National Cereal Day

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By Chef Diane

I used to love going grocery shopping with my mom when I was younger.  My favorite aisle was the cereal aisle.  It was almost as fun as going to a toy store; well most of the boxes had toys in them too.  There were so many different boxes to choose from; of course you just picked the ones with the best toys in them.  My favorites were Cap'n Crunch and Sugar Smacks (now Honey Smacks).  Somewhere along the line there was an unwritten rule somewhere that you had to eat the grown up cereal.  I started eating the bran flakes and frosted mini wheat’s.  I can't find the long mini wheat’s now, just the spoon size, and I don’t like them as much.  But I like to let it soak up the milk until it gets soggy.  I like corn and rice Chex too, but I have to eat it too fast before it gets soggy. I don’t know when the changeover occurred...from great colorful cereal with toys, to grown up cereal, but I think the grocery stores are involved.  They put the kid cereal on the shelves at kid eye level, so they can easily see it, then, the taller you get, the more grown up cereal you see. It’s like they are forcing us to eat more bran and fiber.

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Cereal was invented during the Colonial era when housewives started to serve popcorn with sugar and cream for breakfast. Today, nearly half of all Americans start their day with a bowl of cereal!  Cereal Day honors the invention of corn flakes in the late 1800s by brothers William and John Kellogg. In a series of experiments to create foods for their vegetarian diet, the brothers found that grains cooked into dough and pressed through rollers formed flakes.   They served these flakes to patients in their Sanatorium, a convalescent hospital.  The corn flakes were so popular at the sanitarium that the brothers decided to mass market the cereal. The Kellogg brothers were the founders of Kellogg’s, the megacorporation of today that sells a large variety of cereals and other foods. There are approximately 2.7 billion boxes of cereal sold each year. That’s enough packages to circle around the globe thirteen times!

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One serving of most cereals can also provide 10 to 25 percent of the daily value for more than 10 essential nutrients.  While I typically eat a bowl of grown-up cereal every morning. I still like to snack on some dry fruit loops in the afternoon.

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Today is National Cereal Day, so why not start your day off right with a bowl.  If you don't want it for breakfast, here is my recipe for making "Trash" with my favorite Chex cereals.

Diane's Trash Mix

Ingredients

1 box Rice Chex

1 Box Corn Chex

1/2 large bag of twisted pretzels

1 large can mixed nuts

1 large can cashew nuts (I cause people always pick these out first)

6 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons season salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 250.  In a large pan (I use a turkey roaster) combine all the dry ingredients.  In the microwave, melt the butter, then stir in sauce and salt and mix until salt is dissolved.  Sprinkle over the top of the cereal, and then mix well.   Place pan in oven for 15 minutes, pull out stir, and put back in oven.  Do this every 15 minutes for 1 hour.  Take out of oven and pour out to dry.  I usually lay newspaper on my table, and then cover with paper towels.  This make alot, I usually only make it at Christmas, then package it for gifts, however you can cut the recipe in half.

COFFEE FILTERS

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Who knew! And you can buy 1,000 at the Dollar Tree for $1.00, even the large ones.

1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.

2. Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome... Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.

3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.

4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.

5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

10. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soilfrom going through the drainage holes.

11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters..

13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them.. It soaks out all the grease.

14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great "razor nick fixers.."

15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliquéing soft fabrics.

16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

18 Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car..

19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.

20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.

21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.

23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a zip-lock plastic bag until they sprout.

24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book.

25. Use as a disposable "snack bowl" for popcorn, chips, etc.

26. Great in the tool room when separating nails and screws then use in to bottom of containers to remove moisture and prevent rust.

OH YEAH THEY ARE GREAT TO USE IN YOUR COFFEE MAKERS TOO

National Dentist Day

By Diane Forrest

I am one of those people who hate going to the dentist.  I guess I have been more times than alot of people I know.  When I was younger, my brother broke my front tooth, so I had to go to an emergency dental appointment.  He put this mold in my mouth filled with this gooey stuff, and had to press it in hard.  I thought I would die.  I didn’t like the feeling of my mouth wide open, and a stranger with huge fingers pressing cement in the roof of my mouth.  I had to go through that horror again once I got older, and my teeth finished growing.

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After that terrifying ordeal, I never went the routine 6 months for check ups.  In fact, I didn't go back for many years, until I had a very bad tooth ache and the side of my face doubled in size causing me to look like an alien.  It turned out that I needed a root canal.  I had heard horrific stories about them, and was very nervous about having this done.  Then, I was introduced to Nitrous Oxide.  This is a wonderful drug, called laughing gas.  Once he put that mask over my face I didn't care what he did to my teeth.

Several years later I changed to a dentist in my town.  He was new, young, very good looking, had a very nice new beautiful office, and friendly staff.  My first visit there I sat in the chair and instead of staring at a blank wall, there was a huge picture window.  Outside there was a beautiful field, and in the field were several miniature horses.  The hygienist came in and not only applied the nitrous oxide, but placed padded earphones on my ears and gave me the remote to the overhead television set.  Then another staff member, a massage therapist came in and massaged my hands and arms.  I was in heaven!  I had such a wonderful time that I went back, again and again.

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Today is National Dentist day.  According to 1dental.com, here are some ideas that you can do to celebrate this day:

Get a dental checkup – Maybe it’s time to get back in the office to make sure your teeth are healthy and your habits are on the right track.

Send your dentist a thank-you card – Let your dentist know that you appreciate the work they put into making sure you’re healthy

Commit to better habits – There’s no better time to renew your resolve to start brushing/flossing/swishing mouthwash regularly. Make a plan and stick with it!

Raise awareness - Whether you teach your children a new song about brushing their teeth or you tell your friends why you’re going to the dentist, you can do your part to help people realize the importance of dental hygiene.

Smile – Don’t forget to show off that beautiful smile that your dentist had a part in maintaining!

Peace Corps

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By Diane Forrest

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country".

Many of you recognize that famous quote from President Kennedy's inauguration speech; however, do you know that he was talking about the new program to begin called the Peace Corps?  In 1951, at the end of World War II, a young representative in Congress, John, Kennedy, suggested to a group that "young college graduates would find a full life in bringing technical advice and assistance to the underprivileged and backward Middle East ... In that calling, these men would follow the constructive work done by the religious missionaries in these countries over the past 100 years."  In 1957 the bill for the Peace Corps was introduced into Congress  by Senator Hubert Humphries, and in 1961 it was signed into law by the newly elected President Kennedy.  Three days later he appointed his brother-in-law, Sargent Shriver as the Director, and the work began.

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Members of the Peace Corps are volunteers.  The stated mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance; helping people outside the United States to understand US culture; and helping Americans to understand the cultures of other countries. The work is generally related to social and economic development. Each program participant (aka Peace Corps Volunteer) is an American citizen, typically with a college degree, who works abroad for a period of 24 months after three months of training. Volunteers work with governments, schools, non-profit organizations, non-government organizations, and entrepreneurs in education, hunger, business, information technology, agriculture, and the environment. After 24 months of service, volunteers can request an extension of service according to Wikipedia.  Currently the Peace Corps operates in 68 countries, and is a government agency.

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For more information about the Peace Corps, or to volunteer or help in other ways, visit this site  http://www.peacecorps.gov/

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Sleep

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By Akindman

Top Search Terms for Sleep Disorders:

1. Sleep Apnea
2. How to Stop Snoring
3. Sleep Deprivation
4. Sleepwalking
5. Insomnia
6. Hypersomnia: Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
7. Sleep Paralysis
8. Trouble Falling Asleep
9. Excessive Sleeping
10. Talking in Your Sleep
11. Night Sweats
12. REM Sleep Disorder

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A sleep disorder, or somnipathy, is a medical disorder of the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders are serious enough to interfere with normal physical, mental and emotional functioning. Polysomnography is a test commonly ordered for some sleep disorders.

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Disruptions in sleep can be caused by a variety of issues, from teeth grinding (bruxism) to night terrors. When a person suffers from difficulty in sleeping with no obvious cause, it is referred to as insomnia. In addition, sleep disorders may also cause sufferers to sleep excessively, a condition known as hypersomnia. Management of sleep disturbances that are secondary to mental, medical, or substance abuse disorders should focus on the underlying conditions.

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The most common sleep disorders include:

• Primary insomnia: Chronic difficulty in falling asleep and/or maintaining sleep when no other cause is found for these symptoms.
• Bruxism: Involuntarily grinding or clenching of the teeth while sleeping.
• Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS): inability to awaken and fall asleep at socially acceptable times but no problem with sleep maintenance, a disorder of circadian rhythms. (Other such disorders are advanced sleep phase syndrome (ASPS), non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome (Non-24), and irregular sleep wake rhythm, all much less common than DSPS, as well as the transient jet lag and shift work sleep disorder.)
• Hypopnea syndrome: Abnormally shallow breathing or slow respiratory rate while sleeping.
• Narcolepsy: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) often culminating in falling asleep spontaneously but unwillingly at inappropriate times.
• Cataplexy: a sudden weakness in the motor muscles that can result in collapse to the floor.
• Night terror: Pavor nocturnus, sleep terror disorder: abrupt awakening from sleep with behavior consistent with terror.
• Parasomnias: Disruptive sleep-related events involving inappropriate actions during sleep; sleep walking and night-terrors are examples.
• Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD): Sudden involuntary movement of arms and/or legs during sleep, for example kicking the legs. Also known as nocturnal myoclonus. See also Hypnic jerk, which is not a disorder.
• Rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD): Acting out violent or dramatic dreams while in REM sleep (REM sleep disorder or RSD)
• Restless legs syndrome (RLS): An irresistible urge to move legs. RLS sufferers often also have PLMD.
• Situational circadian rhythm sleep disorders: shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) and jet lag.
• Sleep apnea, and mostly obstructive sleep apnea: Obstruction of the airway during sleep, causing lack of sufficient deep sleep; often accompanied by snoring. Other forms of sleep apnea are less common. The air is blocked from entering into the lungs, causing the individual to unconsciously gasp for air. The individual will pause for an average of ten seconds in order to breathe. This is commonly found in overweight, middle-aged men but is also found in people who have suffered from stroke.[citation needed]
• Sleep paralysis: is characterized by temporary paralysis of the body shortly before or after sleep. Sleep paralysis may be accompanied by visual, auditory or tactile hallucinations. Not a disorder unless severe. Often seen as part of narcolepsy.
• Sleepwalking or somnambulism: Engaging in activities that are normally associated with wakefulness (such as eating or dressing), which may include walking, without the conscious knowledge of the subject.
• Nocturia: A frequent need to get up and go to the bathroom to urinate at night. It differs from Enuresis, or bed-wetting, in which the person does not arouse from sleep, but the bladder nevertheless empties.[2]
• Somniphobia: a dread of sleep. (From Wikipedia)

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Bottom line: If you are having sleeping issue – PLEASE see your doctor! Thank you.

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Links:

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/event/national-sleep-awareness-week

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6108a4.htm?s_cid=mm6108a4_e

http://www.nsart.org/

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PROCRASTINATION

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By Akindman

If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it.  ~Olin Miller

In psychology, procrastination refers to the act of replacing high-priority or important actions with tasks of lower priority, or doing something from which one derives enjoyment, and thus putting off important tasks to a later time.

Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.  ~Spanish Proverb

Yep!  I am guilty as most of us of procrastination and clearly know better – but still seems to find a way of putting off things that really should be done sooner.  Case in point – purchased a wireless router thinking we would need it during home automation project. Discovered that it was not needed and I should return it for my refund.  Well last week (six weeks later) I attempted to return said router only to be told – “sorry sir, but your 30 days has already expired! Ugh.

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The best way to get something done is to begin.  ~Author Unknown

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Here are some other quotes you might enjoy:

• Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.  ~William James
• Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.  ~Don Marquis
• Only Robinson Crusoe had everything done by Friday.  ~Author Unknown
• Every duty which is bidden to wait returns with seven fresh duties at its back.  ~Charles Kingsley
• Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment.  ~Robert Benchley
• There are a million ways to lose a work day, but not even a single way to get one back.  ~Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister
• It is an undoubted truth, that the less one has to do, the less time one finds to do it in.  ~Earl of Chesterfield
• The two rules of procrastination:  1) Do it today.  2) Tomorrow will be today tomorrow.  ~Author Unknown
• One of the greatest labor-saving inventions of today is tomorrow.  ~Vincent T. Foss
• You may delay, but time will not.  ~Benjamin Franklin
• Someday is not a day of the week.  ~Author Unknown
• To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing.  ~Eva Young
• Don't fool yourself that important things can be put off till tomorrow; they can be put off forever, or not at all.  ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960
• Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.  ~C. Northcote Parkinson, 1958
• Procrastination is opportunity's assassin.  ~Victor Kiam
• What may be done at any time will be done at no time.  ~Scottish Proverb
• There's nothing to match curling up with a good book when there's a repair job to be done around the house.  ~Joe Ryan
• Procrastination is something best put off until tomorrow.  ~Gerald Vaughan
• I've been looking over the list of spring chores I made up last fall, and darned if they aren't fall chores, after all.  ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com
• You know you are getting old when it takes too much effort to procrastinate.  ~Author Unknown
• I do my work at the same time each day - the last minute.  ~Author Unknown
• The time to begin most things is ten years ago.  ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966
• Eventually, time takes care of everything.  The trouble with procrastination is that people give up on it too soon.  ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com
• Putting off an easy thing makes it hard.  Putting off a hard thing makes it impossible.  ~George Claude Lorimer
• Tomorrow is the day when idlers work, and fools reform.  ~Edward Young
• Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.  ~Mark Twain

The Right Message
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Save Your Vision Week/Month

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By Akindman

How important is your eye sight?

Close to 75% of North Americans believe that their sight is the most important sense they have according to protect-Your-Eyesight.com. Yet only about 40% of North Americans have an annual eye exam, and a full 85% admit that they do not care for their eyes as much as they should.

For those of us who have type II Diabetes, we should get our eye exam semi-annually event – I do!

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Save Your Vision Month educates the public about the importance of getting comprehensive eye examinations regularly in order to preserve the vision. Not only can taking the time to protect the health of your eyes reduce the risk of vision loss, but going for a routine eye exam can help detect systemic and chronic diseases like diabetes.

Protect Your Eyes

Wear Sunglasses

Wear a Wide-Brimmed Hat

Step Away from the Computer Screen

Quit Smoking

Eat Foods Packed with Antioxidants

Keep Blood Glucose in Check

Exercise Regularly

Lower Your Blood Pressure

Lower Your Cholesterol

Have a Comprehensive Dilated Eye Exam

What to Do When Your Eyesight Fades

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The top 10 foods for good vision are:

Cold water fish;

Spinach, kale, and green leafy veggies;

Eggs;

Garlic, onions, shallots, and capers;

Soy;

Fruits & veggies – that contain A, C, and E and Beta-carotene, such as carrots, carrots, and squash;

Blueberries and grapes;

Wine;

Nuts & berries; and

Virgin olive oil.

Prevent Blindness America’s web site contains a wealth of good information regarding ones sight.  Highly recommend that everyone spends some time there and bookmarks this web site.  Here is a sample of the information you will find there:

Taking care of your sight

Signs of eye problems in adults

If you notice any signs of potential eye problems, see an eye doctor for a complete eye exam.

Even if you have no signs, regular eye exams are recommended—especially for those with some chronic health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Early detection and treatment can be the key to preventing sight loss.

Any changes in the appearance of your eyes or vision should be investigated further. Some examples include:

The following may be indications of potentially serious problems that might require emergency medical attention:

Getting professional eye care

Wearing contact lenses

Pregnancy and your vision

Computers and your eyes

Healthy living, healthy vision

20/20 at 40 - our adult vision health initiative

Growing older with good vision

Medicare benefits and your eyes

Test your eyes

Living with low vision

Vision care financial assistance information

Remember to protect your eyes!
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Links for additional information:

http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/complications/eyes/save-your-vision/

http://www.preventblindness.org/taking-care-your-sight

http://www.aoa.org/documents/Vision-Lifestyle-Fact-Sheet.pdf

http://www.rebuildyourvision.com/blog/personal-stories/perfect-eyesight-in-2012/

http://wellness.georgetown.edu/resources/toolkit/46982.html

http://www.protect-your-eyesight.com/