Sights to See

Today, I feel like posting a piece of art.

This German double barrel flintlock rifle has a carved stock and gold inlaid barrels. It is marked "Gottfr Kreisler and Weigandt in Leipzig"

Tiger Balm & You!

Tiger balm. So cool, licked with menthol. Tiger balm.

My friend Heather! really wanted to know what tiger balm was because I mentioned using it due to work related pains. I didn't know what tiger balm was either, until I tore a back muscle by reaching for something. So lame. Heimerich bought tiger balm for me. Despite the foreign looking packaging, you can find this stuff in any drugstore-- CVS, Rite Aid, etc. Ask the pharmacists if you can't find it! 

This stuff does have a really cool history though. In 1870, there was a herbalist in Burma who developed tiger balm, but asked his 2 sons to complete the product while he was on his death bed.

These sons, the Aw brothers, promoted the finalized product. Tiger balm is named after one of the sons, Aw Boon Haw, whose name was tiger in Chinese. 

Now that you know... people have been using this stuff for ages! Use it for headaches, torn muscles, soreness, back, shoulders... anything you could probably think of, tiger balm will feel pretty good. 

To quote the ingredients on my jar:

menthol, camphor, demontholised mint oil, cajuput oil, clove bud oil, and cassia oil.

How to Chase Off Work Stress

Work can be terrible for some of us. Especially for some of us stuck in the dull retail world. I've developed some rituals to keep me sane after some odd hours of having no customers...

Do something fun on break

 Do something. Cigarette breaks still give you free time to think. Bring a game or read a good book-- do something that makes you look forward to break.

Bring lots of water

People may think to grab a coffee to chase off tiredness, but the afternoon slump can be fought off better if you keep hydrated. Coffee will just dehydrate you in the long run.

Chores

Keep chores spread out and share them if you live with someone. Keep the cleaning upkeep so it doesn't just pile up on you. Do the same with bills-- try paying some a few days ahead of time so the due dates won't sneak up. You don't need to come home after a long day and find that your internet or electric is out.

For Me?

Buy yourself something small and cheap on a daily basis, but don't over do it. Just keep this tip in handy for when you really need the extra motivation. Don't go crazy either. Sometimes I will buy an on sale Revlon lipstick from the Dollar General in the mall for 2.99.

More Bang for your time

Get comfortable ASAP when you get home... a no brainer. But this definitely let's you enjoy your max amount of time at home. For me, it's undressing, putting a heating pad on (tore a back muscle recently) and doing something fun. 

If you live somewhere temperate or warm, especially for the winter, go outside in the sun as much as possible. Go outside on breaks as well. On my off days, I always try to reserve a day to go to the beach with Heimerich for a few hours. 

Scent Chips are Good

See these guys? These are scent chips and they are a lot better than candles. I was more than excited when I splurged and got the Bath and Body works candles and they turned out not to release that much smell. And well, I've been talking about smells a lot because my apartment unfortunately smells like hallway sometimes. The candles didn't cut it. They smelled great if I sticked my nose right to them, but they didn't really help make the living room smell better. My condo is only maybe 500 something to 600 something sq ft. And the living room is pretty small. So I went back to the scent chips store near me and got a box (11.00 something odd dollars) of Pumpkin Spice. This stuff is more powerful and a lot more relaxing. Plus, you just make a one time buy for a burner. There's A LOT of flavors for Christmas, I'm really going to have a hard time picking my scents, haha! Seriously, try scent chips instead of candles. There's a lot more combinations than the example pictures about, and just think that you can mix smells too.

Bloody Hessian Lake

Back from when I resided in New York State, my Dad and I visited Bear Mountain State Park. 

It was so beautiful. The air was so crisp and the colors on the trees were like nothing else that I'd ever seen. Not to mention, this was a biiiiig lake. 

Of course, something so peaceful and beautiful has a somewhat chilling past. 

Hessian Lake was originally named Highland Lake, with the side nickname as Bloody Lake. This huge lake sits on the bottom of Bear Mountain, and on October 6, 1777, 2000 Tories, English and Hessian troops left Stony Point, NY and marched towards Bear Mountain. This overall force was split into 2, and the other half with General Vaughn and Sir Henry Clinton took a very narrow pass. Stuck between the lake and the steep Hudson bank-- here, Hessians were met by a strong American outpost. As they were positioned in the front, the Hessians took one of the largest casualties. 250 men died and their bodies were let go into the lake. Accounts from witnesses recall that the lake turned a bloody red with the Hessian's blood for days after. 

Who knew that such a beautiful lake would have such a terrifying history, but at least the Hessians had a peaceful resting place for ages to come. Prepare for more chilling related posts as Halloween comes closer! I can't lie, Halloween is hands down, my favorite holiday.

Fall, Fall, Fall in Florida

Leaves, cold air, fires, etc. Up north is celebrating fall while Florida still continues it's thing. Fall for Florida is a wonderful thing. We don't have the changing of seasons, but the temps have went from the upper 90s to a comfortable low 82/84 degrees and it looks like it will be staying this way for a while. Most Floridians celebrate with the beach, sunsets and a good beer. 

Now that I have found myself a job (took me 3 months! Heimerich is still looking...) I decided to treat myself and my condo. Today I bought 3 candles from Bath and Body Works. 

Behold Nutmeg & Spice No. 1, Cranberry Woods and Sweet Cinnamon pumpkin. Right now you can get 3 mini candles for 10$. Yeah, Bath and Body works is kind of expensive, but you pay for the name. If anyone is looking to treat themselves with some good aroma therapy, these are worth the splurge. I decided to save the pumpkin one for Halloween-- this one smells the sweetest and most tempting of all 3. I decided to burn Cranberry Woods first! As a girl who was born and raised in New Jersey, I grew up very close to Double Trouble park. One of my favorite times of the year was to visit the cranberry harvest. Though the cranberry harvest didn't smell, all of the vivid colors made you imagine a smell. This candle is probably a spot on representation and brings me back to a crisp, fall day in the woods in New Jersey. Boy, do I miss it. If you want to treat yourself, go for this! 

A fine line with Campfollowers

Even Captain Ewald himself couldn't resist commenting on the Jagers. 

"...2 Anspach Regiments each of 600 men, and a Jager company of 116. The recruits for both companies consisted of a few adventurers and experienced Jagers, and they were generally fine looking men... The Anspach Jager Company, consisting of skilled forestry Jagers who were the handsomest young men one could imagine, also arrived here." 

Sometimes, history does point to Jager units sitting on an opposite end of a spectrum. Larger Hessian units were made of a hodge-podge of men, many of lower society. It is so difficult to find research that mentions women of the Jagers specifically. What's a girl to do? 

My search will be on going... as usual. 

There's always room for improving impressions historically speaking.