Emory University School of Medicine

As you read this post I am in Atlanta going through all of the Pre-Op issues before surgery on the 25th.  Over the next few weeks I’ll be writing a few posts, not too many, about the process I’m going through.  I have long been a believer in positive thinking.  Thoughts have been proven to be things, time and time again.  There is actual proof that we are affected by what we think.  When facing difficult times it is always challenging to pull ourselves up, shake off the dust and keep moving forward.  It is imperative to healing and good health that we be able to do this.

Much has been written about the power of positive thought.  In fact, as far back as Marcus Aurelius, you’ll find quotes that speak to this issue.  Quotes such as “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”……and “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” .  Even in his day, centuries ago, the realization that we are what we think was there for enlightened minds to grasp and put into use.

Stop and smell the roses!

I’m working to keep my mind on a positive thread, to stop the negative thoughts the minute they stir, which they do….believe me, and quell the little fears that pop up in the middle of the night.  We absolutely have control over what thoughts we accept and those we do not.  If you don’t believe me, try it.  When a negative thought arises in your mind, simply stop, take a deep breath and tell it to leave, tell it you don’t need it, in a gentle inner voice.  If you practice, faithfully, you’ll begin to feel the difference.

Life is a process of learning and developing.  The difficult times make us stronger, hopefully, making the easy times cause for celebration.  As I face surgery next week I’m mindful of celebrating life, my life and all of the goodness, the challenges and, yes, the sorrows, that have made me who I am today.  I am forever thankful for everything and I look forward to being able to move freely, experiencing the wonder of mere existence.  Each of us is a miracle…..think about it.  Embrace your life and REALLY live it.  Find what you are passionate about and pursue it with fervor.  I’m with you on this, we can take the steps together and share the amazing results!

Here’s a little video that may help you on your way!

http://www.flickspire.com/m/Rubbertree669/PowerOfAttitude

Melissa | people | 06 19th, 2014 | 3 Comments »

The time has come to walk on the beach in lighter, more skin revealing clothes.  We all like the look of a golden tan, but we also know of the damage that can be done to our skin while basking in those summer rays.  I have been on the lookout for a self tanning product that REALLY works for longer than I can tell you.  I finally stumbled upon the solution by accident while doing research on-line about two months ago.  I think the product popped up in a sidebar add on Google.

Not one to simply order something without a bit of research, I delved into the information available and then ordered “Tan Physics”.  This all natural, citrus based product really delivers!  A little bit goes a long way to providing a lovely shade of tan that doesn’t streak or turn orange.  Once a week application has done the trick for me.  For more information go here:  www.tanphysics.com

Another product I’m loving is from Suzanne Somer’s organic line of skin care products.  I love her entire line, but the healthy glow body lotion keeps the tan going, deepening a bit each day when I apply it after showering.  Suzanne’s line of anti-aging products is excellent as well.  This lady has done her research and her products deliver at very reasonable prices.  Find the body lotion here:http://www.suzannesomers.com/products/suzanne-organics-healthy-glow-body-lotion

Summer is here…..look your best in a healthy way!  Let me know if you try either of these products and what you think of them!

Melissa | Shop! | 06 18th, 2014 | 1 Comment »

I have to share my secret for relieving the pain that comes along with the type of arthritis I have.  Had it not been for a friend bringing me a couple of these magical little strips, I’m not sure how I could have made it from the onset of all of this in March to now.  I’m not one to promote products on my blog unless I think they are outstanding…..this on fills the bill!

The PowerStrips reduced the pain and swelling so dramatically I was out of a wheelchair and not even needing a cane for weeks.  All natural, no side effects….what makes them work?  PowerStrips cause an increase in heat in the tissues of the body (causing vessel dilation) which leads to temporary relief of pain.  A proprietary blend of herbs in a base of minerals and Marine Phytoplankton – responsible for cellular energy and health – helps rebuild, renew, revitalize regenerate and rejuvenate the muscles, tissues and cells at the deepest level. AND it comes from the Marine Phytoplankton from on Vancouver Island – amazing!

I can’t explain why they work, but I know that they are the best topical product I have found for managing pain.  If you’re interested in knowing more about this product please leave me a comment, with your e-mail address, and I’ll get information sent to you as well as a sample strip if you’d like to try one.  The FDA has approved these as well

If you already know about PowerStrips and are interested in ordering, go here:  www.proudtobepainfree.com and click on enroll.  Unlike many direct sales companies, the enrollment fee is a mere $12.00….that’s it, that’s all.  Autoship is available so you never run out…I know I never will.

I think what attracted me to this product, other than the fact that it really works, is the strips themselves.  All over the surface of each strip is the word “Love” in fifteen different languages.  I believe in the power of prayer and love to heal so this makes great sense to me!    

Melissa | Shop! | 06 17th, 2014 | 1 Comment »

Did you know that there is a labyrinth here on St. Simons Island?  Until last Friday I didn’t!  What is a labyrinth?  The Labyrinth Society defines it as follows:  A labyrinth is a single path or unicursal tool for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation. Labyrinths are thought to enhance right brain activity.

Labyrinths have been built since the ancient Greeks used them as decoration and for entertainment.  Walking the lines of a labyrinth in meditation or prayer was and still is said to increase spiritual awareness as one focuses on the path.  Another term for a labyrinth is a maze, a network of paths one could become lost in.  As myth would have it the first labyrinth was constructed for King Minos of Crete to house the half man, half bull creature, the Minotaur.

This particular labyrinth was placed in Frederica Park, along the Alice Richards Botanical Trail.  I knew the park itself existed, but I had no idea this beautiful nature trail was part of it.  The Labyrinth was a gift to the park in 2010 from the Sea Island Gardening Group and the Brumley Family.

Beautiful old oak trees grace the path with plenty of shade.  A gazebo sits to the side of the path, perfect for a picnic.  And just beyond as you near the labyrinth is a small fairy village.  Is it made by mere humans, or do the wee ones of lore appear at night to dance under the stars?

This is a very special place.  My friends wanted me to see it before my journey begins this week.  It won’t be too long before I’ll be able to walk the labyrinth with them, thankful to be recovered and whole again!  Visit Frederica Park on the North end of the island, off of Lawrence Road.   What a fun outing this is for visiting family.  Children will love the fairy village….I have to admit, I did too!

Holly McClure, Kathy Jones and Roxanne Turturro

Melissa | Out&About | 06 16th, 2014 | 4 Comments »

I’m honoring my dad with this post today.  As each day passes I am acutely aware that time is going quickly, that my dad is aging and becoming weaker.  He still has a sense of humor and can give me a hard time when he feels like it, but that doesn’t happen very often any longer.  I won’t go into health issues or any of that.  But I will tell you that my dad has been a rock in my life.  We’ve always shared a special bond.  For years, when dad traveled the world as an executive with the United Presbyterian Church, he would sense when something wasn’t quite right with me and call to check in.  Nine times out of ten he was right, I was having some sort of problem or not feeling well.  We’d talk until everything was solved and then look forward to seeing each other when he made his journey home.  I have always been a “Daddy’s Girl”, which makes going through this aging process all the more difficult.

Dad has always loved good music.  On this Father’s Day I’m sharing one of his favorites with you.  I have played it for him on the piano on numerous occasions.  It always brings a tear to his eye and a gentle smile to his face.  Our roles have changed a bit with the passing of time.  I’m the one holding his hand now, helping him step down off a curb or get into the car.  It’s not an easy time, but it’s a time I wouldn’t miss….one that I’ll always remember.

This is a day to celebrate our fathers.  I’ll be making a special dinner and fixing dad his favorite vodka with tonic and lime….very light on the vodka, please.  And for a moment, we’ll sit and look into each other’s eyes with unspoken words.  There are somethings you just don’t have to say!

Melissa | Simple Sundays | 06 15th, 2014 | 4 Comments »

Maggie Toussaint was my guest on the radio show this week.  Maggie is a talented author who lives in McIntosh County.  We had the best time talking about her books, her life and Coastal Georgia.  Enjoy a great show!

Melissa | On The Radio | 06 14th, 2014 | 3 Comments »

I’m thinking of simple summer fare as I write this today.  The hotter temperatures make me long for fresh vegetables, cooked lightly, served chilled or room temperature.  I mentioned my recipe for Pasta Puttenesca in the post I featured Wednesday on Summer wines.  I’m sharing it with you today!  It’s easy to put together and really requires nothing more be served with it other than some crusty bread, if you’d like.  I believe in eating small amounts of delicious things.  My palate seems to become less eager for complicated recipes and hours of preparation as the weather warms.  This is the perfect Summer supper, served at room temperature.  You might want to have a bit of Limoncello sorbet with fresh blueberries for dessert, always an option in our home!  Let me know if you try this recipe.  I think you’ll love it!  Note:  the Casal Garcia Vinho Verdi wine I featured on Wednesday is the perfect accompaniment to this meal!

Pasta Puttenesca

1 box gluten free linguine (or your pasta of choice as this sauce works well with almost any variety)

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 carton assorted cherry tomatoes, washed and halved (I’m finding these more easily in produce markets…I love the colors and the sweetness of these little gems!)

1/2 purple onion, peeled and finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

1 small tin anchovies, drained and chopped (don’t cringe…these little fish add just the right saltiness to the mix and when chopped squeamish eaters won’t even know they are there!)

2 tablespoons capers, drained

1/2 cup kalamata olives, halved, pits removed

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/4 cup dry red wine

1/4 cup chopped, flat leaf parsley

1/2 cup chopped, fresh basil (mix green and purple when available)

1 cup chopped, organic baby arugula, stems removed (Mr. T hates stems on arugula and spinach….so I carefully break them off….the things we do to please!)

Sea salt and black pepper to taste (Since the anchovies, capers and olives bring saltiness to this dish be careful about adding more salt…always taste before salting!)

Shaved parmagianno regiano cheese

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, adding a teaspoon of salt and a splash of olive oil to the water.  Cook the pasta until just tender, al dente, drain, toss with a bit more olive oil and set aside.

Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan.  Add the onion and cook until just transparent.  Add the minced garlic and tomato halves.  Simmer for about five minutes.  Add the anchovies, capers, olives, red pepper and wine, stirring well.  Add the cooked pasta to the pan then the fresh herbs and arugula.  Toss to mix and spoon out onto a serving platter or large pasta bowl.  Top with shaved cheese and serve.

There you have it!  A simple summer meal that uses fresh local produce…so delicious!  Bon Appetit!

Melissa | Out&About | 06 13th, 2014 | 4 Comments »

I’m putting my favorite cookbooks out on the kitchen counter and flipping through the pages, marking which recipes I want to try over the summer.  Now, one thing you have to understand about my romance with cookbooks is this….I love to look at them for ideas, but I always find myself changing a bit of this and a little of that before I’m happy with the outcome.  Cooking is a very personal art form when one takes on the title of “Foodie”, which I’ve been accused of being on more than one occasion!  If the title fits, wear it…so I proudly do!  I’m always on the lookout for light meals to create on hot summer days.  So, I’m sharing the cookbooks that are on my counter with you today and one that is on its way via UPS as we speak that I cannot wait to get in my hot little hands!

I’ve had Maya Angelou’s cookbook on my shelf for well over a year now and did not take it down to flip throught until news of her passing.  This great lady loved fine Southern cooking and this book is filled with her stories and recipes.  It is a true treasure!  I’m going to  try several of the recipes in this yummy little book this summer.  On the dedication page Ms. Angelou wrote, “I dedicate this book to every wannabe cook who will dare criticism by getting into the kitchen and stirring up some groceries.”  Well, I’ve traveled beyond being a wannabe cook, but I still love to get new inspiration and this book delivers that for me.  I’ll be making “Oprah’s Suffocated Chicken”, yes, you’re reading that correctly, as well as a delicious recipe for a Moroccan stew and an interesting twist on Southwestern cuisine, “Tamales de Maiz con Pollo”.  That’s Spanish for Green Cornhusk Tamales with Chicken Filling.

Next on my list is John Besh’s wonderful cookbook that I discovered while watching his cooking show on PBS one rainy Saturday afternoon.  “My Family Table” is a wonderfully creative book filled with outstanding recipes that are easy to follow, producing delicious results.  The subtitle on the cover reads, “A Passionate Plea for Home Cooking”.  Since I truly embrace the fact that preparing a meal with love and having family and friends gather around the table to enjoy it is a healing experience for all, well, this book speaks to me.  I’ll be preparing pan roasted grouper with a fresh tomato sauce, Classic Margherita Grilled Pizza and a myriad of grilling recipes that sound wonderful.  I’m completely into keeping the kitchen cool and cooking out on our grill as much as possible.

I can’t leave out Holly Herrick’s “Southern Farmers Market Cookbook!  As most of you know, Holly is the talented chef who has just launched her The Permanent Tourist site from Charleston, SC.  This book is a treasure.  I’ve tried several of the recipes and followed them word for word…yes, I actually did…for once.  The Wine Poached Salmon with Cucumber Crudite Sauce is calling my name as is a delicious fresh Tomato and Arugula Tart.  Holly’s recipe for WBAM, translates as watermelon, bacon, avocado and goat cheese sandwich bites sounds like something I have to try.  This book is packed with excellent recipes that cry for a trip to the farmer’s market….or Uncle Don’s.  Holly uses produce that is easily found in our area during the summer growing season.  I’m going to work my way through each page as I prepare the recipes and I’ll share results as I go along.

Next on my list is the book I am waiting for!  Libbie Summers new “Sweet and Vicious:  Baking with Attitude” is this talented food stylist/cook’s homage to all things sweet.  Libbie always has a wicked twist that is humorous and welcoming.  I cannot wait to get my shipment and devour each page as I look through the recipes and photographs.  Libbie’s innovative way of exploring new and different ways to make just about anything intrigues me!  When it comes to baking I have to follow the rules a bit more since it is a more precise form of cooking.  But, like Libbie, I think I’ll be coloring outside the lines a bit.

Chef Dave Snyder’s Summer Produce

There you have it!  My list, well the beginning of it, of cookbooks I’ll be flipping through and experimenting with.  Of course, I’ll be making my own recipes in the kitchen as well.  Each Friday will bring a new treat!  Embrace the season….buy fresh, locally grown, organic produce and get cooking!  I’d love to hear about your culinary creations!

Melissa | Out&About | 06 12th, 2014 | 3 Comments »

Don’t let the title confuse you!  I’m not a sweet wine lover, but I did pay a visit to my “wine guy”, Mark Gagliano, at our local Harris Teeter to pick his brain about lighter wines for warmer weather.  I’ve got three lovely wines to present to you today!  Each of these is perfect for sipping at the beach or lake.  They are light and fruity, perfect for summer!  Drag out that picnic basket and start getting it ready for weekend outings!  It’s time to celebrate a slower lifestyle now that summer has arrived in Coastal Georgia!

First on my list of favorites is this crisp, delicious wine from Casal Garcia.  This Vinho Verde is termed “bright and summery” by The Wine Trial.  I’m loving this wine, well chilled, perfect with a platter of raw veggies and imported cheeses…a crisp breadstick or two and I’d call it dinner!  BONUS:  This is a “screw top” wine, perfect for picnicking at the beach or anywhere a fine summer day might take you!  Try this with cold boiled shrimp….pure yum!

Next on the list is Muga’s Rioja Rosado, 2013, another perfect summer wine.  This fine winery has been producing favorites since 1932.  Light and flavorful, this wine is the perfect accompaniment to chilled seafood, delicious fish and chips or one of my summer specialities, a light version of Pasta Puttanesca….look for the recipe on an upcoming Finally Friday post!

From Mionetto comes our last, but certainly not least, selection for perfect summer wines.  This lively Prosecco brings bubbles to any meal.  It’s great for a summer brunch or a light supper.  You might want to try Mark’s special combination of fresh Georgia peaches, juice squeezed into the glass, slices of peaches into the glass, topped off with a bit of this wonderful, festive wine. You won’t believe how delicious the fruit at the bottom of the glass is after soaking in the Prosecco for a bit!  It just shouts SUMMER!

Since I am not a true lover of hot, hot weather, I’m looking for ways to celebrate the season and cool off at the same time!  I hope you’ll try all of these wines!  They are affordable and so delicious!  If you live locally, visit Mark at Harris Teeter.  He truly knows more about wines and pairings than anyone I know….well, other than Tom Delaney….who will be joining Mark and me to tape another segment of “The Chef and the Wine Guy” on The Permanent Tourist radio talk show next week.  Don’t forget to send me questions for Mark and Tom to answer during the course of the show!  We have a great time putting the shows together and listener’s love to hear what we’ll come up with next!  I’m not letting the cat out of the bag about our next show, but you’ll be able to listen in on June 24th and 26th…..www.wwezradio.com at 7:05 pm, EST.  In the mean time….go ahead, get that picnic basket ready and enjoy!  Slante!

Melissa | Out&About | 06 11th, 2014 | 2 Comments »

In most of my posts you’ll find information about the wonderful area in which I am so very lucky to live.  I share stories of history, people of interest, recipes and entertaining inspiration and anything that promotes the good life in Coastal Georgia.  I rarely talk about my personal life.  But I have gotten to know so many of my readers I thought it was time for me to share the journey I am about to begin later this month.

A couple of months ago I decided to begin my annual “power” gardening.  Mr. T. and I went at the flower beds in our front yard, pulling and whacking weeds, working up quite a sweat and getting the beds ready for planting.  The next day, my right knee was so swollen I could not walk.  The rest is history.  When I went to Alabama in April to speak a the Daddy’s Girl’s Weekend my knee completely collapsed, sending me to a local doctor’s office for x-ray’s.  What was found is not fun and extremely painful.  I have a form of “valgus” arthritis in the knee.  This is an osteoarthritis that causes deformation of the leg as it worsens.  Since I have absolutely no cartilage left in the knee it became quickly apparent that a full knee replacement would be the only option and the only sensible thing to do.

My dear friend, Pat, who is also a neighbor had a knee replacement done at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta last summer.  I was so impressed and inspired by her courage and her quick recovery, I knew this was the road I wanted to take.  We went for a consultation on May 27th and got confirmation that, yes, the knee has to be replaced.  Thank God such miracles can occur in this day and age!

On June 19th I’ll have my “pre-op” at Emory with surgery following on June 25th.  The work they do at Emory is cutting edge.  My recovery is expected to be 4-6 weeks, but I will keep writing.  If not everyday, then at least every other and I’ll also keep you posted on the healing process.  I’m expecting great results!

My lovely daughter, Skylar, will be helping me with photography and posts while I’m recuperating.  In some instances we may update some posts from last year that share the growth of businesses, historic sites that have been updated and other things we think you will enjoy!  We won’t let you down!

Your continued support and readership is so very important to me.  I read each and every comment when they come in, be it here on the site, via e-mail or on Facebook.  Each person who comments is important!

Melissa | Out&About | 06 10th, 2014 | 8 Comments »