Office treats are brought into the workplace for good intentions. Food has a way of bringing people together. But research indicates that it’s hard to pass up sweets, even when you need or want to avoid them. According to a 2006 study published in the International Journal of Obesity, the proximity and visibility of sweets cause individuals to eat more than they would otherwise. Over a four-week period, 40 administrative staff were observed for the amount of candy they ate. On average, they consumed an additional 2.5 pieces of chocolate when a bowl of candy was visible and another 2.1 candies on top of that when the culprit was within an arm’s length reach.

Let’s explore the bitter side of all the sweetness. If you are 160 pounds and indulge in two pieces of candy per day, you’ll need to  walk 157 minutes, ballroom dance 132 minutes, or run for 29 minutes to burn off the 480 calories you added in a work week.

Employees who are trying to stay healthy or diet feel challenged with the sweet surplus. Sue Shellenbarger of The Wall Street Journal suggests that the candy jar is not only a cause of growing waistlines in the workplace but also a source of tension. Individuals who feel tempted have to avoid the sweets, ask their co-workers to put them away, and may receive unwanted attention for being curiously anti-candy. So before you indulge in the next round of office treats, consider your own waist and that of your co-worker’s.

Minimalists may not need help tracking their household possessions, but materialists who tend to lose favorite things surely do. Farhad Manjoo researched mobile apps and software programs that promise an accessible inventory system; he prefers software, finding that entering data on a mobile unit can be unwieldy.

To be fair, let’s look at programs on both sides of the Microsoft / Mac field that earned winning points from Mr. Manjoo. Microsoft’s Collectify Home Inventory ($50) offers a 30 day no-obligation trial. You manually enter the rooms in the house or take pictures of them and then add details of specific merchandise. Mac’s Compartments by Little Fin Software ($10) does one better by tracking warranty expiration dates of items, alerting you before they are up. Home Inventory by Binary Formations ($15) offers a companion remote with which you take pictures and can add information via your iPhone. For those who would rather not key in details of household items, then Delicious Library 2 by Mac ($25) provides a shortcut. Using your computer camera, scan your items’ bar codes, and Delicious Library will draw from its own databank and populate details.

Taking inventory of your stuff is a whole lot easier with software programs. But all this begs the question — what’s the point of keeping track? Avoid the heartache and pocket-ache of longing for or replacing your favorite items. Furthermore, quick access to your personal inventory can save you time when you’re ready to unload merchandise on eBay or craigslist.

If the daily news of natural disasters around the globe is causing you to think about a possible crisis hitting close to home, then take the next step and act. Most of us believe that disasters are not likely to occur until they happen, leaving no time for preparation or forethought.

The site ready.gov recommends that a household should plan to stock supplies that will sustain the family for at least 3 days. While ready-made kits are available for purchase, Wisebread contributor Andrea Dickson recommends making your own, especially since most households already have a number of the essentials:

• Water–one gallon per person per day for 3 days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food–3-day supply of non-perishables and can opener
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle
• Dust mask
• Wrench or pliers for utility shut-off
• Towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

The site also lists additional items you may want to include like cash, prescription meds, and copies of important documents (insurance papers and family records). When your kit is ready, identify a meeting place for separated family members and how key information will be communicated to outside persons (like extended family). Being prepared for an emergency will give you peace of mind now and a secure plan in the unlikely event of a disaster.

Spring is prime time for starting your outdoor planting. For gardeners who want to establish plants that return year after year, perennials are must-haves. Not all perennials endure equally, however. Better Homes and Gardens highlights 20 types that will add depth, interest, and longevity to the garden.

If you’re interested in learning more about organic food and sustainable practices, look no further than Your Farm in the City: An Urban Dweller’s Guide to Raising Food and Raising Animals (Black Dog & Leventhal), co-authored by the gardeners of Seattle Tilth (a local non-profit organization not to be confused with the restaurant Tilth) and Lisa Taylor, education program manager. The book is the urban farmer’s guide to raising animals, composting, and growing and harvesting organic fruits and vegetables.

Seattle Tilth also hosts classes for kids and adults throughout the season, and the annual Edible Plant Sale will feature a wide selection of summer garden plants from regional growers. Saturday and Sunday, May 7 & 8, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Eastsiders can enjoy the Issaquah Edible Plant sale on Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Painting a wall or a whole room is the usual suspect in the lineup of quick, affordable decorating options. But have you ever considered peeling and posting stickers to your wall?

Artstick is one of many companies that specialize in wall stickers. These are decidedly not the traditional stickers you used to collect in your albums as a kid. Instead, they are the kind that can brighten the living spaces of children and adults. Choose from hundreds of designs and themes that range from the natural to the supernatural and to the whimsical. Stickers vary in size from small decorative pictures to larger murals. Interested in more? Wallies sells wall cutouts, borders, murals, decals and reusable chalkboards and dry erase.

Want to bring the ocean indoors? Need help with your monthly calendar? Want to move to New York City today? Then stickering may be the next best option to painting your accent wall.