In this new column, it is my intention to share decor, repurposing and organizing ideas, elevating everyday life while keeping it fun and affordable.

“Crystal” I love drinking out of a crystal glass, milk, juice, water.  I’m not talking about stemware, but a regular drinking glass.  There’s something about crystal that makes everyday feel special.  Lots of people keep crystal tucked in that special occasion cupboard; lets make everyday a special occasion.  I had to get crystal glasses at a department store, grumbling about the cost. Having mentioned the price here is what I love to do “thrift stores” they have all kinds of kitchenware; I like to purchase crystal glasses in pairs. Now, I have an eclectic collection of crystal drinking glasses, found at a fraction of the cost.  Not to mention, that buying at thrift stores gives back to the community.

A crystal dish is perfect, for jewelry, loose change or as a soap dish, adding  a touch of elegance and a new purpose for a crystal dish.

For that little something unexpected, use a crystal decanter as a vase, remember to set the stopper at the base or attach it to the top of the decanter using jute or raffia, let the stopper rest against the side of the decanter.  Simple store bought flowers or dried grasses repurpose a forgotten piece into something unexpected.

Quick Tip: Finding crystal glasses at thrift stores takes a little knowledge, cut crystal is the easiest spot.  Do what I call the flick test!  Flick the top rim of the glass it should resonate with a distinct echoing musical tone, a glass will have a dull thud sound.  Elevate your everyday life, by drinking out of crystal.

Stay tuned… continuing to love your space.

Roxanne Griese is an Artist, decorating and organizing are her passions, to see more articles and artwork visit www.artbyroxanne.ca.

One of the principle food ingredients that can lower blood cholesterol is plant sterols and they can be found in everyday foods.

By Frederick and Christine Cheng, Pharmacists

New Year, New You

Most people begin the New Year with good intentions to fulfill their New Year’s resolutions, but all too often, these resolutions fall to the wayside because they are too grand and too difficult to follow through on. So, what can be done to help us keep these resolutions? In general, keep your goals realistic, specific, and meaningful.

Exercise: Increasing the amount of physical activity can be beneficial in many ways including reducing your risk of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and obesity. The recommended amount of exercise for those over 65 years of age is 150minutes of aerobic exercise per week. This may seem like a lot, but this can be divided into 10 minute chunks of time. Choose something that you enjoy, whether it be walking briskly, hiking, swimming, or dancing. And during the cold winter months, consider joining a mall-walking club, walking up and down your stairs, or exploring the halls of your apartment building. Strength training is also important and can be done by lifting light weights or soup cans, walking up and down stairs, or sitting down and standing up in rapid succession repeatedly. Strengthening your muscles can improve your balance and reduce the risk of falling. Make sure to chat with your doctor before starting any exercise regimen.

Medication review: The New Year is the perfect time to have a sit-down with your doctor and/or pharmacist to review your medications and to make sure you are getting the most out of your medication therapy.

Healthy eating: Developing healthy eating habits can be a challenge, but keeping the following guidelines in mind can make things easier. Include fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet; in particular choose dark green vegetables (e.g., broccoli, asparagus, gai lan) and orange vegetables (e.g., carrots, sweet potatoes). If you’re taking warfarin, let your doctor know if you’re increasing the amount of dark green vegetables in your diet as this can affect your INR reading.  Switch to whole grain products such as brown rice and whole wheat bread instead of their white counterparts and consider including oatmeal as part of your breakfast. Choose lower fat milk and milk products and use unsaturated oils such as olive or canola in your cooking. A good multivitamin is often beneficial even to the healthiest of diets.

Weight Loss: Increasing your physical activity and making healthy food choices are an important foundation to healthy weight loss. If cravings are your weakness, consider PGX to help increase the feeling of fullness. Keeping healthy snacks on hand is also important. Consider Hemp Hearts (also available in bar form) as they are a good source of protein and good fats.

Quit smoking: It really is never too late to quit smoking. The benefits are numerous and undeniable: your sense of smell and taste will improve, the risk of having a heart attack decreases, your cancer risk decreases, your lung function improves, and fatigue and shortness of breath are reduced…and this is just to name a few. Remember that most people need more than one try to quit. Remember: choosing the right method to help you quit will increase your chances of quitting so talk to your doctor or pharmacist to learn about all the options, some of which are government sponsored.

Good luck!  Here’s to the start of a wonderful, joyful, healthy year!

(Christine and Fred Cheng are a sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique family-owned and operated Pharmasave in Cloverdale, BC.  They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use.  They would love to hear from you! www.cloverdalepharmasave.com)

By Ursula Maxwell-Lewis

“You’ll need a cardigan, young lady!” Q calls across Hoboken’s W Hotel lobby. “It’s cool out there this morning!” Quimby fields queries, tour bookings, and clearly monitors the weather from behind a computer next to a paperweight declaring: WHATEVER. WHEREVER.

I’m in New York with my youngest daughter, Hilary. She flew in from Calgary. I arrived from Seattle. We’re making a 3-day Mom and Daughter Getaway Memory prior to her business meetings. A United Airlines ticket I won enabled me to zip to the Big Apple for the first time in 30 years.

Hoboken, a $2 and 15-minute subway ride from its frenetic New York City neighbour, was once home to Frank Sinatra. Ol’ Blue Eyes all influenced or choice of location. We’ve been invited to join a Green Onion Walking Tour, Immigrant New York, through the multi-ethnic Lower East Side. Our subway stop is Ground Zero. I have to admit, seeing the sign chilled me.  Christina, our art history graduate guide, rallies our small group at City Hall corner.

For the next two hours our fast-paced crash course on the founding Dutch, Italian, Irish and Jewish history, civics and architecture generates a strangely satisfying feeling in us. It’s a good framework for the balance of our mini-holiday.

One less-travelled block – the African Burial Ground at 290 Broadway – makes a particular impact.  Years ago excavation crews stumbled upon 419 skeletal remains in an unmarked 17th and 18th century 6.6 acre burial ground for free and enslaved Africans. It had been specifically located outside the boundaries of what had then been the New Amsterdam settlement (now New York City).

Decades of development and landfill had camouflaged the tragic cemetery with the shameful history. Today, thanks to the African-American community, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and other partners, these forgotten people rest in dignity and honour. “Even though we can’t call their names, we know them,” said Dean Bernard L. Richardson during the re-interment ceremony.

Solemnly, silently, we walk, read, and reflect: Burial 5- Infant – Burial 82 – Woman – Burial 363 – Child. Names unknown. The day is grey. Sounds of the great city once enslaving these nearly forgotten souls rumbles around us. 20th anniversary site celebration wreaths bloom nearby. We are moved; glad we came.

On the outskirts of Chinatown our route includes Foley Square (a recent Occupy Wall Street site). Now surrounded by noted civic buildings, five bronze medallions set into the sidewalk tell assorted tales. Located over Collect Pond, the original city fresh water source site, this is also the notorious Five Points gangland neighbourhood. In 1811 the pond, which had become polluted and suspected of triggering typhus and cholera outbreaks, was drained and filled in. The rest of day we explore Little Italy. Hilary, the bag and scarf maven spies a shop stocking 1,000 bags. Bonus! Endless assortment of $5 scarves, too! Inside, Hilary requests a specific brand name bag.  The cryptic response? “Knock on the mirror at the back.”

Like a couple of bad actors, we comply. A door swings open to reveal an Aladdin’s cave of bags. A lone good-humored guy ‘adjusting’ the stash, waves us in. On departure he bags our choice, pencils in the price for the front desk, and admits another surprised shopper.

Day two means test-driving our New York CityPASS. Reputed to save 50% on major attraction tickets, we head for the Empire State Building. The lines seem endless, but advance steadily. An hour later at the top we admire the view, check out the landmarks and snap shots of ourselves with the city spread out behind us.  I note the difference – in the city and myself – from my last trip with friends in 1969. What a delight to be able to share it again with my daughter. I drag her off to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (another CityPASS coupon). We detour through Central Park admiring children sailing little boats, ducks, mimes and music. She wants to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. We join the throngs, admire the structure, and enjoy just ‘being there together”. Trump Tower is on her list. Rockefeller Centre is on mine (again).

Her request for Grand Central Station yields a delightful surprise. “Through My Window”, a solo exhibition by Korean photographer AHAE, enchants us both. Displayed in the Vanderbilt Hall are some of the one million photographs taken from his window during one year. Capturing daily details of nature, colour, textures and wildlife focuses our attention and inspires respect.

On Sunday I’m off to La Guardia while Hilary heads for a Circle Line Cruise armed with another New York CityPASS coupon. I’ve seen the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan skyline from the Staten Island ferry in the past, but still envy her the sunny afternoon and great shots she captures as I jet back to Seattle.

We wanted to be a part of it, New York, New York and we were. Magical memories.

Ursula Maxwell-Lewis is a travel writer, photographer and a founding director of Surrey International Writers’ Conference.

 Article & photos by Lenora A. Hayman.

On Nov.16, 2010, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added the cuisines of Mexico to the Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Ancestral recipes have been protected and are unique to the cultural identity of Mexican communities.

The Mexico Tourism Board in Vancouver in association with UBC Continuing Studies invited our group to the UBC Vancouver Campus Food, Nutrition and Health Building for a Cooking Appreciation Night with Chef Rossana Ascencio. We would be cooking a couple of courses and observing other meals being created from the sacred trilogy of corn, beans and chiles. Remember; don’t call a chile a pepper!

Chef Rossana explained that many foods have originated in Mexico such as tomatoes, which are a fruit and not a vegetable, and pumpkins. In the 1520’s the Spanish Conquistador Hernan Cortes introduced to Europe, vanilla derived from orchids and chocolate, from the beans in the cacao pod. Our popular Thanksgiving and Christmas bird when imported from Mexico into Turkey, took its name from that country.

Sixty indigenous groups, descendants of the Maya, Aztec, Olmec and others, and also “Mestizos” with Indigenous and European ancestry, Afro-Mexicans, Jewish, Middle Eastern, Asian and Mennonites have all enriched the cuisine.

Our groups of four overseeing each kitchen station, had fun cooking for our supper.

Our cream corn soup with shreds of poblano chile required roasting the poblano over an open fire, or under the broiler, until the skin blackened to add a smoky flavour and finishing with freshly, fried, crispy, julienned tortilla chips.

We accompanied this with tostaditas de chorizo con papas and salsa verde- fried, open-faced corn tortillas, spread with refried black beans, a mixture of Mexican chorizo sausage, yellow potatoes, topped with chiffonade(thinly sliced crosswise) Romaine lettuce, crème fraiche, cheese, green tomatillos, jalapenos and cilantro topping.

Mole originated from the Nahuatle word “mole” meaning concoction. On a previous trip to Puebla, Mexico, I had learned that according to legend, Mother Superior Sr. Andrea of Santa Rosa Convent in Puebla had wished to honour the Archbishop who

commanded the convent be built for her Order. In her haste to create his meal, chocolate was mixed with the chile spices and mole poblano was born.

Our spicy, mole rojo, drizzled over a chicken breast, had both Pasillo and Ancho chiles and Mexican oregano. Mexican oregano is more savory than the rosemary/pine flavour of our oregano. There was a side of the Mexican vegetable chayote, a member of the gourd family and known in Australia and New Zealand, as choko or vegetable pear.  Wee chochoyotas, the masa dumpling with a dimple in each centre garnished the meal.

We concluded with a fresh, strawberry mousse-like dessert, topped with golden brown fried tortilla chips tossed in cinnamon and sugar.

Check Chef Rossano Ascencio’s website: www.culinaryencanto.com for happy, Mexican Culinary Classes paired of course with a drop of wine.

Design, repurposing and organizing ideas to help live in your space beautifully, every day.

By Roxanne Griese

Recently I found a mid century vinyl stool, forgotten and unloved. Once the vinyl was cleaned; I conditioned it with Armor All cleansing wipes. I discovered the vinyl was in pristine condition complete with gold piping. My intention was to recover the stool, quite pleasantly surprised, I left the vinyl cover in original condition. To add a touch of a contemporary feel, I added hammered upholstery tacks round the base for some interesting detail. When thinking of recovering a stool or a throw cushion; look in your closet! A favorite old cashmere sweater, shirt or another piece of clothing can make a sensational new cover full of memories.
I repurposed the stool as a plant stand for a fern from the back deck, making sure the fern was “pet” free and fertilized, it now looks fantastic on a repurposed mid century vinyl stool. It also comes in handy as an extra seat for the grandkids or to rest weary toes.
Recovering is easy! Once, the legs and base are removed, use a flat head screw driver to pry up the staples, pulling them off with pliers, keep the old cover as a pattern. Cut the new material leaving and inch or so extra, then place the fabric face down and put the stool on top. Simply staple the fabric to the bottom side, I use the 4 corner method around the entire stool, pleat the fabric and stapled evenly; then reassemble the stool.
Quick Tip: Keep Bulldog steel wool and a sanding block on hand, they are perfect for refinishing and light sanding projects. Check the foam and batting when recovering, it may need to be replaced.

Stay tuned… Hopefully some ideas can be used, continuing to live in your space beautifully.

Roxanne Griese is an Artist, decorating and organizing are her passions, to see more articles and artwork visit www.artbyroxanne.ca.

By Rick Millikan 

While Nieuw Amsterdam shipmates cruise homeward across the mid-Atlantic, we investigate Lisbon, fascinating capital of one of Europe’s earliest empires. Nowadays nicknamed the San Francisco of Europe, Lisbon’s Golden Gate, the magnificent Vasco da Gama Bridge spans the Tagus River. Its electric trams climb steep hillsides. And yes, this city also has earthquakes.  Our taxi driver points out a huge statue honoring Marquis de Pompal, who directed reconstruction after its most horrific quake.

From Pompal’s statue, Avenida Libertad’s black and white mosaic walkway leads us under leafy arcades toward bustling downtown. Though many historic structures were devastated in 1755, what was built afterward intrigues us. We pass art nouveau and 18th century baroque buildings, often embellished by tiles displaying mythic animals, angels and traditional Moorish patterns. Entering sunny Rosio Plaza Ornate, we’re surrounded by more wondrously ornate architecture. The train station’s filigreed and fluted ‘Manulene’ façade presents a 16th century Moorish flair.

In Plaza San Pedro, two fountains flank an impressive column topped with the statue of the plaza’s namesake Pedro IV, King of Portugal and First Emperor of Brazil. On one side, Donna Maria II, a 19th century post-classic theatre replaced an earlier inquisition palace. Pastel edifices embrace the other three sides; paved pedestrian-only marble streets fan north, south and to the west where pink-arcaded ministry buildings border Commerico, a third plaza.

Nearby stands a renaissance cathedral that triumphantly withstood Lisbon’s horrific quake. The façade bordering its large portal features a series of angels in prayer. Another survivor, 15th century ‘Casa de Bicos’ sprouts hundreds of stony ‘bicos,’ pyramidal protrusions.

Aboard a trolley, we wind upward through Alfama’s narrow streets to Castle of St. George.  Inside the primary gate, we circle its lower wall viewing its brass cannons and magnificent city panoramas.  Crossing a medieval moat through a second gate, we examine the main fortification and try to imagine how hundreds of soldiers lived in this austere setting.  Well-worn steps lead a lofty series of interwoven ramparts and into impressive outer turrets.

Two archeological sites stretch below these walls: a Moorish settlement and first century Roman administrator’s dwelling. And a former royal palace serves as a museum exhibiting artifacts of the cultures that long occupied this fortified hill.  Pottery chards and tiles reflect their techniques and artistry. Stamps on their earthenware vessels reflect this area’s historic production of olive oil and wine. Descending through a maze of streets, we pass locals, looking like descendants of those ancient Moors.

At the edge of another sunny plaza, Chris spots a small plaque dedicated to the Fado, Portugal’s traditionally acclaimed music.  A sweet melancholic example emanates from a local bar.  Though no expert, I recognize the expressive singer, Amalia Rodriques, beloved fado queen. Interestingly, we also find a garden dedicated to her near our hotel. Our day ends inside a corner pasteleria where we savor traditional vegetable soups and delicious breads filled with salami and roast pork.

The next morning a clattering trolley carries us along the Tagus River to Bellem Tower.  Constructed during the Age of Discovery, this four-story ornate gateway was defensive and ceremonial.  A short stroll away, Monument to Discoveries rises 52-metres above a mosaic world map depicting routes of Portuguese explorers. Aboard its sculpted ship-prow stand statues of prominent royalty, missionaries, cartographers, scientists and explorers; da Gama, Magellan and Cabral flank Henry the Navigator.

Southward, Lisbon’s 1998 World’s Fair site remains largely intact near 17-kilometer Vasco da Gama Bridge. Here the world commemorated 500 years of discovery largely initiated by the Portuguese. So, our delightful investigations conclude with further reflections on Lisbon’s past glory, fascinating culture as well as promising future.

When You Go:

* Holland America ships offer three summer European itineraries and five springtime Caribbean cruises.  Check out the possibilities at: www.hollandamerica.com