I just read the following statement in an article on MSN:

Women who ate beans at least twice a week were 24% less likely to develop breast cancer than those who ate them less often, report Harvard School of Public Health researchers, who analyzed data from 90,630 people. Legumes may lessen risk of breast cancer, thanks to their ability to suppress the production of enzymes that encourage tumor growth.

This is good news for me since I grew up eating lots of beans and I continue to love them! Andy is a big fan of the musical fruit too, so we generally have a “beany” dish at least 2-3 times a week. I knew they were yummy and healthy, but I had no idea they were good for the boobs too!

I’ll warn you that I’ve been on a path to healthier living for the past couple of months. I was really going strong before the holidays and I’ve been trying to hoist myself back up on the bandwagon ever since. The main change that I’ve made is switching to organic foods. You may be thinking I’ve been sucked in by the liberal media or the treehuggers, but I’ve actually been doing a lot of research on all of the changes I’ve been making. Fortunately Andy is on-board with these lifestyle changes, so I actually think they are going to stick this time! I’ll post a few things about organic food later…today it’s about the microwave oven!

Ten Reasons to Throw out your Microwave Oven

1. Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term – permanent – brain damage by “shorting out” electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].

2. The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.

3. Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.

4. The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual [long term, permanent] within the human body.

5. Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.

6. The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in microwave ovens.

7. Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths [tumors]. This may explain the rapidly increased rate of colon cancer in America.

8. The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.

9. Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.

10. Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.

Have you tossed out your microwave oven yet?

I’m sure you have thoughts on this…share them!!

*Information taken from http://www.ghchealth.com/

I managed to avoid total “grinchdom” this year! After my crazy Christmas last year, I was worried that I had lost my love for the holidays. This year was less hectic (I have a job I love, I didn’t commit myself to extra stuff and I got my shopping done much earlier) and although I did begin the season grumpy, I managed to snap out of it. One of my issues with the holiday this year was the lack of “inspired” gifts. It seems like nowadays everyone hands out a list of exactly what they want, what their kids are allowed to play with and where to get it all. This leaves very little room for spontaneity, creativity and inspiration. No longer am I strolling down aisles and seeing things that people would love, now I am clutching a list while I frantically drive from store to store looking for the exact item that each person wants. It’s NO FUN!

I ended up buying a few things from lists, but I also managed to get a few “inspired” gifts along the way. Andy and I found a few things for our nieces and nephews that we just knew they would like. We got our moms Vera Bradley stuff that they hadn’t asked for but would use and enjoy. Even though my sister and I decided not to exchange gifts in an effort to curb the holiday spending, I ended up finding a cute little gift that I knew she’d love…plus, I loved that it was inspired!

I also got a few inspired gifts this year too. A sewing machine!!!! It was one of those things I never knew I always wanted! Andy picked it up for me and I was so delighted! Now I have to find the perfect fabric to make window treatments for my dining room and kitchen! My friend Becca got me some awesome black and white serving pieces that I used for all of the holiday goodies that I carted around to parties this year. I have a huge weakness for black and white dishes and she was somehow tuned into that this year.

My parents got Andy and I a cool outdoor wine bucket for our patio…totally inspired! I can’t wait to sit out there this summer with a tub of icy beverages at hand.

It similar to this, but the base is a little different.

My friend Kari made me her unbelievably delicious cheese ball and gifted it to me with two sleeves of crackers!

Andy’s parents got me a 2 year subscription to Self magazine which is something I really wanted but didn’t think anyone would want to get. I can’t wait for my first issue to arrive! Hopefully it will help me shed all of my extra holiday poundage.

My brother even got me an inspired gift! It was actually inspired by Andy’s suggestion, but it still counts! He got me this awesome hot pink satin purse to go with my awesome hot pink satin shoes that I got in the fall. I can’t wait to wear them together on New Years Eve!

This was the last year that I will be close to my family since they are all moving to Utah, but we certainly made the most of Christmas day. We had a blast at my aunt’s house singing karaoke and eating gobs of appetizers, then we stayed up till 3:45am exchanging gifts, listening to music, playing Guitar Hero and playing games. The next day the guys went shopping and out to breakfast while the girls layed around and chatted. Then my mom and I went to Sweet Annie’s to grab some post-holiday bargains. All in all it was a really great Christmas.

Did you get any inspired gifts??