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.

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!

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.

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!

What girl doesn’t like buying new clothes (except for the spending money part maybe)? But one thing to remember while you are losing weight is that it is OK to buy yourself new clothes even though you haven’t reached your ultimate fitness goals. Most people punish themselves by holding off until they have dropped all their weight. The fact is, you need to feel good about your self and your progress the entire time you are losing weight and working hard toward your goal. Reward yourself for the progress you have already made. And if you are looking to drop more pounds but need a little boost, try Akavar 2050. Sometimes your body plateaus and it is impossible to get over that wall. Sometimes you just need a little help. Remember, love yourself no matter what size you are!

Life can be overwhelming sometimes. All day you have to deal with work: who has problems with who, who is following the guidelines of risk management and who is not, who is meeting quotas and so on. While all of these things are necessary for the successful running of a business, you should be able to leave it all at work before you go home. When you get home, make sure to have some family time–whether that is eating dinner together, playing a game, or just talking to find out what is going on with everyone. Relax and enjoy your family. You will never regret it.

If I were to survey the American population, their response to biggest pet peeve would probably be being placed on hold. I consider myself a pretty patient person, but there is just something about being put on hold that aggravates and incites anger. Why is that? My guess is that if companies would play better on hold music/messages, the customers would stay a lot calmer. Can you believe that some companies even have pure silence while on hold? That just makes the time seem to go by slower–not good for customer retention, that’s for sure. All businesses have to do is buy on hold music. It really isn’t that hard, and it will keep us customers happy…which should be their goal, right?

For the most part, picking the right vitamins and supplements to take is nothing but chance and guess work. You think you need extra vitamins, so you buy them–but you just can’t be sure without extra help. But now there has been health advancements that can tell you exactly what your body is lacking–specialized vitamins custom to your DNA. Sounds like something from the future, doesn’t it? But it is the here and now thanks to Code Nutrition. It is great for the whole family because not only will your kids have all the vitamins they need, but it is incredibly easy. All you have to do is send back the at home DNA test (cheek swab) and they will work their magic. You will soon be receiving monthly supplies of all the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs.

Honestly, there isn’t an excuse to be healthy and happy–for the whole family.

I don’t know if anyone else has this problem, but as the weather warms, I go shopping! As the hemlines go up, so does my credit card amount. This summer I have decided to start down the path to get out of debt. I am looking into balance transfers, a money merge account, and just cutting back wherever I can. This year, I am getting out of debt!

What are some tactics that you have used to help reduce your debt?