Living Well Etc.

  While I LOVE chocolate croissants so much, I resort to purchasing them at a coffee shop when out with others; I prefer real croissants and not just something that appears to be one. Well, Trader Joe’s has nailed it again.   These Frozen Chocolate Croissants are elegant, flaky, and downright yummy.   Plus, they are less than $5 for four delicious supreme pastries!   The only downside is inflexibility.   These chocolaty goodies must rise from a frozen state.   But with planning—best left out the night before—they are perfectly risen and ready to bake into the perfect chocolate croissant this side of France .   What I found is that these require a warm setting to rise, even when left out all night.  So, I put them on a plate, covered with a towel, and place them in a cupboard, which is roughly a constant 70 degrees.  Anywhere where there is a constant warm temperature is fine.  When baked, the chocolate croissants a...

Tub of Fun Found in Trader Joe's Animal Crackers If you are like me, every time I see a box of animal crackers, I relive my childhood years of drooling over a box decorated as if it is a red circus boxcar filled with exotic animals.    My favorite cookie/cracker was the elephant.   Therefore, when I noticed a tub --yes an entire tub-- of animal cookies on a Trader Joe’s shelf, I squealed like a little girl and promptly tossed one in my cart. As a fan of simple English style cookies, Trader Joe’s Organic Animal Crackers are a perfect fit for me.  They are crunchy, light, great with hot beverages, and shaped like animals.  What could be better?  Right?  The real surprise with these cookies is that these are not your typical guilty-pleasure snacks.  Oh no.  These puppies —or should I say camels -- are low in fat and sodium, vegan, organic and only 120 for 17 delicious cookies!  There are even tigers in the tub.  It just ge...

Gift Giving in the Dating World Ah, new love...an amazing person is now in your life.   You are enjoying every minute and are anxiously anticipating your next date .   As excited as you are, it seems that new relationships are just one test after another.   Will he like my dad?   Will my children like her?   What makes her angry?   Thankfully, those tests tend to sort themselves out quickly in the relationship.   However, one test is a bit more ambiguous.    At what point in the relationship do we exchange gifts?   Gender-Sensitive? Stereotypically, women tend to be more gift-oriented than men are.   Nevertheless, knowing this doesn't make it any easier to choose the perfect gift for the woman he/she is just beginning to know.   This is true for her as well.   Giving an expensive gift too early in the relationship could appear as if she is trying to "push" him into a more permanent relationship.   So, what do...

  First African American Pilot “The sky is the only place there is no prejudice. Up there, everyone is equal, everyone is free.” Elizabeth Coleman Born to African American and Native American sharecropper parents in 1892 Texas, Elizabeth, Bessie, fought for her chance to become an aviator. ( video ) In her twenties, she became interested in flying thanks to WW1 returning soldiers' heroic stories.    In a deeply segregated U.S., she could find no pilot to train her, even those who were black.   Her brother, newly returned from war, entertained her with stories of the many opportunities for women in France, one of which was pilot training.   As this seemed to be her only hope, she set her sights on France. Bessie began her journey by learning French.   Along with her savings and financial backing from the African-American community, she left for France in 1920.   By 1921, she accomplished her goal and became the first American woman who earned a...

Toxic Mix of Urine, Feces, Germs, and Parasites Await Swimmers Often profiled as funny, like in the movie " Grown Ups " with Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, urinating in the pool appears to be quite common in real life according to recent data .   Urine is bad enough, but just the tiniest bit of fecal material in a pool could cause illness and infections for pregnant women, the elderly, and young children.   Even worse, it could cause deadly results for those with compromised immune systems, like multiple sclerosis.   With the summer swim season arriving any day, it may be best to take an awfully close look at what is in that pool water.   This is especially for those of us who can be affected the most, which includes me.   Considering that I have multiple sclerosis, those germs could offer me a stay in the nearby hospital.   What is in the public pool water? Public pools offer a temporary reprieve from the summer heat.   However, a HuffPost ...

Steps to Take to Become Caretaker for a Family Member Strokes can steal away a person's speech, mobility, and can chip away at his or her personality.   This, I now know because I became the primary caregiver for my mother-in-law.    In the beginning, it wasn't an easy decision. However, for me, it was a necessary one.   Pam, my mother- in-law , was a remarkable person deserving of the best care possible.   Consequently, my husband and I decided to do what was best for all of us.   My experiences may help those of you considering if caring for a family member may be the best decision for you as well.   Making the decision, will it be home or a facility. Pam nearly died from the severe stroke that left her in a coma.   The hospital didn't keep her long and suggested placing her in a nearby convalescent home.   Good advice since she was connected to IVs and tube-fed.   After a few months, Pam woke and her feeding tube was removed....

A California Woman Who Fought for the Land and the Mechoopda Drive through Northern California and you will find a Bidwell street, park, or building in most cities.   Still, I doubt many actually know why the street bears the name.     In truth, the namesakes most probably honor John Bidwell , a California pioneer, politician, farmer, and philanthropist. Nevertheless, his wife, Annie, contributed quite a bit to our golden state of California as well.   Annie Bidwell’s Early Years Annie’s early years shaped her belief system and future.   She was born into an upper-middle-class family and raised in Washington D.C.   In her early teen years, she became a devout Presbyterian, leading her to devote her life to social issues, like conservation, women’s suffrage, and prohibition.   In fact, her many friends included Susan B. Anthony, Frances Willard, and John Muir.   Annie Marries and Begins Work on Her Passions While John was in Washington D...