BEAUTY IS A LIFESTYLE THING

This is me taking a deep breath and releasing all of the week's stress, and enjoying a Sunday slow down. This is how I like to end the week. A simple warm green tea and a toss of fresh lemon. I try to seclude myself and just be still and quiet. It does my soul good. This is a sweet potato vine. I use them to fill in my pots for added demension and "greenery" among the flowers that I plant. Did you know that this plant flowers? In all the years I've had them I never recalled them blooming and this purple leaf looks great as they stay in my midwest climate all the way through Fall. Anyway this is the epitome of actually stopping to smell the flowers, and I did just that. I've been working on some new recipes, and exercises to add to my walking journey So I'll be posting those updates this week.What do you do to unwind and have you tried new exercises of late? I hope you're all still staying active. It's very hard to be motivated when vacation comes cal

Who knew I'd be making soup in Spring? Well it's May 1st and it's still chilly out,the temps near me a high of 48 degrees and it's cloudy, overcast and feels more like Fall than late Spring. So when I'm feeling blase' I hit the kitchen. I figured I had enough pantry items on-hand to make my family a simple chicken noodle soup. I'll share my pictures and mini recipe here, but before I do as an aside...I kept thinking about my mother; her heavenly birthday just passed us by and since then she's been in my thoughts, and she left me with the fragrant food memories. Here's a photo of my mom in the late 1960's (I think). She loved flowers and I inturn also love them. (Again, with the fragrance) I love looking out at my window and seeing this beauty everyday. But anyway back to soup and mom leaving a legacy of creativity in the kitchen. The oven and the stove boiling over all the time with the homemade goodness. I remember when we used to cook whole

Flowers from my patio. Photo Credit: MaryCaliendoPhoto2019 Sorry I've been missing for a short time. I took an unexpected hiatus. My middle son got married, and not only was I completely and busily happy~ I discovered a feeling of being burnt out! So I took a deep breath and I literally smelled the flowers! We have been deluged by rain and thunderstorms and it enabled me to catch up with myself and reevaluate any and all of my writing and blogging goals.  I also revisited my fitness goals, and I'd like you to join me too. As with previous months and even as late as this spring I started my walk fitness and stationary bike routines. I hope I encouraged you and inspired you to join in or just create your personal fitness goals and routines. If you haven't, it's not too late to start right this minute! I just read an article about how real "burn out" is! It has been reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) that  Burn Out had become an official me