Family

Paint Nite at Trotters Bar and Grill

Posted on

Paint Nite is a new concept, at least for me.  It was my daughter who suggested that we do Paint Nite.  I could not fathom painting a picture without numbers but she said you get a blank canvas and the instructor gives you step by step instructions to create your master piece.  IMG_1450 (1)It was amazing to me to find out that Paint Nite was so big and it was happening in many restaurants on the island. Actually it is happening all over.  So off we went, just us girls.  I felt bad that my sister had to stay home, see she had to watch her grand daughter so her daughter could go to Paint Nite.  What a nice mommy…

We found a Paint Nite happening at Trotters Bar and Grill right in Franklin Square(this is right in our neighborhood).  IMG_1419The first stop we made at Trotters was at the bar.  Wine and painting don’t they go hand in brush?  IMG_1426As soon as we entered the paint room we saw, on display, the painting we were all going to paint as a group.  As soon as I saw this picture I knew I was not going to make the grade…

IMG_1425                   IMG_1424

My daughte-in-law, niece, and daughter could not wait for the class to begin…I on the other hand could not wait to start sipping my Pinot Noir!IMG_1422The first thing we all saw as we sat down was a blank canvas, a paper plate with basic colors for the picture, paint brushes, and a cup with water.  Now we can begin said the instructor.IMG_1427   You could not miss the instructor she was the one with paint all over herself.  She looked like she was the brush that was used to do the painting…

 

Ok, she said let us begin.  And off we painted IMG_1447It was amazing to see how the lines we drew on the canvas form into what they were suppose to be.  We mixed the black and white paints and created the light gray color then added more black and we got the dark gray color…Amazing!

IMG_1446The girls were beginning to get that artistic feel.  Smocks were green and our canvas was colored and showing signs of a fine master piece taking shape.  Then after 2 hours of sweating out the kinks we were all done.

IMG_1196 (1)

Viola!

We did it.  Not bad for first time artists.   I found it interesting to see how our paintings, though the same, ended up looking different.

Amazing!

I am still amazed!   We signed our masterpieces and went home with our new creations.

IMG_1458 (2)I can see now how painters enjoy the relaxing expression of themselves.  I am hanging up my paint brushes but will be admiring my masterpiece as it hangs on my office wall…

community, Dining, Family, Time of the Season

Celebrating a Birthday Upstairs at the Woodlands – Photo Heavy

Posted on

67mf67mh

I have to admit we got lost getting here and we had the GPS helping too, so it’s not completely our fault. The grounds here are so beautiful and truly grand.   The Upstairs at the Woodlands is really upstairs, we got a kick out of that!

67mg

The dining room is very cozy and elegant and inviting.  We started with a glass of wine , Maryland Crab Cake  and Tuna Tartare, which we ate so fast I did not get a chance to take a photo. Boom.

For the dinner I ordered the Spicy Jumbo Shrimp and Marlene got the Bone-In Rib Eye Steak.

67me67md

Merci ordered the Grilled Salmon and my sister Marianne had the Balsamic Glazed Chilean Sea Bass. I know everything was delicious because we always share our dinners. Next time I am getting the Rib Eye. Oh yeah.

67mb67mc

The sweet rule is that birthdays are all about the cake and blowing the candles. So the evening ended  with a Brownie topped with ice cream and whipped cream drizzled with chocolate. Time to blow out the candle and make a wish!

67ma

Fell in love with the chandelier in the hall and just had to take a photo of it! Wish I had the room for that beauty.

67m

Don’t forget to celebrate all the special days in your life.  Have a wonderful happy, healthy birthday and many more to come. Peace.

 

Did You Know

A Very Preventable Cancer!

Posted on

Just received my AICR newletter.  I love getting this newsletter it is full of information about how we can prevent cancer.  The article that caught my attention was the one written about Colorectal cancer and how it is one of the most preventative types of cancer.  Did you know that March was National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month? Did you know that  Colorectal cancer is the THIRD most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States.  AICR reported that Continuous Update Project (CUP) estimated that 50% of all colorectal cancer cases are preventable through diet, staying a healthy weight and exercise.

The following are causes of Colorectal cancer:

           1. Being overweight or obese increases risk of colorectal cancer.

2. Processed meats (hot dogs and bacon) and red meats.

AICR recommends eating no more than 18 ounces of cooked red meat per week.  We all know that cooking meat at high temperatures creates charring which can lead to formation of cancer-causing substances.

The following are ways to avoid colorectal cancer:

1. eat fiber-rich plant foods, i.e., carrots, tomatoes, berries, peaches leafy greens are some

2. get daily physical activity, i.e. walk  1/2 hour daily, that’s daily.  Then take it up to 60 minutes a day for added benefit.

3. limit alcoholic beverages.  Men should drink no more than 2 drinks a day, women no more than one drink a day.

After all the above the next way to prevent colon cancer it is to get colonoscopy screening.

Last year a cancer journal reported that colon cancer incidence rates in the US have dropped 30 % among adults 50 and older since 1994.  This is attributed to the wider use of colonoscopy.  This type of screening allows the detection and removal of precancerous growth, along with early detection when treatment is most successful.

So if you are 50 and over and have not had a colonoscopy this is a no, no.  Colon cancer is preventable with all of the above but most important as we all know early detection is the key to stop cancer.  So those of you who think that having a colonoscopy is not for you(you know who you are) please rethink this.   Go on call your gastroenterologist and set a date to start the process.

As my husband and I are survivors we thank God that there is the technology to see inside our bodies.  For its a fact that the best way to  beat cancer is to catch it during it’s very early stages.

We can  stop cancer, in its cancerous track.