I have no explanation as to why I am making up recipes recently when I have plenty of recipes for plenty of dishes of all kinds. Just some weird urge to try different things I think. I am guessing it has something to do with Spring. You know how you want to spruce things up in the house, maybe do some spring-cleaning when the nicer weather hits? Maybe that is caused by the rays of sunshine coming in the windows and lighting up all the dust on things you couldn't see before.

It was two years ago when I posted this: It has been quite the journey. I'm still taking classes on nutrition and adjusting my diet as I go along. I have joined groups and communities for a short time to learn more and to glean information about real life experiences from real people, not paid people on commercial ads. I admit I have really learned a lot but there seems to be so much more needed yet. The first thing I gave up was any and all carbonated beverages. That was a b

I have been walking around saying, geez I am eating like a Hippie. I am old enough to remember the late 60's and the early 70's. Yes, I really am. And I remember all the stuff I used to shake my head at and think, those people are definitely "far out", as in way way out there. (This, while I was walking around in my Nehru jacket). LOL Anywho, because it has occurred to me frequently of late I had to bring it to the attention of my web browser and ask about hippie diets. I'm

Yes it was, but I think that I am done with the taxes. It was fun for a while but then the forms would not print out correctly and that started to give me conniptions. However, got that figured out and while I am never sure that I have gotten everything right I am pretty confident that they are done correctly and can be sent off to those who like to squander my moolah in various ways. Now - on to the stuff of norm. Did I say Norm? As in Normal? LOL. Yeah. I did. Anywho, It'

Trying to stick to a schedule here. On Mondays I am supposed to check emails and respond. That can be a bit tedious some days. Not complaining, just saying, I think I need a cup of something. Tea? Decaf? Plain Water? I got a Vegan recipe for BBQ Tofu, pulled pork mimic. I plan to try it out. I'll let you know how it goes. I may look for another recipe out there on the internet because the one I have requires that I make homemade BBQ sauce and also homemade BBQ rub. I guess I

Yeah well, if you are like me you have been trying but it's not been easy. Not with the utilities, not with the insurance, and not with the groceries. I am a frugal person. No doubt about that. But it's getting increasingly hard to buy food that you normally buy, to stock up when things are on sale, and to stick inside the confines of a realistic budget. I am spending more than I used to spend for sure. True, I have started buying things that I did not buy a decade ago in my

The Okinawa diet has gained attention worldwide for its association with longevity and vibrant health. One ingredient that often surprises newcomers to this diet is tofu. If you never thought you would eat tofu, the Okinawa diet might just change your mind. This plant-based protein plays a key role in the traditional eating habits of Okinawa, Japan, and offers many health benefits worth exploring. The Okinawa diet stands out because it emphasizes whole, minimally processed fo

I am guarding my thoughts. I am trying to ensure that my thoughts are focusing on what I want and what I like. My positive thought for today? "Everything is happening for me, not to me." I like that. I am paying attention to my 'resting face', which tends to look like a scowl, and telling myself to smile. Yes, for no reason, just smile. A little bit. For a moment. In my opinion the world is in a mess. But not my little world, my corner where I live, my section of town where

Decades of studies of happiness and emotional well-being have proven that experiencing greater happiness is within the control of almost every individual. There’s no magic cure for misery, but multiple cognitive, emotional, and physical behaviors can multiply your chances of feeling better about your life. Things Happy People Choose Not to Do They don’t dwell on setbacks or unpleasantness. Ruminating on negative thoughts crowds out space for positive thinking while also creat

I have heard it said that my office looks like a picture of one of those Hidden Object games. And they aren't wrong. I am one of those people who has trouble throwing things away. I will donate. I will refurbish, recycle, renew and reuse. But unless it's trash, I won't trash it. So consequently things stack up sometimes. To be honest, my whole house is a bit like that. Overfilled. Cluttered. Filled to the brim. Make no mistake though, it is organized, regardless of how some p

I have had people lie to me. I have had people lie about me. Sometimes the lies were way out there tall tales that no one could possibly have believed. Could they? Sometimes the lies were about the person telling the lie for the most part and I somehow got a dishonorable mention. Sometimes the lies turned out to be a twisted up version of the truth. Has any of these ever happened to you? If so, did it make you ask yourself how their memory of a situation or event could be so

I have gotten off schedule a bit and that's okay, nothing is written in concrete. I still have one meal to cook from the last menu, which is Rosemary Dijon Chicken. For the rest of the coming week: Ratatouille on Polenta Tilapia and Rice Medley Pasta and Chicken in a Pumpkin Sauce Gnocchi N Brussels Sprouts Last night was baked potatoes with leftover Awesome Sauce and cauliflower florets. That was not on the menu. It was a spur of the moment suggestion and it was quite go

It's not just the diet changing thing out of necessity as you get older it's a whole bunch of stuff. I was shocked to learn that people in their 30's are considering themselves as 'older'. It took me a moment and some head shaking but then I laughed. "Wait until you get to be MY age", I said out loud, to nobody. There are some things that are difficult to deal with as you age and if you want to take these as a warning, an alert to prepare yourself, or just as something to r

Here's this weeks menus. Homemade Pizza with yogurt crust. Black Bean Cheese Burgers with the fixins. (Have to use up the rest of the batter). Greek Zucchini Rotini Chicken Burritos and Fruit Salad And of course Friday Fish with Baked Potatoes and Green Beans It might not sound like a healthy menu to some, especially if you just say cheese-burgers, pizza, burritos and pasta. As you can see, it really is better than it looks because of the ingredients and the preparation.

Every now and then I get a whiff of something floating past my ski-jump nose and wonder, what was that? Sometimes it's like perfume or cologne. Sometimes it's something appealing like bacon frying (and it really appeals because I don't eat bacon anymore and I miss it), sometimes it's something icky-nasty. I have a somewhat sensitive sniffer so I have to wonder if this is a scent that has wafted in from the neighbor's or something carried on the wind from a few places down? I

I am starting to see the possibility of accomplishment and the fulfillment of the goal. YAY!!! I am still hovering over that $40 deal for a Thanksgiving dinner. I may still do that. My closet is for sure getting a bit more organized and I do have a better idea (or at least a fresher idea) of what is in there now. I knew, but some things I had forgotten about. So doing this has done more than help me find space for things I needed to get put away somewhere. That's a good thi

Why did the scarecrow receive a Nobel prize? He was outstanding in his field. In a world often overwhelmed by challenges, it’s easy to fall into a spiral of negativity. However, cultivating a positive mindset can transform how we approach our lives and the obstacles we face. This post aims to inspire you and provide practical strategies for developing a positive outlook, especially when tackling habits like hoarding or being a pack-rat. Positive thinking isn’t about ignoring

I fired the shots. I will no longer employ shots. They are retired involuntarily. I hate shots. So from here forward they will be called by another name, not shots. Shots are tiny little glasses filled with alcohol. No longer are shots a poke in the arm that makes your arm sore for days on end. I have decided to call this ritual 'getting armor'. Yes, cladding myself up in armor against a specific foe that might do me harm. In September I was cloaked in armor against the enem

I finally broke down and dug out the sweat pants. I only have two pair and so I alternate. This time of year, where I try to transition from shorts to sweats, is a difficult time. I struggle to stay warm enough to not ache from the cold seeping into me. I turn up the heat and it costs a bunch to run that furnace, it really adds up quick, so I dress like it's only 65 degrees inside, or less. Truth be told, it is probably only 69 degrees (Fahrenheit). Sometimes the thermostat o

Who are you? Who am I? Well, my name is Star and I am on a journey of many adventures, including the surprising experience of aging. My plan? To age successfully. How about you? Are you questing to improve health? Are you looking for recommendations of tv shows and movies to watch? Are you curious about what other folks are up to in their daily lives? There must be some reason you have chosen to read my blogs which are pretty much about food, tea, tv shows and a bunch of r