Vitamin Fanatic

Vitamins are a part of my daily life, I'm not sure when I became such a vitamin fanatic, but it has definitely been a few years now.  Some vitamins come and go depending on sales and some vitamins are a fixed part of my life.  Barely a day goes by that I don't take a multi- vitamin & mineral, I eat fairly healthy but just in case I like to make sure I'm getting whatever my meals didn't provide.  Plus I have a toddler at home and come in contact with a lot of kids, I need all the extra help I can get.  Besides the multi-vitamin there is the B-complex vitamin, I find this almost as important as the multi-vitamin.  B-complex produces energy & helps metabolism.  It also helps with the health of hair & nerves.  I also regularly take an Omega 3-6-9 vitamin, essential fatty acids. Fatty acids are important for the body to function normally, inc. skin, respiratory system, circulatory system, brain and organs. And then when I need an energy boost I take a Q-10 vitamin, and it's also a great antioxidant.  You might read this and think I go over the top, but that's my personality.  Plus, I'm allergic to a lot of fruits and if I don't take the time to cook them, I can't eat them. 

Obviously I don't want to solely rely on vitamin supplements so I also try and find foods that provide them as well.  A book that has helped me along the way is "The Real Vitamin & Mineral Book".  The book provides a description of each vitamin & mineral, it explains the pros and cons behind them, and also provides a list of foods in which you can find them.  One food that helps the body on multiple levels is the avocado, peanuts and spinach are also great.  I'm not the only one in the family that takes vitamins daily, it's a habit I started with my daughter also.  Even at just 2 yrs old there are plenty of multi-vitamins available.  Her favorite seems to be the raspberry flavored SpongeBob multi-vitamin, but she will eat most any of the brands I give her, thanks to the flavors.  Living in a cold country with little sunshine in the winter months she needs the extra help.  One of her friends always seems to have a cold and now that she's in preschool who knows what she'll come in contact with, I like knowing I am doing everything to help.  I also give her a vitamin D drop along with her breakfast to ensure she builds strong bones, again the lack of sun here means less access to it naturally.  She does enjoy drinking milk and it's in things like her cereal and yogurt but like myself why not ensure she is getting enough.  I want her to be accustom to eating healthy and living a nutritious lifestyle.  There are so many unhealthy and overweight adults and children in the world, I like to know I'm doing what I can to help me and my family, and to for come issues later down the road.

Popping Up

Since I get to experience Eindhoven mostly on foot I have the time to notice new things popping up all around town.  A funny thing I've noticed over the last few months is this sign!

What does it mean?  Is it a "no drinking zone", is it a "no glass zone"???  I've been on a mission to find out the meaning but so far no one can give me an answer.  I searched online and found similar signs but not this one.  Eventually I stumbled onto a local website "Eindhoven Dichtbij" and they too seemed to be asking the same question as me.  They had put out a request for photos of this sign and coincidentally I have some.  I emailed my photos to them and now I'm hoping they can help me in my mission.  And other than the beer glass popping up all over town so are these small electronic trash cans.  When they first installed the electronic trash cans near our apartment I swear it only let you swipe your card (stadpas) once per day, per container.  That doesn't sound bad unless your klutzy like me, I've had it close before I managed to get the trash bag in, which means I have to return home with the same trash I took out.

Like so often yesterday I set out with enough trash for two containers, the first bag went fine but when I turned to the 2nd trash can I realized someone else's trash was stuck in the machine!  I tried shaking it loose but nothing.  Instead of returning home with trash I decided to try my card on the 1st trash can again, and surprise, surprise it opened.  Now they truly are convenient.  Everywhere I go in the center of town I see them popping up, but do I really need one right outside of my apartment.  We received a letter in the mail from the city informing us they will be removing the parking spot in front of our apartment and installing an electronic trash can.  I'm not super pleased, I was happy with the two in the adjacent parking lot.  I wonder how this is going to affect selling our apartment?

Pandora's Box

In ancient Greek mythology Pandora's Box contained all the evils of the world, when she opened the box (actually a jar) it released evil into the world and the only thing remaining in the box was hope.  Nowadays, Pandora's Box contains beautiful customizable jewelry, and my husband bought it for me!!!  If you live here in Europe you most likely know the brand, but I am not sure if it's also popular in The States or not.  Ryan surprised me with a beautiful combination of three necklaces, they can be worn together or separate.  He said while at the store trying to design the necklace the women working the counter just didn't understand what he was coming up with, but once they pieced everything together they were very impressed, as well was I.  I have never owned necklaces that feel the way these do, they are so smooth, almost soft to the touch.  Because the necklaces are three different sizes they hang beautifully over my clothes and chest.  I was absolutely shocked when Ryan gave me the small silver bag from Pandora, I had told him not to buy me anything for Christmas because driving lessons were costing enough. 

But when does he ever listen to me, ha-ha!  As an addition to the necklace the store threw in a silver Pandora charm bracelet.  I can wear it as a silver band or add charms over time.  They sell a variety of unique charms from silver & gold to even glass.  For now I am going to enjoy the incredible necklace, I can always collect charms later.  My husband enjoys buying jewelry for me, over the past 10 yrs he has bought me a variety of rings, necklaces, and earrings from around the world.  He even brought me back an interesting belt that looks more like a necklace from Dubai.  The last time he went to The States he asked if he could pick anything up for me, I told him I would like a simple pair of hoop earrings.  I'm not a big spender so I like to keep the costs low, but like I said before he rarely listens to me.  And luckily for me, because when he returned from California he had a pair of unique yellow & white gold earrings from Bloomingdale's.  I have never seen anything like them, instead of being a hoop they are twisted together, the two different types of gold meeting at the bottom.  I am one lucky woman!  I should have known from the beginning that Ryan likes to buy jewelry, because I still have the first ring and necklace set he bought me at Wal-mart when he was 19 yrs old!