Montreal Lifestyle Magazine serving areas - Baie D'Urfe, Beaconsfield, Chateauguay, Côte-des-Neiges, Cote St-Luc, Dollard des Ormeaux, Dorion, Dorval, Hampstead, Hudson, Ile Bizard, Kirkland, Lachine, Lasalle, Lazare, Laval, Montreal West, Montréal, Mtl-West, Notre Dame de Grâce, Notre Dame de l'Ile Perrot, Outremont, Pierrefonds, Pointe Claire, Roxboro, Senneville, Snowdon, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, St-Lazare, Vallyfield, Vaudreuil, Verdun, Ville St Laurent, West Island, Westmount.
December is the one month each year that almost everyone I know gains a few pounds.
Holiday cookies are on everyone's desk and at all the water coolers; neighbors send gifts of fruit cakes, snack mix and other delectable delights; and oh, the holiday parties! Family traditions abound during this time of year, like my favorite - my daughter-in-law and I have a cookie baking party each year, and then we share what each of us bakes.
It's so much work that we hardly taste any of the little treasures when we're done, but we really enjoy the camaraderie and the glass of wine while we're baking! All of these traditions in one month means extra fat and calories are consumed. I'm not going to suggest that we don't take part in all these fabulous events, in fact, just the opposite.
The older I get, the more I realize the importance of these holiday rituals for our emotional and spiritual health. What I will suggest today though, are a few simple steps we can all take that will keep the amount of weight gain down to a minimum. Read more...
“Red Apple” by Patricia Cavanaugh The apple is nature's perfect design. It is pleasing to the eye. Whether green, red or yellow, you can count on the round delicious taste. It is nutritious and beautiful. It is circular and portable. It does not need to be refrigerated or cooked to eat. You can eat the whole thing or cut it into pieces for bite-sized treats. It goes well with water or wine, with cheese or bread or meat. It is full of vitamins and antioxidants, a truly versatile, natural design.
“Prepared for Retirement? Plan Your 3rd Act” by Bev Scott I was in conversation last weekend with an acquaintance we will call Sally in her late 50's or early 60's. As I described The 3rd Act, she was very interested and then she said. “When I can finally retire, I will sign up.” I asked her when she was planning to retire? She flushed with embarrassment and said she really didn't know; she needed to figure out if her savings would even enable her to ever retire. “I am afraid if I go to a financial planner, I'll find out I have to work until I am 80 years old!” she exclaimed