Puppyhood--An All Consuming Life Stage

There are few things like a puppy to bring life into the cold winter days! We were very lucky to find this four month-old Feist puppy at a rescue shelter--a breed that I am surprized is not a household name for they make wonderful household pets. This little one defines the word frolic. Even with the house turned topsy-turvy, it's hard to imagine life without her. 

PHEW!!--I Survived the Holidays

The holidays are both wonderful . . . 
and overwhelming! I kept thinking that someone could make a tidy sum by selling this T-shirt:

Memory Fading? Observe Its Daily Fluctuations

If you find yourself being more forgetful, consider the time of day and the situation before you worry that your mental prowess is fading. People's memory and attention fluctuate throughout the day. Plus, negative emotions and stress affect these daily fluctuations causing people to have less control over their ability to pay attention and reducing their motivation to focus on tasks. These outcomes seem to help explain the negative downward spiral that low performing students gets trapped in as the stress they experience reduces their ability to focus and zaps their motivation. 

Reference

Brose, A., Schmiedek, F., Lövdén, M., & Lindenberger, U. (2012). Daily variability in working memory is coupled with negative affect: The role of attention and motivation. Emotion, 12(3), 605-617. doi:10.1037/a0024436 

Coffee in Paris!

This holiday, if you can't make it to a cafe on the rue du Champs de Mars, footseps away from the Eiffel Tower, then you must treat yourself to a delicious cup of coffee using this nifty French press. It is the perfect way to make a rich coffee with a dark roast and reminds me of the coffee my sister-in-law makes in the traditional Romanian way. I like fine coffee grinds in my coffee that mix with bittersweet chocolate shavings in a base of milk, and with a little tweak of the lower screen, even that can be accomplished to perfection with this little gem.

With no profit motive (just coffee pleasure--a greater motivation!), here is the link for it on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/GROSCHE-capacity-removable-silicone-included/dp/B005MG3914/ref=pd_sim_k_2

Go Exercise! . . .Again?

I was beginning to get comfortable with that incessant demand in my head saying, "Go exercise now!" or the droning variation, "You haven't exercised yet today!"  I have found ways to check-off exercise on my daily TO DO list by barely long enough stints of cardio hip-hop or heavy duty gardening.  But now, the volume of those pesky reminders has been turned up.  Leading researchers in the field of counseling are now recommending that exercise be included as part of the standard treatment plan in counseling. According to their research, exercise will:

• Increase immune function
• Strengthen bones
• Lower cholesterol
• Reduce sick days 25% to 50%
• Reduce Alzheimer's risk 40%
• Reduce cancer risk 30% 
• Reduce cancer recurrence 50%
• Reduce colon cancer 60%
• Reduce strokes 27%
• And, is as effective as medication and therapy for depression! (p. 111)

So, now how do we silence those demanding exercise gremlins?

I know, I know . . . by exercising.  I really should go exercise now.

Reference

Ivey, A. E., & Zalaquett, C. P. (2011). Neuroscience and counseling: Central issue for social justice leaders. Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, 3(1), 103-115.

Motivation to Declutter Your Cosmetics

There is something compelling about department stores' cosmetic displays and special offers. Consequently, if your cosmetics collection is anything like mine, it needs regular decluttering. For some real motivation check out  Environmental Working Group's cosmetic database: Skin Deep. The site provides toxicity ratings on many beauty products. You may find the results shocking. Even many of the product lines found at natural foods stores have high levels of toxins associated with cancer, organ damage, etc. The statistics on department store cosmetics are downright scary. My cosmetics drawer is suddenly much more spacious.

Welcome to Your Space Solutions

Welcome to Your Space Solutions--a place to share solutions as we all work toward a more organized and happy sustainable future. Join us on the journey!

P. S. The blog is starting afresh as the original Yours Space Solutions blog is locked in the virtual netherlands of inaccessible combination of emails and passwords.