Recently in By Holly Lebowitz Rossi Category

Oh, cranberry, how do we love thee?  Let me count the ways.

In the health arena, you make our hearts go pitter-pat--and not just because you may lower bad cholesterol and increase good.  You're also packed with immune-boosting antioxidants, urinary health-protecting antibacterial properties, and even--if you believe one Rutgers researcher--a compound that prevents plaque from binding to your teeth.  Super-food, anyone?

But Foodie Friday is about more than mere healthy eating, it's about feel-good, taste-great foodie joy.  And there, we're smitten too.  Because not only do you contain a major dose of pectin, which, once released, brings you from firm fruit to delectable, just-burst gel in mere minutes.  You're also so perfectly tart so as to act as the perfect foil in sweet desserts, and a delightful zing to savory dishes.  Is there anything you can't do?

I'm lucky enough to live in cranberry country--New England--where my store stocks several brands of local berries fresh from the bog.  Seeing as how 'tis the season for all things cran, I thought I'd share my 5 favorite ways to enjoy this tiny super-fruit.  What are yours?

5 Ways to Enjoy Cranberries

1.  Drink 'Em.  Cranberry juice + sparkling wine + lime juice = fizzy, tarted-up perfection.  Also, you know cranberry juice is a chief ingredient in a Cosmo, right?

2.  Sauce 'Em.  As if I have to tell you.....boil a bag of crans with a cup of water, a cup of sugar, and the zest of an orange.  Some crystallized ginger never hurt anyone either!

3.  Bake 'Em.  Toss in a handful of cranberries to your apple pie filling, or use them instead of blueberries a crumb cake or breakfast bread for little bursts of tart-sweet goodness (note: you may need to adjust the sugar because crans are so tart).

4.  Savor 'Em.  Concocting a wild rice, quinoa, or wheat berry salad?  Try some chopped roasted vegetables, dots of goat cheese, and a handful of dried cranberries.  A splash of lemon juice, a few glugs of olive oil, and you're on your way to Savory City!

5.  Snack 'Em.  Dried cranberries are pleasantly chewy, super-sweet, and very happily eaten by the handful with salted nuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, chocolate chips, and any other dried fruits you like.  Wait, did I just describe a trail mix?  Take dried cranberries with you on a fall hike or winter snowshoe, and you'll be rarin' to go!

Still hungry? Click here for more Foodie Friday tidbits.

(image via: http://www.goodguide.com/)

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Today in my acupuncture session, I had a fascinating conversation about toxic thoughts.  I shared with my acupuncturist my "message dream" in which I heard the phrase "toxic thoughts are water soluble" over and over again. 

I told her how that image had turned into something of a mantra for me these past couple of weeks.  We human beings are essentially made of water, and I've been visualizing clear, clean water flowing through my veins...dissolving any toxicity that might find its way in via bad food, negative thinking, polluted air, and more.  Water, purifying, cleansing water. 

She then shared how she imagines toxicity--as wind.  She visualizes herself as a screen door, able to feel the toxic wind and live with it, but just watching it blow through her, unable to stick or hold onto her body or mind.

Wow - between the two of us, we hit on two of the four essential elements.  I thought I'd give the other two a try.

Fire seems like a gimme, right?  Like those little pieces of flint-y paper that burst into a spark-flame and incinerate?  In the purifying fire of a clear mind, toxic things will simply consume and be gone.

Earth is a little more tricky, because it conjures an image of being buried - not something we want to do with toxic thoughts.  But here's my attempt--think about dirt as the rich, fertile remains of something that was rotten and dying (like the contents of a compost pile, aka leftover salad from last week).  Imagine toxic things crumbling into clean, dark earth, ready to receive the seeds of something new and alive.

Which element are you drawn to? 

(image via: http://www.freewebs.com/avatar-videos-online/pictures.htm)

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Many of us were surprised to read that the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) is recommending that women get their first mammograms at age 50, not 40--and, more shockingly, that doctors stop advising women to administer monthly self-exams on their breasts.

For followers of health trends, though, the recommendations are not so shocking.  There is an ongoing debate on the delicate line between "early detection" and "over-treating" in many aspects of health care, notably prostate cancer, in which men are often diagnosed and treated for cancers that run almost no risk of killing them.

Now, the arguments are being made that early mammograms save too few lives--and yield too many false positives--to justify continuing recommending them. 

This article in this morning's New York Times reported on skeptical reactions to the news--and many women saying that they would simply ignore the recommendations and continue to take preventative screening measures in their own bodies.

Fresh Living readers, what do you think?  Are you skeptical?  Relieved to get a 10-year free pass on mammograms?  Enraged at the idea of missing the chance to save even one life?  Tired of a preventative test-happy health care system?  Looking forward to your comments.

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Don't you love how if you look hard enough, you can find joy almost anywhere?  Even in, say, animals that aren't humanoid emoters?  A million thanks to the folks at Huffington Post who compiled a totally giggle-inducing collection of smiling animals.  Check it out, and vote for your favorite on HuffPo!

Click here for the gallery of smiling animals!

Do you wake up feeling great? You should! Getting healthy should be simple, so I compiled 21 easy ways to make healthy habits part of your every day. How many do you do on a regular basis?

You know, making stuff is fun--and healthy, too! Get inspired for Thanksgiving with this simple, fun place card craft that you can do in 10 easy steps.

The International Diabetes Foundation is sponsoring tomorrow, November 14, as World Diabetes Day 2009. Here at Fresh Living, we are always on the lookout for the smartest ways to manage the disease through natural diabetes remedies, lifestyle changes, and self-care.

A message dream is so simple, it stays with you all day. You try to figure out what it means--if it means anything at all. Have you ever had a "message dream?"

Have you ever came across something that you felt you were somehow meant to find today, in this exact present moment?

A collection of Veteran's Day quotes for all our stable, courageous veterans, and for those who still serve. A thousand times and a thousand more - thank you.

I just ran across this lovely article on how to heal your heart, and it struck me as a great "first thing meditation" for the morning.

If you're having trouble figuring out how to choose a tablecloth that fits your table--here's how to measure it, in 5 easy steps.

"We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise if we have waited in the darkness." I can't find exactly who said this quote, but I can hardly conjure a more inspiring thought for a Monday morning.  Wait through...

I just started an elimination diet, and I'm having a hard time. If you have food sensitivities or allergies, how do you keep your bliss around food, especially at the beginning of having to make changes in your eating habits?

We all could use a good stretch in the morning, and this video gives us some sun salutations, a mild sweat, and a whole lot of body-opening in exactly 10 minutes.

Next Tuesday is the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street! What a flood of nostalgia just those two S-words bring up. We are collecting those memories--and the life lessons that go with them.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in America, killing around 437 people every day. In honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, I've compiled some resources from around Beliefnet to help raise awareness, encourage conversation, and offer support.

Are your sleep patterns healthy? You might not realize how important getting just enough sleep is for your overall health, sense of well-being, and daily energy level.

Swine flu prevention is about two things, really--smart practices that don't put flu germs and your mucous membranes in the same place at the same time, and keeping your immune system strong enough to fight off any bugs that might sneak in the door.

For Halloween 2009, I will splurge on the Halloween candy treats that made me happy when I was little. Healthy eating will have to wait until November 1.

"Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening," said Gandhi.  Do you begin your day with a prayer?  Is it a quote or scripture, or just whatever is in your heart?  Please share your...

Are you having a "hang in there" kind of day?  Maybe you need a good cry...like a face-leaking, muscle-convulsing, breath-gasping kind of cry.  If you need one--or recently had one--I wholeheartedly commend this clip from Dane Cook's "Vicious Circle" comedy...

The Boston Globe reported this week that the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is suggesting some significant changes to the Mass service to try to stem the spread of swine flu.  Click here for the whole article, but here are...

Many of you shared your delectable oatmeal mix-in combinations in my 6 Health Reasons to Eat Oatmeal post.  I thought I'd share the love by posting some of your yummiest ways to warm up a cold morning.  Enjoy!"I add...

This weekend, Rob and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary with a quasi-spontaneous trip to Vermont to catch the end of leaf-peeping season.  It was an utterly beautiful weekend, the kind where you order homemade yellow cake with chocolate frosting...

Friday was my 10th wedding anniversary.  So many memories, such a journey, so much more, we pray, to come.  To celebrate, I want to share some words from a StoryPeople print my mom gave us in our first year...

Foodie Friday is upon us again!  Last week, I shared tips for how to make your own pumpkin puree.  This week, I've got a creamy, warming, makes-the-kitchen-smell-amazing way to use your puree--the definition of feel-good comfort food:  cranberry-studded pumpkin risotto. ...

Beverly Bunn, a dentist who attended the Angel Valley sweat lodge retreat in which three people  died and multiple others were hospitalized, is speaking out about her ordeal.  The video below, from CNN, is wrenching as Bunn describes the surreal...

I ask because I am.  I love their shiny paper-feel in my hand.  I love the gorgeous photography and enticing headlines.  I love the ritual and reward of looking forward to a new issue, which feels like a gift when...

From our sister blogger Janice Taylor over at Our Lady of Weight Loss, this sweet idea for building what she calls "awareness muscle":"A simple and fun way to start integrating "being present" into your daily routine is in the...

Would more people make good, healthy choices if it were fun to do so?  That's the question Volkswagon is posing in their new "Fun Theory" series of videos in which their stealth do-gooders make everyday healthy activities fun.This video shows...

Two years ago today, my Uncle Craig died of lymphoma.  For his 60th birthday just 3 month before his death, we gathered at a favorite fancy restaurant, where for celebrations the staff scatters little silver stars across the table.  He...

Seventy-five million.  That's how many people in the US, Europe, and Japan are estimated to be affected by osteoporosis, the bone disease that leads to increased risks for fractures as we age.Today is World Osteoporosis Day, an awareness-raising effort by...

"It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice."  I found this quote from an unknown source on this lovely blog, and I'm going to carry it with me all day.Be nice.  The most important thing...

This weekend came news that a third person has died following an October 8 sweat lodge ceremony at the Angel Valley Retreat Center near Sedona, Arizona.  The tragedy is frightening and incomprehensible: people in search of healing were instead...

Last Foodie Friday, I wrote about how at this time of year, my food choices are governed as much by what I want to smell as by what I want to taste.  In some ways, the seasonal "what to smell"...

Included in the Inspiring Quotes for a Woman's Soul gallery is this thought from Jenny Craig:  "It's not what you do once in a while, it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference."What do...

Our sparkling blog sister Janice Taylor writes the Our Lady of Weight Loss blog, and if you are a loyal reader (which you should totally be!), you know that she preaches the gospel of filling your life with happiness, not...

This morning, I went to the dentist and was told I needed to have my annual x-rays updated.  Ok, I said, but after a about 10 bite-beep!-change-film cycles, I asked why the hygienist seemed to be taking more shots than...

I just discovered this beautiful photography-and-ruminations blog, Beyond the Fields We Know.  One of the best things about the web is surely its riches in the inspiring, just-because-it's-beautiful department.  This site qualifies.One of the author's regular features is Wordless...

My puppy-niece Jane (is she not the cutest?!) is having her "lady surgery" today--at 6 months old, she's being spayed.  There is no question that this is the right thing to do to protect her from cancer as well as...

In some ways, today is about a man who guided a team of explorers across the ocean in search of new lands.  But in another way, today is about the idea of exploration, the notion of discovery.  In that...

It's strange, but often in the fall, I cook not based on what I want to taste, but what I want to smell.  Granted, the scents I want wafting from my kitchen at this time of year are conveniently in...

Yesterday, I wrestled all day with an acute case of fidgety-itis.  The squirms.  The squiggles.  The heebie-jeebies.  The bouncy-leg tango.I have no idea where my inability to sit still came from.  It was a rainy day, usually an energy-suppressor.  Work...

I just found this cool sticker, for a car bumper or window, with this beautiful quote from Albert Camus:  "Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower."What an uplifting morning thought!  Happy leaf-spring, everyone! Need more...

Microsoft has unveiled a new online tool, developed by Emory University, to help you decide whether your flu-like symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor's office.  This is a major issue for many people, as doctors' visits can be frustrating...

You guys, there comes a time.  A time when you realize that if something is toxic--a food item, a relationship, a town--it's not your job to detoxify it.  A time when you reclaim control of the space where you live,...

What's better on a chilled fall or winter morning than a bubbling pot of oatmeal?  I try to have a bowl for breakfast 2-3 times a week during the cold months (when I'm not eating my favorite peanut butter...

You may remember that in late August, I set a challenge for myself:  wear makeup every day for a month, and see how I feel about myself, how my skin looks, and how the daily ritual might change my routine...

Happy Foodie Friday, everyone, and welcome to harvest-foods season!  To me, autumn food means roasting.  And my very favorite fall dinner is to snatch up whatever multi-colored melange of in-season veggies I can find at my farmer's market or supermarket,...

"The happiest part of a man's life is what he passes lying awake in bed in the morning," said Samuel Johnson.  Do you agree?  When you're awake but not yet out of bed, do you meditate and set an...

Today begins Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to honor those whose lives have been touched through this disease, I searched out 5 quotes about survival.  Because that's the goal.  That's the goal.5 Quotes About Survival"Through humor, you can soften some...

Yesterday was an exciting day--our new dining room furniture arrived.  It's beautiful, and we quickly figured out how we wanted to lay it out and started dreaming about Thanksgiving dinner.  But then we opened the doors of our new sideboard.Pee-yew! ...

I came across this book by Brook Noel, "Good Morning: 365 Positive Ways to Start Your Day."  In her introduction, she writes these uplifting words:"Something great happens each and every day.  And because I am aware, I never miss...

You may have read or heard about (or maybe you saw it live) the on-camera accident last week in which "Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien suffered a mild concussion.  He had to stop taping the show, then he was taken...

If you're a tea drinker like me, you'll feel your spirits lift when you read this quote from Catherine Douzel: "Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage."  The meaning deepens further when you type Catherine Douzel's name into...

Every time I go to my dentist, I ask him if he's heard any new conventional wisdom on how to get rid of canker sores.  And every time, he responds by giving me a lecture about how research dollars are...

Did you see Valerie's awesome post last week about how to talk to a tree?  If you want to get your Lorax on but don't have time to get outside, I highly recommend you visit our friends over at...

"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile." -- William Cullen Bryant, from our beautiful new gallery of uplifting autumn quotes.How will you make this autumn day a lovely smile?Need more morning inspiration?  Read our entire Fresh Morning collection!...

From the people at Improv Everywhere who brought you the "Surprise Wedding Reception" we posted back in July....an impromptu New York City subway photo booth set up to collect yearbook-style photos of all the beautiful, different, big, small, young, old,...

Last March, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement calling the ancient Japanese healing practice of reiki "superstition" that "finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief."The issue largely disappeared from most...

Healthy breakfast recipes?  Check.  Uplifting quotes?  Check.  Morning meditations?  Check.  This is my not-so-subtle invitation to have you explore a brand new Beliefnet gallery, 11 Ways to Energize Your Morning, a best-of-Fresh-Morning collection put together by Valerie and me...

Thanks to reader Ellie Dee for sharing her beautiful journal reflections about autumn, the season we inaugurate tomorrow, September 22, with the official fall equinox at 5:18 pm.Check out Ellie Dee's beautiful insights, and let us know in the comments...

It's Foodie Friday, and with the weather all crisp and cool, my mind is my favorite daily drink--tea.  Not the leaves themselves, though, but the vessel in which we boil the water to make this healing, warming beverage.  What is...

These cool fall mornings make me want to snuggle a few extra minutes in my soft, warm sheets.  But that blissfully relaxing feeling is never farther away than when one is shopping for those sheets.  The choices are endless,...

We're sad today over the death at age 72 of Mary Travers, the soaring female voice of the 1960s' folk supergroup Peter, Paul and Mary.  Her wide smile and happily crinkled eyes were as distinctive as her sonorous voice, and...

Last night was the premiere of the eighth season of "The Biggest Loser," NBC's weight loss show that inspires some and chagrins others (including our sister blogger Janice Taylor).  Though this season is packed with compelling stories and ever-larger contestants,...

It's become my husband Rob's annual tradition to get up early one morning when we're out on Cape Cod in late summer, get on his bike, and pedal to the Atlantic to watch the sun rise.  The photos he...

"Gorgeous and strong" is how his "Dirty Dancing" co-star Jennifer Grey described Patrick Swayze, who died yesterday after an almost 2-year battle with pancreatic cancer.In his memory, I want to share this quote that he said to Barbara Walters in...

Did you see the article in yesterday's New York Times about the clean water crisis in Charleston, West Virginia and around the country?  Here are some of the alarming take-aways from this exhaustively-reported piece:"Most of today's water pollution has no...

I woke up this morning humming Neil Diamond's song "September Morn" because, well, it is one.  Why is September such a wistful month?  Perhaps it's the little back-to-school fresh start that we all crave well into adulthood.  Or maybe...

Our blog sister Diana Butler Bass on Progressive Revival had this to say about last night's health care speech by President Obama:"Tonight was about the moral "we."  President Obama delivered a hope-filled speech that called us to stop being part...

On my vacation to Cape Cod last week, I happened to glance down off the porch and see an extraordinary sight: a bird's nest carefully built into the vortex of a thorny, busy climbing rose.  I couldn't stop staring,...

We've largely steered clear of the health care debate on Fresh Living (read why here), but I felt inspired to post this MoveOn.org video that's making the blogosphere rounds.  Not because we endorse the public option, necessarily, but because it's...

This mesmerizing timelapse video follows Christoph Rehage as he walks 4,500 km across China over the course of a year...and grows the mop of hair and impressive beard to prove it.  Today is the "first day back" for many of...

The week-after-Labor-Day may or may not be a time of getting back to work or school after a break, but it's definitely a good time to think about changes--of seasons, of jobs, of grades, of life.  How do you handle...

I came across this proverb that I'd never heard before:"No river can return to its source, yet all rivers must have a beginning."Labor Day weekend, the official (if not celestial) end of summer, is a good time to think...

There's something about the end of summer that makes me think wistfully about sunshine.  True, autumn sunshine is gorgeous--and maybe my favorite kind--but after that comes (sorry) winter and its dearth of Vitamin D.  So in celebration of the...

As you read this, I am literally on vacation, but if you're going about your usual daily routine in a non-vay-cay-way, I wonder if you might like to try putting on "vacation mind" this morning to see if it can...

Later today, I'm driving out to outer Cape Cod for vacation, but first I have a stop to make--in Hyannis.  The fact that just as I'm arriving, the funeral procession carrying Senator Ted Kennedy's body is leaving is a coincidence. ...

How much sleep do you get every night?  How much sleep do you need?  If there's a major difference in the answers to those 2 questions, you might have an issue.  But how do you even answer the "need" question? ...

This morning the nation mourns the loss of Edward Kennedy, the "Lion of the Senate" whose 46-year career as a Massachusetts Senator is one of the most storied in its history.  Kennedy died of brain cancer late last night at...

Do you know Maggie Mason?  I don't--at least not personally--but I love, luff, lurve her blog.  The guiding principle for her writing on design, shopping, marriage, parenthood, etc is the concept of "Mighty Life," and more specifically her "Mighty Life...

I found on eHow.com a curious list of 5 ways to have a good morning.  Click here to read the whole thing, but here's the gist:5 Ways to Have a Good Morning1.  Wake up rested.2.  Don't rush.3.  Get energized.4. ...

This is the story of a Monday makeover.I do not wear makeup every day.  I work at home, for one thing, so I have no one to impress.  But I also have something of a mental makeup block:  what's wrong...

In my desire to get as much into beach mode as is possible while seated in front of a computer (did I mention I'm coming up on vacation?), I came across this video that immediately downshifted my morning into...

The only time I might invoke my astrological sign (Taurus) in everyday conversation or thought is when I find myself doing something stubborn, overly practical, or in some other way classically Taurean.  What I don't make a habit of is...

Thanks to everyone who commented on my "4 Ways to Roll with the Punches" post last week, in which I wrote about the aftermath of a kitchen renovation mishap.  In the comments, lots of you talked about how you stay...

As summer continues to blossom and fill the farmer's markets with fresh, seasonal produce, I was inspired to come across this quote from the Roman poet Ovid:"Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop."Did you rest...

Did you know (I didn't) that the word passion comes from the Latin word "pati," which means to suffer or endure?  The connection resonates with me.  Passion is intense, it pulls us, it drives us to new places, and sometimes,...

The flu is a winter problem, right?  Wrong!  I just learned that worldwide, there have been 150,000 confirmed cases of swine flu this summer, and with school starting again soon, the co-mingling of kids, adults, and germs is once again...

I am not generally one for witnessing sunrises; I'm usually clinging to sleep at that hour of the day.  But every now and then I wish I saw more of them, because they are so very magical, so peachy and...

Fresh Living is, as you know, a holistic health blog.  But we've--so far--refrained from a single post about the biggest health-related issue before the chattering class: health care reform.  There are reasons for that, including our desire to focus more...

My day just got a little brighter when I learned that Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the inspired pair that brought us the music and movie Once, have a new album coming out October 27.How's this for a powerful title? ...

Eeeehn!  Have you yawned yet this morning?  Yawning is a reflex, sort of like a Control-Alt-Delete for the brain and the body.  When you yawn, you inhale deeply and oxygenate your blood.  You also stretch open your ears and gain...

Ok, so I am possibly a little quiz-happy these days.  I think it's a symptom of summer, a time when I either want to be outside riding my bike or inside (if I have to) exercising my brain.My latest quiz...

A funny (not ha-ha funny) thing happened this weekend--our gorgeous apple-green kitchen countertop slab got dropped at the workshop, and it broke.  So now, the kitchen that we were hoping to be able to move into and use within the...

I was at the National Zoo in Washington, DC this weekend with my nephews, and the best time to take such an outing is in the morning, before the staggering heat of a mid-Atlantic summer day sets in.  In...

Summer is a time for romance, and it's also the perfect time for fun, breezy love quizzes!  I'm proud to announce that we've just spiffed up our collection of relationship, dating, love, marriage, and commitment quizzes for your self-testing pleasure....

Sometimes in our desires to spring forth into a fresh morning, I think we forget that some mornings are slower, more pleasantly plodding, than others.  So my thought for this morning is, linger.  Let the lazy hazy-tude of summer...

Wow, there are 60 gorgeous entries in the "magic light" photo caption contest I posted last week.  Thank you, everyone, for the uplifting and affirming words that you put to the mysterious shot that I took in our empty condo...

Want to hear something embarrassing about my morning?  Our kitchen designer was here with some guys to measure and template out the countertop.  They arrived at 8:30, and we were chatting and making decisions about where to put the seam...

Egun on! Pévevóona'o! Shubha prabhaat! These are the words I'd use if I wanted to wish you a good morning in, respectively, Basque, Cheyenne, and Hindi cultures.  I found these beautiful, mysterious words on this website, which lists the...

I've been a less-than-successful meditator lately, finding myself caught in a session-ending swirl of thoughts every time I've gone to sit quietly for even a few minutes.  So I think it's time to kick up my game and find an...

So much fun, you guys!  Our friends over on the Inspiration channel have put together a quiz that will lift your spirits and test your knowledge in one shot.  It works like this - read famous inspirational quotes, and then...

What products do you use to wash your face?  I'm in love with the ritual of splashing warm water on my sleepy face and waking myself up with something that feels good, is good for me, and smells really...

For Foodie Friday, we turn to our Everyday Ethics blog sister Hillary Fields to congratulate her on her smart, healthy "90 Salads in 90 Days" program, which was published on The Huffington Post this week.  Welcome to the leafy green...

"Be patient. When you feel lonely, stay with your loneliness. Avoid the temptation to let your fearful self run off. Let it teach you its wisdom; let it tell you that you can live instead of just surviving." --Henri...

Our occasional "Brain Break Inspiring Wedding Video" series continues today with a vid that has me writing this through the happiest of tears.  My colleague Dena (go visit her on our sister blog Idol Chatter for all things awesomely pop-culture-y)...

I spoke this week to a writer and psychotherapist who uses photography in her counseling work.  In the course of our chat about an upcoming Beliefnet feature she's going to write (yay!), she said this:"We take photos to mark those...

"Don't postpone joy until you have learned all of your lessons. Joy is your lesson." --Alan CohenWhat can you do today to learn the joy lesson?  If you need more inspiration, check out our collection of uplifting quotes about...

Reader Gwendolyn asked a great question in a recent comment: How do you feel about gray hair, and how do you act on those feelings?  For me, I have a deep-seated phobia of embarking on a hair-coloring regimen because it...

Every life transition has its "zero hour," that moment when everything that came before it is different from everything that comes after.  We hit that moment this weekend when the moving truck piled with our boxes pulled away from...

On Friday, we achieved an exciting milestone--100 Fresh Morning posts!  What began as an experiment to see if we could find tidbits, images, recipes, quotes, and ideas to help you (and ourselves) start our day with joy and purpose...

Today I write this post from my desk, in my home of 9 years.  On Monday, I will write from my desk, in my home of 48 hours.  Despite all of my attempts to stay sane through my move, there's...

This morning, I'm thinking about what reader Gwendolyn wrote in response to the Fresh Morning post about completing tasks every day.  She wrote that each day's task list should include some "I want to," and never just "I must,...

I just discovered--via Valerie, thanks!--the fabulous Color Me Katie blog, which chronicles the bright, sparkly escapades of a Brooklyn artist whose work is as much performance as it is pretty.  Her most recent post bears sharing--in it, she decides to...

You guys, I had something of a bust-size shocker last weekend when I went to buy a dress for my brother-in-law's upcoming wedding.  At Nordstrom, I found this awesome frock, which was a perfect fit except for a missing, um,...

I'm thinking this morning about this quote from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: "Each morning sees some task begin, Each evening sees it close; Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose."I love the cleanliness with which Longfellow describes a...

Fish or cut bait?  Yes or no?  Left or right?  Soup or salad?  Yep, I'm thinking about decisions, how we make them, and how we live peacefully with them after they're made.With my move looming, I've been thinking (and writing)...

If you're relieved to see the Michael Jackson coverage fade away, but kind of wish his music were still on the radio 24/7, take an afternoon break and check out this video of four young folkie divas jamming on "Say...

I'm so inspired by this description of the perfect silent morning day-starter, from reader Cherie.  The idea of "getting over sleepy mind" is so perfectly worded.  Here's her beautiful routine:"For me waking up in the morning is with chirping...

Yum, you guys.  For today's Foodie Friday tidbit, I have the greatest, easiest summer fruit crisp topping you will ever encounter.  I used it over the pound of fabulous organic cherries that were on sale at Whole Foods this week. ...

News reports are saying that "Angela's Ashes" author Frank McCourt is gravely ill with meningitis at age 78. His brother told the Associated Press, "He is not expected to live."I think "Angela's Ashes" is one of the first books I...

I see gardens as inherent spiritually metaphors.  They grow, they need nurturing, they are mysterious, they are beautiful, they can feed us, they can break our hearts.I put together a slideshow of images from my garden to celebrate the most...

One of the best ways to keep a "Fresh Morning" feeling going all day is to give yourself little surprises.  Making your day unexpected in some way can wake you up to the present moment, and remind you that...

The awesome responses on our "What's Your Comfort Clothing?" post a few weeks ago got my wheels turning.  Of course--it's not just clothing that comforts us on bad days.  It's food, movies, places, music, and more.So I decided I just...

Do you like to wake up and dive into your day, or relish the last few moments of silence before the bustle sets in?  I am definitely in the latter category--whenever possible, I like to ease into my awake-itude,...

Throwing a surprise wedding reception for a random couple who just got married at City Hall might qualify as one of the best, most inspiring random acts of kindness ever.  The video below chronicles just such an event, hosted by...

Well, it's happened.  It's two weeks until we move into our new house, and I officially have developed cold feet.  Have we made a terrible mistake?  What were we thinking?  How could we have gone through with this?  So goes...

If you need a smile this morning, I have a question for you.  Do you remember this one?"It's such a good feelingTo know you're aliveIt's such a happy feelingYou're growing insideAnd when you wake up, ready to say"I think...

With the wild weather we've had so far this summer, it's been a weird year in my garden.  Except that I've enjoyed one victory that I've never before been able to accomplish--the pot of mint I started in the spring...

"To be awake is to be alive." -- Henry David ThoreauClick here for more inspiring quotes.  And read about Thoreau's Walden Pond here.Are you awake this morning?...

Valerie is so right - most of us don't play enough.  Play is just not built into our culture, it's not a socially acceptable adult activity.  Which is why I got excited when I found out that since 1985, July...

Have you checked out our bevvy of health quizzes lately?  We've just spiffed them up with a new design, and if you're the personality quiz type, you'll definitely want to check them out.Here are my 5 favorites, for your quizzing...

Whether it's releasing a relationship, a goal, a dream, or even our health, needing to let go of something is a universal human experience.  Most writing on the subject starts with a statement like that--suggesting that acknowledging the need to...

Is there any flower that captures the hope, potential, and beauty of a new day better than the Morning Glory?  This photo, from the fabulous Talking Plants Blog on NPR, captures the climber at its most glowing, effervescent, fragile,...

The summer rain we've had here in the northeast (we're getting a blessed break from it this week) has been awful....except for the times when thunderstorms have blown through.  There's something so cleansing, loud, natural, and exhilarating about thunderstorms.The video...

'Tis the season for outdoor activities....and their inevitable accompanying health concerns.  Mosquitoes come with many, from the plain old itch factor to West Nile Virus and EEE.  How can you protect yourself without bathing in DEET or other crazy chemicals?There...

"I believe in America because we have great dreams--and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true."  -Wendell L. WilkieClick here for more patriotic quotes in celebration of July 4.  Let freedom ring!...

Are you going to celebrate the 4th of July with a cookout?  If so, I have two questions for you:1.  What are you making?2.  What grill are you making it on?I ask because I'm always looking for yummy ways to...

I recently had to have blood drawn, and as per usual with me, the area quickly turned a beautiful shade of black-and-blue.  Just in time for summer!When I went to my acupuncturist a few days later, she gave me a...

Do you start your day with excuses?  Don't judge yourself....but knock it off!  Get started with these uplifting affirmations from Wayne Dyer.  If the excuse is, "Today will be difficult," meet that toxic thought head-on with the affirmation, "I...

I am overwhelmed with the kind and supportive words of condolence that I've gotten as I mourn my grandmother Gaga.  First and foremost, thank you.  All the talking and emailing about Gaga has reminded me of something that I find...

What's in a grandparent name?  A lot of meaning, I think.  My four grandparents were split in the name department.  My dad's parents were Nana and Papa, simple, loving grandparent names that fit their traditional sensibilities.  My mom's parents were...

My grandmother Gaga died this weekend--on a Saturday, in fact, just like her husband my grandfather did 13 years ago, and her son my uncle did 2 years ago.  A literary touch, perfect for a larger-than-life woman.What can any of...

It took me months to learn how to flip my single over-medium breakfast egg without a) using a spatula or b) making a splattering mess all over my kitchen.  But now that I (usually) can do it, it's a skill...

My farmer's market has an egg stand this year, which makes me extremely happy.  You can't beat eggs that you know were laid days earlier by birds that live happy lives on pastoral fields, nudging grass and grubs and other...

Reports are spreading (the NY Daily News and ABC News so far) that "Charlie's Angels" '70s heartthrob Farrah Fawcett's long struggle with cancer might be coming to an end.  News reports say that friends and family are gathering at her...

In the spirit of Valerie's awesome Songs About Rain playlist, I thought it would be fun to compile a list of songs about morning.  Here are 5 to get us started--please add to this list!1.  Brand New Day--Sting2.  Morning...

A new study is out touting the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet.  This will come as no shock to those of you who have already seen our fabulous gallery, "The Health Secrets of the Mediterranean Diet," but what's interesting...

Exciting news from the processed food world!  Log Cabin Syrup, the breakfast table staple since 1887, has announced it's replacing the high-fructose corn syrup in its products with natural, "real" sugar. Log Cabin is not alone--Pepsi (in its Pepsi Throwback...

Thanks to reader "foufou" for posting this tasty--and easy--recipe on my picnic post last week.  I can't wait to try it...and to figure out how to spell tabouli (tabbouli?  tabouleh?).  Anyway, this vegetarian salad is packed with protein courtesy of...

What color wakes you up?  We just published a fun gallery on how color affects emotions and energy, and here are some options for your best wake-up color.  Use these colors on your bedroom walls, bedding, PJs, teddy bears,...

Remember when we were in school and we got lists of books we had to have read by September?  Invisible Man, Siddhartha, As I Lay Dying--some years the list was longer than others, some years (oy, Faulkner) were more challenging...

Foodie Friday is upon us, and this week's post is about an early summer joy that is as fleeting as it is delightful.  I speak of the pungent, powerful, twisty, green, and woefully short-lived garlic scape.Yesterday at my town's farmer's...

This weekend, summer will officially begin.  Welcome, welcome!  When summer starts, I always think of this quote from Albert Camus:"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."How will your summer be...

I can't decide how exactly to react to this Boston Globe article about how some fitness buffs are, because of skin cancer fears, keeping their workouts indoors this spring and summer.On one hand, I get it.  Members of my family...

You know the old anxiety management technique where you picture your fear as a big scary monster and then picture it doing something silly?  Enter this video, which puts simple, ridiculous, funny "hey," "hi," and "hello" into the mouths of...

At my weekly gentle Iyengar class (taught by the fabulous Liz Owen), we get beautiful, contemplative gems during the meditation periods at the beginning and end of class.  One week it might be a visualization of our vertebrae as shining...

Though the product has not been recalled, federal regulators are warning consumers that using the popular homeopathic cold remedy Zicam might be dangerous--or permanently harmful--to your sense of smell.  The New York Times reported on the warnings sent from the...

I just got back from a doctor's office where I enjoyed an ancient (I think from 2006) issue of Real Simple.  In the magazine was a terrific tip that I thought was worth sharing as we head into prime outdoor...

Yesterday when I went outside to water my garden, I heard a familiar birdsong.  I looked up, and there, silhouetted against the sun on my roof, was the tweeter!  I think it's the same guy (gal?) that I've been hearing...

What was the first thing that you did this morning?  My answer to that question is almost always that I think something.  I think, "What time is it?"  "Did I sleep wrong on my shoulder again?"  "What should I...

After days--days!--of rain, the sun is finally shining, and it once again feels like summer is just about here.  And in summer, a woman's heart turns to thoughts of fun.  Vacation fun, outdoor fun, lazy fun.  All of the above. ...

Readers, I am hopeful that there are some among you who are knowledgeable in the ways of birds.  Specifically, sing-song-y birds.  Specifically, sing-song-y birds that sing multiple melodies.  Specifically, sing-song-y birds that sing multiple melodies late, late at night.Last night...

I ran across this fascinating article last week in the New York Times about the questions that arise--and the possible benefits--when doctors interact with patients on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.  On the questions front, Dr. Pauline W....

The Mamas and the Papas famously sang, "can't trust that day" about Monday, and as you start your week, you might agree.  After a relaxing (or busy) weekend, Monday can loom, scare, exhaust.  And that's before you even get...

Today is a rainy, bleak-weather day.  I'm tired after a long week.  I have things on my mind.  This is where comfort clothing comes in.  You know what I mean - that garment that you reach for when you need...

I feel like I failed my farmer's market this week.  One of the growers showed up with the most tender early summer squash--neon golden zucchini, green "regular" zucchini, yellow squash, and more.  I was overcome with excitement, as I am...

Fresh Living is on Beliefnet's homepage today, with a gallery of tips for keeping a positive attitude even during the high-stress process of moving into a new home.  From the intro:"If you're moving, you have my simultaneous congratulations and sympathies.  Despite...

Tis the season...for frizzy hair!  Whether it's sunny and humid or rainy and humid or cloudy and humid, summer is never good news for the silky, shiny tresses that we all yearn for.  If your hair is frizz-prone in general,...

I know it's a little hokey, but this made me giggle this morning.  It's a quote that's attributed to "Garfield" creator Jim Davis: "If people were meant to pop out of bed, we'd all sleep in toasters."So if you're...

You've probably heard this famous Zen story, but it bears repeating as we're talking about ways to think about keeping perspective as we travel the road of a long life journey.  I found this version on American Buddhist Net:An old...

I've been thinking a lot about journeys lately.  We're all on more than one at any given moment, don't you think?  Some that immediately come to mind:A relationshipA jobA health concernA new homeA fitness commitmentThe thing about any and all...

Last week, I posted about the budding New Dawn rose in my front garden, and how meaningful a plant it is for me.  Below are photos of the rose as it climbs to its full-bloom glory.  As you gaze, maybe...

I've recently come back to starting my day with a 5-minute audio meditation from renowned Buddhist mindfulness teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. Beliefnet first published  the meditation, called "The End of Suffering," years ago, but it remains one of my...

Interesting news out of this weekend's The American Diabetes Association meeting--the association is recommending a new standard in the way that doctors test for and diagnose diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes.Currently, two tests are used to diagnose the condition.  The...

Elizabeth Edwards, in Boston over the weekend for a gala at Mass. General Hospital, gave a brief interview to The Boston Globe in which she talked about the kind of support that she's enjoyed through her years-long battle with breast...

Last Foodie Friday, when I posted a possible explanation for why asparagus makes our wee-wee smell funny, many of you wanted more information.  So I did what anyone should do when they're asked a health question they're not qualified to...

I started drooling when I saw in this month's Everyday Food the idea to top toast with wilted spinach and a delightfully oozy soft-boiled egg.  A vibrant patch of ready-to-pick spinach in my garden sealed the deal, and this...

Are you the kind of person who sees "signs" in random places?  I'm usually not--maybe it's my Taurus nature, but I find that looking for and interpreting signs can easily become a) an anxiety-provoking exercise in how inaccurate future-prediction can...

When I first heard about them, the idea of "laughing clubs" struck me as sad--is our society so joy-deprived that we have to scheduling in time and space just to laugh?  But the more I learn about them, the more...

Remember in grade school how we learned that good writing should answer "the 5 Ws"--who, what, where, when, and why?  Try giving yourself that assignment as you set your intention for your day this morning.Who:  Whose life will I...

Here's a fairly universal human foible that I've observed:  the more stressed out we are, the more poorly we eat.  We think, "I don't have time to shop, cook, and clean up...it's easier to just pick something up on...

Whenever a tragedy like the apparent loss of Air France Flight 447 strikes, we feel so helpless.  The suddenness of loss.  The anguish of worry.  The glimmers of hope.  All of these emotions flutter around inside us, and we yearn...

I came across this "stop what you're doing and watch this--twice!" vid on Mighty Girl.  It's an exuberant musical take on the traditional wedding video, set to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" and starring the guests at what looked like...

As I shared here and here, we're gearing up to move into a new home.  Which means we have to sell our condo.  Which means we have to foray into the world of home staging.  Oy.I'm not an avid HGTV...

What wakes you up?  The question could apply to what gets you motivated in the morning, what perks your spirit after the 3 pm doldrums, or anything in between.  It strikes me that most wake-up triggers are connected to...

Asparagus: it's a sure harbinger of spring, a green, nutritious purveyor of vitamins A, C, and K, plus folate, iron, and fiber.  Steamed, roasted, or grilled, skinny or thick-stemmed--its subtle, distinctive flavor is truly delicious.Until you have to go wee-wee,...

We all know that changing to energy-efficient, compact-flourescent lightbulbs can significantly lower our carbon footprints.  But did you know that these bulbs, while "green" in the energy-usage sense, actually contain mercury, a toxic metal?This makes the bulbs potentially dangerous to...

So, I just ordered a countertop for the kitchen we're renovating in our new house.  It's engineered quartz, non-porous, very low VOC-emitting, smooth, and gorgeous.  And it's apple green.  Like, seriously apple green.The kitchen will be blue, green, and white,...

Hooray and happy birthday to Burt and his wonderful bees!  How many tubes of his Beeswax Lip Balm do I have scattered around my house, you might ask?  At least 6, including the desktop one I'm gazing lovingly at right...

Perhaps the most beautiful morning song ever written, set against photographs of spring flowers, sunrises, and other beautiful images.  Might be the most inspiring 1 minute 29 seconds of your whole day.......

If you're in the Northeastern U.S. today, you're wondering when London came calling--weather-wise anyway.  Just outside my window it's cold, raw, wet, foggy, and...um...cold.  It's a particular challenge to find happiness on a gray day, but I think we can...

Today's crafty Fresh Living theme has me thinking. This weekend I had the happy task of delivering a blanket I crocheted to good friends who just had a beautiful baby girl.  I shared with them that every blanket I've ever...

"American teenagers sent and received an average of 2,272 text messages per month in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the Nielsen Company -- almost 80 messages a day, more than double the average of a year earlier."I was...

At my local Whole Foods, they have these incredible, huge green olives that are slick with oil and fragrant with chunks of garlic and lemon.  I can barely contain myself around them - though they're so garlic-y, they are best...

Did you know that in the original Middle English, morwening (the word we say today as "morning") meant the coming of sunrise?  In other words, according to Wikipedia anyway, in its original meaning, morning was a verb.  It was...

Valerie and I were talking about what a rare, precious thing it is to find a good listener these days.  So we decided today to each offer a tip on listening, the process by which we take in the world...

How's your Temporomandibular Joint feeling today?  Many of you, I suspect, are struggling with tension, pain, and other issues related to this little joint that sits in front of your ear where your upper and lower jawbones meet.Some of you...

In my two years of seeing an acupuncturist, I've mainly focused on the needle work; I've only rarely taken herbs, and when I did, I got these little pellets that were as easy to take as a pill.Recently, though, I've...

"Put your faith, and not your fears, in charge. Courage isn't the absence of fears but how you wrestle with them."  -- Noah benShea, in his gallery of 10 Inspiring Thoughts for Tough Times...

It's a rare thing that a business news article catches my attention for a Fresh Living post, but wow, yay, and huzzah for Honest Tea, the organic iced tea company that is proving that sustainable, organic deliciousness has the power...

Doesn't it seem like some days, news headlines are dominated by cancer?  Here's what jumped off the screen today--two stories that highlight the tragedy and bravery, the horror and human triumph, of the disease:-- A 10-Year-Old with Breast Cancer -...

"Move over, green tea? Recent studies indicate that coffee drinkers are less likely to develop Alzheimer's, colon cancer, and diabetes compared to non-drinkers, and they're also less apt to die from heart disease."  So begins Dan Fields' wonderful new...

Dear readers, I'm moving.  My husband and I bought a single family house, and we are leaving our condo behind after 9 happy years here.  And following a full weekend of staging the condo for showings and initiating the packing...

My grandfather was a champion of manners, and one of the most basic ones he advocated was that the first thing you said to family members in the morning should be, "Good morning."  Not "What's for breakfast?" or "I'm...

Just the word "Paris" conjures images of bustling cafes, intimate bistros, sparkling brasseries, and pastry.  Oh, Parisian pastry.  Stop me before I write a sonnet to thee.  Now that I've (sort of) gotten over my jet lag after my Parisian...

I had a blast reading the wonderful Stacie Stukin's Fresh Living guest posts when I returned from my vacation (to Paris....aah, Pa-ree! But more on that later.).  A thousand namastes to her for carrying my Fresh torch with such spark!Her...

Our sister blogger Therese Borchard recently shared a beautiful reflection from her morning meditation book. It's from Jesuit priest Jean-Pierre de Caussade, and this part of it really touched me:"Even that which most upsets our spiritual plans turns into something...

There's a Japanese proverb that says, "Fall seven times, stand up eight."  Try to carry that intention into your day today--starting now, in the morning before you've had a chance to "fall" at all....How do you stand up again after...

What an inspiring video from a woman who sees beach running as a way to practice physical fitness, happiness, gratitude, prayer, and art all in one.  I love how she ends each morning's run by writing "Amen" in the...

If you're reading this, then you've taken the first step of the day--getting out of bed.  Some days that's easier than others, depending on how well you slept, what the weather is outside, and how you're feeling physically and emotionally.So...

Alzheimer's Disease now affects the lives of more than 50 percent of all Americans, an incredible statistic.  To share the stories of those living with and caring for those with the disease, HBO has created an amazing 4-part documentary series...

Brava to Diana Butler Bass over at our sister blog Progressive Revival for her eloquent post on how important and meaningful it is to find a room of one's own - a little corner of the world that is a...

However we mark Cinco de Mayo (or don't), it's always fun to contemplate the delicious, heart-healthy dip that is guacamole.  My favorite recipe comes from the fabulous The Santa Fe School of Cooking Cookbook.  It's the perfect combination of lime-y...

Folk legend Pete Seeger turned 90 yesterday and celebrated with a concert at Madison Square Garden.  Bruce Springsteen, Emmylou Harris, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, and many more sang the praises--literally--of the creator of "We Shall Overcome," "If I Had a...

One of the sweetest products from Jane Jenni (which Valerie wrote about here) are her adorable grocery totes, and it got me thinking about the different ways we carry our food home from the store (or farmer's market, or...).  There...

How do you "live fresh?"  In other words, how do you find joy in every new day?  We asked, you answered.  Here's reader LadyofLight's response:"Acknowledge nature - take a walk or look out the window. Write something every day....

What happens when one of the most revered spiritual leaders in the world visits two of the most revered educational institutions in the world?  Wisdom, that's what.This week, the Dalai Lama visited Harvard University and MIT with the message that...

It's Kentucky Derby weekend, and though I don't know anything about horses, I am drawn to the celebratory traditions that surround the race.  That means two things - fancy hats and mint juleps.So in honor of my favorite herb (mint),...

My husband and I are preparing for a kitchen renovation, and we are eagerly in search of materials that won't hurt the planet or our health in order to give us a beautiful cooking and eating space.  For countertops, cabinets,...

Elizabeth Edwards' resilience has been tested many times, which is why her new book "Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Life's Adversities" is so smartly titled.  The loss of her son in 1996. The defeat in the 2000...

Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, "Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent." So as you start your day, ask yourself, am I giving self-defeating thoughts safe passage into my psyche?  Or, am I only giving affirming energy...

Swine flu is spreading, and fears and concerns about its devastating potential is spreading even faster. Whenever I find myself living in "what if" instead of "what is," I find it helpful to measure my fears against facts to put...

On a warm day--particularly a warm workday--the squirmy, tap-y, shift-y, knee-bounces start in.  In other words, it's hard to sit still.  When this happens, part of me thinks, "great!"  Who wants to sit still when there are walks to take,...

In some ways, a good morning is like a spring bud--it holds all the promise in the world, and you really don't know what it will look like until it unfurls into the leaf or flower you hope it will...

In memory of the inimitable Bea Arthur, who died this weekend at age 86, a video montage from The Golden Girls of her character, Dorothy Zbornak, uttering her signature "Whoa!" in all her beautifully sarcastic, dry, hilarious glory.  Are you...

The Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization are both urging basic flu-prevention practices as they try to stop the spread of swine flu. But given that cold and flu season is feeling so two months ago, I thought...

A new study presented last week at the American Association of Cancer Research found that people who eat grilled meat that is cooked to the point of being charred or burned on the outside are 60 percent more likely to...

I'm so excited that this week's Fresh Living Survey is from my yoga teacher, Liz Owen.  You might recognize her from the 4 fabulous yoga galleries she's published on Beliefnet:Restorative Yoga for Body & MindYoga Poses to Relieve Chronic PainYoga...

For some mid-day inspiration, check out this sneak peak video from an upcoming ABC primetime special ("Adventures of an Incurable Optimist" airs Tuesday, May 7) from actor Michael J. Fox, who has battled Parkinson's Disease since he was 29 years...

This week, I found myself having several conversations about a decidedly heavy, negative, upsetting topic.  I was talking to spiritually-oriented friend about it, and she advised me to take care to protect myself before and cleanse myself after these conversations.Say...

We all have dreams, big-picture life goals that we imagine will, someday, come true.  Sometimes, though, those dreams actually hold us back, keep us from moving ahead with our lives because all we're doing is dwelling on how they...

I don't know if it's the change of season, but I'm having some amazing technicolor dreams these days.  Last night, I dreamed I was in yoga class, and I was really struggling in bridge pose (something that I do struggle...

Louis L'Amour once said, "No school, no matter how excellent, can give you education. What you receive is like the outlines in a child's coloring book. You must fill in the colors yourself."  What an apt Earth Day thought: the...

Last night on "The Biggest Loser," the phrase "Are you kidding me?!" was uttered no fewer than 5 times--3 of those by Kristin, who after breaking the record for most weight lost by a woman on campus, was ultimately voted...

I just came across a lovely book called "Silver Linings: Meditations on Finding Joy and Beauty in Unexpected Places," in which author Mina Parker shares a lovely way to bring mindfulness back into your day.  She writes:"I was at...

Anyone who has a best friend knows that we just feel better, in ways both tangible and intangible, when we're around people who we love and who love us.  Well, it turns out that  researchers are starting to think that...

I really got some Earth Day inspiration from this video on "eco-equity," a call to transform the "pollution-based economy" of the last century into a "sustainable, green, and clean" economy that creates jobs--particularly in urban areas where low-income people want...

Stephen Hawking, the mathematician and physicist famous for his work on black holes, is reportedly hospitalized with a chest infection and is very seriously ill, according to the Associated Press.  Though I admit to understanding very little of his work,...

What makes you choose one particular brand of cosmetics over another?  Price?  Scent?  Ability to soften hair and clear skin?  Similarity to what your mother used?  There are so many reasons--and a growing one is, "Will not kill me."It's a...

I didn't get down to watch the Boston Marathon today, as I have in past years when friends have run or I was just hungry for a little vicarious "wow, that's amazing."  But there's something electric about the day, even...

"With the wind beneath your wings, do you need to flap?"  I love finding wisdom-tidbits in random places, and the makers of natural products from iced tea to hair care seem to especially love tucking such snippets into the...

It's a beautiful sunshine-y day, so let's celebrate Foodie Friday with a closer look at the first spring vegetable to come up in the garden - lettuce!  Lettuce is an extremely healthful food. It is almost 90 percent water, so...

In the spirit of fun, "just because" holidays that I wrote about when I spread the word about Feel Better Day, today is National High Five Day!Not shockingly, this holiday was started by college students, at the University of Virginia...

In response to the "Your Day, in a Word" post, you shared simple, singular statements about the emotions, hopes, and intentions you carry into your day.  I made a Wordle out of them, so good morning!  How are you today?...

This just in: French Elle magazine's April cover features European actresses and models without makeup AND without Photoshopping!  It's a refreshing departure from the magazine world's typical embrace of all things perfected, brushed, tinted, and hidden.  And it's something that...

How do you live fresh? We've put out the call for people to fill out our survey about what they do to lead healthier, more balanced lives. This week's is from the funny, fabulous, and insightful Therese Borchard, whose Beliefnet blog Beyond...

Have you ever had Dancing Deer cookies?  What?  No?!  What are you waiting for?  Tangerine-chocolate cookies have a lovely soft spot in the center of a crunchy treat.  Molasses-clove cookies are chewy every day and twice on Sundays. And the...

Apart from its financial connotation, the dictionary defines "tax" as "a burdensome or excessive demand; a strain."  So I think it's perfectly appropriate, now that our W2s and 1099s are safely sent off to Uncle Sam, to think of today,...

Who among us doesn't love to tuck into a plate of spaghetti slick with olive oil and fragrant with garlic, or studded with tomatoes and redolent with basil?  Ooh, those Mediterranean foods.  It may not be news to you that...

Our friend Dr. Norris, author of the Dr. Norris Chumley Satisfied Life blog, offers a visualization to do in your morning shower to start your day with both a clean body and a pure spirit:"Imagine that the stress from your...

Don't you love random "holidays?" Things like "Happy Hump Day" or "It's my half-birthday" are really just excuses to declare to the world, "I want to feel good today!"  But they do the trick, and I think we need more...

There are some fascinating health developments to report on this week.  Here are 3 to think about:Are electronic health records going too far, too fast? There are a proliferation of new tools designed to empower patients and give them--and their...

We've all heard the phrase, attributed to peace activist Anne Herbert, "Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty."  So here's a question: Have you done any lately?  Seen any?  I suspect that among you are many perpetrators...

A friend just sent me this amazingly simple, fun tone matrix, and I can't stop playing with it!  You start with a blank slate, and boxes light up as you click.  A "sound wave" travels across the box, and your...

Early spring is a great time to think about light.  Light is back after the long winter, it is finally warming to our bodies and the earth.  I caught this moment in my garden in the afternoon when the...

Wow, just wow.  Have you seen the news about the "Kyoto Box," a solar-powered oven made from nothing more than two cardboard boxes, black paint, aluminum foil, and the rays of the sun?  The box was just awarded first prize...

Who says the kids at MIT were only about quarks, electrons, and semiconductors?  Turns out that for the past 6 years, a popular club at the prestigious school has celebrated the science of chocolate!The Boston Globe has an article about...

Thanks to Fresh Living reader Mary Beth for sharing her inspiring morning routine: she wakes up around 4 a.m., starts the coffee, drinks a large bottle of room temperature water, feeds her cats, and enjoys a cup of hot coffee...

There are only two ingredients in traditional Passover matzah: wheat flour and water. So why should you pay extra for "organic" matzah when wheat is not on the "dirty dozen" foods it's most important to eat organic, and water is,...

As home remedies go, this might be the most widely known/practiced/recommended.  But why does gargling with warm, salty water help soothe a sore throat?  Since I'm doing this multiple times a day--and since I feel like it helps--I decided to...

I knew this day would come...the day I had to once again face the scritchy, gag-gy nightmare that is known to most people as a throat culture.  When I was a kid, throat cultures were screeching, Mom-bribing-with-candy-rewards, "We need more...

The sparkling Janice Taylor of the Our Lady of Weight Loss blog feels strongly that skipping breakfast is not a good idea. She further believes that dehydration can cause irritability and headaches. To solve both problems (feed two birds with...

Yesterday, I tried really hard to focus on the positive aspect of losing my voice and being consigned to silence while I recover my health.  But today, as I re-read the post I thought, "Can I take that back?"  Clearly...

It's National Poetry Month!  I'm not actually that big on poems in my everyday reading life, but there is one that comes to mind when someone asks me, "what's your favorite poem?"My junior year of high school, we studied the...

So here's my story: I'm sick again.  A sinus infection in January.  A 2+ week cold in March. And now, starting on April Fool's Day, a new virus that comes with laryngitis, a cough, and a fever.  I went to...

April is Autism Awareness Month, and the Beliefent blogosphere is buzzing with conversation about it.  Be sure to visit our dedicated Autism Awareness Month page to read blogger thoughts on everything from the connection between autism and astrology to questions...

Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh said, "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."Which comes first for you today - joy or the smile that projects your...

"You probably know that eating right, being physically active, and managing your weight are important ways to prevent and treat diabetes. But did you know that reducing stress can also help keep your blood sugar levels in check? When you're...

Last night, The Biggest Loser brought back contestant Nicole, who after being eliminated near the beginning of the season lost an amazing 87 pounds at home and earned a spot back on the ranch.But (spoiler alert if you DVR'd it!)...

Last night, at the aquacise class I take at my local Boys & Girl's Club, I witnessed the most amazing thing - a grown woman overcoming a lifelong fear of the deep end of the pool.  The class is all...

If you need a reminder that there are good people in all sorts of places in the world, watch this video of a commuter train station announcer who infuses love, light, and goodness into his announcements of schedules and weather.He...

I am what's called a "sensitive body."  If I get a cold, it lasts two weeks.  If there's a side effect listed on a medication, I get it.  If I get a stomach bug, run for your life.  This is...

So...a confession: Even we at Fresh Living occasionally (ha!) indulge in some good, old-fashioned whining. Most of the time, since we live and work in different states, this takes place online via instant messenger, and as often as not, our...

I'm not sure you can see (or smell, too bad for you) the enticing black specs suspended in the glaze that floats over this Meyer lemon-thyme pound cake.  But trust me, they're there - and they come from vanilla...

In her beautiful "Healing Foods to Balance Your Chakras" gallery, Deanna Minich writes, "The heart chakra emits a loving, compassionate rhythm that translates pure feeling into emotional wisdom, discernment, and kindness. A healthy heart chakra will funnel love into a...

Um, seriously?  I've watched this video about 10 times today, and I snork with laughter each time. Not only have these pugs mastered the adorable "you are saying words that I understand" head-tilt, they're sporting the names Mabel, Minnie, and...

Valerie's post on "The Power of the Period" has brought forth so many personal, funny, moving reader stories of the first time "Aunt Flo" came to visit. Reading them, I had a major flashback not to my first period, which...

Today we're deep in detox mode, sharing our ideas for how to cleanse your body, home, and spirit this spring. But what about the major detox diets you've seen on bookstore shelves and celebrity mags?  Are they part of a...

                                                         Does it go back to cave times--this urge to purge body, home, and soul as soon as winter starts to wane? Did Cathy Cavesister look at all the pelts in her closet each March, shake her furry head and...

Fresh Living reader Merriel says she starts her morning by taking a garlic/parsley tablet and a vitamin C.  This has kept her cold-free for 25 years, so it's worth a try!Click here for more natural remedies for the common cold....

In a down economy, one affordable, easy-to-execute home improvement is to give your walls a fresh coat of paint. But what color to choose? The decision can be much fun, as you luxuriate in the knowledge that anything is possible...

There's been a flurry of celebrity illnesses and injuries this week, and two of them jumped off the screen (sigh...remember when things used to jump off of pages?) because in both cases, humor seems to be part of the healing.First,...

I have a cousin who's a homeopath, and for months she'd been asking if she could "give me a bath." I'd heard about--and been intrigued by--the practice, which is different from a standard homeopathy treatment in which remedies are taken...

Many thanks to Therese over at Beyond Blue for the fun, fabulous interview she did with us! We are looking forward to returning the favor and getting some juicy tidbits from Therese very soon, so stay tuned.Click here for the...

Are you looking at your day and feeling frazzled, over-committed, and stressed?  Try to set some better boundaries to rein in the frazz.  In her "10 Ways to Say No" gallery, Therese suggests that you fill your calendar with...

The vernal equinox (which came at 7:44 this morning) is a powerful event for me, maybe the most powerful of the year, astrologically speaking.  It's powerful because it's attached to a memory, a strange, sweet, strong memory.  Care to hear...

Lots of health items in the news this week.  For your perusal, thoughts, and comments:Religious people who are suffering from terminal cancer are three times as likely to pursue aggressive, life-prolonging treatments like mechanical ventilators than those who do not...

The swirling news rumors about Natasha Richardson took the worst possible turn yesterday: the family friend who  told People magazine "there is no chance" for the actress' recovery after a ski accident turned out to be right. Richardson died at...

Here's my recipe (I use the term loosely) for a delicious, fiber-packed breakfast.  It's sweet, creamy, crunchy, and healthy in every bite.  Good morning!Peanut Butter Banana Crunch ToastToast a slice of whole-grain bread (I use 12-grain).  Slather with creamy peanut...

Wow, what beautiful, heartfelt comments we got on our "11 Ways to Live Fresh" post! What started out as a fun acrostic quickly became a torrent of the most poignant, inspiring thoughts from you, the Fresh readers!As spring settles in...

Here's a lovely creation we made on Wordle--you enter the words, it makes the beautiful "cloud" of words. This one's to honor the slooowly but surely approaching spring....

Have you ever been to a sports game that got really exciting because of a late-game comeback, a close score, or a buzzer beater?  You know what the stadium sounds like at those moments: loud.  There are so many rituals...

If you had just one word to describe your day, what would it be?  Would it be about your day as it is, or as it could be?  Would you find something positive to say no matter what, or would...

Valerie's post about "How to Speak Peace" really has me thinking.  A few months back, I was chatting with a very spiritually-oriented friend about something that was stressing me out.  It was a banal, everyday kind of stress situation, and...

Radio shock jock Don Imus made public his prostate cancer diagnosis today.  As I shared last week, my dad got that same news last summer.  Seeing the words "prostate cancer" anywhere, but especially on the news, give me a little...

Foodie Friday is upon us, and as springtime comes, this woman's heart turns to thoughts of...lemons!  When the weather turns all warm and fresh and new, I want lemons. And in any kind of weather, I want dessert.  So, since...

It's funny, but the much-discussed Jon Stewart - Jim Cramer interview on The Daily Show has me thinking about the responses to my "How to Break Up with a Friend" post.  The post asked the question, is it better to...

It's Friday the 13th, and I have luck on my mind.  My birthday is on a 13th, so I've always felt positive things toward the unluckiest number.  But what is luck, anyway?  And how do I get some?In this new...

Bring a little "Centering Mountain Pose" into your commute and make the most of standing around.  From our "12 Yoga Poses for Your Workday" gallery:"Sit or stand tall. Feel lift through the center of your body, from the base of...

There have been several news articles this week about prostate cancer, with which more than 186,000 American men will be diagnosed this year alone.First, Reuters reported today on a University of Southern California study that showed that taking folic acid...

You may have noticed that each morning, Valerie and I have been taking turns posting "Fresh Morning" tidbits, tips, quotes, etc to help you start your day with a smile on your face.  You can spot these posts by the...

What difference can one person make? Ask the organizers of "Earth Hour," who saw their idea to fight climate change by turning off electrical power for 60 minutes spread in two years from a local project in Sydney, Australia to...

Thanks to all of you who shared your secret home remedies for the common cold.  There were so many great ideas, we couldn't keep them all to ourselves, so we created a Beliefnet feature to share your wellness tips with...

"Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving" --Kahlil GibranStay tuned for more quotes on gratitude and happiness in an upcoming feature by Janice Taylor.  Meanwhile, what what is your "winged heart" grateful...

Check out Beyond Blue for Therese's lovely video on what to do when a friendship ends.  I love how she talks about the end of a friendship as similar to the end of a marriage.  And what a beautiful quote...

Last week, CNN published a list of "secrets" we shouldn't keep from our doctors. Among them:If you feel depressed or anxiousIf you did not follow instructions the doc had previously given youIf you have problems peeing or poopingThese are good,...

There are many reasons to rejoice when we "spring forward" and turn the clocks ahead, as we did Sunday morning.  But at least one major study has shown that the spring time change may actually increase the risk of a...

What did you dream last night?  Was it a single image or a story?  A feeling?  A color?  A word?  Try starting a dream journal, or share your dream and ideas about its meaning below. "It may be that those...

Check out these yummy "Green Saver" discount coupons from SustainLane! I immediately covet the beautiful colored pencils made from recycled newspapers (from O'BON), plus I'm loving the Green & Clean starter kits for environmentally-friendly kitchen, bath, and laundry cleaning products...

Welcome to the first of what I hope will be regular Foodie Friday features.  Today, popcorn, a yummy way to get your afternoon crunch on without hitting the chip aisle!Popcorn is a whole-grain snack because it contains, well, the whole...

Next month, the surviving Beatles will reunite onstage for a concert to raise money to instruct at-risk youth in transcendental meditation (TM), the practice that the Fab Four famously adopted after their life-changing trip to India in 1968.The concert (April...

Whoa.  I went online this morning and found an odd coupling of news articles, both about celebrities who can't breathe:Mariska Hargitay hospitalized after suffering a collapsed lungRobin Williams takes a break from his tour after experiencing shortness of breathI don't...

The latest in our series of yoga galleries asks you to make today "Take Your Yoga to Work Day."  I am particularly excited about this feature because it's by Liz Owen, my own wonderful yoga teacher (her gentle Iyengar class...

Some helpful hints for a tea-riffic (sorry) morning: A typical cup of tea is 5.5 fluid ounces, and should be brewed with 2 grams of tea leaves. Water should come to a full boil for black tea, but should be...

Last week I shared my life motto, "Essayons" ("Let us try").  But I know - even without the guilt of a "just do it" philosophy, it's not so easy.  How can we keep trying when life feels heavy and difficult? ...

I promise to stop blogging about my soul-clogging headcold (if it promises to go away...ok? it's a deal!), but I did want to share some cool acupressure wisdom I picked up yesterday at my acupuncture session.  You might already know...

By the end of this month, the "lamb" of spring will be rising to meet us. Today I'd like to share a photo of the beauty of nature in winter as a reminder to find joy in every season.  It's...

Alas, but this snowy day is beyond my ability to enjoy (oh, Valerie - snow ice cream!).  Instead of dancing among the flakes, I am shuffling around the house and blowing through piles of tissues, sidelined by a completely soul-clogging...

How gorgeous a video game idea is "Flower?"  In it, you are a flower petal, and the object of the game is to float through an ever-changing landscape of growing things.  There's no way you can "die" in this game--in...

Therese Borchard's fun, snarky collection of fear-busters teaches us that fears will leave you alone if you don't take them too seriously.  So try some of these out on your fears today and see if they won't take a...

Quick, help!  Sore throat/runny nose emergency!  I need your ideas for how to kick this cold out of Dodge, like NOW.I wouldn't be so alarmed about a winter sniffle, except that I am scheduled to visit my newborn nephew this...

It's shaping up to be an interesting week in health news.  Here are 3 tidbits that jumped off the (web)page at me:A daily glass of wine--or any other alcoholic drink--is a major health risk for women.  According to a new...

The poet Robert Brault said, "I value the friend who for me finds time on his calendar, but I cherish the friend who for me does not consult his calendar." Think about your friends today.  What makes them "cherished" rather...

What better way to celebrate the official launch of Fresh Living than with a fun acrostic to guide you through our posts (so far)!  Check it out, and add your own in the comments.  How do you "Live Fresh?" Find...

For 9 years, my husband was an officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Reserve).  During his time in the service, among other things, he helped build a medical center in Guatemala, jumped out of airplanes 7 times (on...

A new 8-year national study of postmenopausal women is reporting that taking multivitamins makes no difference in whether women develop cancer or cardiovascular disease.  The study finds that the better predictor of fighting cancer and being heart healthy is the...

Why not start your day with an "expanding life force breath?"  Called "ujjayi" in Sanskrit, this yogic breath can bring energy and purpose into your morning.  Especially useful for sleepy-heads: making your inhale slightly longer than your exhale really wakes...

Remember the "Patronus" spell, which takes a different form depending on the person who casts it in the Harry Potter books and movies (Harry's is a stag, Hermione's an otter, etc)?  That's how I've been thinking about what it feels...

I'm afraid Gus at A Pagan' Blog mistook my thoughts on his "spirituality and buying local" for criticism.  Quite the contrary, I was admiring and agreeing with his insight on spiritual connection coming from the world around us - not...

If this isn't the divine spark emanating from a human body, I don't know what is.  The intense anticipation, the tearful gasp in the face of beauty.  Allah!  Ole!...

I'm sharing the chill-shivers from Elizabeth Gilbert's amazing TED talk about creativity, anguish, and the divine spark.  She beautifully walked the fine line between being open to receiving inspiration and passively expecting genius to magically land on you.  To me,...

You guys are a creative bunch!  You have great ideas for ways to use un-recyclable orange juice (and milk) cartons.  Here are a few, please add your ideas to the combox so we can make this a full-fledged Beliefnet feature!From...

Valerie, I love your description of the Facebook iPod Shuffle game as "high-tech divination."  So here's what my iTunes tarot had to say. (I must say I'm a little alarmed that "my life's purpose" is "Lies," and I danced at...

There are environmental, economic, and logistical things to consider when deciding how much of a locavore to be.  But is buying local spiritual?Our Beliefnet blog brother Gus diZerega has a fascinating post over on A Pagan's Blog about this very...

Reader jestrfyl posted on The Health Secrets of Lemons that limes are just as healing as lemons--and more intensely flavored.  I say amen, J - which brings me back to chicken soup.Seriously!  Vietnamese cuisine has long paired limes (and basil,...

As Friday night approaches, homes across America will fill with the soothing aroma of chicken soup.  It'll cure what ails ya - they don't call it "Jewish Penicillin" for nothing!  Everyone has their family traditions and secrets (my Aunt Minnie...

Check out this luscious flower-y scarf - and download the pattern free!  A very thoughtful colleague just sent me word that Barnes & Noble's how-to website Quamut.com is having a February special offer: free knitting and crochet patterns.  I'm in...

At Valentine's Day a woman's fancy turns to thoughts of chocolate.  Where I come from, chocolate is a health food (turns out, science agrees!). So what are your favorites?  Here are my current favies--Green & Blacks organic caramel and almond...

It's amazing what snow will do when left to its own swirl-y devices.  When we went to Cape Cod a few weeks ago, this what was waiting for us on our porch.  Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!...

Wow, Valerie, wow!  I loved your entry about Tibetan singing bowls  because first of all, I'm glad you're finally on the mend after that nasty bronchitis, and second of all, it turns out I have a singing bowl sitting in...

It's a citrus-y day here at Fresh Living, so I can't help but suggest you check out the lemony freshness of this fantastic gallery we published:The 15 Hidden Health Secrets of LemonsGot acne? Anxiety? Stomach ache? The flu?  The answer...

Do you put orange juice cartons in the recycle bin, thinking that they count as cardboard?  Ok, then, maybe I'm the only one....but it turns out that orange juice containers are made of an already-recycled material, and they in turn...

Deep into winter as we are, it's time to get your Vitamin C on.  How to choose which kind of orange to stock up on?  Here's a brief guide to the major types you'll see at the store.NavelThe "navel" of...

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had surgery today for pancreatic cancer, and I hope you'll join me in prayers for her swift recovery.  She's a heroine to me as a Jew, as a woman, and as a Jewish woman.Here's...

Who can say where food aversions come from?  My worst one is turmeric, the element that gives yellow curry its, well, yellow-ness (confession: I'm shuddering just thinking about it).  There's no good reason why I don't care for the look,...

Therese writes often on Beyond Blue about the mental health benefits of exercise, Kathy Smith has shown us the myriad benefits of a walking regimen, and we all know that both our physical and emotional bodies benefit from even a...

"Integrative medicine" is probably a term many Beliefnet readers are familiar with. It attracts people who aren't about to give up the idea that their doctors should have MD degrees, but who want a more holistic approach to healthcare that...

In my previous post, I alluded not-so-subtly to my preference for female doctors. Writing about it like that made me wonder if that's something I should challenge a bit.  The first doctors I ever remember going to as a child...

Most of us grew up thinking of the family doctor as a person you can count on to know you (and your body), be available to you, and to help you navigate the health care system. But in a world...

Is my chi flowing? Are my meridians open? Are my chakras balanced? Are my joints fluid? Is my weight normal? Is my hair lustrous? Are my gums pink? Do I feel well?From the big picture of how our bodies function...