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11 JUN

Sunscreen 101

Ahhhh. Summer has finally arrived! I love summer! There is something so wonderful about warm weather and all the great adventures that come with it. I have to tell you my first love of summer is flip flops. I just can’t get enough of them; I absolutely think they are fabulous! Next, on my list is the fresh summer produce like strawberries, peaches, and my favorite: sweet corn…. Yum, yum! And I would have to say my favorite summer adventure is swimming. I love going to the pool; and when you have an 18-month-old toddler who tags along, the pool truly becomes an adventure.

By now most pools have opened for the summer season and will most likely abound with kids and parents splashing, swimming, and just having a great time. And of course there are the “lucky” people who lounge poolside with a book in hand just soaking up the sun. There are some days I wish that were me!

Tasting Temptation

Quiet some time ago a Dutch market opened up just a few miles down the road from my house. My husband and I would drive by there on occasion and always notice how busy it was. Never knowing what the market really had to offer we never ventured in until friends and co-workers kept telling us how wonderful it was. So, this past Friday afternoon curiosity got the best of us and went to have a look around.

As we entered we noticed all kinds of venders. There was a candy vendor, a pastry and baked goods vendor, a fresh produce vendor, plus home furnishings just to name a few. We looked around and eyed several items that we thought we might like to purchase. I decided I really didn’t desire anything and asked my husband if he wanted anything. He replied “Yeah, I think I want the pumpkin roll from the pastry section.” As we were walking back towards the pumpkin rolls we passed by a table of baked goods and there I saw it! The most beautiful cinnamon buns you could ever imagine! I stopped my husband right away and said “Honey, look at these cinnamon buns!” With one look he started to drool. Sure enough that’s what we took home!

The Inner You

I’m sure you’ve heard before that we have to change the inside us so that we can be happy with the outside us. I think I have heard this topic discussed on numerous television talk shows. Plus, who even wants to continue to dwell on something that is so hard to change.

It’s so much easier to change the outside appearance. Think about it…new hair cut, new clothes, dieting and exercise, all these things are quick fixes to spruce up the old you. But, does it really matter if all those things change yet you’re still empty and wondering hopelessly on the inside, searching for meaning and purpose.

Hi

Hi, I’m Karene. I’ll be your weekly blogger to discuss all kinds of issues regarding health and wellness. I’m really excited to share with you information and personal views on physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. I believe the only way we can change our lives is to be educated using the oldest and most recent information, so I hope I can bring that to you. By oldest I mean from the Bible. This and the most recent; the latest insights into modern health.

First, I want to tell you a little bit about myself. I’m a registered nurse with my background in labor and delivery and pediatrics. I’m married with one child and another one on the way. I’m also a newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic, so my diet and all around physical health has become a major concern in my life. Right now the passions in my life are my family. I am a full time mommy, and taking care of my little girl is the joy of my days! My hobbies include hiking and scrap booking, even though these days I don’t have much time for either. My husband says I should add exercising to my list of hobbies since I am kind of a gym junky, ha ha!

Whole-Wheat Sandwich Buns

Ingredients:

2 c. Water (warm)
1/2 c. Honey
2 t. Salt
1/2 c. Canola oil
1/2 c Applesauce
1/2 c. Oats (cooked)
4 c. Whole-Wheat flour
2 T. Gluten flour
2 T. Yeast

01 MAY

All-season Skin Care

Let’s face it. Tanned skin is gorgeous. Some even think it looks healthy. But no matter how stunning you may look walking around the office four shades darker than everyone else, you may be setting yourself up for a rather un-gorgeous future.

“Pigmentation is a response to injury,” says Henry A. Greenblatt, M.D., a dermatologist in Newburgh, New York. He says that your skin becomes tan “only to protect itself from further injury. I have patients who’ll go to a tanning booth and they’ll say, ‘Well, I’m going on a cruise to the Caribbean and I want to get some tan before I go so I don’t have problems down there.’ And I say, ‘Then you’re damaging you’re skin now and you’re damaging it later. Why don’t you skip both?’”

Greenblatt’s advice is simple and to the point. “Wear sunscreen, avoid the midday sun, and make sure you don’t burn. Do whatever that takes—whether that means covering yourself with clothing or staying in the shade. There are a variety of ways to avoid damage.”

Read more about All-season Skin Care …

01 MAY

Sage

There are about 900 different varieties of sage (Salvia). These lants—members of the mint family—offer interesting and diverse aromas, textures, and colors. Their flowers produce abundant nectar, making them a favorite destination of bees. Many varieties, such as the cardinal and painted sage, serve as picturesque ornamentals and combine well with other garden plants. Some varieties boast medicinal and culinary uses.
Read more about Sage …

01 MAR

Wild West Chili Pizza

Ingredients:

2 T. Canola or olive oil
1 med. Onion (chopped)
1 T. Garlic (chopped)
2 t. Cumin
2 t. Chili Powder
1 8-oz. can Tomato sauce
1 15-oz. can Kidney beans, dark red (drained)
1 15-oz. can Pinto beans (drained)
3 c. Cornbread batter (use your favorite recipe)
1/2 c. Sweet corn (frozen)
1 med. Red bell pepper (seeded and chopped)
3 T. Salsa (mild or medium)

Read more about Wild West Chili Pizza …

01 MAR

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has been used for centuries both as a culinary spice and for medicinal and other purposes. The ancient Egyptians included cinnamon in their embalming mixture. Moses combined cassia (cinnamon) and other spices with olive oil to anoint the tabernacle and its furnishings.

Origins

The name cinnamon is derived from a Greek word meaning sweet wood. It’s made from the inner bark of the cinnamon tree—an evergreen of the Laurel family. The rolled bark is allowed to dry, forming a scroll or quill. The quills are then cut into two- to three-inch sticks or ground into powder. The ground cinnamon has a stronger flavor than the sticks and can stay fresh for six months, while the scrolls last longer. Both should be stored in a cool, dark, and dry place.
Read more about Cinnamon …

12 JAN

Fireside Stew

Ingredients:

2 T. Olive oil
1 med. Onion (diced fine)
1/2 lb. pkg. Baby carrots (sliced)
1 12-oz. can Tomatoes (diced)
1 1/2 c. Salsa (mild)
2 15-oz. cans Black Beans
2 t. Vege Sal
1 med. Squash (buttercup or butternut squash, baked and cubed)
1 bunch Parsley (for garnish)
1/2 c. Tofutti Better than Sour Cream (for garnish)