..Just For You!…...

……Hope this puts a smile on your face…:)

The 4th Law of Thermodynamics

..Lol!....

…Be Nice!!!….

10 Food Ingredients We Should Avoid….

1. Hormones in Milk. In 1993, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of bovine hormones in cows, which boosts milk production by about 10 percent. However, some cow hormones have been linked to breast, colon, and prostate cancers. 
2. Preservatives BHA and BHT. Manufactured from petroleum, these waxy solids are added to foods to prevent spoilage.The National Institutes of Health reports that BHA is “reasonably anticipated” to be a human carcinogen based on evidence of carcinogenicity in rats.
3. Olestra. Olestra is found in diet chips including Pringles Fat free, Ruffles Light, and Lays Wow. Studies show it blocks fat absorption. Along with unhealthy fats, olestra stops the body from taking in valuable vitamins and carotenoids. It can also cause stomach troubles.
4. Potassium bromate. This flour-bulking agent strengthens dough, decreasing baking time and thereby reducing costs for baked goods. Potassium bromate has been linked to kidney and nervous system disorders. The International Agency for Research on Cancer lists it as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”
5. Arsenic. As crazy as it seems, this notorious poison is permitted by the FDA to be used in poultry feed, where it acts as a growth promoter and enhances the color of the meat. Arsenic affects blood vessels in chickens and turkeys, causing them to appear pinker and therefore fresher.
6. Certain artificial colors. Five artificial colors (red 40, blue 1, blue 2, yellow 5, and yellow) are either banned or require warning labels when used in other countries. The Center for Science in the Public Interest states that risks include hyperactivity in children, cancer (in animal studies), and allergic reactions. Until the 20th century, food coloring was obtained from natural sources. Today, most artificial colors are made from coal tar. Most processed foods contain coal tar in the form of artificial colors.
7. Brominated vegetable oil. Brominated vegetable oil or BVO acts as an emulsifier in soda and sports drinks, preventing the flavoring from separating and floating to the surface. Elevated bromide levels have been implicated in thyroid diseases.
8. Ractopamine. It is fed to pigs and beef cattle to quickly build muscle. No long-term human safety studies have been done, although it has been tied to chromosomal abnormalities and behavior changes.
9. GMO foods. The vast majority of corn and soybeans grown in the U.S. are genetically modified, meaning the DNA in the plants has been changed in a lab. Genes from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals, or even humans are artificially inserted into the crops to make them more productive or less costly to grow. No clinical trials have been performed to determine the effects of GMO crops on humans.
10. Farmed salmon. Factory-farmed salmon, which makes up 80 percent of salmon on the global market today, are given antibiotics and fed artificial coloring. Tests have shown that farmed salmon contains 16 times more of the cancer-linked toxin PCB than wild salmon.

Got this from ChristianNews.com 

I really want to eat healthy and  I'm beginning to wonder what else is left to eat? *scratching my head*

Maryland's New Sex Ed Proposal Will Shock You…...Homo-sexuality Sex Education in Schools…..No or Yes?

Sex education is in itself a very sensitive and controversial issue.

 In my opinion the Education department should not make it mandatory as it is made in some counties in the United States.
Making it  "homosexuality-friendly" is making the issue more controversial, because as we all know, everybody all over the world, have different views regarding homosexuality, and we are all entitled to our own opinion.
I think parents are to be allowed to make the decision when it comes to what they want their children and wards to be exposed to.

"If you need proof that same-sex "marriage" is about more than "love," look no further than Montgomery County, Maryland. There, parents are dealing with the fallout of the state's redefinition of marriage with a sweeping new sex education curriculum. Moms and dads, who were already fighting an uphill battle on the content of the lessons, are now coping with the news that homosexuality will be woven throughout - shattering families' fragile hold on parents' rights.

On May 18, the Montgomery County School Board took up the issue in a debate over the district's health curriculum. Not surprisingly, there were calls for an even greater emphasis on sexual orientation, as well as introducing the topic to students earlier than ever before. In the current curriculum, kids are asked to reflect on things like "the benefits of 'coming out,'" and the harms of "homophobia... which can he shown in mild ways like laughing at a gay joke."

"Children are not born hating. They learn to hate and fear from messages they receive while growing up," read one section. One of the proposed videos even includes a positive look at transgenderism. "Your sexual orientation cannot change," the text insists.

"If you were attracted to women, and all of the sudden, you're attracted to a man, it's because you just became aware of your true orientation." If liberals get their way, the indoctrination could begin as earlier as this fall with middle schoolers. For the County, the fireworks over sex ed are nothing new. Since 2005, parents have been in a tug-of-war over the content of the lessons, even going so far as to sue the state over the suggestion that homosexuality is innate.

In the meantime, curriculum like Montgomery County's is just the tip of the iceberg for the changes same-sex "marriage" will bring to a classroom near you. Like the ripples created when a rock is dropped in a pond, the ripples created by the redefinition of marriage will reach far into society. That's important for every American to understand, but especially libertarians who have yet to recognize that their "live and let live" mentality cannot work if our goal is to preserve liberty. Make sure you know how to spot these agendas in your district.

Culled from the Christian News

Estrogen and Cancer.

..By Stacia Hachem, CEO Estrogen Gene Testing

This is an important information for women and those who love them.

The benefits of Estrogen

Estrogen is a potent hormone that is produced by the ovaries. The hormone is critical for female development and reproduction. Estrogen is essential for the full maturation of women and it controls important aspects of fertility and reproduction- Estrogen is one of the most potent and important molecules for women.

So, Does it really cause cancer?

Estrogen is associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism, that is, blood clots in the veins. Perhaps most striking, high levels of endogenous estrogen (produced by the body) increase the risk of breast cancer in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. In women who started having menstrual periods early in life( the time when the ovaries really start producing estrogen) their risk of breast cancer is higher than in those who started later. The same is true for those who are late to enter menopause(when the ovaries stop producing estrogen). For every 1-year delay in the onset of menarche (when periods begin), there is a 5% lifelong risk reduction in breast cancer.1 Similarly, every 1-year delay in the onset of menopause is associated with a subsequent 3% increased risk of breast cancer.2 In addition, women who have at least one full-term pregnancy have a 25% lower risk of breast cancer women than who have never given birth.3,4

Estrogen, the carcinogen

In December 2002, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) first included steroidal estrogens as a carcinogen and it has remained on the list ever since. The NIEHS states “steroidal estrogens are known to be human carcinogens based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans.” Therefore, women produce a carcinogen for most of their lives. This declaration is obviously not the whole story—as with any carcinogen, the level and duration of exposure influences the substances’ ability to cause cancer. In other words, the higher the levels of estrogen and the longer the exposure, the higher the risk of cancer is for the woman. The other important factor is that not all estrogens are the same. Notice that the NIEHS uses the plural term, “steroidal estrogens” instead of estrogen. This is because there are many different active estrogens in a woman’s body, some are worse than the others . For example, 2-hydroxyestradiol is fairly benign while 4-hydroxyestrone is associated with tumor formation.5

It takes many different enzymes to process estrogen. Your specific assortment of enzymes determines whether you make more good estrogens than bad, or more bad than good. But what determines the sort of enzymes you have? Your genes do – specifically, your estrogen metabolism genes. Over the past several decades, researchers have been studying the genes responsible for how a woman processes estrogen. They have found that certain combinations of mutations on these genes may increase the risk of breast cancer by as much as 13 times.6

What is a woman to do?

In general, most women fare better if they limit estrogen exposure throughout life; however, this is not always practical. If you are concerned about your estrogen exposure or overall estrogen health, there is a test that can determine how you metabolize estrogen. The Estrogen Gene Test is a simple saliva swab test that measures variations (single nucleotide polymorphisms, or “SNPs”) in the genes that control estrogen metabolism. Test results provide your doctor with your genetic profile as well as specific protocols (targeted nutritional and lifestyle interventions) that can be utilized to improve your estrogen health.

 References

1.            Hunter DJ, Spiegelman D, Adami HO, et al. Non-dietary factors as risk factors for breast cancer, and as effect modifiers of the association of fat intake and risk of breast cancer. Cancer Causes Control. Jan 1997;8(1):49-56.

2.            Breast cancer and hormone replacement therapy: collaborative reanalysis of data from 51 epidemiological studies of 52,705 women with breast cancer and 108,411 women without breast cancer. Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer. Lancet. Oct 11 1997;350(9084):1047-1059.

3.            Layde PM, Webster LA, Baughman AL, Wingo PA, Rubin GL, Ory HW. The independent associations of parity, age at first full term pregnancy, and duration of breastfeeding with the risk of breast cancer. Cancer and Steroid Hormone Study Group. J Clin Epidemiol. 1989;42(10):963-973.

4.            Ewertz M, Duffy SW, Adami HO, et al. Age at first birth, parity and risk of breast cancer: a meta-analysis of 8 studies from the Nordic countries.Int J Cancer. Oct 15 1990;46(4):597-603.

5.            Westerlind KCG, K.J.; Evans, G.L.; Turner, R.T. The catechol estrogen, 4-hydroxyestrone, has tissue-specific estrogen actions. J Endocrinol.Nov 2000;167(2):281-287.

6.             Cerne JZP-P, M.; Novakovis, S.; Frkovic-Grazio, S.; Stegel, V.; Gersak, K.; Combined effect of CYP1B1, COMT, GSTP1, and MnSOD genotypes and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. J Gynecol Oncol. Jun 2011;22(2):110-119.

Married Couples, Get In Here, Quick!

..The Sex-Starved Marriage by Michele Weiner-Davis at TEDxCU


Sex is a sensitive and recurring issue in marriage, it comes right after money, even before in some cases.
 I am no marriage counselor, but my 2-cents on this matter is: Regular and meaningful COMMUNICATION is key to a healthy relationship. Couples should be able to talk and discuss with each other about everything, particularly sex. Bedroom matters should be between just the couple and not with a third party, unless in situations where counseling is needed.


Enjoy!

..Did You Know….??

                          …….You can grow 11 miles of hair in a year!…

 If you took every strand on your head-all 100,000 to 150,000 of them…and laid them end to end, after a year of growth you'd have anywhere from 7 to 11 miles of hair on your, errr……hands.

While each stands's average output is roughly a centimeter per month,its lifespan is only about 4 years, which explains why most manes don't fall longer than mid-back, but you can maximize growth potential.

"Eating a healthy diet that's rich in protein and iron is a good way of maintaining health hair" said Dr Paradi Mirmirani, a dermatologist in Vallejo , California, who specializes in hair disorders.

  

Culled from Spirit Mag. of Southwest/Airtran airlines

Happy Thoughts. ..

…Wonders of Cucumber….

Culled from Conscious Life News

CUCUMBER TIPS & TRICKS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!! 

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2.For a pick me up in the afternoon... Put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours. Slice some and put in your water bottle.

3. If you rub a cucumber slice along your bathroom mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Place a few slices of cucumber in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemical in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free.
Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries by European trappers, traders and explorers for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don’t have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don’t have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don’t have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the photochemical will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a ‘green’ way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but it won’t leave streaks and won’t harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

Money matters….$$$$

……."Money is a defense "……..Ecclesiastes 7:12

Sometime ago I got talking with an older friend, who is doing very well  financially in her chosen career, about what motivates her to keep doing what she is doing, and she said,in her words, "I work hard because of  The 4 Ds"-Disease, Downsizing, Divorce and Death…not necessarily in that order.
She said she wants to be prepared for  if and when any of the 4 Ds happen to her or any member of her  family.
Nobody prays for any of these to happen to them or their loved ones, but in reality they do happen.Even though I am not afraid of the future-because I believe in God and I know that whatever happens He will sort me and my family out somehow, but it got me thinking…thinking real hard about how to be "wise' regarding the wages I am blessed with through my job (my only source of income,currently).

So I did some research  about  Investments, Retirement plans, Savings etc. The recurrent recommendations  can be summarized as follows:

1. Cut your coat according to your size: Don't spend more than you earn.The wealthy habit is to separate your spending from your feelings of worth. You are not defined by your possessions. Ask yourself why you spend: Are you satisfying a genuine need or a contrived want?
2. Save,save,save for rainy days, for sunny days, for all days:Develop reserves for the inevitable rainy day and insure those risks you can’t afford to lose. Save monthly from earnings for retirement.
3. Budget and plan:The wealthy habit is to respond proactively to any warning signs of impending financial problems. Living paycheck to paycheck, using credit to pay for living expenses, and stressing over money are all warning signs that you need to take action.
4. Be generous : "Be a giver, a giver never lacks"

My sister-in-law shared an article with me,(The worst money mistakes you can make at any age):  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/worst-money-mistakes-age-000000873.html?soc_src=mediacontentsharebuttons.

The wealthy habit is to run your personal finances like a business with plans and action steps designed to produce a financially secure result.* Words in italics are culled from http://blog.credit.com/2013/02/7-money-habits-that-can-make-or-break-you

I hope someone finds this helpful like I did.

Sumtin' for the weekend….

Someone sent this to me on Whatsapp,….just thought I'd share…

Just something to think about:

A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery; He rushed in, changed his clothes & went directly to the surgery block. He found the boy’s father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor. On seeing him, the dad yelled: “Why did you take all this time to come? Don’t you know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have any sense of responsibility?”
The doctor smiled & said: “I am sorry, I was not in the hospital & I came as fast as I could after receiving the call, and now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work”
“Calm down?" screamed the father, what if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies now what will you do??”
The doctor smiled again & replied: “I have learned to bless the name of God in every situation I find myself." Go & intercede for your son, we will do our best by God’s grace”
“Giving advises when we’re not concerned is so easy” murmured the father.
The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy, “thank goodness!, your son is saved!” and without waiting for the father’s reply he carried on his way running. “If you have any questions, ask the nurse!” he yelled while leaving.
The father then turned to a nurse to continue nagging: “Why is he so arrogant? He couldn’t wait some minutes so that I ask about my son’s state, how can a doctor be this careless and rude?
The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was at the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he left running to finish his son’s burial.

MORAL:
Never judge anyone prematurely, every one is fighting his or her own battle totally unknown to you; and unless you have been in an exact situation yourself, you can never know whether you would react differently. Don't judge people's choices without knowing the options they had to choose from.

Skin Deep.

Ten years ago I was one of those that could get away with just " soap and water" as part of "beauty/skin regimen". I discovered quickly over the years that the skin needs extra care, especially if your skin is exposed to the elements (sun, cold, wind) a lot.As you must have heard or read, the skin gets drier and loses its "glow" as one gets older.However, Two things remain constant-CLEANSING and MOISTURIZING!…..But unfortunately,…It is not always that simple..:(

So,let's talk about the 3 most common active ingredients in most skin products:Note that the active ingredients listed on mostly all beauty products are listed according to their concentrations-from the highest to the lowest.

1. Water : AKA Aqua,is THE main ingredient in most hair and skin products. So is it safe to say we are buying water mixed with "chemicals"?…I wonder....
2. Mineral oil: AKA Soft paraffin-One of the most common active ingredients in beauty products. It is a liquid form of petrolatum ,consisting of mixtures of hydrocarbons that are byproducts of crude petroleum distillation.  This link provides some useful information about mineral oil
3. Glycerin: This is a  humectant (scientifically,are hygroscopic substances that attracts moisture e.g lecithin,propylene glycol). In beauty products they are draw moisture to the skin. They are sometimes used to counteract the dehydrating effects of other active ingredients like some alcohols . 

There are thousands of beauty/skin care products out there promising younger looking skin to "happy-ever-after skin"…..the dilemma, however, is finding what works! 
My recommendation is to make sure the beauty product you use provides enough moisture without being too heavy on the skin or hair.I have tried some of them over the years and I can say "trial and "error" is the rule of the game. Bear in mind that what works for someone else might not work for you, also what worked for you 5 years ago might not work for you now……The skin changes as well.

         
       ….Thoughts?...

..The "Me" time…..

Today (May 22nd 2014) is the 1st day and 1st time I'm blogging…yay!!….You see,I have always wanted to blog…but never gotten around to doing it, because (a) Been busy with taking care of the family (still am…..that's a lifetime "hobby"..lol) (b)I'm lazy (…shhh!!….top secret…lol!) ( c) I'm worried that I might not follow through with it….(Oh well, I have come to realize that " Nothing ventured,Nothing gained)….So here's to "overcoming phobias' :). ..Hope we can make this "journey" memorable and fun…..
I enjoy reading blogs mostly on Entertainment, Inspiration, Health, Motherhood, Fashion, News, etc…They are my "guilty pleasures", they have become essentially part of my "ME TIME"…:)

Just around the turn of the year,I decided to go all out with "taking care of myself"…..did a little bit of research and came up with some findings like (a) Good, restful sleep is almost as important as the air we breath (b) It is really true that we are what we eat  ( c) A positive attitude is really the prerequisite for "beauty from within".

Here are somethings I consider and considering as  part of a "Me time" routine; (1) Just doing and thinking "nothing"
(2) Sleeping in on a Saturday morning
(3) Spa, spa, spa
(4) Reading a good book
(5) Window shopping
(6) Hanging out with the girls!….woot, woot!
(7)….What's yours?…please,share…..:)

I love the lyrics of the song "Me time" by Heather Headley, especially the chorus " I need some me time,Not some you and some I,Just some me time, oh,I need some she time,Not some him and some her,Just a little bit of free time, oh,I wanna run with my girls,Hit the club, hit the mall

Get my nails and hair done,Spend a day at the spa,Boy you ain't gotta worry,There ain't nothin' goin' on,I need some me time,And that's all, and that's all.