Document your family's health history

It was raining today and I got an itch to do a little spring cleaning while stuck inside. As I was gathering magazines to donate to the school to recycle I began thumbing through each one to make sure I didn't miss anything.

In Island Scene, a magazine put out by HMSA insurance here in Hawaii, I found an interesting article about documenting your family's health history.

As someone who is recording family genealogy I found this to be a very important topic. However, more importantly, a current family health history can help your physician patterns and genetic traits as well as make appropriate recommenations for lifestyle changes or treatment.

The article, written by Lucy Jokiel, states that the health facts that should be collected and recorded in the family history include:

1. birth date and date/cause of death
2. ethnic background
3. birth defects
4. life-threatening diseases (i.e. cancer, heart failure)
5. allergies
6. emotional or behavioral problems (i.e. depression, heavy drinking or anxiety)
7. chronic health conditions, (i.e. asthma, hypertension, diabetes)
8. vision and hearing problems
9. lifestyle factors, such as diet and tobacco use.

Understandably, this type of information may be a challenge to get for adopted children but a simple health history for all of the family members can be beneficial and should be added to and shared with immediate family/future generations.

The AMA offers free family history tools to document health history at www.ama-assn.org and search for family history. Or another tool that makes it easy to build your family health history can be found at www.itrunsinmyfamily.com. Jokiel explains ath all you have to do is enter specific diseases that run in your family, generate a report, then share it with your doctors and relatives.

There were a few other websites that also offered forms and storage of the information, however, I like to keep control of my records and privacy so read the fine print before using their "online record storage".

After tearing some pages out magazines, I did finally get some cleaning done. Good luck with your spring cleaning!

Feeling Green?

It's past St. Patrick's day but Earth day is around the corner and I'm feeling GREEN.

I'm recycling paper scraps to make my own 12x12 paper. I'm starting out with a small mold to make stationary and then I'm asking my husband to make me a custom 12x12 mold so that I can attempt to make my own acid and lignin free paper.

Here is the list of items and the Australian recipe I'm following:

1. a deckle
2. flexible mesh
3. mould
4. sponge
5. drying sheets (such as felt)
6. tub
7. 2 large bowls
8. an egg beater or potato masher (you can also use an electric blender)
9. measuring cup
10. a sieve
11. scissors, pencil, ruler, paper, glue, heavy book, old newspapers
12. paper scraps

Get everything assembled and protect your work surface with old newspapers and wear old clothes.

JUST 7 STEPS

First make 4 cups of pulp by tearing your paper into pieces the size of postage stamps. Put it into a large bowl and cover with hot water. Soak it overnight to make it easier to beat.

Second beat the soaked paper until it breaks down into a mixture like porridge.

Third pour approximately a quarter of the pulp into the tub and add warm water until the tub is 7cm full or until the pulp is runny like soup.

Fourth take the paper making frame (deckle, mesh and mould together) and dip it into the bottom of the tub and in a scooping motion bring it up out of the water.

Fifth holding the frame level, jiggle it gently back and forth and then hold it still as water drips off it. Turn it to the side/corner so water drips off the edge.

Sixth lift the deckle off the top and make sure the paper is between 2 and 5 mm thick and then transfer the paper to a drying sheet and press out the extra water with a sponge through the mesh and then remove the mesh.

Seventh set aside to dry in a warm and sunny room for at least 6 hours and then remove the drying sheet carefully.


I will be experimenting with different colored papers, textures, glitter, and even flowers/grass to add dimension to the paper.

Good luck with your project.

April Fool's

Time really flies! It's hard to believe it is April...someone must be pulling my leg.

So much going on in the last few months. Girl Scout cookies sales - I'm the troop leader and was the cookie mom this year. Maui Friends of NRA annual dinner auction - there was over 160 people attending the sold out event. I am the secretary for the event. (by the way, I have found some wonderful papers and embellishments for scouting and even rifle).

Then of course all the deadlines - tax season, college and scholarship applications for my oldest daughter and now selling tickets for my youngest kid's annual school bazaar on April 24th. I'll be working the event at the hamburger booth (I'm sure you can feel my pain). (check the website for new papers for schools and graduation)

The kids also have tae kwon do and scouting each week and we also volunteer on the weekends. It's no wonder I am having to color the gray!

I haven't had time for many new projects but I have been listing several items for sale on the website and on eBay. And surprisingly, I did get a chance to go to my girlfriends house for another Stampin up party. We made some cute boxes with the Big Shot (I'll be selling this on my website soon). We also enjoyed some wonderful "Bitch" Bubbly...next time we are looking to bring some "Fat Bastard" - you can find these wines and champagnes at specialty liquor stores.

My husband and I are also in the final stages of negotiations and paperwork to open our brick and mortar retail store...it is a His and Hers store with a mix of items for everyone to enjoy. I think we will just call it "The Store".

Check out the new websites www.HeroesHawaii.com and www.ScrapShackMaui.com

Through Heroes Hawaii, LLC you'll be able to find all your outdoor sporting gear, including firearms. As an outfitter we will also supply first responders, such as: police, fire, life guard, ems, and military with uniforms and supplies.

We will ship worldwide too!

And of course I will continue to provide the best quality and the best price on scrap book and paper craft papers and supplies. I am really focusing on themed projects, easy make and takes and more advanced altered pages.

In July 2010, I will be teaching beginning scrap book classes through the Maui Community College - VITEC.

In August 2010, I will be teaching a class on virtual genealogy - finding your family tree online at the college.

And I am aggressively marketing my scrapbook classes for corporate events at the local hotels.

Whew! That's a lot.

But where I have been neglecting things is at the gym. I'm hoping to get back on track and in the gym every morning.

And moving up on the priority list to get done this week is to post pictures and get the businesses on facebook...

So check back soon.

Happy New Year

I wish everyone a very blessed 2010! Thanks for stopping by the blog!

In January we were lucky to attend conventions in Las Vegas and Anaheim to buy new products and get fresh ideas to share with everyone.

Now I am busy adding these to the website and to eBay... please stop by and check it out.

Also, I will be teaching scrapbook classes at Maui Community College - so if you are interested in altered pages, mini books or if you are new to scrapbooking and want to try a beginning class, please sign up.

I got some wonderful vellum products from Quick Quotes and I will be delving into some acrylic pages. New lines I will be carrying are Little Yellow Bicycle and Bo Bunny.

I also found some beautiful Asian themed papers and some vintage French papers and tribal inspired animal rubber stamps.

Lastly, I will be trying this week to make recycled paper. Check back for photos.