I have so many DVDs (not that I use them nearly as often as I should), but I'm trying. Here are my favorites that are also quite straight-forward. I love Leslie, so I think I know what you're looking for. Collage video as the previous poster suggested is great, since you can view samples before ordering. Jari Love: Get Ripped to the Core and/or Get Ripped- when I looked at her picture, I thought no way. Great instructions. No mindless chatter. Very good workout. Easy to do. Denise Austin: Shrink Your Female Fat Zones - easy-to-do, very Leslie Sansone-ish, some get annoyed by her voice. Doesn't bother me. Kathy Smith: Lift Weights to Lose Weight - effective and good, fun and full of energy Denise Austin: 10 Five-Minute Target Toners Jillian Michaels (No More Trouble Zones) is tough, but very effective

Read this again and thought of you: Chaste Berry (Vitex) or Chaste Tree Berry • Indicated for a number of menopausal and perimenopausal concerns - It is often used to treat excessive bleeding, fluid retention and breast tenderness. • Is a herb that is high in phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are forms of estrogen that are much weaker than the body’s estrogens, but that are capable of blocking the stronger, more damaging estrogens (they can fit into the same receptors in breast cells that estrogens can, thus preventing the estrogen’s ability to dock there). Phytoestrogens also expand the length of the menstrual cycle, possibly lowering the lifetime exposure to estrogen. It's very gentle and somewhat slow to show its full effects, so give it a couple of months before deciding if it's helping. Normalizes hormone secretion and helps balance estrogen and progesterone 40 mg daily Pregnant and nursing women shouldn't use Chasteberry. There are few drug interactions, but dopamine receptor antagonists can diminish its effectiveness. Rashes are a rare side effect. Because Chasteberry has an effect upon progesterone synthesis, it may not be appropriate for women who have strongly progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Uplifting and books that will leave you feeling up. These have been some of my favorites: The Five People You Meet in Heaven Tuesdays with Morrie - and pretty much any other Mitch Albom book – we even got the DVDs of three of his books and really liked them Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg and most of her books - although this one is her absolute best. :thumbup: :thumbup: Anything by Maeve Binchy ... sweet and light :) Funny in Farsi NON-FICTION The Geography of Bliss Dave Barry’s Only Travel Guide You’ll Ever Need and pretty much any Dave Barry book

That's what another friend told me once. It's rare for me to finish 1 book a week. It can happen. But not always.

Guggulipid is a waxy substance used extensively in India for the heart. It lowers LDL and raises HDL. One study showed that when people took 500 mg, twice a day, for 3 months, they lowered their total cholesterol by more than 23%. Guggulipid can be found in many cholesterol-lowering supplements. Policosanol has been found great for LDL reduction, even better than statins! It also raises HDL levels. It is effective in amounts of 5-20 mg per day. Start with the smallest dose. Magnesium Lowers total and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, while raising HDL (good) cholesterol Appears to reduce high blood pressure, cutting the risk of heart attack and stroke Lessens the risk of heart arrhythmia and limits the complications of congestive heart failure Magnesium, a natural calcium channel blocker, is an effective treatment for heart attacks and cardiac arrhythmias. An astounding number of studies have documented the effectiveness of IV magnesium in helping prevent cardiac damage and even death following a heart attack. The reason for this is that 40 to 60 percent of sudden deaths from heart attack are the result of spasm in the arteries, not blockage from clots or arrhythmias! Without adequate magnesium, blood vessels constrict and blood pressure increases. HOW MUCH TO TAKE 400-1200 mg daily of Magnesium is helpful but use according to bowel tolerance. Take in divided doses and with meals to ensure optimal absorption. Magnesium and many other minerals are best absorbed when they are bound to an acidic carrier such as citrate, aspartate, picolinate, or amino acid chelate. Minerals need an acidic base to break down and get used. The most absorbable forms are magnesium citrate, glycinate taurate, or aspartate, although magnesium bound to Kreb cycle chelates (malate, succinate, fumarate) are also good. Avoid magnesium carbonate, oxide, sulfate, gluconate, and oxide. They are poorly absorbed (and the cheapest and most common forms found in supplements). Side effects from too much magnesium include diarrhea, which can be avoided if you switch to magnesium glycinate. Most minerals are best taken as a team with other minerals in a multi-mineral formula. People with kidney disease or severe heart disease should take magnesium only under a doctor's supervision. Grape Seed Extract has reversed atherosclerosis in animals. It lowers cholesterol and LDLs while raising HDLs. Use grape seed oil daily in your salad dressings, or take a GSE supplement. The active ingredient in GSE is resveratrol. Vitamin C helps promote proper HDL ("good") cholesterol levels and the production of collagen and glycosaminoglycans, which provide structural strength to arterial walls Vitamin C with bioflavonoids – 300 mg daily If you’re prone to heartburn or acid reflux, avoid ascorbic acid – and opt for Ester-C. High doses of ascorbic acid can also lead to kidney stones. Regular, Brisk Exercise such as one hour of walking at least three times a week will work wonders. More physical exercise helps raise your HDL cholesterol and lower your LDL cholesterol.

I started to reply to all the previous posts, but realized that I kept hitting :iagree: so often that it was beginning to look really silly :lol:. I agree with pretty much everyone, that the whole cholesterol thing is a myth, etc. That sugar is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to cholesterol (or pretty much anything). And that eggs are in fact good for you. Here's some more info that may be of help. Not all of it is do-able for everyone, of course. ;) Ideal HDL – As high as possible. Aim for at least 40. Triglycerides are the most common fat in the body. They can be an independent and compounding cause of heart disease. Even if your cholesterol numbers are normal, you may still be in danger of developing cardiovascular disease if your triglycerides are high. What’s more statin drugs aren’t very effective at lowering them. High triglyceride levels are commonly linked to metabolic syndrome (or prediabetes) and Type 2 diabetes, not to mention inflammation of the pancreas. High levels of these fats may also signal liver problems, in which fatty acids are poorly broken down and utilized, or even thyroid dysfunction. If you have a roll of fat above your waistline, you probably have high triglycerides. Get a blood test to see. Fast for at least 12 hours prior to blood testing for triglycerides. And be aware that taking vitamin C and certain medications—even before that 12-hour fast—can throw off your triglyceride level, resulting in an inaccurate reading. Lower than 150 is desirable, and under 100 is ideal. Even more important is the triglyceride/HDL (”good”) cholesterol ratio, which should be below 2 (triglycerides divided by your HDL number). Triglycerides are relatively easy to control. Triglycerides and HDL cholesterol are the “lifestyle lipids” because they are so responsive to everyday health habits. Eating too many sweets (including HFCS), drinking too much alcohol, being overweight, and not getting enough exercise can raise triglycerides. One cardiologist said how he’s seen patients’ triglyceride levels fall from 400 to less than 100 and their HDL levels rise significantly by simple lifestyle changes. Eat as few processed and fried foods as possible Limit high-fat meals Limit simple carbohydrates and sugars like fruit juice, white potatoes, candy, and white pasta – your body converts empty calories it doesn’t need into triglycerides Even too much fruit can raise triglycerides in some people. Ratio of Triglyceride to HDL This is a very good predictor of heart disease – divide your triglyceride level by HDL. The number should be under 5. GREEN TEA contains several active bioflavonoids, which promote capillary and small vessel strength – great for overall heart health – supports the heart Stimulates bile secretion and helps body eliminate excessive cholesterol – helps decrease total cholesterol, harmful LDL and triglycerides – it also appears to increase HDL Try to buy organic green tea when you can, and store your tea in a dark, dry place. Half cup cooked tomatoes daily or at least twice a week. Lowers LDL and increases HDL Works like aspirin in reducing risk of heart attack and stroke Eat tomatoes cooked with olive oil. Almonds and Other Nuts Large handful (2.5 ounces or about 50 nuts) a day Eating a handful of nuts 5 or more times a week can reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Reach for almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, macadamia nuts, and walnuts. These are packed with monounsaturated fatty acids that raise HDL while lowering LDL. Like a broom, these fats help HDL sweep the cholesterol buildup to the liver for excretion. Snack on these nuts or sprinkle them in salads and stir-fries. Sprinkle walnuts over a salad or toss with roasted root vegetables. Garlic Lowers cholesterol while increasing HDL (healthy) cholesterol and reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol Can be used in food or in capsules For artery health, take at least two cloves of garlic a day. If you’re already taking any blood thinner, don’t use more than 1 clove of garlic a day Garlic is a powerful anticoagulant, and high amounts could thin your blood too much - other than this, garlic is very safe For the same reason, stop taking garlic one to two weeks before surgery Niacin • Raises good HDL cholesterol and lowers triglycerides. • It enlarges the smallest, densest, most dangerous particles so they’re less likely to damage arteries • Brings down levels of another harmful component of blood called lipoprotein (a), which is resistant to the benefits of statins, diet, and exercise. You can’t get enough niacin in your diet to achieve the above results. To gain a cardiovascular benefit, you need at least 500 mg. At this dosage, many commonly experience flushing, which subsides within an hour. So, it’s best to avoid taking it right before leaving the house or going to sleep. These symptoms can be minimized if the niacin is taken with aspirin or a meal. In fact, flushing is a positive sign that blood vessels are dilating in response to the niacin, and patients who flush ultimately raise their HDLs and lower their triglycerides more than those who don’t flush. Niacin is more effective than niacinamide. CAUTION: • Do not take more than 2000 mg daily. Very high doses can damage the liver. One capsule of 500 mg per day is the usual recommendation. • Be careful if you have prediabetes or diabetes. Niacin can raise levels of blood glucose. This effect is generally mild, though, and doesn’t outweigh its heart-protecting benefits. But it’s good to consult with your doctor before taking it. • Also use caution if pregnant, have glaucoma, gout, liver disease, or peptic ulcers. A good fish oil – such as Carlson’s - Take 1000 mg of fish oil If you have high blood pressure, high triglycerides, or other signs of heart disease, 3-5 grams may be more helpful. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re taking medications to make sure there are no negative interactions. Fish oils thin the blood just like aspirin, gingko biloba, and garlic. You don’t want to thin your blood so much that it causes bleeding. Omega-3s keeps inflammation in your body in check Some of the many conditions linked to inflammation in the body, include: • Heart Disease • Metabolic syndrome • Obesity • Type 2 diabetes Omega-3's help: • Decrease risk of heart disease and sudden death • Raise HDL (good) cholesterol and lowering resting heart rates and triglyceride levels. • Reduce severity of diabetes by balancing blood sugar and high insulin levels • Trim dangerous belly fat linked to both cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes • Weight loss • Reduce cravings for the wrong kinds of fat – such as those found in desserts and milk-based products • Improve liver health and function • Anyone with chronic kidney disease, which ups the risk for heart disease, may see improvements in blood pressure and heart rate after taking omega 3 fats CAVEAT: DO NOT TAKE FISH OILS IF YOU ARE ON ANY BLOOD THINNER. OR WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF ANY PLANNED SURGERY. OR IF YOUR DOCTOR ADVISES YOU NOT TO TAKE.

Agreeing with Peela and Rosie.

I've loved several of the books already mentioned, and am going to look into others that I have not yet read. These have been some of my favorites. The Kite Runner then wait about 6 months (or else it's Afghanistan overkill) before reading his even better book Thousand Splendid Suns - this one, by far, is amongst one of the best books I have ever read The Help The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende and anything else by her, but this one is her best and first one Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg and most of her books Funny in Farsi Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett The Secret Life of Bees The Book Thief The Geography of Bliss - non-fiction and wonderful Outliers … and all Malcolm Gladwell books

Susan, once I entered my 30s, I could no longer exercise AND eat as much as I wanted to. Before that, I could. My body changed. I have to REALLY eat less in order to lose anything. Exercise is essential for overall health and wellbeing, but once I entered my 30s, it does squat when it comes to weight loss. Unfortunately. Fabulous video. Going to bookmark this and watch their other ones. Thank you for this. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/27/earlyshow/health/main5269114.shtml http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/phys-ed-why-doesnt-exercise-lead-to-weight-loss/ http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/articles/aerobicexercise.htm http://nymag.com/news/sports/38001/ Exercise is important for overall health, but it may not burn that many calories. To demonstrate the calorie intake versus exercise principle: Elliptical training for 44 minutes/500 kcal burned=1 Honey Bran Raisin Muffin from Dunkin Donuts Kickboxing for 25 minutes and 272 kcal burned=Grande Starbucks latte with whole milk Jogging for 60 minutes and 470 kcal burned=1 slice (1/6 of cake) of Sara Lee Cheesecake, chocolate swirl NY style Pilates for 30 minutes and 119 kcal burned=5 pieces of hard candy It’s much easier to eat 1000 calories than it is to burn 1000 calories! What Amount of Exercise Burns 1 Pound of Fat? To burn sufficient calories to lose one pound of body fat, you might: - Briskly walk a total of 35 miles - Swim moderately fast for 6 hours - Dance for 12 hours - Play about 12.5 hours of golf, carrying your own clubs - Jog for about 29 miles At the same time, you would need to monitor your eating habits to ensure that you are not increasing your calorie-intake in line with your increased exercise! And we all know that it’s much easier to eat 1000 calories than it is to burn 1000 calories! As you can see, it takes time and considerable physical effort to achieve any kind of rapid fat-loss by exercise alone. So if you want to burn off your last pockets of fat by increased fitness training, give yourself enough time and don't jump onto your bathroom scales more often than once a month. Also, be aware that muscle is denser (heavier mass) than fat. So while you may look leaner, your weight may show only a slight reduction. Since it takes 3500 calories to lose one pound, if you are only burning 1000 calories a week through exercise, it will take you about 3 weeks to lose a pound– assuming you don’t eat any more food than you ate before you started exercising. But, the benefits of exercise are worth the time and effort, even if its star attribute isn’t in the weight-loss department. Exercise is important, but it may negatively affect your weight loss for three main reasons: 1. Exercise makes you hungrier, causing you to eat more. 2. Exercise causes feelings of entitlement. You may want to reward yourself because you worked out so hard at the gym. 3. Exercise does not burn that many calories. Couple that fact with being hungrier and you may eat more calories than you burned. If you're looking to control your weight, exercise is the least efficient way to do it. You'd have to run for hours to keep the cookies you ate from adding to your waistline. It's far more effective to not eat the cookies. Making fruits and vegetables a larger part of your diet will help crowd out the foods that don't offer much in the way of nutrition, and that add weight that shouldn't be there. Also, as you build lean muscle tissue, your body will lessen its fatty tissue, and your shape will change. If you're overweight, you're not trying to lose weight, you're trying to lose fat. If your goal is to look and feel great, strength building exercise will accomplish this while making you fit in the process. Doing only aerobics will not. For me, weight loss is more like 80% of what I eat and 20% of what I do. As with most things in life, the usual 80/20 Principle applies. My dh (and others have said this also), say that it may be more like 90% what I eat. I'm coming to believe that more and more. Yes, exercise is KEY for overall health, but when it comes to weight loss, for me, it's not the magic bullet that it once was. Unfortunately. I used to love to be able to eat that slice of cheesecake AND run 4 miles the next morning AND not ever gain. Whether or not I lose weight is all about what I put in my mouth. If I really watch what and how much I eat I lose. If I don't I will just maintain or gain. Exercise does help to maintain when I'm not watching what I eat, but I no longer lose any significant amount of weight without really watching what you eat, regardless of how much Jillian Michaels I do. In fact, the weeks I exercise more, I step on the scale and gain usually. And it's not muscle mass. I'm just briskly walking. I now tell myself to exercise. Not necessarily for 90 minutes a day and sometimes not even every day, since it's often unrealistic and not possible. But I tell myself to exercise for health. I no longer exercise for weight loss. If I want to lose weight, which is a perpetual goal of mine, I have to eat MUCH, MUCH less (which is what I'm currently doing with the hcg diet). If I want overall health and longevity, I have to add regular and consistent exercise. As a good friend reminded me: “If you can exercise only and drop the pounds, count yourself blessed. You are not the norm.” She also said this (and she's very trim, slim, and healthy - gorgeous actually): "... my exercise goal is forty minutes, four times or more a week. When I exercise for an hour or more, I'm exhausted for the rest of the day and have an insatiable appetite." Exercise does help burn calories -- you just can't eat more because of it. Also since exercise may trigger hunger you need to focus on not only the calories you are consuming, but also making sure the calories you do consume are going to fill you up. Foods high in fiber, protein and healthy fat, are low enough in calories that you won't be sabotaging your workouts. Someone else wrote this: There’s a Gary Taubes video where he talks about how when we increase our exercise, our appetites naturally increase to adjust. Conversely, when we reduce our caloric intake, our bodies naturally reduce their energy output to adjust. This is not something you hear much about though, because it flies in the face of "conventional wisdom".

I don't see any bad ingredients in it. Other than alcohol, which I personally don't like the taste of in my drops, but that's a personal thing. If you don't mind that part of it, maybe it's worth trying. For heavy menstrual bleeding, this is the only info I have: Bioflavonoids (buckwheat, citrus fruit peels and pulp) when combined with vitamin C, moderate estrogen levels and strengthen blood vessels to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding 1500-3000 mg bioflavonoids and 1000-3000 mg Vitamin C daily

I should try that - putting it on my phone. :D I stopped paying attention to popular music when our kids were really small, but now that they're getting older, we're all enjoying the same music together, which is so nice. On our recent trip to the U.S., we had no disagreements as to which radio stations to listen to. We all have very similar taste, so that helps. For the longest while, I thought ONLY 80s music (the music we grew up to) was any good. But now I'm realizing that there is a lot of great stuff out there.

A few recent top 40 hits :D: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzXjPrSWQ5M - I am absolutely CRAZY about this performance and song. Soooo much energy! :D Fantastic performance. Great song! - Dynamite - except we sometimes sing, "I throw my sandwich sometimes. Give me mayo! Give me mayo!" :lol:

Peela, thanks so much :grouphug:. This is great.

Peela, or anyone else, do you know where we can buy this in the U.S.? I've tried googling, but can't seem to come up with anything much.

BREAKFAST BURRITOS Scramble some eggs, sprinkle on cheese toward the end and drizzle on salsa. Then we wrap those up in a tortilla. Sometimes I add bacon, chopped and fried or some ham. If we have any leftover baked potatoes, I dice or shred those and add them in too. APPLE CRISP About 3 cups apples, sliced thin – enough to fill bottom of pan Sugar Cinnamon Sprinkle on cinnamon Only add sugar if apples are very tart Combine all ingredients and place in oiled baking dish. Topping 3/4 cup flour 3/4 cup oatmeal 3/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/3 cup melted butter Combine, crumble together thoroughly and sprinkle over first mixture. Bake in 350 degree oven about 40 minutes, or until apples are tender. We bake this in various size pans--8x8, 9x9, or 11x7. A doubled recipe fits nicely in a 9x13. Best with ice cream, or a dollop of whipped cream! BLUEBERRY FRENCH TOAST Serves 12 1 (1 pound) loaf Italian bread, cut into 1 inch cubes 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, diced 1 cup blueberries 12 eggs 2 cups milk 1/3 cup maple syrup 1 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1 cup water 1 cup blueberries 1 tablespoon butter 1. Place half of the bread cubes in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Sprinkle cream cheese on top of bread cubes. Top with 1 cup blueberries and remaining bread. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, milk and maple syrup. Pour egg mixture over bread. Cover pan and refrigerate overnight. 2. The next morning, remove pan from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 3. Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Uncover pan and bake for an additional 30 minutes, until golden brown and center is set. 4. To make Sauce: In a saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch, add water. Boil over medium heat for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in blueberries and reduce heat. Simmer 8 to 10 minutes, or until the berries have burst. Stir in butter until melted. Serve the sauce over squares of french toast. Cut eggs back to 9-10, and add 1 tsp. vanilla to the egg/milk mixture. Six to 8 oz. cream cheese is plenty. Spreading the cream cheese on the bread before slicing is a great idea if you have family members who aren't fond of cream cheese - it's less visible. Otherwise, cut into small dice no bigger than 1/2 inch (a little messy, but much better than the 1 inch squares suggested in other recipes). It's critical to sprinkle cinnamon (I like Pampered Chef's "Cinnnamon Plus" spice blend) on both the bottom and top layers of bread cubes - the cinnamon could be added to the egg mixture as well, but I would still sprinkle extra on top. For the sauce, use only about 1-2 tsp. of cornstarch, especially if you prepare it ahead of time - otherwise the sauce becomes too thick. Reduce the sugar to 1/4-1/3 cup, and add the juice of half a lemon for a little zip. Tip: Be careful not to use too much bread -- the dish can't "puff up" if all of the cubes aren't sufficiently saturated. Also, as much as I love the sauce, the dish is equally good and maybe even better with real maple syrup.

Don't know if any of these would be of interest. These are recipes that I often rotate, mostly on the weekends when I have more time. BAKED OATMEAL Serves 4 1 ½ cups quick-cooking oats ½ cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 egg, lightly beaten ½ cup milk ¼ cup melted butter ½ cup chopped and peeled tart apple Slightly less than 1/3 cup chopped fresh or frozen peaches Slightly less than 1/3 cup fresh or frozen blueberries Additional milk (optional) In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Combine the eggs, milk and butter; add to the dry ingredients. Stir in the apple, peaches and blueberries. Pour into an 8-in. square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cut into squares. Serve with milk if desired. Yield: 9 servings. Baked French Toast with Pie Filling 1 8 oz loaf French or Italian bread 8 eggs 1 cup milk 2 tsp. vanilla ½ tsp. baking powder 2 cans pie filling – apple/blackberry/blueberry/cherry 1 tsp. cinnamon 4 T. margarine, melted Powdered sugar Slice bread into 3/4 inch slices. Place on cookie sheet. Mix well the eggs, baking powder, milk, and vanilla. Pour over bread and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Next morning, preheat oven and remove bread from the fridge. Pour pie filling into 9x13 pan and spread as evenly as possible. Sprinkle cinnamon over pie filling. Wedge bread slices, wettest side up, into pan on top of filling. Brush tops with melted margarine and bake at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes until toasted golden. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and let sit 5 minutes. Serves 6 (in theory). Fancy Schmancy Omelettes 2 eggs per omelet Water Salt and pepper to taste Basil, thyme, and parsley Grated cheeses (we like Monterey Jack and dollops of goat or cream cheese) Possible fillings: tomatoes, caramelized onions, peppers (red are sweetest), mushrooms, scallions, diced ham Break up as many eggs as you need for 2 eggs per omelet. Add a slosh of water and whisk well. Salt and pepper to taste. Add basil, thyme, and parsley by pinches. Add grated cheeses of choice. Stir the eggs well in a well-oiled saute pan until eggs set up. Then, add fillings of choice. Fold omelet over and finish off with a flip to the other side. VANILLA CREPES - I can never get them thin enough ... 1 1/2 cups milk (may need to use 2-3 tbsp more milk if batter is too thick) 3 eggs 2 tablespoons vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 5 tablespoons melted butter 1. In a large bowl, mix together the milk, egg yolks and vanilla. Stir in the flour, sugar, salt and melted butter until well blended. Put everything in the blender so there are no lumps. 2. Heat a crepe pan over medium heat until hot. Coat with vegetable oil or cooking spray. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter into the pan and tip to spread the batter to the edges. When bubbles form on the top and the edges are dry, flip over and cook until lightly browned on the other side and edges are golden. Repeat with remaining batter. Find the right temp! When you first pour the batter, it shouldn't wrinkle too much when spreading, or your pan is too hot. Pour your batter on a very lightly greased pan. You know you're ready to flip it when the edges begin to curl, the middle batter isn't glossy and wet looking, and you can shake the pan to move the crepe. Use a large thin spatula, flip, and cook another 15 seconds. Pick up the pan and slide the crepe onto a plate. When you're ready to make another crepe, don't set your pan on the burner for more than a few seconds, or it gets too hot. 3. Fill crepes with Nutella, your favorite fruit, cream, caramel or even ice cream. BLUEBERRY SOUR CREAM PANCAKES 2 cups flour 1/4 cup sugar 4 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 2 eggs (I always separate the yolks. I add the beaten white in at the very end. This makes pancakes fluffy :)). 1 1/2 cups milk 1 cup sour cream (sometimes I use plain yogurt) 1/3 cup melted butter 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries Blueberry Pancake Topping 1/2 cup sugar 2 tbsp cornstarch 1 cup water 4 cups fresh or frozen blueberries PANCAKES: Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. In another bowl, beat eggs. Add milk, sour cream and butter. Mix well. Stir into dry ingredients until just blended. Fold in blueberries. I then make the topping. TOPPING: In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in water. Add blueberries. Bring to boil over medium heat. Boil for 2 mins, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, cover and keep warm. Now, I head back to the pancakes. Pour pancake batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a greased hot griddle. Turn when bubbles form on top of pancakes. Cook until the second side is golden brown. BERRY CREAM MUFFINS This makes a LOT (about 24 standard-size muffins), so you could halve the recipe if you wish. 4 cups flour 2 cups sugar 3 tsps baking powder 1 tsp salt (I usually do 3/4 tsp) 3 cups fresh or frozen raspberries or mixed berries 4 eggs (when making muffins and pancakes, I always separate the eggs. I beat the whites quite well and add them in LAST. This makes my muffins/pancakes lighter and fluffier). 2 cups sour cream (sometimes I do 1 cup sour cream and 1 cup plain yogurt. You could do just plain yogurt also - healthier). 1 cup vegetable oil 1 tsp vanilla Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add berries. Toss gently. Combine egg yolks, sour cream, oil, and vanilla. Mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Add beaten egg whites. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 mins or until muffins test done. -- PEACH PANCAKES Serves 3 (I double this for our family of 4!) 1 egg (for pancakes and muffins, I always separate the yolk and white. Makes them fluffier. I add the well-beaten white at the VERY end.) 1/2 cup peach yogurt 1/2 cup milk 2 tbsp canola oil 1 tbsp sugar (I always use brown) 1 cup flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/2 cup chopped peaches (fresh ... we don't have fresh ... or canned, but well-drained) 2 tbsp melted butter Mix egg, yogurt, milk, oil and sugar. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. Add flour mixture to liquid mixture and stir just enough to combine. Batter may be lumpy. Fold in chopped peaches. Brush hot griddle w/melted butter. Preheat. Pour approximately 1/4 cup of batter to griddle for each pancake. Cook until bubbles form. Flip pancake over and finish cooking. BREAKFAST FRUIT COBBLER 2 Cups of fresh, canned or frozen fruit (canned pears, peaches and apples, frozen blackberries, red raspberries or a berry blend) Place fruit in a baking dish sprayed with cooking oil. (I like to use a Pyrex pie dish) 4 Tablespoon sugar 2 Teaspoons cornstarch 4 Teaspoons water or (juice from the canned fruits) 1 Teaspoon lemon juice Mix together and pour over fruit in dish. 1 Cup quick cooking oats 1/2 Cup all-purpose flour 1/2 Cup brown sugar 1/2 Teaspoon cinnamon or (1/4 Teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/4 Teaspoon of nutmeg) 1 Cup cold butter Mix together cutting in the butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over fruit in dish. Bake 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until filling is bubbly. Serve steaming hot with milk or cream. Yields 4 servings If there is any left over you can reheat in the evening add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you have a wonderful snack.

Still catching up on some threads. I hear you. I've been neglectful with this lately. Used to have the entire family test their pH weekly. Now I'm a bit scared to. ;) Will start again soon. The paper's sitting there making me feel guilty!

We hated JAG. It was the worst homeschooling purchase we made last year. Boring, dull, and way too difficult ... the diagramming which would never end, was driving us out. of. our. minds. :glare: I prefer some really engaging and effective workbooks. I don't like grammar overkill. There are many wonderful workbooks out there. These ones are made by the publishers of Highlights magazine and we really like them. I'm sure Rainbow Resource and possibly amazon have them also. Goes all the way up to 8th grade, I think.

I don't have the teen version, just the child's one. The book is more of a reading list. Very good books. I've been reluctant to get the teen one, since my dd is very, very picky. She refuses to read classics. She only reads books that she likes. None of them are bad. But she has a mind of her own and her own opinions and tastes when it comes to reading. I imagine that I myself was the same way. My mother never made me read any particular book when I was 12, either. Had she done that, I would have been turned off by reading. Mind you, I do need to incorporate more literature in school. That will be selections that I make. I've been neglectful with literature and lit studies.

I was 28 and dh was 26. We got married the very same year. :)

Clips of it are available on the link I gave earlier.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/23/festivus-holiday_n_800840.html :D

I remember being pg with our dd when the episode aired and laughing so much. I miss that show. Happy Festivus for the rest of us ... :D

Many of the titles here are absolute favorites - The Help, for example, or Pillars of the Earth, etc. But I didn't read them in '10. Oh well ... Fiction: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series (after you get past the first 60 or so pages, plus, I don't mind the graphic nature, since I tend to not let it get to me). I just love Lisbeth's personality. Reminds me of Kill Bill. Never, ever thought I would like those movies. But I love them. I absolutely flat-out refused to see those movies at first. Non-Fiction: The Geography of Bliss - pure pleasure, fun, insightful, and you feel like you're traveling with him. I'm re-reading it .. that's how much I liked it. :D