Zest & Aplomb

Lifestyle

March is Feeling Quite Springy This Year!

Can you feel it? That feeling like the pandemic may actually be over. I know things might change, but I’m going to live in this moment for now. We have some exciting travel plans coming our way. We bought travel insurance feeling unsure that we’d be able to go, but it’s looking pretty good. I’m hearing from friends in the travel business that we won’t be the only ones hitting the road.

Those resilient small-town businesses are ready to come roaring back as well. But, unfortunately, some say it’s slower than they’d like. So to help them out local friends, you might want to check out these new and old businesses alike. First, stop by the Gali Tasting Room in Los Gatos. It is a beautifully renovated space to taste their award-winning wine flight and just relax.

March 4, 2022 by Cheryl Ryan

Travel

Does ‘The Help’ Minimize And ‘Whitewash’ Racism?

By Gwen Dawkins

A couple of weeks ago, I shared some highlights from my “Mississippi Joy Ride.” I visited Greenwood, Mississippi and filming locations for the 2011 movie The Help, based on the 2009 book written by Mississippi native Kathryn Stockett.

The story is set in 1962 Jackson, Mississippi, amid floral dresses with cinched waistlines, coiffed hairdos, garden parties, patent leather pocketbooks and polite perfection — all the while casting a veil over systemic racism in the United States. The illusion of perfection is made possible by the starched-uniform-white-apron-wearing domestic help: the black maids who work for established and up-and-coming white families. The “work” includes cooking, cleaning, shopping, and raising white children — but these families don’t want these women using their bathrooms!

Despite that description, I would classify The Help as a “feel good” movie with a “comeuppance” finale. The film touches on moments of love, humor, respect, shame, discrimination, and triumph — but it doesn’t look too closely or deeply at racism.

February 25, 2022 by Gwen Dawkins

Lifestyle

Can We Talk About the Sun for a Hot Minute?

By Cheryl Ryan

And a hot minute is what we’re having in California. We’re experiencing a winter heatwave – again. During our marvelous wet December, we missed the sun, many of us became lethargic and depressed. Its absence is truly mood-altering. And even now, it’s hard not to bask in its beauty as we worry about the increasing risk of drought and fires.

Increasingly that is my general feeling about the sun; I’m torn. I’m torn between the soul-filling energy that it provides as I leave the house in the morning. But there is also the risk of calamities and the selfish desire to shield my skin from its unrelenting midday heat (which I should have done more during marathon training).

February 17, 2022 by Cheryl Ryan

Travel

Mississippi Joy Ride: The Help

By Gwen Dawkins

As travel opportunities have been limited for the past couple of years due to Covid, I turned my attention toward domestic road trips that have long been on my list. Mississippi, where my wonderful Aunt Aleta lives, came to mind. I rallied my mom Carol and sister Kelly to join me on a fantastic girls’ trip through the South. One “must-see” for me was Greenwood, Mississippi, the primary filming location for the movie The Help.

Do you remember the book and movie based on the book called The Help? They came out in 2009 and 2011, respectively. Apparently, the film developed quite a resurgence in popularity last year during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations. As a refresher, the story is set in 1963 Jackson, Mississippi. You may want to watch the trailer.

The movie earned countless accolades, too numerous to list, but included four Academy Awards nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress (Viola Davis), Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer) and (Jessica Chastain), for which Spencer won. Viola Davis also won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor, and the cast won the Critics Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble.

February 11, 2022 by Gwen Dawkins

Create

What Do Powdery Mildew and Oatmeal Cookies Have In Common?

By Cheryl Ryan

First off, I’ve recently discovered a breakfast that tastes like a warm oatmeal cookie. It’s so simple. Before bringing the oats to a boil add 1/2 of a mashed banana, some maple syrup and a little salt. Then cook the oatmeal as you normally would. You can top it off with a few chopped walnuts and it tastes almost like an oatmeal cookie. I am loving it!

Fungus isn’t fun but finding a solution is. Powdery mildew is trying to ruin my indoor succulent garden and I’m not having it. I keep changing out my plants and removing the soil but the process starts over. What I’ve learned is that replacing the plants and soil isn’t going to solve my problem. I need to spray it with copper or a baking soda mixture and that should do the trick! I just bought a plant mister and will be giving this a try.

February 3, 2022 by Cheryl Ryan

Lifestyle

Theresa Yuen, 87 Years Old And Still A Force Of Nature

By Cheryl Ryan

Theresa Yuen has a steady, purposeful gait. She stands 4’11”, uses a cane and walks for an hour each day (hills and all). There is something quietly forceful in her presence and after passing her many times I decided it was time to stop. I made a U-turn on my bike and introduced myself. I asked if she would be willing to let me interview her for my blog. Her face lit up with a wide, wise smile and without hesitation, she said “certainly”. Just like that. After a few missed calls, I set out to meet her at her home.

It came as little surprise to me when the neighbor, whose door I mistakenly took for hers, said “Oh you’re looking for Theresa Yuen, she’s a force of nature.” He said that she walks every day and until just recently carried a large garbage bag to pick up any trash left by others as she goes.

At 87 years old, Theresa’s mind seems sharper than mine. She never stammers or searches for the proper word, as I do regularly. She has a quick answer for every question and even thought to provide her resume for this interview.

History

Can you tell me a little about your history?

I was born in China (Shanghai) in 1934. In 1946, at age 12, my parents immigrated to Hong Kong so that my father could start an import business. But when the communists took control of China in 1948 we could not return. I remained in Hong Kong for 10 more years. But my father wanted me to leave because he worried about Hong Kong’s temporary status.

January 28, 2022 by Cheryl Ryan

Wellness

How Are A Cold, The Flu And Covid Different? – And Other Cool Winter Thoughts

By Cheryl Ryan

Honestly, Covid Covid Covid that’s all we ever hear. But I got so sick during the holidays and it wasn’t Covid. Yet, my Christmas still got canceled. When my daughter started asking me about my symptoms she said “Oh that’s a cold”. I am telling you, whatever I had seemed like anything but a common cold. I was really miserable. But she may have been right. I didn’t have a really high fever and it took a few days to ramp up – I wasn’t even entirely sure I was sick for the first few days. Whereas apparently, the flu comes on fast and often has a higher fever and body aches.

I’m better now but it got me thinking about the symptom differences between a cold, the flu and Covid. Many of you reading this probably already know the differences but I really didn’t. For many years I thought the flu involved throwing up but, in reality, it’s far more nuanced. So I thought I would share cold symptoms, flu symptoms, and now we have to add Covid symptoms into the mix because it has its own unique symptoms.

January 18, 2022 by zestandplomb

Lifestyle

Thank You For Being Here!

By Cheryl Ryan

We hope that your holidays have been joyful, peaceful and that you got to share it with family and friends, either in person or via technology. Nobody can deny that it’s been a wild ride these last couple of years. I think many of us have come to realize just how important our community is. As we close out the year, we’d like to thank all of you for joining and participating in the growth of our community here at Zest & Aplomb.

If there’s anything that we’ve learned from the past year, it’s to expect the unexpected. It seems the days of predictability have been put on pause. This is exactly why we are gearing up to meet 2022 head-on, starting with New Year’s Eve.

As we continue to navigate ways to celebrate and congregate as safely and joyously as possible here are a few New Year’s tips.

If you are choosing a quiet evening here are the best new movie releases of 2021.

And whether you choose to stay home or join a party, here are some on-trend cocktails to ring in the new year. I’ve been noticing the white russian cocktail making a splashy comeback! Remember those?

We’re already hard at work on some fascinating profiles, health, lifestyle and travel stories for 2022. We are ready for whatever the year is planning and look forward to sharing it with all of you.

Cheers to a good one.

December 30, 2021 by zestandplomb

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