6 Ways You CAN Look Good When You've Got A Cold

I came down to breakfast this morning and my husband gasped in horror. “Your nose – it's bright red and bulbous,” he exclaimed. Yeah, love you, too, you moron. I knew I looked terrible. I felt terrible and had cringed when I looked in the mirror this morning, but I just cannot shake this cold. Still, I have a job interview today and need to look decent. 

It's easier than you think to look good when you've got a cold!

So, after doing a little research and a bit of experimenting, here are 6 ways I found to not only look human, but good, when you have a cold:

• Combat puffy eyes with caffeinated tea bags. I look like I've been in a boxing ring, so I took two cold, wet teabags, placed them over my eyes, and laid down for about 15 minutes. The caffeine constricted the blood vessels and, combined with the coldness of the bags, reduced the puffiness. 
  
  
  
  
• Use lubricating eye drops to cool your eyes, reduce redness, and get rid of that bloodshot look. Just plain eye drops – not antihistamines.  These felt WONDERFUL, too!
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  My nose looked so bad that some kid starting singing "Rudolph The Red-Nosed-Reindeer" when he saw me in the grocery store this morning.  :((

  
  
  
  
  
  
• Play up your eyes. Make eyes look brighter by lining the inner corner of your eyes with white eye shadow or liner and use neutral shadows to play up your eyes. My goal was to take the viewer's attention off my Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer nose and emphasize my eyes. I used not only the white shadow and neutral tones (staying AWAY from anything remotely pink), but took out the eyelash curler to make my lashes look bigger. 
  
  
  
  
• Use concealer on your nose. Sure, this is obvious. The harder part was really blending it in so that it covered the crimson but didn't look caked on. I also used a cream makeup, rather than powder which actually drew attention to my proboscis.  
  
  
  
  
• Ditch the blush and opt for a bronzer. Blush only reinforced any redness on my face whereas bronzer gave me a bit of a glow so I looked healthier than I felt. 
  
  
  
  
  
  

  

  Looking good helps me feel a tad better when I have a cold.

  
  
  
  
  
  
• Use lip gloss rather than  a colored lipstick. My lips were chapped as a result of my cold, so I used lip gloss to hydrate them and by not calling attention to my lips, the emphasis was, again, on my eyes. 
  
  

Lastly, I stuck a bottle of water in my purse because it's especially important to stay hydrated when you're sick. I'm glad I did, because the woman interviewing me was 20 minutes late and the waiting area was painfully dry. 

Outside of the tea bags, none of the above took more than a few minutes and they were easy to do.

I looked good on the interview and nailed it. Rather than being fixated on my nose, the hiring manager kept looking me in the eyes. And even though I realize I don't want this particular job, I learned that just because I'm sick doesn't mean I can't look attractive.

I really believe in the whole "fake it till you make it" mantra where you fake looking better in the hopes that it will make you feel better.  In this case, it worked because looking better helped me feel more confident during the interview.  

Give these tips a shot and tell me how they worked for you!  Thanks for visiting!

A source for this article was www.rd.com,. 

Because Of His Snarkastic Remarks, Here's What We're Having For Rosh Hashanah Dinner

I fully admit that I am not a good cook. I know it, I laugh about it, and the point has been driven home by my husband who, over the years, has made the following snarky comments about my lack of culinary skills:

• “This kitchen should be called the 'House Of Ptomaine'.”
• “Giving the kids this chicken would be tantamount to child abuse.”
• “You know, this lacks just one thing – flavor.”
• “Buy wraps for Junior. Don't even ATTEMPT to make them.”
• “Oh. You cooked.”
• “What did you burn this time?”
• “Where's the Pepto Bismol? I wanna have it beside me when I eat.”
• “What IS this crap, errr, food?”

With those kinds of comments, when it comes to cooking for hubby, I don't make much of an effort. Honestly, if Purina made Husband Chow, I'd serve it to him seven nights a week. So I was less than enthusiastic when he announced that he wanted a “special” dinner for Rosh Hashanah tonight.

I checked the websites I'd recently written about (read that post here) and thought, “why bother?” So here's what we're having for tonight's “special” dinner:

Matzoh Ball Soup – I bought the mix and this soup is popular with the whole family.  It's a no-brainer that everyone, even my daughter, will eat.

Meat Loaf In The Crock-Pot – I threw together some ground turkey, tomato paste, a jar of sweet potato baby food (for the benefit of my son who doesn't eat enough veggies), and some seasoned whole wheat bread crumbs.  It's cooking as I type.  

Spinach Salad – Pre-bought from the store.

Sauteed Mushrooms With Bread Crumbs – I bought the pre-sliced mushrooms and will saute them in my frying pan with seasoned whole wheat bread crumbs.  Junior likes these.

Pumpkin Bread – Pillsbury's Pumpkin Quick Bread is a staple in my house, especially in the Fall. Junior LOVES it and I sneak in some vegetable baby foods and flax seeds for extra nutrition.

With Lily having gymnastics tonight, the “special dinner” will be brief. I think it will be good. I hope it will be tasty. If not, I'm looking forward to more “snarkasm” from my husband.

Oh, and PS:  No one has died, yet, as a result of tonight's dinner.  Take THAT, dear!

~~

Please note: Hubby approved the use of all of his comments for this post.

Shana Tova! 

Re-Setting The Family

Our 3' snowman is almost covered with snow.

Yesterday, I got mad. Not “clean your room” mad, but “this is THE LAST STRAW” mad. It was my second day in a row shoveling snow (my third time in two days, after Mother Nature dumped 14.5 inches on us Thursday) and my fourth time shoveling this past week. Because my husband HAD to work from home, I had hoped that the children, especially the Teen would have automatically pitched in. They had not. The boy was consumed his video games. It was a pattern that I had seen increasing over the last few months and I wasn't happy about it. Our lives seemed to revolve around whether he was in the midst of a game, which lasts about 40 minutes, or about to go into a game. Yesterday, I had asked him to help me right after breakfast because it was garbage pick-up day and we needed to dig out for early pick-up. “I'll be right out, Mom,” he'd said. Thirty minutes later, I was still outside, alone and in the cold. I had had it.


The ensuing row was epic. There was a lot of yelling (me), a lot of crying (him), and even more yelling (him). Both kids finally came outside; the Boy admitted that I shouldn't have had to do it alone, but he said he had wanted me to wait "until after his game had finished."  Yeah, unacceptable. I called a family meeting for that night so we could draft a revised list of Family Rules.


The concept of Family Rules had been introduced to me some years ago by a psychologist at a parenting seminar I'd gone to. In it, the doc had said that if you have an agreed-upon list of rules with set consequences, it makes it easier for kids to adhere to because:

1. The rules get printed in black and white and posted on the refrigerator and in several rooms, therefore, they serve as a constant reminder of how we choose to live.
   
2. There are set repercussions to breaking them which all can see.
   
3. They pretty much pertain to everyone, even adults, so the kids know that they're fair.
   
4. The kids are asked to sign off on them, so there's no doubt that everyone agreed to them.
   
5. It makes parenting easier, since behavioral parameters and repercussions have been set by the unit as a whole (meaning, I don't have to come up with them on the fly).
   

We had set rules several times over the years, but as the kids had gotten older, I'd become lax with enforcement and the needs of the family had changed. Yesterday's episode solidified the necessity or some new law-making.


We convened the Family Meeting when my husband got home. My husband is very good at presiding over these meetings, not because he's “the Head of the House,” but because he's more balanced and removed from the day-to-day rhythm of the house than I am. To prevent interrupting, he grabbed the ketchup bottle and explained, “Whoever holds the ketchup, has the floor and is not to be interrupted.” The kids, of course, immediately skirmished for the condiment. Dad stepped in and handed the bottle to me. I explained my position and thus began a lengthy, heated discussion, mostly with the Teen. Diva was amused because she wasn't in trouble, but had some salient points, and in the end, we all saw something I don't think we'd seen before: that even the kids were aware that we just were not communicating well as a family and they missed it as much as Mom and Dad did! We all agreed that we needed some new guidelines.


Here are our parameters for drafting Family Rules:

1. There should be a few as possible. Too many are hard to remember and are less likely to be followed.
   
2. They should be framed in a positive light. If they're negative, then you have members just looking for infractions; that's not a good way to live. If we draft them with the true purpose – to enhance communication and reinforce the values of the family – they become an asset, rather than a liability, to the unit.
   
3. Everyone must understand them, even the youngest member.
   
4. Everyone is accountable. Consequences of breaking them pertain to all family members.
   
5. A certain amount of flexibility should be expected. Circumstances change and the rules should be flexible enough to “go with the flow,” yet rigid enough to insure structure.
   
6. Everyone must sign off on them.
   
7. They will be revised periodically to meet the needs of the family.
   
8. No one leaves the table until the set is complete.

Here's our latest set of Family Rules as written in italics. My notes clarifying them are in parentheses. 

1. We love and support one another. If someone asks for help, you help them within a mutually-agreed upon period of time. (This means the kids don't have to jump when I ask for help, but they will help within a reasonable amount of time. So when Junior asks me for 40 minutes to finish his video game, I can say “no” and he needs to respond.)
   
2. We value what the other person says and will listen to each other without interrupting (a challenge for the 8-year old).
   
3. We need to connect with each other, therefore, meals will be eaten at the table (not in front of the TV or computer – a nod to me as well as the kids).
   
4. To enhance sleep, no video after 9:30pm. A 10 minute grace period may or may not be offered (so the Boy can finish a game) and anything over that 10 minutes will be deducted from the following night's video time.
   
5. To also enhance a peaceful bedtime, all chores must be done before 9:30pm (this means the Teen is will not rushing to do them before bedtime).
   
6. Reading is a wonderful thing, so everyone will spend at least 20 minutes of their time at home reading.
   
7. Our time together is precious, so the children will play or read together for at least 10 minutes a day; if it's reading, that 10 minutes contributes to the aforementioned 20 minutes of daily required reading.
   
8. The cat NEEDS to be played with, so each child will play with her for at least 5 minutes each day (otherwise she goes nuts at night).  
   

Consequences of violating these rules are suspension of video privileges or correction as determined by a parent or, in the case of a parent breaking the rules, a child. Consequences must be related to the infraction.  For example, a chore not done will be replaced with 2 more;  if someone doesn't get off video, it means they will lose twice as much the next night, etc.


*Weekend video rules may nor may not be extended at the discretion of the parents.  



If you think drafting family rules might help your family, here are some resources to look at:

• http://life.familyeducation.com/parenting/discipline/45291.html – This article from Family Education makes a GREAT point: “Family rules are your family values in action.” Displaying them, in print form, makes them tangible and real.
  
• http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/02/14/creating-a-positive-family-culture-how-to-plan-and-lead-a-weekly-family-meeting) – This piece provides some nice guidelines on how to conduct a family meeting, although it's a little on the male chauvinist side.
  
• http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/family_rules.html – The Raising Children Network provides details and explains why having family rules really helps children.
  
• http://discipline.about.com/od/establishingrules/a/Sample-List-Of-Household-Rules-For-The-Entire-Family.htm – Don't let the word “discipline” scare you in this URL. This article is a great starting-point to get you thinking about what the rules of the family could be.
  
• http://www.empoweringparents.com/category-Family-Rules-And-Limit-Setting.php – A wonderful site with tons of articles on parenting and rule-setting. I bookmarked this page and signed up for their newsletter.
  
• http://www.preteen-thru-teenage-parenting-action-guide.com/setting-family-rules.html – This article talks, logically, about the importance of setting family rules. It has more of a corporate feel to it and would be really useful if someone in the family is balking at the concept of having family rules.
  

I woke up this morning knowing there would be less yelling due to our new structure and I was right. When Junior balked at running some errands with us, we invoked Rule #1 and he immediately complied. A few hours ago, he went to a friend's house with the understanding that, per the Rules, he must be back in plenty of time to do today's chores.


The Rules do not eliminate all yelling, but past experience has shown me that it does cut down on everyone's frustration and agitation significantly because we all know what's expected of us. If you choose to draft Family Rules, please check back in here and let me know if and how they worked for you.


–


Thanks for reading! I'd love to meet back with you here in day or two when I'll provide some suggestions on what to do with leftover Valentine's Day candy. It'll be SWEET!

Our backyard with more than 14.5" of snow. 

Making Sure You Have The Right Shovel Before You Kill Yourself

 

The other day, a friend of mine was joking, “I don't know why people have to keep buying snow shovels. What? Do they throw them out at the end of the year?!” I hope not. My husband and I have had the same shovels for many years now, but I can understand that snow shovels might break. The blade could disconnect from the handle or a plastic blade could crack. A shovel might become ineffective if, for example, the edge on a metal blade dulls and doesn't break crusty snow or if your physical condition changes, leaving you unable to lift a heavy shovel.


The experts at Popular Mechanics (www.popularmechanics.com) list a variety of snow shovels and I'm sure more models hit the market every year. Our family owns several  and I didn't understand why until I realized that they're designed to do different tasks. Our 30-inch scoop-blade model (the gray one in the photo) works well for pushing/scraping ice and snow; its curved blade and weight make it prohibitive, however, for shoveling by anyone except my husband. The red, square-nosed shovel is also metal, which means it's durable, but the weight is, once again, problematic for me, although the teen does well with it. The blue, plastic 18-inch shovel is my tool of choice because it's light and great for even the heaviest of snow. Lastly, we have a child's shovel; initially, I thought this was a waste of money, but the one pictured is at least ten years old and was passed down from the teen to his sister. It performs well for my little girl, but is more important for the message it sends: everyone in our family pitches in to help, even the youngest member. This shovel is also great to keep in the trunk of your car for those times when you're plowed in.  Tip:   If you don't have room in your trunk for a shovel, carry a dustpan. Before I had kids, I carried a metal dustpan and it came in mighty handy if I was stuck in slush or mud.


Before and during the Winter, it's important to keep shovels well-maintained. Check any screws to make sure they're tight and before a snowfall comes, coat the blades with WD-40 or a lubricant so that the snow slides off the blade and doesn't stick to it. There's nothing worse than lifting a load of heavy snow only to have it stick to the blade!


Speaking of lifting, stretching before you shovel is a MUST! Shoveling requires the use of muscles that may not get used the rest of the year and it can be a very strenuous workout. Stretch your back, shoulders, and hamstrings. Dress in layers so you don't get overheated. Pace yourself and keep hydrated. Lift using your legs, not your back.


As for a “shoveling strategy,” my husband contends that shoveling before the snow has completely stopped is silly, while I insist that it's valuable (and the folks at Popular Mechanics agree). It's easier to shovel several layers of snow than a foot of the stuff, especially if it's heavy and wet.  I clear off our cars first so that I don't wind up re-shoveling the same area twice. Next, I clear off the area between the car and the street next, knowing that I'll probably have to do at least part of that area again once the snowplow comes through. Lastly, I do the rest of the driveway. I also shovel a path to the garbage cans and, if a big storm is on its way, an area for the generator in the back of the house.


For more resources on shovels and shoveling itself, visit these links:

• Popular Mechanics (www.popularmechanics.com), again, contains a lot of info including, as I said, types of shovels and strategies for shoveling snow (I'm so happy then concurred with mine). Their 16 Cardinal Rules For Shoveling Snow (http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/improvement/outdoor-projects/16-cardinal-rules-for-snow-shovelling) is a must read.
  

• Spark People (http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/calories_burned.asp?exercise=85) allows you to calculate how many calories you burned doing it.
  

• The Washington Post's article on 8 Attempts To Make Shoveling Snow Easier And More Fun (http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2014/01/21/8-attempts-to-make-shoveling-snow-easier-and-more-fun) is a great read on some innovative, creative ways inventors have come up with for moving the white muck.
  
  
• The Art Of Manliness (http://www.artofmanliness.com/2011/02/04/how-to-shovel-snow-like-a-man) contains an interesting, somewhat cringe-worthy, article on shoveling snow. The author starts out by saying that there are certain tasks that “almost invariably fall to men” such as killing spiders, unsticking jar lids, unclogging toilets, and shoveling snow. Clearly, he doesn't live in my house where I do ALL of those things. While I found the article to be amusing, I did have to pop an antacid while reading it.
  

Our local weather forecaster is, once again, predicting several inches of snow later this week, so I may be heading over to Home Depot to buy a new shovel since I think we could use another plastic model. I'll be trying a few models out, before I buy one, to make sure I'm comfortable when I have to twist and dump the snow. I may only use a snow shovel for a few months out of the year, but during those months, it's an essential piece of equipment.


Thanks, once again, for reading! Please check in with me for a bunch of jokes related to snow and Winter as I desperately try to see some humor in it.  Snow-kidding! (Sorry, I couldn't resist...)

I can't wait until Spring!

Happily Terminated

“You’re fired!”  Those were not the words of an employer.  In business, people usually have the good sense to cushion such announcements in euphemisms in the hopes that the employee doesn’t go postal.  No, those words were uttered by my fearless husband.

He was not, thank goodness, firing me as his wife.  He was terminating my services as his laundress.  After months of wearing pink socks and having clothes come out of the wash “dirtier than when they went in” he had decided to do his own laundry.  At least his own visible work-related laundry.  You know, shirts, socks, and pants.  I would still have the honor (yea me!) of washing his skanky underwear and stained, usually ancient, workout clothes.

Months later, I was also fired from mopping the kitchen floor.  Evidently I was not making the floors shine to his liking.  I thought wet-Swiffing was fine.  Not in hubby’s book.  Now, on Friday nights after work, he rolls up his sleeves and mops the kitchen.

I've also received a "Cease and Desist" or as it pertains to my dusting.  Sir Spotless (one of the cleaner  names I mutter underneath my breath when he criticizes my efforts at cleaning) said I “tickle” the dust.  Woe is me!  Once again, I’ve failed at something and he’s taken over.

Who’s the fool here?

I never intended to give him more work.  I’m just not as, um, fastidious as he is.  My sense of clean is a bit looser.  I may be a home-maker, but I am not a house cleaner.  I do, however, pick up around the house; if I didn’t, we’d be up to our tushies in dirt and clutter.

And, no, it’s not fair that the man valiantly works 50+ hours per week and then does much of the housekeeping, but remember:  in his opinion, I wasn’t doing it up to his standards.  He voluntarily took on the work; I did not ask him to.

I keep my living room quite clean and the bathrooms are tidy.  I pester the kids to keep their rooms orderly (the 8-year old is on board; the 13-year old is, predictably, not).  The kitchen is a constant struggle for me as is the den because those rooms are used more than any others.  The playroom is supposed to be messy, right?  I mean, it’s the kids’ domain.  And yeah, my bedroom could use some help, but I am certainly NOT the embodiment of Charles Schultz’s Pig Pen.

Nor is my husband Felix Unger.  The top of his bureau is cluttered and the front seat of his car is downright sloppy.  To his credit, in light of our kids, he has relaxed his standards a bit.

But, alack and alas, there are still things I don’t do well (sniffle, sniffle).  Of course when one of the kids vomits, I’m the one he calls.  He’ll admit I’m a pro at getting rid of vomit stains (Well, what the hell am I supposed to do?  Leave the vomit on the frickin’ wall?!).  And when there’s a bug to kill and clean up, I’m your woman.

I just don’t do laundry, mop, or dust well.  I could blame it on menopausal fatigue, but the truth is, I've always been this way.  So my husband has chosen to take over, to do what I, apparently cannot. Hmmmmm……sometimes, it’s good to be fired.




Note:  A version of this post originally appeared on Jersey Moms Blog on 7/17/10.