AMBER ALERT ORIGIN

Amber Hagerman

Today the local and some national newscasts and newspapers covered the anniversary of Amber Hagerman's abduction and still unsolved murder.  At that time we lived in Arlington and we still remember this horrific event.  Hopefully, today's news coverage will generate new tips to help solve this crime.  My prayers go out to Amber's mother & grandmother and the parents of other missing children. 

The following excerpt is from the website of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

On January 13, 1996, 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas, when a neighbor heard her scream. The neighbor saw a man pull Amber off her bike, throw her into the front seat of his pickup truck, and drive away at a high rate of speed. The neighbor called police and provided a description of the suspect and his vehicle. Arlington Police and the FBI interviewed other neighbors and searched for the suspect and vehicle. Local radio and television stations covered the story in their regular newscasts. Four days later Amber’s body was found in a drainage ditch four miles away. Her kidnapping and murder still remain unsolved.

FAT VS FIBER TIP

Fight Fat with Fiber

White or wheat? Calorie-wise, this one’s a close one. Commercially-prepared varieties of either bread contain about 65 to 70 calories per slice. But the nutrients in whole wheat bread—it’s got more vitamin B and E, zinc, folic acid and chromium, along with 1.3 more grams of fat-blasting fiber per slice—make it an easy tie-breaker.

A study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that a fiber-rich diet assisted with weight loss and fighting back extra pounds. Researchers at Brigham Young University tracked the eating habits of 252 middle-aged women for two years, controlling for factors like physical activity and dietary fat intake. When their research was complete, the BYU scientists concluded that boosting fiber by 8 grams for every 1,000 calories consumed meant weight loss of 4.5 pounds over the course of the study.

Continue crafting a healthier sandwich by skipping the cheese and shaving off 100 calories. Top with yellow mustard, which has only 3 calories per teaspoon, or if you’re craving something creamy, add a tablespoon of hummus instead of a tablespoon mayo and save more than 60 calories.

START WITH SOUP OR SALAD

Start with Soup or Salad

A first course of soup or salad may help you eat less throughout of the rest of your meal. Researchers at Penn State University found that starting a meal with a fiber-rich salad can decrease overall calorie intake by up to 12 percent and that sipping a cup of water-dense vegetable soup before a meal can help you eat 20 percent less.

So is one a better choice than the other? As long as you’re sticking to vegetable puree or broth-based over cream-based, there’s not a whole lot you can do to adulterate a healthy cup of soup, besides maybe flooding it with crackers. Salads present more creative opportunity. Add cheese, eggs, croutons, dried fruit, nuts and full-fat dressing to a bed of greens and you’ve got yourself a diet disaster.

Go with the soup—or slim down your side salad by topping it with a little lemon or lime juice, balsamic vinegar, hummus, salsa or low-calorie dressing. And unless the salad is the main attraction, skip the protein, fat and extra carbs and limit your garden mix to low-starch vegetables like spinach, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage and cucumber.

DISTRESSING NEWS TODAY

My younger brother called today to thank me for his birthday card.  I had sent him a funny card about little brothers and wrote about some of my memories of growing up with him and thanked him for being my little brother.  Later on in the conversation he told me he was scheduled on Friday for surgery to remove some cancer.  I'm miles away and worried, but praying for an excellent surgical team and speedy recovery.  Love you little brother.

SMART SLEEP STRATEGIES

These strategies will help you doze off more quickly and snooze more soundly all night long, according to Ellen Michaud, author of Sleep to Be Sexy, Smart, and Slim.

1. Slow It Down - Don't hop into bed right after checking Facebook or watching Mad Men. Build in some quiet time to take a bath, read, or chat with your husband and you'll find it easier to fall into a deeper sleep.
2. Feel the Chill - Turn down the thermostat or open a window in your bedroom. Experts say that people tend to sleep better when the room is slightly cool.
3. Don't Drink - Caffeinated beverages aren't the only ones that interfere with sleep. Alcohol can also be a culprit: Though you may fall asleep quickly after a cocktail or two, you're more likely to wake up or sleep less soundly a few hours later.
4. Hide the Clock - Staring at the clock when you can't sleep just ups your stress levels.
5. Get Sexy - Your bed isn't only for sleeping, you know! An orgasm is one of the most powerful sleep inducers around.

Originally published in Ladies' Home Journal, February 2010.

SNOW FLAKES

It's snowing in Texas!

Just snowflakes at this stage - it isn't sticking to the ground yet.

CRAFT STORAGE CONTAINERS

Portable Storage

Going with my 2011 resolution to declutter and simplifly, I found these crafting containers at local stores.  I have one for my embroidery, smocking and knitting projects.  They are easy to store on a shelf in my sewing closet.  

AHOY MATEY ETSY TREASURY

Ahoy Matey Treasury

by

Snazzy Snugglies

Please check out these creative pirate themed listings.

GRANDCHILDREN - CHRISTMAS 2010

3 Beautiful Grandkids!

TRANSFER BASKETS FOR HOUSE TO CAR

My resolution for this year is to declutter and simplify.

Amanda Catalanotto

Professional Organizer Tip

 

Problem:
Wasting precious time every morning running around the house looking for the items you need for the day.

Solution:

Use a "transfer basket" to gather everything that needs to go out the door the next day -- library books, bills to mail, schoolwork, etc. Haul the basket to your car every morning and bring it back into the house when errands are done.

HOME JOURNAL HEALTH QUIZ - 8

Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for diabetes?

1. Being overweight
2. Being sedentary
3. Alcoholism
4. A family history of the disease

You are correct if you answered: Alcoholism

Mention diabetes, and most people think of children who must inject insulin because their bodies don't produce it. That's Type 1 diabetes, but it accounts for only about 10 percent of cases. Type 2 diabetes makes up the other 90 percent, and is largely related to lifestyle risk factors, particularly obesity.

Compared to men, women are more likely to develop the disease; according to the CDC, about 8.1 million women are diabetic (versus 7.5 million men). Diabetes can have serious consequences, leading to heart and kidney disease, and eye and nerve damage.

Studies show that losing weight and exercising regularly reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes, and helps treat the condition in those who have it, according to Judith Fradkin, M.D., director of diabetes, endocrine, and metabolic diseases research at the NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The best bets to reduce risk: a low-fat diet and an easy-to-maintain program of brisk walking.

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HOME JOURNAL HEALTH QUIZ - 7

About how many women experience clinical depression at least once in their lives?

1. 10 percent
2. 15 percent
3. 20 percent
4. 25 percent

You are correct if you answered: 20 percent

"There are three main risk factors for depression: a previous episode of depression, a family history and being a woman," says Mary Blehar, Ph.D., director of women's mental health programs at the NIH's National Institute of Mental Health. "For reasons that are not entirely clear, women are on average twice as likely as men to suffer from depression." Other factors, such as marital problems or parenting stress, may also elevate risk.

There is more than one type of depression; clinical depression causes hopelessness so profound that the sufferer can lose interest in life, is incapable of feeling pleasure, and sometimes can't even get out of bed or eat for days at a time. People with minor depression (dysthymia), by contrast, function at impaired levels and experience low-level symptoms of major depression. Serious depression raises the risk for suicide, which is the fifth-leading cause of death for women ages 25 to 44.

"Depression is a disorder, not a personal failure, that can be effectively treated," says Blehar. "Medication and psychotherapy can help. If you feel depressed, and especially if you've had any thoughts of suicide, consult your physician immediately."

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HOME JOURNAL HEALTH QUIZ - 6

To maintain your general health, how much exercise do you need?

1. At least 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming
2. 60 minutes a day of moderate physical activity
3. Two 60-minute gym classes per week
4. Three 60-minute gym classes per week

You are correct if you answered: At least 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming

In 1995, a panel of experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Sports Medicine announced that "Every U.S. adult should accumulate thirty minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all, days of the week." That will help control your weight, keep cholesterol levels and diabetes risk low, your mood elevated and energy high.

Going to the gym is fine, but you don't have to huff away for hours on a stairclimber to stay healthy. Instead, expand your concept of exercise; besides walking, biking and swimming, you gain points for household chores such as washing windows and raking leaves.

Unfortunately, according to the CDC's latest report, only about one quarter of Americans log at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. Try turning off the TV for half an hour and getting physical instead.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

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HOME JOURNAL HEALTH QUIZ - 5

Women diagnosed with breast cancer are at increased risk for which other cancer?

1. Endometrial cancer
2. Cervical cancer
3. Ovarian cancer
4. Vaginal cancer

You are correct if you answered: Ovarian cancer

The same genetic mutations-BRCA1 on chromosome 17 and BRCA2 on chromosome 13-increase risk for both breast and ovarian cancer. As a result, women with these mutations who develop one of these cancers are at increased risk for the other. (Not all women with breast or ovarian cancer carry these mutations, however.)

"A small number of women have many family members with breast or ovarian cancer, indicating a genetic predisposition," explains McCaskill-Stevens. "They should get a CA-125 blood test, which may be able to hint at early ovarian cancer." But this is not a good screening test for the general population because other conditions, including fibroids and endometriosis, can trigger false results. "For breast-cancer survivors who don't have a strong genetic component, and for women in general, the best approach to ovarian cancer is early detection through an annual pelvic exam," she adds. Women should also be aware of the often subtle symptoms of ovarian cancer, including feeling full after eating small amounts of food, bloating, constipation and abdominal pain. In some cases, annual ultrasound exams may be recommended for women with persistent pelvic complaints.

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