Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Breakfast Cereals to Avoid!


A bowl of cereal alone shouldn’t give you or your kids the shakes first thing in the morning. But considering the amount of sugar in these breakfast favorites, don’t be too surprised if you start feeling a little rattled. Here are some of the least healthful breakfast cereals marketed directly to children according to the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, which studied 277 different types of cereal and ranked them based on a variety of health factors. Don't be surprised if they’re among your adult favorites too. This might just change your grocery shopping habits.

10. Froot Loops These colorful loops, not surprisingly, are among the least healthful breakfast cereals. Regular Froot Loops are 41 percent sugar and 10 percent fiber, plus red, blue and yellow dyes. But the Marshmallow version is even worse. They’re 48 percent sugar and 7 percent fiber.
9. Corn Pops Certain cereals are just as sugary as a glazed doughnut, according to Consumer Reports findings last year. “We studied how 91 youngsters, ages 6 to 16, poured their cereal and found that, on average, they served themselves about 50 percent to 65 percent more than the suggested serving size for three of the four tested cereals,” Consumer Reports said. Corn Pops are 41 percent sugar and have no fiber at all, according to Rudd Center studies.

8. Reese’s Puffs “Reese’s Puffs is an interesting case because it’s the worst brand in terms of nutrition in our study,” and much of its advertising targets African-Americans, notes Jennifer Harris, Rudd Center marketing director. “In its TV advertising, there are only black actors and on their Web site, it’s all about Reese’s puffs raps with black animated characters saying ‘get your bling,’” Harris explains. African Americans already have higher rates of obesity, so that was disturbing. Reese’s Puffs are 41 percent sugar, 3 percent fiber and contain red, yellow and blue dyes.

7. Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles These colorful breakfast bits have at least one redeeming quality: they’re fairly high in fiber. But that “doesn’t make a huge difference. The sugar is really the most disturbing thing about this. All Americans eat too much sugar, and if you serve that much sugar at breakfast, that takes up their sugar allocation for the day," Harris says.
6. Frosted Flakes “If you look at marketing literature and market research, it shows that the earlier you introduce brands to children and the more feelings you can associate with your brand, the more they’ll be involved in the brand,” Harris says. Enter Tony the Tiger. Frosted Flakes are 37 percent sugar and 3 percent fiber. The lower-sugar version is 26 percent sugar and doesn’t have any added artificial sweeteners.
5. Trix With the “Trix are for kids” tagline, there’s no denying that the sugar-coated, colorful cereal is marketed to children as fun. And kids may be affected by these ads at a younger age that you might think. Two- to five-year-old kids saw sugary cereal ads more often (about 550 times per year) than adults (200 times per year). “The number of cereal advertisements viewed by preschoolers is disturbing. Children under age seven or eight years do not possess the cognitive abilities to understand the persuasive intent of advertising, and therefore have no ability to defend against its influence,” the Rudd Center report said. Trix are 38 percent sugar and 3 percent fiber and contain red yellow and blue dyes.
4. Cocoa Puffs This highly-advertised chocolate lovers’ favorite is one of the worst when it comes to sugar, but at least there aren’t any artificial colors. And, while it may be vitamin-fortified, among the cereal’s top three ingredients are sugar and corn syrup. And, as a bonus, fructose is added. Cocoa Puffs are 44 percent sugar and have 4 percent fiber.
3. Lucky Charms Disturbingly, sometimes children’s cereals aren’t considered food so much as something to play with. “The same message is being used to market all of these cereals,” says Harris. “It’s all about fun.” In commercials, there’s so little information about the product that you might not even know it’s food, she adds. “This product is more of a toy than a food—a lot of them have bright colors and they come up with new shapes all the time.” Lucky Charms are 41 percent sugar and 4 percent fiber and contain yellow, blue and red dyes, which brings them in as the third-worst cereal.
2. Honey Nut Cheerios Honey Nut Cheerios are among a list of cereals advertised as “better for you” than other types of breakfast items, “however, these products are all significantly worse for you than other cereals in the General Mills portfolio,” according to the Rudd Center’s report.The cereal is touted as a “great tasting way to help lower your cholesterol,” according to the brand’s Web site. “Bring these … along as a snack while doing the activities you love, and you can show your heart some love all day long!” the site suggests. But as you lower your cholesterol, you may be raising your blood sugar, since Honey Nut Cheerios are 32 percent sugar and 7 percent fiber.
1. Cinnamon Toast CrunchCinnamon Toast Crunch is one of the least healthful cereals marketed directly to kids based on their sugar and fiber content and the presence of food dyes, among other factors, according to the Rudd Center. The researchers weren’t surprised to find that many sugary cereals are marketed to kids, but they didn’t expect to find that only sugary cereals target children, says Harris. “The more nutritious ones are marketed to parents, not kids,” she notes.About 33 percent of Cinnamon Toast Crunch is sugar, according to the Center’s research, while its fiber content is only 3 percent . There’s a reduced sugar version of the breakfast favorite, but the sugar is replaced with Sucralose, an artificial sweetener.

If you didn’t see your favorite here, type in your favorite at CerealFacts.org to search for stats on your breakfast cereal of choice.
Grammie P

Thursday, November 5, 2009

16 Uses for Your Dishwasher!



1. Baseball Hats: Baseball hats can get extremely smelly. When run through the clothes washer, they lose their shape. However, placed on the top rack of your dishwasher they’ll come out stink-free and perfectly in shape.

2. Kitchen Sponges: I’ll never be able to explain why or what that revolting smell is in kitchen sponges after only a week of use. Instead of tossing them into the trash, though, throw them in with your dishes to get another week or two of use.

4. Kids’ Toys: From Legos to rubber duckies, all of your children’s toys can be run through your dishwasher to kill germs and bacteria. (There are some unimaginably nasty things growing on some of those GI Joes …)

5. Garden Tools: Shovels, shears, pruners, and hoes are meant to get dirty. However, a routine cleaning will ensure your garden tools last a lifetime.

6. Pets’ Toys: Man’s best friend deserves a germ-free plastic hot dog to chomp on. Run your pet’s chew toys through the dishwasher to ensure your pet (and floor) have exemplary hygiene.

7. Flip Flops, Wellies, and Crocs: Your rubber shoes could probably use a good cleaning. Run a wash with a little baking soda added to clean your tootsie-wear and simultaneously get rid of any residual gunk in your dishwasher.

8. Hubcaps and Wheel Covers: Forget ruining your manicure scrubbing away at road grime and tire oil. Run your hubcaps and wheel covers in the dishwasher on the pots-and-pans cycle for shiny rims.

9. Tools: Hammers, screwdrivers, and wrenches get oily and rusty. Cycle them through the dishwasher to return them to their original shiny state. (Just remember to leave the electric ones behind.)

10. Shin Guards and Knee Pads: Sports equipment gets sweaty and smelly fast. They too can lose shape in the washing machine. Throw them in with your dishwasher for a reek-free game.

11. Dustpan: Your dustpan is one of the dirtiest pieces of cleaning equipment in the house. Run it through the dishwasher to kill the all the germs and dust it collects.

12. Hair Accessories: From oily tresses to product overload, hair accessories need to be cleaned often. Run your combs, brushes, ties, barrettes, and hairpins through the dishwasher for gunk-free hair.

13. Toothbrushes: Toothbrushes are a breeding ground for bacteria, fungi, and viruses. While most dentists advise rinsing them with hot water on a daily basis, a weekly run through the dishwasher can ensure your teeth, gums, and mouth are receiving the best care possible.

14. Makeup Brushes: Makeup brushes collect oils, product residue, and bacteria that can lead to clogged pores and acne. Run them through the dishwasher for clean brushes and clear skin.

15. Light Fixture Covers: Light fixtures with glass covers tend to collect a large amount of dust. Remove the cover and run it through the wash to get some sneeze-free light. Just avoid any fixtures that are antique, enameled, or painted.

16. Refrigerator Shelves: Refrigerators can get stinky, real quick. It’s laborious and tough to scrub each individual shelf and drawer. Throw them in the dishwasher to get them shiny and stank-free.

It’s best to rinse your dishwasher out with baking soda every few months (even if you’re not using it to clean your shin guards) to ensure your washer stays germ- and bacteria-free. Also, for most of these items, especially the clothing-related ones, it’s best to wash them separately and not with your regular dishes.

~Grammie P~

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Happy Halloween! Carve the Pumpkin 2

Thursday, October 8, 2009

My Grandma...


I've been thinking a lot about her lately. Not sure why - maybe it is because my daughter mentioned her the other day. Her name was Irene. I thought I would jot down some simple things I remember about her and a few memories so that my daughters and my sister could know what I remember of her. This isn't all, of course - some things I keep to myself.

Grandma loved to cook. She would call me (just me) occasionally and say, "I've made a chocolate pie, want to come over and have some?" And since she was only around the block, I took off. We usually ate the whole pie between ourselves! We had GREAT conversations over that made-from-scratch chocolate pie. She also made something she called "goulash." Never knew what all was in it - but it was always good!

Grandma worked as a cashier at the local grocery store. That's the only out-of-the-home job I remember her having. She loved animals. Over the years there were horses, cats, dogs and chickens in her back yard.

Grandma taught me how to crochet. She sewed a lot of her own clothes. She rarely wore pants, mostly dresses - unless she was working in the garden. She wore a straw sun bonnet. She had a purse for every occasion. She sometimes had a hard time keeping up with her keys - because she changed purses so much. She wore aprons a lot.

Grandma loved Avon's Roses, Roses perfume. She always smelled like roses to me. She always wore red lipstick and always cleaned her face with Ponds cold cream, nothing else. She loved to powder herself after bathing and throughout the day. She always used the loose perfumed powders and the big "poofs."
Grandma had skin like silk (had to be the Ponds). She went to the beauty shop weekly for a shampoo and set. Sometimes I drove her.

Grandma kept greeting cards for every occasion. She liked to hide things, so others couldn't find them. She'd call me and ask, "do you remember when I put so-and- so?"

Grandma was a member of "the garden club." I never really figured out what they did, except have parties, eat and gossip. But I do remember they always had fun. She always had beautiful flowers - must have been "the garden club."

Grandma liked to hum and sing. She loved to swing in the porch swing under the trees in her back yard. It was one of my favorite places growing up. She had a voice that went straight into your heart. Grandma was soft and feminine. I used to lay my head on her lap and she would play with my ears and hair - I'd go to sleep. This was another of my favorite places.

Everyone loved her. At her funeral, she was referred to as a "deaconess." I believe that was fitting.

Grammie P

Plugging myself...


The colors of fall are here and that means between the chilly winds and the changing temperatures, your skin needs protection more than ever. Now is the time to prepare for winter's arrival with the sweet delights of the Sugar Cookie Bath and Body Collection. You won't be able to get enough of its delicious sweet scent as it restores moisture, keeping you happy and hydrated as the cold comes in. Contact me to schedule a holiday Spa-la-la-la-la (if you are in the central Arkansas area) or place your order online today!

Grammie P

P.S. Get BC Spa Travel Bag with purchase of Sugar Cookie Bath and body Collection set. Available through October 31!

Thursday, October 1, 2009


Grammie P’s Pumpkin Pie

This is GREAT with whipped cream! I have also included Aunt Ruthie’s Pat-in-the-Pan Crust for those who haven’t tried this. It’s SO easy and tastes yummy!

Filling Ingredients:

3 cups cooked pumpkin (canned is fine)
1 ¼ cups evaporated milk
2 ½ cups granulated sugar
½ heaping teaspoon ground nutmet
½ scant teaspoon salt
¼ rounded teaspoon allspice
½ rounded teaspoon cinnamon
4 well-beaten eggs
2 pie shells

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and pour into two deep, unbaked pie shells. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until a knife comes out of the center clean. Yields: 2 9-inch pies.

Pat-in-the-Pan Crust Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups Flour (All Purpose Unbleached)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
3 Tablespoons cold milk
2/3 cup oil (vegetable or canola–make sure it is fresh!)

Pat-in-the-Pan Crust Directions:

Whisk together dry ingredients in a bowl until blended. Add wet ingredients and stir gently until the dough forms a ball. (For a tender crust, do not over mix). Put dough into pie pan and pat it thin and flat to conform to the shape of the pan. Crimp the edges. You are now ready for the filling.

Great Pumpkin Blessings!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

12 Key Zen Habits


I have had this little poster on the wall in my office for quite a while. I am really trying to get into these habits daily. Somedays I'm good....somedays...not so much. I really enjoy Leonie's Goddess Guidebook website and think you will too! Check it out - You too can be a Goddess! You can also download your own "12 Key Zen Habits" poster here.


1. Set your Three Most Important Tasks each morning.

2. Single-task (focus your attention).

3. Zero your inbox.

4. Process emails once a day.

5. Exercise 5-10 minutes a day.

6. Work while disconnected.

7. Keep your desk decluttered.

8. Clear and declutter home for 15 minutes a day.

9. Stick to a 5 sentence limit on emails (make your words powerful).

10. Say NO to commitments & requests not on your important short list.

11. Eat fresh fruit & veggies every day.

12. Follow a morning routine.

And this isn't just for Grammies...it's for Mommies, too! Enjoy!

Grammie P

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

I'm Back!!!!

Seems I went on a long vacation and came back to Fall! In honor of all that, here's a fun Fall decoration that very easy and an awesome pie recipe!

Create a vase with a gourd that stands upright. Slice off the stem and use a long, slender knife to widen the opening if necessary. Add a handful of bright mums.

Vermont Maple Oatmeal Pie (SO good for you!)


Ingredients:

1 sheet refrigerated pie pastry
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup quick-cooking oats
3/4 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup flaked coconut
Vanilla ice cream, optional

Directions: Unroll pastry into a 9-in. pie plate; flute edges. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt. Stir in the oats, syrups, butter and vanilla; pour into crust. Sprinkle with coconut. Bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until set. Cover edges with foil during the last 15 minutes to prevent overbrowning if necessary. Cool on a wire rack. Serve with ice cream if desired. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 8 servings.

Enjoy!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Happy 4th, 2009!

glitter graphics


To my kids and grandkids, family and friends! Be safe and have fun!

Monday, June 29, 2009

12 Exercises Nobody Needs...


• Jumping to conclusions
• Running around in circles
• Wading through paperwork
• Pushing your luck
• Passing the buck
• Throwing your weight around
• Jumping on the bandwagon
• Spinning your wheels
• Dragging your heels
• Adding fuel to the fire
• Climbing the walls
• Grasping at straws

Wow! I feel I have lightened my load; at least for today...

Grammie P

Saturday, June 27, 2009

HOT Weekend Ahead!!!




HELPS FOR STAYING COOLER:
1. Wear loose-fitting clothing, preferably of a light color.
2. Cotton clothes keep you the coolest.
3. Fill a spray bottle with water and keep it in the fridge for quick refreshing spray to your face after being outside.
4. Use Fans inside! They help circulate air and make you feel cooler.
5. Try storing lotions or cosmetic toners in the fridge.
6. Keep plastic bottles of water in the freezer; grab one when you’re ready to go outside. As the ice melts, you’ll have a supply of cold water with you.
7. Take cool or tepid water showers.
8. Drink plenty of water.
9. Avoid caffeine and alcohol; these promote dehydration.
10. Eat lighter; eat smaller meals or snacks containing cold fruit or low fat dairy products. You won’t have to use that hot stove!
11. If you don’t have air-conditioning, arrange to spend the hottest parts of the day in a shopping mall, library, movie theater or other public space that is cool.
12. Use common sense. If the heat is intolerable, stay indoors!

Grammie P

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Another Depp in the Johnny Pool!


He's coming back! I know my daughters (or at least one of them) will be glad to see that Johnny Depp is making another movie. No matter how eccentric or just plain weird (weird is sexy too!) we love Depp in movies!

Depp's latest adventer into moviedom is Disney's 'Alice in Wonderland' where he will play the Mad Hatter. Now, I can honestly say that I have NEVER read this book or watched this movie to completion. It bores me to tears. Others and most certainly children will more than likely make this a blockbuster of a hit. It is to be in theaters in March of 2010.

However, I think i'll pass and just dig out my old VHS copy of 'Edward Scissorhands.'


~Grammie P~

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Fun Website!


I found this site by Disney today. It's a great site for Moms and Grandmoms who need ideas on just about anything to entertain kiddos this Summer. Also, there are a lot of recipe goodies!

Disney Family Fun
The weather here in Arkansas is HOT HOT HOT! As I heard a weatherman say one day, "It's like a big dog breathing on ya." It's just HOT and HUMID and STICKY.


(or a little dog!)
Stay cool!
Gammie P

Friday, June 19, 2009

PoshTots Baby Furniture, Children's Furnishings, Baby Cribs, Luxury Baby Crib Bedding & Playhouses

I know we're not in the market for most of these things, but oh my golly, there are some beautiful things here!

PoshTots Baby Furniture, Children's Furnishings, Baby Cribs, Luxury Baby Crib Bedding & Playhouses

Shared via AddThis

Thursday, June 18, 2009

5 Things To Do With Petroleum Jelly...Really!


1. REMOVE BEAUTY BOO-BOOS - Before painting your nails or coloring your hair, smear a very thin layer on the skin around your nails or hairline. Mistakes will wipe away easily.


2. REMOVE GUM FROM HAIR - Massage a liberal scoop onto the gum and surrounding hair until the gum slips off. Works better than peanut butter!


3. STOP SQUEAKING - Petroleum jelly is an oil residue - in a pinch, it can stand in for WD-40. Use it to lubricate squeaky doors, drawers and metal parts.


4. CREATE NONSTICK CANDLEHOLDERS - Spread a thin layer in the base of the candlestick or votie before using; light as usual. When done, pop out the melted wax.


5. IMPROVISE MASCARA - Put a tiny smear of petroleum jelly on your finger, hold it in front of your eyelashes, and blink!

I also came across 5 Reasons to Join Facebook.....NAAAH!

Grammie P

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Welcome to my Grammie Blog!

Honestly, this is my way of trying to escape the "Mom, you need a MySpace page!" speech I get from time to time. Blogging is so much more fun and Grammie can always come up with something, even though it's been a long time coming. As for what will be found here, there's just no tellin'!

For my daughters, I hope to eventually have recipes and the like that are my favorites. Plus just simply share photos, websites and other ideas from time to time.

For my lil ones, Bee and Barrett, I'll try to keep a very interesting and eye-catching layout for them. I've chosen Kung Fu Panda for starters. What do you think?

So visit soon - this could be AMAZING!

(i just know those folks over at MySpace and FaceBook are crying their hearts out!)

Grammie P