A New Year’s Eve Tradition

A New Year's Eve tradition is something my husband and I do together. We look forward to every year sitting down on New Year’s Eve and remembering the highlights of the past year.  I create a special page in my journal to note these precious memories so they are not lost. It is so enjoyable to relive the memories we have made which are sometimes as a couple or as a family.  Funny, they never seem to be about things we’ve purchased or promotions at work.  They all have to do with special moments and quality time together with each other and family. Several years ago we took our three children…

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A New Year’s Day Tradition – Reflections

A New Year’s Day Tradition – Reflections     Something that my husband and I do together and I look forward to every year is sitting down on New Year’s Day and remembering the highlights of the past year.  I even create a special page in my journal to note these precious memories.  It is so enjoyable to relive the memories we have made which are sometimes as a couple or as a family.  Funny, they never seem to be about things we’ve purchased or promotions at work.  They all have to do with special moments and quality time together with each other and family. Several years ago we took our three children on a…

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Roasted Edamame Salad

Roasted Edamame Salad
59132129 - healthy vegetable salad in mason jar: tomato, cucumber, soybean, onion

Roasted Edamame Salad Serves 4 Ingredients: 12-16 ounces fresh or frozen shelled edamame (soybean), non GMO or organic 1/2 cup fresh organic corn kernels 1/4 cup finely diced scallion or green onion 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tablespoon olive oil 3/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 cup chopped fresh tomato 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar Preparation: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the edamame, corn, scallion, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper into a 13 by 9 pan and stir to combine. Place on the middle rack of the oven and roast for…

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Green Salad

Green Salad Ingredients: 2 cups of greens (spinach, mustard green, endive, arugula, wild greens all work well) Favorite raw vegetables (bok choy, red or daikon radishes, carrots, tomatoes) ¼ cup of beans (black or chickpeas usually) or 2 tablespoons of raw, unsalted sunflower seeds Toss in fresh herbs like basil or parsley Preparation: Toss together cut greens, vegtables, beans and herbs. Serve, top with your favorite dressing (or see below for a homemade oil and vinegar dressing recipe) and enjoy!

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Chickpea salad

Chickpea salad

Chickpea salad Ingredients: Chopped celery, carrots around 1/4 c each Red onion or scallions around 1/8 c or to taste. Chickpeas or china dal beans (cooked) about  2 cups Use veganaise to coat – about 1 Tablespoon Garlic Aioli Mustard from Trader Joes (or any mustard) 1 tsp Sweet relish 1 T Fresh dill 1 tsp Dash of cumin and coriander Preparation: Mash chickpeas with a fork.  Mix and Serve on lettuce, whole grain wrap or crackers. A great on-the-go idea is to place a scoop in romaine or Chinese cabbage leaves and roll/wrap them. This makes them very portable and no utensils required.

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Finding Peace Beyond the Digital Tether

Do you feel it's still possible finding peace beyond the digital tether in our lives? Returning home to Michigan brings forth a cascade of emotions for me. While the joy of reuniting with family and reliving the memories of my upbringing fills me with happiness, a hint of anxiety creeps in. It's not due to seeing my loved ones but the prospect of being entirely "unplugged" upon arrival. In my mother's home, there are no signals—no Wi-Fi, no cell reception—effectively disconnecting me from the digital world. Initially, the separation triggers unease and withdrawal symptoms for a few days. Questions loom large: What if I miss important emails or…

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Learning to Relax and Unplug

Learning to Relax and Unplug I usually experience a few mixed emotions about going home (MI).   It's not that I don’t absolutely love seeing my family or being back in the community I grew up in.  That is the number one reason I keep coming back.  Where I experience a bit of anxiety is in knowing that when I arrive, I am virtually “unplugged”.   “Unplugged” means living without cell, email, texting, Facebook, Twitter, etc.   There are no hotspots, no wifi, no towers, no bars, no 3G, 4G or any G at all in my mother’s home. At first, I experience a bit of anxiety and connectivity withdrawal symptoms…

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Countdown to Christmas and Traditions

Well, we are officially 7 days away and the countdown begins. For those traveling, this typically means WE have far less time to complete our holiday shopping so the pressure is on! I’ll be traveling to Michigan which is part of my tradition of going home. It’s a bittersweet trip as I’m excited to see my family but sad that my husband stays here as his daughters arrive from out of state. It was understood at the beginning of our relationship that this was the way it would be as there would be a time that our children would not be coming home. My son, a chef, and…

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Countdown to Christmas & Traditions

Countdown to Christmas & Traditions. Well, we are officially 7 days away and the countdown begins. For those traveling, this typically means WE have far less time to complete our holiday shopping so the pressure is on! I’ll be traveling to Michigan which is part of my tradition of going home. It’s a bittersweet trip as I’m excited to see my family but sad that my husband stays here as his daughters arrive from out-of-state. It was understood at the beginning of our relationship that this was the way it would be as there would be a time that our children would not be coming home. My son,…

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The Ripple Effect

What is the ripple effect? The ripple effect is a metaphorical concept that describes the spread of an action, idea, or influence through a system, causing a series of secondary effects or consequences. The first email that I opened today was from a newsletter subscriber thanking me for doing what I do. A few hours later, I received a phone call from someone diagnosed with cancer.  He said the nurse at the clinic had suggested that he contact me.  She had attended one of my online classes and told him I would be a great resource as he wanted to take a healing approach to his cancer. I have…

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