It is minus 32 degrees!

Warm up in an arthritis-friendly, nourishing way…Turmeric Ginger Butternut Bisque!

Be gentle on joints by pre-baking a butternut squash before cutting, peeling and deseeding.

Use onions and garlic your grocer chopped. Lightly sauté fresh ginger and turmeric for a jolt of natural anti-inflammatories.

Substitute soy (almond) milk and silken tofu for bone-building and instead of fat-saturated cream.

A hand blender saves hand and elbow joints from heavier blender or processors.

Butternut squash brings cozy, filling warmth to the tummy and packs minerals and vitamin A.

Caldo & Delizioso!

Use courage to co-create empathy in relationships,
to be that person who will Inspire!

Grateful to The Right Door for the invite to talk about Coraggio! The Courage to Inspire at their annual retreat.  Yet I was the one inspired by their commitment to the important people they serve!

The Right Door Retreat Coraggio Courage to Inspire 11-12-18

Remembering Great Grandpa Genaro Rizzo on the 100th Anniversary of WWI end. He fought bravely in the rugged and cold terrain of Northern Italy and the Alps, for a war believed to end all wars…

As Uncle Jimmy adds details of valor to the story, Genaro Rizzo was “Knighted (posthumously) for saving an officer from drowning while fording a river on horseback.”

Genaro Rizzo Italian Cavalry WWI

May courage be stoked within each one of us as we remember  the Courage of  our Ancestors!

Stayin’ warm as the first snow flies with this fall harvest of
Scotch Bonnet peppers.

Petite yet potent, they have the habernero beat!  Their high level of capsaicin helps to reduce inflammation and pain. 

Feeling good from taste buds to toes!

“Courage is not the absence of fears, but the capacity to act despite our fears.”

By Sen. John McCain from Why Courage Matters and quoted in Chapter 12 of the first Coraggio book.

Yet we are reminded this week of the Sen. McCain quote that underscores the With Courage I Can philosophy of looking outside of one’s self and one’s woe.

“Nothing in  life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself .”

From Faith of My Fathers 

All four of my grandparents immigrated to the United States, recognizing its independence and self-governing society. Each Independence Day they reminded me of the precious attributes of our United States of America. ​Their actions took courage as immense as the ocean liner that ferried them. ​

May your Fourth of July be filled with freedom​, courage, ​ and enjoyment.

I always look forward to the gift of a rose on Nonna’s birthday.

Sure enough, right on time did this beauty appear.

The gift of a rose on Nonna’s birthday.

Drum roll please…the 2018 Coraggio Spirit Award is bestowed to Brandie DeHaan, for her courage to advocate for herself and for others.

She displayed the courage to step up and to continue asking questions until correctly diagnosed and again used courage to step up until she found a treatment that worked for her. When no longer able to serve others as an EMS worker, she turned her passion for helping others into serving her family of eight and other MG patients.  Grazie for your inspiration Brandie!

                  Coraggio 2018 Spirit Award

Chase after your dreams, no matter your age!

I am thrilled to have met Italian Director Katia Bernardi and Co-producer Davide Valentini, who brought this message alive in their film “Funne.”

Italian Funne film Katia Bernardi e Co-ProducerDavide Valentini

Their heart-warming and humorous story follows a group of older women
from a remote, picturesque mountain village,
in pursuit of  their dream to travel to the sea.
Bravo Katia and Davide!

Grazie organizer of the Italian Film Fest Carmen De Lorenzo!

Pre-chopped veggies is becoming more available.  There are even more interesting combos of chopped veggies for salads, soups, etc.  Letting someone else do the chopping helps preserve finger and wrist joints, thus I have NO EXCUSES to not keep up the healthy fresh veggie lifestyle.

Keeping a healthy lifestyle. Its easier all the time!