Living Your Life

Memorial Day & Rolling Thunder

May 28th, 2012
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Soldiers place American flags in front of the headstones
at Arlington National Cemetary
Today on Memorial Day, I want to pause and say “Thank you” to all the men and women and their families who make immense sacrifices every day so that we may live free and practice democracy in the United States of America.

Putting your life on the line is the ultimate way of giving back and today’s volunteer Army does more than its share because men and women usually do more than one tour of duty.  The physical and mental toll of combat continues after they return … Read More

To market, To market

May 25th, 2012
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Photo by katieleekitchen If it’s Thursday, then it must be White House Farmer’s Market Day! Beautiful, juicy strawberries, freshly washed pesticide-free kale and farm grown tomatoes were all lined up on the tables today and looking fabulous.  It’s a treat for me to get out of the office and feel the warm welcoming sun on my face as I walk the four blocks to the market, one of the city’s many farmer’s markets where people can consistently find unlimited and natural nutrients. Today there was a new vendor.  I didn’t see the name of the farm but I believe it… Read More

Kris Carr — Reboot Yourself

May 17th, 2012
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Kris Carr Kris Carr is an incredible resource that just keeps on giving! As an author and wellness coach and someone who constantly inspires me, Carr has a sassy and down-to-earth style that speaks to me when I need an emotional lift.  I find she always helps me reboot my health and wellness priorities whenever I think I am not eating right, exercising enough or stressing my brains out. As a cancer survivor, Carr draws from her personal experiences and she also draws from the advice of medical and health experts to provide helpful tips on self-care.  I just love… Read More

Class of 2012

May 16th, 2012
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For the past week or so I have been happily reading the Facebook postings of friends writing about their children’s graduations from college.  It’s an exciting time for all of my friends and their children and I congratulate all on reaching Diploma Day! Now this weekend it’s my turn and I really can’t believe it.  It’s feels as though life is on fast forward and I intend to hang on and enjoy the ride. I am reading the commencement letter outlining Fordham University’s May 18 and 19 graduation ceremonies and already I’m feeling a mix of conflicting emotions.  My son… Read More

Only One Thing To Say…Thanks

May 15th, 2012
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There is a special place in the universe for people who are caregivers.  Good karma follows them wherever they go.  To selflessly make sure that another person is clean, comfortable and safe is a true act of love and respect for another human being. If you love the person who happens to be sick, elderly or unfortunately both, you know that they need you.  The simple tasks that you perform for them can test you but it can also be a rewarding experience. In caregiving, you can lose yourself and become part of something bigger as life unfolds by itself. … Read More

DC’s Bucket List

May 11th, 2012
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Katherine Frey/The Washington Post Washington, DC is my home and I love it, but it is not a particularly creative city.  The nation’s capital has many beautiful monuments and museums but as a city it doesn’t go out of it’s way to nurture artistic talent even though people who live here and visit here crave public art. Instead, government is the business of this city and one would sometimes think that the only people who work here are faceless bureaucrats, politicians, and lobbyists who blab on television and telephones or stare at computers screens all day with nothing else on… Read More

I Heart Piglet

May 10th, 2012
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As tiny little Piglet, Winnie the Pooh’s best friend, would say, “Oh dear, mercy me too.  Pooh does silly things and they turn out right.” Doesn’t everyone wish they had a friend like Piglet?  I think it would be fair to say that friendship is the small thing that takes up the most room in precious Piglet’s heart. Some of the small things that I hold in my heart are: * kinds words                 * an encouraging smile                           * a spontaneous offer of help             * treasured memories What are the small things taking up the most room in your heart?… Read More

Seize the Freshest Foods of May

May 4th, 2012
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Yeah!!! The FRESHFARM Market by the White House opened yesterday for its summer/fall season and the freshest and greenest produce was on its’ best behavior sitting in beautiful baskets just begging to be bought, tossed, grilled and eaten. It’s too early in the season for my favorite farm grown tomatoes, but yesterday’s vendors showed off plenty of fresh salad greens, asparagus, kale, bean sprouts and other seasonal crops for urban workers to choose from along with colorful fresh cut flowers and cookies and breads. I could feel the beginnings of summer as I walked from my office to the farmer’s… Read More