When we're feeling sluggish in the afternoon, we often grab another cup of coffee, a soda or a candy bar, but these only give us a temporary pick-me-up. Instead of that sugar or caffeine high, take a closer look at your diet. By choosing to eat certain foods throughout the day, you can give your body a natural boost of energy that will last longer than a cup of coffee. Here are five healthy foods that pack a punch of energy, according to Virgin HealthMiles:
1. Avocados
Sure they are fatty, but they are filled with good fats: heart-healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats, both of which lower total cholesterol. And they taste so good!
2. Sweet Potatoes
Filled with fiber and beta-carotene, a form of vitamin A, sweet potatoes can be eaten mashed or baked, plain or with seasonings. When purchasing sweet potatoes, look for those with a darker flesh because that means it's higher in beta-carotene content.
3. Oatmeal
Get the real thing and not those prepackaged servings with artificial flavoring. Use quick-cooking oats to make a bowl of oatmeal in minutes on the stovetop or in the microwave. Add fresh or dried fruit, honey or nuts for a nutritious breakfast.
4. Yogurt
Look for yogurt that has "live cultures" or "probiotics." This means it's full of friendly bacteria that will help prevent harmful germs from invading your body through the lining of your digestive system. Yogurt can also help prevent colds and other infections. For an added boost, add honey and berries to plain yogurt.
5. Salmon
Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that can help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer, as well as minimize symptoms of arthritis and inflammatory diseases. If possible, eat wild salmon, rather than farm-raised salmon. Don't like fish? You can get your omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, almonds, walnuts and flaxseed.
A financial survey estimates mothers are worth over half a million dollars a year. The typical mom conducts the same daily business of seventeen occupations combined. Using salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, a multi-tasking mother's annual salary is calculated to be $508,700.
Raise children (Child care worker) $13,000
Plan vacation and play (Recreation worker) $15,500
Cook meals (Executive chef) $40,000
Serve meals (Food service worker) $20,000
Plan meals (Dietitians/nutritionists) $41,600
Keep house (Property manager) $22,600
Clean house (Housekeeper) $9,000
Care for pets (Animal caretaker) $17,500
Dispense medication (Registered nurse) $35,000
Attend functions (Management analyst) $41,000
Manage family finances (Computer system analyst) $44,000
Manage investments (Financial manager) $39,000
Carpool (Bus driver) $32,400
Homework & discipline (School principal) $58,600
Resolve family issues (Psychologist) $29,000
Keep family schedule (General office clerk) $19,000
Are you one of those people who always packs way too much? Or do you never pack enough?
Here are some tips on how to pack for your vacation, offered by QVC show host Lisa Robertson, and published by Travel and Leisure magazine:
There are two kinds of travelers in the world: over-packers, those who try to stuff their entire closet into the overhead compartment on the plane, and under-packers, those who head directly to the store once they get to their destination because they don't have what they need. Not only am I a former over-packer, but I was a random over-packer, so I had a suitcase full of nonsense. Nothing ever went together so I was constantly asking myself, "Why did I pack that?"
I'm proud to say I've come a long way in the packing department. But it's an acquired skill and one worth spending some time on as summer approaches.
Here, 10 questions to ask yourself when you're trying to decide what to put in your suitcase.
1. What activities do you KNOW you're going to do?
The reason I was an over-packer was because I allowed my mind to go crazy with 'maybes.' Maybe I'll want to do this activity, maybe I'll want to do that activity, and pretty soon I was taking my whole closet because I wasn't focusing on what I was really going to do. So first and foremost: what activities do you KNOW you're going to do? Start there, and then you can tweak at the end as space allows.
2. Can you avoid taking something that has to hang in a garment bag?
If you have to take a garment bag, you're automatically committing to two pieces of luggage and you've 'upped the ante' considerably in the logistics department. If you can find things that fold in a suitcase, (or my favorite, the rolling duffel, which is what I used in India), you'll have a much more streamlined baggage experience. A small, structured, foldable garment bag that you can put a few items in and still fit into your suitcase is a good compromise. Sometimes you can find luggage with the bags included. Otherwise, just buy a bag separately.
3. What do you love to wear when you're at home?
When you're trying to pack smaller, you're going to need to re-wear things, so pick what you love to wear. Which T-shirt do you find excuses to wear and always go back to? Which jeans are your favorite? Re-wearing items you love will make it fun; re-wearing items you don't will make you wish you had packed more.
4. Should I pack that strappy dress?
How many times do you pack something thinking that you'll probably want to wear it on vacation, but you've never wanted to wear it when you're home? Our taste and comfort zones don't usually change with location. (That usually takes something with salt on the rim or a little umbrella in it!) So if you're not comfortable wearing it at home, you probably won't be comfortable wearing it when you're away.
5. How many pairs of shoes should you pack?
Shoes take up more room than anything else in your suitcase, so even though it's difficult, try to limit how many you take. I try to take one comfortable pair for sightseeing all day, one pair of heels, and a pair of sneakers if I feel I'm going to be working out. If I take a pair of boots, I wear them when I'm traveling, so I don't have to pack them in my luggage. P.S., the same goes for handbags. My rule is one to carry and one that packs flat in the luggage, no more.
6. Is everything machine washable?
Depending on where you're going, dry cleaning can be an issue, either time-wise or money-wise, so anything that's machine washable is a safer bet. Anything you can wash out by hand and hang up overnight is ideal. Then your clothes are at your beck and call, and you're not waiting on the hotel's service.
7. How many basics can multitask with different accessories?
What simple top can you wear with jeans for a casual look, but can be dressed up with heels and nice jewelry for a dinner out? What dress is good for sightseeing, but with different shoes and jewelry, can take you to a dressier occasion? The more your clothes multitask, the fewer you have to take.
8. Do I have to sit on it (to get it closed)?
A packed suitcase is like a map: once you unfold it, it never really goes back the same way. If you leave the house with a suitcase that you can barely close, you'll return home with an additional bag. So, either plan for that, or leave a little room.
9. Am I a "Girl Scout" (i.e., always prepared)?
Especially if you're traveling internationally, make sure you do a little research on any special requirements for your destination. Is the electricity the same? Do you need a converter or adaptor? Do you need to dress a certain way? Do you have your passport, visa, hand sanitizer, ear plugs, extra batteries, and memory cards? Some things you can pick up at your destination. Others you've just got to remember to bring.
10. What would Lisa do? (One of the few times I have an example worth following.) :)
A couple things I learned from traveling is that I'm not happy if I'm hungry. So I always carry some snacks with me that I can carry in my purse. (I like Ostrim sticks, protein bars, or almonds.) I pack extra in my luggage and replenish my purse each day, so I'm never stranded without food. Then I have a little extra room in my suitcase on the way back after I've eaten them. This also means you don't have to choose between something you want to see, and dying of starvation.
I'm also not happy if I'm cold, so I always carry a wrap or two. A wrap can be your blanket on the plane, a scarf if it's not too cold, or a good bit of warmth if it is. They also take much less room than a jacket, are much easier to carry, and are much more versatile fashion wise (they can be dressy or casual).
If you received a paycheck for the job of being a mom, it would be $60,182 annually. Unfortunately, Mom has been hit by the recession, too, because that's about 2% lower than last year.
I had the opportunity to participate in the Charlottesville Marathon over the weekend. No... I did not run in it. I have never been, nor do I believe that I ever would be in that kind of shape! I volunteered to help out at the water stop for mile 13 and 16. It was set up right in front of the radio stations here on Rose Hill Drive, and several other staff members also volunteered to help.
I have to admit, it was much harder work than I thought it would be, in fact, I may have gotten the equivalent work out of running at least the 1/2 marathon. First, we poured water and gatorade into hundreds of cups and set them out on the table. Then, as the runners came by, we would hold a few cups, stand in the path of the runners and hand the cups to them as they raced by. I can't count how many times I walked back and forth from the running path to the table to grab more cups, and at one point, runners were coming at us from both directions.
The final step was the clean up, which included picking up all the cups that the runners through down on the ground as they gulped down the water and continued to run.
It was a long, hard morning, but it truly was an experience, and all the "thank you's" and smiles we got from the runners along the way made the hard work worthwhile!
Do you trust your state government? A new report may give you some serious cause for concern over our legislators in Richmond.
The Center for Public Integrity released its findings detailing the risk of corruption and lack of accountability in all 50 states. Each state was graded in 14 major categories including public access to information, legislative accountability, political financing and ethics enforcement agencies.
Virginia's overall grade was an F and was named the "4th most corrupt state" by this report. (Georgia was at the top of the list)
It's only the first day of Spring, but I've had watery eyes and a raspy voice for more than a week already. Spring allergies! The warm weather came early this year, so it seems as if the allergies are worse than usual.
If you think you have Spring allergies, check out this article from Web MD:
Over the weekend I had the pleasure of being one of the judges at the Miss Fluvanna pageant. I had never served on a panel of judges before so this was a completely new experience to me.
My fellow judges were Chuck, who is the president of the Ruritan Club in King George, VA and Emily who is a former Miss Louisa and plans to compete in the Miss Virginia pageant this year.
Let me say that judging this pageant was one of the toughest decisions of my life. There were only 4 contestants this year, but all four of them were very intelligent, charming and beautiful young women and any of them would have represented Fluvanna County very well in the Dogwood Festival and throughout the year.
A very special thank you to the Three Chopt Ruritan Club who sponsored the Miss Fluvanna Pageant.
By the way, Miss Fluvanna 2012 is Candace Ivy Collins
Well, we thought we weren't going to have a Winter this year, but we finally had some snow two weeks ago (which melted quickly), and this morning, well it must have been 6 inches that I cleaned off my car.
It's just around noon, however, the snow just stopped and it looks like the sun is trying to come out. Strange Winter, indeed!
After eight years your finally signing off. For six years, I never missed your show. Each week brought a new mystery illness, and you nearly killed the patient 5 times before finding the problem and the solution at the very end of the show. Your sarcasm made me love and hate you at the same time. Your brilliance amazed me.
Last year, however, the story lines started to become tired. I still watched, but not every week, and I didn't always pay attention.
This year, I watched a couple of episodes. Some characters had left. New ones came on board. But the show was no longer interesting.
I'm happy that you have decided to end it now. Many shows continue on too long and become victims of irrelevance. Admittedly, you should have ended last year, but at least you're ending before hitting rock bottom.
You've received many accolades over the years, all well-deserved. Thanks for so many years of great television!
Well, I guess Winter finally caught up with us. This is the third day in a row of wet/cold/icy weather. Too bad - I was feeling very upbeat until now with the warmer and dryer than usual winter we were experiencing.
When it's cold, and we have little or no sunlight, I definitely feel the effects of seasonal affective disorder. I eat too much, I lay around the house too much, and I just don't feel like getting out of bed.
If you feel like that, too, then check out this article about how to beat the most depressing time of the year:
When I was in high school, we wore caps and gowns for our yearbook photos. It's been a long time since I looked at a high school yearbook, so I don't know what the standards are these days.
A high school student from Durango, Colorado, Sydney Spies, went on "The Today Show" yesterday to reveal two of her photos that the yearbook editors in her high school rejected. I'll let you check out the photos here:
So it's not exactly a spread for but does it belong in a high school yearbook? They are very nice photos, and she's a beautiful girl, but these photos are more appropriate for a fashion magazine shoot. What do you think?
Goodbye 2011, hello 2012. My resolution this year is to be more dilligent in updating my blog, so here we go...
2011 was a tough year for my family. My mother, who lives with me, had two bad falls, two surgeries as a result of those falls and a month in a rehab hospital. She used to take care of me, now I take care of her. It has not been easy. I've never been married, nor have I ever raised children, so I'm not the nurturing type. I've learned to put a lot of her needs first.
It's not all bad. I get to spend a lot of time with my mother, which is something very special. We used to be more like roommates, but I feel like these circumstances have brought us closer.
I guess, however, the best thing to come out of 2011 was coming to Z95.1. The group of people that I work with here are the best I've had the opportunity to work with in many years. They work very hard, care about the work they do, and are very supportive of each other. I'm not sure how I would have gotten through the problems at home without these people to lean on.
Here's to 2012! I hope that we all have a year filled with happiness and good times.
Thanksgiving is done, and now everybody's thoughts have shifted to Christmas. Here are a few steps that you can take to make your Christmas more eco-friendly:
Trade in those incandescent lights for LEDs, which use a fraction of the energy.
Look for recycled content in wrapping paper. This can be difficult to find and may actually require online ordering, but expressing demand will help drive its availability.
Recycle your own wrapping paper, boxes and plastic packaging.
Scale back the elaborate outdoor displays. You can be festive without being Times Square.
If you do use outdoor light displays, use a timer so the lights are on display only at times when there is an audience.
Give your cookies away on a real plate or recyclable plate. Likewise, if you're hosting a party, either bite the bullet and actually do all those dishes or use recyclable ones.
Take the time in your holiday party aftermath to sort through all the cans and bottles that can be recycled.
Make good use of your green bin and/or compost bin this holiday season. Uneaten food from holiday dinners and parties can go in there, as can scraps from meal preparation, soiled napkins and paper food packaging, coffee grounds and tea bags, paper plates and your great aunt's famous fruitcake.
Consider asking those with whom you exchange gifts to make a charitable donation in your name. There is no packaging involved. Consider food banks and shelters or organizations that purchase animals or supplies for families in developing countries. For a truly green Christmas, your contribution could go toward environmental conservation.
When gift giving, try an experience present, such as tickets to a show or a night at a hotel. It's something personal that isn't loaded up with all that packaging.
Buy sustainable. Many stores offer fair-trade products.
Real trees are great, but consider artificial. If buying a real tree, look for trees that are grown locally. Many are shipped from a great distance consuming fuel to bring them to local Christmas tree lots.
Take reusable bags with you when you go Christmas shopping. Don't let all that extra shopping generate extra plastic.
Save your money, save the environment and spare yourself from long hours of looking for the proper gift items at the mall. Start a trend: show you care with some thoughtful homemade gifts. Local, organic, nutritious food items fresh out of your kitchen can work very well.
When practicing your out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new New Year routine, don't just throw out old toys, clothes, shoes and household items. All these items can be donated to organizations that support people less fortunate.
It's absolutely delicious, and it'll make Paula Deen proud, but it's quite dangerous to deep fry a turkey. If you're planning to indulge in this amazing delicacy on Thanksgiving, please follow these safety guidelines:
Fresh turkeys are safer, but if a frozen turkey is used, it must be completely thawed. Placing a frozen turkey into hot oil could cause an explosion or cause oil to spill over and ignite a fire. Oil and water, including ice crystals, do not mix.
Turkey fryers should be used on a flat, level surface and placed outdoors at a safe distance away from the house or combustible materials such as towels, food packaging materials or pot-holders.
Never use turkey fryers on a wooden deck or in a garage. Do not leave fryers unattended.
Wear safety goggles to prevent oil splatter, and use cooking mitts or insulated pot-holders when touching the fryers' pot or lid cover.
Lower the turkey into the pot slowly. If the oil bubbles, allow the bubbles to settle before lowering the bird the rest of the way. Do not overfill the fryer with oil.
Never allow the oil temperature to exceed 350 degrees, as oil can ignite at 375 degrees. The oil inside the fryer will be dangerously hot for hours after use, and should be allowed to cool completely before removing or storing.
Keep a fire extinguisher nearby when frying a turkey.
Once again this year, the Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are teaming up to get holiday cards from you to soldiers recovering in stateside hospitals and stationed overseas. This gives you the opportunity to thank the soldiers for their service and wish them the best for this holiday season. Send your cards to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
Here are the guidelines provided for sending cards from the Red Cross' website:
Card Guidelines
All cards being sent in for 2011 Holiday Mail For Heroes program should be postmarked no later than Friday, December 9, 2011.
Ensure that all cards are signed.
Use generic salutations such as "Dear Service Member." Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
Only cards are being accepted. Do not send letters.
Do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
Please refrain from sending holiday cards with glitter. Many of these cards will be delivered to military and veterans medical facilities and the glitter could interfere with a patient's recovery.
We encourage participants to mail as many cards as they are comfortable sending. If you are mailing a large quantity, please bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes or use a flat rate box from the post office. Each card does not need its own envelope, as cards will be removed from all envelopes before distribution.
I watched 20/20 last night with Diane Sawyer's interview with Gaby Giffords and Mark Kelly. Gaby Giffords is the Arizona congresswoman who was shot in the head last year and Mark Kelly is her astronaut husband. The gunshot left Gabby with a severe brain injury, the kind in which most people who suffer them don't survive, let alone come back to what we consider a "normal life." Gaby, however, is defying the odds, and in ten months can now walk again (not perfectly, but she's getting there) and is learning to speak again. Mark decided to have all of her therapy sessions documented on film and some of that footage was used for the piece on 20/20.
I was very taken with Gaby's story of coming back because my mother recently fell and broke her hip, and now she is in a rehab center going through therapy sessions every day. I have witnessed some of her sessions and seen her make a little bit of progress each day. There are sad days and happy days in therapy. It's a very slow process, and a lot of work.
I have a lot of respect for these extremely positive therapists who work one-on-one with patients. It takes a great deal of patience and an amazing attitude to do the job...a job which I know I could never do.
I watched 20/20 last night with Diane Sawyer's interview with Gaby Giffords and Mark Kelly. Gaby Giffords is the Arizona congresswoman who was shot in the head last year and Mark Kelly is her astronaut husband. The gunshot left Gabby with a severe brain injury, the kind in which most people who suffer them don't survive, let alone come back to what we consider a "normal life." Gaby, however, is defying the odds, and in ten months can now walk again (not perfectly, but she's getting there) and is learning to speak again. Mark decided to have all of her therapy sessions documented on film and some of that footage was used for the piece on 20/20.
I was very taken with Gaby's story of coming back because my mother recently fell and broke her hip, and now she is in a rehab center going through therapy sessions every day. I have witnessed some of her sessions and seen her make a little bit of progress each day. There are sad days and happy days in therapy. It's a very slow process, and a lot of work.
I have a lot of respect for these extremely positive therapists who work one-on-one with patients. It takes a great deal of patience and an amazing attitude to do the job...a job which I know I could never do.
Black Friday is just a few weeks away. It seems that most stores used to open around 6. A couple of years ago they started to open at 4, and now, Macy's and Target have announced that they will open at midnight. Also, a few years ago, KMart started to open on Thanksgiving Day.
Are you one of the many shoppers that set out before the crack of dawn to grab all kinds of bargains?
Me? Absolutely not! I do everything I can to avoid going anywhere near a store on Black Friday. Besides, it's one of the few days that I get to sleep in.
I love to shop, but not during the holidays. I usually pick up gift cards for my family and friends. They seem to be happier with that than with some "perfect" gift that I obsessed over picking out and fought crowds to buy. And, frankly, I'm happier when they give me a gift card to pick out my own gift or have a nice dinner. It takes away a lot of the stress of the holidays.
OK...it's not quite winter yet, but today is the first day I'm wearing a sweater and grabbed my winter coat before leaving the house. I've lived in colder climates than Central Virginia, but I just don't like it when the temperature dips below 60.
Although I was born in New York, my family moved to Florida when I was only two years old. The heat of summer generally doesn't bother me (unless it stays around 100 for more than 5 or 6 days in a row). My first real introduction to Winter came in a move to Maine in 1994. It was January. Just a couple of weeks earlier I went out looking at Christmas lights in my friend's convertible with the top down. I suddenly found myself in a place that had snow banks on the side of the road that were taller than me.
I would drive around very carefully, trying to keep my car from swerving and observing people pointing at my Florida license plates and laughing. Hey, at least I had a car with front wheel drive. Practically every morning I was outside sweeping snow off my car and chipping ice off of the windshield, while cursing my decision to leave Florida.
Eventually, I got used to it, and stayed in Maine for 5 winters. I feel as if those five years prepared me for any weather situation.
For the record, I have never dressed up Marvin in a Halloween costume. I've always thought that these hot dog costumes on dachshunds are adorable. This is just a picture of a dog that looks like Marvin.
In case you missed it, here is the entire list of Emmy Award Winners:
Outstanding comedy series: Modern Family Outstanding drama series: Mad Men
Outstanding miniseries or movie: Downton Abbey Outstanding lead actress, miniseries or movie: Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce
Outstanding supporting actor in a miniseries or movie: Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce Outstanding directing for a miniseries, movie or dramatic special: Brian Percival, Downton Abbey Outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or movie: Barry Pepper, The Kennedys Outstanding supporting actress, miniseries or movie: Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey Outstanding writing for a miniseries or movie: Julian Fellowes, Downton Abbey Outstanding lead actor, drama: Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights Outstanding lead actress, drama: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife Outstanding supporting actor, drama: Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones Outstanding directing, drama: Martin Scorsese, Boardwalk Empire Outstanding supporting actress, drama: Margo Martindale, Justified Outstanding writing, drama series: Jason Katims, Friday Night Lights Outstanding variety, music or comedy series: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Outstanding directing for a variety, music or comedy series: Don Roy King, Saturday Night Live (host: Justin Timberlake) Outstanding writing for a variety, music or comedy series: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Outstanding reality competition: The Amazing Race
Outstanding lead actress, comedy: Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly) Outstanding lead actor, comedy series: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory Outstanding writing for a comedy: Steve Levitan, Jeffrey Richman ("Caught in the Act"), Modern Family
Outstanding director, comedy: Michael Alan Spiller ("Halloween"), Modern Family
Outstanding supporting actor, comedy:Ty Burrell (Modern Family) Outstanding supporting actress, comedy: Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
