Share-a-thon Week

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Wrapping Up Heart Month: from Saturday's Show

Good Morning Muffins
(Recipe Below)

Good morning!  It is turning out to be a lovely day.  Looking out the window, I am so tempted to go for a quick walk.  The birds are singing amazing little songs.  It is pretty chilly out there though, so I may just sit here and enjoy the view over my cup of coffee.  Speaking of coffee,  I feel ashamed to be writing this, but I want to be honest.  I did have to temporarily postpone my 40 Days of Water Challenge.  It wasn't working with all of the Share-a-thon prep we've been doing this week.  I will complete a full 40 Days of Water as I promised, but I have to postpone it by a week.  I hate that I am having to postpone it, but there is no way I can get through the long days of Share-a-thon uncaffeinated and be able to do my job well.

Wrapping Up Heart Month:  OATMEAL
I love feeling healthy; I'm sure you do too.  However, I don't necessarily love the effort it takes to be healthy. I try to make healthy choices with food and to make sure that I keep moving, but it's not always easy or convenient.  Since it is the final Saturday of February I am posting some heart-friendly Oatmeal recipes.  Oatmeal is so versatile, and best of all it's unbelievably good for your heart.  Here's some nerdy-girl Oat Facts for you from CookingattheCottage.com most of the recipes come from this fabulous site as well.  PS.. if the images are too small, you can enlarge them by clicking on them.

Preparing Traditional Oatmeal:
There are so many lovely things that you can do with oats.  If you want to prepare traditional oatmeal, keep in mind the best oat to water ration is 1:2, basically measure your oats and then double that amount for your water (ie 1/2 cu oats: 1 cu water, etc).

More than just Oatmeal:
Oats are a great way to add extra fiber to other recipes.  Here are some other recipes that I think you will enjoy as well.  And don't forget about the Oatmeal Pancake Recipe I posted [here].

Good Morning Muffins: 
Makes 12 Muffins
1/2 cup wheat bran
1/2 cup hot water

1 small zucchini, grated (about 1-1/2 cups packed)
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup pecan halves, roughly chopped, toasted
1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 apple, peeled, cored, and chopped (about 1 cu)
2/3 cups packed light brown sugar
3 eggs
3/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant or quick cooking)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Position a rack in the center of the oven, and heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a standard 12-cup muffin tin, coat with nonstick cooking spray, or line with paper liners.  In a medium bowl, stir together the wheat bran and hot water until the bran is completely moistened. Add the zucchini, raisins, pecans, coconut, and apple and stir until well mixed.  Using a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment, beat together the sugar and eggs on medium speed for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the mixture thickens and lightens. (If you use a handheld mixer, this same step will take 6 to 8 minutes). On low speed, slowly drizzle in the oil and then the vanilla. Don’t pour the oil in all at once. Add it slowly so it has time to incorporate into the eggs and doesn’t deflate the air you have just beaten into the batter. Adding it should take about 1 minute. When the oil and vanilla are incorporated, remove the bowl from the mixer stand. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, oats, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon until well mixed. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and fold carefully just until the dry and wet ingredients are well combined. Then add the bran mixture and fold again just until well combined. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, dividing it evenly and filling the cups to the rim (almost overflowing). Bake 35 to 45 minutes, or until the muffins are lightly browned on top and spring back when pressed in the middle with a fingertip. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes, then remove the muffins from the pan. The muffins taste best the day you bake them, but they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you keep them for longer than 1 day, refresh them in a 300 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

Granola: 
Makes about 10 cups
2-1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant or quick cooking)

1-1/2 cups wheat germ
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup sliced almonds
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Position a rack in the center of the oven, and heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the oats, wheat germ, coconut, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, cinnamon, and salt and mix well. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, honey, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly until the dry ingredients are evenly coated. Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread in an even layer. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden brown. Stir the granola with a spatula or wooden spoon several times during baking to ensure even browning. Let cool completely, then add the cranberries and mix to distribute them evenly. The granola can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Oatmeal Maple Scones:

Makes 8 Scones

1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1-1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant or quick cooking)
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup pecan halves, toasted and chopped
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into 8 to 10 pieces
1/3 cup cold heavy cream
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 cold egg

Maple Glaze:
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 to 2 tablespoons water

Position a rack in the center of the oven, and heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a handheld mixer), mix together the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt, pecans, and raisins on low speed for 10 to 15 seconds, or until combined. Scatter the butter over the top and beat on low speed for about 30 seconds, or until the butter is somewhat broken down and grape-size pieces are still visible. In a small bowl, whisk together the cream, maple syrup, and egg until thoroughly mixed. On low speed, pour the cream mixture into the flour-butter mixture and beat for 20 to 30 seconds, or just until the dough comes together. It will be fairly wet. Remove the bowl form the mixer stand. With a rubber spatula, scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to ensure that all of the dry ingredients are mixed into the dough. Using a 1/3-cup dry-measuring cup, drop mounded scoops of the dough onto a baking sheet, forming 8 scones and spacing them 2 to 3 inches apart. (At this point, the unbaked scones can be frozen, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 1 week. Proceed as directed, baking directly from the freezer and adding 5 to 10 minutes to the baking time).Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the scones are golden brown on top. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes. To make the maple glaze: While the scones are cooling, in a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, maple syrup, and enough of the water to make a smooth, pourable glaze. You should have about 1/2 cup. (The glaze can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week). When the scones have cooled for 30 minutes, brush the tops evenly with the maple glaze, then serve. The scones taste best on the day they are baked, but they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you keep them for longer than 1 day, refresh them in a 300-degree-F oven for 4 to 5 minutes. Or, you can freeze them, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, for up to 1 week; reheat, directly from the freezer, in a 300-degree-F oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

Almost Forgot... 
Heart-Healthy Super Foods
I also mentioned that I would post a list of heart-healthy superfoods, but since this quickly turned into the world's longest blog post I will just share the link.  Click [here]

Highlights from this Morning's Show

Aaron Shust Interview: I hope you were able to listen to Jim's interview with Aaron Shust this morning.  If you missed it, I will attempt to recap.  Aaron shared a bit about the making of his latest album.  The album title came from a conversation with a friend when they saw some worship lyrics on the screen at church.  They looked up and started discussing that "This is what we believe," and that became a "litmus test" of sorts for all of the songs on the album.  "This is what we believe" had to be able to be honestly said about each of the songs.

"My Hope is in You" has been a #1 song for 14 weeks in a row.  Aaron did not actually write this song, but his producer and wife encouraged him to include it on the album.  Aaron said his favorite lines in the song are, "I wont be shaken by drought or storm" and "I meet with You and my soul sings out as Your word throws doubt far away."  Aaron and his wife spent a lot of time in the hospital with their son Nicky last year, and a few months ago they had another beautiful baby, Michael who has to have open heart surgery in the near future. Through all of the challenges the Shust family has faced over the years, he said that he has learned that, "When your life starts shaking you reach out to the first thing you believe to be stable."  Click (here) if you would like to check out Aaron Shust's blog.  The Deluxe Edition of This Is What We Believe comes with a

Hardback book including a short devotional that 

corresponds 

with each song on the record. For details,

visit 

aaronshust.com

Official Video for "My Hope is in You"

Third Day Live: 
Relive each Third Day Show this Spring with Third Day Live Recordings.  Here is a note from Third Day:  "As many of you know, we are always looking to improve our fan's experience and come up with new ways to continue to connect with you. Years ago, we had the idea to start recording all of our concerts. Then we thought, "We should share these recordings with people." So, we started streaming the shows on our website.  The one down side to that was that you had to be connected to the internet to be able to listen and could not take the recording with you to listen whenever you want.  Well, after lots of work we are excited to tell you that for the spring tour, you will be able to purchase each night's concert as a digital download on our website! As a little teaser, we will be offering a Third Day Live sampler for free.  This 4 song EP will include a favorite performance from the Make Your Move Tour from each of the band members.  This sampler will only be available from March 1st - March 15th. Be on the look out for more info on this in the coming weeks."

Forty Days of Water Update:
This is my first full day of the Challenge, but technically it is day 2.  It's not been easy, but thanks to the folks at Blood:Water Mission I am being reminded of my many blessings.  When I feel disappointment creep in, I remember that I committed to drinking only water for a reason.  I remember that I am blessed to have clean, cold water and countless numbers of people do not have safe water... not yet.  That can be changed.  If you want to join me, there's still time.  Visit bloodwatermission.com

Call me crazy

40 Days of Water: the CHALLENGE (Click for Website)
Following my devotion time this evening, I came across the Forty Days of Water Challenge and I decided to commit.  If you know me, you know that I'm sorta addicted to caffeine.  Ok, I'm a lot addicted to caffeine.  So that, plus the added challenge of next week being 88.5 WJIE's Share-a-thon Fundraiser will make this especially difficult for me.  This is a crazy idea.  I'm not entirely sure that I can do this, but the original concept behind 40 Days of Water was to give up all beverages except water as a fast during the Lent/Easter Season with the intent of helping meet a need while drawing closer to God.

To be honest, I wasn't sure I wanted to blog about this, because I don't want anyone to think that I am wanting a pat on the back.  After a lot of consideration I ultimately decided to commit for personal reasons that I won't be sharing.  However, I did want to mention this challenge, because I would love for you to join me.

About 40 Days of Water:
Give up beverages.  It’s a big commitment to not drink anything but water for Forty days. But from February 22 - April 7, that’s exactly what we’re asking you to do. It’s a lot easier if you do it with other people like your friends or family. Remember, Sundays are feast days! You get to enjoy your favorite beverages one day out of the week, which will remind you just how much you miss them the other 6 days. By giving up what you’d normally drink in exchange for the water from your tap you can save that money to help build clean water projects for communities in Uganda.

About Blood-Water Mission:
Founded by the multi-platinum, GRAMMY Award-winning band, Jars of Clay, Blood:Water Mission began as a call to personalize the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. The members of the band were committed to share the often-untold stories: those of creative, compassionate, hard-working Africans bringing health, hope and healing into their respective communities.  Their entire mission statement can be found [here]

Blog Post from 40 Days:
"Lent (or any other time of fasting) is more than just giving something up; it's about putting something better in its place." The blog post below was written by author Anne Jackson.

As American as Cherry Pie: Highlights from this Morning's Show

National Cherry Pie Day:
In addition to being President's day, it's National Cherry Pie Day which is fitting since there is a rumored story about Pres. Washington chopping down a Cherry tree as a boy.  Whether or not he did, it's still a great reason to celebrate with some delicious pie.  Here's a recipe I found.

Cherry Pie with Lattice Top

Serves: 8 servings

Ingredients: 

1 can cherry pie filling
12 ounces frozen mixed berries, drained
1 tablespoon Cherry flavoring
1 box ready made pie crust
Flour, for dusting
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon sugar

Directions:  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine cherry pie filling, mixed berries and cherry flavoring. Set aside.  Gently unfold bottom crust onto floured pie dish. Pour berry filling into unbaked crust. Using a pie pan as a guide, cut a circle for the top crust from a sheet of pie crust. Use a lattice cutter to create a pattern, and generously flour each piece so that pieces of lattice do not stick. Top pie with lattice strips and flute the edge of the pie with a fork. Brush top crust with beaten egg and sprinkle lightly with sugar. Bake for 40 minutes, or until bubbling appears in the middle of pie. Cover pie with aluminum foil halfway through baking. Let sit for 20 minutes before serving.

Heart Health: Reducing Stress - Saturday Morning Show

Multitasking: Should we, really?
This morning we've continuing our chat on how to keep your heart healthy.  If you read articles or talk to your doctor about heart health one of the main suggestions that you will receive is to reduce or eliminate your stress. For most of us, I think that would seem impossible.  For me personally, I have a lot of strong and hard-working women in my family.  I think we all seem to take pride in our ability to multitask.  While it is still impressive that we can, I'm not so sure that we should.  All of that multi-tasking really piles on the stress and endangers our hearts.

Hit Pause:  One suggestion I was reading today, was that we should be hitting the pause button.  It's tempting to feel guilty for taking a break when you have a lot to do, but taking that 5-10 minute breather just for yourself will not only reduce your stress.  You will be more productive in the long run.  Life Coach Robert Mack said, "Feeling stressed out means you're not focusing.  When you slow down and regain peace of mind, you'll be happier and more efficient."

Skip your to-do list... or some of it:
Don't be afraid to scale back on some of your to-do list.  Go through all that you need to do (chores, work, etc) and mark off one or two of those off your list that aren't necessary.  Instead of spending your time on those, do one or two activities that you really love.  You will feel less burned out, and it takes some of the drudge out of the rest of your day.  Your heart will thank you.

Get Your Coffee To-Go:
I'm not suggesting you always grab the travel mug.  If you are like me, when you are stressed you up the caffeine in-take.  When you refill your coffee cup, do you take it back to your desk and keep working?  If so, try taking your coffee break outside or at least in a more relaxing area of your home or office.  When your day starts to get stressful and you need a break, take one.  Head outside with your coffee or your tunes and walk around for a few minutes.  It will boost your mood, and relax your mind.

Chicken Quesadillas w Avocado Tomato Salsa

Heart-Smart Tex-Mex:
Just in time for lunch.  Here are two great recipes I found for a really tasty and heart healthy meal.

Chicken Quesadillas w/ Avocado Tomato Salsa:
This recipe has lower-fat tortillas and cheese.  The splurge is the avocado; however, though it's high in fat it's mostly the heart healthy kind that your body needs.  Plus, bonus points for the avocado as they have a natural cholesterol reducer.

Ingredients: (Makes 4 Servings)

2 teaspoons canola oil

1  green onion, thinly sliced

1  lime

1 pound skinless, boneless thin-sliced chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch-wide strips

4  burrito-size low-fat flour tortillas

1 cup reduced-fat (2%) shredded Mexican cheese blend

1/2  avocado, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces

3/4 cup(s) salsa

---

Directions:  

In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil on medium 1 minute. Add green onion and cook about 6 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.  Meanwhile, from lime, grate 1 teaspoon peel and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice. Evenly season chicken on both sides with lime peel, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper.  Add chicken to green onion in skillet; cook 10 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink inside. Transfer to bowl; stir in lime juice.  Evenly divide chicken mixture and cheese on half of each tortilla; fold over to make 4 quesadillas.  In same skillet, cook quesadillas on medium, in 2 batches, 8 minutes per batch or until browned on both sides and heated through. Cut each quesadilla into thirds. Stir avocado into salsa; serve with quesadillas.

Nutrition: (per Serving) Cal 400, Total Fat 14g, Sat Fat 5g, Cholesterol 86mg, Sodium 970mg, Total Carb 31g, Dietary Fiber 8g, Sugar 0, Protein 38g, Calcium 0

Sauteed Shrimp on Warm Black Bean Salad:
While shrimp has more cholesterol than other seafood, according to the article it's still heart smart because it is so low in fat and other calories.  This recipe is also fiber-packed, because of the black beans which also happen to outscore all other beans in antioxidants.

Ingredients: (Makes 4 Servings)

1 1/4 pounds large shrimp, shelled and deveined

2 teaspoons olive oil

1  lime

1 small onion, chopped

1 medium red pepper, chopped

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 can (15- to 19-ounce) black beans, rinsed and drained

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

---

Directions:

Sprinkle shrimp with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil on medium 1 minute. Add shrimp and cook about 6 minutes or until shrimp turn opaque throughout, stirring frequently.  Meanwhile, from lime, grate 1 teaspoon peel and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice; set aside.  Transfer shrimp to small bowl; cover with foil to keep warm. In same skillet, heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil on medium 1 minute. Add onion and red pepper, and cook 8 minutes or until tender. Stir in cumin; cook 1 minute. Add black beans, lime peel and juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper. Cook 3 minutes or until heated through. Spoon black bean mixture onto 4 dinner plates. Top with shrimp and any liquid in bowl; sprinkle with chopped cilantro 

Nutrition: (per Serving) Cal 240, Total Fat 5g, Sat Fat 1g, Cholesterol 172mg, Sodium 740mg, Total Carb 24g, Dietary Fiber 8g, Sugars 0, Protein 16g, Calcium 0

The Hurt & the Healer: Highlights from this Morning's Show

Visit mercyme.org for details

On today's show, we debuted Mercy Me's new song, "The Hurt & The Healer" from their upcoming album.  We hope that you were able to listen.  If you missed it, you can check it out [here].

Coffee, Pancakes, and a lil' bit of News: Highlights from this Morning's Show

Costly Coffee: (Article)
Would you pay $23.60 for your morning java?  Yeah, me neither.  Technically, Logan Warren didn't either, but that was the grand total of his bill before his free drink coupon kicked in.  This expensive concoction consisted of 31oz of crazy and 1,400 mg of caffeine.

Here's what he ordered:
31oz Java Chip Frappucino: $4.75
16 shots of espresso: $12.00
1 shot of soy milk: .60
1 drop of caramel flavoring: .50
1 scoop of banana puree: $1.00
1 scoop of strawberry puree: .60
Vanilla beans: .50
Matcha Powder: .75
Protein Powder: .50
Caramel & Mocha Drizzle: .60

The verdict: "Tolerable," according to Warren, "but not good. Imagine a coffee-based health food smoothie that will put you in the hospital if you drink it all." 


The Big Flip: (Article Link)
890 students helped to break a Guinness Book World Record today by successfully and simultaneously flipping pancakes for 30 seconds.  The event has lovingly been dubbed, "The Big Flip."  It looks like they had a great time.

While I was recovering from gallbladder surgery, I saw someone on t.v. making a puffed pancake called a dutch baby.  It looked so incredible, I vowed to make it after I recovered.  So, to practice your own pancake flipping skills, I've posted a few recipes that look super yummy.  Of course, I included the recipe for the dutch baby, and I even included a healthy option!  


Oatmeal Pancakes
(Healthy Option)
273 Cals for 4 pancakes

Best Buttermilk Pancakes



Vanilla Dutch Baby
(Puffed Pancake)

For 22 more delicious Pancake Recipes
Check out this link for marthastewart.com

Artist News: Laura Story
This morning Jim mentioned that Grammy Award Winner, Laura Story announced that she and her husband Martin (pictured with Laura) are expecting the arrival first child later this year.  Congratulations Laura and family!  We are all so very excited to see how God is blessing your lives!

Visit mercyme.org for details

Hello Somebody and MercyMe:
MercyMe has partnered with a Christian relief organization called Hello Somebody, for a limited time.  Hello Somebody's mission is to provide relief efforts in third world countries, and to feed/educated children by providing an avenue of knowledge in order to break the cycle of poverty and hunger within their generation.  You can find out all of the details at mercyme.org.

Highlights from this Morning's Show

Happy Valentine's Day! 
The dusting of snow that we received will make it especially beautiful for our 88.5 WJIE Annual Sweetheart Dinner this evening.  We are excited to be celebrating this evening with all of the wonderful couples who will be joining us!



Valentine's Day Trivia: 
We mentioned some Valentine's Day Trivia this a.m.
• The avg person spends $115 on Valentine's gifts.
Men spend more than the ladies ($158 vs $75)
• Valentine's Candy sales average 1 billion dollars.
75% of that is spent on chocolate (naturally!)
• 57% of men will be giving their sweetheart flowers; 28% give jewelry.

markschultzmusic.com 

Artist News:
Mark Schultz, who will be joining us tonight for our 88.5 WJIE Annual Sweetheart Dinner, has had a very exciting week already.  Mark and his wife announced the birth of their son, Ryan Samuel Schultz who was born February 12.  Mom and baby are doing wonderfully, and as you can Dad is very proud.  Congratulations to the Schultz family!  We look forward to hearing about your little guy this evening.






Chocolate!
Since Chocolate was today's Fact or Fiction topic I thought I'd post a recipe I found this morning.  Ok, I'm posting two, because I couldn't decide which one sounded more delicious.

  

Molten Chocolate Cake

Rich Chocolate Heart Cakes

Grammy's and Kindness: Highlights from this Morning's Show

Random Acts of Kindness:

This week is random acts of kindness week which is perfect.  Let's challenge ourselves to be aware of those around us this week, and to show some random love.  It doesn't have to cost you money, and it can be completely anonymous.  The beauty of kindness is that it can be as simple as a smile or a listening ear.  You could hold the door open for someone, or treat a co-worker to a latte.  You can be as creative as you like, or you can just look for opportune moments.  Whatever you choose to do, you can know that you will be giving people a reminder that matter and that they are loved.

Artist News: Grammy Wins

We would like to congratulate all of the Christian Music artist who were nominated for Grammy's this year, but especially to Laura Story who won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song for "Blessings" and Chris Tomlin who won Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for "And if Our God is for Us."  You are both phenomenal artist, and we congratulate you on this great and well-deserved honor. 

Easy Tips for a Healthy Heart:Highlights from Saturday's Show

Easy Tips for a Healthy Heart:
Sorry I'm late posting this.  I lost track of time, and forgot to post this.  February is National Heart Month, so Saturday morning I mentioned a few easy to implement tips on keeping your heart healthy.  Heart disease is the nations #1 disease, but prevention doesn't have to be as hard to implement as you may think.

Oranges:
(Reduces blood pressure, cholesterol, & heart failure)
This super food is probably in your fridge or fruit bowl right now.  Oranges are readily available and packed with lots of heart healthy goodness.  Here's the nerdy girl breakdown: the soluble fiber pectin acts like a giant sponge and sops up cholesterol in your food and blocks it from being absorbed by your body.  Potassium in oranges counteracts salt and keeps your blood pressure in check, and citrus pectin helps neutralize galectin-3 (a protein) that causes scarring of your heart tissue which causes congestive heart failure.  Congestive heart failure is difficult to treat with meds, but a diet high in fruits and veggies like the orange will decrease your risk of heart failure by 37%. Not too shabby.

LOL!
(Burn Calories, increase circulation, works cardiovascular muscles)
Easy enough, yet sometimes we forget that laughter really is good for us.  Laughing burns calories, increases your circulation, and activates your heart muscles.  Researchers at the University of Maryland found that people with an active sense of humor were less likely to have heart disease that those who didn't laugh as often.  Harvard researchers found that individuals with positive attitudes were 50% less likely to develop heart problems.

Music:
(Stress reducer, stabilizes blood pressure)
Your favorite tunes are not just a great stress buster.  Japanese researchers found that people who regularly listened to their favorite music lowered their systolic blood pressure by 5 to 6 points within 3 months.  Keep tuning in to 88.5 WJIE.  We are 100% heart healthy.