 8 different colored pens; 5 for classes, one for work, one for my sorority and one for other. After a few minutes with a ruler I had a detailed weekly schedule to look at. An hour or so later I had all of my class times and other appointments written into my daily schedule. With my “open” hours now clearly marked, it’s easy for me to know when I can go out with my friends, hang around the house or fit in a nap.

If I had known it would have been this easy, I would have color coded years ago. Success.

4. Simplify your health.
Idea used from chapter- The best way to relax.

Relax? That’s a five letter word I haven’t heard in years. Between everything, I’m lucky if I have enough time to rinse the shampoo out of my hair before I have to get back to school.

With my newly organized planner, I scheduled myself an hour a day where I could sit back, drink some green tea and read a book. A real book. Not a philosopher for English class, not the front pages of The Star for Journalism class. A real honest to God fiction book that I could get lost in. I even decided that I could take the time to sit in a bath, which took care of the shampoo problem. I decided that herbs might be good too, to get me over that whole feeling sick but knowing I’m just super tired feeling.

This worked, mostly. The time was a little spread out and sometimes an hour was more like a half an hour, but the general idea worked well to bring down my stress level. Success.

5. Simplify your relationships.
Idea used from chapter- Untangle your family ties.

I’m an only kid, therefore my friends are my family. I feel terrible when I miss someone’s birthday or don’t talk to someone for a week, but sometimes there is no way around it.

At first, I was confused about what to do for this step. I looked my address book to cross old friends out, but then realized that there was a much better way of going about sorting out those people that I still talk to and those who I don’t even recognize on the street anymore. My Myspace account had close to 200 friends on it. It was time to cut down. After two hours I got the number down to a still large but much more manageable 104.

Life has been a lot easier without 4 or 5 birthday reminders in my email box every few days. Success.

6. Simplify your life partnership.
Idea used from chapter- Make joint decisions for your old age now.

So old age is a long way off for me and Brandon (my boyfriend, soon to be live in) to think about, but next year is not. Starting in August that soon to be live in thing is going to turn into full on live in, and it’s probably about time that we start figuring out the details.

Because of the 880 miles separating Brandon and I, it was pretty hard to make concrete plans on exactly how we were going to go into this moving in together deal, but we were able to conquer one big issue. Apartment. Where are we going to live? So Brandon and I set out separately on the internet looking for places that were in our price range (under $1000 a month) and in the general areas of where we’ll be living (most likely Davis or Sacramento, possibly Berkeley if he gets in). I was pretty surprised to learn that we picked most of the same places even though we went through different sites to find complexes. With our plans made, the next time I go out for a visit we can check out the places we both liked and hopefully find one that will fit with our lives.

I am now a little closer to having an idea about where I’ll sleep next year. Success.

7. Simplify yourself.
Idea used from chapter- Understand yourself.

I like to think of myself as simple. I know that I’m wrong. Half the time, ok, over half the time, I don’t even know why I do what I do. The only way that I really think that one can understand something is by looking at it from the outside, so I decided that some sort of journal would be the best way for me to take this step. Since we’re in the age of technology, I started a photoblog.

It took me a little while to get used to carrying around a camera. It took me even longer to get used to taking pictures of random people without asking. After a day or two, I got over my anxiety of seeming rude and started snapping away. A week in, I’m not sure if I have any better insight to myself, but I do love being able to look back and see the highlights of my past days.

This one might take some more time to really work, but I’d say it’s a good, fun idea. Success.

6 out of 7 steps worked in ways to get me organized and less stressed. I’d say this is a good exercise for anyone.

Body Mind and Spirit Tip #1

2007-01-21T23:28:00.000-08:00

Forget everything you think you know about Jazzercise. Forget old ladies in tights. Forget the smell of boys' gym socks. Forget puffy blond hair.

Jazzercise has probably saved my life.

The first time I walked into the Jazzercise West Central on First and Fort Lowell, I was a little apprehensive. I imagined the old ladies. The smell. The hair. I was surprised to hear Nora Jones playing on a stage and to be greeted by a few people my own age.

Two weeks in, I'd lost ten pounds. I'd danced to Fall Out Boy and British Pop.

Three months in, I'd lost thirty pounds. I didn't sweat the small stuff because I'd worked all my aggressions out in class.

I would recommend this body mind and spirit workout to anyone of any age. With a variety of different instructors and class types throughout Tucson, everyone from a energetic college student to an 80 year old (yes, an 80 year old. Stop in at a West Central 8:30am class to meet her) will love to sweat to today's hottest music.

There are 8 Jazzercise locations around Tucson, with classes ranging from 5am to 7pm. Joining the club costs a one time fee of $50 and then for $30 you can go to as many classes as you want a month. If you just want to give the class a try, you can pay $10 for a day pass and entertain joining later (which you will, believe me). A normal class lasts about one hour, with 40 minutes of cardiovascular work out and then 20 minutes of weight and strength training.

If you feel like you are above all this dancing and strength training, stop in at West Central on Tuesday or Thursday at 4:30pm and take a class from Susan, she'll get you thinking otherwise in no time.

For more information visit http://www.jazzercise.com/ .

Dear Your Name Here

2007-01-16T19:58:00.000-08:00

Hello there, pretties. I'm Sarah Michelle Griisser and I'm going to be helping you out with fun self help and chill out tips and facts.

Truth be told, I need them as much as you do.