Last night I was sitting outside on the grass with some friends. I soon realized that the mosquitoes were out and biting. They are honestly the most annoying bug ever! Especially for someone like me who has “sweet blood”.  So now I feel completely covered in insect bites–all itchy and irritating. New goal for the summer: get some insect protection so I don’t look like a giant puffy strawberry.

Staying awake at work can be quite a feat–especially if you had a late night. And as nice as it would be to tell your boss that you are sick so that you can go home to sleep, it just isn’t responsible. Granted, I give my permission to use that for desperate measures only. Here are a few tips to help you keep your eyes open and your mind focused on your work:

•  Bring Snacks: They say that an apple wakes you up the same as a cup of coffee. Bring small healthy snacks to get you through the workday, including yogurt, fruit, veggies, and nuts. If you are still having a hard time staying awake, try eating some sour or spicy candy or food. This will generally wake you right up.
• Drink Water: Not only will constantly drinking water throughout the workday will help refresh your body, it will give you a reason to get up every so often (to refill and for bathroom breaks). Many people say that water is naturally increases energy levels.
• Chew Gum: With your body constantly doing something–no matter how small–you will have a harder time falling asleep.
• Move Around: Take a few extra trips to the water cooler, the printer, the copier, and anything else you can think of. This will help get your blood flowing and your mind and body off your tiredness. Also, if you have the space, try stretching throughout the day.
• Get A Little Help: Whether you enlist your coworkers or use an energy shot pill, just get some help so you can make it through the day. Coworkers can help by pinching you, carrying on a conversation, and maybe even playing some music. Believe me; they will find a way to keep you awake.

Summer is here, which means the sky is the brightest blue, the flowers are in full bloom, and each of your kids (not to mention yourself) has the sun kissed glow we long for come winter. Summer also means it’s the perfect time for the much anticipated family portrait. We planned our family portrait a few weeks in advance and I spoke with my Salt Lake family portraits specialist about some tips and tricks to make this year’s family portrait one we’ll all love.

1. Wear solid colors so as not to distract from the faces
2. If you’re going to coordinate outfits, try not to make it too matchy matchy as that can sometimes come off as corny
3. Choose a natural setting, preferably outdoors, to bring faces to life
4. Remember, dark colors tend to minimize body size, while light colors tend to emphasize body size
5. While we all love the summer glow, the summer burn is not so attractive. Limit your sun exposure for the few days before your portrait session
6. If you’re planning on photographing kids, plan for mid-morning and make sure they are well rested. Kids are happiest in the morning
7. Don’t let the family portrait stress you out because it will show in your face. Relax and have fun.

We have enough to worry about without stressing about personal files and documents being lost. Most people either fret about something happening to their computer or don’t worry about it enough–until something happens to it. Internet backup for all your financial records is a great way to keep it all secure while allowing yourself some peace of mind. This way, if your computer ever is stolen, crashes, or is ruined by natural disaster, you still have all your vital information.  So, backup, relax, and enjoy life!

Clothing your family can get incredibly expensive–especially in our current economic slump. But there is still a way to let your children have great, fashionable clothing without having to take a personal loan. Wholesale clothing is a great way to do just that. Not only do a lot of wholesale companies have great clothing, their prices are unbeatable.

Not too long ago we remodeled our kitchen (see post entitled Summer Indulgence) and I caught the remodeling bug.  Now we’ve started in on another project- the bathrooms.  The bathrooms were updated a few years ago, so there isn’t as much remodeling to do as in the kitchen.  We’re  keeping the same theme, neutrals with bold red accent colors.  We just finished the downstairs bathroom and it’s amazing what a new shower curtain, towels, cupboard handles and fixtures can do to update a room.  My favorite addition are the gorgeous Grohe faucets we’re installing on each of the bathroom sinks.  They are sleek, yet completely classic and really liven up the bathroom.

How many times have you gone to the store and as the clerk hands you your receipt she says, if you go online and fill out a five minute survey you’ll receive a $10 coupon off your next purchase?  And how many times have we gone home and completely forgotten or disregarded the online survey all together? This week was the first time ever I actually went home and filled out the survey and guess what, sure enough, after the survey popped up a $10 coupon towards my next purchase.  With a five minute survey I earned $10, not bad! With a little more research I found out that companies actually give great weight to these surveys.  In the business world they call it Enterprise Feedback Management and it allows for customers to drive product management - as the company obtains feedback from customers they can in-turn ensure quality service.  So, next time you’re at the store that is offering compensation for filling out a survey, take five minutes and fill out the survey - not only will you make $10 for your time, but you can ultimately affect the way certain aspects of the company are managed.

That would be a dream come true, right? But there are ways to earn an income without having to leave the house. Here are just a few:

• Daycare: If you are already are watching your kids during the day, what’s a few more? No, but seriously, this is a great way to earn some extra money.
• Telemarketing: Companies that specialize in telemarketing services are generally lenient when it comes to your work schedule. And some companies even offer that you can work from home.

The kids were away all week at summer camps which meant I had the house to myself.  You may be thinking I spent the week sipping pina coladas, reading good books, and relaxing by the pool, but instead my summer indulgence this year was remodeling the kitchen.  The kitchen has been on my list of things to do for two years and after months of saving we were finally able to get it done.  We painted a couple accent walls a dark red and put down the most beautiful oversized distressed granite tile for the floor.  The counters are dark brown rolled granite that pulls the color from the walls and the floor together perfectly.  Brand new stainless steel appliances complimented the new Blanco sink we installed and added a modern and very clean touch to the room.  I can’t believe remodeling the kitchen made such a difference to the entire feel of our house – it’s amazing.  The kids are in for a surprise when they get home!

So, summer is here and that means time to dust off the chinaware and bring out the beautiful flatware for my annual cocktail party. This past Christmas, one of my kids accidentally dropped one of my china plates as we were cleaning up after dinner, he felt awful! Luckily I found a website that sold me a china replacement piece identical to my set! I was so relieved! So, back to the dinner party- we’re having the most delicious hors d’oeuvres, grilled salmon with a mango salsa, and a scrumptious salad with almonds and bleu cheese. What a night it will be!