Fitness Well

I Wore a Face Mask and I Liked It

December 30, 2019October 22, 2021 Mary

Renewing Regimen

I don’t normally use facial masks but a sample facial mask packet arrived in the package of an online order for a different product. I gave it a try and I liked it. I don’t remember the brand but it was a light-weight mask and my skin felt truly luxurious after I applied it and rinsed it off. It reminded me of applying mud masks when I was a teenager. I think it was a fad then–at least for teenagers. There is a benefit to taking care of our skin as we age.

Masks aside, my absolute favorite skin care product is Yon-ka which I have used for a number of years. The Yon-ka toner which the company calls lotion is what I live for in the morning! The toner is infused with essential oils and paired with the Yon-ka moisturizer for my skin type keeps my skin feeling its best. Occasionally, I get a Yon-ka facial that includes a hydrating mask. If any men are reading this wondering what a great gift for their wives might be, look no further than an esthetician’s chair. I don’t get a facial as often as I would like but when I do, I go for a Yon-ka facial. The essential oils in the products take me away and the deep hydration is pure heaven! Plus, the facial uses steam to help deep-clean pores. If you are interested in using steam look for a classic European facial and better yet a Yon-ka European facial.

The tried and true

A new year skin care ritual that is easy to perform at home and that I take great comfort in is my skin sloughing regimen. Whenever I tell anyone about it, they get a big kick out of the word sloughing, but honestly, when one takes a bath to soften the skin, the dead skin cells come off more easily, especially if using a towel that is a little on the “rough” side. Towels that are line-dried have this quality or not using fabric softener also works. Since the weather is dismal and the flurry of activity before, during and after the holidays has me feeling a little spent, this ritual gets me revitalized to take on the new year in all its’ newness. Time to clear the old skin away, the old clothes, old papers, old mindsets. etc.

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Health, Humor, Travel

Getting Caught in the Rain and Encountering Bigfoot

November 19, 2019October 22, 2021 Mary

When is the last time you deliberately got caught in the rain? We were at Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum, Washington. The weekend we were there proved to be more like “Raincadia” vs. “Suncadia.” All in all it was a pretty good weekend weather-wise.

The mornings were peaceful and our room was on the ground level so we could just walk out of our room and overlook the hills streaming with wisps of fog that were so beautiful. Also, out our back door were the 1000 steps to the river below. It wasn’t actually 1000 steps like the sign indicated but it was a good number seeing as we were panting on our way back up.

Right out the back door of our hotel room at Suncadia Resort

At the resort, there are many activities–hiking, swimming, golf. We chose to take a walk. When we started out the weather was decent, even sunny, and the fall colors were starting to come on. An hour into it, dark clouds spelled impending rain was rolling in but we chose to forge onward. It began to rain and we were getting soaked. We eventually took shelter under a pine tree for about 1/2 hour. Time seemed to stop then.

The rain stopped and we headed to the golf course lodge for a glass of wine by the warm fire and then eventually back to our room. The same day we headed into Roslynn, WA. You may remember the television show “Northern Exposure” which was supposed to be based in Alaska. It was actually shot in Roslynn, Washingon and I immediately recognized the signature mural on the town wall and a quick google search confirmed that this was the town. There were other people also taking photos in front of the wall but the town and show, I believe, have been forgotten. There wasn’t too much else going on. I suppose it was that way in the show, too.

We carefully walked down the steps that led to the river and on the way at each landing were interesting facts about local wildlife and a casting of their footprints in the cement. They even had a casting of “Bigfoot’s” footprint. What a hoot!

I would definitely recommend this resort, especially being so close to Seattle. It is comfortable, clean, and close to nature. It is a good place to relax and catch up on life.

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Humor, Travel

Cicada at Suncadia

October 31, 2019October 22, 2021 Mary

We arrived at night to the Suncadia resort in Cle Elum, Washington. It was a wet, rainy night and we were glad to check into our room. My husband and I were relaxing in bed when we heard the repeated sound like ringing that lasted for a duration of 30 to 60 seconds. We were baffled by where it was coming from.

We explored the room where we thought the noise was coming from, opening closet doors and searching the bathroom and under the bed. I had a hunch what it was because I have heard a sound similar to this one. I turned on the flashlight on my iPhone and began searching the slats of the closet and nightstand. Eureka! I found it. It was a small, wheat-colored bug tucked away on the outside of the closet frame. I could see its beady little eyes and antenna slightly probing the air. It was a cicada! Actually it was kind of cute.

I am familiar with cicadas as they are prominent in the later weeks of summer in Michigan where I grew up but the sound emitted of the type there is different . The sound from this cicada was higher pitched and had a ringing tone. Well, anyway, my husband captured it in an empty coffee mug and set it outside the hotel room door. He thought it might be too cold to place outdoors. Well, it took about 30 minutes for it to get comfortable and it began “singing” again, but this time the chirping echoed upon the walls in the hallway and was just as loud. I opened the door and had to search because it was camouflaged quite well. Back into the coffee mug and this time it had to go outdoors.

Zoom in at the top left corner to see the camouflaged little fellow.

In contrast, the next morning after arriving home I was startled by a pretty ugly spider that showed up near my clothes hamper in my bathroom. We didn’t look at each other very long. I am sorry to say, my shoe came down upon the ugly, treacherous-looking spider with a smack. You get the picture. Now, cicadas, even though they look similar to roaches when they are full grown, gain my approval because of their interesting sweet sound, especially when their buzzing chorus penetrates the thick summer air giving indication to the particular stage of summer.

Don’t get me wrong. The resort hotel was quite new and clean and I would definitely go back there again. This little guy just made his way in, probably in anticipation of the cooler outdoor temperatures. Don’t we tend to go to places we are most comfortable?

Food, Inspiration

Chance Meetings and Dilly Beans

September 22, 2019October 22, 2021 Mary

“Those look good,” I said.

“Oh, yes I am getting beans, all the same length to make Dilly Beans,” said Debbie, the farmers market customer whom I just met. We proceeded to have conversation about canning, etc. I continued to shop for produce but kept wondering about the Dilly Beans.

I caught up with her again at the check-out stand. “How do you make the Dilly Beans?”

“Let me have your phone number and I will text you the recipe,” said Debbie.

I felt a connection, even if only for a brief moment. She texted me the recipe to preserve the beans but I have yet to put them up.

I often think about how easy it is to meet some people and others not. I feel like I just want to make the Dilly Beans so that I can respond to Debbie to let her know that I was successful making them. I may need to wait until next year as the season for green beans is almost past.

Meeting new people is just a matter of talking to them and I feel that even though our encounter was brief we were friends for those brief moments. I do have her phone number so I will need to reach out to her since we have this dilly green bean connection.

Food, Health

Super Sorghum

September 4, 2019October 22, 2021 Mary

Many Health Benefits

This little miniature-sized kernel is packed with health benefits and is believed to prevent certain types of cancer, can help control diabetes, is gluten-free, offering a dietary option to people with celiac disease. It improves digestive health, builds strong bones, promotes red blood cell development, and boosts energy and fuel production. What’s not to love?

Sorghum is mineral-rich, and contributes 10g of protein and 6g fiber per 1/2 cup to the diet. It is a good source of calcium, phosphorus, iron and zinc. You can pop it like popcorn or use it as a replacement for rice or barley in your favorite dishes or soups.

Sorghum is a drought tolerant cereal grass native to Africa, but is widely cultivated throughout the world, including the U.S, Central and South American and India.

If quinoa and millet are just not doing it for you, why not give sorghum a try. You can even buy it as flour and as beer and in packaged foods like crackers.

I especially love popcorn and this is a good alternative to popcorn. It is oh, so flavorful, especially when you pop the kernels in ghee. Another benefit to eating sorghum is that there are no annoying hulls that get stuck in your gums and teeth. They are a bit small to pick up with your fingers so it does take some getting used to. Also, not all of the kernels pop, but they are also edible but I tend not to eat the un-popped ones.