Thanks for visiting us! — Michael & Elyse
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Using the natural yeast floating around in the air, I’ve captured it and put it to good use. The wild yeast has made its home in my mason jar wher I keep it fed. It’s so happy there, that it creates the natural bubbles that I then turn into my own natural ginger ale - with real ginger and brown sugar. |
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West Sonoma Inn & Spa is one of the thirty certified energy-conserving businesses who were presented with a green business certificate recognizing them for “environmental performance through conserving energy and water, preventing pollution and minimizing waste.” |
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Fantastic views of surrounding vineyards paired with heavenly spots to lay your head!
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I guess it was thirty years ago when I made the decision to become a nurse. I chose the field of operating room nursing, knowing it would be challenging both emotionally and physically. Most important, Recently, I turned sixty, and saw retirement approaching. This meant the time constraints and financial responsibilities of raising a family were behind me, my children… |
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In its latest quarterly report, the body points out that the Great Depression of the 1930s was not foreseen and that commentators on the financial turmoil, instigated by the US sub-prime mortgage crisis, may not have grasped the level of exposure that lies at its heart. According to the BIS, complex credit instruments, a strong appetite for risk, rising levels of household debt and long-term imbalances in the world currency system, all form part of the loose monetarist policy that could… |
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I’m a ginger lover. I cook with it, infuse honey with it, drink it as tea, get it in ice-cream, eat it as candy. Ginger has digestive health benefits as well as being delicious and zingy. I also enjoy ginger ale and ginger beer from time to time, but like candied ginger, i tend to limit my use of them these days because of the high sugar content. |
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Empty today. Sad, worried, lonely, achy, anxious, immobile. Let just a little light in through the pain. Change always happens. In the center is the paradox of carrying hope and crying. Grieving is real. We just aren’t use to paradoxes. Words like, both are true, and this is also how I feel, aren’t communicated very often. We weren’t taught to have a range of feelings and to honor all of them as value. All of the feelings build our heart muscles and add wonderment… |
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When do you realize when the people in your life hold the key to the truly priceless moments? Summer is a great time to re-create the bonds with the people who really matter — your family and friends. Take a moment to read this article and see if your priorities are in order. |
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This is a packed month with celebrations for those graduates, fathers, new borns, weddings etc… There are all sorts of things to be thankful for. This is a time for gratitude. What are you thankful for? |
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An absolutely amazing book given to me at the Green Earth Expo in Orlando, FL, May 2008. Written by Greg Horn, “Living Green, A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability” gives you the informational tools and resources you need to stay connected and engage in a more sustainable life. |
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Living Green can be effortless as we take simple steps in our daily lives to conserve energy. Try one or all of these 8 simple green choices and you’re on your way to a healthy lifestyle with a few less chemicals. |
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Take actions in your everyday life to improve your health and the health of our planet! |
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Over and over I am reminded that what gets us through painful times is a friend. We know that, but when we are hurting we isolate. We don’t pick up the phone and ask a friend for help. We want to be the strong one. So I suggest you make a list of who you feel uplifted around? Who are you yourself with? Who is cheering for your happiness? Most of us play the role of supporter. We feel vulnerable when we reveal ourselves. Surprise is, we become closer… |
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That is a question that is being bantered about a lot these days. In the wake of high gas prices, rising food costs and salaries that don’t keep up with inflation, many health-seeking shoppers take one look at the organic items in their supermarket and decide they can’t afford to eat ‘healthy’ food. |
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As the Summer Season climbs and we approach the month of June, look out for ways to boost your energy when either vacationing or spending more time outdoors. Your diet plays an important role in your body’s energy efficiency! Avoid zapping your energy reserves and consider eating small, but regular meals to sustain energy levels and keep you blood sugar levels steady. A fabulous recipe that I tried for dinner this month is what I like to call “Garlicky-Gingered Wild Grouper,… |
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Are you like me and read all the lables on your food. I find myself reading between the lines of many of these phrases. Does grass fed mean never fed grain? Does ‘fed an all organic diet’ mean the grain used was not genetically modified? Does free range chickens mean these are happy chicken fed an organic diet. When I look at what options there are for real, organic and non GMO food, I feel like I am loosing ground here. So, I’ve embarked on a journey to raise my own chickens.… |
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You will be amazed at how many people will be there to lend a hand. Everyone wants to feel they are useful, appreciated and thought about. So go on, pick up the phone, let someone help you out! |
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Generally, I doubt that any particular group can lay claim to living a more stressful life than another. Babyboomers are reeling from a sort of time compression, feeling like they have no control over their time—no free time, demands from parents and children, expanding job pressures and an ever-expanding connection to their jobs through email, cell phones and internet. Our children face their own stresses of increasing scholastic competition, overscheduled days, junk food, and safety issues… |
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I just returned from a wonderful walk by the beach. Early spring is here: buds are popping out; tiny, tender shoots are emerging from the soil; last years’ leaves shelter new growth; birds are building nests; life continues. The light is bright, warm, welcoming, shimmering, luminous. |
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Why is it we are tongue tied when it comes to asking for help? When we were younger it was common for us to ask for help when we needed an extra hand, but as we grew older society said we needed to become independent. For women, it became risky. So how do we change? When working with my clients, so many have a harder time than others in this particular arena. One is a single baby boomer and finds herself wearing the proverbial armor complete with the crest “I CAN DO… |
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Isn’t it great that we, as empty nesters, don’t have to ask permission anymore? And isn’t it great that we learned to be thoughtful and think before we act? I wonder if our children feel that newness of deciding and thinking away from home. |
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Paul S. Mamakos, Founder of Everything Raw™, is such a believer of the healthy benefits of a raw diet that he has exclusively eaten raw foods since 2005. Paul actually began his “raw” journey when he opened up a raw food kitchen in January 2007 in Charlottesville, Virginia, home to the University of Virginia. He offered his ever-increasing line of patrons a variety of raw energy bars, raw pizzas and even raw gourmet meals. Paul’s customers were stating to him what… |
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Throw the clutter away and feel the freedom. |
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Finally a book has been published on the subject of diabetes and the accompanying syndromes of metabolic disorder and pre-diabetes, that covers the subjects of diet, exercise, and the resources of the medical establishment. Dr. Steven Joyal’s book: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Diabetes — An Innovative Program to Prevent, Treat, and Beat This Controllable Disease is a complete package product filled with the latest research and knowledge about the causes, symptoms,… |
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Coming of age in the 60s I sometimes wonder how some of the cultural icons of the time—especially my favorite musicians, actors, and entertainers—would relate to events taking place today. One such icon (and role model) for me as a teenager was John Lennon—the “thinking Beatle” —who broke rank with his mates to protest a war, and eventually left the band to pursue his own commitments, political and otherwise. With the US again involved in a far-flung war and… |
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Story written by Prue Osborne It was the question most asked Marianne Du Toit on her 21-month journey from Argentina to New York. Was she alone? Always the answer was, “Non, con dos caballos!” Du Toit and two equine companions walked, trotted and galloped through both the spectacular beauty and the perils of South, Central and North America in 2002 and 2003. Her spirit of adventure, courage and unimaginable inner drive brought her to the notion to try the ride… |
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We all know the day is coming, whether that day is the beginning of empty nest or the day our adult children are home for a visit and then leave. Is there prevention for sorrow? I believe from all the experiences I have with change and tears, that the answer is to practice being with what is. Sorrow is a part of life. Change will happen. Spring will bloom. Winter will chill. As the plum blossoms in my neighborhood are fully bursting on top of trees next to the clusters… |
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It’s April and what does that ponder up for people? TAX TIME! Well, baby boomers, got some tips for you on what to save and what to toss. Save: The big question I hear is what to I save and what do I toss. The first thing I say to all is talk to your accountant and/or lawyer before throwing out any financial or legal papers. |
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I was recently asked if vitamin waters were good for a person who was working out, or if they were alright (health wise) as a supplemental source of vitamins. Well, there are a few different schools of thought on this matter. The FDA, for instance, has compiled a list of and recommended dosages for the vitamins and minerals that they have tested to be essential for general good health. But research has pointed out substantial gaps in the FDA’s essential nutrient list: Lycopene, selenium,… |
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We think of them as vegetables but mushrooms fall into a completely different classification — they are fungus (fungi is the plural). And because of that, they are nutritionally different than vegetables and other plant foods in some fascinating ways. Mushrooms, the fruiting bodies of fungi (in the same way that tomatoes are the fruiting body of the tomato plant), are unique in that they are not animal, vegetable or mineral. Mushrooms contain some compounds such as chitin (pronounced… |
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This months restaurant review was chosen for The Queen of Sheba, an illuminate eatery offering prure, traditional Ethiopian cuisine. Experience the truth and wisdom of ancient culture as you taste an abundance of fresh produce and meats prepared with pure oils and aromatics spices. It’s The Whole Dish, restaurant reviews are written to inform and educate you about healthy eateries that recognize the use of Organic, Natural ingredients and who prepare foods without… |
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Mollie and I spoke about the book. She tells me that she’s very pleased with the book. “It’s storybook-sized which is 8 ½ by 11 inches. I did all the hand lettering and the fonts. It took me 1 ½ years.” She said that she felt the need to get back to something closer to the Moosewood style of a hand written and illustrated book. The bright green cover and colorful vegetable illustrations give away what’s inside the book. |
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The trick here is to make sure that everything you need is in close proximity to where it is needed. For example, the toilet paper should be stored under the sink nearest the toilet and not down the hall in a closet. That sure isn’t convenient when you need it! |
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Have you been listening to the news lateley? I’ve even heard CNN using the “D” word — Financial Depression that is. Have you ever wondered where our money comes from and wondered how could we be faced with a financial depression? I wondered such a thing a few years ago. This question lead me on a journey to discover a most fascinating history of money — who creates it, and the power behind its creation. I recently… |
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Nature’s abundance springs forth in April, as we shake off the lethargy of burrowing inward from winter’s cold. It’s time to cleanse, take brisk walks in the fresh air, and enjoy the green sprouts and herbs of spring. As Paul Pitchford, author of Healing with Whole Foods, notes, “This is a time for contacting your true nature and giving attention to self-awareness and self-expression.” |
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During our third phone consultation, my client, Kate talked about how she was managing her free time as an empty nester. She is 56 and single, with two kids living thousands of miles away. Kate wanted to figure out how to raise chickens on her property, but she didn’t know what to do with all the eggs if she did have chickens. Long story short… she connected with a neighbor that she never knew before, which led to chicks, eggs, and making egg salad sandwiches for teachers.… |
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Spring is here! Time to pack up the winter clothes! Imagine being able to pull out your summer clothes and have them still fit and feel great! While this may seem like an impossible goal, it is do-able — one day at a time. It starts with intention! |
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This is the first in our series of articles about the children of the baby boomer generation, beginning with Adam Shepard, author of the new social narrative, Scratch Beginnings, and one very daring youth of twenty-five who felt the strength of his own freedom as he came of age, took responsibility, and broadened the context of his life. In setting out with little money and taking what was for him a big a step away from the comfort and safety of his hometown, Adam Shepard… |
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I am frequently asked what kind of energetic interaction happens when we speak on the phone. Many people have reported that they get tired by being on the phone for long periods of time. Speaking on the phone gives you a false sense of energetic security. Because the other person is literally far away, you get lulled into feeling that you do not need to do anything special to secure your boundaries. In fact, by placing the phone receiver close to your body, you… |
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If you’ve never seen a pressure cooker, they are a curiosity. If you have, you might conjure up frightening images of hissing pots and food on the ceiling, or worse. I saw the aftermath of my mother’s pressure cooker and vowed never to use one of those. And I don’t. My new, second generation, pressure cooker is safe, quiet and produces healthy food in a fraction of the time of conventional cooking methods, keeping me cool while cooking in the summer and making hot food really hot… |
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As the host of Culinary Vacations, a cooking school with five locations in Europe: Spain, France and Italy, I have the opportunity to live in Europe five months out of the year, experiencing the European way of life first hand. In Europe, we find a very a different lifestyle than here in the States. We often spend as much as three hours at lunch or dinner, a laid back way to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy each others company. Having said this, I must admit I do appreciate… |
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In my previous article I discussed with you the life quality benefits that can be realized through the application of a regimen of regular exercise in your lifestyle. In this article, we will discuss recent studies that delve deeper into the system wide changes wrought by regular exercise, and show that exercise actually mimics gene expression associated with caloric restriction. In a myriad of species, (spiders, rats, Fish) calorie restriction has been shown to increase longevity. (1)… |
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Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wah) is an ancient food that is becomming well known in North America. Cultivated in South America since 3000 B.C. by millions of native inhabitants this staple food is known as the “mother grain”. This powerful seed offers a nutty taste solution for Vegetarians and Diabetics with a balanced Amino Acid source of high quality Protein and a low rating of 35 on the Glycemic Index. |
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No matter which brand of pressure cooker you choose, remember that the pot can only be one-half to two thirds full, depending upon the contents. I suggest choosing the largest cooker, 6-quart or more, that your budget and cabinetry will allow. Avoid aluminum and choose stainless steel. Look for a little button that pops up as opposed to any mechanism that will jiggle or hiss. This newer version is called a spring-valve pressure cooker. |
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I hope by now we’ve gotten the message. Big Daddy (or Mommy) Inc. won’t take care of us anymore. The social contract between company and employee has long been shredded. The corporate lifer has gone the way of the dodo bird. As Dan Pink warned us in his bestseller, Free Agent Nation: “In a climate of heightened risk, attachment is a poor strategy and cradle-to-grave security a false promise.” Emersonian self-reliance updated for the 21st century! As… |
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OK, now that March is in the air, it is time to start Spring Cleaning. Here’s a space that some people have no idea how to organize. Even Baby Boomers need to review the decluttering rules when organizing a game closet. |
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What price would You be willing to pay for a healthy body and a healthy bank account? The American lifestyle as we know it is based on speed, convenience, and price. Unfortunately hidden costs equal the price of bad health. For those of us who experience this and choose to learn from it, find ourselves in an exciting, yet unfamiliar place. |
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We often find ourselves in social situations such as elevators, public transportation, movie theaters or airplanes, where we do not have a choice about being in uncomfortable proximity to other people. What do we do in such situations when our personal boundary overlaps the energetic space of others? |
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Hi Tiff, I love lentil soup. Can lentils be sprouted for salads and such?? Duane. Tiffany Answers: Hello Duane, what a great question to ask as we approach the month of March and Springtime air. Tender sproutlets of grains, beans, and seeds are known to be the ultimate Springtime food as they replenish our bodies with energy and vital nutrients. Sprouts are known for their cooling properties and their ability to detoxify the body, especially the liver. Lentil sprouts are great… |
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The Enneagram is one of the most powerful tools in the world to understand personality styles and how to communicate to the nine different types in this system. For many people, the Enneagram is their primary learning process to accept the way they are, understand their unique personal growth type process, and understand quickly how other types think and what motivates them. If someone is a mystery and you want a better relationship with them, there’s nothing better than the Enneagram to get… |
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The exercise described below will allow you to explore the sense of crossing your energetic boundary with another person, and by doing it you will learn where the energetic space around you and others begins and ends. From now on, you will think of your body as the space defined by your outstretched arms, and not limited merely by its physical form. You will also learn what happens at the point of crossing as your energy field comes in contact with the energetic spaces of others and what… |
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Question: I’m 46, active, not overweight and pretty muscular. I tend to keep my muscles tighter than I could because of concentration on an activity or a sub-conscious idea that I’ll drop something I’m holding or lose my balance. I catch myself over-exerting pressure or force whether I’m stirring food, scrubbing pots or carrying a bale of hay. I often use a little more muscular contraction than necessary. |
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Muscles play a key role in energy metabolism (calorie expenditure, weight control, and weight loss). However, loss of muscle can result in reduced bone density, reduced insulin sensitivity, and reduced aerobic capacity. Strength training is the only way to stop muscles from wasting away (atrophy). If muscle isn’t built with strength training, it will be lost. After the age of 50, a person can lose about 10 percent per decade or about 1 percent per year. Programs… |
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Massachusetts’s seniors can claim the “SENIOR CIRCUIT BREAKER TAX CREDIT”, if the amount of their property taxes and 50% of their water and sewer bill exceeds their total income by 10%. Renters can claim it if 25% of their annual rental payment exceeds 10% of their total income providing that they are not receiving a federal or state rent subsidy. The maximum credit you can receive is $900.00 for tax year 2007. Eligibility |
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Grass Root Organic Restaurant is dedicated to contributing to the Tampa Bay Area, with the first and only Vegan, and Raw/Living Food alternative. Earthly consciousness guides the decisions they make when they create your dining experience. Offering the freshest produce of highest quality, and non genetically modified foods, Grass Root Restaurant is committed to a higher standard and always makes the Organic choice for you. Grass Root’s pure menu identifies the foods’ orientation… |
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We are all familiar with the benefits of exercise to our physical health, the importance of intellectual stimulation to our mental acuity and the process of achieving emotional health through introspective therapeutic work. So how do we create spiritual fitness for ourselves? |
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The physical structure of the energetic boundary is three-dimensional, and in its natural state is measured by extending one’s hands as indicated in the drawing, defining a circle at that distance, and then completing it as a sphere. The size of the field is predetermined by the physical dimensions of one’s body. Therefore a taller person will have a bigger energetic boundary than a little child. The inherently smaller energetic space of children makes them in general very vulnerable… |
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When I was younger I put more stock into that day, but at 56 I find myself watching the youth perform. Some of their expectations are huge. Mine were…when I was 23. |
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There are certainly many benefits of exercise and the most tangible and easily attained is the huge increase in positive effects collectively quantified as: quality of life. An increase in quality of life becomes most desirable as we age and those faculties such as balance, strength, flexibility, lean body mass, bone density, adequate digestion, sound sleep, and over-all feelings of well being, begin to gradually diminish. |
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I realize how dramatically my own views on love and how it is expressed have changed, how much love for me has expanded to include both love and dating as a context for growing. For me, this includes the difficulty of making choices when love’s reality doesn’t measure up to expectations; it includes establishing critical boundaries that are needed to honor differences and create a safe and fruitful space to express love. |
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When our precious ones were younger, we were dashing. Now they are still precious, but we aren’t dashing towards them. Love, what is it you are dashing towards and what is OK for you to simply sit and ponder? My empty nester friends, who are single, want to sleep through the day and night of Valentine’s Day. Married ones long for surprise. All of them remember and love the laced hearts they made with their children, as well as, the pink iced sugar… |
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When I think of February I think of relationships, winter half over, and mud season lurking in the background. Now that Valentines Day is looming, one always talks about love and being with the right partner. Yes, good, but there is more to it than that. First you have to love yourself! So… I choose to write about relationships…YOU AND YOUR INNER CHILD… |
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The notion of a boundary is very much culturally defined. The importance of maintaining appropriate personal boundaries is very much a part of American culture. As much as we are concerned with properly maintaining and respecting our boundaries as well as those of others, most of us do not view a personal boundary as a concrete physical reality. |
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Yogurt is made from one or more types of beneficial microbes, like the well known Acidophilus. These beneficial microbes require just the right temperature to create the yogurt. Too warm and these little critters die off, too cold and you put them into a deep sleep. Just right and they get hungry, drink your milk and make yogurt. |
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Remember when you were a child, and you got so wrapped up in playing, imagining or creating that you didn’t want to stop when it was time to eat? Do you remember leaving your meal half-finished to run off and continue playing? Children innately understand that food is secondary to what is most nutritious and primary in life: Fun and play. |
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Perfect for our winter season, these crunchy, savory summer rolls are sure to make your guests’ mouths water. Satisfying to all food lovers and suitable for a vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diet. Inspired from a fusion of traditional summer and winter flavors, this summer roll features the traditionally lighter ingredients of summer along with with the hardier winter notes of buckwheat and pumpkin. These delicious summer rolls bring you a delightful mixture of light summer flavors… |
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Here is a question that I got from one of my clients. It hit home especially since many of the baby boomers I work with are frequently looking for ways to branch out and do something a bit different than their past career. |
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By Ronald A. Tschetter /Director of the U.S. Peace Corps/ — As director of the Peace Corps, it has been my honor to meet Peace Corps Volunteers all over the world and to see firsthand the remarkable dedication, passion, and skill they bring to serving others. The work of Peace Corps Volunteers builds on a legacy that has become a significant part of America’s history. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy called Americans to serve in the Peace Corps. Now, 46 years later,… |
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Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter announced the Peace Corps 50+ website at the AARP Annual Convention in Boston. As part of the Director’s initiative to recruit “Baby Boomer” Volunteers, he unveiled the Peace Corps’ first website geared specifically for boomers interested in volunteer service, http://www.peacecorps.gov/50plus. |
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What does feeling great mean to you? At this stage in our lives, we re-define what matters to us. I hear from the parents I work with that they all want to feel happy, to find new meaning, and to enjoy healthy relationships with their adult children. That would make them feel great about their lives. |
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As the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear, do consumers ever wonder what happens to their stuff from holidays past? “The Story of Stuff”, a new short film released today online, takes viewers on a provocative tour of our consumer-driven culture — from resource extraction to iPod incineration — exposing the real costs of this use-it and lose-it approach to stuff. |
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This empty nester’s inventory of core values gives you a way to connect that is not the ordinary connection. It is fun to check in with yourself and your partner in new ways. This is not about what you should do or who is right. This valuable activity is about getting to know yourself and your partner in an updated way. |
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Many questions of wonderment and pain are normal in this major life change. When you hear yourself ask: WHAT SHOULD I DO...First notice what you have been doing when that situation occurs. |
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Sometimes you just feel an underlying sadness. It is not predictable. It just shows up as a time to cry a little , to remember. |
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I am an empty nester who loves being a mom. I don’t love my career anymore and now I have to figure out “What DO I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP?” Coping with the quiet house and no fussing over meals, and soccer games is a big hole for me. That is just part of the darkness. I was on committees at her school and did morning car pool when she was younger. |
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Send five post cards to friends just to touch in and feel connected with this empty nest vacancy. Take a walking meditation with a “seed” of an idea and let nature feed your idea with thoughts like, I could do that, or I could add that, or I could let so and so help me with this part. Get some magazines and tear out some of your favorite words, pictures and glue them down with no order and no theme in mind . Whatever caught your interest in that 15 minutes… Then you… |
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All my pre-conceived notions about what it would be like to be free from conventional food, laden with animal products and refined ingredients have been proven false in my direct experience with what David is teaching and with eating the wholesome, unrefined, plant-based foods he has taught me to select and prepare. |
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“I want to be fearless at 50,” says Leeza Gibbons, former host of Entertainment Tonight and Leeza, and now currently hosting a nationally syndicated radio program, Leeza Live. Gibbons, a participant in the current edition of Dancing with the Stars, celebrated her fiftieth birthday during the first week of this Monday night hit television show. |