May is Asthma Awareness Month.
We knew that all the fair weather we had this winter would come back to bite us in the butt. First, “they” say that insects will go crazy (see our recommendation made earlier this week for the all natural insect repellent candle), and then ragweed and other allergens are going to have a field day. Literally.
Besides that, there is a multitude of airborne pollutants (dust, smoke, pollen, bacteria, virus, mold, pet allergens) that also make their way into the home. And we all want to avoid these, as we know that fine particle pollution is especially [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
When a company’s motto is “Nothing wasted. Everything gained“, you know that they take a serious stand on green living.
Preserve makes stylish, high performance, eco-friendly products for the home – from personal care to tableware to kitchen products – all at a reasonable price. All their products have innovative designs, bold colors, are eco-chic AND 100% recycled.
Preserve only uses #5 plastics for recycling. Many communities do not recycle #5 plastics so Preserve partnered with Whole Food Markets to create a Gimme 5 bin (#5 plastic containers) at each of their stores making it easier to [...]

By Susan Keats, Contributor &  Seize-the-Day Propagandist
I don’t have much respect for anxiety. My own anxiety is ridiculously annoying. I was never an anxious person until that cancer diagnosis came from out of the blue. Now I worry about my health all the time. I have read that anxiety serves a purpose: to keep you aware of potential danger, but when you really think about it, anxiety just keeps you in a perpetual state of worry. That can’t be healthy, it just can’t. So I’m doing what I can to kick anxiety out of my head, out of my house, [...]

By Amie Valpone, Culinary Marketing Consultant & CEO of the gluten-free blog, The Healthy Apple.
Here’s a quick and easy dish that is perfect for a cool spring evening. I opted for walnut butter instead of the usually peanut butter because it adds a nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with sesame oil and dried cranberries. You can serve this dish warm or room temperature – either way it’s sure to be a family favorite.
Get those chopsticks ready; this is a perfect dinner for tonight!
WALNUT CRANBERRY PAD THAI
Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free and Vegetarian

Serves 4
Ingredients
4 Tbsp. walnut butter
1 tsp. honey
1/3 cup San J gluten free [...]

By Jolee Patterson, Contributor – Sharing the Power of Food
Jolee and I have known each other during our days working at the same yoga studio, 12 years ago. She has always been a champion for eating right, exercising regularly and enjoying life. For the last two years I have asked her to share her knowledge of eating healthy with The Succulent Wife readers and I am very happy she finally obliged.
For over 50 years they have told us that we would be healthier if we eat a low-fat diet, stay away from saturated fats and tropical oils, and to eat [...]

By Anne-Marie Kovacs, Chief Wife
Do you remember that frighteningly titled infographic “Sitting Will Kill You”? That was almost a year ago and it scared the daylight out of me. I won’t get into to the details (there’s that fine infographic for that) but essentially, the news is that we have all become way too sedentary for our own good, so much so that not even the recommended 30 minutes of exercise per day can fix the damage…

Coincidentally – not! – last year, just as this news came out, I realized that I had become allergic to my office chair. I’m [...]

By Amie Valpone, Culinary Marketing Consultant & CEO of the gluten-free blog, The Healthy Apple.
Here is a quick and easy cauliflower recipe that’s roasted to perfection- perfect for a breezy March afternoon or a warm April evening.
SAGE BAKED CAULIFLOWER with Honey Yogurt Dipping Sauce
Gluten-Free and Vegetarian

Ingredients
1 large organic cauliflower, cut into florets
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 fresh orange
2 Tbsp. curry powder
1 tsp. smoked paprika
5 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. orange zest
1/6 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground white pepper
1 cup Greek plain yogurt
1 tsp. honey
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl combine all ingredients, [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
As I age I notice that I do not exercise the way I used to. For one thing, I no longer care as much about the latest fitness trend. I still enjoy the social sports like golf and enjoy swimming, yoga and skiing when I can. The reality is that none of these are consistent. I have never been a runner and quite frankly it hurts my feet, knees and back. So, my regular exercise regimen simply

By Amie Valpone, Culinary Marketing Consultant & CEO of the gluten-free blog, The Healthy Apple.
Ready for a sweet treat on ‘Love Day’ but not ready for the sugar overload and empty calories? Look no further than this healthy and fiber-rich chocolate bread that will wow your Valentine with one bite! Try this Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free recipe:
GLUTEN-FREE CHOCOLATE SUNFLOWER BREAD

Ingredients
2 cups white rice flour
1/4 cup gluten-free cereal, crushed (rice crispies or any puffed rice cereal)
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 large eggs, beaten
4 large bananas, mashed
1 Tbsp. almond extract
1 ripe avocado, peeled
1/4 cup [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
I must admit that I got a little distracted while visiting Bliss Connection’s online romance store to write this article.  I can’t say that I am all too familiar most of these the products but, that does not mean that I don’t see their value… Indeed, dear friends of ours have recently gone through the harrowing experience of prostate cancer. Although he now seems to be cancer free, the experience most definitely affected his ability to perform. Friends of theirs bought them a gift certificate to purchase, shall we say, enhancement products to help. And [...]