Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Getting Ready for Flu Season

(Note: This may or may not interest those of you in the Northern Hemisphere. Nevertheless, I felt a need to try to help those who are interested in staying healthy this fall and winter.)



Swine flu (H1N1) season is coming. With all the hype in the news, it makes us all a little fearful to say the least. So I want to give you some positive ways to approach flu season.

It is important to understand that there are literally hundreds of H1N1 flu viruses. The current strain is similar to the Spanish flu of 1918 and the Hong Kong flu of 1968.

So what can we do that is proactive?

Start now to build you immune system! Prepare your bodies defenses!

*Nutriferon-boosts the body’s natural production of interferon/phytonutrient blend that provides immune support at the cellular level. #20960


*Immunity I-blend of six immunoactive vitamins, patented blend of antioxidants with rosemary extract, and mineral support for a strong immune system. #20241

*Defend & Resist-a herbal blend with Echinacea, black elderberry, and larch tree extract which stimulates the body’s natural resistance. #20613


*VIVIX-patented formula to fight aging at a cellular level, but it also contains the black elderberry! #21000

*Antioxidants such as CarotoMax and FlavoMax #20652 and #20654 or any other antioxidants, many found in foods.

*FOR CHILDREN: Incredivites-first children’s chewable multi-vitamin in the U.S. with immune supporting lactoferrin, a nutrient also found naturally in breast milk and researched for its role in activating components of the immune system.


*Optiflora-colon health supports immune health. #20639

*Try to get proper rest and reduce stress where possible.

*Cut back on intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates.

WASH YOUR HANDS! WASH YOUR HANDS! WASH YOUR HANDS!
The spread of flu can be curbed by 90% by regular hand washing. Folks this is an easy one. Teach you kids this!

Keep your fingers out of your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Use Basic G (#00525) and/or Germ Off Disinfecting Wipes (#00322). Keep the wipes in zippered bags in your purse, in your car, and in your kids back packs. Wipe hands, steering wheel, doorknobs, desks, phones, etc. (You can make your own wipes with the Basis G if you choose. (Basis G spray bottles for mixing are #50531 and the dispenser bottle with dropper tip is #50419.)

Consider masks for public transportation.

Hope this information is helpful. For more information, leave a message with email address to respond or go to my website

ww.shaklee.net/lifetimewellness).


Disclaimer: I am not a licensed healthe care professional. This information is shared as a friend to a friend.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Food for Thought

"Some people see clutter as signs of disorganization.
For others, clutter means a major creative project is going on."

-Patricia H. Sprinkle

"When you organize, you're just reshuffling the same
heavy load. When you simplify, you actually eliminate a large chunk of it. Simplifying is not about learning how to do more in less time. It's about doing less so you'll enjoy it more."

-Elaine St. James

Monday, August 17, 2009

Apricot Cream Cheese Coffeecake

I made these coffeecakes for a recent baby shower brunch. (The original recipe called for apricot preserves. But it is also good with strawberry or raspberry perserves.) Thought you might enjoy the recipe! See below.


This shows how half of the batter goes on the bottom of the pan---then the preserves---then the remaining batter. The batter is then spread evenly over the preserves.

Into the oven! This shows the crumb topping---the final touch before baking.

All done and ready to eat! Very yummy!

Apricot Cream Cheese Coffeecake

Cream together:
1 8oz. pkg. softened cream cheese
½ cup butter, softened
1 ¼ cups sugar

Beat in:
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon almond extract, opt.

Sift together:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt

Add flour mixture alternately with:
1/3 cup milk

Pour half of batter in greased 9x13 baking pan and spread evenly.

Spoon on and gently spread:
1 12 oz. jar of apricot (or raspberry or strawberry) preserves

Spoon remaining batter over the top and gently spread to cover preserves.

For TOPPING combine with pastry blender:
¼ cup butter, softened
½ cup sugar
¼ cup flour
Then add 1/3 cup of sliced almonds, opt. Sprinkle the crumb mixture on top.

Bake at 350ยบ for 35-40 minutes.

Good warm or cold!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Birthday Reflections

Birthdays nowadays always seem to bring out my reflective nature. Each year the number increases by one, and I wonder where the years have gone. I realize that more of my life is behind me than what lies before me. Thus I ponder the meaning of my life. Have I lived it well? What next? What is God’s plan for me at this stage of life? Am I relevant in the world in which I live? My pensive questions seem endless.

I don’t readily have answers to all my questions. Maybe contemplating the questions is quite enough. Then I remind myself that growing older is a good thing, especially since the only one way to avoid aging is to die young. Yes, each year of life is a gift, and with that gift I must accept that aging comes with the territory.

Today I relished the day in celebration of my birth. I sipped my morning homemade latte on the front porch. I picked myself a bouquet of pink, white, and purple zinnias. I opened a new mascara. I walked through the neighborhood. I got my free car wash! I washed the sheets on my bed. Cards and phone calls blessed my day. My husband took me out for a delicious dinner. All in all a lovely day! Now I shall go crawl in those clean sheets and thank God for giving me 58 years.

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Cook Breakfast While You Sleep

Many of us grew up eating oatmeal for breakfast. My mom cooked old fashioned rolled oats two or three times a week. It was an economical staple in our household. Then I also cooked oatmeal for my kids—though probably not quite as often.

I first ate steel cut oats as a cooked breakfast cereal many years ago when my husband and I visited Scotland. I enjoyed it so much that I ate it almost every morning while we were there. When I returned home, I still didn’t cook it for myself.

Then several years later I rediscovered this hearty breakfast cereal as one of the many selections on the breakfast buffet at my favorite inn on the Oregon coast. So I purchased some steel cut oats to cook at home. They take a long time to cook, so before I would go to bed, I would bring the water to a boil, and then add a pinch on salt and the correct amount of oats to the water. I put a lid on it and remove it from the heat---let it set overnight. The next morning, it would only take ten minutes to cook it.

Recently, one of my daughters found a suggestion online to cook the steel cut oats overnight in the crock-pot on low. And someone else suggested using a Pyrex or Corningware casserole dish or bowl inside the crock-pot (with water around it) for an easier clean-up. Wow! It’s great! Breakfast cooks while you sleep! Ready when you and your family are ready, and no waiting.

I buy organic steel cut oats at Vitamin Cottage for $2.03 for two pounds. At a dollar a pound that is an inexpensive healthy breakfast. (A serving is ¼ cup, so a little goes a long way.) Many other places carry steel cut oats. King Soopers has it in bulk, but it is more expensive. You can also find it in canisters and cans at most any store. The imported McCann’s is more expensive, but a good products. Below are photos of the crock-pot process.

Let me know what you think!

Here’s to a hot, healthy breakfast that cooks while you sleep!

Ready to cook! This is two servings. Use the package directions for the amounts of water, oats, and salt in the oven-safe casserole. (Most use 1/4 cup steel cut oats to 3/4 cup to 1 cup of water.) Put water around the dish inside the crock-pot. Turn on low when you go to bed.

This is what it looks like when you wake up in the morning. It is ready to dish up and serve.

This morning I added blueberries (anti-oxidants!) and a few walnuts (good fat/Omega-3). I sweeten mine with either pure maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar.