EAT, DRINK and BE MERRY!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/2016/11/25/why-small-business-saturday-is-not-just-a-marketing-gimmick/

The plan had been to offer a small business a day leading up to Small Business Saturday.  It didn't quite work out that way.  So this morning I went out and took some pictures of my favorite places.  Can you say suckola?  Yes, that is how most of the pictures looked.  Most looked like scrambled eggs.  Was it because I didn't have my glasses on while taking the pictures?  Quite possibly.  I have this habit of reading, writing and taking pictures without them.  The end result is usually ugly.

So what I have for you are pictures from the website of some of my favorite local small businesses.  It is the best I have to offer today.  Let me say...when I think small business Saturday, I don't just think Christmas shopping.  I think food, drink and entertainment...3 of my favorite things.  Regular shopping for stuff is not a favorite.

First up...

Bent Water Brewery - http://www.bentwaterbrewing.com/

I have just not been here enough.  Beer is great and it is a bring your own food kind of place.  They now have music, community events and open mic nights.  Tomorrow night One Dime Band is playing. 

Walnut Street Café - http://www.walnutstreetcoffeecafe.com/

My go to place for ice coffee and an occasional egg sandwich.  Today's coffee was toasted almond iced.  People seem to love their bagels and muffins. 

At night, they switch to alcohol and music.  Tomorrow night Molly Pinto Madigan is the headliner.  Music Starts at 8:30.  Check it out.

Land Of a Thousand Hills Coffee Company - http://landofathousandhills.com/coffeehouses

My Picture

Turns out this is not a local small business (There are 12 along the east coast) but they do have an interesting story.  They are new to Monroe St.

Drink Coffee Do Good

In April 1994, Rwanda (an African country half the size of the state of Maryland) experienced one of history's most atrocious genocides. In just 100 days, close to one million ethnic Tutsi and moderate Hutu sympathizers lost their lives to the hands of extremist Hutu militia.

The 1994 genocide that left so many innocent people either dead, orphaned, or widowed has now become a focal point of the global community. In the wake of civil war, Rwanda made a commitment to national restoration. The government called upon the church to lead the country in reconciliation and asked the outside world to support them as it looked to heal and eradicate poverty, disease, and illiteracy.

In 2005, Jonathan Golden, founder of Land of a Thousand Hills, recognized a simple and tangible opportunity to make a difference in the reconciliation of the Rwandan people. This realization led Golden to start a coffee company that pays a fair wage to the farmers of Rwanda, helps them with their basic needs, and brings a quality product to coffee lovers.

You can read the rest of the story here... http://landofathousandhills.com/ourstory

I tried their espresso and an iced cappuccino maple syrup drink which they were selling at the Artist Open House at the Lydia Pinkham building.  Their espresso was the best I've had.  The cappuccino was a little too sweet for my taste but the espresso taste came through. 

Their store front is on Monroe St. right across from the Food Project Garden.  I went to check it out.  Looks very interesting.  They have breakfast and lunch which I have not sampled.  Maybe tomorrow will be a good day to sample their breakfast.

White Rose Coffeehouse - http://bostonrestaurants.blogspot.com/2016/09/white-rose-coffeehouse-to-open-in-lynn.html

https://www.facebook.com/whiteroselynn/?fref=ts&ref=br_tf&qsefr=1

Delicious brunch with excellent music in a very intimate location.  Tomorrow night Ian Maskin is playing a sold out show which starts at 8:00 but the good news is they've added a 4:00 concert. I have tickets.  Hope to see you there. 

I Did It Myself - 

http://ididitmyself.com/

Need some framing done?  This is the place to go.  I needed two pictures framed.  I've driven by the building on Ocean St. since I was a kid but didn't really know what they did.  I decided to check them out.  Sandi Watkins offered the best advice and worked within my price range.  Her simple suggestion that I add the date and location to my framed pictures from Rome made a huge difference.  Below is the first picture she did for me. 

First picture she framed.

  She also provides interesting conversation free of charge. 

Arts After Hours - http://www.artsafterhours.com/

Plays, music and community gatherings are what Arts After Hours does best.  Their next event is Dec. 15.  Tomorrow would be a good day to purchase a ticket or even purchase a season pass for the 2017 season. 

I have attended a number of their events and, most of the time, I am not disappointed.  Great plays and art brought to downtown Lynn.  My favorite event each summer is Shakespeare at a location in Lynn...the 3, or is it 4, that I've gone to in Lynn Woods have been my favorites!

Maybe I will be back with more tomorrow...

BODIES

In moderation...

It is true...that is how I feel.  I don't want to be skinny.  I want to enjoy delicious food.  I don't mind being a bit of overweight.  I am very comfortable with myself.  The first posting below, by Jen Sinkler, talks about different body types and their value.  Love it. 

The second article by Taylor Ryan offers a different perspective I think.  She is talking about working toward goals.  She is saying love who you are at the moment but challenge yourself to be better and more fit.  Set goals.

I love both these articles.  They both have merit.  They both resonated with me.  I am happy in my body type.  It works for me.  However, I have a specific goal.  I am working toward the SFG Barbell Certification.  The less you weight, the easier achieving the goal is.  As my weight goes down, the amount of weight I have to push, pull and lift changes.  Fifteen pounds less would make a difference.  On the other hand, I can just work super hard and do this a higher weight.  We shall see what June brings.

Please check out their postings..

Jen Sinkler talks about women loving their bodies in the face of societies attempts to define beauty and how difficult and ugly that can be. 

EMBRACE YOUR BIGNESS

The deadlift is rising up. Standing proud. Taking up space. This is a lift for women.

Over and over, I’ve witnessed a dramatic increase in body confidence when women start lifting.

If you lift weights, certain body parts may rearrange themselves. #embraceyourbigness.

Bigness is not about body size—it's a way of being." #embraceyourbigness

“INFERIOR JEANS! You cannot handle my giant muscles! I am TOO BIG FOR YOU!”

https://www.jensinkler.com/embrace-your-bigness/

The second article is,


WHY I HATE THE LOVE YOUR BODY TREND

What is it about?

– It’s about loving yourself enough to want to be better.

 

– It’s about accepting where you are today, but not where you can be tomorrow.

 

– It’s about SELF love as opposed to obsessing over the girl next to you on the treadmill. You know the one… she’s thin, doesn’t have a single cellulite dimple and is toned from squatting MAYBE 15 lb dumbbells. Trust me, she’s comparing herself to you and picking out the things she wishes she had.

 

– It’s about creating your own individual journey with self motivation, goals, and reasons.

http://www.liftingrevolution.com/the-naked-truth-i-kind-of-hate-the-love-your-body-trend/

 

  

Personally,

I LOVE the look of Serena Williams.  She has the ideal body type in my eyes and she says...

 

I am a full woman and I’m strong, and I’m powerful, and I’m beautiful at the same time. - Serena Williams 

  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alanah-joseph/feminine-muscularity-resh_b_9397370.html

LINK LOVE - THE FOOD EDITION

Food is a bonding experience.  It brings together friends and families.  As I've said before there is nothing I enjoy more than picking out fresh food and meat, uncorking a bottle of wine and enjoying a beautifully prepared meal. 

The best veggies ever come from my garden....scenes from the past few years...

Late summer pickings

Sweet Potatoes

Watermelon

Broccoli

Green Pepper but we also grow habanero, jalapeno, banana peppers,
and serrano peppers

Eggplant


 Coming home from work and picking dinner from the garden is my favorite part of summer.  Tomatoes are usually overflowing.  On the menu at least once a day is a BAS brought to you by Jill Coleman.  Check out her ideas on making salads yummy and filling.

THE BAS

http://jillfit.com/2013/10/16/yummy-salads/

Let's talk meat...buy local.  Find a farm you trust buy there fruits, vegetables, eggs and meat.  Know where your food comes from.  Check out this clip.

http://www.takepart.com/video/2014/12/01/meat-matter?cmpid=foodinc-ad-fb

The first woman's weight lifting blog I started reading was Krista Scott Dixon's.  She has an interesting out of the box take on everything including food.

http://www.stumptuous.com/fuck-calories

I have a love of farms.  I probably romanticize them a bit.  Some interesting articles on farming and learning to farm.

First time I had these raw oysters was at Short and Main in Gloucester....$1.00 each the first hour they were open.  Best oysters ever.  Now, you can visit their oyster farm.

http://islandcreekoysters.com/ico/farm/farm-visit/

A goat farm...Toad's Farm

http://blog.fattoadfarm.com/2015/03/06/kidding-season-2015/

http://www.yesmagazine.org/peace-justice/radical-farmers-use-fresh-food-fight-racial-injustice-black-lives-matter

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/how-americas-most-famous-farmer-can-appeal-to-left-right-and-center/2015/03/31/77551480-d272-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html

Find a CSA.  Support a local farm.  Visit a local farm.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

http://www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/csa_farms.htm

FOODIE PARADISE

Food should be more than sustenance.  It should give us pleasure, create bonds with family and friends and provide a connection with the earth.  For example, Italian life centers around food, family and friends.  When we eat a well prepared meal with fresh, farm to table ingredients it can be deeply satisfying.  You don't have to overeat but just enjoy basic delicious ingredients.

That being said, I love going to small markets whether it be a local butcher, a farm, farmer's market or small family owned ventures. 

Pickings from last summer's backyard garden

And there is nothing more satisfying than growing your own foods, coming home from work, heading out to the garden and picking that night's dinner. 

Tuscan Market, Salem, NH

The Tuscan Kitchen in Salem, NH is an Italian market that has been on the list of places to check out.  As luck would have it on Tuesday, I had to go to Concord, NH on Tuesday.  On the way home, I took the opportunity to stop check it out.  I found the address on my old Blackberry and plugged it into my very old GPS and before I knew it, there was the Tuscan Market. 

There is something very satisfying about shopping in a beautiful looking market with beautifully crafted food.  I slowly walked through observing the various stations of bread, meats, bakery items, prepared foods, gelato, and coffee station.  There is also a sit-down café.

Home made pasta (Photo from Tuscan Market website.)
 

 

The first thing that grabbed my attention were the pastas.  They were so perfectly homemade.  For dinner, I chose the short rib tortellone.  They were packaged with care and with flour to keep them from sticking together. 

Forgetting that I had just made meatballs and sauce at home, I checked out their home made sauces.  They had puttanesca, brown butter, Bolognese, and San Marzano.  I decided on a small container of San Marzano to compliment the tortellone. 

The bread station had out samples of garlic loaf which was the best I have ever tasted.  No doubt that garlic was added to this bread but it was not overdone.  Ultimately though I bought a loaf of olive bread. 

And of course there was wine...

I took a chance and purchased this Ruffino...

which turned out to be a hit and a very good value for $12.00.

I grabbed a coffee for the ride home (exceptionally delicious) and thought about putting together the night's dinner.  I rode home thinking about all the delicious and quality items at the Tuscan Market. 

Eating two short rib tortelloni,  a small piece of olive bread and a couple glass of amazing wine made for a very satisfying meal.  This isn't how I would eat every Tuesday night or every night for that matter but there are times when you need to make an exception.

Salute!!!

 

LINK LOVE

Just wanted to share some recent articles that I've enjoyed....hope you enjoy them as well.  Some may be duplicates from my facebook page.

Before I start with the links, I want to ask you to join me in this challenge...try something new for the holiday season.

Holiday Swing Challenge!

Stay sane and in shape through the holidays and join me for my Holiday Swing Challenge!

Subscribe to my Holiday Swing Challenge email list and I will email you, FREE of charge, the 5-day swing plan for the month on Sunday November 30, 2014.

Subscribe HERE → http://bit.ly/HolidaySwingChallenge

Think local before you shop this holiday season:

http://madeinusachallenge.com/2014/cyber-monday-made-usa-sales-guide/

LIFE

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/04/habits-of-calm-people_n_4174903.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/agapi-stassinopoulos/conscious-relationships_b_4171149.html

http://dannycoleman.net/24/

http://www.khq.com/story/27489010/nfl-player-benjamin-watsons-ferguson-post-on-facebook-goes-viral

EXERCISE and FITNESS

http://fitisafeministissue.com/2013/11/11/in-praise-of-pudgy/

http://www.girlsgonestrong.com/bang-for-your-buck/

http://www.liftweightsfaster.com/four-bodyweight-exercises-that-should-be-part-of-every-routine/

http://jasonferruggia.com/mythbusting-improve-grip-strength-deadlifting/

http://www.girlsgonestrong.com/the-deadlift-your-most-powerful-weapon-in-your-lifting-arsenal/

FOOD

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/27/opinion/the-downside-of-eating-too-locally.html?ref=opinion&_r=1

http://www.thekitchn.com/the-best-way-to-keep-cut-avocado-fresh-126950

http://myheartbeets.com/real-food-shopping-guide-costco/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/09/16/the-decline-of-the-small-american-family-farm-in-one-chart/

QUOTES

 

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/196821446189766191/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/196821446186797654/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/196821446188413795/

LET THE SUMMER BEGIN!!!!

Those who know me know I am not a fan of the summer months.  I prefer the cold of winter.  I am passionate about real food.  Good food fuels a healthy lifestyle.  Summer brings locally grown fruits and vegetables which I miss in the winter.   

I want my food to come as close to locally grown as possible  I don't want my fruit traveling from Mexico, California or Florida.  I don't want my fish/shrimp coming from China.  I prefer my meat to be locally raised in New England.

I've done veggie CSAs with the Food Project in Lynn and with Connor Farm.  My early in the year bounty...not only do you get great food but you get to explore the farm whether it be a small urban one in Lynn or a larger version such as Connor.

http://fitbottomedgirls.com/2013/05/what-the-heck-a-csa-is-and-why-you-should-consider-joining-one/

I've done a meat CSA with John Crow Farm.  (Unfortunately they recently went bankrupt but that is another story).  Let me just say...best eggs ever and I eat enough eggs to know good eggs.  The deep richness of the yolk is...well...yummy and beautiful. 

Love them both but nothing is better, though, than walking out your back door and picking tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, butternut squash, a variety of peppers, watermelon, garlic, corn, zucchini or fresh herbs.  I have deep basil love. 

Supper is whatever looks ripe, beautiful and delicious. 

I decided to get those cold weather veggies out there on time this year...when it was still cold.  This doesn't always happen.  What absolutely fantastic surprise awaited me...

Well...this

ASPARAGUS!.  They were planted last year.  You get asparagus in the spring of the following year and the year after that and if you cut them back correctly the year after that.

Here is what has been planted so far...broccoli and peas

The peas weren't staked in this pic but they are now.

And the new addition to my fruits is a grape plant.  I would show you a picture but at the moment that poor little plant isn't looking so great.  Stay tuned.

My garden is never the best looking one despite my best efforts.  Yet, it is productive and it keeps me happy all summer long and into the fall. 

Every garden needs someone or something to look after it.  I give you,

And in memory of our cockatiel, Luna, who died this past winter, the boy created this memorial for the garden.

If I can have a productive garden, so can you.  Start small.  Utilize the space you have.  I grow some of my plants in pots.  It works.  It is a great way to get started.  If you nurture your garden, you will not be disappointed.

Good food nourishes the soul.  It brings family and friends together.  Don't you want it to be healthy and delicious?

Please share your thoughts will me about starting a garden?  Do you have family stories to share?  I would love to see pictures of your garden.