It seems like it's cold season. I know Heather was sick last week and it seems like everyone around here has been calling out -- and it's not a case of spring fever, either, because the weather's been nasty. I've been fighting upper respiratory gunk since Sunday.
So what's a girl to do when it's not bacterial and the doc just says to pound nyquil like it's your job?
First, if you don't have a pet, you need a ridiculous stuffed animal to keep you company in bed.
This is Penguin, who is obviously quite aptly named. Max got him for me 3 Valentines Days ago -- we went to the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut. :) Since then he has acquired lots of cool headgear, as you can see.
Side note here: I used to be (and I guess I still am) obsessed with penguins. Until I was 21 years old my AIM screen name was "mysticpenguin07." Mystic -> Mystic Aquarium; Penguin -> the cute wobbly waddling gods of the earth, as I like to think of them; 07 -> my favorite number (I think just 7 was taken, unbelievably). Yeah. For a long time I harbored a pipe dream of being a vet working at the Mystic Aquarium. I even went to Marine Biology summer camp for two summers.
Back to business, if I didn't just lose ALL of you due to my sheer dorkiness....
Next -- you need to make and drink this tea at least once a day, I'd recommend twice.
But unfortunately that's not ALL -- you can't *just* put this in boiling water and expect miracles.
You have to add two tablespoons of this nasty stuff.
(Apple Cider Vinegar -- organic and unpasteurized.) I'm sorry. I really am. But it WORKS.
I would recommend adding agave syrup (or your sweetener of choice) and only as much water as is absolutely necessary, like I did...
Breathe in the steam, and drink as slowly as you can force yourself to. It'll clear your sinuses RIGHT up, I promise.
A good book to get lost in will help too. If any of you are about to make the same mistake I did: Sara Gruen's The Ape House does not fit the bill. I borrowed it from the library because: 1) I loved Water for Elephants, and 2) Oprah recommended it. OPRAH. Well, she was wrong. It was like a soap opera in written form. Everything was melodramatic, hardly believable, and stereotypical where it was believable. Not recommended.
What is recommended, though? Skinny by Diana Spechler. We've already talked about that though and now it's time to reveal our lucky winner!
Dun dun duuuuun......
Lindsay at Cardio Pizza!! [Who will actually be winning a used copy. Sorry. That's what happens when you multi-task while placing an Amazon order. I'm just glad I didn't end up with 300 of these or something crazy. It's still in great condition though! Just minor stains & marks on some pages.] Girl e-mail me your address (squatlikealadyATgmailDOTcom) and I'll get it right out to you!
Have a great day everybody! Stay healthy! :)
lol I looove Penguin!! I *might* still have Puffy, who is my stuffed creature that I've had since I was 6 months old... Puffy is lookin' rough these days. Upper respiratory gunk SUCKS... hope you feel better soon!!
ReplyDeletethat penguin/reindeer/loveable-stuff-muffin is adorable! i once house-sat at a co-worker's and when i walked in her room, her bed was COVERED in stuffed monkeys ... that was a little strange! :)
ReplyDeleteokay, now that i didn't win the book, i'll be going on amazon to order my own - it'll be the first book i read after finals are over in less than a month! can't wait!
so many people are sick, i blame the weird weather!
ReplyDeleteMr. Penguin would cheer me up anyday, and ACV, that stuff works great!
So sorry you're sick, I'm still getting over some sort of crud as well :-( Apple Cider Vinegar is the best. I also swear by netty pots & gargling with a solution of 1/2 & 1/2 water and hydrogen proxide (just don't swallow the stuff)
ReplyDeleteHope you feel back to normal soon!
Blah that's no fun! Hope you feel better! I'm glad you reviewed Ape House, I was tempted to get it too, based on your same reasoning. Guess you just saved me some moolah haha! :D
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better! That has already hit out house a while back.. hubby got it & passed it on. I lost my voice for a few days & that made him happy! ;-)
ReplyDeleteCute penguin!
I sso hope you are feeling better!! The weather has been kinda weird, typical spring I guess, hot then cold and back around again. So lots of people are sick. Take care of yourself sweetie and get well!! Your stuffed penguin is super cute! hehe
ReplyDeleteThis is GREAT info!!! Bookmarked :)
ReplyDeleteNew to your blog! Happy I found you!
Mary
http://delightfulbitefuls.blogspot.com/
feeeel better girly! i think chocolate is also a good solution to anything :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better. The acidity of the vinegar is supposed to make colds go away faster. According to a strange vinegar book I read to make my older gym buddy happy, a person's body goes more alkaline when she has a cold. The vinegar is supposed to get the body more acidic again. Further Heinz apple cider vinegar is supposed to be extra special over generic vinegar. Now I bored you straight to sleep!! Maybe you need the sleep anyway. :-) Marion
ReplyDeleteoh that's so cool, i live in CT and i've been going to mystic aquarium since i was little! the penguins are always my favorite to see!
ReplyDeletei hope you feel better, the weather really has been nasty :(
Honey and lemon juice in hot water is my cure of choice. Plus raw garlic. Bleurgh. Tastes disgusting, but does the trick!
ReplyDeleteCute penguin! I'm glad you're on the mend!
ReplyDeleteTry _The Blind Assassin_ by Margaret Atwood. Just finished it, it was awesome.
I love penguins. I used to try to convince my ex to figure out how to get me a pet penguin!
ReplyDeleteMy husband tried that vinegar thing last time he had a cold! I'm willing to try just about anything... but hopefully won't get one for a long time:)
ReplyDeleteThank goodness I haven't been "sick", but I've been dealing with wicked allergies....which can feel like an illness sometimes! They've subsided a little this week and I'm hoping thats an omen that things in the air are changing (I have NO IDEA what I'm actually allergic to!)
ReplyDeleteYou know, I started drinking tea at work just for the steam and heat. I've heard that ACV works wonders, but never tried it...kind of scared to ;-) Now let's all just get to feeling better!!!
ReplyDeleteHuh... i'm gonna have to copy and paste that remedy and save it in a google doc for future use (yes, i am totally crazy and have tonnnns of drafts saved in my google docs as things i refer back to... weird much!?)
ReplyDeleteBTW.. I LOVE PENGUINS, TOO!!!!!!!!!! Like, *obsessed* with them. I love the way they waddle. I also think puffins are quite cute, as well...
Sad about that book. I actually just started Water For Elephants, glad to know it's a good one!
PS. Have you ever tried a netipot? My boyfriend has one of those and sweeeeears by it (Hm, now that I think about it, it might be for sinus...and not just a cold?) Anyway, it scares the heebiejeebies outta me. Unfortunaly, heebiejeebies do not equate to snotbuggers, so I always still end up sniffly and stuffed up when i look at it. (And yes, one can be both both sniffly and stuffy at the same time -- that's how i roll).