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Here are some oldies but goodies:

1.Valentine’s Cards: Buy a bunch of children’s Valentine’s Day cards and send one everyday to your loved one until Valentine’s Day.

2. Capture the moment: Who doesn’t love photos? Make a collage with photos of the two of you or even just a bunch of photos of him/her and their friends. You can even find inexpensive snow globes at places like your local hobby store to insert your own photos into to create a homemade snow globe! You can also add photos to mugs, mouse pads, or calendars to spice up any loved ones life.

• Walgreens Photo
• Cafe Press

3. Be Betty Crocker: If it isn’t too far to send the baked good-try making some of the cookies below, everyone loves homemade treats. Otherwise, if you’re like a lot of people you can always just order cookies and have them shipped to your loved one!

• Valentine Suger Cookie recipe
• Valentine Chocolate Suger Cookie recipe
• Mrs. Fields

4. Coupon book: Make homemade coupons that you know the other person would love to have you do for them. Such as “I’ll do the dishes” or “One Free Back Massage” or “I’ll make breakfast” either way the coupons you create will be a sure hit.

5. Scrapbook: Make a page or an entire book of pictures of the two of you. Decorate the pages with quotes or stories that go along with each photo.

6. Flowers: Flowers will never go out of style. Just find a local store near where you’d like to send them and order away.

• 1-800 Flowers

Here are some new unique ideas to keep things interesting:

1. Jar of LOVE: Find a little box or jar and decorate it if you choose.

• Fill with pieces of paper with reasons why you love them or memories you have with them. Also spice it up with some quotes and/or drawings.

2. Email Valentine’s: There are a bunch of new ways to say “I love you” or “I miss you” through email “cards.” They are cheap yet are sure to warm any heart.

3. Buy A STAR: Buy your significant other a star. Nothing says you’re special to me like a star of their very own!

• International Star Registry

4. Perfume: Create your own perfume or cologne. You get to pick not only the way yours will smell but also the bottle it comes in and best of all… you get to create its name / logo for the bottle.

• ScentCrafters

5. CANDY: If they love M&M’s or Dove Chocolate, what could be better than creating a little message on the inside wrapper or a couple words on M&Ms! It’s a sure treat that your loved one will eat right up.

• Personalized M&M’s
• My Dove Chocolate

6. Photo Book: Create an actual hard cover book full of your choice of pictures! You even get to choose the design and color of both the pages as well as the cover.

• Our Hubbub – Photo Memory Books

Even though you may be miles away from your loved one, hopefully by reading these 12 Valentine’s Day ideas you’ll be able to easily surprise your Valentine with something they would have never expected. Sometimes the joy of holidays isn’t in the huge present you give or receive; it is the idea and meaning behind the gift itself. Make this Valentine’s Day the holiday you give out of love and creativity. Those seem to be the gifts that are never forgotten.

Being a travel nurse means you have the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends all over the United States. Making new friends is one of life’s richest pleasures and is a fun and easy way to interact with others while at your workplace or during your free time. Take some time and try out some of these ideas to help you meet new people, whether a new co-worker or a new neighbor.

Why you should meet new people

Because you are a dedicated travel nurse we know it can be difficult for you to find time for yourself, let alone meeting others. However, whether you have one minute or one hour, you should take some time to say hello and introduce yourself to new people. Doing this is the first step towards feeling connected to your new community and co-workers. Meeting new people helps you enjoy activities, can bring positive opportunities into your personal and professional life, gives you the sense of support through difficult times, and contributes to your experience when you have something to celebrate. Meeting new people also helps you get involved, share things with others, and connect with people at work.

How to meet new people

• When you meet someone for the first time it is important to be yourself. Being true to who you are is the most important thing and will show others your true character.
• Have a positive attitude. When you have an attitude that is accepting and you behave like you believe you will find you’ll get a better response from those that are around you.
• Be natural. When you force a smile it looks unnatural, but when you act natural it is more comfortable and inviting to others.

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So you’re saying to yourself, “I waste so much food when I cook by myself” or, “It’s just not worth my time and energy.” Cooking for oneself can both be fun and demanding. It is quite a chore to break down a recipe that is catered to four or maintain a healthy diet with take out. It’s fun, because you have total freedom in deciding what, when and where to eat, and eating a well prepared meal can equal an explosion of delight for the senses. Eating at home promotes healthy dining, it is less expensive and you get to actually concoct something of your own.

Lots of people, especially those in the healthcare profession often have a crazed schedule which in turn causes them to snack throughout the day, skip meals entirely, run through the local burger joint or another grab and go option. Neglecting meals or eating foods with high fat content can be damaging to your body and result in loss of energy. Most people today have careers that offer little in imagination so cooking can be a delightful way to step out of the box, be original, and use your creativity. There is more to life than the drive-thru, grocery store deli, and pizza delivery. Do something bold for a change: make your dinner. With just a few easy-to-remember tips you could be saving money and eating healthier! So what can you do to help yourself?

Plan Ahead

Make a list of menu items you’d like to prepare throughout the course of the week. While at the store it is always tempting to buy what you see, but try and stick to your plan. Also, never, never under any circumstance go to the store when you’re hungry. If you do, it is guaranteed you will buy something you don’t need, even worse, something you may regret. This will keep your budget under control as well as your waistline.

Shopping

Since you’re only cooking for one it is important to buy just enough of what you’ll need. Do go shopping once a month for the essentials and non-perishables, but try and make it a habit to frequent the store at least once a week to replace your veggies, milk and other perishables. When shopping for produce remember to buy small quantities, pre-packaged portions or frozen vegetables. Buy smaller cuts of meat, or ask the butcher behind the deli to slice the meat exactly as you like. This will keep costs down, your food tasting fresh and delicious.

Divide & Conquer

Making dinner for one can be quite complicated and often frustrating when trying to reduce the serving size. One way to combat this would be to go ahead and make the recipe as specified regardless of serving size and then freeze the remaining portions to eat at a later date. Casseroles, lasagna and stews are all great meals that freeze well. Another way might be to use a slow cooker or “Crock Pot”. The portions are large but this allows for plenty of leftovers for the week or, again freeze and store.

Make it Yours

Often times eating alone can be boring and monotonous. To make dinner more of an occasion, try setting the table with placemats, use your best plates and add some color with flowers as the centerpiece. Even the color of your food can be a factor in your enjoyment. Keep it colorful. Add a green salad, fresh bakery bread and your favorite bottle of vino. Remember this is your time, so make the most of it and more importantly, make it fun!!

Now after all these helpful hints you should be able to begin a regime that will keep your pantry stocked and your belly full. Of course there will be those days when you haven’t the time to shop for the necessary ingredients but want to keep eating right. Lucky for you there is an alternative. A new trend that is sweeping the nation is going to stores where you can pick out a pre-prepared meal and all you have to do is cook it. There are also places where you decide what to make and purchase all the necessary ingredients right there in the store. With all this available to you, one should never go a day without eating what’s best for you. However, we all have our guilty pleasures and we shouldn’t give up what makes us happy, at least in moderation!

Here are a few links for recipes and other dinner suggestions:

All Recipes
Rachel Ray
Martha Stewart
Supper Thyme USA

Decorate

If you are spending Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years away from home you can still celebrate while on your travel nursing assignment. Just think of the fun activities you can do. For starters, decorate your house for each of the holidays. This is just a little thing to do that will help you feel better about the holiday season and less homesick. Don’t forget to put up a Christmas tree and lights.

Home Decorating

If you are not feeling like the usual turkey or ham dinner, go out to a great restaurant or make your favorite meal.

Holiday Dinner

The holiday dinner is an important subject since you are making it for yourself. If you are not feeling like the usual turkey or ham dinner, go out to a great restaurant or make your favorite meal. You can even go to the Whole Foods website and have them make a holiday dinner for you to pick up. Check restaurants in the area for any holiday dinner specials. You are the only one you need to please this year so eat whatever you want. How often can you have lasagna on Thanksgiving or lobster on Christmas?

Whole Foods

Celebrate with a New Friend

When you are working on your travel nursing assignment, wrap yourself up in holiday festivities by celebrating with patients and other staff members. After you get off your shift on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Years, ask new friends who need someone to celebrate the holiday with to join you for a holiday get together. Have a holiday dinner together and then check out the local theater for a movie or watch a holiday movie marathon.

Keeping in Touch

To help keep in contact with family and friends during the holidays there are a few things you can do. Email your family and friends to catch up individually or send them all a Christmas newsletter. Have a conversation on instant messaging using a webcam making you feel closer to your family and friends. You can even set up your own website to have people be able to check-up on what you are doing and make a family blog that everybody can write on. Social networking is really huge in the community right now. Find out which one most of your family members are on and use it. This way it is easy to share pictures and videos back and forth between your family and friends. And of course don’t forget to send them presents in mail for the holidays.

5 Ways to Keep in Touch with Family and Friends Online

Elf Yourself

WordPress

Facebook

Twitter

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the time of giving, so give back to the community by volunteering your time. Volunteering is a great way to spend your free time this holiday season while on your travel nursing assignment. Do your part by helping out at a local soup kitchen or ringing a Salvation Army bell. If you do have to work Thanksgiving make the best of it. Be the one to get patients excited about the holidays. Plus the hospitals always serve better food on Thanksgiving, so take advantage of it.

Thanksgiving Fun and Games

Christmas

When December comes rolling in possibly look into going caroling at a local church or attending a local holiday parade. You can also continue volunteering after Thanksgiving in your community for the Christmas season.

New Year’s

Every New Year motivates people to make their own New Year resolutions. However, many people end up not being able to keep them. Make one that you know is reachable and if you do falter one day forget about it and get back on track.

To celebrate the New Year, find out information about the community your doing your travel nursing assignment at. Every place has their own festivities so why not join them in the fun. If you are a huge college football fan you can watch the bowl games and the Rose Parade.

New Year’s Info

New Year’s Resolution Tips

While you are on your travel nursing assignment away from family, always make the best of the situation. The holiday season can be as enjoyable as you make it. Your family is only a phone call away, and remember that you have the ability to make a patient and their family have a great holiday season.

Celebrate Alone

Festivals and Events

Donate and Volunteer for Charity

Here are a few other things to help you while navigating your career as a Travel Nurse… Check out these useful Travel Nurse tools, everything to help you start, from a cost of living calculator to a packing list to help you prepare for your next journey.

Reasons to keep active

You may be surprised by the physical and internal changes that can take place when you stay active. As you already know, you will be able to lower your risk of many diseases including high blood pressure, strokes and diabetes. In addition, it will help you on the job. Research has shown that exercise can help you be more productive, and even friendlier on the job.*

Whether it is walking, running, weight lifting, yoga, Pilates or countless other exercise alternatives, the key is to get moving. By doing just 30 minutes of exercise three times a week you will be able to see improvements in your athleticism, balance, strength and flexibility. Not only does achieving a fitness goal lead to more self-confidence and self-esteem, but you will also notice improved overall muscle tone, more energy, and more stamina. Regular exercise can also help you sleep better, giving you more energy and less stress during your busy workday and life. Here are a few web sites with more general fitness information:

Fitness Online
Women Fitness
Fitness Magazine
Self
MSN: Men’s Fitness

Recommendations for keeping active

Going for a walk or run around your new location is a great way to experience the culture of an area.

Just because you are on the go as a travel nurse does not mean you can’t still get a good workout on the road. Even though you may not belong to a gym or are unable to take a lot of equipment with you on your travel nursing assignments, there are still good exercise alternatives available. Resistance bands or exercise videos/DVDs are easy to pack and can be very effective. And don’t forget your running shoes. Going for a walk or run around your new location is a great way to experience the culture of an area.

Visit these sites for information, advice and recommendations for keeping active without fancy equipment. Whether you are just a beginner or have been working out for years, there is something for everyone:

weightlossforgood: Exercise in the home
MedicineNet: No weight workout
WebMD: No Gym Required: How to Get Fit at Home
eDiets.com: Weight Lifting without Weights
Women Today Magazine: Workouts That Travel

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