Take a Break: Do It Yourself As Seen At the Fair Items

This is the time of year that there are loads and loads of fairs, be they fall or harvest festivals or something else. The state and county fairs will generally have “better living” exhibit halls, where you can see lots of demos for “as seen on TV” items or actually see something new and unique.

This past Sunday, I went to the Big E,  because my husband’s band was performing for the Vermont House-each of the New England states has a “house” or exposition center.  I saw a few things that caught my interest, or outright made laugh, so I decided to go online and see if I could replicate them, or at the very least, find them on line. I had a lot of fun writing this week's "take a break" and I might just have to go back to the fair to see what else can be easily replicated or debunked. 

Infinity Lights: They are actually Universal Lamp Shade Polygons. Dan Goldwater, who is co-founder of Instructables has deconstructed the lampshade and includes the shape you can download and copy. I tried paper and found it too flimsy. Cover stock worked, but the website provides various suggestions for materials. However, for assembling, use the Infinity Lights  website. Once you get the hand of it, don’t be afraid to make bigger or smaller sizes. Really tiny ones could make very interesting Christmas tree ornaments.

Slushy Magic: This is a product very heavily advertised on the Cartoon Network and other kid programming. The kids at the Big E were glued to repeated and repeated again sales pitches. The much advertised product is plastic ice cubes (that’s the magic part) filled with salt water, frozen and then placed in a cup with something liquid that would taste great as a slushy. It’s basic science –salt water freezes at a lower temperature than water. Once it’s frozen, juice, soda etc., that comes in contact with it will rapidly freeze. It’s the same principal for making ice cream in a bag. Since this product was selling for $29 on TV-but only $20 at the Big E- the Coupon Maven figured out a very low cost alternative. 

Scrape-A-Round: When you live in rural Vermont, people take their windshield scrapers pretty seriously. I had to laugh at this product, as it’s basically a plastic funnel (they refer to it as a cone-shaped design). It’s suppose to scrape windows cleaner in half the time. I particularly like this aspect of their marketing, “by removing the cap, the Scrape-A-Round doubles as the ideal shaped funnel for adding antifreeze and windshield washing solution.” Get a grip! It’s a funnel, that you can pick up at your local Dollar Store for a buck versus the $15 for three they are asking for on-line. If it really works the way they advertise, I’ll probably purchase a few plastic funnels from the Dollar Store and paint something on them as Holiday gifts.

ShamWow!: I’ve watched this guy hawk his wears for years at the Big E. Ten years ago, you’d see people gathered around the stall and many bought them. This year, I didn’t see anyone walking around the fair grounds with ShamWow. Microfiber products, which abound at the local Dollar Store, have saturated the market and work quite well. Besides they don’t have a funny smell. You can read more about product comparisons at A Dumbass Investigates the ShamWow.

Dip Mixes: These vendors are very popular, with their array of dip and soup samples and loads of tiny stick pretzels. In truth, you can open a packet of dried Knorr’s vegetable soup, onion soup or ranch dressing and mix with yogurt, mayonnaise and/or sour cream, which tastes just as good or better than most of these dips and costs a lot less. Want something different? Just Google it.

Instant Heat/Cold packs: There were a variety of products that would provide instant heat or cold. The simplest and most environmentally friendly way to handle the need for instant heat is to take two pieces of cloth and sew together and fill with uncooked rice, beans, flax seed, wheat, feed corn, buckwheat hulls, or barley. Don’t sew? Take a sock (preferably clean), knot and fill with any of the items above, and knot again. Place in the freezer for cold and put in the microwave for a minute or so for warmth.

CAM Treatments: Acupuncture

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), refers to those practices that are not typically the first approach to treatment offered by Western medicine. Spend any time in a major medical center these days and you’ll see a number of different CAM approaches being offered-from massage therapy, touch therapy to acupuncture. In fact, many doctors, dentists and other medical providers are being cross trained in various aspects of CAM. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), and well respected institutions, like the Mayo Clinic, include CAM treatments as part of their information on Diseases and Conditions.

In continuing the series on CAM practices, this post focuses on acupuncture. A meta analysis (a study looking at lots of different research), released this week, has found that acupuncture does relieve pain. The 29 studies reviewed included almost 18,000 patients. The researchers concluded that acupuncture works better than usual pain treatment and slightly better than fake acupuncture. The results "provide the most robust evidence to date that acupuncture is a reasonable referral option," wrote the authors, who include researchers with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and several universities in England and Germany. Archives of Internal Medicine 9/10/12.

According to NCCAM, which funded the study, The term “acupuncture” describes a family of procedures involving the stimulation of points on the body using a variety of techniques. The acupuncture technique that has been most often studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.

Practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years, acupuncture is one of the key components of traditional Chinese medicine. In TCM, the body is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing and inseparable forces: yin and yang. Yin represents the cold, slow, or passive principle, while yang represents the hot, excited, or active principle. According to TCM, health is achieved by maintaining the body in a “balanced state”; disease is due to an internal imbalance of yin and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of qi (vital energy) along pathways known as meridians. Qi can be unblocked, according to TCM, by using acupuncture at certain points on the body that connect with these meridians. Sources vary on the number of meridians, with numbers ranging from 14 to 20. One commonly cited source describes meridians as 14 main channels “connecting the body in a weblike interconnecting matrix” of at least 2,000 acupuncture points. NIHCAM

How exactly and why acupuncture works is unclear to western science, so that alone will cause some providers to dismiss it out of hand. Others, who have seen the impact on patients not only refer to acupuncturists, but some have been crossed trained in the discipline.

Acupuncture is often used to treat various types of pain, including headache, migraine, joint, dental, post operative and chronic. It’s also being used for a variety of other conditions including: post operative nausea and vomiting; allergies; fatigue; depression; anxiety; menopausal symptoms; digestive disorders, including irritable bowel; infertility; insomnia and to ease the side effects of chemotherapy.

In traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture involves inserting long, very thin needles just beneath the skin's surface at specific points on the body to control pain or stress. Several weekly sessions are usually involved, typically costing about $60 to $100 per session.

Things to consider about acupuncture

• While some insurance companies cover acupuncture treatment, others, including Medicare, do not.

• There are relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture. However, it can cause potentially serious side effects so find a qualified practitioner. The FDA does regulate acupuncture needles and requires that be sterile, nontoxic and labeled for single use. Practitioners should use a new set of disposable needles taken from a sealed package for each patient and should swab treatment sites with alcohol or another disinfectant before inserting needles. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse effects, including infections and punctured organs.

• To find a qualified acupuncturist, consider the following:

- Many doctors, dentists and other professionals are trained in acupuncture.

- Ask your provider for a referral. Many medical providers have acupuncturists that they work with.

- Most states require a license to practice and have specific laws pertaining to the practice of acupuncture. Check to make sure your acupuncturist has such a license and operates within your state’s laws. Check the national and state list of Acupuncture Organizations from Acupuncture Today

- Ask family and friends who have recently had acupuncture about providers they liked.

- Many whole food stores, yoga centers and even business directories will provide lists of acupuncturists in your area. Be sure to check qualifications.

- Find out about pricing and payment before you begin treatment.

Take a Break: Gargoyles, Chimeras and Haiku

I’m still under the spell of Paris, where I fell in love with the gargoyles and chimeras. It’s important to set the record straight about these creatures. First of all, a true gargoyle is basically a drainpipe, designed to get water off the roof and away from the building. There is a trench in the gargoyle and the water typically comes spurting out of their mouth. Yes, Notre Dame is loaded with them as are several other buildings in Paris.

Often referred to as gargoyles, the creatures perched on the balcony of Notre Dame are actually “chimeras,” which are mixes of different types of animal parts. I couldn’t help but imagine them having conversations, as some of them looked down right bored.

“Look at that gal getting off the bus. Does she really think that’s an appropriate outfit to wear to church?”

“Geesh, same view for 850 years. You’d think they’d let me move around or something.”

“If that little kid screams one more time, I’m going to give him something to scream about.”

Today’s post is writing a haiku about what the gargoyles and/or chimeras of Notre Dame might be saying. For example:

See the American guy

Staring at me

Very scary dude

Need some inspiration on writing? Check out Creative Writing: A Master Class. This is free from the Academy of Achievement and includes such writers as John Irving, Alexander McCall Smith; Toni Morrison, John Updike, Nora Ephron and many more.

So if you aren’t in the mood for poetry or writing, what about making a nice Dryad Bracelet? Easy to make and can put you in a fall mood.

Reflections on Paris: And that relates to chronic conditions how?

This week we settled our son into an incredibly small room, a seven story walk up no less, as he starts his freshmen year at the American University of Paris. When your last child leaves home, be it for college or some other reason, it certainly gives one pause. However, when they are six times zones away, on a different continent and in the very amazing city of Paris, the thoughts become a bit different.

There is much to love about Paris. Sunday is a day of rest for the city, a welcome change from the US where it’s business as usual for many places. Every few feet there is a café, where the chairs are positioned so you look out on the street, sidewalk or incredible gardens. Parks are in abundance and, if you arrive six hours before your hotel is available, which we did, check your luggage at the hotel and take a refreshing nap on the grass in the shadows of the Eiffel Tower. Lots of interesting things to see and do-they even make it affordable to see various museums, as the first Sunday of the month is free admission. The food is delicious (oh, those macaroons), and maybe what I loved the most, it’s a city designed for walking. Oh, I almost forgot the Seine. You must have flowing water and the Seine is a joy to walk along.

That noted, I found the continual reminders of conflict, war and struggle, via the variety of memorials that seemed to be on every street corner and bridge, to be quite depressing at times. Signs appeared in all sorts of places pointing to the homes or hangouts of the once famous or infamous.

My sense was that the city was memorializing what was and not celebrating and exploring what they could be. At Parent Orientation, the Dean of Students noted, as he hummed a few bars of France’s national anthem, “you wont hear a lot of that at the Olympics. We don’t produce great athletes, but we have great museums.”

On the flight home, I found myself mulling over my impressions of Paris-noting that I was in the old part and not the business district- along with this new stage of life. I decided that I didn’t want to be like this city, focusing so much on what was. Rather, what could I create in this new phase of life?

My first thought was that when my next passport is up for renewal, I want to be traveling and exploring so much that I need extra pages for the stamps from the various countries I’m visiting. Paying for such travel is an issue, but I have some ideas. For starters: anybody out there interested in having me as a guest speaker, run a workshop or program, teach a course? I’m a good public speaker, have lots of experience and am very affordable. What about an article or two?

But I digress from what I learned about life in the chronic disease lane while in Paris. There were the usual reminders, such as

• Be aware of your past, embrace your future, but most importantly, live in the present.

• Take advantage of life’s cafes-stop, take breaks and just observe

• Get out and walk. Find the parks and bright spots where you can enjoy the sunshine.

In watching how people were trying to fit in, and how much I didn’t, it made me think about the isolation that happens so frequently with people dealing with serious illness. There was no way I was going to become French proficient or turn myself into a high fashion Parisian female in a week, Actually, the latter would never be an option. I was the only person in Paris wearing Keen sandals. Now there's a fashion statement!

I couldn’t help but think of the incredible amounts of energy we expand trying to fit in. Whether it’s an illness, or circumstances, we can easily make ourselves feel alone and isolated. The bottom line is that we all have considerable value, no matter how we appear, speak, act, or what our health status might be. Our best is more than good enough. To read more on this topic, check out the following:

• Your Best is More Than Good Enough

• The Lonely Season by Martha Beck

The most eye-opening event of the trip happened minutes before we were home. Having been awake, due to our travel schedule, for 24 hours, I was driving while my husband periodically dozed. Shortly after we entered our town, I suddenly felt a pull on the steering wheel. I had fallen asleep and was drifting off the road. It scared me no end. In fact, when we made it home, I couldn’t sleep as I realized how easily we could have been hurt or worse.

Given that it was almost exactly five years to the day when I was trapped in our house fire, it’s not surprising that this incident put me off kilter. At some point, I had to stop worrying since the combination of jet lag and an inability to sleep is not a good scenario and terribly unhealthy.

Once again, I was reminded that there are far greater powers at play then myself. Again, I had a sense, or a reminder, that there are things I need to do. There is a purpose for me.

I can’t say exactly what I am suppose to be doing or why I was spared from the fire or from a nasty road accident. However, I have come to believe that the universe does seem to have a scheme and it’s best to try and flow with it instead of fighting it.

Saying yes to the universe doesn’t mean I want bad things to happen to me or anyone else. I learned an important lesson, which I won’t soon forget, about trying to push my body when it’s over tired and stressed. Instead I am a bit better at accepting of what happens. By understanding that there is a bigger picture and there is connectedness among us, I can deal much better with life. Consequently, I am a lot more content, which is so good for well-being.

As Ben Franklin, who enjoyed Paris, noted, Happiness consists more in the small conveniences of pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in the course of his life.”

Take a Break: Use the Vanilla Bean for Holiday Gifts starting now

I returned home in the early hours of Sept. 5 from taking my son to college. Parent orientation just happened to be in Paris, France, where he is attending the American University of Paris. Needless to say, today's "take a break" is inspired by the wonderful food we were surrounded by, particularly the most amazing macaroons.

Have you ever made your own vanilla? If you haven’t, it’s very simple and better yet, it makes a great gift. However, you have to start two months in advance of when you want to give it.

The recipe is simple:

- 3 vanilla beans (cut lengthwise down the middle)

- 1 cup vodka

- glass jar with tight fitting lid

Make sure the vodka covers the beans. Mason jars are great for this. Store in a cool, dark space for a minimum of two months. Shake periodically and watch the color change.

Vanilla beans purchased on-line are going to be about half the price of ones you purchase at a store.

If you have friends that are gluten intolerant, (Celiac’s Disease), you need to be very careful about what type of vodka you use. While the following are gluten free vodka’s, if you get to the liquor store and forgot the list, just ask: Star Vodka, Tito Vodka, Chopin, Ciroc and Ketel One

Vanilla sugar is also a delicious treat. Take 2 cups of regular granulated sugar and 1 vanilla bean. You can put in a food processor and blend together, or slice down the side of the bean and scrape seeds into the sugar. Bury the bean into the sugar and store in an airtight container for several weeks. If you have left over vanilla bean skins (the seeds have been used in another recipe) just bury them in sugar and let them site. Use the vanilla sugar for cookies, coffee or whatever.

Use the vanilla to make some spectacular gifts for the holidays including, Vanilla Almonds.

Take a Break: It’s Back to School- Hand and Finger Art /Paralympics

To coincide with the start of school in my community, as well as the opening of the Paralympic games in London, today’s post is about using what you have to be as creative as possible.

Yes, this post is a day early. That’s because I’m taking my youngest to college, so no post on Saturday this week.

Remember those funky turkey pictures you made in first grade using your hand? Well now turn your hand into the canvas.

• Milan based artist Guido Daniele creates realistic images of birds and other animals with nothing but the hand. Klaire De Lys provides step by step instruction on achieving something similar using eye brow pencil and face paints. that are easy to follow (parrots, tigers, using eye liner and face paints. This is a good time to hit the Dollar Store to pick up the Halloween face paints that are already apeparing in stores.

• Five years ago in Rome, my family fell in love with Marcel, whom my niece calls the “Puppet Master.” Watching him perform his amazing finger puppetry in Piazza Navona kept us spell bound. Thanks to U Tube, you can watch him as Michael Jackson.

• Check out a variety of creative and funny ways to use your fingers.

• Finger prints,: Your own DNA, can be a source of all kinds of art. You can make a thumb or finger print, scan it into your computer, increase the size, use different colors and make very interesting, and truly one of a kind design art. You can also try some Fingerprint Characters.

Who better exemplifies making the most of what you have but the competitors of the Paralympics? These athletes are beyond amazing and inspiring. Wheelchair basketball is a fast paced and aggressive game, but don’t over look track and field . There is a wide array of sports to choose from, so be sure to sample the 28 different sporting events being offered.

Unfortunately, coverage of these events are minimal by commercial television. NBC Sports Network (formerly “Versus”) will be running one-hour highlight shows starting on Sept. 4 for four days. NBC will have a 90-minute special on Sept. 16. However, Utube and the Paralympic organizations will be offering live streaming.

If none of this is inspiring for a “take a break,” watch how the French women burn calories.

The Importance of Spirituality in Healing

One of the items included in the handout Healing the Whole Person: Ways to Increase Well-Being is Develop or use your spirituality and/or faith: For some this may be a renewed faith in their religion for others it is an opportunity to find beliefs that provide comfort.

Many people view spirituality and religion as interchangeable terms, which is not the case. While a religion can nurture spiritual beliefs, they are dictated by institutional practices, rites and specified beliefs. You can be religious and not spiritual as well as the reverse.

It is normal to ponder the meaning of life. Those with chronic illness may be more interested than most in questioning why they are dealing with major issues and others are not. They may be more likely to think about the deeper questions of what happens when you die; is there a God and so forth.

So what is spirituality? Sylvia Boorstein, author, psychologist, spiritual teacher and one of the teachers at Spirit Rock defines it as anything that I do that intentionally is returning my mind to a state of relative clarity and relative ease so that at least enough wisdom to keep my mind cordial can manifest itself. …. having a meditation practice that I do every day, it certainly is spiritual practice; not watching too much television is also a spiritual practice, if I think if I watch too much television my mind will get frazzled and I won't be clear. I like to put everything in the category of spiritual practice if its intention is to keep my mind clear so that I'll be in cordial relationship.”

Dr. Puchalski noted in “The Role of spirituality in Health Care" Cure is not possible for many illnesses, but I firmly believe that there is always room for healing. Healing can be experienced as acceptance of illness and peace with one's life. This healing, I believe, is at its core spiritual.

Maybe the simplest way for me to describe why spirituality is so important is that through illness, hardship and the various ups and downs of life, we become disconnected from each other, the land on which we live and even from ourselves. Spirituality helps to restore the connections and strengthens them. We heal best when we are connected.

Howard Clinebell, who practiced pastoral psychology and counseling for three decades at the School of Theology in Claremont, California, believed that humans have seven spiritual hungers in common:

• All people need to experience regularly the healing and empowerment of love - from others, self, and an ultimate source/God.

• Every one needs to experience renewing times of transcendence - moments that expand us beyond the immediate sensory spheres.

• Every body needs vital beliefs that give some sense of meaning and hope the midst of losses, tragedies, and failures.

• Every person needs to have values, priorities, and life commitments - usually centered in issues of justice, integrity, and love - that guide us in personally and socially responsible living.

• Each human being needs to discover and develop their inner wisdom, creativity and love of their unique transpersonal/spiritual self.

• All people need a deepening awareness of oneness with other people and with the natural world, the wonderful web of all living things.

• Every human being needs spiritual resources to help heal the painful wounds of grief, guilt, resentment, unforgiveness, self-rejection, and shame. We also need spiritual resources to deepen our experiences of trust, self-esteem, hope, joy and love of life. University of Minnesota’s “Taking Charge of YourHealth”

For those with a more scientific bent For 40 years, laboratories at the Harvard Medical School have systematically studied mind body interactions. The research established that when a person engages in a repetitive prayer, word, sound or phrase and when intrusive thoughts are passively disregarded, a specific set of physiologic changes ensue. These changes — decreased metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure and rate of breathing — are the opposite of those induced by stress, and have been labeled the relaxation response. Surveys indicate that over 60% of visits to health care professionals are for conditions caused or exacerbated by stress and that the relaxation response is an effective therapy for stress-related conditions.

Many people who elicit the relaxation response also note increased spirituality. Spirituality is expressed as experiencing the presence of a power, a force, an energy or what was perceived of as God, and this presence is close to the person. Spirituality and Healing in Medicine.

A research team at Johns Hopkins helped older adults suffering from chronic diseases to improve their energy levels using a spiritual program. They watched a short video and were given intervention-specific workbooks to complete over 4 weeks. At the end of the study, those given the spirituality materials, versus the control group, which received educational materials for cardiac risk reduction, had significantly higher energy levels. Interestingly, these levels decreased for the control group. International Journal of Psychiatry

In order to have a sense of where you might be in terms of your spirituality, try George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health’s FICA Self Assessment.

F – Faith and Belief Do I have a spiritual belief that helps me cope with stress? With illness? What gives my life meaning?

I – Importance Is this belief important to me? Does it influence how I think about my health and illness? Does it influence my healthcare decisions?

C – Community Do I belong to a spiritual community (church, temple, mosque or other group)? Am I happy there? Do I need to do more with the community? Do I need to search for another community? If I don't have a community, would it help me if I found one?

A – Address in Care What should be my action plan? What changes do I need to make? Are there spiritual practices I want to develop? Would it help for me to see a chaplain, spiritual director, or pastoral counselor?

If you are looking to develop a spirituality, there are no set rules or ideas that you must conform to or a God or belief that you must adhere to. It only needs to make sense, and provide comfort, to you. So how does one go about doing this?

For starters consider the last question in the FICA Self Assessment, would it help you to see a chaplain, spiritual director or pastoral counselor? Many hospitals, medical providers and care centers understand the importance of the mind, body and spirit connection and either offer these services or can connect you to someone that can. Ask about them at a visit to your provider.

An aside note: Be aware that just like snake oil salesmen providing “sure fire cures, “the spirituality movement abounds with scam artists. If they are asking for money, a lot of your time, and/or are being unrealistic in expectations, steer clear of them.

If you grew up in a faith community, is this something that might be right for you now? Yoga, mindfulness meditation, Qigong, Tai Chi and other such practices can help to develop a sense of spirit. Some hospitals and health care centers offer such programs for low cost or for free. You can also go to the Kripalu website and take five minute yoga breaks all day long. Other sites to consider include:

Taking Care of Your Spirit from Mental Health America

Mindful Meditations from the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center

University of Minnesota’s “Taking Charge of Your Health,” Links for their Life Purpose and Spirituality