13 tips to keeping warm while keeping the thermostat turned down.

With home heating oil and gas prices at record highs, you may want to keep your thermostat turned back toward 60 degrees but not suffer from the cold in the process of saving on your heating cost

Maine Warmers' Hand Warmer Mittens

1.  Dress in several thin layers. The air space between the layers also helps keep you warm.
2.   Look for silk or thin polyester long underwear – especially the tops. They can be worn under turtlenecks, blouses, and dresses.
3. Tights and leggings are fashionable. They can be worn under dresses, skirts, or pants for added warmth.
4. A vest will help keep your core warm and a scarf to wrap around your neck will help keep the heat in.
5.  Wear warm socks and shoes that do not fit tightly. When blood flow is restricted toes may feel cold. Shoes that cover your foot completely will help as well.
6.  Wear gloves without the fingers inside, and put on warm mittens or gloves before going outside.
7. Wear a hat. We lose a lot of body heat through our heads.
8. Stay well hydrated, drink warm liquids, and eat nutritious foods.
9.  Keep active to promote good circulation.
10. Going for a walk outside in the winter?  If it’s windy wear a shell either under or over your coat to help break the wind. Also, a light pair of wind pants will slip on over your slacks or blue jeans.
11. Slip a pair of Palm Packs (small reusable hand warmers) inside a pair of large fleecy mittens or your

    

    Palm Packs are small reusable hand warmers

    coat pockets to help keep your hands warm.
12. Put a Maine Warmer or two in your bed to take the chill off cold bed sheets before turning in at night. The warmth may also help you relax and go to sleep.
13. When you sit down to read or watch TV heat up a pair of Hand Warmers  or Neck Warmer and hold it on your lap or tuck it behind your back.

Coffee withdrawal and joint pain

A few years ago, I was standing in the checkout line at a hospital coffee shop when I overheard the conversation of two physicians in front of me. Of course I listened in. One of them said, "I love coffee but I always feel like I need to have something with it." On his tray next to the coffee sat a blueberry muffin.

I wanted to chime in that I agreed, but kept mum. The chemistry of coffee does cry out for a sweet accompaniment -- like chocolate or peanut butter -- something to neutralize the acidic element. Tea doesn't seem to have the same effect.

Coffee has no calories, until we add sugar and cream. It has no food value, although recent studies suggest it has some cancer preventing benefits. Surely, the caffeine in a cup of java perks us up in the morning, and to many of us that first sip tastes like heaven.

I recently decided to cut out my second mug of mid-morning coffee and go for a glass of water and a healthier snack like yogurt or fruit. I feel better and seem to have more energy during the day, although I found caffeine withdrawal headaches were uncomfortable for a day or two after the change.

According to Wikipedia caffeine withdrawal can cause "irritability, inability to concentrate, drowsiness, insomnia, and pain in the stomach, upper body, and joints..."

If you want cut back on coffee, a gradual reduction would probably reduce some of the difficult symptoms. Using heating pad a may help with irritability or joint pain. Unique and whimsical Cozy Sheep and Bears, or Dachshund Neck Warmer, all microwave heating pads from Maine Warmers, are fun to curl up with on a cold autumn or winter day. Enjoy a cup of coffee with or without the snack, read a book, and relax with the comforting warmth of a Maine Warmer.

Black Bear microwave heating pad for the shoulder

Dachshund Neck Heating Pad

I don't crave that sweet snack that seemed so desirable with a cup of coffee, but I must confess that I still love to hear what people talk about in checkout lines and sometimes join the conversation.