These beautiful pictures were taken by Guido Mocafico.
I'm so mesmerized by them, especially by the colors. The greens are my favorite ones, because it's my favorite color.
Snakes are very fascinating creatures, only to think that they have been around for ages.
I would never keep one as a pet, though, I think that they belong to live in their natural habitat.
Nature has always been a great inspiration source for fashion. Off course these images instantly made me think about McQueen's new campaign picture for the s/s 2010.
10 Things you need to know about Sleep –Light Therapy.
Have you experience difficulty falling asleep? Then light therapy is probably a good solution for you. The blue light therapy is a great non-drug method for natural insomnia treatment. It works to reduce stress and alleviate restlessness, anxiety, tension, seasonal affective disorder and even depression. Another good thing is that this form of therapy can be done in the comfort of your own home.
The light therapy helps correct the body's circadian rhythms and slow down the body's release of melatonin. These changes can then help the body deal with insomnia and other biochemical issues.
Sunlight regulates our circadian rhythm or body clock. Sleep experts say we need at least 30 minutes of exposure to sunlight every day, preferably in the morning or shortly after waking up, to keep us in natural sleep and wake cycle.
As we age, the lens in the eye thickens and the pupil shrinks. This reduces the amount of light that passes through to the retina - the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that transmits information to the brain about whether it is night or day. As a result, the signals which the brain relies on to keep the circadian rhythm properly synchronised fail to get through. This disrupts the sleep and wake cycle, which is why we can become drowsy during the day and, consequently, unable to sleep well at night.
In the late Nineties, researchers discovered that blue light appeared to combat this daytime drowsiness by tricking the brain into thinking it is a natural sunlight and sending signals to keep the body alert. When the blue light fades or is switched off, the brain interprets this as the onset of night. Brain then commands to increase production of melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland that helps regulate our sleep.
The blue light therapy is safe for all ages. It is also great for travelers that change time zones often. When time zones are crossed, the blue light encourages the adjustment of the circadian rhythm, which is the body's biological clock.
An intriguing finding was recently reported that the implementation of blue-colored streetlights has reduced both crime and suicides: - Glasgow, Scotland, introduced blue street lighting to improve the city’s landscape in 2000. Afterward, the number of crimes in areas illuminated in blue noticeably decreased. - The Nara, Japan, prefectural police set up blue street lights in 2005, and found the number of crimes decreased by about 9 percent in blue-illuminated neighborhoods. Many other areas nationwide have followed it.
The physical effects of sleep deprivation can be quite numerous, especially when you go for long periods of time without adequate rest. Sleep deprivation, also known as insomnia, can really wreck havoc on your life if it is not kept in check. Aside from the illnesses and diseases it could eventually lead to (if not taken care of quickly), it can also cause you to suffer from some the effects below.
The physical effects of sleep deprivation...
Exhaustion: You won't just be "tired", you'll be physically and mentally exhausted. Everything you do, no matter how small the task, seems to drain you of all your energy. You'd be more than happy just to lay on your couch for hours on end. You'll know when you're suffering from this effect when you are constantly tired day in and day out.
Discomfort: It's not exactly pain, but more of a dull feeling all over your body. Nothing you try helps to relieve the discomfort; even sitting or lieing down doesn't help.
Blurred Vision: When sleep deprived, it's not uncommon for your vision to blur for short periods of time. These brief moments of "haziness" aren't signs that you're going blind; it just means you need a more restful sleep.
Impaired Motor Skills: Your hand-eye coordination and reaction time is completely shot. Not only do you fail to react to situations as quickly as you normally would, but it's almost as though everything you do is in slow motion.
If you happen to be affected by any of the above physical effects of sleep deprivation, then read over the 3 insomnia tips below. They might not cure your sleep deprivation or insomnia problem, but they'll sure to help with it.
- Listen to specially designed CDs that are composed of gentle pulses and rhythms which are used to lull you to sleep. Such CDs have proven highly effective for insomnia sufferers. You can easily find them online.
- Take a bath 20 minutes before bed. A warm bath can be quite soothing, thereby making it easier for you to relax and get into "Sleep mode".
- Have a glass of warm milk before going to sleep. Warm milk helps to sooth and calm jagged nerves, allowing you to achieve maximum relaxation before sleep.
Remember, you don't have to yield to the physical effects of sleep deprivation. With a bit of knowledge and a few reliable insomnia tips, you can fight your insomnia problems without the need of expensive drugs or medications.
For detailed information about the deadliest physical effects of sleep deprivation as well as to learn how to cure your sleeplessness before it has the chance to kill you, try visiting http://www.SleepTracks.org, a highly popular website that specializes in the treatment of insomnia and sleep deprivation.
With due respect to doctors, they don't know much about herbal remedies for insomnia because they haven't been trained in them. Doctors are pursued daily by representatives from the big drug companies who provide them with incentives such as free samples. It's not in a doctor's best interests to suggest natural remedies
It's not only doctors either, a lot of people believe herbs for insomnia to be a watered down solution compared to chemical sleep medication. This is because the benefits of insomnia herbs are not widely advertised, unlike the latest drug release. Why? Because there's just no money in it.
This is rather unfortunate because there are many who could benefit with more and better information about herbal remedies for insomnia, but they're not being informed. For instance when I ask people with sleep disorders if they would consider trying herbs for insomnia they'll say thing like:
"I'd better wait 'till I'm on vacation before trying them." "Er, can you buy them at the drug store?" "That's for elderly people, isn't it? Like aunts and that?" "Don't you have to take them for ages before they work?" "Aren't those herbs toxic?"
The truth is if you are having trouble sleeping, herbal remedies for insomnia are as effective as chemical sleeping pills. If fact they are so much better because you won't become "hooked" on them. Most herbs for insomnia are safe to take over the longer term without you having to worry about becoming addicted. The possible exception here is valerian which can have withdrawal effects.
Here are some safer herbs for insomnia you may not have come across before. However they have been proven to be very effective.
Nux Vomica - this is a wonderful herb for those type A personalities who tend to wake up in the middle of the night, planning all those things they have to do! Nux Vomica can really help such people to take a deep breath and relax.
Scutellaria laterifolia - A herbal nerve tonic for a fatigued nervous system, Scutellaria laterifolia is also a gentle sedative. It has beneficial effect on stress, nervous exhaustion, sleeplessness and anxiety.
Passiflora incarnata - If you have a tendency to worry, Passiflora incarnata, commonly known as Passionflower, is recommended as a soothing antidote to insomnia.
Coffea - is a homeopathic medication and targets sleeplessness due to an over-active mind. If you're agitated or physically restless, Coffea is the answer.
Herbal remedies for insomnia are safe, non addictive and can have an almost immediate effect when blended together in their recommended amounts.
However remember herbs are potent substances so either seek the advice of a professional herbalist or naturopath, or obtain your herbs already blended from a reliable source.
To discover more about obtaining and using herbal remedies for insomnia, visit Natural Sleep Medications Wendy Owen (Dip. Holistic Health Therapy) is a sleep researcher and writer with a passion for herbal and homeopathic remedies.
In order to be at our best we generally need between seven and eight hours of good sleep each night.
But with the modern day stressful life the numbers of people with sleep problems are getting worse. Over one third of the population regularly has problems sleeping and one in ten have chronic insomnia. This is where there are problems falling asleep, waking in the middle of the night or waking too early. Where you consistently have problems functioning the next day.
There are actually a number of reasons leading to sleep problems. The most common causes are stress, worry, and depression. In addition medical problems could be the cause, or pain, some medications have an effect on your sleep, over use of alcohol or caffeine.
To resolve the problem it's important therefore to find the specific cause. It makes sense to discus your sleep issue with your family physician to get any medical problems treated first. Your physician can also prescribe medications that will help anxiety and depression.
If you feel that your sleep problems are caused by stress, worry or even depression then it makes sense to talk to a psychologist or counselor. There are some good programs that have been proved to decrease levels of stress, anxiety and depression. This in turn will improve your quality of sleep.
A psychologist can give you techniques to help you relax and ease the stress away. Psychologists generally have a range of other behavioral strategies to help reduce your sleeping problems. About 75% of people with insomnia report significantly improved sleep after completing this type of psychological treatment.
Family physicians regularly prescribe hypnotic medications that help people to sleep. These do help individuals who are going through a particularly stressful period. However these medications should only be used for a short period as they are become addictive. They can make your simple sleep problem a lot more difficult to resolve. They also become less effective if you use them over longer periods of time.
In addition some of these medicines will cause feelings of drowsiness and lead to difficulties in concentrating the next day. Over the counter sleep supplements are not always reliable solutions and are often just a waste of money as they simply don't work.
Sleep Medicines can help you catch up on some good sleep but don't by themselves fix the issue. They would need to be used alongside some other treatment or program that will resolve the actual cause. Where the underlying problem is successfully treated then the sleep problems will disappear too.
In summary, sleeping medication can be helpful only as a short term 'fix' but don't actually solve any underlying problem, whereas psychological treatments are effective in the long-term but may take a while to work.
10 Things you need to know about Sleep – Don't mess with your sleep cycle.
Our sleep is regulated by an internal body clock (circadian clock). When we fall asleep, our sleep circles in cycles throughout the night, moving between deep restorative sleep, more alert stages and dreaming. As the night passes, we spend more time in dream sleep and lighter sleep. There are two main types of sleep. REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is when you do most active dreaming. Your eyes actually move back and forth during this stage, which is why it is called REM sleep. Non-REM (NREM) sleep consists of four stages of deeper and deeper sleep. Each sleep stage is important for quality sleep, but deep sleep and REM sleep are especially vital.
Stage 1 (Drowsiness) – Lasts just five or ten minutes. Eyes move slowly under the eyelids, muscle activity slows down, and we are easily awakened. Stage 2 (Light Sleep) - Eye movements stop, heart rate slows, and body temperature decreases. Stages 3 and 4 (Deep Sleep) – We are difficult to wake up, and if awakened, do not adjust immediately and often feel groggy and disoriented for several minutes. Blood flow decreases to the brain in this stage, and redirects itself towards the muscles, restoring physical energy. Research also shows that immune functions increase during deep sleep. REM sleep (Dream Sleep) –We usually have three to five REM episodes per night. This stage is associated with processing emotions, retaining memories and relieving stress. Breathing is rapid, irregular and shallow, the heart rate increases.
Sleep Cycle and Coffee You might be surprised that caffeine can cause sleep problems up to ten to twelve hours after drinking it! There is new evidence that coffee can really interfere in your attempts to get good sleep when you need it most. According to a recent study led by a Canadian researcher in Montreal, caffeine intervenes with sleep and this effect increases with age. This is probably anything too shocking and new. We all know caffeine is a stimulant that can disrupt sleep and cause insomnia when taken too close to bedtime. But this study pointed out the fact that caffeine can have hidden threat. Many people who enjoy coffee affirm that they can sleep like a baby after drinking coffee before bedtime, and that it does not affect them as significantly as others. That is not completely true. If you put them into sleep labs, you will find that their sleep fragmented. They do not get quality sleep even though they think they do. While it is true that everyone's tolerance and metabolism for caffeine may be slightly different, that does not mean some of us get a free pass on its negative lack of REM sleep.
Sleep Cycle and Alcohol Many people think that a drink or two before bed will help them sleep. While it may help you fall asleep faster, alcohol reduces the sleep quality, waking you up later in the night. Many people usually associate alcohol with sleep and sleepiness. However, the effects of alcohol on sleep are mostly negative. A recent study revealed that 13% had used alcohol specifically as a sleep aid. The effects for those who drink themselves to sleep are exactly what they are trying to avoid. Alcohol causes the lack of REM sleep and metabolism that clears it from your body causes a withdrawal syndrome. This withdrawal causes awakenings and is often associated with nightmares and sweats. Night drinkers have more difficulty getting up in the morning, particularly because of hangover. But what happens when you try to fall asleep the next night? You will have trouble doing so without having another drink, thus starting a vicious cycle. Over time, the body becomes dependent upon alcohol in order to fall asleep.
10 Things you need to know about Sleep – Snoring Facts.
Everyone snores occasionally. Even a baby or a beloved pet may snore! But heavy snoring can affect the quantity and quality of your sleep. Sleep deprivation has significant consequences: excessive sleepiness, irritability, and lack of productivity during the day, as well as negative health reflection. And, if your snoring is so loud that your bed partner can't sleep, you may end up banished from the bedroom. Sleep partners of people who snore heavily often awaken over twenty times per hour.
Sleeping in separate bedrooms does not have to be the remedy for snoring. Discovering the cause of snoring and finding the right cure will improve your health, your relationships, and, of course, your sleep.
Reasons for Snoring People who snore usually have too much throat and nasal tissue, or “floppy” tissue that is more prone to vibrate. The position of the tongue can also get in the way of smooth breathing. Evaluating how and when you snore will help you pinpoint whether the cause of your snoring is within your control or not. Keeping a sleep diary will help you determine the possible cause of your snoring.
The most typical health problem snoring causes is loss of sleep for both the person who is snoring and his (or her) sleep partner. The snoring noise combined with tossing and turning often keeps both people from sleeping soundly. People who snore chronically are often middle-aged and overweight, and snoring may indicate a more serious underlying medical problem.
Dangers of Snoring Snoring is not just a nuisance for your bed partner (or, in extreme cases, for your neighbor). The sound of snoring can be highly disruptive to the whole family, and can be a warning sign that something is not quite right. Snoring can also be a symptom of sleep apnea, a potentially life-threatening condition. While snoring is caused by narrow airways, sleep apnea is a true breathing obstruction. A person with sleep apnea wakes up many times a night to regain breathing, but usually remembers nothing at all about the awakenings.
Many people are desperate to learn how to stop snoring but just a few have found an effective solution. It turns out snoring problem is much more challenging to overcome than it might seem at the first sight.
Here are some snoring tips: 1. Adopt a healthy lifestyle. Overweight, smoking, alcohol and drugs all exacerbate snoring. 2. Use a single low pillow. Sleeping on too many pillows can narrow the nasal passage. You can buy anti-snoring pillows designed to keep snorers on their side while asleep. 3. Try to sleep on your stomach, as snoring is less likely to occur in this position. 4. Review your medications. Sleeping pills, antihistamines and some other medications can increase snoring. 5. Consult with your doctor if you suspect that allergies and nasal congestion may be causing the snoring. Make sure your allergy medication is antihistamine free. 6. Try an over-the-counter nasal strip. These strips may widen the nasal passages and decrease congestion to reduce snoring. 7. Ask your dentist about using an oral appliance designed to reduce snoring. 8. Discuss the treatments for sleep apnea with a sleep-disorder specialist. These include surgery, radio-frequency treatment and a sleeping mask that aids breathing.
With more people every year turning to natural or alternative treatments, the use of natural sleep aids is on the rise. It"s not surprising since alternative and holistic health practices are quickly becoming part of the mainstream. In fact, more people are using natural remedies every year, and the percentage has been rising steadily over the last three decades.
Insomnia is one of the most common complaints doctors hear from their patients, but many are hesitant to prescribe sleeping pills due to the potential side effects and other complications of their use. This is in sharp contrast to the manner in which sleeping aids are pushed by manufacturers. You can"t get through an evening of television programming without seeing an advertisement for at least one prescription or over the counter sleep medication.
Natural Sleeping Aids are Part of the Holistic Health Movement
Holistic healthcare focuses not only on the symptoms, but the root of our medical problems, which is why it"s extremely popular with young families who are savvy about their health. Rather than simply temporarily masking a symptom (insomnia) with another symptom (drugged sleep), natural sleeping aids focus on why you can"t sleep. A natural sleep aid will help you relax if you are tense or to help alleviate anxiety if you are overly stressed. Both tension and stress are common causes of insomnia in adults.
People prefer natural remedies for their lack of side effects as well. While many sleeping pills contain ingredients that can cause allergic or adverse reactions, natural sleeping aids seldom if ever cause a problem. They are derived from natural plant extracts or are chemicals (such as melatonin) that our own bodies naturally produce. For the same reasons, you won"t become addicted to a natural sleeping aid. You can use one as long as necessary, and when you no longer need it, you will sleep fine without help and with no unexpected side effects.
Natural Sleeping Aids are Gentler
The most common ingredients in natural sleep aids include Valerian and Lemon Balm, two plant derived ingredients that are gentle to your stomach and central nervous system. You can use them to help you relax, unwind and prepare your mind for sleep without waking up with the groggy, unfocused hangover that many people experience from prescription sleep aids, which often contain narcotics or other harsh drugs.
It"s also nice to know you can keep a natural sleep aid on hand for whenever you may need it. Most of us don"t have insomnia on a regular basis, so we don"t see our doctors about the problem. If you occasionally experience insomnia, however, you don"t want to be lying awake all night, staring at the ceiling because you didn"t know you would need a sleep aid on that particular night. You can purchase natural sleep aids from any most major pharmacies, online or from a health food store. This way, any time you have trouble falling asleep, you have a gentle, effective way to alleviate the problem without waiting for a doctor"s appointment.
Consider a Combination Approach
You can safely combine more than one natural sleep aid for maximum effect if you know what amounts to take of each one. In fact, there are currently several versions on the market that have been developed by holistic health practitioners and doctors that have already done this for you. The most effective ones usually contain a blend of Melatonin, Valerian and Lemon Balm. This unique combination relieves anxiety, induces relaxation and helps to reset your own internal biological clock - all of which contribute to falling asleep faster and at the proper time.
If you would like to get rid of insomnia without pumping yourself full of potentially addictive or harsh prescriptions, look for all natural ingredients in the sleep aid you choose. By using a natural sleep aid, you protect both your body and your sleep.
About the Author: The author of this article knows the importance of natural sleep aids. He also knows all about natural sleep remedies and has provided valuable advice to many people worldwide. He has also written many articles related to natural sleep aid which are handy guides for millions of people in this planet.
For a long time I've been searching for a perfect leopard faux fur coat.
How happy was I to see that H&M sold just what I was looking for!
But, a smart girl that I am, I waited to buy it. Now it's mine, I've got it at the sales at -60% off.
Nothing like a good bargain! I'm so happy with it. I'm a major sucker for leopard print. A perfect dress is still on the search list...
Another addition to my faux fur collection. At this moment I have 10 faux fur coats. I always say: "A girl can't have too many... "
The good thing about this one is that it can be worn in a real classy 50s or 60s way or with a little rock'n'roll twist. I opted for the second version, but in a subtle way, ' cause I had to go to an exam like that.
The scarf is actually DIY. It's really long and really loosely knitted with holes in it.
But you can't see it here, I'll take some better pictures next time.
You already can guess where my inspiration came from.
The Dr. Martens that I wore, are one of my favorite shoes ever. I got this pair last winter.
The zip front and the pointed toe make them a bit different from the rest of Martens collection.
In today's fast paced society a lot of people suffer from insomnia, the inability to get enough adequate sleep. Fortunately, insomnia is not something you have to live with for the rest of your life. But curing insomnia can be a challenge which may require some life style changes.
There are many possible causes for insomnia. You should always try to figure out the cause, so you can fix the cause rather than the symptom, in this case insomnia. If your insomnia is caused by your life style, your best solution is to change your life style.
Things you should try avoid in order to cure insomnia are:
Don't use sleeping pills or other medication to fall asleep. They are no long term solution and many of them have negative side effects. Note, never stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor first.
Don't drink coffee, or anything else containing caffeine, or alcohol in the evening. The former will make it more difficult to fall asleep while the latter will prevent you from getting the quality sleep you need.
No heavy meals in the evening. If your body is busy digesting food, you will not get the deep sleep needed to feel refreshed.
Don't let the clock decide when you go to bed. If you are not tired, do not go to bed. Read a book or listen to some peaceful music until you are feeling sleepy.
Don't worry about what may happen tomorrow. Decide to worry about the future tomorrow. And you can't change the past, so don't be upset about what happened during the day.
Don't sleep during the day. If you sleep during the day, you will have trouble falling asleep in the evening. If you feel tired during the day, go for a walk and get some fresh air.
Things you should do to cure your insomnia are:
Exercise, if possible on a daily basis. It can be as simple as a 30 minute brisk walk. Also, avoid heavy exercises late in the evening. Your body needs time to cool down afterwards.
Make sure that you have a good sleeping environment. Your bedroom should have a comfortable bed and be cool, dark and quit.
Create your own bedtime procedure. You need to cool down and start relaxing before going to bed, you may want to try a simple relaxation exercise. By doing the same procedure every evening you program your brain to start cooling down.
Listen to special audio CDs that will tell your brain to slow down. You can re-program your brain and teach it to prepare for sleep.
10 Things you need to know about Sleep – Nap or Not to Nap?
For years, napping has been derided as a sign of laziness and weakness. But lately nap has been garnered new respect; thanks to scientific evidence that midday dozing benefits both mental acuity and overall health. Recent studies have shown that naps boost alertness, creativity, mood, and productivity in the later hours of the day.
Napping can be a great way to catch up on sleep, increase productivity and become more creative. Napping puts the body in a relaxed state, which neutralize the effects of daily stress. Studies have shown that napping can actually decrease the risk of dying from heart disease.
There is some controversy in the best way to take a nap because different people might have different nap styles. You can experiment with some of the napping techniques and see what works for you. The best nap is the one in which you fall asleep quickly and stay asleep for the shortest amount of time, while still waking refreshed. Napping too long may actually leave you feeling more tired.
Your "chronotype" can help to determine the best time to nap. If you are a lark, wake up as early as 6am and go to sleep around 9pm or 10pm, you are probably going to feel like napping around 1pm or 1.30 pm. If you're an owl, preferring to go to bed after midnight or 1am, and to wake around 8am or 9am, your afternoon "sleep gate" will open later, closer to 2.30pm or 3pm.
A short afternoon catnap of 20 minutes provides mostly Stage 2 sleep, which increases alertness and concentration, elevates mood, and sharpens motor skills. Naps of up to 45 minutes may also include rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which enhances creative thinking and boosts sensory processing. A nap of 45 minutes improves alertness for up to 10 hours. Limit your nap to 45 minutes or less, if you need to spring into action after dozing. Otherwise, you may drift into slow-wave sleep. Waking from this stage results in grogginess and disorientation that can lasts for half an hour or more.
Nap Time: Prime nap time is from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., when your energy level dips due to a rise in the hormone melatonin at that time of day. Not Too Late: Napping within three hours of bedtime may interfere with night time sleep and cause insomnia. 45-Minute Maximum: When taking a nap longer than 45 minutes, you run the risk of heading into deep sleep, which will leave you feeling tired and groggy.
One Harvard study published last year showed that a 45-minute nap improves learning and memory. Napping reduces stress and lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke, diabetes, and excessive weight gain.
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by having difficulty falling asleep as well as difficulty staying asleep. Insomnia is a common problem, for some people it means experiencing an occasional sleepless night every now and then. Others have trouble getting enough adequate sleep almost every night.
The best solution to cure insomnia is to find the root cause and remove it. Of course, the problem is not always that easy. But if your insomnia is caused by your lifestyle, the best long-term solution is to change your lifestyle. In most cases, it is better to do one small change at a time, rather than trying to change everything at once. The latter approach is too ambitious for most people. Without fast results it is easy to get discouraged and give up. A healthier lifestyle has many more benefits than just improving your sleep.
Some of the most reliable ways to cure insomnia naturally are:
Be physically active during the day. Not only can exercises make you sleep better but you get other health benefits as well. Just a daily 30 minute brisk walk is a good beginning for most people. Just make sure that you avoid heavy exercises in the evening, your body needs time to cool down.
Create your own bedtime routine, so your brain knows it is time to cool down and go to bed. This should include something relaxing, such as listening to calm soothing music, so you start to cool down.
If you are feeling stressed or anxious, include meditation or anti-stress exercises in your day. Far too many worry about what may happen tomorrow. Decide to relax now and worry about things tomorrow, if they happen. It is far too common to worry about things that never happen.
Try hypnotherapy treatment by a professional hypnotist. Some chronic insomniacs have been cured by hypnosis. Unfortunately, this can become an expensive cure. It is cheaper to buy self-hypnosis CDs and do it yourself. But most of them seem to have limited effect compared to seeking help from a professional hypnotist.
Use special audio CDs to teach your brain to slow down before bedtime. You can re-program your brain to automatically prepare for sleep. This will create new neural pathways in your brain, permanently changing your ability to sleep. Once your brain has been re-programmed you do not need to listen to the CD anymore.
You may get grossed out, but my favorite FAVORITE meal is what I'll call Mac n' Cheese Goulash.
The basics: mac n' cheese, ground turkey, peas, and tomato sauce of some kind. This could be leftover spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, salsa, a can of tomato paste, whatever. The best goulashes also include worcestershire sauce, but it's not necessary, especially if going for spicy instead.
Tonight's is as follows: 1 box mac n cheese (Annie's Organic- love the bunny), 1 box sun dried tomato something or other pasta & parmesan cheese sauce from Kraft, 1 small can of tomato sauce, peas, turkey, and gorgonzola. We're out of worcestershire.
I haven't had it yet. It may be gross, but doubtful. It will probably be delicious. Like the other times I make it, we'll probably love it and I'll want to eat it for a midnight snack and for breakfast- no need to heat it up.
You may want me to hang my head in shame, but I shan't.
Sleeping soundly at night isn't as easy as some people think it is. In fact, too many people take "good" sleep for granted -- they believe they're entitled to it, even without using natural sleeping remedies. If they only knew how bad all of us insomniacs have it each night, maybe they would appreciate sleep-filled nights a bit more.
If you're one of those sleepless zombies roaming around from place to place, then listen up. Directly below is a collection of natural sleeping remedies that you can use to alleviate your insomnia troubles and get the deep rest you so truly deserve. Using 1 of these remedies is good, but using them all is even better!
Natural Sleeping Remedies...
- Herbal Bath: A warm bath filled with a few bath salts and several drops of insomnia herbal oil can really heighten relaxation and relieve stress. Soak in the warm bath for 15 minutes, then head off to bed.
- Herbal Tea: This is a long known natural sleeping remedy. Simply pour a cup of hot tea (chamoile, valerian, or passionflower) and drink it down slowly before bed. Most insomnia herbal teas have strong sleep inducing effects; so even if you're not all that tired, you will be when you're finished drinking.
- Herbal Aroma: There are many herbal aromas -- like those of lavendar, valerian, and others -- that have been scientifically proven to induce sleepiness. How can you use this fact to your advantage? Simple, light an herbal candle/incense and keep it near you while you sleep -- take precautions to avoid waking up to a fiery inferno! Another great way to use herbal aromas to sleep better is to sprinkle some droplets of herbal oil onto a cloth or handkerchief and then place it under your pillow.
- Massage: In terms of natural sleeping remedies, there isn't a whole lot to say here. This particular remedy helps with relaxation and relieving stress; both of which will help you to sleep better.
- Sound Therapy: Of all the natural sleeping remedies out there, sound therapy (aka sleeptracks) is the best, hands down. Why? Because it's so easy and it's so very effective. All you have to do is put in the sleeptrack (CD/tape/mp3/etc.) and then get into bed. The sound waves will make their way into your body and then they'll head for your brain. Once there, they will caress and massage it until you are fast asleep. It truly is the lazy way to cure insomnia.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways in which you can cure insomnia fast and effectively. Just choose one of the above natural sleeping remedies and start enjoying more peaceful sleep.
Would you like to just skip over all of these rather useless natural insomnia remedies and be pointed in the direction of a guaranteed cure for insomnia? If so, try visiting http://www.SleepTracks.org the one and only website that can guarantee an insomnia cure for you.
10 Things you need to know about Sleep - Insomnia Home Remedies
Why does a warm bath before bedtime help you sleep better? The warm bath theory suggests that normal body temperatures play off the body's circadian rhythm. The body temperature is low during sleep and has highest point during the day. In the hours leading up to bedtime, our bodies start to drop in temperature. This is one of the hints for our natural sleep cycle to begin. It is thought that the person begins to get drowsy as the body temperature drops.
When you take a warm bath, your body temperature rises, your tense muscles relax and you can use this time to wind down from your busy day. It is a good idea to take a bath 1-2 hours before bedtime to get the full effect of the rise and drop of the body temperature. As you come out of the bath, your body temperature begins to fall, you feel tired and it makes you easier to fall asleep.
The optimal temperature for most people is between 36 to 38 degrees Celsius (97 to 101 Fahrenheit). Time - 15 to 20 minutes. To get the full effect of both relaxation and body temperature change from your bath, you can enhance your luxury bath with:
• Deep relaxation music; • Bath oils that are conducive to sleep like chamomile or lavender essential oils; • Bath salts like Epsom salt.
If you cannot remember the last time you took a warm bath, or have never done so as an adult – give it a try – you may be pleasantly surprised.
Le Printemps, a departement store in Paris, has an amazing window display this winter.
It's a Russian theme this time and it even makes me a little proud, 'cause I'm Russian myself.
I'm absolutely in love with this pictures, the windows look like a fairytale world.
I wish I could see it with my own eyes! I miss Paris, this city has it all for me. It feels like magic every time I'm there.
It also displays this Baccarat crystal chandelier that was first introduced at the World Expo of 1867 in Paris. The chandelier was made in honour of tsarina Maria Aleksandrovna, the wife of tsaar Aleksander II. The tsaar had a big love for crystal.
