Stress Less This Summer and Enjoy the Sunshine!

Summer should be a time for lazing on the beach with a glass of ice tea or sitting in the shade enjoying the latest thriller. So why are you so stressed? It could just be the heat that’s making you cranky. Or maybe it’s because — between work, keeping house, and chauffeuring the kids around — you have no time for yourself. Heck, even packing for what’s supposed to be a relaxing vacation can be stressful.

Summer will only be here for a few short months. So try one of these stress-busters that’ll have you on an even keel again:

Calm your nerves with a carrot cocktail. After a long, hectic day, mix equal parts of carrot and celery juice, and add honey to taste (plus a shot of Grand Marnier® if you’d like). Then sit back, relax, and drink up!

Relax and smell the cucumbers. Rather, I should say smell the cucumbers and relax. Studies have shown that the scent of cukes helps you calm down during tense situations. So the next time you’re stressing, wash your tresses with cucumber-scented shampoo. Puree a peeled, diced cucumber and a peeled, sliced lemon in a blender or food processor. Strain out the seeds, and wash your hair with the mix.

Snack on a stress-busting cookie. The intense cinnamon scent of these tasty treats delivers major aromatherapy that will lower your anxiety:

Ingredients:

2 sticks of butter, softened

2 ¼ tsp. of ground cinnamon

½ tsp. of baking soda

½ tsp. of salt

1 cup of blackstrap molasses

¼ cup of dark honey

¼ cup of brown sugar

2 large eggs

½ cup of plain yogurt

4 cups of all-purpose flour

In a large mixing bowl, combine the first four ingredients. Gradually add the molasses, honey, and sugar. Then beat in the eggs, and stir in the yogurt and flour. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto cookie sheets, and bake at 400°F for 12 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned at the edges. (Yield: about 4 dozen cookies.)