ARE YOU A NEW SIESTA MAGAZINE READER?
If so, then the message below if for you!
Since the STRESSED.PRESSED.MESSED newsmail began in January of 2006, it has grown in length and popularity, now reaching multiple states in the US as well as several European countries. As SPM strives to offer a fresh look with each issue, Siesta Magazine has moved all contents to this blogspot site, which was created back in the spring of 2009. For those subscribing to Siesta Magazine through standard e-mails, reminder e-mails for the Siesta Magazine link will discontinue being sent out as of this month. All subscribers who wish to continue reading each issue may keep this website address in their favourites and refer to it on the first of each month.
www.siestamagazine.blogspot.com
Thank you for understanding about STRESSED.PRESSED.MESSED simplifying! It just proves that SPM practices what it preaches!
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~COVER ART~
"Cardinal Babies Due" Charleston, SC -DeNitto ©2007
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
+ SPEAKING OF SIESTAS!
+ THE BOOK CORNER
+ PICK OF THE MONTH
+ RECIPE OR COOKBOOK OF THE MONTH **COOKBOOK PART IS NEW!
+ GREEN LIVING TIPS
+ TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS
+ MOM TIME
+ SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE MONTH
+ QUOTE OF THE MONTH
+ PHOTO OF THE MONTH
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+ SPEAKING OF SIESTAS!
{ Pictured: Ulysses resting from his little kitty journey. DeNitto © 2006 } A siesta /siːˈɛstə/, original Spanish pronunciation [ˈsjesta] is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after the midday meal. Such a period of sleep is a common tradition in some hot countries. The word siesta is Spanish, from the Latin hora sexta - "the sixth hour" (counting from dawn, therefore noon, hence "midday rest").At SPM the true definition is taken a bit further. If a nap is not possible, but there is enough time allowed for any other type of break, it is strongly encouraged to take advantage of that precious moment. As long as the mind and body can rest for a short period as often as possible during the work week, it can only enhance the quality of living.
Each month, learn more facts about SIESTAS and how you may benefit from taking them into your daily routine.
Below are April's SIESTA TIPS/FACTS:
SPRING FORWARD FOR CHANGE IN SLEEPING HABITS
Try not to confuse sleeping disorders with sleeping habits.
Many people can certainly have genuine physical issues causing loss of sleep or poor quality of sleep. However, there are also many people who simply have poor habits that may be the cause sleeping problems.
Some of the common habits that are known causes of making it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep are listed below.
> consuming alcohol or caffeine 4-6 hours before bedtime
> eating foods which are too rich, spicy or sugary about 4-6 hours before bedtime
> not having a set bedtime or awakening time
> exercising too close to bedtime
> having too many naps or naps which are too long during the day
Also, there are some fairly simple changes that can be made in order to improve the atmosphere of a bedroom if that's where the problem seems to be.
> Try shopping for a new mattress if the current one has become uncomfortable.
> Keep the temperature of the room at an even comfort level and see that there is adequate ventilation.
> Solve noise problems whenever possible or use fans or white noise machines to drown out other sounds which may be difficult to ignore.
> Reserve the bedroom as a place for rest, which may mean to remove tvs and other electronics if it seems to help avoid staying up late to watch a movie.
> If there is poor ventilation, soiled laundry, food or pets in a bedroom, there may certainly be odors which could cause poor sleep.
> Keep the bedroom clean and fresh, including changing bed linens every seven days.
> Avoid clutter in the bedroom. Clutter drains energy and causes mental stress and anxiety, which can easily lead to poor quality of sleep.
If these habits and preparations are not met, it can put anyone at a higher risk to sleep loss, which can lead to sleep disorders, other health problems or poor performance at work or in school at some point. These problems can include sleep apnea, weight gain, stress and chronic fatigue. In many cases, poor sleep can cause tardiness, missed appointments, inability to focus and even injuries on a job or while driving.
It's best to speak with a health professional to determine what the problems may be and how they can be corrected. If necessary, it may be recommended that a full examination be scheduled to diagnose true disorders or discover that the problems are less serious and only simple changes are needed.
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+ THE BOOK CORNER
This section offers ideas for books related to various subjects including organizing, designing, lifestyle improvements, humour, business, psychology and green living. During the year, the occasional novel or biography may also slip into an issue.
: BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR APRIL :
TITLE: The Hidden Brain
AUTHOR: Shankar Vedantam
COPYRIGHT: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-385-52521-3
Well-known journalist Shankar Vedantam gathers observations as to how our unconscious minds connect us to certain beliefs and behaviors. Vedantam pulls logic from our daily lives and in that of special events in history. He discusses bias thoughts snd actions and argues about the idea about common influences happen not only sometimes, but perhaps, always, no matter how light or heavy the circumstances.
Vedantam is a national correspondent and columnist for the Washington Post and a 2009 Neimann Fellow.
You can listen to Vedantam speak about the book with the link below:
THE HIDDEN BRAIN
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+ PICK OF THE MONTH
CLEAR FOOD CONTAINERS
Guess what! Certain items always found at The Containers Store are now found at discounters such as Big Lots!
BUTTER STICK CONTAINER
SANDWICH CONTAINER
HOTDOG CONTAINER
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+ RECIPE OR COOKBOOK OF THE MONTH
LOVE SOUR CREAM? LOVE CHEESECAKE?
I couldn't help but notice this Daisy Brand Sour Cream Cheesecake recipe from a recent weekend newspaper! To view the recipe online, click on the link below:
SOUR CREAM CHEESECAKE RECIPE
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+ GREEN LIVING TIPS
It's time to Greeganize!!! (an official SPM term!)
April Tip:
BE GREEN FOR YOUR NEXT MOVE
With Earth Day upon us this April 22nd, it's a perfect time to put thought into ways you can adopt greener habits. If you happen to be planning a local move in the near future, some tips on "green packing" are listed below.
Use dish towels and cloths to wrap around coffee mugs or other everyday glassware in place of tissue paper whenever you can.
Before sending old magazines and catalogs to be recycled, remove any staples and use the pages as cushioning wrapped around framed photos to prevent frames from rubbing up against one another, which can cause scratches. Once you are about 75% certain that you may be moving, you can pack the items rarely used and set them aside in closets or other storage areas. You can brainstorm for a few hours to create a MASTER LIST of tasks to be accomplished, furniture to be accounted for and a record of what boxes are already packed and numbered. This is the time to take note of what items are to be donated, sold or discarded. A greener move is one that is well planned and one that is not wasting fuel for a second trip for things that you didn't really have the intention of keeping.
The less you move, the less time you spend in the moving process and the less paper and boxes you need for packing. When moving locally, it's tempting to make numerous trips, yet, this only adds on to truck rental costs and fuel used that could have been avoided with careful planning. Make sure to rent a truck larger than you think you need and ask for more help than you think you need. The less stress of the move, the better to adjust in the new home more quickly.
With a little more attention to planning ahead, you can save time, money and be more gentle to the planet when you move.
Now is the time to embrace the green.......
>>In future issues, Siesta Magazine will offer more tips or product guidelines with the latest information on how to adopt routines of green living!
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+ TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS
SPRING CLEANING
It isn't called SPRING CLEANING for nothing. Spring is a time of renewing all that is used and abused within a home. It's a great time to freshen up the house with proper cleaning solvents to wipe the floors, the windows and all surfaces of the kitchen and bathrooms.
Why not take this concept into the other seasons? And why not use this spring to start new habits of using greener, safer methods of cleaning?
Visit your local book store and ask for the book in the link below to find recipes for natural cleaning solvents that can be made easily at home with ingredients as simple as vinegar, lemons and baking soda, just to name three.
GREEN UP YOUR CLEANUP
SPRING CLEANING should not only include cleansing, but should certainly include decluttering. As with adopting greener cleaning habits, springtime is also a great time to begin habits in decluttering and making heavy considerations as to what can be lived without, what does not need to be purchased in the future and how to better organize and store the items which are to be kept. Springtime tends to be a busy time for both home owners and professional organizers, as some people take it upon themselves to work at their own personal decluttering, while others call in for assistance to have it done faster with professional advice on how to maintain the organization year round.
It's not a bad idea to start fresh with new cleaning tools, such as brooms, mops, brushes and sponges. A fresh supply of natural cleansers, if not mixing your own, is also a good idea to explore at this time of year, as most retailers will have such products available at special discounts.
We not only witness change in Mother Nature, but in the habits and lifestyles of ourselves in yearning for the new, the refreshed and the improved.
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+ MOM TIME
FORWARD: A note from SPM MOM...
During the early 1990's, as a mother raising two children through their first years, I now learn of many new products that are thrilling to me, even with my empty nest. I often find myself wishing that some of them were available 22 years ago. Below are neat links and ideas to products or educational items currently on today's market for parents to explore for their children-- babies through college students!
FRESH AND NEW
If parents have a tough time getting children motivated to help out around the house during spring cleaning, perhaps a new habit of making up the bed would be more fun if the bedding was FUN!
Check out the links below to have your children show interest in certain patterns and designs.
If on a tight budget, take your kids to Big Lots, Tuesday Morning or other discounters who carry discontinued merchandise, still with fun themes that inspire kids to want to help make up their beds, at least. Also a favourite for parents is Target, which carries a fair selection of youthful themes in bedding.
BEDDING IDEAS
GIRL BEDDING
BOY BEDDING
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+ SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE MONTH
TO MOVE, OR NOT TO MOVE...
In such a low selling market as we still find ourselves in, it's easier for homeowners to "say" that they can remain living in a home indefinitely... but can they really endure life in a place that is not quite what it once was upon purchase?
A location has three possibilities, with one being it remains the same for what seems like an eternity, two, it improves for the better, or three, it declines...
If an area shows signs of declining in safetly, appeal or peacefulness, it may be time to consider a quick move, obviously. If an area shows signs of improving, with property values increasing, home repairs or remodeling projects are up and landscaping becomes more and more popular, it's not a bad decision to stay. But, what happens when an area never changes for the better or worse? It's just stale and not really inspiring. It's simply non-descript.
Is it time to move?
As humans, we tend to thrive from inspiration. Yes, it costs us to move. Yet, at some point in our lives, a move can actually be theraputic. A move can be a way to ensure continued growth and nurishment for the mind and the soul. It can also be a rather drastic choice in an attempt to chase a dream. No, not everyone should just pick up and move. But, in our lives of daily routines, which can become dull over time, it is not uncommon for us to become more aware of our surroundings and think heavily into our futures. We then are tempted to ask ourselves if this is what we want forever. Many might answer, yes. Others may have a more adamant answer of no and swear that it is definitely not going to work. Then, there are the answers in between in which yes, it's suitable, but perheps there is something better or, at least, more interesting.
Springtime is the most popular time of year for homes to be added to the market. This year may be slightly different due to the economy, yet, in the minds of those even considering to place a home on the market now or in the future, some of these questions are surely coming to mind with a lot of heavy thinking to follow. Some may need to move because of a job, or to have a lower mortgage or to change a school system for the children they may have or plan to have. Others may simply carry a strong desire for a complete change of scenery, climate or opportunities, while others long to be closer to family. In some cases, it may be a combination of all of these reasons.
In any case, if there is any question about staying or not staying in one area for an indefinite amount of time, it may be a sign of an inner yearning for change. __________________________________________________
+ QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Celebrate each season, for you too, are transformed with the turns of the earth. -- Arthur Dobrin
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+ PHOTO OF THE MONTH
"Springtime in Georgetown" - Closed steel mill in Georgetown, SC DeNitto ©2010
