Night Owls Unite!

For the past three nights this week...I've been up so late that I've debated just not sleeping at all! It would be so easy to blame being on the computer as the reason that I have stayed up all night, but two nights ago I wasn't on the computer...I was up with my husband watching tv. At the moment I can't think of what I was doing last night that cause me to stay up so long. My close friends will tell you that usually it doesn't take much of anything for me to get to sleep. Yep, I'm one of those rare and lucky people that are usually asleep before the head and pillow meet. However, the downside to that is most often if I can't get myself to want to go to sleep it simply won't happen (which is really what happened tonight...I just chose to make the most of my time and work on my blog and uploading pictures and finally getting all these pictures off my phone!)

 

Thor, Hulk, Iron Man, and Captain America

So in the event that you find yourself up all night and you really need to get some beauty sleep, try a few of these tips to see if the sandman will come:
1.) Get some reading done. Sometimes curling up in bed with a good book will help you get to sleep.
2.) Take a warm shower at least thirty mins before you want to go to sleep. Cooling down from the shower will help give your body the signal that it is time to sleep.

3.) Try not to eat anything or have anything to drink other than water at least three hours before you want to go to sleep. (I know this one isn't always easy to follow, but try to limit the caffeine intake in the hours before bedtime)

4.) Drink a warm glass of milk. (This one has never worked for me...but you never know)
5.)  Play some soft music. Like classical music before you crawl into bed
6.) Turn off everything that puts off light. Studies have shown that people sleep longer and better in darker rooms. If you simply can't imagine turning off your phone, at the very least leave it face down so it you do get a random text during the night it won't light up your room.

7.) If you find yourself staring into the darkness and can't seem to get to sleep, start daydreaming. I know this one is really hit or miss but it does work for me. I've started thinking about remolding the basement and turning it into a studio apartment. Imagined myself in a nice gown trying to waltz around a ballroom. For the most part, I've found that daydreams that don't really take much of an effort work very well for me and do help me get to sleep when I'm having trouble with it.

Some things the internet had to say, a few of these I've mentioned but they list more:

Forbes: reasons why you can't sleep
Prevention: 10 reasons you can't sleep


Did one of my tips work for you? Do you have the perfect trick to bring on sleep? I want to know! Make sure to leave your tips or comments below cause I would love to hear from you. May you have a great night of sleep readers!

I shall end with this cute pic!

Drip Drop Little April Showers

While this may actually be an exaggeration, it has felt like every other day this month has included rain! It started here at the very end of March and only lets up for a few days before it comes back. Of course the saying "April showers bring May flowers" immediately comes to mind...and for the most part I don't mind the rain (especially if I don't have to get out in it)! The rain can be very calming and helps me get some extra sleep in the mornings. 

 I don't know if this is true for anyone else, but I do feel foolish if I've taken the time to dry and/or fix my hair and then see that the rain has returned (I just feel like I've wasted time). I think the best thing for me to do is learn more styles that involve braids so I won't have to worry about frizzy or stringy hair. (Thank goodness for Pintrest!) 


 Back to the topic at hand... if you can make the time for it (and have a good eye), the rain can give you some great pictures! Of course you'll want to be careful since the water can be harmful to your electronics so be sure to take them under shelter or an umbrella. Here are a few of mine that I've taken so far this month so enjoy!

And the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down

 Rainy day at work

 More rain on my windshield

Safely under my umbrella on the way to the movies

I must say that the only time this month I was bummed about the rain was the opening day for the Lookout's...the game was postponed. The good news was we were able to attend a double-header that Sunday and had a fun time (and even got sunburnt) but that's something I'll get into in another post! These pics are helping me with one of my goals for the year and I really hope that you enjoy them readers! Also if you know of a good place to get some rain boots, I'm thinking I should invest in a pair. 

This pic is from last year...but I love it

Getting Started...

   It's always so exciting when you begin something new. A new job, or let's say starting a new project (like maybe a blog), your mind begins racing with ideas and things that you want to accomplish. For most people, these amazing ideas pop up at the most inopportune times like taking a shower or while buying groceries. It's very hard to stop what you're doing a grab a pen and jot down an idea. Even now as I have decided to start my blog, my mind is racing trying to remember all of the ideas and topics that I already had mostly written in my mind. I know that for most people, we tend to look at the start of a new year as a time for new beginnings and to change things about ourselves.This is something that I've been bouncing around in my head for a while now!

So this is actually my second attempt at starting my own blog. I actually went back and deleted everything I had already posted simply because I didn't like the direction that I went. I feel that this time around I'm wiser and prepared to do something helpful...even if I only get on here and make a joke or post a few funny pictures. I think I just put so much pressure on myself the first time. "What if you don't really have any thoughts that are really worth sharing"? Or "Do you really think people will care to even read your opinions"? While it would be a bit of a downer to find out that no one is really interested in what I have to say, I've decided that I will take pride in the fact that I went for it. I took that step and did something that I wanted for myself!

To give you a taste of what I already have planned...I will give you a few of my ideas for upcoming entries. For starters, I plan to open my blog up to anyone who would like to seek advice about anything in life. Like a Dear Abby I suppose...and keep from using any one's real names. I also plan to tell you about the shows that you've been missing out on, as well as movies, books, and bands. I've also become addicted to a site called Pintrest and I plan to do some of the crafts and meals I have pinned and let you know how they turn out. I promise to include pictures...maybe even video (if I can convince the hubby to hold the camera). I also hope to post about random things that puzzle me (without getting too personal or soap boxy).

For now, please bear with me as I get this ball rolling and I think it will be worth it! I will end this entry with a picture that I know geeks will enjoy...