If the news has got you down, undoubtedly you’re having trouble sleeping. I know I am. These are stressful times. Tired of being tired? You’re not alone — 82 million American have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep and 40% of the adult population reports having insomnia at least once a week. We all need … Read more
My regular readers know that my husband and I recently returned from a delightful trip to Spain and France. Among the challenges was dealing with language. My husband speaks a smattering of Spanish and I speak a smattering of French, so basic communication was possible. Actually, I took several years of French in elementary school, … Read more
Mood Magic: 7 Everyday Things That Secretly Mess With Your Emotions Have you ever woken up in a decent mood, only to feel irritated or unmotivated by lunchtime for no clear reason? It is easy to blame stress, lack of sleep, or a bad day at work, but often the truth is more subtle. Your … Read more
All of a sudden, CBD oil is everywhere. It’s being touted as a panacea, curing everything from cancer to hangnails. The oil, formally named cannabadiol, is a product of cannabis plants, primarily marijuana and hemp. Marijuana-based CBD oils are only legal in states that have legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana because they contain THC (tetrahydrocanabinol), … Read more
In the beginning of the Covid pandemic, I got an unexplained craving for garlic. I mean, my friends, this was serious. I’ve always thought garlic was fine and added great flavor to a variety of dishes. But suddenly, I could eat an entire clove of roasted garlic without thinking twice and even consider a second … Read more
The idea of juicing seems to make the rounds in popularity and unpopularity, much like another other “health” regimens. On the surface, it seems like a good idea. It’s a way of getting a lot of nutrients all at once, perhaps taking care of your fruit and veggies intake for the day in one glass. … Read more
“Home-grown tomatoes, home-grown tomatoes, what would life be without home-grown tomatoes? Only two things that money can’t buy, that’s true love and home-grown tomatoes…” I hummed this favorite John Denver song to myself throughout the spring when I planted my seeds indoors, tenderly transplanted those little plants into my garden in May after the danger … Read more
A whiff of lemon oil can be an instant energizer. A deep breath of sweet lavender oil can lower your blood pressure. A few drops of tea tree oil can stop an infection in its tracks. And try a whiff of eucalyptus to stop an allergic reaction. Essential oils are not magic or folklore. There … Read more
Most of us have heard of iodine, but we’d be hard-pressed to recite what it does. If you’re of a certain age, you probably remember your mother dabbing the yellow-brown liquid on a scraped knee and the vicious sting that followed! Maybe you remember that iodine is added to salt. Maybe you can identify iodine … Read more
Lies We Tell Ourselves About Self-Care–and What to Do Instead Self-care has become one of the most overused–and misunderstood–phrases of our time. Scroll through Instagram or TikTok, and you’ll be convinced that real self-care means buying expensive candles, booking a spa day, or soaking in a rose petal-filled bubble bath with lo-fi music playing in … Read more