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12 FEB

Its Your Health, Take Control

First of all, I want to wish all of you a Happy Valentine’s Day! So, perhaps this week you thought I would be writing about love and relationships; but it will have to wait, because I’ve just got some great news I can’t wait to share with you!

If you’ve been keeping up with my blogs, you know that I suffer from Type 1 diabetes. Then to add to it just a few short months ago I was also given the bad news that my cholesterol and LDL levels were elevated. It took me awhile to decide I didn’t want to wallow in self-pity, but I wanted to change my life and my health.

06 FEB

Oh, My Aching Back

A major culprit is low back pain, and in my book it’s one of the worst things possible! My low back trouble began during my first pregnancy. It was no surprise that my back became weakened by the “heavy load” I was carrying around, and one little twist the wrong way would have me on the floor crying in pain.

Well, two years later and things still have not gotten any better. In fact, this weekend has found me on the couch with a bad backache. I made a wrong move in the wrong direction that greatly affected my back muscles. The first day wasn’t so bad; I just felt a little sore. But by the next morning I could hardly move––let alone stand up straight. So, I’ve been doing the normal routine (rest, apply heat, and take ibuprofen). Luckily, my husband has been kind enough to give me massages with the typical over-the-counter muscle rubs, which have brought some relief too.

A Suicidal Mind

I guess by now most of you have heard the sad news from “Hollywood Hills.” Heath Ledger, an Australian actor whose rise to fame had just begun, died this past week at age 28. And although it’s not been ruled as a suicide, all evidence seems to be pointing in that direction––at least that’s what […]

22 JAN

Cloning America

There have been many days when I’ve wished I could clone myself. In my own thoughts I secretly desire to have a “twin mommy” to help me with the cooking, cleaning, and of course taking care of the kids. My “twin” could even maybe go to the gym for me (ha-ha)! It would be the perfect set up.

I think most of us would like to make a clone of ourselves for the pure advantage that we could double our time and efforts in this crazy, busy world. But have you ever thought about those with “incurable” diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and even Diabetes. What does cloning mean to us?

Anger Management

Once again I’m horrified by what I’ve witnessed on the news. A father kills his four children by throwing them off a bridge after an argument with his wife. The children’s ages ranged from the oldest at three years old and the youngest only four months old. I’m so deeply saddened, and my heart goes out to their mother.

I just don’t understand. How does a father kill his own children? Helpless creatures that have just begun to live, so innocent. Just because we bring these children into the world doesn’t mean we have the right to play God.

I just can’t imagine what kind of fear those children must have felt to have the person they trusted to take care of them drop them off a bridge into murky waters below to drown. It’s absolutely sickening to the very core!

Ha-Ha, He-He, Health

The healing power of humor and maintaining a merry heart have been around since ancient times. “A cheerful heart is good medicine,” proclaims Solomon in Proverbs 17:22. Even modern science agrees.

Stanford University psychiatrist Dr. William Fry, Jr., has done extensive research on the physiological benefits of laughter and has found that humor plays an active role in maintaining a healthy heart. “Humor acts to relieve fear,” Fry exclaims. “Excessive fearful thoughts, built-up anger, and tension put tremendous pressure on the heart. Yet, laughter readily relieves stress and promotes a positive perspective. This uplifted spirit breeds hope and leads to healing and well-being.”
Read more about Ha-Ha, He-He, Health …

08 JAN

Is It The Battle of the Bulge?

Well, I have officially started my New Year’s Resolutions. In my quest to lose fifteen pounds this year and lower my cholesterol, I’ve renewed my gym membership and have started working out again. In fact, I actually joined a new gym, and for Christmas my husband got me three months with a personal trainer. Pretty nice gift!

So far it’s been tough, but well worth it. My trainer pushes me much harder than I’d ever push myself. Plus, he’s teaching me a totally different way to work out that I’ve never tried before.

02 JAN

A New Year of Resolutions

Well, Christmas was a big hit at our house. Within 5 minutes all the gifts had been opened and my daughter proudly exclaimed “Christmas Day is over. I’d like to go watch Barney.” My husband and I tried desperately to get her to play with her new toys, but all she wanted to do is […]

01 JAN

Tropical Salad with Mango Dressing

Ingredients:

1 c. pineapple (fresh, diced)

1 c. mango (fresh, diced)

1 c. kiwi (fresh, sliced)

1 c. strawberries (fresh, sliced)

1/2 c. blueberries (fresh)

2 c. baby spinach (fresh)

1 recipe Mango Dressing (below)

1/4 c. grated coconut (fresh)

1/2 c. almonds (sliced)

Mango Dressing:

2 T. cornstarch

2 T. cold water

1 c. mango juice

sprinkle cinnamon

01 JAN

Red Bush Tea

The mild taste of Africa-grown rooibos—pronounced Roy-boss—(Aspalathus linearis) has made it a very popular ingredient in various herbal-tea blends. The name means “red bush;” a flowering shrub that grows in the Cedarberg mountain region in South Africa’s western cape, north of Cape Town.

Rooibos is an erect shrub that grows about five feet high. It sports reddish-brown stems and bright-green needlelike leaves. Since it’s a legume, the root contains nodules inhabited by nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This characteristic enables the plant to survive the nutrient-poor, acidic soils of the Cedarberg region.
Read more about Red Bush Tea …