Juice Time!

After a summer of indulgent eating with my kids, I just realized I can't zip up my jeans. I called my friend Shannon in Iowa to get her wellness advice. She's into the healthy/ fitness/vegetarian lifestyle. She told me she was in the same too tight jeans boat a few months ago and started juicing and got quick and healthy results. She suggested going on a juice fast for a week to cleanse my body and drop a few pounds. I'm going to try it.

This morning I dusted off my Magic Bullet Mixer and tossed in a banana, sliced green apple, strawberries, and Boathouse Farms carrot juice. I poured it in a pretty glass on ice and am sipping it now as I write. It is utterly delicious and filling. Below is a paragraph I found on a juicing website about its health benefits.

Fresh juice provides us with minerals, vitamins, essential fatty acids, carbohydrates, proteins and much more. All of these factors are vital to maintaining good health. You will find that when you make fresh juice a daily part of your diet, you will have increased energy, a glowing complexion, strengthened immune system, stronger bones and a reduced risk of disease. It is recommended that you drink at least 16 ounces of freshly squeezed juice each day.
Let the juicing begin.
I'll update soon.

Busy August - Starting School and Turning Ten!

“Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun. Care for those around you. Look past your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices no more easily made. And give, give in any way you can, of whatever you posses. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less for your harvest than for how it is shared and your life will have meaning and your heart will have peace.”
Kent Nerburn

It's really hard to believe that August is almost over. It's been busy busy busy and hot hot hot!
School started weeks ago and my oldest three began playing fall soccer. Little Scout starts preschool for 3 year olds next week and for the first time in ten years I will be by myself two mornings a week for two hours. I think I will sit in my house and listen to the silence. Oh, and maybe do a few loads of piled up laundry etc. Maybe I should just get out those paints again. Who knows...

Speaking of "ten", my oldest son turned 10 years
old this weekend. I thought my life was great before kids, but the day he was born I went from living in black and white to full technicolor. I did not know my heart was capable of so much love. I feel so blessed.
To celebrate, he wanted to have some friends over for a party. My husband and I sent them on a wild scavenger hunt through the woods in search of sparkling rocks from the creek, and snakes and lizards (purchased at the dollar store).

The party ended after hours of creek stomping with cupcakes and a smoke bomb. Seeing the boys frolic in the great outdoors made me want to bottle up those sweet, joyful and innocent moments. I was nearby taking pictures and smiling for sure.

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For the Love of Yoga

Thanks for the way you make me feel like I just swallowed sunlight. I hope we're together for as long as that sun shines.

It's been 20 years since taking a Hatha Yoga class my junior year of college. Since then it has always been a part of my life. For over a year I have been fortunate to teach a mixed level Vinyasa Flow class 1-3 times per week. Each week there are usually new students who join the class. I tell them yoga means to join the mind, body, and breath, and to enjoy the hour as a gift to themselves.
The bottom line: It Feels Good!
As we move our bodies in a dimly lit room, we quite the mind. We check in and release any tension or strain. There is no competition or judgement. We breathe and feel ourselves in the present moment. We stretch. Inhale. Exhale.
It Feels Good.
Below is a letter I found written by a women who loves yoga too.
Dear Yoga,
I know, I know, we were just on the mat together, but there's something I'd like to say before we meet again tomorrow.
We live in a world that loves to tell me what to do with my body. From parents to teachers to government to doctors and dentists and personal trainers to television to the backs of cereal boxes, for Pete's sake.
Every day, someone tells me what and what not to eat (yes to quinoa, no to ice cream - thanks for that, when and when not to eat (every two hours, only when I'm hungry), what numbers I have to know (cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI), what behavior is acceptable (don't sing on the subway), what I must buy to be attractive (that is so last year), what hours I must work to prove my worth (lots and lots), what performance I've got to give every day to be worthwhile to someone else (always on, always 100%).
None of this feels like me.
So, yoga, thanks for encouraging me to show up when it feels right, to do what feels wonderful and within my chosen limits (my choice!), to challenge myself when I care to, and to rest in Child's Pose whenever I want. Thanks for encouraging and not demanding. Thanks for the joy you give back, whether I'm with you for five minutes or an hour and a half.
I love the way you make me laugh more easily, like myself more with every pose, and remind me with every practice of the beautiful, glowing-faced wonder I am.
Thanks for the way you make me feel like I just swallowed sunlight. I hope we're together for as long as that sun shines,
Kristin
Kristin Shepherd is a chiropractor, actor, and speaker (about All Things Wonderful) from North Bay, Ontario.
The photo above was taken with my friend Susan as we attended David Romanelli's
Yoga + Chocolate Everything is Sweeter in the Moment workshop. That was a treat!

You are meant to have an amazing life!

You are meant to have an amazing life!

This is the first sentence in the introduction of Rhonda Byrne's new book the Power.
I am a huge fan of her first book The Secret in which she writes about the Law of Attraction; whatever you give, is exactly what you attract back to yourself. Byrne's new book almost jumped off the shelf to me as I was searching for mechanical pencils and cheap gym shoes for the kids.

the Power is all about the positive force of love. I am only 21 pages into the book but I wanted to share a section I circled in red pen.
People who have great lives talk more about what they love. By doing so, they gain unlimited access to all the good in life, and they are free as the birds that soar in the sky. To have a great life, break the bars of the cage that is jailing you; give love, talk only about what you love, and love will set you free!
Nothing is impossible for the force of love. No matter who you are, no matter what situation you may be facing, the force of love can set you free. -the Power
What do you love?

The Sweet Escape of Books

Reading will set you free. - quote from my 10th grade English teacher

It has been swirling craziness around here. The kids started school this week, our house had been under construction for months with a few major setbacks and delays and is a tornado inside and out, three of my kids are in soccer on different teams and leagues, I have been teaching and training for more fitness classes, and I am still in the midst of potty training with lots of success yet frequent setbacks.

Everyone one of you reading could write a similar paragraph above with your busy lives. How do you cope amidst the chaos? What do you turn to for comfort and refuge?

I turn to books. The bigger and more intense the stress, the bigger the books I put my nose into. As this crazy time started a couple weeks ago, I chose to dive into a 1236 page small print historical fiction novel, World Without End by Ken Follett. This is the sequel to his epic bestselling dramatic Medieval novel, Pillars of the Earth. I read Pillars more than ten years ago.

One word comes to mind: ESCAPE. How thrilling it is to quickly slip back into year 1327 to experience the hard life in ancient England where life revolved around a great cathedral and and the town of Kingsbridge filled with good, strong, and villainous characters. Desire, Black Death plague, war, passion, and family conflict fill these pages that I willingly get lost in.
Maybe this makes my life seem like cake compared to those hard times of peasants and serfs. As I sift through assignment notebooks and  my overloaded calendar, the Medieval world of Kingsbridge lingers in the back of my mind. Sweet escape. What's yours?

Italian Sausage Burgers

My husband brought home some Italian sausages, sweet onions, and garden fresh peppers and asked me to create something yummy. I always love that challenge! Only having burger buns, I created Italian sausage burgers. They were so easy and delicious!
First, I chopped all the veggies and tossed them with olive oil, salt, & pepper. I placed them in my vegetable grill basket and BK put them on the grill for 15 minutes turning occasionally while the sausages boiled.

We took the veggies off the grill and added the sausages on for 10 minutes. While they were grilling, I warmed some burger buns in the oven to lightly crisp, opened and warmed a jar of marinara sauce, and a package of sliced provolone cheese. I sliced the sausages, placed them on the crisp buns, added a slice of cheese, sauce, & peppers. Yummy Italian sausage burgers! These would be good without meat too.

Top with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Enjoy!

Tomato Mozzarella Basil Salad

My favorite summer salad is simple, fresh, delicious!

Tomato, Mozzarella, & Basil Salad
Slice up fresh tomatoes
Slice a fresh ball of Buffalo Mozzarella cheese
Tear fresh basil leaves
Arrange on platter
Drizzle balsamic vinegar and olive oil on top
Add sea salt and ground pepper

Fearless Friday

"To me, Fearless is not the absence of fear. It's not being completely unafraid. To me, Fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, Fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death."
— Taylor Swift

My six year old daughter conquered a fear and jumped off the high dive. She was so exhilarated and proud. I was too. I love that feeling. I love pushing myself through fear and fulfilling a challenge. That does not happen as often as I'd like. That's why I decided today was Fearless Friday.

Run or walk a little farther, call a friend for lunch or a movie, make that interesting recipe, sign up for a new class, paint that picture. I promise you will not regret it. Be fearless today.

Listening to the Whispers

Whispers. We all have them. They're the little voices in our conscious minds that tug at our hearts and want our attention. These whispers, these seeds of dreams, encourage us, even when we're not entirely willing to listen, to simply begin.
Kelly Rae Roberts, Taking Flight

On April 7th, my 40th birthday, I spontaneously bought a set of oil paints, a little easel, and some canvas. The bag of supplies were not opened until yesterday. Yesterday I cleared out a space under a window in our messy and chaotic "no-no room", unfolded a long card table and took out the art supplies. Of course my kids wanted to join in on the fun so we had a little art party.

I picked a fragrant marigold from my garden and started to paint. This is what I ended up with. Mystic Marigold.

Listen to your whispers.....

Potatoes O'Brien Casserole

My friend Dana asked me for a good side dish recipe for her family gathering. I feel so bad because I remembered just one hour before her party. I will share this with her and you for future gatherings. It is always popular at my parties.



Potatoes O'Brien Casserole
1 bag frozen hash browns O'Brien
1 stick butter (cut into small pieces)
2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
1 c. sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup

Thaw potatoes. Mix all ingredients together except 1 cup cheese in a large bowl. Pour into a lightly greased 13x9 baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, covered.
Enjoy!

Walking with Butterflies

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun
And find your shoulder to light on,
To bring you luck, happiness and riches
Today, tomorrow and beyond.
~Irish Blessing

This morning I took a very long walk alone. I needed to release some negative thoughts that were churning in my gut. This was the cure. My energy increased with each step as I walked farther down the road, over the bridge, and up the hill. The hot morning sun beat down and the release of sweat and emotions began to pour out.

I realized I was not alone. Butterflies were everywhere. My whole focus switched as I watched those sweet butterflies swirling happily alongside of the quiet road except for the sound of birdsong and crickets. I felt peace within myself and comfortably content surrounded by nature's divine gifts.

Nerf Guns & Mystics

Every year about this time I get this neurotic creative energy that makes me want to do about a million things at once. This time of summer is one of my high energy times where I want to stay up late and dance under the moon. Of course it makes me crazy because my mind is racing with so much creative energy and I still have to feed and care for my children around the clock which I love too, however, not much time for lengthy creative time. That is why I love this blog. It's my little corner of the world to jot my thoughts.

This link of Elizabeth Gilbert speaking about life really spoke to me this morning. First, she is wearing the same vampy nail polish I have on that is typically unlike my usual neutral colors, but probably a wild streak that wants to be expressed. She also speaks about buying Nerf Guns which are a big part of my life having three boys. I just rewarded my 9 year old yesterday with a Nerf "pistol" of his choosing. Finally, she ends the 21 minute talk about author Martha Beck's categories of women.
1. Women who chose career over family and are conflicted.
2. Women who chose family over career and are conflicted.
3. Women who are blending family and career and are conflicted.
4. THE MYSTIC. ~ A small sect of women from any of the above who have found a deeply resonant inner voice that they listen to. They negate everything else and they follow that path wherever it takes them.

Give yourself a little time to WATCH THIS VIDEO!!!!!! Fellow Mystics, you’ll be inspired.

http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Elizabeth-Gilbert-Talk-from-O-Magazines-10th-Anniversary-Video

Turning Over a New Lettuce Leaf

Be still my beating heart...I found a fresh produce stand just down the road from my house and it's a wonderful thing! I stopped by the new little tent in front of a big farm house with only five bucks in my pocket. The friendly farmer walked up taking a bite out of a gorgeous green pepper. He enthusiastically told me all that he had to offer. I picked three green peppers for a dollar, three cucumbers for another dollar, a zucchini, and gave him my order for lettuce. He went out to his wife who was working in the giant garden and had her cut me some wilted and leaf lettuce. I paid him the five bucks and he threw in extra cucumbers and a giant zucchini that he said is good for frying.

I raced home and washed all the veggies. I threw some bacon on my little griddle since my gas top stove is out due to some home construction we are having done. As the bacon fried I sliced up some tomatoes, avocados, cucumbers, and zucchini. I toasted some bread and spread it with a little cream cheese. Added the bacon, fresh picked lettuce, tomato, avocado, and salt and pepper, and ended up with some scrumptious California BLT's which are my absolute favorite sandwich in the whole world!

While eating the sandwich I threw some thick slices of zucchini on the hot griddle with bacon grease. I let these fry up for a few minutes on each side until golden brown, added a little salt, and put them on a paper towel to cool. Delicious!

I decided to dedicate the next few weeks to seeing what I can create with the bountiful produce from my nearby veggie stand and my little kitchen island griddle. Let the chopping and cooking begin!
K

Night Fishing in Florida

I am a rise and shine early morning person. My husband is a night owl. That has its pros and cons for sure. A big benefit for the boys on our Florida vacation was that they stayed up late with their dad to "night fish". Our pier even had a spotlight to attract fish and other creatures in the bay.
Each day they got their shrimp and squid at the local bait shop. After the two youngest and I turned in, their fishing adventures began. They were quite successful in catching flounder, pin fish, crabs, catfish, and more. I would hear all about their catches when they lazily awoke the morning after.
One night after midnight, my son Indy ran in to wake me up. He excitedly reported he had caught "the big one" and asked me to get my camera. I really was excited for him and happy he wanted to share this with me. His big catch was a Black Drum fish. We think is was 8-10 pounds. He was so thrilled! I was so impressed at their system. He reeled it in and the "net man" would help get it in.
One last vacation memory I will mention is beach volleyball. The kids found a volleyball in the container by the pool. We took it to the beach in the evenings and taught the kids the basics of beach volleyball. The six of us could play a mean 3 on 3 game, get totally sandy, and jump in the ocean to rinse off. The thrill of being together as a family, watching the kids grow and learn in a new environment, and just having fun at the beach was priceless. That's a good vacation! ~kathy

Hunting for Shark Teeth at Venice Beach

Fifteen years ago, my husband and I took a carefree vacation to Florida in our buff bodies and a rented red convertible Chrysler Le Baron listening to Collective Soul and Tom Petty. We spent a day on Venice Beach with nifty little metal shovel sifters hunting for shark teeth. Venice Beach is known as "Shark Teeth Capitol of the World". Our bodies glistened in the sun with Coppertone Oil and we found bags of shark teeth. When we came home to the Midwest, I stored them away in a newly started memory box.
Fast Forward 15 Years to 2010..... We are on vacation in Florida with our four children ages 9-3 in a rented "Twilight Silver" minivan listening to Radio Disney and wearing Coppertone 50 Sport for Kids sunscreen and clothes a few sizes larger.
We realized we were only an hour drive from Venice Beach and thought the kids would really love finding shark teeth. We became quirkier parents than the Griswold's in Family Vacation. On the journey down the coast, we encountered vicious thunderstorms thanks to Hurricane Alex. We cheerfully told the kids the storm would pass and we'd be in action soon. We got to Venice Beach in the pouring rain and found a restaurant called Sharkey's to hang out and eat waiting for clear skies. Little Scout developed a new found passion for Jimmy Buffet's Cheeseburger in Paradise tune.
The skies cleared a little and we lugged our umbrella, buckets, cooler, and towels out to the empty beach. The power was out at the shop on the Pier that rents the sifter shovels essential in digging for the ancient teeth. We still pressed on optimistically thinking we could scoop and sift in the cold crashing surf. We were wrong. We decided to get back in the van in our wet and sandy suits to try and find a nearby store that sold the special shovels. Thankfully, a few miles up the coast we found an overpriced shack that sold them. My husband bought three. We also decided to relocate our beach camp and try a fresher location. The kids were wet, shivering, and not excited.
Our perseverance and optimism paid off. Minutes into digging with the magic shovel-sifter, we struck shark teeth. The kids squealed in delight and my husband and I felt triumphant! Rainy hours passed and the kids had sifted through piles of shells to find 53 shark teeth. We were still the only family on the beach. We succeeded in our mission and we now have more baggies of teeth in a much bigger memory box. The van got us back home with sleeping kids and we shared a bottle of our favorite Cupcake Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc. An unforgettable family adventure. ~kathy

The Pink Palace

We took the kids to have a late lunch at The Don Cesar Resort. They affectionately named it "The Pink Palace". It truly is bright pink and massive with two pools on the beach. We munched on grouper sandwiches at the poolside grill. After, the kids jumped in the pool as BK & I sipped our icy piña coladas with dark rum floaters. We then ended up out on the beach for more body surfing, watching the kids bury themselves in the sand, and enjoying the sunset.

Like most evenings this week, a dark thunderstorm rolled in. Of course my kids were the last ones out of the pool and we scurried around collecting our things. Phoebe was distraught because she couldn't find her special gold rhinestone flip flops. We quickly searched together with no luck. We even thought she buried them in the sand and BK started digging around where our beach spot was. No luck.

The Pink Palace had an ice cream shop so we escaped the storm and ended the evening there as Scout wanted the "green ice cream" aka mint chip. They were all smiles but Phoebe glumly had no shoes on.

The next morning I woke up early and went to the beach alone for a run. Off in the distance down the beach was "The Pink Palace". I decided to run that way to search once more for the shoes, and now I knew where the restrooms were there.

I reached my pink destination sweaty and winded and looked around unsuccessfully. At the towel counter I asked the man if any rhinestone flip flops were found. He cheerfully asked me if they were tan. Gold and tan are close so I nodded. He led me over to a table near the beach and there they were gleaming in the morning sun. I gratefully thanked him and began my journey back down the beach. Phoebe was in disbelief when I handed her the sparkling shoes. It was a happy ending and the start of another day of adventure. Shark teeth hunting....

One on One Vacation Memories

Oh have we had fun in Pass a Grille Beach, Florida! We have had hot sun, clouds, and a few big storms. The best thing has been being together a whole week as a family.

I try to take the kids out for one on one excursions. The others stay with BK.One morning I took Phoebe into the little historic town of Pass a Grille for some art gallery and boutique shopping. I surprised her with her favorite mint chip ice cream for breakfast at the local ice cream shop. On vacation, these are the things I like to say "yes" to.

Indy and I took a hot and sweaty two mile walk through our neighborhood. We crossed a big bridge over the bay, got a Coke at Circle K, and then hung out together at the beach sipping the cold drink. He loves to talk and I just love the conversations we have together.

The biggest excursion was with my son Blaze. He is passionate about soccer and has been watching the World Cup games. He spotted an ad in a tourist flyer about a place called United World Soccer. We hopped in the van and drove up Gulf Drive in search of the store. We got familiar with many of the nearby beach towns: Treasure Island, Madeira Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, and Clearwater Beach. My quiet and serious son helped navigate us up the coast and we finally arrived at the giant soccer store. He was like a kid in a candy store as he looked at each official World Cup jersey from all the countries. Since they were a little pricey and the tourist flyer had a good coupon, I told him to pick out his favorite one for an early birthday present. He immediately chose the bright red Spain jersey. He put it on, we drove home a quicker way, and the Spain vs. Portugal game came on that afternoon. Spain won!

My little Scout has not required an outing. He has been happy with me helping him chase lizards out on the patio. I feel like a kid as I run around and hunt for those fast and funny chameleons. His squeals of delight are priceless.

So far these are the one on one things I have enjoyed with the kids. On vacation, I feel like I can tune into them without all the duties and distractions of home. That's what I love the most.
K

Retreat will move you Forward

We are on our annual summer vacation at the beach. After three years of exploring the coast of beautiful but often chilly Lake Michigan, we decided to go south to warmer waters and the Gulf of Mexico.

It usually takes my husband BK and I a couple days to depressurize and feel on vacation. I am so happy, relaxed, and on vacation it is unbelievable! Now that Scout is three, travelling has become easier. No strollers, pack n plays, or other gear to lug around. We all fit everything in one suitcase this year. The big three have helped me in every way too.

So far my greatest joys have been feeling connected again as a family unit, and watching my oldest son fall in love with the ocean. Since April we have been totally immersed in school and baseball. Our schedules have been fast paced and divided. My husband's work schedule has been grueling too. Being on vacation with my family has given us that relaxed togetherness again.

We arrived in the afternoon and got settled in our sweet little rental home for the week. It is on the bay with a pool and fishing pier. Perfection! The kids immediately jumped in the pool as I unpacked and BK checked out the fishing gear.

As evening approached I packed a cooler and we did the short drive to the beach to watch the sunset. My 9 1/2 year old son "Blaze" was immediately smiling as he body surfed the gentle waves crashing into the shore. The others were a exhausted and not as enthralled with salt water and sand in their eyes. My little "Scout" said he wanted to go back to the "blue pool".

Last night I took Blaze and Indy back to the beach for sunset. BK stayed with Phoebe and Scout in the pool. He also wanted to set up the fishing poles.

While we were swimming in the ocean some clouds rolled in and looked like a possible storm. Most people got out but we stayed in but close to shore. Indy shouted, Look! A rainbow!" We looked up as we floated in the ocean and saw a rainbow arched above us. It was one of those magical moments that I felt so connected with the boys and nature. We will always remember that most extraordinary experience.
Shine your light,
K

Time to relax....

Oh, bring again my heart's content,
Thou Spirit of the Summer-time!
-- William Allingham

Baseball is over and was exhilarating. I have a blog in my head that will come to fruition soon called "baseball in a peanut shell."

We just moved my ailing 94 year old grandmother out of her home and to a different state to be closer to her daughter and family. Maybe another blog called "emotionally draining."

Now for my little family of six to come together and enjoy each other for some summer bonding and fun. It is time to tune in to our own rhythm and enjoy the feeling of freedom that a summer break can give as a gift.
Shine your light,
K

Double Rainbow After the Storm

It has been storming a lot here in the beautiful Midwest. We always wait for the first rainbow around my son Indy's birthday on June 7th. This year it came a little later.
Last night as another storm blew in with great force, we all ran to the basement with flashlights and cell phones knowing the power almost always goes out. There is an intimate feeling as we huddle together listening to a crashing storm feeling scared, unsure, and excited. I love to see the eyes of my kids get so huge.
Also, during the storm we saw a family of ducks standing together on the big log on our pond.
After the trees straightened and the thunder wained, I went upstairs to see a strange green sky. I walked out the front door and was greeted by a stunning double rainbow arching through the sky. I called for my family to come and we enjoyed our first summer rainbow together.

It's always good to keep in mind that after any storm in life something beautiful and unexpected usually appears.

1000 Awesome Things

I need a tall ladder so I can catch the moon and put it in the barn and look at it.
My three year old son, "Scout".

I love discovering cool blogs. This is a fun one I wanted to share. What's your favorite #?
http://1000awesomethings.com/

Summertime Begins

Memorial Day weekend is the gateway to summer. For the second year, my family gathered at our ranch after a big car race that takes place nearby. Four generations of cousins, aunts, uncles, grandchildren, and great grandchildren reunite from many places. My 95 year old grandmother heads up the family. It is just big fun.Excitement fills the air now that the kids are out of school and summer is fresh with possibilities. I made a list of my favorite summer pleasures and asked my husband and kids to add a few too. Here it is. I encourage you to write your summer fun list too and jump right in.
Happy Summer,
K

S'mores,
dragonflies,
chips & salsa,
baseball,
swimming pools,
sun tea,
Indiana tomatoes,
farmers markets,
Bluegrass concerts,
hummingbirds,
burgers on the grill,
listening to frogs at night,
ice cream,
guacamole,
sipping Sangria with friends,
art fairs,
thunderstorms,
rainbows,
fireworks,
Michigan blueberries,
wildflowers,
reading books outside on a quilt,
fishing,
walks at sunset,
air shows,
roller coasters,
tractors,
outside adventures,
camping,
blackberries & cream,
morning runs,
bluebirds,
corn on the cob,
visiting parks,
family summer vacation at the beach.

One lone red poppy

I lived in solitude in the country and noticed how the monotony of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind. Albert Einstein

I just put the kids to bed and decided to take a walk before washing a sink full of the day's dishes. In a large field in front of our house I spotted one lone brilliant red poppy in bloom.
It is the sole survivor of poppies planted a few years ago. My family spent a whole day scattering red poppy seeds from our metal buckets. We enjoyed an unforgettable summer of blooming red poppies in that field. It was like a dreamy Monet painting.

Unfortunately, our harsh Midwest summers are unlike the south of France. Our field of poppies did not thrive, they wilted under the blazing August sun. I consider this poppy a small gift and inspiration. It is a lone survivor of its kind among native wildflowers and raging weeds. It is blooming where it was planted and so beautiful in its strikingly unique way.
Shine your light,
K

Blue Zones and the fountain of youth

Foutain of youth: Red wine, walking, friends, fish, nuts, and veggies? Sounds good to me!

I saw Dr. Oz on Oprah talking about Blue Zones which are places that people are happiest and healthiest on this earth. I also picked up the book Blue Zones by Dan Buetner and was intrigued on what made people most happy and healthy.

Here is the website where you can get a username and take a free and quick quiz called The Vitality Compass.
http://www.bluezones.com/vitality-compass

Author Dan Buettner writes, In my book, The Blue Zones, I reveal the secrets of the Power9: the nine common denominators that all of the world’s longevity all-stars share. Here at BlueZones.com, we've organized these behaviors into four main categories:

Move Naturally – Make your home, community and workplace present you with natural ways to move. Focus on activities you love, like gardening, walking and playing with your family.

Right Outlook – Know and be able to articulate your sense of purpose, and ensure your day is punctuated with periods of calm.

Eat Wisely – Instead of groping from fad diet to fad diets, use time-honored strategies for eating 20% less at meals. Avoid meat and processed food and drink a couple of glasses of wine daily.

Belong to the Right Tribe – Surround yourself with the right people, make the effort to connect or reconnect with your religion and put loved ones first.

This may all sound too simple, but the payoff is huge. The average American could live up to 14 more good years by putting these habits to work.

Get Started Right Now
To help you model your habits after the Blue Zones centenarians, we’ve created several tools, beginning with Vitality Compass
http://www.bluezones.com/about

On Being a Mom

Happy Mother's Day, friends. It is my true joy to share this journey of motherhood with you: by my side at the ball games, sharing recipes and photos of our kids via e-mail, stressing over a school project, worrying about so much, and laughing and sharing the many wonderful day to day moments when our kids are happy and smiling. I am truly blessed to know so many devoted and inspiring mothers.
Below is an article by Anna Quindlen - a great writer and another inspiring mom.

On Being A Mom
by Anna Quindlen
All my babies are gone now. I say this not in sorrow but in disbelief. I take great satisfaction in what I have today: three almost adults, two taller than I am, one closing in fast. Three people who read the same books I do and have learned not to be afraid of disagreeing with me in their opinion of them, who sometimes tell vulgar jokes that make me laugh until I choke and cry, who need razor blades and shower gel and privacy, who want to keep their doors closed more than I like. Who, miraculously, go to the bathroom, zip up their jackets and move food from plate to
mouth all by themselves.

Like the trick soap I bought for the bathroom with a rubber ducky at its center, the baby is buried deep within each, barely discernible except through the unreliable haze of the past.

Everything in all the books I once pored over is finished for me now. Penelope Leach., T. Berry Brazelton., Dr. Spock. The ones on sibling rivalry and sleeping through the night and early-childhood education, all grown obsolete. Along with "Goodnight Moon" and "Where the Wild Things Are," they are battered, spotted, well used. But I suspect that if you flipped the pages dust would rise like memories.

What those books taught me, finally, and what the women on the playground taught me, and the well-meaning relations --what they taught me was that they couldn't really teach me very much at all.

Raising children is presented at first as a true-false test, then becomes multiple choice, until finally, far along, you realize that it is an endless essay. No one knows anything. One child responds well to positive reinforcement, another can be managed only with a stern voice and a
timeout. One boy is toilet trained at 3, his brother at 2. When my first child was born, parents were told to put baby to bed on his belly so that he would not choke on his own spit-up. By the time my last arrived, babies were put down on their backs because of research on sudden
infant death syndrome. To a new parent this ever-shifting certainty is terrifying, and then soothing. Eventually you must learn to trust yourself. Eventually the research will follow.

I remember 15 years ago poring over one of Dr. Brazelton's wonderful books on child development, in which he describes three different sorts of infants: average, quiet, and active. I was looking for a sub-quiet codicil for an 18-month-old who did not walk. Was there something wrong with his fat little legs? Was there something wrong with his tiny little mind? Was he developmentally delayed, physically challenged? Was I insane? Last year he went to China. Next year he goes to college. He can talk just fine. He can walk, too.

Every part of raising children is humbling, too. Believe me, mistakes were made. They have all been enshrined in the Remember-When-Mom-Did Hall of Fame. The outbursts, the temper tantrums, the bad language - mine, not theirs. The times the baby fell off the bed. The times I arrived late for preschool pickup. The nightmare sleepover. The horrible summer camp. The day when the youngest came barreling out of the classroom with a 98 on her
geography test, and I responded, What did you get wrong? (She insisted I
include that.) The time I ordered food at the McDonald's drive-through speaker and then drove away without picking it up from the window. (They all insisted I include that.) I did not allow them to watch the Simpsons for the first two seasons. What was I thinking?

But the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.

Even today I'm not sure what worked and what didn't, what was me and what was simply life. When they were very small, I suppose I thought someday they would become who they were because of what I'd done. Now I suspect they simply grew into their true selves because they demanded in a thousand ways that I back off and let them be. The books said to be relaxed and I was often tense, matter-of-fact and I was sometimes over the top. And look how it all turned out. I wound up with the three people I like best in the world, who have done more than anyone to excavate my essential humanity.

That's what the books never told me. I was bound and determined to learn from the experts. It just took me a while to figure out who the experts were.