So far I've been both AWARDED and BOOed

I'm so confused. Rocket Girl thinks I'm worth "wasting her time" and Sher thinks my blog should be "boo-ed". I've added both ummm...awards on my sidebar.

thanks girls for thinking of me!
xxoo

Good to Know I'm Still 29!

What's My RealAge?

Calendar Age
30.3
Difference
-0.6
RealAge
29.7

• Review your eating habits


• Do more cardio


• Hang up and drive


• Make breakfast a must


• Ease your headaches


• Check up on feeling down

Depression has many causes and solutions. Take the Depression Health Assessment to get a more in-depth analysis about your depression and find some possible solutions. Here’s why: Depression can be a daily struggle. But the majority of sufferers find relief through self-care strategies, psychotherapy, . . . medication, or a combination of these.

4 Ways to Fight Depression

1. Try to unwind. Yoga, meditation, tai chi, journaling, progressive muscle relaxation, deep-breathing exercises, or any hobby that helps you unwind can help with emotional balance.

2. Keep moving. Physical activity helps relieve anxiety and stimulates the release of feel-good endorphins. Eat good food. A nutritious and balanced diet that includes fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy -- and is light on caffeine and alcohol -- helps body and mind.

3. If you take an antidepressant, be sure to get ample amounts of folic acid, which may boost the drug's effectiveness.

4. Get enough sleep. Depression can interfere with normal sleep habits. Aim for 6 to 8 hours a night for optimal health. Try these tips for getting better ZZZs.

• Schedule time for yourself


• Reach out to others

You said that you went through one or more difficult life events in the last year. Unfortunately, they likely made your RealAge older. The good news? Your social support network (family, friends, organized groups) is excellent. To relieve the effects of stressful circumstances, . . . reach out to your network, and keep building connections. If tough times continue to affect your health or happiness, talk to a counselor.

Here’s why: In general, strong social ties help you work through anxiety and can counterbalance the aging effects of stressful events.

6 Ways to Reduce Stress and Tension

1. Try yoga, tai chi, or chi-gong. Or just go for a walk. 2. Meditate, or enjoy some quiet time in nature. This will get you started. 3. Write in a journal, strum a guitar, draw, paint, or do your favorite craft. 4. Spend time with good friends, or give your pets extra love and attention. 5. Listen to relaxation tapes or soothing music. Here’s how rhythms relax you. 6. Watch a funny movie, or engage in any activity that inspires a good belly laugh. Laughter is good medicine!

“Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.”~Author unknown

“There is a fountain of youth: It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”~ Sophia Loren

“Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.”~Adelle Davis, nutritionist

I'm not CRAZY, I'm just a little UNWELL

Finding my Mantra

I need a mantra. I can't sleep. My brain won't shut off at night...and I run around in circles inside my head all night long. My mom said to breathe. 23 times. Nice and slow. Then decide on three phrases that can I can say over and over to reinforce positive and calm thinking...hopefully helping me fall asleep.

"I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected. I am safe. I am loved. I am protected..."

Well that worked for a few minutes. It was calming, relaxing, and I even felt a bit sleepy. Then I needed some more positive reinforcement...so onto the next mantra. Let's see...what will make me feel peace?

"I am a daughter of our Heavenly Father. I have the Lord's Spirit with me. I am cherished. I am a daughter of our Heavenly Father. I have the Lord's Spirit with me. I am cherished..."(this is working! I'm loving this mantra!!)

"I am a daughter of our Heavenly Father. I have the Lord's Spirit with me. I am cherished. I am a daughter of our Heavenly Father. I have the Lord's Spirit with me. I am cherished..." (cherished. I love that word. this is good!)

"I am a daughter of our Heavenly Father. I have the Lord's Spirit with me. I am cherished. I am a daughter of our Heavenly Father. I have the Lord's Spirit with me. I am cherished..." (cherished reminds me of cream roses and the color of gold)

wait a minute...what song is in my head?? what am I humming??

give me faith, give me joy, my boy...i will always cherish you

Cherish!! Cherish!! (80's song by Madonna??!!...Cherish your love!!

damn. there goes my new mantra. there goes my peace. there goes my calm. i'll be up the rest of the morning hours singing "Cherish the thought of always having you here by my side-oh baby I Cherish the joy...I'm always singing it! Cherish your strength. You got the power to make me feel good...."

What? You don't like my depressing post??

Tagged. I assume it's because no one wants to read about how I think we're all going to hell in a handbasket...SOOOO here ya go, Sher!

(in no particular order):

1. I have to brush my teeth after I shower. If I work out in the middle of the day and have to shower...I brush my teeth. If I take a quick "sponge bath" (because let's be honest here...how often do I actually GET to shower in the middle of the day??), I brush my teeth. AND it HAS to be with the Original gel CloseUp toothpaste or my teeth still feel like they're surrounded by morning breath.

2. I hate going upstairs at night. Even though I'm 30 years old now...I still feel like someone is chasing me. I'm grateful my stairs are split now I can check behind me after only 4 stairs one direction and 4 stairs the other. (I also hate going DOWNstairs at night...relive the broken toe incident here).

3. I am a nightowl and I HATE mornings. I get my second wind the instant everyone else falls asleep...so I'm left to entertain myself for hours on end until I finally force myself to go to bed. And by morning I always feel like I have a hangover from the previous night...so my poor children are more than thrilled to leave me and head off to school!

4. I am lazy. I ain't gonna lie. I am selfish and I am lazy. I put off tomorrow (what I know I won't actually do tomorrow) for the simple fact that I don't want to deal with it today. I don't mind that my kids like to watch t.v. while I do something else simply because I WANT TO. My life revolves around...ME. I look at Ms. Sunshine Junie B. Cleaver next door outside playing with her little boy and her little girl fifteenhundred times a day (and walking her spoiled little dog at the ass crack of dawn TWICE around the block) and then only get even more pissed off that I am so incredibly selfish. In fact it frustrates me so much that I grab a Coke Zero and a Hershey bar and tell the kids to "shush so I can read this" and try desperately to block out the butterflies and rainbows that seem to be bursting through my windows from the Cleavers down the street.

5, 6, 7. I can't think of anything else...I'm back in my downward spiral (sorry, Sher!) and there's just nothing else I can add to lighten the mood. Perhaps tomorrow will be a better day and I'll feel like updating just a bit...we'll see. For now...Barefoot (this should be interesting!), Rocket Girl, Just Me, and Brandelena- consider yourself tagged. (I don't think it's fair to tag more than 4 since I only gave 4 random answers!)

And Jess- you are tagged too (even though the rest of blogworld can't SEE your answers. I CAN.)