Open the door and walk into the Spice & Tea Exchange on Haywood Street downtown Asheville. First the delicious fragrances will stop you: sweet, spicy, savory, all mouth-watering. Then the rich colors entice you further into the space where Jill and Bob Long have created a shop stocked with 80 culinary blends; herbal, green and black loose-leaf teas; flavored salts and sugars; even a whole pepper and paprika wall, including both Spanish and Hungarian varieties. And they’ve done this at an age when most people are slowing down, beginning to consider their retirement plans. A few years back, the couple, who are avid motorcyclists, were in Daytona for bike week. They journeyed the short distance
By Jane Grimshaw Many people consider massage to be the ultimate treat. It is an opportunity to indulge in a session of immense stimulation and satisfaction, which can help to soothe away a troubled day at the office, or help to blank out all your troubles. This is of course true, but there are many other benefits to be gained from massage – particularly when used on a regular basis. Massage has actually been around for thousands of years and has been used as a healing tool in a variety of different cultures. It is one of the oldest and simplest forms of therapy, which involves stroking, kneading and pressing different areas of the body - with varying degrees of pressure - to stimulate, tone
If you are of the opinion that food tastes better outside and that anything with chocolate is heaven, you are most likely a fan of s’mores. That sticky stack of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate has been a favorite of generations of campers. While there is nothing like a good old classic, consider these ways to take your s’mores game to the next level. Candy S’mores Give the traditional s’more a delicious twist. Instead of putting a piece of chocolate between the graham crackers, mix it up with your favorite chocolate candy. Peanut butter cups make a delicious, nutty treat. Peppermint patties add a refreshing spin on the s’more. Substitute a Kit Kat for the chocolate to get a crun
Your human family members can complain when they feel under the weather, but things get more complex for pets. Our furry friends aren’t just unable to tell us when they’re unwell; many cats and dogs actively hide their symptoms. It’s a coping mechanism that kept their wild ancestors safe during tough times, but it can cause real problems at home. You can help keep tabs on your pets’ health by learning about the most common ailments, their symptoms, and appropriate treatments. 1. Obesity Concerns about obesity may be overblown, but one thing is still true: 25 to 40 percent of our pets are overweight or obese. Those numbers are growing as more animals live sedentary, housebound lives or receiv
Life insurance can be a difficult subject to approach, and it’s perhaps one of the most complicated areas of personal finance. However, at the most basic level, it’s not as complex as you might think. Most life insurance policies come in one of two main kinds, term life and whole life. What’s the difference? Term Life Insurance With term life insurance, your payments and coverage are limited to a certain period of time. This could be anywhere between ten and thirty years, or until you reach a specific age. The main use of this kind of insurance is to provide coverage until your financial commitments have lessened. For example, you may keep the policy until your mortgage has been paid off, or
Olive oil provides a host of health benefits that make it a superior alternative to other cooking oils. It is a staple of the Mediterranean diet, a region known for longer than average lifespans and lower rates of many chronic diseases, and thousands of studies have shown that the unique properties of olive oil are partly responsible. Below are some of the most impressive health benefits of this flavorful and nutritious oil. Better Cardiovascular Health Diets incorporating olive oil have been directly linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease, endothelial damage, and cholesterol. In elderly people, switching from other cooking oils to olive oil has even been shown to improve artery hea
More people than ever have a problem with dry eyes, which causes symptoms of itching, burning, scratchiness, redness, blurring and light sensitivity. This chronic feeling of eye discomfort is often called dry eye syndrome. It can be a chronic problem that resists traditional treatment. If you suffer from dry eyes, a look at the many causes and treatment options can help you find the solution that works for you. Causes of Dry Eyes Dry eye syndrome can be caused by environmental factors, behavioral factors and physical factors. In some cases, these factors can work together to create conditions that cause the problem to continue. · Aging can cause less moisture to be formed in the eyes. · Cert
By Wanda Marie You may be busier than ever, but that's no excuse to cut workouts from your calendar. In fact, evidence suggests you might be shooting yourself in the foot by eliminating trips to the gym. These are just some of the reasons why you need to keep workouts on your plate. 1) Regular exercise extends your life expectancy. According to the American Heart Association, for each hour of exercise you get, you can gain two hours of life expectancy. This phenomenon is due largely to the numerous physiological effects exercise has, such as keeping cholesterol and stress hormones under control. You’ll get back the time you put into your workouts and then some if you commit. 2) You
Although many people may not realize it, our physical health has a significant connection to our dental health. While untreated periodontal disease is a no-brainer when it comes to a leading cause of tooth loss, physical ailments such as rheumatoid arthritis can negatively affect oral health as well. In fact, here are three diseases that your dentist recommends keeping in check in order to improve general health and lower your risk of tooth loss. Osteoporosis Linked to Tooth Loss in Older Adults Although osteoporosis can affect any bone in your body, it most commonly affects the hips, spines, and wrists of older men and women. However, osteoporosis or “thinning bones” also may lead to bone d
Taylor’d With Style By JeanAnn Taylor Wonder why I thought of writing about rainy day fashion? Because it’s been raining nearly every day lately. The average rainfall in Western North Carolina is 43 inches. The old rainfall record was set in 2013 with 75.22 inches. In 2018, that amount was beaten with some areas getting over 80 inches. Now it looks like 2019 is off to a good competitive start. As I look outside my window, the yard is completely saturated, and rain water is creeping onto my patio. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I adore rain. I love cloudy, cold, rainy days. Some people think I’m an “odd duck,” but there is a cozy element to gloomy days that is very appealing to me.
By Larry Hartley, Partner Strauss Attorneys PLLC Veterans and their spouse should be aware that there are new rules that went into effect on October 18, 2018, regarding qualification for a type of Veterans’ assistance known as Improved Pension, with Aid and Attendance Benefits. Unfortunately, these new rules have put in place penalty periods for gifting assets before applying for benefits, where the Veterans Program previously did not impose penalties. The good news is that the new rules are more clear and some of the rules are more generous than those previously in place. There are categories of assets that are exempt or not countable, and there are still techniques available to protect a
By Bruce I. Minkin, MD “My elbow is killing me! It’s been going on for months and nothing I do is making it better. It keeps me awake at night. Even lifting a cup of coffee hurts my elbow.” If you identify with these complaints, you just might have lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow. If you do, you are not alone. In the US, over 200,000 people a year develop this painful elbow condition. What is tennis elbow? This condition is a chronic tear of the fibers of the extensor tendons of the forearm. These are the muscles that lift up the fingers and wrist. Specially one of the wrist extensors develops a tear where it attaches to a bone prominence on the outer side of the elbow. Unfortunatel