:iagree:

that's all. I know she's probably busy :tongue_smilie:, but I do so miss her.

EPSOM SALTS BATH Taking a bath or a foot soak with Epsom salts is one of the best ways to increase the body’s absorption of magnesium. Epsom Salts are Magnesium Sulfate and are easily absorbed by the body. Take a hot bath with up to 2 cups of Epsom salts and 1 cup baking soda (optional) to help draw toxins out of the body. Try to do this once a week, but for no more than 20 minutes. A foot soak can also be very beneficial. Epsom salts are so helpful in bringing relief to: • Arthritis pain, stiffness, soreness, and tightness of joints • Muscle aches, pains and tenderness • Painful bruises, sprains and strains • Pain from over exertion as a result of exercise • Insomnia and Sleep Problems • Stress • Insect Bites and Splinters REASONS FOR MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY Diets that are highly-processed and refined – mostly white flour, red meat, and dairy – none of these have magnesium. Food processing removes much of the magnesium (as well as other minerals) that’s naturally found in certain foods. Antacids and other indigestion medicines disrupt magnesium absorption. Modern farming practices deplete magnesium and other minerals in the soil. Medications including diuretics, birth control pills, insulin, tetracycline and other antibiotics, and cortisone lead to magnesium deficiencies. Too much calcium often leads to an imbalance . These two minerals need to be in balance.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE For most people on a healthy diet, 400 mg of Magnesium daily should be sufficient. But for those who have symptoms of deficiency (and most of us are deficient), I would recommend more, but probably no more than 1200 mg. Add in more magnesium gradually. Your body knows how much it can handle according to how much your bowels can tolerate. The stools should feel soft, but not excessively loose. Take in divided doses and with meals to ensure optimal absorption – preferably more at night I have read that it’s preferable to not take magnesium at the same time as calcium. Others say that it’s fine. This is where I am confused. I think the former makes more sense. The most absorbable forms are: Magnesium Citrate Magnesium Glycinate Magnesium Taurate Magnesium Aspartate Magnesium Malate Magnesium Succinate Magnesium Fumirate Avoid: Magnesium Oxide Magnesium Carbonate Magnesium Gluconate Magnesium Sulfate These are not absorbed well and are the cheapest forms Side effects from too much magnesium include diarrhea, which can be avoided if you switch to Magnesium Glycinate. People with kidney disease or severe heart disease should take magnesium only under a doctor's supervision. NATURAL SOURCES Almonds Avocado Barley Beans Brazil nuts Brown rice Buckwheat Dark Chocolate Dates Figs Garlic Greens (including Collard Greens and Dandelion Greens) Kelp Molasses Millet Parsley Pecans Rye Sea vegetables (seaweed and kelp – but make sure they come from non-polluted waters and are high-quality) Shrimp Walnuts Whole Grains Wheat bran Wheat germ

Magnesium and Epsom Salts (which have magnesium) Magnesium is a key mineral that many are deficient in. Anything that is tight, irritable, crampy, and stiff -- whether it is a body part or an even a mood -- is a sign of magnesium deficiency. Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency: Arthritis Chronic fatigue Depression Fatigue Fibromyalgia Headaches - anything that feels tight or cramp-like Inflammation in the body and higher CRP levels Insomnia Irritability Joint Pain Leg Cramps Menstrual cramps Migraines Muscle cramps or twitching or spasms Palpitations PMS Restless Legs Sleep Disorders Spasms Stress

I've read Aesop's Fables to my dc for years. We have two different versions - not really the original, I'm sure, but nice editions all the same. I don't recall any bad words. You could always pre-read and filter out the bad words, I guess. The ones we have are these: http://www.amazon.com/Aesops-Fables-Jerry-Pinkney/dp/1587170000/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319184413&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Aesops-Fables-Children-Read---Listen/dp/0486467708/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319184436&sr=1-9

Thank you all once again. Love reading your replies. Glad you posted. I wanted to hear from you. :grouphug: Thank you! You've just made my morning. I have dark brown. :) Yes, I try (though I don't always succeed) to not overdo black. I used to do far too much black. That sounds so nice :D. I need to be more adventurous with color and clothes. :lol: Yes, this was my thought also. :smilielol5: Me too. Very neutral. I'm getting a bit tired of it, but dd is going nuts with me wearing neutrals all the time. She was the one who insisted I get them. The other choice was olive, which was really pretty also, but I'm more into purple. I haven't worn colored pants since the late 80s - college years and when I was a total Benetton Queen. I used to get pretty much everything from Benetton. I love rules and structure such as this. :) I wish I could do scarves. I'm not very good with accessories.

I enjoyed your very thorough review. Thank you. :) And have fun with Nutella. :D BTW, I have several more Nutella recipes if anyone's interested. Maybe I should start a new thread ;). Would love to share and get more recipes. :lol: I just sent you a request. :) :iagree:

Also, the wonderful book Outliers.

I just started reading an absolutely fascinating book that goes into this. I heard about this book here. I wish there was a version for kids/teens.

Thank you all so much. I'm by no means a fashionista. Dd is. She kept telling me black shoes are fine. But I needed a 2nd opinion. :D Done. I ordered them :D. I got a bit tired of natural colored pants. Time for a change. Excited about purple. It's one of my favorite colors. Yes, heels for sure. Charcoal grey would be nice also, but I don't have them. :lol: Dd and I laughed at this. True. And I always love your opinion on this sort of stuff. This is your area. :grouphug: :confused: Nope. Not here in the tropics. Too hot. Yes, my shoes are a matte black. No dark charcoal, but will keep my eyes open. Oh my! I love image consultants. Teach us, share with us, help us all. :lol: :grouphug: So let me get this straight - taupe/nude shoes go with everything right? But the rule is: shoes should be the same color or darker than the hemline? I would absolutely love a dark navy. Thank you all once again. :)

Paris. No earlier than about age 10. They don't remember much before then. From 10 and up, they learn to appreciate it all more. But to me, you can't go wrong with most places. Everywhere can be educational. Everywhere has something to offer.

If I were to get purple (yes, purple ;)) pants - bootcut - do my shoes have to be purple? Can I wear black shoes? The pants are a dark purple. Thank you. :)

Health/Fitness Books I Would Love: 1. The Botany of Desire 2. Ayurveda Secrets of Healing 3. Perfect Health 4. Why We Get Fat 5. The 17 Day Diet 6. The Guru in You 7. The Edgar Cayce Remedies 8. Better Bones, Better Body 9. Conscious Eating 10. Power Healing I have too many health books already and too little time to read them ...

Non-Fiction Books I Would Love: 1. The Shadow Market by the same author of Geography of Bliss (one of my all-time favorites) 2. Getting Things Done 3. How to Live 4. The Emperor of all Maladies 5. The Invisible Gorilla 6. Can't mention this one ... scared to mention it on a public forum. Not inappropriate or anything like that. Not political either. Think religious. Think of a certain religion that attracts celebrities. Okay, now you know ...

If hair loss is a concern, and it is for so many of us as we get older, I posted lots of info here.

Sorry if some of this is repetitive. Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Carlson’s Fish Oil is a very good brand – Omega 3s are anti-inflammatory 1500 mg Glucosamine and 1200 mg Choindrotin Sulfate 3 times a day- try it for 3 months and see if you notice a difference Often, dehydration causes joint pain, which progresses to stiff pain. Make sure you’re drinking enough water! Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Chia Seeds, Walnuts, Flaxseeds – these are naturally anti-inflammatory Green Tea - 4 cups of green tea daily with a squirt of lemon juice. Green tea can help reduce joint pain greatly. Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Some studies suggest it works to ease the pain of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It may also help with other inflammatory conditions, such as tendinitis. Try to consume a soupspoon of turmeric every day, with a pinch of black pepper and olive oil. You can use it in all your cooking. Eat 1 cup a day of red or purple fruits, such as berries, cherries, pomegranates, red grapes – or drink 1 cup of juice without added sugar – these food-based antioxidants help ease inflammation and joint disease like arthritis Sesame Seeds provide plenty of copper, a nutrient essential for joint health – just don’t overdo copper

Silica or horsetail - 3 times daily - Supplies silicon, which improves calcium uptake. Vitamin B12 - 2000 mcg daily - aids in calcium absorption and digestion. Use sublingual form. 5 grams of the sugar D-ribose twice daily will stimulate the production of ATP, the fuel that powers your body’s tissues and muscles. People who suffer from excessive joint and muscle pain and fibromyalgia (widespread muscle pain) often have low levels of ribose. 2000 mg of cherry fruit extract daily has been proven to provide more pain relief than aspirin and other painkillers. OTHER TIPS When pain hits, immediately drink 2 large glasses of water. This often gives relief within minutes. Muscle ache and back pain is frequently connected to dehydration. The body needs enough water to keep acidic wastes from building up in muscles and other tissues. If pain follows an injury or sudden movement, apply ice for the first 48 hours, and then apply heat. Rest on a firm bed. When getting up, roll to your side, draw your knees up, push up to a sitting position, and stand by pushing up with your legs. Soak in a very warm bath or apply a heating pad directly to your back. Be careful not to set the heat too high, however. Soak in a warm or hot bath for 20 minutes with ½ cup baking soda or 1 cup Epsom salts for added relief. SLEEP - Get enough sleep. Your body needs a full night of quality sleep to fight pain. Arnica relieves inflammation. Nelsons Arnica Cream or Tiger Balm ACUPUNCTURE really, really helps Iyengar Yoga focuses on body alignment – greatly reduces pain – to locate an instructor, go to inynaus.org CHIROPRACTIC/MASSAGE – both help immensely with pain Be aware that you should wait for any inflammation to subside before starting either. EXERCISE – Begin with a daily 10-minute walk, take up a gentle yoga class, or try the slow movement of Tai Chi. Water aerobics and swimming help also. STRETCHING Be particularly careful if you have a competitive personality if you tend to push yourself to your limits. You could injure yourself if you stretch too much or for too long. Stretching should not hurt and it should get easier over time. Begin your stretching exercises at the point where you begin to feel tension. Then hold this position for 30-60 seconds. Your muscles should become looser and the stretching easier. If it is not easier, back off. Too much stretching causes more pain, not less. The very best way to begin a stretching program is after an evaluation by a physical therapist, chiropractor, or medical doctor. Bring the book “Stretching†by Bob Anderson, to their office to ask which exercises are most appropriate for you. It’s considered the gold standard of stretching books. If you stretch without some kind of warm-up, you can hurt yourself. Cold muscles don’t stretch easily. Begin any stretching program very slowly and gradually increase the number of stretches, the time it takes to do them, and the amount of tension in your stretches. It’s best to stretch later in the day when your muscles are warm, but many people find it helps their pain when they stretch first thing in the morning. It doesn’t matter as long as you’ve warmed your muscles. Either do your morning stretches slowly or stretch after taking a hot shower. Stretch after staying in one position for a long time like sitting and watching TV or typing at a computer. Lower back pain is one of the many symptoms of a congested lymphatic system. Things that help to clear up the lymphatic system: • Daily Rebounding • Deep Breathing • Daily Dry Body Brushing • Massage and/or Reflexology – Reflexology is particularly effective for back pain • Swinging BOOK Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain by Pete Egoscue

Magnesium is a key mineral that many are deficient in. Anything that is tight, irritable, crampy, and stiff -- whether it is a body part or an even a mood -- is a sign of magnesium deficiency. Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency: Joint Pain Muscle cramps or twitching or spasms HOW MUCH TO TAKE For most people on a healthy diet, 400 mg of Magnesium daily should be sufficient. But for those who have symptoms of deficiency (and most of us do), I would recommend more, but probably no more than 1200 mg. Add in more magnesium gradually. Your body knows how much it can handle according to how much your bowels can tolerate. The stools should feel soft, but not excessively loose. Take in divided doses and with meals to ensure optimal absorption – preferably more at night I have read that it’s preferable to not take magnesium at the same time as calcium. Others say that it’s fine. This is where I am confused. I think the former makes more sense. The most absorbable forms are: Magnesium Citrate Magnesium Glycinate Magnesium Taurate Magnesium Aspartate Magnesium Malate Magnesium Succinate Magnesium Fumirate Avoid: Magnesium Oxide Magnesium Carbonate Magnesium Gluconate Magnesium Sulfate These are not absorbed well and are the cheapest forms Side effects from too much magnesium include diarrhea, which can be avoided if you switch to Magnesium Glycinate. People with kidney disease or severe heart disease should take magnesium only under a doctor's supervision. NATURAL SOURCES Almonds Avocado Barley Beans Brazil nuts Brown rice Buckwheat Dark Chocolate Dates Figs Garlic Greens (including Collard Greens and Dandelion Greens) Kelp Molasses Millet Parsley Pecans Rye Sea vegetables (seaweed and kelp – but make sure they come from non-polluted waters and are high-quality) Shrimp Walnuts Whole Grains Wheat bran Wheat germ EPSOM SALTS BATH Taking a bath or a foot soak with Epsom salts is one of the best ways to increase the body’s absorption of magnesium. Epsom Salts are Magnesium Sulfate and are easily absorbed by the body. Take a hot bath with up to 2 cups of Epsom salts and 1 cup baking soda (optional) to help draw toxins out of the body. Try to do this once a week, but for no more than 20 minutes. A foot soak can also be very beneficial. Epsom salts are so helpful in bringing relief to: • Arthritis pain, stiffness, soreness, and tightness of joints • Muscle aches, pains and tenderness • Painful bruises, sprains and strains • Pain from over exertion as a result of exercise • Insomnia and Sleep Problems • Stress • Insect Bites and Splinters REASONS FOR MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY Diets that are highly-processed and refined – mostly white flour, red meat, and dairy – none of these have magnesium. Food processing removes much of the magnesium (as well as other minerals) that’s naturally found in certain foods. Antacids and other indigestion medicines disrupt magnesium absorption. Modern farming practices deplete magnesium and other minerals in the soil. Medications including diuretics, birth control pills, insulin, tetracycline and other antibiotics, and cortisone lead to magnesium deficiencies. Too much calcium often leads to an imbalance . These two minerals need to be in balance.

Agreeing with all of the above - water workouts, chiro, etc. Sorry that you're having such pain and discomfort. :grouphug: Some info that might be of help. Ginger can reduce inflammation. Grate it into soups and stews. Eat cherries as often as possible. Consuming 20 a day (about 2000 mg of cherry fruit extract) has been proven to provide more pain relief than aspirin and other painkillers. Limit or avoid all meats and animal products until you are healed. Animal protein contains uric acid, which puts undue strain on the kidneys that can contribute to back pain. Vitamin D3 – up to 2000-5000 IU – When vitamin D levels are low – and they are in many people – it can cause a cascading effect of chemical reactions that affect bone metabolism. The result is that the surface of the bones become softer. This condition is called osteomalacia, and osteomalacia causes backaches and pain. This softening of bones can be so mild it’s subclinical – which means you can’t identify it yet. But it could still be responsible for your pain. The problem stems from a lack of circulating calcium caused by insufficient vitamin D. So the solution is to take more D, not more calcium. If you are over 50 and don’t spend much time in the sun each day, take at least 5000 IU. Helps relieve chronic back pain One recent study showed that 95% of participants improved after taking D3 for 3 months Chronic back pain patients should try taking 5000-10,000 IU daily for 3 months 640 mg Strontium significantly reduces back pain by building bone density and even prevents arthritic progression 400 mg willow bark eases back pain – twice as effective as Motrin – 1 capsule – 400 mg – up to 6 times a day Boswellia – Source Naturals Boswellia – 1 capsule 3 times a day with food Devil’s Claw – 2 Capsules – 480 mg – twice a day with food

I love the Scarlet Pimpernel books. The A&E/BBC movies are a wonderful follow-up also. Pride and Prejudice is lovely. I highly recommend the A&E/BBC movie right after. Done so well. The one with Colin Firth. To Kill a Mockingbird I'm working on a list for my dc - for our literature program. Just some that I'm considering - btw, I think it's motivating and extra nice to do your utmost to see a good movie version of these after she reads them. :) Roots - but since we've seen the movie, I don't know if they'll want to read this also. I read this first and then saw the series. Love this so much. Murder on the Orient Express And Then There Were None They Came to Baghdad The Scarlett Letter The Alchemist The Crucible Wuthering Heights Jane Eyre Gift of the Magi Emma Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

A friend of a friend was diagnosed with stage 2 or maybe it was 3 ovarian cancer. She went mostly natural - raw foods mostly, plant-based diet. She's now cancer free. She refused chemo or any regular treatments. She used to eat lots of sugar before her diagnosis and had a very strong sweet tooth. As far as I know, she doesn't touch the stuff anymore. Another friend of a friend was diagnosed with pancreatic. I don't know what stage. But most of us do know that pancreatic is pretty much the absolute worst. His friends and loved ones tried juicing etc. I think he also went through chemo. Sadly, he succumbed to the disease and died. But again, don't know the stage and it was pancreatic. I don't know what I would do, if, God forbid, I were diagnosed. I'm always into natural and alternative. I would probably take an integrative approach - depending on the stage and type of cancer, of course. And, as some of you may know, the author of The Anti Cancer Book, one of my all-time favorite health books, recently died of brain cancer. He did manage to live for much longer than expected, so that's good. He took an integrative approach. By living longer than expected, he provided a wonderful gift for so many - his book and website. I love his book. Hate, hate, hate cancer ... :( If you need other book recommendations, I have some I can suggest.

My dh had similar symptoms. Magnesium worked like magic. His acupuncturist told him to take it. Magnesium is a key mineral that many are deficient in. Anything that is tight, irritable, crampy, and stiff -- whether it is a body part or an even a mood -- is a sign of magnesium deficiency. Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency: Joint Pain Muscle cramps or twitching or spasms Spasms NERVE PROBLEMS AND MUSCLE SPASMS Magnesium helps eliminate peripheral nerve disturbances that can lead to migraines, leg and foot cramps, gastrointestinal cramps, and other muscle aches and pains. HOW MUCH TO TAKE For most people on a healthy diet, 400 mg of Magnesium daily should be sufficient. But for those who have symptoms of deficiency (and many of us are deficient), I would recommend more, but probably no more than 1200 mg. Add in more magnesium gradually. Your body knows how much it can handle according to how much your bowels can tolerate. The stools should feel soft, but not excessively loose. Take in divided doses and with meals to ensure optimal absorption – preferably more at night I have read that it’s preferable to not take magnesium at the same time as calcium. Others say that it’s fine. This is where I am confused. I think the former makes more sense. The most absorbable forms are: Magnesium Citrate Magnesium Glycinate Magnesium Taurate Magnesium Aspartate Magnesium Malate Magnesium Succinate Magnesium Fumirate Avoid: Magnesium Oxide Magnesium Carbonate Magnesium Gluconate Magnesium Sulfate These are not absorbed well and are the cheapest forms Side effects from too much magnesium include diarrhea, which can be avoided if you switch to Magnesium Glycinate. People with kidney disease or severe heart disease should take magnesium only under a doctor's supervision. NATURAL SOURCES Almonds Avocado Barley Beans Brazil nuts Brown rice Buckwheat Dark Chocolate Dates Figs Garlic Greens (including Collard Greens and Dandelion Greens) Kelp Molasses Millet Parsley Pecans Rye Sea vegetables (seaweed and kelp – but make sure they come from non-polluted waters and are high-quality) Shrimp Walnuts Whole Grains Wheat bran Wheat germ EPSOM SALTS BATH Taking a bath or a foot soak with Epsom salts is one of the best ways to increase the body’s absorption of magnesium. Epsom Salts are Magnesium Sulfate and are easily absorbed by the body. Take a hot bath with up to 2 cups of Epsom salts and 1 cup baking soda (optional) to help draw toxins out of the body. Try to do this once a week, but for no more than 20 minutes. A foot soak can also be very beneficial. Epsom salts are so helpful in bringing relief to: • Arthritis pain, stiffness, soreness, and tightness of joints • Muscle aches, pains and tenderness • Painful bruises, sprains and strains • Pain from over exertion as a result of exercise • Insomnia and Sleep Problems • Stress • Insect Bites and Splinters REASONS FOR MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY Diets that are highly-processed and refined – mostly white flour, red meat, and dairy – none of these have magnesium. Food processing removes much of the magnesium (as well as other minerals) that’s naturally found in certain foods. Antacids and other indigestion medicines disrupt magnesium absorption. Modern farming practices deplete magnesium and other minerals in the soil. Medications including diuretics, birth control pills, insulin, tetracycline and other antibiotics, and cortisone lead to magnesium deficiencies. Too much calcium often leads to an imbalance . These two minerals need to be in balance.

Hope you like it. :) I have several other Nutella recipes. We should start a Nutella thread. I think we've had them before. You can never have too many Nutella threads :lol:.

Oh my. :D Okay, now you really are rubbing it in. :lol: I think we've been to the one you're talking about. Dh grew up in San Diego. We lived there many years ago. We visited there last year. Love So. Cal. I'm still thinking about ash e jow. :D