Growing up in Holyoke, Massachusetts, so close to ‘The Cradle of Liberty’ and other places, where so many historic events took place, gave me a bit of an advantage as far as appreciating the true meaning of the 4th of July from a fairly young age. I always looked forward to the day, maybe even more than some of the other big holidays we all celebrate, and especially knowing that it was declared a legal holiday in 1941, the year that I was born.

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(Recipe taken from Simple & Delicious Magazine)   1 lb. cooked small shrimp, peeled, deveined and chopped 2 medium tomatoes, seeded and choppe...

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As a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, I believe water is so important that I usually keep some with me at all times. However, I also know that plastic bottles are an environmental problem and that they can leak unhealthful chemicals into the water—contamination is worse the longer the water is stored.

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My personal Thank You, you who are in the military – and their families – who are sacrificing so much to keep us free. We honor you and thank you for everything you do for us. America is in debt to you. –K.D.

Happy Independence Month, folks!

I marvel at our military. Without question, the military has always been the most effective part of our government, and it comes down to the commitment of the men and women who are serving.

A cousin of ours just started boot camp in the Marine Corps last month. We’re proud of him and enjoy reading his letters and hearing about how his body and his mind are changing through the process of becoming a soldier.

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July is the month we celebrate our independence. I would ask everyone to stop for a few minutes and reflect upon the sacrifices that have been made by our military personnel and their families, both past and present. Through their efforts, we live in the greatest country in the world. We need to remember this, in spite of all the “bad press,” bankruptcies and bail-outs. Ask yourself, why do so many people continue to come to our country, legally and illegally, risking their lives and leaving their homes? We are blessed.

I’ll step off my soapbox to present this month’s case study. The patient I will be presenting this month is also one of our unsung heroes. She is a teacher. With that said, let’s get started.

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