Treats

Some of the people and products that make my life happier and healthier. I hope you’ll find them to be lovely additions to yours too:

  • Michael F. Cantwell, MD, MPH — Former lead physician at the pioneering Institute for Health & Healing, now in private practice. Complementary medicine expert. Rockstar diagnostician. My mentor, and the man who started me on this path. You can read what he says about my coaching in Kudos.

  • To prolong the life of your wine, try Private Preserve. Its inert gas does the job easily and inexpensively. (I found out just how good it really is when I topped off a half-drunk bottle of Pontificis Grenache Syrah Mourvedre with it. When I remembered it 2 weeks later, the wine was still good! For the record, I do not recommend waiting 2 weeks to drink an opened bottle of wine.)

  • Chef Pat & Co — Though they offer all kinds of catering, I learned of Chef Pat at an event he and his daughter hosted for National Cheesecake Day. Their beautifully presented mini-portions made it easy to taste several varieties without feeling like the Michelin Man/Woman afterwards … and the flavors were delicious. My favorites were the Limoncello Cheesecake and — to my surprise and delight — the Rocky Road Cheesecake. Small and delectable treats: a perfect example of how one can live healthier happily.

  • City Scents Floral & Home create the most beautiful floral arrangements, and their customer service is stellar. (Flowers in my home make me happy. You too?)

  • Kress Apiary’s bees makes delicious honey, especially their Buckwheat Honey. It has a slight molasses-ish flavor, is less sweet than other honeys — and is one of the ingredients in my Healthy Chocolate Mousse. I also add it to my tea, and to yogurt (along with a handful of walnuts and a sprinkle of cinnamon). Honey is antibacterial and antiviral, and it has a lower glycemic index than sugar, making it a great way to add sweetness to your cooking without raising your blood sugar quite so much. You can generally find Kress Apiary’s honey at the Farmers Markets in Chicago.

  • Overachieving can be problematic. But laughter, and Liza Donnelly's cartoons, are always good medicine.

 
 

  • More recommendations to come. While I’m curating the list, please do check out my Gallery Pages: People, Places and Things, where you can see and buy my fine art images. How is that related to wellness, you ask? Photography and writing are part of how I maintain balance. Activities that require different types of creativity help keep our brains engaged, flexible and less likely to go into overload. (You know the phrase "I need to clear my head?" Like that.)