Never Give Up

Are You Paying Attention?

It seems that inspiration is everywhere to get healthy. If we are paying attention, there are stories to read, products to take, habits to develop and research to apply. The information age provides everything from whatever topic we're curious about to even that motivating kick in the pants when we have a momentarily lapse in fortitude, and feel tempted to leave behind what we really want our lives to be about.

Being bombarded with so much input, so many messages wherever we go, it's tough to sort out the sense from the nonsense and keep up with the day to day. So, what do we do? Often, we don't pay attention at all...until we HAVE to.

I do it all the time. I am a simple girl...if things get too complicated, I tend to check out. If the story has too many rabbit trails, I listen selectively. If the explanation has too many sub points, I get lost. I don't mean to do this, but my brain seems to require pressing "REFRESH" or "ESCAPE" when I'm approaching overload, or else it just freezes. I am grateful because this keeps me sane, but I often wonder what if I could hang in there just a little longer...would I find something relevant to me, a tidbit of knowledge, an interesting fact or sideline, a morsel of wisdom that answers the questions I'm asking? So, I practice my mental gymanstics and push myself to learn a little bit more, stay a little bit longer, stretch my experience a little farther.

Henri Nouwen once said that '...it is easier to own life than to love life.' Hmmmmm. Some of the busiest people I know don't seem to be revelling in loving their life as much as just being so dang busy. I like to have something to show for my life, something tangible at the end of the day to prove I have accomplished something, too. Sometimes lots of somethings.

So, I want to pay attention, make contributions and constantly be about becoming a better woman, but more than that I want to live life loving it and what it's becoming...to experience new things, new people...see what isn't readily visible...hear the words that aren't spoken...find value and meaning even in the mundane...create, build, make a difference...this, to me, is to LOVE LIFE.

Loving life = Real life. What does it mean to you to love life?

Be well,
Cheryl

Mango Pomegranate Guacamole

Holy guacamole! I found this stunningly beautiful, absolutely delicious recipe in a Gourmet magazine last year and have made a few tweaks of my own to make it just perfect.

Fruit in my guac, you ask? Folding fruit into guacamole is a wonderful tradition in Mexican cooking. And, if you wait to make this until the holidays, the pomegranate seeds add a flash of bright red against the gloriously green avocado! And, an additional bonus....it's healthy!

Pomegranates cannot be found year round in many places, but Trader Jo's has got you covered with this one. They carry the seeds in small bags in the refrigerated produce section. They also have pre-cut mango slices if you're really wanna make this a quick one. Here's the scoop:

What You Need
4 ripe avocados (2# total)
1 c red onion, finely chopped
2 T pepperoncini peppers, chopped
1/4 c lime juice
3/4 c pomegranate seeds
3/4 c mango, diced and peeled
1/2 c cilantro, chopped

Garnish: lime wedges

What You'll Do
Halve, pit and peel the avocados and mash until of coarse consistency. Stir in onion, chiles, lime juice and 1 1/4 t salt. Fold in pomegranate seeds, mango and cilantro. Season to taste with salt and additional lime juice and garnish with lime wedges.

I'm taking this to a fall picnic along with some tortilla chips. Try it and let me know what you think!

Cheryl

I've Got My Life Back

Hey everyone, thanks for coming back to read the conclusion (or maybe just the beginning?) of my story started earlier this week. (If you missed those posts, there are links on the right toward the bottom of this page that will take you to them so you are all up to speed.)

When I first started taking Vemma, my body was host to a number of ailments that are very common in our western world...high blood pressure and high cholesterol to name two. I got it that I wouldn't find healing in a bottle, and was aware of the abundance of solid research that proves that exercise can have a remarkable effect on these two disorders. I knew this all too well, but frankly, didn't have the energy needed to stick to a regular exercise regimen.

That is, until I started taking Vemma!

Within a week of beginning this yummy, tropical-fruity supplement, I started waking up in the morning BEFORE the alarm, feeling rested! I began walking for 20-30 minutes in the morning, and in four short weeks my lab results proved that I was experiencing the health benefits of daily exercise ~ my blood pressure dropped 20 points, and my cholesterol was down a full 80 points!

While Vemma is not a miracle drug I want to emphasize that it is pretty incredible what the human body can do when it is given the proper building blocks. Vemma provided my body with the tools it needed to get some work done...and now I am enjoying the fruits of that.

So, it seems very natural to me to not only take this amazing product but to share it with everyone I know. And, anyone who knows me knows I am NOT a sales person. The thing is . . . I'm sold on this product and am passionate about it because, well, it's the real deal folks.

Vemma was my starting point. Could it be yours too?

To learn more about the amazing ingredients in Vemma (and the insanely healthy energy drink with the Vemma formula in it called Verve), visit my website ~ http://itsinthejuice.vemma.com/. There is a ton of information there along with scientific research done by independent labs that confirms the health benefits of the Vemma formula.

Watch the video that tells about the different Vemma delivery systems of this unique formula and see which one fits best for you and your family. You can place your order there too...and start giving your body the building blocks it needs!

If you have any questions, let me know in the comments or send me an email.

Be well!

Cheryl

P.S. To read my complete story, start with part 1 of Energy, Oh Energy. Who knows, maybe you will identify with some of it. Cheers!

Energy, Oh Energy - Part 3

It all started with an unwillingness to accept that prescription medication is the only way to treat a health issue. Just read the warning pamphlets (notice PAMPHLETS, these suckers are long!) that accompany your Rx~there ARE side effects. Yes, sometimes prescription medication is necessary, not arguing with that. But, it usually treats only the symptoms and really messes with the body's natural chemistry.

My stubbornness in these matters was fueled by knowledge, that if the human body is given the right building blocks, it can do AMAZING things. I didn't want to just treat the symptoms of my health issues, I wanted to get at the root of them. For me, that started with nutrition.

Like a lot of Americans, the typical western diet has not been kind to me. My friend, Dianna, introduced me to the mediterranean way of eating, focusing on super foods such as bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, almonds, extra virgin olive oil and whole grains. These foods help you lose weight and gain health by providing abundant nutrients with relatively few calories. I incorporated these things into my daily diet and found that the processed junk started to fall by the wayside...both in consumption and my desire to consume.

Now, here's the kicker ~ even though I had been faithfully eating this way for several years, still my body was lacking in a host of nutrients. I've read all kinds of things, some even from the Journal of the American Medical Association that say that the food supply isn't what it was 20 years ago, that the soil our food is grown in is depleted, thus producing foods that are less nutrient dense. So even super foods are not as super as they once were. And, my patio simply isn't large enough to grow my own in soil that isn't depleted. (Although I have a beautiful, natural, organic herb garden!)

Sooooooooooo, while I really don't like taking pills of any kind, I knew in my heart that it was time to give up the ideal of getting all of my nutrition from the food supply. It was time to find a good multi-vitamin. It wasn't really that hard to do . . . I had been testing out some that I got from my chiropractor, you know, those giant horse pills that you have to take 3 times a day because they are natural. I tried a liquid vitamin that he carried also, and in taste it was the equivalent to, ummm, castor oil. Yeah. Nasty. And, it wasn't really complete, which meant supplementing my supplement with more supplements.

Timing is everything it seems. The day after my initial appt with my doctor, even before I received my state of the union phone call, a coworker of mine told me about Vemma. She said Vemma is a complete liquid nutrient supplement, loaded with 12 full spectrum vitamins, more than 65 essential plant-sourced minerals, and antioxidants found in the mangosteen, natural aloe vera and green tea added in. WOW. Complete liquid nutrition. I decided Vemma should be in my body and ordered it online.

Come back tomorrow for the amazing results, results that my doctor is completely blown away by.

Until then,

as ever, be well.

Cheryl

Energy, Oh Energy - Part 2

How would you feel if your doctor called to discuss your lab results with obvious concern in his voice? How would you respond if your blood was giving its own state of the union address, describing trouble in the land? I don’t know about you, but for me, it was VERY sobering.

Part of me was half expecting my doctor to tell me that I just needed to change my eating habits, eliminate processed foods, that I needed to move my body more and drink more water, quit being so lazy and lose some weight…that my body was FINE. But, when he described low levels of this and high levels of that and unbelievably messed up this and that, I somehow felt a sense of relief that all my sputtering up and down my street was REAL. It wasn’t just me being lazy, it was a result of something gone very wrong. Does it sound weird to say that I felt RELIEF?

When Dr. Paq finished, I asked him what I could do about these issues. And, this is where the REALLY good news came in…”this is ALL reversible.” WOW!!! Not a terminal condition, but something I could do something about myself!! In his words “We have to get you feeling better so you can succeed with the lifestyle changes you have been trying to make.”

HOPE! IS! ALIVE! Tomorrow I’ll share the tangible solution that got this train gone wild back on track, turned around and no longer heading for a cliff.

Until then, be well.

Cheryl

Energy, Oh Energy

....where are you?! You used to run through my veins like an energetic, playful puppy, but now I just feel like a tired, old dog.

I thought it would be easy to walk 30 minutes every day...I mean, it's WALKING. Everyone can do that. The plan was to get this daily walk in right before dinner...or after dinner. I never dreamed it would take all the energy I could muster to just get through dinner. I began to feel like the old proverb that says "the sluggard buries his hand in the dish and is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth."

I was all gung ho the first week, getting out that door every week night all puppy-like. The second week ~ not so much. It was like I had aged 5 dog years overnight...I managed 3 days that week. And, when the third week rolled around..five MORE dog years down the drain. I had lost my momentum, my drive, and somehow I imagined that what I would be giving up by NOT exercising wasn't so bad. The truth? I was tired. Just plain tired. And REALLY not seeing straight. All the positive self-talk in the world couldn't have gotten me up off the floor, physically or emotionally. I wasn't wimpering excitedly in my sleep, dreaming about eating juicy steaks...I was having nightmares about my life being cut short.

Over the next several months, I would attempt many such starts. And stops. Frustrated, I began to wonder if something was wrong with my engine that daily use alone could not cure. It was like someone was pushing a button, cutting in, cutting out, making my motor misfire. I had all the will in the world to reach my very first fitness goal of walking 3o minutes each day, but it was like torture out there as I sputtered down the street....with every step I couldn't wait for it to be over. My body was exhausted. I made an appointment with my doctor.

Doctor Paq was gentle. He listened intently to me with sympathy in his eyes. He asked me lots of smart questions. He said "hmmmm, really?" and wrote lots of stuff down. He took ALOT of blood. And, 5 days later he called with what maybe most would consider bad news. But somehow, someway, it offered me a bit of relief . . . and hope.

Come back tomorrow for the rest of the story.

Until then, be well.

Cheryl

Fall Family Fun in the Twin Cities This Weekend!

September is one of my all-time favorite months ~ the temps are cooling down, the leaves are changing colors, and my birthday is in October…what’s not to love about those things?! Here are a few ideas for fall fun just waiting to be had around the twin cities this coming weekend:

Rooftop Artpark

This place is amazing…it’s kind of like a place where nature and art merge with a sculpture garden thrown in that kids can play on. Totally hands on, the ever-changing gallery experience is designed to encourage kids toward expressing all that creativity lying within.

Where was this kind of thing when I was a kid? I am soooo jealous! For location, tickets and hours, click here.

Magnolia Blossom River Cruises

We are so fortunate to have so many bodies of water in Minnesota, but none parallel thegrandness of the Mississippi. This charter cruise boat embarks at 2500 Crosby Farm Road in St. Paul to celebrate everything from weddings and proms with private cruises, and ordinary days made extraordinary by just being on the water with public cruises. There is a Sunday brunch from 12 noon – 2pm which includes both breakfast and lunch foods, and a Wednesday evening cruise featuring appetizers with a cash bar. Call 651-690-2739 for reservations ~ click here for more info.

Enjoy a little of Munich in Minneapolis at Oktober Fest ~ in September! Rain or shine!

Have an awesome, relaxing weekend!

Cheryl

Change Is Hard

I’ve always been fascinated with the human spirit…why we people folk do the things we do, how we get up after falling down, what crushes us under its weight and what makes us giggle clear down to our baby toes. I could sit and listen for hours to people telling their stories of triumph and even failure, because even if someone has failed, the fact that they’re sitting there telling me their story is proof that humans are just wired to not give up. And, that inspires me.

The truth is, though, that we often DO give up lots of things we don’t have to because we, well, get tired or don’t know what else to do. For instance, take yours truly. Although you wouldn’t know this by the size of my pants right now, I have always taken my health seriously. I’ve enjoyed excellent health for nearly all of my life, but during my middle adult years when life was dealing me more than I thought I could handle, I gave up. I’ll admit that. I allowed my priorities to shift, putting myself last if I even made the list of things to do at all. Certainly this isn’t an uncommon thing for moms. Anybody been there?

And, now, here I am at the ripe age of 52 about to turn another year older in a month, and seeing, no KNOWING that it is high time to get this train turned around while there is still time. I’ve spent years, I mean literally YEARS wanting my thin, fit body back but without the energy, the wherewithal to get it done. And, doggonit, something has GOT to give. I am finally ready to make this happen. No more running away from change.

So, what was it that woke me up? Well, I had a chance to do something that I’ve always wanted to do ~ I applied and was subsequently invited to participate in counselor training with an exclusive group working on developing a counseling model to help individuals in individual counseling transition when they become well. This has been near and dear to my heart since my early 20’s, and to say that I was excited, giddy, okay ecstatic would be the understatement of the decade. It was like a dream coming true.

But, then my health took a definite turn for the worse and I found myself having to decline the invitation. Due to the intensity of the work, it was recommended to NOT to take it on if you had any major life issues going on. And, what I was facing health-wise was a matter of life and death.

So, I set out to change. I was officially AWAKE. READY. MOTIVATED. What is it that gets you motivated to make a big change that you know down to your socks is going to require everything in you to accomplish? Please share in the comments.

Tomorrow I’ll write about energy levels and how they affected my progress.

'til then, be well.

Cheryl

Healthy Fare Around Town

Today I want to showcase a couple of really great restaurants in the Minneapolis area that are working very hard to bring you healthy, sustainable and fresh, fresh food. Any one of these would be a great place to have a meal sometime this weekend. I've provided links so you can check out their respective websites, peruse the menu, etc. Yummm.

First on the list:

Cafe Brenda

301 First Avenue N.

Minneapolis

What's so special about Cafe Brenda? You mean besides the fact that they've been in business for more than 20 years? Or that they have received national recognition as one of the finest restuarants in the country and as an innovator of gourmet vegetarian? Or maybe that Brenda herself teaches cooking classes to share her expertise and is considered an authority on natural foods and diet? Besides all that? Well, the food is just so darn good there! And, no worries if you aren't vegetarian . . . there is chicken, tuna, shrimp and walleye on the menu, too!

Next up:

Cafe Agri

4300 Bryant Avenue S

Minneapolis

This is an adorable little restaurant that packs a big punch when it comes to serving up healthy food. Their mission is "to bring innovative, vibrant and satisfying flavors to your plate and palate, utilizing local, healthy and organic ingredients wherever possible." I think they do a pretty good job at that! Cafe Agri is all organic, AND gluten-free. The chef, Nicholas Peralta, is inspired by his Mexican roots, adding in a little Italian, French, American to round out the menu. A little something for everyone...what a treat.

Lastly, but not leastly (is that a word?):

Good Earth (Naturally)

Two locations in the twin cities area:

1901 W. Hwy. 36

Roseville

AND

In the Galleria

Edina

Eating at this place is an event. When you dine at Good Earth, plan on taking your time and enjoying every last morsel! Their meat and poultry are antibiotic, hormone and nitrate-free, and always raised on farms that honor humane animal practices and feed their animals a vegetarian diet. Seafood is only from sustainable sources and harvested by methods that don't hurt the ecosystem. They serve seasonal, fresh, unprocessed produce that is locally sourced when at all possible. Their menu is expansive...even the pickiest eater will find something to love.

Have a great weekend all!

Cheryl

Children ~ Our Future

My nephews wife, Jessica, posted this video on her FB status yesterday. Jessica is from Guatamala, living here in the states now, but has a heavy heart for the people of her native land.



If these images both haunt you and amaze you like they do me, let's do something together about it. There's a number of ways you can help:

1. Global Aid Network is a multi-national network that serves the hurting and needy around the world through relief and development projects. Check them out here - as they say, you can gather, give or go.
2. Compassion International is breaking the cycle of poverty for over 1 million children in 25 countries. Individual sponsorship is only $38/month. We could eat out one less meal per month and give a child a future. Amazing!
3. Vemma Next, a brand new liquid vitamin supplement for kids is partnering with Children's Miracle Network, donating one bottle of Next to malnourished children for every bottle purchased. Boost your own child's immunity and brain function and, at the same time, help someone else at no additional cost to you.

Join me in investing in our children....they are our future.

Cheryl

Reading is Like Exercise

Recently I was tagged on Facebook by my avid-reading niece, Rebecca, in a note listing 100 famous books with instructions to place a check mark next to the ones I've read. Now, I am an avid reader myself, but I can see from this list of literary works that I am sorely lacking in my "classics" reading. Rebecca sets really high goals for herself, and the books she chooses aren't easy reads either...she's a big Dostoevksy fan (as am I) so that tells you a lot about her. I'm glad she tagged me, not so I could show off (which I can't) but to get a nice kick in the pants to dig into some really great books.

Turns out I'm not alone. Fewer than half of American adults are literary readers (meaning they read books as opposed to reading for work, school or catching up on email). So Americans are not only getting fatter physically, but also mentally. That is scary. The good news is that we can turn both of these trends around!

Just like getting active physically helps our bodies to function the way they were intended to, reading keeps those neurons in our brains firing and offers all kinds of bennies. Here are just 6 of them:

1. Reading improves our language skills, our vocabulary, even spelling skills.
2. Reading introduces us to new ideas, perspectives we would never think of, and of course information.
3. Reading staves off some of the effects of aging by keeping our minds active.
4. Reading provides for some healthy mental escape! Yah!
5. Reading encourages creativity.
6. Reading relaxes, entertains and inspires!

What are we waiting for?

Let's get going. Here are some simple steps to step up our reading so we can start enjoying some of those benefits instead of just reading about them:

• Choose books on topics you're interested in . . . sports, music, science fiction, fantasy, whatever you love talking or thinking about.


• Ask friends for book recommendations. We all have at least one friend who is a book nerd so hit them up for their latest literary adventure. You may have trouble getting them to stop talking about it! Be polite.


• Join a book club. Check out Barnes and Noble, community or church groups...and if you can't find one, start one! Meet at the local coffee shop or in someone's home.


• Once you start falling in love with books, start a list of what you want to read when you get done with the one you're on now. It's very motivating!


• Find local book shelves that you can borrow from. Dunn Brothers Coffee has a book shelf and you don't even have to check these books out...folks bring in and leave books when they're finished with them and pick up one on the shelf that looks interesting. Maybe there's a coffee shop around you that does that to. If not, suggest it!


• If a book seems too daunting to start with, check out short stories written by the best of the best, like Edgar Allen Poe or Mark Twain. An internet search will offer plenty of ideas.

So, no more excuses. We can all set aside a half hour a day to read. It's a small commitment that gives huge results! Don't be surprised if you find yourself learning....growing....escaping(!) like you never imagined. Let me know in the comments if you're on board ~ it's only half an hour.

Best,

Cheryl

P.S. Wanna help your kids be able to focus better on their reading? Check out this link and watch the video. It's amazing what the human body can do when given the proper nutrition!

Tell Them

Just finished wiping my eyes after reading an email from Simple Truths, a website dedicated to publishing high quality gift books that you can't find in bookstores. What I read is just too good not to pass on, so I hope you enjoy the read as much as I did. It's an excerpt from the book The Heart of a Teacher by Paula Fox.

He was in the first third grade class I taught at Saint Mary's School in Morris, Minnesota. All 34 of my students were dear to me, but Mark Eklund was one in a million. Very neat in appearance, he had that happy-to-be-alive attitude that made even his occasional mischievousness delightful.Mark talked incessantly. I had to remind him again and again that talking without permission was not acceptable. What impressed me so much, though, was his sincere response every time I had to correct him for misbehaving. "Thank you for correcting me, Sister!" I didn't know what to make of it at first, but before long I became accustomed to hearing it many times a day.

One morning my patience was growing thin when Mark talked once too often, and then I made a novice teacher's mistake. I looked at Mark and said, "If you say one more word, I am going to tape your mouth shut!" It wasn't ten seconds later when Chuck blurted out, "Mark is talking again." I hadn't asked any of the students to help me watch Mark, but since I had stated the punishment in front of the class, I had to act on it. I remember the scene as if it had occurred this morning. I walked to my desk, very deliberately opened my drawer and took out a roll of masking tape. Without saying a word, I proceeded to Mark's desk, tore off two pieces of tape and made a big X with them over his mouth. I then returned to the front of the room. As I glanced at Mark to see how he was doing, he winked at me. That did it! I started laughing. The class cheered as I walked back to Mark's desk, removed the tape, and shrugged my shoulders. His first words were, "Thank you for correcting me, Sister."

At the end of the year, I was asked to teach junior-high math. The years flew by, and before I knew it Mark was in my classroom again. He was more handsome than ever and just as polite. Since he had to listen carefully to my instruction in the "new math," he did not talk as much in ninth grade as he had in third. One Friday, things just didn't feel right. We had worked hard on a new concept all week, and I sensed that the students were frowning, frustrated with themselves and edgy with one another. I had to stop this crankiness before it got out of hand. So I asked them to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed me the papers. Charlie smiled. Mark said, "Thank you for teaching me, Sister. Have a good weekend."

That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday I gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. "Really?" I heard whispered. "I never knew that meant anything to anyone! I didn't know others liked me so much." No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. I never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another again.That group of students moved on.

Several years later, after I returned from vacation, my parents met me at the airport. As we were driving home, Mother asked me the usual questions about the trip, the weather, my experiences in general. There was a lull in the conversation. Mother gave Dad a sideways glance and simply said, "Dad?" My father cleared his throat as he usually did before something important. "The Eklunds called last night," he began. "Really?" I said. "I haven't heard from them in years. I wonder how Mark is." Dad responded quietly. "Mark was killed in Vietnam," he said. "The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend." To this day I can still point to the exact spot on I-494 where Dad told me about Mark.

I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. Mark looked so handsome, so mature. All I could think at that moment was, "Mark, I would give all the masking tape in the world if only you would talk to me." The church was packed with Mark's friends. Chuck's sister sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." Why did it have to rain on the day of the funeral? It was difficult enough at the graveside. The pastor said the usual prayers, and the bugler played taps. One by one those who loved Mark took a last walk by the coffin and sprinkled it with holy water. I was the last one to bless the coffin. As I stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to me. "Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. I nodded as I continued to stare at the coffin. "Mark talked about you a lot," he said.

After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates headed to Chuck's farmhouse for lunch. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting for me. "We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it." Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. "Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."

Mark's classmates started to gather around us. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. I keep it in the top drawer of my desk at home." Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album." "I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary." Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times," Vicki said without batting an eyelash. "I think we all saved our lists." That's when I finally sat down and cried. I cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

Encourage someone today ~ tell them you appreciate them and why. It
only takes a few minutes.

Labor Day Weekend in Minneapolis

Hello blogger friends.

It's Labor Day Weekend, and there's always a bunch of stuff going on. We all know folks who head north to the cabin for the holiday weekend, but if you're inclined to stick around town, here's a couple of ideas for some family fun:

The Minnesota Zoo

The "Africa" exhibit is back by popular demand, and Labor Day is the last day. You'll see giraffes, zebras, gemsbok, wildebeest and ostriches roaming, giving you the feeling of being on an African savanna! Go here to learn about zoo hours, admission, and parking.

Titanic at the Science Museum

Romantic. Historic. Majestic! Time travel back to 1912 through images, sounds and genuine artifacts that have been preserved. Also, don't miss the Omnitheatres showing of Titanica. Go here for info on hours, admission and parking.

Featured Exhibit at Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Ending soon, the Sin & Salvation exhibit with Wilman Holman Hunt's work displayed. From MIA's web page, I quote:

"This exhibition interprets Hunt's work in a new light, revealing an artist who grappled with the issues of the day. Sometimes gritty, never conventional, Hunt's art addressed the conflicts between East and West, the crisis of faith in the age of Darwin, the evolving role of women in society, and the complex relationship between the sexes. His belief in the importance of spiritual discovery and personal redemption led Hunt to illustrate moments of profound insight and revelation, while his melding of romantic idealism, scientific rationalism, and overt moralizing had widespread appeal in Victorian England."

Sounds fascinating, doesn't it?!

Be safe and have a great holiday weekend, all!

Cheryl

Don't Rush It

Spent some time with a friend recently who is going through a rough patch. As we sat together for a couple of hours one afternoon, we talked about loss and the grieving process of dealing with something valuable being yanked out of our hands without warning. While everyone seems to travel their own grieving road, common to all are the twists and turns along the way . . . some are gentle curves that you can see coming while others are like mountain pass-backs that really, really slow you down.

I've dealt with my own losses over the years (haven't we all?), and know all too well how it feels to get stuck on one of twists, on one of the proverbial grieving steps. Sometimes I've gone too long denying the reality of a situation, and others I can't seem to get past the injustice and the anger. A good, wise friend once told me that a person who is grieving a loss simply cannot rush the process. Our minds, our hearts and even our bodies sometimes just aren't ready to deal with the next step.

While that is some real truth-telling there, it's also a little frustrating because we all just want these bad feelings, these sleepless nights, these direction-less days to go away. Now. Yesterday. I tend to be a person who is pretty task oriented, meaning that I measure the effectiveness of my day by what I have to show for it. And, I have to remind myself that what I have to show for it is just not always tangible. Sometimes its just getting through the day with a sense of peace. Sometimes it's letting myself feel something that I've been running from. Sometimes there's a break-through. Nonetheless, I DO tend to rush the process no matter how many times I go through it.

Last week I listened to Greg Boyd speak about the wisdom of letting ourselves feel the emptiness, the nothingness of life. We are so quick to numb those kind of feelings with whatever works for us, to feel happy again, comfortable, and that is just so normal but I have this deep down feeling that there really might be something to learn from just letting ourselves feel it all. For awhile. And, not rushing to the rescue so quickly.

My friend will make it through. She'll get past this loss eventually and I know will go on to be the incredible, sensitive, talented and beautiful woman that she is, contributing her ideas and helping others....because this is just who she is on the inside. She'll also be stronger. And bolder. And have even more to offer. Today I salute her, join hands with her and want her to know that she is not alone.

And, if you're on this same road with so many of us, you aren't alone either. Feel free to leave a comment and share where you are on this winding road we call life.

As ever,

Cheryl

Mediterranean Favorites

The Pacific Northwest -- it's got to be THE prettiest places I've ever lived. The bluest skies you've ever seen really ARE in Seattle, and honestly, the rain is not that bad! The rain is sometimes called 'dry rain' cuz you hardly even get wet. Only in Seattle, I tell you.

About 7 years ago, my friend Dianna was the first one to introduce me to the Mediterranean way of eating. Her and her husband, Dan have a big beautiful garden in the their back yard, plus an extensive herb garden, chickens (for eggs) on the back 40, they eat lots of wild game they hunt themselves, and are lovers of good red wine. They live on the Kitsap Peninsula across from the great city of Seattle, Washington.

Dianna's love of cooking was definitely a learned thing . . . in fact when she married Dan, she didn't know much about cooking other than, well . . . how to boil water. Dan changed all that! I stood in her kitchen many a night for some friendly girl talk while she prepared a gourmet meal to be given in trade to a lady who was teaching her daughter to play the piano. What a cool throw-back idea . . . bartering at it's best. I even got to help sometimes. Thanks, Di.

Dianna and Dan know how to do things to food that most of us don't ever even think about....like de-boning a chicken without cutting it into pieces, stuffing it with sage dressing, roasting it on the barbie and serving it up, ready to slice...the thing is, you would never know by looking that it had been de-boned! I had no words the first time I saw them perform this amazing feat. And forget about how it looked, the taste was out of this world...literally, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

Since that wonderful friendship time with Dianne, I've moved to the land of 10,000 lakes and don't get to enjoy the fruits of their kitchen anymore except for rare visits to the Pacific Northwest. But, I learned a thing or two about what to stock in my kitchen from Dan and Dianna (and the Sonoma Cookbook I bought when I moved) if I wanna have any hope of cooking half as good as they do...here's my list:

1. Fresh herbs - you can certainly buy them in the store in the produce section for a price, but it doesn't take a lot of know-how or effort to grow them yourself. Just get half a dozen 6 inch clay pots, and plant yourself some rosemary, basil, oregano, italian flat parsley, sage and thyme. I'm no green thumb, and mine are still living. :) The plan is to bring them in when the weather gets cold (as it tends to do in Minnesota) and have fresh herbs all winter long.



2. Spices - just a handful, but essential none-the-less. Caraway seeds, coriander, cumin, black peppercorns, fennel, and cinnamon to name a few. Always remember, too, that once a spice is a year old, it loses lots of it's flavor, so buy and use wisely.



3. Onions and garlic - I'd venture to say that it would be a rare meal in Dan and Dianna's home that didn't include onions or garlic in some form. I had my very first roasted garlic at their house, and it is absolutely to die for. Slice about 1/4" off the top, drizzle with a little olive oil and roast in the oven for about 45 min...then spread on toasted slices of a baguette....OMG, you will love it!



4. Beans - sometimes known as the poor mans protein, but these little things are nutrient power-houses! A great source of fiber, protein and they give you that full feeling. Stock garbanzos, pinto, white, black and maybe cannellini beans for starters. And, of course when there's time, cook these little wonders yourself for a super economical meal.



5. Whole grains - Of course this means whole grain bread instead of the white stuff that you can ball up in your hand, but also grains like quinoa (PACKED with protein!), bulgur, and lentils. You can toss beans into salads, or include in other recipes....try cooking them with different spices for variety, too. Also, try brown rice pasta -- it is a little firmer, but really, really good. Takes longer to cook, but not a whole lot longer. It's worth it, too.



6. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil - it's the good kind of fat, and I now use this kind of oil almost exclusively in everything that calls for oil with the exception of seering meat. In those instances, I used Grapeseed Oil because it can really take some extreme high heat.



7. Citrus/Vinegars - Lemons and limes, oh yes! Besides looking beautiful on the table, they add just that bit of zip. Stock balsamic, red wine, and white wine vinegars for dressing salads.



8. Nuts - Almonds, walnuts, pine nuts and peanuts are the best ones to consume. Store them in the fridge or freezer so they don't go rancid.



9. Cured/Pickeled Ingredients - these are your super high-flavor, high-impact ingredients, and a little goes a long way...capers, olives, pepperoncinis (OMG I love these on a sandwich!), roasted peppers, roasted garlic (mentioned above), sun-dried tomatoes, and yes, anchovies. I have to admit, I DON'T stock anchovies...I detest them, but don't let that stop you from enjoying them! In fact, you can have my portion. :)



10. And, cheese - me and cheese are way tighter than any person and cheese should be. I've started using the really pungent ones like feta, asiago or parmigiano-reggiano because, again, a little goes a very long ways, and that always helps when you're trying to drop a few pounds or hold down your fat intake. Other than that, I use mozzarella cuz I just love my mozzarella.

And, there you have it. Then, if you really wanna know how to put these ingredients together for some delish Mediterranean fare, check out these cookbooks ~ I highly recommend The Sonoma Diet Cookbook (dont' let the word 'diet' scare you away) by Dr. Connie Gutterson, and The Complete 15-Minute Gourmet by Paulette Mitchell. The latter is not a mediterranean cookbook per se, but is chock full of recipes that require the above ingredients.

Bon appetit!

Cheryl