Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. “The days are long, but the years are short,” she realized. “Time is passing, and I’m not focusing enough on the things that really matter.” In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project. In this lively and compelling account of that year, Rubin carves out her place alongside the authors of bestselling memoirs such as Julie and Julia and Eat, Pray, Love.

With humour and insight, she chronicles her adventures during the twelve months she spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier. Written with charm and wit, The Happiness Project is illuminating yet entertaining, thought-provoking yet compulsively readable.

Gretchen Rubin’s passion for her subject jumps off the page, and reading just a few chapters of this book will inspire you to start your own happiness project.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp Olive oil

1 tsp garlic, minced

pinch of Hing (if you have it)

2 tsp fresh ginger, minced

½ cup celery, finely chopped

½ cup carrots, finely chopped

1 cup spinach or any leafy greens

2/3 cup red lentils

6 cups water or vegetable broth (if using water add 2tsp vegetable Bouillon powder)

2 cloves

3 whole peppercorns

1 cinnamon stick

salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

1 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves, chopped (for garnish)

Squeeze of Lemon or lime

Directions:

In a large pot on medium-high, heat oil. Add garlic, and ginger and sauté for 1 minute. Add celery and carrots and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add lentils, water, and all other ingredients except salt, pepper and cilantro and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer, cover with lid, and cook for 20-25 minutes, until lentils are soft. In the last 5 mins add the leafy greens. Removed cinnamon stick and peppercorns. Add salt and pepper to taste, garnish with cilantro and lemon if you wish, and serve.

Makes 4-6 servings.

Submitted By: Kalee Mund, Ayurvedic Practitioner

Ask a dozen people or more what “wellness” means to them and you will get as many different answers related to alternative therapies, natural medicines, fitness, nutrition, and even spirituality. For Rick Thiessen, ‘wellness’ means all of these in addition to no small amount of pride in being behind one of the most successful health and wellness expos in Canada for the last twenty years. This annual consumer show features approximately 100 companies with thousands of products and services that are designed to promote a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle as well as enhance or improve a person’s quality of life.

The Wellness Expo is all about choice: treatments, products and more. People should have a choice but they don’t even know what’s out there. Unfortunately when consumers are looking for answers, it’s usually under duress. As a visitor to this event, the Wellness Expo offers people to try products and services in a safe and less costly environment.

The 21 annual Winnipeg Wellness Expo comes to the RBC Convention Centre, February 20 – 22, 2015. Admission is $10 for an all-day pass that includes access to the trade show, displays and demonstrations as well as all of our seminars.

For full program details, see wellnessexpo.com

Actually, it is Tooth month here at the Animal Hospital of Manitoba and we are having a pet dental special. If your cat or dog has bad breath, it could be time for a professional dental cleaning. Bad breath can be a sign of anything from gum disease to organ damage.

The same bacteria that can destroy your pet’s teeth can also enter the blood stream and damage internal organs. Bleeding gums and broken or rotten teeth can affect your pet’s appetite and behaviour. Keep your furry friend happy and healthy have a dental check done today!

Being a parent can be a very exciting, yet stressful job! You are a doctor, a psychologist, a teacher, personal chef, and even a chauffeur. Here at Bright Eyed Babies we understand your time is precious and so are your little ones. Researched, and only the best for little and big ones. brighteyedbabies.ca making it one less job for today.

Susan from St. Vital asks: “Why does my dog drag his butt across the floor”?

Veterinarian Dr. Zheng answers: “There are several reasons why your dog may be “scooting” as it is commonly known:

1. Anal Sac Issues; sometimes these sacs become abscessed, blocked, or inflamed and ways to remedy can include; expressing the sacs, giving antibiotics to treat an infection, increasing dietary fiber, lancing or flushing the sacs.
2. Worms; Tapeworms are another, though less common, reason dogs may start scooting, Tapeworms are easy to treat with a dose of oral or injectable medication from your veterinarian.
3. Rectal Prolapse; a rectal prolapse can happen to your dog after severe diarrhea or from straining with constipation. Treatment for rectal prolapse varies.

If your dog is scooting or persistently licking at the anal area, or in any way appears to be uncomfortable, you should talk to your vet. Treatment is often quick and easy and can make your dog and you a lot happier!”

Animal Hospital of Manitoba

animalhospofmb.com

Mary Jane’s Cooking School, a not-for profit organization and registered charity was founded over 20 years ago, by a group of women concerned about the loss of basic life skills, and an over reliance on commercial foods. Recognizing food as the foundation to physical and mental health, the organization was created to reinforce the values of nutritional home-cooking and to re-educate people in the slow and simple art of cooking whole foods.

The origins of the school began with volunteer drop-in cooking classes in the inner city. A pioneer in the field of whole food education, Mary Jane’s Cooking School is a resource for non-corporate nutrition information and offers a wide range of classes. Some examples are: Cooking for diabetes, Vegetarian/Vegan Cooking, Bread Making and Soup Making. Environmental information is interwoven in the classes.

Volunteer services for technical support and help in preparing for classes and cleanup would be appreciated.

maryjanescookingschool.org

By Deepak Chopra, MD & Rudy Tanzi, MD.

Learn the Super Brain dietary supplement – Ayurvedic Brain Support. Unleashing the Explosive Power of your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-being. A manual for relating to the brain in a revolutionary new way, Super Brain shows you how to use your brain as a gateway for achieving health, happiness, and spiritual growth.

Super Brain explains by combining cutting-edge research and spiritual insights, demolishing the five most widespread myths about the brain that limit your potential, and then showing you methods to:

• Use your brain instead of letting it use you
• Create the ideal lifestyle for a healthy brain
• Reduce the risks of aging
• Promote happiness and well-being through the mind-body connection
• Access the enlightened brain, the gateway to freedom and bliss
• Overcome the most common challenges, such as memory loss, depression, anxiety, and obesity

The brain is not just the greatest gift that Nature has given us. It’s the gateway to an unlimited future that you can begin to live today.

deepakchopra.com

A masala is any combination of spices blended and ground together.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons cumin seeds
2 tablespoons caraway seeds
1 teaspoon yellow mustard seed
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

Roast the cumin, caraway and yellow mustard seed to a small pan and roast till the mustard seeds start to pop. Turn the heat off then add the spice powders to the blend. Put the blend into your mortar and pestle or spice grinder and grind the mixture. *Does not have to be ground into a fine powder.

Use on steamed vegetables, in stir fries, any soup or stew, in rice for added flavours or on popcorn! So yummy! Enjoy!

Kalee Mund is an Ayurvedic Counsellor, who teaches Ayurvedic Cooking Classes and other Ayurvedic Workshops.

kalee.mund@gmail.com

kaleemund.com