Study Says Home Cooking Unhealthy?!, Dealing with Negative People, a New (Old!) Method of Detox, and More in Today’s Monday Mix-Up 12/22/2014

Good morning readers. Well I asked you last week to share your thoughts on some things (thank you all who responded, I love you guys!) and many said that the whole two-page thing was driving them a little nuts, so okeedokee, we're back to one page for these Monday posts!

Today is fifteen years since our sweet niece, Leah, passed away, and it's been two years since Kent's Dad passed (read that link if you'd like to read about the kind of man he was).  Life sure is weird, how short it is and all.  (Thank God this life isn't all there is.)  I pray you all enjoy your loved ones this week at all your Christmas get-togethers, even the ones that might bug you at times!  There were times my Mom annoyed me a little (not too bad), but her good qualities were so much stronger, and I do wish now that I would've had more grace in my heart about those things.  (You won't be surprised to know that I blame those little annoyances on the statin she was taking!)  It's so sad to have both my parents gone now.  I know that they wouldn't want us to dwell on that though, so I'm trying to cherish the memories, enjoy my loved ones who are still here, and not cry ALL the time!

Before I get to the interesting stuff I've found for you this week, check out this fun video I came across when I was procrastinating instead of working yesterday:

Friday we had our Christmas dinner with our bible study friends at Dave and Amy's.  They served us a lovely dinner in this beautiful setting:

Here's a picture I snapped of these friends of ours who are more like family, we laughed our butts off all night, like normal:

And this was a melt-in-your-mouth appetizer that Sue brought (isn't it pretty?!), it was a puff pastry with brie cheese oozing out as you cut into it.  I'd like to try it with homemade pastry, does anyone have a tried and true recipe you could share with me?  If not, I seem to remember that the Phyllo dough's ingredient label isn't too bad, I wonder if that would work or if it's too thin…

Okay, here's what I've found for you this week, hopefully a few things here will grab you:

• As they're gearing up for the next big book bundle deal (after Christmas), first there's a giveaway guide available:  “4 Steps to Your Healthiest Year for 2015” – get it here for FREE.

• Anyone need this de-stressing tip before getting together with loved ones this Christmas?  How to handle negative people. “I stop telling [negative] people everything that I think and want, because I know they can't handle it.”

• It's too late for last-minute stocking stuffers from here, BUT, if you or your kids are getting new phones for Christmas, don't forget your radiation redirecting attachments or cases!!!  I really like my Pong iPhone case, my friend, Jill, likes her Vortex Bio Shield attachment (4 pack here or a single here) … Does anyone else use either of these?

• Can any of you Moms relate to this?  Click here to share it on Facebook.  🙂

• Have you ever heard of using castor oil as a detox?  Check out more on my Facebook page about the many ways it could be helpful.

• If you need mayo for your holiday recipes, avoid all the junk and make this simple homemade version!

• I've saved the “best” (okay WORST) for last.  Thank you Susan for sending this to me, you knew it would get me all riled up didn't you?!  Why Home Cooking May Not Be Healthy After All.  I'll share here what I said on Facebook last week:  “What the H____???????  This study is a load of crap! What exactly were these people using for ingredients in their “home cooking”? I can guarantee you that if their health suffered from spending more time in the kitchen it's because their food sources were every bit, if not more, industrially based than take-out would have been.  Sources are everything!  We need to eat real food. Prepare it OURSELVES and unplug from the industrial food machine that is polluting our planet and our bodies. Cook food grown the way our ancestors grew it and the way our ancestors prepared it, BEFORE degenerative diseases became common (and before take-out even existed).  P.S. When you come across “studies” like this, remember to think critically (not like sheep).  P.P.S. Butter and real, unprocessed sea salt are nutritious foods favored by healthy, pre-industrial cultures who enjoyed vibrant health, free of metabolic syndrome and other degenerative conditions.”  ***Click here to read and share the Facebook conversation.

• Instead of the above bull, the information in this book is the best way to eat and prepare food the way our healthy ancestors prepared it.

• There's never been a better time to take your health into your own hands, guys. Here are a couple pages of links to articles to help get you started: 
  • Getting Started and Rookie Tips
  • My Natural Remedies page

• Did you catch all of last week’s posts? Here they are in case you missed them:
  • A Happy Homeschool Update and asking your advice on serving in a ministry beyond our home…
  • Oatmeal Breakfast Recipe — Fast Superfood Version
  • Happy 100th Birthday Eva (and giveaway winner announcement)
  • This one was from the week prior but it's getting really popular already:  Swiss Steak with Brown Gravy {A great way to use up any tough grassfed beef!}

• Merry Christmas my dear reader friends!