The kids are back in school. The leaves are starting to fall. The nights are getting chilly. You're starting to feel that tickle in the back of your throat. Fall has arrived and so has the beginning of the cold and flu season. You're probably shuddering at that thought. Maybe you got lucky last year and skipped through without catching one. Maybe you are like me and suffered through 2 colds and never went to bed without slathering vapor rub all over your self, in hope to breathe through the night.



 I don't know about you, but I also shudder at the idea of all of the chemicals I am putting into my body each season to cover up the symptoms that come along with the cold. Have you ever read the back of your medicine? There are words I can't even pronounce! A few years back I tried changing my diet and only putting food into my body with words I could pronounce. It was interesting to see how much better I felt while following this simple rule.



Keeping all of that in mind, this fall I will be replacing my old cold medicine with Maty's all natural cough syrup and vapor rub. Some things to consider when deciding to change out your current cold medicines with Maty's all natural options:

• The FDA does not regulate the use of the word 'natural' on products. What you see is not always what you get. Maty's makes products that are 100% natural with ingredients you can recognize. 

• All products are made with whole food ingredients that come from mother nature. No harsh chemicals or additives. You won't find parabens in these products.

• Maty's does not test on animals.

 If those things alone don't change your mind, consider my first impressions and thoughts:

The first thing I noticed about both the cough syrup and vapor rub was the smell. They both had smells I could recognize. The cough syrup was sweet smelling like honey and apple cider vinegar, while the vapor rub had a delightful mint scent. I didn't have immediate use for either product when they arrived but was able to really test run them this week when the weather started to change.

My allergies got the best of me and my nose was super stuffy over the weekend. I got frustrated that I wouldn't be able to sleep well when I remembered Maty's Vapor Rub. This rub is petroleum free and packed with eucalyptus, peppermint, and wintergreen: Three popular ingredients used as a cough and congestion remedy. I slathered some on my chest and was breathing freely in no time. I may have just found my new favorite love for the cold season.

Thankfully I only had allergies so I never fully got sick to use the cough syrup, but my dad visited this weekend and was coughing up a storm with his cold. I offered him a dose of Maty's Cough Syrup and within 20 minutes his cough was under control and he didn't feel so stuffy. He commented that the stuff tasted so good, he wanted to put it on a salad!

I am really impressed with the results and can't wait to test it further this fall. If you are looking to make the switch, you can pick up Maty's products at your local pharmacy or check them out online.

Will you be making the switch this Fall?

It's Monday again. What better way to start the day then to talk about work. Yep. I went there. Work on a Monday sounds so awful. But I promise this blog isn't going to be awful (Or so I hope you don't feel that way). Anyways, last week I was cleaning out my desk at work (More on that soon) and I came across the paper I was given when I first started at my company. The requirements of my job. I kid you not, the list goes a little something like this:

Morning Priorities
- Check e-mail and forward as needed.
- Checking fax machine and distributing faxes as needed.
- Checking calendar to see who is out for the day.
- Making sure that if customers are visiting that signs are in the foyer.
- Entering and mailing of invoices.
- Shipping.
-Any other duties that arise.

Afternoon Priorities
- Getting mail after lunch and distributing to mailboxes.
- Sending conformations (Yes that's how its spelled on the sheet) @ 2:00 p.m.
- Shipping
- Shipping Sheets
- Filing (If there is coverage)
- Any other duties that arise.



I sat there for a minute and read this list over and over again. This does not sound anything like my job. I have been in my position for 2.5 years and this is not my job. I have many responsibilities that are far more complex than sending "conformations" or checking the calendar.. My day is full of new challenges and lists of things that need to get accomplished. Most days I leave and my desk looks like a bomb went off because I have so much to do and no time to do it.

All of these things listed are tiny little slivers of what I do on a daily basis. Lets talk about my morning first. I am constantly checking and replying to email. The fax machine rarely distributes anything because who uses a fax machine these days? I do check the calendar, but not to the point where I need it as a requirement. Same thing with customer visits. It's not rocket science people. Invoices are delivered at all times of the days, and sometimes I yell at them in my head because they won't stop coming. Shipping. That could be a job all in it's own, but I am a ninja master and get that shit done pronto. As far as any other duties that arise,the list is endless. Literally.

Now my afternoon seems way more complex than my morning. I am STILL checking and replying to email. I get so busy that other people bring in my mail. And come to thing of it where on the requirements does it tell me to take OUT the mail? I send those conformations which takes me 3 minute tops. We already discussed shipping. Don't get me started on those shipping sheets. If I could have a bonfire with them, they would be toast! (Or ash I suppose.. ). I file freely throughout the day as time permits. I leave my post for this because I don't want my desk to look like a mess forever. They forgot to add reports. I send a ton of those babies. Up to 100 a day sometimes. And then back to those other duties.. please don't remind me.

As you can see, I have quite a bit of work on my plate daily. This job requirement sheet doesn't even begin to scratch the surface. It keep my questioning, what's my job again? Can you guess? Any ideas of that I do everyday? I'll give you a cookie if you can guess!

Have a great Monday everyone!

For anyone who reads my blog regularly, you know I recently started a journey to living a healthier lifestyle. Along with a healthier lifestyle comes my least favorite thing in the world: working out. Ugh, do I HAVE to? In order for me to be motivated to actually work out, I joined a gym. This is my second full week of going and man have things changed since last time I was at a gym. (It's been 3 years). Although these things may not have changed, but maybe it has to do me going from a small privately owned gym to a chain. I am going to Planet Fitness because well its cheap, and I'm broke. Here are the the things that I have noticed since joining my new gym:



1. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE is wearing ear buds. It is apparently not proper gym ettiquete to physically speak to others at the gym. You put in those ear buds and off you go.

2. Now that you have your ear buds in, you must also never make the mistake of making eye contact with any other individual around you. This may lead to socialization and unnecessary talking.

3. There is apparently a guys section and a girls section at the gym. And what I mean by this is, ladies you stay on the treadmill! Do NOT, I repeat, Do NOT get off and use a machine. Those are only for the guys in the house. You must live your life doing cardio only!

4. If you are like me, and venture into the machines, you will have every dude staring at you. I am still not sure if this is a death stare or an impressed stare. I will get back to you on this.

5. The ladies travel in packs and the men are solo. I saw the occasional couple, and they stayed in the cardio area together. I risked it and went alone. I did not have my posse with me, but I also realized its not a bad thing! I enjoyed my me time at the gym.

You see I thought the gym used to be a social place. Now it seems like you are there to do your thing and leave, unless you brought your posse, then you speak to them. I almost felt uncomfortable with all the awkwardness around me. I mean sure, I was there to get my fitness on, but come on people! We can smile, and make small talk from time to time. We can un-glue ourselves form our phones and interact with society for a little while. No one is there to piss in your cheerios. We can all use the machines, and not segregate ourselves to one area or another.

Okay this turned into a little rant, which was not intentional, which is also why I love blogging. The point I am making is why must every activity we do in life consist of us being on our phones and avoiding other people? I don't know about you, but once I leave the office these days, I am so done with electronics. I want to workout, listen to the music around me and interact with people from time to time.

What do you all think? Is this pretty common at your gym as well? Do you prefer to be left alone and get the work done, or do you enjoy a friendly chat with what could be a new friend or workout buddy? Lemme know!