Kathy Harriott

April 10, 2023 – Back to nature

This past Saturday, Mike and I visited The Celery Fields in Sarasota, FL. It is a very interesting nature park that used to be used to grow celery and other vegetables back in the early 1900s. It is currently used for flood water mitigation. Of course, all that water and swampy land make a great wildlife habitat.

The Nature Center itself is at the bottom of a big hill. The day we were visiting, there were a bunch of people running the hill, both straight up and up the curved path. Mike went up while I spent time in the nature gazebo.

View of the gazebo by the bird feeders from the top of the hill

Sitting in the gazebo watching the birds on the feeders was so fun. We, unfortunately, had missed the Painted Buntings and Indigo Buntings by 5 minutes! However we did get to see Nanday Parakeets up close.

There were grackles, common ground doves, catbirds, and red-winged blackbirds. Bluebirds were seen but I did not get a good picture of one.

Across the street from the nature center as well as down their road from the nature center, are boardwalks. You can walk out and see the different species of water fowl, egrets, sandpipers and such.

We had a lovely visit to the Celery Fields and we can’t wait to go back. If you are ever in the area, you should check them out.

Do you have a favorite local place where you like to go and be a tourist for the day? Where is it? Share in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

March 27, 2023 – Craft therapy crocheted bunny

Isn’t this little bunny so cute. I’m making them so quickly. So relaxing and happiness inducing.

Do you have a go-to craft that lifts your spirits? Share it in the comments.

Thanks for reading.

March 24, 2023 – Craft therapy: Positive Potato

I saw a positive potato that someone crocheted and had to find instructions. I finally found them.

He still needs arms and his uplifting sign but here he is – Positive Potato.

What have you made lately? Was it fun? Did it lift your spirits like my potato friend did for me?

Thanks for reading.

March 20, 2023 – Practicing Mindful Eating

As I continue with my journey to get healthier and lose weight, I have been trying different food and different strategies and sharing them here. My newest strategy is practicing mindful eating.

What is mindful eating? Mindful eating is paying attention to the food you eat and using all of your senses when doing so. The opposite of mindful eating is mindless eating. We’ve all done that, right? Rough day at work. Start cooking dinner and sit down to watch TV…with a bag of chips or box of cookies. The next thing you know, you have eaten the entire box or bag. You don’t even remember tasting the food. Yeah, that’s really mindless.

So, how do you practice mindful eating? Here’s what I’ve been doing. I choose one meal a day to practice this. Today I chose to practice at lunch. The steps I followed:

No distractions – turn off the phone, tv, radio and computer. I eat in silence if I can.
Today I am having a ham salad sandwich. I will incorporate all my senses while I eat the sandwich:
- Touch: The sandwich is cold because it was in the refrigerator. The bread is whole grain with seeds so it had texture.
- Sight: I can see the seeds and the air bubbles in the bread. I can see the creaminess of the ham salad. There are pimentos in the salad that are red and make the salad look pretty.
- Hearing: The crust of the bread is crunchy when I bite into it.
- Smell: The bread smells so fresh and there is a tangy smell to the ham salad.
- Taste: As I bite into the crunchy crust and feel the soft and creamy ham salad, the nutty flavor of the bread and the tangy ham salad hit my tastebuds. Delicious.
I take my time eating my sandwich, savoring every bite.
The sandwich fills me up and once I finish it, I am full.
I feel satisfied and thoroughly enjoyed my meal.

That is how I practiced today. Have you tried anything similar? If you have, how has mindful eating helped you to eat healthier, enjoy your food more, and helped you lose weight? Do you have any tips or tricks you would like to share regarding mindful eating? Please comment below.

Thanks for reading.

March 16, 2023 – Movies and TV shows I have watched multiple times.

What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?

TV Shows

Friends
The Simpsons
Golden Girls

Movies

Elf
Day After Tomorrow
Star Wars – all of them
Star Trek – all of them
Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas

I know there are more but that’s all I can think of now. How about you?

Thanks for reading.

March 14, 2023 – My spirit animal

Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?

In all honesty, I would have a hard time picking just one animal.

The first animal that comes to mind is the sloth. Not because I’m lazy, at least not all the time, but because I am slow. I’m not quite as slow as this sloth, but there are days that I feel it is an accurate portrayal of me.

Animal number two is the T-Rex. It’s the tiny little arms that I identify with. I can’t reach ANYTHING!

Another animal I can relate to is the Mockingbird. No, I don’t always mock people but I do tend to make up songs about my day…all day long. It is an endearing and annoying quality of mine.

Next up, the slime mold. Not because I’m disgusting or slimy (at least not today). It’s because the slime mold works smarter not harder. A slime mold can figure out the fastest way through a maze. Did you know that? Sure enough, a single cell organism without a “brain” is considered intelligent. Here’s is an article about it. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210223121643.htm

I find ways to get the job done faster and easier by slinking through the maze like a slime mold.

My final animal is the bear. I admire their ability to nap through the bad weather. I too am a fan of napping and I don’t like to be cold. Therefore, an animal that sleeps through Winter is definitely a friend of mine

So, that’s my story. How about YOU?

And, if you know me, comment below and let me know what animal you would compare me to.

Thanks for reading.

March 7, 2023 blog prompt – first line of my autobiography

You’re writing your autobiography. What’s your opening sentence?

Gravity and I were never friends.

March 5, 2023 – chopped salad with chicken and Honeycrisp Apple Vinaigrette

We took a run down to Farmer Joe’s in Cape Coral last weekend. Today I was craving a big salad. So, I chopped up 1/4 head of iceberg lettuce, an English cucumber, two heirloom tomatoes, and added a pouch of Starkest White Chicken.

I tossed this with Cindy’s Kitchen Honeycrisp Apple Vinaigrette.

Very tasty and filling. I think it needed a sprinkling of low-fat feta cheese to give it a savory pop. All-in-all, a nice dinner.

What’s your favorite salad recipe? What is your go to healthy salad dressing?

Thanks for reading.

February 28, 2023 – One Bar – Blueberry Cobbler

When I decided to try different protein bars and “review” them, I didn’t realize how many delicious bars were out there. This has been a wonderful and tasty endeavor.

happen to be my favorite berry. I could eat them every day and be happy. When I saw that the One Bar had a blueberry cobbler flavor, I had to try it. It took a while for me to find them, but I finally hit the jackpot this weekend.

Look at how delicious this bar is.

It really does taste like the blueberry cobbler that your grandma used to make. The flavor is spot on. The consistency is chewy with a bit of a crunch. Altogether delicious. And filling. I ate half of one as a morning snack and, after two slices, I was satisfied.

How do the macros stack up? I think pretty good.

See if you can get your hands on one to try. I found mine at Walmart.

Have any protein bar suggestions for me? I’d love to taste-test your favorites.

Thanks for reading!

February 24, 2023 – Mooala Banana Milk: A Tasty, Healthy Alternative To Dairy

Are you looking for a delicious, healthy alternative to dairy milk? Meet Mooala Banana Milk! This milk is made from bananas, so it’s naturally sweet and creamy. It’s also low in sugar, sodium, and carbs, and it’s gluten-free.

What’s more, Mooala Banana Milk is a great choice for smoothie making. It’s thick and filling, so it will help you stay satisfied longer. Plus, it’s a good source of dietary fiber and potassium. That little hint of cinnamon makes a big difference!

So if you’re looking for a delicious, healthy, low-sugar alternative to dairy milk, give Mooala Banana Milk a try! You won’t be disappointed!

Here are more photos of the bottle.

The Story Behind Mooala: Mooala was started by Jeff Richards. Jeff was a dad who wanted to make better eating a way of life for his family. He was always on the hunt for foods and drinks that were made with nature’s best ingredients and were free of artificial stuff. So when he started hearing about a plant-based milk that was made from bananas, he was intrigued. He tried it out and knew this was something special. He could taste the freshness and the banana flavor. And he hopped on the idea of creating his own version of plant-based milk that was free from any artificial ingredients. Fast forward to today and Mooala has become a household name. They are committed to creating delicious, dairy-free products that are made with all-natural ingredients and no added sugar. Nutrition and Benefits Of Mooala Banana Milk: Mooala Banana Milk is packed with nutrition. It’s made from real bananas and is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. Plus, it’s low in sugar, sodium, and carbs. And it’s free from dairy, gluten, soy, carrageenan, and artificial hormones. In addition, Mooala Banana Milk is a great choice for smoothie-making. It’s creamy and filling, so it will help you stay satisfied longer. And it’s a great source of calcium, protein, and other essential nutrients. For those of you looking for a dairy-free alternative that still has the creamy taste and texture of regular milk, Mooala Banana Milk is the perfect choice. So give it a try and see for yourself why it’s becoming a popular choice for many households.

Have you tried any plant based milks that you would like to recommend? Put them in the comments!

Thanks for reading.