Good Evening Dear Readers:

I know you have been waiting anxiously to hear how our good friend and reader, Pat Chandler, rocked Familytime’s Women of Achievement last night. May I say she was awesome? Even more so than Lady Gaga at the Grammys in her little thong outfit. There is nothing better than seeing some one’s hard work rewarded with well deserved recognition. Go Pat!

Our friend and reader, Judy, had nothing but raves for MLD Limited, The Couture Collection, 5629 FM 1960 West, Suite 204 in Houston, 281-580-9905. The brainchild of  Mary L. Denney features Mary’s superb taste in dresses, suits, sportswear and accessories.

What many people don’t know is that they also remodel mom or sis’s wedding dress to create a brand new, contemporary wedding gown.  If you have purchased a new wedding gown recently, you know what a huge savings that could be, plus the sentimental value of seeing that dress worn by another family member is priceless.

When someone says they really aren’t interested in dressing up or making much effort for everyday, I am reminded of an interview I saw with RuPaul, possibly the most famous drag queen of our time. He said, “You’re born naked and the rest is drag…It is all a big stage production. Do I want to make this an Academy Award winning part, or I want to be an extra in this life?”

I love Personalize It, a precious gift shop at 1850 W. Lake Houston Parkway,   281-361-5119, with something for everyone that can all be personalized with monogramming or printing.

In addition to the great lines they carry like Anna Griffin’s beautiful note cards and gifts, I found a new line of body lotions and creams, Caren Original, infused with antioxidants, aloe vera and glycerine. What also sets them apart is that they donate a portion of their profit to breast cancer research. They smell clean and fresh too!!

While we are out shopping, don’t forget Estee Lauder has a new gift with purchase coming to Dillards 2/2 to 2/21 free with any purchase of $29.50. We do love these little goodies!!!

Need dinner in a hurry? Try Ravioli with Peas and Crisp Bacon

For a quick dish using the fresh or dried cheese ravioli, prepare as directed and keep warm, reserving 1/4 cup of pasta water. In a large skillet cook 6 slices of bacon until crisp and crumble. Add 2 cloves sliced garlic to the skillet and cook until golden.  Add 10 ounces of frozen peas and cook until heated through. Mix in the ravioli seasoned with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with bacon and grated parmasan cheese. Accept compliments graciously!

Ok, I thought Lady Gaga was pretty shocking  at the Grammys until Pink appeared in a white shroud, dropped it , revealing a see-through bodysuit, climbed into a sling from the ceiling with three female acrobats and sang all the while spinning around and doing contortions. After that I am pretty sure this show is going to be boring unless someone removes all their clothes and jumps into a vat of hot grease. Stay tuned. I am hanging in here until the bitter end.

A Better Water…

In the grocery, look for the new line of beverages O.N.E. flavored coconut water at 80 calories it has 5 essential electrolytes and more potassium than a banana in flavors of pineapple, passion fruit, pink guava and mango.

Have a lovely evening!!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

It is a chilly Saturday here, but it’s not raining and that’s a good thing. I am well stocked on those sunflower seed chips (Lowe’s) that my little neighborhood birds love and they are flocking to our feeder like someone shouted the buffet line just opened up at the Golden Corral.

As promised, I am reporting very good success with the new Estee Lauder Double Wear, Stay Put Lipstick. If you apply it and let it dry for a minute or so, then add a gloss over it you have the best of both worlds. My suggestion is to take a test drive first with any cosmetic by trying at the counter and wearing it around for a few hours or all day. That is especially true of lipsticks and perfumes where the effect of the product can vary from person to person. As expensive as these items are, you don’t want to buy and then be disappointed.

I have had excellent results returning products to our area department store cosmetic counters when either they do not perform as  promised or they are simply the wrong color in the glaring light of day or that unforgiving makeup mirror!!! Just be sure to return the item promptly and keep your receipt.

My sister, Janet, believes that all department stores have installed in their dressing rooms mirrors from the “Tiny Hiney Mirror Company”, which is why we persist in buying swimsuits. They never look that bad in the dressing room. That’s why when you put them on at home and look in the mirror you wonder, “What was I thinking”?

A friend told me about an amazing shop in the Heights that was a mecca for people who enjoy crafts, but might need some help. I promptly lost the card where I had written the information and on Thursday, The Houston Chronicle featured the shop and we are back in business! Sew Crafty is the cool sewing and craft store in the Heights that handles all kinds of craft materials as well as offers classes at all skill levels, including sewing classes, sewing functions, knitting, crocheting, etc.

Classes at Sew Crafty are limited to 6 students and they even offer Sewing Boot Camp for real beginners. Many classes are as little as $40 and that includes supplies. There are also classes for children. Once a month, they have Crafty Cocktails with wine and cupcakes (my kind of class!). They are also open on Sunday (closed on Mondays) and will host private parties!!!

They are located at 321-B West 19th Street, 713-863-1144 or www.sewcraftyhouston.com. I’m there!!!!

I love jewelry and I have had a heck of time finding a jewelry box that would accommodate my collection (we are not talking about the Crown Jewels), but a mixture of real and good costume pieces. The best solution I have found is from Neatnix (a name no one would ever attribute to me), in-drawer or counter-top stacking jewelry organizers.

They are wonderful modular stacking, sliding, tarnish resistant trays that come in numerous sizes with compartments to fit your needs. I have found them at Steinmart and at The Container Store and they are just great. The hanging  jewelry organizers they both carry work well also, my jewelry just seems to be happier and look prettier in their nice burgundy suede compartments.

“Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day.”–Sally Koch in Wisconsin

Make it a beautiful day!!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Readers:

These are for you!

I hope is it a glorious day where ever you are, and if it isn’t, well just make it one. How to do that? Everything I read on the subject tells me that just by doing something kind for others brings real joy to the giver. I always think about the harried cashiers at the grocery store at 6 p.m. A small compliment really brightens their day and pleases me because it always elicits a smile and everyone who is in the grocery store at 6 or 7 p.m needs a smile!!!

Speaking of smiling, my good friend, Pat, who is being honored at a gala for her educational leadership drew lots of smiles and wow’s at Macy’s Deerbrook where we had a fun makeover with Terry from Estee Lauder and Jennifer with Clinique.

L to R, Jennifer, Pat & Terry

I have been reading about a new product that is getting rave reviews from all the beauty magazines and I finally found it at  Macy’s,  Smashbox Photo Finish. It is an oil-free under makeup base that has vitamins A & E a well as grapeseed extract and green tea in it. Use alone or under foundation to increase it’s longevity. It helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and pores. It also helps makeup go on smoothly.  I bought the clear, but there are tints for reducing redness, etc.

The next beauty jewel is Dr. Feelgood. I love the name!!!!!!! It is by Benefit (also found it at Macy’s) and it is most effective when patted over your makeup to help it last and stay matte all day. You can see how it works immediately. Try it in the store before you buy, but I think you will be impressed.

I offered my lips in sacrifice for you as I am trying the new Double Wear, Stay in Place Lipstick by Estee Lauder. Terry assured me it would be there to stay for days, well actually for a really long time. It feels a little dry, but she recommends after a few minutes to apply a gloss, so far so good. I will report back tomorrow!

My exciting day out included a trip to Lowe’s to purchase a new shower head by Sprite that has a built-in filter to eliminate chlorine and reduce scale. I was looking for a water filter for my shower because for some bizarre reason, my hair seems to have more body when I am traveling or showering in other locales. I am ruling out the humidity factor, I just think there is something funky about our water, and believe me I need all the lift I can get  in my hair. After Mr. Fix-It installs it this weekend, I will report back, hopefully with really big hair (not possible, but I can dream)!

One of Many Available

In the garden center at Lowe’s I was amazed at the pre-packaged vegetable and fruit kits. Of course, you could just buy the seeds or starter plants yourself, but these might be fun to do with kids. I was also surprised to see kits for plants I have never seen in our garden centers such as blueberries and asparagus.

Well, here in the Lipstick Digest test laboratories, we are sparing no expense to find the best products, the most fun, and all around ways to make your life better! You make my life better everyday with your feedback and shared ideas!

When your blueberries are ripe, call me!

Have a wonderful day!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

And it is a good morning! The sun is shining (at least in Houston) and birds are singing and it is a good day to be alive. in the midst of brown-as-stick hibiscus, variegated ginger plants that look like parchment paper and shriveled ferns, my Christmas cactus has survived one whole year and has rewarded me with blooms!!!! I must be doing something right. Don’t ask about the poinsettias!

Cactus--Good! Ginger--Sad!

MSN.com and today’s Houston Chronicle both have reports from the National Institutes of Health that untreated high blood pressure seems to spur on dementia and possibly Alzheimer’s. Elevated blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels that nourish the brain’s white matter interrupting the brains telephone system which allows brain cells to communicate with each other.  Among the other reasons to control high blood pressure is that it is a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure.

If you have a teenager in your house (and I do feel your pain), you probably have had and will continue to have your share of worry-filled nights. Whatever your anxiety, it cannot compare to the family of Abby Sunderland who at 16 left on Saturday in a 40-foot boat, Wild Eyes, to attempt to sail around the world alone. Her 17-year old brother was a former record holder for the feat.  All I can say, is be glad your teen doesn’t belong to their peer group! You can follow Abby at abbysunderland.com and say a prayer for her and her sea-going family.

The February issue of Allure just hit the news stands with a fierce Beyonce set to pounce on the cover. For my money, this magazine is the tops for recomendations of new beauty products and evaluations of the best on the market. This issue contains its annual reader survey so you can weigh in on your favs.

Kayleigh Donahue highlights celebrity trainer and nutrition expert, Harley Pasternak, who has written a new book, The 5-Factor World Diet. He has actually traveled around the globe gathering information about the healthiest countries and their diets.

Highlights of the book:

1. Start with soup, even a simple broth as people do in China and Singapore.

2. Rethink your sandwich. In Sweden, they are frequently open-faced or like Israel, use pita bread, both saving significant calories.

3.  Drink tea. In China it is Oolong for its rich polyphenols and catechins–two powerful antioxidants.

4.  In Japan there are generally 5 colors present at each meal. It encourages you to meet your needs for 5 fruits and vegetables a day (catsup and mustard do not count).

5. In Sweden, even adults drink milk with dinner, encouraging the body to switch to fat-burning mode for healthy metabolism.

Speaking of fat-burning, grapefruit has long been touted for its contribution to burning fat effectively. The Ruby Red grapefruit, in the grocery stores right now, are so sweet, they taste like oranges, only better.

There’s a charming new book in bookstores with an intriguing title, The Happiness Project (Harper). You will have to read it to learn everything she learned, but a few nuggets. Shared by writer, Marina Khidekel, page 68.

1. Just asking yourself what you need to be happier puts a goal in sight and makes it more achievable.

2. Novelty and challenge bring happiness. That’s why experts tell you that a vacation you have dreamed about will give you more pleasure long-term than buying that dining room furniture you have wanted.

3. Can money buy happiness? It is more likely that your experiences will thrill you more than tangible objects although my jewelry-loving friends might argue that one.  (See 2 above).

4. What one thing you can do to improve your mood? “Make your bed. Order contributes to inner calm”.

As long as I know where the chocolate is, I’m calm.

Yesterday's killer sky!! Wow!

Have a calming day yourself!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

This morning I had an epiphany that felt like all the forces of the universe were coming together to send me a message in letters ten feet high–it was so powerful.

You are probably thinking that I miraculously discovered a cure for nail fungus, or removed a french fry stain from my silk blouse without destroying the blouse in the process. No, nothing quite so earth-shaking, but powerful just the same. The message I received was an oft-repeated quote that has never been more clear, “clothes make the man (woman)”.

If you read Friday’s blog, you know that I went gala-wear shopping with a dear friend who is being honored at a special event. She is a stellar person who gives freely to others in all circumstances and I am so lucky to be in her circle.

When it comes to clothes, she is a jacket-pants kind of girl. They are very nice, soft and flowy–think Chico’s. I love Chico’s. They have great clothes and are very effective at camoflaguing the body parts you want to hide. Trouble is, this friend has nothing to hide. In fact, she has plenty to flaunt, but she is hiding it all under a bushel.

The clothes I picked out for her to try on were more Sex and the City and less The Golden Girls. I have no idea why she trusted me, but she did–at least to try them on.

When she walked out of the dressing room wearing a very fitted, short, v-necked cocktail dress and saw herself in the mirror, she was a changed woman. I saw it in her face and her posture. She looked great and she knew it. But it wasn’t just one dress. It was every one she tried on. That’s why she bought three.

She has a new attitude. She is seeing herself in a different way–a better way, I think. I see her confidence in herself rising and I see people looking at her differently as well. Not just as a sexier, more fashionable version of herself, but as a more powerful, impressive woman. Her friends have known it all along, but now others will see it as well.

I mentioned my epiphany this morning. My husband (I know he is reading this and wondering what the heck I am going to say!) wore a suit and tie to work today, whereas he normally does not. If I say the word, “engineer”, does that give you any connotation of what he thinks of fashion? The perfect outfit for him is a any golf shirt and a nice broken-in pair of baggy jeans (starched). A pair of  comfortable brogans would complete the picture. In summer, swap the jeans for khaki Bermuda shorts and tennis shoes.

The hunk who left the house this morning was wearing a coat and tie, killer trench coat and matching fedora. I have no idea who in the world he was, but I hope he is the one who walks through the door tonight, because I can tell you, my little heart was skipping a beat this morning.

Clothes are not just something to keep us warm or wear to hide from the world or to flaunt it all with. They send a loud, clear message. I don’t know about you, but I am losing the gray sweatsuit.

Have a powerful day,

Diane

Good Afternoon Dear Reader:

Among the magazines I read on a regular basis is More, which although it targets women over forty, has great information for women of any age. The February issue is devoted to “reinvention” and discovering ways to look better, feel better and find your true self. There are lots of great stories from women who have done just that in their careers and personal lives. All of them are very inspiring and motivational.

The wonderful Tim Gunn, a regular on Bravo’s Project Runway, weighs in on, “Is your closet too old?“. Sometimes we get stuck in a style rut, continuing to buy the same things over and over, just in different colors or in the same color–black. In this article, he gives some very good advice on how to shake things up a bit, no matter your size or shape.

Even if you are carrying a few extra pounds, loose, boxy styles do not flatter any body type. Also muted colors can just be bland leaving you stuck in “blah”, which should not  be in any one’s destination plan.

These shoes will really shake things up!!

Evaluate your handbag. Is it too casual for a dressy outfit or business suit? Would a colored bag give your outfit more of a “pop” than a neutral? A belt can give your outfit more shape and make a great statement, especially with a dynamic buckle, whether you are size 6 or a 16.

Hems should hit between the top and bottom of the kneecap. Have your pants hemmed to correspond to the length of your slacks based on the shoes you plan to wear with them. For the complete article and to see examples, go to page 32. Subscriptions are on sale now, 20 issues, 2 years for $20, more.com.

One more great idea from the February issue of Martha Stewart Living comes from an article, page 100, “Family History in the Making”. Darcy Miller from her Weddings’ staff showcases her beautiful shadowboxes that display her family photos and mementos. What a wonderful idea to turn all those treasures of ours into great wall hanging pieces.

These are simplistic, but really unique. She combines precious and everyday objects like baby shoes, sunglasses, children’s art and photos to tell stories. They all begin with simple white shadowboxes from a craft store or Pottery Barn. There is art in those boxes under the bed or wherever your treasures are stored!

Sorry, I have to comb my sofa!

I wandered through a warehouse furniture store today and saw some very interesting sights. Maybe you have been there?

Don't you hate when relatives drop in unannounced?

And I thought I was distressed!!!!

Good Evening Dear Reader:

I had forgotten how much fun shopping at the Houston Galleria is. I don’t get there often but when I do, the stores, the people and the beautiful clothes wake up all my senses. I could wander there for days! It is shopping nirvana. Of course, my money would not last that long, but I could do some powerful window shopping and eat a lot of different, yummy food.

Yesterday, I went with a mission. A very dear friend is being honored at a special event and an occasion like that just screams, “new outfit”!!! Actually, it screamed, “really hot, new outfit”.

It is a little like hunting exotic game. They do not just hang out anywhere. You must go where they live. In the case of really great outfits, The Galleria is the place. Right there in those 5,000 acres (ok, my feet think it is 5,000 acres) or however big it is, are the great dresses, shoes, bags, jewelry and everything else to make them look spectacular.

Success did not take long, in fact, we bought not one, but three great dresses–and all on sale. We found shoes to die for. And I must tell you about the jewelry because I have been shopping for great costume jewelry for years at Ylang-Ylang, which has been in the Galleria II for years and is now located on the second level, next door to Macy’s.

Ylang-Ylang carries costume jewelry that would be easily confused with the real stuff. Our greatest find there yesterday was beautiful copies of the new Tiffany keys set with “diamonds” for $45.

They are stunning. I have seen the real ones up close priced at several thousand dollars and these are great copies. The staff is great and they know their merchandise so check them out! Tell them I sent you!

This photo does not do justice!

We had so much fun at Saks Fifth Avenue (they also have a great sale) where we met Celeste and Angela in the perfume department and got to try the limited, numbered edition of Gianni Versace at only $490 a bottle. Do I have to tell you that it smelled like a million dollars? Well it did. I really didn’t want to even bathe last night, I smelled so good, so I waited until this morning and I still smelled good, and rich!

We also tried the other Versace fragrances and actually bought Bright Crystal which not only smells light and fresh and wonderful, but it is in the most elegant bottle and is affordable at $64 and $84. Stop by and smell some soon!

The last bottle of the really good stuff!

The adorable Angela gave us a great tip. She suggested we all log onto Groupon.com to save a bundle in Houston and other cities. It is a Website that features daily specials in your city which includes restaurants, hotels, sporting events, spas, salons, and other services all at special prices good for only one day.

They may also be limited in quantity so you need to sign up for alerts and check them early in the day. There is no other obligation. I checked today’s special and it was for a wonderful bed and breakfast outside Houston on 650 acres with horseback riding, etc. The regular price is $299 a night and through Groupon.com, today it was $99 and good for a number of months so you don’t have to go now!

Have a lovely evening!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

I have meant to share something really sweet and lovely with you because I think it is just the nicest gift for any woman in your life, especially a mom. For Christmas, I received this beautiful sterling necklace engraved with the names of the three cutest little boys in the entire world (I am pretty sure). It also came with some darling jewel and pearl charms you could add on. I know lots of moms out there would love getting one for Mother’s Day. Mine came from: thevintagepearl.com, Erin 918-671-2598.

Landon, Austin & Hudson

When you hear something three times from totally different sources it really registers–especially when it is about food!!! Recently, there was a discussion in both Julie and Julia as well as It’s Complicated about Croque-Monsieur.

Then I saw it recently at La Madeleine. It is really a very elegant ham and cheese sandwich, with the emphasis on elegant. When I came across a recipe in this Month’s Martha Stewart Living–it was destiny!!  I must share! I must cook!! You might want to as well. It seems to be everywhere.

Croque-Monsieur (prep time 5 minutes, total 35)

2 T. unsalted butter plus more for the bread

2 T. all-purpose flour

2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup grated Gruyere cheese plus 8 slices (buy in the deli case)

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

8 thick slices rustic bread (french will do, crusty)

12 slices of ham (thin not thick)

Dijon mustard for bread

1. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour. Add milk ;bring to simmer. Cook whisking frequently, until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add grated cheeses. Whisk until melted and smooth.

2.  Butter bread. Arrange half the slices, buttered side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Top each with 2 slices Gruyere and 3 slices ham (these are not big thick slices). Spread mustard onto unbuttered sides of remaining bread. Place on top of ham, buttered side up.

3. Preheat broiler. Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium heat. Cook each sandwich until golden brown and cheese melts, about 5 minutes per side. Return to baking sheet. Spoon 1/3 cup of sauce over top of each sandwich. Broil until tops are bubbling and golden brown, about 3 minutes.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for gelato?

Yes, it’s true! After having the real thing in Italy, I came home craving it and lo and behold, there it was right in the dairy case at HEB! And priced right at $3.98. There is a wide range of flavors and even though it has no cream in it, it is so creamy and rich tasting. I promise it is addictive. We tried the cappuccino flavor and it was divine! The brand is Siviero Maria and it is 17.1 ounces.

Until tomorrow, savor the good things!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

In my never-ceasing quest for self-improvement and enlightenment, I am panicked knowing that January will soon be history. I had such high hopes for the new year! By this time I should have cleaned all my closets and drawers, rearranged the collected Tupperware of a lifetime, and achieved at the very least, some area of physical improvement. Here is the sum of my achievement:  I cleaned out the refrigerator, actually, just the inside. I am waiting for my stomach to settle before I tackle underneath and behind.

I have begun so many of the above mentioned projects with amazing enthusiasm only to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the actual task. I keep telling myself, baby steps. It’s a new day, and today, I will look under the fridge and maybe figure out how to take off that grate-thingy and see what’s really lurking there. Housework: Just one never-ending, scary thing after another. And you can quote me on that.

The sweetest holiday of the year is just ahead, Valentine’s Day. It is the one day of the year that chocoholics can live it up without guilt. I love Godiva and  really almost every brand of chocolate out there, but sometimes I like to do something special–but easy, of course. I found these really great recipes in the February issue of Real Simple, one of my favorite magazines, that you can do in a jiffy! Impress someone or just yourself. You might want to make a few batches to practice so you will be ready by the 14th.

From the Solutions Column by Sara Quessenberry:

And filled with antioxidants!

Chocolate Dipped Potato Chips

4 oz. semisweet chocolate melted +24 ridged potato chips (Ruffles) + 1/2 tsp. coarse sea salt . Partially dip each potato chip in the chocolate and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt. Refrigerate until firm, 20-30 minutes. So easy!!!

Marshmallow Fudge

12 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped+Two 14 oz. cans sweetened condensed milk+1 and 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows. Heat the milk and pour over the chocolate and stir until melted. Stir in the marshmallows. Pour into a parchment-lined 8-inch square baking dish and refrigerate until firm at least 12 hours. Cut into 36 squares.

Peanut Butter Buckeyes

6 oz. semisweet chocolate, melted+1 cup creamy peanut butter+4 T. unsalted butter, melted +2 cups confectioners’ sugar. Combine sugar,  peanut butter, unsalted butter. Form into tablespoon-size balls; place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze for 10 minutes. Partially dip each ball in the chocolate. Return to the baking sheet and refrigerate until firm 25-35 minutes.

Tea for Me!

If you are a tea drinker, this same issue has a great road test for teas on page 163 by Lindsay Funston. Good old Lipton Black Tea came in first for best classic black tea. The best green tea on their scale is Stash Premium Green Tea, $3.60 for 20 bags–no astringent after taste. The best orange, and I have been loving this one hot and cold for years, is Celestial Seasonings Mandarin Orange Spice with orange zest, chicory and cinnamon, $3 for 20 bags. The best Earl Grey–Zhena’s Gypsy Tea Earl Greater Grey, $6.50 for 22 bags with spicy citrus notes from bergamot oil.

Thought for the day:

“Thanks for teaching me right from wrong…I especially liked the “wrong” part. M.D. O’Conner

Have a really good day!

Diane

Good Morning Dear Reader:

Here comes the sun…da, da, da, da…here comes the sun, and I say, it’s alright, it’s alright!! Isn’t it amazing how a little sunshine can lift your spirits? Here in Houston we have been blessed with sunshine and warmth this week and heck, by Thursday we could be having summer!

This past weekend, watching the movie, Up in the Air, much of which is set in the frozen northern portions of the U.S., I remembered one of the reasons I live in the South! We may have some cold weather during the winter, but real ice and snow is about a once in a decade experience. Of course, my dear friends north of the Mason-Dixon Line, you get your revenge. We do have July, August and September to contend with which means we only need go outdoors to get that authentic sauna experience and getting in your car gives new meaning to oven-baked.

I just received my February issue of Consumer Reports and not one second too soon! I’ve been wondering what I could eat that didn’t really tax my cooking skills, or blow my entire calorie allocation for the day,  since my latest disaster with Janet’s “from scratch” cornbread. I still have scars from that tongue-lashing she gave me. The writers take a look at diet meals and once again they have saved our taste buds!

The first advice they give is to not limit your meal to a frozen diet meal. It is not going to be filling enough to hold you because of the low calorie count that most have (250-350 calories). They recommend supplementing the meal with a piece of healthy fruit, a small salad or vegetable, which will keep your total consumption still under 500 calories, a healthy number for a dieter.

(Trumpet blast) The winners (recommended) are:

Chicken:  Kashi Chicken Florentine

Beef:  Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers Roasted Beef Merlot & Lean Cuisine Cafe Classics Steak Tips Portabello

Pasta/Bean: Lean Cuisine One Dish Favorites Santa Fe Style Rice & Beans, Kashi Black Bean Mango, Kashi Garden Vegetable Pasta, Healthy Choice All Natural Entres Portabella Spinach Parmesan

Shrimp: Lean Cuisine Cafe Classics Shrimp Alfredo

There are others that rated as very good in this issue. All the meals ranked have less than 600 milligrams of sodium, which is very important to monitor as too much makes your heart work harder and disturbs mineral balance in the body.  Kashi meals consistently rated high even though they may be a bit more expensive.

This issue also rates all models of computers as well as how to save money on TV, Phone and Internet service. At $29 for a subscription it’s a bargain.

Rumors persist about the dangers of cell phone use to an increased risk of brain tumors. The Journal of Clinical Oncology concludes this could be a possibility and recommends the following:

1. Calls lasting 2 minutes or less reduce your exposure to the radio-frequency waves the phone emits.

2. Use an earpiece or the phone’s speaker  which cuts wave exposure by 1000 times.

3. When you have  a weak signal–don’t make a call. It causes your phone to boost its radio signal and your exposure is increased.

Have a glorious day!!!

Diane