Today's Obsessions

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• 7 of My Facebook Pet Peeves …
• 7 Fast Ways to Get over Your Crush …
• 7 Tips on How to be a Good House Guest …
• 7 Romantic Decorating Ideas For Your Bedroom …
• 9 Of My Favorite Christmas Carols …
• 8 Factors to Consider When Deciding Which Charities to Support …
• 7 Gorgeous Holiday Table Runners …
• 7 Things That Should Not Go Near Your Hoo-Ha …
• 9 Delicious Holiday Desserts …
• 7 Ways to Prevent Anemia …
• 8 Kinds of Neighbors You Don’t Want to Be …
• 12 Ways to Enjoy the Weekend …
• 7 Christmas Scents I Love …
• 7 Ways to Overcome a Divorce …
• Top 8 Romantic Comedies of 2010 …
• NAVTEQ Maps: The Gift that keeps on giving…

7 of My Facebook Pet Peeves … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 09:51 AM PST I absolutely love Facebook, but, like anything else the public in general has access to, I do have my user-generated pet peeves. You know, the petty, minor annoyances that other people create that make me shake my fist and (occasionally) curse a little. Here are 7 of my Facebook pet peeves. 1. The Poster Photo Credit: jj_pappas423 I'll walk away from my computer to get a bottle of water, and when I come back, I've got 12 status updates from the same person, letting me know that in the 30 seconds I was gone, they ate a bagel, drank some coffee, had an epiphany, got married, and found a link to a really cute cat. Nothing anyone does is so important I need to see an update every 6 seconds. Truly. 2. The Downer Photo Credit: Steve Pepple My grandmother used to say, "If you don't have anything nice to say, keep quiet." I wish a few people on Facebook had heard that! We all have a few friends who only post snarky things about other people, or comments about how tired, sick, bored, or wretched they are. Stop it! No-one's life can be so negative all the time! You're bringing me down! 3. The Savior Photo Credit: Igor Borodin This started as merely an e-mail pet peeve, with so many forwarded messages from allegedly deeply religious friends trying to "save" me with some uplifting, or worse, spiteful forwarded message. Now these people post their "God Loves You" messages right alongside the photos from their night of drunken debauchery. Hello! If I'm going to trust one of my Facebook friends with saving my soul, it's not going to be the one who seems like such a hypocrite!

7 Fast Ways to Get over Your Crush … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 09:44 AM PST His beautiful smile and blues eyes captivated you the moment you first laid eyes on him. And when he asked you out for the very first time, you almost fainted. Pretty soon, he became a fixture around your house and all you friends new you as "the" couple. The next thing you knew, he wrote you a Dear John letter, and now he acts as if you never existed. How do you get over that kind of hurt? Here are a few tips you may find helpful. 1. Stay busy Don't just sit around thinking ways to change so he'll like you. Take up knitting, start playing baseball. Find something you enjoy and do it. The more your mind is occupied, and the less your think about him, the better you will be. 2. Talk to someone Just opening up about your feelings to someone that has been in your situation before can help a lot. So find a parent or an older friend and ask them to talk with you. Your best friend will be on your side, and so will mom! 3. Start a diary Just because you opened up to someone older doesn't mean you still have things that you want to say. Maybe there are things you would like but aren't comfortable saying to other people. Writing a diary will help you say whatever you want and nobody will ever find out about it.

7 Tips on How to be a Good House Guest … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 09:41 AM PST The holiday season is the perfect time to go visit friends and family from another city or invite them to come stay with you and your family for a few days. It's also the perfect time to brush up on our social skills and etiquette. That's why I've decided to make my list of tips about what to do and what not to do in order to be a good guest everybody will be happy to invite one more time. So, if you will be going somewhere soon, read this or forward it if you will be accepting visitors. Here's 7 tips on how to do things right: 1. Discuss the details Photo Credit: TineyHo Starting the conversation with "We would like to come over for Christmas" is completely fine, as long as you elaborate the "We" part after that. Your host will assume the "We" stands for you, your husband and your kids so if you're planning on taking your sister, mom or cousin with you, you have to say that and ask your host if he/she is okay with that. When it comes to the number of people that will be joining you in your stay, always be precise and keep your host updated if that number changes. 2. Be precise Photo Credit: Kid’s Birthday Parties I honestly don't mind flexible departure date but I like to know when can I expect my visitors. Excuse me but if you're planning to be a day late or a day early, at least give me the heads up, because I don't want to welcome you in my PJs or worst, get caught doing the last minute preparations. Yes, I am a human too – my house is not always crispy clean and I don't always have matching sheets and pillow cases ready. My fridge is not always 100% full either and I have plenty of my own things to do. I will prioritize in order to make sure my guests don't miss on anything while they are under my care but, in order to set the priorities and organize, I need information.

7 Romantic Decorating Ideas For Your Bedroom … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 09:35 AM PST You can bake up a kitchen full of spicy cookies, cakes, and candy, but don’t forget you can add some hot cooking to your bedroom!Want some more spice in your love life? Change up your bedroom with some fresh romance! Here are some romantic ideas to beautify your bedroom, and bring the sizzle back! Just in time for the holidays, this may be the best gift you can give your spouse, and yourself! 1. Flowers Whether it is a large bouquet of flowers, or a simple flower floating in a bowl of water use them in decorations. For many years, flowers have been associated with love and romance. So, fill your room with them and let romance blossom once again! 2. Choose a Good Color The color choice of a romantic bedroom will reflect what kind of romantic spirit you are. If you’re all about the sensual romance and love, go for deep reds and accent in black. If you’re a sweet, romantic, in love with the romances of days gone by, go with pinks and rose colors like what is found in Victorian paintings. If you are “alluringly feminine” in a very subtle way, your color palette choice would most likely be lilacs, plum and amethyst. Choose a color combo and get to painting! 3. Go With Silks & Satins There is nothing like snuggling to your sweety on silky sheets as the sun comes up through your satin curtains! I know they’re a bit pricey, but I believe at the very lease, silk sheets, are a must-have for any romantic bedroom!

9 Of My Favorite Christmas Carols … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 08:56 AM PST I just love christmas music! That’s one of the number one things I do to get into the holiday spirit. Listening to christmas carols really gets me in the mood! Along the years I’ve come across a few that I especially love and can listen to over and over. Here are 9 of my favorite christmas carols! 1. Jingle Bells Photo Credit: — KORGAN — This song was most likely the very first christmas song I ever learned! Just ask the youngest child you know that can talk to sing along and they will probably know the words! Jingle Bells is a very popular christmas tune. I like the twist on it in Jingle Bell Rock! Talkin’ a bout a swingin’ christmas! 2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town Photo Credit: Mike Cohn What kid has never heard this song? I think we all learn it at a very young age! No body want’s to be on that bad list that he’s making and checking twice. This song always puts me in a merry christmas mood! 3. Frosty The Snowman Photo Credit: CarbonNYC Frosty The Snowman is such a classic song! Just like I love the cartoon, I love the song. I even love to decorate my home in snowmen. They are a classic sign of winter and so cute you can’t help but adore them!

8 Factors to Consider When Deciding Which Charities to Support … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 08:51 AM PST Most of us like to do our bit to support charities. However, these days there are so many vying for our money that we have to draw the line somewhere. With our own funds often being limited, we have to select one or two causes to support. So how do you pick them? Here are some tips to help. 1. Administrative costs Photo Credit: Dan Eriksson Of all the money raised, how much actually goes to the charity's work? Some charities spend vast sums in administrative costs and employ well-paid managers; this is particularly common in larger, national charities. I prefer to support charities that spend as little as possible on costs, and use the majority of funds for their work. 2. How Do They Raise Funds? Photo Credit: Surrealistovich I really object to being accosted in the streets by paid fundraisers for the following reasons. One, they're paid. Two, I volunteer so I do my bit. Three, I decide where to donate. Four, I'm going about my business and don't wish to be stopped. Five, they employ guilt tactics ('don't you care about the children?' was one line used on me). Six, they're too persistent. Seven, they're everywhere. Need I go on? So I will not donate via this method. 3. Relevance Photo Credit: AfterImage Design I am an animal lover, so I support charities of this kind. Perhaps you have a family member who has been affected by a particular illness. Or maybe you want to do something to improve your local community.

7 Gorgeous Holiday Table Runners … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 08:34 AM PST I always thought tablecloths were a way to hide an ugly table, or to protect one that was so super-fancy, horrible things would happen if you so much as spilled a glass of water directly onto it. On the other hand, I love the way table runners look, a gorgeous strip of fabric that still shows off the gorgeous wood underneath. And there are so many pretty table runners out there, for every occasion, from everyday to holiday. And with the holidays coming up, maybe it's time to put aside that pretty heirloom lace cloth and try a runner to show off your table instead! Here are 7 gorgeous holiday table runners. 1. Crate & Barrel Jubilee Runner Price: $39.95 at crateandbarrel.com Just the name of this runner sounds festive, doesn't it? And it's gorgeous for the holidays, featuring a pattern of tonal red on red embroidered circles. Who knew there were so many colors of red? This one measures 14" by 60" but it also comes as a placemat or as a runner that measures 14" by 90" or in shades of green in the Crate & Barrel online outlet. 2. Crate & Barrel Jewel Ruby Runner Price: $39.95 at crateandbarrel.com The entire Crate & Barrel Jewel Ruby line is beautiful, with a deep red background accented by angular bits of coordinating jewel-tone colors, all rich emeralds and amethysts and topaz. Add this to your holiday table and use the other pieces from the collection, like the tree skirt, throw pillow, and stockings, to pull the entire house together. 3. Crate & Barrel Holiday Plaid Runner Price: $19.95 at crateandbarrel.com I bet on the other 364 days of the year, Santa and Mrs. Claus wear plaid, like this one, all festive reds and greens. It's a classic tartan pattern for your table, perfect for darker woods, or a more casual table. I like this runner, too, because it's machine washable, so you can toss it in the washer if a little spill occurs.

7 Things That Should Not Go Near Your Hoo-Ha … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 04:41 AM PST First of all, I feel the need to give you a warning here, just in case some of you do not want to read this. By "Hoo-Ha," I am talking about a female body part. If you're ready to read this, then continue reading 7 things that should not go near your hoo-ha … 7. Intimate Sprays Photo Credit: wallyg Yes, you may love those intimate sprays, but they're not so great for you. Your hoo-ha doesn't really need anything, except for some water and some soap to clean. Some of them have benzocaine in it. They could also mask odor that would give you indications to go to the doctor. 6. Jelly/Rubber Sex Toys Photo Credit: Mike Godlieb ' You have to love sex toys, but you should stay away from those jelly/rubber ones. They have something on them known as phthalates. It could raise risk of allergic reactions and it could also raise the risk of cancer. 5. Pubic Hair Dye Photo Credit: Lazybones Photography Yes, your guy may love to see your pubic hair changing colors (if you have any), but you should avoid it. Pubic hair dye, even if it is made for "down there" has chemicals in it. These dyes can irritate you down there and that is no comfortable.

9 Delicious Holiday Desserts … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 04:21 AM PST As y’all no doubt know by now, I love to cook. Specifically, I love to bake. The Better Half and I are sharing Thanksgiving duties with my folks as well as hosting the in-laws to-be for Christmas this year, so I’ve been going crazy looking up holiday desserts. I’ve gotten the "I must make this!" list down to nine choices based on their potential deliciousness factor. Now all I have to do is wade through all the actual recipes … but first I thought I’d share my tastiest finds with you and see what you think! 1. Red Velvet Cheesecake Photo Credit: elaynam Um, could you die? Can you even imagine? The recipe for this dessert looks super involved, but I don’t even care. Anything that combines Red Velvet cake and cheesecake is all right by me. With cheesecakes, timing is always key, from mixing to baking, but I think this one is well worth all that work. 2. Buche de Noel Photo Credit: rebecca_84 I’ve always wanted to make one of these, because it’s basically a giant Swiss Roll, and the BH loves Swiss Rolls. That being said, do not attempt this recipe unless you have an enormous baking pan. The recipes I’ve seen call for nothing less than 15in by 10in by 1in. I’m not sure I even have enough counter space for that… 3. Caramel Turtle Cake Photo Credit: Rachel Ford James I’m really looking forward to trying this one. It is super rich, you can tell that just by looking at it. However, my dad loves caramel turtles with a passion. My grandma used to make the actual candy but has since stopped and I have yet to get the recipe out of her, so this cake with its moist cake and surprising ingredients – like coffee! – seems to be the next best thing.

7 Ways to Prevent Anemia … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 02:47 AM PST If left untreated, anemia can be a very dangerous condition. Most people who suffer from anemia have similar symptoms; fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and a pale complexion. The bodily tissues of an anemic person are not able to get the correct amount of oxygen, which causes the signs and symptoms listed above. So you don't have to experience any of these uncomfortable symptoms, here are 7 ways to prevent anemia. 7. Eat iron-rich foods Photo Credit: Biggie* Iron can be obtained from food that comes from animals and food that is derived from plants; both will supply you with plenty of iron. Examples of iron-rich foods include; mussels, oysters, liver, clams, turkey, sardines, shrimp, beef, enriched cereals, lentils, pumpkin seeds, canned beans, and enriched pasta. There are actually many food sources that have been enriched with iron, in order to help people to have more iron in their diet. 6. Drink less tea and coffee Photo Credit: yoshiko314 Studies show that both tea and coffee inhibit the amount of iron the body is able to absorb. Tea has a high level of polyphenols, which greatly reduce the amount of iron absorbed. The reduction in iron absorption can be as much as 70 percent with tea and 40 percent with coffee. Even very strong coffee only reduces the absorption of iron by 50 percent, so tea is worse for people who are trying to prevent anemia. 5. Take iron supplements Photo Credit: Plan of the Brachial Plexus I take a supplement of iron each day, in order to keep from becoming anemic. The recommended daily dose of iron for a woman between the ages of 14 to 18 years of age is 15mg. For a woman between the ages of 19 and 50 years old, the dose goes up by 3mg. Pregnant women should have somewhere between 17 to 22mg, while breast-feeding women should drop down to 15mg. Once a woman goes past the age of 50, 8mg is a sufficient amount of iron to take in on a daily basis.

8 Kinds of Neighbors You Don’t Want to Be … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 01:53 AM PST Sometimes it can be very difficult living next door to people because we all have different backgrounds, different morals and outlooks on life. Here are 8 kinds of neighbors you don't want to be. 8. Always turning up unexpectedly Photo Credit: saikiishiki Another type of neighbor is one that always turns up at your door unexpectedly and invites themselves in for a drink and a chat. They never seem to get the hint that you are busy and seem to stay for hours. In this situation the majority of us always pretend that we are out and do not answer the door. 7. The unpredictable neighbour Photo Credit: isayx3 Then you have the type of neighbor whose mood swings give you whiplash. One minute they are pleasant and a good laugh when you speak to them and the next they appear to be the evil twin. You never know how to react to them because you never know whether they will be happy and cheerful or rude and abusive. 6. A neighbor that rubs success in everyone's face Photo Credit: striatic Some neighbors like to really rub their success in everyone's face and this is the type of neighbor that you should not aim to be. They will repeatedly tell you what their income is and expect you to congratulate them on all their achievements, including the brand new flash sports car. This is the type of neighbor that most people dislike, they are happy for people's success but not if they rub it in constantly.

12 Ways to Enjoy the Weekend … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 12:46 AM PST If you work five days a week, then I'm sure that you consider weekends to be sacred. You always try to get the most out of it before another work week rolls in. Two days may seem inadequate to have any fun but you would be surprised with the things that you can do. There are so many ways to enjoy the weekend. Here are just 12 of the hundreds of things you can do to enjoy the weekend. 1. Rest Photo Credit: AXEHD You may want to start partying but your body may be craving rest and rejuvenation. After all the stress of the week, wouldn't it be nice to just get some sleep? 2. Get a massage/spa weekend Photo Credit: ShereeEvansMassage Get a massage to help your mind and body relax. You can also plan a home spa weekend. Remove all distractions and enjoy a leisurely bubble bath and tea. Read a good book and just enjoy your free time. 3. Make love Photo Credit: Beangirl Your busy life may prevent you from interacting with your boyfriend or spouse during the week. The weekend would be the perfect time to stay in bed, make love, and catch up with your loved one.

7 Christmas Scents I Love … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 12:43 AM PST Have you ever noticed that certain smells remind you of Christmas? There have been studies done on how scents are able to trigger memories of the past. I find this fascinating! There's nothing like a bit of unexpected nostalgia from a faint odor in the distance. Quite a few fragrances are created with holidays in mind and Christmas is just one of them. Here are 7 Christmas scents that I love and have come to associate this fantastic holiday with whenever I smell them in the air. 7. Pine Photo Credit: Just Lou… Trees at Christmas are typically of the pine variety, so naturally, this scent is connected to this holiday season. I not only think of Christmas trees when I smell pine scented items, but also of winter in general. And lots of snow! Evergreens are usually commonly seen in many winter scenes painted on objects, sewn into clothing, or a variety of other products sold during Christmas. 6. Peppermint Candy Photo Credit: cabanagirl The smell of peppermint makes me recall the many years of adding candy canes to the Christmas tree and also of the handful of peppermint candies placed at the bottom of my stocking. My mom would also make us girls giant mugs of hot cocoa during the winter and place a candy can in it. I loved seeing the curved top protrude from a huge pile of whipped cream in my mug. 5. Caramel Photo Credit: smitten Some people probably think of Halloween when they smell caramel, since it is often seen coating apples and covered with chopped nuts. I think of Christmas because my grandmother would drizzle hot caramel over apple pie and place it on the table during Christmas dinner. Yum! To this day, it's hard for me to eat apple pie without melted caramel over the top. Oh, and don't forget a dollop of real whipped cream!

7 Ways to Overcome a Divorce … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 12:07 AM PST Divorce is rarely a situation where both parties agree on everything. Most divorces aren't happy events and dealing with an event such as this can be quite traumatizing for some. The following 7 ways to overcome a divorce are mainly geared towards an adult involved with a divorce. I didn't mention kids, since that is a whole other entity in itself. If you or a loved one has recently gone through a divorce, I hope you can find these tips to be helpful. 7. Make plans for the future Photo Credit: lism. Sitting around the house and moping about the past and what could have been changed isn't helping your situation. Think about the future and how much you have to look forward to. You don't have to know exactly where you want to be in 5 years or know what you hope to be doing, but at least think about something other than the pain you are feeling right now. Even if you only end up making plans to have dinner with a friend the following week, that's a start. Write plans down and take a look at this list from time to time. It will give you a visual aid to spark new ideas and to keep you informed of what you want to do in the future. 6. Laugh often and try to enjoy yourself as much as possible Photo Credit: LegalAssistance I find that laughter really is the best medicine. Watch a comedy, call a friend who always knows good jokes, or get a kitten. I've had been in stitches watching my cats when they were kittens, especially when there were multiple kittens in the house. They are possibly the most entertaining animals I have around here. Read humorous books and magazines. Do things that are fun and that make you smile. This works almost just as well as having a good laugh.

Top 8 Romantic Comedies of 2010 … Posted: 18 Dec 2010 12:00 AM PST I’m a closet rom-com freak. I mean, I will get up in the middle of the night and sneak-watch a romantic comedy, just so nobody knows about it. This is silly, since the Better Half is always trying to get me to watch them, but you know, I’ve got my street cred to think about. I’m coming out, though, to share with you my list of the top 8 romantic comedies of 2010. Not all of them grossed well, not all of them are even particularly good movies, but I liked them so let’s see if y’all did too! 1. Youth in Revolt Price: $19.49 at amazon.com I would watch Michael Cera star in a paper bag. He’s my favorite beta male of all time and I find him inexplicably adorable, plus his acting is just … really unique. My only problem with Youth in Revolt is that I was Ellen Page starred in it with him; they are the cutest movie couple in life. Still, I can completely understand his need to make an alter ego and I loved the awkward romance and comedy of this film. 2. Easy A Price: $16.99 at amazon.com I was all over this movie from the first preview I saw. I love the premise, I love Emma Stone, and to me, the movie lived up to all its expectations. It’s a really well done high school movie, in that it explores how peer pressure can be and how rumors can utterly destroy you – but only if you let them. 3. L’arnacoeur / Heartbreaker Price: $22.49 at amazon.com This flick was cute. Kind of predictable, it sort of reminded me of Dane Cook’s My Best Friend’s Girl, but I didn’t care because hi, French. The premise does get a little predictable and some of the plot arcs are a little confusing, but I don’t even care.

NAVTEQ Maps: The Gift that keeps on giving… Posted: 17 Dec 2010 06:15 PM PST This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of NAVTEQ. All opinions are 100% mine. Christmas is almost here and I’m sure you will agree that it’s SO hard to think of gift ideas for everyone you know. I mean, keeping in mind their likes and dislikes,remembering what they already own and remembering what you’ve already given them…PHEW! But fret not for I am here to make your life just a teeny bit easier. This year,how about gifting someone a nav system map update from NAVTEQ? I know what you’re thinking: “A map update Sheila? Really?” Relax and let me tell you why it would make a great present. I am terrible at directions and although, I don’t own a car just yet, when I do get one, it will have a built in navigation system. Life is just so much more easier with a machine telling you exactly how to get where you want to go. Plus, I’m sure my friends would be secretly elated knowing that I won’t call them a hundred times asking for directional help. But this is not about me. So here’s the deal. Most cars with navigation systems are already powered by NAVTEQ’s maps . When you first buy a car, yes, your nav system is completely up to date. But with every passing year, the landscape around you will change. New buildings and addresses are popping up as we speak and that basically renders your previously up to date navigation unit useless. Someone wise once said that your navigation system is only as good as the maps powering it and it’s true isn’t it? So, here’s your chance to re-vamp a loved one’s navigation system. Think of yourself as a guiding star ;) When you visit NAVTEQ‘s website, all you have to do is select “Built-in, Factory Installed” from the list, then choose the make of the car and buy the update disc. The recipient loads the disc, lets the system restart and voila, as good as new! I know it does not exactly fit into the traditional idea of what a present should be but that’s what makes it special. It’s unique, usable and the best part is, the person you give it to is bound to love it, geek or not! So if you are still scratching your head and can’t figure out what to get for a friend, partner or that person who seems impossible to buy things for, you know the annoying kinds who seems to already have everything, consider NAVTEQ’s map update. It’s easy because you don’t have to worry about picking the right style, fit or color. I promise that you won’t be disappointed. And if you’ve been extra good this year or get lost easily, buy it for yourself. It’s great for road -trips or for finding your way to that brand new store or restaurant ;) So visit their website and order your map update now! Like they say, it’s the gift that keeps on giving all year long.

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