In January, it’s all about the New Year’s resolutions. Bring on the gym memberships, the weight loss goals, the meal prep, using less plastic, volunteering at the soup kitchen, and, perhaps, taking a pottery class. Getting fit, losing weight, and caring for yourself are always at the top of the list, right? Yeah, they…
My family and I have been giving back at Christmas for many years. Giving back to the community is, of course, a great idea at any time of the year. But at Christmas, we put together a “giveback” no matter what. Our givebacks have included sponsoring a family or three, giving food bank donations,…
Once upon a time, I was strutting into my 50s, flicking my hair, and saying, “Woop, I am all good with this menopause stuff!” Now I’m 51 and it’s a whole new ball game. And turns out I don’t know how to play ball. Menopause– specifically menopause fatigue– is kicking my ass! …
Sparkly and shiny with a twist of nature seems to be the style for Christmas in 2018. And as you’ll see from my Favourite December Things list, that works for me! Pulling together a favorites list for holiday decor is hard because I like so many things. I also find that I…
What do you want to do when you turn 51? You could do worse than a lunch at Vila Joya, a small boutique resort that allows outsiders to dine in the restaurant as guests! That’s exactly what Russ and I did on my birthday this October 1st, since we were traveling in Portugal. Vila…
I make lists for everything, whether its for groceries, planning a party, travel necessities or my ’to do’s’ (which I lovingly refer to as my ‘accomplishment list’). When I see a product or a service, I naturally make a list. Here are 5 things I am looking at this Black Friday; Kindle Paperwhite This…
You know you made the right vacation location choice when you extend your stay for another day. I’m happy to report that Russ and I definitely made the right choice when we traveled to Portugal’s Penha Longa Resort for our fall 2018 golf vacation. After playing this course, we just had to get another round…
I love pretty grocery stores and Whole Foods is definitely one of them. But besides being pretty there are a lot of things going on at their locations. Juice and smoothie bars, coffee bars, hot and cold food bars, and loads of olive and cheese options. It’s like a playground for foodies. …
When food and wine is basically your religion (yes, I’m raising my hand), you want to keep learning about it. But isn’t it nice when your learning is accompanied by lots of fun, delight, fascination, and gratification? I asked myself which of my food & wine books provide (almost) as much pleasure…
I recently took the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 1 class. This course can be taken over 4 evenings or in one day, and it’s designed to develop your inner sommelier. You learn about tasting, pairing, grape varietals, grape growing, winemaking, serving, and cellaring. In other words, out of all the…
