Holly Lebowitz Rossi: February 2009 Archives

How gorgeous a video game idea is "Flower?"  In it, you are a flower petal, and the object of the game is to float through an ever-changing landscape of growing things.  There's no way you can "die" in this game--in fact, there's no "win" or "lose" at all.  It's just about being free in a beautiful place.  Like a virtual reality meditation.  It reminds me of the attraction "Soarin'" at Epcot Center, where you float and swoop and glide through landscape after landscape. 

Loveliness for loveliness' sake.  What's not to like?

Check out the video below, where the game's developers describe "Flower" as "a video game version of a poem."  I can certainly see why Slate.com's Chris Suellentrop bought a Sony PlayStation just so he could play it.  And even though I'm so not usually this person, I actually signed an online petition to convince Nintendo to make the game available for the Wii system (which I have).  Because I want to play!

Have you played Flower?  Is it as pretty as it looks?

Therese Borchard's fun, snarky collection of fear-busters teaches us that fears will leave you alone if you don't take them too seriously.  So try some of these out on your fears today and see if they won't take a hike:

 

Bully them
Yell at them
Laugh at them
Scare them (a little 'back atcha' technique!)

Quick, help!  Sore throat/runny nose emergency!  I need your ideas for how to kick this cold out of Dodge, like NOW.

I wouldn't be so alarmed about a winter sniffle, except that I am scheduled to visit my newborn nephew this weekend, and I'd hate for his first memory of his aunt to be a) the weirdo who gave me a virtual hug from across the room or b) that lady who smells like Purell. 

My "nip it in the bud" cold strategies are all of the liquid variety: it's all about tea.  I busted out my biggest mug, and I'm self-medicating through the healing power of tea.

Round one was a lemongrass green tea with a big blob of honey stirred in (honey is not only an anti-inflammatory, but it is also supposed to boost your immune response).

Round two, which I'm currently sipping, is an orange spice white tea with a hunk of crystallized ginger submerged inside.  Ginger is best known for its properties as a digestive aid, but it is also a decongestant and lends a nice zing to the tea.

Round three will most likely be good old fashioned lemon water.  Between the immune-boosting vitamin C and the anti-viral power of this amazingly healing fruit, I should be good to go.

How do you kick a cold before it takes hold?  Please (please!) share.   

It's shaping up to be an interesting week in health news.  Here are 3 tidbits that jumped off the (web)page at me:

• A daily glass of wine--or any other alcoholic drink--is a major health risk for women.  According to a new British study, a daily drink increases the chances women will develop a number of cancers.  This, of course, flies in the face of previous research that touted the health benefits of a daily tipple....
  

• The "fish pedicure" spa treatment, where dozens of tiny, live carp are used to clean dead skin off of feet, has been banned in Florida, making that the fourth state to prohibit the treatment (others: Texas, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Washington).

• Waiting for the results of a breast biopsy causes the same changes in stress hormones as hearing news that you have cancer, according to a new Harvard University study.  Researchers say these hormone responses need to be managed because heightened stress can compromise the woman's immune system if she needs to begin cancer treatment.

Comments, thoughts, reactions?  I for one am all for crazy spa stuff, but my feet are so ticklish that I would unintentionally commit carp-genocide if ever faced with such a treatment.  So good riddance!

The poet Robert Brault said, "I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar."

Think about your friends today.  What makes them "cherished" rather than "valued?"  And click for more quotes about friendship.

What better way to celebrate the official launch of Fresh Living than with a fun acrostic to guide you through our posts (so far)!  Check it out, and add your own in the comments.  How do you "Live Fresh?" Find...

For 9 years, my husband was an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Reserve).  During his time in the service, among other things, he helped build a medical center in Guatemala, jumped out of airplanes 7 times (on...

A new 8-year national study of postmenopausal women is reporting that taking multivitamins makes no difference in whether women develop cancer or cardiovascular disease.  The study finds that the better predictor of fighting cancer and being heart healthy is the...

Why not start your day with an "expanding life force breath?"  Called "ujjayi" in Sanskrit, this yogic breath can bring energy and purpose into your morning.  Especially useful for sleepy-heads: making your inhale slightly longer than your exhale really wakes...

Remember the "Patronus" spell, which takes a different form depending on the person who casts it in the Harry Potter books and movies (Harry's is a stag, Hermione's an otter, etc)?  That's how I've been thinking about what it feels...

I'm afraid Gus at A Pagan' Blog mistook my thoughts on his "spirituality and buying local" for criticism.  Quite the contrary, I was admiring and agreeing with his insight on spiritual connection coming from the world around us - not...

If this isn't the divine spark emanating from a human body, I don't know what is.  The intense anticipation, the tearful gasp in the face of beauty.  Allah!  Ole!...

I'm sharing the chill-shivers from Elizabeth Gilbert's amazing TED talk about creativity, anguish, and the divine spark.  She beautifully walked the fine line between being open to receiving inspiration and passively expecting genius to magically land on you.  To me,...

You guys are a creative bunch!  You have great ideas for ways to use un-recyclable orange juice (and milk) cartons.  Here are a few, please add your ideas to the combox so we can make this a full-fledged Beliefnet feature!From...

Valerie, I love your description of the Facebook iPod Shuffle game as "high-tech divination."  So here's what my iTunes tarot had to say. (I must say I'm a little alarmed that "my life's purpose" is "Lies," and I danced at...

There are environmental, economic, and logistical things to consider when deciding how much of a locavore to be.  But is buying local spiritual?Our Beliefnet blog brother Gus diZerega has a fascinating post over on A Pagan's Blog about this very...

Reader jestrfyl posted on The Health Secrets of Lemons that limes are just as healing as lemons--and more intensely flavored.  I say amen, J - which brings me back to chicken soup.Seriously!  Vietnamese cuisine has long paired limes (and basil,...

As Friday night approaches, homes across America will fill with the soothing aroma of chicken soup.  It'll cure what ails ya - they don't call it "Jewish Penicillin" for nothing!  Everyone has their family traditions and secrets (my Aunt Minnie...

Check out this luscious flower-y scarf - and download the pattern free!  A very thoughtful colleague just sent me word that Barnes & Noble's how-to website Quamut.com is having a February special offer: free knitting and crochet patterns.  I'm in...

At Valentine's Day a woman's fancy turns to thoughts of chocolate.  Where I come from, chocolate is a health food (turns out, science agrees!). So what are your favorites?  Here are my current favies--Green & Blacks organic caramel and almond...

It's amazing what snow will do when left to its own swirl-y devices.  When we went to Cape Cod a few weeks ago, this what was waiting for us on our porch.  Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!...

Wow, Valerie, wow!  I loved your entry about Tibetan singing bowls  because first of all, I'm glad you're finally on the mend after that nasty bronchitis, and second of all, it turns out I have a singing bowl sitting in...

It's a citrus-y day here at Fresh Living, so I can't help but suggest you check out the lemony freshness of this fantastic gallery we published:The 15 Hidden Health Secrets of LemonsGot acne? Anxiety? Stomach ache? The flu?  The answer...

Do you put orange juice cartons in the recycle bin, thinking that they count as cardboard?  Ok, then, maybe I'm the only one....but it turns out that orange juice containers are made of an already-recycled material, and they in turn...

Deep into winter as we are, it's time to get your Vitamin C on.  How to choose which kind of orange to stock up on?  Here's a brief guide to the major types you'll see at the store.NavelThe "navel" of...

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had surgery today for pancreatic cancer, and I hope you'll join me in prayers for her swift recovery.  She's a heroine to me as a Jew, as a woman, and as a Jewish woman.Here's...

Who can say where food aversions come from?  My worst one is turmeric, the element that gives yellow curry its, well, yellow-ness (confession: I'm shuddering just thinking about it).  There's no good reason why I don't care for the look,...