Grab a cup of coffee and a Christmas cookie! Here’s a collection of this and that from here and there… And don’t forget to check in on the Happy News page from time to time.
Enjoy! 
What? White Rice Better Than Brown? from The Healthy Home Economist (Saw this on Brandy’s blog and I totally believe this based on my own experiences. Listening to our bodies is so important!)
Lessons from the Edge: God’s Agenda is Best from Surviving Motherhood
Downton Abbey coming in January on PBS (Thanks for the heads up, Jo Anne!)
What children really want for Christmas from thatmom.com
JS Kim Explains Why the US Economy Will Share the Same Fate as the South Korea Sampoong Superstore Disaster from Zero Hedge (This is not cheery Christmas reading. But at least read the answer to the third or so question down: “If the economy is really not recovering, then can you explain what is really going on?” and take a look at the picture at the end of the answer. Yes, that is the probable future of the US economy in a photo.)
Baby Name Voyager from Baby Name Wizard (Warning: Major time suck)
Button Boquets from Tallulah’s Satchels (Saw these in person at a craft show and the photos here don’t do them justice. So. stinkin. cute.)
The 2nd Annual 40 Best Political Quotes of 2010 from Right Wing News (LOVE a few of these!)
Forever foods: 10 cooking staples that can outlast you from Mother Nature Network
Why surgeons dread redheads from TIME (Martha sent this one to me. If you remember my dental fiasco that is here, here, here and here, you’ll know why.)
Surgeon: birth control pill a “molotov cocktail” for breast cancer from Life Site News
New Retail Landscape: Just-in-time consumer from Wall Street Journal (I have to admit that this new trend really surprises me…)
Is the college debt bubble ready to burst? from Yahoo Finance (Imajackson sent this one to me. Higher education and health care are both bubbles that will burst as well. You do the math.)
Good links!
I’m a “just-in-time” shopper. I think after all of my years of living in apartments in cities, where I didn’t have any storage space, I got used to buying just what I need. Back then, it might be just what I need for a day or two, since you are also limited by what you can carry home in your hands. Now in the suburbs, I’m up to a week, but I don’t think I’ll go further than that.
Very interesting about the brown vs. white rice.
I started using Uncle Ben’s converted brown rice a few years ago and like it MUCH better than regular brown rice. It stores better and doesn’t have that overly grainy taste I’ve found with brown rice.
I wonder if the process that “converts” it is similar to what others have done in the past with soaking it?
As a diabetic, I’m not suppose to eat white rice so the converted brown rice has been a great (and tasty) choice.
I also don’t feel so guilty about making bread with half whole wheat and half unbleached white flour.
Sallie, Two of my children are strawberry-blonde with freckles and light eyes. Unlike traditional redheads, though, they tan nicely. Do you think all of the attendant sensitivies would apply? Any hunches? I will say that Daughter A. sure seems extra sensitive to pain, but the other one not so much. Hmmm….