Signs You are Attracted to Someone You Hate

You don’t like them. You find this person annoying and obnoxious, and you hate the ground they walk on. Well, at least, you think you do. To be honest, you are not so sure. Although this person gets on our last nerve, you find yourself thinking about them all the time. So, how do you know if you are falling for the person you hate?

Increased Heart Rate

Does your heart seem to pound in your chest whenever you are near this person? Does your breath catch in your throat at the mention of their name? If you find that your heart rate increases every time you see this person, chances are good that you have fallen in love with your enemy.

Perspiration

Do you find yourself sweating whenever this person is around? Are your armpits wet? One of the main signs of attraction is nervousness. And, nervousness can lead to perspiration. Like it or not, you are sexually attracted to the person you claim to hate.

Dreaming About Them              

Do you hate this person so much that they are starting to invade your thoughts? Do you find yourself thinking about them even when you are asleep? If the answer is “yes”, then this is a sign that this has become a love/hate relationship.

Longing to See Them

Do you make petty excuses to check up on them? Do you find yourself cruising by their house or by their job? Although you dislike this person, you find yourself looking for him or her all the time. If your day is not complete until you see the object of your distain, then chances are good that you have fallen in love.

Jealousy

Do you find yourself angry when your enemy is with someone else? Do you secretly long to destroy their relationships? If you find that the green-eyed monster called jealousy shows up every time this person is with someone else, this is a sign that you are in love.

Becoming an Idiot

Do you find yourself stuttering, blushing, or dropping things when the person you despise is in close proximity to you? These are also a signs of sexual attraction. So, if you become a blundering idiot every time your enemy shows up, it is time to stop kidding yourself. You are in love.

There is a thin line between love and hate. If you have any of the symptoms listed above, you have definitely cross the line.

January Writing Prompts

January Journal Writing Topics

Don’t let the frosty winds of January stop you from writing. Warm up with the following January writing prompts.

1.      January 1 is New Year’s Day. Lists 4 of your New Year’s Resolutions and explain your plan for sticking to your goal.

2.      Write a poem about New Year’s Day.

3.      January 3 is the birthday of J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. List 3 of your favorite science fiction stories and explain why you love them.

4.      January 3 is also Fruitcake Toss Day. Research the origin of the Fruitcake. Write about how the tradition of giving fruitcakes began.

5.      Write a poem about snowflakes.

6.      Research snow. Describe how it is formed.

7.      January is National Braille Literary Month. Research Louis Braille. Write a brief paragraph about his life.

8.      January 6^th is the birthday of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. Read one or two of short Sherlock Holmes stories. Write about your favorite one.

9.      Super bowl Sunday is on its way. Research Super bowl Sunday. Discuss its origin.

10.  Winter can be full of strange weather. Snow and ice are not its only forms of precipitation. Some southern states have even had tornadoes on Christmas Day. Write about a winter day you will never forget.

11.  Some animals hibernate in the winter. List 5 of these animals.

12.  Write a letter to Old Man Winter

13.  January 10^th is National House Plant Appreciation Day. List 3 benefits of house plants.

14.  January 15^th is National Hat Day. If you could design a unique hat, what would it look like?

15.  Dr. Martin Luther King was born on January 20. Research his life. Write about 3 of his major accomplishments.

16.  January 21 is National Hugging Day. It was created in 1986 by Reverend Kevin Zaborney. Research Rev. Zaborney. List 3 facts about his life.

17.  Who would you like to give a hug and why?

18.  January is National Soup Month. Think of your 2 favorite soups. Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting them.

19.  Author Allan Alexander Milne’s was born on January 18. He is the creator of Winnie the Pooh and his friends. Write about your favorite character from Winnie the Pooh.

20.  January 23 is National Pie Day. Research 3 of your favorite pies. Write about how they originated.

21.  January 27 is the birthday of author Lewis Carroll. Carroll is most known for his book Alice in Wonderland. Write about a strange dream that you have had.

Have some wintry fun this January. Use some of the writing prompts listed above.

Tips on Reconnecting with an Estranged Family Member or Loved One

How to Reconnect with an Estranged Family Member

No family is perfect. There are always going to be some up and downs. But, when those downs have led to the estrangement of a loved one, things have gone too far. So, how do you reconnect with an estranged family member? The following are ways to bridge the gap.

Dealing with Pride

It is often difficult to put ones pride aside. However, if you are going to reconnect with an estranged loved one, you are going to have to deal with your self-righteousness and pride. A relationship cannot survive when it is choked down by selfishness. In order to reconnect, you must be willing to admit your part in the conflict and accept responsibility for your actions. You will also have to allow yourself to be emotionally vulnerable.

Apologize

Evaluate your part in the conflict. Accept responsibility for your actions and words. Now, be willing to apologize for your role in the disagreement. Don’t place blame. Don’t accuse. Forgive and move forward. And, when you make contact with the estranged family member, don’t expect them to apologize. You accept responsibility for your role. Apologize even if you don’t feel that you are the one who caused the problem.

Make first contact

Once you have dealt with your pride and hurt feelings, you need to make contact with the estranged family member. Although some people recommend writing a letter first, this can be impersonal. You can initiate contact by picking up the phone and making a call. But, be sure to practice what you will say before you make the call. Be prepared for reject, anger, and possible accusations. Don’t give in to your own hurt feelings and lash out. Instead, try to focus on the bigger picture. Remember that you care about this person and want to repair your relationship. Try to keep the conversation on neutral ground. For this first call, express your desire to reconnect. Then, limit your conversation and the amount of time you spend on the phone.

Be Patient

It takes time to reconnect. Trust and respect must be rebuilt, and this takes time. So, be prepared to wait. Months or even years of anger and hurt will not heal overnight. And, accept that things have changed and they may never be the same again.

Learn Coping Strategies

Now that you have made the first move and initiated contact, you will need to have some coping strategies. Things will not be perfect. You may want to avoid touchy issues at first. But, after a while you will need to confront the issue that tore you apart to begin with. Be prepared. Be calm. And, be willing to listen without getting angry or making judging.

Don’t waste your time mourning over an estranged family member. Reconnect and rebuild relationships.

How Can You Tell He Wants to AskYou Out?

Signs He Wants to Ask You Out

You have met a guy that you think is attractive. You really like him, but you are wondering if he feels the same way. We have all been there. So, how do you know if he wants to ask you out or if he just wants to be friends? The following are things that I have noticed when a guy wants to ask you out. 

Showing Off

In nature, it is the male of the species that has to convince the female to mate with them. Male birds have colorful feathers. And, other male animals must have to fight in order to earn the right to mate. Human males may not have to actually fight in order to win a female, but they do tend to show off when they are trying to impress a woman. So, if the guy in question is constantly showing off or bragging, he is trying to impress you.

Small Gifts

Does this guy give you small, unexpected gifts? Does he leave you sweet messages or memos? If he does, this could be another sign that he is interested in you.

Helping Out

Another way a guy will let you know that he is interested in you is by helping out. He will offer to help with your bags, tote things to your car, or offer to help you finish important assignments. If he is always around when you need a hand, chances are good that he wants to be more than friends.

Discouraging other Males

Men are naturally territorial. Just like animals in nature mark their territory, so do human males. If you discover that his guy has been discouraging other guy from asking you out, it is because je wants to ask you out himself.

Unexpected Visits

Does this guy make excuses to see you? Does he stop by your desk or job just to say “Hello” or to deliver messages that could have waited? If he is going out of his way to see you, he is trying to let you know that he is interested in you.

Includes You in Important Decisions

Does this guy ask your opinion about important issues? Does he include you in the decision making process? If he does, this is his way of letting you know that your opinion is important to him.

Accidental Touching

Does this guy seem to always “accidentally” touching your arms, hands, shoulders, or hair? Touching is a sure sign of attraction. If he is constantly finding excuses to touch you, he is definitely attracted to you and he wants to ask you out.

Stop wondering if he is attracted to you or if you are just imagining things. The above are signs that he wants to ask you out.

5 Simple Financial Moves I Plan to Make in 2014

As the New Year approaches, you may be evaluated your life and decide on changes that you want to make. Some of these changes need to be financial changes. The following are some simple but effective financial changes that I plan to make in the upcoming year in order to transform my finances. These changes may also work for you.

Set Financial Goals

The first financial step you will need to make involves financial planning. You should set financial goals for the upcoming year. These goals will not only be for the New Year, but for years to come. You should decide what you want to accomplish financially. I know that I want to start saving more money. I know that I want to build a financial foundation for my son. I also know I want to increase my income. So, even if all I want to do is build up my financial portfolio, I know I will need to sit down and think about what my financial goals are. Then, I will have to decide how much money I will need to make or save in order to reach those financial goals. And, you should do the same. Decide what you want to accomplish financial in the upcoming year.

Do an Inventory

Next, I will do a financial inventory. This will allow me to see how much money I actually have. This financial inventory will include the money I have in my checking account and any other assets that I might have.  If I had stocks, bonds, or CDs, I would include them. If you have any of these things, you will also need to include them in your financial inventory.

Prioritize

Next, I will need to decide which of my financial goals is the most important. I will need to see where I need to concentrate my efforts the most. You should also do the same.

Research

There is the hard part. In order to make financial changes, I will have to do some research. Because I was not a business major and I don’t know anything about the stock market, I will have to do some research. I need to know how to buy stocks, which programs to invest money in, and how to increase my income. Some of the ways I can do that is by attending financial workshops, taking classes, taking with other entrepreneurs, purchasing books on the topic, and even researching the information in the internet.

Pay Yourself

I must learn how to pay myself first. I have heard it said all the time, but I will admit that I rarely do it. I will need to change this habit. I will have to start with adjusting my budget to make this accommodation.  If you haven’t already, you should consider making this financial change too.

Invest

Although I don’t know a whole lot about invest, I do know it is something I want to do in the upcoming year. I also know that it will take at least $500.00 to $1, 000.00 to purchase stock. So, I will be spending some time researching how to invest and what steps I need to take to begin making money.

These are five financial changes I plan to make in the upcoming year. They may also work for you.

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Scandal's latest episode.

Okay, "Scandal" fans. If you watched Thursday's show, I would love to know what you think. I personally was disappointed. I feel like the writers really dropped the ball on this one. Why in the world would they let Huck torture Quinn? Why not let them get together. Quinn obviously likes him. However, Huck is so antisocial until it is sad. I hope this weeks is better.

Fashion Tips for Teachers

Who said that just because you are a teacher you can’t be a fashion diva?  No, you can’t wear a mini-skirt to work, and it isn’t advised for you to wear the most expensive suit you own. However, you can still be stylish and a positive role model.

Follow the Dress Code
First things first. Always follow your school district’s dress code. You need to know what is allowed and what is not. Some school districts allow teachers to wear sandals while others do not. Some require its female employees to wear stockings while others do not. So, it is important to know what is acceptable in your district.
Choose the Right Color
Just because you are a teacher, it doesn’t mean you have to look boring. You can still look nice and professional at the same time. Unless your school district has specific colors that you can wear, you should choose colors that compliment you when planning or assembling your wardrobe. Choose colors according to what looks best with your skin tone, eye color, and hair color.
If you have a golden complexion or a “warm skin tone”, you should choose warm colors. These colors include red, orange, yellow, coral, and sage green. If you have a “cool skin tone”, you should go with royal blue, purple, pink, white, and emerald green. If you have a “neutral skin tone”, you can wear just about any color.
Make-Up
Make-up can make or break any look. As an educator, you want your students focused on you and not how much lipstick you are wearing. So, one good rule of thumb is to avoid too much make-up. Your make-up should look natural and be subtle.

Your lipstick can attract a lot of attention. Red is the most noticeable color lipstick. However, it can be distracting, and it is also more appropriate for your time way from school. This doesn’t mean that you can’t wear your favorite shade of lipstick. Yes, you can wear red. There are some people who can wear red during the day and get away with, but choose a lighter shade. And, remember, you can always simply apply lip gloss instead of lipstick.

Accessories
Avoid too many accessories. Children-and adults- can easily become distracted by a lot of noisy bracelets and dangling earrings. Necklaces that are too long can also become a problem when dealing with young children.

Fingernails Count Too

Don’t forget about your nails. They are also a part of your professional look. Extremely long fingernails and outrageous colors can also be distraction and should be avoided. Keep your nails the appropriate length and color. Keep your nails clean and professional. Opt for a good manicure to keep your nails in shape. When choosing color, choose a neutral one and try to avoid distracting colors and designs. Also, try to keep the nails short to medium in length. Dirty, chipped, or half-painted nails may be the result of your busy lifestyle and dedication to the job, but they don’t look professional. So, pay attention to your nails like the rest of your outfit.

Check the Fit

Make sure that your clothes fit properly. The way you dress sends messages to your students, to your principal, and to your parents. Send the message that you are a professional. There is nothing worse than a professional teacher wearing too tight clothes or clothes that are so loose that they look slouchy. If an item is too snug, throw it out. If you have lost several pounds and the outfit is too big, throw it out.

Bring both style and professionalism into your classroom.  Choose colors and styles that give you a polished look.

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