A friend called last week to tell me that she couldn't go to work that day because she tripped over her cat and hurt her hip. She already knew to take Epsom salt baths to reduce inflammation and promote healing. I also told her about arnica -- my first-course remedy of choice for most muscle aches and pains.

don't usually make dramatic changes in my life, but after reading the cover article of the November 15, 2009 issue of Bottom Line/Personal"Don't Stand in Front of the Microwave: Radiation Dangers from Phones, Plasma TVs and Computers, Too!" -- I've done just that. Our houses have become electromagnetic hubs and it's affecting our health. So, as radical as it sounds, I've replaced the cordless phones in my house with old-fashioned corded ones... turn off my cell phone at night -- and have been sending more texts rather than making calls on my cell phone during the day... shopped for a new cell phone based on it's SAR rating (a measure of the radiation it gives off) rather than its bells and whistles... stopped standing in front of the microwave and make sure my kids are far away from it when it's on…and unplug our wireless modem when we're not using it. Whew!

I just got back from one of my most relaxing "vacations" ever. We merely went to visit friends, away four nights. What made this more relaxing than our typical family vacation?

The other day, I went to see a team member in his office only to find out that he was suffering from a splitting headache. "I'll fix that," I boldly told him. Skeptical but suffering, he let me try.

I saved myself several hundred dollars over the past few weeks by following some of the simplest advice that we've been telling subscribers for years: Only buy what's on your shopping list. It all started when I walked over to the mall during my lunch hour to have my shoes restored (for just under $60, I have three pairs of shoes that look brand-new yet are perfectly broken in). I had half an hour to wait, so I strolled around, walking in and out of my favorite stores. I saw a lot of attractive items on even more attractive sales. Sales are a weakness for me. I have always prided myself on buying things when they were on sale – generally buying things that I eventually use even if I didn't need it at that exact moment. The fun came when I tallied the spend. If I saved more than I spent, then it was a good shopping trip.

Our oldest daughter became engaged a few nights ago, and besides all the excitement, now we all have party planning on the brain.