Life Style & Travel

UNITED STATES—Narcissus, daffodil, grape hyacinth and early blooming bearded iris are some of the earliest, and probably the easiest of spring bulbs, although bearded iris do not always bloom early in their first season. Crocus, freesia and harlequin flower are just as early, but not always as eager to naturalize (bloom annually after the first year). Anemone, rananculus, hyacinth,...

HOLLYWOOD—A mainstay of 30 pounds in 30 days is eating only fruit before noon and having a big ole salad when you dine on meat or beans later in the day.  It can’t be simpler than that. At the heart of this lies the concept of eating light to heavy. Fruit is considered light because it is quick digesting. Cheese...

UNITED STATES—It’s a debate that has been ongoing for decades.  Is the tomato a fruit or vegetable?  By all accounts it has been deemed a fruit, but in my opinion, the tomato is not sweet enough to be classified as a fruit. In my opinion, it’s a vegetable. However, of all the fruits and vegetables out there, the tomato...

UNITED STATES—Some vegetables you stumble upon by mistake.  One of those veggies that never caught my attention until a few years back was butternut squash. I saw the veggie being cooked in a dish on Food Network and I had to try it. It’s a member of the squash family; and it’s notably popular during the winter months. When...

UNITED STATES—Tropical plants are clueless. They do not understand that autumn is just prior to winter, when the weather may get uncomfortably cool. Philodendron selloum continues to develop fresh new leaves that mature slowly in cool autumn weather, and may consequently lack resiliency to frost in winter. Vegetable plants and flowering annuals are not so ignorant, which is why...

  HOLLYWOOD—When you eat is just as important as what you eat. Set designated mealtimes, and stick to these times faithfully. Otherwise, you’ll be doing something else. Do not eat unless it is mealtime. It’s that simple. And do not eat within three hours before bedtime.  That practice is set in stone.  Do I do it? Not always; but if...

UNITED STATES—I have many fruits that I enjoy, but if there is one fruit that propels to the top of my list it’s the cherry.  It’s a fruit that is so seasonal I literally can’t wait until the summer months when the fruit becomes available for purchase.  It’s important to note that the best time to purchase cherries is...

UNITED STATES—Corn is a vegetable that in my opinion is not really a vegetable. The reason for that is the fact that the taste is so sweet.  When we think of vegetables, rarely do we think of them tasting good for us.  Usually, they are bitter, have a taste that is difficult to get past, but not corn. Sweet corn...

UNITED STATES—Even without significant cool weather, the garden knows that it is now autumn. Most of the late summer blooming flowers are finishing their last bloom phases. Leaves of some of the deciduous trees, shrubs and vines are already changing color, and some are already falling. Perennials that are dormant through winter are already starting to deteriorate.One of the...

  HOLLYWOOD—A keystone to losing 30 pounds in 30 days, as well as successfully promoting lifelong weight management, is routine exercise--especially daily exercise in the morning. Non-negotiable. Around 20 minutes of moderate pre-breakfast physical activity jump starts the process of becoming toned and feeling stoked. Look at it this way, without daily exercise you can eat healthy all you like, and...