Honey’s Value as a Food

Honey is a great choice of a food item that is often overlooked for its value. As natural sweeteners, honey and sugar are neck and neck, but where honey really pulls ahead is in its medicinal values. Honey has a variety of nutrients, like B and C vitamins, iron and magnesium, and has powerful anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiseptic qualities. These facts combined together mean that honey is a digestive aid and can even be used to topically treat injuries like cuts and burns. Also, honey never goes bad. Literally, it can’t go bad. As moisture leaves it, the honey will take on a crystalline structure, but a little heat will melt the honey back to its more usable state.

So, the next time you are feeling a little under the weather or have a small burn or cut that needs treatment, pull out the honey. What could it hurt?

Until the next random bit of information appears,
Becky

The Average Cost of a Wedding in America in 2013

Did you know that the average amount spent on a wedding in the United States stands at $28,000??? Can you even believe that? I can't. Why would anyone spend that kind of money to get married - on one single day in their life? I mean, let me tell you. I get it. You want a pretty wedding. Nice flowers, nice dress, fun reception, etc., etc. But, come on. Who the heck spends $28,000 on ANYTHING in one day unless you are a millionaire?? I just don't get it. I would rather use the money for a down payment on a house or invest it for my future or anything.

Granted, I got married in 1977 and was pretty much as poor as a pauper, but I spent about $500 on my wedding and had a beautiful dress (I wore my Mom's which was 25 years old, fit me like a glove, and was beautiful to boot), had beautiful flowers (which we paid $75 to buy wholesale and had a florist friend help us make the bouquets, boutonnieres, etc.), had my future mother-in-law sew three bridesmaids dresses and she was even able to eek out the flower girl dress (from the material I picked out to have the colors I wanted and paid for it myself), and the ladies in our church supplied the kitchen help for the dinner (which me and my parents paid for). Okay, I know not everyone can do that kind of stuff, but with a little bit of planning and some ingenuity, you can have a great wedding and not break the bank. We had a wonderful and fun wedding and still have great memories of that day. If I had spent that kind of money on my wedding, even back then, I would have been sick trying to figure out why and how long it was going to take us to pay for it all.

I know it's not for everyone (having a homespun, do-it-yourself type of wedding), but hey, something must have worked - we're still married! Thirty-six years later (July 9, 2013) we will be celebrating together and also will be thankful we aren't still paying for a single day in our wonderful life together.

Something to think about, no?

Until the next random bit of information appears,
Becky