The Invisible Poison That Could Kill Your Family - Carbon Monoxide

Keep your family safe this winter from this all-too-common tragedy.  According to Dr. Eric Lavonas, M.D., chief of emergency medicine at Denver Health "More Americans die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the winter months than during any other time of year, suggests a study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. About 45,000 Americans are treated for CO poisoning each year, and about 1,600 die."

So check out these tips from Men's Health and protect your family - so you can enjoy the holidays.

1. Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors
2. Never Operate Engines Indoors
3. Schedule Annual Inspections
4. Be Careful In the Garage

16 Cool Gifts for Your Boyfriend He May Actually Like

It's time to shop for that special man in your life.  But sometimes shopping for the male in your life, be it your boyfriend or husband, can be very difficult.

Hats off to Huffington Post for coming up with this awesome list of 16 gifts he may actually like! 

With only a few days left to the holiday shopping season, you may want to check it out!


https://www.beckercounseling.com/16-cool-gifts-boyfriend-hell-actually-like/

Depression can affect anyone… including Janet Jackson.

Depression - it knows no boundaries.

Depression - it can affect anyone, even the rich and famous celebrities.  Janet Jackson has been very open about her depression and how it has affected her life.

When celebrities like Janet Jackson open up and speak about their struggles with depression, it makes it easier for the rest of us to realize that mental illness, anxiety and dpression can hit anyone.

• Depression can affect anyone… including Janet Jackson.

Do you hate the holidays?

Do you? Don't worry, it's OK if you hate the holidays. Many people do.

Family issues, holiday stress with your spouse, money issues... these are all real during the holidays.

Just remember to breathe and figure out a way to deal with them that works for you.

https://www.beckercounseling.com/hate-holidays-ok/

Cheating May Not Be A Death Sentence, And Why It May Happen Again

Is monogamy the source of cheating? Is it just unreasonable to expect that your spouse will not cheat?  Does it mean that your relationship is over? Will it happen again?

It does not have to.  But there are several items that you may need to look at, if you have been cheated on – or if you are the cheater.

This article from the Huffington Post lists some items to consider about cheating:

1) Cheating is not a death sentence for a relationship.
2) Cheating is lying.
3) Cheating is the easy way out.
4) The cheater needs to be the healer.
5) The cheater may cheat again.

30 Romantic Date Night Ideas for Married Couples

This is a great list! I mean a great list.

This list from www.developgoodhabits.com is awesome.

You're married now... maybe for a short time, but maybe for 30 or 50 years.  Just like trying to figure out what to make for dinner gets old, so does "dating" your husband or wife.  But marriage does take work.

Running your kids to practice and games and piano lessons, doctors appointments, getting the roof repaired...this all takes time, patience and preparation.  Shouldn't your marriage qualify for that kind of attention too?

As the author of this excellent list states "Dates are like reset buttons in a marriage, and can often make all right in the world again with the simplest of gestures." So get out there and date that person you would marry all over again!

Romantic Date Night Ideas for Married Couples
1. Dinner at a restaurant that requires reservations weeks, or more, in advance.
2. A horse-drawn carriage ride.
3. Go to a drive-in movie.
4. Schedule a private tasting at a local vineyard.
5. Go to the opera.
6. Take a walk through a botanical garden.
7. Try out a self-defense or martial arts class.
8. Catch a live sporting event.
9. Try white water rafting or kayaking.
10. Go sculpt or paint something.
11. Visit a museum.
12. Have a picnic on the beach.
13. Find a curbside joint to grab lunch at.
14. Go camping.
15. Create a scavenger hunt.
16. Check out an amateur comedy club.
17. Take your spouse on a tour of your alma mater.
18. Enter a fun race together.
19. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or nursing home.
20. Take a cooking class.
21. Cook your spouse a candlelight dinner.
22. Schedule an in-home couples massage.
23. Set up a photo shoot.
24. Hire a personal sommelier.
25. Order takeout from your favorite restaurant.
26. Watch your wedding video.
27. Turn each other into a work of art.
28. Roleplay.
29. Dance to your old records.
30. Skype with each other from different rooms in the house.

At the end of the day, marriage is a garden that needs constant tending too!

Wonderful Things About the Empty Nest

Your children are either now away at school, have moved out on their own, gotten married… but they have left the house.

How will you get through being an empty nester?  It’s too quiet, it’s too clean.

Well, maybe you can now see all the good things and peaceful things that can come from being an empty nester.

This article in “Very Well Mind” lists some of the nicest aspects of being an empty nester. So sit back, relax (now that you can) and enjoy this ride.