When the weather changes, some people say they can feel it in their bones and that very well may be true. Of course, I get all my local weather from 4029tv.com, but for national weather forecasts, I check out the Weather Channel's homepage. The other day I came across a pretty neat forecast... it was the aches and pains forecast for people with chronic pains, like migraines or arthritis. It's pretty neat. It tells you the forecast for the potential of aches and pains due to the weather. To check it out, just go to the Weather Channel's website and click on Healthy Living and then Aches and Pains. If you need help deciphering the forecast, here's a guide I found on that site.

Aches & Pains Index
This index forecasts the potential for weather-related aches and pains, especially in people with chronic health conditions (such as migraines or arthritis) that might make them sensitive to changes in weather conditions. "10" represents the highest risk of weather-related aches and pains. "1" represents the lowest risk.
The Aches & Pains Index is calculated using barometric pressure, absolute humidity, chance of precipitation, temperature and wind. Areas of quiet, dry weather during warmer times of the year are generally associated with lower levels of aches and pains. Approaching areas of low pressure or strong frontal systems, both leading to stormy weather, may cause higher levels of aches and pains.
The scale for the Aches & Pains Index is: Very High (9, 10), High (7, 8), Moderate (5, 6), Low (3, 4), Minimal (1, 2)

Chance of Precipitation
Precipitation includes not only rain, but also snow, sleet, hail or any other form of water that reaches the ground. It is considered a factor in aches and pains because rainy weather accompanies changes in barometric pressure and humidity. For those who are sensitive to hot weather, rain can cool the atmosphere and may bring some relief.

Humidity Change
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. An increase in absolute humidity (the amount of water vapor per unit of air), especially in the summer, is commonly associated with an increased potential for aches and pains. Some research also finds a correlation between dry, cold air and migraine headaches.
The four levels of the Humidity Change scale are: Steady, Slight, Moderate, Significant

Temperature Change
Rapidly rising or falling temperatures are a hallmark of big weather changes, indicating underlying shifts in barometric pressure. Extremes in temperature, not just changing temperatures, can also affect the potential for feeling aches and pains. Low temperatures may trigger migraine headaches, exacerbate circulatory conditions and contribute to arthritic joint stiffness. Cold weather has also been associated with an increase in asthma-related hospital admissions.
The four levels of the Temperature Change scale are: Steady, Slight, Moderate, Significant

My friend Robin is always experimenting with recipes and trying new things and I've enjoyed getting some fantastic recipes from her over the years. The last one I got is so good, I have to share it with you all. It has become my favorite breakfast food! It's a spread with peanut butter, honey, cinnamon, and raisins. It's so good, my husband has come home from work the past 2 nights and headed straight for the fridge to get out the spread. The best part is that my 15-month-old loves it too. We've been going through a stage lately where he'll eat something one day and not the next, but he hasn't turned this down yet! Here's the recipe if you want to try it out:

Not only are the awards shows a competition between stars, but they're also a competition between me and my husband. I always print out the ballots and we choose who we think is going to win (I always win by a landslide, but hey, I do work in the news business and see stories about what actors and actresses are on top). I'm so sad that this year's Golden Globe Awards has been reduced to an hour long press conference. How boring! The Golden Globes has always been my favorite awards show because it's more like a party than anything else and you gets to see stars from movies and television in one place. The celebrities seem to be more relaxed, are having a good time chatting with their friends at their table and seem a little bit tipsy from all the free wine/champagne/alcohol... which makes for some funny television moments. The Academy Awards are great too, but are way more serious and much more is a stake it seems for the actors and actresses. Anyways, we won't have any funny moments to talk about at the watercooler this year since the writers' strike has forced the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to cancel the awards show. And.. there won't be any shows or slide shows critiquing who looked great... and who was a fashion disaster. Oh well... there's always next year (hopefully!)

I've always been an online shopper, especially around the holidays, but I've only just found out how to get some great deals! I don't know why I've never thought of this before, but before you buy anything online, make sure to Google 'coupon codes for (insert store name here)'. I bought some new and much needed jeans from White House Black Market in Rogers last week (had some birthday cash that was burning a hole in my pocket!), but unfortunately after I washed them, some of the rock star-style beading came off. The store didn't have another pair in my size, so I turned to their online store. Before I checked out, I searched for coupon codes for the store and found a ton! Plus.. White House Black Market lets you enter multiple codes, so I was able to use a $10 off coupon code, free shipping code, plus another 5% off... so needless to say, I paid less for my online purchase than I did in the store... not bad! I'm a total believer in coupon codes now!