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Upside Lane

UPSIDE LANE is a community supporting caregivers, encouraging them to live their healthiest and most balanced lives. Join us to receive expert guidance, wellness tips, nourishing recipes, and emotional support to help caregivers care for themselves while also caring for others.

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Sounds weird but oh so delicious - vegan matcha brownies!

Upside Lane Nurturing Hearts, Nourishing Lives, Inspiring Resilience Hi Reader, I hope you are doing well. It's been a pretty long and cold winter for us here on Cape Cod, and Doug and I are very much looking forward to the warmer days of spring. We can feel it coming, just on the horizon. My days in the kitchen are changing, going from less warm and hearty meals to more light, refreshing, healthy, and fun concoctions! This week's recipe is all about that - Vegan Matcha Brownies - simple,...

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Upside Lane Nurturing Hearts, Nourishing Lives, Inspiring Resilience Hi Reader, I feel like these days, weeks, and MONTHS are going by so quickly! Is it just me? It's hard to believe we are already into March of 2025. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to use all of your ripe bananas, this vegan sourdough banana bread recipe is for you. Don't let the sourdough part scare you. You don't actually NEED the sourdough... In this week's blog post I show you how to make this quick and...

Upside Lane Nurturing Hearts, Nourishing Lives, Inspiring Resilience Hi Reader, Some statistics... There are 53 million unpaid caregivers in the United States. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans are providing unpaid care to an adult with health or functional needs. 21% of these caregivers report their own health to be fair to poor. 4 out of 10 caregivers consider their caregiving situation stressful. I don't say this to be a downer but to emphasize how common being a caregiver is - at some point in your...

Upside Lane Nurturing Hearts, Nourishing Lives, Inspiring Resilience Hi Reader, Whenever I am feeling run down, or a little under the weather, there is nothing like a delicious, healthy, anti-inflammatory soup to help me feel better. Anti-inflammatory foods are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber - all aimed at decreasing the inflammatory response within your body. This delicious healing soup is loaded with anti-inflammatory ingredients and is perfect for boosting the...

Upside Lane Nurturing Hearts, Nourishing Lives, Inspiring Resilience Hi Reader, Okay, mayyybe I'm being dramatic but then, this really was a game-changer for me. It gave my baked goods a much bigger oomph than I was expecting. I learned how to make homemade vanilla extract, and I am excited to show you! It is sooooo simple, which is another reason why I wished I'd known how to make it before now. I've spent quite a bit of money over the years at grocery stores and high-end gourmet food shops,...

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Upside Lane Nurturing Hearts, Nourishing Lives, Inspiring Resilience Hi Reader, If I had to pick one self-care tool that centers me the most it would be my daily morning routine. It's not anything fancy but it is my own personal time before beginning each day, and I am ALWAYS a better person for it. On days I don't take this time I don't feel as centered, and I sit with more stress and anxiety than usual. In this week's blog post, I share with you my own personal morning routine, plus ways to...

Upside Lane Nurturing Hearts, Nourishing Lives, Inspiring Resilience Hi Reader, Love notes aren't just for romantic partners. Sometimes, the people who need them most are those giving care to others every day. Caregiving can be emotionally and physically exhausting. A heartfelt, handwritten note tucked into a pocket or left on a nightstand can provide much-needed encouragement during challenging times. For Valentine's Day, I gathered 50 meaningful ways to show support and appreciation to...

Upside Lane Nurturing Hearts, Nourishing Lives, Inspiring Resilience Hi Reader, I'm excited to share a newly updated recipe for you - Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls! If you've been looking for a healthy snack that tastes amazing, this one's for you. Here are just a few reasons why you will love these energy balls: Ready in minutes - no baking required Only 5 simple ingredients Perfect for meal prep Naturally vegan Great for pre-workout energy or an afternoon pick-me-up Child and adult-approved,...

Upside Lane Nurturing Hearts, Nourishing Lives, Inspiring Resilience Hi Reader, My apologies for the long break. The holidays happened, and then the California fires happened! As you probably know, I lived in California for over 30 years. It was where I danced professionally, worked as a nurse, raised my family, and made oh so many dear friends. One of my daughters still lives in California. She did evacuate for a time but thankfully, her own family and home are safe. That said, I do have a...

Upside Lane Nurturing Hearts, Nourishing Lives, Inspiring Resilience Hi Reader, Did you know the recommendation to get 10,000 steps a day is not based on research? It was a marketing strategy for a company that made pedometers. The name of their pedometer was called "Manpo-kei" which means "10,000 steps meter." Crazy right? Especially considering how popular the 10k-myth is! In this week's article, I talk about the 10k step rule and the real research behind walking, steps, and movement. I...