Vitamin D is for "Doggonit, Don't Get the Holiday Blues!"/ Issue #107 December 12, 2007

Home Spa Lady's
Tips of the Week
Issue # 107 - December 12, 2007
Publisher: Marilee Tolen RN
mailto:marilee777@aol.com
http://www.HomeSpaLady.com
http://www.HomeSpaLady.com/blog (Blog)
Home Spa Lady (TM)

Circulation: 2385


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Make Every Day A Spa Day!

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In This Issue
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1. Vitamin D is for "Doggonit, Don't Get the Holiday Blues!"

2. For the Sunlight Starved

3. Foods Fend Off Flu

4. Great Essential Oil Gift Idea!

5. Essential Oil Tip: Peace and Calming

6. Success Tip: James R. Bickford

7. Recipe of the Week: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

8. HSL's Joke or Cute Quote of the Week


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1. Vitamin D is for "Doggonit, Don't Get the Holiday Blues!"
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Holiday season can be loaded with stress. There's much more on
our plates during this season than any other time of the year.

Besides time and financial pressures, emotional issues connected
with this season such as family stuff, memories, unmet
expectations. . .can send ya spinnin'!

Combine that with less sunlight from shorter days and one can
easily plummet into the range of "the holiday blues".

Vitamin D is often an overlooked resource for many things, and
that includes combating the "blues".

There are several ways to get good daily doses of Vitamin D, and
the best, easiest, and cheapest way is getting about 15 minutes
of natural sunlight exposure.

So, take a walk outside in the sunshine every day!

If you are concerned about 15 minutes of sun exposure
you needn't be (sunscreen has it own dangers
http://snipurl.com/sunscreendangers) as long as you are taking
high levels of anti-oxidants (daily Ningxia Red is perfect!).

Walking outside in the sun will not only give you more Vitamin D,
but moving the body and breathing in fresh air will promote your
lymphatic circulation and oxygenate your body! It's a simple yet
profound practice.

A great alternative source for Vitamin D is drinking Cod Liver
Oil everyday. It's not that bad! (I can hear you say "ugh"). If
you get the mint flavored it is easy to take. One of my favorite
sources for this is Dr. Ron's at www.drrons.com.


Other benefits to Vitamin D:

--Reduces cancer risk (http://snipurl.com/vitdbeatscancer)
--Boosts calcium absorption
--Aids in psoriasis treatment
--Prevents osteoporosis


Learn more about the great benefits of Vitamin D and the health
benefits of natural sunlight: www.uvadvantage.com


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2. For the Sunlight Starved
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Sunlight has an ancient legacy of healing.

"Heliotherapy" is the name of the therapy that uses light to
treat medical conditions.

Herodotus, the "father of heliotherapy", wrote that exposure to
the sun is necessary to help people overcome failing health.
He recommended that the "patient" should "permit the sun to
strike full upon him in the winter".

That isn't always possible especially today with people's busy
lifestyles. But we are fortunate enough to have full spectrum
light bulbs that we can use to augment our sunlight!

Full spectrum light bulbs at home or in work can make such
a difference in mood, energy level, and health.

I always like to take Dr. Mercola's (www.mercola.com)
recommendations. You can read more about this on his site:
http://snipurl.com/fullspectrumlight


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3. Foods Fend Off Flu
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This was reported on WebMD just last week!

WebMD reports that to help prevent flu, you
should feast on foods rich in natural vitamins,
antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Among the best: spinach, bell peppers,
blueberries, cranberries,tomatoes, turkey,
salmon, sweet potatoes, low-fat yogurt, nuts
and beans.

A mug of black or green tea is also packed with healthy
phytochemicals!


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4. Great Essential Oil Gift Idea!
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This is one of my favorite gift ideas - and I admit, I bought a
piece for myself - and I LOVE it!

This truly is the most gorgeous jewelry for your essential
oils that you will ever find.

And, one of Cathy elves called me today and said there is still
time for them to ship PERSONALIZED merchandise in time for
Christmas!

Check it out! http://snipurl.com/aromawear


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5. Essential Oil Tip: Peace and Calming
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This favorite essential oil blend cannot be
over-emphasized!

Holidays are a great time of year to use it to keep
stress levels low! (don't forget, this is a good
one for your animals too!)

Peace & Calming® is a gentle, fragrant blend.

When diffused, it helps calm tensions and uplift the spirit,
promoting relaxation and a deep sense of peace.

When massaged on the bottoms of the feet, it can be a wonderful
prelude to a peaceful night's rest.

Peace & Calming may be especially calming and comforting to young
children after an overactive and stressful day.

Diffuse in bedrooms, living areas and office.

Apply to bottom of feet, wrists and outside of ears.

Blend with V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex for a calming
massage.

Ingredients: Tangerine (Citrus nobilis), orange (Citrus
aurantium), ylang ylang (Cananga odorata), patchouli (Pogostemon
cablin) and blue tansy (Tanacetum annuum).

(This info courtesy of the Young Living website)

For more info or to order contact your Young Living
distributor or go to: http://tinyurl.com/aenfp


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6. Success Tip: James R. Bickford
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"No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your
sights and see the possibilities - always see them, for they're
always there."


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7.Recipe of the Week: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Delicious Wheat-free Cookies with only Unrefined Sweetners!
Great for the vegan diet too - just use dairy free choc chips!

Ingredients
1 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup rice syrup
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup malt sweetened chocolate chips
3 cups quick oats
2 cups spelt flour
1 egg or 2 teaspoons egg replacer
1 tsp baking soda


--Preheat oven to 350 deg.
--Whisk together maple and rice syrups, butter, vanilla and egg,
if using.
--Add remaining ingredients and mix briefly until well
incorporated.
--Place by the heaping tablespoon on a greased cookie sheet,
pressing each cookie down firmly with fingers.
--Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Yields approx. 1 1/2 dozen cookies


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8. HSL's Joke or Cute Quote of the Week
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The Night Before Solstice

Twas the night before solstice and all through the co-op
Not a creature was messing the calm status quo up.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
Dreaming of lentils and warm whole-grain breads.

We'd welcomed the winter that day after school
By dancing and drumming and burning the Yule,
A more meaningful gesture to honor the planet
Than buying more trinkets for Mom or Aunt Janet,

Or choosing a tree just to murder and stump it
And deck it all out like a seasonal strumpet.
My spouse and I, having turned down the heat,
Slipped under the covers for some well-deserved sleep,

When from out on the lawn there came such a roar
I slipped from my futon and rolled to the floor.
I crawled to the window and pulled back the latch,
And muttered, "Aw, where is that Neighborhood Watch?"

I saw there below through the murk of the night
A sleigh and eight reindeer, challenged of height.
At the reins of that sleigh sat a mean-hearted knave
Who treated each deer like some personal slave.

I'd seen him before in some ads for car loans,
Plus fast food, soft drinks and cellular car phones.
He must have cashed in from these mercantile chores,
Since self-satisfaction just oozed from his pores.

He called each by name, as if 'twere his right
To treat them like chattel enhancing his might:
"Now Donner, now Blitzen," and other such aliases,
Showing his true Euro-centrical biases.

With a snap of his fingers away they all flew,
Like old hippies serving up brie or tofu.
Up to the rooftop they carried the sleigh
(The damage to my shingles is there to this day).

Out bounded the man, who went straight to the flue.
I knew in an instant just what I should do.
After donning my slippers, downstairs did I dash
To see this trespasser emerge from the ash.

His clothes were all covered with soot, well of course,
From our wood-fueled alternative energy source.
Through the grime I distinguished the make of his duds--
He was trimmed all in fur, fairly dripping with blood!

"We're a cruelty-free house!" I proclaimed with such heat
He was startled and tripped on the logs at his feet.
He stood back up dazed, but with mirth in his eyes.
It was then that I noticed his unhealthy size.

He was almost as wide as when standing erect,
A lover of fatty fried foods, I suspect.
But that wasn't all to make sane persons choke:
In his teeth sat a pipe that was belching out smoke!

I could scarcely believe what had invaded our house--
This carcinogenic and overweight louse
Was so red in the face from his energy spent,
I expected a coronary right there and then.

Behind him he toted a red velvet bag
Full to exploding with sinister swag.
He asked, "Where is your tree?" with a face somewhat long.
I said, "Out in the yard, which is where it belongs."

"But where will I put all the presents I've brought?"
I looked at him squarely and said, "Take the whole lot
To some frivolous people who think that they need
To succumb to the sickness of commerce and greed,

Whose only joy comes from the act of consuming,
Thus sending the value of retail stocks booming."
He blinked and said, "Ho, ho, ho! But you're kidding."
I gave him a stare that was stern and forbidding.

"Surely children need something with which to have fun?
Or it's like childhood's over before it's begun."
He looked in my eyes for some sign of assent,
But I strengthened my will and refused to relent.

"They have plenty of fun," I cut to the gist,
"And your mindless distractions have never been missed.
They take CPR so that they can save lives,
And they go door-to-door on used clothing drives.

They recycle, renew, reuse and reveal
For saving the planet's a laudable zeal.
When they padlock themselves to a fence to protest
Against nuclear power, we think they're the best."

He said, "But they're children--lo, when do they play?"
I countered, "Is that why you've come in your sleigh,
"To bring joy to the hearts of each child and tot?
All right, open your bag; let's see what you've got."

He sheepishly did as I'd asked and behold!
A Malibu Barbie in a skirt of gold.
"You think that my girls will like playing with this,
An icon of sexist, consumerist kitsch?

With its unnat'ral figure and airheaded grin,
This trollop makes every girl yearn to be thin,
And take up fad diets, bingeing and purging
Instead of respecting her own body's urging

To welcome the shape that her body has found
And rejoice to be lanky, short, skinny or round."
Deep from his satchel he produced up a toy,
Saying, "This is a hit with most every boy."

And what did he put in my trembling hand
But a gun from the BrainBlaster Power Command!
"It's a 'hit,' to be sure," I sneered in his face,
"And a plague and a pox on the whole human race!

How 'bout grenades or some working bazookas
To turn all of our kids into half-wit palookas?"
I seized on his bag just to see for myself
The filth being spread by this odious elf.

An Easy-Bake Oven--ah, goddess, what perfidy!
To hoodwink young girls into household captivity!
Plus an archer play set with shafts that fly out,
The very thing to put a child's eye out.

And toy metal tractors, steam shovels and cranes
For destroying woodlands and scarring the plains,
Plus "games" like Monop'ly, Pay Day, Tycoon,
As if lessons in greed can't start up too soon.

And even more weapons from BrainBlasters Co.,
Like cannons and nun-chucks and ray guns that glow.
That's all I could find in his red velvet sack--
Perverseness and mayhem to set us all back.

"We need none of this," I announced in a huff,
"No 'business-as-usual' holiday stuff.
"We sow in our offspring more virtue than this.
Your goods are things that they'll never miss."

The big man's expression was a trifle bereaved
As he shouldered his pack and got ready to leave.
"I pity the kids who grow up around here,
Who're never permitted to be of good cheer,

Who aren't allowed leisure for leisure's own sake,
But must fret every minute--it makes my heart ache!"
"Enough histrionics! Don't pity our kids
If they don't do as Macys or Toys 'R' Us bids.

They live by their principles first and foremost
And know what's important," to him I did boast.
"Pray, could I meet them?" "Oh no, they're not here.
By now, they're on the roof, liberating your deer!"

At that Santa sputtered and pointed his finger
But, mad as he was, he had no time to linger.
He flew up the chimney like smoke from a fire,
And up on the roof I heard voices get higher.

I ran outside the co-op to see him react
To my children's responsible, kindhearted act.
He chased them away, and disheartened, dismayed,
He rehitched his reindeer (who'd docilely stayed).

I watched with delight as he scooted off then;
He'd be too embarrassed to come back again.
But with parting disdain, do you know what he said,
This overweight huckster when he took off in his sled?

This reindeer enslaver, this exploiter of elves?
"Happy Christmas to all, but get over yourselves!!"


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