Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen's Blog
Posted by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
Christmas can be the most romantic time of the year! To increase your love this Christmas, I've pulled together a few articles about saying "I love you" with romantic gifts. These holiday ideas work for long-term marriages and new couples over the holiday season...
Christmas Articles for Couples - Saying "I Love You" With Romance
- Romantic Christmas Gifts is a great article for couples looking to improve their love life in traditional ways. These romantic gift ideas will put the spark back in your marriage!
- Romantic Christmas Stocking Stuffers lists several inexpensive holiday gift ideas for lovers. Remember, it's not the cost of the gift -- it's the thought you put into it that counts. Anyone can buy expensive jewelry (and pay it off until next Christmas!), but not everyone knows your sweetheart like you do.
- How to Say "I Love You" at Christmas offers several creative ideas for expressing your love to your partner or spouse over the holiday season.
- How to Spend Less at Christmas - Money Tips for Couples is one of my favorite articles over the holiday season. Money fights and problems can take the love out of Christmas -- unless couples are proactive about their budget and spending over the holidays.
And finally -- if you're reluctant to do your Christmas gift shopping online, you might find How to Do Your Christmas Shopping Online helpful. Includes tips for shopping over the internet, plus suggestions for Christmas shopping in general.
I hope this "love at Christmas" articles help you have a happy holiday season with your partner!
Posted by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
New research from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem shows that depression and osteoperosis are linked. That is, women with depressed feelings are more likely to suffer from decreased bone density than women who aren't depressed. It's amazing how one serious health issue -- depression -- can trigger other serious physical health issues, such as osteoperosis!
These scientists say that depressed people -- particularly young women with depression -- are more likely to have a substantially lower bone density than men with depression or non-depressed people. Why? Because depression is associated with an elevation in cell activity that causes the breakdown of bone density...which in turn leads to osteoperosis. Young women who are reaching the end of their periods are most likely to show the effect of depression on osteoperosis.
Women are more likely to suffer from depression than men -- read Causes of Depression in Women for reasons why.
If you think you have signs of depression, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Don't wait until your depressed feelings become overwhelming -- or to make other parts of your life unmanageable.
Seasonal Affective Disorder wasn't mentioned in this study about depression and osteoperosis, but it can be as debilitating as depression. If you feel sad or if you struggle with depressed feelings in the winter, consider trying light therapy in the darker months.
For more information about osteoperosis and depression, read Connection Between Depression and Osteoperosis Detailed, on ScienceDaily. They also point out that osteoperosis is the most widespread degenerative disease in the developed world.
Posted by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
New research shows that eating at night causes weight gain -- and the best time of day to eat is before 6 or 8 pm (depending on what time you go to bed).
Eating at night causes weight gain because it disrupts your circadian rhythm and metabolism processes. If you want to lose weight, you should eat at regularly scheduled times because it will optimize the burning of sugar and fat.
One of the researchers in this study changed his eating habits because of the study results -- and he's lost weight. He stopped eating after 8 pm, and doesn't eat again until 8 am. "I even lost weight," he says, "although I eat whatever I want during the day."
I've lost over 20 pounds in the past 9 months -- and I've written several articles about weight loss. But more important than weight loss is that I've toned up and increased my muscle mass! For the first time, I love my body and want to give it good things (eg, exercise, healthy foods, pampering). For my weight loss tips, read The 8 Best Ways to Lose Weight.
For a full explanation of this study -- and how circadian rhythms affect metabolism and weight loss -- read When You Eat May Be Just as Vital as What You Eat.
If you're a late night snacker, remember that it only takes a few weeks to break old habits and create new ones! Focusing on the fact that eating at night causes weight gain might help you get into the habit of not eating after dinner. Substitute the late night snacks for gum chewing -- or, better yet, turn off the TV and go to bed early. You'll get a better night's sleep without a full tummy of food, and you'll wake up refreshed.
Posted by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
Christmas can be exciting and fun -- but it can also be unhealthy and stressful! To keep your Christmas and New Year happy and healthy, check out these seven articles. They range from dealing with marriage infidelity over the holiday season to reducing kids' stress at Christmas.
Christmas Articles About Money and Gift Buying
- How to Spend Less at Christmas - Money Tips for Couples - if you're a Saver married to a Spender, you need to discuss your holiday budget!
- 9 Ways to Keep Your Christmas Affordable - because holiday gifts and celebrations don't have to set you back thousands of dollars and cause financial stress and hardship!
- 7 Christmas Gift Ideas for Elderly Parents and Grandparents - this article will help you figure out what to buy for those senior citizens who have everything!
Christmas Articles About Stress, Family, and Personality
- 10 Ways to Reduce Kids' Stress at Christmas - my favorite tip in this article is to reduce your own holiday stress (because stressed-out parents have stressed-out children!).
- 8 Ways to Stay Healthy at Christmas - lists eight ways to reduce holiday stress and stay focused on the things that matter to you the most.
- Coping With Infidelity Over the Holidays - because so many couples are struggling with emotional and physical infidelity....and there's nothing worse than dealing with the fallout at Christmastime.
- An Introvert's Guide to Surviving Christmas Holidays - the holiday season can be more stressful for people with introverted personality traits. These tips will help keep introverts happy and healthy.
I hope you find a few tips for having a healthy, happy Christmas and New Year in these articles....Happy Holidays!
Posted by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen
Financial stress wreaks havoc on your physical and emotional -- so you need to find ways to save money and spend less at Christmas! The effects of holiday spending can last long into the New Year...and those effects aren't pretty.
Here's a round up of articles about saving money and spending less at Christmas...
How to Spend Less at Christmas - Money Tips for Couples - is my most recent article about holiday spending; the tips are from a couple of financial experts who call themselves "the Money Couple."
10 Christmas Money Saving Tips -- is my favorite "how to save money and spend less" article. It's creative, thought-provoking, and do-able. The financial experts at Bills.com provided that info.
9 Ways to Keep Your Christmas Affordable - lists several practical, easy ways to save money -- ranging from revising the holiday menu to having a clothing swap.
10 Ways to Simplify Christmas - doesn't just include tips for saving money, it suggests ways to reduce stress (such as delegating holiday tasks, letting guests contribute dishes to a potluck dinner, etc).
If none of the above articles about spending less money during the holiday season suits you, try my Top 10 Christmas and Holiday Season Articles. You'll find information for introverts at Christmas, creating new holiday traditions, decreasing holiday stress, and how to help kids cope with divorce at Christmas.
Merry Christmas -- may it be financially painless for you. :-)
