Marypause50 ~10 years later still a blog about gardens, simplicity, friendships, gratitude, health,

Stress Busters


    Here are 7 stress busters suggested by an article in O Magazine (see link below). These are simple, practical ways to relieve stress you may be feeling while at work or at the end of your day. The first, especially, can be done easily anywhere/anytime.
~ Chew a stick of gum (for 10 minutes). Stressed gum chewing testers felt less anxious and had 18 percent less cortisol in their saliva. Woo hoo!
~ Brew black tea & sip (12 minutes). Four servings a day for six weeks provided lower levels of cortisol after a stressful event for testers.
~ DIY Massage (15 minutes). Whatever works for you. In yoga, just crisscrossing arms to massage the shoulder blades is wonderful. Try Happy Baby yoga posture massage rocking…
~ Putting a pen to paper (20 minutes). It’s proven that just writing about your stress can lower it. Also, two words – Gratitude Journal. Two more- Gardening Journal. You get my drift…
~ Play music you love (30 minutes). Self-explanitory. Dance too & release feel good endorphins!
~ Break away from technology (45 minutes) This lowers your heart rate just by pulling yourself away from e-mails & texts ~ sounds simple enough for certain age groups!
~ Clean house (60 minutes). I am a bit dubious about this one, but they say the repetition can release tension. I suggest only trying this as a stress release with something you like to clean. I personally get relaxed by tackling a drawer or two. It’s often a trip down memory lane too.
Check out the link below to read it all.
http://www.oprah.com/health/Fast-Stress-Relief-Calm-Down-Quickly

Love to Garden ~ Love your Library!

    So this has to be the toughest time of year for the constant gardener. These are my least favorite months coming up. I know, life is short & I hate to bypass three whole months out of every year! It’s tough here EC (east coast) to get through (22 degrees today – daytime!). The library is my salvation this year! Just take yourself to the gardening book stacks & have a blast! Take as many books that you can carry home & start paging through them, start relishing the beautiful visuals, absorbing the information. What I especially love are all the books you can find on gardening in your own particular state. This is wonderful information to have, a way to plant that is not a shot in the dark; it’s a great starting point or reference point. There are also free & at minimal costs gardening lectures you can attend that will help get you psyched. Keep looking at pictures from last year & start planning on paper this year’s color schemes. And when you think you can’t go a day longer, something outside will peep through the soil or start to bloom, giving you hope & encouragement. Right now due to some warmer temps, my Mediterranean heather is in bloom! (see photo left). Hope springs eternal – oh yeah.

New Product Alert ~ It's a Miracle!

    Readers, you know I always have your back when it comes to great, new, affordable products & 2013 will be no exception! I am happy to report we did not have to wait long for our first absolutely amazing product by L’Oreal. It is their Revitalift Miracle Blur Instant Skin Smoother. The consistency of a heavy cream, you are to apply it over your lines & wrinkles and they disappear! It is also broad spectrum sunscreen. Well it rates an A+ for me on the forehead lines. I hate to use the words face spackle, but essentially that is what it does; it fills into the lines & smooths. It works best as your very last step; so over your foundation & moisturizers of choice. It leaves a very matte appearance. I usually dust a bit of shimmer on top & it looks fresh & youthful all day long! It is not too dissimilar from their Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base. I think they have taken it a step further. It comes in a generous size 1.18 oz. tube & is priced at Walmart for $19.97 before coupons. I would not find the need to smooth over my nose or cheeks so on the sunscreen front I would rate it a C. The matte look is not what I’m going for on my cheeks! So remember to keep with the moisturizers & luminous foundations & use this Miracle last to perfect what’s already pretty darn beautiful & perfect I’m sure! (see Mark Twain’s quote above)

Chicken Noodle Soup - Easy Slow Cooker Recipe


     Some recipes are worth repeating, and this soup recipe is no exception. I actually crave it this time of year. I made it today & it took 10 minutes of chopping prep time! So here is the repost:
    The days are getting colder, unfortunately, but none the less we will prevail! The recipe that follows I guarantee to be THE BEST, THE EASIEST, THE MOST DELICIOUS Chicken Noodle Soup you have ever made or tried. I know some may never have made soup before thinking it too complicated. This slow cooker recipe will change your mind. I’m sure range top cooking would be fine too. The beauty of this is (esp.) on a working day to just to load it up & forget until dinner.

   The recipe is as follows:
6-8 cups of water (depending on size of your slow cooker)
4 medium carrots cut into ¼ inch slices
3 medium stalks of celery cut into ¼ inch slices
1 small onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 whole chicken rinsed (3-5 lbs.)
½ t. dried thyme
¼ t. ground (I like white) pepper
1-4 t. salt (I use sea salt & about 1-2 teaspoons. You can always add individually to taste later)
I usually chop the ingredients the night before so they are ready to go. Combine veggies, water & seasonings. Place chicken on top. Cover & go!
Cook 4-5 hours on high, 8-9 on low.  I take out the chicken & cut the white meat into smaller pieces & return to the pot. (There are usually plenty of leftovers for Chix salad or sandwiches. I take out most of the celery & some onions. These veggies absorb the fat & you don’t need them all anyway. Which reminds me, leave the skin on your chicken! This is where you are getting the flavor & the meal is HEALTHY really!
Serve with your cooked noodle of choice. Enjoy!!!

Your 2013 New Start ~ Enough Already!

   So the cover of January’s Redbook magazine (a publication which I think is wonderful), is featuring the headlines: Your 2013 New Start! The 5 day slimdown, 23 speedy ways to get organized, Do this money cleanse & wipe out your debt, Copy healthy changes top docs are making. Well you get the idea & I say ENOUGH ALREADY!!
   I realize it’s the beginning of a new year but you could drive yourself crazy beginning the year trying to implement too many new changes! So let’s make a pact to start slow this year. I for one need desperately to organize all the blog ‘inspirations’ I come across. Well, I thought I was organized but really am not. So this is my ONE thing. I have put no deadline on myself, no pressure and know I will get this done, happily. (there are great tips in this issue) I will move on to something else at some point. It is our nature to want to self-improve (hell, it’s minimally a billion dollar industry!) But please, don’t try a dozen new things at once. Choose one & be happier. Choose one and finally feel accomplished. Keep it simple. I think simple equates to success. So let your new start this year be a simpler, slower, comfortable & happier one.

What Will You Gain?...

    You may have seen the commercials or print ads, Special K cereal brand has begun the Gains Project; asking you to ask yourself, what will you gain when you lose? For losing weight, I like the concept. See the link below to check it out.
I, however, would like to open this question up to a wider scope. If you read my last blog you should already be asking yourself daily, “How am I feeling today? So let’s expand to another question: What will you gain…? Let’s try some:
~ What will you gain… if you take some reading time every day? Answer. A pleasant escape for however long & wouldn’t it be nice to be included in the talk on today’s hottest books for once?
~ What will you gain… if you don’t go crazy worrying about losing some weight first thing in January? Answer. How about some knowledge on dressing your shape instead! (It’s a lot more fun to shop for new clothes!! Any new clothes for this season are already on super sale!) If you need help, the new season of TLC’s What Not to Wear begins Jan 3rd at 10 pm EST. Stacy & Clinton are funny & know how to dress any shape! Also, read my blog Passion For Fashion for tips!
~ What will you gain… by doing some deep breathing for 5 minutes every day? Answer: Overall better health and a sense of well-being.
~ What will you gain… by finding time to do yoga or walk or participate in your exercise of choice a few times a week? Answer. Awesomeness! Exercising not to lose weight, but to feel better is an awesome way to approach exercise. I know I’d be a millionaire if I could bottle the way you feel after a yoga class!
   These are just a few questions, but I’d like to address this one throughout the coming year…

NO Resolutions, YES to Simple!

  Happy New Year! Thank you to all for being supportive readers of this blog in my first year & I am looking forward to growing & exploring new topics with you all!
  So the reason I say NO to resolutions is that we all know the word itself seems a setup for future failure at some point in the year (January). The reason I say YES to simple is twofold. First, it’s time to read for the first time or reread beginning January 1st Sarah Ban Breathnach’s Simple Abundance & Romancing the Ordinary. Simplifying, I believe, is a key to inner bliss. Find them both at Amazon. For the man in your life, or any men that may be readers, you can also find her A Man’s Journey to Simple Abundance. Check your local library for any of her books on tape!
  The second simple is a list of tips from Real Simple magazine that I felt were much better than resolutions, more of a better way to live. Here are the 5 suggestions – enjoy adding simple to your New Year!
~ Eat the same breakfast every day. This simplicity/consistency will lead to stress-free mornings. Make healthy choices that can help you begin your day with energy.
~ Savor your coffee or tea. Notice the smell & delight in the flavors. Doing this helps you begin your day with mindfulness and calm.
~ Probably my favorite – write an ‘ignore list’. We get so caught up in the to do’s in our daily lives, this is the year to find some ignores to help simplify your days & nights.
~ Turn off your mind for a few minutes a day. To power down your brain can only benefit you. Whatever works for you: yoga, exercise, mindless TV, music, solitaire, suduko. Find a few things that work for you!
~ Ask yourself “How are you?” to yourself & really listen to the answer. How often in the course of a week do we as women ask someone “Are you ok?, How are you?”. That’s the nurturer in us - time to nurture yourself!
Here’s to a Happy, Healthy and Simple New Year for us all!