Garden Gatherings

While in Seattle for a wellness conference, I had the delightful opportunity to visit some interesting gardens and markets. The unique marketing experience Pike’s Market Center, with it’s eclectic history drew me back several times.  From the “flying fish” to the boldly colorful fresh bouquets, I love this market.  I certainly met my dietary requirements of Omega-3′s in my daily intake of fresh salmon!

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The emerald city is not lacking in lush gardens, but my favorites were in the quaint Scandinavian community of Poulsbo.  Hubby and I walked the entire town . . . yessiree. We burned every calorie we took in, and then some!

I did well at balancing work, fun, food, exercise and friends on this trip . . . maybe that’s why I truly did feel rested when I got home.

I would love to hear from you about your summer excursions . . . and any tips you might share on healthy traveling.

Happy Summer!

What a fun evening on June 1 at the Castle Rock Women, Wine and Wellness event. Donna Mazzitelli is a gracious hostess and the women attending shared wonderful ideas, tips, recipes, etc. in regard to their businesses.  The theme for my presentation was summer preparedness. Are YOU ready?

Since we are close to another season change, it’s a good (and healthy) idea to review your summer nutritional/dietary intake. Your food choices for summer should include fresh produce with cooling properties (high in water and minerals) to help keep your body cool in the warmer days…such as cucumbers, watermelon and mint (herb). The Wise Woman’s Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to Your Physical-Emotional-Spiritual Health is available on my website: www.wellnessforallseasons.com or my fan page at: www.facebook.com/wellness4allseasons for a detailed list of seasonal foods.

This time of year marks the beginning of my garden search…I love visiting other people’s gardens…especially when I don’t have time to care and cultivate my own. One of my favorite local finds is: Iris4U on Federal. The blooming period is quickly passing . . . on June 12, so make plans NOW to visit. You can get details and directions at their site: www.Iris4U.com This is one of my yearly garden treks…some of the iris in my yard are transplants from this delightful garden.

Happy Summer!

I’m honored to be speaking at the June 1st  Women, Wine and Wellness event in Castle Rock, Colorado. Please visit the site for details and directions, then come join a wonderful group of women who are excited about sharing the interesting services and products they offer.

www.womenwineandwellness.com

I’m looking forward to seeing you in June!

It’s been a rather windy spring in Colorado . . . and Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and apparently a host of other states according to the many friends  and family with whom I communicate. If anyone truly enjoys these windy days, I would love to hear from you.

I know from an environmental perspective, the wind serves to pollenate vegetation, disperse smog and pollution, keep windmills in motion and increase hair-spray sales (and that’s not so good for the environment). However, the wind completely exhausts me! By the end of my day, I feel like I’ve been whipped about, clinging to car doors and hanging on for dear life to parcels and packages.

Then I read Psalm 18:9-10. “He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.” Those poetic words changed my perception of the wind. I’m still learning to appreciate this seasonal condition . . . but, I’m getting there, day by (windy) day.

I invite you to take time to observe how different climate conditions affect you. Are you more/less energetic in warm or cool temperatures? Do you enjoy the early hours more or the late-in-the-day hours? When we understand how we best function, we can better plan our activities, meals, rest periods and our total wellness.

Spring is in motion . . . these windy days confirm it . . . so hang on to your hat and savor the season!

One of my many blessings is to be a contributing writer in the Christian women’s magazine, SHINE. I’ve been writing the wellness column for six editions now. The joy of writing with so many other exciting, knowledgeable and wise women cannot be described. . . even for a writer!

Please visit http://www.wellnessforallseasons.com and click Articles to read,    “Wellness: Wisdom Through the Ages.”

Give yourself a few restful moments in this (windy) spring and browse the    SHINE site:  http://shinemagazine.org Happy April!

Don’t you just love this transition from winter into spring? The days are longer and getting warmer; the sun feels therapeutic on my winter-white skin and green is starting to peek out from under the uncut dead brush in my flower beds.

Just as you clear away last season’s debris from your yard, it’s a wise choice to clear out winter’s excesses from your inner body. It’s time to modify the high fat – high protein diet of winter and include more fresh spring greens and bitter herbs in the menu. Your liver and gall-bladder are major detoxing organs and love your dietary support! Help them break down stored fats with fresh spring garden greens:

• Asparagus: Low in calories; high in complex carbs and roughage; is alkaline to body; reduces cholesterol; supports liver/gall-bladder; enhances digestion; detoxifies body
• Greens: Add many necessary minerals to the diet; darker greens high in calcium, magnesium and chlorophyll (blood cleanser); promotes healthy gut flora.
• Beet: Roots and leaves both edible; benefits every organ in body (especially liver, gall-bladder, digestive and lymph system); high in natural iron, calcium, potassium, flavonoids, beta-carotene, Vitamins A and C, and folate.
• Berries: Spring is official when berries arrive in the market! Late spring to early summer, berries are rich in vital nutrients, low in calories and have a high water content; high in water soluble fiber  makes them good internal cleansers; natural sweetness makes them a wise dessert choice
• Rhubarb: beneficial in lowering cholesterol; dissolves intestinal mucus; reduces liver toxicity; acts as mild laxative.

Try some of these spring flavors from Nature’s Pantry as  you transition your dietary choices from winter into spring. If you need assistance, please contact me. Spring offers exciting flavors. Savor the Season!

Multi-colors with multi-nutrients

Crisp Greens for Spring

It may not be one of the four seasons, but it is one season that most of us cannot ignore. I just closed the final file of my 2010 records and receipts and delivered them today!

Whew! What a load off my shoulders and my desk. My heartfelt admiration goes to ALL tax professionals and preparers who take on this taxing task (say that 10-times fast) year after year. I applaud you.

Every year I promise myself I’ll do quarterly reports so the year-end paper stack won’t be so daunting. I teach wellness principles and nutritional planning in 90-day segments, so it only makes sense to lighten my administrative duties and adopt this seasonal approach as well.

Now that my recently (professionally) organized office is cleared of last year’s paper . . . my creative energy is awakening. I’ve got exciting information to share to guide you into Total Wellness, and Spring is the season to get started (unless  you’ve fulfilled your New Year’s resolutions).

Join me next time for a Total Wellness breakthrough.