Spring-Grind

Spring's rainy days have her dreaming of a long, sleepy day in bed, but reality hits at the same time she turns off her morning alarm and listens to your station. Sunnier days are welcome; they bring much-needed energy and a pleasant attitude for most. After having them closed for so long, it's refreshing to finally open a window to breathe in fresh air. Blossoming daffodils and impatiens adorn sidewalks and fresh produce is in abundance, inspiring her to grow her own garden.

Closets and drawers are getting an overhaul. She swaps kids' clothes (what does not fit with what does) and saves hand-me-downs. She donates the rest, or passes on some used treasure to a friend who can use them for herself or a child. Pets are benefiting from the better weather as she takes more leisurely walks and runs. Cleaning out the garage could bring a yearly sale, and most carpets are ready to have winter's slushiness cleaned out of them. Outdoor furniture is hauled out of storage, cleaned, and readied for another season.

Those in warmer climates have been consistently cleaning the pollen off their outdoor gear. Everything gets covered in green pollen particles this time of year. It's no coincidence that Zyrtec is available over the counter with coupons readily available. Students, young and not-as-young, anxiously await the end of this academic year. Final tests are on the calendar and research papers are in the works.. Baseball, softball, track, and soccer fill the fields in her neighborhood. Enthusiastic kids, who have no desire to do their homework, are riding bikes and scooters of all shapes and sizes. Cleats and tennis shoes are strewn throughout her house, along with a new pair of sandals she's trying to break in. Avoiding a blister on her big toe is small stuff on her large-scale list of things to do. Hello, Dr. Scholls...www.drscholls.com

She buzz words

• Invest
• Pollen
• Season Tickets
• Rubarb

She Health

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, pharma- ceutical errors are responsible for killing more than 7,000 hospitalized patients a year. Poor patient communication is responsible for 50 percent of all medication errors and up to 20 percent of drug reactions. Many patients forget the drugs they are taking under tense situations. The Vial of Life, an information sheet that lists all medicines and medical conditions along with doctors and emergency contacts, can be a lifesaver. The information is put on the Web and on her refrigerator, or in her car or purse, along with a decal that attaches to her front door alerting any emergency personal to the where-abouts of the her medical information. This program is ideal not only for an elderly relative but for anyone who wants to be prepared-accidents do happen.

And there's more...

A new, free Internet site is available to help figure out what her ailment might be. This site has 8,000 questions inside its database to help diagnosis up to 1,800 possible conditions or injuries. Of course, if it's an actual emergency, she should go directly to the emergency room. www.selfmd.com

She keeps telling herself

"Sleep happens after children."

She saves

There seems to be a rumor about a secret stash of 8 oz. cups at Starbucks. These cups are available for use but not on the menu, probably because they have a smaller price tag.

So the next time you're looking to save money at Starbucks, ask for your drink as a "short" and see what happens.

Last year, Americans spent approximately $11 billion on bottled drinking water. She could save a lot of cash by installing a $30.00 water filter and purchasing a reusable bottle; unless she likes to throw money down the same drain her water comes from.

She fact

According the National Marriage Project, 88% of singles say they just know their soul mate is waiting for them.

Right now she could be

• Coloring her hair
• Helping her teen with a research paper
• Pumping air into her bicycle
• Downloading coupons
• Cleaning a BBQ grill

She fact

If you eat one ounce of potato chips every day for one year, you would ingest 3.8 quarts of oil. Next time she snacks, think multi-grain pretzels

She drives

www.dividetheride.com connects parents and creates carpool schedules for school, after-school activities and summer camp. This site is a necessity with the cost of gas.The calendar is then e-mailed out to all members of the pool.

• Get more She Prep at www.ShePrep.com