True confession time: I really enjoy shopping at Whole Foods. The staff is friendly and helpful, the products are organic and high quality, and now that they are part of the Amazon family, the shopping experience is even better. Until recently, I had never seen a Whole Foods television commercial. The one that has been running the past few weeks is about Thanksgiving. It is hilarious, relatable, and it's only 15 seconds long. Take a look. Read More

The first time I ever tried “eggs over easy” was when my father made them for me when I was very young. I was always amazed at the whole egg-making process which included fancy flipping and just the right temperature and cooking time. I remember that the eggs were perfectly done each and every time. When I asked what the secret was, the answer was the same every time - “you have to go easy.” You probably know what happens when you turn up the heat on your eggs in an attempt to cook them faster...the result is something that is overcooked, dry, tasteless and difficult to get out of the pan.   Taking it easy does not only apply to serving up the perfectly cooked egg. It is a way of life that we would each be smart to embrace. Everyone I know, myself included, is so busy. Our calendars are booked solid with commitments, both work and personal. We schedule everything, but for some reason, we feel guilty penciling in some rest and relaxation onto the calendar.   I tried very hard when my kids were younger to not over commit them. You often hear that over-scheduling your children is the #1 thing NOT TO DO when you are a parent. So we had choices to make - Tae Kwon Do or baseball? Piano or art classes? We could not do everything, certainly not without inducing a lot of "agita" (the Italian word for STRESS)! But then your kids grow up and there are AP classes, weekly exams in every subject, part- time jobs, daily sports practices...you know what I am talking about - the things you cannot say NO to, even if you wanted to do so.   Read More

here is something about the first snow of the season and watching Hallmark Christmas movies that get me feeling quite wistful. So on this Throwback Thursday, I am asking you to join me for a walk down 'Memory Lane'.   Remember when the only phone you had was the one on the wall of the family kitchen? My sisters and I considered it a very significant upgrade when the cord that came with it was switched out for one that was long enough to reach into the family room. We were living large! Even though that cord was always twisted beyond belief and took a team of us to unravel it and restore it to its original glory, I really miss that phone! Back then, if someone wanted to speak with me, they had to get through my parents (and/or a busy signal) to get to me. Remember when the phone never rang while we were driving in our cars, shopping in stores, or when we were at school? There most certainly were never phones ringing while we were enjoying a much cherished meal out at our favorite restaurant! Times have really changed and today I am left thinking that they are not all for the better.   More than ever, I am seeing people driving and talking, working out while talking, and walking the streets and talking. It is even a common occurrence to see people answering their phones while they are shopping and checking out at a store. Each time I have observed this, the person chatting on the phone is completely unaware of the frustration on their sales clerk's face. When I am out to dinner, I see people all around me who are on their phones the entire time and not even looking at the person sitting across the table from them. Have you ever dined with someone who took calls, wrote texts and surfed the web right in front of you? I have. It is not a good feeling. Do you remember when we all actually made eye contact and spoke to one another? There are so many phones ringing and pinging during the classes that I teach that I have had no choice but to announce that all phones be silenced before I begin a class. I may have to resort to collecting the phones at the door! Remember when going shopping or going to fitness class meant it was an hour or two away from the ringing phone? Shopping and working out were considered "me" time. Read More

You have heard it said many times over the years - "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Perhaps your parents said it to you when your elementary school classmate showed up at school with the same lunchbox as you. It may be what you said to your own daughter to settle the "she's got the same prom dress as me" battle. I even heard the NHL discussing the concept this week as it pertains to hockey teams in the league trying to create as powerful and unstoppable a forward line as the Boston Bruins (their three forwards, known as "the Perfection Line", have a record of 31 goals in their last 14 games). It is not uncommon for copycats to appear when something or someone is successful. Just google "copycat recipes" and you will be inundated with a plethora of ways to attempt to replicate Red Lobster's very popular Cheddar Biscuits, Olive Garden's Alfredo sauce, Chipotle's Cilantro-Lime Rice, Panera's Mac and Cheese, and Cinnabon's rolls. While I am often encouraging you to "do your own thing" and be a health and well-being trailblazer, today I am writing to encourage you to be a copycat. I want you to start cooking and eating the PF Chang's way. Don't worry, they won't mind...imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! Read More