Want to Live Longer?

Sunday before last the whole clan went apple-picking as part of our annual fall tradition. The rain did not stop us from harvesting two bushels of golden delicious apples for my family alone. I guess that's what happens when you have three nature-deprived kids who were raised in the city. It almost looked like they were hunting for treasure instead of gathering crop.

Since then I've been finding myself eating about three apples a day-- one in the morning, one while driving to work at 4pm and another one on my way back. Although I know that's a healthy thing to do I am not doing it for health reasons but out of guilt for spending nearly $50 on apples!

But after reading this article by Dr. Maoshing Ni called Apples: The Live Longer Fruit today on Yahoo! Health I am mighty glad that I've been gorging on this fruit for more than a week now. We've all heard the saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," but after reading this article you will come to realize that whoever started that adage literally meant it.

If slowing the aging process is not enough reason to start making apples a staple to your daily diet click here to read about the other benefits of enjoying this very much unforbidden fruit!

photo grabbed from www.whiteonricecouple.com

An Adviser for Chicago Shoppers?!

Chicago is the city that shops and that is why I almost found it funny that Chicago Tribune (web edition) would find it necessary to have a "Shopping Adviser." Shopping adviser or not, shopping I am going and so would a lot of women I know. But hey, how could you resist reading an article entitled, "Battle of the Mega-Discounters?!"

In this article Ellen Warren compares two discount chains that we all know and love (well, I'm not so sure about the "love" part for everyone) TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Anyone who knows me would say that I would never be caught dead carrying an inexpensive bag but when it comes to clothes I am always about getting a bargain. The author takes us to the said stores' downtown Chicago flagship locations, and scrutinizes everything from their selections, to the fitting rooms and restrooms, down to the checkout lines.

It's been a while since I last visited any of these two stores but I think I'm due for another bargain-shopping spree. And although the author had a preference for Marshalls over Maxx, a cow-patterned broom for $6.99 sounds very intriguing! When the hell is my next day off?!

To read this mega-insightful shopping advisory please click here.

How Was Your Day Off?

"How was your day off?" is usually the first question I get from coworkers the next day I come back after a so-called day of rest. The honest answer would be, "What day off? Moms don't get days off!" but instead I always opt for the simple "It was nice, thanks!"

It would've been okay if I didn't have to cook. Or hear all the screaming sounds that reverberate the walls of our tiny condo unit. Or maybe if it weren't so cold and I didn't have to chase Kai everywhere so he could put on layers of clothing. And if only my husband installed those childproofing things that you put on cabinet doors properly, so that my little rascal didn't empty those stupid cabinets all the time and pretend he's going in a dwarf house, then maybe, just maybe, I could actually say "It was nice, thanks!" with some sincerity next time.

I sometimes look at other moms and wonder if they run the same kind of madhouse that I do. Those moms who seem to feed their kids on time, read to them religiously, limit TV viewings to two hours a week, and send them to bed early. Would I be happier as a mom if I were more organized and followed these rules, wore unattractive clothes and running shoes, drove a van and adorned my hair with clamps? Do these moms ever feel they don't get any days off, and wishes so badly that they get at least one every now and then?

I wouldn't know, because I'm not like them. I just know that for now I'm going to pamper myself with my Sugar Face Polish by fresh and call it a night. I know I didn't have an ideal day off but at least I had this treat. Moms are pretty easy to please. Tomorrow my husband and I are going to see a movie, and maybe that will be a nice day off.

fresh is available on fresh.com and eluxury.com and I highly recommend it. Just don't blame me if you get hooked! Consider that a warning. Sugar Face Polish, 4.2oz, $55 (yes, it really has bits of strawberries! I tasted it one time and I'm most likely to do it again... sweet!)