It’s so interesting about names and identity . . . a couple of thoughts about them:

My name is extremely common among Latin-based cultures. If it is anglicized to Mary or other versions such as Miriam or Mia, it is even more common. For example, in the United States, Mary was the most common name for females from 1923 – 2022. I did not like my name when I was growing up, because it was so common in my Italian immigrant neighbourhood, but I have been at peace with it for a long time.

Also, my children call me Mother instead of Mom or Mommy. I can’t remember why it began, but my oldest started it when he was little. It was probably connected to a story he read. For many years, I felt that I had to defend it to others. I thought they would think that I have a very formal, distant relationship with my children and that it was my wish to be called Mother. Nothing could be further from the truth. Now, I love hearing Mother come out of their mouths because I know they love me. – Maria

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Listening to music is one of my ways of managing my stress level. Some of my favourite Spotify playlists are “phoebe waller-bridge is a genius”, “Slow Hours”, “Best Italian Hits of All Time” “and “Sunday Morning Classics”. They lift my mood. They take the edge off. I like to listen to music I know when I’m wound up so I can sing along and dance.

This speaker has been the cause of so much dancing and all around mood lifting that has occurred in my house over the past few years. I bought it years ago with my Air Miles but I don’t think they sell them on their site any longer. Pity.

What are your favourite Spotify playlists? – Cris

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The past few days have been all about relaxation and finding moments to take a few deep breaths. I love this tea pot that was given to me by my sister Maria. I love the polka dots and the white and silver colour combination. It was bought at Indigo’s but they don’t stock it any longer. There seems to be some scientific evidence that a little caffeine helps to boost your mood, and it does work for me. Maybe it’s just that extra energy that gets me up and going again that cheers me up.

I like to drink orange pekoe. Nothing fancy, although I do add an herbal tea bag into the pot every once in a while. I’ve heard and read that drinking orange pekoe tea helps to clear your phlegm when you have a cold. So, if you find that your congestion is lingering, make yourself a pot of orange pekoe tea, preferably with lemon, not milk, and it should help to clear out your congestion. And if it doesn’t, it will surely give you a small energy boost. – Cris

OOOOO OOOOO

The printing press, along with agriculture, the ability to control fire, and the wheel, is considered one of the greatest and most life-changing inventions ever. Certainly without access to written words and ideas, my life would be completely different, especially as a woman.

However, I think that the cutter on a box of plastic wrap rivals these other inventions. Oh my goodness, what a difference is makes when I need to wrap the leftover pie! Before, despite the metal blade, the plastic wrap would inevitably be a clinging to itself, irregularly shaped mess, kind of like when a sticky side of tape, in a magnet-like reaction, attaches itself to another section of stickiness. This usually means that either time is wasted trying to smooth out the tape – or plastic wrap – or frustration takes over, into the garbage they go, and we have to start again. Now, that no longer happens and ease of wrapping means that harmony reigns in the kitchen. We should erect a statue to the inventor of the cutter on a plastic wrap box. – Maria

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I’ve been using this neck roll lately before stretching out my shoulder and neck muscles. The heat and the stretching are a good way to relax and prepare my body and mind for sleep.

Sitting in front of a computer all day and in front of the sewing machine when I’m sewing means I spend a lot of time, too much time sitting down. It’s bad for my back, shoulders and neck. I’ve developed a stretching routine prior to sleep to help to relax my body and enter into sleep mode. I find stretching rather relaxing and calming. It helps me to get in touch with how my body is feeling, to notice where the tension is stored, and along with some deep breathing, I am able to prepare my body for sleep. I usually add some yoga poses and some calisthenics too. The more relaxed I am prior to lying down, the better my sleep is and fewer apnea events I have during the night.

Do you have any tips for a night time routine? – Cris

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