Culinary Thrill Seekers, settle down with your cold brew or pumpkin spice whatever and enjoy these offering. They focus on enjoying your food, eats for the birds and more. Beverage, pillow, books… Thanks for letting me share with y’all!

 

My Sandstorm - So just when I was medically directed to put my feet up. I'm enjoying Vant accent pillows in Velvet/Sandstorm. Is the best part that they're so luxurious I want to pet them, that even the zipper is stylish or that they're washable? They sure offer comfort when it's time to read a good book. Natural colors come with descriptions of suede, boucle and microfiber. This company has wall panels to upscale the look behind your bed and decor that put me in the mind of the best parts of comfy hotel rooms. Just sneak a peek at  www.vantpanels.com 

 

Bizzy Cold Brew – What’s your roast profile?I typically would go for their brew beans, but since some innovative guys have also bottled some amazing cold brews ready to pour, I went there. Cup after cup, it’s waiting for you in the fridge. I actually prefer a clear glass tumbler to see that rich color and hear a tinkle of ice. And there are easy recipes, like for Chocolate Coffee Banana Ice Cream. Would you have thought to mix cold brew with tonic water and cherry syrup? I’m talking innovative. www.bizzycoldbrew.com

 

“This is What You’re Really Hungry For”  - If you already get plenty of water and sleep, and eat mindfully, without distractions, you're about halfway through this plan.

Energize with 10,000 steps a day and Kim Shapira's book will get you where you want to be.

Hardest part: Eating what you love and only when you are hungry. Really.

The subtitle is "Six Simple Rules to Transform Your Relationship with Food to Become Your Healthiest Self." She is mythbusting. I believe people often don't realize when we are actually hungry and we eat for many reasons. I'll let you experience the book, but here's a jump start to help foodies:

 

·           Slow down when you eat.

·           Take a breath between bites.

·           Use your napkin more often.

·           Stop to sip water.

·           Take smaller bites.

·           Put less on your fork, so you put less in your mouth.

·           Eat by yourself (without time pressures).

·           Breathe - Picture a balloon in your lower stomach and with every inhale, blow that balloon up. This ensures you're carrying oxygen to all of your organs.

·           Hum.

·           Get out in nature - Inhale the air, feel the sunshine and find gratitude for the abundance around you.

·           Meditate - Start with 30 seconds and add more dime every day.

·           Turn off your phone and spend time with your pets.

·           Just walk.

Shapira asks suggests a few more steps in this process, including dining without distraction. Shocking, right. Slow down, use your napkin, sip water and breathe. We’re all trained to grab junk food while we’re looking at phones. Food is fuel and we can and should enjoy it. Sound hard? Read the book. It is subtitled “Six Simple Rules to Transform Your Relationship with Food to Become Your Healthiest Self.” Here’s a few more of many tips inside:

·        Don’t eat sanding up. Sit at the kitchen table.

·        Don’t eat in bed. Try reading.

·        Don’t eat in front of the television. Use a weighted blanket.

·        Don’t eat when you walk into the kitchen. Grab a cup of water.

·         

“Why Am I Eating this?” – Slow down and enjoy your food, but also ask if it’s fuel or entertainment, Sandy Robertson asks. You can talk to yourself at every meal and snack time, too. Because we need to remind ourselves what’s good for us. Nourishment can also come from nature, friends, art, spiritual gatherings and music. This is the second edition of this book that’s a good guide toward taking care of yourself.

 

Bring on the Insects - If you design your garden around attracting insects, you are probably a birder. They like beetles, ants and spiders. Birds like cones, nuts, sugar water and other creeply-crawlies, too. "Bird-Friendly Gardening" offers native plants and plans for dry and wet spaces, patios, bird feeders and what you want to get those birds coming to your yard. Port Arthur has lots of birds migrating through in spring and fall. Let's keep them loving our area, because we love when they visit. 

 

“The Sultan of Garbage” is a quick read about a disillusioned photographer who sets out to find a floating island of garbage. If he’s actually there, or imagining it, he finds ads and products that he’s made a living from. It’s toxic waste now. As are some relationships. It gets you thinking about accumulating “stuff” and clutter. Take away: The view of something is better than the view from something. Brian Belefant is the author.

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who learns something new every day. Share your ideas with her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com