My mother may have been right!

As a kid, my mom always stressed eating healthy (despite the pictures of the Monk Fish she showed me) and going out to "play". Now two studies published in the Archives of Internal Medicine and conducted by the National Institute of Health-AARP of members between the ages of 50 and 71 years old have may have proved her right. (Note: My mother is the healthiest person I know and doesn't need to loose another pound.)

The first study focused on the validity of ye ol' Mediterranean Diet. The Mediterranean Diet focus on the diet of those of that region and how they seem to defy the laws of averages with their lower rates of heart disease and other "health problems".

The focus was on those who ate a diet rich in veggies, fruits, whole grains and healthy oils (aka low saturated fat - fish, olive and nuts). Those who used the Mediterranean Diet were 20% less likely to die of a "health related death".

The second study focused on exercise. Although this is only half of my personal downfall (being a "lazy American") those who exercised moderately (30 min most days - i.e. walking) were 27% less likely to die, period. BUT every little bit did actually help. If the activity level went up to what they considered "vigorous", chances went up to 32%.

Couch potatoes have no fear. Even those who exercised "less than average" were 19% less to die.

So my little ones, like I tell my kiddos, being the Hot Mama I am, go out and move more and eat less and eat smart in 2008.

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20071210/mediterranean-diet-adds-years-life?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Hot Mama's Holiday Gift Guide: Clinique Happy Custom Bottle

In this crazy season of holiday shopping, I stumbled upon this cool gift that you can get for a lucky lady on your list from the comfort of your own computer, the Clinique Happy Custom Bottle.

Without having to schlep out to the malls and brave both the weather and the parking lots, you can get this cool gift shipped to either you or the lucky (and happy) recipient in 7-10 BUSINESS days. Upload a lovely or embarrassing photo to the site and poof, instant gift.

In case you are not familiar with the Happy fragrance I quote from the Clinique website description: "a chic, modern, multi-layered floral with sparkling, lingering fragrance of Ruby Red Grapefruit, Boysenberry Bush Flower and Hawaiian Wedding Flower". Sounds lovely and refreshing to me. But even after that stellar description, if you want to find out what it really smells like, next time you are in the mall (and you know that you're going to be there anyway), pop into any of the major department stores and take a whiff.

Here's the link to Clinique and tell them Sarchix sent ya.

http://www.clinique.com/custom_bottle/index.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY4884&PRODUCT_ID=PROD12303

Things that go BUMP in the Night

A&E has joined the rest of the networks with their own otherworldly offering, "Paranormal State". The cameras follow the student members of Penn State's Paranormal Research Society as they investigate possible events from "the other side".

Yes, its another show about real live "Ghostbusters" much like the Sci Fi channels "Ghost Hunters" (Plumbers by day, ghost hunters by night). But I like this twist, students doing the investigating.

In the upcoming days where it looks like the Hollywood Writers strike will never end, this could be a fresh twist on the reality TV that we will be offered mixed in with the sea of network repeats.

The show premiers on 10 December on A&E at 10pm (Eastern).

http://www.aetv.com/paranormal-state/