Flower Power..

How does a flower instantly bring a smile to one's face? And brighten up the gloomiest of days or spruce up the dreariest of spaces? The sun, flowers, and happiness really do go hand-in-hand. :)

Flowers symbolize so much, and for those of us who love to receive fresh flowers, or snip them from our gardens, the love for flowers is too wonderful for words.

Here are some words that can help you prolong your flower passion and help that beautiful bloom continue to flourish.

1. The best time to cut flowers from the yard or garden is early in the morning. Why? Because this is when flowers tend to have more moistures.

2. After cutting your fresh flowers, run them under some water and snip the stems at an angle.

3. Mist you flowers daily with a squirt bottle. If you don't have a squirt bottle then simply run them under some water to help promote longevity. A spritz of hairspray works too!

4. Aspirin, sugar, and salt. We all have these items lying around the house, don't we? Crush an aspirin or add a pinch of salt or sugar to a vase before adding flowers to extend the life of your flower arrangements.

5. The secret to fresh looking flowers is to minimize the growth of bacteria in the water. This is why it is important to fill your vase with fresh water every few days. Another simple tip to minimize bacteria growth is add a few drops of vodka and a teaspoon of sugar. This antibacterial action will prolong your flower enjoyment.

Enjoy your beautiful blossoms!

"Earth laughs in flowers" - Ralph W. Emerson

XX,

DearSarah

How do you handle or deal with bullying when it's all around?

A hot topic lately is the topic of bullying.

It's no question that bullying has been around for about forever and if you pay attention, you can probably see it about anywhere. Sad but true. So what do you do when the world becomes so dark and cruel? How do you deal with negativity when it's all we ever hear about? It might be a doggy dog world out there but some where there is sunshine to be found.

No that does not mean that we can all hope in our convertibles and head to the beach to soak up some rays, but wouldn't that be nice?

I think an easy equation for happiness is always give more than you get and also surround yourself with peeps who do the same. The feeling when you give something or do something positive and make a difference, is indescribable. However, it is key to not get caught up in simply giving, giving and giving some more. This must stay a two way street people.

When it comes to friendships we all grow up and learn the hard way that it's more about quality and less about quantity. Lets face it, when you're in your late twenties and on.. you might be able to count your real, true friends on a single hand. No shame in that though. One true friend can change a life and make all the difference. Remember that having a quality friend is something to be thankful for.

So back to bullying. I once was told to keep in mind how you see people. More times than not, we are only given only a glimpse into what a person's daily life may entail. On the surface is just a sneak peak into his or her life. Why not treat someone like they may be experiencing a rough patch? A friendly hi or smile may make their day, or heck, their week. No one wants to be left wondering if their bullying may have pushed someone to their limit.

Answer phone calls as much as possible and always call people back. What if someone was calling you and it meant life or death? This is kind of heavy, but it's definitely something worth thinking about. A simple hello, a simple smile, or a simple hug can change a life. The simple, free things in life can make the greatest impact.

So how do we get a handle on all this bullying? I think one person can have a greater impact than they may imagine. Be the change you want to see and inspire others to follow in your footsteps.

Have you done your good deed for the day? If not, what are you waiting for!

Feedback, thoughts, comments or elaborations are welcomed with each post. This post is here today, and everyday, to address what you want to know more about! If you've got something to say, or ask, share it. Dear Sarah Blog is a place where you can always come to be yourself. If you've got a request or maybe a question, we're here to listen, help and even share with other. So tune in daily to learn new life lessons and to share your own.

Stay positive and remember to count your blessings. :)

My friends have always urged me to pursue a degree where I would be helping people and lending my advice. My friends all come to me for advice and although I am not always sure why, one thing is for certain, I always try my best to help them and I always mean well while doing it.

Here's a frequent question that I get... feel free to agree, disagree or simply add your thoughts (keep it classy though people- thank you.)

Dear Sarah,

What do you do if he or she just doesn't love you anymore? My heart just aches thinking about it.

I feel that it always helps to turn those pointless tears into meaningful and healthy anger. Have you ever heard
of someone crying themselves back into happiness and stability? I didn't think so. Look in the mirror, and I mean a clean, can easily see your reflection kind of mirror. Take a good, long look at yourself. Now say aloud five things that you have going for you. Really process and let yourself take those things in. These things make you..you..and make you one of a kind! Now ask yourself "Can my bonehead Ex easily find these traits in another?" I am willing to bet that he or she can not. Breaking up is hard, but handling it all wrong makes it 100 times harder. In the end all you can do is be thankful. Be thankful that the idiot didn't waste any more of your valuable time!

Any comments or anything you would like to add?

What Dear Sarah is all about!

Welcome and thank you for following my NEW blog! This blog was designed to lend useful tips, advice and anything else much like Dear Abby! Please feel free to submit questions, make comments (keep it tasteful please) and simply keep up and spread the word. Each blog will discuss real life issues and concerns along with fun, inexpensive, cleaver tips. So if you enjoy leanring something new and love your blogging, please follow us on Dear Sarah on a daily basis! Thank you for following and feel free to invite friends!

~Sarah