It Shouldn’t Be All Doom and Gloom, Should It?

Heads are spinning with the domestic takedown of COVID-19. No wonder anxiety and frustration levels are running high. Can’t say we weren’t warned about it, but still, there’s been little time to process, and for most of us in this part of the world, we simply aren’t used to this kind of disruption. This kind of impact. Or this kind of fear instilled into our minds to control the spread of this virus. Daily life nears to a standstill. For now, anyway. As more and more non-essential activities, services and businesses shut down or move online, and travelling comes to a halt, it becomes more and more dizzying. Social distancing is a thing now. For introverts (and of course our fur babies), it’s business as usual. But for those energized extroverts who need their peeps, well, they’re probably really feeling terrible. And let’s not forget those huggers out there. But you’ll get your hugs soon. I promise. Who’s to Blame?  Try not to get caught up in the petri dish of conspiracy theor…

Celebrate International Women's Day With a Book!

International Women's Day is March 8th! This year's theme, Each for Equal , challenges stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women's achievements. Various events and traditions will be taking place to honour and celebrate women's rights and achievements worldwide. Take the time to explore this global event and be sure to check out the lists of books that show the positive role women (and the authors who wrote them) have played through their unique experiences.  Check out You Tube video -  International Women's Day 2020 Here's are some sites to find your next book that honors women: We Forum : 6 News Books to Read for International Women's Day  Bustle : 15 Great Books to Read for IWD Independent : Eight Best Books by Empowering Women Lit Hub : 33 Life-Changing Books to Honor IWD

Feeling A Little Grumpy? Could Be Your Water Intake

We all know drinking enough water is an important part of healthy living, beyond just quenching a thirst. But drinking the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses a day to reap the benefits? That's difficult, not to mention cumbersome, especially when you're just not that thirsty. Thankfully , recent studies have suggested that drinking 2 L of water a day to stay healthy is an old wives tale that originated in the 1940's and then again in the 70's. And studies (of these studies) have suggested that scientists back then neglected to tell us that we can get our daily quota from many of the fruits and vegetables we eat and all the other beverages (soda and other high sugary drinks don't count) we consume on a daily basis. Phew. Eight glasses aside, in reality, if you do work out, need an energy boost, or feel a little sluggish, water can help you increase your basal metabolic rate. And going for the water instead of a caffeinated drink could actually make a huge diffe…

Author Interview: Judy Leigh

Here's what Judy Leigh (author of A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventures ) had to say about her hilarious and feel-good novel, Five French Hens , released Dec 2019!       In a hundred words or less, tell us a little bit about you.       I'm an idealist, and I love meeting new people. (I already sound like an ad for a lonely heart!) I live in the depths of Somerset currently, but I’ve lived all over the UK from Oxford to Cornwall to Liverpool. I often have wanderlust and leap in the campervan for new experiences. I used to teach theatre before I threw myself into writing. I have two children who have just grown and flown. I love music, theatre, running on the beach, football, yoga, going to the gym. I have three black cats. I ‘m a vegan and a Reiki healer. When did it dawn on you that you wanted to be a writer? When I learned to read at my Mum’s knee when I was three years old. She was my most encouraging critic and I’m sad she’ll never get to read one of my …

Digging In - 50 Shades of Grief

BY CATHERINE MAVEN - Grief comes in many shades. It can be a stabbingly red pain that feels too sharp to survive (much like childbirth, actually). It can be a dull grey ache that colors everything the same shade, that makes you forget that the world actually contains other colors. It can be a black that threatens to drown you, a darkness that makes you want to die and take the world with you. And it can be the crazy orange of a sunrise or sunset, a shade so crazy that nobody would believe if you dared to paint it. “Digging In” (by Loretta Nyhan) is about a widow named Paige Moresco, who married her high school sweetheart and then lost him many years later – but still too soon – in a car accident. The novel takes place two years after her husband’s death, and focuses on her struggle with her rebellious and sullen teenage son, Trey, and on her terror at accepting the changes in her working life. A woman whose life has been defined by staying “safe”, this novel explores Paige’…

Motion is Lotion - New Year, New You!

IT'S JUST MY OPINION - The jig is up! And with all the changes going on with our bodies, we have to work harder at getting and staying in shape - and not because we want our 20 something bodies back, but mostly because we want to be at our healthiest, prevent or recover from sprains and pains, and to keep up with our more active friends. But if you hate to workout with every fiber of your being, don't fret! You're not alone. I repeat. You. Are. Not. Alone. There are more of 'us' who'd rather be doing something else than keeping up with a regular exercise routine. So here's an idea for 2020...why not try incorporating some exercises into your day to day? Believe it or not, you can get a good workout (sweat-free too) with many of the things you do at home. Ever try squatting while doing dishes, stretching your core while vacuuming, lunging or doing calf raises as your brush your teeth or even while you dry your hair? You can employ these general str…

The Holidays Don't Need to Be Perfect!

Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la… IT'S JUST MY OPINION - Tis the season for holiday classics to be playing and glistening decorations to be displayed everywhere you go over the next few weeks. Get ready for it! And if you’re really in the festive mood and full of holiday spirit, you might even be tempted to tune into Hallmark's channel -- sprinkled with joy and sweetness, these holiday movies project picture perfect romances, family gatherings and decorated Christmas trees with elegantly wrapped gifts underneath. Oh, and don’t forget the gorgeous golden Butterball centrepiece. There’s nothing like it, right? Wrong. Let’s get real, shall we? Holiday images like these ones that are spread across TV, magazines, and social media are supposed to be perfect. They have to be. Marketers and advertisers are getting big bucks to make them. But if you’re one to get stressed by it all, don’t. Relax . You don’t need any of those things to have the “perfec…