[Jennifer]

Sometimes you just need a tiny bit to take the edge off. My absolute favorite ice cream (ok, so I have this whole Blue Bell thing, but this other flavor is my favorite --I hate being a traitor) is Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia.

Now they make this teeny tiny little cup (with a spoon) that is just the right amount, to take the edge off! There is also some Brownie one.

Yeah, I know, stay away from comfort foods... but, but... but... this is like just the right size --and it's way better than eating the whole pint!

***this message in no way is meant to act at medical advice for stress management. You such seek the advice of a professional for this type of help (althought, the itty bitty little carton is gone by the time you finish holding on the line for the next appointment, so why not! hee hee hee

[Nathan]

I'm right there with you. Blue Bell Strawberry Vanilla does the trick for me.

[Stephanie]

Have you tried Phish Food? Talk about stress relief!

[bluetree]

Did somebody say Blue Bell? I'll take straight with vanilla. As for stress management, I prefer a game of basketball.

[Becky]

Lunch with a good friend always seems to ease my tension. Somehow just hearing them say "wow, that is a lot going on. is there anything i can do to help?" makes me feel validated and happy to know that there's always someone to turn to if i need the help.

[verbena]

Gardening for me is a great stress reliever. Ripping weeds out and especially digging deep into the mud to pull out grass that has grown into my flower bed (why it won't grow where I want it to is the real question)---this all leads to working up an appetite for some hard-earned ice cream (too many favorites to choose from )

[momof3]

A kickboxing class at the gym is a great stress reliever for me. Followed that evening by homemade vanilla ice cream and warm brownies.

[smk318]

I have recently begun taking a yoga class at my gym. It is very relaxing (even though I was a bit sore the next day ). They say the best time to practice yoga is in the early morning b/c that is when your stress chemicals are at their most active. It will leave you feeling good for the rest of the day. Of course, ice cream is good too and I love Ben and Jerry's Half Baked in a waffle cone (aaahhh, mondo calories!).

[notsocheerful mom]

I used to have a happy place now its filled with smokers outside to the left and screaming kids in the pool and the right. Wondering where my teenage children go and what they are doing, are there other parents like me out there living in fear of the what ifs?

[beth]

Hi Verbena, like you I go out and rip weeds when I'm stressed. Getting the pruning gear out also works well! When my Dad died I had the neatest (and lowest) hedge in town! In fact, my friends have now learned that when the garden looks great, I've just gone though some difficulty. And when it looks like nobody lives there, that's when life's going good and I'm too busy to attend to those pesky weeds!