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 discontinued in 2010. 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
SIESTA MAGAZINE
Thank you for understanding about STRESSED.PRESSED.MESSED simplifying! It just proves that SPM practices what it preaches!
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~COVER ART~
"SNOWPRINTS" ~ Boscobel, Garrison, NY - DeNitto ©2010
NEW INFORMATION ABOUT FOLLOWING STRESSED.PRESSED.MESSED on FACEBOOK and TWITTER !!
Become a fan on Facebook and/or Twitter and have a chance for free gift!
FACEBOOK FAN PAGE NOW REACHES 221 FANS!! Don't forget to spread the word that every 50th fan receives a FREE GIFT!! That means the 250th fan will be the next winner!
TWITTER PAGE NOW REACHES 313 FOLLOWERS!!STRESSED.PRESSED.MESSED is now extending the Facebook free gift offer to the Twitter page! Just like Facebook, beginning now, every 50th fan receives a FREE GIFT!! That means the 350th follower will win a free gift!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
+ BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS!
+ 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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+ BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS!
GO MONTH IS HERE!!
HERE IS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
"CLEVER CUPBOARD" ~ A PANTRY MAKEOVER
FROM STRESSED.PRESSED.MESSED FOR GO MONTH!!!
Announcing: "Clever Cupboard" ~ A Pantry Makeover Contest
Please visit this link to find out details on how YOU can enter a contest for a FREE PANTRY MAKEOVER & FREE GROCERIES!!!
CLEVER CUPBOARD - PANTRY MAKEOVER CONTEST 2011
The second contest "The 3@30 Challenge" is being postponed, but will be posted soon!!
MEANWHILE!!
2011 marks twelve years for STRESSED.PRESSED.MESSED's Professional Organizer, Madeleine DeNitto in the organizing industry! Check out the February issue to start the celebration with special client discounts, more contest news, some thank yous and some experience history.
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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 January's SIESTA TIPS/FACTS:
"IMPORTANT: GET ADEQUATE REST AFTER THE HOLIDAYS!"
As you may have experienced, post-holiday depression, aka, "post holiday blues", can be a nusiance and even unhealthy, particularly in January. It may be a mix of financial woes, sleep loss, choices and/or quantities of foods and beverages consumed, as well as a lack of proper exercise. Other issues to throw in might consist of being behind at work, a contracted illness or even inclement weather.
Whatever the case may be, fighting through the first month of each new year can feel like an uphill challenge, especially when special efforts are made to control thought processing.
The link below offers some steps in getting back to proper routines, beginning with something that sounds as simple as getting enough rest. It is important to keep well-rested during all twelve months of the year, but after such an extended period of holiday events, January can hit so hard that it can create a different type of stress on the mind and body. It is very helpful to set aside time slots for "calming". Calming may be something as simple as turning off all media, sipping a hot beverage, reading a short article, taking a five-minute walk or meditating in silence.
A *siesta* would also certainly be great for keeping calm. If a nap is able to be fit into just 1-3 days per week, it may increase your ability to cope better through January, as well as the rest of the year. As far as true sleep, it it usually recommended to have about eight hours per night. Though not always so simple for some people, sleep can be a great first step to feeling better in spirit. It is usually evident when someone is not well-rested as it may appear in low moods, slower productivity or physical illness.
AVOIDING DEPRESSION AFTER THE HOLIDAYS
Still, others may even complain of an actual disorder referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. This disorder affects many people who long for sunny, warm days. In certain areas of the world, such as Scandinavia, special light boxes are used indoors for light therapy during the darkest winter months of the year.
SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER
If feeling that there may still be some other cause for post holiday exhaustion and/or low moods, it may be wise to consult with a physician simply to rule out other possibilities.
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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.
THE BOOK CORNER WILL RETURN NEXT MONTH!
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+ PICK OF THE MONTH
STRESSED.PRESSED.MESSED looks forward to giving someone a FREE PANTRY MAKEOVER soon!!
Just who will be the one to receive the services of STRESSED.PRESSED.MESSED and free groceries for this GO MONTH special event?
A pantry can be attractive and does not have to be hidden. STRESSED.PRESSED.MESSED has always enjoyed using baskets for pantries and refrigerators. Below are some samples of baskets for food storage.
THE BASKET LADY
PETERBORO BASKETS
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+ RECIPE OR COOKBOOK OF THE MONTH
Almost immediately this month, we had an urge to find a good Black Bean Soup recipe.
We sure did find one!! Maybe it's the cumin that makes it so tasty? Anyway, if you are a fan of Panera Bread, this is a recipe based on theirs.
BLACK BEAN SOUP
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+ GREEN LIVING TIPS
It's time to Greeganize!!! (an official SPM term!)
January Tip:
Was your resolution to start being GREEN? How about a little slide show of several ways you can start?
GREEN IT NOW!
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
'Still Got snow?
As January only seems to be a continuing path of storm after storm of snow and ice, it seems necessary to keep the word out on how to best be prepared in case of anything from a slight inconvenience up to a major emergency. Many of these ideas may give you extra time in preparation, if not also survival for the next storm!
SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL PREPARATION
WINTER STORM PREPARATION
RED CROSS - EXTREME COLD
RED CROSS - POWER OUTAGE CHECKLIST
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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 24 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 and beyond!
NATURE LESSON: WINTER BIRD FEEDING
These projects are great for parents who have snowbound kids at home and want something fun to do!
Winter is a time when finding food becomes a bit more challenging for birds. Kids can help feed birds with fun and easy projects such as Fat Balls, Suet Cakes, or Pine Cone Feeders.
FAT BALLS
SUET CAKES
PINE CONE FEEDERS
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+ SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE MONTH
HOLIDAY DECORATIONS BACK TO STORAGE!
Have you had frustrating issues with your decorations year after year? Have you found broken baubles, melted candles, torn decorations? Have you misplaced items and as a result, not been able to display them during the holiday season?
Why not let 2011 be the year to finally organize all of the holiday decor, once and for all?
Once you have removed all decor from around the house, it's helpful to have all items in one room, prefably with a table where sorting through and packing up each item is less tiring and saves time. You can easily set up an assembly line of sorts and have others in the home assist in simple tasks such as hook removal, tissue wrapping, folding, packing, etc.
HERE IS THE ASSEMBLY LINE FOR WRAPPING BAUBLES AND PACKING INTO BOXES.
THIS CONTAINER THAT ONCE HELD COTTON CANDY NOW SERVES AS HOOK STORAGE!
OVER THE YEARS, SPM HAS ALWAYS BEEN GREEN WHEN IT COMES TO GIFT BOXES UNDER THE TREE. THESE HANDMADE GIFT BOXES AND VICTORIAN CRACKERS AND CORNUCOPIAS WERE MADE OVER 15 YEARS AGO AND STILL USED EACH YEAR, RATHER THAN PAPER. ONCE THE HOLIDAY IS OVER, THE BOXES ARE STORED INSIDE OF CLEAR ZIPPERED BAGS FROM WHICH NEW BLANKETS WERE PURCHASED IN YEARS AGO. THESE STURDY BAGS ARE GREAT FOR STORAGE!
LARGE ITEMS SUCH AS CERAMIC TREES, HOLIDAY CHINA OR GLASSWARE MAY REQUIRE LARGE BOXES. ON TOP OF SUCH BREAKABLES IS A GOOD AREA TO PLACE STOCKINGS OR HOLIDAY LINENS, AS WELL AS SMALL ODD ITEMS SUCH AS DOORKNOB BELLS, AS SEEN HERE. NOTE THAT THE DOORKNOB BELLS HERE ARE STORED IN A ZIPPERED BAG THAT CAME FROM BUYING NEW BED SHEETS!
SPEAKING OF ZIPPERED BAGS! THESE SMALLER ONES CAME WITH NEW PILLOW CASES AND ARE GREAT TO STORE SMALL TOYS AND ANTIQUE FABRIC BAUBLES!
INDOOR LIGHT STRINGS CAN BE SEPARATED EASILY BY LARGE ZIPLOCKING BAGS OR BY WRAPPING AROUND CARDBOARD PAPER TOWEL ROLLS, AS SEEN HERE.
IT'S VERY SIMPLE TO CREATE LEGIBLE LABELS ON YOUR COMPUTER AND PRINT THEM UP ON CARDSTOCK FOR EACH BOX. THERE IS NO NEED TO TAPE THE LABELS IF USING CLEAR BOXES FOR YOUR HOLIDAY STORAGE. THIS ENABLES YOU TO CHANGE THE LABEL FROM BOX TO BOX AS DECORATIONS CAN SOMETIMES CHANGE OVER TIME.
NOW THAT ALL OF THE SORTING, WRAPPING, PACKING AND LABELLING IS COMPLETE, THE BOXES ARE READY TO RETURN TO STORAGE. AND WON'T IT BE WONDERFUL TO EASILY FIND EVERYTHING SO WELL ORGANIZED AND READY TO DECORATE FOR HOLIDAY 2011?
There are certain items that should not be placed in attic or garage storage due to extreme heat. Certainly, anything made from wax, such as candles would need to be stored elsewhere in a climate controlled environment, either in a cabinet or closet used for general purposes. It is also not recommended that antiques in which heat or cold would compromise the beauty and/or value of the item, be stored in any area other than climate controlled. It is best to carefully pack and label such special items and place in a dry, cool area and kept safe from accidents which could also cause ruin. It is not uncommon for families to have more than one area of storage for holiday collections as many people have heirloom items passed down generation after generation and such items are certainly delicate enough to require extra care.
Remember, depending on when we choose to decorate, we have roughly ten months before our decor comes back out of storage!
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+ QUOTE OF THE MONTH
The door to opportunity is always labeled 'push'. --Anonymous
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+ PHOTO OF THE MONTH
"THE ICE & SNOW OF THE MIGHTY HUDSON" - COLD SPRING, NY ~DeNitto ©2010
