Win an Ipod Nano

Developmental Dimensions International, a global human resources consulting firm, is looking for executives in hospitals and health care delivery to answer questions in a survey. The survey is designed to help DDI keep focused on your needs during their annual business planning. The survey isn't long, only about ten minutes.

At the end of the survey, if you're interested in entering the drawing for the free Ipod Nano, you'll be asked to enter your name, organization, and email. The survey closes on June 22, 2008, and the drawing will be held June 23, 2008. One winner will be randomly selected.

DDI appreciates your participation in their "Quest for Health Care Excellence" survey.

To take the survey, click here.

Beat The Soda Pop Addiction

I'm a big soda drinker. My favorite is Mountain Dew. I know it's not healthy, but I drink it anyway. I also know that if I could just cut back, I would lose a few extra pounds rather quickly. Yet, I still drink it.

I found a really great article that can help with the soda pop addiction that quite a few of us most certainly have. If you're looking to quit the pop cold turkey, or just cut back, there are some wonderful idea in the article to get you through.

How To Beat The Soda Pop Addiction

I used to be a heavy cola drinker (somewhere between 2 to 4 cans a day) and I decided that for me, cola was ok in moderation but drinking it daily in the amounts that I was just wasn’t a healthy habit.

I found the trick to kicking the soda pop addiction was finding a replacement beverage that satisfied both the convenience and taste factor.
What I most liked about drinking soda was that it was nice and cold, easy to grab and go and had some “texture” to it (the carbonated beverage). Although I like a bit of fruit juice, it was too “syrupy” for me to find it satisfying as a main beverage and plain water wasn’t doing it either. Here’s a replacement beverage that worked for me:

Healthy Soda Pop Replacement

Keep a jug of water refrigerated at all times. It has to be prepared fresh daily or sealed well because once it tastes a bit stale, you’re turned off of it for awhile.

Squeeze fresh lemon or lime juice in the water, as much as you like, tossing in the just squeezed fruit wedges too.

To read more great tips on how to beat the soda pop addiction, read the rest of the article here.

Down Time to Stay Healthy

Life is fast-paced. There isn't much time for rest and relaxation anymore. I can't remember the last time we took a family vacation. It's just too darned expensive.

One thing I'm finding out as I get older though, is we tend to take things for granted. My kids are growing up, and too soon they will be off on their own. I'm beginning to think that family vacations should be a necessity. Something we can do together, to have memories near and dear to our hearts for the rest of our lives.

And what about the health benefits? Every day life is stressful, there's no doubt about that. A vacation would be the perfect way to destress. A whole week of no worries. Just rest and relaxation and fun.

What about Orlando vacations. A little fun in the sun does a body good! The kids would love the water parks, and I can so picture myself on the beach! I can feel the stress slipping away just thinking about it!

Done In Five Minutes!

If you have some chores around the house that you absolutely hate to do, and put off doing them until they can't be ignored anymore, then here's a tip for you!

What I've found works for me is breaking the chores down into small "bits". What I mean is for example, I hate cleaning out the refrigerator. It always seems like such a big job. But, if I break the job down to say, one shelf at a time, the job doesn't seem so bad. One day I'll clean the top shelf, getting rid of any old food, and wiping down that area. Done for the day. The next day, I tackle the next shelf, doing the same thing. Done. The third day, I clean the drawers and wipe out the bottom. All done! The fridge is clean!

You can apply this concept to other areas in the home too. If you spend five minutes each day on each task, you'll find yourself keeping things cleaner, easier.

Another tip? While waiting for the coffee to brew or your meal to cook in the microwave, do a couple of the five minute chores!

Boost Your Immune System to Stay Healthy

As the seasons switch from the freezing cold of winter into the warmer days of summer, our bodies have to do some adjusting. It seems that every time the seasons change, we're more susceptible to sickness, especially people with weak immune systems to begin with. Conditions such as asthma or diabetes can make it easier for a person to catch whatever is going around.

Taking good care of ourselves is important, and a good way to boost immunity is to eat healthy and take immunity boosting supplements. My recommendation is to look for products that use things found in nature to boost your immune system. Products that contain anti-oxidants are sure to keep you healthy and make you feel great!

Freezing Temps at Night?

Here in Wisconsin, we're still experiencing near-freezing, if not freezing, temperatures at night. Last night, it got down to 31º here, and a couple hours north of here where my parents live, it was in the twenties.

With flowers blooming, or trying to, the freezing temps at night do them absolutely no good, and can actually kill them. That's why, if you are having the same crazy weather we're having here, you need to go out when you know it's going to be cold overnight, and cover your newly blooming flowers to protect them from the cold.

You can use just about anything. I like to use old bedsheets. They are light enough that they don't hurt the plant, but enough to keep the frost off. You can use buckets or towels, too. Anything will work, as long as it's not too heavy. Be sure to uncover the plants in the morning, though.

Hopefully, we won't have to do this for much longer. Once temperatures start staying in the forties at night, you shouldn't have to cover your plants anymore.

Wine Racks

A great way to dress up your kitchen is with a wine rack. A wine rack adds a touch of class and the different colored bottles are very attractive.

WineRackStore.com has quite a variety of quality wine racks. Whether you're looking for a wine rack for in your kitchen, or racks for in your cellar, you're sure to find what you're looking for here. They even offer free shipping on every wine rack.

Take Care of Your Mattress

A lot of people don't realize that there are things you can do to make your mattresses last longer. A mattress is big and cumbersome, but it still needs special attention. Use these tips to keep your mattress newer longer.

1. Turn a mattress over, and rotate it end to end every three weeks for three months. Do the same every couple of months thereafter.

2. To keep a mattress from sliding around on the box spring underneath, place a nonslip rubber mat between the two.

3. Don't use the handles on the sides to lift the mattress. They aren't designed to handle that kind of weight. They are intended for moving the mattress while on the bed.

4. Allow the mattress to air out in the sun once in a while. It will keep the mattress fresh and clean smelling.

Metal Roofing-Yes or No?

I used to live in a house that had a metal roof. When it would rain, you could hear it plink-plink-plinking on the roof at night. It was a relaxing sound, I thought.

There are quite a few advantages to having metal roofing on your house. The main factor is the time and money you'll save in the long run. A metal roof almost never needs to be repaired or replaced. Once you decide to put a metal roof on your house, you'll probably never have to worry about it again.

Also, you'll save money on your energy bill! Metal roofing offers insulating properties that save on heating and cooling costs!

Since a metal roof can be placed over an old, existing shingled roof, there is less waste to haul away. In addition, if for some reason you should decide you want to remove your metal roof, it is completely recyclable! How's that for being eco-friendly?

If you've been thinking that it's time to replace your roof, consider going metal. Not only will you save money, you'll be lulled to sleep by the gentle pitter-patter of rain on the roof.

KFC Twister Wrap

I won't usually talk about fast food on here, since the majority of it isn't a healthy choice, but I thought I'd kind of bend the rules a little bit today and talk about the Kentucky Fried Chicken Twister Wrap. We stopped there today for lunch while we were out running around.

I wasn't really in the mood for a heavy, greasy meal, so I ordered a Twister wrap. I was expecting a small little snack wrap. You know, kind of like the McDonald's Snack Wrap. It's not very big. But to my surprise, this wrap was huge! So huge, I couldn't finish it all. And to make it even better, it was, for the most part, a healthy choice!

It comes with two chicken strips, lettuce, tomatoes, and a ranchy-type sauce. I thought it was pretty good, and with a side of veggies, was a pretty nice lunch. If you get the chance to try it, do so. If you're like me, you'll have half to take home for lunch the next day!

Wendy Culpepper Jewelry

I'm a big jewelry fanatic. It doesn't matter if it's real or costume. If it's pretty, I'll wear it. My favorite piece of jewelry is a necklace, and I own several. Usually when I'm shopping, I always have to make a pass through the jewelry department to see if there's something I just can't live without.

I wanted to share with you a website I found that sells beautiful designer jewelry. The Wendy Culpepper collection is handcrafted, contemporary, and unique in silver, gold vermeil, and fine gold. It has been featured in People Magazine, and is absolutely gorgeous!

It's All Coming Together

I've been a busy little beaver the last couple of days. The weather has been cooperating for the most part, so I've been out in my garden, trying to make some sense out of the jungle the previous owners left.

Today, I finished (kind of) a flower bed I've had in mind for a year or so now. I still need to plant my flowers in it, but the general layout is done. I'm pretty proud of it, if I do say so myself!

Imagine it filled with flowers, and tell me what you think!

All-in-One Acne Treatment

How would you like to get rid of unsightly acne and combine your entire beauty treatment into one, easy step? No more washing, then exfoliating, then toning, then moisturizing. All you'd have to do is wash and go.

For the best acne treatment, try Acnexus. Acnexus contains twenty-seven all natural acne fighting ingredients and no chemicals. It works in as little as one day to get rid of acne and red, blotchy skin, guaranteed!

Cleanse, exfoliate, repair, renew, revitalize, moisturize, supplement, and nourish all in one step!

Asthma Inhaler Tip

Here's a little tip I came up with to store your inhaler in a purse or backpack. My son, Timothy, has asthma. He needs to carry his inhaler to school, but is always coming to me with an empty inhaler even though he hasn't used it all. The reason is, inside his backpack, the plunger gets pushed by the normal use of the backpack, causing the inhalant to spray out inside his backpack.

Yesterday at WalMart while filling his inhaler prescription, yet again, I decided to find something to put the inhaler in that would prevent the dispersment of the inhaler inside his backpack. I first scoured the Housewares department, but couldn't find anything small enough. Then it hit me!

In the Health and Beauty department is travel products. Sample size shampoos and soaps. Also, there are travel sized empty containers to put your products in without having to carry the big bottles. I ended up buying one of those travel soap containers that you put a bar of soap in. The inhaler fit perfectly and doesn't take up a lot of room in his backpack!

Acne Chicago Dermatologist

If you're in the Chicago area and in need of dermatological services, be sure to visit Acne Chicago. They specialize in acne laser treatment, hair removal, and Restylane treatments, among other procedures.

Don't let bad skin determine who you are. There's beauty in all of us. Feel as good on the outside as you know you are on the inside. Better skin means bigger smiles!

Laundry Sorting-My Way

With a family of five, there's always laundry to be done. Laundry is my job, every day. I have a system for getting it done that I think works pretty well. Sorting the laundry might seem like common sense, and it probably is, but I've learned a couple things over the years that keeps our clothes looking good and lasting longer.

Sorting is key.

1. Separate colors and whites. (I know, common sense. But stay with me.)

2. Wash jeans separately. Jeans are heavy duty, and are rough on other clothing if washed together. Buttons and zippers are hazardous to their health. I found this out the hard way many years ago when I threw one of my favorite t-shirts in with a load of jeans and it came out of the washer twisted and mangled in the zipper of one pair.

3. Wash towels separately. Dark colored towels in one load, light colored towels in another load. Trust me. Your towels will last longer and look nicer this way.

4. With five people in the house, there's usually enough socks by the end of the week to do a whole load. I will do a whole load of socks, setting the washer to soak for a half hour before washing. This allows me to add bleach/vinegar to the soak cycle and the socks come out sparkling white.

5. Wash any delicates separately. The ideal thing to do is to put them in a nylon laundering bag to wash so they don't get tangled, but if you don't have a bag, washing them separately is still good.

6. Wash all other colored clothes together, paying attention to colors. Wash dark colors with dark colors, light colors with light colors.

7. Any other white clothes besides socks can be washed together.

8. My husband is a machinist, so his work clothes are absolutely disgusting. These get washed separately.

I don't know if any of this will help any of you or not, but it's what works for me.

Oh, and one more thing. This is one of my biggest pet peeves around here. If and when someone else in the house decides to do a load of laundry, they take whatever is in the dryer and throw it in a basket, leaving it to wrinkle. I personally hang and fold everything directly out of the dryer so nothing wrinkles. The key is to do it while the clothes are still warm!

Locked vs. Unlocked

A locked cell phone can only be used under the carrier that issued the phone. If you received your phone through, let's say Sprint, that phone will only operate through Sprint. On the other hand, an unlocked phone will work with any service provider.

Buy.com carries a wide variety of unlocked GSM phones. If you're looking for an unlocked cell phone at the lowest price, check out Buy.com.

New Fence For My Peonies

This weekend's project consisted of making a fence for my Peonies. They are well established, growing huge and covering the sidewalk that runs in front of them. This wouldn't be a problem except the beautiful flowers get trampled by dogs and children as they run through my garden.

So, I enlisted the help of my husband, Mike. Between the two of us, we crafted this fence that will do wonders in keeping my Peonies looking their best.

All it took was an eight foot long lattice, cut in half lengthwise, some scrap wood that we had laying around to make a frame, some screws, and some white paint.

Isn't it beautiful?

(The butterfly in the front is a project made by my oldest in Metals class at school. He sanded it and painted it for me this weekend too! What a kid!)

Great Buys

If you're like me, you like to get the most for your money. It doesn't matter what I'm shopping for, I always comparison shop. I even compare online. What I've found on occasion is that you can get the best buy at Buy.com. I've found some really great things there, especially for my home and garden. Buy.com is one of the first places I check when I'm interested in buying something.

Buy.com also has a great electronics selection. I recommend checking them out before making a purchase any where else.

Pet Stain Removal

In order to remove pet stain, you do need to react quickly to it. The enzymes in the stain will work quickly to cause discoloration and odor. The longer this is left on the carpet or flooring, the harder it will be for you to get the stain out fully. Quick work is in order any time that it is possible for that to happen.

Clean Effectively

There are many things that you can do wrong to cause that stain to set in your carpeting. Therefore, it is essential for you to get through the stain as quickly as possible and to do it the right away. Here are some basic steps for a basic level of cleaning.

Use a dry terry cloth to blot the stain to remove any liquid possible.

Remove any loose debris carefully, without rubbing it into the carpeting or flooring more so.

Use a solution of 50% water to 50% vinegar on the stain. Spray onto it.

Blot the stain with a dry, clean terry cloth to remove the stain.

Repeat as necessary.

If the vinegar solution is not effective at removing the stain, another solution is to add baking soda to the mixture and apply to the area. Just a few teaspoons are all that you need for a successful cleaning. This will cause a chemical reaction with the vinegar and together they will reactivate stains that have been sitting for too long to remove them completely.

If after the carpeting dries, you still smell odor, sprinkle the area with baking soda and let it sit overnight. In the morning, vacuum the area. The baking soda will have pulled all the odor out of the carpet completely.

Are You Covered?

Summer is just around the corner, and we're just now entering that time of hear when storms and hurricanes are our number one concern when it comes to our homes. Are you covered in case a tornado brings your house to its foundation? Do you have enough coverage to pick up the pieces if a hurricane should hit?

Don't take these things lightly. Don't think these things couldn't happen to you. It seems there are more and more storms producing damage lately, and you can't take for granted that your home will make it through.

When it comes time to renew your home owner's insurance, be sure to check out HomeInsurance.com for home insurance quotes . Don't be left out in the cold should tragedy strike.

Younger Looking Skin

Limit sun exposure and protect your skin with sunblock when in the sun.

Use a mask to tone and tighten your skin. The tightening effect is cosmetic and temporary, a mask has other benefits such as cleaning out your pores, and conditioning your skin.

Brighten droopy eyes by grooming eyebrows. This gives the illusion of lifted lids, and having more skin showing at the brow bone opens up the entire eye.

Instant Eye Lift by curling your eye lashes.

Downplay wrinkles by applying highlighter to creases.

Don't use face powder, it can collect in creases and make wrinkles more prominent.

Put your hair in a ponytail. It’s a youthful hairstyle, and Bangs do a great job of hiding forehead wrinkles.

Use a good moisturizer to hydrate and plump up your skin cells.

Cut back on caffeine. Caffeine makes it very unlikely that the skin cells will ever pick up enough water, even if you drink a gallon of water a day.

Avoid Yo-Yo dieting. Yo-Yo dieting will cause your skin to stretch and become less elastic.

Reduce or eliminate dairy. Dairy products are for many people difficult to digest and mucous-forming. Try soy or rice milk as substitutions.

Try not to frown. Over time, the frown lines will become more visible.

Avoid cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke exposes you to damaging free radicals that will accelerate the aging process by damaging the micro capillaries in the skin.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoid refined sugars, flours and processed foods.

Exercise regularly.

Lap Band-Is It Right For You?

If you've been struggling with your weight for years, losing two pounds here, only to gain five pounds there, then you might be interested in the Lap Band.

And if you're in the Tampa area, you can check out lap band central florida for more information. This is a program brought to you by JouneyLite.com. The program guides you through every step of the journey. From the evaluation process to determine if the Lap Band system is right for you to the aftercare following your surgery. Each step is specifically tailored with your success in mind.

Vacuuming Dos and Don'ts

Vacuuming is one of the easiest chores you do, and should be common sense. But, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it efficiently and effectively. Follow these tips to keep your floors looking as good as they can.

Vacuuming Dos

DO vacuum regularly. Once a week is good. Twice a week is better.

DO move furniture. If you're not moving and vacuuming under everything except the heavy furniture, you're leaving behind dust that accumulates and could cause problems in people with allergies or asthma.

DO "edge". That crevice tool that hangs from the vacuum isn't just there for looks. Take it out and use it to get into place the vacuum can't reach.

DO use the other tools, too. That's what they're there for.

DO replace filters periodically. A clogged filter will diminish suction power.

Vacuuming Don'ts

DON'T rush. Every time you make a pass with the vacuum, you are pulling more and more dirt out of the carpet. Make as much as five to ten passes over high traffic areas.

DON'T let the bag/canister get too full. The fuller the bag/canister, the less suction power your vacuum has. Change or empty regularly.

DON'T vacuum hardwood floor with the brush on. It could damage the floor. If you can't turn the brush off, avoid using the vacuum on these types of floors.

DON'T neglect your vacuum. Vacuums need regular maintenance. Belts wear out and brushes wear down, making you think it's not performing the way it should. Most vacuum stores offer maintenance services.

Term Life Insurance

You may be in perfect health, and the thought of how your final expenses will be taken care of is the furthest thing from your mind. But, it's never too soon to start thinking about taking care of your family should you pass. How will your home be paid? And your unpaid credit card bills? What about your burial expenses? Will your family be able to take care of all these things themselves?

If you don't know where to start, let me make a suggestion. Globe Life offers term life insurance starting at $1 for $50,000 in coverage to start. For children, $1 gets you $20,000 in coverage to start. There are no medical exams or waiting periods.

It couldn't be easier or cheaper than that, and it's well worth the peace of mind. You'll be glad you did it, and your family will be, too.

Tips to Get Rid of Those Pesky Pests

It's that time of year again when those buggy bugs start invading our homes, trying to take over and make a home for themselves. I have a list of remedies that can naturally deter these unwanted visitors from coming inside.

Ant Control:

Spread some ground cinnamon where you think the ants are coming in to the house.

Basil repels flies and mosquitoes. To deter ants, use catnip. Sprinkle it in their paths.

Make a mixture of 2/3 cup water, 1/3 cup white vinegar, and 2-3 Tablespoons dish soap. Spray where the ants are marching.

Natural Mosquito Repellents:

Splashing plain rubbing alcohol on yourself and allowing it to dry will deter mosquitoes from biting you.

Rub Vick's Vaporub® on your pants and legs to ward off ticks.

Use half vanilla (has to be pure vanilla) and half water and for a mosquito and tick repellent.

Dab lavender oil on your pulse points; it smells great on you but repels insects.

For Mouse Control:

Place USED kitty litter from a litter box in small tubs in several places around the garage. Mice think... "it smells like a cat--must be a cat - I'm outta here!". (Now, I've never used this method myself, and I don't know about the smell, but it might work.)

Buy a mesh/net laundry bag that you would use for washing nylons and 5 boxes of moth balls. Put the moth balls in the bag and hang it in your garage near the door to get rid of mice, birds, and bugs.

To prevent mice from gaining entry to your garage, stop up any openings with steel wood pads. Mice will not chew through these!

Sprinkle ground cayenne pepper around the garage (inside & out), and especially near entry holes. Pests don't care for the smell of it.

Mice hate the scent of peppermint extract. Simply sprinkle *pure* peppermint extract on the items in your garage you don't want the mice in or on.

Live in Luxury

I am always looking for ways to make my home more inviting. It's easy to furnish a home, and it's easy to slap some pictures on the wall and call it decorated. What is hard is making everything come together to create a welcome, warm, inviting place for the people that live there and anyone who visits.

I spend quite a bit of time on the Internet and in the household section at the store looking for just the right "thing" to add to my decor. I like interesting. I like luxurious. I like different.

I found a great website called Upside Living. They have a wonderful variety of the "things" I'm always looking for. Not only do they have products for the home, they have wonderful pieces for in the garden, too. This is a big plus for me since I have a big flower garden behind my house that I spend quite a bit of time in. I like every aspect of my house to shine.

Upside Living also has quite a section for gift giving. A lot of the gifts are unique. Definitely the place to go for something different for the person that already has everything. Guaranteed, they won't have something from Upside Living.

In my garden, I'm a wind chimes collector. I have them hanging everywhere, and Upside Living has some really beautiful chimes on their site. My favorite is the hummingbird set.

List of Tips

This list of tips covers a variety of health related topics.

1. Pain Relief - Mix 3 tbsp. in boiling water and drink. Honey has natural pain relieving qualities.

2. Quit smoking - Lick a bit of salt with the tip of you tongue every time you have an urge for a smoke. This is said to break the habit within a month.

3. Arthritis - A daily serving of fish or fish oil capsules will help give relief of arthritis pain.

4. Asthma - Mix 1 tsp. honey with 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and take at night before going to bed. Avoid aspirin as it may invoke an attack.

5. Bruises - Slice a raw onion and place it over the bruise. Do not place over broken skin.

6. Gum in hair - Soak hair with gum stuck in it in Coke. It should wipe out easily.

7. Insect bites - combine cornstarch and water to make a paste. Apply it to the bite. This works to draw out the poison. This mixture is also good for diaper rash.

Alcohol Abuse Treatment Center

One of the most important things I try to teach my kids is that drinking and driving do not mix. I personally know of someone that has a drinking problem and he drinks and drives on a regular basis. He drinks in excess daily, making his friends and family miserable. No matter how much his family begs, he will not quit drinking and then getting behind the wheel.

His family has tried unsuccessfully to get him into an alcohol rehab. I guess all they can do is be there when he finally decides to get help.

If you know of someone that has a drinking problem, don't give up on them. Help them to get the help they need.

Dry Elbow Treatment

Dry elbows are not only painful, they are unsightly. If you suffer from dry elbow patches, or ankles, or knees, try these tips to get rid of them and have smooth, moisturized skin.

Sugar Scrub

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup olive oil

Mix ingredients in a bowl. Massage scrub into dry patches. Leave on for thirty minutes then wash off.

Crisco

Apply Crisco to elbows before bedtime. Cover with an old pair of socks that have the toes cut out to protect clothing and bedding. In the morning, your elbows will be much improved.

Lemon Salt Scrub

Squeeze the juice out of two halves of a lemon. Add salt and use as an exfoliant to sluff away dead, dry skin. Then, lean on a table with each elbow in each half of the lemon you just squeezed. Remain this way for ten minutes. Repeat daily until dark patches are gone.

Lemon Soft Scrub

Combine fresh lemon juice and baking soda to form a thick paste. Apply to elbows, massaging to exfoliate. Leave on for fifteen minutes then rinse. Apply a thick moisturizer or Vaseline.

If you have thick dry patches, you may need to repeat these tips multiple times to achieve beautiful, smooth skin.

Labels, Labels, and More Labels

If you have the need for high quality labels, you need to check out LabelWorldUSA.com. They offer high quality labels made with a digital flexibility that lets you differentiate packaging for instant, impactful sales.

LabelWorld makes labels on a large scale for big businesses. From a Wine Label to security labeling, they pride themselves in making labels for every need quickly and efficiently.

Help For Snoring

This is a little tip I discovered that helps snore sufferers and the people that sleep with them. I discovered it by accident, and after many years of sleeping with a snorer.

First, let me tell you a story.

My husband Mike snores. And I don't mean, a little rumble. I mean, freight train coming through the bedroom every night, snore. It actually shakes the bed.

When we were first married, one night he was snoring. I was laying awake, as usual, trying to get to sleep despite the noise. I had already nudged him, made him change positions, and woke him up out of a dead sleep to try to get him to stop, to no avail.

Finally, incredibly tired and irritated, I reached over and pinched his nose shut. This, I found out, was the wrong thing to do. He woke up swinging, spitting and sputtering like he was underwater. I got punched in the mouth, purely by accident, because his arms were swinging wildly. He thought he was dying! As funny as it sounds now, it wasn't funny then. He was mad, and I was hurt. It did nothing to stop the snoring, because as soon as his eyes closed again, he was back at it.

We've been married almost twelve years, and every night has been the same. He's used sprays, things ON his nose, things UP his nose, you name it, he's tried it. I've worn ear plugs to sleep in even though my ears hurt in the morning. I've slept on the couch, missing the alarm the next morning for school. It's been, to put it politely, terrible.

The other night, it was warm in our bedroom, so Mike got a small fan and put it in our room. He didn't point it directly at us, but rather away from us. It was just enough to get the air moving in the room so it didn't seem so stuffy.

That night, he didn't snore. I slept straight through the night.

The next night was cooler, so we didn't run the fan. Mike snored something terrible again. After laying there listening to him for an hour it dawned on me. I got up and turned the fan on. Within fifteen minutes, he quit snoring! He didn't snore again the rest of the night.

So, without fail, we run the fan every night. I don't know why it works. It could be that the air is moving in the room, or maybe it's the sound of the motor. I don't know. What I do know is that Mike doesn't snore anymore. If he does, it's a quiet rumble that doesn't bother me at all. No more ear plugs, either! My ears have never been so happy!

If you snore, or if you sleep with someone that snores, give the fan a try. Like I said, I don't know if it's the movement of air or the sound, so a ceiling fan may not work since they are so quiet.

Experiment a little and let me know what you come up with. I'm curious to know if this helps anyone else or not, and whether it's the air movement or the noise. Leave me a comment and let me know!

Having A Baby?

Are you pregnant and having trouble finding stylish, trendy clothes? There's no reason you can't still be sexy while pregnant. It's just a matter of finding the right clothes to flatter your growing tummy.

At Kiki's Fashions finding maternity clothes in trendy, fun styles is easy! Right now, receive an extra 15% off everything in the store. New fashions are always being added, so finding something to suit you is as simple as logging on and shopping. Tops start at $9.99, and dresses start at $19.99. You don't have to spend a lot to look fabulous!

Bagel Dip

Here is a great recipe for summer. If you're headed to a summer party, take this along and it'll be a hit!

What you'll need:
1 16oz. container sour cream
2 cups Mayonnaise
2 tbsp. Accent
2 tbsp. dried dill weed
2 tbsp. dried parsley
1 onion, chopped
2 2oz. packages dried beef, chopped
1 bag bagels, cut in bite sized pieces for dipping

Combine all ingredients (except bagels) in a bowl. Mix well. Refrigerate at least one hour. Stir again before serving. Use bagels to dip.

My family loves this recipe! I'm usually asked to make this when we're invited to attend a party.

Funky Baby Clothes

Now that my kids are older, I miss shopping in the baby section at the store. The tiny little clothes are so cute! Every once in a while, I'll make a pass through the baby clothes.

My niece's birthday is coming up next month, so I've been looking for a gift for her. She is always dressed in the cutest outfits. My sister-in-law has the best taste when it comes to dressing her girls. My niece will be four, and I found a great site for baby gifts and children's clothes.

I'm looking for something different. An outfit you don't see every day, and I found it on PolkaDotPatchBoutique. Their collection of funky baby clothes is awesome! My little niece is going to look adorable!