I find it interesting the different ways people pack for airline travel. When I was working in corporate America, I traveled 92% of the time. Packing and unpacking, staying in different hotels in numerous cities, made me very efficient living out of my roller bag. And because of that, I did learn a great deal about packing, especially my travel purse.

My travel schedule has increased this year going back and forth to the east coast to handle my aunt’s affairs. Though many people are hesitant to travel in light of COVID, I am not. Quite honestly, months ago when no one was traveling it was quite nice to fly around on nearly empty, clean airplanes. Now airports and airplanes are extremely crowded, and some of the pre-checking luxuries like CLEAR and airline clubs have limited hours.

My Purse

I never check a suitcase for two reasons. 1) I am an efficient packer. 2) My roller bag serves as a platform to carry my purse, taking unwanted pressure off my shoulders.

Style of Purse

The tote or satchel bag is my preferred purse style to carry onboard a plane. There is a direct correlation between the size of the satchel and the length of the flight or trip.

It needs to be big enough to carry my iPad/laptop and Kindle. My blue Coach bag has both handles and a shoulder strap so I have the option to carry it crossbody too. See similar purse here.

This particular Coach bag has 3 sections. The center section zips closed and the other two sections are large enough for me to carry the following.

Health Supplies

Since COVID, I now carry items that are essential to maintain good health on the road: Oil of oregano, Vitamin D, a probiotic, Vitamin C (in either lozenge, pill, or powder form), elderberry zinc lozenges, alcohol pads (for cleaning my phone), surgical gloves, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. I keep a small supply of these in my purse for easy access on the plane. For a more detailed description and links on some of these products, see below.

Since it is still a federal mandate to wear masks on the plane, I take a supply of Jaanuu masks in a small drawstring bag. This prevents me from wearing the same dirty one throughout the trip. Jaanuu face masks are made from the similar, soft fabric as their signature scrubs, which are treated with the Silvadur™ antimicrobial preservative technology. These face masks are washable and reusable, designed for durability, reinforced with a mesh lining, and feature comfortable, stretchable ear loops. You can find them here.

Other Essentials

Additional items in my purse include sunglasses and cleaning cloth, spare set of contact lenses, emery board, travel size cologne (liquid or solid), hand cream, a lipstick, business cards, purse hook and a set of rosary beads.

A purse hook is a travel must. Hanging your bag next to you in a restaurant is safer (and cleaner) than leaving it on the floor or chair next to you. Lots of purse hook choices here.

Travel Documents

For as long as I can remember, I always travel with printed travel documents. In a plastic sleeve, I keep hotel, car and airline confirmations. Once while traveling in Ireland, we went to a hotel with 3 very tired children, only to discover they had no reservation for us…..even though I had an email confirmation. Unfortunately, the hotel was completely booked and we had to scramble to find something else at the last minute.

As a result, I always carry confirmation of my trip’s details.

A Handy Checklist

How Does it Fit?

The Philosophy bag with the health supplies, lipstick, emery board, hand sanitizer and rosary beads, goes in the center of my Coach bag. One side pocket holds my wallet, sunglasses and masks. The other carries my travel documents and either laptop or Kindle.

When I first began writing this blog, I was hoping to share my overall packing strategies and travel clothes. But that will have to be for another time as I didn’t realize how much information would go into just talking about the items in my travel purse! If you have any fun travel packing tips, please share.

Heading to Washington, DC this week to help my son move to a new apartment. It will be such fun (and hard work) and looking forward to spending some quality time with him.

Not sure if I will be able to post while I’m gone, but if not, I’ll connect with you when I return. Stay safe out there.

Always remember to consult your physician before taking any supplements.

Oil of oregano: A 2017 studyTrusted Source found that oregano essential oil, especially from the leaves of the oregano plant, has strong antioxidant properties. The researchers noted the traditional use of oregano oil in treating fevers and respiratory symptoms, which are both associated with the flu. I purchase Gaia Oil of Oregano here.

Elderberry and Zinc: You will often see elderberry medication combined with zinc. Zinc has several studies showing that, if taken within 24 hours of cold symptoms, can reduce length and severity of said viral illness.  Zand Elderberry and Zinc lozenges can be found here.

Probiotic: I take a probiotic every day, especially when traveling. A healthy gut is the basis for good health. Probiotics are live microorganisms. When taken in sufficient amounts, they can help restore the natural balance of gut bacteria. I like UltraFlora Control by Metagenics. You can find it here.

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Let’s face it. We all get older. But don’t you find it interesting that there are people in their 70s that have more energy and joie de vivre than some people in their 40s? What is the secret to living life to its fullest and looking good in the meantime. I certainly don’t have all the answers but here are some ways I try to look and feel younger. Making an effort to improve your health, attitude, appearance and spiritual connections will enhance your life.

Posture and Shrinking

Working on your posture is W.O.R.K. However, if you do not, you will eventually be stooped over, look shorter and older.

There are several reasons why a person may lose some height as they age: osteoporosis, flattening of the feet, dehydration (which can cause our spinal discs to compress), stooped posture due to loss of core muscle strength.

The good news is that you can improve your posture and slow down shrinkage by exercising and eating right. Calcium and Vitamin D are key to building strong and healthy bones – but vitamin C and vitamin K also play an important role in bone health.  Strength exercises are a must, whether lifting weights, playing tennis, running or jogging, as they all contribute to bone health.

Bad habits that contribute to shrinking include slouching, a lack of physical activity, smoking, drinking alcohol or caffeine excessively, extreme dieting, taking steroids and poor nutrition.

Two years ago I had my first bone scan and I was surprised to find out that I have some bone density loss. Actually, it made me mad because at that time I was working out 6 days per week. So I consulted with my chiropractor, started using bone building supplements and changed my workout routine. The latest bone density scan test results show a big improvement~much to the surprise of my doctor.

Please check with your doctor before taking any supplements. I take one Strontium every morning and 2 Bone Builder Forte at night.

Sitting is the New Smoking

Get up and move. I try to limit the time I spend at my computer writing this blog, and I am always trying to practice good sitting posture. When I walk, I squeeze my shoulders together and engage my gluts, while holding in my abdomen. This very hard task isn’t something I am yet to retain throughout my walk, but I keep trying!

I cannot say enough about Pilates as I take a one hour class twice a week. This gets me to move in ways I typically wouldn’t and it is part of my weekly exercise program. Pilates keeps your core very strong which also helps with your posture. And it’s a wonderful community of like-minded women, who are trying to age the best way we can.

Keep Hydrated

Dehydration negatively affects the body in several ways. It is the main cause of heat exhaustion. It also leads to a loss of strength and stamina. Chronic dehydration will lead to kidney problems. For some reason, I have not been drinking enough water. Please join me in trying to drink half your body weight in ounces every day. There is a quick way to tell if you are not drinking enough. Check your urine. It should be a light straw color. And being hydrated plumps out the wrinkles!

Care for your skin and hair

Dry skin and dull hair just makes you looks older. There are so many products available at all different price points. Invest in a good haircut. Keep yourself groomed. It only takes a few minutes to tidy yourself up if your are going out in public. You will feel better and as a result, look better too. To see my skin care rituals, click here. Haircut by Roscoe at Pucci Salon.

Are you Happy?

We all look much better if we are smiling. Are you happy? If not, what can you do to add happiness to your life. Though life can certainly throw you curve balls, happiness is a choice.

My friend, Chloe recently sent me this quote from Pavana Reddy. “Your soul is attracted to people the same way flowers are attracted to the sun. Surround yourself only with those who want to see you grow”.

Quite honestly, dump those people in your life that are energy vampires. Life is too short to be robbed of your spiritual essence. Be happy. Keep smiling. To see my post about the Importance of Smiling, click here.

Limit your Media time

I no longer watch the news. It is the best thing I have done this year to promote positivity in my life. And I don’t care if I am not informed. So much of the news isn’t really news, but opinions and if something is monumental, I will hear about it. The benefits are enormous as I am no longer spending a few hours a day watching television and getting frustrated. Now, if I do watch television at the end of the day, it’s something happy before I head to bed.

Getting off of my smartphone is another goal of mine. There are some benefits with checking in a few times a day but if you find yourself spending hours watching other people’s lives, then it may be time to put the phone down and use that time for yourself. Studies show a correlation between social media and depression. For more information on this, click here.

Care for Others

If you focus your efforts on helping others, it’s amazing how good you will feel. Pick up the phone and call a friend. Help a neighbor or an animal. Get involved in your community. So many people need a helping hand and doing so will take your mind off your own problems and give you a sense of well being.

There are so many things we can do to increase our happiness and health. One of my top blog posts of all time, 10 Tips on Aging Well is full of even more information. See it here.

I am constantly trying to be a better, kinder, and more interesting person. My goal is to be active and as healthy as I can be until the day I die. Please share any tips you have on staying young at heart. We need to keep motivating each other!

Happy Wednesday, sweet friends!

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It is not very often in life when you get to go somewhere so magical, so unique that it leaves a lasting impression. Fortunately, for my birthday celebration, my sweet spouse arranged a visit to Castle Hot Springs. The kudos actually goes to my son who made us aware of this amazing destination (even though he lives in Washington, DC) based on this Wall Street Journal article.

History

Only 50 miles north of Phoenix, nestled in the Bradshaw Mountains, Castle Hot Springs opened in 1896 and was a wintertime retreat for Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Pews, Astors and Carnegies. The WSJ states, “It’s like a tornado picked up a five-star resort and dropped it in the middle of a desert valley”. Tycoons and captains of industry would take a Pullman car and then a long stagecoach ride to stay for the season.

Rich in history, Castle Hot Springs gets its name from the mineral-rich thermal waters running beneath the property. The healing properties of these waters, which flow at a rate of 200,000 gallons per day would take “frail boys and girls and develop them into robust manhood and womanhood”. John F. Kennedy recovered here for several months after his combat injuries, as this also served as a military rehabilitation center after World War II.

In 1976, a devastating fire destroyed the main lodge at the resort and the resort lay dormant for the next 40 years.

Fortunately, a local businessman and his wife purchased the property in 2014 and spent millions of dollars bringing it back to life. Their 5 year “passion project” on this 210-acre parcel is now my birthday experience! Dubbed the cousin to Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, this all inclusive resort has 32 rooms. Expansion plans are anticipated.

What makes this idyllic retreat so appealing, is that it is so hard to get to. The hotel sits at the end of an unpaved 7 mile road, which is subject to flash floods. But when you arrive, the scene is breathtaking.

Farm to Table

I love to garden and the gardens at Castle Hot Springs provide a large percentage of the food for the guests. Taking the farm tour from Ian, the head agronomist, is a lesson in new varieties and experimentation. Ian plants different types of fruits, vegetables and herbs producing fresh results at every meal. Striving to grow the most unique and diverse ingredients, the garden is more like his laboratory.

At the end of the tour, we sample the vegetables~some completely new hybrids grown only here at Castle Hot Springs.

Even the bartenders go out and pick fresh herbs to garnish their beverages, while creating a beautiful, fragrant display at the bar.

Unique touches, like using the stalk of a fava bean plant as a straw, is what makes this place so special.

Activities and Adventure

Naturally, there is a plethora of hiking trails. The rocks rise like a cathedral in the Bradshaw Mountains. The air is so clean and clear.

With a long and illustrious past, we visit the Wells Fargo cave~where the money was kept and guarded from bandits.

From horseback riding to helicopter tours, there are many activities to choose. We did archery, Wild West shooting of replica guns from the 1800 and 1900s. But the star of the show is the hot springs. Three pools with varying temperatures are nestled in the rocks above the resort. And without the typical rotten-egg smell most often associated with hot springs.

Even though we only stayed two nights, this adventure is filled with rest and relaxation. There is something sacred about this secret location. A 90 minute massage is also responsible for starting this birthday celebration off correctly!

I cannot say enough about the staff. You can tell from their demeanor that everyone loves working in this environment. We did feel both welcomed and pampered~just perfect.

What made this location so unique is all the history, the trailblazing spirit of the owners over time and now the Watts family has revitalized an important part of Arizona history. Experiencing it is indeed the best of birthday gifts.

Happy Tuesday! I have a very busy week in store as we are expecting our son to visit with six of his friends. Nothing better than a household full!

Special thanks to the staff that made our stay at the Castle Hot Springs memorable:

Bevin~you need to write the Bodacious Beverages by Bevin book

Ryan and Josh~thanks for being patient with my ambidextrous shooting

Eric, Robert, Amber, Shane and Sarah-thanks for making each meal memorable

Marcin~thanks for the lemon slice tutorial

Bradley~for the archery and transportation

Christy~such powerful and therapeutic hands

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Happy Easter (or Passover) weekend! The weather is certainly warmer in Phoenix but hoping it will get back down to something less than 88 degrees. Our Easter dinner will be small but we will do all the traditional family events just the same. Welcome to Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all things good and wonderful this week.

Amazing Online Magazine

I just discovered Chic & Country magazine and I am SO impressed. This virtual magazine comes out quarterly (I think) and you can access it anytime.

Chic & Country is a magazine about country style interiors with a touch of French chic and Nordic whites, featuring house tours, home stories, decor ideas, food recipes, flower design, gatherings’ styling, gardens and unique travel destinations. The subscription is $20.00 a year. This is my new go-to read just before bed. Here is the link.

Doing a 5K

My daughter has a goal to do 52 hikes annually. And she’s added a few 10Ks as well. As a result, I am supporting her efforts to be more active so I am participating by signing up for the same races~but only the 5Ks. I can no longer run, as my knees cannot tolerate the impact after multiple knee surgeries. In completing the Shamrock Run last month, I received this Mr.T-like medal and cool t-shirt, so I am looking forward to participating in the Hippity-Hop run today.

A 5K sounds impressive but it is only 3.11 miles and my fast walking time is about 50 minutes. The good news is that I can log my time and get another t-shirt and medal!

Disappointed with Results

One of my garden goals this year is to grow abundant amounts of strawberries. Typically I will buy starter plants from our local nursery, but this year I purchased strawberry starter roots online from Gurneys. Twenty root stock and crowns arrive and I plant them according to the instructions.

All the strawberry plants showed good signs of growth for a few weeks and now nearly 50% of them are dead. Literally. No reason, as I am taking care of them. Every day I go out to my garden another plant has died. So I am supplementing with locally grown starter plants from Whitfill. Live and learn, I guess.

Best Cake Ever

Hands down, my new favorite cake! I made this for my daughter’s birthday in March and am excited to make another for this weekend. It is a London Fog Cake~ a chocolate cake with coffee, smothered in Earl Grey tea infused buttercream and then drizzled with salted caramel sauce. Oh my.

The recipe is from my favorite cake cookbook, Layered, by Tessa Huff. Truly a winner. And if I have shared this with you before, it’s worth repeating…..it’s that good!

New Eating program

My metabolism is very slow, unfortunately. Unlike my son, who has an extremely fast metabolism, mine just chugs along. Barbara, from Mantel and Table, recommends this program to me to jump start my metabolism. We are both doing it for the next month.

I am completing my first week and love it so far! Grounded in real science and written by nutritionist, Haylie Pomroy, it’s a 28 day program. The hope is to mix things up and get my metabolism working at an optimal level. Will let you know how it goes! Here is a link to the book if you are interested.

Annual Lamb Cake

As a child, I have fond memories of Mom’s lamb cake at Easter. Made in a cast iron mold, this cake is now an annual tradition in our home. I will be baking it on Saturday, with an orange blossom cake recipe. So excited to try this new cake as right now, our orchard is filled with orange blossoms. If you would like to see a post on how the lamb cake is made, click here. Isn’t he cute?

Easter Dinner table

Since we are expecting a few more guests, Easter dinner will be in the dining room. A few weeks ago I did a post on a yellow and blue Easter table (see here), but for Sunday, this one is more blue and pink.

If you missed the post this week on these sweet decoupage eggs, click here. The block print tablecloth is just the right shade of blue for Spring. The bunny plates from Pottery Barn connect the patterns and colors in the Royal Doulton Juliet plates. Scattered about are birds, bunnies, and even a stone frog.

That wraps it up for Saturday Meanderings. I hope you have a glorious and blessed weekend. My goal is to stay away from my phone and social media and just relax a little. I know I will be making adjustments to the Easter dinner so I do not stray from my new eating plan, but it will still be wonderful to share it with family and friends.

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursdays #654

Being well into our citrus season, I am taking advantage of all the different fruits available to us. A typical day means a walk to the orchard to pick an orange or tangerine or kumquat from a tree. However, this year, my Lisbon lemon tree did not produce anything. I am so grateful to neighbors for their lemon contributions to me. So today’s post is about lemon love and all the recipes I love making with these gorgeous yellow gems.

Eureka and Lisbon lemons grow well here in Phoenix. Meyer Lemons, with their thinner skins and less tart flavor are harder to come by. But now is the time to use all the fresh lemons, because at least here, once the season is over, lemons get very expensive. Plus, can’t we all use a little more Vitamin C?

Since I am on a lemon-make-all-you-can now mode, here are my favorite lemon recipes with lots of lemon love.

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

The very first time these delicate pancakes passed my lips, I was at the dreamy Shutters on the Beach restaurant in Santa Monica, California. Every time I taste these, I am back at the beachfront restaurant smelling the ocean air.

So the recipe I use is actually from this restaurant and can be found in The Summertime Anytime cookbook by Dana Slatkin. For the full post with recipe and yummy pictures, click here.

Joann’s Lemon Cake

My sweet friend and art instructor, Joann shares her DELICIOUS lemon cake recipe. What makes this loaf cake special, is the lemon syrup that gets absorbed into the cake after baking. Similar to a pound cake with lots of lemon flavor, this is perfect for dessert or with coffee or tea.

For the recipe and more detailed instructions, click here.

Lemon Curd

Prompted by a request from my neighbor, Karleen, I decide to make lemon curd. Lemon curd is a fruit spread and is often used instead of jam on scones or toast. It can also be a filling for cakes, small pastries and tarts. The lemon filling in a lemon meringue pie is lemon curd.

Since it doesn’t keep as well as jam, it is generally made in small quantities.

With only a few ingredients (eggs, lemons, butter, sugar), you too can whip this up in a short period of time. And it tastes WAY better than store bought lemon curd. Now I need to make some scones! Recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction is found here.

Lemon Blueberry Bread~gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free

Who doesn’t love the combination of lemons and fresh blueberries? Using coconut and almond flour, this loaf is easy to make. The berry icing is just so tasty on top. The recipe is from Ambitious Kitchen and you can find the blog post with further instructions here.

Freshly made Lemonade with a twist

Everyone loves fresh lemonade but have your tried it with other flavors? This Basil Lemonade is a family favorite. The addition of basil simple syrup takes the taste up a notch!

The blog post also includes strawberry lemonade, which is especially delicious on a hot summer’s day. See it all here.

Limoncello

Limoncello is a lemon liquor which is mainly produced in southern Italy. It is typically served chilled and after dinner as an aperitif. If you have a lot of lemons (this recipe uses 11), you may want to try this. And I wonder if this recipe counts as getting your daily dosage of Vitamin C…..See post here.

Farfalle Pasta with Lemon Chicken and Herb Salad

I know I mention Preserved Lemons ALOT, but this is one of my favorite ways to use them (thanks for my friend, Kim for the recipe). With a new batch of preserved lemons in the refrigerator, it will be very soon when I can make this again. The fresh greens, chicken, pasta and those luscious preserved lemon morsels will be a guaranteed hit at the family dinner table.

Recipe for both the pasta dish and lemons is here.

Benefits of Lemon Water

If you don’t feel like cooking or baking, now is the time to take advantage of fresh lemons. Here are the top 10 reasons why you should be drinking lemon water according to PositiveMed.

• Boosts your immune system
• Balances pH
• Helps with weight loss
• Aids in Digestion
• Diuretic
• Clears skin
• Freshens breath
• Relieves respiratory congestion (use warm water)
• Keeps you Zen
• Help kicks the coffee habit

I am hoping you are excited about these recipes, as there are even more in older blog posts. Yesterday, I made a batch of Meyer Lemon Marmalade (my absolute favorite) and will be spreading that on a piece of my Lemon Rosemary Gruyere sourdough bread today.

Have a blessed Wednesday!

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This post shared with Thursday Favorite Things #476.

When we bought this home, I didn’t realize how much I would love having an orchard. Located on the southern part of our parcel, the orchard is about 200 feet long. The rectangular shape is perfect for entertaining, as we host many dinners here in the Orchard.

Historically, I do not know how old the orchard is. The previous owners planted the kumquat tree in celebration of a wedding anniversary. I do know this tree is decades old. Based on the size of some of the adjoining date palms, the orchard has been part of this property for a very long time.

My husband built a support structure for the overhead lights which creates a magical setting at night.

The orchard is abundant with citrus this time of year.  Our tangerine tree is bursting with fruit, so much so that the limbs are drooping from the weight.

In the orchard, we have 7 different types of oranges with one of the best juice orange trees around. The children tell us that if we ever sell the house, we will need to take this orange tree with us!

Four grapefruit trees, both pink and white, two tangerines, limes, lemon, a kumquat and limequat tree round out the citrus selection.

One year I did make kumquat preserves and I must admit, it is challenging. For such tiny fruit, there are many seeds. After de-seeding them, which took hours, this is my first and perhaps my last attempt at this recipe.

We also have stone fruit in the orchard. Both apricot and peach trees will be sharing their beautiful fruit with us in May/June.

Though it seems a bit counterintuitive, we can grow apples here in Phoenix. The only downside is that they are ready to pick in June. My fantasies of apple picking revolve around cold weather, sweaters and autumn colors. But here, in the triple digit temperatures, you will find me picking our Anna apples.

Since we do not have a watering system in the orchard, it gets a deep watering monthly in the winter and twice a month in the summer. Flood irrigation is such an affordable way to water here. For a small annual fee, the Salt River Project provides water through irrigation gates to the property.

The dogs LOVE to run through the water. Fun for them but a bit messy for us.

Now, more than ever, we are getting lots of fresh Vitamin C with our citrus pickings. Last year, we had so much fruit, that we donated several boxes to the neighborhood.

But in the meantime, I hope to make my delicious Meyer Lemon Marmalade (see recipe here) and Preserved Lemons (see recipe here).

Make sure you are getting your dosage of Vitamin C daily and hopefully you are somewhere with an abundance of citrus so you can make these recipes. You will not be disappointed.

Hope you are having a terrific Wednesday!

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