Tweak: Daily Personal Grooming
I have never in my life had a hair and makeup routine that stuck — 99% of the time I have worn no makeup and my hair has been wash and wear. This past weekend I took a few minutes to put on some makeup and straighten my hair (it was picture time). The difference was amazing. Why not show this face to the world every day? I have decided that making time for my makeup and hair styling every day will be my tweak this month. Read more
Tunisian Food — A Great Example of the Healthy Mediterranean Diet
Ever since we moved to the small North African country of Tunisia last summer, I have been thoroughly enjoying eating Tunisian food, both at restaurants and at home. I’ve also lost about 20 more pounds and I’m smaller than I have ever been since I was 21 years old! I don’t think this is a coincidence. Here’s why.
Tunisia has a long Mediterranean coastline and its cuisine is a fine example of the Mediterranean diet, rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans, fish and poultry, nuts and good oils. These foods are high in antioxidants and fiber and nutrient-rich so they are naturally satisfying and healthy. Read more
Tweak: Cook at Home
If you are not already cooking at home most of the time, good news! You have an opportunity to make a single lifestyle change that will have a huge impact on both your health and your financial wellbeing.
It’s counterintuitive, but the fact is that many (if not most) people who suffer from obesity are also malnourished. I firmly believe that the first step on the road to a healthy weight is to add essential nutrients back into our bodies, rather than restricting or dieting. We need to nurture our bodies, and we can do this by cooking easy, healthy foods at home. Read more
How to Declutter Your Kitchen – Part II
See Part I of this series for an introduction to kitchen decluttering and some tips for decluttering your food. This post is about decluttering your dishes, kitchen tools, appliances, pots and pans — in other words, the nonfood items in your kitchen.
Most people have accumulated far more houseware items than they need or can use. The more unnecessary stuff you can eliminate from your home, the easier the rest is to care for and the less work it is to keep your home tidy and orderly. Be ruthless about getting rid of what you don’t need and you will be amazed at how peaceful your home will become. Read more
How to Declutter Your Kitchen – Part I
Once you add the Declutter Daily Tweak (15 minutes a day of decluttering) to your routine, sooner or later you’ll be ready to start decluttering your kitchen. It’s best to declutter one room at at time. I suggest starting with the kitchen, which is often the least cluttered room.
Imagine what it will be like when your kitchen is free of clutter. A decluttered kitchen is remarkably easy to keep clean and tidy. You will know what food you have on hand, and you will know that it is all fresh. You won’t worry whether the clutter is hiding any old or spilled food that could be attracting bugs or rodents. With your work spaces cleared and a kitchen stocked with only the fresh food that you need, it’s easy to prepare and cook meals, which is better for your budget and for your health. Read more
Vietnam Veterans of America Will Pick Up Your Donated Items
Do you have a lot of good, useful clothing and other clutter looking for a new home, but no way to drop the clutter off at a deserving charity?
Vietnam Veterans of America is “The only national Vietnam veterans organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families.” In order to raise funds, the VVA accepts donations of good used items which they auction off in order to help fund their worthwhile work. Read more
16 Nutritious, Easy Crockpot Recipes for Cluttered Kitchens
I was reminiscing lately about the old days when my kitchen was a mess, and the lack of homecooked meals as a result. I hardly ever cooked because the counters, table and sink were so cluttered all the time that I couldn’t really begin to think about putting together a meal. So we ate a lot of junky takeout food. Today I was thinking that it would not have been that hard to combine a few ingredients in the crockpot for a hot meal later in the day. Read more