Switch2Health

S2H Replay wristbands monitor physical activity, and the wearer can earn rewards such as a gift card from a major retailer up to an Xbox 360.
The bands come in three sizes and cost $19.95 each.
To read more about go to the website:
http://www.s2h.com/
To see a short video about it and more information go to:
http://www.dailygrommet.com/products/396-Switch2Health-S2H-Replay-activity-wristband-monitor

Cost Savings On Your Cell Phone Bill

Should You Switch to Prepaid Phone Service?
Check out this article that says switching to a prepaid service can be the best cost saving strategy to cut back on your cell phone bill. To find out more about it go to:
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/109402/should-you-switch-to-prepaid-phone-service

BillShrink

At BillShrink you can save money on your wireless service, credit cards, gasoline, and find the best rate for savings & CD's. There is also a BillShrink for business.
As it says at the website: "BillShrink is a free, personalized savings tool that helps you save money on your everyday bills. We put the power in your hands by presenting comprehensive, unbiased choices so you can select options best for you."
Check it all out here to start saving: http://www.billshrink.com/

Embrace Life - Wear Your Seatbelt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2o1oJ1zk_w&feature=related

Helen's Gifts from Tibet

Here are two quilts that my friend Helen made with fabric she brought back from Tibet. These are gifts for people she met there from other countries that were also teaching at the monastery. The singing bowl can be used for personal meditation, yoga, chakra clearing, reiki, feng shui, sound massage and sound therapy. There are also containers of incense sticks and a holder to stand them up in to burn. The tiny little hand carved wooden container was a gift from one of her students. Inside is a personal note he wrote to her rolled up like as in a Tibetan prayer wheel.
More about the singing bowls:
http://www.himalayanbowls.com/info.htm?pageName=questions
Information on prayer wheels:
http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/prayer-wheel.htm

Sewing Diary

A sewing diary is a helpful way to have a record of a project. If I want to go back and use this particular stitch on another quilt I can see exactly what it looked like because it's stitched right onto the paper. I made note of what it is called with its length and width. I can also make note of the thread used.

(Relationship) Violence Red Flags

From Gavin de Becker on the Oprah website there is a list of four signs that are often missed that may indicate a relationship may become violent.

1. Physical Violence - Being pushed or hit is a major clue that your partner is capable of violence. Being hit ends the mystery. It's over. It doesn't work in relationships and it usually doesn't get any better.
2. Symbolic Violence - This is the destruction of objects to intimidate the other person. Like tearing up wedding pictures.
3. Fast-Paced Relationships - If the pace is accelerated in the relationship when the other person began discussing marriage, moving in together and having children, that itself is a control strategy.
4. Persistence - Anyone who doesn't hear the word no is trying to control you. Persistence doesn't mean you are special. It means they are troubled. Women misinterpret persistence as flattery.
To read more go to:
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Abusive-Relationship-Red-Flags

To combat domestic violence, Gavin has developed a potentially lifesaving tool called MOSAIC. This online assessment is free and protects the user's identity.

It can help to assess these types of situations:
Domestic Violence - Male Offender/Female Offender
Worplace Violence - Concerning a Male/ Concerning a Female
Threat by Student - School/University
Threats - Public Figures/Judicial Officials
Go here to check it out:
https://www.mosaicmethod.com/

I Graduated Today!

I finally completed my Cardiac Rehab that I started last year and had to stop when I had vertigo. Anyway, now all of my 12 sessions are completed. I even had a cap, gown, a huge golden sneaker, and walked around the little track to the sounds of Pomp & Circumstance, ending with purple confetti!!! Oh, and a Certificate of course. Thanks to all the nurses. You were so sweet!
Now back to the gym - FINALLY! (UGH!!)

For more about Pomp & Circumstance:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1273081

To read about my heart event of last year go to: February of 2009 - 18th, 20th, 23rd

Anytime Energy Bars

This comes from Guideposts on line and is by Rebecca Katz.
Click on the link to read more about it and see a video.
http://www.guideposts.com/story/recipe-anytime-energy-bars?emaileid=NL_YWI_Sub%20Category

Anytime Bars

Ingredients
1 cup raw pecan halves
1 cup whole raw almonds
2 tablespoons spelt flour
2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons flaxseed, finely ground
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup pitted dates, quartered (preferably Medjool)
1 cup unsulfured dried apricots, cut in half
1 organic egg
5 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly oil a 9-inch square pan. Spread pecans in a single layer on baking sheet and toast for 7 to 10 minutes, until aromatic and slightly browned. Watch carefully, as they burn easily. Repeat this process for almonds. Turn oven down to 325°F.

2. Combine spelt flour, all-purpose flour, flaxseed, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a food processor and process for 5 seconds to combine. Add pecans and almonds; pulse 5 times to coarsely chop. Add oats, dates and apricots. Pulse 10 to 15 times, till mixture is well chopped but coarse.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together egg, maple syrup and vanilla till combined. Add fruit and nut mixture and use your hands to mix well, being sure to separate any clumps of fruit. Spread mixture in square baking pan in an even layer and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, till set and golden brown. Don’t overbake or bars will be too dry. Let cool on wire rack for 5 minutes, then cut into 25 squares. Leave bars in pan till completely cool so they’ll hold together when you remove them.

Gluten-Free Restaurant Menus

HP reader Nancy J. sent along that Aladdin's Eatery has a G-F menu. (http://www.aladdinseatery.com/about_us.php)
This got me to thinking of looking for listings of gluten-free restaurants and/or menus offered by national and regional chains. I found the following websites.

http://www.glutenfreetravelsite.com/restaurants/

http://www.glutenfreeceliacweb.com/2007/01/29/national-gluten-free-restaurant-chains/

http://www.gfdelights.com/search.php

How the States Got Their Shapes

Ever wonder how the states got their shapes? Well, you can find it all out on the History Channel. You'll have to set your recording devices unless you stay up late.

"We are so familiar with the map of United States, but do we know why our states look the way they do? Every shape on the map tells a great story about our past. Why is California bent? To cling on to gold. Why does Oklahoma have a panhandle? Because of shifting borders for slavery. Why does Missouri have a boot? Because of a massive earthquake. This special examines how every state is a puzzle piece ultimately revealing the unique geography, political and social history of America."

Tonight on the History Channel
1am ET
12am CT
1am PT

Oh, and for those of you that watch it, the cast of Glee is on Oprah today. New episodes start next week.

100 Places to Remember Before They Disappear

On the planet green website there is a listing of rare and beautiful locations from around the world that are facing climate change and may soon disappear.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/places-remember.html

Do you live in one of these places? Have you been to any of them?

30 Days

If you didn't see this series in its first run and you get the planet green channel I recommend watching the 30 Days series which will start on Monday, April 3rd. It also runs on April 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13th.

Minimum Wage - Morgan Spurlock and his fiancee Alex uproot themselves from the financial security of their fabulous New York City lives and work at multiple minimum wage jobs for 30 days.

Anti-Aging - A thirty-something former athlete who is battling middle-age, an expanding gut, and a lowered libido goes on anti-aging drugs for 30 days.

Straight Man in a Gay World - A 24-year-old conservative homophobe, spends 30 days living with a gay roommate in San Francisco's Casto district.

Muslims and America - David, a Christian man from West Virginia, spends 30 days living in a largely Muslim community in Dearborn, Michigan.

Check here fo all the specific dates and times:
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv-schedules/series.html?paid=237.15641.130001.32140.2&page=1

Hodgepodge Turns Five - No Fooling!

“Friendship is like a prism through which the many variations of beauty

are revealed in our lives.” - Anon.

My thanks to all my beautiful Hodgepodge friends

for your support, caring, and sharing.

You are the BEST! - Debbie