Love Bugged

Love Bugged

Nowadays, couples therapy isn’t just for long-term partners—more people in new relationships are seeking professional help.

Is it a waste of time or time well spent?

Jennifer and Henry’s* first date was right out of a rom-com. “We went kayaking and then

stayed up all night telling each other our life stories,” says Jennifer, who is 24, the same age as Henry. “After that we were just together.”

But the happy ending never materialized. “All of a sudden we couldn’t pick a movie without screaming at each other,” admits Jennifer, of Santa Cruz, California.

But they didn’t want to just give up, feeling like if they did, the time they’d spent together would have been wasted. So they went to therapy— right around the three-month mark.

Hope and Alex, both in their early thirties, together nine months, are the kind of blissfully happy couple who probably call each other “Boo” in private. Still, they spend Thursday nights in therapy. “Everything’s perfect now,” says Hope, of Sacramento, California. “But we want

8 ways to go natural

Find an heir

Popcorn shouldn’t need to be smothered in butter to taste good, heirloom popcorn

enthusiasts say.

Companies cultivating the centuries-old plant using organic, sustainable farming practices are popping up nationwide, and proponents say their popcorn is more flavorful and easier to digest than commercial varieties. Plus, keeping heirloom plants in circulation helps preserve genetic diversity in our food supply.

 You’re good enough, and smart enough ...

If you suffer from chronic stress, here are three good reasons to carve some

me-time into your day: A brief selfaffirmation can relieve acute stress,

The Hidden Face of Eating Disorders

 

Picture a person with an eating disorder and you may envision a privileged, slender, teenage girl. But the face of eating disorders may be much different than we imagine—even younger and not always thin, female, or Caucasian. “We’re seeing a different population of kidswith eating disorders, and it’s quite a sizable group,” says David S. Rosen, MD, MPH, a researcher at the University of Michigan and lead author of a 2010 study reporting a dramatic increase in hospitalizations

June – Plant of the Month Garlic

 While saving money might not be the driving force behind your home-grown veggie project, you certainly don’t want to lose money, either. As it happens, garlic is one of the most cost-effective plants you can grow. What’s even better is that these little pods are extremely easy to care for, bud beautifully, and are exceptionally versatile in the kitchen.

1) Plant the cloves with the root end pointed down, about 2 inches beneath the soil. If you wish, you can cover the planted cloves with a layer of mulch.

TIP: “Cracking” is when you break the bulbs apart into cloves for planting. It’s best to separate garlic cloves as close to the planting time as possible.

Life Secrets 2

Learn to use your eyes to their full potential. Make constant eye contact when in conversation. Looking away(especially down) is a sign of inferiority and uncertainty.

Master the piercing stare. You know when someone looks at you and it feels

like they can see into your soul? Work on sharpening your gaze in the mirror. You’ll

know you have it when it’s intimidating to continue looking at yourself.

Master the one-eyebrow raise. This one isn’t necessary by any means, but hey, why not? Pick a brow to learn with and go look in a mirror. Raise both of your eyebrows but use your hand to hold down the brow that you want to stay down.

Life Secrets

Get good at something  Call it a hobby or a passion, whatever it is, just get good at it.

Your occupation does not count!

 Learn to be unaffected by the words of others. If someone went up to you and called you a fire hydrant, would you be upset?

No because you are obviously not a fire hydrant, you are a human being. The same concept applies to when someone calls you something that you know you are not .

Develop the ability to forgive. Forgiveness is something at which most people fail.

 Grudges only bring more miseryto those who hold them and prevent good relations with the target.

5Ways This To Keep Your Children Safe Summer

 Pools, Rivers, Streams and Water Parks

The number one way to reduce the risk of drowning and swimming-related injuries is to never, ever leave your child unattended.

Phone calls are a major distraction for many parents, so make sure your cell phone is on silent or vibrate so you can concentrate fully on your child. To prevent unattended children from accessing the pool, home pools should have a sturdy fence that encloses the area with a single, lockable entrance. This might be a good time to sign your kids up for a swimming class to help prepare them for the summer fun.

Father’s Day Fun

 Break the Rules

“No fighting!” may be a common household phrase, but today it’s time to break the rules – and some water balloons, too! Unleash your inner kid in a day of outdoor water wars. Splurge on a water gun (the high-power kind, of course) and have a blast dodging

the kids’ bursting balloons. How well did you teach them to throw?

The Great Outdoors

You taught them how to ride a bike, now it’s time to put it to use. Spend the day biking with the kids down some of (Father’s Day Fun)

Gainesville’s best nature trails, like Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail or Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park.

Energy Drinks

Energy Drinks Pros & Cons: It’s 2 p.m. Your eyes are growing weary and your mind is a blank canvas, stretched to its capacity by today’s fast-paced society. If you’re like millions of Americans, you probably reach for a energy drink to help burn through the rest of your day without burning out, but is it safe?

PROS

• Energy: Energy drinks can sharpen senses and offer alertness in those times of need, such as meeting deadlines.

• Convenience: Most retailers sell them in one form or another and an energy shot can be downed in much less time than it takes to brew coffee.

• Workouts: Athletes use energy drinks to maximize workouts by pushing physical limits during longer workouts (Energy Drink).

Finding Your Bliss

 Finding Your Bliss What every woman should know about maintaining contentment. 

Your path to bliss can be exhilarating… unless your next goal eludes you.

 What can you do to recover that zest you need to pursue your dreams?

Here are several small habits to help get you back on track:

 Memorize a quote

When I find myself caught in a rut and getting nowhere fast, I often repeat a memorable quote

from a favorite role model. Quotes have been compiled throughout the ages for a good reason: they work.

One of my favorites is from Eleanor Roosevelt, who says, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

 Explore your surroundings

If your home landscape has become too familiar, find new surroundings to set your  spirit soaring. When I’m in need of a

pick-me-up, I turn to the natural beauty around me. A favorite destination of mine

is Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park in northwest Gainesville. It’s a 120-foot sinkhole with an unexpected ecosystem at its base – a beautiful, small rainforest!