Cellular Safety

Recently I read an article that both disturbed and disgusted me. I was shocked to read that according to The London School Of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine one in every six cell phones have fecal bacteria contamination.

Microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba, one of the world's foremost experts on germ study and faculty at the University of Arizona tested numerous common surfaces and found cell phones are the highest carrier of bacteria with 25,000 germs per square inch (that's 500 times more bacteria than the average toilet!!!). 


Dr. Gerba's instructions for lessening your chances of getting sick from E.coli, MRSA, H1N1, and norovirus contamination via mobile phone are:

• Clean your phone at least once a week with a anti-bacterial wipes such as Lysol or Clorox sheets. 
• Do not allow someone with a flu/cold to use your phone.
• Remember to always wash your hands after using the restroom or changing a diaper.

Thursday Thought For The Day

S'Mores Sweetness (Ooey Gooey Goodness For Happy Hearts On V-Day)

S’mores Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 king-sized milk chocolate bars (e.g. Hershey’s)

1 1/2 cups marshmallow creme/fluff (not melted marshmallows)

Directions:

1.    Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch square baking pan.

2.    In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix at a low speed until combined.

3.    Divide dough in half and press half of dough into an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Place chocolate bars over dough. 2 king-sized Hershey’s bars should fit perfectly side by side, but break the chocolate (if necessary) to get it to fit in a single layer no more than 1/4 inch thick. Spread chocolate with marshmallow creme or fluff. Place remaining dough in a single layer on top of the fluff (most easily achieved by flattening the dough into small shingles and laying them together).

4.    Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Makes 16 cookie bars.

I'm Thinking Of Becoming A Born Again ...Coffee Drinker

As many of you loyal readers who have followed me through the years on older blogs already know, I was once a 20+ cup a day coffee drinker. An addiction I am proud to have quit, I now may have reason and conclusive evidence to support that coffee may indeed not be a bad thing after all.

Dr. Michel Lucas, a Research Fellow at Harvard University, did a study for the Harvard School of Public Health which found that drinking coffee may help protect against Parkinson's disease, diabetes and certain cancers. If that's not enough to have you pouring a cup of java, the investigation also found that women who drink two to three cups of coffee a day (about ten to fifteen ounces) have a FIFTEEN PERCENT lower risk of depression than nondrinkers.

"Caffeine gives you a great boost of energy, " Dr. Lucas said. "A major symptom of depression is losing interest in doing things you love and caffeine can help to remedy that."

I'll never go back to the copious amounts I drank in the past and honestly, even three cups a day is a little excessive for me at this point, but I may go back to sipping one cup a day (and thoroughly enjoying it!!!!) considering this news and even better - WITHOUT feeling guilty about it. ;)

The One Where I Laud The Merits Of The Dark Side.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, a lot of people have chocolate on their mind. I have never been a huge chocolate fan (my husband, on the other hand, loves it). On the rare occasion that I do nibble on something chocolatey (yes, I know that's not a real word, but it's my blog darn it), I tend to gravitate in the direction of milk chocolate or something caramel or toffee infused. Over the years, I've noticed a pattern - people who prefer DARK CHOCOLATE tend to be (at least in my own personal experience) very academic (read: intelligent) individuals. Some might disagree with the aforementioned observation of mine, but one thing's for sure -

Dark chocolate lovers are onto something.

Dark chocolate contains phenols, a compound found to lower blood pressure. The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study done by the University of Cologne in 2003 that confirmed this long believed theory. In the experiment, six men and seven women ranging  from 55-64 years old with slightly high blood pressure were given 100 grams of dark chocolate balanced with other healthy foods every day for two weeks. The results showed that their overall blood pressure was much better after consuming the dark chocolate (five points for systolic and two points for diastolic pressure).

If that's not a big enough reason to sink your teeth into some decadent deliciousness, dark chocolate is also listed as a "Super Food" because of the flavinols and antioxidants found in it, just like in cranberries, blueberries, pomegranates, salmon, broccoli, and yogurt (other "Super Foods"). It has higher levels of epicatechin than milk or white chocolate (white, by the way, isn't really even chocolate. It's made from cocoa butter and combined with milk, sugar, and other artificial flavoring).

So there you have it lovelies. Two excellent reasons to indulge your sweet tooth this Valentine's (or any other day).

Put a Lid On It

Blogging or journaling is, of course, a great way to document things we want to remember. Recently though, I came across a blog that suggested something else I want to incorporate into my own DIY project list - a Memory Jar.
The idea is to jot down special memories (these things of significance can be anything from huge obvious hallmark events to things of  quiet sentimental value) on little tears of paper throughout the year  and place them inside your Memory Jar. Then -  around December 30th or 31st -  unscrew the lid of this simple time capsule and dwell in all the goodness that touched your life as you bid adieu to 2012.

Seriously, how awesome is this???

I think I'll be using a clear mason jar for mine instead of a decorated box. I like the idea of being able to see the folded pieces of paper inside the container. For me, it will be help if I can easily view them peeking out from beneath the glass - a gentle nudge to be grateful for things  - even on days when doing so may be challenging or difficult.

Cookie Comfort Food

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter

• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

• 1 cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 3 1/2 cups flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1 package Double Stuff Oreo cookies

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.

Using a mixer and large bowl: cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together.

Beat in eggs and vanilla.

In a separate bowl: combine flour, salt, and baking soda.

Slowly add to wet ingredients in large bowl.

Add hocolate chips.

Use a cookie scoop or manually form balls with dough.

Place one ball on top of an Oreo cookie, and another ball on the bottom.

Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until Oreo cookie is fully enclosed by dough.

Place onto parchment lined baking sheets.

 Bake approximately 11-13 minutes or until golden brown.

Yield: two dozen cookies

Be Nice In 2012.

Not all of us are able to go on a Habitat For Humanity build or give up a year of our life to volunteer with The Peace Corps or other organizations of the same scope. However, we CAN contribute little things that have a Pay It Forward/Butterfly Effect that sometimes we may forget we have the ability to do.

With 2012 in full swing, I challenge you this year to try a couple of the below items on for size:

• Connect like-minded people. Introduce people who you feel have something to learn from each other. 
• Send flowers to someone. They'll smile.
• Forgive someone. It's a gift you give yourself too.
• Send a thank you card to someone. Everyone needs to hear they're appreciated.
• Volunteer at a children's hospital or convalescent home. Never underestimate the power of human interaction.
• Don't curse or given someone the middle finger if they cut in front of you. They may be rushing to a sick loved one.
• Donate blood. People need it.
• Treat people with the same level of respect you'd give your grandfather. Nuff said.
• Add change to an expired parking meter. A quarter or a dime may be a lifesaver for someone who can't afford a parking ticket.
• Help bag your own groceries in the checkout line. It's not difficult and the clerk will appreciate it. So will the people behind you.
• Share your umbrella. Figuratively and literally in the rain.
• Offer to babysit the kid(s) of a single parent or couple that doesn't get out very often. Everyone needs a break once in awhile and they may not have the resources to take one.
• Be a designated driver. You're saving lives.
• Support independent artists and musicians. All the famous ones started as amateurs too.
• Stop to help. The next time you see someone with a roadside emergency ask if they need assistance. They may be on a waiting list for Triple A or a tow truck and just need a simple battery jump or tire change.
• Adopt an animal. It will enrich your life too.
• Forgive a debt. Sometimes pride and finances can get in the way of their desire to remunerate you. Don't let it ruin a relationship you value.
• If you see a couple or group trying to take a picture, offer to take it for them. It might be the memory of a lifetime for them.
• Redirect your gifts for weddings or birthdays and tell friends/family to make a donation to a charity you love instead.
• Read to a child. It will open their imagination.
• Ask an elderly person how their day is going. 
• Smile at a stranger. You never know what someone might be experiencing in their life.
• Let the customer service agent you're speaking to on the telephone know that they've done a great job. They hear complaints all the time.

A Stubbed Toe Was The Impetus For This Post

We moved not too long ago and I'm still sorting and sifting through items and putting everything in its proper place. Yesterday, after a particularly painful toe stub on a larger box located at the base of the stairs, I sat looking at the pieces of my life that OTHERS have given me over the years. These items are different than my own personal purchases for my home, because they illustrate what people see when THEY think of me.

I mean, when I give something or make a gift for someone I take into consideration that person's hobbies, interests, that sort of thing. I take great pride in deciding what to give someone and can spend many hours contemplating the perfect present. Some have been things I've bought and others have been things I've made myself, but ALL come from the heart.

On my wedding day, my husband B gave me a first edition printing of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, B knew of my love for the book and surprised me with this beautiful green hard back offering of literature history. Looking at it reminds me of all the reasons I fell in love with him in the first place - his intelligence, his genuine interest in the world around him, and his thoughtfulness. I've got glass sculptures displayed, one of which is a beautiful colored rendition of a little monkey my friend RL surprised me with on my birthday. RL knows of my dream to have my stories published that center around the protagonist and her pet monkey. Each time I glance in the direction of the cabinet that houses RL's gifts (she's given me a couple to add to my glass collection), I smile. There's the bronze baby shoes my aunt gave me after my father's death that were his. My aunt understands the importance I place on family history (I was adopted). There's the majolica teapots my grandmother gave me that remind me of the stories she would tell me over cookies and tea as a little girl. Art projects my kids made and ran home excitedly from school to give me, are proudly hung in frames that showcase the timeline of their childhood.

Those are just a few of the things that readily caught my eye. It was intriguing to look through the different gifts and to ruminate on what prompted people to make the choices they did for me.

Look around you. What do you see that you've been given over the years in your home? What are the stories behind them? How do they make you feel?

The Postman Always...Sends Email?

I love letters. When I was a little girl I would run to the mailbox every Saturday, eager to see my Grandfather's beautiful penmanship spread across his monogrammed stationery. My parents were going through a bitter divorce and his missives were the salve that mended a lot of the confusion in my young heart.

Even now, a handwritten letter or card makes my smile. I have boxes of letters I've kept through the years and cherish all of them. In this day and age of text messages, emails, and Skype, there's a certain classic loveliness to to letter writing. Maybe it's the sense of permanence; something tangible you can hold in your hands. Whether from my husband, my children, friends, family, or clients - someone taking the time to scribble a few words via post appeals to me.

Recently, a friend  recommended a book to me about the relationship between Jackson Pollock and his father. Initially I was interested in reading it because I enjoy Pollock's work, but after awhile, I began to reflect on letters received and written in my own lifetime.

Dear Son Jack,  

Well it has been some time since I received your fine letter. It makes me a bit proud and swelled up to get letters from five young fellows by the names of Charles, Mart, Frank, Sande, and Jack. The letters are so full of life, interest, ambition, and good fellowship. It fills my old heart with gladness and makes me feel ‘Bully.’ 

Well Jack I was glad to learn how you felt about your summer’s work & your coming school year. The secret of success is concentrating interest in life, interest in sports and good times, interest in your studies, interest in your fellow students, interest in the small things of nature, insects, birds, flowers, leaves, etc. In other words to be fully awake to everything about you & the more you learn the more you can appreciate & get a full measure of joy & happiness out of life. I do not think a young fellow should be too serious, he should be full of the Dickens some times to create a balance.  

I think your philosophy on religion is okay. I think every person should think, act & believe according to the dictates of his own conscience without too much pressure from the outside. I too think there is a higher power, a supreme force, a governor, a something that controls the universe. What it is & in what form I do not know. It may be that our intellect or spirit exists in space in some other form after it parts from this body. Nothing is impossible and we know that nothing is destroyed, it only changes chemically. We burn up a house and its contents, we change the form but the same elements exist; gas, vapor, ashes. They are all there just the same.  

I had a couple of letters from mother the other day, one written the twelfth and one the fifteenth. Am always glad to get letters from your mother, she is a Dear isn’t she? Your mother and I have been a complete failure financially but if the boys turn out to be good and useful citizens nothing else matters and we know this is happening so why not be jubilant?  

The weather up here couldn’t be beat, but I suppose it won’t last always, in fact we are looking forward to some snowstorms and an excuse to come back to the orange belt. I do not know anything about what I will do or if I will have a job when I leave here, but I am not worrying about it because it is no use to worry about what you can’t help, or what you can help, moral ‘don’t worry.’ 

Write and tell me all about your schoolwork and yourself in general. I will appreciate your confidence. You no doubt had some hard days on your job at Crestline this summer. I can imagine the steep climbing, the hot weather, etc. But those hard things are what builds character and physic. 

Well Jack I presume by the time you have read all this you will be mentally fatigued and will need to relax. So goodnight, pleasant dreams and God bless you.  

Your affectionate Dad

If you could write a letter right now, to whom would you send it what would it say?

No Permission Needed

Hello Darlings,

Below, is a scene from the movie/book "Eat Pray Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. That actual clip is what prompted me to create this site (along with the encouragement of readers who have loyally followed me through the years on Blogger and WordPress).

This endeavor is unique to the others I write in that my manifesto for PRESS FOR CHAMPAGNE is to be a place that nurtures and inspires in the midst of the stress and noise of everyday life. A place to start or end your day with a smile.

I'm so glad you're here.