At last, my jug has come along

After months of dehydrated searching, I've finally been united with the perfect beverage receptacle. My brother gave me the top item on my Christmas list, the Sigg Traveler Classic Water Bottle.

Its made of aluminum, which is lovely to look and to drink from. It holds a lot of water without too much bulk, is pleasantly cool to the touch, reusable with a lifetime warranty , and BPA-free.

Best of all, it keeps your water totally delicious. I've dug it out of my purse after two days, and the water still tasted clean and fresh.

My brother also got me the Sigg Vintage Water Bottle. Its really cute and at 14oz, its great for carrying beverages you wouldn't want or need by the liter.

I love these bottles so much they've inspired me to come out of [blogging] retirement. This new found hydration has left me spilling over with ideas, so I should be updating at least a few times per week. Cheers!

nalgene bottes get even uglier

I've always hated nalgene bottles; they're so ugly, and they always get gross. In my efforts to reduce my contribution to environmental decay while staving off thirst, I've occasionally gotten past appearance and tried one out, but it never stuck. Learning that they are made mostly of the plastic BPA, a known estrogen (exposure to which can be linked with estrogen-based cancers, especially breast cancer), and that there were indicators the plastic could leak into the stored water, I swore off nalgenes completely. So I'm glad the results of a longitudinal study looking at BPA exposure in humans got enough press to provoke the first class-action lawsuit filed against nalgene (asserting they understated the health risks to consumers), to get bottles pulled off the shelves, and to incite nalgene to phase out BPA. So while they'll still be hideous, at least they won't cause cancer anymore.

I'm still in the market for a refillable bottle that is relatively stylish. I usually refill old bottles, but glass is to fragile and I'm temporarily ignoring the horror stories I head about refilling disposable plastic bottles because I don't really have any other option.

If you have any suggestions for attractive reusable water bottles, post in the comments!

SAD: Winter's silent bummer

I notice it first around the end of daylight savings time; a mere week of walking home from work in the dark triggers sleepiness, lethargy, and general ennui. It typically peaks in February, (although the start of March is often terrible) at which point I dedicate myself to sleeping until the crocuses start to bud.

Many people slow down in the winter; increased eating and sleeping during the cold, dark months becomes a form of human hibernation. However, some experiences of winter that move past rest to a period of prolonged distress, sadness, and anxiety could be attributed to seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you suffer from internet-induced hypochondria, keep in mind that the rates of SAD are relativity low; only about 1 in 20 people are thought to have SAD. However, one of the simplest and least obtrusive treatments for SAD is a walk during lunchtime, and that would be a healthy lifestyle addition for anyone, the depressed and the hypochondriac alike.

SAD is caused by limited exposure to light during the darker months, and standard treatment for SAD is light therapy. Light-boxes are typical, but one study demonstrated that walking for an hour a day in winter sunlight can be as effective as 2.5 hours of light therapy. Its important that the sun be absorbed through the retina, so avoid wearing sunglasses while outside. Since daily exercise improves overall health, this treatment can have numerous health benefits.

In more severe cases of SAD (or if its too cold and miserable to go outside), light therapy shows efficacy in numerous clinical trials. 30 minutes a day in front of a 10,000 lux lamp improved symptoms in 3/4 of research participants in trials at Columbia University.

And of course, if you're feeling hopeless, worthless or suicidal, talk to someone and seek professional help.