Thank You!

Thank you to all of my family, friends, blog friends and readers who comment on my posts, for making 2010 a wonderful year. I appreciate all of you and I send blessings and best wishes to you for a Happy and Healthy 2011!

Slàinte gu soírraidh! (Health forever!)
Laura

Were You...

Born in January? If so, an early Happy Birthday wish goes out to you!

January personalities are ambitious and powerful. Born leaders, they have a stubborn nature and always stand out in a crowd. They love the good life and are romantics at heart. Deep thinkers, they make loyal friends and are always ready to try new things, but at the same time are serious about life. They like to make others happy, and are usually smart and well dressed.

The flowers for January are Carnations and Snowdrops. Carnations denote affection, deep love, distinction, happiness, fascination, and lasting fidelity.

The colors of Carnations each have a meaning:
White carnations suggest pure love and good luck.

Light red carnations are used to represent admiration, while, dark red is meant to convey deeper sentiments of love and affection.

Purple carnations imply whimsy and flightiness.

A yellow carnation means disappointment, and rejection.

Pink carnations are given as a sign of thanks or gratitude.

Snowdrops are one of the first flowers to appear in the year and they symbolize the hope of new life. They sometimes even appear before the snow has melted.

Some say it is bad luck to pick them and bring them indoors. A single snowdrop in the house is seen as an omen of death because the petals appear to look like a shroud.

It has been said that young girls who pick them before Valentine's Day will not marry that year.

A Happy New Year To All!

For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

We here at Our Scented Cottage, wish for you a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year! Let us open the book to the story of our lives for 2011. It's pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and it's first chapter is New Year's Day. This year, walk through the rooms of your life... not looking for flaws, but for potential.

Always remember, you've got a lot of choices. If getting out of bed in the morning is a chore and you're not smiling on a regular basis, try another choice.

Happy New Year To Everyone!

Frugal Gift Idea...

Do you find yourself thinking of last minute gifts and are at a loss for ideas? Give a gift of love from your kitchen! I love giving "jar gifts" and they are always well received. Tuck your jar gift into a basket or mixing bowl with a nice kitchen towel, pot holder, a great vanilla extract or wooden spoons and you have a wonderful gift! Who doesn't love cookies?

Chocolate Chip Jar Cookie Mix
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups (9 ounces) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (can use butterscotch chips etc too)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Place flour mixture in a 1 quart jar. Layer remaining ingredients in order listed above, pressing firmly after each layer. Seal with lid and decorate with fabric and ribbon.

Attach this recipe to the ribbon:
Preheat oven to 375° F. Beat 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) softened butter or margarine, 1 large egg and 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract in large mixing bowl until blended. Add the jar cookie mix and 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional); mix well, breaking up any clumps. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Tis The Season...

For dry itchy skin! Winter is the season for dry skin and chapped lips because lower air temperatures and low humidity result in drier air. The dryness is made worse by forced, hot air heating in homes and offices. It causes your skin to lose more moisture and become itchy.

The best thing to do for your skin is to use a humidifier in your home. Also, if you find using moisturizers aren't helping much try using organic argan oil. I have found this to be my new wonder oil and I use it for everything from my cuticles to my face, hair etc. It's my new beauty lucky find (thanks to my daughter :) and I don't want to be without it! Check it out here. I started out with the small size with the dropper and love it so much I'll be going back for the large size. A little goes a long way but when you see how this wonder oil works on your skin beware, you'll find yourself applying it constantly. The backs of my hands have never looked so good, and I have to admit that they were starting to show my age more than my face does.

If you love baths, add 1 cup of salt to your bath water. When you dry off apply aloe gel (or argan oil!) to your skin to relieve your itching.

Make Your Own...

You may have seen my previous post on aromatherapy inhalers, here is another one should you find yourself needing relief from a cold this winter. Personally, I like to use eucalyptus whenever I am suffering from colds, but any mint or the rosemary will work just as well.

You can purchase the supplies in markets like Henry's, Jimbo's, Whole Foods or Health Food Stores..

You will need:
1 very small amber or dark blue bottle
1/2 oz sea salt
25 drops rosemary oil (or peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus etc)

Place the salt and oil in the small bottle. Close with a lid and shake. Sniff as needed to clear up your nasal passages.

Shrinking Crust?

Do you find your pie crusts shrinking as they bake? Here is a way to make sure you are using the right size crust for your pies.

If you are making a fluted crust, cut the dough circle 1 inch larger than the pie pan you are using.

For a single pie crust, cut the dough circle 3 inches larger than the pie pan.

For a double crust pie cut both circles 2 inches larger than the pie pan.

Happy baking this holiday season!

My Lesson In Frustration...An Update!

I would like to post an update to My Lesson In Frustration as I "interviewed and hired" a new cardiologist yesterday! It was my first visit with him and I couldn't be happier. The whole office was pleasant and the first thing I noticed as I checked in and sat down was that every patient exiting after their appointment was smiling! Yes, smiling! What a concept! Patients actually leaving positive and in a happy mood with thoughts of living another day. This was the first sign to me that I may be on the right track to finding an understanding and positive minded cardiologist. At my previous cardiologist office every patient (including myself) would leave the office stumbling out with blank stares and thoughts of doom (this is not an exaggeration!)

Please, if you have health care providers that you are not happy with, change them! After all, they are your health care team and work for you. (You pay them on a regular basis for your care don't you? I know my doctors have never paid ME to go see them!)You can fire them if you're not happy! Do your research when seeking a new one. I looked up the Top Docs of San Diego, found one I had heard good things about when I had been working and did research on him. It paid off. If you're not able to research a new doctor yourself ask a friend or relative for help. You are important and so is your well being!

A Happy And Healthy New Year To Everyone!

Here is my previous post in case you missed it:

Those of you who read my blog on a regular basis know that I do not use this space as a forum for my health care issues. I have posted regarding my heart attack, stent, and recipes geared towards healthy eating and diabetes, but I do not like to dwell on the topic, as I strive to live each day in the healthiest and most positive way I can. However, today I am going to do just that so that I may not only vent after my cardiology appt. yesterday, but hopefully inspire someone else who may be reading this to "fire" any health care worker who does not only have your physical, but your mental well being in mind as they join in guiding you on the road to wellness. After all, we hire them to join us in our quest for living and being as healthy as we can while doing it, we can fire them when they are not living up to their end. Health care workers are in our employ, and we need to remember that and not allow "Dr. Bullying," which is what I have experienced at every cardiac visit I have gone to.

Since my cardiac crisis in February of 2009, I have made many changes in my life. I have lost over 40 lbs, changed the way I eat, taken as many stress related issues as I can out of my life, lowered my glucose to the normal readings and removed my risk for diabetes at this time, etc. I am also trained in health care and my wellness beliefs and training lie in both the Eastern and Western medicine arenas, as well as clinical herbalism. As you can see, I am not a "medical virgin" as it were, so I have been very proactive in making sure I do everything I can to live as long as I can. It is my belief that this has annoyed my cardiologist to no end. His negative remarks at every visit have surprised me, and I have never once received a positive comment from him. Please note, I am not one who needs to be coddled or have positive inspirational quotes thrown at me at every visit. I am human however, and I do need to hear that what I am doing is making a difference in my survival instead of being made to feel that I need to pick out a casket upon leaving every office visit. If I did not have the knowledge I have, I could have easily given up by now and have been made to feel depressed and without hope.

I am over having this very negative minded cardiologist. The sad fact is I'm not sure he's able to utter kind words in any situation, let alone to his patients. Today I am firing him and I'm on a quest for a new health care partner. I have worked with Dr's like him in the past so I had somehow been able to summon up the strength to tolerate his bedside manner until yesterday. When I first started seeing him he stated to me that he is not used to seeing his patients survive, but seeing them for follow ups in the hospital after more cardiac events. This should have sent up a red flag. I would like to mention I kept him on as my cardiologist because he is the Dr. who saved my life and inserted the stent. He was also the Chief Of Staff at the hospital and being the researcher that I am, I found he was very well qualified and good at what he does. What he is not good at is linking the physical to the mental.

If you have a Dr. like this in your "employ" please take charge and seek new medical counsel. Please know that your mental well being is as important in overcoming health issues as your physical treatments. Be proactive in recognizing what works for you and what doesn't and know that for every Dr. that does not join you in your quest for wellness, there is one out there who will.

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. That's my belief and I'm sticking to it!! Here's to a stronger and more positive day for us all...

Clean Your Chrome With...

Flour! Yes, I know, it sounds odd. But if you rub your chrome with a little flour and water, then rinse and buff with a dry cloth, you will have it sparkling in no time!

Winter Tip...

If you find your windshield wipers are smearing your car windows try this tip. Wipe down your wiper blades with some rubbing alcohol and your problem should be solved!