Two eggs sunny side up with toast --now, who wouldn't have time for that? (Photo by ben frank) We're already into the second month of 2010, and if you're struggling to keep your New Year's resolutions (or if you've already lost that battle), today is your chance to start over with something more attainable. February 1st begins National Hot Breakfast Month (not to be confused with National Breakfast Month, which is, of course, in September). To join in the celebration of this month-long holiday, created by country-singer-turned-sausage-merchant Jimmy Dean, take a vow to begin each day with a hearty breakfast -- better yet, a hot breakfast. A survey commissioned by (surprise!) Jimmy Dean showed that more than one third of Americans enjoy waking up to a hot breakfast. That's 100 million people -- and a heckuva lot of processed pig! Breakfast is, by definition, the first meal of the day, and gives us the energy to perform tasks and stay focused throughout the day. Even though most of us recognize its importance, we sometimes ignore or forget it. As we live our fast-paced lives and try to keep up with our hectic schedules, we think we have little or no time for breakfast, and certainly not a hot breakfast. And while there's no question that those hot dishes take more time and effort to prepare than the cold alternatives, what could be more comforting than a warm meal first thing in the morning, especially when there's a chill in the air? Even the busiest weekday morning routine can fit in some kind of hot breakfast that can be as simple as a bowl of hot cereal or a hard- or soft-boiled egg. Save the more time-consuming options like pancakes, omelets, or even burritos for weekends and holidays. If weight loss is one of your New Year's goals, you have another good reason to eat breakfast. According to a recent report, eating breakfast regularly -- especially a healthy breakfast -- is a key to controlling your weight because it will help to curb hunger and prevent overeating later in the day. So, before you give up on your resolutions altogether, give yourself another chance today. Kick the habit of skipping breakfast and kick off a new healthy morning routine. Take a few moments and enjoy a hot breakfast. And who knows -- your Hot Breakfast Month may last all year, or even become a lifelong commitment. Suggested Sites... Mr.Breakfast - find breakfast information, recipes, good places to eat, and more. American Dietetic Association - who can eat right without having good information on food and nutrition? Recipezaar - with nearly 20,000 breakfast recipes available, you'll never run out of ideas. Food Timeline: Breakfast - the history of the morning meal. Quick Breakfasts for Busy Mornings - don't tell us you don't have time.

Directory categories: Breakfast, Breakfast and Brunch Recipes, Food Magazines, Food Blogs, Breakfast Cereals

Archived under: Breakfast, Cooking, Eating, Eggs, Food and Drink, Health, Holidays, Hot Foods, Nutrition

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(Photo by Scott Liddell) (Editor's note: We originally ran this piece in 2006, and Heather has since left Yahoo!, but we felt its message about the holiday was as relevant now as it was then. Please enjoy it and thank you.) In anticipation of this year's commotion, we had planned to focus our Thanksgiving edition of The Spark on ways to beat holiday stress. But as I sat down to write, I couldn't stop thinking about what's missing this holiday. This will be my 14th Thanksgiving without my mother, who died of cancer when I was 14 years old. The loss caught up with me this year, and I joined a local grief group. Today, I'm thankful for the strong strangers I met there: a homeless woman mourning the loss of her son while trying to remain together with her husband in a transitional home; a woman who lost her stepfather only three weeks before is finally beginning to grieve for the little brother she'd lost nearly a decade ago; a man who shyly admitted that he sprays his wife's perfume in the bedroom every so often after recently losing her. Most of us will experience holidays of missing at some point in our lives. While I thank my group for sharing their stories and their strength, I have some colleagues to thank as well. One editor cherishes her Yahoo! Messenger conversations with her husband in Iraq. They turn on their web cams so they can see each other. And their daughter leaves palmprints on the monitor after touching the image of her dad's face. Another editor is afraid he can't carve the turkey like his dad used to. But as he shares his father's Thanksgiving traditions with his young daughters, he is sure they will learn all the great things about Grandpa... Through our memories and the stories we share, our loved ones can live on, during the holidays and beyond them. Thank you for reading. Happy Thanksgiving. Suggested Sites... How to Remember a Loved One at the Holidays - listen to their favorite music. Light a candle. Plant a tree, or establish a scholarship. How to Cope With Grief During the Holidays - ways to cope with loss of a loved one the holiday season. With the Holidays Can Come Renewed Grieving - article from the American Cancer Society gives suggestions on how to begin or continue your process of grieving and healing.

Directory categories: Bereavement, Grief Groups, Thanksgiving Graces and Blessings, Thanksgiving, Holiday Stress

Archived under: Bereavement, Death, Health, Holidays, Mental Health, Thanksgiving

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"This chair will protect me!" (Photo by Capture Queen) Halloween is right around the corner and it seems everyone is game for a little scare. Horror movies, haunted houses, and ghoulish costumes are all benign ways of generating a little jolt of fright, a rush of adrenaline to remind us we're still alive. There is, however, nothing enjoyable about a fear that becomes irrational and pervasive and overtakes one's everyday life. There is nothing fun about a phobia. Defined as an unrelenting or persistent fear of a situation, activity, or thing, phobias run the gamut from ablutophobia (fear of washing or bathing) to zemmiphobia (fear of the great mole rat), and just about everything in between. If it exists, there's a phobia associated with it. Some are relatively common, like claustrophobia (fear of small or tight places) and agoraphobia (fear of open spaces), while others, like homilophobia (fear of sermons) and kathisophobia (fear of sitting down), are decidedly rarer. To those who suffer from phobias, the world can be a terrifying place. Think of how difficult a simple trip to the grocery store would be for a sitophobic (one who fears food) or a lachanophobic (one who fears vegetables). A library would be a nightmare to someone suffering from bibliophobia (fear of books), not to mention poor papyrophobics (those who fear paper) and metrophobics (those who fear poetry), although it might just be the spot for a ligyrophobic (one who fears loud noises). And just imagine the terror a sushi bar would provoke to an ichthyophobic (one who fears fish), a consecotaleophobic (one who fears chopsticks), or a Japanophobic (one who fears the Japanese). Perhaps the most complicated phobia to understand is phobophobia. This affliction is characterized by an unrelenting fear of fear or phobias, and specifically, "of the internal sensations associated with that phobia and anxiety." Rather than being affected by environmental stimuli, sufferers of phobophobia are set off by the internal sensations of fear itself, which is further exacerbated by experiencing those exact same sensations. It's a lot to think about, I know. Let's just hope you aren't phronemophobic. Suggested Sites... The Phobia List - provides an extensive list of fears. MedlinePlus: Phobias - information on phobias from the National Institutes of Health. Anxieties.com - self-help site for persons suffering from anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, fear of flying, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Anxiety UK - works to relieve and support those living with anxiety disorders by providing information, support, and understanding. MayoClinic: Phobias - features resources and treatment information for a wide array of phobias.

Directory categories: Phobias, Agoraphobia, Mental Health, Horror, Halloween

Archived under: Halloween, Health, Horror, Mental Health, Phobias, Psychology

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Sugar cube dissolving into a glass of absinthe (Photo by spark_editor) Many of us have experienced absinthe and its rituals only vicariously through art, movies, and literature. The infamous anise-flavored liquor is named for its key ingredient: Artemesia absinthium, better known as wormwood. Wormwood is supposed to cause the notorious hallucinations much beloved of 19th century artists, writers, and philosophers. And wormwood is the reason why the liquor is still banned in some countries, including the U.S. Wormwood has been used medicinally for millennia, and it contains thujone, which is poisonous in large doses. Thujone levels in absinthe were probably completely harmless (unlike the 80% alcohol levels in some recipes), but it was a handy scapegoat for a prohibition-hungry society and a wine industry with a grudge. Their smear campaign essentially killed the absinthe business for a century, but a revival in interest (and the removal of European bans) led to a second boom in the 1990s and 2000s. Today, Europe produces both traditional absinthe and Czech-style "absinth," which contains wormwood but not the anise flavor. Meanwhile, Americans are stuck with varieties containing wormwood relatives or true wormwood without the thujone, though some more determined enthusiasts have been known to take such drastic steps as homebrewing or international travel in their quest to meet the "green fairy." Suggested Sites... Absinthe Buyers Guide - barrels of information on types of absinthe, its history, how to drink it, and where to get it. Erowid Absinthe Vault - lots of technical information on the effects of wormwood and thujone. La Fée Verte - surprisingly detailed reviews and information from avid absinthe drinkers. The Wormwood Society - these absinthe enthusiasts argue that it's not all about the thujone. Mansinthe - signature brand of absinthe from (who else?) Marilyn Manson.

Directory categories: Absinthe, Absinthe Makers and Retailers, Alcohol and Spirits, Prohibition, Bars, Puvs, and Clubs

Archived under: Absinthe, Alcohol, Artists, Drinking, Drugs, Europe, Fairies, Food and Drink, France, Health, Homebrewing, Mythology and Folklore, Prohibition, Society and Culture

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"What are YOU doing this weekend?" (Photo by Veronica ML) Ah, the lazy days of summer are here. Wait -- "lazy?" We Americans are lazy enough already, according to this month’s American Journal of Medicine. That means it’s time to get out, get active, and to take advantage of some summertime activities! Nothing on your calendar? No problem! Ours is packed through the season. Here are just a few ideas for just this weekend: In major metropolitan areas, of course, there’s always something going on. If you’re anywhere near Chicago, this weekend is "Taste of Chicago," with free admission and filled with food and music. Speaking of music, everyone in Dallas is likely lined up for the "American Idol" auditions. If you missed registering in Texas, get your plane tickets now for one of the upcoming auditions in Los Angeles, Orlando, or Denver. Are there events geared toward those who want to get or stay fit this summer? Certainly! Remember the "Seinfeld" episode where Kramer swims in the East River because the pool is too constricting? It turns out there's a gaggle of like-minded New Yorkers who are swimming around Liberty Island today. If you can't make it, don’t worry; they have more events scheduled. Of course, you don’t have to live in the big city to find cool things to do. Wherever you are, you can still participate in "Take Your Dog to Work Day" (provided your employer approves, of course!), Some folks in Petaluma, California, however, will be skipping work with their pooches to visit the Sonoma-Marin Fair and enter the "World’s Ugliest Dog Contest." If the thought of big crowds and rats on leashes makes you want to just stay home -- or if you’re just saving all your energy for the Fourth of July weekend -- you can still get involved by watching other people push the limits of hockey, golf, or pure speed. Just don’t say you’re bored!

Directory categories: American Idol, Recreation in Manhattan, Chicago Travel Guides, Activities for Dogs, Sports

Archived under: American Idol, Animals, Boredom, Calendars, Chicago, Cities, Contests, Dogs, Eating, Entertainment, Events, Festivals, Food and Drink, Health, Outdoors, Pets, Recreation and Travel, Regional, Seinfeld, Sports, Summer, Swimming, Tourist Attractions, Travel, Vacations

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