~ wellness, wonder, words ~
Not so long ago it seems I was making muffins for our family on a weekly basis. I’d bake a batch or two on the weekend (sometimes making extra for my mom) and the boys would enjoy them throughout the week — in their lunchboxes, after school or as a grab-and-go on their way out the door. But muffin making eventually gave way to bars (a dragon lives forever but not so little boys) and over the past couple years, I think I’ve only made muffins once or twice. …
We’ve been doing some collaborative cooking in our home lately.
Last week our youngest made this dish ~ a fairly detailed and somewhat laborious recipe for a young cook and I was happy to partake in both the result and the journey. He managed it with quiet confidence and persistence working through each of the steps and even made a second trip back to the store on his bike when he realized we didn’t have sour cream (I suggested Greek yogurt but was overruled – he made the right call). I have to admit I enjoyed the mom break ~ so nice to have someone else prepping food for a change but more than that, it was one of those satisfying moments when you see your child’s culinary prowess expand beyond spreading peanut butter (although we all know peanut butter sandwiches are tough to beat). …
We made it back to our cabin in the woods for the first time in two years.
It sits atop a forested hill overlooking a quiet, clean lake. We bought the original fishing cabin about 12 years ago with its bumps and bruises and have since fixed it up, little by little, turning it into something slightly more livable for our family. The functionality has improved but the simplicity remains the same. …
I’m so excited to share this delicious and refreshing little number with you before things wind down over here for summer break.
I’m always amazed to discover how a small collection of ingredients can harmonize to create such complex flavor. And in this case, it all happens in about 5 minutes – no ice cream/yogurt equipment required and no need to spend a ton of money at a froyo shop. You can make this in the comfort of your own home any time day or night….
Our skin is our largest and fastest-growing organ. It is our first line of defense, protecting our interior, helping regulate our body temperature and allowing us to experience the sensation of touch. And like all other body parts, our skin requires and responds to care.
Much of what we see on the exterior of our bodies is a reflection of what’s going on inside of us. You can certainly spend a great deal of money on skin care products and cosmetics that work on the surface but my view is that you will be far more successful over the long run working from the inside out. Not surprisingly then, this feature focuses on recommendations that support our beautiful, radiant skin from the inside out ~ including, of course, our diets….
Here we are at the onset of summer. The season of warmth, abundance and discovery.
My husband and I marvel at the rate of growth and the pace of change as we walk our little garden together in the morning.
Sometimes we have to crouch down low, turn ourselves upside down on the ground or slide branches sideways to get a full view of the beauty around us. Each day holds a new wonder and we do whatever we can to put ourselves in the middle of it….
I don’t normally take my dietary cues from Starbucks but when the temperature climbed upwards of 100F earlier this week, I was reminded of a little discovery I made last year.
It was a glorious late spring day when I found myself out and about (that’s oot and aboot for my American friends — see how much I’ve learned in the short time that I’ve been living here? Who knew that the way I would pronounce these two small words would be akin to having a maple leaf stamped on my forehead. I do feel compelled to note for the record however that I’ve never actually heard a Canadian say oot or aboot – not even a Maritimer – but I get that there is a slight difference in emphasis and I’m happy to go along with the chuckle. Canadians can be kind that way, wink)….
Summer officially begins on Friday in this home.
It’s the boys last week of school and we are cruising through it with the usual mix of chaos and excitement.
Just beyond the end-of-semester projects, presentations and ceremonies, await the pool parties, UEFA Champions League finals and midnight chip runs to CVS. Yup, the first week of summer is about to descend on us in all of its glory and the boys can literally taste it.
The tradition at our sons’ school, like many others, is for the parents of the Grade 11 class to prepare the food for the Grade 12 graduation reception — (I say this with a huge lump in my throat knowing that next year, we will have our own Grade 12 graduate and it will no longer be possible for me to keep denying the inevitable. Please tell me I am not the only mom who has trouble with this…)….
Gastrointestinal discomfort, or tummy trouble, is one of the most common health conditions I encounter in my nutrition practice.
Some of the more familiar symptoms include: bloating; cramping; heartburn; gas; constipation and/or diarrhea. The associated discomfort levels can range from mild to debilitating and the causes, consequences and potential cures, are equally diverse.
What I want to talk about today are some of the founding principles and practices we can put in place to help lay the groundwork for gastrointestinal health….
This year marked our first spring planting season at our new home.
I was intent on growing herbs and getting a vegetable or two into the ground. So with a deep breath and a huge leap of faith, I kept my ambitions low, stayed focused and started small.
My husband built me two wood boxes and with that, our adventure was underway. …