RED's thoughts

...on how to de-stress

2012-02-09T08:51:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't have stress in their lives? Just about everyone I talk to has some sort of stress. Today's post is a reminder to all of us (including me) that we need to take time for ourselves and de-stress. During lunch today I made some birthday spa appointments (my birthday is coming up soon and it is the most important day in the entire world, but that is for another posting). I realized I haven't been doing my de-stressing techniques on a regular basis. Please also comment on any ideas you have for taking the stress out of your life!

1. Change the scenery! Get outside and enjoy some sun and fesh air. I actually do this often on the weekends when I have more time. I am lucky enough to live right by the North Country Trail. It is beautiful! I love looking at the trees, smelling the fresh air, and occassionally I get to see some wildlife. My favorite time of the year is fall when the air is crisp and the leaves have changed colors.
2. Make a new friend. One of my friends says, "you are only a stranger to someone until you say hello." An unexpected conversation you have has the potential to lead to so many great things! I have been blessed to meet many different interesting people over the years. I have my grandma to thank for my love of conversation.
3. Get some lavendar scented stuff. I love the smell of lavendar. I have had lavendar scented lotion, satchels I put in drawers, and I have recently again stocked up on lavendar essential oil that I can basically add to just about anything. There has been some research that shows lavendar can help release feel-good brain chemicals and may lower stress.
4. Laugh. It can be joking with friends, watching funny youtube videos, a funny movie, etc. It helps relieve tension!
5. Make a spa appointment! This always makes me feel good. It doesn't really matter what service I get, but my favorite is a pedicure. My birthday is coming up so please feel free to send me gift cards!
6. Take a bath! I love taking baths. I try to use bath salts that have a lavendar smell. Sometimes I light candles, have a glass of tea or wine, but most of the time I just turn off the lights and do nothing but relax!

...on snow

2012-01-29T12:40:00.000-08:00

I hate it and want to move somewhere warm. Any questions?

...on the library

2011-12-30T08:48:00.000-08:00

I still can't believe that there are people out there that do not have a library card! It is free and the library has really cool stuff! You can even download e-books and audio books for free! How can people not like free? The library also has DVDs, CDs, X-Box games, PS2 games, and Wii games for FREE!!!! Did I mention FREE??? Plus, the library is cool because I work there :) I also just made a new rule: I am not dating anyone that does not have a library card.

...on the restaurant Bankok View in Wyoming, Michigan

2011-12-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

My lunch was completely awful and I will never go back. The egg drop soup had so much salt in it that I thought my spoon was going to get stuck. I am most likely going to be retaining water for the next week.
Here is their website:

http://bangkokviewthaifood.com/default.aspx

...on Christmas trees

2011-12-16T12:36:00.000-08:00

Everyone should have a real Christmas tree. It does not ruin the environment to have a real tree in your house for a few weeks. It is a CROP! It provides work for people in my community and I plan on supporting them once again this year. If you have a fake tree it is not really a tree! Most artificial trees are made from metal and plastic! The whole point in having a Christmas tree is to have a REAL one. I also provide shelter for little animals in the local woods by placing my tree there when I am done with it. Having an artificial Christmas tree in your house is like marrying a Kardashian.

...on cars

2011-12-14T07:12:00.000-08:00

My car has 220,000 miles on it. I don't mind my car, but I wish it would not stall out when I am stopped. I have to put it in park and press on the gas pedal and rev up the engine so it doesn't die. It is kind of getting on my nerves. I know I could take it in and get it fixed, but I'm looking at it more as a challenge. My 17 year old son drives the better of the two vehicles because I prefer him to have a more reliable vehicle. I figure I can cope with most of the problems that might "pop" up. He is a little young and still views everything as a tragedy. My insurance still costs an arm and a leg because of the accidents my son has gotten into over the last year. I am keeping my fingers, toes, arms, and legs crossed that he does not have any problems in the coming year. So, basically my car gets me where I have to go! ...if I remember to get gas!

If I could have any car in the world it would be an exotic kitty. When I was growing up Jaguar had billboards that would advertise their cars as an exotic kitty. How could I not want one?? I never grew out of it. I dream of owning a car with a cat leaping out of the hood ...

...on shopping

2011-12-12T11:32:00.000-08:00

I wish I enjoyed shopping, but the thought of having to go shopping so the boys can have a few things to open at Christmas is not topping my list of favorite things to do this holiday season... I don't even like to go shopping for myself! When I find a pair of work pants that I like at the store I buy a pair in every color! I do the same with underwear, but I probably shouldn't go there... The only kind of shopping I truly enjoy is shoe shopping. I could spend hours looking at and trying on shoes. I enjoy the time that can be spent debating over which pair or pairs to buy. I don't care that I might have to go to 20 stores to find the perfect pair. In fact, I have been looking for a pair of brown boots for a few years now and I'm still looking! I hope that someday I will have a closet that is made up of shoes. I also need a new pair of black flats, but I might not be able to wait as long to purchase those since my favorite pair is starting show signs of shoe death.

I forgot to mention grocery shopping, or how I hate to stop and get gas for my car, but we can save that for another day! Let's just enjoy the thought of new shoes for today...

...on painting

2011-12-10T07:20:00.001-08:00

I hate it! I do like the end result, but I still HATE it!
The end

Note: I am painting today

...on beer

2011-12-09T09:51:00.001-08:00

Disclaimer: If you think bud lite is beer you should not read any further.

Life is short.

You do not need to waste your calories drinking bad beer. I'm sorry Budweiser, I believe your beer taste like water...

Beer is one of the world's most widely consumed beverage. It is very yummy and healthy for you. The moderate consumption of alcohol in beer is associated with a decreased risk of cardiac disease, stroke and cognitive decline. Side note: heavy alcohol consumption can include the risk of developing alcoholism and liver disease. It can also make you fat without proper nutrition and exercise, but so can Oreo's...

My infatuation with beer started because of all the microbreweries popping up. I think Michigan has some of the best! Red's Rye from Founders Brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan is my favorite beer in the whole wide world! I am so glad that I live close to the brewery so I can enjoy it whenever I want!

This is my sad story for the day (since some of you think my posts can be depressing):

I was very sad last week when I stopped at my favorite brewery on the way home from work. I very eagerly ordered my favorite beer, a Rita's Red Rye (I am trying to rename it - Triple R could also work), and found out that they didn't have any on tap! Apparently, there is a shortage of Amarillo hops! What? How could it be? I sadly ordered an IPA with tears in my eyes. I paid my tab and went to Party World and bought a six pack of Red's Rye in bottles. I don't understand this whole shortage thing...

Here is a link to an article on the hops shortage of 2011 -

http://rogue.com/rogue-wire-service/blog/2011/01/14/not-again-a-new-hop-shortage-in-2011/

Some great places to get good beer in Grand Rapids:

The Hop Cat

Graydon's Crossing

Founder's

Brewery Vivant

The B.O.B.

...money

2011-12-07T13:20:00.001-08:00

If you don't have a lot of money you seem to always want money. If you have money and don't necessarily have to worry about money you probably still want more money. I'm not saying this is true for everyone, but everyone I talk to always needs or wants more money for something.

I have a full time job, and I can honestly say that I do not make enough money to support a family. I have a fantastic job and love it, but it doesn't pay as much as other professional jobs out there. Expenses are at an all time high and my salary is basically staying the same. Our lovely govenor has also just passed some kind of law that will have me paying over double what I currently pay for health insurance out of my paycheck. So, I decided that I need to get a second job. I thought I would have such an easy time finding a second job because Snyder promised to create so many new ones! ...let's just say I am not a fan...and I don't have a second job.

Money - sucks when you don't have it, but it is fun to spend when you do! If I was any better with house plants I would buy a money tree.

...on travel

2011-12-06T07:10:00.001-08:00

One of my many addictions is to travel. If I had more money I would be going somewhere at least once a month. I don't really care where I would be going. I could have my bags packed in about 5 minutes to go just about anywhere. I guess I just want to see the world! Maine is one of those places that I have always wanted to visit. I guess the pisces in me is mysteriously drawn to water. Maine is also a leading producer of farm raised marine seafood. Thinking about the fresh farm raised clams, oysters, mussles, bay scallops, Atlantic salmon, and steelhead trout makes my mouth water! --and I still need to try lobster! I think Maine would be the best place to try it. When are we leaving?

I also love lighthouses...

...on relationships

2011-12-05T09:33:00.001-08:00

I was thinking about how many people come in and out of our lives. It is funny how we remember or don't remember each and every one of them. I remember what I thought was the love of my life, the one who got away, the one who didn't choose me, the one who drove me absolutely mad, the crazy one, the one who wasn't really that cute, the really hot one... I also think about my friendships and how they have changed over the years. I have friends from high school that I only get to see once in awhile and talk to every few months, girlfriends that have moved away and gotten married and never keep in touch, and friends that I once did everything with and now all of a sudden we can't seem to find time for one another.

It is hard to stay in touch with every single one of my friends, but I am going to try to make an effort to make contact with each of my friends before the year is out. I also vow to spend more time with the 2 precious teenage boys in my life that call me mother. I know one day that they will move on with their life and I will miss the time we once had.