The Sunday sum-up

Happy July 8th - ha ha!

The Sunday sum-up - Boulder Nutrition | Examiner.com

D yourself a favor this summer

Don't forget your sunglasses!

D yourself a favor this summer

Well Well Well...

IS SUMMER REALLY ALMOST OVER???

Well... I'm back... While my law class isn't over until tomorrow (my last test is @ noon)... I am in "vacation mode" already and ready to think about ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for the next two weeks... And then of course, back to school! Hm, back to school... for all you who are going back... Here is a check list of what you should consider getting yourself so you're organized and ready to TAKE ON your new load of... "stuff":


(Check List is Geared Toward College Students BUT Anyone Can Use These Ideas)


# 1: A Planner (or a PDA or your high tech cell-phone, black berry, etc)


#2: Your Computer & Printer (that's right - EVERYTHING at school is VIA computer access these days, from writing papers to taking on-line classes - like my law class - a computer is a MUST!!)

# 3: Pain Medication (Advil, etc - We all know going to class can be quite the headache... as can the morning after - ha ha)


# 4: Comfortable Walking Shoes (sneakers are best - and if you're concerned with "cellulite" invest in those cellulite busting shoes - ha ha: at school YOU WILL BE WALKING A LOT to all your different classes that could be on opposite sides of the campus - just be aware!)

# 5: Class Books (yes, they cost a TON but you can always order them off of Amazon - used - for a lot cheaper if you THINK in ADVANCE!!)



# 6: A Mini Fridge (yes, most dorms come with mini fridges in each room - but sharing a tiny thing with your roommate is just ridiculous!)



# 7: Sun Screen (you will be outside a lot - and even if you don't go to school in the warmest local, sun screen is still needed - your nose & ears will thank you later!)


# 8: Bottled Water (or bring a refillable bottle - you must keep hydrated!! ha ha)


# 9: Money/Cash (yea, well this is a given because everything costs MONEY these days and you know you're going to want a pizza at 3am or some sushi - ha, at least I do)


# 10: Energy Drinks (preferably sugar free & calorie free - or even better: green tea or coffee - because you know you're going to pull a few all nighters... although I recommend you PLAN things in advance!!)


# 11: The Name of Your Guidance Counselor (going to college is pretty overwhelming and knowing who your counselor is will definitely benefit you because they have "been there, done that"... take it from me, I didn't know mine until second semester Junior year!!)


# 12: Bike/Scooter/Roller Blades (if your class IS ON the other side of campus RIGHT AFTER another class - these things will help you BOOK IT - just be sure to not HIT any walkers!!)


# 13: Pillow Top Mattress Pad & Comforter (enough said - comfort is key!)


# 14: Backpack (yes, even though you may no longer be in high school or what not, backpacks of brief cases are VERY useful because some classes DO require you to bring books - bogus I know!)


# 15: iPod/MP3 Player (when you're walking around campus it's always nice to have some music - I know it puts a "pep in my step")


AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST (although I am pretty sure there are tons of other things you SHOULD bring to school)...


# 16: THE MOST COMFORTABLE SWEATPANTS YOU OWN!!! That's right, sweats are the STAPLE on all campuses - who the heck is going to primp themselves if they have an 8am class... yea, didn't think so!

***PS: Just because I didn't say it doesn't mean you SHOULDN'T go to the school gym - typically you're College ID Card will grant you access - USE IT - it reduces STRESS for one and two... you know you will probably have one two many beers... or slices of pizza... you get the picture!***

Some Things Just Don't Work Out

Ever made plans that just sort of fell through leaving you wondering: "Now what am I going to do with myself?"... Well most Saturdays and Sundays I am left with that question... When the weather just doesn't pan out, or a friend is all of a sudden unavailable - I'm left to figure out how to occupy myself for the rest of the day...


To all of you who are on the same boat as me... I have come up with some ideas on how to keep your days filled with activities that make the time pass:


1. Outdoor Sports (Soccer, Basket Ball, Frisbee, Golf, Biking, Skate Boarding, Hiking, Tennis, Swimming, Roller Blading, Kayaking, Tubing, etc)

2. Sun-Tanning (now, do this safely!)

3. Scrap Booking (It's time to get rid of the magazines you've had since last June!)

4. Puzzles

5. Baking (and if you really want to have fun, film yourself doing it and pretend like you're on a cooking show! ha ha)

6. Cleaning (because it has to get done SOME TIME!)

7. Catching Up on Odds & Ends (Grocery Shopping, Target, Dry Cleaning, Car Wash, things like that)

8. See a Movie

9. Get a Pedicure/Manicure (Yes, gentlemen you can get them too! ha ha)

10. Get a Massage

11. Card Games/Board Games

12. Surfing, Wind Surfing, Jet Skiing, Sailing, etc (if you live near water)

13. Voluenteering

14. Sleeping (ah yes, who wouldn't want to?)

15. Site-See (yes, sounds odd, especially if you've lived in your town for a while, but it's amazing what you haven't seen!)

16. Sample Food at Different Restaurants

17. Go to the Museum or Art Galleries (yes, you know you want to)

18. Spend the afternoon at the bookstore (definitely have done that before!)

19. Have a Picnic or a Cookout (You can do this in a healthy fashion too)

20. Walk Your Dog or Borrow Your Neighbors

21. Jump on a Trampoline

22. Run Through The Sprinklers

23. Do a Crossword Puzzle (These take me a very long time! ha ha)

24. Play Wii

25. Just Relish in the Moment of Not Having a THING TO DO!


So yea, those might be some LAME ways to fill in your afternoon but sometimes doing at least SOMETHING is better than NOTHING at all! And even if you do decide to do absolutely NOTHING - Don't feel too guilty, after all the weekend is your time off so why not really USE IT THAT WAY!

You Can't Hide From It, So Embrace It Safely!

I am sure all of you are extremely tired from the mundane/routine tasks you completed all week... I know I am. Weekends are a perfectly way to unwind from these 5 hectic days from hell. Seeing friends, sleeping, pampering yourself, all fall into that category. Another great way to completely unwind while obtaining some health benefits is by sun tanning.

I know exactly what you're thinking... "I thought sun-tanning was bad for us"... "Um excuse me, skin cancer!"... "When I go outside I use SPF 100 because I don't want to risk it"... "WRINKLES!"...

(One Big Ball of Concentrated Skin Cancer & Vitamin D! ha ha)

Yes, all of those things can result from sun-tanning... but that's why I am here to tell you how to tan safely and reap the benefits that come with basking in it!

First things first... if you want a golden tint... go outside for it! Never ever use a tanning bed! In tanning beds the only UV rays available are UVA rays which cause the most damage (while also giving you that bronzed glow... or red as a lobster look). Plus when you are laying in a tanning booth completely nude, the distance between the rays and your body is quite close - tanning beds are 2 to 3 times MORE POWERFUL than UVA rays from the sun... Thus more rays are absorbed into your body. What happens when these rays are soaked up? Well they do a number to your immune system (weaken it) which means you are more susceptible to getting skin cancer. Yikes!

When you're outside both UVA and UVB rays are present... which means the risk of getting skin cancer is there as well because two powerful rays are being absorbed into your body... No wonder there are so many sun block brands with high SPFs - getting skin cancer is rather easy!

So what can you do to make sure you are not part of the statistic (of those who get skin cancer per year)? This may come as a shock to you but for the first ten minutes of being outside, wear no sun screen at all... This way you obtain an ample amount of Vitamin D which is one of the vitamins most every American is deficient in. Vitamin D is a "wonder drug" and new findings keep supplying more information in it's favor.

After those health boosting ten minutes though, slather on some SPF 35 and reapply it every 2 hours!! This is hard to remember because some either fall asleep outside or get too involved in the Frisbee game... that's why perhaps you should turn on the timer on your cell phone - anything to get you to remember to reapply that sun screen!

Now I won't lie to you - I am pretty bad at putting sun screen on myself... but I have definitely paid for it and will try my best this summer to keep up a healthy sun screen routine!

Who's with me?

PS: HAPPY WEEKEND!!!