S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting

I moved to Monhegan Island in 2004 and over the course of four years due to my diet and lifestyle, I gained 45 lbs. It seemed to come on gradually, and I really didn’t notice at first. I was looking through some photos one day when it finally hit me, Oh My Gosh!, when did this happen….

Thai Inspired Chicken-Vegetable Soup

Thai foods have a pleasant fresh, green quality along with a positive warming effect on the body. Perfect nutrition for cold days. I love the flavors of Thai cooking. The blend of lemongrass, cilantro, basil, chilies and coconut milk screams aliveness and has a positive warming effect on my body. The food is light leaving…

Snowshoeing Monhegan Island

  Monhegan Island is known for it’s untarnished beauty and extensive hiking trails. Despite the relative small size of the island, 1.5 miles long by .5 miles wide, Monhegan is estimated to have 17 miles of hiking trails. In the 1950’s, Monhegan Associates, organized and over several years purchased and had land donated to the…

4 Reasons to Start Your Outdoor Yoga Practice Today

I had been practicing yoga in studios or my living room for about 15 years before I started doing yoga in the outdoors. When I did start practicing yoga outside, I wondered why I hadn’t done it sooner. The effects of being in nature as I flowed through my Vinyasa, elevated my practice both physically…

3 Comfort Foods without the Guilt

Cold weather brings on the hankering for carbohydrate and fat laden comfort foods. Here are some options to fulfill the cravings without the extra calories. I am always looking for ways to add extra nutrition to my meals through vegetables and here are a few ways I do that. Serve these main dishes with a…

Weigh less and Feel Great Forever

I struggled with weight, body image and energy since I was very young. I remember being self-conscious  about my belly when I was 2 or 3 years old. My mother and older sisters were dieting consistently and obsessed with their weight all of my life. As a result, I followed directly in their footsteps. Obsessing…

Put Down that Granola Bar!

I am often asked to recommend a good granola bar or energy bar, both of which, have long been touted as health food. I am not saying an occasional granola bar will take you from perfect health to unhealthy, but if these bars are a part of your regular diet, extreme intervention is needed. Bars…

5 Tips for Staying Active This Winter

Winter Time Fun Don’t let scenes like the one above keep you from being active this winter. There are tons of ways to stay active this winter despite the blustery snow and cold. On Monhegan we have been getting hit pretty hard, but that doesn’t keep us cooped up inside. We get out and get…