A great way to get rid of headaches without meds! August 17, 2012

I have NO idea where I originally learned this, but I’ve been using this method for about 12 years. Living in Phoenix, I am uber-sensitive to weather changes. I’m guessing it’s because we don’t really have many strong fronts come through very often. But, it’s monsoon season, which means things change without notice and I find myself with headaches. I’m also in front of the computer all day and night, which isn’t good for posture, my neck OR my eyes. This is super easy to make!

Take a small bowl or dish. You could even use the lid to a Tupperware or something. I got these at the Asian market around the corner for  really cheap. They’re supposed to be for sushi. Or something.

Then, add about a tablespoon of olive oil, 8 drops of peppermint essential oil, 16 of lavender oil. You really don’t have to count them out, just make sure there is a little more lavender than peppermint.

Mix it around with your fingers, then start to spread it along your entire hairline. For this step, you just want it evenly all over. Then, go to town massaging it gently into your scalp. I pay extra attention to my temples, behind my ears, then down the back of my neck. I’ll do it while I’m working, or force myself to take a break and massage for about 5 minutes. I’ll do it longer if my headache is bad.

Then, put an ice pack on different parts of your head. Since most headaches come from shoulder/neck muscles, I will just lie down for a bit, on my back, with an ice pack on the back of my neck and one on my forehead.

Let me know if you try it out!

Are you different? August 12, 2012

Most of the time, not drinking really doesn’t bother me at all. It’s a choice. Alcohol ruined my life from the day I was born, because my father and his entire family had issues with alcohol. I’m not one for labels, but for society’s sake, I’ll use the term alcoholic.

I was in a terrible relationship that ended over 8 years ago. The entire 4 years we were together, alcohol was always present. When I saw some patterns in my life arising because of the amount we drank, I quit. I broke up with the love of my life. Since then, my life has been nothing short of spectacular and I know it’s because I made the choice to never drink again. I never want to live the life my relatives had.

Most of the past 8 years, though, has had me surrounded by alcohol. It doesn’t bother me. I am never tempted to drink because I have seen what it can do. My heritage shows me that if I do it, I will become them. It’s because of the lack of temptation that I really don’t know WHAT I am. Am I an alcoholic? I believed so for many years, but I really don’t think I am. If you believe the “disease” part, I’m definitely not. I just choose not to go down that road and avoid what I’ve witnessed. I have no issues with people drinking around me. More power to them for not being born with my genes.

Are you different? I certainly am. I’m happy that I am. But there’s nothing worse than being teased for it by the people you care about most in the world. I can’t imagine doing that to anyone that I care about. I rarely mention it if it bothers me, because it doesn’t that often. Words can hurt. Deeply. It’s difficult enough NOT doing something that everyone else does. I would think, though, that speaking up about something bothering me would be taken a little more seriously.

I’ve always been the black sheep my entire life. Rarely, though, am I called out on it and made to feel even more different for being…different. It’s funny when people learn that I don’t drink and they say something like “Oh, I thought you were party girl.” My life HAS been a party. I’ve shown that you can have the most amazing life possible by making the right choices for myself. It’s also crazy that people think you can’t have a good time without booze.

Live my life the past 8 years. I will bet you a million dollars that mine was more fun than yours. I’m extremely proud of who I am and what I’ve done. Don’t make me feel like shit for it, though.

Stop retweeting your #FollowFriday tweets! August 10, 2012

While most people look forward to Fridays, I dread them. Picture me walking through quicksand after a night of no A/C, which happened to me last night. So, a Thursday night in Phoenix, Arizona, with no air conditioning, and a Friday to wake up to, means I know I’m going to get pretty stabby in the morning.

It happened, of course. It’s #FollowFriday/#FF, a day on Twitter to recommend to your followers other people you think they’d like to follow.

I. Hate. It.

Follow Friday is spam, unless it’s done the right way. Recommend people you actually interact with. People whose tweets you find informational or enjoyable. GIVE your followers a REASON to follow people. Here’s an example:
“#FF @TheFabSocial for great information about Social Media.” Now, if I were a person in marketing or Social Media, I’d be looking for new accounts to follow. Wait, that’s what I do! If I saw someone tweet this, I’d check out the profile and then, most likely, follow. Give an example of why that account deserves a follow.

Here’s the WRONG, spammy way:
“#FF @fadkafjsdk @fdkadfjpab @eapciamd @paacma” and that’s it. WHY should I follow them?  Are they your cousin’s neighbor who makes awesome BBQ ribs? Are they a really funny account?
And the worst part: The people in that tweet who retweet it, with no message added. THEN THEY REPLY ALL, without even looking at the others mentioned in the tweet. It’s kind of ignorant, if you ask me. “Blah blah blah I’M SO GREAT blah blah blah.”

Help make the world a better place by doing #FF in a way that people will actually use, enjoy, and murder less people.

 

I made my own sugar scrub August 4, 2012

I had an empty body butter jar from Burt’s Bees. I filled it 3/4 with sugar. Plain, old sugar. I then added several drops each of peppermint and lavender essential oils. I added olive oil, about a half teaspoon at a time. I used a small salad fork to mix it well after each addition of olive oil. I didn’t want it too oily, as I am also using it on my face.

The peppermint oil makes it really cool, which is great for summertime! The lavender relaxes me. :}