Best.Advice.Ever. part 5

If you missed the first 2 parts of this, check them out here. This obviously is to do with my absolute obsession with "Everybody Must Wear Sunscreen" If you haven't seen the video, it is posted on part 1, or you can easily youtube it.

Dont be reckless with other peoples hearts, dont put up with people who
are reckless with yours.

Just like "treat others the way you want to be treated" but with a twist...Respect others, but give yourself the respect that you reserve...inside AND out. Respect your body, your mind, your heart, and your soul; don't compromise yourself just because it will make someone else happy. If they really care about you and love you, they won't be reckless with you and won't make you put up with any of that.

Soothe Away Your Stress part 5

If you missed the other parts, check them out here

Here are five more tips from Good Housekeeping's Kate Hanley on how to reduce and soothe away your stress.

Little Altars Everywhere:

Invite something new into your life — whether it’s a relationship, friendship, job, or solution to a particularly vexing problem — by placing a representation of what you're hoping for in your sanctuary. It could be a baby rattle if you'd like another child, a fancy pen if you'd like a new job, or something heart-shaped if you'd like to find a new love. You’ll be giving yourself a visible reminder of your dreams and inspiration to stay hopeful and open.

Comfort Yourself:

Know how a cranky child magically transforms into a little angel after a nap? Today, treat yourself to five minutes of rest. Gather two firm pillows, then sit on your heels on the floor. Keeping your toes together, open the knees wide and stack the pillows between your knees. Rest your torso on the pillows, head turned to one side. Breathe here, releasing tension with each exhale. After several breaths, turn your head to the other side.

Tennis Ball Massage:

This week during Grey’s Anatomy reruns, treat yourself to a DIY massage. Lie back on the floor with your torso supported on your elbows, and place two tennis balls on either side of your spine just above your buttocks. Sink into the balls and breathe deeply, then roll the balls an inch higher. Repeat until you reach your neck, giving extra time to any place that feels especially tight — it should take 15-20 minutes and feel absolutely McDreamy.

Celebrate Yourself:

Remember when Mom used to make your favorite meal for your birthday, and how great it made you feel? Pretend it's your birthday this week and treat yourself to one of your very favorite things — whether it's homemade mac and cheese, a bouquet of fresh flowers, or even a nap. When you make it a point to treat yourself well, other people will be more likely to do the same.

Learn a Relaxing Yoga Move:

As much as we hear the word "relaxation," few people know how to actually achieve it (Sadly, watching TV doesn't count). This pose, called Legs Up the Wall, calms your nervous system and leaves you feeling truly relaxed and refreshed. Lie on your side in the fetal position with your feet a few inches away from a wall. Roll onto your back and swing your legs up against the wall. Straighten your legs and inch your buttocks in towards the wall. Lie quietly in this position, breathing deeply for as long as it feels good.

Losing Weight without an Official Diet

It's not always easy to make the best choices about what to eat, especially when we can't immediately think of the healthier alternatives. This article from Cosmopolitan gives some suggestions on how to cut calories at every meal with out sacrificing satisfaction or ending the meal and still being hungry.

Easy Ways to Cut 100 Calories at Every Meal

These food subtractions are so painless, you won’t be able to tell the difference—until you’re pulling up your skinny jeans.

BY ZOE RUDERMAN

The science is simple: Eating fewer calories makes you drop pounds. But depriving yourself by skimping on meals and banishing snacks only makes you hungry and pissed off. Plus, you are more likely to binge in the end anyway. The real solution lies in cutting out just a few little extra items from each meal (truly, your taste buds won’t even realize their absence) as well as making some food swaps so you sacrifice one fat-bomb ingredient and replace it with a more flavorful option. Incorporate a few of these ideas into your day and you’ll soon feel lighter and—as a bonus—healthier.

•Instead of one croissant, eat two pieces of whole-wheat toast with a smidge of butter or cream cheese on each slice.

•Scoop out the white-bread inside of your plain bagel.

•Order or whip up an egg-white scramble with two pieces of turkey bacon rather than a whole-egg omelette with two pieces of pork bacon.

•Use 4 tablespoons of hummus instead of 2 tablespoons of regular mayonnaise on your sandwich. Or go with mustard, which is practically calorie-free (just 3 in each little packet!).

•Dress your salad with 1 tablespoon each of oil and vinegar in place of creamy ranch dressing.

•Eat your French-or Italian-bread sandwich/hero open-faced so you consume only one slice of bread.

•Opt for a 1-cup serving of no-butter microwave popcorn rather than munching on a bag of potato chips.

•Snack on a medium-size cup of low-fat frozen yogurt in lieu of a candy bar.

•Skip the croutons, halve the Parmesan dressing, and say no to extra cheese on top of your Caesar salad.

•Eat two part-skim string cheeses instead of a plate of three crackers with whole-milk cheese cubes.

•Skip the cheese and sour cream that often come as toppings on a bowl of chili or a baked potato.

•Pass on the roll or pretzel stick that arrives with your soup or salad.

•Order your burger sans cheese.

•Nosh on a handful of pretzels at the bar during happy hour rather than the same amount of nuts.

•Say no when your server offers fresh grated Parmesan cheese on your pasta.

•Replace your vodka tonic with a vodka soda. (Soda water, like regular water, has nada calories.)

•Dunk 10 tortilla chips in salsa, not guacamole.

•Share a small order of spicy wings on the bone instead of breaded chicken wings.

•When you cook at home, use a spray like Pam to coat the pan (spritz for one full second) instead of using a tablespoon of olive oil.

•Put a dollop of Tru Whip on your slice of pie or cake rather than 2 tablespoons of hot fudge or chocolate syrup.

Fight that Fatigue

Day to day activities can be exhausting, whether it's work, school, daily drama, family issues, etc. Use these tips from Ladies Home Journal to help fight your fatigue and keep yourself from getting overly exhausted.

10 Fatigue Fighters

When you're feeling run-down and exhausted, try one of these methods for an energy -- or attitude -- boost.

By Theresa Tamkins

A Well-Rounded You

You know you haven't run a marathon, climbed a mountain, or even done much more than slog through a giant stack of paperwork -- so why do you feel exhausted at the end of every day? That's the tricky thing about stress: it can make you feel mentally and physically exhausted. If you're so pooped you can't socialize, enjoy hobbies, or participate in activities that make you happy, it's time to reassess. Find the fatigue fighter that leaves you feeling relaxed, refreshed, and invigorated.

1. Exercise. It may seem counterintuitive -- you're so tired you can barely drag yourself home at the end of the day, so why would running a few miles help? The fact is, exercise is one of the best ways to combat fatigue. More movement, not less, boosts energy levels. And you can exercise without leaving the comfort of your own home. Invest in some 8- or 10-pound weights and do some work on your arms while you're watching TV or talking on the phone. Or buy an aerobic workout video and do 20 minutes in the morning for a before-work cardio-boost.

2. Sleep. It sounds simple, but how often are you getting a good night's sleep? If you actually keep a log of your sleep habits, you may find that your late-night puttering is robbing you of precious hours of shut-eye. Set a bedtime for yourself, and stick to it.

3. Healthy diet. Stick to a healthy diet. While sugary snacks and caffeine-laden soft drinks may give you a short-term boost, they will quickly dump you into a low-energy slump. So what should you eat instead? Try dried apricots along with one ounce of almonds for a low-fat energy boost -- this combo snack gives you up to 50 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A, and 20 percent of your daily iron allowance. Raisins and yogurt, or a fresh peach are some other nutrition-packed snacks that can help you boost your energy levels.

4. Cooling eye mask. Okay, you may feel a little silly, but who cares how you look? These eye masks typically contain a cold-retaining gel. Keep a few in the fridge and pop them on at the end of the day when your eyes are burning from computer glare or throbbing with tension. Look a little funny, feel fantastic.

5. Pounding beat. Put on some music that gets you going. Remember when you could dance until dawn and watch the sun rise? Those days may be long gone, but your old AC/DC album may give you just enough energy to clean the kitchen. Or try an energizing yoga workout to rejuvenate your body and mind.

Wash Your Fatigue Away

6. Astringent. Whether they contain herbal extracts, essential oils, or pore-tightening alcohol, astringents are a slightly tart face wash that are meant to be invigorating and refreshing. Choose your favorite and give it a try. At the very least, you'll smell nice and have squeaky-clean skin.

7. Just say no. To too many commitments, that is. Are you feeling exhausted because you're trying to do too much? It may be time to say no every once in a while. And if the negative is super-hard for you to say, then practice with a qualified yes. As in, "Yes I can serve on the PTA committee, but I can't do it this month. How about next month?"

8. Soak your fatigue away. Take a hot bath -- the warm water loosens tight muscles and cuts stress, leaving you with more energy. A hot soak can erase the day's tensions and leave you ready to face the rest of your evening with a little bit of pep. Plus, it will help you sleep better.

9. See a doctor. If your fatigue is persistent, and you have other symptoms, such as trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, or a loss of interest in your usual activities, you may want to talk to your doctor. Such symptoms can be a sign of depression.

10. Take a walk. Take a break at work or at home. Some fresh air can help clear your mind and fight that foggy feeling. Believe it or not, walking can help you fight off the blues. A recent Duke University Medical Center study found that a quick 10-minute walk may be enough to make clinically depressed people feel better. The study involved a group of inactive, depressed people who were 50 and older. After just eight minutes of walking, 82 percent of them said they felt less tense, tired, and angry.