Top 10 For A better Nights Sleep ZzzzZZZzzzzz

Top 10 Tricks for Getting Better Sleep

From Lifehacker.com

For something we spend half our life doing, a lot of us are pretty awful at sleeping. Here are our top 10 tips for falling asleep faster, getting quality rest, and waking up easier in the morning.

10. Prepare a Worthy Bed

While your bed probably isn't the primary cause of insomnia, snoring, or other sleep problems, it can certainly contribute to your comfort at night. Make sure you're using the right pillow based on your sleep type, and when it comes time to buy a new mattress, make sure you shop smart (and don't get fleeced). Once you know it isn't your bed, you can start getting to the bottom of your sleep issues. Photo by Daehyun Park.

9. Eat Better

What you eat can greatly affect how you sleep, even during the early half of the day.Eat breakfast first thing in the morning to sleep better at night, and make sure it's a big one. After eating well throughout the day,avoid eating spicy or junk foods at night, and instead choose something that will help you drift off. And remember: no booze! Not onlywill it not help you get to sleep, it'll cause you to snore all night, too. Photo by D Sharon Pruitt.

8. Wake Up Pleasantly, Not Roughly

The days of the ever-annoying *bzzt*-*bzzt*-*bzzt* alarms are over. Instead of being jerked awake by an old clock, consider getting a smart alarm app for your phone, like our favorites for iPhone and Android. Then, try waking yourself up more comfortably. If you need a bit more of a push, of course, we've got more methods for manipulating yourself to wake up. And, whenever possible, do it without stimulants—caffeine can wreak havoc with your brain and body. Photo by Lars Plougmann.

7. Exercise in the Morning

Exercising in the morning or afternoon—not at night—can help deepen your sleep and make sure you fall asleep quicker, according to a study by the National Sleep Foundation. If you aren't much of an exerciser, there's no better time than now to upgrade your health and fitness routine than now. Photo by lu-lu.

6. Fix Your Sleeping Position

You may not realize it over the course of the night, but your sleeping position could not be great for your body—or the quality of shuteye you get. Find out which sleeping style is best for you, and make a conscious effort to fix it when you go to bed, and you'll wake up feeling more refreshed in the morning.

5. Cool Yourself Off at Night

Cooling down your body temperature makes a huge difference in how easy it is to fall asleep, but that can be hard to do when it's hot outside (or when your significant other has body temperature nearing the surface of the sun). From DIY air conditioners to cooling pillows to more extreme methods,we've got the lowdown on staying cool while you sleep. Just make sure you don't wake up freezing in the morning—that's never a fun way to start the day. Photo by Rob.

4. Get the Perfect Amount of Sleep

Not everyone needs the same exact amount of sleep, but with a little trial and error, you should find your sweet spot pretty easily.Count back 7.5 hours from when you need to wake up, and make sure you get to bed at that time—then adjust accordingly. Of course, you could also try a webapp like Sleepyti.me to help you calculate the perfect number of hours, too.

3. Learn to Nap Like a Pro

If you feel yourself getting drowsy during the day, you might be tempted to nap—but that can be disastrous for your sleep schedule if done incorrectly. Learn to master the power nap, then calculate the best time to nap and crank one out then (if you have a hammock, all the better). And, if you really want tomake the most of your naps, try a caffeine nap to reboot your brain in the middle of the day. Photo by Dion Hinchcliffe.

2. Cultivate the Perfect Evening Routine

As the end of the day rolls around, you should be winding yourself down for bed to get the best sleep possible. If you really want to fall asleep easily, take some time tocultivate the perfect evening routine—some light reading, a nice bubble bath, andsomething that doesn't involve a backlit screen—to fall asleep quickly and keep your energy up the next day. Photo by Chelsea Oakes.

1. Get Some Help From Technology

If your sleep cycle seems beyond repair, you might need to get some outside help...from our favorite therapist, technology. From cheap methods like sleep tracking apps to full-on sleep tracking gadgets like theWakemate, we've tested a number of technological sleep aids and found them to be rather helpful. If you're really motivated, you can reboot your entire sleep cycle and get the rest you deserve, and your midday self will thank you for it.

Top 10 Unusual St. Patrick’s Day Facts

Top 10 Unusual St. Patrick’s Day Facts (t)

An Irish blessing: “May you always have...
Walls for the winds, A roof for the rain 
Tea beside the fire, Laughter to cheer you
, Those you love near you, 
And all your heart might desire.”

An Irish toast : “May your blessings outnumber, the shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.”

       1. According to his writing, a voice - which he believed to be God's - spoke to him in a dream, telling him it was time to leave Ireland. After travelling for more than 200 miles by foot, he was eventually given passage on a boat travelling across the Irish Sea. His first destination was Britain. Patrick also reported that he experienced a second revelation - an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary.

       2. Patrick and his 24 followers were invited to Tara by the King of Laoghaire. While he was there he plucked a shamrock from the ground and tried to explain the to the druids and the King that the shamrock had three leaves just like God had three personas - The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost. This was called the Trinity. Before the Christian era it was a sacred plant of the Druids of Ireland because its leaves formed a triad.

      3.  While not the first to bring Christianity to Ireland, it is Patrick who is said to have encountered the Druids at Tara and abolished their pagan rites. The story holds that he converted the warrior chiefs and princes, baptizing them and thousands of their subjects in the "Holy Wells" that still bear this name.

      4.  The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737.  What's good luck on Saint Patrick's Day?: Finding a four-leaf clover (that's double the good luck it usually is). Wearing green. (School children started this tradition of their own -- they used to pinch classmates who don't wear green on this holiday). Kissing the blarney stone.

      5.  Turning the Chicago river green has been a unique to Chicago for the past 50+ years. A modern day miracle occurs each year as part of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebration when the Chicago River turns an incredible shade of Irish green. This spectacular transformation is a sight to see. 

    6.   People dress in green clothing and eat food, which is either naturally or dyed green, on St Patrick’s Day. Some people go as far as holding green dinner parties where the guests are expected to wear green and eat exclusively green food.

      7.  36 Million number of U.S. residents who claim Irish ancestry. This number is almost nine times the population of Ireland itself (slightly more than 4 million). Irish is the nation's second most frequently reported ancestry, trailing only German.

      8.   Seattle and other cities paint the traffic stripe of their parade routes green. Chicago dyes its river green and has done so since 1962 when sewer workers used green dye to check for sewer discharges and had the idea to turn the river green for Saint Patrick's Day. Originally 100 pounds of vegetable dye was used to turn the river green for a whole week but now only forty pounds of dye is used and the colour only lasts for several hours. The dye starts out looking orange.  It hits the water looking yellow.  And then the magic begins.{See Picture} [24] Indianapolis also dyes its main canal green.

      9.  The number three in Ireland is consider lucky, hence; the shamrock and its three leaves. The Shamrock was also known as the Seamrog, which means; summer plant which comes from the Irish word trefoil, meaning three-leafed. It symbolizes the Trinity of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit; faith, hope and charity; or past, present and future. The number three was utilized in many ways in the Irish culture and ancient Celtic Druid cultures believed that the plant had magical powers such as, the leaves stood straight up to predict approaching storms. Even Irish storytelling is done in the rhythm of triple repetitions.

       10.  In the United States and Canada, consumption of corned beef is often associated with Saint Patrick's Day.[10] Corned beef is not considered an Irish national dish, and the connection with Saint Patrick's Day specifically originates as part of Irish-American culture, and is often part of their celebrations in North America.[11]Corned beef and cabbage became popular in the United States after Irish immigrants in the northeast used corned beef instead of pork in the dish. This substitution was likely due to the low cost of corned beef in the U.S.  More traditional in Ireland is Irish Stew and Soda Bread.

Top 10 Funny MoVies ~ Comedies

Top 10 Funny MoVies ~ Comedies

There are a lot of funny Movies out there.  And for every really funny movie there are about a kabillion #&#@! bad ones.  My love for these great funny movies are based on my own scale of A) Ability to watch over and over again and it's still funny, B) Laugh out loud element, C) Feel good Story, and D) Fun quotable lines. If you're feeling like a gloomy Gus popping in a comedy can erase those blues this weekend.  These are in no Particular order. 

I'd love to know what your favorites are.

1. Planes, Trains And Automobiles
2. Dumb and Dumber
3. The Man Who Knew Too Little
4. Beverly Hills Cop
5. Overboard
6. Stripes
7. Blazing Saddles
8. Caddyshack
9. Office Space
10. Austin Powers
11. Honorable Mention~ LA Story & Wedding Singer

Our Liebster Award ...Yeahhh It's Today!!

Our Liebster Award Nomination!!

 http://sillyhousewives.blogspot.com

Yeahhh It's today.  Oh, I how I love today.

Thank You for the Attention.

We were nominated for the Leibster Award By  http://agutandabutt.blogspot.com Losing My Gut

The Liebster Award is an award given to Bloggers by other Bloggers! That makes it even more special!

Here are the Rules:

1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.

3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.

4. Go back to their page and tell them about the award.

5. No tag backs.

Eleven Random Facts About Tina

 1.  I love Art Of all kinds, especially Paper Art.

 2.  My favorite exercise is Zumba.

 3.  The movie “Poltergeist” scared me as a teen.

 4.  At 15, I worked at Baskin Robbins as a cake decorator and server. 

5.  I have a fascination with beads.

6.  I love Alice in Wonderland.

 7.  I sleep all the way under the covers.

 8.  My favorite drink is margarita. No Beer...lol

 9.  I have trouble sleeping ~ only 4 hours a night.

10. Baking is my favorite thing to do.

11. I did not like the rope climb in 4^th grade.

 My Questions from Losing MY Gut

1.  What is your favorite movie.  Why? Alice in Wonderland… All versions.  It’s such an imaginative story and you can get lost in it with her.

2.  Have you ever researched your family history? No , We have a cousin who loves doin it.  I just reap the benefits.

3.  Where is your favorite vacation spot or fantasy spot?  Ixtapa, Mexico or Hawaii… Have been lucky enough to go to both places.

4.  How often do you change your sheets? Every week.

5.  How many times have you been married? Once…25 years and counting.  J

6.  Did you play sports in school?  Running If so, what, and were you any good?  No, just liked a guy on the guys team.

7.  If you could spend a day with someone who is no longer living who would it be? Mother Teresa … Such an ispiration.

8.  If you could pig out on any food, what would it be? Chrusciki -- Polish Cookies, also known as Angel Wings. You cannot just eat one.

9.  Did you play with Lego's when you were young or with your kids?  Yes What is the best thing you ever built? A Airplane Carrier with my son.

10.  What is the most outrageous thing you have ever done?  Parasailed Would you do it again? No

11.  What is your favorite kind of donut? ~Paczki (Polish Donut) filled with Powidla (plum jam)

My Nominees

1.            http://spiritwomen.blogspot.com 

2.            http://dogmomdiva.blogspot.com

3.            http://cakesbykristin.blogspot.com

4.            http://beautifulmissmess.blogspot.com

5.            http://abetterlesserme.blogspot.com

6.            http://diaryofaformerfoodaddict.blogspot.com

7.            http://biggestgain.blogspot.com

8.            http://craftyjossie.blogspot.com

9.            http://chicgreendragonfly.blogspot.com

10.       http://christinaheeren.blogspot.com

11.       http://dianabrodeur.blogspot.com

Your Questions

1.     DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

2.     WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

3.     WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?

4.     WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?

5.     WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

6.     MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?

7.     WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

8.     STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?

9.     WHAT MAGAZINES ARE YOU READING NOW?

10. FAVORITE SMELLS?

11. ANY PETS?

Top 10 + 2 Subjects for my "HOW TO" Assignment

Top 10 + 2 Subjects for my "HOW TO" Assignment 

Recently a friend of mine had to write a "HOW TO" for her college class.  If I had to do that now, I would pick subjects that I have a mastery in, witnessed, a practical understanding in , or have been called upon for my expertise. These are in no particular order of Skillfulness or lack there of.

1. How to Replace a Toilet Paper Roll 
2. How to Remove Chewing Gum from Hair
3. How to Entertain on a Teensy-Weensey Budget
4. How to Stay Motivated When Slenderizing
5. How to Survive Scary Movies
6. How to Get Ready For A Half Marathon
7. How to Arrive Places On Time
8. How to Cheat at Clue or Monopoly
9. How to Have a Conversations with Animals
10. How to Clean Out the Fridge & Freezer
11. How to Cook for a Picky Eater
12. How to Paint a Fence/Plant a Garden in 100*F

Top 10 Methods to Tease Telemarketers

Top 10 Methods to Tease Telemarketers

1. If they want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for Bankruptcy and you could sure use some money.

2. If they start out with, "How are you today?" say, "Why do you want to know?" Or you can say, "I'm so glad you asked, because no one seems to care these days and I have all these problems, and talk about any ache or pain you may have and then continue with a relative that you know that has some too. When they try to get back to the sell, just continue your problems.  It's nice to vent to a stranger anyway.  

3. If they say they're John Smith from the Acme Company, Ask them to spell their name, then ask them to spell the company name, then ask them where it located. Continue asking them personal questions or questions about their company for as long as necessary.  Like a 4 year old does.  

4. After they tell you there name, Crying out, in well-simulated tones of pleasure and surprise, "Hector!! Is this really you? Oh, my God! Buddy, how have you BEEN?" Hopefully, this will give Hector a few brief moments of terror as she tries to figure out where on earth she could know you from.

5. Say, "No", repeatedly. Be sure to vary the sound of each no, and keep an even tempo even as they're trying to speak. This is the most fun if you can keep going until they hang up.

6. When they ask you a question...Answer back with a question.  Whatever they ask.. You could reply with Isn't Disney World or Land Just a people trap run by a Mouse?  Why is zero last on your phone?  Why is the alphabet in order as it is and not vowels first? Why is it that things get darker when you spray them with clear matte spray paint?  Does morality come from morons?  You get the picture.

7. Let the person go through their spiel, providing minimal but necessary feedback in the form of an occasional "Uh-huh, really, or "That's fascinating." Finally, when they ask you to buy, ask them to pic up a few groceries for you and give them a list.

8. Tell them you work for the same company they work for. Example: Telemarketer: "This is Pat from Acme Anvils." You: Acme Anvils! Hey I work for them too. Where are you calling from?" Telemarketer: "Uh, Chicago." You: "Great, they have a group there too? How's business/the weather? Ok good Luck.  (hang Up) 

9. Answer the phone. As soon as you realize it is a Telemarketer, set the receiver down, shout or scream, Honey it's for you and make heavy walking away steps.  Put on mute and see when they hang up.

10.If you get the automated one.  I have heard that you can press ### or **** a number of times and it screws with their system a little.  Will try that one the next one I get.  

These were found from Snopes and brain from Brian and me.

Top 5 Dresses for 2013 Oscars

Wow..The Awards of the Season is finally over, peeps. And what better way to leave the scene but with a fashionable bang courtesy of the 2013 Oscar RED CARPET WALK. Lots of trains on the ends of dresses this year.  These are my top 5 picks for best dressed at the Oscars... Jennifer Garner in Gucci, Kelly Washington in Mui Mui, Sandra Bullock in Ellie Saab, Queen Latifah in Badgley Mischka and Grace Hightower with hubby DeNiro ....  Who were your favs?

Tumeric-not just a tasty ingredient!!

How many of you see the new year as a new opportunity to decrease your waist?  I personally have been guilty of thinking the only time to start fresh and new is in a "New Year".  Recently, I turned my ankle, going downstairs causing a sprain. Just one week later I foud myself at the gym with my partner in blogging crime.  We spent an hour on the treadmill walking/running.  The workout felt great, but a few hours later my ankle and knees were on fire.  For a couple of days, I could not stop focusing on the discomfort I was having and became obsessed with finding an alternative to OTC (over the counter) medications for pain reduction.  I found some tumeric capsules in my medicine basket, which I had obviously taken once or twice, but never continuously. (Probably another one of my--I'm going to get healthy kicks.) I decided to start taking it again and can hardly believe the improvement I have exprencied.  I am a total believer!! This is a miracle herbal supplement for pain/inflammation reduction. 

A list of some of the many health benefits:

1. It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.
2. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of   existing prostate cancer.
3. Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.
4. May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.
5. Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.
6. Is a natural liver detoxifier.
7. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.
8. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.
9. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.
10. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.
11. Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.
12. May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.
13. Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.
14. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
15. Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
16. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.
17. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.
18. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
19. Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.
20. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in pill form in most health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules 2-3 times daily. I have been taking 900mg  3x daily-not recommended for everyone.(I only absorb 80% of the nutrients I digest!!!

Once you start using turmeric on a regular basis, it's fun to find new ways to use it in recipes. My favorite way to use it is to add a pinch of it to egg salad. It adds a nice flavor and gives the egg salad a rich yellow hue.

Contraindications: Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.

http://tumericalive.com/

http://turmerichealthbenefits.org/

http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/20-health-benefits-of-turmeric.html

Valentin'e Grocery List.

Going to the Grocery Store to get some things and food for my Valentine's Dinner with my hubby at home.  All to often I end up going to the grocery store without my list and coupons.  That's right coupons.  I can't help myself.  A friend of my Husband's Jennifer got us into couponing.  I really didn't think you could save that much money doing it.  We do not have any stores that triple our coupons like in the Extreme Couponing Show.  However we do have one that doubles.  This is sometimes a good buy but other times they are high in price even after doubling the coupon.  Plus they have rule after rule after rule about what you can't do.  How d

Any Whoo...  Here's my wonderful list for today.   How do most people arrange their grocery List?  I try to do it by aisle.  Lots on it because my daughter moved back in and she's encouraging more veggies. I just have to remember to take it with.  In my purse it goes.

Happy Valentin'es Day.  My fiend of this blog gave me yummy treats and a card.  She's so sweet.

It's a day to celebrate the doughnut.  This is the day when you forget about your diet and eat mountains of donuts (paczki) and all the other things fat, greasy, sweet, full of cholesterol, generally unhealthy, and mmmmm.... Delicious.  I am so lucky to be of Polish decent.  I am making Paczki or Pounchki and then perhaps some  Chrusciki (Chruschiki).