Red wine can help prevent stroke damage: study - Yahoo! News (Reuters)
Yet another reason to drink red wine on a regular basis (moderately, that is).
Monday, October 16, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
AARP - Get Fit on Route 66
AARP - Get Fit on Route 66
Yes, AARP - I indeed am a woman old enough to know better. It's actually a good site, and the AARP can actually be helpful in many ways to those of us lucky enough to be over 50.
I've started this AARP Fitness "Game." (I need all the physical activity encouragement I can get, frankly. It's about getting off my "but", as well as my butt!)
I like Route 66: - I liked the TV series, I like the TV series theme song, I like how Rte. 66 goes from Chicago (my hometown!) to L.A. (where I live now), old cars are fun and cool, I like seeing (sort of) America, I enjoy the '50s graphics on the site...
Ever see the recent movie "Cars"? It features Rte. 66.
Oh, how does the game work? The more minutes you spend physically (walking, exercise, also physical work of whatever kind...), the more miles down Route 66 your car will go. You pick your own classic car - which is hard, because I wanted all of them. I settled for a woodie like my dad had when I was little. But I was so tempted by the 'Vette (the TV series car, also), as well as the big tail-fin classic...
There's also a diner, BTW.
Let's see how this goes! Heading down the highway... (Rte 66 theme alternating with music from "Cars" as well as a bit of "Born to Be Wild")
First off, to do something so I can get some mileage going instead of just talking about it! Getting off my "but"/butt now! (How about you?)
Yes, AARP - I indeed am a woman old enough to know better. It's actually a good site, and the AARP can actually be helpful in many ways to those of us lucky enough to be over 50.
I've started this AARP Fitness "Game." (I need all the physical activity encouragement I can get, frankly. It's about getting off my "but", as well as my butt!)
I like Route 66: - I liked the TV series, I like the TV series theme song, I like how Rte. 66 goes from Chicago (my hometown!) to L.A. (where I live now), old cars are fun and cool, I like seeing (sort of) America, I enjoy the '50s graphics on the site...
Ever see the recent movie "Cars"? It features Rte. 66.
Oh, how does the game work? The more minutes you spend physically (walking, exercise, also physical work of whatever kind...), the more miles down Route 66 your car will go. You pick your own classic car - which is hard, because I wanted all of them. I settled for a woodie like my dad had when I was little. But I was so tempted by the 'Vette (the TV series car, also), as well as the big tail-fin classic...
There's also a diner, BTW.
Let's see how this goes! Heading down the highway... (Rte 66 theme alternating with music from "Cars" as well as a bit of "Born to Be Wild")
First off, to do something so I can get some mileage going instead of just talking about it! Getting off my "but"/butt now! (How about you?)
Study: Decaf coffee has some caffeine
Study: Decaf coffee has some caffeine - Yahoo! News (AP)
I've heard this before, years ago? but this is yet further evidence. Highlights from the article...
"Instant decaffeinated Folgers Coffee Crystals didn't have any caffeine, but the others contained caffeine ranging from 8.6 milligrams to 13.9 milligrams. Typically, 16 ounces of drip-brewed coffee contain about 170 milligrams of caffeine.
Researchers also analyzed 12 samples of Starbucks decaffeinated espresso and brewed decaffeinated coffee. The espresso drinks had from 3 milligrams to 15.8 milligrams each, while the brewed coffee had from 12 to 13.4 milligrams per 16-ounce drink.
Even moderate caffeine levels can increase heart rate, blood pressure, agitation and anxiety in some people, Goldberger said." [italics mine]
So what it comes down to is that you can't assume you're caffeine-free if you drink decaf all day and all night. Well, except maybe if you only drink Folger's instant decaf...
So much for my caution in having a Starbuck's decaf in the evening, avoiding the caffeine which might keep me awake. (See the quote about Starbuck's above.)
For the caffeine-wary: Note that chocolate, tea, and many soft drinks contain caffeine, although, obviously, in lesser amounts than coffee.
P.S. I don't think I own stock in Folger's! Many coffees are good.
I've heard this before, years ago? but this is yet further evidence. Highlights from the article...
"Instant decaffeinated Folgers Coffee Crystals didn't have any caffeine, but the others contained caffeine ranging from 8.6 milligrams to 13.9 milligrams. Typically, 16 ounces of drip-brewed coffee contain about 170 milligrams of caffeine.
Researchers also analyzed 12 samples of Starbucks decaffeinated espresso and brewed decaffeinated coffee. The espresso drinks had from 3 milligrams to 15.8 milligrams each, while the brewed coffee had from 12 to 13.4 milligrams per 16-ounce drink.
Even moderate caffeine levels can increase heart rate, blood pressure, agitation and anxiety in some people, Goldberger said." [italics mine]
So what it comes down to is that you can't assume you're caffeine-free if you drink decaf all day and all night. Well, except maybe if you only drink Folger's instant decaf...
So much for my caution in having a Starbuck's decaf in the evening, avoiding the caffeine which might keep me awake. (See the quote about Starbuck's above.)
For the caffeine-wary: Note that chocolate, tea, and many soft drinks contain caffeine, although, obviously, in lesser amounts than coffee.
P.S. I don't think I own stock in Folger's! Many coffees are good.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Cola consumption linked to weaker bones in women
Cola consumption linked to weaker bones in women - Yahoo! News (Reuters)
Here's the bottom line: it's the phosphoric acid in the cola drinks that trashes our bones:
"Cola contains phosphoric acid, the researchers note, which impairs calcium absorption and increases excretion of the mineral. Caffeine has also been linked to osteoporosis, they add." [bolding and italics mine]
I don't know if this means all soft drinks, or only cola drinks. Time to check the soft-drink labels!
Here's the bottom line: it's the phosphoric acid in the cola drinks that trashes our bones:
"Cola contains phosphoric acid, the researchers note, which impairs calcium absorption and increases excretion of the mineral. Caffeine has also been linked to osteoporosis, they add." [bolding and italics mine]
I don't know if this means all soft drinks, or only cola drinks. Time to check the soft-drink labels!
Doctors urge more playtime for children
Doctors urge more playtime for children - Yahoo! News (AP)
Absolutely!
I have watched the change from children simply playing to playdate appointments and children with full schedules and little free time. Also children stuck in front of screens of one kind or another (Okay, I'll admit I watched too much TV myself; my son, too much video games and computers...)
Playdates? Guess I'm too old, but I don't remember such a term - or activity. My children span two generations (X and Y), but none of them ever had a playdate.
Not that a playdate is a bad thing - it's just sad that it is such a thing has to be planned, organized, and scheduled. And by the parents, not the kids.
Back in my day (a billion years ago), and even my children's, for a child it was simply a matter of why don't you see if your friend's home? or see if Susan or Diana (in my case) want to come out and play?
"Go and play," our parents used to say. Or "Go outside and play. Go out and play in the yard." How and what this "playing" consisted of was up to us and, perhaps, our friends and/or siblings.
Yes, sometimes such less-supervised play lead to bored and mischievious kids getting into trouble. But if you stayed close to home and behaved yourself, 99% of the time all was fine.
We had lots of sports equipment and toys, also bikes and skates. There was the neighborhood park, the playground at our school. We had more active games, such as tag and hide-and-seek, also.
I used to spend an awful lot of time bouncing a rubber ball against a brick wall then catching it. Really. Or I'd go out in our large backyard and hit baseballs with a bat or golfballs with a nine-iron.
In my fortunate case, there was "The Prairie" - and swamp! - to explore and where I picked wild violets to bring home to Mom. My brother built a tree house and a raft at "The Swamp." In the winter there were board games, card games, TV (yeah...), perusing "Mad" magazines and comic books, just hanging out and talking. Outside was ice skating - and snow! Lots to do with snow - snow forts, snowball fights, snow angels, snowmen.
I loved my special super-sized box of crayons (55? with the sharpener on the back!) - and was an avid crayon and coloring-book user.
Anyway, do you see a common element here? Play used to be more physical, as well as spontaneous. More creative, too, in the sense that we kids were on our own to figure out what to do.
And, of course, there was much less pressure and busyness. We had lots of time to fill. Yeah, we got bored sometimes, but so what?
Some organized play is a good thing. For example, I enjoyed and benefitted from the Girl Scouts and the Recreation Department programs at the neighborhood parks (went to Wrigley Field once!), summer camps (a church camp in my case)... These are good things for a child. But not too much of it!
I'll admit to doing perhaps a little too much chauffering of my own children... Generation X children were starting to get busy, and I fell into the drill as one of the Boomer moms 0f Gen X. Wanted my kids to take advantage of all the wonderful offerings - lessons (so many!), Scouts/Camp Fire Girls, etc... By the time my Gen Y son was born I was starting to burn out on the chauffering thing, frankly!
Bottomline of all my ramblings here: Yes, let's have our children play more! Just simply play more.
Furthermore, moms might want to consider for themselves how busy they want to be "enriching" their children's lives. For example, I have spent far too much time chauffering in my life. Makes for more stressed, tired, and crabby moms - not good either for mom or for the family.
(BTW, yes, I grew up in the Midwest. Yes, my mom was a homemaker, as well as all my friends' moms. Yes, I was a primarily a stay-at-home mom during most of the time I was raising my own children.)
Absolutely!
I have watched the change from children simply playing to playdate appointments and children with full schedules and little free time. Also children stuck in front of screens of one kind or another (Okay, I'll admit I watched too much TV myself; my son, too much video games and computers...)
Playdates? Guess I'm too old, but I don't remember such a term - or activity. My children span two generations (X and Y), but none of them ever had a playdate.
Not that a playdate is a bad thing - it's just sad that it is such a thing has to be planned, organized, and scheduled. And by the parents, not the kids.
Back in my day (a billion years ago), and even my children's, for a child it was simply a matter of why don't you see if your friend's home? or see if Susan or Diana (in my case) want to come out and play?
"Go and play," our parents used to say. Or "Go outside and play. Go out and play in the yard." How and what this "playing" consisted of was up to us and, perhaps, our friends and/or siblings.
Yes, sometimes such less-supervised play lead to bored and mischievious kids getting into trouble. But if you stayed close to home and behaved yourself, 99% of the time all was fine.
We had lots of sports equipment and toys, also bikes and skates. There was the neighborhood park, the playground at our school. We had more active games, such as tag and hide-and-seek, also.
I used to spend an awful lot of time bouncing a rubber ball against a brick wall then catching it. Really. Or I'd go out in our large backyard and hit baseballs with a bat or golfballs with a nine-iron.
In my fortunate case, there was "The Prairie" - and swamp! - to explore and where I picked wild violets to bring home to Mom. My brother built a tree house and a raft at "The Swamp." In the winter there were board games, card games, TV (yeah...), perusing "Mad" magazines and comic books, just hanging out and talking. Outside was ice skating - and snow! Lots to do with snow - snow forts, snowball fights, snow angels, snowmen.
I loved my special super-sized box of crayons (55? with the sharpener on the back!) - and was an avid crayon and coloring-book user.
Anyway, do you see a common element here? Play used to be more physical, as well as spontaneous. More creative, too, in the sense that we kids were on our own to figure out what to do.
And, of course, there was much less pressure and busyness. We had lots of time to fill. Yeah, we got bored sometimes, but so what?
Some organized play is a good thing. For example, I enjoyed and benefitted from the Girl Scouts and the Recreation Department programs at the neighborhood parks (went to Wrigley Field once!), summer camps (a church camp in my case)... These are good things for a child. But not too much of it!
I'll admit to doing perhaps a little too much chauffering of my own children... Generation X children were starting to get busy, and I fell into the drill as one of the Boomer moms 0f Gen X. Wanted my kids to take advantage of all the wonderful offerings - lessons (so many!), Scouts/Camp Fire Girls, etc... By the time my Gen Y son was born I was starting to burn out on the chauffering thing, frankly!
Bottomline of all my ramblings here: Yes, let's have our children play more! Just simply play more.
Furthermore, moms might want to consider for themselves how busy they want to be "enriching" their children's lives. For example, I have spent far too much time chauffering in my life. Makes for more stressed, tired, and crabby moms - not good either for mom or for the family.
(BTW, yes, I grew up in the Midwest. Yes, my mom was a homemaker, as well as all my friends' moms. Yes, I was a primarily a stay-at-home mom during most of the time I was raising my own children.)
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Halloween Sale
Now, back to business, and to plugging my stuff. ; )
CafePress is having a Halloween promotion starting tomorrow, 10/5, through 10/18.
The deal is $10 off a purchase of $50 or more
Use coupon code: HLWN2006
CafePress is having a Halloween promotion starting tomorrow, 10/5, through 10/18.
The deal is $10 off a purchase of $50 or more
Use coupon code: HLWN2006
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
I've got "breast cancer" graphics (pretty popular, too), but I'm not here to plug them.
What I'm here to plug is the importance of "Women Old Enough to Know Better" - or in this case, women over 40 - being sure to get their annual mammogram.
It is that important.
It is entirely possible that if I did not have a mammogram in 2002 that I might not even be alive to write this thing right now. Neither I nor any doctor was aware of the fact that I had breast cancer. Only the mammogram showed it. There was no obvious lump or other abnormality.
So just go. It's not at all bad, really. Certainly much better than the alternative!
What I'm here to plug is the importance of "Women Old Enough to Know Better" - or in this case, women over 40 - being sure to get their annual mammogram.
It is that important.
It is entirely possible that if I did not have a mammogram in 2002 that I might not even be alive to write this thing right now. Neither I nor any doctor was aware of the fact that I had breast cancer. Only the mammogram showed it. There was no obvious lump or other abnormality.
So just go. It's not at all bad, really. Certainly much better than the alternative!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
For Moms : For Women Old Enough... : CafePress.com
For Moms : For Women Old Enough... : CafePress.com
I said I'd be adding (and moving up) winterwear - and today I added (and moved) considerably in the "Moms Rule" sections. Check it out. (Click links above, please.)
Moms Rule! (Well, you knew that, anyway. ; )
I said I'd be adding (and moving up) winterwear - and today I added (and moved) considerably in the "Moms Rule" sections. Check it out. (Click links above, please.)
Moms Rule! (Well, you knew that, anyway. ; )
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