A Summer Watermelon Salad with a Warning June 21, 2013 • 0 Comments Last weekend, we were celebrating graduation, and since my dad was here, we wrapped it all together into a party to include Father’s Day. I don’t do much entertaining because it seems to require more concentrated effort than it used too and I get overwhelmed by the planning. Luckily, my darling friend stepped in to the rescue and organized the…
Finding Your Voice Through Transformative Singing June 5, 2013 • 2 Comments “The voice is never just the voice. It’s the way we express how we feel about ourselves. It’s a powerful psychological instrument connecting our inner and outer worlds.” –Helen Gary Bishop, Vocal coach and adjunct professor at New York University’s Department of Culture and Communication I mentioned in a previous post that being in front of a camera is difficult…
Ashes, Ashes We All Fall Down June 3, 2013 • 0 Comments In the mental fog of the first few days after my husband’s suicide, when I was filling out forms and answering questions and learning that my life was not entirely how it appeared, I had this idea in my mind that I would send the ashes to his mother. In fact, I listed her as the destination on the transit…
The Benefits of Juicing and the Economics of Health May 24, 2013 • 2 Comments It is difficult to argue with the benefits of juicing, although I have read articles that suggest it is wiser to put everything into a Vita-Mix and get the fiber as well. I’m not sure that’s a truly practical solution. Plus, I am pretty sure I can feel all the juicer-oxygenated nutrients entering my bloodstream when I drink a glass…
Mother’s Day Revelations and Flourless Chocolate Cake May 17, 2013 • 0 Comments I mentioned before that I am not a baker. I am a cook, so I really have no business messing around with the likes of the gluten-free world. But, I did it anyway, because I wanted a semi-healthy dessert for a Mother’s Day party. By the grace of the universe (or Mother’s Day luck) it worked. It is a Flourless…
Cocoa Health Benefits: Heart Healing Cocoa Recipes May 10, 2013 • 0 Comments “Just like other spices, cocoa itself has virtually no impact on your daily calorie count, but can make your levels of health-protecting nutrients soar.” –Bharat B. Aggarwal, PhD I drink a lot of beverages throughout the day, but I don’t know if it is because I am actually thirsty. In fact, I would say I just like to have a cup…
Pets as Therapy: Life Transitions and Healing with Pets May 8, 2013 • 1 Comment I have three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels’ swirling under my feet every day. Trusty companions that follow me through the house: up and down the stairs, around the garden, and in and out of the bathroom and kitchen. They would prefer that I sit on the couch all day where they can lay on top of me. Winston, Rupert &…
On Mental Distractions, Anxiety Relief and Self-Sabotage May 6, 2013 • 4 Comments I caught myself doing it again today: wiping the counters. Moving items over to wipe under them, moving them back, and then wiping again to be sure I didn’t miss a spot. A voice came on in my head, like a loud speaker, and said, “What are you doing?” which stopped me in my tracks. It’s the same feeling I…
Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe May 1, 2013 • 0 Comments 1 C Bittersweet chocolate chips 1 C Coconut oil 1 Cup Sugar (I used Coconut Sugar) 2 T Vanilla 3 Eggs, beaten and at room temperature 1 ½ C almond meal Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper and grease the sides (I used coconut oil). Note: Although I used coconut…
Parenting Through Grief: The Beauty of Resilience April 29, 2013 • 0 Comments One of the most challenging parts of my journey has been the feeling that I have lost precious time with my children during these last two and a half years. Although I am powerless to change that fact, perhaps it is what inspires me to find the silver lining in the mess. It gives me a sense of recapturing the…