1.        See your primary care physician once a year. Watch blood pressure and cholesterol levels, 
 2.        Be active. 150 minutes/ 2.5 hours a week.  Walking is a great way to get back to nature and fill this requirement.  If you belong to a local gym, take advantage of their scheduled physical fitness classes.  Those classes are a lot of fun, and you bond with people.
 3.        Screening tools. A coronary calcium scan
 gives you a snapshot of your heart’s arteries, so your doctor can see is there is any calcium buildup. If there is, the doctor can give you suggestions as to health and life-time care changes you can make.  It is always a good idea to monitor your blood pressure.
 4.        Diet is very important for everyone, not just those with health issues. Avoid “food” in boxes or bags. Better yet, omit all fast food. Strive for fresh food. Many dieticians suggest following the Mediterranean diet.  
 5.        Watch out for sodium. Sodium seems to be in everything! It is amazing to see how much salt is in the basic “good and healthy” foods we eat. I have cut down to 1000 mgs of sodium a day; this is what my doctor suggested. She also suggested the DASH diet. There are several great cookbooks addressing the DASH diet for high blood pressure. The recipes are also very good. When I publish a dish on this website, sodium and sugar are always the main consideration.  If there is too much salt/sugar, I won’t publish the recipe. 

 A good idea for cleaning your keyboard is to use an old, but clean make up brush. The fine hairs get into those hard to reach spots.   

 Try soaking your jewelry in a mixture of 5 oz seltzer mixed with a few drops of dish detergent. Let the jewelry sit for 5-10 minutes.  Remove from the solution, rinse with warm water and gently dry with a soft clean cloth. This mixture loosens and removes grime.  Your baubles will shine!  Woman’s World, 2016. 

 Mix 2 tsp of thyme leaves with 1 cup of boiling water.  Steep for 10 minutes. Strain, stir in a little honey and sip.  Honey soothes a sore throat. This should do the trick, and it so healthy and costs only pennies!  Woman’s World, 2017 

 A British study showed that sleeping in a lavender scented room not only helped people sleep better, but it also made them feel more energized the next day. Here is the recipe:  1 cup distilled water,1 tsp witch hazel, and 10 drops lavender essential oil. Mix and pour into a small spritz bottle. Then lightly mist your pillowcases, sheets and even your P.J’s!