The Channel says this all of the time . . .

but maybe you'll believe it more if scientists say it:

The Mantra That Helps You Live Longer
By RealAge

The last thing we all need right now is another doom-and-gloom headline. So try this mantra as an antidote: Good times are coming.

Think it. Believe it. Say it to yourself often -- as often as it takes to put yourself in a more positive frame of mind. Not only could it put more bounce in your step, but research shows it may add miles to your life, too.

Great Expectations: It's all about attitude. And the right one did a lot for the women in a study. Those with the most optimism -- a belief that good things will happen -- enjoyed a 14 percent lower risk of dying from any cause during the study, compared with their most pessimistic peers. And the women who saw the glass as half full were also 30 percent less likely to develop heart disease.

Raising Resilience: The study findings don't necessarily prove that a bad attitude shortens life. But cultivating a positive mood certainly can't hurt you. A positive attitude does a bunch of good stuff for your health -- like setting you up to cope with stress in healthier ways (such as meditation instead of drinking). Positive people may also deal with stress better and live longer because they tend to enjoy deeper social bonds than cynical types do.

Posted at http://www.realage.com/tips/the-mantra-that-helps-you-live-longer

Remember the "grapefruit diet"?

Yeah, we all remember that one! And people made fun of it or swore by it. Now, researchers are saying that citrus helps raise your metabolism! From www.realage.com:

The research is early, but a new animal study suggests that naringenin, a compound in grapefruit, could help stop the pounds from piling on.

Citrus Secrets

In the study, researchers found that mice with symptoms of metabolic syndrome gained less weight from a high-fat diet when they were on a naringenin supplement. Not only that, but the rodents' cholesterol and triglyceride levels and insulin sensitivity also improved. More support: Check out this human study that found weight benefits to eating grapefruit.

Okay, now it's official - everything old is new again! (But worth a try!)

I know - baking soda again!

But I love these tips! From TotalBeauty.com:

Four Amazing Uses for Baking Soda

No. 1: As a Clarifying Shampoo: Mix 2 teaspoons baking soda with 1 cup water and use as a final rinse after shampooing.

No. 2: As a Facial Cleanser: Mix 1/2 teaspoon with your favorite cleanser for extra exfoliating (no need to buy a separate scrub!). This is fine for all skin types to do weekly, but dry skin may need to follow up with a rich moisturizer.

No. 3: As a Foot Powder: Sprinkle some baking soda into your workout shoes for stink-free and sweat-free feet. No.

4: As a Teeth Whitener: It has a salty taste but baking soda is a classic tooth cleanser and whitener -- sprinkle on a damp toothbrush and brush as normal.

And it cleans sinks, polishes sink faucets, and cleans stains from dishes, too!

Thank goddess for baking soda! ; )

Vaseline - old fashioned fix!

When I was in my 20's, I used Vaseline to remove eye makeup. Whenever I told a makeup expert (at a spa, in a department store makeover) that I did this, they laughed at me. Not only laughed at me but called others over to laugh at me as well! So I stopped.

Fast forward to about 10 years ago. My eyelids were "crepey" and eyeshadow looked funny on my lids. So I decided what the heck - I'm not 20-something anymore, I don't care what they think. And so I began to use Vaseline to remove makeup every night. Within a week or so, my eyelids were as smooth as they had ever been. And I've been using Vaseline ever since!

A couple of days ago, I was reading a women's magazine. Lo and behold, they had a makeup tip: Use Vaseline to remove your eye makeup and you'll diminish lines around your eyes.

I'm so glad that the world has caught up with me (and my grandmother)! ; )

Blessings!

Eyeshadow application

So, this is fun! Paula Begoun has some videos on uTube showing makeup application. I enjoyed this one on eye shadow. Maybe you don't like playing with makeup like I do but it's still interesting! Click here to watch the video


New ideas are always fun.

Brain foods

Okay, we all know by now that exercising your brain (puzzles, physical exercise) is the way to stay sharp throughout life. And hey - we should all do it. But Dr. Oz (who is everywhere now, courtesy of Oprah) says these foods also help. And if you're like me, it's easier for you to eat your way to brain health than it is to find new puzzles! So here goes:


Blueberries: Compounds in the bright berries may help shield against harmful processes tied to Alzheimer's disease and premature brain aging.

Eggs: This breakfast favorite is loaded with selenium -- a mineral that could help make your brain years younger.

Mustard: What makes mustard so amazing? Turmeric. Getting just 17 milligrams of it a day -- about a teaspoon of mustard -- can help activate genes that control the cleanup of cellular waste in your brain. (Note: I just read elsewhere that turmeric has a compound that starves fat cells - yay!)

Salmon: This pink fish is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, including the type thought to have the most antiaging effects on the brain. A DHA supplement is another way to get your omega-3s.

Kale: Getting at least three servings a day of dark, leafy greens high in carotenoids and flavonoids can slow mental decline associated with aging.

So play your way to health or eat your way to health - choose whichever you want!

Blessings!

Noetic Science

I'm just finishing Dan Brown's newest book, The Lost Symbol (which, by the way, is much better written than his previous books - while still being, of course, an exciting read) and I now want to go to Washington, DC. (Read the book to find out why!)

As with his previous books, he's introducing everyone to new "real world" information as well as creating a level of fictional excitement. I had never heard of noetic science and it's a fascinating field. If you'd like to learn more about it, google it or go to http://www.noetic.org/index.cfm and get an introduction to it.

If you're prejudiced against the Masons (shame on you!), you may have some trouble with the book since it revolves around the Masons and likes the organization. Hang in there - the Masons are not what you may think!

Blessings.