This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy for details. Years ago, when my dog Payton was still with me, the two of us walked frequently at night. Payton, who was a rott/chow/lab mix looked like a Rottweiler. And she was the size of one. No one ever bothered us as we walked the neighborhood after dark. In fact, people tended to cross to the other side of the street if they saw us coming. Today, I don’t walk much at night, even when I travel. Most evenings you’ll find me back at my accommodations by the time the sun sets. However, when I visited Edinburgh during the ..read more

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy for details. Are you looking for an easy to prepare, full of flavor salad that is hearty enough for the main meal and flexible enough to serve as a side? Then you will LOVE this fresh Mediterranean salad that is vegan and Blue Zones compliant. My younger daughter Adriel shared this delicious salad with me. The original recipe contains feta cheese and mint. I adapted it slightly to make it vegan and substituted one of my favorite herbs, fresh dill, for the mint. Try it and let me know if you enjoy this good-for-you Mediterr ..read more

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy for details. The topic for this blog post came about through a series of synchronicities. After picking up my teenage granddaughter Aubrey from school one afternoon, she commented that I always hum in the car. She is right. I typically hum, almost under my breath, whenever I’m driving or riding in the car. Aubrey said she liked that I did. It is a comforting sound and something she has heard me do all of her life. I thought more about my humming the next day and remembered that I hummed to my children when they were babies ..read more

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy for details. Tortellini is NOT a typo in the recipe title. I have an easy Vegan Tortilla Soup that you can check out HERE. This delicious recipe is a mashup of Mexican and Italian cuisines to create a uniquely flavorful dish. My daughter Adriel shared the original recipe with me and I successfully “veganized” it to create a yummy, satisfying soup that’s free of dairy products and meat. Try out Vegan Mexican Tortellini Soup this week. Trust me, you’ll want to make it again. Vegan Mexican Tortellini Soup I LOVE soup. Althou ..read more

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy for details.   I’ve mentioned before that days and days of cloudy gray skies have a negative effect on me. Those symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder? I get those during the winter. After an abundance of overcast skies this month and days of freezing cold, I was ready to get out of the house when the sun shone brightly today and temps reached the low 60s. I knew exactly how to beat the winter blues and boost my health at the same time. This is walk number 26, Walk in Sunshine. Discovering Healthy Sun Practices We ..read more

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy for details. Whenever I travel, I browse through my fun book, 52 Ways to Walk, to see if I can find one that works with my trip. So far, I always have. On my recent trip to Savannah, Georgia, I selected number 24, Walk With a Map. With my illustrated map of historical downtown Savannah packed in my carry on, I looked forward to carrying out this activity. Check out why using a map in an unfamiliar area is actually beneficial! Imagining a Place In her book, author Annabel Streets tells the story of a young woman who finds ..read more

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy for details. For most travelers, enjoying the local cuisine is an important part of the travel experience. It is for me as well. However as one who lives a plant based lifestyle, I carefully research restaurants and cafes before I travel, for vegan options. My research pays off. I travel with a list of possible eateries in the area. Even southern cities like Charleston or Savannah, famous for comfort food, offer plant based options. Check out these vegan eats in Savannah for your next trip to the city, if healthier eating ..read more

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy for details.   Don’t you love cute downtown cafes? I do, especially those that offer fresh, delicious meals AND have vegan options. In Downtown Joplin MO, a new restaurant is getting rave reviews and repeat diners who are enjoying the fun laid back atmosphere and the scrumptious food. I got to try The Hungry Monkey over the weekend for the first time and I was not disappointed! The Hungry Monkey This island inspired eatery, located at 905 S Main Street, offers freshly prepared tacos, sandwich melts, wraps and poke bo ..read more

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy for details. It’s the season of road trips. School is out, summer approaches, adventure beckons. It’s the perfect time to load up the car and head off down that highway. I just recently completed my first road trip for the year, to beautiful Blue Ridge, Georgia in the mountains. As Greg and I prepped for a 700 mile drive across five states to reach our destination, I did more than pack clothes and fill my daily medication holder with supplements. I also prepared for a long ride in the car, with the desire to make it as sup ..read more

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy for details. “I have learned that there is more power in a good hug than in a thousand meaningful words.”  Ann Hood Did you know that the simple act of hugging someone, holding someone in your arms, is not only a crucial part of human development but also creates positive effects in the body? It’s true. Hugging raises the energy level in the participants as it promotes wellbeing. Check out these eight health benefits of hugging…and then embrace a friend or loved one. 20 Second Hug According to psychotherapist Virgi ..read more