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A Mouthful of Busy

Ice cream sundae

IAt my last Reiki session, my friend and practitioner, Cindy, asked, "What was your dad's favorite dessert?" My answer, "An ice cream sundae." So she told me to have one and I did so yesterday. It may not have been the best one I ever had, but it was the most meaningful. I felt an instant connection to my dad and my great uncle (his favorite flavor was cookies n' cream), who both died around this time of year. Just from the sundae, I understood how both of these men, who were integral part of my life, would view my life now. I even felt like they gave me so advice too. Often, I wish they were still here to talk with and learn from, so thank you Cindy for pointing out a way to connect to them in spirit and continue to learn. I learned that my favorite dessert is a simple sundae—vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and whipped cream. Unlike my dad, I don't like a cherry on top.

In the kitchen on Thursday: Clair's cabbage salad

My friend Clair made this when she came over and cooked dinner.

1 medium head of green cabbage
1/2 medium onion
2 small limes
1 1/2 Tbsp. honey
2-3 Tbsp. olive oil

Cut cabbage in quarters and remove the core from each cabbage. Slice into strips on the short side and place in a bowl. Slice the 1/2 onion in strips and add to the bowl. Add the juice of the two limes, the honey and the olive oil and toss well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy.

(Thanks Clair and Sean for an awesome dinner and a great time with good friends.)

Tuesday's tip: Mailing packages

The plastic "bag" mailers that some retailers use can be turned inside out to hide the writing and/or logo from the USPS and used again. (I just did it, so I know.)

In the kitchen on Thursday: Healthy Latkes

Baked Sweet Potato and Apple Latkes*

Preheat oven to 400. Grate 2 medium sweet potatoes (aka Yams). Peel half a granny smith apple and grate into the potatoes. Add 1/3 C. oat flour and 2 beaten eggs. Mix all the ingredients together. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper and grease with olive oil. Shape mixture into large "meatballs" and flatten on cookie sheet. Brush tops with olive oil. Bake for 15-25 minutes. Serve warm. Makes 12. Latkes can be refrigerated overnight.

(There is no picture because I forgot to take one before I served them and they were devoured.)

What is family?

Yesterday, I attended the birthday party of my mother's boyfriend and every family member of his had the same last name except for a cousin (and his wife) on the boyfriends mother's side and it made me wonder what is family, so I answered my own question when I though about my close friend and her husband that my daughter calls grandma and grandpa and came to conclusion that family is what you make it.

(P.S. So Marco [our Havanese puppy] welcome to the family)

In the kitchen on Thursday: Easy Marble Cake

Take one box of yellow or vanilla cake mix and prepare according to package directions. Remove 3/4 C. batter to another bowl and mix with 3 Tbsp. Cocoa powder (I used sweetened powder). Pour 1/2 of "vanilla batter" into a greased Bundt pan. Spoon on the chocolate batter. Pour remaining "vanilla" batter. Using a knife in a back and forth motion, swirl the batter together. Bake at 350 for 35-45 miniutes. Allow to cool slightly before removing from pan.

A milestone years in the making

I never learned to ride a bike as a kid (and the reason is too long to tell here) and so I decided a few years ago to promise my daughter I would learn and ride with her, so this year I bit the bullet and got an adult trike knowing I would never learn a two-wheeler and I can honestly say that I love my trike, but even  more I love fulfilling my promise to my daughter.

I did it, almost...

In my January newsletter, I talked about my resolution to lose weight, the five steps to make change lasting and how it takes 90 days to become "permanent", speculating that I would be 5 lbs. lighter on March 31st and in my February newsletter, I talked about developing the good habit of eating more vegetables to this end (and with my health coach, Marie, of the Family Plate, I am on my way) and so today I weighed in at 4 lbs. lighter (having gone up and down for the past three months, hence the health coach) and I am really proud of myself and intend to celebrate with a healthy lunch.

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