In the past, when feeling stricken by SAD (seasonal affective disorder) I used to pop over to a tanning salon for a 15 minute session enjoy some UV and "brighten" things up. However, a family friend recently developed a very scary case of melanoma on her scalp - an area that I am particularly susceptible to, having very thin, auburn hair and fair skin.

So I have shied away from the "fake 'n bake" while still clamoring for SOMETHING to make me feel a little more "bright."

I was enticed into my local Vitamin Shoppe (yes, they actually spell it that way) with a coupon, and while gathering various essential oils, teas, and low-carb oatmeal items, I spied the "Lumiram Chromalux Full Spectrum Lamp" lightbulb.  The packaging and website state that the bulb is designed to mimic actual sunlight. I decided to put it into the desk lamp where I sit each day, typing my blog entries, reading my sparse amount of email, and organizing bills. I have fingers crossed that it will do something...