Nowadays, diets have turned into “how long can I eat like this until I can’t do this anymore.” So with that being said I hate diets! Eating well should be an everyday thing. I’m going to make this so simple, you cannot fail. When you shop for food, shop for only natural (non processed) foods. Yes this means no bread…(even whole wheat). Seems hard right? I have a trick that can make grocery food shopping very easy. When shopping only shop on the outskirts of the grocery store. There are only a few exceptions to go through the shopping isles and that is for nuts, oatmeal, and rice. Also there are some exceptions...

Antebellum Nyack may seem inconsequential when considering the scale of the Civil War and abolition, but the village—and some dedicated residents—helped combat slavery in their own way. Firstly, it’s important to note the Nyack we know wasn’t identical to the Nyack of the nineteenth century. Due to the rapid extension of the country’s railroad system in the 1800s, Nyack experienced quick growth. As a result, the incorporation of the village was proposed and comprehensively discussed (residents found they could no longer rely on the town government). But the proposed village soon splintered in several smaller ones. Due...

Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean that it’s time to hibernate indoors for the winter! Rockland County sports a number of sites for outdoor winter fun, including sledding, ice skating, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Think about how good curling up with a cup of cocoa and a good book will feel after an hour or so of frosty-yet-warming exercise (and of course, the kids will love it)! Anthony Wayne Recreation Area Bear Mountain Cross-country skiing 845-942-2560 Bear Mountain State Park Bear Mountain Sledding, ice skating, cross-country skiing 845-786-2701 Eugene Levy Memorial Park Pomona Sledding, Ice...

WHAT IS KOMBUCHA TEA? It is a sweet-sour, fermented, acidic, slightly carbonated beverage, which has been described as either a wine that tastes like a delicious tea or an unusual tea that tastes like a rare wine. There are claims that Kombucha tea is a “fountain of youth elixir” used in China for thousands of years. It is purported to be a ancient tonic created by growing a so-called Manchurian mushroom on sweetened tea. The history and lore surrounding Kombucha imply an element of magic. Used in China for centuries during sacred rites of atonement, received, passed down, and transported all over the world, there is a ritual and...

Spring is half-way over…how have you been spending the beautiful weather? If your answer is “Indoors, shunning the sun, alternately working like crazy and vegging out in front of the TV,” well…what are you waiting for? Two experiences you’re missing out on are the beautiful gardens at Matterhorn and the farmers’ markets of the Rockland Farm Alliance. Matterhorn is a garden center located in Spring Valley. Currently up for sale, the gardens are still open to visitors who want to experience its natural beauty during the height of the season. Matterhorn hosts four luxurious gardens: the Formal Garden, the Fern Garden, the Hosta...