I know I am going to get slack for this… But, I do not care about the Super Bowl this weekend. There… I said it! But it’s true. I’m just not into sports, and as much as I have tried, I just can’t stand watching them.

However, I will watch the Super Bowl this weekend with my husband, because I love him and he loves football and the Patriots and it is something he enjoys… (plus he will be using the good tv so… my options get small at that point.) And trust me, he will go to musicals and plays with me, so I suppose I should return the favor.

Here is a list of things I would rather do than watch the Super Bowl:

1. Reorganize my tupperware drawer
2. Take a long nap
3. Go out to dinner, I bet I wouldn’t have to make a reservation!
4. Find all the matches to my missing socks… (last count I had 67 single socks, how does that even happen? )
5. Pinch my arm till it turns purple… over and over and over again
6. Untangle a ball of yarn
7. Play 52 pick up
8. Enter work orders into AMSI
9. Go to the movies, I can sit in the best seat in the house!! Middle of theater, middle row, middle seat. Just saying..
10. Have a baby. Oh wait… thats just Beth here in the office… So I guess I cant use THAT excuse…

Well, I hope you die hard fans have a great time watching! I’ll be looking around my apartment dreaming of things I’d rather do and listening to my husband hoot, hollar and cheer.

How many of us have at one time or another said something like, “If I was president, I would…”? Well, we may never get the chance to be president, but we do have a say when we vote. I hope that all of you do get out there and vote, but to those who don’t, I want to express why it is important to do so.
Many people think that their vote does not matter. Well that is the far from the truth. There have been many elections, and not just on a local level, that have been decided by less than 100 votes. So thinking that your vote does not count could not be farther from the truth. Maybe you think that it doesn’t matter who gets picked, they’re all the same. That’s not true either. Please keep in mind that who becomes President has the power to nominate new Supreme Court Justices, who remain in office for life or until they retire. The Supreme Court Justices are the ones who interpret the constitution, and consequently determine how each American will live his or her life. So basically, which candidate would you prefer to choose the most influential position in this country?
If it’s not the social issues that you care most about then maybe it’s the financial issues that are most important to you. The politicians we elect decide how much we pay in taxes and how that money is spent. Propositions on the ballot determine whether your property taxes or sales taxes will rise. Also, Health care, Social Security and defense spending are important but significant financial strains on our economy. Vote for leaders and actions that will spend money the way you want it spent.
The votes you make will impact your children, grandchildren and all the generations that follow. Vote to improve the world they will live in. Please educate yourselves on the candidates and what issues they are for or against. If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain about the way the country is being run. If you haven’t already done so, register to vote now! November will be here before you know it.

The Dirty Dozen

With much of the current focus of a healthy “Green” lifestyle leading consumers to all-natural and organic foods, here are some tips on eating healthy while saving some money.

The dirty dozen is a list of the 12 fruits and vegetables that contain the most pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and are the least sustainable crops.

Try to avoid buying conventional fruits and veggies from the list below.

Here is a list of The Dirty Dozen:

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Strawberries
4. Peaches
5. Spinach
6. Nectarines (Imported)
7. Grapes (Imported)
8. Bell Peppers
9. Potatoes
10. Blueberries
11. Lettuce
12. Kale / Collard Greens

There is little doubt that organic foods are better for you, but not everyone has an open-ended budget. So, what conventional foods can you buy and still reap the benefits of the nutrients, and save some dough?

When eating a 100% organic diet doesn’t fit into your weekly budget, consider saving a little money on fruits and veggies that conventionally contain small amounts of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and are more sustainable crops.

To save money try buying conventional fruits and veggies from the list below.

Here is a list of the Clean 15:

1. Onions
2. Corn
3. Pineapple
4. Avocado
5. Asparagus
6. Peas
7. Mango
8. Eggplant
9. Cantaloupe (Domestic)
10. Kiwi
11. Cabbage
12. Watermelon
13. Sweet Potato
14. Grapefruit
15. Mushroom

Eating organic and saving money can be possible. I shop for food at 4 different stores, 3 on a weekly basis, in order to save money and eat healthy.

I have found Trader Joes to have the lowest prices on organic items like apples, oranges, onions, green peppers, broccoli, lettuce, baby carrots, mushrooms, spinach, chicken sausage (natural), eggs, dairy, dried fruit and nuts, pasta, and rice, and meats (when buying meat from a local natural butcher is not an option).

Hannaford tends to have the lowest price on organic foods like bananas, chicken (natural) keifer (natural), coffee, juice, salsa, frozen vegetables, popcorn.

Your local health food store prices might surprise you. I buy most of my bulk items like spices (granulated garlic, salt, pepper, fresh cayenne pepper, Italian herbs, rosemary, etc…), exotic dried fruit and nuts, Japanese sweet potatoes, local summer vegetables, bulk cheeses, bulk coffee, oils, wild caught canned tuna, and honey at my local health food store. The prices of items at local health food stores are often controlled by the season. You can get great deals from local farms during the summer on fruits and vegetables.

Happy Shopping!

Ok, so maybe the title of this blog post made you cringe, but let’s face it – whether we like it or not, Valentine’s Day is doing its best to sneak up on us pretty quickly. The stores are overflowing with sappy cards, boxes of chocolate, and sweet little stuffed animals that make kissing sounds…and if I see one more commercial for a piece of jewelry called the “Red Hot Love Bead,” I don’t think I’ll make it to February 14th. All the commercial stuff aside, it can be a fun little holiday whether you’re part of a couple or not. Boston.com has provided a great list of 14 date ideas for Valentine’s Day that are definitely worth looking into. Here are some of my favorites from the list:
– For all the single ladies, there’s the Princess & the Frog Speed Dating event on February 11th. Don’t be too intimidated to try this! A certain someone I know who shall remain nameless because I don’t want to embarrass her happened to meet the man of her dreams at one such event – so give it a try!
– How about a cruise on the Spirit of Boston? Afraid it might be too cheesy? Don’t be silly! Yours truly actually went on this cruise last year and it was a very impressive and romantic evening (aww). The dinner is delicious, the music is perfect, and the scenery couldn’t be better (helllooo Boston skyline!).
– Oooor you could go on a Naked Scavenger Hunt at the MFA. I picked this one because the name is slightly scandalous but the actual event is quite tame: you’ll simply be searching for works of art in the museum that feature nudity. Couples or singles can giggle away as you find the, err, “love” in each masterpiece. Could be fun!

Many common houseplants not only add attractiveness to your home, but they emit oxygen and are natural air purifiers. This is especially important when homes are closed tight during winter!

Some of these plants require little maintenance and can adapt well to low light. Houseplants are not expensive and can be found at local nurseries and grocery stores.

Heartleaf Philodendron- Also known as the sweetheart vine, is a common houseplant with heart-shaped green leaves that prefers low light. This is a great plant for beginners as it is tolerant of many conditions and super easy to grow.

Spider Plant- Also known as airplane plants, they have long, skinny green leaves that have a white stripe going down the center of each leaf. This is an attractive plant that does best in a pot that allows the leaves to fall out around the edge of the pot.

Janet Craig- Also called the green corn plant, this common houseplant helps purify the air. It is a bushy plant that has long green leaves. It is a slow growing plant that requires low to medium light.

Peace Lily- This plant has long green foliage with white, half-shaped blooms. For best results, keep this plant within 5- 8 feet from a window. Keep the plant away from drafts and clean the leaves regularly.

Snake Plant- Also called the devil’s tongue, this plant has sword shaped leaves that are green and feature a variety of patterns. The snake plant is an air purifier that that will remove xylene, toluene and formaldehyde from the atmosphere.
These are just a few easy to grow plants. For more information on houseplants, please visit these websites.

http://www.plantcare.com/
http://www.PlantOasis.com/

An energy-efficient home is something that everyone should strive for. It will provide a comfortable living environment while saving you money. There are many ways renters and homeowners can save money and energy by simply incorporating a few simple changes to their everyday routine. Below, are a few simple low-cost and no-cost ways to start saving today:
• Turn things off when you are not in the room such as lights, TV’s, entertainment systems, and your computer and monitor
• Plug home electronics into power strips and turn the strips off when the equipment is not in use
• Take short showers instead of baths
• Be sure your dishwasher is full, not overloaded, when in use
• Air dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher’s drying cycle
• Use less water and use cooler water when washing clothes
• Air dry clothes
• Attach heavy-duty, clear plastic sheets to the inside of your window frames to reduce drafts
• Close curtains and shades at night to keep out drafts and open them during the day to let in the warm sunlight
• Install energy efficient light bulbs

For more energy-saving ideas, visit energysavers.gov

Sitting down to dinner recently, the topic of “Where did that come from?” came up when I blurted out, “See, that’s what you get; god is punishing you!” I know that sounds like a terrible thing to say, but the funny part is that it has been said many times over – and not by just me, but by my mom, my nana, and maybe even you.

So we all chimed in with tales our mothers told us:

1. If you have an itchy palm…money is coming your way.

2. If you have ringing in your ears…someone is talking about you.

3. If you swallow your gum…it will get tangled up in your ribs.

4. If you cross your eyes…they will stay like that.

I’m sure you have some of your own, but let’s think about these things for a minute! Honestly, how would gum get tangled up in your ribs? Have you ever gotten money when your palm started to itch? Where do these things come from? How is it that so many people have heard them?

I know there are plenty more. Do you have some favorite tales your mother told you?

New Year’s Resolutions. OK, ok, I’ve read the lists, and I’ve written my own lists, year after year. I mean to do the right things. I resolve and strive to be kinder, more patient, more forgiving…

But to be honest, it seems very unlikely that I am going to:

• Achieve more “balance” in my life
• Save more and improve my long term financial planning
• Clean and color code my closet (and purge those items that just don’t fit)
• Get back into my skinny jeans (see above)

The middle of January has already passed, the number of parking spaces at the gym is back to more or less ready availability, and (backsliders unite!) the likelihood of keeping resolutions so carefully and earnestly made at the beginning of the new year is fading from dubious, to seemingly unattainable.

So, because I am constitutionally unable to do all the things I should, instead I will focus on one thing. This one thing won’t improve my financial life, make me more organized, or assure any reduction in weight, but it will significantly:

• Reduce likelihood of my developing Alzheimer’s and dementia, diabetes, arthritic joint pain, or late-in-life fractures.
• Reduce anxiety and depression.
• Reduce fatigue.
• Reduce risk of death.

In short, I can dramatically improve my quality of life by not just resolving but doing one simple thing that is “limiting sitting and sleeping to just 23½ hours per day”.

The following link (with a quick 9 minute video presentation )is both fun to watch and compelling:

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/12/walking-is-mans-best-medicine.html

So, I am resolving just this one thing. Oh, and I am going to strive to be kinder, more patient, and more forgiving toward myself. And, to that end, I am getting rid of those skinny jeans…

We all should admit we’ve been pretty lucky with the weather this winter. That being said, I’m still not a fan of the snow. I know, I know – it looks kind of pretty and this particular storm we’re in the middle of today isn’t exactly a record setter. But I just don’t like it… so I decided to look into tropical vacations (don’t worry, boss – it’s all in the name of blogging, which is work-related!) on a variety of travel websites. I’m not traveling any time soon, but that doesn’t mean I can’t dream and mentally escape what’s happening outside my window. I’ve managed to narrow it down to my top 3 picks (which are in no particular order because I am somewhat incapable of making decisions easily), so here goes nothing:
1.) Southern Caribbean cruise, via Carnival Cruise Lines. A cruise would be a great way to explore a few places I’ve never been. That’s right – I’ve never been to the Caribbean. That’s slightly pathetic, I know. But I want to go, so that’s a step in the right direction. The cruise I’d book this minute if I could sails from San Juan and stops in St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Maarten. Where’s my boarding pass?
2.) A week in Mexico, courtesy of Trip Advisor. Honestly, would sitting on a beach in Mexico for a week be a bad thing? With places named something like “Playa Fiesta” (Party Beach) and more, I don’t think it would. And it turns out Playa Fiesta is more than a cool name; it’s a gorgeous hotel. Dios mio!
3.) A Hawaiian adventure, thanks to Expedia. Sure it takes a long time to get there, but when you step off the plane and are greeted with smiling people saying “Aloha” and draping leis around your neck, isn’t it instantly worth it? I’ve never experienced it personally, but something tells me it is definitely worth it. Sign me up.

Are you looking for a pet to bring home? I found a site that shows the top 50 most popular apartment dogs. It is a very big decision to bring a new loved one into your home. This informative website provides a couple of good options. Before making a big commitment make sure you have enough time to exercise with them, even small dogs need to be taken out for daily walks!

High energy dogs can comfortably live in an apartment if you continue to take them on long walks, bike rides or jogs. Know where your local parks and/or dog parks are; even consider a doggie daycare! Enough exercise is the key to keeping any dog stable and happy.

Before you start your search always check with your Leasing Office to find out what the policies are concerning breed, weight and age. Also, you may need to be aware of any additional deposits and fees. Most apartment communities do not accept dogs under the age of one year old. There are many different rescue leagues in your area that have older dogs just looking for a forever, loving home!!

http://movingtoanapartment.com/pet-friendly-apartments/top-50-most-popular-apartment-dogs.htm