August 3, 2015 by Shannon Carter The avocado is a fruit that is native to Mexico and Central America. Its scientific name is Persea americana. Avocados provide great health benefits and are easy to incorporate into your diet. If you’ve never tried one, now is the time to become acquainted with this awesome plant food. […]
December 2, 2013 by lisabarlage It’s official; the holidays are here! It’s a time for families, friends, fun; shopping, giving, cooking, eating, celebrating, decorating…and that decorating may likely include a variety of seasonal house plants. They’re pretty, festive, colorful and traditional; they are great to enjoy ourselves or to give as gifts. The poinsettia, everyone’s […]
May 13, 2019 by Shannon Carter Food looks different when you suffer from Celiac disease. Seemingly normal food can have frightening ingredients, causing serious pain for someone with Celiac. Photo credit: knowCeliac.org A cupcake isn’t simply a cupcake. Neither is a piece of pizza or bread or pasta. It’s severe abdominal pain or 300 other […]
April 26, 2018 by marilynrabe The last couple of weeks have been spent moving from a home with 20 years accumulation of “stuff” to a new home. While it has been exciting, it has also been exhausting. I realized a few days ago that I was staying up later than usual to unpack and rearrange […]
I was about 4 weeks from my due date when I stepped out our back door and noticed that the bricks supporting the step were loose. As time was flying by, I knew that in the blink of an eye, our baby would be born and then crawling and mobile before we knew it, and […]
Have you ever sprained an ankle? Stepped on a nail? Burned your hand on the iron or oven? If so, you’ve experienced inflammation. Inflammation is a normal, healthy response to injury; it is your body’s first “responder.” In the same way that an EMT at an accident scene begins to triage various injuries, your body […]
January 17, 2019 by lisabarlage Could you use a little more money? Perhaps, you spent too much over the holidays or your spouse has been impacted by a work shutdown..? Did your teen just wreck the family car? For a variety of reasons, many of us find budgets tight this time of year and we […]
Do you recall this childhood playground song? In celebration of National Bean Day, take a minute to learn why you should be eating beans. Although beans are not a fruit, they may be magical because they fit under not one, but two food groups. Within USDA’s MyPlate they are found under the vegetable and protein groups […]
I’m sure you’ve seen the bumper sticker . . . . this vehicle stops at all garage and/or yard sales. Garage and yard sales are as American as “apple pie”; benefitting the seller by getting rid of things no longer wanted while the buyer may find items he/she wants or needs at a reasonable price. […]
The coronavirus pandemic challenged our mental and physical health in a multitude of ways. Over the past two years, authors on our blog have addressed impacts of the pandemic such as grief and loss, anxiety and depression, pandemic paralysis, languishing, isolation and even weight gain (#quarantine15). One health effect we have yet to explore is […]
April 12, 2017 by lisabarlage Many people are experimenting with coloring or dyeing eggs with natural dyes – have you been thinking about trying it? My family has a tradition to dye eggs with onion skins that we always called “Bunny Eggs”. These beautiful brown/golden eggs have a marbled look that adults especially love. If […]
An apple a day may not actually keep the doctor away, but it will offer some impressive health benefits! Apples contain antioxidants, vitamins, dietary fiber, and a range of other nutrients that taste great and will keep you feeling full and satisfied. The CDC states “Using more fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains, lean […]
September 16, 2019 by Daniel Remley The fall is a great time to get outdoors for a day hike. Day hiking is a low impact physical activity, and offers the countless health benefits of being outdoors. Being in nature, or even seeing scenes in nature, reduces anxiety, stress, improves moods and cognitive functioning. In addition […]
December 17, 2015 by jennyeven The holidays are here with celebrations in full swing. While sugar plums and candy canes may symbolize this special time of year, the winter holidays wouldn’t be as festive without the fruits of the season. While summer brings a bounty of berries and an abundance of apples is harvested in […]