I started using coconut oil not too long ago on my hair, and putting it into my coffee in the morning. yes, it floats on the top of the coffee, but surprisingly, it doesn't leave a greasy taste in your mouth when you drink it. My hair has never been so soft! I don't even use conditioner anymore. I just put a dab on my hands (not much, you may have to experiment) and rub it on and let it sit for a few minutes to soak in, then comb it through really well. Even blow drying my hair doesn't make it frizzy with the coconut oil on. Once a week, I put it on and let my hair dry naturally, so it can soak it all up. It makes your skin so smooth! I tried using it on my face, but I have adult acne, and it broke it out. But I did add a couple of drops to my moisturizer at night, and it didn't break me out that way. Anyway, my skin is much smoother, on my face and everywhere else I use it.

I have been entering the sweeps every day, so I have a good chance at winning things. The plum spread uses 5 pounds of plums, 3 granny smith apples, 1/4 cut white grape juice, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 3/4 cup Splenda, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, or ginger (optional). It says to combine apples, plums and grape juice and cook about 20 minutes or longer, until fruit is soft. Pass fruit through a food mill to remove seeds and skins, and reheat, and add the Splenda and spice(s). To test, they say to place a plate in the freezer beforehand, and once you are at the final boiling stage, you can test the set by placing a small amount on the frozen plate. It doesn't go into canning details, however, but because its a small batch, its easy to increase and can if you prefer. The apple butter and pear butter are very simple. Baked in the oven and uses apples and apple juice, or pears and pear nectar. Incidentally, the plum butter is 0 carbs and makes 8 cups.

Sammy, I just reread your initial post, and for some inconceivable reason, I overlooked the most obvious fix for your daughter's problem. You titled this thread, "How do you train a cat?" when a more appropriate title would have been, "My daughter's cat has her trained!" Remember, now, that cats are nocturnal - most active at night. Your daughter is sleeping at the same time her cat is genetically programmed to be the most active. He gets bored, wants company, and wakes her up. She responds by getting up and trying to figure out how to make him happy. He's gotten exactly what he wanted. She goes back to bed. He gets bored again and wakes her up again. She gets up and tries to make him happy again, and again he's gotten exactly what he wanted. He has trained your daughter exceptionally well! If your daughter wants to convince her cat to stop waking her up at night, she has to stop giving him the payoff. No more getting out of bed to see what the cat wants. If the cat no longer gets the response he desires, he'll eventually quit trying. If your daughter is consistent about refusing to respond, and if she offers the other alternatives I suggested earlier, her boy will quit wasting his time trying to wake her up ... sooner or later. A word of caution, though. Since her cat is diabetic, it's important that she wakes up enough to make sure he looks OK and isn't alerting her because he's in some sort of physical distress. Laurie

Debby-that is really something to be proud of. I just gave up sugar in sodapop. I can't give up everything- yesterday I even ate (one) Mallomar cookie. In the old days , it might have been half the box! Oh, I am 'tiny". I am just 5 foot one inch. at 150 lb, my BMI body mass index was over 30 percent, that's what doctors look at. I'd be happy to weigh 130 or thereabouts.