I used to be a moderator on a nutrition-based Facebook group, and one of the most common questions was "how can I adopt an ### type of lifestyle when my partner and family don't eat the same way as I do?"  And I get it.  It can be difficult to establish a new way of eating even if you don't have other people to feed but if you do, the challenges increase.  It takes time to make a meal plan, shop for groceries, and prepare food.   I feel fortunate that through a lifetime of trying many different nutritional approaches, the people in my life have always been supportive, and I've learned a few tips for how to peacefully co-exist when others want to enjoy their own lifestyles.  I'll share a few of those tips in this blog post.   Low Carb & High Carb  This summer, William and I are eating in ways that seem completely different but they are actually similar.  We are both eating whole foods most of the time.  Neither of us are interested...

Welcome to the second edition of "Say Yes (?) to the Amazon Dress!" Why I Bought It: I think that blue and white stripes are fun for summer.   I like navy as a neutral and you could wear this with a variety of sweaters or jackets.   The neckline is interesting.   The way the dress ties in the front looks flattering.   The cost was $28.99 with a $3.00 off coupon , but I've seen it on deal sites for half price.  I saw several influencers with different body types in this dress and it looked good on all of them.  I bought the size small.  Tip: Make sure to check the size charts before purchasing because the sizes of Amazon dresses vary dramatically by manufacturer.   Where I Wore It:  Work: Cute with a red cardigan and navy heels.   Home: After work, we took our post dinner walk, and I wore this dress with flat white sandals.  What I Thought About It:  I really like the fit.   It's kind of a "body con" dress without bein...

Since I've been trying to move away from health and nutrition podcasts (I'll talk about this in another blog post), my other interests have been capturing my attention.  And when I say other interests (besides hot yoga and reading psychological thrillers), you know it has to be something related to beauty and fashion. After all, "beauty" is one of my core values.   I've enjoyed watching beauty trends on Facebook and Instagram, and it's been difficult not to buy ALL the cute summer dresses I've seen promoted on reels.  Even more dangerous is the idea that I can buy a dress on Thursday to wear on a date night with William on a Friday or Saturday.  And to add to the danger is the fact that I've stumbled across a website where I can buy these dresses for a fraction of the original cost (still, $10 over and over and over again still adds up.)  Some of the Amazon Dress Influencers who I've started to watch (and yes, this is indeed a category of it's ...

Last night, we went to our first concert at Rady Shell this summer to see a performance by Steve Martin and Martin Short.  We've recently been looking forward to the second installment of "Only Murders in the Building" which debuts on Hulu next week, and I have to admit that I had forgotten just how funny the Martins can be.   The positive: Steve Martin is 77 years old, looks great, and didn't miss a beat; Martin Short is energetic and no topic was off limits to him, politics, celebrities, religion.  They played well off each other, and we wondered how much was scripted versus how much was improv; we laughed so much that our sides hurt.  This morning, I'm trying to recall a favorite joke but there were so many and the delivery was so fast-paced that I can't remember just one...just that it was hilarious and I will never forget the mash-up of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Hair" with Martin Short singing and cavorting about stage in a naked ...

Last Christmas, I revived my interest in reading novels, in particular, psychological thrillers in the form of printed paperback books.   Since then, I've joined a Psychological Thrillers Facebook group which provides me with endless recommendations for books to read and suggestions for authors who I'd never heard of before, including some self-published authors whose books you can only purchase on Amazon.   I've always been especially interested in the medical thriller genre, so I've been delighted to find books from authors Frieda McFadden and Lucinda Berry, both of whom work in the medical space, which adds authenticity to the stories they tell.  I am currently reading about 8 books a month, which means that I am amassing a large stack of novels.  We are considering putting in a Little Free Library in the near future, so I'm holding onto them for that project.   I forgot to order my weekend reading from Amazon this week, so we made a trip to our local B&N...

Yesterday, we had a wonderful time at the VIP Wine Tasting at the Del Mar fair.   Only 250 tickets were sold, and we got to experience several excellent wines with food pairings from Chef Barry, who works at the Turf Club at the Del Mar fairground.   The event started at 12:30, and we arrived early because we weren't sure what traffic would be like, which gave us a chance to learn about the secret destination that would be open later and inspired me to start looking for a wine-tasting shirt for William to wear on our wintery adventures.   What I Wore | Follow The Flamingos I think my favorite (big surprise) was the Chile & Coffee Crusted All Natural Brandt Beef Skirt Steak with Jalapeño Mashed Potatoes,  paired with a 2018 Costa Azul Cab Sauvignon from Alexander Valley.  I also enjoyed some of the sparkling wines, which were paired with cheese made specifically for the event by a local cheesemaker who only makes the cheese in small batches. As p...

 On Friday night, we kicked off our summer of fun with dinner out in downtown La Mesa.   We're still embracing outdoor dining whenever it's possible, so we headed to Tiramisu Trattoria, which has three or four tables outdoors.   The restaurant has gluten-free options (including pizza and pasta), as well as salads, ravioli and other pasta options, and a good selection of entrees like pollo marsala and sautéed salmon.   I overheard our server telling the family next to us that they are in the process of adding an awning to help block the sun when people are sitting outside.   The food is delicious and the prizes seem reasonable at around $20 per entree.  William had the vegetarian pizza and I had the special entree, shrimp and spinach risotto; we both enjoyed our meals and had enough left over to bring home for the next day.  I believe you could successfully eat here on a keto or low carb diet if you select a salad or one of the fish entrees, like the sa...