Ever since you were born, you’ve been breathing oxygen for free, right? Well the masters of mundane marketing agree that it is time for you to adjust your thinking. Yes, you can breathe air for free; but how lame would that be? Naturally occurring oxygen is just so 10,000 years ago. It’s time for you to begin breathing more pure, more refreshing oxygen.

Yes,the world's most essential element is making a fashionable comeback. This time, in a can.

And Oxygen Plus, a new company, is leading the way by providing 95% pure oxygen-enriched air that is portable, safe, natural and easy to use anywhere, anytime.

My husband (pictured) and I recently tried O+ and felt the immediate effects; but not for long. It won't make you light headed, but it won't make you run faster either. Somewhere in the middle ground between those two extremes lies the benefit gained from the oxygen in Oxygen Plus. In fact, the benefits of a few blasts of O+ may actually be more psychological than genuinely physical, but there's no doubting that several gulps of oxygen certainly feel as if they can cut through the fur and filth of a hangover or the smog in a heavily polluted city. Even without the pollution or the pleasure of a heavy night's antics, I must admit that a distinct feeling of well-being does wash over you.

For those of you who don't drink coffee, this could be your natural alternative to caffeine.

March is World Kickball Month!

Remember that game from grade-school recess - the one with the big red rubber ball? You'd give it your hardest kick, then dash off to circle the bases in triumph. The exhilaration that kickball brought you as a kid is what has hooked a growing number of adults with a renewed love of the sport.

You laugh now, but wait until you're on the field. Then kick the ball, hear that magical poing, and you'll be back playing like you were in the fifth grade. It's contagious.

To get started, you must first sign-up online. This is co-ed... so invite all your friends (well those who are over 21 years of age anyway). You'll soon be at your first game dressed in soccer-style shorts and shirts, and will still feel, well, very adult. But as soon as the game begins, that facade disappears and the atmosphere starts to resemble a noisy schoolyard. So join today - Join a league in your area and help spread the word! Spice up your marriage, boost your self-confidence, get some exercise, relieve some stress, be competitive and make some friends!

We know you’re well-adjusted and socially adept, but don't just rush to jump on the bandwagon. Too many people are talking the talk, but aren't walking the walk. If you're ready, arm yourself with the knowledge to help make change instead of just talking about it. These five books not only educate us on how we got were we are -- but also on how we might find our way out: Blessed Unrest, Silent Spring, An Inconvenient Truth, Cradle to Cradle, and The Omnivore's Dilemma, all are available on amazon.com.

That's what I call a happy ending.

Have you ever thought why some people can paint beautifully, but have difficulty adding two and two? Or why some people can understand the intricacies of calculus effortlessly, but struggle to write a one-page essay? It's all about which side of your brain dominates - the left or the right. The right is responsible for imagination, feelings and creativity, while the left is responsible for logic, details and facts.

Want to know which side is dominant for you? Go to this link, look at the picture of the dancer and focus on which way she is turning. Is it clockwise? Or counter-clockwise?

If clockwise is your answer, you use your right brain more often. If you saw her moving in the other direction, you use your left. If you look really hard and focus on the dancer, you can see that she changes direction.

For me, she was turning clockwise, which means my right lobe is more dominant -- therefore I'm more creative. I imagine since it's also representative of dancing, arts and sports, most of you (who are athletic) will have the same results.

You can get smarter. You will get smarter.

Multisensory Processing, the brain's ability to combine information from several senses, can speed up our reactions, help identify objects, and heighten your general awareness. Music conductors, for example, are a unique group of people who are highly trained in localizing sounds both visually and aurally. Not a music conductor? No worries, there are things the average person can do to improve their multisensory processing, too. Try these tricks:

Play a musical instrument: Any musical training engages more than one sense.

Play a ball sport, like tennis: Tennis players rely heavily on sound (of a direct hit, backspin, etc.) to plan their next move.

Play a video game: Yes, you are allowed!

Get mad when you're driving, and you might scream like a fool. Get mad when playing sports, and you could end up in the hospital. A recent study from the University of Missouri-Columbia reveals athletes who blow their stacks in the heat of battle are more apt to get hurt than those that keep their emotions in check. However (and luckily for my husband), there was little correlation between anger and getting injured in a car accident.

More than 2,500 people who had sustained injuries were interviewed and asked to describe their emotions just before they got hurt. Results showed people who were irritable, angry, or hostile had a 30 percent greater chance of sustaining an injury playing sports than those in a tranquil state.

So the next time you head out to compete in your favorite sport, don't forget to pack your happy face.

Actually it turns out it's the combination of the two that can add years to your life. So drink a Little, stay active, and save Your Heart!

According to a new study published today, experts found that people who did not drink alcohol or perform any exercise had a 30% to 49% higher risk of heart disease than those who either drank, exercised or did both.

The study, published in the European Heart Journal, followed 11,914 Danish men and women over a period of around 20 years. The researchers found that non-drinkers had a 30% to 31% higher risk of heart disease compared with moderate drinkers. In fact, those who had at least one drink a week and were physically active had a 44 percent to 50 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease than those who were physically inactive and didn't drink.

Moreover, the study went as far to say that people who were physically active and had a drink a week had up to a 33 percent lower risk of dying from any cause!

I'll drink to that!

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. Read about the project here.

I have been a fan of this site since it's inception, checking in every now and again to read and look at the dark recesses of fellow humans minds. Why do I do it? Mostly out of my own curiosity and intrigue. My reaction, when looking at the many and varied postcards of peoples secrets, ranges from shock to laughter. They are all so different, some quite light-hearted, others so incredibly deep and others filled with tragedy. The full gamut of humanity is on those postcards.

Therefore because it seems that this project is a total reflection on us, which is why it is so interesting and obviously addictive to so many, I thought you should visit it, if you haven't already ... or just visit it again. So much of our success with life actually relates to our mental condition I thought you might want to see from time to time that others may have the same feelings as you and that you're not alone. The project (which is also a book) is a fabulous tribute to humanity and looking into someone else's life will allow you to look into your own and maybe it will help you with your New Year's resolutions.

If you're already sick (like I am -- and I never get sick), these remedies will have you on the mend in no time.

TAKE ZINC.  In a study at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, people who used an over-the-counter (OTC) zinc nasal spray four times a day recovered almost two days faster and had fewer symptoms than those given a placebo.  Another study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that volunteers treated with zinc lozenges had colds that lasted about half the time as those who didn't pop zinc -- four and a half days instead of eight. 

EAT CHICKEN SOUP.  Mom was right:  A Nebraska Medical Center Study shows that the broth reduces inflammation and inhibits the activity of neutrophils, the white blood cells that may increase mucus production.

TRY GINSENG.  People who took 200mg of ginseng twice daily during cold and flu season had shorter colds than those who just popped a placebo, according to a study performed at the University of Alberta, Canada.  

STAY IN BED.  If your body is exhausted, it will be that much harder for it to fight the virus.  If you must go to work, at least get a good night's rest:  People who sleep four hours a night have weaker immune systems than those who get a seven and a half to eight and a half hours, according to a University of Chicago study.

TREAT YOUR SYMPTOMS.  To power through the day, look for a product that contains the nasal decongestant phenylephrine.  It's a stimulant, so it won't leave you feeling groggy.  It can temporarily drive up blood pressure, though, so if you've got hypertension, talk to your doctor before using it.  Choose a remedy that has an antihistamine, as well as acetaminophen.  The antihitamine will make you drowsy, and the acetaminophen will relieve the fever and achiness that may keep you up.  If coughing is disturbing your sleep, an OTC with dextromethorphan will help.   

 

The world is made up of all kinds. Ab crunchers. Dog lovers. Boob guys.

And then there are the teeth people.

An ever-growing group most easily identified by their crisp, white smiles, they are the faithful flossers, the masses with stashes (toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash) hidden in their desk drawers and glove compartments.

For you (and I know you're out there): I recommend Preserve by Recycline. After all, it's the toothbrush that is constructed with environmentally friendly materials to let you replace without the waste. You are not only keeping your teeth healthy but the world while you're at it!

When you’re done with your brush, you just use the pre-paid mailer provided and they’ll gladly turn it into plastic lumber or recycled store displays. And for those who need to know - where do the toothbrushes get their plastic? The answer: Stonyfield Farms. For the past five years Stonyfield yogurt cups have accounted for 25-60% of the Preserve toothbrushes (and razors).

I also recommend the toothpicks. These aren't your everyday run-of-the-mill toothpicks; these babies are designed with sustainably harvested wood from domestically grown white birch forests and then blasted with special breath-freshening flavors that have natural antibacterial ingredients to keep your mouth healthy and happy. Not to be outdone by the hip container (made from 100% recycled plastic - did you expect anything different?)

So go ahead people: Join the few, the proud, the ones who smile with confidence.

Trivia: The folks over at Recycline scored a pretty sweet movie cameo for their Preserve Toothbrush in the Will Ferrell film, Stranger than Fiction.