It recently came to my attention that my life would be easier and less stressful if I carried a cucumber with me everywhere I go. Cucumbers can provide travelers with a quick fix for a number of common inconveniences, and I’ve compiled a cucumber travel guide below to give you more details. So, the next time you’re working on your travel gear list or thinking about what travel gear you need to buy when you land, don’t write off the cucumber!

1. Feeling tired? Cucumbers offer the perfect combination of B vitamins and carbohydrates to give you a natural afternoon lift that will last way longer than coffee, energy bars, or energy drinks. Plus, they’re way cheaper than a Starbucks latte (perfect for the frugal traveler).

2. Want to look hot in your bathing suit? If you’re going somewhere warm and know that you’ll be lounging by the pool or beach in your suit, rub a few cucumber slices along spots of cellulite on your skin to make the cellulite less visible. Cucumbers have a photochemical makeup that causes collagen in your skin to tighten, so it’s not only good for cellulite, but also for reducing eye puffiness and wrinkles. Forget luxury body creams; cucumbers are where it’s at for travel gear that’s sure to preserve your beauty while you’re on the go.

3. Sunburned? If you or your kids get scorched by the sun, rub some cucumber on the burn. It’s just as good as aloe and essential for any warm-weather traveler.

4. Party animal with a hangover? If that spring-break vacation, business meeting over cocktails, or carefree vacation lifestyle caused you to drink a little more than usual, grab a cucumber. If you eat just a few slices before going to bed, your hangover and headache will be gone in the morning! Why? The balance of sugar, B vitamins, and electrolytes in cucumbers replaces the nutrients your body lost and keeps you feeling good as new.

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You may have thought I didn’t see,
Or that I hadn’t heard,
Life lessons that you taught to me,
But I got every word.

Perhaps you thought I missed it all,
And that we’d grow apart,
But Dad, I picked up everything,
It’s written on my heart.

Without you, Dad, I wouldn’t be
The woman I am today;
You built a strong foundation
No one can take away.

I’ve grown up with your values,
And I’m very glad I did;
So here’s to you, dear father,
From your forever grateful kid.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!

Love Always & Froever,

Your little Lady

We hear about importance of drinking enough water constantly. On the flip side, there’s been a growing trend in the media lately that the commonly recommended eight cups of water a day is a myth, which is technically accurate, but not the whole story. Whether you need eight cups of water daily—or four or ten—most people are not getting the message that whatever their particular water needs are, they aren’t meeting them.

And even dietitians, nutritionists, and medical professionals are contributing to the problem by informing people that they get enough water in their diet in the form of fruits and vegetables. That might be true for some people, but after assessing the diets of countless people, I assure you, that isn’t the case for most people.

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Staying awake is easy … five shots of espresso and a can of Red Bull is all you need. You’ll certainly be wide awake and wired, but you may also die from a heart attack a few hours later. In all seriousness, conquering drowsiness before it overwhelms your mind can be quite a challenge without the help of stimulants.

So the big question is: What are some healthy ways to stay awake when you must? Let’s take a look at seventeen possibilities.

1. Crank Up the AC
Warm, stuffy environments accelerate mental fatigue. If you need to stay awake in a lecture hall or meeting room find an open seat under an AC vent.

2. Cold Water
Splash some on your face and the pulse area of your wrists. Drinking an ice-cold glass of water can also help to wake you up, and if you drink enough of it you’ll be up on your feet using the restroom every thirty minutes as well.

3. Fasting at Mealtime
The human body expends a great deal of energy during the digestion process. This can create a great deal of fatigue when you are trying to stay awake. Fasting is a great way to avoid this natural fatigue. As long as you are drinking enough water, fasting for a meal or two is also a healthy way to detoxify your cells and rejuvenate organs.

4. Light Exercise Breaks
Take a break and take a walk or do a couple jumping jacks to get your blood moving. Even the slightest bit of exercise can act as a healthy way to energize your mind and body.

5. Chew Sugar-Free Peppermint Gum
It won’t rot your teeth and it will generate just enough physical activity to keep you awake. Strong peppermint flavors seem to work best for me; there’s just something about that refreshing minty taste.

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