MINDFUL MOMENTS

CHOCOLATE is a "comfort food" that puts a smile on almost everyone's face. This evening after a hectic day it was wonderful to eat one decadent chocolate truffle. That piece of chocolate satisfied me so much that I decided to write a post about CHOCOLATE. Cocoa beans are the primary ingredient in production of chocolate. The top countries for producing cocoa beans are 1) Cote d' Ivore, 2) Indonesia,  3) Ghana,  4) Nigeria, and 5) Ecuador. The biggest producers of chocolate are the United States, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium. Some of the most popular chocolate brands are Cadbury, Godiva, Guylian, Ferrero Rocher, Hershey, Lindt & Sprungli, and Toblerone. Here's a list of the world's top chocolate consumers: 1) Switzerland 2) Germany 3) Ireland 4) United Kingdom 5) Norway 6) Sweden 7) France 8) Netherlands 9) United States One of the most delicious type of chocolate is the "truffle." A truffle is a ganache which is the comb...

Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays in the United States. Family and friends gather together to eat a big meal and give gratitude for their blessings. In my community I was touched by the kindness I observed to those that didn't have the funds to eat a Thanksgiving meal or have family or friends to be with. Here are some examples. 1) A church secretary who interacts with homeless people gave them food gift cards so they wouldn't go hungry on Thanksgiving Day. 2) A chef who owns a restaurant made turkey,gravy, stuffing, and mashed potatoes and invited everyone who was alone to join him for a Thanksgiving gathering. Those that decided to come brought along a dish to share and there was plenty of food and fellowship for everyone to enjoy. 3) A local organization of volunteers hosted a free Thanksgiving feast to anyone needing a meal and companionship.Lots of people attended and there were lots of smiling faces. 4) A baker made lots and lots of different pie...

H O T    W  A T  E R It's easy to take things for granted until we go without. There are plenty of people in this world who go without food, without shelter, without decent water…how sad. If I had the power to give every human being their basic needs I would do it in a heartbeat. These past five weeks I've without hot and lukewarm water. Did I adapt and adjust? Yes because there wasn't much I could do to change the matter. Today was the first day that " hot and lukewarm" came through my facets in my humble apartment. Oh how thrilled I felt to have that warm water trickle all over me. Being grateful for the things we have is a precious way to savor those daily moments. Take a few moments each day to show gratitude and believe in the possibilities that can and will come your way. "Today I am thankful for having hot water in my apartment…oh what bliss?"

Wherever you're celebrating Halloween this year don't miss out on eating a traditional Irish dish called "COLCONNON." This traditional Irish dish is a real treat during the HALLOWEEN season. C O L C A N N O N 4 pounds of good quality potatoes 1 fresh green cabbage 1 cup of milk or cream 1 stick of Irish butter 4-5 scallions, chopped handful of fresh chives Peel and cook the 4 pounds of potatoes in a pot. In a separate bowl boil some water and add the leaves of the whole green cabbage. Allow the cabbage to slightly undercook than drain the cabbage completely and add a quarter stick of butter to the drained cabbage. Allow the butter to melt into the cabbage but not on burner for five minutes. Add 1/2 stick of butter into the cooked and drained potatoes and mix with the chopped scallions. Mash the potatoes with a cup of the milk or cream and than add the cabbage into the potato mixture. Once everything is mixed together add the remaining butter into the ...

HALLOWEEN was first celebrated 2,000 years ago by the Celts. The Celts lived in an area now known as Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France. The Celts believed that the dead returned to earth on Samhain "Summer's End" when the harvest ended. So a Celtic festival of Samhain was celebrated on the night of October 31st. Today HALLOWEEN is celebrated by people in many parts of the world on October 31st. H A P P Y    H A L L O W E E N    M O M E N T S

Paddle Boarding Everyone has their favorite sports. The newest craze is paddle boarding. Paddle Boarding is the fastest growing water sport in the world. Paddle Boarding first got it's start in Hawaii in the 1960's and now it's here to stay. I first started paddle boarding a few years ago and now it's my favorite sport. There's something special about standing on a board surrounded by the water and gliding away with beauty and nature all around. Paddle Boarding is an amazing sport that happens to be really good for you too. Paddle Boarding is a total body workout that improves your balance, cardio fitness, core strength, and flexibility. So go ahead fill your life with "P A D D L E  B O A R D I N G" moments and make yourself feel fit and happy.                           Paddle Boarding Moments are some of the best moments ever! H A P P Y      P A D D L E  B O A R D I N G  ...

Summer official ended on September 22nd but there's still a few ways to hold on to summer moments. Make yourself a "Cool & Creamy Yogurt Pie" and enjoy delightful dessert moments.                                          Cool & Creamy Yogurt Pie   This dessert is so  easy to make and it will make you feel like it's summer all over again. Life is short, eat dessert first and enjoy your moments with "Cool & Creamy Yogurt Pie." COOL & CREAMY YOGURT PIE 1 ready made graham cracker crumb crust 2 containers of blueberry yogurt (6-8 ounces) 1 container of So-Delicious or Cool Whip (whipped topping) 1 cup of fresh blueberries Mix the two containers of blueberry yogurt with the one container of whipped topping in a mixing bowl.Pour into the ready made graham cracker crumb crust. Put the pie into the freezer for two-three hours.  ...

Summer isn't over yet so go ahead and make time to enjoy all the summer loving moments you can. #1   Go to a picnic #2   Go to the "State Fair" #3   Play baseball & volleyball #4   Hang out at the beach! #5   Paddle Board and Water Ski #6   Have a BBQ #7   Eat Ice Cream #8   Hike a mountain #9   Go camping #10  Have a bonfire and make s'mores #11  Go fishing #12  Go boating #13  Swim, Swim, Swim #14  Make Ice Tea & Lemonade #15  Read a good book #16  Write a good book #17  Go barefoot in the park #18  Get some watermelon to share with friends #19  Have an outdoor party and dance away #20  Take a seaside vacation #21  Visit an amusement park Oh, the list can go on for a lot longer so decide what will put a smile on your face and brighten your summer with "Summer Loving Moments."  

Time just keeps ticking, moment after moment, minute after minute, hour after hour. The clock tower stands still but time keeps on moving. All around us, all around the globe, time keeps on ticking and everyone has their moments to live by in all kinds of circumstances. Savor those " Moments of Time."

In Remembrance: Sometimes someone or something leaves us with fond memories that we just don't seem to forget. Today August 17th was my remembrance day of someone who taught me many valuable life lessons. MOMENTS of REMEMBRANCE are very dear and special. Today is August 17th a day that will forever stay in my heart because August 17th was the last time I spent with a friend who taught me many valuable life lessons. One lesson he taught me was to take time to have fun.  So today on my anniversary date I remembered my "special friend" and had a carefree and fun day at the beach. I even ate a bag of "Smartfood Popcorn" which my special friend and I enjoyed eating on our many adventurous. Thank You Jeff for teaching me a whole book of valuable life lessons! May you be happy wherever you are!                                                  ...

Inventing Moments? Yes they happen all the time, around the world by multitudes of people. Let's be thankful for all the great inventions like airplanes, automobiles, electricity, instruments, telephones….the list goes on.                                           The inventor of chocolate chip cookies! American's have Ruth Wakefield of Massachusetts to thank for inventing the first chocolate chip cookie. It was Ms. Wakefield who approached NESTLE COMPANY and made a deal with NESTLE to print her recipe on the cover of NESTLE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bars. In the current year 2015, chocolate chips cookies are still the number one favorite cookie in the United States. Let's be thankful to all the geniuses who used many moments of their time to invent things for us to enjoy.

Do you ever get moments when you just want to indulge in something tasty like an ice cream cone or french fries?  How about Nestle Toll House Cookie Bars? Today after bicycling, hiking, and swimming in the countryside all day I was dreaming of indulging in some kind of dessert. Just before getting ready to catch a bus to go back home it started to rain. I found a cozy cafe that served coffee and desserts. Sitting on the dessert tray were three delicious looking "Nestle Toll House Cookie Bars." How could I resist? I bought one and headed for the bus stop. As I waited in the rain for the bus I took a few bites of that decadent "Nestle Toll House Cookie Bar" and finished the rest when I returned home. What a treat! How wonderful it is to end the day with indulging moments like eating dessert. Reward yourself with indulging moments because " life is short."                              Nestle Toll Hous...

There's nothing more beautiful in life than having a "friend." Dogs have always known that. Let's cherish those moments of  F R I E N D S H I P.

Life is challenging, life is hard, life is unfair but life has precious moments too. The other day I spent an hour at the beach and I was mesmerized by the devotion the baby ducklings had to their Mother. Such a close knit duck family…..now that's what I call "Precious Moments"                          THE DUCK FAMILY:  It's precious moments like this that make life sweet.

Have you every had moments that are memorable? As we live each day through our life journey there are moments that stay in our mind until we die. Today is the anniversary day of when I started my summer job at an adorable bed & breakfast many years ago in Stowe, Vermont. The people I met for the first time on July 2nd and became friends with that summer left a footprint on my heart. When times get tough and life has its challenges it's so pleasant to reflect on those cheerful moments that are "memorable moments." JULY 2

STRAWBERRIES The month of JUNE is a glorious month. It's the month of the longest days and the beginning of summer. It's also the best time to find a strawberry patch and pick fresh strawberries. A few days ago I put on my apron and flip flops and spent an hour and a half picking strawberries by the baskets. Oh what fun it was to bask in the sun and pick strawberries at the local farm. Strawberries are loaded with vitamins and they're the perfect fruit to eat during the month of June. Celebrate "Strawberries" and celebrate "June" with some strawberry shortcake.

I t's June 21st the official first day of summer. It's time for BBQ,family vacations, summer camp, ice cream cones, beach volleyball, paddle boarding, swimming, parades and picnics, fireworks, outdoor concerts, iced coffee, hot dogs and hamburgers, strawberry shortcake, book reading and summer romance, late night movies, and beautiful sunsets. Have a fabulous summer wherever you are!

My heart belongs to OHIO!  Although I'm not from OHIO I have a strong connection to the state of OHIO. I've liked a few guys from OHIO, I spent quite a few years living in Michigan not far from the OHIO border and I have some relatives who live in the state of OHIO. I have gone through the state of OHIO many a times on my way to the East Coast where I held jobs. Than there were the multitude of times that I visited parts of Ohio on day or overnight trip like Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus, Holmes Country (where the Amish live and have their farms) and the Lake Erie islands of Kelleys Island and Put-in-Bay and last but not least the amazing amusement park "Cedar Point." Because of my connection to the state of "OHIO" I got very inspired to write a story called "OHIO." I love to write and so I came up with a story which I read today to friends and strangers. The feedback was so encouraging that I'm going to spend many many moments comp...

Moments are always changing. Some moments are joyous and some are not so joyous. On Monday I was at the medical center getting fluids to build up my iron. Six hours was a long time to have a needle stuck in my veins and be attached to an IV machine due to iron deficiency anemia.  I'm so thankful for the dedicated medical staff that attended to me on Monday So even though I was a bit uncomfortable those six hours went by pretty quickly since I had my right arm and hand free to write a story and also gaze out the window at the birds and squirrels. Those creatures put a smile on my face and so did that bowl of homemade strawberry shortcake that a nurse gave me as a special treat. In my six hours at the medical center I had time to really observe patients that were being treated around me. Each of them was dealing with their own personal journey and all this made me think how important it is to cherish the beautiful moments life gives us because we never know when it's tim...

When I woke up this morning at 7:00 am I never thought in a million years that I would have such an extraordinary birthday. What made it so special were all the simple things that I had time to notice because I set aside today to forget about all my responsibilities. A day off from my two jobs, no baking, no cooking, no cleaning, no running errands, no homework…..just a day to enjoy life. Today there was time to take a drive through the countryside with my friend and walk along the beach, there was time to sip coffee, eat at a cafe, hike the bluffs, take photo's, shop, swim, ride my bicycle, paddle board, hold and kiss a lovable pug, and watch a mother duck and her ducklings swim along the shores of the lake. Today there was time to be with my Mother and eat birthday cake, there was time to drink tea and sing some songs. There was time to interact with people and get all kinds of birthday wishes and hugs. There was time to smell the flowers and say some prayers. There was time ...

Today is my BIRTHDAY and I've decided to be a free spirit today and just have fun and leave behind the responsibilities. Everyone deserves a day once a year to enjoy birthday moments. Happy Birthday to anyone born today…..celebrate your BIRTHDAY MOMENTS!

                                                                                                        The Burger I haven't had much of an appetite this week due to anxiety. In fact I've tried fasting most of the week and avoiding tasty meals. Today however I decided to take a little trip for half the day to celebrate my birthday. As I walked and biked around the enchanting town of Glen Arbor with light rain falling I really got an appetite. I couldn't decide where to get something to eat than I remembered a little cafe on the river. When I walked in the owner was so welcoming. I ordered a burger with the works and sat at a cozy table next to the window and started writing a story. Less than ten minutes passed and ...

On the 26th of May I had a birthday celebration for my Mother at my apartment. My moments were filled with lots of preparation because I wanted to make all the dishes from scratch. To my surprise everything turned out wonderful and my Mother and her guests were very pleased with  the food. In fact they told me I should open a restaurant. (How sweet) I'm so happy that my Mother had a birthday filled with love and laughter. I made her a special raw key lime pie along with a chocolate cake and lit candles on both of her desserts. The "RAW KEY LIME PIE"was the top attraction and I'm so glad I captured a photo as a memory. In moments of celebration be certain to set aside a few moments to take photos because those photos will leave you with memories. Keep Celebrating Your Moments of Life!                                                 ...

This evening after taking a bicycle ride and hike in the woods I was rewarded with seeing adorable bunny rabbits roaming around. After a long winter of hibernating the rabbits are now enjoying the lovely spring weather and appearing all over the place. I cherish the moments when I spot the cute rabbits but it's not easy to snap a picture of them because they get scared when people get close to them. Perhaps one day I will make friends with a rabbit. They really are fun to watch and be around. So glad it's spring and that nature is full of beauty.  Happy Spring!

My moments have been so busy these past couple of months that there hasn't even been time to write a post. So tonight I took a few moments to get on the internet and write a post. Spring is one of my favorite seasons because everything comes alive. Flowers are in full bloom in the spring with their lovely fragrant scent. This past week I noticed flowers in so many locations because it was my Mother's birthday and I wanted to gather and pick the perfect flowers to give her for her birthday lunch party at my apartment. Take moments this spring to gaze and smell the flowers and don''t forget to pick a few to give to a loved one. HAPPY SPRING!

When I returned home from work on Saturday evening I was really craving a pizza. I thought about riding my bicycle to a wonderful pizzeria in my neighborhood but I was tiered, it was getting dark outside and the pizzeria was closing early that night. What was I to do? Make my own pizza of course. Within half an hour I made the pizza and the end result was actually quite impressive. I sat down next to the fireplace to indulge in my pizza and I can't wait to make more of this pizza in the near future. It's quite simple to make and it really is delicious. So when you're craving pizza take some moments to make the pizza and than enjoy the moments of eating it.                                                  Homemade Pizza Crust: 2 cups of organic unbleached white flour 1 tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder 2/3 cups of filtered water or tap water 1/4 cup ...

Cupcakes from heaven? That's what the local church group enjoyed after their community meal yesterday. With Easter week in full swing happy moments of desserts filled the mouths of many happy people. All baked from scratch those cupcakes were made by the church women who put so much love into making them that they tasted like cupcakes from heaven!

Today is Easter Sunday, a holiday that is celebrated throughout the world. In the Ukraine, it is a tradition to decorate eggs and than have them blessed during Holy Week. These moments are very special to the Ukrainians. HAPPY EASTER!

Have you ever felt like you needed a hug to get you through those rough moments? Thank goodness for kind people who care. Last week I was craving a brownie from the local Food Coop in my neighborhood. It happens to be a vegan black bean brownie and the folks that run the Food Coop bakery are champs when it comes to baking some of the best treats on the planet. So even though I was suffering with congestion and loss of taste due to a cold/flu I just had to have that brownie. Just before heading to the bakery section of the Foods Coop to get my dream brownie I heard a familiar voice asking "How are you?" I turned around and it was my favorite employee who runs the beauty/cosmetics department. I started talking with my raspy voice and sniffles and she gave me a hug and said "Poor thing you're not well today, you need a hug." She gave me a big hug and said "I hope you get well really soon." That little act of kindness really brightened my moments and...

How can I forget this past Wednesday? I woke up early to clean my kitchen, eat breakfast, make  homemade scones for my co-workers, do some exercises, and study for my language course. After doing all these tasks I headed to my job and was having a fairly good day. By the late afternoon I was hit by chills and a sore throat. (Oh, not today of all days…I was suppose to have a dinner date). I went straight home after work and rested in bed hoping that my sudden symptoms would pass… no such luck.  I cancelled my dinner date and slept for twelve hours. The next morning the chills and sore throat were still there along with body aches, fever, coughing and a headache. I was sick with the "FLU." Coping with the flu isn't fun…in fact there's a lot of miserable moments to deal with. So with the miserable moments of physical discomfort there's a few ways to pamper yourself while you're fighting the flu as I've learned these past few days. Here's my remed...

Today across the country a lot of people are celebrating Saint Patricks Day and drinking beer. Moments of celebration are awesome and why not experience some luck of the Irish? How about some healthy moments to drink and celebrate? I recently discovered this awesome smoothie recipe called "Great Expectations." It's a delicious and healthy drink that will put a smile on your face and make you want to celebrate. Green Expectations Smoothie 2 cups green grapes 1 cup parsley 1 lemon 1 avocado Process the first three ingredients in a juicer. Blend this juice with the avocado. May your moments be filled with happy and healthy drinking!

" Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory"   Leonard Nimoy Actor Leonard Nimoy who became famous portraying Mr. Spock in the television series "Star Trek"had some great quotes in his lifetime. I recently came across the one written above and it really touched my heart. Life is far from perfect and it can be very challenging and difficult but most humans get those perfect moments that stay in their memory. It's those precious perfect moments that give us hope to keep going and assure us that more perfect moments will come to us before we pass away. It is my hope that every human being on this earth is granted those perfect moments that Leonard Nimoy spoke of.  "PERFECT MOMENTS CAN BE HAD, BUT NOT PRESERVED, ONLY IN MEMORY." RIP…..Mr. Leonard Nimoy

15 miles of walking, 10 miles of cross country skiing, icy cold weather = a slice of cheesecake! They say "eat dessert first" and sometimes that's just what one ought to do from time to time especially when they need comfort food after exercising in sub-zero temperatures. That decadent taste of a luscious cheesecake slice is a sure way to bring moments of happiness. When you work hard and want some dessert….reward  yourself from time to time with comfort food like cheesecake. Happy Eating!

Have you ever had "the perfect day" that stands out in your mind for days? Have you every had the kind of day that you wish could come along everyday? Stress isn't one of my favorite words because I've been around it since the beginning of 2015. Why did today March 2, 2015 turn out to be the perfect day, I'll never know except perhaps because: My boss let me have the day off on one of the most sunniest days of  the year in Northern Michigan. I was able to take an amazing yoga class in the morning for free. I didn't have to wait for the bus because it appeared just as I got to the bus stop. The hair stylist was able to cut and style my hair the moment I walked into the salon because there weren't any customers waiting. I had the best fifteen minute chair massage of my life and the therapist was able to get rid of my aching muscle pain. I got the last pair of black boots in my size on the clearance rack at the shoe store. I had time to sit...

These two adorable creatures had precious moments to get to know each other and become friends. You never know at what moment a new friend will enter your life.

Our moments of life pass us by ever so quickly and today begins the journey of LENT….a time to renew and rethink, a time to be selfless and to enjoy simplicity. Ashes are placed on our forehead to begin the journey of LENT. May your moments of the next 40 days be filled with hope, kindness, and love.

It's so bitterly cold and windy here in Northern Michigan. Why am I still here? I was suppose to move to Los Angeles months ago. If I were in Los Angeles right now I wouldn't be snowbound.                                             perfect comfort food on a cold winter day During the bitter cold winter days there's nothing more satisfying than a flaky pasty filled with vegetables. This afternoon I got to leave work early along with my co-workers because of the frightful winter weather. When I got home I heated a homemade vegetable pasty in my oven and enjoyed eating it inside my warm cozy apartment while the wind was howling outside. What better way to spend moments of comfort with some comfort food when trying to stay indoors away from a winter blizzard. When you find yourself homebound enjoy moments of comfort.

Food is comfort but when we overload on junk food it eventually brings us down and makes us feel sluggish. Like the sunshine, lemons are bright and yellow. Lemons are nature's gift and they make a great lemon-aid that will make your body feel good. Upon rising take a few moments and start the day with a glass of room temperature water and squeeze one whole lemon into the water. When this lemon-aid is drunk first thing in the morning it will flush out the toxins and your body will feel so much better. When your body feels better your mind will feel better too. Health is wealth and when you're healthy life just feels better.                                              Lemons are nature's gift to us

Sometimes we need moments of silence to seek the answers we're finding.  Nature is often a good place to find that silence and renew the mind and spirit. Today as I walked the deserted grounds of an authentic fishing village I took time to bask in the beauty and remain silent. Oh….how good that felt. Take some moments out of your busy schedule to be with nature;  ask, seek, and find those answers you need and BELIEVE  you'll receive them. "FAITH is BELIEVING in things when common sense tells you not to."

Today is GROUNDHOG DAY in the United States……the day to find out from our reliable groundhog if winter will last another six weeks. Mr. Groundhog decided that winter will last another six weeks. Winter isn't so bad if you take moments to appreciate what it has to offer like curling up near the fireplace with a good book, sipping on some hot cocoa, or watching a good movie.  You can ski or snowboard, sled or ice skate, ice fish or snowmobile….. The white snow blanketed across the landscape is picture perfect and although the sidewalks and roads can be icy eventually the ice will melt. Soon winter will say goodbye and spring will bring new life so even though the days are dark and short enjoy those moments of winter. Thank you Mr. GROUNDHOG for the weather update!

I first met Simon in a clothing shop called "Relish." The adorable black pug ran over to meet me and it was "love at first sight." Some animals just have a way to win people over and that's Simon's talent. There are countless words to describe Simon; affectionate, clever, energetic  empathetic, funny, gregarious, intelligent, lovable, mesmerizing….. Simon spends his days at the clothing shop "Relish" with his owner…it's his home away from home. Regardless of what day or hour you pop in, Simon blends in perfectly with the beautiful fashions and interesting clothes displayed on the racks all around the store. He even has his own little bed on the fancy couch. Simon turned three the other day and there was a birthday party for him in the store. Talking about a fan club, Simon was so popular with everyone that I had to return two weeks later to have my picture taken with him. When an animal has that kind of impact you know they're extra spe...

The French people have some of the most magnificent food in the world and one of their most popular dishes are crepes. Crepes are enjoyed throughout French and practically every city and village has a crepe stand or a restaurant serving crepes. When you wake up in the morning on a Sunday what better way to start the day then with some delicious homemade crepes. Yesterday I was craving crepes and made my own batter from scratch. If you find yourself in a mood for crepes on a Sunday or anyway of the week for that matter here's a recipe for CREPES that you'll truly enjoy. It's the moments of making a tasty dish from scratch and sitting down to enjoy it that's extra nice. So enjoy your moments making and eating French Crepes.                              These are the crepes I made on a Sunday morning! FRENCH CREPES 1 cup milk 1 egg, beaten 2 tablespoons of authentic french butter, melted 1/2 cup...