May 2018 - The Brick Magazine

Surrender

Sarah Whitsett2018-04-27T19:09:11-04:00May 1st, 2018|Inspirational, Spirituality|

by Sharon Marie Surrender. That word came into my awareness the moment I thought about what to write about next. Soon after, I was looking for something on a bookshelf downstairs and was drawn to a journal. I had not opened it in years and couldn’t remember what that journal was for (as I have accumulated many journals over the years, each having their special purpose). You know what I found when I opened that journal? A list of ‘Seven Steps of Conscious Change’. Coincidentally, the last step on the list was ‘surrender!’ This word was speaking to me. Now to listen and [...]

Amp Up the Flavor with Essential Oils

Sarah Whitsett2018-06-27T16:13:34-04:00May 1st, 2018|Health|

by Lisa Profera, MD Anyone who knows me knows that I love to cook. When I discovered that I can add essential oils to my food, I was not only excited, but I quickly realized that it was more than a win-win situation. There are many compelling reasons to add essential oils (EOs) to your cooking repertoire. Not only can they amp up the flavor of any dish, they will simultaneously deliver numerous health benefits while being very economical. At a fraction of the cost of herbs, they are 100% natural — no artificial flavors, colors, or chemicals. Please understand that not all brands of EOs are safe for ingestion; the vast majority are not. Don’t think [...]

Master Your Meal Prep | Recipes

Sarah Whitsett2018-06-12T19:03:30-04:00May 1st, 2018|Recipes|

by Lisa Nogueira How do you feel when you hear the term “meal prepping”? Confused? Intimidated? Annoyed? Well, hopefully I can help resolve some of the trepidation that many people have about meal prepping. Here I provide a few examples of meal prepping that we do in our house along with a couple example recipes. First are some basic food prep strategies for having healthy eating options available throughout the week. The first recipe is for an easy-to-prepare and healthy ramen-style soup that can be stretched over a few meals. And the second recipe is for a deceptively easy pressure cooker chicken tagine recipe that tastes even better than it looks! Meal Prepping Basics Instead of preparing several meals in full, I like to make [...]

Woman on the Street | Asking Strangers If They’re Okay

Sarah Whitsett2018-05-01T19:42:22-04:00May 1st, 2018|Inspirational, Relationships|

by Stephanie Saline On my way home walking the dog, a woman in a sweatshirt, sarong, and slippers shuffled down the middle of a fairly busy road. She was older, and clutching folded clothes in her arms. She looked distressed and lost. I should back up: we live in a neighborhood that is home to many refugees. Ten thousand people from other countries have resettled in our city over the last ten years, and many of them live in five hundred previously vacant houses in our neighborhood. Mostly, they come from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burma, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Central Africa, and Eritrea.  This makes for the not-so-uncommon sight of women, men, and kids going about their days, colorful sarongs or headscarves (or [...]

Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley | Women Build

Sarah Whitsett2018-04-27T17:43:24-04:00May 1st, 2018|Ann Arbor Interest|

Roughly 180 women have joined together to renovate a home in Ypsilanti for a local, hardworking woman as part of the Women Build project for Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley (Habitat Huron Valley). Fifteen teams of women have or will volunteer for a day March through May, and will build alongside the future homeowner during the 11th annual National Women Build initiative. “Women Build is a great opportunity for local women and partners to rally together to learn new skills and complete a home for a local woman,” said Sarah Stanton, the Habitat Huron Valley Executive Director. “It is a great opportunity for women to take [...]

Dinnertime Drama

Sarah Whitsett2018-04-27T19:09:28-04:00May 1st, 2018|Parenting|

by Randi Rubenstein “Dinnertime with my 3-year-old is a nightmare. She complains about EVERYTHING. She thinks I’m a short-order cook. I make her what she asks for, then she won’t even take a bite and places her “order” for something different. I am fed up and frustrated. How can I get her to stop acting like a dictator so we can have a peaceful dinner as a family?” Dear Hardworking Mama, I hear many stories just like yours, so please know you are not alone. I can tell you will go to great lengths to feed and nourish your little people. Unfortunately, contrary to [...]