Happy New Year

Every New Year represents a  new beginning. Old mistakes can be corrected and forgotten, wrongs can be forgiven and washed away, we can learn from past failures, and new goals can be created. January 1st brings new hope that the world will be a better place -- if we do our part to make it so.

Here's some tips on making 2024 a fantastic year for yourself and others:

Work hard, and don't expect free handouts from others.

Live a simpler life, save your money, and pay down your debt.

Eat healthy, exercise, and manage your stress effectively.

Set aside time to work on your hobbies and spend time with loved ones.

Protect the vulnerable people around you -- children, the elderly, and those weaker and more frail than you.

Be kind to animals.

Stand up to bullies and those who enjoy harassing and threatening others.

Do not make politics and political conflict the center of your life.

Study the issues from both sides and make informed and intelligent decisions.

Go to church, show gratitude and humility, and engage in spiritual practices like prayer.

Embrace all people, denounce violence, and be tolerant of different viewpoints and cultures.

Above all, love yourself -- and be good to yourself.

Have a healthy, prosperous, and happy 2024!

Dawn Pisturino

December 30, 2023

Heavenly Christmas Music

 

While cleaning my daughter's bedroom yesterday in anticipation of her arrival home for Christmas, I was listening to a lovely video on YouTube that featured the most heavenly Christmas music! I was overwhelmed by feelings of peace and joy. The sky outside loomed large with gray clouds and impending rain. It was the perfect day to sleep and relax and do nothing. But Christmas is a busy time of year. I finished my cleaning before sitting down in the easy chair. Contemplating the peacefulness that Christmas is supposed to be, I thought about my many loved ones. The world and all of its terrible problems seemed far away. I was more than happy to isolate myself inside the house, snug and warm, away from the rest of humanity and all of its conflicts. 

This year, as the world engages in war and political strife, let's try to be a force for good and peace around our own Christmas tables. Avoid controversial topics of conversation and just enjoy each other's company. Appreciate what you have and do not compare yourself to others. Do not engage in race baiting, political debates, or religious controversies. Protect and honor the children in your family. Christmas is a precious time of year for children and families, in particular. For one day, forget about your troubles and worries and just enjoy the holiday.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dawn Pisturino

Thanksgiving Prayer

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

October Prayer for Children and Parents

 

October Prayer for Children and Parents:

Father, we pray that the heart of the parents will be toward their children, and the heart of the children will be toward their parents. Give our children obedient hearts that they may obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right. Grant them the will to honor their father and mother that it may go well with them and that they may enjoy long life on the earth in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Based on Ephesians 6:1–3. 

From Prayers.org

Dawn Pisturino

Christmas Dinner from the 1950s Housewife

 

(Photo from Click America - 1956 Christmas table setting)

Christmas Dinner 1950s Style

Note the formal table setting above. Elegant, polished, shining, and decorative. Polishing the silver was a long and tedious job, but so worthwhile! Beautiful!

Christmas Dinner Menus

Menu #1:

Oyster Cocktails in Green Pepper Shells

Celery and Ripe Olives

Roast Goose with Potato Stuffing

Apple Sauce

String Beans

Potato Puffs

Lettuce Salad with Riced (Grated) Cheese and Bar-le-Duc (currant jam)

French Dressing

Toasted Wafers

English Plum Pudding

Bonbons

Coffee

Menu #2:

Cream of Celery Soup

Cheese Sticks, Salted Peanuts, and Stuffed Green Olives

Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding

Potato Souffle

Spinach in Eggs (hard-boiled eggs filled with cooked spinach)

White-Grape Salad with Guava Jelly (peeled and de-seeded white grapes on lettuce leaves)

French Dressing

Toasted Crackers

English Plum Pudding with Hard sauce

Bonbons

Coffee

(Menus from The American Woman's Cook Book, 1950)

Christmas Cocktail Parties

(Cocktail wiener tree.)

Cocktail parties were popular in the 1950s, and the Christmas cocktail party was no exception.

Favorite drinks:

martinis

daiquiris

mint juleps

whisky sours

champagne cocktails

punch laced with alcohol

Appetizers:

Finger foods such as canapes, Vienna sausages, cocktail wieners, cheese, deviled eggs, and olives.

Sweets such as petits fours, candies, cookies, and other small desserts.

1950s Cocktail dresses:

1950s Christmas tree with lots of tinsel!

Christmas is timeless, however it's celebrated.

Dawn Pisturino

December 13, 2021

Copyright 2021 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

Practicing Gratitude - Conversation Starters for Thanksgiving Dinner

 

Practicing Gratitude - Conversation Starters for Thanksgiving Dinner

1. Name two things you are thankful for this year.

2. Who are you thankful for, and why?

3. What part of nature is inspiring and beautiful to you?

4. What is something that makes you laugh out loud?

5. What is an unexpected blessing you've received this year?

6. Choose someone you are with and share three things you admire and appreciate about that person.

7. What is something you love about your family?

8. How are you going to practice gratitude this year?

Happy Thanksgiving 2021!

Dawn Pisturino

November 18, 2021

     

Your Own Best Friend

Once we have made the commitment to achieve a higher level of wellness, there are a few things we need to consider.

First off, making that kind of commitment could be interpreted as selfishness by the people around us.  Our spouses may not want us to go out jogging while they lay on the couch watching TV.  After all, this is an activity that has been shared for many years, and now that situation has suddenly changed.  They may feel abandoned.  They may feel threatened or afraid.  Hopefully, they will get the message and get up and join us.

Our kids may not be ready to give up mom or dad to activities that take us away from them.  They may become more demanding or attention-seeking.  On the other hand, there are many activities in which they can participate.  They, too, can achieve a higher level of wellness.

People who do not understand may try to discourage us.  Since they do not see anything wrong with themselves, they may tell us we are wasting our time.

Secondly, wellness can be costly.  Fitness center memberships and work-out gyms can cost a lot of money, especially if they go unused.  If choosing to buy organic foods, be prepared for a higher grocery bill.  Vitamins and other supplements can also lighten your wallet.

So what is the answer?

Take a moment to consider, "Who is my best friend?"

If you did not name yourself, then you need to reconsider your commitment to wellness.  In order to win on the path to wellness, you must first be your own best friend.  You must first be your own best nurse, doctor*, partner, fitness coach, mother, spiritual adviser, and cheerleader.  You must believe in yourself, your efforts, and your ability to succeed.

Make the choice.  Make the commitment.  Have faith in yourself.  Stay focused on what you are trying to achieve and stick with it.  This is not a commitment to last a day, a month, or a year.  This is a commitment to last a lifetime.

Dawn Pisturino, RN
November 2, 2006

*Check with your doctor before engaging in exercise that may be harmful to your health. Even yoga and simple exercises can cause injury. Make sure that herbs and supplements do not interfere with your prescribed medications. Watch out for medical scams that promise miraculous cures. Watch out for practitioners who offer questionable therapies. DO NOT GO AGAINST YOUR DOCTOR'S MEDICAL ADVICE. DO NOT STOP TAKING PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS UNLESS ORDERED AND SUPERVISED BY YOUR PSYCHIATRIST. DO NOT USE STREET DRUGS. Being "your own best doctor" means taking responsibility for your health, NOT self-diagnosing, NOT self-prescribing, and NOT self-medicating. If necessary, go to the emergency room and get the help you need.