Mariannes Motifs

iSmart SoCool Mini Massager - best mall kiosk purchase ever

While I traveling to Dallas for business,  I stumbled across the most interesting product in the mall of all places.  Since Iwas basically wasting time, I said sure, I will try the electric massager.  It actually was really nice and the guy was a good salesman so I picked it up.

Turns out this thing really works and is very handy to have around.  It gives you a nice shoulder massage when you don't have anyone around to do it for you.  Also, the little pads used on my accupressure headache point (fleshy part of the hand between thumb and first finger) seem to be effective for a light headache. 

This one is similar to the one I have but it seems to have 5 modes and mine only has four.  It also has the shipping through Amazon so free ship if you have prime.

There's a lot of different brands of tens units out there, along with these little Chinese numbers like I got.  (Mine is the ismart SoCool Mini Massager, and I when I bought replacement sticky pads they were from HiDow which I think makes equivalent models)  There are also models that are sold as electric muscle stimulator  for sports training not to mention the medical tens units.  I bet they all work similarly.

Games Keep You Young

Playing games keeps you young.  I grew up playing bridge and scrabble with my grandmother, who was an avid game player.  She would play bridge every day if she got a chance.  She kept her wits about her into her 90's!

These days I like to play the web game Scrabble Cubes, on Worldwinner, and I have even been known to play for money.  Not a lot of social interaction, but its a calming break from the world and it does keep my mind sharp. (Or at least as sharp as I can manage)

The hubster plays MMOs - right now he's into Dungeons and Dragons online.  I don't get into really complex PC Games.  I figure if I am going to concentrate that hard on something I want to get paid for it.  They make my brain hurt.

Of course hubster can beat me at almost any game.  I think Scrabble is about the only game I can beat him at.

Vitamin D3 and Weight Loss

I've been taking Vitamin D3 supplements daily (2 100 MG) for a few weeks now.  Based on some new research that has come out about Crohn's disease and vitamin D deficiency, I decided to give it a try.  I can't say scientifically that it makes a difference, but I definitely have been feeling pretty decent since I started taking it.  I am for sure keeping it up. 

Hubster and I have also been making an concerted effort to eat more healthy meals.  He is doing a great job testing his blood sugar before and after meals and learning what foods effect it.  He likes salads and has been stocking up on low fat dressings, salad toppings, and veggies of all sorts.  We've also been eating lots of cool fresh veggies now that the weather is heating up.

I am not looking for any fast weight loss I just want to make an effort to be as healthy as I can. 

• Cucumber spears, with a bit of  Himalayan pink sea salt
• Raw snow pea pods
• Dinner idea: chicken Caesar salad
• Never underestimate the power of carrot and celery sticks!
• Ak-Mak sesame crackers with low fat Boursin herb cheese spread.

Would I Look Totally Stupid Riding This?

Question of the day - would I look like a total dork riding this Adult Folding Comfortable Tricycle ?  Just askin'

Hey Mom - Check out this Website!

My Mom recently found out that she might have Celiac Sprue.  That is an intolerance to gluten.  I came across this blog a while ago and even though I can eat wheat gluten, I just love the pictures and wonderful descriptions of healthy foods.  It's called Gluten Free Girl, and its a combination of a gourmet blog, GORGEOUS food photography, and interesting chit chat about her life.

I think that when you see the beautiful yummy things there are to eat, you won't miss the stuff you can't have so much anymore. 

Introducing CrohnsDiseaseRelief.Com

I am proud to introduce my new blog - CrohnsDiseaseRelief.com.  This blog is a place for me to talk about my personal story as a person with Crohn's Disease and also to suggest products and information that may help others.  My tag line is "No one is in this alone."  My site features an affiliate storefront from trusted retailer AmeriaRx.com as well as a Crohn's Disease bookstore from Amazon.com.

I am really excicted to be working with AmericaRX.com.  They offer free shipping with orders over $100 and hey have a great selection and competitive prices.

Caffeine may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease

I just read an article on Biosingularity that quotes a  study in the Journal Neuroscience saying caffeine may reduce the risk of Alzheimers in mice. 

Since I recently bought myself a really fancy dancy Keurig one cup coffee machine and have been making myself a gourmet cup of coffee every morning, this is great news to me.

At any rate, I am attempting to get to work on time and save myself the money I was spending getting coffee at the dunkin donuts drive through.

One question though?  Do mice have a big problem with Alzheimer’s disease?  Would anyone know if a mouse had it?  Do lab mice even live long enough to get Alzheimer’s disease?  Don't they expire from cancer long before they get old enough for Alzheimer’s?  I'm just saying...

Add some Horizon Organic Half and Half to the picture below and you have my morning gourmet single cup coffee.  And I never have to clean out a coffee pot.  Love it!

What did the Oyster Say to the Clam?

What did the Oyster Say to the Clam?

This pearl is really irritating me!

But seriously folks...today's post is sponsored by the beoysteraware.com site.  This is an informative website is run by the folks at Gulf & South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation - Gulf oysters - to help spread awareness that eating oysters raw is perfectly safe for healthy individuals (especially with the new types of post process pasteurization they now have) but that at-risk individuals (with diabetes, immune system problems, etc) should eat their oysters cooked due to vibrio vulnificus bacteria that can naturally occur in these mollusks.  It's completely destroyed by cooking.

The site has some tasty looking recipes such as Oyster Cornbread Dressing.  Looks really yummy.